FREE
ISSUE 11 6 june/july 2015
BLOOD, SWEAT & BEERS PLUS: FESTIVAL SPECIAL | ENTER SHIKARI | HECTOR BIZERK | GRADUATE ADVICE
WIN TICKETS TO THE BEST FESTIVALS !
Contents. 10
FESTIVALS 24
Our festival guide showcases this summer’s best events across music, arts, culture and food with tickets to be won!
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ISSUE 116 JUNE/JULY 2015
ENTS 61
If you’re giving festivals a wide berth, sink your summer into addictive games, uplifting film and a suitcase full of books.
MUSIC 40
STYLE
CAREERS 69
LIFE
Hear from festival frontrunners as well as Scotland's freshest acts who are destined for the main stage.
It’s graduation! But what’s next? Hear from the graduates that turned their degrees into a dream careers.
Wellies + sunglasses + layers = crackin’ festival fashion. This year's wardrobe is all about being effortless.
Discover Scotland's best summer activities outside of the festival arenas (and win tickets to Go Ape too!)
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his month’s Editor’s letter almost didn’t make the cut, as frankly, I’m pooped. For the past two months I’ve been unable to unstick my ear from the phone as I embarked on the quest to make sure that hunners of you get to enjoy this festival season for FREE.
THE BIG INTERVIEW. Page 6
EDITOR’S LETTER
Roll up for a mammoth edition of ticket giveaways for: T in the Park, Wickerman, Belladrum, Leeds, High Definition, Bestival and *takes breath* och, you can read on and find out for yourselves. So flick forward and fill your summer calendar to the brim with festival fun, but I guess not a lot of washing. For some of you it’s the end of an era, and time to throw your hat in the air – it’s graduation! But what on earth happens after you’ve handed your scroll and pretended to be a dementor in your gown? The question mark at the end of the summer is not as ominous as it sounds. Hear from some of Scotland’s most successful grads and learn how they took their degrees and tranformed them into dream careers. But that’s all you’re getting out of me, I’m away for good old catnap before I start to concoct another tremendous (even if I do say so myself) issue. See you in August! Zzzzz,
- Laura
Blackhurst
Publishers: Graeme Barratt / Anna Purdie • 0141 249 0901 • graeme@scotcampus.com Editor-In-Chief: Laura Blackhurst • laura.blackhurst@scotcampus.com Content Executive: Michael Edwards • michael.edwards@scotcampus.com Contributors: Amy Anderson, Kym Ballantyne, Rachel Coburn, Anne Devlin, Mina Green, Stephanie Hunter, Cassam Looch, Lucy Jarman, Erin Kennedy, Anna McAlpine, Shauna McGregor, Sophie McNaughton, Jonny McIntosh, Ross Miller, Rachael Procter, Jonny Stone, Patricia-Ann Young
Business Development Managers: Cairo O’Neill • cairo.oneill@scotcampus.com Valerie Speers• valerie.speers@scotcampus.com Head Of Sales: Richard Mobbs • 0141 249 0903 • richard.mobbs@scotcampus.com Design: Louise Clifford • www.veriette.com General Enquiries info@scotcampus.com Scotcampus.com © Scotcampus
The
Measure. WE HAVE OUR GLOW STICKS AT THE READY FOR A SUMMER FULL OF MUSIC FESTS, TENT ASSEMBLING AND GLORIOUS SUNSHINE.
EXAM RESULTS FEAR
One minute we’re making New Year’s resolutions to study earlier, the next thing we’re eating five creme eggs in a oner, and now the exam period is over and we’re worried our lives are over because we watched all eight series of 24 on Netflix instead of studying. Eep. We honestly don’t know what happened.
NOT SHOWERING (FOR A WEEKEND)
Right, let’s admit it. Showering daily is a total faff. Especially if you have a mane that rivals Mufasa’s. Hoorah for festival season! The only time when it’s socially acceptable to skip showers for a whole weekend and live in a tent that smells of booze and body odour. And that’s the beauty of festivals… right?
FESTIVAL SEASON
It’s not long until you have to remember how to assemble a tent (or you could just use it as a blanket). That’s right, the golden months of summer are here which means your eardrums are about to explode with stellar moooooosic. So get those glow sticks at the ready - it’s time for headliners, slam tents, mosh pits and silent discos!
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THE BIG
INTERVIEW. ROYAL BLOOD
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A
fter an exhaustingly rock’n’roll couple of years playing the festival circuit, releasing an album and winning a BRIT Award, Brighton duo Royal Blood probably need a wee seat. Suffice to say, we were more than a little royally excited to chat to one half of Britain’s most exciting rock group - singer and bassist Mike Kerr - about the mystery behind their thunderous sound, getting merry in Scotland and why they’ve had enough of people asking them about being a two-piece.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING ‘BEST BRITISH GROUP’ AT THE BRITS BACK IN FEBRUARY. CAN YOU SUM UP THE MOMENT AND TELL US WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR HEADS? It was mad. The whole event was strange to be a part of, but it felt good to be "representing" rock’n’roll. We didn't expect to win, so it was an honour, even more of an honour collecting the award off Jimmy Page. WE BET THE REST OF THE NIGHT CALLED FOR A BIT OF AN AFTER PARTY, DID YOU DO ANYTHING TYPICALLY 'ROCK'N'ROLL'? Not really! We went to our record label party and it was the usual open bar, blaggers out in force kind of do. It was a late night, but pretty reserved. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND COUPLE OF YEARS FOR YOU WITH GLASTONBURY, READING AND LEEDS, JOOLS HOLLAND AND SUPPORTING THE FOOS ALL SQUEEZING IN, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY STAND-OUT HIGHLIGHTS? It's all been amazing, Glastonbury was a stand-out moment, the year before we'd been to the festival as punters, to come back a year later and play to a packed out tent was a real moment.
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We didn't expect to win, so it was an honour, even more of an honour collecting the award off Jimmy Page.
@SCOTCAMPUS
EVERYONE WANTS TO ASK YOU ABOUT BEING A TWO-PIECE ACT. IS IT A LITTLE BAFFLING FOR YOU BOTH THAT THERE'S SO MUCH ATTENTION AROUND THIS? YES. We're about done with answering the question “so why a two-piece?” I guess some people still find it novel – but it's not, there's been plenty of two-pieces stretching right back in history. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SONG WRITING DYNAMIC? IS IT A REALLY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS? Yes, we get in a rehearsal room and both come up with different ideas. We've been working on some new ideas and trying to grab some time in the studio to formulate them a little further with a view to recording later this year. ANY MAGICAL SECRETS THAT YOU CAN SHARE BEHIND MAKING YOUR THUNDEROUS SOUND? IT REALLY IS LIKE NO OTHER! HA! No not really, the pedal board is the mystery, but in reality people can work it out if they want to. Just turn everything up louder haha. YOU HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME; HOW DID YOU BOTH MEET AND HOW DID THE DECISION COME AROUND TO ACTUALLY FORM THE BAND? I met Ben at a talent show, Ben was performing and I fancied his girlfriend. We ended up playing in various bands together, wedding bands, and different instruments to what we play now. I went travelling to Australia and when I came back I got Ben to pick me up from the airport and we had our first rehearsal the next day, and our first show the day after.
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Ben is always drunk in Scotland, or has never slept in Scotland, it's one of the two – I think it's the latter.
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THERE'S A LOT OF TALK OF YOU BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF A 'ROCK REVIVAL'. DO YOU THINK IT'S TRUE THAT ROCK MUSIC NEEDS 'REVIVED' OR IS 'DYING OUT'? Something needs to be dead before it's revived. Rock’n’roll has never died. AFTER AN AMAZING T IN THE PARK PERFORMANCE, WE CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO COME BACK TO SCOTLAND, HOW DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING UP HERE? We love it! Ben is always drunk in Scotland, or has never slept in Scotland, it's one of the two – I think it's the latter. He always goes hard when he's up there.
Rock’n’roll has never died.
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DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE INDUSTRY AND WHO SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE GIVING UP? Believe in yourself. If you believe in what you're doing and are passionate about it then don't give up. But make sure you're having fun, as soon as you're not having fun then that's time to question it. LOOKING TOWARDS THE REST OF A JAMPACKED 2015, WHAT ELSE IS ON THE HORIZON FOR ROYAL BLOOD? We have a North American tour starting next week, then we're back for the UK Foo Fighters shows and European festivals before heading back to North America to support FF over there. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll get into the studio and begin work on the follow up. The latest album, Royal Blood, is available to buy now. Royalbloodband.com WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Your Guide To
Festival
Season 2O15.
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t’s the time of year to whip out your dry shampoo, rucksacks and cheap beer to prepare for baby wipe baths and treacherous trips to the dreaded loos – it's festival season! With a plethora of fests happening across Scotland and beyond, there’s sure to be an event or ten for you. Our festival guide showcases this summer’s best events for music, arts, culture and food. Here you’ll find dates, ticket prices and details of this year’s hottest weekends so forget holidaying on far-off coasts, and instead fish out your wellies for a summer in the UK’s best home-grown festivals. We have bucket-loads of tickets up for grabs so keep reading for your chance to win. Whether you want to get down and dirty in the muddy fields of T in the Park or nibble at the cakes and fancies at the Foodies Festival, we have you covered. So crack open a beer, throw on your sun specs, blare some banging tunes and get stuck into Scotcampus’ Festival Guide!
10 FESTIVALS
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
T in The Park. WHERE AND WHEN? STRATHALLAN CASTLE, 10TH-12TH JULY Tinthepark.com
This summer, T in the Park takes residency in the beautiful grounds of Strathallan Castle, the festival’s new home. Centrally located in the heart of the stunning Perthshire countryside, the Castle estate is a massive 1000 acres, surrounded by beautiful woodland that’s sure to make T in the Park a voyage of discovery! THE LINE-UP The stellar line-up features some of the world’s biggest bands, DJs, solo artists and hotly tipped breakthrough talent. Headliners Kasabian, Avicii, The Libertines and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds plus David Guetta, The Prodigy and Stereophonics will be joined by Sam Smith, The Script, Stereophonics, Rudimental, Twin Atlantic, Jamie T, Fatboy Slim, alt-J, Paloma Faith, Hozier, George Ezra, Annie Mac, Kodaline and many more!
WIN. 12 FESTIVALS
DON’T MISS
Check out ‘Refresh’, the festival’s pamper parlour that offers hair straighteners, hair washing stations, hair dryers, showers and flushing toilets. The festival’s global kitchen offers quality festival cuisine made from the finest fresh ingredients, with an emphasis on Scottish produce. Culinary delights include healthy grilled ostrich burgers, wood-fired pizza and fresh seafood from Loch Fyne! Camping? Tennent’s Lager’s popular Be Chilled service, which allows campers to pre-order chilled cans of Tennent’s Lager and Magners Original Cider at Tennents.com/bechilled, is a festival essential. TICKETS Make yourself at home by pitching your tent and be part of T in the Park history. Get your tickets at Tinthepark.com
THANKS TO FESTIVAL ORGANISERS DF CONCERTS AND FOUNDING PARTNER TENNENT’S LAGER, WE HAVE TWO PAIRS OF WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS PLUS BE CHILLED VOUCHERS TO GIVE AWAY! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
WIN.
THANKS TO THE WONDERFUL FOLKS AT BESTIVAL, WE HAVE A PAIR OF TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY! JUST VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON
SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
Bestival.
WHERE AND WHEN? ROBIN HILL COUNTRY PARK, ISLE OF WIGHT 10TH13TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 Bestival.net The award-winning four-day boutique music festival set within the surroundings of a beautiful, leafy country park (a veritable Garden of Eden!), returns to light up the heart of the Isle of Wight! THE LINE-UP We’re going to take a deep breath for this one, the immense line-up includes: The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Duran Duran, Rudimental, Skrillex, Annie Mac, Mark Ronson, Jungle, FKA Twigs, Gorgon City, Charli XCX, The Jacksons, Future Islands, Tame Impala aaaaand pages more of astronomical talent! Snap up your tickets at Skiddle.com DON’T MISS Slow Motion: the brand new arena dedicated to energising pursuits, from wild music runs and hugging llamas to euphoric yoga and rock climbing! A festival within a festival, Slow Motion is a realm of calm and hidden pleasures connecting the body and mind, all laid out on rolling grass with magnificent views. You had us at hugging llamas!
@SCOTCAMPUS
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Leeds Festival. WHERE AND WHEN? BRAMHAM PARK, 28TH-30TH AUGUST Leedsfestival.com
Prepare to bow down to the finest names in rock and beyond, as some of the most powerful artists in music grace the stage to blow Reading and Leeds into the stratosphere. Sharing the same bill, the two fests take place simultaneously over an entire weekend in the two locations – that’s pretty epic to pull off. Oh, and the kind folks at R & L have made sure it all takes place on a bank holiday weekend, so that’s an extra day to nurse your sore head. That’s dead nice of them, isn’t it? THE LINE-UP An incredible bill, as per, is headlined by Mumford & Sons, Metallica and The Libertines. Can we get a hellz yeah?
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You’re going to want to fist pump the air even harder, as joining the roster are phenomenal names including: Ms Dynamite, Alt J, Kendrick Lamar, Royal Blood, All Time Low, Twin Atlantic, Limp Bizkit, Deadmau5, Catfish and the Botttleman, Django Django, New Found Glory and Bastille. All that’s left to do is to master time-travel so we can be at all stages at once. DON’T MISS The sheer list of stages on offer. If you thought pulling yourself away from the Main Stage was going to be hard enough, you’d better start planning your itinerary. Choose from listening to urban beats at the BBC Radio 1Xtra stage, rocking out at the NME Stage, getting hardcore at The Lock Up & The Pit, moving to indie talent on the Festival Republic Stage, and throwing some shapes in the BBC Radio 1 Dance tent. Ooft.
WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH THE AWESOME LEEDS FEST CREW TO GIVEAWAY A PAIR OF WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
The Wickerman Festival. WHERE AND WHEN? DUNDRENNAN, 24TH & 25TH JULY Thewickermanfestival.co.uk
One of the UK’s best-loved independent music fests is now entering its 14th year! With nine stages featuring an eclectic mix of leading artists, alternative acts and up-and-coming talent, this summer party caters for all musical tastes. The festival site is a working farm in picturesque Dumfries and Galloway with rolling hills, lush forests and fresh country. It’s also the location where the classic 1973 The Wicker Man film was made! THE LINE-UP The festival is set to sizzle hotter than ever as The Waterboys and Tom Odell get set to take centre stage! And, get this: Lulu, Squeeze, Example, Jimmy Cliff, The Phantom Band, Hector Bizerk and Ela Orleans are ALL crammed onto the bill too. DON’T MISS
WIN. @SCOTCAMPUS
The unforgettable finale - where a towering 40ft Wickerman will be set spectacularly alight! WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH WICKERMAN TO OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF TWO PAIRS OF WEEKEND CAMPING AND CAR PARKING TICKETS! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
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Belladrum. WHERE AND WHEN? INVERNESS, 6TH-8TH AUGUST Tartanheartfestival.co.uk
DON’T MISS
Home-grown in the Highlands, Scotland's most inclusive festival of music and performing arts is back. 2015 marks its 11th year, and with 2014’s ‘Wildlife’ theme proving to be an absolute hoot (it was like a really loud, really busy version of The Lion King) we can’t to see how you take to this year’s Superheroes challenge. THE LINE-UP Of course there’s a mighty line-up to size-up to the theme: the Kasier Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers and oor very own The Proclaimers are set to headline, while The Stranglers, King Creosote, Fatherson, Honeyblood and Scotland’s hip hop faves, Hector Bizerk, will keep ye’ dancing until the coos come home.
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Treat yourself to a festival VIP experience by upgrading to the Hielan’ Coo Club for a beefed up Bella! Set in a beautiful woodland glade near to the Belladrum burn and close to the new glamping area, the HCC offers an exclusive enclosure where you can party, take a cat nap, or just chew the cud in comfort. Thought festival luxury was finding actual loo roll in the toilets? Think again. The VIP club provides posh loos, cocktails, comfy seats, free yurt sauna and massage, pamper parlous, home conveniences (running out of phone battery will be a thing of the past), a dancefloor, DJ programme, essential coffee supplies and juice bar. They had us at ‘posh loos’. Sure beats uncomfortable sleeps, unfeasible bed hair and questionable smells in a tent, huh?
WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH THE GOOD GUYS AT BELLADRUM TO OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE SOLD OUT FESTIVAL (AIN’T THAT GENEROUS?)! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
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WIN.
BE ONE OF THE FIRST EVER TO GET TO GROOVE FESTIVAL AND ENTER OUR COMPETITION TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS! JUST VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON
SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
Groove Festival. WHERE AND WHEN? LOCH NESS, 22ND AUGUST Groovefestival.co.uk
One night. One stage. One helluva party – Scotland’s iconic festival location is being brought back to life! Without a doubt one of the most breathtaking sites on the globe, Loch Ness is set to welcome the best DJs to the UK’s newest dance festival. THE LINE-UP Headlining the first outing is world-famous Electronic duo Groove Armanda in an exclusive Scottish festival appearance. Pioneering Belgian brothers David & Stephen Dewaele better known as 2 Many DJs will bring their electrifying presence, as will BBC Radio 1’s B.Traits, and subculture founders Harri & Domenic. Hold up! Tensnake and Eli and Fur have just been announced. Stay tuned for more colossal names on the website. DON’T MISS With a capacity of 5,000, you’re gonna want to make sure you’re able to say you were one of the first to soak up a fresh festival experience. Tickets are only £55 for day tickets or £75 to include camping. Just wait until you wake-up and see Nessie having a swim in the distance! (Disclaimer: Nessie sightings not guaranteed). @SCOTCAMPUS
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Sounds In The Grounds. WHERE AND WHEN? WARWICK CASTLE, 10TH-11TH JULY Soundsinthegrounds.com
Green will be your rap god for the evening. Make sure to catch cool chanteuse Ella Eyre too, who is quickly proving to be 2015’s rising superstar!
To be hosted in the spectacular grounds of Warwick Castle, this brand new event provides a great addition to a vibrant summer of festivals. Who doesn’t want to listen to top tunes while hanging next to a mighty castle?
DON’T MISS
THE LINE-UP The vivacity of the Kaiser Chiefs will wow the masses, while chart-topping boss Professor
WIN. 18 FESTIVALS
For her first ever festival appearance, Dubliner Lucy O’Byrne will be joining The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for Saturday’s show of classical performances. Appearing on 2015’s The Voice UK scored her a mentorship from will.i.am and Rita Ora. The evening will come to a grand crescendo with a fantastic firework display lighting up the idyllic castle.
IN CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST EVER FESTIVAL, WE HAVE A SHINY PAIR OF TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY FOR FRIDAY 10TH JULY! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON
SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
WIN.
WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH HIGH DEFINITION TO OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF TWO PAIRS OF TICKETS! JUST VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON
SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
High Definition. WHERE AND WHEN? HOP FARM, KENT, 5TH-6TH SEPTEMBER Hdfest.co.uk Delivering a jaw-dropping production accompanied by world class DJs to over 60,000 people over the last four years, High Definition is back to blow our eardrums, and the festival’s fifth birthday in 2015 is set to be the biggest yet. THE LINE-UP The combined sounds of unique house music, HD production, a crisp sound system and an obsessive attention to detail has made High Def an absolute staple of the summer festival diet. With a line-up as good looking as: Luciano, Rebel Sound, Sigma Live, Gorgon City, Sub Focus, Mark Knight, Ms. Dynamite and beyond, you’ll probably struggle to pull yourself away from the stage even just for a bathroom break. DON’T MISS This year’s new location at Kent’s Hop Farm promises a few wee surprises – including some last minute additions to the line-up. Even if camping’s not your thing, it is now, as the festival’s range of pre-pitched tents can be hired from just 30 smackers per person for the whole weekend. Hop to it! @SCOTCAMPUS
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Festival No.6. WHERE AND WHEN? PORTMEIRION, WALES 3RD-6TH SEPTEMBER Festivalnumber6.com
James Bay, Badly Drawn Boy, Mark Ronson, Young Fathers, Years and Years and Ghostpoet – and that’s just for starters.
Festival No.6 is an intimate, bespoke banquet of music, arts and culture taking place in the magical village of Portmeirion, home of the cult TV series The Prisoner. With a huge music, arts and cultural line-up, as well as new venues and Michelin-starred chefs, the forth fest is looking pretty fine!
The arts bill also features over 40 top performers such as Trigger Happy TV legend Dom Joly, poet Kate Tempest and seasoned music presenter Edith Bowman. Oh, and if that wasn’t diverse enough, you can catch a torch lit parade and aerial acrobats. Wowza DON’T MISS
THE LINE-UP Boasting the ‘Line Up of the Year’ award from the UK Festival Awards in 2014 (and shelfloads more of accolades), it’s clear to see why everyone and their granny (and their granny’s granny) make sure they’re in attendance. This year’s epic line-up includes: Belle and Sebastien, Grace Jones, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Metronomy, Everything Everything,
WIN. 20 FESTIVALS
Scottish author and complete boss, the incomparable Irvine Welsh, will be visiting the festival for the very first time! With millions of best-selling novels under his (presumably rather large) belt, including Trainspotting, Acid House, Filth, Ecstasy, Glue, Porno and Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs, you’d be a total bampot to miss the iconic writer appear at No.6 to read from his new book. Choose life!
AS IF THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH ON THEIR HANDS TO KEEP TRACK OF, THE AWFULLY GENEROUS FESTIVAL NO.6 FOLKS HAVE GIVEN US A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR ONE OF YOU TO WIN! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
WIN.
FANCY TAKING A TRIP TO CROATIA? OF COURSE YOU DO! WE HAVE A PAIR OF SIZZLING HOT TICKETS UP FOR GRABS! JUST VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON
SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
Outlook.
WHERE AND WHEN? FORT PUNTA CHRISTO, PULA, CROATIA 2ND – 7TH SEPTEMBER Outlookfestival.com Set in an abandoned 19th century fortress of dance floors, intimate spaces and passageways which look over the Adriatic Sea, Outlook unites some of the world’s finest purveyors of dub, reggae, hip-hop, drum‘n’bass, garage, grime, dubstep, house, techno and electronica and more across a spectacular weekend of music. Can we get a woop woop!? THE LINE-UP Now celebrating its 8th year, you won’t be surprised to learn that the line-up does not shine a spotlight the next 25 manufactured pop sensations but, alternatively, gives a platform to the likes of SBTRKT, Beenie Man, DMZ, Loxy & Ink, Bad Company UK and other magicians of music. DON’T MISS The Amphitheatre Opening Concert. Yep, it’s as immense as it sounds. Around 2000 years old and one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in existence, the Pula arena offers festival attendees a chance to party in one of the most surreal and beautiful places in the world.
@SCOTCAMPUS
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Foodies Festival.
WHERE AND WHEN? EDINBURGH INVERLEITH PARK 7TH-9TH AUGUST Tickets from £8 Foodiesfestival.com/edinburgh Get ready to start salivating - The Foodies Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Following last year’s success - which welcomed 34,000 foodies – the site is being expanded by 50%, making room for new food and drink theatres and a huge selection of street food to feast on. THE MENU Over 200 artisan producers will be selling awardwinning cheeses and condiments, jams and bakes, confectionary, cured meats and beyond. Feast on flavours from around the world with a selection of Japanese, Thai, Brazilian, Indian, Mexican, French and African food served from the Street Food Avenue. Outdoor cooking buffs can head to the BBQ Arena for the 'King of the Grill' cook-offs. But if that’s not hardcore enough for you, try the Chilli Eating Competition. If you beat last year's record of 14 chillies eaten (ouch), you’ll win the Chilli Eating Crown!
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Once you’re fully stuffed, there’s nothing left to do except collapse on the grass and soak up live music from the entertainment stage with a refreshing cocktail, glass of bubbly or a Pimm's from the Giant Pimm's Teapot or Galleon Mojito bars. DON’T MISS Bee Keeping, Oyster Shucking, Sushi Making and Foraging are just a few of the hands-on masterclasses you can try in the new Tasting Theatre. Chocolate addicts can get an instant hit in the Cake & Bake Theatre, which offers 3D cake modelling, Chocolate Making and Sugar-Craft masterclasses. A complementing Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village is a haven for Great British Bake Off fans. Mary Berry would be proud. The new Wine, Champagne and Craft Beer Theatre (now that’s our kind of theatre) provides food and drink matching masterclasses. Gin and Whisky classes are also available, with a daily cocktail-making competition between local bars to find Edinburgh's Best Mixologist. There’s only one more thing we have to say: MEGA NOMS.
IN CELEBRATION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY, THE KIND FOLKS AT FOODIES FESTIVAL HAVE TEN TICKETS FOR US TO GIVE AWAY! VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM NOW TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Summer's Best Activities. BY LUCY JARMAN
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f you’re on a festival fast this summer, we have an assortment of alternative activities and eclectic endeavours to suit every personality. If you’d rather surf a wave than surf a crowd or get stuck into culture then stuck in the mud, look no further… JUMP AROUND Bridges not only offer safe passage in Scotland but present opportunities attractive to any adrenaline enthusiast. Whether you want to abseil down the Forth Road Bridge or bungee jump off the Garry Bridge; Scotland boasts a number of exhilarating and safe experiments with gravity in a number of stunning locations. Give new meaning to the Highland Fling. Bungeejumpscotland.co.uk
THRILLER For those drawn to the darker side of life there are many intriguing indoor pursuits in the city of Edinburgh. Test your detective skills at Escape the Room; a 60 minute live action game in which you have an hour to crack the code and escape. Next, test your nerve in Mary King’s Close, the underground hidden city where you can discover the mysterious history of the city as well as a few paranormal beings. Canyouescape.co.uk Realmarykingsclose.com @SCOTCAMPUS
SUMMER LOVIN' Scotland may not be your first port of call when it comes to paradise beaches, however the Outer Hebrides host some of the most stunning coastlines in the world. Luskentyre Bay on the Isle of Harris pageants sapphire blue seas, golden sands and a sheep thrown in for good measure. Explore-harris.com
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD If three days of hotdogs and chips isn’t to your taste, we have the ideal Glasgow getaway for a culinary palate more accustomed to gourmet than grease. The West End’s, Ubiquitous Chip offers a menu consisting solely of regional Scottish produce in a magical space decorated to resemble a rainforest. Ubiquitouschip.co.uk
UNDER THE SEA Swapping festival beats for nature’s beasts; Scotland is home to an abundance of incredible wildlife. The Isle of Mull’s boat trips provide chances to see aquatic creatures ranging from dolphins and basking sharks to killer whales and an array of seabirds. For the budding equestrian there is horse riding and pony trekking along the spectacular beaches. Isle-of-mull.net
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KELBURN GARDEN PARTY KELBURN COUNTRY PARK, 3RD – 5TH JULY Kelburn Garden Party offers a smorgasbord of musical genres that spans jazz and folk to hip-hop and dynamic electronica. Headliners include the mighty Optimo, plus there will be engaging artistic exhibitions and it's set in a spectacularly cool historical site. A midnight wander through the Enchanted Forest is a must!
Ear Food.
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ummer is finally here and the sun is (hopefully) shining – rejoice! Time to ditch those winter layers, forget about uni work and head to the nearest beer garden to set your holiday shenanigans in motion. We’ve handpicked the best gigs Scotland has to offer that are certified to get you in the mood for full-swing festival season and get you dusting off those trusty wellies pronto!
Weekend Tickets from £99, Keburngardenparty.com/tickets
BLEACHERS THE GARAGE, 5TH JULY Following huge success as a member of Fun., and songwriting for the queen of the catchy chorus, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff returned in 2014 under his new guise, Bleachers, with plucky album, Strange Desire, in tow. Sporting songs that are bathed in so much triumphant '80s nostalgia that they wouldn’t sound out of place in a John Hughes film, prepare to dance the night away. Tickets from £12, available at Ticketmaster.co.uk
20 YEARS OF MOGWAI BARROWLAND BALLROOM, 21ST JUNE Scottish post-rock royalty Mogwai are celebrating their 20th anniversary in Glasgow’s legendary Barrowlands. Following the release of 2014’s excellent Rave Tapes, a storming performance at Glastonbury, a new EP and reissue of 1999’s Come On Die Young, Mogwai further cemented themselves as one of Scotland’s greatest exports since Irn-Bru. Tickets from £29.15, available at Ticketmaster.co.uk
FLEETWOOD MAC SSE HYDRO, 8TH JULY
The Mercury Prize winner returns to Glasgow as part of the 15th birthday celebration tour of seminal album The Hour of the Bewilderbeast. As well as playing the album in its entirety, expect an evening packed with Damon Gough’s unique brand of futuristic folk.
Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Fleetwood Mac are one of the most successful bands of all time. Returning to the Hydro, featuring the original line-up with Christine McVie, fans will be in for a treat with the band’s flood of superhits, the witchy spectacle of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar prowess. The Mac is most definitely back!
Tickets from £21.75, available at Ents24.com
Tickets from £72.80, available at Tickemaster.co.uk
BADLY DRAWN BOY ORAN MOR, 28TH JULY
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Scotland's Hip Hop Soldiers. INTERVIEW: HECTOR BIZERK
BY KYM BALLANTYNE
D
rums. Rap. Hip hop. Hector Bizerk have wowed the Scottish scene with their unique brand of music. I chatted to rapper Louie to hear him wax lyrical about performing in the best city in the world – Glasgow.
HAS IT BEEN TOUGH TO SELL YOURSELF AS A HIP HOP GROUP IN GLASGOW?
Why would anyone want to skin a cat? Weird phrase innit?
To be honest we never really thought about our music like that. We've always had a genuine hip hop ethos. I think it's important to stress that rap is merely one component of hip-hop and we want to bring it all to the forefront of our performances. True artists get to a point where it no longer matters how they are perceived by an audience. It becomes inconsequential what other people think of your output and that’s what I love about being in this band.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DREAM COLLABORATIONS?
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE MUSIC SCENE IN GLASGOW? Glasgow is a truly exceptional city of music. We're very fortunate to have been invited to play in loads of different cities and there are very few that capture the same feral energy of a Glasgow crowd. It's not just a bias opinion because it's our hometown, it's just true. Oasis always said it was the best city in the world. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? That signing a record deal is a good thing. That idea that people have "made it". HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS? Always collaborative and it always take a different form from the last song. There are so many ways to skin a cat...whatever that means.
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I would love to write a song with Pete Docherty. I'm gonna go to T in The Park purely because The Libertines are playing. Audrey would like to collaborate with Fleetwood Mac, Fraser would love to play bass in Bon Jovi, and David loves Swervedriver. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER YOUNG ARTISTS WHOSE PREROGATIVE IS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? Set yourself reachable targets and do everything you possibly can to hit them. Write music you are proud of and never try to appease anyone other than your band mates or collaborators. Too many people focus on the cliché ideal of "rock n roll" or celebrity. Fuck all of that. For me, it's only ever been about making noise with people I love and respect. DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM ON HOW TO SURVIVE FESTIVAL SEASON? The first time I camped at T in the Park, I woke up with a stinking hangover and went to brush my teeth. What I thought was a bottle of water....turned out to be straight vodka. It does not mix well with toothpaste. The same trip, one of my mates shat in a bag because he didn't want to use the cubicles. Don't do that. Read the extended interview on Scotcampus.com WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
New
Orleans.
INTERVIEW: ELA ORLEANS
BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
H
aving meandered her way here via the New York experimental and noise scene, scoring short films and working on theatre and visual art projects along the way, Polish-born, Glasgow-based musician Ela Orleans has established herself as one of the most intriguing figures on the Scottish music circuit. Her latest album, Upper Hell, expands her noir-pop electro stylings to an even more cinematic scale; aided by the polish of producer and Glasgow legend Howie B. IS IT QUITE AN INTENSE PROCESS TO PRODUCE YOUR ALBUMS?
I GATHER HOWIE B HELPED OUT ON YOUR LATEST ALBUM.
It is, I mean I treat it at the beginning as a form of therapy. When I got proper therapy, in America, I was encouraged by my therapist to actually put it out there and have people hear it! It kind of still serves that kind of purpose, but also it’s very disengaged from anything that is happening in my life. It’s more like a distraction from everything and in that way it’s a fantastic help. I don’t really think I’d be able to function without it, to tell you the truth.
Yeah well I recorded it myself, and then he produced it… we didn’t write it together. I would stay in the room and I pretty much just saw his back! It was this kind of really dorky tweaking, and of course he knows how to do these things really masterfully and definitely the sound I managed to achieve because of that is a bit different. But the process before that was pretty much the same, even if people will notice that before my music was low-fi and now is more technically developed!
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ALTHOUGH THE MUSIC’S PERSONAL, I THINK THERE’S A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, COULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT HOW THE MUSIC COMMUNITY IN GLASGOW HAS AFFECTED YOU? This is the reason why I’m here. Some of the time I miss New York, I love big cities and I’ve been flirting with the idea of going to Paris or London, but the music community here is incredible. It’s all about being friendly and going for breakfast together and helping each other. Stephen Pastel and Monorail have been such wonderful champions of my music and I feel like they are my managers almost! They are just so caring and thoughtful, and really are curious about what I’m up to and are supportive of anything I’m doing. DO YOU THINK COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS, AND THE DEMOCRATISATION OF MUSIC ONLINE, ARE HELPING ARTISTS TO BE MORE CREATIVE? To tell you the truth, I think there’s a very trivial explanation for that. I think it’s the access to the technical gear, which is way cheaper than it used to be. Once you have it in your hands, you realise it’s not rocket science and we’ve all been tricked by those guys telling us that we cannot make a decent record without a middle man or someone milking our art! I don’t know if I’m answering your question or digressing…
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NO I THINK YOU’RE BANG ON TOPIC THERE, AND I THINK IT’S FANTASTIC THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE AND CHOOSING TO EXPERIMENT. You know I think it’s just really lacking in certain music. Music kind of became so mainstream, and then indie music became just packaging, it was more about the packaging than the content. A lot of the content was great but still not as important as the package, but I think now it’s more about really being honest, but bringing something new to the whole picture of music. Because I think a lot of us girls and boys working on things are solitary, at home, on our laptops, we are just bored of hearing the same kind of tricks and also the same old stories and I think it’s a new time really. DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR MUSIC OUT THERE? You know it’s very easy to be short and condescending in those kind of advice things, but I just feel people have to work really hard until they find their own voice, and once they find their own voice they have to be prepared to work even harder. To me it’s just dedication and being prepared to really put aside everything else. Ela's latest album, Upper Hell, is available now.
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INTERVIEW: FRANK TURNER
BY AMY ANDERSON
To Be
Frank. N
early ten years ago, Frank Turner played his last ever gig with Million Dead. On the laminates that listed the tour dates, the entry for the next day simply read: “Get a job”.
For Frank, packing up his trusty acoustic guitar and taking off on a tour of pretty much any live music venue that would have him seemed like the most logical option. So what inspired him to write The Road Beneath My Feet, a refreshingly honest book in which he recounts his most memorable gigs? “When I was a kid, reading books about bands that I liked, I was always frustrated at how they glossed over the minutiae of life on the road in favour of stories about sex, drugs and whatnot”, explains Frank, who opted for this format because he felt he was still too young to write an autobiography. “That annoyed me as I really wanted to know what life on tour was actually like. There were some exceptions, of course, and the writings of Henry Rollins
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had a huge influence on me as it gave a real impression of what touring at grunt level is like.” For an artist that’s sold-out Wembley Arena and performed on the main stages at Reading and Leeds, Frank Turner wears his fame so lightly it’s difficult to comprehend just how successful he’s become. “It’s never frustrating for me to perform, full stop. I like playing for people who want to see me and the context doesn’t matter. I think that mixing up the size of the rooms I play keeps me on my toes as a performer.” That’s not to say that Frank hasn’t embraced the more surreal moments of his career – in the book, he describes how performing on the main stage at Reading and Leeds in 2011 was like ‘fulfilling a childhood dream’ that was born in 1995 as he watched, in awe, as Beck played that very same stage and slot. “Playing the main stage at Reading will take some beating,” admits Frank. “It felt fantastic, but also like I’d earned the right.” The Road Beneath My Feet is out now. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
23RD - 24TH SEPTEMBER 2015 SECC GLASGOW FRESHERSFESTIVAL.COM
A
top festival line-up balances striking personalities with music you can lose yourself in, and that’s what Day 1 of the Scotcampus Dream Festival is all about.
We start with some easy listening to sink into the festival. Carlos Santana is the perfect opener, because his sounds work just as well as background music as they do for deep experiences. The same can easily be said for the dreamy music of The Flaming Lips, and the soft intensity of Simon & Garfunkel. As the day pushes on, the originators of just about every pop music format you could wish for up the tempo. We want to boogie with T-Rex, dance with the Beach Boys and warble along to Kate Bush. Then we hit Tina Turner, who we guarantee can get any festival jumping: and the intensity stays high through the smouldering sets of Nina Simone and the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. The night’s capped by double headliners David Bowie and, of course, The Beatles. They’re big names, with massive tunes and boast the richest and varied back catalogues of any artist ever: few others have the capacity to simultaneously be so familiar and so surprising.
• The Beatles •
David Bowie • James Brown Nina Simone • Tina Turner The Doors • Kate Bush • Bob Dylan Buddy Holly • The Beach Boys • T-Rex Bob Marley • The Kinks • Grateful Dead Simon & Garfunkel • The Flaming Lips • Carlos Santana 32 MUSIC .
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It’s time to go hard and heavy! Nobody understands your hangover like Howlin’ Wolf, the voice of blues, except maybe The Proclaimers and Johnny Cash. The sound builds to fever pitch with The Arctic Monkeys and Muse: two of the best festival acts today. As we move into the magic hour, things get interesting. Jeff Buckley’s voice can pierce the twilight like no other, before Bjork takes the whole thing to another level. The second night’s partying gets kick-started by the sound of The White Stripes, stripping back sounds to their simplest, gut-pounding form. Choosing the best of the bunch of the guitar rock world to cap the night is impossible, but the multifaceted music of Led Zeppelin and Queen pipped punk-rock purists The Clash, guitar hero Hendrix and stoner supremos Pink Floyd to the post.
• Led Zeppelin •
Queen • Pink Floyd
Jimi Hendrix • The Clash Radiohead • Nirvana• Blur The White Stripes • Bjork • Muse Jeff Buckley • Arctic Monkeys • The Pixies Johnny Cash • The Proclaimers • Howlin' Wolf @SCOTCAMPUS
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MUSICIANS OF THE MONTH BY RACHEL COBURN
W
e’re all about the simple pleasures of summer – the ciders, the wayfarers, and of course, the tunes. Sometimes just hearing a song can take you back to a certain place and time, and we think this fresh crop of Musicians of the Month will do exactly that.
PRONTO MAMA
MARTHA L HEALY
Slipping in the odd slang word into their lyrics, Pronto Mama are an unashamedly Glaswegian group of lads. If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing them yet, last September’s single ‘Goose Steps’ is a good place to start. Singer Marc Rooney’s ability to produce both faultless falsetto and hard-impact punchy vocals is bound to impress, while the addition of trumpet and trombone to the line-up adds an extra layer of cool to their niche sound. Go and catch them live at this year’s Electric Fields festival in August.
A fan of the Civil Wars is never to be doubted on good music taste, and the Tennessee duo’s influence is easily heard in the more downbeat of Martha’s repertoire. The rest, however, is a foot-stomping celebration of positivity, most evident in her debut album’s title track, ‘Better Days’. The album was recorded in Nashville, and time spent in the capital of country has added valuable authenticity to the young musician’s sound. Martha embarks on a tour of the UK in June, and is most certainly one to watch.
Facebook.com/prontomama
Marthalhealy.com
MEMORY MAN
THE CALM FIASCO
After slotting themselves into the local scene with debut single ‘Felix Baumgartner’, and having headlined King Tut's as part of the music venue’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the Glasgow based indie quartet are already en route to making quite the name for themselves. Frontman Stephen Connelly’s distinctive vocal quality merges seamlessly with their jaunty melodic guitar background, breathing life into well-penned lyrics. The band’s next single, ‘In Praha’, is due for release in June.
Simple chord progressions and catchy choruses are not always a detriment to the musical integrity of a band, and are certainly tools that the Calm Fiasco have used to their advantage to create sing-a-longs, all the while making sure their Scottish twang remains intact. Gritty vocals and moody lyrics, however, bring the group out of the ‘pop’ bracket and into a genre all of their own. The four-piece recently sold out a headline gig at King Tut's and look to continue their winning streak this summer with a string of gigs and new releases.
Memorymanmusic.bandcamp.com
Facebook.com/thecalmfiasco
@SCOTCAMPUS
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INTERVIEW: ENTER SHIKARI
BY STEPHANIE HUNTER
Mindsweeping Into Festival Season. E
nter Shikari have been storming the music scene for over 12 years now. The four-piece from St Albans are known for their unique mix of post-hardcore, trance and metal. Drawing in fans with passionate live performances and tracks that beg movement, they’re a band with a resonance that isn’t often found. Their latest album The Mindsweep has taken them all over the world, and this summer they’re hitting up Download, Glastonbury and our very own T in the Park, and I got the chance to grill guitarist Rory Clewlow before the festival madness commenced. YOU RECENTLY RECORDED ‘CHOP SUEY’ FOR ROCK SOUND MAGAZINE’S CELEBRATORY ISSUE. WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE? Well the Rock Sound release was a lot of fun. We haven’t ever done anything like that before. We’ve never recorded a straight up cover and ‘Chop Suey’ is a very difficult song to play and sing. We didn’t do it in a studio, we did it ourselves at home so it was a bit of a challenge but it was really nice to be asked. It was really fun to do it. DID YOU GET A CHOICE IN PICKING WHAT SONG OR WAS IT SOMETHING YOU WERE REQUESTED TO DO? Well they said do you want to record a cover and that the only theme was something like classic rock song. We said ‘Chop Suey’ and they were like, yeah, great!
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YOU’VE RECENTLY BEEN ON TOUR WITH FATHERSON, DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE BAND TO WORK AND PLAY WITH? Loads of people. I mean one of the bands we tour with most is Let Live. It was the first time we’ve toured with Fatherson and they were awesome guys. Almost every band you tour with you like. You find some sort of connection because you are all quite similar people playing similar music. DID YOU FEEL THE SAME WHEN YOU USED TO PLAY AS THE SUPPORT BAND? When we were a smaller band we never really did any support tours. I don’t know why, I don’t know if it was because we were a bit weird and a bit niche or if it was some sort of gamble to not have a “normal” band as support so I guess we always did our own headline shows. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
I REMEMBER ONE OF THE FIRST TOURS YOU EVER DID AND YOU PLAYED THE BARROWLAND BALLROOM IN GLASGOW IN 2007. I REMEMBER YOU GUYS GOT EVERYONE TO SIT DOWN! Oh, really?! YEAH! I ALSO REMEMBER YOU HANDING OUT CONDOMS FOR JOHNNY SNIPER. I THEN SAW YOU AT LEEDS AND THE ONSTAGE CHAT WAS ALONG THE LINES OF, “THERE IS NO POINT IN BEING HOMOPHOBIC, RACIST, SEXIST – WE ARE HERE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.” YOU’RE KNOWN FOR BEING POSITIVE AND LIBERAL IN YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR? That’s an interesting question. I’ve never been asked that before or perhaps not in such a good way. For me, I don’t know if Rou or the other guys might feel differently but for me, I’d like to
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leave behind the idea that we were a band that pushed music forward a little bit. We didn’t just do the same thing that bands had done before us and will do after us. We took a leap of faith and moved the music scene forward a little bit. Yeah, that’s it. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR YOU AND THE BAND? We are going to Australia in two days and then flying back to the UK for one day, then Russia. I’m really looking forward to it because Russia and Australia are so much fun to play. I’m even looking forward to the flight, we’re so used to it now. A long haul flight is so nice; to just be isolated from the rest of the world it’s… What’s the word? I DON’T KNOW. IT’S A WORD? It’s a word. You can insert your own word there. OK…SOLITUDINOUS.
We took a leap of faith and moved the music scene forward a little bit.
''
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ONE TO WATCH: BROKEN BOY
BY ANNA MCALPINE
D
ynamic Fife three-piece Stewart Black, Cameron Black and newly recruited Fraser Laing are set to enrapture the Scottish music scene. Hailing from St. Andrews, Broken Boy have been taking their rock pop sound across Scotland with their catchy bass lines and anthemic choruses. I caught up with the boys to hear how life in the industry is treating them.
FRASER, WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU JOINING THE ALREADY EXISTING BAND? Fraser: I’ve learnt so much. One thing that has been hard though is copying their last drummer’s beats. Now we’re writing new stuff though I think that’s making it easier. Overall, it’s made me up my standards as a musician. WHICH ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?
YOUR NEW SINGLE, 'JUST TO LEAVE YOU', SEEMS TO MARK A DEFINITE PROGRESSION OF YOUR SOUND. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? Stewart: We took an old song and revamped it, when we were in the studio the song kind of developed massively. We ripped it apart and made this new beast. WHAT WAS IT LIKE RECORDING IN THE STUDIO WITH PAUL SAVAGE? S: It was the first time that we felt we were producing the song ourselves instead of someone else just telling us what to do. Paul helped show us what music we wanted to make instead of just trying to follow a trend. It is really cringey to say but we ‘found ourselves’.
C: (laughs) Kanye West. S: I’ve been trying to learn from other people’s music for a change to help me branch out my abilities. I’m really into Death Cab for Cutie and St. Vincent. But also Circa Waves and The Strokes. WHAT WAS IT LIKE STARTING OUT IN THE FIFE MUSIC SCENE? C: Being from St. Andrews there isn’t really a scene. Although Scottish music is really strong right now, more so than it gets credit for. S: I suppose it’s kind of a good thing we’re not in a town where everyone is playing rock music - that makes us stand out.
Cameron: We were just so free in what we wanted to do. It was all about getting what we wanted and making it the best we could.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET INTO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
HOW DO YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER WHEN YOU’RE CREATING MUSIC?
C: Just practise as much as you can.
S: Normally Cameron and I come up with an idea and it branches out. To make it sound like Broken Boy it needs all three of us to turn it into a song.
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S: I think people forget to have fun, you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously. Be nice. Facebook.com/BrokenBoyMusic WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
JOLENE GUTHRIE The latest model to emerge from Dundee is 22-year-old model-turned-designer, Jolene Guthrie. With her blonde extreme-crop pixie cut frequently styled by McIntyres, Dundee, Jolene makes a fierce statement on the catwalk. Her career kickstarted after walking the launch of Young Scottish Designer of the Year, wearing Hayley Scanlan’s previous collection, Love Me Tender - an impeccable curation of buckled hemlines, leather and polka dots. It was there she met local photographer Kathryn Rattray and began working on editorial work for dynamic knitwear brand, Dizy Knitwear.
This Month We
LOVE. BY SHAUNA MCGREGOR
ILLUSTRATION: VERIETTE.COM
This ambitious beauty has some exciting adventures on her horizon, including launching her own knitwear label and heading to the capital to gain even more experience within the design and modelling industries. Although eager to branch out to London, Guthrie believes that the support in Scotland is second to none “So many people in Dundee are willing to help out and give you chances that you wouldn’t have down south. I think the creative community here really pulls together and supports everyone”. DIZY KNITWEAR Described as “a dynamic knitwear label providing contemporary and luxury fabrics encouraging the wearer to express their own unique identity” Dundee-born Dizy Knitwear has burst onto the scene. Brains behind the brand, Kristen Neillie adds “the brand encapsulates a particular focus on encouraging today’s modern women to have fun with what they wear.” Between bagging a design internship with Hayley Scanlan and jetting off to do a semester in Milan, Kristen’s Dizy dream started to unfold. Since her debut at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Kristen has remained fashion-forward, working behind the scenes on fashion editorials at Hope St Magazine. Dizy’s A/W collection (available from September), Dizy Desire promises contemporary knit design with a retro edge. Facebook.com/DIZYKNITWEAR
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BLACK BLOCK COLOUR STRIPE POLO SHIRT £14.99 BLUE INC.
EVIL EYE SOCKS £12 TOPMAN
Trend Spotting: Men's Fashion
I
t’s all about effortlessness. Build on a few good quality pieces with more disposable items, although being able to wear your festival wardrobe afterwards is a huge bonus. Sportswear is perfect for a weekend of outdoor living. No matter the weather, a large stock of socks on standby will never go wrong. Keep your feet dry in a solid shoe and you’ll be dancing all night!
WINDRUNNER JACKET £65 NIKE
BLACK AVIATORS £4 BOOHOO.COM
DR MARTENS NAVY CRUISE MAYPORT BOOTS £65 SCHUH
FRED PERRY BURGUNDY STRATFORD TRAINERS £50 SCHUH
Best Of The
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INFINITE SERIES RACER-BACK BRA £30 ADIDAS PINS & NEEDLES PLEATED WRAP MIDI DRESS £66 URBAN OUTFITTERS
STRAW FLOPPY PANAMA HAT £26 URBAN OUTFITTERS
FESTIVAL BACKPACK £38 ASOS
Trend Spotting: Women's Fashion
W
hen it comes to the essentials, we all know you need your dry shampoo and sun cream for festival living. Apply that practicality to your festival fashion to look on-trend yet stay comfortable. Sticking with prints will add colour to your wardrobe while allowing for layering. “Less is more” doesn’t come into the festival vocabulary!
A-LINE DENIM SKIRT £39 URBAN OUTFITTERS
Fests.
ALYS AZTEC PRINTED CAPE £8 BOOHOO.COM
@SCOTCAMPUS
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Festival Beauty
Essentials. BY AMY ANDERSON
I
f you associate going to music festivals with having to deal with greasy hair, smudged mascara and chipped nail polish, then make-up artist Rosheen McGowan is about to become your beauty godmother. The Glasgow-based artist, who has worked in the industry for more than eight years (including stints working backstage at London Fashion Week and on many music videos), is familiar with the beauty secrets known to leave the world’s most chic fashionistas looking fresh and radiant – even when they find themselves feeling the opposite! “At festivals, the weather can be unpredictable so choosing products that are durable and long-lasting is key”, explains Rosheen. “Base products with an SPF are essential as sunburnt skin doesn’t look good on anyone. Priming your face will ensure the makeup stays in place – the Laura Mercier one is my favourite as it evens out both the tone and texture of the skin. “MAC Pro Longwear Foundation is ideal for festivals as it’s a foundation and concealer in one – making it quick and easy to apply. It’s also hydrating, waterproof and boasts 24-hour wear. I’d recommend setting it in place by spritzing the skin with a light layer of Urban Decay’s All Nighter. “Putting on a vibrant lipstick is a great, fuss-free way to liven up any look - I like matte shades, such as Lady Danger, Candy Yum-Yum and Ruby Woo by Mac, to add a pop of colour with long-lasting wear. “This year, the trend-setters at Coachella seemed to be inspired by the ‘70s. Millie Mackintosh and Kendall Jenner were seen sporting nude eyes with lashings of mascara, soft bohemian dewy skin and tribal face and body paint.” Despite not having access to the arsenal of lotions and potions you probably use on a daily basis, being at a festival isn’t an excuse to neglect your skin. “I don’t usually advocate wipes in any skincare regime but it’s important to have these to remove any makeup before hitting your sleeping bag,” advises Rosheen. “You should also moisturise to nourish and repair the skin overnight so you’re ready to do it all again in the morning!” Rosheen McGowan can be contacted on rosheen.mcg@live.co.uk
@SCOTCAMPUS
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Scot Street Style.
INSPIRED BY THE #SCOTSTREETSTYLE COMMUNITY ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIN KENNEDY: ERINKENNEDY.CO.UK
T
his month we’ve seen you throwing caution to the wind by starting to shed a few of those layers you’ve become so attached to during a chilly 2015. You’re not mental though - no-one forgot that it might start snowing for no reason whatsoever, but you’re replacing those chunky coats with lighter fabric styles and brighter colours. White was a popular colour choice with the ladies, often paired with a statement bag and when it came to the guys, the staple shirt and jeans combo was working a treat! So before you all disappeared from the streets for a summer full of fests, fields and fun, our dedicated photographer, Erin, was out in force to capture the best street styles.
Nicola Curran knows that oversized handbags never go out of style, and this little number is ideal for your summer essentials (even if it is still Scottish weather). A hot pink addition never fails to add a splash of ‘wow’ to a summer look.
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Caitlin McGoniglie’s sweet button-up camel mini-skirt signals the start of warmer weather, but she’s not forgetting to add some layers in combat of that persistent Scottish wind. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Alister Brown has done away with the jacket altogether and embraced the sunshine with this striking light violet shirt. We could pick up a few posing tips from him too. @SCOTCAMPUS
It might not be scorching enough for Ruth Coulter to abandon her cosy jumper, but her ripped jeans, sunglasses and fringed suede handbag hint that the future is looking bright!
We’re summer lovin’ Ruairidh Forbes’s colour palette; his vibrant yellow jacket coupled with the purple sneaks makes us want to go off and taste the rainbow.
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Mixtape:
Best Music Films. BY ROSS MILLER
It’s festival season, hooray! To celebrate, we’re dusting off our guitars, drum kits (and recorders) to rock out to some of the best music films.
ALMOST FAMOUS This semi-autobiographical story from writerdirector Cameron Crowe explores the world of rock’n’roll with the tale of a high school boy who gets to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about a band on tour. It’s a wellacted, heart-warming film that wonderfully captures the dizzying rock star lifestyle and the deeply personal meaning music can have. HIGH FIDELITY John Cusack plays the owner of a record store, an obsessive list-maker who counts down his top five break-ups. There’s something for everyone in the soundtrack from The Kinks to Elton John - and the film will have a special meaning to any music lovers who’ve been unlucky in love.
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WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
SCHOOL OF ROCK In the role he was born to play, the loveable Jack Black stars as Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck rocker who fakes his way into being a prep school temp wherein he teaches his class of students the ways of rock’n’roll. The spirit of just enjoying music for what it is permeates this hilarious, feel-good movie. You’ll be humming the signature song for days! ONCE This low-budget music-themed romance follows a struggling Irish busker (The Commitments’ Glen Hansard) and a Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova) who meet one day in Dublin and decide to make an album together. The film is both a sweet ‘will-they-won’t-they’ romance as well as a celebration of handcrafted music with real heart and soul. It went on to win an Oscar for its original song 'Falling Slowly'. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) directs this brightly coloured adaptation of the cult graphic novel series starring Michael Cera as the titular bassist in the fantastically named “Sex Bob-Omb” who has to fight off the “7 Evil Exes” of a girl to win her heart. It features tracks from Beck to Broken Social Scene, providing a wonderfully eclectic soundtrack to accompany the pop-culture filled action. SUNSHINE ON LEITH Scotland’s capital is a character in itself in this musical romance featuring the music of The Proclaimers. It follows the lives of two soldiers who return home from Afghanistan. The film is unapologetically cheesy, with the songs intricately tied into the plot, but what it lacks in subtlety it more than makes up for with charm and reverence for The Proclaimers’ catchy music. @SCOTCAMPUS
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INTERVIEW: LEIGH WHANNELL
BY CASSAM LOOCH
Inside The
Insidious Mind.
L
eigh Whannell is a worried man. Usually, the shoe is firmly on the other foot, with the writer having spooked audiences for years with the Saw franchise and ghoulish Insidious creation, however the nerves are kicking in for the first-time director: “I'm nervous [for it to come out], but audiences seemed to have liked it so far...”
So what is it about horror films that appeal to him? “I love being part of the audience watching the Insidious films... especially when they jump out of their chairs”. It's something we can all identify with, but what were the influences on Whannell growing up? “Jaws was one. I love the scene when the head pops out... That still gets me. It's the build-up and music as well.” Having been involved in the first two films in the Insidious series as a writer and star, this time Whannell jumped into the director's chair. “I've had a great education from James [Wan]. He is the modern horror master... We both have similar tastes. Neither of us like too much CG, we like working with practical effects in camera. Wan has gone on to direct the latest Blockbuster instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise. There are some differences between the two, however, especially as Insidious: Chapter 3 is a
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prequel. “I am following the template from the first two films, and this one certainly exists in that same universe. I didn't want to repeat what we did before, so the characters we meet in the other films are introduced here.”
Whannell had to follow his own success too. He was one of the masterminds behind the recordbreaking Saw franchise, so what was the first thing he did to get ready for this project? “I sent a tweet to William Friedkin saying 'I am directing my first film – do you have any advice for me? Things you wish you had known before you directed?'...The response was immediate: 'Let's have lunch and talk' said the director of classic horror The Exorcist. Leigh is fully aware of what makes Insidious work for audiences. “It's your own imagination that can start freaking you right away. A floorboard creaking can set it off. In these movies we like to build on that.” It's a world we've seen before, but now in the hands of Whannell we get to see a different side to it.... is there anything else left to discover? “I think there is a lot more...” he adds, taking us back to where we began “but let’s get this one out and see if people want more!” Insidious: Chapter 3 is released on June 5th WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Sink Your Summer
Into Gaming. BY JONNY STONE
D
on’t get me wrong, summer is great. Festivals, infrequent sunshine, Soleros and such. But you don’t have to be lured into venturing outside when there are enough games released this summer to curb any desire to don your wellies and endure the festival mud. Being outside is overrated. Stay in, stay pale and make sure you fasten the Batmobile seatbelt for these top games.
THE WITCHER 3 Consoles: PC, PS2, Xbox One Out: Now Based on a hugely successful fantasy series, it concludes the story of the Geralt of Rivia, the series' protagonist, who faces a mysterious and otherworldly army. With an expanded open world, a responsive day/night mode that affects gameplay and even a beard growth system, it's not to be passed up. SPLATOON Consoles: WiiU Out: Now Splatoon has hit the shelves after what feels like an eternity of waiting. The WiiU exclusive is a chaotic third-person shoot ‘em up in which you shoot ink at stuff/people. You control Inklings, capable of morphing from human to squids, and cover your opponents’ territory in your team colour. The chance to shoot your friend’s avatars a) in the comfort of your own home and b) without actually getting paint on you is better than TITP, hands down.
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HEAVENSWARD Consoles: PS3/4, PC, Mac Out: 23rd June The first expansion pack to accompany Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. The new title follows the Dragonsong War, a thousandyear conflict between Ishgard and Dravania - home of the dragon beast tribe and turf to explore at your leisure. New features include crafting airships to discover floating continents above clouds and an increase in level cap to 60. Mumford and Sons can wait - this iconic game deserves all your time and energy. BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT Consoles: Available on most consoles Out: 23rd June This humble nerd is most excited, of course, for the release of the final instalment in Rock Star’s enormously successful Batman game trilogy. It picks up one year after the events of Arkham City and sees Scarecrow unite a vast array of villains to finally kill Batman following his foiled attack on Gotham. Exciting additions include using the Batmobile, expansion of the previous games’ open-world structure and the chance to finally play as Harley Quinn. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Scotcampus Bookshelf. BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
T
his issue we’ve alternated between geeking out over summer reading and desperately trying to improve our job prospects and bank balance. Will we succeed? Who knows. But you’re welcome to join our quest.
THE GLORY LAUREN ST. JOHN If you take The Horse Whisperer and The Smoke Jumper, speed up their pace and sprinkle in synchronisms you get The Glory. It’s got all the equestrian romance and boot camp connections of a Nicholas Evans novel, but with far less talking and a lot more action.
MOVE UP: WHY SOME CULTURES ADVANCE WHILE OTHERS DON’T CLOTAIRE RAPAILLE & ANDRÉS ROEMER A bombastic, crazy melting pot of psychosocial analyses, Move UP vacillates between being thought provoking, hilarious and cringe-worthy. For every twist on our assumptions about social mobility, there’s a crass generalisation or national stereotype: and we can’t tell if they’re actually joking or not.
THE THRILLING ADVENTURES OF LOVELACE AND BABBAGE SYDNEY PADUA
MRS. MONEYPENNY’S FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT WOMEN HEATHER MCGREGOR/ MRS. MONEYPENNY
A unique, fun and totally addictive graphic novel; this is a must-read for any selfrespecting geek. In the mind of comic creator Sydney Padua, Charles Babbage builds the Different Engine, and with the help of mathematical genius Ada Lovelace, they battle the problems of Victorian Britain.
Exploring all areas of finance, be it loans, savings or setting up a business, Mrs Moneypenny did an excellent job of helping us understanding your money and the versatile ways it can be used to increase quality of life. Humourous and to the point, this is a mustread for anyone looking to reject their financial rut.
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STAND OUT DORIE CLARK An American business book about making money from your skills. In a crowded and insecure job market Dorie Clark’s message is more important than ever. It’s also broken down into handy categories, and it’s written in a friendly, accessible language. Handy for anyone needing advice on finding work, even more so if you’re striking out alone as a freelancer or starting a small business. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
The Music
VLOGGERATI. BY AMY ANDERSON
Y
ou've more than likely discovered an amazing rendition of your favourite song on YouTube by an unknown artist. And when the magic formula is hit and a video goes viral, the world witnesses a new musician propelled into overnight fame. Get your earphones at the ready as we hear from the vloggers who turned their music obsession into a global success story, as well as some of the up-and-comers you must tune in to.
BOYCE AVENUE Boyce Avenue might not have a Grammy Award or platinum album under their belt but, on YouTube, the Florida-based band are more popular than Britney Spears, The Killers and Megan Trainor combined. Back in 2007, the three musically-gifted brothers (Fabian, Alejandro and Daniel Manzano) decided to post a video of them performing an acoustic cover version of the Goo Goo Dolls ‘Before it’s too Late’ in their parents’ garage to YouTube. At the time, their aim was simply to share their hobby with anyone who cared to watch. In reality, a mere 18 months after their first upload, they found themselves playing sold-out gigs to thousands of fans all over the world. It’s rare that an artist manages to make it
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out of their bedroom and into the spotlight without having to change, but, thanks to the fact they have acted as the sole architects of their own success, Boyce Avenue have managed to do just that. The trio specialise in acoustic alt-rock and, as one of the first bands to really explode on YouTube, they were able to capitalize on the website’s magnetic marketing pull before it became as saturated with videos as it is now. As their following grew (to date, they have amassed over one billion views and their channel continues to be one of the most frequented in the world), the band were able to branch out and start releasing their own original compositions, including several EPs and their debut album, All You’re Meant to Be. They’ve since sold over a million songs and even run their own independent record label, 3 Peace Records. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
ESMEE DENTERS She might have been the first act to be signed by Justin Timberlake’s record label (Tennman Records), but Esmee Denter’s story is as much a cautionary tale about the ruthless nature of the music business. The Dutch musician was one of the first breakthrough acts to emerge from the website and found herself being flooded with offers to work with renowned record labels and producers. After signing to Tennman Records, Esmee released a successful album but further material didn’t materialise after the label closed its doors. Earlier this year, Esmee was once again thrust into the spotlight after she appeared as a contestant on The Voice, making it to the Knock-Out stages as part of Team Will. She continues to upload content to her YouTube channel and is currently trying to fund an EP through Pledge Music. MADILYN BAILEY She’s already attracted over two million subscribers with her on-point fusion of soft, angelic vocals and rap. The singer-songwriter might be best known for her unique cover versions but she’s managed to appeal to a wide range of viewers by also uploading everything from vlogs, beauty reviews and tutorials to help people get to know her better.
@SCOTCAMPUS
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Is The Summer Blockbuster Dead ? BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
S
ummer used to be the time when the biggest films hit cinemas, but with flagship releases like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Mad Max: Fury Road now released earlier to escape the suffocating overload of formulaic action flicks, it’s time to ask: is the summer blockbuster dead?
YES.
NO.
BIG BRANDS ARE KILLING NEW IDEAS
THE NUMBERS LIE
We’ve all accepted that remakes, reboots and sequels are here to stay, and apparently most of us would rather pay for those than for original ideas. Even big-ticket films with a major actor like The Edge of Tomorrow was eclipsed at the global box office by Transformers: Age of Extinction last year. These results only encourage studios to fund more derivative productions.
Films like Transformers get a wider worldwide release and a bigger marketing budget than their rivals. They have brand recognition to justify the risk and merchandising partners chipping in on the promo budget. Original films still win audiences in core countries, they just don’t produce the same kind of eye-popping sums.
2014 ATTENDANCES PLUMMETED
Yes, attendances were down in 2014, but not only was it a World Cup and Commonwealth Games year, it was an ‘off year’. For some reason cinema takings and attendances are subject to peaks and troughs.
Cinema attendances fell by 8% last year in the UK, and in the US the numbers fell by 6%. Hardly a ringing endorsement for the slate of films that graced the big screen during blockbuster season. CINEMAS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE YouGov found that 46% of people who don’t go to the cinema, don’t go because it costs too much. They have a point. In the last five years, cinema tickets have risen by 26%. WE CAN JUST WATCH AT HOME 30% of cinema shunners told YouGov they’re happy just watching movies on demand at home. It’s clear that the battle between the sofa and the silver screen is more violent than ever.
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CINEMA IS CYCLICAL
EVERYONE LOVES EVENT CINEMA The buzz that engulfs every big release is part of the fun. We totally got sucked into the Tweet storm around Jurassic World, and we have more opinions about Star Wars: The Force Awakens than we thought humanly possible. And don’t even get us started on cosplay. CINEMAS = ESCAPE = JOY We need the separation of a darkened theatre, massive screen and awesome sound systems to put us in the moment. After all, how can we have an opinion if we don’t experience a film to its fullest? WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
FRESHERS' FESTIVAL RETURNS!
Freshersfestival.com
23rd-24th September 2015 11am-5pm SECC Glasgow
T
he countdown is on until the biggest student party returns! You turned up in your thousands last year and did us proud by stripping the SECC bare of every freebie in sight. We’re not sure if we could pick just one highlight: from The Inbetweeners car and MacBook Pro prize giveaways to mountains of free pizza and “great” karaoke renditions, we’re STILL recovering from all of the excitement. But don’t think we’ve just been chillaxing since September – we’ve been busy behind the scenes getting prepped for yet another noisier, bigger and busier year of Freshers’ Fest, and we’re delighted to be bringing Scotland’s best fest back to Glasgow’s mighty SECC. Whether you’re the freshest fresher around or are on old hack at this uni thing now, absolutely all students are welcome to come and fill their boots (and bags and buckets too) with as many goodies as possible. Experience two days crammed full of giveaways, discounts and experiences from clubs, bars, restaurants, retail, employment, gaming, music and a few extra surprises too. We’ll be announcing VIP goodies and spotlight competitions in the run up to the big day, so keep the Freshers’ Festival website bookmarked and don’t be that guy who is always the last to find out about the good stuff.
No matter what you’re on the hunt for, we’ve covered all the bases, whether its employment info, fantastic freebies, delectable discounts, new connections, huge prize giveaways or unique music and entertainment acts. In essence, it’s the ultimate chance to kick-off a new academic year in style. You might even spot one of the Scotcampus team attempting karaoke… So stay tuned over the next few months for a full list of exhibitors (and their freebies!), main stage acts and exclusive competitions.
Register for your free VIP pass now on Freshersfestival.com and hop on over to Twitter @ FreshersFest to ensure you don’t miss any of our top giveaways. @SCOTCAMPUS
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MEET THE MANAGER: DELL SCOTLAND
A
s part of Dell Scotland’s 10th Anniversary celebrations, we sat down with Ishbell MacPhail, General Manager, to hear about graduate opportunities and top career tips.
ARE THERE CURRENTLY JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES? We’re hiring quite aggressively across our sales community. We’re looking at a fiveyear plan about how we move the technology journey, embracing the internet of things, understanding how technology is really going to influence the world we live in. We’re hiring front line sales people to own direct relationships with our customers. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK AT DELL? Dell’s an organisation that’s built on values, and those values are made very real to individuals through what we call ‘employee resource groups’, so we’re launching our Pride employee resource group (ERG) in Glasgow. That’s aimed at the LGBTI community and we have a gender oriented ERG on-site, so we’re very close to the issues that the industry’s facing around getting young women into IT; but regardless of what you’re bringing to work, we’re encouraging folks to be genuine and bring themselves to work. We’re an organisation who values everybody. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN APPLICANTS? We’re looking for software designers and programmers, because we have an industryleading security business. For instance, we’re looking for analysts who can turn data into information through analytics, because it’s the way the world is moving. So we’re looking for these very, I think, scarce, skills. @SCOTCAMPUS
DO YOU HAVE ANY RECURRING FRUSTRATIONS WHEN YOU SEE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES COME IN THE DOOR? I think self-belief is incredibly important. That first opportunity is about eye contact, it’s about body language, and being self-aware. I think a lot of young people are not very self-aware, and if you ask them to be confident, sometimes it verges on arrogance and, of course, that conveys the wrong message. You get one shot at it. I would be promoting those skills of selfawareness and self-confidence: just being able to present themselves in as polished a way as possible. It’s so frustrating when you’re talking to a young person and their CV’s telling you that they’re wonderful, and you’re not getting that feeling from them, the passion, the energy. HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW STAGE? Please don’t come to an interview without knowing everything about our organisation. The power of social media, what’s available there, is massive. You can find us on LinkedIn, find out who’s interviewing, use all the power of social media, and also, on the converse, make sure that we don’t see anything on social media that we find distasteful about you as an applicant. For more information about jobs at Dell Scotland, visit Jobs.dell.com
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What's Next? How I Turned My Degree Into A Job. YOU'RE GRADUATING - CONGRATS! BUT WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENS NOW? MEET THE GRADUATES WHO TURNED THEIR DEGREES INTO EXCITING CAREERS. FRASER BRUCE Degree: English, Journalism and Creative Writing at University of Strathclyde Age: 25 Job Title: Foreign Editor at CCTV My story: I had no immediate plan after graduation other than doing TEFL teaching abroad with a mate. Soon we swapped the bright lights of Sauchiehall Street for the even brighter neon-filled streets of Seoul, South Korea. Teaching kids can be a great joy, even although the days were long and holiday time scarce, but we certainly made the most of our weekends and partied like the world really was going to end in 2012. Returning to the UK, I was scunnered by the lack of opportunities, and by the end of 2013 I ended up in Shanghai, China, teaching. I was then invited to a job assessment for an editing position with CCTV News in Beijing. Assuming I’d no chance, I showed up to the final interview in a bright red tie and almost turned the thing into a comedy show, which sensationally worked a treat, as they liked my ‘relaxed’ personality! As I now sit at my desk writing about the Chinese President’s wife’s state visit to Belarus, I must admit I’m still pretty chuffed to be here. LAUREN ROBERTSON Degree: Modern European Languages at University of Edinburgh and Publishing MA Msc at Edinburgh Napier University Age: 25 Job Title: Rights Assistant at Usborne Publishing My story: I had a few ideas about what I wanted to do after university, I just hadn’t picked one by the time I graduated. I went to France for a year to practise French, only to end up teaching English. After that, I took teaching off the list of career options! Another idea was publishing, which had always seemed too difficult and brilliant to be plausible – making a living from making books? Well, some people did it! After my postgraduate and three internships, I moved home to save money. A job in tourism gave me the flexibility to intern two days a week with a publisher. For nine months, I worked six days a week to earn the money and experience to move to London. Two months later, following internships with Penguin and Hachette, I got a job as Rights Assistant for Usborne - a truly fantastic company. It is a demanding role, but I love it, and fortunately it was worth the wait. @SCOTCAMPUS
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LEIGH MACDONALD Degree: LLB (Hons) & Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at University of Glasgow Age: 26 Job Title: Solicitor at Shepherd and Wedderburn My story: After my diploma year studying Law at university, I secured a two-year traineeship at Shepherd and Wedderburn, which included a six-month secondment with Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd’s legal team. After completion of my traineeship, I was offered a permanent position in the company as a Solicitor specialising in contentious construction and commercial litigation. After five gruelling years of study and two busy years in my traineeship, this was the biggest reward I could have hoped for. I’ve worked hard to find a job that I find both challenging and hugely rewarding, especially when I achieve successful outcomes for clients. Contentious construction wasn’t even an area I was aware of at university, but the traineeship allowed me to try various practises within the legal profession - and I loved the experience and knowledge it gave me. I’m currently working towards my full membership examinations for the CIArb, so the hard work doesn’t ever really end - but I wouldn’t have it any other way! JOHN PAUL FOX Degree: Marketing at University of Strathclyde Age: 25 Job Title: Account Manager at 999 Design My story: I received some great advice early on in university from an industry representative who spoke at one of my lectures. Their advice was invaluable: Meet: learn how to network well early on – don’t miss those quest lectures or industry events! Intern: Relevant work experience is extremely attractive to prospective employers. Approach: Don’t be scared to approach and ask for advice on how best to strategise all elements of your job hunt, from structuring your CV to writing speculative letters. By following this advice, I managed to get myself on the career ladder and have perused exciting and rewarding jobs in my industry of choice. First as an intern at a social media agency, Yomego, where I worked my way up the ranks over four years to the position of Senior Account Manager. I then moved on to work with some exciting new clients at design, branding and digital agency 999 Design in an Account Management role. Listening to sound advice early on really inspired me, and has got me to where I am today. @SCOTCAMPUS
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BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT: MICHELLE MUIRHEAD ANANYAH
WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST EXCITING ABOUT BLOGGING?
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BLOG I’ve been blogging under the pseudonym ‘Ananyah’ for 12 years. My blog was originally created to share my life at University in Aberdeen with my friends back in Singapore and Kuwait, where I grew up. Over the years, it has progressed from personal to lifestyle, with a big influence in food. IS ANANYAH YOUR FULL-TIME JOB? As much as I love blogging, it‘s not my full-time job. My day job is very demanding, working in a huge worldwide IT company as an Infrastructure Test Analyst. WHERE DID YOUR BLOG NAME, ANANYAH, COME FROM? Ananyah (Ann-Ann-Yah) means ‘one of a kind’ in Hindi. I was reading a magazine and I came across the name. I instantly loved it and due to my upbringing all over the world, I thought it was rather fitting.
The people that I’ve met and became friends with. I’ve also had the privilege of working with a lot of brands, invited to various events, asked to review restaurants and was selected as an official BBC Good Food Show Scotland blogger where I was able to interview chefs such as James Martin and meet Paul Hollywood. WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF BLOGGING? Writers block. As I work in the IT Industry, the last thing I want to do some nights is come home from a hectic day and spend the next few hours in front of a laptop. It’s a love-hate relationship at times, but one that I could never see myself giving up. IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU NOTICED THE BLOGOSPHERE CHANGING OVER THE YEARS? There are new breeds of bloggers who assume that they’ll instantly get freebies and/or money. Blogging is hard work and at times feels like a full time job in itself. You have to blog for the love of it, not for the possibility of something for free. ARE THERE ANY OTHER BLOGGERS THAT YOU ADMIRE?
IS SOCIAL MEDIA PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPING YOUR BLOG? I have an endless list of blogs that I love. If I had to pick it would be Glasgow based Alfred’s Foodography, Miss West End Girl, Definitely. You can increase your readership gh0stparties and Last Year’s Girl. Each tells tenfold by keeping up to speed with all the latest a story through amazing photography and social media platforms there are. When creating writing in their individual genre. It also helps a blog post, I create Facebook, Twitter and that they are equally as lovely in real life. Google+ posts to drive traffic. If a post is photo intensive, I also pin it to Pinterest and create an Instagram post with specific hashtags. Ananyah.com
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WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Glasgow’s Streetwise
Food. BY KYM BALLANTYNE
S
ometimes there's nothing like candles, silver service and champagne… Well, maybe on Valentine’s Day. But for all of those days when you've missed the bus, you're late for a lecture or you’re plain hungover, and a dry old sandwich just won't cut it, check out these down to earth establishments... BABU BOMBAY STREET KITCHEN 186 WEST REGENT STREET The absolute best of the best when it comes to authentic Indian cuisine. Babu has gleaned quite the reputation. Boasting an explosion of flavours, there’s a freshness to Babu that you just don't find in a 3am korma after a few too many cocktails. It deserves your undivided attention as the doyen of Glasgow street food. With breakfast, lunch and dinner, for very, very reasonable prices, believe the hype. Babu-kitchen.com
BREAKING BREAD DUMBARTON ROAD Breaking Bread sells its wares from the window of its vintage, powder blue 1971 Citroen van. As abundant in Glaswegian patter as they are in flavour, the Breaking Bread team take local foodies around the world, with an eclectic medley of Caribbean and Middle Eastern flavours. The menu is never the same twice, with the committed team constantly switching it up and staying true to local flavours and availability. Breakingbreadstreetfood.com @SCOTCAMPUS
SUGAR DUMPLIN PRINCES SQUARE Always fancied some Jamaican scran, mon? Lucky for us, Glasgow is in for a treat since Sugar Dumplin has thrown open its doors. Expect a tropical vibe, with Caribbean dishes including: jerk chicken, rice and peas, green slaw, curried lamb, and of course - lashings of barbecue sauce. Seriously funky, the staff have really pushed the boat out in terms of decor, turning the space in Princes Square into paradise with barrels of rum and tropical plants adorning the walls, and a little artificial beach for the kiddies. Sugardumplin.co.uk
HANOI BIKE SHOP 8 RUTHVEN LANE Hanoi Bike Shop is tucked away in the West End, just off Byres Road, selling the very best of Vietnamese street food. The dedicated team make it an unforgettable experience, and it's ultra casual, the perfect place to relax with a freezing beer or, if it's a bit too early, a beautifully ground authentic Vietnamese coffee. All the pretty paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling are a lovely touch, if the odd bicycle not mildly unsettling, but the food... speaks for itself: the rich broths of pho, the freshness of the ingredients, the slurpy noodles, the basil ice cream. Go visit! Thehanoibikeshop.co.uk
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WIN TICKETS TO GO APE!
S
wing into summer with Go Ape and help exam stress become a distant memory.
Go Ape offers the ideal opportunity to hang out and share adventure with the tribe with zip wires, Tarzan swings, obstacles and rope crossings, set amidst some of Scotland’s breathtaking scenery. We’ve teamed up with the good folks from Go Ape to offer two readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the tree top adventure in Scotland. During exams the hours of revision and mental preparation can take their toll, so Go Ape is perfect for sharing a fun and exhilarating experience with fellow primates. There are three unique Go Ape courses located across Scotland, each featuring a Tree Top Adventure. •
Go Ape Aberfoyle in Stirlingshire is zip wire heaven and home to two of Britain’s longest zip wires.
•
Go Ape Peebles features the highest zip in the country, located above a magnificent reservoir.
•
Go Ape Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire is located in the historic grounds of the castle and features the epic skateboard zip wire.
And all Scotcampus readers can share adventure this summer with a 15% off offer for Go Ape in Scotland. To redeem the offer visit Goape.co.uk and use code GAX3X. Go Ape prices range from £31 for a gorilla (aged 16 and over) to £25 for a baboon (aged 10 to 15). For further information and to book a Go Ape adventure visit Goape.co.uk
WIN: TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING, VISIT OUR COMPETITION SECTION ON SCOTCAMPUS.COM TO ENTER AND FOR FULL TS AND CS.
Tent Etiquette. R
ocking up to a festival and pitching your humble abode may seem simple as you pack your bags with booze, baby wipes and banter, but beware of the tension that’s ready to unravel the moment you and your pals crack open that first tin. Heed these rules and you’ll have an in tents (see what we did there?) weekend.
BRING YOUR B.O BASHER
HAUD YER WHEESHT!
It’s totes acceptable to skip showers for the weekend, but that doesn’t mean you should abandon all sense of self-respect. Don’t be a stinky Pete, pack enough deodorant to knock out a small raccoon.
It’s a festival. It’s going to be bloomin’ loud. But for the love of Bob, NOBODY wants to hear your horrific rendition of ‘Wonderwall’ at 5am. Let your neighbours get at least five minutes of kip.
OBEY SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
BRING YOUR OWN FOOD
Keep to YOUR tent. Don’t be that drunk guy who joins a party three fields away and wakes up with a stranger and a tentful of regrets. Plus, noone likes beer/smoke/fast food festival breath.
Get yer paws aff that cheese and pickle delicacy your mate took literally minutes to prepare and have a sandwich making party before you go. Everybody hates a food thief.
REIN IN THE TOMFOOLERY
SMOKEY JOES
We’re not trying to be the fun police. But seriously, being sick in someone’s wellies, dunking people in mud and setting tents on fire – since when did that make you grand jester of the fest? Be super cool by treating your fellow campmates with respect instead. Really!
There’s no escaping the fact that you’re going to come home stinking, but to all Smokey Joes - try and not suffocate your entire party by puffing away in the tent all weekend.
KNOW THY ALCOHOL LIMITS
LOVE THY CAMPSITE
It’s a time to drink in the high spirits, but if you down everything in the first hour, you’ll end up KO'd in your tent before you see any acts, while all your pals get backstage to meet Kasabian.
Festival workers LOVE cleaning the campsite when you all go home, right? WRONG. Do them and the environment a favour by taking all your crap with you. You can always chuck it when you get home.
BE POLITICALLY ERECT
NO MAN GETS LEFT BEHIND
Make sure you’re well-versed in tent building. Because if you get fired into the first round while the rest of your cronies build a masterpiece, you’ll probably be told to sleep outside.
Above all, it’s mates before music. So take care of each other and make sure you shovel your drunkest pal into the car before you drive home. Peace out.
@SCOTCAMPUS
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Have festivals really sold out? BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
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4 million UK adults are planning to head to a festival this year. If they stay true to their word, festival attendances will have doubled in the past three years: a phenomenal vote of support for these summer music bonanzas.
But there’s a downside to this popularity. The swelling demand for tickets has pushed the price of a weekend ticket to major festivals to over £200. Even if we include a bunch of the smaller festivals, the average spend on a festival ticket is £168. That means festivals could rake in as much as £2.35bn from festival-goers in 2015 just from ticket sales. A SUPER-EFFICIENT MARKETING MACHINE With income like that, it didn’t really come as too much of a surprise when we found a YouGov survey in which 35% of people say festivals are too expensive, and 28% say they’re too corporate. Today’s festivals would be unrecognisable to festivalgoers from the ‘60s and ‘70s, who were all about freedom, sharing and ‘opting out’ of society. The Battle of Yeoman’s Bridge at Glastonbury in 1990 led to a raft of extra laws, security measures and, eventually, a super-high
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fence that jarred pretty nastily with the hippie ethos that gave birth to the music festival. Then there’s the corporate sponsorship. Did you know that Burning Man operated a no-money, bartering system when it started out? It even required that favours be given freely, with no expectation of recompense. Now we not only have to fork out for expensive beers, but rarely even get to choose which beer we want. So why do so many people keep getting drawn in by festival fever?
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BIG FESTIVALS, BIG BENEFITS One of the main arguments for ticket prices and sponsorship deals is the rising costs of running a festival. As well as security, land rental and organisation costs, there’s the mind-boggling amounts that superstar performers (and their agents, and their promotors, and their pals) can rake in from their appearances. Paul McCartney, for example, commands £4m per performance, though he only charged Michael Eavis a measly £200,000 when he played Glasto. What a guy. So, the festivals are the middle-men with the buying power to bring the best acts around the globe to a field near you. Many festivals are also big enough to put on stages specialising in new and unsigned acts. These platforms give bands a chance to reach
SEEKING OUT SUBCULTURES Never mind the huge bands, the pageantry and the feeling of being part of a massive community, the biggest benefit of consumerism is that you still have a choice. If you don’t like expensive, commercial festivals boasting bloated headline stars with giant wage bills, you don’t have to go. Heck, you can even have a go at starting your own festival – lots of people do. Green Man set itself up as a family friendly festival with an alternative feel, and retains a unique environment today. And tiny festivals like Oregon’s What the Festival (WTF) and Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Festival offer a niche alternative with a less mainstream vibe. So whether you’re furious about the criminal under-representation of women on festival stages or believe in free, local festivals that @SCOTCAMPUS
audiences they otherwise wouldn’t have access to, in an environment that’s all about having fun. What’s more, despite being distanced from some of the original ideals of outdoor festivals, today’s music mammoths still deliver a unique experience. The scale of the shows put on by the likes of Beyoncé, Kasabian and their fellow megastars is hard to beat. And although you’re distanced from most of the idolised stage stars, there’s still a semblance of community spirit in the crowd, as psychology professor Adrian North put it in an interview with the BBC, "If you are with people you think are cool it reaffirms your own lifestyle choices - you're basically patting yourself on the back." Nothing wrong with that. Self-esteem and identifying with others is pretty amazing. Or so I’m told.
don’t cost an arm and a leg to attend, you can choose to opt out of the big festivals and be part of something different. FRENEMIES If you succeed in finding - or better - creating an independent festival that reflects your values, I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. But I would sound a final note of caution: don’t fool yourself into thinking that the big boys are your enemy. Thanks to those big marketing budgets, festivals are more popular than ever and, because of those inflated ticket prices, music lovers are always looking out for exciting, reasonably-priced alternatives. It’s an opportunity, not a curse. Creative souls out there: embrace it, make the summer magical again, and don’t forget to send me an invite. Peace out.
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INTERVIEW: SYDNEY PADUA
BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
Labour Of
Lovelace. S
ydney Padua is the author of The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage, a new graphic novel that takes place in an alternate universe where computer pioneers Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace actually built the Analytical Engine - and used it to right the wrongs of Victorian Britain. It’s brilliant, it’s bonkers and it’s a vibrant take on the history of computing that should excite history geeks, comic fans and lovers of steampunk. Here’s what she had to say to one very excited nerd: I’D LOVE TO HEAR A BIT OF THE BACKGROUND TO THE COMIC… I’d been thinking of doing a comic for ages. I used to be a 2D animator, you know, the handdrawn stuff back in the day, and I really missed drawing since going into 3D, so I was scoping around for some sort of concept to play with, and I really liked the people and the setting… It was also kind of a way of avoiding other things I was supposed to be doing.
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HOW HARD IS IT JUGGLING YOUR NEW SUCCESS WITH YOUR FULL TIME JOB AS AN ANIMATOR? Oh, it’s hopeless. [Laughs] I’m kind of failing at that right now. I did take a year off to do the book, but I did the comic for almost five years while I was working at the same time… a lot of animators do comics in their spare time, and I used to think they were crazy because it’s quite a tough job so it seemed very strange to me that people would go home and then draw some more, but it’s actually really liberating if you just sit down and let yourself play. DO YOU THINK THE COMIC EXPRESSES SOME OF THAT FREEDOM, OF THE PROCESS NOT BEING ‘WORK’? Actually I think a lot of the comic was coming from my transitioning from hand-drawn to computer animation, and the different ways you look at the world once it becomes digitised, or mechanised, in that way. Someone once told WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
me that what this comic is kind of missing is an ignorant rube ingénue, the person who doesn’t understand all this stuff: but that’s actually me! The characters are a caricature of people who already love the idea of the world being completely turned into an algorithm, the classic kind of Silicon Valley startup who’ll be like, ‘Yeah! We’ll fix all the problems with this great algorithm!’ I guess it’s my sort of joke about that sort of attitude. DO YOU THINK THAT THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN CODING AS A FORM OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION, SO CODE BECOMES THE NEW PEN AND PAPER? Absolutely. But I think it’s a study that’s raced away and created its own little bubble. The division between the people who code and the people who don’t is really unhealthy. There’s a kind of mysticism and hand-waving over things this way, so people are just like ‘no, no you can’t understand it, it’s complicated’. I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER READ FOOTNOTES THAT WERE SO ENTERTAINING. WHAT MADE YOU BRING THOSE IN? It came from the fact that it started out as a web comic, which was really more of a blog. I’d do a few sketches and write all the amazing stuff that I would be doing if I had the time to draw, and at the same time throw in this funny thing I found, so the footnotes are actually a consequence of it being from the internet. It’s that hyperlink, hypertext kind of feel that comes from jumping around and all over Wikipedia to look stuff up. @SCOTCAMPUS
Although getting them to work in book form was really hard. I mean I was reading every single book I could find with extensive footnotes just to see if anybody anywhere had done anything similar so I could see if it would work! AFTER ALL YOUR RESEARCH AND WRITING, IS IT HARD TO SEPARATE THE REAL LOVELACE AND BABBAGE FROM YOUR CREATIONS? Oh God yes. It’s really hard. I think that’s one of the reasons I wound up doing so much kind of parallel universe vs. real world stuff. There was a point at which I felt I should maybe do just a straight graphic novel about the real people, but it started feeling disrespectful. I felt like I couldn’t put the real people in a graphic novel because I’d have to simplify and caricature them. To pretend that I could capture actual human beings in that format, it just didn’t feel like something I can do. So I created these characters from the impression they made on me instead. DO YOU THINK ADA LOVELACE REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG WOMEN TO GET INTO CODING? Yeah, she’s been kind of put in that place, particularly because hers is such a romantic story with charismatic figures! So there’s a lot of ways in which she can maybe encapsulate this ambivalence to the difficulties of women going into this field. She really had to fight and claw her way into it. You can read more of from Syndney Padua on Scotcampus.com, and you’ll find The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage in all good book shops.
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Viva La
Revolución? BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
M
ay the 7th was the biggest electoral revolution in the history of Scotland. The SNP took 56 of 59 available seats, a meteoric rise from the six Westminster seats claimed in 2010. In the process they obliterated Scottish Labour, who lost 40 of their 41 seats in Westminster, and hamstrung the Liberal Democrats. But what’s the broader implication of this sea of yellow? And what can we expect in the future? THE INDEPENDENCE ISSUE However radical the political shift in Scotland, we shouldn’t be expecting immediate action on independence anyway. The SNP never pitched the election as a referendum rerun, it was all about getting Scotland’s voice heard in Westminster. Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly ruled out another referendum in the next five years, and the Conservatives are unlikely to back out of their pro-Union promises and allow it to happen. GALVANISED YOUTH? Across the UK, young voter (18-24s) turnout was estimated at 58% by the British Election Study (BES). Not a great figure considering pre-election predictions of 69% from YouGov. 58% also falls below the UK average of 66% voter turnout, and way below the stats from the Independence Referendum, for which 89% of 16 and 17 year olds registered to vote.
There also remain rifts within the SNP, as George Kerevan, representative for East Lothian, noted after the election, “What has happened tonight is not about independence, because even a place like East Lothian that voted resoundingly for No in the referendum has come into the SNP camp”. This suggests that the debate between full independence and federalism is likely to rumble on for the duration of parliament.
So, if we can’t expect the SNP to make an immediate move toward their primary objective, In context, however, the results look much we’re left with a big question… better: 58% represents a solid rise from 52% in 2010 and 38% in 2005. What’s more, we’ve seen young people (and particularly young women) play a major part in the election. The personification of this advance is 20-yearold politics student and SNP member Mhairi Black, who ousted Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander to become the new MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South; and the youngest MP since 13-year-old Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, took office in 1667. However, Scotland’s young people must dissect the results, understand the reality of the situation, and maintain pressure if this is to be a real revolution for Scotland.
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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE SNP? On the morning after the election, Alex Salmond declared that “the Scottish Lion has roared”, and Scotland will now be heard in Westminster, whether the Tories like it or not. The issue is how far the SNP can realistically progress their policies now that the predicted hung parliament has failed to materialise. We can, and should, expect the SNP to battle against austerity and further cuts; but whereas a minority Labour government could have been dealt with, a majority Conservative government is a different beast: one which the SNP won’t want to provoke an immediate and, ultimately, futile conflict with. Instead, they’re likely to push for several shortand medium-term objectives, including the full implementation of the Smith Commission’s recommendations for further devolution. That will mean a push for the devolution of employment policy and business tax: which could mitigate some of the impact of Conservative austerity north of the border. And it’s up to their constituents to ensure they achieve these goals. WHAT CAN YOU DO? In light of the compromises within the SNP, and the unexpected landscape in the newly elected Houses of Parliament, it’s more important than ever for those who believe in a Scottish revolution to commit themselves to the cause.
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Austerity protests have already happened in London and, if Scotland wants to remain a potent voice in the UK, Scottish campaigners must align themselves with their numerous English sympathisers. As well as engaging with political movements through university, there’s no excuse for not staying informed on hot topics through the many campaign sites that operate in the UK. Avaaz, Change.org, SumofUs, 38degrees and Positive Money all organise newsletters, petitions and campaigns, and there are lots more out there for you to discover. Then there’s the matter of accountability. The time for screaming vocal support for one candidate or another has passed. You’re not their supporter now, they’re your MP, they work for you. Monitoring their voting activity in Westminster and how active a role they take in politics is critical in ensuring that your objectives are met. You can find individual contact details and even voting records at TheyWorkForYou. com, all you have to do is enter your postcode and their details will pop right up. There are also announcements and reports on party websites and at Parliament.uk. Write letters, sign petitions, remind them you’re watching and, you never know, we might yet see a revolution through to completion. After all, the best thing about having youth on your side is that you’re here for the long haul.
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Art In
The Digital Age. BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
E
milie Carruthers and Emma Parviainen are Digitisation Trainees at the National Galleries of Scotland. We spoke to them as part of BBC Radio 3’s Young Artists’ Day to find out what the two recent arts graduates think about their new line of work, and its potential impact on the art world… CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING YOU’VE HAD TO PRESERVE AND THE PARTICULAR CHALLENGES IT GAVE YOU? EC: The main challenge has been the photography, preserving them digitally. We’ve had issues with dust on photographs, for example, so that you have a really dark background. So being able to handle that and still get a decent image to preserve has been one of the major challenges. EP: I would say that one of the major ways that
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digitisation contributes to preserving artworks is that once you take a digital image of the original object you don’t have to necessarily exhibit it, or you don’t have to handle it as much as you would have to otherwise. For example, drawings and photographs are extremely light sensitive and they get badly damaged if you expose them to light for long periods of time; by having a digital image of an object you still provide the access to anyone who wants to see it, but you’re not going to damage the object and you will still have it in the next 100 years time. THAT MUST GIVE YOU A HUGE AMOUNT OF JOB SATISFACTION… EP: I would say that’s definitely one of the main things that I love about this work, and creating more access so that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from or where you are in the world, you’re still able to see these great works of art that are here in Scotland, just on your home on your computer. You don’t need to travel all the way here to see them. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
DO YOU THINK AS WELL THOUGH THAT IT’S IMPORTANT TO SEE THINGS IN THE FLESH AS WELL? EP: Of course, and I think if you haven’t seen an image of an object, if you don’t know it exists, there’s no way you’re going to want to see it! EC: Yeah, it’s kind of a first step in the visitor journey. You’re hoping they’re going to see it online, want to come and see it, come into the gallery, see it in the flesh. So they don’t cancel each other out. There’s a marriage of the digital and the physical object that’s really important. IT’S EASY TO THINK OF IT AS ‘JUST’ PRESERVATION, BUT COULD YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT THESE DIGITAL COPIES MIGHT BE USED FOR? EC: These images will go onto the website and they’ll be there for people to search for in different ways. They could do advanced searching, simple searches by artist, by location, that kind of thing. Looking further, you would hope they’ll be used to provide access to people who wouldn’t normally go on the website. So using them on social media, or within games, different places where people won’t necessarily be looking for art but where they can stumble across it or find it: and that will maybe entice them to come onto the website or into the gallery to look at it.
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EP: And obviously there are many different audiences like your sort of ‘normal’ visitor who just wants to look up some art online. Students doing research, academics, there are just so many people who are going to find this useful. DO YOU THINK THE DIGITAL AGE IS CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE WORK WITH ART? EC: Definitely, artists are inspired by their environment and there’s no way you can deny that digital is everywhere. But it almost makes me think that a lot of artists kind of want to ignore that and have a kind of retro return to your contact with things, and being less detached from the making of objects and the making of art, but I think artists can choose whether to adopt it or not. EP: I think there will always be people who want to see the original object, who want to be inspired by the physical object in front of you and that’s great. I don’t think that’s going to disappear. But at the moment, digital seems to be the way it’s going and smaller organisations will want to digitise their collections as well, so there will be more access. But there will be so much material that the difficulty becomes how to find what you’re looking for. So it’s interesting!
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5 Best...Music Apps . BY RACHAEL PROCTER
W
e’ve all seen the unsociable commuters with white cables dangling from their ears to their mobiles. But this does block out the roars of untameable children. Check out these alternative music apps suitable for all musos.
GARAGE BAND
SONG KICK
This has everything you need to bring that musical idea to life without even consulting the clefs. Garage Band is a mixing desk that enables artists to layer up multiple tracks and create songs that can be shared online and downloaded. With options to use in-app instruments or plug in your own for a totally unique sound, there is every possibility that the next number one is trapped inside your phone.
You know that sinking feeling - when everyone and their gran got tickets for the gig you knew nothing about. Good news! A cure has been found for all you lovers of live music. Song Kick scans your music library and notifies you when your favourite artists are playing close to your location (can it scan the rest of our lives too, please?)
Platforms: iOS Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android, PC Price: Free VIDEO STAR FINALLY. An app that means you can record yourself miming the tunes on your phone and not have to listen to yourself getting breathy on the loud notes. There are even in-app opportunities to add effects and speed up/slow down the music depending on your musical persona of the day. Platforms: iOS Price: Free ULTIMATE GUITAR
Garage Band
Song Kick
Video Star
Ultimate Guitar
This is the fundamental app for every guitar player. Whether you want to be the next Jimi Hendrix or to perfect 'Wonderwall' for house parties, Ultimate Guitar has thousands of easy-to-read tabs with lyrics to take you from novice player to pro performer quicker than the crowds can cheer “ENCORE”. Platforms: iOS, Android, PC Price: Free (£2.29 for GuitarPro) STEREOMOOD
Stereomood
Stereomood is a free music streaming service that plays music tailored to your mood. Simply select the playlist closest to your mood from the drop down menu and relax, safe in the knowledge that Slipknot will KNOT (lol) be making a surprise appearance during your chilled-out LUSH bath. Platforms: iOS, PC
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FREE BOOKS FOR BOOKWORMS We can’t stop giving shizz away this month. We think it might be something to do with that strange yellow orb that’s been appearing in the sky… Our bookshelf is so full of brand spanking new books that we have stacks for you to win. Choose from a plethora of page-turners, from compelling careers advice to juicy fiction.
WE’RE GIVING AWAY HUNNERS OF FESTIVAL TICKETS
WE’RE PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON SCOTLAND’S STUDENTS
Get ready to avoid showers for an entire weekend – festival season is here! But no one enjoys shelling out the dosh for tickets. That’s why we scooped up a bagful for you to win! So get clicking for your chance to pitch your tent at the best festivals in Scotland and beyond. Just don’t say we’re not good to you. Seriously, don’t.
We’ve been tracking Scotland's students for an insight into student life across the country’s diverse courses. Who knows, you might find out a few things you didn’t expect about that degree you initially wrote off, or have your eyes opened to a whole new career path. Us? We still really want to be astronauts.
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WE’RE STEALING CELEBS’ CLOTHES Kind of. Not really. We just know that in between studying, part-time jobs and, of course, going out, there are very few hours to spend trying to find reasonably priced alternatives for celeb outfits. Luckily, we have a few budget options! So jump into our wardrobe of spot-on style steals. It’s like Narnia, but infinitely more trendy. BIG LOLS AND ROFLS Whether it’s sniggering at the week’s best tweets, Madge falling down the stairs or cats in tights (real thing), our childish humour has no boundaries. Our weekly Friday Funny is the only outlet we have to share the daftest comedy around. Got any funnies of your own? Don’t forget to share them (we’re a barrel of laughs so we are).
What's Happening On
Scotcampus.com @SCOTCAMPUS
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What We Learned Online
This Month.
WE’VE BEEN MAKING INTERNET DISCOVERIES LIKE IT’S GOING OUT OF FASHION…
BECAUSE PAIN = BEAUTY
PAUL WALKER BREAKS SPEED AND MUSIC LIMITS
Wiz Khalifa’s tearful tribute to Paul Walker ‘See You Again’, broke Spotify records with 21.9million streams from 6 to 12 April. We miss your smile, Paul.
The latest bid to look more like a Kardashian has come in the form of lip enhancers. These are varied sized, oval plastics that press against your lips when you suck them, creating a fuller outline for your lips. Surgery-free. Yes. Are we for it? Hmm…
IT’S COOL, SHE’S A LADY
She was unapologetic; he looked wildly terrified. And we can’t help wondering if the situation would’ve been received differently had the roles been reversed…
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THE TATTOO WE WON’T BE GETTING
Forget a cute quote across your ribs with your BFF. There’s a new eye-watering tattoo craze on the block: corneal tattooing. It’s a no from us. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
presentS:
the careers annual 2015 read online scotcampus.com