Slight Motif Issue V

Issue No.5

Why-Axis Andre Fazaz Mona Lxsa

FeliSpeaks

YomsTV

Uncle Ed

Tessy

それは

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Editor's Corner Well, it has been a minute! From the first to the fourth issue, Slight Motif have more or less released monthly magazine issues. The last was released in march, why the long wait? one word; Students. Summer break is upon us now and you know what that means-- we've been working! Presenting Slight Motif's fifth issue. We hope this issue makes up for the wait aswell as alot more projects and developments to come pretty soon To focus on the now, Issue 5 has us discovering a very unique artist; Sean Ryan AKA Why-Axis. Why-Axis just released a project that got our attention and encouraged us to do a shoot and interview with him regarding the style and themes adopted in the music.

We also talk music with upcoming Afro-swing artist Olamide Andre Fazaz, who has been pretty familiar to the Slight Motif team for a while now and we eventually had to document him. Look out for a page dedicated to the Chief Editor, Femi's favourite verse

by Andre. We also interview Spoken Word Artist, Felicia Olusanya; FeliSpeaks, who has been making a lot of brilliant noise wih her live shows and performances. DCU Africa Society were able to organize an interview with twitter sensations; YomsTV amd Uncle Ed about their stay in Dublin since the comedians are English-based.

It's World Cup season! Of all the podcasts we are familiar with, it was only right and finally time to hit up 3AtTheBack; a football podcast made up of Jordan Mindomba and Joseph Kuye for a quick piece. The photographers corner this issue got us diving into Tessys world and lastly, DJ and founder of gxrlcode, DJ Mona Lxsa hits us up with her Playlist of the month To sign off, I want to thank every single act we’ve worked with. Thank you for your willingness to do whatever crazy concept we had for you, for your professionalism and the amazing content we hope you continue to make. Stay tuned.

Joseph Adegbemi Editor

contents

PHOTO BY TOBI IREIN

Cover Act WHY-AXIS p14

Features Andre Fazaz p26 Playlist of the Month p38 Yoms + Uncle Ed p42 Tessy Photography p50 FeliSpeaks p58

Collaborators Michael D'Angelo Jummy Agboola Caleb Mubango Sarah McKernan Shekinah Babalola Ayo Esther James Jean Luis Email: slightmotif@gmail.com Contact: 0864048650/0899556704

WHY-AXIS

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“I had to listen to a lot of I just listened to trap, all me is trap. I listen to va music cause it really op

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Airplane mode; Why-Axis, theme cigarettes and f pretty detailed a for the cover of album came ou immediately ab with him and ex him. Being a mo experimental m do say so myself for it.

The Irish urban s Why-Axis is livin Airplane Mode, a album made up to reveal a refres the hip-hop gen has progressed f instrumentals an performing his v Slight Motif team to talk through t specifically abou “Airplane Mode” title and the styl it was only right theme around fl and Marlboro. Th Edge studios Ta scheduled for th team, Why Axis (guitarist) and S model) skated a props. The idea pilot and Sarah shoots. A song fr encouraged an a presence and an Why-Axis. The d could very easily the shoot with s light, bright bac root and pulled colour combinat got new skatebo didn’t know he w couldn’t help bu board, showing tattoos, a skateb

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f different things, if l you’d hear from arious genres of pens your mind”

An EP by Sean Ryan, AKA ed on, girls, tattoos, lying, brought about a and intense photoshoot this issue. Once the ut, I hit the artist up bout getting an interview; xplained the shoot idea to odel and also a free musician (also sound lad if I f), he was very much up

scene is ever evolving and ng proof. His latest work, an eighteen minutes long p of six songs was enough shing sound and style in nre. The upcoming vocalist from producing unique nd beats to rapping to and very own creations. The m sit down with Why-Axis the process and more ut his most recent release ”. As a play on the album le of music on the album, t to keep the photoshoot light attendants, captains he shoot was taken at llaght. Prior to the time he shoot, the Slight Motif and friends; Jean Luis Sarah Mckernan (female around town to shop for was to dress Sean up as a as a hostess figure in the rom the EP called “Save it” aggressive airhostess n unbothered or frustrated istortion in his music y have been portrayed in splashes of colour against a ckground; but we went this it off with the minimal tion. Why-Axis and Jean oards earlier that day -- We was a skater, Class! We ut pose him with the new off a bit of skin because board and why not?

Although Why-Axis is more used to Flying high and being in airplane mode, we had to remain grounded for the interview and take it back to a more humble mode of transport - the back of the ever dependable Dublin Bus. We discovered Why-Axis from a documentary on Urban Youth, by Nonzus Magnus at the end of 2016. At the time, we assumed he was solely an alternative hip-hop instrumentals creator. Fast forward to 2018, the release of Airplane mode takes away all possible doubt about the massive development the artist has made in his music. Not only did he add vocals to his crisp production, he had also completely changed his style of producing and developed a unique flow and method of riding his instrumentals.

Words: Joseph Adegbemi

Airplane mode was the first release that got our attention since the documentary in 2016 but Why-Axis had been very busy on his soundcloud with various instrumentals, singles and features between the 2 years. Marlboro breath was the first full song released in which he used his own vocals, and was also featured on Airplane Mode, the last song on the EP. “There is this song called ‘See You’ on one of my older EPs which was just production but I had my own vocals on that track and that was kinda me experimenting. I started off real chill electronic and experimental”. Why-Axis talks briefly about the documentary; “he [Nonzus] got in contact with me after hearing my EP ‘Bad Reception’ at the time” -- between the name of that EP and “Airplane mode”, it seems like he may really have problems with phones. “The documentary really did well, it was so sick visually. I didn’t know what to expect at the time. I also didn’t have a lot of stuff out at the time, so it was a really great opportunity and I was lucky to get that”. Why-Axis believes the documentary gave him a more assertive passion towards music and talks more on the creative process. “I had to listen to a lot of different things, if I just listened to trap, all you’d hear from me is trap. I listen to various genres of music cause it really opens your mind”. After listening to a few recent songs from the artist, I was able to coin a genre that would describe his style from the beats to the random unexpected switch-ups in the production and delivery -- “distorted hip-hop” but the question still posed to clarify if Why-Axis had a particular style he was going for, the same way an artist like Lil Yatchy would classify his music as Mumble Rap. His response; “Every song is so different, I don’t really care what type of music I make. A lot of the time, I am rapping over beats so if I was to call it something, I’d just say ‘Alternative Rap’.”

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Now we talk the latest EP, Airplane Mode is a six track album that a listener can get through in 18 minutes. The title tracks include; Downtown Girl, Airplane Mode, Fly WIth Me, Save it , Baby’s Tattoos and Marlboro breath (A remastered marlboro breath). Why-Axis favourite track seems to be “Baby’s Tattoos” based on entirely how it came about and what he was able to accomplish with the song. The song is as the name implies, about a girl with tattoos. It features acoustic strings performed by Jon Luis who is very involved in a lot of Why-Axis work, a good friend of the artist who was also present at the shoot. “I listen to a lot of indie music! like ‘alot alot’ of indie music. I really wanted to make a song like that. I had an acoustic guitar in my house and we [WhyAxis and Jon Lui] went out the front at 4 am in the morning to smoke joints and stuff. No one was around, he was coming up with different melodies, I was singing different melodies and we came up with something. Got up super early in the morning before I went to work and just busted the whole track out in one go”.

This is interesting because the end of the song features a voice recording of him singing the hook to the song and WhyAxis confirms that that was a voice note that took place that very night.

Words: Joseph Adegbemi

“I want to make ska music, it’s like fast reggae, you know Madness? The Specials? listen to them, that’s the kind of music I want to make”

Downtown girl, an experimental pop sound is the first song on the album as well as the first song chosen to be on the album, Kicking it off with an unexpected sound. An artist’s choice of what songs will be on the album is usually not the same order in which the songs actually appear on the album, but I’d say this was the first time that was the case. “When I was doing gigs before the EP, I realised the crowd couldn’t really bop. I was making real chill music and rapping all over. The crowd couldn’t really bop, they’d just stand there and listen. I needed to put a dance or bop element into my sound” Downtown girl was the answer.

Downtown girl is the only song on the album currently with visuals on youtube.

The video features Why-Axis in a room full of polaroid pictures of naked women and many more. The video has reached about 68,000 views and counting.

Save it, one of my favourites from the album, features an outstanding performance from both Why-Axis and singer/songwriter, Jessy Rose. In the song, Why-Axis is telling a girl to save “it” for the weekend because he is occupied during the weekdays-- I’ll leave ‘It’ to your imagination. “Trenchtown, Electric Picnic, they were playing reggae music. I love reggae music. I really wanted to make something like this. I tried to make a reggae sound with Save it while keeping it boppy and rapping over it”.

12 Airplane Mode, Fly with me and Baby’s Tattoos feature female vocals that really add to the feel of the songs. They are all from the same girl; Lydia Sheils or Majestic Lydia. “She is one of the most amazing singers I’ve ever come across. I heard her singing on soundcloud on poorly produced beats and I thought to myself ‘your voice is so good, why are you singing over this’. I had never met her before, we hadn’t talked or anything and I wanted to re-record what she had done. Our relationship started from there and we’d just produce music together”. This then prompted Why-Axis to have Lydia on his album. He appreciated her talent so much that she features in half of the album.

“Without her, Airplane Mode wouldn’t sound the same, definitely not. Her voice is incredible”.

The style Why-Axis has adopted enables him to be very versatile as he continues developing as an artist. We ask him about the style of music he would try to adopt next, that is, if it is clear to him at this point in time. “I don’t feel like there is a sound but I would like to keep the ‘wobbliness’. There is a wobbly thing I’ve got going on. It sounds weird but I like it.” he explains, and funny enough I and most of his listeners would very much understand what he means. “I’ll always keep that but everything else will change” he then adds “I want to make ska music, it’s like fast reggae, you know Madness?

The Specials? listen to them, that’s the kind of music I want to make”

Why-Axis had a show for this EP in May at the underground which to his surprise, sold out. He has been able to create listeners,supporters and an overall loyal fanbase from people he had never seen before in his life and he is still very much in awe of it all. “Social media man! I didn’t think much of instagram at the time but there’s a lot of people on this listening to me”. It’s been a challenge for him, being an independent musician, to get his music out there and he is very aware of this. He tries to educate himself as to how to market better; “I sit down and study that stuff, it’s marketing. It’s a big thing in music that people underestimate. you can have the best song in the world and if no one is listening to it what’s the point? you need to know how to market your stuff.”

The listeners will only increase from here, the quality will only get better from here and Sean ‘Why-Axis’ Ryan will only get bigger from here. Check out his collective body of work on his soundcloud (Link attached).

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t

Before the shoot, Why-Axis joked about Jessy performing a whole verse and saying “Stay for the weekend” rather than “Save it for the weekend” and how Jessy would insist to leave it that way. “I wanted a very good vocalist on the track. I knew Jessy a long time. Jessy would always come over to the house. I knew instantly that he’s who I needed on the song”. Jessy Rose has been making waves in the Irish urban scene. A notable Jessy Rose moment for us was hearing his vocals featured on American rapper, Goldlinks’ album “At what cost” on the song “Herside story”. The song was originally a Hare Squead classicJessy Rose’s former group. “It’s so hard getting in contact with Jessy sometimes.

When it’s with Jessy, you don’t make plans to meet Jessy, he just ends up in your house and after that I never know when I’ll see him again” Why-Axis jests. “I was about to get a train back home at 11pm, I had work the next day and next thing I get a call from Jessy saying ‘man come to blanch, I’m in the studio, Nonzus is here! everyone’s here! let’s do it! we are doing this! quick!’ So I told myself I really need to get this done, I want Jessy on this song. so I hop on the first bus to blanchardstown and we worked on the song, he really liked the instrumental too even though it was his first time hearing it.”

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Motifs Make sure you don't miss out on some of July's best Motifs.

Galway International Arts Festival Galway 16-29 July

Urban Friday Longitutde AfterParty 13 July Wrights Venue Swords

Action Bronson 18 July The Academy Dublin

Michael Buble 7 July Croke Park Dublin

Tinchy Stryder 21 July Safaris Niteclub The Hiland, Newmarket, Cork

Coro 21 J 3Ar Dub

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RagnBone Man 25th July Trinity College Dublin

onas July rena blin

Tekno 6 July Wrights Dublin

Bruno Mars 12 July Marlay Park Dublin

Sushi Festival 21 July Dublin

stnevE

Culture Vultures 5 July The Sound House Dublin

André

Breaking Barriers In Sound Words by: Joseph Adegbemi

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Fazaz 72

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“Me personally, as an artist, interpret the Irish culture and a the same time. Living in ireland being African, being Nigerian. M would be dope

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Within the last couple of years, Ireland has witnessed a wave of extremely talented artists coming from all parts of the country. It feels like the only things needed now, are more exposure and the expansion of this niche fan base to a wider audience in ireland.

At Slight Motif, this is what we try to do with the artists that we cover - Yes, you're welcome! We introduce you to new artists and try to capture their unique style through interviews and shoots. In this issue, we sit down with upcoming Afro-swing artist Olamide Fazaz AKA Andre Fazaz to talk about experiences and hindrances in Irish music industry; as well as his desires to break into UK scene. He aims to create awareness for dope artists in Ireland which will in turn, increase the audience here and create one in the UK. It might not be known to a lot of Slight Motif readers- If you’re out there. (Matter of fact first person to see this and address it to us on twitter gets a free jumper), but most of the Slight Motif team live in Balbriggan. This was perfect because Andre lives in Drogheda and reps his city to the fullest. So, of course we wanted to do a shoot in or close enough to his hometown -Not just because it was a great excuse for a moderately lazy team to work close to home also- Andre arrives at 19:18 pm for an interview and shoot scheduled for 18:00pm after missing three and a half trains.

The team, being our proactive-selves, used the lost hour to look for dope spots for a photoshoot around the Balbriggan train station -we don't like walking- once again, it's not about laziness, it's about working smart.

As soon as an eager Andre arrived, we kicked off with the interview.

Andre had been in and around the music scene long before the release of his debut EP earlier this year. He was featured on “Fix Yourself” with Dublin based gospel rapper King David early in 2017. He also worked with Dublin based artist Evan junior, a member of Rnb/trap trio: TED on his EP “4 you” at the end of 2017.

So why the long wait before releasing any of his own music? “Just tryna find my sound you know? I started off as gospel then transitioned to dancehall, then Afro-swing”. Andre did gospel music for about 2 years. “My first gospel show was back in 2016, I was with a band called HYP” members of this band seemed to be familiar names, one being Debola Shomoye of issue 3. The band broke up later on due to commitments, college and other obligations. This didn’t stop Andre and his passion. He gained inspiration from new Afroswing artists such as Notes, 23, Kojo Funds, Jhus which pulled him towards the unique genre. “I’m a huge Not3s fan and after hearing his EP, I was like ‘nah’ I’d love to try this out.

Not3s was the main inspiration for me to go into Afro-swing”. Andre further talks about the music he made at the time, tracks he featured on and the style he was adopting around those periods. On discussing his feature in King David’s “Fix Yourself”, Andre describes it as a sort of gospel but mostly empowering song with the hook and refrain written by Dearfach records, Prod. Solo and Dublin based artist Jafaris, who was Issue 4’s cover spread.

Andre tapped into the Afro-Swing style in “Take you right there” on Evans Junior’s EP “4 you” and has recently released a 4 song EP called “Hold one vibes”.

, I feel like I can also Afro-Swing at d for 12 years and Mixing both cultures e�

It's Andre Fazaz yeah All these little bxtches going mazza I can take your girl way faster

Eat that up like

23

“I’m a huge Not3s fan and after hearing h I was like ‘nah’ I’d love to try this out. N was the main inspiration for me to go into swing”

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Afro-swing being a sub-genre developed in the UK might take away from the fact that the artists who produce these songs in Ireland are from Ireland. This brings to mind that it could be a problem, in the sense that successful Afro-swing artist may not be able to keep ties with Ireland since the sound is authentic to the UK. We asked Andre about his thoughts on this. He indicated that he is aware of this and we talked further about the need for a medium, sound, or platform that can be acceptable, relatable and accessible for urban listeners in Ireland. “When people say Irish music right now, you think folk music or like Irish dancing” Andre says jokingly “We don’t have an Irish urban sound that we can distinctively say is ours” Andre believes that implementing something irish into the music rather than looking for a sound right now, would be the best way. “Me personally, as an artist, I feel like I can interpret the Irish culture and also Afro-Swing at the same time.

Living in ireland for 12 years and being African, being Nigerian. Mixing both cultures would be dope”.

Andre talks new music -- “Irish girl”which is still in the works is an ode to, you guessed it, an Irish girl. This will be merging both cultures in his way by using the Afroswing style and still making the content based on where he lives - his comfort zone, Ireland. A subtle example of artist incorporating sounds of their motherland into their music here in Ireland would be the song “Shawty” by Dan Narcissism, a member of the trio TED. With lyrics like “Dublin, I don’t Milly-Rock, I do the Bop” which is a nod at PlayBoi Carti’s “In New York, I Milly-Rock” off of hit single “Magnolia”. “I would say, if anything, If we want to start our own sound, that would be the first avenue”.

Andre’s branch more lis are mu distribu this par Ireland my hea help th song in time. “I’ daily fo (pronou Youtub subscrib artists, n confide gonna h sound “ hopefu shows.”

Long ro artist bu what he out all h EP; Hol sites.

his EP, Not3s o Afro-

s plan for the future with his music is to h into the UK scene since Afro-swing is stened to there. As well as that, there uch more avenues to promote and ute music and even more specifically, rticular genre. “The music scene in is growing but not quick enough. In ad, If I make it in the UK scene, it would he Irish scene.” Andre talks of another n the works with a music video this ’m gonna drop a music video on GRM or a song called sawcebwoy unced; sauce boy noun)” GRM daily is a be channel with over 1 million bers for Grime, Drill and Afro-swing news, interviews etc. Andre is very ent about this next song; “you guys hear it very soon” he makes a sizzling “HOT!” Andre continues “After that, ully by next year, albums and headline ” oad ahead for the upcoming Afro-swing ut we will always be on the lookout for e does next. In the meantime, Check his previous work, especially his latest ld One Vibes, available on all streaming

 YTILIBATS

CONFESSION BOX

I don't love my boyfriend back.

He tells me he loves me everyday. He calls me his wife. He tells me how much he cares about me. He makes sure to facetime me everyday. But I don't love him back.

He's made mistakes sure, we got over them, but that might be because I don't want to lose him. I don't want to lose him because I like the stability having a boyfriend brings, not my boyfriend.Â

Bio: 18 student from Dublin

To listen to Mona Lxsa's playlist, on Spotify, simply get out your phone camera and and scan the QR Code above.

PLAYLIST PLAYLIST PLAYLIST PLAYLIST OF OF OF THE THE MONTH MONTH MONTH MONTH

So instead of cultivating a playlist filled with your typical drake and migos bangers, I’ve decided to highlight some of the artists that are pushing the boundaries and building the music scene in Ireland. These are some of the talented artists who are taking over my library these days. I am so proud of the music being produced here!

Much Love!

--

DJ Mona Lxsa

(Disclaimer: The songs in this playlist are in no particular order)

Song

Artist

Ya phone

Nina Jae

Don Like that

Zeno

Reflection

Tolu Makay

Wedding Ringz

Kevi Knight

Shawty

TED

What do you know

Soule

Amanda

Eldad Hotshotts ft Evans Junior

Girls like us

Zali

Found my Feet

Jafaris

New LVL Shit

Alicia Raye

Song

Artist

Don’t wanna doubt you

Shookrah

Elbows

Day_s

Live, Laugh and Love

NC Grey

Tired

Rushes

Tired

Celaviemai

Good Intentions

Erica Cody

Nuh Fi Hurt me

JyellowL

My lady

Andre Fazaz

Fix my ring

Cubez ft Reggie

Ring Ring

Jay Ronic

Yoms a Uncle E

The Interview

One of ma hosted ea Africa Soc award up athletes in awarded u based com Ed, to Dub slight mo of gatheri ended up ireland an “I haven’t fun “ Yom Ireland. Th throughou were able fans scram “There’s a “but that’s alright”. A or even an confused. him but Y [Yomz], D you know Yomz and event so i much or h snapchat

Photography by: Michael D'Angelo

and ED

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"There's a lot of white people, but that's alright, we've seen Get Out 2" -YomsTV

w About Nothing

Yomz and Uncle Ed are breakthrough comedians of the digital era,with a lot of recognition and huge fanbase coming from the Twitter community.

Yomz’s skits take on simple encounters highlighting relationships and reactions, usually ending in hilariously exaggerated and unexpected plot twists. Uncle Ed’s skits, on the other hand takes imitations of the black girl stereotype, fleshed out with antics between their significant other, in groups, and on snapchat and instagram. Both comedians,create ironic and satirical content that hilariously hold up a mirror (or selfie cam) to our pocket of society.

This wasn't the first time Yomz and Uncle Ed have worked outside their home of England; they were both in Scotland this year for a show they never got to really explaining to us. They both became familiar faces on social media, specifically twitter around the same period of time, so it begged the question of whether or not they knew each other at the time; and enabled the other's popularity on social media. Yomz and Uncle Ed looked at each other as I ask the question and both exclaim at the same time.

“Wanna tell the story?” Uncle Ed asks and Yomz replies “I didn’t like him, if I’m being real. Like I saw his work, then when I actually met him, I thought he was a prick”. Uncle Ed confirms “I was, I was” and Yomz continues “But, we join forces and kinda found out that we had a similar idea that we wanted to create, which is a dating show”.

erutluC

any-to-come Afro-Irish award ceremonies was arlier this year by Dublin City University (DCU)’s ciety. The aim of the event was to recognise and coming musicians, creatives, businesses and n Ireland. The show not only promoted and upcoming innovators; it also introduced London medians and Twitter sensations; YomsTV and Uncle blin for the first time as hosts for the evening. The tif team talked to the comedians with the intention ing their thoughts and opinions about Ireland but p having a conversation on white people, girls in nd prejudice against bald people. got to see all of it, but everything so far has been mz replies when asked what he thought about his would be the most direct reply we got ut the interview. Once the show was over, and we e to get their attention through the midst of various mbling to get pictures and videos with them. a lot of white people” Yomz continues about Ireland s alright, we’ve watched Get Out 2 twice so it’s As there hasn't been a sequel to the movie released nnounced, he left us and his co-host a little . “2? Get-Out 2?” Uncle Ed interrupts to try correct Yomz confirms “Yes it’s coming, I am in it. Me Daniel Kaluuya, Michael B. Jordan, we are all in it w what I’m saying? It’s coming 2019”. d Uncle Ed arrived to Ireland on the day of the in all fairness, they probably wouldn't have seen had much to say but they had been active on their and instagram stories, especially Yomz

INTERVIEW AND WORDS BY: JOSEPH ADEGBEMI

@YomsTV

@UncleEd419

When asked about the dating show they both exclaimed once more and Yomz says “Listen, all I want to say about the dating show is that it’s the best dating show ever!” Uncle Ed then continues “I'm not even saying that cause we made it but it’s nothing in contention”. The method they both adopted towards hosting the award show would fit well in a dating show if I do say so myself so it would only make sense that these two would have something of those sorts in the works. The boys talk about problems involving executing the dating show and settling on the release date in their way of communicating; “Lawyers have got us like legit, guys if you want to make a proper show and do stuff properly, you would have to sort out the legal side of things, we can’t reveal too much but I promise you it’s the best dating show ever.”

The interview shifts from there. Yomz played his hair and kept claiming that he was bald, a always wearing a durag. We've seen his hair i before he was Durag-Papi; it was pretty full a I’m bald” Yomz says in a sad tone and Uncle E something? You lot are being racist. What’s w don’t like the discrimination towards people continues “I have a receding hairline, you get asked if we could see this receding hairline si flat cap and Uncle Ed replies “Who’s this guy? adds to the confrontation “Can we see your f you can make out where they were going wit humorously colourful with their language on

74

"Can I say something? You lot are being racist.

What’s wrong with being bald? I don’t like the discrimination towards people with no hair" -Uncle Ed

on having insecurities about and that was his reason for in older videos, the days nd very visible. “I’m bald bro.

Ed jumps in “ Can I say wrong with being bald? I with no hair” Uncle Ed me?”. Charles of Slight Motif ince he was hiding it under a ?” in a disgusted tone. Yomz face?” Charles wears glasses th that. They both got that topic from here.

erutluC

In an effort to bring it back to the point of the interview, we direct a question at Uncle Ed as to what he liked about Dublin. Yomz interrupts with “the women!” and jumps off, we can only assume to attend to the mob of waiting fans. “What can I say about Dublin?” Uncle Ed replies, “It’s different from Northern Ireland I guess”.

So what did we gain from this interview?

-Certainly not a detailed insight into their opinions about Dublin, Ireland.

What we did get, was privy knowledge that they have a dating show coming up. And yes we said privy- did you know about it before reading this? Cool.

Also from this interview, we can confirm that they are both as funny in person as they are on their social media accounts. We wouldn't be opposed in the slightest to welcoming them back to the Island.

CONFESSION BOX

Anyway boom, broke up with my ex couple months back, seeing a new girl

21 NI 3

now, nice and all. She comes over to my

house, we fuck but it was shit. So I finish off and let her go then I get a call from

my boy to come some applartment party, long drive but I thought fuck it, get to

the party see some girl have done a thing with in the past but I’m not on it, From

the apartment party we go the club then I see my ex, she was giving me eyes all

night then after the club, I drive her to her house to “talk” ended up fucking then I left there and go back to the

apartment, saw that girl again, there was only one room left, and it was hers, slept there and ended up fucking her too.

So 3 girls in 12 hours, lord forgive my sins

Bio: Age: 24 Accountant Light Skin Black Guy

ESROMER ON

CONFESSION BOX

I found a purse in a toilet on a night out that was full of money, over â‚Ź400, so I took the money out and kept it. I looked at the ID and I knew the girl it belonged to but I really wanted the money. I didn't need it. I feel no remorse..

Bio: 18 female student/unemployed

Tessy Photography Dublin, Ireland

@tessy_photography

teematsnI

Insta that socia oppo conn

After and to th relax as ph coup

I love phot blurs the l look

I love Woe He a colou and attra not a filter when phot

ameet Dublin is a platform allows photographers and al media bloggers the ortunity to meet and make nections.

r an Instameet In Dublin, I a few photographers went he Bernard Shaw pub to x...and as you would expect hotographers we took a ple portraits...

e using a bokeh effect in a tograph...the background s just so beautifully and lights in the background like balls of light.

e photographer Brandon efel’s work. always works with ursful lights in his images edits them a very active colourful way. I am afraid to play with hues, rs and different colours n editing my tographs.

35

Loneliness

I photograph models for their portfolio aswell.

For this photograph I Was trying to portray emotional struggle and loneliness ...it was a desert themed shoot. I also wanted to use material to achieve this. The models name is Halo..he needed images for his portfolio. I usually work with white or black background but with this image I used a coloured background...which was interesting because it gave the image a more scenic and realistic mood. I styled this shoot.

This photo was a random af a session with the model: Thomas

I wanted to try levitating an Apple. It was easy enough t do. I tied a string on the tail the Apple but in order to make it float this was the difficult bit. Thomas was gre help...we attached the Appl to the tip of a broom and attached the broom to a lig stand.

I had to get on a ladder to t the photo (due to his heigh The photo was Inspired by a portrait we had seen called “the son of man”- by surreal painter- René Magritte, a surrealist painter... I am very interested in surrealistic artworks.

Yasmin The photos from these series showcase embracing your melanin dark skin...it was inspired by photographer “I am Tberry“. His photographs always capture the beautiful colour of melanin. His Instagram is @iamtberry By using bright coloured background it really brings the image to life... I edit the background colour on photoshop.

I love the simplicity of the image yet it is so powerfully emotional.

Model name: Yasmin

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FeliSpeaks

Preformative Poetry Awards See True Recognition Improv Jams

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essential to both hosts that spoken as the main attraction of the event ther art forms, such as dance, were support the poetic display. “This is nt from how spoken word is ted if it is mixed with other art Usually spoken word takes the at and is used to support a main licia explained beautifully. As it was t event of its kind by the two, it was ant to get feedback from those tended. “I got quite a lot of ck from people, just talking about rprised they were and I think that favourite thing. People told me dn’t know what to expect next and ll of that was interesting.” The was successful and according to aks, we can expect more exciting from the pair later on in the year.

I sat down with FeliSpeaks in a café inside one of the art museums in Dublin where the focus of the conversation was now shifting towards her career, beginning with her inspirations during the start of her poetic career. She claims she was intrigued by self-discovery and selfanalysis, while teasing her reasoning and thought-processes. Finding the balance between performative and personal works was a challenge. Feli claims she’s not worried of getting too personal with her poetry. “I don’t think I purposely hold anything back in my poetry, there are things I haven’t written about, that people don’t know about me in general.”

Words: Femi Falana

As you know lots of writers fall victim to writer’s block; not FeliSpeaks. She believes the festivals and talks that she is constantly invited to puts her in position to always write. With these gigs, Felicia is usually given a theme she must base the poem she is performing around and with such a successful year, the spoken word artist has found herself in this position quite a lot. Her participation in improv jams have helped her strengthen her writing process also. Additionally, on her Facebook page, Felicia uses her social media page to ask her followers to give her words she could use as the basis of a new piece and aim to create that piece within a day. “Sometimes it can take hours, sometimes it can take a couple of minutes”. She believes discipline is important to maintain a fast writing pen.

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See True’ was a poetic and dramatic showcase hosted by FeliSpeaks and fellow spoken word artist Dagogo Hart which took place on the 13th of May at Workman’s Club here in Dublin, where the artistic and challenging perspectives of the hosts were visualised through dramatic poetry.

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“I got quite a lot of feedback from eople, just talking about how surprised they were and I think that was my favourite thing. People told me they idn’t know what to expect next and the thrill of that was interesting.”

“Sometimes it can take hours, sometimes it can take a couple of minutes�

Photography by: Tobi Irein

The APNI media and arts creative winner told me about how she was given the award a couple of hours before her birthday, making the win even more special. I then wanted to ascertain what her mindset towards recognition was.

We at Slight Motif have found a lot of creative talents here in Dublin are too focused on getting recognition rather than focusing on their body of work (i.e. switching to whichever genre is popular).

FeliSpeaks doesn’t believe she can fall victim to this. She believes the awards she has won recently are testament to her dedication to her craft. She claims she needs to be poet and an entrepreneur.

She is currently studying PR and Communications to help her understand the industry and the art-form it thrives in.

“I got quite a lot of feedback from people, just talking about how surprised they were and I think that was my favourite thing. People told me they didn’t know what to expect next and the thrill of that was interesting.”

She understands the importance of not accepting all the opportunities that comes her way which may lead to her diluting her body of work, but only accepting the opportunities that will keep her on the path she envisioned for her poetic career. She does not want to become that artist that looks to have no direction due to accepting everything that comes their way.

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Slight Motif

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それは軽い

CREDITS Photography and Production: Tobi Irein, Michael D'Angelo Interviewers: Charles Adebayo, Joseph Adegbemi, Femi Falana.

Writers: Joseph Adegbemi, Charles Adebayo, Femi Falana Models: Debbie Shonowo, Caleb Mubango Chief Editor - Femi Falana Editor- Charles Adebayo

ICYMI

Issue's I, II and III available.