LDN
MUSIC, CULTURE, ARTS AND MORE
FREE / DEC 2021
Get Get on on board board with with our our Student Student Guide Guide T To o London! London!
CHECK OUT OUR PICK OF THE BEST... INDIE THEATRE · MARKETS · VINTAGE THRIFT · LGBTQIA+ SPACES · NATURE WALKS · VEGAN FOOD · PUBS · INDIE VENUES · RECORD SHOPS · LONDON EATS
Plus
TV & MOVIES · GAMING · SELF-CARE · BIMM INTRODUCING: ANDREA
“Ultimately, Live Through This is a pretty good book about Nirvana, Hole and grunge, but a bloody great one about Everett True” – Ian Fortnam, Kerrang!
Get your copy now for £14.99 inc P&P – only available from Criminal Records shop.criminalrecords.cc
We lcom e Note
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inter is here. While we may not have White Walkers and dragons to contend with in this December edition of LDN you can be sure to find the ultimate student guide to London full of great food, fashion and fun to make memories without breaking the bank. Then if you’re after something new to listen to head to our album reviews section for the freshest albums to add to your playlists.Filled to the brim with all things entertainment, our TV and Gaming pages have some amazing suggestions for when it’s too cold to go out and you just need to binge a boxset or pick up a controller. So sit back, pop the kettle on (see Self-Care on p18!) and enjoy this December edition of LDN!
Editor
conte nts 4. N ews 6. LDN stude nt gui de 7. live m usic, lgbtqia+ spaces 8. markets, vegan food 9. nature walks, th eatre 10. pubs, vi ntage th ri ft 11. record shops, Lon don eats 12: TV & E nte rtai n m e nt 13: Gam es 16: Album Revi ews 18: Se lf-Care LDN is published by Jo Kendall and Dani Willgress with enormous help from Emily Cliff, Anna Runa-Umbrasko, Gery Hristova and Thomas-Bradey Riseley. Printer: DG3 dg3.com
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spoti fy HELLO YOU! Would you like to be in LDN mag (or online) as a business, or as an artist, a writer or photographer? Would you like to stock LDN in your shop/ café? Get in touch! We are looking for contributors and feature ideas, and for anyone who likes life and wants to communicate about it. Send us your idea/ press release/ basket of cakes to: LDNMUSICMAG@ GMAIL.COM
It's A Britn ey Book, Baby Th e pop star is ce le brate d i n a n ew book by Professor Je n n i fe r Otte r Bicke rdi ke Words: Conor Sharkey Glackin
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ritney Spears has been in the news a lot recently due to the ongoing court case against her now-ceased conservatorship – a controversial, controlling guardianship by her father Jamie – which she was under for 13 years. A major popstar since the 90s, it’s been a long time since her music was the focus of attention; usually her personal life is being documented in the tabloids or the ongoing situation involving her dad, and the rest of her family. Professor Jennifer Otter Bickerdike’s latest book centres on Spears after recently releasing ‘You Are Beautiful, And You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico’, proving to be a stark contrast between the two artists. Speaking about the enigmatic vocalist, actress and model Nico, Otter Bickerdike explains that “she was someone that was not talked about very much when she was alive”, which sparked the idea of writing about somebody who has been in the spotlight for the last 20 years.
Calling ‘Being Britney: Pieces of a Modern Icon’ “a new way of doing narrative biography,” the book is broken into forty chapters, each one being a self-contained short essay, ergo a separate piece of the superstar we all know as Britney Spears. A large number of topics are covered from fame, misogyny, women’s rights, and plenty more with Spears being at the heart of all of it. Given the recent media coverage, the book release comes at a perfect time. Most books about Spears are at least 10 years old and outdated given her longevity and continuing illustrious career. “With everything that Britney’s done, I could not believe there was not more out there,” Otter Bickerdike says. This book gives people a chance to explore Britney Spears on a deeper level, beyond the tabloids or TMZ coverage, and to get an understanding of her as a person.
‘Being Britney: Pieces of a Modern Icon’ is out now via Bonnier.
CREDIT: JEREMY SUTTON-HIBBERT, GREENPEACE
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COP26 - WHAT HAPPE N E D? Climate summit decisions leave us cold
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fter two weeks of COP26 climate “negotiations’’ in Glasgow, 197 countries have finally came to a consensus about their responsibilities for climate action. Climate activist Greta Thunberg put it best when she said, “This is no longer a climate conference, this is now a Global North greenwash festival and a two-week long celebration of business as usual and blah blah blah.” But what exactly does she mean? The media has been portraying COP26 as a historically significant event that will pave the way to an environmentally sustainable society that has converted to renewable energy sources. This optimistic vision is far from the truth as a recent analysis done by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) spelled that the agreements being made at COP26 still aren’t nearly enough to keep earth below a 1.5 temperature increase. If every short term pledge was implemented and executed seamlessly, by the end of the century there would still be warming of 2.4 degrees C with a high likelihood of exceeding 3C. Some of this is because countries like China, the US, Saudi Arabia, India and Australia are hesitant to give up their economic reliance on fossil fuels and natural gases, notably opting out of signing the Glasgow Coal Pact. This behaviour is common for wealthier countries that don’t face the same perilous threats as the Global South; G20 countries account for 80% of total global emissions whereas the poorest, 50% only contribute a tenth. Even after many imploring speeches from indigneous tribes and countries most affected by climate change, paying reparations through loss and damages still remained a huge point of contention that had to be compromised on throughout different drafts of the agreement. As it’s already too late, wealthy nations have an obligation to band together, redistribute billions in climate reparations, and drastically adapt and build green societies that revolve around sustainable energy sources. Madeline Montisano
And in other news...
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long with the rest of the world, LDN learned, in horror, of the tragic events at Astroworld festival in Texas in early November. As we’re just getting back on our feet with live shows and gatherings during this pandemic, being around one another should bring joy, not sorrow. LDN sends condolences to all those affected and stands with the families of those who lost their lives; this should never have happened. After being in the world’s biggest heavy rock band for over 50 years and creating timeless crushing riffs such as ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Electric Funeral’, what else could guitarist Tony Iommi possibly do? Launching his own perfume, that’s what! Scent Of Dark is a in collaboration with luxury Italian perfume house Xerjoff and Sergio Momo, and arrives with a track of the same name, a stringladen gothic metal march with Momo also featuring on guitar. UK Festivals are starting to reveal line-ups and Cheltenham’s 2000Trees is one of the best we’ve seen so far. Turnstile have been announced as the latest headliners and will play alongside IDLES, Dinosaur Pile-Up, PUP, Jimmy Eat World, Pigs x 7 and Higher Power next July 7-9. Celebrities such as Goldie, Rihanna and Drake have paid tribute to Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh, who has died, aged just 41, from a rare form of cancer. The fashion house called Abloh a “genius” a “visionary” and a “beautiful soul”. “He was BEYOND” wrote Frank Ocean on Instagram. The LDN News Elf
All Aboard! It's our Student Guide To London!
London is a new and exciting place for many. And here at LDN, we know the feeling - it's December, you've just gotten over freshers flu and you are painfully broke. Meanwhile, you're in a new city that's filled to the brim with culture, art and history - so where do you begin? Here's our guide to 'The Best' fun things you can do (with student-friendly prices) in this vibrant city we now get to call home. Words: Joshua Ayles, Emily Cliff, Johnny Fry, Dean Hewins, Ali Iannattonne, David Krestin, Nina de Sanders, Conor Sharkey Glackin, Dani Willgress
LDN STUDE NT GUI DE / 7 The Best... LIVE MUSIC VENUES “THERE’S 350 GIGS a night in London!” was once exclaimed by a much-loved veteran BIMM lecturer. An unbelievable number, truly. Hyperbole or not, there are more places in our city to see live music than anywhere else in the world. These are our favourite five.. (JF) The Windmill Situated on a back street, The Windmill is London’s Mecca for rising stars, making stars of bands such as Black Midi, Black Country, New Road, Fat White Family and Shame. A humble setting with a rock and roll, anarcho atmosphere. You only have to sit in the smelly “shed” with the owner’s big, but friendly, Alsatian for a second before likeminded conversations start flowing. Tube station: Brixton FOLD The no-holds-barred, 24/7 techno hotspot welcomes all the freaks at any time. You will arrive at 7am for the afterparty and party with people who have been there all night, making for a very fluid and ever-changing demographic. Famous for their queer parties and heavy-hitting electronic music, this venue is perfect for anyone seeking extreme hedonism. Tube station: Canning Town Cafe OTO Is it a café? Is it a record shop? A music venue? A cinema? Every time, the vibe is different. In the epicentre of trendy East London, Dalston’s Cafe OTO showcases all things weird and wonderful to the East End beard-scratchers. It’s not pretentious, it’s just high-brow. Go and hear a classic album on their audiophile hifi system or see an arthouse film! Overground station: Dalston Junction The Scala The Scala is especially accessible to those who live outside of London. Utilising an old art-deco cinema as a music venue is not uncommon but is fantastically done here. Not only does it accommodate big name musicians but also London’s most famous fetish night, Torture Garden, if that’s your kind of thing... Tube station: Kings Cross St Pancras The Roundhouse, Camden Camden, London’s home of all things rock and roll, it’s not yet past it! Historically revered, with a swallowing sound system that fills the large dome-like building, it’s seen many greats pass through its doors - The Doors, Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, if you’ve ever heard of them. Echo and The Bunnymen are stepping through in 2022 - not to be missed. Tube station: Chalk Farm
Brixton Windmill: dogs and pubs and rock and roll
Gay’s The Word: longstanding, and the best
The Best... LGBTQIA+ SPACES FINDING YOUR HAVEN can take some research, but with a little help from BIMM Queer Society, here’s our pick. (DW, NdS) Gay’s The Word Headlining our list is ‘Gay’s The Word’, an activist hotspot for LGBT rights back in the 1980 being at the forefront of protest for equality in London. Along with being a great community hub, ‘Gay’s The Word’ stocks books on everything queer. The wide variety of topics from sci-fi and fantasy to thrillers and teen fiction, means there’s a book for everyone. Tube station: Russell Square Vauxhall Tavern Named the ‘Ultimate’ gay pub in London by the BIMM Queer Society. Tube station: Vauxhall Dalston Super Store Local queer artists, DJ and Drag performances. Overground station: Dalston Kingsland She Soho Club exclusively for Female and Femme-identifying queers. Tube station: Leicester Square Harpies at Metropolis The first LGBTQIA+ strip club centred around Trans+ bodies. Overground station: Cambridge Heath
8 / LDN STUDE NT GUI DE Columbia Road: bloomin’ lovely
The Best... MARKETS NOTHING QUITE BEATS the atmosphere of a London Market soundtracked by Cockney voices bellowing their best offers. From indoor plants to liven up your digs to a vintage robe, or even a new culinary discovery here’s our round-up of the best markets in town. (JA) Colombia Road Flower Market Top Tip: Arrive later in the day and ignore the 3pm closing time, usually around 3.30pm the sellers will slash their prices and you may get a bargain. Overground/tube station: Shoreditch High Street/Bethnal Green. Brixton Village and Market Row Offering cuisine from around the globe, this is the hotspot for all you foodies out there. Tube station: Brixton
Portobello Road Market: Famous for its antiques and vintage fashion - and pubs, record shops and food stalls – why not meander through the half milelong market feeling like the icon Julia Roberts herself. Tube stations: Notting Hill Gate/ Ladbroke Grove Brick Lane Market: Brick Lane has an abundance of stalls to check out on any given day, but Sundays are where it’s at: the street is lined with sellers bartering their second-hand wares. Overground station: Shoreditch Hight Street Flea at Vinegar Yard: A vintage market in the Bermondsey fashion district full of treasures from art to vinyl, with a focus on sustainable living and independent traders, this market is for those who love a rummage. Tube station: London Bridge
The Best... VEGAN FOOD THERE’S NOTHING MORE painful than trying to find good veganfriendly food in a big city. It can seem like a mission when you’re the only non-carnivore in the group. If you need some places to satisfy your friends’ tastebuds as well as your own or you have a passion for hunting down the best plant-based cuisine then read on. (JA) Vegan Nights A market pop up event sprinkled throughout the year mixing over 40 vegan food stalls, live DJs and club nights. FUN! Overground station: Shoreditch High Street Club Mexicana Mexican, vegan AND with frozen margaritas on tap!? What more could you ask for? Tube station: Oxford Circus
Cafe Van Gogh Sucker for a roast? This place is critically acclaimed for one of the best vegan roasts in London. Tube station: Oval Halo Burger You know when you just want the grease of a Big Mac but not the meat? Say hello to a vegans answer to the “junkiest of junk food”. Tube stations: Brixton and Old Street Mildreds Probably one of the most popular and long-established vegan spots in town is even bound to make even the plant-based haters salivate. Tube stations: Oxford Street, Kings Cross, Camden and Dalston Junction
Join the club: Vegan Nights
IF YOU’RE SICK of the noise, crowds and grey of central London then here are the sanctuaries we can escape to when it gets a little overwhelming. Roughly 47% of London is green space, making it one of the greenest cities in the world for its size. From parks that are right on your doorstep to something that might require a little more of an adventure, check out the list below when you fancy seeing blue skies instead of grey buildings. (JA) Bushy Park Deer? In London? Yes! Not only will you get to make some new friends, the park is huge and, with a backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, stunning. Overground station: Teddington/Hampton Wick/ Hampton Court Holland Park A quaint little park nestled in the midst of upper class west London, Bushy Park: also caters for stag dos
The Old Red Lion: a pub! And a theatre!
we recommend to check out Kyoto Garden and the peacocks! Tube station: Holland Park. Regents Canal: You could spend an entire day walking the span of Regents Canal, passing through the multicoloured barges and strolling past London Zoo. Tube station: The canal spans East to West, so we recommend Paddington to soak up Little Venice in all its glory. Primrose Hill Go as the sun is setting over London and soak in one of the best views in London. Pure magic. Tube station: Chalk Farm. London Wetland Centre: If you don’t mind spending a bit of cash this is full to the brim with wildlife and hosts exciting events throughout the year. It’s a fab day out and maybe one for all the family. Tube station: Hammersmith
CREDIT: REV STAN BLOG
The Best... NATURE WALKS
The Best... INDIE THEATRE IF THERE IS one thing that London is known for, its fabulous selection of theatre. While the west end is very glamorous, its prices aren’t exactly student-friendly. Here at LDN, we are here to let you know the best independent small theatres (off the West End) that put on some smashing shows for half the price. (EC) Old Red Lion Pub Theatre Yep, you read correctly there, Pub Theatre! The Old Red Lion Pub theatre is a small theatre that hosts a whole load of fantastic plays. Debuting big West End hits such as ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ you are bound to find something that tickles your fancy. Tube station: Angel Leicester Square Theatre Hidden in the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square, just off the West End, this little theatre hosts a range of dramatic art to sink your teeth into. From comedy nights to cabaret this theatre has it all. Tube station: Leicester Square Park Theatre Park is perfect if you like plays in the style of the National Theatre, but can’t really afford to pay the NT prices. Hosting some big names in their casting such as David Webber and Blake Harrison you will certainly find something to entertain your evening. Tube station: Finsbury Park
10 / LDN STUDE NT GUI DE The Best... PUBS MANY BARS WERE sampled in our quest. A dirty job, but someone has to do it… (CSG) Slim Jim’s Liquor Store The best thing about Slim Jim’s is that they usually have a live act most days of the week. Head up and settle in for a late night of good drinks and blaring tunes. Tube station: Angel Tattershall Castle Pricey, but a great place to meet with friends or go on a date given the right weather conditions. The view of the London Eye at night is stunning. They also have a restaurant and comedy club on board this boat pub too. Tube station: Westminster Loading Bar One for the gamers, but with a wide range of consoles and boardgames, everyone can join in. A good selection of beers and ciders can also be found here. Overground station: Stoke Newington Waxy O’Connor’s You might not find the luck of the Irish here, but you can certainly drink like the Irish here. Don’t let the small entrance fool you, when a rugby or football game is showing there is a fantastic atmosphere (and a huge tree, indoors) to be found here. Tube station: Leicester Square The Blues Kitchen Situated in the hipster central this venue is perfect for a relaxed drink or an ideal place to gather a bunch of friends and enjoy a night of music which can range from jazz to soul and blues funnily enough. If you’re lucky you might even be offered free chicken wings (from the author of this post’s experience). Overground station: Shoreditch
Blue 17 in living colour
The Best...VINTAGE THRIFT VINTAGE MANIA HAS spread globally thanks to consumers collectively becoming more conscious of the dangerous environmental crisis we’re facing. Our recommendations here mix eco-friendliness with lower prices and originality. (AI) Blue 17 Vintage Blue 17 Vintage offers some of the best quality pieces for a cheaper price. Organised by decades on its website, it’s easy to find exactly what you’re looking for at the store and can easily cater to every different kind of look and vibe you might be seeking. Tube station: Holloway Road Beyond Retro, Soho Colourful and dazzling from the outside, the Beyond Retro store is just as busy and fun on the inside. There are multiple store locations all across London, including Dalston and Brixton.. Tube station: Oxford Circus TRAID A chain shop that’s also a charity fighting global poverty, TRAID immediately leaves a positive and original impression from their front store windows, where the mannequins are dressed in original and colourful outfits that will inspire shoppers to dress just as uniquely. Tube station: Hammersmith Fara London Offering some of the cheapest but nevertheless fun and diverse choices of second-hand clothing, Fara London offers both select fashion pieces and retro furniture and decor. Fara also has multiple locations all across London – and profits go to charities in Romania, supporting families. Tube station: Parsons Green Crisis This Charity organisation with stores in most London zones provides some of the cheapest items of clothing as well as books, homeware and furniture. Check out Finsbury Park Crisis, as it has its very own coffee bar! Crisis UK has helped in the battle against homelessness since 1967, therefore all proceeds from your shopping go directly to a good cause. Tube station: Finsbury Park
The Best... RECORD SHOPS this store has a wide range of both new and used vinyl across COLLECTORS OF VINYL browse all genres and are constantly record shops wherever they updating their stock, buying happen to be, at home or abroad, collections and putting them out hoping to find a holy grail. When each week. The outer sleeve of visiting a record shop, look out each record is marked very clearly for a good selection of stock, both with the price and condition, and new and used, which is regularly they regularly post on Instagram updated, as well as helpful staff showing off their newest offerings. who know their stock and can Tube station: Oxford Circus make recommendations based on a customer’s interests. (DK) Alan’s Records A long-established store with Reckless Records thousands of used records inside Located in the heart of Soho, and bargain bins outside. Not only are there good deals to be had, but the idiosyncratic organisation also makes for the ultimate digging experience. There are two turntables available for those who wish to listen before buying. Tube station: East Finchley
Reckless behaviour!
The Little Record Shop A smaller establishment specialising in hard-to-find records, particularly jazz, indie
rock and world music, the owner is extremely helpful and often gives recommendations based on your musical tastes. Tube station: Turnpike Lane Flashback Records Although there are two other locations, the original and biggest is located in Essex Road. The shop is split over two floors with new records upstairs and used in the basement; there is a particularly good selection of reggae and hip-hop. Tube station: Angel Rough Trade East This is the home of one of the biggest ranges of new releases and reissues that London has to offer. It is larger and more spaced out than the other store, with easy access for browsing. Unlike the others, there is a café onsite, and they often host live music. Tube station: Aldgate East/ Whitechapel
The Best... LONDON EATS MOST NATIONS RESIDE in London, and with this brings lots of rich arts and culture, and one of our fave things, food. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what food London has to offer, but its plentiful and varied, with a couple of spots walking distance from BIMM. (DH)
Patty & Bun Hands down the best burgers in the city, and the plant based ones are banging for those that don’t eat meat. Plus the cocktails go down well, too. Tube station: Notting Hill
Lahore Karahi My Grandad loved this place and I’ve taken lots of friends here to eat. Great Tandoori mixed grill and fresh keema naan, plus fantastic tasting curries. Tube station: Tooting Broadway
Istanbul The family mixed grill platter is a must for you meat-eaters. Plus with the Turkish bread and salad it’s the complete meal and fairly healthy. Super tasty. Overground station: Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland
Fresh Falafel Van Don’t got to the place near Waitrose and F45, its the van on North End Road Market you want. Tasty, fresh, cheap and satisfying. Always get a bag of 12 or 20 for later... Tube station: Fulham Broadway
Koko’s Pad Thai Van This van is also on North end Road Market (just near Papa Johns). Freshly cooked Pad Thai and veggie options too, plus if you’re hungry the off-menu large portion is a must. Tube station: Fulham Broadway
Curry heaven at Lahore Karahi in Tooting
12 / fi lm an d TV
YOU
Round three with the craziest couple ever! YOU’s Joe and Love are new parents trying to hide a secret made of death and obsession. They moved to a very wealthy neighbourhood with their baby to start a new life, but old habits are hard to break.
H a l l o w e e n Ki l l s Halloween Kills resumes the story from where we left it in the previous chapter, with Michael Myers trapped in the house on fire while Laurie Strode, his daughter Karen and her granddaughter Allyson are leaving. But Michael is still alive, and the firefighters who rushed to put out the fire will find it out at their own expense.
Written and directed by director Hwang Dong-Hyuk, Squid Game took the world by storm this autumn. It focuses on of a group of outcasts struggling to find their place in society who decide to take part in a set of ruthless games to win a large cash prize. What could possibly go wrong?
Edited by Giulia Lombardo
Autumn s here and after blow ing us away over the past few month s the film and TV ind ustry have done it ag ain. We ve had comed y, thrills and chills and now it s time to ca tch up on what you m issed and what there is to look forward to …
th e witch e r The Witcher Season 2 is coming: we have to wait until December 17, but still! As confirmed by showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the season is currently at an advanced stage of postproduction. As we wait to see the new season, let me remind you that Netflix will soon also host a prequel TV series, entitled ‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ to land on the streaming platform in 2022.
gam i ng / 13
Arcane, Horror and The Chaos of Non-Moderated Gaming edited by Anna Runa-Umbrasko While many have been waiting for the launch of the Arcane series to dive deeper into the League of Legends lore, some are just happy to scream in children’s games and explore the vampires of ancient Egypt…here’s our top three games this season. 1. ARCANE The most anticipated event in the gaming world this year finally arrived on November 6. Coming from Riot Games, the new animated Netflix series ‘Arcane’ explores a part of the League of Legends lore. The story takes place in the Undercity to the City of Progress where magic and science collide, diving deep into the backstories of Jinx, Vi and Ekko. As a huge celebration for the launch, many exclusive premieres, teasers and items have dropped for games such as League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics and even Fortnite introducing new skins, merch, missions and more.
2. CRAB GAME For the ones with a broken sense of humour, Crab Game will be the perfect way how to spend your free time and interact with the chaos caused by other fellow gamers. Following the success of Netflix’s and even Roblox’s Squid Game, Dani has created their own version of the story. As a first-person multiplayer, you are required to participate in children’s mini-games in order to stay the last one alive and claim your cash prize. What makes this game special is the pureness of humanity in a non-moderated voice chat which means that anyone can say anything, creating an asylumtype of atmosphere. The game is available free for download on Steam. 3. THE DARK PICTURES: HOUSE OF ASHES As an annual tradition for the developers of ‘The Dark Pictures’, another horror game has launched exploring an ancient Egyptian underworld. Starring ‘Scary Movie’’s Ashley Tisdale, the story takes place at the end of the Iraq War when suddenly a mass destruction unearth reveals a buried Sumerian temple with ancient and unearthly creatures. The game has been recommended to be played as a multiplayer where each of the players chooses their own character/s and influences their movement, storyline, relationships and decision-making. The game requires a good sense of reaction and love for history as there are many artefacts that require reading and watching. The game costs £25 on Steam and can be played on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
SHOW AND TELL Being a female producer in a male-dominated world isn’t an easy task, however there are some out there like BIMM artist Andrea who aren’t afraid of the challenges. The Norwegian musician – who blends pop with a Latin twist, as on her latest song ‘Tell Her That Too’ – recalls the difficulties she faced at the beginning of her music career to what’s kept her inspired to keep dreaming. Words: Gery Hristova
Tell us a bit about yourself. “I’m a producer and artist, and I love to make my music for other people. I was born in Norway and I moved to Spain a few years later. Eventually, I ended up in London to study Music Production.” How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it? “I would describe it as Latin-pop that it’s kind of 90s-inspired with a 2020s twist, and it covers a range of emotions. Simply, everyone can relate to it on some level.” Do you remember the first song that you ever wrote? “I think I was 15 when I wrote it and I had just started playing the guitar. The song was called ‘Famous’. It was inspired by my encounter with a [male] producer, who claimed that he could help me become famous. But I knew there was something off about his offer, because there were so many strings attached to that whole concept. So I decided that if someone has the power to make me a massive star – that was me. That’s why I got into production, because I didn’t want to have anything to do with those kind of producers.” What’s the first thing that pops up into your mind when you hear the words ‘female producer’? “One word – power. I’m so inspired by all the females, especially those who work within the music industry and if I can be
part of those small per cent of women that are producers then I will be incredibly happy and I’ll feel like I did something.” From your perspective, what is like being a female producer? “For example, when I first came to BIMM, I saw that there were mainly guys in my class and some of them would act a little bit superior from time to time. You can find this kind of attitude in many industries, but I felt [a little] bit intimidated at first and then I noticed that the ones who were the loudest had the least to say. Once I was confident in my own skills, I’ve never doubted myself.” Did you notice any discrimination when you were applying for a job as a producer or notice a difference in the way they were treating your job application? “One time it was almost the opposite; I got the advantage. There was this opportunity from Universal. They were seeking only female producers. Even then, some guys from my class were frustrated instead of being happy for me. But not everyone is like that, you just have to find the people that will support you and will be happy for your achievements. The younger generation producers are way more open-minded, informed and opinionated and don’t think about whether you’re female or male, which makes me so happy. So I definitely see a change when I work with older versus younger music producers.”
What is it like producing your own music? “I used a different approach for each of my songs. One called ‘Dumb’, which was released in November 2020, I produced myself. The last one, ‘Tell Her That Too’ I co-produced with my uncle [Andre Lindal - Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Justin Bieber].” How long did it take you to record ‘Tell Her That Too’ and what makes it different from your other songs? “This song is the most fictional, it’s one of the most emotional songs that I have. It took me a few months to create it. At first I recorded a very raw guitar version, which I played to my uncle during the 2020 Christmas break. He saw the potential in the song and then we found ourselves working on the track for the next few months. I didn’t want to create a standard ballad. I wanted to surprise the listener, because the original song was only a piano at the beginning, which was beautiful, but we knew we had to do something else. So we added more vocals at the beginning.” What advice would you give to artists who are the very beginning of their music career? “Don’t doubt that you’re not good at music just because you don’t fit in. Build your own crowd and never stop dreaming.”
‘Tell Her That Too’ is out now. See instagram.com/andrea.tnl
BI M M I NTRODUCI NG / 15
"Don't doubt that you're not good at music just because you don't fit in. Build your own crowd and never stop dreaming."
AL B U M R EVI EWS Edited by Thomas-Brady Riseley
badbadnotgood
TALK M E MORY
‘Talk Memory’ is the sixth project from not-so-aptly-named Torontonian jazz now-trio. After breaking through in 2011 with covers of Odd Future tracks, the band have spent the last decade working with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Kaytranada, MF DOOM and Wu Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah. This is the band’s first project without keyboardist and founding member Matthew Tavares and lacks his earworm songwriting. The group put their catchy, hook-driven, radio-friendly sound on hiatus and embrace a jam-based, psychedelic, jazz-fusion flavour. The opening track ‘Signal From The Noise’ blends these new elements into a nine-minute epic, co-produced by UK’s Floating Points and accompanied by a video starring Kurupt FM’s Steve Stamp.The album displays superb technical ability and fantastic chemistry between the trio, but lacks discipline and consistency. Within eight tracks they’vethey’ve scattered some of their best songs in-between efforts that seem halfbaked. ‘Talk Memory’ is NOTBADNOTGOOD. Thomas-Bradey Riseley
e lton joh n
th e lockdown sessions
Sir Elton Hercules John requires little introduction. He’s over 30 albums under his belt, sold 300 million records worldwide and is considered one of the most important musicians of all time. Despite being in the industry for the best part of 60 years, the Rocketman is showing no sign of returning to earth anytime soon. During the pandemic, Elton, like many of us, was stuck at home with his family bingeing box sets and trying to stay sane. And so, ‘The Lockdown Sessions’ was born. Looking at the tracklist, it’s hard to believe that this is real; in what world would a record with Lil Nas X, Glen Campbell and Eddie Vedder work? The genre fluidity of this album, much like Elton himself, appeals to the masses all while fitting to the sound of the featured artist, which is especially apparent on ‘The Pink Phantom’ with Gorillaz and 6LACK. After almost two years of little to be happy about this album celebrates hope. Elton has always supported new talent and he’s used this album to introduce his newest favourite artists such as Rina Sawayama and US band Surfaces to a wider audience. On other side of the spectrum, this album features some of the most prolific names in music such as Stevie Wonder with the gospeltinged ‘Finish Line’ and Stevie Nicks with the classic-sounding “Stolen Car”. This record also has its fair share of pop stardom with the opening track “Cold Heart - PNAU Remix” by Dua Lipa which has already had plenty of airplay. Even with the near-overwhelming number of starstudded features on this album, Elton’s iconic sound and sing-along anthemic song-writing have not gone astray. This record is jam-packed with colour, joy and love and there is definitely something for everyone. If The Lockdown Sessions are anything to go by, Elton is still at his best. HOLLIE SACKETT
ALBUM REVI EWS / 17
Pi n kPanth e ress to h e ll with it
Just as bedroom pop seemed to have of run its course, London’s latest rising star injects it with throwbacks of 2-step garage, drum and bass, jungle and dancehall. After a string of hits on TikTok, her debut is boisterous and ambitious but leaves room for further artistic growth and maturity. Dubbed ‘The Queen of the 2-minute song’ she sticks to her guns with this 10-track EP clocking in at a modest 18 and a half minutes. Within the track list she pays homage to some of the UK’s most influential club tunes with samples from Crystal Waters’ old school house classic ‘Gypsy Woman’ and Sweet Female Attitude’s instantly recognisable garage hit ‘Flowers’. ‘to hell with it’ is a stunning start and points in the direction of The Pantheress, spearheading the UK Garage revival and shaking up dancefloors for years to come. Thomas-Bradey Riseley
Parquet Courts
Sym pathy For Li fe
Joy crookes
SKI N
One of the most exciting and dazzling new talents, Joy Crookes, has released her debut album ‘Skin’. Born and raised in South London, Crookes draws upon some of the most complex emotions and cultural issues in a scrapbook of truly intimate songs that pull influence from her Irish and Bangladeshi heritage. She doesn’t shy away from delving into some of the rawest and heart-wrenching emotions caused by loss and abuse on ‘To Lose Someone’ and ‘To Unlearn You’ as well as political tensions on ‘Kingdom’. But she also celebrates her love for her hometown in ‘When You Were Mine’. It’s Crookes’ openness to being vulnerable that really makes this record special and echoes the likes of Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone to The Streets and Kendrick Lamar. Her honesty and conviction within her sound and lyrics makes her a shining star in British music. HOLLIE SACKETT
Three years since the funky, New York punkrock album ‘Wide Awake’ and the lads prove they still have it. There are tracks on this album that have their signature groovy-andloud sound but they’ve pulled in sounds that wouldn’t hear out of place on a Radiohead or Depeche Mode album. Adam Savage’s vocal performance is more relaxed and romantic, and the songs themselves seem more sincere. The album has a much less nihilistic view on the world and invites us to struggle together. ‘Black Widow Spider’ is a muddy New York hardcore tribute, ‘Just Shadows’ sounds like a lost-and-never-found ‘Revolver’-era Beatles track and ‘Sympathy For Life’ has a rhythmic almost Can-like essence. ‘Sympathy For Life’ is versatile, cool, well-rounded and more mature than any other Parquet Courts album and that’s why I love it. Thomas-Bradey Riseley
18 / se lf-care Edited by Emily Cliff
RAN DOM ACTS OF KI N DN ESS
W
ith World Kindness Day (November 14) just gone, it’s important to remember that kindness is a 24/7 thing, 365 days of the year. It also makes us all feel better when we show people we know – and don’t know – that we care. Here’s three ways to do exactly that… 1. Han dwritte n Notes From recreating those little handwritten notes your mum used to put in your lunchbox to leaving them around the home for a loved one, to sneaking one in a book in the library or bookshop, notes are a great way to spread a little kindness and joy. They don’t have to be big declarations of love or personal appreciation, they could be as simple as ‘I hope you have a nice day’ or ‘Your smile looks wonderful today’. It’s the little things that can really count, and if you leave little notes like this around it’s bound to make someone’s day (and yours) a little bit brighter.
2. Ki n dn ess (A Use r's Gu i de) by Ali Catte rall & Kitty Colli ns Life is busy, and unpredictable, and sometimes if you’ve had a really shitty day it can be especially hard to be not only kind to others but to kind to yourself. This is where ‘Kindness (A User’s Guide)’ comes in. This little book has 52 stories, with one for every week of the year, and some from our favourite famous folk too, such as George Michael or Dolly Parton. So if you’re feeling a little down in the dumps, be inspired by this book to find your sunshine or to share your own.
3. Make som eon e a cu p of tea (or hot beve rag e)! You never know what someone might be going through on that day and a nice warm cup of tea being made for them can mean the world. Here at LDN we are firm believers that nothing warms the soul more than a cuppa after a long day. So next time when your flatmate gets in late from work, or if a family member has had a challenging day, pop the kettle on and make a cup of tea. Even if you have had a bad day yourself and you need a little something to soothe you, make yourself a cup of tea, sit in the comfiest chair in your home and just breathe. Yes, you are allowed biscuits. That’s a Self-Care reward staple.
CREDITS: THOMAS PARK/THIRD SERVING (UNSPLASH)
TH RE E WAYS TO SHOW YOU CARE
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