september 2011
EDITOR’S LETTER YES RWD! Duku yourself! It’s your boy, Dappy and for one month only I’ve got rid of Hattie and taken over as editor! I have a lot of love for RWD; they’ve covered N-Dubz way before we had our first record deal. The first time we were in the magazine was back in 2007 when RWD said we were ‘About To Blow’ - of course they were right! I read RWD growing up; it was the one to get to see what was up and coming and what was really good. I remember when L.Man blew at one point – him and Ny were on the cover, that was the first issue we were in. I saw Skepta in there, JME, Bashy, Example, everyone’s been in RWD! I’ve always liked Wiley’s front covers and of course Tinie and Skepta and Chippy’s. The covers are always great cos RWD is great at what they do. Of course the best covers have been the N-Dubz ones! This is my first one as a solo artist - apart from when I was on the cover of Total Carp! RWD is the most exciting magazine in our genre of music – by far! Big up the photographer Simeon Coates, he got me some great shots. RWD always bring some excitement. You see the little arrow and then ‘R’, ‘W’ and the ‘D’? That makes me excited! And I loved doing my interview with Hattie too, it was great; I always get stupid interviews that are never constructive, they ask the same stupid questions. RWD is No.1 in this! RWD has always been there for us... We love RWD, without you, we’d be nothing. There’s a lot of sick features this issue; from Pixie Lott to Example and a whole theme on fashion - I Have My Say on that too! Don’t watch that! Love to all my fans - make sure you go out and buy my single when it drops otherwise One Direction are going to stay at No.1 and we can’t let that happen!
RWD TEAM Editor @thedappy Deputy Editor @dannywalker1 and @ hattiecollins Senior Staff Writer @Nardenescott, Contributing Editor @chantellefiddy Online Editor @tegosigel Contributors Alex Johnson, Riki Bains, Denise Kodja, Ben Westbeech, Laura Brosnan, JP Patterson, Sian Anderson Art Director Dacre J. Bracey Designer Chidi Ubani Fashion Stylists Nasrin Jean-Baptiste, Neesha Sharma, Patricia C. Williams Fashion News Ed Caragh Logan Style Pages Editor Irene Asanji Style Assistant Cheyenne Davide Illustrators Art Jaz, Jiro Bevis, Rachel Goslin, David Flanagan Photographers James Pearson-Howes, Andres Reynega, Kevin Joseph, Jake Green, Adrian Nettleship, Simeon Coates, Ravi Sidhu Publisher Nigel Wells Senior Sales Matthew Richards Thanks Bob Austin
CONTACT RWD W107 Holywell Centre, 1, Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS Tel: 020 3176 4299 Email: staff@rwdmag.com RWD Magazine is published monthly by Rewind Creative Media Ltd. All material copyright (c). All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the publishers. RWD Magazine: 25p where sold
CONTRIBUTOR OF THE MONTH RIKY BAINS Agent Riky Bains AKA ‘The fastest transcriber in the West’ who hails from ‘Average Britain’ and lives in Dartford, Kent, arrived at RWD after his blog caught our attention. “ I wanted to express my skills on a bigger platform while meeting some wonderful people along the way. The first port of call was RWD and Uncle Danny was more than happy to have me join the team for a while.” From meeting stars, interviewing artists, playing unreleased games, shopping for Ed Sheeran and telling Wretch he’d get a No.1. Riki has enjoyed his “most incredible journey”. Meeting Dappy was “Interesting. He seems very genuine and an all round good guy...” says Riki. Next up for this uni student is “getting through freshers week in one piece”. Check Rikybains1.blogspot.com 6 / RWDMAG.COM
Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, for which RWD holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily bear a relation to those of RWD Magazine or it’s staff and we disclaims liability for those impressions. Distributed nationally. RWD is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
CONTENTS 01/09/2011
REGULARS
FEATURES
10-11 12 16 18-19 20-22
INBOX NEWS ENOUGH ALREADY: MANKLES WATCH THE THRONE ASICS ONE TO WATCH: DUCHESS, BABY SOL, SHAI SPOONER, COVERDRIVE, REDNEK 24-25 ABOUT TO BLOW: JACK HARVEY 82 FINAL WORD: EXAMPLE
14-15 18-19 44-48 50-53 54-55 56-57 58-60 66 68
STYLE GUIDE
UNWIND
27-31 32-39 40-41 44-45
71-73 74-75 76 76-79 80-81
STYLE: JACKETS SPECIAL FASHION FASHION NEWS: RONNIE FIEG REFRESHED: BEN WESTBEECH
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10 YEARS OF RWD COVER STORY: DAPPY PIXIE LOTT CAROLINE FLACK JOBWATCH: JONATHAN MANNION PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT SNEAKBO + BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE WAVE VIDEO SNIPER DANSO
GADGETS: FASHION BLOGGER SPECIAL GAMES FILMS GIG GUIDE: RWD LIVE ENERGY SESSION CHARTS AND REVIEWS
HAVE YOUR SAY:
INBOX
FASHION
Just when you thought we weren’t going to get a summer, Mother Nature turned the beams on and messed up everyone’s fashion game. After you pack your wellies away, have a read of these letters. The best comes from Loveleen who wins this watch from Nautica. Get yours, for £155, from Nautica.com Send all your letters to: Attn. Editor, RWD Magazine, W107 Holywell Centre, 1 Phipp Street, London, EC2A 4PS or staff@rwdmag.com
Dear RWD Mag, I am a student at Christ of Kings Sixth Form College presently studying A Levels and would like the opportunity to gain work experience within the media sector... Mr Tamari W Johnson
LETTER OF THE MONTH Re: One Love Peace Festival What a shambolic event! Ky-mani didn’t bother turning up. The organisers filled in gaps with pointless acts and speeches leaving very little time for the headliners to put on a proper performance which they had to rush through. Top acts were The Abyssinians and Busta, who brought the house down. As for Sean Paul, what an embarrassment, the worse sound ever, so bad it was hard to tell what song was actually playing, the guy can’t sing without getting out of breath and looks bloated and silly with his Mohican, very little interaction with the crowd, and to make matters worse he had the longest set out of all of them. Poor Shaggy did what he could to rescue the vibe but with only 15 minutes and a hot and tired crowd it wasn’t easy. Not worth the £60 all in all... Loveleen Now tell us what you didn’t like Loveleen. – RWD Rant Patrol 10 / RWDMAG.COM
Thanks for your letter Armani and the love you’ve been showing RWD over the years. I just wish we had the same enthusiasm for Supreme.G as you. Anyway, we’ll keep an eye out for your boy. - RWD Team Hi, I’m a blogger from Manchester, I feel RWD mag doesn’t appreciate the city’s talent; I can give you a list of names for you to check out of great musicians who are raking up views online and bringing attention to the city. These names (D’Lyfa Reilly, Red IQ, Broke ‘N’ English, C Aye Monk, Sourface, Cloud 9) are worth a look. Write back to me, Alan Hoo Thanks for your email Alan Lool, Fool, Hoo, especially the MisaPpropriate usE of caPital letters [which we changed], secondly R.I.O, Meany, Broke’N’English, Blizzard, Connect 4, Virus Syndicate... do you even read RWD? - RWD’s Resident Manc
Hey There, I am writing to apply for an internship with RWD magazine I have just completed a six-month contract as a senior writer on a youth publication... Bizu Dear Sir/ Madam I am writing to apply for an internship with RWD Magazine as I believe that I have the relevant skills and experience needed to be part of your team... Suliet Oladokun Dear future Interns, Thank you for the hundreds of emails, we’re really overwhelmed at the minute. So much so we’ve decided to put regular updates on a ‘Working for RWD’ tab on RWDmag. com/RWDmagfans. – RWD Recruitment Division Subject: Subscriptions, Hi, how do I get a regular Kind regards Joan Thomas How do you get regular? A bowl of prunes and a couple of laxative tablets we think? – RWD Digestion Unit
“It’s all casual right now, but even when we’re looking bummy, it’s still swag. Chino’s, some nice footwear, a Trapstar t-shirt... I like it fitted rather tighter these days, I don’t know why. Me and N-Dubz were always more baggy, but I’m trying to make it more fashionable these days. My favourite suit is Vivienne Westwood – big up my stylist Shai for hooking that one up. Also I like BAPE, shirts buttoned up, hats snapped backwards, more of a rock star look. If I do an under-18’s I wear the Na Na hat, but otherwise I don’t really wear them these days. My stylist, Shai Spooner, he’s the best stylist in our country by far. He knows how to look at an artist and exactly what clothes to put on them to make them different at that specific time. Big up Shai! I’ve no plans for a clothing line right now, I’m concentrating on my music, but you never know what might happen in the future.” (Dappy)
RWDMAG.COM QUICK QUESTION: RWDMAG.COM USERS CAST THEIR VOTE Each month we give you the chance to answer our Quick Question: Google+ V Facebook
20% I’ll use both
9%
36%
Don’t care
Which social network will prevail?
Shareen Says “It’s past capacity and failed before they have started if ya can’t sign up. Facebook >>>> Google+”
RWD POLLS WILL ADELE WIN THE MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE?
Zohar Says “Sorry G+, I’ll be signing off. Call me when there’s something innovative.”
2% Other
31% Google+
WHICH X FACTOR JUDGE HAS THE WORST FASHION SENSE?
45%
10% 25% 90% 21% 9% LOUIS WALSH
YES!
NO (EITHER GHOSTPOET OR TINIE TEMPAH)
Illustrastion by iamaflangan.co.uk
GARY BARLOW
KELLY ROWLAND
TULISA
TOP TWEETS @RWDMAG: 1. @smitaj55: I love @RWDMAG their journalists are great and tongue-in-cheek, cussing Pitbull’s MEDIOCRE talent LOLLL. 2. @MJay23: checking out @rwdmag ‘is Drake too wet?’ made me burst out laughing in the middle of the office [Pause]. 3. @StayFreshJamieD: Ok so I’ve just seen these pix of Rhianna in Barbados on @RWDmag. F dis I’m going to the Caribbean this Xmas to look a wife.
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Now in its eleventh year, the BT DMAs is committed to celebrating both established artists using new digital techniques, and new artists who are making a name for themselves, in the ever-evolving world of social media. With 20 award categories – rewarding artists, music services and products – the BT DMAs will be bigger than ever. Especially in 2011 as RWD will be partnering the Best International Artist or Group category. Voting opens on 24 August, when further shortlists for the best individual artists, groups, songs and videos will be thrown open to music fans to vote for their favourites. Voting will end on 23 September.
FIDDY’S WORLD OF WHATEVER... Seeking some self-improvement in her life, journo, consultant, blogger and mentor, Chantelle Fiddy (tries to) find a life. This month: Girl power! Sometimes in life you just want to be a girl and there’s been a serious lack of sweet female attitude in the poposphere of late. Of course we can salute heroines like Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Yasmin and co. but I’m talking on a group action tip [no orgy]. So there was clapping to be heard when news broke that, after many years with Island Records, The Sugababes had a new deal over at Sony (they’ve got an emotional album in ‘em I’m sure), and RD have also decided to unleash a new Katy B inspired single. But is anyone ready for the trio known as StooShe? Four months back it was a jump up moment when their debut video for ‘F*** Me’ dropped. There was colour, a real flare for fashion, and then we get to the lyrics... a fave line being; “Foreplay’s fun but I ain’t got the time so won’t you hurry up and s*ck meeeeeee...” Despite little information accompanying this release, it was clear this was a) majorly exciting b) not the work of a numpty c) a new strain of UK feminist activity. Put it this way, anyone who thought OG Niki had style and grace only needs to check this for how you do a Lil Kim with an ounce more wit - the ladies dem are channelling their inner Minaj and TLC into their musique. Having got my tweet game on, it’s time to reveal Karis, the ‘tattooed, bootylicious BritBrat’, Alex, ‘fabulous, booby blueblood’ and Courtney, the quirky bubbly batty. With a new video on screens I’m sure I won’t be alone in looking forward to the next instalment in the StooShe story. Word to your mama. And the mirror. @stooshe and Youtube.com/user/StooSheTV. And check @chantellefiddy if you’re really bored
ENOUGH ALREADY: Toooooo Much Mankle Have you ever wondered why chumps roll their chinos up so high? Have you ever looked at a loser and compared his lower limbs to that of a shoeless vagrant? Have you ever walked down a high street and seen a grown man bare more ankle flesh than a dyslexic chimpanzee? Danny Walker says it’s time to sock-up and shut up... image by Jiro Bevis
I LOVE YOU GUYS! YOU GUYS ARE SO FUNNY! I MIGHT EVEN DO IT BUT I’LL MAKE IT LOOK COOL. IF IT’S A PINROLL BUSINESS, THEN NO. THAT’S PLAYED OUT RIGHT NOW.
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Loud, brash, unashamed idiots roam our streets. You’ve seen them. You’ve heard them. You’ve gagged at the smell of their offensive eau de offal aftershave. Amidst sipping tepid lattés, hard-nosed namedropping and moaning on the mobile about their latest rejection to another creepy sexual advance (via terrible iPhone reception of course), they’re often caught humming Giles Peterson and genuinely being a social eyesore from the ankle up. As well as not showing any regard for people with working eyesight, these twerps are often mistaken in thinking that what they wear (and how they wear it) is acceptable or even more presumptuous of them, cool. Listen up; rolling your trousers up like a redneck fisherman on mid-summer gaycation to Brighton beach is not cool. The amount of hair you have on your palms is not cool and the only thing acceptable would be to tie you up, put Turtle-flavoured butter on those petite ankles and put you in a shallow pond full of peckish alligators. We’re not saying all tight turn ups are bad. We’re just asking the social sadsacks who take
it one step tuck too far to re-evaluate their roll up game. We’ve seen garments pulled so tight a lack of oxygen to their feet causes them to limp like Keyser Söze. We’ve witnessed chino chumps with trousers of tragedy so high they’d easily be mistaken for three quarter length lady leggings. And worst of all, we’re starting to get those who’ve folded their jeans over so much it looks like they’re using hamsters as ankle weights. If you couple these ‘looks’ with a faded pair of broken down doo doo brown brogues... it’s a fashion faux pas of the highest order. If your ankles are hairy, dry and/ or in desperate need of a splash of sun, they should be wrapped up warm, snuggled in the safety of some socks or at least trousers that don’t expose the puss-fuelled blackheads you have at the bottom of your shins. Please please please, for the sake of the children, sort your sh*t out. We don’t care what planet you’re from, who you (think you) know or what Google+ Circles you roll in, those crusty, anorexic anklets should never been on display!!!
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF RWD! Join us for the tenth anniversary of RWD and help us celebrate in style. Next month we’ll be kicking things off with a commemorative issue alongside a collector’s photo album. We’ll also be giving away FREE tickets to star-studied parties to coincide with DECA, a week-long exhibition of underground London culture. Partnering with adidas, this retrospective look at the culture, music and fashion over the last decade is another historical RWD moment... images by James Pearson-Howes/ Joanna Woodrow WITH CLASSIC UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS, ART INSTALLATIONS AND ICONIC VIDEOS, DECA WILL BE AN IMMERSIVE AUDIO/ VISUAL EXPERIENCE.
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DON’T THINK WE FORGOT ABOUT ALL OUR RAVERS EITHER, OUR RWD LIVE EVENTS WILL REFLECT THE PIONEERING GENRES RWD HAS SUPPORTED FOR A DECADE...
To start off proceedings we have been going through the archives, picking out the many legendary covers, features, and epic events over our 10-year history to put together a 68-page compendium. There will be some background to how RWD emerged, its beginnings as purveyors of the underground music scene to the music, fashion and lifestyle stalwart it is today. Not only will we be filling East London’s Brickhouse venue visually with ten years of the magazine, you’ll also get to catch the artists who helped to form the very scene we documented in an innovative installation, called DECA. DECA. the week-long exhibition of underground London culture, will be an image-lead timeline showing the influence urban culture has on mainstream Britain. With classic unseen photographs, art installations and iconic videos, DECA will be an immersive audio/ visual experience. Early pics of everyone from Artful Dodger and So Solid Crew to Tinie Tempah and Chipmunk, this is not to be missed. The Olympic sponsors’ adidas will also be picking out artists to feature in a special About To Blow section - so expect to see tomorrow’s chart toppers flaunting the GB Team gear with pride. Don’t think we forgot about all our ravers either, our RWD Live events will reflect the pioneering genres RWD has supported for a decade. There’s not a musical era we missed out on, from garage through to dubstep and grime we’ve confirmed a stellar line up of performers - Jamieson & Viper, Artful Dodger, Hatcha, Heartless Crew, Oxide & Neutrino, Monsta Boy, Devlin, Donaeo, Mz Bratt, Roll Deep and the mighty Ms Dynamite. Anyone that came down to our nights at Penthouse back in 2006, all the way to our most recent event headlined by Ed Sheeran, will know that we manage these musical extravaganza’s rather well. What else can we say other than catch you next month for another slice of history! For more info and to have your say on the last 10 years check out DECA10.com 17
HEAD TO HEAD
We did more than Watch The Throne we studied it. Nardene Scott shares her thoughts on the most highly anticipated release of 2011, in a special RWD way of course!
BREAKING NEWS: JAY Z IS RICH AND HE USED TO SELL DRUGS!!! GOTTA HAVE IT: “I’M PLANKING ON A MILLION”... “AND PRIOR TO THIS SH*T WAS MOVING FREE BASE…”
MILLION ... THE AMOUNT OF MINUTES Cheapos missed out on when they didn’t buy the deluxe version . 18 / RWDMAG.COM
SHOTS TAKEN...TOO MANY INDIRECTS TO COUNT SO WE JUST PICKED OUT OUR FAVES Amber Rose caches the brunt of Ye’s rants...
THAT’S MY B**CH: “AND SOME LESBIANS THAT NEVER LOVE NI**AS... I’LL NEVER LET ‘EM EVER HIT A STRIP CLUB/ I LEARNED THE HARD WAY, THAT AIN’T THE PLACE TO GET LOVE…”
AUTOTUNE ALERTS... Kanye hits up the voice altering tube again. Did he not learn anything from 808 & Heartbreaks or Hova’s D.O.A
BEHIND THE BOARDS the roll call is ridic! Following of course Mr West is 88 Keys, Q Tip, Pharell, No ID, Lex luger, Pete Rock, Swizz Beatz, RZA‌ the list goes on seriously how is everyone getting paid?
MINUTES #WTT WASTED DAILY It had everyone gassed, the Kanye rants to the supposed splits, snippets and more, 30 minutes gone!
SAMPLES FEATURED ON #WTT included of course James Brown with four appearances alongside some surprising ones too like Flux Pavillion and erm Blades of Glory
NO. OF COUNTRIES #WTT
AROUND THE WORLD IN 69 MINUTES... #WTT was recorded all over the
topped the iTunes chart in, after 24 hours.
world, literally, from Sydney to Honalulu to, erm, Wiltshire. Jay-Z and Kanye mixed sightseeing with churning out future classics The album.
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presents
ASICS GEL SAGA III ASICS.CO.UK/SPORTSTYLE (£90) Keeping on top of this here fashion game ASICS bring to you the vibrantly coloured and retro styled GEL-LYTE III kicks. They’ll be no time wasted getting these trendy trainers on your feet either with a speed lacing system and once they’re in, comfort is the word, with a specially moulded sole featuring foot shock absorbtion and a tongue that won’t start wagging. Good news for sneaker addicts; we have three pairs to give away. Email [subject:ASICS] iwannawin@rwdmag.com to be in with a chance of winning.
DUCHESS Take four girls from all over the UK, with talents spanning from theatre and dance to singing and songwriting, and what do you get? Nardene Scott quickly finds out this regal quartet are far from your run-of-the-mill manufactured girl group... As new bands go, Duchess differ from the rest thanks to a range of industry experiences; Shanie sang backing vocals for Leona Lewis, Jamie was busy treading the boards in theatre land whilst Annie and Nadine were both doing their thing in dance. So how did they all get together? “Basically Sony were putting together this girl group and they couldn’t find anyone,” says Annie, attempting to unravel the coming together of the band. “We were all recommendations through various people so it was quite last minute. I had four hours notice to go down to the audition,” she laughs. Shanie got a heads up via Leona’s then boyfriend Leo, Jamie’s singing teacher leaked her the info and last but not least, once the band was formed, Talay Riley spotted a YouTube vid of Nadine singing, who completed the group. Though the Sony deal subsequently collapsed, thanks to the belief of their A&R Pia Ashcroft, and the girls’ determination they eventually signed to Universal imprint All Around The World. “A lot happened because we were working with H Money (Champion) and that got the attention of RedOne (Lady Gaga),” says Jamie. “He was like ‘I wanna work with these girls’”.
Pure perseverance saw the girls go from no deal to big deal to RedOne splitting studio time between them and pop’s finest Kylie - they even got a night out on the producer’s wallet, although Jamie might has ruined the chance of a second invite. “He told me to get whatever I wanted from the bar. I misunderstood and thought he’d offered to get something for everyone, so I bought a £500 bottle of Vodka. Then managed to drop it!” Duchess also used their womanly charms to get backstage at a Black Eyed Peas gig dropping an impromptu acapella for the BEP’s which led to the producer Printz Board (Where Is The Love, Humps) flying out the quartet to recording sessions in LA and Paris. When the TLC, SWV and En Vogue fans first got together they were known for their on-point vocal arrangements but don’t expect any carbon copies when the new music drops. “We’re a lot more pop, like Destiny’s Child, but the first track, All The Boyz, shows we’re a bit more risky, edgy, grittier.” Next up, the girls need to get to work on deciding which of the 50 or 60 bangers will make the cut for the album, although the overly creative chicks already have ideas about collaborations, “Wiz Khalifa or Nicki Minaj for the ultimate female empowerment song,” shouts Shanie, Annie reckons Dappy would be ideal, whilst Nadine is all about Ed Sheeran. Whether the dream features come true, we’re sure there’s more than enough regal rawness to come from Duchess. All The Boyz Ft. Scorcher is out now. Officialduchess.com
BABY SOL Baby by name, soulful by nature – if you haven’t heard of Baby Sol you’re about to get the name etched into your head, especially when her collaboration Always with dubsteppers Stinkahbell hits the airwaves. Despite having worked with some of the UK’s hottest artists including Paloma Faith, Tinchy Stryder and Rox, a career in music was never a definite plan, as the afro rocking singer explains. “This was Plan B – I was going to be anything but a singer - being a singer was not a viable option.” However now the realistic Mancunian looks at her life and thinks, ‘How could I ever have thought I would be doing anything different’? We’re sure they’ll Always be something special coming through our speakers when it comes to this talented lady. Always drops 12 September. Check missbabysol.com
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SHAI SPOONER This 24 year-old is a sought after stylist to the stars. The Jamaican, Danish, Norwegian and Guyanese Shai ensures N-Dubz, Encore and Dot Rotten stay super fly 100% of the time. As a kid, Shai and his siblings travelled the world with his “nomad” mum and it was then he started to realise his goals. “You can’t buy an education like that; I left school at 12 with no qualifications, just a vision; to get to the top.” This talented clothing connoisseur initially did a three month internship in 2009 with Wale Adeyemi, before starting work with N-Dubz in August 2010. “I love my job, and it’s helped me for people to see how much I’ve helped change them,” says the budding designer. “I’ve had enough experience over the years to know what will and won’t work. I’m ready now.” Shaispooner.tumblr.com
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ASICS.CO.UK/SPORTSTYLE
Photograpghy by Coco Zurita
presents
COVERDRIVE We’ve experienced what, maybe one week of sunshine this year? Thankfully Nardene Scott discovers Bajan quartet Coverdrive have a load of Vitamin D filled songs about to surge into our charts. “We’ll definitely miss the beach,” lead vocalist and sole female member of Coverdrive, Manda, tells us about moving from Barbados to London. On the upside, drummer T-Ray, bassist Jamar and guitarist Barry all agree “Nando’s”! is going to be a big plus when it comes to swapping sand for our grey skies. The foursome have been friends for some time, but only decided to make music together on Manda’s manager’s suggestion; now their plan is to bring a snippet of Barbados sunshine to Britain with their Carib-Pop sound. “It’s reggae, ska and dance, mixed with mainstream pop music,” decides the female front-woman. “It’s fun, it’s fresh, it feels like we’re back in Barbados just having fun and partying.” Debut single Lick Ya Down throws a finger up to the haters, while album-
wise, the Islanders have been working with some big producers and master songwriters, “We’ve got Steve Mac (JLS, The Saturdays) and Wayne Hector (Britney, The Wanted), it’s been an amazing experience”, Manda tells us, singling out their debut single’s producer J. R. Rotem (Dre, Snoop, Rihanna) who went against his normal recording process and stayed in the studio with the hype crew for the full three days. “We were standing up on couches, we just had a party really,” laughs T-Ray about the sessions. All influenced by different artists, Manda (Gwen Stefani), T-Ray (Linkin Park), Jamar (Bob Marley/Radiohead) and Barry (Blink 182) host the Fedora Sessions on Youtube each month, covering everyone from Katy Perry to Example. There will be no time for sessions when the album drops next year though. “You can get on a plane and go to paradise just by getting Coverdrive’s album,” they laugh. Cheaper than Easyjet? We’re fully involved! Lick Ya Down is out 28 August. @wearecoverdrive
REDNEK Born to a Polish mother and Irish father and babysat by a Jamaican producer, singer and DJ, Rob D’Riche is no newcomer to mixing it up and hard work. After soaking up the sounds filtered through the Hackney estate where he was raised, it wasn’t long until he began taking music seriously via a redundant music room at school. “I locked myself in and built up this studio at around 12 years-old,” the Pioneer fanatic tells us, adding “my studio is fully kitted out now, it’s plush”. Speed through the years past a stint in pop music working for Pete Waterman on Pop Idol, then alongside Tinie on Hood Economics and we arrive at Radio 1 daytime airings of dubstep stonker I’m Not Skrillex (29 August) plus plans to tour the US. Simply press play and prepare to wobble! @OfficialRednek
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ABOUT TO BLOW: JACK HARVEY The world of Formula 1 can look glamorous from afar; podiums, popping champagne, fast cars and even faster girls. But it also takes a lot of work; Hattie Collins reckons teenager Jack Harvey definitely has what it takes to go all the way to the top...
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At the tender age of 17, Harvey is one of motor racing’s most exciting teenage talents. With his dad into karting, the Lincolnshire resident followed his pop’s pedals at the age of nine, after making friend’s with other kids at the kart track. “I hated it at first,” laughs Jack. “I was still very young and I didn’t know anyone at the track. To be honest, I was happier playing football with my mates! But my dad encouraged me to stick with it and I’m glad he did. Bit by bit I began to win races and then Championships and I started to believe this was something I was good at and could potentially have a career in.” With wins mounting over the months, Jack currently competes in Formula 3 for Carlin Motorsports with dreams of one day taking over Senna, Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton’s lane. With 10 driver Championships under his belt, his name is already being mentioned as a potential contender for Sherzy’s boyfriend’s crown. “All of the Championships are important to me,” says Jack. “But winning the CIK FIA European KF3 in 2007 was a special day. It was the culmination of a perfect race weekend... I was up against the best drivers in the world in the Championship and to me it is important to not only win, but to be able to win against the best.” With Harvey balancing his A’levels with pedal-to-the-metal antics, he’s driven but also understands the importance of education and having a social life. “My tutors are totally supportive of me and help me to balance school work with racing. Also, I have a great group of friends in racing but I also really value my friendship with the guys from school. They’re really supportive of my racing and having their friendship and support means a lot to me.” Outside of hitting pole position, the Horror film buff likes to, well, keep buff. “I really like going to the gym. I have to be fit for racing but I enjoy it too. I also love hanging out with my friends; cinema, bowling or just hanging out at each other’s homes.” But this Blackburn Rovers and Michael McIntyre fan who is also an ambassador for Mattel’s Hot Wheels, always has one eye on the ultimate goal; taking that top spot in the land of screeching tires, accurate acceleration and tactical braking.
“I know there’s a long journey ahead of me, so the main focus is to take one year at a time,” the sensible speeder, who loves Spaghetti Carbonara but hates mushrooms, decides. Earlier this month, the man who reckons determination, ability and a good team are what you need to take it to the top, equaled his best race weekend of the year at the Cooper Tires F3 International Series with 25 championship points and a podium finish. He’s currently eighth in the Championship with 74 points. Give this guy a couple more years, and we won’t be surprised to see him in pole position! “My ultimate goal is to race Formula One as that’s the top level of motorsports and where you can find the best racing drivers in the world. I’m always pushing myself to be the best I can, so the aim is to be in a position to race against the best drivers in the world,” he grins, before adding a cautionary afterthought. “But for that you need more than just talent, you need a big budget too,” he points out of the big bucks it takes to get ahead in the car game. “But whatever happens with Formula 1... I’m focusing on winning each Championship and pushing myself to be the best driver I can be.” For more, check Jackharveyracing.com and @jack_harvey42
“TO BE BE HONEST, I WAS HAPPIER PLAYING FOOTBALL WITH MY MATES! BUT MY DAD ENCOURAGED ME TO STICK WITH IT ...BIT BY BIT I BEGAN TO WIN RACES AND THEN CHAMPIONSHIPS “
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STYLE GUIDE JACKETS | FASHION | FASHION NEWS | REFRESHED
>>
WHAT TO WEAR AND HOW TO WEAR IT...
MARSHALL ARTIST threadsaddiction.com, £165
photography: Ravi Sidhu @rednivars >> 27
STYLE GUIDE
NICKELSON nickelson.co.uk, £60
RIP CURL ripcurl.com, £95
SUPREMEBEING supremebeing.com, £100
CROOKS & CASTLES threadsaddiction.com, £125
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PERCIVAL asos.com, £325
EDWIN selfridges.com, £160
THE DUFFER OF ST GEORGE jdsports.co.uk, £49.99
LUKE luke1977.com, £125
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STYLE GUIDE
FLY53 fly53.com, £60
KING king-apparel.com, £74.99
DRUNKN MUNKY drunknmunky.co.uk, £130
MCKENZIE jdsports.co.uk, £34.99
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WESC 0207 287 9548, £80
LYLE & SCOTT lyleandscott.com, £75
PENFIELD penfieldusa.com, £140
NIKE nikesportswear.com, £155
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This page: shirt and T shirt by Fly53, jeans by Luke, cap by Trapstar, rucksack by Converse, glasses by loveiwear Opp page: shirt by Levi’s, hoodie by Nike, bodywarmer by adidas
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JACKET REQUIRED PHOTOGRAPHY: EWELINA STECHNIJ STYLING: NEESHA SHARMA GROOMING: KINGA MARKOVIC USING NARS MODEL: SEIGFRED @ NEVS MODELS
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This page: duffle coat by Farah, top by The Duffer of St George, trousers by Topman, trainers by adidas, glasses by loveiwear Opp page: jacket by Nickelson, shirt by Marshall Artist, trousers by Alpha Industries
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This page: cardigan by Luke, T shirt by adidas, trousers by Farah, cap by New Era gloves by Beyond Retro, trainers by adidas, watch by Amplified Opp page: jacket by Luke, top by Marshall Artist, chinos by Ben Sherman, glasses by loveiwear
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Stockist Information ADIDAS: adidas.com ALPINESTARS: alpinestars.com RIPCURL: ripcurl.com CONVERSE BAGS: jdsports.co.uk NIKE: nikesportswear.com FARAH: farah.co.uk LEVIS: levi.com BEYOND RETRO: beyondretro.com LUKE: luke1977.com ALPHA INDUSTRIES: alphaindustries.com ZONE7 STYLE: loveiwear.com AMPLIFIED: sugarbullets.co.uk MARSHALL ARTIST: threadsaddiction.com BEN SHERMAN: bensherman.com FLY53: fly53.com DUFFER: jdsports.co.uk 38 / RWDMAG.COM
Opp page: jacket by Nike, jeans by Ripcurl, trainers by Nike, shirt by Levi’s, glasses by loveiwear.com This page: jacket by Alpha Industries, shirt by Alpinestars, glasses by loveiwear
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FASHION NEWS
GOLA’S STYLE QUOTA One of Gola’s most popular ranges, Quota, has been reimagined for AW11. ‘Classics with a twist’ is the philosophy Gola are working with for their autumn/winter collection. Combining styles from a bygone era with today’s key trends, Gola’s unrivalled heritage is a key element of the new designs. By breaking into their archives, the brand brings a key selection of traditional trainer styles back to life for the new season. Previously worn in a summery canvas, washed suede and leather uppers have been applied to Gola’s popular ‘Quota’ plimsoll for the winter season. Fashion inspired, the Quotas feature an authentic worn look, creating a vintage feel. Quotas are available online from £65. Gola.co.uk
YOUTH CLUB X HOUSE OF BILLIAM Creative agency Youth Club have teamed up with streetwear label, House of Billiam, to create specially commissioned varsity jackets. The bespoke jackets allow each customer to choose an iconic image from Youth Club’s massive archive of music photographs and have it printed to the inner lining of their jacket. House of Billiam specialise in made-to-order streetwear pieces, with every item unique to its owner. The Youth Club jackets are no different, with the printed image, colours and fabrics determinable by each customer. Boasting an archive of over 25,000 exclusive photographs of some of music’s biggest names, Youth Club are pretty sure that no matter which musical icon you want emblazoned across the inside of your jacket, they can provide. We haven’t got ours yet (we’re still trying to decide whether we’d prefer to have Biggie, Amy Winehouse or Wiley printed on our jackets), but to get yours, head on down to the Youth Club gallery to browse through their extensive collection of photographs and discuss the endless colour and material opportunities available. Pymca.com and Houseofbilliam.com
Last month was a big one for G-Shock; not only did the popular watch brand host the backstage areas at Lovebox, London’s G-Shock East also celebrated its first anniversary. First up was Lovebox, which we spent skanking out to various amazing performances, before heading to the VIP and G-Shock bus boasting a soundtrack of classic R&B and delicious food courtesy of Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts. We couldn’t have asked for much more! A week later we headed down to G-Shock
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East to celebrate their 1st anniversary. As part of the birthday celebrations we were treated to performances from Josh Osho, RD, Rascals (formerly Lil Rascals) and RoxXxann, as well as an amazing headline PA from Sway, and DJ sets from MistaJam and Swerve. Lioness was in the house and was impressed by the crowd’s energy, telling us “Rascals had girls screaming like they were Beliebers!” We’re not sure what we’re going do with the void in our lives left by the absence of a G-Shock event this month! G-Shock.co.uk
photography by TheKidTrodd
G-SHOCKING OUT
BAG YOURSELF SOME CONVERSE With a long and successful history in shoe design, Converse is now launching its first dedicated collection of bags and accessories ready for the autumn / winter season.
INTERVIEW: RONNIE FIEG Growing up in New York, Ronnie Fieg began his career in fashion as a stockroom assistant at his uncle’s store, David Z. Going on to design products for the likes of Timberland and Asics, his latest collab is with boat-shoe originators, Sebago. Is retail a good foundation for people interested in fashion? Definitely. Working in retail allows you to really gain knowledge of the different aspects of the industry. During my retail career, I worked every area from the stockroom to the sales floor to the register. All of this allowed me to learn about the different categories of footwear as well as develop my networking skills. How does your approach to a Sebago differ to previous collaborative designs? With Asics, I would be inclined to develop product that is targeted to a younger, trendier crowd. Sebago is geared more towards those wanting a classic, traditional style shoe. It’s all about knowing what the consumer wants. This collab is the first to contain your logo. Why is that? Right now I feel is the time to build myself as a brand and be known in the market as “Ronnie Fieg” and not “Ronnie from David Z”. The logos will be understated, but still visible enough to make consumers aware, without overshadowing the product. Who were your fashion icons growing up? Many well known names in hip hop would come into the David Z store. They definitely influenced my view of fashion as well as giving me an insight as to what were going to be the hot trends. For today’s generation, I think they are greatly influenced by artists such as Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa, both with their own, unique fashion sense. What’s next for footwear? While people are looking for variety, I believe they will be looking more so to buy classic styles and products of value, shoes that you will be able to wear for years to come. Ronniefieg.com and Sebago.com
DURING MY RETAIL CAREER, I WORKED EVERY AREA FROM THE STOCKROOM TO THE SALES FLOOR TO THE REGISTER. ALL OF THIS ALLOWED ME TO LEARN...
Firmly rooted in Converse’s classic style, this debut bag collection includes a Heritage airline-inspired range in bold primary colours, plus a line of Chuck Taylor influenced athletic backpacks, duffel bags and messenger bags. The Chuck Taylor All Star logo - omnipresent since the 1900s - is printed across Converse’s classic heavy cotton canvas and available in white, khaki and charcoal tones, with a nod to Williamsburg and Bowery (NYC) styling. Available from JD, prices range from £19 to £50. Converse.co.uk
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REFRESHED When you need to up your fashion and ReFreshment game there’s nothing like some advice from a pro. Singer/ producer/ DJ/ multitalented music man Ben Westbeech fills us in on his routine... Interview by Danny Walker Lego by Paul at Lyrics4Lyrics “I use Head and Shoulders. That’s what shampoo I use. That has been my shampoo for years. It’s standard.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
HEAD&SHOULDERS HAIR ENDURANCE (headandshoulders.co.uk, £2.39 for 250ml) When scientists, hair experts and tall people with clipboards tell us about the wonders of head&shoulders, we don’t really listen. When Ben Westbeech sings its praise that is a different story. To get your hair 100% dandruff free, jog down to your local supermarket for the perfect product. Itchy, dry, irritable scalp... be gone!
“I’m really into my products. I use Clinique M Lotion moisturiser on my face.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
CLINIQUE M LOTION (cliniqueformen.co.uk, £21.00 for 100ml) There are moisturisers and then there’s Clinique’s M Lotion. We know exactly why you use this lightweight lotion to replenish any dry skin. This is 100ml of sweet smelling, shave soothing, irritation easing, comfort cream that is in Clinique for Men’s Top 5 products for a reason.
“Do I shower for two days? Me? [Laughs] I like to take my time in the shower, I think it’s important but I don’t know about two days. It’s like a 20 minute shower.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
LYNX EXCITE (From all major retailers, £2.54 for 250ml) We’re not sure whether it’s the redesigned bottles or the intriguing advertising campaigns but there is something quite fresh about Lynx’s sophisticated new scent. Knowing you like a good 20 minute shower, there is nothing wrong with getting your lather on to the warm sultry tones of amber, vanilla and smooth caramel. Vibrant and bathroom shelf worthy, what more could you ask?
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“I also use Dr Nick Lowe face cream and stuff for my eyes. It’s the best eye serum.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
DR NICK LOWE EYE CORRECT SERUM (drnicklowe.com, £17.35 for 15ml) Once again, you’re pretty clued up about your products Mr Westbeech and you’re right, super dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe is renowned for his potions, creams and ointments. This gives instant lift, a great tone effect and is the ultimate moisturiser for the eye, especially if you’ve been DJing all night. The vitamins (A,C and E) inside help reduce wrinkles and thin out lines too. Nice.
“I have to say, I’m definitely on a metrosexual vibe. My aftershave of choice is Diptyque Tam dao, that is important.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
LONDON PLAYBOY (Available nationwide, £9.95 for 100ml) We all know that the Playboy brand is synonymous with bunny ears, late night lust sessions and entertaining the contemporary English gent. Their new fragrance London Playboy captures LDN’s edgy vibe and mixes all the above with warm, woody base notes, wild English rose and good ol’ English charm... we’re almost certain one whiff could get you a FREE private dance. Just make sure you spray it in the right places.
“In my hair I use a product called Stonefish. [When I was at school my hair] was bad. In the 90s I had curtains. Classic raver curtains [laughs hard]. It was pretty bad.” RWD RECOMMENDS:
FISH STONE FISH MEDIUM HOLD MATT TEXTURISING CLAY
BEN WESTBEECH
(boots.com, £5.99 for 70ml) Depending on what hold you want for your hair, Fish do a range of waxes, clays and creams to mould, style and shape your hair, respectively. If you like to keep it short and respectable (like Ben) or just want to add a bit of texture to your long mane. It won’t disappoint. Add to that the matte finish Stonefish leaves and you’ll look like a million dollars (or at least worthy of a second date).
How is it going, it’s been a while!? Yeah I’m really good. Nice and busy just promo’ing my records at the moment. How are people taking to the single Falling? Yeah, yeah... that had a really good response. The album [There’s More To Life Than This] is out 12 September and it’s all going really well. So do you class yourself as a singer/ DJ/ producer? Or just all of the above. All of the above, yeah... I do all of those things. Which is most demanding creatively? The most creative is when I’m in the studio I think. Performance takes on a different side of creativity out of you. Where is your favourite country to perform? I love Japan; that is my favourite place out of all of them. I really like the people, the fans... they’re really into the music. Can you remember any terrible gigs? There have been a few gigs like that. I remember a Glasgow one, it was just me in a room with like two people. That was bad. It was when we first started, it was really funny. It was bad but you have to be professional. So tell us about the album, it’s dancy, it’s future... It’s full on. Yeah, it’s basically a house inspired album that has sort of got the Ben Westbeech sound to it. That is pretty much it. What is your favourite track on there? I really like Inflections. I just think it’s quite different; it doesn’t have a normal song structure. It’s quite a strange arrangement and I really like how it was organically made. It was just an interesting song for me. And lastly, tell us about that facial hair... [Laughs] I just shave my stubble really. I trim it. I’ve got a little Phillips number for that one. That trims my stubble and trims my beard. For more info follow @benwestbeech and visit benwestbeech.com
AFTERSHAVE OF THE MONTH DAVIDOFF CHAMPION ENERGY (From all major retailers, £38.00 for 50ml) If you want to see out the summer in style Davidoff have refixed their spice-laden Champion fragrance to set free the Energy. With a grapefruit and bergamot top note and some interesting oak, moss and cedarwood undertones, this audacious and fresh Eau de Toilette will give your scent a new lease of life. Coupled with matching deo stick and shower gel, Davidoff Champion Energy is good to go.
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COVER STORY DAPPY
As part of N-Dubz, Dappy has graced our cover twice already; now he’s launching a solo career, it’s only right that we put him on the front page of this esteemed magazine. We all think we know the joker with the silly hats that’s always in trouble, but what do we really know about the 24 year-old? Hattie Collins sits down for some serious talk with the No Regrets singer, to see how he’s put the past behind him and is looking to the future... directed by DJB images by Simian Coates
Costadinos Contostavlos is unhappy. We’re at the RWD cover shoot, and our guest editor is pacing up and down, aggrieved about a story that will run in the following day’s Sun newspaper. “We weren’t dropped,” he fumes, in reference to the story that Def Jam Island in the US have let N-Dubz go. “How can you be dropped when you walk away form something? They wanted us to be puppets; sing other people’s songs, do stupid reality programmes. No. No way. I would never sell my soul. We left that stupid deal, no one got dropped.” Dappy is his own man, always has been, always will be. At times, his words and actions have got him into some trouble with both the police and the press, but, like the single says he has No Regrets. None. What’s happened in the past (the Radio 1 controversy, arrests, love life dramas) is going to stay there. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to hold back from saying what he wants – just check his Twitter feed for proof of that! But the Ouch singer has calmed down an awful lot, and you can tell this by watching him on the photoshoot. Where once he would have walked off after five minutes, bored, today he’s patient, engaged, polite and 44 / RWDMAG.COM
having fun. He even calms down quickly after venting over Def Jam, pointing out, “I don’t mean to go mad, it’s just very important to me that people don’t perceive that we’ve failed. We made the decision, not anyone else”. With a sold-out Arena tour, sales of 1.7 million, collaborations with Gary Barlow, a judging spot on X Factor, MOBO awards and Brit nominations, a reality show and their own book, N-Dubz are far, far from failure. In fact, the three are the biggest urban/pop group this country has produced. But with Tulisa taking on Simon Cowell, it’s time for the Dynamite Trio to take a break. Step forward Dappy; a man with the talent and ability to become a future UK male solo star. Example has the club on lock, Tinie has rap/ pop taken care of and now Dappy is about to hit the male solo spot hard. Though he still defines himself as urban, his new single No Regrets is a brilliantly bombastic slice of pop. Written and produced by Dappy alongside Ayak, TMS and Fazer, No Regrets shows the capabilities he has to be a huge pop star. A producer, writer, singer, rapper and engineer, this multi-talented musician is one of the UK’s finest musical talents. “I want to bring power to people”, he decides after the shoot is finished. “I’m about to go in.”
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Tattoos I’m going to do Amy Winehouse soon too. Me and Kaye. I’m going to tattoo her on my arm; either her name or her face. I’m from Camdem, she’s from Camden, so it’s out of respect. I was devastated when I heard, very empty inside. I always walked past her house, just to look up. People would be there taking pictures of me and I’d be like ‘Why are you taking pictures of me, do you know who lives there?’ I was always starstruck. Artists that Dappy is listening to Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, Kanye, Ed Sheeran, Tinie, Chipmunk, Benny Banks, Squeeks and Marbs from Mashtown. I might do a record with Marbs, just a hood thing, a hood anthem. Ingredients in Dappy’s Ultimate Greek Salad I can cook a couple of things from my mum’s Greek book and smash it from that. But by myself, I can make a good fry-up, a good pasta, and a Greek salad. You need lettuce, tomato’s, cucumber, onion, a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper, dried oregano, soya sauce – I bet you never knew that! – a touch of thyme, cut up parsley very, very thin, olives, feta chese, capers – boom! You’re gone! Trust me. The age Dappy bought his first CD It was some punk-rock CD called The Offspring. Pounds in weight of the biggest fish Dappy has caught A carp. You don’t eat them, you take a picture, you put it back.
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Firstly, lets talk about the lyrics on No Regrets You’re saying a lot on there... Do you think so? I say ‘Yes I’m a Prince and I will get the crown... ‘ Have you seen her in that blummin’ dress from the wedding? Everyone was talking ‘Kate, Kate, Kate’, but me and my friends were saying ‘Wahhh, look at that tight little ass’! We have to big up Pippa Middleton. Her ass looked better than Kate’s, and that’s that. That’s the truth. So I put her in the song. And then I thought to myself ‘Yeah I’ve changed my life/ Chris Brown...’ Things like that. I do go deep. I was trying to do double metaphors and punchlines to make the rapper’s happy but at the same time I want Adele, Bono, The Police, all of these people, to hear my record and say ‘Wow, he’s killing it with the music, he’s killing it with the singing, he’s killing it with the raps, he’s top-notch’. To come out as a solo artist when you know there’s Example and Wretch 32 and Tinchy and Tinie and Chipmunk – you’ve got to come out with a banger. That’s what I tried to do. Did you hear anything from the Palace? Listen, if Will wants to have it out, we’ll have it out..! (Laughs). I’m joking. Nah, I haven’t heard from them but hopefully they’ll hear it and hopefully Pippa says thank you. That would be nice. What was your frame of mind when you recorded the single? I wanted to be the best; if you’re not the best and you’re coming out as a solo artist in our genre of music, you’re an idiot. You might as well go to bed. You’ve got to try to be the best, if not then stop. I’m getting great tweets now from all the artists; Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, The Saturdays, Example. I want people to see I’m not just doing N-Dubz music anymore. With N-Dubz, we did 1.7m albums, Arena tours, we did happy music, it was great, but now I’m going to go as hard as possible. My music is going to be very controversial, with lots of metaphors and lots of crossover hits; big middle 8’s and ad-lib patterns. I’m going to go all out, I’m going to shut it down. How is it being solo? It’s very scary. But when you know what you have inside you, and you know what you’ve got to deliver in the studio,
then you can pull it off. Of course, Fazer is in the video as well, because he did the piano in the middle 8, he’s the one who done that. Without Fazer, I’d never be able to finalise things, I always have to show it to him, he’s very, very talented with his ear, and his music and unique styles of production. What will follow No Regrets? It will most definitely be very epic, and a power to the people lighters-in-the-sky stadium singalong like No Regrets. Then on the third single I might do Dappy Vs. Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Deadmau5 or David Guetta, I don’t know exactly who yet. My management are talking to them at the moment. Then, when the buzz happens and I create something huge – iff I create something huge – then I’ll talk about the album and tour. Obviously with N-Dubz we’ve left it at a massive level so me, Jack and Archie [From Takeover, who manage Dappy as well as Tinchy], we can only push to get higher than that. Big up Jack and Archie, they’re the hungriest and the youngest. They’re the best in the business. And Dumi, Tinie’s manager, big up them too. You’ve started rapping and singing now as well. It’s not rapping, it’s not singing, it’s MSinging. You like that? (laughs). The only one that kind of does it is Drake and Big Sean, that’s the way I want to go but more epic on the hooks. I’m even going to work with Eg White, who does Adele’s stuff, I want a big ballad like her. She really inspired me. I’ve got a voice so I want to make sure I do something huge on the piano. I want to do an Angels like Robbie Williams. I want to do a big rap song with Nicki Minaj. I know I can get these collabs, cos I’m wild and I’m going to get wild artists on my stuff. I’m going to shut it down. (Pause). I’m going to try to. I’m really going to try to. If I don’t go to No.1, I’m going to curl up in a little ball and cry my eyes out. If No Direction – sorry One Direction!!!! I love them, they are great– they are out a week before me and I presume they most probably will stay at No.1 for two, three weeks after I come out. If they do that, I’m going to kidnap them! I’m going to write them a sh*t song and make them release that! Nah, they’re great, they can all sing as well, like The
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Wanted. Some boy bands can’t all sing. Only one of them can sing. I’m going to do a collaboration with the Wanted. Why does a No.1 mean so much to you? Because it means I’m crap, I’m not good if I don’t. You see Spaceship? It went to No.5. That song is wack now, on to the next one. I want to get a No.1, if I don’t, I’m crap. I’m not good enough to be at the top so why am I carrying on? What mistakes have you made? You’ll always be able to take the boy out of the hood, but you’ll never get the hood out of the boy. I know where I’ve come from; me and my friends are gritty. I’m gritty. So I have to calm down now. I’ve got two kids, I’ve got a girlfriend with a big ring on her finger. Is it an engagement ring? No, it’s an eternity ring. Kaye’s been there from the start, I love her to death. My sons, Gino and Milo, I want to give them the life that I’ve never had. What’s the future of N-Dubz? Well Tulisa is doing X Factor obviously, telling people how crap they are, how good they are. When X Factor finishes, Gary is obviously going to bring Take That onstage, Kelly will do her stuff, Louis Walsh is just going to sit there and hopefully Tulisa is going to bring us on. After that, we’ll release the Best Of... hits and wrap it up for a year or two. So we’re having a little break. In two, three years, our individual projects will drive the N-Dubz name as hopefully the anticipation will be so high that we’ll do another Arena tour. What makes Dappy stand out? What people do, do the opposite. What people say, say the opposite. The way people dress, dress the opposite. That’s the only way to quickly stand out among everyone else. Dappy No Regrets? No! I’m bringing power to the people, lighters in the sky, singalong stadium anthems, MSinging. It’s going to be big news. If you don’t buy it, you ain’t cool. I’ve got loads more things in store – just watch my publicity stunts! You’re going to look on the internet and be like ‘Whatttt’!!! I’ve got a lot in store. I’m going in. No Regrets is released 25 September. @thedappy 48 / RWDMAG.COM
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50 / RWDMAG.COM
I work with, Adrian, who works a lot
DID I MENTION I WORKED WITH STEVIE WONDER ON THE RECORD? STEVIE WONDER!... A producer that
John Legend and Mr. Hudson, who I wrote with. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, I’ve always been influenced by soul, so there are a few tracks on the album that will have that influence because that’s my thing. It’s a lot more mature lyrically and my voice has changed a lot, so it’s a bit more of a grown-up record. I wrote a lot of my first album when I was 14 and I’m 20 now so...
THE REST OF THE ALBUM IS A LOT MORE OLD-SOUL THOUGH… It features Stevie Wonder,
It’s produced by Brian Kidd (J. Cole/ Timbaland). I don’t know where the RedOne rumour came from, but I keep seeing it on the Internet! It’s a straight up party-track, an up-tempo, ‘I’m back’ track. It was a track that everyone got excited about it, so I thought it made sense to have it as my first single.
MY NEW SINGLE ISN’T PRODUCED BY REDONE…
With a brand new haircut, a brand new boyfriend and a brand new album, former RWD cover star Pixie is back with a brand new hit, All About Tonight. Denise Kodia gets the Lott from Pixie...
IT’SALOTT.COM
INTERVIEW PIXIE LOTT
I WENT OUT FOR DINNER A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH STEVIE WONDER AND HE’S SO LOVELY, SO FRIENDLY, SO GENTLE... I ASKED HIM QUESTIONS; MOSTLY HOW HE MANAGES TO BE SO AMAZING...
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The Professor Green one was a bit rude, so...! I’ve just done a song with Tinch, I really like him, he’s so lovely. I’m good friends with Chipmunk too; him and Tinch have both been over to mine to hang out, but I’ve been banned from any more parties by my neighbours because apparently they’re too noisy. It wasn’t even that loud! It really wasn’t. And they called the police. So I’m not allowed to have parties anymore now. Boring!
I’VE BEEN MENTIONED IN SONGS BY PROFESSOR GREEN AND TINCHY AND MY FAVOURITE IS… Tinchy.
crazy, all the coverage online and in the papers! I’ve had long hair for ages so I thought I’d change it up. I thought I would be more scared and more emotional because I was really attached to my hair, but when they cut it I wasn’t that upset. I just kind of felt free!
I DIDN’T KNOW CUTTING MY HAIR WOULD BE SO MUCH OF A DEAL... It’s
with Stevie played him a song that we did called Stevie On The Radio. It’s a throwback, retro, happy summer song. Stevie loved it and ended up playing harmonica on the middle 8. We went out for dinner a couple of times and he’s so lovely, so friendly, so gentle. The first time we went to the Chateau Marmont in LA and I was so in awe of him, I thought I was going to cry but I held it down. The next time I saw him with his family at the Mondrian Hotel, also in LA, and we all ate together. We had a little chat separately too, I asked him questions; mostly how he manages to be so amazing...!
52 / RWDMAG.COM
Beyoncé 4 because I love all the stuff that I’ve heard on the radio. But the
THE LAST RECORD I BOUGHT WAS… I want
Spice Girls. Me and my friends used to dress up as them – I was Mel C cos I liked her vocal so much.
THE VERY FIRST SONG THAT I BOUGHT WAS… the
Way You Do The Things You Do. I like the lyrics of it and he sings it to me, which is funny. He likes a lot of reggae, he loves Jamaican music so…
THE SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF MY BOYFRIEND, OLIVER CHESHIRE, IS… UB40’s The
Brigitte Bardot and Edie Sedgwick. Now that I’ve cut my hair, I feel more like Edie.
MY FASHION ICONS ARE…
Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King because it’s very special to me. It’s been one of my favourite songs since forever. I used to love it growing up.
MY IDEAL CATWALK TRACK IS… Love Come Down by
people from Select a couple of times, through my boyfriend who works there, and they were really nice and welcoming so I thought it would be a good thing to do. I’m not nervous about modelling, because I’ve done loads of shoots. I want to get more involved in the fashion world, so that will be fun.
I’M A MODEL NOW TOO DONTCHAKNOW… I met the
INTERVIEW PIXIE LOTT
I’M GOOD FRIENDS WITH CHIPMUNK AND TINCH, THEY’VE BOTH BEEN OVER TO MINE TO HANG OUT, BUT I’VE BEEN BANNED FROM ANY MORE PARTIES BY MY NEIGHBOURS BECAUSE THEY’RE TOO NOISY.
All About Tonight is out 4 September. @pixiesongs
start singing some new material, because I’ve been singing some of my other songs forever. I’m really excited to hear what people think of the new stuff and to get everyone’s feedback. I can’t wait to get back out there.
RIGHT NOW, THIS VERY SECOND… I’m really excited to
Mariah. I love Mariah soooo much! I only really said hello to her so I’d love to meet her properly one day.
THE CELEBRITY I’VE BEEN MOST STAR STRUCK BY IS… Stevie and
Girls, again! I was about eight years-old.
THE FIRST LIVE SHOW I WENT TO WAS… the Spice
Love Is A Losing Game because it’s just amazing. Her voice, her lyrics, the soul... it’s just a genius piece of music.
MY FAVOURITE AMY WINEHOUSE TRACK IS…
THE SONG THAT MOST REMINDS ME OF MY MUM IS… Celine Dion Because You Love Me.
many. Stevie Wonder Lately.
A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN IS… Oh there’s too
last album that I bought was the Selena Gomez album, because there’s a song on there that I wrote for her and I wanted to hear it.
“PIXIE WILL GET A LOT FROM TINCHY! I DON’T THINK THAT, HE THINKS THAT! SHE’S AMAZING, SHE’S GOT AN AMAZING, UNIQUE VOICE AND I RATE HER HIGHLY. I DON’T KNOW HER TOO WELL BUT I SHE SEEMS LIKE A VERY NICE GIRL. I HOPE HER SINGLE DOES VERY WELL.”
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INTERVIEW CAROLINE FLACK
FUNNY AS FLACK From the jungle to presenting the Xtra Factor, Caroline Flack chats to Nardene Scott about working in live TV, co-presenter rumours, waste late-night TV and disco dancing... How has it been doing The Xtra Factor alongside Olly Murs? What are all these romantic rumours we’re hearing please? After works drinks go too far? Ridiculous! I always get rumoured with whoever I work with, I think most people do. We just get on really well - he’s such a big flirt. Olly is the straightest man I know, he doesn’t drink so he never comes to the bar after work. Once I convinced him to have a vodka pineapple and that was a big deal. He’s such a nice guy. He’s a bit of a girl if anything; he’s more of a girl than I am! During the X Factor auditions, which city has been your favourite so far? Talent wise, I’d say Liverpool... I think we probably found the winner there actually but then I think everyone is a winner. I’d be a rubbish judge! Which one of the judges do you think will make the biggest impression? They all have but in different ways. I was really surprised with how sweet Tulisa is; I didn’t really think she was going to have as much empathy as she does for the contestants and she breaks the easiest out of all of them. I expected her to be a lot harder but she’s not as hard as everyone thinks. Quite a few of your presenting gigs have involved live TV; what’s been the worst thing that’s happened so far? The jungle, [I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here] definitely. I did the whole show once and everyone was acting really weird and I was thinking to myself ‘Why is everyone being all weird’? I thought I’d done something really wrong and then at the end of the show someone said ‘You had a snake above your head the whole time and we didn’t want to tell you’! They had to get someone proper to come in and get it... But nothing else really, I love live TV, even when things go wrong, because it makes it more interesting. You’ve also done a lot of presenting behind the scenes at Soap Awards are you a TV buff? 54 / RWDMAG.COM
“I THOUGHT I’D DONE SOMETHING REALLY WRONG AND THEN AT THE END OF THE SHOW SOMEONE SAID YOU HAD A SNAKE ABOVE YOUR HEAD THE WHOLE TIME AND WE DIDN’T WANT TO TELL YOU.” I love TV, I know a lot of people that work in TV that don’t watch TV and it’s like, how can you not? I would class myself as a tele addict. The only programmes I don’t like is poker, I can’t stand it. I’m really getting into Emmerdale lately too, that’s never happened before! Lets talk clothes... I dress for my shape more than anything; normally it’s very short dresses and ankle boots because I like my legs. I like the whole preppy look. I have a really large chest and it’s always really hard to get clothes because my chest is a completely different size to the rest of my body. I hate it! I really mix it up with high street and designer and I’m a massive fan of Liberty’s, I would like to live there. I really like Chloe Sevigny and also Olivia Palermo. I don’t know if it’s possible to glow but she glows. What music are you into? You know what band I’m into at the minute? Tribes. They’re a Camden band and they’re a good live band, a bit grungy, a bit Smashing Pumpkins but there’s just something very anthemic about them. I only did Glastonbury this year because we’ve been doing X Factor, but Beyoncé was amazing, it was breathtaking. We got right in the crowd, nearly to the front. So what’s next for Caroline? X Factor is going to be taking up all of my time - that’s all I can think about. I’m living life in X Factor at the minute, that’s it! Catch The Xtra Factor on ITV2 on Saturdays at 9.15pm. @carolineflack1
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JOB WATCH: JONATHAN MANNION To make it in the music industry, you don’t have to be a rapper, singer or producer. Photographer Jonathan Mannion is one of the most important figures in the documentation of hip hop; from Jay-Z album covers to a new cultural coffee table book, the Cleveland, Ohio native fill us in on how to take the perfect picture...
Both my parents were artists, so I grew up around art, light, painting and drawing. I only studied photography for one year at school, in my last year of studies. From there I just weaved my way into the system. A position became available when someone looked at my prints and I ended up getting a job straight out of school about three months later. I moved to New York in ‘93 and became an apprentice at Richard Avedon’s studio - and that opened basically every door that was there to be opened for me. Avedon is the Michael Jordan of photography. I truly learned from one of the greatest ever. I got into hip hop photography because someone along the way said to me that photographers need to be specialised. I used to DJ in a college radio station, and so I was knowledgeable about the music that was happening at that time like Common, De La Soul, Cypress Hill, 56 / RWDMAG.COM
PHOTO FACTS Top three favourite people to shoot? I’m grateful to have photos of Biggie, Jam Master J, Left Eye, Aaliyah. I worked with Biggie a handful of times, once at the Palladium party when he received his award for Ready To Die going platinum. Jay-Z was in the room, Busta was there... I somehow weaselled my way onto the stage. I captured one of my most important pictures then because the vibe of that picture really is what that moment felt like. Also, Lance Armstrong is an amazing dude. He’s the Mohammed Ali of our day. He beat cancer; he’s a bad ass. Ultimately, I want to work with people who want to work with me.
N.W.A. I think that wealth of knowledge meant that I intimately understood and was able to seek people out. It enabled me to be in New York and bump into these people on the street as I was just walking along. In ‘93 I bumped into Marky Mark who was basically ‘the dude’ at that moment. I was like ‘Oh sh*t! Can I take a quick picture?’ and I think at that moment it wasn’t so protected or guarded as it is now. So I basically had access to these people and I was passionate about it and I would go to work at 7am and bring some doughnuts with me to work and work until 9pm. I would be taking home $286 a week and have one slice of pizza for my dinner because that would be all I could afford with my rent being like $650 a month. I was living off peanuts. But I would go out to the clubs and be hanging with Biggie and Puff... One of my standout memories is
“JAY-Z’S REASONABLE DOUBT ALBUM WAS A BIG MOMENT. IT WAS 1996. I TURNED UP THAT DAY WITH THREE PAGES OF NOTES AND I WAS LIKE ‘LOOK, HERE’S WHAT I WANNA DO...’ THAT’S A HUGE MEMORY FOR ME. IT WAS MY FIRST ALBUM COVER.” shooting Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt album in 1996. I turned up that day with three pages of notes and I was like ‘Look, here’s what I wanna do...’ He had the whole Versace, speedboats, Biggie video thing going on and I didn’t want that. I suggested we had to go Mafia, John Gotti, surveillance, sharp suits, swag...
TIPS ON BEING A PHOTO LEGEND If you don’t have what it takes to be in front of the lens then grab a camera and get your point and click on. RWD trusted photographers give their top tips...
And so began the creation of Reasonable Doubt - that was shot on the roof of my building, by the West Side Highway. I did seven covers for Jay, up to the Black Album - we’re still good. There’s projects we’re speaking about even now. I have one million per cent love for Jay-Z. Our careers have run parallel. Our relationship has been career defining for me. We made what these images were, we created what they feel like and it’s like DJ Quik said, ‘The world sees hip hop through your eyes’. There’s a lot of people contributing but some of the significant, defining moments people can see ‘Oh what, DMX in the blood? That was you?’ and I want those defining photos. I’d love to have shot Tupac and I’d love to shoot Sade. Who else? Ben Kingsley, Depeche Mode... My most recent project was the Hip Hop: A
Cultural Odyssey book. I only want to associate with the right things, you know? I could see the dedication to go levels deeper than the surface approach and when I got sent that book I was like, ‘100%, I’m in, I’ve cleared my schedule. Let me know what you want me to do.’ It proved to be such a perfect synergy between what they wanted to achieve and the level of authenticity I saw in the project and we supported each other. I keep with me a positive attitude - the same dedication, the same attributes I’ve always thought make a good photographer. I don’t take for granted that there’s a 100 people right on my heels. People wanna do what I’m doing - they want my throne [laughs].
Why did you become a photographer? James Pearson-Howes: It was something I was good at. Don’t be a photographer if you can’t take a decent picture. Simian Coates: The Face magazine and pouring over my Mum’s Vogue subscription. Jake Green: My dad gave his old Pentax to my older sister and she wouldn’t let me use it, or touch it, or look at it. From then onwards they were my object of desire. Kevin Joseph: I liked taking pictures of people. What tips would you give to an up-and-coming photographer? SC: Find your own signature style, a very important aspect that may take a few years. Shoot from the heart - your style should reflect who YOU are. Learn your technical kit early. It should become like changing gear, and not interfere with the creative side. KJ: Learn your technical side of photography off by heart and have a no turndown policy for any work that comes your way. JPH: Work really hard and be nice. JG: Get good, get rich, get out. What would be the ONE no-no for an up-and-coming photographer? KJ: Never offend any of your clients even if they are in the wrong. It’s a small world and word spreads quickly about bad photographers. JPH: Forgetting your camera. SC: Never try and emulate another photographer’s style.
Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey is available now from £249.99. Hiphopculturebook. com. Jonathanmannion.tumblr.com 57
PRODUCERS
AND THE BEAT GOES ON We know a tune when we hear one but instead of just bigging up the US hitmakers, Nardene Scott goes behind the boards of some of the biggest banger creators who are doing more than a lot right now.
WE FIND OUT WHAT PRODUCER, SONGWRITER AND MANAGER JAKE GOSLING HAS IN STORE... “I’m still trying to forget it,” Jake laughs when we inquire about his first production. Since then he’s provided us with plenty of Ed Sheeran goodness over the last four years, including The A Team which he mixed on a PC. Wiley, Lissie and Mikill Pane (who’s actually managed by Gosling) are just a few artists working with the Bon Iver fan. “It’s all about new fresh artists and songwriters. I’m not interested in signing major people,’” the self taught maestro explains of his label The Movement. With film (28K) and TV (Bars For Change) underway and having just wrapped Sheeran’s album, keep a close eye on this studio hibernator. @JakeGosling
THE NO. ED SHEERAN’S THE A TEAM DEBUTED AT IN THE OFFICIAL UK CHARTS.
THE AMOUNT OF DOORS ON THE BOOTH DURING THE RECORDING OF ED SHEERAN’S ALBUM – IT FELL OFF
JAKE IS PRODUCING THE MUSIC FOR PAUL ABBOTT’S (SHAMELESS) UPCOMING FILM, 28K; ROXXXAN, GHETTS, SMILER AND MIKILL PANE ARE ALL ON THE FEATURE LIST 1000’S: NO. OF TRACKS GOSLING HAS STORED UP IN THE SONIC SAFE 58 / RWDMAG.COM
ISHI HAS SPENT MORE THAN THE PAST YEAR INJECTING HITS INTO THE CHARTS... “I just wanted to know how to play any song at any time.” From playing the drums at 11 to producing at 15, this piano-obsessed Swede went on tour with his good friends, Swedish House Mafia, before meeting Boston born Eric Turner and creating Tinie’s second No.1 hit. As the song says It’s Written In The Stars. Providing big beats for Tinie and Tinchy and with newness on the way for Pro Green, Devlin and Wretch, it’s about to be a complete chart takeover for the multi-instrumentalist. “What’s really important for me is that everyone has a good time,” the EMI signed producer tells us about working with new artists, “When Tinie was in Sweden, I took him bowling!” Not exactly wild, but it obviously works...! @iSHi_2Stripes
2002
THE FIRST ISHI PRODUCTION WAS AIRED ON MTV’S THE LICK; HE MADE THE THEME TUNE! NO. OF MINUTES IT TAKES FOR ISHI AND ERIC TURNER TO BUILD CHART TOPPING BEATS
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NO. OF GOOD TO GO BANGERS CURRENTLY HOUSED IN THE SWEDE’S STUDIO
THE AMOUNT OF CHART APPEARANCES THE ARTISTS FEATURED ON GAME OVER HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAR
JAKWOB FROM REMIXER DU JOUR TO FULLY FLEDGED PRODUCER... Around a year and a half ago we spoke to the Midlands native about his seriously sick Ellie Goulding dubstep refixes. Fast forward up to this year, and Jakwob is signed, touring the US and now working on his debut album. “It’s distinct melodies and strings but keeping with D&B, break beats and dubstep,” James tells us of the untitled album before giving a quick shout out to Dot Rotten - “He’s got some amazing stuff,” - Smiler, Sway and Ghostpoet, who he’s been working with. Look out for the wobbly one on his live/DJ tour later this year. @Jakwob
DATE JAKWOB SIGNED TO MERCURY RECORDS
226,136 THE AMOUNT OF PLAYS JAKWOB’S ELLIE GOULDING STARRY EYED REMIX HAS ON MYSPACE
NO. OF COMPUTERS JAKWOB’S MUSIC IS SPREAD ACROSS. 59
Verena Stefanie Grotto
GLASWEGIAN ELECTRONIC BASS MAKER FUSES HIS LOVE FOR HIP HOP WITH THE ABSTRACT... “I think aside from all the bullsh*t he is a really talented guy,” HudMo says, of Chris Brown vocalling his Rising 5 beat from his debut Butter release. The Lucky Me member has had big ups from Just Blaze and comparisons to J Dilla from The Guardian (“I thought it was a bit of an ignorant comment but it’s obviously flattering”), so look out for a super secret vinyl release with interesting refixes and of course, cop the Satin Panthers EP. @Moanhawke
COMPRISING ONCE MC NOW PRODUCER DAN DARE AND ONE OF GRIME’S FINEST Z DOT, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ELITE... “We thought about getting into the studio together and it worked. We made Bright Lights,” explains a hooded Zdot of his and Dan Dare’s first studio encounter. After quite a few line up changes, the track was eventually vocalled by Giggs, Wiley and Juelz Santana and from there sprung The Elite. Dan has been doing his thing in hip hop (Fem Fel, Wiley) whilst Zdot has been holding down grime (Devlin, Kano); together they’re now producing all types of tracks for the likes of Drake, Trey Songz, Marina and the Diamonds, Little Boots and more. @_TheElite
NO. OF TRACKS DAN DARE, Z DOT AND TOGETHER AS THE ELITE HAVE IN WAITING. ARTISTS NEED TO HOLLER!!! THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT PUT IN BY THE ELITE, BOTH PRODUCERS HAVING GIVEN UP EVERYTHING FOR MUSIC THE ERA OF HIP HOP HUDSON IS FEELING (NATE DOGG (R.I.P), BIGGIE (R.I.P),
THE NUMBER OF FINISHED TRACKS THE SCOT COMPLETES IN A MONTH. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. 60 / RWDMAG.COM
THE ELITE ARE MANAGED BY NICK WORTHINGTON, THE MD OF THE FUTURISTIC POP COMPANY, 679 RECORDINGS. NO. OF MINUTES THE ELITE CAN BANG OUT A QUALITY BEAT IN...
INTERVIEW SNEAKBO
BO SELECTA It’s not often a new artist bursts onto the scene and creates as much fuss as south London’s monotone rapper, Sneakbo. Nardene Scott spoke to the newcomer about his love for dancehall, riding a permanent Jetski Wave and living life the Gonzo way... images by Alex De Mora
So your name has been all over the place recently, from the blogs to the airwaves to magazines. What do you think was the turning point for you? When I made my mixtape Jetski Wave that’s when it all blew up. Since then, I just got big. So we’re down at The Wave video, what’s going on? Yeah I’m alright, just here doing The Wave video which is my next single. We’re doing the video in a club, there’s girlies out here and everyone is out here! What is the track about and what is the inspiration behind it? Normally, I don’t do these types of beats but I was in a party and then something like this came on and I could see the reaction from everyone. I just thought, ‘Rah I might as well try one of them and see how it goes’, so I’m gonna see how this goes. If it don’t work, it don’t work. The Wave video is supported by K-SWISS/ GONZOWORLD; what do you think about brands helping out up and coming artists like yourself? Yeah that’s a good look! It’s good for the new up and coming artists to get support from brands that are big already. Keeping in mind the GONZOWORLD ethos about living life to the fullest, how do you think you implement that into your lifestyle? By just working hard and always enjoying what I do. Basically just living and being Sneakbo. How big are you on the whole dancehall scene because you’ve vocalled a few Movado tracks including the Starboy 62 / RWDMAG.COM
remix, alongside Chipmunk. How did that come about? That was through my manager Vash, he works with Chipmunk as well and Chipmunk used to see my stuff. He said he liked it so then we just did a collab and then from there everyone liked Starboy. I like dancehall beats obviously, I’ve done more of Mavado’s tracks because his hooks are so hard. You’re of Nigerian descent, so can we expect to hear you on some Naija beats as well? Yeah, I’ve got them all already but I ain’t let them out the Naija beats. I’m gonna make a whole mixtape using just Naija beats, hopefully at the end of September or October it will drop. With a love for dancehall, Naija beats, hip hop and more, which artists were you influenced by growing up and who are you feeling now? I like 2Pac’s music, D’Banj, Wiz Khalifa and a couple of UK artists. How would you describe your music lyrically? Lyrically yeah, I don’t really think I’m lyrical, I just say it how it is. I would say I’m more of that lively music, just fun, Jetski! What’s next for Sneakbo? What can we expect from you for the rest of the year? The Sneakbo single, The Wave is going to be coming out plus my mixtape I’m Buzzin. Also remember to get the Jetski Wave T-shirts at JetskiWave.com and follow me @Sneakbo1 on Twitter. The Wave is out now and you can check out the video on Gonzoworld.com
“LYRICALLY YEAH, I DON’T REALLY THINK I’M LYRICAL, I JUST SAY IT HOW IT IS. I WOULD SAY I’M MORE OF THAT LIVELY MUSIC, JUST FUN...” INTERVIEW FACTS The rapper’s name came from linking up his childhood nickname Sneaky and school nickname Bobo which joined forces to become Sneakbo. RWD spoke to Sneakbo at the video shoot for The Wave which took place at Under the Bridge, Roman Abramovich’s new state of the art £20 million music venue, housed under Chelsea Football Club. GONZOWORLD who supported the video have been working with a load of other talented peeps including David Haye, Jamie Howard, Tempa T and Lil B to name a few. Sneakbo’s Jetski Wave clothing range features logo adorned T-Shirts and sweaters ranging from £30 - £55 and are available on his website Jetskiwave.com. The Wave video features a signature Jetski Wave created by an actual jet ski... don’t watch the CGI!!! Already Sneakbo has collaborated with a number of artists across the scene from Chipmunk and English Frank to DVS and OG Niki, so watch this space for future hits. Sneakbo has nearly 6.5 million views on his YouTube channel. The Dagger Dagger man ‘Eats Like A King’ according to the tattoo on his left hand. The Jetski Wave theme revolves around three things, the wave aka the ups and downs in life, having fun generally and girls, you can work the last one out for yourself.
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BEHIND THE SCENES
BEHIND THE SCENES SNEAKBO’S VIDEO SHOOT FOR THE WAVE Just so you don’t think we spend all of our time hanging around video shoots doing nothing, Nardene Scott reveals the people behind the visuals for Sneakbo’s new single The Wave. If you want to get into music, TV or film, but can’t rap or act, check out what else you can do to make yourself useful... images by Alex De Mora
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DIRECTOR
RUNNER
Chas Appeti, 31, Kent On The Wave... I’m directing The Wave video, it’s a bit different, and it’s got a bit of CGI in it. We’re superimposing Sneakbo’s head onto an iPad, people are getting possessed and it’s like a party scene. Just wait and see, it’s gonna be mad. Previous work... I’ve worked with Roll Deep, J2K, Ghetts, Mitchell Brothers, Dollar the Dustman, Mercston, Devlin... Highs and Lows... Seeing the end result of work that I consider art. The lows are the long hours, you don’t sleep! You have on average of about four or five hours a day. Hopes and dreams... Bigger videos, bigger budgets, more money to spend on better projects and expanding on my creativity. I also want to travel around the world and be the best at what I do.
Lucy Barnes, 18, Croydon On The Wave... The reason I’m running is I’m trying to learn from a lot of work experience, more hands on stuff. Chas is a great director so I’m here moving lights, holding cameras, changing lenses, making tea, looking after the extras, looking after the artists, just doing jobs here and there to kind of get a feel of every different area of production. Highs and Lows... The lows are obviously you’re at the bottom of the pack and you just have to do what you’re told. The highs are you get a good idea of all the different roles in production and you can have a look at lighting, you can have a look at cameras, have a look at the more organising side too like the production. But then you also get to see the creativity and that gives you a little bit more of an
WE’RE SUPERIMPOSING SNEAKBO’S HEAD ONTO AN IPAD, PEOPLE ARE GETTING POSSESSED. JUST WAIT AND SEE, IT’S GONNA BE PRETTY MAD...
insight that you can then develop. Hopes and Dreams... I want to learn more about creativity and developing visuals and getting my ideas from paper onto camera. Eventually, I’d like to be a music video director like Carly Cussens; she’s the biggest inspiration.
SOUNDMAN Anthony Williams, 29, Kingston On The Wave... I’m the audio visual technician and I’m working all of the sound. Today it’s been fairly easy; we’ve just plugged in an iPod and cranked up the volume and given them a nice bit of bass to dance to. On a daily basis... I’m the audio visual technician for Chelsea Football Club, I do the TV screens and stuff for them. They bought a music venue and have given us some funky toys to play with so I’m just learning it. I’m very basic, learning the ropes really. Highs and Lows... The lows have probably been coming in and doing a late night, it’s not much fun. The highs are you get to see some great bands and listen to some great music, also see some very lovely dancers, which is always a bonus. Hopes and Dreams... I just want to progress more really and it’s gonna be nice to do more in Under The Bridge, learning more stuff. I’m mainly based in the football pitch itself so I’m doing more on that side at the moment.
STYLIST/MAKE-UP ARTIST Simone Karma Rae, 27, North London On The Wave... I’ve been asked to come down and style the video and also do the make-up for the girls and for the artist Sneakbo as well. On a daily basis... Well, last week I was in Ibiza doing a shoot with the great Carly Cussens and that was brilliant. I’ve worked with loads of artists, including Griminal, Ghetts, Devlin, Wretch... I could be doing a photo shoot for other clothing brands as well which is a lot of what I do, or I could be on set of a music video such as today. Highs and Lows... I get to be creative, I’m my own boss, I work my own hours. The downside is, it is a lot of work, a lot of hours. I literally get no sleep but I love what I do. Hopes and Dreams... Just to continue building my company, Complex Simplicity London, get some more make-up artists and stylists under me, in- between doing brand consultancy. I also want to open up a division in New York.
CRAWLING OUT OF BED AT 5AM WASN’T FUN! IT WAS JUST PAINFUL; THEY HAD TO BRIBE US WITH MC DONALD’S BREAKFAST TO GET US HERE...
VIDEO GIRLS Lulu, North London, 19, Charlotte, Brentford, Essex, 25, Deanna, Barnet, 20 On The Wave... Well we have a collaboration with Big Fen, we’re the street team so we’ve got our sports dancers here so basically, beatboxers, freestyler dancers; we’ve come in as part of the dance squad as cheerleaders. Highs and Lows... Crawling out of bed at 5am wasn’t fun! It was just painful; they had to bribe us with McDonald’s breakfast to get us here. High is hair and make-up and seeing the footage at the end of it, that’s the best part, I can’t wait to see it, it’s going to be amazing. Hope and Dreams... World domination! If you like GONZOWORLD are all about tearing up the rulebook and living life to the full then head to GONZOWORLD.com to check out The Wave video and even more crazy content
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INTERVIEW SNIPER
SHARP SHOOTER After honing his skills alongside So Solid Crew, Anthony Melas (better known as the fastpaced, conscious spitting, thought-provoking artist SNiPER) moved to his cultural home, Cyprus, to setup independently. Since then he’s worked with Memphis Bleek, Green Lantern and many more. The CEO of 3FIFTY7 tells us about mixtapes, Ayia Napa and why the number 11 is so important...
RWD: What would you say your influences were, because you’re both creative and business-minded... My life and the people around me. My circle are my heroes, they inspire me to do what I’m doing. I mean some people, no matter how many opportunities, they’re never going to get to where they need to go; whereas others with half the opportunity will take that and ride it. At the end of the day, I think it’s all based on our own system and dreams of how we want to move forward in life, whether you come from the top or the bottom or the middle. If you’re not self motivated then no one can really do stuff for you. Would you say you’re putting Cyprus on the musical map? I am not just coming across from Cyprus! Cyprus is more like my hideaway from the rest of the world... the perfect getaway and always my cultural home. Also, Ayia Napa is like another UK town during the summertime with all of the British clubbers. I’ve come from a Middle Eastern background, so it’s about representing but not just talking
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MY MUSIC IS A LITTLE MORE REBELLIOUS, I’M NOT SAYING IT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, PEOPLE DO WANT THAT NEXT SOUND, THAT’S GOING TO LET THEM EXPLORE THEIR MIND RATHER THAN EXPLORE THEIR POCKETS. about bombs, wars and petrol; I talk about how the system is manipulated. When I say that my music is a little more rebellious, I’m not saying it in a negative way, people do want that next sound, that’s going to let them explore their mind rather than their pockets. You touched on music a little bit there - what can you tell us about 11-11-11? Well first of all it’s not a musical project; 11/11/11 is a day. I don’t even want to talk about it. I don’t want to say that it’s even coming on 11/11/11. That day is significant to me as it inspired me for what I’m doing at the moment. Basically, these past couple of years, I’ve not just built a label and tried to get myself better
as an artist in the sense of performing, but I also had to educate myself on the scene. I studied different things from The Rolling Stones to The Led Zeppelin. Like how Elvis took urban sounds of that time and alternated them to fit to what he represented. It’s what feels right when I’m doing each record, that’s what I like to hear about my tracks. What’s next from you? You’re going to get something that a lot of people never got to experience before; it’s an all out consistency of the movement. It’s like the quiet before the storm. So irrespective of what’s going to happen – we have projects in the agenda for 2012, 2013 and 2014 – I’m in an Ayia Napa feature coming on Channel AKA, which is kinda like ‘Through The Eyes Of SNiPER’. I don’t want to be no one’s instant fix, I want to be someone’s long term inspiration, ambition, support, help. For more check SNiPERmusic.com, 3fifty7.com, follow him @SNiPERmusic or facebook.com/likesnipermusic or visit the YouTube channel YouTube.com/snipermusictv
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INTERVIEW DANSO
DAN THE MAN Known for road smash and compilation featuring My Louis, Danso is no stranger to a big hit. The My-Ish Inc. signee tells RWD why he’s now the Inside Man...
“ANYONE CAN SPIT ABOUT BEING GREEZY AND THAT... I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE MY PERSONALITY AND MY CHARACTER THOUGH. I THINK THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING AN ENTERTAINER.” Tell us what Danso is all about... I write and produce, I’ve been doing it for a long time now, since I was 16. I’ve been writing lyrics since I was 11, since I started listening to music. How did you get started with music? It started with house and garage and then it moved to rap because my friends were into it. I remember it all changed when I had a battle with a rapper. Because I was spitting grime... it didn’t go well [laughs]. I decided, ‘I want to be a rapper now.’ Tell us about your content/ flow... Anyone can spit about being greezy and that... I want people to see my personality and my character. That’s the whole point of being an entertainer. Tell us about My Louis and what you want to build on from there... Yeah, that was a big track for me. It was on Massive R&B and R&B 68 / RWDMAG.COM
Collections. I’ve featured on, I think, seven compilations to date. My Louis was about your love for Louis Vuitton; talk us through your fashion game, cos you’re wearing suits... Yeah, I’m rocking that suit. I feel I can put on a suit or I can put on a hoodie and just feel comfortable. Tell us about the Inside Man mixtape... I’ve already had the S.o.W Mixtape Hi My Name Is – Volume 1, that had everything in it, a bit of dance, electro, pop and the new one which is coming out now is more electro/ house based... What kind of beats are you spitting on? Beats like Like A G6, Bass Down Low, and the beats that are in the clubs... So you’re riding on some big beats... I think it’s more than riding, I think it’s annihilating [laughs]. That will be out in the next few weeks. It’s new, not to take anything away from what people are
doing in the charts right now, but I think I sound slightly different. It’s fresh. Are you working with Donaeo, is he on the mixtape? I have one track yeah but I think it will be on my album; it’s about money... one of my favourite subjects [laughs]. Sounds good... Yeah, I just want people to look out for me, cos I’ve got a lot to offer in terms of performances and the quality of my music. A lot of it is self-produced as well so it’s not just me jumping on tracks from other producers; it’s me staying up until 3am in the morning trying to get those beats ready for the people. I hope people like it. Even if you don’t like it, tell someone you hate me or somethin’. For more check www.myish.co.uk @dansomusic or @myish
UNWIND
GADGETS | GAMES | FILMS | GIG GUIDE | ALBUMS >>
THE BEST OF STAYING IN... AND GOING OUT... SONY BLOGGIE TOUCH (MHS-TS20K) (sony.co.uk, £199) If your phone’s camera is lacking the sufficient megapixels to make your fashion blog worth browsing, you need to invest in a suitable standalone. Sony’s little wonder, the Bloggie Touch, is compact, lightweight and packs a punch with 12.8MP stills and full HD video recording. Snap away with the regular lens or the 360 lens (supplied) and then upload your creations straight to your social networks, via the built-in USB arm. Big. Now all you need are some topical trends or fashion fails and you’re away.
ION FASH GER BLOGCIAL SPE
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GADGET GUIDE: ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO RUN A FASHION BLOG Where would fashion be without the magazines, blogs and the column inches that cover it? And where would they be without gadgets... Words by Danny Walker CANON POWERSHOT S95 (canon.co.uk, From £399.00) Don’t even think about running a fashion blog/ website without a decent stills camera, that mobile phone can’t cater for everything. Canon’s PowerShot S95 captures the moment perfectly; just ask those at The Daily Street (oh wait, we did, see sidebar). Buyability: The S-series is getting better and better and this proves it. Longevity: Although Canon love an update, this will serve you well for a while. What your friends might say: “Loving your blog, what camera have you got?
SAMSUNG SERIES 5 CHROMEBOOK WIFI
BLACKBERRY TORCH 9860 uk.blackberry.com, (From £Free) Just when you thought RIM were about to throw in the towel (does anyone own a PlayBook?) the hard working geniuses from Canada introduce THREE new handsets to the market. The Bold 9900, the Torch 9810 and this, the Torch 9860. Buyability: New BlackBerry OS7 is looking slicker than ever. Longevity: Voice-activated universal search, the introduction of Augmented Reality and a 1.2GHz processor... What your friends might say: “BBM me?!?!” 72 / RWDMAG.COM
(google.com/chromebook, From £349.99) With a ‘Nothing but the web’ approach it’s clear which market Google are going for. Bloggers, Chromeaholics and those who can somehow survive without decent hard drive space. Buyability: With a 10 second boot time and no known viruses, let’s make it work. Longevity: Remember Google Wave? What your friends might say: “What if you don’t have an Internet connect?”
QUICK TIP: THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO BLOG, EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT TASTE AND STYLE SO YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY...
FASHION X GADGETS We asked techno-savvy fashion bloggers, Cheyenne Davide (yeahitsshyy.com) and Adam Scotland (Thedailystreet.co.uk), which gizmos work best with a blog... CHEYENNE DAVIDE
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 10.1 (samsung.com/uk, £399.00) If you can’t go a second without posting up info on the latest city chic then take this Tab with you wherever you go. An amazing display (1280 x 800 WXGA), work-worthy preloaded apps and lighter than the iPad 2, this will ruffle feathers. Buyability: It has Adobe Flash... need we say more? Longevity: The tablet game is heating up and as soon as Android get more bespoke apps for Honeycomb, we could see a major swing in Google’s favour. What your friends might say: “Gimme!”
Whats’ been the high of running your blog? Being part of a fashion blogging community where I can interact with others and swop fashion tips – also the fact that many of my readers take time out of their day to email me saying how I have inspired them to not be afraid to wear what you want. Helping people with their fashion choices is what I love doing, so that in itself is a massive high for me. What gadgets do you regularly use? When you start you realise how important certain gadgets are in your “blogger life.” A laptop is definitely a necessity when it comes to blogging. I use my Nikon D3000 camera to take pictures too and I base my blog around the outfits I wear so I normally put my camera to use about 3-4 times a week. I also use my phone to keep up to date with tweets from people asking me about certain clothing I wear. Lately I’ve invested in a video camera as I think recording videos can be a great way of letting your personality shine through your blog. What advice would you give to someone starting out? There is no right or wrong way to blog, everyone has different taste and style so you can only do what makes you feel happy.
ADAM SCOTLAND Tell us about The Daily Street? It’s a regularly updated, online source of information on men’s street fashion, music and art in the UK. The aim is to provide daily updates on new products, events and releases, with information about where and when you can find particular items, and exactly why you should consider parting with your hard-earned cash. What gets you the most comments? Posts on independent UK brands often spark a bit of debate - the haters and supporters are always equally vocal, but usually there’s a lot of good feedback. Tell us about YOUR fashion style... I’m probably the least concerned with style out of the lot of us to be honest. Slim jeans/ chinos, a button up shirt over a tee and some Peg ‘92s or Nike Frees, is my current rotation. And gadgets... When I’m out, my iPhone is my computer, dictaphone and general lifeline. Camerawise, a Canon 5D covers us for photo and video, and I use an S95 for smaller jobs, it’s probably the best compact you can buy for the money (in my opinion). I couldn’t live without my MacBook either, as it means I can take the office with me wherever I go.
QUICK TIP: WHEN I’M OUT, MY IPHONE IS MY COMPUTER, DICTAPHONE AND GENERAL LIFELINE...
WIN THE PHONE OF THE MONTH HTC CHACHA (chacha.com, From £Free) To celebrate the launc, we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win an HTC ChaCha. This lets you share music, photos, your location and status updates instantly by pushing the Facebook® share button and with Facebook chat, you can catch-up with your friends whenever you like. This touchscreen-enabled, 5MP auto focusing and front facing VGA camera sporting mini mobile is perfect for social addicts. To win, visit the comps page on Facebook.com/RWDmagfans. *The use of the CHACHA trademark by HTC is pursuant to a license from ChaCha Search, Inc. HTC is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by ChaCha Search, Inc. For more information regarding ChaCha Search, Inc., please visit its website at chacha.com.
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GAMES We let Dappy loose on our Xbox Kinect... words by Danny Walker images by Greg Bond
Add us on Xbox Live (RWDmag) to participate in weekly RWD tournaments...
MONTHLY MUST TRY EDITOR DAPPY REVIEWS: FRUIT NINJA KINECT Halfbrick PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
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I’ve never played Kinect before but I’ve seen it loads; it is definitely a very addictive piece of technology. I love computer games. This is a very addictive game, me and Kaye [Dappy’s girlfriend] will most definitely be playing the iPhone version on the way home. I’ll give it a 3.5/ 4 out of 5, cos I still don’t know how good you can be on it.
“I BEG YOU SOMEONE SHOW ME HOW TO DO THIS MAN, I NEED TO START SLICING UPWARDS LIKE THAT,” “I’M TRYNA GET THE BIG MELON!!!”
ADVANCE PREVIEW OUT 06/09/2011 ACE COMBAT: ASSAULT HORIZON Namco Bandai PS3, Xbox 360
Get ready to smile as Ace Combat will be returning to our consoles in October. The last time our thumbs were treated to Ace... action was back in 2007 of course (with Fires of Liberation) and on this mission you’ll be pleased to know you’ll be piloting helicopters as well as fighter jets. After testing out a couple of assaults at Namco headquarters we enjoyed crisp visuals, close combat mode and annihilating EVERYTHING in a Blackhawk. It looks like the much-needed franchise reboot will be well received.
REVIEWS: DEAD ISLAND Deep Silver Xbox 360
Forget Lost, the Royal Palms Resort on the mysterious island of Banoi is definitely one place you DO NOT want to be stuck on; unless you’re heavily armed and fully engrossed in Dead Island of course. Loved the weapons, the fact the island is open world and the ability to do FOUR player co-op. Like us, you’ll be playing this all action game until the virus-infected cows come home.
APPSOLUTELY FABULOUS: MADDEN 2012 EA Sports iOS/ Android
For those still waiting for an addictive, innovative, comprehensive-yet-portable American football game the search might just be over. With improved graphics and interesting playbooks (although our endless decisions to opt for the last minute dash instead of a punt keep leading to turnover on downs!!!) this is once again a great use of the franchise..
DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION Eidos/ Square Enix Europe
DAPPY GAMING FACTS Dappy’s first ever game: My first one I liked was Moonwalker on the Master System... Dappy on Computer Games: I love computer games. I love those flight simulator games for PlayStation 3 and PC. They might be a bit geeky but I loved them. I like football games too. The last game I got addicted to was... Black Ops... the zombie part. I loved nanking them up. Me and my best mate George play all the time.
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Dark, moody, futuristic – and that’s just the cover – the third Deus Ex takes augmentation into a completely new level. With an interesting combat mode it’s up to you to decide how you go about completing your missions. Personally we opted for the hide in the shadows, avoid the punches sneaky approach but feel free to go all-out attack when you take on the role of Adam. Embrace it. 75
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FILMS Fashion and films have quite a few things in common, the main similarity being the amount of hard work and dedication goes into getting it right...
COWBOYS & ALIENS Paramount Pictures UK Cert 12A
When Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) wakes up in the Wild West, with nothing but an unexplained steel bracelet for company, alarm bells of ambiguity began ringing. An hour and a half of poorly considered “twists” and unfathomable plot-holes left us gritting our teeth. A poorly considered story and woefully underdeveloped characters, which is a shame, because the trailer was awesome. (TS)
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES 20th Century Fox Cert 12A
It’s not just great performance from James Franco and the CGI team that make this one of our favourite films of the year so far, but the compelling storyline and ideas it leaves you with. Ignoring the Mark Wahlberg film from 2001, this prequel shows how us humans become slaves to the apes in the first place, as “Caesar” turns into the biggest threat to Mankind since the start of X Factor. Go. And. See. This. Film.
ADVANCE PREVIEW 30 MINUTES OR LESS Sony Pictures Cert 15
With a humorous trailer and a quality cast (we’ve been a fan of Danny McBride since that trip on Pineapple Express, we ‘Liked’ Jesse Eisenberg’s performance in The Social Network and the comedic cheer of Aziz Ansari is always welcomed) this Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) directed, action-packed, black comedy is looking good. The insane concept might not be for everyone, but you’re guaranteed it’s up our street. Car chases, one-liners and ape masks; could a cinema goer want for any more?
GIG GUIDE RWD RELENTLESS ENERGY SESSIONS @ THE GARAGE, JULY 2011-07-31 Up until 2006, Highbury was the home of young gunners striving for success. This time it played host once again but to a different type of ‘young gun’ who is most definitely destined for the top, Ed Sheeran. RWD’s own DJ Chewy kicked the evening off and was followed by a set from an excited DJ Manny Norté as the floor began to fill up. A number of hip hop hits hit the crowd before a touching dedication to Amy Winehouse, and it was time for Modestep to raise the roof and set the stage alight. They stepped up in typical Modestep mode, masked and loaded 78 / RWDMAG.COM
with their eardrum blasting bass cannon music; the Friend brothers had the fans in a frenzy with their dubstep, D&B and reggae remixes. With the clock creeping towards 9.30pm, the somewhat sweatier supporters were ready for the main event of the evening, Ed Sheeran. Deciding he was going to play until he got kicked off, Sheeran beat-boxed and blew away the audience with Wayfaring Stranger, Wake Me Up and heavy-hit chart-topper A Team. “I let one of my best friends remix the song,” he announced as the unmistakeable towering figure of Mikill Pane
approached the stage with his Rick Ross-esque beard. Little Lady was just one of the highlights, as every person in the building recited the lyrics at the top of their voices. The room darkened and a sea of phone lights emerged before the stage as Mikill finished the chilling story and as the walls echoed with 700 voices singing the final chorus, it was a moment which made the hairs on the backs of necks stand up. Ed wrapped up the set with new single, You Need Me. As the crowd dispersed towards the exits, DJ Rattus Rattus saw out an incredibly entertaining night. (RB)
photography by Ravi Sidhu
SEPT 1 Mac Miller @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London FWD>> @ Plastic People, London 1-4 Outlook Festival Ft. Dot Rotten, Newham Generals, Urban Nerds, Dream McLean + more @ Fort Punta Christo, Pula, Croatia
2 Havotek Presents Histeria 16+ Club Night Ft. Doctor P and Funtcase @ Central Station, Wrexham 3 DJ Shadow @ Cardiff University Students Union 5 The Drums @ Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen 6 Public Enemy @ O2 ABC, Glasgow
7–9 DJ Shadow @ Village Underground 8-11 Bestival Ft. Kelis, Skrillex, Fenech Soler, Wretch 32, Ed Sheeran + more @ Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight 9 Night Slugs @ Fabric, London Jakwob @ Smack, Lemington Spa
Robyn @ Mcr Academy 14 Crystal Fighters @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire 17 Breakage, D Bridge, David Rodigan... @ Cable, London Rinse FM 17th Birthday @ O2 Academy Brixton, London 19-20 Adele @ HMV Hammersmith Apollo
21 Example Club Tour @ Liquid & Envy, Aberdeen Rizzle Kicks @ XOYO, London 28-29 Fenech Soler @ KOKO, London 29 Slum Dogz Ft. Doctor P, Krafty MC, Rokson, DJ HazeTek + more @ XOYO
Calvin Harris @ Mandela Hall, Co. Antrim 30 Hospitality @ O2 Academy Brixton, London
BOOK NOW 6-9 October Snoop Dogg @ various venues Ed Sheeran @ various venues Wretch 32 @ various venues
Rhianna @ Odyssey Arena, Belfast 79
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REVIEWS DAPPY REVIEWS: ED SHEERAN
UKG / GRIME / DUBSTEP CHART BY DJ CHEWY 01 VARIOUS
+ Asylum
WRETCH 32 Black and White MoS/ Levels Rec
Joined by Wizzy Wow and J.F.L.O.W.S., Parallel (Black and White, Anniversay Ft. Alex Mills), Yogi (Traktor), Future Cut (Unorthodox), Long Way Home Ft. Daley) and Labrinth (for the reflective Forgiveness) this album is Wretchro through and through. Taking old skool and new skool fans alike on a fast-paced and engrossing journey, this is the best output from Wretch to date. From the mixdowns to the metaphors this is everything we want from a UK artist. Track To Check: Don’t Go Ft. Josh Kumra (DW)
I love Ed to pieces, he’s amazing, pure talent. This album is a breath of fresh air, he’s going to win a Brit because of it, trust me. I’ll try and beat him to it though! I love all of the songs on here; You Need Me, The A Team of course. Give Me Love is another level, and I love U.N.I. and Little Bump. In fact, I love the whole thing! I hope maybe to work with him. I don’t feel I deserve to work with a big star until I get a No.1 though. Then maybe me and Ed can work together.. Track to Check: You Need Me
Wheelers & Dealers (WheeLDeal Records) Too much choice here, including Madman and Hot Groove. 02
BEN WESTBEECH There Is More To Life Than This Strictly Rhythm
After welcoming us to the best years of our lives just three short years ago, the Bristol-bred DJ/ singer/ songwriter/ producer is back to tell us there is more to life than this on his sophomore LP. The mature 2011 outing packs the same inventive soulful jazz loops but with way more dance elements enthused with deep drum patterns and breaks to keep you coming back for more. A little samey-samey in places, hopefully there is more to come from Ben than this. Track To Check: Let Your Feelings Show (DW)
ROOTS MANUVA
DALEY
L-VIS 1990
4everevolution
Those Who Wait
Neon Dreams
Big Dada
Free Download
PMR Records
With his 8th studio album, Roots Manuva presents a collection of eloquently expressed thoughts and reflections on life with a political slant. An hour’s worth of music is divided into 17 tracks accompanied by in-depth production, manipulating various genres from the classic reggae vibe in Wha’ Mek to a ‘90s R&B hook in Beyond This World. Manuva’s cutting-edge, hardhitting vocals are evident throughout. An album for the ravers, vybzers and thinkers. Track to Check: Who Goes There? (RB)
This Mancunian singer has been about for a minute now, so we’re interested to see what the Gorillaz collaborator has up his sleeve. Turns out Daley might just be our very own Musiq/ D’Angelo/ Bilal. His voice is ridiculous; from soulful sweetness at the top of the scale to rich and dreamy at the alto end, this 10-track mixture is a slick mix of originals and covers. Madonna’s Like A Virgin joins the incredible Alone Together, Ft. Marsha Ambrosius. Do not par yourself by not getting this from Daley.tv. Track To Check: Let It Go (HC)
Co-founder of London based label and rave specialists Night Slugs, L-Vis has used his wealth of musical knowledge and contacts book to produce this sophisticated house album with a few twists. Take the eerie vocals of Samantha Lim alongside the skippy electro beats on Play It Cool and the modern disco sound of Lost In Love up against Javeon McCarthy’s soulful vocals, and you get some serious chill out vibes. Track To Check: I Feel It (NS)
JAYGLO
Wiseau Funk (Boka Record) Keep your eye on this developing label; out and out dubstep. 03 BENGA
Midnight (IAmBenga) A jaw dropping magnetic banger. 04 MS. DYNAMITE
Neva Soft (Dynamic Ventures) Redlight delivers the 140 BPM madness on the remix front. 05
STRAGGO & SNOOKS
Kuru (Niteshade) This is not for the faint-hearted. At all. 06
SYNKRO
Tribe / Here’s Your (Box Clever) Two very different tracks from light minimal to tribal dub. 07
TES LA ROCK
Virus (Noppa) This kiler tune could be a film, thanks to brilliant production. 08 RAY FOXX FT. LOVELLE
Musica (Defected) That crossover funky remix lands from Gianni Negro. 09 MONIQUE LAWRENCE
Casanova (White) Still holding firm with this Brandyish refix from Fuzzy. 10 DJ MYSTERY
Take It Slow (AMS Music) Sexy sultry and deep funky house.
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dubstep Allstars 8: Distance Tempa
THE WEEKND Thursday Free Download
The wailing Weeknd is back, dropping Thursday on Friday, quite confusing but it’s good to know the singer stepped a little more out of the box on his recent giveaway. Including well known riffs and completely experimental electronica, if you’re a fan, you’re going to like it regardless, especially the Canadian collab on The Zone and the one drop Heaven Or Las Vegas. Don’t expect the lyricism to escape the world of drugsandsex though, some things don’t change... Track To Check: The Zone Ft. Drake (NS)
Those who have the first seven CDs in this series already know what to expect; for those that don’t, count on quality when it comes to Tempa. Distance is one of the genre’s founding forefathers, a man around at the creation of the Croydon bass-ridden duttiness. Here, he gleans the unusual, the unknown and the un-overplayed (yeah, we defo just made that word up), for 25 tracks of subterranean strangeness. Track to Check: Deleted Scenes Ultimate Moment (HC)
DAVID GUETTA
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Nothing But The Beat
Wheel & Deal Dubstep Vol. 1
EMI
Wheel and Deal
We haven’t even opened this CD to slew it; it’s still in its packaging in the bin. #truth. No good can ever come from Guetta or his euro-dance trash. Now leave planet music please GuWetta, thanks. Track To Check: LOL (HC)
Competing with Distance’s effort, this is nonetheless an essential album for any true dub head. A round up of Wheel & Deal Record’s first two years, presented by the label’s owner, DJ N-Type. CD1 features 15 unreleased W&D tracks from originators Coki, Kutz and The Others, whilst CD2 is an exclusive mix from N-Type himself. Offering some of the most formidable underground sounds, this offers something that the generic commercial dubstep compilations can’t; authenticity. Track To Check: Coki - Madman (CL)
ALBUM OF THE MONTH AMY WINEHOUSE Back To Black Island
She made just two albums in her 27 years, but in Frank and Back To Black Amy Jade Winehouse left us with a truly memorable musical legacy. Though she was said not to have been very fond of her debut, hearing F*** Me Pumps for the first time had us falling in immediate love with this gobby north London singer who was so, well frank. It was of course the Salaam Remi and Ronson produced Back... that ignited Winehouse’s worldwide fame and acclaim. And rightly so. Though she may no longer be here, her brilliantly written lyrics (“I hold his hand to get the angle right”), evocative vocal that tore through Ronson’s trumpets and Remi’s bass, and bold, brilliant beehive and ballet shoes will live on. Lets hope Amy really is at rest now. Track to check: Back To Black (HC)
DAPPY’S REWINDS Ms Dynamite Neva Soft (Dynamic Ventures) Dot Rotten Machine Guns (Mercury) The Weeknd House Of Balloons (Free Mixtape) The Weeknd The Zone Ft. Drake (Free Mixtape) The Wanted Glad You Came (Geffen) Professor Green At Your Inconvenience (EMI) Jay Z & Kanye Murder To Excellence (Def Jam) Dappy No Regrets (AATW) “But not in an arrogant way!!!” Alexandra Stan Mr Saxo Beat(Columbia) Example Natural Disaster (AATW) Wretch 32 Black And White (AATW) Frank Ocean ultra/ Nostalgia (Mixtape) Pixie Lott All About Tonight (Mercury) Emeli Sande Daddy (Virgin) Wiley Link Up (Big Dada)
FINAL WORD: EXAMPLE His hair may be flatter now but his music and his dress sense are sharper than ever. Example gives us the final word on fashion... interview by Danny Walker
EXAMPLE’S MY GUY! I LOVE HIM. I DON’T EVEN KNOW HIM, BUT BIG HIM UP. HE SUPPORTED US AT THE ITUNES FESTIVAL A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, BUT NOW HE’S TOO FAMOUS FOR US, NOW HE’S GOT HIS NO.1, MAKING ME ALL JEALOUS! A TOP BLOKE.
82 / RWDMAG.COM
Tell us a typical ‘example’ – see what I’ve done there – of your fashion? [Laughs] I’m all about just being comfy, I think it’s about being accessible. I think people see me as an everyman character, so not one of these people who dresses or acts like a superstar. I’m the guy next door. A lot of people come up to me in the street, ‘How are you doing Elliot?’ They want to go for a pint. I think it’s because my songs are so personal. They feel as though they know me. So I don’t want to overdo it and wear ridiculously expensive brands that nobody can afford. I wear brands like adidas, Levi’s, Penfield, Timex and Vans. There is a shop down in Carnaby Street called Chateau Roux too. They’ve provided the college/ varsity jacket I’m wearing in the Stay Awake video. I’ve got that jacket in five different colourways. You used to have a brand, will you bring it back? Yeah, I’d definitely be up for a collaboration or something. I’d be up for designing my own trainers or my own jackets rather than a range of t-shirts. Can you please share some ‘examples’ of fashion disasters? Mate, back in the garage days, I dressed awful; in red Moshinos and a beige t-shirt. Red and beige don’t go. I remember the Nike Air TNs in gold or something. I used to rock Iceberg History, a pair of jeans with Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Pie on them. Nice.
We loved Changed the Way You Kissed Me. Did you think it would be so big? When I finished it, I knew it was big, but you never really know how big it is going to be until it comes out. I mean, even months before it came out you could see the YouTube views and the radio plays. Were you relieved? Yeah, after Kickstarts was so big, it’s always hard to follow up something like that cos that song was a monster. Why the name Playing In The Shadows? Originally I was going to call it Waiting in the Shadows, which is the lyric from a Kasabian song, who are one of my favourite bands. But then it implied that I wasn’t ready and I was still up and coming. Then I changed ‘Waiting’ to ‘Playing’, so you can say, it’s me playing around, I’ve been in the background for years and I’m finally making moves. Coming out of the shadow of Skinner or out of the Shadows of UK rap. What is your favourite track on there? There’s a track called, Natural Disaster’, which is produced by Laidback Luke, he’s a Dutch house DJ. It’s a pretty aggressive uplifting house/ trance song. It might not go to No.1 but it definitely has chart qualities. Playing in the Shadows is out 5 September. Trythisforexample.com