ISSUE 170 | NOVEMBER 2018
Interview With
Cardiff Christmas Callendar
The Kooks Alternative Christmas Films New Years' Style Resolutions
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A LETTER FROM
The Editor
Contributors Matt Lewis Bethany Griffiths Poppy Jennings Mia Dutch Chloe Erin Meg Sharma Jenna Dowling Jasmine Snow Olly Hearn Angharad May Cadi Dafydd Gwenllian Daffyd Megan Desmond Joshua Ong Caterina Dassie Molly Geddes George Manuel Camille Stanley Courtney Moody Molly Wescott Martha Hughes Iona Middleton Emily Stanton Sumaiya Quaraishi Susanna Griffin Rimante Bivainyte Izzy Boulton Abigail Thomas Aditi Mohan
Page Designers Ashley Boyle Andrea Gaini Nadine Pinnock Urszula Rodakowska Orlagh Turner Katie Huxtable Steph Rowe Niamhy Blackett Luisa De la Concha Montez
Karisa Hermawan Valerie Yuen Rosie Paul Katie May Huxtable Andrea Gaini Nadine Pinnock Isobel Roach Leanna Reeves Indigo Jones Orlagh Turner Caleb Carter Samuel Capper Kathleen Walker Max Modell Mike O’Brien Lauren Ryan Rhiannon Humphreys Harry Dixon Freyja Elsy Harriet Thornley Gemma Hopley Anastasia Kroptonia Megan Tomos Megan Desmond Hannah Stait Maddy Steele Izzy Wright B Lam Tang
Abi Dudbridge Emma Morgan Lottie Ennis Rimante Brivainyte Lucy Dobbin Izzy Boulton Lauren Ryan Alessio Grain Sofia Brizo
Front page photograph of Sgwd Gladwys Waterfall by Richard Griffiths - @r1chgriffiths Back page illustration by Izzy Wright
Dear all, This is the story of a little italian boy, blonde (at the time, not so much anymore…), blue eyes and an openhearted love relationship with his life. When I was little I used to think that a smile could cure all the problems and illnesses of this world. So I smiled at my mum when she lost her job and her hands were trembling on my father’s lap, as he tried to explain that we would make it through. I smiled at my 4-year-old cousin as tears scarred my cheeks and said that grandpa was going to be alright. I smiled at my heart-broken best friend, when a joke enlightened her eyes a little. I’ve smiled, I smile and I will continue to smile at everyone around me because I still believe that a bright smile of positivity can refuel the bucket of energy that we all need to embrace our lives in full. Sometimes we focus so much on the things that worry us that we forget to smile. We forget to look around and see the beautiful people that we are surrounded by, and that we all live this life together. It’s ok to have bad days and not being able to smile, but uniting can make us stronger and remembering to take care of each other, even with just a caring smile, can help us through difficult times. When you turn over to the next page you will see a group of beautiful individuals that together have created a kick-ass magazine! They’ve hammered and crumbled the walls of division and homophobia that curse our society with an issue that has the biggest LGBTQ+ representation in the history of Quench. They have made themselves sick of Christmas 2 months early, exploring hidden local traditions and Cardiffian gems for a smashing Welsh Christmas and investigated the secrets to musical talents such as Go Go Penguin. But most importantly, they have enjoyed themselves, going through fun and difficult times, together. So, here’s a tip, from your little Italian boy who believes in magic, from now on, when you pick up a copy of Quench, think of us and smile. Grin to the people around you and help us make the world a happier place. P.S. Thank you to my beautiful Quench Family for always supporting me and making me so proud of you every day. Thanks to my cute penguin, Ashley, for keeping up with me going crazy on the spinning chairs of the Cardiff Student Media office. Thank you to my fantastic housemates, Caterina, Dylan, Emily, Gareth and Olly - for another cracking year ahead! And finally, thank you to my gorgeous princess, Nadine, for being so strong and making Quench the most beautiful place on earth, even in the hardest times, I love you!
a note from the deputy One relatively recent part of Quench is our Agony Aunt section, which we expanded this year to create Hannah’s Mental Health Column. Mental illnesses are, fortunately, becoming a commonly discussed subject in the media. But that doesn’t make it any easier for the individual to admit that you have one and accept when it affects you badly. I’ve taken a step back from my role as Quench’s Editor in Chief, into the shoes of Deputy Editor. This was a step forward for my own wellbeing, as this evil villain called Depression that I’ve been fighting for years decided to fight back, full throttle. Sometimes the best thing to do is keep pushing on, but sometimes the best thing to do is slow down, or even stop, and that is… okay. I know I could have explained my leaving as “personal issues” and left it at that, but I really do want to reiterate to any readers who may be suffering that making scary sacrifices for the sake of your mental health isn’t shameful. So if you really need a break, from uni, from work, from anything, then take a bloody break (and read Quench while you’re at it)!
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Meet the team
We asked the team what their Christmas Elf name would be...
Social Medi
nager So a M c a
Editor-In-Chief Andrea Gaini Taffy Dre
cr ial Se etary
ef n-Chi
Editor-i
Social Media Manager & Social Secretary Benjamin Cresswell & Samuel Capper ‘Legolas, what do my elf eyes see?’ - Benjamin ‘Aren’t you a little short for a storm trooper?’ - Samuel
eH ad of Ph
oto
Deputy Editor Nadine Pinnock
graphy
r Edito
D ep u t y
Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins
Head of Photography Luisa De La Concha Montez Happy Snappy
eH ad of ill
Head of Design Ashley Boyle
ustration
Design
Head of
Merry Twinkletoes!
Head of Illustration Izzy Wright Grumpy
Deputy Designers Orlagh Turner & Urszula Rodakowska O’ O’ Orlagh - Orlagh Crystal - Urszula
id tors
C op y E
ne Desig rs
D ep u t y
Copy Editors Sofia Brizio, Harry Dixon, Nidhi Pattni, Angharad May and Lauren Ryan Sparkly Candycane - Sofia The Sack Holder - Harry Buddy McJingles - Nidhi Sparkly Twinkletoes - Angharad Cinderelfa - Lauren
5 ILLUSTRATIONS BY: IZZY WRIGHT AND B LAM TANG PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LUISA DE LA CHONCHA MONTEZ
Cult
u re
Fe at u
r es
umn
Col
Columnist Matthew Lewis
Features Editors Bethany Griffiths & Poppy Jennings
Culture Editors Mel Lynch & Ilona Cabral
Benedryl Cabbagepatch
Santa’s Little Helper - Bethany Jingle Jollybottom - Poppy
Mel Grynch - Mel Dobby’s Sock - Ilona
Tr a
v el
F o od +
Drink
b ar
Cle
Clebar Editor Megan Tomos
Food & Drink Editors Caterina Dassiè & Josh Ong
Travel Editors Martha Hughes & Molly Geddes
Megnog or Nutmeg
Toffee Cate - Caterina Ding Ong Merrily on High - Josh
Santa’s Sleepy Helper - Martha Buddy the Elf - Molly
Film
eauty
+ TV
Fashion
+B
sic
Mu
Music Editors Dylan Graham, Camille Stanley & Max Modell
Fashion & Beauty Editors Maddy Steele, Rimante Bivainyt & Katie May Huxtable
Film & TV Editors Hannah Ryan & John Jones
Andrea Gaini - Dylan Candycane Cam - Camille Lanky Cupcake - Max
Mistle - Maddy Little Cutie - Rimante Elf-is Presley - Katie
Lil Lash Helper - Hannah Elf-on John - John
Q
3
Ag o n y
A u nt
ology
Te c h n
Technology Editor Mike O’Brien
Agony Aunt Hannah Stait
Q3 Editor & Deputy Editor Lucy Aprahmian & Sam Harford
Jangle-Pop
Twinkle McGin-gleBells
Kreacher - Lucy Gingerbread - Sam
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Column
contents
8. It’s well cold; might be too cold.
features
9. Make the most out of Christmas break 10. Interview with a Drag Queen 12. Renting Hell 14. White Privilege
music
40. The Kooks Interview 42. Are Christmas No. 1s Still Important? 43. Our Albums of 2018 44. Film Scores 46. Go Go Penguin Interview 48. The Influence of Spotify Playlists
Culture
Fashion and beauty
Clebar
film and TV
15. Josie Sommer Interview 16. What Opera Character Are You? 18. A Welsh Christmas 20. Book Shops in Cardiff
21. Do People Even Speak Welsh? 22. O’r Glaw I’r Eira 24. Byw O dan ddylanwad
food and drink
26. Seasonal Eating 27. Leftovers 28. Cardiff’s Christmas Calendar 30. Tommy Heaney: Review and Interview
travel
34. Gap Yah 35. Studying Abroad 36. Where Can You GO? 38. Not Driving Home For Christmas?
49. Style Resolutions For Men 50. Do They Know It’s Christmas? 52. Queens of Cardiff 55. Is Consumerism Killing The Magic?
56. The Bi Life Inteview 58. Film Reviews 59. Film Sequels 60. Alternative Christmas Films 62. Queer Cinema 63. One to watch
technology
64. Guide to Gaming This Christmas 66. Call of Duty Review 67. EU Internet Governance 68. Changing AAA Consumer Relations
AGony Aunt
70. A Bad Day 71. Agony Aunt Questions
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It’s well cold; might be too cold. Quench’s columnist Matt discusses ‘negativitus’ and the struggles of being a Brit in Winter.
Apologies for the horrifically unoriginal reference to the Inbetweeners quote, but I honestly felt like I had no other choice. Partly because of my rather obvious childish humour that I wrongly tend to think is a common tickler amongst young adults, but mostly because I strongly believe that this quote completely epitomises the irrational reasoning for my hatred of certain ‘people’ in the UK. It’s a well known fact that the majority of England, and its surrounding holiday resorts, contain a population of beings plagued by an illness far greater than any doctor or mystical medicine can cure or even understand. Forget the Black Death of the 1300s, us Britons suffer from an excruciating, cruel and damn right annoying disease I like to call ‘negativitus’, causing an ugly and excruciating transformation from human to ‘moanerchondriac’. It’s a sad prospect for us Islanders, however, if there’s anything else that we are known for by our judgemental neighbours and the nosy Americans, it’s muddling through our problems and squeezing out the other side. Therefore, my issue isn’t with my fellow whining, miserable residents - if anything I’m exactly the same - but my beef comes when certain idiots decide it would be beneficial to society to run around shouting and screaming about how excited they are for winter! And as if they haven’t been a burden to our country enough, these weirdos progress towards new levels of embarrassment by then ranting about winter like the rest of us as if they had never turned to the dark side, also known as happiness. Absolutely disgraceful in my eyes. I really hope you’re feeling my pain here!
WORDS BY: MATT LEWIS ILLUSTRATION BY: IZZY WRIGHT DESIGN BY: NADINE PINNOCK Don’t get me wrong, I can understand, but not excuse, some of the reasons that these ‘wronguns’ come out with when a grumpy, sad man (me) eventually plucks up the courage to question their controversial views. Of course we all love christmas; getting the fire lit, opening presents and pretending to like them, and not forgetting the obscene amount of food on offer. Furthermore, New Years Eve is always an enjoyable one, despite consistently being a major let down. It’s probably because I enjoy Ald Lang Syne so much. But the argument I pose is, what the hell do between all these antics and the orgasmic relief of the sunny Spring season. Good questions isn’t it? The answer is...anarchy! We quickly begin to descend into oblivion, fighting between our own houses for survival. Hot water is scarce, sources of heat become extinct, and entertainment rapidly resorts to Monopoly and Scrabble. It’s a hell hole. So what I simply cannot begin to comprehend, is how fellow human beings with the same anatomy and the same ancestors, can turn into such an extreme inferior to us to regular moaners. I almost begin to feel sorry for them, only to find them come crawling back to the sad side of the island, begging for mercy and desperate to whine once again. All I can say is, it’s a cruel world for us Britons, and yet we accept our weaknesses and power through our problems. So, a word of advice to any human abnormality; enjoy the patriotic tradition of having a good ol’ moan, and come join us in a chorus of whines. And if you find yourself wanting to be happy about winter, do us all a favour and run away to the North Pole.
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I’m now in my final year and really cannot afford to have another panic-stricken January. I aim this year to turn over a new leaf – a holly leaf if you will (a little Christmas pun for you there), and with this article I intend to help you have as stress-free a Christmas as possible. It can be difficult to focus on university at Christmas time. Christmas is a time for family and friends, and it can be far too tempting to get wrapped up in the Christmas festivities when you have essays to be writing. There may be added stress too if you’re working part-time at Christmas, having to balance more work hours over the festive period alongside university work and family time. In order to combat this first hurdle and manage your time effectively I recommend starting a planner (perhaps buy one for yourself as an early Christmas present – it will almost certainly come in handy next year). Start by marking off all your upcoming events and duties so that you can gain a rough estimate of how much time you have left to study. Once you have done this mark off any upcoming deadlines and exams so that you don’t forget and receive any unwanted surprises over the Christmas break!
as you really don’t want to burn yourself out. Perhaps you’d like to leave Sunday afternoons free so that you can spend some time watching Christmas movies? Whatever it is, it’s important to remember that we have a break at Christmas for a reason – you don’t need to remain glued to a computer screen 24/7. It’s pretty easy to create a plan for Christmas, carrying out that plan is arguably a lot harder. There are lots of distractions happening over Christmas to contend with, and often it can feel pretty lonely sat doing work while the rest of your friends and family are out making the most of the festive season. If you are struggling with finding the motivation to stick to your plan on certain days, don’t worry! Instead try and work in hour long chunks to try and tackle as many of the day’s tasks as possible. Once you’ve done a chunk, spend 30 minutes relaxing to reward yourself. Don’t worry if you haven’t completed all of the day’s tasks as you can always come back to them on a day when you’re feeling more productive – if you choose to beat yourself up over it you’re more likely to feel even worse and thus achieve less. If you know you’re going to be really busy over the Christmas break and are worrying about finding time to complete tasks, try to break tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks that can be completed when you have a spare half an hour. For example, if you’ve got a book you need to read set yourself manageable goals for each day – if you know you’re going to be busy one day, only aim to read a chapter between other tasks, while on quieter days try to get as much read as possible.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF CHRISTMAS BREAK
Now that you’ve marked off your upcoming events you can start to plan your studies. Start by making a quick mind map or list outlining what you need to do for each module and writing a rough estimate of how long each task should take; you could also rank them based on importance/ urgency to make sure that you do not end up neglecting necessary tasks. Before adding these tasks to your planner, it is important to remember to leave breaks
WORDS BY: BETHANY GRIFFITHS DESIGN BY: NADINE PINNOCK
Managing university and Christmas break can be difficult. It’s important not to get so wrapped up with Christmas (literally) that we neglect university, but it’s also important not to neglect the Christmas festivities because of university work. It’s all about finding balance which can be achieved by committing to something as simple as a planner.
FEATURES
We all know the feeling. You’re curled up next to the Christmas tree re-watching Home Alone for the one-hundredth time with your family, scoffing your face with Christmas chocolates. You’ve not picked up a single uni book for 7 days – but, hey, it’s Christmas and university is the last thing that needs to be on your mind, after all you’ve still got 3 glorious weeks off (well, at least you did)... Suddenly it’s January and you need to panic write 3 essays, prep for 3 exams and do all your reading for next semester – at least, that’s an example of my Christmas break 2017!
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INTERVIEW BY: POPPY JENNINGS DESIGN BY: NADINE PINNOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LUISA DE LA CONCHA MONTES
INTERVIEW WITH A DRAG QUEEN Poppy Jennings interviewed Bradley Birkholz about his journey into drag with Bella Tempus, his drag persona, and the many trials they faced. I remember a year ago, I was in Pulse, and I saw you up on the screens for Jolene’s Drag Race. Can you tell me about it?
It was very surreal. Jolene’s Drag Race was such a rollercoaster for me. On the first night of the competition, I ended up getting into a huge fight with all the other competitors on the Facebook group. They were all saying nasty stuff about me, that I wasn’t tough enough to do this competition and that I should drop out, and that I was so pretentious to have a drag daughter already. It was very like Ru Paul’s, very catty, untucked, drama, drama, drama, and I was going to pull out. But I didn’t, and I pulled everything together and I won.
So you did exactly what they said you weren’t going to do. Yes. I crushed the competition. And I got a bottle of bubbly!
Was it easy to come up with Bella’s personality?
When I started my channel, I didn’t look up a single piece of tutorial or advice, I didn’t think about anything. I just did it. I put on a wig. I did think a little bit more about the character side of things. For me, I really wanted to come up with a name that was more representative of who I am. Because there’s a lot of preconceptions of drag – really exaggerated make up and looks and punny names. There’s a lot of euphemisms and sexualisation and I do find them very entertaining but they weren’t me. As an artist, I wanted to do more female impersonation and didn’t want a clichéd pun name. I love languages so I spent a lot of time researching different words and translations and came up with Bella Tempus, which means ‘Good Time’. It’s fun and it has that kind of hidden meaning that you don’t get right off the bat. Drag is very much about art, and its about artistic expression, and a way for me to express myself through fashion and style in a way I don’t get to as a guy.
11 FEATURES
What was it like auditioning for Ru Paul’s Drag Race?
My first audition was over a year ago, in April 2017. It was just a mess. It was my final year of university. It was during exams. I literally filmed in a day for like a twenty-minute huge scale thing. You have a full acting production which I had to learn the script for, you have to do celebrity impersonation, two full lip sync performances, and a monologue by yourself, and then you’re meant to come up with eight to fourteen unique fashion looks. So it was just a mess. I filmed from eleven in the morning to three in the morning the next day and it was just a disaster. That’s part of what’s exciting about publishing my latest audition – you can see how far I’ve come. It’s progress.
Popularity for the show really shot up a couple years ago especially for people outside the LGBTQ+ community. Do you think it’s had any effect on perceptions of the community? I think it has. There’s always been a discussion around the show becoming mainstream, and I think it’s done a lot for the LGBTQ+ community, but I don’t think it’s the be all and end all representation of us, or of drag queens. There’s a lot of people pointing out the problematic issues with it, like racism and transphobia, so I think it’s good not to idolise the show for the LGBTQ+ community and what it does for us. I think it has also represented some negative stereotypes of the community too, like being catty, bitchy and showing all the drama and nastiness towards each other. I would say that it is an issue we have in the community, and the stereotype is based on reality. It’s definitely something I’ve experienced in the drag scene and the gay scene in general, and I would like Ru Paul’s Drag Race to combat that more rather than highlight it.
Do you think the more negative press it gets for those issues will help push it into a better direction?
There’s been a lot of issues with transphobia lately – has that affected you much in the drag community?
I think it’s so important to draw a distinction between drag and gender identity because drag is performance art, gender identity is part of who you are, but because a lot of people don’t understand that distinction we do experience a lot of transphobia and bigotry. When I worked at our local drag cabaret bar I regularly had to deal with a lot of transphobia, but also, people would be really supportive of me being trans, and I would have to say “oh no, I’m not trans!” What I do is so different from that, but it’s not me saying “don’t associate me with that”, it’s me saying “it’s important that you don’t associate me with that because it’s disrespectful to the trans community.” A lot of people see drag as a personal insult to their identity which I disagree with, because to me, it’s a wonderful form of expressing myself and putting on a performance. It’s not me saying that transgender is being a man in a dress because it’s not.
Do you think that’s where some of the problems come from? That people are so set on defining drag and defining trans that they completely miss what they actually are?
You look at so many actors and films, like ‘Mrs Doubtfire’, and people would never think twice about it. And what I do isn’t that different. It’s only when it’s being associated with the LGBTQ+ community and cross dressing that people start to have a problem. I do think a lot of the issues people have are to do with misunderstanding. There is a lot of misogyny that is still in the drag community as well.
How does the backlash against drag kings and other female drag acts make you feel?
People will jump on any excuse to put the LGBTQ+ community in a negative light, and I think the negative press for Ru Paul’s Drag Race could do that too. You would hope everyone involved would push as much as possible to change that perception. But I think it has done a lot of good. I’ve told a lot of family that I’ve auditioned, and found out some of my relatives who I thought were more conservative have loved the show, which makes me feel like a lot more people are connected and have started conversations that need to happen. I would love to see it move on in a more positive direction but I don’t know right now.
There isn’t as much demand for drag kings but drag kings also don’t have a hit TV show. I would love to see drag kings on Ru Paul’s Drag Race. I would love to see drag kings much more prominently and on equal footing because, to me, what they do is exactly the same. It’s gender exploration in the form of performance. One of my favourite drag performers is a drag king called Adam All and he is fantastic. There’s this constant need to separate female drag queens from drag performance, but even if their transformation process is different, what they do is fundamentally the same.
How much of the entertainment affects perceptions of drag?
Can you give any advice on discovering yourself or getting into the drag community?
A lot of the entertainment value of the show comes from the drama and the negativity, and people flock to it. And I feel that it’s something that also happens in the LGBTQ+ community. People get very caught up in the melodrama and the bitchiness because they find it really exciting. And maybe there is an element to that, maybe melodrama as performance can be entertaining and not negative if it’s in that specific context, but most of the time I don’t think it is in that context, and there is a genuinely negative element there. In my audition I wanted to bring something different to the show, bring more kindness and love and positivity and not be a bitchy contestant. When I was in Jolene’s Drag Race, I think I got very caught up in that world, so now it’s very important for me to continue on as a performer and do something very different. Now everything I do in drag is about positivity and I perform songs about self love and acceptance. That’s what my drag is about now.
I think one of the best things to do is start in your room with some cheap makeup and a dress or whatever you wanna wear and start with exploring yourself and your style. Go to drag shows and get some inspiration. It can be a scary thing to dive into at the start, but if you’re passionate about it, there’s a huge group of drag performers that are ready to support you in starting out. We’ve actually got a new night on in Mary’s called Glitter Mic, which has no restrictions on performing and you can just get up there and do your thing and I think it’s fantastic. My online experience in drag has definitely been more positive than my physical performance in drag. It’s also easier. I started with performance anxiety and I didn’t get that in front of my camera as much. For me, it’s a very comfortable place to express myself. Online, if people want to watch you, they will.
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POPPY JENNINGS (SEC TION EDITOR) DESIGN BY: NIAMH BLACKE T T
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Chloe’s Deposit Debacle
It was 9 days before my induction when my boyfriend and I found a place to live in Cardiff. We’d decided that, financially, we’d have to move into an apartment and split the bills and for months we’d been scouring Gumtree for a flat, but were faced with perpetual disappointment with every viewing. As the desperation set in days before my first lecture, we started booking viewings for any listing that became available, resorting to listings with no photographs that actively looked like scams, in the hope it might be a legitimate advertisement by a landlord who wasn’t very tech-savvy. Most of these flats were damp and badly maintained, either without kitchens, or miles from campus, and nothing more than a glorified shed. Eventually, we begrudgingly signed a contract on a flat opposite a building site on City Road. It wasn’t ideal, but at least it didn’t reek of decay.
In a redacted city somewhere in the East Midlands last year, two friends and I signed the tenancy agreement for our new house. It was closer to uni, round the corner from a decent pub and boasted a party-sized garden. The year flew by, and we thought we’d been lucky: our only issues were a broken boiler during a cold snap and a complete lack of oven when we moved in - pretty tame compared to most. After we moved out, however, the once somewhat pleasant landlord tried to make off with our deposits. Despite cleaning the house from top to bottom the day before we left, following weeks of waiting for our money back, we received the most ridiculous email I’d ever had the joy of reading. Supposed issues like “two air freshener sprays left behind”, “wardrobe top shelf and bottom surface needs wiping” “bottle of Jack Daniels left on the bed” and my personal favourite - “vacuum dirt compartment completely full of dirt” had resulted in a proposed £650 deduction from our combined £975 deposit. Whilst my housemates had used white tack, and two of the walls did need repainting, most of the baffling charges were for “dust, bits and marks” that apparently required fifteen hours of cleaning (calculated based on their £20/hr cleaning charge). We tried to fight them, albeit unsuccessfully - although we’d blitzed that house for hours, we hadn’t thought to take any photos, so we couldn’t prove it when trying to contest. Take my advice - before you move out, document your cleaning with date-marked photographs on a digital camera, and don’t be afraid to question your landlord on unfair deposit charges; most of them prey on students, taking advantage of the fact that they can’t afford to go to court to challenge them.
While our landlord was nice enough, he was a man in his late 80s, spoke little English and couldn’t make it up the one flight of stairs to our flat, which would be an issue if we were to have any problems. There were many problems, and frequently. In three months we experienced a gas leak, a broken washing machine and shower, the bed he provided completely collapsed on one side. I resorted to using my gym membership more for their shower facilities than for exercise. While our landlord did have these problems fixed, he’d take his sweet time about it. On top of this, the layout of the flat and the nature of the building site opposite meant there was not an inch of space in my bedroom or kitchen where I wasn’t overlooked, and soon after moving in, I noticed the builders habitually standing around on the scaffolding, watching me. They’d persistently wave to get my attention, and once they’d got it, would make increasingly inappropriate hand gestures. I’d often not open my curtains for days in fear of them harassing me while trying to make breakfast. A few angry email exchanges with the construction company later, I gave in and gave my notice to my landlord. He responded by quizzing us on why we would ever want to move out, considering he’d been ‘the perfect landlord’ - and withheld our entire £650 deposit.
Meg’s Pest Problem Student housing is fun, friends, and good times. Well. Most of the time. Among the parties and the hungover mornings with housemates, takeout and group meals, there are a few horror situations that have definitely tarnished my experience of student housing. I’ve lived in student housing my whole time at uni, and rats have remained a huge feature during my time in Cathays. In my first year, they were in our garden and we’d regularly see them running around. It got worse when they somehow got into the walls and started scurrying about. My housemates could hear them at night, and even though we couldn’t see them, it was horrid. In my second year house, they definitely lived in the weird shed our landlord had. I remember having a friend over to see my new place and the first thing he saw
when he looked outside was a big, fat rat. Great first impression! It’s safe to say we avoided going outside. Arguably, a worse pest is slugs. The slugs in my current house are insta-famous and have received party invites. I recall—very unfondly—accidentally stepping on one in the middle of the night, and seeing one trying to scale our ceiling. Luckily, I was wearing socks, because if I were barefoot, I may have had to cut my foot off. No matter how hard we try to get rid of them, they just keep turning up. I’m starting to think they just like hanging out with us. They tend to stick to the floor and walls, so definitely not as bad as a potential rat in the house, but it’s no fun having thirteen extra housemates.
Jenna’s Catastrophic Cracks Renting hell is an experience shared by pretty much all students at some point or other. You think you have it bad in halls and can’t wait until second year when you can move into a house, and sure, the first few weeks are usually okay. You’re excited about having a living room and a TV but soon the cracks start to show - literally. My experience of renting hell happened in my second year at uni: the house that we’d all thought was perfect at the viewing suddenly looked old and mouldy, but we were determined not to let it get to us and just get on with our year. That was our attitude at the start, but it’s fair to say that it didn’t last. The story that stands out the most is the leak. It can be pretty common in uni houses but this was BAD. It started out as a patch on the kitchen ceiling and we didn’t really think anything of it, but then it started to spread and finally it was leaking water every time someone had a shower. We had obviously told the landlord about it, we sent pictures and had a number of plumbers come round who all came to the same conclusion: they didn’t have a clue what was wrong. One even took our bath apart and then just left it without ever coming back to fix it! When we called the letting agency for a tenth time they told us we’d never complained and they had no idea what we were talking about. By this point, the ceiling had actually started to sag where the water was. When we came back after Christmas we were told it had been fixed, but no, it hadn’t. They’d just painted over the patch. All I can say is, good luck to the students living there this year, I’m sure it’ll be a fun one.
FEATURES
Mia’s Lazy Landlord
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What is White P rivilege
WORDS BY: POPPY JENNINGS DESIGN BY: ORLAGH TURNER
White privilege is sending out your CV when applying for jobs and not having to worry about whether your name sounds foreign. It’s not being sent home on your first day of school because your dreadlocks, cornrows, braids, or afro are disrupting other children’s learning. It’s being able to drive down the street in a nice car without people suspecting you stole it. White privilege is being able to go through the day or the week without at least one person asking you what you think of racism. It is not being that person who is apologised to after every racist joke. It’s being able to use shampoo at hotels or B&Bs without considering how it could possibly be an issue. A lot of people seem to struggle with the acceptance that they benefit from a massive privilege in this country. People still try to preach that racism isn’t a thing anymore, that we’re not still affected by it because we don’t have slaves or separate toilets. People don’t deny it because they don’t believe it’s there; people deny it because they feel guilty. They feel guilty about liking the beneficial place they’re in. They like that they don’t have to worry about how their whiteness might affect their job chances, their career aspirations, their safety. Brexit (don’t worry, it’s just to open story time) hit a while ago now, and something that really struck me was how quick people jumped on the chance to become aggressors and turn their internalised racism into physically and verbally abusive outlets. My brother was sat at a bus stop one night after work and he was approached by someone who told him to go back to his own country. My brother is English. This happened in England. My brother is mixed-raced, and for some reason the colour of his skin screams foreigner. White privilege is being able to walk down the street and never be threatened or told to leave the invisible borders of a country where you were born. There’s a blindness to reality that is perpetuated by the media and the fashion industry that we are forcefed every day. Magazines, television, books, radio talk shows. The majority of people we see are white. There’s an overwhelming whiteness to our beauty campaigns and our movies. There’s an absence of ethnic diversity that is so overwhelming, that it a film needs to re-create massive achievements or
hoping they aren’t internally damaged by the white beauty standards that are impossible to attain. It’s being able to buy Barbies or Action Men without a second thought to how lacking in ethnicities the dolls are. Nappily Ever After, an incredibly gripping, heartbreaking, and touching story about one woman’s relationship with her hair, dropped on Netflix a few weeks ago. It wasn’t advertised much. If you weren’t keyed into the right conversations on Twitter, you’ve probably still gone on without knowing what it is. I cried like a baby watching this film. So many people will struggle to grasp the heart-wrenching truths of this movie, and that’s a privilege in itself. I don’t have my sister’s afro, but I’ve spent hours sat there brushing it, I’ve had countless emotional conversations with her about how much she hates her hair and wishes it was straight like everyone else’s. I’ve seen her cut all her hair off in frustration. I know how much she spends on it to keep it anything but natural. White privilege is dismissing white aestheticism and cultural appropriation. It’s saying that there’s nothing wrong with Kim Kardashian claiming cornrows as her latest fashion item and refusing to acknowledge what they really are. White privilege is being able to read a book without having the ethnicity of the main character described to you in the first few pages. If there are any black, Asian, or other ethnic minorities in the book you’re reading at all, you can guarantee they’re described by their skin colour. White people aren’t. Do you know why? Because whiteness is the norm. If a character isn’t described by colour, they’re most probably white. And it’s for the same reason that your friend is telling you a funny story and they describe every non-white person by their ethnicity or their (assumed) nationality: that Chinese guy did that, this black girl did this, that Asian girl was doing that… White privilege is not recognising white privilege.
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Josie Sommer
JOSIE SOMMER IS AN ILLUSTRATOR BASED IN LONDON. HER WORK DRAWS ON LITERATURE, MUSIC AND ART HISTORY. I INITIALLY REACHED OUT TO HER FOR A PRINT ON ETSY, BUT AFTER A FEW CONVERSATIONS, I KNEW IMMEDIATELY SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I WANTED TO INTERVIEW. WORDS BY: JASMINE SNOW
What was your first commissioned piece?
? My first commission was an editorial illustration for Scottish magazine called The Skinny. It was for their Clubbing Highlights page and at first, I wasn’t sure that my style of illustration really suited clubbing as a theme, but I painted two women dancing around their handbags, looking slightly uneasy (much like I would be), and I became really pleased with it. As my first job, it really stretched me in thinking about subjects that I wouldn’t normally have considered, which was really fun.
What inspired your style? My style is inspired by the things I love – music (Bo Diddley, Shangri-Las, Link Wray…), art (modernist sculpture, expressionism and mid-century design) and literature (Carson McCullers, J.D Salinger, stuff that sparkles or quietly observes). But then there are also places, people and films that inspire me too.
Which is the piece you’re most proud of? The piece I’m most proud of is a large painting I did earlier this year called ‘Who Do You Love?’ with ceramicist Alex Sickling. I curated an exhibition called Love (it’s love-themed…) showcasing the work of 10 contemporary female illustrators. It showed at Newcastle, Leeds and it’s going to be on in London this Autumn. It’s such a fun show and ‘Who Do You Love?’ illustrates Bo Diddley’s song. I love Bo Diddley and my greatest ambition in life is to create a work of art that looks like his music sounds. The lyric ‘I rode a lion to town’ was the initial inspiration. I turned Bo into a ‘50’s-ey looking woman riding a lion with a rattlesnake whip and then played with
DESIGN BY: ANDREA GAINI
other elements of the song, such as an ice wagon, Bo’s love Arlene and Bo as well, of course (I couldn’t miss him out!).
Are you working on anything for the future? I’ve just moved to north London and I’m really enjoying visiting museums, drawing collections and particularly sculptures. I’m also looking forward to bringing Love to London! It has already been on show at Magma, Covent Garden from 26 October - 7 November. As well as trying my style out in other forms of media – I’m just starting to embroider some of my illustrations of women!
What’s your most personal drawing to date? My most personal piece would probably be a ceramic seated woman with her arm’s folded called Girl on a Stool. She’s just a bit uncomfortable and when I first made her I wasn’t all too keen on her, but there’s something about her that I’ve really warmed to. I think she looks very awkward and unsure.
To see more of Josie’s work visit her Etsy shop, website and blog.
CULTURE
Interviewing
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do you enjoy a night out? YES
are you the one pulling, or being pulled? PULLING
DON GIOVANNI
are you an outgoing person? YES
PULLED
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
are you usually successful? YES
NO
do you prefer the pub to the ES Y club? NO
PAPAGENO
NO
NO
have you ever been in a long distance relationship?
FIGARO
YES
CARMEN
MADAM BUTTERFLY
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Madam Butterfly
YOUR ANSWERS
You are Cio-Cio-San, commonly known as Madam Butterfly, from Puccini’s opera of the same name. You are a fiercely faithful and loyal friend, gentile and kind to all, even when they stab you in the back. Your crystal clear morals and the purity of your heart makes you an upstanding citizen and a beacon of hope for all society! You take breakups badly; you throw yourself into big relationships and easily get your heart broken.
Don Giovanni You are Don Giovanni, from Mozart’s opera of the same name. As an infamous womaniser and sexual deviant, you aren’t fussy when it comes to sex; you’ve explored every kink out there, more than you’d care to admit! You love the sesh, love a party and are loving life. But be warned; your lifestyle is unsustainable and will inevitably come to bite you on the bum - don’t go taunting the dead, they might just send you to hell!
Countess Almaviva You are Countess Almaviva from Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. You have an eye for the beautiful - music, art, literature. You surround yourself with wholesome people who give you emotional support and excellent relationship advice. You’re a hopeless romantic, fall desperately in love, but often go unnoticed by those you adore. You sometimes put on an act to get attention, but those people are not worth your time; learn to love yourself and don’t settle for someone who doesn’t treat you like the countess you are!
Figaro You are Figaro from Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’. You’re an allrounder; you have endless patience for people, endless kindness, and endless friends because of it. You’re always willing to help people out, no matter what they need, but you are valued so greatly and for so much more. You’re in the know on all the hot gossip, the shoulder to cry on, and everyone wonders how you’ve managed to get your life under control (even if its not!).
Queen of the Night You are the Queen of the Night from Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’. You are a manipulative person, overly intense and most of the time a bit of a psycho. You’re undeniably passionate, you fight your corner and protect those whom you deem worthy to call friends. But more often than not you put people on edge and upset them more than anything!
Carmen You are Carmen from Bizet’s opera of the same name. You are the epitome of what it means to be Bohemian; a complete individual, into indie bands and just getting on with your own life. You’re the life and soul of the party and you stand up for what you believe in, but don’t follow any creed or orthodoxy - you are your own person and don’t care what people think.
NO COUNTESS ALMAVIVA
Papageno You are Papageno from Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’. You’re a simple soul, you love nature and its peaceful atmosphere. You’re THAT friend from uni that everyone knows and loves, but secretly wonder how you got in! You have an incredible dress sense, full of bold colours to match your wacky personality. You like hanging with the birds, but you rarely get your bells rung!
WORDS BY: OLLY HEARN DESIGN BY: K ATIE MAY HUX TABLE
CULTURE
which opera character are you?
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A Welsh Christmas
Historically, Wales has seen many weird and wonderful traditions revolved around Christmas celebrations. Many have vanished and are no longer celebrated en masse, but a few rare places in Wales aim to maintain these Christmas celebrations, keeping old Welsh traditions alive and well when it comes to the festive period, quite frankly a breath of fresh air away from the inescapable, overwhelming and meaningless commercial tat. One almost-lost Christmas custom was something called the ‘plygain’, which was essentially a service at the parish church, at some time between 3am and 6am. Since this was either a very late night, or a very early morning, depending on the time of the plygain, people would find ways to help stay awake waiting for the service.
WORDS BY: ANGHARAD MAY DESIGN BY: LUCY DOBBIN
Cyflaith is what some people would make in the early hours of the morning to pass the time. Called the Noson Gyflaith (Cyflaith Night), this toffee making was actually quite a skill and an art, as people would have to butter their hands and pull and twist the toffee whilst it was still warm, until it became a golden yellow colour. Another quirkier way of making the taffy was to boil it in pans on open fires before dropping dollops into ice cold water. On hitting the water, the taffy would curl into a plethora of shapes, often like letters, which was a way of prophesying the initials of future loves of unmarried youngsters! Other activities included decorating houses with holly (a symbol of eternal life) and mistletoe (thought to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck), singing and dancing to the harp in candlelight, playing in the street, carrying torches, shouting verses and blowing cow-horns before forming a torch-lit or candle-lit procession to the church. People would often bring their own candles to the church since there was no other supply of light available, but these candles, or canhwyllau plygain, became an important feature of the festival, also symbolising the coming of the Light of the World with the birth of Jesus. During the plygain service, men would sing carols in harmonies and after the plygain, it was time to start celebrating Christmas Day with feasting. The plygain had more-or-less ceased by the end of last century, but the tradition still happens in Montgomery and St. Fagans Museum.
Image by: Ellie Lord
A somewhat unusual pre-Christian Welsh Christmas tradition is the Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare). The Mari Lwyd is a horse skull, shrouded in a white sheet and decorated with ears, eyes, colourful reins, bells and ribbons. Carried on a pole from house to house or pub to pub, people would sing songs, rhymes and riddles, challenging inhabitants to a battle of insulting wits called pwnco, at the end of which, the Mari Lwyd party would be invited in for refreshments and more singing. This banterful tradition still takes place every year in St. Fagans Museum and Chepstow.
Image by: Daniil Silantev
Background
Image
by: Annie Spratt
Image
by:
Markus
CULTURE CULTURE
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The previous two traditions have practically disappeared from popular custom; however, other traditional Christmas celebrations are gaining popularity in Wales. Heritage railways in North Wales take advantage of the surrounding spectacular scenery and offer Christmas Santa Train trips on steam locomotives across the region. As well as enjoying stunning views, seasonal drinks and mince pies on board, it is also possible to meet Father Christmas himself en route! Trips include Bala Lake Railway, Corris Railway, Fairbourne Railway, Ffestiniog Railway, Llanberis Lake Railway, Llangollen Railway, Talyllyn Railway, Vale of Rheidiol Railway, West Highland Heritage Railway, Welsh Highland Railway and Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. In Welsh, Boxing Day is called Gwyl San Steffan (the Feast of Saint Stephen). A past Welsh tradition to celebrate Boxing Day was something known as holly-beating, or holming. This involved young men and boys beating the uncovered arms or legs of young women, or the last person to get out of bed in the morning, with holly branches, until they bled! Thankfully this is a Christmas tradition that has long died, but a festivity that remains celebrated on Boxing Day in some places is called Roll the Barrel. A town in North Wales called Denbigh has staged Roll the Barrel, annually since 1958, which involves barrel racing as well as the highly debated Boxing Day Hunt which still takes place around Wales as a part of Christmas tradition. Another thriving tradition in Wales is the Christmas Market. These markets are popping up far and wide, and as you will experience in Cardiff, are unmissable! From early November, Cardiff seemingly Image by: Hannah Pemberton becomes Christmas itself. With a Winter Wonderland, including an ice rink, fun-fair and Ferris wheel, as well as the Cardiff Christmas Market consisting of 200 artisan and craft businesses selling their wares, warming your hands around a cup of steaming mulled wine whilst browsing unique Welsh crafts for gift ideas is a whole world away from the crowds buying commercial Christmas junk. Christmas Markets can now be found peppered throughout Wales, some lasting longer than others, but a few include Llandudno, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Port Meirion, Abergavenny, Conwy and Caerphilly. Often kicking-off the opening of Christmas Markets is the relatively modern tradition of the switching on of Christmas lights, and towns and cities across Wales become as illuminated as the churches of past celebrating Christmas with plygain. Using Cardiff as a shining example once again, the Christmas lights switch-on involves reindeer pulling Santa on his sleigh through the city, street theatre, various entertainment, and quite often, a famous person turning on the lights! Wales is the fatherland of many a famous person. You will most likely be familiar with the renowned words of, ‘‘Twas the night before Christmas’, recited by parents to their children on Christmas Eve, perhaps before going to a service of Midnight Mass. Wales has its very own Christmas poem which should indeed have a look in! Written by Dylan Thomas, a child’s Christmas in Wales is an anecdotal piece of prose written from the nostalgic and humble viewpoint of a young boy reminiscing about Christmas. Through idyllic memories, Christmas in Wales comes across as magical and exciting, which, underneath all the materialistic trash, is what Christmas is about. The miraculous birth of the Light of the World bringing joy to people on Earth. Many old traditions have long been forgotten as our world catapults forward into modern times, but a Christmas in Wales is still well-worth celebrating. Traditional. Family-centred. Snow. Unusual. Poetry. Artisan. Quirky. Carols. Church. Music. Community. Food. Festivities. Light. Love.
Image by: Jon Candy
Image by: Diogo Palhais
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The Best Bookshops WORDS BY: RHIANNON HUMPHREYS DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE
in Cardiff
Cardiff is home to a fantastic array of new and second-hand bookshops, many of which have been established in the city for quite some time. In the age of Amazon, eBay and internet shopping in general, it is important to support and appreciate the humble local bookshop as much as possible. There’s nothing quite like wandering through a bookshop, especially a second-hand one, breathing in that incomparable old book smell, not quite knowing what you might find…
Bear Island Book Exchange is a hidden gem located in Cardiff ’s famous Victorian indoor market. It makes the most of its limited space by stacking its books floor to ceiling, giving the appearance of nearly bursting at the seams. The stall sells specifically second-hand books at extremely competitive prices, so it’s perfect for anyone on a budget who’s looking for something new to read. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the market’s vegetable stalls and cafés, it’s a little slice of heaven for the keen bookworm or even the casual reader. Be sure to explore the rest of the market while you’re there too! Cardiff Central Market, Saint Mary Street, CF10 1AU
Caban is a particularly interesting shop as it specifically sells books in the Welsh language, offering a range of fiction and non-fiction titles. It also sells a selection of Welsh greetings cards which cater to every occasion. The shop has really carved out a niche for itself and it’s great to see a shop that celebrates the Welsh language and culture thriving. It also provides a small number of books in English. Welsh language learners will find this shop particularly useful, but it’s certainly a place of interest even if you speak little to no Welsh too. 169 Kings Road, Pontcanna, CF11 9DE
Capital Bookshop is located in Jacob’s Antique Market. It was originally situated in the Morgan Arcade for several decades and was much beloved by the local community for being a proper, oldfashioned bookshop, of which few still survive (especially in Cardiff, unfortunately). Jacob’s Antique Market, a fascinating place to visit in itself, seems to be the perfect place for the shop’s relocation. It has a good selection of second-hand and vintage books (which it boasts cover most subjects) and sells antique maps and prints too. 2nd Floor Jacobs Antique Market, West Canal Wharf, CF10 1AF
The Wellfield Bookshop describes itself as ‘one of the few remaining independent bookshops in Wales’, which is certainly quite a claim. It was established in 1982 in the heart of Roath, making it one of Cardiff ’s older bookshops. Its stock now extends beyond books, offering a wide selection of eBooks, DVDs, CDs and stationary. They regularly have book launches, authors visiting to do book signings and other exciting events, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information. 16 Wellfield Road, Roath, CF24 3PB
Minotaur Books is a lesser known little shop, nestled within the Castle Emporium in the cultural hub that is Womanby Street. It sells second-hand books and is communally run by the emporium’s traders. The stock is relatively small, but ever-changing, so worth a browse. The building in which it is situated has a rich history as it was originally a picture theatre, opened during the early 20th century, and was the location of the first ever radio broadcast in Wales in 1923. The emporium as it is now is full of interesting independent businesses, ranging from art galleries, to boutiques, and even a skateboard shop! Womanby Street, CF10 1BS
Octavo’s Book Café & Wine Bar is relatively new to the Cardiff literary scene and offers something a bit different. It was founded in 2016, and although a new business, is situated in the oldest building in the Tiger Bay area - a former coaching inn that was built in 1839, which gives the venue a more established feel. It describes itself as being in the ‘heart’ of the area’s creative community and offers ‘Book Lovers Afternoon Tea’ and ‘Gin Lovers Afternoon Tea’ as part of its speciality. It also runs an event called the ‘Sunday Sessions’, which falls on every other Sunday, bringing new musicians and poets to the venue while you browse the selection of books or take tea. West Bute Street, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5LJ
Troutmark Books has been open for business since 1995 and describes itself online as “delightfully quirky”. Amazingly, it purportedly has around 30,000 second-books on sale at any given time, so you’re bound to find something that catches your eye. It’s nestled in a beautiful nook in the Castle Arcade, with three levels of floor to ceiling books, magazines, records and comics. It almost feels like it’s been there forever, and no wonder, as the site was the ‘University Bookshop’ between 1950-1968, which means that it feels really at home in its current location. It has a particularly comprehensive array of plays, poetry and specialist subject books, so if you’re looking for something a bit more niche, Troutmark is probably your place. 39-43 Castle Arcade, CF10 1BW
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Welsh?”: Gwynebu’r barier diwyllianol sy’n ymddangos rhwng myfyrwyr Saesneg a myfyrwyr Cymraeg y Brifysgol. WORDS BY: CADI DAFYDD DESIGN BY: ORLAGH TURNER
Ydi hi’n arferol i ni deimlo fel estroniaid yn ein gwlad ein hunain? Yn anffodus mae’r Cymry Cymraeg wedi hen arfer gyda’r gwynebau gwag yn edrych arnym pan rydym ni’n siarad Cymraeg yng nghiw yr Undeb. Neu yr ‘What language are you speaking then Love,’ wrth aros i fynd i fewn i Live Lounge ar nos Iau. Dyma’r gwir trist a ddaw wrth fod yn ran o Gymdeithas Gymraeg Caerdydd. Wedi dod o le Saesnigaidd rydw i wedi hen arfer gyda hyn ac yn hen gantrefol ymysg y Saesneg. Peth braf yw bod yn leiafrif ar adegau. Ond ydyn ni yn eithrio ein hunain? Ydyn ni’n byw mewn swigen o Gymreigtod? Mae’n wir fod dwy ochr i’r stori, mae’r perthynas agos i’w gael yn y Gym Gym ymysg yr aelodwyr yn rhywbeth ‘dwi’n siwr na fyddai’n cael ei gweld mewn rhai cymdeithasau. Gyda phawb yn adnabod i gilydd mae’r awyrgylch sydd i’w cael ar crol yn glos iawn. Fel bod siarad Cymraeg yn galluogi i ni deimlo fel tasen ni’n perthyn. Siwr o fod bod y bariau a’r clybiau gwahanol yn meddwl ei’n bod ni’n griw od iawn ar y naw. Ond be’ ‘di’r ots am hynny? Mae bod yn aelod o griw mor glos a’r Gym Gym yn anhygoel. Rydwym ni’n deall ein gilydd, er fod pob aelod yn unigryw, mae gan bawb elfen sydd yn perthyn i’w gilydd sef ein hunaniaeth ni. Clwb Ifor Bach yw ein cartref ni, ond i eraill ei henw yw ‘The Welsh Club.’ Neu ‘Clwb Ivor Bac.’ Dyma un lle nid oes neb yn cwestiynu ein hiaith ni. Rydwym yn cael gwrando ar ein cerddoriaeth ni a siarad trwy gyfrwng ein iaith cyntaf drwy’r nos hyd yn oed wrth archebu diod rhan fwyaf o’r amser. Ond eto, mae’n rhaid gofyn y cwestiwn, ydyn ni’n cadw ei’n hunain i ni’n hunain? Dydi’r Gym Gym ddim yn cael nosweithiau yn yr Undeb, fel cymdeithasau eraill. Un waith yr ydw i wedi bod fy hun. Yn wir roedd rhaid i mi gadw cŵl sawl tro ar yr ymweliad sydyn ges i gyda’r Undeb. Gan ddechrau sgwrs reit llosg gyda un neu ddau o fechgyn di-gymraeg. Yn ôl nhw mae’r Gymraeg yn ‘dead language, and no one speaks it anymore.’ Neu ‘ Why do you have a society for Welsh in Wales. We don’t have an English society in England.’ Minnau’n ceisio fy ngorau i beidio rhoi cic i’w goes ar ddamwain. A’r unig sarhad yr oeddwn ni’n gallu ei feddwl amdano yn yr eiliad honno oedd : ‘Iron your shirt.’ Ges i look eithaf od wedi hynny. Mae’n flinedig gorfod egluro eich hunaniaeth a’ch iaith i fobl estron. Er ar adegau ni yw’r estroniaid yn ôl nhw. Er i ni deimlo fel estroniaid ar adegau, yn wir yn y Gym Gym, dyma yw ein lle. Mae pawb yn deall ei gilydd yn iawn. Er fod rhaid egluro ein hunain weithiau, mae bod yn Gymraeg yn sicr yn werth y ddadl ar risiau yr Undeb.
CLEBAR
“Do people even speak
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O’r Glaw i’r Eira: 4 lle fforddiadwy i deithio dros y Gaeaf! WORDS BY: MEGAN TOMOS DESIGN BY: STEPH ROWE
Y Gaeaf: tymor oer a hir lle fyddwch chi’n treulio’ch dyddiau mewn cotiau glaw trwchus yn ceisio cymryd mantais o unrhyw beth Nadoligaidd. Pob blwyddyn rydym ni’n breuddwydio am yfed Mulled Wine yn yr eira o dan cysgod y golau disglair uwch ein pen. Ond yma yng Nghymru mae’n anodd gwynebu’r realiti; glaw. Mae’r tymor yn un llwm a gwlyb, i ddweud y lleiaf. Ac anodd iawn ydi hi i fod yn frwdfrydig pan mai’r peth agosaf gewch chi at y festive spirit ydi siocled poeth o Starbucks gwerth £7! Felly pam ddim ymestyn ymhellach na’r glaw a’r diflastod eleni a ymweld a rhai o leoliadau mwyaf anhygoel Ewrop. Amser y Nadolig ydi’r adeg gorau i daflu eich hunain i fewn i ddiwylliant a phrofiadau newydd. Ac, drwy siarad o brofiad, dyma bedair gwlad sy’n cynnig y gorau o wyliau tymhorol o’r fath:
1. Eira’r Swistir
Does dim dadlau fod harddwch y Swistir yn unigryw, a heb os, mae ysbryd Nadoligaidd y wlad yn sicr am wireddu eich breuddwydion o Aeaf Gwyn. Nid yn unig ydi’r Swistir yn rhad yn gyffredinol, ond mae’n wlad rhyfeddol a syfrdanol yn ei natur a’i diwylliant, ac mae’n gaddo gwyliau hollol bythgofiadwy. Mae gan y wlad gymaint i’w gynnig i blesio pawb o bob gallu. Gallwch fentro i fyny i Alpsy Swistir i fwynhau rhai o chwaraeon Gaeaf yng nghanol rhai o olygfaeydd mwyaf anhygoel y wlad. Mae ardaloedd fel St Moritz a Zermatt ymhlith y rheini lle fyddwch chi’n darganfod gweithgareddau sgïo gwych a phrofiadau bythgofiadwy après-ski hefyd. Ond os nad ydi’r mynyddoedd i chi, mae gan y Swistir amrywiaeth o ddinasoedd hudol sy’n cyfleu ysbryd y Nadolig. Mentrwch i ddinas Basel sy’n gartref i’r farchnad fwyaf yn y wlad gyda dros 180 o gwtiau pren yng nghanol yr hen dref. Neu mae Zurich a Lucerne yn ddinasoedd o werth sy’n cynnig sglefrio iâ, siopa a pherfformiadau anhygoel gan fandiau pres traddodiadol!
2. Nadolig diwylliedig yn Fienna
Mae traddodiad marchnad Nadolig Fienna bellach dros 700 mlwydd oed, ac mae’n dal i fod yn un o leoliadau gwyliau Gaeaf mwyaf poblogiadd Ewrop am ei harddwch a dathliadau traddodiadol y Nadolig. Bob Nadolig, mae sgwariau Fienna yn llenwi â choed, addurniadau a goleuadau anhygoel. Maent yn cynnal llond lle o weithgareddau tymhorol, o weithdai celf ar gyfer plant i reidiau asyn o amgylch y ddinas. Gwnewch yn siŵr i beidio â cholli’r cyngherddau côrau bydenwog sy’n digwydd yn neuaddau’r dref; mae côrau yn hedfan i mewn o bob cwr o’r byd i ganu carolau sy’n dennu torfau enfawr ac yn cwbhlau awyrgylch Nadoligaidd a hudol Fienna.
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3. Baths Budapest
Mae Prif ddinas Hwngari yn un o’r mannau gwyliau Nadolig mwyaf poblogaidd Ewrop gan fod y ddinas yn arbennig o hyfryd yn ystod y Gaeaf. Mae Budapest yn cynnal marchnad Nadolig yn flynyddol lle bu’r ddinas yn llawn goleuadau ac addurniadau, a’r strydoedd yn llifo mewn stondinau di-ben sy’n gwerthu popeth o gelf i cwrw traddodiadol. Mae llawer o bobl yn teithio i Budapest dros y Nadolig i ymweld â’r Spa awyr agored (neu’r Baths). Gall twristiaid dalu pris rhesymol i dreulio amser yn ymlacio yn baddonau poeth mwyaf poblogaidd Ewrop o dan oleuadau Nadolig ac awel crisp y Gaeaf (sy’n sicr angen bod ar eich bucketlist). Mae’r ddinas yn hynod o rhad ac mae’r bywyd nos yn arbennig o wych, sy’n sicr am apelio at deithwyr ifanc. Mae’r ddinas yn un bywiog a syfrdanol ac yn llawn pobl cwrtais a brwdfrydig! Ac, ynghlwm â dathliadau amser y Nadolig, mae Budapest yn llawn haeddianol am ei deitl fel un or mannau gorau am wyliau Gaeafol.
4. Dathlu draw yn y Wlad Belg
Dim ond ffracsiwn o’r hyn y mae’r Gwlad Belg yn ei gynnig dros tymor Nadolig ydi’r strydoedd llawn stondinau, goleuadau ac addurniadau. Mae Brwsel, Antwerp a Bruges ymhlith llu o ddinasoedd yn y wlad sy’n creu gwyliau gwerth chweil, ac maent yn hawdd i’w cyrraedd ac yn gymharol rhad i ymweld â nhw yn ystod misoedd y Gaeaf. Mae marchnadoedd Gaeaf Gwlad Belg yn enwog am eu harddangosfeydd Nadolig traddodiadol a hudolus. O’r goleuadau rhyfeddol yn sgwâr ‘Grand-Place’ Brwsel, i farchnadoedd medieval hardd yn Bruges, ni fydd y Wlad Belg yn siomi. Yn sicr does ddim ffordd gwell i daflu eich hunain i fewn i cyffro’r Nadolig na gyda siocled poeth traddodiadol o dan lwybr hudolus o oleuadau llachar yng nghanol Ewrop.
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Byw o dan ddylanwad: Gwynebu’r gwir am effaith cyfryngau cymdeithasol ar ein hunan werth GEIRIAU GAN: GWENLLIAN DAFYDD LLUN GAN: ASHLEY BOYLE Mae’n ran hanfodol o natur ddynol i allu gwerthuso ein galluoedd ni er mwyn sefydlu pa fath o berson yr ydym, beth yw ein cryfderau a’n gwendidau a beth fedra ni wneud i wella ein hunain fel unigolyn. Dyma yw sail Damcaniaeth Cymharu Cymdeithasol (Social Comparison Theory) a gyflwynwyd gan Leon Festinger yn 1954. Mae’r ddamcaniaeth hon yn mynd ati i esbonio y ffordd rydym yn defnyddio y pobl o’n cwmpas fel ffordd o gymharu a asesu ein galluon, er mwyn I ni peidio bod yn ansicr am ein hunain werth. Yn ôl yn 1954 pan gyflwynodd Festinger y ddamcaniaeth, mae’n debygol mai teulu a ffrindiau oedd ein prif ffynhonnell o gymaru, ond bellach mae’n debyd mai nid hyn yw sefyllfa dim mwy. Yn ein byd modern hefo cyfryngau cymdeithasol, megis Facebook, rydym efo cip-olwg i mewn i fywydau mwy o bobl nac erioed. Ac wrth gymryd hyn i fewn i ystyriaeth rhaid gofyn a yw cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn gosod safonnau uchel ni fedrant ei cyraedd? A beth yw gwir niwed hyn? Pan rydym yn edrych drwy gwefannau megis Instagram mae’n anodd peidio cymharu ein hunain ir pobl ar ein sgrîn yn awtomatig. Un or prif broblemau sydd wedi cael ei hyrwyddo drwy ymchwil yw yr effaith negyddol mae cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn cael ar ddelwedd corff. Dros y rhyngwyd rydym yn cael ein atgoffa yn ddyddiol o beth mae cymdeithas heddiw yn gweld fel ‘y corff perffaith’, does ddim modd disgrifio beth yw y corff hwn gan fod cymdeithas yn newid ei feddwl yn gyson ar beth sydd yn ‘berffaith’. Yn 2013, darganfyddwyd bod yr amser a warwyd gan merched ifanc ar Facebook efo cyd berthyniad gyda delwedd corf negyddol. Pan rydym yn gweld llun o ferch efo cannoedd os nad miloedd o ‘likes’ a sylwadau di-ddiwedd yn ei chymeradwyo, mae hi’n hynod o anodd i beidio cymharu ein hunain. Mae lluniau poblogaidd efo atgyfnerthiad positif yn dueddol o greu safonau uchel mae nifer o enethod yn teimlo fel ei bod rhaid iddynt ei dilyn. Pan nid ydym yn gallu cyraedd y safon uchel hon, maen debygol I ni deimlo fel
ein bod wedi methu, ag inni dal I redeg ar ôl safon maen debygol na fyddent yn gallu ei gyraedd. Er ar yr arwyneb maen edrych fel petai marched ywr rhai sydd yn cael ei effeithio fwyaf, mae hefyd llawer o ymchwil diweddar am yr effaith ar ddynion. Gwelwyd bod dynion yn fwyaf tebygol o cael ei dylanwadu gan safonnau corff sydd yn bennaf am cyhyrau, efo y teimlad fel bod rhaid cyraedd safon edrychiad athletwyr proffesiynol neu unigolion sydd yn defnyddio gwefannau megis Instagram I nodi ei anturiaethau yn codi pwysau yn y gym. Darganfyddwyd bod dynion sydd yn gweld nifer o fideos o dynion efor corff ‘perffaith’ yn tueddu I deimlo yn waeth am ei edrychiad a bod yn anfodhaol efo meint ei cyhyrau. Mae’r diwylliant hon o gymharu ein cyrff I rai eraill yn hynod o niweidiol gan all greu deimlad o siom a straen pan rydym yn teimlo nad ydynt yn mesur I safonau eraill. Pan rydym yn brysyr yn trio cyraedd safonau sydd ddim wir yn bodoli, dim ond fel syniad gwibiol yn ein cymdeithas, rydym yn gwario llai o amser yn derbyn ein hunain fel pwy ydym. Wrth rhoid delwedd corff I un ochr, nid yw r cymhariaethau yn gorffen yn fano. Pan rydym yn edrych ar cyfryngau cymdeithasol mae pob tro modd gweld rhywun yn cael mwy o hwyl na ni, efo mwy o bres na ni a yn llwyddo mwy yn gynharach. Dros cyfryngau cymdeithasol rydym yn tueddu I weld bywydau ‘perffaith’ pobl, a dyma ywr safon rydym yn rhoid ar ein hunanin yw gyraedd. Rhan fwyaf or amser nid oes modd gweld trafferthion ac iselbwyntiau pobl, sydd yn arwain I ni gredu nad yw eraill yn dioddef rhain. Maen creu straen arnom I gyraedd y safon uchel yma o hapusrwydd a llwyddiant; diwylliant o bob amser edrych am fwy, yn lle bod yn fodlon gyda ein sefyllfa presenol. Yn amlwg mae cyfryngau cymdeithasol efo agweddau positif wrth iddo gael ei ddefnyddio fel ysbrydoliaeth I rai, maen bwysig cofio nad oes rhaid cyraedd y safonnau uchel rydym yn rhoid er ein hunain ac er fel maen ei edrych nid yw bywyd neb yn berffaith.
25 CLEBAR
FFOTOGRAFF: @KYLIEJENNER
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Seasonal Eating
WORDS BY: ANGHAR AD MAY
Why is it so important?
DESIGN BY: ABI DUDBRIDGE Fad food trends flit in and out of the culinary scene more often than a chameleon changes colour. Thankfully, seasonal eating has outgrown simply being a transitory trend and is undoubtedly far more important than a mere fashionable food movement, as seen increasingly in the restaurant scene as well as encouragement from health professionals. However, very few people still do not know when even the most familiar of foods are actually in season. This isn’t surprising considering the vast array of products sold in shops, where pretty much anything is available all year round. So, what exactly is seasonal eating, why is it important and how can it benefit us? Foods have a natural body clock which makes seasonal food taste far better, whether that be crunchier, juicier, sweeter or overall more flavoursome. Have you ever eaten a dull, watery strawberry, a bland, tough tomato or a dry, tasteless apple? They were more than likely out-of-season. Eating seasonably is loosely about eating the right things at the right time, which results in experiencing the freshest, best-tasting produce at a fraction of the price. If you eat goods that are in season, not only will you enjoy naturally higher-quality and tastier food, an economic benefit of seasonal eating is that you are also likely to save yourself some pennies, because buying a basket of foods that are in season is much cheaper than buying the same basket of foods when they are not. In terms of the importance of seasonal eating on a more global level, buying foods which are in season has a much more positive impact on the planet for a plethora of reasons. Growing foods out of season requires a higher level of artificial inputs than growing these foods in season, and this undoubtedly has harmful consequences on the environment. These artificial inputs include heating, lighting, pesticides and fertilisers; less of these need to be used to grow fruit and vegetables in season. Thus, seasonal produce costs less for farmers to harvest and has a less negative impact on the environment. Eating seasonal produce is also better for the environment because eating seasonal generally means eating more local produce, hence fewer food miles and less pollution from distribution all over the world. This in turn improves the quality of crops as they are less likely to be damaged en route after being picked at its best, and also results in a lower price for consumers. There is a prime time for when each fruit and vegetable is at its seasonal best, and some have a longer duration of peak time than others, but how are we supposed to know when’s the best time to eat what food, when we are faced with all manner of weird and wonderful produce at shops all year round? One of the best ways to eat seasonally is to shop at local markets where the produce on offer is usually seasonal. Cardiff Central Market is on our doorstep, just so you know!
shopping list
January- kale, carrots, parsnips, swede February- leeks, savoy cabbage March- spring greens, spring onions, sardines April- cauliflower, lamb, watercress, wild garlic May- asparagus, new potatoes, rhubarb, nectarine June- peas, broad beans, tomatoes, strawberries July- cucumber, beetroot, mackerel, cherries, blackcurrants August- cos lettuce, fennel, pepper, blueberries, raspberries September- courgette, runner beans, squash, blackberries, pears October- sweetcorn, game, pumpkin, apples, figs November-potatoes, red cabbage, chestnuts December- white cabbage, Brussels sprouts, horseradish, turkey
Of course, this range of seasonal foods overlap from month to month, hence we can categorise produce into recipes for the seasons. For example... Winter: spicy parsnip soup; carrot hummus; leek and turkey pie; slow-cooked beef and ale stew with root vegetables, sloe gin Spring: watercress and garlic soup; chicken and asparagus risotto; sardine fish-cakes with new potato salad; cauliflower cheese; rhubarb and ginger crumble Summer: gazpacho; courgette and fennel frittata; mackerel kedgeree; strawberry ice cream; beetroot chocolate cake; raspberry sorbet; amaretto cherries, Summer Cup punch Autumn: butternut squash soup; sweetcorn and bacon chowder; prosciutto-wrapped figs stuffed with blue cheese; pumpkin cheesecake; pear tarte tatin; apple and blackberry pie The opportunities with seasonal ingredients are endless! By choosing yourself a variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs, meat, poultry or fish that are in season, you will be getting the best flavour, texture and nutrients out of the food, at a better value price. seasonal ingredients.
Autumn
Winter
Spring
The internet is a great place to start in your search for recipe ideas with websites and blogs offering a plethora of advice on what is in season, and how best to use seasonal ingredients. Also, an increasing number of recipe books by top chefs have been published with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Send us a photo of your seasonal eats via the @ quenchfood Instagram; we’d love to see what delicacies you conjure!
Summer
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Admit it, many of us tend to overbuy food, especially if it is on offer or reduced. But, what do we do when we are full? When the bread is going stale? When we cook too much food? We get rid of it, in the bin it goes! All our waste mounts up, contributing to the growing UK waste problem. Research from The Guardian has found that the UK alone throws away £13 billion worth of food each year. Plans are being put in place by the Welsh Environment Secretary to reduce to half our food waste by 2025. How can we help reduce waste and save ourselves some money at the same time? By reducing our waste and reusing leftovers we can save time and money! But, how? The following list is just some of many ideas of what your leftovers can be turned into to make a delicious meal and reduce your waste at the same time. WORDS BY: MEGAN DESMOND
1. Leftover cooked pasta
DESIGN BY: ORLAGH TURNER
The one essential nearly every student lives off. Pasta can be reused in many different dishes and can even make a great lunch, Here’s how;
Pasta bake This is super easy dish to do with leftover pasta. All you have to do is reheat the pasta, make up a basic white sauce, add in passata, then serve it up and add cheese on top. Pasta salad This is another quick and easy lunch time dish to do and all you have to do is add in the salad. Quick and easy bake macaroni cheese Got some leftover macaroni or fusilli pasta? Make up a quick cheese sauce, mix it into the pasta, grate some bread and cheese on top and you have yourself a quick bake macaroni cheese. 2. Leftover Vegetables You open the fridge after a long day of lectures and find your vegetable at the bottom slowly on their way out. What can you do with these to try and use them up? How about… Vegetable Soup The advantage of making soup is that it is quick, easy and you can even freeze it. Save yourself some time this autumn semester and make up a batch of soup then just get it out on the morning you plan to have it for dinner that day. Stir fry Save yourself some money and make up your own tasty stir fry. Roasted vegetables Cook up that veg into some roast. It doesn’t necessarily have to be with a cook dinner, you could do it with some leftover pasta to make vegetable pasta. Casserole The best autumn dish to help warm you up after being out in the cold. It’s easy and leaves you enough for lunch/dinner the next day. 3. Leftover bread that’s going stale Bread goes stale too quickly. Even if we freeze it and use it as and when needed, it still seems to turn stale fast. What can we use it for apart from toast? Croutons How about trying a hand at making your own croutons? Dice the bread up and fry it; you can add in any flavours or seasoning you fancy. Eggy bread A nice and quick breakfast to make and use up the eggs at the same time. Quick and simple food and uses up those leftovers. For extra sweetness add on some sugar or syrup afterwards. Cheese on toast Quick and simple if you’re not feeling to hungry and it uses up that bit of leftover cheese too! Pizza toast Fancy a pizza but out of cash to buy that cheeky Domino’s? Use up the bread and create your own mini pizzas! Quick and delicious dinner - who knew you could turn bread into pizza? So, there you have it, a few quick and simple ideas to use up those leftovers that are wasting away. Grab your apron and get creating your own tasty dish!
Making The Best Of Leftovers
Tuna Pasta One of the many top choices of what to do with leftover pasta, add some tuna and some mayo and you have yourself lunch for the next day.
FOOD & DRINK
Being a student does not come cheap. We have to pay rent, travel costs, textbooks, stationary and then, of course, the most essential, food.
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It’s that time of year again, Christmas is just around the corner. Whether you like it or not, it is going to be two months of Jingle Bells, reindeer jumpers and Love Actually.
Between 4:30 and 7:30pm, the step into Christmas celebrations will transform the city with an array of music and street performances, as well as sparkling lights. On the same day, Cardiff Christmas Market will also be officially opened. It is the place to go to for both Christmas shopping and food lovers. It has remained a very popular attraction since 1994. Located in St John Street, Working Street and the Hayes and Trinity Street, the market brings a christmassy atmosphere to the heart of the city thanks to lines of traditional wooden chalets. With over eighty decorated stalls, you’ll certainly find something you like. Local artists and crafts people sell their products, providing great and original presents for your entire family. However, if you prefer to spend your money on food rather than on gifts, you’ll still find happiness in Cardiff Christmas Market!
While wandering the market, be sure to stop at the numerous food stalls offering varieties of foods and drinks including hot chocolate, Welsh cakes, Currywurst, mince pies and cinnamon rolls. I could not recommend the traditional mulled wine and roasted nuts enough; there’s nothing better to help you survive a cold winter afternoon! If you want to treat yourself, Cardiff Christmas Market will be opened everyday from 10am to 6pm (5pm on Sundays) from November 15th to December 23rd.
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FOOD & DRINK
And Cardiff will not stand out; the Christmas spirit will definitely strike its streets. Christmas festivities in Cardiff will officially be launched on the 15th of November.
The other main attraction in Cardiff at Christmas time is Winter Wonderland. It is located on the City Hall lawns, close to Cardiff University. Opening on the 15th of November, it is a highlight of the Christmas spirit. Winter Wonderland is particularly famous for its ice rink and fun fair rides. However, this year, foodies will also definitely find what they are looking for there. You can find a new food area with food stalls that serve traditional winter food, as well as burgers and savoury crepes. A great alternative if you don’t feel like walking all the way to the Christmas Market in the city centre.
In addition, there lies some exciting news in a brand new bar named “Sur la piste” is opening at Winter Wonderland this year. It is a cosy chalet-styled bar bringing two floors of alpine vibes to Cardiff. It will offer a wide variety of drinks. It looks to be a great place to relax after an intense iceskating session!
Plenty for us food lovers to rejoice in Cardiff around Christmas! I’ll see you at the Currywurst stall!
Winter Wonderland will be opened on weekdays from 12am to 10pm, and from 10am to 10pm on weekends from November 15th to December 22nd. Following this, it will be open from 11am to 10pm between December 23rd to January 6th (however it will be closed on Christmas Day!).
WORDS BY: JOSHUA ONG DESIGN BY: URSZULA RODAKOWSKA
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Heaneys Cardiff Review and Interview with Award-Winning Head Chef
WORDS BY:CATERINA DASSIÈ AND JOSH ONG
PHOTOS BY: JOSH ONG
On Wednesday October 10th the Great British Menu chef Tommy Heaney has finally opened the doors of his brand-new bar and restaurant, Heaney’s, in Pontcanna on Romilly Crescent. Yet, Quench has had the opportunity to try it out the night before the launch. After being successful at the Great House in Bridgend, Tommy and his team aimed at the bigger market of the capital. They wanted to find a venue which would have reflected their comfortable service – nothing too fussy - but first-rate goods: Pontcanna. The perfect neighbourhood for modern and fine cuisine. Here, they opened their pop-up micro-restaurant which has been supported and loved by the locals, which has been essential for the opening of the new venue, previously occupied by the fruitful Arbennig, just next door to the pop-up. The old site was known to be one of the best in the capital, thus, Heaney’s aims at keeping Arbennig’s tradition: fame and (Welsh) quality.
DESIGN BY: LUISA DE LA CONCHA MONTES
Besides, the opening of Heaney’s has been possible because of the £40,000 raised via a public Kickstarter campaign, making possible the furnishing of the new venue – semi-industrial style ambience with visible brickwork and of course, local ornaments and unique decorations made just for Heaney’s. All the renovation has been led by Welsh building contractor, DWEP. Not a single private backers or investors have helped the shining Heaney’s, just food lovers. What’s more, there will be different organized events with Michelin starred chefs appearing and cooking with Tommy. Now, let’s talk about our experience at the restaurant. The night before the opening, they offered us a tasting menu. A 10-course dinner which we would hardly forget. The plates were a combination of colourful, distinct flavors, and freshness due to the high-quality products used. We decided to bring back to you the best four.
Fried Pollock, Warm Buttermilk Tartar, Chard, Lime With fried food, the first hint which tells you whether something has been fried well or not is the sound of the breading while cracking it with a fork. In this case, it was the perfect one. Indeed, the breading had the perfect crunchiness and golden color due to the optimal oil temperature and of course, a good (Tommy’s) eye and technique.The pollock fillet was cooked to perfection, it was steamed inside while retaining moisture and softness. Also, the delicate taste of the white fish was enhanced by the lime zest freshly grated on the top. The buttermilk tartar and the rainbow chard offered a good contrast. The sourness of the sauce was in fact balanced by the sweetness of the chard. The only suggestion here might be on the quantity of the tartar: it was a bit too much and in part covered the fine taste of the fish.
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At first sight of this on the menu, it certainly raised an eyebrow on my end. My love of anything barbecued is well documented (see our website for a love-letter to true barbecue) and I’ve certainly never encountered anchovy working in unison with lamb. Needless to say, I was more than pleasantly surprised. The glistening rose pink lamb lay as the centrepiece of the dish. From appearance alone, I’d say there was enough to warrant the price of the whole tasting menu. Nevertheless, the smoke profile of the lamb was utterly divine with the umami-boost of the anchovy supporting, but not overpowering, the flavour of the meat. The jus, puree and sea vegetables gave the dish the edge it required to complete it as an all round perfect treat.
Apple, Earl Grey Custard, Raspberry Sorbet, Wild Berry, Hazelnut An explosion of flavors, temperatures and consistencies. The crunchy hazelnut crumble at the bottom of the dessert was lukewarm revealing a layer of fresh berries and sweet and soft cooked apple, which unveiled the heart: a raspberry sorbet. All of it was topped up by something in between an Earl Grey mousse and a custard. Each of the different flavours worked deliciously well together; while the creaminess and sweetness of the topping custard was well balanced by the bitterness of the hint of Earl Grey, the freshness and amer of the raspberry sorbet was countered by the apple pieces. Not to mention the crumble and fresh berries, which helped drying out the mouth, from the different soft and creamy goodies, taste after taste.
Salted Caramel, Malt, Yogurt This dish was the perfect way to finish the tasting menu. The decadently rich, soft salted caramel log was one of those dishes that just coats the entirety of the inside of your mouth with joy only to then be cut through by the tanginess of the yogurt. Furthermore, who could forget the shards of beautiful gold scattered around the central piece. These golden delights aided the dish in providing the textural difference of a brittle snap and crunch to an otherwise elderly-friendly dish. Our expectations were high, but they managed to succeed them. The portions might not be as big as other restaurants we can find in Cardiff, but the service, ambience and high-quality ingredients are worth the money (and the walk).
Tommy Heaney’s Interview Why did you decide Cardiff? We didn’t really decide Cardiff, we put it in on social media, asking the question: should we look at Cardiff, Bristol or Swansea? And basically, John, the owner from Arbennig, contacted me asking if I was interested in this place. Social media made a huge part in this, and when we came here, looked at it, we just fell in love with it. The supporters were absolutely incredible. Tell us more about the idea of the pop-up and the new venue. We bought both the places and we needed to do something with Arbennig stuff in order to plan the revenue and to still give a pay to our staff. Thus, we decided to launch the pop-up. The whole idea of the pop-up was to give people an example of what we were going to provide next door and it has been essential to be able to do what we are doing now in the main restaurant. What is the difference now between the pop-up restaurant and the new one? The pop-up restaurant was very small, we only had 20 seats and it was really informal. Instead, next door, we have 50-60 covers, but also we have a cocktail bar and a wide wine selection. The ambience and the atmosphere next door are just on a different level. How can you manage to offer high-quality products at a low-price? The idea is that we do small bites. Basically, we took the tasting menu and individually price the plates. So, to an extent, it is not a small as a tasting, but just a little bit bigger so that you can have in between the two. Regarding the high-quality of the products, all the ingredients are local and fresh meaning that the fisherman, for example, would tell me what he has available that day and we write the menu around that.
Talking about the menu, where do you usually take inspiration from? I guess the fisherman, butcher or whoever provides me that day with fresh ingredients is actually deciding how the menu would develop. We then take whatever that piece of fish, meat, etc… and we combine it with the range of veggies that we’ve got. Yet, we have decided a limit of three elements on the plate meaning there are no unnecessary items on the plate. If an herb is there, it’s there is for a reason, not just to make it look pretty. How was the opening night? The opening night was amazing. It was buzzing, busier than we could have ever imagined. A lot of it was created by the local support. The biggest compliment that we had was about the ambience, because we didn’t want a fancy restaurant. We just wanted to create a place where you can go and enjoy good food or just have a pint, a glass of wine or a simple bite. We just wanted people to feel comfortable. Have you got anything planned for the future? Yes, we do have plenty. We have our old pop-up and we want to turn that into something. We still don’t know into what yet, but we are heading towards sandwiches, coffee or a quick lunch place with everything remaining centered around quality. If we are going to have pastrami, we will be the one making it, as well as cured meats, which will be cured in house; we will probably make most things on the BBQ. Also, we would like to put a little function room on the upper level of the restaurant, creating a conference room for 15-20 people.
FOOD & DRINK
BBQ Welsh Lamb, Anchovy, Sea Vegetables
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Christmas tree brownies RECIPE BY: GEMMA HOPLEY IG: @GEMMX.H DESIGN BY: URSZULA RODAKOWSKA PHOTOGRAPHS BY: LUISA DE LA CONCHA MONTES IG: @ERST.WHILE
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FOR THE BRO WN IES : - 100 G OF UNS ALT ED BUT TER - 100 G OF CAS TER SUG AR - 2 L ARG E EGG S - 100 G OF SEL F R AISI NG FLO UR - 300 G OF DAR K CHO COL ATE - 2 1/2 TSP OF VAN ILL A EXT R ACT
FOR THE BUT TER CRE AM : - 200 G OF UNS ALT ED BUT TER - 400 G OF ICIN G SUG AR - 2TS P OF VAN ILL A EXT R ACT - A DAS H OF MIL K - GRE EN FOO D COL OUR ING
SPR INK LES AN D CAN DY CAN ES FOR DEC OR ATI ON
1. PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 180 DEGREES 2. GREASE AND LINE THE BAKING TIN 3. MELT THE CHOCOL ATE WITH THE BUTTER IN A BOWL OVER A SAUCEPAN OF SIMMERING WATER (BOWL CAN’T TOUCH THE WATER) AND ADD IN THE VANILL A EXTR ACT 4 . ONCE IT’S ALL MELTED TOGETHER REMOVE THE BOWL FROM THE HEAT, ADD IN THE SUGAR AND MIX UNTIL IT’S ALL DISSOLVED 5. NEXT, ADD IN THE EGGS AND WHISK 6. ADD IN THE FLOUR AND FOLD IT IN TO YOUR MIXTURE UNTILL IT’S ALL COMBINED 7. POUR IN TO THE BAKING TIN AND COOK FOR 15-20 MINUTES 8. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND LEAVE TO COOL FOR 25 MINUTES 9. WHILE THE BROWNIES ARE COOLING, ADD THE BUTTER, MILK AND ICING SUGAR INTO A BOWL AND MIX UNTIL COMBINED INTO A SMOOTH BUTTERCREAM 10. ADD IN THE GREEN COLOURING 11. CUT THE BROWNIES INTO SQUARES 12. DECOR ATE! (USE THE BUTTERCREAM TO CREATE THE BASE OF YOUR TREE, ADD SPARKLES FOR THE BAUBLES AND THEN USE SMALL PIECES OF CANDY
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GAP YAH A guide to understanding the infamous 'gap yah' student
WORDS BY: MOLLY GEDDES DESIGN BY: ABI DUDBRIDGE As we come to the end of the first uni term most of us will have faced two great challenges, making the switch from Heinz to Tesco value baked beans and getting used to our new flatmates and living companions. As you meet a million new people, you may have noticed a select few students that stand out from the rest. The iconic ‘gap yah’ student. If you can’t spot them out by the lingering golden tan and mandala tapestry, then here’s five signs you’re living with a ‘gap yah’
1. The Funky Attire-
If you have a gap yah flatmate, it will become apparent very quickly that there is in fact a strictly abided by ‘gap yah uniform’. This will likely only be abandoned on a Tuesday night where the Haviana flip flops are swapped for stiletto heels to impress at Revs Tuesdays. This official uniform consists of brightly coloured harem pants and tops with Asian countries named on them. You can easily spot the experienced travellers, also known as advanced level gap yah’s as their harem pants will have elephants printed on them. You can also judge someone’s skill level by the amount of tatty rope bracelets they wear. Standard uniforms consist of an arm full of rainbow woven bracelets, gemmed with turtles and surfboards. Those with greater experience will have a few international festival bands. However, the Master Gap Yah will still wear the humble paper wristbands that gained them a five Baht bucket at the Thai Full Moon party; true commitment.
2. Did you know they’re a year older than you?
Well, of course you did. You will be fed precious life advice gained from those valuable extra 8 months spent on this planet. There is in fact a set vocabulary used by this demographic of students. Some common phrases include ‘I don’t think I’ll go to freshers icebreaker since I’m technically not a fresher’ and ‘I’m kinda just over the whole going out thing now, I did it all when I was 18!’.
3. Your social media feeds just DO NOT compare
You click onto their social media page and you are met with complete colour. Turquoise sea, green palms, golden sunsets and red temples. You’ve never seen a feed so aesthetically pleasing. Images documenting every village visited and every person met. Not to mention a huge array of swimwear pictures hitting levels of likes that you could only dream of. They’ll have enough juicy content to keep the Throwback Thursday posts flowing all year.
4. Takeaways will never be the same again
A hungover flat Indian takeaway night will now be a very different experience whilst living with a gap yah. You won’t be able to enjoy your chicken tikka masala and garlic cheesy naan without being told that it’s not a REAL Indian dish. You absolutely will NOT be able to pick up a quick Wiwo after uni without being told how much better the rice tastes in Asia.
5. They will have the BEST stories
You’ll want to sit by them at every pre drinks because you truly will never tire of the ‘omg when I was in Ecuador…’ stories. You’d think you’d get tired of hearing about all the whacky backpackers they’ve met, the humongous bugs they’ve found in their clothes, or the time they drank the local water and spent 3 days with their head in the toilet, but you don’t. If anything, living with a gap year student just makes you want to pack your bags and follow in their footsteps; and we seriously urge you to do so (after you’ve got the degree, of course)!
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ay
TRAVEL
se ing spr the As f ng thi life ry fa eve eo tur from en adv m
est er
Before you set off, make sure you know as much as possible about the city and country you are venturing to. This includes important information, such as the plug socket adaptors you need, the best local sim card providers so you can contact home, and even the country’s emergency service numbers; all of which can be found easily online. However, it’s also important to have an understanding of your countries culture and customs so you can easily immerse yourself into a new way of life. We recommend compiling a bucket list of everything you want to visit and try in your new city so that you can make the most of this unique experience. Search the web for the best restaurants serving local cuisine, museums documenting the nation’s history and all significant landmarks you want to see, this way you can’t miss anything out. If you are moving to a country where English is not the first language, I would definitely recommend trying to learn some of the language in advance. As little as basic level language will definitely aid your experience, even if it’s just ‘one beer please!’
If you thought packing for your all-inclusive week in Crete was tough, then pay close attention to this part. Packing for your semester/year abroad CANNOT be rushed; make a list and take your time to ensure you don’t forget anything. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you to pack your passport, important documents and underwear. However, I can give you some vital tips so you’re packing the right things. Always remember to check the climate! If you’re off somewhere hot (lucky you) then don’t forget swimwear and sun cream. Alternatively, if you’re off to one of the very few places with worse weather than Wales, make sure you’re prepared with warm clothing. Also remember, you will likely need very different clothing at the start of your time and the end. I’m sure your wardrobe looked very different during our summer heatwave than it does now; make sure you bare this in mind. Another top tip; stock up on any medication you may need as your new temporary home country may not supply it.
What better way to prepare for your study abroad, than hearing from students who have been in your position? Fourth year German and Politics Student George Manuel has the best advice for those of you heading away: Firstly, plan early! Make sure you have everything sorted out months and months in advance; I know it sounds obvious but there are many cases where people are starting their time abroad with no idea of what the country they’re going to is like, no idea what the university they’ll be attending offers and even no accommodation! Furthermore, you may need to open a bank account to pay rent, get a local debit card, and receive any salary you might be earning. This isn’t a necessity, but it certainly makes living easier. Some universities will help you with this during an orientation programme, but others will leave it entirely up to you. If you’re lucky enough to have already visited the country in which you’ll be studying, then I’d recommend taking full advantage of any pre-existing friendships, acquaintances or old foreign exchange partners, because the best way you’ll experience your host country is by socializing with locals. However, if you don’t have that luxury, throw yourself into all the host university has to offer you. We’re incredibly lucky with our university system here in the UK; we have our Student’s Union, IMG teams and events, etc. However, on your year abroad you’ll have the amazing student network which is ERASMUS. Look at the relevant ESN Facebook pages for your city to see what events are going on – and go to every single one of them! It’s by far and away the easiest way to make friends during your year abroad. Plus, the friendships you make will be so unique and they’ll enhance your time away no end. Amongst all of the excitement, it’s easy to forget about the STUDY in study abroad. The work load can be quite challenging, so make sure you leave plenty of time to complete all uni work. From my experience, I picked modules which I had never studied before/had no prior knowledge of – this is one way of really taking the opportunity of having this freedom, however, be prepared to really dig in. Even with studying modules, in which you have already have some field knowledge, the way the modules are taught, and the content will vary to here at Cardiff. But most importantly, go with an open mind – if you have expectations of what your year abroad will be like, you’ll be limited to how much you’ll enjoy it. It won’t be easy settling into another country, but embrace the new culture, the people and the university and it’ll be so much easier finding your feet. Go outside of your comfort zone in every meaning of the phrase; study new things, meet new people, just do anything you wouldn’t have the opportunity to do here in Cardiff. WORDS BY: GEORGE MANUEL AND MOLLY GEDDES DESIGN BY: URSZULA RODAKOWSKA
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aw g n n i g o de. ov i li a n i a i M ppr ra d. ark e gu tim oache a b nd o t m s, m a e. br settl any e e ltim He ga ing d b n i s t u own udent re dy lly s wi l l b at Q in a the e stu tua e preparin c m i t d uench a r new c i the g to step i le ill ountry we w out of their comfort zones and begin mp ou w or contine ante y o t b c u nt is a do d to m ve n extremely daunting experience, but I have no ake this we ha o s , s huge leap as a overse easy as p ossible for those brave students heading am
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Where can you DESIGN BY: alessio philip grain
?
Most of us will spend part of our well-deserved summer break on holiday with family or friends. However, if you’re looking to get a bit more out of that three-month break from lectures, if you fancy a challenge but still want to enjoy yourself, then you need to familiarise yourself with Global Opportunities! GO are a university facility (found at 51 Park Place) which assist students in securing international placements; from volunteering to studying and working, they can help you find the perfect place to spend your summer! They will support you before, during and after your trip, as well as providing financial support and bursaries to ensure that you have the most rewarding summer yet.
Studying at the University of British Columbia, Canada
Working with the Phoenix Project in Namibia
Going abroad with Global Opportunities was something I knew I wanted to be involved in since first year and so I began my own research by looking on the University website and talked with other students at the GO fair about the opportunities available. I decided to study in Canada at the well-renowned University of British Columbia in Vancouver and to say it was the best summer of my life is an understatement. UBC is an anomaly in the university system; in the best possible way. You can ice-skate on campus, catch up on reading in a rose garden (which overlooks the ocean and mountains) and then head on down to the beach, which was 5 minutes from my accommodation. I guess you could say it was a little different from Cardiff! Studying over summer may appear daunting after a year at university, but it is actually the perfect opportunity to break up the long summer holidays with some adventure and a unique chance to experience life at another university. I was able to study a completely different degree for a month that now allows me to include a new breadth of knowledge on my CV and potentially attract future employers. However, most importantly I was able to achieve this whilst travelling around Canada and meeting an amazing group of international students. One highlight of my trip was travelling to the Rocky Mountains on a four-day trip and kayaking for the first time on breathtaking turquoise water. However, the main highlight was the knowledge that I had put myself out there and taken this opportunity by myself, and for myself. In doing so I have now made life-long friends from around the world, which wouldn’t have been possible without the support and funding from Global Opportunities.
Do you ever finish your lecture readings, seminar work, and find yourself twiddling your thumbs on what to do for the rest of the afternoon? No, me neither. However, on one occasion (yes, really - I was actually up to date with my work) I decided to sort through the vast array of university emails that I would mindlessly scroll past on a daily basis. After a bit of digging around my inbox I came across an amazing opportunity to spend 3 weeks in Africa, working with the Phoenix Project on an educationally focused campaign, to improve the lives and environment of people living in Namibia. During the campaign I shared a cottage in a community on the outskirts of the capital city of Windhoek with four other Cardiff University students. We became incredibly close friends and spent our free time exploring the city, including trips to the local markets, roof-top lunches, guided safaris and nights partying away at the local bars. During the day we were situated at the University of Namibia, creating a campaign to improve road safety across the country. We became very fond of the students of UNAM we were working with, so much so that we spent several evenings playing card games as a big group. It was incredibly rewarding to be able to meet students from a different culture to share stories and ideas. Spending time in an unfamiliar environment with strangers that soon grew into close friends was one of the best decisions I could have made this summer. It allowed me to travel independently, yet with the reassurance that the trip was a reliable and highly beneficial one for myself, both personally and professionally. Thank you to Global Opportunities for providing me with exactly that; an amazing opportunity to explore the globe!
-Words by Camille Stanley
-Words by Courtney Moody
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Volunteering at a Mental Health Organisation in Sri Lanka This summer I volunteered in Sri Lanka for five weeks with SLV Global, a mental health organisation providing volunteer placements in Sri Lanka and Bali. Their placements offer the chance to gain psychology-focused work experience in a range of professional environments from classrooms to psychiatric facilities, orphanages and drug rehabilitation centres. Then on weekends, volunteers have free time to travel around the country sightseeing. My favourite part was Arugam Bay because of the stunning beaches and lively nightlife.The other volunteers and I worked with diverse client groups, including children and adults with varying needs, with the aim to improve the countries’ existing resources and to promote positive mental health through a range of activities, all of which we had the opportunity to plan ourselves. I was placed with a Sri Lankan family and was totally immersed in the home country’s culture, which in my case was a Buddhist household, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before! Cardiff Uni’s Global Opportunities promoted this placement and they gave me a £600 bursary for taking part which really helped towards the placement fees. My favourite part of the trip was definitely seeing the people we worked with come out of their shells and greet us with a big smile when we arrived… and of course the beautiful beaches, temples and amazing curries! I cannot recommend this unique experience enough to anyone looking to get hands-on mental health experience, my time in Sri Lanka this summer has been invaluable. -Words by Molly Wescott
Working as an intern in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam was a country that I was always interested in visiting; it offered everything from vibrant cities to secluded beaches to breath-taking countryside! Global Opportunities allowed me the chance to not only visit this magnificent country but to actually live and breathe Vietnamese culture for two whole months. I first heard about InternVietnam at the study abroad fair which I took a glance around at during my second year and was excited to hear that Global Opportunities would provide a full bursary to cover InternVietnam’s costs (without this I would definitely not have been so forward in my application)! I ended up spending eight incredible weeks with ten other Cardiff University students living in the Southern City of Ho Chi Minh; eating, drinking and exploring the time away when not working hard at my social media and marketing internship. It’s hard to pick a highlight but spending an evening on a local food tour, biking around the city, sampling new dishes, delicacies and beer (all at no cost to us) was certainly an enjoyable way to spend an evening. The best part about having two months in Vietnam was that it gave me the opportunity to explore the country and even spend a weekend in Cambodia! -Words by Martha Hughes
Volunteering in Fiji
with
Global
Pacific
I chose to spend my summer across the globe on a tiny island called Moturiki in Fiji. While I was there I lived with a Fijian family, embracing their culture and way of life and volunteering in schools teaching English, Maths and coaching various sports. I first heard about this wonderful opportunity when scrolling through Cardiff University’s intranet pages looking to see if I could study abroad as part of my degree. There were hundreds of volunteering opportunities available but this one really stood out to me. The charity ‘Think Pacific’ works closely with Cardiff University and together they send lots of students to various locations in Fiji for a month-long project. The university funding towards the project is invaluable as, without Global Opportunities’ financial support, going on the trip would have been almost impossible! Every day in Fiji somehow brought a new highlight, whether it was the smallest of victories such as a kid learning his alphabet and telling the time correctly or something a bit more out of my comfort zone such as spear fishing at midnight and taking a risky boat journey through what the locals call ‘shark motorway’. Nothing can quite prepare you for what you will experience and absolutely everyone’s time away is different, however, you would have to search far and wide for someone who regrets going to Fiji. The life experience that you gain, and the friends that you meet, are all indescribable and unforgettable. -Words by Iona Middleton
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Not Driving Home for Christmas? Sometimes going home during the festive break isn’t an option, sometimes you just fancy a quiet few weeks to relax, sometimes you’re drowning in essays and/or revision and can’t drag yourself away from your desk for more than a day. Whatever your reason for sticking around Cardiff this Christmas break, don’t worry, there’s plenty of day trips to enjoy whether you’re exploring solo or with your mates!
Take a bracing beach stroll in Barry
Just a short train journey away, Barry Island is iconic for its vibrant arcades, local chippies and sandy beach (and of course as the setting for the nation’s favourite comedy Gavin and Stacey). While summer is the most popular time of year to visit Barry, it offers a different kind of charm in winter. Many cafes are still open during this quiet time and you can warm yourself with a cheap cuppa after doing a spot of dog-spotting whilst taking a stroll along the beachfront. If you’re lucky there may also be an arcade or two open where you can splash out on the two pence games and take refuge from the light drizzle. If you need a break from uni work and are just craving some fresh air and fun, then this is the place to head for a day out this Christmas break.
Feel the festive spirit
Embrace your inner History geek
WORDS BY: EMILY STANTON
WORDS BY: MAR THA HUGHES
DESIGN BY: ANDREA GAINI
One of the best things about living in Wales is exploring its vast and varied history. Take a trip through the ages and head down to Wales’ most visited heritage attraction, St Fagan’s National Museum of History (just 10 minutes by car or 20 minutes by bus). Learn about the history of Wales at different points in time by exploring buildings replicating periods from World War Two to Medieval times. It’s free to enter and there’s an option for a small fee to take a traditional horse and cart ride around or even a small steam train around the park. There’s even an old-fashioned sweet shop where you can pick up some delicious treats to take home!
Dig out your railcard and head for Cardiff Central Station as the nearby town of Bath is the best place to spend any crisp winter evening. The picturesque streets lined with honey coloured Georgian architecture are transformed into the ultimate winter wonderland. Bright white Christmas lights are dotted across every free space in the town and quaint festive market stalls clutter the streets. Indulge in artisan home made goods, festive food and lots of mulled wine. As you wander the wonderfully festive streets, you are serenaded by the constant sound of carol singers. It truly is any Christmas lover’s heaven!
Get your adrenaline pumping
A trip to the National Diving and Activity Centre in Tidenham, Chepstow might be in order for some adrenaline induced warmth at Christmas time. The Centre offers wire zip sliding, an opportunity to launch one’s self from a 70m high cliff edge into a 700m long slide above a deep flooded quarry, experiencing speeds reaching 40 miles per hour. Other activities include riding on a giant 3G swing that takes you up 245ft into the air, fly boarding and kayaking. With these and a small English parish on the Welsh border to explore, it should make for an exhilarating day. WORDS BY: SUMAIYA QUARAISHI
WORDS BY: MOLLY GEDDES
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an interview with: WORDS BY: CAMILLE STANLEY DESIGN BY: KATIE MAY HUXTABLE IMAGE BY: DESHAUN CRADDOCK VIA FLICKR For anyone born in the 90s it is likely that The Kooks were the defiant soundtrack to their adolescent years from 2006 onwards. The band, which has had various member changes over the years, released iconic Britpop songs such as ‘Naive’ and ‘She Moves in Her Own Way’ amongst many other well loved tracks from their initial albums. The band has never ceased to gain new fans over the years thanks to their position as one of Britain’s best indie-rock bands. This sees them headline festivals, feature regularly in popular Spotify playlists and release new albums much to the pleasure of old and new listeners. However, as we have grown up so have The Kooks.
That’s great to hear! We like playing that one live and are hoping that someone invents a dance for it. I’m most excited to play ‘Fractured and Dazed’ as it has lots of fun guitar lines in it.
On their latest album Let’s Go Sunshine Luke Pritchard still uses his distinctive voice to sing about the tribulations of heartbreak and love, yet on tracks like ‘Honey Bee’ we see the lead singer get more personal than ever before. The heart-warming and catchy song was originally written by his musician father who passed away when Pritchard was a child. His father’s vocals feature on the track which for the listener creates an emotional duet between the pair and the inclusion of the track on the album shows a musical maturity from the band. Alongside this, the re-created track ‘Picture Frame’ (which was originally on the album Junk of the Heart) also emphasises the creative maturity of the band. Similarly, the emotional charged track ‘Fractured and Dazed’ features the kind of passionate instrumentality that comes with plenty of experimentation and experience. Despite some of the questionable lyricism in songs like ‘Chicken Bone’ and ‘Four Leaf Clover’ both still display an impressive groove that keeps you coming back for another listen, especially with the unashamedly catchy lyrics remain stuck in your head for days. Their latest album proves that The Kooks aren’t willing to let the Britpop dream die just yet and remain a band worthy of a listen and praise.
I think we have found such a defining core identity to the band now, that it really can be taken anywhere without compromising ourselves. Let’s Go Sunshine was about reinforcing that core identity and just putting the horse back in front of the cart.
We were lucky enough to chat with The Kooks guitarist Hugh Harris and here is what he had to say on the band’s latest release -
Interview with Hugh Harris One of my favourite songs from the album is ‘Chicken Bone’, but what songs are you most excited for your listeners to hear? And that you are excited to perform?
The process of making this album sounds super interesting and seems like it went through a process of evolving. What changed in you as a band that made you want to move away from the sounds of your previous album Listen and not emulate them? How do you want the band to be viewed now with the release of Let’s Go Sunshine?
You recently headlined at Reading & Leeds Festival; what do you think of the evolving nature of the music industry, especially at this festival where there is an increasing pop and hip-hop influence compared to its traditional Brit Pop / Indie Rock roots? Even so, it seems like you guys are still keeping Brit Pop alive as with streaming your music reaching audiences who may not have heard of you back in 2008. It’s kinda strange now. I like that it’s neither one genre nor the other really, a healthy blend is always good, but being part of a minority of acts with real instruments certainly fires the ‘incentive engine’. And guitar music has definitely going more introspective from it - that’s not a bad thing. I have a mixture of humility / grace that we have survived this long and are still relevant to kids these days, new and old, this mixed with a quiet passion to expose and parry all falsities in the industry that seem time and time again to fool the public into believing that they’re something fresh and new.
You’ve had a sold out USA tour and headlined at festivals this summer but you’ve kept the UK tour quite intimate – why is this? How did the tour go? We just wanna connect with the people/fans that matter the most, first. They’re the reason we are still here and everyone deserves to be reminded of that.
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I think we have found such a defining core identity to the band now, that it really can be taken anywhere without compromising ourselves.
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HUGH HARRIS
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WORDS BY: SUSANNAH GRIFFIN DESIGN BY: NIAMH BLACKE T T
The festive season is just around the corner, and every year we look forward to playing the classic eighties’ tunes on repeat until we become sick of hearing anything to do with Christmas. Yet, amongst the classics from the likes of Wham, Slade, and of course Mariah Carey there has always been the tradition and excitement of seeing who bags the number one spot in the charts on Christmas Day. For half a century, popular artists and bands have fought their way to the top spot, releasing novel Christmas songs just in time for December, and performing on wellknown TV shows such as Top of the Pops to win the hearts of the nation. The tradition all began with Slade making it to number one with their nostalgic ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ in the seventies, but we haven’t actually had an iconic Christmas inspired number one for over fifteen years. This is probably due to the fact that artists no longer want to waste their time on making a novel song that’ll never make it to the classic Christmas song collection anyway. For example, the 2014 Band Aid 30 version of ‘Feed the World’ was created for a charitable cause, and even so, it didn’t manage to replace the well-loved original. The majority of today’s artists release music when they’re ready to ensure it is of the quality they want it to be. They don’t tend to rush it out for Christmas, like the many forgotten winners of the X Factor have done. For most, winning the Christmas number one spot is just an extra bonus. Additionally, with the decline and the axing of programmes such as Top of the Pops, and the increasing popularity of streaming music through apps like Spotify, we should consider whether the young generation are we now out of touch with the charts, and whether they actually care about who gets the Christmas number one. With the sudden increase in the younger generation streaming their music through subscription apps such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, there are less physical CDs being purchased from stores, and even the purchase of individual singles off iTunes has decreased. Even the official UK charts now count the amount of audio streams a song has. However, this typically popular music has become less important to teens that have developed their own music taste and have a huge playlist of their favourite songs on their phone. These are the young people who are no longer engrossed in Saturday night TV, The X Factor and The Top 40 on the radio. They care about social media, watching series on Netflix instead, and creating their own sense of identity. They have the means to listen to whatever music they please, they no longer have to save up to buy CDs and they don’t have to rely on the radio for music. This detachment from the radio and listening to repeated popular music has made more young people disinterested with the charts. Most will have a particular artist they listen to and look up to, whilst others have a variety of music genres on their playlist. There is no doubt that many still enjoy listening to chart music, however, that sense of caring about which song makes it to number one has gone. Ten years ago, Simon Cowell made sure the number one spot was his, after ensuring that the winner of the X Factor always had a brand new, star quality single out just in time for the festive season. In the noughties, it was guaranteed he would bag his latest prodigy the top spot; the X Factor had a run of six number ones in nine years. But now, less people seem to be hooked on the talent show and so they don’t really care who wins as they don’t follow the contestant’s journey. In fact, an act from the X Factor hasn’t had a Christmas number one since 2014, with Clean Bandit and Ed Sheeran winning the last two Christmas number one spots after being at the top for weeks prior to this anyway. Therefore, it seems as though the younger generation no longer see the fight for Christmas number one as important. They know their music taste and that’s what they’ll listen to as with new technology they can find whatever songs they please. They are no longer the ones voting every week for their favourite contestant on the X Factor to win and release a Christmas single. Meanwhile major UK artists themselves are also out of touch with the tradition of Christmas number ones. Big stars such as Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa and Jess Glynne have all released their new music earlier this year in a bid to lead the summer charts. Surely this shows that they too are no longer bothered by the desire to get the one ‘all important’ Christmas number one. It would seem that the race for the number one spot has lost some of its sparkle and is no longer as important in today’s society, so for now we’ll just keep replaying the classics.
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Our 2018 Albums of the Year Quench’s Music Editors give us their top DESIGN BY: RIMANTE BIVAINY TE
Confident Music for Confident People Confidence Man Dylan Graham I first discovered Confidence Man after stumbling across a YouTube video of the group performing their single ‘Boyfriend’ back in 2017. At first I was dismissive, yet the video stuck in my mind and their debut album Confident Music for Confident People quickly became one of my most anticipated releases of the year. It did not disappoint - the group managed to emulate the high energy of their live performance into an album full of bangers. The combination of front-woman Janet Planet’s chatty vocals with the 90s inspired dance beats (reminiscent of Primal Scream’s Screamadelica) makes it impossible not to move whilst listening. Be warned, the album is full of catchy hooks that you won’t stop singing all day!
Joy as an Act of Resistance Idles Dylan Graham There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the state of rock music and whether it is a dying genre. Bristolian quintet Idles’ sophomore album Joy as an Act of Resistance is a middle finger to this sentimentality. After releasing their explosive debut Brutalism back in 2017, the band have managed to outdo themselves with their followup. The aggressive but catchy punk tones sound fresh and exciting, whilst frontman Joe Talbot’s lyrics range from comical to political to heartwrenching throughout. Idles are certainly one of the most exciting British bands right now and I look forward to seeing what they do next.
Geography Tom Misch Camille Stanley Misch’s reputation as a talented bedroom producer made him one to watch in the music industry when he released ‘Beat Tape 2’, but it is in his latest album ‘Geography’ that Misch’s development becomes evident. He retains some J-Dilla inspired, jazzy instrumentals, whilst also developing his own soulful melodies on effortless ballads like Movie. It is this effortless quality to Misch’s voice that makes the album such an easy, pleasurable listen. It transports you to a place where jazz, hip-hop, and lo-fi beats are combined in such a unique manner that Misch appears the 2018 master of this particular combination. A feature from hip-hop legends De La Soul emphasises how Misch’s talent has made him well respected in the industry, and rightly so, Geography is an album which cements Misch as one of London’s greatest young talents.
so sad so sexy Lykke Li 10 years ago Lykke Li released her first album ‘Youth Novels’ and the songs remain as impactful now as they first did to my immature 11-year old heart. Thankfully, Lykke Li has continued to release albums as I continue to grow, but ‘so sad so sexy’ is the first since 2014. Loyal listeners may have been surprised to receive a more upbeat, pop album with tracks such as sex money feelings die and two nights (featuring Amine) showing some experimentation with hip-hop elements. However, she still masterfully retains the eeiry vocals and electro-pop roots that make her such a unique artist. Each song delivers something new to the album and amongst many other 2018 releases this album stands out to me as progressive.
Chime Dessa Max Modell Dessa’s album Chime was one of my most anticipated of the year. The MC, most notable for the fiery hiphop she produces with rap collective Doomtree embarks on her first solo project in five years with this album. Her solo projects differ greatly from the Doomtree astatic, with her last album Parts of Speakembodying indie R&B more than hip-hop. Chime continues in this direction pivoting towards mainstream pop music with orchestral elements. Dessa brings her perfectly structured bars to this sound, expertly narrating her emotional struggle in a deeply personal narrative while also providing nuanced exploration feminist themes examining what it means to be a woman in the 21st century, particularly from her standpoint as woman in a male dominated industry. This album is truly something special.
And Yet It Is All Love Fatima Fleshing out her modern soul sound Fatima’s follow up to break through album Yellow Memories, And Yet It Is All Love is a tremendous success. She brings a jazzy atmosphere to the record thanks to the gorgeous synths that run through the album and her strange harmonics which offset the sexy atmosphere of the album with the sad tinge provided by the lyrical content which explores a variety of conflicting emotions. This is made even more engaging by the funk basslines which add an element of fun to the album and keep you coming back for more. And Yet It Is All Love is oozing with style and in other hands could have been a mess, yet Fatima has the vocal ability and lyrical prowess to pull it off.
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DESIGN BY: EMMA MORGAN
HER SCORE REVIEW BY HARRY DIXON The audio landscape to any film is often just as important as its visual one, oftentimes even more so. A score, or soundtrack, has the ability to manipulate emotions and accentuate the images presented on screen, increasing the likelihood of an empathetic connection between subject and viewer (not that this is the aim of all films). If a score can prime the person watching the screen by accessing primal reservoirs of emotion through music, then the cinematic experience will be greater. Spike Jonze’s Her can act as a perfect example of this. Its score was composed by Arcade Fire, namely William Butler and Owen Pallett, who then went on to receive an Oscar-nomination for the work. As its sonic base the score has an array of evocative and brittle piano; a series of warbling, contemplative synthesized drones and beats; and, although used only in moderation in the performance of a melancholic ditty written for the film called ‘The Moon Song’, the voices of the film’s stars Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. The strength of the film’s score lies in its ability to act as a mirror to the internal emotions of the characters on screen, utilizing slowness and aural space to portray the intimacy and longing present in the romance between Theodor (Phoenix) and his AI-Companion Samantha (Johansson). The track ‘Photograph’ features a flurry of rapid piano notes which seem to have a bright shimmer, a fitting accompaniment to the soft yet colourful visual palette the film has; the notes feel ephemeral, as if they’re tripping over one another, a suitable metaphor to describe also the whirling and confused emotions of the central character. Electronics are used in ‘Supersymmetry’ to evoke a sense of warmth and optimism; as the synthesized beats, fitting for a futuristic setting, seem to rise and rise, so too will the outlook of Theodor. eing such an ambient soundtrack as this one is means it is suitable listening to enhance any individual’s day-to-day pursuits, nestling them in its inherent emotional warmth, and that which it has been imbued from being in the film.
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE SCORE REVIEW BY SAMUEL CAPPER
There aren’t many film scores where I think every track belongs there, and every track is perfect, but Kingsman: The Secret Service, composed by the wonderful Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson is one of them. Just listening to this score again as I write this piece just reminded me how much I love it. ‘Manners Maketh Man’ serves as a fantastic opening to the film, the accented strings masterfully encapsulating the tone and style; conveying the bold and heroism of Kingsman. Carried throughout the film, these more dramatic pieces come into their own towards the end, notably ‘Calculated Infiltration’, which unleashes the full majesty of Jackman and Margeson’s composition, providing the perfect accompaniment to the onscreen combat, providing an exhilarating rush of adrenaline and urgency. ‘Skydiving’ equally expertly conveys the excitement and exhilaration of skydiving, you can feel yourself having as much fun as the applicants in the film, tossing and turning through the air, carried by the orchestral waves. The swift change in tone here is remarkable, switching from an atmosphere of joviality to danger in seconds. The brass swell instigating a fearful, fast-paced piece that truly carries the imminent threat through the screen and into the audience. ‘Valentine’, the villain’s theme is jarring, an oddly electronic pulsing rhythm that is suitably distinct from the more standard orchestral music that accompanies the rest of Kingsman. The dramatic flares and piercing whistles, often paired with ominous onscreen imagery, makes this piece purposefully disconcerting. Not all action pieces and dramatic flares, Kingsman’s score is soft when it needs to be, showcasing the emotion richness that more melodic pieces like ‘The Medallion’, ‘Toast to a Kingsman’ and ‘An 1815 Napoleonic Brandy’ hold. The crescendo toward the end of ‘Toast’ is fantastically sombre. The build-up of ‘The Medallion’ equally doubles as a conveyer of hope and optimism, unveiling promise this film holds. If ‘Medallion’ perceives the potential, ‘To Become a Kingsman’ realises it, swelling and rising, establishing a recurring motif present throughout the film, used so variedly the composers’ score never feels old, giving each track something new whilst retaining an air of familiarity.
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OBLIVION SCORE REVIEW BY FREYJA ELSY Oblivion (2013) – a dystopian thriller set in the aftermath of an apocalyptic Earth and directed by Joseph Kosinski, (Tron: Legacy) – has a score that reflects the futuristic and technological advancement presented in the film. Created by Anthony Gonzalez, member of M83, and American composer Joseph Trapanese, the score uses a combination of orchestral, minimalism and electronic synthwave genres to build tension and almost imitates the vast nature of the abandoned planet. The electronic synth sounds used throughout the score, interweaving with the acoustic nature of the orchestra, seem to remind the listener of the archetypal M83 style in ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’, their 2011 studio album. This can be particularly heard in ‘Starwaves’, an
THE GREAT GATSBY SCORE REVIEW BY IZZY BOULTON The Great Gatsby film was released in 2013 and was the love child of renowned director Baz Luhrmann and acclaimed rapper Jay-Z who was the executive producer of the film’s score. The Great Gatsby is known for its grandeur and aesthetic in regard to the cast, set, costume and soundtrack. The film is set in the middle of the ‘Roaring 20s’, a time of economic disparity following the turbulence of the US banks. The audience is exposed to the dank, polluted coal town filled with noise, labourers and aggression, whilst also getting a glimpse of Jay Gatsby’s elaborate and lavish parties which appear to be the pinnacle of the upper-class lifestyle – all within the boundaries of New York City.
INTO THE WILD SCORE REVIEW BY HARRIET THORNLEY Eddie Vedder’s contributions to the music of Into the Wild (2007) complete a soundtrack that perfectly enhances the significance of the film. Based upon Jon Krakauer’s book of the same title and starring Emile Hirsch, it follows the life of Christopher McCandless as he travelled across the States and into the wilderness of Alaska in the early 1990s, attempting to find a new, alternative meaning to his life. Through portraying his story, the film intends also to explore themes of freedom, identity and humanity, set against a beautiful but inevitably harsh natural backdrop. Intense and thoughtprovoking, though not devoid of light-heartedness, it relies as much on music as visuals to achieve this effect.
ethereal-like scene in which the two protagonists swim in an outdoor pool attached to a building that exists high up above the clouds: the surreal reflected in the rising strings and synths. The film concludes with an epic and intense original vocal piece with Susanne Sundfør, ‘Oblivion’ written by M83, continuing with the theme of orchestral, electronic and synthwave fusion and punctuated by powerful drum accompaniment. Anthony Gonzalez describes Sundfør’s voice as “powerful” and “majestic”, complementing the synthwave score and consequently the epic nature of the film. After building the tension and emotional intensity throughout the final scene, using repetition of a rising harmonic sequence and synthesised pedal notes, and a brief epilogue accompanied by a delicate piano solo, the final song almost explodes into existence at the credits. After reaching the peak, the music dies away with an almost melancholic piano solo – a stark contrast to the tension built in the score throughout the rest of the film.
The contemporary soundtrack is folded seamlessly into the film as the motion picture and soundtrack work in symbiosis. The jazzed-up version of Beyoncé’s ‘Crazy in Love’ is followed with will.i.am’s bop ‘Bang Bang’, yet the film finishes with The XX’s calmer ‘Together’. The soundtrack is a catalyst for the extremes of emotion in the film, whilst bringing the excitement of modern music to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel plot. The opening of the film is accompanied by Jay-Z and Kanye West’s ‘No Church in the Wild’. The film’s score also draws insightful parallels between societies problems in the 1920s and issues that Jay-Z discusses in his 2011 album ‘Watch the Throne’.
The soundtrack is crucial, not just background noise for ambience, but a meaningful element of the entire composition. The stunning panoramas and awardworthy performances are held together by the music of Eddie Vedder and Jerry Hannan, which has an arguably more lasting effect than any of the film’s dialogue - the most powerful moments of the entire 148 minutes are those without speech, just Vedder’s soul-baring vocals. The collection of tracks fall broadly into the category of folk, labelled as travelling music by various reviewers. Individually they cover a wide spectrum, ranging from the uplifting sentiments of ‘Rise’ to the sombre tones of ‘Society’, a song that cuts to the heart of the film and Christopher’s rejection of modern-day values. Also including a cover of Indio’s ‘Hard Sun’ and a lyric-less vocal piece ‘The Wolf ’, Vedder’s soundtrack has encapsulated what remains at the story’s core – a simultaneous desire for connection and isolation, and, overall, understanding.
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GoGo Penguin is one of the coolest band names around. Where did it come from? (laughs) It’s not a very cool story, unfortunately. We had a place where we used to rehearse right in the beginning when we sort of started out and there was this thing in the room. I think it was kind of meant to be a magpie, made out of papier mache and fur and all that stuff. A mate of ours was running a night in Manchester, just getting bands in from all sorts of genres. He gave us a call and said one of the bands had dropped out and asked if we would play. At this point, we hadn’t thought of a name and were just playing tunes and enjoying making music together. We saw the thing in the corner and decided to name it after that.
The GoGo Penguin sound can be quite hard to define because of the number of influences. How would you describe the sound? It’s a tricky one. We get asked this a lot. To be honest the answer is we don’t. It’s up to us to play the music and then other people describe it and decide what they want to call it. It’s a tricky one because genres are important in being able to share music. It’s a difficult thing. It often hinders music having these structures and genres are one of these structures that can sometimes shut people out from things. Sometimes we get talked about as being part of that jazz world, but there are people who come to gigs who say, “I really don’t like jazz but I like what you’re doing”. Then we go and play in dance clubs and venues and dance music festivals. Yet on the other side, we are playing at jazz festivals and in classical concert halls and everything in between. One description we heard years ago was acoustic electronica. As much as it’s a weird description I think it sort of works. We are playing acoustic instruments, but a big inspiration for us is electronica and the way that genre covers so many ideas and so many sounds. We try and do the same thing with our music, but acoustically. We do use a little bit of electronics and effects, but only things that enhance or add to the acoustic instruments.
Are there any specific artists who influence you? It changes from time to time. The ones for me which have always been there are bands like Underworld and Massive Attack. I listened to them as a kid and I still listen to them now. But there are people like Aphex Twin, Jon Hopkins, there is a guy called Lorn, I don’t know if you’ve heard of him, he’s an incredible electronic musician. Those are some of the ones that are getting me really interested at the moment. Rob actually just mentioned a guy to me not too long ago called Iglooghost, I’ve been checking out an album from him.
What is the concept of A Humdrum Star and how does it play into the album? Within the album, each tune has its own idea and concept behind it. We start from that point, so we don’t have an overall concept which creates too much of a structure. We want to write whatever we want to write. But I think subconsciously whenever we write there is always an idea that we are all sharing which directs the music even if it’s something unsaid. We found one of the ideas which was covered in the album and kept infiltrating its way in was this idea of dual perspectives and looking at things from different angles. The way two people could have an argument about the same thing and from the outside, someone could see it completely differently and those two people might see it completely differently. There could be one thing at the core of it, but depending on your outlook, culture, religion or all these things which can affect the way you view things within the world and within the universe. This core idea kept coming back to us and we kept playing around with it musically. Depending on which instrument played, it we could create a different effect, or where it was within the music, where it was spatially, and we could create these effects with this idea. There was a quote which came to us. We had all been fascinated by nerdy things like astrophysics and things like that. Transhumanism was a thing we all got really interested in on the last album. We remembered this Carl Sagan quote about the Humdrum Star and the pale blue dot. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it before, but one of the voyageur probes detoured massively and he wanted to turn it around and take a picture. This is from a ridiculous distance out in the solar system looking back at all the planets in the solar system including earth. He described the Earth as being this pale blue dot, as this is how it appears on the image and the sun as being this humdrum star, because it is one star, similar to all the other stars out there, but in its own way unique. To us, it’s this incredible thing which helps provide life on the planet and this incredible atmosphere that allows us to exist. But it is also just this tiny little dot of light in the sky. So, depending on your perspective it’s either this immensely powerful thing or this humdrum insignificant thing that is just sort of there as well as all the other millions. We thought that sort of summed up the ideas of the album.
What is the writing process like for you as a band?
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I interviewed jazz trio GoGo Pen talked about their new album, A future holds for the band. We al process and the DI
It differs all the time. It differs within each track. It differs as we’ve gone through time. We’re practicing as you would with anything else. We’ve practiced our instruments and the process of making an album needs practice as well. It changes over time. We’ve used certain techniques that just work for us and things that just don’t, but we always try as many new ideas as possible. We are always pushing all the time. We’ve all come from this background of learning acoustic instruments, but we are all interested in electronic music as well and making electronic music. So, we’ll approach a track that in the end will be acoustic as if it’s electronic. So maybe I’ll start using synths just to get ideas. On a track like “Transient State” there are patterns within that, that I’ve found on a synth using arpeggiators and thought it’d be cool if I could learn how to play these arpeggios on a piano. So rather than on a synth where you just hold down the chord and letting the synth do it for you I was transcribing those and learning how to make and emulate that sound. The same goes for the other guys, we’ll write something electronically that has no piano, or bass or drums using very electronic sounds and we’ll take that idea and the essence of what it sounds like and turn it into something acoustically. The one thing that is always the same is that we write together. Somebody might bring an idea, but that gets developed together. We want it to be that everyone’s voice is heard, and it is the combination of those three instruments and those three people that makes GoGo Penguin something separate. It’s not just an individual. It’s not just me or Rob or Nick, it is the three of us together.
In “Bardo” you manage to get two distinctly different sounds in the same song on the same piano. How do you get such a varied sound from your piano? It’s top secret (laughs). I’m only joking. It’s actually just gaffer tap. We played around with loads of different ideas. I used to use an effect on “Smarra” where I’ll mute the string with my hand. That’s a classic old technique that has been used in contemporary classical music before and it just creates an interesting sort of sound. I played around with different ways I could place my hand on the strings and different materials I could use to replace that. I found I could create this sound that
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was almost like a synth, like that really mellow square wavy kind of synth. I took that idea and thought if I could achieve that with something that isn’t my hand then I can play with two hands. In the end, we found that gaffer tape works really well. So it’s achieved by just putting that over the strings in that certain area of the piano and that allows me to create the two separate sounds on the instrument.
When you are playing the Royal Welsh College in Cardiff it is a seated show. When I saw you last and when you play Bristol on the same tour you are performing a standing gig. How do these compare for you as an artist? We really love the fact we can play so many different places. We’ve done everything from Dimensions to classical venues to everything in between. It keeps it really exciting for us. Going out on tour, we love what we do, and we are very lucky to do what we do, but it gets really tiring. But, we get these different venues with a different atmosphere and a different crowd, these places attract a different crowd even though they are all coming to see us. The atmosphere feels different for the audience, but it also feels different for us and we can really feed off that and that really changes the performance. We all have our own preferences, but it changes all the time. If all we were doing was club gigs for a while we’d miss the festivals, or we’d miss the classical venues. We all love that mixture that we get to experience.
What’s been your favourite place to perform over the years? We just did a gig. We got back last night from Tokyo and we played a few gigs over there. One of them was a festival called Asagiri jam which was right next to Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, because of the typhoons that had been out there, the weather was so bad that we couldn’t see the mountain. That would have been right up there if it wasn’t for the fact we couldn’t see this incredible mountain. However, we actually did play a gig on a mountain in Switzerland. We were staying right in the south of France and just traveled over the border and then climbed up this mountain. They had helicoptered a piano in and we did a gig up there for this festival called Cosmo Jazz. I think that’s got to be right up there with one of my favourites. I couldn’t believe we had an audience, half of whom had hiked up this mountain to come and see this gig and others had been camping up there. To get back down the mountain we ended up going in one of those weird little cable cars that ran all the way down. The whole thing was a little bit surreal. I think that one is definitely one of my favourites.
In 2015 you composed and toured your own score for cult experimental film Koyaanisqatsi. Is writing film scores something you see in the band’s future?
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Oh yeah, definitely. It’s something we’ve discussed and there have been different offers in the past, but one of the main problems we’ve had is the amount of time we’ve had. We’ve been making sure when we’ve had time that we’ve been putting all of our energy into the albums we’ve tried to make. Alongside that, we’ve just been out touring. We never seem to stop, it’s either one or the other. I think down the line as we find ourselves a little bit more time and we’ve had a bit of a chance to rest and clear our minds it is something we’ll look into. We’ve done a couple of other projects along the way. We did a thing with some dancers. We had Lynne Page who has done choreography for the Pet Shop Boys. She got this group of dancers and we wrote a specific piece to work with them. We have done some of these extra little projects where we’ve had these kinds of commissions. It’s great. Like with the film Koyaanisqatsi it’s a completely different way of working. We had a film to start from, a point to start from that already existed. It had its own ideas, its own emotions and its own influence on us and the way we thought about the kind of music we tried to write. Whereas with an album we are coming to it from square one. We create the starting point and usually, that is just anything goes. It’s really fun to start from something different and have a different way of working and a different way of performing when we get out and do the gigs.
Antony Barkworth-Knight has made some beautiful animated music videos for GoGo Penguin over the years, with the video for “Wash” and “Last Words” being favourites of mine. How did that relationship come about?
nguin’s pianist Chris Illingworth. We It was a friend of ours, a bassist who was also based in Manchester who recommended him to us. He was good friends from way back and we were talking to him about this idea we had; I think originally it was an idea Rob A Humdrum Star, touring and what the had around “Last Words” and we wanted somebody who could translate that and take the idea and somehow make a video out of it with some originality. He recommended Antony and he absolutely nailed it straight away. lso got super nerdy about the writing He understood exactly where we were coming from and made a beautiful video. As we’ve had the opportunities over time we’ve kept coming back to him and asking, “how do you feel about the new music?” We tend to just give IY piano effects he uses. him the album to listen to and see if there is something which he feeds off. I think that is the best way, if you want to
get something original and have someone else’s creative personality in it then it’s best to let them find what they are excited about and find their own read of it. Antony has just absolutely nailed it every time. I’m sure we’ll definitely work with him in the future, but we are also quite interested to keep looking for other people. Everyone is individual, and everyone has their own interpretation of the music we are making, and it is exciting for us to think we can keep looking for new people with new styles to collaborate with.
Gondwana Records are turning 10 this year. How does it feel to be a part of that history? It’s fantastic. We were actually over in Tokyo at the same time they were over there doing one of their 10-year celebrations, so they had Noyo Rao, Portico Quartet and Mammal Hands and they are all guys that we know. They are people that we’ve known on the same sort of scene in Manchester, people that we’ve met on the circuit as we’ve done touring around the country. We suggested Mammal Hands as a band Matt (founder of Gondwana Records) should look out for when we first met them, and we’ve been good mates with those guys since. We live quite far away from them, but we see them on tour which always seems to be the case. We bump into them at random gigs around the world and they seem to be doing great. I think Matt’s done a fantastic job of building something from nothing. He started out all those years ago and he was putting out his own music; he’s built something that a lot of people all around the world know about and it puts Manchester on the map for a different kind of music to what has already been there.
Thank you so much for your time, it has been an honour talking to you. I have been a massive fan for years.
WORDS BY: MAXWELL MODELL DESIGN BY: URSZULA RODAKOWSKA
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SPOTIFY the influence of spotify playlists SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS PLAYLISTS
Playlists on Spotify are a huge part of the music streaming platform, and they also play a significant role in the foundations of the music industry in a technology-orientated world. These playlists span over a variety of genres and moods, from ‘Chill’ to ‘Desi’ to ‘Travel’, and aim to provide representation to all. There are playlists that adhere to specific genres, events, fandoms and communities. This month there is a ‘Black History is now’ playlist alongside an ‘Independent Women’ playlist. For any activity in your day, Spotify will be sure to have a playlist ready for you to use as a soundtrack. When featured on one of the more popular playlists, artists often share this presence across their various social media, and comes with it a sense of success and development. Despite this, artists still tend to hype up their inclusion on radio-playlists more due to the certainty of exposure to a vast new audience (especially when featured on stations such as BBC Radio 1, which has 10 million weekly listeners). When browsing the playlists available, users are presented with pages of colourful playlist cover artworks, and those artists who feature on these will be seen more, and as a result create curiosity as to who they are and want to find out why they feature on the specific playlist. Once featured, a certain hierarchy is produced. An artist’s position on a playlist will affect how many people will actually engage with their song - the first few will be listened to more than the last few on the list as these playlists can be up to multiple hours long. However, editors at Spotify believe transitions between songs on a playlist are key. The ‘Fresh Finds’ playlist is the most followed new music playlist on Spotify with over 500,000 followers, and the majority of the artists included are unsigned meaning space on the playlist significantly opens up their audience of listeners. The editor of this playlist Athena Koumis commented in a Buzzfeed Video published last year that multiple artists often quit their day job after being featured on the playlist as A&R find them and sign them to labels after hearing them. So, who chooses all the songs that we hear? On a platform of over 30 million songs, editors sift through these to find and compile small packages that are of interest to users. Some of these editors listen to in the range of 1,000 songs a week in order to source the perfect songs that compliment each other in playlists that could be followed by potentially millions of followers. Furthermore, artists and their management send their music to Spotify (both digital and physical copies) for it to then be featured on playlists, showing how important artists view the platform for their success. To create the ‘Related Artists’ tab on Spotify, there is a symbiosis between worker and technology as software scans through the internet to see what other bands certain fanbases listen to. As listeners, we often pigeon-hole ourselves by committing to one streaming service - which isn’t unreasonable due to the often high subscription costs. As a result of this we rely on these services to provide us with the music we want to listen to, and also show us new music. Spotify claims that 50% of its more than 100 million users listen to playlists curated by its editors, but playlists such as ‘Discover Weekly’ are given to us via various algorithms. What is clear from researching Spotify’s background and motives to provide this service to the world, is that there is a lot of passion put into the streaming platform and that they are aware of both the power of music and the power that they hold as a purveyor of this when creating playlists and putting music on the radar of their listeners. If playlists aren’t doing as well as editors expected, they are often tweaked via changing the songs on the playlist, or the image on the cover photo. The songs that are taken off of the playlist might be relocated to another playlist to give it a second chance at increased listenership. The reasoning for the aforementioned names of playlists being based on feeling is to stop the divide between genre, but let users focus on how songs make them feel and open them up to new music.
WORDS BY: IZZY BOULTON DESIGN BY: KATIE MAY HUXTABLE
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WORDS BY: ABIGAIL THOMAS DESIGN BY: RIMANTE BIVAINYTE Gone are the days of black and white. As LGBTQ visibility widens, it is imperative to cater for a multitude of genders. 2019 is quickly approaching, making the new year a perfect opportunity to implement change and break down gender norms, starting with something as simple as changing the way that you dress. This always seems so daunting to men. This is why this article will take you through a number of resolutions for the new year to follow, in effort to break these dreaded norms! When it comes to fashion, breaking gender norms, in the case of a man, isn’t necessarily about dressing head to toe in (what we consider as) conventionally feminine pieces. Nobody expects you to adopt an affiliation for all things baby pink! It may be interesting to play around with new and alternative cuts and shapes, stretch beyond the second hand sweat and basic blue jeans… This is where the first resolution nicely slots into place.
Convert to Gender Neutral Clothing
It is becoming increasingly normal to wear clothes of an agendered nature, with companies as big as John Lewis removing all gender specific labels from clothing, we are able to make a leap towards a more liberal, norm defying future. Even more affordable brands such as River Island have introduced gender neutral lines. On a more interesting note, ASOS have introduced a new line named “COLLUSION”. In effort to appeal to a younger, teenage demographic, they have priced the items satisfyingly low. The funky prints and textures are delightful. It's refreshing to sometimes stray away from the conventional neutrality that is echoed in Yeezy collections. Do not feel restricted to earthy, muted tones!
Keep your eyes on the runway, Study street style particularly womenswear As obvious as it may seem, first and foremost, it is best to start by observing the runway. It is now commonplace for menswear pieces to be integrated into womenswear collections, and vice versa. At London Fashion Week this season, the few menswear pieces showcased were actually more interesting than some slightly muted, dull womenswear; Burberry is a key contender when it comes to this. However, fashion houses like MM6 Margiela can inspire even the most ‘masculine’, without forcing them to be what they may consider as overtly feminine. The brand is typically renowned for its reconstructive design, its raw, ankle swinging denim are definitely a target for dad jokes, but wearable nonetheless. Of course the odd dash of fuchsia, ruffling and fishnets make a vivid appearance, however this isn’t something to be alarmed by. Other influential fashion houses like Balenciaga and Givenchy have embodied an androgynous aesthetic this year which can be accounted for too.
Study your icons
Looking back in history is the best way for inspiration. If we were to reminisce on the music industry during the late twentieth century, an abundance of androgynous icons spring to mind. From varying subcultures and movements like punk, to new wave, glam rock and grunge; there is plenty of inspiration to be found. Some notable names may include obvious classics like Bowie, Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, Robert Smith; all unafraid to play with the most outrageous silhouettes, patterns and colours, whilst sporting incredibly intense make up looks. A more understated approach can be taken! Look for inspiration in film characters. Annie Hall’s take on a disheveled suit and tie illustrates how dressing according to traditional realms of the opposite gender can be achieved quite organically. Renton in Trainspotting and Glen in A Nightmare on Elm Street can be seen confidently sporting the (much loathed) 80s’ crop; a guilty pleasure that I am actually fond of. Even looking to comedians can inspire. Experiment within the colourful, gothic parallels of Noel Fielding or Russell Brand. Even better, pay attention to the sartorial choices of your mother, your sister, any woman that you admire!
Skate culture is still as prevalent today as it was back in the late eighties and nineties. Upon a short stroll around Cathays, name after name can be accounted for. From Vans to Element, Santa Cruz to RIPNDIP, skating brands are wherever we turn, even more so when considering boys. Although this is something that I personally admire, the best street style is found when a brand is not obviously in sight. Look to street style catalogues online of Vogue, I-d,etc.
People to watch out for
• The PAQ team; Danny, Elias, Shaq and Dexter ( IG:@paq.official) • Avery Ginsberg (GearedTowardsGear on Youtube) along with Kailee Mckenzie (kaileemckenzie on Youtube); This couple are an example of what can be achieved when deciding to share your wardrobe with your significant other, it’s cost effective to say the least! • Rickey Thompson (RickeyThompson on Youtube)
Adjust your attitude
This is potentially the most important factor in striving towards the shattering of gender norms. In many ways, our willingness to judge others purely on superficial details is extremely depressing, but completely commonplace; we are accustomed to it. This could be considered as contradictory when speaking within the realms of fashion, however, there is no way that we could have the confidence to wear an outfit that doesn’t reflect our who we are if we cannot even diminish the stigma attached to dressing in a gender neutral way. The terms that are used seem to be the main issue. Gender neutral. It seems to cause people to completely disconnect themselves with the idea, as a result of the stigma, if not fear the very concept. But like it has been reiterated throughout, a starting point is to disregard the label, in every sense. Disregard the tag. Disregard the size. Disregard the brand and the section that you picked it up from. Wearing the item confidently will carry you far. Just ditch the label.
FASHION & BEAUTY
Alternative Alternative New Years New Years Resolutions for Men Resolutions for Men
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Do they know it’s Christmas? ££££££££££££££££££££££ ££££££££££££££££££££££ ££££££££££££££££££££££ ££££££££££££££££££££££ ££££££££££££££££££££££ £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ £££££££ st a f t a £££££££ s th m ” e r e e s l al kil “It b o l g a is fashion £££££££ £££££££ £££££££ WORDS BY: MADDY STEELE DESIGN BY: IZZY BOULTON
You’ve probably been looking forward to Christmas for months now. The fluffy socks are on, the fairy lights are out, and you’ve been told countless times by your Grandma that she started prepping the Christmas cake months ago. Cardiff Christmas market is back in full flourish selling spiced warm cider, mulled wine and those hot chocolates towering in marshmallows and squirty cream. You’ll have heard Wham!’s Christmas classic 8 million times already, yet you haven’t even thought about what you’re buying your mum for Christmas. Western consumerism forces us to start getting in the Christmas spirit in early September. First they start subtly, with Christmas chocolates and the odd bauble in your local supermarket, then by September 15th you could in fact buy a Christmas tree, and your whole Christmas dinner alongside your weekly shop. I think it’s fair to say that you’d have to be in hibernation to miss Christmas. We know the countdown like the days of the week. But what about the people that make the cop-out scarf you end up buying for your mum, or the pair of socks you give your dad every year? What about the people that wrap and package the traditional gifts of soaps and smellies? Or the people that spend their days behind sewing machines making table cloths that throne your Christmas dinner? Do they know it’s Christmas?
‘Slavery’ is a word that triggers memories of history lessons filled with talk about the triangular trade back in the 16th Century, but what if I told you that slavery is still a threatening social issue today? Contemporary slavery engulfs 21-70 million people each year (depending on your definition of slavery) in compelled labor that fuels Christmas production. This involuntary work powers profits of large corporate companies over the Christmas period which as we know is progressively growing. Perhaps because it is not right under our noses we find it easier to turn a blind eye? Over 50% of slavery is found in India, Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh. Take a look at the labels in your clothes. Where were your clothes made? Sadly, children make up the majority of these numbers. They are forced to work for tiny amounts or worse, they are not paid at all. In most countries, forced labour is illegal, however, like many profitable illegalities, modern slavery is kept out of sight of officials. 2013 saw Bangladesh’s worst industrial disaster to date. The Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh was the home of five garment factories that supplied global brands. Its workers were paid the bare minimum and worked in shocking conditions. In 2013, the Rana Plaza collapsed killing 1,135 people. The fall was induced by illegal building of additional floors on top of the complex. This added weight to a construction built on marsh lands resulted in its collapse. This disturbing event put pressure on the fashion industry to improve the safety of its workers, while the world demanded for the companies who were supplied by this production branch to act. But, it shouldn’t take devastating events like this for industrial action to occur. Nor should it have taken Band Aid’s ‘Do they know it’s Christmas’ for the Western World to think about the suffering elsewhere in the world. We should be fighting modern slavery and poor working conditions without sparks like these. It seems that fast fashion is a global killer, not only of the environment, but of the people it exploits. Demand change.
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Unfortunately, fast fashion is one of the main culprits in modern slavery. However, revolutionaries are taking a stance. ‘Fashion Revolution’ is a force that fueled the ‘#whomademyclothes’ movement that demands transparency in fashion supply chains. If brands are forced to reveal every stage of their production line, they will be made to ditch the unjust style of production that we sadly see so much of today. Fashion Revolution’s campaigns have helped to reveal thousands of the faces behind the garment industry. They have uncovered the lives of the millions of people making up our consumerist machine highlighting the pressing issue that something needs to change. These people should not live as they do just for the name of ‘fast fashion’. Fashion Revolution’s campaigns encourage designers, producers, makers, and consumers to join the movement and demand radical change. [visit their page by searching ‘Fashion Revolution’ online].
I recently watched a documentary about Dior in which one of the seamstresses for this fashion house commented on the fact that she would never have access to wearing the stunning masterpieces she makes. But the shocking truth about fast fashion is that the discriminated people that make the £4 top you just bought in Primark will probably never get the privilege of wearing that either. Take a look in your wardrobe and appreciate the garments you have. Think of the efforts and time that have gone into each cut and stitch, each hand-sewn button and carefully pinned popper. I don’t know about you, but when I think of where my clothes are made I have always had a flowered image of people like my seamstress Mum sewing away in their kitchen with a cuppa humming along to Neil Diamond. But when reality hits, you realise that actually, it’s a room full of hundreds, if not thousands of children behind unsafe equipment working for next to nothing all day long. This extreme poverty paired with horrendous working conditions has to stop.
We get so consumed in in our first world idea of Christmas that we don’t give thought to the people that suffer for our idea of Christmas ‘with all the trimmings’. Unfortunately, this human suffering is not just for Christmas. It occurs every day, and far more often than you imagine. Oxfam took the liberty of creating a ‘Naughty and Nice’ list for fashion retailers revealing the companies who use human exploitation in their production lines. Regrettably, some of our all-time favourites hit the ‘Naughty list’: ASOS, Topshop and Zara. What can you do? Consumer demands result in change. Put pressure on brands to become transparent. Because without customers willing to purchase from discriminating companies, there are no profits. If you demand, they will have to listen. Buy from brands that are fair to their employees, that care for their health and safety and that give them the treatment that they deserve. Buy from brands with a conscience. This Christmas take a step away from the brands that condone slavery. Choose transparent brands when you source your Christmas presents. Perhaps even buy your gifts from local crafts men and women who hand make their items (Cardiff Christmas market is perfect for this!), or even make some presents yourself! And if you can spare a pound or two, donate to a charity that works to support people fighting for justice in the fashion industry. But please, don’t let this slip past you. Join the revolution by challenging brands with the question “who made my clothes?”.
FASHION AND BEAUTY
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the QUEENS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Luisa De la Concha Montes @erst.white MAKE UP BY: Aditi Mohan & Karisa Hermawan @additti @karisamanda
of cardiff
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FASHION & BEAUTY
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MAX MODELL instagram:
@maxwell_modell
VALERIE YUEN instagram:
@valerieyltxdd
BRADLEY TAYLOR instagram:
@bellatempus / @bradleybirkholz
ROSIE PAUL instagram:
@rosie_lillias
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It’s a never-ending battle among shop-owners and consumers alike to find and sell their perfect gifts within the allocated festive time-slot. But the question on everyone’s lips is always a debate on whether our well-loved decorative ranges hit the shop floors far earlier than necessary. Brands know just how to appeal to our desires and aspirations at this time of year to ensure that their products are the ones we choose to invest in during our search for the perfect festive season. We all sit eagerly around our television screens to watch the latest Christmas television advertisements, in debate of whether John Lewis or Sainsbury’s have done the better job this year at eliciting the spirit of Christmas within us. In an attempt to target the summer’s influx of tourist activity, high-end department store Selfridges controversially made the decision to release their Christmas campaign display during the midst of our August heatwave this year. As years go by, it does seem that our favourite retail stores choose as early date as possible to hit shoppers with their festive collections and, in doing so, let this influx in consumerist behaviour contribute to the death of our Christmas spirit. Lush, too, informed me on a recent visit that their Christmas bath and beauty ranges would be hitting the shelves during the final weeks of September. There’s always the argument that the quest undergone by stores is search of maximum sales paired with a customer need for the perfect gift is killing the essence of magic around the December month by elongating the festivities for the entirety of final months of the year. Now, I’m not saying that everyone necessarily sees this retail Christmas takeover as a bad thing. I, once the host of a Christmas-themed party in April for my 18th birthday, am definitely a member of the guilty party listening to Christmas hits too early and being far too eager to see the tree in the corner of the living room. However, there are factors other than just a need to make the most of this time of year that suggest consumerism may be saving the magic after all. For one, the early release of Christmas stock can be a lifesaver for those who don’t want to splash the cash all in one bulk. With brands releasing products now from as early as August, those without unrealistic amounts of money to spend on presents are able to spread out their festive spending to ensure that their money stretches for the entirety of the season. Despite the argument that maximum sales are the real ulterior motives, retailers do meet the demand for convenient Christmas shopping. The spreading out of the great Christmas spend isn’t the only bonus of the newfound longevity of the season. Many purely wish to jump-start the festivities from an earlier date for no other reason than pure enjoyment. Who are we to decline people of making the most of one of the biggest holidays of the year? Finally, as a Fashion Editor, I can’t argue that my reason for the early enjoyment of Christmas isn’t a completely selfish one. I, more than anything, want the opportunity to fully utilise my Christmas wardrobe staples to their full potential. Who wants to splash out on all the sequins and sparkle if we can’t fully utilise them for the entirety of the festive season before they are tucked away in hibernation at the back of our wardrobes once more? Whether you are a fan of the early arrival of some festive magic or not, there’s no denying that we all buy into the magic of Christmas time. But, this commercialisation of the season shouldn’t be enough to shade us from its true traditionalism. Our materialist natures shouldn’t be what kills off the magic. WORDS & DESIGN BY:
Katie May Huxtable
FASHION & BEAUTY
is consumerism Killing the festive magic?
As humans, we all love a good story, and nothing wins us over quite like the magic of Christmas. There’s something about the essence of believing something fantasy to make everyday life feel more real. But using the culture of make-believe to steer our lives for the last month of the year isn’t the only activity we immerse ourselves in. We evoke our desire for the perfect Christmas through the encapsulating grip of commercialism.
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Lunch with the Cast of The
INTERVIEW BY: ANDREA GAINI & NADINE PINNOCK
Bi Life
DESIGN BY: ANDREA GAINI Let’s start with some basics, can you please tell us where you are from and why you decided to participate in this show? I’m Mariella, I am 33, I live in London, but my dad’s Neapolitan and my mom is from the Carrabean. So, I was approached to do this show because I did a short documentary on BBC Three so that’s how I was scouted and the reason I wanted to participate is to obviously find love and I thought this was an amazing opportunity. Hi my name is Leonnie and I’m 27, I lived in Manchester for four years now, but I’m originally from Loughborough, which is a small town. I did this show because I thought I needed something different in my life, and when I saw the advertisement I said, yes this is the thing for me. It’s been an amazing opportunity and I don’t think anyone was expecting it to be this big, but the fact that it’s the first Bisexual show made it into something I’m very proud to have been a part of.
the opportunity for me to completely open up to the world and be who I am. So, participating on this show also meant opening up and opportunity for all Welsh kids who will be coming out as bisexual to have someone to relate to. So Ryan, how was coming out during a show then? And how did you decide to do it? Ryan - I was quite nerve-racking, but I felt as though, this is who I am, and people needed to see me as my truly-self. I was also curious to see how it’d be taken, and it had an incredibly beautiful response, so it was great! I just thought about it and spoke to the manager of the show and he said “right, I’m gonna own that” and from there I spoke about it openly to everyone on the show.
If you accept yourself and everyone around you loves you, they will accept you as well
Hi my name is Ryan, I’m 28, I was born and raised in Manchester, but I moved to London. I was in show earlier this year, which was set in South Africa and I came out as bisexual on the show so when I got the offer for this show I was jumped straight into it because I thought it was really cool and it’s something It’s never been done in TV and there isn’t that many figures in the industry that you can relate to. It was set in Barcelona, and I had never been to Barcelona, so I was like GET ME THERE.
Hello, my name is Kyle, I’m 23 and I’m from Blackwood in South Wales. I was approached to come in the show, and I was only out to some close friends and my parents so for me coming out meant that everyone I knew would learn that I’m bisexual. I had also a bit of rough coming out story, because growing up in Wales where we have one of the biggest rubgy cultures, of manly men and all that, I felt like this show was
Leonnie – I think being bisexual, sometimes you don’t really feel the need to speak out until you actually start dating someone of your same sex, like I didn’t tell my family, until I started going out with a girl, but at the same time this shouldn’t be something used to hide ourselves. Especially as a girl, people just assume you are straight, but then there are some situations where you just need to get it out and hopefully people will understand.
Kyle, what do you think the Welsh LGBTQ+ scene is like? Is there room for improvement?
Kyle - Personally, I think that Cardiff is great as you have lots of people from many different places, but if you go into the Valleys and such it’s horrendous. It’s not forwardthinking and it’s giving much of an opportunity to grow, it needs a lot of improvement. London and Manchester, the community is great and it feels like you can really be yourself, but in Wales we still have to embrace the community entirely. But I think with this show, people will change a bit in their thinking, at the end of the day, I’m just a normal guy and hopefully people in my town and other small towns in Wales people will start to feel a bit more welcoming with the LGBTQ+ community. Leonnie – yeah and I think this is another reason why a lot of us have
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done this show, is to just show people that bisexuality is a thing. I’ve been in the gay village in Manchester and I have actually been discriminated by a gay man who said that bisexuality is not a sexuality, so hopefully people will understand better about our lives and what it means to be bisexual. Do you guys have any advice to give to our fellow students who want to come out, but may feel scared or anxious to do so? Mariella – I would say to love yourself, first of all. I find that when you know yourself and appreciate yourself for what you are, you tend to care less of what people think about you. And definitely speak to someone that is close to you first. Leonnie – Coming out has become more and more accepted that when you do come out it’s such a relief and you feel so much better and more appreciated as well. So just take a deep breath and be truth to yourself. Ryan – I feel like sometimes when you are not completely comfortable with your sexuality, it’s quite easy to lose yourself in parties, trying not to think about things, my advice would be not to do that. Give yourself some time to think about who you are and maybe open up to one single person first about how you feel, and you’ll start to realise that it’s not that big of a deal and that you will be a lot more confident and relaxed. Kyle – I think in this, you come first, is the most important thing. If you accept yourself and everyone around you loves you, they will accept you as well. For me, I felt a lot closer to my family and my friends after coming out, because you are letting some people in your heart and that makes everything better. Honestly, it’s the most liberating thing in the world. On a more light-hearted note, what was your favourite bit about Barcelona? Mariella – I just loved being all together and even if when we arrived we were all at different stages of our lives, we were all super supportive to each other and made sure that everyone was having the best time. Leonnie – I think that the fact we were all bisexual, it made us incredibly close from day 1, from similar experiences that we’ve had in our lives. It was really nice to see each other progressing through the show and experiencing new things all the time. Kyle – The friendship we formed was incredible, as Leonnie said, we started off when we only had our sexuality in common, but then we’ve developed such a beautiful relationship, that we will be friends for life. Honestly, I keep telling them, but we WILL be friends for life! And also, I always felt in my life that bisexual were a minority and I was always the only one, but in The Bi Life we were a majority all together, and it was very beautiful.
into the show a bit later, we just became friends straight away. What was the food like? Mariella – Food was very diverse, as sometimes we’d cook ourselves and some other times it was provided so we had a quite broad choice. There was vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian food, anything really. Sometimes we go for walks together and then come back and cook some breakfast together, and things like that, like a big family.
Kyle mcgovern | 23 | blackwood, wales
What was it like working with Courtney Act? Everyone – AMAZING! Mariella – It was so cool, I am a makeup artist, so we would always speak about what makeup foundation to use and things like that. Also, I was really fascinated by the difference between Courtney and Shane. Courtney would come in and she’d be all sassy and colourful, while Shane would be kind, caring and chilled. Do you think this show can be the beginning for more and more LGBTQ+ representation in the media? Kyle – Oh yes, absolutely! I think things have changed so leonnie cavill| 27 | Loughborough, england much in a very short period of time, and this show is just the beginning. I went back to my old school last week to have a little talk about sexuality and the LGBTQ+ community, I think this is an incredible improvement, when I went to school we didn’t have things like this and now the conversation has changed and people are more open about their sexuality. Kyle, did you bring any Welshness into the show? Kyle – I did sing happy birthday in Welsh! Ehm, I don’t know, did I bring anything? Ryan – Oh yeah definitely, you brought the welcoming and loving Welsh attitude, Kyle was always asking whether we wanted a cup of tea or a snack, taking care of all of us. And you did teach us a lot about what’s like to grow up in Wales and being bisexual. Thank you, guys, for having us! When and where can we watch the show?
mariella amodeo | 33 | london, england
Ryan – The show is every Thursdays at 9 pm on E!
Ryan – I loved the dating lol! How quickly we became friends was absolutely shocking, even the producers were really surprised to see how we all got close to each other in a very short time. Even with Kyle, who came ryan cleary | 28 | manchester, england
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Film Reviews
DESIGN BY: SOFIA BRIZIO & VITTORIA ZERBINI
The Miseducation of Cameron Post Desiree Akhavan’s new coming-of-age film is an unflinching glimpse into the lives of LGBTQ teenagers stuck in an ultra-religious American conversion camp. Set in the nineties, the movie follows the titular Cameron Post (Chloë Grace Moretz) as she explores her developing sexuality and is eventually shipped off to God’s Promise, a backwater gay conversion camp cut off from the outside world. Here, her every move is monitored by the domineering Dr Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle) and her slightly milder brother Reverend Rick (John Gallagher Jr.). After Cameron’s jarring introduction to the cult-like activities of God’s Promise, she finds herself drawn to resident misfits Jane (Sasha Lane) and Adam (Forrest Goodluck). The camaraderie of these three allows for some of the film’s lighter moments, punctuated
American Animals
excellently by Goodluck’s quick-witted delivery. These moments are also tinged with a potent sense of helplessness; despite the freedom they find in their hikes to the forest, they remain trapped by the hate-preaching Dr Lydia, unable to leave or to be themselves. A frenzied air of uncertainty stalks Arkhavan’s film. Nobody seems to know exactly who they are or what they want. Cameron herself is reluctant to identify as lesbian and even takes some of Dr Lydia’s homophobic ideas to heart as she attempts to come to terms with herself. The resulting moral ambiguity makes it difficult to feel completely unsympathetic towards characters like Reverend Rick and Cameron’s aunt – indeed, this appears to be a deliberate ambivalence on Akhavan’s part and adds to the movie’s depth. At times, the film falls short in its representation of the lesbian community. Like many movies before it, The Miseducation of Cameron Post seems overly keen on depicting the sexual side of female same-sex attraction, with little to no focus on romance. This is a movie primarily concerned with teenage bonds of friendship in the face of adversity, so its treatment of desire is almost a secondary concern – but a little less graphic sex and a little more sensitivity could have gone a long way. BY: ISOBEL ROACH
With hidden depths and a delicious, palpable tension, American Animals is a hybrid film: part heist flick and part documentary. Following the true story of four young men in Kentucky who turn their lives upside down by deciding to steal antique books from Transylvania University, American Animalsforegrounds uncertainty and wrestles with fact and fiction, past and present. Director Bart Layton does not take authenticity at face value – instead he plays with it, delighting in the strange multiplicity of narrative and conflicting testimonials (a la Rashomon). Layton’s use of talking heads is unique and incredibly engaging. The real Spencer Reinhard, Warren Lipka, Eric Borsuk and Chas Allen offer stories and counterstories, providing confessionals that are often amusing and at times emotionally intense. This conflict – between the wry and the upsetting – lies at the heart of the movie. It is a playful film that relishes in its cinematic nature, hyperaware of its status as a ‘heist movie’ (in one particular scene, Lipka and Reinhard pour over VHS tapes of classic crime films like Jules Dassin’s iconic Rififi). But by the film’s second half, this playfulness is offset by the looming presence of the robbery itself, and Layton successfully pulls off an incredibly tense extended scene with painfully high stakes. Here, he sacrifices some of the film’s self-awareness for an uncomfortable realism that is at times hard to watch. Every sound reverberates, every action has its consequences and what was at first a pop-culture fantasy becomes a gritty anxietyriddled nightmare. Evan Peters is excellent as ringleader Warren Lipka, playing him with just enough quirky charm and a good amount of dangerous unpredictability. Peters’ charisma
Crazy Rich Asians
is incredibly engaging, but it does not overshadow the performances of his costars, particularly Barry Keoghan, who plays Spenser Reinhard with sensitivity and depth. The four central characters also share the screen with ‘The Birds of America’: the lusciously painted titular book by nineteenth century naturalist John James Audubon. The book has its own palpable presence as it glitters in its glass case, enticing Keoghan’s Spencer as it draws him into its glow. Audubon’s illustrations also feature in the title sequence and ending credits. Here, the images come alive with a sinister beauty as several pages are filmed in closeup shots. The film’s audaciousness (and eventual violence) is contrasted at times with the tedium of American suburbia and the stifling atmosphere of college life. Layton does not attempt to fully explain exactly how these four average boys could be driven to commit such a serious crime, but there is a sense of desperation that stalks Lipka and Reinhard as they sit miserably at family dinners and wander the aisles of lonely convenience stores. It’s almost enough to make you root for them when they start mapping the library’s special collections room, hoping to pull off the unlikeliest of heists and, as Peters’ Lipka continuously asks, to find out ‘what happens next’.
Crazy Rich Asians has been bubbling around in the background of much social media discourse for the last few months. Several times, I’ve scrolled through Instagram and noticed several popular book bloggers posing their copy of the novel with their favourite autumnal beverage. However, I (perhaps being the sheltered being that I am when it comes to popular culture) must confess that I was totally unsure what the book was even about – let alone that a highly anticipated film adaptation was soon to be released. Nevertheless, I eventually caught the movie’s trailer on Facebook and I was instantly hooked. After seeing the movie, I can positively say that Crazy Rich Asians has to be one of the best films I’ve seen this year. It’s easy to pass the film off as a romantic comedy about a rich, uptight mother who just wants the best for her son Nick (Henry Golding) and will not accept just anybody to
A Simple Favor
Paul Feig offers a thrilling, yet comical film, full of surprises, with a fantastic plot and one final twist, making the audience laugh and feel anxious at the same time. Feig successfully brings opposites together throughout this film - from the two very different characters of Emily (Blake Lively) and Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), to the contrast evoked between the excessive use of French music and the seriousness of certain scenes. The clash of these opposites creates an insane, yet spectacular kind of nonsense, which helps to make this film so unique and remarkable. The work of costume designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus
BY: ISOBEL ROACH
BY: BETHANY GRIFFITHS take her son’s side, but there is so much more to it than that. The film follows Rachel Chu, college Economics professor played by Constance Wu, as she travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick to meet his family and join in with his cousin’s wedding celebrations. She is met with animosity by Nick’s mother and family and struggles to fit in. The story takes an emotional rollercoaster careering between ‘will she’ and ‘won’t she’ as Rachel tries to find happiness and acceptance. Aside from Rachel’s turbulent romance with Nick, the film’s focus on family and maternal love is a treasure to watch. This film undoubtedly follows a simple and cliché storyline: girl meets boy and faces adversity when fighting to stay with him. However, despite this, Crazy Rich Asians is fun, feisty and full of inspiring, strong female characters. Certainly one to both watch and read!
BY: LEANNA REEVES highlights this ‘craziness’, as Blake Lively embraces dark colours and big bows - almost resembling a magician waiting to play its tricks, whilst Anna Kendrick wears bright coloured dresses, personifying the amusement and bliss that she brings to the story. The performance of both actresses is brilliant - Lively successfully embodies the character of Emily through her grotesque language and mysterious behaviour, whilst Kendrick adopts the ‘perfect mom’ role incredibly well. Feig pulls together all these different aspects and ideas to craft a crazy masterpiece which ultimately invites the unpredictable.
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DESIGN BY: ORLAGH TURNER 2018 has undoubtedly been the year of the sequel, but not everybody is a fan. As the latest instalment in the Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, releases in cinemas this month, are sequels mutually beneficial for fans and producers alike, or do they show that Hollywood is simply out of ideas?
Keep ‘em Coming! Sequels can make or break a film series. In some cases, sequels have propelled a film series to become some of the most popular franchises to date, such as Star Wars, Back to the Future and The Godfather, therefore increasing their box office average in the process. Personally, I believe that, in many films franchises, the sequels can almost be better than the original, such as Catching Fire (2013) in The Hunger Games trilogy, and recent James Bond films, Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015). The Harry Potter franchise’s popularity now spawns not only from its first successful film or its many sequels, but also from its prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). The large number of sequels means that, not only will the franchise make more money from the box office and merchandise, but that their fans and audience have greater opportunity to fall deeper in love with their favourite characters and fictional worlds. The Marvel universe bases its whole franchise on sequels and crossover films; they are also known for producing sequels which sometimes are considered better than the original film - this year’s release Avengers: Infinity War (2018) was a box office smash. As all of the films in the Marvel Universe are linked in some way, sequels in this franchise are crucial to understanding the storyline. As time goes by and technology develops, so too does the quality of the film. This is especially evident in animated films, such as Incredibles 2 (2018), in which the improvement in animation from the original film was highly evident. As the writers and crew were keen not to spoil the Incredibles franchise with a disappointing sequel, they spent fourteen years perfecting both the storyline and animation, which definitely paid off when you look at the brilliant reviews and box office reception the film received. A sequel is not there to outshine its predecessor, it’s there to carry on a storyline and to entice its audience to learn more about its characters, until, eventually, the story comes to a natural end. The fans of these different film franchises would be so disappointed if they were unable to receive the ending they wanted. Obviously, there is no pleasing everyone, but a sequel would be one step closer. This factor is prominent throughout the Bridget Jones series, as many fans of the film could relate to Bridget’s character and life, and therefore they wanted to see the progression of her life in the sequels from the first film.
Film Sequels: Enough is Enough? Stop the Sequels! 2018 is the year for sequels. From kids’ films to old Hollywood classics, it seems no film can escape the ultimate studio fate of being turned into a sequel cash cow. Already this year, we’ve seen the likes of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Christopher Robin (2018) and Incredibles 2 (2018), with plenty more to come over the Christmas season, including the film almost nobody asked for: Fantastic Beasts 2 (2018). Now, don’t get me wrong, I like a sequel as much as the next person. Marvel’s Infinity War (2018) has proved a compelling addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Ocean’s 8 (2018) and the new all-female Ghostbusters (2018) have brought their own unique spin on the older classics (even if Ghostbusters was a bit of a turkey!). Yet, lately it seems that sequels have simply become Hollywood’s excuse to turn out a handful of quickfire movies, without putting much thought into what they are actually producing. Most sequels are a way for producers to ride on the back of previously successful movies to guarantee a profit. I mean, take Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean; a franchise that’s been stretched to the point of absurdity since its debut in 2003, with the successes of Curse of the Black Pearl gradually being undermined with every new addition. Speaking of classics being undermined, it’s important to take a moment here to reflect on the commercial mess J.K and the gang have made of the Harry Potter universe. Seven years ago, we bid a fond farewell to Harry, witnessing an end of an era for Potter fans everywhere – only to be blessed again 5 years later with a fresh look at the Wizarding World in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). Inspired by a book of about 100 pages that exclusively talks about the different types of fantastical creatures you can find in the Wizarding World, it’s hardly surprising that the film adaptation was boring, to say the least. This of course begs the question why a second Fantastic Beasts is due to be released this year. There is almost no purpose for a sequel; most of what is being explored has been touched upon in the original Harry Potter books and online via Pottermore, so why does it need to be stretched into another film? Can’t the producers let us use our own imaginations to piece together Dumbledore’s past – is that not the entire point of a book? It seems not. Instead we can have the entire plot spelled out for us in a long and immensely pointless sequel that really isn’t what anybody asked for.
Sequels are mutually beneficial for fans who wish to extend the storyline of their favourite films and to see the character growth over time. If you think of the first film in a franchise being the same as the first season in a TV series, wouldn’t you be disappointed if the series ceased to continue?
Sequels can be a bit of fun. Take the latest Star Wars movies for example: entirely pointless at parts, but still great fun nevertheless. However, it feels sometimes that the mass production of movies in this way is pushing aside demands for fresh ideas. This summer we were graced with a sequel to everyone’s favourite feel-good film, Mamma Mia! (2008). Although I was one of the many who flocked to the cinema to see Mama Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), I couldn’t help but feel that the storyline was kind of pointless, cobbled together almost. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the film (which I did, very much), yet I feel it is another example of Hollywood taking the easy way out to guarantee a quick profit. Are creative standalone movies really too much to ask for?
WORDS BY: INDIGO JONES
WORDS BY: BETHANY GRIFFITHS
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Best Alternative Christmas Films Edward Scissorhands Christmas - a time of joy, laughter, love and, despite the freezing temperatures outside, an inner warmth. Although we all imagine a picturesque Christmas for ourselves, it is easy to forget the harsh reality that, at Christmas, unfortunately, not everything is draped in sparkling lights and tinsel. Edward Scissorhands (1990) unapologetically discusses the lesser recognised attributes of Christmas; providing us with the reminder that Christmas is not all about the magic of materialism, but rather that Christmas occurs because of the feelings we experience during this season. Edward is a social recluse whose untameable raven hair, unspeakably pale complexion and gothic one piece makes him something of a horror movie - oh, and don’t forget his stupendously long razor-sharp implements. Therefore, when he is introduced to the perfectly pastel suburban town, where the husbands are the bread winners and the women spend their days gossiping over their perfectly picketed fence, there can only be carnage expected. Burton uses this opportunity to explore the attributes of Christmas that most people choose to ignore around yule tidings. Although initially welcoming, the neighbourhood soon develops a vendetta for Edward. His social naivety, alongside his willingness to love, mixed with the responsibility of withholding the cautionary blades, do not sit comfortably with the community, to the point that they rampage, with one goal in mind: murder. With an explosive dénouement, you can expect tears, relief and a feeling of sombre for Edward as he uses his talons in a violently damaging way - not the first emotions that come to mind when thinking about Christmas. Although these themes of loss, death and violence are overriding, the subtleties of humour, love and kindness are intertwined within the film, providing the ever-warming spirit of Christmas. Despite appearing brutish or harmful, the hilarity of the practicality of having scissors for hands overrides the fear evoked from their appearance. Edward struggles with the simplest of tasks; from eating food to sleeping on that nineties staple of a water bed, causing us outsiders to laugh at his expense, a soundtrack more expected for this magical time of year. When discussing Christmas, we cannot forget the iconic scene of Winona Ryder dancing amidst the shavings of Edward’s ice sculpture. There is something incredibly magical about watching her in awe of the residue of Edward’s creation - whether it is the music or simply the slow motion of the scene, Winona wins our hearts through celebrating Edward’s craft. Although Edward Scissorhands is not one of the most traditional Christmas films, it does draw on what Christmas is all about: the emotions we feel and the magic that comes with the turn of season.
By Orlagh Turner
Eyes Wide Shut
Think less “Santa” and more “sex cult”: Eyes Wide Shut (1999) is not your typical festive, family film. New York shapes a limbo of fantasies, temptations and lures that slink from a twinkling winter mist. Stanley Kubrick’s denouement is very Stanley Kubrick, full of icy precision and dead-behind-the-eyes acting, this time set against an indigo midnight stage of conspiracy. Stony Tom Cruise plays stonier Bill Hartford, who loses himself in streets and dreams when driven into obsession by his wife Alice, played by (then real-life wife) Nicole Kidman. He trips down a bottomless rabbit hole, enticed from the snowy sidewalks into gradually more perverse scenarios. They hypnotise him like that homely fire waiting for you at the end of your winter walk. The result is a terrifying, kaleidoscopic vision of The Big Apple’s one per cent. Eyes Wide Shut’s lighting is a Christmassy haze of blues, golds and fern-tangled décor. An opening scene takes place at a fancy festive party that radiates beyond the screen in chandeliered waterfalls of starlight. The suits and skirts on the ballroom floor are lulled into gossiping, flirtatious waltzes and substance-ridden dazes. Kubrick uses Christmas as a glowing veneer: a warmth hiding carnal deceit that creeps slowly forward; and sometimes the screen is literally sliced in two by the snug fairy-lit foreground and a shrouded navy backdrop. Released originally to unsuspecting, mid-July audiences, Kubrick surely knew what he was doing when he set his Freudian voyage at Christmas. It feels out of time and out of place - it’ll make your living room feel a little more chilly and make your mulled wine taste a little more sour.
By Caleb Carter
Trading Places What screams Christmas more than Wall Street, wealth, and the stock market? At first glance, Trading Places (1983) might seem as far from Christmas as you can possibly get. There is no carol singing, kisses under the mistletoe, or large family gatherings. However, it is set at Christmas time, there’s a company Christmas party, and not to mention a drunk Santa Claus. However, the real Christmas spirit of this film is in its focus on generosity, kindness, and the value of each and every person’s life in a lighthearted and comedic way. The film revolves around two men, Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd), a successful commodity broker, and Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy), a homeless beggar. These two men lead completely separate lives, until one day, in the lead up to Christmas, Billy bumps into Louis on the street. Mistakenly assuming that Billy wants to mug him, Louis has the beggar arrested, and thrown in jail. Unbeknownst to Louis, his bosses’ Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph Duke (Ralph Bellamy), enjoy a little wager every now and then. Upon hearing about the incident, they bet that if they switched the lives of the two men, the homeless man would earn them more money than their current employee. Because the Dukes are rich, they can make almost anything happen. They strip Louis of everything: his job, home, butler, fiancee, dignity, and give everything to Billy. The rest of the film follows the Dukes watching the fortunes of the two men unfold as they painfully adapt to their new lives. For what amount do they turn Louis and Billy’s entire lives upside down? One measly dollar, for no better reason than sheer boredom. Luckily, Louis and Billy discover the Dukes bet, as well as an insider trading deal they’re counting on, and devise a plan to right the wrongs. Even after 30 years, Trading Places is still extremely relevant, and the perfect alternative Christmas film.
By Jasmine Snow
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The Nightmare Before Christmas Weary and disillusioned with the same routine year after year, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, a skeleton who attempts to usurp the Christmas holiday after seeing Christmas Town and believing it to cure his weariness. Jack brings the holiday back to Halloween town to make his own, but he, along with his fellow residents, can’t get it quite right. There is so much to love about this film. This isn’t a film about Christmas; it’s a film about an interpretation of Christmas from people who cannot truly comprehend it. Hijinks and laughs ensue throughout; the song where Jack tries to explain the concept of Christmas is just hilarious: “You pick up an oversized sock, and hang it like this on the wall/ Oh yes, does it still have a foot?/ Let me see, let me look!/ Is it rotted and covered with gook?”. It has everything you’ve come to expect from Tim Burton, an unnerving, macabre style, yet retaining an odd sense of charm and nostalgia. The Gothic elements of ‘Nightmare’ are suitably matched with the local ghouls and ghosts of Halloween Town, who take centre stage, and the darker aspects of the film are reinforced by its stop-motion animation style. The almost jittery nature of the initial, non-digitalised film adds to everything the film aspires to - sadly this is lacking in the 2006 version, the original is best! One cannot help but admire the sheer amount of work and effort that this film required. The painstaking process of stop-motion meant that the film was in production for three years. Jack Skellington alone was said to have around 400 heads, each one slightly different. A beautiful score composed by the exquisite Danny Elfman, accompanied by some fantastic songs, is just one more reason to love this film. Fantastic music, memorable characters and a haunting animation make ‘Nightmare’ one of my favourite films ever. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the least Christmassy films out there; it opens with a song about Halloween Town and its suitably spooky inhabitants after all. But if you’re bored with the same films year after year, then this is a completely inspired change of pace, that I whole-heartedly endorse.
By Samuel Capper
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Despite all his best efforts, hugely sentimental dad Clark Griswold’s attempts to create the perfect, fun, old-fashioned family Christmas are seemingly one disaster after another, where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. The disasters in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), trashy as they are, leave the viewer in stitches. Starting with a family outing to the middle of a forest in a quest to find the perfect Christmas tree, the car ends up airborne, daughter Audrey literally freezes and they forget the saw to extract the tree, so end up taking it out roots and all. When they finally end up home, said tree, still inhabited by a squirrel, is laden with sap and far too ‘full’ to fit in the house. The house, in addition, causes meltdown in the local power station as, after many a failure, Clark, with the ‘help’ of his son Rusty, illuminates the neighbourhood as seen from space, with 25,000 bulbs plastering the family home in the tackiest way imaginable! Clark endeavours to provide a big family Christmas, including his own parents, his in-laws, a senile and partly deaf aunt and uncle, and a surprise visit from his redneck cousin Eddy and family, not forgetting the dog, Snot. Clark is relying on his work’s Christmas bonus, so that he can give his family a showstopper of a gift. Therefore, the non-arrival of the bonus cheque is a key part of the plot, and leads to catastrophically hilarious events before the inevitable happy-ever-after, where the dysfunctional family is brought together, despite their disparities. Throughout the film, there is a continuous mixture of bad events with good, catalysing towards the end. A burnt-to-a-cinder turkey, an electrocuted cat, a kidnapped scrooge-like boss, a police raid on the house and an explosive sewer precedes a lump-inthe-throat ending where, despite all the chaos, the family unites. Absurd as the film is in many ways, in terms of the cringe worthy comedy, it carries a realistic undertone, stemming from familiar family feuds, which viewers can relate to. For anyone wanting a cheesy, old-fashioned laugh with realistic sentimental undertones, rather than a falsely-magical Christmas film based on imagined festive perfection, give ‘Christmas Vacation’ a watch - you are unlikely to be disappointed.
By Angharad May
The Holiday
Controversially, The Holiday (2006) has been one of my top Christmas films since I saw it three times at the cinema. It even sits above the usual seasonal favourite, Love Actually! The film is one of the best offerings from rom-com doyenne Nancy Meyers. Though it is set during the festive season, it is often left forgotten amongst the more obvious picks. However, this film has it all; snow, romance, family, lovely music, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Jude Law! Yet it is also good if you’re not feeling so festive, as there is no strong focus on Christmas. Instead it puts the characters and interwoven plots at the centre and the festivities form a useful backdrop. It is deceptive, because Christmas in L.A. is just a little different - being sunny and warm for starters - so, when we see Iris (Winslet) escape her sorrows for the holiday season in the glamorous city sunshine, the story feels less traditionally festive. Yet, the film takes place from just before Christmas through to New Year’s Eve. It also features a beautifully snowy Surrey cottage and blanketed traditional countryside to satisfy true winter fans. The escapism is aided by a dreamy score soundtrack written by the genius Hans Zimmer, which both perfectly complements the storytelling and becomes the soundtrack to your own life through its infectious musical joy. If you’re still not sure, it has some of the sweetest child actors you’ll encounter, alongside the great Eli Wallach as the delightful Hollywood legend Arthur. Plus, you’ll never forget Jude Law performing as Mr Napkin Head. The Holiday has got the sweet, disarming quality of what could be considered a ‘classic rom-com’ and yet it goes beyond that. Amidst these constant draws on our attention, it still grabs me and makes want to watch it multiple times – and I cry each and every time. All the characters have faults, clear to see, and they are not straightforward - like most humans - which, even now, is still not always normal to see in rom-coms. The film is also so much more to many who use it as their therapeutic film. The Holiday is the festive escape that you desperately need over the season, as the title implies. It is the perfect ‘meet-cute’ that you can curl up and watch with mulled wine and a mince pie or some chocolate.
By Kathleen Walker
DESIGN BY : LOTTIE ENNIS
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DESIGN BY: ANDREA GAINI
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Just as in any other form of entertainment, cinema follows trends that shape what sells more and what sells less. Nevertheless, some films, regardless of the outcome at the box office, make an impact on society, whether this is through casting a spotlight on some hidden hitches of the system, or simply looking at the world from a different perspective. With the growing acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in many countries around the world - take a look at India decriminalising homosexuality - Queer Cinema has risen to power, from a hidden sub-genre of illnessrelated films, to a true mainstream industry. The queer revolution has won. More and more people are open to explore their sexuality without feeling judged and the community is strengthening their roots to welcome and support the variety of individuals that make up the LGBTQ+ family, all of which I could not be prouder of. However, beyond the community, there is an industry that often oversaturates genres only because they are ‘trending’. Queer Cinema is the new trend. It’s what the community has been asking for, for the past few decades, and yet somehow, we can already see symptoms of oversaturation. For as much as someone can appreciate seeing the typical romcom take a gay turn, like in Love, Simon, is this really where we want Queer Cinema to stop? Do we want our community to be locked up in the same, old, storyline simply because it’s got a queer twist? Love, Simon is unique in its genre. It is part of the revolution, and it will be remembered in history for opening up romcoms to the Queer world. However, the role of the community and the industry cannot stop the production of “gay films”. When I watched The Danish Girl for the first time with my mum, I could see in her watery eyes the battle between her own personal opinion and the feeling of sympathy
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and misjudgement in her heart. Being queer doesn’t simply translate to being in love or feeling sexual attraction for a person of your sex. Being queer means being true to yourself and living the life your heart asks you to. And that is why we cannot let Queer cinema stop its progression before conquering typically straight genres. Queer cinema is at a turning point. It has become a strong mainstream genre that can either establish itself and enable queer representation in a vast variety of films, or it can hit its peak of popularity, but remain constrained to the “gay film” stereotype. This doesn’t necessary mean giving up the idea of a film where the protagonists are gay, but queer cinema needs to go beyond the mere representation of “how I came out to my family and they were all fine with it!”. Representing the LGBTQ+ community more truthfully, free of sanitisation, restrictions and homogenisation of queer relationships to the stereotypical straight standards, must be at the heart of future Queer cinema. TV shows like Modern Family have set stereotypes of what a queer family should look like, while simply standardising it to the ‘normal’ man-andwoman relationship. In the short term, one may accept the deal to achieve queer representation. However, in the long term, this cannot be sustained. The LGBTQ+ community’s goal entails a lot more than making homophobes accept that there are gay people in the world; it involves understanding and being understood, but also providing future generations with an environment where sexuality doesn’t shape or limit our lives. Queer Cinema needs to continue making an impact on our society, regardless of trends and sales, and simply focus on changing the world. WORDS BY: ANDREA GAINI
WORDS BY: MAX MODELL
In 2014, Desiree Akhavan released her debut feature Appropriate Behaviour, which garnered comparisons to Noah Baumbach and Lena Dunham. Akhavan channelled her personal experiences in the film she wrote, directed and starred in. The story follows Shirin, an alternative version of Akhavan, as she struggles balancing her responsibilities as an ideal Persian daughter with her identity as a bisexual, hip, Brooklynite. This struggle is set against the backdrop of the aftermath of her failed relationship. While this set up is reminiscent of a Baumbach film, Akhavan is far more than the ‘bisexual Noah Baumbach’, as some labelled her following her debut. Her films tend to have a focus on character over plot, placing the audience in a specific social and cultural circumstance and allowing them to see how this affects and changes the central character. By drawing the focus of her films away from plot, Akhavan creates characters who exist both before and after the duration of the film. In Appropriate Behaviour, the cultural circumstance explored is Akhavan’s own world as a Persian, bisexual, hip, Brooklynite. However, her latest film, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, shows that Akhavan can apply this technique to a completely different cultural context - that of Christian, teen gay conversion therapy in nineties America. The effect of this is to provide the audience with an embedded lens to understand the practical and emotional effects of this therapy and these alien surroundings on the lead, Cameron. Despite this, the film also shows how human relationships can be used to combat the worst of situations. All of this leads to a film which will resonate long after viewing. Akhavan’s film career is in its infancy, but early signs suggest she is not only going to be a defining filmmaker for the LGBT+ community, but for her generation as a whole.
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WORDS BY: MIKE O’BRIEN,
Quench Tech's Guide to Christmas
DESIGN BY: LAUREN RYAN. Don’t act like I can’t see that snarky glare. ‘It’s November’, you muse, ‘I have loads of time’. But it won’t be long until the doors on your advent calendar start opening at a troubling pace - so here’s Quench Technology to do the thinking for you on what techie bits and pieces you should consider this Christmas!
Marvel’s Spider-Man Veteran studio Insomniac Games boasts a number of iconic titles, ranging from Ratchet and Clank to Resistance - but PS4-exclusive Marvel’s Spider-Man is arguably their best effort yet. It may have taken an agonizing fourteen years, but the much-beloved contextual web-slinging of Spider-Man 2 (PS2) has been bested at last. The movement alone is worth the price of admission; zipping across New York’s skyline strikes a perfect balance between both weight and fluidity simultaneously, and Spider-Man has a number of ways to manoeuvre his environment. You could be sprinting up a wall one moment and hurtling yourself through the gaps in a crane the next! Outside of arachrobatics - a word which I’m prouder to have invented than I ought to be - Marvel’s Spider-Man also features a brilliantly dynamic combat system. Fundamentally, it’s similar to the Batman: Arkham series of games, in the sense that you take on groups of aggressive opponents with a mixture of precise blows and counter-attacks - but Spider-Man is about adaptation and quick strategy. The environment is just as much of a weapon as Spidey’s own gadgets; you can fling yourself from walls to start combos with extra momentum, use webs to swing and hurl manhole covers at your opponents, and even stick them to floors, walls, or ceilings if you’re feeling flashy. To top it off, Marvel’s Spider-Man offers an approximately 15-20 hour main story, and much to my surprise, it may very well be the best Spider-Man narrative available outside the comic universe. Insomniac has opted to tell an original story instead of adapting a film this time, and it shows. Whilst the plot itself is the rudimentary superhero romp that one should expect from a Spider-Man game, the characters are given the depth and attention that recent cinematic entries have failed to provide. In particular, the relationship between Peter Parker and Otto Octavius is some of the finest chemistry between actors that I’ve seen in a game for quite some time. Marvel’s Spider-Man is an ideal gift for any PS4 owner. With its intuitive movement and combat mechanics, in addition to a wide array of accessibility options (such as skipping puzzles and quicktime events), this is a game anyone can pick up and enjoy. Kids can hit stuff and swing, and the big boys and girls among us can appreciate a little character development. What’s not to love?
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Nintendo Switch A company most famous for producing joyous games for kids and families, Nintendo have aimed their sights at the adult market with the Nintendo Switch. That’s not to say Nintendo games aren’t still innocent fun for all - but the Switch is a home for both mature third-party experiences and Nintendo’s famous first-party adventures. On top of that, it can transition between TV play and handheld play instantly at any time, meaning you can continue your game on the bus or during a lunch break with no effort at all. The Switch is home to a variety of amazing games as well. For those after a beautiful and revolutionary open-world experience, you could do much worse than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is presently the best-rated game of the generation on Metacritic. If you enjoyed Super Mario 64 back in the day, Super Mario Odyssey is the successor you’ve been waiting for since ‘96. Beyond that, a variety of easy-to-play but hard-to-master multiplayer games are available, from the surprisingly competitive Mario Tennis Aces to the brilliant reminder that life is deeply unfair that is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Don’t forget Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this December as well!
Jackbox Party Pack 3 There are few traditions as cherished as board games at Christmas - but if you’ve got a fairly open minded bunch who aren’t afraid to get creative and crack a few jokes, the Jackbox Party Pack is a priceless alternative. The Jackbox Party Pack games are a series of party video games which you can purchase on any console (or PC!) - and the best part is, you play with your phone! No need to worry about buying multiple controllers or teaching your mum how to work a Dualshock 4. There are five games in the series now, but I maintain that Jackbox Party Pack 3 is far and away the best. Included is Quiplash 2, which is sort of like Cards Against Humanity, but you can write what you like to fill the blanks instead of playing with white cards. There’s also Fakin’ It, in which everyone in the room will be given a prompt on their phone - for instance, ‘point to the player with the worst taste in music’ - but one person will not receive a prompt at all, and simply be told to point at someone else in the room. That person is the ‘faker’, and must avoid detection at all costs by any means necessary, even if it means lying and making up stories. If you can go three rounds without the whole room sussing you out, you win! Those two are personal favourites, but between the various games within the pack (and the various packs indeed), the Jackbox Party Pack series is far and away my favourite game to bring out with friends and family, and you are simply robbing yourself should you choose not to buy it!
For our last suggestion, one of Quench’s own Copy Editors, Lauren Ryan, has a wonderful suggestion that I might just heed myself - so I’ll let her take it away! Polaroid Camera Although Christmas is a magical and wonderful time of year, we all face the stress of picking the perfect gift for someone special. When I think back over the years and consider all the lovely gifts I’ve received - though I feel bad for picking a favourite - there is one gift in particular that will always stick out. Two years on, I still remember that exciting feeling of unwrapping the paper to find a beautiful, glossy red polaroid camera in my hands. I fangirled hard over my Polaroid PIC-300 camera for many months after (and still do). It’s such a brilliant device and makes photos tangible and special. It has various settings (cloudy, sunny, indoors etc), which makes it a really versatile camera that you can take anywhere. Its instant print truly captures the moment. Many people would dispute that the films are too expensive, which isn’t wrong - the refills aren’t cheap and don’t come in large quantities. However, I feel like this taught me the importance of not taking too many photos and to decide what particular moment was most special to me. For example, I took my Polaroid on my first holiday with my boyfriend; I only have ten photos from the entire trip, yet when I see them, I can distinctly remember everything from the moment, unlike the hundreds of forgettable snaps we have on our smartphones. The Polaroid PIC-300 is the perfect gift for a loved one. It gives them the chance to be creative with their picturetaking, and having palpable pictures is ideal for scrapbooking, home decorations or to simply possess the moment.
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Review - boldly familiar
Call of Duty, arguably the best known shooter in the world, annually shatters industry sales records with impunity. Yet, for years now, it’s been bedeviled by its passionately vocal community who aren’t quite convinced that Call of Duty knows what it is. What began as a Second World War shooter has ventured just about everywhere from the Cold War to outer space. Throughout these wildly transformative years for the franchise and its gameplay, Call of Duty has been widely criticised for either shattering its mould beyond recognition, or settling too comfortably within it. This year, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, developer Treyarch tries to strike the seemingly impossible balance between convention and evolution - and gets it just right. Perhaps the most significant departure from the treasured days of CoD past is the absence of a single-player campaign. This decision was met with quite some backlash initially - but it’s clear that the exhaustive resources typically dedicated to the single-player portion have been well-distributed to other areas. Many have remarked that Black Ops 4 is like three games in one, and whilst that is somewhat of an exaggeration, the truth is that its three separate components are well-nourished with an abundance of quality content. Headlines have chased one mode in particular: Blackout. It’s Call of Duty’s answer to the battle royale craze ushered by overnight sensations PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) and Fortnite, and what an answer it is. Blackout is, without question, the most mechanically polished battle royale on the market. For those who’ve been living under a rock for the last year or so, the format is simple: you parachute onto an enormous map with 99 other players whom you must outmanoeuvre and outlive using whatever resources you can scavenge. Conceptually, the game is much closer to PUBG than any other battle royale title, but the sheer mechanical superiority alone is enough to set it apart. Call of Duty’s DNA is woven carefully into Blackout; perks appear as consumable timed boosts that can be found on the map, whilst weapons and maps from older games make appearances throughout. In a sense, Blackout is not just a superbly polished and streamlined battle royale game, but a love letter to Call of Duty’s days of yore that will give veteran fans a sense of nostalgia amidst the tension and chaos. Black Ops 4’s famous Zombies portion has seen arguably the most drastic evolution of all. If you haven’t played Call of Duty since zombies was as simple as roaming a small map, buying a handful of perks, and lasting as long as possible, it’s likely you’ll be very confused by the onslaught of customisation options, special weapons, and secrets on display. Fortunately, tucked away in Zombies’ various matchmaking playlists is a tutorial which explains most of the new mechanics - but it’s certainly a lot to take in at first. Black Ops 4 launches with three zombies maps: IX, a Colosseum-styled gladiatorial complex, Voyage of Despair, which is set on the RMS Titanic right after its collision, and Blood of the Dead, a revamped version of Mob of the Dead from Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. These maps are all enormous with a variety of secrets to discover, but even as someone who pines for the simpler days of World at War and Black Ops,
I never felt overwhelmed by the scope and depth of Zombies. Players now have access to equipment and special attacks, both of which recharge over time - but with these new powers come greater adversaries in the form of special enemies and minibosses, akin to Left 4 Dead’s special infected. For those who love the matrix of complexity that Zombies has become, you ought to be beaming. For those reading these with a cynical squint, give it a try - it’s not as bemusing as you think. And if it is, there are a variety of modifiers you can use to tailor the experience. The last mode, and perhaps the most important, is Multiplayer. After years of indecision regarding whether or not players ought to be fighting on the battlefield or on the ceiling, Black Ops 4 strikes an amicable balance of boots-on-the-ground gameplay with relatively futuristic technology. Anyone familiar with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will feel right at home in Black Ops 4 - but Treyarch have also made some changes to how Call of Duty works fundamentally in a way that keeps the gameplay loop interesting whilst familiar by lifting some conventions from MOBAs and hero shooters like Overwatch. You can create-a-class just like always, but on top of that, players now pick their Operator (hero), each of which have a rechargeable skill and an ultimate ability. Whilst intimidating at first, I haven’t found any of these abilities to be particularly unbalanced, and the ones which are demonstrably stronger can often only be used once or twice per match, depending on performance. It’s a welcome to change to Call of Duty, and a nice means of customising your loadout beyond the decision to use an assault rifle or a slightly faster assault rifle with less damage. Other major changes include a much higher time-to-kill than usual, which makes for more generally interesting combat encounters and decreases the likelihood of being killed in frustrating situations. Healing is now manual as well, which can add a layer of tension in certain situations, but otherwise doesn’t change the game all that much. This is a Call of Duty game for everyone. Whether you’re a longtime fan who’s grown disenfranchised with all that jetpack and spaceman nonsense, or a disappointed ex who feels Call of Duty is too immature to develop personally and satisfy your needs, abate your cynicism for Black Ops 4. The value for money here is far and away the highest it’s ever been for a Call of Duty game at launch, and it’s clear that each of the three modes has been crafted with care and polish. It’s not perfect; the server tickrate is a third of what it was in beta (though Treyarch promise solutions), the hitboxes are a bit naff, and the microtransaction model is ethically questionable in its current state - but it’s worth the trouble, because Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is unquestionably the series’ best effort since Black Ops 2.
WORDS BY: MIKE O’BRIEN Disclosure: Activision provided Quench with a copy of the game for review purposes.
DESIGN BY: URSZULA RODAKOWSKA
67 technology
The European Union and Internet Governance:
what is going on
words by: Anastasia Kropotina DESIGN BY: alessio philip grain
With websites and social media becoming the most accessible mediums for news and information, the European Commission (EC) is taking steps in legislating the regulation of the internet. Operating under market self-regulation, internet platforms have been slow to react to the rise of extremism and copyright violation due to the overwhelming surplus of offending materials. In response, the EC has proposed several solutions to automate the filtration of such content, whilst also adapting the legislation governing print media and TV outlets to create parity. This legislature is a source of much concern online; many worry that it could jeopardize the free and open internet we know and love today. The first proposal in question is the Copyright Directive. Simply put, the legislation includes several articles which limit the use of copyrighted material to prevent loss of profit for its owner. The German MEP, Julia Reda, has posted a comprehensive summary of the criticisms on her blog. Most of it concerns the limitation of access to educational materials and scientific research. The proposal has also been criticized for serving corporate needs over public interest and the freedom of information. Article 11 – commonly referred to as link tax – would obligate EU-based websites to pay tax to link and preview materials from other sources. The logic is that news sites could potentially lose revenue since the information crucial to their output can simply be viewed elsewhere. This somewhat contradicts one of the goals of the proposal: governing online publications in the same fashion as print and TV. Similar laws have been proposed in Germany and Spain, and in response, Google News ceased operations, causing a major
traffic decline for the involved news sites. We already see previews of articles and on the cover of print. Headlines are how we know that the latest issue of The New York Times was an article about immigration and the September Vogue has an interview with Kate Moss. They are an incentive for us to purchase their product; if you didn’t have access to these snippets of information, you probably wouldn’t buy many publications at all. If you’ve heard the chatter around the EC ‘banning memes’, you’re likely aware of Article 13. The article does not explicitly ban memes, but it does endanger them by threatening any EUoperating platform which hosts the unlicensed use of copyrighted material. This includes parodical usage and, by extension, memes. The legislation encourages the use of ‘effective content recognition technologies’ to detect copyrighted material within any upload – but, as with any blanket solution, it is likely to flag inoffensive content without discretion, concerning many about its impact on internet freedom. The lesser discussed, but nevertheless concerning proposal for the One Hour Takedown of Terrorist content, is also the subject of contention. A reactionary measure in light of the recent terror attacks on EU territory. The proposal aims to prevent the distribution of materials considered offensive under the EU and UN regulations. Websites hosting such content would be
www.savethememe.net
issued with a removal order and obliged to remove the content or disable access to it within one hour. Here the commission allows for a time limit, but still calls for use of automated takedown software for overtly extremist material, or that ‘which does not need contextualisation to be deemed illegal’. The Article also suggests safeguards against problems that could occur with the enactment of such software by including human oversight and verification in the detection process of less obvious illegal content. The Articles have not become law as of yet, but have been approved at the initial stages of the enactment process. Several more hoops and rounds stand between proposal and policy - but perhaps the biggest obstacle can be found in how major companies could respond to the legislation. Speculation suggests that major non-EU based platforms may pull their content from the EU, following the suit of Google News in Germany and Spain, or alternatively host their content on servers outside the EU to avoid liability. It is not yet clear what will become of Article 13, as it simply does not seem possible with the current state of countermeasure software. The One Hour Terrorist content takedown may cause platforms to hire more moderators to deliberate on ethically dubious material, which may harm smaller organisations that can’t afford to hire more staff. Ultimately, the proposals would be extremely difficult to implement in their current state and will most likely endure either a plethora of amendments or a slow death at the drawing board.
68
WORDS BY: MIKE O’BRIEN DESIGN BY:STEPH ROWE
The Video Game Crash of 1983 wrought an era of economic stagnation and a rapid decline in consumer interest. Four years later however, the Nintendo Entertainment System emerged from the ashes to critical and commercial acclaim worldwide. The company has since been ubiquitously credited with the revival of the industry - yet thirty years down the line, large businesses, like Nintendo, are becoming the subjects of frequent controversy and indignation from avid gamers. From hero to zero, how are large companies losing their rapport with the people, and what are the implications for the medium going forward? Company reputation and consumer faith were once crucial for videogame sales; a critical factor of the 1983 crash was the overabundance of rushed, low-quality games, of which E.T. for Atari 2600 is an infamous example. Atari commissioned development in July 1982, but demanded a September release that same year. For much of the populace E.T. was their first foray into video games, and so the abysmal standard became Atari’s reputation and demise. Whilst the NES had its fair share of underdeveloped and outright bad titles, Nintendo learned from Atari’s mistakes with one simple tool – the ‘Nintendo Seal of Quality’. Through the seal, the company was able to take responsibility for their system’s quality titles whilst shirking responsibility for riskier third-party products. It was such a successful marketing tactic that, for quite some time, Nintendo assumed a monopolistic role as both the public opinion leader and the product creator.
TECHNOLOGY
69
Uproar at corporate antics in the games industry sometimes elevates above and beyond the games themselves. With the internet comes immutable behindthe-scenes transparency, allowing consumers to both observe and interact with the internal going-ons of the industry. For companies whose efforts have upset videogame enthusiasts, this has historically resulted in acts of protest from the community, most of which revolve around creating PR nightmares. No business has felt the impact of these protests quite like Electronic Arts (EA), whose frequent dissolution of beloved development studios and controversial business strategies have been causing ruckuses on the internet for well over a decade. Some examples include the closure of Pandemic Studios, the makers of the Destroy All Humans!, Mercenaries and Star Wars: Battlefront games, as well as Westwood Studios, the team behind the Command & Conquer and Dune series. Most bizarrely, then-CEO John Riccitiello proposed to stockholders that EA should begin charging $1 per reload on future Battlefield games. Public outrage became so widespread that EA won the award for Worst Company in America for two years straight, even beating out the Bank of America - whom many consider to be responsible for The Great Recession of 2008. Yet, even as boycotts were proposed and moral opposition to these companies appeared to increase, so too did their profits. In fact, EA is performing better than ever, seeing a 51% profit increase in 2014 – so how is it that the reputation of these large companies can take such a hit, but evade financial repercussions? How can EA reach a level of infamy akin to Atari and still stay afloat in the industry? The answer is that the videogame industry has grown exponentially since the 80s, and depending on your position, this could be for better or worse. As the games industry evolves, so too do its costs. Videogames are becoming more demanding, and are reaching a point where even the mass contributions of hardcore gamers alone just don’t compensate for the shortfall of developing or marketing a blockbuster title anymore. Game companies require a greater influx of consumers to remain competitive with industry leaders, causing many games to give way to casualization. Take the Smash Bros games, for instance. Nintendo created one of the most competitive fighting games of all time with Super Smash Bros. Melee in 2001. Seven years down the line, its Wii successor Brawl removed the complex gameplay possibilities, drastically slowed the overall speed and added ‘tripping’, a luck-based mechanic causing players to randomly stumble when attacking. Despite overwhelming criticism from competitive communities, project lead Masahiro Sakurai has stated that Smash had to be more accessible to appeal to wider audiences, and that the hardcore community is largely unrepresentative of the wider audience. It’s a jarring contrast to the current climate in the gaming community. The dedicated gamers of today are infuriated by the practises of big-name players in the industry – and who can blame them? Even with the industry making more and more money each year (even outpacing Hollywood), gamers often find themselves paying for a game or service that frankly doesn’t make the grade. Despite the title grossing over $3b, dedicated servers are completely absent from Grand Theft Auto V’s multiplayer. What players are left with is a peerto-peer matchmaking system with no anti-cheat protection, where hackers by the droves are able to bankrupt other players with simple scripts and trainers. AAA companies are also notorious for publishing games with abysmally poor optimisation, usually on (but not limited to) the PC platform. The other year, WBIE (Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment) had to withdraw Batman: Arkham Knight from Steam during its launch week due to awful performance across the board, and it was still poor when they re-launched it four months later. The increased focus on connectivity in recent years has also facilitated the monetisation of assets that were previously free. Consumers feel they are constantly paying more for less, and there’s ample reason to believe it – for instance in 2011, publisher THQ began charging money for Saints Row: The Third’s in-game cheats, a feature that was available for free in its predecessors.
In a way, Sakurai is right. Like his artistic direction or not, his comments on hardcore gamers becoming a marginal fraction of the overall consumer base rings truer each year. The games industry is less esoteric than it used to be. For big-budget companies, appealing to the common denominator is a necessary measure to remain viable. Gaming is a passive interest for millions of people, and that’s where the money is. From this, one could easily surmise that the voice of hardcore gamers has lost its influence. Instead, I would propose that it merely influences different areas of the industry now, areas that exist because of their continued support. That’s not to say the AAA games industry has shut out the voices of hardcore gamers altogether – IO Interactive posted an open letter addressing hardcore Hitman fans over concerns of casualization after all – but in reality, the voice of hardcore gamers counts most to projects depending on their input and funding, like Toby Fox’s Undertale or Paradox Interactive’s Mount and Blade. Companies still depend on the rapport and loyalty of their target audience like Atari did, it just so happens that AAA publishers opt to – and in many cases have to - chase the money. That means a shift in focus away from the desires of hardcore gamers - a bitter pill to swallow for those whose continued investment put AAA gaming where it is today.
70
A Bad Day
6:30am
I will most likely hit snooze a few more times but won’t be able to sleep. I’ll stare at the ceiling wishing I could just spend a day within these four walls, not having to move or talk or think. I can sleep for eight hours or barely three and still feel like I shouldn’t leave my bed. Then I remember that I have a train to catch and while every part of my body will want to stay put in the coziness of my room I force myself to get up, pull on the first clothes I can find and drag myself down the stairs.
7:10am
WORDS BY: HANNAH STAIT ILLUSTR ATION BY: IZZY WRIGHT DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE
Walking to the train station, I can’t help but keep looking over my shoulder. It’s dark and with every car that passes I feel more inclined to walk faster and faster. I keep checking the time, feeling like I’m going to miss my train. Part of me hopes I will, so that I can go home and have a ‘do nothing day’ even though the guilt I’d get for missing a lecture makes me walk that little bit faster.
7:41am
The train is full with people pushed against each other, making me feel like I can’t breathe. My hands are starting to sweat and in my head I’m cursing at the people in the carriage, praying for the train to clear before my stop. I think about how much reading I have to do for today’s class and the only thing I can think to do is lean my head on the window of the train and watch the world go by, blocking out the worry from my mind.
11.33am
I’m sitting in a lecture, trying to comprehend what is being said to the room. I write as many notes as I can but my mind keeps going somewhere else. I think about the weather, or read the news which terrifies me into thinking about all of the situations I could find myself in. What would I do if somebody walked in with a gun? Is there going to be a natural disaster while I’m miles away from home? It seems stupid. I know it sounds crazy. I could never tell people that, they’ll think I’m mad. I push the thoughts away so I can concentrate… but they never stay gone for long.
3.28pm
I’m sitting on the train ride home and I’m planning everything I need to get done. I need to read this article and write this assignment plan. I need to find this book for tomorrow and I need to wash my hair. I have to cook food for tomorrow because money’s running out and one more subway might tip my bank balance over the edge. I write a list of what I need to do and I feel better. I can do this.
5.10pm
In the time it has taken me to get into my house, everything feels bad. I want to cry and I couldn’t explain why if you asked me to. I sit in front of my laptop, the cursor blinking on an empty page while I try to articulate the flow of words going on inside my head. I put my headphones on to block out the world, feeling like my thoughts aren’t worth the time it takes me to say them out loud. Not long now, and I can sleep.
9.02pm
There was so much I had to get done, but I’ve watched too many episodes of a Netflix show because it’s the only thing I can concentrate on at the minute. I force myself to get some work done, because I know if I don’t then I will feel worse. I’m feeling tired.
1.40am
Everyone knows what a bad day feels like. A bad day to me might be an ok day to you and vice versa. This is a semifictional piece about what a bad day can be. We don’t know what will come tomorrow, and we can’t really judge what a ‘normal’ day is. Just know that if you’re having a bad day, you’re not alone and someone could always be around to make that bad day a better one!
I’ve been led in bed for hours now. I go back and forth between lying in the dark and watching youtube videos about things that I don’t really care about. I might cry for no reason at all and get angry at things I can’t control. I know if I don’t sleep soon then tomorrow will be a bad day. I can never really tell. Days go from good to bad to worse and back again in an order that no one can really control. I see my friends and laugh and smile and eat my way through cheat days and treat days and work my socks off to get through the day. I’m not broken, I don’t need fixing. I’ve just had a bad day.
If you’re finding that the way you’re thinking is affecting your day to day life, reach out. Head to the Health and Wellbeing section of Intranet for some guidance on what help you can get, or give Samaritans a call at 116 123 (UK) to talk to someone.
71 AGONY AUNT
I feel alone all the time. My friends don’t bother with me and I’ve tried to make an effort with them over the course of second year and the summer. I’ve stopped caring so much, I just don’t understand what is wrong with me.
This sounds like it could be one of either two things: bad friends, or bad mental health. University is a busy time for everyone and it can be difficult to remember to make time for friends, so don’t take it too personally if your friends genuinely don’t have time. However, if you really are making an effort and you find yourself constantly rejected by your friends, it might be time to venture outside of your ordinary circle and try to bring people into your life that enjoy spending time with you. Think about societies where people will share your own interests, and you can attend regular socials. But, as you mentioned you stopped caring, this brings concerns elsewhere. Feeling isolated or even isolating yourself can be a symptom of depression, and if this is ringing true for you, I’d strongly recommend reaching out to the University’s Counselling and Wellbeing Services in order to work through these issues of loneliness.
How do I reach out to my younger cousin about his sexuality? A friend showed me an account with his name on a gay dating app which had his number on it. His age was listed as 18 although he isn’t that old yet and I know that he hasn’t come out. He doesn’t It can be hard to deal with younger family members because nine times out of them they will feel like you’re talking down to them. The best way to deal with this is to talk to him face to face and ask how things are going. Make sure he knows that you’re okay with his sexuality and that you’re in no way judging him. See if he’ll open up to you by himself and if he doesn’t just ease into the conversation of “hey so I found this” and while there’s a big chance that he’ll get defensive and deny it, talk to him in a way that shows you understand and that you’re not judging him at all. It might take time but he’ll be so much more likely to open up to you and might even feel relieved that he has someone to talk to which will strengthen your relationship in the long run!
I have just started my third year and the pressure to get a first is causing serious stress. I am constantly being reminded by tutors and the outside world of how employers and further education institutions view a first compared to a two-one. Furthermore, due to the cost of my degree it feels as if it wouldn’t reflect value for money as a two-one. This has led me to become obsessive over my work. I am always working on uni work or other commitments and this leaves very little downtime and when I have it I feel guilty for not working and thus am unhappy. This means I’m am just sort of existing at the moment waiting to finish my degree to start my life. Can you advise me on how to get out of this cycle?
It’s quite alright to find university stressful, both because of the workload, but also because it’s a time of big changes; you may start university thinking that you are going to be an engineer, and by the end of it you want to be an actor. I think the best way to not stress yourself out too much is to organise your life so that you have a specific amount of time spent studying per day, but also enough time to relax and do fun things! Try and stick to the schedule, don’t overstudy and make those hours very productive, award yourself for achieving another good day of work with some good food and your favourite TV show with your friends. Each moment of your life is unique and beautiful on its own and you shouldn’t be wasting it waiting for something better to come.
How do I tell my housemate I don’t like his girlfriend? Sounds stupid, but he’s changed loads because of her. She practically lives here with us at Uni even though she doesn’t go to Cardiff and whilst we stay polite and friendly, she blanks us. Should we just accept her attitude or say something? This is a hard one, I get how the last thing you’d want to do is upset your housemate but it’s important to remember that if his girlfriend is affecting your living space and friendships then something needs to be done. Take time when she isn’t there to pull him aside and explain how she makes you all feel. Remember though that he may love this girl and you need to be sensitive about how you word these things. The last thing he’d need is to be put into an ultimatum situation where he feels like he has to choose between you or her. The truth of it is that she might feel intimidated or nervous and show it in a way that might seem like she’s being cold. Maybe show her that you really do want to make a truce and come up with something fun like a games night or movie night so everyone can have a laugh and get to know her. Either way, things have to move forward and I’m sure it will work out in the end!
Your Questions Answered