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Tom Stevenson editor Tal Davies london Anna Matheson and Omer Hamid features Amelia Jefferies and Lauryn Murdoch arts Keeren Flora and Bethia Stone photography Angel Lambo and Ryan Ramgobin music Amy Bowles and Lucinda Turner fashion Mark Birrell and Kamilla Baiden film Colette Yapp-Davis qupid Lauren Mason, Maria Sowter and Robert Pritchard sub editors Maria D’Amico cartoon Cover image ‘Dickens’ Dream’ courtesy of The Charles Dickens Museum
@cubmagazine.co.uk 3 London
The Good, The Bad, Or The Ugly?
4 Erotica
“We were lucky to catch up with the beautiful Yasmin after her gig at Global Gathering.” page. 10
Our writer reports from the year’s most lascivious exhibition.
5 Vodka, VIP Booths, and
Discrimination
We investigate London’s most exclusive clubs, and their exclusivity.
6 Dickens and London
CUB looks at the Museum of London’s Charles Dickens
7 The Cultural Olympiad
The Olympic’s cultural side has dance, fashion, food, and much more.
8-9 CUB’s EYE
Image courtesy of cool delta
What to do this fortnight... Nada Surf Gig (January 16th)
It’s fast and beautiful.
10 Yasmin
We interview the wonderful singer and DJ, Yasmin.
11 The Overtones
Brick Lane’s Rough Trade East are hosting the wonderful Nada Surf, and, what’s more, it’s free!
The Overtones lead voice answers our questions.
London Ice Sculpting Festival (Jan 12-14)
12-13 Jay McLaughlin
Why not head over to Canada Square Park to see some of the finest ice-sculpting in the world?
Coriolanus (January 20th-)
The impressive Ralph Fiennes is directing and starring in a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s masterpiece Coriolanus. Don’t miss it.
Take a view: Landscape photographer of the year 2011 (-February 1st)
Those with a taste for the numinous will want to take a look at the awe-inducing photos of this exhibition.
One last skate at Somerset House (-January 22nd) Potentially romantic, and Somerset House is beautiful, this is your last chance for a winter ice skate.
You should be working for us! To get involved with writing, photography, interviews or cartoons email editor@cubmagazine.co.uk
The great fashion photographer talks morals and Russell Brand.
14-15 Ones to Watch in 2012 These are the films we tip for greatness in the new year.
15 A Film Addict with a
Student’s Budget?
We take a look at the wonder that is the BFI.
16 Qupid
The latest lovebirds to be struck by Qupid’s arrow...
Holly Freeman The Good, The Bad, or The Ugly Our Mayor, Boris Johnson, once said: “if you want a site with less rainfall than Rome, with excellent public transport, and strong connections to Harry Potter, I have just the place” Needless to say, he was talking about London. With that in mind, and having been overwhelmed by depressing accounts of 2011, I decided to counter it with some optimism and remind you of some of the more positive titbits from the past year. Nestled amongst the Government cuts that compounded the bleak beginning of 2011, there was a rather inventive scheme launched by the Mayor of London. Johnson announced his ‘buy one get one free’ campaign as a way to fund more police officers, promising that for each new police officer that a borough paid for, he would provide the ‘one free’ by funding another post and officer for that borough. In his allegedly ‘ingenious’ plan he stated that this would boost the number of officers in all the corners of our city, which would of course in turn make the streets safer for residents. The Royal Wedding between Kate and Wills was definitely a London highlight for both monarchists and for those who just welcome a national holiday. For some it was a celebration of the uniting of two kindred spirits etc, etc who will eventually rule our glorious country etc, etc. For others it was a day of drinking, eating and a general party atmosphere - unless you were trying to use the underground. Of course the wedding encompassed two of the MOST important events of the year – one being Kate’s beautiful dress. But most important of all was Pippa’s backside, which has brought joy and happiness to many throughout 2011 and hopefully for many years to come. And then of course there were the riots. While the downsides of August cannot be ignored, there is a silver lining with every cloud. The great efforts of
want to see whether “ Ifyouyoulook more like
Taylor Lautner or Robert Pattinson, then one of the exciting new advancements of the QM School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science may be ideal.
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those who worked to clean up after the riots were a wonderful example of how people can rally together and help each other out. Scenes of people gathered across the streets brandishing brooms and goodwill helped to restore many people’s faith in humanity as well as the conditions that many communities had been reduced to. We can also be thankful for the weather. Not only has it been warmer this year (so walking in between lectures hasn’t been such an ordeal), but London wasn’t brought to a dangerously skidding halt by snow in October. The other, more obvious benefit, was that no-one had to see Boris wobbling about on his bike through Central. There have been fewer sightings of Boris in general this year, which can only be a celebrated part of 2011. Perhaps the most important good news for QM Londoners during 2011 was the opening of Stratford Westfield in September. Living just a few tube stops away from the biggest shopping mall in Western Europe can only be perceived as a good thing (well apart from those who work in ‘Stratford Shopping Centre’ but at least they have somewhere decent to shop now). Not to mention the fact that compared to the original, the Stratford Westfield is definitely more High Street that Haute Couture. This is good news for student budgets. The amount of publicity that the shopping centre has gained is positive too, especially for teenage girls (I’m referring to the Twilight premiere, and Justin Bieber switching on the lights, of course). In the realm of culture, the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery was hailed as a, visually rich, honour for London and its residents. The exhibition opened in early November 2011 (and will continue till February 2012) and is arguably the most complete collection Da Vinci’s work, as well as being the first of its kind, anywhere in the world. It encompasses work that has never been displayed before in the UK. If you want to see whether you look more like Taylor Lautner or Robert Pattinson, then one of the exciting new advancements of the QM School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science may
be ideal. In late 2011, the QApps team developed ‘Fame Factors’ – an app for smartphones that can tell you what celebrity you look like. As well as being used for fun the technology can also be used for face recognition robots. However, I will avoid this just in case it doesn’t identify my uncanny resemblance to Scarlett Johansson, which would ruin my 2012. QM Londoners have been pretty good eggs this year too. The fantastic turnout at the Provide Volunteer Fairs during 2011 reflected the widespread increase in interest in helping charities and other social enterprises. One particularly popular volunteering opportunity was the NSPCC’s work in Tower Hamlets - the campaign began in early 2011, with the aim of raising awareness of the NSPCC’s Adult Helpline. The volunteers visit various places in Tower Hamlets giving presentations and workshops to encourage the use of the Adult Helpline when concerned about a child, or for advice and referrals. (The adult helpline is 0808 800 5000.) There are of course many other charities that have been promoting equally important causes in London such as ‘Shelter’ (www.shelter. org.uk), a charity that helps support the homeless legally and practically. Shelter’s work is particularly important in London as, unfortunately, it recognises it as one of the problem areas in the UK. In November, Dr. Sarah Martin who is part of the research team at QM Barts Cancer Institute was named a winner in the Cancer Research UK future leader category. She was recognised for her investigations into DNA damage repair as an objective for new cancer therapies. This was good news for QMers, but more importantly cancer patients, as Dr. Martin intends to work to produce new cancer treatments. So despite some of the terrible things that have happened in London this year, there is always a positive way to look at things. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it was my birthday on New Year’s Eve, and so I saw out 2011 with style and am looking forward to a 2012 full of promise: the Olympics, the Diamond Jubilee and possibly a new Mayor – Happy New Year! Holly Freeman is a final year English and History student. If you want to be the next LQMDONer then email the editor Tal Davies at london@cubmagazine. co.uk 3
Alexander Sarychkin takes a tour of the varied world of
Erotica H ave you ever pulled a pint for a man with his wife on a leash? She’s dressed head to toe in tight spandex and from two holes at the front of her chest emerge her barely covered breasts. While you’re pouring that pint, the guy working next to you is handing a white wine to a woman with slightly too much facial hair. Across from you three porn stars wiggle their arses at passers by who stand ogling before rushing hurriedly to the toilet. If you haven’t experienced all these simultaneously, then you haven’t been to Erotica. Erotica takes places every year in November at Kensington’s Olympia. It’s a sex exhibition and the nearest thing I can describe it to is the annual Ideal Homes show with far less kitchens and about 100% more dildos, cock rings, vibrators and general risqué behaviour. People flock from up and down the country for one weekend to act as freely as they wish around similar, like-minded members of the public. You fancy showing off your new nipple piercing? Hell go for it. Particularly well hung? Reach for the speedos buddy, it’s your lucky day. There’s no discrimination, gay, lesbian, straight, bi, over-18, old, it’s really no issue; Erotica prides itself as being a platform of expression and for the past two years I’ve had the privilege of working the bar. Working behind a bar is the perfect kind of work to do at an exhibition such as this. You’re in the same place for three days so everybody comes to recognize you (people tend to come to Erotica for the full three days, I might add). It also provides you the perfect opportunity to speak to people, because people are very friendly with those who are supplying them alcohol. Of course occasionally someone with a mask that looks horribly suffocating, but largely you come to realise that the people who are most interested in sex are, well, normal people. Heck, I probably served your Mum and Dad a pint of Carlsberg as they discussed weather the Rampant Rabbit was the better investment, or weather they should just play it safe and go with the silicone strap on. If all this seems very outrageous, bare in mind after enduring two Erotica’s I’ve
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become entirely desensitized to everything associated with sex and most if not all sexual imagery. Try spending almost fifty hours straight staring at a big screen video of Slutty British Maids 15 and you’ll see what I mean. Not to say that it isn’t a massive laugh, that is. When else do you get to rest your head upon s o m e of the worlds biggest, and hideously plastic breasts? Or, ladies, when else might you be surrounded by famous D r e a m B o y s who’ll pick you up and straddle you in the
end they had they had the National Portrait exhibition on next door and outside on your lunch break it was easy to see that the crowd for each one couldn’t have been more different. I saw several shocked pensioners emerge and immediately set fire to their eyeballs, such was the shock of the whole mix up. Poor old sods, they were probably just disappointed that prostate stimulators weren’t on the market back when they could still get it up. On the bar I was interviewed a couple of times, always by ‘presenters’ who wouldn’t know what an open ended sentence was if it sneaked up and smacked them
Our writer gets up close and personal with glamour model Larissa Summers.
k i n d est of ways? All this might sound kind of rapey, but you have to appreciate that when you enter Olympia you agree to leave your inhibitions at the front gate. On the same the week-
Image courtesy of Alex Sarychkin.
with a bottle of lubricant. I just tended to smile and try to say something that was simultaneously interesting, funny and sexual, all the while trying to stare these women in the eyes while they interviewed me in their underwear. I mean, don’t get me wrong, underwear is cool and everything, but when you’re trying to give a good quality interview, excessive boob can be pretty distracting. Low and behold, they cut us out of the final day summaries, but that may have just been because when asked what our idea of an erotic night out was, my friend replied “I love clubs where people piss on each other.” Our presenter didn’t get the Mighty Boosh reference. The days were long, and I worked in this erotic environment Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9.30 till about 11. Only Saturday was what you can describe as busy and even then it wasn’t packed. Nearly everyone who came to the bar said that Erotica just wasn’t what it used to be. It got me wondering what it was exactly that’s killing Erotica? Could it be that most horny men have figured out there’s so much free pornography on the internet that the very idea of paying £100 for 7 DVDs (asking price in 2011) is simply stupid? Could it be that last year Dita von Teese performed a burlesque dance and this year we had a guy who danced in Strictly Come Dancing, last year, and lost? Or could it just be the recession that means we don’t have enough money to spend on our genitals anymore? As I pulled another pint of Carlsberg for a very badly dressed transvestite, I wondered these things, but only for a moment before I realised I was spilling beer all over my hand and my customer looked like she had a pretty mean right hook on him. If you ever get the opportunity to go to Erotica, take it. It’s the only place I’ve ever been where the temptation to strip down to my boxers was almost too much because I knew no one would have batted an eyelid and I probably would have gotten a few propositions as well. Largely though, it’s a fun and funny weekend and it’s the only place I’ve ever been that you can buy a butt plug in the shape of a Garden Gnome.
FEATURES
A Night of Free Vodka, VIP Booths and Discrimination
words by Patrick Ford
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solitary motorbike roars down Fulham Road at halfeleven on some Autumnal Saturday night, its engine howling mechanical obscenities at the rider, urging him to upshift. At the door of the Valmont Club, smatterings of excited teenagers – tipsy with alcohol and teeth chattering with cold – huddle around impossibly smart boys who bark harsh directions to their respective gaggle. “Right, line up, we have a rule here that it’s ladies first!” cries one, whose smart-white-chinoand-collared-shirt confluence with his impeccably ruffled blond locks and Buzz Lightyear jaw. “Oh, were you at Harrow too? Do you know Bertie? In the year above. I can’t remember his surname…” mutters another. Our host for the night, Sebastian, would make any budding eugenicist proud and he firmly instructs us that “there’s one golden rule – don’t touch the vodka; if you let me pour the drinks, the free stuff will keep on coming, okay?”. Of our group of eleven, I’m towards the front of the queue and get through the bouncers easily enough. The girls either side of me waltz past the main desk; I get hauled back to pay the “compulsory” £10 cover charge. Inside, we perch on faux-leather stools around a coffee table as a bottle of vodka arrives and we all enjoy a shot mixed with cranberry or orange. Two of our group haven’t made the grade: one was wearing Converse trainers and the bouncer apparently mistook the other’s language difficulties (he is a Cypriot) for excessive drunkenness. The Valmont is pretty empty when we arrive. Businessmen with slicked-back hair and chunky watches enjoy the attention of stunning blonde hostesses. There’s an attendant in the lavatories who renders me incapable of turning on the tap and titters disapprovingly when I wipe my own hands and refuse to tip. A hidden DJ plays classic house tunes to an empty dance floor. Two
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The girls either side of me waltz past the main desk; I get hauled back to pay the “compulsory” £10 cover charge.
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hours pass. Sebastian and our promised free drinks are now nowhere to be seen. I saunter over to the bar, where a beer costs a cool £8.50 and cocktails
come in at £11 each. If my liver doesn’t get abused tonight, my wallet certainly will. This whole set-up is depressing me, so I grab my jacket (a further £5 for the cloakroom) and stride soberly into the night. What happened to me that night was an epiphany. It seems to me that social hierarchy, and naked attempts at social engineering, perhaps even racism, are flourishing at the heart of a vibrant, multicultural city. These clubs – the Valmont, Mahiki, Public, Embargo and a whole host of others – offer an exclusive social environment based not necessarily on class, but certainly on an ability to pay. I found it deeply uncomfortable that the hostesses seemed to be recruited solely for their looks. When in Mahiki few weeks later, our vodka (costing a mere £260 a bottle) was poured by a young woman who, I discovered, was on minimum wage. She was tight-lipped about whether or not she enjoyed the job. The blatant attempts to create a certain environment within the club are worrying. Doormen complain that they are under orders from club management to seek out a certain clientele,
and internet message boards are riddled with stories of outright racism, sexism and judgements based on what one looks like. One doorman at Embargo, speaking on condition of anonymity,
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These clubs offer an exclusive social environment based not necessarily on class, but certainly on an ability to pay.
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told me that the “Embargo crowd” was normally white, upper-middle class, expensively dressed and public school. He later admitted he had turned black and Asian people away because they didn’t fit that image. Here was a black doorman on minimum wage turning away black students out of deference to management. In my opinion, the door policy in these clubs is anything but “open” as they claim in their PR blurbs. Embargo 59’s marketing manager wrote recent-
ly that “we have always prided ourselves on the crowd.” Make your own mind up. Pretty girls are plucked from the queue of people outside to party in the VIP sections of clubs, as doormen and nightclub managers play the role of a night-time Cilla Black. The Valmont failed to return emails despite confirming they had received them, and Mahiki representatives were unwilling to talk about their entry code. I could be accused of failing to understand the ethos of these nightclubs, with their shadowy guest-lists, gruesomely overpriced Treasure Chests and madeup-on-the-spot dress codes. So when you next get lured to one of these clubs with the promise of free drinks, don’t just accept everything. You can pour your own vodka, and turn on your own tap in the lavatories. Or just go to the pub or club down the road, where no-one cares where you went to school, or if you know Kinvara. Message to the Mahiki crowd: you should talk to the bouncers and hostesses once in a while. You might actually just learn something – going out with the ‘common folk’ is great fun!
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Arts
Gallery • Dance • Comedy • Campus • Drama Events • Art • Poetry • Photography • Print
Image courtesy of Museum of London © David Foldvari
Dickens and London
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s you may have noticed after this Christmas’ Dickens-fest on TV (possibly coupled with swooning/ the experience of swooning family members at the appearance of Douglas Booth on our screens as Pip in the BBC’s Great Expectations) 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the author’s birth. Described as “a haunting journey” through the city that inspired his works, The Museum of London’s “Dickens and London” exhibition aims to recreate the city that served as his muse. Featured exhibits include original manuscripts in the author’s own hand of David Copperfield and Bleak House and a specially commissioned documentary exploring the similarities between the city today and the London of Dickens’ novels. The first major exhibition on Dickens for 40 years, “Dickens and London” promises
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What with the end of the world fast approaching, 2012 may well be your last chance to appreciate the vast array of culture on offer in the city we call home. So, here are our top 5 picks of the most exciting things of the coming year Josh Widdicombe
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to be one of the best events of the coming year. In the true spirit of the 21st Century, the exhibition is accompanied by a series of “Dickens’ Dark London” iPhone and iPad apps, interactive graphic novels that take the user on several journeys across the city. Based on Dickens’ own nighttime walks through the city as illustrated by Boz, David Foldvari’s beautifully dark illustrations bring to life the shadowy side of Dickens’ city. Edition 1, Seven Dials, is free to download and available now in the app store, with edition 2, Newgate Prison, and subsequent editions available at just £1.49, published monthly in true Dickensian style. ‘Dickens and London’ is running at the Museum of London until 10th June. Concessions are £6 (£5 in advance) Open 10am - 6pm daily (last entry 5.40pm)
ominated for both the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer and Chortle Best Breakthrough Act, Josh Widdicombe’s “gentle confidence, low-key charisma and one-for-all-the-family charm” is rapidly making him one of 2012’s brightest stars of the comedy circuit. In a world where the shock-comedy of Frankie Boyle is finally wearing thin, Widdicombe’s honest yet clean humour is a breath of fresh air, and, as much as we hate using the word, relatable. In only 4 years, Josh has won numerous awards and written for and appeared on several radio and TV comedy shows including 8 out of 10 cats and BBC Radio 5 live’s Back End of Next Week, as well as writing regularly for the Guardian Sports online (probably doesn’t seem relevant to his comedy career but a quick search on Guardian Online presents “The Vimto Hard Sell - A thinking man’s Ribena? A postmodern Dr Pepper? What, exactly, is Vimto?”) Josh is currently on tour throughout the country, see www.joshwiddicombe.co.uk for more details.
The Word House
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alling all chatty East Londoners! The Word House has landed. This highly acclaimed showcase of poetry and spoken word will be taking place on Saturday 14 January from 7.30-10.30pm at The Gallery Café near Bethnal Green tube station. The evening’s line-up includes the Brighton Hammer and Tongue 2011 Slam Champion Adam Kammerling, Radio 4 Commissioned Hollie McNish and Ross Sutherland, who was awarded a place in The Times’ list of Top Ten Literary Stars of 2008. The night will see and hear works of spoken poetry, philosophy, comedy and rap, as well as open mic slots (email thewordhousepoetry@live.co.uk to book). Tickets £5 (concessions, open mic, advanced tickets £4).
The World Shakespeare Festival 2012
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tarting on the Bard’s birthday (23rd April for those who don’t know) and running well into the autumn, The World Shakespeare Festival will bring together thousands of UK and international artists in 70 productions, exhibitions, events and activities across the country. Being a huge Shakespeare geek this is definitely shaping up to be one of the highlights of my 2012. Amongst the huge number of productions (both professional and amateur) the one that caught my eye was the Indian reimagining of Much Ado about Nothing by Iqbal Khan, with the fabulous actress, comedian, writer and singer Meera Syal as Beatrice. The show is coming to the Noel Coward theatre in the West End this summer, and is shaping up to be well worth a look. If Much Ado doesn’t sound like your sort of thing, then there are several other productions well worth a look in; almost the entire canon is represented, including Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad, replacing Montague and Capulet with modern-day Sunni and Shia rivalry at the Riverside Studios, and the RSC’s 2012 season back at the Roundhouse (with £5 16-25 tickets). In perhaps the most ambitious and exciting project of the festival, each and every one of Shake-
The Cultural Olympiad 21st June - 9th September
The London 2012 festival is the cultural side of the olympics, with dance, music, theatre, fashion, food, art and film related events, many of which are completly free! Visit www.festival.london2012.com for more information.
speare’s 37 plays will be performed in the theatre they were written for, and each in a different language by a different international theatre company including Love’s Labour’s Lost in British Sign Language and Othello in ‘Hip-Hop’ – “I hate the Bastard, Hate the Moor, I hate his rhymes, I hate his Whore”. Although for those of you who are not blessed with the gift of tongues this project may be a little out of reach, it could be a great chance to experience a foreign interpretation of plays you probably feel have been done to death (god damn the English curriculum) or even just a chance to watch something incredible in the Globe theatre. Another highlight is the British Museum’s major exhibition entitled Shakespeare: Staging the World open from 19th July – 25th November (Student tickets £12 and 2 for 1 from 14.30 Mon-Fri). The exhibition explores Shakespeare’s London bringing the 17th Century to life through objects from across the continent, focusing on the world presented to his audience through the vast range of settings of his plays. The festival runs from 23rd April through the summer as part of the cultural Olympiad. Visit www. worldshakespearefestival.org.uk for more information
“Roses for Richard III” Companhia Bufomecanica © Sergio Martins
Big Dance 2012 B
ig Dance 2012 has been described as ‘the ultimate dance experience’ to be taking place this year. Set to hit the streets in July (yes, we’re giving you this much notice, so you have no excuse not to go!) This festival is a platform for an assorted range of dance works to be shown in galleries, parks, shopping centres and lidos in London and across the country from 7-15 July. Big Dance 2010 was host to 850 dance events around the capital, preceded by a 6 week countdown. This year, Big Dance is hoping to top its record, starting with a 7 week countdown as part of the London 2012 festival. All of you dance lovers out there will be pleased to learn that there are a multitude of ways for you to get involved with Big Dance 2012. With a dance festival this big, you didn’t think that you would be left out, did you? Take a look at the official website to gauge the extent of your possible participation: from volunteering to promoting, filming to organising, you can even create and register your own dance event with the main festival – a fantastic way to gain more experience within the world of dance, put yourself on the map and, above all, have fun! And to all of our readers who are less dance-inclined, check it out! This is an event of such a scale that we are sure it will be impossible to miss and Big Dance 2010 © Matt Sill impossible to not enjoy.
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CUB’S EYE: “TfL” A grand total of four hours and forty-five minutes of free NYE travel was Boris’ festive gift to London: a little disappointing, don’t you think? I still remember the giddy old days of yore when the 25 was bendy, sweaty and constantly free, at least as long as you didn’t mind strangers grinding up on you or sticking a friendly hand into your purse. Image by Alex Argeles Words by Bethia Stone
YASMIN
Introducing our very own version of Ciara, the twenty-three old is set mainstream success this year. Image courtesy of cool delta
YASMIN first established herself after being spotted by Pharrel Williams during one of her DJ sets and since she’s worked with the likes of Labrinth, Lily Allen and Devlin. 2011 was a busy year with several festival appearances and supporting artists such as Aloe Blacc and Snoop Dogg. Last year she gained recognition for working with Jamie XX of the Mercury-prize winning band, The XX. The duo covered the dance classic, Touch Me by Rui De Silva and their performance at The Boiler Room was an incredible event. We were lucky to catch up with the beautiful Yasmin after her gig at Global Gathering.
You’ve gigged in London quite a bit, any tips for anyone looking to make it in the capital? If you move to London you have to be open-minded, feel free to explore and make the most of it. It is the land of opportunity, like everything is at your fingertips. As long as you work hard and hustle then you will put yourself in the right situation. You have no idea how many people would love to live in London so if you get the chance – make the most of it.
You started your singing career in October 2010 but you DJ’d before – what do you prefer?
Can’t complain with that sound advice. On a lighter note, who for you is the hottest artist at the moment?
Both. I get this question all the time – which one you prefer… which one do I like more... I don’t understand why I can’t do both. I’m able to do them both and time allows me to do both. They’re both different satisfactions... Having something to eat gives you one satisfaction, having a shower gives you another… So they’re both different kinds of buzzes but thoroughly enjoyable.
That’s such a difficult question. I mean there’s so many… I’m a fan of so many people. But, one person who’s killing it at the moment is SBTRKT, his new album is phenomenal. He’s very exciting and I’m a big fan.
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Nice. Well, you toured with Example, Devlin and Ed Sheeran last year, how was that? And do you have any collaborations planned for the future? Well, me and Devlin have already collaborated on Runaway & I’ve collaborated with him, Ed Sheeran and Griminal on Young Guns, which is out at the moment. Me and Example make slightly different music; we’ve done a bit of writing in the past but nothing major. We’ll probably get together and write for other people in the future. He’s like a big brother…
I can support myself… y’know. I get to travel the world and do all these exciting things just for a love of music and a passion for music – that’s all I want.
Ah right, what’s the man like. He seems like a really down-to-earth guy. Not really - he’s pretty stuck up… No, I’m joking – he’s lovely. We’re on the same record label and yeah, he’s my bro! And what would be your ultimate goal that you’d like to achieve in the music industry? It would be that I could always make a living from music. Like, I never have to do anything else but music. As long as
2012 is set to be an exciting year for the talented musician – stay tuned for ‘Light Up (The World)’ – produced by Shy FX and featuring Ms Dynamite, coming out on 15th January 2012 on Ministry of Sound/Level Recordings. words by Ryan Ramgobin
The Overtones
MUSIC
Lara Lavattiata gets to know Darren Everest from The Overtones (courtesy of republic media)
How did you meet the other guys in the group? We all met in London on the music scene at open mic nights auditions. We saw each other and got chatting and realised we had something in common so we said lets form a group and give it a shot. And six years later we got the record deal.
You all dress really smart, are there any days where you just wear joggers and hoodies? No funny enough I can handle that! It’s alright. It’s so lovely though like I said before you’ll get young girls that want a hug and a picture and then you’ll get their nans saying I love you can I get a picture its lovely!
Would you say you appeal to an older audience or is it mixed? It’s really mixed, sometimes our gigs get 13 or 14 year olds in the front row screaming and crying, and next to them they have got their mum and their mum’s mum. So literally it’s from 8 to 80 year olds so it’s great we’re really proud of our fan base.
What would be your advice for any student that wants to get some exposure in the music industry? Be as proactive as possible. I’d say get out there perform at any club you can no matter how big or small the audience is. YouTube is a great avenue now to be seen by the masses… don’t be afraid to put stuff up in YouTube.
Do you prefer writing your own songs or singing covers? To be honest I think my main passion is with the originals that we do but saying that I do love the covers that we do and our audience really appreciate the covers that we do.
Do you think your outfits are part of the appeal? I think so yeah, because we are doing retro music and back in the days the ladies would make a big deal of getting dressed up and going out I think guys should have more fun with their clothes and we promote that.
Is there any artist that you would like to collaborate with? I’d like to collaborate with Adele because she’s just amazing. And someone like people wouldn’t expect like Tinie Tempah that could be a really nice collaboration where we could do some really nice vocals and he could rap. It could work well together! Would you say you appeal to an older audience or is it mixed? It’s really mixed, sometimes our gigs get 13 or 14 year olds in the front row screaming and crying, and next to them they have got their mum and their mum’s mum. So literally it’s from 8 to 80 year olds so it’s great we’re really proud of our fan base. What first got you into music and singing? My cousin actually she always used to listen to a lot of soul and RnB stuff so I started listening to songs that she listened to then started listening to other music and vocal groups like Temptations and BoysIIMen and Nsync.
I can imagine that you get a lot of female attention, does that get annoying? No. funny enough I can handle that! It’s alright. It’s so lovely though like I said before you’ll get young girls that want a hug and a picture and then you’ll get their nans saying I love you can I get a picture its lovely!
If you had never got a record deal would you have entered x factor? As long as you know what you are getting yourself into. I’m really proud of the way it’s happened for us being together for six and a half years and working really hard on the music scene and finally getting our deal I wouldn’t change that but if people want to give it a go (X Factor) I think it’s a great avenue.
What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod at the moment? It’s probably something like Backstreet boys one of their songs…I’m man enough to admit it!
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Image by Flora Bartlett
FASHION
‘You need inspiration in fashion, everything has already been done.’ Our writer Flora Bartlett went to meet fashion photographer Jay McLaughlin to talk about models, Paris and his strong dislike of Russell Brand... Jay McLaughlin has always been a photographer, he just didn’t realise it. After never even considering it as a career, he found his Graphic Design diploma was all photographically based despite being told his camera ‘wasn’t proper’. This is not the case now he is an established photographer doing fashion editorials and celebrity portraits. But this improved technology is not without its drawbacks; now every flaw is picked up by the camera and must be edited in programmes such as Photoshop. This presents a moral issue for many consumers and critics, but McLaughlin argues for its defence. “The morals depend on what you’re trying to show. I’d never make a model look anorexically thin. I could talk at length about why models are that size and why that will never change... women need to think (the clothes) are beautiful- if a hip bone is sticking out or there is cellulite, it is distracting. I won’t make them thin, but I will try and stop the distractions.” There is, he admits, a line which it is important not to cross with such editing programmes. “If it looks retouched, that’s too far. I like my stuff to look real.” That said, it is not always important to have the latest and the most expensive cameras. “If the magazine wants you to use a good one, they’ll provide it. Or you can hire one. It’s not necessary to have the best cameras, just know how to use them.” Essentially, he says, “you can do so much stuff with just a
simple camera- it’s just a box with a hole in it.” When it comes to fashion shows, McLaughlin is rarely if ever seen in the pit with the rest of the photographers. He wants to take pictures of things he likes, not get caught up in taking pictures for the sake of it: “The catwalk shows I go to, I don’t sit in the pit, because I hate it, I go to watch. I’d quite happily sit there and not take any photos, but if I see something I like I’ll take a photo of it.” London Fashion Week, he says, is one massive party. “People are looking weird and dressed up- it’s a photographers dream.” Compared to London, Paris does not cut it for McLaughlin. The shows are focussed towards buyers, and unless you are Anna Wintour, “you’re scum”. New York Fashion Week is something he has yet to experience: “I’m really scared that if I go, I won’t come back”. As a photographer, it is easy to spot the people who don’t belong at Fashion Week. “People dress weird and do the circuit to get photographed. They are nothing to do with fashion- they’re only there at the weekend.” Fashion starts at the top, and it is a common sight to see a replica of a high-end piece in a high street shop. As McLaughlin sees it, this is inevitable. “There is no copyright in fashion. If a designer or fashion house copyrighted a button or lapel, everyone would be fucked.” But, he says, “designers re-
alise the high street shoppers are not their customers. If you’re buying from Primark, you usually can’t be buying from Dior.” When it comes to fashion, McLaughlin knows what he likes. “Chanel is Chanel, and Karl Lagerfeld is Karl Lagerfeld. Everything he touches, especially with Chanel, turns to gold.” However, he is also quick to explain what he does not: “I don’t get Vivienne Westwood. It’s weird for the sake of being weird.” He has similarly strong views on what makes a style icon. “David Beckham is a style God as far as I am concerned. There’s not a lot he can’t do.” However, he does not see the appeal of Russell Brand. “He is just a dick with floppy hair who disappeared for six months and found a stylist.” McLaughlin has great respect for the women of not only the fashion industry, but popular culture. According to him, they hold all the power - Lady GaGa and Katy Perry included. GaGa, McLaughlin says, has taken “all the power of haute couture, packaged it and embodied it”. He does not understand Nicki Minaj, however: “if you’re going to do it, do it... She isn’t it”. He dismisses claims that GaGa is a fake, or has copied the style of Isabella Blow, by saying ”it is fine to be inspired, as long as you don’t ever say you did it all yourself. You need inspiration in fashion, everything has already been done.”
It’s not just certain style ‘icons’ McLaughlin disapproves of in the industry, but the way in which some magazines try to portray fashion. Sometimes, he says, in trying to appear ‘edgy’, magazines just “use a model with tattoos in a fluffy soft shoot... People try and get the look without the story”. It is fine to go with a look as your style, he says, but don’t be weird for the sake of it. McLaughlin “hates flats on girls”. When questioned if this might be seen as anti-feminist, he does not seem fazed. “I’m not saying every girl has to wear them all the time, they can do what they like. It just looks better.” In terms of his favourite shot, McLaughlin says he has yet to take it. “If I say I have taken the best shot I ever will take, what’s the point of carrying on? I have shots that are not very good but mean a lot to me. Likewise, I sometimes think: ‘that’s a shot I really love, but that model’s a dick.’” It’s not all hard work for a fashion photographer. Sometimes, he says, people get delayed getting to a shoot. “I was sitting with an ice cream by the sea being paid... there are people who do this as a hobby at the weekend. I am getting paid to do what I love, and I realise how lucky I am. It’s the stuff that makes me think, ‘wow’.”
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THE BLACK LIST 2012 The Black List is, in the simplest terms, a collection of the best unproduced scripts that are circulating Hollywood right now. Not everything here is a guaranteed winner, nor is it guaranteed to ever be produced, but many of 2011 best movies were once on this list. So take notice of the top 5. 1. The Imitation Game Biopic of WW2 British cryptographer Alan Turing who cracked the German enigma code only to be prosecuted for being homosexual. 2. When The Street Lights Go On Drama of a small town in the 1980s struggling in the aftermath of a brutal double murder. 3. Chewie A satirical memoir of the production of Star Wars through the eyes of the actor who played Chewbacca. 4. The Outsider A story charting the criminal rise of a former POW American in postWW2 Japan. 5. Father-Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses A man and his 11 year-old daughter go on a nationwide crime spree. The full list can be found online for free
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ly anticipated sequ Christopher Nolan returns as director in the eager and extremely da gritty man Begins and Dark Knight, continuing his time, alongside M nal fi a movies. Christian Bale becomes Batman, for the villains is T as them Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. Joining . Set eight ye oman Catw band and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle aka City from B am Goth e death of Harvey Dent, Batman returns to rescu easily o was ht Knig Dark Dark Knight Rises, has high expectations. ht R Knig Dark r, traile r movies of 2008, and by the looks of the tease ove and on milli $250 of et not to disappoint. With an estimated budg . fault will lm fi this how utes of the film shot in IMAX it is hard to see a Batm of out hell the succeed in destroying Bane? Or will Bane beat and blend into No about Catwoman? Will Anne Hathaway pull it off what I can see, From er. grim city? All shall be revealed in the summ n’t disappo does it hope be an epic conclusion to an epic trilogy. Let’s Success prediction: 9/10 Words By: Kamilla Baiden
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A Film Addict With a Student’s Bu d g e t? L o o k No Further Than the BFI words by Leila Gherabli
In D an ecem tic spl ipa ber 2 t an it into ed ‘T 012, dB h e t we ac wo e Ho leve ‘Lo ll-cho k Aga films bbit n yea ’ dir : v r i ing e Act sen M n’ set ‘The finall s afte . Pe y H u r a f f ter dw aces ally rtin or r obb reac the arv fro ’ and Fre elea it: A hes rele Jac e m Fro s. ‘Th ema se in n U Brit ase kso ‘ T m of he eH nDe nex ish of ‘T the the n L p k ord itch no cem ect cine he is d Rin tra L w h e m b o o i i d i n e f k l gs f th a r fi r J by tr er, ‘ e R er’s G for h 2013 ourn s. Th d of t n cu i e wid o m lt to t ilogy The H i u s . e n bo he T y r gs’ ide e , to ather he so ’ and ok h Rings an he er au ans a ell wh with obbi d h the me ‘Th as s cei treats dienc s epi ethe the s t’ loo in ‘, th alf w e G we ved a c alax et co hat Hob fact e mu thi es. c an r the ame ks to ast u , Th s s y m c b d B b s h of ’ - lea edic nexp it: Th een h e H tory ut wi ther e film aun be jus Su n e d ea tin e p t e c cce ob t w s h s r wo e te as e w re g P bit ith ss ne half a rform d bu pre film the eter J no o ill see voice won s t , c Wo a d inc a dic n s a sam ack ppo m l s sin rou rds lud st of ces i tio re son rtu ike ec gin s a n: r s i By a n n n a e g n t to re a at t it d g th etur n 8/1 :C s ath 0. nd he h ies fo after ongs mag kn irte nica ock att tho eri rh e o en l f m l ne ou enti of uge b ught old. as T Br rs o t H h , n h idg a ock e s o e t t em s o hat T se pr tle sc ince t weve Lord an ff. en od h r he Lo uct es t e sto , it ion o d rd ry of Th s, pro raw i is eR n ing vidin g sr e-
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FILM
Ben Rider
The BFI got me through 2011. It was there that I saw my first screwball comedy; there that I watched my favourite actor, Michael Shannon, casually discuss his film Take Shelter in front of a screen on which, moments earlier, he had give one of the most anguished, tortured performances I’ve seen. The choice of films at the BFI was so var ied that it allowed me to dispel any guilt I felt about spending time there that may have been better spent in the library; surely watching the best part of the Almodóvar season was just another way of revising my Spanish grammar? It’s this variety that sets the BFI apart. With films spanning decades and continents, it’s a cinematic melting pot where no era, culture, or genre is forgotten, and 2012 will be no exception. January kicks off with Wise Cracks: The Comedies of Woody Allen, a celebration of the director’s work that features films from Annie Hall to Midnight in Paris; and Dickens on Screen, a series of the best screen adaptations of the last century. Other highlights include The London Comedy Film Festival (Shaun of the Dead anyone?) plus screenings of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. February sees the BFI delving into the works of both legendary auteur David Lynch and “giant of Indian cinema”, Raj Kapoor. You can also catch the Chinese new wave with acclaimed Director Tao Jie’s A Simple Life, and enjoy the Institute’s usual medley of classics (Casablanca), and recent releases like the searing We Need to Talk about Kevin. Variety is also up for grabs on Valentine’s day, which you can choose to spend basking in the romance that blossoms between Bogart and Bacall in To Have and To Have Not, or for the cynics out there, enjoying a modern take on romance in 22 year old Xavier Dolan’s Les Amours Imaginaires. Other highlights of 2012 include the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and Rescue the Hitchcock 9, which will see the director’s nine surviving silent films screened with “brand new live musical scores”. The BFI serves to remind us that there’s a whole world of film out there. Lucky for us, it’s only a few stops away on the district line.Student tickets for regular screenings at the BFI are generally around £6.50, but it’s worth considering a membership for ticket discounts, free screenings and exclusive events.
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Qupid
Bryony Orr
English and Drama 2nd year “Chatty, Happy, Sharey.”
So there I was, casually chilling (working hard in Infusion) when I was accosted by Sam Creighton and found myself agreeing to go on a blind date on the promise of not one, but two free meals. My bemusement was quickly followed by the paralysing terror of ‘OH GOD WHAT DO I WEAR?’ After consulting normal people about what you should wear on a date I was sorted, only hoping that I wasn’t going to en-
Andrew Carlin
History 2nd year “Eccentric, Adventurous, Bit Lazy!”
Initially I was a bit nervous about how the evening would go but thought I might as well give it a try. I only got roped into the date at the last minute after a barrage of texts, I suspect targeting me purely because I was relatively near the area. Having only be told I was going on the date a few hours before it began, I hoped the normal nerves wouldn’t have time to take hold. Unfortunately they were just concentrated into a shorter time.
counter the single most boring person ever. I’ve enough experience in talking to strangers to forget that it should be awkward and I just started chatting to Andy. Things started hotting up (literally) as we noticed that he’d accidently set fire to the menu with the candle. Once that matter was dealt with we chatted easily about London, music, friends, ‘the good old days’ of school and the various bit and bobs that crop up in conversations. Perhaps I was a little too zealous in my story telling, no one really needs to hear about my drunken pukey nights while out to dinner, but he didn’t seem to mind. After some very obvious hints that it was time to leave, our conversation continued down the road and we shared some delightful memories of Reading Festival, (be warned, this guy is really not to be trusted around fire.) All in all this was a very successful outcome for my first ever blind date and I would definitely hang out with him again! My biggest fear was that we might clash completely and the night would be full of awkward silences. I don’t find talking to strangers difficult but it was always likely to be a little different given the situation. The main thing I wondered beforehand was whether Bryony was as nervous as I was. Luckily, I think we both relaxed pretty quickly once we realised there was nothing to lose. The odd experience of “candid” pictures being taken didn’t help the nerves. In an odd way, my poor placement of the menu resulting in the corner catching fire made for an interesting start to the night, andactually relaxed me! There wasn’t one single main topic of conversation; it was more of a range of things including our courses, jobs and music. As the night went on the stories flowed, including a few that looking back probably could have been left unsaid! Though it did feel like a bit of a weird concept at first overall I really enjoyed the night, nice dinner, wine and good company very glad I agreed to go! I’d definitely like to hang out with Bryony again.
Do you want to be the next student struck by Qupid’s wandering arrow? You won’t only meet your potential soulmate, but you’ll get a free meal and bottle of wine at the rather lovely Fat Cat Cafe. If you’re interested email Collette Yapp-Davis at qupid@cubmagazine.co.uk
Qupid’s verdict According to Qupid tradition, this week’s date was organised at the very latest of last minutes. With people backing out and changing plans, we had to resort to the technique that we know best– peer pressure! Bryony and Andy were both goaded into their date with claims that they will be helping out not only their beloved magazine but also themselves. Initially, I was worried because there was no time to conduct a ‘background check’ to assure that there might be some basic level of compatibility; this was definitely the blindest of blind dates. Arriving at Fat Cat, the couple were already seated, Bryony on the sofa and Andy at the bar with a beer at hand. It was time to bring the two together! Incompetence is sometimes my middle name and it was Andy who had to introduce himself after it became apparent that I forgot neither of them had exchanged any words yet. Nobody was entirely at ease, so as if by magic the waitress came over instantaneously and said “would you all like your bottle of wine now?” Andy took charge and played the gentleman,asking Bryony if she had a preference (nope, she
didn’t) so a Red was sent for. Unfortunately, I did a bit too much talking in the first five minutes I was with them so I could not gage how well they interacted with each other. However, when it was time for their photographic close-up they did quickly and joyously join forces to help me solve the problem of camera location and angle. Conversation appears to have revolved around the usual first-meet subjects of London life and education, regardless of subject it was captivating enough as when I called Andy up a few hours later to ask how his night went I was met with a shaky ‘errrr....yea. We’re still here’, as I mentioned before, incompetence is my middle name, hopefully I didn’t ruin any vibes that were being created. They both come across as happygo-lucky individuals and I’m glad that Bryony got to meet the confident and quietly charming Andy who sometimes takes a hiatus in unfamiliar settings. They both enjoyed each other’s company and I can image that if they took the leap to go out again they would very quickly grow on one another. Andy and Bryony – let’s hope that they stay in harmony!
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