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MUNA Turn Up The Volume · Hercules & Love Affair Will Young & Chris Sweeney · Style & Sound · BETSY Autumn 2017
OOH NA NA ’ WHAT S MY NAME?
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HISKIND Autumn 2017
This issue is in memory of Dean Eastmond Publisher & Acting Editor Josh Fletcher josh@hiskind.com
The wonderful thing about music is its ability to make people realise that they are not alone through feeling the spirit of community and unity.
Editorial Assistant Beatrice Mustocea b@hiskind.com
Our HISKIND mission statement surrounds our aim to improve conversation between gay men, the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. Music, more often than not, plays a prominent role in doing just that, acting as a singular universal language that forms a powerful social glue, allowing any listener from any walk of life to connect and resonate with.
Writers Amy Stutz Connor Spilsbury-Brown Colin Dawidziuk Charlotte Keenan Louis Shankar Jordan White Josh Milton Rhys Harding Shannon Cotton
Music from the LGBTQ+ community holds more of a prominence in present day than ever before, with the likes of MUNA fearlessly championing the undeniable power of queer girl power to Hercules & Love Affair’s Andy Butler opening the door to conversations around addiction and abuse, both more-than-familiar taboo aspects of the LGBTQ+ community.
Music Editor Bill Baker bill@hiskind.com
Creatives Sane Seven Larry Gorman Kitty Cowell Bluebell Wooi Zarina Wilson Kamran Rajput
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Walker Art Gallery
Design James Mack Lewis Gray
By highlighting these subjects in music, the conversation is kept alive and by celebrating those championing it, we hope to mirror the positive impact of music on the LGBTQ+ community. Music will, forever, speak volumes and we hope you find our music issue as enjoyable to read as we found making it. HISKIND’s music issue is brought to you with thanks to Amazon Music. Discover the latest music at www.amazon.co.uk/music/hiskind
With thanks to Aaron Cullen Emily Gallagher Adam Packer Alberto Padilla James Rowell Frazer Lawton Printed in the UK by CPUK Print Publishing cp-uk.co.uk Follow us @HISKIND HISKINDmagazine @HISKINDmagazine Copyright HISKIND © LTD 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. All information and prices quoted herein are correct at the time of going to press. Whilst every effort is made to achieve total accuracy, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions within this magazine.
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To stock HISKIND, work with us or contribute, please contact hello@hiskind.com To advertise please contact advertising@hiskind.com Cover shot by Larry Gorman and styled by Kitty Cowell with thanks to The Cotton Store.
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The List We round up our favourite new discoveries, latest releases and this month’s must haves.
About U
£27 munaofficalstore.com No collection is truly complete without the presence of MUNA’s About U ; sparkling darkpop runs through the veins of a hot pink flared disc making it an essential must have.
Chappy
Free App Store Chappy, the contemporary gay dating app for guys looking to find their ‘Mr. Right’, or ‘Mr. Right Now’ mirrors the realities of 21st-century gay dating by offering choice, depending on what you’re looking for.
Amazon Echo Dot Urban Outfitters Cabinet
£250 urbanfitters.co.uk Contemporary with a twist of mid-century style, Urban Outfitter’s cabinet is ideal for smoothly connecting cords to the wall through it’s subtle opening at the back.
£49.99 amazon.co.uk/echodot The Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa and Amazon Music lets you ask for any music you want by song, artist, genre, era or even lyric. Clever stuff.
Moncler ML0017 28C
£230 moncler.com/gb Moncler’s authentic sunglasses have an aesthetic that’s perfect for transitioning your style into Autumn with their quirky lenses and delicate gold frame.
Rainbow Sweater
£55 wrangler.co.uk Celebrating their 70th anniversary this A/W, Wrangler’s rainbow graphic sweater strikes the perfect balance between modern and old-school fashion.
Buck Jacket Cord Pink
£319 oliverspencer.co.uk Millennial pink really is the new black, slip on this stylish corduroy jacket for a relaxed yet sophisticated look that captures the Oliver Spencer signature style.
Timex Watch
£60 urbanoutfitters.co.uk
This classic watch from Timex features a stainless steel casting with a tonal face and a smooth leather strap. Clean, minimalist style and perfect for everyday wear.
Absolut Mixt £1.75 Sainsburys.co.uk Hang on to the taste of summer with Absolut Mixt. New sparkling cans from Absolut bursting with vibrant fruity fl avours. Available in Blueberry & Lime and Cloudberry & Apple
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Where we’ll be and what we’ll do
The Diary Sept - Nov HISKIND presents Dean Eastmond
Oval Space, 20th September
HISKIND presents an evening in celebration of Dean Eastmond and his achievements in an event that will pull together London’s LGBT+ community. Join us for performances from Sink the Pink, Will Joseph Cook and Years & Years.
Gloria’s
Fridays at Wringler & Mangle
Lorde at Alexandra Palace
After a year selling out XOYO, Gloria’s is back with a new menu and a new vibe. Think fabulous cocktail bar, bellboy butlers and drag performances to start your weekend in style. Welcome back Gloria, we missed you.
27th September 2017
New Zealand pop royalty Lorde takes her Melodrama on tour, with only 15 European dates – including a one night takeover of Ally Pally. Joined by MTV’s Best New Artist, Khalid, this date is one for your calendars.
We Are Robots presents: Future and Innovation of Music:
Old Truman Brewery, 2nd - 5th November 2017
Mute Records founder Daniel Miller, Little Cub, The Penelopes and more gather at the Old Truman Brewery for free interactive workshops, label collaborations and live performances. The four days aim to experiment and educate, with everyone from students to music industry professionals welcome to join.
London Film Festival
Various London Venues, 4 Oct – 15 Oct
The cinematic highlight of the year returns as the biggest names in film take over London for two weeks. From Battles of the Sexes to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the BFI will be showing previews of the newest titles in cinema.
London Queer Fashion Show
Wed 20 September 2017, Hackney Showroom
Aiming to deconstruct gender norms and highlight diversity in the community, LQFS welcomes visions from new designers, inviting them to experiment with themes of identity and gender that goes beyond the binary. hiskind.com
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LOUIE VEGA SIMON DUNMORE FULL INTENTION HIFI SEAN MELON BOMB MELVO BAPTISTE
Saturday // 14 October // Ministry of Sound glitterboxibiza.com @glitterboxibiza fb.com/glitterboxibiza
ministryofsound.com/club @ministryofsound fb.com/ministryofsoundclub
Introducing...
From our stereo to yours: We shortlist our favourite emerging music acts to playlist on Amazon Music
Sälen Hailing from London, Sälen are the on-therise band worthy of adorning everybody’s lips. Having released a few of the year’s finest singles (just take one listen to Heartbreak Diet or, their most recent effort, So Rude ), the accompanying clips to the catchy melodies and enticing lyrics perfectly match aesthetically pleasing and uncomfortable visuals that we really can’t get enough of. Watch this trio continue to rise making music for themselves and anybody else who wants to join in on their fun. Rhys Harding - @rhysjharding
Billie Eilish
Dream Wife
Leland
Billie Eilish has crashed onto the pop scene with her swirling dark pop offerings and she’s proving early on she’s a force to be reckoned with. At just fifteen years old, she’s able to write her own music to a level of quality of someone who’s been in the industry for years - take Bellyache, a charming track written from the perspective of a murderer.
I spy with my little eye: bad bitches. Snaking basslines, soaring riffs and Spice Girls samples seal the deal for tenacious trio Dream Wife. After forming a fake girl group as part of an art project while studying in Brighton, their dream band is now a reality with the three-piece finding themselves being one of the most anticipated live bands on this year’s festival circuit.
From keeping behind the limelight to now braving the forefront, Leland is the man responsible for some of the most essential pop music we’ve come to witness. The brains behind Troye Sivan’s YOUTH, a major chunk of Allie X’s debut record and co-writer for Selena Gomez’s sultry Fetish, there’s not much the LA writer/producer/composer can’t accomplish.
With her don’t smile at me EP set free into the world, this teen has her foot stood firmly in the industry door with enough intrigue and talent to keep her fans and peers eagerly awaiting what’s next to come. Connor Spilsbury-Brown - @cnnrbrown
From the venomous FUU to the exuberant Kids, the band named after a 1950s rom-com possess vocal choruses that hark back to the Slits while adorning strands of rock and pop to their musical bow.
His corpulent CV of hits has forwarded him into making a name for himself, resulting in solo material dripping with electro twangs. One can only imagine the sweet, queer delights to come which leaves us biting our nails for what the future holds.
Shannon Cotton - @shannonkerry
Jordan White - @jordanxcx
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NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO ’ THERE S NO LIMIT Listen to 40 million songs. To start your 30-day free trial just search Amazon Music Unlimited.
Words Connor Spilsbury-Brown @cnnrbrown
Turn up the volume We are all aware that a set of below-par speakers will be the make-or-break for any listening experience. Here, we listened and went through a handful of wireless speakers to present five of the best speakers out on the market. From waterproof to Bluetooth, there's truly something out there for all you audiophiles.
EVEN H1 Over ear headphones
BEOSOUND 2
£199.99
£1,475
The Even H1 headphones promise to change the way you listen to your music from the moment they go over your head. They contain ear print technology, which customises every sound that comes through so it compliments your hearing. You’ll be getting that perfect sound you’ve been after with this purchase.
Bang and Olufsen have delivered a speaker with unbelievable power in the form of the Beosound 2. This speaker is fully 360 degrees meaning you can fill a room in seconds with the highest quality sound. That and It looks like it’s been plucked right out of the distant future - a futuristic look with an insane amount of sound power.
Lexon Tykho waterproof wireless speaker £95
Kilburn portable bluetooth speaker
This Lexon Tykho speaker has it all from the sleek, monotone silicone design right through to the hard-hitting sound it can project. We had better mention that it’s also waterproof (yes, we squealed too),
SONOS Play5
£279.95
£499
Being able to take that unmistakable Marshall sound on the go with you would make all your music needs be complete, which is exactly what the Kilburn speaker boasts. 20 hours of charge, a stylish retro look and easy to adjust sound features that’ll leave you with a clear crisp sound.
The SONOS Play5 home speaker is perfect for those who like their music to be loud and pack a massive bass filled punch to the ears. The sound is dynamic, intense and intricately perfected to provide the perfect sound,
BOSE Soundtouch 20 speaker £239
The app-controlled Soundtouch 20 wireless speaker from BOSE delivers a clear, robust sound that’s perfect for the bedroom, the kitchen or anywhere you deem suitable to place it. This compact speaker also boasts a wifi based feature that promises instant in-home listening, without using your phone.
UE WONDERBOOM £319
This handheld double speaker from Ultimate Ears combines easy handling and mind-blowing quality. Along with its 10 hours of battery life and waterproof build, this speaker is also designed to happily fl oat around in water without fault, meaning those pool parties or messy outings are now all accounted for.
M U N A
Words Jordan White @jordanxcx
What made MUNA’s debut full-length About U seem almost effortless was the unattempt to craft a body of work that would inevitably cater to the masses. Whilst it indulges in its sparkling pop moments such as I Know a Place, the record turns at various points exposing the bare and vulnerable side to the band as heard in deep cut If U Love Me Now. What separates the group from the rest is their inability to restrain themselves from spilling their guts at every given opportunity. Topics that could be seen as taboo become a casual discussion over an early morning cigarette for these three ladies.
This modern-day witch coven is set on casting spells into the vibrant pop-whirlpool.
Starting off as a jam band back in their university days, being known as an acclaimed queer dark-pop girl group is something a young Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin never thought to envision. “It’s so strange, I feel like everything we’ve done has been a gradual build with everything happening at the exact right moment,” McPherson offers. “I feel like we’ve earned what we’re getting.”
For a band that’ve been together for a mere three years, the amount of time they’ve spent around each other has only enhanced their work. Best described as constantly being on “the crack of creativity,” moments of wisdom pour out from each member where they all instantaneously get it. It’s not a rare sight with moments of sagacity impending regularly; the About U visual project being a more recent example.
It didn’t take long for MUNA to realise their genius, since thinking of how they’re going to outdo themselves. “We’re just the kind of people who constantly want to grow and constantly want to challenge ourselves, guitarist Maskin chimes in. “Now we can really put it together. We have all these songs, let’s whittle it down to the absolute best,” adds McPherson.
“We wanted to give people visuals that were our own imaginations of people listening to the record,” Gavin declares. Drawing inspiration from foreign art house films that oozed nostalgia and melancholy, the finished product wholly captured what the inside of their ‘MUNAverse’ looks like.
“We’re all so different, even us as a band, we’re each a representation of what queer could be.”
We’re several minutes in when sighs of relief echo through the North London warehouse as much-needed coffee is served all round. Taking brief moments to soak in the caffeine, the topic of themes for the almighty challenging sophomore record hits the table; “Growth, change, reflection”– instant choices from guitarist Maskin. Just like the greats (Björk, Bowie, Kate Bush as they state), MUNA aspire to construct their work with an ever-more complex approach.
“Ideally, it’d just be a place where people could open their scope to the humanity of all people a little bit wider,” ponders Maskin on the visualization of their very own ‘MUNAverse’. Not to be confused with a fantasy world beaming with sunshine at every angle, in MUNA’s world the rosecoloured glasses are left firmly on the table.“It would be a horrific transformation from the world we have now, but then war wouldn’t exist and people would live out their lives without destroying the planet,” exclaims Maskin once more.
“I love experiences from artists where I know that they’ve put something out for me to figure out. I know there’s layers to this shit, connections and meaning,” explains Gavin, before concluding: “About U was a collection of miniature vessels people could use to process an experience or make decisions in their lives. We want the second album to be a bigger, more connected vessel that allows people to go on a journey with the record.”
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Photography Larry Gorman Styled by Kitty Cowell Assisted by Bluebell Wooi Zarina Wilson
Discover MUNA now on Amazon Music
“My dreams are bigger now, bigger than the nightclub, bigger than one genre of music.”
Forming their own safe space and expressing it through music is exactly how the LA ladies are making a name for themselves, all of which has built up to securing a support slot with ex-Directionerturned-indie-saviour Harry Styles. The mystery stays ongoing as to why Styles hand-picked MUNA from the bunch (“We still have no idea, but word on the street is he specifically asked for us”),
approaching pop music without a rule book. Styles single-handedly sent the Internet into a frenzy (a somewhat simple task for the man) resulting in overnight chaos. Being able to say you’ve woken up to double the fan base you had the night before is quite the feat, and is something MUNA have learned to adjust to. “We’re always cautious to what we tweet, but we’re not trying to please anyone,” states Maskin before Gavin interjects. “I’ve been surprised with how many of Harry’s fans are adapting to the mould, totally getting what we stand for, they feel like they’re actually entering the MUNAverse in a way, not just silently thinking why does Harry like them”? Whilst the upsurge of new fans and opportunities might have left others feeling overwhelmed, it’s just another day at the office for MUNA. They’re not some random
band embarking on a huge tour because they got lucky, rather years of tireless work and progression have built up to claiming their rightful support slots for mega popstars. McPherson considers: “We feel prepared to do everything that we’re doing,” and this glimmering stroke of confidence is precisely how the band are having one hell of a field day bagging each and every opportunity that’s being thrown their way. Right out the gate MUNA have been labelled as the fearless queer band addressing issues others are too afraid to approach. “You’re under the magnifying glass, especially because we’ve been labelled as representing a group of people,” expresses Maskin. “Which, first of all, is such a diverse group of people and we all have completely different experiences,” McPherson cuts in. Whilst the label doesn’t necessarily add any boundaries, it has changed the way people see and hear the music. “People see that we’re a queer band and will not process
our music like we’re a real band, like a fake ‘social justice warrior band’. “They just exist because they’re serving an identity politics purpose,” it’s a thought Gavin emphasizes on. “But that’s not a real boundary for us, you can keep doing your thing over there and can see us with a ceiling on us and we’ll continue to be human beings because that’s what we all are, with no ceiling.” “We’re all so different, even us as a band, we’re each a representation of what queer could be.” As people that trust in everything happening as-and-when it does, the band is content in knowing the time for being a voice within their community is now. “We’re fortunate to live in a time where I could name ten openly queer popstars, the paradigm has really shifted in that sense and we came about at a convenient time. We live in a very queer time,” concludes McPherson. They’re on route to making the world we live in their own, going around with a checklist of ways to do just that. Unlike most, MUNA are on a mission to signal messages through their music, and as Maskin sits rejoicing “The future is queer!” to the bandmates by her side, all is clear in knowing they’re onto something much greater than anyone imagined. The future is MUNA.
“You’re under the magnifying glass, especially because we’ve been labelled as representing a group of people.”
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DEAR DEAN Dean Eastmond is the co-founder of HISKIND. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare tumour that affects around 200 people per year. Just before this issue of HISKIND went to print, Dean sadly lost his battle.
This issue is in memory of Dean Eastmond
DEAR Dear Dean,
We know how you desperately wanted to write something for this issue of HISKIND and despite us trying everything possible to make it happen, this cruel illness stole from you your ability to write over the past few weeks. It’s hard to believe that we were in my apartment just over a year ago when we first noticed a problem with your rib. You reassured me that you had hurt it whilst attempting to death drop in a club and we continued to laugh about your dancing. Two days later, you were taken to a hospital side room and told by a doctor that it was, in fact, being pushed out of your side because of an 8cm by 10cm tumour.
At the time, our ground work for HISKIND had come to fruition and we were planning to launch the print publication. During your treatment you refused to give up on HISKIND, you wrote every single day, you pushed yourself into the office because you wouldn’t allow cancer to stop you. Even at your lowest, you continued to write. You still oozed passion and your creative ideas surpassed all of those around you. Whenever I got stressed about deadlines, content or sales it was you who would FaceTime me from your hospital bed, doped up on chemotherapy and still managing to make me laugh with your sarcasm and wit. I want you to know that cancer didn’t define you. You defined cancer. You took struggle and pain and you owned it every single day, even using it to inspire and motivate others. During this time, you spotted injustices and you fought hard to change them. You were published in The Independent, The Guardian, Dazed, Vice, Gay Times, Attitude and you were the best partner in crime I could ever have asked for with HISKIND. At just 21, you achieved more than most would achieve in a lifetime. This summer you were rightfully recognised by Pride in London, won an Attitude Pride Award, an LGBT+ Award and I’m so grateful that the community took time to reward your efforts and work. This was not luck nor did it have anything to do with your diagnosis, but was a testament to your talent. A talent that stems much deeper than your exquisite ability to write, it’s a quality that very few have, but those who met you will completely understand. It was your ability to look adversity in the face, and not be afraid. It was the ability to be out of your depth or struggling, but still take time to ensure others are coping and have everything they need. It’s the comfort and warmth you were able to provide with ease and your instant likeability. I saw the genuine love and care the nurses had for you on the wards. They didn’t have this because you were ill, it was because you made them feel special.
I’ve tried so hard to rationalise what has happened and it is an impossible task, but I want you to know that my inbox has been flooded and my phone has not stopped ringing. There has been a huge number of people who have spoken about you in meetings or emailed me to say that despite never meeting you, they’ve been touched by your story. Not only are they touched, but they have taken time to reflect, assess and actively make changes to how they live their lives. They’ve finally taken time to pursue new passions or actively gone out of their way to pursue their dreams - and it is completely inspired by you.
Behind the confident tweeter and sassy writer, was a boy at his weakest. A boy who was terrified. A boy who got out of bed and used every bit of strength to make those around him feel great about themselves and it’s an honour to call this boy my best friend and partner in crime. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had time to reflect on the impact you’ve made to my life - both professionally and personally. You’re the person who has been at my side during every struggle and success. We’ve ridden the start up rollercoaster hand in hand, navigated the difficult time and challenged our critics. We were told by those around us that we would never succeed, when in actual fact, we have overcome every obstacle thrown our way and here we are, still printing. All of this is down to your input, hard work and resilience. We carved our futures together and words cannot explain the pain I’m feeling that it ended so prematurely. On 20th September, HISKIND will celebrate you, everything you’ve achieved and everything you stand for in an event that pulls together the LGBT+ community. We will raise money for your family and the charities that have supported you during your struggle. I also want to publish your cancer column into a small magazine that can be used to support those who are about to begin something similar. I’ll do everything in my power to protect and care for those around you and ensure that HISKIND lives on as your legacy. I will make it my mission to ensure you live on in more ways than you can imagine. It’s going to be hard continuing as Patsy without my Edina. It will be hard without your creativity and ideas and even harder without your friendship, but I promise I will make you proud. We have no explanation or understanding of what will come next, but I know for sure that this isn’t the end, this is “I’ll see you soon.”
DEAN Thank you for everything. Love always, Josh x
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Wa l k e r Art Gallery Coming Out marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which partially decriminalised sex between some men, in private, in England and Wales. The exhibition brings together art works that have been made in the years since. Collectively, they help tell the recent history of the LGBT+ movement and reflect how ideas about sexuality, gender and identity have changed and continue to evolve. If that’s not convinced you to visit, here are 5 reasons we think you should you make a trip to the Walker.
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The exhibition includes a number of performance art works. Pop in on selected dates and have your tarot cards read by Barbara Truvada as part of John Walter’s installation Alien Sex Club. Or, take part in Bedfellow’s SEX TALK MTG on 28 September for a hot-blooded part performance, part guided conversation on sexual identities, desire, consent and relationships with jelly, duvets and silk pyjamas.
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5 reasons to visit Coming Out: Sexuality, Gender & Identity at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.
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Want to know more about the secret language Polari, used by gay men in the early 20th century when homosexuality was still illegal? Take a vada (that’s polari for look!) at Jez Dolan’s art works which explore the language’s history.
Coming Out is the largest contemporary art exhibition ever in the UK to explore queer art and history. It includes nearly 100 artworks by artists including the film maker Derek Jarman, South African visual activist Zanele Muholi and iconic pop artist David Hockney.
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Coming Out is open until 5 November 2017 at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Entry to the exhibition is free, including all events and performances. To find out more, visit http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker
See Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen’s first ever film Bear. Made in 1993, the silent video shows McQueen wrestling naked with another man and explores themes of sexuality, masculinity and race.
Still haven’t managed to watch Oscarwinning film Moonlight? Visit the exhibition on 16 September and watch the film for free and take part in a ‘zine-making workshop afterwards.
Six things you need to know about Jean-Michel Basquiat Idealising an artist that passes away during the prime of his life is nothing new. Projecting fantasies of what could have become of that talent is, after all, what the public does best. Even more so when an accidental heroin overdose turns that person into a member of the infamous Club 27. Or if the art in question can be aligned easier with a celebrity persona than that of a reclusive artist. And even more so if that artist happens to be Jean-Michel Basquiat. Despite sky-rocketing to fame, Basquiat’s legacy did not follow a linear path. A highschool dropout and a runaway, his initial venture into art came under the form of spraying graffiti in downtown New York. His artistic potential was quickly discovered; by September 1980, he had gallery representation and his first one-man exhibition took place the following year, to great success. “The Radiant Child,” an article published in Artforum magazine in late 1981, brought him attention of the wider art world. Soon, he was selling canvases for tens of thousands of dollars apiece. Ahead of the major solo exhibition in the UK dedicated to his work, we summarised his explosive career in a few key facts:
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Words Beatrice Mustocea Louis Shankar
His artistic style sparked mixed feelings, with some art connoisseurs dismissing his trademark techniques as somewhat chaotic, while others could unveil different meanings in his graphics each time they looked at it. Thematically, he produced work about racism, class struggle and colonialism, addressing the transatlantic slave trade, police brutality and institutionalised racism.
Aged 8, he was hit by a car while playing in the street: he broke an arm and had to have his spleen removed. While recovering, his mother gave him a copy of Gray’s Anatomy, which he studied at length to the point where it became a recurring theme in his art.
BASQUIAT: Boom For Real at the Barbican Art Gallery is the first major solo exhibition of his work in the UK. It runs from 21 September 2017 to 28 January 2018.
Basquiat’s earliest work consisted of graffiti on buildings in Lower Manhattan, alongside his friend Al Diaz under the moniker SAMO© (a contraction of “Same Old Shit”). “SAMO IS DEAD” was inscribed on various SoHo buildings in 1979, marking the end of their partnership.
In just a few years, Basquiat went from being homeless to a significant member of the New York art scene: he appeared in the Blondie music video for Rapture in 1981 (in a role intended for Grandmaster Flash) and dated the then-unknown Madonna in 1983.
Basquiat met Andy Warhol in 1980 and the two developed a close relationship, both professionally and personally. In the 1996 biopic, simply entitled Basquiat, Warhol was played by David Bowie, whom Basquiat had briefly worked with, and the titular role was filled by Jeffrey Wright.
After the death of Andy Warhol in 1987, his depression and heroin addiction worsened and he became increasingly isolated. Basquiat died of a heroin overdose at his studio in Manhattan on 12 August 1988, aged only 27.
Words Bill Baker @billbaeker
Far more than Woman’s Hour’s most loyal fan-following, Will Young and Chris Sweeney’s Homo Sapiens podcast series is, undoubtably, your new favourite listen for all the right reasons. The brainchild of UK pop icon Young and acclaimed director Sweeney, this venture into the world of podcasting takes its inspiration from BBC Radio 4’s prestigious programme before adding a uniquely LGBTQ+ twist courtesy of your new favourite power-duo. Following the format of a weekly conversational debate, each episode examines a diverse array of LGBTQ+ issues with the likes of journalist Owen Jones, beloved musician John Grant, trans actress Rebecca Root and Queer As Folk creator Russel T Davies joining as guests. Equally as sharp and witty as it is casual and (understandably) necessary, Homo Sapiens owes its reception to the intelligent conversations and unique use for the ever-growing platform of podcasting. Over much-needed caffeine in Dean Street’s Soho House, the two tell all on how the show came to be, queer art and the rise of podcasting as a platform for LGBTQ+ voices.
Boys Who: Podcast Will Young + Chris Sweeney Listen to Season 1 of Homo Sapiens now at homosapienspodcast.com
With such a unique concept behind Homo Sapiens, where did the original idea stem from? Chris: We both listen to Woman’s Hour loads and, on the 70th anniversary show, they revealed that 40% of their listeners were men and how that effects the show’s content. Honestly, that made me laugh which got me thinking that no one really has a show like ours so why don’t we just do it? The concept means we can talk about anything we want to say with an LGBTQ+ perspective which makes it so easy to do.
Whilst podcasting is by no means new, the surge in popularity is undeniable... Chris: Lots of people actually don’t know what they are or do. They’re unfamiliar with that oddly laid-out section of iTunes that homes the podcasts. Will: It’s definitely a new territory which is why it’s so freeing. People find podcasts quite relaxing too, like an extension of an audio book. Chris: A lady told me that she watches reruns of Bullseye with the volume down whilst she listens to ours...
The rise in podcast popularity has allowed for a fresh, modernised way for the LGBTQ+ community to voice themselves in an alternative format. Is this something you noticed before creating your own series? Will: A good aspect of modernisation is everything is more accessible and immediate with more space for everyone’s voice. LGBTQ+ exposure in mainstream media is often within a category, so you get your five minutes and then it moves on. More people want more time to be heard which they can do with a podcast and for the LGBTQ+ community, that’s really liberating. We can talk about whatever we want and it’s normalised within the context of our podcast. Chris: Growing up, we only had the Littlewoods catalogue underwear section and that’s where you got your kicks from. There was really no other way of seeing hot guys in next to nothing and it’s something gay men of my generation understand. To me, these podcasts are an extension of that as it is common ground between LGBTQ+ people that doesn’t get discussed in mainstream media. What was the criteria for the guests chosen?
Chris: Someone told us we should do an outtakes show, missing the point entirely. It’s scary sharing things about growing up LGBTQ+ and we acknowledge that with our guests. LGBTQ+ people are very used to sitting on a secret and that can potentially be carried through life. In the first episode, you discuss how dancing with a male mannequin in the Let It Go video affected Will’s perception as an artist and, perhaps, his career. If the same video was given a present day release, do you think it would receive the same reaction? Will: I think the media perception of it would be the issue. People have told me that videos with two men are niche when it doesn’t even register with me. I thought it was interesting how people decide how something will be marketed based on the relationship of the two in the video. I recently watched a documentary on queer art, explaining how Coronation Street viewers had no idea that queer art was being broadcast into their living rooms as the guy who wrote it was gay and modelled a lot of the characters on drag queens. Now when I think of Annie Lennox and Bowie, I realise how powerful what they were doing actually was. Who would be the ideal guest?
Chris: Our own brief stated we wanted people who’d done something for the LGBTQ+ community as well as representing a current affairs issue. We wanted to talk to people that we knew we would want to listen to, a prime example being our mutual love for John Grant. Will: In terms of gay men in the public eye, he’s totally unique. He’s so honest and authentic and not afraid to say anything as he knows himself so well.
Will: I’d really love to interview RuPaul. Is that too obvious? Chris: He’s done a lot for America in terms of bringing attention to the LGBTQ+ community and alternative topics. I think that’d be a fascinating conversation. Oh, and Michelle Obama, obviously.
“LGBTQ+ exposure in mainstream media is often within a category, so you get your five minutes and then it moves on. More people want more time to be heard”
U l t i m a t e East London Lazy Sunday Whatever your Saturday night consisted of, it’s an unspoken rule that Sunday is to be more mellow, chilled and justifiably lazy. Be it the dance floor or helping your mother move house on your first day off in what feels like a decade, no doubt you’re going to be feeling a little less productive on a Sunday. For the urbanites, coffee fiends, Yorkshire pudding enthusiasts and bookworms, we’ve picked out the top things to do to create the ultimate East London lazy Sunday. Words
Dean Eastmond
The Princess of Shoreditch The hub for proper grub. A favourite amongst East Londoner’s The Princess of Shoreditch’s roast dinners are to die for. Think giant Yorkshire puddings, high quality cuts of meat and enough gravy to ignite envy into every northerner. For those not around East, these guys are owned by the geniuses behind The Pig and Butcher just off Angel station. East or West, missing out on their roasts is criminal and makes for the perfect snoozy (and carb filled) Sunday.
Pavillion Specialists in bread and coffee, Pavilion Bakery is a staple location and must-goto in London Fields, offering everything from potentially the best latte in town to homemade artisan peanut butter. Racks of sourdough line the Instagrammable bakery’s window, promising it to be a haven of carbs. Get here early though, it’s a hit with the East Ender’s and usually sells out pretty quick
Columbia Road Flower Market The market is a hive of acoustic buskers, boutique shops, fresh food, drink and, of course, enough low price plants and flowers to turn your home into an urban jungle. It’s a popular one though and is usually packed. But, no doubt, you’ll leave this little London hub of colour with a happy mind and an arm full of eucalyptus in brown paper wrap.
Hackney City Farm Though, like most farms, this pocket of rurality is geared towards a younger audience, Hackney City Farm offers a temporary break away from the urban choke of London. Home to everything from pigs (that will make you feel a little less fat after your Sunday roast) and the sassiest geese in town, the farm is intimate, surprisingly authentic and makes for a pleasant half an hour for those delving into Colombia Road’s flower market.
ROP Sundays In the shadows of Colombia Road Flower Market on Ezra Street, Republic of Photography host a series of Sunday sessions allowing passersby to catch their good side. Home to a myriad of different prop filled photo-booths, the venue is also residency to award winning celebrity photographer Seamus Ryan who offers East Londoner’s a chance to feel like a glamour model with his free-of-charge and often themed photoshoots.
Donlon Books At the far end of Broadway Market’s sea of boutiques, bars, bistros and bookstores is Donlon Books. Hosting a wide range of books in its small premises, expect everything from queer academia, fashion history, periodicals and independent magazines. From historic copies of Gay Semiotics to signed Dries Van Noten publications, Donlon stocks an idiosyncratic range of new and rare titles, making one of the best book stores in proximity.
Crosstown
Rough Trade East
Fabrique
Want something even sweeter? Crosstown doughnuts are the answer. Made freshly in store every day, these doughnuts are made with a hybrid sourdough mixture to ensure a stronger crumb and bread-like texture. Too lazy to venture out? These guys do online delivery and are even on Deliveroo. We wouldn’t judge you, we promise.
Stocking everything from new releases to legacy LPs, pop punk to modern composition, their catalogue is huge and makes for a nice period of silently browsing, searching for that perfect vinyl treat. Hosting a massive range of books too, this place feeds the mind, the ears and the eyes. Keep a look out for their monthly calendars for signings, performances and special events.
The pastiche of perfect pastry hidden just under Hoxton Overground station. Formed within one of the arches of the railway line, this small but wondrous bakery is famous for it’s beautifully knotted cinnamon and cardamon buns. Fine coffee, a selection ofsavouries too and a rack of impressive rustic breads and sourdoughs, this bakery is a pocket of East End quality. hiskind.com
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Looking back on the seemingly never-ending catalogue of music videos that exist on the internet and on the television, you notice that there’s a certain level of gloss and sheen that’s spread throughout, signifying hours upon hours of hard work and dedicated research into the tiniest details. But when you examine the litany of videos that permeate the music industry, there is one thing that is both overt and subtle, both in-your-face and not-so-much, all at the one time, and that is, quite simply, the fashion and style that radiates from frame to frame. Fashion and music have always gone hand in hand – after all, what was Cher without her iconic Bob Mackie looks, not to mention the wigs upon wigs that have littered her entire career? – but it has always been the music video that has acted as an homage to this symbiotic relationship. Through the advent of MTV’s pop culture revolution and popularity as the of all and be all of music to the modern day cinematic experience presented by a variety of artists in the space of a four minute video. The idea that fashion and music are embedded into one another and that they are given the freedom to reign through carefully constructed moments in music history is one that, quite frankly, tends to go unnoticed Sure, we all watch videos and declare them iconic and legendary, with smatterings of yaaass and werrrrrks when our favourite artists produce exceptional work, but it is the fashion that helps tell the story of the video that subconsciously grabs our attention. Throughout music history, there have been some fairly iconic style moments. From Elvis Presley’s distinctive rhinestone suits to Michael Jackson’s red leather Thriller ensemble, it’s hard to think about fashion and music being two separate entities. But as time went on, it wasn’t just about the looks – no, it was about the moment. And what better way to make a moment than to include the leggy Amazons of the fashion industry? Indeed, the music video moment has long been given a certain je ne sais quoi courtesy of the supermodel. One such moment came in the guise of George Michael’s Freedom! 90 video, wherein the original supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Tatjana Patitz went against the grain of supermodels appearing in music videos as the love interest, and therein became the performers of one of Michael’s most iconic songs. Fast forward twenty years, and Duran Duran release Girl Panic!, a veritable orgy of fashion and music merging
together, as Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Yasmin Le Bon channel and act as the quintet behind Duran Duran, decked in rock-and-roll-ready couture with cameos from Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana, proving that time may go on, but the sheer beauty and show stopping panache that the supermodel brings is the kind of gravitas that lies in the fashion and music power couple. The sheer amount of instances where artists have used music to explore their own style – and vice versa – is almost impossible to count, with a breadth of artists exploring these opportunities to take risks. Of course, for every music video in Madonna’s music career there is an entire look, one well documented by the queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race in previous seasons, albeit poorly the first time around. Further developing the unique relationship between fashion and music are artists such as Lady Gaga, whose often controversial - choices have oft been compared to Madonna’s own fashion statements in her videos. Whether it be The moment Bad Romance received it’s world premiere during McQueen’s last ever fashion show before his death, or indeed the Soul Train-inspired video in which she performed a cover of Chic’s I Want Your Love for Tom Ford’s SS16 collection, Gaga’s love for fashion has long been a pivotal part of her career. The marriage between fashion and music is well documented throughout Gaga’s videography, so much so that a list of the video’s where designer influences shine through would be, in itself, worthy of column inches. Of course, she is not alone. As the world of music develops, it’s important to note the variety of artists that use fashion as a means of telling a story in their videos. From Taylor Swift’s girl-next-door style to Katy Perry’s out-there costumes, and from Beyoncé’s show stopping style in the cinematic visual album Lemonade to the forward-thinking style of a compendium of K-Pop groups and artists, it’s hard to dispute the idea that fashion and music go hand in hand, simply because what the artists wear is all part of a story. Sometimes, the clothes tell us more than a song ever will. Words
Colin Dawidziuk @omgitsc
Listen to Omnion now on Amazon Music
Photography Sane Seven Styling Kamran Rajput
Hercules & Love Affair Recovery is a subject no stranger to music. For Andy Butler, the process of rebuilding ones-self ultimately shaped his whole life around him, resulting in the finest records of his career. The founding member of prolific queer dance collective Hercules & Love Affair, Butler’s struggles with addiction and the road to repair feed into fourth record Omnion like direct diary extracts, making for an emotional and all-round enlightening listen. Together with regulars Rouge Mary and Gustaph, Butler’s project marks their return with one of 2017’s most anticipated, acclaimed and deeply personal records. The artist divulges on the relapse, recovery and stimulating conversation surrounding his most crucial record to date.
In what ways did the process of making Omnion differ from your previous records? I wrote most of the first record at a moment in my life where I was choosing to stay in all the time and my fulfilment was from writing all these little songs. It’s a similar case for Omnion where I set up a small studio in Brussels and I’d just spend my days writing. Sharon Van Etten and Farris Badwan (of The Horrors) both appear as collaborations on Omnion, how did these two wind up on the final record? I approached everyone, other than people I’d already worked with. I knew that a certain kind of male voice would be appropriate for the two tracks Farris appears on so the songs indicated themselves what they needed. Sharon was someone I came across via television and I remember instantly falling for that voice. You’ve openly spoken about building a support group around you when discussing addiction and four years of sobriety. Who was in this support group and how did they impact the record? I’m in the place I am now because of different kinds of people from all different walks of life who prioritise my health and sobriety, not for self-serving reasons. I didn’t have that before, I had people who would just throw their hands in the air and walk away from it because it didn’t serve them any purpose. Obviously, Rouge Mary and Gustaph were instrumental in helping me getting better as they’d seen a steady stream of crisis and witnessed some pretty terrifying stuff. When I took that first step conveying to my family that I was living differently, they all clamoured together and extended a welcome. I also worked with a doctor who was really instrumental in getting me healthy, largely done out of good will. She did it out of seeing someone who was a shell of person and felt a duty to help. Even promoters who’d worked with me over the years came out and helped lift me up and continued to offer me work and believed in me so there were people within the industry that were a huge help. I have to give credit to my manager too as he was really my number one advocate. Does an experience like overcoming addiction make it easier or harder to create a record? It was truly overwhelming how much there was that I had to say. Sensitivity, pain, happiness, all things that used to be controlled by substances so suddenly I had an unyielding
rollercoaster going on inside. Releasing the content this time around has felt far rawer. The Pitchfork article that came out where I discussed everything quite frankly made me feel really sick all day and then strange for a few days after. I guess I just have a heightened sensitivity to a lot of things now, I’m more emotional than I ever have been. Creativity is really easy to get into but performance can feel harder, especially the action of getting on stage and presenting a lot of the material. I do feel a bit more vulnerable. You recently stated that sometimes the dance floor represents a decision to avoid dialogue with the wider world which holds an incredible strong resonance with the LGBTQ+ community and safe spaces, like nightclubs. What changes have you noticed within LGBTQ+ club scenes over your time as Hercules & Love Affair?
There’s more diversity and inclusion and more voices demanding all of that. People are defending their safe spaces and there’s dialogue that is existing around nightlife. I’d also argue that there’s more diversity in the actual sounds you’re hearing in clubs and DJs seem to be taking far more risks with the music. There’s an acknowledgement of other cultures in the musical selection, for instance it’s not uncommon to go out and hear great African music. It’s all about stimulating thought and making conversation in a direct way and
getting people talking. I am very aware that there is still far more that can be done. How do your dreams and aspirations with music at current compare to those at the start of Hercules & Love Affair? I wasn’t particularly ambitious with making a career out of music, it never really went past I’m going to sit at the piano and make a track. When I did that, the dream was fulfilled! Now I’m four records in, I really didn’t know I’d still be here making music with incredible artists and making magic happen. Outside of this, I’d like to see myself working for the community, something service orientated like teaching. My dreams are bigger now, bigger than the nightclub, bigger than one genre of music. Always musical.
“There’s more diversity and inclusion and more voices demanding all of that. People are defending their safe spaces and there’s dialogue that is existing around nightlife.”
hiskind.com
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Last word with BETSY
Trading in a fashion design career with Balenciaga to pursue the dream of cutting it in the music business would seem a move reserved only for the stealthiest of risk takers: BETSY is one of those.
Fleeing Paris and her internship with a luxury fashion house to set up camp in a caravan in rural Wales, the 26-year-old found her (insanely huge) voice crafting demos of lovelorn, soul-laden ballads that would ultimately result in her glorious debut record. Acquiring a sizable gay following in the process of her rise, 2017 has seen the siren grace the stages of numerous Pride festivals across the UK and Europe with the rest of the world now rightfully up for BETSY’s taking.
Your debut record is out this month. What are the emotions right now? What the hell am I meant to do now?! seems fitting. Making an album is such an allencompassing process which now opens up a whole new era for me. I feel very weird about it all. There’s a beautiful dichotomy surrounding your music, having made the switch from Paris’ high fashion world to living in a caravan in Pembrokeshire. How did both of these experiences feed into the record? A lot of these songs were inspired by people I met whilst working for Balenciaga which then came to life once I’d recorded them in the caravan, so it’s definitely all over. I try to make sure that it’s my visuals that really bring the two worlds together.
Listen to BETSY now on Amazon Music
Having taken to the stage in Birmingham, Amsterdam and London, what’s been the highlight of your summer of Pride performances?
Amsterdam really knows how to throw a party so that one was insane, the whole city encapsulates the joy and collectivity of Pride. All of them have been phenomenal but the best one to perform has definitely been London. I guess I appeal to an LGBT audience as they’re the people I’ve grown up with throughout my life and it’s who I surround myself with in my own friendship circles and coming from a fashion background. It also helps that I’m incredibly camp... How would you sum up the album in a sentence? It’s going to make you want to dance, cry and feel fabulous. I really hope some people find this an empowering record. BETSY is out 29 September.
Words Bill Baker - @billbaeker
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