GUAP Issue 14 - The Young Issue by GUAP Magazine

THE YO U N G

ISSUE Master Peace EDITOR IN CHIEF Ibrahim Kamara CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Jide Adetunji BRAND MANAGER Shanice Mears MUSIC EDITOR Sade Akinfe ART DIRECTOR Shenell Sha HEAD STYLIST Seyon Amosu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Regina Stephanie Jaiyeola ONLINE EDITOR Stephanie Ospina

ISSUE-

JAN -

2019

FEATURES

MASTER PEACE Editorial

12 THE MODERN FAMILY PORTRAIT Editorial

30 CANDY ROADMAN Editorial

36 AITCH

Interview

Thank you to everyone who helped us create this magazine and being part of the GUAP family. For marketing & advertising enquries please contact: netwrk@guap.uk For partnership inquiries please contact: s.mears@guap.co.uk For any other inquiries - contact@guap.co.uk

EDITORS NOTE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;age is nothing but a numberâ&#x20AC;? There is no time like now where this statement holds true. There are so many amazing young people currently doing things that were seen merely as impossible for people of their age. From the music charts, to academics, the age of success is getting younger by the second. Whether this is due to the internet or the rise of role models in culture, one thing is for sure the talent is undeniable. This is a statement to every young person out there. You are capable of achieving anything you put your mind to. Your youth is an asset. Take it and leap towards your goals. The time is now. Ibrahim Editor-In-Chief

“I just want to show people that are upcoming and artists, that you can be whoever you want to be” - Master Peace

Photography: MARIAM SHOLAJA Creative Direction: REGINA Styling: SEYON AMOSU Styling Assistant: MAUREEN

If Run DMC and Aerosmith had a child, we would have the young, energetic Master Peace. Emerging from the grime scene, 19-year old Master Peace isn’t your average MC. Mixing rock and rap in a way thats not been done before, the South Londoner describes his sound as “raw”, “alternative” and very left. Despite being 19, only making music for a short period of time and no songs released, Master Peace has gone around the country performing on every stage. From underground box rooms, to some of the countries biggest festival stages.

THE MODERN FAMILY Female Models: NOAMI KAJI | LOTTIE DIONN VALENTINA | YAZMIN FORBES

Male Models: AYO - BAME Models ABDOURAHMAN NJIE | WEBSTAR Nii AGENCY

THE FAMILY MODERN PORTRAIT

For The Daily Paper Photography: LOBKE LEIJSER Creative Direction / Styling / Casting: SEYON AMOSU | BERI DALGALI Assistant: SHACKEAL | NTOMBI EMNYAMA

MODERN MODERN MODERN MODERN

FAMILY

PORTRAIT

AMODERNFAMILYPORTRAIT

A modern family portrait

30 SECONDS WITH

LYDIA JENNER Founder: 808 London

“19 year old dancer uses fashion to lead a rebellion”

@808_london www.808-london.com

I am a free spirit. I am a Scorpio. I have a staff puppy. A lot of people think I’m a boy. They look at the brand and messaging me “bro”. I have been on a plane 84 times. I am all about conspiracy theories. Everyday I long to go back to the days I spent in L.A. It was honestly the best time of my life! I was bullied at school for most of my days. Just because I was different and, boy… I had a bowl haircut. My mum and dad taught me I can be anything I want, but then also keep me from going too far into strange paths, for half my life I wanted to be a farmer with 60 chickens. I love the sky, watching the clouds, the sun, the reflections on the water! I have worked some awful jobs before starting 808. I worked in a bar for about 3 weeks and I was the one making the drinks. I am not a drinker and I had no clue whatsoever on the drinks I was making.

I am a professional trained dancer, I’ve danced on BGT semi finals, Ministry of Sound’s TV campaign, Just Dance 2018 and Disney Channel international series “The Lodge”. You’ve just read Lydia’s story in a snapshot, and she openly shares her experience with GUAP on starting her unisex brand 808 London, in her own words she adds,

“I have so much I want to share with people.” 808 is centred around the mindset of obtaining peace from society. When I asked Lydia what this meant she said, “We (808) are creating a rebellion. Rebellion is not what most people think, rebellion is turning off your TV and thinking for yourself. It is not only about participating in activist campaigns and holding protest posters, but there are also subtler – and more effective ways to influence the world on a long-term basis.” The ethos of 808 encourages people to use self-love, identity 27

- and self-acceptance to undermine society’s expectations and constructs. “The truth is,” Lydia continues, “modern pop culture has created and glorifies a cult of fakeness.” The movement digs deeper to question the patterns we are told to follow: completing education, then a lifetime of working 9-5 and finally retirement. The brand is a tool which Lydia uses to question whether this routine is made acceptable for the benefit of individuals or the system. Having experienced a lot at a young age, Lydia summaries that “society is a horrible place… realistically not many people are happy in life.” Her solo trip to L.A at 17 years old manifested her unique perspective of life and helped shape how she views the world. She saw crime, drugs, police shootouts and on the other side was exposed to glamour, money and wealth, through this, the concept of 808 was born. Already attending dance college Lydia knew she wanted to be a professional dancer. When I asked her what made her start 808 she said, “I see a lot of dancers struggling to pay rent and even eat and I knew 28

that would never be me. I like creating and I just put my mind to work to see what way I could still dance and have a business.” When 808 was conceptualized she would start with only £50, Lydia says “I learnt from a friend that the more you put in the more you get out and have always remembered this.” She started the brand with silk screens which is a way to transfer a design onto garments using fabric paint. She got her dad to drive her to a hardware store and bought wood and silk fabric. She stapled the fabric to wooden frames and continued experimenting from there. Once she had her product she used her family and friends as the first point of sale. She felt very little support as a young person running a startup, she describes the experience as being a “tiny dot in a canvas of a massive painting and you have to get up there to the big bright colours. You have to get out there and do it all yourself. “I learnt the expensive way on what works best for me and the best way to do things.”

Even when you do figure out the best method for you there will always be challenges but Lydia adds,

“every challenge is a test, it’s just how you overcome it. “ “A lot of people will tell youyou’re wasting your time and energy into nothing, but everyone was at the bottom at one point.” “I feel like these days everyone wants to start a clothing brand but there is so much more to it than printing on clothing.” Lydia confessed that what keeps her going is her end goal and continuing to believe that if you never give up you can’t fail.

Designers: FILA UK | EMILY GRACE JEWELLERY

CAN DY

ROA D M A N Photography: EMILIO COSTA Creative Direction | Styling | Casting: SEYON AMOSU Makeup: CLAUSIA DEOLIVEIRA Models: DAN HARRIS | ANAIRIN KAINES

A ITC H

Article | Interview: Zweli Chibumba

By now youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably heard of him. If not youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably heard one of his songs or freestyles. Having been given co-signs across the industry and displaying his talent on some of the premiere platforms of the scene like BBC 1Xtra, Yo! MTV Raps, and GRM Daily, Aitch is definitely one to watch. He looks to be the next big thing coming out of Manchester, which has produced some huge stars in our scene most recently with the likes of IAMDDB and Bugzy Malone. Aitch is an artist with a diverse skill set which has elevated him to where he is now. With witty lyrics, a nonchalant swagger in his delivery, and an ear for good production Aitch is someone that once he gets your attention it sticks. Whilst still being relatively young and in the infancy of his career, we got Aitch to answer a couple of questions to shine some light on his perspective on things so far. 36

How old are you now and how old were you when you started rapping? I’m 19 now and I actually started rapping properly when I was about 16. Why did you start rapping and when did you know it could be a career? I started rapping, firstly as a joke, I didn’t really take it too seriously, but funnily enough I ended up being the best out of my group! It took off from there, really. That’s when I knew for certain in my mind it could be a career. I’ve always had a feeling, just from dropping music that this was serious, but I believe that ‘Straight Rhymez’ is what solidified it for me. What do you think makes people gravitate towards you as an artist? I think me as a person away from the music! People seem to like my personality and characteristics and that’s just made more people gravitate toward me. That and the fact that I just speak the truth! That and speaking about every day thing instead of everything else that-

everyone is talking about. How important do you think the internet is to not just your success but artist’s success in general? It’s one of the most important things. Without it I don’t think a lot of people would be here and have the opportunity to be making it as they are today. Do you think you were an overnight success or do you think people just started to tune in properly more recently? More people have started to tune in recently, for sure, however… this was always supposed to happen. [laughs]. How has your life changed since taking music seriously/ your recent success? I’m definitely a lot busier! Hmm.. I would say, just really stuff like popularity and more people are noticing the work ethic and I, in my mind take this as a job now as well as just the fun I used to have with it.

What advice would you have to other young people who have a passion but don’t know what to do to take them to the next level? I would say, stay true to yourself don’t try be like anybody else. Ask everyone you can for advice whether you think it’s important or not and no matter how much advice you get, always stick with your initial thoughts and gut feeling. How important do you think working with other people is, not even just musically but in terms of to push your brand/business? It’s super important, nobody can win on their own, however linking up with people and other artists should always be a natural relationship and not just linking for the sake of linking. Does Manchester give you a lot of inspiration or would you say you work a lot more off of personal experiences? 1 million percent. Manchester is my biggest inspiration, I think it will be for a long time cause this is what makes me different to a lot of other artists.

SO U N D C LO U D

Article | Interview: Benita

The internet has had an undeniable impact on how music is consumed, created, and discovered. But more than ever, the average person has the tools to learn and nurture their ability to create music. Over the years digitalised music has meant the ability to create music is no longer dictated by the need to learn an instrument, now 40

music can be stringed together by the aid of digital software and an understanding of song structure or musical theory is picked up by ear and intuition. Just look to genres like Grime, EDM and Garage; Music has always been transformed by a burning DIY ethic and Music on Soundcloud is our most recent incarnation of that.

What powered the popularity of these genres is the discovery and understanding of the languages used in these art forms, followed by the willingness to experiment, and use them. A healthy combination of SoundCloud and YouTube is allowing artists to discover and be audacious with their talents and create a distinct sound. An innovative way this has taken shape is through a culture of remixes, re-edits and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;flips. Just like preceding musical forms, a major part of these edits is digitally altering vocal samples, but what makes it so unique is the blend of genres, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost impossible to pin it down to one type; it goes beyond genre and focuses on influence. The outcome is a vivid representation of how SoundCloud has allowed everyone to bounce ideas. 41

For around a decade now, upload-to-stream services like SoundCloud have helped a new generation of musicians from a diverse range of backgrounds distribute their music and pick up both local and global audiences for their profiles. Access to music production software and YouTube online tutorials which show you how to use them has also allowed artists to fill in the gaps and hone their crafts. Most importantly it has allowed Black musicians to be the distributors and promoters of their own art forms whiles connecting musicians across the diaspora. Baille Funk, Lo-fi Hip-Hop, Jersey Club, Gqom are just a handful of genres, young black producers are infusing into their remixes and production across the platform. Soundcloud edits are yet to get their true cover story but there has been the widespread appreciation in the radio and club scene. Artists like Kaytranada and Sango or the record label Soulection, which have been picked up by the music press, provide a beacon of hope to the artists that are consistently creating. . But what has also reared its ugly head with Soundcloud is journalism’s need to explain or ‘rationalise’ Black art forms and competition. Soundcloud Rap is a buzzword that’s been scattered all over everyone’s timelines for the whole year. And has done little but show the mainstream’s tendency to focus on the most commodified, controversial, and mimicked form of black culture. The focus is rarely on MC’s from but rather packed with the understanding admiration which follows the Lils and Yungs. Soundcloud has also taken the step to compete in with other streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.

The quicker discovery of new artists, genres and albums is the promise that ties all these platforms together. This is a blessing and curse for DJs and producers, as their tracks can be picked up by the algorithm and shared more widely. But it has also meant tighter rules around copyright and the need for profiles to be ‘professionalised’, meaning titles, tags and photos must be perfect. To make sense of all of this I spoke to three artists, SAY3, Parris and K. Le Maestro. K Le Maestro is a young DJ and producer from London whose mixes have caught the attention of platforms such as Complex and reached over 1 million streams. Parris (TheKidParris) is an upcoming Londonbased producer and DJ who has been featured on Soho Radio Say3 is a DJ and producer from Miami, who has collaborated with the likes of Bryte and Mina. He also runs “Flux” a party in Miami centred around global influences and forward-thinking underground music. All three artists use SoundCloud to distribute and share their music. We spoke about the Soundcloud discovery culture, the algorithm, and the internet:

Q: How did you first start making music and become familiar with the software you currently use? Was the internet ever part of your process?

K. Le: I started out in 2012. Being a pre-adolescent, I was bored out my mind and wanted to find a new hobby, so I picked out music since I was fond of it. My older brother introduced me to Mixcraft in 2010 but I rediscovered it in 2012. The internet has always been a vital part of my process as it allowed me to be open to a new platform of music that and also allowed me to obtained sounds that shaped my sound today. Say3: I probably started making music lightly in 2012 and at that time I was producing off of FL Studios, I was making a lot of like abstract trap beats just messing around in the program. Fast forwarding to now, I’m a huge Ableton advocate. I remember randomly stumbling across Ableton on google searching for different DAWʼs. I needed something efficient. “Dubspot” helped me with the basics of the program and I figured the rest out by just pressing buttons and experimenting in the software. 44

Parris: When I started university, I got a copy of FL Studio 12 from one of my friends just to play around with it and see what I could make. Although I was coming from quite a musical background, I was terrible when I first started out! By getting into a consistent routine with my production and watching a bunch of YouTube tutorials I was able to pick up other producers’ techniques and learn how to make well-structured songs. Q: What are some of main influences, has stuff you’ve heard on the internet influenced what genres you create or helped you discover new genres?

K. Le: My main influences usually change from time to time but I have a few solid influences that have helped shape my sound; those being: J Dilla, Madlib, DJ Premier back in 2014-ish but as my sound progressed and being open to new music from the internet and especially platforms like SoundCloud, people such as Kaytranada, TEK.LUN, j.robb etc helped me redefine my sound and break out of the music I was used to making at the time.

Say3: I ask myself this same question all the time, for me I think my influences are always changing. Currently I’ve been heavily influenced by the sounds coming from Lisbon and Gqom. To answer the second question; slightly. I’ll hear a genre of music I’ve never heard and become inspired and try to merge it with another genre of music, creating a culture clash. I think that’s always my goal when I produce and DJ. Parris: Having grown up on a lot of soul and reggae music, I feel that I am inspired by the melancholic mood that is present in a lot of older songs. I always try to channel this nostalgia into my own music when I’m making beats. When I was in school, I discovered SoundCloud and started listening to people like Joe Kay who runs the Soulection channel. I got put onto several producers and artists, I would never have found otherwise. In addition, I am always looking for samples on YouTube ranging from Jazz to electronic to Latin etc. Q: Did you begin making mixes with the intention of making a career out of it, or was it a hobby?

K. Le: It was mainly a hobby but also a passion I was sort of in denial of due to the high expectations of parents (especially ethnic parents) and career paths. Making music was a release from the stresses of normal life and school and was something I’d seek when I had nothing going on or if I felt compelled to get creative. Say3: Really, I started out just producing and making beats, but it wasn’t really putting money in my pockets, so I switched to making club tracks and remixes, then I learned how to DJ and started getting local bookings. Since then I’ve fallen in love with making people dance and being able to control the dance floor with my music, its top 5 best feeling ever. Parris: One of my friends randomly asked me if I wanted to split the money to buy some DJ decks and I was down to try it. As I started getting familiar with the hardware and putting out my own mixes, more people were telling me they were feeling it so then I started putting on my own events as well. I started DJing out of chance, but it has now developed into an events company I run with 45

a couple of my friends called PACE ENTERTAINMENT. Q: Do you believe SoundCloud’s paid streaming services has complicated things?

K. Le: SoundCloud’s paid streaming service has created complications for both the users and the artists who upload onto the sight as it takes away from the experience as ads are really the last thing you’re trying to hear when listening to music. But it’s beneficial to the artists who are dependent on the revenue gained in order to fund their expenses whether it be for music or day to day life. In hindsight, I feel the commercialization of SoundCloud will ultimately lead to its decline eventually as it takes a lot away from the experience for both the artists and the users. Say3: Yes and no, I think the so called “SoundCloud rappers” should be benefiting from that service, there’s a good bit of underground rappers that do crazy numbers on SoundCloud, but I don’t know if they could say the same on iTunes or Spotify. It gets a little complicated for DJ and producers though, that 3 strike rule is real. 46

They’ve cracked down a lot more because of paid streaming service I feel like. To be real, I think Bandcamp is doing it right. Don’t sleep on them. Parris: Soundcloud has clearly been trying to compete with other streaming services with the introduction of the Soundcloud Go service. The only issue is as they become increasingly similar to the more established platforms like Spotify and Apple Music and their original unique selling point is diminished (which was based around discovering new music). This takes away from the authentic feel that SoundCloud originally had, it clearly hasn’t stopped stop some of today’s stars being discovered on the platform (artists like Juice Wrld and Lil Skies). Q: How do you think SoundCloud’s discovery algorithm has impacted your work? K. Le: SoundCloud’s algorithm has definitely in a way managed my work to get across to a wider audience as it would be hard for me to market my music alone without the help of a system that can shuffle these songs into people’s recommendations. But I think it’s definitely clutch for artists as it’s able

to present your music in a near professional way in which can grab people’s attention and get heads turning. Say3: SoundCloud’s discovery algorithm has been a blessing, a lot of my DJ friends tell me all the time, when they dig for music my edits always pop up in the related section. The best way I can describe the algorithm; it’s a snowball effect.

WHO IS B E N J I F LOW ? With all eyes on the UK music scene, there are artists who have proven to be a force of nature which forces you to take notice. This is where Benjiflow comes in. A talented artist from North London who shot up in popularity after his song Deep End went viral. GUAP catches up with him to see what’s next for 2019

“My music doesn’t fit into one genre, it’s a feeling” 48

The age is a mystery however I’m from north London.

moments, once its out, it’s out. There’s nothing you can do about your art being out, you can have expectations but you can only pray it lives up to them.

Where did the name Benji Flow come from?

How would you describe your music?

Benjiflow is one word, I never liked the name Benjamin when I was younger however one day I thought let me turn my insecurities into a strength. So benji, and flow, that came out of brainstorm when I was sitting with my friend trying to think of ways to just be different.

My music doesn’t fit into one genre, it’s a feeling. It has influences of many genres but it’s it’s own thing. It’s love, happiness and energy!

How old are you and what area are you from?

How and when did your career start?

It’s hard to say when it started, I’ve been producing for some time but that never really worked out for me as much as being an artist has. Your boiler room performance received a lot of attention online was you expecting such a reaction?

I was hoping for that reaction, you can only hope for the best and pray the world connects with it. You can only aim to do great work and create great -

What’s one thing you haven’t learnt since starting your career?

One thing I haven’t learnt? how that’s hard. Okay I haven’t learnt how to backflip yet, however I’m going to learn by the time I have my headline show, soooooo I suggest you roll! Is there any other career you wanted to have growing up?

I wanted to be a producer, from like age 10. I even have it in my primary school year book. I wanted be like Pharrell.. but I guess that worked out because he both produces and sings. Who are your inspirations? Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, 49

Snarky Puppy, George Duke, The Spice Girls, Fela Kuti, Lagbaja, D’angelo, Shabba Sizzla, Esperada Spalding.. yeah I could go on forever. Explain the video for deep end? Directed by stuupid, It’s a mood video based on the 4 elements, water, earth, fire and air. If you look at the colours throughout the video you can see out we interpreted that. You have a project coming out this year what can we expect? I do indeed. You can expect deep grooves, very spiritual feelings and loads of love.

“You can only aim to do great work and create great moments” - Benjiflow

U K R & B A RTI STS TO LO O K O U T FOR IN 2019

‘I miss old R&B’, ‘R&B is an American genre which we adopted that isn’t really ours’, ‘R&B is dead’. We are in the midst of an era where music universally is at eclectic peak with constant cross genre influences and collaborations allowing artists to push boundaries that sonically enable stans to enjoy the finest of eargasms to ease our mind, body and soul. But the genre of R&B has been evolving from its accustomed nostalgic sound to more innovative and introspective bodies of work being put into the public sphere. Within the UK you can sense a revolution has taken place as we are at the forefront musically around the globe and I believe a British R&B resurgence is currently happening with artists such as Ella Mai, Nao, and Mahalia. As 2018 comes to a close here are some noteworthy talents who R&B lovers should keep an eye on for 2019.

JAZ KARIS

Within this Brits school alumni inhabits a rare authenticity you are unable to identify with most R&B artists as the 21-year-old South Londoner is able to straddle the genre’s past and present into pensive and intimate music. During Jaz Karis’ formative years she grew up on powerhouse vocalists like Chaka Khan and Barry White ‘who had her singing at the top of her lungs’ and that wholesome music is certainly evident her music. Also drawing on influences from hip-hop and jazz, she is able concoct a soulful underground electronica sound that fits seamlessly with her luscious vocals. 2018 saw Karis release the brilliant ‘Petty Lover’ and ‘Petty Dreamer’ with her stating that the former was

her most interesting tack to date citing transparency and contempla tion as key components to her creative process. She says “I’d never met producer Aston Rudi before and we immediately opened up to each other about what was currently happening in our lives. This then made it so easy to dive right into the song”. With 2019 on the horizon so is new music but if you can’t wait that long, Karis will be performing at a number of dates, most notably opening for Nao at the O2 Brixton Academy. With each release you acknowledge a maturity from the last but that is understandable when your big dream is ‘to have no limit on your success’.

ANGELO DISIONS

Wisdom and humility are the first two words that spring to mind when you think of stupendously talented Anjelo Disons and his music. The singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist exudes a neo-soul sound which showcases the organic flavour of classic R&B through to the present day whilst also capturing current pop-culture and society. He states that being from South London’s melting pot is essentially his muse as his creative process is very conceptual, highlighting the substantial Kanye West influence. This fellow Brits school alumni released his ‘For The Love’ EP back in October which documented his journey through adolescence as beings to grasp a comprehension of the meaning of love as well as its various formats. 54

Disons’ obsession to create art that delves into one’s deepest emotions is a sign of high intellect and self-awareness beyond his years as his meticulous process in creating music allows me to make an early comparison to the iconic Salaam Remi. With an overarching goal of himself and his collective ‘The Oracle’, using their influence to change perceptions, push forward-thinking and open mindedness, this 19-yearold on the way to creating not only creating breathtaking music but a community to shape the culture.

TERTIA MAY

On the surface Tertia May portrays a perception of an effervescent character who is a self-proclaimed foodie but it is her candidness and ‘jazz loving’ melodies that are captivating audiences through her R&B ascension. As you indulge yourself within her stereoscape it is certainly definite of a modern classic sound as she states that “Etta James and Aretha Franklin have helped mould my sound to the way I want it. That – soulful – genre of music is where my heart lies.” With May being equipped with those breathtaking vocals, it is of no surprise that idolises those great pioneers going on to say “my favourite part about making a track is laying down the vocals. You really get yourself into a magical hole and it feels great.”

2018 was definitely a year of milestones for May, with a performance on Colors Berlin, a sold-out headline show and the release the ‘Kind of Purple’ EP, this not only signifies a personal and musical growth but also a growing fanbase. May continues to produce organic and tangible music that immediately removes her from the mainstream legion of cookie-cutter female R&B singers, so expect some exciting first-rate music in 2019.

KWAKU ASANTE

Independent balladeer Kwaku Asante is a breath of fresh air, as his silky-smooth vocals alongside his profoundly immersive but vulnerable lyricism allows for an achingly beautiful listen. The north-west Londoner has already drawn palpable comparisons between his inspirations, D’Angelo and Marvin Gaye but is steadily creating a singular journey of his own. His childhood revolved around music, participating in gospel choirs, jazz groups and forever listening to his mum’s Bobby Brown ‘My Prerogative’ vinyl, which have influenced his ambitious neo-soul sound that has had the likes of Tom Misch raving about him. Asante began turning heads with the disco-funk groove-laden ‘The Way That You Move’ and then created more traction with his 56

second release ‘Worth’ which explored themes of selfdoubt and personal growth. He states that “every song has its own theme, but I guess the commonality is love – whether it’s platonic, romantic or ephemeral. His latest release, ‘Fantasy’ is an intimate ballad that is warm but tender as it explores the idea of love and the reality of when it actually takes place. By writing about ‘his unique experiences and trying to maintain the vividity of his memories through those lyrics’, it’s of no surprise that Asante began to create significant buzz in the second half of 2018, as coupled with his powerful yet effortless voice and his beautiful production, I’m sure that everyone will him on their radar of very soon.

HAMZAA

To say that Hamzaa is probably in the middle of quite the stratospheric rise would be quite understatement as she has become London’s latest obsession. After getting airplay for the wholehearted ‘You’ on DJTarget’s Radio 1Xtra show, she quickly got selected to perform on the prestigious Later… With Jools Holland and from that point her talents have taken her from strength to strength. November came by and we saw Hamzaa release her debut EP ‘First Signs of Me’ to which was followed by an astonishing maiden headline performance.

What listeners find so alluring about the 20-year-old songstress from Hackney are her emotionally honest words with this latest project highlighting that although this may be the beginning, there is certainly no ceiling on her potential. Hamzaa’s production seems to be soulfully exquisite, whether you are listening to a more stripped back acoustic track or chilled harmonious beats but something you are always guaranteed is her iron-strength vocals.

XAMVOLO

BBC Radio 1’s Mistajam has already labelled the visionary that is XamVolo as ‘the future’ due to his remarkable musical diversity, constant experimentation with different sounds, textures and genres. His retro-futuristic production allows him to blend various genres to a cohesive whole that is transcendent and together with his delicate phrasing he is able to guide listeners through his concepts, a trait easily identifiable with legends such as Janelle Monae and Davie Bowie. Similar to those emblematic artists, a substantial amount of his songwriting focuses on power stating “how much else there was to write about when you stepped away from the typical subject matter.

Power could be a lot of things: choice, lack of choice, power dynamics, insecurity, influence, dominance and oppression, justice and so on. I’ve always loved the tone of that pool of topics – love and power overlap often, so it stays relatable.” Late January will see XamVolo drop a project based around the idea of ‘desire and ambition’ ultimately posing the question “If you could have everything you’ve ever wanted all at once, would you be able to appreciate it in the same way?” This release fills me with intrigue as reflective concepts like this is what shapes a prodigious talents impact on not just music but society.

PIP MILLETT

The Manchester-native had a seminal year for her sumptuous vocals, personal but relatable lyricism and honeyed guitar instrumentals that felt like a gentle and soothing embrace. Song like ‘Make Me Cry’, ‘Love The Things That You Do’ and ‘Talk About It’ were authentic and powerful, driven by simple melodies which saw Pip Millett gain popularity amongst esteemed tastemakers Pigeons and Planes and fellow R&B sensation Jorja Smith. With a heavy influence from quintessential soul sisters like Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu it is easy to understand why not only she feels that her sound falls within the neo-soul bracket but also why the emotive lyrics are the centre of each song. As the year came to a close, Millett released the two singles ‘Drunk & Alone’ and

‘On Your Mind’ exhibiting a darker approach from which fans hadn’t been familiar with as well as versatility that will intrigue them to keep a careful eye out. When asked what sets her music apart from anyone else’s she said “I’m not trying to imitate anyone. I am me. I choose to put out the sound that I do and write the lyrics that I do. I’m also not trying to be different though or push away from the music that’s out there already, I’m just trying to be honest. I believe that’s what sets my music apart.” With an impeccable mixture of pure vocal talent, graceful production and songwriting at a level for which there few contemporary peers, for her to beat this inaugural stage of her career, Millet is sure to reach R&B’s acme. 59

KADEEM TYRELL

South Londoner Kadeem Tyrell is gradually gaining popularity for his suave, professional mixture of 90s hip-hop and house beats, soulman crooning, and tasteful carnality. Having spent his upbringing around various genres and sounds have certainly paid dividends as he typifies the alternative but still soothing R&B sound. With genre-bending slow jams for the passionate which make you want to dim lights and chill with your significant other, his catchy hooks and his spellbinding riffs are definitely set to leave women swooning at his feet.

Tyrell’s unique sound combines a gospel background, post-new jack swing, slick production and stylistic cues reminiscent of Jodeci that is understandably charismatic. Throwback anthem ‘Let Me Know’ gained considerable popularity upon its release of his ‘Feels’ EP back in April and with the classic R&B sound inventive on always influencing rising talents, I’m sure Tyrell has some smooth nostalgic sounds to guide us through 2019.

HOPE TALA

Singer/songwriter Hope Tala’s adoration for music and literature allows her to create progressive R&B tracks that successfully integrate rap, neo-soul and lyric poetry into a magical sound. Although the West Londoner may only be 20-years-old, her eclectic and mellifluous sound is allowing her to carve out a reputation for delivering sombre velvety melodies infused with nostalgic quotes of literature. With avid eye to being brutally frank with words reflective of personal life experiences, Tala’s music seems to blossom into awe-inspiring angelic heights. Just as the autumnal flashes of red and yellow began to dawn upon us, the enchanting release of ‘Starry Ache’ EP, displaying grooves of bass-heavy

90s R&B with contemporary indie stimuluses which encapsulated a sophisticated recording. In an interview with Clash Magazine she explains that “the title of the project is taken from Donna Tartt’s ‘The Goldfinch’ and can be found in an exquisite passage which describes falling in love. “The two words seems to contradict each other in a way that perfectly evokes love as a feeling that is dangerous and beautiful and painful and breathtaking all at once, so ‘Starry Ache’ encapsulates the themes and ideas of the EP really well.”

MILLER BLUE

The music that Miller Blue has brought to world so far has definitely been a manifestation of exploring a flux of genres, which has produced a sound which sits firmly in between soul and electronica. Still with a R&B orientate synthesis, you can’t help but identify influences of hip-hop, jazz and a touch of funk which ultimately allows him to encapsulate delightful sonics that can either make you want to two-step or create a serene ambience. With influences ranging from the likes Frank Ocean and James Blake as well as Nas and The Fugees, it’s clear to see that Miller Blue is a rare talent whose artistry transcends the confines of his age which aids for a captivating listen. 62

BR3NYA

Br3nya is one of the hottest new faces of UK rap. Raised in West London, she is a Ghanaian female making a mark for young black women to rap, in a scene dominated by males. After the release of her singles “Good Food” and “Like me” she made a huge impact in the underground rap scene and her cheeky flow and blooming confidence has caught the attention of many.

"I represent women and you can say in particular Black Women" - Br3nya

TANA

Birminghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grime scene has been on growing for years now, and Tana is one of the hottest new faces emerging from it.

BOLA SOL

Bola Sol is changing the relationship we have with money one story at a time through # R i c h G i r l C h r o n i c l e s 68

JACKIE ABRAFI

Jackie Abrafi, from South London is not your average advertising professional. Jackie is also a talented artist who decided to channel her inner creativity by creating a side hustle, known as Bubbly and Art where she hosts a paint and sip pop-ups. The pop-ups range from different forms of art, which also include Life Drawing regardless the participants ability to draw. At the pop-up Jackie provides art materials, alongside some bubbly to set the mood. Their ethos of Bubbly and Art is to #BeCreative, the pop-up welcomes all types of creativity with the aim to create a diverse, fun and engaging atmosphere. GUAP caught up with Jackie to find out a bit more about her passion, thought-process and future for Bubbly and Art.

Meet The Woman Behind The Cultural

Thermometer For Diasporic African Youth

Article: Bonita

The music that Miller Blue has brought to world so far has definitely been a manifestation of exploring a flux of genres, which has produced a sound which sits firmly in between soul and electronica. Still with a R&B orientate synthesis, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but identify influences of hip-hop, jazz and a touch of funk which ultimately allows him to encapsulate delightful sonics that can either make you want to two-step or create a serene ambience. With influences ranging from the likes Frank Ocean and James Blake as well as Nas and The Fugees, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear to see that Miller Blue is a rare talent whose artistry transcends the confines of his age which aids for a captivating listen. 72

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt like I was having conversations about social economic development, in pockets with different types of people. I noticed there was not a lack of knowledge, there just had not been a facilitator to bring this conversation to the forefront. However, if there were they tended to have a focus on the American Black experience, or the narrative gets drowned out due to clout on social platforms with little evidence. I decided to come together with my first panel discussion, to trigger people when discussing black issues. I asked everyone to identify their nationality, prior to walking into the event and split everyone up based on nationality. This way I gave people the opportunity to speak from their perspective, rather as a collective; as every black experience is different.â&#x20AC;?

EBUTE strategically works with influencers and organisations with a strong presence in Africa, giving the platform visibility. This gives the platform the opportunity to bring new perspectives on how to strengthen knowledge and culture ecology of African diaspora. In addition to the education piece, EBUTE also offer a bespoke communications service in research, content and brand activation which aids to the re-education objective objectives of the platform. “There is a lot coming soon, we shall be hosting a launch party which will lead onto many other things. We shall be providing rich content, content that is visually pleasing alongside valuable to the community. EBUTE serves a cultural thermometer, so let’s really measure the heat and turn it up! Since this year marks 400 years of slavery, let’s kick it up a notch.” Juliana looks to bring more research to the forefront, seeking to highlight the importance of strengthens one knowledge on African Diaspora. EBUTE has produced amazing content on Afropunk, Face Hunter and Coronation of The Kin which showcases the value of the platform. Click here to also watch panel discussion Black & Digital hosted by EBUTE which explored the new intersectionality of social media. Be sure to follow EBUTE on socials, to keep up with their amazing projects ahead.

CORONATION OF THE KIN ART DIRECTION | PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE NNAMANI SET DESIGN | PRODCUTION: CHRISTINA NWABUGO

Between Borders: the magazine redefining Britishness through art, conversation and lived experience

Interview: llayada

Could you please introduce yourselves? “I’m Luc, I’m the Editor of Between Borders and one of the original founding team. Away from the mag I’m an intern at a MusicPR company but pretty much all my free time gets pumped back into the magazine at the moment. Writing has always been my creative outlet, and in creating a platform with the mag it’s allowed me to pursue and develop that passion. Equally I’ve always been intrigued by sports and that has definitely been reflected in the magazine of late. I’m fascinated by the subcultures that form around them and the bonds that are built through sport as they often provide some of the most welcoming communities and tightest fraternities. Often bonds that are stronger than family ties rest within sports teams and fan bases.” 76

“I’m Tom, the Creative Director and co-founder at Between Borders. I live and work in east London- working as a graphic designer through the week. I’m passionate about the arts, culture and social change, passions which have been articulated through Between Borders. Art, music and film in particular are the reason why I fell in love with design and are what inspire me creatively every day. It’s a truly special opportunity for me to be able to channel these passions on a platform we crafted, whilst championing the stories we believe in.” “I’m Zeb, one of the co-founders and the acting business director. Outside of BB I’ve got a full-time, corporate job in Investments; I’ve always needed to have a creative outlet and working on the magazine really provides that. Aside from work I think keeping fit is important as it keeps you clear-minded and aware of everything that goes on around you - anything from gym to boxing to badminton! It’s an energy thing - I have to keep the balance right or it tips over! Food is also very important for me in that respect. More than just nutrition, it’s about bringing people together as well as giving insights into other cultures and ways of living.” Could you introduce Between Borders? “Between Borders is a platform and magazine created to open dialogues about identity and what constitutes Britishness in the 21st century. Its primary focus is on exploring Britishness through the eyes and lived experiences of second and third generation migrants. By celebrating the work of creatives from different backgrounds we hope to highlight just how diverse Britain is today.”

What motivated you to begin Between Borders? “I guess it was purely out of frustration primarily. It was launched out of a frustration at the right wing monopolisation of the British identity, in a climate dominated by Trump, Brexit and populism we thought ‘why can’t we use this as an opportunity to politicise identity but in a positive way?’. If identity is being used a tool to divide us why can’t we flip that on its head and use it to unite people? By reconceptualising Britishness as an identity that’s inclusive not exclusive that’s what we hope to do. In doing so we hope to create a space, a platform where the work of everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender can be platformed, showcased and championed equally. On a more content-centric approach we set up the platform to counter the clickbait content that saturated our newsfeeds, we wanted to reach beyond a headline and craft content and narratives that are worth reading about and investing in. We want our articles and interviews to have a lasting, take away effect on our readers. In an era of instant gratification we want to create an impact that’s a little more lasting and a little less superficial. What are your upcoming plans for the project? “Yeah, I’m really excited about this actually we’ve got three amazing projects coming up in 2019. We’re branching out and venturing into more multimedia projects which has always been an ambition of ours. I’m very proud to announce we’re working on a short documentary style film with the incredibly talented team behind Shado Mag, the documentary is going to investigate what it means to be a Londoner for the people who call it home. 78

We’re working on a children’s book at the moment in collaboration with one of our amazing illustrators and the last, well you’re just have to wait and hear a little bit more about that, but it’s our most ambitious project to date and i’m incredibly excited about it moving forwards into 2019. What’s the goal for the magazine in the near and far future? “What’s always been integral to Between Borders is the sense of community and safe space we want to create. What’s essential for us over the next year is that we really start engaging and interacting with our readers. I want to move into events over the next year, continuing to build on the success we’ve had thus far. In a digitally defined era I don’t think you can underestimate the importance of actual human connection, whether that’s through parties, talks, or workshops. I don’t really believe in short term target setting, I think when you focus too much on the minuscule, the dayto-day you lose sight of the long term goal. Of course what’s always been part of the plan is a print edition of the magazine, but that’s far from the be all and end. We’re not pursuing a vanity project but at the same time it’s great when you actually see a physical manifestation of your work. So a print edition is definitely on the cards in 2019, we’ll just have to wait and see. We don’t want to rule anything out or become too singular in focus but we’ll see. I’m excited by what’s to come.“ Congratulations on being selected as a youth partners in collaboration with Chime For Change. How did this come about, and what was this like for you? 79

“If I’m being honest it came as a complete shock when I first read the e-mail. I thought it might have actually been spam. They reached out to us and asked if we would be interested in partnering in this years irregularity report, which is great by the way. This years report was about fluidity, whether that applies to sexuality, gender or identity we really found it to ring true with our ethos. As a magazine that prides itself on creating a safe space for discussions on identity we were honoured to collaborate with Gucci and Chime For Change. It was a really encouraging way to round off what has been an incredibly busy year. More than anything else I guess it serves as validation that what we’re doing, other people are digging. We’re not people pleasers. Everything we’re doing is explicitly us. We don’t feel the need to tailor anything to anyone, we’re just championing who and what we want to champion, and if other people like it that’s an added bonus. The primary benefactor has always, and will always be the people who identify as being Between Borders.”

Check Out This Visual Artist Shaking Tables In The Photography Scene Article: Sagal

NAJMA ABDULLE

Najma Abdulle, 21, based in Birmingham combines quirky illustrations with her photographs. She photoshops constellations onto her selfies and pictures of outfits dripping ink.

Recently she created a photo series where she picked a selfie against a blue floral background, with the eyes cut out from the image that were embedded into the flowers- it’s a mesmerising piece of art and this unique artistic direction is what sets this visual artist apart from many. ‘When you love your own work, negative comments immediately don’t matter; even if I fear it, I still go for it because the only reason why I fear whatever I want to do, is because the idea is new and it’s something I haven’t ever done, giving me more reason to just go for it and do it! It’s always the work that I’m fearful of sharing that people respond well to and that’s what gives me the confidence to push forward.’ Realising there was something missing in the creative scene in her community, she teamed up with another photographer and together they created ‘The East Collective’. It is a clever initiative with the future notion to connect as many Muslim creatives worldwide, not only to share each other’s work but to have the chance to critique, collaborate and learn from one another, just a hashtag away. As both a black and Muslim woman sometimes it is hard to find a place to feel accepted within these two communities, but she views both of her identities as a blessing. Her identity empowers her and finding people who share these qualities, she says, is the best feeling.

Knights Of: The Children’s Power Publishing Company Taking Into Their Own Hands

Article: Stephanie

Did you know only 1% of kid’s books published in 2017 featured a main character from a black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds? Allow me to reassure you, that’s a solid one percent, numero uno and far from a typo. It turns out the Arts Council partnered up with CPLE, to fund the very first and only research study that evaluated and determined the quality of ethnic representation within UK children’s literature. Which leads me to the introduction of Aimée Felone, one of the co-founders from ‘Knights Of’, which by the way, is a reference taken from the 12th century Arthurian Legend where the Knights of the ‘Round Table’, offered everyone an equal voice and an equal say in all matters. Ready in my shining armour, aka, my recording device at hand and what has been described as my charismatic persona, the chronicles of ‘Knights Of’ is set to take place in the hustle and bustle of London during the 21st century. Wanting to waste no time, we jumped right into the story of why the company was created?

“Children’s publishing on the whole has a massive diversity crisis, in terms of workforce as well as output. After working in publishing for over five years I left traditional publishing back in 2017, to co-found ‘Knights Of’ with David Stevens. We wanted to address the need in a more permanent way. The journey so far has been great”.

“I mean the first few months were just myself and David now day to day we are a team of five, so it was you know, scary at times but we managed to secure private investment. Our first book came out in August last year and our second book came out in October of last year too. Now our third book will be out next month, (February) our fourth will be out in April and we have a whole slate planned for 2019 as well.” Towards the end of 2018, ‘Knights Of’ hosted their second pop-up bookstore which turned out to be yet again, another mighty success. Leading to the successful crowdfund of a permanent home in Brixton, set to be employing someone (could this be you) and opening later this year. Curious to know how effective the conversation about the lack of diversity has been with the audience and the industry? “I mean the conversation was largely conversation a few years ago and that is why we left our jobs. It was all conversation you know? Nothing permanently put in place to ensure that diversity wasn’t just a publishing trend. We at Knights Of are committed to hiring diversely as much as publishing inclusively. The industry itself is a very homogeneous, mainly white middle class area. If you don’t have the people at the table and expressing their opinions and expertise, it bleeds out into what is and isn’t published.” 85

It should come as no surprise that at the start of any new ventures, we are faced with a set of different obstacles to overcome and this case is no different. From representing a core set of values in the children’s publishing industry, to the impact the company has in society, Aimée shares what her experience has been like so far: “As an indie publisher it’s always tricky to cut through the noise of larger companies and get your books seen and heard - to get it on the shelves of popular bookshops and the reviews that it needs. So we’re trying to make sure that our books get the same exposure. The support from the pop-ups has been great - from both the industry and the wider community, parents and kids who have all just been relieved and ecstatic to find characters and authors that are representative of themselves and their lives.” Already having an insight into what book releases to expect from ‘Knights Of’ this year, I was ready to explore if there was anything else the publishing company is set to surprise us with? “Due to the amazing reaction the two pop-up book shops have had, the day to day experiences when we ran the shop saw everybody from every socio-economic background, to people who had never stepped in a book shop before come through our doors. We had a lot of white parents say they were sick and tired of only seeing white kids in the books that they would be giving their children, because that’s not their kid’s reality when they go to school, it’s not the areas that they live in either. So it wasn’t just people from diverse backgrounds who were calling out for these books, it’s people from white backgrounds as well.” As a result, the pop-up book shop will now be embarking on a UK and Ireland tour this year.

With enough time to get personal, surely, you’d want to know what the co-founder of a publishing company finds meaningful in books right? “I’ve been a massive reader since a child, I’ve always enjoyed that feeling of escape that you get when you know you find a book that you love. I got into children’s publishing to recreate that feeling for other kids and to make sure that all kids are able to get enjoyment from reading and make sure it is accessible to all as well. I was a huge fan of Jacqueline Wilson’s books growing up, I think looking back on why I enjoyed them so much, it’s because they featured kids that were going through real life issues.” Ending on this note, if you are breaking into the publishing industry or if you’re a writer with an interest in this topic check out #booksmadebetter or head to Knights Of’s open ‘Live Chat’ for any questions you might have.