EDITOR’S LETTER cover image: Andres Reynaga
Of course, I am pretty much the opposite of a party animal. Me, I like to take it reaaaaallll quiet. A cup of tea, a pair of slippers and Coronation Street and I’m happy. What!? Who shouted ‘Liar’? Ok, ok, so maybe I do like to party a little bit. Just a teeny-tiny small amount. I should probably know better at my age but hey, sometimes you don’t live and learn. I would say – in all seriousness and sounding proper old – be careful when you drink. Alcohol poisoning is really not the one. When it comes to partying, Professor Green, he’s pretty good at it. Raised under the (once) hedonistic eye of Mike Skinner, and counting Example as a cohort, Green is certainly able to party hard when he wants. Who better then to front our After Hours Special?! The RWD team took on Mr. Manderson in a battle of kebab-eating, karaoke-performing, beermat-flipping proportions. Who won? You’ll have to read, but all I’m saying is, it was a fix! We also talk to Green about his brand new album, At Your Inconvenience, the brilliant follow-up to his No.2 debut Alive Till I’m Dead. As this is an After Hours special, we take to the streets of Newcastle and the roads of Glasgow to see which town is the best for partying all day and all night in our HeadToHead regular, while the likes of Jodie Harsh and Annie Mac fill us in on their wildest nights out. Enough Already this month is dedicated to Hangovers. Please can’t someone find a cure! Our fashion Q&A this month is with Mark Eckõ, while in Unwind we meet Kudo, the brilliant mind behind Kinect who fills us in not only on new developments in gaming but also his hangover advice! In About To Blow we meet racing driver Euan Hankey at Brands Hatch for a day of driving about in his Porsche Carrera. There’s a number of brand new TV shows hitting our screens this month, we chat to the actors of new Channel 4 series Top Boy and meet the cast of Fresh Meat, including the Inbetweener’s Joe Thomas. In the world of music we find out how LMFAO keep their grooming game on point, and meet One’s To Watch Delilah and Mikill Pane, two brilliant new talents signed respectively to Atlantic and Jake Gosling’s Sticky Company. If that isn’t enough to keep you up all night reading, I don’t know what is! Enjoy!
RWD TEAM Editor Deputy Editor Senior Staff Writer Contributing Editor Online Editor Contributors
@hattiecollins @dannywalker1 @Nardenescott @chantellefiddy @tegosigel Alex Johnson, Riki Bains, Kyle Gordon, Ralph Hardy, Deena Sompura, JP Patterson, Sian Anderson
Art Director Dacre J. Bracey Designer Chidi Ubani Fashion Stylists Nasrin Jean-Baptiste, Neesha Sharma, PC Williams Fashion News Ed Caragh Logan Style Pages Editors Irene Asanji Sophie Robinson Style Assistant Cheyenne Davide Illustrators Art Jaz, Jiro Bevis, David Flanagan Photographers James Pearson-Howes, Andres Reynega, Response London, Adrian Nettleship, Simeon Coates, James Carnegie, Eman A, Ravi Sidhu, Kieran Pharoah Publisher Sales Director Senior Sales Opperations Mngr Thanks
Nigel Wells Paul LeFevre Matthew Richards Martin Ferguson Bob Austin
CONTACT RWD W107 Holywell Centre, 1, Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS Tel: 020 3176 4299 Email: staff@rwdmag.com
Twitter.com/hattiecollins
RWD Magazine is published monthly by Rewind Creative Media Ltd. All material copyright (c). All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the publishers. RWD Magazine: 25p where sold
CONTRIBUTOR OF THE MONTH PC WILLIAMS London resident PC Williams is a fairly new addition to our fashion front; meeting art director Dacre a year ago at UK streetwear event Reset, she talked him into giving her a shoot and since then has been a huge asset to our sartorial pages. “I contributed a fashion story on Reset and since then have shot a variety of fashion stories for RWD,” remembers the self-admitted sports mad ‘socially awkward’ stylist who has contributed some amazing shoots, including ‘Life’s A Beach’ and ‘Day By Day’. So does this clothes-crazy fashion guru like to rave until the early hours or does she prefer to kick back at the crib? “I can be a total homebody but when I’m in my party animal mood, I’m stuck there for days,” she laughs. Catch PC over on Twitter @pc_williams 4 / RWDMAG.COM
Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, for which RWD holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily bear a relation to those of RWD Magazine or it’s staff and we disclaims liability for those impressions. Distributed nationally. RWD is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
CONTENTS 01/11/2011
REGULARS
FEATURES
8-9 10 12 18-21
INBOX CHECK IN/ CHECK OUT ENOUGH ALREADY: HORRID HANGOVERS ASICS ONE TO WATCH: DELILAH, 14TH, MISHA BRYAN, MIKILL PANE, LUNICE 22-23 ABOUT TO BLOW: EUAN HANKEY 82 FINAL WORD: JODIE HARSH
14-15 16-17 44-49 50-51 52-54 56-57 58-61 62 64
STYLE GUIDE
UNWIND
25-29 30-39 40-41 42-43
STRUNG TOGETHER HOUSE PARTY FASHION NEWS REFRESHED: LMFAO’S SKYBLU
6 / RWDMAG.COM
67-69 70 72-73 74 76-77 78-81
HEAD2HEAD: GLASGOW VS NEWCASTLE RWD & COME AGAIN: COLONEL GADDAFI COVER STORY: PROFESSOR GREEN ANNIE MAC MARK ECKO FRESH MEAT TOP BOY PUMA SOCIAL REEBOK CLASSICS PRESENT...
GAMES NBA 2K12 COMPETITION INTERVIEW: KUDO TSUNODA FILMS SENNHEISER HD25 GIG GUIDE & ALBUMS
INBOX
The letters, comments and delightful nonsense has flown in this month; the best tales of the night come from Kevin who wins two tickets to the Lynx MusicStar All Nighter. For your chance to go to the Calvin Harris headlined super-gig on 12 November, check RWDmag. com/comps... Send all your letters to: Attn. Editor, RWD Magazine, W107 Holywell Centre, 1 Phipp Street, London, EC2A 4PS or staff@RWDmag.com we’ve got this all wrong. Apologies either way. Anyway, thanks for your kind words keep up the good work. Re: MySpace MySpace no longer gives users options to control their own page, that’s where they are going wrong. Either stop making improvements that make the site un-user friendly or rollover and die! Alex Sorry to inform you Alex but MySpace died a few years ago, did no one tell you? It was such a sad day; luckily they had enough money left to be buried next to Bebo. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was there, he said a few words too. I think his speech was 140 characters or less.
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Good Morning RWD, I witnessed a Jedward gig; having arrived a full half an hour prior to the doors opening, the first thing I saw was a sea of oddly stiff pampas grass gently swaying in the breeze until I realised it was hair. In true Jedward ‘style’, and I use that term loosely, their devotees deemed it appropriate to stand over a pavement subway cover whilst an accomplice emptied several cans of hairspray to ensure the ‘Jedward look’. I confess that most of the following two hours is thankfully a blur. I’m not entirely sure whether it was the intense noise addling my grey matter, despite the use of three industrial earplugs in each lughole or the culmination of downing three litres of Weissbier and four Schnapps, or both. Suffice to say that I think I had a good time after all. ‘Were they any good?’ I hear you ask. From my vague recollection I must say that they did not disappoint. Make of that what you will. Kevin, Germany Firstly, why the hell have you gone to see Jedward live, are you terminally ill? Is it on your ’50 sh*te things to do before I die’ list? Or are you very young and 8 / RWDMAG.COM
Re: Battlefield vs. Modern Warfare Just a couple of items you may want to take note of in your article: The Xbox 360 and PS3 are 7th generation consoles, not 3rd. There is no low-key release titled Battlefield 1949. You are most likely referring to Battlefield 1943, an online only title that released on Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network. Not to offend, but when composing a rather short article, glaring errors such as these really undermine your credibility and reflect poorly on the degree of your professionalism. Kyle W Tego, shame on you, no broadband for a week!!! Hi first of all plz follow back, secondly what year wud you say put RWD on the map? @Demrottenbeats Although you asked us to follow you six times over a space of THREE days (#whodoesthat), you’ve asked a very good question. We’ll DM you the answer. Oh, wait, we’re not following you.
THE MONTH IN TWITPICS
Robbing the innocence of casually uploaded Twitter images, Tego Sigel selects our favourite Twitpics...
@PXLtweets: Everyone is in the building – @ edsheeran wretch, chipmunk, tinch, mr hudson, g fresh.. Look at all those diamonds in Ed Sheeran’s hands. Who needs diamonds though? Ed was on Something For The Weekend earlier that day and he’s got a PXL T-Shirt on. We’ll call that a draw. Ed joined Wretch, Chippy and G Frsh (yeah, @PXLtweets got the spelling wrong, sigh) for Dappy’s No.1 party!
@TheDappy: This is What i eat Before i Hit up That Studio! Fresh from the Chickens Ass Lol!! NaNa x How many boiled eggs does one Dappy need? There are nowhere near enough soldiers on that plate either.
RWDMAG.COM QUICK QUESTION:
RWDMAG.COM USERS CAST THEIR VOTE Each month we give you the chance to answer our Quick Question...
14%
Got no links so I’m out there chasing
14%
Depends on what’s on the TV
Sarah H “I love it when men think they’re chasing us when we’re chasing them.”
14% 59%
Night Out, that is me, on it, on it, on it...
Night in with the Missus or Night Out With the Lads...
Top-C “Night out with the lads!!!”
Missus wins every time, I’m staying in for cuddles
24%
Night out with the missus and the lads
RWD POLLS DO YOU THINK ED IS AMIR KHAN MILIBAND IS WEIRD? READY FOR FLOYD MAYWEATHER?
58%
72% 32% 28% 10%
YEAH, I THINK HE IS
YES, HE’S GOT A CHANCE
NO WAY
NO WAY
Illustrastion by iamaflangan.co.uk
QUITE POSSIBLY
TOP TWEETS @RWDMAG: 1. @FLY53: Haven’t you grown... I remember when you were this high *holds hand 3ft off floor* 2. @Mister_Stretch: How’s the PES2012??? DEFO BETTER THAN FIFA RIGHT? 3. @Keleleroc: I wanna come to your party!!!! 4. @Coreyjohnsonuk: Just left my family at @rwdmag. Big tings a gwan :) 5. @guyc1991: any chance of RWD in the newstand for i0S5??
9
CHECK IN/ CHECK OUT
GADGET:
PIONEER DDJ-ERGOV Budding beat-players and established spinners alike will be excited to check out Pioneer’s new DJ controller.
BOOK:
TINIE TEMPAH A clothing line, a record label, hit records and awards coming out of his ears... now Patrick Okogwu can count author as his latest accomplishment. Check out... My Story So Far documents Tinie’s success from a nobody on the grime scene to one of pop’s biggest stars right now. “I really wanted to tell my story of how I did, the highs and the lows, the false starts, the people I’ve met along the way, the artists that have inspired me and the sheer determination that it’s take for me to accomplish some of the incredible achievements that I’ve been fortunate to experience over the last 18 months or so,” said T. £14.99 by Ebury Press
ART:
V&A Known as the ‘postmodernism’ movement, the V&A have assembled art and artefacts from the 70s and 80s... Check in... to the V&A where there’s Grace Jones videos, scenes from Bladerunner, architectural triumphs from Frank Gehry and album artwork from Duran Duran and Wham all squeezed into a space that assaults the senses. We’re still not entirely sure what postmodernism is, but this visual treat of an exhibition is one not to be missed. Until 15 January. Vam.ac.uk
Check out... This super-light portable gadgematron is perfect for those on the move; just pick up, plug in and get your mix on at a house party, in the club or even in the office! Not only a sexy piece of kit, the software, from Atomix, brings instinctive operability to your DJ ways. Quick access to four-deck control, FX, sample banks, loops and filters, you can scratch, mix and add effects at the touch of a button – and with the added software – without needing to pay for an upgrade. The Pulse Control uses lights for easy visuals on what features you’re using, how accurate your beat matching is and which track is loaded up. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, this piece of tech is a must-have for party-starters.
COMICS:
LONDON EXPO Comic book nerds, gamers and sci-fi nuts, your dream has come true. Check in... At London’s ExCel centre on Oct 28 and 29 and you can geek out to the max on a whole host of stands, talks and meet and greets. There will be a chance to play Assassins Creed: Revelations and expect to see a host of toys, books, Manga, films, computer games and shake hands with actors including Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey. Londonexpo.com 10 / RWDMAG.COM
THE MONTH IN NUMBERS
We take a numerical look at some poignant digits...
FIDDY’S FILM:
THE HUNGER GAMES We might have to wait a few months for this blockbuster, but a teaser for it peaked interested when aired at this year’s VMA’s. Check out... Based on the first of the best selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Jennifer Lawrence, as seen in X-Men: First Class and Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, takes the title role of Katniss Everdeen. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in the fictional country of Panem, she must fight to the death in a murderous game devised by The Capitol, a central city that rules the world. With likely a 12A certificate, comparison and expectations are being made to the Twilight series, with people predicting it has the potential to reach the millions, like the R-Patz vehicle. Directed by the Oscar nominated Gary Ross (Big, Seabiscuit) and co-starring Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and Josh Hutcherson from The Kids Are Alright, the teaser has already excited critics, who think Lawrence, with her blonde hair and beefed up body, will be a convincing Katniss. For fans of the book, here’s hoping this adaptation hits the mark.
The year the Hackney Empire was built. With our cover star Professor Green coming from the borough we thought it was only right.
WORLD OF WHATEVER Seeking some self-improvement in her life, journo, consultant, blogger and mentor, Chantelle Fiddy (tries to) find a life. This month: Up All Night Let’s be honest, I haven’t stayed up all night for a long time. It’s hard enough staying awake past midnight at my age. Last month, I even managed to sleep through half of my birthday... but blame that on the joys of Amsterdam (isolator is the ting trust me... then there was the vapouriser). But this is beside the point. What I’m actually talking about is Alex Clare’s new single, complete with a video shot during Red Bull’s infamous Major Lazer party at Notting Hill Carnival. While some desperately seeking whatever critics sit on the fence, I’m overly down with the ginger (sorry, strawberry blonde) ones soul workings. I also find the fact he’s more into fishing and the goings on in the Jewish calendar of equal satisfaction. Then there’re his amazingly diplomatic Facebook fans that nominate the dedicated posters for ticket giveaways and such. These are definitely not GrimeForum users. That aside, if Clare’s Up All Night whets your appetite, it’s also worth checking out his covers of Gyptian Hold Yuh, Etta James Damn Your Eyes and the debut album, The Lateness Of The Hour. It will keep you awake for all the right reasons, honest. Up All Night is out now. Alexclare.com and @alexanderclare or catch him on tour in November. If you’re really desperate follow @chantellefiddy.
The number of alcohol units the NHS recommend men should not regularly exceed a day.
According to USBC rules (who are somekind of ten-pin bowling Overlords) a pin must be 15 inches tall (which is 38 cm). If they don’t bare the “USBC Approved” mark you might as well put them in the bin.
People pass through the doors of Space in Ibiza during its 22 hour marathon sessions.
The number in degrees recorded in Gravesend on 1 October, the hottest day we’ve had in that month since records began. It was hotter in Birmingham than it was in Barbados! Oh hiya global warming.
11
ENOUGH ALREADY: Horrid Hangovers They’ve invented machines the size of an ant’s testicle that can hold up to 40,000 songs, they’ve grown babies in test tubes (well not actually IN tubes, you know what we mean) and they’ve even figured out a way Wayne Rooney can look more like a human being with a full follicle fixup; but when will they create a cure for the horrible hangover?!?! Words by Danny Walker Image by Jiro Bevis We all like a drink (some more than others, so if you could read this article aloud to your underwearsoiled, cider-stinking, red-faced friend slumped in the corner, we’d be most appreciative). Actually let me rephrase that; we all like to enjoy ourselves. Some seek life’s little pleasures in the arms of a loved one (Xbox 360), some spend their days collecting pieces of toast which – if you squint – bare the resemblance of Cheryl Cole, and some turn to alcohol to enhance their entertainment. Not everyone dabbles in debauchery of course, in fact some abstain from alcoholic beverages and we begrudgingly salute those teetotal tearaways... But for those who like a tipple, wouldn’t it just be wonderful if a night of booze discovery didn’t result in a morning/ day/ (and in a few cases) week of brain recovery. Cast your mind back to your last trip to Hell hangover. The night before was obviously amazing; you were the life and soul of the party, you remember everyone commenting on how funny you were and before the room started spinning you distinctly remember chatting up some Norwegian nurses. The morning after seems a stark contrast 12 / RWDMAG.COM
to the previous evening’s excitement and instead of revelling in getting Ingrid and Olga’s numbers you’re regurgitating colours you’ve never seen before. Your head feels like Mike Tyson’s emptied the slippery contents of his bowels inside it and the only digits you’re thinking of calling are 999. Have you ever felt worse? No. Is it self-inflicted? Yes. Did you get those girl’s numbers? Probably not. But that still doesn’t mean something shouldn’t be done about hangovers. If they can put a dog in space, surely we can invent a better hangover cure than eating a plate full of burnt bacon, guzzling paracetamol and/ or falling asleep in the shower? The situation is critical; either we get our Albert Einstein on it and start inventing stuff or we drink less!?!?! I know which one I’m in favour of; currently in my lab (the spider-infested shed in the garden) I’m working on a crazy concoction of Mango Rubicon, go-kart brake fluid, extra extra hot peri-peri sauce, dried mint leaves, whatever Aston from JLS puts in his hair and emu feathers... one dose and you’ll be right as rain. Once I get the spontaneous combustion sorted it’ll be ready for supermarkets. I suggest you go easy on the alcopops until then.
RWD HEAD TO HEAD
GLASGOW
Now we’ve all seen Trainspotting and we’ve all witnessed exactly what goes down on the Geordie Shore, but we know what you’re thinking, which city goes innnnn when it comes to a good old fashioned knees up! Referee: Nardene Scott Visuals: Chidi Ubani
SAY THAT AGAIN?
WHERE’S THE PARTY AT?
The Arches is one of the leading art venues in Europe but don’t get it twisted it’s not all arty farty nonsense; expect to see everyone from The Maccabees to Ms. Dynamite and Annie Mac.
Even if you can’t pick out the conversation here’s a few key words.
ILED = DRUNK/ P*SSED
RANDAN = DRINKING BINGE
MAKE THAT A DOUBLE A pint goes for £2.70 here, a little on the pricy side.
EDINBURGH
BEEF
You’ll be cool as long as you don’t happen to come from Edinburgh - the two cities don’t get along due to the principles of the working class background of Glaswegians going against the prim and proper people of the Scottish capital.
SWAGGED OUT No it’s not all about kilts in Scotland although that would be amazing. Glaswegians are pretty stylish folk so you’ve got to get more than a little trendy to fit in round there. Hide the birds nest
£2.70
BANJO = HIT SOMEONE
POPULATION
YUM YUM DIDDIES/ JARS = BREASTS PULL UP SELECTA
If there’s one thing these folk know about, it’s music. With a constant stream of gigs from indie and dubstep to hip hop at quirky venue King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, they’ve got it covered. 14 / RWDMAG.COM
41%
£1 Oxfam shirt
I NEED A DOCTOR
Not to alarm the guys out there but over the last five years, NHS reports show there has been a 41% rise in infections syphilis and Gonorrhoea so...
Roll up! Roll up! Right to the crotch
Yes they’re into their batter round ‘ere so you have got to try a battered Mars Bar or a deep fried pizza. A little more experimental than your after-hours kebab!
NEWCASTLE POPULATION
SAY THAT AGAIN?
WHERE’S THE PARTY AT?
The Bigg Market is you, especially if you like to go out in packs wearing cowboy hats. Head to the Quayside for a more sophisticated slice of life at any of the Fluid Groups places.
A few translations to get you through a night oot on the toon.
664
MAKE THAT A DOUBLE Cheaper than the Scot’s, a pint comes in at £2.20.
£2.20
SWAGGED OUT
When you’re Gaan doon toon, it’s all about the you’ve been tangoed look. Plus leave your coat at home; it’s all about what you don’t wear . Seriously, there are no cloakrooms.
Designer stubble Guys have cleavage too
BEEF
TASH ON = KISS
NETTY = TOILET
With acts of antisocial behaviour at an all time high - we know they’re lightweights innit! - it’s less worrying about stomachs being pumped and more about if you’re gonna make it home.
HADAWAY = GO AWAY
6%
GEORDIE DUMMY = SAUSAGE ROLL
YUM YUM Geordies keep it real when it comes to food (They LOVE Greggs) so as well as kebabs don’t be surprised to see a Geordie Dummy or two.
Tight enough to make the eyes water
I NEED A DOCTOR
There was 11,336 new cases of Chlamydia in the North East over the past year, just some food for thought if you’re planning on ‘gaan doon’ the Bigg Market.
PULL UP SELECTA
A night out on the tiles in the Toon will fill your ears with the sounds of Ibiza alongside a good few chart hits thrown in for good effect. Don’t expect any dubplates to be spun, basically. 15
RWD & COME AGAIN COLONEL GADDAFI
16 / RWDMAG.COM
A NIGHT ON THE RUN TILES WITH COLONEL GADDAFI Currently on the run, Muammar Gaddafi is in hiding. After committing crimes against humanity and fashion for four decades, this is the first time the 69 year-old has been forced underground. But with everyone waiting for his unearthing Danny Walker wonders if the pensioner is in a safe house in Sirte (cowering in comfort like Bin Laden), if he’s in a ditch in the desert (like Saddam) or if he’s in a club (partying like it’s 1969)... image by Jiro Bevis
A lot of people are asking, ‘Where the hell is Colonel Gaddafi?’ Chairman of the NTC, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, head of UK Operations of the Global Fashion Police, Gok Wan; they’re all searching high and low for the man who’s committed so many atrocities. Known for living a very, very, very wild lifestyle reminiscent to that of a Bosnian pimp, we can’t help but think that C-Geezy is still strutting his stuff in a stronghold somewhere. If the rebel forces are reading this – and we very much think they are – here’s our guide to postgovernment Gaddafi...
ONE ECCENTRIC MOTHERF***ER
When you’re that unconventional there is no way you can just sit in a cave and wait until the grim reaper (or US Special Forces) taps you on the shoulder. No way. Gaddafi is probably in some bar somewhere, slouched over a hot herbal tea, dressed like a camouflaged clown, reminiscing about the good ‘ol days; Namely, the time at the G8 Summit in 2009 when he was photographed alongside Obama, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and some very comparably boring looking world leaders (dressed as The Penguin from Batman Returns) or that one time in boot camp when he stuck an RPG up his...
CAVE CRAWLS
We all know the only way to drown your sorrows is to have a couple of shandies and a good ‘ol knees up with your mates, but what if you’ve got a million pound (dead or alive) reward on your head? We’re guessing it’s not about grabbing a six pack and going to the new McDonald’s just outside Tripoli (even if they do have free WiFi). Instead of going from car to car and from bar to bar we’re guessing Gaddafi has found a nice cave (you know, one with running water nearby, possibly room for a generator so he can power the hair dryer and one without windows to avoid another assassination attempt).
STREET PARTY
Whilst on the run, G Dot unleashed a statement that only a truly insane dictator on the run could release. It was a simple call to action to create one of the biggest street parties in the history of Libya, #whodoesthat? “I call on the
Libyan people, men and women, to go out into the squares and the streets in all the cities in their millions. Go peacefully... be courageous, rise up...” Imagine if the streets were lined with millions, you know Gaddafi would be in there shaking a leg.
WHO NEEDS WINGMEN? Despite being called the “mad dog of the Middle East” by President Reagan over his alleged complicity of the Berlin bombings in 1986 and despite his notoriously gloomy involvement in bringing to justice those who were behind the Pan Am Flight 103/ Lockerbie bombing (taking year’s to extradite two Libyan agents), Gaddafi will always be remember for rolling with up to 15 all female bodyguards. Who needs weapons of mass destruction when you roll with a rugby team’s worth of feminine fire power? They’d be the best wingmen too, wingmen with boobs.
THE ONLY WAY IS… GHADAMIS
There is much speculation over Gaddafi’s location. Many believe the former dictator has escaped to a neighbouring African country like Chad and quite a few think he’s in the desert town of Sabha, his birthplace of Sirte or even being protected in Ghadamis (345 miles south-west of Tripoli). One thing that you can bet your tooth fairy money on though is, he’s not in the UK... Reports of him last being seen with loads of Minnie’s bags outside The Sugar Hut with Joey Essex are unconfirmed and the alleged relationship with Nanny Pat is ridiculous. For more on Gaddaffi visit Havetheynotcaughtthatjerkfaceyet.biz 17
presents
ASICS GEL-LYTE III
ASICS.CO.UK/SPORTSTYLE (£75) Keeping on top of this here fashion game ASICS bring to you the vibrantly coloured and retro styled ASICS GEL-LYTE III kicks. They’ll be no time wasted getting these trendy trainers on your feet either with a speed lacing system and once they’re in, comfort is the word, with a specially moulded sole featuring foot shock absorption and a tongue that won’t start wagging. Good news for sneaker addicts; we have three pairs to give away. Email [subject:ASICS] iwannawin@rwdmag.com to be in with a chance of winning.
DELILAH
Comparisons aren’t necessary when it comes to the unique music provided by the eclectic singer/ songwriter Delilah. Nardene Scott speaks to the undeniably talented North Londoner about touring, collaborations and that cover... “It wasn’t even planned, it was just a bit of fun. It was like 1am, I was playing a Chaka Khan song... so I was like, next week, I’ll come back in and do a proper song”, the softly spoken singer tells RWD when we enquire about how the astounding Chakasampling single Go came about. The single in fact was picked up by her label, Atlantic Records, who decided to release the impromptu song and even had to push the digital version out early, due to the huge demand from the buying public. Delilah’s soulful side joins her Nigerian, Jamaican, Spanish and French cultural roots and when added to her own love of D&B all spawn a range of influences. Despite just turning 20 this probably won’t have been the first time you’ve come across the singer, she’s already recorded and toured with Chase & Status. “It’s been challenging going out on a world tour with lots of men, living on a bus. Nothing in life that can prepare you for that!” the energetic performer assures us. It’s not just the D&B legends that were the first to notice the talents of the Metalheadz fan either; one of the first to collaborate with dubstep genius Skream, she still vividly remembers the session which took place at Guy Chambers ridiculously kitted out studio. “Skream walked in and was taken aback by the studio...
14TH
15 Red Bull’s later we were done,” she laughs. Add to that an appearance on Wretch 32’s latest album and tour support for Maverick Sabre and it’s clear to see this is a lady in demand. But how did it all start out? “I wasn’t sure that I was going to be a singer but it was my dream,” she tells us, adding that a college course gave her the vital step into the industry. “One of my projects was to record an original piece of music and so I went to a studio and someone from radio came in... next thing, record labels were calling me”. Not the conventional route to musical stardom but one listen to the hypnotic vocals on the recently released Go EP makes us very grateful to that radio personality. Now with the album finished, there’s more quality music on the way. “I want to be a bit more intimate on this record, there are a few tracks on there that you’ll have to dance to but it’s a bit more homegrown than a mega overly produced record,” the one to watch star tells us excitedly. We for one can’t wait... Go EP is out now. @delilahmusic
“IT’S BEEN CHALLENGING GOING OUT ON A WORLD TOUR (WITH CHASE & STATUS) LOTS OF MEN, LIVING ON A BUS. NOTHING IN LIFE CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THAT!”
“We were in the thick of it,” laughs vocalist Tracey Duodu from London-bred duo 14th when asked about their best night out. Combining with her uni pal, Tom Barber, who provides the production (“The first thing I thought of him was that he’s absolutely hilarious,”) they don’t just drink at Red Bull Carnival parties, they’re all about the music. “I was working on the melody on my grand piano and Tracey was humming out harmonies and it just came from there,” explains Tom of their weighty old skool garage-feeling debut, Hide Yourself. With a catchy RWD favourite already released and an EP due 14 November, make sure you add this date to your calendar. 14thmusic.com (DW)
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MISHA BRYAN
We first noticed Mancunian Misha down at ILUVLIVE last summer singing backing vocals for fellow Manc artist R.I.O. It was then that we witnessed the effortlessly powerful vocals first hand but she’s definitely turned things up a notch since appearing on the X Factor and making it onto the live shows. Being compared to the likes of Lauryn Hill already and getting the likes of Kelly Rowland and Jennifer Hudson excited is not easy but we’re betting the stylish smiling star will make it regardless of what happens on the show. #MishaBryanToWin!!! @MishaBryan (NS)
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ASICS.CO.UK/SPORTSTYLE
presents
MIKILL PANE
We know, we know, this makes us look late but we honestly thought we’d covered the genre defying lyricist Mikill Pane already; it turns out we didn’t, so Nardene Scott caught up with Mr ‘ill with the mic’ Pane to talk music. When we call stylish rapper Mr. Pane, he’s just finished munching Doritos on Ed Sheeran’s tour bus down in Brighton. “I only come out for one song, but it’s cool cos we’re good mates,” he laughs. Add to that the fact Pane’s managed by + producer, Jake Gosling, and you can begin to see what kind of artist Mikill is; uncompromisingly unique and proud to be different. “Modern hip hop doesn’t interest me in the slightest. US rap is all a bit moist,” he lets us know. “I don’t listen to rap that much cos I don’t wanna rap like a rapper.” The 27 year-old began rhyming seven years ago and since then has commandeered the attention of MTV, Radio 1 and pretty much every cool blogger in the UK who loves good
music. Whether it’s spitting over dubstep beats, provided by DJ Will Power Smith or productions courtesy of Babyshambles’ Mercury nominated drummer Seb Roachford, lyrically Mikill’s always on point (check out Make You Say). After appearing on Sheeran’s No.5 Collaborations EP, the quick witted artist has released a stream of mixtapes, the most recent being the Guinness And Blackcurrant EP. “It’s basically Wu Tang verses Sesame Street – a sort of bittersweet blend,” he proudly explains of the lo-fi four track EP. There are no plans for the six-footer to slow down either, with recording for the 2012 dropping debut album, Blame Miss Barclay in full flow. “It’s a load of mates going to the studio and making a body of work,” he confirms of Ed Sheeran, True Tiger and Will Power featuring on the organic album’s feature list. Having just headlined Seb Roachford’s festival, Mikill Pane is definitely someone who should be on your radar. We’re just sorry for not telling you about him before now. Guinness and Blackcurrant EP is out 24 October. @MikillPane
LUNICE
After completely terrorising Red Bull’s Major Lazer Carnival show, please do what you have to see the Canadian DJ/producer in action; the hype hip hop fan has been breakdancing since the age of 14 and has no problem leaving the decks to showcase his skills. After remixing Lil B, Elephant Man, the xx and Deerhunter alongside Mad Decent fam Diplo, plus recently working with Harlem’s newest shining star, Azealia Banks (Runnin), the showman explains his music as, “hip hop and electro. I just want to keep it real simple and basic for the mainstream to understand it too”. Whatever you want to call it, Lunice is doing a lot for our ear drums and despite having just dropped Lucky Me EP Stacker Upper, he’s still busy working on beats and dancing in front of decks across the globe. Stacker Upper is out now on Lucky Me. @Lunice (NS)
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SUPPORTED BY
EUAN HANKEY
We’ve linked up with *ecko Unltd to bring you the best from the worlds of music, sport, film and fashion in the first of a mini series of About to Blow specials. Much like *eckõ, they’ll be a fresh selection of exciting, on-trend, talented individuals. Draped in the World Famous Rhino Brand, the Porsche Carrera Cup legend in the making, Euan Hankey tells us about his rise to the top... image by Andres Reynaga styling by Irene Asanji video by Greg Bond
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“When I got into a kart for the first time it was just bizarre and awesome at the same time,” reminisces the Somersetbred speed demon, moments before he’s due out on the track at Brands Hatch. When talking about his first racing memory, there was nothing but love for a fellow former karter. “I think I was about six years-old and I was watching F1 with my dad, I remember Nigel Mansell having an amazing race. There was loads of exciting overtaking manoeuvres and from then on I was like, ‘I wanna do that’.” After getting a go-kart for his ninth birthday, the selfconfessed socialite soon found himself putting adrenaline before education. “I remember putting karting before my GCSEs many a time,” he smiles. “Especially when I was racing at a national level. I remember going away for weeks on end and having to come back to do homework, but I managed to get through one way or another.” After winning several karting championships, including the prestigious Karting Grand Prix, the Call of Duty player soon moved on to bigger, faster machines. “I started off in a little 50cc quad, that got me into four wheeled motoring. I left when I was 17 when I got a scholarship in Formula BMW; a good day would be starting at pole position and winning and a bad day would be starting at pole position and coming like sixth.” After plying his trade in the fast paced world of Formula BMW and Formula 3 (alongside the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi) the Snatch fan soon found his home in the Porsche Carrera Cup. So what’s the best part of driving a 450BHP motor as a living? “They’re really fast,” Euan tells RWD in a fit of glee. “Porsche’s are pretty cool. I’ve done some 9-5s when I was a little bit younger, when I was earning money to buy my [racing] stuff, but this is just so different, I could be away for like 9-10 days. That’s the fun of it; you get to go to different places.” But it’s not all fast fun and games, don’t just think you can jump in your Ford Fiesta, speed around the shopping centre and end up where Euan is. “The transition from Formula 3 [to Formula BMW] was really intense. With the step-up to Porsche GTs the characteristics of the car are a little bit slower so it’s all about the driving, which I prefer,” Euan details of the intricacies of driving expensive cars, which sounds hard, especially if you destroy them in a massive crash. “The worst one I’ve had was during the
Nürburgring at this year for the Porsche World Cup. I was going down the foxhole, which is one of the fastest parts of the circuit, and got a little bit too excited. Hit about 170mph, broke two seconds late and that resulted in me going into the wall and barrel-rolling it about four times. I remember jumping out and people were clapping and cheering.” Glad you were ok mate, but what about the 100k car, that was alright, right? “Everything had to be replaced apart from the engine and the gearbox. The team boss didn’t go too crazy at me purely because he’s more worried about my health than anything.” Since that leg-bruising blunder Euan is making up for it in a big way and is on
“I REMEMBER PUTTING KARTING BEFORE MY GCSE’S MANY A TIME...” track for a storming season. “I’ve started it very well, leading the first two races and since the crash I’ve won the last three races so I’m really happy with that. I’m going to keep that momentum going for the last two weekends now and hopefully move them across to Europe with the Porsche Super Cup, which is really cool in front of 100, 000 people.” With his red *eckõ sponsored car in the back Euan leaves us with his future goals. “I’ve gotta keep on working hard and eventually end up in Le Mans for the 24hrs race.” To get the *eckõ look like Euan, head to JDsports.co.uk or head to RWDmag.com to see the video
AFTER HOURS: BEST/ WORST NIGHT OUT My best night out has to be the Audi Sports Awards, which is a big racing event with all the big names like Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. After we went to the after party in London’s Pacha; free alcohol, models dancing around, everything. My worst night out I was back in my home town in Somerset with one too many drinks. I saw this girl I really liked so I go over and grab her and lift her up. As I’ve lifted her up, I’ve tripped and stumbled with her and ran headfirst into one of the six foot speakers, cracked my head open, blood is coming down my face. The bouncers had to call my friends over on a PA announcement. I ended up being in hospital having to get stitches. Probably wasn’t the best look I’ve ever had.
STYLE CHECK “I’m quite relaxed, quite straight. You’ll see me in a polo shirt, jeans, that kind of stuff. When I go out, maybe a shirt, nice trousers. Keep it fresh. Generally my style is that I dress for the occasion but generally I’m chilled and relax in what I wear. I really like chinos. They’re light, thin and you can get some different colours too for summer. When I go to the clubs I like to stand out a bit.”
STYLE GUIDE STYLE | FASHION | FASHION NEWS | REFRESHED
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WHAT TO WEAR AND HOW TO WEAR IT...
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1. Navy cord jacket: Marshall Artist threadsaddiction.com, £135 2. Union Dale chinos The Duffer of St George jdsports.co.uk, £39.99 3. Classic plaid shirt Penguin by Richard Chai originalpenguin.eu, £85 4. Chunky cardigan: Marshall Artist threadsaddiction.com, £120 5. Gortex hiking boot: Puma size.co.uk, £80 6. Hi top deck shoes: The Duffer of St George jdsports.co.uk, £50
STRUNG TOGETHER
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PHOTOGRAPHY: KEVIN JOSEPH STYLING: SOPHIE ROBINSON @SOPHIE_STYLIST
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STYLE GUIDE
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1. Cuffed chino: Eto Jeans etojeans.co.uk, £44.99 2. The Delevan boots: Lacoste lacoste.com, £110 3. Portal checked shirt: Luke luke1977.com, £75 4. Bolanus gilet: Boxfresh boxfresh.com, £75 26 / RWDMAG.COM
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1. Buxton coat: Farah Vintage farah.co.uk, £105 2. The Delevan boots: HL Jeans Co. hl-jeans.com, £250 3. Chinos: Farah Vintage farah.co.uk, £60 4. Aidos boots: Boxfresh boxfresh.com, £120 27
STYLE GUIDE
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4 1. Escapade Pop Hoody: The Duffer of St George jdsports.co.uk, £49.99 2. Pitt checked shirt: McKenzie jdsports.co.uk, £34.99 3. Stone cords: Farah Vintage farah.co.uk, £60 4. Tear Drop pack: William Fox and Sons present-london.com, £85 5. Suede high tops: Puma size.co.uk, £80 28 / RWDMAG.COM
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1. Cords: Trapstar iamatrapstar.com, £60 2. Chambray shirt: Carhartt carhartt-wip.co.uk, £65 3. Striped knit: Luke luke1977.com, £110 4. Boots: Wolverine wolverine.com/uk, £110
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This page: Didyer wears shoes by Clae, trousers by Marshall Artist, jumper by Carhartt, jacket by Silas, hat stylist own Connor wears shoes by K-Swiss, jeans by Edwin, T shirt by PXL, jacket by Puma, backpack by Penfield Opp. page: James wears chinos by Ben Sherman, T shirt by American Apparel, chain by Raf Simons, watch by Triwa Iona wears top by American Apparel, jeans by New Look, belt - models own, accessories - stylist own Jason wears T shirt and hoodie by Bank, watch by G-Shock, jeans - models own 30 / RWDMAG.COM
PHOTOGRAPHER: KEVIN MOROSKY STYLIST: PC WILLIAMS GROOMING: LINZI DOWER PHOTO AST: LUKE ALEXANDER TAYLOR MODELS: CONNOR, JAMES, DIDYER - AMCK TOM - GLORIA LOVES VALENTINE IONA, AMBER, JASON THANKS: GAVIN PANTON
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This page: James wears shirt by Marshall Artist, watch by LTD, jacket by Nickelson Opp. page: Connor wears shoes by Denham, jeans by Edwin, T shirt by Bank Tom wears shoes by Ellesse, jeans models own, T shirt by Supreme Being, hat by Penfield Didyer wears shoes by Asics, jeans models own, T shirt by H&M, shirt by Penfield, chain stylist own, hat by New Era
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This page: Tom wears boots by SuperDry, chinos by Carhartt, shirt by Supremebeing, jacket by Edwin, chain - stylist own Amber wears shoes and leggings by Bank, T shirt by American Apparel, jacket by BAPE, earrings - stylist own Opp. page: James wears trainers by ASICS, chino’s by Ben Sherman, shirt by Marshall Artist, hat by Carhartt
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Iona wears earrings and bracelets stylist own, top by American Apparel, shorts by BAPE, socks by Happy Socks X Giles Amber wears top by American Apparel, leggings by H&M, shoes by ALDO, watch by Casio
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This page, top: James wears trainers by ASICS, chino’s by Ben Sherman, shirt by Marshall Artist, hat by Carhartt
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Below and opp: Jason wears socks by Happy Socks, boots by Henry Lloyd, chinos by The Duffer of St George, T shirt by Carhartt, jacket by adidas, watch by Triwa. Connor wears trainers by Ellesse, chinos by The Duffer of St George, belt by Carhartt, T shirt by Ellesse, shirt by Penfield,
watch by Toy Watch Tom wears boots by Pointer, jeans by Edwin, jumper by Supremebeing, jacket by Penfield Didyer wears trainers by adidas, jeans by Denim Demon, top by Puma, jacket by adidas James wears shoes by Asics, jeans by Edwin, crew neck sweat by Puma, watch by Triwa, hat
by Icon Amber wears shoes by Lacoste, socks by Happy Socks, skirt by American Apparel, shirt by New Look, jacket by BAPE Iona wears shoes by Lacoste, socks by Happy Socks, trousers by American Apparel, T shirt by Ellesse, jacket by New Look, accessories - stylist own, bag by Jaz M.B.
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FASHION NEWS Irene Asanji brings us the latest from the world of streetwear..
WE FLY HIGH...
ECO AGED
FLY53 have announced the arrival of their limited edition capsule collection. Hitting stores and the FLY53 website from the beginning of November, classic pieces have been given a new lease of life including wardrobe staples like a work wear jacket, printed sweats, off kilter-stripe tops, and fantastic graphic tees that the brand are well known for. The capsule range also features chunky knits and shirts galore, all keeping in line with the brand’s main collection. Stay fresh in FLY53 with an added twist from the capsule collection. In stores and online from early Nov. Check out Fly53store.com
WET & WILD! For the first time in their history, Palladium is introducing a line of waterproof boots. The new range compliments the classic collection of signature Baggy and Pampa styles. The line went through rigorous testing to make sure they met the Palladium standard; defining the all season boot, Palladium covers your yearly needs. The uppers have been modified to include a gusset tongue, waterproof oil nubuck leather and waterproof stitching used on all seams. Considering how wet and miserable the UK gets this time of year, they’ve landed us with the perfect boot! Grab yourself some and you’ll be singin’ in the rain. Prices from £95 and available at Palladiumboots.com
Eco-friendly brand Kuyichi are famed for experimenting with new sustainable concepts, and this season they proudly released their range of chunky hand knits and recycled wool jackets. Big fans of all things recycled, the brand constantly uses materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, recycled denim, and hemp in their range. This autumn/ winter collection shows a vintage direction with the main focus being on worn repairs and damages, reworked to the best quality for that distressed aged feel. Kuyichi love eco denim, why not fall in love too? Denim from £195 check out Kuyichi.com
BE THE FACE OF JD Who needs model looks, minimum height and the perfect pout when JD casts for their new campaign. JD went on the lookout for real people for their latest ‘Be The Face Of JD’ campaign. Castings took place in Manchester and London to the musical vibes of DJ Lemmi and Aggi Dukes, while a top LA-based photographer took the pics. A small group were chosen as the Faces of JD and collected from their homes by chauffeur, glammed by hair and makeup and dressed in JD’s finest by a crack-team of stylists. Check billboards, bus sides and in-store at JD’s across the country to see the winners in all their glory! JDsports.co.uk 40 / RWDMAG.COM
SNAPBACK SELECTION Add the finishing touches to your autumn wardrobe with some amazing caps from four of the UK’s leading street wear brands. UK independent brands - Play. Dot Apparel, Trapstar, King Apparel, and Benjart - have been working hard to deliver some of the best caps available this season; from Benjart’s Refined Premium range, impressive colour ways from Trapstar and Play Dot, and King’s ongoing collab with Starter. All caps range from £25-£30 meaning snapback fans will be truly spoilt for choice this season. Check Playdotapparel.com, Iamtrapstar.com, King-apparel.com, Benjartclothing.com
CARHARTT X BURTON Carhartt and Burton have joined forces once again this Autumn.
RESCUE REMEDY
Expect to find the technical performance detail Burton are so well known for, alongside the durable utility driven work wear that Carhartt are recognised for. The Carhartt x Burton WIP jacket is based on the shape of Carhartt’s Traditional jacket, with a technical twist: it has a double layer Gore-Tex shell, making it absolutely perfect for the cold and wet winter months ahead. The jacket comes in brown or black, and is priced at £265. Stay warm and dry the traditional way this winter. Carhartt-wip.co.uk
This November Eastpak release their “To The Rescue” range, a brand new line-up of tough but flexible bags in lightweight parachute material. The space conscious range transforms from clever compact pack-away pouches, into smart, multifunctional bags. Eastpak is the authentic global lifestyle brand offering innovative mobility to the urban insider. Staying true to their roots maintaining the link between stylish, on-trend bags, but most importantly ensuring durability and functionality in accordance to the demands of city living. Keep your essentials safe and in style in some the hottest bags around this season. Rescue backpack costs £50, available at Eastpak.com/uk
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REFRESHED
In one of the best interviews in RWD history, a drunken SkyBlu of LMFAO fame tells us how he gets down after dark... Interview by Danny Walker “It doesn’t take me long to get ready at all; 5-10 minutes. But if I’m working on a song, I never wanna finish.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
DERMALOGICA MULTIVITAMIN POWER FIRM
(dermalogica.co.uk, £35.50 for 15ml) If it doesn’t take you long to get ready, like Skyblu, then that means you can afford to spend an extra moment catering for any facial flaws you may be rocking. This silicone-jelly, wrinkle reducing treatment packs a whole heap of vitamins, minerals and seaweed to help make the morning after the night before that little bit easier.
“I don’t know why Red always takes the longest to get ready. He always got girls in his room so he’s probably f***kin’.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
GET2SMILE ‘LASER’ HOME WHITENING KIT
(Smilestudiolondon.co.uk, ££295 or £350 for chair-side treatment and kit) If you want to have a way with words – to have girls fall at your feet like Red – you may need a little assistance in the smile department. Named best whitener by Harper’s Bazaar, this ‘laser’ whitening home kit is amazing for your molars. Either go into Smile Studio for the initial work (bright whites in under two hours), or use the kit yourself at home. After letting RWD ed Hattie Collins have a go, we can confirm you will be well haps with the results.
“My uncle is a hardcore motorcycle rider so I cut [my beard] myself. I use an electrical one cos I can’t use a razor cos it gives me bumps. My hair is too curly. It just hurts, it f**ks me up.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
REMINGTON F7790 TITANIUM-X
(Remington-europe.com, £139.99) Despite sounding like a jet fighter Charles Xavier would use, the F7790 with Flex and Pivot technology glides through unwanted hair with ease. Staying contoured to the face there will be no need to panic as the triple foil shaver does all of the work for you. Those curly face follicles will be a thing of the past.
“I condition [my hair] with the hotel conditioner wherever I’m at, then just let it dry naturally.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
THE BODY SHOP SPICED PUMPKIN SHOWER GEL
(thebodyshop.com, £4.00 for 250ml) Instead of rinsing out the micro bottles of hotel shower gel and conditioner, how about packing some Halloween-themed pumpkin potion in your suitcase? With organic and natural ingredients, along with Community Fair Trade Aloe Vera and Pumpkin seed extract, this little bottle is ready to go. 42 / RWDMAG.COM
“[What makes my hair curly is] the fact that my Dad is an AfricanAmerican – he’s a black guy – and my Mother is white... also maybe put some lotion in your hair. Lotion makes your hair soft.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
AVEDA MEN PURE-FORMANCE CONDITIONER
(aveda.co.uk, £17.00 for 300ml) As well as soothing the scalp Aveda’s Pure-Formance leaves hair ultra moisturised; one whiff of this and your parents will be proud.
SKYBLU “In the shower, I just use soap; I like surfing so the ocean and Mother Nature take care of things.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
OXY CLEARLIGHT
(oxy.co.uk, £39.99) Mother Nature is a truly magnificent phenomenon but if she’s ever off sick, look no further than Oxy’s innovative, non-evasive, light-emitting device that will treat any blemishes and hunt out acne. Utilising blue light technology, Clearlight is easy to use and ultra portable. Just remember this shouldn’t be used by anyone with a light-sensitive medical condition, cool?
AFTERSHAVE OF THE MONTH LACOSTE CHALLENGE RE:FRESH
(From all major retailers, £20 for 30ml) For those with nostrils lucky enough to get a smell of this, you’ll know that the basis of Lacoste is all about metrosexuality. Serving up a reinvigorating smash of freshness, new Challenge Re:Fresh is an ideal item to get ReFreshed with. With cool packaging, this will look great on your shelf and smell good on your chops.
You guys are about to kick up a storm with the new single, Sexy And I Know It. It’s gonna get played all over the world for people that wanna break out their shell. It’s basically a song to let loose, know what I mean. Get your sexy out there. And who gets their sexy out there the most out of you and Redfoo? Oh I’m definitely the sexiest out of me and Red cos I gotta bigger package than him. What would be your tips for surviving a night out with LMFAO? If you wanna survive, you gotta limit your funnel intake cos a lot of people think they can drink like us but it’s not true. We can drink with four funnels. I’m drunk right now. Really [laughs]? What time is it? [To a member of his entourage] Hey motherf***ers!!! What time is it? [Laughs]... 7.45PM. I was drunk last night and then I woke up drunk and then I went straight to the bar. It’s a celebration for our boy today. [To a member of the entourage] I’m not taking another shot!!! [back to RWD] Should I take another shot? You should definitely take another shot. [Takes shot] Here dude, [slurs to entourage] take some more shots for me and for our boy. [Absolute madness happens in the background] Hold on. [To entourage] I’m already f**ked up you a***holes!!! We’re not friends anymore. [Back to RWD] I didn’t want to do any more. [Interview heavily edited down, please, please read the full version at RWDmag. com]. If you could be anyone in the world, who would it be? I’d be myself. I don’t wanna be nobody else, my life is amazing. If I woke up and I had someone else’s penis, I’d be so upset Sexy and I Know It is out 24 October 43
COVER STORY PRO GREEN
TO BE A GREAT AFTER HOURS ATHLETE IS ALL ABOUT HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO PLAY THE LONG GAME, STAMINA...
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AFTER HOURS WITH PROFESSOR GREEN
It takes a special someone to survive (let alone thrive) after hours; determination, dexterity, the ability to handle your drink then eat a chilliladen doner before chattingup a girl without throwing up on their chest. To find the best athletes we enlisted the help of Puma, Professor Green and the local kebab shop to create the craziest challenge ever. Beer, cheese, hot chicks, karaoke, trophies, points for style/ humour/ speed, crap chat-up lines, more beer, wingmen, flying pitta bread, begging for water, embarrassment, pride, egos, deflated egos... And that was just in the first 10 minutes... conducted by Danny Walker directed by DJB images by Andres Reynaga grooming by Analisa Sarno Back in the June issue we started recruiting for a squad of social soldiers who could take on not only a Puma team, headed by Professor Green, but also a clan of RWD clowns, fronted by myself. We were looking for a crew of creatives, a posse of people who knew how to get the job done (whatever it may be) and a top team of tearaways that could take on anything put before them. Answering the call to action were team We Are S.M.E... When the day came for the After Hours Athletes to compete, the air was soon filled with flying Puma gear, hairspray from the blonde barnet of buxom Bianca (our judge/ ref for the evening) and the steely stench of subdued exhilaration. With one eye on the trophy and the other on the challenges ahead it was soon as case of who dares wins.
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COVER STORY PRO GREEN
AFTER HOURS ATHLETICS CHALLENGE # 1 BEER MAT FLIPPING (WITH SLOPPY FINISH)
Each member of the team will flip 3x 25 beer mats in a relay race. When complete a ruthless drunk designated member of the team will down a pint and place the glass on his/ her head. Points will be awarded for Style and Speed. The true AH Athlete will be able to do this blindfolded.
N/A
S.M.E. (48s)
Green Team
CHALLENGE # 2 CHEESY CHAT-UP LINES
After being given a topic from the judge, the teams will then come up with three chat up lines. The lines will result in the participants eating a range of cheese from Philadelphia to stomaching some stinky Roquefort. Points will be awarded for Style, Speed and Humour.
S.M.E.
RWD (100 secs)
S.M.E.
CHALLENGE # 3 CHILLI KEBAB CHALLENGE
The first team to eat a (large) chilli-laden kebab will win. Points will also be awarded for Speed. Each and every night Social Athletes are drawn to the finest eating establishments to refuel for the night ahead or recharge from the night they’ll probably never remember.
N/A 46 / RWDMAG.COM
S.M.E. (68s)
Green Team
FOR VIDEO FOOTAGE CHECK RWDMAG.COM
KEY: Humour
Speed
Style
CHALLENGE # 4 CRAP KARAOKE-OFF
To finish things off a classic track from the ‘80s (Dexys Midnight Runners’ Come On Eileen) will be belted out for all to hear. The Social Athlete will power through ballads just the same way he/ she deals with pints. Points will be awarded for Humour/ and the score on the karaoke machine.
S.M.E.
THE WINNERS TEAM WE ARE S.M.E.
What are Team We Are S.M.E. about? Alex: Basically we run a music website, we post predominately hip hop and UK urban music; there’s three of us. What made you want to enter the competition? Joe: We’re pretty good at going out. We’re pretty good at winning. When we saw what the Puma Social Challenge would entail, we thought it would be a piece of p**s. So we went for it. You did really well with the chilli challenge, 48 seconds... Moz: No cutlery as well. The team is made up of two Italians and an African so... [room laugh]. Hands, mouths, licked the plate clean. Yeah, Joe, the licking of the plate?!?! Joe: We had to. It’s how I was brought up. [Does impression of African mum] We don’t wash dishes in this house!!! Where will you keep the trophy? Moz: Put them next to the other trophies. Joe: In the SME trophy cabinet, which is heaving. What do you think makes the perfect after hours athlete? Alex: Good personality and team work. Moz: Banter, style. Joe: Charisma and some Puma garms.
N/A
Green Team
THE JUDGES’ VERDICT
Hi Bianca what did you think of the winning team? They were good, they put loads of effort in I thought. But what about the RWD team? We did pretty, erm... well... Yeah, it was tough, very tough but S.M.E. put loads of energy in so yeah... What did you think of Team Green? Yeah, they were a bit cheeky. On the last bit they didn’t put so much effort in, which knocked their points a little bit. What about when Pro Green was doing the beer task and he was trying to chat you up at the same time? That was wicked. I liked that, cheesy but good. What makes the perfect After Hours Athlete? Erm, someone with a bit of swag. Someone cool, without trying too hard. It’s all about eye contact as well, actions speak louder than words [laughs].
THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF TWO ITALIANS AND AN AFRICAN SO... HANDS, MOUTHS, LICKED THE PLATE CLEAN...
For more on these legends check Wearesme.co.uk or follow @wearesme 47
COVER STORY PRO GREEN
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ALL HAIL THE AFTER HOURS ATHLETE Runner’s up, The Green Team, talk us through what it takes to be a post 5pm legend... So guys, tell us about the After Hours Challenge, how did it really feel not winning? Pro: We didn’t win the After Hours competition but that’s purely because we didn’t come up with the chat up line that included ‘rain’. I’m not one to be stuck for words, especially when it comes to women so a chat up line that included ‘rain’, we didn’t quite get that. Felix: I think there was a technicality with the explanation on how that should have went down. You’re blaming us? Felix: 110% yes!!! Chris: Theoretically, he ate the worst cheese but he could have given the worst line and got the speed done. We were just trying to come up with a good chat-up line and be creative. You guys took three minutes to come up with absolutely nothing? Pro: I know, three minutes to come up with nothing is an exceptionally long time. What do you think makes the very best After Hours Athlete? Pro: I honestly think it’s about having the foresight to play the long game, stamina [team laugh]. Are you guys up for the stamina? Chris: [Quickly] Nah [team laugh]. You guys won the style and speed points for the beer mat flipping contest. How? Felix: I think it was pretty natural. Pro: It’s natural innit, flipping beermats is no problem. I actually done it while trying to chat up Bianca [team laugh]. There was no trouble, confidence wasn’t an issue. And the Chilli Kebab challenge... Pro: We should have one that, did you see the size of our kebab in comparison to theirs? Chris: We also had more chillies. Pro: And we had a d***head from Kent eating with a fork. Chris: [Realising that was him] Yes [team laugh]. I was going for the style man. And then the RWD team catted it from me!!! We don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, Pro, can you remember your best After Hours moment? Pro: Yeah, there was this one time at band... no, it wasn’t at band camp. But I very nearly had a threesome. Apart from one girl decided that she actually felt a bit sick... It wasn’t me, well it could have been, I don’t know. I wasn’t naked yet so I put it down to the alcohol. When was the last time you actually stayed out all night? Pro: A couple of weeks ago. I played Majorca Rocks and then Ibiza Rocks and they were really good shows both nights. After the last show I thought it would be a good idea to stay up and watch the sun come up, I made sure my friends did the same. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
VERY CONVENIENT With his 15 track sophomore CD At Your Inconvenience on the way, soon to be 28 year-old Stephen Manderson is becoming a seasoned Pro... How did Alive Till I’m Dead go down? It done exceptionally well for me, we put it out there no expectations and it’s gone Gold twice. I couldn’t really ask for much more. And At Your Inconvenience, first of all the name... I came up with it while having a p**s. True stories. I was on a video shoot and I was having a p**s and I looked on the wall and there was a business card which said, ‘At your convenience,’ typically I thought, ‘I’m not at anyone’s convenience any more’ and that was where the phrase came from. You always wanna be difficult... It’s not that I want to be difficult. I am difficult [laughs]. Would you say this was a more sophisticated Pro Green? Erm... [Puts on posh voice] I think the album is a slightly more sophisticated Professor Green, yes. It’s a broader album and I open up a little bit more on it. And production-wise it’s sounding tight, who is on there? 16 Bit, he did At Your Inconvenience, I’ll have to get you the two kids from New York [Youngboyz] who are coming up who done D.P.M.O, one of my favourite tracks on the whole album. TMS done Trouble and Read All About It, iSHi had a hand it that too. Cores’ done Into The Ground, Never Be A Right Time, Today I Cried, he’s executive produced again, Mojam on Avalon and Remedy, Naughtyboy on probably my favourite track on the album Astronaut. And talk us through a few tracks, D.P.M.O. (Don’t P**s Me Off)... That is a real-straight hip hop banger, which, for me, is probably what is missing from the last album. In that track you say you’d sleep with Eva Mendes even if she was your cousin, please explain... [Laughs] That’s just me. It would be awkward, you couldn’t even lie about it, ‘Yeah, that is my cousin but she is banging.’ Luckily I don’t have cousins like that. And Read All About It Ft. Emeli Sandé... The response has been better than
anything I’ve put out before. You never expect for a song to reach people like that. And Trouble has a jungle vibe to it... Yeah, it’s a special record. I did the song in 35 minutes; I’m a junglist, that was the first type of music I was into. Remedy is one of my favourites, it’s a bit like Jungle... Yeah, it’s breaky with bars. That is like work for me. It was written at the time when Charlie Sheen was in the media, he gets a few nods. It still about the punchlines and the humour for me. That’s the upbeat track of the album. Avalon is the big festival track... Yeah, it took me time to write. I don’t usually suffer from that and the beat went through different versions – I’ve been very hands on with this album – that track came out well. Astronaut is complex about a girl trying to escape a bad situation, break it down for us...
THE DEPTH OF THIS ALBUM I’M REALLY HAPPY WITH; KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE RECORD THAT I’M GOING TO BE JUDGED ON. That’s all about escapism, it’s extremely melodic. I wrote it with Emeli Sandé (we both sing the chorus) in a duet. It touches on a few dark issues, it’s probably my favourite song on the album but that will change. And what do you want the listener to get from this album... I try not to make throwaway music so I really hope people appreciate the hard work we’ve put in and the depth of it. For all of your After Hours gear catch a night bus to puma.com. At Your Inconvenience is out 31 October. Professorgreen.co.uk or professorgreen for more. Watch the full interview online 49
INTERVIEW ANNIE MAC
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THE ADVENTURES OF ANNIE MAC
From the radio to the rave, the Radio 1 DJ knows just how to get the party started. Nardene Scott gave Annie Mac a call to talk Ibiza, riders and her foolproof hangover cures.
“GETTING ON A BOAT IN THE SEA AIR IS THE BEST HANGOVER CURE AND ALSO JUMPING INTO THE SEA, IF YOU’RE IN IBIZA. OTHER THAN THAT, A LITTLE POWER NAP OR A BEROCCA...”
This issue is all about 24 hour partying and you’ve spent the summer in Ibiza filming. What do you think it is about Ibiza that makes people continue to head there each summer? I don’t know, it always surprises me, especially because it’s not always about house music anymore. People who haven’t been have this image of Ibiza Uncovered but it’s the most beautiful island... gorgeous beaches, gorgeous restaurants and gorgeous weather. Then the clubs I guess they’re just Raaaaaaaaah!!! A lot of the major players still devote their summers to it and if the major DJ’s are going to be there, the music fans are going to follow. What about the Ibiza Rocks programmes which you were presenting? Who was your most memorable interviewee? We featured Maverick (Sabre) so I had a wicked day out with him. We went out on a speedboat which is not recommended - as in not recommended to let me drive because I wasn’t very good! We both literally got taken from the jacuzzi at 10.30am to the boat, like live and direct, no sleep, straight through crew! He was hilarious because he was still pi**ed and we got our Irish on, the two of us bonded and cracked open the champagne at 11am, like you do... What are your foolproof hangover cures? Well, I can recommend going out to sea. Getting on a boat in the sea air is the best hangover cure and also jumping into the sea, if you’re in Ibiza. Other than that, a little power nap or a Berocca or maybe another drink but I don’t advise that to everyone. What have you got on your rider? I’ve changed it recently so I’ve got champagne on there. I’ve never had that on there before but usually instead
of drinking it, I just bring it home and put it in the fridge. I’ve got Berocca and Nurofen (laughs) and Flame Grilled Steak McCoys. When you do have a night off, who is in your raving squad? (Laughs) Raving squad! Well, probably my best friend called Medhu who is one of those girls who is the last man standing every time, everywhere you go. It doesn’t matter how wasted you get, she is always the last one, so she’s brilliant. My boyfriend (Toddla T) as well he’s really fun to go out with. We’ve got the raving crew that mutates and develops into where you are but Medhu and my boyfriend would be two solid members. Tell us about the new Annie Mac Presents... because the last compilation did really well, hitting the Top 5 downloads. It’s just a really nice thing to do, to look back at all of my favourite bits of the year because I represent, I guess all types of music, so I can really be broad when I’m going to pick tracks. I must have submitted 60 tracks to the label for licensing, so there are 36 tracks on the album and I’m hoping people look at it like a nice definitive album for the year. It’s got all the big players Chase & Status, Katy B and then it’s got a lot of newer people as well. In a selfish way, it feels like a good reflection of my year in music. I just hope other people like it. What else should we look out for? The Annie Mac Presents... tour is going on and it’s doing really well. Just check the Facebook and the website, there’s so much going on all the time I can’t really keep up! Annie Mac Presents... is out now and you can follow Annie @anniemacdj 51
INTERVIEW MARK ECKÕ
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Not only the creative director of Complex, one of our favourite US magazines, Mark Eckõ is of course the man behind the cutting-edge clothing company. Dacre Bracey and Nigel Wells caught up with the New York artist, designer, entrepreneur and innovator to talk about how he made it in fashion, gaming, print and art...
“I ASSOCIATED SUCCESS TO THE MATERIAL RATHER THAN THE EMOTIONAL - I THOUGHT I’D FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET A NICE CAR, BUY A HOUSE. I THOUGHT THAT’S ALL IT WAS BUT ONCE YOU DO ALL THAT SH*T YOU REALISE IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU HAPPY EITHER...”
When did you first realise that *eckõ might become the multi-million dollar international success that it did? I was at Magic, a trade show in Las Vegas, and we were financially in total disrepair. It was probably ‘96, ‘97 and we pulled out of the main hall cos we couldn’t afford to be there frankly! So rather than produce the event there and have a booth a quarter of the size with twice the cost, we decided to pull out and show across the street in a parking lot (laughs). That was a big middle finger to the industry. From being really in disrepair, we began to take huge orders because there was a lot of excitement at that show. I remember calling my mother and her asking me how it was going and I started to cry. After years of fighting, that was a moment when I felt ‘Alright it’s been worth it.’ I also remember at the time, my great uncle, he got my first air compressor for me, and my airbrush when I was 12 years-old. The fact that he did that was a big deal but at that time, that same week in Vegas, he was dying. As soon as you think you arrive, you think you know everything but you don’t. Plus with success back then, I had a very different view on what success was. I associated it to the material rather than the emotional - I know that sounds corny but it’s true. I thought I’d finally be able to get a nice car, buy a house... I thought that’s all it was but once you do all that sh*t you realise it doesn’t make you happy either so... So you were kind of banging your head against the wall for a good five years? Yeah but you’ve got to remember, I was painting since high school so I technically started in ’86. I had my first business card in ’86. Where did your desire for success come from? To be an entrepreneur?
I think it’s probably a few reasons. When I went to school, I had to walk through a metal detector even in that small town. I think about all the kids that have to walk through a metal detector to get to school and then I think about all of the business schools making a ton of money getting subsidised by the federal government by billions of dollars of tax money, selling business degrees and failing the population. I feel like a) there’s opportunity and b) there’s an obligation because of my perspective having come where I came from - there is an obligation to fix that. I think the entrepreneur is like the great extreme athlete of our time, of this generation. Like the Jordan’s and Magic’s of now. Who inspires you business-wise, both back when you started and now? I still admire Spike Lee a lot for his business acumen, for his balance in art and business. I was a very intense fan of how he was able to cross the mainstream and tell these counter-culture stories, and then to build a brand around himself with 40 Acres And A Mule. I loved that Spike could tell a story and then build this business world around him and it was as much about him as it was the products he was producing. I loved that about him and also George Lucas, for the same reasons. He effortlessly self promoted himself in a way that wasn’t indulgent and at the same time making the world that he was trying to create bigger than him; how he extended his brand and the Star Wars brand, even sometimes at the expense of failing, was incredible. He never gave up, he always stuck to his guns so he’s like a God to me! You have to sacrifice a lot for business; but is there something that could ever stand in the way of that? 53
INTERVIEW MARK ECKÕ WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT *ECKÕ?
People love *eckõ so much that they’re actually embossing their bodies for life; this may be to do with the 20% off *eckõ you’re promised for your loyalty though?
Just to give you an idea of what ballin’ really is, in 2007 Marc Eckõ's company raked in $1.5 billion!
The age *eckõ began. He painted T-shirts in his parent’s garage before it eventually made its way onto the back of icon’s Spike Lee and Chuck D. The nickname Echo which is now *eckõ came from the fact Marc’s mother didn’t know she was expecting twins. Marc Eckõ also started Complex Media, which of course popular US magazine Complex is a part of. The conglomerate has also moved into computing too, creating video games for TV shows Dexter and Weeds.
“AS SOON AS YOU THINK YOU ARRIVE, YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING BUT YOU DON’T...” I would say family. I have a twin sister and so I grew up in a closely knit family and then I married a beautiful woman and we have three kids and I think that is an oasis for me. That to me is by miles the most important thing in my life. *eckõ and yourself have encompassed clothing, print, games, watches... what’s the craziest pitch you’ve had so far? 54 / RWDMAG.COM
Probably some porno sh*t! A whole series of *eckõ porno’s so I was like, ‘You know what, I can do without that one’ (laughs). More than crazy, you just get a lot that are wack. I like thinking out the box and so I like being pitched wacky stuff. Can you see what might be coming up; hot products for the future? I think there’s going to be a big shift towards Swiss Army style electronics; hard drives, remote speakers, wireless hubs. I mean, look at me, I have to carry two bags for all my sh*t! I want less sh*t; cameras, a retarded amount of cables and wires, phones, laptop... So I think there’s an instant opportunity there, electronics is interesting. What would be your top five entrepreneurial tips? Ok, in no particular order; firstly your
greatest competition is yourself. The voice in your head that says that you can do something or that you can’t, and that you can’t do something that you can, that is the only competition that you have to focus on. Second, get a really good pillow and a really nice bed - spend more money on that then you do your watch or your shoes or any other material thing because it’s the only place you’re allowed to be comfortable! Three; school comes to you, you don’t go to school that’s a big one. Four: discover the distinction between emotion and being emotional, and passion and being passionate. Finally, I’d also say instead of excuses, excuses, excuses, focus on execute, execute, execute. To check out the exclusive *eckõ Unltd. range, head to JDsports.co.uk
INTERVIEW FRESH MEAT
GOOD TO MEAT YOU...
No group of boozers know more about late nights than dolebludging students! We caught up with the cast of Channel 4’s new comedy, Fresh Meat, to find out how they channeled their inner student...
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ZAWE ASHTON We tipped this Hackney actress back in January; now, with blockbusters St Trinian’s and Blitz under her belt, it looks like this former drama student is about to become a household name thanks to her role as Vod in the series created by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, the writers of the oddly ace Peep Show and In The Thick Of It. “They had to get me drunk on champagne at the hairdressers to get this hair cut!” recalls Zawe of her new shorter, shaved look (word to Cassie!). “I had much longer hair when I got the job but it had to be done. Oh my God, was I nervous,” she laughs. “I love it though and when I got it done I knew Vod had arrived!” Having studied drama at Manchester Uni, it didn’t take much for the 26 yearold to get into character, especially as the series is set in the same city. “I love Manchester and I loved spending time rediscovering the place. It was weird coming back but it’s been amazing; we couldn’t have filmed it anywhere else. Manchester has such a student atmosphere. It was great for doing research; I was eaves-dropping all over the place.” Not only a super-talented actress,
Ashton is also a writer, having done a one-woman show at Manchester’s Contact Theatre a couple of years ago. “Since starting this show I have written a lot,” she nods of her inspiring cast and crew. “To get to work with a group of people, express myself in a completely different way and then go home and write is brilliant. Writing on its own is way too intense for me!” @zaweashton
“THEY HAD TO GET ME DRUNK ON CHAMPAGNE AT THE HAIRDRESSERS TO GET THIS HAIR CUT!”
“SUDDENLY LIVING IN A VERY FEMININE HOUSE THREW ME. THE BATHROOM WAS UNBELIEVABLE; THERE WERE BOTTLES AND BOTTLES OF STUFF.”
KIMBERLEY NIXON “I grew up in a house with six brothers then I moved into a house with three girls and the differences were incredible,” says Kimberley of her uni residential experiences. “Suddenly living in a very feminine house threw me. The bathroom was unbelievable; there were bottles and bottles of stuff. I literally just had a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner; I didn’t know what half the products were for!”
The Angus, Thongs... star who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff isn’t so different to that of her somewhat serious Fresh Meat character Josie. “She is quite diligent and I am as well. No matter what is going on in her personal life, she’ll always strive to not let that affect her work, which I was also good at.” Known for her serious roles in period dramas like Cranford playing for laughs
wasn’t too much of a stretch for this talented thespian. “I’d never done comedy before so I assumed there was no way I’d get it,” she says of the audition process. “When I heard Sam and Jesse were involved I was frantic; I’m just over the moon. It is such a new direction for me but this is exactly my humour!” @kimberleynixon1
jokes to others. “It is a total joy for me [to not have the] weight of the production on my shoulders. To come onto this and get to play a great character with funny lines is a total dream job. Gary... and my other stuff is rewarding
in another way,” he concludes. “Getting to shoot a Bain and Armstrong series is a total goal for a comedy actor. The scripts are hilarious and brilliantly written and the characters so well drawn.” @gregjmchugh
GREG MCHUGH Playing oddball Howard has meant McHugh has had to be very exposed – literally. “In the opening scene he is hair drying Peking ducks without any trousers or indeed pants on,” he laughs. “So in those scenes I’m naked from the waist down which was a lot of fun to shoot, as you can imagine!” Luckily his cast mates have quickly become friends, ending up in some boozy bonding. “We all get on genuinely really well. We eat out together about eight times a week, and go out but we can’t go too crazy because the schedule is pretty nuts. But if we have a later start or day off...it’s all method of course, coming in stinking of booze. I’m not joking; we’re playing students. I think they’ve saved a lot of time in make-up from us coming in looking worse for wear!” Greg, who wrote and starred in BBC hit Gary: Tank Commander has enjoyed putting the pen down and leaving the
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INTERVIEW FRESH MEAT
JOE THOMAS If you don’t know ‘Simon’ then you must be living under a very large rock; Thomas shot to fame as the flicky-fringed Simon in hit series The Inbetweeners. Though he’s been acting for a number of years, like the rest of the cast, Thomas who plays Kingsley, simply cast his mind back to his own student days to get into character. “There is no doubt in my mind that being a student was an immensely accelerated period of my life,” says Joe. “I felt I was changing far faster than at any other point in my life, particularly during the first term. You have to change quite radically just to get through your first day at uni!” Unlike Simon who relentlessly (and mostly fruitlessly) chases after Carly, Kingsley has a bit more to him than both the Inbetweeners’ character and Joe himself, he points out. “Kingsley stands up for himself to a greater degree than many people would. I think I was more shallow and sought experiences just for the sake of them at his age. I pretended I didn’t care about stuff that I did care about because it was embarrassing,” he admits. “He’s braver.” Living in Manchester for three months during filming created the 58 / RWDMAG.COM
perfect atmosphere for the series, says Joe. “We were all there together, living in the same apartment building and there is that sense of having a semi-student experience,” he points out. “We had our work to do, hanging around together. There is always a kind of common room atmosphere on set, sitting together and talking about work and then going out and getting horribly drunk. We had to stop going out drinking because what is not like being a student is that we had to get up at 7am!” Fresh Meat is on Channel 4 on Wednesdays at 10pm
“I FELT I WAS CHANGING FAR FASTER THAN AT ANY OTHER POINT IN MY LIFE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE FIRST TERM. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE QUITE RADICALLY JUST TO GET THROUGH YOUR FIRST DAY AT UNI!”
WRITERS JESSE ARMSTRONG AND SAM BAIN ON CREATING THE SERIES “It’s that classic scenario when people who may be very different are trapped together. You can get that in the work place, in flat shares like Peep Show and you get that in colleges and universities where people who wouldn’t normally even say hello to each other are forced into close proximity...” (Jesse) “I think it’s fair to say I could associate with all of the characters; the fun of writing anything is you can put bits of yourself in everyone. To me the joy of writing is that you can be all the characters; you don’t have to just pick one.” (Sam)
INTEVIEW TOP BOY
TOP OF THEIR GAME
If anyone knows how to do relevant and hard-hitting, it’s Channel 4. So when we heard about a new series called Top Boy that looks at life on the estate, we knew we needed to investigate. Hattie Collins talks to four of the women who take lead roles in the forthcoming drama... images by Arron Dunworth styling by Neesha Sharma assisted by Gemma Swan grooming by Darren Scott From the makers of Last King Of Scotland (Cowboy Films), and the director of Dead Set (Yann Demange) Top Boy is a major new drama based on the fictional east London estate of Summerhouse. Discussing issues particularly pertinent today, Top Boy takes a look at the violent quest to take over the estate by two novice drug dealers, Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane ‘Kano’ Robinson), and the effects it has on those that live there. Featuring a host of unknown and established actors (the series also introduces Scorcher in his first major acting role), the four-part drama is based on the first-hand experiences of the writer Ronan Bennett and story consultant Gerry Jackson. Realistic, gripping and laugh out loud in places, Top Boy will be the show that gets everyone talking when it airs at the end of October.
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RWD 10 SLIDING DOORS
“I LOVE KANO’S STUFF AND I USED TO LISTEN TO SO SOLID OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO IT WAS REALLY COOL TO BE WORKING WITH THOSE GUYS...” KIERSTON
HEATHER She played a brilliant baddie in Luther and is known for her roles in many a Martina Cole. Essex born actress Kierston Wareing takes the female lead in Top Boy, with an incredible performance of wannabe weed dealer Heather. You’re one of the UK’s fastest rising new talents. How did you get your start as an actor? I went to Lee Strasberg in New York and started doing LAMDA exams from seven. I went to drama school and then struggled for years really. Then I got my big break with [director] Ken Loach in It’s A Free World. How do you get through the leaner times of being an actress? This is the first time I’ve not worked in four years - it’s been a week! But I’m ok (laughs). Tell us about the role you play in Top Boy? I play Heather and she’s pregnant. She basically wants to get out of her council estate, so she sets up her own weed business. She gets this 14 year-old involved cos she knew his mum from years back. She’s a bit naïve really, it’s a one-off what she’s doing. What are you main memories of filming? To be honest, I don’t know any actors cos I don’t watch TV, I listen to music, so I think for me that was quite exciting. I wasn’t starstruck, but I love Kano’s stuff and I used to listen to So Solid over and over again so it was really cool to be working with those guys. @kierstonactress
CHANTELLE 17 year-old Guyana born, Tottenham raised Letitia Wright plays Chantelle, the only girl who rolls with the all-male crew. Wright has also been in Holby City and indy film, Victim, with Adam Deacon and Jason Maza. Tell us about the character you play. Chantelle is the only girl in the crew, so that was a lot of pressure to play. I don’t really come from that gritty, hard background, so within a week I had to get into that headspace. All the boys – Kano, Ashley, Malcolm who plays Ra’Nell– they were really supportive. Chantelle is 16, she’s into selling drugs. She doesn’t know which direction to take in life. I tried to get across that under-
neath all this hardness and toughness, she’s just a vulnerable kid. How did you get into the character? I’m going to sound cheesy saying this, but I watched a lot of Snoop in The Wire because she’s always surrounded by boys. I didn’t want to copy her, but I watched to see how she handled it and I saw that you have to hold your own. Why should we watch Top Boy? It’s something that’s not really been done on Channel 4 before, it will speak to you, whoever you are, whatever age, it will appeal to you. It’s an intense and heartfelt story. And it’s got a great cast – including myself! @letitia_wright
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INTEVIEW TOP BOY
NATALIE You might remember Camilla Marie Beeput from her time in Fame Academy; now an established actress, the singer and Peep Show star plays Natalie. Tell us about Natalie. She’s aspirational, a very positive character, a great female role model. She’s got a great job, she’s independent, doesn’t rely on her man, Chris, but wants to make a life with him. They’re completely not in the drugs world but get involved with it through Chris’s brother, Deshane’s [Ashley] actions. What are your memories of shooting? There was one scene that was very intense; we had a fight coordinator and I had the worst headache for three days because I had to scream and struggle and my hair was pulled for hours and hours! The director, Yann always wanted to keep it very real and encouraged us to go outside the script. Who are your acting inspirations? Meryl Streep is brilliant. The fact she’s 50 or 60 and she’s playing love interests is totally brilliant. What’s the toughest thing about your job? Staying positive in-between jobs is probably the hardest thing. So I try and do other things, I make music as well. @camillamarie1 62 / RWDMAG.COM
SOPHIE You will recognise Elarica Gallacher; if not from the pages of this very magazine as a model, then as Daniel Radcliffe’s love interest in Harry Potter’s HalfBlood Prince. The south Londoner, who has also been in Eastenders plays Kano’s girl Sophie. Firstly; kissing Daniel Radcliffe and Kano! The hard life of an actress! (Laughs). Kind of! The kiss with Kano is probably the most nerve-wracking kiss I’ve done to be honest. I got to know him through filming, which was great, because we didn’t do the kiss until the end of the shoot. I was quite nervous. But you do it a couple of times and you realise it’s just a kiss! How did you get into acting? I’ve acted since I was younger; I found out about the BRIT school and went there for four years. Katy B was in my year, Jessie J and Adele were the year
above me. I couldn’t be prouder to come from such an amazing place. Tell us about the role you play in Top Boy? Sophie is the girlfriend of Sully, played by Kano. She’s like the pretty girl who rides with them in the back of the car, but she’s not as streetwise as she thinks. How’s Kano as an actor? I was nervous for him. Ashley is brilliant, one of the best we have, but I was nervous for Kane because we’d all done stuff before and you could see he was a bit nervous. But he’s absolutely brilliant! Do you think Top Boy has resonance? Yeah. When the riots happened I worried because this could be seen as a negative thing. Looking at it now though, it’s a great opportunity to see what some young people get up to and to try and understand it. We’re not trying to show bad things that people do, we’re showing the consequences. @elarica
“WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL WATCH IT AND GO AWAY AND QUESTION IT RATHER THAN LABELING IT ‘ONE OF THEM SHOWS’ THAT GLAMOURISES VIOLENCE.” ASHLEY WALTERS DUSHANE & SULLY Of course, as the name suggests, Top Boy isn’t just about the women; we catch up with the show’s lead males, @therealkano (Sully) and @AshleyWalters82 (Dushane), who talk to Ralph Hardy about being rappers-turnt-actors... How did you get the part in Top Boy? Kano: The casting director Des Hamilton got in contact and said I’d be right for it, so I came down to the castings. I did three, the last with Ashley and they told me I got it. Tell us about your characters? Kano: Sully is a live wire; he lives in the moment but he’s also loyal to Dushane. He’s power driven, a hard headed character – he’s on it! No matter what he does, he believes in it. Me and Dushane are best mates, we end up bumping heads and sometimes we don’t see eye to eye but at the end of the day we’re loyal friends; guys growing up in Hackney, going through stuff.
Ashley: The whole premise of the idea is that these are little league drug dealers. We’re trying to work our way up and Dushane’s idea is that we don’t have to be violent and kill people and have a bad reputation in our community in order to get to the top. He feels there’s a quicker way out there without being killers. But Kano’s character doesn’t really take that onboard, so they eventually develop a complex between themselves. It’s heavily researched and based on true events. Kane, did Ashley help you at all? Kano: Yeah he helped me massively! If I ever needed to call him on a day off, I could always call him and discuss the role. If I needed to rehearse beforehand he was there to help with acting lessons. He helped me actively but not just me, a lot of the first time actors and young ones – he was the backbone. Ashley: Working with Kano was particularly good – he’s a shining star. Whatever it is you need to do, he’s got it so hopefully he’ll do more TV shows and films in the future.
Why is a film like this relevant to society right now? Ashley: It’s exposing what there is now. The Olympic committee didn’t want us to film in the estates, schools, in Hackney etc., because of what we were representing. I’m not a politician, but it’s actually happening out there. The writers did three years of research about the area and it’s common practice that young kids, even as young as 11, are selling and cooking drugs and are involved in gun and knife crime. We hope people will watch it and go away and question it rather than labeling it ‘one of them shows’ that glamourises violence. I haven’t done something controversial like this in a while, but I will say hand on my heart it is TV that needs to be watched. We’re painting a real picture not a lot of people want to see. I need to big up Cowboy and Channel 4 for putting it on the screens. I rate them for doing it. Top Boy airs on Channel 4 from the end of October. @Topboyc4, #Topboy and Channel4.com/topboy 63
COMPETITION
WIN £1000H CAS
GET SOCIAL WITH PUMA Reckon you can do better than the After Hours Athletes? Well Puma Social are offering up the challenge to get your imposter game on for a chance to win BIG!
As you’re all more than aware by now, Puma are getting seriously social of late and have all sorts of further After Hours activities up their sleeves, so it’s time to get involved. From New Zealand to New York, the After Hour Athletes have been showcasing their social sporting skills to full effect. If you didn’t already know RWD were absolutely obliterated during the battle to become the After Hours champs, by both competition winners We Are S.M.E and The Green Team headed up by Professor Green, so obviously it’s not as easy as it looks! Your challenge if you wish to accept it, is to simply but hilariously mimic the actions of previous After Hours Athletes attempting to prove their sporting expertise - with a twist of course. Being an After Hours Athlete is all about adding a little cheeky attitude to the sport in question so don’t expect there to be a straight forward ping pong rally, more like survival of the thirstiest after a game of beer pong sees you 64 / RWDMAG.COM
drinking your competition under the table. So, if you reckon you can look even more pathetic attempting to down a pint than our Deputy Editor, Danny Walker or filthier than Pro Green scoffing a kebab before noon, then you better get over to the eYeka competition site (http://mypum.as/pxiN5D) and join the club. Other than the belly laughs you’ll create for all of the Puma Social twitter followers and Facebook fans who will be voting for their faves, there’s awesome prizes available. The winning video will also be featured in the Puma guerrilla marketing campaign so you better make sure your vid is up to scratch. If you don’t see yourself as the next big thing in film then it’s more than worth a trip online to vote for the videos that make you want to pee your pants. Keep up with all things After Hours on Facebook.com/Pumasocial
GET SOCIAL WITH PUMA In order to be in with a chance of winning the most amazing prizes just follow the steps below! Firstly Check out facebook.com/puma to see which After Hours Athletes you would like to ape. Secondly Film a funny as hell video impersonating After Hours Athletes (30-40 sec.) and upload to co-creation community Eyeka.co.uk Thirdly Vote like crazy via the Puma Facebook and @puma What’s up for grabs? 1st/2nd Prize - £1000 cash and £250 worth of Puma goodies 3rd/4th Prize - £500 cash and £250 worth of Puma goodies
COMPETITION
SEE H INT R B A L LIVE!
REEBOK CLASSICS PRESENT...
Reebok have just announced an exclusive one-off miniconcert that will feature the UK’s biggest stars. With super producer and Earthquake creator Labrinth headlining and eclectic artist Bluey Robinson and diverse DJ duo Jack Beats in support, this looks like a miss it miss out event...
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Reebok Classics have been at the forefront of fashion for decades and the new collection sees the British brand reiterate their relationship with youth culture. As you know Reebok like to celebrate individuality not only in sport but in life as well, so who better to headline a sick gig than Mr Individuality himself and long term fan of the brand, Labrinth. You’ve seen him rock Classics in the Earthquake video and now this is your chance to see him front his first concert. On 26 October, Lab will be joined by singer Bluey Robinson and former world scratch DJs Jack Beats at a secret London location, so if you’d like to see these innovative artists do their thing then just log on to win
tickets via rwdmag.com/reebokpresents now. (Entrants must be over 16). Join Facebook/reebokclassics for more info.
NEW CLASSIC LITE The new Reebok Classics Lite combine Reebok DNA and on-trend and technologically advanced materials. Making trainers which are both stylish and comfortable they bring vibrancy and lightweight luxuries to your feet. Reebok Classics are available at JD Sports nationwide. Check werclassic.com and jdsports.co.uk
UNWIND
GADGETS | GAMES | FILMS | GIG GUIDE | ALBUMS THE BEST OF STAYING IN... AND GOING OUT...
>>
ASSASSINS CREED REVELATIONS
assassinscreed.com The final leg of Ezio’s trilogy is here and it’s looking very ruthless/ intriguing/ playable if we do say so ourselves. When we picked up the pad – when given a few moments to go hands-on – it was impressive. Add to that solid graphics and the new Hookblade and you’ve got yourself a game.
HE T N I JO ED!!! CRE
>> 69
UNWIND GAMES
GAMES The perfect remedy for a sore head; gaming might not cure a hangover but then what does!
Add us on Xbox Live (RWDmag) to participate in weekly RWD tournaments...
MONTHLY MUST TRY BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment PC, PS3, Xbox 360
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After the immense response 2009’s Arkham Asylum received (and rightfully so), there was a lot riding on the release of this sequel. Luckily Warner Bros. and developers Rocksteady Studios know exactly what they’re doing by staying close and true to the formula. And what a concoction this is; dark, graphically enriched and fighting controls that will have the Riddler running scared. Whether looking for
clues with an endless supply of gadgets or simply crushing the enemies with the Batclaw, you’ll have the city swept up in no time. With so many games to play this month (and loads from the last) make sure you forget the rest and chase the Joker, Two-Face and co until your thumbs hurt. Gotham never looked so good!
ADVANCE PREVIEW OUT 08/11/2011 ASSASSINS CREED REVELATIONS
Ubisoft PC, PS3, Xbox 360 An evening of the final Assassins Creed is never enough but from what we garnered when donning the robes of Ezio is that the new instalment is looking quite deep. On your way to Masyaf, in search of the lost library of Altair Ibn La’Ahad, the journey is both long and engaging. After moments with the new Hookblade – which extends the way you navigate, allowing you to attach yourself to everything and mess people up – we could tell that Revelations might just stay in your console for a while yet. Add to that the use of bombs - Yes!!! Bombs!!! - you’ll be forgiven if you don’t see your friends come the end of November..
REVIEWS: BATTLEFIELD 3 EA PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Our itchy trigger finger has well and truly been scratched; this is ANOTHER reason not to go to a real war.
DARK SOULS Namco Bandai PS3, Xbox 360
Although this game is very hard in places (seriously, trying to defeat bosses is too much at times), when you finally do slay that damn boss there is an instant and rewarding (and relieving) stream of emotion. The super hardcore gamer will probably appreciate the complexity of DS but the typical casual gamer would likely put this down in favour of FIFA or Gears of War after a couple of plays. (KG)
PES 2012 Konami All formats
Do you remember when PES won the footy game war? Jump forward a couple of years and my how things change. Well now Pro Evo seems a lot more determined to reclaim its top status. Pro is back with some dramatic improvements with the gameplay and off-the-ball controls allowing moments of brilliance that Barcelona would be proud of. Still not quite there but mega fun all the same. (KG)
FIVE BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY FACTS NOT EVEN A GEEK WOULD CARE ABOUT There are 751 days between the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum and ...Arkham City. In Swahili the word ‘City’ is ‘Mji’. Not very useful now we know, but imagine you were in a country where they speak Swahili. The first time supervillian ‘TwoFace’ appeared in a DC Comic (Detective Comics #66) his name was actually ‘Harvey Kent’ and they changed it at a later date to avoid confusion with Clark Kent. The number of animations Batman can do in Batman: Arkham City has been doubled. The game’s writer, Paul Dini, was born on a Wednesday... 71
UNWIND GAMES
UNWIND SPECIAL: NBA 2K12 COMP
To celebrate the release of the bountiful basketball title NBA 2K12 we’ve linked up with the good guys over at 2K Sports to give away a copy of the game and an Xbox 360. Another slam dunk of a competition... THE GAME
It’s back, the game that went from Rookie of the Year in the early noughties to Most Valuable Player when it comes to ballin’ on a console, NBA 2K12 is bigger than ever. Last year 2K11 sold over 5 million copies and with NBA legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on the cover things can only get better. Upgrades include NBA’s Greatest Mode – in which gamers can take a trip back to key moments in NBA history – improved graphics and even smarter player A.I. (it feels like the opposition are predicting much more passes this year and turnovers are up at least 20%... which is a good thing adding more realism to the game). Despite somehow losing big to the [Dallas] Mavericks with [Miami] Heat (and their myriad of multiple MVPs) in 72 / RWDMAG.COM
our first game, every time we touched the court whilst playing NBA 2K12, was a joy. Realistic alley-oops, increased court ambiance and the infamous Sprite Slam Cam add to the playability but the gamechanger this year has to be the ability to go back in time and don the 23 of Jordan, the 33 of Bird or the 32 of Earvin “Magic” Johnson. It was a close one but when we went out as Jordan, Pippin, Grant and the rest of the goons from that legendary 1993 Bulls team we brought it to Charlotte Hornets, and were unstoppable. Hornets 60 – Bulls 93...big.
THE VERDICT
This is a very enjoyable title for everyone from hardcore b-ballers to squared-eyed game geeks. To get the best enjoyment you’ll be somewhere in the middle.
THE COMP To celebrate the release of NBA 2K12 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, PSP and PlayStation 2, we’ve got an Xbox 360 console, a copy of the game, a hoody, a cap and a t-shirt for one lucky winner. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the question on the Welcome/Comps page of facebook.com/rwdmagfans.
UNWIND WITH KUDO TSUNODA
Unwind With KUDO TSUNODA
After working his magic at EA, Kudo Tsunoda is now bathing in creativity at Microsoft. The Creative Director for Kinect for Xbox 360 talks about growing up in a large family, having to share consoles, the early days of Project Natal and surviving a night on the tiles with him... interview by Danny Walker AFTER HOURS SPECIAL... What would be your one tip to surviving a night out with you? Shades. Especially if you’re showing up for work and for PR interviews the next day [laughs]. If you come into London and you’ve been out all night, wear glasses and just say how it’s part of your creative process [laughs]. Then you’ll be able to hide your hangover better. Not that I would use that or anything!
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How are things going? Well, you know... it’s certainly been a busy year. Things are exciting. Kinect has been doing really well. When you were younger, were you one of those annoying kids with everything? I think I would class myself as one of those non-annoying people with one of everything. I still had one of everything, but I wasn’t annoying. Because I have five brothers and sisters, it was a battle to get any time to play when everybody else is playing, so most of the time I had to stay up super late or get up early in the morning to be able to get my time in. When you went from EA to Microsoft in 2008, what did you want to bring to the team and what did you notice about the different working environments? I never thought about what I could bring to the team, as much as just being there in a creative perspective. There are so many cool things about working at Microsoft, as far as the creative palette is concerned. There is no way you can get to work on anything like Kinect other than at Microsoft. It was so much fun when Xbox Live came out. I mean, you could go online and start playing people on a game that you actually worked on. You could see people doing things and you just thought, ‘Wow, I never knew you could do that inside the game.’ I love seeing the stuff that people have come up with, that has been the most exciting thing. Which leads perfectly into my next question, what do you think of some of the Xbox Hacks... People are apparently using it for pornographic nonsense, people are using it for... [Laughs]. Yeah, I think it’s interesting and you see so many cool things that are going on in the world; the hard part is, right now, the only way you can really experience those is watching a video. The real joy of it is getting it and experiencing it for yourself and that’s
what we’re trying to do; bring things out so games can be played the way that Kinect was meant to be experienced. So what about you, how do you UnWind? The whole reason I got into video games in the first place was the fact that I love games. Even outside of work, I think the stuff I’m really focused on is going out and enjoying yourself and having a good time and engaging with – even if it’s not video games – just different forms of play. How do you deal with the fact that you’re this massive character in the gaming community? You’ve got your haters, you’ve got your groupies... Let me tell you an interesting story; at work someone sent in a package to me.... Oh no... I opened the package and it’s like this little stuffed teddy bear kind of doll. There was a note... sorry this isn’t going to be a funny story... it was from a mum. Her kid kind of had trouble developing her coordination properly. Her mum got her Kinect and then started to get her physical coordination together, to the point that she didn’t feel so shy. I dunno, I just think that is more important. And who would play you in a film? PR/ Microsoft guy: Brad Pitt is busy I’m afraid. Kudo: [Laughs] That is a tough one. Erm... maybe Mickey Rourke before he turned into the strange deformed Mickey Rourke. So early on Mickey Rourke. Let me ask you, who do you think will be good to play me? Erm... Jeff Bridges, maybe? Thanks [laughs]. But I think Brad Pitt would actually be a better representation of me. And lastly, what are your top three Kinect games... First of all is Kinectimals - I know it seems weird saying that one of those is my favourite - Fun Labs, and Disneyland Adventures even though it’s not out yet.
INTERVIEW IN NUMBERS The amount of times Kudo said ‘Super’:
18 The amount of questions Kudo was uneasy with: (“What do you think of some of the Xbox Hacks?”)
1
The number of magazines invited to interview Kudo: (RWD and Wired)
2
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UNWIND FILMS
FILMS As soon as the sun goes down it’s not ALL about drinking you know...
STRAW DOGS Sony Pictures Cert 18
Yes this is a remake, yes this stars Cyclops from X-Men (James Marsden) and yes the trailer looks like the film should hurtle straight to the DVD bargain bucket... but don’t let these superficial setbacks put you off! This rebooted psychological thriller really gets under the skin and anyone who watches it will be sitting there thinking, ‘What if that was me? What would I do?’ This flick is well worth your time.
DEMONS NEVER DIE Exile Media Cert 18
An array of young talent combined with a mind-meandering drama make this a must see movie. The striking colour schemes and the setting establish a dark world in which a group of young teens, all with differing problems ranging from anorexia to sexuality, decide to come together to formulate a plan to kill themselves. This well-written tale will have you gripped to the storyline and to your seats. (RB) 76 / RWDMAG.COM
ADVANCE PREVIEW 50/50
Lionsgate Cert 15
Starring Knocked Up’s Seth Rogen, Inception’s Joseph GordonLevitt, Addams Family’s Anjelica Huston and Twilight’s Anna Kendrick, this comedy drama, loosely based on the writer Will Reiser’s story, is about Adam (Gordon-Levitt) who finds out that he has been diagnosed with cancer. The film focuses on how Adam deals with the news and also how his loved ones cope, with each character handling the situation in their own way. Expect laughs from the best friend Kyle (Rogen), his fellow patients and moments of drama from his parents and girlfriend. (KG)
UNWIND GIG GUIDE
GIG GUIDE
RINSE 17: BRIXTON ACADEMY 8 OCTOBER 2011 Before RWD even saw the line up for Rinse‘s 17th Birthday celebrations, we knew it was going to be strictly for the hardcore skankers. Pirate station gone legal and now boasting a record label, Rinse are as much a part of history as RWD when it comes to nurturing and supporting underground musical talent. Filling Brixton Academy was no problem as renowned Rinse DJ’s from Youngsta and Spyro to Marcus Nasty and The Heatwave came out to play their finest dubs and biggest bangers of both the old and the nu skool, everything from funky to jungle, grime and bashment. 78 / RWDMAG.COM
Okay, we’re not quite sure what order things happened in, so we’ll just pick out our best moments. Newham Generals absolutely killed it and the crowd near enough drowned out D Double’s vocals. There was a first airing of the new Modestep x New Gen’s collab, before Elijah and Skilliam’s set completely smashed Room Two to pieces sending the Rinse ravers into a frenzy. Katy B and Ms. Dynamite had the most amount of fun on stage and the reloads for Ms. D’s new single Neva Soft were no joke as the ladies warmed things up nicely for the likes of OGz and Jammer who
commanded the crowd with their back to back bars. If you weren’t there and you consider yourself a fan of homegrown underground music you’re seriously slipping. Oh and remember to look out for next month’s review of our own DECA celebrations! [NS]
WE’RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT ORDER THINGS HAPPENED, BUT NEWHAM GENERALS ABSOLUTELY KILLED IT!
OCTOBER 26 Tempa T w/ Ghetts, Lady Leshurr, Marvell, Krept & Konan, Cleo Sol & Lioness @ 02 Academy 2, Sheffield 27 Soundcrash and Maverick Sabre Ft. Tinariwen & Delilah @ KOKO, London 28 Wretch 32 Ft. Loick Essien @ KOKO, London
28-29 Relentless Freeze Festival Ft. Groove Armada, The Streets, Rizzle Kicks, Modestep, Zane Lowe + many more @ Battersea Power Station, London 29 Tim Westwood @ Club Bed, Birmingham 29-30 Arctic Monkeys Ft. The Vaccines and Smith Westerns @ The O2 Arena, London
NOVEMBER 1 Lykke Li @ Roundhouse, London Jessie J Ft. Devlin @ HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London 3 Professor Green Ft. Rizzle Kicks @ Roundhouse, London 4 Tinie Tempah Ft. J. Cole @ 02 Arena, London
4 Sub Focus, True Tiger, Virus Syndicate, Broke N English + more @ Warehouse Project, London
11 J. Cole @ Electric Ballroom, London
7 Wiz Khalifa @ 02 Academy Brixton, London
13 Tinchy Stryder @ Scala, London
ILUVLIVE Ft. Josh Osho @ XOYO, London 10 Tinie Tempah Ft. Nero & J. Cole @ Wembley Arena, London
Frank Ocean @ XOYO, London
15 Breakage @ Hoxton Square 18 Zed Bias, Terror Danjah, Swindle & Royal-T @ Hidden, London
23 Chase & Status Ft. Delilah @ The Forum, Hertfordshire, Hatfield 25 Chase & Status Ft. Mistajam, Nero, Knife Party, Zane Lowe, Joker + many more @ Alexandra Palace, London 26 James Blake, Pariah, Blawan + more @ Warehouse Project, Manchester 79
REVIEWS DONAEO
UKG / GRIME / DUBSTEP CHART BY DJ CHEWY 01 GOTH TRAD
Indigo Child Donaeo.com
The Party Anthem King™ returns with 11 brand new tracks of pure, uplifting dance music; from the depths of dub to the heights of funky, as ever Big D pours emotion into each and every track, making this not only a CD you’ll want to Party Hard to, but a record you’ll want to listen to over and over at home. The S’Mi’Now star brings the zadoops on a brilliant CD made better by the fact that it’s free! It’s actually a bit criminal to not charge for this; make sure you go download your copy now! Track To Check: When Angels Sing (HC)
Babylon Fall EP (Deep Medi) Stop reading and go cop this excellent set of weighty dubs. 02
J. COLE Cole World: The Sideline Story RocNation
We’ve had the mixtapes, we’ve had the features (namely Blueprint 3’s A Star Is Born) and we’ve had the ‘check this mo-fo’ magazine articles (check issue #105), and finally J. Cole drops something of note. With tight self-production and details of his disjointed rise to the top, alongside a few club heaters (dub-drunk Mr. Nice Watch Ft. Jay-Z and the odd dose of drippage (Work Out) this is a comprehensive concoction. Track to Check: Mr Nice Watch (DW)
JAMES BLAKE
JASON DERULO
Enough Thunder EP
Future History
Atlas
Warner Music
Seeing him earlier this year at KOKO was breathtaking as it was, but now Blake wants to steal my asthma pump and Nandos money too. He’s like the hitman who turns up at the funeral; nang. As well as having Bon Iver on Fall Creek Boys Choir transcending some f***ery I didn’t know I had in me, songs like Once We All Agree have beautiful melodies and meaning behind them that would make Errol the bodybuilder tear up. It’s like gospel music of an unknown religion. Track To Check: A Case Of You (RH)
“Jaaaaaaaaaaaaasssson Deeruuuuuuuloooo!!!!!!!!!” is back. Although his return is essentially a test from the Audio Devils to push the human ear to the limit, Future History isn’t as bad as originally expected. Club bangers rub shoulders with Eurotrash inspired-nonsense and if you focus more on the RedOne produced Fight For You’s rather than the X’s then you and Derulo’s sophomore selection can be friends. Track to Check: Fight For You (DW)
EMALKAY
The World Ft Lena Culler (Dub Police) As contagious as rabies. 03 TUNNIDGE
Control/ Decay Get Darker Yet another great reggae-sampled dubstep monster 04 LAS
Power Surge Black Box One of the biggest dubstep bangers currently in rotation. 05SEPALCURE
Love Pressure Hotflush Simply incredible production that mashes dubstep and house. 06
SCB
Mace/ Overlay SCB Definitely one for the funky deep groove lovers. 07CESSA
Burner/ Sleep On NuMu Records Getting fully supported by the premier funky league. 08
ED SHEERAN
Lego House Atlantic Totally refixed by the legend Subscape for the dubstep massive. 09 BE-1NE
Cane Cutter/ Soar Area Records Directed at the minimal chill out style dubstep fraternity. 10 MARCUS NASTY
We Are Bass EP Promo Out to Marcus for the Rinse B Day set - just brilliant.
9TH WONDER The Wonder Years Jamla/Traffic Ent.
ELIJAH & SKILLIAM Rinse 17 Rinse
Underground aficionados Elijah & Skilliam have gone from strength to strength over the past few years as DJ’s on Rinse and also with their record label Butterz. This compilation, the 17th in the series, proves just how on top of the scene they are with exclusive dubplates (DJ Q’s Woooo remix, Strakey’s Air Bubble) and bangers on top of bangers. This is one CD where the skip button is unnecessary. Track To Check: Faze Miyake Take Off (NS)
FRISCO TearDrops EP Boy Better Know
This year has been a lot for BBK’s Frisco, from his Ghost Train riddim to joining Skepta on tour, so he’s far from a liar when he says “I go hard with the pen for that pound”. Keeping things grimy, Big Fris goes in on the collabs, the free download features everyone from J2K to Smiler, Lioness and Lay-Z with beats from RWD faves Flava D, Example, Skepta and the man himself on the regular reload Food To Eat. Another sign that grime is definitely alive and well. Track To Check: Keeping it G’d Up (remix) Ft. Ghetts (NS)
Considering the comments 9th made about Watch The Throne, there’s going to be a lot of eyes on this release. The Wonder Years proves just how comfortable 9th is with his sound, collaborating with the likes of Mac Miller, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius, Raekwon and countless others who are more than happy to spit/sing over his idiosyncratic hip hop tracks. If you’re into hip hop without the bravado you’ll like it. If not cop #WTT innit. Track To Check: Hearing The Melody (NS)
DJ BATTLECAT X MISTAJAM X SNOOP DOGG Throw Your Dub’s Up Doggy Style
There are a lot of people that are against US rappers spitting on dubstep. I’m not one of them. Since the first Dubstep LA compilation it was evident that the US dubstep scene was probably bigger than over here. So the fact Redlight,True Tiger and C&S hook up with the likes of Snoop and Busta with support from everyone’s favourite bass enthusiast, Mistajam, this a great look for the UK and the dubstep scene. Download NOW! Track To Check: Be like Me (NS)
ALBUM OF THE MONTH FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE Ceremonials Islands Records
Once again Florence has hooked herself up to The Machine and following on from 2009’s Mercury Nominated debut, Lungs, it’s a welcome return of airy vocals, warmed up high-pitched notes and strong instrumentation. Unlike the critically-acclaimed first album however, you struggle for a favourite track(s), but that aside there’s something for Florence fans and newbies alike. If you go beyond lukewarm “buzz single” What The Water Gave Me and first official single, the grower that is Shake It Up, you find ear pleasers and Paul Epworth produced brilliance to make it a ceremony worth remembering. Track to Check: Lover to Lover (DW)
RWD’S REWINDS
14th Hide Yourself (White) B.o.B Strange Clouds Ft. Lil Wayne (Atlantic) T-Pain 5 O’Clock Ft. Wiz Khalifa, Lily Allen (Konvict Muzik) Ed Sheeran Lego House (remix) Ft. P Money (Atlantic) Buraka Som Sistema Hangover (Caspa Remix) (Sony BMG) Professor Green Remedy (Virgin) Emeli Sandé Daddy (EMI) Drake Headlines (Cash Money) Skepta Hold On (AATW) Tinchy Stryder Off The Record (Island) XO Man Ft. Mikill Pane, Sincere and Master Shortie Follow Fashion (XOMan Music] Preditah Eightsome EP (Earth 616) Manga & Wiley 24/7 (Free Download) Kendrick Lamar Cloud 10 (Free Download) Wiley Roaming (Free Download) Lunice Ft. Azealia Banks Runnin’ (XL) Drake Ft. Nicki Minaj Make Me Proud (Young Money) Labrinth Ft. Tinie Tempah Earthquake (Syco)
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FINAL WORD: JODIE HARSH “I TRIPPED AND KNOCKED MYSELF UNCONSCIOUS, MY FRIEND SHOOK ME AWAKE AND I HAD BLOOD ALL OVER MY FACE AND I CRACKED MY HEAD OPEN.” With two successful club nights, a phonebook (and a hairpiece) bigger than most, Jodie Harsh has become a legendary figure when it comes to all things after hours. The late night legend tells RWD how it’s done... interview by Danny Walker What is the difference between Jay Clarke and ‘Jodie Harsh’? [Jodie has] Lots of make-up and hair. Not much to be honest. So, do we need to ask, who is more outgoing? Who is more social? That is an obvious one... Jodie. It’s not like I’ve got a split personality, it’s just me doing my work really. Just like a work suit. What has been the best night out you’ve ever had? Oh my God, I think it was my 23rd birthday which I had in Movida. It was when Movida was really cool. It was sooo mental, I was literally stood in a room with loads of my musical idols. We invited everyone and they all came. Everyone from Mark Ronson to Roisin Murphy and loads and loads of people; a mental party. How long did it take you to recover? You know what, the morning after that, I got up to make myself a cup of tea, it must have been early afternoon and I tripped over my makeup box, which was on my floor... We can imagine that being massive... It’s is absolutely massive. I tripped over 82 / RWDMAG.COM
and knocked myself unconscious, my friend shook me awake and I had blood all over my face and I cracked my head open. I spent the entire day after my birthday in A&E. I had stitches in my head and now I have a big scar. That was the worst. Nice. So what about a typical night? I’d go out for dinner. I’d always wear something loud, I’d then hit the club. I don’t really drink that much because I have to get up early. I’m running several businesses now so from when I first started so... I kind of rely on Red Bull now. What would be your typical going out outfit? How lavish? I’m really into Jeremy Scott at the moment. Who would you be chasing or would people be chasing you? Hmmm... a footballer. Come on, give us some gossip... Erm... no gossip [laughs]. You can put rock star/ rapper. So any of the above, insert celebrity here. Insert [laughs]... And how would you get home? Taxi via the kebab shop?
I have a driver but I very often get a kebab on the way home. However it’s always a shish kebab, it is the healthier choice. I’ve NEVER had a donor kebab though. Is it made of pigeon? What is the worst thing you’ve ever done when you’re out? Oh my God!!! So many illegal things. The worst thing I’ve ever done? Oh my God... I can’t even think about anything. I can’t remember [laughs]... [asks assistant] Jasmine, what is the worst thing I have ever done? [Laughs] See nothing, I’m an angel. What is the best hangover cure? Berocca and two litres of Evian. Precisely two litres... what happens if you have three? [Laughs] You die. What is next for Jodie Harsh? My night This is Circus is gonna get bigger and bigger. There are some music projects going on at the moment too but don’t worry, I’m not going to be singing! Check Thisiscircus.com, Jodieharsh.com or follow @jodieharsh