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23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012
LIFE STORY
Ice Cube biopic in the making?
NEW ROLE
Idris Elba to judge talent show
REMEL LONDON Going for Oprah’s crown
24 ! THE VOICE FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 5, 2014
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UK presenter Remel London talks to YV’s Dionne Grant about having her dreams realised, why prejudice won’t hold her back and her ambitions for worldwide domination
U
K PRESENTER and host Remel London is her own worst critic. Despite interviewing some of entertainment's biggest stars or hosting some of the hottest events in the capital, she is yet to reach her personal pinnacle of success. “If I'm in a room and there's a high ceiling, I'm just at the top of the carpet,” she says. At just 24, Remel London is fast becoming the face (and voice) of London's young and vibrant urban scene. If there's an event, she's hosting it and if there's a star in town, Ms London (a name fuelled by her love of her hometown), is lending her interviewing skills to it - often fronting some of the biggest interviews on Link Up TV, one of the leading youth broadcasters in the UK. “I hope to one day be recognised as one of the UK's best broadcasters on both national radio and international television. That's what I'm working
towards,” she says. But by no means is she afraid of the hard work that comes with a goal of this kind. “I've wanted to be involved in the music and entertainment scene for as long as I can remember,” she recalls. “I grew up with a pretty heavy performance background. I was the type of kid who would pick up the Yellow Pages and be like, 'Mum, I want to do dance classes.'” It's apt to note here that Remel is trained in tap, ballet, African dance, street dance, and jazz. She continues: “All through growing up, I just tried different styles of performing and realised there wasn't one certain thing I wanted to do, so I started to pursue broadcasting and journalism.” After completing a broadcast journalism degree at the University of Leeds, Remel hotfooted it back to London to sink her teeth deep into the bustling entertainment scene in the capital.
She gained an internship at community radio station Bang FM where she undertook the role of events coordinator - and again at Urban Development, a music development organisation, before securing work with ILuvLive. ILuvLive, a music event frequented by the likes of UK rappers Tinie Tempah and singer Emeli Sandé, proved to be her breakout gig. “Hosting ILuvLive was always a dream,” she says. “Working alongside people like [radio personality] Ras Kwame who I always used to listen to was a big thing for me.” Through these experiences, which also includes regular radio show XTRA Talent on BBC 1XTRA, Remel has also founded her own monthly event to help others like her secure work in media. “Rate Me Plz, which has been running for two years, is a showcase and networking event to provide a platform for young performers. I want people to
realise that networking is so important. I want to encourage young people to pursue their career in media.” She adds: “Since the demise of T4 (a Channel 4 programme aimed at young people) and MTV Base (a music channel focusing primarily on music from the world of R&B, hip-hop and reggae), I realised there is no outlet to showcase your talent anymore. I'm not really aiming for a station, I'm just focusing on my ideas and exploring different outlets, like online.” In 2012, Hollywood actor Denzel Washington revealed he had told his daughter, an aspiring actress, that she would have to work harder in the film industry because she is a darkskinned woman. Having been in the industry since her late teens, would she say this is the case? “100 per cent,” she replies almost instantly. “That's probably one of the hardest things I have to deal with everyday. There is a stereotype, and there has been for a while, that pretty girls are - well, it used to be white with blonde hair - but now it's light-skinned with long hair. Each time ‘pretty’ evolves, it's still not me. “My work ethic will hopefully overcome these stereotypes. When I do breakthrough, hopefully I can be a role model for young girls like myself.” Drawing much of her inspiration from Oprah Winfrey, Remel says the US talkshow queen stands as a beacon of hope. “In one interview, Oprah said she wasn't stereotypically beau-
tiful and look what she has gone on to achieve. I love the fact that she went up against haters and proved them wrong. She went on to have the highest-rated talk show. I'm not the stereotypical person you see on TV, but Oprah did it, so it proves to me I can do it too!” Does she hope to gain something similar to her career idol? “I can only hope,” she laughs. “Every time I do an interview I hope, much like Oprah does, to bring out a whole new side to someone. I remember one of my first interviews with UK rapper Devlin for Link Up TV. Everyone thought he was this ice cold guy from east London who didn't laugh or smile, but when I interviewed him, he did just that. I was proud.” Her favourite interview? “That has to be interviewing
[US singer] Trey Songz,” she says. “Not for obvious reasons,” she quickly interjects. “People will automatically think it's because he's hot, but I was never into him like that. I just thought, 'he's some ladies man,' but he was really cool. I like interviews where I learn something new.” As talk moves to future plans and finally reaching a level of success she is happy with, she replies: “I want to be respected for my craft and do it by being colourless. I don't want to be black or white. To me, Will Smith, one of my biggest inspirations, is colourless. That for me is the definition of 'made it'. That's what I'm aiming for.”
For more information about Remel London, visit: www.remellondon.com or follow @Remel_London on Twitter
ICE CUBE:
IDRIS ELBA:
The Hackney-born actor is set to appear in a new talent show that helps people realise their lifelong dreams
The rapper has revealed the planned biopic about his former rap group NWA that could begin shooting in April
BUFF OR BUSTED?
Dear Kat,
My parents want me to go to college now I’ve finished school, but I don’t want to. I am half Nigerian and my parents are strict when it comes to getting a proper education. Doing my GCSEs was long and I need a break. They promised me that they won’t be angry if I get a job but my dad said he doesn’t want me to try and get one to just avoid taking my A Levels. I think I would be better off working but I don’t want to upset them. Shak
NICKI MINAJ:
The rapper is facing a $30m (£18m) lawsuit after her former stylist claims she sold wigs based on his designs
Hi Shak,
I'm confused. This is not a problem that needs addressing really, it's self-explanatory. You need to stay in further education for the simple reason that you have not come out with anything that says why you should be able to get a job. If you leave education and go back you will have to pay, so why turn away freeness that can benefit you? With the state of the economy now, employers want more for their money. If you can't be bothered to study, which will ultimately benefit you, why should you get a job over someone who has invested time in studying their craft? At no point have you expressed what particular job you want to do, which makes me wonder why you want to skip further education. What is your plan? Just remember not all that glistens is gold. Make and chase dreams but study for all its worth cause its not easy out here.
BUFF
BUFF
USHER:
A man was found guilty over the death of Usher ’s stepson who died after being involved in a jet ski crash in July 2012
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THE VOICE FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 3, 2014 ! 25
EVERYONE’S A WINNER! East London quartet Rudimental scooped the Best British Single gong at the recent BRIT awards making them part of an elite group of BME winners. Here, we look back at other black stars who have won big at the annual ceremony
DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY: 1977 British female solo artist
SADE: 1985 British album (Diamond Life)
SEAL: 1992 British album (Seal) British male solo artist British video (Killer)
DINA CARROLL: 1994 British female solo artist
SONIQUE: 2001 British female solo artist
LEMAR: 2004 AND 2006 British urban act (2004) British urban act (2006)
GABRIELLE: 1994 AND 1997 British breakthrough act (1994) British female solo artist (1997)
FINLEY QUAYE: 1998 British male solo act
SO SOLID CREW: 2002 British video (21 Seconds)
SHOLA AMA: 1998 British female solo artist
SUGABABES: 2003 British dance act DIZZEE RASCAL: 2010 British male solo artist
JLS: 2010 (TWO AWARDS) British single (Beat Again) British breakthrough act
-DQQ 0DUGHQERURXJK EMELI SANDÉ: 2012 AND 2013 (TWO AWARDS) Critics' Choice Award (2012) British female solo artist (2013) MasterCard British Album of the Year (Our Version of Events) (2013)
RUDIMENTAL (2014) Best Single (Waiting All Night)
IT WAS two years ago that Jann Mardenborough, from Ely in Cardiff, won a special competition that pitted hopefuls against each other on the Playstation game Gran Turismo 5, which allowed him to go on to stake his claim to race for real. The 22-year-old former Swansea Metropolitan University motorsport engineering student has never looked back and was recently unveiled as Red Bull’s newest racer in the GP3 racing season. Only a few steps now remain between that and the big time of F1. Speaking about his unbelievable rise in the sport, Mardenborough,
whose dad was a professional footballer for Cardiff City, said: “Last year I was driving in Formula 3, which is basically three steps below Formula 1 - it’s a feeder series. On the topic of emulating other top drivers, the Welshman said: “Someone like Lewis Hamilton is one of my heroes and I’ve looked up to him since he was in GP2.� If Mardenborough can hold his nerve in GP3 and show he has what it takes, then do not be surprised to see Wales gain a new hero in the lavish world of adrenaline-junkie F1 racing.
M PEOPLE: 1995 British dance act
TINIE TEMPAH: 2011 (TWO AWARDS) British single (Pass Out) British breakthrough act
PHARRELL WILLIAMS
26 ! THE VOICE FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 5, 2014
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