FrEE
SPORT STE FAN I N U R D I N G
LOCAL MC KI N LE Y & PAG E T MAKE @ 1 4 0 VAUXH ALL STR E E T
REVIEWS STAR WAR S B E ST O F 2 01 5
14 JAnUARY 2016
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contents
C O N T E N T S 12/13
06/08/09/10: The Big List: A what’s on guide to Plymouth’s best venues, bars and clubs, written by Andrew Girdler 12/13: Editor Naomi Girdler grabs the chance to have a chat with local professional skateboarder Stefani Nurding. The two girls talk sports, fashion and social media.
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14: Local singer songwriter Harriet Jones talks about the local music scene and how we can change things for the better 15: Plymouth Student catches up with Lou Short, head chef and cafe manager at the brand new Make @ 140 Vauxhall Street, a great new creative space and cafe for those who like to get crafty!
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16: Daniel McKinley and Jake Paget, two graduates who call Plymouth home venture into the bespoke candle making industry, with big ideas to help other creatives far and wide. 18: University can be a stressful time in anyone’s life, so why not take some of editor Naomi Girdler’s tips on how to bear the burden better 20: Local Plymouth University graduate Harrison Nash has bagged himself a British Citizen Award for all his hard work helping vulnerable and traumatized children in South Africa
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22/23: It’s that time of year where being warm comes before fashion, but not for Enya, Zuleika and Kaya. Concentrating on Nordic knitwear, Scandanavian sweaters and lovely layers, we’ve got a beautiful fashion spread just for you! 24: There’s still a chill in the air, so why not treat yourself to a lovely winter warmer of sweet potato cottage pie?
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26: Do we have a treat for you?! Local legend Darren Johns revives his greatly missed Racket from the Pit, bringing you his thoughts on the most recent gigs, shows and events 27: Have you caught the Star Wars bug? Well, our regular contributor Andrew Girdler has! Check out his review of the reboot of the iconic sci fi series on page 22
29 28: Matt Girdler shares with us his top five games of 2015 28: Seth Haney is back again for another lowdown on the best new records of the previous year
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29: Creative Writing and English Literature student from Marjons, Chloe Smith gives us an author profile on the controversial A. M Homes 29: Those naughty little Dust Piggies... 30: Resident Agony Aunt Ellie tackles your problems once again
CHECK OUT THE NEW PLYMOUTH STUDENT WEBSIT E AT
WWW.PS-ZINE.COM
editor’s letter
Contact PS: New Media House 2A De La Hay Avenue Plymouth, PL3 4HU 07811 343335 hello@ps-zine.com www.ps-zine.com Published by Vivid Collective Many thanks to all who’ve supported and contributed to PS Issue 14. Editor, Designer & Writer Naomi Girdler naomi@ps-zine.com Contributors Chris Girdler, Andrew Girdler, Stefani Nurding, Lucien Harris, Harriet Jones, Jordan Mortlock, Lou Short, Dom Moore, Daniel McKinley, Jake Paget, Zuleika Donkin-Greene, Kaya Williams, Enya Richards, Darren Johns, Matt Girdler, Chloe Smith, Seth Haney, Ellie Ward, Garry Hunt, Mike Bromage & the Dust Piggies
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Hello! Happy New Year! Are you excited about 2016? Here at Plymouth Student, we’ve got loads of exciting new ideas in the pipeline, but to start it all off, how about Issue 14? We’ve settled into our new offices nicely and we’re raring to hit 2016 hard with exciting new content, interesting interviews, awesome articles and a stronger web presence than ever before. We plan to expand further around Plymouth with a larger coverage, more issues and better distribution. We’ll keep you in the loop as all of this begins to develop. On to issue 14 however! We’ve got so much in store for you this edition, with super skateboarder babe, Stefani Nurding spoiling us with some unique artwork for our front cover. We get to know her and her loves of skateboarding, fashion and pilates on pages 12 and 13. We also have a ton of great local news with an exclusive chat with Lou Short, resident artistan baker at Make @ 140 Vauxhall Street, a new cafe situated near Bretonside, devoted to a great love of locally sourced food and drink, arts and crafts and collaboration. We also talk to graduates Jake Paget and Daniel McKinley about their new venutre, bespoke candles! And of course, we still have all your regular favourites, from reviews to recipes and from our agony aunt to the Dust Piggies. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed making it!
Naomi Girdler Editor
Advertising If you are interested in advertising in PS, please contact us at les@ps-zine.com or 07835 495881 Printed by Newsquest Weymouth The views expressed in PS are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of all information contained in this publication. However, the publishers do not accept any liability for any advice or information included in this publication.
Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ plymouthstudentmagazine Find us on Twitter www.twitter.com/PSzine Find us on Instagram www.instagram.com/ plymouthstudent
Stefani Nurding Photography by Lucien Harris Illustration by Stefani Nurding
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the big list
THE BIG LIST Listings by Andrew Girdler
With a new year comes a bucket load of new events, gigs and
Clean Bandit
shows. From stand up comedy to cabaret, from drum and bass to metal, from physical theatre to cover bands, there’s something for everyone in the city of Plymouth. If you’d like to keep up to date with what’s on online, visit our digital BIG LIST on www.ps-zine.com
January Cafe Acoustica 13, 27 Jan, 10, 24 Feb, 09, 23 Mar B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre B-Bars fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singersongwriter Jessie Mullen. Details 01752 242021 Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 13 Jan Plymouth Pavilions Having performed to over a million fans since they formed over a decade ago, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac returns to the UK in late 2015 and early 2016 to launch its stunning new stage production performing in meticulous note-for-note detail all the classic hits from one of the most outstanding and enduring catalogues in the history of
Stewart Lee
popular British rock music. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Calvin Thomas 14 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Singer-songwriter based in the seaside city of Plymouth. Details 01752 242021 Aversions Crown 14 Jan The Hub / dbs Live Conceived in 2010, Aversions Crown are a six piece metal outfit from Brisbane, Australia. Featuring support from Rings of Saturn, A Night in Texas and Drifted. Ticket hotline 0871 220 026 Souls of Misfortune 14 Jan The Nowhere Inn A night of gothic rock covers from Souls of Misfortune. Details 01752 670592
Ensemble Baklava 15 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre With a unique combination of instruments, Ensemble Baklava blends the sounds of the oud, bouzouki, bagpipes, Middle Eastern percussion, mandolin, spiked fiddle, guitar, and voices to bring evocative, stirring and lively music and song from the Mediterranean region, both contemporary and ancient. Details 01752 242021 Freshly Squeezed 15 Jan Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque An 8-piece funk fuelled barnstorming behemoth. Details 01752 260555 Clean Bandit 15 Jan The Hub / dbs Live Clean Bandit return to the SW for 2 shows, stopping off at both Plymouth
and Exeter for a DJ set. Details 07966 626490 Cancer Bats 16 Jan The Hub / dbs Live Toronto metal band Cancer Bats are stopping at Plymouth for their UK Tour. With support from Palm Reader, Lord Dying and Incite.Details 07966 626490 Jessica & the Rabbits 16 Jan Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque If you like music with a pulse you have to come and shake a tail feather with this band that’s sure to shake, rattle, and roll. Details 01752 260555 Stewart Lee 19 Jan Theatre Royal The dead pan writer, director, musician and stand up comedian hits Plymouth this new year with another self deprecating, nonchalant, repetitive deconstruction of comedy. Box Office 01752 267222 The Solid Life of Sugar Water 20 Jan - 30 Jan Theatre Royal Phil and Alice are in love. Phil and Alice are healing wounds. Phil and Alice are desperate to communicate. Candid, uninhibited and visceral, this new play from the award winning Jack Thorne is an intimate, tender portrait of loss, hurt and recovery. Jack Thorne’s previous credits include Let the Right One In and Hope for the stage, as well as television dramas Glue, Skins, Shameless and This is England. Box Office 01752 267222
BSO 2016: Plymouth Ho! 21 Jan Theatre Royal (held at Plymouth Guildhall) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is delighted to return to Plymouth with a concert at the Guildhall showcasing the variety of classical music. Box Office 01752 267222 Forked: Poetry and Spoken Word 21 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Performance poetry from across the UK with a brilliant and diverse line-up! Hosted by jazz floozy and poetess Mama Tokus. Jointly headlining are Norwich’s finest John Osbourne and Molly Naylor, currently touring as a twosome with an exciting mix of new and ‘best of’ poems. Details 01752 242021 Pseudomorph & Skyborn 21 Jan The Nowhere Inn A night of classic rock with a twist from Pseudomorph, with support from Exeter based Skyborn! Details 01752 670592 Metropolis Swing Quartet 22 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Based in Plymouth, MSQ is a quartet of musicians who share a passion for swing and jazz and the great American songbook writers. From Gershwin and Porter to Goodman and Ellington to Nat King Cole and Sinatra they play a wide range of music and styles mostly from the swing, jazz and songs of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even the 60’s. Details 01752 242021
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the big list
Sarah Millican
Blues Brothers Collective 29 Jan Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque 10-piece tribute band to the legendary Blues Brothers band of Jake and Elwood Blues. Details 01752 260555 The First Bass Second Birthday 29 Jan Voodoo Lounge Celebrating 2 years of bass heavy madness with some guaranteed party starters from Ratpack and the Ragga Twins! Details 01752 262288 Brother Strut with Antimatodor, Joanna Cooke, & Nathan Austin 29 Jan The Hub / dbs Live As individuals they have performed on records that have accumulated over halfa-billion sales, as a collective they form Brother Strut; the critically acclaimed funk and soul band. “You will wait a very long time indeed to see anything better, I can’t think who can top this” says Blues and Soul Magazine. Details 07966 626490
Fuego Records Launch Party 22 Jan The Hub / dbs Live Fuego Records launch party night at the Hub, with London DJ Dub Motion performing. Details 07966 626490 ZEUS! 22 Jan The Underground Zeus! are a experimental drum and bass duo with a sound like no other. Support from Zolle, Antithesis of Man, and Wyfofbath. Details 07878 460500 Colt 45 22 Jan The Junction ‘Simmering with righteous punk rock fury and street-smart angst’ (Kerrang), Colt 45 are a 3 piece alt rock/punk/pop act from Cumbria. Featuring support from Faux, Lastoneout and Cousin Buzz. Details 07916 127298 Club Fandango Comedy Night with Alex Hart 22 Jan Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque A hilarious night hosted by 3 top comedians. Details 01752 260555 The Soul Stroke 23 Jan Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque If you like your soul, funk & jazz and like to get down and dirty on the dancefloor this is the night and the band for you. Think James Brown, The Meters to present day Cookin’ on 3 Burners tunes. Details 01752 260555 ONE Love 23 Jan The Hub / dbs Live ONE Love is back and louder than ever, with a night full of great artists, including My Nu Leng, MC Dread, and DJ Darko. Details 07966 626490
Aiden: Farewell Tour 25 Jan The Hub / dbs Live Seattle punk rock band Aiden are bring their farewell tour show to the Hub! With support from Ashestoangels, Never Found, and Embers of Eden. Details 07966 626490 I Set My Friends On Fire 25 Jan The Underground Based in Miami, Florida, the experimental two piece visit The Underground with support from Rosendale, Confessions of a Traitor, Pillars and more to be confirmed! Details 07878 460500 Plymouth Humanists 26 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre The science of CERN. A talk from the Plymouth Humanists group. Details 01752 242021 Elise Yuill 28 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre With a powerfully emotive voice, which time and again is likened to that of Joan Baez; Devon based singer-songwriter Elise Yuill is fast becoming a recognised name in the folk world. Her debut EP ‘A Thousand Angels’ Tears’ was released last autumn, produced by acclaimed artist Howard Jones. Details 01752 242021 Hamer & Co 29 Jan B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Hamer & Co are a smokin’ hot jazz outfit with a difference. Experienced guitarplayers Rich Hamer and Frank Hamer perform their own unique brand of music, blending everything from hot to cool jazz using a combination of smooth basslines and groovy rhythms. Details 01752 242021
Duke Johnson & The Scorchers 30 Jan Annabel’s Cabaret & Discotheque Over the last 20 years Duke Johnson & The Scorchers have become an institution in the live music scene & have rightfully gaining the reputation of one of the best Rock & Roll bands in the UK. Details 01752 260555
February The Sherlocks 03 Feb The Underground Young Indie band The Sherlocks are back in Plymouth, this time at the Underground. Support from Blaenavon and The Vice. Details 07878 460500 The B-Bar Comedy Night 03 Feb B-Bar at the Barbican Theatre Some light relief with the best stand-ups on the UK circuit. Details 01752 242021 Frankie Boyle 05 Feb Plymouth Pavilions Frankie has written this new set not to tour, but as a response to Kendrick Lamar’s last album. After these stand-up performances the ball will very much be in Kendrick’s court. Come witness this harrowing onstage breakdown. Box Office 0845 146 1460 YAK 05 Feb The Underground Energetic Psych-punk band YAK are bringing their captivating live show to the Underground. Support from Swedish Death Candy and more TBC. Details 07878 460500
I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue 06 Feb Plymouth Pavilions BBC Radio’s multi award-winning antidote to panel games returns to the stage in 2016 with its sell out touring show. Join Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Jeremy Hardy and host Jack Dee for an unmissable evening of inspired nonsense. Colin Sell provides piano accompaniment. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Cattle & Cane 07 Feb The Junction Pop-folk band Cattle & Cane at the Junction. Support TBA. Details 07916 127298 Monster Raving Loony 09 Feb - 27 Feb Theatre Royal Monster Raving Loony is a fast-paced, hilarious and yet moving journey through the life and political exploits of Screaming Lord Sutch. Featuring a full house of ‘cameos’ of the most iconic comedians, sitcom characters and standups of our time it asks if the British sense of humour can begin to uncover who we are, where we have been and where we are going next. Box Office 01752 267222 Dreadzone 12 Feb The Hub / dbs Live With their unique combination of Dub, Dance, and Alternative music, Dreadzone are not to be missed. Details 07966 626490 Sarah Millican: Outsider 12-13 Feb Plymouth Pavilions In just 7 years Sarah Millican has gone from winning the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to becoming one of the UK’s most successful and multi-award-winning comedians. Her last tour, ‘Home Bird’, was seen by over 200,000 people and now, with her brand new tour ‘Outsider’
Rebecca Ferguson
Sarah Millican is coming to Plymouth! Box Office 0845 146 1460 Rebecca Ferguson 14 Feb Plymouth Pavilions Following in the footsteps of Billie Holiday and Diana Ross, singing superstar Rebecca Ferguson is back, showcasing her smoky vocals on her third album ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ and touring throughout the UK in January February 2016. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Gentleman’s Dub Club 14 Feb The Hub / dbs Live Nine-piece dub and ska band Gentleman’s Dub Club are coming to Plymouth, with support from local favourites Manushka and Andy Quick. Details 07966 626490 The Terrorsaurs 15 Feb The Junction Self-described ‘Atom Age Lizard Surf’ band Terrorsaurs are coming to the Junction. Support TBC Details 07916 127298 Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience 18 Feb Theatre Royal Waited upon by Basil, Sybil and Manuel, this is fully immersive, highly improvised and site-specific comedy theatre at its best. Only a third of the show is scripted, so anything can happen as you take a seat in the ‘Faulty Towers’ restaurant. Expect all the best gags, shambolic service and a ‘70s style 3-course meal in ‘top end entertainment that’s not to be missed’! Just don’t mention the war! Box Office 01752 267222 Kodo 19 Feb Plymouth Pavilions Kodo return for their One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery The 35th Anniversary. Twinning contemporary music and dance that are based on Japanese
nine traditional arts, the production is directed by Tamasaburo Bando (one of the most celebrated Kabuki actors) and expresses the Japanese sensation of ‘Mystery’ defined by a dynamic taiko drumming performance. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Fun Lovin’ Criminals 19 Feb Plymouth Pavilions The band whose ability to merge and transcend genres saw them become one of the most unique and exciting groups when they formed in the nineties. Fun Lovin’ Criminals will play their first live show in years this February to celebrate and resurrect in all its glory, one of the most important albums of 1996, ‘Come Find Yourself’. It’s one of those clever releases that transports you back to the time and yet is ageless and ready for a new audience of fans to fall in love with it all over again. Box Office 0845 146 1460 ONE Love 20 Feb The Hub / dbs Live ONE Love is back again, with a great line up including Eton Messy, Flava D, FK Panda, and DJ Darko. Details 07966 626490 Paddy McGuinness 20 Feb Plymouth Pavilions The star of ITV’s Take Me Out returns to his performing roots, with his first stand-up comedy tour since 2011. After numerous sell out tours and best-selling DVDs, Paddy’s long awaited return to stand-up will see him perform 50 dates across the UK with another hotly anticipated show, Daddy McGuinness. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Burnt Norton, IRIS and The Vast Rocks 23 Feb Barbican Theatre Richard Chappell Dance presents the company’s second UK Tour of its inaugural evening of work with IRIS and The Vast Rocks, along with his new solo work Burnt Norton. Delving into Richard’s personal experience of a rural upbringing (The Vast Rocks) and an adolescence in central London (IRIS), the programme presents two works which are twinned in structure and focus on how the choreographer’s surroundings have influenced his
creative life. Details 01752 267131
the big list
Frankie Boyle
Billy Elliot: The Musical 24 Feb - 02 Apr Theatre Royal Featuring a timeless score by Elton John, sensational dance and a powerful story that has captivated millions around the world, Billy Elliot the Musical is a funny, inspiring and spectacular theatrical experience that will stay with you forever. See this multi-award winning sensation when the tour premieres at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in February 2016. Box Office 01752 267222 Bassfunk: It’s A Swing Thing 25 Feb The Junction Another ‘It’s A Swing Thing’ night from Bassfunk. Performing this time are swing and jazz band C@ in the H@. Details 07916 127298 The Circus of Horrors 25 Feb Plymouth Pavilions The last few of years has seen the profile of The Circus of Horrors jump tremendously after rampaging into the finals of Britain’s Got Talent. Its appearances on various subsequent TV shows have turned what set out as a cult show into a household name. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Reef 25 Feb The Hub / dbs Live Since the arrival of Jesse Wood on guitar in April 2014, Reef are back stronger and better than ever, mixing a set of inspired new songs with all the loved classics. Details 07966 626490 Fake It ’Til You Make It 26-27 Feb Barbican Theatre Bryony is an outrageous, hilarious and fearless performance artist from London. Tim is an outrageous, hilarious and fearless account manager from a top advertising agency. Bryony and Tim are a couple. Bryony spends most of her life on tour, trying her best to change the world. Tim spends most of his life at a desk trying his best to sell the word, and six months into their relationship, Bryony found out that Tim suffers from severe clinical depression. Details 01752 267131
Reef
BuBBles launderette 232 albert road, stoke tel: 563382 56 Wilton street, stoke tel: 562686
The Selecter 27 Feb The Hub / dbs Live Legendary 2-Tone artists, The Selecter, released their new studio album SUBCULTURE to critical acclaim in June this year on DMF Records and have just announced part two of their Subculture tour with dates around the UK in Spring 2016. Details 07966 626490 TRC 27 Feb The Underground London based hardcore band TRC are at the Underground in February alongside Broken Chakra, Half Cut, and more TBA. Details 07878 460500
March Kite 01 Mar - 05 March Theatre Royal A lonely girl is taken to live in her grandma’s airless flat where the windows are shut tight. Her memories of seagulls and sand dunes begin to fade in the silence. One night a handmade kite comes to life and heralds the start of a wild adventure and the chance to find what it seemed was lost forever. Box Office 01752 267222 Will Varley 02 March The Junction Rambling folk singer Will Varley, who walked over 500 miles along England’s south coast with a guitar on his back, is gearing up for the release of his third album ‘Postcards From Ursa Minor’ Details 07916 127298 Dreaming in Code 04 March Barbican Theatre Award-winning choreographer Tamsin Fitzgerald and Eddie Kay for Frantic Assembly present Dreaming in Code, an explosive, visceral, brandnew double bill performed by one of the UK’s most innovative male dance companies. Featuring a breathtaking collision of kinetically charged
dance and theatre, with music by Angus MacRae and Tony-nominated composer Alex Baranowski, 2Faced Dance explore what the future could look like in this powerful and fearless work. Details 01752 267131 Rudimental 05 March Plymouth Pavilions We The Generation, Rudimental’s sophomore album has followed in their debut’s footsteps and took the No. 1 spot in the charts following its widespread critical acclaim. Flying high, the band also announced a ninedate 2016 UK headline tour which will include their biggest show to date at The O2 Arena on 3 March. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Shane Filan 07 March Plymouth Pavilions In the wake of releasing his hit album ‘Right Here’ in October 2015, Shane Filan of Westlife fame has announced a major indoor UK tour taking in some of the UK’s best loved venues, including Plymouth’s Pavilions. Box Office 0845 146 1460
serVICe WasHes aVaIlaBle Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1pm selF serVICe WasHes 7 days per week 8.30am to 9pm last wash 8pm drY CleanInG aGents all sIZe QuIlts WasHed
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Wet Wet Wet 08 March Plymouth Pavilions Iconic British band Wet Wet Wet have announced The Big Picture Tour, reaching as far south as Plymouth and as far north as Inverness whilst covering all of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, giving fans all over the country the chance to see Wet Wet Wet play live. Box Office 0845 146 1460 The Man with the Hammer 10 March - 26 March Theatre Royal A powerful story about hope, desire and the dangers of obsessions. Jodie cycles to college every day. She has a crush on her hero. She lives with her Dad. She misses her Mum. Plumber Tony only bought his bike to impress his daughter, now he’s hooked. He misses his wife. A charismatic procyclist, Noah’s just the man to lead his tarnished sport into a bright new era. Box Office 01752 267222
Call
07835 495881
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ten
the big list
Peter Andre 12 March Plymouth Pavilions Global superstar Peter Andre continues his major UK arena and theatre tour which includes a mammoth show at The O2 in London. The news of the ‘Come Swing With Me’ tour also coincides with Peter’s participation on the current celeb-packed series of Strictly Come Dancing. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Imbalance 18 March Barbican Theatre Fusing acrobatics, dance and circus with choreography from internationally renowned Olivier Award nominee Jonathan Lunn, Joli Vyann presents Imbalance. Integrating exciting acrobatic skills with athletic yet graceful dance in an energetic and thought-provoking performance that explores our obsessive dependence with technology, Joli Vyann asks whether our lives are ‘in’ or ‘out’ of balance? Details 01752 267131
Sing-a-long-a Grease 19 March Plymouth Pavilions You’d better shape up to sing along to the great movie musical - the sing along screening of the classic film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John is brought to you by the producers of Singa-Long-a Sound of Music. Ever wanted to now what it’s like to be a T-bird or a Pink Lady, but never quite felt cool enough to pull it off? Well, now is your chance to don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go for an evening where you are the stars… and remember Grease is the word! Box Office 0845 146 1460
Rudimental
Crossfaith 20 March The Hub / dbs Live Crossfaith are an Electronic/Metal band from Osaka, Japan. Details 07966 626490 Joe Bonamassa 21 March Plymouth Pavilions Bonamassa will perform songs from his classic albums including Sloe Gin, Dust Bowl, The Ballad of John Henry, Driving Towards The Daylight (the latter reached #2 in the Official UK Album Chart 2012), and his critically acclaimed 2014 album Different Shades of Blue. Box Office 0845 146 1460 Collabro 24 March Plymouth Pavilions Following the success of his solo shows
earlier this year, Elvis Costello announces a 21-date UK tour called ‘Detour’ in the early summer of 2015. Box Office 0845 146 1460 While She Sleeps 24 March The Junction Residing from Sheffield, While She Sleeps visit Plymouth once again for an intimate show at Mutley Plain’s The Junction. Details 07916 127298 Purson 25 March The Junction Purson are a London-based psychedelic
rock band, self described as ‘vaudeville carny psych’. Details 07916 127298 The Wizard Of Oz 28-29 March Plymouth Pavilions Follow Kansas farm-girl Dorothy and her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up by a tornado and carried off to the magical Land of Oz. With help from their new friends the Munchkins, they to travel to the Emerald City where the great Wizard of Oz lives. Box Office 0845 146 1460
Jonny and the Baptists: The End is Nigh 29 March - 02 April Theatre Royal Last year, Jonny accidentally told his four-year-old niece that climate change would end the world. To stop her crying, he and Paddy promised to fix it. They really tried very hard… A new show with songs and music about family, friendship and environmental disaster from the five-time award nominated musical comedy stars of Radio 4’s The Now Show, following their acclaimed tours with Stop UKIP and Rock the Vote. Box Office 01752 267222
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Leona Lewis 11 March Plymouth Pavilions Following the release of her new studio album ‘I Am’, Leona announces details of her upcoming 2016 UK tour, her first UK tour in three years. Leona will embark on the 14 date tour from February 21st at Liverpool’s Empire and will finish at the Plymouth Pavilions on March 11th including two nights at the London Palladium. Box Office 0845 146 1460
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SUM MER
SPR ING
STEFANI
stefani nurding
twelve
/ Interview by Naomi Girdler - Photography by Lucien Harris /
Welcoming us into 2016, Plymouth Student editor Naomi Girdler catches a coffee with Stefani Nurding, Plymouth’s own kick ass lady skateboarder. Sponsored by Animal, Stef spends her time skateboarding and running her fashion blog theconcretechameleon.com - where she talks about her travels, her outfits, her latest DIY tricks as well as hair and beauty. PS: Can you tell us the readers who you are and what you’re all about? SN: My name’s Stefani Nurding and I’m from Plymouth. I’m a professional skateboarder as well as also running my successful fashion blog. I’ve recently started modelling this year as well. In my spare time, I’ll do pilates and I love to snowboard. PS: What got you into skateboarding? And when did you realise that it could become more than just a hobby? SN: It was a mixture of things that got me into it really. I learnt to drop in when I was a little kid, but it was always really drilled into me that it wasn’t something for girls. My brother would get a new skateboard set up for Christmas, but I wouldn’t, that type of thing. I ended up concentrating on other things after that, art mainly. When I was about 18, I was living in a hotel in Newquay that had a mini ramp. It just seemed obvious to have a go at it, I mean I lived there! That summer Vans did a tour and they ended it in Newquay, so I got the opportunity to see loads of awesome skaters all at once. I was pretty
much hooked from then. The progression from a hobby to a career happened quite naturally, because I just love skateboarding, I’d end up skating all the time and going to girls’ events and it was while I was studying at uni that I got sponsored by Animal. They ended up using me for a lot of their marketing as a model and it was only when I saw the campaigns all in full that I realised that modelling was also something I could do for other people. I got an agent based in London, it was a little slow at first as it’s notoriously difficult but it’s been going really well. My life is a mixture of things really; I skate, I’ve got my sponsors and then I do a bit of modelling here and there! Somehow I’ve managed to make a living out of it.
I learnt to drop in when I was a little kid, but it was always really drilled into me that it wasn’t something for girls
PS: What is life like being an Animal sponsored skateboarder? SN: It’s a great relationship, they’re really supportive of me if I want to go to an event, if I want to run an Instagram contest, or whatever, they’ll back me up. If I come up with an idea for a project, like a video or a campaign, they’re there to support me. They use me for a lot of their marketing stuff which is always cool because I get to meet the surfers and I’ve made some really good friends. I like Animal because they use actual people - actual skateboarders and surfers - to model their stuff, rather than just pay some random to do it. Animal’s awesome, they support a lot of the girls stuff which is quite rare. They’re a UK brand so they’ve made sure to keep a lot of their stuff orientated around the UK. PS: What’s an average day in the life of a professional skateboarder? SN: If I’m in Plymouth, I normally wake up and do pilates, then walk the dog. I’ll go for a skate in the day if I can, sometimes I’ll be catching up on emails, doing photoshoots, going to modelling castings or drawing up some ideas for outfits for my blog. My blog seems to be going really well, I work on a collaborative basis with a couple photographers which is really helpful when I’m working with a brand or they are. It varies though, sometimes it can be a skate brand like Vans, or a fashion brand like Topshop, or a sportswear brand like Sweaty Betty or for example, I went to The Braid Bar in London and got my hair done and then blogged about it. I do it because I love it.
thirteen
stefani nurding
N U R D ING PS: That takes me nicely to the next question. Tell me about your fashion blog theConcreteChameleon.com, where did your love of fashion come from and what made you decide to blog about it? SN: I’ve always been interested in fashion, I’ve collected Vogues for years, and I’m not into fashion because it’s all about ‘looking nice’, it’s more about the creativity, but fashion always did kinda feel a bit out of my reach. I went to Devonport High School for Girls which is a very academically focussed school, and fashion never felt like an option. I’d been doing my blog for a little while and since I love learning, I thought I’d apply to do Fashion at Plymouth College of Art. I just wanted to do something that I knew I’d enjoy. I got on really well with my lecturer and I just went full speed ahead with the work. My skateboarding and the fashion blog seem to go hand in hand now, it attracts brands because they can see I’ve got a genuine love for what I do. PS: Do you think it’s important for professional athletes to utilise social media platforms? SN: I think it’s a really powerful tool, especially for girls. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other skaters, your fans, show people what you’re up to and to promote the girls events that can go a bit unnoticed. I think Instagram has been a big part of helping the community grow. I think it’s great for inspiration. I’ve had young girls email me asking what deck they should get as a first timer and it’s so good to be a part of that. I went through a phase when I was younger where I didn’t feel like I fitted in, according to some people I couldn’t
like skateboarding AND be into fashion, so it’s great today to be able to show the different sides of myself through social media. PS: What’s your favourite thing about living in Plymouth? How has your career been received here? SN: I will always be drawn back to Plymouth, I love living by the sea and all my friends are here. My career has always been supported by the people around here, but I like to give back with free skateboarding lessons for girls. Why run away and do something cool somewhere else, when you can do that for your own city? People can get really down on Plymouth and I just don’t get why, it’s sick here! I think it’s
I’Ve had yoUng girls MESSAGE me asking what deck they shoUld get as a first timer and it’s so gOOd to be a part of that
important to do something for your own community, and this city is a good base. I love travelling but it always feels so lovely to come back, go for a beer and hang out with your mates. I just don’t get how people don’t want to get involved with stuff, yet they live here and complain about nothing going on. If you’re unhappy with how things are here, then work to change it. The one down side it has on my career is sometimes you don’t get taken seriously if you’re not from London, they don’t understand why I don’t live there! I mean, they don’t say it, but you can see it from their faces! PS: What does the future hold? SN: Just gonna keep busy, I’ve been skating a lot lately and I’ve been really enjoying getting creative with some of the tricks I’ve been learning. I’ve been pushing myself. I’m gonna go film a section next year, go away on a few trips, get some footage, go to some competitions. I’m planning to work with Skateistan too, they basically teach young people, especially girls, in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries how to skate. I really want to do some fundraising for them, where people can donate to skate - you donate some money in exchange for a free skateboarding lesson from me! PS: Where can we follow you on your adventures? SN: You can find me on Twitter @stefnurding and Instagram on @stefaninurdingxx. Follow my fashion blog at www. theconcretechameleon.com
local music scene
fourteen
Why PLYMOUTH'S DERELICT MUSIC SCENE IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM
/ Words by Harriet Jones - Photo by Jordan Mortlock / Plymouth has many of the makings of a city that really could be a ‘City of Culture’, and in many ways, it is on it’s way there. Recently locals have witnessed the opening of Ocean Studios, the Plymouth Art Weekender and even MTV Crashes* taking over the Hoe for the best part of three days. (*I think this is an incredible opportunity for the city, it really is, I was just many let down by the underwhelming lineup/s of Simon Cowell’s corp-children.) The Bread & Roses is pivotal in consistently bringing a diverse range of artists of all kinds to the display of the local public and Factory nightclub has magically managed to recapture a true element of the long-lost 90’s dance scene that had for so long become the thing of legend. But, the live music scene? What live music scene? Ever since I have been going out (4 years legally, about 8 honestly) the scene has not been too dissimilar to the images Dylan conjures up in “desolation row”. Fortnightly, the unlikely beacon of hope that was the Pavilions would sometimes bring a famous act to the city that country-mouse locals would gawk at. The closest things to large gigs outside of big touring bands were seeing X-Factor rejects such as Jedward waltz around like laboratory-produced, acid pixies during the Christmas lights turn-on. When I first got into playing music aged 16 my brother sneakily signed me up to an open mic night at Cuba(!) and I soon met a sum of other young songwriters like myself who wanted to pursue performing. Calvin Thomas, Jack Cookson, Bess Barker, Elani Evangelou, Jonquil Lawrence... we were all caught up on a kind of drug that Plymouth had forgotten to stop supplying. I think I can speak for us all when I say that It soon became very obvious that, irrelevant of the quality of your work, Plymouth bars were only interested in booking you if you spewed out a two hour long set of uniquely Oasis covers for the viewing pleasure of drunken football hooligans. We all pushed but now, in 2015, two of us live in Bristol, two of us up in Brighton and one in London. I, however, stay in Plymouth, faced with the notion that to get shit done, you kinda have to leave. Just over six months ago I finished making my debut album in Sheffield. The whole amazing experience took 18 months and I fell startlingly in love with the city. I have a lot of time for the north of England and have had the pleasure of making friends and playing in a number of cities. However, it wasn’t just the cliched, but true,
realisation that northerners tend to be really friendly and the fact that the architecture is beautiful that helped me fall in love. It wasn’t even all the food I managed to funnel down my neck in that time. It was impossible not to love the locals there, because they cared. They don’t only pipe up when a massive band is in town - they love that in their city - but even when someone just like them is producing their own new incredible music and, oh, what a thing to be part of. See, these are the clever people. They have foresight. They don’t base their favourite artists on what they’re told is big and successful, or what their hipsters mates tell them they’re allowed to like. They enjoy going out to listen, with their fucking ears, and recognising their own talent. Further, these are the legends at the pub in twenty years who can say “Oh...... I was there at their first gig.” And that is the closest thing anybody will ever get in the eternal quest for cool. There is indeed a north/south divide in a whole new sense, down in the South, down here in Plymouth, nobody is caring enough to pay a few quid to see a local band over buying another Krypto on a Saturday night and it’s really sad.
ARe we going to continue to be known as the punch line of Frankie Boyle’s jokes, Tom Daley’s birthplace and the inaccurately-located Mayflower Steps?
I wonder whether part of this is the all-too-Plymouthian runaway syndrome. It’s as if a generation have grown up without hope for such a scene and left, expectations lowered, tail between legs, to flee to Bristol or London where the scenes are already existent and people care. Have we grown apathetic? Is Plymouth really no more than a laughing stock? Are we going to continue to be known as the punch line of Frankie Boyle’s jokes, Tom Daley’s birthplace and the inaccurately-located Mayflower Steps? There is a change happening. If you’re quiet enough you can hear
the rumble of young entrepreneurs rebuilding parts of the city the way they want. The Eb St Zine, if you can grab one quick enough from most venues and shops on Ebrington St, is really the hot ticket for identifying and attending the most interesting happenings in the city. Ocean Studios means we have a plethora of talent working and creating on our door step and I think It is important that we remember to apply the same hope and enthusiasm to the music scene. We need to encourage new music, and let the good stuff really prosper. Nobody realises the significance of one extra person attending a gig. I try to keep that in mind now in attending all I can. The difference stretches over various levels. The musician/s are complimented, new potential artists are encouraged and bars are reassured that in order to showcase new music they won’t necessarily have to take a loss in profit. I really believe there is a time and a place for all performers. Cover songs can be incredible if changed and reworked and sometimes, unchanged, they are just what an audience need. Tribute bands, though not my cup of tea, undoubtedly fill many peoples nights with enjoyment, and that alone is a brilliant thing. But we must, as a city, try to care and try to go out and risk maybe seeing the worst band you’ve ever seen just on the off chance that they might be the best. Sheffield had Pulp, The Arctic Monkeys, The Human League, Richard Hawley... isn’t it time we had our bands? Recently, Plymouth has done well in the dance music scene. Factory nightclub has changed the game. Recently, they had their first live band show and it was brilliant. Value Bastard played to a really upforit crowd and they were different, loud, cool and even better, they were local. I hold hope that clubs like the Factory can do what they have done for dance music in the city with live music, but the ball game is completely different. We are dealing with curators vs creators. The risk is even bigger for a paying audience and a venue betting on doing well that night. But Plymouth is a beautiful city, with so much history and still so many hidden talents waiting to be unveiled. But we are not some talent-destitute anomaly. Our houses are filled with the scientists, teachers, politicians and artists of the future; we just need to beckon them out.
fifteen
make @ 140 vauxhall street
LOU SHORT & MAKE @ 140 VAUXHALL ST Lou Short (L) and owner Lizzy Evans
Photography by Dom Moore Make @ 140 Vauxhall Street is a brand new cafe and creative space, that opened its doors in Bretonside last month. Promising locally sourced food and drink, a workshop space for budding creatives with big ideas and a huge range of sewing, arts and crafts supplies, Make is aiming to build the bridge between creativity and collaboration. We met up with Lou Short, the cafe’s artisan baker, who makes delicious dishes, cool cakes and marvellous meringues. PS: So tell us a little about yourself! LS: My name’s Lou and I’m the cafe manager at Make at 140 Vauxhall Street. I’m in charge of staff and making sure everyone’s on the same page in terms of high standards of food and drink and customer service. I do all the savoury stuff, bake cakes, organise the menus, do the dishes, chat to people and help out where I can. I helped one woman recently by holding her baby for fifteen minutes so she could eat her sandwich! Every day is different here. PS: What is Make at 140 Vauxhall Street? LS: It’s a great new creative space and cafe. Originally from the Funky Poppy button shop on the Barbican, Lizzy’s vision was to introduce people to the idea of sewing and craft, and for the people who do so already, we offer supplies and a bit of a modern take on what sewing can be for people. It’s a way of making it more current and accessible. She always thought of having a cafe on the side, but wasn’t sure how to make that work, so that’s where I came in. I’m a cafe lover and a cafe goer, and there were very few places in Plymouth where you could get a good cup of locally sourced coffee. I’ve taken my inspiration from my time in Bristol and Berlin and it’s nice to do something different. Make is not pretentious and not ‘cool’, it’s just for people - from the little old lady buying some thread to the students from the university wanting to know how to make something. Our main aim is to have amazing customer service, nothing is too much trouble and we like to make people feel looked after! We offer a personal experience, which you’re just not going to get from somewhere like Costa. PS: Where does the food come from? LS: Everything is locally sourced, our coffee comes from Owen’s coffee in Modbury and all our fruit and vegetables come from a Cornish farm. We’re strict with seasonal produce, it’s been embedded in my brain since working with chefs in Bristol. We also always have a vegan cake option in the cafe and it seems to be going down really well. It’s a beetroot and chocolate cake and people can’t believe it’s vegan! There’ll always be a vegan soup option too, we like to be as accommodating as possible. If someone needs a
vegan sandwich whipped up, we can do that. Our menu is still developing and growing, but at this point, it’s important to take baby steps. PS: How did you get into baking? LS: I didn’t bake when I was younger, but I did cook. My Dad couldn’t cook at all when I was younger so twice a week we’d go over and eat chicken nuggets. I think it was about a month in that I told my Dad I just couldn’t do it anymore. He eventually bought a cookbook and we made a spaghetti bolognese. I think I was around seven at the time. We used to pretend we were on an Italian cookery show! I was never squeamish as a kid though, I didn’t mind getting my hands dirty or touching and cooking meat. My Dad’s parents are both from France so I’ve got loads of memories growing up and eating crabs and snails. I was mad about sea food. I was never scared to try anything.
years of being there, I found some amazing chefs to work with. I worked with one guy at the Old Bookshop, a quirky little cafe and eventually I was told “Look, we can teach you everything we know, but this isn’t proper cooking. You need to be in a kitchen.” I ended up being a commis chef in a pub called the Kensington Arms, and I was warned it was going to be really hard but I had no idea. I would always try and keep up with the boys though! The head chef was so passionate about food, he’d come into work with a new recipe every day. I was put in the pastry section because he said “If you can do pastry and you can make bread, you can do anything!” I was making handmade bread everyday, with no machines! Everything was made from scratch, I learnt so many great skills. I did stop cooking to be an au pair in Berlin for a while, which was great for food exploration. But I missed home! PS: What is your favourite thing to bake? LS: Meringues! It took me so long to nail it, I just couldn’t get it. I eventually found a great recipe by Lily Vanilli, she’s a baker based in London. She’s incredible. She uses loads of edible flowers and everything she bakes looks really natural and I love that.
When I was older though, I wanted to focus on art, going to the Plymouth College of Art to do a foundation year. Art was the only thing I really got on with at school. I went to university in Cardiff, but I soon realised it wasn’t something I was going to find a career in, I just couldn’t see myself doing it. I’m quite a physical, hands on person, so I would always have a part time job washing dishes in a kitchen or something of the sort. I moved to Bristol and in the three
PS: Have you got any baking hereos? LS: Fergus Henderson has a great book called Nose to Tail. I’m surprised more people haven’t heard of him actually. He believes in using the entire animal in cooking, rather than just the ‘best cuts’ and that’s something I’m quite passionate about myself. His follow up book Beyond Nose and Tail contains more baking recipes, like brown bread ice cream! I made his doughnut recipe and it’s literally the best thing I’ve ever eaten. He’s someone I’m just blown away by. PS: How can people get involved? LS: To keep up to date with future workshops and events, we have a mailing list on our website: www.makeat140.co.uk You can also find out more on Facebook at www.facebook.com/makeat140
mckinley & paget
sixteen
MCKINLEY & PAGET It must have been 2008 when I first set my sights on Jake Paget. We had both just started our A-levels on a National Diploma course at the Plymouth College of Art and I found myself drawn to this tall, interesting fellow with hair bigger than my whole head. The rest they say, is history. Jake hasn’t changed much since then, apart from a far better haircut, he still oozes confidences, ambition and a determination to succeed bigger than anyone I’ve probably ever met. I thought it was about time I had a chat with him and his business partner and close friend Daniel McKinley on their new homeware adventure. PS: So what is McKinley & Paget and how did it come about? JP: Mckinley & Paget is a homeware company focussing on, to start with, scented candles. Our scents are tailored towards individual rooms to cultivate moods we want to associate with those environments. We use high-quality eco soya wax and natural essential oils. DM: It’s completely bootstrapped from an initial investment of about £100. We made some, sold some, and have reinvested everything. We’re on our third batch now. PS: What are your individual backgrounds? JP: Dan and I met on our foundation course at Plymouth College of Art. We’ve remained friends since as we both studied in London. I studied BA Design at Goldsmiths University of London. Since graduating the year before last I founded an ongoing project, HYDE, which is a support network and platform for emerging creatives. Dan has been working with me on this too. DM: I went to the University of Westminster to study BA Fashion Design. From this I’ve been working in the denim industry for a number of companies big and small, but in 2016 I am launching my own eponymous label with Jake’s help - we’re both friends and longterm collaborators. We even spent a stint running a luxury retail shop, which may have bled into the inception of McKinley & Paget.
PS: What made you want to make candles? JP: Freedom, really. A lot of what we do is about trying to get creative freedom in our lives. But obviously you’ve got to pay the bills, so for this project we wanted a creative, yet commercial, venture that we could start for a small initial investment. DM: The idea that underpins this project is wanting to create the things we want in our house and what we think our friends would want. We just noticed we’d go to a friend’s house and there would be a candle burning, but it would burn too quickly, unevenly, or the scent would be synthetic. In a way, we set out to solve a first world problem. Daniel McKinley (L) & Jake Paget
PS: What’s the process of making bespoke candles? JP: Making a lot of mistakes and finding the right ingredients. A lot like cooking. DM: Now it’s become just as much about spreadsheets and tracking numbers, but we still make every candle ourselves. JP: Starting with the raw wax, we carefully melt it down. Once it’s become liquid it is left to cool slightly, then the essential oils are added. Put it in a jar, add the wick and leave it to set. The devil is in the details though, it took a while to find the right quantities, ratios and temperatures for each of the steps.
PS: Why do you use eco-soya wax and essential oils, and how does that make you different from other candles? DM: It comes back to that ‘problem’ I mentioned before. Eco-soya wax burns more evenly and more slowly than paraffin wax, as well as being completely plant-based and processed to remove any potential contamination from pesticides, herbicides and GMM. We use essential oils for similar reasons, plus they smell better than their synthetic counterparts. JP: We want to stay away from ingredients sourced from petrochemicals. You get enough of those walking down Mutley Plain, you don’t want to fill your house with them too. PS: Tell me about HYDE? JP: As I said before, Hyde is a new creative agency that offers a support network and platform for emerging creatives. This will take many forms, such as placing creatives with mentors, being a sounding board for new ideas, and finding ways to monetise their practice. We are launching an online department store at the start of February, a five day festival across five venues in London in June and an app for creatives to be launched at the same time. For more information check out hydecreative.co.uk PS: What have you got lined up for the future? DM: This month, we are launching two more scents and producing our largest quantities to date. After this we’re looking at setting up a subscription service, for both convenience and to reduce waste from packaging. JP: Once the candle side of things is established we will move into a broader homeware range. The longterm goal is to move into furniture. PS: How can we keep an eye on what you’ve got coming up? JP: Our website is http://mckinleyandpaget.co.uk Or you can find us on instagram: @mckinleyandpaget @hydecreative @jakecpaget @danielmckinley_c Depop: search for Mckinley and Paget
eighteen
de-stress to success
DE-STRESS FOR SUCCESS / Words by Naomi Girdler / Stress. We’ve all experienced it. We all know what it feels like when everything just seems a little too much to handle. Leaving home for the first time, exams, social pressures and money problems are more than enough to add to your stress levels, but life can throw many curve balls and it’s how you handle it that defines whether you’ll come out the other side with your head held high or not. Stress, although a natural reaction to challenging situations, can end up affecting you mentally, physically and emotionally. Short periods of stress are normal and can often be resolved by finishing a said task, but sometimes stress can spill over. Your stomach churns, your heart feels like it’s beating out of your chest and suddenly you have a dry mouth and clammy hands. These are just a few of the physical symptoms you can experience after long periods of stress, and that’s not to mention the irritability, anger, anxiety and depression that can affect your mental health too. This can lead to increased use of substances, withdrawing from family and friends, arguing with loved ones and becoming reclusive and unproductive. Trust me, you don’t want any of this.
It’s not all doom and gloom though! There are a ton of ways you can combat this. 1. Get healthy Now, I’m not one of those gym bunnies that’s going to encourage you to spend all your spare time in the weight room and all your spare coins on protein shakes, but there’s something to be said about eating healthily, getting a bit of exercise in here and there and a good night’s sleep. A good diet adds all sorts of good vitamins and antioxidants to your routine, exercise helps produce more endorphins (chemicals that make you feel good, basically) and even small 20 minute naps can help improve productivity. 2. Reward yourself You can’t work constantly, and to do so would only be counterproductive. One of the best methods of getting shit done in my life is to reward myself appropriately after. If this means tucking into the bar of chocolate after an essay or finally allowing yourself some time on Fallout 4 after a couple good hours of revision, then do that! Take time out everyday to enjoy yourself, just don’t get too carried away.
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3. Try and be positive Okay, this isn’t always an easy one. You’ve failed a test and it feels like your education is collapsing in on you. Well, it’s not. Life carries on and it will continue to do so despite your test scores. Learn from your mistakes and move on. University is one of the best points in your life to make mistakes and to grow from the hardships. With the right attitude, you’ll come out the other side like a phoenix rising from the ashes. 4. Take breaks Similar to step two, taking breaks is essential to productivity. If you were in a place of work, you’d be given several breaks a day, so employ the same methods at home. This is especially important if you have to do a lot of computer work, for example, you can cause RSIs (repetitive strain injuries) and problems to your sight if you’re not careful. 5. Manage yourself Try and organise your time. Finding yourself handing in things late or forgetting deadlines and then having to rush a last minute essay? This will dramatically affect your stress levels, so buy yourself a little organiser and sort
your life out mate! Write down all your classes, note all your deadlines and allow your brain some room to chill out. Bonus: Laugh They say laughter is the best medicine, and they’re kinda right guys. Laughing relaxes your whole body, boosts the immune system, releases endorphins and protects your heart. Not only that, it also helps improve your mood, eases anxiety and strengthens bonds with other people when the giggling is shared. Humour helps shift peoples’ perspectives and sometimes, life needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Watch a movie, go see some stand up comedy or ring your most hilarious pal for a catch up. Hopefully these tips will help, but if you’re still feeling alone in your stressful feelings, reach out. There’s a ton of support for students, whether it be from the university or from external bodies, and you are really never alone. Check out www.facebook.com/SHINEwithplym if you’re struggling for a place to start. Speak up, and start to feel better today!
twenty
harrison nash
MAN ON A MISSION
/ Words by Naomi Girdler / Local Plymouth University graduate Harrison Nash has been nominated to receive a British Citizen Award (BCA) for his charity work helping vulnerable and traumatised children in South Africa over the last eight years. Harrison established the charity Maranatha Care Children, which aims to help South African children by offering development in education, and life skills, providing suitable home environments and safeguarding the future of those in care. It all began when he was 18 after finishing school at Devonport High School for Boys. He began working to save up for a volunteering trip to South Africa, where he eventually spent four months in Port Elizabeth, giving classes to up to 50 children a day.
South Africa. Cancelling his university place and working for six months to save, Harrison soon found himself back in his beloved country for another six months. He continued to teach at the primary school, but still spent his afternoons, evenings and weekends with the children at Siyakatala. That year, he spent Christmas with the children, organising a barbecue and sponsoring all the gifts for all of the children.
Siyakatala, whilst still teaching and addressing the needs of those at the Protea Primary School. In 2009, during his studies, Harrison began to identify the huge need for fundraising support for South African children in residential care who are often overlooked. Harrison took matters into his own hands and founded the charity Maranatha Care Children, which offers development in education and life skills, providing a suitable home environment as well as safeguarding their futures in the care system. To complete this mammoth task, Harrison had to raise approximately £60,000 through a variety of fundraising activities. “I noticed there was a big need for funding for children in care so I set up the Maranatha Care Children charity. Even just a small amount of funds can go a very long way in South Africa, especially compared with the UK. The charity is doing extremely well and we have raised so much money.”
“I first visited South Africa when I was 18 years old, as I had seen a lot about the hardship in Africa and I wanted to do something to help. I decided it was the right time to visit before I had planned to go to university and start a career in marketing, as I felt I needed to go and do something worthwhile. My first experience in South Africa made me realise that I wanted to make a bigger difference than just one visit.”
Harrison has since moved to South Africa, continuing to help traumatised and vulnerable children through volunteer work and dedicated therapy. He’s made a direct impact on the lives of so many children, yet didn’t know how to react on the news of his nomination and win of the British Citizen Award.
During his time there a local youth project quickly became very close to his heart. Siyakatala Child and Youth Care Centre caters for children and young people, aged 5 to 20 years old, in full time residential care. Harrison spent every afternoon and weekend at the centre, assisting in various activities, helping with school work and organising birthday parties to help the kids feel special.
“It came as a big surprise when I found out I was being nominated, and an even bigger surprise when I found out I would actually be receiving an award. There are so many deserving people doing incredible international work, so I never expected to be chosen.”
One young boy at the centre was unable to celebrate his birthday due to the fact the date was unknown from a lack of identification documents. Harrison took the opportunity to share his birthday with the young boy, helping him foster his sense of identity.
Harrison was nominated for the BCA by his aunt, Helen Soliman, who said: “Harrison is the most selfless person I have ever met. For the last eight years he has given everything he can for the children and he works extremely hard. Harrison will buy Christmas presents for the children, and asks all of us not to buy presents for himself but to donate towards the charity instead. He just always thinks of others.”
Despite a marketing degree waiting for him at Goldsmiths University in London, Harrison couldn’t deny his love for
During this time, Harrison decided to ignore his marketing ambitions and go with his heart, and began pursuing a degree in Social Work at the University of Plymouth, hoping to qualify as a social worker on graduating. He continued to work with charities far and wide, whilst still visiting South Africa a total of six times during his degree. He began using therapeutic methods to help the children in care at
Find out more at maranathacarechildren.com
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UTHS PLYMO T BUS S LARGE ORK NETW
Available on at our Travel Centre on Royal Parade, City Centre plymouthbus.co.uk/geton *
against adult equivalent
twenty two
SCANDANAVI AN
nordic knitwear
Let’s embrace the cold! With all the gorgeous cosy knitwear, faux furs and beautifully textured fabrics around at the moment who wouldn’t want an excuse to wrap up warm whilst having fun with the multitude of possibilities that layering can bring? All things Nordic are growing ever more popular this season and with the notoriously cold damp weather we have to endure at this time of year (especially here in glorious Devon) it couldn’t be a more perfect pairing! What also makes this trend so great is the neutral colour pallet utilising lots of greys, with a large dose of black, white and brown. The limited colours make pairing up your outfits and mixing it all up super easy! Be as minimal or as experimental as your mood takes you, explore masculine forms and androgyny or go super feminine. But don’t forget those chunky flats or a good sturdy pair of boots for all those brisk wintery adventures! Words and images by Zuleika Donkin-Greene
Above: Enya Richards (L) wears: Shirt - Minerva Streetwear Trousers - model’s own. Anna Edwards wears: Faux fur coat - vintage Combat boots - Army Surplus Black jeans - model’s own Beth Turner (R) wears: Wool poncho - H&M White top - model’s own.
twenty three
nordic knitwear Left: Anna Edwards wears: Striped top - Jasper Conran Chunky knitted cardigan - H&M Coat - Vintage Below: Beth Turner (L) wears: Wool poncho - H&M (worn as scarf) White top/kimono - models own. Faux fur hand warmer with metal skull detail chain handmade Anna Edwards (R) wears: Faux fur coat - vintage Wool hat - handmade in the New Forest Enya Richards wears: Jacket & Shirt - Minerva Streetwear
Left: Beth Turner wears: Black feather cape - Jenny Packham Grey wool poncho - model’s own Wool knitted hat handmade locally in Devon Rings - model’s own
INVAS I O N
twenty four
recipe
COMFORTING COTTAGE PIE S W E E T P O TAT O C O T TA G E P I E Recipe by ANDREW GIRDLER 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped 1 medium carrot, peeled, finely chopped 2 celery stalks, trimmed, finely chopped 500g beef mince 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons tomato paste
400g can crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs 2/3 cup frozen peas 600g orange sweet potato, peeled, chopped 1/4 cup milk 20g butter 1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
M ethod Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 60 mins • Serves 4 1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until onion has softened. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince, for 5 minutes or until browned. 2. Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, tomato and herbs. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until
thickened. Stir in peas. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. 3. Meanwhile, cook potato in a saucepan of boiling water for 8 minutes or until just tender. Drain. Return to pan. Add milk and butter. Mash until smooth. Spoon beef mixture into a 5cm-deep, 6 cup-capacity ovenproof dish. Top with potato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden. Serve.
chips chips with dip cod haddock hake plaice china sole lemon sole scampi
Senior Citizens Fish and Chips and a nice cup of tea for just
£4.10
Lunchtimes & Evenings (or take it away for £3.75)
How fish and chips have been since 1913
1.90 2.40 3.70 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.00 4.20
2.60 3.10 4.40 4.70 4.70 4.70 3.70 4.90 3.70
sausage jumbo sausage fish cake
0.80 1.60 1.10
burger in bun cheese burger 1/4 burger 1/4 cheese 6oz burger 6oz cheese burger chicken burger veggie burger
1.50 1.70 2.50 2.70 3.00 3.20 2.50 2.00
1/2 chicken chicken nuggets veggie fritter pea fritter onion rings
3.00 2.20 1.50 1.30 1.50
baked beans curry sauce mushy peas faggot gravy dips for chips roll & butter pineapple fritter banana fritter can of drink
0.80 0.90 0.90 1.20 0.60 0.50 0.45 1.50 1.50 From 0.75
All prices correct at time of going to press
twenty six
racket from the pit
RACKET F ROM T HE PIT “Y ou can 't keep a bitte r , neu r otic , befuddled, old man down”
by Darren Johns, lead singer of Crazy Arm
Shitty New Year, friends! So, here we are after a two year hiatus, having jumped ship once again. Whodathunkit?! Back on the critical stretch-rack, suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous sonic misfortune or embracing the occasional purr of bountiful genius. It's all gravy, except when it's diarrhoea. Thank you to PS for allowing me to foist my eternal BS upon all you LAMFs. And so on. Ex-Algernon Cadwallader trio, DOGS ON ACID, may walk like Weezer with adequately whiny singing and mid-paced rifferama but it's homegrown trio, BANGERS, who took the gold medal tonight (Junction, Plymouth, 16th Oct). Their more considered, less frenetic, new direction is every bit the equal to the growling melodic punk of old; vocalist, Roo Pescod, seamlessly blending both styles with witty hooks and grinning gusto. Openers, DOE, may sound like they need a bassist but they don't care. The Brighton power-trio's Pixies-esque hum has enough invention to outwit the lack of low end. Album launches are like birthday parties: over-hyped, anti-climactic and full of sobs. Thankfully, THE BLOWOUTS heralded the release of their debut, 'A Veteran Of Sorts', with a modest sense of occasion and no blubbing (Underground, Plymouth, 23rd Oct). Eschewing the ramshackle punk of their former
The Blowouts
selves, the Plym quartet now cut a more indiecentric dash, taking the feyness of The Cure and giving it a spiky AFI makeover. One-man post-rock army, STEVE STRONG, continued to plough his singular furrow with guitar taps, sampled noise and very smart, scattershot drumming; while Bristol post-rockers, THE EARTH & ME, made their instruments howl like Mogwai's old underpants. It was HOWLIN' LORD's last ever show (Junction, Plymouth, 13th Nov). Damn shame. With the effortlessly retro Mark Legassick at the helm, the Bristol quintet chopped out line after line of deliciously Dylan-esque '70s folk-blues, clearly in love with their heroes and clearly unconcerned with whatever the fuck you and your beard-mapping bro'core goons are up to. The beautifully understated harmonies of WALNUT FALCONS (reduced
to a duo) also resonated with authenticity, as honeyed vocals and caressed chords weaved their way through country music history. In the mid-'80s, Crass had come, conquered and gone, The Exploited were wallowing in self-parody, the punks were all hippies, and the free festival scene was spewing out postHawkwind acid-rockers by the bucketload. Bucking the trend were RDF: a ragtag bunch of parochial crusties who imparted revolutionary soundbites over heaving bass-lines and hypnotic, narcotic rhythms. Back in Plymouth (Underground, 21st Nov) for the first time in 20 years, vocalist, Chris Bowsher's ghostly countenance and flatlined rants, like an albino John Cooper Clarke or a zombified Sleaford Mods, were tight and true, while the band's dub/reggae lockdowns brought memories of Stonehenge and squat gigs flooding back. I drove London indie-punks, APOLOGIES I HAVE NONE, on tour for a week, basking in their no-frills, psychotically-charged odes to love and desperation. Despite personnel and personal issues, the band have managed to complete their second album and seemed revitalised by it. Frontman, Josh McKenzie, doesn't so much wear as skewer his heart on his sleeve – the result, at times, being as discomforting as it was gladdening. Other notable bands encountered were coheadliners, HINDSIGHTS, and their youthfo'
emo catharsis; DARKO and their ridiculous command of speedy tech-core (Junction, Plymouth, 25th Nov); and Mancunian homeboys, THROWING STUFF, who made like Minor Threat with ADHD. Smashing. It was the almost-debut outing of Patrick James Pearson's new vessel, SAN FELU, and expectations were high (Junction, Plymouth, 19th Dec). Accomplished and slick, urbane and dexterous, with more than a nod and a
RDF wink to The National and Nick Cave, there's no doubting the cosmopolitan talent that continues to course through Pearson's veins, never more so than on the majestic 'Sanctuary Blues'. Meanwhile, Devon's gnarliest postpunks, BRUNEL, were warmly belligerent and dripping in sarcastic joy. Just as we like 'em. And if those lewd bass rumbles and San Diego guitar chops don't warm the cockles of your (post-)Christmassy heart, nothing will. Later losers!
f ILM review by Andrew Girdler, graphic design and illustration graduate from Plymouth College of Art
STAR WARS VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS / DIRECTED BY JJ ABRAMS / PRODUCED BY JJ ABRAMS
*** There will be no spoilers in this review, any story specific information I use has appeared in the trailers *** It’s been 32 years since the release of ‘Return of the Jedi’, and since then, the fictional lives of our favourite sci-fi characters were left to the imagination. Now, over three decades later, we are being treated to more of arguably the biggest and most internationally treasured science fiction series the world has ever seen. From the alien beasts and subtle comedy, to the clamorous hordes of neon bullets flying past your eyes, this is an intelligently executed nostalgia trip at the very least. The first thing you will notice while watching The Force Awakens is that JJ Abrams clearly wanted fans to feel at home, with the use of practical sets instead of CGI, bringing back old
twenty seven Kylo Ren
characters, and even going as far to use some of the same camera lenses and film types that were used for the original movies. While taking inspiration from previous episodes is a good thing, the storyline may have taken a bit too much inspiration, leaving the second half to feel pretty familiar at times. All the fuss has been about the return of Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and more of the original characters, but they don’t bring as much interest to the story as the new ones. Rey and Finn - played by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega - are the lead characters this time around, and the job of providing the plot is essentially all theirs. They start off as you’d expect, two insignificant young people just doing their jobs, before they quickly become involved themselves in something much bigger, and though this is the kind of cheap character progression we’ve seen 100 times before, it seems JJ Abrams knew this and wanted to get past it as quick as he could. The plot is almost entirely based around the growth of these two characters, which is great because the two of them are interesting and have a lot to offer, but if you were hoping for it to be all about Han, Leia, and Luke again, you may
film review be disappointed. Ridley and Boyega were essentially unheard of before this, mainly doing jobs as background characters in forgotten ITV & E4 dramas, but don’t worry, their performances are brilliant and won’t remind you of anyone from Fresh Meat. This is a fast-paced movie, introducing three of the new major characters in the first few minutes, unveiling this movie’s ‘baddie’, Kylo Ren, without wasting any time. Played by Adam Driver, Ren plays a large part in the overall story, and is very different to the usual ‘bad guys’, he’s young, has destructive tantrums when things don’t go his way, and he shows far more conflicting emotions and weaknesses than you’d expect from a blockbuster villain wielding a fiery laser sword. Sometimes his personality could be compared to a scared little boys, and other times he’s very cruel and sinister.
The main plot does borrow from previous episodes in certain aspects, but that doesn’t keep it from being consistently exciting and intense, avoiding any politics that tainted the prequels, and showing us some of the action sequences that are so good they could only be from a Star Wars film. Episode VII is clearly a reboot of the originals, and heavily relies on the previously established conflicts that have been brought back to life to provide a foundation. There isn’t a dramatic shift in style like the prequels, this movie does what a good sequel should do, it takes a great idea and gives you more of it, and then some. The Force Awakens is a movie that captures the feel, style, and charm of Star Wars so well, that it could easily have been released just a few years after Return of the Jedi. Whatever it is about the series that made you a fan in the beginning, you won’t be disappointed, cause it can all be found here.
Rey and BB8
best of 2015 game / music reviews
BEST OF 2015: GAMES by Matthew Girdler, computing graduate from Plymouth University Dying Light: Zombies and parkour. These two tropes are so widespread in gaming that It’s hard to believe it’s taken until 2015 for a game to combine the two. But that’s what Techland did with Dying Light, fusing the open-world, weapon crafting and zombie killing of Dead Island with the first-person parkour of Mirror’s Edge. It’s a great combination, and one of the few games that encourages you to run away from zombies, just as often as fight them. One of the game’s best elements is the day-night cycle. In the day, you’re faced with the usual shuffling undead. At night, they become faster, stronger and more aware. It can be heart-poundingly tense, especially if you’re being chased. Dying Light starts off a bit slow, but gradually the game becomes a really satisfying open-world RPG with a freedom of movement rarely seen in the genre. Rocket League: For one reason or another, vehicular football game Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars didn’t find an audience when it released in 2008 (the name probably didn’t help). Still, I played it to death, and so I was extremely excited when the game’s developers released its spiritual successor, Rocket League, for PS4 this year. Rocket League improved on SARPBC with tighter controls, improved visuals, and extensive customisation options. Rocket League manages to distill the tactics and flow of football down to their purest form. Controlling the car is easy, real skill comes from being able to read the match and position yourself in the right place at the right time. For every moment of glory, be it a dramatic aerial save, or a perfectly timed ‘run’ to tap in a teammate’s cross, there are ten more aggravating near-misses. But chasing the next split second of brilliance is what brings me back to Rocket League time and time again. Cities: Skylines: I’ve always loved the idea of city-building games: the thought of taking an empty piece of land and building it up into a thriving metropolis is very appealing. But for one reason or another - be it overly complicated mechanics, punishing difficulty or slow pace - they’ve never quite clicked with me. That is, until Cities: Skylines. This game solved all the niggling issues I’ve had with other city-builders, thanks to a slick user interface and a gradual progression system. Even tedious-sounding activities such as creating a sewer system and designing bus routes are fun with Cities: Skylines’ intuitive mechanics. Add in gorgeous graphics and thousands of mods available on Steam Workshop, and the result is hugely approachable and addictive citybuilder. Call of Duty: Black Ops III: Last year, I gave the number one spot to Advanced Warfare, Sledgehammer Game’s first entry in the Call of Duty franchise. Advanced Warfare’s enhanced movement abilities and epic single-player campaign starring Kevin Spacey breathed new life into the series. This year, my love affair with CoD continued with Black Ops III, Treyarch’s first game on the new, three-year development cycle. This fact shows: Black Ops III is possibly the most expansive CoD game to date. The multiplayer is as exciting as ever, with varied, balanced maps and class-based special abilities that shake up the formula. The fanfavourite Zombies mode is back with a new map packed with secrets to uncover. As for the campaign, not only be played alone or with up to four players in co-op (the first to do so since World at War in 2008), once completed, you can play through the whole thing again, except populated by zombies instead of robots and footsoldiers.
twenty eight Admittedly, the campaign’s story isn’t quite as gripping as Advanced Warfare’s, and the movement options have less of an impact the second time around, but Black Ops III still ranks as one of the best CoD titles in recent years. Fallout 4: Ah, Fallout 4. The hype for this open-world RPG was so massive that Pornhub saw a 10% drop in traffic on the day of its release. With such high expectations from fans, the pressure was on Bethesda to ensure that the game delivered on its promises. Thankfully, it did. Fallout 4 builds on its excellent predecessor with more satisfying gunplay, improved visuals and a new crafting system. One thing you can count on from Bethesda’s RPGs is their sheer size. Talk to someone else who’s played the game, and you can guarantee that they’ve got a unique story to tell: an interesting location they discovered, quest they completed or item they found. Fallout 4’s wasteland feels like a living, breathing world, populated by real people going about their post-apocalyptic lives. The new crafting system, which allows you to create and modify armour, adds an extra layer of depth to the game. You can even build settlements to house citizens of the wasteland, ensuring that they have food, water, power and means of defence against raiders. It all adds up to the biggest, most addictive game in the series so far. If you’re not careful, Fallout 4 might just take over your life.
BEST OF 2015: MUSIC by Seth Haney
2015 seemed to be the year that Pop ruled supreme. Mainstream tastes have integrated the best of every genre and it all seems a little beige for me. It’s all about filling dancefloors and headlining festivals right now. Or so THE MAN would have you believe. Peer around the corners of this colossal lie and you’ll find enough cool grooves, loud guitars and tracks of breathtaking beauty to fill a thousand cool, perfect festival days. I present to you, dear reader, my favourite picks of 2015, in no way a stone tablet - more a suggested listening. Build yourself a Spotify playlist, spark up a doobie and enjoy. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly: Let’s get this one locked. I was hesitant to include this record on my list due to the amount of critics that have already cited this as their album of 2015. You’ve doubtlessly read hundreds of words about it already. It’s the most relevant record for right now, I promise you. There’s plenty of layers to be revealed with repeat listens, something that’s very lacking in a lot of modern hip-hop. Kendrick Lamar is a rare talent. One worth investing in.
Kamasi Washington - The Epic: Kamasi Washington ablely scored the jazzier parts of To Pimp A Butterfly. His contribution to 2015 did not end there. The dude also had time to put together a head spinning, three hour jazz album than seems to span the cosmos of more than one dimension. Choirs, orchestras and the intense playing of Washington’s band combine in the sweetest way. This’ll blow your mind for several lifetimes.
Floating Points - Eleania: Spinning out of some of the hippest dance floors of London and beyond, Sam Shepherd takes a left turn away from the club vibes of his previous releases and delves into a deeper exploration of electronic and analogue music. By combining gorgeous synth sounds with beautifully recorded drums and strings, Shepherd creates a safe space that allows you to drift off into its glacial, shifting grooves.
Hop Along - Painted Shut: Few albums had me floored from the opening of their record in 2015 the same way as Painted Shut did. For their third album on Saddle Creek, Hop Along rise above their indie-folk tag to bring an album that has an immediate emotional depth that feels cleansing with its raw, primal honesty. In Frances Quinlan you’ll find a new favourite female voice that will astonish you with its power.
Meat Wave - Delusion Moon: Post-punk guitar music should have had us all yawning in 2015 but Meat Wave prove there’s plenty of steam left in the genre. Tracks like Network, Cosmic Zoo and NRA jump out of your speakers with enough energy for 100 bands. Angular guitars, beautifully rounded bass and propulsive drums provide the perfect bed for the spiky vocals of Chris Sutter. Three-piece bands are still cool as fuck, Meat Wave gives you plenty of examples as to why this is the case.
C. Duncan - Architect: Whilst many music fans wet their knickers over the psych-mess of Currents by Tame Impala, C. Duncan quietly released a record that thoroughly deserves its psychedelic badge. It’s a record that sounds like a beautiful summer’s day by a babbling brook. It shifts and shimmers in the most alluring way, dragging you into its soft, reverb laden charms. This will certainly provide you with light through your January.
Mac Demarco - Another One: The tossed-off title of the record only adds to the charm of Mac Demarco. This is an artist whose growing cult gets stronger with every release. Wonky guitars blend into the lush sounding 70’s production as Mac delivers song after song of bleary-eyed, freshly baked songs of love and life. Stick around to the very end and he’ll give you his home address, brave but totally on brand.
Rachel Sermanni - Tied To The Moon: On her second full length release, Rachel Sermanni pours her heart and soul into a collection of songs that stand tall with the emotional weight she imbues in each song. Sparse arrangements allow room for her soaring voice to fill in the spaces and it’s impressive to hear her confidence in her songwriting. A song as beautiful as This Love deserves to be heard. Hear it.
AUTHOR PROF ILE
by Chloe Smith, creative writing student from Marjons
Born in 1961 to a single mother, A. M. Homes began writing from an early age. At just 18, she had written her first short story; though it would be ten years later that this would be published after building up her portfolio with other published works. Homes has made a name for herself within the industry. With a career spanning a number of decades, she publishes works of fiction that focus on real-life controversial, and sometimes sensitive, topics that have received numerous criticisms with some bookstores refusing to sell her novels. Her works of literary fiction have built a career for her, with some being used in curriculums across the United States; in particular her debut novel Jack (1989) which focuses on issues of family and homosexuality. From personally reading her work, I have found her novels to be quirky, relative, disturbing, and emotional – dependent on the topic. Out of her bibliography I have read a total of three novels, all of which I found enjoyable in different ways. Her novels can be relatable in strange contexts; at times the themes are presented in scenarios that seem
twenty nine strangely unrealistic. Take, for example, Music For Torching (1999) which follows the lives of Elaine and Paul as they try to understand events taking place around them. Elaine and Paul face issues of sexuality, family, relationships, and insecurity all enveloped by their absurd notion that it would be a good idea to purposefully set their house on fire but claim it was an accident out of their control. The events that take place are ludicrous and make you question the sanity of the narrator and the characters within the narrative. One of my favourite novels so far has been May We Be Forgiven (2012) which follows Harry as he tries to present himself as a stand-in father figure to his niece and nephew following the internment of his brother George within a psychiatric ward. The novel centres on themes of identity and family, premises that carry throughout the narrative. As you progress, the character of Harry develops exponentially; from being confused and unsure what he wants in life, to a man who takes on a role he initially refused and did not want. And it’s not just Harry who grows, but the majority of the other characters that
author profile / dust piggies
do too. It’s a novel humorous in its portrayal of these themes and presents many laugh out loud moments. Finally I bring you The End of Alice (1996) which I found deeply disturbing from the offset. Homes presents to the reader a narrative that follows an imprisoned paedophile who is receiving letters from a young student who almost seems to follow in his footsteps, praying on a young boy in her neighbourhood. You are presented with sexual abuse and vulgarity which, coupled together, bring a serious and distressing mood over the reader. I found that as the novel progressed the mood became ever more present as scenes of abuse, prison sex, and grooming became more frequent leading up to the ending which I found significantly more graphic without going too in-depth.
Though this feeling does settle over you, the themes that Homes is addressing are all too real and it was from reading this book that I began to understand how her novels can be deemed controversial. Though this may be the case, her style of writing is very vivid which may be the reasoning behind the deep sense of discomfort within the last novel. It is her ability to portray these themes in society of which branches across decades that groups her amongst many other well-known literary writers. In the present day when these issues are pushed aside out of sensitivity, it is refreshing to find a writer who is not afraid to write about what people hide themselves from. A recommended reader for anyone into literary fiction and looking to read about a wide range of issues.
w w w.dustpiggie s.com
agony aunt ellie
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Ellie likes tea, cats and tie-dye. She doesn’t like snakes and when her friends are sad. We thought that was the best criteria for an agony aunt we’d ever heard.
If you would like Ellie to help you with some of your problems, email us at hello@ps-zine.com
AGONY AUNT ELLIE Dear Ellie, I split from a long-term relationship about 4 months ago, and I’m really struggling to get over it. It was a pretty messy break up – he was cheating on me for months – but I need him in my life, so we’ve stayed friends. Sometimes when his girlfriend isn’t around, we talk on skype, and recently it’s been getting pretty sexy. We send each other porn, and we masturbate together. Sometimes I feel like we might have a future together, but then when he’s with his girlfriend I don’t hear from him for days, and I feel like I’m stuck in a weird relationship limbo. My friends tell me I should cut ties, but I love him and I want him back. Help?! Your friends are spot on. No matter how much this guy makes you feel wanted or needed, he’s using you for his own gains. He sounds like a class A narcissist, and that’s putting it lightly. As painful as it is to hear, you need to cut him out and you need to do it today. Ask yourself how many times you’ve sat alone, waiting for that text to say ‘the coast is clear’, or how many times you’ve stuck on your make up, expecting a skype call, and then been left disappointed, sitting in your ‘good’ underwear, crying mascara down your miserable face. Get a grip. Seriously. There are no happy endings with this guy, and frankly you’ve dodged a shit-shaped bullet that was headed straight for your face. Do you want shit on your face?! Thought not. “But he says he loves me!” BULLSHIT. The only person he loves is himself. He keeps you where he wants you, because you let him. The ball is perpetually in his court, and no amount of pouting or being ‘friends’, or whipping out your vagina for a late-night internet wankoff is going to make him love you. You deserve better. Actually, so does his girlfriend, but she’ll find that out for herself! Don’t be part of a battle for the affections of a man who only cares about himself. He’s a shithouse, and you should have more self-respect than to let him beat you into submission, while he sits there like Lord Arsehole enjoying the view. Please. Please forgive the angry rant. So many people go through this. You try so hard to let go, and just as you feel like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, there they are, waving empty words and, in this case, genitals in your face. They are the ones who truly can’t let go. It’s a power game, and we are too blind to see it. So you make the cut, and then what? Well, there are options: 1. Tinder (other brands are available). SAFELY engage in distractibonks. This can help, and I personally endorse promiscuity as a method of self exploration and personal growth following a heart break. Be sure to make your intentions clear, and be careful to not fall into a relationship you may later regret. Whilst there are definitely benefits to spending time with other men at this time, the distraction technique must be temporary, and the boundaries must be made clear from the start. 2. Gin. (Use with caution/friends/tonic) 3. Emotions. Here’s a new one: FEEL THEM. Cry, shout, throw stuff. Call your mates at 3am, let them pick you up, and rub your head, and mop up the sick from your hair (see point 2). You will not feel this awful forever, and I’m sure your friends and family would rather watch you recover organically, than watch you morph into a drunk, emotionally defunct ice-bitch… I could rant about this forever. I’ve lived it, I’ve watched others go through it, and you know what? We survived, and you will too. You just have to break free. Every day that you don’t make contact is an achievement. Celebrate it. You can be free, you just have to say no. Good luck, friend. You’ll be fine, it’s just going to take a bit of time.
Dear Ellie, I’m a student in my second year of a sociology degree and I’ve just found out I’m pregnant from a one night stand I had a couple months ago. I’m not sure how I feel about abortions and I’m terrified as to what this means for my future, for my career and for my education. The father doesn’t know, because honestly, I didn’t even get his phone number in the end. I’m mortified and feel ashamed and very alone. What am I going to do? I could go off on one about contraception, but that horse has sort of bolted… Also, that would be a bit of a dick move considering your current predicament. From the bottom of my heart, I truly am sorry that you’ve found yourself in such a horrible mess. Generally I don’t like to get too personal with this column, but as a mother of two, I suppose now is as good a time as any to draw on my own miserable experiences (*winky face emoji*), so here goes… For most women, being pregnant is the easy part, and even with the vomiting, and pissing, and aching, and not being able to tie your shoe laces, keeping up with work or university commitments isn’t impossible. The real question is ‘are you ready to take on the responsibility of being a mother?’ Because that isn’t easy. Motherhood entails endless sleepless nights, and shit, vomit and MY GOD, THE CRYING! Not just the bambino; you will cry too. A lot. With motherhood comes relentless guilt. Will you breastfeed? Do you go back and study? Will baby go to nursery? How will you pay for childcare? Where will you live? Who will look after you when it all gets too much..? It’s very easy to get caught up in the romanticised notion of motherhood being a beautiful and natural experience, but the reality is far from the picnic portrayed in stupid adverts. In fact, every time I see a Johnsons advert on the TV I like to hurl a toy/sock/baby wipe at the screen, and shout ‘you don’t even know! Why don’t you have Weetabix in your hair?! Call yourself a mother?!’ It’s bloody hard work, and if anyone tells you different, they’re lying. I could go on about the hell of parenting for days, but that isn’t really addressing the question, and actually, you might be a far more maternal human than I am…you might even enjoy it... Despite my moaning, having kids does not have to mark the end of your life. You can have a future, and you can finish your degree. Depending on your course, it may be that you can defer for a year or two, and pick up where you left off once baby has been around for a while (the novelty wears off quickly, trust me). There are usually crèches on campus, and with more and more people returning to university as ‘mature’ students, there will be plenty of people in relatable situations, trying to keep their offspring alive whilst not failing their degrees. It’s not impossible. I’m hesitant to advise too strongly either for or against an abortion. We are fortunate in this country to have the freedom to decide, and you have the opportunity to make a guilt-free choice as to whether you carry on with this pregnancy or not. The people at the Pregnancy Advisory Service (Tel 0345 730 4030) can help you to make a clear choice, and are in a far better position than I to inform you on the procedure. What I do know is that should you choose to have an abortion, they can generally only be performed up to 13 weeks from the first day of your last period, though there are private clinics that will abort up to 24 weeks. In regards to how you feel about abortion, if you can answer my previous question, ‘are you ready to be a mother?’ then you can use this as your guide. In summary, and please forgive the clinical nature of my advice,
you need to get in touch with a professional and talk through your options, and you need to do it soon. Speak to your personal tutor at university too. You have no reason to be ashamed, and having somebody on campus who is aware of your situation will hopefully make you feel more supported in whatever you choose to do. There is no right or wrong answer to this question. You can only do what you think is right for you. Whatever you decide, you don’t have to go through it alone. I hope whatever you decide, you go on to have a happy future, and I wish you the best of luck. Dear Ellie, I’ve not had a serious relationship for a while, and being a free and single man, I have decided to take off for a year to do some travelling. Everything is booked, and I can’t wait to go, but recently I’ve fallen head over heels for someone, and I don’t know what to do. Neither of us are really in a position to commit to each other, as our futures are really uncertain at the moment, but I can’t stop thinking about her. I know she has feelings for me, but she’s been hurt badly in relationships before, and she has a massive wall up around her. I find her impossible to read. What should I do? It took me a long time to realise that the quality of a relationship isn’t determined by its longevity, but by the depth of the experience while it lasts. There is no reason why two people can’t have a relationship, with a joint understanding that there will come a time when circumstances will bring it to a close, in fact, it might be the perfect short term compromise for two people who are unable to fully commit to a long-term relationship. See it as sort of ‘pre-nuptial agreement’, if you will. What does complicate things slightly is the emotional vulnerability of the girl you’re seeing. Generally, these ‘walls’ are built up over a series of damaging experiences, and they can become pretty impenetrable; this is not to say that it is impossible to develop an emotionally reciprocal relationship, but it takes time, which is something you don’t have. She is obviously protecting herself, and unless she chooses to let you in fully, you may never really get what you want out of the relationship. My gut instinct is to tell you not to pursue it too hard, or at least, not to expect too much on an emotional level. In any case, you don’t really want to be bogged down with a long distance relationship while you’re travelling, do you?! You made a choice to see the world, and you should get on that flight with as little baggage as possible. In the meantime, enjoy each other. A fling might serve you both well at this time, and you might restore some hope in your lady’s mangled heart. The bottom line is to try to not think too much about it, and don’t even consider cancelling your plans for her! You are against the clock, so just go with the flow, have fun, and see what the future holds. People come in and out of our lives all the time, and there is nothing to say that one day your paths won’t cross again. A successful relationship doesn’t rely solely on the mutual affection of the individuals involved; the circumstances must also be right. For now the circumstances are wrong, but there is no reason why you can’t hang out before you leave. You never know, she might still be around when you get back! Good luck, and safe travels!
PROPERT IES OF T HE MONT H