THE TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF/CREATIVE DIRECTOR CHARMAINE MAINOO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ART AND CULTURE DAME K ASHLEA O’GARRO MICHAEL NDEBUMADU ADRIAN RICHARDSON FASHION, ART AND CULTURE MAISIE HAYDEN ALANA REID CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ALANA REID ALEJANDRO CABEZUT CHARMAINE MAINOO
EDITORS NOTE... IT’S SUMMER TIME...AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE, THEN WITH AN ISSUE FILLED WITH LOVE OF THE CITY AND THE GOOD VIBES THE SUMMER BRINGS?...WELCOME TO STREET LOVE.
STREET LOVE It was the middle of summer, 1995 Many would say a great year to be alive The streets were buzzing with fun and good vibes Long, hot days and airy sweet nights Sandra liked Tony and Tony liked Sandra She was a good girl, whilst he lived for drama At times he was a heart throb, so sweet with his charms He’d have her feeling butterflies from the touch of his palms His heart was with her, but his mind was on the streets When the road-life played its music, he’d move to its beat Watching him, hustlin’ and bustlin’, jugglin street-life and love Sandra never expected she’d fall for a thug Like Lady and Tramp or Beauty and the Beast. Their love couldn’t be explained, not in the least Tony gave her everything, his arms, her second home Tony brought her solitude, his heart was like her throne. Tony was a wild-child and only Sandra could tame him, She was a stunning young beauty, so can you blame him? Whilst the two were together, the world didn’t exist The pressures of life faded and dissolved into bliss His heart was all hers and her heart was all his The bitter side of life nuetralised by each other’s sweet kiss Tony loved Sandra, but he held a torch for his endz Committed to Sandra, but loyal to his friends Tony & Sandra… good girl with a sweet-thug Tony & Sandra… deep in their street-love
BY MICHAEL NDEBUMADU
Cover Credits: Photography and art direction : Alana Reid Model: Mollie Ager
Photographer: Charmaine Mainoo charmainemainoo.moonfruit.com Carolyn Bullimore : MUA and Hair carolynbullimore-mua.webs.com Alexander Fakinos: Male Model Website: www.alexanderf.com Leonne Losele -Female model www.diskandjockey.co.uk/@misscongouk Pauline Bakari: Model management and assistant
Credits: All shoes River island All dresses Ax Paris White box clutch bag primark Cream tassel necklace top shop Black tassel necklace New look White backpack New look Tropical shirt and shorts Madeleine Mcindoe
Off The hook Editor/photographer Charmaine Mainoo recently collaborated with up and coming stylist/designer Jamilah Bruce on a fashion shoot for the Street Love issue. Here’s what Jamilah had to say about the experience: “My work experience at AX Paris opened up an opportunity for me to collaborate with them on Final Major Project at university, allowing me to work on a ‘live’ industry project rather than a hypothetical one, which was really cool, because it brought the whole project to life. I was inspired by a family cancer scare which added depth to the project given that they’re chosen charity is one that treats and researches for Cancer.
I predicted a trend and threaded that through to a final design capsule collection whereby the profits would be donated to the charity, I also compiled a promotional marketing pack to raise awareness of the charity drive and promote the collection and brand alongside a complete styling shoot portraying the ‘look and mood’ of the trend for a complete look book. My favourite aspect of the project was definitely the collaborative aspect, I worked with so many different people to make this a reality, from the brand to fashion illustrators to photographers to editorial! It really was an amazing experience and also an experience that opened me up to the idea of working for charitable causes as well as styling, editorial, and other sectors within the fashion industry. Going into the Christie really opened me up to how important it is to support charities and how many people are affected by Cancer, it’s a great feeling to know you have contributed towards a cause that can help women save their hair or prevent a child from losing their father, but it’s an even better feeling when you enjoy it as well!”
Mood board Illustrations by Ervin Fiellateau Check out her work here: jamilahbruceatwork.tumblr.com.
BAKERY BOYS INTERVIEW BY CHARMAINE MAINOO
If you haven’t heard about the Bakery Boys...You will. Off The Hook magazine caught up the guys to talk music, fashion and their latest projects.
How would you sum up the Bakery Boys in 5 words...?
What’s an average day with the Bakery Boys like?
Hmmmm...five words?
The average day for us is normally about a 20 hour one. We’re completely self managed and independent, so it’s a balance of e-mails, meetings, social media management, studio time and just general idea creation. There’s never enough hours in a day.
Art, Fashion, Grinding, Ambition & Street.
Your music is a refreshing change from the UK ‘Urban’ music scene right now. Your sound feels authentic and unpredictable. Was this a conscious effort?
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? Ace wants to work with PSY, he’s a fan. Shack wants to work with Barrington Levy, and Dre wants to work with Tom Jones.
Wow, that’s good to hear. Our whole production and writing process has always been organic. We don’t set out to consciously make a particular type of song. We just allow the creative juices to run free. You are all super creative, that’s clear. Your branding is fab. Where did the idea to comPlus, it’s something you can’t rush either. You’ll know when you have fire, equally, you’ll know when bine art and fashion come from? it’s not. It’s not so much an idea, it’s what we actually do. We’ve worked in fashion for several years and come from an art background so it naturally What inspires you? manifests through our work. We take inspiration from everything. The key is to What’s next for the clothing line? capture it. I always write lyrics into my phone and record melodies whenever they come into my head. Sometimes I see things that inspire me so I take pics We have just finished the designs on a new range. There’s also going to be a new line of outer and archive them. wear that’s super dope, so look out for that one. We’ll be developing look books soon that will be going up on the site. How did the Bakery Boys come about? Where did the name come from?
The Bakery Boys are a family who have grown together literally. The name has dual meanings, but originally stemmed from the name of our previous work space. It was called The Bakery. It was a place where we created everything and also threw parties there. People began saying I’m going to go to those Bakery Boys’ party and the name kinda stuck.
Are you working on any projects that you can share with us, WE WANT THE EXCLUSIVE! We are just in the process of wrapping up our first mixtape. It’s a mixture of vibes, there’s laid back and melodic joints, dosed with street bangers and anthems. We are also in the process of developing a game app to go with the release of -
- the mixtape so busy times right now! What can we expect from you in the coming months? We will be releasing two singles and our first mixtape. It’s going to be epic. Definitely a memorable point for the scene when it comes. :-) Check the guys out the guys here: www.youtube.com/bakeryboystv www.soundcloud.com/bakeryboys www.twitter.com/bakery_boys
AUTUMN/W Amidst the hype surrounding Paris Couture Week, a number of clear autumn and winter trends for women have emerged in the fashion industry. Although men’s fashion takes the backseat during this time, several important trends have been revealed for men to rock this upcoming season. Courtesy of a number of very talented designers, here’s a synopsis of the most coveted upcoming trends. As far as menswear goes, several important trends have graced the runways, setting the stage for the upcoming autumn and winter looks. Designers have placed dark green as an important color for men this upcoming season, and so embracing this leafy shade is an absolute must for a trendy autumn and winter. Thanks to Burberry in particular, men will be sporting ponchos that have since been coined the “manket.” Albeit edgy and slightly silly, this look is trendy and daring, and so only the bravest of men are expected to embrace this trend during the chilly winter months. Taking on a dark green poncho will actively contain two of the season’s most important trends. The most attractive style for the upcoming season is raglan sleeve raincoats. These jackets are necessary for the cold months to come and make an incredible fashion statement as well. Taking these styles into account will make for a stylish and successful autumn and fall.
WINTER 2014 BY MAISIE HAYDEN
In the case of womens wear, a number of gorgeous trends have emerged, making for incredible autumn and winter style. As dictated by Rad Hourani, black is the season’s most powerful weapon. Whether in the form of a dress or trousers, this daring color is a definite must-have for various occasions this upcoming season. Equally as important as black comes white as another essential color for the coming months. Serkan Cura demonstrates the importance of this classic color, bringing in furs and other eccentric materials for much-needed looks this season. Zuhair Murad unveils the absolutely necessary trend that is a tight-fitted dress with a flowing train attached at the waist. This trend is by far the most fabulous, as it has been embraced by the queen of life herself Beyoncé in her closing act of her famed On The Run Tour. Also, a girl cannot go wrong with a single-shouldered dress, as this trend is one of the season’s most beautiful. Strong, bold fashion statements are a must for the upcoming seasons no matter how they are employed. Perhaps shy away from outfits resembling carpets as demonstrated in the Chanel show for a fashionable autumn and winter.
Photos courtesy of Getty Images and GQ magazine.
TOP 5 ROMANTIC FILMS OF ALL TIME BY MAISIE HAYDEN
As the most beloved film genre out there, every person has a special connection to romantic films. This gushy genre caters to people’s desires and its love stories make for addicting films that we watch on repeat. Our account of the most romantic films of all time begins with Pretty Woman. The combination of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere is a recipe for a hit film, and the inclusion of a touching storyline makes it unforgettable.
Love Actually is also a divine romantic film that leaves audiences with a warm heart and a love for love. Its realistic approach toward the various aspects of love makes it a fan favorite.
Dirty Dancing serves as another notable romantic film that tugs at our heartstrings. This powerful flick is guaranteed to give you the time of your life no matter how many times you see it.
Given that no one can resist a young Leonardo DiCaprio in love, Titanic is also one of the greatest romantic films of all time. This record-breaking film is definitely one of the most touching, tragic love stories.
Love Actually is also a divine romantic film that leaves audiences with a warm heart and a love for love. Its realistic approach toward the various aspects of love makes it a fan favorite.
THE RISE OF VINTAGE
BY ALANA REID Fear no more about turning up in a similar outfit as your friend or seeing a boy in the street with the exact same shirt on, as fashion has taken a vintage twist! The huge surge in vintage fashion has taken off due to people craving an individual look and an endless struggle to make your mark within the fashion industry. The need to create a unique look has never been so important, what with the high street fashion retailers churning out replicas of the latest sought after designs. Everything appears to be so tedious and repetitive however, vintage boutiques can offer some amazing vintage options to reinvent a typical look. A rummage around in your local charity shop can result in some amazing finds. After raking through some questionably stained items you might just find the gorgeous vintage gem you’ve been looking for! With a surge in ‘ethical fashion’ people are more aware of the environmental issues surrounding ‘fast fashion’. Vintage fashion doesn’t carry the stigma associated with some ‘cheap retailers’ and people feel it is important to up-cycle and reuse clothing to help the environment. You can customise your new vintage clothing by changing the silhouette, the colour, the shape or even just changing the buttons to reinvent an old item to create a precious new vintage garment.The great things is you can then mix your vintage finds with modern trends and still look amazing, whether it be vintage Levi jeans, a chunky knit jumper, your new favourite gold chain or an amazing fur coat everything can look good!
If you want to incorporate vintage fashion into your wardrobe take a look at these amazing websites and boutiques: Rokit – London, 101/107 Brick Lane, E1 6SE or http://www.rokit.co.uk/ Deep Clothing - Manchester (10 Hilton Street, M1 1JF) Liverpool (91 Bold Street, L1 1HF), New castle (51 High Bridge, NE1 1AW), York (26 Fossgate, YO1 9TA), Middlesbrough (153 Linthorpe Road, TS1 4AG) or https://twitter.com/deepvintage Vintage Guru –Glasgow, 195 Byres Road, G12 8TN. http://instagram.com/vintageguruscotland http://vintageguruscotland.tumblr.com/ Peekaboo Vintage - http://www.peekaboovintage.com/ http://instagram.com/peekaboovintage https://www.facebook.com/peekaboovintage
Image: Peekaboo Vintage
STREET DANCE:HISTORY BY ASHLEA O’GARRO
A Brief History of Street Dance (Hip Hop). Street dance is a term that is used to define dance styles that were originally practiced outside of the dance studio, in an informal setting. Hip Hop dancing began in the clubs and on the streets of New York City. Hip Hop music and culture was created by African Americans and Latinos in the late 1960s. Notably, Hip Hop culture consists of four elements:DJing, MCing (rapping),Graffiti and B-boying (breakdancing) It is important to mention that the Hip Hop dance style was most influenced by African and Latin-American dance. In the early 1970s, DJ Kool Herc created the ‘break beat’. The ‘break beat’ is an instrumental part of the song which is repeated in order to give B-boys an opportunity to display their moves. Pioneering B-boys, such as Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón (Rock steady Crew), were influential in promoting the Hip Hop movement. B-boying gained popularity and fast became a prominent form of expression for urban African-American and Latino youths. Significantly, California contributed to Hip Hop dance, by inventing other styles: popping, locking and the electric boogaloo. Hip Hop dance was thriving!
In the 1980s, Hip Hop music began to change. More emphasis was placed on Mcing and the music became faster. The dancers had to adapt their dances to the lyrics rather than a specific instrumental break. The introduction of Hip Hop clubs enabled Hip Hop dancing to become more social and suitable for a party atmosphere. More inclusive dances such as the ‘Cabbage Patch’ and the ‘ Humpty’ were created, which enabled everybody at the club to get involved, not just the professional B-boys. However, Hip Hop clubs began to close, due to violence and the stigma attached to the music style. Consequently, Hip Hop dancers frequented clubs that played House, Disco or Funk music. This was significant to the Hip Hop movement, as the different dancers were able to observe, learn and influence each other’s styles. By the mid 1990s, Hip Hop became more commercial and was embraced outside of the African American and Latino communities. Subsequently, Hip Hop dance was often seen in advertisements, TV shows, music videos and movies. Hip Hop culture was perceived as ‘cool’ and it appealed to the suburban youth, as well as the urban community. The music industry recognised the money making potential of Hip Hop and began to promote and exploit Hip Hop
-culture within the mainstream media. Pop music artists, such as New Kids on the Block, were incorporating Hip Hop dance into their videos. Furthermore, Hip Hop became popular at dance studios and was merged into other styles, such as jazz. This practice is questionable-the amalgamation of two different genres alters the aesthetics and technical movement of Hip Hop. To some, there appeared to be a lack of respect for Hip Hop as an art. Because Hip Hop is a street dance, many dancers who were new to Hip Hop, took that to mean that there were no rules regarding how it should be danced. On the contrary, Hip Hop has a specific vocabulary and ‘groove’ that the dancer must follow, in order for it to be called Hip Hop. The more cynical dancers believe that Hip Hop has been immersed into other styles in order to boost the waning popularity of classical genres. At the turn of the 21st century, Hip Hop music was no longer on the periphery of the mainstream music industry-it became mainstream pop music. Hip Hop culture was embraced by youth from all social classes and became a global phenomenon. Chris Stokes’ ‘You Got Served’ movie, offered a taste of the underground Hip Hop scene. Prior to this, the dazzling acrobatics of B-boying had always captured the gaze of the non dancing audience but the depiction of intense and exciting standing Hip Hop battles garnered a -
lot of interest in Hip Hop freestyle. The success of ‘You Got Served’ paved the way for the ‘Step Up’ franchise, which appealed to White America and Europe, due to its diverse cast. Nowadays, Hip Hop freestyle dominates the underground scene. Although the other styles such as B-boying and Locking fall under the umbrella of Hip Hop, Hip Hop is often a separate category within dance battles. In this particular context, ‘Hip Hop’ generally means freestyle. In 2001, French popper, Bruce Ykanji founded the Juste Debout (just standing) contest. Juste Debout caters for standing dance and Hip Hop freestyle is one of the most popular categories. A misconception about freestyle is that a dancer can do what he feels like doing. Although freestyle allows the dancer to borrow moves from different Hip Hop styles, it is imperative that he illustrates knowledge of the Hip Hop ‘vocabulary’ and demonstrates that he is able to ‘groove’ to the beat. Furthermore, the dancer must display musicality, adapting his movements to correspond with the beat. In Europe, Hip Hop freestyle is usually called ‘New Style’. ‘New Style’ derives from ‘New York Style’, as the French wished to separate ‘New York Style ‘Hip Hop from ‘LA Style’. However, the division of styles has been criticised by world renowned dancer, Buddha Stretch, as he stated “For me, there is no ‘LA Style’, there is no ‘New York Style’: it’s Hip Hop”. Regardless of this, France boasts a multitude of successful ‘New Style’ Hip Hop dancers: Les Twins, Marvin Gofin, Dedson-
-Killa, Mufasa, Laura Nala and Fabrice. ‘New Style’ dancers are known for speed, isolations, and musicality (beat kills). But some have criticised this dance for losing the original bounce and groove of American Hip Hop, whilst others admire the creativity of the French dancers. All in all, Hip Hop has had a tremendous impact on the dance scene. Hip Hop promotes self expression: love, anger, aggression, spirituality and joy. Hip Hop is a shared language that enables communication and collaboration between communities. To ensure the longevity and authenticity of Hip Hop dance, the fundamentals of Hip Hop must be taught and shared with students. Hip Hop must be given the same respect and dedication as one gives to Ballet. A ballet dancer cannot perform positions outside of the Ballet vocabulary and expect to be accepted into the top productions. Likewise, a Hip Hop dancer cannot expect to perform steps outside of Hip Hop and still be called Hip Hop. The fusion of different styles should be complementary, not exploitative. What does the future hold for Hip Hop dance? I believe that Hip Hop dance will continue to be innovative and will inspire and capture the imagination of the next generation. Whilst Hip Hop will continue to evolve and new styles will be created, it is important to remember what made Hip Hop so great in the first place: Hip Hop is for the people and there are no restrictions based on physical appearance, social class, gender and race. Hip Hop is love. And I love Hip Hop.
LAURA NALA INTERVIEW BY ASHLEA O’GARRO
Off The Hook magazine introduces one of the most talented Hip Hop dancers of the new generation: Laura AKA Nala. Standing at just under five foot tall, this pint sized dancer is no shrinking violet; she is set for world domination! As the only female member in the famous Criminalz crew, which includes the legendary ‘Les Twins’, Nala is accustomed to the spotlight. Aged twenty years old, Nala has finally completed her education and is ready to dedicate herself to her art. Nala’s style enables her to stand out from other Hip Hop dancers: her style is an amalgamation of clean and sharp movement, speed, femininity, and fluid isolations. Although Nala’s dancing speaks for itself, it is important that the world finally hears her voice…
At what age did you begin dancing? What influenced you to take hip hop? I’ve been dancing Hip Hop for almost ten years. My mother was a ballerina when she was young and she had always dreamed about becoming a “Famous” dancer. When I was around 6, she registered me at my first dancing class, modern jazz. With time, as my oldest brother was always listening to Hip Hop music and my mother was fond of the culture, she decided to bring me to a Hip Hop workshop with P Fly, Niako and Salah [prominent French Hip Hop dancers]. This is where all started. I fell in love with that style of dancing. One thing led to another and I was asked to join Nexx Level Crew with Pfly Niako, Icee, Salomon-they are AWESOME French Hip Hop dancers. I carried on dancing, thanks to the love that they showed me during my first class! I owe them a lot. What is the story behind joining the Criminalz crew and Undercover? How were you ‘selected’? After being in Nexx level for four years and entering several battles in the Underground scene, I met Les Twins, Speedylegz and Regi; they became my second family. I was training with them, hanging out, and everything you do with your best friends. Criminalz was at the time a bboy crew created in 2005 and I joined in 2008 because it became obvious for all of us that I should be officially a part of the -
crew. So I’m the exception to the law- the only girl between 20 men! With regards to Undercover, I wanted to create a crew with all the dancers from my generation. At the time, there were four of us who were winning battles, aged 12-13 years old. In 2008, the World Hip Hop Championship brought us together. I wanted to enter this choreo competition with them! We made it to the 5th place in Las Vegas. We have been the two time France champion! That was a revelation for us! The strong moment we lived, the victories we’ve made helped us to realise how much we became a family more than a crew. Recently, we completed a creation, lasting one hour called “Sakalapeuch”. This show illustrates the history of Undercover crew. It’s the icing on the cake; it’s our baby! It is clear that you are multi-talented, you can do House dance, Waacking and Popping, as well as hip hop Newstyle. Do you practice any other style? If no, what other style would you like to try? To me, the key to improve is to be openminded; every kind of dance style will improve your dancing. Moreover, I’ve always met people who were versatile and it encouraged me to act the same. I love sharing with people and being able to dance different style. It is like speaking different languages! Your dance is your language: it becomes universal. The older I get, the more I’m willing to discover other styles. I’m currently learning Salsa
and African dance! And sincerely, if I could try everything I would! Unfortunately, a 24 hour day is too short to practice and to CONTROL all of these styles. What is your experience being a female hip hop dancer? Have you experienced sexism? Do you feel pressured to dress or behave in a particular way because you are a woman? Is there competition between female hip hop dancers or is there camaraderie and encouragement? I’ve never directly experienced sexism in the Hip Hop scene, but it is a clear fact that Hip Hop is a man’s world. It means that as a girl, you feel that you have to prove yourself, in order to earn respect from the male dancers. However, there are more and more girls dancing, and it feels good to see this, Guys start to accept the fact they are not the only ones to run the game! But it doesn’t mean that we’re [girls] supportive between us. On the contrary, the competition is even harder when girls are against each other, because we all want to shine as the best Hip Hop female. The worst thing about being a female Hip Hop dancer is the commercial scene. To be chosen for a video clip, you feel that you have to be “almost naked” and you can’t dress as you want. The girls look down on you and are ready to do anything to make you fail or feel uncomfortable. Girls can be mean to each other and can be hypocrite. That’s my experience and it’s why I am always with guys.
What do you think about the commercialisation of hip hop dancing? Do you think films like ‘Step up’ promote hip hop in a positive light or do they take away the authenticity and ‘realness’ of the style? On the one hand, movies like Step Up are a good thing for the hip hop culture to be highlighted! Hip Hop dance had been stigmatised for a long time as a street and violent art only done by people from the ghetto. Now TV productions and promoters recognise the universal success of Hip Hop and that’s why it is everywhere! Hip Hop dance is in commercials, video clips, TV shows etc. On the other hand, I don’t think films show the real face of the underground Hip Hop, because of the castings, to me there are so many good dancers that should appear in films but they don’t. Also, in these films, they always want to feature a love story or fight for money. This is not real Hip Hop culture! To me, Hip Hop dancing has changed a lot, and America is not the leaders of the movement anymore. Europeans are by far the best. It is a shame that the film producers do not realize this and only use the American perspective. They don’t go abroad to see the new Hip Hop mentality. Congratulations on achieving your BTS in tourism! How have you managed to balance dance and education? First of all, thank you! Since I fell in love with Hip Hop dancing, I’ve always wanted to earn my living-
through dance. So, in my head it was like, the better I work at school, the faster I’d be able to dedicate my life to dance! So, I ve managed my time, all my day was scheduled from 8am to 4pm. School in the morning, and from 6pm to 11pm, I was training, or taking classes. Moreover, my mother has always told me that it was important to have a diploma because dance is a hard job-you can get hurt suddenly and not being able to dance anymore, so I had to cover my back in case. In fact organisation is the key. If you’re determined enough, you don’t have to think about the way you will succeed, it just comes to you naturally. But you always have to make sacrifices and sometimes put your social life aside. I didn’t mind that because all my friends were dancers I trained with.
How did you feel when you were battling Tight Eyez?
Have your family always been supportive of your dancing?
Well, I want to try everything because each scene has its own magic. I mean you feel completed by expressing yourself through a battle, by reproducing choreography on stage, and by shooting a video clip where you work on your presence on stage. I’d like to dance for celebrities such as Justin Timberlake or Pharell-this is my aim! And then later I’d like to open my dance school, make a cultural trip to match my passion, dance, and continue my career in Tourism. I have a lot in my mind and I hope that I will be able to fulfill all of my dreams! I’d like people to remember my name as a professional dancer that has shared her passion with the world! >
I’ve always been supported by my whole family; my mother put me in the game and advised me as a mum and as a former dancer. My father was my cameraman, and thanks to him I have all my battles and shows on camera. Also, my brothers trained with me at home. I know I’m lucky because not everybody gets support from their family. It helps me a lot in my everyday life because it’s not always easy to stay confident and when I m down, there is always somebody here to remind me how much they love to see me dance. And in fact, this is the most important thing to me!
That was a totally different experience! First because it was an all styles battle, and then because it was Tight Eyez, a legendary dancer, pioneer in his style! He’s got such a big presence on the scene! I was so intimidated! I looked so small in front of him, haha! But it was an honour to dance against him! It allowed me to challenge myself despite the big pressure! No matter who is against him, he’s going hard and gives his life- this is what I liked.
What are your aspirations for the future? Music videos? Shows? Theatre?
Are you planning to stay in Paris or would you like to spend time in another country? I don’t think I will stay in Paris all my life but I will do the most I can for my country. I want to leave my footprint as a FRENCH Hip Hop dancer internationally. I’ll give my students all of my knowledge and I’ll try to open the dance scene in Paris. But if I want to earn a good living, I’ll have to leave because there’s no money for dancers in Paris. All of the opportunities and big castings take place in the USA and in London, where there are a lot of influential cast agencies! What advice would you give to aspiring dancers? I would tell them to stay true to themselves, to share what they want to say and not what we told them to share. Don’t forget where you’re from and with whom you’ve grown up with because this is your identity and this is what will lead you to where you want to go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTnsk vvObtg&list=PLAiaykgxf0a4
Follow her on twitter: @Laura_Nala
Photographer: Alejandro Cabezut Stylist: Sarah Callahan Hair: Johnny Serafin MUA: Deanna Leflore Special Thanks to: www.shoproshambo.com
Look 1:Vintage Yves Saint Laurent
Clothing Credits: Look 1:Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Look 2: Vintage Miu Miu Look 3: For Love and Lemons Look 4: Dior Halter Look 5: RVCA HAT House Of Harlow Necklace Chanel dress
Photographer: Alex Piñero. Stylist: Dimitris Folas. MUA & Hair Stylist: Liivie Live Model: Erika Sadunaite Fur jacket by Kelly Jordan ‘Hoku’ jumper by Lana Dumitru Checked trousers by Alex Huang
If music was the food of life, then mine would be of titanic proportions. Imagine walking into a venue with an open buffet and having all your favourite dishes lined up to choose from, feast to capacity and still squeeze in a lil dessert; that’s how I am with my musical palate. The menu would have me in an induced musical bliss, sending shock-waves to my equilibrium.
ADRIAN’S SUMM Marinated with Craig Mack, Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J & Busta Rhymes - Flava In Ya Ear (remix) (1994), it was like I’d died and gone to hip hop heaven.
For my starter I would have a double helping of Lords of the Underground - Chief Rocka (1993).
This was my intro into the world of hip hop/rap and saying I was impressed would be an understatement. It had me like the magazine (off the) Hook, couldn’t eat too much as I had to save some room for the main course. I savoured and moved along the buffet line, Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz - Lost Boyz (1996), with flow like this, I may have to skip dessert.
When homage was paid to the movie Warriors, I was breathless with anticipation, then the beat hit me and now i know what they meant when they said “let the beat hit em” and I be feeling the pain of those blows. At this point I’m dizzy with the highs of my taste buds, lost in music; will I make it to the dessert table, will my digestive system cope?
MER ANTHEMS I was subconsciously drawn to a pleasing dish and was open to the prospect of sharing, as I conversed musically with rhythm on the floor, A Few Good Men - tonite (1995) had me swaying the night away, the Bonnie and Clyde of the nineties, so whenever a few good men are in ear shot, I am brought back to that moment when my musical appetite was fulfilled.
The answer is yes; when you have a melting pot of talent, genre and styles, what you get is a masterpiece, the result is Method Man & Mary J. Blige - I’ll Be There For You (1994). Talk about inventive collaboration, the queen of hip hop soul done gone and sing the melody out of that song and by the the time my WuTang favourite dropped his smooth flow, I was consumed by what was to come; did someone say rewind, “pull up”, let’s play that one more time. Lost I was again, better find my way to the dessert table.
VI NOUVEAU INTERVIEW INTERVIEW BY ALANA REID
Vi Nouveau, set up by Zoe Radcliffe and Fiona Scott in 2010, is a fashion boutique inspired by revamping all things vintage to make them fit in with today’s fashion scene. They travel up and down the UK setting up pop up shops to provide the best hand-picked, high quality, gorgeously transformed vintage clothing from the 20’s through to the 90’s. From matching co-ords to silk bomber jacket and cropped patterned shirts to playsuits, you’ll find all things vintage you can match up with your favourite contemporary clothing and accessories.
You guys work to revamp vintage items which can then be worn with contemporary fashion, could you tell us a little more about this? The customising or revamping of vintage pieces involves adding anything we feel will ‘enhance’ the style or look of the garment. It could be something as simple as sewing an over-sized bow to the back of a simple boucle mini skirt, or completely transforming the shape of a dress, which previously looked a bit too classic 80s and frumpy. It’s one of the really fun parts of the jobs, taking what was pretty much an unwearable garment and altering it and adding to it to make it desirable to customers, on trend, unique and very wearable.
Who/what influenced and inspired you to actually create Vi Nouveau and live your dream of establishing a fashion business? I studied Fashion Design at Edinburgh College of Art, so fashion was always going to be a natural progression for me. Fiona studied Politics at Edinburgh University, and as much as she enjoyed aspects of the degree and her time at University, decided that Politics wasn’t for her in the long run and instead would try to turn a love for fashion into a career of some sort. Shortly after graduating both Fiona and myself became high street store managers for a couple of years and quickly realised that we could be putting all that hard work into something we truly felt inspired by and passionate about – vintage clothing. We took the scary yet well-overdue plunge into starting our on-line store in 2010.
For me it was a huge step from being a dreamy art student; there I was, slap, bang in the midst of paper work, targets, staff training and constant meetings! It definitely made me more business orientated and I began to see fashion in a different light in terms of what a huge machine the fashion industry is - designing, buying, and selling, over and over again! Where do you find such amazing one off quirky items? Finding good stock is an ongoing mission, but luckily one we enjoy! We scour charity shops, car boot sales, attend auction sales and often have random people we meet at fairs or contact us on-line who have vintage treasures they want to sell to us. My aunt who lives in San Francisco gets a lot of our older vintage gems from the 50s, 60s and 70s on her regular visits to the thrift stores. They have some of the best quality vintage clothing in California. Talk me through a normal working day... It varies so much, but a day in our studio would involve getting the garments that have sold the previous day packaged up and then a trip to the post office, then the res of the morning catching up on emails, and responding to customer queries on ASOS Marketplace. Then possibly an hour or so of the necessary paperwork and updating our books (the not so fun bit!).
In the afternoon we will often spend time sewing, customising and repairing garments and going through ‘new’ stock. If we’ve recently done a photo shoot or about to do one, we’ll be prepping the clothes for that or uploading new stock to the on-line store.
Where’s your favourite place(s) to shop?
Vintage markets of course! We love a good rummage at Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair. If I want a break from vintage, H&M are great for basics, good old Topshop and Urban Outfitters are always great for on trend pieces. I love Whistles for tailoring and special occasions. How would you describe your style? A mix of vintage treasures and basic high street contemporary pieces. I couldn’t live without my vintage accessories. What’s 1 item of clothing you couldn’t live without?
A 60’s vintage checked wool ¾ length jacket with velvet collar and cuffs. A find from when I lived in San Francisco. Goes with absolutely everything and a classic style. What’s the most exciiting part of running a business?
Knowing you’re earning a living from something you feel so passionate about! Vintage styles are changing all the time so it’s fun and exciting keeping on the ball with recent trends and shaping your stock to what your customer wants to buy. You now do styling work, how did that come about?
Just by chance! A friend Zoe used to work with went on to work for a production company in Edinburgh and asked if she would be up for sourcing the wardrobe for an advert they were producing. This was in 2009 and the work has gradually built up since then. It’s been such fun, if not slightly chaotic work to be involved in. You’re definitely kept on your toes but being on set is such a buzz, as is seeing the final end advert or shoot.
What are you listening to right now? We’re trading at Beacon’s Festival in the Yorkshire Dales in a couple of weeks, so the lineup is very much inspiring our current playlist. Particularly; Daughter, King Creosote, John Hopkins and DJ Daniel Avery.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to others who want to start up a fashion or creative business like this?
Be prepared that it will take over your life! Success doesn’t come easily, but if you have the drive, passion and dedication then you should definitely take the plunge and give running your own business a try. You may later come to regret not giving it a shot. Take the advice that’s available to you. We’ve had great mentors from the Princes Trust and it’s fantastic to have that free help on hand. Lastly, prioritise time to be creative and to brainstorm new ideas. You always need to be one step ahead of your competitors!
Check out the amazing hand customised vintage gems and find out when they’re setting up a stall near you on Vi Nouveau’s website on... www.vinouveau.co.uk
ART & CULTURE: STREET ART BY ADRIAN RICHARDSON
David Walker Most people’s first job involves burgers and fries. David walker’s first job however, was creating t-shirt designs for The Prodigy. Then he started designing record sleeves and party art, later running his own street wear label called “Subsurface” for five years. It was only three years ago that he started painting, (pretty impressive he’s accomplished all of that considering he’s broken his hand over 10 times. ouch!) Once a fan of only black and white, (with a little bit of pink thrown in for good measure), David now paints with in explosions of colour following his discovery of a little treasure box of spray paint tucked away in a studio. His portraits are realistically surreal – the sort of images that make you stare for ages. http://www.artofdavidwalker.com/
AliCè, real name Alice Pasquini is a street artist from Rome. a multimedia artistwho’s background is academic; studied Fine Arts and specialized in old style animation. she also worked as an illustrator and set designer, she detached herself from mainstream art stating that “It is sometimes frustrating for an artist to work for very opinionated clients. Therefore, in the last few years I have embraced street art as a way to totally express myself”. http://www.alicepasquini.com/
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Swoon is a street artist hailing from New York who is well known for her intricate and life-size portraits plastered throughout abandoned alleys as well as her fantastical boats made out of salvaged materials that have sailed down the Hudson River. She studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and started doing street art around 1999 and large-scale installations in 2005. http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ swoon/ (Top and right image by Swoon)
SUMMER HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ALANA REID
Forget about spending endless hours trying to achieve the ‘perfect hairstyle’ this season, natural locks are the way forward this summer and totally on trend. We give you a breakdown of hair trends this season, which will completely freshen the summer street look. WOMENS Low pony tail The classic ponytail style has been reinvented as an extremely low, ultra modern look which featured heavily on many catwalks for spring/ summer shows, DKNY, Jason Wu and Stella McCartney. Wear your hair in a middle or deep side paring and slick back to the nape of the neck to achieve your cutting edge androgynous look. Add volume and a few pleats for a more feminine approach. To complete your look add product to give your hair a high glossy sheen. This hairstyle will create a chic street look no matter how you style it. Super soft waves Forget the huge curls this season and get on trend with a more relaxed approach of gorgeous natural waves. This trend can be seen in the styling of Verasce, Diane Von Furstenburg, Christopher Kane and Calvin Kline.This look is so minimal yet still achieves effortless beauty. A great way to achieve mermaid waves is to braid your hair at night and in the morning release the pleats to create loose waves. Run your fingers through your hair for a more tousled and grungy look.
MENS Man Bun The biggest hair trend of 2014 is the man bun which has been growing in popularity recently. Worn by celebrities such as Jared Leto, Bradley Cooper and Orlando Bloom this cut is a quick and easy way to achieve an urban and grungy look for men who want to achieve an effortless fashionable look. An undercut with short back and sides with longer hair on the top is a perfect cut to achieve this trend. Slick the long hair into a small messy bun and secure with a hair tie. Use gel to secure fly away hairs for an ultra edgy and glossy look. Fringe This season is all about the fringe for men’s hairstyles. The best way to achieve this messy, effortless look is to have the hair relatively short at the back and sides with longer hair on top which can be combed forward. This look will be on trend worn with or without product which is perfect for those who want to achieve a trendy hair style in minutes.
MAKE UP Heavy eyeliner Black, thick and striking is the only way to wear eyeliner for this trend so forget about the classic winged cat eye look or a retro flick. Simply apply your eyeliner in an almond shape around your eye for a flawless look. Try Maybelline Master Kajal Pitch Black. Create a grungier look and smudge your eye makeup to look more worn. A thick line can also be applied to the bottom lid, mix up the traditional and use white eyeliner to achieve a graphic, urban look. Intense Lips Step away from the traditional and mix it up with an edgy modernistic neon lipstick to allow your make up some pop this summer. Whether it’s neon orange or bright pink, make sure you have a gorgeous lipstick to get on the trend. Wear a natural foundation and black mascara with your bright lipstick. A M.A.C ‘Patentpolish Lip Pencil Teen Dream Bright Coral Orangel’ is a perfect example of a must have cosmetic this summer. NAILS Darker touch Create a modern take on the usual white tipped manicure by incorporating black into your nail art this summer. This is the best way to add a fiercer twist to your look this summer. For a more natural look go for nude like ‘Barry M Gelly Nail Paint Lychee’ with black tips in a matte finish, try ‘Barry M Matt Nail Paint Espresso’. Add a summery touch and use pastles like blue, pink or mint with a hint of black on the tips.
THE OFF THE HOOK TEAM WERE ASKED TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD...THIS IS WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH...
DIY Vintage Candle holders “Reinvent your old, dusty teacups for only a few pounds by turning them into unique candle holders. This is a perfect way to add some shabby chic décor to a room or it makes for a cost effective and unique gift for someone close. In order to create your gorgeous vintage candle holder you need to buy a candle which is heated in the microwave to form a liquid wax. Simply remove the wick from the hot wax with tongs, then pour the wax into your tea cup and place the wick in the centre of the cup then allow it to set for around an hour. You can then see the transformation from a vintage teacup into a unique, creative candle holder. This is a simple and perfect way to customize and upholster your old tea set. Complete your new candle holder with a matching saucer to achieve an authentic antique look.“ Alana Reid
DIY Pouch “I liked school when I wasn’t up against the board of governors who were trying to boot me out. I liked a lot of teachers, and I liked a lot of the lessons, especially the creative ones, one of which was Textiles, and the teacher, Miss Ashworth. She was one of those teachers that got you, you know.... She used to let me walk about the classroom and gass with classmates and just work at my own pace, and even mess about. I really was one of those rebels without a cause. You could almost say an attention seeker, it’s no wonder I’ve ended up in the arts! I did do some work in Miss Ashworth’s class, but it was mainly done at home… up til the early hours, creating in my own little world and, suffice to say, I walked away with an A grade. I was proud of pretty much everything I made for her class and since then I’ve always wanted my own sewing machine. But I seem to have spent so much of my life on the road living out of suitcases, it’s just one of those things I’ve never got round to doing. I enjoy making things and getting in the creative flow.
So when our editor Charmaine, announced we had a DIY project, I have to admit I was quite excited. The brief, “I challenge you to turn something old into something new, by customizing”. Okay Charmaine, the challenge is on! My something, or some things old, was a free promotional bag
-there ain’t another of it’s kind, it’s a one off. It’s crazy to think we can just make our own stuff, just like that, alright you do need access to a sewing machine and you do need the bits n pieces of fabric, but where there is a will there’s a way and the key is First, I chose a fabric with the patresourcefulness! Also I wouldn’t tern of dice, for good luck, the scarf have done it unless I hadn’t been for the padded lining, plus I love challenged, so thanks Charmaine. the colours and I love the fact that I had to take the challenge to I know it’s beautiful and soft inside another level though. Custommy pouch. Then, I took the plastic ized and personalized. I enjoyed base from the yellow shopping bag the creative process immensely. I to wrap the scarf around, just to hope my textile teacher would be give it a little sturdy structure. I put proud!” it around the edge and finally cut my initials from the lettered fabric Dame K and a small bit of velcro to close the flap. Then it was the making part. The measuring, cutting and ironing of the fabric, the choosing of the cotton thread, the pinning, piecing, sewing together, and the joy of it all coming together. Job done, and there it was in it’s splendid glory. from a shop called Target, scrap fabrics, a bright yellow canvas type shopping bag and a scarf. My something new...you ready for this? A snazzy jazzy souped up iPad pouch, oh yes!
Alright, I have to confess I did get a little help from a friend, Carrie (Monroe, who is a wardrobe assistant), well when you are working at a theatre and they have an amazing wardrobe department, I’d be a fool not to get a little assistance! Carrie over saw it all and was very encouraging every step of the way. Nothing like a good bit of teamwork. What do I love most about me pouch? Well, I designed it, and made it, plus
DAME K’S TRAVELS Now with my feet fully grounded on English soil after flying back from my amazing adventure in the USA and having recently been treading the boards of the fabulous Guthrie Theatre, this week has taken me from north, to south, to south east to west and through the center of our wonderful London town, and out of it all together. I’m back and it’s straight into the music studio, Purple Room Studios in Hither Green with its founder Tas, to action plan and push things forward. I’ve been working with my music group, consisting of me Dame K, Tas and 90’s diva Eddy, for a while now and we are about to release our first EP together, exciting times. So the week started with Tas returning from Fluid mastering studio Fluid with two tracks done and another two ready to be mastered. A fantastic company that I’ve worked with quite a bit as a 1st AD over the past couple of years namely on a short film and two music videos for The Blockheads and their latest album, Same Horse Different Jockey, is Free Seed Films who now have a great show on Soho Radio. On a glorious sunny morning I meet the presenters of Freed Seed on Soho Ben Gallagher and Anabel Barnston, and producer Steve Harcourt at 09:00 for a pre-show coffee at the rendezvous, Bar Italia, lovely staff, lovely service, really nice coffee. Bar Italia is family run and has been since 1949, check it out on Frith Street. I’d been invited to Soho Radio to talk about my work. I had a great time chatting about the show I’m currently in, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Olivier award winning play Our Country’s Good with Out Of Joint and legendary director Max StaffordClark, my writing, poetry and music. You can listen the interview and hear our track ‘Too Easily’ here:
http://m.mixcloud.com/sohoradio/free-seed-onsoho-30072014-episode16/ The next day brought me back to the west end for a full day of screen acting workshops. I’m talking 10:30am to 9:30pm. I confess I am a little bit of a course junky, but for good reason. I like to stay sharp and keep honing those skills. And as Will Smith says “The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft”. I believe a lot of screen acting is so much about skill, and theatre too. I must have done well over 150 performances, there is as always a little challenge in keeping things ‘fresh’, and there is a challenge to deliver, every show, every time, no matter what, for each new audience a great show, even when your ‘not feeling it’, even when you think you can’t do it, for whatever reason, especially over a long run, skill really comes into play, and pays off. A new day and a new destination, the South Bank no less, to meet with fellow drama school (LAMDA) classmates of 2008 for our second meeting. We are setting up a theatre company headed by Andy Pritchard, I can’t tell you what we are called yet as we haven’t bought the
name! I can tell you that the first show under our umbrella is 52 Pick Up with Adam Slynn and Melkorka Oskarsdottir playing at Theatre 503 on 28th -30th August. After our workshop come meeting, it was through to the food market behind the Royal Festival Hall to grab a bite and travel north to the Hen & Chickens theatre in Islington to see two of these classmates Jon-Jack Baldwin and Otis Waby in ‘Darker the night’ as part of Camden Fringe Festival. A play that “explores love, corruption, sexual politics and the desire to belong”. The next morning took me to a greasy spoon on Holloway Road in Holloway (sometimes it has to be done, I know you know what I mean, greasy, fat, dirty food that just hits the spot mmm) for a breakfast meeting with the artist who is collaborating with me and my music group on the design of our EP booklet! Lunch time, and I made tracks south east to Tas’s studio in Hither Green to further action plan and work on other tracks, I know it sounds like I spend half my life planning, and I guess I do, plus I have to motivate myself otherwise I’d do nothing, well as the old saying goes, “fail to plan and you plan to fail”. Failure is not part of my plan. Along with all this planning Tas and I tucked into a gorgeous salmon salad with rice, just to have that balance out that fry up! To round off the evening, it’s jubilee and circle line west to the Royal Court to meet a friend and see a friend, the brilliant actor David Beams (this man knows his craft) in The Nether, which finishes its run tomorrow, go get a ticket if you can. It’s been receiving brilliant reviews, directed by Headlong’s artistic director Jeremy Herrin. Set in a virtual world, exploring extreme and disturbing behaviors, full of twists and turns, dark and compelling,
The next day took me to vibrant, colourful, cosmopolitan streets of Brixton to see the ‘Re-imagine: Black Women in Britain’ exhibition at the Black Cultural Achieves. (I’m gonna be talking about this in more depth in my next blog, so watch this space), of course I recommend it. I love this exhibition, focusing on some strong, powerful, influential, inspiring, challenging women who’ve made a mark, made a stand and made history.
Lunch at Franco Manca for pizza straight from a wood burning ‘tuff’ brick oven in the indoor market, with the additional label of village (but lets not go into that right now). I spent the evening stuffing my face with salt and sweet popcorn in Ritzy Cinema catching Richard Linklater’s latest film, Boy Hood, the concept is great and the film critics are loving it..
No rest for the wicked, I was booked on the 09:15 train from London Paddington to Bristol. I haven’t been there for a good couple of months, (you may recall my blog on Bristol a couple of months back, I’m telling you, Roll for the Soul is the place to eat). I’m working with By The Num3ers Films on a short film ‘Mothers Boy’ with director Nichola Tetlow and DOP Matt Burwood, it’s a day of pick ups and a new experience for me, working on green screen, surprisingly easier than I thought. God I hope I haven’t spoken to soon, it’s just I didn’t seem to have a problem looking at lamp less tripods for eye lines or acting to thin air, maybe that’s because I quite often talk to my self, yes sometimes out loud, it happens to the best and worst of us I’m told! n that note I’ll sign off, all in all I’ve had a productive and fun week, gallivanting around the city, and in a few weeks I’ll be off on another adventure, this time in Canada, but before then I better get planning for next week! Over and out. Follow Dame K on twitter: @Dame_K
LIFE OF HERS: REVIEW BY MICHAEL NDEBUMADU
It follows the lives of four young London women from African backgrounds. In this series we take a look into their lives, family, faith, relationships and the clash of UK & African cultures. The storylines of each episode focus around the women and their struggles and dilemmas, and how they deal with each dilemma. As the series progresses we get to know a little more about each character and what makes them who they are today. What makes this web-series so interesting is that we see the the portrayal of the women in a realistic and non-stereotypical way. All four of the main characters are educated, intelligent women but still go through some of the same struggles as other women. Compared to what we see on British TV today, ‘Life of Hers’ is totally different. Can you think of any shows where we have four women of colour taking on lead roles? We do see women of colour today on our screens but they’re usually secondary/supporting roles or temporary roles. Life of Hers has characters which women (especially women from ethnic backgrounds) today can relate to. The storylines and characters aren’t over-emphasised or cliché. There are no loud abrasive, head-rolling, teeth-kissing, finger-snapping women, but rather they are down-to-earth and REAL! The unique thing about this series is that the stories are told from Black women’s perspective.
Life of Hers’ is sure to gain your interest more and more as you go through each episode. Life of Hers is a brand new drama web-series written by Samantha Chioma. You can watch the series here: https://www.youtube.com/user/CardyFilmsTV