Portfolio by Surbhi Shukla

SURBHI SURBHI SHUKLA SHUKLA

surbhi.shukla4@gmail.com

STYLING

issuu.com/surbhishukla

PHOTOGRAPHY

(+91)9029423864 D.O.B.- June 4 1991

DESIGN

SURBHI SHUKLA

I am inspired by what I see every day and consequentially find my work to be influenced by contemporary global culture. I am passionate about innovative ideas and the process of their realisation. My skills lie in styling, photography and layout design. In my approach to fashion I strive to capture concepts in an emotive manner and create meaningful experiences. Having lived in different cultures and experiencing different ways of life, I consider my work to be adaptive of relevant aesthetics and technicalities, while being challenging of the groove.

WORK.. WORK Marketing intern at GQ and Architectur al Digest, CondĂŠ Nast India, July2011September 2011 Mumbai

July-September 2011 I spent 3 fantastic months in the summer of 2011 working a marketing internship at GQ India and Architectural Digest in Mumbai. During the span of my internship I worked closely in the planning and execution of GQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style manual party and the 2011 Men of the Year awards. As a marketing intern I was also required to create and manage an image database for promotional purposes and compile monthly competitor reports. My experience at a high profile company like CondĂŠ Nast gave me extended knowledge about working in a professional environment and liaising with clients, further polishing my communication skills.

The Indian edition of the Architectural Digest was launched in March 2012. I worked under the Marketing Director of Conde Nast India to plan the pre-launch and launch events to market the magazine. I was required to contact the organisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international counterparts to syndicate covers of previous AD issues and gain permission for their use in the exhibit at the Prelaunch event in November 2011. Working simultaneously at GQ, a well established magazine that has a large readership and at AD, a publication yet to be launched, provided me with very clear insight to the functioning of a successful publication.

TREND FORECAST. A trend forecast publication depicting the development of three trends for Autumn Winter 2012/13. Each trend is explained through related research, predicted looks silhouettes, fabrics and colours. this document was created by me in May 2011 as a university project. Since then, its digital version has been featured on several blogs and websites including fashiontrendscout.com.

View the entire forecast at issuu.com/surbhishukla/docs/trends

All layout, design and text by Surbhi Shukla

PUBLICATIONS. GRIZZLY BEAR MAGAZINE launch iss ue fashion music cine ma photog raphy art li terature gl obal cultur e quarterly

As part of a university project, I produced â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grizzly Bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;intended towards the young Indian audience of the contemporary global generation, the publication sheds spotlight on contemporary culture, cinema, art, music, photography, literature and fashion. View the magazine at issuu.com/surbhishukla/docs/grizzlybearissue

GRIZZLY BEAR MAGAZINE

All layout, design and text by Surbhi Shukla

LAUNCH ISSUE

CONTENTS. CONTENTS.

All layout and text by Surbhi Shukla

View the magazine at issuu.com/surbhishukla/docs/gbm

CONTENTS. CONTENTS.

MEDIA

The Magazine is the flagship medium for Grizzly Bear Media. The Grizzly Bear Media Kit (2011-12) defines all the media the brand will utilise to establish itself a multidimensional communicator of contemporary culture. All layout, design and text by Surbhi Shukla

All layout, design and text by Surbhi Shukla

DIGITAL DIGITAL MEDIA MEDIA Grizzly Bear is marketed in a multidimensional manner, digitally and in print, all layers designed to support each other via content of trans-disciplinary integration

FACEBOOK.COM/GRIZZLYBEARMAG

@GrizzlyBearMag

GRIZZLYBEARMAG.TUMBLR.COM

VIMEO.COM/USER11766362

All layout, design and text by Surbhi Shukla

Market Research & Promotion

Grizzly Bear developed to be an independent and unique bimonthly publication for the influencial tastemakers of the contemporary global generation. It sheds spotlight on culture; from cinema, art, music, photography to fashion and offer diverse content contributed by remarkable people from across the globe. The aim is to curate ambitious content; to inspire and challenge people and to create a community that connects emotionally, intelligently, in a manner that is not frivolous. Grizzly Bear aims to capture the essence of contemporary culture which is only briefly captured by the digital. The viability of this idea was proved by extensive market research. A logistics and marketing plan was also mapped out to pave the way for the publicationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress in the market.

View the documents at issuu.com/surbhishukla/docs/project_research_surbhi_shukla issuu.com/surbhishukla/docs/grizzlybearlogs

STYLING STYLING && PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY All styling and photography by Surbhi Shukla

explo sions

All images devised, photographed and styled by Surbhi Shukla

All images devised, photographed and stled by Surbhi Shukla

All images devised, photographed and styled by Surbhi Shukla

Photo courtesy: secretlycanadian.com

WORDS & CONVERSATION

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Odd Blood Unless one has been living under a rock, everyone knows YEASAYER. The band begins their tour in America next month and Anand Wilder talks to us about the industry.

Grizzly Bear: Describe your early musical influences Anand: I have been interested in music for as long as I can remember. I started playing cello when I was 4, so I had all that classical music as an influence, I was also obsessed with my mom’s classic rock, The Beatles, Dylan, Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel. The first contemporary music I discovered on my own was stuff like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Beck, all that 90’s alt rock. My sister was really into TLC, Kriss Kross, Boyz II Men, so that was a big influence on me too. But it was really those rock bands that made me want to learn guitar, which i learnt by ear, learning from friends in the hallways at school, or at summer camp around a campfire. GB: Paint a picture of your childhood for us AW: I had a really happy childhood. I always loved performing, whether it was cello performances or school plays, I was a big show off, still am. I always wanted to act or be a rock star. GB: Where’s your favourite audience? AW: I really loved touring in New Zealand and Australia. I never thought I’d enjoy playing in Texas, but its now one of my favourite places. Of course the LA and San Francisco area, Paris, because I get to practice my French. GB: You and Chris Keating share being vocalist/ guitarists/lyricists, do you have a preference? AW: I’m not the front man, but I’m not exactly a sideman because I do sing lead on a bunch of our songs, and I really try to put myself out there. If I wasn’t singing lead on at least a few songs I’d be really disappointed in myself. GB: Is there a different consciousness involved with being South Asian and a musician in an industry environment where there are so few? AW: Das Racist engage South Asian and “brown identity issues” in the most sophisticated and hilarious manner of any contemporary artists. Truthfully, I don’t feel a burden of responsibility as a South Asian musician. I am half Indian, so if I want, I can identify with the multitude of ridiculously talented mixed breeds out there: James Brown is part Apache, Bob Marley’s dad was white and Prince is definitely something weird. And Freddie Mercury is the greatest singer of all time,

and he’s a Parsi, born in India. But, I guess you could say that those guys identified themselves as Black, and Freddie Mercury did everything he could to play down the whole Asian thing and is remembered as a British pop star. That’s what’s so great about Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes) and M.I.A. - their brown faces are front and centre. I’m sort of halfway there. Indians who live in America are not a downtrodden minority. It’s fine as a subject for stand up comedy, but it doesn’t appeal to me as a subject for a song. What are the problems Indians face in America? Parents pressuring their kids into becoming professionals; valuing academics over social lives; pressuring their kids into marrying young. When you think about it in the grand scheme of things, that’s really not that bad! I’m pretty sure Indians are America’s wealthiest ethnic group – I think if I was fully Indian, statistically I’d be a richer man! At least more educated. So the only thing holding us back from being in the spotlight is ourselves. If I can be onstage and inspire some brown kid out there to pursue something artistic, something other than being a doctor or engineer, then I’m doing a good job. And if they want be a doctor or an engineer, good for them! Less competition for me. GB: What is the one instrument you would love to learn but don’t know how to play? AW: I would love to actually know how to play the piano. GB: What is your opinion on the state of the music industry today? Has the internet hindered or helped Yeasayer and other indie bands? AW: I don’t think we would exist without the internet. I don’t think Yeasayer would have had the same rise without the exposure and support of bloggers, or webzines, or YouTube. The internet was our first press, our first video, our first live recordings. The record industry is a sinking ship, especially the major labels, because of illegal file sharing and their unwillingness to cater to the shifting paradigm of how people access music. So this shift is a good thing, but it also hurts record sales, which means in order to make a living, we have to tour our ass off. So it’s a double edged sword I guess. PP: Where would you be if you weren’t in Yeasayer? AW: Working some crappy job and struggling to make people notice how amazing my unsuccessful band is.

All layout and text by Surbhi Shukla

The Lake Poets Sunderland native Martin Longstaff talks about The Lake Poets, influences and being an educational masochist. He plays the guitar, is the vocalist and is joined by friends to create honest music. He recently released his single ‘City by the sea’ inspired by his hometown. Keep up at www.thelakepoets.com Grizzly Bear: How old were you when you first played an instrument? Martin: My first instrument was Saxophone; I started taking lessons when I was 11 on some strange whim. I can’t remember why I chose the Sax, or how my Mam & Dad could afford one, but I am very grateful they did as it is a large part of my other band B>E>A>K. I picked up the guitar at secondary school at around the age of 13 as most of my mates were learning it. I mainly play acoustic finger-style but I’ve also got a SG and a Marshall Stack anxiously waiting in the wings for use in the future on some very loud project.

GB: How did ‘the lake poets’ come to be? ML: I’ve always enjoyed writing, whether it was short stories, poetry or lyrics. I didn’t really do much with my writing then in 2010 my Grandad suddenly passed away. He was a big influence on me when I was growing up and it deeply upset me that he never got to see me play any of my songs or share my stories when he was alive. The realisation that life is fleeting spurred me on to look for gigs; I reckoned that as you only live once you might as well strive to do you love doing. I told myself that I should go out and do it as best I can, while I can, and I haven’t stopped since then.

recent songs are about the hardships of adult life, the sacrifices we must make to become a successful adult and how that often includes giving up on your dreams. I’ve also written a few songs about my childhood and the loss of a friend when I was 8. Cheery stuff. GB: How would you describe your music? ML: I feel it’s always a bit odd to describe your own music, other people have said that my musical output is “everything you could ever want from an acoustic musician. The songs are laden with fabulous lyrics, subtle finger plucked guitar melodies and tender vocals”, also I’ve had it said that my “rich, spacious sound, roomfilling guitar style, and softly-Geordie, clear, sweet voice are shockingly note-perfect. The tracks he plays ripple with wistful sadness and sharply observed lyrics”. Quite humbling, but who am I to argue. GB: What is the most embarrassing stuff on your ipod? ML: I’m certainly not embarrassed by it but I’ve had the piss ripped out of me on many occasions by my mates for my love of 40s and 50s female vocal harmony groups such as The Andrews Sisters, and solo artists of the same era such as Margaret Whiting and Jo Stafford. My mates say that it is Granny music and I suppose it is, but it’s also an example of how perfect, emotive and clear a human voice be. These artists recorded all of their songs live with a full orchestra before the days of autotune, digital effects and all the shameful fakery that permeates music these days. These women could really sing. They don’t make them like that anymore. I am also partial to the odd bit of French House, 90s nostalgia, and Swedish Death Metal.

GB: Who do you consider to be your musical influences? ML: I’ve been compared to recent acoustic acts such as Villagers and Fionn Regan, I think that’s because I have brown hair and look a bit like them. Lyrically I am most influenced by people like Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Richard Thompson, John Martyn, Carole King, Feist, Warren Zevon, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits; all of them real story tellers with a knack for honest lyrics and they all sing and play from the heart. I am not sure there are many people like that around nowadays as most musicians are so obsessed with being perceived as ‘cool’ that they forget to write decent songs that mean anything. As well as mainstream acts there are a number of fantastic unsigned artists in the North East that inspire me massively and keep me on my toes! GB: Your music is so heartfelt, what influences your song writing? ML: My songs are inspired by what I know, have felt and what I want to learn more about. My early songs were about girls, a classic theme. My songs from 2011 all revolve around the harsh finality of death, how to deal with the loss of a loved one and the hope that a people need to cling to survive illness. My more

GB: What would you be doing if you weren’t a musician? ML: I suppose I’d most likely be teaching. I’m a bit of an educational masochist, I seem to enjoy putting myself through the torture of essays and exams so I find myself having three degrees, one Undergraduate and two Postgraduate so it would be unwise not to make use of them. In reality though I’d probably be playing Skyrim on my X-Box in my pants or shouting obscenities at the telly when Question Time is on. I can’t really imagine not being a musician, music in its many forms is such a large part of my life and who I am that I think I would have to become a musician if I wasn’t one already. GB: What are your interes outside of music? Do you find them influencing the music you make? ML: I like to read a lot, my love of literature fuels a lot of my own writing; I also like to keep up with politics and the news, which also gives me a lot to write about. I really love sandbox style RPG games such as Fallout 3, Oblivion, Skyrim, Mass Effect, and Assassin’s Creed. It sounds odd but they are very inspiring too, often the writing on these games is outstanding and their settings are very well thought out and can offer a lot of fruit for thought. I like also to get outside and go walking around in the mountains and down by rivers and streams, my love of nature influences a lot of my output. I also love motorbikes and I often cook when I get the chance. It’s a nice mix really, although hard to do all at once.

All layout and text by Surbhi Shukla

No two songs are the same No two listens are the same Zohran Miranda of Airport

Grizzly Bear: What’s your music about? Zohran Miranda: It’s kind of a wondering of where we fit into the grand design. We want our music to appeal to the smallest person. The sound is very experimental. Some of the songs have an old world Hindi jazz feel. Its honest music and our intentions come through in it. What is music to you? Its largely just escapism. It’s such an experience, it fills you up. No two songs are the same. No two listens are the same. As a musician, it’s like a top secret science experiment I can do in my bedroom. How long have you been playing the guitar? Since I was 9.. 10? I didn’t really resonate with the guitar back then, it was a few years after, which I realised how much I loved playing and then I always felt like I wasn’t practicing enough. Did you know that you wanted to be a musician? No, I wanted to study for the rest of my life! I’d done it for 18 years, I’m an expert at it. You can’t get too comfortable No. Music wasn’t a priority, I had to get

a degree, it’s when I started working at a medical company, that I realised I was kidding myself if I didn’t pursue music. You know that need to run away from what you love? And once you do you, you’re miserable. If there’s something I’ve learnt, it’s that soon as you commit to something you love, everything falls into place. I couldn’t do anything else, my parents always tell me I’ve wasted their money on my education, I just turn a blind eye to it! Indian parents are a delight, what was it like growing up in the gulf? It was nice in the gulf; I had a very comfortable childhood. I used to skate, I’m still hunting for level ground in Bombay! as we passed out of school all of my friends went away to study in India, so it got a little lonely. How different is Muscat’s music scene from Bombay’s? The music in Oman is very reminiscent of what the country has gone through. There is no space for original music. I used to play at my church in Oman and everything was Waltz! Bombay was mainly occupied with Bollywood, but that’s been changing for the better since the last 4-5 years. I’m waiting for the older generation to wilt away. The money and the market is in

Bombay, The city has enough to sustain everyone. You spent a couple years at a pharmaceuticals company in Oman and now you’re a guitarist for the band ‘Airport’ in Bombay The medical company was my bank; I used my pay to buy equipment. One year into the job I told my boss that I’d be quitting in anpther year. I used to have a box labelled “My stuff ” on my desk and used to put things inside it every time he came by reminding him that I’ll be leaving. You’re a musician, do you attract a lot of girls along the way I got into girls a lot later. I was very rude. Once after a show, a girl came up to me and handed me a rose and I threw it in the bin! What! I beat myself up about it every day. Give myself lashes. And you should I did have my share of heartbreak though! Someone I knew once told me that if I wanted to make good music, I should never fall in love.

All layout and text by Surbhi Shukla

HOLLOW CINEMA Walking out of the cinema having watched ‘Ra.one’, I have

no explanation for the avoidable punctuation in the middle of the movie’s title. Amongst other questions: What have I just watched? Why have I watched it? How the movie collected over $ three million on its very first day in the theatres of India? We can only dream of knowing. It is worrying how often that bitter feeling takes over now, after watching a new bollywood film. To put it bluntly, the nature of modern Indian cinema has become overwhelmingly aimless and predictable in nature. The Indian Cinema, internationally known as ‘Bollywood’ is the richest and the most influential industry in India. The first Indian silent feature film was ‘Raja Harishchandra’, made in the year 1913, whilst still under the British rule and less than a decade after; the industry was producing around two hundred films per year. Social and political issues were addressed by many film makers as it was, after all, a delicate moment in the history of the country. The economy was suffering because of the First World War, there were several mass movements for

Independence such as Satyagraha, Lead by Mahatma Gandhi, the civil disobedience movement and the unforgettable violent frenzy of the partition with Pakistan which served to be the inspiration for innumerable patriotic songs, films then and in the decades that followed; Best ones being “Shaheed Bhagat Singh”, “Gandhi” and “Junoon”. It wasn’t only the national emotion that was reflected in the films; a lot of film makers addressed international movements in culture too; Dev Anand along with actress Zeenat Aman canvassed the hippie subculture In “Hare Rama, hare Krishna” (1971). The escapist nature of these movies was at the core and admittedly they were incurably romantic. Bollywood’s music is the mainstream music industry. Song and dance is bollywood’s most prominent feature and at one point in time, it used to be music you could relate to; it had universal appeal. Songs by the legendary musician and lyricists like Kishore Kumar’s “Mere Naina”, Mukesh’s “Jeena yahaan, marna yahaan” are all hauntingly reminiscent of their times. Listening to these songs, even today is elating.

teenagers, we all have our favourite moments, be it the heart-warming scene when Shahrukh tells Kajol he loved her through a game of charades in ‘Kuch kuch hota hai’ or the defining and thought provoking, ‘Rang de Basanti’ which draws parallels and swiftly shifts between the country’s colonial past and the present political environment of a fraudulent government.

“Is the contemporary Indian cinema just society’s strategy for denial? That’s a definite maybe.” The songs were melodic, the lyrics, romantic, a reflection of the personal or social conscience. That has now been replaced by sleazy dance numbers which lose their novelty as soon as they are released.So remembering them decades from now is a long shot. Singer, lyricist, musician; A.R. Rehman remains to be one of the handful musicians in the industry that continue to make good music, even though he is known internationally by the song “Jai ho” which featured in “Slumdog Millionaire”. While upbeat songs and pop have taken over the contemporary scene and are a current trend in music, musicians and bands that do not serve the same genre are turned away as their material would be irrelevant to bollywood. Good way to kill culture. Reminiscing about the movies we’ve all watched as kids, with our parents or as

A part of the reason for the nonsensical mood in the contemporary Indian cinema could be the harsh reality of today’s world and its haunting presence in people’s lives through the various media like the television, the internet, etc. Nobody likes to acknowledge the growing poverty or the increasing number of dying children. It’s a reality people are very reluctant to accept. So, is the contemporary Indian cinema just society’s strategy for denial? That’s a definite maybe. Resources were limited during the golden age, talent and imagination were abundant, but the capital wasn’t quite. Still, for a few hours, the films captured the audience and momentarily distracted them from their personal problems. The movies were made by inspired people and crafted to appeal to a certain breed of audience— a captive audience who took to them. Whether that audience was a majority or otherwise, it didn’t matter because they cherished the film for life. Watching these movies decades after they were made is still a joyful experience. Rendering advances in filming technology, graphics, etc. irrelevant, as it was the fabric of emotion, the film represented that the audience held close to the heart. Few actors and actresses today can match up to the talent and charisma of the yesteryear; Shamsher Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Mudhubala, Nargis Dutt, Sharmila Tagore; all, aside from having stunning personalities, were flawless while channeling the characters they played. They were known for the characters they brought to life as opposed to which producer/director’s clan they belonged to. As for the scandals? Their dress size? No-one used to give it a second thought. It is just a void the modern media fills to distract from the quality of the product; still, they manage to attract a huge audience. So much for a society that traditionally values intelligence and poise. A fast paced generation like ours makes for the majority of the audience and is accustomed to instant gratification. Contemporary film makers recognise this shift in the media culture and have a very patronizing attitude towards its audience. In a lot of ways the internet and other media have enriched our lives; ironically, it has also become one of the major causes for blatant commercialism. Product placements in films are appalling. For everyone, films are a couple hours

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of pure content and no advertisements trying to sell a product or service, but if somebody tries to cheekily sell you a product during that sacred time, it will leave a bitter taste with most people. It causes a kind of disturbance in cinema that smudges the very thin line that separates it from television. Fourteen million Indians go to the cinema every day. That many people can’t be wrong, right? Wrong. Over 60% of India’s population consists of the working class and today most films are made to serve people who are looking to pass time; like window to escape through, from their busy work schedule, will go to watch anything that will make them laugh for a while, even if it means that the person does not take away an emotion or thought from the movie. For all intents and purposes, we shall now call this genre of films, ‘fast films’. Like fast food, hardly nutritional, only fattening and this time, it’s for your mind. Against the current backdrop, is a young director, Rohit Shetty who addressed the current political disorder and corruptionin a humourous way in his film, ‘Singham’, whilst also mocking the ridiculous action scenes that more often than not, all bollywood movies have. Through this movie, he proved that a film with a message and aim can also be entertaining. There is nothing more to ‘fast films’ than meets the eye. They only serve as a money making instrument for uninspired film makers. Some may consider making films for audiences who are trying to kill time as an act of charity. On a personal level, if they are not striving to be great, regardless of whether they get there or not, what is the point? Actor turned director, Aamir Khan has also produced a few gems that come along only once in a while in bollywood; the previously mentioned ‘Rang de basanti’ is one of them. His recent ‘3 Idiots’, accents on the pressing issues of the Indian

education system along with the traditional Indian parent, that stress on academics and subsequently keep their children from being themselves and pursuing their interests in ‘unstable’ fields like music, art, fashion etc. This has been a major concern in the Indian society as the past decades have seen an increasing number of student suicides. The recent movie ‘Udaan’, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, also accents this character of the Indian society. It is the idea, the fantasy, that the audience takes home with them that makes a movie worth their while. Contemporary Indian cinema doesn’t provide any food for thought; moreover, their standards have dropped. The stories are lackluster, predictable unoriginal and often sleazy ; music and lyricism have completely lost their appeal to an intelligent audience. When the film makers begin to incorporate commercialism into it all, it disregards the audience as a whole; making the entire premise of the entertainment industry lose its ground.

CV CV Surbhi Shukla A creative and ambitious individual with a passion for contemporary global culture who thrives under pressure. Contact surbhi.shukla4@gmail.com India: +919029423684 UK: +447850361686 D.O.B. - 4th June 1991 Education BA (Hons.) Fashion Communication, University of Northumbria at Newcastle upon Tyne A 3 year trans-disciplinary course specializing in Trend Prediction, Niche Publications, Public Relations, New Media Marketing, Events Management, Photography and Styling. Work Experience Buyer & Marketing Director, Jasmine Accessories, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (September2011 — May 2012) A company run by four Northumbria University students partnering with Young Enterprise selling accessories and home-ware handcrafted by Indian village artisans. I sourced the products first hand from the artisans in Mumbai and New Delhi. Being a part of the company gave me insight into the dynamics of running a small business, it polished my ability communicate and solve problems. Marketing Intern at GQ, India & Architectural Digest, Mumbai, India. (July2011 — September 2011) I spent 3 fantastic months in the summer of 2011 working a marketing internship at GQ India and Architectural Digest in Mumbai. During the span of my internship I worked closely in the planning and execution of GQ’s Style Manual party and the 2011 Men of the Year Awards. My experience at a high profile company like Condé Nast gave me extended knowledge about working in a professional environment and liaising with clients, further polishing my communication skills. Working simultaneously at GQ, a well established magazine that has quite a large readership and at AD, a publication yet to be launched in India provided me with very clear insight to the establishment and functioning of a successful publication. Skills Tech: Competent skills in Adobe CS including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator. Imovie, Windows Movie Maker. Brain Juice: Styling. Good professional photography skills. Creative and analytical writer. Online Portfolio can be viewed at issuu.com/surbhishukla

NOT QUITE THE END