ISSUE 3 THE COLLECTIVE
COVE
Cover Magazine is a creatives b The collective is a digital platform for a creative community to commu
ERME
based fashion and arts magazine established and upcoming creatives, unicate, collaborate and create.
CONTENTS
INTRO CoverME (Who is Cover Magazine) Editor’s letter END SARS (a photographic story) “A message from us to you, Nigeria” Brand feature: Orange culture
The Front Row Brand feature: ONLY THE BLIND THE CONSCIOUS COLLECTIONS. Article: Brands and sustainability
CoverINSIDER OFF WHITE (Bohemian Blur collection) Self portrait king (Mike) - feature photography Article: How covid infected Fashion KLM PHOTOGRAPHY feature Fashion editorial of Sergio Lane Cover Magazine website Hannah Bradley- graphic design feature Article: Fashion in Film
The Music Edit INDYANAH feature Article: ‘The 2020 soundtrack’ INTERVIEW with SUMMA TAYLOR Louis NESBITT- feature photography Article: ‘Song Machine, Season one’
CoverSPOTLIGHT Interview with Diana from BYDOSE Article: The importance of supporting black owned brands Brand feature: SHEAKER MAG Sui Lam- graphic design feature
The Minimalist Article: architecture and interior design (photographic story) by Asia Feature brand: THAT COOL LIVING by ANNA FARKAS Article: PANTONE colour trends 2021 Article: Noritake Nygilia Mcclain feature CoverONLINE Our Podcast- What’s your cover story?
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CREDITS
FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jessiara Marriott ART DIRECTOR: Caroly Nisu COVER ART: Photography: Beatriz Valim @beacasso Model: @jaimodelz Graphics: Keith Muir WRITERS: Halimah Begum Lian Lakhope Lily Quarton-Parsons Jill Lupupa Zara Akpan Nick Moran Maya Kokerevo Asia Leonardi MAIN GRAPHICS TEAM: Sudeeksha Somani - The Front Row Sara Poljak - Cover Insider Keith Muir - The Music Edit Caroly Nisu - The Minimalist FEATURE ARTISTS: Hannah Bradley Sui Lam Sam Franco Monira Meah FEATURE CREATIVES: KLM photography Lucian @isthatmike Louis Nesbitt Beacasso Anna Farkas Indyanah Manny Jefferson FEATURE BRANDS: Orange culture Only The Blind Off - White BYDOSE That Cool Living Sheaker Magazine INTERVIEW FEATURES: Summa Taylor Indyanah Diana (BYDOSE)
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Photography: BEACASSO Model: @biddy Stylist: @audolita
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Welcome to our third issue ‘The Collective’, where we worked with a range of new creatives from all across the world to put this issue together with a range of styles, aesthetics and levels of experience. This issue represents our brand’s value of collaborations and creativity, especially with the effects of lockdown and Covid-19 we were forced to work and create within our own spaces and think of ways around our craft. This issue has allowed so many creatives to express their designer eye whilst working within a team of like minded individuals. Each page and section is designed by a different creative, we’ve sourced multiple graphic designers for our pages and writers globally for our articles. With amazing cover photography by Beatriz also known as BEACASSO whom we’ve been supporting for a while now and admire her work and expression in photography, if we could have more than one cover, we would! Thank you to all our collaborators, editors, writers and participants for creating the second issue for cover magazine, it wouldn’t have been possible without all of you. Jessiara Marriott, Founder
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INTRO
“A MESSAGE FROM US TO YOU, NIGERIA” Words by Jessiara Marriott
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Our children, our brothers, sister, mothers, fathers, aunties and uncles we hear your every prayer. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the year we have endured, we couldn’t even rest before the next event came about and as 2020 comes to a close now this. Nigeria, your government and police force were created for security, sustainability and safety but all you’re receiving is the need to surrender. Here’s a message from us to you, Nigeria, we hear you and we won’t stop retweeting, responding, donating and fighting back until they do.
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THE FRONT ROW
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THE FRONT ROW
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THE FRONT ROW
The
Conscious
Collections By Halimah Begum The latest trend in the fashion industry, that will not ever go out of fashion, is sustainable clothing. This is a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products. Sustainable fashion considers the whole system of fashion. More and more clothing brands are working to become sustainable. It is important that as consumers, we invest into brands that pay great attention to sustainability and work to incorporate it into their companies. To help you find more sustainable clothing brands, I have compiled a list of brands covering sustainability, such as H&M, Stella McCartney and, EBYAK.
There are of course many more brands out there working to be sustainable, which is great. Swedish multinational clothing retail company, H&M, operates in over 74 countries. Over the last few years, H&M have made great efforts to be as sustainable as possible. The brand has stated that “change is at our core. And it’s now time to change fashion”. H&M have 9 ways of being involved with sustainability, and they make it a mission for themselves and their consumers to achieve, together. Let’s change: In 2013, H&M launched their global garment collecting programme.
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They have worked to remake garments with the brand ‘looop’, alongside celebrities like SZA, Jane Goodall, Vic Barrett and Andrea Diaconu. Let’s innovate: They have made great efforts to invest in new technological solutions. This brand is working to eliminate waste. The cotton they use in their products is organic, recycled or sourced sustainably. Their ‘Conscious’ line has a great focus on ensuring they are using innovative methods. Together with brands like ‘Vegea’ and ‘Circulose’, H&M are meeting their goal of using more sustainable products. Let’s clean up: H&M’s goal is to be climate positive by 2040 and they are working to avoid using harmful chemicals. They also want to ensure they remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than created. H&M also want to create policies for restoration and protection of rivers in places like Turkey and Bangladesh. Let’s be transparent: H&M want to be more honest about the production of their clothing. On the website, users can click on a product and details of the production of said item will be provided. Let’s be conscious: The aim is to have
all products made from recycled or other sustainably sourced materials by 2030. The Conscious concept consists of pieces that are created with consideration for the planet. Let’s be fair: H&M have stated that they do not own the factories where their clothes are produced. All suppliers must sign the ‘Sustainability Commitment’. This is a set of standards covering far wages and good working conditions for employees involved in the production of H&M’s clothing. This is non-negotiable. H&M’s sustainability staff make regular checks to see this rule is being followed. Let’s be for all: Diversity of being human. Let’s take care: H&M has an online hub where consumers can learn how to take care of their clothing. Let’s close the loop: H&M work hard to ensure they are recycling and repairing old garments. Consumers are given thank you vouchers in exchange for recycling their old clothes with H&M. they also work alongside I:CO to empty boxes and categorise them into re-wear, reuse, and recyclable items.
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THE FRONT ROW
Stella Mccartney Stella McCartney is the brand of an ordinary girl from the English countryside, which was first launched in 2001. The ethos of the brand goes back to the woman behind it, who is a vegetarian. Stella McCartney is sold worldwide in 77 nations. The brand’s mission statement is that they are ‘committed to operating modern and responsible businesses. Stella McCartney no longer uses virgin cashmere, and their knitwear collections are made from reengineered cashmere. Viscose is sourced in a manner that helps protect ancient forests and the species that live there. Their viscose comes from sustainably managed forests in Sweden. They use fur-free-fur (gosh that is a mouthful is not it) in their products, which is non-biodegradable.
Captions: Top: Below:
Stella McCartney uses recycled or recyclable materials. They also use organic cotton, which is made with organic farming without the overuse of pesticides. Their goal is to use recycled nylon. The polyester which is used to line bags is made from recycled water bottles. They use peace silk instead of regular silk which is less harmful to silkworms, and they study the silk that spiders make to see how they can be innovative. Vegetarian leather is used in their clothing. The wool is sourced from hand selected farms which believe in animal welfare and environmental stewardship. The brand is also working on social sustainability. They use different audits that depend on the circumstances to understand how their supplying manufacturers work, and they also work to identify potential risk areas. Stella McCartney provides training to its suppliers to ensure they are sustainable too
Captions: Top: Below:
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EBYAK Sustainable menswear label based in London, EBYAK, specialise in premium sustainable streetwear. They work to empower. The founder and designer of the brand, Ashley Atigolo, said “we should all be more conscious of the negative impact that some fast fashion clothing pieces can have on the world. If we do not, these negative effects will only be damaging for our future�. EYBAK made their first collection as animal and environmentally friendly as possible. This collection consists of 30 EBYAK clothing designs which are made with sustainably produced products and 100% organic cotton. They are GM free and are not tested on animals, they are also 100% animal product free. They use the very best low waste printing technology to print in the UK.
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CoverINSIDER
SAMMY ALSO KNOWN AS SAMANTHA FRANCO
is a photographer, casting director, and filmmaker born on the east coast. Sammy was never screwed into one place, she continues to live and explore a variety of cities throughout the United States. Her work is an interpretation of her collective experiences incorporating elements of fashion & visual storytelling with an intent to push traditional boundaries. Sammy lives for capturing the obscure beauty in people, places, and ideas that are neglected by the world. Her work often features visual stories about the subconscious realm with isolated landscapes as her main playground. With the pandemic, Sammy took a gamble & decided to drive her rusty Toyota through various places in the US U.S, navigating different landscapes & engaging in creative projects with mutual friends & creatives
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CoverINSIDER
we’re all f***ed s i h righ ut r e a r ’ l l t e f * w * s * he truth i e’re all ed righ t no T f***ed “ e t h is w w,
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ur current rea e of o l enc f our current rea ity.” lit res ce o
While art directing a short film in Buena Vista, CO, Sammy met Sergio Lane, an actor/model based in Los Angeles. Their immediate friendship introduced an opportunity to collaborate together back in LA. Like many cities today, Los Angeles felt disjointed and lacking in its urban zeal. The pandemic, compounded by theensuing political turmoil,had a tangible effect on the city; though it was obvious people were trying to continue living normally despite
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PHOTOGRAPHER + STYLIST: SAM FRANCO PRODUCER: IVY TELLIN GRAPHIC DESIGN: JORDAN LEVINSON MODEL: SERGIO LANG SERGIO WEARS PRADA SHOES NEMETH PANTS, & YSL LIPSTICK
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CoverINSIDER
GRAPHIC DESIGN FEATURE
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HANNAH BRADLEY HANNAH BRADLEY HANNAH BRADLEY tpecnoc ppa reyalp cisuM
I am a freelance junior graphic designer from London, creating a various range
of visual content such as music artwork, posters/flyers, social media posts, banners just to name a few and I like experimenting with images,shapes/layers and colours.
I created a mock up of a music app with a minimal look. I chose a neutral colourway style along with a simple interface. I wanted the artwork of the artist to stand out on the screen.
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CoverINSIDER
ngiseder revoc mublA 'ycavirP f noisavnI' B idraC
HANNAH BRADLEY HANNAH BRADLEY HANNAH BRADLEY
I redesigned covert artwork for artists/songs that caught my attention and I really enjoy listening to. I wanted to just add my own unique twist/creativity with the artwork pieces and encapsulate my own visual interpretation of the song/artist.
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HANNAH BRADLEY HANNAH BRADLEY HANNAH BRADLEY
BLXST 'No Love Lost' EP cover redesign
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CoverINSIDER
FASHION IN
FILM By Lian Lakhope
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Image Source: IndieWire
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Image Source: GQ Magazine
In the Mood For Love paints the streets of Hong Kong in a colour palette warm oranges and melancholic reds, this combined with the music, cinematography and costumes encompass the energy of the blossoming romance between two souls yearning for comfort. The costume design is a stand out fundamental feature of the films aesthetic. Maggie Cheung sports 21 different cheongsams through the film - body hugging dresses made of premium fabrics with high collars and prominent, defined shoulders. Amongst the myriad of dresses worn by Cheung the most important and memorable piece is a boldly patterned dress covered in flowers of different colours in a scene in which her solemnly lingers underneath the orange streetlights, until the silhouette of her lover
appears – she, her lover and her dazzling dress are then brought into full sight. Other ensembles include a dress of a gleaming glow turquoise green and one of a sexy, alluring dark red. Although Cheongsams where a common style of dress Wong Kar Wai and costume director William Chang has specific direction for the dresses she wore, wanting each dress to showcase the mood and emotion of Cheung’s character. “She and the dress had chemistry. They brought out a kind of elegance in each other. In a way, the dress captured a part of her essence.” The director stated. In the Mood For Love uses fashion to both present the dream like aesthetic of the film and as a tool to evoke emotion.
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INDYANAH
“I am an alternative RnB artist. What makes me Indyanah is that I create my own vibe on anything I interact with.�
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Check out my music on spotify here:
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THE MUSIC EDIT
The 2020 Soundtrack:
How music took on the political climate By Jill Lupupa Music transformed politically this year, taking on the seemingly endless tensions and issues in Western current events. With the normal day becoming futile and dropping into the background, artists were motivated to write and sing about what mattered, as old musicians had done before. Using a political lense that has cloaked the entirety of 2020, the music highlights of this year endeavoured to bring humanity together.
Jorja Smith – By Any Means
Image: nme.com With a beautifully filmed video depicting the different raw and beautiful shapes that black women and men
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1.THE BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM) MOVEMENT Following the events in the US this year, saw a large sum of artists releasing revolutionary tracks from the likes of R&B mavericks Anderson .Paak, H.E.R. and Sault to indie artists such as Angel Olsen. The Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards this year saw virtual performances take on the focus of the BLM movement and the persisting police issues and increasing unrest in the U.S. Rappers DaBaby and Roddy Rich even premiered a remade video version of their 2020 number one single, Rockstar, to bring the current issues to the forefront of the song.
ANDERSON .PAAK – LOCKDOWN
This track combines the racial violence and the pandemic aspect of 2020’s climate, all whilst still encompassing Paak’s trademark funk-inspired bass that carries across the song supported by the musician’s truth-telling lyrics. The BET performance video of the track, a personal favourite, shows the musician with a bruised face, jamming in the darkness accompanied by his band, drum set, and a microphone as a flashlight, before Jay Rock jumps into the song. Meanwhile, Paak raps about U.S. cops, black lives, covid-19 in the streets and addresses a lot of the opinions said across the news and media during the lockdown and protests. There’s also a remix of the song which includes rappers JID, Noname and Jay Rock.
Beyoncé – Black Parade
brutality. Keys sings deeply of the ‘broken promises’ and nights ‘to live in fear’, carrying signs in the streets, being told to move on but the select few being stuck in mourning, dreaming of a paradise. ‘A perfect way to die’ is then a phrase that the artist says does not make sense as none of the lives lost amidst the brutality make sense. The refrain and chorus, as pictures of the lives lost are shown in the video, are especially tear-inducing in Keys’ respectful commemoration, leaving the track to silently and hauntingly play out.
Sault – Untitled albums Rise and Black Is
The anonymised R&B, psychedelic soul and funk collective released two complete albums this year to address the racial tensions that arose in the U.S with Black Is and Rise. The prior opens with ‘Out the Lies’ repeating that the revolution has begun, continuing with a children’s choir into the second track and Michael Kiwanuka on a later track. Great single titles aside, my favourite tracks of Black Is include ‘Don’t Shoot Guns Down’, the hypnotic bass-filled ‘Wildfires’ and similarly ‘Why We Cry Why We Die’, ‘Eternal Life’, the infectious ‘Monsters’, and the slowed down mixed soul nature of ‘Miracles’, ‘Hold Me’ and ‘Pray up Stay Up’. If you don’t know Sault yet, I would strongly recommend these tracks as a starting point. Rise carries on this musical expression of turmoil and unity, adapting song titles that connote a new fearlessness. My favourites off the latter album are ‘Rise’, the unapologetic, confrontational nature of ‘You Know It Ain’t’, the funk-inspired ‘Uncomfortable’ and ‘Little Boy’.
On Juneteenth weekend (the US holiday that commemorates emancipation day), Beyoncé dropped this infectious, celebratory track. Queen B brought her angelic yet unapologetic tone (“where my roots aren’t watered down”) and vocal gymnastics to a revolutionary track, bringing black women and men together as she knows how, amidst the BLM protests that covered mainstream news and media for the months in mid 2020. Singing of Obama’s smile, her hopeful crystals, family barbeques, reparations, the motherland and the revolutionary fist that has persisted as an empowering image, Beyoncé covers all bases in this timely drop.
H.E.R. – I Can’t Breathe
The soulful artist H.E.R. (an acronym for Having Everything Revealed) brings an unlimited amount of emotion and power to this poignant track marking the mediatised events of late May. Her flawless vocals serve the song well in a yearning for help to survive and this is followed by a beautifully-penned, politically aware and human rights strong, spoken word piece in the latter half of the song. H.E.R. references ‘strange fruit’ from the popularised Billie Holiday song, evoking this brute continuation as a sign of the times.
Alicia Keys – Perfect Way to Die
Accompanied by her piano playing akin to her artist name, Alicia Keys sings to evoke the pain of the countless lives lost amidst the unprovoked police
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Image: newsweek.com
THE MUSIC EDIT
Jorja Smith – By Any Means
With a beautifully filmed video depicting the different raw and beautiful shapes that black women and men take in Britain, Jorja shows an array of families and communities whilst singing about the futilities of going to ‘fix your crown then watch it all burn in smoke’. Smith’s poignant lyrics “too many days in my head…too many sentences read” come together well with the ethereal choir backdrop and running acoustic that hits each note.
Cass McCombs, Angel Olsen, Bob Weir, Noam Chomsky - Don’t (Just) Vote
On a more governmental politics turn, this track featuring Chomsky’s wise voice in the outro, takes on the message to encourage Americans to vote in the then upcoming 2020 election – another current event highlight depicted in music. A remake of McCombs’ 2009 song, ‘Don’t Vote’, the artists tackle voting apathy. McCombs croons “if you don’t vote then you can’t complain” whilst Olsen delicately sings “your vote is your magic wand”. Amongst the dream pop and folk style pace, McCombs sings a reminder to “vote for Breonna Taylor…Eric Garner and Tamir Rice” naming some of the key victims prominent in the BLM movement.
2.The coronavirus pandemic Image: diymag.com It has taken shape into every avenue of life this year and music is no exception. There was that ‘Imagine’ rendition by a collective of celebrities, songs appearing with quarantine in the title and on a more wholesome note, the One World ‘Live Aid’ virtual performances including the likes of Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish. The global lockdown that ensued brought music videos that took shape picturing musicians in their quarantined environments – insert Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande’s intimate duet.
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – Stuck With U
No matter what rock you’ve no doubt tried to keep under away from news during this year, I bet you’ll have heard this song somewhere, somehow. Despite some number 1 spot controversy, the track is an admittedly catchy and sweet one, showcasing essential workers, nurses, families, and people remaking milestone moments that they missed out on in lockdown. The track is also a charitable single and the undeniably melodic voices of Bieber and Grande are greatly matched for this one.
Image: revolt.tv
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3. A positive political change What has continued into 2020 is the feminist lense of sexual liberation and freedom especially for women rappers and musicians, being able to own and reclaim their bodies in their songs in hip hop and R&B culture, rather than being used in men’s music videos and lyrics.
Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion – WAP
This track just has to make any list of music highlights for this year. It’s a must. The intro of this track has an enigmatic beat and holds the refrain of the “h**s in this house” that is ridiculously catchy and in a reclamation way – it’s everything. Not only great for its rhythm, its precision, and its power, this song breathes a whole other life from the debate and conversations it brought about. But let’s not forget the unapologetic rappers, women of colour no less, that make for a powerful duo. The video includes other empowered, formidable women such as musicians Rosalía and Normani – put simply, it’s a cultural reset.
Image: consequenceofsound.net
Image: yahoo.com
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The Songs of 2020 By Nick Moran
Image: Columbia Records
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1. positions - Ariana Grande “positions” is classy and sexy, poised and curvy with a dynamic sense of sound that cradles listeners as it guides them along. Grande’s vocal performance is like a dancer, presenting both grace and strength through intricate riffs and delicate lifts. Between a humbling string section and a stripped-down percussion that elevates the chorus, Grande proves that doing everything right doesn’t have to be tweaking what works, but changing the pop cannon.
5. WAP - Megan thee Stallion feat. Cardi B
Image: Warner Bros
It would be a cardinal sin not to acknowledge the profound impact that Meghan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” had on worldwide pop culture. Combining the talents of two stars in Megan and Cardi B’s, the raunchy, gritty culmination of a bop uses a creative minimalist production to let the leading ladies soar. “WAP” was unsettling in its unapologetic, polarizing lyrics, but proved that audiences could appreciate both the shock and star power of the track.
3. Watermelon Sugar Harry Styles
Image: Republic Records
2. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac The oldest track on the list, the critical acclaim on Dreams and its home album, “Rumours,” was seen upon its release and throughout its 40+ year history. But to hear that the classic hit Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first time since the year of its release is not only a testament to it being evergreen, but to a greater sense of human perseverance in the face of a worldwide pandemic. The song was revived when viral TikTok star Nathan Apodaca won hearts by vibing to the track on his skateboard, with a jug of cran-raspberry juice to match. Just as “Dreams” was released during a time of change for Fleetwood Mac, it’s modern resurgence follows suit, but rather represents pop culture latching onto the silver lining amid the chaos of the pandemic.
While “Fine Line” was released at the tail end of 2019, it really came into its own as 2020 revved up, with the streams to match. What “Fine Line” and “Watermelon Sugar” as its key track represents is Styles’ growth as a solo artist and trailblazing singer-songwriter. The strong sense of summer and funky instrumentation make it a mood-booster carried by a phenomenal vocal performance from Styles, proving he still deserves to be at the top end of pop.
4. Frank Lucas - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist feat. Benny the Butcher “Frank Lucas” is a converging point for three paragons in the world of rap this year in Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist and Benny the Butcher. While “Alfredo” in its entirety is an incredibly strong feather in Gibbs’ peacock cap, “Frank Lucas” takes his seriously suave flow and blends it with a disciplined performance from Benny, who has also been making a strong case for himself this year. The Alchemist has a long history of greatness, but the release of “Alfredo” and his other work this year proved that he will always hold a spot in the production game.
Image: Atlantic
6. Kobe - Aminé It’s hard to keep track of the chaos that hit the world this year, with one shocking headline after another. It was the sudden death of Kobe Bryant that sparked a change in tone for the release of “Limbo,” which was a reflection on Aminé’s role models and past musical styling. With the amount of leaders in entertainment, sports and beyond that the world lost this year, “Kobe” is an ode to a loss of a titan in the world of basketball, but speaks to the larger torch we collectively bear as we move forward toward a future these icons helped us build.
Image: Cover Art
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7. walking in the snow Run the Jewels
9. Baptize - Spillage Village, JID & EarthGang
While a handful of songs have been a fulcrum for representing racial injustice in the U.S. and abroad, “walking in the snow” is one of 2020’s many rallying cries. Not claiming to be pretty or uptight, the grainy critique of the social tension in the U.S. is commendable, with Killer Mike delivering one of the slickest, fiercest verses of the year. A track that is able to so fearlessly cover so much ground stands at the front of this year’s music in terms of both performance and activism.
The cumulative musical prowess of the “Spilligion” collective is outstanding, and “Baptize” stands as a strong representation of just one of the many genres its home album occupies. Recorded and produced in a quarantined Atlanta home studio, “Baptize” captures the world it was born into, serving as not just an incredibly dynamic track, but a representation of music as a mirror. It’s powerful, unfiltered and supersonic, checking all of the marks musically and socially.
Image: Cover Art
Image: Spillage Village Records
8. Blinding Lights The Weekend
10. Come & Go - Juice WRLD feat. Marshmello
Perhaps one of the most-played songs of the year, “Blinding Lights” was everywhere between a strong album release and a massive presence on TikTok. The gilded, synthy hit dominated charts with its recognizable 80s lick and gliding vocal performance. In terms of scope and presence, few songs rival the impact “Blinding Lights’’ had on pop charts this year.
While 2020 has taken a slew of musical legends from us, we still see their music live on and even thrive. Off his posthumous album, “Come & Go” represents an upbeat, daring side of Juice WRLD that was met with as much acclaim as his darker hits. On both sides of the coin, his undisputed talent lives on through “Legends Never Die” — a single example of the work of the late music icons we’ve continued to venerate.
Image: Republic Records
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Image: Interscope
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INTERVIEWED BY LILY QUARTON-PARSONS How did you get started in music? I was brought into the music industry without any choice. Both my parents are singers, my family background is very musical. I used to come home to my granddad spinning the decks, thinking “oh stop!” I’ve been on stage from a young age, one of the first songs I used to sing was Build Me Up Buttercup. I’ve always had it, but in terms of my music journey, I’d say the last three years, taking it to a level I never thought I’d take it to. Writing my own music, and putting it out there to the world, it’s quite a big thing when I think about it. I’ve been loving it, and I’ll continue to do it until my body tells me to stop.
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Your parents are musicians? Yeah, my dads a singer out in Spain, and my mum doesn’t sing professionally anymore but still has the love for it. The music you make, is that influenced by your parents music? I’d say so, definitely. A fraction of it. I’m quite independent in finding what I like. Growing up and listening to the 90s, which obviously is my era, I’ve unconsciously taken parts of what I used to listen to. Even friends that are older than me, when I’d go to their house and they’d play music I’d never heard before, I’d question what it was. Adapting my own sound too, which I feel like isn’t even a sound yet. I’ve found my sound but it’s not a sound that’s out there just yet. It’s a mixture of Neo-Soul, Trap and Rap…. Who, other than your parents, are your biggest musical influences? It’s difficult, I always say the same people. I’m actually at that point working in lockdown we’re not working with people, but I’m seeing people online. I feel like this is my new type of influence where I see people I don’t know. I listen to the old-school people like Floetry and Indie Arie, people may not know the people I listen to. Working in the studio with names that aren’t even exposed yet, I get influenced by them. What has been the biggest challenge on your journey as a musician? Balancing. I’m a mum, so emotionally it impacts me more than it does physically. Everyone thinks I’m okay, I’m always laughing and talking, putting a bit of makeup on takes away how I feel inside. I need help sometimes, it could be a weekend like this one where my son’s at his dads and I have done absolutely nothing. I’ve felt okay waking up late. Other weekends I’m up and ready to go to the studio before 8am. It depends! Your son, is he getting into music? He loves it! It’s true when they say it’s in the bloodline. If he didn’t I’d be a bit upset! It’s funny, he’s playing Dubstep, but I love that he has a passion for it. DJ-ing is his thing, then you’ve got me in the kitchen soulfully singing. He educates me everyday, and I’m sure I have done over the years. Your EP was released this Spring - Congratulations! It’s inspired by your experiences, it’s honest, pure and relatable. Does your
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Louis NESBITT
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Photography: Louis Nesbitt
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Photography: Louis Nesbitt
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THE MUSIC EDIT
“Song Machine, Season One” grapples with Gorillaz identity crisis, presents more modern finish on classic sound An unapologetically experimental album tackles criticism and leverages the perplexing world we live in today, leaving us with more introspection than confusion. By Nick Moran At a glance, Gorillaz’s release of “Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez” proves to hit on typical notes with an experimental twist. The trickled release of singles offered a variety of styles and features that teased a daring, complex album. They hit stride up to Elton John and Robert Smith before releasing a full setlist with a long list of collaborators. It’s an exceptional, albeit bold setup that fired up listeners from the singles alone, giving a variety of listeners something to hold onto. For release listeners and feature followers, there was some optimism. For longtime fans, that setup felt like
a harbinger of Gorillaz falling into the same pit they’ve struggled with for years. In a sense, the star power presented on the album’s list of features is daunting and sets an intimidating bar. The likes of Elton John, The Cure’s Robert Smith and contemporary talent like St. Vincent and members of Spillage Village bring an assortment of talent that fits within co-founder and musical lead Damon Albarn’s alternative/hip hop wheelhouse. While attractive to audiences that may be particularly familiar with Gorillaz, it both turns more heads and raises the bar. The Avengers-esque assembly of talent presents another challenge, though, as Gorillaz has suffered an identity crisis over the past decade — critically seen in a mixed reception to “The Now Now.” Recent releases, including early reception to this album, felt that Gorillaz lacked a sense of itself. Their attempts to innovate felt too abstract and their retreat back to an early sound felt absurd and overused, forcing them into a musical limbo. However, Albarn unapologetically claimed upon the release of its first single, “Momentary Bliss,” that the Song Machine series is going to be a period of experimentation, saying through drummer Russel Hobbs that the rollout of music would be unpredictable, both for the audience and Gorillaz. Hobbs described the series as feeding on the unknown and running on “pure chaos,” and that sentiment 80
is absolutely felt in the range of tracks on the album itself. “Momentary Bliss” is driving with warped synths turning into a thrashing breakdown while “Désolé” lays back and lets Malian vocalist Fatoumata Diawara carry the track through a dramatic, powerful performance matched by a swelling horn crescendo as the song concludes. We get a cool, pixely track in “Pac-Man,” which spotlights Los Angeles rapper Schoolboy Q, before changing the tone in “Dead Butterflies,” which feels like confetti snowfall over a gritty industrial warehouse — delicate and personal against an impersonal wall.
Image: Parlophone
But no matter how innovative a lot of the music is, the chaotic philosophy doubles down on the criticism Albarn has gotten for taking a scattershot approach to releasing music, which dates back to the release of “Humanz” in 2017. Since then, through albums like “The Now Now” and into the release of the Song Machine singles, Gorillaz faces this same setback, but
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embraces it in a new way. Here, leveraging the specializations and influences of their features, Albarn shifts from asking “how does Gorillaz sit in another genre?” to “what can leaders in a genre teach Gorillaz?” Songs like “The Pink Phantom” are clear-cut examples of Albarn bringing distinct elements together and letting them fly. The combination of 6LACK’s autotune-laden vocals and John’s enchanting ballad of a chorus creates a fusion of familiar sounds — hearing a grand piano against fuzzy synths before 6BLACK delivers a surprisingly somber pre chorus. It’s a conglomeration that bends each of its elements in a new way without losing their foundational aspects. The album’s debut single, “Momentary Bliss” handles this the same way, blending influences from slowthai and Slaves to get an absolute treat. Not only is the nippy chorus an electric uptick to an already bouncy track, but the foundation Slaves and Albarn set allow slowthai to thrive in a setting that fits into some of his discography; the artists meet in the middle and converge on a sound that pays respects to each of their hallmarks. But those compromises are balanced with tracks where Gorillaz sticks to their tropes, like “Friday 13th” with Octavian’s vocals taking the lead. The sea of synths and pulsing low-end make punchy flourishes and high hats stand out, pushing Octavian’s eccentric
performance to the front in a way that’s engaging. Even songs like “MLS” are very front-heavy with influences from CHAI (which, evidently, align with some of Gorillaz’s musical stylings) while letting Peggy work with a playful beat that he thrives in. These tracks are convincing that Gorillaz has a place in modern music, with a polished finish on an augmented version of their sound. Part of this comes from leveraging artists like Tony Allen and Skepta to make “How Far?,” a very familiar-sounding track reminiscent of what Gorillaz has been doing for over a decade. Through these matchmade-in-heaven features, Albarn finds ways to create a sound that’s familiar to long-time fans, but feels more modern. The same is true for their collaboration with St. Vincent, which is fuzzy, peppy and bubbly in every sense — a layer of textures and styles that are poppy with an eclectic flair that brings with it a tangible world to explore. While this approach feels like it pays a lot more respect to the musical communities Gorillaz occupies,
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it doesn’t fix a lot of the criticism Albarn has faced recently on the lack of direction. There is an instrumental thread that makes a majority of the tracks on “Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez” feel on-par, but you can’t help but sense a lack of cohesion in the final product. Instead, there is a collection of mismatched gems that stand strongest on their own. As confusing and off putting as that lack of album cohesion may be, perhaps it’s appropriate and even pivotal to a larger message surrounding an experimental album released during a worldwide pandemic. During a complex time in the world, an album that is unapologetically working through the challenges presented by a rapidly-spinning globe is more artistically human than we realize. This season of “Song Machine” is perplexing, fragmented and peculiar, but it serves as a very real collection of explorative work that has a more on-base sense of artistic gravity. It’s not musically perfect, nor does it claim to be, but serves as a stronger representation of the strange times we’re all going through together.
Image: Warner Records
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Get in loser we’re…. tackling economic inequality
to health and food. It contains links to different black businesses, with their location and directions. You can save your favorite businesses, directly call and email from the app as well as find black owned businesses near you. It also contains portals to submit businesses to join the directory. Black Nation, on the other hand, is built more like a social media app, or as it calls itself, a “social directory”. With a layout akin to that of Instagram, the app relies on posts from creators, business people and influencers. https://www.blacknation.app/ Whether you make the decision to download one, both or even none (we see you black business expert), the importance is in funding businesses that align with your values, not work against them.
By Zara Akpan A couple of days ago, I attended an English Language Zoom class. Right after I had finished expressing my opinion a subject matter, I heard the voice of another student say “All n*****s deserve to die”. At first I felt shocked, then confused. I didn’t even know this person. It was almost laughable, in my opinion, what ignorance and hate did to people. While the performative activism of Instagram blackouts have rolled to a stop, the real fight against racism has not, especially when over 70 million people voted for a blatant racist to become president of the United States. Despite the traditional media’s unwillingness to cover physical protests, rather than stopping, Black Lives Matter protests need to become smarter. You cannot protest a system that oppresses people while actively funding it, so we have to collectively make better decisions about where we spend our money and on what. This means funding businesses with values that align with yours, businesses that champion diversity and sustainability not only as an aesthetic but as a vital part of their business. Why fund a business that will use your money to fund policies that limit minority rights when you could direct that money into strengthening minority communities? We live in a world that is built on capitalism, capital being the ticket for entry. This presents an unequal playing field as minorities are often not given enough capital to thrive in this system, creating an unending cycle of economic inequality. So when you make the decision to buy primarily from Black Owned businesses, it is a protest in itself, as you are actively shifting the dynamics of power. This task may seem very hard at first. Where does one even find black owned businesses in particular? Well, if the only thing black you’ve shopped is black friday from the culture vultures of business, try downloading the Black Wallet or Black Nation app. https://theblackwallet.com/ Serving as a black business directory, Black Wallet is sorted into Local and Online businesses covering everything from apparel to entertainment
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Sheaker Magazine
“Sheaker Mag is the first women’s only sneaker magazine. Dedicated to covering news on the women’s sneaker i ndustry, expect to see interviews, brand profiles and new releases. Our print supplement also sees a curation of music, modern art and other cultural happenings that surround the industry”
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Graphic work by: ssusui Titled: Untitled 2020
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ANNA FARKAS
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My name is Anna Farkas, I am 24 years old, I work as process engineer specialist and freelance social media manager/content creator. I grew up in Hungary but moved to the Netherlands in 2016 to study and pursue my passion for photography, fashion and content creation. I have always been interested in capturing things in the most appealing light and setting. The Dutch culture has without exception promoted creatives and I saw that as a better environment for me to pursue my dreams.
In 2019 I decided to do photography and social media more professionally and got to attend countless festivals and conferences as a photographer and content curator while I was finishing my University degree. Since then, I have worked with several brands such as Typology, C/MEO Collective, Fella Swim, Kazar and many others. Even though I have been dedicating more and more time to these projects my 9 to 5 has been working as a process engineer specialist for the world’s largest supply chain company but I’m aiming towards fully employing myself as a content creator and social media manager.
Images: @annafarkas
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THAT COOL LIVING
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By Anna Farkas
Image: Vlaminck Van Wetter
Founded in July 2020, out of my pure passion to share the world’s most uniquely furnished and decorated spaces. That Cool Living showcases handpicked designs that are defined by clean and crisp lines and neutral colour palettes.
Image: Adrien Dirand Yatzer
Image: Colin King
Image: @annafarkas
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Since the launch, That Cool Living has grown into a highly engaged global community of design enthusiasts. The page went from a few hundred followers to over 10 thousand in a matter of weeks.
Image: Brighton Residence
Image: Colin King
Image: Eric Bratsberg
In the future, besides sharing inspiring content, I want to bring more value to my audience for example by promoting both up-and-coming and established brands and designers.
Image: Davidov Partners Architects
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What is a minimalist? People tend to associate being a minimalist with having a perfectly decluttered home or less than 33 things in your closet but it’s definitely more than just getting rid of stuff.
Minimalism and simplistic living might mean different things to different people but to me, it ultimately boils down to connecting with what is most important to you and realising that less can actually be more. Less clutter means less time spent around the house cleaning and organising and more hours for hobbies, friends and family.
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Image: Studio Daskal Laperre
Image: Therese Sennerholt
Would you consider yourself a minimalist? I don’t consider myself a traditional minimalist but rather a Modern minimalist which is not just about buying less but consciously buying better quality that lasts longer. I definitely always ask myself do I really need what I’m buying or is it something I only want but I do recognise a desire to buy the latest. Image: Monica Steffensen
Image: Vlamick Van Wetter
Image: Norm Architects
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PANTONE COLOUR TRENDS SPRING/SUMMER 2021 By Caroly Nisu
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ISSUE 3 After all the drama of colour in recent seasons, for Spring/ Summer 2021 we step forward into a season of quieter, more natural colours that hint at the influence of raw dyestuffs and recycling. An electric shade of blue called AI Aqua will come to the fore in fashion, tech and interiors in 2021 according to trend forecasting service WGSN. Announced this week, the colour is described by the brand as a “positive” hue, that is “both sporty and trend-forward”(dezeen.com).
The trend forecaster believes that colour trends have a trickle-down effect and that the current political climate and images seen on news broadcasters can influence the colours that society is drawn towards. When selecting AI Aqua, the team looked at the arrival of 5G, which is being rolled out to devices this year and is set to be widely available by 2021. In line with this new feeling for color comes an equally important respect for texture and variation, because just as in nature, there are no flat colors; luminosity, texture and tonality say it all (pantone.com).
SUMMER BOUQUET
Pale hazy petals combine with exotic pinks and an herbal green to create a fresh summer palette that celebrates the positivity and happiness of colors from nature.
INTOXICATING A vibrant yellow, sweetly scented lavender, fragrant pink and a cool green combine to create a dynamic contrast with a crisp aqua. A creamy white adds freshness.
POWER SURGE A pair of empowering pinks enrich a palette of vibrant brights, infusing glamour to a story of vivid contrasts.
Image sources: Pantone.com
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THE MINIMALIST: Noritake By Caroly Nisu
Image source: Noritake.org
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The word ‘Noritake’ is associated with Noritake Co., Ltd, a Japanese company that manufactured table-ware, other goods and pottery in 1904. In 1914, the company manufactured their first dinner set in western style called ‘Sedan’ and started competing with the European porcelain market. The dishes were white in color with a cream border, and with a design of small flower sprays (yundle.com).
Image source: Noritake.org
The Noritake in this context, however, is a Japanese illustrator who mainly works within a monochrome colour palette, with occasional flashes of blue or peach. The work manages to distil emotions and actions into beautifully crafted one-liners. Noritake has worked on designs for clothing as well as editorial illustration projects, but it’s the advertising work that is loved the most by grapic design fans the most (itsnicethat.com). Image source: Noritake.org
Noritake’s official website showcases his impressive list of clients as well as a variety of consuming ready products. He creates prints, notebooks, t-shirts and other products with his signature minimalist illustrations (japanesedesign.pl).
Image source: Noritake.org
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