RION Issue 4 - Featuring Jordi Whitworth by RION magazine

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JORDI WHITORTH rionmagazine.com

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CONTENTS

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief Wayne Noir wayne@rionmagazine.com

JOHN GALEA THE STYLE OF SOUND

Sub Editor Paul Eccles paul@rionmagazine.com

YELLOW MOOD NICCO DIDONNA

Music Editor Adam Weston adam@rionmagazine.com

JORDI WHITWORTH

Features Editor Ross Pollard ross@rionmagazine.com

DESSERT STORM SASHA BROWN

Online Editor Fossy Meade fossy@rionmagazine.com

ELEGANT PUNK WALL FLOWER

Fashion Editor Bartek Fetysz bartek@rionmagazine.com

MAGIC OWEN CHARLI COHEN

Submissions submissions@rionmagazine.com

SOUNDS OF MUSIC

Sales & Advertising sales@rionmagazine.com

MEET ME AT THE SEINE

Graphic Design RION Media

CHLOE JASMINE

Distribution RION Media

HUMAN ART Follow our socials @rionmagazine

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EDITOR’S LETTER Fashion and music equally go hand in hand

together. They merge together like an artist’s paint brush mixed with water.. We have all been influenced in some way or another with these muses. For this issue, I wanted to combine them both and really get under the skin of this art form. With that in mind, and the infusion of music and fashion we bring you collaborations from designers and musicians, from singers turned models, models delving into singing, and even singers becoming actors. So the question I really ask is again. “How does music and fashion work together” I think that is simple. They are quite one of the same!

Thank you! Until next time

Wayne Noir Editor-In-Chief

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a kid I was very musical growing up, always singing and performing where I couldâ&#x20AC;?

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JOHN GALEA INTERVIEW

WITH SINGER / SONGWRITER

After supporting McFly on their tour, John Galea released his first EP ‘The Scrapbook’. From then, the Norfolk born singer / songwriter has gone from strength to strength and is a rising star in the making. We sat down with John to get behind the man with the keys and incredible voice to talk all things music, life and fashion! You play the piano, did you finish all your grades and what is about the piano that you love?

i John, Please introduce yourself, Tell us about your background. What were you like as a child?

“Hey, I’m John Galea, a Singer/Songwriter originally from Great Yarmouth. As a kid I was very musical growing up, always singing and performing where I could”. When did you realise you had a passion for music? How did you start out down this path? “From an early age, I knew music and performing was my thing, I remember seeing Mariah Carey singing on TV as a kid and I was blown away by her voice, then my dad brought home an Electric Organ one day and I started lessons from there. I wanted to know how you write songs and wanted to know why you remember certain songs and not others. So I studied writers like Diane Warren, Carole King, The Bee Gees etc and learnt how to put a track together”. How has your music evolved? How would you describe your genre? “At the start, my music was very electro based, and now has evolved into more soul, although underneath everything it was the song that mattered most to me. The Piano though has always been at the heart of my music though”.

“It took hard work but I did get to Grade 8 in Electric Organ & Piano and passed, and and also completed all the grades in singing too. The benefit, musically, from doing the classical pieces has been so important to me when writing, especially now it’s influencing me more when writing new tracks”. When starting out, did you gig at open mic nights, clubs and bars? Also, what about starting out do you miss the most? “I did indeed all over London, I remember playing one time to just a friend and the barman and barman left for a smoke after one song so there have been low & high points. What I do miss about it is the excitement of playing at these amazing venues that you hear about and getting real people to hear your music live and getting such a great reaction. That hasn’t changed, there’s nothing like performing live”. Singing at Sundown Festival last year, how was this experience for you? It must be an exhilarating performing live, was this one of your life goals to perform in your hometown? “It was such a great experience playing in my home town of Norfolk. I went to school and grew up in Norwich so the fact I was playing the Main stage alongside names like Craig David and Rag’n’Bone Man in my

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home County was amazing - especially as I’m currently unsigned and independent as an music artist. It really felt like an achievement. Every song is based on a true experience or relationship. Starting a song differs all the time, it may be an idea comes first or a title or a piano riff that’s what I love about songwriting - it’s constantly a fresh experience especially when you write with other writers and producers. They bring something new to the table”. Where do you draw your inspirations from when working on your music? “My past relationships, current situations, life around me really. White Dove was written about losing my mum and Ammunition was about a very toxic relationship I was in. Every song comes from a place of truth”. When writing music for other artists, how do you go through the process? Do you let the artist you are writing for influence your words? “If the artist is a writer and its a co-write then their experience /words are vital as the song has to be honest to the artist. If i’m writing for the artist I always keep them in mind, you have to make sure the song matches the artist”. 8

Weve recently seen you at London Fashion Week, you clearly love fashion too. Who is you favourite designer and why? “I really do. I have always been interested in Fashion week and feel so fortunate to have attended the last few London Fashion Weeks. I’m a big fan of ‘Noose and Monkey’ suits, they are tailored very well for me, but I like all types of designers from Luxury brands like ‘Louis Vuitton’, ‘Gucci’, ‘Moschino’ to up and coming designers like ‘Digby Jackson’ & a new designers like ‘Nuno Lopes’. If it looks good to me I’ll get behind it & support it where I can”. Tell us about your latest EP, what can you tell us about your current music projects? ‘The ‘Missing Pages EP’ was released about a year ago and was my 4th EP that I’ve released. It was another chapter in my music and I worked with some amazing producers and writers on it including Frankmusik (Elle Goulding) and Oscar Lo Brutto (Wiley)”. What have been your highlights in your career so far? “I’ve recently been very fortunate to have had a Top 20 Commercial charting hit with ‘When You Truly Love

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Someone’ but playing main stage at this years London Pride was a big deal for me. Recently embracing being Bisexual publicly I felt very honored to perform for the LGBTQ audience and the reaction was so amazing in Trafalgar Square. A definite highlight for me so far”! Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey are just some of your music idols, are there any upcoming artist that we should know about that you particularly like? “There are so many amazing voices signed and unsigned that are coming up, I’m a big fan of Sampha, his stuff at the moment and Norfolk singers/songwriter Wayne Thurtell has a big future ahead of him. I love hearing new singers/writers it’s very inspiring”. What are your views on the music industry today, is it important to be signed as an artist these days? “It certainly has changed and is constantly evolving and you have to keep up with it. Being signed is not as important as it used to be to be honest especially with self distributing platforms, however some doors remain very much locked for independent/unsigned artists and the major labels and publishers still are the only ones

who have a key to unlock those doors. There is still very much a ‘gentlemans club feel’ in some areas hopefully that will change soon”. What are you doing at the moment? Do you plan to break America? Absolutely it’s on the list, although at the moment it’s not at the top of it. I love working in USA especially Vegas and LA but at the moment I’m just taking it step by step creating new music at the moment in my London studio working with some amazing Top 40 producers and writers”. What does this year hold for John Galea? “I’m working on a new tracks for myself and some newly signed artists which is exciting and I will be traveling to USA to do some writing. I love writing with new artists. Also will be performing at some festivals this summer, which is always fun- there’s nothing like performing with my band”.

Follow Johns journey @johngalea

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THE STYLE OF SOUND Labour is making waves, it’s George Michael that is taking hold. His ‘Freedom! ‘90’ video was a glossy constellation of cover stars Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz and Cindy Crawford. Dear diary, today my heart leapt so hard at my laptop screen when I watched Freedom ‘90 I was sent to A&E. David Bowie’s ‘Queen Bitch’, Estelle’s ‘American Boy’, and Kanye West’s ‘The Glory’. What do these all have in common? They all share their lyrics with the back pages of a Macy’s catalogue; dropping mentions of fashion figures, brands and styles all over their choruses. Loading up the endless database of music videos on Youtube, it’s difficult not to notice the endearing statement to fashion that no one, not even P Diddy, would dare cut out of the picture. The boundless litany of artists who have used fashion to mediate their musicality, and vice versa, stands strong. Take Cher and her many, many, many wigs. The singer burst onto the scene back in 1965 as an unforgettable profile of thigh-length hair and boggling bangs. By the 70s, the four-letter singer shapeshifted genres and hairstyles. Pulling styles from the folksinger braids of Gregg Allman to her influential Bob Mackie looks. Cher’s hair – whether braided with diamonds or relentlessly curled – is as significant to her image as her vocals are. If we fast-forward to 1990, and as much as New

Decked in rock chic, Campbell and Crawford staged a re-union with Yasmin Le Bon and Helena Christensen tagging along in 2010 for Duran Duran’s ‘Girl Panic’. As the frames of the 9-minute video flickered, director Jonas Akerlund (who also directed Lady Gaga’s ‘Telephone’) had the models surrounded by decadence and drenched in last night’s eau de Chambord. Casting the models to portray the band members themselves; Naomi portraying lead singer Simon LeBon and Cindy blaring the bass of John Taylor. Girl Panic captured a pre-social media moment of super models that refused to wake up for anything less than $10,000. By taking a page out of George Michael’s handbook, the band flirts with fashion in a music video that flattens the fashion model and musician into one. A powerful exposition of the dependence the aural has with the visual when it comes to meaning-making.

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Though some music sounds like the remains of the English language after being hashed out by nuclear war survivors, music remains a medium that is integral to story-telling. The way musicians and songwriters form their and our identities through the melodies they tune mirrors the clothing that designers sew together and people wear. British X Factor 2008 winner Alexandra Burke noted that she would never sing a song that did not resonate with her. To Burke, the ability to communicate a story with honesty is an important part of how she sees her audience. An audience that sees self-authoring and authenticity as part and parcel of music. Such as when we used a Paramore lyric as our MSN bios, that was just one example of us using music to amplify our identities.

BY JOSH MILTON

Artists such as Madonna and Lady Gaga playfully intersect meaning, music and fashion together. Gaga’s videographic output is embedded in an intellectual pop culture tradition. Her videos are intertextual orgies of fashion referencing; marrying clothing with song so powerfully that her track Bad Romance debuted on the catwalk of McQueen’s final fashion show in 2010. Gaga’s costumes are an exercise in couture designer’s surreal creativity. As much as the more edgy of us will partake in some musical hair-splitting (eg., The Thunder Lips from Chichester are a solid example of indie white ambient rock revivalism crossed with fado) all music has something to offer to the fashion industry at large. No matter what picayune genre it’s junked into, no matter what chart it’s topping, no matter how many digits the budget for the cinematic music video had, music is fashion and fashion is music. @JOSHMILTON.JEP JOSHUAMILTON.NET

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NICO DIDONNA INTERVIEW

WITH FASHION DESIGNER

Itailian born designer, Nico Didonna,

first established himself as a ready to wear menswear designer. It was in 1999, he opened his first store with his cutting edge bespoke tailoring and became known within the the iconic London scene. Not only designing menswear but in 2007 Nico launched his debut women’s wear collection at London Fashion Week. Using his Itailian heritage, mixed with multi-cultural London, this became Nico’s sleek signature style. From dressing high profile celebrities to making one off pieces, it’s clear to see why his fashion house makes a stamp on the fashion market.

FOLLOW NICO ON HIS SOCIALS @NICODIDONNA

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CHLOE JASMINE WEARS NICO DIDONNA

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ell us something about your background, what was it like growing up and studying at LCF? “My origin is Italy, I came to London in the late eighties to follow my career in hotel management which I did for a few years, but London fed my already existing passion for creation. Having saved enough money, I enrolled at the LCF (London College of Fashion) The studies were intense as I was very keen to make clothes so I could wear them, I remember making my first pair of trousers one month into the course and I loved the feeling of having something unique. Every week I’d make a new garment to wear”! When did you realise you wanted to pursue a career as a designer? “It has always been an ambition of mine since I was a young guy. More often then not, I would buy pieces and then I would “refashion” them in my own way, it was my own way to create”. What was your biggest fear when starting your own label? “I have been extremely blessed, it all started to pay off when I was in college. I created a collection of t-shirts for men, all one-offs, and the guys loved what I was doing and kept coming back for more. So I invest a little more everytime I got paid”. What motivates you as a designer? “There is a satisfactory feeling in seeing your own creation on people and to be at the forefront is more rewarding, that is my motivation”. Describe your creative process, how do you start a concept? “Usually, this starts with a comment or something we read in the newspaper or see on the news, we do our own research and then elaborate on them and create mood boards of a theme. That helps us to sketch down the ideas. I’d then make patterns and allocate the right fabric, this is the process I love the most”. Do you get stuck creatively? How to come over this? Yes, of course, I get stuck, creation is not a commodity that can be bought on demand, it has to come. Each individual is different and has different techniques. I find I usually distract myself when I get stuck.

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How do you stay up to date with fashion? “Intuition plays a big role, I keep my eyes and ears opened and I’m always on the lookout”. How do you want men and women to feel when wearing your clothes? What one word would you use?

“Every week I’d make a new garment to wear!”

London Fashion Week

“Empowered”!

How do you find fashion and music work together? Do they complement each other? “Music is the voice, fashion is the wrapping that contributes to the artist. We need the face and bodies to represent our creation and the music industry provides that instant recognition”. Who are your favourite music artist and who has worn your designs? “There are so many that I like and so many I have the pleasure to dress from will-i-am am to Mark Almond, Mark More to Panic at the Disco! Mcfly to Keane, Roger Taylor[queen] Nick McBrain [Iron maiden ] to Sara Brown [simple minds] and many many more the spectrum is big actors and footballer also help to that instant recognition”. What role do you think social media plays in fashion today? “A massive one! Social media gives us the chance to reach out to a wider audience at the push of the button”. What trends do you see repeating in today’s fashion? “I don’t see commercial magazines really representing the modern day fashion. We are always seeing the same brands and what they have to offer it makes commercial sense, but doesn’t mean that’s fashion”. doesn’t move on.

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Tell me about an accomplishment that you are most proud of?

How is working in fashion today differnt than from when you first started out?

“I have a few of them. To start with is my new atelier, may I remind you that I have no investors in the company [not yet lol] I have created some of the costumes for the Harry Potter movies [The Deadly Hallow] and Alien Covenant, these are my most recognized ones”.

“The internet is one, it’s easier and more accessible to get your brand out there”.

There is so much pressure for designers to come out with great collection season after season. What advice would give to young designers just starting out and hoping to make it in the industry? “To be true to your core. Be unique, and follow your dream”. 36

Are Fashion Weeks important? “Indeed!, If done in the right way. Fashion weeks are a discovery platform”. If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be? I’d start a little earlier, and socialise a little more”.

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JORDI WHITWORTH INTERVIEW

WITH SINGER, MODEL AND ACTOR BY WAYNE NOIR

JORDI WHITWORTH IS NOT

JUST YOU’RE AVERAGE MUSICIAN. THIS ESSEX LAD IS ALSO A HUGE FAN OF FASHION, MUSIC AND ACTING! MOST KNOWN FOR BEING IN BOYBAND ‘OVERLOAD’ BORN FROM THE X-FACTOR. STARING IN E4’S STAGE SCHOOL, TO NOW STARING IN THE MOVIE ‘DEAD RINGER’ WHICH COMES OUT SOON! WE GET TO KNOW JORDI A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS THE TATTOOED GENT TALKS TO US ABOUT HIS PLANS TAKING ON AMERICA, THE MEANING BEHIND HIS TATTOO’S, HIS STYLE AND UGG SIPPERS!!

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ongratulations on your first feature film. Can you tell us, is your character Darren, anything remotely like yourself?

“Thank you! The movie is based on a boyband which I know very much about having been in the boy band "Overload" for a few years. My character Darren is one of the members who is quite cheeky, outgoing & mysterious, which are all traits I feel like I have myself ”. How did this role come about? “I got approached for the role directly by the director and went in to audition. They seemed to be really pleased with how it went, and the next day I got told I was given the part! I feel really honored to be a part of this project”. Between acting and singing, which do you find easier? And how would you compare the both? “Both definitely have their challenges because you're always pushing yourself to be better. Acting is awesome for me personally as I love to put myself in someone else's shoes for the day. Singing is a passionate feeling between you and the music, which I love to reflect back on the audience and hope they can relate too”. Do you have a new single coming up and what can you tell us about it? “Yes! My new single is called "YES NO MAYBE" which is about two different perceptions of cheating. One being the person who has just witnessed them being cheated on, and the other is being the one who finds they are caught up in a situation that they never thought they would be part of but, they end up cheating. It's personal for me as I've witnessed different aspects of cheating and I know a lot of people go through this on a daily basis”. Did you always want to be a musician? How did you start out? “As a kid, I never imagined being a musician but it was something that once I started, when being scouted for the boyband, I absolutely fell in love with it. I would say it was a hidden passion that I now know I always had”. You have quite a few tattoos. Can you tell us what they mean? “Yes, I do have quite a few tattoos now! The top of my back is a pair of angel wings which signify a close connection between me and my family. I have a ‘45’ in the middle which is my motocross racing number. I also have a portrait of me and my brother racing on my lower back looking through a pair of goggles”. You've also modeled before - how do you find the fashion / modeling industry compared to the music industry? “They are quite similar I would say, the same sort of people, just with different aspirations. I love the modeling game because I am really into fashion. Doing photo shoots is another passion that I have had since being a small kid”.

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Who is your favourite designer and why? “My favourite designer is MCM. I absolutely love their range and it's something a lot of people turn their heads for when your’e wearing or using any of their products. They have amazing colours and amazing materials”.

Fashion and music go hand in hand, how would to say they compliment each other? “In the music industry, it's not just about a voice, you have to have a certain style which I think is where fashion comes into it. At the end of the day you want to be a role model for people and I like to inspire people to be themselves and wear a variety of different fashion trends that represent them and that they feel comfortable in”. You’re very superstitious, do you believe that being like this has impacted you in some way in the choices that you have made? “I am very superstitious, but I also think things happen for a reason, so if any of my superstitions have influenced my choices in life, it's because it was meant to be. I would say it makes me push myself to do things that I wouldn't think I would have done”. Tell us something about yourself that no ones else knows? “I like to sleep with 6 pillows and have them planted around me in the night to ensure I’m always comfortable”.

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It has been said by a few music artists that if you want to make it big, you have to take on America. Do you agree with this statement? “I think because America is so huge and there is such a diverse taste in music out there that it is harder to break through, but its something I'm very excited to endure and has been an amazing experience so far”.

What's your go-to outfit for a night out? What's a Jordi staple piece of clothing that you always take with you on your travels? “On a night out I like to wear a jacket so maybe a pair of black jeans, white t-shirt and then a colourful, statement jacket. I always take my Ugg slippers on my travels because you can never be too comfortable walking around airports or hotels”.

You've been working a lot in America, how do you find being away from home and do they love your accent over there? “Being away from home has been something now that I have had to get used to with considering I am a very family oriented person! Going back and forth to America is something that I have always wanted to do. The accent goes down well over in the states, but I’m still teaching everyone all of my little British sayings”. We know what you have planned for this year, tell us what you have in store for the next few years? “I will be doing a bunch of worldwide traveling and working on my music! I would love to be a part of some more movies and TV projects in America”.

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MUSIC VS FASHION RION - The Annual Issue

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"YES NO MAYBE" FOLLOW JORDI ON HIS SOCIALS @JORDIWHITWORTH

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T R E S S E M D OR ST HUARTISTIC DIRECTOR - YOHAN MASLIAH PHOTOGRAPHER - RICHARD BERNARDIN MODEL - FLAVIA LUCINI @ THE LIONS NEW YORK AGENCY HAIR AND MAKE UP ARTIST - GENEVIEVE LENNECILL STYLIST - CARY TAUBEN ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER - GABREIL PAQUET

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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - YOHAN MASLIAH PHOTOGRAPHER - RICHARD BERNARDIN MODEL - FLAVIA LUCINI @ THE LIONS NEW YORK AGENCY HAIR AND MAKE UP ARTIST - GENEVIEVE LENNECILL STYLIST - CARY TAUBEN ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER - GABREIL PAQUET

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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - YOHAN MASLIAH

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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - YOHAN MASLIAH PHOTOGRAPHER - RICHARD BERNARDIN MODEL - FLAVIA LUCINI @ THE LIONS NEW YORK AGENC HAIR AND MAKE UP ARTIST - GENEVIEVE LENNECILL MUSIC VS FASHION STYLIST - CARY TAUBEN 67 ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER - GABREIL PAQUET

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SASHA BROWN INTERVIEW

WITH SINGER / SONGWRITER, SAXOPHONIST & DJ

“Electro pop with a dark edge. Shakira meets Tove Lo”

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A SINGER, SONGWRITER, DJ AND SAXOPHONIST. IT’S CLEAR TO SEE/HEAR THAT SASHA BROWN IS A MULTITALENTED ARTIST. HER DEBUT SINGLE ‘PARALLEL’ WHICH SHE COLLABORATED WITH DESIGNER CHARLI COHEN, THE BRAINS BEHIND THE BRAND, ‘CHARLI COHEN’ ON THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR THIS. THE LONDON BASED TALENT NOT ONLY DJ’S IN CLUBS AND AT LONDON FASHION WEEK EVENTS, SHE’S A REGULAR ON HOXTON RADIO, A SHOW THAT SHE HOSTS ON MONDAY’S. I REMENBER COMING ACROSS SASHA ON TWITTER ONE DAY AND WE GOT TALKING BRIEFLY. THEN I HEARD HER MUSIC, BEING A GUITERIST MYSELF, AND LEARNING THE PIANO, AFTER LEARNING ABOUT SASHA’S TALENTS ONLY INFUSED MY PASSION, AND I WANTED TO KNOW MORE. ‘FIX OF YOU’ HER LATEST SINGLE, IS A MIXTURE OF CLASSIC R&B, POP, WITH INFUSIONS OF HOUSE MUSIC. THE BASSLINE IS VERY PUNCHY WITH STEAMY LIRICS “I JUST NEED MY FIX OF YOU” THAT WE HOPE TO BE A MASSIVE CLUB BANGER! I SAT DOWN WITH SASHA, AND WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING, FROM LIVING IN LONDON, TO HER SONGWRITING. DJ’ING AND FASHION!

BY ADAM WESTON

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always like to ask artists about where they came from, and how that city or town has influenced them as an artist. So how do you think your hometown has affected you as a musician? “I’ve grown up in London, a place where you can dream big and nothing is impossible. I love the city and the buzz and I always have. I want to bring that vibrancy across in my music”.

Blank School, which is amazing! I’m now having a lot of fun combining my sax playing with DJing. I love that because then I have control over the whole sound I am creating for the crowd. I’m actually doing a sax and DJ set at El Dorado festival this Summer which I’m stoked about”! Tell us about ‘Model Behaviour’ what’s the story behind this song?

I’m interested in your musical roots, which musicians and songwriters have been your greatest influence?

“There’s a bipolar theme to the song. It’s about extreme lows and extreme highs”.

“I grew up on great female vocalists and writers such as Carole King, Whitney Houston and Gabrielle. I’ve always loved pop music. When I started playing the sax at 8, I made my teacher write out all of the letters on the music sheet so that I could play the ABBA album because I couldn’t read music at that time.

“I knew a lot of models growing up and was in the industry for a bit. I remember walking into a club one night and we were on this ‘model table’ and I just remember that this model had come over from Australia and had obviously come to the club on her own after being invited by a promoter. She was trying really hard to make friends and I just remember thinking that she was probably really lonely by herself in London. I also like the double meaning of Model Behaviour - Perfect Behavior. I’m really excited about my new single, ‘Fix Of You’. It’s a spicy pop track about a dysfunctional relationship with an ex...oops. It has a fun upbeat vibe and I’m hoping it’s gonna be the track you listen to when you’re getting ready for a night out to get you in the vibeeeeee”.

Do you feel that you chose your “passion,” or did it choose you? “Considering that I used to create stages out of boxes and dance around my house pretending to be Mariah, I guess you could say it chose me! I’ve always been obsessed with music and the affect it can have. I like to get lost in sound’. How would you describe your music? “Electro pop with a dark edge. Shakira meets Tove Lo.”

How do fashion and music work together?

You don’t just sing, you also DJ and present on Hoxton Radio. How did you get into DJing and do you like remixing your own tracks?

“They go hand in hand! Everyone has a style don’t they. It can be anything but whatever it is, it’s a certain style. Having an identity through fashion is important for artists to make their stamp”!

“Yes I am. Basically if it’s music, I’m in! So I’m a Singer/Songwriter/DJ. I love having a show on Hoxton Radio and getting to produce and present a music show where I curate playlists and share the music I love with the world”! I was getting DJ bookings through being a Radio DJ and just thought, I love this so much, why am I not doing this more! So now I am. I was Head of Music for Burst Radio during my time at Bristol Uni and that’s when I really got into playlist curation. DJing is exactly the same. I taught myself the basics and then learnt the tricks of the trade at Point MUSIC VS FASHION

You worked with designer ‘Charli Cohen’ for your music video ‘Parallel’. How was it pairing music and fashion together? Is this something you plan to do again? “Yes, it was so much fun. I LOVED it and Yes I have a few brand collaborations in the pipeline. For my first single, ‘Parallel’ I collaborated with the incredible fashion designer Charli Cohen because I loved her designs. They were sporty chic and felt very me! We had been following each other on twitter for a while and when I released the single I just hit her up like, ‘Hey, I love your designs, let’s collab and make a music video!’ I’d love to work with Charli again, she’s awesome”!

Can you see your finished product before you start? “No, that’s what’s so exciting! Well, sometimes I come into the studio with topline ideas already written or just a singular word I want to use, like ‘Parallel’, but even then, when you begin to collaborate with producers and co writers, you all go on a journey together”. Is there anything special that you do to get into a creative mindset? “I just try to relax and think about the vibe I’m creating and visualize everything to create a story my listener’s can follow and relate to”.

Who are some of your favourite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

What do you think about the relationship between lyrics & poetry?

“I don’t even know where to begin. Max Martin goes unsaid right? I’d love to work with Asia Whiteacre. She did Hailee Steinfeld’s song, ‘Starving’ and was also a co writer on the Astrid S record ‘Breathe’, which I’m obsessed with! There are also these two Swedish producers from the production team, Wolf Cousins (Oscar Holter and Rickard Göransson). They did Tove Lo’s album and are a bit of a dream for me. I love the music coming out of Sweden, I always have. The obsession started with ABBA. What is it about the Swedes that is just so effortlessly cool?! Tove Lo, Astrid S, Tove Stryke”!

“I like words to taste good when I sing them. Some words sound better than others when they roll of the tongue. When singing, rhyme schemes ad word choice is so important”.

Let’s talk a bit about your songwriting process. How does a song usually develop – do you first start with the lyrics, melody, chord progression, or something else? “Just vibe-whatever feels right! We normally find some chords that we’re happy with and then start writing topline melodies before the lyrics, then seem to fall into place”.

“Everything”!.

What message, if any, do you try to put into your music? “I just want to be real. I want to write about real things that actually affect people and that affect me. You have to be real to engage and for your music to mean anything. As I’ve been DJing more and more, my sound has developed. I’ve got this more upbeat vibe going on with my new single, ‘Fix Of You’. I want to make people feel good and vibey, as if they can take on the world”! “FIX OF YOU” IS OUT NOW ON SPOTIFY

FOLLOW SASHA ON HER SOCIALS @SASHAJADEBROWN

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Can you turn our readers on to someone they may not have heard of yet? “The Swedes just know what they’re doing! Check out Tove Lo, Tove Stryke, Astrid S. I’m also very into Sabrina Carpenter and Madison Beer at the moment”. What do you think about the internet as a tool for promoting yourself & your music? “It’s great because it’s so accessible. It’s hard because everyone is now releasing music and you need to rise to the top to get heard. I feel it has also potentially made the industry more fickle in the sense that it’s all about single releases now and less about a body of work, such as an album. It is what it is though and as a totally independent artist, I’m lucky to be able to get my music out there so easily”! What are your plans & hopes for the future with regard to your music for this year? MUSIC VS FASHION

“For as many people on the planet to hear my music. I’ve got a little way to go yet”

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PHOTOGRAPHER - JUAN PEDRO ESCOBAR STYLIST - ANGLEA PORRAS MODEL - ANA OLIVA HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST - JESSICA RODELGO

ELEGANTLY

PUN

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PHOTOGRAPHER - JUAN PEDRO ESCOBAR STYLIST - ANGLEA PORRAS MODEL - ANA OLIVA HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST - JESSICA RODELGO

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WALL FLOWER

EARRINGS BY TOOLALLY

BLOUSE BY VARGA SHORTS BY KRAKEN COUNTER COUTURE HAND BAG BY KRAKEN COUNTER COUTURE

PHOTOGRAPHER - MAGIC OWEN STYLING &SET DESIGN - KATHERINE McNEIL MAKE UP ARTIST - NATASHA FRENCH MODEL - BRENDA BOKOE

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PHOTOGRAPHER - MAGIC OWEN STYLING &SET DESIGN - KATHERINE McNEIL MAKE UP ARTIST - NATASHA FRENCH MODEL - BRENDA BOKOE

JACKET BY DAVID FERREIRA TROUSERS BY KRAKEN COUNTER COUTURE

PHOTOGRAPHER - MAGIC OWEN STYLING &SET DESIGN - KATHERINE McNEIL MAKE UP ARTIST - NATASHA FRENCH MODEL - BRENDA BOKOE

SPLIT DRESS BY DAVID FERREIRA

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SPLIT DRESS BY DAVID FERREIRA

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DRESS BY DAVID FERREIRA EARRINGS BY TOOLALLY

PHOTOGRAPHER - MAGIC OWEN STYLING &SET DESIGN - KATHERINE McNEIL MAKE UP ARTIST - NATASHA FRENCH MODEL - BRENDA BOKOE

DRESS BY DAVID FERREIRA EARRINGS BY TOOLALLY

MUSIC VS FASHION

MAGIC OWEN INTERVIEW

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER MAGIC OWEN HAS AN EYE

FOR CREATIVITY. COMBINING FASHION WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORY TELLING, IT’S CLEAR TO SEE WHY SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE INDUSRTY. FROM WINNING THE TELEAWARD BACK IN 2014 FOR HER FASHION VIDEOS. FROM PRIDICTING FASHION TRENDS AND STYLING, IT’S HER GIFT TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME. IMAGES THAT SHE HAS CREATED HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN OVER 50 MAGAZINES WORLDWIDE. IT WAS GREAT TO CATCH UP WITH MAGIC AND TALK ALL THINGS FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

hen did you find your passion for fashion and photography? Has this always been an interest for you?

“I have always been interested in the aesthetic of things from architecture to interior design... fashion. It is not something I have learnt, but something engrained in me. I know a lot about fashion and I seem to be able to predict upcoming trends before they happen. I spend a lot of time looking at fashion, hair trends, and makeup. My passion for photography came about when I was doing modelling back in France. I was always drawing back then so I just swapped my pencil for a camera. So how can I not combine the two? It was all meant to be. Just like my camera, fashion is just another tool to realise my visions, just like a painter using brushes, gouaches/acrylics and a blank canvas”.

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PHOTOGRAPHER - MAGIC OWEN STYLING &SET DESIGN - KATHERINE McNEIL MAKE UP ARTIST - NATASHA FRENCH MODEL - BRENDA BOKOE

CHECKED DRESS BY KRAKEN COUNTER COUTURE

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PHOTOGRAPHER / EDITOR - MAGIC OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL - MARION @ MADEMOISELLE AGENCY STYLIST - KATHERINE McNEIL MUAH - NATASHA FRENCH

VINTAGE VELVET JUMPSUIT - TEMPERLEY LONDON SILVER BOOTS - TOPSHOP SUNGLASSES - GUCCI EARRINGS ZARA

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How did you start of your career in the business? What hurdles did you find yourself up against? “I started by doing a lot of free work and finding my niche. In order to be taken seriously you have to build a good portfolio and a good reputation. So I started part time keeping my old job and spending all my free time shooting and learning to edit. Sometime I was doing a 14hr day and it was exhausting. I did that for a couple of years and then decided it was time and took the jump to full time photographer. It was scary! Not earning a set amount of money every month is hard. And our industry is tough lets face it. A lot of people seem to think that photographers live on exposure and we don’t have any bills to pay or mouths to feed or equipment to buy. Companies ask you to cut your rates promising future shoots, a client asked me to shoot a lookbook it was over 2 days shoot on l ocation with over 100 images, which means a whole week of work for nothing. I explained that I couldn’t do it but gave her a discounted price….she went with another photographer who did it for free. Did she get all the images she wanted? No, she only got a hand full, are the images any good? no. People need to understand that to make money you have to invest in the right people, create the right image. I could go on and on”! Did you study photography or are you self taught? “I am self taught! I am what I call an ‘experimental photographer’ so basically it doesn’t matter to me what equipment I use in terms of light, how expensive my camera is. What matters to me is the final image. I experiment with everything around me to achieve what I want. I am not scared of improvising and most importantly, play. Technical photographers take the fun out of photography, they forget to actually enjoy it, make mistakes, to discover new things”. What are your main themes and style in your photography?

on hair and makeup. I oversee everything to create in order to create that something special. When it comes to style….I have no idea what my style is lol” When someone looks at your work, what do you want them to know about you? “Absolutely nothing! It’s not about me it’s about interpreting art. Yes I create images, but I am not the only one involved. There is a whole team behind each photo and the chemistry and trust we have which enables us to create a powerful images”. Do you remember your first shoot? What was it like? “I have vague memories of my first few shoots they were just experiments, a stepping stone to a better shoot. It was less stressful then. I didn’t really have anyone to disappoint or let down. Now I shoot with a team most of the time, so I always have to make sure every single member of my team have images they are happy with. I have developed an eye for detail over the years. I have learned to look at an image from a mua/hairstylist and stylist/designer point of view and master what they need/want to see in an image. It is all about the bigger picture, not just about your part of the creation”. Who are your favourite photographers? “On top of my head: Mert and Marcus, Paolo Roversi, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Hong Jang Hyun, Chen Mann, Miles Aldridge”. How do you keep up with current trends in fashion? “Most mornings, while having coffee and a kitty cuddle, I spend about an hour browsing different fashion and interior design sites, at high end and high street shops, new coming designers in different countries. I see it as part of my job as an artistic director and photographer. It helps in advising clients who are not sure about what they want, it helps in getting publication”.

“I love shooting a lot of things from fashion stories to performers, beauty, even editorial bridal lookbooks. Whether I am shooting something for myself or following a brief, I always invest myself 100%. From picking a model, to finding the best location, to deciding MUSIC VS FASHION

What is your proudest moment to date? “My mind is going blank lol. I am really not sure! I do like when I send images to a client and that makes them happy cry that does wonder for my ego” :p

Do you have a favourite shoot you’ve worked on? “I have a few! I always invest myself 100% in my shoots, whether it is paid or a collaboration, so they are all very close to my heart! I think my most like shoot on instagram is the one I shot in the 7 Hotel Diner with Australian model Hana. I have a massive girl crush on her, she is just out of this world! So that is the first one that comes to mind”.

What sort of things inspire you? Describe your creative process. “My inspirations come from everywhere. I can start building a shoot from a beauty product, like a nail wrap, or a piece of fashion, architecture even a colour. I look at everything around me, I look at things people don’t really notice and build a story around that. People always ask me, how did you come up with that idea? I am always like ermmmm I just have visions and I have to materialise those visions and ideas through my camera otherwise my brain will not stop thinking about them haha! Shooting editorials is a need for me, it is as important as breathing”.

What advice would you give to young photographers looking at starting a career in fashion / editorial photography? “As a digital artist, I have never been given any advice. I have built my name from scratch, learning everything on my own. What I would advise to other new photographers is listen to your instinct, don’t be afraid of experimenting and making mistakes, look at the world from different angles and never compare yourself to others”. Would you release a coffee table book of your work? “I am not sure….maybe? Like all artists, I have a love/hate relationship with my work. I have only just recently printed 2 of my images on perspex for my hallway. I have been wanting to print some of my work for a long time, but I just keep uploading the images to be printed and then change my mind again and again and end up not doing it. So releasing a coffee table book would be a massive task for me. I would need help I think because we all see art differently. What I like may not be what people like…..I think way too much”!

rionmagazine.com RION - The Annual Issue

BROCADE SUIT - SANIA STUDIO SHOES - DR MARTINS SAFETY PIN EARRING - ZARA SUNGLASSES - GUCCI

MUSIC VS FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHER / EDITOR - MAGIC OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL - MARION @ MADEMOISELLE AGENCY STYLIST - KATHERINE McNEIL MUAH - NATASHA FRENCH

Who do you love shooting most, men or women? “I tend to prefer shooting women over men just because they don’t just rely on their looks and give me alot more when it comes to emotions, expressions. I had a bad experience a few years ago. I asked a male model I admired a lot to do an editorial with me. I so carefully planned it, had a kickass team and I was soooo disappointed by him and it kinda put me off. He didn’t give me anything, I couldn’t see him, (his soul, his strengths, his fears…). But I am trying to change this bad experience. I recently shot a male model named Sair, who was just a breath of fresh air. He was true to himself, he wasn’t scared to talk ideas, or to look stupid. He didn’t have any bad habits, and he was able to trust me. I am planning to test with more male models soon so watch this space”! You’ve also creatively directed some fashion films, how was this compared to shooting stills? “It is exactly the same thought process, all about making sure everything is as perfect as possible from the start (you cannot rely on photoshop when shooting a video), make sure the lighting is right and angles are flattering. And make sure you have fun”! Who would your dream collaboration be with and why? “I adore Coco Rocha, she is one of the best models in the industry. She is the queen of expression and posing. Doing a shoot with her would be incredible. Liu Wen, Fei Fei Sun and Xiao Wen Ju are just flawless and incredibly versatile, I am a sucker for Chinese models! Korean model Ji Hye Park, is one of the hottest models of today. She is on my list too”. What is in your kit bag? “I don’t really have a proper kit bag. I pack it according to what I am shooting. So sometimes it only has my camera, a spare SD card and battery. Sometimes I add things like gels, crystals to stick in front of my lens, different lenses like lensbaby or my macro lens, portable lights. I never use a light meter or a tripod it is just not my thing”. Madonna or Gaga? Neither, both wear fur and that is not something I support!!

FOLLOW MAGIC ON HER SOCIALS. @MAGICOWENPHOTOGRAPHY @MAGICOWENTOG /MAGICOWENPHOTOGRAPHY

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MUSIC VS FASHION

RION - The Annual Issue

PHOTOGRAPHER / EDITOR - MAGIC OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL - MARION @ MADEMOISELLE AGENCY STYLIST - KATHERINE McNEIL MUAH - NATASHA FRENCH

BROCADE SUIT - SANIA STUDIO SKULL NECKLACE - ALEXANDER McQUEEN

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RAW SILVER PLEAT DRESS - ISABEL MARANT ETOILE JACKET - HOUSE OF SHELDON HALL STRAP BOOTS - TOM FORD CHANDELIER EARRINGS - ZARA MUSIC VS FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHER / EDITOR - MAGIC OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL - MARION @ MADEMOISELLE AGENCY 105 STYLIST - KATHERINE McNEIL MUAH - NATASHA FRENCH

CHARLI COHEN INTERVIEW

WITH DESIGNER

FASHION DESIGNER CHARLI, IS THE BRAINCHILD BEHIND THE

TECHNICAL FASHION BRAND, ‘CHARLI COHEN’ FROM 15, THIS BRIGHT CREATIVE LAUNCHED HER OWN LABEL AND SINCE THEN CHARLI’S BRAND AND HERSELF ARE FAST STEAMING FORWARD IN THE FASHION WORLD. SHE WAS ALSO FEATURED IN FORBES ‘30 UNDER 30’ LIST FOR RETAIL & E-COMMERCE. ACTIVELY COMMITING HER BRAND TO ESTABLISHING ‘SHADES OF BLUE’ A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENES INITATIVE. SPEAKING TO THE INSPIRATION THAT IS CC, WE FIND OUT MORE ON THESE TOPICS!

FOLLOW CHARLI’S SOCIALS @CHARLICOHEN

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You talk a lot about the problems in the fashion industry, like the pressures put on young designers, the conditions for garment makers and mental health. Do you think this can be changed and are fashion weeks just as important now then they were 10 years ago?

ell us 3 things about yourself?

1. I have the travel bug. So far I’ve visited 37 countries in 6 continents - I’d like to do as much of the rest as possible! 2. My first ever paid work was singing at jazz festivals “It can absolutely be changed but these are such deeply and private functions. embedded issues - how corporations have been 3. I don’t drink. structured, the pressures put on them by shareholders, the expectations of customers and how normalised it is It was at 15 that you realised that you wanted to pursue for powerful people to exploit those who aren’t. Until there’s genuinely more desire for ethical practice than a career in fashion. Did you always start off with there is for what’s cheapest and fastest, change is going wanting your own label or did you have visions of to be painfully slow. As for fashion weeks, they serve a working for any fashion houses? different purpose now. Shows are more about image and At 15, I started my first label - which I think of as my brand awareness than they are about sales. This makes practice run. I always knew I wanted to work for myself them problematic for young designers who don’t have the budget to do anything groundbreaking, and was keen to get experience under my belt ASAP”. especially for minimal to no sales return, but powerful for big brands who can create something that functions as viral marketing campaign”. You describe yourself as a Technical Fashion Brand, blending high performance fabrics with high end fashion designs. How did you come up with this concept?

You’ve recently entered a commercial partnership with Reebok, can you tell us more about this and how this came about?

“It was the fashion I wanted to own and couldn’t find. “I can’t tell you much more yet, except that there will be I wanted clothes that could look a certain way (ie like footwear and more coming in the very near future - stay tuned”! some thought had gone into them) but that wouldn’t restrict me - I wanted to feel comfortable throughout my active and often unpredictable days. I also felt like technical textiles was where the most exciting Shades of Blue, a mental health awareness platform innovation was happening. I wanted to use that to my that you are working on launching. What made you advantage”. decide to launch this and can you tell us more about this and how anyone can get involved. Where do you find your inspirations? Who and what influences you?

“I’m in the process of putting it together at the moment and hope to launch in a couple of months time. I want “There’s always an underlying inspiration of movement, it to be a place for important conversations, both online how clothes interact with the body and the feeling they and offline, and shine a light on areas of mental health where there’s still a lot of stigma or ignorance. It will be can create for the wearer. Beyond that, I’m mostly a collaborative platform so once up and running anyone inspired by what’s happening in society - politics, pop culture, current affairs - it all makes me feel a certain will be able to contribute to the conversation as well as attend events and help us create content from new way (usually frustrated, let’s be honest) and I’ll perspectives. We’ll also be launching a selection of channel that specific feeling and theme into each collection. Sometimes it’s pretty abstract, sometimes is products where profits will go to our chosen charity partners. I’ve been outspoken for a long time more humorous and literal”. 108

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about mental health issues and systematic issues within the creative industries that contribute to this. It was time to make it a more official part of CC brand, where we can allocate more resources and have a wider reach”. You collaborated with Signer/ presenter and DJ Sasha Brown on her signal ‘Parallel’ This must of been a fun project to do, do you plan on working with more music artist in the future? “It was a lot of fun working with Sasha and we definitely plan to collaborate with more artists on styling and visual content. Music and fashion have long gone hand in hand, especially within the subcultures of the mid 20th century through to the 21st. Over the past decade or so, you’re able to tell less about what someone listens to by looking at them, but both fashion and music are still a fundamental part of self expression and how we connect to others”.

How would you describe your own personal style? “A mix of streetwear and vintage. I have an extensive t-shirt collection and tons of trainers although I’ve been living in the same pair of Reebok Furys (not sponsored!) for the past 3 months”. What do you consider important facets of the fashion industry? “Imagination. Humanity. A multidisciplinary approach to creating”. For creatives wanting to follow in your footsteps, what advice would you give them? “Know your numbers, know how your customer wants to be spoken to and get some low-risk, relevant experience under your belt first. A fashion business relies on many different elements coming together at specific times, you need to be confident in how all of those elements work, even if your passion just relates to one of them”. Are you literate regarding computer and technology for designing, do you use software for designing or do you stick to sketching? “I’m very digital. I do most design and development in my head, so by the time I get it down, it’s most efficient to do it on the computer in a way I can send straight to the factories”. Who is on your iPod right now? “My most played tracks list always reads like an homage to 00s teen angst. Currently on a Deftones binge”. You have a quite a year ahead of you with the partnership and Shades of Blue, is there anything else in the pipeline that we don’t know about yet? “Hoping to record an EP”!

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SOUNDS OF MUSIC

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Cool Cat

PHOTOGRAPHER - YUSTINA VALOVA STYLING - ELIZABETH SHEVCHENKO MUA - ARINA SOKOLOVSKAYA MUSIC VS FASHION HAIR - ANASTASIA YESIS MODEL - ILONA

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MEET ME AT THE SEINE

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CHLOE JASMINE WITH MODEL & SINGER Over the course of London Fashion Week’s jam

packed FW18 season, we managed to cram in a little time with Chloe Jasmine albeit at an ATM. Outside Sainsburys, In the rain. Never to be defeated, we set a date for an interview and got hold of some stunning pictures of this young British model you’ve no doubt got an opinion of, despite knowing nothing about. So that’s why we’re here, to bust myths and show you the real Chloe-Jasmine, oh and to get it on record that she told me I look like a young Darryl Hannah. I knew there was a reason I liked this girl!! BY PIXIE TENENBAUM

FOLLOW PIXIES SOCIALS @PIXIETENENBAUM

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ell us a secret, something you’ve never told anyone before.

“This naturally is between you and I.. but I'm in love. Totally infactuated with ..RION Magazine”. You’re way taller than we expected, just how tall are you? “Oh really?! Why thank you. I am 176cm”. “surprise” We watched you on the bullying special with Frankie Bridge and wondered if you felt you got closure on something that seemed to be a really traumatic time for you? (For clarification to our readers, Chloe jasmine was a victim of cyber bullying and trolling over social media which included death threats.) “Pixie, truly as a society we CAN change. There are a plethora of silent stories and miscontrued pain. We create perceived "faults" within ourselves and we are to a certain degree conditioned and brainwashed into tolerating and accepting abuse as normality from a young age. Children are more high strung today than the average patient in 1950. Roughly half the human population now suffers anxiety, depression or a sort of substance abuse with the 18-33 group being exposed the most . An offhand remark, even in jest can stick to us like tar and torment us for decades. We cannot fight the world, concealing their vulnerability and hatred, cowering behind computer screens but we can seek ways to be kind. To encourage. To support. PLEASE THINK before you project slanderous vitriole at someone who is struggling to be human.The most powerful world is the silent one. Essentially we are as happy as we make our minds out to be.. but if people think they "know" you they almost feel entitled to judge you, and we only truly

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understand from our own level of perspective. We rent our thoughts every day and we can choose to be grateful or hate the world. Essentially we are as happy as we make our minds out to be.. but if people think they “know” you they almost feel entitled to judge you, and we only truly understand from our own level of perspective. We rent our thoughts every day and we can choose to be grateful or hate the world. We must practice more gratitude and empathy for our time on earth”. We love your style, how would you define it for our readers? “Literally. I grab the first thing I see in the morning. (Only the other day I was accused of sporting my fathers trousers by one of Londons most prolific casting directors. Vintage Balmain FAIL. My motto is dress to EXPRESS. It's amazing how we can cloak ourselves in comfort. Our armour to face the world. People should dress in whatever makes them feel good .(Apart from the tale of the Emperors New Clothes - Perhaps a tad too minamalist for my personal taste”. What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you? “Life”! (However the sheer irony is that it can also feel like the worst) Positivity is the threadcord of life. Give us some goss about The Face, the show that first brought you to our attention. “I have utmost respect for Naomi, who coined her name at a time that models truly had to earn their stripes. She is absolutely iconic. Goss? A lady never tells”

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Music and Fashion is the theme of our issue, you’re lucky enough to have one foot in each camp! How do you feel about that?

Now we know you’re happily loved up with fellow X Factor alumni Stevi Ritchie, but who makes the tea on a morning?

“It's amazing how the two elements merge and infuse. As with everything, you have to WANT it. Everything is hard work, and there are no quick fixes in life. Everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die. I feel incredibly blessed to have made a hobby into a profession for the last 10 years. In all honesty , nothing is handed to you in this industry and you just have to keep showing up, every day, in a different dress until you get "it" and evaluate what your motive is. Being happy and giving are the two qualities I value. Everything else is secondary. I find it astonishing how more youths applied for Love Island than Oxbridge. We truly need to reassess our priorities”.

“Did you know that after water tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world and is native to Asia? We have Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840 to thank for the introduction of afternoon tea in England, who became ravenous at around 4pm as she couldn't wait until the evening meal at 8pm. Cheers babe. Additionally I ensure everyone around me is well fed at all times”.

What is a typical day in the life of Chloe Jasmine? “Raise early. Make a hideously gratifying and gargantuan breakfast, gargle a pint of coffee and head to work. I will spend the day musing about a Herculean supper.. On days off I research props, styling and concepts .. walk, purchase obscure & glorious things, cover myself in oil for deep healing and try and be of service for for others. Ones family and soul family are everything. Oh and EAT and Bake for England”.

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What are your feelings on how reality TV has blown up over the past few years, what was it like being in Celebrity Big Brother? “Several years ago we went in dressed as English flags and somehow made it to the last day ( I was far too scared to enter alone as there is a great deal of drama that comes with "shows". You can be portrayed as anything..) The aftermath was quite the emotional battlefield. We emerged from the phoneless cocoon in Borehamwood with the nation questioning the authenticy of the relationship. People are very surprised to see we rose above it. Reality TV. With all due respect.. What is so categorically wrong with real life that we feel compelled to exist in someone elses constantly ? As long as we can appreciate the editing, and respect the "characters" as real life breathing people with families and lives, and most importantly the storylines the incredibly clever and experienced editors and producers have contrived to captivate the audience it's ok”. rionmagazine.com

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Who is your favourite fashion designer? “All clothes tell stories:) Whether it be a mustard stained shirt, a boyfriend shirt, a faded jumper or an elegant suit. My absolute favourite up and coming designer at the moment is James Clarke. I truly value craftsmanship, passion and authenticity in garments. You CAN wear your grandads clothes... and still look incredible. I am passionate in my belief that you cannot limit yourself to a particular store, or brand . Just because something is expensive doesn’t dictate its quality”. What does 2018 look like for Chloe-Jasmine, what are your plans? “Maybe tomorrow the Good Lord will take you away . Every day is a true gift”. Who would play you in a movie of your life? “It’s still being filmed”. :)

FOLLOW CHLOE’S ON HER SOCIALS @CHLOEJASMINECJW

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HUMAN ART

MODEL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR SAMUEL COLE PHOTOGRAPGER - MARK LISTER

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