OPEN April/May 2014 by OPEN Magazine

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

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OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

EDITOR’S LETTER APRIL - MAY 2014

I write this letter four months since our last issue, it’s not that we have been lazy, we just needed to get into our new rhythm because OPEN is stepping it up and going bi-monthly. You will now see us once every two months, a bit like your mate who is under the thumb!

EDITOR

PHOTOS

Robbie Muldoon editor@open-mag.co.uk

Mike Brits Kelly Irvine Jessica Lang Liriya Lee Shaunna Hardie

So what has happened during the lengthy time we have been away? Not much. As the start of the year usually goes - it has been a bit grim. There were those crazy rumours when Prince popped up in London, that he was going to get on his four-inch heels to head north and play a surprise gig at the Cavern Club, he snubbed us for Manchester (wounded).

Robert May rob@open-mag.co.uk

We also learned from a YouTube trailer that This is Liverpool, another make-a-ringpiecea-star TV show, is going to shame us all and as if that wasn’t bad enough already, half of the city’s youth are going to be culled by a combination of Neknominations and the alloy wheels cleaner come party drug GEEBS. Not to worry, in this April-May issue we have got all the good stuff coming up in our city covered. We have got a rough guide to the Baltic Triangle (page 70) for those of you who are still unfamiliar with this district of the city centre, home to “creative types” and trendy new venues. We are delighted to feature incredible art and photography produced on opposite ends of the Western world, both of which found inspiration in Liverpool. The mesmerising collages of Ernesto Muñiz from Mexico will have you scanning every detail (page 50) and the powerful images by Liriya Lee of civil unrest in Istanbul will have you reflecting on the nature of protests (page 62).

ART DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR & SALES Michael Smith mike@open-mag.co.uk

Robbie Muldoon Editor

Will Daw

SPECIAL THANKS

Adam Duffy adam@open-mag.co.uk

Liverpool Sound City, size?, Not Just Collective, Mark Lawler, Tristan Brady-Jacobs and Pamela Sullivan

SALES

COVER IMAGE

Penny Leney penny@open-mag.co.uk

Robert May, Ernesto Muñiz

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

ADVERT DESIGN

Stuart Hobday www.stuarthobday.com

Greg Boulton

DIRECTOR

WORDS David Crighton Rebecca Frankland Bethany Holden Shannyn Quinn Josh Ray

We also speak to Gorgon City, the house production duo who look likely to follow in the footsteps of Disclosure and become massive this year, with an album on the way and spots lined up at all the biggest festivals this summer (page 18). And of course Sound City will once again be taking over the city centre in May and we have got four weekend wristbands up-forgrabs (page 80). This is (a little bit of) Liverpool!

ILLUSTRATIONS

THIS MAGAZINE OFFERS YOU GREAT DIGITAL EXPERIENCES USING THE LAYAR APP DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP, FIND THE SYMBOL AND SCAN THE PAGE For subscription info go to openthecity.co.uk. OPEN Magazine is published six times a year. OPEN Magazine, Baltic Triangle, 34 Norfolk Street, L1 0BE Web: www.openthecity.co.uk Phone: 0151 230 8975 Email: info@openthecity.co.uk Twitter: @OPEN_MAGAZINE Facebook: www.facebook.com/ openthecity Printed by Custom Print Ltd, Liverpool.

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Contents CLUB LIFE

OUT AND ABOUT

22 / Get On It Some of the hottest tickets available for the biggest and best upcoming parties

25 / Shop It Tips for shopping in the city

STYLE 26 / Just Looking A selection of looks for him and her 30 / Blue Jeans, White Shirt Vintage fashion shoot 38 / Sole Selection A selection of some of the latest and best looking sneakers

LOOKING GOOD 45 / Young and Wrinkly? Five of the newest ant-ageing products to keep those wrinkles at bay MUSIC 46 / 14 Things to do at Sound City The biggest metropolitan music and arts festival in the UK returns 50 / Open Your Ears and Hear… GhostChant From bedroom producer to BBE fame

ART & DESIGN 60 / The Balls to Object Reflecting on the nature of protest with artists 82 / Hot Spring Trends for 2014 Illustration by Will Daw

16 / What’s Happening Some of OPEN’s favourite events taking place across Liverpool 68 / CityGrams Existential Instagrams of Liverpool to mark the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s suicide

STUFF 10 / Grand Theft Auto: Liverpool City F*ck the Matrix! 12 / Tattoos that don’t Suck Get down to the Liverpool Tattoo Convention 15 / Viral Vidz A selection of stupid videos to watch using your smart phone 80 / Maybe Turning to Tinder for Love is Not a Good Idea It’s actually quite depressing 82 / Competition We’ve got 2 pairs of wristbands to Sound City to give away

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Features

18 / Gorgon City The duo continuing the house music revival into 2014 40 / On Trend with Tinie Tempah The stylish rapper offers his fashion tips and advice

52 / El Arte del Collage From Mexico with hugs 72 / A Rough Guide to the Baltic Triangle Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendiest place to work, play and party

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Grand Theft Auto: Liverpool City By Robbie Muldoon

A video recently started appearing on the timelines of Facebook and Twitter accounts all over the world generating comments such as, ‘THAT ASS! :o’, and ‘Dat ass!’, and also ‘that ass! xD’. But this wasn’t just a viral video based on the perfect booty and boobs of blonde bombshell Hannah Elizabeth, it was Grand Theft Auto brought to life on the streets of Liverpool, and it screamed FUCK THE MATRIX! OPEN wanted to know more about the making of GTA: Liverpool City. So we spoke to the mastermind behind the project, Mike Halligan. OPEN: So how did the idea for Grand Theft Auto Liverpool City come about? Mike: In May 2013 I began searching YouTube for previews of the next GTA game, which was due to be released in September that year. I stumbled across a video called ‘Real Life GTA’ which was uploaded three years ago. I watched it and thought it was a really good idea but it was incredibly basic. The SFX were bad and naturally the camera quality wasn’t as good back then so I thought I could put a lot more time and detail into it. You have created a video that has been a viral hit, watched by hundreds of thousands of people, how do you feel about that? The video is proving most popular with the Russian version at the moment, having over four times the views of the English version which

seems a bit crazy - they probably didn’t even know Liverpool exists and most certainly won’t be able to understand the scouse accent! Was there a budget? No, we were only expecting a few hundred pounds, but then again it was only supposed to be 15 minutes long to begin with! Then more and more people wanted to get involved, then someone suggested putting a police car in it, then someone said, “why use SFX!? Wouldn’t it look a lot better if we just used real petrol bombs!?” So petrol, fire extinguishers, police cars, and guns soon added up into the thousands! Just how much of a laugh was it running around the city acting out GTA? I’ve never had so much fun in my life! Everybody wanted to help out just because it was so funny watching the reactions of people when we just appeared with guns and a scantily clad woman! 10

The lad who bravely volunteered to have a petrol bomb thrown towards him, turned up early hours at the Formby Power Station where we filmed the scene. He was clearly still twisted from the night before and as he had one last ‘just in case spliff’ moments before the scene he said to me, “just in case this goes wrong Mick nice one… seriously for just letting me be in this. Watching her [Hannah Elizabeth] run around in her knickers, playing with guns, crashing police cars to bits this has been the best day of my life!”

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Tattoos that don’t Suck! There are three kinds of people in this world, those with nice tattoos, those with shitty tattoos, and those still covered in the No Frills skin packaging they were born into. This May will see thousands of people who prefer the former come together from all over the country for the seventh annual Liverpool Tattoo Convention at the Adelphi Hotel. During the show they will be handing out accolades for the UK Tattoo Industry Awards. We spoke to Chris Jones of Physical Graffiti in Cardiff who is up for Best UK Male Tattoo Artist. He has spent 12 years honing his skills creating picture perfect ‘photo-realistic’ images inked onto his customers’ skin. OPEN: Tell us what you like about tattoo conventions? CJ: Tattoo conventions are my social life. It’s where I get to see my friends and meet artists who inspire me, talk about techniques, products, art in general - and usually get a lil’ drunk and have a damn good time. So what’s your favourite thing about being a tattoo artist? Everything. It’s an awesome job. I get to pick and choose what I do; I get to wear what I want - no uniforms or any of that shirt and tie nonsense. I work with my friends and hang out all day putting cool pictures on people while watching or listening to what I want. Don’t get me wrong, it is a tough job and with all the prep work, email answering, social networking and traveling to shows it’s pretty much 24/7 - but it’s worth it. What is the most memorable tattoo you have ever done and why?

Liverpool Tattoo Convention takes place from 16-18 May 2014 at the Adelphi Hotel.

Hmm… anything Star Wars related that I get to do is pretty memorable I guess, and I have tattooed some people in some weird places although I usually try and forget those ones ha! I remember tattooing a portrait of a ladies dog a few months back and when I was all done she went to look in the mirror and just broke down into tears. It was a memorial tattoo because the dog was dead and she was so happy with it she just cried. Have you noticed a change in the things people have been asking for over the years you have been tattooing? Oh god yes. Tattooing definitely goes through phases, it can depend on what celebrities are getting done and what people see in the media, even what tattoos are in movies. It’s the smaller tattoos that it seems to happen to more. It’s gone from Chinese symbols to stars to infinity symbols and stuff exploding into birds. Luckily I don’t have to do that kind of stuff anymore.

do so if I’m not feeling the idea I’ll say no. I won’t just be like, “no, that’s a stupid idea.” I always try to pass them on to an artist I think would be suitable for the job and give them the best possible tattoo. What’s your favourite tattoo on your body? My favourite tattoo is probably the last one I had, it’s a colour portrait of my son Dexter done by Cecil Porter. I managed to get a good pic of him messing around with a pair of glasses, really catches his character. What is your best advice for somebody looking to get their first ink? Research, research, research! Research your artist and don’t just go to the closest or the cheapest. Find the artist that does the style that you want, you’ll get a much better tattoo if the artist enjoys what they are doing. There are so many bad tattoo artists around at the moment and so much bad, regrettable work being done.

Have you ever declined to tattoo somebody and why?

What makes a good tattoo? A good tattoo artist.

Yes, it happens a lot, I guess. I’m lucky to be busy enough to pick and choose what I

What makes a shitty tattoo? A bad tattoo artist.

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Viral Vidz Watch these videos on your phone with Layar The world is filled with clowns and idiots. So, just to remind you here are some stupid vidz we found on the stupid internet.

Download the Layar app for your smartphone and when you scan this page the videos will literally jump off the page at you. Trust us, it looks boss. It also means the internet has now sort of spread to paper. Doesn’t it? View using an iPhone or Android (sorry Blackberry heads). Get it at www.layar.com/ download

HAIRBALL TECHNO

RUSSIAN TEENAGERS ON SPICE

Ah, the internet and cats. Not since Brangelina has there been a pairing (or should that be purring? lolz) that goes together and captures the attention of so many lonely internet forum members. Here we have cats puking to techno. But who are these people that give no fucks about cats throwing up on their carpets? Put it in the garden! Put a towel on it! Put a donk on it!

The 2010s are the decade of the legal highs. The decade kids with sad empty lives began consuming chemicals with names like Meow Meow, GEEBS and NeckNominating pints of piss in one. It’s what happens when the Tories are in power, the Lib Dems shit on the youth and the opposition is lead by a man who looks like a Wallace and Gromit character. Fancy a synthetic cannabaniod called Spice? Just say no kids. Say hell no.

GO F*CK YOURSELF!

Ok, we don’t condone the harassment of anybody, but this is funny. The lad who is recording seems to be producing some kind of Bum Fights type film featuring irate crack heads from his neighbourhood. “This better not end up on YouTube,” says Cuffy as he is repeatedly told what he can go and do with himself... Unlucky Cuffy.

This space will contain a fresh new video each month, because we know you have probably seen the others on this page by now!

DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP, FIND THE SYMBOL AND SCAN THE PAGE

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

What’s Happening April - May 2014 Some of the main events taking place in the city over the next couple of months.

TINIE TEMPAH Apr 07 / Echo Arena - Tinie decided to reschedule this tour back in December citing insufficient time to rehearse his new material - or in other words, because it was shit. All good now though!

GIT AWARDS 2014 Apr 14 / Kazimier - Dubbed ‘Merseyside’s Mercury Prize Award’ and already into its third year, a dozen of the hottest new acts from across the region will be on show for all to see.

LIVERPOOL LITERARY FESTIVAL Apr 23 – May 19 / Venues across the city - We’ve read the press release twice and still aren’t sure what is actually happening apart from the Central Library re-opening and Janet Street-Porter will be ranting?

DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP East Village Arts Club - The dynamic electro-hip-hop-spoken-word duo will be spitting witticisms and social

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

commentary like a cross between Mike Skinner and Charlie Brooker.

LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY May 01-03 / Venues across the city Get down to town on a Thursday night, drink, dance, sing and then crawl into work on Friday morning still wearing your wristband so people know you actually have a life, then go and get back on it.

humorous rhymes.

LIVERPOOL TATTOO CONVENTION

ROCK N’ ROLL LIVERPOOL MARATHON

May 17 – 18 / Adelphi Hotel

Yeah, I got some outrageous ink done one time, my pal tattooed a picture of a camel onto his big toe and I got the word JAPS done on my top eyelid (as seen on Channel 4 once).

ACTION BRONSON

KATY PERRY

May 13 / East Village Arts Club - Big

May 21 / Echo Arena

fat ginger rapper from Queens New York who breaks the mould with his

at least, brings The Prismatic World Tour and her boobs to town.

The woman who tamed the polygamous Russell Brand, for a while

May 25 / From the Albert Dock - An

American concept with live bands along the route, previously seen in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC, only with a lot more sun.

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Behind the Decks: Gorgon City The duo continuing the house music revival into 2014 By Robbie Muldoon

The Parklife Weekender 2014 takes place at Heaton Park, Manchester from June 7-8. Tickets are available from parklifeuk. com and start from £49.50 for a day ticket and £79.50 for a weekend ticket.

So house music will always be sexy? “Yeah, definitely!” Laughs Matt Robson-Scott, one half of North London chart storming duo Gorgon City. “I think the good thing about house music is there’s something about it that people just love. The speed, the tempo of it, and just four-four kick drums. It’ll just never go away. It’s been around for years and years with disco and funk before that, there’s something about that formula.” Enthuses Kye Gibbon. “It’s been around for so long. It’s not one of those things like Electro or Dubstep or all the EDM stuff. House music has never been a fad, it’s always been a real solid scene with lots of history to it.” Explains RobsonScott, subverting three massive genres of dance in the process. And he’s right. Take Dubstep for example, during its twilight years of popularity in the late 2000s the sonics that began life resembling the sound of the future took on such an aggressive form that you couldn’t stand it for two minutes without going into a full-on panic attack. Baby-making music it certainly wasn’t, and the people decided they would rather be getting laid. A few years later and Disclosure are topping the album charts. The pair are yet to release their debut album, but they are working on it having already tasted chart success with Ready for Your Love, cowritten and sung by pop house Zelig MNEK, as it reached the top five of the singles chart in February. “It was great when we finished making the track we knew we were really happy with it because we actually made it a while ago and we’d been playing it out in all our DJ sets and it really went off so we knew it sounded good in the club but we were still surprised at how much radio love it got, getting on playlists at Radio One, that was really cool.” Says Gibbon. The current popularity of house music is undoubtedly the movement of the moment, with one foot firmly rooted in the underground and online streams with the other foot

now taking up a sizeable amount of airplay on radio stations that like to bum the fuck out of JLS and One Direction. It’s the sound you’ll hear playing in your favourite high-street clothes shop when they hire a DJ to dourly nod his head behind his decks next to the mannequins in the shop window on a Saturday afternoon. It has broken into the mainstream, but its heart is still in the subculture, ducking and weaving the cold claws of commercialisation. Your mum might be sharing videos

“ It’s been around for years and years with disco and funk before that, there’s something about that formula. ” on Facebook of Disclosure’s F For You featuring Mary J Blige, and the latest Duke Dumont video might be in heavy rotation on Viva, but the big names of the genre have nowhere near the stadium filling ability of EDM’s money-makers Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, or David Guetta. But for Gorgon City that’s just fine. “Obviously this is a massive thing now but the whole visual spectacle, like in EDM, the way everyone’s staring at this bright, lit-up DJ in front of thousands of people and he’s not actually mixing - he’s got his hands up in the air pretending to be Jesus. It really gets me because the whole point about dancing and going to a club for me when I was growing up was just to go to a dark room, shut my eyes and just dance to the music and not care about what the DJ looked like,” recalls Robson-Scott as he lines up a target for his current dissatisfaction with the current dance scene.

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Kye Gibbon (left) and Matt Robson-Scott welcome you to Gorgon City

“I cared about what the DJ was doing but not what he looked like. So this whole thing of this star, look-at-me DJ, ‘it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’ll just dance, jump around and throw cakes at you.’ I don’t really get that at all,” he continues, obviously referring to the Jesus look-a-like, clown-come-DJ, Steve Aoki.

KYE GIBBONS: By being a new act we were really surprised by how quickly things have gone for us.

But the tide is changing as one look at the line-up for this year’s Parklife Weekender, which includes Gorgon City, goes to show with a DJ roster dominated by the current stars of the genre Disclosure, Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler plus many more and all without a pie-throwing, full-bodied-baseline EDM artist in sight- when a couple of years ago there would have been.

KG: When you start playing at places up north, Liverpool as well at Circus -Yousef’s night. We’ve done that a few times now and that’s always really sick. The crowd are really into house music so you can really explore the more housey side of stuff.

OPEN: You formed in 2012, what have been some of the best highlights for you over the last 2 years? 19

MATT ROBSON-SCOTT: The Warehouse Project, we’ve done that three times and that was amazing, we’re massive fans of The Warehouse Project.

OPEN: Tell us about the name Gorgon City, where has that come from? MR: It’s a bit random but we decided we liked the idea of it having old Greek mythology references, but now it’s

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

turned into its own thing. We’ve created an album and it’s turned into its own place. You’ll find out more as the album and more of the creative side of our project comes out into the public. You’ll learn more about the place. It’s a place you can go to enjoy the music and have a good time. OPEN: How have you changed as a person over the last two years? MR: Haha, er… I don’t know… You’ll have to ask our girlfriends! Maybe certain things, because we travel so much now, we’re flying really long haul flights a lot because we’re working lots in Australia and America. I think that’s made me into an angry traveller! OPEN: When you first started going to clubs, which scene were you into? KG: I was really into jungle and drum and bass, I first started getting into dance music when I was like 13 or 14 so it was a while before I eventually went to a proper club. Actually, I went to fabric for a drum and bass night when I was either 15 or 16 and that was a pretty crazy moment for me. MR: I was the same. I was into drum and bass and jungle and then I got into UK garage and then when things started changing and dubstep came along I was quite interested in that at the beginning of it all. Then obviously house music kind of came at a similar time. I was always into it but I didn’t have a lot of friends that were going out to house nights. I mainly listened to it on radio and Ministry of Sound annuals. OPEN: What was one of the first ever vinyls you purchased?

The Parklife Weekender 2014 takes place at Heaton Park, Manchester from June 7-8. Tickets are available from parklifeuk. com and start from £49.50 for a day ticket and £79.50 for a weekend ticket.

KG: The first one I can remember buying was Ed Rush & Optical’s Alien Girl. I remember that because I found it the other day at my parent’s house and realised it’s worth quite a lot of money now! MR: I think mine was a Doc Scott record. I went into a shop in London and just bought that, some turn

tables and then just learnt how to DJ in my bedroom! OPEN: Where you’re at now is obviously really cool, but what is your ultimate aim? KG: At the moment we’re just looking to finish the album and get it out there and see what people think of it.

“ It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’ll just dance, jump around and throw cakes at you. I don’t really get that at all.” MR: Also, creating a great live show is something that we’re into. We’re in the early stages of doing our music live so we’ll be doing more of that once the album is out there and we can play an hour set of our own music that people know. Just making our DJ sets even more interesting by new lights shows, new stage designs and stuff. We’ll be doing that on our headline tour in the UK in April, that should be wicked. OPEN: In your opinion, other than Gorgon City, who should everybody catch a glimpse of at the Parklife Weekender? MR: Loads of people are playing, obviously Dusky are on there. KG: I really loved it last year; Parklife was one of my favourite festivals I went to. I just thought the whole night was amazing. I spent a lot of time at the Red Bull stage so definitely check that out this year. MR: I’ve always been a big Cromeo fan, it will be good to see them and Eats Everything. It’s an amazing line up this year.

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Get on It! Some of the hottest tickets available for the biggest and best upcoming parties MODU:LAR The Garage, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool April 4, tickets £10 advance & £15 OTD MODU:LAR is Liverpool’s latest addition to the warehouse party scene. You can expect a marathon party where Rhadoo will play his signature style of seductive, rolling techno infused with a wide range of deep, yet dubby house music over the course of a minimum 6 hour set. Line up: Rhadoo [a:rpia:r] Nerram (MODU:LAR/ div|de) Scott Grant (MODU:LAR)

LESS EFFECT HAUS, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool April 11, tickets £4 advance & £6 OTD Another new addition to the burgeoning warehouse party scene, Less Effect have booked Addison Groove, Wen, and will be using an RC1 Sound-system, basically the best sound system in the country by a long, long way! Line-up: Addison Groove, Wen

CIRCUS EASTER SUNDAY East Village Arts Club, Liverpool April 20, tickets £22+BF You better be quick getting your hands on tickets for this one as the demand will be huge. The Easter Sunday party is one of Circus’ biggest in the calendar and this year is no exception. Yousef is very happy to bring you... Line-up: Yousef B2B Eats Everything, Joris Voorn, Visionquest, Lee Curtis, Shaun Reeves, Ryan Crosson, Lewis Boardman, Scott Lewis

RUBIX once again boasts an incredibly strong line-up blending globally recognised DJs with the best local talent and bringing it all together in the Baltic Triangle. For this Easter Sunday special Stacey Pullen (Detroit), and White Brothers (Italy) will be clocking up the air miles to raise the roof. Line up: Stacey Pullen, White Brothers Chris McGee b2b Phil Fearon, Lee Charnock, Tom Buck

FREEZE: BEDROCK

RUBIX EASTER SUNDAY

The Garage, Liverpool April 26, tickets £16.00 www.clubfreeze.co.uk

The Garage (Peach), Baltic Triangle April 20, tickets £9 www.bossnight.co.uk

The Liverpool promoters will once again team up with Bedrock records and John Digweed. When Freeze started 2013 it was a Digweed and Bedrock Records

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

was a Digweed and Bedrock Records warehouse party that saw 1400+ clubbers congregate at the Camp and Furnace, with the April 26th showcase the chance to witness the DJ in his full glory once more. Line up: John Digweed (Extended Set) Ellen Allien, Jemmy

DIMITRI VEGAS & LIKE MIKE: SMASH THE HOUSE Cream @ Nation, Liverpool May 4, tickets £30 + BF cream.co.uk The brotherly duo, whose electrifying live combination of DJ Sets and crowd busting MC’ing has catapulted this Belgian duo to superstardom.

Line up: Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dyro, Nervo, Cosmic Gate plus more

Jamie Jones B2B Seth Troxler Hot Since 82 - Dusky - Breach

PARKLIFE WEEKENDER

CREAMFIELDS

Heaton Park, Manchester June 7-8, weekend tickets £79.50 parklife.uk.com

Daresbury, Halton August 22-24, tickets from £80 + BF creamfields.com

If you’re into hip hop and house music, the Parklife Weekender’s line-up will surely impress you. It’s also got the added bonus that it’s only a short trip to Manchester away; because who can be doing with a 6 hour journey back from London with the cold hand of death on your shoulder? Line up:

Expect the biggest electronic acts from across the globe plus not one but two huge new stage concepts for the North and South. If you experienced the brand new South Stage and FX towers this year, expect even more mind blowing FX, jaw dropping visuals and explosive pyros and gigantic firework finale in 2014.

Snoop Dogg - Disclosure Kendrick Lamar - SBTRKT Pusha T - Jamie xx

Line up: Avicii, Deadmu5, Steve Aoki, Steve Angello, Hardwell, Gorgon City, Seth Troxler, Calvin Harris, plus more

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Shop It Tips for shopping in the city from pregnant style to local clothing labels and art

CHLOBO JEWELLERY The irresistibly collectable ChloBo range of handmade silver and gold jewellery has gained a huge celebrity following with The Saturdays, Cheryl Cole and Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue listed as the Chester-based designer’s many fans. ChloBo recently launched a new men’s range incorporating golden mica and tiger’s eye gemstones into the collection for a more masculine feel. We love the golden mica and sterling silver cross bracelet £110 available exclusively in Liverpool at Mococo in The Metquarter or online at www.mococo.co.uk

Poison Ivy art available from made-here online at made-here.co.uk and in store 1st Floor, Metquarter, Liverpool

TOKEN HOMEWARES After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with a First Honors Degree in Product Design and Digital Modelling in 2012, Abigail Causer set up Token Homewares with an emphasis on timeless pieces beautifully designed and put together with care. If you’re searching for a unique look in your home with an item not available on the high street take a look at the geometric styled ‘Weave’ lighting range. www.tokenhomewares.bigcartel.com

Mococo Liverpool, The Metquarter, L1 6DA.

BOUTIQUE FOR BUMPS

POISON IVY One of the biggest sellers in the excellent locally created gifts store Made-Here, this limited edition piece by Sophie Green perfectly captures the character of Poison Ivy in all its formats. Available in three sizes from £3-£75.

Alexandra Macleod set up The Pudding Club to help mums-to-be dress their bump, and feel pampered in the process. After the success of her first venture in Knutsford, Alexandra saw lots of her clientele travelling from Liverpool. The Pudding Club will be the only premium maternity denim supplier in Liverpool, stocking brands including Paige, Citizens of Humanity and J Brand. Opening Hours: See the Metquarter website for further details www.metquarter.com

WASTED HEROES Liverpool based clothing label Wasted Heroes have been producing T-shirt designs that chime with the local house music scene. The label was founded in 2009 by Russell Reid born from a passion for graphic tees, music and art, having been responsible for the graphic promo of Circus and Chibuku. Men’s and women’s tees and sweatshirts are all available. www.wastedheroes-shop.com

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Just Looking A selection of styles for him and her lifted from the high street

Items from: Weaver’s Door, Cricket Miss Francesca Couture, size?

Our Legacy Artisan Lab Jacket £240.00 Norse Aros Heavy Shorts £85.00 Air Footscape Desert Chukka Woven Quickstrike £160.00

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Kenzo Leather Jacket £1575.00

Kenzo Shirt £140.00

Kenzo Sweater £185.00

Balenciaga Sneakers £355.00

Nudie Jeans £89.99

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Miss Francesca Couture Alexandra Lace Dress £280.00 Miss Francesca Couture Christella Chain Dress £175.00

Opposite page Neon McQueen Leather Jacket £895.00 Black McQueen Logo T-Shirt £95.00 Black McQueen Leggings £270.00 Neon McQueen Sneakers £335.00 Givenchy Bag £1755.00

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Blue Jeans, White Shirt Photographer: Jessica Lang (www.jessicalangphotography.com) Make-up & Hair: Decadence Make-up (www.decadencemakeup.com) Styling: Kerry Saxon (www.kerrysaxonstylist.4ormat.com) Models: Lizzie at PHA Agency Clarke at Maverick models Concept & Development: VAMP Creative (www.vampcreative.co.uk)

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This Is Liverpool Photographer: Shaunna Hardie (www.shaunnahardiephotography.com) Make-up & Hair: Decadence Make-up (www.decadencemakeup.com) Models: Amy Hanson & Jess Loveridge Concept & Development: VAMP Creative (www.vampcreative.co.uk)

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Sole Selection The latest and best looks in trainees Scan this page with Layar to buy trainers

PUMA

MMQ Disc Cage Lux ‘Cork Pack’ £120.00

NIKE

ADIDAS

GOURMET

JORDAN BRAND

NIKE

ADIDAS

Air Huarache £95.00

Stan Smith £67.00

The 35 Lite LX £100.00

V ‘Fire Red’ £135.00

Air Footscape Desert Chukka Woven Quickstrike £160.00

ZXZ 930 £90.00

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

On Trend with Tinie Tempah The stylish rapper offers his fashion tips and advice Interviewed by Michael Smith

A certain expectation laid on a man can often be his undoing. The tricky sophomore album has often been a millstone around the neck of the best musicians. The blank canvas they enjoyed for their first piece of work is not afforded to them the second time round. It has been four years since Tinie Tempah’s Pass Out electrified the airwaves and upgraded the UK hip hop scene to something capable of offering a genuine alternative to the goliath US artists. This was confirmed when his debut album Disc-Overy achieved American recognition reaching number 2 in the US R&B/Hip Hop Album Chart. But has that success brought with it pressure to produce a follow up that appeals to the ears of an American audience as well as the British? “I wouldn’t say pressure, but it’s definitely something that’s at the back of your mind,” Tine confesses to OPEN. “As a rapper, we have taken so much from their culture because hip hop originated in America. Americans are used to what they know, they like what they know. I didn’t really feel any pressure, but I’m still confidently trying to get the right balance. I feel like Written In The Stars was an example where we got the balance right.” With the release of his second album finally in the can, Demonstration hit the shelves in November 2013 to largely positive reviews. Hot on the heels of the release was supposed to be a UK tour, which had to be rescheduled at the last minute due to what was described as a lack preparedness for the new material in the shows. Tine, real name Partrick Okogwu, will now be in town when he appears at the Echo Arena on April 7th. He can rightly be labelled an internationally renowned multi-award winning music artist, producer and songwriter. He has also launched his own street wear fashion label Disturbing London and been named 2012’s most stylish man in GQ’s annual Best Dressed Men list. Here the multitalented 25 year-old offers his tips to keep you looking on trend…

Tinie Tempah will be performing at the Echo Arena on 7 April 2014. Visit echoarena.com for ticket details.

A bit of self-confidence definitely helps. You could be wearing Speedos in the middle of winter but if you’re walking down the road like a G no one’s really gona’ question your packet! The famous phrase is you can always tell a man by his shoes and watch. You know, I think a good suit

and watch is very, very important and I would say a denim jacket. Everybody should own a denim jacket. As soon as you start getting shown on screen or stage, then you start thinking about fashion. I shot a video to a song called Wifey, it was an independent song. I put it out in 2006, you can definitely find it on YouTube. But when we started doing the treatment for the video you have to start thinking about what you’re going to wear, and I obviously wanted to look good. So that was the first time I became quite conscious about my image and how I wanted to come across. Having a little bit more money in the pocket to play with, you just start buying different things and things that you like as opposed to what are kind of essentials. You learn you can even get them things at dirt cheap prices but I guess sometimes you have to go for what’s really hard to get hold of. And then when you start buying stuff like that you start realizing, ok cool, this

“ You could be wearing Speedos in the middle of winter but if you’re walking down the road like a G no one’s really gona’ question your packet! ” looks good on me, I like that fabric, I like that texture. There’s lots of amazing style in Paris, Europe to be quite fair, Italy, Scandinavia, Sweden and Denmark and all that. You just look at people and you’re like that looks really good what he’s wearing or those trainers are super cool. You can’t be wearing Adidas mixed with Puma, mixed with Diadora, mixed with Reebok, too much clashing of brands, especially sportswear. Sometimes you see people do that and I think it’s a little bit naff.

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

Tinie Tempah will be performing at the Echo Arena on 7 April 2014. Visit echoarena.com for ticket details.

You can’t get it too wrong, only if you try and go over the top. I think style is just a subjective thing, it’s just a form of expression for the individual so whatever makes you feel good is what makes you feel good and who are people to question that? I think people fall at the last hurdle with jeans! Some people understand that jeans have to fit them a certain way and some people are like, ‘they’re just fucking jeans man, throw them on!’ Sometimes jeans can make all the difference! I feel like the only fashion disaster I’ve made was a cream Sean John velour tracksuit. My mum had got me it from America and it just wasn’t the one at all.

My all time favourite sneaker I’ll have to say is the Nike Air Jordan 6. Best shape, good history, stands the test of time, the infra reds definitely. If I could collaborate with anyone, well I really like Black Denim – I would love to do a collaboration with Black Denim I think that would be pretty amazing. And I would love to collaborate with Alexander Wang, just simple colours black, white; he’s got a lot of good fits, good cuts. My fashion godfather’s would have to be Pharrell and Kanye they’re definitely the ones that do it for me. My manager too (and cousin Dumi Oburota), he’s a pretty stylish bloke as well. He even made it into GQ, number 38 best dressed in the world!

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buying different things and things that you like as opposed to what are kind of essentials. You learn you can even get them things at dirt cheap prices but I guess sometimes you have to go for what’s really hard to get hold of. And then when you start buying stuff like that you start realizing, ok cool, this looks good on me, I like that fabric, I like that texture. There’s lots of amazing style in Paris, Europe to be quite fair, Italy, Scandinavia, Sweden and Denmark and all that. You just look at people and you’re like that looks really good what he’s wearing or those trainers are super cool. You can’t be wearing Adidas mixed with Puma, mixed with Diadora, mixed with Reebok, too much clashing of brands, especially sportswear. Sometimes you see people do that and I think it’s a little bit naff. You can’t get it too wrong, only if you try and go over the top. I think style is just a subjective thing, it’s just a form of expression for the individual so whatever makes you feel good is what makes you feel good and who are people to question that?

I think people fall at the last hurdle with jeans! Some people understand that jeans have to fit them a certain way and some people are like, ‘they’re just fucking jeans man, throw them on!’ Sometimes jeans can make all the difference! I feel like the only fashion disaster I’ve made was a cream Sean John velour tracksuit. My mum had got me it from America and it just wasn’t the one at all. My all time favourite sneaker I’ll have to say is the Nike Air Jordan 6. Best shape, good history, stands the test of time, the infra reds definitely. If I could collaborate with anyone, well I really like Black Denim – I would love to do a collaboration with Black Denim I think that would be pretty amazing. And I would love to collaborate with Alexander Wang, just simple colours black, white; he’s got a lot of good fits, good cuts. My fashion godfather’s would have to be Pharrell and Kanye they’re definitely the ones that do it for me. My manager too (and cousin Dumi Oburota), he’s a pretty stylish bloke as well.

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Most people believe they don’t have to worry about wrinkles and skin texture until later in life. Think sagging skin, think Dot Cotton. But ask any dermatologist worth their Doctor of Philosophy and they will tell you loss of elasticity begins in your 20’s with the slow progressive decrease and alteration of elastin and collagen fibres heralding the arrival of facial skin features previously reserved for your genitalia. So if you have noticed those bags deepening around your eyes, or the years of sunbed use are starting to look like a bad idea, we’re here to help, with five of the latest products to help you keep a healthier, younger-looking complexion.

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OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

14 Things to do at Sound City By David Crighton

The biggest metropolitan music and arts festival in the UK returns for its seventh year! Here’s a handful of things you can do over the three days…

Quite simply, Sound City is about some of the most creative people from the combined worlds of music and arts coming together and celebrating energy and originality; set against the backdrop of one of the greatest and culturally rich cities on the continent.

Chief Executive of Premier League and Liverpool Football Club) and James Corbett (writer/ sports journalist) will address all things modern football.

Parking the hyperbole aside for a second: Liverpool Sound City is great music, art exhibitions and screenings across 30 different venues. A coming together of 40,000 music fans and 300 industry professionals tightly packaged into 3 days of awesomeness.

THING

GET INTO THE THEME OF THINGS Each year the festival looks to carry a certain theme, as outlined in the annual festival conference, and this year’s theme couldn’t be more Liverpool if it tried. Keynote speakers will address the issues of music, football and style and all delegates will be issued with a bowl of scouse upon entry. Ok, so I made the last bit up but talks from genre defining musicians John Cale (Velvet Underground) and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) will focus on how their sound spawned entirely new sub-cultures. Rick Parry (Former

Liverpool Sound City 2014 runs from 1st – 3rd May, go to liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk for more information.

DISCOVER THE NEXT BIG

“The Legendary Liverpool Sound City” (as Zane Lowe put it) is quickly becoming synonymous with showcasing acts who are ready to burst onto the scene to the rapture of the masses. A storming set at Sound City is often a formative step towards a headline spot on the following year’s big festival circuit - just ask Jake Bugg, Paloma Faith or The xx.

WATCH THE NOT SO FAB FIVE-A-SIDE The John Peel World Cup has become a much-loved feature of Liverpool Sound City and is set to make a return this year. Five-a-side teams comprised of bands, radio stations, local businesses and journos come together to fulfill boyhood dreams of playing in front of big crowds. Expect to see bad first touches, naughty tackles and any splashes of genius met with the well worn phrase “he played for <insert League One club name here> as a kid!” It’s all in the name of good fun and charity so well worth getting along to!

EXPLORE UNCHARTERED MUSICAL TERRITORY Sound City is the hottest showcase of the best new acts around but that doesn’t mean you have to seek comfort in familiarity. Try not to hunt down the same kinds of stuff you have on the iPod every day and give something new a try. Last year’s exploration into the world of Norwegian folk was an unexpected personal highlight!

VISIT THE SCREENADELICA EXHIBITION Over the last couple of decades or so gig posters have changed from luminous A2 paper, with a band name on it in massive font, to something a

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

little more refined! Screenadelica is a ‘pop up’ exhibition that aims to show off some of the best gig poster artworkencompassing a range of styles from across Europe. All of the artwork is created by artists inspired by the music of the bands they promote, sort of like a self-perpetuating creative love-in! Every respectable record collection in 2000-2001 had a copy of Lost Souls by Doves and Is This It by The Strokes; a small slice of both of these classics will be at this year’s Sound City. Albert Hammond Jnr (The Strokes) and Jimi Goodwin (Doves) are taking to the stage on Friday and Saturday respectively. If you’re looking to anchor your weekend of musical exploration around a couple of legends then look no further.

GET ON SOUND CITY ON SPOTIFY Across the packed three days of outstanding live music there’s going to be some big scheduling decisions to make! You don’t want to be the one who slipped off for a quick bevy whilst a top breakout act performs an ‘I was there when…’ moment, at the venue next door to the pub. So, get on Spotify and search for the ‘Sound City Liverpool’ profile, listen to their 2014 playlist of this year’s acts and plan your weekend around that.

CATCH THE LOCAL ONES TO WATCH - CIRCA WAVES Since Get Away was named ‘hottest

record in the world’ on Radio One by Zane Lowe things just keep getting better and better for Circa Waves. They’re on the NME Awards tour this year alongside Interpol, Temples and Royal Blood in March, which is set to be something a bit special. Hot off of that they’ll be taking their place at Sound City and their upbeat rock n roll sound is sure to whip up a partisan crowd. That rock n roll, eh- it just won’t go away.

GRAB SOME GOOD GRUB Three days of walking from venue to venue is going to take its toll (especially when you’ve had your fill of beer, wine and spirits!) so getting some quality scran is a must. Salt Dog Slims offer their legendary variety of ‘steins and brines’, which are quick enough to get down on a tight schedule. Lucha Libre is all about high quality Mexican street

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food at a good price. If you fancy a quality Sunday roast to round off the weekend then look no further than Camp and Furnace. All these places are positioned near a few venues so your next band is never far away. Whoever said ‘eating’s cheating’ liked being in bed by 8pm; make sure you’re prepared for the long weekend session with some good grub inside.

GRAB A SPECIAL DAILY BIDO LITO!

Both Liverpool favourites brought big followings on the Saturday and all inside would agree the venue made for a very special night. The Black-E contemporary arts centre is located next to the China Town gate and is an absolute gem of a venue for music. It’s well worth working into your festival schedule at some point.

DOWNLOAD THE THE ANFIELD WRAP PODCAST

The Liverpool music magazine will be covering the festival in more detail than ever before this year! As well as partnering the festival, the guys at Bido Lito will be covering the event in the big build up, during the festival with a daily edition and dissecting all the best bits when the party’s over.

The Anfield Wrap podcast is one of Liverpool Sound City’s key partners again this year and their team of presenters, journalists and musicians will be getting involved in loads of different ways. Amongst other things they’ll be contributing to the keynote conference on all things football and previewing the build up to this year’s festival on their show.

GET DOWN THE BLACK-E;

FOLLOW THE 12 DISCIPLES OF

THE MUST SEE VENUE

SOUND CITY

Last year The Hummingbirds and Tea Street Band blew away all comers with their back–to-back sets here.

Ok, so Easter may have passed at the end of April- with the only remnants being the inevitable left over Smarties

egg- but we have 12 disciples who you should follow before the start of May. To help get the best of this years Sound City get following: @SoundCity (obviously) @TheRealJohnCale @Thurston_Moore (Keynote Speakers at Sound City) @ItsLiverpool @AceNational @BidoLito @TheAnfieldWrap @NY(Sound City Partners) @TheFarm_Peter @GetIntoThis @Dave_ Monks @BBC6Music @FACT_Liverpool (Fingers on the pulse of music and culture)

GET INTIMATE! The close proximity of each venue and the tight roads around Seel Street make it likely that as you move from place to place you will bump into the performing bands loading and unloading their gear onto their little tour buses. This is a great opportunity for drunken interaction! A personal highlight last year was singing The 1975’s hit ‘Chocolate’ with merry, postgig Brummie boys Swim Deep outside Zanzibar - like a cheap version of Radio One’s Live Lounge.

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Open your ears and hear... GhostChant

From bedroom producer to BBE fame Words: Josh Ray Photo: Mike Brits

With such an active grassroots scene and rich heritage in music it is unsurprising to see so many young musicians flock to Liverpool in order to establish themselves. A testament to the nurturing effect the city can have on aspiring artists, Joe Cornwell has managed to make the enviable step up from bedroom producer and is now set to release his debut album Sincerity through Barley Breaking Even records. “I think sincerity is a really important aspect of humanity,” he says. “Everyone makes mistakes, you can’t be perfect, but you should be honest about it

Listen to Ghostchant with the Layar App

WHO: JOE CORNWELL, 23, BROUGHT UP IN LONDON, LIVING IN LIVERPOOL

and be sincere and wear your heart on your sleeve.” Working under the guise inspired by the punk and hardcore sounds of his youth, GhostChant had been making a name for himself as a DJ in Liverpool’s underground circles whilst establishing a wider following by releasing a string of bass heavy productions through his Soundcloud channel. Just as things were coming together, his management – already working with the label on a WordySoulSpeak album – passed a demo of Laid to Rest over to BBE.

“I wouldn’t ever say that the songs would directly translate into club culture or a club night,” he tells us. “I feel they’re far too downtempo and chilled-out to work in that sort of environment but genre’s like dubstep, garage and house all heavily influence the process and my sound.” The heavyweight London imprint quickly set him to work on the hotly anticipated debut whilst Joe took advantage of his newfound international connections; securing himself an opening slot for Four Tet at Hong Kong’s Clockenflap festival and drawing in a crop of both local and international vocal talent for the LP. With gigs at Sound City and Liverpool International Music Festival lined up, he’s already come a long way from producing in his bedroom.

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El Arte del Collage From Mexico with hugs Collages by Ernesto Muñiz

Born in Mexico City in 1974, Ernesto Muñiz studied graphic design at university before finding his calling in photojournalism. After working for various national agencies and newspapers he started using collage after a period of crisis as another form of expression. From 2007 to date, Ernesto has participated in exhibitions in galleries all over the world in Mexico; Arles, France; Madrid, Spain; London and the Corke Gallery in Liverpool as part of the 2010 Art Biennial. Later this year will see him return to Liverpool’s Corke Gallery to exhibit more of his latest collage works. Ernesto Muñiz collages grab and hold your attention, each with a clear and compelling narrative that encourages the viewer to study the complex arrangement of images and objects he creates. They have the power to convey strong themes, compelling the observer to think, often highlighting the funny side of darker matters or offering a visual banquet of colour and imagery that entertains and takes one to a different place.

Left: Lonely Hearts Club Band (LennonVirgin) Right: Death’s Mushroom Trip, (I think this shit is good man!)

View more of Ernesto’s work at www.ernestomuniz.com.mx

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Top Left: Tearing Down The Walls (Pink Floyd) Bottom Left: Diavolo, The Son of the Devil Above: Icarus and the Red Minotaur

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The Dream is Over

View more of Ernestoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work at www.ernestomuniz.com.mx

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The Balls to Object Reflecting on the nature of protest with artists Words: Robbie Muldoon Photos: Liriya Lee

It is February 2014 and I am standing in Arena Studios, a small gallery located on the first floor of Elevator Studios in the Baltic Triangle, looking at a photograph of a naked man who nailed his balls to the ground of Moscow’s Red Square. This forms part of the exhibition Objections, a show themed on protest by Liverpool based art group Not Just Collective. With the backdrop of revolution erupting in Ukraine and news coverage of protesting Pussy Riot members getting whipped by thugs at the Sochi games, the show carried extra significance. The work of twelve exhibitors in the show ranged from spoken word, installations and video pieces. One striking feature was an unprinted linocut titled “Neutered” that depicted David Cameron and Barack Obama, heads atop dog’s bodies, literally having their testicles surgically removed with a hail of US drones looming in the background reminiscent of the blitzkrieg over London during the Second World

War. “Do we live in a calmer world? Do we live in a more peaceful world? I don’t think anything has changed at all. I don’t think we’ve learned any lessons from war. I don’t think we’ve learned any lessons from life and death. I don’t think we’ve learned any humanitarian lessons whatsoever since then,” says the creator of the piece, Winston Ludd. One medium that featured strongly in the exhibition was photography, and the work of Liriya Lee whose piece called “Building the Future” is a selection of photos taken at a protest in Istanbul last summer. The people began protesting against the government’s decision to destroy the last green space in central Istanbul to make way for a new shopping mall. Three days after the beginning of the passive protests, police attacked the people with water cannons and excessive tear gas, setting off the most significant wave of protests in Turkey’s recent history. The photos show police

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violence, the reaction of people and protesters’ resilience, amongst them there are many young protesters risking their lives that Liriya describes as “actually building their own futures.”

You can find Arena Studios and Gallery at: 1st Floor Elevator Building, 27 Parliament Street, Liverpool, L8 5RN. The exhibition Objections is now over, but check out facebook.com/ NotJustCollective for more forthcoming shows.

“Liverpool has it’s own radical nature,” says Andy Johnson, another member of the Not Just Collective. “Port cities, they’re ruled by the moon which controls the tides. People are coming in and out, so you have to make very quick connections and you have to be witty, smart and also you’re looking outwards, so your ideas are coming from outside,” he tells me, explaining the historic shaping of the city and its ideas that have gone against power seated elsewhere in the country. With modern technology, the Internet and our interconnectedness, the spread of ideas has never been easier. “Things like social networking or the fact everybody’s got a camera on their phone now, it’s hard to keep information down or stop people

“ Do we live in a calmer world? Do we live in a more peaceful world? I don’t think anything has changed at all.” thinking in certain ways,” adds Tony O’Connell, another artist featured in the exhibition. And with this constant stream of information now readily available to us all, it’s worth asking yourself the question; “what would it take for you to go out and protest?’

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The Art of Authentic Italian Cooking What is it that makes Il Forno Liverpool’s true Italian kitchen? In everything Il Forno does, there is a focus on heritage and quality that customers and critics find irresistible. It’s a focus that is allpervasive. Each ingredient is sourced from speciality producers - some exclusively grown for Il Forno, like its prestigious olive oil. We know that delicious food should be at the heart of life and we settle for nothing less. With outstanding modern and classic Italian dishes, we offer something for everyone. Our ingredients are sourced from the finest Italian growers. Our chefs prepare each dish using only authentic recipes and skills, fresh for you each day - and bursting with passion and flavour. From its sun-drenched farmhouses, fields and vineyards.

ice-cream machine, pizza oven, espresso machine - all are as delightfully, quirkily Italian as the ingredients and recipes visitors adore. Some call it demanding, but the results are superb. And, numerous awards; from Italian chef Antonio Carluccio to The Times, critics have lined-up to heap praise on Il Forno, calling it one of the best Italian restaurants in the UK. They do so not simply because of the food, but because of the service and warm welcome, too. With so much effort put into every detail, perhaps that isn’t surprising. We bring you a taste of the true Italy.

The kitchen equipment, 67

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Citygrams Existential Instagrams of Liverpool to mark the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s suicide On April 5th 1994 Kurt Cobain sat down and wrote a detailed suicide note, injected a lethal amount of heroin, then pointed a 20 gauge shotgun at his head and pulled the trigger. Cobain’s personal troubles and existential angst had consumed him and the world lost another artistic icon. Here we have compiled a collection of grunge and existential themed Instagrams shot around Liverpool to mark the 20th anniversary of the Nirvana front man’s death.

@RobWeaver - Bombed Out Church You are the music while the music lasts. — T. S. Eliot

@threesevenfourfive - Toxteth Rather be dead than cool. – Kurt Cobain

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@lynmatfogstar – Ainsdale Woods Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. — Jean-Paul Sartre

@lollipopchops – Aigburth Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. - Kurt Cobain

@western4uk The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. - Alan Watts

@mikeemow88 – New Brighton No one can advise and help you, no one. There is only one way: go within. - Rainer Maria Rilke

@jstlikesunlight – Crosby Beach I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted. — Jack Keroua

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All rooms are air-conditioned and offer facilities including free Wi-Fi, mini-kitchens with a microwave, fridge and sink.

The Nadler Liverpool

An affordable luxury and a perfect base from which to venture out into a vibrant city. When staying in a city, you want to be in the middle of all the action. You want to step out of reception and be in the thick of it. And you want it all with an affordable, luxury hotel too. The Nadler Liverpool offers all of this and more. As we arrived at The Nadler’s (formerly Base2stay) 4 star city centre property, we were struck by the historic building, dating from the 1850s. And waiting in the wings, a welcoming crew ready to check us in. The Nadler Liverpool is the only Nadler hotel outside of London. Previously a printers, cork warehouse and engineering works, the building underwent a £14m renovation

in 2010 but retains many of its heritage features, blended with a contemporary vibe that fits its surroundings. The 106 room boutique hotel is central to all of Liverpools major attractions. Based on Seel Street in the Ropewalks area, The Nadler is nestled within a burgeoning bohemian community. The hotel doesn’t have a bar or restaurant on-site, so guests are encouraged to make use of the facilities in each room, including a mini-kitchen, but can also take advantage of the exclusive offers and discounts arranged by The Nadler with some of the coolest surrounding venues, including Alma de Cuba, Mello Mello and the adjacent Kazimier Gardens. 70

Under the direction of CEO Robert Nadler, the ethos is to provide a stylish hotel fully immersed in the surrounding scenes. It’s unique Local Ambassador scheme, meant that all the staff were knowledgeable about the latest events and venues, and were able to point us in the right direction to make the most of our stay in the city. It’s no wonder then that The Times has named The Nadler as the 6th best hotel in the UK for under £100, with The Guardian also listing it as the 3rd Best Boutique Hotel in the UK under £100. It is an affordable luxury and the perfect base from which to venture out into a vibrant city.

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The lounge in the Secret Garden Suite

Each room includes mini-kitchen facilities

Brazilica Festival takes over the city centre in July

The renovated 1850s building that is now The Nadler Liverpool

Plan your stay at The Nadler around some popular events in the coming months - rooms from £49 Liverpool is one of the most dynamic cities in the UK, and there is always something to do. The Nadler is also an official partner of the 2014 Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, running throughout the summer. With rooms from £49 per night, why not experience some of these upcoming events with The Nadler Liverpool: Liverpool Sound City

1 - 3 May

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

25 May

2014 International Festival for Business Liverpool Biennial

June - July

Memories of August 1914

23 - 27 July

Brazilica Festival

11 - 19 July

Liverpool Pride Festival

2 August

Liverpool International Music Festival

15 - 30 August

5 Jul - 26 Oct

The Nadler Liverpool is a short taxi ride or 5 - 10 minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station, the city’s main railway station and central to all major attractions.

0151 705 2626 thenadler.com/liverpool 29 Seel St Liverpool L1 4AU

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A Rough Guide to the Baltic Triangle Liverpool’s trendiest place to work, play and party Words: Robbie Muldoon and Rebecca Frankland Photos: Kelly Irvine, John Johnson Illustrations: Will Daw

When Liverpool was named as the third top city to visit in 2014, just behind Rio de Janero and Sarajevo, by the travel and tourism gurus at Rough Guides, a company that implores you to ‘make the most of your time on Earth’, the smiles inside Town Hall must have been as big as the Mersey Tunnel. And there must have been relief; relief that in 2014 a Yellow Duckmarine tour bus full of tourists sinking in the dock is a risk no longer posed. One of the areas Rough Guides highlights is the Baltic Triangle. Where? You may ask, as many taxi drivers have done before you. Until recently it has only really been a destination if you needed your car fixing. Sitting between the city centre, the Docks, Toxteth and then squeezed to a point at Liverpool ONE to form an area of land shaped like an obtuse triangle (GCSE maths, come on!), the zone is now a little pocket of converted warehouses and low rent units home to Liverpool’s creative types, hottest new venues, and a burgeoning warehouse party scene. Unlike other cultural quarters of the city, which have a polished and prepared feel as a result of the capital of culture year, the Baltic is raw, organic and cloaked in obscurity. First time visitors to the area can be forgiven for wondering if they have arrived in the right place as old dilapidated Victorian warehouses loom overhead with wild colonies of weeds

protruding from the cracks in their old red bricks. But the people, places, and parties now rooted here have breathed a new lease of life into this longstanding area. Here we take you on a little guide of Liverpool’s trendiest place to work, play, and party.

THE PEOPLE As you would expect from an area laden with the ‘creative’ tag you can expect to see a healthy cohabiting of hipster types, people who cycle to work, and young men rocking hearty beards. It’s home to lots of businesses that demand originality, so don’t expect to see your typical tribal North Face, Nike Air Max, Low Alpine hat wearing scouser around here - even if it is next door to Toxteth. I did spot one once, running down the street after helping himself to a lonely laptop left on a desk in our office, but what city doesn’t have such risks? Here are just some of the more noble residents who make up the Baltic community.

APPOSING You will find the ‘2013 Digital Agency of the Year’ here. Apposing is a mobile innovation agency, creating tech for Nando’s, Carphone Warehouse, BBC and a list of other big name brands. Also based in London and Dubai this cutting edge company has alredy done big things since its founding in 2009. 72

THE BALTIC’S STORY The Baltic Triangle has an incredible history, it’s seen it all as the well-worn workshop of what was once one of the busiest port cities on the planet. Jamaica Street forms the backbone of the area and gives away its involvement in the slave trade of the 1800s between Liverpool, west Africa and the Caribbean when at its peak 75% of all European slaving ships set sail from the Docks. Greenland Street harps back to a thriving whaling industry, when whale oil became an important resource used to fuel lighthouses, street lamps, and public buildings. And during the Second World War the Germans pummelled the area with terrifying day and night air raids. If these walls could talk they’d probably need a shrink. Then in 2011 the creative businesses that had moved into the area got together to launch a manifesto to encourage further development of the Baltic into the creative hub of the city. Three years on and it’s all taking shape.

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Camp and Furnace

MILKY TEA Another international quality multimedia studio is Milky Tea. They make digital animation and illustrations, you will recognise their work from the Llyods TSB adverts, you know the ones with the opera music and the CGI characters with penis noses.

Over in the Elevator building you will find Hub Artists, an independent collective of 22 local artists and sculptors who regularly open their doors to showcase galleries of their work to any interested visitors.

THE PLACES

A full-scale online regional guide to Liverpool with high quality in-depth opinion, debate and analysis – the kind that is often scarce to find in the cannabis-farm-busted laden news pages of the Liverpool Echo.

The Baltic is just full of places that are good at making stuff. Whether it’s making art, making films, or just making bread! If you need something physically creating you will probably find the right place here. The only exception to the rule is the McDonalds and KFC which cling to the outer edge of the triangle, like a tumorous growth.

THERE IS MORE

BALTIC CREATIVE

Stylish independent filmmakers whose vision is to create authentic and entertaining films that communicate with people on a profound level.

The Baltic is a nest for fledgling creative and digital businesses. Many of the people based here are start-ups in the critical early stages of development with the Baltic Creative warehouse space acting as a ward complete with incubator like shed

SEVENSTREETS

HUB ARTISTS

workspaces creating an environment where people can mix, exchange ideas and grow.

BALTIC ARTS & CRAFT FAIR The Baltic doesn’t offer much in the form of a shopping destination, for the time being at least. But you can find the occasional market pitch up in the area. The Baltic Arts & Crafts Fair takes place once a month and showcases products for sale by the finest local microbusinesses, crafters, designers and makers. The artisan Hobo Bazaar also pitches up from time to time with an array of artist offerings, gadgets, and vintage items.

COW & CO. If you’re looking for a quirky gift shop then make sure to visit this design studio-run shop. Placing emphasis on sociability, you are warmly welcomed through its doors as you browse a carefully assembled collection of stuff they love.

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The Baltic Social

CAMP AND FURNACE

THE BALTIC SOCIAL

Undoubtedly the best-known venue, blazing as a beacon for the Baltic since opening its doors in 2012, Camp and Furnace has taken the crown as the trendiest spot in the city centre and was recently ranked second in the Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 20 Coolest Restaurants in Britain list.

Housed on the ground floor of a 200 year old warehouse that is also home to Elevator Studios, is the Baltic Social. A bar and restaurant which serves as a chill out spot for many of the musicians and artists who occupy studios on the floors above. Nice food and drink is served up any time or day of the week in its homely surroundings and they also host frequent live music events showcasing local artists. Our tip, they make better Sunday roast dinners than your maâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Hosting regular and diverse events that appeal to a whole swathe of people, regular highlights include their weekend welcoming Food Slam Fridays; a blend of street food, BBQs, cocktails, DJs, chefs, and whisky! The huge warehouse space also hosts a regular Rockaoke, undoubtedly the best karaoke night in the city where you get to murder your favourite song with the full backing of a live band. Sports fans can also get down to the Fan Park which is held during any big sporting event using the massive screen projections. If there is one place you need to visit in the Baltic it has got to be Camp.

BALLE BALLE There is no shortage of places to grab something to eat, the newest restaurant is Balle Balle (formerly The Orchard Liverpool) an Indian themed restaurant featuring creative dishes and ingredients from the head chef behind Mayur.

SIREN If you are looking for a lighter lunch, then there are two excellent cafes to visit during lunch hours, Siren serves

The Baltic Skatepark

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delicious breakfast, brunches and lunches. It also boasts a fantastic walled garden to enjoy in the summer.

UNIT 51 Found at the front of the Baltic Creative and packed with the residents using its space, Unit 51 is a coffee shop, caterer and frequent art exhibition host.

BALTIC BAKEHOUSE If you love fresh bakeries then you need to visit this place. Great setting with freshly baked bread and buns… the best sausage butty in Liverpool? Yes.

THE BALTIC SKATEPARK An urban park of poured graffiti and a hive of young skateboarders and BMXers through the sunnier days. A colourful feature that adds much energy and a slight whiff of marijuana to the area.

THE LANTERN THEATRE A fringe venue whose main purpose is to promote and support exciting new work in theatre, music and comedy. A springboard for emerging artists in the industry.

BALTIC FLEET The place that best the symbolises the history of the area is this old pub, with its chimneys painted like ship funnels, beer brewed on sight, and its legendary bowls of freshly made scouse. A real hidden gem.

ARENA STUDIOS & GALLERY Home to artists and creatives ranging from illustrators to fashion designers. Hosting an array of events throughout the year from exhibitions, open studios, auctions and talks.

Mark Fanciulli at RUBIX

THE PARTIES Unless you’re content with nights out around Concert Square, in clubs where Joey Essex is paid to make a guest appearance, or where you pay hundreds of pounds to sit in a booth and get your picture taken holding bottles of Grey Goose, then you really need to sample a night around the Baltic. It is staking a claim to be the hotspot in Liverpool for all things electronic, house, and techno. The warehouse venues take the parties back to their underground industrial origins. It’s not a party for girls in killer Christian Louboutin heels. You’re more likely to find yourself in a ket hole and staggering around looking for a taxi home.

24 KITCHEN STREET It’s the eccentric details and battered foundations that create an appealing fusion of textures in this venue. Although only small, the 300 capacity space packs a punch. The cobbled,

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dust layered floor and exposed brickwork reiterates that this room was once unused and unloved, adding to the warehouse vibe. Contrastingly, the colour tinted lighting brings the venue to life and the disco ball adds a vibrant, retro twist.

NEW BIRD WAREHOUSE This is a venue of epic proportions. Although the décor boasts ‘less is more’, the height and style of the warehouse roof isn’t something you see around Liverpool very often. Bolted support scaffolding crosses unwaveringly above you, while the four towering walls are smothered in graffiti. Everything about it screams ‘old school rave’.

HAUS HAUS is one of the most frequently used warehouse spaces in The Baltic Triangle in regards to electronic music events. From Waxxx to Freeze, Discoteca Poca to mUmU, all the big dogs have held parties here. It’s the ideal set up, the length allows for numerous different rooms to be created by sectioning. The space is extremely versatile; a lot is left to the promoter’s imagination. With each different event you attend, you’ll experience a distinctive atmosphere and experience.

in March featuring further cream from the global house and electronic scene.

DISTRICT The longest standing venue space in the area is District (formerly the Picket). You can’t miss this building, it’s the one with the big colorful wall mural dedicated to the Irish immigrants of the city – Paul McCartney once turned up with Bono in the passenger seat of his car to check the artwork out in a personal tour of the city. Now owned by iconic music industry head, the former manager of Oasis Alan McGee, it is serving to bring classic rock and roll nights back.

THRESHOLD FESTIVAL More rock and guitar leaning events that shake the foundations of the area include the grass roots multi venue festival, Threshold, a riotous collective of local musicians and artists.

SUMMERCAMP FESTIVAL 2013 saw the inaugural Summercamp festival held in Camp and Furnace as part of the wider Liverpool International Music Festival, the first year saw an eclectic line-up with a day of feasting to go with it.

KITCHEN STREET POP UP

LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PSYCHEDELIA

Kitchen Street Pop Up is a truly underground space. There’s not a window in sight, only dirty walls and fellow ravers. ‘Music is the answer’ is printed across one of the surfaces, highlighting what this venue is all about – losing yourself in the music. Forget all the pretentious, fancy stuff. This place really does go back to basics.

The Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia is the UK’s largest celebration of the psychedelic subculture and draws artists at the cutting edge of today’s global psychedelic renaissance to the Baltic to become, for one weekend at least, the centre of the conscious universe. This year to be held on the 26th and 27th of September.

THE GARAGE (PEACH) The Garage (Peach Club on a weekly basis) on Greenland Street boasts one of, if not the best, soundsystem in the city (nearly £50k of FunktionOne). Regular underground clubbing includes hosting RUBIX, who regularly pull together an incredible line-up blending globally recognized DJs with the best local talent to deliver the goods with infectious, fist pumping spectacles. And new boys on the scene MODU:LAR, who held their first night

Where to find it: South of Liverpool ONE boarded by Parliament Street and the Kings Dock waterfront, connected to the rest of the city centre by the CityLink circular bus route.

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Baltic Classified BALTIC SUB

Content | Film | Events | Media

GIVE ME SOUL

THE BUTTON BOUTIQUE

Tel: 07809 672 452 Email: info@balticsub.co.uk www.balticsub.co.uk

Tel: 0151 707 2232 Email: andrew@givemesoul.com www.givemesoul.com

Tel: 0151 792 3098 Email: Send us an email www.bobsbuttonboutique.com

Baltic Sub is a new independent record label promoting new music from Liverpool and beyond with a special interest in artists from the Baltic countries. Baltic Sub’s first release is the debut album by Loved Ones, The Merry Monarch which will be followed by the debut album by The Wild Eyes in autumn 2014.

A Storytelling Agency... At the heart of every successful brand is a great story that resonates with its customers, inspiring intense brand loyalty. Give Me Soul helps good businesses and brands of all types and sizes, craft and communicate their own unique stories.

The Button Boutique use art and craft as a method to heal, educate and celebrate. Providing art and craft workshops and short course for both children and adults across Merseyside. Delivering creative craft parties, party & event styling and bespoke craft products.

BUSINESS CHINESE SOLUTIONS

IRON BIRD

DIFFERENT STUDIO

Telephone: 07807 572 667 Email: info@businesschinesesolutions.co.uk Website: www.businesschinesesolutions.co.uk

Telephone: 07814 526 187 Email: info@iron-bird.co.uk Website: www.iron-bird.co.uk

Tel: 0151 709 8499 Email: hello@differentstudio.co.uk www.differentstudio.co.uk

Business Chinese Solutions education is all about introducing the culture of China and Chinese language through exciting and stimulating activities. We provide programmes that can help deliver cultural awareness and language knowledge in fun and exciting formats.

IronBird use the latest remotely operated aircraft and stabilised camera technology to provide ground to sky cinematic and dynamic photography and video options to the Broadcast and Film Industry.

So, what’s different you may ask? We design and deliver projects that make life better indoors, outdoors, from a micro scale, to a large scale. We don’t always wait for the phone to ring, we instigate projects which we and clients feel should happen.

MADE HERE

POTO STUDIOS

SCOUSEPIX

Telephone: 07956 852 331 Email: info@made-here.co.uk Website: www.made-here.co.uk

Telephone: 07807 572 667 Email: charlie@potostudios.com Website: www.notyetdiscovered.co.uk

Tel: 07838 783 164 Email: scousepix@me.com www.scousepix.com

made-here has been established to satisfy a hunger for gifts and accessories with ‘soul’. We think everyone should increase the amount of things they buy locally or from small businesses. In Liverpool, we are supporting over 40 local artists and small businesses.

Poto Studios specialises in photographic services, 2D art creation and production. We operate in both the business to business and business to consumer markets but believe that people are the centre of what we create.

Previously an Amateur now professional Photographer born and bred in Liverpool. Presently working photojurno Assignments with a touch of fine art here and there. Our intention is to add portraiture and product photography to the set in our new home in studio G.

ART MAYKA

PARKSIDE BUILDING DESIGN

RED NINJA STUDIOS

Telephone: 0151 708 0206 Mobile: 07771 636 830 Email: info@parksidebuildingdesign.co.uk Website: www.parksidebuildingdesign.co.uk

Tel: 0151 707 6707 Email: info@redninja.co.uk Website: www.redninja.co.uk

We are a well-established Architectural Design Consultancy, based in Liverpool. We provide survey, design, specification and project management services on extension, refurbishment and new build projects.

Red Ninja is a user-led technology company that design and develop innovative mobile and web applications, smart city technology and take a value driven approach to big data and the Internet of Things.

Telephone: 0151 7092875 Email: charlie@artmayka.com Website: www.artmayka.com Art Mayka helps artists get their work to market by offering commercialisation advice and affordable fine art reproductions of your work. An artist-led service especially for artists, we know how important quality is. We’ll treat your work like our own and share our experience, so you can sell your work with confidence.

We love great design and happy clients.

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AGENT MARKETING Tel: 0151 707 0427 Email: tellmemore@agentmarketing.co.uk Website: www.agentmarketing.co.uk Twitter: @Agent_Marketing THIS IS AGENT. Agent is a full service strategic, creative and communications agency based in Liverpool and London. We’re value-led and results-driven for the clients we’re proud to work hard for. THIS IS MARKETING. THIS IS AGENT.

UNIT 51 Tel: 0151 708 5265 Email: s.bold@frankassociates.co.uk Web: www.unit51.co.uk Unit 51 is based at the heart of the Creative Quarter of Liverpool, fronting the Baltic Creative Campus on Jamaica Street. We provide our customers with high quality food, drink and ambience, a great place to meet, greet and be part of the Baltic Creative Community. Events include life drawing classes, book club, acoustic nights amongst others.

JUXTA LIGHTING Tel: 07707728639 Email: juxtalighting@gmail.com Web: www.juxtalighting.co.uk

Look out for in 2014 Coming to the Baltic soon OPEN VILLAGE By using custom designed and converted shipping containers to provide low cost retail and business space for creative and start-up companies OPEN Village will form a cradle of creativity and commerce in the heart of the Baltic community. A similar development in London’s Shoreditch area, Boxpark, has been a massive success, hosting a variety of local and international brand names and special events. Located with the Docks just in sight, the shipping container park will fit in with its traditional heavy industry surroundings and encourage more creative minds to the area. This is an innovative project that will bring immediate economic

I design and create alluring, laser cut pendant lampshades that draw interest and warmth into any environment. I strive to provide a bespoke service enabling my customers to illuminate their businesses and homes with unique lighting designs. My mission is to provide a Calm and Contemporary atmosphere to modern working.

APPOSING Tel: 0151 706 0107 Email: hello@apposing.co.uk www.apposing.co.uk We are a leading mobile innovation agency, now boasting a team of 15 people and growing. We work with startups, SME’s and leading brands such as Nestlé, Nando’s, Unilever, Carphone Warehouse, Sofaworks and BBC to create beautiful, technically brilliant mobile solutions that are commercially focussed and results driven.

and social benefits to the Baltic Triangle and help establish a real sense of place. OPEN Village will be a lively and vibrant place for the occupiers as well as all the visitors to the site.

LIVERPOOL STREET ART FESTIVAL A collective of locally based artists have been housed in an old, dusty, abandoned building on Jamaica Street since the start of the year planning a festival of the art of the streets. From June look out for yarn-bombing, pasteups, interventions, tiny worlds, graffiti and more will start appearing around the Baltic Triangle with the aim of celebrating the best of Liverpool street art.

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Maybe turning to Tinder for love is not such a good idea The modern day ‘hot or not’ app has made 100 million matches since last year but it’s actually quite depressing By Shannyn Quinn

The use of online dating websites and apps has slowly crept into the lives of much younger adults. Initially, the target audience for online dating was 40+, those who were divorced/separated/widowed and had been there, done that and ‘bought the t-shirt’ when it came to dating. However, one in five relationships in the UK now starts on the Internet, but why, what’s all the fuss about?

So what are the pros and cons of said dating apps, in particular, Tinder? Let’s discuss.

Being single has its ups and downs, but it doesn’t matter how you dress it up, some things are just better when you’re in a relationship, so it seems only natural that those who are single and have few opportunities to meet like-minded people would make use of what’s out there, i.e. online dating apps and websites.

You can be choosy, but not too choosy. There are lots of people to browse through and if you swipe to the right, meaning ‘I like you’, the other user doesn’t find out unless they too, swiped you to the right. This saves the embarrassment of sending a message to somebody and not receiving a reply (however, this too can happen – see below).

Particularly at this time of year, the card shops, restaurants and even supermarkets reek of romance, and it lingers like a bad smell around those, like me, who would just like to sleep from the 13th February right through until the 15th, I can see why people would turn to online dating, in a moment of panic, you create yourself a profile just to reassure yourself that it won’t just be you and your dog for the next 40 years. Desperate times call for desperate measures…

At a mere 22, I almost felt a tad desperate using an app like Tinder as a means to meet men, but hey, it’s easy to use, accessible and saves the awkward, ‘can I buy you a drink?’ situation. Which has never happened to me by the way, ever.

Spending a lot of time talking to one person allows you to get to know somebody really well in a short space of time, which in turn allows you to decide whether you want to date said person, or cross them off the list of potentials. If you manage to talk to somebody online for say, one week, the chances are you will know by the end of that week whether or not it is worth the first-date awkwardness…or not!

But is it all it’s cracked up to be? I would say, no. I firmly believed before I wrote this post that Prince Charming is in fact not sitting on Tinder waiting to be ‘swiped’ and I will stick by that statement after using Tinder for a short time as part of this research. I found there to be several flaws in the system that some people haven’t thought about… The first thing I would like to address is, what is wrong with these people that they have to use an app to get a date? I look at myself and think, well if you’re using it and you’re normal, then the law of physics says that there will be like-minded people using it too. But after having the app for less than a week, I quickly realised that this was not the case, and I begin to ask myself a different question, what is wrong with ME that I have to use an app to get a date?! Rejection in real-life stings, and I am sure those who are yet to use dating apps like Tinder, OKCupid, POF etc. are thinking, I won’t feel as hurt if I get rejected online. Wrong. You will feel worse. Purely because, if you’ve been ‘matched’ by Tinder you’ve managed to get over the first hurdle, and the second part is the easy bit, but apparently, most men don’t actually want to talk to you, they just like browsing through user profiles.

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My finger is tired from swiping, my brain hurts from reading between the lines, and I would rather stick pins in my eyes than use an app as a serious way to meet Prince Charming.

Upon speaking to some friends, I quickly realised that Tinder was not actually a real way to find love; it was a ‘laugh’ and something to do amongst your peers. So I wondered, how many people are actually taking this seriously? Very few if you take into account how many people you could potentially be matched up with throughout the duration of your time using it, and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that only around 5% of those actually start a conversation with you. Through my cynical eyes, it looks to me like people are using it as an ego boost, rather than a means to find sincere romance. That’s before you’ve even seen somebody you know (awkward?!), even worse, when you see somebody you know who has a fiancée, a toddler and a mortgage. I can’t think of anything worse than my partner using Tinder alongside me, comparing matches, however I recently found out that many couples actually have Tinder and sit and swipe whilst they snuggle. Really?? I can imagine that using a dating app could rapidly break down a relationship, or maybe I’m just plain old-fashioned, I don’t know any more. All I know is, my finger is tired from swiping, my brain hurts

from reading between the lines, and quite frankly I would rather stick pins in my eyes than use an app as a serious way to meet Prince Charming. Sorry to those super-fans out there, but it’s just not looking good for those who are genuinely single, if those who are taken are using the app to reignite the dwindling spark in their relationship. That said, statistics show that the modern day ‘hot or not’ app has made over 100 million matches since its launch last year and they even claim that there have been hundreds of marriage proposals as a result of Tinder. So that said, my advice is simple, keep swiping (even for fun) because true love might just be a ‘like’ away… just not for me!

Read more stuff all about love on Shannyn’s blog itsallaboutloveand stuff.blogspot.co.uk/

OPEN APRIL - MAY 2014

We’re Giving Away Sound City Live Festival Passes We’ve got four wristbands worth over £200 up for grabs 45,000 people are expected to attend this year’s three day conference between May 1-3 with performances by Fuck Buttons, Clean Bandit, Kodaline, Jon Hopkins, Jungle, Girls Names, Thumpers, Traams, Drenge and Action Bronson to name just a few.

metropolitan festival in the country. first festival of the year and the biggest metropolitan festival in the country.

But you could be going and taking three of your friends with you to experience over 300 artists play 25 stages and iconic venues around the city centre. This is the first festival of the year and the biggest

To win the four wristbands, we want you to take an image of yourself holding your copy of OPEN and send that image to us via Twitter;

HOW TO WIN

@OPEN_MAGAZINE as a twitpic with the hashtag #SOUNDMAG We will then pick which lovely wrists we would like to decorate with Sound City Live Festival Passes according to our favourite twitpic. The closing time and date for this giveaway is 9am on Friday 25th April 2014.

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