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Ruben Ireland Dada Durianova Russ Mills Rich Grundy Lauren Davidson Made in China Banksy Graffiti Guide Slikor D*Face DIY Street Art
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Hit List Things to Do Galleries and Books Things to Eat
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King Blues New Sounds Album Reviews Gig Directory
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James Woods Marc Cater Decks Coolest place on Earth
Dragoman Bus Driver Chasing Safety Media Homeless Film Festival Puzzled? Famous Last Words
You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life, that there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad.* You know the feeling. When you open a newspaper or magazine, and there’s a story inside about something that’s happened, but it doesn’t add up. It can’t be the full story. What I hope you will gain from reading this magazine is another view on the world, an alternative outlook. One that is not obsessed with what is the latest fashion, who dumped who, or how shockingly skinny someone is. This magazine will bring you real reviews on current subjects in the world right now, without the sensationalism. It will bring you everyday talented people, from graffiti artists to metalcore bands, from graphic designers to pro snowboarders. Instead of celebrities, we will bring you interviews with those out there making a difference to the world. Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth.” - William Faulkner
*Neo
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Contributors Jordan Taylor studies print at London College Communication. He’s interested in street art, photography, going to museums, electronica, making films and videos, and anticonsumerism.
Priya Patel is a Politics student at Loughborough University, with interests in travelling, acoustic guitar, the beach, hip hop, horror movies, reggae and dub and people...sometimes.
Jon Stone is an Ergonomist based in Aylesbury. He loves science, the environment, extreme sports, futurism, technology, VW cars, botany, liberalism and the countryside. Got something to contribute? Wanna show off your artwork or graffiti skills?
Florian Culka, Sam Brennan, Priya Patel, Abby Mahal, Sherri Smets and all the Graffiti Artists that provide beautiful backgrounds for this magazine.
Angry at the world and want to share your opinion on a certain topic? Let us know! We’re always looking for contributors, just like you. For the people, By the people. Drop us an message at contributions@subvertmagazine.co.uk with your idea or artwork and we’ll see what we can do!
Editorial, Advertising and Subscriptions: Subvert Magazine, 16 William Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, Le11 3BX, England. Tel: 01895 3498 34 Fax: 0712093 34983 3 Web: www.subvertmagazine.co.uk Independence: Subvert is published by Freedom Press, for all those interested in finding out more about whats happening in your country at the moment. Distribution: Floral Distribution Ltd. If you have trouble finding Subvert magazine in the UK, please contact 0834 459844 or care@floral.co.uk While every effort is made to comply with Subvert magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Please reproduce and transmit this magazine in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any storage or retrivel systems without consent of the publisher. One year subscription price UK (£60). Euro $70 (with 60% off cover price. Registered at Stationers Hall Copyright. Direct Input by Unity Media Communications LTD. Subvert is published monthly, (12 times per year) by Freedom Press Ltd, UK. Subscription online: www.subvertmagazine.com/subscriptions ISSN: 1345-4507 © 2012 Freedom Press Subvert (established April 2012) is published by Freedom Press
Who would you say your influences are? There is an artist called Hieronymus Bosch. He’s a Dutch painter and he painted images of heaven and hell, he used his imagination. I like a lot of old renaissance work and stuff. I like to make old art into modern art. What type of tools do you use? I have all sorts of styles. I do portraits as well but the stuff I do in the street is just like pens and acrylic paints. Why Brick Lane? I do it in Brick Lane because it is a place where there are a lot of people and tourists visit and it’s a place that needs developing so, why am I doing Brick Lane? I’m doing it to make the place more attractive.
Postmodernism is potentially the most depressing philosophy ever to spring from the human mind. Lost in the pomo hall of mirrors, we suspect that we’ve reached an end in human history. The ceaseless extension of the frontiers of creativity is dead. Innovation is dead. Originality is dead. The avant-garde artistic tradition is dead. All religions and utopian political visions are dead. And resistance to the status quo is impossible because revolution, too, is now impossible. Like it or not, we humans are stuck in a permanent crisis of meaning, a poorly lit room from which there is no escape. Psychologist Victor Frankl identified patients caught in what he called the ‘existential vacuum’. It is a spiritual affliction. Your life feels utterly devoid of purpose. No path beckons. Bit by bit, a paralytic cynicism sets in. You believe in nothing. You accept nothing as truthful, useful or significant. You assign no value to anything you’re currently doing, and you can’t imagine doing anything of much value in the future.
More than half of Mexican voters want America to take a bigger role in fighting against Mexican drug cartels, with more responsibility taken for the violence that happens. America’s global policing in Syria has made peace unobtainable, almost as unobtainable as our struggle to get out of debt, with the data in the World Banks' global development finance report (2012) shows total external debt stocks owed by developing countries increased by $437bn over 12 months to stand at $4tn at the end of 2010. The euro is sinking lower, having hit at a four-month low against the dollar. Sinking even lower is our unemployment rates, falling by 45,000 to 2.63 million, since January 2012. The jobless rate has fallen to 8.2%, with youth unemployment down 17,000 to 1.02 million. Not jobless, is Banksy’s new piece of art; a young child labouring at a sewing machine creating bunting for the
Queen’s jubilee. However, everyone likes Banksy, so it can stay. Not staying for the longhaul is torrent website The PirateBay, that has already been blocked by numerous ISPs this month, with Virgin Media taking a DDoS attack not long after. Heart attacks could also be prevented if more people started taking statins. Suprisingly, North Korea have not been prevented in construction of its experimental light-water reactor in Yongbyon, which could help facilitate its nuclear weapons program. Security forces in Cambodia however did prevent a 15 year old girl from returning home, after being shot dead while protesting in a demonstration against the development of a rubber plantation on farmland. Also protesting, was an escapee penguin from Tokyo Sea Life Park who has reportedly been spotted in Tokyo Bay area after being missing for almost 2 months.
We stand at a pivotal moment in the human story. For 20,000 generations, our species lived in nature, taking our cues from the sky, the wind, the sea, the animals. We only entered into an electronic environment a generation or two ago. Now we’re getting our cues from glowing screens. We watch nature shows instead of going adventuring into the forest. We laugh at recorded jokes instead of joking around together and drool over internet porn instead of having actual sex. Slowly, we move toward a goal that Swiss author Max Frisch once described as “arranging the world so that we do not experience it.”
We are reminded everyday of the pitfalls of consumerism: images of 'underpaid' child labourers are often plastered across the media. Indeed, people have publicly demonstrated their abhorrence of capitalism. Yet everyday we demonstrate our unrelenting dependence on capitalism: the clothes we wear, the technology we utilise, the food we consume- these are all products of capitalism. Many anti-capitalists believe capitalism is an unnatural force. Yet through this system of currency and trade, human beings exhibit the most basic of animal instincts: the struggle to survive, the desire and duty to protect one's family, the pursuit and fulfillment of self interest.
return to a world without currency and trade and become self-reliant. Realistically, though, is this achievable? Are we willing to return to a slower, regressive way of life for the sake of rejecting capitalism? The arguments constantly regurgitated by opponents of the capitalist system include the aforementioned exploitation of workers in developing countries, the wreckless abuse of the environment, the sense of imprisonment we all feel as our lives become increasingly dictated by the large corporations like MacDonalds, Coca-Cola, Nike,etc. But who gave these monsters their power? We, as consumers, can say "NO". But we don't, because the fruits of capitalism are far too tempting.
The only way out is to completely abandon every notion of capitalism and
Abby Mahal
The global anti-capitalist movement is something that has the potential to change the way in which we live our lives and relieve the suffering of millions of people around the world who are exploited by the capitalist system. Capitalism is an economic system, and therefore only benefits a few (the capitalists), and is a system that is willing to go to extremes to prove itself. It is an economic system, which has somehow managed to control politics all around the world; surely it should be politics controlling the economy and not the other way round! We have been forced to accept a system that limits human freedoms, puts greater importance on wealth than anything else, causes environmental damage and leads to poverty, inequality and human exploitation, all to satisfy the greed of a few people. The list is
endless, and more and more people are coming to realize the damages of capitalism, which is why I hope that in our lifetime we will witness a change to the system. A change that will end all suffering and inequality because no longer will greedy and irresponsible individuals be in control of our lives, controlling what we are allowed to do, what we are allowed to read and watch, and what we look at on the internet. How can we ever be truly happy and enjoy life for what it is if everything that we are surrounded by is controlled by corporations or government? We should be free. Priya Patel
in recent times. Of course it has many reasons, but rise of c" rony capitalism" is one of the major factors. Benjamin H.: London
I have often wondered if another, because these few simple oil is the reason we are technologies keep us in a perpetual state not driving around in of consumerism, not to mention our hover cars or more computing abilities which have mancars running on aged to keep most of the western alternative fuels. Any society in a state of wage slavery. car that could hover with precision, accuracy Our monetary system can only take the and long human race so far, but to pe- riods of time would “A few simple get past our current state probably not use a combus- technologies we may need an overhaul of tion engine, or even rubber we know, not keep us in a everything tires for that matter. just our monetary system perpetual but our politics and our I have no doubt we could moral compass. state of have acheived these consumerism.“ This is just a small example technologies years ago, but oil and rubber are extremely lucrative and of how we could have expanded our make a few very rich. Imagine a world technology over the last sixty years, I'm of hover cars that are completely sure there are many more. automated you wouldn't need to pay road tax, They wouldn’t need roads and Greg Jones, 25 car insurance would be drastically Norfolk lower (granted it may still be needed, just incase), Our whole society seems centred around a system of wealth and power to which only a few are privy, We seem to have spent the last sixty or so years continually reinventing the car, television and video in one form or
If there is a profit to be made Capitalists will make every effort to realize it. If a technology dies it is because it has been abandoned by Capitalists who will only abandon something if it does not generate a profit. Not all the funds for the LHC came from physicists. Capital comes from Capitailists. Capitalists LOVE innovation, Globalization was initiated with a goal to they hunger for it, they nurture it. Don't minimize gaps between rich and poor, confuse government funding with Capitalbetween developing and developed ism. The government has been known to countries. But after more than 30 make unusual decisions regarding science years, it seems that it increased and technology. Don't post that to “If a tech- Capitalism's account. the gap further. The only gap it bridged is among the rich of Edward L.: nology different countries and also among dies, it is Devon the poor of different countries. The difference between the rich people because it Our inability to cope with the in countries like India and US/EU has been technology we have stunts our has narrowed significantly. The abandoned technological growth. Most people condition of Indian poor remained t know much about how many by Capital- don' the same (if not worse) while the of the utilities they operate are ists who built, function, and impact their condition of poor in first world countries deteriorated. The gap will only daily lives. This is why innovators between rich and poor in India keep innovating and consumers abandon and many other, in fact majority, keep consuming in their own countries increased significantly something respective camps. When consumin recent times due to globaliza- if it does ers start to understand what goes tion. not gener- into and comes out of what they Jayanta C.: then they will realize ate profit.“ consume, Northamptonshire the vested interest they have as stakeholders and will begin to innovate Capitalism used to stimulate technology, themselves, driving technological growth. but not anymore, as observed in many Sean W.: cases. In recent times, capitalism is killing Leicesterinnovative ideas if not coming out from itshire the ruling capitalist. The progress of science and technology is severely affected
The paradox can be lost on no one. We are enjoying unprecedented prosperity good health care, long life expectancy, secure food supplies, plenty of leisure and entertainment - and yet we can’t seem to stay happy. Until relatively recently, the singular all-consuming goal of most of us has been simply to keep on living, the find the next meal, to keep a roof over our heads, to protect ourselves from the cold and the heat and the wind. It was grueling, back-breaking, incessant, but it did give us purpose. Now that we have more than we could ever need, we are left to seatch for something else to simulate the stuggle. So we spend our time hunting for things we don’t really need, and we call it shopping. Advertisers get into the act by assuring us that their produce can make us whole again. But the relentless quest for money and consumer goods is just a pale stand in, one that widens the gulf between ourselves and our communities, and in the end exacerbates our sense of having no purpose.
words by Kalle Lasn
There is more printed information in a Sunday edition of The New York Times than the average person living during the Renaissance would have encountered in a lifetime. The information glut, the so-called ‘data smog’ hanging low in the valleys, calls to mind the bewildered student’s lament: ‘I don’t need to know any more - I already know more than I can understand.’ Information that arrives indiscriminately and is directed at no one in particular becomes a kind of psychic pollution. Lacking the capacity to sort through the crush of data, we are left with little means to judge what’s useful, relevant or important. And so, although life has never been more exciting, more stimulating, there are widespread complaints of numbness, of blunted emotional response - as if the part of the forebrain that feels deeply has been saturated or stunned.
Ann-Fay runs bigshinythings.com in her spare time. The main emphasis of the website is to showcase the progressive use of technology in art, media and culture, but it also looks at the unusual and the irrevelant as well as emerging media. “I don’t think that culture has changed per se - youth culture is always going to mutate and grow. But the tools with which artists and kids can now share culture with each other have had an enormous effect. Look at the explosion in sreet art blogs such as Wooster and Hacktivism: these would have been niche activities with limited channels for expression prior to the existence of the internet. Any period of political instability and the oppression of freedoms brings with it an explosion of creative exporession too: the Wooster Collective came out of the proliferation of street art in New York post 9/11 and the invasion of Afganistan. I guess the current explosion in tech and online stuff started to happen around 2001. Again, the current political situation has also given things an almighty shove: people have got something to push against.”
“There’s no one musician that I can name there are so many, But there are also loads that like to claim an urban influence when there is none: Lily Allen comes to mind. Music-on-demand services like iTunes and Napster are completely changing people’s relationship with music in a positive way: nothing is too niche any more and taste isn’t prescribed by those who are selling the must records. This is excellent for some types of music that wouldn’t get exposure outside of clubs or pirate radio.”
“Writers like James Kelman and Irvine Welsh have done an amazing job in writing books that read like real people wrote them.“
“It’s odd to me that people think that the current merging of urban and high art (like Banksy selling at auction) is anything new. Keith Haring and Jean-Michael Masquiat were doing exactly the same thing in the 1980s and their art still resonates today. I think that an artist like Wolfgang Tillmans does alot to represent his particular bit of urban culture in a truthful but visually stunning way. His photos of gay clubs always make me cry.”
“This is probably an age thing, but I think Trainspotting was the first film to portray clubbing in a way that didn’t make me want to cringe. 24 Hour Party People had a pretty good go as well. For a film that really gets under the skin of a sub-culture, Paris is Burning is still amazing.”
Being a vegan, anarchist, occultist, transvestite, heavy metalloving comedian, makes Andrew O'Neill an interviewer's dream. Forget the ubiquitous “how did you get into comedy?” line of questioning (which I do try and avoid where possible). O’Neill is currently touring his latest show, Alternative, around the country and, true to form, he’s been to some unusual places already. “I did Wells-Next-to-the-Sea the other day. The average audience age was 65. It actually went really well, even though the first thing I did was swear.” On top of the tour, he’s also in the process of writing a TV show, a column for heavy metal magazine Terroriser and is launching a new album with his steampunk band The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing next month. Like many stand-ups before him, O’Neill started performing open spots on the London comedy circuit while working a variety of day jobs from shop assistant roles to the dreaded street charity fundraising (”Really depressing work, especially if you hate selling things like I do.”) Having been obsessed with comedy from a young age – idolising Monty Python and filming sketches on his camcorder at school – he always knew he wanted to be a comedian but not necessarily a stand-up. “Eddie Izzard
really got me into it fully. He was a revelation. He's carved out a space for heterosexual transvestites.” Today O’Neill is 'off-duty' as he puts it. Wearing a black metal t-shirt, black trousers, a cut-off denim waistcoat and heavy duty black boots, the only hint of femininity in his appearance is the bright pink nail varnish he’s rocking. "I came out when I was 19. I found it terrifying. The first time I ever wore nail varnish in public I was on the tube and I went bright red because I thought everyone was looking at my hands. The way that men are constrained in what they can and can't wear is fucked. Women dressing in a masculine way is seen as aspirational whereas men dressing in a feminine way is seen as embarrassing.” “My interest in comedy is broad,” he tells me. “I do straight stuff and weird stuff and I feel like I’m doing things now that are more inherently me. There’s an extended, semiimprovised play about gravy in the new show and I think it’s my favourite thing I’ve ever done.” When he sits down to write, he switches off his phone and avoids the internet – so far, so normal. But if he ever gets writer’s block, he turns to black magic for inspiration. “It definitely works. Sometimes when I sit down and do an intense ritual, I can’t keep up with my ideas they’re flowing so much.” He started dabbling in the occult a few years ago, after Alan Moore (writer of Watchmen, V for Vendetta) told him he used ritual magic to aid creativity. “When you start looking into this sort of thing, there seems to be a process by which similar events or coincidences are drawn together. I don’t think it’s beyond the realms of science to explain it.” After ten years on the circuit, O’Neill is now big enough to take his shows on tour to crowds of converted fans. He is also just as happy playing small club gigs to people who’ve never seen him before. “To me, that’s what stand-up is and what I grew up with. Going on stage in front of a load of strangers who don’t know who you are and winning them over.” His career highlights to date include performing in front of 5,000 people at the Sonisphere Festival and hosting the Metal Hammer Awards with Alice Cooper. In addition, he’s won the respect of people he admires. “Stewart Lee, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman came to see Occult Comedian (2010 show) and they loved it. People like that inspire me to stick to my guns and make the sort of comedy I most want to produce. This woman tweeted after a Glasgow Stand gig: ‘He goes on about being weird, but he’s not as weird as he thinks.’ I am a vegan, metalhead, occultist, transvestite anarchist. Yes, perhaps compared to Crazy Jeff who lives in the bins I’m relatively normal, but I'm not exactly mainstream.”
The platform of social media is being used in unprecedented new ways, one such example is a new online documentary about the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), an extremist rebel group operating in Central Africa. The documentary is unprecedented, not for its educational attributes but for its capacity to use visual branding, merchandising and highly potent emotional communication to influence the viewer to support US military operations in resource rich Central Africa under the pretext of capturing the LRA’s commander, Joseph Kony. The Lord’s Resistance Army was originally formed in 1987 in northwestern Uganda by members of the Acholi ethnic group, who were historically exploited as forced laborers by the British colonialists and later relegated by the nation’s dominant ethic groups following independence. Together with the Holy Spirit Movement, the LRA represented the armed wing of a resist-
ance faction aiming to overthrow the government of current Ugandan President and staunch US military ally, Yoweri Museveni. The LRA was originally formed to combat ethic marginalization, but soon became dominated by Joseph Kony, a self-proclaimed spiritual messenger of the (Christian) Holy Spirit. Kony utilized his messianic persona to lead a syncretic spiritual movement based on Acholi tribal beliefs’ and extremist Christian dogma. It is claimed that LRA seeks to establish a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments, however its inner ideological mythology is largely unknown. In an effort to mobilize a large scale armed resistance, the LRA routinely recruited child soldiers and forced them to commit heinous acts such as cannibalism and mutilation on others who resisted to join the rebel group during their extensive twenty-five year campaign. KONY 2012 is directed by Jason Russell and runs just thirty minutes; the video has receivedover twenty million views on YouTube and Vimeo and it’s national support group on Facebook is said to gain 4,000 members each hour. The highly produced feature is narrated from the perspective of Russell and his attempt to explain the Lord’s Resistance Army to his infant son, Gavin. The video features footage from Russell’s trip to Uganda (prior to 2006, when the LRA was still operating in the region) and introduces the viewer to Jacob, a Ugandan boy who was formally recruited by the LRA as a child
soldier. Russell presents various montages of ethically diverse groups of students raising their fists in the air, sporting KONY t-shirts, and scenes of mass celebration in response to President Obama signing the S. 1067: Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. The bill was passed without congressional approval, and allows the US to deploy military forces in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan (at the consent of those nations) in pursuit of LRA rebels. The film further advocates the requirement of public support for US military operations in the region through forms of street activism, encouraging viewers to purchase Action Kits ($30.00) and posters ($10.00) featuring images of Joseph Kony. Russell then targets specific celebrities and US policy makers and pressures them to endorse the campaign against Kony. Perhaps most absurdly, Russell suggests that without mass public support from the American public, the US would withdraw its military presence from the region. The production targets an age group between thirteen and twenty-one, and uses a level of academic vocabulary appropriate for a young adult audience with a limited attention span; the narrator at one point even insists the viewer pay attention. The viewer is encouraged to form an emotional connection to Russell, as we witness unrelated footage of his child’s birth. The viewer is then subsequently associated with Russell’s role as a
nurturer to his young son, before shifting to scenes of Russell nurturing the Ugandan child soldier, Jacob. Russell is shown prophetically pledging to stop the LRA to the traumatized and crying young boy. The intimate portrayal of emotion in these scenes work to further incite an reactionary response from the viewer, towards the preordained conclusion suggested in the narrative – a mass mobilization of support for the US military in their efforts to stop Jacob’s source of trauma. Bernays’ would be beside himself. KONY 2012 is produced like any other sleek marketing campaign – instead of stimulating elements of self-satisfaction like advertisers would do to promote a product, US military intervention is justified to end an atrocious humanitarian catastrophe. The film also plays on an underlying theme of the White Man’s Burden, a notion that persons of European descent inherit a quality of guilt for their ancestors’ inclination for slavery and colonialism, requiring an activist response to finally correct the situation by “saving Africa.” During the Nigerian civil war in 1967, western media successfully used images of starving children for the first time to strengthen public support for military aid to the secessionist Republic of Biafra before rebel forces were defeated. This film attempts to purportedly “change the conversation of our culture,” however it remains a highly sophisticated refurbishment of pro-military interventionist foreign policy propaganda, dependent on dangerous subliminal messaging.
Furthermore, the film was produced by an organization called Invisible Children, Inc., who have been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for refusing to provide necessary information. The organization disclosed that only 31% of all the funds they receive are used for charitable purposes, with the majority allocated toward travel expenses and employee salaries. Invisible Children has also been accused of fraud and voter manipulation in a recent charity contest sponsored by Chase Bank and Facebook. Invisible Children has partnered with two other organizations to create the LRA Crisis Tracker, a digital crisis-mapping platform that broadcasts attacks allegedly committed by the LRA. On its list of corporate sponsors, Resolve lists Human Rights Watch and the International Rescue Committee. Digitaria’s website boasts commercial clients such as CBS, FOX, MTV, ESPN, Adidas, NFL, Qualcomm, NBC, National Geographic, Hasbro and Warner Brothers. While KONY 2012 attempts to portray itself as an indigenous activist
movement bent on bringing justice to African children, its parent organization is affiliated with the upper echelon of the US corporate media and a network of foundation-funded pro-war civil society groups with a long history of fomenting pro-US regime change under the banner of democratic institution building. According to Invisible Children’s own LRA Crisis Tracker, not a single case of LRA activity has been reported in Uganda since 2006. The website records 98 deaths in the past year, with the vast majority taking place in the northeastern Bangadi region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since December 2009, the eastern Djemah region of CAR has seen occasional LRA activity; the western Tambura region of South Sudan has experienced even less. The LRA has been in operation for over two decades, and presently remains at an extremely weakened state, with approximately 400 soldiers. Due to the extreme instability in northern DRC after decades of rebel insurgencies and Rwandan/Ugandan military incursions into the nation, it
remains highly unlikely that cases of violence in the region can be sufficiently investigated before concluding LRA involvement.
McNair on February 18, 2008, Vice AdmiralRobert T. Moeller openly declared AFRICOM’s guiding principle as protecting “the free flow of natural resources from Africa to the global market”, before citing The whereabouts of Joseph China’s increasing Kony are completely in the region as “DRC is one of presence unknown; he was last seen challenging to American the world’s interests.The crimes of in crossing between Sudan largest the Lord’s Resistance and CAR in 2010, according to unverified reports. Due to regions without Army have been docuthe complete absence of functioning mented in the past and LRA activity in Uganda, it are truly despicable government. It they becomes feasible that the US actions. Presently, the contains vast operations of the LRA may be planning further deposits of have nearly dissolved operations in the resource diamonds, and their presence in the rich DRC. cobalt, copper, Democratic Republic of Through AFRICOM, the Congo is difficult to uranium, magne- the United States is seeking a verify. While the pro-war sium, and filmmakers behind KONY foothold in the incredibly tin while 2012 naively call for the resource rich central African producing over US military to assert its block in a further maneuver to aggregate regional $1 billion in place in the conflict, an hegemony over China. DRC gold each year.” independent fact finding is one of the world’s largest mission would be far regions without an effectively functioning more effective in assessing the seriousness government. It contains vast deposits of of the LRA threat in the present day. diamonds, cobalt, copper, uranium, magnesium, and tin while producing over Nile Bowie $1 billion in gold each year. It is entirely feasible that the US can considerably increase its presence in DRC under the pretext of capturing Joseph Kony. The US may further mobilize group forces, in - Share and Support Kony if you support addition to the use of predator drones and bringing international criminals to justice. This targeted missile strikes, inevitably killing includes not just Joseph Kony, but others too. civilians. In a press conference at the House You have the tools within your grasp to make Armed Services Committee on March 13, your own videos, start your own campaigns 2008, AFRICOM Commander, General and get the word out there yourself. Don’t wait William Ward stated that AFRICOM will for someone else to do it. - Support Islamic Relief if you want to help the further its regional presence by “operating African people with Humanitarian Aid. Islamic under the principle theatre-goal of Relief is a 4-star charity and is offering combating terrorism”. humanitarian aid in several African countries. During an AFRICOM Conference held at Fort Over 90% of the money they raise goes toward helping the people directly. They are currently operating in nine different African nations.
“Jackal” and “Emmi”are just two of thousands of Anonymous actorswho have taken centre stage in emerging protests around the world. Together, the two of them also run the largest Anonymous account on Twitter, “YourAnonNews”, reaching over half a million followers. What does the internet represent? The internet is a crazy thing. Content can be made by anyone, ideas can be spread with the click of anyone’s keyboard, and anyone can speak out about anything. The powers at be, from governments to corporations and trade groups want to change this. Our voice has become too powerful. With the power of the internet we can do anything from topple governments to get a free education, but transparency is a word that puts worry in people of power as we have been built to believe what the MSM and their advertisers what for so long.The internet is knowledge, fun, boring, crazy, and “lolcats”. It's the only place where you can build your own platform with no money, or blend in and soak up information. The internet is its own world: where people interact with no question of cultures and no wars about physical boundaries. The internet is common ground for all of us. We log in without an identity and build what we want. It's the only place where you can learn about any subject you want – for free. The internet should be a model for a new way of governing in an off line world.
Do you believe “National Security” is a valid rationale? in control of their product and not the I hate it. They don't know what they are labels. As a person that loves movies, doing. The government wants the people books, and music and at the same time not to have a voice and that is where it gets very vocal about me pirating I have to say worrisome. The government is beginning to that I hate censorship and believe that all see what will happen if the people can forms of media should be free and open. As speak out so freely in an open forum. From Cory Doctorow put it, we didn't find our places like Egypt that has used social favouriteartist by blindly picking up a book media to help them organize the fall of or a CD. It was shared. We went out with their government to Anonymous helping friends had a good time, and yelled the organize the black out of a hundred or so lyrics out the car window. We fell in love large profile sites for the protest of SOPA. with the moment and the song was our We as a whole have a voice that is stronger soundtrack. The artist makes a couple than any law and our force as a whole can cents but I go to the shows; that is where create change if we just use it. I think this they make their money. so called "National Security" is a ploy to get the US into more “We as a whole How has Anonymous have a voice wars. If you want to look at affected you in real life? this way, you can say that who that is stronger Due to what is going around built it should have the most than any law us with the Twitter subpoecontrol of it at root level. Yes, and our force as nas and other restrictions to there are bad things on the a whole can freedom of speech, privacy is internet. There is a part of the create change if a huge issue. I don't hack or internet where kids are being we just use it” anything of the sort, but sold for sex, where you can due to the fact that I speak buy any drug known to man, or if you out, I'm a target. I go to great depths to need a new credit card number there is a cover my tracks online as I know I'm being place for that as well. The point is, the followed online and off line by law enforcegovernment aren't fighting these people ment. There have been law enforcement with the same amount of passion. They are agencies outside a few places that I have holding back and pointing to people that lived now countless times. It hasn't really are speaking loudly in defiance against the changed how I live, more than being aware government. of what is around me at all times. I worry about my loved ones more than anything. I How does Anonymous fight internet know why I'm being watched. I'm loud, I censorship? speak my mind, and I stand up for what I We will find a new way to get that song. believe. Because it's not the words or views And porn isn't going anywhere.I see why that the government wants, then I become the entertainment industry wants to a target. I'm just a person that thinks that protect their product, a lot of wrong can be changed with a few but at the same time solid voices. the artist should be
pausing every few hundred meters to be Countries such as Portugal, Spain and Italy sick as they stumble home, verses, have decriminalised the possession of all smoking a few joints, munching on some drugs with a positive result, although this crisps and giggling at the TV into the early is mainly in the reduction of HIV/AIDS hours of the morning. Then look at the associated with needle use. The production health problems affecting millions by a of cannabis is still illegal globally leaving perfectly legal liquid; liver and heart control of the supply in the hands of disease, obesity, aggression etc. Cannabis, organised criminals who care solely about on the other hand, has established positive profits. They don't care if you're 15, as long effects in the treatment of nausea, as you have the cash you'll get the stuff. glaucoma, lack of appetite, various cancers, Regulated sale could end this problem in Alzheimer's, spasticity, multiple sclerosis the same manor as alcohol and tabacco. and more, proving it to be so much more The drug policy of the Netherlands is such than just a recreational drug. And if that drug use is a public health issue, not a “medicinal criminal marijuana” “Cannabis has established positive matter, and is suitable that there effects in the treatment of nausea, for the is a treatment of glaucoma, lack of appetite, various distinction illness what cancers, Alzheimer's, spasticity, between is wrong hard and multiple sclerosis and more.” with soft drugs, physically healthy people ingesting it? cannabis falling in the latter category. The more open policy of the Netherlands is one We live in a world of science and technolof the better approaches to cannabis today; ogy and have the power to conduct giving people the choice. detailed experiments into the use and effects of cannabis. We now know it if far People should be allowed to openly use less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. cannabis in their own home as well as Countless scientists have recommended a cultivating enough for themselves and reform to the governments drug policy; close friends. Permits could be obtained to Professor David Mutt was even fired from grow and sell larger quantities of the government for his controversial report product just as with and other consumable and cannabis was soon moved back up to you would buy. class B. So much for freedom of speech. We can only hope for a greener tomorrow. It's clear that the phony war on drugs has failed. Despite the years of police effort and billions of Pounds spent, drug use has Jon Stone increased. A new approach is desperately needed. Decriminalisation would be a start getting society more accepting of cannabis but in the long run would not work as “criminals” are still in control of the drug trade. Full out legalisation and regulated sales would not only ensure quality control for drugs but generate many new jobs and revenue from taxation.
- Danilo Lim
We live in a world where consumption is everything. We are surrounded by advertising not just out on the streets but in practically everything we do, brands have slipped their way into our homes and into our minds. Brands have in many ways become the new religion, they are relentlessly worshipped by the masses with such loyal hearts. First it is important to understand why we have become a society that wants to consume. Consumerism has emerged as part of an historical process that has created mass markets, industrialisation, and cultural attitudes that ensure that rising incomes are used to purchase an ever-growing output. Consumerism rests on the assumption that human desires are infinitely expandable; if there are an infinite number of ways to be dissatisfied; there are boundless opportunities to create new products to meet those desires. But what does this mean for the modern day consumer? Why are we so keen to buy and buy and buy? And perhaps, most importantly what does this mean for our identity? Modern day consumption is something further than simply buying products that we need. Marketing has ensured that we buy products that we do not need but we want as they fit in with our perception of our selves. Modern consumers in particular strive to be self marketing minds feeding one another ballshit about how healthy, clever and popular they are through the goods and services they consume. Most products made by big companies are signals first and material objects second. The enormous growth in the wealth and cultural effect of multinational corporations over the past 15 years can arguably be traced back to a single, seemingly harmless idea developed by theorists in the mid-1980's. Successful corporations must primarily produce brands, as opposed to products.
The heart of consumerism is not materialistic, but semiotic. Branding is modern day advertising but arguably more affective. A brand becomes part of your lifestyle, it forms part of your identity. And that is scary. You know perfectly well that you will be seen differently for the whole day, depending on what you wear, you will appear as a particular kind of person with one particular identity. If we accept that within the confinement of a commercialised world we are influenced by numerous corporations in the everyday decisions we make about what to wear, what to eat and what to do, can we accept that our society is being shaped by the same people that sell us these objects and choices? Do we all live our lives as if within quotation marks? Our dreams and desires for a better world are no longer articulated by JFKs nor generated through personal epiphanies, they are now the intellectual currency of Pepsi and Diesel. We used to have movements for change, now we have products. Brands may befriend us, console us and inspire us, but the relationship comes at the highest price imaginable. The loss of self Through companies constant need for us to consume their products, we are starting to loose a sense of self. We are slowly becoming pawns of the corporations, identities are being made through the brands we buy and therefore we are being fed directly to them.
“Brands may befriend us, console us and inspire us, but the relationship comes at the highest price imaginable. The loss of self.�
We have how and what we should consume instilled upon us from an early age. Branding is in fact so instilled upon us that we follow it with an almost religious devotion. The very world we live in is becoming less and less real. We no longer live our lives but rather reenact what we are told to by the images we see surrounding us propagated by the media. Our very sense of selves is no longer real. We blindly consume. Consumption is a part of western society which I do not believe we can change. It is something that is instilled upon us from such an early age that to break this habit would be difficult, if not impossible. However I see the fact that it is in some way shaping our identity and the very space we live in to be extremely problematic, if not dangerous. I believe consumerism should be taught in schools and within the home. We must learn from an early age that the images given to us by media are purely staged in order to encourage us to spend money and should not begin to form part of who we are. We must also be taught that if you prefer a certain brand it does not reflect who you are, it is simply a way to cipher more money out of your pocket. A product is not a lifestyle. After all if we do not have an identity built on grounds based on more altruistic aspects of our society then what hope do we have? Jordan Taylor http://se173ad.tumblr.com
Produced by Martin Scorsese and co-directed by Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks, this meditative documentary examines humanity's currently crucial crossroads between self-wrought runaway consumption, rapacious economics and natural resource exhaustion through the prism of technological progress. The visually impressive Surviving Progress analyzes what it will take to dodge a global collapse that is priced into the future thanks to short-sighted past and present mistakes.
A documentary exploring Nasheed's campaign to reverse climate change in order to save the low-lying Maldives from being swallowed by inevitable sea rise. The Island President award-winning political and environmental intrigue manages to capture the consciences of its viewers, critics and even his own country.
Given all of the fearsomely mounting resource shortages we're facing, alternative energy should instead be called necessary energy. And wind power is one of its promising components, despite the fact that it's capable of tearing communities apart, for good and bad reasons. Released in February, Laura Israel's visually impressive feature documentary Windfall analyzes its potential for profit at the expense of the people it is purportedly trying to wean off of fossil fuels with no future.
Director Bryan D. Hopkins' independent documentary Dirty Energy attempts to examine the Deepwater Horizon oil spill's human aftermath by watching as the region's inhabitants struggle to put their lives and livelihoods back together in the shadow of economic turmoil and health risks the rest of us too easily ignore.
After bidding on 14 parcels of pristine Utah public land near national parks and landmarks during a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction, Tim DeChristopher was taken into custody by federal agents and sentenced to two years in prison. Bidder 70 tells the compelling, infuriating tale of DeChristopher's conscientious civil disobedience, and the ludicrous legal ruling that has kept him behind bars for longer than anyone involved in the Deepwater Horizon spill or the global economic recession, tragedies much more deserving of judicial overreach.
Chasing Ice follows acclaimed National Geographic photographer James Balog to the Arctic in search of something that won't melt away before our eyes. Balog's project to photograph the region's warming climate is not called the Extreme Ice Survey for nothing. For the last five years, it has mounted 30 timelapse cameras across three continents to chronicle the jaw-dropping loss of Arctic sea ice, drawing a sharp, immediate focus on the ramifications of that nearly unprecedented warming.
Chasing Ice may be a more wide-ranging documentary analysis of the entire Arctic region, but it is To the Arctic's tale of a mother polar bear and her twin cubs that is getting the 70mm IMAX treatment this April. It's also boasting narration from Meryl Streep, as well as songs from Paul McCartney, in case you were looking for further pop crossovers. But this is not to say that To the Arctic is a lightweight crowd-pleaser.
A long-time poster child for the failure of public-policy planning and urban renewal, St. Louis' ambitious Pruitt-Igoe housing project opened its doors in the mid-'50s and was spectacularly demolished by 1968. (That iconic demolition was included in the cult film Koyaanisqatsi.) But now that our new century has experienced the ravages of unsustainable suburban sprawl and a predictably collapsed housing market, PruittIgoe's primary example of modernism's architectural death is undergoing a suitably postmodern reevaluation.
Ruben Ireland
ddhappytrouble@gmail.com
1; Designated Riot Area, 2&3; Banksy Peace Boards, 4; Placard Rat, 5; Photographer Rat, 6&7; Banksy Placard & Photographer Rat, 8; Girl with Balloon,
9; Buried Treasure! 10; Banksy Smiley Copper 11; Gangsta Rat 12&13; Umbrella & Saw Rat 14; This is not a photo opportunity 15; White Line 16&17; Mortar Rats 18; Diving Person 19; ‘Help Me’ Rat 20; Monkey, detonator & bananas 21; Snorting Copper 22; Designated Picnic Area 23&24; Gangsta & Writing Rat 25; Giant Rat head & Question mark
1; Placard Rat 2; Cash Machine (Robot arm with girl) 3; Pensioners with Ghetto Blaster 4; What Child? 5; Moreland Primary School 6; Grin Reaper 7&8; Placard Rat 9; Placard Rat: ‘London Doesn’t Work’ 10; Welding Rats
11; Gangsta Rat 12; Microphone Rat 13; Smiley Copper 14; Radar Rat 15; Banksy Tag 16; Umbrella Rat 17; Happy Chopper 18; Massive Rat & a TV out the window 19; Flying Choppers, Grin Reaper, Waiter Rats & a feature from D*Face
“I’m an artist based in Australia. But what’s happened is that I’ve actually done a large overlying journey through Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, then into Pakistan where I had a solo exhibition, I was working for an NGO there as well. Then to Iran where I collaborated with another artist. Then into Turkey, I’m going back there to do a live painting and I’m just kinda here just relaxing actually! Yeah, this is what I do as a break. Big walls and kinda, yeah… [laughs] Spend a lot of time and energy.” How old were you when you realised your passion? “I think most people who do it… there’s this misconception about I guess even street artists and especially typical graffiti writers that you have to a little bit criminal or something like that. But I think to be interested in it in the first place you have to be a little bit creative, I was always drawing as a kid, and when I was a kid I wanted to be an artist or whatever. But graffiti itself? I got interested around ‘98, when I did my first piece. I was actually just sketching on a bus, like in high school there was all these graffiti writers and the best graffiti writer in my high school would be sitting behind me and one day he poked his head over and said “Oh, those are really good, you should come with me.” and I was like, “Oh my God, this guy wants to take me painting!” and yeah, he took me to do a piece and it’s just been history since then!”
Do you have any influ ences, any particular art style or movement? “If you wanna do something different because it is something that a lot of people do, you need to try and be original, you need to come up with something innovative, I guess in post-modernity, that’s a difficult thing to do. But I guess in terms of just creativity, I love some film directors, like Michelle Gondree. I like Charlie Coughman; the script writer, cos I think just to do creative work is a challenge. And as far as visuals? I guess I love the works of Francis Bacon and Dali; that kinda of surreal sort of stuff, so really like big things away from graffiti. As far as graffiti goes, theres like a lot of influences, anybody whose innovating, anyone whose doing things with a lot of energy behind them. There’s this guy from Australia, called Sophis, my style is totally different to his, but you see his work and it just has so much energy behind it and he produces so much and I guess that’s a big inspiration. “
All I really wanted to do was skate and doodle. Even when I was studying for a design and illustration degree I was always doing my own stuff outside the course. When I got an illustration and design job I was immediately frustrated. It was meant to be creative, but it wasn’t what I’d spent the last five years building up to do. So I spent all my free time using the vast facilities that these agencies offered - like unlimited photocopying and art supplies. For free. And because I was bored, and it was a bit of fun, I would paste up my work on the way home. But this was in 1998 or 1999, before anything was labelled ‘street art’. I mainly worked on stickers at first because there was another guy in the office who i’d work and doodle with, and he was into the same stuff as me. At the end of the day we’d screw up the piles of doodled paper, but I figured that if I started drawing them in vinyl I could stick them up in the street. The first characters were called INSTANT and were like buttons and toggles and switches - it was about having everything at the press of a button. I felt disheartened with the material nature of the creative industry so perhaps these stickers were a reaction to the work I was doing at the agency. I drew up a character that would fit symmetrically into the shape of a six-foot bus box marked on the road by a bus stop and the D*Face square head character was born, just because it fitted in there nicely. I chose the bus boxes as my canvas, my billboard, because they were really visible. I wanted to link the routes I took through the city, so instead of getting a bus from work to the station or to the pub I’d walk, and get as many boxes as I could on the way. And the next time I went that way I would try and finish off the route. In times they became a visual reminders of where I’d been across London, it was as simple as that. I didn’t know that anyone was paying any attention to my work, and I didn’t care because it was just idle self-indulgent fun.
Each month we will bring you a new DIY guide to doing something awesome and creative, from how to tie-dye your clothes to how make pallette furniture. This month we wanted to try our hand at some street art, so we team up with pro-skiier, Sam Brennan and head down to Leake Street (aka Banksy’s Tunnel - an awesome graffiti spot, make sure to check it out!)
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images of like James Blunt or something like that. So we found it impossible to get gigs or a demo. So we just used to go round at night and kick in abandoned buildings and take over the buildings and use them for positive purposes and people would come down to party. They weren’t even there to see us. There were just there to party. But eventually word of mouth started to spread the word quite quickly. What should schools be teaching the young of today? Oh gosh. Ummm. I mean that’s assuming that schools should exist and that it’s right to send everybody to learn the same things that are set out by the government. I think it’s vital that people do start to learn life skills and the fact
The King Blues are a punk rock band from London, England. Fusing together a unique sound of ska and folk with punk influences, including Public Enemy, The Clash, Black Flag and Minor Threat. Their third album was released in April 2011, and sadly the announced their break up earlier this year. We talk with lead singer Jonny ‘Itch’ Fox, and things turn political. What are the earliest influences you can remember? I remember listening to ‘It’s so easy’ by Guns N’ Roses and in the middle it breaks down and he just goes, ‘I see
you standing there. You think you’re so cool. Why don’t you just fuck off’. When I was a kid it was just the most amazing thing to me because I had never heard swearing on a record before and I just remember it being my first taste of rebelliousness through music. How did the band get together? Well it started off originally as just Jamie and I. It was just two kids with an acoustic guitar and we wanted to play in the punk scenes so we’d go up to punk rock places saying we wanted a gig. And when you’re two kids with an acoustic guitar it conjures up
that politics isn’t on our curriculum is absolutely incredible and I think that a lot of the root cause of problems such as drugs and teenage pregnancy comes from a misunderstanding of politics. It should be addressed a lot more in schools. Do you think the voting age should be lowered? I personally don’t believe in voting as a system. We have a two party rule in this country and there is a two party rule in America. The parties are very similar and the policies are very similar. I think it is a bit patronising to give people the choice and say you can have this or you can have that. However, they are both the same and they both work in our favour but they don’t actually help out the people. How long can this system sustain itself for? All we’re seeing is environmental destruction. The poor get poorer and the rich get richer we are seeing a massive divide. We are going through a recession finally seeing capitalism in its very nature seeing winners and losers those who will win off it and those who are born to be in charge and those that are born to work and those countries that will have their natural resources raped from them. I don’t think it is a case of having the age of voting changed but to do away with the system. I think it is inevitability.
What should the government do about homeless people? I think that the class system as a whole needs to be looked at again. They wake up homeless people and pour water down where they sleep so they can’t return. It is basically treating people like vermin. Like treating people like roaches. I think when the government says to people that we shouldn’t be giving money to beggars is wrong - we should be giving it to homeless people. It is saying that homeless people are irresponsible. There are a million reasons why people are homeless. It pisses me off that people think it is purely because they are irresponsible with money or drug issues or alcohol issues. These issues do exist I am not saying that they don’t exist on the street they do, but at the same time it is like many other reasons why people are out on the street. What the government needs to be doing is giving real alternatives to these people.
Sadly, shortly after the interview took place, the King Blues announced their departure. Itch released this statement: "It is with great sadness and very heavy hearts that we must inform you, that as of today The King Blues are no more. We are all immensely proud of our body of work. We will be releasing the last The King Blues album entitled 'Long Live The Struggle' as the final chapter. The album will be released in early July 2012. We simply feel we have taken things as far as they can go and it would be unfair on you if we were to go through the motions like so many other artists do. We all believe strongly in what The King Blues stands for"
Tell us a bit how the band started? The band started in my garden in 2009 after my previous band fell apart. Me, Ryan and Josh all wanted a heavier project, we recruited Arron from school and we met Dan through a mutual friend.
Julian Murray, bassist in Despite my Deepest Fear, a metalcore band haling from North-West London, gives us the latest! Describe your sound for those who aren’t familiar with your music. Well for people that know what metal is the best way to describe it is 'Metalcore'. If you're not into metal at all then it's probably going to be the heaviest thing you've ever heard, but it's not actually that heavy...It's just very melodic, fast paced and has catchy choruses that you can sing along to.
Where is the band at now? At the moment we're in that place where we're in desperate need of management or a label. We've been on the underground circuit for almost 3 years and I'd say we're one of the biggest underground metal bands in the UK. We've got a lot of cool stuff coming up though, hopefully that'll open some doors for us. How has it been since Dan left the band? It sucked that Dan had to leave, I always thought it would just be the 5 of us as we always got on so well, but his circumstances changed and we can't prevent that, we still see him literally every week and go for drinks or hang out. As for effecting the
band itself we've just been slowed down in the process, we've almost fixed that though. What’s been the best moment of being in DMDF? Ahhh so many, being played on Radio 1 in the middle of the day...TWICE! that was amazing. People coming up to us after shows asking for photos or signatures is the greatest thing ever. You’ve done pretty well for an unsigned band, with nearly 20,000 facebook fans, any advice for those inspired to form a band? Yeah we've marketed ourselves really well and with no form of management either! I think if you really want to start a band and you want to be taken seriously then you need to do the following; - Be prepared to spend A LOT of your own money, DMDF is doesn't pay for itself, we've had to pump our own cash in since day 1 and we still do even now, it's a big financial commitment.
- Buy good/reliable equipment. Don't just go to a music shop and buy the cheapest stuff you can, it won't sound good, do your research online or ask other bands what they use. - Get good recordings. The amount of bands I've heard where it sounds like they've recorded their demos on a phone is astounding. People will take you seriously if you actually fork out and get some good tracks. - Be prepared for people hating what you do. You can't please everyone, we've had people say some really nasty things about us and it's not even to do with the music, just take it as a compliment as obviously you've affected their lives enough for them to complain about you. What bands are you listening to at the moment? At the moment I'm completely loving; The Amity Affliction, Memphis May Fire and My Ticket Home.
Samiad are Ian Heath and Phill Jarram, a duo that have developed a reputation for rocking parties with their dynamic, explosive and engaging DJ sets. The duo came onto the scene in 2006, when asked to provide an alternative music style for a room in a local house/electro night. Soon, they gathered a strong local following and have played at various nights and clubs across the UK. check out samiad @ soundcloud.com/samiad-1
want to sound like that!’ I just try and play something interesting that works with the songs.
check out DMdf @ www.facebook.com/dmdfuk
Describe your sound for those who aren’t familiar with your music. Crang: Like a mischievous child who has just discovered the joy of jumping in piles of autumn leaves. Cullum: It sounds like Crang has turned the distortion up too high again... I think originally we were trying to play blues rock but we didn’t actually end up sounding like that. It’s quite riff heavy, distorted rock. Who are your influences? Crang: Nirvana, White Stripes, Pixies, Black Keys and I suppose early Kings of Leon Cullum: I’m pretty new to drumming, so I’m not really a stage where I can say, ‘I
Tell us a bit about how the band started? Cullum: I’d heard that Will could play the guitar; and Crang and I used to jam together after nights out sometimes. Eventually we decided to have a sober jam and at a time that wouldn’t piss off the neighbours so much. Leverick: I sat on a bike and serenaded Tom with my Pink Floyd knowledge and the other Tom used to come round and make a mess and noise in my house so it was only natural we play in a band. Where is the band at now? Crang: Well we've been gigging mostly around the Midlands for around 18 months now, but we're sorting out some more recordings soon so will
hopefully be able to branch out a bit more. Cullum: We recently played at Freefest, an outdoor music festival at Loughborough University, and in June we’ve got a gig lined up at the Orange Tree Loughborough. What bands are you listening to at the moment? Cullum: TV on the Radio, The Black Keys, Patrick Wolf’s older stuff, LCD Soundsystem and Ratatat Leverick: I've been watching documentaries on black metal today, so have been listening to Burzum. Also, XXYYXX, Pond and Entrance. Crang: All sorts really, the last album I played was the Beatles' White Album.
check out Dead Leaves @ www.facebook.com/ deadleavesuk
‘Everything’ gets straight to the point, within the first 4/4 the track is in the main vibe. ‘Eveerrreethaang‘ is vocalized over pitching 808s for the majority of the track along with bustling pads. Just after the breakdown, xxxy shows why he is a truly electric selector, creating a nostalgic vibe with 90’s house piano work, while simultaneously fattening up the bass. Following the same archetype as ‘Everything’, ’I Know This Can’t Be Love is one of those tracks that becomes an instant talking point. The effortless, modulated Juno synth works seamlessly with a sub that bursts in and out. This one’s definitely a sharer and creates a mouse click effect that causes you to press replay without realizing. A sign of a good track no doubt? ‘I Can’t Stop’ may be the B-side to ‘Everything EP’ but it definitely follows suit with its’ impressive synths that swathe a metronomic hub that creates a contagious head sway. 6 minutes is just not enough.
If these three tracks still haven’t got you feeling satisfied, check out ‘Ordinary Things’ – not on the ‘Everything EP’, but a track that summed up xxxy’s recent set at 51°27”, a Bristol based night. What makes this classic track so eargasmic isn’t the individual layers, but how electively they are merged together; the arpeggiated chords flow through the tracks’ midpart, tossing and turning until this badboy blows up like a Gloucester Road riot. This comes complete with a joyous “Whoo!” sample to let you know that while you’re feeling the beats, there is something special happening. xxxy creates a vibe that is an infectious, perfection of the 4/4; working with retro cuts and fresh material from the likes of Jacques Greene and Kingdom, blending it all with his own productions. This is a seriously exciting producer, with proof of this in the way the crowd at 51°27” swelled as his set went on.
A combination of both original productions and remixes on the second side of the release is the main focus here. Most Machinedrum fans will feel a little aggrieved with the three previously released tunes appearing here, as all of them sound seemingly removed from the extension of Stewart’s sound between the release of Sacred Frequency EP and Room(S). ‘TMPL’ however is an off-cut of Room(S) and sounds fresher and more accessible. A half-step swing at dubstep tempo places the vibe in 2009 when the more techier sound of the genre became prevalent, yet Stewart’s woozy pads and uplifting yet subtle transitions place it firmly in the present. Of the newer tunes, ‘Mondo Cane’ utilizes an Amen break at a slow tempo lending to a nice swing feel and progresses with echoed voices and nearly overwhelming synths which disperse in and out of the arrangements at perfect intervals. However it’s the last of the three
exclusive originals ‘From Now On’ that really strikes a chord. An accessible yet fresh beginning includes insistent drums in a pseudo-juke rhythm and contains low pitch bass wobbles which stay the right side of dubstep. It’s not until just after a minute and a half though that the track then forms a new life. Jungle drums enter the fray yet in equal measure so do Stewart’s signature angelic pads and an intriguing cut up vocal sample. A minute later the vocal finally opens up more and reveals itself hilariously, yet incredibly, as a sample of DB Boulevard’s eurodance hit ‘Point Of View’. After that realization the listener hears elements of that original 2002 song interspersed through the arrangement and rather than simply becoming a quirky sample.
SUN6th: Spraynard, Caves & Little Ease @ Windmill, SW2 £UNKNOWN MON7th: Here We Go Magic @ Rough Trade East, E1 £FREE TUE8th: Bass Drums of Death & Cheveu @ Hotel Street, £FREE WED9th: Cloud Nothings & LondonEars DJ @ Cargo, EC2 £9 THU10th: The Suicide of Western Culture @ Old Blue Last, EC2 £FREE FRI11th: Dub Pistols, High Rankin & Rob Da Bank @ Electric, SW2 £15 SAT12th: A-Trak, Sebastian, Porter Robinson & more @ Coronet, SE1 £20 SUN13th: Haim, Female Band & Neuleibe @ Birthdays, N16 £7 MON14th: My Best Friend @ Lexington, N1 £8 TUE15th: Ema & Still Corners @ Scala, N1 £11 WED16th: Niki, The Dove and Elephant @ XOYO, EC2 £10 THU17th: Mojo Fury & Ice, Sea, Dead People @ Old Blue Last, EC2, £FREE FRI18th: Kode 9, 2 Inch Punch, Simian Mobile Disco & more @ Fabric £UNKNOWN SAT19th: Boddika & Loefah @ Cable, SE1 £UNKNOWN
SUN20th: Babeshadow, Liz Lawrence & Telegrams @ Lexington, N1 £7 MON21st: Choir of Young Believers @ Birthdays, N16 £7 TUE22nd: Japandroids @ Camp, EC1 £11 WED23rd: Exitmusic @ Electrowerkz, N1 £UNKNOWN THU24th: The Zombies @ Jazz Café, NW1 £20 FRI25th: Pariso, Crocus, Witchcult & Monolith @ Power Lunches, E12 £5 SAT26th: The Lost Brothers @ Rough Trade West £FREE SUN27th: Atpibym ft. Guided by Voices, Yuck & more @ Alexandra Palace, N22 £39 MON28th: Beach Fossils @ Monto Water Rats £9 TUE29th: Three Trapped Tigers @ Hotel Street, WC2 £UNKNOWN WED30th: Caan @ Garage, N1 £8 THU31st: Alt J @ Corsica Studios, SE1 £9
Amanda Palmer’s fab world tour for her debut album, featuring visual art from 30 awesome artists, including Shepherd Fairey, Rick Berry and Sarah Beetson, It will truly be one of a kind. With Palmer’s label-free approach, all funds are raised via Kickstarter. Donate $10k via Kickstarter and she’ll come serenade you with a ukulele over dinner at yours and paint your portrait! See kickstarter for tickets.
places to ski have to be either Mammoth Mountain, California or Breckenridge, Colorado. Have you ever sustained any bad injuries from skiing? I have worked really hard to keep injuries to a minimum, but I have had a few slip ups; dislocated shoulder, fingers and thumbs, broken collar bone, wrist, fingers and thumbs, torn my MCL ligament in my knee and bit my tongue off are a few. Stats: Name: James Woods Age: 20 From: Sheffield, UK.
Who are your influences? My first influences/ role models/ heros are still my strongest, Candide Thovex, Charles Gagnier and Tanner Hall! They How did you get into such a cool inspired my to work really hard to get occupation? to where I want to be. Now I take a lot I have been in love with skiing and of influence from all the riders at the snowboarding since I first tried it out moment, everyone is amazing. Notably aged 10 on the Sheffield dry slope. watching Tom Wallisch helps me work a Despite none of my family lot of my own new stuff out in ever having had a go and “Freestyle/ my head. only having carpet to ride Freeskiing is for years, it was all I Tell us about your sponsors, full of wanted. I started out how it came about. passionate, racing, then moguls and goal driven My sponsors are Quiksilver, then I ended up putting Monster Energy and Salomon. pretty much all my time and talented Before, I had a pair of and effort into heading up people, who seconded hand race boots and to Sheffield Ski Village to above all used the rental skis at the dry hit the little jumps and want the slope, even so never aspired rails, Sheffield was lucky sport to stay to be sponsored as I didn't enough to have a mini really know what it was. I half pipe too that I learnt pure and remember my response when a lot in. Pure enjoyment creative.” people told me I should write had me for so long, I couldn't tell you off to companies asking for support, "if honestly when (or even if) my goals for anyone wants me they can come and the X Games podium took over - they get me" knowing that my goal was to be run hand in hand now, motivating me the best and hopefully they'll all want forward to be bigger and better, always. me one day. In truth, never knew what sponsorship was until I ended up in a Where in the world have you skied? deal with Salomon aged 12, and from What is your favourite? there on the stones started rolling. I have been all over the place, its crazy. I don't like bragging about what I do Where do you think skiing is at and always try to keep a level head but right now and which direction do its nuts! Almost everyday when I look you think it should take? about at the new place I find myself in Right now, Freestyle/ Freeskiing is full I think, 'How did I end up here - how of passionate, goal driven and talented did skiing take me here?!' . I think this people, who above all want the sport to a lot when I'm suddenly in Utah stay pure and creative. No rules to deserts, LA or Las Vegas! My favourite what we can and can't do have ever
limited us or held us down in the past and look where we are. That is how I would like it to stay, in an expanding spiral. The world we live in seems to have a necessity holding people back with rules and regulations, so I do feel its inevitable for this to one day affect our sport so way or another, what we can do is keep this to a minimum though. I do feel extremely grateful however that I was able to experience and be a part of it before these exterior influences affect it. At the end of the day, as long as one people is still enjoying jumping around on his/ her skis then we're rocking.
work, and then changing them up completely with different axis or grabs get people thinking a bit. What are your future goals? Can you see yourself doing it for the long term? Yes for sure, I want to be do this forever!! Beyond forever though, I do really enjoy coaching so I could see myself going into something like that, but who knows by then. I would certainly love to carry on for the moment, do a bunch more X Games and hopefully the Olympics too.
What are your other interests apart What are your plans for the rest of the from skiing? season? Will you be working on any I like exploring new things, trying certain tricks/styles? Why those? different sports, surfing I really enjoy I'm always trying to dream up new ideas along with a bunch of other stuff. Seeing to bring to the table, I've had a lot of cool new places is brilliant. thoughts that I am certainly going to work on throughout the summer and Any tips for any keen skiiers or hopefully have locked down to show snowboarders? everyone come next winter. As I Just enjoy what you're up to and don't let attempted to make clear this year, my goal anything stand in the way of your goals. is not to rush what I do or for the sake of an extra 360 or backflip check out Woods’ fan page on facebook @ totally sacrificing the style/ fluidity of the trick. I want to make www.facebook.com/JamesWoodsyWoods my mark by taking time over every thing I do, learning how the tricks
Design by Jeff Finley £30 http://gomedia.deckpeck.com/
Santa Cruz Complete Rasta Hand Jammin £100 http://www.skatehut.co.uk/ Octopus Skater by Black Rock Collective. £30 http://blackrockcollective.deckpeck.com/
Santa Cruz Complete Heads or Tails £100 http://www.skatehut.co.uk/
Fracture Scroll Deck £25 www.routeone.co.uk
Anarchrysanthemum by Chuck Anderson. £30 http://blackrockcollective.deckpeck.com/
Places You Can't Imagine, Photography & Design by Chuck Anderson £30 http://blackrockcollective.deckpeck.com/
Designed by Oliver Barrett £30 http://gomedia.deckpeck.com/
Although aimed at a younger age of 12-17 year olds, we couldn’t pass up mentioning possibly the coolest alternative sports venue... ever. Based in Tahoe, Nevada, Woodward Tahoe is beautifully set atop Donner Summit, making it a great location for anyone interested in Skateboarding, Snowboarding, BMX, Skiing, Digital Media, Cheer and Tumbling, Being located at Boreal Mountain Resort gives
campers the opportunity to train on real snow. But that’s not all. Woodward Tahoe boasts 6 Olympic Sized Trampolines, an Indoor Street/Tranny Skatepark, Mini-Mini Ramp, Skatelite Ramps into Foam Pit, Skatelite Ramp into Resi Landing, 3 foam pits, Full-Sized Spring Floor, Bouldering wall, Tumbling Track, Double-Mini Tramp and a Parkour Zone. PHEW!
B ook S h o p s Grand OFR Bookshop The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane Henry Sotheran 2-5 Sackville Street Marchpane 16 Cecil Court Nigel Williams Rare Books 25 Cecil Court Skoob Books Brunswick Centre Quinto/Francis Edward 48A Charing Cross Road Zwemmer Books 80 Charing Cross Road
Shopping Daddy Kool Records 12 Berwick Street Dub Vendor Record Shack 150 Ladbroke Grove No-one Fashion 1 Kingsland Road Playlounge 19 Beak Street (games and gadgets) Record and Tape Exchange 229 Camden High Street
The old Truman Brewery has, over the years, played host to some of London's most interesting and little-known attractions. Until recently, however, it had not housed a bowling alley. All Star Lanes has a trio of alleys around London and they're latest addition certainly brings a different element to this famous East-End street. This isn't your standard Bowlarama bowling alley. Befitting of Brick Lane this place goes out and out retro with an American flavour and this is reflected in the decor and music. In addition to bowling there is also a 200 capacity
restaurant offering American style cuisine and drinks - i.e. milkshakes and burgers. Just on from the restaurant you will find a set of four gleaming bowling alleys for you to test your skills and, if you've got the cash, you can request use of their private alley which features its own bar. Even though I wouldn't call myself a bowling superstar I was able to have a lot of fun here. It's quite a relaxing down-to-earth kind of place after the furore of Brick Lane itself. A fun night out for a large group of mates.
Beginning life as a market stall in 2006, Unpackaged is a unique and brilliant concept that is so simple it hurts, especially considering the sheer amount of packaging waste that is ridiculously filling our planet’s landfill sites. Within the beautifully designed shop, organic whole foods, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, even refillable oils, vinegars and wines are all available to place straight into your own containers, that you will have brought along with you… if you haven’t then reusable bags are available. Daily fresh bread, wonderful
locally produced cheeses and other general high on quality, low on waste groceries are available too… again with the same simple concept… that food packaging is generally a pretty dumb idea and we, or more appropriately, the supermarkets, need to reeducate ourselves and reconsider the way we view unnecessary packaging in the 21st Century. We also love the charming graphic design from top agency, Multistorey, especially the fliers with gold leaf printing on bits of old cereal boxes…. artistically capturing the shop’s ethos, character and charm.
Secret Cinema London is a unique cinematic experience. You don’t know where, you don’t know what (well, they tell you an idea so you dress appropriately). Films have included Bugsy Malone, The Third Man, The Warriors, The Harder They Come, Ghostbusters, A Night at the Opera, Funny Face and Paranoid Park. Meeting at a certain place, you are lead around a range of unique locations in order to try and guess what film you’ll be watching. You are brought to a final location, where the film is revealed. With everyone donning some
form of costume, it’s hard to tell who is a guest and who’s a Secret Cinema actor. A live-action show takes place before the film starts, but I don’t want to give too much away, so you’ll have to experience it yourself. The performances are spectacular, although extravagant,, it is well co-ordinated and put together beautifully. A perfect night out in London. See www.secretcinema.org
Black Rat Press Gallery Arch 461, 83 Rivington Street Lazarides Gallery 8 Greek Street Pure Evil Gallery 108 Leonard Street The Spitz 109 Commercial Street, Old Spitalfields Market StolenSpace Gallery Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane Village Underground 54 Holywell Lane Signal Gallery 96a Curtain Road Foundry RIP 80 Great Eastern Street Need a break from the city? Take a rest in Phoenix Garden, behind the Odeon cinema is a tranquil garden hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden. Beautiful flowers and shrubs give the garden different locations of seating arrangements so you don’t have to listen to anyone’s loud, annoying phone call.
Rich Mix Cultural Foundation 35-47 Bethnal Green Road The Brick Lane Gallery 196 Brick Lane Maverick Gallery 68-72 Redchurch Street
Located on a short street off a Brick Lane, this venue has great entertainment, food and atmosphere. Depending on the time of day, or your mood, 1001 has something for everyone. You can relax inside, drink coffee and browse the Internet (for free) on one of the many couches upstairs, enjoy the Brick Lane atmosphere outside while drinking at one of the picnic tables, or rock out in the backroom to live music with plenty of dancing space. Later in the night and on weekends, the entire street is absolutely packed, though the size of the venue is
deceiving, as the upstairs bar is quite spacious and often has completely separate live music from the DJ. For those so inclined, there is also a book-orphanage where you can swap your old books for new ones. Who should you take here? Anyone. It is really just dependent on when you go. Perfect for a coffee and cake date, a study session and/or a fun night out.
There aren’t too may bargains to be had in Hoxton and Shoreditch, but this is definitely one of them: it’s an outlet for budding trainee chefs enrolled at the London City Hospitality Centre. The restaurant features lime-green and pink furniture, pale patterned wallpaper and wooden floors, and is more stylish than institutional. And the food is both dirt cheap and reliably good: they aim to use local, seasonal and Fairtrade produce where possible. It’s open for lunch and dinner – mains might include steak and kidney pie, grilled salmon, or mushroom stroganoff tart. They also run cookery evening classes and specialist courses in bread-making, fish-preparation and knife skills.
Had lunch here on Bank Holiday Monday and we opted for the homemade fishcakes, chips and mushy peas / sausage in batter & chips. Although we were quite suprised at some of the prices here (£1.95 for a diet coke?!) we cannot fault the food. The fishcakes were fresh, tasty and you could tell they had been home made. The chips were chunky and tasted like "proper" fish shop chips. The mushy peas, again pricey at £2.45 were nice and you got quite a big portion.
r deal, fo clusive ins and x e n a s you guy ters, ma ffering ee on all star o is . c s. Pizza In ne get one fr dessert buy o , and £5 starter tell a r o f st £3 g from o be missed! Ju here. I did enjoy my meal here, but the main gripe for me was the in t r a t s t ices not u’re t price. I don't mind paying slightly over the odds because of the With pr in, it’s a deal Pizza when yo a ert location, and the food was good quality, but being charged £1.50 for one for a m de Subv them co piece of buttered bread seemed a bit excessive. You get free bread in ar you @ ants ne .uk r u a t most pie and mash shops, and if the owner has been in business in s e o See r izzainc.c the East End for 35 years, as claimed, he would do well to remember that these www.p are little touches that make a really great business.
Honest Burgers is an artfully designed little place, and despite having space for no more than a handful of people it feels airy and comfortable rather than cramped. It is really nicely done, all solid wooden furniture and Spuntino-style hanging lightbulbs. The menu is short and straightforward, just chicken or beef burgers in a couple of different styles. And it all seemed very good value too - £6.50 is a great price for a mid-range burger, especially when you consider it comes with chips. And it was good. Not brilliant, but good - great textures and juicy beef. Rosemary-salted triplecooked chips were top notch, all crunchy and twisted like calamari.
Japanika’s bright colours immediately make it stand out from other nearby venues on the rather dreary Hanbury Street. Inside, the venue is miniscule with two window seats and one wall taken up by the takeaway counter and two tills towards the back with a mini Zen sand garden in between. Low sofas and stools with hot pink tables use up most of the space, and sculpted flowers echoing the black, pink and cream colour scheme are scattered over the walls. Japanika should be applauded for its variety of food, which is much more varied than most Japanese takeaways. Besides all the expected sushi options you’ll find sides like seaweed salads and Japanese pickles, plus hot food such as gyoza (dumplings), chicken katsu curry, tempura, yakitori (skewers) and salmon and chicken teriyaki bento boxes. Although it might be an awkward spot to stop for lunch, Japanika’s varied offerings make it stand out from the crowd.
if you want a caffeine fix in brixton village go to federation coffee. there is much to love about federation coffee. the brightly stenciled sign board, the menu that is constructed in a colourful scrabble tile fashion and the flat whites and mocha's themselves. The coffee is delicious, and so is the cheesecake, but I would avoid the carrot cake. The service was the only let down, with the staff being quite abrupt, borderline quite rude, but I would definitely return as the coffee was very tasty.
CHECK OUT THESE TASTY BUT CHEAP PLACES TO EAT IN LONDON
The Black Keys Tighten Up Onra Anthem Forever Drake (Travis Barker Remix) TV On the Radio Wolf Like Me Never Never SBTRKT Today Smashing Pumpkins The Outcast Dropkick Murphys You Ed Sheeran (ft. Wiley)
Hummus Bros 88 Wardour Street London
48 Brushfield Street, Shoreditch
Bi Bim Bap 11 Greek Street, Soho
Le Taj 134 Brick Lane
Maroush 65 Old Brompton Road
Fatboy's Diner Spitalfields Market, 61 Brushfield Street
Kulu Kulu Sushi 76 Brewer Street, Soho My Old Dutch 131-132 High Holborn Meraz CafĂŠ 56 Hanbury Street Sausage And Mash Cafe
172 New Cross Road Super Star 17 Lisle Street (best dimsum in London) Take Two 1 Brixton Station Road
Sweet Basil 65a Brushfield Street
Testi 38 Stoke Newington High Street
Benugo 24 Berwick Street, Soho
BELGO CENTRAAL 50 Earlham Street
Ed's Easy Diner 12, Moor St, Soho Iris Jamaican Cafe
Franco Manca 4 Market Row, Electric Lane
has been. Would you recommend your job? I would but only to some people! To work as an overland tour leader you have to be emotionally strong and tireless! As I mentioned earlier I am currently on layover between trips, my first since October, I have been on the move since then with no time off. My day yesterday started at 5am and I didn't drop the truck off at the truck park until 10.30pm! We are not paid investment banker salaries either! Unless I am extremely lucky I will never have a job that I love as much as being a tour leader for Dragoman, the challenges are hard but fun and always different.
We’ve got the low down on Jon May’s incredible job. Working as a tour leader for Dragoman, he just finished an amazing 79 day trip, starting in Rio for Carnival, and finishing in Quito, Ecuador and featuring visits to Iguazo Falls, Argentinian vineyards, Machu Pichu and Bolivian salt flats. Phwoar! Contacting us from Quito, Jon answers our questions. My main passions are travelling, wine and new experiences! I have a degree in Tourism Management and have worked as a plastics engineer, door to door salesman, customer service for a wine company and in a five star hotel in Jamaica. I love my life but do miss my family and having a cheeky pint with mates in the local pub! Tell us a little bit about your job. As a tour leader working for Dragoman my main responsibilities are ensuring my passengers are having an awesome holiday and are travelling safely. This includes driving and working on the truck, group management, providing information about places we visit (we also use some local guides), managing group accounts, booking hotels and activities and navigating my way around massive foreign continents such as Africa and South America.
What is a typical day for you? There is no such thing! But generally we start early, breakfast is often at around 6am, then it really depends on where we are. In Africa we are always camping, so early breakfast then maybe a game drive to see the wonderful animals or we pack up camp and move on to another campsite, driving on dirt roads through beautiful scenery and muddy villages! In South America a lot of driving involves crossing the spectacular Andes, stopping in villages for local lunch soup, followed by chicken and rice with chips!
What advice do you have to people who may be looking to follow the same path and integrate travel and their careers? Have the courage to follow your dreams and desires. Travelling can be a wonderful, life changing experience but can also be at times be lonely; but remember the good times are always around the corner. Don't expect to become rich in cash, but in wisdom and experience! You must be able to calm under pressure, be adaptable to different circumstances and hardworking. Good talker and reader of people its important to know how your clients are feeling and be able to discuss problems, and don’t forget a positive attitude!
When did you first find out about Dragoman? There was an article in the Times newspaper listing Overlanding companies and i couldnt believe this concept existed! I had no idea. At the time i was at the end of a 14 month overseas trip and was looking for a way to work and travel and thought that Dragoman would be perfect for me, and it
Where in the world have you been? What is your favourite place? I have been to most of China and South East Asia, South East and North Africa, majority of South America, Australia, USA and some parts of Europe. But my favourite place?! Tough question! I loved China for the food and the people and how its not too touristy! The Perenthian islands
in Malaysia are sublime. The diversity of Peru is unbelievably – Inca ruins, spectacular mountians and hiking, beautiful beaches with good surf, sand dunes and even Vineyards! Not to mention the beautiful cities of Cusco and Arequippa. Oh and the people in Sudan are the nicest in the world! I would love to explore West Africa or India next though. I would love to live in Australia, they have a really laid back way of life. Also Argentina is very liveable – beautiful countryside, and the wine, women and steak are to die for! Have you had any serious problems or been in any dangerous situations? I have had some serious problems, my truck blew a piston (big problem) in the car park of the Rwandan Genocide Museum! Not a great place to break down. Our good friend and Chef Dodge have diabetic problems and had to have his foot amputated mid trip. (Money was raised for Dodge and he recently had an operation and has a new foot!). We once had to hide on our truck as there were lions hunting in our campsite!! Stories to tell the Grandkids! Do you plan to settle down and have a more fixed lifestyle? My next trip finishes in August and I do plan on going home and attempt to get a job in the "real world". Hopefully in the wine industry but the reality is that I will probably be home for a couple of weeks before getting on the phone to Dragoman and organising my next contract! What are your future plans? We visited a local community in Bolivia where i had my future read by a shaman with Alpaca bones and apparently I'm having a baby soon! So I need a highly paid job and possibly someone to make babies with! Yikes.. Who knows what the future holds, thats why I love life. check out www.dragoman.com for more information about their tours.
own vision to the project. Traditionally, the client will come to us and tell us what they need or have an idea of, then we will put together a treatment of ideas, from which we can further discuss to get a vision for the final product. What kind of project is your favourite? Any project that I can travel around the world with is fantastic for me. I want to visit most countries in the world and see everything it has to offer, so any project where I can travel helps me tick bits off my bucket list!
Stats: Name: Jamie Horton Job: Director and Owner of Chasing Safety Media - a creative agency specilising in digital video content. How did you start Chasing Safety? It all started when I bought an HD camera and a Macbook pro at 17 years old - I started filming bands with my friends and we found out that we were quite good at it! I took that experience, along with other freelance experience with TV stations, and started to build a client base just after I left 6th form. How did you learn your skills? Nearly all of my practical skills are self taught. I was fortunate enough to have some
excellent media teachers at school which kick started my passion for film, but after that I went out into the world and created things. University wasn't for me - I got rejected by Westminster - which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Other than that, I've learned a lot from working for various companies and networks over the years who have added a lot to this experience. What are your inspirations? I'm inspired by anything and everything I see in everyday life. It sounds incredibly pretentious, but it's true. I'm also inspired by traveling and seeing other people's cultures. It's one of my main passions. Talk us through your design process. Every client and project is different. Some clients want the finished product the day before they first email you, so time isn't always on your side. Other times, we are given a lot of creative freedom to bring our
Who has been your favourite client to work for? As of right now, probably Universal Pictures. They've been very good to us with a current campaign we're working on, where we went to Los Angeles for a week. I can't say much about the project as it's not complete, but it will certainly be excellent for our portfolio. Have you ever had to deal with any difficult clients? How did you resolve the problem? There will always be difficult clients, whatever industry you work in. In my experience, the best way to handle disputes is to be diplomatic, whilst at the same time protecting your own interests. I've had a client before where they have been abusive to the point of being unable to work with, (due to them not have a clue at what they were doing!!) but even then I was able to remain professional, get the job done and move on. What’s in the future for CS? A lot more traveling, a lot more film campaigns and a lot more TV work. We're moving into TV content and
getting TV shows commissioned, so it's exciting times. With all the projects that you do, how do you manage to find time for everything? Do you utilize any apps/software to help organize and prioritize your to-do list? I have a good memory for tasks, emails and to do lists, so I'm usually on top of my projects without falling behind. I know which projects I need to prioritise based on deadlines, and which ones can be paused for a few days whilst I deliver the others. I pitch a lot of business to clients with my iPad & the Keynote app, which has been handy over the past few months. What tools are in your designer’s toolbox that would be tough to live without? Software, apps, hardware, books or otherwise? I couldn't work without Final Cut Pro, Cinema Tools, Photoshop, After Effects, my iphone, iPad and of course the trust pen and paper! What 5 objects could you not bare to live without and why? My iPhone, iPad, iMac (trend forming perhaps?!), Sony EX1 camera and blu ray player (with my film collection of course!)
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safetyu book.co www.face witter.com/chasing lr.com/ .t w ww n.tumb raighorto c ie m a /j :/ http
can feel quite separate from society. Visual Arts are a great way to represent things, put ideas across and bring to light things that you may not have thought about before. It just makes sense to marry the two things. Has working on the festival altered your opinion of homelessness? Definitely. It’s really made me aware of the wide scope of degrees and reasons of homelessness, and the stereotype that all homeless people are addicts are homeless due to substance abuse and dependency. People end up homeless for a lot of reasons. This April sees the inaugural Homeless Film Festival, a nationwide turning of the spotlight back on the a problem that’s getting bigger and runs deeper, than ever before – and it’s all down to Notts and Manchester collective, Donkey Stone. We spoke to Jamie Rhodes about its aims and ambitions. Bring us up to speed on Donkey Stone. We were set up in 2009 by four people who all went to Manchester Metropolitan University together. First and foremost we are a creative filmmaking collective who produce evocative and visually exciting work. We also do a lot of education work through Broadway – one of the biggest educational projects we did was with eight schools through Nottingham, making eight short films over a period of five months, which was pretty intense. Our educational and community work is about making film more accessible to everyone, encouraging others to explore
their creativity through this medium. You also get a lot of amazing stories from being around and working with people. What sparked the interest in homelessness? We went to Cannes the week before the film festival and took some cameras incase there was an opportunity to make a film out there. We met a few homeless people, some of whom mentioned how homesless people came to Cannes from all over Europe because of the influx of wealth during the festival. Then before the cameras arrive, the police quite forcibly throw them out. Also, one of our team has an uncle who did some photography work for the Framework charity which got us thinking about how we could work with them as an organisation. Why is this a good platform for raising awareness of homelessness? The nature of being homeless is that you don’t have a voice or representation; you
How do you think the recent recession has affected the homeless? I think there have always been a huge variety of reasons why people have been made homeless, but the recession has caused money issues that have affected more people – the number of people on the street in the past couple of years has risen a huge amount. Also, a lot of the funding has been cut from the shelters so that people have to be moved on a lot quicker, it feels a bit like turning tables at a restaurant now: getting them in, getting them out and then getting the next ones in. That’s not good because homeless and vulnerable people often need prolonger support.
The number of newly homeless households has fallen by two thirds since 2003, from 202,000 down to 48,510 in 2011. Although this is still far too many.
1. Who did the World Bank appoint as its new president on 16 April 2012? a. Jim Yong Kim b. Robert Zoellick c. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala d. Lumen Darcy 2. Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 74 people in July 2011, faced prosecution in the case. Breivik belongs to which of the following nations? a. Sweden b. Switzerland c. Spain d. Norway
3. What escaped from Tokyo Sea Lfe Park? a. Seal b. Killer Whale c. Penguin d. Blue Whale 4. What sense can whales ‘adjust’? a. Sight b. Hearing c. Touch d. Taste Cut out & Scan in or try our online
version!
5. How large is the biggest flower bloom? (clue: the flower smells like rotting flesh)
a. b. c. d.
50 cm 75 cm 100 cm 150 cm
6. What percentage of food intended for human consumption is lost or wasted? a. 50% b. 30% c. 33% d. 20%
As we had a lot of fun doodling on DC, we thought we’d give you the chance too. For your chance to win a subvert t-shirt, stickers and next month’s issue of the magazine, simply decorate your pic of David Cameron, and emailthem into us @ competitions@subvertmagazin e,co.uk before 30th May 2012. Terms and conditions apply.
- Michael Moore