LeftLion June 2023 Issue 160

Credits

This Al-merican Life Alan Gilby (alan.gilby@leftlion.co.uk)

Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson (jared.wilson@leftlion.co.uk)

Editor George White (george.white@leftlion.co.uk)

These people #SupportLeftLion

Assistant Editor Gemma Cockrell (gemma.cockrell@leftlion. co.uk)

Head Designer Natalie Owen (natalie.owen@leftlion.co.uk)

Head of Video and Photography Curtis Powell (curtis.powell@leftlion.co.uk)

Partnerships Manager Adam Pickering (adam.pickering@leftlion. co.uk)

Web Developer Tom Errington (tom.errington@leftlion.co.uk)

Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon (addie.kenogbon@leftlion. co.uk)

Stage Co-Editor Ian C. Douglas (ian@leftlion.co.uk)

Stage Co-Editor Dom Henry (dom.henry@leftlion.co.uk)

Screen Co-Editor Jamie Morris (jamie.morris@leftlion.co.uk)

Al Draper, Alison Gove-Humphries, Alison Harrison, Alison Hedley, Anamenti, Andrene Alejandro, Anne Jennings, Ant Haywood, Audrey & Lizzy & Margot, Barbara Morgan, Ben Lester, Caroline Le Sueur, Catriona, Cerys Gibson, Chloe Langley, Chris Jarvis, Chris Mead, Chris Underwood, Claire Foss, Claire Henson, Claire Warren, Clare Foyle, Colin, Cyra Golijani-Moghaddam, D Lawson, Dan Lyons, Dan Hemmings, Darren Harvey, David Knight, Dick Watson, Donna RoweMerriman, Eddie, Eden PR, Ellen O’Hara, Emma Lipinski, Erika Diaz Petersen, Felicity Whittle, Fred Glenister, Freddy Angell, Graye Wilde, Harry Sutcliffe, Hayley Howard, Heather Hodkinson, Heather Oliver, Helena Tyce, Holly's Merry Moggies, Ian Storey, Ian Yanson, In memory of Anna Novak (Bradford and Scoraig), In memory of Jenny Smith, James Place, James Wright, Janine Lees, Jayne Paul William & Pirate Jack, Jed Southgate, Jem Woolley, Jenni Harding, Joanna Furniss, John Haslam, John Hess, John Holmes, John Scruton, Jon Blyth, Jonathan Fenn, Jos Potts, Joshua Heathcote, Judy Gray, Julian Bower, Justyn Roberts, Kathryn Hewitt, Kathleen Dunham, Kay Gilby, Kiki Dee the Cat, Koprowskit, Lawrence Poole, Les Hayes, Lilian Greenwood, Livi & Jacob Nieri, Liz Knott, Lizzy Colyer, Louise Duffield, Marc Weaver, Mark Barratt, Mark Gasson, Matt Cliffe, Matt Turpin, Matthew Riches, Mighty Lightweights, MinorOak Coworking, Miri Debah, Moira Scothern, Monica White, Nick Donovan, Nick Waine, Nigel Cooke, Nigel Hudson, Nigel King, Nina Faresin, NottingJam Orchestra, Paul Boast, Paul Woodall, Pearl Quick, Pete Barker, Peter Coghill, Philip Miller, Rachel Ayrton, Rachel Hancorn, Rachel Morton, Raphael Achache, Rebecca Freeman, Redbrick Communications, Rich Fisher, Richard Barclay, Richard Goodwin, Rob Arthur, Roger Hughes, Ron Mure, Ross Balzaretti, Roy Manterfield, Russell Brown, Sam Hudson, Sam Nahirny, Sam Rose, Samantha CulshawRobinson, Sarah Manton, Sarah Moore, Sarah Scriver, Simon Evans, Siobhan, Spicer, Steve Lyon, Steve Riordan, Steve Stickley Storyteller, Steve Wallace, Stewart Berry, Stuart Wilson, Sue Barsby, Sue Reader, Tim Foster Hair, Tom Justice, Tom Patterson, Tracey Newton, Will Horton

Fancy seeing your name (or the name of your band, small business, loved one, pet etc) in this mag every month? It only costs a fiver and the money supports this magazine. Plus you get all kinds of other treats too.

patreon.com/leftlion

Screen Co-Editor Oliver Parker (oliver.parker@leftlion.co.uk)

Music Editor Amrit Virdi (amrit.virdi@leftlion.co.uk)

Food Co-Editor Daniela Loffreda (daniela.loffreda@leftlion.co.uk)

Food Co-Editor Julia Head (julia.head@leftlion.co.uk)

Photography Co-Editor Fabrice Gagos (fabrice.gagos@leftlion.co.uk)

Photography Co-Editor Nathan Langman (nathan.langman@leftlion. co.uk)

Ilinca Sivoglo

Art Co-Editor George Dunbar (george.dunbar@leftlion.co.uk)

Cover Bryony Loveridge

Naternity Cover Raphael Achache

Editorial Interns

Rose Mason

Cara Vallance

Writers

Dani Bacon

Natalie Braber

Love CeCe

Lottie Murray

Lizzy O’Riordan

viande de ver

Gareth Watts

Nadia Whittome

leftlion.co.uk/issue160

Art Co-Editor Marta Tavares (marta.tavares@leftlion.co.uk)

Photographers

James Armstrong

Sara Day

Nigel King

Ben Middleton

Shaun Parker

Ashley Stone

Illustrators

Iulia Matei

Tracey Meek

Ilinca Sivoglo

Zarina Teli

Kate Wand

Evie Warren

Editorial Illustrations

Emily Catherine

Environment Editor Eleanor Flowerday

For as long as Ilinca can remember, she has been drawn to creative things like doodling, playing with food, and inventive ways to dodge responsibilities. She is now working as a graphics and marketing specialist for a veterinary wholesaler and clinic, where she creates marketing materials and logos, and gets to bother people’s pets. Ilinca’s art style is inspired by the video games, cartoons, and other media she got obsessed with as a child. In her free time, she enjoys playing games, watching horror films, and exploring new places. Ilinca loves travelling and learning about different cultures: She strongly believes that experience is the best teacher and that education can be found outside of a classroom.

You can find Ilinca’s The Fast and the Curious illustration on page 21

Right up Our Street Scott Taylor talks us through We Share These Streets - the twenty-episode podcast exploring the days of Nottingham past

A Podcast Producer in Notts

Dawn of the Red

Our resident Nottingham Forest expert Gareth Watts chats to the team behind the Garibaldi Red podcastour city’s leading Forest pod

Most of us have listened to a podcast or two (thousand) at this point, but how are they put together? We find out

Listen Up

We dive into the ever-growing world of podcasts to answer an incredibly important question - why are they so beloved?

Giving a Foot Swapping Nottingham for Chelsea is a rare move for most - but not Straight Outta

Cobham’s Matt Davies-Adams

Dreaming Big

If you don’t know the name yet, you will soon: Jayahadadream is one of Nottingham’s most exciting hip hop artists

Hello there,

Look, it’s tough for me to be sincere - but I’m going to try my best. In case you haven’t spotted the announcement online, I’m off to RadioTimes.com from next month (although I’ll be sticking around as Screen Co-Editor), so I wanted to say a final big ups to my great team in my final mag.

LeftLion is a genuinely important institution. Very few cities have any magazine dedicated to their creative scene, let alone one that’s filled with phenomenally talented creatives themselves - many of whom dedicate their free time to making this look as beautiful, and read as beautifully, as it does. The mag, like the city itself, is well worth celebrating.

As Editor - and Assistant Editor before that - I’ve been lucky enough to call on these phenomenal creatives to help put together a run of issues that I’m incredibly proud of. I’ve loved sending wordy, nonsensical briefs to illustrators like Iulia Matei, Evie Warren, Emmy Lupin, Ilinca Sivoglo, Jim Brown, Zarina Teli, Bryony Loveridge, Ciaran Burrows or Kate Wand (to name a few) and getting back genuine works of art. It’s been a blast putting out frantic, lastminute calls to our Photography Editors,

Do the Monstrous Mash

A Winning Formula

NTU grad Christian Hewgill + BBC Radio 1’s Greg James + a ton of exciting guests and co-hosts = one very popular Formula 1 podcast

If you’re a film buff, there’s no better podcast to listen to right now than Monstrous Fleshthe fortnightly horror deep-dive

Going In Yard

We sit down with YARD Outernational, the Notts-based dealers of fashion books, zines, art, and printed merch

Bringing It

The Mojatu Foundation have been doing top work in Notts for years - including through their pod, Bring It To The Table

Working 5-9

With co-hosts located all over the world, the 5-9 Albums of the Month podcast is a go-to for discovering new music

Leftlion in the wild

Fabrice and Nathan, who consistently bring home grade-A portraits from either their own cameras or those of our talented team of contributors. It’s always a pleasure to commission and edit (although, often, barely edit) the words of brilliant writers like Yasmin Turner, Lewis Keech, Gareth Watts, and all of our lovely section editors. And, of course, I owe so much to the little LeftLion office family - not least a bruised ego from the consistently sharp-edged #banter that flies around.

We’re also blessed in this city to have so much cracking off across Nottingham’s independent scene at all times. There are constantly top-quality musicians, filmmakers, artists, fashionistas, photographers, and more for us to shine a light on - and they make sure I don’t have to lie when I say Nottingham is the best city in the country.

Anyway, that’s enough sentimental drivel from me. I’ll catch you on the next oneyou’ll just catch a little less of me…

Big ups, George White Editor

Scarlett’s Hot Sauce

Cute little article about our sister @carolinas_chilli signature CHILLI LOADED NACHOS in @leftlionmagazine @scarletts_hotsauce

LeftLion Ltd is a carbon neutral company, having reduced our direct emissions by 99% since 2018. We offset the rest via direct air capture from Climeworks. LeftLion Magazine is fully recyclable and compostable, made from recycled or FSC® certified (C015932) sources, and printed using renewable energy. The emissions of this paper are offset via the World Land Trust.

Top Dog

Going Underground

illustrations: Kate Wand

If you’ve ever thought about doing crime, think again. Not just because it’s bad - that’s important, too - but because my old pal PD Wolf will sort you out good and proper. That’s what four ne’er-do-wells in Ravenshead found to their embarrassment recently, when my canine friend hunted them down and dobbed them in after a high-speed pursuit. You come for the king, you best not miss.

An Otter Surprise

Another of my mates had a slightly less heroic time this past month, when Nottingham’s Alicia Barratt discovered Ollie the Otter under her decking, sniffing around for scraps, a full mile away from water. Look, when you’re hungry, you’re hungry - it makes you do crazy things. I once found myself in Derby on the hunt for a cheap kebab. Getting spotted under some decking ain’t half as bad.

The Fast and the Furious

We’ve all been there: You’re reading your local rag on a bench in town, and some absolute nutter comes flying past on their mobility scooter, about blowing your paper into next Tuesday. Well, finally, someone is taking a stand - and that someone is Mansfield’s Peter Henson. A mobility user himself, Peter is hoping others take his lead, act a little less like that Vince Diesel fella, and actually respect His Majesty’s Highway Code. You’re doing God’s work, Henson.

The Poem definition of words

words. the lyrics of existence, different in earth's each faction, separated by distance, and method of extraction, and adaption, and re-extraction, from some ancient verbal system, used for some transaction, or assistance, in expressing some passion, or attraction, and inconsistent throughout time's fashion, in one moment a physical caption, and the next an electrical transmittance, or some digital action, then dopamine reaction, then satisfaction, but despite every difference, and resistance, and fashion, the one thing that'll survive this instance of existence is the persistence of words.

“Sometimes it’s easier to be a fascist than argue.”

“Tell you what we should do: We should get cleaned up and go somewhere nice, like Costco.”

“I'd like to be a teacher, if being a teacher was different to how it is.”

Woman 1: “Is he dead cultured then?”

Woman 2: “Not really. He just doesn’t like baked beans, or drinking squash.”

“He runs like a chicken… Mind you, he looks like a chicken.”

“So they're lesbians and vegetarians?”

“No, those are two separate weddings.”

“I just love laughing at people getting hurt - it's funny.”

“You shouldn't speak ill of the dead… but he was an arsehole.”

“Every time I meet her she just smells of candles.”

“It's still fashion even if it's from Asda.”

“He was so excited I thought, 'He's going to piss on me.'”

“I feel that Jesus was down with the hip hop.” “I'm basically your Gregg's sugar daddy.”

“Ew, my face tastes salty.”

“I hate anythingbottomlessdisgusting.”it's

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm a young creative person born and bred in Nottingham. I don't really know who or what I am or who or what I'd like to be in the future. The only certainty I have is that I want to be happy. At the moment, I find this happiness through being a storyteller. I define this by listening to stories of every shape and size from across the world, processing them internally and creating something to solidify the feelings I experienced whilst listening.

What's this poem about?

This poem is sort of a unique definition of words. I was intrigued by the evolution of language throughout time - especially as a person who speaks multiple languages myself. I just thought how crazy it is that once upon a time words didn't exist, and now they are everywhere. Literally, you are reading these words right now. They can be spoken, or written, and now displayed digitally. Who knows what words will be like in the future?

Our mole on the ground isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to bring you the Notts stories you might have missed...

The Poet viande de ver

words: Dani Bacon

Nottingham’s most opinionated grocers on...

King’s Coronation

We very much enjoyed it. They had a marvellous orchestra in the church, and the singers in the rafters were excellent. We only watched it for four-and-a-half hours this time as when we watched the Queen’s funeral all day, it wore us out. We also enjoyed the concert at Windsor Castle the day after; it wasn’t long-winded, everyone did two songs each, and no-one got bored. Take That were very entertaining - as was the young lad, Jerub, who was the first one out and from Nottingham. We’ll keep an eye out for him.

Glastonbury Festival

We’ve never been. We probably won’t get a chance at this stage. But we can’t stand camping. Or Elton John for that matter - it’s about time he retired! Did you know that he was the first act to ever play Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall? All that way back in November 1982. We were there for that, he was supported by a band called Stray Cats. We’d like to see Guns N' Roses though. They dress like proper rock stars, and look like The Doors.

Podcasts

It’s like radio on your phone, right? We are not big on podcasts, but we have recently listened to The Rest Is Politics, the podcast with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. We liked the episode where they argued about whether to play the London Palladium or the O2 Arena. They’re both very intelligent people.

Pick Six

Notts Spot

Although I really love being in the city, I like that in Nottingham you can also be in nature so quickly - Wollaton and Attenborough are close by, and the Trent and canal are also great places to walk and cycle. In the city, I like going to different independent cafes in Hockley and the Lace Market.

Holiday Destination

Being half-Dutch, I like to make sure I go to the Netherlands regularly - lots of cycling, great beaches, lovely food, and it's great to wander around the streets of gorgeous cities such as Delft, Amsterdam, and Utrecht. Meal

That's a really tricky one as there are so many delicious things - I really enjoy eating food from all different sorts of cultures and countries, but vegetarian enchiladas have got to be top of the list!

We task Professor Natalie Braber, one of the hosts of Nottingham Trent University’s Re:search Re:imagined podcast, with picking a few of her favourite things…

Song

Prince is one of my favourite musical artists, and songs such as Kiss and Starfish and Coffee are always great to listen to. I like checking out live music and have been lucky enough to go to Splendour in the past few years - seeing The Specials was a real highlight.

Film

I like really, really sad films - so top choices are probably Dancer in the Dark, The Bridges of Madison County, and Manchester by the Sea. As well as watching films, I really like Scandi noir, and crime box sets are always welcome!

Book Again, I like really sad stories, so Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer is great. But I'm also really fascinated by South America - so I love Isabel Allende’s work, and the ‘Latin American trilogy’ by Louis de Bernières is also fantastic. To escape, I like to read Jo Nesbø's books, as they are such pageturners.

If everyone became respectful and kind to each other, there would be no new true crime podcasts for you to listen to…

Nadia on... Care

The second week of June (5-11 this year) is Carers Week - an annual campaign drawing attention to the enormous contributions of this often-ignored group.

There are anywhere between 10 and 16 million disabled people in the UK. Every single one of them deserves to have their basic needs met, and more: to live a fulfilling life as part of society, with as much freedom and independence as possible. For some, this requires having the support of another person or people to assist them with daily tasks.

Like many roles disproportionately performed by women, caring work - whether paid or unpaid - is underappreciated and can feel invisible. As a former care worker, I find it absurd that many people consider it an “unskilled” job. It’s both physically and emotionally demanding, requires an in-depth knowledge of a person’s needs, and calls for impeccable attention-to-detail - you don’t want to miss any small change that can be a symptom of a serious medical problem. You might be administering medication, helping someone who had a fall, or trying to brighten someone’s day who has no one else to talk towhile knowing that, during every shift, you’re responsible for another person’s life.

But acknowledgement alone is not enough. We all remember the early days of the pandemic, when Government ministers enthusiastically took part in the weekly ritual of clapping for our carers. Sadly, this performative appreciation didn’t come with any material change. More than three years on, many of my old colleagues are having to cope with the cost-of-living crisis on the minimum wage and a zero-hours contract.

As a result, around 165,000 roles in social care in England are unfilled, as workers struggling to pay the bills quit for higher-paid jobs elsewhere. But instead of investing in decent pay and conditions for staff, the Tories have recently decided to cut £250 million from the funding aimed at supporting and growing the social care workforce, a Health Service Journal report found.

The systemic underfunding of social care has wide-ranging consequences. Apart from the workers, those most directly impacted are disabled people themselves. According to Age UK, 2.6 million people over fifty have unmet care needs. Privatisation has meant care homes being run by unaccountable, for-profit companies, leading to English councils spending £480 million in four years on homes deemed inadequate and unsafe, claims a Guardian investigation.

Where social care is lacking, the NHS often picks up the slack. Guardian analysis found that, in some hospitals, up to one in three beds are occupied by patients who no longer need to be there but cannot be discharged - because they have nowhere else to go where they’d get appropriate support. This deepens the crisis in our health service, while depriving thousands of the chance to live a more independent life.

While campaigning for fair pay and conditions for care workers, we can’t forget about unpaid carers, who are supporting an ill or disabled person in their lives. According to the latest census, there are 5 million unpaid carers in England and Wales. Charities estimate that the real number could even be twice as high, because many carers don’t identify as such, instead seeing their duties as part of being a good relative, friend, or partner. For the same reason, many might not be accessing the government support they’re entitled to. But work done out of love is still work, and those performing it deserve a decent standard of living, too.

The Carer’s Allowance, available to people who spend at least 35 hours weekly on their duties, is only £76.75 per week - the lowest benefit of its kind. A survey by Carers UK found that over a quarter of carers are struggling to make ends meet, one in five struggle to afford food, and one in twelve of those receiving Carer’s Allowance have had to use a food bank. Carers also face barriers in the workplace, and loneliness, stress and financial pressures can contribute to poor mental health.

Like raising children, ensuring the dignity of elderly and disabled people shouldn’t just be the responsibility of their loved ones. Our whole society must be organised in a way that enables it. This starts with a National Care Service, free at the point of use, fully public, and democratically-run in the interests of workers and care recipients. People who need care should be able to decide what’s best for them, including if they’re better off in a residential setting or their own home.

Unpaid carers must get proper financial support, and have the option of accessing free respite care when they need a break. Work should also be flexible, to give equal opportunities to people with caring responsibilities. One week of unpaid care leave, granted by the Government last year, is a step forward - but given the high rates of poverty among carers, many won’t be able to take it anyway. In order to be fair, it must be fully-paid. In my column last month, I wrote about the growing movement for a four-day working week. Time off is a carers’ rights issue, too. Having more of it would allow all of us to spend more time looking after those we love, and reduce the pay gap carers face.

Caring for one another is part of what makes us human. Most of us will need care at some point of our lives, and many of us will provide it. This Carers Week, let’s acknowledge the vital importance of care, and campaign for a better deal for those who give and receive it.

nadiawhittome.org

The systemic underfunding of social care has wide-ranging consequences

words: Nadia Whittome photo: Fabrice Gagos

Notts Shots

Want to have your work featured? Send your high-res photos from around the city, including your full name and best web link, to photography@leftlion.co.uk

Old Rusty James Armstrong - @james_a_armstrong

Stepping up Nathan Langman - @_meadowman2

He’s one of our own Nathan Langman - @_meadowman2

A Ruddy good view Sara Day

Golden hour Shaun Parker - @sparkerphotography2023

A Podcast Producer in Notts

illustration: Zarina Teli

Most of us have listened to a podcast or two (thousand) at this point, but how are they put together? We find out from a behind-the-scenes expert…

I’ve been a podcast producer for a little over a year now. A lot of people assume my job is simply cutting and sticking bits of audio together, but there’s much more to it than that.

Podcasts have only recently become a big thing. When I first started studying Broadcast Journalism at Nottingham Trent University, I’d barely even listened to one. The industry basically came out of nowhere.

Of course, this definitely wasn’t what I expected to do. I assumed I would end up working for the BBC or something, and throughout my degree I played around with a bit of radio work. That’s where I found my passion for audio.

When the recording is complete, I piece the audio together and check it flows seamlessly. This is the simple bit for me, as it’s the part I most enjoy. It may sound bizarre, but I make sure not to edit out all the ‘ums’, as I don’t want it to sound too scripted. I think one of the most attractive qualities about podcasts is the way it makes you feel immersed in a real, natural human conversation.

Once the episode is scheduled to be released, my work doesn’t stop there. I create graphics for social media, which generally advertise the new episode and help to maximise its reach.

At the moment, I run everything myself - I’m a producer, editor, and administrator. It’s a lot of hard work, and definitely less glamorous than I expected, but being a team of one helps to make the job a lot more streamlined: I know exactly what the client is looking for and how I’m going to get them there.

During COVID, I found it especially hard to find a permanent job. I did a lot of freelance work, which helped me to find my feet in the industry and gain some decent experience. Eventually, I started chatting with a company that wanted to start a podcast, but wasn’t sure where to begin - so I jumped at the opportunity and said, “Let me run this.”

Now, I generally work from home. Typically, a big chunk of my day is spent arranging interviews with potential guests for the show and getting all the admin tasks done. The podcast I currently work on is very business-related, so most guests either own a business or are struggling with a particular problem they’d like advice on.

One of the most important parts of my job is ensuring the podcast is being recorded correctly. Guests are usually connected through Zoom, so it’s critical to check both parties know how to record their own audio. Occasionally, it can only be our end of the recording that’s working, or someone will sit too far from the mic - which can be a total nightmare for me when trying to edit!

In the past, I could never really switch off from work. If I was out for dinner and a work email popped up on my phone, I wouldn’t be able to resist checking it. Additionally, while it’s great having the freedom to choose my own working hours, it can make it especially difficult to set boundaries. When I was editing a podcast for someone living in New Zealand, we were both working on completely different time zones. I would stay up really late working on something that easily could’ve waited until the next day. It’s especially important to find a good work-life balance and, now that I’m no longer freelancing, I’m a lot closer to achieving that.

In some ways, I’d say this job can be a bit repetitive, so I’m excited to start working on some new projects, which will help to mix things up a bit. My next venture is a lifestyle-based podcast with an amazing female host who will be covering some really important feminine topics. When you sit down to edit audio, you can’t play music or have the TV on in the background - you have to have your full attention on listening, so editing a podcast I have a genuine interest in will be much more enjoyable.

Starting your own podcast is a great way to demonstrate you have what it takes to record audio, edit, and put the whole package together. Even if you don’t publish it online, gaining experience and building a portfolio is particularly important when trying to get into such a competitive creative field.

I think one of the most attractive qualities about podcasts is the way it makes you feel immersed in a real, natural human conversation

words: Lizzy O’Riordan illustration: Iulia Matei

LISTEN UP

People love podcasts. Okay, maybe not all people - but with over 464 million worldwide podcast listeners, it’s pretty fair to say that they’re popular. Plus, Nottingham has a wealth of podcast creators, ranging from gossip in The Girls Bathroom to historical tours through We Share These Streets. That’s why we decided to dive into the world of this ever-growing form and create a podcast edition of our magazine - starting with the most important question, why are they so beloved?

Whether listening on your commute, while doing the pots, or when setting off on a road trip, podcasts are a massively popular form of media. They’re easy to listen to wherever you are, they don’t require much commitment, and they’re the perfect distraction when you’re feeling bored. Which is why so many people (including the staff at LeftLion) love them. But what are the deeper reasons behind their success, and what sparked their mass popularity? Well, there’s no better person to ask than a podcast host - which is why we got in contact with Grace Cordell, the brains behind the REDRUM true crime podcast.

Serial became the first ever podcast to receive a Peabody Award - marking the medium as one worthy of journalistic applause

The second most popular genre of podcast, taking up 37% of monthly listeners, true crime is a mainstay in the podcast world. Known for its good storytelling and criticised for its voyeurism, the genre has caught the attention of many. Why? Well, “There’s something incredibly engaging about podcasts,” as Grace tells us. “I usually listen on the go, and often miss my entire commute because I’m wrapped up in the story of what’s happening.” And, as for the true crime genre specifically, the popularity is partly down to fascination from the listener and, as Grace says, a desire for safety - with the majority of listens coming from women. Part of a long tradition of chiming into scary stories to learn about the dangers of the world (see: fairy tales), it seems natural that this genre draws in so many people.

Plus, though podcasts, previously known as ‘audioblogs’, have routes dating back to the 1980s, true crime can be considered as one of the pivotal genres in modern podcast success. Notably, the series Serial (2014) became the first ever podcast to receive a Peabody Award - marking the medium as one worthy of journalistic applause.

However, with that being said, most listeners don’t check out podcasts purely for their accuracy, or prize-winning journalistic integrity. Instead, as a form, they’re very personality-driven - and it’s that intimate touch that makes podcasts so special in comparison to other forms of media. Generally told from a first-person perspective, most centre around the concept of spending time with your host. Unlike a film, show, or news production, it’s not all about the topic or genre. Picking a good podcast is more like choosing which friend you want to share time with. As

Grace points out, she will often listen to two or three podcasts on the exact same topic because “different hosts always bring something new”. The listener is there for personalities, the jokes between hosts, the tangents that crop up, the meandering thoughts and reflections shared throughout.

Podcasts are also a tantalising prospect for those wanting to get behind the microphone. A massively accessible form of media to produce, one doesn’t need a studio or expensive equipment to create a podcast. This means that anyone - anywhere - can make one, which, in turn, makes it the perfect space for fans of both popular and niche topics to meet and discuss. You want to dive into an issue? There is most likely a podcast on it. Additionally, the lack of time limitations means that hosts can go into as much detail as they like. There aren’t many other formats that can feasibly run for dozens of hours, but podcasts do whatever they want. For the most part, there’s no-one setting boundaries, and this works in their favour - particularly when it comes to topics like history or fandom, where listeners want to consume the maximum amount of detail.

Of course, this does mean existing podcasts have to fight for relevance, in a sphere where new productions are constantly emerging. As Grace tells us, “I try to add a sociopolitical comment to an episode if the case feels driven,” marking her podcast as unique in comparison to others of the same genre. She also has ‘victim-focused content’, which “came from quite a lack of that when I started”. So, whether covering true crime, comedy, history, gossip, film, or something significantly more singular, creators need to find a new angle - whether that’s the content you discuss, or (more likely) the way you discuss it.

A continually growing form, particularly among Gen-Zers, it doesn’t seem like podcasts will be going anywhere soon. Plus, thanks to opportunities for advertising revenue, there’s also a massive incentive for podcasters to keep expanding their shows and their audiences alike. Creating a sense of intimacy between creator and listener, providing depth on your favourite topics, and generating a sense of comfort in audiences’ lives, podcasts ultimately seem like they are (or, at least, they should be) a force for good. So, we’re excited to watch as they continue to grow. And, if you fancy supporting some of your local creators, there’s plenty out there (or in this very magazine) for you to check out.

You can listen to REDRUM on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Right Up Our Street

words: Lottie Murray photos: Nathan Langman

Do you ever consider the streets you’re walking on? What happened on them hundreds of years ago? These are the exact questions Scott Taylor asked himself when he created We Share These Streets - the twenty-episode podcast exploring the days of Nottingham past…

The popularity of podcasts has undeniably increased over the past decade, and online streaming services make listening to a plethora of topics, via podcast format, very accessible. During lockdown, Scott Taylor felt inspired to make his own series, and so decided to put his enthusiasm for the history of his hometown to good use, by allowing others to join him on his journey of discovery and the preservation of ordinary people’s stories which are largely forgotten about in the history books.

Scott appears to have a quite relaxed and positive approach to the process of creating We Share These Streets, which has proven to be an excellent decision. The episodes were all recorded in Scott’s home; no fancy studio, mics, special guests. Yet the atmosphere he creates in each one is perfect for the listener to feel a subconscious connection with the folk whose stories are being shared: “I always really liked the ones that are homemade.”

The very essence of the podcast is locality and personability, and this was developed by Scott when he decided to reach out to a mutual connection on Twitter, Danielle Etches, who would later become the co-creator/researcher for We Share These Streets.

Having still never physically met Danielle in person, Scott was initially very impressed by her Twitter account, describing her feed as having “really cool tweets about her family history, which was largely Nottingham-based.” Despite the “fragmented way” that the podcast came together, this collaboration harvested the ability to produce well-researched content and an exploration of “true tales of everyday folk in bygone Nottingham”.

With the nature of this podcast topic, it can be difficult to find themes and details to hone in on from a story point of view, and then create an episode that people truly want to listen to. Scott outlines that the process of finding a suitable and engaging tale stems from “a discussion between us [Scott and Danielle] consisting of sending stuff back and forth for sometimes weeks.” This online communication works well for the pair, and Scott states that “from us conversing, I know a little bit, so I’m fairly comfortable when I come to deliver it.”

Scott’s interest in Nottingham, and his eagerness to learn more about people who walked these streets some hundred years ago, is beautiful and refreshing. Although it is hard for anyone to really pinpoint where an interest stems from, Scott distinctly remembers that when he was younger, growing up in the nineties, he “got into going to the library and looking at pictures because there used to be a railway station there, but I didn’t really know that until my mum told me.”

This nostalgic reflection on Scott’s younger self having a fascination for what once was has been developed into something impressive, and the podcast now acts as comfort to current folk living here. Scott describes his connection with Nottingham as being “purely personal” and he is so interested in our culture primarily because “my roots are here”.

Neither Danielle nor Scott have any background of studying history, and the beauty of producing a podcast is that qualification isn’t a requirement. Scott’s interest lies in what “people tend to call social history; I am really not interested in kings and queens.” Normal people are an essential part of all elements of historical research - they were the people who influenced policy and they were “previously the majority. The kings and queens, and politicians, even with their income, were the minority and in the elite, comfortable group.”

Like most cities, many people currently living in Nottingham are students, and thus they do not have as personal a connection to our spot as a lot of locals. From the surface, one of the biggest attractions to tourists and temporary residents is Nottingham Castle and the legacy that Robin Hood left - but Scott believes that these things essentially distract people from appreciating the rest of the heritage and culture present within the city. “Although the site and the caves underneath are massively important, there are buildings in the city centre which are older than it,” he asserts, “so I’m just not massively into it.”

Overall, Scott and Danielle are much more interested in the independent achievements of locals as opposed to things that “Nottingham has done as an authority”. Scott tells us that he has discovered individuals such as Watson Fothergill, who has influenced the city in big ways - but is rarely mentioned by the “tourist board or the local authority” in the same way that Robin Hood is.

The past and present have such a connection, but on a day-to-day basis, we don’t particularly fathom it. From Scott’s perspective, the relationship between Nottingham’s past and present is “more of a reflection of the past” than the past having an influence as such. Interestingly, Scott focuses on the shift from “manufacturing to academia”: Where, previously, the majority of people came to Nottingham due to traditional industries, such as the lace trade in the Georgian and Victorian era, now it is primarily for studying and attending university. “People are still drawn here, albeit for completely different reasons - but it was always a bit of a mishmash.”

From this observation, Scott concludes that, overall, “Maybe Nottingham has a tradition of uniting populations, and can still do that.”

The We Share These Streets podcast bridges the gap between parts of the city and people that are no longer with the living elements of the city which still flourish. I encourage you to join Scott and Danielle in their appreciation for the history of Nottingham and ask yourself the question, ‘If I was born in a different time, but with largely the same circumstances, who would I be?’

You can find We Share These Streets Podcast on Spotify or YouTube @WSTSpod

I focus on what people tend to call social history; I am really not interested in kings and queens

GIVING A FOOT

The path from Nottingham to Chelsea is hardly a well-trodden one - yet that’s exactly the route that Matt Davies-Adams, commentator for Chelsea TV and host of the Straight Outta Cobham podcast, has taken. We hear from the Forest fan about what it’s like covering the modern form of the beautiful game, especially with a focus on a team that’s not your own…

Imagine it. You have your dream job. You get to talk about football for a living. But… you’re not talking about your own club. Does that ruin the magic, or does it help you to stay objective?

Matt Davies-Adams, Nottingham Forest fan but host of The Athletic’s Chelsea FC podcast, Straight Outta Cobham, knows the answer better than anyone. And, while there’s obviously nothing quite like watching your club, Matt claims that analysing, reporting on, and being immersed in the world of another can quickly win over your heart. “I always say that I’m a Forest supporter and a Chelsea sympathiser,” laughs Matt, who has commentated for Chelsea TV since the 2011-12 season. “I’ve worked for them for over a decade, and I’ve seen every game they’ve played for ten years - so I think it’d be weird if I didn’t care. It’d certainly make the job a lot more difficult if I didn’t. I often have to remind myself to be objective when I’m on other shows that aren’t totally Chelsea-focused.”

Have I, myself a tormented Chelsea fan, booked in this interview solely to chat about my beloved Blues, though? Of course not - that would be wildly unprofessional. And, besides, chatting Chelsea is hardly a fun activity these days. No, I wanted to sit down with Matt because football, at least for me, ain’t what it used to be. As ironic as it is for a Chelsea fan to say (what, with us basically inventing the idea of a club buying its way to trophies), the heart of the sport - from the outside, at least - appears to have dissipated somewhat. The growing prevalence of multi-club models, the sky-high (pun intended) price of watching a match on TV, the even sky-higher (it’s a term) cost of going to games - it’s all very easy to feel disillusioned. But how does it feel as an insider, as someone whose entire career revolves around the sport?

“I still love football as much as ever,” Matt, also host of the What The EFL?! podcast, asserts. “A lot has changed in the time I’ve been covering it, and there are lots of things about it that I really dislike - in the way that it’s run, and how club owners operate, and how it’s all marketed. There’s plenty to be critical about. But I always come back to the fact that I’d spent a long time not working in football, and I had lots of other jobs - at Capital One just down the road, for example - and I was rubbish at all of them because I didn’t have any passion for them. It’s hard working in football because you work every weekend and you work late, which isn’t easy when you have a young family, but I’d still rather be doing this over anything else, and it’ll always be a massive privilege to be able to do it.”

Yes, that’s even the case when the team you’re spotlighting are down on their luck, low on morale and, let’s be honest, a bit of an embarrassment. “It can be difficult to cover a side that’s in a bad spell. It’s certainly taught me diplomacy skills,” Matt smiles. “But you’ve got to be as honest as you can, otherwise you lose people. If it just becomes all about cheerleading, then that doesn’t really serve anybody. And there is usually always something to discuss. It’s been a bit of a grind talking about the league, where there really hasn’t been anything to play for, but there’s always something you can pick out - whether that’s an individual or a performance. The good thing about football is that there’s always another game, so you can dwell on one thing for a bit, but then you can instantly look ahead to what’s coming next.”

For those out of the loop, Chelsea - once a mega-force on the English and global stage - have barely scored a goal this season, let alone won a trophy. On top of that, the new American ownership have… struggled to adapt to the beautiful game (to put it mildly). Four managers have taken to the dug-out, countless players have arrived at the club, and masses of supporters have made their feelings known at matches, booing players and coaches alike after runs of bad results. Writing this down as a Chelsea fan might be painful - but it does at least keep those reporting on the side on their toes.

“There’s always something ridiculous that happens at Chelsea, whether it’s them winning a trophy they shouldn’t win or some unexpected drama that no one expects. Last year was a bit of a curveball, with them being sanctioned,” muses Matt. “That was obviously horrific - I lost a lot of work because of that - but there’s constantly something interesting happening at the club. I always say there’s no team I’d rather cover than Chelsea, because you’re never short of stuff to talk about.”

That’s all well and good, and Matt’s passion for his adopted second team is certainly genuine, but if the chance to cover his club came about, would he really turn it down? “Of course, Forest are in my mind,” the World Feed commentator admits, “but it’s a very limited area - when I left BBC Radio Nottingham in 2007, Colin Fray and David Jackson were still working there, and they do such a fantastic job. Yet it’s not realistic to say I’ll never be the Forest commentator; I’d love to do that, and I’ve done a few little bits with the in-house media team. I do think it would be different taking on Forest because, when we talk about working on your passion, that’s probably a little too close to home...” To use the old cliche, though, never say never. Whether objectively or not, you Reds may one day hear Matt Davies-Adams narrating a screamer at the City Ground. But, until then, us Blues will continue to make the most of his entertaining quips and sharp analysis - even if said analysis is a bit of a downer right now…

Straight Outta Cobham is available on all podcasting platforms @MattDaviesAdams

words: George White

illustration: Evie Warren

I still love football as much as ever. A lot has changed in the time I’ve been covering it, and there are lots of things about it that I really dislike, but I’d rather be doing this over anything else

Dawn of the Red

words: Gareth Watts illustration: Kate Wand

Featuring leading Nottingham Forest experts, former Nottingham Forest players, and die-hard Nottingham Forest fans, the Garibaldi Red podcast is quickly becoming our city’s leading - you guessed it - Nottingham Forest podcast. Our own Reds correspondent, Gareth Watts, runs us through its rise…

The Garibaldi Red podcast began in February 2020 and is hosted by Matt Davies, Social Media Editor at Reach PLC, whose publications include our city’s beloved Nottingham Post. At that time, Nottingham Forest were doing well in England’s second tier, but would prove (as per the many, many preceding seasons) to be not quite good enough for a promotion spot. With a dedicated fanbase, who’d feasted for decades on the tales of past glories, there was always potential for a large audience for a Forest pod that got it right - and an even larger audience if a Forest team ever got it right.

With his role at the Nottingham Post, and the ensuing connections with the club and throughout the media, Davies was ideally-placed to launch a podcast that was betterinformed than ranty fan efforts (RIP the LeftLion Football Podcast - and thanks again to our listener) without being a bland ‘official’ club product. In this spirit, the regular contributors were critical to maintaining that balance: the optimism and exuberance of fans Mikey Clarke and Greg Mitchell, a member of Forest fan group Forza Garibaldi, is offset by the poised pragmatism of Michael Temple, Commercial Director of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Temple himself feels one iTunes review put it best when “it compared Matt to the village vicar, Greg to the ‘everything is brilliant’ man from The Fast Show, and me to a typical tit off LinkedIn… which was hilarious.”

Insight from former players includes that of Reds legends Garry Birtles and David Prutton, as well as expert analysis from BT Sport’s Darren Fletcher. It’s a great listen because you’re tantalised by some insider knowledge at the same time as being enthused by the fan contributors.

It’s the hope that kills you, especially with Forest, but last year Greg’s outrageous prediction ‘finish fourth and get promoted’ was spot on. Forest fans had a dream season and Davies’ prolific output meant that Garibaldi Red was with us every step of

the way. Viewer and listener (the podcast is simultaneously streamed on Facebook and YouTube) figures skyrocketed such that, in Nottingham at least, the lads are becoming household names. Greg is even a repeat guest on Sky Sports’ The Overlap “It’s transformed my job and the industry is transforming at a rapid pace,” reflects Davies. “The podcast started off as a side project and it’s ballooned and coincided with the way that the media has diversified: Many people seem more interested in watching videos and listening to podcasts.”

Indeed, Davies is clearly the defensive midfielder who holds the show together, and I’m struck when interviewing the gang at the fierce sense of loyalty his guests have towards him. “Matt brought us together,” Temple notes. “As a host, he lets everybody breathe. It’s not six voices all fighting for a pay cheque: We’re all respectful of each other’s answers.” Another seemingly deft touch by Davies lies in the broad structure of each episode. As Mikey says, “We’ll spend half of it looking back at what’s happened, but crucially half of it looking forward at what’s to come. Let’s go again.”

As I write, Forest are scrapping for Premier League safety and Garibaldi Red continues to lead us through the mass nail-biting. So what does the future hold for the pod? Although originally co-hosted by Sarah Clapson (also of the Post), the line-up had been somewhat male-dominated for several months. Cue the recent arrival of BBC East Midlands’ Emily Anderson as pod fan and hugely popular guest. Could Emily be a more regular voice? “The plan is that hopefully Emily will become just as big a part of it as the lads,” Davies says, and in an incredible season where Forest Women have bagged several trophies, the logical step would be to increase the focus on the women’s team, too.

I’m most intrigued by the moments of tenderness shared on the show. Greg was openly upset in describing his sister’s recent cancer battle and regularly updates listeners about his friend Sam Perkins’ charity efforts to fundraise since his

Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis. “I do let my guard down and it’s been really nice, especially regarding my sister; people come up to me in the ground and ask me how she is and she’s doing really well now.” Football fans mirror society and, as such, moments of humanity and vulnerability like these seem particularly significant. “We don’t want to be at the extreme ends of the debate, it’s nuanced: it’s not terrible or brilliant, there’s lots to talk about in between,” Temple reflects. And listeners to the podcast can hear fellow fans talking about their own lives - the difficult family stuff as well as the Wembley knees-ups.

Indeed, the podcast form, in narrowcasting for niche interests at a level of detail that broadcasters could never allocate the time for, is an accidentally intimate medium. Win, lose or draw, with Garibaldi Red my daily commute is spent with four mates, chewing the fat about Forest. And life is that little bit better for it.

The Garibaldi Red podcast is available on all major platforms. To find out more about Sam Perkins’ fundraising, please visit @StandAgainstMND

We’ll spend half of each podcast looking back at what’s happened, but crucially half of it looking forward at what’s to come. Let’s go again

A Winning FormulA

Our Daniela Loffreda sits down with Formula 1 journalist and Nottingham Trent University graduate Christian Hewgill to chat about his chart-topping motorsports podcast, The Fast and the Curious, working with Greg James, and studying in our fair city…

Formula 1 has exploded in popularity over the last two years. But, while the general public has come to love the high-speed, wheel-to-wheel racing, it has a reputation for being a little bit complicated at times.

Thankfully, the sport has been blessed with a number of great podcasts that are dedicated to making racing easy to understand, accessible, and welcoming to all. The Fast and the Curious, hosted by BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James, BBC Sport’s Betty Glover, and, most importantly, Nottingham Trent University graduate Christian Hewgill, is one such podcast - and has taken the Formula 1 community by storm, proving an instant hit with newbies and veteran fans alike. Christian tells us all about it…

Yourself, Greg, and Betty have such different paths and journeys into the sport. How did the idea for a podcast come about, and how was the team formed?

I got to know Greg James when I was working on Newsbeat for Radio 1. In my last eighteen months or so, I was regularly reading the news on his breakfast show, and we got to know each other. There was one morning when I was reading the news - and you have to remember those shifts started at four o'clock in the morning, so I'd be getting ready at three o'clock in the morning, and I would literally throw any item of clothing on my body I could physically lay my hands on - and I chucked on a Mercedes gym top. When I got into work, I saw Greg and he said, “Oh, you've come to work dressed as Toto Wolff!” And I was like, “Oh, you're a Formula 1 fan?! I didn't realise that.”

I later announced that I was leaving Newsbeat and Greg messaged me that day and said, “I’ve been thinking this for a while, but you should be on a Formula 1 podcast. Should we do one?” And I was like, “Absolutely, yes!”

Tell us about how you put the team together, and what the plan for the podcast was… Greg and I chatted for around six months, on and off, about how we wanted it to sound and what we wanted to do. And I sort of came to the conclusion that most F1 podcasts out there - and there are some amazing ones - were largely hosted by three motorsports geeks (admittedly, like me). So I said I think we need to try and do something different.

We knew we wanted to get the drivers on, and I wanted people alongside me that I'm friends with, so we have that chemistry - so I spoke to my mate, Betty, who's an amazing BBC Sport broadcaster, and asked her if she’d be up for it. She said, “Well, I don't really know F1.” And I was like, “That’s perfect - that’s what we want!” She was a casual fan, and I told her I wanted her to learn more as she goes, because there are so many new F1 fans at the moment - so Betty basically became the audience’s representative on the team.

were any role models. So, whenever I’ve done sports broadcasting, I’ve tried to make the effort to just normalise it a little bit. I just think back to the fifteenyear-old me; if I’d seen that representation, it would have made my life a whole lot easier.

We didn't set out to be the inclusive, diverse podcast; we set out to do a Formula 1 podcast - but it just sort of fell together that way. It’s something that means a lot to me, something that I’ll always care about so much.

How do you strike the balance between keeping the podcast accessible for new fans, but also engaging for those who have watched the sport for a long time?

It's tricky. You have to tread the line between explaining things for newer fans, and not overexplaining things for more experienced fans. I would like to think that our listeners who have been involved in Formula 1 for a while will forgive us and understand. For newer fans, this is the podcast that will explain the complicated aspects of the sport. What I like to think you get, which you don't really get anywhere else, is the driver interviews that we do: we aim to bring out the personality of and sides to the drivers you don’t see anywhere else.

You graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2013 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. How did you find your time here?

As you say, the podcast is about appealing to a range of F1 fans. How important is it to you that you remind people that not only F1, but sport in general, is for everyone?

I grew up as a massive sports fan. I was a season ticket holder at Leicester City. I was involved in kart racing. I've always had some involvement in motorsports. But then, when I slowly but surely realised I was gay in my teenage years, I genuinely thought - and not even up until that long ago - that you couldn’t be gay and into sports. I didn’t know there were any gay male sports presenters on the telly - it didn’t feel like there

I can talk to you all day about my time at Nottingham Trent. It was brilliant. I love being able to look back on my uni experience and think, ‘I had the best time.’ I’m so glad I went to Trent, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. The course gave me the perfect grounding for, and the perfect start to, my career. And I love the city of Nottingham, I’m so passionate about it.

You can find The Fast and the Curious on all major streaming platforms

For newer fans of Formula 1, this is the podcast that will explain the complicated aspects of the sport

interview: Daniela Loffreda illustration: Ilinca Sivoglo

It almost feels like a renaissance of music is happening here right now. Nottingham brings so much variety

words: Gemma Cockrell

photo: Ashley Stone

Raised in Cambridge with Jamaican and Irish heritage, Jayahadadream moved to Nottingham in 2018 to study at university. Since then, her time has been split between the two locations, and we were lucky enough to catch her for a chat in our LeftLion offices while she was visiting our city for the weekend…

A number of bands met and formed while they were at university in Nottingham; think Amber Run, Blondes, and Don Broco, to name a few. Jaya (stage name Jayahadadream) - a rising star in the world of hip hop - also found her voice and sound while studying here, and Nottingham has served as something of an honorary hometown for her ever since. “It has been the most nurturing city for me; this is definitely my city. Most of my big checkpoints have been here,” she says. “It feels like home when it’s not, really.”

My own introduction to Jaya and her music was during Hockley Hustle last year, when I was instantly struck by her connection with the Nottingham music scene, demonstrated by both the reaction of the crowd in a packedout Metronome and the numerous artists she vocally showed love to throughout the set. Later that evening, I spotted her yellowand-green Arsenal shirt in the crowd while KAP, one of the artists she shouted-out, was performing.

“She’s one of my close friends, she’s really good,” Jaya says. “That was one of my favourite shows, actually!” Her connections within the local scene have encouraged her to try and do more collaborations with fellow Nottingham artists. “I do loads of collaborations across the world, but recently I'm trying to do a lot here. That's where all of us are, and all my friends are musicians, so we need to do more together. It almost feels like a renaissance of music is happening here right now. Nottingham brings the most variety.”

This month, Jaya will make a further appearance on Nottingham’s vast festival circuit, headlining Green Hustle in Old Market Square. This is an opportunity she was particularly looking forward to because it aligns with her own personal morals and interests. “I’m so excited, not just because I love the people who are hosting it, but also because I'm vegan myself, so the event very much supports my morals and the things I'm interested in.”

Another line-up that boasts Jaya’s name this summer is Splendour, Nottingham’s largest outdoor festival, which takes place in Wollaton

Park. This is something that she is yet to fully process. “The Sugababes are going to be there!” she laughs. “They didn't used to have a Nottingham stage at Splendour, so it's really cool that they have that now. Nottingham is such a good city for putting on local people and matching them with bigger artists.”

The inspiration behind her stage name, which can now be seen displayed on these festival posters, is a complex one with many layers. “There's a lot of different things that went into it,” she says. “I have a sociology degree and I have a strong sense of justice – I can't help it, being a woman and being mixed race. Ever since I was a kid, in the hallway we had a Martin Luther King poster which had his whole speech on it. Then, at the bottom it said, ‘I had a dream.’

“I used to just naturally say ‘Jaya had a dream’ in my songs a lot, and that's something that seemed to stick with people. It just fits.

Using social media can create a lot of pressure and anxiety for recording artists, but Jaya has established a healthy balance that many find difficult to strike. “At the moment, I'm actually finding social media really fun,” she says. “I have support across the world and that wouldn't happen without social media. There is an anxiety, but right now I don't scroll very much. That’s my biggest piece of advice for other artists: just post, don’t scroll!”

In another tweet, Jaya explained that her most recent single, the engaging and commanding Top One, marked the moment where her excitement for her music overtook her overthinking. “I feel like I'm at a point where I can enjoy making music and experimenting. Things are clicking and falling into place, and this song was the first track where I can really say I've earned this. I just felt this buzz.”

Going forward, Jaya plans to release a single which is more in line with the rest of her discography prior to Top One. “Something that's a bit slower, with more of a story, like my other songs,” she explains. A full EP with Nigerian artist Wasalu is also on the way, which has been two years in the making. “I recorded most of it on Glasshouse Street here in Nottingham, in my old flat,” she says.

Actually, people in the industry have tried to get me to change it and shorten it. But Tyler, the Creator is a long name, too!” she laughs. “I like it and I do feel like there's something deep in it now, in my soul.”

With the mention of Tyler, the Creator, I recall a tweet where Jaya said she doesn’t listen to much hip hop herself, despite making it. “I forget that people can read my tweets!” she says with a laugh. “I actually only listen to hip hop thirty percent of the time. I listen to a lot of old music, like Stevie Wonder and David Bowie. If I feel the lyrics, I like it. I think Kendrick Lamar and Nas are my top rappers, but I even listen to Kings of Leon and My Chemical Romance. I also love musical soundtracks, like Les Mis and Rocky Horror.”

Jaya reveals that she is also working on a project with Andy Zoutr, a music producer from The Elementz Studios here in Nottingham. “I really want to get it out on vinyl,” she asserts, something that she notes other hip hop artists in the local scene have been venturing into recently. “I’m focused on making collaboration projects with people here, so there’s lots of Notts stuff coming up.”

If that wasn’t already enough new music in the works, Jaya leaves our office to head straight to the studio, for a session with hip hop artists B-TONE and Tom Hodson. “They make good, real hip hop stuff,” she says, “so I’m looking forward to delving into that.” With so many different things for us to look forward to, as Jaya says in her own tunes, she is truly a force to be reckoned with.

@jayahadadream

People in the industry have tried to get me to change my name and shorten it. But Tyler, the Creator is a long name, too!

The Pies of success

words and photos: Julia Head

AN d dri NK

From plastering walls to baking pastries, Dan Lione has had a unique journey into the culinary world. We hear all about his internet-conquering, pie-focused passion project: Project Pies…

Our lot don’t shy away from a pastry or three. So when we heard there was a new pie shop in town, we darted to the newly-opened Project Pies in Carlton Hill to meet with pie-maker Dan Lione, say hello, and get acquainted with his no-nonsense grub.

Dan’s journey into the industry started when he was 24 and working as a plasterer. A fortuitous morning in a local coffee shop was his turning point: While watching customers being served, he thought that the job looked fun and enjoyable - a far cry from working on building sites miles away from home. One large pay cut later, Dan started work at Caffè Nerofinding the first job he truly enjoyed.

Fast-forward some years later and he started baking and selling pies from the butcher’s shop that he worked at, becoming an instant ‘lockdown success’. With social media being his sole means of advertising, news travelled fast, and orders came flying in. He also operated from Big Mike’s Artisan Cheesecakes store when it was closed on Mondays, and eventually took a leap of faith, grabbing the premises full-time when it became available earlier this year. Word has since spread like wildfire: The opening day saw 400 mouth-watering pies sell out rapidly, with customers queuing around the block to get their pastry fixand who can blame them? Having sampled the pies ourselves, we can attest to their greatness.

His flaky pastries are the perfect fusion of traditional and modern. From the Classic Chicken to the Steak and Stilton, it’s simply impossible to make a ‘wrong’ choice here. We’ve also got a lot of love for their

Chicken Balti pie, a firm British favourite that ticks all the right boxes. And not to forget, their ever-popular sausage rolls and pork pies.

my own logo and menu to opening the shop. But I’ve had loads of help throughout. My friends took me on delivery rounds every Sunday throughout COVID, as I don’t drive. They helped decorate the shop and brought me food on my eighteen-hour days. The dream wouldn’t be reality without these people, their support, and their love. I’ve been blessed with my circle of friends – it’s bigger than just me, by far.

“Everyone who ordered during COVID, and everyone who comes to the shop now, are part of this,” he continues. “Without them, Project Pies wouldn’t exist.”

Fear not, vegetarians - we have been assured that as soon as Dan finds a way to cope with an explosion in demand, the new veggie menu will be launched.

These pies come in two sizes: an individual pie is £3.75 to £4.50, and family-sized is £7.50 to £8.50. The goods are homemade with free-range fillings, and I can guarantee you, they are worth every single butter-soaked calorie.

We spoke to Nottingham’s resident pie-guy during our visit. Although he told us that running this booming business left him feeling like a lone ranger, he made it clear that he wouldn’t have been able to get by without a little help from his friends: “I’ve been a one-man gang since the beginning, from creating

We also wanted to know what Dan’s ultimate goal for Project Pies is going forward. For now, he’s staying grounded. “I’m only on my eleventh week,” Dan muses. “I’m staying humble with future plans and I’m keeping my feet firmly planted. As for my ‘made it’ moment... that’s right now.

“Tomorrow’s not guaranteed, so I’m happy in this moment. People coming through the door, purchasing pies, and saying incredible things about my products - that’s enough for me!”

We couldn’t agree more. After all, pies are a warm comfort that can bring people together. What’s not to love about that?

@project_pies_nottingham

To Visit Breadmill Bakery

Trust us, the smells that come out of this place are something else - in a good way, of course. If you like your bread proper freshly-baked, Breadmill is a must-visit. Delicious.

@breadmillbakery

To Nosh Cotto - Pizzamisú

If you’re wanting a hit of Italy but can’t get the time off work, head up to High Pavement and grab yourself one of our city’s finest pizzas - stacked with cheese, more cheese, ham, and even more cheese.

@pizzamisunottingham

To Sup Egg Coffee - Boulangerie de Saigon

Our dearly-departed Lizzy O’Riordan will tell you - perhaps too often - that the egg coffee at Boulangerie de Saigon is a little hit of heaven. Take a trip to Sneinton Avenues to decide for yourself…

@boulangeriedesaigon

Tomorrow’s not guaranteed, so I’m happy in this moment. People coming through the door, purchasing pies, and saying incredible things about my productsthat’s enough for me!

do The MoNs Trous

MAsh

fA de ou T

The end of an era is upon us at LeftLion as we change Editors, and the Screen section is also undergoing a bit of a reboot - I’ve decided that the time has come for me to hang up my Screen Co-Editor’s cap. But, as I sit down to write my final F for Film column, I find myself grappling with a question shared by even cinema’s greatest screenwriters: How do I come up with a satisfying conclusion?

Perhaps I could take the route of a Shyamalan-esque twist, like dropping the bombshell that I’ve never actually watched The Godfather. Or maybe it would be more appropriate to take a leaf out of the MCU playbook with a post-credits sting that “Jamie will return” - I’ll still be contributing to the magazine from time to time, after all.

words: Lizzy O’Riordan

photo: Nathan Langman

More popular than ever, horror is big box office business. We love to watch it, we love to hate it, and, above all, we love to talk about it. That’s why there’s no better podcast to listen to right now than Monstrous Flesh - the fortnightly chat that breaks down monstresses on screen. Hosted by film buff Clelia McElroy and folklore expert Megan Kenny, it’s an accessible listen for die-hard horror fans and newbies alike - you simply watch the films and listen along. We catch up with the two co-hosts about how the podcast came into being, collaborating with the local horror community, and learning from your audience…

Jennifer's Body, The Craft, Ginger Snaps: The horror genre is packed with female monsters. And, if you’re a film fan in Nottingham, then you’ve most likely come across Clelia McElroy - the workshop facilitator analysing the intersection between horror and feminism. But did you know that Clelia now has a podcast with co-host Megan Kenny? Named Monstrous Flesh, after the horror film course of the same name, it’s available to listen to now.

with local creatives is a core part of Monstrous Flesh as a whole. Take, for example, the artwork for the podcast, created by Nottingham’s own Aamina Mahmood, or the International Women’s Day Event which Monstrous Flesh hosted in March. “Collaboration is integral to the project,” Clelia responds when I ask her about that event, which featured a panel of local horror buffs and creatives. Likewise, Megan is eager to stress that “we really want to amplify the voices of local artists and get people on panels where they might not normally get asked.”

Some of the most memorable endings in film history lack closure entirely. Take the final scene of Oldboy, for instance, in which Choi Min-sik’s inscrutable expression leaves his character’s fate openended.

However, I’m also a big fan of endings that double as beginnings - the kind where you can envisage the unseen adventures that the characters will embark on after the credits roll, such as the genesis of a new relationship in Your Name, George Bailey’s second chance in It’s a Wonderful Life, or that perennial moment in any superhero origin story where the protagonist assumes their new role as the city’s protector.

Rest assured, I’ll be carrying the experience from my time at LeftLion with me on my further escapades in the world of journalism. I’ve worked with a whole host of passionate writers and met some of the city’s finest filmmaking talent, and it’s been a huge confidence boost to know that my work has been read and appreciated by people throughout the city. Thank you all for three fantastic years - I’ll see you at the movies.

@LeftLionScreen

words: Jamie Morris

A big fan of Clelia’s contribution to the local scene, I met her in a coffee shop - alongside Megan - to chat about their most recent venture, “a continuation of the film course”, as she explains. Expanding to a podcast was something that she’d flirted with before, but it wasn’t until she met Megan that she had the confidence to take the leap. “We met when I did Clelia’s film course,” Megan adds. “I really wanted to get involved with Monstrous Flesh, so I suggested we could make a podcast, and it grew from there.”

Now streaming fortnightly, series one is set to have eight episodes all centred around the theme of female monsters, with each episode diving into a different film. A previous attendee of the Monstrous Flesh film course myself, I’m eager to know whether the format of the podcast will be similar. Yet, while Clelia explains there is some crossover, her hope is for the podcast to branch out even further than the course in terms of diversity and breadth.

Having Megan on board for this project definitely helps, Clelia explains. A folklorist and parapsychologist, Megan has a strong body of research when it comes to horror culture internationally, which is why Clelia feels so confident expanding. “Even while running the course, I was quite conscious that I was coming from this topic from a white western perspective, so I really wanted to include different perspectives from around the world,” she tells me, noting that the podcast seems the perfect place to trial this. And, pleased to be introducing a folklore corner, Megan notes that herself and Clelia make a perfect duo - her anthropological knowledge meeting Clelia’s broad understanding of film theory.

Curious to know where Megan’s love for horror came from, I ask what her first experience with the genre was. “I’ve been a spooky little weirdo goth kid my entire life, really,” she jokes, “but a lot of my interest did come from reading fairy tales and seeking out the original scary versions. I’ve always been a fan of horror shows and books too, but it was only as I got older that I became interested in how horror represents experiencesespecially women’s experiences.” Similar to Clelia in their joint interest in the female experience, it seems that the two podcast hosts were on parallel tracks for a long time.

More generally, though, one of the special things about Monstrous Flesh is its approach to collaboration. As mentioned, Megan and Clelia met through a workshop, and connecting

Why? Because, as Clelia tells me, it’s by interacting with the horror community that she learns even more about the genre that she loves. “When I began the original course, I didn’t take into account the spectatorship aspect, and it’s through talking to people who attend the course that I’ve learnt so many fascinating things.” Plus, collaborating with the local community feels validating. As Megan says, “Sometimes it can feel like you’re in a bit of a bubble and that maybe you’re the only one interested in your ideas. So, when you put on events and they sell out, you realise that other people do want it. It’s a lovely space and atmosphere.”

“These collaborations are coming up really organically too,” Clelia says. “We aren’t even really seeking them out, which is the beauty in it.” So, looking to the future, this is going to be a big element to the Monstrous Flesh universe. “We’d really like to include more guests in the second season of the podcast. I’ve actually just changed the biography for Monstrous Flesh on social media, so we’re now called a multi-disciplinary venture. Megan and I are talking about publishing a journal alongside the podcast, and we’re hoping to run another course too. Plus, we have some really exciting collaborations that we can’t quite talk about yet.” Other than that, “We’re just after a worldwide takeover. Total world domination,” laughs Megan as our interview comes to an end. At this point, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.

You can listen to Monstrous Flesh on all good streaming platforms

@monstrous_flesh

@monstrous_meg

I was quite conscious that I was coming from this topic from a white western perspective, so I really wanted to include different perspectives from around the world

Thank you all for three fantastic years - I’ll see you at the movies

firs T gAs

So what is Gasleak Mountain, and how did it start?

Gasleak Mountain is an art gallery and community interest company based near Sneinton Market, run by local artists: Renie Masters, Charlie Dean, Harry Freestone, and Pádraig Condron. Nottingham has a great artist community and our aim is to feed that community through events, exhibitions, workshops, and parties, prioritising experimentation and celebrating queerness.

We all met at university and wanted to continue working together after graduating, so in summer 2019 we started a collective to curate events and workshops with other emerging artists. We did a lot of groundwork in that first year, but the pandemic compromised a lot of our plans for public events. Once we were able to host events again, we decided we wanted a rebrand. That’s where Gasleak Mountain came from; that wasn't just a name change, but a complete rebuild of our intentions and promises to our community. For most of our existence, we were based in One Thoresby Street, an amazing artist-led organisation which allowed us to build that community. Thanks to that, we were able to move to our own space on Carlton Road last May.

How did you come to have that name?

We wanted something ridiculous and delusional that worked with our new manifesto. Something over the top, culty, escapist, and also chic. Renie was dealing with a gas leak in her house at the time and it kept popping up in conversation. We liked the idea that the fumes of a gas leak could cause hallucinations. We’d been talking about creating a geographical landmark in Nottingham that would show up on the map. The idea of a mountain in the middle of the city felt good, and the idea that it was a little secretive and hallucinatory was exciting. It doesn’t make much sense the first time you hear it, and it’s often called Gaslight Mountain instead, which we find hilarious.

How does it feel to have opened your own art gallery?

Kind of unreal. We recently painted our sign on the shop front and it felt wild to see our name on a high street. We all got a bit giddy from that. Seeing it grow to what it is now has been such an exciting and confusing journey. The support we’ve had and the people we’ve got to work with because of that has been such a loving experience. Realistically, it can be a little unforgiving at times, with limited time and funding. We’re all very grateful to all the wonderful people that show up to support us, it’s gorgeous to be a part of their world!

What are the aims of Gasleak Mountain?

Showing under-represented art in the Midlands, not circle-jerking, being gay and fun, and not taking the art too seriously. All this good stuff while celebrating our friends, being open to change, and being a safe and inclusive space.

Where do you see Gasleak Mountain going in the future?

We’ve all got different visions for it, but we all hope it continues after us. For now, our focus is urgency. Making space for people to experiment, meet each other, and learn new skills. We want to offer a range of different creative practices in the hopes that we can expand people’s networks. From working together for the past four-plus years, we’ve learnt a lot about what each of us offers to the group, so in theory the Mountain could expand in so many different directions - and that’s what we find exciting.

You can find Gasleak Mountain on 7 Carlton Road

@gasleakmountain

To Visit Holding a Heart in Artifice

This thought-provoking installation uses sounds and sculptures to explore social dynamics and contemporary philosophy - and you can now find it at, funnily enough, Nottingham Contemporary.

Opens Sat 27 May

To Do Conversation with Lines

This fascinating solo exhibition from Nic Gear kicks off with a special event early this month - with live music from The Artefacts. Stop by Surface Gallery to check it out. Fri 2 June, 6pm

To Follow

Evie Warren

Evie’s contributed more adorable designs to LeftLion than we’ve collectively had hot dinners, so it’s safe to say we’re huge fans of her style - and her Instagram spotlights the best of her stuff. Drop her a follow!

@eviewarrenillustration

A brand new art gallery called Gasleak Mountain has just opened in Nottingham - we sit down with its founders to learn all about this exciting, inclusive space...

interview: George Dunbar

UNDER COVER ART I S T

Multi-talented artist

Bryony Loveridge runs us through her colourful ode to podcasts…

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’m an illustrator, originally from Lincoln - but I moved to Nottingham in 2019 to start working in-house at a packaging design agency. I studied Fine Art & Illustration at university and ended up in various graphic design roles over the years, but illustration was always the dream.

What was the inspiration behind the cover?

The idea that when you listen to a podcast the conversation becomes shared - even if you’re listening alone, you become part of a much wider community. I often listen to a podcast when I’m running errands or just going for a walk on my own, so I wanted the voice in your head to feel like a catch-up with a friendwhether they are inspiring you, teaching you something new, or just keeping you up-to-date with what’s going on.

How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on? I often work to a very tight brief with no room or time for experimentation. I also don’t have a lot of creative energy left at the end of a work day to instigate projects of my own, so working with LeftLion has really allowed me to hone my personal style a little more, and draw things for fun with complete creative freedom!

What have you got planned for the future?

I’ve been dipping my toes into lots of different creative pools, both for inspiration and to combat burnout. This month I’m taking a class at the Nottingham Jewellery School to see if I’m any good at silversmithing! I hope that other creative projects keep finding me and I’m able to try more new things.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?

Art is everywhere and it’s so important. Whether you’re looking for it or not - it’s the takeaway coffee cup in your hand, the adverts you skip, the mobile game you’re addicted to - we can’t live without it. Support your local artists!

@bryonyloveridge

goiNg iN YArd

We sit down with YARD Outernational, the Notts-based dealers of fashion books, zines, art, and printed merch, to hear all about how the project has evolved since its creation in 2020…

People always ask you, “What is YARD Outernational?” I want to ask you, “What isn’t YARD Outernational?”

I guess, first of all, it’s not quite a business in the true sense… the lines are somewhat blurred. YARD is still in its infancy as a project. I had an idea in 2020 to open a real life space for books and paper publications. So I did that. I ran the shop space for two years then closed it. Now I’m running about doing pop-ups with friends I’ve met along the way, trying to keep it all ticking over. Maybe I’ll have a look again at the retail landscape over the next six to twelve months and decide whether to make a comeback and go again. We’ll see.

Do you think that there’s still a place for fashion magazines in an increasingly digital fashion world?

For sure. I think it had changed for a while, and now physical print forms are once again becoming of greater interest to a new generation. I guess technology generally dictates the momentum of change, but as with, for example, the resurgence of interest in vinyl, these things are cyclical - sometimes there are generational shifts in taste and opinions, and I’m hopeful it continues in the current positive direction of travel.

What do you want people to take away from your collections? Knowledge. Interest. Above all, choice.

You started YARD three years ago, at a time when most small and independent businesses were beginning to feel a lot of pressure. What encouraged you to pursue your passion?

Personal circumstances and an opportunity to do something I’d wanted to do for some time. I also saw a distinct gap that needed filling locally. There were no fashion magazine sellers in the city. Waterstones had stopped their magazine selection. WHSmith had more or less done the same, in terms of independent offerings. There wasn’t an indie bookseller in the city after Ideas on Paper disappeared during the first wave of COVID. Like I said, a big gap to fill in a city that also has a strong student population hungry for inspiration and learning.

The streetwear phenomenon has exploded in the last fifteen years, and you’re a big champion of this style, while also highlighting other types of fashion. How do you feel streetwear has adapted to incorporate itself into the high fashion world?

Seamlessly. It’s now hard to remember a time when it didn’t exist. Since the seventies, we’ve had a DIY fashion streetwear culture propagated by the early Westwood and McLaren punk movement. In the eighties, The Face, i-D, and BLITZ magazine stylists championed and highlighted the mixing of sportswear

brands and high fashion… so this isn’t really a new cultural phenomenon, just a natural progression. Cross-pollination of cultural styles has and shall continue to be of importance. Where cultures clash, knowledge thrives and different futures are possible.

In one form or another, YARD is here to stay. You’ve spent some time in Rough Trade, and now you’ve got some pop-ups around the city. Tell us a bit about those, and where else we can expect to find a physical YARD presence. I’m now working with a couple of stores on ideas that are shaping the direction of travel I want to take. We’ll see where it goes. I’m working with Urban Outfitters on a monthly fashion and style magazine tip called YARDMAGSTAND (dealing current and back-issue publications of i-D, Dazed, KALEIDOSCOPE, Perfect, and so on) and with Relic x Hooked, working more closely on my love of street culture books, zines and resell collectibles (suppliers like SNEEZE Magazine Canada, Lilypad Magazine USA, and innen zine Zurich, that kind of thing) under YARD OUTERNATIONAL OG. Both incarnations are linked but separate, with a crossover audience in places, so it seemed logical to me to organise my chaos in this way - to achieve a little clarity now it’s not all under one roof.

As time goes on, how do you see YARD growing, shifting and changing?

In all honesty, I’m not sure at this point - but the intent is to reach out to other like-minds, do interesting things and try to enjoy the hustle a little more. Maybe get a more regular spot somewhere. A new home from home.

Anything else you want to tell us about?

Nope. I’d have to kill you.

yardouternational.com

@yardouternational

As with the resurgence of vinyl, things are cyclical - there are generational shifts in taste and opinions, and I’m hopeful it continues in the current positive direction of travel

interview: Nathan Langman photos: YARD Outernational

Well B ei N g

BriNgiNg iT

words: Cara Vallance

The Mojatu Foundation is an East Midlands institution which has supported black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities in Nottingham for over a decade. We dive into their importance to our city, and how they’re using their podcast, Bring It To The Table, to tackle some crucial issues…

Research indicates that individuals from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are disproportionately at a higher risk of developing a mental health problem in adulthood, yet they are less likely to receive the necessary support. However, the Mojatu Foundation, established in 2009, is committed to increasing awareness of the challenges faced by minority ethnic communities in Nottingham and empowering those at risk of ongoing prejudice. With a particular focus on supporting women and girls, the charity provides resources to address issues relating to health, training, employability, and community engagement, all with the goal of helping individuals to live more fulfilling lives.

Mojatu is a Swahili word which loosely translates to ‘togetherness’. This idea of coming together is at the heart of everything the foundation does, including the work of Karen Modupe, a Health and Wellbeing Specialist who leads group activities focused on encouraging social connection and “creating a welcoming environment for women to build meaningful friendships.” During the workshops, Karen offers confidential and comprehensive one-to-one sessions which she says “gives individuals the necessary emotional and wellbeing self-management skills to cope with their specific needs.” It is also a place where users can be signposted to external organisations and services that they might be in need of.

To broaden the foundation’s outreach and cater to a wider audience within the community, the ‘Men Can’ initiative has been recently launched to provide a safe space for men to openly discuss and seek help for their mental health struggles. The support group aims to create an understanding and empowering environment where men can feel heard and encouraged to seek the help they require.

Karen explains that cultural beliefs and attitudes within certain black and minority ethnic communities can become barriers to accessing mental health support, with mental health still being considered a taboo topic for many. To address this, the Bring It To The Table podcast was created in 2020, which “aims to break down these barriers and promote open discussions on mental health and other issues which affect people from my community.”

The podcast includes a lot of real-life experiences and stories from service users, alongside specialist guests who provide an insight into particular topics mentioned on the show, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) - with upcoming episodes discussing domestic violence, human trafficking, forced marriage, and more. “We want to reach as many people as we can to inform the community of the help that’s out there, to show that it’s okay to talk about these issues and that they don’t have to be afraid.”

The Mojatu Foundation has already made significant contributions to the black and minority ethnic community, including playing a crucial role in Nottingham's declaration as a zero-tolerance city to FGM in 2016, and the foundation’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Karen highlights that a current aspiration is to make the podcast accessible to as many people as possible, with the hope that “it can serve as a valuable resource to anyone needing support, particularly for those who cannot access the in-person services.”

You can find every episode of the Bring It To The Table podcast on Mojatu’s website mojatufoundation.org

We want to reach as many people as we can to inform the community of the help that’s out there, to show that it’s okay to talk about these issues and that they don’t have to be afraid

s ols T ice s olidA riTY

Oh June!

Summer solstice is finally here (don't let the weather fool you), bringing longer days and fun-filled nights.

I thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing? When life is lifeing - work, relationships, children, bills, WW3 - it's very easy to forget to look after yourself. And if your mood is low, sometimes you don't even want to look after yourself.

So this is your reminder that you matter, you are worthy, you are loved, and you are needed.

You have people in your life who would be lost without you, and who are very happy they know you. You have talents and skills that you haven't even discovered yet, and that the world is grateful for. You will make memories of the most beautiful moments that are yet to take place. You deserve the peace and love that we all seek, and it can be yours.

cre ATivelY MiNded

interview: Adam Pickering photos: Creative Conscience

Having been through a fair few of her own struggles, Chrissy Levett, founder and Creative Director of Creative Conscience, knows a thing or two about wellbeing in creativity. A charity and global platform set up to reward, train, and support creative thinkers to use their talents for social and environmental benefit, she explains how finding your positive purpose can unlock your productivity…

What is Creative Conscience and how did it begin?

Take the steps to live your best life; little baby steps if you're nervous. Do something just for your higher self: journalling, gardening, painting. Join a choir or dedicate one hour a week to swimming. Clean out your wardrobe or apply for that course. Cut down on how long you spend scrolling social media. Turn off the news. Declutter your contacts. Cancel that event you’re dreading.

Look after your body and feed it well. Put on your favourite tunes and dance in the living room. Put on some comfy shoes and walk in one of the beautiful country parks around the city. Take off the comfy shoes and walk barefoot in the grass.

But if it all sounds very overwhelming, simply sit down and breathe deeply.

Affirmation for June:

I AM LIVING LIFE.

Until next time, my loves: be safe, no fear, and stay blessed.

I was working as a creative at a product design agency, and we were just creating crap that people didn't need, and I think I had what we might call a ‘Road to Damascus’ moment. I was miserable, felt frustrated and depressed… It was driving me insane. But out of despair can come great learnings. So I went on some short courses, including a self-expression and leadership programme, and out of that came this idea of building a community project. I've worked a bit in creative education as a visiting lecturer, and in the industry, of course, and then also spent some of my youth working for charities in the field - so it was those three things that came together to birth Creative Conscience.

Speaking to your own struggles with wellbeing, how do you advise that creatives look after themselves?

We've seen data and research that shows that if you couple creativity and positive purpose together, that can result in better mental health and a sense of wellbeing. I would say that if you can tap into your creativity, and then couple that with something that is meaningful for the world and society, that’s how you can achieve better self-esteem. This is definitely what’s getting me up every morning, knowing that we are doing something in the realm of creative imagination, and actually succeeding in changing elements of our society. There's nothing more wonderful in the world than that feeling, for me. So, I guess I would urge people to get involved with things that they believe in, that are going to build positive change.

One of your core missions is to help organisations become more purpose-driven. How might individuals and organisations hone in on that purpose?

I mean, that this is a bit of a funny word, isn't it? Because a bank’s purpose is to support capitalism and kind of screw people in order to get the best for their shareholders. I think it's very important that we focus on this idea of positive purpose, as well as what aligns with you as an individual. It's really digging down into what you're passionate about. What do you care about? What's meaningful to you as an individual or as an organisation? If we work on things that we're passionate about, we're much more likely to succeed.

Are some people more naturally creative than others? Is it a nature or nurture thing?

I think every human being on the planet is creative. It's just part of being alive. If you've ever imagined anything, that’s creativity - and it’s intrinsically part of human beings. I do think it's generally beaten out of us from a young age that we can't write, dance, draw, sing, or whatever. Then we make that our story and, of course, our education system backs these ridiculous ideas up.

How can people turn that creativity into a job, if they want to?

Get involved with something that already exists that you're interested in. Get up, find your tribe, become a volunteer, join a movement. I think some kind of magic can happen from that. You will meet people, you will make those networks, and things will shift. Just get involved. Get off the sofa, get off Instagram, and get into the world. And, most importantly, be curious.

Get involved with something that you're interested in. Get up, find your tribe, become a volunteer, join a movement. I think some kind of magic can happen from that

Are there any particular success stories from Creative Conscience that stand out?

We have this global award scheme and, through that, we've had the privilege of connecting with thousands of young creative thinkers from all over the world, and encouraging them to use that talent for social-environmental impact. Some of those projects have touched the lives of millions of people in a positive way, which is super fun and exciting. Just being able to have a conversation, to empower people to understand that we're all creative, and that we can all use our talents for a different route or a different system, is really rewarding.

@lovecelestene lovecelestene.com

We do a workshop around this - we get people to take their skill set and the things that they love to do, and smash that together with complaints that they have. And then, from that, a meaningful project can be formed. We’ve got hundreds of examples of that working.

You can catch Creative Conscience’s Creative Changemakers event at Metronome on Friday 16 June and Nottingham College on Saturday 17 June creative-conscience.org.uk

This is your reminder that you matter, you are worthy, you are loved, and you are needed

Wild ThoughT s

interview: Adam Pickering photo: Ben Middleton

Gardening with nature in mind can be a challenge, but guiding us through the tangle with inquisitive aplomb is Nottingham’s The Wildlife Garden Podcast - we dig into the show with co-host, and brains behind Ellie’s Wellies Organic Gardening, Ellie Mitchow…

What can the uninitiated expect from The Wildlife Garden Podcast? In a nutshell, a lot of juicy science: about plants, our native wildlife, and how we can all make a positive difference in our outside spaces, small or large. We do interviews, our own research, and listeners send in audio clips about their own gardens.

Every episode ends with a Native Plant of the Month. This is a love letter to the plants we can all take for granted, but which are so important for the survival of our UK wildlife. All of that is washed down with gallons of enthusiasm, and a healthy dose of us [Ellie and co-host Ben Middleton] taking the piss out of each other!

What first inspired you to start gardening?

We were both late starters to gardening. Being ex-geography students, we were keen environmentalists before we became gardeners. Now we see the connection between all habitats, including our back gardens.

After uni, Ben planted trees for an environmental charity. This was the closest either of us came to gardening, pretty much until we had the business. As for me, after trying my hand at, um, a few careers - including coastal engineering - I did an Introduction to Permaculture course, via the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), at Ecoworks in St Ann’s Allotments. It was there that the penny dropped about how awesome plants are. I was hooked and haven’t looked back since.

When did you decide to make gardening your job, and how did you manage it?

A professional gardener invited me to come help out as their labourer. It was fun in comparison to my previous office life. With time, I took it more seriously. I did a diploma with the Royal Horticultural Society and lived and breathed gardening at home. My gardening buddies handed me small jobs to do alone, and then, hey presto, I had a fully-fledged gardening business. Ben joined a year later, which is why his name isn’t on the van, but he does like to remind everyone that he came up with the business name - Ellie’s Wellies Organic Gardening.

How do you find running a podcast alongside gardening full-time?

The podcast came about because we became desperate for a wider audience for our growing knowledge on wildlife gardening. Our enthusiasm for all things plants and wildlife needed spreading out (to save our poor clients’ ears!). Managing our time between gardening and the podcast is hardest in spring and autumn. We aim to be monthly, but if life (or COVID) gets in the way, it has varied. What’s nice is having such a keen audience. This is encouraging when it comes to putting in our time to research. We rely on donations to cover running costs, and our listeners have been very generous in helping us with that side of things.

How would you define wildlife gardening? What does a wildlife garden look like?

Let’s start with the second part. For us, a wildlife garden is designed to maximise its benefit to wildlife. It will provide the three key elements of shelter, food, and water, using plants to their maximum potential. We have a phrase that we like to repeat a lot on the podcast - plant more plants! It will have a pond, or at least a birdbath. It’ll have nest boxes, bee hotels, and compost piles, alongside a huge variety of beautiful plant life. We also think it should have at least a few places to be able to sit and sip a beer.

The second element is the act of wildlife gardening. We think this technique can be applied to any garden. It means gardening gently; zero chemicals and thoughtful and timely cutting back of plants, rather than being gung-ho about it. We see so many people who think that gardening means hacking plants back, often with petrol tools. This is a lot of work, as well as being damaging to the wilder things sharing your garden with you.

Why do we need to shift towards organic gardening principles?

I’d have to say why wouldn’t we? Sadly, a catastrophic impact on the planet can come through our own gardens, particularly with the use of chemicals that are lined up like sweets in bright packaging on supermarket shelves. There is zero training required before someone takes a chemical home and douses their gardens with it. Maybe they even let their pets and children play amongst it. It’s mad. We said no to any chemicals when we realised that many insecticides don’t target specific ‘pests’ as the packaging might imply. Bees, hoverflies, ladybirds, and many other beneficial creatures all are on the potential hit-list, and killing them can really send your garden ecosystem out of whack, usually making the original ‘pest’ issue you had a lot worse. Being organic should be the baseline for all gardens.

You like to geek out on the science side of things at the podcast - how do you stay across the research?

I definitely have to credit Ben on this. That man can sniff out a scientific paper at 100 paces. The research scientists are also really happy to share their findings.

How can wannabe gardeners without much space or money get started?

We garden on a shoestring in a small rented garden, so it can be done. If you’re happy with spending time instead of money, then anything is possible. Accept plants from friends, take cuttings, sow seeds, and make your own compost. You can find an answer to everything online.

If you were stuck on a remote desert island where only one plant grows, with just one insect companion, what would they be? No fair! We don’t have favourites!

What are your hopes for the future of The Wildlife Garden?

As a minimum, we hope that we can keep the podcast going to cover the vast topic that is wildlife gardening. When you consider that we have over 2.5k macro-moths in the UK, it could take us a while!

You can find The Wildlife Garden Podcast through your favourite podcasting service

We garden on a shoestring in a small rented garden, so it can be done. If you’re happy with spending time instead of money, then anything is possible

WorK iNg 5-9

interview: Gemma Cockrell photos: Nigel King

With co-hosts located all over the country and beyond, the 5-9 Albums of the Month podcast is a go-to for discovering new music. We chat to Nottingham-based co-host Karl Blakesley to find out more about how the podcast came to be…

Firstly, what is the 5-9 Albums of the Month podcast all about, and who are your co-hosts?

It started back in January of this year. I do lots of music writing, and I met my cohosts through that. One of them is Andrew Belt, who's based in Reading. He decided that he wanted to focus more on his own thing. So, he set up the 5-9 blog. We were doing it outside of our day jobs, so that’s the theme of it.

The main focus for the whole blog was to start this new podcast idea he had. He saw a gap in the market. There's a lot of music podcasts on there, but there's not really anything focused on new music. I obviously jumped at it. I loved the concept. Another person came to me who actually lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico - Kylie Larson - and another who's up in Glasgow - Matthew McLister. It was just the four of us coming together.

The concept is that we each choose an album ahead of time - we look at the schedule of what is coming out that month and pick the one that we're most excited about - and the fifth album is chosen by a poll that we've been running on Twitter. Then, we do a ranking system to choose one as our album of the month, scoring them all between one and five.

At the start of each episode, we run through the gigs that we've been to over the course of the month, and the other albums outside of the five that we've been listening to. We also talk about our local music scenes and what's happening within them.

Is it difficult having co-hosts all living in different places, or does Zoom make it easy?

It actually works as a strength because you get a taste of all those different music scenes from different places. We get a global look at what’s going on. Logistically, I don't think we'd be able to run it if it wasn't for Zoom. So, it makes it easier, because all we've got to do is jump on a call.

What makes the Nottingham music scene stand out to you?

I lived in Lincoln for most of my life, but unfortunately the venue I used to go to as a teenager got turned into an office block. The Lincoln music scene kind of died after that, unfortunately. So, in February 2020, I made the decision to move to Nottingham. Obviously, everything immediately shut down, so the first year was hard. Now, I can’t imagine living anywhere else - the music scene here is world class. My flat is literally a five-minute walk to Rock City and Rescue Rooms. There’s no excuse not to go to loads of gigs!

In terms of local artists, I went to see ROB.GREEN a couple of months ago at Rescue Rooms. I first saw him at Hockley Hustle, and he was playing an acoustic set in Metronome. What a performer! He's just enigmatic on stage: his charisma, and his songs as well, are so uplifting. We were blown away. He’s got something special. A couple of others I really like are bexx and Express Office Portico.

What do you think makes a successful podcast, and how does that apply to 5-9?

The main thing we have going for us is that we are all really passionate. That applies to any podcast - as long as it's someone who's passionate about what they're talking about, I think that's obviously always going to be the biggest thing. As the listener, you’re passionate about that subject, so you want to hear the same level of enthusiasm from whoever it is you're listening to.

As the listener, you’re passionate about that subject, so you want to hear the same level of enthusiasm from whoever it is you're listening to

I think it's also just got to have its own unique thing going on. The concept has to be strong. It has to have a solid format that makes it stand out. With our podcast, I think the competitive element adds to the drama of each episode, and it keeps people listening in.

The podcast is still in its relatively early stages, but what are your plans with it going forward?

As we get towards the end of year, the album of the year kind of time, it’s going to be cool to decide which album is going to be the big one at the end. We’ll probably do special episodes as well. On my blog, every year I rank the Mercury Prize-nominated albums on how likely I think they are to win, so something like that.

We’ve also talked about getting other writers on as guests, and we might do episodes where we interview artists as well. We’ve got quite a few ideas. Once we’ve got a few more episodes under our belt, we can hopefully start branching out and doing these different ideas that we’ve got bubbling away.

Listen to 5-9’s Albums of the Month podcast on Spotify

CHVRCHES

Award-winning Glasgow synth-pop band CHVRCHES head to Rock City for a sold out show on 9 June for their short run of 2023 summer headline dates. This follows the release of their recent single, Over, their first new music since 2021, with this year marking the tenth anniversary of the band’s first album, The Bones Of What You Believe.

Fri 9 June

Katie Keddie

Fresh from releasing her gorgeous debut EP

Alaska Sadness in April, Katie Keddie will be performing a very special hometown show at The Bodega. The Nottingham singer-songwriter’s wistful music has been praised by the likes of BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Leicester.

Sat 17 June

Future Sound of Nottingham Final

We’re delighted to be collaborating with our great pals at Nusic for the Future Sound of Nottingham competition, giving two talented Nottingham artists the opportunity to open Splendour Festival. You can have your say on who it’ll be by coming to hear them perform and voting for the champ at the FSN Final at Rock City on 2 July. Bonus: it’s free entry!

Sun 2 July

RECOMMENDS

and photos: Addie Kenogbon

MooviN' oN uP interview

Thrifty vintage treasure hunters rejoice! Popular independent vintage clothing brand, COW, has opened the doors to its third Notts store...

Allowing vintage clothing lovers to get their fashion fix for less, COW Thrift is stocked full of one-off retro pieces, with a cacophony of prints, colours, and patterns across menswear and womenswear. However, unlike the brand’s other Notts stores on Carlton Street or in The Exchange, the new Thrift store features items labelled across three colour-coded price points, allowing shoppers to get their hands on unique pieces at bargain prices.

COW has been a staple of the Nottingham vintage scene for many years now, and the brand has garnered a name for itself for its cool interiors and ethically-sourced, quality nostalgic garms.

We caught up with Leanne Beardsmore, regional manager for COW, during Thrift’s opening day in May, to find out more about the new store...

How come COW decided to open this new Thrift store, in addition to its other stores here in Nottingham?

We had a temporary pop-up store which was Bubble Vintage at The Exchange, and we were just testing to see if everyone liked that kind of price point and clothing, and it did really well. So we just thought, ‘Alright, let's find a bigger, better space where we can really offer people what they want,’ which is why we opened up COW Thrift. It’s so much bigger than Bubble was, and a lot more spacious.

How has the new store been received so far?

You know what, it's been great. I feel like we've had lots of people come in, even from the minute we opened our door. There was actually someone waiting outside for me to open the doors today, which was nice. I think people are really liking it, which is good to see.

Can you talk me through what kinds of things you tend to stock? Are there any particular decades you stock?

We stock a bit of everything, to be honest. We have a lot of vintage second-hand stuff. So I can see we've got seventies shirts, for example, which we've put in the window; we've got eighties dresses; sixties pieces; and loads of T-shirts and sweatshirts from the nineties.

We also have stuff that is quite recent, as well; anything that's been donated. This means you’ll often find brands that you would recognise [on the high street] nowadays too, which you can obviously buy second-hand, so it’s a bit of a mix.

How does this new COW store compare to the main COW store on Carlton Street?

The main COW store tends to have a higher grade of stock, with more premium items. That means you can have brands in there that are true vintage, whereas here at COW Thrift, it’s more for your thrifty charity shopper items instead.

That’s what we're trying to do across all three stores - create community and support local

Is there anything else shoppers need to know about? What’s next now you’ve opened?

Once a month - probably at the end of the month - we'll be doing a regular kilo sale, which is really exciting. We're also going to be doing pop-ups too. We're hoping to launch the first one in a couple weeks at the end of May, where we’ll be inviting local businesses and independents to take part in the pop-ups.

There’ll also be opportunities to rent out one of our rails on wheels, which will mean independent brands who want to sell their clothing in here can have that for the day, and sell their pieces in our store. We're trying to incorporate lots of independent businesses, to create a great community here within COW. In fact, that’s what we're trying to do across all three stores - it’s all about creating that community, and supporting local.

Why do you think shops like COW do so well here in Nottingham?

I think it’s because Nottingham is one of the poorer cities in the country, so I think everyone's looking for a good deal. And people have also realised that we need to shop sustainably, especially second-hand, which is something Nottingham shoppers are really good at. We have a lot of independent companies here in the city that are really there for the planet too, and COW is a big part of that, which is why people draw towards us - because we’re a sustainable brand.

You can find the new COW Thrift store in Hockley near Goose Gate wearecow.com

BEST OF THE MONTH

Luminarium: Terceradix

When: Sat 27 May - Sun 4 June

Where: Lakeside Arts

How much: From £5

Explore the structures of the Luminarium at Lakeside Arts.

Inside, these glorious creations radiate beautiful, iridescent colours - and their interiors are regularly described as otherworldly, cathedral-like, or spacelike. However you describe the experience, it promises to be sensory, magical, and memorable.

Green Hustle Festival

When: Fri 2 - Sun 4 June

Where: Old Market Square and online

How much: Free Green Hustle Festival is back in its biggest evolutionary form yet, at Old Market Square! It’s an ecofocused festival that aims to make Nottingham and its communities greener, healthier, and more connected through inclusive and relatable topics. Expect a huge variety of activities, performances, food, and fringe events all over town and in our local green spaces. Explore a trail of discovery and community-led action - all whilst having lots of fun, of course.

Ale’Up Nottingham

When: Mon 5 June - Sun 16 July

Where: Various

How much: Free

There are seven trails for you to follow around Nottingham city centre on It’s in Nottingham’s exploration of our local ale establishments, with seven limited edition badges to collect when you complete each one. Pick up a free trail map from Nottingham Tourism Centre, Brew Cavern, or any of the participating venues, buy an ale (halfs are allowed) at each stop on your trail, ask for a stamp, and pop back to the tourism centre for your prize.

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival

When: Fri 16 - Sat 17 June

Where: Sneinton Market

How much: From £13.20

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival is a chance to try hundreds of different brews from multiple breweries around Notts, Derby, and some slightly further up and down the M1. Don’t care for craft beer?

Never fear. There will be plenty of other drinks, tasty street food stalls, and live music throughout the weekend - so you are sure to find something to wet the whistle. Come along to explore some new flavours, hopefully under the summer sun as it beats down over Sneinton Market.

Katie Keddie

When: Sat 17 June, 7pm

Where: The Bodega

How much: £8.80

A fav on the local music scene, Notts’ own singer-songwriter Katie Keddie has her first-ever full band headline show at The Bodega. Ahead of the release of her debut album, she’ll be gracing our ears with her unique sound; soulful, atmospheric, and extremely chill. The night is set to be packed with talent, with support from other brilliant local solo artists Eleanor McGregor and Deri Sharman.

Magic of Thailand Festival

When: Sat 24 - Sun 25 June

Where: Forest Recreation

Ground

How much: £5 for adults, free for kids Revisit this famous Goose Fair site for a Thai extravaganza, featuring food, arts and crafts, traditional Thai dances, Thai boxing (Muay Thai) demonstrations, ladyboy shows, massages, and an I’m British, Get Me Out of Here! competition. What else is in store? You’ll have to go and find out!

Trent Nav Fest

When: Sat 24 June, 2pm

Where: Trent Navigation Inn

How much: £5.50

We all love a trip to Trent Navigation, right? Chilling in the beer garden, fresh pint in hand, without a care in the world. Well, prepare to love it even more when Trent Nav Fest brings a proper party to Meadow Lane later this month - promising good times under the blazing hot sun (blazing hot sun not guaranteed). Grab yourself a ticket for just over a fiver!

Kendal Mountain Tour

When: Sun 25 June, 7.30pm

Where: Broadway Cinema

How much: £10 - £12

The best films from this year's Kendal Mountain Tour are coming to Broadway at the end of June. Following on from February’s event, this unique showcase of award-winning shorts celebrates all things adventure and natural beauty across the globe. Expect tense moments, high altitudes, and wild wilderness among stories of adventure, travel, and community that will undoubtedly inspire you to live life to the fullest.