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Tom Stevenson editor Tal Davies london Anna Matheson 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 by JasonDGreat via Flickr
@cubmagazine.co.uk 3 London
Why do we all think we have to pretend we’re ‘not tourists’?
Editor’s Letter
Greetings are well and truly in order this week, dear readers. Unfortunately our wonderful editor Steph has had to step aside, and she will be sadly missed by everyone here. My name is Tom and, with our incorrigible editorial team, I shall be bringing you your fortnightly fix of CUB magazine from now on. Greetings of the seasonal vari-
ety are also in order, as this is our final issue before the great Bacchanalian holiday arrives. We’ve got features that are so good you’ll forget all about gingerbread lattes, and know it was while reading CUB you first realised that Christmas had begun. Though we feel slightly awkward at aiding the general push towards an ever earlier Christmas - Movemeber may in years to come be remembered as a mass tribute to the enviably bearded face of Santa Claus - we concluded that John Lewis had pulled apart the ribbon, so to speak, Our Features section have been bounding over the Mile End landscape giving Christmas presents to strangers on page 5, and Fashion have formed a holy alliance with CUB’s Eye for a
4 CUB All Ye Faithful Christmas party fashion shoot on page 12. For those who already feel saturated with Christmas cheer, our Music section gives its predictions for artists bound for great things in the new year on page 10 and 11. So hullo, season’s greetings, and adieu. Enjoy the holiday and we look forward - oh so diligently - to seeing you all return in a state every bit as rotund as we all intend to be.
Our guide to surviving the festive period.
5 A Stranger Santa
We have been giving Christmas presents to strangers, and not getting quite the reaction we expected.
6 The Snowman
‘The Snowman’ has an impressive legacy, what’s behind its success?
7 Eyeball Massage
The Southbank’s new exhibition is indulgent, but excellent.
8-9 CUB’s EYE: The Shoot Our photographers bring you a Christmas pose.
10-11 Sound of 2012 “She is guaranteed mainstream success next year.” pg. 11
CUB Music looks at the very finest prospects for the next year.
12-13 Tis The Season...
Fashion team up with CUB’s Eye to bring you Christmas party style.
13 Christmas Wishlist
The most stylish Christmas presents.
14 Films That Make
You Look Intelligent
Films that aren’t quite what they say they are.
15 The Once and
Future Kingsley
BAFTA hosts an evening in honour of the great Ben Kingsley.
16 Qupid
You should be working for us! To get involved with writing, photography, interviews or cartoons email editor@cubmagazine.co.uk
The latest lovebirds to be struck by Qupid’s arrow...
Frances Larke “There’s always something to do, just go out and explore!” - An A-Z would be good first… “There’s always something to do, just go out and explore!” is the summation of the words thrown towards me on my decision to go to university in London. Which brings me here, standing at East Gate, staring at Mile End station while clutching my Oyster card, with the words “there’s always something to do” running through my head more like a taunt than something to embrace about my new home. ‘London is in my pocket’, my Oyster card cover confidently tells me. Now, where on earth to do I want to go? Being a student in London brings with it its own personal responsibilities; you want to know what cool, quirky places there are to go, things there are to see and do. We can’t seem like a tourist. We just can’t. To be seen on one of those open top buses gawping at St Paul’s or London Bridge is not what we feel like we should be doing. In a typical British fashion, we have to be seen to look like we know what we are doing and know exactly where we are going. But why is it like this? Who cares if I have to whip out my tube map to check I am going the right way? I think it’s a more prudent decision, to be honest, better than following the crowd and ending up in somewhere like Epping, outside the M25 (if you end up there you will definitely need a bigger map). Maybe it’s our inner child still acting upon us with that need to fit in and look “normal”. Why is it like this though? So I stood on the left hand side of the escalator. I didn’t kill anybody and even if I did, people would probably still find their Blackberry screens far more interesting. This concept of trying to fit in is especially ridiculous considering the city we are in. In London just about every other person is a tourist with cameras, ridiculously big backpacks, ‘fanny packs’ and an extensive range of maps to go with them. Surely whipping out a map is actually one step closer to fitting in with the majority of people around us?
“ London’s
diversity is ever growing and its willingness to embrace new things is incredibly exciting ”
Though of course then you wouldn’t be a ‘proper’ Londoner. Ironically, the idea of a bus pointing to places we desire to go to seems perfect. Unfortunately, these only exist for tourist attractions and not the cool, quirky, unique places we are after. What a missed opportunity. There is a killing to be made with bus tours in Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Camden, Covent Garden, etc. And why do maps have such useless information in them such as where the Tower of London or the Natural History Museum is? Are these buses even really needed for tourists? I mean you can’t miss the Houses of Parliament for goodness sake, the droll tone of “and on your right” a seemingly massive understatement. London’s diversity is ever growing and its willingness to embrace new things is incredibly exciting; I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Don’t get me wrong, the £3.50 I paid for a half pint glass of coca cola did bring a tear to my eye when back home I can get three trebles for a fiver (Newcastle - home of the cheapest alcohol in the world), but London is where I want to be, Dixie Chicken and all. It is the heavy duty of any London student to discover places that can be attached to the much desired phrase “oh I’ve found this really cool little
place just down…” I am not alone in wanting to feel like I own the place and not seem like one of the wideeyed, unsure students that most of us actually are. To be honest anywhere without the repeated verse of “when I say Queen you say Mary!” incessantly buzzing in my ear will do. While fun the first few times, the 56th and 57th not so much thank you, Mr DJ. Anywhere that doesn’t have the tag line Freshers’ Event of the Year would be great too. I have told quite enough people my n a m e and what I’m studying, to the point where I thought it would be more productive, if not a bit forward, to bring a laptop and have it open with the ‘add friend’ icon displayed. After a month I want to get away from the Freshers chaos and just out for normal night, not the “best night of the year” or the place to meet “students from over 20 UK universities”. Just a normal night would be lovely. By now I feel I can adequately fulfill my responsibility as a London student and tell tales of how amazing the city is, and how London is most definitely unlike any other place on earth. Furthermore, the well-known dwellings are still enjoyable. Just because they are in Time Out’s Top 100 places to go in London doesn’t make them any worse than that really cool, quirky underground club you found in the converted cellar of a Victorian pub, that was burnt down by pirates but is now the local Chinese and, wait for it, has liquid nitrogen cocktails. OMG. While there are many destinations yet to be visited, the places I have actually been to were good, great actually. The vintage shops on Brick Lane, views from South Bank, Diner on Carnaby Street and street performers in Covent Garden are all fantastic, and I couldn’t care less that I paid a ridiculous price for my ice cream and a bottle of water. I am a student, 281 miles from home. I can do what I want. Frances Larke is a first year student. If you want to be the next LQMDONer then email the editor Tal Davies at london@cubmagazine.co.uk
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CUB all ye faithful Well, it’s already December, time is absolutely flying by, and it’s time to start accepting the fact that Christmas is just around the corner. There’s very little you can do about it at this stage; it is probably best to just accept it and start drawing up a plan of action. Except wait a minute, you’re probably too busy trying to figure out which pair of socks Dad’s really going to enjoy, so we thought we’d step in and lend a hand.
No more Best of Christmas CD’s
Switch up the Christmas Dinner Every single year, it’s always the same; chicken this, pork that, turkey this, beef that. One after the other, always the same, eventually creating a vicious monotony that after almost twenty years has become like an impending, repeated kick in the sirloins. When you get home, immediately offer to cook Christmas Dinner, say it with conviction and Mummy and Daddy will be oh-so proud that their little darling has come back from uni all grown up. When it comes to serving time, reveal the masterpiece. We recommend laying a table consisting largely of Rustler burgers, McCain fries, pop tarts, lots of hummus and pitta, a box of KFC fried chicken and about fifteen bottles of Red Stripe, but really, the choice of what to present is yours, just switch up the game.
Don’t give presents, give knowledge
Words by Alex Sarychkin Image by Anna Matheson Cartoon by Maria D’Amico
‘Snow is falling, all around me, children playing, having fun, it’s the season of love and understanding…’ As well as causing about as much air pollution as your average Range Rover, Christmas songs also tend to drive everyone crazy; some are just better at hiding it than others. We put up with it because we feel a sense of duty towards these songs; if we don’t bring them out once a year for a quick spin Christmas might not be the same, and that would be a disaster. This year, don’t get sucked into tradition, rock up to your CD player and throw in Gang of Four’s Entertainment or Burial’s Untrue, anything that will both astound and entice your family, just as long as you don’t have to sit through another chorus of Wonderful Christmas Time.
If there’s one thing you can never be short of over the Christmas period, it’s conversation. There will be anecdotes (act like you’ve never heard them before), there will be jokes (they’re really funny) and there will most certainly be debates (remain neutral, drink your beer). With all this conversation going around, you should realise that it really is the most important thing in life, being able to talk. This Christmas, give your loved ones the greatest gift of all: knowledge. They may be surprised at first, maybe a little confused, but when you explain that you are imparting a precious and rare piece of information, they really have no excuse but to accept and treasure it. As for what you can say, we recommend pinching a few of the cool facts they havn’t seen on the side of Amber Leaf’s own brand rizla. Penguin bars are also a safe source for new facts. If worst comes to worst: wikiquote.
Confuse younger siblings Now under no circumstances are we saying tell the young’uns the secret. That’s sacred. Let them figure it out. But there’s no reason why you can’t have a little fun at their expense. Try sticking a lump of coal under the tree. Replace the stockings with laced tights. During dinner, point erratically at the window and when the heads turn, devour their roast potatoes. Pull the ‘as-I’ve-movedout-I’m-technically-a-guest-card’ and suggest that they do the washing up because ‘in the spirit of Christmas it’s good to help your mother out’ – mothers love this, brothers don’t; tried and tested. Of course, you can balance this out if you wish. Let them have a sneaky sip of your sherry, or take them outside to set off the fireworks you have left over from Guy Fawkes night - just as long as it’s a good balance of taking the piss and being the cool older sibling.
Have fun Whether you choose to take our advice (we wouldn’t) and change things up this Christmas, or simply decide to go with tried and tested method, be sure to have a good time. Put the books aside for a day, or two, or three even, hell, it’s Christmas, why not throw them all on the toasty fire and wish them a pleasant night. Let seasonl feelings take over and go with your instinct. At the end of the day, it happens once a year and you’ve got at least another fifty to get through, so you may as well seize each one with a firm grip. Christmas is what you make it and we have complete faith that this year, you’ll be heading into December content in the knowledge that in only a few weeks, you’ll be stuffed to the brim and drunk as a skunk.
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A month before Christmas, I rose sleepily from my bed, donned a cheap felt Santa hat and set off to spread holiday cheer on the chilly streets of Mile End. I was partly propelled by my insatiable love for giving, but also to discover how the unwitting public would react at a time where misery and suspicion are all too common. I would hand out five presents to total strangers, accompanied by glittery Christmas cards, signed ‘Love from CUB!’. Four were friendly and cosy: two tins of loose tea, a giant jazzled ginger bread man and an adorable brown bear sporting a festive red bow. One was more questionable: a book subtly titled How to Bonk in Public. Perhaps incorrectly, I regarded myself as looking quite nonthreatening that morning with my tortoise shell ladygeek glasses and bright red Santa hat. As a student the concept of not accepting free, well, anything, is alien. If it’s in date, smells okay and clean, I’ll have it. The people of Mile End don’t share this view. From the first person I approached on my gifting spree, I was astonished by how cautious the public are. Maybe my mistake was not wearing a white beard. My first target was the newspaper salesman outside of Mile End station. You may pass him on your way to uni. He may strike you as a carefree kind man. He’s by no means carefree enough to risk a receiving a present from a high-pitched young lady wielding a gigantic velvet sack. “I’m spreading Christmas cheer, would you like a free present?” I enthused. “No! No thank you,” he exclaimed in suspicious horror. “They’re genuinely nice!” I assured him. I guess he felt foolish as he
way with a stranger
FEATURES
Words by Kashmira Gander Images by Tom Stevenson
watched a toddler’s face light up as I presented him with the toy bear wrapped up in festive red paper. Although, probably not as foolish as the kid’s Dad whose head I enthusiastically shoved a Santa hat onto. Toddler one, newspaper salesman nil. No, I don’t carry around poison, or severed heads or whatever you think is in my bag. Yes, it’s actually real gifts. The cycle continued. The friendly offer of a gift, the swift rejection, the clutching of the purse and the walking-to-getaway-so-fast-and-almost-tripping-over escape. Alternatively, one stranger adopted the sort of gungho optimism that meant she thought requests were acceptable, as if I was going to scribble down their wish list and pop to Westfield. “Can I have an iPod?!” No, but I hope you like Twinings. Dragging down the Christmas sack, not in weight but in potential embarrassment and face punching, was the bonking book. Would giving it to an old lady be hilarious or frankly immoral? Would a man see it as an advance for testing out the book’s theories? Then, out of the horizon came the perfect candidate. She was a student, she too had thick rimmed glasses. It was meant to be. Bullied perhaps being the correct, yet strong word, I urged her to open the wrapping. She stared down, confused, and refused us a photo of her clutching her fantastic new gift. At least she wasn’t violent. Londoners, my message to you is this: don’t be scared of your fellow citizens, Christmas is a time to cast aside your unrelenting fear that you are about to be mugged at any moment. In the words of Dan le Sac: some people are just nice.
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Gallery • Dance • Comedy • Campus • Drama Events • Art • Poetry • Photography • Print
Victoria Beech looks at the Christmas classic The Snowman and the legacy it has left behind
Image by Alastair Muir The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells
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T
he commercialisation of Christmas is something that we are now all too familiar with. In the months leading up to Christmas day, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements from various companies desperate to milk the festivities for every last penny. It has even reached the point where the Christmas countdown starts with the first airing of the famous Coca-Cola advert (you know the one I’m referring to). Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, however, is one Christmas tradition that transports us back to a time when we were not subjected to unashamedly cheesy Christmas marketing gimmicks;. Anyone who has seen the recent X Factor collaboration for Marks and Spencer will know exactly what I’m talking about. First published by Random House in 1972, The Snowman has inspired a short film, a live stage show, and various merchandise that all symbolise the youthful joy and wonder that there is to be had at Christmas. The animated film version of The Snowman first graced our screens way back in 1982, right at the beginning of Channel 4, and has remained a welcome Christmas fixture ever since. I am sure we are all familiar with the story - but for those of you who have been living under a rock, I shall summarise... The Snowman tells the tale of a young boy who awakes at midnight to find that the snowman he had built earlier in the day has magically come to life. The film, complete with stunning visuals and a captivating score by Howard Blake, takes you on the boy’s magical journey with the snowman as they fly through the night sky, accompanied by the atmospheric Walking in The Air. This song, of course, has made a celebrity of Aled Jones despite the fact that the song in the film is sung by the lesser known Peter Auty, (a choirboy at St. Paul’s Cathedral whose name was not credited with the film until 2002.) Aled Jones, however, re-recorded the song in 1985, when it reached number 5 in the charts and has remained a Christmas classic ever since. The film contains no dialogue, and instead is carried along by the hauntingly beautiful score, that is unavoidably peaceful and relaxing. The snowman takes the young boy on a journey from the quiet English countryside all the way to the North Pole where they engage in some jolly old fashioned Christmas festivities complete with reindeer, dancing penguins and, of course, Father Christmas. After a night of what can only be described as “frollicking”, the snowman carries the sleeping boy back
to his bed. The next morning, he awakes to discover that it wasn’t just a dream as he is wearing the same scarf that Father Christmas had given him the night before. However, the rising sun brings tragedy as he runs into his garden to discover that the beloved snowman has melted; the film ends with the boy mourning the loss of his friend. I have to admit that, even at the age of 21, I still find myself getting teary eyed at this suggestion of the loss of childhood innocence and the boy’s desperate attempt to cling onto the magic of the Christmas holidays: don’t judge me! The Snowman has clearly made its mark on the British public, listed among the BFI’s 100 Top British T.V. Moments, as well as being voted 4th in UKTV Gold’s Top Christmas Moments. This magic was brought to life in 1993 when the live stage version premiered in Birmingham, later touring the world from Edinburgh to Tokyo, enchanting audience members worldwide. The show is now a regular Christmas fixture in the heart of London’s West End with performances being held at the Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre for the past fifteen years. As in the film version, there are no words, creating a wonderfully mysterious atmosphere that has captivated children and adults alike for over a decade. Audience members are treated to spectacular special effects, which include the snowman and the boy actually flying over their heads around the theatre. The majority of the original story and score have been incorporated into the show with the addition of two new characters, the Ice Princess and Jack Frost. Raymond Briggs also famously wrote the acclaimed Father Christmas; a story also brought to life on the screen in the early 1990s by the same creative team behind The Snowman. The two stories overlap each other; if you look closely, the boy and the Snowman can be seen in the background of a scene from the 1991 creation. These two Christmas classics are a far cry from the usual low brow Christmas specials that we are forced to sit through each year and remind us of a time when Christmas was all about the possibility of a miracle rather than the presents under the tree. It is for this, and many other reasons, why on the approach to its thirtieth anniversary, The Snowman remains as popular as ever. The Snowman runs from 30th November – 8th January at the Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre in Holborn. For more information visit www.snowmanshow.com or call the Box Office on 08444124322.
I
am a student of French and Drama. Unsurprisingly, this means that a lot of my time is spent at galleries and exhibitions that, shall we say, I would not have otherLauryn Murdoch wise chosen to see. Having said that, this is the first installation exhibition I have ever seen that has made me smile. The Hayward Gallery in the Southbank Centre is current-
Lobe Of The Lung (2009) Pippilotti Rist, photo courtesy the artist, Hauser & Wirth and Hayward Gallery
ly displaying works by Swiss artist Pippilotti Rist, dating from her student days in the 1980s to now. Her video installations encourage you to view the world with “new eyes”. Her eyes, I guess. I think I caught the first of her videos in the free exhibitions Sexy Sad! at quite an unfortunate moment. Yes, I would have seen it anyway, but I was a bit taken aback when I innocently read the blurb, took a pair of headphones from the wall, sat down on a stool, placed them over my ears, looked up, and was confronted by a naked man waving his penis in my face and pretending to Jackie Chan the camera. (Don’t worry. This was, thankfully, all on screen. There wasn’t actually a naked man dancing for me in the Hayward.) There was an obvious paradox to be seen here in that the song accompanying this, erm, visual extravaganza was none other than The Beatles’ Sexy Sadie. This man was not sexy. You Called Me Jackie sees Rist, herself, looking a bit like Lady Gaga, lip-syncing to Kevin Coyne’s Jackie and Edna (and not very well). (Absolutions) Pippilotti’s Mistakes is just that. Here, she is laying out “all the flaws and faults of video machines”, which makes it a bit of a headache to watch. However, seeing as the first two made me giggle out loud alone, like a fourteen year old, in the gallery – especially the willy one – I could forgive her for that. The main event, Ever is Over All, is shown in a darkened room in the form of video projections displayed over two adjacent walls, deliberately making it impossible to focus on both, simultaneously. On the right, you are presented with an insect’s eye view of tall, exotic flow-
Eyeball Massage:
Pippilotti Rist ers. On the left, a young, smiling woman wearing a white dress and red shoes skipping in slow motion down a residential road is joyfully smashing the windows of cars parked along the curb with what would appear to be one of the exotic flowers seen in the other projection. She is happy. The passers-by do not seem fazed by her violent antics. She is even saluted by a grinning, female police officer. Now, I am not usually one for smashing in car windows (honestly, I’m so lovely), but I did find myself smiling along with the woman and thinking “yeah, YEAH! You smash what you want with that flower, guuuurl!” Clearly the exhibition had some sort of impact. As I approached the Hayward Gallery that evening, I had noticed something strange about the lights hung up around the Southbank Centre. Exiting the building, I stopped and took a closer look. Underpants? Three hundred pairs, to be precise, provided by charity Caritas and a gift from Pippilotti Rist, herself, to the Centre. About the “light sculptures” (light bulbs with pants hanging off them), she says that she hopes they
make people smile, but also think: “We are all born from between our mothers’ legs. From there, we first see the light of the world.” I’ll be honest, that was not, strictly speaking, the first thought that crossed my mind when I saw them. They did make me laugh, though!
...confronted “ by a naked man
waving his penis in my face...
”
This work is some of the most self-indulgent I have ever seen, but it is so unashamedly that way that you cannot help but love Pippilotti Rist. She’s fun, she’s liberating, she’s Swiss: she was obviously destined to enlighten and entertain. Pippilotti Rist: Eyeball Massage continues until 8 January 2012 at the Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre. Tickets £10 plus free exhibition upstairs.
Ever is Over All, Pipilotti Rist, photo courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth and the Hayward Gallery
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CUB’S EYE: “Harry” There’s nothing better at Christmas than a giant wooly jumper and decorations so garish you feel like getting your sunnies out of storage. Deck the halls and all that, have a good break and we’ll see you again in January! Image by Laura Blair Model: Harry Thorne Editor: Bethia Stone
SOUNDS THE WEEKND
As usual, with a new decade comes talk of a new class of musicians; with James Blake, The XX and SBTRKT on the lips of many as representing the “new sound”. These artists dominated underground blogs and are praised by fans for pushing the genres of electro, dub-step and rock forward through their intelligent use of sound and space. Yet hip-hop has largely been left alone. Until recently. Of late, new hiphop artists have been embracing these styles and applying it to the genre millions hold dear to stunning effect. In my opinion, no one is doing this better than The Weeknd. Already rubbing shoulders with Drake through OVOXO on Take Care and in his own mixtapes; Abel Tesfaye sounds like he’s been doing this for years. Since February he’s been uploading videos on Youtube and several have over a million views, with fans reposting his videos non-stop. His voice is hypnotic and each song is composed like a work of art with so much precision and care it’s incredible to think it’s just him. On top of this, The Weeknd has dabbled in remixing; breathing new life into what are quite ordinary Florence + the Machine and Lady Gaga songs as well as Drake’s already incredible Trust Issues. He’s certainly not afraid of big names and has proved he has no reason to be. Check out his work with Drake and his split track House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls to truly understand the versatility and scope of genius that this young musician possesses. Look out for his 3rd mixtape coming out next year; it will be impossible to miss. Shaun Ramanah
TRIBES
LUCY ROSE
Gaining notoriety in her role as touring singer for Bombay Bicycle Club, pixie faced Lucy Rose is more then just one of Jack Steadman's best mates. She's got an album's worth of material already floating around the internet, endless touring experience and two singles under her belt, (yes they've been played by Fearne on Radio One, but we'll forgive her that). There's just something so endearing and delicate about Lucy's husky vocals and stripped down acoustic charms; a sure sign she's about to release an absolute gem of an album to capture the hearts of 2012. Anna Matheson
TROPHY WIFE
Amidst endless comparisons to Foals (it’s not their fault that they’re from Oxford too), self-accusations of creating “ambitionless office disco”, and quietly delighted reviews from the likes of The Guardian, there’s a definite possibility that 2012 is Trophy Wife’s year to shine. Their fragile melodies, provided by Jody Prewett’s delicate vocals, are thrown against beats of substantial complexity which, combined with synth and gorgeous backing harmonies, is anything but harsh on the ears. The single Microlite has deservedly garnered praise from many corners, yet they can still be found playing the odd free gig in Camden from time to time - I urge you to give them a try whilst the entry fee doesn’t fling you deeper into your already depleted overdraft. Emma Parker
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Within eighteen months the pulsating Camden set-up have gone from rocking out intimate venues to three EPs, worldwide touring and a future album release. Yet their levels of public exposure have been kept intentionally low; the band instead prioritising the quality of live performance over the infamous PR trap. Influences from the likes of REM and Pixies result in dynamite tracks such as Not So Pretty and Sappho, merged with modern-aged flair. Among a style which juxtaposes dazzling, fast paced riffs with evocatively hushed vocals; their versatility emanates through eerie tracks as Face to Face, packed with chilling lyrics and darkened melodies. Choosing to avoid the same levels of public exposure all artists crave could be a potential masterstroke, as the band’s enigmatic vibrancy alone could thrust them into the public domain next year with real force – once their debut album Baby kick-starts the ascent in January. Keumars Afifi-Sabet
LANA DEL REY
If you haven’t heard of her by now - where have you been? This summer, the blogosphere blew up when Lana del Rey dropped ‘Video Games’. Since then, it has featured on several television programmes and received substantial airplay on radio stations around the land. However, her rapid ascent has not gone without a few hitches. There has been speculation over the twenty-five year old’s authenticity. It appears that her entire persona – from her name to appearance, has been manufactured by her record label to generate mainstream success. I guess her real name Lizzie Grant just doesn’t cut it. Despite the controversy, she is supremely talented and her vocals in songs such as ‘Kill Kill’ and ‘Blue Jeans’ confirms the popular belief that she is reminiscent of sixties legend, Nancy Sinatra. Her debut LP, ‘Born To Die’ is set to be released on January 23. If ‘Born To Die’ is the same quality of material we’ve already heard from Lana del Rey, then it’s not an exaggeration in saying that she is guaranteed mainstream success next year. Ryan Ramgobin
OF 2012
MUSIC
In the face of prophecies forecasting the end of the world, these are the musical visionaries that will usher in the apocolypse. Goodbye world, at least you’ll go out with a nice sounding bang. DEPTFORD GOTH
The success of Deptford Goth in 2012 will be due to the fact that he presents the next evolutionary step for commercial electronic music. Until it got tedious, people loved the ambience produced by the likes of James Blake and the XX, and, until they got irritating, people loved the melodic lines of Jamie Woon and Katy B. Deptford Goth manages to combine all of these qualities in a way that seems to display a new take on minimalist electronic music. Recently signing with Merok records, a label that, with a back catalogue of artists including Klaxons, Salem and Teengirl Fantasy, seems unable to put a foot wrong, Deptford Goth’s EP, Youth ii, has been hailed as one of the best of 2011. What makes his sound so exciting is the sheer amount of variation that is presented, something often longed for in this genre as whole. Firstly, there is the sense of beauty conveyed in the flowing undertones and the intense vibrato of the melodies, and secondly, we are given a somewhat darker side, angular drum beats, heavily synthesised progressions and layer upon layer of harmony. Deptford Goth will be back with a full-length album in early 2012. Harry Thorne
AMERICAN ROYALTY
This trio of new up and comers know how to get your body moving with the perfect fusion of rock and dance music. Hailing from the University of Southern California in sunny Los Angeles, these boys are making a quite a splash. American Royalty is gathering a massive following with their dirty guitars and head-boppin’ beats, definitely a force to be reckoned with in the New Year. Speaking of New Years, you can catch these bad boys playing the much-anticipated Snow Ball Festival New Years Eve, featuring the likes of Bassnectar and Pretty Lights. Vivian Wang
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
I missed the opportunity to see Michael Kiwanuka live a few weeks ago, and I’m sure I’ll regret that in the next year. He undoubtedly has one of those voices that don’t come around often, sending tingles up your spine and leaving you wanting to hear more. But the real reason that Kiwanuka is going to be such a big part of the music scene in 2012 is that you’re not surprised he started singing in rock bands and counts Radiohead and Nirvana as early influences. His soulful, powerful voice coupled with strong bass lines recreates soul for the 21st century, introducing the genre to a generation raised on The Killers and Coldplay - the purity of his music is much needed in a world ridden with autotune and synthesisers. His forthcoming album, Home Again, will prove to the doubters that, actually, we do make them like we used to. Lauren Mason
AZEALIA BANKS
The twenty year old from Harlem, NYC is set to have a sensational 2012 as commercial success surely beckons. Currently marketed as an aggressive diva with a “f***-you attitude”, Banks was classically trained in the Performing Arts at LaGuardia High School which includes Nicki Minaj among its alumni. Don’t let that put you off, she’s infinitely more talented than the gobbledegook-spitting monster that is Minaj. Her reputation has grown rapidly since the release of ‘212’ as a free download in September. ‘212’ has a filthy hip-hop vibe on top of an electro-house beat which is guaranteed to make you move. Banks promises more of the same but with added “rap-bitch shit” and “winter wonderland R&B that’s kind of Aalyiah.” NME have already placed the young star at number one on their annual cool list and she’s more than likely to be number one in the charts next year. Watch this space. You can catch her on the NME Awards Tour in February 2012 alongside Two Door Cinema Club, Metronomy and Tribes. Ryan Ramgobin
THE DEFILED
2011 has been a great year for metalcore newcomers The Defiled. Following the release of their highly regarded debut album Grave Times, the band has been touring the UK relentlessly and has built a reputation of having one of the most frantic and energetic live shows around. Despite the mockery it tends to attract, Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium have proven that there is still serious interest in metalcore for The Defiled to capitalise on. Propelled by their winning combination of heavy riffs infused with electronics, punk attitude and well applied hair product, I think that 2012 will be the year when The Defiled will find themselves in the spotlight. Nick Cleeve
PANDORA’S BOX BAND
With their mix of lively beats and shimmering folky harmonies, this quirky four-piece are on the cusp of making some truly great music. Lots of experience playing local gigs round Herts and their habit of covering each week's number one for Youtube (their Someone Like You is particularly stunning) has given them a fresh and innovative sound. They recently released their first EP, and have played at Camp Bestival and been featured by Metro and Radio 1's Rob da Bank. Songs like Medusa, with its contrast of joyous percussive intrumentals and sudden acapella, promise exciting times ahead. Ruth Irwin
Tis the season...
For our last issue before Christmas, Cub Fashion Editor Lucinda Turner teamed up with Cub’s Eye to bring you the best of Christmas party style for the festive season. Shot on location at The Victoria with clothes courtesy of Blitz London, the vintage department store.
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Photography Editor Bethia Stone. Photography by Laura Blair. Models Georgia Meacham, Vivian Wang, Harry Thorne, Matt Cameron. Fashion Assisstant Flora Bartlett.
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Cream Striped Jumper £40, Black Dress £90, Red Dress £75, Tweed Blazer £50, Flannel Shirt £35, Black Jumper £30, Blitz London, Black Sparkly Dress Stylist’s Own
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FASHION
Cub Fashion’s Christmas Wishlist Flannel
Christmas Shirt, £35, Red
, Blitz London
Our writer Natasha McPherson takes a look at this seasons most stylish Christmas presents.
Jumper, £30
This season is all about adding colour and creativity, which is exactly what we intend to do as the festive season approaches. To get us all in the mood and prepare us for the Christmas holidays we’ve put together a list of the most stylish gifts out there this month!
The Watch
A timeless gift! A classic watch is one of the most essential and often used present. Serving multiple purposes in our lives, it can be the final touch to a classy looking outfit and most importantly, guarantees you will get to all your lectures on time!
Cocktail Ring, £8.50, Dorothy Perkins
The Statement Ring Dress £90, Blitz
London
BLITZ
VINTAGE DEPARTMENT STORE
Accessories are one of the most important items when it comes to creating your look. For example, wear a statement ring: they are bold, sparkly and are made to stand out! The statement ring is sure to be on anyone’s Christmas list this winter as it holds the power to dominate, and adds the final touches to any outfit.
1/3 off selected lines including dresses, silk shirts, tartan skirts, printed skirts, leather jackets, shoes, men’s Versacestyle jackets, blazers, suits, shirts, shoes and much, much more!
www.blitzlondon.co.uk 55-59 Hanbury Street E1 5JP 0207 377 0730 Every day from 11am
The Metallic Dress
One of the most popular dresses this winter, the metallic dress is an essential party dress and is proven to put colour and excitement back into the your wardrobe!
We keep your spirits up as temperatures drop with the RED STRIPE SALE
The store is now ready for Christmas, packed like the best present you ever received with college jackets, faux fur, liberty shirts, denim jackets, winter coats and the rest of this seasons must-have items for good boys and girls. Gift Vouchers Now Available
Metallic Dress, £150, Miss Selfridge
The Prada Candy Perfume
Sequin Collared Shirt, £1oo, Topshop
The Sequinned Collared Shirt
Ever referenced as the alternative style of choice, the collar is prevalent amongst the subtrends of every season. This shirt provides a new take on an old favourite, combining trendy and vintage, and is perfect for an evening look when matched with a skirt and some heels. The added sequins around the collar give it a more festive and lively look.
This name seems to come up all the time around campus as one of the best loved perfumes for this year – and judging by the look of the packaging, I’d say it’s definitely considered a stylish gift. The look of the perfume is very simple yet elegant, and is sure to smell nice: the Prada Candy is certainly worth adding to your wish list.
The Miu Miu Matelasse bag
It might be a bit on the pricey side, but this bag is definitely a must have this Christmas. The classic black and metallic Miu Miu with removable straps is versatile as it can go with literally any outfit which makes it a bargain. Not to mention that Miu Miu is made from the best quality leather and should last you a life time, so try to think of it more as an investment than a splurge.
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FILMS THAT MAKE YOU LOOK INTELLIGENT AndtheImposterfilmswhoaren'twho they say they are
Words by Mark Birrell Image courtesy of Cino del Duco
Neil Jordan’s The Crying Game On the surface it’s: An ethically murky IRA/British political thriller following the attempted redemption of reluctant IRA soldier after a hostage situation goes bad.
But it’s actually: A difficult look at human sexuality and the concept of love in the modern era.
Makes you look intelligent because: Its phenomenal success in the US, coupled with its original panning by UK critics and audiences, makes it somewhat of a cultural oddity that continues to gain meaning and expansive interpretations as it ages. It’s an enigma of a film that presents itself much as its subject matter does – simple at first but realistically a labyrinth of moral and philosophical issues. It was the movie that pretty much defined the term “sleeper hit” and allowed an entire generation of indie filmmakers to believe that all you needed was good filmmaking and you could get anywhere in the business.
Things to say in conversation: As it approaches its twentieth anniversary, The Crying Game can be looked back upon as one of the very few international cinematic products that Britain can be legitimately proud of. It was a game changer, which deeply affected American popular culture almost overnight.
Things NOT to say in conversation: Well, at least I finally understand that joke at the end of Ace Ventura…
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If you haven’t seen it already, you should because: As far as plot twists and “big reveals” go in movie plots, The Crying Game’s is perhaps the most colossal in all of history.
James Cameron’s approach; he saw his grunts destroyed at the hands of a more literal kind of alien in 1986’s Aliens, and Kubrick pulled no punches and portrayed the devastating effects of the war sans metaphors in Full Metal Jacket.
Walter Hill’s SouthernComfort
Things NOT to say in conversation:
On the surface it’s:
So it was made in the 80s and it’s set in the south, is it anything like Dukes of Hazzard? Because I love Dukes of Hazzard.
Your classic American hill-billy horror thriller, where some cocky National Guardsmen piss off the wrong hunters during a Louisiana swamp training exercise.
But it’s actually: A harrowing lamentation on the experiences of American soldiers in Vietnam.
Makes you look intelligent because: Director Walter Hill is most commonly known for his iconic 1979 film The Warriors, which easily ranks as one of the most influential things in the history of popular culture, and Southern Comfort is regarded by many as Hill’s masterpiece. Not to mention the fact that it sports a haunting soundtrack from guitar legend Ry Cooder.
Things to say in conversation: Seemingly quite unique, the film is really part of an 80s zeitgeist in filmmaking wherein cocky military males find themselves gradually degraded and are destroyed by an invisible enemy that voices the unspoken experiences of Vietnam veterans. In Hill’s film the enemy are American themselves, but a social and ethnic other to the homogeneous white American image. This contrasts with
If you haven’t seen it already, you should because: It’s an uneasy and dread soaked journey into hell that’s been stripped down to its bare bones. At its best moments it makes Apocalypse Now seem like an over-produced stroll in the park.
Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’avventura On the surface it’s: The mystery of a socialite who disappears without trace.
But it’s actually: An existential exposé of the hollowness of a bourgeois existence.
Makes you look intelligent because: It’s generally regarded as having reinvented cinema in one fell swoop, and it’s pretty much statistically impossible to have a pretentious movie conversation where Antonioni doesn’t crop up at least 10 times or more. Plus if that doesn’t float your boat it’s got a lot of really fit Italians in it looking moody and leaning against things.
Things to say in conversation: As their bored and selfish lives sluggishly move towards no foreseeable goal, in the end the protagonists discover that perhaps all they have in life is each other, a commodity they have consistently disregarded.
Things NOT to say in conversation: If Liam Neeson was in the movie he would’ve found the girl.
If you haven’t watched it already, you should because: It’s one of the few great experiences in cinema, much like David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, where you feel like you’re living in someone else’s dream.
FURTHER VIEWING POINT BREAK (it's not about surf-
ing but about Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze being secretly in love with each other). THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (it’s not about WW2 adventures but about them ALL being secretly in love with each other).
THE MASK (it's not about a magic mask but about cocaine). THE ADDICTION (it's not about vampires but about heroine).
FILM
THE ONCE AND FUTURE KINGSLEY BAFTA hosts an evening in honour of national treasure Sir Ben Kingsley
O
n November 26, The British Academy of Film and Television Arts honoured the life and career, thus far, of Sir Ben Kingsley in a special two hour event. The actor took part in a staged Q&A session, answering questions about his life, career, and future projects, and then opened up questions to the audience. A large screen on the wall behind displayed momentous scenes from his career, and even a sneak peek at a scene from his latest movie, Hugo. Kingsley, born Krishna Bhanji, was inspired to act by the Italian film Never Take No for an Answer. The main character, he says, looked just like Kingsley at his very young age, and after the film the theatre manager pointed to him, crying, “It’s Peppino!” From there, Kingsley began his work as a stage actor. Shortly after becoming established, he changed his name because he couldn’t write his birth name legibly. Ben comes from his father’s nickname, Kingsley from his grandfather’s.
Words by Maggie Schroeder Image courtesy of EM Foundation
As an actor, Kingsley often refers back to Shakespeare, which makes sense considering his early work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. A wellwritten script is the major selling point when he considers taking a role, however. He believes there must be the possibility of having a journey, as an actor and as a character. By remaining attentive to the script and the development of the character, revelations which define the character come to him. These revelations are particularly strong, he says, when they concern patterns of behaviour. Always fascinated by psychology, Kingsley asserts that when he finds a pattern of behaviour exhibited by a particular character, the acting takes off from there. Kingsley also seems to find aspects from his personal life in nearly every role. Such aspects can be complex or simple. For instance, he’s discovered that patriarchal roles attract him due to the lack of a father figure in his own childhood. Simple connections include that he used his grandmother’s voice and rhythms to play Fagin in Ol-
iver Twist. Another important technique Kingsley employs as an actor is what he calls a “scrap of paper in your pocket”. On the metaphorical paper, Kingsley writes a myth which he then projects into the story. The more simple and concise the
“
There must be the possibility of having a journey, as an actor and as a character
”
myth, the greater chance there is to make something with it. On working with directors, Kingsley says, “The worst thing a director can tell an actor is ‘do what you like’… Actors
love hitting targets, so give them a target.” The politics of a film set can be intriguing to study, and he loves working with new directors. “It’s always exciting to be working with someone taking their first steps.” He also puts emphasis on how directors and actors help the film and contribute to the creative process immensely by “trying to make the other guy look good.” This was especially helpful when working with the young Asa Butterfield on his new film Hugo, and when working with 3D. According to Kingsley, 3D will never be right for every film, but it will be the perfect step for a few. At this point, we were treated to a sneak peek at one of Kingsley’s scenes in the film. Without giving anything away, I must say that the cinematography was beyond compare, the direction masterful, and the acting superb. Hugo hit American screens last week, and has already received rave reviews from critics across the country. It premiered in the UK on November 29, and opens to general audiences on December 2.
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Qupid
Rosemara Mather-Lupton English and Drama 2nd year “Easy going, Easily-distracted, Happy.”
Surprisingly I wasn’t actually nervous about going on a blind date, I was persuaded to do it that afternoon and four hours later found myself waiting at Mile End station, a little tipsy, for Qupid to meet me. In my opinion it would have been a lot worse if I was preparing for a date with someone I actually knew and seeing as potentially he could be a weirdo, my biggest worry was that I was about to embark on the most boring hour of my life!
Ollie Gibson
MA London Studies “Bored, Hopeless, Confused.”
I got dragged into this by a friend of a friend, blind dates are not my thing but I was drunk and (apparently) said I’d give it a go. I prepared for the date with a few beers at home. I thought I’d make the effort and arrived early, got myself a beer and tried to steady some unexpected nerves. My first impressions when she arrived with Colette (Qupid) were good,
When we arrived I was so relieved that he was normal, he had already bought himself a pint (I found out later this wasn’t the first beer he’d had that night) and he looked how I felt; slightly awkward but otherwise ready for a laugh. Along with the bottle of wine included in our meal, he bought another after we had eaten so my memory of the conversation is pretty hazy. Maybe it was a good thing that we were both quite drunk early on; it meant that there were no awkward silences and mind-numbing small talk about the weather. So after the usual subjects were out the way (uni, going out etc) the conversation most probably became random drunken prattling on. Overall the night was so much better than I was expecting, I know that alcohol could have been responsible for this but it meant we had at least one thing in common. He was also genuinely a nice guy and by the end I did actually fancy him. He took my number, walked me most of the way home and I would definitely see him again (if he’s paying!). she looked nice, had made an effort but not too much and I was definitely attracted. It was a bit awkward at the start but that soon went (I found out later that she’d gotten drunk beforehand, I must have been too as I didn’t notice). Aside from the alcohol, neither of us were taking the whole thing too seriously; to be honest I was just glad she wasn’t ugly or mental! We talked about pretty standard uni stuff – our courses, drinking, partying, drugs etc. We talked about our backgrounds too which was nice. The rest of the night we just made critical observations of our fellow diners – everyone loves a bit of people watching! We stayed for a second bottle of wine (her third!), smoked every five minutes and I left with her number. Not sure how much alcohol had to do with it but it was much easier than I thought it would be – by the end of the night we had forgotten it was a blind date, I’ll definitely be giving her a text when the hangover’s gone.
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 Once again, I arranged this date at the last minute. I tend to prefer the ‘day before’ organisation technique, although it’s stressful (mainly for my editor), I have found that every last minute date I have organised has been more successful than otherwise. I think it’s the element of surprise teamed with the fact that most people sitting bored in the library would jump at the chance for free wine, and the company of more than just a book about the economy of France in the late Middle Ages. I will honestly admit that I conducted the usual facebook stalk of my two victims to make sure that they were visually compatible and might be interested in similar things and I was pleasantly surprised! I had a little feeling that these two would get along just fine. Walking with Rosemara to Fat Cat I discovered that she’d already had a drink (almost a whole bottle of wine!) and because of this she was really quite enthusiastic about the whole thing. I went on to tell her that I had thought I could smell booze but I had just “assumed we had walked past a pub”, she then
went on to frantically search for chewing gum to mask the smell! Arriving there we discovered that Ollie had also prepared himself with alcohol; Rosemara and I could stop worrying that she smelt a bit like a Weatherspoons pub! I felt totally confident that these two would get on, they instantly seemed to agree as if by telepathy that they would get as drunk as possible and not take it too seriously. The conversation seemed to be mostly alcohol fuelled which is always good and I am happy (for them) that they have their nicotine addiction in common (going ‘out’ for a cigarette is always good for any boring moments). Even though these two can’t remember much, I KNOW that they enjoyed themselves. Firstly, not being able to remember things usually signifies a great time had by all and secondly, my sources tell me that they were there for over four hours (I secretly hoped they had gone home together)! This is definitely a Qupid first. These two should defiantly see each other again, in fact, I know that they will. Neither of them had any complaints; they fancied each other and got pissed as farts! What more could anyone ask for?!
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