SCENE Birmingham Magazine Summer Edition 2013 by SCENE Birmingham

Summer Edition 2013

NIGHTLIFE&ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS&CULTURE

BEAUTY&FASHION

NEWS&BUSINESS

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The View From The Top Of WW Tom Bennett The View From Below @ Global gathering

Contents

C ON TEN TS

...spirit never dies, it just transforms...

Yes, we’ve finally done it, we’ve gone with the times and we’ve News 8 gone digital! It’s been an exciting few months The Rainbow- 10 at SCENE for me. On a personal Taking Birmingham level I’ve been learning a lot and I’ve to another level been back and forth to London learning about apps and social media. I’ve been to An Interview With Appollonia 14 Bulgaria learning all about entrepreneurship Gallery 18 and delving into the world of enterprise in the E.U and I’ve also had the honour of being Festival Creatures 28 interviewed by my career hero and the advertising guru that is Trevor Beattie at the BMB Agency HQ in Tee’s Talk Time with… Rem Conway 32 London (look out for the interview on our YouTube channel very soon)! Beauty: The evolution of male grooming 34 Now you’re wondering why digital and why now? Well for the past 12 months I’ve had my head buried into the Fitness: Luke Lincoln’s guide to the perfect beach body 36 ‘SCENE’ in terms of creating a great magazine and whilst Beauty: Get set to glow 40 I’ve had time to sit back and look at the market and think about what I really want the SCENE brand to be, I’ve also been Brands We Love- Dancing Dolls 42 thinking about what I want to do that will make me happy. I had to go back to why I started the magazine in the first place - it Brands We Love- Tagger bags 48 was because I was fed up of people saying how bad they thought Birmingham was. It’s been a year since Usain Bolt said ‘Big up Artist Spotlight- Anna Zaphiri 52 Birmingham’ but did the fastest man in the world say enough to make the rest of the UK turn around and say ‘Really, why’s that then?’… Well, no. Food Review: Wagamammas 56 In a recent report on the perceptions of Birmingham, just 18.3% of people Cocktail Of The Month: Ooh La Leon 58 who live outside of the city consider Birmingham to be Britain’s most important city after London. What shocked me the most about the report, was An Interview With… KB Sides 60 that Birmingham was voted LAST for nightlife, culture, architecture and welldressed people. An Interview With… 50 Shades 62 To me, Birmingham is the centre of the universe. It’s FULL of amazing people, places and stories that are yet to be told. Since starting the magazine I’ve met so many inspiring people and what upsets me the most is that people from Birmingham and from other cities haven’t got to hear about them yet. For me to explore our great city and the people in it and showcase it and them in the way I really want to, the decision to go digital was simple. From now on you’ll see more online content Managing on our YouTube channel and longer interviews with people we want to talk about in the E-magazine. SCENE will still stay true to its core values: we Director and are bold, iconic, contemporary and candid; we wear our hearts on our Editor- Jessica sleeve. We aim to showcase the very best of our city and the people Fitzpatrick in it, we don’t like celebrity gossip and we don’t like PR dribble! Jessica@ We like real people with real stories and we’re proud to say scenebirmingham.co.uk we’re from Birmingham. This issue will get you even more excited about Circo Graphics- EVP Visuals Loco In The Arena, with interviews from Apollonia ellisonporter@gmail.com and the guys who own The Rainbow Venues. We also speak to local fashion designer Paulinah Editors Assistant- Talisha Johnson Eboh Sampson and Latex Artist Anna Zaphiri, as well as comedian and author Rem Contributing Writers- Jess Slater, Shara Johnson, Shanice Conway, owner of The Greenhouse Nayomi, James Wootton, Mia Roberts, John Reidy, and Ami Streets Cafe, Rosie Backen, local DJ KB Contributing Photographers- Tom Bennett, Jas Sansi Sides and Mr 50 Shades of Birmingham. I hope you enjoy Special thanks to our interns for all contributions to this issue- Edd Turner, reading this issue as much Mia, Roberts, Shanice Nayomi, Tom Bennett and Shara Johnson as I enjoyed putting it together! To request a media pack please email- sales@scenebirmingham.co.uk or call 0121 224 7394 or 07875547189

Jess x

News

section bites ize news from the city of birmingham

Style Birmingham Live Returns

Birmingham’s number one fashion show is back! ‘Style Birmingham Live’ will be taking place on the 28th of September in the Town Hall. This amazing day of fashion, fun and fabulousness will be presented by Big Brother winner and presenter; Rylan Clarke and model/presenter; Emma Willis. Tickets are on sale now at an astonishing price starting at £15! Don’t miss out on the wonderful fashion show, stylish goody bag and much more!

The Custard Factory Welcomes Two New Street Wear Shops

Last year we featured them in our ‘Brands We Love’ section and witnessed the fantastic launch party they did at Spotlight in Digbeth. Now, we are pleased to announce that Physical Novel have moved into their own shop within The Custard Factory just opposite Yumm! Just round the corner, next to Ideal skate shop ‘Street Pop’ has also opened offering Men’s High Street Fashion for discounted prices! Round the corner from The Custard Factory on Floodgate Street, a fantastic new creative and collaborative workspace hub has opened called Boxxed. Find out more at www.boxxed.co.uk.

Fusion Festival

This year Birmingham hosts Fusion Festival, a Pop festival full of all your favorite chart toppers! In Cofton Park, Birmingham Fusion Fest will have headlining acts Jessie J and Ne-Yo. Fusion Festival will attract hundreds of people in and around Birmingham. Supporting acts such as; Conor Maynard, The Saturdays, The Wanted, Union J etc are playing at the festival from 31st August – 1st September. Get your tickets for this awaited festival now!! www.thefusionfestival.co.uk

Selfridges Birmingham Celebrates 10 Years

The retailer’s fourth UK store opened to the public in September 2003 and has been at the forefront of fashion with the most coveted brands such as Victoria Beckham, Roland Mouret, Alexander McQueen, Tiger of Sweden and Saint Laurent offered exclusively across the region. To celebrate their 10th birthday, Selfridges promises to surprise, amaze and amuse by delivering unique customer experiences with an array of party events and activities designed to create memorable moments for all. From September 4-8, customers can participate in brand activities and party in style with unique playlists from celebrity DJ Tinchy Stryder. As an added treat for shoppers, the beauty event of the year will take place on September 5 offering complimentary treatments, demonstrations and promotional gifts from beauty brands such as Armani, Illamasqua, NARS, Jo Malone and MAC.

Weekend Arts Festival To Run Across Four City Squares Next Month

A weekend of outdoor arts events will take place across Birmingham’s main city squares to help celebrate the opening of the new £189m library. The 4 Squares Weekender runs from September 6th to the 8th across Oozells, Centenary, Chamberlain and Victoria Squares. Highlights of the weekend will include two hire wire performances of As the World Tipped by Wired Aerial Theatre, while as well as more aerial acrobatics from NoFit State Circus. Renowned orchestra CBSO will stage a number of pop-up performances, while there will also be reggae from the team behind The Drum’s Simmer Down showcase, appearances by Birmingham Royal Ballet, street theatre, exhibitions and more. The weekend celebration is presented by Birmingham Arts Partnership, a collaboration between some of the leading arts organisations and venues in the city. The majority of performances will be staged outside, with free attractions also being held inside the Town Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art gallery, Ikon Gallery’s 72ft barge slow boat and, of course, the Library of Birmingham itself. For further details visit www.4squareweekender.com

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to evolve to keep the warehouse fresh...

interview

RainboW Ta k i n g B i r m i n g h a m To A n ot h e r L e v e l The Rainbow, what started off as a small pub in Digbeth has rapidly developed into one of the most versatile music venues in the UK. Playing host to a majority of Birmingham’s most successful music and clubbing events, ranging all the way from intimate gigs with live bands to huge raves with thousands of attendants, The Rainbow can accommodate for all. Since interviewing the man behind it all Lee McDonald in our first issue last year a lot has changed since then with the huge success of last year’s Circo Loco In The Arena and the recent refurb of The Rainbow Pub and the expansion of The Mezzaine and The Garden there’s loads to talk about, so with that in mind we decided to revisit Lee and his new business partner Lenny to find out how they always seem to be ten steps ahead of the game and what they’ve got in store for us for the rest of the year. So, Lee you’ve been a busy bee this past year, could you sum the year up in three words? Challenging. Educational. Inspirational

You’ve been promoting for over 10 years now and in that time you and your partners Adam Shelton, Elliot Croft, Tom Shorterz and Andy Bell have built brands such as Below, 02:31 and FACE. Where do you draw your inspiration from for each brand and are there any parties that stand out as ones that you are exceptional proud of? Below is where it all started with Adam Shelton and Ross Trepelton, we pulled our inspiration from Secretsundaze in London and of course Circo Loco in Ibiza. We felt there was a niche in the market to shake up the Birmingham scene with our own DAYTIME rave playing good house music.

As for FACE, there was no consistency at The Rainbow so I worked closely with Scott Bleeps to create a fresh brand; FACE has been a real success story. Just after its birth we got Elliot Croft on board to become a third partner- great guy that plays great music! There I had the basis of my residents and a bloody good promo team. We’re proud of what FACE has achieved working towards its 4th Birthday and one of the only weekly events in the country regularly pulling international talent and the most respected underground artists. I had the idea for 2:31 for some time, Rocknrolla wasn’t happy with the venue having to move them from their weekly slot

from time to time for the larger events so I got wind that they were on the hunt for a new venue and was about to leave The Rainbow. For a party not to conflict with FACE I had to come up with a brand that started a lot later than 1am. I felt a good time was 2:31 - so the branding is so strong it’s what you get on the tin with the digital type face - I was raving with Andy Bell in Sankeys Ibiza when I received the whisper in my ear Rolla were officially off. I already had the brand pretty much ready to go and an idea of the team... within seconds I asked Andy to get involved- we left the venue, had a beer and talked about it for some time. I have always believed a strong brand has to have strong residents.. look at Below with Adam Shelton and Subb-an and what they have set to achieve... FACE with Paddy Lopaski, Smak Pony, BBC and Neil Parkes... so TOM SHORTERZ was prime target for 2:31- a character, a great dj and a fantastic promoter.. So there was the team, me, Tom and Andy- 2:31 was born!

Lenny, you came on board back in November, what do you and Lee each bring to the table to make The Rainbow what it is today? Lee and I are both 100 miles per hour 24/7 but collectively we slow each other down. We’re both very demanding and our own worse critics, constantly criticising each other and pushing each other forward.

I would say Lee has a fantastic understanding of giving the customers something new and exciting in regards to music events and I have the great understanding of running these events to the promoters and DJs expectations.

I guess Lee gives the customers what they want and I look after them. I’ve brought the back office structure to the rainbow, something it lacked previously.

Lee: I think it is slowly getting the credit it deserves yes.

Rainbow’s resident DJ’s are all doing really well at the minute getting bookings from numerous festivals and Lenny, since becoming joint owner, The Rainbow Pub and weekly radio shows. How important is it for you to Warehouse has undertaken quite an impressive facelift. support local talent and who are you tipping off to be the For those who have had their head buried in the sand next big thing? the last few months can you tell us what’s been going on Sure that’s something I’m really proud of. To see Adam Shelton behind the scenes and why you felt it was important to and Subb An of BELOW fly all over the world is something else, both of them lived above the Rainbow pub! evolve? We needed to increase the capacity and modernise the interior giving the customer a better experience whilst maintaining the warehouse feel. It’s important to evolve to keep the warehouse fresh as it has not really had any attention since 2008 so we felt this was much needed.

Were they any difficulties that you encountered with the refurb and is there anything more you are planning to change in the near future? Yes, there was an abundance of planning concerns which we overcome and yes watch this space for further developments!

Lee, tell us about the new ‘Pop Up Rainbow’ spaces that you’ve got in store for us and where the idea for this concept came from?

I have always loved raves in non-commercial spaces. That’s the love, that’s why I got into promoting events. You won’t see me throwing a rave in a commercial club. So it was like having reigns on with my previous partner, he restricted my vision and creativity and only wanted me to do shows in the Warehouse / Pub… What club can go on FOREVER? The Rainbow can but it has to evolve, you have to mix it up - keep it fresh - keep the customer happy, let them share new experiences - The Rainbow Pop up concept gives us the opportunity to work down the list of out of order venues I have always wanted to use for a couple of parties only... and then move on.... It also keeps it really exciting for me too! The next Pop Up space is quite ridiculous. Check out www.therainbowvenues.co.uk for more info!

Do you think Birmingham gets enough credit for its nightlife compared to other cities?

Lenny: The Rainbow is spearheading a campaign to put Birmingham on the map, attracting attention from the likes of the guardian where the review of The Rainbow and its events was fantastic.

FACE- I think you see a star in Paddy Lopaski, we are giving him his BELOW debut August bank holiday too.. Smak Pony are also producing some great stuff and they always smash the crowd, and of course BBC (Bunny - Scott Bleepz and Elliot Croft). Bunny is producing some killer stuff and these guys playing together are special! Then of course Tom Shorterz, well what a year he has had! 2:31 hosting our own radio show on Rinse, Tom playing at Rinse tours, getting an agent producing some beauties... AMAZING. Of course it’s not just the residents that make the parties a success.. It’s people like Sarah Higginson, who works behind the scenes tying together all the paper work and artist liaison. She has really helped take my work load from me and organise my life. Chloe Dowding has come in to take care of the digital marketing and then Dan my diary man and link to a world I don’t know- live music, and of course the security door team, probably THE most important thing a venue can have, with Lenny and Josh as great leaders with a solid team in Freedom. This, along with the residents, make the Rainbow parties tick.

Finally, give us the low down of your top three parties you’re looking forward to this year?

Lenny: Circo Loco in the arena, street food festival, The Rainbow Festival on NYE. Lee: Circo Loco in The Arena and Type Festival Saturday August 10th, Below August bank holiday and FACE presents Secretsundaze... oh and there’s more, The Summer Closing party of The Rainbow Pop Up 1, complete with a daft line up again for the 2:31 spin off 10:31.

To buy tickets for Circo Loco In The Arena visit www.typefestival.com OR enter our competition to be in with a chance of winning one of 3 pairs of tickets. All you have to do is sign up to our newsletter on our facebook page- www.facebook.com/SceneBirmingham

WIN

We’ve got 3 pairs of tickets for CircoLoco In The Arena to give away. Check out our Facebook Page for more details...

I have always loved raves in non-commercial spaces. That’s the love, that’s why I got into promoting events.

introducing apollon ia an interview with DJ's Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky Sharing the same musical roots, tastes and creative vision, Apollonia was a natural, if not inevitable progression for legendary DJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky.

interview

The debut Apollonia EP is out now! We made the 2 tracks during an intensive 6 week studio session in Berlin earlier this year, and also included them in the fabric 70 compilation. First off, tell us a bit about yourselves and how you came together? Hi we’re Shonky, Dan Ghenacia and Dyed Soundorom… DJing together back-to-back-to-back as Apollonia, and also running our own record label under the same name. We’ve been friends for years; we first met back in 2000 when Dan was the resident DJ at the infamous Kwality afterparties at Batofar in Paris. We discovered we shared the same musical roots and tastes, and the rest as they say is history!

What do you each bring to the table to make Apollonia what it is?

It’s very much a group project. When it comes to the label we make all the decisions together, for example when considering a new artist to release an EP, all three of us have to love the tracks. For the Apollonia DJ performance the aim is to sound like one artist, not three individuals; we have a real natural synergy.

What is each of your favourite tracks at the moment and why? Dan: Cajmere Dyed Soundorom ‘1+1=1’

Who were your idols when you were younger, one person from the world of music and one person from other aspects of life?

Mark E Quark from San Diego, Dan’s music mentor, who taught him how to mix different styles together in a very deep way – the basis of what Apollonia is doing today, and Batman! Can’t wait to meet him!

You are currently working on a new Apollonia EP and LP, what can we expect from each of these? And do you have any finished tracks that you can describe to us? The debut Apollonia EP is out now! We made the 2 tracks during an intensive 6 week studio session in Berlin earlier this year, and also included them in the fabric 70 compilation.

It’s true we’ve started to work on an LP… Over the summer we’re going to be defining the concept of the album, then Dan will move to Berlin in Autumn so we can be in the studio together. A few tracks are ready but most of the work will be done this winter.

What a nice combination, two of my favourite artists on the same record! Dyed’s groove + Cajmere’s voice = BOMB! Dyed: Callisto ‘Need Ur Love’ A classic that’s back at the front of my crate, actually gonna be repressed on Apollonia later this year as a tribute to Callisto who sadly passed away this year. But if you can’t wait it’s also featured on our new compilation ‘fabric 70’ which is out now! Shonky: Dan’s remix of Peace Division ‘Club Therapy’, coming soon on Dogmatik. Old skool groove, hypnotic vocals, a winner for the summer!

If you could travel back in time to any year, what year would it be and why?

What is your craziest memory of an after party outside of a club?

Where are your favourite places to buy records? Old and New?

Ahhh too many and too crazy to say in The Scene ;) come to the next Apollonia afterparty to find out!

What new producers are catching your eye and what makes them stand out from the rest?

Djebali and his vinyl-only label (djebali)- Such a talented producer, everyone is going crazy for the new EP Djebali 07, check out ‘Sakura Park’.

1987, the year the Paradise Garage in New York closed. None of us ever went to these clubs, it’s still a myth to us. Imagine having one last dance to Larry Levan!

If you could choose just one BPM (Beats per minute) for your whole set then what would it be?

Well for Circoloco In The Arena is would have to be around 123, but honestly depends on the situation and crowd.

Syncrophone in Paris, Spacehall in Berlin, Gramophone in Chicago, Halcyon in Brooklyn

What is your favourite partying memory? (Doesn’t have to be DJing)

At the beginning of this year we played more than 13 hours together in Panorama Bar Berlin, now that was a good one! ;) Interview by John Reidy Follow Apollonia @ApolloniaMusic and catch the guys at CircoLoco In The Arena Sat 10th/Sun 11th August.

scene gallery

Model: Jordan Deleon-Taylor @ EVP Model Management Photographer: Tom Bennett

Dolce Vita @ The Rainbow Garden Photos by Akile Burgess Gorilla Media

SARF Car Park Rave Wolverhampton Photos by Tom Bennett

7INSEVEN Bike Launch for HHHO Photos by Jas Sansi Photography @JasSansi

Donate a mile & find out more: www.7inseven.co.uk

Broad Street Walk Of Fame with David Harewood MBE Photos by Jas Sansi Photography @JasSansi

Festival Birm inghams br an d new pop festival fusion

Fusion Festival

Acts wil l include JLS, McFly, The Wanted, The Saturdays, Wiley, Union J, Amelia Lily, Wretch 32, Conor Maynard and James Arthur, with Jessie J and worldwide superstar Neyo topping the bil l. Capital FM’s leading lady Jessie J will be heading to Birmingham this summer to headline Birmingham’s brand new pop festival Fusion. Capital is bringing Jessie to town with a host of other artists hot on the heels of her star performance at Capital FM’s annual extravaganza: the Capital FM Summertime Ball. Over 80,000 fans packed out the sold-out one-day event at Wembley Stadium in June to witness a record star-studded lineup of 21 acts. Fans saw performances from Jessie and Taylor Swift, Will.i.am, The Wanted and headliner Robbie Williams. US Superstar Justin Timberlake, the guest host for the evening, wowed fans with a surprise acoustic medley halfway through the show. And now, Capital is bringing some of its festival magic to Birmingham for the Fusion Festival at Cofton Park on August 31 and September 1 to round off the summer in style. Twelve of today’s biggest pop acts will take to the stage over two days, with an expected 60,000 music fans coming together for a huge weekend of pop at its very best. The festival will raise funds for the Prince’s Trust with £5 from each ticket sale donated to the charity which helps to change young lives all over the UK. Acts will include JLS, McFly, The Wanted, The Saturdays, Wiley, Union J, Amelia Lily, Wretch 32, Conor Maynard and James Arthur, with Jessie J and worldwide superstar Ne-yo topping the bill. Capital Breakfast’s Dan and Katy, who will host Fusion, caught up with Jessie J ahead of her biggest performance in Birmingham this summer to talk about how she was feeling. She said: ‘I’m just so excited. For there to be a new festival and to be in support of the Prince’s Trust which is an amazing foundation to be part of and to be alongside some great artists too – it’s going to be so much fun. I can’t wait!’ Not only will Capital’s Dan and Katy host the festival but they will also be bringing Capital FM listeners plenty of backstage gossip and interviews from the weekend. They said: ‘When we spoke to Jessie we asked her who she’d snog, marry or avoid from a choice of Union J, JLS or McFly. She did say she’d snog all of them so I guess we’ll have to keep you posted on what happens backstage!’

WIN a pair of tickets to Fusion Festival. Check out our facebook page for more details

fESTIVAL

HAVE YOU SEEN SCENE'S Festival Creatures? Illustration by Trav www.backdownwarchild.co.uk

R Teeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk Time with

rem

Tee's talk time Rem Conway, a talented actor from Birmingham, is the Founder and Director of his own production company, Graft Productions. Rem has played host, model & entertainer to many shows across the UK. He also featured in UK MC Kano’s music video ‘Beamer’ as well as starring in The Real Deal Comedy Jam- the UK’s biggest urban stand-up comedy show. His recent achievements include receiving the ‘Art Award’ at the Celebrating Youth Excellence Awards 2012 and also becoming an author of his first book, ‘Do you feel me?…The Mind Unleashed…’ What influenced your decision to write a book?

When the idea of ‘Do You Feel Me?’ came to me I was originally going to write it as a film but then my mind changed when I started writing ‘The Mind Unleashed’.

How did you find the writing process – has the experienced changed anything about you?

‘The Mind Unleashed’ was supposed to be a book of about 40 short stories but then after about ten stories I got bored and thought “Rem, 40 stories? Really? That is long”. It was then I decided to merge ‘The Mind Unleashed’ and ‘Do You Feel Me?’ into one book.

Definitely! Through writing this book I have learnt so much, not just about writing but about myself and the way my mind works. The writing process is harder than it looks, when you pick up a book you think it’s easy but it’s really not. It takes time and effort to make sure that everything is exactly how you want it to be. You’ve also got to think from the reader’s point of you which is so hard because you never know what the reader is going to think or who the reader is going to be.

I just feel like the ‘Do You Feel Me?’ story has a powerful message of not allowing what you’ve been through to determine what you go through; if that makes sense? And it also encourages the idea of leaving God to deal with those that do wrong against you instead of seeking revenge to get even.

Overall it was so fun, I enjoyed writing it because I connected with the characters in the book and I would literally talk about them like they were real people! I realised how beautiful writing is and I would encourage anyone to start writing, even if it’s a diary.

We love the use of a rhetorical question for the book’s title –‘Do you feel me?’ how did you come up with that – any particular inspiration behind it?

“Through writing this book I have learnt so much, not just about writing but about myself”

Well I wanted the title to not only link with the story and the book but to also have this young fresh feel to it. Sometimes I will talk to someone and at the end of my sentence I will say “Do you feel me?” which is a slang terminology for “Do you understand?” So I thought this might relate to young people. Also the story ‘Do You Feel Me?’ links with the title because in the book, the character Jonathan is blind and is literally feeling his way through life. It links with ‘The Mind Unleashed’ as well because I want people to feel the stories, as a lot of them were just my thoughts on what happens in society today.

For the last two years or so you have been heavily involved in various different areas’ including: acting, hosting, stand-up comedy and modeling, how did you find the time to commit to writing?

I won’t lie it was difficult! Very difficult. I am used to writing because I write plays and film scripts, but the book was quite long and it took a lot of thought. At the time I was writing it I had just moved to London, and I had a lot on my plate with drama school, auditions, meetings and shows, but I guess you just have to find time and get it done. There were times where I would be up until three or four in the morning just writing, but I knew in the end it will be all worth it.

There are often negative stereotypes surrounding young males in regards to reading and writing, especially in the Afro-Caribbean community. Do you believe your example can influence more young males to write books?

I hope so, I really do hope so. My main aim when writing this book was to influence more young people – especially young males – to read more. Knowledge is such a powerful weapon and a lot of knowledge is in books. Also I believe that everyone has a story to tell and everyone has a book inside of them and is capable of producing it. Why not write it? You never know who you might inspire or help; so I’d definitely love to see more males writing and reading books.

What’s next for you – do you have any more books in the pipeline? I hope so, I’d love to write another book, so once a strong idea comes to me I’ll get to work on it. I think for now though I’m just going to concentrate on producing my plays and shows, doing some motivational talks to young people and running Graft Productions. Interview by Talisha Johnson @teestalktime

MENs BEAUTy

bEAUTY

the evolution of

Male Grooming Before the disposable razor burst on to the scene in the 1960s, in 30,000BC there was the flint. This is what man used to shave, cut designs in his skin and ink them with colourful dyes. This was grooming. One way or another, grooming has been at the forefront of male culture since time began. The Ancient Egyptian civilisation of 3,000BC is a perfect example as it took great pride in grooming, so much so that barbers would shave the Egyptian kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with sanctified, jewel-encrusted razors. Upon a kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death, he would be buried with both so he could continue his daily shaves in the afterlife.

Last year, men spent ÂŁ35 on average a month on manly maintenance and up to 75 minutes a day in front of the mirror â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something which was completely unimaginable a few years ago.â&#x20AC;?

ncient Egyptians and war heroes like Alexander the Great helped give way to what has become commonly known as male grooming. Alexander and his men kept their hair short and clean shaven for every battle, so the enemy couldn’t pull on their beards when fighting. Because of this, men started grouping together for grooming sessions which helped give birth to what would become known as the barber shop - a place to be seen and heard in society. Fast forward into the early 20th century where grooming and the surge of Hollywood glamour really started to take off. Fashion conscious men now not only dressed the part, but they slicked their hair back with oils, smothered their skin with lotions and sported perfectly defined moustaches. It was now clear that men were revelling in grooming but there were still limitations – man’s wife would still have to pick up her husband’s trusty beauty products because of his fear that his peers would learn of his beauty secrets. By the end of the century a new type of man had started to emerge. He was happy to visit beauty salons, he liked shopping and he enjoyed taking pride in his appearance. And just like that, the phrase was coined and the ‘metrosexual’

was born. He had long been part of our culture, but it was only now that he was willing to shake off the stigma and enter society with his head held high. John Paul McGuirk, Private Shopper at Harvey Nichols in The Mailbox, has seen a big change in men’s attitude towards grooming over the last decade alone. “Last year, men spent £35 on average a month on manly maintenance and up to 75 minutes a day in front of the mirror – something which was completely unimaginable a few years ago.” Film stars, pop stars and even sports stars have all helped to pave the way forthe overtly groomed man. John Paul regularly works with many of the region’s top footballers. He said: “My clients take pride in regularly using moisturisers and toners or even having monthly facials. Footballers want to look good and take care of themselves too – the social stigma attached to male grooming really is athing of the past.

And it’s not just moisturisers and facials – maybe most surprising, one of the most popular beauty treatments for a man is brow shaping. John Paul continued: “Nearly 40% of customers at our in-store Benefit and Shavata brow bars are men, indulging in both waxing and threading.” It doesn’t stop there – fake tans, cleansers and anti-ageing products are all high on men’s shopping list, but John Paul tells us the proof really is in the packaging. “As men, whatever it is that we’re buying we still want it to look masculine – this dictates what we’ll buy. A lot of guys who shop here tend to go for brands like Elemis and Crème de la Mer, who both do great men’s ranges.” John Paul believes that the rise of the groomed man or ‘metrosexual’ is a positive thing and role models like David Beckham are helping to portray a positive image for men. He does however acknowledge that there is such a thing as over grooming. “Of course a man can be too groomed, but that’s not to say that you can’t be perfectly pampered and manly! As with anything, everything inmoderation. There’s a lot of choice out there now and men should be proud to look after themselves.” So whether you’ll be booking yourself a brow treatment or reaching for your manly moisturiser anytime soon, one thing for sure is that grooming has come a long way. While the basis of grooming hasn’t necessarily changed, men’s perception of what is acceptable for him certainly has. By lifting the lid on a jar of beauty treats, tricks and treatments, he has uncovered a world of delights that he just can’t keep his hands off – and why should he?

The thought of showing your body to people on the beach makes you want to book a summer holiday in the Antarctic right? Everyone wants a beach body but what does that mean? We asked TheClubAndSpaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Personal Trainer Luke Lincoln for his guide to the perfect beach body...

Beach

s ’ n l o c n i L u k e L perfect

Set goals - Without goals you can not monitor progress. Identify your problem areas; do you want to lose weight or tone up? Working this out will help you choose the right diet and exercise options for you.

guide to the

If you want to lose weight, you must change your diet. Working out will help with weight-loss by raising your metabolism, but exercise alone will not make you lose weight. If you want to tone up, focus your efforts on exercise and keep your calorie intake roughly the same.

Take a photo - Stand in front of a mirror in your underwear or tight clothing and take a photo. In 4 weeks time do exactly the same thing and see the difference! As a personal trainer I always take measurements as its great to see numbers decrease and increase in the right areas. Suggested places to measure- upper arm, chest, waist, hips and thigh.

Get shredded- cardio is a must to shed pounds, aim to do at least 4/5 30

minute cardio sessions a week this could be a fast pace walk, run or bike ride basically anything that raises your heart rate. If you are a member of a gym ask the fitness staff what classes are best suited for your goal. A class will motivate you a lot more as you are with a group of people Looking to accomplish the same things.

Resistance training- not only will this tone up your muscles it will raise

your metabolic rate which means you will be burning calories up to 48 hours after a workout. My advice is to keep it simple. Squats, lunges, press ups. Burpees and big movement exercises are best suited for the job. Try to aim for at least 2-3 30 minute resistance training sessions a week.

Nutrition - Reduce your calorie intake. The most effective way to lose weight is to reduce the amount of calories you eat in a day. The amount of calories you need to lose weight will depend on your height and weight. To find your ideal daily caloric intake, try using an online calorie calculator.

Write down what you eat - Did you know that people who keep food diaries lose more weight than those who don’t? Seeing your eating patterns on paper helps motivate you to eat the right things at the right times. Eat well - Chicken, fish, and turkey are protein-rich foods. Fruit and vegetables are rich in essential vitamins, help fill you up, and improve the appearance of skin. Eliminate junk food and sweets. Choose healthier options like fruit, peanut butter, honey, and dark chocolate to curb your craving. Drink water - Drink at least 2 litres of water per day. This will keep you hydrated, keep you feeling full and give you energy.

Don’t skip breakfast - Eating a healthy breakfast will help jump-start your metabolism, and will provide you with the energy you need throughout the day.

Avoid eating late at night - Your metabolism is slowing down and preparing for sleep. For a better nights sleep drink a warm drink before bed rather then that cheeky cheese on toast

Body

Keep motivated- Buy a dress or t-shirt you want to look good in! Keep it in view so you can see it everyday and remind yourself what you are working toward. The money you save on takeaways and alcohol, save it and put it towards some new clothes or spending money for your summer holiday! The biggest battle is keeping up a constant routine. Yes you want a beach body but also look at the bigger picture. If you want to lead a healthy and positive lifestyle, exercise and healthy nutrition is mandatory! Make time by waking up a little earlier. Swapping the sofa for a bike and using your feet instead of the car for short journies. Most importantly- Have fun with it! Find out more about Birmingham’s exclusive Club and Spa: www.theclubandspabirmingham.co.uk

bEAUTy

o t t e s get

GLOW With holiday season on the horizon, the temperature is rising and summer’s perennial beauty trend of tanning gets a sophisticated revamp. Referenced at runway shows from House of Holland to MaxMara and Alberta Ferretti, skin was given a healthy glow with subtle highlights and softly burnished bronze contours, whilst eyes were accented with sepia tones and gleaming golds. Choose lightweight cream or liquid based formulas for the face such as Chanel Bronze Universel to contour and Topshop’s All Over Glow for a radiant dewy finish. Nude still rules for nails this season – top up with striped shades of taupe to complement sun-kissed summer style.

Written by Ami Streets

Model: Tabatha @ Boss Model Management Makeup: Rebecca Frances Hair: Dale Hollinshead @ Dale Hairdressing Nails & Words: Ami Streets @ LMC Worldwide Styling: Lizzy Gardner Photographer: Garazi Photographers assistant: Molly Davis Makeup Assistant: Laura Walton

£65

Summer Sanctuary. £65pp for a Relaxing Summer Spa Day. Choose from one of the following treatments: • Relaxing combination massage • Prescriptive facial • Shellac two week manicure • Full body scrub and back massage Includes full use of thespa facilities and a light lunch. Available Monday to Friday. For more information or to book, call thespa on 0121 643 2200 or visit www.theclubandspabirmingham.co.uk

model- yasmin de christie Make Up – Danni Smith Using MAC Cosmetics and Kiss USA Lashes – Info@makeupbydanni.com Hair – Stephanie Hayes Photography and Retouch – Matt Bird www.mattbird.net

brands we love

Brands we love

AN interview WITH PAULiNAH EbOH SAMPSON OWNER OF DANCING DOLLs What is the concept behind the name of Dancing Dolls and how did it come about?

As the brand name would have you believe Dancing Dolls was going be specifically for dance wear. By the time I decided to set up a clothing line I had already started making costumes for dancers and performers who I had been in contact with from my performing arts background- I wanted to keep that customer base and intended to run Dancing Dolls alongside a mainstream line. Having had a good first response to the initial instalment of the line when a chance opportunity to have DDUK pieces shot by a photographer for free, I jumped and looked at ways to make the one time dance wear brand more fashion forward. I created my first collection â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Doll Dominationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; around a certain cream hooded swimsuit and the response for the line went from good to great and the Dancing Dolls as it is today was born.

brands we love You recently had the amazing opportunity of showcasing your Brand at Miami fashion week! What was that experience like?

It was an amazingly inspiring, proud moment, yet an equally frustrating, lonely, emotionally, mentally and physically draining experience. It was so surreal to be there, not just representing Dancing Dolls UK, but Birmingham and the UK in general. I don’t think I got a chance to take it all in whilst I was there, I was just on auto pilot. It wasn’t until after my runway show, to hear such a positive response about the collection, I actually began to relax. It was weird, hearing these industry people talking about my clothing line which I started sewing in my bedroom, wanting to work with me- the inner city born chick from the other side of the world.

Your SS13 collection is called ‘Finally Exhaled’, compared to some of your previous collections which are visually quite tough with the use of spikes and eyelets, ‘Finally exhaled’ is very feminine and fresh using a neutral colour palette and has an organic presence about it. What was the inspiration behind this and why did you choose to go in this direction?

It’s great to hear that the message I was trying to convey translated into the collection. I always wonder if my collections make sense to other people other than myself! I decided to go into this direction because I definitely wanted to present the line with a slightly different angle. I don’t want my work to seem safe and predictable. But, more than anything, it felt like the right time- I no longer needed to have my armour up, to be tough or defend myself and my line. I’ve always felt like I knew what I wanted to say about what the brand was about but just didn’t feel like it had been heard. With each collection prior, I was telling Dancing Dolls story- this collection almost felt like I was closing the first chapter of Dancing Dolls.

How long does it take for you to come up with a concept for a collection and then go through the process of putting it together? I’m always careful with collection concepts for Dancing Dolls simply because there are some many people who don’t seem to look further than the brands title, so automatically have a lot of preconceived ideas about what the brand is about. For all the collections I have created so far I have started by deciding on what I want to portray about the brand. The collections tell the story about the brands aesthetic development.

Not sure how I will go about finding the inspiration for future DDUK collection now that I’ve ‘Finally Exhaled’- I think I have told the brands story now! (Laughs) So if people still don’t know, they better get to know! Once I have the concept in mind it will vary as to how long the contents of the collection will come together. Some days I’m just doing nothing and get inspired by a thought, an idea, or a shape and can start making notes or scribbling super rough sketches. Other days I want my creative mind to get in motion, spending forever on a design idea I have in my head, for it to not come together at all!

Looking at your collections the brand produces an array of designs from dresses, to jumpsuits and swimwear, what is the

‘Dancing Dolls’ signature style that would make it identifiable to consumers?

Despite me swearing blind that I am not going to spend the eternity it takes to individually apply the decoration eyelets which continually keep appearing in my collection, or create another hooded ensemble, the response from the Dancing Dolls customers and the suggestions from the social media followers mean those two elements are now synonymous to the line.

What do you think is the hardest thing about being a Fashion designer?

I think being a fashion designer is not actually the hard part- I think the hardest part is understanding that this is the smallest part of creating a fashion brand. Your fashion designer title gets submerged into all the other aspects of making your line work, which depends on how well you can manage the BUSINESS side of fashion. This is what validates that creative title. It’s hard as a creative to express your vision, from the hair, the make-up, the shoes and the accessories that will compliment your creation, in a way that people can buy into, yet you must in order to make your work sustainable.

Many people argue that as a brand or designer that London is the place to do fashion, how do you as a Birmingham based designer respond to views like that?

I think with the ease and accessibility of the internet it doesn’t matter where you are based as a fashion designer. In terms of networking opportunities- yes- the most fulfilling and lucrative ones are in London, where the chance to participate in the fashion forward hubs like Portbello, Spitfields or Camden, as well as other industry events/seminars etc are so easy to access. All of these things are great, but the London commercial rent rates aren’t so great...neither is the cost of living. If there is an event that is of great importance to go to as a designer, then you should be there! No city borders should stifle your creativity and determination.

If you could design for anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Former pussycat doll Kimberley Wyatt- She soooo totally represents Dancing Dolls UK. Also, Gwen Stefani- I could just see her as a DDoll!

What does the future hold for ‘Dancing Dolls’, expansion, more shows?

I’m actually looking to do fewer fashion shows, and feel more ready to do more wholesale, so will be looking for more potential stockists for the line. So, any buyers out there looking for a urban, sexy chic women’s’ swim & ready-to-wear line, hollllaaa!

What advice would you give to any aspiring fashion designers? - Understand what your brand is about; who your customer base is.

- Protect your brand: people will continually ask you to get involved with many projects, which may not be really beneficial to your brand. It’s okay not to take part in a whole heap of fashion shows, especially if there are no guarantees on whether the attendees are in the audience. You may not produce garments that are visually ‘wow’ on a runway so is a fashion show for you? - Don’t be afraid to take your time to get it right before presenting your work....and get lots of work experience!

Interview by Shara Johnson

Fashion Designer, Styling Assistant and Freelance Fashion Writer

I think being a fashion designer is not actually the hard part - I think the hardest part is understanding that this is the smallest part of creating a fashion brand

W W W . TA G G E R . C O . U K

T ir e d Of B or i ng B ac k pac ks & M e ss e ng e r B ags ?

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London UK, International fashion accessory company have announced the launch of a brand new UK website, providing customers from the UK with the opportunity to take advantage of the exclusive and unique service. The launch of the latest 'Tagger' website further extends the brands online presence which is already well established across the globe.

As well as having a clear sense of style, Tagger bags have multi-functional features including pockets and flaps for MP3 players, headphones, laptops and tablets. They come fully-lined with a uniquely designed 360° zip or buckle fastenings. As an alternative to buying a ready-made backpack or messenger, customers to the new website are given the option to choose their own bag style, which includes a choice of straps, fronts and flaps.Once their bag design has been chosen, customers can to thechoose new website givenfor the option then a colourare scheme their bag,to choose their own bag style, which includes a choice of straps, fronts andcreating flaps.Once their unique bag design has been effectively a one-off, fashion piece! Tagger bags chosen, customers can then choose a colour scheme have another exclusively unique feature, which is the ability to for their bag, a range of interchangeable extras such as flaps, swap around fronts and straps. This allows fashion conscious purchasers to effectively a one-off, unique fashion piece! update andcreating customise their bags whenever Tagger have another exclusively unique they like bags to create a whole new look! feature, which is the ability to swap around a range of interchangeable extras such as flaps, fronts and ‘Tagger’ is a multi-national company originating from Holland straps. This allows fashion purchasers to across the in 2003. They’re now sellingconscious designyour-own bags update andhave customise their bags whenever they likerecognised world and been directly approached by globally to create a whole new look! brands such as MTV, Crocs and even Disney, to create and produce limited edition bags specifically for them! The brand new UK ‘Tagger’ multi-national company fromestablished website isisathe newest edition to anoriginating already well Holland in 2003. nowUSselling designyouronline presence in They’re Europe, the andacross Asia. own bags across the world and have been directly approached by globally recognised brands such as MTV, Crocs and even Disney, to create and produce limited bagsorspecifically them! Thevisit brand To find edition out more to make aforpurchase, new UK website is the newest edition to an already well established online presence in+44 Europe, the 289 US 7020. www.tagger.co.uk or telephone (0)203 andacross Asia.

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“At Tagger, we have been focusing on designing, manufacturing and selling the coolest, customisable and interchangeable messenger bags and backpacks in the world. Our new site allows customers to view and design their bag in real time” Having worked to combine functionality with style in producing their 'design-your-own' messenger bags and backpacks, 'Tagger' designs have been influenced by popular culture, including music and modern art. As a result, they now offer high-fashion, modern designs but also provide a unique option to create a plain design. As well as having a clear sense of style, Tagger bags have multi-functional features including pockets and flaps for MP3 players, headphones, laptops and tablets. They come fully-lined with a uniquely designed 360° zip or buckle fastenings. As an alternative to buying a ready-made backpack or messenger, customers

To find out more or to make a purchase, visit www.tagger.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)203 289 7020.

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artist spotlight

Food review

Situated in 16 countries, including 94 restaurants in the uk, is Wagamama, a unique Japanese inspired restaurant combining fresh and nutritious food with high-quality service and value for money. Established in 1992 in London’s Bloomsbury, Wagamama has unleashed a new dining experience for the UK’s vast oriental food loving army! Now in 2013, the restaurant aims to get fresh and spicy with the launch of their new spring-summer menu. Scene Birmingham sent our team to test some of the delicious new additions, promising to give your taste buds a mouthwatering experience as well as a satisfied stomach! The menu consists of a spectacular array of specially selected six new dishes and two inventive fresh juices. We began the evening with the refreshing juices, mango, apple and orange juice and strawberry, apple, orange and mint juice. For those of you who fancy indulging in a fruity experience this summer, the mango, apple and orange juice blend the exquisite tasting Indian mango, the Alphonso with zingy apples and oranges for a burst of juicy goodness leaving you to feel revitalized and ready to go! Steve Mangleshot, wagamama executive chief commented: ‘Inspiration for the spring summer menu came after several trips trying different cuisines and interesting ingredients all around Asia. With our new dishes and juices we’ve got something new for all wagamama diners to fall for this summer.’ Delving into the next menu choice of side dishes, the chef returned with the beef lettuce wrap and a selection of summer rolls filled with marinated chilli beef and the

other with miso chicken combined with shredded carrot, coriander and mooli wrapped in a delicate rice paper. These Vietnamese style wraps were also served with a wagamama specialty of mildly spiced chilli and coriander dipping sauce - which compliments the meal perfectly. Next to grace our table was the nourishing miso salad bringing the salad eating experience to life with a choice of shredded chicken or warm flaked salmon mixed with an authentic assortment of seaweed, wasabi rocket, goma wakame and creamy wasabi mayonnaise dressing. This colorful summer salad dish allows you to embark on a glorious adventure with crunchy textures and creamy richness. The selection of salads also include the vibrant vegetarian bean and glass noodle salad flavoured with wasabi dressing and garnished with red pepper, butternut squash and zingy tomatoes. As for the mains, Wagamama introduce a well-known recipe of the ‘hot and spicy’ tom yum soup, complimented with tangy coconut and lemongrass broth served with rice noodles and topped with a choice of stir-fried chicken or prawns. As well as a new dining experience, Wagamama’s new additions bring something for all taste buds this Summer. Why not stop off for a quick lunch or an evening out with friends? For more information on all new dishes for this summer, visit wagamama.com

n o ĂŠ L a

th n o m e th f o l i a t k c o C

cocktail of the month

L h o O

A refreshing new take on the classic punch! The mix of fruit flavoured liqueurs complement each other excellently creating the perfect summer cocktail! What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need:

Midori Creme De Mure (Blackberry) Razberri Stoli Rubican Passionfruit Juice One Tall Glass Strawberry to garnish

Method:

Add 12.5ml Midori, 12.5ml Mure and 25 ml Stoli to glass. Fill rest of glass with passionfruit juice. Add Ice to cocktail shaker and shake well. Serve into long glass with ice. Garnish with a strawberry.

Price: ÂŁ6.95 Find this cocktail at Stirlings Bar, Ludgate Hill, St Pauls Sq, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham B1 3DW

Interview

KBsides aka Kaos is one of Birmingham’s best DJs. On the scene for over 10 years spanning house, garage, bassline and back to house again. Nuvo’s resident Saturday night DJ talks to SCENE about how he has made DJ’ing a full time career with the expansion of his Bsides Workshops in schools across the City...

Tell us about how you first started in the scene?

In my area growing up we weren’t really into football or sports, for me and my friends it was all about music! We grew up listening to hip hop, jungle and then DnB and garage. We’d play old Hysteria and Pure X tape packs and spit lyrics then we started taking mics to house parties I began to build a bit of recognition through the MCing which led to bookings at underground garage events across Brum.

So how did you go from MC to DJ?

The garage scene got flooded with MCs, at the time, DJs were getting more respect and definitely more money! So i decided to make the swap, i bought a pair of 1210’s & a STACK of Vinyl and got practicing for 3 months straight! After a first night hiccup and some more practicing I bedded in and got myself some bookings!

When did you make the switch to Bassline?

In around 2000 I had a residency at the old Rosies in Solihull, I had been playing Garage for a fair few years and I started to incorporate some 4x4 tracks into my sets to keep it fresh, this got me some bigger bookings in town. Over the course of the next few years my sound developed into bassline. By 05 / 06 I was running my own events around Birmingham, I had a residency on Silk City Radio which was followed by bookings at the big Bassline events (Niche, Hanky Panky, Matsers Of Bassline, Download, Urban Exposure etc) across the country; particularly up North. From Nottingham to Leeds, Sheffield to Manchester and even a few in London; I feel I was definitely one of the leading bassline DJs.

With it all going so well, what made you want to progress into house?

I remember playing a set in Deansgate Locks, Manchester and they were not feeling the bassline - I switched it up and played a house set - they loved it! At the same time UK funky house was breaking through so I started incorporating that into my house and bassline sets. That transgressed to more soulful and deep house and got me to where I am now! I left the baseline scene at its peak, I knew it wasn’t for me anymore but I have some great memories from some amazing bookings, so - no regrets!

So how did the Bsides DJ workshops come about?

From a young age I got involved with Crush - a community arts agency who recruited me from my youth club! I worked for them at various schools and community groups learning about how to talk to students from all walks of life, how to teach the DJing craft and pass on the skill sets I had learned myself. Over the years Crush disbanded but I knew what I was doing was beneficial to these kids. I used my reputation and connections from the years and eventually the Schools began to approach me directly and so I set up my own thing and took it from there…

Are the students any good?

Genuinely; with hard work on their part, I can get them from complete beginner to club standard within a year. From year 7 they get to play sets at their school events and parties, that’s just the beginning! One of my students, a 14 year old pupil who DJs by the name

Ibz had his first paid booking this weekend at a year 11 School Prom out of the City! It was a huge deal for him! People are shocked when I show them videos of my students and the level of their skills. Honestly, they would put most of Brum’s biggest names to shame with their mixes!

Tell us about the funding bid?

We got the good news that our funding bid had been granted a month ago. Since then we’ve been putting steps into place that will see the workshops branching out to over 10 schools within the Solihull area initially and then hopefully even more. It’s a huge deal for Bsides and something I’m really proud to be running.

What’s the future for the Bsides Workshops?

It’s taken nearly 10 years of grafting to reach this point where the Bsides workshops are a full-time career for me outside of club DJing. Obviously I’m not planning to be DJ’ing in clubs for the rest of my life, the workshops allow me to continue to be part of something I love whilst providing a reliable income and future. In the future, BSIDES will become an agency consisting of my best students. I’m already teaching them fully about the industry and of course its politics!

What has been your favourite booking?

I played in Gambia for As It Is TV a couple of years in a row from 2008 - 2010. They were great events, all night beach parties and the Bristol group really know how to party!I ‘ve also loved everytime I played in Ibiza, the atmosphere is second to none. It truly is the House Capital of the World.

What would you say your sound is now?

Deep and Soulful house. Your In House Volumes seem to be getting a lot of recognition, where can we hear them? Yeh, I started the In House Volumes a few years ago, I released Volume 1 back in 2010, Jan 1st; it was like my fresh start! I put other stuff out too but always house focused. They’re all on my soundcloud (search Bsides Online on soundcloud.com)

Where can the readers catch you playing in Brum?

I have a residency at Nuvo in Brindley Place every Saturday. I kick the night off from 10pm in the Cocktail Lounge, good vibes and strawberry daiquiris; you can’t beat it! You can also see me popping up at different events from time to time in Bushwackers, The Laurent Perrier Bar, Mechu, Bambu, Sobar, etc.

Did you enjoy making your debut at Global Gathering?

Yeah, it was brilliant, it was a fantastic experience and it was great to see so many other brummies on the line up too including Hannah Wants, Micky Slim and Marc Spence. I hope to be asked again next year.

Catch K on Twitter and Facebook: ‘KBsides’ www.bsidesonline.net Interview by Jess Slater Follow Jess @TheJessRabbit

KBSIDES

Interview

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sh a deS of birmingham

Last year the nation went into a frenzy when 50 Shades Of Grey shot to the top of the book charts and got everyone talking about a very saucy character called Mr Grey! Here in Birmingham, one man from Sheldon, who can not be named for legal reasons took it upon himself to rewrite his own version of the book on Facebook and base it on his hometown and his own upbringing in our city. SCENE Birmingham’s Sophia Blakey and I approached ‘Shades’ for an interview as the page entertained us and grew to an amazing 17,000 likes in just 3 weeks. Now, a year later Shades has not only grew the page to a whopping 50,000 likes but he has also released 2 paperback books with another one due out very soon! Admittedly we know Shades can be crude, rude and vile at times but one thing is for sure, what he has achieved in the last 12 months is pretty inspiring to say the least! Like him or loathe him, his determination to turn this into a business has paid off and we are more than happy to share his journey...

It’s been a year now since you started the page. Can you explain to us how it went from just a fun, light-hearted Facebook page to what it is today?

I started the page as a joke to have a bit of banter after I saw my misses was reading Fifty Shades of Grey. As you know it took off very quickly and I had a massive interaction on the page. People were asking me when the book was coming out so I looked into doing this. Initially I was just going to do a Kindle version but after putting the paperback as a Pre Order on my website it sold over 1000 copies within a few days so we decided to look into publishing a paperback version.

At what point did you decide that you were going to turn this into something you could earn money from?

I never actually made a decision to turn it into a business as such. The first website was set up because I was conscious I needed somewhere to sell the paperback from. During the building of that site I decided to include a forum and a chat room so people from the page could interact with each other. I thought that was a good way for them to keep themselves entertained when I was too busy at work to get involved on the page. Once the site was launched and we had over 1,000,000 hits in 3 days and I had people messaging me to advertise on the page so that’s what we started doing.

50. 50. 50. 50. 50. 50.

It’s been a year now since you started the page. Can you explain to us how it went from just a fun, light-hearted Facebook page to what it is today?

At what point did you decide that you were going to turn this into something you could earn money from?

Were you nervous about what people would think about the first book and how have people responded to the second?

I was very nervous about releasing the “Shades’ Story” book. I was working on it at every opportunity I had to try and get it complete as quickly as I could. I never had no ‘story board’ and was literally working from my head. I would read the last few chapters from where I had left off and continue writing. When my partner was reading through a printed copy before it was sent to printers I was upstairs in the bath and I could hear her laughing downstairs so I knew it must have been OK. When it launched on Amazon for Kindle I used to log in every day to see if any reviews had been left and when they started getting left with “5 stars” I was over the moon. It has had a few poor reviews but even now it is still rated at “4.8 stars” and has held the No. 1 spot on the Parody chart at various times since its launch in November last year. Our Ang’s Story was released in March this year and went straight in to the No. 1 spot on the Amazon gParody Chart and also holds a very respectable “4.9 star” rating. The second book is based on the same timeline as Shades’ Story but it is written from Our Ang’s point of view. Both books start and finish in the same place and it finished on a “cliff hanger” so I have had many people messaging me asking me when book 3 is out so they can conclude the story!

Where do your inspiration and your determination come from?

My Dad was a massive inspiration to me growing up. He was a hardworking, dedicated family man but he taught me that if you wanted something out of life you had to put something in. He would always say “No one is going to knock the door with an opportunity Son; you have to go out there and make opportunities”. I have been employed by the same company for almost 20 years and I have worked hard and been committed and dedicated to my job and have progressed through the ranks throughout my career with them. When this page took off and the feedback was “When’s the book coming out” I never once thought ‘there isn’t a book?’ I thought ‘I need to see how you write and release a book’ and that’s what I done.

My inspiration comes from three places- Firstly my own family which consists of a misses and five children. I want them to be proud of me, proud that I achieved something in my life and I believe I have done that. If they grow up knowing you have to work hard to achieve then I have fulfilled a big part of my role as a parent. Secondly I like to feel like I have achieved something with my life. I have put many hours into the 50 Shades of Birmingham Project and every time I read a review or get an inbox message telling me how much they enjoyed the books and how it helped them through a difficult time, I feel immensely inspired. Finally, my Dad, he always said, for as long as I can remember “I could write a book about my life” and he really could have. When I was presented with this opportunity, I grasped it with both hands and dedicated every spare second I had to it to get the first book written and published.

How many people know your true identity and would you ever reveal yourself?

Lots of people know who I am. There are over 150 of my Facebook friends who also follow the page. I have thought long and hard about whether to do a ‘reveal’ but I honestly think the page is better without people knowing who I am. I’m not embarrassed about being known, I just think that peoples’ curiosity helps the page be what it has become.

Your fan base is huge and of course there a lot of them are really supportive but have there been any fans or comments in particular that have really made you laugh?

There have been many posts that have made me laugh. Right from the start there has been a daily interaction on the page, people commenting on my posts, writing on the page wall, sending inbox messages. Trish and Berni, two ‘regulars’ could quite easily have their own double act. Berni is very dry but makes me laugh and Trish is very quick and comes out with the sort of thing I thought only I could come out with. That said many people comment on the status’s every day and I always try and read through all of them. One inbox that especially made me laugh was from someone telling me that I wasn’ t just one bloke, I was working for a large publishing house and there was no way one person could have achieved what I had in such a short space of time. That actually made me realise just how hard I had worked to achieve what I had.

You also have a lot of ‘haters’ and people who don’t support the page because of its, shall we say controversial content. Do you think you can overstep the mark sometimes?

I have a very broad maybe even ‘dark’ sense of humour. I find most things funny even if I don’t like the subject. If I don’t I move on. The one thing that the page has demonstrated, in my opinion, is how people pick and choose the things they will laugh at. The amount of times people have commented saying “Shades, I normally find you really funny but this is out of order because it’s personal to me”. The point is nearly all jokes have someone mocked and if you choose only to laugh at things that are not personal to you then you maybe shouldn’t be laughing at the things that are not because they are personal to someone. So in answer to your question, No I don’t think I do ha ha!!

What else have you got in the pipeline?

I have some very interesting exciting projects that I am working on. Book 3, ‘Back in the day’ is due out in the next few weeks and then I will take a rest from writing for a while. I’m not sure if there will be any more books, that said I still have plenty to write about and it would be a shame not to share it.

I am also working with a great team of people on two charity singles. We plan to release Shades’ Song and Our Ang’s Song on the same day on the iTunes chart and ALL proceeds from both will go to prostate cancer, which my Dad had and cervical cancer. If they are anything like successful then I plan on releasing a “50 Shades of Unsigned Birmingham Artists” album. There is some fantastic undiscovered talent in Birmingham and if I can use the page to help them achieve something then that’s an added bonus to me and everyone else involved. I am very keen on writing a script for a film or a TV series and this is something I will start once the two songs are complete and released. I actually think the 50 Shades of Birmingham books would convert into film brilliantly and could be a very funny film. Finally I would like to write some children’s books using my own children for ideas and inspiration. The truth is I have a million ideas running though my tiny mind so I don’t know what’s in the pipeline until I start something.

What has been your highlight and lowlight of the past year?

There are too many highlights to pick just one. The first was when Scene Birmingham contacted me to do an interview after only 3 weeks of the page being launched! That made me stop and think about how widespread the page had gone in a very short space of time. Going to the printers to collect the first batch of Shades’ Story was a special day. I remember looking at all the boxes and thinking “As if I have written a book!” The response to the book was amazing and made me feel very pleased with myself. I have had inbox messages from many people thanking me for making their day a little brighter, people who have lost parents, or their partners are being treated for cancer! That blows my mind every time. I have used the page to put out posts for missing people, missing dogs etc. and some have been found as a direct result of my post and only a few weeks ago I received an inbox message from someone asking if I could post a message for someone who was searching for their dad who they had not seen for 21 years. Within a few hours of the post going up I had received an inbox with a possible address, I passed it on and the girl has since met up with her Dad and new brothers and sisters. That’s a fantastic feeling! And after repeated ‘bans’ from Facebook, I launched my own social networking site, www.youcantoffend.me. I had worked on this project for almost nine months before it was finally launched back in April and when I log in every day it’s a bit weird to think you and 1000’s of people are using a site you created. This past year has given me many highlights. The lowlights.... The biggest was the day I got the first books from the printers and I sat with one in my hand wishing I’d had the opportunity to go and give a copy to my Dad. That is the only lowlight really, it’s been hard work, I’ve struggled to balance work, 50 Shades of Birmingham and my family but it has all been worth it. Not many people write a book in their lifetime, I have written three in 12 months..... It’s a mad world we live in but it proved to me everything my Dad told me was true. It proved to me that hard work and determination will give you results!!

Find out more about Shades and buy all three books at www.50sob.co.uk. Follow Shades on Twitter @Mr50SoB and LIKE him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Mr50sob

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