Student Rag Magazine Issue 17

Student Rag Glasgow Edition

WE MEAT AGAIN

SCAN

ME

Issue #17 Winter 2013/14 FREE

WIN EDINBURGH HOGMANAY TICKETS NAUGHTY BOY

EH DE POSTCO RTY A P T E E STR TICKETS 6 ONLY £1CT UNTIL 31

contents 32-35 SANTA LIST Xmas must-haves.............6-9

FESTIVE FROWNS

O

The downside of Xmas......10-12

THRILL OF THE CHASE Chase and Status..........14-16

TREND SETTER

MONday 30 deceMber 2013 – WedNeSday 1 JaNUary 2014

Winter fashion............18-22

BACK IN THE GAME The Fratellis.............24-25

FOOD FIGHT Festive eating guide......26-28

YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH Craig Hill................30-31

BAD LADS RULE Naughty Boy...............32-35

SINGH-ALONG Luke’s lazy Sunday.......38-39

GET FRESH

Joe Thomas speaks.........44-47

WHATEVER NEXT Gigs on the radar..........50-51

GIVE US A MINUTE Trevor Noah..................54

THE EDUCATOR Angus Simpson.............56-57

30-31

FIDDLER’S BID

I’M HERE FOR THE KRAK

WILLIAM DOUGLAS

Travel to Poland..........58-60

4447 For full event details, stage billings and tickets for all events visit the official website

www.edinburghshogmanay.com EH2014 Box Office: 0844 573 8455 / Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh PRINCIPAL FUNDING PARTNER

MAJOR FUNDING PARTNERS

MAJOR PARTNERS

50-51

Editor: Debbie McInnes. glasgow@student-rag.co.uk Design: Calvin Douglas.

Contributors: Alice Cruickshank, Daniel Cole, Sarah Cooper, Natacha Woods.

www.student-rag.co.uk

MEDIA PARTNERS

GUIDES

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and Edinburgh’s Christmas are produced by Unique Events LTD and Underbelly ltd on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council

Published by Track 10 Media. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Student Rag Magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisements in this publication.

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Get your skates on in Glasgow

Update your Electoral Registration details now!

WIN One of FIVE PAIRS of passes SEE PAGE 30

Iconic ice rink returns to George Square Glasgow on Ice returns to George Square as part of the city’s Glasgow Loves Christmas celebrations on 23rd November.

And after the brilliant success of last year’s Magic Mondays offer, all students can once again skate for half price (only £4!) every Monday on George Square’s iconic ice rink.

Not only that but some of Glasgow’s best live music venues, including Bar Bloc, Nice ‘n’ Sleazy and Oran Mor will be presenting new live four

music in the Christmas Marquee every Monday evening.

And it’s not just about Mondays!

There will be themed entertainment 7 nights a week with festive film screenings, more live music, ceilidhs and much more so pop in to George Square this festive season, raise a glass of festive cheer and enjoy the fun!

Find out more about all the skating, music, films, dancing and more at www. glasgowloveschristmas.com

This will make sure you are registered to vote in elections, including the European Parliamentary Elections on 22 May 2014, and in the Scottish Independence Referendum on 18 September 2014.

Don’t lose your right to vote.

To find out more phone 0141 287 4444 or write to the Electoral Registration Office, PO Box 15311, Glasgow, G1 3WL or visit the website

Glasgow on Ice runs from November 23 until January 5. www.glasgowloveschristmas.com

feature

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Breaking Bad Gifts

FROM jumpers to mugs to replica aprons, cafepress.co.uk offer a world of possibility for the Breaking Bad fan in your

Balenciaga Paris Perfume ALL girls love Paris don’t they? Prove them right with this beautifully bottled perfume. Make it a Christmas she’ll always remember by smell.

This could be

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the best £45.50 a man ever gives The Perfume Shop. Warning – This fragrance may mesmerise men until they fall under a woman’s control.

Monster Beats

by Dre Headphones

17 Despicable Me 2 DVD THIS hit sequel was one of the most watched films in worldwide cinema this year.

The ‘minion’ craze has no signs of slowing down soon and from the 25th of November for £10 you will be able to take Steve Carrell and go home with you from any place that sells DVDs. Buy the original while you’re at it....

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life. With prices ranging from £5-50 you can look just like Walter White. Just don’t start your own drug empire.

IT’S that time of year when parents, partners and friends everywhere all have one question on their lips: “What do you want for Christmas?”

Some people are impossible to please. Even if Santa and Rudolph themselves took time out of their busy schedule to deliver and open the presents for them they wouldn’t give you thanks.

These are the folk who have it all. What do you get for someone

MUST-HAVE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS who has everything? Remember Christmas gifts are not just of material value any more, the older someone gets the more the feeling of sentiment comes into play when buying and receiving gifts.

However, it is nice to know someone values you expensively.

During December everyone falls under the magic spell of Christmas spirit.

Presents range from toys to computer games and DVDs. Men like to show off their kindness by impressing a loved one with a new piece of jewellery or even a fancy new dress for their significant other’s ward-

Peter Pan the Pantomime

IN the modern world headphones during the long commute are essential.

Listen to your favourite music on your way with these stylish Beats by Dre headphones.

You can get these headphones at handtec.co.uk for around £80-100.

These stylish headphones will have your headphone rivals beat.

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robe. Girls like to spoil their partners with aftershaves and bath gift sets.

Although the idea of buying male watches is starting to come back again in recent years.

Yes, as soon as the winter nights draw in the advertising campaign gets into full swing.

Every stand-up comedian seems to conveniently time their DVD release just in time for the festive push and of course, everyone loves a tin of chocolates to enjoy while opening all their presents.

DANIEL COLE presents – in no particular order – the 20 must-have gifts for Christmas...

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What would Christmas be without a pantomime?

This year at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh a star studded cast including Allan Stewarty, Grant Stott and Andy Gray bring you Peter

Pan. This classic children’s hit will be on from November 30 to January 19 and tickets are priced at £13-£29 on atgtickets.com.

Book early to Hook the best seats!

The Snow Grouse Scotch Whisky

GET into the winter spirit with this specially distilled whisky.

The whisky is designed to be drunk cold to release a tasty cooling sensation from the throat upwards, just like a snowy day.

Perfect for that after dinner Christmas Toast, you can acquire this from any drinks store and the price will range from £18-25.

Have a dram, it might be a cold one.

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His & Hers Onesies

THE onesie refuses to go away and it looks like it will always be in fashion.

So why not jump on this Christmas with specialised his and her onesies from squidoo.com.

Priced from £50 upwards these onesies aren’t cheap but at least they will keep him and her looking smart and warm this Christmas when two become onesie.

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Inflatable Pummel Duel Combat Game

EVER fancy yourself as a bit of a gladiator?

Wonder no more with this duel combat game for all the family.

Settle any arguments here and knock your rival down a peg or two.

It is available at paramountzone. com and is priced at £27.99.

Gladiators ready?

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Folli Follie Match and Dazzle

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THIS bracelet could be the jewel in your woman’s Christmas crown this year.

The rose gold double piece has clear crystal stones and is designed to seamlessly sit on her wrist all day long. It is elegance in its simplest form.

Show her she’s worth £150 from House Of Fraser. She might even smile for the Christmas cracker jokes.

Personalised Wine Glass

6 M&S Christmas Hamper THIS exquisite hamper contains all you need if you are visiting family for Christmas dinner this year.

This hamper includes milk chocolate champagne truffles as

FOR gamers on the go this gadget is essential to keep up with the demands of modern gaming.

For £84 at bladepad. com, iPhone users will never have to put the game down again.

Also comes with a battery charger that charges while gaming to ensure constant gaming.

Be the geek the geeks want to be.

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Micky Flanagan ‘Back in the Game’ DVD

stress suffered from watching the ‘drama’ of the Christmas soaps.

Make sure there’s only one eastender you’ll be tuning into this Christmas.

Dining Table Ping Pong

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Xbox One

Ever wondered how to spend the time waiting on dinner being cooked?

Why not build this ping pong set and make your

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evenings eventful? For £18.95 at Prezzybox. com all the family can compete against each other and see who the

best ping pong player is in the house.

Just don’t forget to stop for dinner!

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well as an array of biscuits.

A selection of wine is also in the hamper including a glorious Cava.

Buy from Marks and Spencer from November for £100.

Oui Cava?

MAKE that bottle of wine that little bit more special by putting a message on a glass for that special woman in your life. Everything will be rosé in your garden when you present her with her own glass to go with her favourite bottle. It will set you back £25 from notonthehighstreet.com

Bladepad for iPhone

One of Britain’s favourite stand up comedians brings his latest tour to DVD in November.

Priced from around £10-13 at all good stores, Micky Flanagan will relieve the

THE latest instalment in the Microsoft games console franchise goes global on the 22nd of November and is sure to be at the top of many a gamer’s Christmas list.

With a Blu-ray/DVD drive and Skype already installed the console proves to offer much more than just gaming to the dedicated cult worldwide.

It is estimated that it will cost around £400-500 to buy.

Gaming is going back to square One.

CK Eternity for Men Gift Set

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Mak e sure the man in your life is smelling his best with this exquisite aftershave and body wash combination.

The coolness of the fragrance will keep the man at his best throughout the festivities.

The Perfume Shop have priced this up at £31:50.

He might not wear the Christmas jumper but at least he’ll smell nice.

3 Hammacher Schlemmer Bug Vacuum

THE war on spiders and creepy crawlies is a whole lot easier with this new vacuum that sucks up those annoying little creatures.

An electrical grid system means once they’re captured you can rest easy until the next wave of attack comes. Skymall.com are selling these for £50. Henry Hoover’s days are numbered.

Addictaball Maze 2

Casio Gents Edifice Watch

Mak e sure the man in your life is always on time with this comfortable wrist watch for £67.50 from thewatchhut. co.uk.

Telling the time will never be easier with the black dial and very useful date display on the watch. You’ll never lose time again with this beautiful time piece.

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TomTom iPhone Satnav App

Tired of someone being late for meetings?

This easy to use system will get you from A to B quicker than ever with its immense graphical system making your route impossible to lose.

You can get it from the App Store from around £100.

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WHY are the simplest looking things the most complicated? Well this fun puzzle won’t answer that question but it will provide you with lost hours filled with frustration and bemusement until ultimate sense of victory when the puzzle is complete. Cough up £7.95 at prezzybox. com. Say balls to the TV and give this game a go.

Christmas time, mistletoe and WHINE ‘Tis the season to be jolly…’ Apparently.

There really is little to be joyous about when December 1 rolls around again and we begin the usual cycle of mass consumerism and general stress, all to a soundtrack of around 20 songs on repeat.

No wonder so many people don’t get in the mood for it. ALICE CRUICKSHANK offers a rundown of the very worst that the festive season has to offer.

Bah humbug!

Decorations There is nothing more soul destroying than the realisation it’s time to take the box of Christmas decorations down from the attic again.

The Christmas tree always takes three times as long to put up as the box claims, 30 per cent of the bulbs on the Christmas lights will have stopped working and none of the baubles ever seen to match.

We can thank the American department stores in every Christmas movie ever for our raised expectations of how our decorations will look; in reality, your living room will most likely appear as though a Christmas angel has thrown up everywhere.

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visiting Remember Great Aunt Barbara?

No, she doesn’t remember you either.

Nonetheless, you are dragged on a national tour of family members when all you want to do is curl up with a DVD box set in your festive jammies all day.

It’s hard to smile and pretend to be interested when yet another person asks what you’re studying at Uni as you force down your fifth mince pie.

ADVERTS This is another device used to create misguided excitement for the 25th.

Your Sainsbury’s turkey will not turn out like Jamie Oliver’s.

You will not look like Mylene Klass in the dress you got to wear during Christmas lunch.

Drinking Irn Bru will not entice a snowman to come rescue you from this madness.

Learn to spot this propaganda and

you will feel much better about yourself and your mediocre Christmas.

NATIVITY PLAYS YOU don’t know pain until you have had to listen to 50 children laboriously drone Silent Night.

School nativities are the worst.

For some reason primary teachers believe that if they dress their charges in dishcloths and dressing gowns or pipecleaner halos and angel wings, it will disguise the fact that most children cannot sing, dance or act. It does not.

Not at all.

GIFT BUYING Finances are tough for a student at the best of times…then December comes along and for some reason you are suddenly required to buy presents for what feels likes everyone you’ve ever met.

What can you get Mum for under £10 that won’t seem cheap?

Does your brother really need a gift?

Worst of all is when someone buys you a present but you haven’t got them anything.

Looks like it’s time to say goodbye to that premium bottle of vodka you’ve been saving for New Year…

FILMS Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol, Elf… the problem with these films is they create totally unrealistic expectations of how the festive period will be.

We are conditioned to expect The Big Day to be spent roasting chestnuts by the fire with the extended family in matching Christmas knitwear, whilst admiring the three feet of snow outside.

In reality you probably hate your family, festive jumpers are itchy and the closest to snow we’ll get is a smearing of slush.

THE X-FACTOR There was a time when this honoured accolade would go to a white puffa-clad boyband or a collection of popstars doing their bit for charity.

Then Simon Cowell came along and defecated all over the Christmas Number One. For six out of the past eight years, the X Factor’s winner’s single has reached the top spot, without a single mention of sleigh bells or those other Christmas clichés.

Thanks for ruining Christmas, Simon.

LYING TO CHILDREN IF you still believe in Santa, look away now.

It’s almost heartbreaking to see the excitement on a child’s face as they wait for Santa on Christmas Eve. We all know that one of these days they’re going to find out the truth and the magic of Christmas will be gone forever. Really, has it ever been the same since you found out? unwanted gifts Boots 3 for 2: making sure we get enough toiletries each Christmas to tide us over until the following year. Seri-

ously, should we take all the soap-sets as a hint? Then there’s the country and western CD you’ll never listen to; the t-shirt that isn’t even your size and the novelty singing fish that will be going nowhere near your wall. What’s wrong with the humble gift card?

Music Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas’ is definitely in the running for the Most Annoying Song of All Time, yet every shop/ restaurant/ iPod user on the bus feels the need to give it airplay, meaning Ms Carey not only causes endless suffering in the masses but gets royalties for it too.

A national boycott of all music channels is advisable; otherwise they will continue to believe we actually want Christmas songs on a loop 24/7.

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CHRISTMAS FOOD Does anyone actually like Christmas cake? Or Brussels sprouts? I thought as much.

Yet, because it is tradition, we produce the same stodge every year and force ourselves to eat it in droves.

Then there are the mince pies that appear in supermarkets in September with a November use-by date.

If you are eating festive food before December you seriously need to reevaluate your life, pronto.

anyone’s head yet are a necessary requirement to sit at the Christmas table. Just no.

crackers Ugh. Crackers. Why do we feel the need to keep purchasing these expensive novelties, filled with the same junk as they are every year?

If you are the host, look forward to a collection of mini playing cards, a ridiculously tiny spanner set, nail clippers, a compact mirror and a money clip (in 2013, who uses these?) as there’s a good chance your guests will happily forget about these useless party favours.

Of course, we can’t forget about those flimsy paper hats that never fit

WIN

viewing clashes There’s always at least three good things on TV at once on Christmas Day. Surely if you’re forced to watch the Queen’s speech then you should get the remote for when Doctor Who is on?

Wrong!

Bribe/threaten younger siblings or grandparents to put on what you want to watch as for some reason these are the two demographics who seem to get control of the TV on the 25th.

Group viewing is, of course, compulsory for this one day of the year. boxing day sales That £30 scarf you gave your mum for Christmas? Well now it costs a fiver.

It is infuriating that you could save yourself some serious money by buying presents on the 26th but this is absolutely not allowed by the code of Christmas conduct.

We should spare a thought for those poor employees who are required to work ‘til 9pm Christmas Eve and start at

5am on Boxing day to work the sale.

Be nice to them as you wrestle another customer for those discounted Christmas jumpers. turkey, turkey, turkey Even if only four of you are having Christmas lunch, your dad will always go for the turkey that feeds 26.

This means turkey sandwiches/ curries/stews/salads are the only food option until New Year.

If you don’t like it, well there are probably a few roast potatoes and a slab of Christmas cake instead.

Say goodbye to all hope of fitting into your Hogmanay outfit! the overall let-down After almost a month of spending, eating, decorating, spending, eating, TV-watching, then ever more spending and eating, it all amasses to one over-hyped, underwhelming day of commercial nonsense.

After the festive period there’s never anything to look forward to until at least March, which means two cold, dark months of uni exams and being broke to look forward to.

The most wonderful time of year my arse!

IRN-BRU CARNIVAL TICKETS

TO celebrate the return of the IRN-BRU Carnival, we have teamed up with Student Rag to offer SIX lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the ultimate festive day out.

To be in with a chance of winning one pair of tickets, simply answer the following question:

HOW MANY YEARS OF FUN IS THE IRN-BRU CARNIVAL CELEBRATING? Text your answer FREE along with your name, contact phone number and email address to 07746-792724 or email competitions@student-rag.co.uk

THE must-visit festive attraction is Europe’s largest indoor funfair and celebrates 93 years of family fun, with over 60 rides and attractions – as well as new and exciting rides.

The newest addition to this year’s IRNBRU Carnival is the ‘Voodoo Dancer’ – a thrilling ride for all the family which will see riders spun in, out and round and round at dizzying speeds!

Visitors will also reach new heights on new ride The Extreme XL as the IRN-BRU Carnival ventures outside the SECC and

Closing date December 1. Editor’s decision is final.

onto the banks of the River Clyde for the first time in many years.

Expect to scream at the top of your lungs as you are spun and swung 50ft feet into the air!

For kids both big and small, the firm favourites are back again. There’s fun for all the family on the Teacups, Dodgems and the Carousel whilst older families will enjoy the Drop Zone, the Ghost Train and the Speed Buzz.

Make sure to visit the IRN-BRU Carnival

this year as part of your family’s festive fun!

No festive season would be complete without a visit to Europe’s largest indoor funfair.

Get your tickets from the SECC Box Office, by calling 0844 395 4000 or online at www.irn-bru-carnival.com. Entry price is £12 with visitors receiving ten vouchers which can be used on all rides and most stalls**.

Each ride is one voucher and stalls are two vouchers. *Closed Christmas Day **Some stalls are cash taking

glasgowloveschristmas glasgowxmas

interview

What happens in the 1980s stays in the 1980s T

HE Commodore 64, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Dallas, shoulder pads, neon leg-warmers, Iron Maiden and Knight Rider.

It’s fair to say that the vast majority of popular culture from the 1980s deserves to be left back there.

Will Kennard and Saul Milton, though, owe a debt of gratitude to the decade that style forgot.

The pair – aka Chase and Status – can’t be blamed for having their formative years thrust upon them during a period in history which encouraged would-be evil Dallas oil barons to flourish.

In fact, it’s difficult not to be impressed by the fact they took what was best about the 80s and used it as the spark to create the retro-inspired sound they’re making their own.

Will explains why their new album Brand New Machine simply had to tip a wink to the most forgettable of periods.

He says: “I think that’s when we became old enough to go to clubs and listen to that music.

“That (the eighties) inspired us as these magical moments when you discover an amazing genre such as hardcore or drum and base is amazing.

“I remember I was at a house party when I was 14, this girl at school was having it and her mum was there and someone was going through the radio channels and switched on pirate radio.

“I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It was a defining moment for me.

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“I wasn’t particularly musical and I never played any instruments but I did think ‘let me find out more about this pirate radio sound!’

“I remember going to another friend’s house and they were playing a simple, cheesy beat from a keyboard.

“The keyboard could play Rumba and Salsa sounds and it was really naff. I was begging my friend to show me how to play it but he couldn’t be ar**d.

“I went home and I was begging my mum to buy me one and a computer and electronics.

“I was into grunge bands like Nirvana, Green Day, Pearl Jam, big American bands. Bands like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Bands that had fierce energy and were cool and rebellious.

“Saul had long hair and was the lead singer in a band playing depressing grunge sounds.

“I was wearing a similar vibe to him. A lot of that fashion was a lot of tracksuits and Reebok classics, shell suits.

At a rave you got dressed up showing off you had money.

“It was a weird set-up. You had people in expensive suits in a dingy warehouse in the Gucci logos and that’s how we noticed each other because we were dressed similarly!”

During a time when Saul was studying English and Humanities at Manchester Metropolitan University and Will was studying History of Art at Manchester University most students were out drinking, chatting up girls and partying.

But apart from the odd warehouse party and rave the boys had their heads firmly down focussed on the beat.

Will says: “We didn’t chat to the ladies at uni. We went to uni and immediately realised it wasn’t for us.

“Saul dropped out and we spent the next six years living and hiding in one little studio room and went out a handful of times and didn’t do student nights going out.

“We both had long-term girlfriends and skipped the ladies thing.”

Their productivity paid dividends and now the boys are reaping the benefits of an era in which DJs and music artists rule.

Following hot on the heels of acts like Calvin Harris – one of the most financially successful artists in the industry – Chase and Status are also raking it in.

But it wasn’t always like that. Only two years ago Will felt the era of the role model musician was long gone and decided to highlight it in the second album, released in 2011 and featuring Plan B. Will explains: “We sort of

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Winners of Scottish Salon of the year

JAMES HUGHES Hairdressing

237 High Street, Glasgow, G4 0QR, 0141 552 3389

titled our last album ‘No More Idols’ because we felt the superstar, rockstar icons had died.

“There’s more access to people now so it takes away the mystique.

You could never speak to a superstar like Prince or Michael Jackson so in a way that has died and yet there is the resurgence of the popularity of the DJ but as a more accessible artist.

“It’s amazing what’s happened to DJs now like House Mafia in America.

“The movement’s huge. (laughs) Essentially they’re playing a CD!” Chase and Status have had three number one hits, won numerous ‘Best’ awards for album, track, live band, live act, producer and video and have worked with the biggest names in the industry from Example, Tinnie Tempah, Cee Lo Green to Dizzy Rascal, Maverick Sabre and of course the undisputable king of hit-making Nile Rodgers.

The year after Nile Rodgers had notched a number one hit for Daft Punk with Get Lucky, Chase and Status were working with the music legend.

Will enthuses: “It was amazing! sixteen

Nile, knowing his back catalogue, is insanely impressive.

“He’s worked with Bob Dylan, Chic, Madonna, David Bowie, he’s done it all. It was so impressive he came into our studios in London with a guitar and pulled it out and wouldn’t stop.

“Nile has an amazing creative energy and is an absolute gentleman.

I just think he inspired us turning up in the first place!

“We have a rule that you always show up. It will always give you that shot at something.

“With Nile everything was positive and that’s nice. It puts a smile on your face. British people can be so cynical unlike Nile.

“The whole year has been music and non-stop touring. When I shut my eyes I haven’t really been home since May. “Last weekend was the first I’ve been back in my house. I love waking up on a Sunday morning and not having anything to do and not knowing what to do.

“I’ve felt detached from all that.

I struggle to chill out and usually if I’m not playing I’m on a bus or a plane. At 11am I was back in bed with a cup of tea and I loved it. It

shows what an insane summer I’ve had. The highlights of the year have been Glastonbury, T in the Park and Reading!”

A busy life and yet the two still have time to dress like the smartest act in the business.

Both ooze David Beckham and Guy Ritchie style. Saul has been known for the porker and trilby hats and both have a sleek edge to their Gucci-style suits though the days of wearing it clubbing are long gone.

Will says: “I like looking smart.

Loud Moschino isn’t fun any more. I wouldn’t wear a suit to go clubbing now because it would look like I work in the city and I’d get beaten up.

“I do like the English gentleman fashion look. Saul was wearing the trilby hat but he’s got rid of it and reinvented his look with a new haircut!”

And for fans of Chase and Status who are desperate to know if Will follows through his slick style to the bedroom Student Rag has enquired (purely on their behalf of course!) if silk pyjamas are bedtime etiquette?

Will laughs: “I’ve not quite got silk pyjamas but I might buy a pair now that you’ve mentioned it!”

Discount

25%

Student Tuesday - Thursday

fashion

fashion

Give winter the cold shoulder Winter, the trickiest season for many fashionistas, is here. The frosty weather seems to dictate a uniform of oversized jumpers and comfy jeans but fear not – this year

colour Black, grey, more black… winter dressing doesn’t have to be dull! In fact, there is no better time to rock bold brights than in the snow.

Jewel tones are perfect for winter as they are more refined than summer’s statement neons yet offer just the right amount of colour to brighten up any day.

Think emerald, cobalt, and ruby: the richer, the better! These colours will suit dark and light complexions equally. A great way to work it is to only have a pop of colour. A statement red lip and matching handbag turns any Rachael Buckle outfit from Tassle Bag drab to @Boohoo £20 fab.

you can be cosy and stylish! ALICE CRUICKSHANK brings you some great trends that go against the winter norm and look stylish, whatever the weather.

Orange oriental print sweatshirt @ River Island £28

STAR BUY

f lower power

STAR BUY

High waist trousers in slim fit @ Asos £25

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If you’re feeling bold this winter, nothing says fashionista more than a maxi skirt or dress.

Super comfy and elegant, maxi styles can be thrown on and instantly look stylish.

Best of all, when they’re worn with wooly tights and biker boots underneath, they are cute and warm.

Maxi skirts featured in Rihanna’s River Island autmn/winter collection, confirming their street-style credentials.

Go on and play with longer lengths this season… I dare you.

How to wear STAR BUY

Bright blue floral contrast trousers @ Lavish Alice £40

l For Christmas Lunch: an embellished cami over high-waisted trousers l On Hogmanay: a flapperinspired sequin dress

maxi lengths

Florals? In winter? Yep, this year defy the rules of winter dressing and invest in some fabby floral pieces to cheer up your look.

This trend will not only make a statement but will help you forget all about the horrible weather (well, maybe).

Whether you want to go top-to-toe botanical, or prefer a more subtle approach, florals are really versatile and feminine. To keep the trend current, look for prints in darker colours or velvet material.

l To Uni: an oriental-inspired floral sweatshirt over leather jeans with monk shoes l On a night out: a dark floral-patterned dress with burgundy lipstick and velvet platforms

1930s’ Art Deco with intricate embellishments, oriental prints and fur trims.

The strappy sandal remains prominent this season and is the perfect accompaniment to make any evening outfit elegant.

Shine bright, girlies!

How to wear

Embellished cami crop top @ Miss Selfridge, £39

Rachel Buck- le Tassle Bag

How to wear

Bring on the glam: it’s the Christmas and New Year party season.

This is the one time of year when anything goes and it’s impossible to be overdressed so think sequins and glitter galore.

Take inspiration from

STAR BUY

STAR BUY

l To Uni: coloured trousers with a plain top and patterned cardigan l To family festivities: a black dress with a jewel-toned statement necklace and matching handbag

razzle dazzle

STAR BUY

Petite exclusive skater dress with embellished back @ Asos £60

How to wear

l To Uni: A jersey maxi skirt with a fitted jumper, leather jacket and embellished beanie Boutique Zara split skirt l On Hogmanay: a sequined Grey jersey belted zip trim sequin maxi maxi skirt @ New Look dress @ Boohoo £50 maxi dress with skyscraper £17.99 heels

STAR BUY

STAR BUY

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Top to patterned trousers

Even on the most miserable of days you need not be content with throwing on a pair of old jeans to keep warm.

Our style crush this season is definitely patterned trousers: they are both glamourous and practical.

If you’re feeling really daring, leggings or peg-leg trousers in tartan are right on trend and will definitely get you noticed!

However, if you want a simpler look, something with a faint jacquard or brocade print is an elegant choice.

This is a trend that will look fab day and night and is a great investment you will wear again and again.

fashion

midi skirts How to wear l Shopping with friends: a PU midi with a cropped jumper, tights and chunky boots l Having dinner with the family: a patterned midi with a silky blouse and Cameo Rose black pointed courts

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quilted zip side skirt @ New Look £25

Yes, you really can work this season’s must-have length on a winter’s day: it’s all about how you wear it.

Look for thicker materials, such as double-layer jersey, cable-knit or faux leather to make this glamourous look cosy.

Team your midi with tights and low-heeled shoe boots of the same colour to keep legs looking long.

While this may seem one of winter’s trickiest trends, it is actually one of the most flattering and stylish if done right.

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Cream geometric knitted tube skirt @ River Island £35

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Emily flocked floral side zip trousers @ Boohoo.com £20

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Checked trousers @ Zara £29.99

How to wear l Meeting friends for lunch: a slouchy jumper over jacquard trousers and chunky boots l On a night out: tartan-print trousers with a leatherette bracelet and plenty of punky jewellery

luxury fabrics Velvet, lace, leather, cashmere… one of the best parts about winter dressing is the lush fabrics involved.

But don’t think these materials are only for special occasionslook for velvet shoes, leather skirts and lace-embellishment on jumpers to make this glamourous look suitable for daytime wear.

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If you’re a fan of the finer things in life but can’t afford to splurge on a student budget, then try Uniqlo.com- their cashmere blend jumpers start at a jaw-dropping £14.90. Super-soft and purse-friendly? Yes please!

To add a little luxury to your accessories, look for ponyskin bags and velvet hair bands.

STAR BUY

Cashmere blend cable round neck sweater @ Uniqlo £29.90

How to wear l On a shopping trip: a leather-look skirt with a cable-knit jumper and cut-out boots l For Christmas lunch: a berry-coloured velvet skirt with a lace top

STAR BUY Berry crushed velvet shorts @ Topshop £32

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fashion

Brand Spotlight: Marks and Spencer Yep, you read correctly. Once the go-to for women of a certain age, Marks and Spencer has really worked to attract the chic young fashionista and it shows.

This season their accessories are right on trend and exactly what you need to give your winter look a much-needed bit of va-va-voom.

From punky bracelets to (faux) ponyskin shoes, M&S has it covered.

Their shoes also have revolutionary Insolia technology, which means they should be comfy all day long. Woohoo!

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Marks and Spencer

Autograph crystal studded bracelet @ Marks and Spencer £17.50

High-end on the High St

fashion

Thankfully, these days channeling a designer look need not cost thousands.

One of the most anticipated collaborations this year is Isabel Marant for H&M, available in store from November 14.

Marant’s beautiful bohemian style is just the thing for when the winter weather gets you down and you need a fashion pick-me-up.

The designer promises to reproduce many of her most popular designs from over the years, so we can expect floaty wrap dresses and fringed mini skirts galore.

We can’t wait to emanate her Parisian chic!

STAR BUY

isabel marant twenty-two

H! Henry Holland tartan pom pom across body bag @ Debenhams £32

Even Asda is jumping on the collaboration band-wagon, with its G21 Talent collection.

Up-and-comer Chloe Horsfield was selected from Graduate Fashion

STAR BUY

Autograph leather chelsea ankle boots @ Marks and Spencer £65 Week to design the supermarket’s new collection.

Think edgy street wear with a tribal twist – all for under £20! Who thought supermarkets could be so glam?

STAR BUY

G21 Talent printed knit sleeve top, £18 @ Asda £18

IF you’re after something a little more off-the-wall, then look no further than Henry Holland’s H! brand for Debenhams.

Quirky prints and cutesy knitwear are the backbone to this collection, with a healthy dose of tartan to finish it off.

Best of all are the prices – ranging from £14-£85, H! offers some HighEnd glamour at student prices.

interview

Grown up? No, I really don’t think so...

THE Fratellis released their third album We Need Medicine in October and are on tour in November.

Natacha Woods discovers Jon Fratelli hasn’t changed his tune on life and his love of music.

WHAT is the biggest change in your life that you have noticed?

I’d hate to think we had grown up, I’d be disgusted if we had grown up too much. I guess we have a little bit, but probably not an awful lot. We’re a rock and roll band so it’s hard to say if we have changed at all really.

HOW do you feel when you’re doing solo stuff away from The Fratellis?

I had a lot of fun. I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the name behind anything, it’s nice to go and play guitar with your friends.

Mostly I’m trying to make music and you can do that with a lot of people but the time by myself was great.

It’s good to go out and play to people with your friends,it’s a simple way to live your life YOUR solo track ‘Bright Night Flowers’ was rumoured to have been released as a taster for the new album the group has released together. Was this just something you did yourself because you wanted to? How did you juggle that round the making of the new album?

I had already made and finished that whole record and I wasn’t really bothered about how that was released.

I only made it for me, once I was done I was happy to go back and play with The Fratellis and they’re not similar in the slightest.

I was happy to let people listen to it if they liked it, but it’s more for me. Basically I write songs just for me and I’m more than happy if people like it.

What direction is the music of The Fratellis going in?

I don’t know! We are just a rock and roll band and we are good at it.

There’s no point in us desperately trying to find a direction each time, I wouldn’t enjoy it very much. We certainly didn’t invent the style we play, but that particular style is us, time dictates us, things naturally change.

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What’s been happening with you and the other members?

Well we’re in contact now because we had to make the new album and we spend a lot of time together. We don’t care really, we’re used to it. We have gotten better at getting along over the years What are your hobbies, what do you do in your spare time?

I have no spare time – all I do is make music. I do that when I have spare time, which is kind of handy I guess. I don’t need anything else.

I used to wonder if I needed anything else but I don’t, I can have a day off but I get bored. It’s not a bad place to have ended up, it’s what I love and I’m living it.

IN many ways, ‘We need Medicine’ can be seen as a direct sequel to your solo album, did Barry or Mince have a say in the sound of the new album?

I haven’t really thought about it, it’s never good to over-think these things.

If there’s any resemblance it’s just coincidence.

All I try to do is keep myself connected and entertain regardless of where that takes you – it’s the same person writing those songs, so they will be similar.

This album is known as your reunion album to fans, they will notice differences within it. Have you noticed differences within the band? Would you say this is good or bad?

I haven’t noticed any difference.

There must have been I just haven’t noticed.

That’s the thing about time, the dynamic hasn’t changed, we’re all similar

growing up – now you’re scaring me!

Everything’s off the table. I never said I don’t want to grow up, what would growing up even mean?

YOU’RE touring in November to promote the new album ‘We Need Medicine’. How successful do you predict this will be in light of the fact that you went solo and the band had the five year break?

I really have no idea! We’re lucky to get to do it. I learned a long time ago not to second guess what’s going to happen as we don’t have a lot of control over it.

We only have control of what happens on the stage and we only have one way of attracting people, which is live on stage.

That’s the only way we get people to come through the door the second time and I’m ok with that.

That’s the best part of the job, it’s instant, where you get an instant reaction when you’re live on stage.

The votes are in quickly and it becomes addictive, not like radio or record sales where it’s slow.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, is the group stronger than ever now?

We’re probably a little bit better at avoiding attention. That’s a time thing, having spent a long time in each other’s pockets; we have gotten better at that, and avoiding things that have caused tension.

to who we were when we first met, it seems like we three get along and people are always baffled by that.

When you’re in the middle of something it’s always really hard to notice change. I’m not sure if we have grown up, if we have grown up too much, it would bother me.

I still feel like a 12-year-old – growing up is over-rated and under-rated at the same time.

IS another long hiatus in the pipeline?

I really don’t know. I just do things without thinking of them too much beforehand. It’s possible but there’s really no point.

We as a group had an audience, which I didn’t have as much especially given that what I had to do with the band keeps me interested. There’s no point in moving and making music without this band. what are your plans for the future?

Ever want to get married?

Oh god I really haven’t thought about

Where has been your favourite place to perform?

I wouldn’t say that anywhere is better. You never when you’re going to get one of those good nights, most nights are good and some are spectacular – it’s the surprise of it all that’s interesting to us and it keeps us going. what’s your favourite song that you’ve written?

I haven’t written my favourite song yet, it’s in there somewhere and it gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Just getting to do this as a living is my favourite experience – it’s all I ever wanted, to make records and to go out and play them.

Getting to do that isn’t something everybody gets. I’m more than happy and more than content to keep being able to do it.

HOW was keeping in touch during the hiatus?

I didn’t keep in touch with the other members in the group during our break, that was the whole point in it.

I’ve always been a bit of a hermit I don’t leave the house often and I tend to stay away from after parties.

l

The Fratellis play Glasgow O2 Academy on Nov 29.

health

health

Don’t make it a carbs Fest!

ARE you trying to keep healthy? Does the thought of stodgy winter eating make you want to hibernate under the duvet until it’s all over?

Winter is something of a minefield for those trying to watch their weight.

The cold weather makes a nice warm bowl of carbohydrates much more appealing than a light salad and the dark nights make going to the gym a chore.

Thankfully, there are several seasonal foods that are bursting with nutrients, meaning keeping healthy over the festive period is not as hard as you may think.

ALICE CRUICKSHANK helps you out...

Jamie’s Cauliflower and Broccoli Cheese Jamie Oliver is your man when it comes to fast and affordable recipes. Here’s a low calorie, delicious take on the classic cauliflower cheese.

Serves 4 as a main.

You’ll need:

FESTIVE FOODS Rich hot chocolates, starchy hot meals and sumptuous desserts; one of the best parts of winter is the rich and delicious food.

However, this can be a tough time of year for you digestive system and, indeed, your waistline.

Why not try one of these eating plans that have been filling column inches whilst whittling away real inches?

The Paleo Diet OUR eating habits these days are a far cry from the diet our ancestors lived off.

The principle of the Paleo plan is to reintroduce us to a natural, hunter-gatherer diet that our body is designed to cope with.

As well as helping weight loss, the diet also claims to minimise the risk of chronic disease.

The cornerstones of the diet are thus: Consume more protein (around 35% of total food intake) Eat low GI carbohydrates Up your fibre and vitamin intake Higher potassium and lower sodium intake So what does this mean food-wise?

Well, you should be eating plenty of lean meat and fish, accompanied by lots of fresh fruit and veg.

On the no-go list are cereals, dairy and potatoes as well as any form of processed food.

I know what you’re thinking, being on a student budget: all this fresh produce sounds expensive, right?

However, once you cut out all the crisps, biscuits, ready meals and the like out of your shopping trolley, you’ll realise the cost isn’t actually that bad.

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The 5:2 Diet Move over South Beach; 5:2 is the trendiest diet right now.

Celebrities such as Miranda Kerr, Beyonce, Ben Afflek, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Hugh Jackman (in an effort to tone up for Wolverine, not to become emaciated for Les Mis, don’t worry!) are passionate about the benefits of going 5:2. But does it work?

The idea is to eat reasonably for five days a week then ‘fast’ for two, i.e. consume around 500 calories.

This apparently activates a gene called SIRT1, which inhibits fat storage and has anti-aging properties.

This diet is a great one for the festive season as you can still have your (Christmas) cake and eat it, as long as you fast on two other days.

However, don’t see this as a license to binge.

The diet recommends that during the rest of the week a Mediterranean-inspired diet is consumed and no, this doesn’t mean bountiful bowls of pasta!

Plenty of lean protein, fresh veg and wholemeal carbohydrates are the backbone to this way of eating.

So while you can enjoy mince pies and roast dinners if you want to, moderation is key.

2 cloves of garlic 50 g unsalted butter 50 g plain flour 500 ml semi-skimmed milk 500 g fresh or frozen broccoli 75 g mature cheddar cheese 1 kg fresh or frozen cauliflower 2 slices of ciabatta or stale bread 2 sprigs of fresh thyme 25 g flaked almonds olive oil

METHOD

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4.

Peel and finely slice the garlic and put it into a medium pan on a medium heat with the butter.

When the butter has melted, stir in the flour for a minute to make a paste, then gradually add the milk, whisking as you go, until lovely and smooth.

Add the broccoli and simmer for around 20 minutes, or until the broccoli is cooked through and starts to break down, then mash or

blitz with a stick blender (adding an extra splash of milk to loosen, if using fresh broccoli).

Grate in half the Cheddar and season to perfection.

Arrange the cauliflower in an appropriately sized baking dish, pour over the broccoli white sauce and grate over the remaining Cheddar.

Blitz the bread into breadcrumbs in a food processor, then pulse in the thyme leaves and almonds.

Toss with a lug of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, then scatter evenly over the cauliflower cheese.

Bake for 1 hour, or until golden and cooked through, then enjoy!

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Gordon Ramsay has the kitchen at Claridges so the man clearly knows about good food!

Thankfully, he also has a selection of simple and nutritious recipes to try. Serves 2.

You’ll need: 200g flat, wide rice noodles (similar in shape to tagliatelle) 250g chicken breast fillet Flavourless oil, eg groundnut, for stir-frying 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely sliced 200g tenderstem broccoli, cut in half lengthways About 2 tbsp soy sauce, to taste 2 eggs, beaten Wedges of lime, to serve

Gordon Ramsay’s Chicken Stir Fry METHOD IF using dried noodles, soak them in warm water until softened, according to packet instructions.

(This will take about 10 minutes) Meanwhile, butterfly the chicken fillet by slicing through it horizontally, but leaving it joined down one side, then open it out. Flatten it with a rolling pin, then cut it diagonally into strips.

Heat a wok over a high heat and add a dash of oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and stir-fry for about 3 minutes until golden brown all over but not quite cooked through.

Add the garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then add the broccoli and continue

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to stir-fry for a few minutes until tender; add the soy sauce to season.

When the broccoli is tender, remove the contents of the wok and set them to one side. Wipe out the wok, add a dash of oil and heat through.

Drain the soaked noodles. Add the eggs to the hot wok, season and stir over the heat, allowing the bottom of the egg to cook.

Add the noodles and toss well, breaking up the egg as you do so.

Return the chicken and broccoli mixture to the wok and heat through, stir-frying over a medium heat.

Serve the noodles immediately with wedges of lime to squeeze on top.

WINTER SUPERFOODS It’s not essential to commit yourself to a formal diet this winter to stay slim. In fact, many foods we love to eat this time of year can be extremely beneficial!

Then we have grapefruit. This tangy fruit contains lycopene, an antioxidant with anti-cancer properties. Grapefruits are also renowned for their fat-burning properties. What’s not to like?

Spice it up Your winter diet need not be starchy and bland. Winter is the perfect time to make rich and colourful stews that you can add almost anything to. The best thing about these stews is they can be loaded with delicious herbs and spices that contain many nutritional benefits.

Add fennel to aid digestion; rosemary as an antioxidant and cayenne pepper to help boost your metabolism.

Christmas Dinner AT first thought, Christmas dinner seems to be Mission: Impossible for those trying to be healthy but its actually not as bad as you may think.

Firstly, the meal is based around turkey – a superfood for dieters! Turkey is lean meat and packed with protein plus its relatively low-cal.

Just watch your stuffing/ rich gravy intake. Leftover turkey is great for a wholemeal sandwich or a nutritious soup in the days after Christmas.

We can’t forget about the season’s trademark spice: cinnamon. Cinnamon is a good source of manganese, iron and calcium. It also helps to stabilise blood sugar and reduce sugar cravings- perfect for when you’re fighting the temptation of a box of Quality Street!

Zest is Best Winter is the season for fresh citrus, which means we can get a healthy boost of vitamin C during the cold and flu season.

One orange contains more than 100 per cent of your RDA for vitamin C- it’s also seriously delicious.

Instead of roasting your spuds in goose fat, why not try sweet potatoes? They are packed with vitamin C, potassium and calcium plus has a lower GI rating than the standard white potato, meaning it stabilises your blood sugars for longer.

Our American counterparts are huge fans of the sweet potato and we should adopt this nutritional powerhouse.

We can’t forget about Christmas’s most loved/loathed vegetable: the humble Brussels sprout. It takes just four to six sprouts to fulfill your daily vitamin C requirement? And sprouts have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory properties.

To find your nearest venue visit: www.freecondomsglasgowandclyde.org 265190

interview

competition

WIN GLASGOW ON ICE TICKETS Glasgow on Ice returns to George Square from November 23 until January 5. To celebrate, we’re giving away FIVE pairs of skating passes for the iconic rink.

To be in with a chance of winning one pair of tickets, simply answer the following question:

IN WHICH SQUARE WILL YOU FIND THE GLASGOW ON ICE RINK?

Text your answer FREE along with your name, contact phone number and email address to 07746-792724 or email competitions@student-rag.co.uk Closing date December 1. Editor’s decision is final.

thirty

have them in Coronation Street fires ALI G became famous for setting up interviews where he sends up politicians and it fair adds to the drama as well and celebrities. If you could choose one as appearing cosy and homely, and person to send up who would it be and a cup of tea cos we all know no matter what the tragedy a cup of tea what would you say to them? will always makes it better. :) I’d have a riot interviewing Boris Johnson and being an ex hairdresser the I’d secretly hope that all the stuff questions would mainly focus on his hair you hoard would get lost in the fire cos that would save me doing that with the main one being ‘Why?’ clear-out and a dodgy studded It’s 2015, 80s belt that Scotland has has no place in become an a gentleman’s independent wardrobe country and and having you become marshmallows ambassador go up in the for Scotland fire would be to the rest fine cos every of the world. cloud has to What three have a silver things do you lining and a bring with toasted marshyou as a repmallow would resentation of be just lovely!

Scotland?

The kilt, of YOU are at an awards ceremony course and I’d teach the world how to ‘birl’ and ‘shoogle’ in a kilt without and end up sitting at a table with a revealing the wind in their willows! I’d group of Manchester United football take a picture of Lorraine Kelly with players. By the end of the night the me cos she would be Queen and a team have you on their shoulders wee tray of shortbread so that they singing ‘there’s only one champion, could say at the International ReCraig Hill’. Why are they singing that, ception, “Ambassador, you are really what have you done? spoiling us with your Petticoat Tails!”

I point out that Manchester United Football spells MUF! And the boys Frankie Boyle shares the stage are so chuffed with my MUF they with you and you do a double act carry me on their shoulders to karaoke. What are you singing and celebrate! who are you both?

The Proclaimers of course! But THE BBC Live Floor Show in the we’d be doing Barbra Streisand covyear 2025 is a totally different set up ers in thick Scottish accents. I think and now the two acts with the least ‘Wummin In Love’ would be a big hit! laughs have to compete in Total IF you had a house fire what three Wipeout. Which comedians do you things would you have to save and fancy your chances beating and who what three things do you secretly do you desperately want to avoid hope burn but don’t let on to your competing against? partner?

I’d like to be up against the cast I’d save some facial scrub to get of Emmerdale cos I’d reckon they’d the smoke off cos apparently it’s a struggle for laughs after so many nightmare to get out and means you tragic storylines and I’d want to avoid look fresh for the neighbours! competing against Abbey Clancy – I’d grab a dressing gown and some baffies (slippers) cos they always she’s sharp as a tack that one!

Under your name in Wikipedia it says ‘For the Welsh rugby union player see Craig Hill (rugby player)’.

You wake up in the morning and like the film Big you have swapped bodies with your rugby player namesake but only have your strength. How do you outfox your opponents on the rugby field and score the winning goal?

By grabbing every ball on the pitch!

I’m pretty sure if I looked slightly over enthusiastic every time another player approached me they’d run a mile! So, I’d dodge ‘em all with a big smiley face and a lick of my lips-it wouldn’t be that hard....or maybe it would!

YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH

It’s June 2014 and all Scottish artists are encouraged to enter the Commonwealth Games and choose a sport. Why do you have the spectators in stitches when you are competing?

I’m doing the shot put, but with a twist! I’d introduce tequila shots before every attempt.

So the first few sober attempts would be fairly amusing anyway given how little distance I’d manage but the drunken ones would be a riot!

Everywhere except the field! I think if we did all the sports literally it would be much more fun! I’d hand the spectators a ‘Half Marathon’ and time how long it takes them to eat their ‘Snickers’.

with CRAIG HILL

You get the chance to be a tattooist for a day and ink Simon Cowell’s derriere. What tattoos do you put on it?

On one cheek I’d put ‘What An Arse!’ And on the other I’d have the sun shining out of it!

You have just released your biography and it’s been made into a film.

Critics describe it as ‘makes Irvine Welsh’s Filth look tame’ What’s in the film?

Flowers and cats and clouds and bunnies and chocolate and fairies and love – I paid off the critics!

IF you could go back in time when your were Cleo Laine in one of your first onstage performances as a child what would you change and what effect would it have on your future?

That always comes back to haunt me that Cleo Laine impersonation!

I think it was inspired by Tiswas, an 80s TV programme that had a section where people phoned up and impersonated people.

I think if I went back I’d impersonate a man instead and save my voice from having to do the high pitched notes all through puberty!

Pic: Steve Ullathorne

CRAIG HILL ON TOUR

Nov 9 – The Tron GLASGOW Nov 28 – Eastgate Arts, PEEBLES Jan 9, 10, 11 – The Stand, GLASGOW Jan 24 – Brunton Theatre, MUSSELBURGH Jan 25 – Adam Smith Theatre, KIRKCALDY Jan 31 – Lemon Tree, ABERDEEN Feb 1 – Cumbernauld Theatre CUMBERNAULD Feb 7 – Howden Park, LIVINGSTON Feb 8 – MacRobert Arts Centre STIRLING Feb 15 – Eden Court Theatre INVERNESS

twenty-five thirty-one

interview

I’ve really had to wait for it!

When you started out as a producer, did you ever think you’d end up releasing records under your own name?

Not at all. It was never a plan, to be honest. I don’t sing and dance not at the moment, anyway!

But the success with Emeli basically made my mind up, it gave me the confidence to do it.

From then, it was finding an idea, a unifying theme for the record.

Genuinely, if I hadn’t found one, I don’t know whether I would have made Hotel Cabana.

Tell us about this idea, then.

I used to work in this luxury hotel called The Grove in Hertfordshire.

I was a waiter there, and I saw this whole different world, all these strange people every day.

Although on the outside they were rich and famous and successful, actually when the mask dropped they were quite sad and lonely. And I’ve been fascinated by that idea ever since, that perhaps all that money and acclaim isn’t good for you, that maybe you’re better off where you are.

So for the album, it was like I was bringing these guests – my collaborators – into a hotel and making them the backbone of this story of a fall from grace.

‘Think About It’ is your new single from the Hotel Cabana album. It’s out this month and features Wiz Khalifa and Ella Eyre. What is it about?

It’s just part of the Hotel. It’s about everything you think you want but when you get there it’s not what you want.

The guy’s a rapper who goes there to the Hotel.

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From hotel waiter to chart-topping double MOBO winner, Shahid Khan’s rise has been remarkable.

After meeting the then-unknown Emeli Sande in 2009, the two struck up a dynamic working relationship, Shah writing and producing most of Sandé’s debut album Our Version of Events.

She returned the favour on the Naughty Boy debut albumHotel Cabana this year, featuring on five songs, and was joined by the likes of Bastille, Tinie Tempah and Ed Sheeran.

Naughty Boy’s now taking the Hotel Cabana concept on a UK tour.

Q&A

IS it tricky to keep a theme going throughout a whole record? Concept albums don’t always have the best reputation!

It is tricky, yes, but I had time to make it work.

To have two years on it made Hotel Cabana come together far more easily than it would have done if I’d been forcing a concept in a studio for a couple of months.

And I believie it made it sound better, too.

Given that you’re not really a frontman in the traditional sense, how will Naughty Boy work on tour?

The live shows I’ve done so far have worked fine, but I know that people expect more as the venues get bigger.

What I’m trying to do is join the dots between the record and live show, so the floors of the ‘hotel’ will be chequered, we’ll have hotel staff, and the special guests will

be ushered on stage by a concierge.

I’m really trying to keep people in the hotel vibe.

I’m looking forward to it, although obviously I’m not really the star performer of this.

I have my own little set-up where I’m triggering sounds but it’s the singers who take centre stage.

SO will the guests on the record make appearances on tour with you?

That’s the plan, but different people on different dates depending on their availability.

I don’t want to give away exactly who just yet though!

THE guest star you’re most synonymous with is Emeli Sande.

She has said in the past that the first meeting with you changed her career. Was it the same for you?

Absolutely. Because of where we were at the time it was perfect.

She had never worked with a producer, I had never worked with a singer, so the confidence we gave each other to be ourselves was amazing.

You have to have that trust in a creative relationship and that’s why ours has lasted so long. We’ve got better through time, too.

The amount of stuff you’ve worked on, could almost be an official duo.

Naughty Emeli or something!

Yeah, we could! You should hear the stuff we’ve done already for her next album, though.

It’s really special.

IS there a song on Our Version of Events which sums up your working relationship, do you think?

I think Clown is my favourite. That

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song represents the strange time just before you’re really successful – you’re still in demand, but you’re unsure where you’re going.

You’re scared of this machine called the music industry.

There’s some nice sentiments in Clown, I think, but we won’t be in the position to feel like that any time soon. And maybe that’s a bit of a shame, because it’s always good to feel that there’s more to do, more to say.

That’s an interesting point.

Second albums often suffer from the artist involved having nothing to say, or dream about, anymore.

Absolutely.

That’s why you’ve got to keep on living, meet new people and experience life in all its glory. Hopefully that’s where the new songs come from.

Talking of meeting new people, how do you choose your collaborators?

I like to work with people who are real artists, who write their own songs and can perform them.

It’s not as simple as just looking for talent – I like to work with inspiring people.

When me and Emeli first met there were no preconceptions – she played the piano and I made beats, so for her album to do as amazingly as it did shows you that it’s more exciting to take a chance on someone that really wants it.

You’ve talked before about Bollywood being an influence – but you can’t necessarily hear that in the music...

No, but you can in the emotion of the record. Bollywood is quite dramatic, so I think it’s got the feel of that music rather than its sound.

CONGRATULATIONS on the win for Best Song and Best Video at the MOBOs – anything exciting happen other than of course the amazing singing from all the artists?

I’ve learnt a big lesson – after your first award don’t get drunk!

After the first award backstage someone gave me a fishbowl with a Boris Johnson blue cocktail.

It tipped me over the edge. It’s a celebration anyway!

You produce and write so do you care about the video?

The videos are just as important.

I want to make people think more. I don’t want anything to be the song I want you to use your imagination.

IN 2005 you received a £4,000 Prince’s Trust Grant and the same year you won £44,000 which helped you purchase recording equipment. Did you believe someone up there was offering you a helping hand?

It was crazy then.

I wasn’t expecting anything to happen. I was expecting to drop out of uni and that was all.

Sometimes we have to do crazy things. I feel I asked the Universe. I was always following signs and looking for what I should do.

I believe it’s not just for me, it’s happening for everyone.

It’s scary how things have changed for me. It hopefully gives anyone like me a renewed hope that anyone can come in and change the way music is perceived in the UK. You don’t have to go through the standard route, and I’m having fun every day.

interview You’ve worked for Rihanna, Alesha Dixon, Emeli Sande, Chipmunk, JLS, Ed Sheeran.

Does anyone’s voice outshine them all?

Emeli always. I’ve been spoilt with her. She was the one. I think she has the best voice in the world and I’m not ashamed to say that.

We’re best friends and always have fun together. Sometimes we have too much fun and we get no work done in the recording studio!

What’s the secret to longevity in your career?

The power in the song. The secret is I’m always scared but as long as people love me it’s good.

Labour leader Ed Milliband’s Brighton speech ended with ‘Lifted’ in September this year. Do you mind if your music is associated with politics?

Was it? I didn’t even know that! I love that. I love to mix my music in politics.

I wouldn’t particularly vote for any party but I like that it’s being used.

My music’s not about politics it’s about getting people to think what they are capable of.

NAUGHTY BOY ON TOUR...

November 12: Brighton Concorde November 13: London Brixton Electric November 15: Birmingham Library November 16: Manchester Club Academy November 17: Glasgow O2 ABC2

WIN TICKETS TO SEE NAUGHTY BOY aS part of his forthcoming Hotel Cabana tour, Naughty Boy will be performing at the O2 ABC in Glasgow on November 17.

And we’ve got THREE pairs of tickets to give away. To be in with a chance of winning one pair of tickets, simply answer the following question:

WHAT IS NAUGHTY BOY’S REAL NAME?

Text your answer FREE along with your name, contact phone number and email address to 07746-792724 or email competitions@student-rag.co.uk Closing date November 14. Editor’s decision is final.

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Hewn from potholed concrete Blasted by driving 45○ degree wind & rain Sculpted by excessive miles And buns fuelled by Greggs RIG has laid down its anchor and rooted at the basement of 141 West Regent Street.

RIG = Ride In Glasgow Bike Messengers and Fixed Gear

Home to Glasgow’s Bike Messengers and Fixed Gear riders, we offer custom built and standard bicycles, full repair service, messenger bags and cycle clothing, shimano campag and other parts, and general fair and honest chat.

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The workshop, staffed by three experienced mechanics, can turn round sameday repairs on all bikes, puncture service, full strip down and rebuild, and advice and fitting of all bike parts. Radio 6 rules the chat.

Visit Us

Find us by: - Looking at an A-Z / Google maps - Asking total strangers - Trying to follow a bike Messenger

Luke Monaghans Cafe and Cycle Hire

Come into Luke Monaghans Velodromo Cafe, within RIG, and hire a bike or grab a coffee.

Hire from half a day to a month, road mtb or tourer.

Order a coffee , cake or panini for the journey.

Hire starts at £7.50, coffee at £1.50

Or on Rig Glasgow/Facebook and take our virtual tour and find Jeff and Skaldo the dogs.

We talk, you listen You talk, we listen

interview

The slowest Tornado in town LUKE Sital-Singh is a singer-songwriter with a chilled-out vibe who has been likened to Ben Howard.

He’s been causing a storm since the release of his third EP Tornados this month and has just finished a two week UK tour.

Luke, who sees his music more as pop than folk, reveals music and The Sopranos takes care of his working week and weekend.

IF ever a song title could completely hide its writer’s true nature then Luke Sital-Singh’s Tornados is it.

The Londoner’s existence could never be described as a whirlwind and his weekends are more likely to revolve around classic DVDs than larging it up in clubland.

When Luke’s not pouring his heart into song-writing he’s unleashing his energy on stage.

In between times the laidback singer has a very chilled out approach to his down time – it generally involves a lazy Sunday and a box set.

And he’ll soon be getting back to that after completing a UK tour on the back of his third EP Tornados.

Luke explains: “I don’t really do anything wild. Standing on stage singing my heart out takes enough energy.

“When I’m not on stage I zonk out and sit around and do nothing most of the time.

“My music is all-consuming so I like to hide in the dark when I’m not doing it.

“I wake up late on a Sunday and I’m catching up on the first season box set of The Sopranos most weekends which is good.”

Luke has a beautiful, peaceful aura mirroring his music and there’s a lot of acoustic lamenting in his songs such as Nothing Stays The Same and Fail For You which has serene

“In its heyday it was about voices echoing his words. Is lifestyle whereas now if you his melancholy Luke’s natural play an acoustic guitar it’s state? now ‘folk music’.

Luke says: “I think this is “The really clear thing my general mood. I don’t doesn’t apply that folk was. need to find melancholy, it’s I don’t know, I’m quite clean my temperament. Sad songs and it is cleaner. I play elecare more beautiful. tric guitar fifty per cent of the “ I’m not into music for time in my live show. dance ability. I like really “I don’t know much about beautiful melodies that move what happens with folk music you. and I’ve only played the Cam“The sort of things that bridge Folk Festival once. I move me to write? One of the saw banjos and accordions songs off the EP is Tornado and real old-style music.

Town. I wrote that about “This isn’t really what I do something I saw. though it feels when you go “I watched a Channel 4 there that you’re part of a big documentary about a recent family.” massive tornado in the US Luke’s ability stems and there was a guy walking from parents whose own round interviewing people background lacked musical after their homes had been instruments. wrecked.

He explains: “My parents “The people he interviewed weren’t particularly never showed much despair. musical but Their felt they attitude missed was out. ‘we’ll “They just sung in build choirs. another There house’. wasn’t That much moved music in me! The my house resil(growing ience to up). say ‘shit “My hapeldest pens!’” brother Luke was into has Radiohead and played that played round the house and I was the Cambridge Folk Festival amazed at how many CDs he and though he sees his music had and that was the start of as more pop-py it certainly my interest. feels like a place where he “I know a lot of people play would fit in quite nicely with similar music to me and can peers such as Josh Ritter and sit down and play classic Jake Bugg, with whom he songs and people can sing shares a producer. along.

Luke believes the folk “I’ve not grown up in that or revival over the last few years am part of that ‘let’s all sing has more of a clean image round’ culture. My songs are than the bygone days during more insular songs. It’s quite and not long after the hippy an individual thing what I do. era. He says: I definitely think “Mostly Iwhat live inyou’ll my head it’s not reallystudent the same ‘folk’ Imagine accommodation get, or how many of your and I’m writing in mytypes headare all in there. time.aThe is used like bagword of pick and for mixan sweets. favourite of the time.” acoustic guitar.

You’re never really sure exactly thirty-eight

All of the sweets will look so bright,

colourful and enticing when you first get them, but too many can make you very, very sick. thirty-nine

BIG

Something is going down!

Pic: Lloyd Smith

Edinburgh is the ‘Home of Hogmanay’ and this year welcomes the world to celebrate the launch of Homecoming Scotland 2014 at one of the planet’s biggest New Year Parties.

Three days of incredible events: theatre, music, dance and Street Party extravaganzas make the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations the only way to bring in the New Year.

Pic: Lloyd Smith

WIN

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2013/14. Scotland’s BIG Year Starts Here!

Monday 30 December 2013 – Wednesday 1 January 2014.

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION

On the opening night of the festival (30th Dec) join the warm embrace of the Torchlight Procession as it flickers through the city, radiating light through the winter darkness as thousands of torch carriers create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to a spectacular fireworks finale on Calton Hill.

Last year this event attracted over 35,000 and sold-out prior to the event, so get your torch vouchers Pic: Chris Watt early.

EDINBURGH HOGMANAY STREET PARTY TICKETS

Win tickets to the world-famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party.

Tuesday 31 December 2013 – into the New Year!

Edinburgh’s For ticket and event details visit www.edinburghshogmanay.com Hogmanay and

To be in with a chance of winning 4 tickets for you and your friends, just tell us:

HOW OLD IS THE STREET PARTY THIS YEAR? Text your answer FREE along with your name, contact phone number and email address to 07746-792724 or email competitions@student-rag.co.uk

EDINBURGH’S HOMGANAY STREET PARTY

The world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party welcomes over 80,000 revelers to the ‘Home of Hogmanay’ and this year presents an all-Scottish lineup with Mercury nominee headliners Django Django along with electro-synth popsters Chvrches, King Creosote, The Rezillos, Treacherous Orchestra plus much more.

CONCERT IN THE GARDENS

Set beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Concert in the Gardens is ‘the music and fireworks spectacular’. forty

Student Rag are giving you the chance to join the 21st anniversary Street Party with tickets to see Django Django, Nina Nesbitt, Chvrches, King Creosote and lots more at the music and fireworks spectacular.

Closing date December 1. Editor’s decision is final.

This year Pet Shop Boys are tasked with kicking the party into 2014.

The most successful UK pop-duo of all time will be playing a spectacular greatest hits set through the bells, joined by the UK’s hottest new band The 1975 and Edinburgh singer-songwriter sensation Nina Nesbitt and The 10:04’s… and not forgetting the biggest Midnight Moment on the planet!

...AND ALL THE REST

But Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is more than just music and New Year fireworks, this festival is packed with free and ticketed entertainment surrounding the 31st December.

The serene Candlelit Concert set in the magnificent surrounding of the Old Town’s St Giles’ Cathedral, plus a full exciting new programme of entertainment on New Year’s Day, alongside The Loony Dook; a New Year’s Day dip in the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth, ensure that Edinburgh’s Hogmanay continues to be voted as one of the top New Year experiences in the world.

Tickets are on-sale now at www.edinburghshogmanay. com or 0844 5738455 Register at www.edinburghshogmanay.com for regular artist updates and programme announcements.

Pic: Lloyd Smith

forty-one

www.thecafesalma.co.uk

interview

O

forty-four

Joe’s pulling out all the strops

N A night out with comedy jokers Jack Whitehall and Greg McHugh, Joe Thomas may seem the least likely candidate to exhibit diva-esque behaviour. Yet one now legendary karaoke bar strop left Fresh Meat director Jamie Jay Johnson traumatised and quite possibly saw the cast banned from their regular haunt!

Joe explains: “If anyone in the cast could be accused of being a diva I guess it’s me! I’m the most emotional. That is embarrassing. I’m more than any of the girls.

“We got into karaoke while we were doing this series.

“We were in a booth singing and everyone started to bail out until only me, the director Jamie and Charlotte Ritchie, who plays Oregon, are left.

“I got aggressive and shouted ‘shut up’ shut up, her voice is beautiful, listen to her’ about Charlotte to Jamie.

“I wanted to sing ‘End of a Century’ by Blur and I was shouting ‘f***ing shut up’ at Jamie.

“Jamie only stuck around because he thought it would be fun but I think he found it weird and intense.

“There’s been lots of nights like that doing karaoke, drinking or ending up in a club. We genuinely feel like taking a month off at the end of each night and take a bottle of wine just to take the edge off.”

Joe admits that, on reflection, the opportunities to exhibit such diva tendencies are too limited to be a real issue.

In fact, he points to the fact he requires only a decent bulb and basic furniture as evidence of his less demanding nature.

Joe says: “Weirdly you can’t be a diva nowadays because there’s not enough time. We’ve got eight minutes to get four shots so it would reflect badly on you.

“The era of ‘I’m ready for my close up now’ is over. I guess I’m not much of a diva as I have fairly moderate needs.

“Honestly it’s tragic. I read a lot. I need a well lit room with a chair. That’s it really.

“I think mainly I need encouragement. I’m quite shallow so I need to be told I’m doing alright.

“If no-one’s told me I’m funny for a while then I think ‘oh god, I’m rubbish, I never was funny, I could never be funny’’ and then if someone sees me act and says ‘I like that’ I think ‘oh yeah, I’m a genius’.”

Luckily for Joe he had his girlfriend [actress] Hannah Tointon on his arm at the weekends during breaks from filming Fresh Meat to lend a sympathetic ear.

Joe met the star of Hollyoaks and The Hour while she was on set as Simon’s girlfriend Tara in Series Three of The Inbetweeners. The two help each other out in times of need.

Joe reveals: “The toughest thing about Fresh Meat is I’m away from my family and the people I love like Hannah. Simple things are incredibly important.

“Hannah and I help each other with auditions a lot and it’s nice to have another actor because they understand the pressures a lot. There’s nothing more shitty than an audition that goes badly.

“You get quite wrapped up in yourself. Hannah’s more likely to say, ‘don’t be ridiculous’. You spend a lot of the day not doing very much.

“Two lines might not have gone very well and that might be your afternoon’s work so it’s good to have Hannah to understand.”

Joe, who studied History at Pembroke College at Cambridge, found his student acting days filled with more lines acting out sketches he, Simon Bird and Jonny Sweet wrote while performing for the Cambridge Footlights.

Joe says: “Jonny, Simon and I always wanted to do sitcom. We continued to work at sketch groups.

“We called our first sketch group ‘The House of Windsor’ (laughs). It was a ridiculous name. We needed a name and thought it would be funny. We just wanted it to forty-five forty-five

interview

and as the desperado Kingsley in Fresh Meat. So is being typecast a worry and does he want to break free from the mould?

Joe admits: “I’m my own worst enemy. In Chickens we wanted to have a pacifist character, someone injured.

“Simon and I thought about changing over and I could be the stuffed shirt and we were aware it would be original but we had to do what we were good at.

“What’s that joke, ‘what you have here is a genuine Stradivarius and a genuine Van Gogh. The only problem is, Van Gogh couldn’t make violins and Stradivarius couldn’t paint to save his life!’

“Playing Kingsley for the third series in Fresh Meat I was really hoping the soul patch (moustache) would be cut.

“That is still there and Kingsley is still doing his cool ‘I don’t give a shit, I don’t mind Josie’s left’ and he’s still with Heather.

“He doesn’t address his problems in life and he pretends to himself he doesn’t mind.

“He is frustrating to play because he doesn’t sort things out and lets it fester though when I’m watching comedy I don’t want to watch characters who sort things out because it makes me feel bad about myself.

“I’d rather see f***ing up than characters like Jason Bourne who excels at everything. I like to see characters

sound like something that was already there. A man came from Windsor Council to watch it because he actually thought it was something to do with the area (laughs). “‘The Conservative Party’ was the other idea (laughs even more). ‘Blackburn Rovers’ was another idea! We’re not even fans.

“It was a stupid student idea that we found funny at the time. We went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival a couple of times to perform our sketches.

“We had a few ideas at the Footlights but Chickens was the one that Big Talk Productions liked. It dates back around five years ago.

“It was one of those ones that it hung around and you lose interest but we kept coming back to it.

“It is satisfying to write and perform in your own sitcom. I do think you get more satisfaction and more of a buzz if it’s your own.

“When we were just finishing six scripts there was a feeling of a mixture of chuffed and tired.

“There’s three different stages where you can save it or it can go wrong. One is in the writing, and if that’s okay then you film it and then that went well but a TV show is about the edit so then we had to worry about that. I suppose it went well.

“I’m so full of admiration for anyone writing. Doing Fresh Meat, where the scripts are finished, I think of the toil and this lovely crafted script that we end up with.”

Fresh Meat Chickens, a comedy about Series 3 is three men who don’t go off to fight in World War 1, was showing screened on Sky 1 in August now on this year after Channel 4 knocked it back.

Channel 4.

In Chickens Joe cast himMondays self as a pacifist, unlucky-inat 10pm. love guy, a similar character to his role as the hapless Simon in The Inbetweeners forty-six

who are screwed up but don’t recognise it.

“In the new series Kingsley writes a protest song to do with drone warfare.

He sings that and it’s also to do with Josie. That’s quite a nice moment in the series.

“Kingsley sort of sings it in front of a lot of people ad hoc and he’s really into it. It’s more a series of crushingly painful experiences where he thinks things can’t get worse but they do.

“In the first episode there’s a funny scene where Josie is in Southampton communicating to Kingsley through Skype on an iPad. “When they are having their meals in the flat they sit the iPad up at the table as if Josie’s there and Kingsley prefers to talk to her. In one hilarious scene they pass her under the door while she’s on the ipad so she can spy.”

Joe, Simon and Jonny are like the characters they portray and have no sign of changing. Joe reveals: “We’re deeply immature and we just muck around a lot and sing a lot.

“When we were writing Chickens we were in an office with amazing writers and performers like Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci and Paul Whitehouse all doing their own thing.

“We (Simon,Jonny and Joe) were making loads of noise and not doing any work. I’ve learnt that the only rule of writing is don’t leave the room or you won’t come back and you won’t get anything done.”

Here’s the lowdown on what’s happened in Fresh Meat. Vod, Howard, Kingsley, Josie, Oregon and JP share a house off-campus in Manchester.

Vod (Zawe Ashton) is streetwise, anti-Establishment, never seems to have any money and is constantly borrowing from flatmate Oregon.

She appears to be sexually clued up though her house-mates seem to be getting a lot more.

She’s always up for a party, drinks to excess, is failing at uni and regularly copies Oregon’s work.

Oregon (Charlotte Ritchie) is a literature student from a privileged background. She is paranoid about how she is perceived by her peers, has an

The story so far affair with her lecturer, works for his wife and then unknowingly forms a relationship with his son, Dylan.

Howard (Greg McHugh) is eccentric, socially inept with strange mannerisms. He has few friends and occasionally lets his inner rage seep out when things go wrong.

Josie (Kimberley Nixon) started off sensible, shy and sweet natured but becomes stubborn, overconfident and mildly selfish. She has a complicated relationship

with Kingsley, who formed a relationship with her friend, Heather.

Josie and Kingsley get it on again but then she transfers to Southampton Uni. Kingsley (Joe Thomas) is friendly, charming but also stubborn, insecure and prone to making rash decisions including growing a moustache.

Just as Josie leaves Manchester, Kingsley is seen racing through the crowd after her bus. JP (Jack Whitehall) is a posh kid who is arrogant, cocky and tends to look down on his fellow students. His efforts to appear ‘cool’ often leading him into more trouble.

His father dies and his mother sells their stately home.

He then buys the house in which the six students live. forty-seven

WIN

TICKETS TO SEE WHITE CHRISTMAS

only

£10

IRVING Berlin’s stage musical version of Bing Crosby’s classic 1954 movie is brimming with hits including the unforgettable title song White Christmas.

We’ve got THREE pairs of tickets to see the spectacular production at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on December 3 to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning one pair of tickets, simply answer the following question:

IN WHICH YEAR WAS THE MOVIE VERSION OF WHITE CHRISTMAS RELEASED? Text your answer FREE along with your name, contact phone number and email address to 07746-792724 or email competitions@ student-rag.co.uk Closing date November 22. Editor’s decision is final.

PROFILE:

Catriona Downie, Marketing Manager, Scottish Opera

Can you describe your job in 1 sentence?

Difficult! Basically I oversee the marketing for all the various activities that Scottish Opera is involved in – from largescale productions in big theatres to small shows in village halls, education activity, fundraising activity, concerts and any one-off projects that crop up.

That includes writing text for all the leaflets and posters we produce, working with our Graphics Dept to design them, organising advertising, writing and sending out mailing letters and maintaining our website and online presence.

It also involves setting up box offices for smaller-scale performances, being a front of house manager where necessary, and dealing with any publicity material needed by the other departments in the Company. I manage a team of 5 but we’re all kept very busy!

10 years ago, did you imagine that you would be working for Scottish Opera?

I always wanted to work in the arts, I just wasn’t sure exactly where or in what capacity.

I studied History at Glasgow University and got involved in lots of other stuff on campus too.

I worked for the student newspaper as a photographer, and I sung in a couple of choirs, as well as setting up my own with a friend.

The organisational angle of that was a real learning curve

but one that’s been very useful. After I graduated I temped for a couple of years. I built up my admin experience and worked in lots of different areas – in a photo library, as a receptionist, cataloguing a library, in education, in heritage and in various pubs.

I eventually applied for a summer job in the Press Office at the Edinburgh International Festival, did that 2 years in a row, worked in TV for 6 months and then was offered a data entry role at Scottish Opera.

That turned into a 3 month admin job, which turned into a permanent contract in the Marketing Department and I’m still here today.

What do you love about working in opera?

It’s a manic life but I love it. The people who work here are all really passionate about what they do and you can’t help but be enthused by that.

Opera is an amazing art-form. It’s not one I was very familiar with before I got this job, and I’m still learning something new about it every day, but when it’s good, it’s in a league of its own.

I suppose I would say that though…I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I didn’t!

An evening in stylish

Get £10 tix if you’re Under26.

Any Seat. Any Performance.

Don Pasquale 24 • 26 • 29 Jan | 1 Feb Theatre Royal Glasgow For more information go to scottishopera.org.uk Registered in Scotland Number SCO37531 Scottish Charity Number SCO19787

COMING SOON TO A PLACE NEAR YOU...

Looking for a gig and don’t know where to go? Never fear, Alice Cruickshank has a quick look at what’s a goin’ on...

Tom Odell IF there’s one name that really emerged in the 2013 music scene it’s Tom Odell. With his flowing blonde locks and ‘listen to me!’ piano songs, Odell was always going to be hard to ignore.

The 23-year-old British singer-songwriter has already started paving his road to success with a BRIT Critics’ Choice Award under his belt as well as a number one album.

Serial musician dater Taylor Swift wanted to get her claws into this one; the two were spotted hanging out together.

When he comes to the Usher Hall this February, you can expect the stomping piano riffs and haunting vocals we’ve come to know and love from songs such as Another Love and Hold Me. Odell has a distinctive style, heavily focusing on a piano accompaniment and plodding drums and his voice has the miraculous ability of being able to channel a rich tone into a delicate sound, meaning his music really packs a punch.

Odell was set to play at the Edinburgh Picture House in November but the show was cancelled so fans will be pleased that he is still coming to the capital.

It is difficult to predict how his musical style will fare in the much larger venue of the Usher Hall.

But if his performance on Later With Jools Holland is anything to go by, we can be confident it will be an event not to be missed.

Tom Odell is playing the Usher Hall in Edinburgh on February 12.

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fifty

The Lumineers “I belong with you, you belong with me; you’re my sweetheart…”

One of the most profilic songs of 2013 was The Lumineers’ Ho Hey (that’s right, I know you’re humming it!) so we can expect big things for when they come to Edinburgh at the end of November.

The group have a significant role in the recent popularisation of folk music and with Mumford and Sons announcing they are to take a considerable break from the industry, The Lumineers could be about to take their place.

The band, from Colorado, have such an infectious music style it’s impossible

not to tap your toes along to their swelling rythms. Don’t feel that you have to be a big folk fan to enjoy their gig: The Lumineers promises to be a concert that everyone can enjoy.

Listen out for the superb album tracks Stubborn Love and Slow it Down, two highly contrasting songs that display the band’s versatility.

Don’t expect any elaborate staging or explosive backdrops.

The Lumineers and their music are about a return to simplicity: just really good tunes by really good musicans.

The Lumineers play The Corn Exchange in Edinburgh on November 23.

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Barenaked Ladies For those of you who don’t know, Barenaked Ladies are responsible for the theme song to The Big Bang Theory, which is only THE biggest comedy show of the past five years.

Yes, now you know whom I’m talking about.

The band has certainly come a long way since their acoustic days in the ‘80s

and rock days in the 90s.

Their biggest hits in the UK included songs One Week, If I had a Million Dollars and The Old Apartment, both of which are grunge anthems.

Their latest album Grinning Streak, which was released this year, channels their idiosyncratic pop-rock style but with a more contemporary sound.

preview

Newton Faulkner Who’d have thought that modern-day minstrel, Newton Faulkner started his musical career in a Green Day cover band?

We’re pretty sure there’ll be no rendition of American Idiot when Faulkner comes to both Edinburgh and Glasgow in February: just his wonderfully idiosyncratic, percussive guitar playing.

2013 has been a busy year for Faulkner, with his fourth studio album, Studio Zoo, being released after being recorded and streamed live from his home studio.

His new material remains true to his guitar-heavy, intricately percussive style. His lyrics point to a recent heartbreak but thankfully, the light

Foy Vance Their usually cheeky lyrics have matured along with the band, but BNL’s trademark of musical fun remains in their new material.

BNL are renowned for being really good fun and involving the audience at their shows, making this the perfect show for loyal fans and pop-rock novices alike.

Barenaked Ladies are appearing at the O2 Academy, Glasgow on November 27 and the Picture House, Edinburgh November 28.

feel to Faulkner’s music remains.

Highlights from the new album include album-opener, Where to Start, Indecisive – with its beautiful lyrics – and Waiting on You, a track that shows the musician’s guitar skills and unique style to full effect.

Of course, we can also expect him to play the crowd-pleasers such as Dream Catch Me and Teardrop.

The mid-sized venues of the Picture House in Edinburgh and the O2 ABC in Glasgow are the perfect size for maintaining intimacy between Faulkner and his audience, a principle which is essential to his music.

Newton Faulkner will appear at the Picure House, Edinburgh 11 Feb and the O2 ABC 12 Feb.

l

“The orange was the size of a watermelon to me/ Well at least that is my memory/ Sunshine made my bare feet burn upon the road/ Far away we’d roam.”

Let Northern Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance take you away to happier places when Electric Circus in Edinburgh welcomes him in December.

Vance, despite spending most of his life in Belfast, spent his first five years in Oklahoma and his links to the Deep South are very

much apparent in his folksy-blues style.

Think a contemporary Van Morrison with a bit of Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons and City and Colour thrown in.

Despite being a relatively unkown artist, Vance had two tracks featured on hit US show Gray’s Anatomy and we can only hope he will play the sublime Homebird when he performs in Edinburgh.

Vance released his second studio album Joy of Nothing this year so expect to hear

much of his new material, such as single Closed Hands and Full of Friends – a stirring song featuring a plodding piano, Mumford-esque percussion and folksy guitar.

Then there is the beautiful Janey, a powerfully simple piece thats heavy guitar-focus and featuring banjo reflect the singer’s roots.

Give Foy Vance a chance; you will not be disappointed.

Foy Vance will play at Electric Circus in Edinburgh on December 4.

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Domestic Abuse can be physical, emotional, financial and/or sexual abuse.

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interview

give us a minute Quickfire questions with: TREVOR NOAH Your father is white Swiss and your mother black South African. What are the biggest stereotypes of both these nationalities and where does that leave you?

Swiss doesn’t really have any popular stereotypes, I guess from their neutrality and tendency to keep to themselves this has been the result.

Black South African is a very broad term as we have so many tribes that people originate from that there’s no brush to paint them all.

My mother is Xhosa and Xhosa people are known to be loud, proud and well educated. Oh and also very loose – these are some of the stereotypes, most of which are true!

You proved the power of comedy and YouTube when you posted a clip for Cell C, one of the largest network operator’s, faults. They apologised in a national newspaper and made you ‘consumer protection officer’. What other clips are you now tempted to post on YouTube and what similar outcomes are you hoping for?

Oh that was a lucky coincidence. I just post random pics online. In fact more often than not the pics are not even posted by me.

AS consumer protection officer for Cell C how could you take advantage of this role with comic results?

You were the subject of a documentary ‘You Laugh But It’s True’ last year.

What was that about?

The film was based on the new comedy scene in South Africa and the emergence of black comedians in a previously racist state.

You grew up in a Soweto township. To the outside world townships look bleak with extreme poverty and almost no hope of getting out.

Where did you find comedy in that?

Most comedy comes from pain. It’s the one thing that is free even to the most poor.

We can all laugh even in the toughest of times. Jewish comedians are a prime example of this.

Who are your international comedian role models. What is so great or important about them?

I don’t really have role models in comedy.

I really just admire great comedians that master their craft – Eddie Izzard and Dave Chappelle spring to mind. fifty-four

Well I guess my role was too comic because I was relieved of my duties after a few years.

DO you have an overall message you are trying to get across in your routine or is it comedy for the sake of laughs?

The main aim of comedy for me is to tell my truth but without laughter this is a speech.

Laughter is the icing on the cake of what you’re saying.

YOU laugh at fat people, murder, Oscar Pistorius, racism and tacos. Is there any subject that would hit a raw nerve if you heard a joke being made of it?

No not really. Unfunny jokes hit a nerve. Even the meanest thing can become palatable if it’s funny.

YOU are number one in the international comedy website ‘officicallaughs. com’s’ top 20 African comedians. Does that get you a guaranteed table at any restaurant? What else does it get you?

I didn’t even know about this. So I guess the answer to that is no.

YOU performed at the Edinburgh Fringe last year following an invite from Eddie Izzard. What was your impression of The Fringe and how did the audience respond to your routine? Any awkward moments?

Eddie and I have been friends for years and his goal has always been to have comedy become a global thing. I helped him when he wanted to come perform in South Africa and he was gracious enough to present me in Edinburgh.

I had always heard that Edinburgh was the “mecca” of comedy and it lived up to every expectation.

I had an amazing run. No awkward moments really just some Scottish people giving me compliments or complaints that I couldn’t really understand.

WHO has been a comedian that has pushed boundaries in racism and/or politics with his/her routine?

Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Louis CK, Reginald D Hunter.

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Trevor will be appearing at The Stand comedy club in Glasgow on Jan 6.

proud “xhosa people are loud, se” and educated. and very loo

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THE EDUCATOR Delving fearlessly into the lives of the people what learn you stuff...

Angus Simpson is a lecturer in Public Affairs at the City of Glasgow College’s Journalism course. DANIEL COLE is asking the questions.

Wh at university did you attend and what course did you study?

I studied what was called ‘Pre-Entry Journalism’ at Napier in Edinburgh back in the late 70s – several decades and umpteen technologies ago!

DID you always want to be a jour nalist?

I decided at the age of 14 that journalism was the career for me.

I was fascinated by news and by people, and I had my heart set on local TV journalism – preferably as a Newscaster.

Wh at was the course like in those days?

The course was very intense in those days.

I expected it to involve writing, shorthand and interviewing, but was very surprised to discover I had to learn about Scots Law, Public Administration and sub-editing.

HOW does that course differ from today’s course?

Only the technology is different. The principles of journalism are still the same.

In my early days we had shorthand notebooks, an office phone and a bus ticket.

My first newspaper was produced with each individual letter on a ‘slug’ of metal.

Compositors had to place tens of thousands of these slugs together (as mirror

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images) to make each edition of the paper.

If reporters needed information they had to use reference books, a telephone and shorthand notebooks.

There was no internet technology, mobile phones or digital page designs.

IF you were a student again would you do the same course again?

Absolutely! I’ve had a brilliant career, taking me from newspapers to television and with some radio along the way.

I have seen some of the biggest technological advances in the history of the profession and seen my craft developing and adapting in ways I could never have imagined when I was a junior reporter.

And now I get to impart my knowledge and experience to fledgling journalists in the hope of maintaining standards for future generations.

DID a lot of your class mates get full time journalistic employment?

Everyone who completed the course got full time employment immediately.

Mind you, ours was the only accredited Journalism course in the whole of Scotland.

Even at that, 17 of us started and only 12 finished – so you could say the industry was waiting for us!

YOU were the face of teatime for years as Scotland Today anchorman. How did that opportunity arise?

As I mentioned, I had always set my heart on that job and everything I did was in preparation for it.

I cut my teeth as a reporter on a weekly paper and then a daily paper, before joining Border Television as News Editor.

That gave me the opportunity to add television skills to my journalistic skills so that, when the opportunity arose, I could grab it with both hands.

interview teacher, had been shot dead in their primary school.

I was aware as I walked to the studio that I was about to do something which would change people’s lives forever.

You don’t get much more responsibility than that.

DID you feel more nervous covering a breaking stor y?

No. That’s what every self-respecting journalist lives for.

Reporting is a very responsible job, but it can be very tedious, too.

Every hour you spend sitting in a small-town district court, or an interminable council meeting, is also spent waiting for the opportunity that gets you into the ‘breaking story’, when you can pull out all your skills and put them to the test in a pressurised situation.

DO you have any funny stories from the newsroom?

Not so much from the ‘newsroom’ but I’ll never forget the night in the studio when the camera operator fainted and sank slowly to the ground live on air.

Of course, the lower she sank, the more the camera pointed to the ceiling, meaning my colleague Don Lindsay ended up reading his sports report standing up!

Wh at was your all time favourite interview?

Probably interviewing Prince Philip at the Holker Hall Horse Trials.

My crew said I wouldn’t have the nerve to ask him, which made me all the more determined to do just that.

Of course, he agreed, and I have never seen a camera crew move so fast to set up as they did when we walked across the field!

The Prince also gave me a brilliant interview.

WHY did you choose to leave the field and begin teaching?

Technically, I only do the teaching part-time. I still do some official journalistic stuff.

I have always carried out media training sessions in tandem with my news presenting, and the teaching was a natural progression of that.

I enjoy it because, while every trainee journalist leaves college or university with a basic set of tools, I have 30 years’ experience to help them enhance that.

I have seen the evidence that this makes a difference when they go into the

workplace, and I find that very satisfying.

I have always set very high standards for myself and I can see evidence of those standards in other people going out to work in the industry.

IF you didn’t become a jour nalist what would you want to do?

Teaching. Pure and simple.

It’s a privilege to interact with people embarking on their careers, and to have an input into what they do and how they do it.

DID your career result in the way you imagined it would?

I think I could safely say ’yes’.

If anything, I probably didn’t think it through enough.

My ambition was to be ‘Scotland Today’ anchorman, and I achieved that when I was 28. It’s been plain sailing ever since.

l Angus in action

Wh at was the best stor y you had to report on?

Strangely, I have never been able to settle on what was my ‘best’ story.

I would hate to think that anything was as good as it could ever get.

I have interviewed royalty and international celebrities, I was privileged to travel overseas, and I was able to meet people at the pinnacle of their achievements. Every day was special.

And the worst?

As for my ‘worst’ story, I would say, without hesitation, the Dunblane shootings.

I was on newsreading duty that day and was the first to announce on television that sixteen little children, and their

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travel

MUST SEE One of the things I was very aware of before going was that I couldn’t go to Krakow without taking the trip to see Auschwitz-Birkenau.

I didn’t regret it either. Although the journey takes a while (it’s a three-hour round trip by bus) it is worth it.

You go straight from Krakow City Centre to the car park of Auschwitz and can book an English tour easily.

It’s only 30PLN for a student which amounts to about £5 and lasts about three and a half hours. It can be really busy in the afternoon so try and get there early and then it won’t eat up your whole day!

The tour consists of seeing some exhibitions in the barracks at Auschwitz and going into the first crematoria building.

You also go into what was referred to as the prison block where inmates of the extermination camp were held in cells. You then board

Play, Pie & a

Auschwitz-Birkenau a shuttle bus to Birkenau to walk along the railway tracks, see the destroyed crematoria buildings and go into some barracks to see the living conditions.

I found it quite emotional, but also a little strange to imagine this was happening only 70 years ago.

MUST EAT

They really love their dumplings in Krakow and you probably won’t find a Polish restaurant without them on the menu.

They call them pierogi and they are delicious. I sampled a sauerkraut, onion and potato version but the Polish also make sweet dumplings filled with fruit too.

They really fill you up. A meal in a restaurant will set you back around 40PLN per person (around £8).

For the more authentic (and much cheaper) traditional food it’s better to go off the beaten track and eat away from the main square.

If you want to find a really good polish restaurant then try out Babcia Malina. It looks like an old PolCurrency: Polish Zloty (PLN) ish farmhouse and Conversion rate: £1 = 4.90PLN the food is delicious Language: Polish – get your traditional Population: 1million stuff here.

Flight time from Edinburgh: 2 hours If you want to brave Time zone: Central European Time the elements eat Climate: Oceanic – ranges from -5 degrees outside, many of the Celsius in January to 24 degrees C in July restaurants with outAdministration: Krakow is divided into 18 door seating areas districts offer blankets and Governance: Jacek Majchrowski is the current heating lamps for you President of Krakow to get cosy under.

Polish Dumplings

THE KNOWLEDGE

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IF you don’t know your pierogi from your sauerkraut and you would like to visit a city steeped in history then Krakow in Poland is your go-to place.

Sarah Cooper visits the Rynek Glowny, St Mary’s Basilica and the old Jewish district of Kazimierz where the Heroes of the Ghetto installation lays bare a moving recollection of the abandoned furniture and belongings tossed aside when Jews were herded on the fateful trip bound for Auschwitz.

With ten universities and 120,000 students the historical Polish city of Krakow is a very student oriented hub.

It is full of little streets containing old pubs and museums for you to lose yourself in. Krakow is a city made up of various districts each of which has its own charm.

There are so many things to see and do here that trying to fit it all into a couple of days just won’t work.

To fully enjoy the experience of Krakow and the surrounding areas give yourself at least four days.

STARE MIASTO

The town centre is a lovely place to walk around and get a feel of the place.

It is called Stare Miasto, which literally translates to Old Town.

If you’re on a bus, blink and you’ll miss it as it’s so small. It’s surrounded by a ring of parks lined with trees to walk around and a road for the trams.

Once entering though the entire old town is like walking into the past with its tall buildings and narrow, cobbled streets.

It’s easy to lose yourself for hours as you walk around and admire the architecture.

Try entering through ul. Florianska in the north because you walk underneath an archway which made up part of the old wall surrounding the town.

Perhaps the most attractive street, though, is ul. Kanonicza – a stroll down here is like stepping back in time.

It runs south from the main square and ends at the end of Old Town opening onto Wawel Hill.

There’s a lovely literary café which is underground and was a popular place for writers to go during the Communist era.

RYNEK GLOWNY

At the centre of the town is the Rynek Glówny, which is the Main Square.

The square features the tower from the old Town Hall, St Mary’s Basilica

l Stare Miasto

Krakow is in Pole position and the giant Cloth Hall which houses a market.

Although the market is quite expensive and many of the goods can be found in shops located in the various streets that branch off the square, it’s still nice to browse their wares.

In December there is a traditional Christmas market on Rynek Glówny .

You can browse stalls while sipping a cup of mulled wine and nibbling on some seasonal Polish goodies.

Alternatively you can enjoy the carol singers as you peruse the various baby cribs they have on display.

This is part of an annual competition they hold in Krakow where participants design and paint the prettiest cribs, which are then put on public display for everyone’s enjoyment.

There’s a lot of walking so make sure you take comfortable shoes and wrap up warm.

CITY OF KRAKOW HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The City of Krakow Historical Museum is an absolute must-see. The museum is made up of various buildings spread around the city including Schindler’s Factory in the old Jewish ghetto.

The main building is in the main square and it has all the history on the city you would ever need to know.

There is a fascinating section on old maps of Krakow that detail how the city has expanded over time, but there’s something here for everyone.

Here you can get a great feel of what the city is all about.

MUST DRINK You can’t go to Poland without having some of the wodka! A single shot will set you back around 5PLN (roughly £1) and there is a variety of flavours to try.

The honey vodka is so smooth and sweet and just slips down the throat; you can barely taste the alcohol!

Another really sweet one is the cherry vodka Wisnówka, which the locals supplement with grapefruit juice to reduce the sweetness.

It’s highly recommended to get a tray of different flavours and try them all!

With such a high student population Krakow has many pubs and clubs on offer too, with some located in medieval basements with high vaulted ceilings.

It’s really quite an experience to spend the entire night completely underground.

There is a high concentration along the streets ul. Florianska and ul. Swenska.

Check them out. fifty-nine

travel OTHER PLACES TO GO

Located just south of Old Town is the old Jewish district Kazimierz, where up until the 1930s thousands of Jewish families lived and thrived.

There are many synagogues and Jewish museums to visit in this area.

Meanwhile up the River Vistula you can go to Schindler’s Factory and wander through what remains of the Krakow Jewish ghetto – known as Podgórze.

The entire place looks just the way it did during the war and a lot of the buildings are dilapidated.

There is a moving art piece in the main square called Plac Bohaterów Getta known as Heroes of The Ghetto.

The piece comprises of rows of empty chairs which symbolise the furniture and belongings that were tossed aside and left behind every

time hundreds of Jews were rounded up and deported.

You can still see the wall around the ghetto which kept the Jews from going anywhere else in the city.

This part of the city is a real eye-opener.

are easy to come across and cheap at 2.80PLN – roughly 50p – for 20 minutes.

Tickets are purchased from a vending machine in the middle of the bus instead of from the driver.

ACCOMMODATION

The currency in Poland is the zloty (PLN) and the cost of living is much cheaper than in the UK, meaning you can take £220 worth of spending money and have almost 1000PLN to play with.

Finding a place to stay is always a huge worry when taking a trip abroad, especially for a student.

It can take such a massive chunk out of your budget.

But luckily Poland is much cheaper than the UK and it’s easy to find a hostel in the city centre from £15 a night.

There are plenty of hostels right in the city centre and even more dotted around the outlying districts.

Even staying slightly out of the city is a viable option as the buses

CURRENCY

WEATHER

The weather in Krakow will be cold and wintry with an average temperature of 3 degrees Celsius in November and a low of -3 degrees in December so bundling up is recommended. Scarves, gloves and hats will be essentials for a winter trip.

l Rynek Glowny

TOP 10 POLAND FACTS l Poland is the the 9th largest country in Europe. l Amongst all the members of the European Union, the residents of Poland marry the youngest. l 90% of Poles have completed at least secondary education. l Polish born astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was the first person to propose that the earth was not the center of the universe. l Wroclaw hosts an annual city-wide medieval festival, including jousts, horse archery, medieval dances and other activities. l Przystanek Woodstock is the biggest open-air

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festival in Europe–an annual free rock music festival in Poland, inspired by and named for the Woodstock Festival.

Pizza in Poland does not contain tomato sauce. The waiters bring sauce to the table in a pitcher, and you pour it on top. Sometimes the sauce is just ketchup.

In Poland, bananas are peeled from the blossom end, not from the stem end.

Some Polish beer is 10% alcohol.

Polish toilet paper is made of crepe.

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