The Banter - February 2014

LISSIE

BASTILLE // AUGUSTINES // CHRISTINA PERRI

YOU ME AT SIX // MOGWAI // ELIZA DOOLITTLE // FRIGHTENED RABBIT ALSO : CD REVIEWS // GIG REVIEWS // MOVIES

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Contents

6

INSIDE ● www.thebanter.co.uk

6 INTERVIEW - Christina Perri

Christina Perri talks to the Banter about her new album, bullying and penguins!

20 CD Reviews

22

Tht We take a look at the best recent releases in the music world

36

22 INTERVIEW - Lissie

We talk to singer songwriter Lissie ahead of her upcoming Edinburgh gig.

32 Gig Reviews

A round up of some the hottest gigs in Glasgow over the last few months.

40 INTERVIEW - You Me At Six

Ahead of their new album release ‘Cavelier Youth”, Laura Donaldson chats to YMAS.

50 New Year New You

12

32

Editorial Team Editor

Contact

Ritchie Marshall

Photos Daren Borzynski

Editorial Amie Grimason Team Sarah Moyes

Laura Donaldson

Martin Knox

Shannon McGarrity

Alyce McPherson

Roxy McCrae

Rhoda Morrison

We look at how to keep fit and healthy in A loo 2014.

Daren Borzynski Rosie O’Neill Holly Lennon Francis Milligan Natasha Reid Rhiann Fowlds Kimberley Manderson

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THE BANTER | 3

Interview

BASTILLE

Having been announced for four 2014 Brit Award nominations including Best British Band and Mastercard British Album of the year, it looks like another busy and successful year ahead for Bastille who have firmly secured their electro-pop rock niche in the British music scene.

Bastille are set to head out on their first tour of 2014 visiting Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange on February 27th but The Banter Magazine caught up with drummer, Woody and percussionist, Kyle before their latest Scottish gig at the o2 Academy in Glasgow.

Your debut album was a huge success. Did you have any expectations for it to do that well?

We genuinely didn’t. It just kept on going and going. It’s not like we are trying to be humble about the whole thing. Our entire team, management, label and everyone didn’t expect it to happen so it was a great surprise to get the reaction that we did.

Because of the success of your first album, do you feel you were thrown in at the deep end of the industry or did you have that time to build an education around it all?

We started out just touring around dirty little pubs. We would borrow our friend’s mum’s car and just pile all the gear in there. We could barely pay rent some months. So for 4 | THE BANTER

us it feels like it did just happen gradually rather than being fired into it.

How do you enjoy all the travelling when on tour?

It’s great because now we have a big team of about 12 guys and we don’t end up killing each other. When you’re in a tight pack of around four or five people, that’s when it gets tough. We sleep on a sleeper bus and it drives to the next place while we’re asleep so we wake up and have time in the next city to go do stuff – play a bit of football, go climbing or whatever. It’s kind of a like tour/adventure holiday. We got into really bad habits in America where you would just wake up, veg about, eat loads of crap food with cheese on top and then play the gig. We came back feeling pretty rubbish, like we needed to do something active.

What are your thoughts on the Glasgow crowd?

We just love Glasgow as a whole. We’ve been here quite a few times and played a few gigs. We came here when we were supporting Two Door Cinema Club as well as playing a few shows of our own and the crowd have always just been great. We’ve had a lot of wicked nights out too. It’s always the one we look out for when our tour dates get drawn up.

Your single Pompeii was effectively the making of Bastille so how did it feel seeing it do so well?

Interview We had hoped it would do well but we never dreamed it would do that well. It took on a life of its own and we ended up just chasing it around the world really. It seems to have struck a chord with a lot of different people in a lot of different countries and so we would go over there and it would be playing on the radio and people would be singing along in the crowds. Sports teams like the English Cricket Team and apparently the Scottish Rugby Team as well have taken it on. This is just stuff that we could not have imagined. It’s been a really nice platform for us to be able to go out on. Because it has been so vast it has led to people asking “what band did that?” and then they’re finding us and listening to the album and know a lot more songs.

Glastonbury, Bestival, Brixton Academy… I was saying even before we started out that I wanted to be in a band that would one day get to play Brixton Academy. It was one of they milestones for us. Brixton Academy is the ultimate venue. It was just amazing. T in the Park as well! It was Dan’s birthday so we got the entire crowd to sing him Happy Birthday and it was ridiculous. He went so red. That was one of the biggest crowds we have played ever. And we saw Snoop Dog and Rihanna too.

It’s clear that your sound is quite unique so what genre what you put yourselves under?

Someone once said it was “cinematic-indie-pop.” The pop elements with the songs such as the hooks and catchy melodies and stuff – that’s all Dan. I don’t know how he does that stuff. There are also big string parts which I think brings the “cinematic” element to it. Because we’re not generally in one sort of genre or style, it has always been hard to describe. Some of our songs are electric and some are organic sounding with strings.

Do you think about making your songs radio-friendly when you are producing them?

We just make songs we would want to hear really. We don’t go into it thinking let’s make a song that will make us famous. We play stuff that we like to listen to and it just turns out that other people like to listen to them as well which is a really nice thing.

So how does Dan come up with his lyrics?

Dan creates characters and stories. We’re all quite boring really and so if we were to write about ourselves it would just be sh*t. People would be like “what is going on?”

So if you create scenes with characters and imagine a conversation between two people who you have made up you can talk about anything. That’s what it was like with Pompeii – because what relevance does that have to us?

That’s why if you imagine this conversation between two people who have been killed by a volcano it gives you freewill to talk about that.

What are all your inputs individually then?

That’s evolving at the minute. Our last album was mostly written in Dan’s bedroom on his laptop and then he would come to us with ideas for songs and we would try to arrange parts around that. But now, because obviously we are away an awful lot, everyone is just chucking in different ideas and trying things out. It is all quite loose at the minute.

So basically ask us that again in 6 months.

What have been the highlights of Bastille so far?

Where haven’t you played that you would love to go play in the future?

We’ve got a tour booked in March and we’re going to play my hometown of Plymouth! For three years now I’ve been nagging non-stop to play Plymouth. I’m getting all my family down, my gran is going to be there and it’s just going to be wicked. Weirdly, because we’re so ambitious we’ve been lucky to play a lot of places we never thought we would be allowed to. But we’d love to play Coachella.

What about collaborations, who would you like to work with?

We always say Rihanna and we’re going to stick to that. If you say it enough in interviews it might eventually get back to her people and happen. Maybe Jack White as well. These are all just dreams.

Extended version of the album, tell me about that?

There are songs from our mix-tape that were completely illegal and had to be taken down off the internet. Basically, we did these mix-tapes which were a mixture of our own songs and other peoples that we produced completely from scratch. We didn’t sell them; we just put it up online.

It had film quotes and all different samples from loads of stuff. So it was highly illegal. Then we did a second one and started playing a few of the songs live and people responded well to them. So with the extended album, all our samples are clear and it’s legal now. There is also a taster of the sounds we might be doing in the next album. There’s one that is completely 40’s rock guitar stuff and another that’s like a garage song.

BY NATASHA REID

THE BANTER | 5

Interview

CHRISTINA PERRI

BY RITCHIE MARSHALL

6 | THE BANTER

W

ith the release of her second studio album ‘Head or Heart’, Christina Perri and her music have come a long way.

After highly succesful first album, ’Lovestrong’ led her to become one of Atlantics top artists with non stop back to back tours, Perri has been off the radar for a short while but is back with a bang and is excited to share her second album and chat with The Banter.

With the success of your first album was a break needed before the release of the 2nd album?

Oh Totally, I did 27 months straight for album one, nine tours and then then promotion in-between. When I got home not only did I just want to stop for a second but I also wanted to be genuinely inspired to do another album. It was my first album and when your dreams come true you don’t really know what its going to be like, there were so many things were amazing but there were also so many things that were super challenging so I was just kinda spent when I got home. I was like - Well I’m not gonna fake it that’s for sure, I’m not going to make a second album just to make one. I’m just going to kind of wait until I’m inspired to say something and then fortunately that happened really quickly. I was only off for two weeks I wrote the first song for album two on October 23rd 2012 and then the whole thing came to me, the theme, I started writing – I guess I wrote until May and then I recorded. I wrote for six months and recorded for six months, the whole year making the album.

Your latest single Human is released here in the UK on March 2nd. What can you tell us about that?

The whole thing is really about self forgiveness to me in a really, really simple human way. I feel like you can put any story before I came up with it, I wrote it specifically about this little grey area I think we go through when something kind of falls apart, when something breaks or something is a little too hard. I feel like before we try again there is this moment where we sorta pretend that we are ok and that’s that moment that I wrote the song about - which is forgiving yourself taking a big sigh of relief . I don’t think if you properly forgive yourself then you can actually really try again at whatever it is that you were trying to work towards, or relationship you are in, or the job you are in. I think its really kind of circumstantial to anybody’s story but for me it was just a really personal thing that I needed to start over and I didn’t think I could.

Another song from the new album is “I believe” was written for the charity To Write Love on Her Arms. (To write love on her arms – a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.)

Yes I actually wrote that song for that charity solely for one night only. What happened was sort of magical because I wrote it for this concert that I was performing in and within the audience I had everyone singing along and it was just this really, really special moment for me. Somebody took a video of it and put it up on YouTube and it sort of went

Interview viral and people started getting tattoos of the lyrics. All of a sudden I realized that this song should be on the album.

It was pretty cool and organic in the way that it happened as it sort of wrote itself on to the album. I put it last on the album on the track listing and it’s just a really nice way to close this album of mine.

What can you tell us about your involvement with To Write Love on Her Arms?

Well the charity really spoke to me before even before I was a professional musician. I knew about the charity just because of MySpace and that whole scene because it started back a little while ago. It’s basically a charity that focuses the most on being honest, hopeful and finding help. They are really unique in that they just want people to realise that its ok for you to feel the way that you feel, that you are not alone in feeling that way and that hey there are all these places that can help you. For instance when they went on tour everybody who went to the concert got a booklet filled with places that they can go for help whether it be substance abuse, whether it be therapists, whether it be anything that you could possibly need for those lower emotions that we feel sometimes feel about not feeling good enough. What I love about it is that its so broad in the sense that any aged person, male or female, whatever the case there’s a place for you and there is people like you and that I feel in love with!

As a teenager I always felt very much alone like am I the only person who is feeling this dramatic and crazy and its just not true. It does a really good job of just making people feel its ok to not be ok and so I was 100% inspired by them and started working with them. As soon as I started touring I’d bring them out on tour with me and help bring awareness to this charity and they blew up on their own and I was honored to perform at their events and I continue to work with them very closely.

You recently on Instagram had an issue with some “haters” and “trolls” questioning the authenticity of the photograph on the cover of Human.

That was really interesting! I feel like that people sometimes forget that just because I am a public artist that maybe (A) – I wouldn’t read that stuff or (B) wouldn’t care. You know I am very human, I am very sensitive and I am very emotional, that’s how I write my songs and that’s how I exist in real life.

The whole cover of Human thing had more to do with this idea of Bullying which I guess is tied in to the charity I’m just proud to be a part of that. I like to stick up for myself I really do because sometimes I feel it’s a little unnecessary. On YouTube people are often mean for no reason and I don’t normally respond but that I remember feeling very strongly about. Its not fair to be mean to anybody about anything but to also imply that I didn’t actually look like that would just really hurt my feelings. I was like “oh do you think this is photo shopped well you are wrong and here’s the original”.

I stood behind my decision to do that, I don’t regret when I stand up for myself because it’s pretty rare that I do that but THE BANTER | 7

Interview it just really kind of got under my skin.

We think its great that you did. Being such a high profile and influential person its great to see you stand up against bullying.

Thank you. Yeah I am really, really honest and flawed and I am cool with that.

Another song on the new album - “Be my Forever” – A duet with Ed Sheeran. How did this come about?

Well he’s so wonderful and one of my closest friends, not only in the music industry but also in real life. When I was making the album I remember this was January of last year, I fell so madly in love that I was really, really, really happy but kind of disgustingly happy. It was inconvenient honestly because I was in the middle of writing “happy” was going to knock me out of my focus.

I remember going in to the studio with this guy named Jamie Scott who I wrote the song with and I was like hey man we are just not going to write a song today I am just too happy, no way that’s not how I roll! He was like “I Dare you..” and I am really bad at being dared I just have to try it so I wrote the song with him. Half way through the day we were in New York City and I felt oh my God not only do I love this song but this should be a duet with Ed Sheeran.

Not only do I love him and his voice and his music but he doesn’t sing happy songs either. I thought it would be awesome for us to step outside both of our comfort zones and sing the happiest song I have ever written. I didn’t know if he’d be down with it and I ended up sending it to him and he loved it. He was in LA when I was recording the song by chance, and I don’t believe in coincidences, as he was on tour with Taylor Swift. He came to the studio because the guy who produced my album is the same guy who produced his and we are one big family anyway. He was hanging out in the studio and he was like I want to sing on this and I was like ok and he just did! We had a party, you can hear it on the song we are laughing and clapping and talking in the background and we captured something really special.

I am really proud of it because I genuinely meant it. I think Happy songs can go one of two ways, I don’t think is much middle ground, they are either terrible or really good and I think we done something really good.

You had a dream recently about a potential music video for it. Is the plan now for dancing underwater with Ed Sheeran and penguins?

(Laughs) Oh my god that was so funny that just happened two days ago, I assume you are referring to my tweet? If I could have dancing penguins underwater with Ed Sheeran in the music video that would be really sweet!

Are we talking real penguins?

They got to be real penguins!

8 | THE BANTER

You should do it Dick Van Dyke “Mary Poppins” style?

OH MY GOD, I’d love that too! It’s such a good idea. I mean Eds so funny with music videos so I’ve been trying to think of some fun things to do with him. He doesn’t like being in classic music videos, he usually just wants to make a cameo. I write all my music videos so I have to come up with something good for that but you just gave me a really good idea.

Any new tattoos?

The last one I got, like a week ago, was a Cheeseburger; it’s the cheeseburger emoji from the iPhone. I mean so silly, I have around 70, some of them mean really incredible personal things and some of them are just ridiculous. I love cheeseburgers and I love the cheeseburger emoji so that’s really the story behind that one. I just continue to keep getting them, as I love them.

Any plans for a return to Scotland with some live dates?

Absolutely, I love Scotland. We had so much fun, that’s where we kicked off a tour. I will be in Europe for sure in the fall!

“Head or Heart” is released in the UK on March 31st.

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Music

W

ith each new year comes a wave of new, fresh talent set to invade our radio stations and music channels.

With so many artists and groups springing up at every turn it can be difficult to navigate your way through. Luckily, we’ve narrowed down for you the main acts you should be looking out for in 2014.

One name that is guaranteed to be on everyone’s lips in 2014 is Sam Smith. The voice of Naughty Boy’s massive 2013 hit ‘La La La’, this singer/songwriter has already been announced as the winner of the BRITs Critics Choice Award. Having signed a deal with Capitol Records, a solo single and album is on the way, it’s going to be a good year for 21-year-old Smith. Joining Smith on the shortlist for Critics Choice Award were Chloe Howl and Ella Eyre. Eyre, 19, provided vocals for two of Rudimental’s successful singles in 2013. The feisty 19-year-old has spent the rest of the year on tour with the band, and says that’s given her a “head start” as she readies her solo material. Howl, also 19, has drawn comparisons to the likes of Icona Pop, Lily Allen and Katy B due to her frank lyrics and electro beats. Her fresh sound has earned her praise from the likes of Huw Stephens, Zane Lowe and Annie Mac. There certainly seems to be something about 90s kids as there is a huge surge of teen talent heading to the mainstream.

10 | THE BANTER

George Ezra, for example, was first spotted by BBC Bristol, a chance meeting that led to sessions at Maida Vale and a slot on Glastonbury’s Introducing stage. Even though he is only 19, Bristol’s Introducing presenter Richard Pitt described him as “a young man with the voice of a 50 year old”, and his gravelly voice is certainly reminiscent of his heroes Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike (MNEK for short) is yet another 19-year-old hitting the big time, and he may just be one of the best connected men in the UK music industry. He has credits on songs by Rudimental and Little Mix, and scored his first number one this April on Duke Dumont and AME’s club anthem ‘Need U (100%)’. In his downtime, he remixes hits for A-list artists including Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez and George Michael. Born in London, MNEK started making music in his bedroom at the age of nine, and had a publishing deal by the time he was 14.

Get ready to hear a lot about Sampha. Hailing from South London, this 24-year-old soul singer has already racked up an impressive list of collaborators. With everyone from SBTRKT to Jessie Ware queuing up to work with him, he even featured on Drake’s hugely successful ‘Nothing Was The Same’. As a result, he was flown out to New York to perform alongside the rapper on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Now branching out on his own, Sampha recently released his ‘Dual’ EP to rave reviews.

Music It’s not only singer’s that are going to be huge this year, groups are having their own moment too. Cute boyband The Vamps stormed the charts with their debut single ‘Can We Dance’, promoting them from YouTube sensations to real-world stars.

They’ll be supporting Taylor Swift at the O2 in February and The Wanted in March. If sugary-sweet boy bands aren’t your thing, The Strypes may be more your style. These youngsters are signed by Elton John and have toured with Arctic Monkeys.

There’s lots more to come from them in 2014, including a headline UK tour in February.

Tanisha, Alice and Jessica make up all-female trio- Kitchen Party. The girls cite Brandy, Frank Ocean and Jessie Ware as their influences, and released their debut mixtape 11th Floor in 2013.

With all the ingredients of a cool, quirky group this could be the dose of girl power we’ve all been waiting for. Another girl band making waves is Neon Jungle. These four girls from London, Suffolk and Scotland are aged between 16 and 20 and are determined to rip up the rulebook. Shereen, Asami, Jess and Amira are hard to define and cite diverse influences such as Foo Fighters, Bob Marley and Italian opera by way of Beyonce.

Although the UK have plenty acts to boast this year, we can’t ignore our US counterparts. One Yank that is guaranteed to capture the nation’s hearts is Chance The Rapper. Otherwise known as Chancellor Bennett, Chance interned for Barack Obama’s during his first presidential campaign before turning his attention to music full-time. His 2013 mixtape, ‘Acid Rap’, brought him to mainstream attention and led him to be named 2013’s “Hot MC” by Rolling Stone magazine. On a selfconfessed mission “ to disrupt the hierarchy of hip-hop”, Chance is determined follow in the footsteps of his Chicago neighbour; Kanye West. Another US name who’s getting bigger and bigger is Future. A critically acclaimed artist, Future is set to release his highly anticipated album ‘Honest’ in 2014 . Throughout the last two years, he has had major prominence on the airwaves with appearances on top charting tracks with Rick Ross ,Drake, Lil’ Wayne and Rihanna. The rapper is also enjoying success in his personal life as it was recently announced that he is expecting a child with his fiance, Ciara.

If you don’t recognise Mikky Ekko’s name you’ll certainly recognise his voice. The fast-rising electronic/soul artist born John Stephen Sudduth was thrust into the limelight at the beginning of 2013 when the track he wrote, ‘Stay,’ was released as a single by global megastar Rihanna. Since then Mikky has been writing and recording his debut album with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Alex da Kid. Jhene Aiko may be unknown to some but she has already worked with some of the biggest names in the business, with collaborations with Big Sean, Childish Gambino, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Drake under her belt. She recently joined Drizzy on his mammoth US tour and is now gearing up for the release of her debut album ‘Souled Out’ this year.

It’s safe to say it’s going to be a huge year for music in 2014.

With these acts we’ve highlighted and many more on the way, it’s going to be hard to be without headphones in the next 12 months!

LAURA DONALDSON

ONE TO WATCH FOR:

OLIVIA SEBASTIANELLI

Y

oung Anglo-Italian singer-songwriter Olivia Sebastianelli has already earned a number of glowing comparisons to the likes of Bat for Lashes, The xx and Stevie Nicks following the release of her debut single ‘Rose of Stone’, which was released as a free download earlier this year. Olivia is now poised to build on that initial acclaim with the release of her first EP ‘Perfect Getaway’.

Produced by Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Young Guns) and mixed by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro), the lead track ‘Perfect Getaway’ contrasts the dreamy, ethereal atmospherics of her debut single with a vibrant surge of pop melody and late summer melancholy.

The EP also features a live version of ‘Perfect Getaway’, new track ‘Despite the Day’ plus a cover of Biffy Clyro’s ‘Black Chandelier’.

Olivia Sebastianelli is as inspired by female icons such as Chrissie Hynde, Deborah Harry and Edie Sedgwick as much as she is by Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash and Alice in Chains. She was signed to a major label at just 17 years old, yet she chose to leave the deal after being unenthused by their plans to turn her into the next Katy Perry.

Instead, she focused on honing her own craft as a songwriter, tackling all manner of issues, from the suffering endured by immigrants in the almost grungy ‘Despite the Day’ (which features on the new EP); to the album track ‘Radiant Breech’ which concerns “the bravery of the people” during 2011’s Arab Spring. She wrote the latter because, typically forthright, she didn’t believe that anyone had penned a decent protest song since punk.

Olivia played her first major festival when she took to the stage at Rockness this summer. She’s has recently opened for Nina Nesbitt as part of the Cast & Carbonara UK Tour.

PHOTO // DAREN BORZYNSKI

THE BANTER | 11

Interview

INTERVIEW // DAREN BORZYNSKI PHOTO // PHIL KNOTT

12 | THE BANTER

Interview

There are many beginnings, many stories and many themes to Augustines’ second fulllength. It’s an album, as the eponymous title suggests, of rebirth, renewal and regeneration.

It’s an album about growth, about exploration and moving on from the past. But more than anything, ‘Augustines’ is about the band, and its origins can be traced back to one very specific moment and location in time – a recording studio in a converted 19th church in Geneseo, New York. Because that was the first time that singer/guitarist Billy McCarthy, multiinstrumentalist Eric Sanderson and drummer Rob Allen had sat down and written songs together, even though they’d been a band and had been touring their first album, ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’, for over two years.

The Banter magazine had the opportunity to talk to Billy McCarthy about the new album ‘Augustines’ and the writing process.

You took time off to relax, travel and see the world on a motorbike before writing your new album. How did you enjoy the travelling?

That’s correct, yeah man. When the touring year ended we went into the studio to write. We had a lot of compositions, but I didn’t have the lyrics, I was focused on melody. I got this motorbike and I just decided to ride around on it. I started visiting places that I grew up, looking back into my life because my identity had become this New York identity.

I had to go back in my music career to find what I wanted to talk about on the new record. How to put the words with the music.

THE BANTER | 13

Interview How was it to be apart from Eric and Rob for so long while travelling?

It was difficult, but we had just done over 250 shows together. We had two weeks off then back on for 5 weeks with one day off for the writing of the album. I’ve done a lot of writing, I brought a lot in and the guys brought a lot in. It’s hard, but that’s part of my process and I don’t mind going away. My bike carried me all over the place. I got to take my motorbike on a boat, and I got to put a tent on top of the boat. I sat and watched glaciers in Alaska from there.

There were sled dogs and all these facilities where they race dogs. It was like riding through the bush with no roads, I was really far up there into Alaska. I was much closer to Russia than I was to California and I had travelled all the way from Mexico.

What were Eric’s and Rob’s thoughts on you taking this journey?

They were happy for me, although they are worried that I ride a motorbike. It was a bit like a coming of age, an existential moment. When you come to a city like London, Glasgow or New York when you’re from a town, your whole life is about how I’m going to fight my way out of here.

I came to a point where I thought, what happens now, when you’ve made it? Who am I? I felt like I was married to struggle for so long, things were actually starting to look really good. Doors started to open, and when they did I decided not to look back.

Considering the background and thought that went into “Rise Ye Sunken Ships”, was this an easier and more fun album to write?

Yes! It was man. The last record was sort of a document of a period of time. There was a large part of me that wanted to offer some dignity to the characters in the songs, to sort of defend them. To offer some humanity, but this was wide open. I think that’s why it’s such a spacious and wide sounding album. The horizon is wide open and we just got off tour where we got to meet people from around the world. We had just got off tour with a Scottish band called Frightened Rabbit and we spent a lot of time learning about life. What Scotland’s about and learning about the UK, Europe and other countries. The more informed you get, the larger the horizon is. That’s why there is a lot of hope in the new record.

Was it quite different to be writing on the road?

The first album was me sat in my flat, sort of suffering, man.

I was driving a truck in Queens, I worked as a barman. Bars closed at 4am & I would get home at 6 in the morning when other people were going to work. It was a difficult life, I’m not going to lie, but I think that’s why I have written this record lyrically from the road as you absolutely have to change the environment you are speaking about in the topics. Because I don’t want to go back to that period, it was a very dark time.

With the new album, you have added new instruments, including brass. Was there just a moment that you 14 | THE BANTER

decided that’s what we need?

We have a lot of strings and a lot of brass. We were working with two different artists, one Allan Hardiman. He is going to be our new addition to Augustines, he’s British as well. So that makes our band half American, half British now. And we worked with Rob Moose who has worked with Antony And The Johnsons, and Bon Iver. Rob did the string work with us, he is incredibly talented. Allan is extremely talented as well and he has worked with so many people, so I think the level of musicianship has jumped up a level.

Three years ago we were begging our boss just to give us time off from our work in Queens to tour. Three years later we are a realised unit, and that’s why we wanted to self title our new record, we wanted to commemorate this moment, we’ve arrived, we are here!

Peter Katis recorded and co produced your album, how did you get together with peter?

We have known Peter for years, when we first started out the band; The National signed us to their label. Eric and myself’s other band tour quite a bit with The National, and our guitar player would play with them. He was a touring guitar player for them and their drummer played on our record as well. We met him back then. We played up in New England, that’s where he is from and we got to know him well then. We got to know him through The National.

Did he have an influence on the physical sound and the instruments used on the new record?

He is really big on organs and large cavernous drum sounds, and we really appreciate that about his work. He really brought that, and Rob Allen is a very happy boy!

Now you have had the opportunity to play your new work live, what has the feedback been like?

Incredible! I can’t wait to just keep doing this on tour. The people are singing back to us, and two nights ago I ended up in the crowd with my guitar singing. The night before that, I jumped off stage, we were singing and dancing in the middle of the audience together. The shows are going nuts, it’s amazing!

Do your new songs have more sing-a-long choruses?

I don’t think we knew that we were doing that. I think we were just used to the road and that’s what had been happening at our shows.

It happened again, we were performing this song called Juarez. I couldn’t believe, the crowd really sang from the beginning of the song to the end of the song. For a musician, that’s amazing.

You are known for putting lots of energy into your live performances, with your new album, it’s bigger and more grandiose. Are you aiming for bigger stage performances?

Yes, we are. I don’t know why it is with this band, but we seem to play better on bigger stages. With more room, I

Interview

PHOTO // DAREN BORZYNSKI

think our sound is better, and we enjoy the performing more. I was very comfortable playing small clubs coming up through the years; I loved punk rock and smashing things up and sweaty shows. But there is a refinement in working with bigger concepts, and there is something really gratifying about playing in a large room. With the Frightened Rabbit tour, the size of the venues was amazing and it was really inspiring.

The new tour is called the Walkabout. Are you planning on visiting any new countries you haven’t been to yet?

We are discussing Australia and Scandinavia right now, and we are also looking at Eastern Europe.

And when can we expect to see you back in Glasgow?

April. I’m thrilled to be coming back; I absolutely love it up there.

Augustines debut album ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’ was full of emotion, sadness and tragedy of real life. It had come from a band that has everything thrown at them to force them down to the point of giving up. Consisting of songs that McCarthy and Sanderson had worked on in their previous outfit, Pela, ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’ drew heavily from tragedy, namely the 2009 suicide of McCarthy’s brother James.

Unwilling to let go of the songs after the demise of Pela,

Sanderson and McCarthy continued working on them and finished them. And then, with Allen on board, things started taking off. The songs started to resonate, and the reaction of the audiences began to overpower the darkness that had inspired them.

This inspiration carried them on, from country to country.

They had people at festivals dancing and singing words back. It came as a surprise as it wasn’t what they were fully expecting. But by the end of it, it was so inspiring that, after two and a half years, they were able to look at the past with a positive attitude.

And that’s really what this new record is about – capturing those feelings and positive energy. It made them a unit. It made them a band.

Augustines are proud to announce that they will revisit the UK for their ‘Walkabout Tour’ this April and May. These twelve new live dates, starting in Leeds on April 10th, will also showcase new tracks from the trio’s self-titled second album scheduled for release via Votiv/Caroline International on February 3rd.

11th April – Glasgow, Arches 15th May – Edinburgh, Liquid room THE BANTER | 15

Music

KATY PERRY Prism VIRGIN EMI  Katy Perry is back with her third album, ‘Prism’. The record is the follow-up to ‘Teenage Dream’ and is certainly a departure from the sugary-sweet summer sound. Post-Russell Brand-divorce, Katy gets confessional. The album kicks off with her smash hit ‘Roar’, an anthemic track that shows Katy’s back in business. ‘Legendary Lovers’ follows, a pounding anthem succeeded by ‘Birthday’ - a perfect slice of 80s pop with plenty of tongue-in-cheek innuendos. Next up, Katy establishes herself as a house artist ‘Walking On Air’, a euphoric track produced by frequent Robyn-collaborator Klas Ahlund. The first ballad of ‘Prism’ is ‘Unconditionally’, which also serves as the album’s second single. Katy’s favourite song on the album, this is a sweet ode to her current boyfriend John Mayer. ‘Dark Horse’ follows, and boasts the album’s only feature in the form of Juicy J. A strange collaboration but it works! The album is sixteen tracks long but somehow it doesn’t feel too long. Each song has its place on the record - from the ballads to the silly, fun tracks like ‘How We Do’. There’s plenty of guest producers and writers, which may have something to do with the range of sounds. Benny Blanco, Stargate, Sia, Greg Kurstin and Max Martin all make appearances. It’s clear this album was a form of therapy for Katy, especially in ‘Ghost’ and ‘By The Grace Of God’ where she confronts her ex-husband directly.

The sound of ‘Prism’ is one of female-empowerment and is definitely more mature than Katy’s previous efforts. She has still managed to keep her fun side though, all while giving Russell Brand the metaphorical middle finger.

LAURA DONALDSON

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TONIGHT ALIVE The Other Side SONY BMG  Australian pop/rock band Tonight Alive’s newest offering is full of pounding, passionate songs about key moments in the band’s history, and is a prime example of how this genre should be done. The Other Side is much more sophisticated and lyrically stronger than their previous efforts, showing how far the band have come in quite a short space of time.

Vocalist and primary songwriter Jenna McDougall writes about very personal experiences with a new-found confidence, such as on opening track The Ocean where she opens up about her struggles with eczema and how it affected her self-esteem.

Throughout the album, her powerful vocals compliment the aggressive guitar riffs and thumping drums perfectly; this is a band that knows how to combine one another’s talents in just the right way to produce an album that is sure to cement their place as a credible, established rock band. Tonight Alive are no longer the new kids on the scene.

The Fire is a highlight, with Jenna really showing what she can do vocally and a guitar riff that will be stuck in your head for days.

The infectious chorus on Come Home is sure to get you dancing and Bathwater is made for singing along to at a gig.

Overall this is a strong album, full of catchy riffs and massive choruses, although it is a bit samey at points.

Tonight Alive are supporting All Time Low on their UK tour in March so get yourself a ticket if you want to dance along to some great pop/rock.

SHANNON MCGARRITY

Music JAKE BUGG Shangri La VIRGIN EMI  Raised on a steady diet of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Hendrix and the Gallagher Brothers its no wonder that the style of music produced by this young English singer/songwriter is sheer music brilliance. Bugg released his second album, Shangri-La in November 2013 after having only recorded it the previous summer in Malibu with legendary producer Rick Rubin.

The new album is another insight into the mind of young Bugg from its punchy up beat tracks to its slow and mellow easy listening classics. Shangri-La is definitely worth a listen if you’re a fan of British pop rock as its a real eye opener to the talent locked up inside the young teen.

The album displays the strong vocals of Bugg well, especially on the track ‘Pine Tree’ which is a personal favourite of mine due to its stripped back to original music style to it, just Jake Bugg and his guitar showing his ability as a musician.

Some of Shangri-La’s tracks have already taken British music fans by storm such as Slumville Sunrise, There’s a Beast And We All Feed It and What Doesn’t Kill you. Tracks worth looking out for are Pine Trees, Simple Pleasures and All your Reasons.

The album has a very similar feel to the old album, showing that Bugg isn’t straying away from his original style which fans seem to like. However with tracks like All Your Reasons and Kingpin it shows the Bugg has had a little experimentation with this new album. If you’ve to listen to the album I suggest you do so now.

FRANCIS MILLIGAN

JOEY BADA$$ Summer Knights

CINEMATIC MUSIC GROUP  Over the summer, Joey Bada$$ celebrated the one-year anniversary of his debut mixtape ‘1999’, with new release “Summer Knights.” He’s now released a slimmeddown EP of the same name. The Brooklyn rapper has been deemed the future of New York rap thanks to his blend of youthful, laid-back flows and 90s sound and this project shows he’s determined to live up to that title. The five tracks on ‘Summer Knights’ are a slight departure from ‘1999’ - they have the same chilled-out feel but with a darker, more serious vibe. Subjects covered in the LP include the affects of fame, drugs and death. The EP opens with ‘Hilary $wank’, a tribute to 90s jazz-rap produced by Lee Bannon. Joey goes back to his Jamaican roots for the reggae-tinged ‘My Yout’, which has two versions - one featuring Collie Buddz and one featuring Maverick Sabre. Bada$$, real name Jo-Vaughn Scott, is only 18 years old so he has the ability to echo the sound of rappers before him (think Common, Mos Def ) but with a quick, young spin on it. A young veteran. He shows this off particularly well in ‘95 Til Infinity’ where he raps the verses in a raspy voice that is completely captivating. One highlight of the EP is ‘#LongLiveSteelo’ which sees Joey reminisce over the death of his friend in a genuinely emotional track. Overall ‘Summer Knights’ is a great EP that brings back the classic 90s sound that rap fans miss the most. However, it doesn’t compare to the sharpness of its predecessor of the same name, or ‘1999’.

LAURA DONALDSON

AVRIL LAVIGNE Avril Lavigne EPIC RECORDS  One hears the name ‘Avril Lavigne’ and the image of the long-haired, black-eyed rebellious teenager who, over ten years ago became the youngest female singer to produce a number one single, instantly springs to mind.

However, Avril returns with her self-titled fifth studio album, and while it would seem that her long locks and dark eye make-up have survived the last twelve years, her music seems to have lost the much-loved spark that dominated her earlier albums.

Despite this, the album’s opening two tracks, Rock n Roll and Here’s to Never Growing Up, transport you back to the 2000s, at the peak of Lavigne’s success, and could easily be mistaken for tracks released alongside early hits like My Happy Ending or Anything But Ordinary. But don’t let these two gems get your hopes up. The album goes downhill from there, forcing us into unfamiliar territory which includes a somewhat boring duet with her husband in Let Me Go and the disturbing Bad Girl, featuring Marilyn Manson. Many of the other tracks are very Taylor Swift-esque, with a girl-next-door-feel that is far from the Avril Lavigne that we knew and loved, while the sickeningly cheery Sippin’ on Sunshine sounds like it was written for yet turned down by Katy Perry, being even too cheesy for her.

And some tracks are just simply embarrassing. B*tchin Summer exposes Avril Lavigne as an almost-thirty-year-old clearly grasping at the straws of adolescence as she expresses her excitement that “school is finally out” and Hello Kitty introduces the listener to a never-before-experienced world of music that they then spend three minutes and sixteen seconds wishing to be freed from.

It would seem that this album is the product of a rather premature mid-life crisis and the realisation that it is impossible for Lavigne to “stay forever young.” Unfortunately, almost every song, except the first two, appears to be a desperate cry for help to transport herself back to the days of chasing her Sk8ter Boi, when (ironically) things were much less complicated.

RHODA MORRISON

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Music BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN High Hopes COLUMBIA  The Boss has started off 2014 with a bang, releasing his 18th studio album, High Hopes. The record, which is essentially a reworking of some old tracks, a couple of covers and a generous hand from Tom Morello, raises the question: does a mish-mash of offcuts and covers stand up to Springsteen’s usual quality LP? Well it does get off to a good start with title track and lead single High Hopes. The tremendously bluesy effort was originally recorded by Los Angeles band The Havalinas, and a version appeared on Springsteen’s Blood Brothers EP back in 1996. Easily the catchiest on the album, it’s easy to see why this is the lead track.

Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello has quite a heavy presence on the record, rocking it up a bit and even taking a turn on vocals on The Ghost Of Tom Joad, transforming the 90’s song – and live favourite – from a ghostly acoustic number to something far fuller and louder, completely altering the interpretation of the track.

PANIC AT THE DISCO Too Weird To Live Too Rare To Die ATLANTIC  Panic! At The Disco have released their fourth studio album “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!”, and it’s very different from what you’ve heard from them before.

There are a lot of diverse sounds on this album, from electro to rock and dance to hip hop. Whether or not this is a good thing, however, is the main question.

If you’re expecting the pop-punk sound of their first single “I Write Sins, Not Tragedies”, you’re going to be disappointed.

This is far more mainstream, with tracks that will be at home in the Top 40 and in clubs. This will bring in a lot of new fans for Panic! At The Disco, but risks alienating the old ones.

Those old fans may well like opener This Is Gospel and first single Miss Jackson which is reminiscent of Fall Out Boy’s recent sound and is one of the more “rock” tracks on the album.

There’s a good few 80’s new wave and electro sounding songs, such as Girl That You Love, Far Too Young To Die and second single Girls/Girls/Boys, which is the strongest song with this sound.

It’s nice to see a band trying something new, but this album barely sounds like it was made by Panic! at all, which can’t be a good thing for their existing fans. There are a few strong songs that are great to sing along to, but overall this is a fairly unimpressive dance-pop offering, which lacks the substance of previous Panic! At The Disco Albums.

SHANNON MCGARRITY

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As with any Springsteen album, there are a couple of slower-paced numbers on High Hopes, ready to tug at your heartstrings.

Fans and Wrecking Ball Tour-goers will recognise the cover of Suicide’s Dream Baby Dream, for whom the song and video were dedicated to back in October. And if that wasn’t sentimental enough, Springsteen also pays homage to his fallen friend in Vietnam memorial song The Wall.

The late Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici have their respective sax work and organ playing showcased on Down In The Hole, whereas elsewhere Springsteen treads slightly unfamiliar ground covering Just Like Fire Would.

And of course no Springsteen album would be complete without taking on the big guys, or making them accountable in some way or another. That’s where American Skin (41 Shots) comes in. Originally written in tribute to Amadou Diallo – who was shot by plain-clothed police officers in 1999 – Springsteen has been playing the song live again and has given it a place on High Hopes in honour of Trayvon Martin, the teenager shot dead last year, whose killer walked away free.

Although not a brand new collection of Springsteen’s work, High Hopes contains everything his fans could have asked for.

It hosts all the usual themes and stories explored by the Boss, the reworkings and cover versions only add to his creative boundaries and limits. There’s no doubting it at all – he’s still the Boss.

KIMBERLEY MANDERSON

Music CAGE THE ELEPHANT Melophobia VIRGIN EMI  Back in 2008, it was something of a given that Cage The Elephant and their self-titled debut album were going to hit the big time. However, despite having some of the catchiest alternative rock songs of the time and a long list of reviews tipping them as the next Kings of Leon, it never happened.

Second album Thank You Happy Birthday showed a more unique side of the group but was met with the same lack of reaction despite endless amounts of touring. Despite this, Cage The Elephant are back with an even better eclectic and experimental third album.

‘Melophobia’ (meaning fear of music) is a mixed bag of tracks.

First single ‘Come A Little Closer’ begins soft and melodic but builds towards a powerful and broody chorus likely to be a highlight of their live performances. ‘Spiderhead’ is reminiscent of their earlier songs with a strong guitar hook and pounding beat but with more maturity.

‘Telescope’ is a sombre and reflective track carried, of course, by lead singer Matt Schultz perfectly imperfect vocals.

‘It’s Just Forever’ which sees the band team up with Alison Mosshart (The Kills and The Dead Weather) takes the album in a completely different direction while the lyrics explore a romance motivated by the fear of dying alone rather than undying love. “I’ll love you ’til we decompose and the skin falls off our bones.”

‘Take It Or Leave It’ is an example of Cage The Elephants evolving sound opening with an up-tempo Foals sounding beat. For those who are worried the band has lost their edge manic and frantically energetic track ‘Teeth’ is at hand, likely to trigger one of Shultz’ impressive stage dives.

The albums closer ‘Cigarette Daydreams’ cements a more mature and reflective style of writing as Shultz sings: “You can drive all night looking for the answers in the pouring rain,” before settling on the thought that a “reason to change” and “a reason to stay” is enough. This marks a new chapter for the Kentucky five.

‘Melophobia’ is a far more composed and thought out album than its predecessors. It shows a reflective and darker side of the band taking them away from their indie rock beginnings and placing them into a different genre completely.

While there are no crowd pleasers like ‘Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked’, the more “super inner reflective songs” are likely to impress and please listeners just as much as Cage The Elephant finally break down the walls that once held them back.

HOLLY LENNON

LADY GAGA ARTPOP POLYDOR GROUP  Controversial Queen Monster Lady Gaga released her 4th album Artpop at the end of last year selling 52,000 copies in the first three days. The release comes two years after the rocky sounds of Born This Way and has sparked much debate among critics. At just under an hour in length Artpop is a confused compilation of RnB, synthesized beats and Gaga preaching about pigs, planets and a prostitute. The first single released from the album “Applause” peaked at No.5 in the singles chart which is somewhat disappointing as it is one of the better tracks on the album, catchy lyrics and a good beat, echoing her older music. Artpop is a far cry from her first album Fame (2008), in which every song had a fresh sound and the odd shocking line thrown in, but whole songs were not based around statements such as: “You’re just a pig inside a human body” a line from “Swine” the ninth track on the new album.

The song continues the bizarre theme with more lyrics about pig behavior relating to Gaga’s own tendencies and a repetitive beat that becomes annoying. The most popular single from the album “Do What U Want” see’s Gaga team up with RnB star R. Kelly to create a harmonious mix of their individual style of music. The lyrics are very straightforward compared to the rest of the album and outline that while people can say and do whatever they please with her body her thoughts, ideas and dreams are her own. As a fan of Lady Gaga’s previous albums, particularly her witty and often shocking lyrics, I was expecting great things from the new release and I have to say I was unmoved by much of the content.

ROXY MCCRAE

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Music One stand out track that explores themes of feminism is the aggressive ‘***Flawless’; a mix of two tracks entitled ‘Bow Down’ and ‘Flawless’. Yelling ‘Bow down bitches’ over a loud drum beat, she is telling females everywhere that she is the best at what she does. Flowing into ‘Flawless’ is an extract of a speech from Nigerian feminist writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who highlights the fact that females are pressured into marriage yet men are not. This is a statement for women everywhere, to tell their partner that they ‘look so damn good tonight’ and just because they are in a relationship or a marriage; it doesn’t mean they are inferior.

Sexual themes are heavily explored through ‘Partition’. Again, a two part track (the first titled ‘Yonce’), where she describes having sexual intercourse in the back of a limousine with lyrics such as ‘he Monica Lewinsky’d all on my gown’. ‘Drunk in Love’, is less upfront about the sexual themes and was the second single to be released from the album. However Jay Z’s verse on the track was controversial as he compared his sex life to Ike and Tina Turner’s abusive relationship. ‘Blow’ is a disco/R’n’B song and ‘Rocket’ which is slow and soulful also explore these themes.

BEYONCE Beyonce COLUMBIA  At one minute to midnight on the 12th of December 2013, Beyonce released a visual album on iTunes, the self-titled ‘Beyonce’.

The album, which consists of 14 audio tracks and 18 short films, had no promotion, no release date and absolutely nobody knew that she had even recorded a full album that was due for release. Beyonce shocked music fans everywhere.

It was a risky decision made by B’s camp but it was one that definitely paid off. Seven weeks after its release, the album has sold over 3 million copies and is still at the top of the charts in the UK. It has received rave reviews from critics everywhere as she has released music which is entirely different from anything she has ever done before. And it is absolutely brilliant.

B is at her best throughout this entire album, not one track is flawed. She explores many themes including female empowerment, postnatal depression, female insecurities and explicit discussion of sex. She has finally silenced her critics who labelled her a ‘gangster wife’ and shown that she is a true feminist.

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Beyonce reflects a lot on her personal life throughout the album, something which she had previously neglected to share with the public, preferring to keep her private life just that. Tracks such as ‘Mine’ show her fears for her family and references to post-natal depression whereas ‘Blue’ indicates the love she has for her daughter and features her daughter’s voice at the end of the track as she shouts ‘mommy’. Vulnerability is not something that B shows often but it is dominant in ‘Pretty Hurts’ written by Sia. A song about how society perceives what beauty should be; ‘sugar free/ Vogue says “Thinner is better”’.

The short film for this shows Beyonce entering into a beauty pageant.

‘Haunted’ is an entirely different direction for Beyonce. Here she is lifting the lid on her childhood, the one which she had to give up in order to have the career that she has today. She speaks the lyrics ‘all these people on the planet/working 9 to 5 just to stay alive’ in a robotic voice as her lifestyle is the opposite of this. The song jumps from keyboards, to a dark piano key to a fierce drum beat; no exact direction but it works. It is reminiscent of Kanye West’s music direction throughout his last album ‘Yeezus’.

The lead single from the album, ‘XO’, is a synth-pop song with a crashing beat; showcasing Beyonce’s flawless vocals and was the perfect track to release first. Themes of love are dominant here with lyrics such as ‘your face is all that I see/give me everything’.

Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus all released albums in the autumn and without warning ‘Beyonce’ knocked them out of the park.

2014 is the year of Queen B and there is certainly no stopping her now.

AMIE GRIMASON

Music MOGWAI Rave Tapes ROCK ACTION RECORDS  The start of 2014 brings the release of Rave Tapes the latest album by Glaswegian post-rock band Mogwai. Rave Tapes is the natural progression from their last album Hard Core Will Never Die But You Will (2011), it is markedly not as explosive, the sounds of Barry Burn’s keyboards are more central to this album and cynics state the album is moving away from the Mogwai roots, but on the whole this is not true. The album consists of ten brilliant tracks with a range of instruments which will always be true to Mogwai’s signature, these pieces of music take you far away or engage you to try and decipher the meaning behind the sounds you hear. The album opens with Heard About You Last Night, the softest track on the album; relaxing and beautiful with chimes, clever guitar riffs and flowing keyboard sounds. Remurdered takes you on a journey through synth and drums, slowly building pace with the keyboard pulsing gently beneath the surface until the second half of the song showers you with the post –rock sounds that can only be Mogwai. Repelish while reminiscent of the sounds from the album Young Team (1997), contains a monologue throughout which is disconnected from the music and becomes obtrusively distracting. Meanwhile Blues Hour whispers ethereal voices alongside the mellow sound of the drums, guitar and keyboard and while they complement the feel of the song the words are irrelevant. Overall Rave Tapes is yet another spectacular album from a long standing timeless band. In years to come Mogwai will still be producing their original sound and I look forward to what direction they will take next.

ROXY MCCRAE

UNION J Union J

COLUMBIA  Union J were thrust into the spotlight in 2012 when they appeared on the ninth series of the X Factor. Although the boy band didn’t win the competition they did gain legions of fans and were quickly snapped up for a record deal. Their debut, self-titled album was released at the end of last month and opens with their debut single ‘Carry You’. The track peaked at number six in the charts earlier this year and is one of the catchiest songs you will ever hear! Seriously, try and not sing along to it. Next up is ‘Beautiful Life’, a slow-starting, guitar-filled love song which really revs up towards the end and shows off the quartet’s vocals. ‘Loving You Is Easy’ is another classic pop song, practically begging to be the boys’ next single. Beethoven’ could also easily be a chart hit, although it does have the dodgy lyrics: “I’ll play you like an instrument, let me be your Beethoven”. The second half of the album is unfortunately not as good as the first. ‘Head In The Clouds’ doesn’t really add anything and a cover of Demi Lovato’s ‘Skyscraper’ is nothing on the original. There is a couple of dance-y tracks, ‘Save The Last Dance’ and ‘Where Are You Now’. that make up for it though. This album may not put Union J in the same league as their One Direction peers but it is an incredibly sleek pop record and has a more mature sound than you would expect. A great debut.

LAURA DONALDSON

CHASE AND STATUS Back To Forever COLUMBIA  The highly anticipated 4th album of UK drum’n’bass duo Chase and Status has some great tracks capable of topping the charts and becoming important pieces of the duo’s music catalogue but for some fans the album has been some what of a let down for them.

For fans of nineties classic dance, like myself, then there is a few tracks in store for you - in particular ‘Count On Me’ an original piece by the duo which is an incredible track but takes on a pop feel to it.

The album as a whole works but it becomes apparent how far the duo have strayed from drum’n’bass compared to the kind that they could be producing if they had signed for a label like Renegade Hardware, now thats not intentional disapproval, I just feel the group need to rename their style as they progress due to it having a more pop feel to the tracks - perhaps thats the meaning behind the album title, the duo have became a Brand New Machine with an all new style?

For example, take the track ‘Alive’ featuring Jacob Banks, its an incredibly song that has great components, catchy lyrics and a great melody… but a pop melody! This is what some fans are unhappy about, this new pop feel that are attracting a new kind of fan who probably doesn’t even like drum’n’bass.

The album has higher points when the duo do more with their own material as opposed to them repurposing the past work as not all their attempts to do so has been successful.

The duo do come up with some very inventive tracks that most people will no doubt disregard on the album and continue to listen to the pop songs on repeat instead. The likes of International proves my point well here, it takes a time stretched reggae sample that is the propellant of one fibre of drum’n’bass and twists them around a constantly changing rhythm - an ingenious track that most will over look.

The album is definitely one to listen to if you’re a fan or not - it really does have a bit of something for everyone with rocky mainlines, reggae pieces, classic dance and a drum’n’bass push through out.

FRANCIS MILLIGAN

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Interview

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Interview

H

aving followed up debut album ‘Catching A Tiger’ with the fantastic 2nd album “Back to Forever”. We caught up with singer-songwriter and friend of The Banter, Lissie ahead of her upcoming Edinburgh gig.

You have recently supported Scottish Male Cancer Awareness Charity Cahonas Scotland, you are also involved in a lot of charitable activity closer to home can you tell us a little about that?

I have a friend in Ojai, California, Vance Sims who went to Haiti with his family a few times on mission trips and then again after the earthquake and just saw the suffering the people were experiencing both before and after the earthquake and its just been a really troubled nation. He went back to a smaller town on the coast called Jacmel, I think most of the population live in the city but he went to Jacmel and opened a school and an orphanage and just started helping as many kids as he could. Just started small scale but quickly has really transformed the community, he does a water service a couple of times a week where people can come and get as much water as they want from him. The kids are healthy and they are learning and its all Haitian staff so its also creating jobs and he’s helping the community. SO he is achieving this in a way that is very doable and its spreading and he’s helping people to sort of help themselves which I think is such a strong way of helping because its not just a one time thing.

I was just really interested in what he was doing so Eric and I went to visit the school and I met all the kids, hung out with them and brought them some guitars, played some music and just saw what it was about. It was really shocking for me to see for me such an impoverished and the conditions people were living in so we have done some fundraising concerts for them with a friend of mine together we are making a series of videos about our trip there.

I also do a concert annually for ALS research because my Aunt Laura passed away from ALS. My cousin started doing these walks and called our team Laura’s Legacy and then we

started doing the concerts, this will be our third year in May, raising money for the local Muscular Dystrophy Association, which has an ALS division. Its for patients and their families but we are hoping to grow it in to something where we do several different things for it so that we can also give money for research, provide help where needed and raise awareness.

Given your single “Shameless”, do you think that their is a problem that the music industry is now formed with style or substance?

Its properly gone in waves even in the 50s there was this kind of bubblegum pop that happened and it was really safe and stars were created and then there was this wave of like Rock Stars that really infused energy in to music. I don’t think its specific just to these times but It does seem like just as an example to just have a band playing instruments is almost a rarity everyone kind of has their programmed beats and the buttons that they push now on their laptops and its almost desensitised the audience who expects to hear this big produced sounding record live and live you can only play so much of what is on the record.

I do get a little frustrated that people would choose to go and support something like that or that the media chooses to support those things and get the word out about those things and that their isn’t more variety than they are spreading and that women have to be super sexual if they want to get ahead. I mean if that’s your nature anyway and your are not doing it to get ahead and you just can’t help it all the more power to you, I’m not calling anyone out specifically its just on a day on which I was feeling frustrated, I mean I have good fans I just think that sometimes the whole system is total bullshit.

We tell people to really see just how good Lissie is you have to see her live! Do you feel there is difference in your live performances to your albums?

If we did just have a bunch of programmed tracks we could make it sound like a produced album but I like that what we THE BANTER | 23

Interview

do live is live and it’s raw. We will probably make a record that’s closer to what we do live sooner than later. But for now there are a lot of different influences going on.

grounds me and road time which is fun and exciting but then I can go recuperate at home so I just kind of go back and forth that way.

Do you now identify more as band than as Lissie the individual artist.

I think it’s a balance because the band did play on the album, the album is more produced than what we do so them being on is like giving an element of that. The songs are still about me, but the music is about all of us, I feel that the lyrics are true and its me talking about my life. I think there is a balance of a lot of different things happening with the new album.

You are a big TV fan, how did you end up at the Emmy Awards last year?

It was cool, it was crazy, it was funny because this guys who lives in Ojai there Jeremy Davies, this actor, director, I had never met him but he had seen one of my shows in Ojai and we had a mutual friend so I got this email “Jeremy wants to know if you will go to the Emmys with him” and I had never met him before so I was like “Well, I guess…yeah sure”. I knew someone also who because they knew him said he’s a really, really nice guy and he’s a vegan, he’s sober and he’s really in to meditation he’s this eccentric but this really good hearted person so its not like he’s going to be a creep or anything. So I just met him in the Limo beforehand and we went and got to sit in the third row and I was right next to all these comedians I love and Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman. It was crazy and then I got to go to the Governors Ball, dinner afterwards and then we went to this party and I got to meet Louis C K.

When back home you appear to enjoy a peaceful lifestyle with clean eating, enjoying cycling. Does being back on the road and on tour throw this on its head?

I think it’s just how I get balance. I mean if I am home and I am being good and I am being quiet I love that but then at a certain point I start to get a little stir crazy so then I go on the road and that’s when I can let go a little bit and I drink a lot, not that I am not self disciplined when I am at home, but I think that on the road its kind of chaotic free for all for me personally. I am just trying to get some sleep in or otherwise I am travelling or singing or having a few drinks but its good because I have both sides. But I think its good because I have both sides, I have the home time kind that 24 | THE BANTER

As well as having a great following in the UK you regularly visit Norway, how did you popularity get so big there?

I dunno, all the opportunities keep coming through there I’m not sure why I am so popular there. We had a lot of

Interview support from Sony in Norway and we did some great festivals and I collaborated with a really popular Norwegian band so I think somehow through all that we got a lot of exposure and we just kept being invited back. Offers come through so its makes financial sense for us to go on tour 7 cities there more than its does for example to hit up all the markets UK. You kinda of go where you are wanted and also its a beautiful country and I have so much fun.

Given your Instagram pictures you enjoy your time in Norway. Can you tell us about the night you ended up in the revolutionary soldier outfit?

That was a really hard day for me. I couldn’t get to the festival; my flights kept getting cancelled and I ended up getting on different flights to go here, to go there. They were freaking out because we were only there for four days and saying you have to get here and I was saying “I can’t, I’m trying!” I ended up getting a helicopter there, which was really cool but then when I got my bag and I went to open up my laptop it was someone else’s in Lebanon, Richard luckily found this person, was able to track him down and get my laptop back so we did a swap in London. I also had some female stuff going on at the same time and I was real emotional so I just proceeded to get wasted, as that was my way of coping with my stress. It was like 6 in the morning and we were all jetlagged so we all stayed up and we ended up going down to the water and I was trying to go swimming. Eric had let me borrow his jeans as my suitcase hadn’t arrived and I ripped them so then I walked around in my underwear trying to swim but because I am drunk on these rocks I didn’t realise I was being cut by the rocks and I completely scraped the back of my legs, my leg was totally messed up and the next day it was like so painful.

Then this random guy shows up in this revolutionary soldier outfit, for an unknown reason, we still have no idea what he was doing. I thought am I hallucinating this stuff and he just walked up and started talking to us and he then let me borrow his outfit. The next day I felt so bad and felt so depressed but the nighttime was fun!

Last time we met you told us of collection of washers etc that you find on the street. Are you still collecting?

Not as much but sometimes. I go through phases, when I was on my break I wasn’t finding a lot of washers then lately I have kind of been finding more. Not as much though it’s kind of been fewer and farther between. I think collecting things off the ground I have the capacity to be a little OCD at different times in my life, I can be compulsive about stuff so I think that’s just a manifestation of my OCD which comes and goes.

INTERVIEW: RITCHIE MARSHALL // PHOTOS: DAREN BORZYNSKI

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Interview

INTERVIEW BY DAREN BORZYNSKI PHOTO BY STUART WESTWOOD

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Interview

INTERVIEW

MOGWAI

THE BANTER | 27

Interview

I

f you have looked into Glasgow’s music scene at any time over the last 19 years, you will have crossed the path of experimental post-rock band Mogwai. Forming in Glasgow, originally as a quartet, in 1995, Mogwai are Dominic Aitchison (bass), Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Martin Bulloch (drums), John Cummings (guitar, computer) and Barry Burns (keyboard, computer, and guitar). They are one of the hardest working bands in Glasgow, with only Burns deciding to move further afield to Berlin some years ago. The Scottish quintet have since established themselves on the international stage through a prolific recorded output and a commitment to touring that few of their peers can match.

The Banter Magazine had the opportunity to chat with John Cummings during their hectic schedule, firstly asking how have they stuck together for so long as this is now their 19th year? “We don’t want to get proper jobs.” That’s it? “We all enjoy it, it’s a multi layered reason in itself. It’s just what we do now, it’s our job. I guess with lots of people, you start a job, you find you quite like it and you wouldn’t want to change it.”

In the past year alone, the band have broadened their reach with the soundtrack to the acclaimed Canal+ supernatural drama series Les Revenants (The Returned in the UK).

As the show reached its climax on UK TV screens in July, Mogwai returned to the most conspicuous predecessor to Les Revenants in their catalogue, the 2006 soundtrack to Douglas Gordon and Philippe Pareno’s film “Zidane: A 21stcentury Portrait”, in sell-out performances in Manchester, Glasgow and London’s Barbican, the band playing live while the film was projected above them. John explained: “The Manchester International Festival had been asking us to do this for a while and we have never had the time before. It’s not a festival that happens very often and it just coincided with us having that little bit of time. We also went on to play the other couple of venues along with the Manchester Festival.’

Created in summer 2013 in the band’s Castle Of Doom studio in Glasgow with producer Paul Savage, who also worked with the band on “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will”, “Rave Tapes” is the eighth studio album by Mogwai, and their second on Rock Action, the label they set up almost 18 years ago to issue their debut 7in single, Tuner/ Lower. John recalled how last year’s time scale for writing was: “The time was definitely something we were aware of.

I’m not sure if ‘limited’ is the word, but if you want to do a lot of this you can’t dwell on it, you just have to get them done.”

Early writing sessions for “Rave Tapes” took place in Glasgow and Berlin before pulling together demos of music they liked. I questioned if writing “Rave Tapes” quite soon after working on the “Les Revenants” soundtrack influenced the album in any way. John replied: “I wouldn’t have thought so, I don’t think they sound similar to me. It’s quite a different process to record an album on its own to making music to go along with a film or TV series, it’s not necessary the best

28 | THE BANTER

idea to try and combine both. They can sound pretty similar but there should be enough going on to sustain your interest in a bit of music on its own. TV & Film music really works when it is more simple, almost to the point of being unlistenable on its own. When we made the album, we were just trying to create music. It didn’t have to go along with pictures.

It’s pretty abstract, without mentioning dancing or architecture or whatever, it’s quite hard to relate music to anything else.”

So are you happy with the result or would you like to change anything?

“It’s finished, it’s out, and we can’t change anything to it now. We had until the 4th of October to change anything.

I’m sure if I listened to it now, I might think about it differently than I did months ago when we recorded it. Or if I listen to it in five years I might think differently about it, better or worse. It’s not something I will dwell on, it’s done and we are happy with it.”

I was impressed when I saw images of “Rave Tapes” limited edition box set. Presented in a deluxe case bound rigid liftoff lid box you will find: • • • •

• • • •

1 x Heavy pressed Rave Tapes LP 1 x Exclusive coloured heavy pressed 12” featuring tracks not included on the album: “Bad Magician 3” & “Die 1 Dislike!”

1 x 1 sided etched & heavy pressed 7” featuring track not included on the album “Tell Everybody That I Love Them” 40 page buckram wrap 12”x12” hardback photograph book with silver foil blocked cover design featuring exclusive images printed on 170gsm art paper.

Photographs shot by Steve Gullick during the Rave Tapes album sessions in 2013.

3 12”x12” artwork art prints printed on 400gsm matt art paper 1 x die cut digipack CD version of the Rave Tapes album, including interchangeable inserts.

Ltd coloured cassette version of the Rave Tapes album Digital download coupon for high quality download versions of all audio included in the box

John explained that releasing “Rave Tapes” on their own record label gave them more control and more responsibility. “It’s good that you can have an idea and see it through yourself without trying to explain it to someone else and having them work it out. It would then come back to you and it’s not what you expected it to be like. It is good to be in charge of your own ideas; if you want something to happen and you are able to make it happen yourself.

15 years ago we wouldn’t have been able to do it. We

Interview

wouldn’t have been able to have our own record label or release nice box sets. If we can do things like that, then I guess we should. It’s a bit like making your own dinner rather than always eating ready meals.”

foray into Africa as part of their world tour, this showing evidence of their success internationally. Part of the tour will also see Mogwai play for their first time at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow’s Royal concert hall.

In terms of chart success, Mogwai have never hit the number one spot and you don’t hear too much of them on the radio, but that’s not the aim of the band as John proclaims. “We would have gone about things very differently if that was our aim to have that kind of chart success. Singing and having 3 minute songs would have been a start. I don’t see that was ever going to be the case.”

Was this a fault of the music industry as we know it? “When you call it a music industry, it just makes me think of lots of horrible things. I suppose you and I are involved in this industry as much as anyone else, so surely there are good things to come from it. Like any commercial model or business, there probably is as much good going on as there is wrong with it.”

“It’s a very professionally built venue, I’ve been in it a lot, and when I have it’s great!”

The release of the album will signal the beginning of a frantic year of live activity, including the group’s maiden

Although The Royal Concert Hall might not take over from John’s favorite venue, the Barrowlands. “Probably one of the reasons is that it has so much personal history. For me, the Barrowlands has always been a big deal, going to see a band there has always been exciting. It’s great to have had a chance to play there myself.”

I honestly admit I haven’t really listened to Mogwai, apart from the “Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait” soundtrack. Since looking into their background for this interview, I came to realise that I have missed a big part of Scotland’s music culture. Lucky for me they have an extensive back catalogue of music that I can now look forward to.

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Interview

FRIGHTENED RABBIT

INTERVIEW BY RHODA MORRISON

I

t has been over three years since the release of Frightened Rabbit’s last album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, in 2010 but between signing a new contract with Atlantic Records and touring throughout the world, it is safe to say these last few years have been by no means restful for the Scottish fivesome.

Since forming in 2003, the band’s lead singer, Scott Hutchison, has been solely responsible for writing the material for their previous three albums. Their latest studio album, Pedestrian Verse, however, combines the ideas and music tastes of all band members after Hutchison felt that he was “re-treading old ground and not finding anything new.”

“I had become a bit bored of my own way of working” he admits, “and I had to come to terms with the fact that my ideas are not always the best because, when you start a project on your own, it’s very easy to get your head stuck up your own arse. Joining forces on this album allowed me to step back a bit which was a benefit. It does not only diversify the music but also gels the band a bit more because otherwise it’s just my thing and they don’t feel involved.”

Despite not being one to shy away from musical

30 | THE BANTER

experimentation, Hutchison felt that the inevitability of a contemporary, diverse sound to the album would be greatly beneficial to the record.

“It’s coming from five heads instead of just one so it’s bound to change a little. Andy’s really into strange, electronic music, Gordon loves his folk and Grant loves Americana.

There’s all these influences coming in and that makes such a huge difference and to be honest, makes it much more interesting. We are always keen to experiment with new music because I think it is insulting to your fan base if you just re-tread old ground all the time and it’s not interesting for anyone in the band either. We’re always looking to find new ways of telling the same story without departing completely from what we do.” Of course, collaboration is paramount when producing an album as a band but Hutchison maintains that “there were compromises but they were always healthy and productive ones so I never really resented it.”

In regards to his own music taste, Hutchison insists he tries “to keep it as wide as possible.” “I do love listening to pop music and the simplicity of a pop song can be totally arresting. But my favourite bands are Wilco, TV on the Radio, The Antlers, The Phantom Band and Withered Hand. I do like bands that use lyrics in an interesting way as well so I’m a

Interview

huge fan of Nick Cave. But it’s important to keep it wide and don’t shut yourself off to anything for snobby reasons – I try not to be a music snob.”

Growing up with his parents, Hutchison was strongly exposed to folk music which still remains close to his heart.

“There’s something about the story-telling aspect of it that I really enjoy so when you grow up listening to stuff like that, it’s just there and it’s in everything we do.” For this reason, Frightened Rabbit have added a unique, eclectic layer to their sound in Pedestrian Verse while still incorporating their Celtic roots, which Hutchison promises “we’re never going to lose.”

There is no doubt Frightened Rabbit’s infectious Scottish charm has been a major factor in their growing success, not only on home soil but also across the Atlantic where their reception has been overwhelmingly positive.

“There’s a really fond attachment to Scottish music and traditional music in the US and Canada and they’ve got a very romantic notion of the country,” Hutchison states, “and the fact that I sing in my own accent, far from being a barrier, is something that they really attach themselves to. There’s a lot of cross-pollination between American folk and country and Scottish folk and modern music. There’s a big crossover there. Considering a lot of bands try to break America and haven’t been able to do it, I think we’ve been very lucky to have been able to expand our fan base there over the past six years and it’s definitely spread quite far and wide there. I’m not quite sure how to explain it or why it’s happened but I’m glad it did.”

Nevertheless, Frightened Rabbit continue to attract sell-out crowds in Scotland and it is these nights that Scott relishes.

“We don’t get to play here very much anymore. We’ve played in Los Angeles more times this past year than we have in Scotland so it’s so nice after two and a half months on tour elsewhere to come back to Scotland.” While home is the historic town of Selkirk, Hutchison confesses that “after having lived in Glasgow for eight years, it still does feel like home too”.

He also, like many other music artists, declares his love for performing to Scottish crowds. “Scotland is the best place for us to play. The audiences are far beyond anywhere else and I’m proud of that and I’m really glad that that’s the case. It makes coming home feel extra special. Our booking agent knows that Glasgow is going to be a big celebration and great after-show so always leaves it to the end of the tour.” He also added “we know the audience is so consistently brilliant when we play here so there’s just this sense of relief and we know that everything’s going to be fine,” before superstitiously tapping the wooden surface of

a nearby table.

Despite fronting the band for ten years, Hutchison reveals that he still amazed by their overwhelming popularity in Scotland, especially after discovering that both gigs scheduled at the O2 Academy in Glasgow have completely sold out. “It would have been an honour to do one night at the O2 Academy so the fact that we can do two is really mind-blowing. The last band I saw here was Elbow. It’s weird when you start to play in headline venues where bands that you love and admire have headlined, it’s amazing to think that I’m in the place where they were a few years ago. We’re hugely pleased and proud that we’ve managed to do this, particularly seeing as it’s going to be such a busy weekend for us.”

And the band’s hard work doesn’t stop in the recording studio as they continue to raise money and awareness for a number of charities. “Right now, we give most of our money to The Cystinosis Foundation; a charity that helps to research a condition that mine and Grant’s niece has, but we would always support charities that are important to everyone in the band. Grant is undertaking an eleven day cycling tour of the UK and Ireland’s capital cities, and that’s the most heroic part of it. I think I’ll stick to cheering them on and handing out sports drinks,” he jokes. “I think the training is doing him good and he’s doing really well. It’ll be quite the challenge but I’m totally routing for them!”

Unknown to Scott, his years at the Glasgow School of Art - where it all began for the band - would stand him in good stead for his own latest charity project, albeit in a much less extravagant fashion than your stereotypical art school alumni. “I just drew a bearded man on the side of a pair of converse but they got a brilliant result. I think my pair managed about $400 at auction for the National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign which I was very happy with.

They ended up with over a hundred pairs of shoes from amazing bands as well. It was such an interesting and quirky way of raising money.”

The tour concludes on the 1st of December, and Hutchison is looking forward to taking a break from music and focussing on getting into the Christmas spirit. “I’m going to go back home to Selkirk to see my family,” he says with a twinkle in his eye, “and then I really don’t have anything to do until the end of January. After this I think we have all earned relaxation time so we’re going to shut down and take some time off.” Intent on making the most of what is said to be their best album yet, Frightened Rabbit have plans to tour again in the New Year but I think that until then, they are entitled to put their guitars down, their feet up and indulge in a glass of mulled wine… or two.

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Music NINA NESBITT O2 ABC , Glasgow

GIG REVIEW

Nina opened the set with folksy ‘The Apple Tree’, accompanied by a full electric band, giving a whole new dimension to her sound. It also gave her the freedom on the night to move around the stage more and play on different instruments; from sitting in the spotlight playing a Piano ballad on track ‘Just before Goodbye’, to later hitting out on some percussion during her encore.

As part of her homecoming, Nina also invited some friends on stage to sing along to ‘We’ll Be Back for More’; a song about having to leave all her friends from back home. And for Nina, ‘’It was magically soppy’’.

We were given the opportunity to experience some of her new material, and one of them was probably the audience’s favourite of the night, ‘Peroxide’.

The first 70 minutes of Nina’s set flew past before she left the stage for a short interlude. The audience had loved every bit so far, and they weren’t kept waiting for long before Nina returned to the stage to perform ‘He’s The One’.

Nina finished the night off with a rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland’ and the Proclaimers favourite ’500 miles’, supported by a very large audience participation.

PHOTO BY DAREN BORZYNSKI

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Music

JAKE BUGG O2 Academy, Glasgow

GIG REVIEW

A cold, wet and windy halloween when 2,500 avid Jake Bugg fans, me included, made their way inside the fantastic venue with high hopes for the evening, however some hopes may have been let down with the stage performance from the modest singer/songwriter from Nottingham.

We were graced with The Family Rain, 3 brothers who gave a well needed support of upbeat indie music which captured the audiences attention and giving the whole venue a buzz. They were followed by Suzanne Santos and Jeffy, the second support act.

The stripped back and natural music of them was easy to listen to and kept the crowd mellow. The smooth acoustic set had a good vibe and feel but they just couldn’t engage the audiences excitement. The songs to follow over the PA system of classic Stone Roses and Oasis paved the way nicely for the main man of the evening to take the stage.

Jake wandered onto the stage and after a quick bow began blasting out his set list for the evening. Opening with ’Theres A Beast and We All Feed It’.

There was a no hesitation approach to the evening were his music delivery was concerned, his classic short and punchy two minute pop songs from his first self-entitled album were pumped out one after the other with very little to no chat at all between each song, nor was there any life to him and his stage movement wasn’t one of the strong points of the evening. It felt to some extent that Bugg really didn’t want to be there and wanted to quickly blast out track after track as fast as possible to enable him to get off stage.

That being said, when he was blasting out his shorty punchy chart dominating tracks the O2 Academy was ecstatic instantly.

Bugg kept up the momentum by letting the full force of hits from his debut album like “Trouble Town” and “Seen It All”. The largest track reaction of the evening was of course ‘Two Fingers’ with the crowd singing along to every lyric in

perfect sync, also showing their exasperation of the lyrics with the chorus.

Other than his fast paced classic tracks Bugg did include a quiet part of the evening which was just him, his voice and his guitar upon centre stage making the crowd sing once agin to smooth acoustic classic such as ‘Country Song’ and a track from the new album, ‘Song About Love’, a heartfelt ballad if you like which set the mood nicely.

After his breakdown acoustic set the band returned to finish of the evening with ‘Taste It’ plus the heavier sounds of his latest singles ‘Slumville Sunrise’ and ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’ both tracks from the new album titled ‘Shangri La’.

Bugg made a quick exit from the stage but had clearly planned for an encore but let the crowd wait first. The chants of Jakey Bugg, Jakey Bugg, Jakey, Jakey Bugg to the style of ‘Baby Give It Up’ echo through out the O2 Academy for a solid five minutes before he returned to the stage to make the crowd simmer with an acoustic cover of ‘Broken’ before finishing with a very up beat cover of Neil Youngs ‘My, My, Hey, Hey’ and his chart topper ‘Lightening Bolt’.

The evening as a whole is one that all attending will remember and hopefully for the music and singing talent rather than the stage performance.

Jake Bugg is only 19 years old but is vastly becoming the fresh new face of original gritty Brit rock however his stage presence needs a little bit of work. His music is highly impressive, even when it is live, ranging from the fast hipswaying tracks, the heavier sounding tracks and of course those slow classic ballads.

FRANCIS MILLIGAN

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Music

LISSIE O2 ABC, Glasgow Photo // Daren Borynski JOHN NEWMAN The Arches, Glasgow

YOU ME AT SIX Hydro, Glasgow

Monday night’s John Newman gig was already set to be a huge success, having already been moved from King Tut’s to The Arches due to incredible demand.

The singer has just finished celebrating his debut album ‘Tribute’ topping the UK album charts and was clearly still in high spirits when he took to the stage.

Support on the night came in the form of Chloe Howl, who put on a great performance, but it was clear everyone was eagerly awaiting Mr Newman himself.

From the man who voiced Rudimental’s ‘Feel The Love’, John Newman has really come to be a star in his own right.

As he belted out his hits ‘Love Me Again’, ‘Cheating’ (and a stripped-back version his other Rudimental collaboration ‘Not Giving In’) you could tell he had the audience in the palm of his hand.

With his band and backing singers behind him and a simple white backdrop, John turned out track after track in his colossal voice - all complete with his signature dance moves.

Highlights of the gig included the gospel-esque ‘All I Need Is You’, ballad ‘Out Of My Head’ and his energetic rendition of his debut solo single ‘Love Me Again’.

This gig proved how much of a true talent John Newman is and there can only be bigger and better things to come. No doubt he’ll be selling out venues for a long time after this.

Monday night’s John Newman gig was already set to be a huge success, having already been moved from King Tut’s to The Arches due to incredible demand.

The singer has just finished celebrating his debut album ‘Tribute’ topping the UK album charts and was clearly still in high spirits when he took to the stage.

Support on the night came in the form of Chloe Howl, who put on a great performance, but it was clear everyone was eagerly awaiting Mr Newman himself.

From the man who voiced Rudimental’s ‘Feel The Love’, John Newman has really come to be a star in his own right.

As he belted out his hits ‘Love Me Again’, ‘Cheating’ (and a stripped-back version his other Rudimental collaboration ‘Not Giving In’) you could tell he had the audience in the palm of his hand.

With his band and backing singers behind him and a simple white backdrop, John turned out track after track in his colossal voice - all complete with his signature dance moves.

Highlights of the gig included the gospel-esque ‘All I Need Is You’, ballad ‘Out Of My Head’ and his energetic rendition of his debut solo single ‘Love Me Again’.

This gig proved how much of a true talent John Newman is and there can only be bigger and better things to come. No doubt he’ll be selling out venues for a long time after this.

LAURA DONALDSON

SHANNON MCGARRITY

GIG REVIEW

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GIG REVIEW

Music

Radkey King Tuts, Glasgow

28th February

Jason Derulo O2 Academy, Glasgow

31st March

CALVIN HARRIS/TIESTO Hydro, Glasgow GIG REVIEW

You know you’ve made it to stardom when your warm up act is Pete Tong and you are joint headlining sold out shows with Dutch superstar DJ Tiesto. After giving up his Las Vegas residency to begin the ‘Greater Than’ tour, Calvin Harris has proved he is finally a superstar in his own right.

The 29 year old from Dumfries wowed the crowd as he played at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro with amazing light shows, smoke machines, fireworks and silver confetti shooting out from cannons across the stage.

Opening the show with his biggest tune to date, the Grammy nominated Sweet Nothing expertly paved the way for many other hits from the Number 1 album ’18 Months’ including We Found Love, Bounce and Drinking From The Bottle.

His newer offerings; collaboration with Hurts’ Under Control, Florence’s Spectrum remix and Eat Sleep Rave Repeat were the highlights of the night. It’s impossible not to sing and dance along with their catchy vocals and amazing beats.

Surprising the Glaswegians with remixes including Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness and Fat Boy Slim’s Where’s Your Head At? gave Tiesto the hard task of trying to take over this sublime set.

Calvin Harris made an estimated $46 million in 2013 and has now taken over Tiesto as the highest earning DJ in the world. This tour only heightens his status and perhaps highlights that he is the ‘greatest’ DJ in the world.

AMIE GRIMASON

Foxes King Tuts, Glasgow

26th February

George Ezra King Tuts, Glasgow

22nd February

Eric Church O2 ABC, Glasgow

27th February

Daughtry O2 ABC, Glasgow

22nd March

Justin Timberlake Hydro, Glasgow

4th-5th April

Ella Eyre King Tuts, Glasgow

16th March

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Interview

ELIZA DOOLITTLE

BY LAURA DONALDSON

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Interview

E

liza Doolittle burst onto the music scene in 2010 with her debut single ‘Skinny Genes’. The catchy lyrics and infectious beat landed Eliza a spot at number twelve in the UK charts and a turn in the spotlight. The track was followed by the even more successful ‘Pack Up’ and her selftitled album which debuted at number three in the charts.

All in all it was a extremely successful year.

Fast-forward to 2013 and Eliza, now 25, has just released her second studio LP ‘In Your Hands’. The singer/ songwriter says she never intended to take three years to release another album: “I was actually touring for a year and a half after the first album but I started writing again straight away. We did a South American tour and went from Columbia to Los Angeles and that’s when I really got my creative juices flowing again,”

Disclosure’s ‘You & Me’ over the summer recently worked with Chicago rapper Vic Mensa who she says is her favourite rapper, there are none on ‘In Your Hands’. “To be honest, I wrote all the songs and they didn’t have any collaborations while I was writing them,” she explains. “Sometimes you think ‘oh I could do this or that’ but when it came down to it and we were mixing and mastering I hadn’t properly thought about it and by the time I did it was a bit too late to squeeze someone on!”

She adds: “At the same time I sometimes think it’s quite nice to have your own album with no collaborations and then doing collaboration as well as.”

“I’ve been back and forth between London and L.A. since then and writing a lot, non-stop.”

‘In Your Hands’ is a more grown-up sound than Eliza’s debut and one major theme is heartache, which Eliza experienced herself when she broke up with former Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden. “I’ve definitely changed a lot over the last couple of years,” she says of her more mature sound. “I’ve experienced things that I hadn’t when I wrote the first album and I wanted it to be a true account of my life. My heart went through some serious hurts and aches and I wanted to write about what was really, genuinely happening to me.”

Eliza hopes that her honestly will resonate with her fans: “I’m sure lots of people learn about themselves in the same way and will get what I’m saying. On this album I’ve really given a lot of me - more than I ever have before actually, I’ve kind of spilled it all out!”

Eliza is no stranger to the music industry and comes from an extremely talented background. Her mother is Frances Ruffelle, who won a Tony award for her role in the original London stage version of ‘Les Miserables’, and her father is John Caird, a stage director and writer. On top of that starstudded lineage, her grandmother is Sylvia Young, founder of the stage school in her name that has taught pupils such as Amy Winehouse, Rita Ora and Emma Bunton. Eliza says she would be interested in following her mother’s footsteps into musicals: “I’m always up for trying stuff out and I’d especially love to do a something with music in it - if I could be one of the Dreamgirls that would be ideal. Something like that to start off would be great.”

When it comes to collaborations, Eliza is also up for trying new things. “I love Queens of the Stone Age’s album, I’d love to work with the lead singer some time,” she says. “I love Frank Ocean too, that would be insane to work with him and I’m always keeping my eyes open for new things. I do have my dream collaborations though like Andre 3000 and Stevie Wonder - the old school guys.”

Although Eliza loves collaborating, she appeared on

Eliza says she plans to take ‘In Your Hands’ on the road in 2014 and that despite the endless travelling she really likes being on the road: “I love the travelling! I love it when we do promo gigs because then we get nights out!”, she laughs.

“The label will always take us out for dinner or something.

Sometimes they take us somewhere really fancy but I always like when they take us somewhere they love,like a local, amazing restaurant. I always like to get a feel for each city we go to, I like to feel like I know it even if it is just for a day.”

As well as travelling up and down the UK for tours, Eliza also spends a lot of time in L.A., especially when she’s working on a project. “I was just there last week, I like it for making music, it’s got a great energy,” she says.

“I like splitting my time between there and London but if you want to break America you have to spend a lot, a lot of time there and I haven’t had the chance to do that yet. It’s definitely something I’d like to do at some point and give it a shot!”

Even though ‘In Your Hands’ has just been released, Eliza says she’s already thinking about what’s next: “I’m always thinking about the next project and what it could be like - it always turns out completely different to how you imagine but I have ideas...I’m always looking forward to what’s next.”

THE BANTER | 37

GET INVOLVED ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE BANTER? THIS IS A MAGAZINE FOR YOU AND YOUR VIEWS...FROM MUSIC TO MOVIES AND FASHION AND GAMING... WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. THE BANTER IS A NOT FOR PROFIT MAGAZINE (AND PROJECT OF REGISTERED SCOTTISH CHARITY SC032003) WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY YOUNG VOLUNTEER WRITERS TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED CONTACT US BY TEXTING THE WORD‘VOLUNTEER’ AND YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS TO 80800 OR EMAIL US AT INFO@THEBANTER.CO.UK

Feature

NATASHA REID - BANTER WRITER 2011 - PRESENT I began writing for The Banter Magazine in early 2011. I left school at the start of 6th year as I had gained my place at Glasgow Caledonian University studying BA Multimedia Journalism. But I wanted to use my time between school and Uni wisely and writing for The Banter seemed like the ideal way of doing that. I never would have thought I’d still be writing for the magazine almost 3 years later in the 3rd year of my degree.

Some of my favourite interviews have included Lawson, Cover Drive, The Feeling, The Wanted and personal favourite Kids in Glass Houses. One of my best was with Aiden Grimshaw that got me my first cover for the magazine. As a trainee journalist, getting your first cover is something you will never forget.

The opportunities that have come from the magazine for me have been incredible. Last year, I was given a media pass for T in the Park allowing me access to both the media and artists village interviewing bands playing across the weekend. I also attended the Scottish PPA Magazine awards - a prestigious awards ceremony in Edinburgh in which both the magazine and editor were nominated. This is all on top of attending gigs of some of my favourite bands and artists and getting the chance to interview them.

It is not all fun and glamorous though and involves a lot of hard work and commitment. If you are not afraid of that then you will reap the rewards of this fantastic opportunity building an enviable portfolio of work and contacts list that will see you land the job you want in the media.

The best bit is… it is unlimited! You can write for The Banter as much and for as long as you want. You are a real journalist, doing real interviews with real “celebrities” and writing real articles that really will be published both in print and online. It doesn’t get more real than that.

The Banter has undoubtedly been the best and most valuable experience I could have gained as I continue my studies in becoming a Journalist. The possibilities, experience and rewards are endless and it really is a publication that I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of.

The Banter Magazine is a Music and Youth Interest Magazine written by and for young people in Scotland. The magazine is a not for profit publication and project of Scottish Registered Charity SC032003.

This placement will provide hands on experience in publication creation. You will be involved in the in-house processes with on-going support from the project leader.

It will ensure a spread of experience in all the areas of the magazine - the decision making processes of planning/processing along with the experience and skills of contributing content for the publication.

The Banter Magazine Volunteering Placement Programmes is funded by Young Start. Applications can be made by submitting via the email address:info@thebanter.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you!

THE BANTER | 39

Interview

40 | THE BANTER

Interview

Y O U M E AT S I X

BY LAURA DONALDSON

Y

ou Me At Six have enjoyed huge success since they burst onto the scene in 2008 with their debut album ‘Take Off Your Colours’. Just teenagers at the time, the five-piece hit the UK charts with tracks ‘Finders Keepers’ and ‘Kiss and Tell’. Fast-forward six years and the band have released their fifth album ‘Cavalier Youth’.

“I think the record is a big step-up for us as band,” says drummer Chris Miller, “It’s uplifting and positive...it’s kind of a new sound for us but without scaring the fans off, “The whole idea behind the title was just describing where we are at this time in our life. We wanted it to be uplifting and we take the meaning as carefree - nothing matters but the music...and just being happy where we are at this moment in time.”

Chris says he and the other band members, Josh (vocals), Max and Matt (guitar), and Dan (drums) all listen to different types of music so their influences are varied.

He explains: “Especially on this record, we just tried to write what we felt at the time. We weren’t really looking to take any influence from anything specific it just kind of came out.” To write for the new album, the band all stayed together in a house in the country before heading to L.A. to record the tracks. It was there the guys met producer Neal Avron’, whose previous work includes Fall Out Boy and Linkin Park, and got him on board for ‘Cavalier Youth’. “We put together a wish-list of producers or engineers we’d like to work with and sent out a mass correspondence to see who was interested, “ says Chris.

“Neal ended up coming to one of our L.A. shows and he was really interested in our project and when we got chatting it all worked out. He’s a really great guy.”

To prepare fans for the release of ‘Cavalier Youth’, You Me At Six unleashed the first single off the record ‘Lived A Lie’ late last year. Chris says the track has “a lot of traits

off the old album but with a hint of the new direction we wanted to go in”, describing it as a “stepping stone” between last album ‘Sinners Never Sleep’ and the new record. This was followed up by ‘Fresh Start Fever’. “That’s probably all of our favourites of the album,” says Chris, “We were just really excited to get it out and for people to hear it, we’re really proud of it.” Although Chris professes his love for ‘Fresh Start Fever’, he says his favourite song from the new tracks is one called ‘Forgive and Forget’. “It’s a moody dark song,” he says, “but I’m really proud of the arrangement and everything we accomplished. I think it sounds great and it’s a really exciting step forward for the band.”

Although there are five guys in the band, Chris says when they’re making music they’re generally all on the same page. “With five people there’s always going to be someone that’s got a different idea”, he says, “but we try and do it politically - if someone’s really set on something we’ll sit down and try and sort something out but normally we just take a vote and whoever wins, wins, and whoever loses, loses...not in like a bitter way anything!”

The band have a huge following in the US and have spent a lot of time there touring. Although Chris says he enjoys being in the States, the travelling can take its toll: “You can tour the whole of the UK in a week or two whereas in the states you have to invest a lot more time. You can be touring anywhere from two to three months and still not have covered all the main cities...It’s a lot more gruelling.”

Despite the intense touring schedule, Chris says he still enjoys life on the road“I love it, we’ve always loved it and we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t. There’s going to be times when you’re homesick or burnt out but you just need to know when to chill out and when to just sit back and relax.”

THE BANTER | 41

Feature

Y

oung Scot, the national youth information and citizenship agency for Scotland, is urging people from across Scotland to nominate young local heroes with inspiring stories for the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2014.

Young Scot is on the lookout for young Scottish stars that have made a big impact in their local community and is encouraging people across the region to nominate young people aged 11-26 years who have made a positive difference to the lives of others, before the nominations close on 18 February.

There are 11 categories from Sport, Arts and Health to Enterprise, Heritage and Volunteering, where three finalists in each of the 11 categories will be selected and invited to the high profile awards ceremony in the SECC Glasgow Arena on 10 April 2014. The winners will be announced on the night.

Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said: “2014 is certainly going to be an exciting and momentous year with the eyes of the world on our nation. We want to share the spotlight and make sure young people’s achievements are centre stage.

“If you know a friend, someone in your youth group, brother, neighbour, any young person who you think has worked hard to improve the lives of others or their local community in Scotland, we are urging you not to let their amazing achievements go unheard. Get your nomination in and let’s

make the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2014 the biggest celebration of young people this country has ever seen.”

Last year’s overall winner was Jess Ryan, 22, from Inverness who scooped the 2013 Young Scot Award for her wonderful courage in overcoming sexual abuse and neglect in her upbringing to help other vulnerable young people like her.

Jess grew up surrounded by family relationship breakdown as well as alcohol and drug abuse. None the less, Jess was helped by Children 1st and in 2012, recorded a song which documented her own personal troubles. The story was made public in order to encourage other young people to come forward and speak out against neglect.

Jess Ryan said: “When I found out someone had nominated me for a Young Scot Award, I was so proud. The night I found out I’d won was absolutely amazing – it gave me the reassurance that I really am helping to raise awareness of abuse towards young people. That’s why I’d urge people across Scotland to put forward a nomination and help your local young people on the road to success.”

For further information and to nominate a young person or group, please visit www.youngscotawards.co.uk before midnight on 18 February 2014.

THE BANTER | 43

Feature

D

SPORTS RELIEF

avina McCall will be ‘going the extra mile’ this Sport Relief by taking on the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Davina - Beyond Breaking Point, a seven day ordeal which will see the 46-year-old attempt to run, swim and cycle over 500 miles from Edinburgh to London - entirely under her own steam. She’ll be doing it with women, for women as she is joined by female celebrities on the challenge that will raise money for women living incredibly tough lives. The challenge is sponsored by BT, a long-term supporter of Comic Relief challenges since 2009.

The toughest challenge of Davina’s life will see her tackle a 130-mile cycle on day one alone - equivalent to some of the longest stages on the Tour de France. The following days will be just as punishing, as she pushes through the pain barrier to swim the life-threateningly cold Lake Windermere – where survival times at this time of year are just 30 minutes. She will also face scaling the colossal Scafell Pike on foot, before finishing after six tortuous days by running a full marathon into London.

Starting in Edinburgh on Saturday 8th February and finishing in London on Friday 14thFebruary, Davina will battle saddle sores as she spends over 47 hours peddling; conquer a life-long fear of open water swimming and burn over 10,000 calories per day as she expends every last ounce of energy to reach London.

Davina’s challenge is all about girl power. She’ll be joined by famous female friends along the route and will be spurred along by her ultimate goal of helping projects that work to 44 | THE BANTER

help women. In many developing countries, simply being born female can mean a lifetime of added dangers and challenges, and money raised from the challenge will be spent to help change the lives of thousands of women and girls in Kenya as well as transform lives in the UK and around the world.

Davina said: “When I first started training for this challenge, I cried every day for a fortnight. My body’s not built for an endurance challenge of this scale, and I’m absolutely terrified of open water and I can’t run!! But no matter how tough it gets, I just keep thinking it’s nothing compared to the struggles the women I’ve met in Kenya have to live through. Thinking of them will be the thing that keeps me going when things get tough, and I know every penny I raise will really make such a massive difference to people’s lives. I’m doing this for the girls.”

Davina needs the public’s support to keep her going as she goes Beyond Breaking Point. Sponsor Davina at sportrelief. com/Davina The public can also ‘Go the extra mile’ like Davina, by taking on their own Sport Relief challenge. Enter a running, swimming or cycling event now at one of over 1,000 locations across the UK at sportrelief.com All the ups and downs of Davina’s challenge will be captured for a BBC documentary, to be broadcast in the run up to Sport Relief Weekend, which is taking place from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd March.

Movies CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER FROM 28TH MARCH

As Steve Rogers continues his affiliation with S.H.I.E.L.D and struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he’s reunited with James ‘Bucky’ Barnes, who is now brainwashed Russian assassin known as the ‘Winter Soldier’.

NON-STOP

FROM 28TH FEBRUARY BILL MARKS (Liam Neeson) is a burned-out veteran of the Air Marshals service.

He views the assignment not as a life-saving duty, but as a desk job in the sky. However, today’s flight will be no routine trip.

Shortly into the transatlantic journey from New York to London, he receives a series of mysterious text messages ordering him to have the government transfer $150 million into a secret account, or a passenger will die every 20 minutes 46 | THE BANTER

MR PEABODY & SHERMAN U

NOW SHOWING

Mr. Peabody and Sherman is an an all-new comedy adventure for the whole family.

iCE AGEAward 4 U winner Ty Burrell (Modern Family) voices Mr. Peabody, the Emmy FROM 30TH JUNE world’s smartest person who happens to be a dog.

One ofhis filmdom’s beloved trios by - “Ice Age’s” Manny, andSpiderSid - emWhen “pet” boymost Sherman, voiced Max Charles (TheDiego, Amazing bark upon adventure after cataclysm sets an entire continent Man), uses their their greatest time traveling WABAC machine without permission, events in adrift. Separated the rest of the herd,and they use anresults. iceberg as a makeshift history spiral out from of control to disastrous comical ship, which launches them on an epic seafaring quest. Manny and the gang are up challenged like unexpected never beforeoftofather-son become heroes do the impossible, It’s to this most teams and to somehow put thingsas they encounter exoticthe seaspace-time creatures, explore a brave new world, and battle back on track before continuum is irreparably destroyed. ruthless pirates. Scrat’s reunion with his beloved but cursed acorn catapults him to places no prehistoric squirrel has gone before..

Movies

COMING SOON

CUBAN FURY 15 FROM 14TH FEBRUARY 1987: A 13 year old natural born dancer with fire in his heels and snakes in his hips is working himself up to explode all over the UK Junior Salsa Championships. But then: a freakish bullying incident on the mean streets of London robs him of his confidence, and our young hero finds his life diverted down a very different path. So it is that 22 years later, an adult Bruce Garrett (Nick Frost) finds himself out-of-shape and unloved trapped in a downward spiral of self-pity, repression and Nando’s take-outs. Only Julia (Rashida Jones), his smart, funny, gorgeous new American boss, gives him reason to live. But she’s untouchable. Out of his league, so he imagines, with her perfect smile and perfect life.

Unknown to Bruce however, Julia has issues all of her own.

Luckily for him, she also has a secret passion. Then there’s Drew (Chris O’Dowd), his alpha male colleague and horny kingmonkey of the office. With Drew making no secret of his desire to get (his words) “all up inside Julia”,...

THE MUPPETS MOST WANTED tbc

NOW SHOWING

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London.

But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper

headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais.

The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon.

ROBOCOP 12A NOW SHOWING In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years - and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line.

Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) - a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit - is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice..

THE BANTER | 47

Feature

FASHION AND FEATHERS COLLIDE Top British designers create stylish homes for nature during London Fashion Week

A

number big names from the British fashion industry have come together to help save nature by putting their unique stamp on a nestbox.

It’s not often the worlds of style and wildlife collide, but with London Fashion Week and National Nestbox Week both starting on 14th February, the RSPB and the British Fashion Council decided to join forces.

The nature charity asked a host of celebrity designers to put their stamp on a plain, white nestbox all in the name of giving nature a (more stylish) home, and the results are amazing.

Designers like Dame Vivienne Westwood, Julien Macdonald OBE, Katherine Hamnett CBE and John Rocha CBE are among those who have designed a nestbox, and the standard wood designs have been replaced with bold prints, floral patterns and even leather and chains!

The bespoke nestboxes will be displayed in The Shop at Somerset House throughout London Fashion Week (14 - 18 February) and Vodafone London Fashion Weekend (20 23 February), and will be sold in an eBay auction to raise money for the RSPB. All funds raised will go towards the RSPB’s conservation work and be spent on projects like restoring wild places, research into species declines and community engagement.

48 | THE BANTER

British fashion designer Giles Deacon, well-known for his playful designs, said: “I love to make time to support good causes, and the UK’s wildlife is a cause that really needs our help. It’s fabulous that so many designers have got behind this idea – it’s a really great way to get us all thinking about how we can make a home for nature on our back doorstep.

It’s fun and makes the world a better, more beautiful place – just like fashion!”

Julien Macdonald OBE, one of Britain’s leading fashion designers, said: “When I was asked to create a nestbox for the RSPB it didn’t take me long to say ‘yes’ – nowadays there is a real appetite in the fashion industry to think green.

Protecting the environment and the wildlife it provides a home for is something I feel passionately about. I am so glad other designers have joined together to send this important message to the fashion world and beyond.”

Alison Enticknap, from the RSPB, said: “Wildlife and fashion might not be an immediately obvious combination but when the designers heard our idea they were really keen to use their creative flair to help make a difference. We can all do our bit to help by giving nature a home in our gardens or outside space, whether it’s by digging a pond, planting nectar-rich flowers or creating a log pile. These designer creations are a bit more chic than the usual plain, wooden nestboxes – I’m not sure garden birds would know what to make of them!”

He came to work every day seemed depressed, and it

the point that I asked him about it outside of

He said he thought about suicide

Dave could see his workmate seemed down, so he asked him about it.

Because he did, his workmate is still alive.

www.chooselife.net/ask

4398 8/2013

For help and advice for you or the person you’re worried about, call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.

© NHS Health Scotland 2012, 2013 Image: © iStock

If you can read between the lines, you can save lives.

Feature

50 | THE BANTER

Feature

N

ew Year’s resolutions are often made as an afterthought and, more often than not, thrown out by the end of January along with all the other unwanted Christmas gifts. Arguably the most common resolution is to get fit or be healthy or lose weight but how many people can actually say they made that promise to themselves and kept it? Imaginably, very few.

Between 1995 and 2012, the amount of adults, that’s between the ages of 16-64, who were overweight or obese increased from 52.4% to 61.9%. Over the same period, the rate of obesity increased from 17.2% to 26.1%. The greatest increases were seen between 1995 and 2008 but since 2008 the figures have remained about the same which means not enough is being done to stop obesity and weight gain.

So why is it important to be healthier? Not only can obesity and weight gain make you feel pretty miserable about the way you look it can have some serious health problems too.

This means you would have a higher risk of heart disease, sleep apnoea and diabetes among a lot of other things.

In severe cases you can get sores and cuts which in some cases won’t heal and can lead to amputation, pretty gross.

If you’re trying to be healthier but you’re not sure where to start it is always a good idea to ignore all the fad diets, they are all nutritionally very bad for you and to get a sound understanding about nutrition and what you should eat and why. It is also usually a terrible idea to read articles online as they are usually specifically tailored to a certain lifestyle and therefore not suitable for everyone. The best place to get free online guidance is on the NHS’s website, trying looking at www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/ Goodfoodhome.aspx for more information.

The government makes recommendations but that doesn’t always mean that those values are right for you. If you don’t do much physical activity and you want to lose weight then try lowering your recommended calorie intake and upping your exercise levels. It is good to remember that the body works like a bank, you put your calories in and unless you take them out again you will store any excess as savings, or in your bodies case, fat. It is suggested that you need 2,500 calories a day if you are an adult male, that’s from 16 years old upwards, and 2,000 calories a day if you’re an adult female, also from 16 years old upwards but you also need to look at where your calories are coming from.

Most people avoid fatty food and opt for low fat alternatives but more often than not this is worse for you. Always read food labels, many low fat options contain a lot of sugar to compensate and too much sugar will actually make you put on fat. You should also remember that your body needs fat to function, you can get good sources of fats from oily fish and nuts but again, the key to a good diet is about everything in moderation.

Now you are likely wondering how sugar can make you fat when there is no fat in it? Anytime you eat more food than your body actually needs (and this is very easy to do when eating foods with high sugar content), your liver’s sugar storage will be exceeded. When the liver is completely full, the extra sugar is changed by the liver into fatty acids, fat to you and me, and then put back into your bloodstream where it is taken throughout your body and stored as fat. So that sneaky low fat yoghurt you’re having at lunch time after your meal is probably not such a good idea after all!

Also avoid harmful sweeteners in ‘fat free’ sugary drinks such as Aspartame, Aceslulfame-K, Sucralose and Saccharin. All of these sweeteners have been deemed as safe by the Food Standards Agency but they all share pretty horrific side effects is consumed in large quantities including, but not limited to, headaches, anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhoea and weight gain. Remember, if you live in Scotland, water is free and easily accessible!

Exercise is usually a sticky subject, most people have one or two attempts at it then decide it’s too much hard work and give up or get disheartened by the fact that they cannot achieve a certain level of fitness and so give up because they are embarrassed or shy about it but getting fit and exercising is all about baby steps.

Start slow, and work with what you already have, you need to put in a lot of time, effort and dedication, it won’t happen magically overnight and no one else can do it for you. There are no quick fixes when it comes to diet and exercise but there are plenty of rewards if you’re willing to put the work in. Plus, exercising releases endorphins, which are essentially your body’s happy hormones, so when you have had a workout you will instantly be in a good mood and the more you do it, the happier you are.

If you’re worried about not exercising right why not enlist the help of a fit friend to help you with a starting point, most people are more than happy to help you in this way, listen to what they have to say, they know their stuff and don’t take their offers for granted. If you don’t feel like you can approach a friend with this then try just going for a walk, a jog or a run or even join a class at your local gym.

To find out what’s going on in your local area visit www. glasgowlife.org.uk/sport/Pages/home.aspx and sign up for something. Classes are a great way to stay motivated and meet new people.

Remember, weight loss, fitness and being healthy is a lifestyle change, not a diet that you can follow for a few months and then revert back to your old ways with. You need to understand that it is a journey and that journey’s take time, so be patient! To quote one of my favourite musicians, Sara Bareilles, ‘compare where you are to where you want to be and you’ll get nowhere’. Good luck!

THE BANTER | 51

Opinion

THE DONE THING “So it is time to start thinking about UCAS” It had merely been weeks since I had turned seventeen and I returned to high school for my sixth and final year to top up the ‘good but not as good as I was expected to get’ grades from the year before.

So it was finally here. University was always the end goal of high school. In second year I was encourage to pick the subjects I’d like to do as highers. In fourth year I was encouraged to pick the highers that were going to help me get into the university course I wanted and in fifth year I was told that sixth year would be literally my final chance. So I did what any normal person that had already been through twelve years of education would do – take a mere three subjects and spend half my time doing nothing in the library or ending my school day at lunch.

However, I made it to uni and after moving to Glasgow and coming out of the drunk, blurred haze that was first year I found myself wondering what on earth I was doing there.

We live our life consumed by expectations and pressure.

I never questioned the expectation of me to move swiftly from high school to university. I was always the introverted child. A constant know it all from the beginning of primary school who always finished her work before all the other 52 | THE BANTER

children (it was a race I don’t care what the teacher said) and spent spare time buried in books and writing stories.

My parents nights were filled with statements that indicated I would make it to university with ease coming out with a nice shiny first class degree, get a good job and everything would fall into place.

Maybe I’m exaggerating slightly but you get the drift.

The truth is I want a degree. I like education, in fact I love it.

But I’m bored.

I have done nothing but sit in a classroom and listen to teachers talk at me my whole life and I don’t really know any different.

I think a year out between high school and university should be encouraged if not enforced. In so many countries around Europe the options to take a year out are endless and it is the ‘done thing’. Time to actually, and excuse the cliché, find yourself and work out what you actually want to do with your life.

Why is everyone is such a rush to have it all ‘worked out’.

We are still only young after all.

BY RHIANN FOWLDS

my boss

believedin me when I didn’t

For someone with a mental health problem, what you do makes a difference. Be there. Be yourself.

People with mental health problems can sometimes be treated unfairly at work. By being supportive of colleagues with mental health problems, you can help change this. You can make a real difference.

LET’S STOP THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILL HEALTH

www.seemescotland.org

Feature

T

he Glasgow International Comedy Festival is returning to the city in March, with nearly 105,000 tickets up for grabs for hundreds of shows in over 45 venues. There are big names like Miranda Hart, Sarah Millican, Omid Djalili, Russell Kane and Jerry Sadowitz. And not to mention, a whole of Scots like Des Clarke, Fred MacAulay, Craig Hill and Hardeep Signh Kohli. And it wouldn’t be a comedy festival without a bunch of new comedians trying out their shows for the first time. With 416 shows across the city, it’s hard to pick what shows you want to see. So I’ve picked up out my top five recommendations for you…

come out on top.

Bridget Christie: A Bic For Her 24th March, The Stand Comedy Club During last year’s Fringe, Bridget had one of the most talked about shows of the entire festival. If the rows of 5 star reviews hanging outside the venue wasn’t enough, she also walked away with the Foster’s Comedy Award.

Then last month, she took the South Bank Sky Arts award for her show too. A Bic For Her centres around the idea that Bic seem to think women need special biros to write with.

And there’s also a poignant speech from Malala Yousafzai at the end of the show, which definitely leaves you with something to think about.

Vladimir McTavish & Keir McAllister: Look At The State Of Scotland 30th March, Blackfriars Basement With the Independence referendum just around the corner, it’s no surprise what the hot topic of this year’s festival is.

Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister come together with a blend of a political satire and razor sharp observations on our present-day nation. There’s even some cheap shots at The Krankies thrown in for good measure too. If you already know how you’re voting in September, or you’re still on the fence, then this could be the perfect show for you.

The Wee Man’s Comedy Rap Battle Showdown 4th April, Arches Comedy and hip hop come together and clash in this rap battle showdown. The show, which attracted names like Mark Watson and Daniel Sloss during last year’s Fringe, is back for another run. With The Wee Man at its helm, the show sees some of the country’s best comedians and rappers compete to see who has the best hip hop wits to 54 | THE BANTER

Miranda Hart: My What I Call, Live Show 17th and 18th March, The SSE Hydro These two arena shows are a rare chance for fans to see Miranda in a different light. Between her hit TV show Miranda and Call The Midwife, it’s easy to forget that she also does stand-up. There will be galloping, attempts and song and dance (anyone who remembers her past comic relief dances, will know how good this could be) and simply – such fun!

BBC Comedy Presents Best Of Red Raw 18th, 25th March & 1st April, The Stand Comedy Club Everyone from Kevin Bridges to Sarah Millican started at The Stand’s legendary beginner’s showcase, so it’s no real surprise it’s regarded as the best open mic night in the UK. Each night, there’s up to ten new acts on the bill and you might even see some older hands dropping by to test out new material. And I guess during the GICF, you really never know who might turn up.

BY SARAH MOYES