Issue 1

KADE THE COMEBACK ISSUE Kade Culture 2019

Cover Picture Beauty With Taffy K A D E

CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Neil Ashman SS1 | Photographer Zavon MIller

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CONTENTS

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36

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A DOSE OF E

JEREMIAH

BEAUTY WITH TAFFY

Eudora |

Mxpfilms | “I am a young entrepreneur by nature who strives for innovation and doing things differently.”

“Don’t leave the house without lipgloss, fluffy bending brush and blotting powder.”

“Pushing you to embrace the gorgeousness that is you.”

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Make Up Artist |

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NELLAH GRACE

LAVISH TOO NICE

NATALIE

Med Student |

Artist | “Having my family’s full

Fitness | “I wanted a work-life

“Medicine feels like a calling and not necessarily in that to become a doctor.”

support and backing in everything I want to do.”

balance and something to get me fit.”

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

EDITOR | THE COMEBACK ISSUE 1

W

hen you are down the only way is up! Taking time out, rebranding and focusing on myself, seemed to be a selfish move. But it really helped, building up and refreshing my mindset on the importance of continuing to celebrate

young Black Creatives around us. Plus the importance of taking care of your mental health.

Each feature in this issue represents strong, hardworking individuals, who aspire to bring effective change through their talents. This issue’s front cover is none other than the talented makeup artist Tafadzwa, also know as Beauty with Taffy. In addition, I was fascinated with people like Jeremiah and his humbleness as a visual artist. It reminded me of myself and reading through his feature, inspired me to keep pushing.

Every feature published in this Comeback issue is motivational and encouraging for the readers. My favorite part in this issue was asking about sacrificing your career for love and marriage. Samantha Allan makes a very interesting point when it comes to love and your career.

Above all, I am especially excited to rebrand and create new content that’s provocative and engaging. This Kade Comeback Issue is a starting point for a greater beginning. It’s never easy to build a brand and convincing others about the vision you have. But we always have to continue proving that our vision and dreams are valid, and every effort we put in counts.

“When building a brand you shouldn’t settle for easy or obvious work.”

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@KADECULTURE |

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

ZINHLE |

Founder and designer for BTR 97 @_ZINHLENHLE

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GET TO KNOW BTR 97 FOUNDER

Can you tell us more about your design background? I studied fashion design at Birmingham City University, however, it really wasn’t what I expected. So, I decided to pursue designing on my own. Before then, I always had an interest in designing and creating. In School, I liked to design using different media like burning material, wire and beads, just about anything I could find my hands on. I have some experience with using illustrator and photoshop to create designs. Other than designing, I recently discovered, after shooting my first collection for the BTR hoodies, I have an interest in styling as well. I would like to pursue this further in the future hopefully.

Why did you decide to become a designer?

Designing and creating has always been something I have always been interested in, for as long as I can remember. If memory serves me right, when I was 5/4 years old, I would like to make gowns out of towels. Also, when I was 7 years old, I used to love playing with Barbie dolls and Bratz dolls. To a 7-year-old, Bratz were the most fashionable people I knew. I would even go as far as using old materials to make clothes for my dolls (even though that got me into some trouble with my mum because to her the material I was using wasn’t old lol). So, designing has always been something that’s in a way “Built inside of me”. When I’m designing, I feel some sense of clarity in my life, that’s with anything that’s creative, to be honest.

Describe your creative process for us. What steps do you take when you’re working through a project? Whenever I start a project, I like to get all my ideas out on paper for example, in the first project I brainstormed all my ideas into my ‘creative book.’ Then went from there. Just to shorten down the process this what I did:

• Develop designs further on Photoshop by adding color, I used a color palette and also placement of brand logo on garments.

• With developed designs, create a lineup. This will be the final designs.

• Get a prototype to advertise on social media and see how people react to it. If positive, plan official photoshoot for the collection. I then give myself at least 3 months or so to plan the shoot.

When planning the shoot think about location, photographer, context, BTS Video for collection.

For my hoodie collection, I had two ideas, I ended up liking one more than the other one because I could visually imagine it. To me, it was a better idea because it was more fun and younger and modern. I even went to the location, so I could see what exactly what I wanted for the shoot and video.

Looked at camera angels online for the video so I looked at music, advertisement, and creative videos and took notes. For the photo shoot, I wanted certain shots, so I wrote those down too. I also planned the models looks from what kind of hair I wanted down to the shoes. I pitched my ideas to both the videographer and photographer. All these had to be done before a certain date.

When the day came, I was under a lot of stress with things not going right. I had model canceling on me, transport delay, outfits not looking quite right.

However, In the end, I made it work. The models (Darlene, Cathy, Luisa) and the photographer (many – Mxnnyade on socials) and videographer (Jeremiah – MxpsFilms on socials) were very helpful on the day.

• Write down ALL the ideas in my head, even ones that may not be that good. (Any idea is better than none) • Visually design the ideas on to paper first before moving on to designing on photoshop. Then select designs I can develop further.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

BTR 97 Feature Continued |

Photography by Manny Ade @MxnnyAde 8

Once the shoot was done. Manny sent me ALL the photographs because I wanted specific ones for the BTR social media page. I started by cutting down to the ones I liked then cut down to the ones I loved, and thought would do the page justice.

Manny edited some the photographs all and I also edited some as well.

With the video, before Jeremiah started to edit it, I had already spoken to him about the vision I had for this shoot, the effects I wanted at specific moments.

Also, down to song selection (this changed at least 5 times).

Once everything was down, I released the work one by one because I wanted to keep my customers interested. Then sales went from there!

I hope with time, the process can be quicker but still effective, I am still learning.

What software do you use and why? I use adobe photoshop and illustrator, these software’s for me have been the easiest because I’ve been taught them since secondary school. I would like to use different technology though.

Define fashion in your own words? Fashion is different to everyone, you can’t really say what it is and as corny as it sounds, fashion is really what you make it. However, I don’t think that having designer things makes it more fashionable than others. Someone who can shop at Primark can be more fashionable than someone who wears Gucci and those type of brands. It’s how you as an individual can put things together and make a statement with it.

How would you describe your work and your influences? Right now, as a designer, I am still learning. Although, I do feel like my brand is more focused on ‘Street/Urban clothing’ If that makes sense. There’s always a meaning behind everything I do or the ideas I have.

I have always liked work By Alexander McQueen.

I found this work very different, weird and out there and I like that, I hope that I can do the same.

I also like brands like Nike. I feel like Nike are always evolving and they really know how to

advertise and make people look at their work and buy their products.

Challenges you have faced and how you overcame them? The biggest two things for me has been fear and support. Before even announcing I wanted to start a brand, I had the fear of ‘oh what if people have bad things to say, what if I don’t do well, what if I don’t go far’ that and support of others was the biggest concern. But I had to overcome fear and the ‘what ifs.

I overcame fear by having the courage to put my work out there. I had people by my side, who were very supportive of my dream and they helped me by pushing me and encouraging me, which then helped me push myself.

Although this may sound negative, I do feel like sometimes in the black community, when it comes to helping each other’s business grow, we don’t support each other that much. We could support each other by sharing each other’s business through social media and purchasing each other’s products instead of instantly wanting a ‘freebie’. I do feel like popularity does pay apart in support. But for me, I told myself: YOU have to be the biggest supporter of your own business. Prompt it like it’s the best thing ever. Prompt yourself until the wheels fall off!

Your best fashion experience and memory?

Till this day for me, it was getting my work In textiles displayed at school. I think that, even though I didn’t follow through, was the moment I was like “This is what I want to do.”

Top 5 designers, you look up to in the industry?

I’ll be honest I don’t really have designers that I ‘look up to’ really. If I see a design that I like that’s that. It can be someone on social media or a big designer. If it looks pleasing to me then that’s how it is.

BTR 97 Feature Continues On Next Page |

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

BORN TO REIGN 97 LEAD | INSPIRE | EMPOWER

Models - @kxtoka @cathymu @obaa_hemaaa

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BTR 97 Feature Continued |

What inspired the name Born To Reign for your brand? Born to reign came about when I was in a low place in my life and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life and other things played a part. But I knew I had a passion for designing.

So, I brainstormed names first. Originally the name was going to be ‘Born for Royalty’ about then I changed it because Born to Reign sounded more powerful, Reign means to Rule and on a personal level, it was about getting my power back picking myself back up and keep going. I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy, I went through depression at some point, it got really bad, having this brand helped me and I feel like now I’m in a better place. My brand isn’t just about clothes, it’s about knowing you’re a very powerful person if you put your mind to it, you can do anything!

What makes BTR unique? BTR isn’t where I want it to be yet. I hope that one day it can bigger than it is now. I think other than the clothing, BTR will teach people an important lesson about themselves and how to always keep faith in God and themselves.

You are the only person that can limit where or how high you can go in life.

Words of encouragement to other designers?

The BTR motto is ‘LEAD.INSPIRE. EMPOWER’: Lead by example, if you have a dream chase it and chase it HARD. By doing that you can inspire someone else, who probably doesn’t have that confidence. USE all your talents. You don’t know how far you can go if you don’t try. You might just be sitting there with all these designs and ideas, not knowing maybe tomorrow it can change your life. Take chances. Some are hit or miss, if it’s a miss, don’t be disheartened, you learn from it.

Most of all, DO NOT compare yourself to other people or others success, you don’t know how that other person got to where they are now or what they had to go through. When you compare yourself to anyone in anything you do in life, you discourage yourself and you start to have doubts, you are you, they are them. Believe in your craft, the rest will follow!

ZINHLE |

Founder and designer for BTR 97 @_ZINHLENHLE

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

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A DOSE OF E. Eudora | Expressing herself through her choice of clothing style, whilst encouraging others to express their own freedom and embracing their true gorgeousness within. Read more on the next page.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

A DOSE OF E. “Pushing you to embrace the gorgeousness that is you.”

What inspired you to get into fashion and beauty blogging? My interest in fashion mostly comes from my mother. Growing up fashion was my mum’s second nature. She always knew how to slay for work or any event she had to attend but I didn’t know how much of an impact it had on me until today. With the beauty side of things, I have always been a sucker for beauty products. The feeling of trying something new and seeing the results/ effects is just priceless to me.

this was the only thing that managed to make me smile at the time. When I’m in the midst of a difficult situation I pray. It always calms me down and then I’m able to focus and actually think of ways to find the solution.

What is your favorite day to day fashion brand? This is an easy one, it is definitely Zara and Mango because I can always guarantee that I will find pieces that I can easily style.

One thing you can never live without? It would probably have to be my phone because I practically do all my daily/weekly planning on it. Honestly, not having my phone would be tragic.

Define the key to the success of being a fashion and beauty blogger? I would say connection for sure. The more I’ve connected with my followers it has given me the ambition and focus to create a foundation for a bigger platform.

Biggest failure you have had. what did you learn from it? The biggest failure I ever had was the fear of failure. It got to a point where I started comparing myself and growth to others which, lead me to think that I maybe was not cut out for this and quitting was the better option.

Through talking to my family and friends, I just realized that everyone’s journey is different and that is why comparing is something you should never do because when it’s your time, it’s your time and no one can take that away from you.

What keeps you going and motivated? How do you deal with difficult situations? Honestly, my passion for what I do is what keeps me going. I started this journey last year when I was at a point in my life of unhappiness and 14

Do you see yourself doing collaborations in the future? Yes, most definitely! There are so many fashion and beauty bloggers, that I admire so much and collaborating with them would make what I do extra special.

What are your favorite got to go to beauty products? Oh damn, this is a hard one. I have so many, but I’ll narrow it to 5 if that’s okay.

• Nars Radiant concealer • Tatti Lashes • Diorskin Star foundation • Fenty Gloss bomb • Marc Jacobs velvet noir major volume mascara What do you value the most in friendships and colleague life? I value loyalty and supportiveness the most. Those two are so important to me because it shows that you truly care about me and overall, you’re a decent human being with a good heart.

Define your style in 5 words? Chic, Simple with an edge, snazzy, dapper and modernistic.

Who are your favorite Instagram influencers? Melissaswadrobe, Teaira Walker, Fisayo Longe, Uchjn, Peakmill, and Mercedes Benson. They all inspire me so much in different ways and they are absolutely beautiful.

Words of encouragement to other fashion and beauty enthusiast? I would say don’t be too hard on yourself and just enjoy the process of creating. Never compare yourself to anyone, your time to shine will come so just remain focussed and do not give up.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

LAVISH TOO NICE

“Consistency is key in everything you do and remember that real progress can’t be measured by the eye, it’s a beautiful process that is fulfilling and enjoyable. Do what makes you happy and just know, If you don’t risk anything, you risk everything.”

What inspired the name Lavish? I get asked this question a lot! Lavish is my first name, people find it hard to believe and most of them think that it is just an alias.

What are some challenges you have faced as a self-taught artist, DJ and how did deal with them? I’ll take you back to the beginning, were all my ambitions and aspirations were born. The first challenge I had was knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I looked at myself internally and realized how blessed and gifted I was, to some this is something easy, but it was a major challenge for me. At the time I was at university studying architecture, played football for the university, worked part-time for Tesco, I had regular DJ bookings during weekends and I also worked on artwork during my spare time, which I barely had. With all this on my hands, I set out a plan and stuck to it to this day. I focused on one thing at a time (which was DJ’ing) and I put all my energy towards that until I was well known. I then introduced my artwork at this point because I had a ready market and people that were willing to support and promote anything I do; all this goes to show that knowing exactly what you want to do and setting a plan in motion towards achieving that goal is important. No matter how far fetch your goal is, it’s the little steps that help as you embark on the journey of success.

What has been your favorite moment so far in your career? To this date, I’d say having my family’s full support and backing in everything I want to do. There are so many kids with dreams that are suppressed by their parents, I’m forever grateful that my family believes in me and they let me chase my dreams.

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How do you prioritise your work? I write everything down in my diary, with the work I do its very important to be realistic with time.

So, for instance, I have a one-week waiting time for my artwork and I will never change that for anything because that’s how I have set out my business plan. I also have a rule I live by which is “Growth over Profit” in everything I do. I would rather do an art piece for free for someone that’s in a position of influence than do one job that will give me profit but no growth. So, it’s more about finding a balance that works for you.

Which other artists, DJs, and entrepreneurs do you look up to and why? Virgil Abloh is one of my biggest inspirations, at the time I was confused and felt like it was abnormal to be a multipotentiality, I realized that he was doing the same things that I wanted to do on a bigger scale. He studied architecture, owns his own clothing line (OffWhite) he also a DJ, designs furniture for IKEA and is currently the head of menswear design at Louis Vuitton. Looking at Virgil’s blueprint made me realize that it is possible to have many gifts and make it work. I also look up to Reece Wabara the owner and founder of Maniere DeVoir, an exfootballer that retired from football at a young age in order to focus on a clothing brand that is now a multi-million-dollar business. I am inspired by his approach because his story shows that if you don’t risk anything you risk everything and the fact that he walked into a different industry that he had very little knowledge of and dominate is phenomenal.

Describe your creative process. What steps do you take before finalizing your artwork?

I don’t really have a process because I work in different environments, its more about the things that are surrounding me while I’m working. For instance, music, a good documentary or series, movies, and scenery. All these things affect the outcome of my artwork, in terms of my creative process, I get ideas on a daily basis and I write down everything and I tackle them one by one according to urgency.

As the part owner of Shack Tasty, how do you make sure that your targets are met both in your restaurant and artistic life? This is something new and I am enjoying the learning process, I am coping with my art at the moment. The fact that I understand my value helps when it comes to meeting my art deadlines, I have extended my waiting time for this month (February) because it clashes with the opening of the restaurant. I believe that I will be able to re-assess my targets with effective planning when the restaurant is up and running. As for the restaurant, I wouldn’t be able to do anything without the Shak Tasty team, working together as a team helps us meet targets and it lessens the load of individual work.

How would you describe your personal creative style? I’d say that I am still finding myself as an artist so I don’t think that I can define my style yet.

I have only scratched 5% of my gift card, meaning, I’m only just starting and if you look at the work that I have produced to date, you will notice that it’s mainly portraits. I am yet to touch on abstract drawings and all the ideas I get on a daily basis, for now, I will let the world define all the pieces that I have worked and the style I produced them in.

Tools that you can’t live without as an artist?

Paint Brushes, Paint Palette, My Laptop (for watching documentaries and Music), Water and Ring light Where do you see yourself in 3 years as artist and entrepreneur? In 3 years, I would have influenced an era of artists, my work will be known worldwide, and It will be exhibited in renowned galleries. Stone House Shacks, the umbrella company for Shack Tasty will have ventured into different businesses and all Shack Tasty board members will own their own stores outright and we will expand into the whole of the U.K

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

HILLZY INTERVIEW BY INNOCENT WHANDE

Hillzy is an independent Zimbabwean artist specializing in mainly Hip Hop, Rnb & Trap soul. Check out his latest track – TV room ft Garry Mapanzure.

Photographers Daniel Lasker & Photography_Lit

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What do you hope people will take away from listening to your music? My words! Forget the beat and the harmonies but the lyrics. I just don’t jump on a beat with no substance.

Where did your love for music come from? I can say I always had it ever since I was young, but I had no idea. I would sing along to my mum’s gospel CD’s. It’s only when I attended St Faiths Mission School in form one did I start my journey aware of the passion/talent I had. I tried out for choir and I fell in love with music instantly. I joined several choral groups, played ngoma and in no time I was thinking of recording professionally during my form 4 break.

Where do you get the inspiration for your songs? Personal experiences mostly. It might be something profound I said before or something I did/ went through.

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

- SABC 2 & SABC 3 performances on Hectic9ine & Morning Expresso - A Hype Magazine feature - Adidas Streetwear Ambassadorship - Best Diaspora Zim Hip Hop Award - Working with various artists in the Industry - Being selected by Mr Eazi as one of the #empawa100

What song is the soundtrack to your life? Drake - Mob Ties Which artists have been your favourite to work with? Garry, Beatsmith & H3nry! They are more than blood to me, man the vibe is just amazing.

The others I have worked with I either haven’t met them & just sent verses or it was for a short time.

Which artists would you like to work with?

Tamy Moyo & Dakari.

What can we expect from you for the rest of the year? Two or three more features and an EP. Who are your top 3 artists right now and why them?

1. Chris Brown 2. Drake 3. Lil Wayne Because I relate to their songs & I admire their style of writing.

If you weren’t an artist what would you be?I would be a full time Software Engineer.

How would you like to be remembered? A legend.

A go getter. A dreamer.

What advice would you give to upcoming young artists? Don’t give up. Consistency is key, take criticism constrictively, strive to improve & always be better. Pray hard.

Which one of your songs is your favourite? Hold You Down, the intro to my last project Overdue. I really love the beat and the time I invested in it. I could feel I had just started entered a whole new level in terms of my art.

Where in the world do you wish to perform one day? Nowhere specific to be honest. I do however wish to fill up a venue full of authentic Hillzy fans singing my songs word for word - those Tuku type of shows.

What is the most important lesson that life has taught you? Biggest life lesson - Consistency is key.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Nommie Catch up Feature |

“Nothing happens overnight, and you must be in music because you are passionate about it at least in the beginning. And most of all, just to have fun and enjoy it.”

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Photography by @mxpsfilms MUA - Az Marie Essence

What drew you into the music industry?

I’ve always been surrounded by music growing up. Literally, everyone in my family either sings or plays an instrument so the music industry was just a natural way to express that talent and interest in music. Plus, I’ve always felt like I have something different to offer and that my music needs to be heard and where else best but the music industry.

Whom are you inspired by and why? My biggest inspiration musically would be the Motown era, I collect vinyl records from that era, and I feel that era of music got the balance of great songwriting, great melodies and great outfits down to a tee. You can’t help but be inspired. I’m also inspired by African artists like Miriam Makeba, Lovemore Majaivana, Brenda Fassie, and Boom Shaka to name a few. I feel those artists were so fearless in their music, that’s a huge inspiration to me.

As an artist explain your creative process? I love hearing a good beat first! From there the possibilities are endless because that’s where I draw my melodies from and away, we go.

Do you collaborate with others? What is the process like and what has been your best collaboration so far? I love collaborating with other artists. My latest single Bad Habits features Quinton of Hardwest and Mr. Oulala of Afrotrap UK. That collaboration came about organically as we all recorded at the same studio, I had a hook as the boys did an excellent job of telling their sides of the story.

Coming up is another collaboration with Thoby Lee of Hardwest which I think people will relate to. It’s titled ‘Salty’ and it’s just about feeling like you can have someone’s man but that you don’t need to cause it’s not every woman who is that way inclined.

I’m giving away too much but it’s a banger!

These collaborations came about so naturally I don’t recall ever thinking of a creative process but it just sort of happened.

Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety? I usually get butterflies the moment before I go on stage which disappears as soon as I start singing. So aside from that little moment, not really.

How do you react or respond to the bad sound system when performing? This happened last summer at a show I performed at. The mic had cut out and I just started singing acapella and the audience started cheering me on, so I managed to salvage it. I think in the future that will be my way of dealing with all ‘future sound issues’. Apart from that, most artists know that not all sound systems will project their voices the way they would like but you just have to sing and showcase your talent regardless.

Your favorite and least favorite part about women in the entertainment industry? I always say being a woman in the entertainment industry is an extreme sport. Mostly because it’s a male dominated industry and you come across some promoters who want sexual favors for booking you or some promoters who don’t want to pay female artists in the same way they would pay male artists.

That would be my least favorite part.

My most favorite thing is that artists like Tiwa Savage, Moonchild Sanelly and Sho Madjozi are really paving the way in making sure that females are being taken seriously.

It’s a really exciting time and females are on the rise. We are definitely taking over.

It’s an honor to be part of that movement.

The favorite venue you have performed at? O2 Glasgow where I opened for Davido. The crowd was amazing, and I remember feeling like this is what I wanted to do forever. It was such a perfect night.

Any upcoming projects coming out soon? The new single with Thoby Lee called Salty and my new EP called Uncuffed is nearly ready and it’s a whole new sound. I’m singing in Ndebele and English now and I couldn’t be any more excited for everyone to finally hear a full project of mine.

I’m also dabbling in hosting/presenting this year and I’ll be presenting a few feature interviews for Ndebeles Connect. which I’m excited about, so look out for that.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Get to know

JE RE MIAH 22

Apart from being a great dancer and one of the most stylish young Zimbabweans. Please tell us a bit more about who Jeremiah is?

Age 22, full name Jeremiah Mapeta Kumbirai. I am a young entrepreneur by nature who strives for innovation and doing things differently. I am the youngest of 4 and also the one who has been left with running the family business alongside my parents. When growing up I was hooked upon watching a lot of anime which explains the wild imagination lol. Apart from the dancing and the fashion side of things the real Jeremiah is more focused on the power of the mind, my religious faith and motivating, influencing and pushing people around me to chase their dreams and to become the best versions of themselves. That’s my core and that is who Jeremiah is.

What inspired you to be a videographer and director? I have always wanted to be able to bring my thoughts, visions, and imagination to life. The closest way of doing so, was picking up a camera and expressing my vision to the world through it as a medium, the camera is the bridge between my imagination and reality and the more I use it, the better I am at projecting my visions to life, I always believe I see things differently to everyone else therefore what I create, direct and produce is a glimpse into my own vision of which people really like.

Challenges you have faced when it comes to achieving your dream?

First and foremost the biggest challenge had to be no one taking me seriously at the beginning. Countless times I would offer my services to people and be always turned down or rejected without even getting a

chance to prove myself. Another challenge which I faced had to be the learning curve of actually creating the content I want to create, a camera is far more complex than I ever imagined, however, I was determined to learn and now a couple of months later I am here.

Are you a perfectionist and do you fear to share your finished work at times and why? I believe in progress more than perfection, I wouldn’t necessarily say that I am a perfectionist but I do love to do everything to the best of my ability and leave no stone unturned. So I don’t really fear to share my work because I would’ve put my all into it.

How do you deal with procrastination and negativity?

Procrastination is the devil it is so hard to overcome but how I deal with it is just daily self-affirmations which serve as reminders of where I want to be and what I have to do in order to get there. Once you mix that with some strict time management of which you know you can keep up, you’ll be able to cut down procrastination a huge amount.

Negativity on the other hand, if it’s of any value and not just hateful I tend to let it fuel me to be a better creator, using it as constructive criticism more than anything. But when it’s nonsense I just don’t pay it any attention.

Feature Continues On Next Page |

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

As a visual artist, who do you look up to in the industry and why? I look up to a bunch of creators of which are a mixture of YouTubers and Directors. From the directors’ side, I look up to Cole Bennet (Lyrical Lemonade) because of his unique way of creating music vids with such animation and creativity of which just by looking at a video you know yup, its Cole Bennet’s work. Also other directors such as DAPS and JayParpworth I view very highly.

repetition is key! Just remember that whatever the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve. Also, don’t be afraid to put your work out there, note to self; no one will discover your talent if they can’t see it.

From the YouTubers side I look up to Lenarr Young, JR Alli, King Vader just solely based upon their creativity and how entertaining they are to the viewer.

What has been your most proudest moment so far as a visual artist? My most proudest moment so far most likely would have to be the opportunity I was given to film with Nasty_C when he came to the UK, it wasn’t just the opportunity which made me proud but it was the 30 minute talk we had with each other one on one away from the cameras and just exchanging knowledge and words which really highlighted the similarities we had, Making me realize that this is not just coincidence but everything happens for a reason.

So far with your career, what is your favorite video you have worked on? My favourite video at the moment, would have to be the video that I shot for KINTSU of which was a fashion campaign video for a very talented designer (Natalie) who hand makes amazing dresses, this campaign, in particular, was her Velvet Dreams collection of which was a dream to work on and the feedback was incredible. Honourable mention though has to be all of my music videos’s especially the SALTY (Nommie x Thobylee) music video that was a phenomenal video.

Any advice to other young upcoming future visual artist and directors? Believe in yourself.

Before anyone else believes in you, you must believe in yourself. Once you obtain such unshakeable self-belief and faith, nothing can get in the way because you have made that definite decision that you’re going to get exactly what you want even through whatever obstacles you may face. Train your mind and master your craft young creators,

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JEREMIAH | Say hello on instagram @mxpsfilms @JEREMIAHMXPS

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

CHANTELLE Fashion Content Curator | Stylist

What inspired you to get into fashion?

I have always had an interest in fashion for as long as I can remember! From when I was a child, I loved dressing up and took pride in my appearance. I decided to pursue it from secondary school right up to my current degree (Fashion Buying with Marketing.)

Others around me also encouraged me to start blogging once they saw my interest in it!

What is your favorite day to day fashion brand? My favorite brand will most probably have to be Fashionnova or Missy Empire Define the keys to the success of being a fashion stylist? How do you cope under pressure? I currently Identify myself as a blogger, however, I am most certainly not where I need to be in terms of styling as I am still learning and taking time to understand the technicalities of styling. A few things I have learned is to be confident in yourself, the moment you start to doubt your ability people will fail to respect you and ultimately find it difficult to trust your work! I’d also say that being a stylist is more than just being able to dress but it’s imperative to study the people around you and their sense of style. Once you master that, you’ll be on the road to becoming a successful stylist. In regards to coping under pressure, the number one rule is to be organized! Being organized is key, set yourself daily tasks and it’s okay to ask for help.

Biggest failure you have had. What did you learn from it? That’s a hard one! Life is never straight forward and it’s full of lessons but generally speaking I wouldn’t identify myself as having ever ‘failed’ in life as an obstacle that’s occurred has always worked out for my good (in the long run.)

In every situation, I try to understand what a situation is teaching me. Praying and handing all my worries over to God has made my life a lot smoother.

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Proudest moment so far as a fashion student and blogger? My proudest moment so far is having made it to my final year in university because boy it hasn’t been easy! I’m also eternally grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had with the brands I have worked with. I used to save money so I can afford to purchase some of the products I have gifted with now.

Define your style in 5 words? This is another hard one because I love prints, statement pieces and experiment a lot with color but at the same time I like to be edgy with a bit of class… does that even make sense lol?! So maybe: bold, chic, classy, edgy and sassy!

Which celebrity would you want to style or work within the future? Karruche Tran, Justine Skye, and Nqobile Danseur *speaks it into existence* What does a typical week as a fashion stylist look like? As I’m currently still at uni, a typical week for me usually consists of responding to emails, collecting any PR packages then planning future outfit posts in the mornings. On the days I don’t have uni or burying my head in the library, the whole afternoon will be dedicated to shooting multiple looks for future posts. Lastly, I will work on some virtual styling for my client.

Who are your favorite Instagram influencers? @BBXMBAF, @Romeosfashionfix, @Charlotte Emily Sanders, @Mariipvzz and @Sophinabull – If I am to define my style, I’d say it’s a mix of all of them!

What is the best fashion advice you have ever been given? “Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live” - Versace One thing you can never live without? My phone! I’m literally stuck to it like glue Any words of inspiration to other upcoming fashion bloggers? Believe in yourself and perseverance is key in everything you do. It may take you a while to get to where you want to be but don’t lose hope, everything will fall in place in God’s time. Continue to build your portfolio, your personal brand; also remember to network and build as many connections as you can.

| _@CHANTELLEM

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

MALILA @H ERVE_ MA L IL A

H E RV E 28

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Don’t give up, imagine a world without creatives, imagine not being able to share a part of your personality a gift given to you by God with those around you and the rest of the world. As a creative you have taken on the challenge to keep the world spinning, God is a creative look around you he has shared that with you so you can share it with us, so keep going, keep creating and keep sharing, one like means someone has noticed.

Who is Herve Malila, tell us a bit more about yourself? Herve Malila is a 25-year-old creative from Manchester, born in Congo RDC. I left when I was around 10 years old, I have been in Manchester since recently finished my Masters in Cyber Security and now trying to expand and build my Brand as HM-Visuals.

What inspired you to be a visual artist? I have always been interested in art, from high school year 7 I have always looked at Art as a way of expressing how I feel at that moment. It all started with poetry in English class, followed by art class till I discoursed photography in year 10, that’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do, it was like I’m able to be free when I create visuals whether its photography or videography.

Describe how life for a visual artist is like? For me I would say life as a visual artist is amazing, knowing you’re able to create content and people around the world can see within seconds is mindblowing, knowing you can inspire someone else to create that’s the beauty of it, we are creations that create.

Do you think it’s true, that who has found a photographer has found a husband for singles? This is funny, I like this, yes, I personally think my wife will be so lucky, she will have a personal photographer for all her social media and mandem if you’re a photographer just let her know all her pictures will be HD for the rest of her life.

Who do you look up to in the creative art world? Why? I have a few people but when it comes to creating, I would say ASAP Rocky. The way he directors his videos and the way he makes sure that his Instagram page is always quality that’s something that inspires me, I always look at his videos and try to recreate them or see what the thought process was for each scene, I watch the video frame by frame. To really understand and feel the creative art behind it.

this has a future, they believe because we have mobile phones that we don’t need photographers nor videographers, I studied computer science undergrad and cyber security for my masters, so to my parents that’s where the money is. Another challenge is building a foundation and having that support from those around you, for them to see what you do and be 100% behind you that’s challenging, staying creative is also the hardest part of it all. Sometimes you get creative blocks that just challenge everything you do.

What motivates you to keep going? The understanding that I have a bigger vision, I want to be one day one of the biggest directors in the UK, I want to be known as a creative genius through both photography and videography. I always say this “the beauty of photography is seeing and capturing an everlasting memory.”

What are you most afraid of? Getting your or not getting your way? My fear is not being able to create again, I truly believe photography and videography saved me, it allows me to express myself whenever I feel low, I sometimes create when I’m sad, stressed, when I feel useless. So not being able to do that or lose motivation for it scares me the most. It has become a big part of my life, I sometimes fear once I have my own family it may become a problem.

Proudest moment as a creative artist? Proudest moment was when I shot my first wedding, I was always afraid to take on big projects like weddings or anything that’s very important to someone, my fear was imagine coming home after shooting a wedding and all the pictures are terrible, that’s someone’s day, it only happens once. So, once I was able to create and go past that I felt I could take on any projects.

Tell us about the challenges you have faced in order to achieve your dream as a creative artist? For me it was convincing my parents that KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Falo Fabrics Fashion Designer Feature |

Can you tell us more about your design background? My design background is really sort of series of constructive flukes.

I began playing around with the design of my clothes when I received clothes that simply did not fit me. I started figuring out ways to make it work, I guess that’s when my brain started thinking creatively about how to make design work for me. Now instead of manipulating someone else’s design, I work with the ideas and inspirations in my head.

Why did you decide to become a designer? I decided to be a designer when I saw the freedom it gave me. The freedom of expression and the freedom to have things I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford Describe your creative process for us.

What steps do you take when you’re working through a project? I always start with an idea, I break it down into simple shapes, 2D shapes. Then I start to construct by adding or removing ideas that work or don’t work. I then move onto fabric I can play around with and see if I can translate the idea onto fabric. I then take that fabric and transfer it to paper (in case I need to recreate the design) then I do a process called “trueing” which basically means making the things that are meant to be straight or curved, curved smoothly.

What software do you use and why? I’m very traditional in that regard, I use pen and paper, I simply just doodle, I’d like to call it drawing but my artwork isn’t strong enough.

| @FALOFABRICS

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What software do you use and why? I’m very traditional in that regard, I use pen and paper, I simply just doodle, I’d like to call it drawing but my artwork isn’t strong enough.

Define fashion in your own words? I’ll go with the brand motto fashion reflects who we are.

Fashion is an introduction long before our words or actions can introduce us.

Tell us about a time when a client didn’t like your work? The first time a client didn’t like my work I have to say I wasn’t ready for it I had to keep reminding myself that I’m running a business. I’ve since learned that this is part of the JOYS of being a service provider. You have to just keep providing service even if they don’t like your work.

How would you describe your work and your influences? I would describe my work as progressive, playful and modern-traditional. My influences are from random stylist and artists.

I’m influenced by a number of things, but I won’t lie the accessibility of ideas and influence from Instagram is probably top of the list.

“I encourage designers or any other creative or people in general to just use the tools accessible to them. There are so many people teaching lifelong skills on the internet for FREE. You just have to want it bad enough.”

How do you manage your priorities? I have them ordered. I will always put my family first, then the things that offer me stability, anything else I juggle according to the deadline. I set deadlines and timelines for things.

What do you consider as the important facets of the fashion industry? I think being inclusive is something the fashion industry has to work at.

You’ll be surprised at how much impact fashion has on inclusiveness and self-acceptance.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style I have to say is extra. If it doesn’t have that one sneaky standout thing, it probably isn’t for me. I’m also drawn to color and have no understanding of the word minimalism.

Minimalist that could never be me.

What makes your brand unique? My personal style I have to say is EXTRA. If it doesn’t have that one sneaky standout thing it probably isn’t for me.

I’m also drawn to color and have no understanding of the word minimalism. Minimalist that could never be me.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Falo Fabrics www.falofabrics.com |

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KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

NATASHA Fashion Blogger | @natasha_.tee

What is your favorite fashion brand?

Zara! It has unique styles to all its designs. They cater for all shape and sizes for women. What probably stands out the most about the brand is the mixture of street and formal wear, which matches my style. I like to switch up my style and play around with my clothes and with Zara you are able to pull off any look. They have the best quality of clothes, which is very important when you are a blogger because you don’t want to buy cheap quality clothing. I see it as a small designer brand but highly affordable.

What keeps you going and motivated?

The love I get from people that support me on my Instagram! The compliments that l receive each time I upload a picture, gives me a great feeling knowing people love my content. Also, people that tell me I inspire them plus including their outfits ideas. My love for fashion also keeps me going, I love dressing up and looking good all the time.

What inspired you to get into fashion blogging?

Although I had an eye for fashion, I really didn’t see myself doing fashion blogging. It basically started off as I just started posting pictures in different outfits on my Instagram. I wasn’t really looking into making something out of it until I started receiving messages from people constantly saying that they liked my style. One time I posted an outfit wearing pink and denim, the picture went viral and I grew a following from that one picture. I also had my friends encouraging me to start putting my outfits on Instagram and then it all just started from there. The more I posted, the more I started to enjoy it, which led me to invest in a camera. I do believe I have room to grow and I am now trying to make something out of it.

One thing you can never live without? My phone, I use it for everything including; taking pictures, editing and catching up on my socials.

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Define your style in 4 words? Colorful, Classy, Street, and Tomboy.

What does a typical week for a fashion blogger look like? Probably trying to create content to upload throughout the week. Browsing through the ‘new in’ section of clothing websites and I tend to do it every Monday as the new week start.

Checking for exclusive emails with discounts and early sale releases, everyone loves a good discount. Trying and planning outfits that I need to take pictures in and finding the right location for the pictures. I am always in constant search of the latest fashion trends and new designs, plus new season collections.

Define the key to the success of being a fashion blogger? I’m still learning and have room to grow in the field. However, l would say being creative is a huge key and creating your own unique style goes a long way. You have to try and be your own trendsetter. You must be very creative with your clothes and be playful with your style.

Biggest failure you have had and what did you learn from it? I have self-doubt sometimes when it comes to my content, it’s something I am constantly working to get over. I remember when l started getting into fashion blogging, I really did not think I was dressing that good and my style wasn’t really nice. I sometimes I would take pictures in outfits and never upload them because of not being fully satisfied with them. I have held myself back from branching out into YouTube, even though l want to show more of my style and personality through videos.

I can definitely say I have worked on myself to be more confident because I wouldn’t have carried on. I have learned to just go for it and ignore the thoughts of not being good enough because at the end of the day you don’t need anyone’s validation. I have created a YouTube channel which is launching sometime this year and I have been doing fashion vlogs which I will be putting out. I stepped out of my comfort zone and I believed in myself and looking at my page sometimes gives me a reason for understanding how far I have come.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

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hat ignited the fire in you to become a makeup artist? I’ve always been quite creative, I just started experimenting in my early teenage years and the more I did the more I enjoyed it and found it to be quite therapeutic. Before I knew it, I was in love with the art that is in makeup.

What is the one product you can’t work without?

A good primer. Without good prep, the makeup will not look good, nor will it last so skin prepping is important for me. Everything else comes together providing there is a good base

Beauty with Taffy .

“Don’t leave the house without lipgloss, fluffy bending brush and blotting powder.”

Explain about your experience as a Makeup Artist, good and bad? I have found my therapy which is getting creative. It allows me to destress and it’s a good way of putting the use of any negative energy I may be feeling. I have been able to meet so many different people and just getting inspired by the stories of the people I meet.

Traveling is part of my freelance work which I thoroughly enjoy. Through sharing my work online, I have met so many lovely men and women in the beauty community who have helped and shaped my journey as a makeup artist.

The few downsides would be managing other life commitments such as education, relationships.

Being a creative and makeup artist requires a lot of time which can be a hard balancing act taking into account all the other responsibilities I have.

These downsides are not as highlighted because makeup is my baby and I feel so fulfilled so I ride through each experience with the assurance that I am doing that which God has created me to do.

If you could pick one unique product or service offering, which would be your favorite, and Why? I would say anything makeup revolution.

They are a very good brand with amazing products at an affordable price. As a student who is always broke. I am able to look good without having to break the bank.

| @BEAUTYWITHTAFFY

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What is the most important beauty advice that you can give? I would study your skin and buy products that work with your skin, not what everyone is using. We all have different skin types, and there are different types of products on the market to cater to different skin types.

What are the biggest challenge makeup artists have to face? I think the biggest challenge would be thinking on your feet and carrying yourself in a professional manner, handling different kinds of characters with grace. The market is quite saturated, so getting your name out there and getting people to believe in your work can be a challenge. Because of this consistency and hard work is important in order to break through and opportunities which will push your career.

If a customer asks for a style that you are sure would not suit them, how do you convince the customer to go otherwise? I would talk through them the benefits of doing a different style, I would be careful in doing so as with makeup, it’s not one size fits all. That’s the beauty of makeup, it can be interpreted in many different forms. I will input to the best of my knowledge but I am also openminded because the client might have a perfectly valid reason in wanting what they want. And as much as I would consider myself a professional, I am constantly learning, it does not stop.

What is the difference between applying makeup for a photoshoot and applying makeup for a party or night out? With applying makeup for a professional shoot, it is important to take into consideration the lighting you are working under and the aesthetic of the shoot. The could go from less is more to a full beat. With shoots, filming/ photography equipment can take from the look, so in regards to application, it is important to bear this in mind. In comparison to make up for a night out where the more important things are that the makeup looks good in person and is flash friendly. It all depends on the client’s desires so every situation is different, I would say there are no set rules as to how things are done, all depends on context and creative idea.

Your favorite memory so far as a makeup artist?

My favorite memory was doing my first ever bride.

It was such a proud moment and that solidified that I was made to do this. Her reaction to the final look and my ability to manage a huge party all by myself was something that I am extremely proud of. Being part of someone’s big day is an honor which I don’t take lightly so the first time this happened stood out the most for me.

What are your thoughts on women pursuing their careers than focusing on marriage? I believe that in whatever context if it’s healthy for you, you will flourish. Being single means you have more time to invest in your career but in saying that you can get married and have a partner who supports and helps you to be the most successful that you can be. It’s all about balance. I don’t think one is more important other, success is important but companionship is also important.

Any advice to other upcoming influencers and makeup artists? Be your biggest fan. Be committed and don’t worry about competition, if that is your calling in life you will make it.

Just trust and believe in your craft. Invest your time and every piece of work that you do, do it wholeheartedly. Be consistent and be patient, it won’t happen overnight but in due time, you will get to where you desire to be.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Nella Grace Blogger | MedPreneur

@thehundredhub @nellagrace

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What inspired you to get into studying Medicine and blogging? For me, medicine feels like a calling and not necessarily in that to become a doctor, its more about the overall healing aspect, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I see medicine as a very holistic field or at least should be. I feel as if the most important thing to people is their health and the term health is wealth is just so true, so as a physician you literally have a direct impact to people’s entire existence and the quality of their life. I think for me being a Christian, medicine, and healing, in general, allows me to exercise a part of God which has compassion for people and their innermost needs. I saw the impact of doctors from a young age as people who gave a lifeline almost. You look to your doctor to fix things, to fix you and I’ve always wanted to be a part of that and luckily, I also enjoyed the sciences and found it interesting. So, I set my mind to become a doctor and that’s the only plan I’ve ever had profession wise.

On the other side, I’ve also always been very creative. My mum is also a creative and I grew up with her sewing and decorating and creative baking etc. I remember being like 5 years old and making sewing patterns with my mum and knowing how to use a sewing machine at that age. So that part of me was also nurtured quite heavily. By the time I was 10 I was making my own clothes and scrapbooking and making home videos and websites etc. anything that I could do as a creative outlet I did. I was in acting school, dance, fashion, graphics, everything. So, it was only natural that when blogging became a thing, it was just another creative outlet for me.

What is your favorite day to day fashion brand? I really love Zara because I think anyone can dress from there. Whether you’re into streetwear or more classic fashion or quirky, you can get it in Zara. I also like that their items are not fast fashion, they are classic but affordable pieces.

“ If any students have str uggle d to g et into medical s chool and want to apply abroad, I have a consulting ser vice which helps pre-med students get i nto m e d i ca l s ch o ol in L ithu ania and I’m currently taking on students at t he m o m e nt (ver y l imite d spac es) for September 2019 entr y. If they are seriously interested, then please email: m d m e d c o n ne c t@ gma il .c om” Biggest failure you have had. What did you learn from it? Not getting into medical school the first 2 times I applied. I am actually very grateful it happened because I had the opportunity to grow from it and enter medical school as a mature student which I appreciate much more. I learned that what is yours will come to you and God’s timing is perfect and to trust the process.

How do you prioritise your university work and branding life?I have to be organized. When I don’t plan my week, I’m so unproductive it’s embarrassing. It gives me too much anxiety to have all my to-do list in my head, so I live by my weekly planner. I write absolutely everything I need to get done and then I schedule it for the week or month etc. I also find that if you don’t write things down, you are not as effective and efficient. So, I tend to write all my tasks down and separate them into ‘university’ and ‘content creation’ then I try to get 3 things done a day. Any more than that and it’s too much and any fewer means I’m not utilizing my time efficiently. I find that 3 main tasks a day are a good goal. So, by the end of the week, I’ve gotten a lot done.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

As a strong believer of Jesus Christ. How has he impacted your life and career? God is literally my life, I am nothing without him. And I mean that literally. It’s kind of goes back to the first question about why I chose medicine.

A part of it is like I felt strongly that it was my calling, to heal. But not the conventional way as well. I’m a strong believer in lifestyle and holistic medicine and I feel that we need more physicians who offer alternative healthy lifestyle and I felt God calling me to that. I also know God has called me to be a light on the platforms he has given me, that’s what I want to “influence” people towards, Jesus.

When I first started YouTube I was just kind of copying whatever I saw as the popular thing to do. But I really prayed about it and I realized my purpose in having some sort of platform. It’s not about being the richest doctor or the most famous content creator. For me, it’s literally about fulfilling God’s purpose for that time, so it definitely impacts my life and choices.

Describe your favorite Bible verse and how it keeps you inspired and motivated?

I don’t even have to think about this one.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

For me, this verse perfectly depicts how I live my life and what I see as my sole purpose in absolutely everything I do. I am motivated to live for God because I truly believe He loves me and died for me. I haven’t always been a Christian and I know what my life was like before I knew God and I’m so grateful that it has changed; hence I am crucified with Him and He now lives in me and I live for Him.

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Define the keys to success of being a Medprenuer and a blogger? Being hardworking and having the heart to help others. I think entrepreneurship especially as a medic but in general, is about service. You are serving others, that’s what it means for me to be a service provider. Find out how you can serve people and you will always be successful.

That’s how I’ve started and grown my business as a medpreneur and even as a blogger. I think it’s finding where you can serve.

What are your daily must-haves in your bag? Well, it’s changed now that I’m in my clinical years I always have my lab coat and stethoscope. A lip gloss/Chapstick because no one dry lips, amen! My phone and earphones because it’s devastating when you go anywhere, and you’ve forgotten your earphones! And lastly, my planner because that’s my life.

Being your own boss is an amazing feeling. What are your thoughts on female entrepreneurship and challenges? It is amazing being your own boss but it’s also the most challenging thing I’ve ever had to do because it requires so much self-discipline and motivation. I am driven and thrive with challenges but it’s very hard. I’m so proud to be in this generation though because we are a generation of free thinkers and go-getters. It’s the information generation where everything is at your fingertips and we really have no excuse, So I absolutely love it. Especially as females, we have so many resources now and representation in so many fields, could it be better? Yes, but we will be the difference, so I think the biggest challenge as a female entrepreneur is us. We need to get out of our minds and stop being our own worst enemies and think we can’t because WE CAN.

There’s a statistic that I read that females are more likely to not apply for a job if they don’t meet just 20% of the criteria (which means they actually meet 80%), whereas our male counterparts will apply for a job even if they only meet 40% of the criteria. So, I think as females we need to go for what we want, take more risks and do it unapologetically.

Words of encouragement to university students on the same path as you? University is only temporary and I very small part of your overall life so you might as well work very hard at it because you have nothing to lose and all to gain. That’s something my dad always said to me throughout school in general and it’s always stuck with me and helps me to push myself even when I don’t feel like it.

Your top 3 favorite influencers? This is a very difficult question as I love so many creators and catch me on a different day, I might give you different answers but at the moment. @Kristin Johns (Lifestyle) @Simply_Amia (Education) (IAmInAPlace) @Dinatokio (fashion) Thoughts on balancing your relationship and chasing your dreams? This is such a great topic because it’s a difficult one but also very subjective. I think it’s all about compatibility, patience and understanding each other. I’m fortunate enough that my soon to be husband has basically the same life goals as me in terms of our dreams. He is also a creative and entrepreneur. So, we have similar dreams or at least goals. He has had to be patient and understanding in terms of allowing me to go to medical school etc. but at the end of the day relationships are not easy flow and that’s where the balance comes. Sometimes you sacrifice and sometimes they do. But it’s important for your dreams to be somewhat compatible in my opinion.

When are you most confident? When my wig is laid! No, I’m joking (only slightly). I’m confident when I feel good about myself as superficial as that may sound. If I wake up and I don’t feel like I look my best, my confidence levels might dip a little but in general I feel like I’m a pretty confident person because It takes a lot for me to truly care what another person thinks about me.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

Samantha Allan Journalist | Presenter | Social Commentator

What inspired you to get into journalism?

From a very young age, I was always inquisitive! Very chatty and asked a lot of questions. So, I think I was just born to be a Journalist. But seeing Isha Sesay and Amanpour on CNN in war zones actually made me believe that I could be a journalist.

Because they looked like me and their job just looked awesome to 6-year-old Sam. Briefly describe the journey so far from beauty pageants to working for CNN? Like I mentioned earlier for me journalism was more of a calling and I knew that from about the age of 6 so everything I did the end goal was to go into journalism. So, I used pageants as a starting point! As I noticed that girls who did pageants, we’re confident in public speaking and comfortable in front of the camera. So, at 14 I decided I was going to do pageants for that reason! And the plan worked I built a little fan base and got more confident as a public speaker.

That’s how I got my first presenting job with Zim Entertainment as a teen reporter.

It was a great opportunity for a 16-yearold, but I knew I wanted more so I made sure I learned as much as could and got as much camera time as possible to create my showreel.

Though I loved the Zim community it was time for me to fly the nest, so I left Zim entertainment and started showing my material to other people, I guess it was quite impressive and I landed a few great gigs including working for Prince Harry and going to America.

What challenges did you face after graduating, in terms of securing the job of your dreams? As a young black immigrant trying to tell my parents I’m getting a Master’s in Journalism was a lot my mum got it, but my dad wasn’t sold.

So, for this reason, even before graduating the pressure was on! Despite going to the best journalism school in the country most

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of my classmates had jobs and I was still searching!

And searching and searching! 2 months into post-grad life I was going crazy and ended up applying for anything including jobs I knew I was overqualified for but even with that... no luck.

Some days I was getting 5/6 rejection emails a day! My CV was great I mean I’ve been working on that since I was 14 but for some reason, no one wanted to hire me!

Did you ever felt like giving up and why? Yeah, I felt like giving up! I did give up after 2 months of rejections every day I got a care job and stopped job hunting.

How did you deal with postgraduate depression?

I didn’t deal with it too well if I’m being honest!

It also doesn’t help that I was going through a breakup at the same time. My confidence at this point was at 0. So, I spent most days in bed crying and watching love and hip hop. Gained a lot of weight!

Then I decided to come off social media! As much as I was happy that was classmates were getting jobs it made me start comparing myself to them and that drives you insane.

LIFE AFTER UNI WITH SAMANTHA

So, I just isolated myself from the world working a care job just to get out of the house.

What was your reaction when you got the job at CNN? I was shocked! I don’t even remember doing the application as I was applying to lots of places every day but I’m pretty sure I sent my application an hour before the deadline then just forgot about it. So, when I saw an interview email, I was shocked! This was going to be my first ever job interview! Went for the interview and 48 hours later I got another email with my start date. It all happened too quickly!

Who is your favorite journalist and why?

I have a couple, but Stacey Dooley has had my attention for a few years! There’s something about her style of work That captives’ young people.

And one of my missions in life is to engage more young people in current affairs and politics. She does it so well with her documentaries.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

How do you stay up to date with social media and the news? The only apps I have on my phone are News apps so whenever there’s breaking news my phone starts going crazy! And I live breath and eat News! When I wake up the first thing, I do is go on the BBC app to see what’s happened while I was asleep.

Besides working at CNN, what else are you passionate about? I’m passionate about giving the voiceless a voice! I’m passionate about empowering black youths and pushing against the norms society has placed for use and I’m passionate about women of color breaking the glass ceiling. I’m a modernday feminist who Wants women to take over the world. Because we are amazing leaders.

have time to go to the gym every day let alone be in a relationship so if a relationship is a distraction!

That distraction needs to be cut off! Boys come and go my career and education on the other hand that’s all mine!

Would you pick your career over marriage and why? At this very moment at 23 most definitely!

I think your 20s are the time you’re allowed to be selfish and must be selfish. You can get married at 30/40 you can’t get to redo your 20s.

But this could change when I get older as I do want to settle down and have a family. But not anytime soon.

Best memory so far as a journalist? As much as I hate Brexit being part of one of the most historical moments in British history has been one of my best memories so far! Spending most days at Abingdon Green in the freezing cold looking for MPs to interview not fun for many people but as a journalist, it’s like a kid in a candy store.

What advice would you give to other upcoming journalist and news enthusiast? Network! Most of the opportunities I got was because someone recommended me, or someone told me about an opportunity. Your network is your net worth I try to surround myself with the best of the best! Most of my friends are journalists and those you aren’t are doing great things in their fields, so they keep me motivated!

Work Hard! Especially as a young black female I have to work 10 times harder than my peers and even with that you might not always get noticed but put in the work. No one ever questions hard work!

When are you most confident? I’m most confident when I’m in front of the camera! Haven’t done that in a while, I spend most of my time behind the camera producing and news gathering but learning to be patient.

What is your guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure is watching documentaries! I’m obsessed with them and can spend the whole day in bed glued to my laptop.

What is your take on being single and focusing on your career? For me personally, my Career is my life! Anything or anyone comes after. As a journalist, your schedule is pretty crazy! I don’t 44

SAMANTHA | Say hello on instagram @samantha.allan

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

What inspired your fitness journey? I wanted a work-life balance and something to get me fit.

FITNESS

C H AT

What is the biggest mistake people make at the gym? Trying to compete with the person next to you. I see people trying to compete with people nearby but what you don’t know is how long that person has been working out and their goals. Be your own competition!

Best foods to eat before a workout? Fruit smoothies, banana, and oats are my favorite.

Eat 30-90 minutes before starting your workout to avoid getting bloated or sick.

What kind of beauty products should be in every woman’s gym bag? Deodorant, hair ties, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, lip balm How do you know how much weight to be lifting? Always start with lighter weight and increase gradually so you don’t hurt yourself.

How do you pick the right fitness program for you? Write down your goals first for example how much weight you want loss or gain, get fit.

Then how soon you want to achieve your goals and is it going to be a lifestyle/long term, or you just want to do it for a birthday, wedding, etc.

After you have it written down then do a research of the best workout plan according to your goals.

Do you have to work out every day? You don’t have to work out every single day. Personally, I do workout 4-5 days a week with an average time of 1hr 30 minutes. But you know your goals if you want to get your results quickly and you have time then why not. Resting is as important as working out.

@ NATA L I E _ L E A R N S

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How does exercise help mental health? Working out can make a person and improve your confidence level. This helps reduce negative thoughts and stress on yourself. It also helps to sleep better at night.

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

SAY IT

WITH YOUR CHEST TMG RADIO SHOW | EVERY THURSDAY

How did three young guys from London start a controversial show on TGM Radio? You know what, we have these debates off air every time and they get very heated as you hear on the show. I (Junior) already had another show on TGM. So, I thought another show with the boys would be a great idea, so we went ahead with it.

There’s 4 of us by the way Hakim had another show on the station but we brought him on board too.

JUNIOR

What makes your show different from what’s already out there? The whole idea of the show is to “Say It With Your Chest” say things exactly as we do behind closed doors. No filter! That’s the main difference I think, these days you can’t always say things as you think them because there’s always a threat you will upset a group of people somewhere. Also, our range of topic vary we talk about everything you can think of. We don’t just stick to jokes or sex for example we speak about all sorts.

How do you gather content and topics for your weekly shows? We all come forward with different topics, things we’ve seen on the news, social media or just going about our daily business. We then pick the best ones together. .

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| @ MATOV U _ JUNIOR

MICKEY What personality and contribution do you bring to the show? I think a bring a balance to the show. If junior and Diggz were on either side of the spectrum I’d be in the middle.

What has been the most engaging topic on your show so far? Probably the topic to do with black women spending nearly 10 times more on makeup than any other race.

How do you plan on containing delivering the best content for the show? I feel we’re at our best when we discuss and share our views on the “normal everyday” topics you’d have in your living room, with your friend your partner your cousin or even your parents.

Social media accounts for people to get in touch Mycoolsuave on twitter/Instagram/ Snapchat

DIGGZ Do you think social media plays a very important role when it comes to the success of With your Chest? Why? Definitely, social media will be the platform that grows show.

Where you guys see the show in 2 years?

I see the show being discussed beyond our social groups.

What has been the most engaging topic on your show so far?

For me it has to be our International Men’s edition. We talked about issues men are currently facing and had a lot of interactions.

One word that best describes With your Chest? Informative Social media accounts for people to get in touch @withyourchest Insta and Twitter @GOL_Diggz Twitter @dondadda2012 Snapchat

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

YO DJ MEL

F E M A L E D J TAK E OVER

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DJ Mel, what inspired the name?

People think my name is Melanie or Michelle. But my name is Melissa, but I often use Mel for short. I tried to think of another name that would fit my style e.g. (DJ Magnificent ha-ha), but that didn’t work so I decided to keep it simple. People know me as the DJ Scientist most of the time. I DJ on the weekends and I spend my time in the lab carrying out cancer research in the daytime, it often surprises people because it’s pretty hard to do both at the same time. They’re two very different things. I want to break the assumption that people who are in STEM or work in STEM aren’t / can’t be creative.

When did you start being a DJ and what or who were your early passions and influencers? When I was a kid, I used to play a bunch of different instruments such as the violin, keys, and clarinet. So, I grew up around music, my parents also sang, and my mum was part of a funk band so it’s not surprising that I fell into the music scene. I used to listen to a lot of old school and 90’s hip hop because that’s my era. Also, my family always blasted funk and soul music every Sunday when we all had to clean the house. I started as a DJing at university studying my first degree in pharmacology and physiology

I worked as an event organizer and at parties’ people often handed the aux to me to play tracks.

That developed over time and then I decided I was going to take myself seriously, One of my best friends Kelly told me to make an Instagram a year ago and that’s where the YO DJ Mel brand first developed. The Yo is meant to be hype and express the energy when someone is trying to “Gas you up” like “Yoooo DJ Mel.” What do you consider to be the incisive moments in your career? I think one of the most memorable moments is getting asked to DJ for the most recent Davido show straight after his insane sold-out performance at the O2. You never know whom you’re going to meet as a DJ, and I try to take every opportunity to network and meet new people. I have met some amazing friends along the way and in the music industry, it’s all about whom you know and getting plugged!

Challenges as a female DJ? What makes being a DJ interesting to you? People sometimes think that I don’t know what I’m doing or how to set up my own equipment. I often get surprised looks when I tell people I’m the DJ But I kind of like it.

I spend a lot of time practicing and enhancing my mixing techniques and I still have a lot to learn.

Sometimes it’s good to be different. Being a DJ is interesting because it’s so diverse, I’ve performed at so many events such as in stores, clubs and private events and each event is different.

How do you see the balance between giving the crowd what they want and treating them with something new? I find that the best way to balance between the two is while you’re playing songs that the crowd is vibing with if you know the newer ones or different ones that would complement the mood that’s the perfect time!

me of a particular time, place or moment and I think it’s important to remain authentic. I don’t plan too much around my sets. I just play according to the vibe. I try to read the audience and watch the crowd reaction through each transition. That’s the process I use that as a guide for the next song.

Which genre do you feel strongest or relatable with? I don’t know whether I’d say that this is a genre, but I can really relate to Soulection. Joe Kay inspires me on a daily with his radio show on Beats 1.

Your best memory as a DJ? Best place you have played? That’s a difficult question I personalize each of my sets and each performance is equally as rewarding so I think that answer would be hard. I had an awfully insane time being a DJ at student accommodations though those parties are WILD! What makes you different? I’m a female DJ Scientist so I don’t think there’s too many of those. I’m also into fashion and I feel like I can try to make a change in the music industry and break stigmas.

Two DJs, you would recommend and feel they deserve their attention? DJ Buzgey he’s so underrated and he has an awesome selection of tracks! DJ I’m feeling is Mercedes Benson she’s dope, she’s into the future beats scene like myself and she knows how to get the crowd Gassed. Plus, DJ Complexion.

Say hello on instagram @YO_DJMEL

What makes you decide to play a particular record during one of your sets? For me, it’s completely random. Each song I play reminds KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

DJ CHAISE

FE MA LE DJ TAKEOVER

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DJ Chaise, what inspired the name? My first name is actually Chaise. When I first started DJing I found it hard to find a name that suited me and because my name was so distinctive, I decided to just go with DJ Chaise.

When did you start being a DJ and what or who were your early passions and influencers?

From a young age I have always been interested in music before I could spell, and I knew lyrics to songs. When I started University, my friend was a DJ and I would always go to his sets and watch him practice he would always encourage me to get into it. So, I finally did then a year later I got my first controller.

Your best memory as a DJ? Whenever I get a reload.

Best place you have played? Manchester.

Two DJs, you would recommend and feel they deserve their attention? DJ Skadz and Sham Steele.

Two DJs, you would recommend and feel they deserve their attention? DJ Skadz and Sham Steele.

What do you consider to be the incisive moments in your career? I would say being the supporting DJ for Unknown T and branching out into different cities like Liverpool, Leeds, and Stoke.

Challenges as a female DJ? I would say because the DJ industry is mostly dominated with males, and sometimes it’s hard for me to get the respect from other male DJs because I am a female, but this gives me the chance to prove myself. Also, some people who book me just like to put the name on the flyer, so people say there is a female playing but again this gives me chance to prove that I am a good DJ. What makes being a DJ interesting to you?

Seeing the crowd’s reaction when I play a song.

What do you usually start with when preparing a set? I make sure my setlist is prepared and then I listen to old school R&B with a rum and coke What makes you decide to play a particular record during one of your sets? Depends what event I’m doing if there are a lot of girls in the club, I play the female favorites like Ashanti and if there are a lot of guys, I usually play trap.

Which genre do you feel strongest or relatable with? R&B/Hip Hop

Say hello on instagram @CHAISE_S

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

D J LU C H O

G ET TO K NOW DJ LUCH O

DJ Lucho, what inspired the name?

The name came about around 2008 while I was at school in Zimbabwe. Those times I used to play football a lot. One of my teammates used to say I played like the Argentinian midfielder by the name of Lucho Gonzales, so everyone started calling me Lucho. It stuck to the point that even teachers at school used to call me Lucho, it even carried on to the family. So, it was just a longstanding nickname I couldn’t run away from and to be honest, and I didn’t like it at first, but I fully warmed to it. People now even think it’s my first name.

When did you start being a DJ and what or who were your early passions and influencers? I have been a huge music fan from time, actually, I’ve been a house music head for some time now.

I remember back at school me and my friend used to make it a point to see who has the latest tracks and believe me, I was always up to date. As for being a DJ, it’s something I really enjoyed doing as a hobby. It used to fascinate me how one person can make a night so memorable by playing music. So, when I left Zimbabwe, I downloaded Virtual DJ which is a DJ Software and I was only 19.

I started playing around with it. At that time, I did not even know what I was doing but it didn’t matter because I was enjoying it.

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Fast forward to moving to the UK. The transition from being able to make friends easily in Zimbabwe to coming here and hardly knowing anyone the days were tedious and boring. I used that whole time to teach myself how to DJ, at every family gathering I would make sure I was in charge of the music. I remember playing for my uncle’s surprise graduation at that time I didn’t know as much as I do now, but they really enjoyed it. I eventually made friends, and one of my closest friends Wilbert Ncube who is the other half of “Jungle Deep Events” had a DJ controller at the time so we used to hang out and practice. Eventually, in 2016, I decided to take it seriously, so I played at a Jungle Deep event and it was a great night and it made me want to do it more.

Funny story about my first Jungle Deep because this now close friend of mine didn’t really know me and trust me like that, he wouldn’t even put me on the line up because he thought I wouldn’t show up, we always laugh about it. For me personally, DJ Kent was the main figure that influenced my passion to play exclusively. DJ Kent made me want to learn, even more, used to tune in to his Ultimix show on 5Fm every Friday at 6 pm, that shows always set the mood for my weekends. I followed his work a lot; his music and mixes. As time went on, I started following a vast number of other DJs of the same genre like Black Coffee who I personally believe has been the global pioneer of the South African House Music genre.

What do you consider to be the incisive moments in your career? Playing for Jungle Deep, that was more of a leap because it came as a surprise to people that I could actually play. That broke barriers and brought a whole of opportunities for me. It got me much needed exposure and connections in the industry. Some which have been great and some which hasn’t worked out, but that happens everywhere. Working with Grillyard and now I will be working alongside Hardwest Music so more to come this year.

of other talented DJs out there so building those relationships with promoters is key but has been a challenge for me.

Dealing with promoters that want to exploit you and not pay for your services due to not being very well known. That seems to be happening a lot more, you will be amazed how much some promoters want to pay.

Another huge challenge is finding ways to introduce new music. Back then it used to be a DJs responsibility to introduce new music to the people but nowadays its more or less the same songs being played. Finding that right balance of new and old music is a challenge. No matter how good the song is, if the crowd doesn’t know it then you will not get the best reaction until the song is now mainstream. But I guess that’s the way the industry is.

However, in as much as these are the challenges for me the love of music that’s embedded in me will forever make me remain to play. Music is an escape for me, and I get to share the same energy and vibe with the crowd; those are the moments I live for.

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Challenges as a male DJ? What makes being a DJ interesting to you? The biggest challenge has always been getting the right recognition, it’s such a big industry and there is a vast majority KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

How do you see the balance between giving the crowd what they want and treating them with something new? This is possibly one of the challenges but guess it’s what separates a lot of DJs. Some are well known for playing mainstream and have earned their recognition that way and some have earned recognition by staying true to what they believe is good music. I believe if I love a track there’s definitely a few in the crowd that will feel the same. There’s too much music out there to be playing the same 30 tracks.

What makes you decide to play a particular record during one of your sets? Whatever set I may have I always plan my playlists, so will have a few tracks I know that have good energy or people haven’t heard in a while. In addition, then a few of the new tracks that match the vibe, but as I am playing, I tend to deviate from the playlist a lot; it’s not a structure its more of a guidance. Always important to listen to what other DJs play on the night to avoid playing the very same song.

What makes a strong transition from one track to the next from your point of view and how do you see the relative importance of establishing a flow versus creating tension through suspenseful breaks in continuity? To me a strong transition consists of a few key elements: Being progressive and seamless, avoiding the vocals clashing or beats, maintaining the same energy and the creative element of surprise. The best transitions are always the ones where you mix two songs that people wouldn’t expect, and it actually bangs .

Which genre do you feel most strongest or relatable with? South African House Music (Gqom,AfroHouse, Afrotech, Kwaito) Truth be told, I used to listen to House music all the time. It’s only through meeting new people I have opened up to listening to other genres. Now to be honest I can relate to any good song no matter what genre it is. I have learned to appreciate good music regardless of the genre. Trying by all means to be strong with all genres, versatility is key. That way you can remain relevant.

Your best memory as a DJ? Best place you have played at? Moments wise I think the stand out one was last summer, at the famous Grillyard; Midlands Number One BBQ spot. I had two gigs that I will not forget. First one was just a few weeks after Hard West Music released the Summer Anthem Uyibambe. I remember dropping the song during 56

my set, the reaction from the crowd was amazing and to be honest that’s the best feeling I ever got behind the decks. I had to reload the track a few times. Till today I still look back at the video yeah was mad. Shout out to Jettstriim for giving me the opportunity to rock the yard. Always will be one of my best highlights.

Warmed up for DJ Cndo & Dladla Mshunqisi, another moment at the Grillyard. Very few people can say that.

What makes you different? What makes me different is the ability to connect with the crowd understand their wants and deliver them, great song selection, also give a hint of new music and make the whole night memorable leaving my own imprint. Above all just share the sheer enjoyment of music behind the decks Two DJs, you would recommend and feel they deserve their attention? It’s really hard to narrow it down to two, I have seen a lot of DJs in the UK scene that are pioneers of the South African House genre. I have a few though some I know personally and some I don’t, but I respect and hold them highly as I have seen their talent behind the decks. DJ Standish is probably the Greatest in the UK and you can tell he loves his music and he dares to be different. Mixolis, DJ Fistoz, Judge Jo, DJ KhandaCool these to me deserve the attention and will remain in the game for some time. Shout out to all the other DJs I could name them all, but we will be here till next year. .

DJ LUCHO | Say hello on instagram @djlucho

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

What inspired Shack Tasty? The love of Caribbean food and culture along with the sheer will of expressing our hidden talent as a collective. Within the years we decided to do intensive research around the Manchester area in terms of Caribbean food shops and locations. The markets research helped us in finding out what the people in the surrounding area (Clayton) have and might need especially after a good or bad football match. I mean who wouldn’t want a bite after that.

How did you come along with the idea and business plan? The initial research helped us in finding gaps in the Caribbean restaurant market, we managed to locate an area in which there weren’t any shops and we started looking into vacant shops in the Clayton Area. This area has a ready market for food, with high demand as well due to the proximity of the Manchester City Football Stadium.

Why venture into Caribbean food? We ventured into Caribbean food due to popular demand within the area. After doing our market research we realized that the surrounding takeaway shops offer regular fish and chips or chicken and chips. So, in essence, we are bringing a change to the area, with Caribbean style street food and entertainment Whom do you consider as your target audience?

Our target audience would be anyone from the age of 10 to the elderly. We are surrounded by schools and one of the biggest football clubs in the world, we have made our restaurant an age-friendly zone.

Why Manchester as your official opening store?

We would love to expand to other cities as time goes on, Manchester poised a good deal in terms of location and demand, especially in the Clayton area.

We found the best location to start up something new with very little or no competition in the same industry.

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SHACK TASTY |

Challenges you faced and overcame before launching Shack Tasty? The most notable challenge would be getting things right in terms of design and the menu. Everything is done in house, so we had the challenge to bear for ourselves, its nothing to complain about because it is a beautiful process of learning along the way of doing things exactly how we want them to be done.

Whom do you consider as your competition and why? At the moment we are our best competitors, we believe in challenging ourselves in order to bring the best customer experience and satisfaction. I’m sure when we master this, we will have onlookers.

How do you plan on providing the best customer service and experience? We plan on providing the best customer service and experience by giving our whole to everyone that comes in no matter what age they may be, a warm welcome and conversations including finding out how our customers are doing will go a long way. Identifying our customers will also make them feel special and part of the business.

Describe the best dish/cuisine served at your restaurant? Our customer favorite is the Jerk & Wray nephew wings served with sweet potato fries and our in-house coleslaw. It’s very succulent and tasty, we hope to see you soon at the Shack!

KADE CULTURE | 2019 APRIL

@KADECULTURE |

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