RWD Issue 145: March 2014 - Clean Bandit

#145 CLEAN BANDIT

NEW CLASSIC

MAR 14

boost available at

boost available at

boost available at

endless energy

163,000 copies of their single Rather Be, our cover stars, Clean Bandit have seen their profile rise instantly. The four–piece are joined by a producer we’ve literally been trying to track down for years, Julio Bashmore as we head into the studio to discuss his rise through the house scene whilst we go backstage with model collective Justanorm to talk about life in front of the lens.

Plus esteemed photographer Ravi Sidhu who can be found shooting the likes of Frank Ocean and Richard Branson, steps from behind the lens too.

Eds Letter It’s hard to believe that we’re already three months into the year! Seriously, where does the time go? Well, RWD have been busy travelling up and down the UK scouting models for the Face of JD; shout out Rake Ali, he’s definitely got the fans behind him and Boots by the sounds of how much hair gel he goes through.

Other than being stuck on packed trains full of football louts, we’ve also been working with adidas to help launch their new trend-lifestyle trainer, BOOST 2 by bringing together a group of creatives who have all seen their careers receive a noticeable boost. After selling

RWD Team Editor Feature Writer Digital Editor Staff Writer Contributing Editor Contributors

@nardenescott @moorizzla @tegosigel @benrebuck @chantellefiddy Alex Johnson, Carly Wilford, Kieran Yates, Joseph “JP” Patterson, Ellis Earl, Sian Anderson

Creative Director Designer Fashion Editor Stylists

Dacre @PXLpics Sam Hardy Sophie Robinson Janine Jauvel, Violetta Thalia, Neesha Sharma Funny Tummy, Rachel Goslin, Matt Glasby Andres Reynega, Jon Attenborough, JPH, Response London, Adrian Nettleship, Kevin Joseph, Sam Bond, Liam Ricketts

We also meet Second City whose infectious productions make him #ReadyForAnything. Instagram don Peeje T asks WGAF? We talk to grime scene saviour Meridian Dan and we put a call in to Cali rapper Nipsey Hussle. Not forgetting a trip into the world of artist PINS, Marc Kinchen trying his hardest to recall Hideout Festival and Alya doing her best to train like a Spartan as 300: Rise of the Empire hits cinemas.

Illustrators

Video

Greg Bond, Felix Kemp, Darren Rahaman, Andres Albert

We’re exhausted! See you next month where we’ll suddenly perk up, just in time for festival season/blagging.

Publisher Commercial Dir. Senior Sales Brand Relations Operations Thanks

Nigel Wells Paul LeFevre Matthew Richards Hattie Collins Martin Ferguson Bob Austin

Photographers

@nardenescott

Contributors

Contact RWD RWD 4th Floor 60-62 Commercial Street Greater London E1 6LT Tel: 020 3176 4299 staff@RWDmag.com @RWDmag

Vikki Moore

Sabina Emrit

Peeje T

In a word, I’m... hardcore You’ll normally find me... out and about having fun dancing with a drink in one hand, shot in the other!!!

This issue… I joined the sales team I’m all about... no regrets/living the dream I’m so over... saying no!!!

Get at me... @VikkiMoore8

In a word, I’m... a workaholic You’ll normally find me... working or chilling with my kitten Plato This issue… I’m the new fashion director!

I’m all about... the LA life I’m so over... This Gotham City weather Get at me... @sabinasdemrit and @sabinaemritstylist - yes, they should match…

In a word, I’m... creative You’ll normally find me... eating chicken nuggets This issue… is my introduction I’m all about... working with friends I’m so over... selfies Get at me... @PeejeT

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 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 / 8

CONTENTS ISSUE #145 Regulars 8 #WGAF 10-15 Check-In Check Out 16-17 #ReadyForAnything: Second City, Lewis Hackett, Eyedress

RWD Boost 19 20-21 22-27 28-29 30-31 32-34

Intro Julio Bashmore Clean Bandit Still Life Ravi Sidhu Justanorm

RWD Football 37 38 39 40-43 44-45 46-47 48-49 50-51

Power Play Eds Letter Ronaldo In Numbers Walk The Line: Kyle Walker My First: Dan Dare Leading By Example: Mikel Arteta Two Sides: Best In The League Living Legend: Ronaldo

Style 52-64 East Is East

Features 66-69 Visual Trips: PINS 70-73 Slauson Soldier: Nipsey Hussle 74-75 Soundcheck: Sango

Unwind 77 Death and Destruction: 300: Rise of an Empire 78-79 The 300 Workout 80-81 House Master: MK

#WGAF / 10

#WGAF

Bombs Away

Another month, another bunch of stuff we pretend to not really give a f**k about. This month though our guest writer Peeje T does his best to pretend that the following things didn’t annoy the sh*t out of him…

Can’t Remember To Forget You When I heard Rihanna and Shakira were putting out a video I had to lock my bedroom door and close the blinds. They have to be the sexiest duo to pair up for a song. But man... that song stinks. It’s all good though; I have no problems watching it on mute.

Macklemore It happened. He left the Grammy’s with the Best Rap Album award. We all knew it was going to happen, but when word got out, the internet went nuts! As if Macklemore’s credibility couldn’t get any lower in the hip hop community, he posted screenshots of his texts apologising to Kendrick. There’s nothing we can do besides a collective SMH. Drunk In Love We finally got to see Beyoncé and Jay Z perform the song that is responsible for creating the most babies in 2014 so far. They kicked off the Grammy’s with a hypersexual performance that left little to the imagination. From Beyoncé’s chair routine to Jay Z’s ass grab. My surfboard doesn’t fit in my bathtub, though. I’m confused.

Kanye’s Expensive Punch Kanye put a welldeserved beat down on an 18 year-old that used racial slurs on him and his fiancée. It is going to cost him, though. Kanye will be settling out of court with the idiot for $250,000. While I commend Kanye for standing up for his wife, he needs to stop reacting to the trolls.

Tweet To Win This month we’ve gone all arty with the competition as London based artist PINS offers up some of his unique clothing.

First up is his psychedelic skull adorned Leopalicious Sweater whilst the two lucky runner ups will receive PINS Stay Hungry T-shirts. All you have to do to be in the running is come up with an acronym using the letters P, I, N, S. The most creative or floetic will win the above so tweet your best acronyms to @RWDmag @PINSpired #RWDPINS

If you don’t follow New Yorker @peejet, address that issue quickly and join in on the daily jokes he provides via Instagram as he casually chills out with his fantasy friends...

Firstly, who is Peejet?

Peejet is a regular guy that was bored one day, so he decided to try to teach himself photoshop. The rest is a blur...

How did you come up with the crazy idea in the first place?

I just wanted to make a silly picture to make my friends laugh; I didn’t ever expect this much attention.

Has any celebrity come back to you or retweeted or liked your pics?

Yeah, some of them have shared and retweeted my pictures. I’ve been around some of the celebs’ peers at events and such and they all seem to get a kick out of it as well.

What in your eyes has been your most genius shopped image?

Probably my picture with Miguel because of the timing of it… He landed on that girl at the Billboard Music Awards and within an hour or so I’d uploaded my picture of it.

Where else can you take things?

Are there plans for clothing maybe?

Yeah, I’d love to do clothing. Just trying to go through all these opportunities that are coming my way and figuring out what’s the best for me.

You seem to have turned into a celebrity, having gained fans across the world, what’s the last thing you got for free or how have you made the most of your newfound status?

I get some free clothes here and there, and access to some pretty cool events in NYC. I don’t consider myself a celebrity though, haha.

That just sounds crazy even thinking about it!

-IN CHECK OUT

Andres Reynaga

CHECK-IN CHECK OUT / 12

CHECK

Lioness Vocals Ella Eyre Roars On UK Tour Check in… to burgeoning star Ella Eyre’s first headline tour. Praised for her energetic performances and soulful vocals (and that lion-like hair!) The 19 year-old singer who recently covered our #RWD14for14 issue sets off on a week-long tour this month to further reiterate exactly why. The tour kicks off in London on 12 March, culminating in Manchester on 21 March.

Tickets available on ticketmaster.co.uk and all good ticket vendors

Feeling Blue?

Raise Up

Big ‘N’ Easy

Here’s the answer to your shaving strife

This LA based brand continue to collaborate with the greats

Bar, BBQ, Crabshack

Check out… The Bluebeards Revenge luxury gift sets. Since all you trendy lot seem to be wolfing it up of late, these £34.99 sets ensure you look and feel smooth as ever with specially concocted oils, balms and even a bespoke brush.

See bluebeards-revenge.co.uk

Check out… yet another way Top Dawg Entertainment are taking over, as they team up with the Cali clothing crew Born x Raised, known for their trademark dark aesthetics. So far there’s only an Instagram post to go off, but that’s enough to get us hype.

Stay informed bornxraised.com

Check out… the latest addition to Covent Garden’s culinary prowess. Already a hit in Chelsea, Big Easy’s laid back atmosphere complete with American style BBQ, sea food and drinks galore promises to transport the good cheer and finger lickin’ grub further west.

Head to 12 Maiden Lane, London

RWD Album Reviews

Throwback Season

Back In Time

Since reissuing the Stan Smiths, it seems that adidas are on a retro roll

Converse dip into the archives for a little classic feel

Check out… what Scotts are releasing as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations - only the 1984 classic adidas LA trainer! Exclusively available at Scotts Menswear, the kicks are limited edition so you seriously need to get in there early.

Buy your exclusives at scottsmenswear.com

Check out… these retro 5-panel caps. Part of the Chuck Taylor range, the 5-panel caps are joined by a 70s zebra print mini backpack in equally out-there prints, so we’d advise the bold and brave amongst you to invest in this collection.

Head over to converse.co.uk

Isaiah Rashad

“New Rules” Cilvia Demo Top Dawg Entertainment This Tennessee spitter proves exactly why he’s been let into the coveted TDE squad throughout this 14-track EP. Expect to hear that southern drawl and harmonicas amongst fire freestyles and Kurt Kobain-esque vibes. Track To Check: Shot You Down

My Nu Leng

“Riddims” Masterplan Black Butter We told you these two were #ReadyForAnything but are you ready for their EP? Fusing the bass side of things with a little house flavour, just turn your speakers all the way up and kick back to the Bristol based duo!

Track To Check: Knowing

Daley

“Almost Doesn’t Count” Days & Nights Polydor R&B seems to have moved on, and sad to say left our boy Daley flailing for the finish line, caused partly, perhaps, by the fact that the best of the album had already been unveiled an awfully long time ago, like seriously long ago.

Track To Check: Alone Together

Rainy Milo

Do Not Disturb Our friends over at Disturbing London are creating some fine garms Check out… what Jacob Banks and Sam Smith have both been spotted in, the DL x Lavenham jacket. Available in black and moose grey, the diamond quilted jacket featuring soft leather detailing is no doubt going to be seen on the backs of even more artists.

Buy yours for £249.95 at disturbinglondon.com

“Off-Kilter R&B” This Thing Of Ours Island There was a Rainy Milo shaped hole in the world, until the South London hailing songstress so effortlessly filled it. Effervescent, trippy, slightly off-kilter R&B coupled with beautiful songwriting and an equally beautiful voice.

Track To Check: Treasure Girl

ABOUT TO BLOW 14 CHECK-IN CHECK OUT // 14

NBA 2K14 Goes Next Gen With the NBA growing in the UK year-on-year, the Global Games in London and Manchester have become some of the most anticipated events in the sporting calendar. With rapid ticket sales giving attendance a distinctly A-List feel, the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets brought all the glamour of the world’s premier basketball division to the UK in January.

Speaking to Hawks point guard Jeff Teague before his team’s defeat, the former first round draft pick told us he was an avid NBA 2K14 player “I’m not happy with my rating though!” With the top-selling basketball title, which hit next-gen consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One earlier this year, bringing fans closer to the game than ever before, the highly regarded Hawks player told us he’s hoping the NBA Global Games continue “This is a new experience, but I’m loving it. I love meeting the UK fans!”

NBA 2K14 is available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One now.

@PXLpics | PXLclothing.com

CHECK-IN CHECK OUT / 16

Own It

New Era Take Liberties

Ultimate Vibes

In the words of Drake…

Floral headways

Check out… new brand on the block, Your Own. YO is brought to the market by the Donnelly brothers who were the founders of Gio Goi back in the 90s, so they know a thing or two about style. Your Own is developed to inspire the new generation.

Find out what inspires you at scottsmenswear.com

Check out… New Era’s latest offerings in the form of their capsule collection with heritage art fabrics house, Liberty London. Spring is in the air!

Well… not really, but you could almost fool yourself into thinking it is with these vibrant iconic floral prints.

Available at select boutiques and New Era retail stores

DJ Target and Danny Weed break your week up calmly Check in… at Pitched Up, the new monthly mid-week live event at Birthdays in Stoke Newington.

The brainchild of the Roll Deep dons, the event has already hosted everyone from Meridian Dan and My Nu Leng to Little Simz and Ray Foxx, so make sure you reach the next event.

For more follow @PitchedUP1

Scrambled Porn Throwing back to the 90s

Nothing Was The Same Drake Touches Down In The UK Check-in… to see Young Money affiliate and Grammy winning artist and songwriter Drake. He’s not giving any more interviews, so you might as well go and catch him live because that’s the only way he’s trying to communicate, directly through the fans, that’s you guys by the way, so don’t wait until the last minute and then get all desperate.

Tickets available on ticketmaster.co.uk and all good ticket vendors

Check out… Los Angeles-based streetwear label The Hundreds’ latest collection Scrambled Porn.

Inspired by the 90s and the days before digital cable when watching anything, especially porn, was much more difficult than today’s point and click. The collection sees pattern blocked white/black printed raglan hoodies and sweatshirts, T-shirts and accessories.

The collection is out now at select stores

Inside The Ride

You’ve seen man driving his German Whip right? Well, we thought we’d catch up with Merdian Dan to see what else he’s been up to…

Crush For You Prepare for Skullcandy to take your eardrums to new heights Check out… the Crusher headphones. Designed with the bass enthusiast in mind, these cans feature leather ear pillows, reduced distortion, 40 hour battery life and adjustable bass levels. You’re not going to want to leave the house without these bad boys! The easy fold up style means they’re easy to grab on the go too!

Treat yourself for £89.99 on skullcandy.com

Go Ape

Summertime Affair

Ridiculous line-up, amazing venue, you just know it’s a guaranteed great night

Boots you can rock whenever, wherever, whatever the weather

Check-in… at the Grade II listed Albert Hall in Manchester on 1 March as Ape takes over.

Testing the foundations, Annie Mac, Rodigan, Chimpo, Redlight, Dismantle and Wookie bring the bass. Jagermeisters on deck! £20, alberthallmanchester.com

Check-in… to catfootwear.com to help bring your wardrobe into the Spring. Featuring a breathable canvas and lighter colour palette, the iconic Colorado silhouette is still, of course, built to last in case the weather fails.

Buy yours at catfootwear.com

Chat to us about I Am London, what was the thinking behind the album?

I wanted to make an honest CD that reflected the real and many sides of me. My surname is London, so in that sense, I really am London.

What are your goals with the album?

My goals with the album are to open up grime and break down some of the stigma and stereotypes associated with it; making it more accessible for the general population.

How have you been reacting to the way German Whip has been received by the public and your peers, etc.?

I have been getting a lot of love from everyone involved in UK music.

Everyone seems to be happy that an authentic grime record with three of the scene’s original players on it is getting widespread support across national radio, whilst still being credible in the scene it originates from. It’s a good day for everyone in grime.

Were there any politics involved with putting together the line-up? Do you mind people jumping on the tune and if so who would you like to see drop a freestyle over it?

There were no politics putting together the song, both Big-H and JME are good friends of mine and have been supportive of my vision with the song.

I have had quite a few people ask for the beat but I haven’t given it out yet as I want people to be clear on what they are going to hear when they hear the instrumental. I think it’s important for the growth of the record.

What are your favourite German whips and why?

All the high end sports luxury ones, I like all high performance vehicles.

Anything with a big engine and or turbo is pretty much right up my street German Whip is out 31 March via PMR. Stay tuned @Meridian_Dan

#READYFORANYTHING / 16

Second City Named so due to his connection with previous home Chicago, Second City has been producing house for a few years now. Things had been a little more bass led but with backing from peers, pioneers and more, house seems to have taken centre stage. We guarantee your soundtrack to the summer will feature at least one of this sample-loving producer’s songs.

Photography JPH

“I’ve been into that kind of music for so long that I was kind of like, ‘why am I not making it?’” Second City tells us of his move into house along with the new alias. When Huxley signed his EP The Story early last year, this was added to co-signs and early plays from Skream and Mistajam, with added support from Disclosure, “I guess it kind of gave me the confidence to push a bit further and do more things.”

“I normally get in a lot of trouble for that but yeah I use a lot of samples. They’re just so much fun to use. Old samples and old accapellas are just untouchable.”

Alongside Route 94, his love of sampling went to another level, “I normally get in a lot of trouble for that but yeah I use a lot of samples.

They’re just so much fun to use. Old samples and accapellas are just untouchable.” Cue a quick dust off of Adina Howard’s Freak and a swift pass on to our previous #ReadyForAnything act Eton Messy for their YouTube page and what started out as a joke, became something with serious legs; “I think it pushed us both to the next level.”

Advice was helpful along the way too, especially more recently, as he found out when he sent prospective free download I Wanna Feel through to Skream, which samples Toni Braxton’s You’re Making Me High.

“Skream messaged me and was like, ‘Don’t send this to anyone, don’t give this away for free, stop whatever you’re doing.’”

Now set for release via Ministry of Sound, it appears the Croydon lad was right and continues to support the DJ/producer, adding him to his upcoming Skreamizm gig which joins bookings at Heidi’s Jackathon, a Dirtybird night, hopefully dates in Ibiza too, and of course, festival season is about to kick off. “We Are FSTVL, back to back with Route 94, we turned up and there were 50 people in the tent, we started playing and 10 minutes later, there were 5,500 in the tent,” he remembers of 2013.

Releasing EPs through a range of labels with no intention of going it alone, Defeated and Hot Creations are on the wishlist for his original work or even remixes to fit his “real feel for disco with an edge.” @SecondCity_uk releases I Wanna Feel via Ministry of Sound soon

Lewis Hackett “After Uni I struggled to find work I wanted to do, and I didn’t have a strong enough portfolio to be able to gain a decent role,” Lewis tells us about his decision to found his own company @PrefixStudios. The Bradford based computer animation and special effects graduate who draws from music mostly, is self motivated and his love for animation recently saw his Lenkemz and Slick Don video premiered and applauded

by Noisey. “My style is continually evolving, with each project taking a new direction in technique and visual characteristics. I love learning new abilities and using mixed media.

A project isn’t interesting for me unless it is challenging.” This is only just the beginning. prefixstudios.com

Eyedress

Tweet To Win! Each season, Duck And Cover’s directional take on trend-led menswear keeps us one step ahead. RWD and Duck And Cover partner up to champion the hottest emerging talent and this month we’ve met aspiring creatives Second City, Lewis Hackett and Eyedress who are all #readyforanything. We’re here to make sure your style is on point and this Duck and Cover sweater is a smart/casual winner. Get involved in the competition by heading to Twitter using #readyforanything @duckandcover_ @RWDmag duckandcover.co.uk

“I have a sty on my eye so I’ve just been resting,” our Skype chat begins with the Philipino producer. That’s unfortunate but what is with all these dark trippy sounds that have impressed the blogosphere of late, including radio pick Nature Trips?

“My life has been kind of dark, I’m not very positive either, I’m not emo or anything; I’m just like, life is intense.” Seems crazy then that such an ethereal voice leaves the 23 year-old’s body throughout his Supernatural EP. “I sing like a girl! I just try to be beautiful, I’m just getting hella feminine with the sound, I think it’s more unique,” the Chief Keef supporter who’s also hoping to work with Kelela laughs. @eyedress Nature Trips is out now

BOOST

CREATIVE INNOVATION RWD Boost explores the inspiration that has made successes of some of 2014’s most important creative innovators; Julio Bashmore, Clean Bandit, Ravi Sidhu and Justamore.

Julio Bashmore wears adidas Energy Boost £115 available at jdsports.co.uk

-

JULIO BASHMORE / 22 Julio Bashmore wears adidas Energy Boost ÂŁ115 available at jdsports.co.uk

MORE BASS Bristolian Julio Bashmore is something of an unwilling champion of the new house explosion. Preferring to let the music do the talking, his crossover smash Au Seve propelled him to national prominence last year following underground hits Battle For Middle You and Around, firmly placing him at the forefront of dance music in the UK ahead of what is set to be a genuinely incredible summer for the producer/DJ and the scene as a whole. Meeting Julio at Red Bull Studios London where he’s currently working as Artist In Residence, the DJ who cites house legends Marshall Jefferson and Larry Heard as constant sources of inspiration, explains how gaming inspires his production and shares a few of his major career moments so far.

Photography Pharoah Grooming Jodie Hyams

How did you first get into production?

I first got into producing music I think just like any other kid out there, for me I was just really into computer games and my brother had a copy of Reason on his computer, which he gave to me and I just treated it like any other computer game. It wasn’t even a conscious decision like ‘I want to put records out!’ I was 13 at the time, so I was making a load of instrumentals just for the fun of it. I’ve said in interviews before that every single track started and ended with this helicopter sample, I don’t know why [laughs]. I’ve said I’ll bring it back on the album, start and finish.

When do you feel like the music began to take over your life?

When I was 16 I was like ‘I’m into this music thing’ and I bought a guitar. I worked all over the summer and did everything on the guitar and everyone was like ‘What are you doing?’ But I’d rather be spending money on this than doing what everyone else my age was doing. It just seemed more like me, so that’s what caught my interest. Then I started a band and I was in that for a few years. We didn’t really go anywhere, but I realised that this is what I want to be doing full-time. When we stopped that, that’s when we started clubbing and stuff and I’d hear all these DJs making records and playing them out and I was just like ‘Okay, I want to do that!’ So from that point on I was in the bedroom, on the computer for hours.

There would be nights of the week when my mates would be calling me like ‘This is on tonight, are you coming?’ and I’m like ‘Nah, I’m going to stay in and just work on beats’ and then from that point everyone was like ‘Is he alright?’ I can see why people were asking ‘What’s going on with Bash?’ like my

“Balancing the underground with the over-ground is never going to be easy…all you can do is just what you do, and for me that’s always kind of happened naturally.” hair’s going crazy, my beard’s going wild, but I always knew in the back of my mind that it was going towards something.

Would you call music an obsession?

I spend so much time on computer games as I’ve said, and even now I still see it in that kind of way. I just really get stuck into it and nothing else really goes through my head. I get lost in it.

When did DJing come into your life?

DJing for me was always around. I didn’t really notice it because I’ve got two older brothers and they were always playing dance music from when I was really young.

Then I remember when I was about 12 or 13 my brother bought decks and he was always playing all this stuff and importing a lot of US house music, which was wicked, so all of that was going on while I was around.

There was a point when I was like ‘I kind of want to have a go at this now’ when I was 14 and my brother’s like ‘Hmm, okay’ because these decks are like his baby, so he was finally like ‘Have a go!’ I put the record on; ‘I like this one, hit play’ [smashes finger down] ‘Let’s do this!’ He was like ‘What are you doing?’ I didn’t get to DJ for another two years after that [laughs]. Once he’d forgotten about that I got back on it

JULIO BASHMORE / 24 and treated it with total respect. Probably too much respect! I keep banging on about it, but it is like a computer game. It’s the same with anything [like], learning the guitar. I really enjoy getting stuck into things and DJing really involves you. You don’t think about too much else.

go to get his fish and chips and the guy at the local spot in Bristol will talk about me, they’ll talk about my tracks. At first I kind of shied away from that, but it’s actually a really cool thing to have made a record that resonates with so many people.

What advice would you give to an up and comer hoping to follow in your footsteps?

There are so many people who send me tracks who are like ‘You’ll like this, because it sounds like your music!’ I don’t want to hear somebody trying to do me. I want to hear something original that I haven’t heard before, that sounds like them.

What has been your favourite reaction to Au Seve?

When I first released Au Seve I had a wicked moment when I first played it in Panorama Bar in Berlin at this super underground, credible club and then like a year later we see there’s this crazy Vine that I saw Duke Dumont play somewhere at this silent disco and there’s just this sea of people chanting the riff, it was crazy!

How does it feel knowing that your music is soundtracking the major moments in people’s lives?

With Battle For Middle You and Au Seve, these are tracks that started out in a really underground place and now it’s got to the point when my granddad will

How difficult is it to manage the credibility of your music with the commercial success you’re seeing at the moment?

Balancing the underground with the over-ground is never going to be easy. I think what I’ve learnt is that

“I think the most important thing about music for me is creating something that just connects with people.

I think that’s an amazing thing.”

Julio Bashmore wears adidas Energy Boost £115 available at jdsports.co.uk

all you can do is just what you do, and for me that’s always kind of happened naturally. I’ve never really had some huge marketing campaign. With Au Seve I literally just put it out, and then it really just grew from there. I think as long as you’re not forcing it down people’s throats then it can work.

What have you taken from being Artist In Residence at Red Bull Studios London?

Being Artist In Residence at Red Bull is great. My last studio was in the middle of nowhere in west London and if I wanted a Snickers I’d have to go all the way into Westfield and I’d end-up spending about £100 on trainers and then forget the Snickers [laughs]. It’s nice being in the thick of it all in central London, in the middle of all the hustle and bustle.

How do you get in your zone?

I’m in the studio a lot and it just kind of comes naturally. You can’t force it. I don’t really have any

technique for getting in the zone. Sometimes when you’re in a bit of a rut you have to just completely switch it up and you just spend a few hours on the piano, stuff like that really helps.

What is it about music that is so important to you?

I think the most important thing about music for me is creating something that just connects with people. I think that’s an amazing thing.

What’s the next step for Julio Bashmore?

The next step is the album that I’ve been working on for two and a half years, probably since Au Seve [was first released] and I’ve been slack with it. Well not slack because I’ve been working. I’ve probably got about 50 tracks that I’ve got to streamline into an hour. But it’s pretty much done now and this year will be me focusing on getting that all out there.

Julio Bashmore’s debut album is set for release later this year. Follow @JulioBashmore

CLEAN BANDIT / 26

SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN Clean Bandit knew they’d created something special when the group witnessed festival crowds singing back the words to Rather Be having just heard it for the very first time. Little did they know it would go on to repeatedly reach number one in the charts, selling an overwhelming 163,000 copies in its first week and in the process making it the highest selling January single since Babylon Zoo’s Spaceman way back in 1996.

At home with the Black Butter Records family of Rudimental, Gorgon City, MNEK and Rather Be vocalist Jess Glynne, it seems that honest and original music is the key to breaking today’s charts.

Carly Wilford caught up with Grace Chatto from the band to find out where their whirlwind journey began and how it feels to be riding high at the top of the charts after years of hard work.

Styling Sabina Emrit Hair Erika Selvaggio Make up Jodie Hyams

Tell us about the last few weeks…

It’s been pretty exciting. It’s an amazing feeling being told that Rather Be was number one. We kept being told that it was going to happen but when the sales figures came through and it was way ahead of the number two single, it was quite surreal. There are some crazy statistics like we were the highest first week sales for any UK artist in the last 12 months. I love hearing them and wish that Top Of The Pops still existed so that they could play it on there and scroll the stats across the bottom.

How did you celebrate?

We went to The Ivy with our label; that was nice as I had never been anywhere like that before. We had a party at our tour manager’s afterwards, which was pretty disastrous as we had a day of interviews and photo shoots the next day.

“We had [Mozart’s House] knocking around on our MySpace for two years before we made the video and it had about ten plays.

We released the video online and it got 50,000 views.”

Clean Bandit wear adidas Energy Boost £115

CLEAN BANDIT / 28

Clean Bandit wear adidas Energy Boost ÂŁ115

Where did it all begin for you guys?

We have all known each other a really long time. Jack and Luke are brothers so have known each other since Luke was born.

They played together in rock and funk bands during their teens. Luke started out on the acoustic kit and Jack was playing the saxophone. They have always played music but completely different styles.

Neil and I met when we were really young playing in our local youth orchestra. He plays the Violin and I play the Cello. We came together as I was close friends with Jack as he was around our string quartet a lot. He started writing beats and bass lines to snippets of classical music that we were playing. Our song Mozart’s House is very representative of some of our earliest songs. It was about five years ago that we actually started playing together but as a live band it’s only been for a few years. We only started recording quite recently.

Did you have many knock backs along the way? Did anybody tell you that it wasn’t going to work?

We make our own music videos and we had made five videos before we were signed to a label. Before the music heads noticed us, we were helped by Channel 4 because they noticed our videos on YouTube. They sponsored us to make another video and gave us a bit of funding to make our video A&E. We were given confidence from that, I started to send the video out to magazines and I managed to get through to someone at Vice who said “No, I don’t like it”. I asked why and what could I do to help the project along and they just said, “I just don’t like it”.

It was upsetting but it wasn’t really a knock back because we have always just enjoyed doing it. We started as a live act, so we have always had a connection with people’s reaction rather than starting out producing in our room and sending it out. We have always seen how people react to our gigs and it always creates a fun atmosphere, which has been really encouraging and has given us confidence.

How did the connection with Black Butter come about?

I knew Henry Village from a long time ago from when he was managing Man Like Me. They were a big inspiration to us when were starting out. We always tried to create the carnival vibe that they bring. Olly Wood, who is the main A&R at Black Butter called me up one night and it was at a time when I was getting a lot of emails from major labels.

We were unmanaged, so I was taking over the calls we were getting. I had never heard of Black Butter Records at the time. He told me where their office was and it was literally five hundred metres away from our flat. We went around that night and he played us loads of music that we had no idea about. It was a real revelation. He had

“We were given confidence from [Channel 4], I started to send the video out to magazines and I managed to get through to someone at Vice who said ‘No, I don’t like it’. I asked why and what could I do to help the project along and they just said, ‘I just don’t like it.’” just got Rudimental’s Feel The Love video back from the editors. He played it to us and we were blown away by it. He also played us Kidnap Kid, Gorgon City and Woz and it was a really inspirational moment. We got on with him really well and decided to do an EP together. It has been such a valuable part of our project because we collaborated with Gorgon City and they have done a remix of one of our tracks that we now play out live in our sets. One of our vocalists wrote the top line for their track Intentions and Kidnap Kid is supporting us on tour this spring.

Jess Glynne, the singer on Rather Be is part of the Black Butter family as well as MNEK who we have been writing with too.

What can we expect from the album?

It’s a massive hotchpotch of different styles because all of the featured vocalists are from such different worlds and they all bring their own personality. We have been working with a folk singer that Jack met while she was busking in Shoreditch. Her soft folk vocals bring such a different vibe compared to someone like Jess Glynne who has a massive soul sound. We’ve made a dancehall vibe track with Stylo G that I am actually singing on too. Lizzo the rapper from Minneapolis also appears on the album, she is such a force of huge energy.

The song that she features on is called New Eyes, which we have actually named the album after because it is the song that is most personal for us.

What advice could you offer for any breaking artists that would like to be in your position?

Do as much yourself as you can. For us, learning how to create our own videos and then making them has been a massive help in terms of getting our music heard.

We really noticed that with Mozart’s House.

We had the song knocking around on our MySpace for two years before we made the video and it had about ten plays. We released the video online and it got 50,000 views. We realised the power of the visual side in terms of people passing it around.

New Eyes is available for pre-order now and released on 12th May 2014. The Clean Bandit tour kicks off in May.

RAVI SIDHU / 30

BARE ESSENTIALS RAVI SIDHU With a portfolio featuring the likes of RWD, Complex and Hypebeast to name but a few, Ravi Sidhu is one of the most exciting and diverse photographers in the UK. Now with a brand new studio taking his repertoire to the next level, the north London residing Renaissance man has begun 2014 in incredible form. Speaking to Tego Sigel, Ravi talked shooting Sir Richard Branson’s Essentials, being passionate about his work, inspiration, career defining moments and more.

Photography Adrian Nettleship

On Career Defining Moments… I’m critical of my own work. It could have been something in my head, which I wanted to capture in a certain way, so I don’t think about the impact externally. When Frank Ocean played at XOYO, it was an intimate show, and I ended up shooting there; next thing I know MeLo-X was using [one of my shots] as an album cover.

Part of me is a bit pissed off because I didn’t get credit, but before I knew it, Complex picked up on it, so I reached out to them saying ‘this is my picture, where’s my credit?’ That led to the music editor contacting me and saying can we get you to shoot more stuff. It has that affect you’re not expecting so it’s nice. The adidas Euro 2012 stuff was great too; the feedback and response from that was positive and people were saying it was my best work. I was proud of that and I was able to believe in myself more afterwards and the response was humbling.

“[Richard Branson] had speech notes, contact lenses, but not much else, so I was asking if I could get his watch in there, his ring too, so I was kind of directing him so I was a bit nervous.”

Ravi Sidhu wears adidas Energy Boost £115 available at jdsports.co.uk

On Shooting Richard Branson’s Essentials… He was cool because he allowed me to do what I wanted to do and was up for it. He was doing another event and I went down and approached one of the PRs saying this is what we wanted to do and I think they appreciated it; [the event] was about young entrepreneurs so I think they wanted to relate to that. We told them about the Hypebeast Essentials series and our target audience and they liked it.

It wasn’t a forced thing because we didn’t have any product placement or anything like that; it was literally like ‘Empty your pockets.’ He had speech notes, contact lenses, but not much else, so I was asking if I could get his watch in there, his ring too, I was kind of directing him so I was a bit nervous. I would have asked him to take his shoes off but it was probably a bit too far [laughs].

It worked out well in the end and was one of our most popular Essentials.

On His Essentials… My essentials would be what I carry everyday. With work and travel; I carry everything I need in a day. It wouldn’t be superficial.

On Being Inspired… the best advice I can give is to just keep shooting. That’s how I started out; it’s the only way to hone your skills and learn your own style.

I would also say remain professional, you never know who’ll you’ll meet. Relationship building is all progression, working for people like Hypebeast and RWD, you make the connections and you build on those, which leads on to other things. You might not be the best photographer, but in this industry, if you remain professional you’ll make the right contacts.

Take pride in your product and your images, they represent you. If you know you’ve done everything you can possibly do, that’s when your work will speak for itself.

Follow @REDNivars

BOOST / 32

BOOST YOUR RUN One of the most impressive innovations in the highly competitive running trainer market, adidas Energy BOOST first launched in 2013 with its highly technical BOOST cushioning, changing the industry for good. Back and better than ever, we take a look at the technical innovations that make-up this incredible shoe.

Photography Kevin Joseph

Torsion The BOOST features an extended Torsion system from heel to toe which helps minimise roll and maximise stability and heel fit for comfort during runs.

BOOST BOOST cushioning took the industry by storm when it was unveiled last year. Made from thousands of eye-catching energy capsules; the ultra responsive foam offers a new standard in energy return.

Techfit Featuring a foot friendly Techfit upper, the highly durable elastic polyurethane one-piece offers formfitting breathable mesh material with the fit of a sock for targeted support and stabilisation.

available at

JUSTANORM / 34

OUT OF THE NORM Self proclaimed “creative movement” Justanorm was born from Jamel Gordon Lynch, Jeremy Boateng, Boyd Alves, Chuck Achike, Dylan Williams and Harry Uzoka frequently meeting at model castings and finding a neutral passion for clothes, music, film and culture. Cracking the fashion industry both as a unit and also as individuals, you might have seen them on posters, in magazines and on the cat-walk for some of the biggest brands and designers on the planet, and although it’s their main focus, the energetic six-piece is about more than just modeling. Talking to Tego Sigel, the magnetic and incredibly motivated collective reveal all about their friendship, their ambitions outside of modeling and their plans for world domination.

Photography Pharoah Styling Sabina Emrit Grooming Jodie Hyams

Bringing six creatives together would be a difficult task to begin with, but keeping them together and pushing them forward at such a young age is another story, so how exactly did Justanorm form?

Boyd: We were all going to the same castings and bumping into each other, and eventually we were all linking up and doing things together and we sat down and said ‘Why don’t we do something and be creative with our time?’

Jeremy: There were other people involved, but it got to the point where we speak to each other every day, we’re actually ‘boys’ and it’s not like we weren’t boys before, because some of us were friends, but we didn’t all chill with each other all of the time. We came together and decided that we should do something that we enjoy, but also stuff that we’re all quite good at.

We’ve always felt like we wanted to do a bit more than modeling.

Chuck: [To be in Justanorm] you’ve got to be ambitious! You’ve got to want to get your dreams! That’s the motive for all of us. We all want to achieve everything to our full potential, so if you’re not willing to put your all into it then you can’t be in Justanorm. You’ve just got to be dedicated and we’re all boys, so you can’t really join a friendship, can you? It’s natural.

Jeremy: That’s the realest talk. You can’t.

As well as that, Justanorm’s closed off

“If we argue it’s only about Justanorm. It’s only about what’s the next move and what’s the next task. But if we didn’t actually have this idea for Justanorm, we wouldn’t argue at all.” – Jamel anyway. There’s no more application forms [laughs]. This is it, there are six and that’s it!

There’s more to Justanorm than their friendship. But the fight for prominence in the fashion world can be a tough one, and having close friends all chasing dreams in the same industry can offer the inspiration needed to help with getting through those tough days. So how do Justanorm motivate each other?

Jamel: We motivate each other with ideas, also with work ethic. If somebody’s not doing what they’re supposed to do, it’s only so long we can hold back, we will keep everybody in check to say this is what you need to be doing, and if you’re not doing it, why are you not doing it?

Chuck: Competition is all good when it’s love. It’s good to have competition, but when it’s in the right manner. You’ll see your boy do something and it’s not jealousy, it’s envy like ‘ahh, that’s sick’ but

Justanorm wear adidas Energy Boost ÂŁ115 available at jdsports.co.uk

JUSTANORM / 36 Justanorm wear adidas Energy Boost £115 available at jdsports.co.uk

“[Kanye] actually wants to be at the top! I think that’s the reason that he’s looking so crazy out here [laughs]. He wants to be at the top.” - Jeremy it always makes you keep focused, because you want that as well, and you’re always trying to push the team. So each individual success is good for the team.

Teeming with energy, it’s hard to separate Justanorm the models from their ambitions in music, TV and film, and with such a palpable confidence in each other, you’d be foolish to bet against them. So what is the ultimate goal?

Chuck: World domination! [Laughs] Jeremy: It sounds crazy, innit? But we want to master everything that we enjoy, everything that we can get our hands on we want to master, like acting, music, going further in modeling, just anything we can get involved in. The way I see it, things are just going to keep progressing. The ideas are going to keep coming.

Boyd: I see us doing a lot of things in different industries. I see us being at the

top of our game in modeling and at the top of our game within acting, music and anything else we want to do; that’s literally what we want to do anyway.

Chuck: We want to stop boundaries. People feel like if you’re in one industry you can’t excel in another industry, or make that transition to go from fashion to music to being an actor to then just working in a school; if that’s what you wanted to do. And someone like Kanye West who’s trying to go from music to fashion, that’s inspiration. It’s good that he’s on top of his game, but he wants to change that and transfer into another industry and that’s what we’re trying to do.

Jeremy: He actually wants to be at the top!

I think that’s the reason that he’s looking so crazy out here [laughs]. He wants to be at the top. He doesn’t want to be another brand, he wants to be at the top! So that’s probably why he’s so stressed [all laugh].

With Kanye West dedicated to succeeding in his move from music to fashion, Justanorm’s vision for success in the reverse direction looks far from unrealistic, and if the fashion world’s increasing interest in the friends is anything to go by, then their plans for world domination might not be either.

Check-out justanorm.com

POWER PLAY

-

Joining Cesc Fabregas, Mario Balotelli, Marco Reus and overseer Thierry Henry in Barcelona for the launch of the PUMA evoPOWER boots, we grabbed former Arsenal midfielder Cesc to talk about his first experience with the power focused boot “The first test we made was barefoot, so I was like, ‘What are these people doing, are they crazy?’

[Laughs] But in fact it’s real and you feel the similarity.”

Having just put the boots to the test in the evoPOWER Challenge, Fabregas justified his third place finish, “You feel under more pressure when you play under 50 people than you do under 90,000! [Laughs]” The PUMA evoPOWER boot is available now from puma.com

/ 42

editor’s letter

With every day that passes I’m given a fresh reminder that we are in a World Cup year. But this month was something else. I’ve met World Cup winners before. I’ve interviewed Pele and Marco Materazzi, both incredible moments for me as a writer and football fan, but meeting the greatest player of my lifetime, the original Ronaldo, was something else. Tipped-off that a smile from the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid man would resonate in a way that only that of a newborn son or even a near-death car-crash survivor could, I bowed and let him know just what an honour it was to meet the man who illuminated my childhood with show-stealing tournaments in 1998 and 2002. A humble thank you was followed by that winning smile, which, and I’m not exaggerating, will go down as one of the most important moments of my life. If I wasn’t gassed by the idea of the World Cup heading to the home of the beautiful game this summer, the birthplace of R9, then I definitely am now.

While Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was always going to be hard to top, we think we’ve done a pretty good job with England and Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Walker who wanted to talk Football Manager, Jeremy Kyle and that legendary Halloween prank. We also grabbed a chat with Arsenal’s midfield general Mikel Arteta who talked Champions League nights, atmosphere at The Emirates and childhood hero Pep Guardiola.

Producer Dan Dare broke down a few of his favourite football memories in My First, while Ben Rebuck and myself took one of our month-long arguments into the magazine with Two Sides, in which we debate the best player in the Premier League so far this term, it’s all subjective, unless you disagree with me, in which case, your opinion can take a running jump.

IN THIS ISSUE: Ronaldo Speaks Exclusively To RWD Football

Kyle Walker Talks Jeremy Kyle

Dan Dare Breaks Down His Firsts

Ronaldo In Numbers Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, or Ronaldo to you and me, was the original footballing superstar to bare the name. As the World Cup’s all-time top-goalscorer, the original Mercurial striker has a home in any discerning football fan’s all-time top five. Before you read our exclusive interview, here are the numbers that make up the legend.

Ronaldo managed a staggering 352 goals in his club career in just 518 appearances. That’s a goal to game ratio of 1.47 The Brazilian turned out for seven clubs in his career spanning 18 years, including rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid and both Milans 62 goals for the Seleção in 98 appearances doesn’t quite make Ronaldo Brazil’s record goalscorer; he finished 15 goals behind Pele in second place Ronaldo won two World Cups in his career, the 1994 tournament in USA and the 2002 competition in Japan and Korea in which he finished top goalscorer With 15 goals to his name at World Cup Finals, Ronaldo is the record goalscorer in the competition The prolific striker is one of only three players to win the Ballon d’Or three times along with Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi With 19 major honours for the Brazlilian in his career for club and country, including one La Liga crown, one UEFA Cup and two Copa Americas

Mikel Arteta Talks All Things Arsenal

Two Sides Debates This Season’s Best Player

352 7 62 2 15 3 19

Cesc Fabregas Talks Power

/ 44

Walk The Line Tipped as a future England international in his teens, Kyle Walker moved from hometown club Sheffield United to Premier League Tottenham Hotspur in 2009 as something of a prodigy, but the rightback took the weight of expectation on his shoulders, impressing with loan spells at QPR and Aston Villa before forcing his way into the Spurs first team. Making his debut for England in 2011, the popular defender has grown into one of the most revered fullbacks on the planet, and the 23 year-old isn’t done. With a World Cup on the horizon, the Jeremy Kyle obsessive sat down with Tego Sigel to discuss his legendary dressing room banter, learning from the best, playing Football Manager and more…

Photography Verena Stefanie

“I think it’s enjoyable coming into work everyday and there’s somebody making you laugh, or it’s the group making you laugh.”

Moving from Sheffield United to Spurs in your teens must have been a massive adjustment for you, how hard was it to settle in the capital?

It was a massive step. I had to take it because where I’m from in Sheffield isn’t the best of areas, so I thought it was an opportunity not just for me, but for my family as well. Being 18 [and] moving to London was a bit scary, but you have to do these things and luckily it’s paid off. I would probably have to say a big thank you to my mum and dad for pushing me that extra step to make me move down here and commit my future to Tottenham.

Do you keep an eye on Sheffield United?

It’s been a turbulent time since you played at Brammall Lane…

They’re always in the back of my thoughts whichever club I play for, QPR, Aston Villa and even when I started at Northampton, so I look out for all their results. It’s been a big change at Sheffield United since I was there, but it’s a massive club, the crowds they get there are fantastic, so hopefully they can bounce back up the leagues and get back where they should be.

We’re told you’re pretty much the king of banter in the Spurs dressing room, is that something you’d agree with?

I wouldn’t say I’m the top. I’d say Sandro’s up there! After that, myself and Kyle Naughton, we’re always in it together trying to stitch someone up. I think it’s enjoyable coming into work everyday and there’s somebody making you laugh, or it’s the group making you laugh. The Belgian [lads] are very sarcastic, they try to join in, but I think the English are running it at the minute [laughs].

How much responsibility do you take personally to help new players settle into the dressing room by getting them involved in the banter?

I think probably in any club it’s vital to make [new players] feel welcome. When I came down I can remember I went to training early and next to me was Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, David Bentley, [Roman] Pavlyuchenko and I’ve sat there thinking ‘what have I come from?’

Obviously no disrespect to Sheffield United players, but it’s a big step. They’re full international players and it was a bit daunting for me, so I try to get everyone involved in the banter and if they come from abroad, try to get them to learn English as quickly as possible.

You must have shared dressing rooms with a few players who you looked up to growing up; do you ever remember being star struck?

As a kid I used to play Football Manager and I can remember Leeds United were a fantastic team [in the game]. They had a >

/ 46

“When I walked into the [Spurs] dressing room and seen Robbie Keane there, I was a bit star struck...I thought ‘There’s actually somebody who I used to go mad if he didn’t score in a game!’”

< a great strike force and all of the team was fairly good. I didn’t want to start with somebody who’s going to be right up there and has got all the money and everything, so Leeds were good to start with. So when I walked into the [Spurs] dressing room and seen Robbie Keane there, I was a bit star struck. That was probably the first time, in my whole career that I thought ‘There’s actually somebody who I used to go mad if he didn’t score in a game!’ So in that respect I think I’d say Robbie Keane. [In Football Manager] Robbie Keane and Alan Smith up front were unbelievable!

At this stage of the season most players don’t want to jinx it, but are you allowing yourself to think about the World Cup at all?

I’ve got a job to do at Tottenham. It’s probably the main question on everybody’s mind, but you kind of just have to take each day as it comes, each game as it comes. I can’t affect what’s going to happen in the summer. I could have a fantastic year and the manager might not think that it’s right. It’s down to him at the end of the day. It would be an honour for me to represent my country and what an experience it would be for a 23-year old to be going to the World Cup! On a personal level I want to hopefully take England as far as we can. I think winning it would be a very big achievement, but anything’s possible.

You pulled a pretty epic Halloween prank on a lot of your teammates last year, whose reaction were you most proud of?

The video shows [the prank] in a different order to how I did them, but Jermain Defoe was probably the one I was most proud of because he was the first and then I knew it worked. When I first walked in their and saw it, it was just like a board at the back of the room and I’m thinking ‘If I was there I’m definitely looking behind it to see who’s there’ but being footballers they all wanted to take their phones out and start to type, text someone while they’re waiting, and it gave me the perfect time to go and scare them.

Are you a musical tastemaker in the Spurs dressing room?

I was on DJ [duty] on match days until I got fired by Etienne Capoue [laughs]. It went for a year or so, so I held it for quite a while, but now I just shove my music in my ears and just get to my own devices. I [listen to] a bit of everything, it depends what kind of mood I’m in. This morning I was listening to J. Holiday on the way to football and then coming here I was listening to YG. It varies from the mood I’m in.

I’ve heard you’re a Jeremy Kyle addict, is that true?

If I wasn’t here now I’d be watching Jeremy Kyle!

That’s one-thousand percent! That’s how I switch off. When I go home it’s on series link, I even forward it to three minutes and it comes on straight away, I know when the breaks are going to happen, that’s how bad it’s got!

Kyle Walker is wearing the Nike Tech Fleece and Tiempo ‘94 both available now from nike.com

/ 48

Dan Dare

Songwriter and producer Dan Dare has an impressive and growing CV at 25-years of age, having worked with the likes of Wiley, Wretch 32, Professor Green and Marina & the Diamonds. Ben Rebuck sat down with the die hard Chelsea fan to talk about Champions League finals, academy potential, fake boots and more…

Photography Jamie Phelps

My First Football Memory... was probably playing in the semi-final for my school team. My dad had been in prison for three years and I didn’t know he was coming out. I looked over at the fence and it was my old man standing there; my mum had told him about the game. I scored a free-kick to make it 2-2, then we lost [laughs]. My first Chelsea memory would be Roberto Di Matteo scoring that beauty in the FA Cup against Middlesborough, 43 seconds in, little onetwo, smacked it! In my head it was from the halfway line but it was far out - bar and in. Then we won it 2-0. Eddie Newton scored! He was such a G. First Goal I Remember... would be Gazza, scoring for England in Euro 96. He played it over Colin Hendry and smash. I was probably about eight then.

My First Heartbreak... was when Nicolas Anelka missed that penalty [in the Champions League Final]. I will happily admit it was the first time I cried over football [laughs]. I was sitting there and then JT missed; we would have won as well. Then Anelka [stepped-up], he looked too relaxed, I couldn’t watch it; I was a bag of nerves. I was at someone’s house and I just had to leave, then I heard everyone go mad. I just sat on the wall crying [laughs].

My First Champions League Experience... I had a mad experience [for the final in Munich, 2012]. I was with my friend on tour in Scotland. In the middle of Glasgow in this pub just full of Tottenham fans and they were all like ‘C’mon Bayern, argh’. I’m the only Chelsea fan so I’m giving it the biggun, ‘C’mon Drogba, f*ck this, f*ck that’ and when he scored I literally got up, grabbed a bottle and smashed it on the floor [laughs]. I couldn’t contain myself; I get really passionate.

My First Team I Played For... was Hive in Hanwell Town. After them, I went on to play academy football but I injured both my knees going in for a tackle.

They told me that by the time I got back from injury the other kids would be years ahead of me development wise, and it would take me at least a year to get back to it. Your growth from 14-16 is massive; you grow so much, so they just let me go. I gave up football for four years from when I was 15. I also kind of stopped watching it; I just gave up. I got back into it when I was about 19; maybe it was just a teenage thing [laughs].

My First Pair of Boots... I think I got some next fake ones like “Hike”. Nah, they were “Reedok” [laughs].

My mum got them from the market and they were sick. They were so heavy, they were like running in work boots.

Follow @DanDare

“My mum got [My First pair of boots] from the market and they were sick.

They were so heavy, like running in work boots.”

/ 50

Leading By Example:

Mikel Arteta The picture of calm in the Arsenal midfield, Mikel Arteta added a required stability and maturity to the North London side when he joined on deadline day August 2011. Now vice captain of the club, the Barcelona-raised Spaniard’s influence has been pivotal to their push for domestic and European honours. Speaking to Tego Sigel, the former Everton man talks Pep Guardiola, Champions League nights, his ‘perfect hair’ and more…

When I told Twitter I was interviewing you, they all wanted me to ask about your hair, how do you keep it so perfect?

It will cost me a lot of money if I answer that. One every three Tweets [I get] are about my hair; there’s nothing special about it, it’s just my hair and I am lucky.

Who did you look up to growing up?

The first one I had was probably Pep Guardiola when he was at Barcelona.

I used to admire him and then when I ended up playing there, he looked after me and he’s probably been my reference.

How hard was it to make the decision to move on from Barcelona at such a young age? Did you think you would regret it?

I always had in my mind what would happen if I stayed there for another year or two, but at that time they had Guardiola in my position, Xavi was breaking into the team and he wasn’t playing, then it was me; so I would have had to wait fouryears. It wouldn’t have been great for my development, so I gambled. I went to PSG and it was lucky we had an unbelievable team at the time and then things happened from there in England, first Everton then Arsenal. I enjoyed my career with the experience I got from different places and cultures.

What do you remember from your first game as a pro?

When I had my debut with Barca I was 16, I replaced Guardiola. I was so impressed;

we had Figo, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, and all those players around me; I was [freaking out]. These players were my idols and I was playing with them so it was great.

My first professional game was at PSG and that’s when you start to realise your dream has come true and you have to maintain it.

Do you remember the moment in your development when you realised that you were going to make a living as a professional footballer?

When Barcelona came to sign me at 15, I realised how professional it is and so I started to take it seriously and football was ahead of my studies, even if my parents disagreed.

Having had to claw tooth and nail for your Champions League place, how much satisfaction does it give you playing in the elite competition?

It’s really different and you don’t want to miss out on it. It’s the best competition to be in, so finishing in the [top four] was important, not just for the fans, but for the club financially. It’s a massive club and it couldn’t be any other way. The pressure we had to finish fourth was massive but we thrived off that pressure and it’s better than anything else.

Mikel Arteta wears the PUMA evoPOWER football boot, available now from PUMA.com. Head to PUMAFootballClub. com to conquer unique challenges and get closer than ever to PUMA players.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I replaced Guardiola. I was so impressed; we had Figo, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, and all those players around me; I was [freaking out].â&#x20AC;?

14 FOR 14 / 52

TWO SIDES:

Best In The League As one of the most exciting Premier League seasons in recent memory draws to a close, Tego Sigel and Ben Rebuck debate the best player of the season so far.

“With an array of volleys, places and headers matching his boundless energy... Sergio Aguero feels like a whole new breed of poacher.”

I don’t think the 2012/13 season will go down as a classic in English football history. Sir Alex Ferguson found claiming his final title relatively simple as Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City fell foul to the in-fighting that eventually cost him his job, Arsenal refused to spend above their earning and Chelsea lay in wait for Jose Mourinho’s return.

This year has been different though. Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have all made massive strides forward, with players who stood on the periphery of the elite stepping-up to create the most exciting, tense and hard-fought title-race for a decade.

We will have to wait until May before deciding just how far the Premier League has come, but there’s no denying that the buzz is back; with some of the best players in the world on English soil once again. But who is the best of the best?

The season so far has seen superhuman moments from Luis Suarez, Eden Hazard, Aaron Ramsey, Daniel Sturridge and Yaya Toure, but for me, the best player in the Premier League has been Sergio Aguero. English football fans will always love an out and out striker, from Ian Wright to Thierry Henry, through to Alan Shearer, anybody capable of that perfectly struck finish will appeal to the English like a cup of tea on a windy day or a best of the Sugababes album.

It’s not just the volume of Sergio Aguero’s goals that make him the stand-out, but the absolutely unrivalled quality of each and every finish. Both footed, the Argentinian is equally comfortable in the air or on the ground, with an array of volleys, places and headers matching his boundless energy and uncontrollable speed, Sergio Aguero feels like a whole new breed of poacher. That the striker’s two injuries this season have been met with dips in his club’s form is obvious testament to his importance, suggesting that should Manuel Pellegrini genuinely want to challenge for the Premier League title this season, then he’d be well advised to ask less of his 25 year-old star. @benrebuck

Luis Suarez

Daniel Sturrdige

The Uruguayan was unlucky not to make the top two on this occasion considering the sheer amount of goals he’s scored, not to mention the assists, but his name will be mentioned with hefty support come player of the year time.

The Englishman has been on fire in his first full season on Merseyside and his first proper season as a first team player. His goals and link up play with Suarez and Coutinho have been exceptional and he’s a shoo-in to lead the line for England in this summer’s World Cup.

The pure influence Eden Hazard has over the new look Chelsea has put him head and shoulders above the rest of the Premier League this season.

The Roman Abramovic era has drawn its critics with the west London club’s playing style and defensive leanings often highlighted, but Hazard represents all that is good with this new, younger and more dynamic Chelsea side.

If the Blues are indeed the ‘little horse’ Mourinho so famously suggests they are, then Hazard is the jockey kicking them on. His positioning off the ball has been crucial in creating space for his explosive midfield associates as he consistently draws defenders deep and makes use of his own killer instinct to build devastating combinations, with the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Oscar and Willian.

In Chelsea’s 1-0 league win against Manchester City, Hazard displayed a match-winning turn of pace, often going from a standing position to full speed in the space of milliseconds giving defenders very little chance to catch the Belgian at full pace, most opting to take him down at the cost of a yellow card as a matter of course.

His goals this season have proven how he’s

“If the Blues are indeed the ‘little horse’ Mourinho so famously suggested they are, then Hazard is the jockey kicking them on.” stepped up to the plate under Jose Mourniho; 14 at the time of writing is just two less than his tally for the whole of last term. The type of goals he can muster is impressive too, curling efforts from the edge of the box like jaw-dropper against Liverpool, to clever interchanges with other players like the second in his hat-trick against Newcastle.

Hazard’s importance to Mourinho’s Chelsea 2.0 is second to none. His near faultless second season at Stamford Bridge has propelled him into the limelight with pundits carefully beginning to whisper his name in the same breath as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He’s not quite there, but this term has shown he could become one of the worlds best, especially with the tutorship of the Special One. I wonder if Sir Alex still thinks signing Kagawa was better value for money? @benrebuck

Yaya Toure

Aaron Ramsey

The talismanic midfielder has been a rock for Manchester City this season, adding freekicks to his impressive arsenal of talents. His strength is second to none, and you’d be hard tasked to find a more dynamic central midfielder in world football today.

Arsenal’s midfield dynamo has had his season blighted by injuries, but his influence in the centre of the park has been fantastic. He’s helped lead Arsenal’s title charge with an array of goals and assists, coming on leaps and bounds in a young Arsenal side.

/ 54

Living Legend

Ronaldo One of the greats of the modern era, World Cup winner Ronaldo became one of the most recognisable stars on the planet when he broke into the Brasilian national team at just 17 years of age. Exactly 20 years after his debut, the living legend spoke exclusively to RWD Football about as many things as were physically possible in the kind of time you get with an international icon.

How much of yourself do you see in Brazil’s current star Neymar?

He’s very good and a very calm person not only in the pitch but [also] outside the pitch. He has [got] what I call a talent that one cannot measure and a great capacity to score goals, but it’s very difficult to compare because we’re playing in different positions, at different times and with different styles, but definitely he’s got a talent that is enchanting the world.

Are their any English players that you think are capable of becoming one of the world’s elite?

I believe there are players here that are already at that high level, players like [Steven] Gerrard in Liverpool, [Wayne] Rooney from Manchester United. They are part of that league of high-class players.

What are your strongest memories of the 2002 World Cup? [My strongest memories are] definitely the two goals scored at the final and winning the World Cup, but let’s also take into consideration the fact that I spent one and a half years with a knee injury, and I had to fight to be in form to be able to play. I fought as much as I could, but those were my strongest memories.

A lot of people expect Eden Hazard to play a major role at the 2014 World Cup, what do you think of the Belgian midfielder?

He’s a very good player and seems to be doing a wonderful job in Chelsea. His hat trick performance [against Newcastle United] gave him more confidence. He’s very young but very talented so I am sure he will do well at the World Cup. How highly does your hat-trick at Old Trafford rank in the best performances of your career?

It was a very important moment in my career and mainly a moment of fair play in football history, because I was playing against Manchester United at Old Trafford and a few minutes before the game was over, I was substituted and the whole stadium stood up [from both sides] to give me a standing ovation; that was a powerful moment in my career.

“I played against [Zinedine Zidane]; he’s not only a great player but also a wonderful passer, so I’d say that he’s very talented.”

/ 56 < Where do you rank Wayne Rooney in the top strikers in the world?

I think he’s a fantastic player who scored wonderful goals both for the English team and Manchester United. So I think he’s one of the best strikers.

Where does Paolo Maldini rank in the hardest defenders you’ve ever played against? What do you think of him?

I played [against] him quite a lot, but I can say it was very difficult to play [against] him because he’s very intelligent so it was hard to play with him.

After playing with him in Milan, I can say that he helped me to play better.

A lot of people in England were introduced to you through the Nike advert with a super team playing against a demon eleven, what do you remember of that advert and were you familiar with Ian Wright as a player before making the commercial?

Of course, I knew about Ian Wright who was an exceptional player! It was a fantastic experience.

As you know it was recorded in Tunisia, it was very cold but a beautiful setting. The Nike production was perfect and out of this world. I was very young, only seventeen playing in that advert with the best players in the world, so it was an experience to remember.

Who did you see as your biggest rivals on the pitch when you were scoring goals?

I had the opportunity to play with some of the best players but Zinedine Zidane is possibly the best I can mention. I played against him; he’s not only a great player but also a wonderful passer, so I’d say that he’s very talented.

Who was the last player you saw play that you were amazed by?

To me Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the best players who have impressed me the most recently. Neymar is nearly there but he’s just one step below. These three are the best players.

Which young Brazilian players do you think the 2014 World Cup will introduce fans to?

I think nowadays the players are leaving Brazil earlier and earlier to play in Europe, so the ones who will definitely make a mark at the World Cup are those who are already known to European leagues like Neymar, Willian, Oscar and Bernard.

Lilian Thuram was a defender who did things strikers and midfielders could do, how much did you admire him and were there any other defenders you’ve faced that have had similar skills?

Only Paolo Maldini had the skills to do that and to play like him with great ability.

Expect more from Ronaldo this summer.

“I think [Wayne Rooney]’s a fantastic player...I think he’s one of the best strikers in the world.”

STYLE

EAST IS EAST

Photography Jon Attenborough Photography Assistant Ben Park Stylist Sophie Robinson

Grooming Jodie Hyams using Bare Minerals make up and Avene Skin Models Conor / Jake - @elitemodellondon.co.uk

Jake wears Shauns sunglasses shaunscaliforian.com Peregrine Harris Tweed blazer peregrineclothing.co.uk Apinestars grey check shirt alpinestars.com Duffer of St George windbreaker jdsports.co.uk

Opposite: Conor wears Supply & Demand quilted jacket jdsports.co.uk Ben Sherman multi checked shirt bensherman.com Levi 511 Slim jeans levi.com Hypergrand checked strap watch streetcasuals.com

Above: Jake wears Shauns sunglasses shaunscalifornia.com Peregrine double breasted cardigan peregrineclothing.co.uk WeSC red chambray shirt asos.com Fred Perry oxford shirt scottsmenswear.com Duck and Cover slim jeans duckandcover.co.uk Pointer Surfer Rosa pointerfootwear.com

Conor wears Luke denim jacket luke1977.com Luke red check shirt luke1977.com Levi 511 black slim jeans levi.com K Swiss SI-18 Rannell 2 kswiss.co.uk

Left: Conor wears Samsoe and Samoe bomber asos.com Jack and Jones camo shirt jdsports.co.uk BBC gingham camo shirt bbcicecream.com Duck and Cover slim jeans duckandcover.co.uk Filling Pieces deconstructed fillingpieces.com Right: Jake wears Anerkjendt knitted jacket togandclogs.com Ben Sherman gingham shirt bensherman.com Alpinestars check flannel shirt alpinestars.com Duck and Cover slim jeans duckandcover.co.uk Palladium Pampa Hi Leather S palladiumboots.co.uk

Jake wears Samsoe and Samsoe wool blazer asos.com Alpinestars check flannel shirt alpinestars.com Boxfresh denim shirt boxfresh.com

Jake wears Shauns sunglasses shaunscaliforian.com CroJack checked waxed jacket crojack.co.uk Hype knit jumper justhype.co.uk Aquascutum house check collar polo scottsmenswear.com One True Saxon slim jeans scottsmeanswear.com Clarks Originals Wallabee scottsmenswear.com Conor wears Elvine Parka jacket elvine.se Gymphlex checked shirt gymphlex.co.uk Clavin Klein stripe T-shirt calvinklien.com Ben Sherman chinos bensherman.com Pointer plimsole pointerfootwear.com

Conor wears Boxfresh quilted jacket boxfresh.com Original Penguin chambray collar polo scottsmenswear.com Aigle checked shirt aigle.com Ben Sherman shirt (around waist) bensherman.com One True Saxon dark denim jeans scottsmenswear.com Nike Tiempo 94 Mid Grey nike.com

Mi Pac flannel check duffel bag mi-pac.com Skull Candy white Crusher white headphones skullcandy.com Crooks and Castles gingham 5 panel cap threadsaddiction.com

A.M. SNIPER PINS / 70

VISUAL TRIPS Nardene Scott delves into the mind of London based artist and designer PINS, a veteran within the industry to get an insight into his quirky and colourful style along with what he’s learnt along the way and of course what we can expect next. Allow the tea/Nutella fanatic and serious Salvador Dali appreciator to drop some knowledge on you…

“Progress in your field, whatever that may be. Inspire others when you’re coming up.

Network, Network, Network with everyone and Succeed under your OWN terms, not someone else’s.”

Stay curious.

I’ve always been curious about things, and very receptive to my surroundings. I first got involved in the field of Art & Design at college way back in 2002, then graduated in 2005 with BA Hons in Fashion with Business, then couldn’t find a job, so decided to create my own path and have relied on my curiosity and drive to learn ever since. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do back then, but what I did know, was that it would be in the creative field and I wasn’t going to compromise my vision to realise someone else’s.

Sell yourself, just don’t lose yourself!

My first ever paid commission was during my clothing customisation hustle in 2005 when this guy saw me wearing one of my custom painted hats, and he asked where I got it from, I said, ‘I did it’, he was like, ‘ah cool, can you do me one with my name?’, I’m like, ‘cool, £25’, then it all kicked off…I used the money to re-invest in more blank hats to do my thing on.

Progress, inspire, network, succeed.

It just came to me at the right time, when I decided

I wanted to be much more than just an artist, I wanted to represent something. Something which would reflect what I was doing and resonate with people at the same time. Progress in your field, whatever that may be. Inspire others when you’re coming up. Network, Network, Network with everyone and succeed under your OWN terms, not someone else’s.

Get out there, to get in there!

I think when you have limited experience behind you, or certain people think you aint ‘cool’ enough to fit in with the ‘in crowd’, you tend to flow with what you know. So if they aint letting you in, create your own thing, then they want in, ha!

No limits!

I love it all, currently enjoying the graphic illustration side, so will continue until I get bored…

Paint what you love!

I like my food and I like my kicks, both to me are intertwined when it comes to the element of ‘taste’, so I just fuse them together, drop a dollop of imagination in there and see what happens!

PINS / 72

Stay Pinspired, not wired!

If it makes sense visually speaking, I’m on it. Plus the desire to innovate and create something fresh is never a bad thing…and what inspires me to keep doing my thing?? Progression in my craft, learning daily and ticking off my ridiculously long list of creative things to do before I fizzle out.

“I decided I wanted to be more than just an artist, I wanted to represent something, which would reflect what I was doing and resonate with people.”

Do what you love daily or go crazy!

New Year’s Day... we start with a bowl of Weetabix (three stacks) and some peppermint tea, then some free flow doodling to free up the mind (highly recommended). I then proceed to the ‘dungeon,’ basically the deskspace where you’ll find the Mac, Wacom tablet, lots of pens and random ‘cool stuff’ scattered all over and I’m in design mode. Lunch time comes, we then get all #FatBoyPINS in the place and eat whatever’s in the fridge, normally nothing, so I go out and get some chicken, which ain’t Nando’s but it tastes just as good! Then I get into a #FoodComa just after, so just chill and doodle for a bit then have a power nap for 20 minutes. Then wake up, cold water splash to the face, then good to go!

I read My Life And Works by Henry Ford for an hour or so, (I’m a book man yes), then get back into design mode. I continue until the early eve, several cups of tea in between, then I whizz down the gym for a swim!

I then come out, get a chocolate Nourishment, down that, then head home. I meet a matey on the way, he mentions there’s a rave on later today, but I’m like ‘sorry mate, gotta illustrate!’ I get home feeling peckish, nibble, nibble, wash down with a cold ginger beer, then I go to the deskspace to chill and get my Play-Doh on. I decide to put on the film Anchorman, which is put up side by side with my work on the Mac, work and play at the same time, nice that. We keep on the design grind till 3am, several films/cups of tea in between, and then dream mode (not sleep).

Cheeky and bold get the gold!

My art reflects my personality to an extent, kinda bold and cheeky with it, think Del Boy (Only Fools & Horses) Filofax in one hand, paintbrush in the other.

Keep the faith mate!

The longest I’ve gone without sleep/food/money was two months prior to my second solo show at Clarendon Fine Art gallery last year, that was something.

Cash flow is King!

Doing what you love everyday and being financially independent. Having a healthy stream of cash flow to invest into making all my crazy ideas possible.

Find out more about @PINSpired on pinspired.com

NIPSEY HUSSLE / 74

SLAUSON SOLDIER Crenshaw was one of the best drops of 2013 – just ask Jay Z, he bought 100 copies at $100 each - so with the imminent release of his album Victory Lap we put the call in to Nipsey Hussle.

The West Coast spitter tells Nardene Scott about the thought process behind his Proud 2 Pay campaign, valuable conversations with Lyor Cohen and wanting to leave a positive legacy.

“I want my legacy to represent somebody that was conscious of how powerful he could be and not in terms of money, but in terms of creativity.”

We hear you’re having a few tour bus issues? Is everything cool now?

It wasn’t really the bus, it was the weather, we had a couple of roads we were supposed to take but all the cities have been blocked off because of the weather, so we had to postpone two of the dates. We back good now though. We in Minnesota, its like -2 degrees out here and we LA people, too, we not used to this.

Everything has been great [on the tour], the energy is through the roof and the turnout is huge in every city, most of them have sold out, so I can’t complain.

What do you think about performing in the UK? Man I’m excited since the last time with Trapstar, when the crowd was crazy. Obviously it’s different when I go over there because they are less exposed but I think this time it will be good because we teamed up with Semtex.

NIPSEY HUSSLE / 76

“When the music is where it’s supposed to be then I go into my strategies, but when it’s music time, it’s music time, because you can market all campaigns but if the product don’t stand up, it’s useless.”

Your 2013 was pretty insane, that Crenshaw mixtape did crazy numbers, what made you decide to concoct the Proud 2 Pay campaign, selling the Crenshaw mixtape for $100?

It was just my instincts, [the mixtape] was done already, I set it up to be released through Dat Piff and I was just thinking how we could make the release bigger and what could we do creatively to put some hard copies on the street, because I felt like the project deserved a lifespan outside of the downloads. I wanted to give it a different value and I think by creating an experience like with the Proud 2 Pay concept gave the music a little more value. Obviously the price tag was really about mobilising my real fans and the people that have really been down since day one. I didn’t sign a deal to a major label but this is [the fans’] time to really come out and support, it was like this is how you can reciprocate what you’ve been getting all these years.

As an independent artist, how much is your mind on the business side and how much is on the music side of things? Would you say it’s a fair split?

Nah, I think it’s just seasons. I think it’s just all about the music. All my energy goes into making my best material, I don’t even think about the business, or the marketing. When I think the music is where it’s supposed to be then I go into my creative box as far as strategies to release it, but when it’s music time, it’s music time, because you can market all types of campaigns but if the product don’t stand up, it’s useless.

Why did you decide to do that with this project, as opposed to others?

I knew that after TMC it was time for something to happen. I had built my touring fan base, my clothing line and my brands outside of the music. I’d solidified myself as a lyricist, as a valued player in the new generation of hip hop artists, so I just felt like this project was about just being a little more personal and just really reinforcing that this is a true story. This is not based on fiction; these are things that really happened. Other times with the music, there are blurred lines between fact and fiction; we wanted it to be clear that when it came to Nipsey Hussle, it’s based on things

that really happened. Real events and real people; the struggle of going through the streets of LA and wanting to change and that’s why I called it Crenshaw. It needed to represent that moment when we were on Crenshaw and Slauson.

What do you think about the changing role of the mixtape? Especially because your mixtape was so revered amongst a lot of big hip hop albums that dropped last year?

I don’t differentiate between album sessions or mixtape sessions because I go into the studio with the same intentions every time.

That’s to make my best songs. When it comes down to choosing my songs and what makes the album and the mixtape I got some good advice from Lyor Cohen at a meeting. He was like, ‘Nip, this is what is wrong with the industry, people confuse good songs with great songs; great songs you know them as soon as you hear them, terrible songs, you know them as soon as you hear them, but it’s the good songs that are confusing and the album is about great records.’ Truth be told, I was gonna come out with my album Victory Lap in 2013, but after that conversation I went back and listened to it. I had tons of records and some of them were good; great verses and great moments but all the records that were truly great I put them on the playlist for Victory Lap and the records I felt were good records that had dope verses, made Crenshaw. I think the bar for my album is a little bit higher and there’s more of a process, you’ve got to meet every criteria in order to make the album.

I’m extremely unconscious of radio, I’m just thinking about the people and that’s the kind of freedom you have when you release your mixtape whereas the album you want to sell, so you’ve got to keep that in consideration.

Considering that, what did you think when you saw that street sign with your lyrics, right there on Crenshaw and Slauson?

That’s crazy because I grew up there, on that intersection, that’s really where we hustled at and the song that was quoted with me talking about that intersection, was me hustling on that intersection. So for me rolling down that street and seeing it; that was a moment for me.

What would you want your legacy to be?

I just want to have a positive impact at the end of the day. I just feel like I want my legacy to represent somebody that was conscious of how powerful he could be and not in terms of money but in terms of creativity and being able to manifest the things which you believe in and the things that you want to see happen.

If you haven’t already, grab Crenshaw via iamproud2pay.com and @NipseyHussle releases Victory Lap on 1 March

SOUNDCHECK: SANGO / 78

SOUNDCHECK:

SANGO Genre defying producer Sango has been garnering an abundance of attention as of late with productions for the likes of homegrown talent Little Simz, remixes for Drake, The Weeknd and new RWD fave Kaytranada as well as for his own eclectic releases.

Describing his sound as “future soul… or future bass”, Alya Mooro caught up with the 22-year-old to find out more about the production process, his inspiration and his unwillingness to work with “dirty rappers”.

How would you normally describe your sound?

I like to call myself future soul or future bass; spiritual bass music, because the music to me is spiritual.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given in regards to producing?

[My older brother] told me that I should listen to other producers and try and sound like them. It was weird advice but it kind of worked because I didn’t know what kind of music I wanted to make.

He told me to listen to Timbaland, listen to Missy Elliott and Pharrell and pretty much copy them. I took what he said and made room for my own sound out of that.

What kinds of music did you listen to when you were growing up and how do you think that has affected your productions today?

From Lauryn Hill to Chicago to Whitney Houston… A Tribe Called Quest to Hiroshima – a Japanese jazz band. I think the main thing it taught me was how to search for music. When people think of sampling something, generally they just go to soul music, like ‘let me just sample some Dilla or let me sample what he sampled’, but I feel when you’ve grown up in a situation where you’re constantly thrown different music, it’s in your head and you know how to search for it, you learn how to think ahead.

“I don’t want my music to steer you away or make you feel like you’re angry or you want to go do something crazy like call up like your ex girlfriend or something like that.”

What is it about an artist that would make you want to work with them?

I’m really picky with rappers. I’ve been blessed with having a great friend in Waldo; honestly, I feel like he’s one of the best rappers and I’m spoiled because of that. When I hear him and compare him with other artists I’m like, ‘Ah no, I’ve already got Waldo so I don’t want to work with you…’

Is there anything about an artist that puts you off working with them?

Mainly their content. I don’t like rappers that curse a lot because I like to show my music to people of all ages. [Also] if they’re talking about women. I want to make music about positive things. From time to time, I might let it slide, but for the most part I’m not about that.

Dirty rappers.

If people could take one message away from your music, what would you want it to be?

[For] you to have this comfort from my music. I don’t want my music to steer you away or make you feel like you’re angry or you want to go do something crazy like call up like your ex girlfriend or something like that. My music is really just about positive feelings.

Sango recently released the experimental mixtape Da Rocinha 2, available on Bandcamp. Follow the journey @SangoBeats

Methods To The Magic They say it takes 10,000 hours to become a master in your craft and 22 year-old Sango seems to be mere hours away 1) When I produce for other artists it’s more like a service, like a gift. I’m making something from my soul and giving it to someone. I want to kind of get my mind in their mind.

2) Sampling and remixing. When I produce that way it’s more I’m trying to pay homage or give thanks to whatever sample of music I’m going with.

3) When I’m producing my own music that stuff comes from experiences and every day activities.

4) Exploring.

UNWIND

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION

Beyond the epic battle scenes and out of this world special effects - that bring a whole new meaning to the phrase shower season - plus the delectable Eva Green; 300: Rise of an Empire is a sequel worth seeing for more than a few reasons.

“Better we show them, we chose to die on our feet, rather than live on our knees!” bellows Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) to his Greek army ahead of their brutal battles with the Persian forces led by the guy liner-obsessed goon Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Long story short, if you like a good fight with some crazy ass weapons, then you’ll absolutely love this. We mentioned the CGI before, so we won’t bang on about that again, although if you haven’t been to the gym, you really should get down there because watching all of the buff bodies in this film will make you want to cry at what’s staring back at you in the mirror, like real life tears.

300: Rise of an Empire is in cinemas nationwide from 7 March

THE 300 WORKOUT / 82

THIS IS MADNESS 300’s shimmering torsos elicited envious stares from every human on earth. But believe it or not, you’re not just born with a body like that. We sent (a then willing) Alya Mooro to train with celebrity strength and conditioning coach Ruben Tabares, who trains the likes of David Haye and Tinie Tempah, for a little taste of that 300 action.

Photography Sam Bond

“I couldn’t get out of bed the next morning, or sit down to use the bathroom... All that got me through was the thought of pancakes, soaked in Nutella.”

300 as adapted for me: Thankfully Ruben Tabares took mercy on me (well, kind of – I still couldn’t get out of bed the next morning or sit down to use the bathroom. I’m not joking!) and adapted the workout so that I – a girl probably half the size of those hunks of muscle – could actually do it. 30kg barbell deadlift, squats with a medicine ball, lunges with two kettlebells etc. Basically, weights, squats, jumps and abs galore… OUCH! Once I had precisely zero energy left, it was time for my best friend aka most hated adversary – the spin cycle. Bursts of sprinting while seated followed by short (did they even happen) rests of low resistance, low speed made up the end of the workout. All that got me through those last minutes was the thought of pancakes, drizzled in cinnamon and soaked in Nutella. Definitely not what the cast of 300 had to eat post workout!

Meet Ruben Tabares Despite putting us through actual hell, we still managed to have a conversation with Ruben Tabares about other people who even pay him to go through that very same hell.

On getting into coaching…

I did 400 hurdles [and] 400 meters for years representing Great Britain and England. I was always interested in the science behind training and making myself run faster and that kind of thing so I went into strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports therapy. I was still running when David

[Haye] asked me to become his strength and conditioning coach. I came on board before he was heavyweight champion of the world and helped him do that. Now I get asked to train different people so I’ve trained Amir Khan, Tinie Tempah, premiership footballers, rugby players and others.

On training Tinie Tempah…

My first conversation with Tinie he said he wanted to look like Spider-Man when Spider-Man is wearing his suit. He trains with me five days a week; two strength training – similar stuff to what we’ve done today, but with more rest– one [day] he trains like a boxer and the other days we do conditioning work.

On the 300 workout…

They do tire flips and push cars and do farmers walk – it’s done with kettle bells but they’re massive, they’re like drums. Their training is no rests and just very heavy, very functional type things like they would be doing in the battlefield.

On nutrition…

I don’t believe in taking supplements. If I was going to stress anything to anybody, if they want to lose weight, if they want to get fitter just drink more water. You should be drinking at least 3 litres of water a day. I also have everyone I work with drink a vegetable juice. You should cut out sugar, fried fatty food and the more you can cook at home, the better. Never use a microwave!

On why being healthy and fit is ‘cool’ nowadays…

I think it’s got to do a lot to do with athletes. For example, David Haye always looks good when he goes into a fight; he changed the perception of heavyweight boxers, they don’t have to be fat in order to fight. And Tinie changed the perception of a typical rapper’s body. Youngsters will look at that like, ‘Oh I admire that; I want to look like he does.’

Ruben Tabares and David Haye recently launched the Hayemaker Training Camp. For more information visit hayemakertrainingcamp.com

“My first conversation with Tinie he said he wanted to look like Spider-Man when Spider-Man is wearing his suit.

Tinie changed the perception of a typical rapper’s body.”

MARC KINCHEN / 84

HOUSE MASTER

An absolute legend in house music, MK aka Marc Kinchen, the LA residing producer (and more recently DJ) was brought up on Detroit House and mentored by the greatest that ever did it. After storming to the top of the UK charts with, remixes for Pharell, London Grammar, Rudimental and Duke Dumont all in the space of a few weeks, we’re looking ahead to the summer, and his highlight of last year Hideout Festival whilst coming to terms with wild eBay bids for his sweaty towel.

We’re gearing up for festival season so we want to find out your memories of Hideout?

It’s funny because this time last year, I remember seeing videos of Hideout and calling my manager like, ‘Hey did I get booked for Hideout?’ They were like, ‘No, no requests.’ I’m like, ‘f**k I really wanna play there because it looked cool’. I’d only been deejaying like a year prior to seeing that video, so I was just saying I guess I’m not ready yet. Then I wanna say my agent maybe talked them into the booking; I’m not sure exactly how it was but I was on a pool party and boat party line up. I got there the day I was playing, so I literally got to my hotel, changed and went straight to the beach and directly to the pool. I didn’t know what to expect, at all. Then I started playing and it just started going mental, I was like, ‘woah this is crazy!’

How are you going to top that this year?

I don’t know how I’ll top it, I’ll just keep doing me. After that show last year, I ended up hanging out and I don’t think I slept in my hotel one night.

I would just meet random people and end up hanging out with them for a few hours and then find some other people and hang out with them for a while. Then I’d sleep on the beach…

What?! On the pebbles?

Yeah! I remember I had a really expensive jacket and I ended up sleeping in my jacket and then later it had a bunch of holes in it! So yeah it was fun, I would just wake up, go to my hotel, change clothes and go right back. It was definitely one of the best times I ever had, just period.

So what advice would you give to festival goers?

Pace yourself (laughs). You really have to pace yourself because people end up partying too hard and then they miss half of the festival. I’m definitely gonna pace myself, I’ll still sleep on the beach.

What are your favourite festival memories?

Erm… I’ve been getting a lot of tops coming off; I had a bra thrown at me...

“I ended up hanging out and I don’t think I slept in my hotel one night because I would just meet random people. Then I’d sleep on the beach, It was definitely one of the best times I ever had, just period.”

What did you do with the bra? I always wonder how people are supposed to react to that?

I was like I’m gonna keep it, then the next morning I woke up like ‘what am I thinking?’ (laughs) I left it in the hotel room. I cannot keep a random bra.

I saw your Instagram post the other day saying that your post gig sweaty towel going for thousands on eBay? Yeah I had two shows in a row, so I left one show and went to a new venue and I didn’t have a hotel, so I just got to the club and asked the promoter’s girlfriend for a towel so I could kinda wash up. She gave me the towel and she was like, ‘I’m gonna put this on eBay’ and she really did.

What was the bidding like?

It sold for £10,100.

Look out for new music from @MarcKinchen both on the remix front and with supergroup Pleasure State [Lee Foss, Annabel Englund & MK] and for your own experience visit hideoutfestival.com

boost available at