Nang! Issue One 2010

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Dizzee! da bonkers boy from bow is back!

Wale adeyemi dj swerve sophie dahl maverick sabre

FUNDERS OF TOWER HAMLETS SUMMER UNI 2009 A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FUNDERS OF NANG!

The Body Shop Foundation Newspaper Education Trust Peter Cruddas Foundation

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE THSU FUNDERS IN 2009/10

Allen & Overy / Awards 4 All / Baltic Charitable Fund / Bank of America / Barclays Capital / Body Shop Foundation / Britannia Building Society Foundation / Burberry Foundation / CAF Bank / Calleva Foundation / Canary Wharf Film Fund / City Bridge Trust / City of London / Coutts & Co / Credit Suisse EMEA Foundation / Department for Children, Schools and Families / Drapers’ Company / Goldman Sachs / Goldsmiths’ Company / Greater London Authority / Henry Smith Charity / Jack Petchey Foundation / London Borough of Tower Hamlets / London Challenge / London Masonic Charitable Trust / London Ukulele Festival / Manchester City Challenge / Merchant Navy Training Board / Morgan Stanley Foundation Network Housing Group / Newspaper Education Trust / Paul Hamlyn Foundation / Performing for Success / Peter Cruddas Foundation / Rex Hall Associates / Rothschild / Savoy Educational Trust / Sound Connections / St. Katharine & Shadwell Trust / Tower Hill Improvement Trust / Trinity House / Woodroffe Benton Foundation / Worshipful Company of Shipwrights / Yorkshire & Clydesdale Bank Foundation The funders were correct at the time of going to print Registered as Tower Hamlets Summer Education Ltd. Registered office Ground Floor, 24-26 Fournier Street, London E1 6QE. Tel: 020 7247 7900, www.summeruni.org, www.summerunilondon.org Registered company no. 2017713 / registered charity no. 1048822

Nang!ContentsIssueOne2010

R 24

20 The ‘time for a change’ issue 6 Notice Us What we’ve been up to since the last issue

8 Notice Them The great things young Londoners are doing these days

26 22 Totally overrated! Do the things

34 How Nang! began... Kadija George

we rave about really live to the hype?

tells us how she created this brilliant magazine

23 Make your vote count! A cool way to find out more about your local MP

36 ‘I love performing live’ Nang!

24 From Brick Lane to Buckingham Palace Fashion royalty,

38 Reviews Films, music, books...

talks to rising star Maverick Sabre

42 Recession? What recession? How much have you been

10 Iconic people of the decade

Wale Adeyemi, talks to Nang!

12 ‘Summer Uni was my X-Factor’ Dizzee Rascal reminisces

26 Grand designs Young up-and-

affected by the credit crunch?

coming designers share their aspirations

16 Remembering Haiti’s troubled past

29 Ask Julie Got a fashion problem?

43 Dinner for under a tenner!

Julie’s got the solution

18 Have a little respect! Nang!

30 ‘I still like to rock the party!’

44 Young, vulnerable and homeless We look at the plight of young

reports on the first youth-led media summit

Kiss FM’s DJ Swerve talks about his job

people who don’t have a place to call home

20 Sophie’s world The famous granddaughter of Roald Dahl talks to Nang!

32 No builders’ bum required

46 The winning formula Nang!’s predictions for this motor racing season

There’s more to construction than you think

A delicious recipe to try on your friends

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IS A TOWER HAMLETS SUMMER UNI (THSU) PROJECT. IT’S WRITTEN BY 16-25 YEAR OLDS AND DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIS, YOUTH CLUBS AND LIBRARIES ACROSS LONDON. INTERESTED IN JOURNALISM AND WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

Contact Liz at info@summeruni.org

You can enrol on the Nang! August summer course at www.summeruni.org in June (find it under the Business & Careers section).

SUMMER UNI PROVIDES YOUNG LONDONERS WITH LOADS OF FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE FUN, MEET NEW FRIENDS AND DEVELOP SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. CHECK OUT THE PROJECTS YOU CAN JOIN: BECOME A PEER MOTIVATOR! Tower Hamlets Summer Uni needs enthusiastic 16-23 year olds to help support the summer programme. This scheme is OCN Level 2 accredited and will look great on your CV! Contact peerteam@ summeruni.org or call 020 7247 7900 in April.

YOUNG LONDONERS HAVE YOUR SAY! DareLondon, a dynamic advisory group of 16 to 25 year olds, make sure that Summer Uni London, London Youth and the GLA (Mayor of London) keep it real and respond to young Londoners’ needs and concerns. DareLondon is looking for new members – join them and make your mark!

Visit www.darelondon.org or contact Matt at hello@darelondon.org LOOKING FOR FREE REHEARSAL SPACE FOR YOUR BAND? Need the equipment to make your own tracks? Music Space is a free programme created for the next generation of talented musicians aged 14-19 from Tower Hamlets.

Get support from industry professionals, book a rehearsal slot and play at Underage Festival!

For more info on Music Space, visit www.cmsounds.com or call 020 7377 0621.

ENROL ON A FREE SUMMER COURSE! There are over two thousand FREE courses for 8-25 year olds all over London during the summer holidays. Courses range from Bollywood dancing to investment banking, cookery to kayaking! Don’t miss out! Enrol at www.summerunilondon.org from June. For more information, contact info@summeruni.org or call 020 7247 7900.

BECOME A YOUTH AMBASSADOR! Have your say on what Summer Uni does and how it does it. This is a fantastic year-round accredited programme for 16-25 year olds who want to gain experience in managing and advising on projects.

Contact Mamum at peerteam@summeruni.org or call 020 7247 7900.

YOUNG AND UNEMPLOYED? THSU’s 11-week accredited Job Ready scheme for 16 to 25 year olds will give you the training, life skills and confidence you need to get a job and you’ll even get to go on a work experience placement. Apply online at www.summeruni.org or contact Mohammed on 020 7247 7900.

CALLING ALL BUDDING FILMMAKERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS! The what we want! (www!) media grants scheme gives film makers and photographers, aged 13-20, the training, funding and support to produce a project on a subject of their choice. For more information, visit www. summeruni.org/whatwewant or check out the www!-ers blog at www.what-we-want.tumblr.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES EMAIL info@summeruni.org TELEPHONE 020 7247 7900 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.summeruni.org TOWER HAMLETS SUMMER UNIVERSITY WILL SOON BE KNOWN AS FUTUREVERSITY. CHECK OUT WWW.SUMMERUNI.ORG TO FIND OUT MORE!

Nang!Editor’sLetter Hey Nang! addicts!

The ‘time for a change’ issue!

Editor: Denise Kodia Contributors: Habiba Ahmed Errol Anderson Sabina Begum Zindy Chungu Marcus Emmanuel Theodora Fashesin Steadman Gbajumo Jaccaidi Hypolite-Dyer Shahara Kalique Ligita Kneitaite Chris Nelson Farah Sadiq Anjli Shah Elisha Taylor Julie Uddin Billie Waller Samantha Webster Nellie Zulu Nang! Co-ordinator: Liz Millar Designed by Troublemakers Associates Printed in the UK by THE MAGAZINE PRINTING COMPANY (www.magprint.co.uk) BIG THANKS to Jane Kirby from Press Association for giving her time to support Nang!

THSU WOULD LIKE TO THANK the Nang! team, all the fantastic peer volunteers, the summer and yearround tutors and partners, Summer Uni Co-ordinators across London and all the young people who make it real. SPECIAL THANKS to Tahera Huda at London Metropolitan University.

DISCLAIMER aims to inform, entertain and inspire. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form without written permission from the publisher, Tower Hamlets Summer University. The views within the magazine are not those of the publisher but of the individual author or contributor. All information in was correct at the time of going to press.

If you have any advertising or editorial queries please contact in the following ways: Tel: 020 7247 7900 Email: info@summeruni.org magazine, Tower Hamlets Summer University, Ground Floor, 24-26 Fournier Street, London E1 6QE www.summerunilondon.org magazine is a project of Tower Hamlets Summer University.

Registered as Tower Hamlets Summer Education Ltd. Registered company no. 2017713 / registered charity no.

1048822. Tel: 020 7247 7900 www.summeruni.org

WOW! Can you believe 2010 is already upon us? This issue of Nang! is not only the first issue of the year, but also of the decade! Woohoo!

And we want this decade to be better than the last, so we decided that a great theme for this issue would be ‘time for a change’.

We’ve got so much great stuff in this issue! We’ve got interviews with author and A-list celeb Sophie Dahl, musician Maverick Sabre, DJ Swerve from Kiss FM and even fashion guru Wale Adeyemi! We’ve got a piece on the most iconic people of the noughties, interviews with young, up-and-coming fashion designers and, for all of you sports fans out there, our Formula One predictions for this coming season. But will we be right?

On a more serious note, we wanted to highlight the plight and the incredible spirit of the people in Haiti who in the last few hundred years have found themselves not only at the mercy of natural disasters but also of the greed and corruption of the West. We also take a look at the grim reality of homelessness in the UK and encourage you to find out more about your local MP in the run up to the General Election.

Finally, our cover star is the one and only Dizzee Rascal! We caught up with him at a Tower Hamlets Summer Uni (THSU) event to find out what life was like for this ‘Boy in da Corner’ when he was growing up and why he loves being the charity’s Patron.

Ooh! On that note, THSU will soon be known as FUTUREVERSITY! But more about that in the next issue...

Enjoy!

Denise Kodia Denise Kodia Editor

PS: If you haven’t already joined the Nang! Facebook fan page, what are you waiting for? Find us under Nang! magazine.

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What we’ve been up to since last issue

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Nang! ended 2009 wit h a live interview with rapper Dizzee Ra scal! The star, who’s a patron of THSU , made a special appearance at the charity’s event at City Hall to hel p launch its new name, FUTUREVERSITY . Dizzee was interviewed by Nang!’s Denise and Chris on stage in front of a wid e-eyed crowd of young people, funders and THSU staff.

To read the interview, turn to page 12 and for more on THSU ’s cool new name, visit www.summeruni.or g

Efe surrounded by the Nang! team and, below, in her former career as a model

Chris and Denise on stage with Dizzee

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In February, the Nang! team were interviewed for a brand new websi te called Ushine Ishine .

Mentor, presenter and entertainer, Efe Ezekie l, is creating the site to show what amazing thin gs people in the community are doing – and she told us she’s a big fan of Nang! The site launch es at the end of April, so don’t forget to visit www.ushineIshine.com to see the team pucker up for the cam eras.

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In December, two of the Nang! team, Marcus and Ligita, attended the first ever youth-led media summit at Rich Mix in east London. Young journalists from all over the UK met with magazine editors, a Children’s Commissioner and various youth organisations to have a fierce debate about how young people are portrayed in the media. Turn to page 18 to find out who won.

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y enough to nab three Nang!’s BILLIE WALLER was luck magazine! Here, she ZIA GRA at ce rien expe weeks’ work tells us what it was like bags of accessories were ‘The amount of shoe boxes and sed girl faint! As if that wasn’t enough to make a fashion-obses ses and Chloe bags scattered enough, the racks of designer dres h waking up for. wort day y all over the floor made ever experience person work a as ia Graz at ed ‘I had just start in front of the fashion (lucky me!) and my desk was right more to do with the post was stockroom. Unfortunately my job ion. But that didn’t stop fash with do to and parcels then anything ion desks from time to time. my eyes wandering over to the fash ct for them every single ‘The amount of parcels I had to colle bags, Jimmy Choos, ci Guc , day was unbelievable! Dior belts it! Returns from cted colle I it, e Versace Dresses… You nam es... The fashion pani com from eries deliv fashion shoots and y forms to fill out man est - so department seemed to be the busi time to let my no was there on and so many items to keep track mind daydream! have seen in Ugly Betty.

‘Fashion isn’t all glam, as you may around the office and, But there were a few heels strutting s by looking through trend t let’s face it, researching the lates is a pretty cool thing et mark the on all the glossy magazines to get paid for! to organise and attend the ‘I hope one day it will be my turn own stock room full of my amazing fashion shoots and have , it’s back to uni.’ then until But fabulous designer outfits.

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,a sociation Press As d es e it id v is v ! team which pro the Nang Victoria , am ’s ry te n a o u e n d h a n T In J ed in Lo ebsites. s a w b d y n c a n e apers y, who news ag to newsp ane Kirb t stories urnalist J jo s s out in a w the lates e e ri n ews sto tour by n a g n in e k iv a figures. g was get bre cts and how they correct fa d e e b th ri ll c a s de s – with f minute !... matter o on Nang e lik that s a w it If only

Nang!’s JACCAIDI HYPOLITE-D YER really wants to work for a paper – and her work experien ce at the INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY has only made her mor e determined ‘Last year I achieved every aspiring news journalists dream - a placement at the Independent on Sunday! The first day I entered the office feeling like a kid in a cand y shop. There were piles of newspapers everywhere, a cons tant BBC News feed and access to the Newswire, which means you get to be the first person to see breaking news stories. It was amazing!

‘Once I’d calmed down, I had to get to work. Unlike the usual coffee-fetching antics of a work experience student, I had the chance to get into the role of a journ alist researching my own stories. I also had to call the pres s agencies on the Saturday afternoon before the paper went to print, frantically attempting to chase down Madonna or Bono for a front cover quote!

‘The placement wasn’t all fun and famous people, though.

There were large chunks of time when there was literally nothing for me to do but refresh the new swire. But somehow I always managed to keep myself occupied . This summer, I hope to return for a longer placement and would also love to get some experience at the BBC.’

Them +=@ O?EAJPEOP @=U KQP The Royal Observatory in London’s Greenwich has got loads of brilliant free stuff going on during its Solar Season, which kicks off in April. There’s an exhibition of images illustrating mankind’s quest to understand the nature of the Sun and workshops called Solar Storm Watch, in which you get to play the scientist, analysing data and predicting space weather. Geeky but cool. To find out more, visit www.nmm.ac.uk

No, they’re not watching Avatar - they’re looking at the Sun

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apply to its brand THSU is offering young people from across London the chance to how good the assess to how in new Youth Assessor Programme! You’ll be trained of a Quality part as London across are mes program FUTUREVERSITY/Summer Uni that we’ll try to training, fantastic days 10 to up e undertak You’ll ork.

Assurance Framew ed. This accredit be will make flexible to fit in with other demands you may have, which facilitation, tion, presenta , speaking , listening opportunity will ensure you gain new skills in and looking 14-20 you’re If few! a but name to n resolutio ict leadership, team work and confl grow in confidence, and skills new develop people, new meet you’ll where e for a challeng info@summeruni.org then get in touch. Contact Liz Jewell on 020 7392 7801 or email

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dia grants scheme want! (www!) me THSU’s what we d photographers an rs old ďŹ lm make gives 13-20-yearoduce a project and support to pr training, funding to date ir choice. Keep up on a subject of the ir blog the on w!-ers are up to with what the ww nd out when ďŹ d an m ant.tumblr.co www.what-we-w view. For more work is on public and where their org/whatwewant www.summeruni. information, visit

big following Nang!’s LIGITA KNEITAITE went to see the young band with a door, selling tickets to ‘Everybody’s come to see The Cyklones!’ marvels the guy at the why. The band bursts the queues of people. As the gig kicks off, it’s not difďŹ cult to see the stage presence all it giving into an energetic tune fuelled by big drums and guitars, dancing. ’s everyone long, you could possibly wish for. Before about them.

I grabbed lead guitarist, Thomas Keirle, after the gig to ďŹ nd out more s?

Cyklone The are Who Ligita: Thomas: Four guys going deaf in a shed [laughs] Ligita: What’s the inspiration behind the name?

Thomas: Mainly 80s and 90s punk/ska scene.

Ligita: Who would like your music? also people who like Thomas: People who were around in the 80s who knew ska, but indie music now. Everyone, really!

Ligita: Who are the bands that inspire you?

Thomas: Libertines, Le Clash, Arctic Monkeys‌ Ligita: What do you like best about being in a band? famous. It’s an Thomas: You shouldn’t see playing in a band as a means of getting gigs. play to getting experience in itself, Check out their music at www.myspace.com/thecyklones

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The Cyklones

The Illersapiens

promote positive Fronted by Mr Man and the soulful Katie B, this hip-hop band for a chat down them tracked vibes and free speech. Nang!’s DENISE KODIA Denise: What are the Illersapiens about? and playing it for Mr Man: Essentially we’re a group of friends that enjoy playing music all the different about It’s music. live positive other people, too. We’re all about bringing ate them incorpor to try we and hip-hop be just not may types of music we like - that into our sound.

Denise: What does ‘Illersapien’ mean? sapien, which Mr Man: It was a word that I made up. It comes from the word homo g that’s ‘good’ somethin for term hip-hop a is ‘Iller’ word the means human being. Then . together it put we So or ‘better’. ive London Denise: On your MySpace page, it mentions that you have a ‘distinct

sound’, what does that mean? but that Katie B: There are a lot of bands that sound like they’re from London, of Dubstep, elements have also but hip-hop we’re fact the with do to more is statement uences in their brings e Funky House... It’s like a ‘bring your own drink’ party. Everyon and sounds and we make it into one big cocktail!

Denise: What’s your earliest hip-hop memory?

Dushan listening to Wu Tang Mr Man: My older brother grew up in the golden age of hip-hop, it just had everyone and the like. He made me a tape called Hippa To The Hopper and were making who guys the all Enemy... on it, from Ol’ Dirty B, Wu Tang Klan, Public even said brother My now. it nd ďŹ can’t I because ed moves at that time. I’m devastat back! it have to money me he’d give Denise: How did the song ‘Brixton’ come about? isn’t like it was Mr Man: The track Brixton pays homage to my home town. Brixton have been wouldn’t who Lane our Coldharb down walking back in the day. I see people tions connota negative the of rid get to want just I ago! years 15 there caught dead people have about Brixton.

Denise: What is it about live music that you guys like some much? out with something Katie B: I think it’s the spontaneity. One of the guys could just come can switch it we uences in London our all with Also, it. with ow  just we and then tailor it to the can You up to so many styles and that’s the whole point of live music. audience. shows?

Denise: What can someone expect if they came to one of your on MySpace or hear can’t you that tracks new vibes, good expect can Katie B: They vibe. anywhere else and to have a great time! It’s a family-orientated Denise: What are you planning for 2010? good by the way! We Katie B: We’re recording some new stuff, which is sounding really promote it. to summer early for tour a organise and EP another out want to put to mind? springs what Denise: When you hear the phrase ‘time for a change’ own thing. your do and out Break fate. your Katie B: Not letting someone else dictate listen a have to Visit www.theillersapiens

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ICONS OF THE As we begin the Tenties, Nang!’s Nellie Zulu looks back at the people she feels shaped the Noughties

.-*'2'!1 The Obamas: Barack and Michelle

1.-021 David Beckham

--) $'*+ Harry Potter

The Obamas are icons not just for the American people but for the entire world. Barack is the epitome of everything that Bush wasn’t and his wife Michelle is his ‘right hand man’ - not just a First Lady who is there to look pretty, she actually has a voice in her own right! They gave America and the world something new and showed us that positive change is happening.

David Beckham was a symbol of perfection – with his good-looks, wealth and celebrity marriage to Posh from the Spice Girls, he could do no wrong and was given a sort of god-like status by fans. But then came allegations of extra-marital affairs and performances on the pitch that showed he was just human after all. In 2010, could Beckham’s star have faded? We’ll have to wait and see.

The Harry Potter books have universal appeal and have become a billion dollar brand, making their star one of the most recognised characters of the last decade. His creator, JK Rowling, is now reportedly richer than the Queen! The books’ characters grew up alongside a generation of readers who were children when they started reading them and have followed the story into their teens.

.-*'2'!1 Tony Blair

1.-021 Tiger Woods

$'*+ Jack Sparrow

Iraq was Tony Blair’s downfall. He persuaded a reluctant Parliament to join the war in Iraq, against the public’s wishes. He risked all his political capital on George W Bush’s disastrous venture and ended up paying the price and we’re still a country at war though no one really knows why. But, despite his disastrous decision, the Blair years did have some positives - improving schools, parks, streets, getting rid of NHS waiting times, increasing minimum wage and allowing civil partnerships.

When it comes to golf players, none have been fitter and more impressive than Tiger Woods. He brought golf to the masses and is still the name on everybody’s lips. But has it all gone wrong for Woods? Will one month’s worth of sensational headlines about his personal life overshadow nine years of consistently brilliant golf? Probably not.

He’s the highest paid person in the world of sport and also amazing at what he does, so let’s hope Woods bounces back from this scandal.

Who would have thought that when Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl sailed into cinemas in 2003 that one of the biggest cinema icons of the last decade would emerge from it. But that is exactly what happened to Johnny Depp’s character, Captain Jack Sparrow (who’s based on Rolling Stones member Keith Richards). The film grossed almost $654 million worldwide and two sequels followed, with the third breaking the $1 billion dollar barrier.

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DECADE

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Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles first came under the spotlight when her girl trio, Destiny’s Child, released their first hit, Independent Women. Since then, the 28year-old singer has been unstoppable. She’s delivered outstanding performances, sung for President Obama and emerged as a true star.

She also made it sexy for women to be proud of their curves again and had many of us doing her famous booty shake.

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Eminem The last decade could be known as the Eminem show. The rapper sold more than 32 million albums in the US during the noughties, outselling the Beatles, ‘NSync and Britney Spears! The irreverent, newly-sober star has been named America’s bestselling act of the last 10 years. But it was also what Eminem did for hip-hop which will be his lasting legacy some say the genre was dying until Mr Mathers came along.

Nang!People

2#*#4'1'-, Simon Cowell

2#*#4'1'-, Carrie Bradshaw

At the beginning of the decade, this man was fast-becoming known as TV’s ‘Mr Nasty’. But he’s gone on to become one of the highest earning celebrities in entertainment and is responsible for a whole new wave of brutally honest judges on TV panels everywhere. Just about everything Cowell touches turns to gold. As if having hit TV shows like X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent (which have gone global) isn’t enough, he’s now planning to build an empire bigger than Disney.

Sex And The City centered on the life-sustaining friendships between four sassy women in New York, as the men in their lives came and went. It not only gave women a voice again, but also gave men a bit of an insight into the mind of a woman. The star of the show, Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker), even became a fashion icon as women everywhere were as hooked to her amazing outfits as they were to her relationship ups and downs.

2#*#4'1'-, Jamie Oliver

2#*#4'1'-, Ricky Gervais

At the beginning of the noughties, Jamie Oliver was a little known chef who managed to get a slot on TV under the guise of ‘the naked chef’. But over the decade, his fame and influence has grown enormously. Oliver became a pioneer in using his cooking skills for a good cause – he changed the way kids ate at school and trained up working class young people in his own restaurant. Now held in high esteem by the public and politicians alike, I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us over the next decade.

The Office, which hit our screens in 2001, was initially on BBC2 and filmed in the style of a mockumentary. But quickly its ratings shot up and it was moved to BBC1. It’s co-writer, codirector and star, Ricky Gervais, catapulted to fame and had celebrities falling over themselves to appear alongside him on his next venture, Extras. He’s now an international film star, working with the likes of Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and he even hosted this year’s Golden Globes! The Office has also gone global and is now shown in America, Brazil and Chile.

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Dizzee: I just want to thank Summer Uni for letting me be a patron. It means a lot to me because, I think it was in 1998, I was actually part of the [Summer Uni] scheme in Bow, where I grew up. So it’s good to be a part of something so positive. It’s good to see that people care and take time out to do positive things and make big things happen.

Denise: What was your experience of Summer Uni and how has it helped you in your life?

Dizzee: Summer Uni was something for me to do in the summer! Instead of being out on the roads, messing about, you could do some creative things. I was doing music, but there was also things like football going on. You could run about and play football, then come back to what you were doing. There were just a lot of creative, fun things going on.

Chris: Why do you think Summer Uni is so important to young people?

Dizzee: Because it gives them hope. There are kids living in rough areas who really want to make something of their lives. You get this view sometimes that on a council estate everyone is selling drugs or everyone robs. The real truth is that most people are just trying to get on with life. Things like summer courses are important - letting people know that these things are out there for them, on their doorstep.

Denise: Who would you say Dizzee Rascal is?

Dizzee: Dizzee Rascal is an entertainer. Purely, that’s what I am. I’m a deep thinker.

Hopefully I make people laugh, but on the whole I entertain people.

Denise: How has Summer Uni helped that?

Dizzee: It gave me an outlet to pursue what I wanted to do as a kid. That was my

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Before he was famous, rapper DIZZEE RASCAL attended a Summer Uni music technology course in east London. He loved it so much, he’s now a Summer Uni patron! Nang!’s DENISE KODIA and CHRIS NELSON interviewed him at one of the charity’s recent events

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X- Factor. That, and pirate radio and whatever else, that was X-Factor for me, on my doorstep.

Chris: What kind of Summer Uni courses should we be doing in the future?

Dizzee: Well, I’m going to say music because that’s what I do! Maybe politics getting kids involved in politics is good.

Denise: In your song ‘Dream’, you talk about the kids of today being the next generation planet Earth. Is that why you want to be involved in Summer Uni? Dizzee: That’s part of it, yeah. Kids can’t do everything for themselves sometimes adults need to take responsibility and help them out. If you instil that in kids today, they’ll instil it in the kids after them.

Denise: So it’s like an ongoing process. You want it to be not just about today, but like a legacy?

Dizzee: Yeah, man! It’s always about looking forward to the future and seeing what positive changes you can make. And hopefully they’ll hold up.

Chris: Your achievements have been amazing. What are you looking to achieve next?

Dizzee: I got the [record] label, Dirtee Stank, and I’m trying to develop other artists who have talent as well, especially those from poorer areas like the kind I came from. I’m just trying to stay about, man. Just trying to be relevant and keep making music that excites people. That’s my main thing.

Dizzee Rascal’s latest album Tongue N Cheek is out now.

Get set for hundreds of brilliant free Summer Uni courses taking place over the summer holidays across London for young people aged 8-25!

Enrolments start in June. Visit www.summeruni.org to find out more.

Tower Hamlets Summer University will soon be known as FUTUREVERSITY! Visit www.summeruni.org to find out more.

What’s a patron?

A patron is someone who supports, protects or champions something – it could be a cause, an event or an institution. A patron for a charity supports it in whatever ways they can. They become a ‘face’ for the charity. For example, sometimes Dizzee Rascal takes time out of his extremely busy schedule to come to Summer Uni events or he might mention Summer Uni in interviews he does with the press. Patrons don’t get paid for their support. Even though it might mean extra work for them, they take it on because they believe in it and want to help.

At the young age of 24, Dylan Mills, aka Dizzee Rascal, is one of the biggest stars in British pop today. His 2003 debut album, Boy In Da Corner, scored him the first Mercury Award given to a grime act. At just 19, he was also the youngest ever recipient of the award.

After two more genrehopping and defining albums that catapulted him to status as the face of grime, Dizzee scored his first Top Five album with his fourth LP, Tongue N’ Cheek, spawning three No 1 singles and a Gold Certification for selling over 100,000 copies. It’s now on the verge of going platinum. What’s more, since setting up his own label he’s sold 1.6 million singles and 300,000 LPs on it. So far, Dizzee’s ascension has been unstoppable.

His achievements are even more remarkable when you consider where he came from. Dizzee narrowly escaped the life of crime that looked set to devour him the same way countless young boys from east London have been eaten up by street life. Dizzee grew up on Bow council estate, the only child to a single mother who worked two jobs to make ends meet. His father died when he was young, a harsh life lesson forcing the wouldbe superstar to grow up fast.

Without a father figure, Dizzee endured a lonely childhood, his mother a slave to the grind. By his own admittance he used to be a ‘bit of a naughty boy’.

Stealing cars, robbing people and getting into fights were average pursuits for a boy bored of his surroundings and lacking aspirations.

Following his expulsion from four schools, Dizzee found solace in music classes at his fifth, where his music teacher discovered his unique talent. The seeds for

his success were planted, and Dizzee began creating music on his school’s computer. Stints as a DJ and an MC on pirate radio followed, as well as a music technology summer course at Tower Hamlets Summer Uni, which enabled him to hone his skills. Then, luckily for Dizzee, he was taken under manager/producer Nick Cage’s wing and by the age of 16, he’d written and released his debut single, ‘I Luv U’.

The star now attributes music for saving his life, knowing full well what happens to a lot of kids stuck in council estates. ‘Music was the only option open to me,’ he told The Guardian newspaper in 2003. ‘I’d have just ended up carrying on a life of crime, I suppose.

Where I’m from there ain’t a lot of other options, you know what I’m saying?’

But those days are firmly behind him. Now focused on his goals, Dizzee reckons he’s left behind a lot of the anger that pervaded him as a teenager. ‘I’ve got a career to think about and you can’t just go around punching people in the face,’ he said in 2008.

‘In society, there are rules and regulations. Just paying bills, rent... doing adult stuff helps you grow up.’

Dizzee’s living proof that poverty’s not a fate set in stone. He was lucky in that he was able to discover his talent. Many kids don’t.

Tower Hamlets Summer Uni is proud to have Dizzee Rascal as its patron, to encourage young people to take part in its many free summer courses so that they can also find the things they love. If Dizzee can do it, so can you.

15

Nang!History

0#+#+ #0',% & '2' 1 20-3 *#" . 12 The recent earthquake in Haiti shocked the world but, as Nang!’s Jaccaidi Hypolite-Dyer reports, this is just the latest horror in the island’s tragic history ON TUESDAY, 11 January, the world watched in horror as an earthquake reaching 7.0 on the Richter scale shook Haiti. The death count quickly rose, with figures as high as 50,000 being quoted. Families were destroyed and people slept among dead bodies on the streets for fear that aftershocks could destroy the few remaining buildings.

The world came to their aid, with America being one of the first to respond. But it only takes a brief look at the history of Haiti to see that perhaps the aid came all too late.

The shocking story of Haiti just shows the way the richest nations repeatedly took advantage of this poor nation. After the earthquake hit, the world became aware of just how dire the economic situation is in Haiti. However, few know that life-long poverty was the payment for the people’s freedom. During the French occupation in the 18th Century, 40,000 people a year were forced into a brutal life of slavery on the island, which eventually led to unrest and revolts. By 1 January, 1804, Haiti was declared independent, but was forced to pay the French 150 million francs for the privilege. This astronomical fee – 80 per cent of the Haitian budget - was still being paid off until 1947!

Yet, as the miracle stories that emerged after the earthquake will attest, the Haitian people are fighters.

They had managed to recover from the 122 years of debt and were rebuilding their economy when the US, ignoring the independence of Haiti, invaded in 1915. During a 20-year occupation, the Americans managed to single-handedly destroy what was a growing economy and left the country to an ‘evil dictator’, Francoise ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier.

Over the years of Duvalier’s 20-year dictatorship, an estimated 30-60,000 Haitian people were killed. And then his equally morally bankrupt son, ‘Baby Doc’, took over.

Eventually, with 70 per cent of the democratic vote, a new leader, Jean Bertrand-Aristide, was elected. Aristide fought to raise wages in a nation where 50 per cent of the population live on $1 a day and he fought for the repayment of the reparation Haiti was forced to pay to the French, which has a current value of £21 billion.

Aristide’s radical but just demands scared the Haitian elite, the French and Washington. He became a threat to the most powerful country in the world and had to be silenced. In 1991, he was forced into exile in a CIA military coup. The one person

who could incite significant change was removed - with the help of the West! Unbelievably, the Bush administration further harmed the country and its economy by effectively blocking a staggering $500 million worth of international loans and aid!

It’s clear that the Obama administration is attempting to right the multiple wrongs of Bush, but it seems that he too has failed Haiti (albeit not at a cost of $500 million). Quick to respond after the earthquake, the US government took over the airport in Port au Prince but blocked planes full of important medical materials and fire-fighters for jets full of US troops. For days the airport was full to the brim with troops and aid, but due to bad management on the part of the US, none of this aid managed to find its way to the people.

It’s thought that America’s swift action was fuelled by politics;

for Obama to show his waning supporters that he’s a decisive leader. Yet this manoeuvre cost lives in Haiti.

The earthquake in Haiti has blown the cover on these atrocious truths of modern history and highlighted a horrible fact: that the strong countries take advantage of the weak. Haiti’s story of exploitation from the West is not a unique one and shows clearly the responsibility we have as the next generation to right the wrongs of the past.

By the time you read this article, the media coverage of Haiti will have become minimal, but for the many Haitian teenagers now having to survive without parents, siblings, friends or shelter, the horrific reality continues.

The first thing we can do to help them is to fulfil Obama’s promise and make sure the people of Haiti are ‘not forgotten’.

17

Have a little respect!

The negative portrayal of young people by the media is an age-old debate these days. But, at a recent youth-led media summit, Nang!’s Marcus Emmanuel found one young person determined to see the end of it IN DECEMBER 2009, the first ever youth-led media summit took place at Rich Mix in east London. Budding teenage journalists from the UK, Ireland and Scotland (and we thought we had to travel far!) came face-to-face with a panel of magazine editors, a Children’s Commissioner and staff from various organisations who want to help further young peoples’ goals and ambitions.

The point of this get together was to discuss the ever relevant topic – whether or not teenagers are portrayed negatively in the media and what, if anything, we can do about it.

With a number of teenage representatives from different charities and magazines, the event allowed the panel of experts to hear first-hand how we feel we are being treated by the media. In fact, 71 per cent of the portrayal of teenagers in the media was negative in 2004!

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After a heated debate lasting an hour between the panel (the experts) and the audience (the teens), an agreement was made for the two sides to join forces and collaborate their ideas.

One young person, Sophie Manning, talked about her campaign ‘Respect?’ and explained that she and her friends, all aged 16-24, were inspired to create it after filling out a YouthNet survey about youth and the media.

I managed to grab her for a chat in the break:

Sophie Manning

Marcus: What is Respect?

Sophie: Respect? is a campaign to improve the representation of young people in the media, government and UK society as a whole by encouraging them to speak up, and society to listen.

The campaign is led by eight 16-24 year-olds who formed the Respect Young Peoples Advisory Group (RYPAG), supported by YouthNet and the British Youth Council (BYC).

Marcus: Why did you create the campaign?

Sophie: I filled out YouthNet’s survey about how young people are viewed today. I’d never thought about it before then, but I started seeing negative versions of me and my peers everywhere. I was pleased when they asked me whether I wanted to create this campaign as I’d already decided it was time that adults in power realised the damage they were doing.

Marcus: How do you think teenagers are being portrayed by the media?

Sophie: Once you look, you start seeing it everywhere: teenagers are being slandered!

Look at all the headlines where the word ‘yob’ stands in for youth or young person. Most stories about young people are negative and it’s leading to some really skewed ideas.

This has real consequences unnecessarily tough sentences on youth offenders or antisocial ‘mosquito’ devices outside shops. It’s making life more unpleasant for all of us.

Marcus: How does Respect? help the youth of today?

Sophie: The campaign has achieved a lot in the past four or five years. When we started, awful images of young people were getting into the public’s heads without being questioned. Nowadays the issue is well-known and much discussed. Many politicians are now firmly on board with Respect?, which has worked its way into the Government’s new youth strategy, ‘Aiming high for young people’. The campaign has also generated a lot of

Nang!Interview

THI NK? WH AT DO YOU ed negatively in the media?

Are young people portray Marcus took to the streets to ask people for their views

publicity - it’s been featured in everything from the BBC News channel to The Guardian newspaper. We’ve also been asking young people to help themselves by signing a pledge to speak out when they see a story that affects them.

are available, I don’t think they occur to many people.

Respect? was necessary because the ignorance between adults and young people who only connect in student/teacher or child/parent situations creates mistrust.

Marcus: When you were growing up, did you think there were enough opportunities for teenagers?

Sophie: The divide between teenagers and adults is yet to be bridged. A few years ago I thought adult society wasn’t something I could join in on. I’d never have dreamed of trying to join the local Council or become a School Governor, for instance.

Even when those opportunities

Marcus: What does the future hold for Respect?

Sophie: We’re still figuring out what’s next, but for now Respect? is involved in trying to make the youth voice easier to access by setting up a website which connects journalists with young people.

Want to get involved? Find ‘Respect?’ on Facebook or email media@youthnet.org

‘Teenagers are represented negatively in the media. Last decade saw the rise of teen stabbings and the hype the media coverage has created fuels people’s stereotypes and heightens their fears, which worsens the problem. You hardly hear about the good stuff teens do in the world.’

Rochelle Livingstone 18, full-time student ‘Everything in the media reflects a trend in society and I believe teenagers are a phase that has come and gone.

The media report things that are current and would help boost their profit ratings and in the past three or four years teenagers have been plastered all over the news.

However, I think the media have noticed the public want something new and

are now trying to appeal to them from a different angle by exploiting the celebrity-obsessed culture we live in.

I predict that in two years’ time a different sub group will be on our front covers’.

Matthew Burns, secondary school teacher ‘Newspapers only feature teenagers that are doing bad things and even though the coverage over the years has slowly decreased, the small sub group that is featured is destroying the credibility of teenagers that do good and keep out of trouble, which has led to stereotyping amongst the different generations. My mum and gran have often complained about the state of teenagers they see in public and read about in the newspapers

and, sadly, the two portrayals often bare striking resemblances.’

Chris Howard, 24, graduate ‘I do think teenagers are represented negatively in the media but I think there is some truth in the stereotypes the newspapers have mentioned.

Teenagers, especially when in large groups, are oblivious to the way they present themselves. So from an outsider’s perspective they’re loud and sometimes intimidating.

However, when teenagers are in large groups they don’t tend to notice their surroundings which is understandable and I’m sure when looking back, everyone can admit to being like that when they were at that age.’

Tina Gillins, 39, mother of two

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20

Nang!Interview

1-.&'# 1 5-0*" Sophie Dahl, granddaughter of legendary children’s writer Roald Dahl, started out as a plus-size Supermodel and is now an acclaimed writer and columnist for British Vogue. In a rare interview, she talks to Nang!’s Billie Waller about the size 0 debate and why she ditched modelling to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps Billie: You’ve modelled for top magazines like Marie Claire, Elle and Vogue. What was that like?

Sophie: Well, I stopped modelling two years ago to concentrate on my writing career, but I look back on it incredibly fondly. I met and worked with some of our greatest living photographers and had adventures all over the world.

Billie: Do you have a favourite shoot that you’ve worked on?

Sophie: I loved working with Steven Meisel, who photographed me a lot for Italian Vogue, and with whom I shot campaigns for Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. It always felt collaborative and like you were a part of some magical theatre on his shoots.

Billie: You’ve been credited for trying to help bring back curves and mesmerised designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier. What do you think about the size 0 debate?

Sophie: I think it’s an incredibly complex issue. Historically models have always been thin.

As important as the size issue is one of age. Fourteen-year old girls should not be used to market clothes to women.

I think there should an age limit on girls used in adult advertising and it should be 18.

Billie: You’re now an acclaimed writer, having written two novels and a cookery book (which is

delicious!). Does this mean the modelling is gone for good?

Sophie: I had to stop modelling as it’s distracting to do lots of things at once. I’m now on staff as a contributing editor at British Vogue and Waitrose Food Illustrated, as well as writing the books. It’s lovely.

Billie: Did you always aspire to be a writer like your grandfather?

Sophie: To me, he was simply my grandfather, but I’m as much a fan of his writing as anyone else. I think what he and my mum (Tessa Dahl, who’s also a writer) did was make writing seem like a viable day job and not a romantic faraway thing.

Sophie with partner Jamie, as a plus size model (below) and (bottom left) with one of her books

Billie: What’s your personal favourite dish from your cookery book?

Sophie: I love the flourless chocolate cake and also the prawn and coconut curry. Not in that order.

Billie: You’re currently engaged to Jazz singer Jamie Cullum. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Sophie: I do.

Billie: What’s your typical night like? Is it all glitz and glam like a lot of readers would expect or just as relaxed and casual as the rest of us?

Sophie: Wildly unglamorous, but very happy.

Cooking dinner, then sitting on the sofa in my pyjamas with a glass of wine and watching True Blood!

21

Nang!Rant

TOTALLY OVERRATED! Have you got the latest thing that everyone’s talking about? Nang!’s Elisha Taylor reckons half the stuff young people are into is just plain overrated -and she’s in the mood to rant about it THE NANG! team were recently discussing the things that young people are building a hype about. But this discussion was continuously being interrupted by fierce ‘pings’ of Blackberries in the room.

This brings me to exhibit A: the Blackberry - a phone that has sucked in a vast amount of the population with its unique and addictive features.

In my opinion, the Blackberry - which is more commonly known as ‘BB’ - is overrated. It isn’t that different to other phone brands, but it’s in high demand because everyone wants to follow the same trend. I don’t think the signature BB messenger is enough to make it stand out from the crowd.

Another thing that young people cherish is Facebook. The social networking site has achieved phenomenal success since it was founded in 2004.

I don’t think I’ve gone through a day in the last couple of years without someone making reference to Facebook. The obsession with Facebook is literally spiralling out of control! I recently heard about a woman being murdered by her boyfriend just for changing her relationship status and employees losing their jobs because they expressed their views about work on their status updates!

I think the fact that you can become a fan of just about anything on Facebook now shows that it’s become a bit meaningless and overrated. The most recent Facebook fan page I’ve seen was titled: ‘I understand you’re ghetto, but could you walk a little faster?’ Need I say more?

I think that fashion is making a bigger impact on the younger generation than ever before. The term which young people seem to worship these days is ‘swagger’.

It appears this word has been adopted into their bank of slang and they use it wherever the sun shines. They make ridiculous fashion statements, throwing any type of matching coloured clothes together and then claiming they have ‘swagger.’ Surely someone who does have swagger wouldn’t have to announce it!

And what about the current craze in tattoos?

People are always quick to follow this trend, perhaps forgetting that they’re marking their skin - forever!

Most tattoos that I’ve seen look like they’re just about suitable for the time being, but not worthy enough for the long run. I’d call tattoos overrated, but I guess people are just living for the moment and will eventually have to learn for themselves. Sigh...

22

Nang!Politics

✗

make your vote count!

Not bothered about the General Election? Nang!’s Farah Sadiq felt the same way – until she discovered the truth about her local MP MANY YOUNG people may think voting isn’t very important and that it doesn’t matter if they don’t bother to vote.

But if you went to a school like the one I went to - a comprehensive in a suburb of London where many students come from poor, working class families – you’ll have noticed that when you got to college how limited the curriculum being taught in your old school was.

If your school was anything

like mine, you would have had to choose between history, french or art. Pupils who went to schools in better boroughs, however, were taught all of these subjects and didn’t have to choose between them.

Before I joined Summer Uni and Nang!, I had no knowledge of politics or of the world outside my small town because these topics were never covered in my school. But, since I’ve been doing more activities with

young people from other areas and backgrounds, I’ve realised how important politics really is.

We all need to get involved with helping to shape the future of our country!

With this in mind, I logged on to a brilliant website, www.theyworkforyou.com, which tells you how your local MP has voted in Parliament.

I typed in the name of my MP, Alan Keen, and found that he voted in the following manner: ● Voted for power to detain terror suspects without charge for 42 days. ● Voted against a transparent Parliament. ● Voted for introducing a smoking ban. ● Voted for introducing ID cards. ● Voted against introducing foundation hospitals. ● Voted for introducing student top-up fees. ● Voted for Labour’s antiterrorism laws. ● Voted for the Iraq war. ● Voted against investigating the Iraq war. ● Voted for means tests for Incapacity Benefit claimants. ● Voted to cut lone parent benefit.

Keen voted for introducing student top-up fees. Do we really want to come out of education with over £20,000 of debt?

He voted for the Iraq war and against the investigation of the Iraq war. We all know that the war was started on false evidence, so what has the government got against a full investigation? Surely with a full investigation we can ensure that this never happens again!

Weren’t you outraged by the whole expenses scandal?

Yet my MP voted against a transparent Parliament!

Terror suspects can already be detained without charge for 28 days. I don’t feel that it’s right to extend that time to 42 days. Do we really want the government to take away our civil rights and freedom? Do we want a Guantanamo Bay in England?

Since I disagree with Keen on important issues as these, I’ve been thinking: ‘Do I really want this guy to represent me in Parliament?’

What are your views on these matters? How has your MP voted on important issues that effect you? Find out by typing in your postcode at www.theyworkforyou.com.

Remember, the rest of your life is being shaped right now.

The dreams you chase, the choices you make and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time and the rest of your life starts right now.

Make your vote count in this coming General Election and take the future into your own hands!

Farah’s MP, Alan Keen

23

Nang!Interview

He’s a British fashion icon and has styled the likes of Estelle, David Beckham and Beyoncé, but life hasn’t always been so glamorous for Walé Adeyemi.

Nang!’s Denise Kodia asked him how he got started Denise: Who is Walé Adeyemi?

Wale: Fashion designer and stylist. I’m a guy who works between the music and fashion businesses. I’ve worked with various different artists.

Denise: Where did you grow up?

Walé: My parents are from west London, but I grew up outside of London.

Denise: How did you get into fashion?

Walé: It was a bit of a hobbie, really. I’ve always been into clothes and style. It started out as a joke that I wanted to become a fashion designer, but then I started to believe the joke. I started buying secondhand clothing and would take it apart and put it back together again. Seeing how everything was constructed fascinated me. From there, my next door neighbour taught me how to sew and I just took it from there, really.

Denise: What inspires you?

Walé: Music, artists, people who work hard, people who have a lot of determination...

Just general good life!

Denise: What things influence your fashion style and designs?

Walé: Working in this area [Brick Lane in east London] for 10 years has been a big Walé receiving his MBE

inspiration as there are so many different styles. Now it’s become even more diverse because of the different cultures and people interacting here. There are so many things that influence what I do.

Denise: Has the recession affected the way you design?

Walé: I wouldn’t say it’s affected the way I design, but when the economy’s tough your creative mind works a lot harder to come up with ideas.

Business is tough for everyone and you have to be ahead of the game.

Denise: What do you think of the fashion industry as a whole?

Walé: There are so many different areas of fashion.

There’s fashion photography, fashion marketing, fashion PR, fashion design... I’ve been fortunate enough to work in many different areas and I love it. I’ve met some amazing people from all over the world.

Denise: What is it about the fashion industry that you love so much?

Walé: It keeps moving. It’s like a wheel and you need to keep up with the wheel. It’s ever changing - it’s not something that just stays still for two years.

Denise: So you couldn’t see yourself as a banker working in the city?

Walé: No, I couldn’t!

That’s not me!

Denise: Did you face any challenges being a young black designer from London?

Walé: I think there are always challenges in general, but I was the kind of person who

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wouldn’t let that kind of thing be a hindrance. You just have to understand how you tackle those challenges. You have to be smarter and think: ‘How can I get around these things?’

That’s what I deal with on a day-to-day basis. Also, doing work experience in different companies and seeing how designers work - seeing how they interact with different people - is very important.

Denise: What’s been the highlight and lowlight of your career so far?

Walé: I’ve had a few highlights.

Just seeing people wearing my clothes has always been a great thing for me. A lowlight is having no money and hustling to try to get money for fabrics.

Sometimes I’d think: ‘Is this really going anywhere?’

Denise: What was it like receiving an MBE in 2008?

Walé: It was amazing! When I received the call I thought it was a wind-up! Then I saw it in the paper two days later and believed it was true. I took my mum, my partner and my sister. It was nice to see how I’ve come from Brick Lane to Buckingham Palace!

Denise: What did you do with you first pay check that was funded by fashion?

Walé: All the money I’ve ever had always goes back into the business. I’ve never been one to get money and squander it.

If I get money, I invest it and find ways to make more money.

Denise: What’s more important: fashion or love?

Walé: I love fashion, but what’s very important to me is having good people around me family, friends, people that I can rely on and who can rely on me.

Denise: How did you feel when everyone was making those fake Walé Adeyemi jackets in 2004?

Walé: At first I was really upset!

I was getting phone calls from people I know saying: ‘I’m in this store and they’re copies.’

I tried to run here and there to stop it and then it became too much and got out of control and I just had to let it go. I had to scrap that whole idea and go back to the drawing board. At the time it was soul destroying, but I believe everything happens for a reason.

Denise: You’ve worked with some big stars. What’s that like?

Walé: To be honest, I treat each person the same. They’re still human beings at the end of the day. I try not to get too carried away with the whole celebrity thing. I’ve been very fortunate - everyone I’ve worked with has been really nice. I’ve never had any really hard clients to work with.

Denise: How is the re-launch for your menswear label, Bside, coming along?

Walé: It’s going good.

We’ve now launched B-sidebywale.com Denise: How do you keep challenging yourself?

Walé: As a designer you’re constantly challenging yourself.

Fashion is a job where you can’t start at 9am and finish at 5pm. You could be in bed thinking about work. Your mind is always on your work because that’s what it takes.

Denise: What’s the one accessory you couldn’t live without and why?

Walé: My BlackBerry because it’s everything to me! That sounds really bad but because I travel a lot, whatever country I’m in my BlackBerry is always connected.

For more on Walé, check out b-sidebywale.com/

11

NANG! 25

Grand designs Fancy being the next Wale Adeyemi?

Nang!’s Denise Kodia interviews fashion’s young up-and-coming designers to find out what it’s like starting out in the industry

Harlequinn LRA Lakisha, Ria and Arayner are currently working with Lisa Maffia’s House of Maffia.

They describe their designs as ‘feisty, feminine and free’ How did you get into fashion?

We met in college while doing a diploma in fashion design. We became friends instantly and then started Harlequinn LRA in April 2009.

Who inspired you to do fashion?

Arayner: My textiles teacher at school. She told me her story about how she travelled and met loads of people and she taught me fashion goes deeper than clothes.

Ria: My Aunty Denise inspired me.

She used to make knitted clothes for me when I was younger.

Lakisha: It was my aunty who inspired me, too, because she used to be a seamstress. I used to sit and watch her sew. She gave me the most inspiration.

Are you studying fashion at university?

Two of us are currently studying at The London College of Fashion.

What was your first experience of fashion/design?

Our first experience as Harlequinn LRA was in July last year when we did a fashion show called Rip the Runway. We made our entire collection in just four days!

Have you had any work experience anywhere else?

We’ve managed to take part in a few competitions since we formed in April last year and we’re currently working with Lisa Maffia’s House Of Maffia.

Describe your House of Maffia collection in three words.

Feisty, feminine and free.

What aspects (other than design) do you like about the fashion industry?

The stages before you get to the design - the research into how you come up with your concept.

This is the most important part.

What inspires you?

Our inspiration comes from our surroundings, even events that affect us globally across all spectrums. There are no limits for inspiration!

What sets you apart from other designers?

Each of us has our individual approach to design and when these are combined there are no limits.

What are your career plans?

Fashion house orindependent?

Right now we’re just taking it as it comes. Eventually we’d love to open a boutique, but for now we’re doing what we love and having fun with it.

A design by SA’s gravity-defying boots the Arutyunov girls at Harlequinn LRA

How much time do you spend designing?

We’re literally designing 24/7, alongside uni projects and other competitions plus Harlequinn.

We live and breathe fashion all the time!

Is there a particular celebrity you’d love to see wearing your designs?

Right now it would probably be Rhianna and Kellis.

Who would you like to style?

Most definitely Kellis. She has such an eclectic style. We’d have fun with her!

What kind of woman or man do you design for? Do you keep them in mind when you’re designing?

We design for the stereotypical outgoing, fashion forward individual. Yes, we naturally have to keep our target customer in mind. This is what holds the collection together.

What transitional piece do you see everyone wearing nextyear?

Spring/Summer 2011 it’ll be mostly bright colours - a lot of tones and contrasts.

What show would you love to attend at this year London Fashion Week?

Probably Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label. She never fails to surprise us with her new stuff.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to do what you do?

Be prepared for a very competitive lifestyle and, most of all, be confident in yourself as a person and focus on a specific goal.

In years to come, when you’ve become a big name, how will you keep challenging yourself and keep making your designs fresh and new?

We’ll travel the world! The world is too big to be limited for ideas.

Travel to, see, touch, taste, and smell and hear - then our concepts will remain limitless.

Charlotte Haggerty Charlotte Haggerty creates embellished textile pieces with strong print designs that are definitely not for the delicate wall flower

How did you get into fashion?

I liked drawing and making things. I started off in costume design.

What were your first experiences of fashion design?

I did a theatre course and I did set and prop design. They pushed me towards costume design because I could sew.

Have you always been interested in designing?

Yeah, I have. I wasn’t ever really interested in anything else. I’d always just want a sketch pad, pencil and crayons.

Is there a particular celebrity you’d love to see wearing your designs?

Juliette Lewis! She seems so down to earth.

What sets you apart from other designers?

There are a lot of good designers, but I think what makes me so different is that I don’t look at anyone else. I make stuff that makes sense to me.

How do you get inspired?

It can start off from doing a little doodle of a creature from the top of my head and that develops into a pattern. It’s my style and if people like it, that’s amazing, and if not, it’s just not their thing.

What do you think of high street fashion?

There’s definitely a place for it. In the last five years people have taken trends from the catwalk and they’re now on the high street. It makes people more aware of the trends that are going on in high fashion. It’s making fashion more accessible.

What are your career plans? Fashion house or independent?

I think the way to go is independent. No one’s really employing and everywhere I’ve been they’re giving out unpaid internships to work your way up in the industry. I’ve now turned my bedroom into a studio and

Nang!Fashion

Charlotte Haggerty designs clothes for girls who don’t care

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I’m getting a website together so we can get some promotion.

Who would you like to style?

I guess someone who has really bad style so that I could make them look good!

What kind of woman or man do you design for? Do you keep them in mind when you’re designing?

I guess my muse would be a Juliette Lewis character or Shanghai from the Noisettes.

They don’t care. They’re not all prim and proper. I make pretty stuff, but you should be able to get into the mosh pit with it on or go to an awards ceremony.

Who would you like to collaborate with?

My two sisters. One’s a tattooist and the other is very good at drawing. It would be cool to collaborate with them and see what we came up with.

Is there any particular collection you’ve seen that you wish you’d created?

I just had a look at the Neurotica stuff and they do a lot of print, too. They do similar stuff to me, but in a more established company.

How much time do you spend designing?

Too much time! Wherever I go I’m always thinking of ideas.

What show would you love to attend at this year’s London Fashion Week?

Any really - I’d go just for the spectacle of seeing LFW. Watching the people and the crowd would be as interesting as watching the different collections.

You have to persevere - rejection is inevitable, but you need to have a tough skin. There are also loads of competitions coming up that you can enter if you do enough internet research.

In years to come, when you’ve become a big name, how will you keep challenging yourself and keep making your designs fresh and new?

You’ve got to go out and see things. You can’t stay inside and box yourself away. I take inspiration from my nan. I don’t think you can ever really rest.

Check out www.myspace.com/ misshaggerty to see more

Cup of Sea After graduating in Art History, Leese Johnstone now designs playful acrylic jewellery and accessories What inspires you?

Design iconography, typography, fashion movements and the natural world.

Who inspired you to get into fashion?

Ultimately that would be my parents who let me cannibalise stuff from their wardrobes and jewellery boxes and patiently tolerated my weird style through to my teenage years.

How did you get into fashion?

When I was a kid I used to make jewellery using my mum’s old buttons and beads from a local craft shop. I couldn’t find the kind of crazy things I wanted to wear on the high street, so I’d make my own.

What were your first experiences of fashion design?

Why do you want to watch the crowds?

You’ll have people posing, celebrities, media teams... I think it’s interesting to see it all.

What sets you apart from other designers?

Acrylic jewellery isn’t really mainstream, so I suppose working with acrylic makes me unusual. I love the smooth, shiny material and bold colours. I enjoy being involved in the design process from start to finish.

I love what I do and I want to make people smile.

What are your career plans? Fashion house or independent?

I enjoy being independent, but I sometimes find I spend too much time on admin and promoting rather than on designing, which is what I love.

If I got snapped up by a fashion house that employed me just to design accessories eight hours a day, I’d be in heaven.

What show would you love to attend at this year’s London Fashion Week?

Jean-Pierre Braganza - mainly because he said he’s inspired by

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to do what you do?

NANG!

Did you study fashion at university?

No, I didn’t have enough faith in my design abilities, so I studied Art History instead. I really enjoyed my degree – I got to write my dissertation on my favourite video game – but I do wish I’d done a practical design degree instead.

Who would you like to collaborate with dead or alive?

Leona Baker of Lady Luck Rules OK or the peeps at Chateau Roux. In a dream world, Lulu Guinness or David Bowie.

Is there a dark side to fashion?

Yeah, it paints an idea that is usually unobtainable, especially when it comes to size.

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I’ve always been interested in fashion and the idea of dressing someone up as a piece of art.

As a kid, I loved movies that had great costumes like Labyrinth, The Neverending Story, Edward Scissorhands, Addams Family and Return To Oz.

A Cup Of Sea ring and, above, nuckleduster

Battlestar Galactica which is a great TV show. But I love those All Saints-style clothes.

Do you think the fashion industry is changing?

Yes, after many years some change is starting to happen.

France signs an anti-anorexia charter, larger-sized models appear on the catwalk, people start calling for sustainability and environmentally-friendly issues to be tackled in the industry...

These changes are small and, some would say, superficial but at least they’re happening.

How much time do you spend designing?

Never enough time. But in my head I’m always designing.

What is it about your designs people like so much?

I think it’s the element of fun and humour.

Do you go to Graduate Fashion Week? What new designers should we look out for?

Look out for anyone from Ravensbourne College. They all kick ass! Several grads have been snapped up by River Island in the last two years!

Name three designers whose collections are the total opposite of yours.

Opposites are Isette and Untamed Menagerie – their work is very graceful and elegant, a style I can’t seem to capture. Rubi Rocket has a very iconic retro style.

What advice would you give anyone who wants to do what you do?

The web is your greatest tool, so use it! Research, compare, gather feedback... Be prepared to work hard. And be original.

Visit cupofsea.bigcartel.com to see more

Nang!Fashion

Ask Julie

Got a fashion problem? Don’t kno w what to wear or how to wear it? Nang!’s style queen, JULIE UDDIN, has all the answer s

Dear Julie, I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo and my mum and dad have even said I can get one. But my friends reckon they’re disgusting and don’t want me to get one. What’s your opinion?

Shane Shane, since when did your friends become your bosses?

If your parents have given you permission and this is something you really want to do, then go for it! But do think about it carefully - a tattoo is permanent and you may regret it later so don’t get anything too big! Personally I don’t like them much – I prefer skin to be unmarked - but each to their

own. At the end of the day, you’ve just got to decide for yourself.

De ar Ju lie, My frie nd s kee p tel lin g me how to dre ss! Th ey’ re int o rea lly bri ght col our s wh ere as I pre fer to ton e it dow n wit h cre am s and pas tel , but I fin d my sel f dre ssi ng like the m bec aus e I wa nt to fit in.

Rachel Rachel, you need to find your voice! Tell your friends that you know how to dress yourself. If they still don’t listen, tell them to join the next circus that comes into town. A person’s dress sense should represent who they are, so dress in what you’re comfortable in, not in what others want you to be.

Dear Julie, I’m embar rassed of my boyfriend! He’s absolutely lovely, ver y respectful and in lots of ways I couldn’t be happier but his clothes are ter rible! He never buys new clothes and I find myself cringing at some of the things he wears.

We went out the other night with a group of friends and he tur ned

up looking like Dear Julie, something the cat I always feel left out had dragged in, with when I go out with old, dir ty jeans and friends. They all trainers that look dress up and look like they’ve spent really good and I time in a skip. He always look like the actually smelt! How drab one. I don’t can I persuade him know how to do my to change his ways make-up or what to before I change my wear that will suit man? Help! me. Give me some Anna style tips!

Calm down, Anna! Every girl in her right mind knows that it’s her duty, no her mission, to style her boyfriend. Let’s face it, most guys don’t have a clue! But be patient – it won’t happen overnight. You need to gradually add new items to his wardrobe as you secretly take the old ones away to burn them. As long as you don’t try to get him in anything too different, he probably won’t even notice. Check out the pic of the guy on the left. He looks good, but like he hasn’t tried too hard. Aim for this and just see what happens. Good luck.

Alexandra Alexandra, you just need to put a bit more effort in to this!

You can find make-up tutorials on the internet and YouTube.

You’re not the only person out there who isn’t a natural!

Find a designer or a celebrity you like and follow their style.

But always make sure you’re comfortable - don’t lose yourself trying to look like someone your not. Check out my favourite pic of the moment above – she’s a friend of mine who’s really good at make-up. She doesn’t cake it on and always looks really feminine. Get practicing!

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Nang!Interview

‘ I STILL HAVE A HUNGER TO ROCK,, A PARTY ,

DJ Swerve’s passion for hip-hop started off as a bedroom hobby and now he’s a regular on Kiss FM. Nang!’s Denise Kodia grabbed him for a chat Denise: What’s it like being able to interview people you look up to?

Swerve: That’s one of the best parts of the job. As a DJ you’re, like, the biggest music fan and to meet those artists that you really feel is pretty amazing.

Denise: Who would you like to interview that you haven’t already?

Swerve: Jay Z for sure. He has to be my favourite rapper. I’d love to interview Timbaland, too. He’s a genius.

Denise: Did you ever think you would reach the success you have?

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Swerve: For me, DJing started as a bedroom hobby – it was something I loved from the start. So being able to do it for a career is such a blessing.

Denise: Did you ever think that hip-hop would have the status it has now?

Swerve: With artists owning fashion brands, getting in the charts and selling out big arenas, I don’t think anyone can really predict exactly what’s going to happen to something right at the start. As soon as the corporations realised how much potential

hip-hop music had, doors opened for key artists to make a lot of money from things like tours and endorsements.

Denise: How does it feel being interviewed rather than the one doing the interview?

Swerve: It’s easier! I put a lot of effort into each interview I do, sometimes writing a lot of questions. But as I’ve developed as an interviewer, I tend to mentally prepare questions more and then try to have a conversation with each artist rather than just firing questions at them.

Denise: How important is music to you - especially hip-hop?

Swerve: Hip-hop was my first musical love. But as I got older I’ve opened my ears up to a much wider spectrum of genres. I’m a music fan.

Denise: What do you think of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter?

Swerve: They’re an important means of keeping in touch with my listeners. My fanpage (www. myspace.com/swervebook) plays a key roll in my Kiss shows as fans post up shouts and requests on it while I’m on air. Twitter is good, too, but I’m not on it all day.

Denise: What sets you apart from other DJs out there?

Swerve: I’d like to think it’s my musical selection on air and in clubs. I’ve been in the business a while now and still have the hunger to always rock a party and make good radio. I always look at new ways to develop my brand because as a DJ you’re your own brand.

Denise: Do you feel the need to compete against other DJs? Swerve: I think it’s more important to be yourself. You can be aware of other DJs and use that to motivate yourself, but ‘be the best you can be’ is my motto.

Swerve’s motto is ‘Be the best you can be’

Denise: What was your first show on Kiss like? (Oh, by the way, I was listening! Lol).

Swerve: I was pretty nervous for my first live show, but like any job you get used to the pressure and then work at it and get better. I love doing radio!

Denise: Do you have any spare time?

Swerve: I try and make spare time. It can be hard, but I don’t want to be running around all the time and not catching my breath.

Denise: How important are the four pillars of hip-hop – dance, graffiti, rap and DJing - to you personally?

Swerve: Hip-hop has influenced popular culture in so many ways from the dancing to the spray can art. Rap is the world’s most popular genre in this decade and where would we be without the DJ? Denise: What’s your earliest hip-hop memory?

Swerve: Hearing a mix record which was a mash-up of a bunch of different records and being fascinated to find out how it was done.

Denise: Do you have any advice for young people who’d like to get into the media?

Swerve: Firstly try and work out exactly what you want to do and focus on what you need to do to achieve that career. Don’t worry if you don’t know yet, though, because life has it’s own rhythm and will throw opportunities your way if you’re in the right place at the right time. Learn to recognise and take advantage of them when they come your way.

Denise: I interviewed a UK blogger for the last issue of Nang! and he said: ‘Bloggers are the new DJs as they’re the ones breaking all the new records.’ Do you agree with this?

Swerve: Blogs are very important and I check a number of them daily. They’re a hybrid - part record label [music suppliers use some blogs to distribute ‘leaked tracks’ before officially releasing them] and part DJ. I’d say both blogs and DJs play key roles in the music industry right now.

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Habiba on her work placement at Kier

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Nang!Careers Nang!Careers

Nang!’s Habiba Ahmed knows loads about the construction industry, thanks to a recent work experience placement - and there’s so much more to it than you’d think As part of THSU’s Job Ready program, I was sent on a two-week work placement with construction company, Kier. I used to imagine that a construction company would be all about hard hats, boots and a bunch of old men working on a dirty building site.

But on my placement I learnt that there’s much more to it than that.

I found that Kier builds homes, hospitals, schools, business buildings and facilities for social and industrial use.

But it doesn’t just employ builders, it also employs people who contribute to construction projects, such as architects, administrators, project managers, quantity surveyors, civil engineers and those in charge of facilities and maintenance. In fact, the construction is the last phase of a project and the part that we see. We don’t see what’s going on behind the scenes and the expertise involved.

A project begins with a specially-commissioned design of a building. From this design, a construction firm goes about gathering data and information about the different materials needed, how much the project will cost and how long it will take to complete.

N?DEPA?P An Architect designs new buildings and the spaces around them. They work closely with users, clients and officials to make sure that designs match the needs of these groups. An Architect also works on old buildings - adapting, preserving, restoring and reinventing them. The Architect works closely with the Project Manager to make sure that the design is produced accurately and that any problems that

arise along the way are solved quickly. They need to create designs that are feasible and financially manageable.

&KS PK >A?KIA =J N?DEPA?P The standard route to become an Architect takes a minimum of seven years. A typical route into architecture would need:

● a first degree in architecture, known as a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Part 1, which usually takes three or four years; ● 12 months of supervised

and recorded practical experience, referred to as Stage One Professional Experience. This is usually taken in architects’ practices, but may be in any sector of the building industry, including construction and design;

● two years of further study for a diploma or a secondary degree in architecture, known as RIBA Part 2; ● 12 months’ supervised and recorded work experience, known as Stage Two Professional Experience. This must be in an architect’s office under the supervision of a qualified architect; ● the RIBA Part 3 examination in professional practice and management. Once this is completed you can register as an architect with the ARB and apply to become a chartered member of RIBA.

.NKFA?P +=J=CAN Project Managers have overall responsibility for the planning, management, co-ordination and financial control of a construction project. It’s their responsibility to see that the clients’ wishes are followed and to make sure the project is completed on time within the agreed budget.

The Project Manager may be involved in all stages of the project, from beginning to end.

&KS PK >A?KIA = .NKFA?P +=J=CAN

content would be an advantage.

Relevant HND subjects include:

Although this occupation is open to all engineering graduates, the following subjects may improve your chances:

● building/construction; ● urban and land studies; ● civil/structural engineering.

● building or construction; ● civil or structural engineering. ● There are also opportunities in the profession for graduates with technical or numerate degrees.

Many employers are happy to offer on-site work experience if you’re interested in pursuing a career in the industry, so write to companies to apply.

Undergraduates with relevant work experience, either through sandwich courses or vacation experience, have strong advantages in the present market both in terms of the network of contacts they have and in their ability to become effective in the workplace very quickly.

/Q=JPEPU 1QNRAUKN A Quantity Surveyor manages all costs relating to building projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures.

Surveyors try to minimise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, while still achieving the required standards and quality.

Many of these standards are specified by statutory building regulations, which the surveyor needs to understand and follow. A Quantity Surveyor may work for either the client or the contractor, based in an office or on site. The job may also be referred to as a Construction Cost Consultant or Commercial Manager.

&KS PK >A?KIA = /Q=JPEPU 1QNRAUKN This area of work is open to all graduates, but a degree in quantity surveying improves your chances. Other relevant courses are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Alternatively, a degree with some numerical or technical

Those with HND/HNC diplomas may register as ‘technical surveyors’, but many opt to top-up their qualification to a degree with a distance-learning course or part-time/day-release study. Some employers may be willing to fund part-time degree top-up courses, while others may prefer graduates.

Entry without a degree or HND is sometimes possible by working your way up through the industry.

5D=P O (K> 0A=@U

The Job Ready Program is an 11-week OCN Level 2 accredited course for 16-25 year olds, run by Tower Hamlets Summer University. It helps young people who have left education and are out of work to gain new skills and prepare for the working world.

On Job Ready I learnt how to: ● be a confident speaker; ● give the prefect presentation; ● work in a team effectively; ● deal with difficult people and conflict; ● write the perfect CV and make it individual; ● complete an application form accurately and make it stand out; ● be the perfect interview candidate; ● meet with different types of people and find out about their backgrounds and where they come from; ● make new friends and develop people skills. ● I also enjoyed a social evening with the team and a day out at Stubbers activity centre.

Job Ready has helped me to become more confident and sociable. I’ve learnt that in talking to people and getting to know them, you can understand why they may have a different approach to life and the world to your own.

Job Ready teaches you to take every opportunity you get and to never sell yourself short. Only you can dictate your life!

This course may be a short 11 weeks, but it has a long-lasting impact, which is helped by the continuing support from the staff once it’s over.

Find out more at www.summeruni.org or call Mohammed on 020 7247 7900.

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Nang!Interview

‘I LOVE PLAYING LIVE’ With a unique belter of a voice, Maverick Sabre’s a top performer.

Errol Anderson caught up with him to talk about that live feeling Errol: You were born in London and raised in Ireland.

Has that influenced your musical style?

Maverick: It’s opened my mind a lot more. I think, musically as well, it opened my mind to a lot of different things. In the two countries, different styles of music were popular around different times. There wasn’t a garage scene over in Ireland - that was never really big over there. But when I was going back to visit family in England, the garage scene was coming up, so I’d be buying singles and stuff that I couldn’t get back in Ireland. Also, certain things weren’t really popular over here in London, so I guess it helped me to keep my mind open.

Errol: When did you first start playing the guitar and performing?

Maverick: My dad’s a musician and he taught me how to play when I was about eight. I forced two of my friends to make a band when I was about 10.

I was writing songs then and gave up as I got into my teens. I

liVe & KiCKing With the music industry increasingly taking a shift towards the digital age, wouldn’t a slight relapse back to our live, stage roots be welcomed by us technophiles? In line with our theme this issue, Nang!’s Errol Anderson attempts to prompt a revival of the original musical act

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got properly back into it when I started getting into hip-hop at about 14 or 15. It was when I was 15 that I started performing and getting gigs for myself.

Errol: Which do you prefer – live or recorded?

Maverick: Live. I have to say live because that’s the roots of music. I love performing live.

I get an adrenaline rush off of it.

Errol: What’s the vibe like when you’re playing your song live and the audience is singing it back to you? What does that feel like?

Maverick: That’s exactly what I want! When I sit in a room, I get my own opinions out and it’s like writing – some people write a diary to express themselves and get their feelings out.

When I write music, that’s my release.

So to hear that people

Let’s be honest, not many CDs can beat the atmosphere of a live performance, if any. The feeling of seeing your favourite artist belting their heart out on stage within touching distance is incomparable to any MP3 file.

Statistics from the International Live Music Conference trade event revealed that in 2008 the live industry was worth around £904m in comparison to the £896m value of the recorded sector. So people are still going out, but are they young people?

Could the convenience of

are connecting with it and have sat at home and listened to it; that they’ve loved the song so much that they can remember the lyrics – that’s perfect. I wouldn’t be doing this if that wasn’t part of it.

Errol: What’s been your best experience on stage?

Maverick: My best experience which I can remember right now was probably I Luv Live, about a month or two ago. I performed my single ‘Sometimes’ and there was a line in it about the history of the Union Jack and why I didn’t really like the history behind it and people really liked it. The crowd started getting really excited. Like I said, that’s what I live for when I write stuff at home, so people can connect and respond to it.

Errol: If you could choose anyone (dead or alive), who would you like to perform onstage with?

Maverick: It would probably be Tupac, to be honest, because he influenced me a lot. Then there are people like Bob Marley, Bob Dylan

online music stores lead to an increase in the number of young people spending their money on recorded tunes and downloading, rather than going to live gigs?

I hope not because there are so many advantages to the live show! For starters, live music, naturally, sounds much better. Being able to stand near an artist allows you to hear all the perfections and imperfections, which make every show unique.

Also, it must be remembered that, in order to fit onto our iPods and the like, the tunes we love have

etc.

But if I was to choose, it would be Tupac because he was the one who got me into music properly. He was the one who made me love music.

Errol: We’ve started a new decade.

What direction do you reckon the industry will move in in the future?

Maverick: To be honest, I can see it moving in a really good way. People are fed up of listening to music that’s not saying anything. I think people are a bit disillusioned at the minute with the economic status, government, stuff in general – it’s not really being represented in music any more. I reckon there’s definitely going to be more consciousness in this decade. Hopefully.

Errol: Do you think your debut single, ‘Sometimes’, is a good introduction to you as an artist?

Maverick: I think it was a good song to start off with because it gives a little back story to me and it’s a really personal song; a diary of my younger years. It acts as a really good introduction to me, not only as an artist but as a person so people can associate with me a bit more.

to be compressed resulting in reduced sound quality.

Although compression methods are constantly improving along with all technology, they’ll never completely match the purity of the live band. Period.

But there’s more to live music than the music. When you’re at a concert, not only can you interact with the performer but also with individuals who share similar music tastes, providing a great chance to meet new people. Yes, recorded music does allow us to continuously relive our favourite tunes,

but you can’t beat that moment at a gig when the guitarist plays that unforgettable improvised solo or a singer decides to invite a group of friends up on stage to sing the chorus of that special song.

Don’t get it twisted, though, my iTunes library is large and I enjoy my CDs too. But live gigs provide a totally different experience to the MP3 players we love and mustn’t be overlooked in years to come – regardless of the flying cars and robots that await us in the future.

Maverick Sabre is a name to watch

You wouldn’t know from the pic, but Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is actually quite funny

MOVIES The Princess And The Frog Rating: ★★★★ Starring: Anika Noni-Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David Film makers have been making the most of technology with the 3D animation that’s been dominating our cinema screens for the past few months. But Disney makes a triumphant and traditional return to our screens as it presents us with hand drawn 2-D animation. However, proving it can also move with the times, it’s introduced its first black heroine: an ambitious and head strong Tiana, voiced by

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Noni-Rose (does anyone sense Obama fever?). She kisses a frog, Naveen (Campos), to find a prince - after turning into a frog herself!

Disney’s 49th animation is a visual spectacle using the colourful backdrop of New Orleans. The dark and mysterious world of voodoo will leave the audiences engrossed throughout. And though legendary composer Randy Newman’s songs are less than memorable, the feeling of not having to wear 3D glasses will leave adults feeling nostalgic and kids none the wiser.

The star studded cast

Avatar will completely blue you away (sorry)

(which includes Oprah Winfrey!) comes second to the two main characters’ journey of self discovery. This is hopefully the beginning of more great things to come from Disney.

Marcus Emmanuel

Coming Soon Toy story 3 Rating: ★★★★ Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen Due to hit cinemas later this year, Toy Story 3 is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Same characters, same great cast, but a newer and more exciting adventure than the first two!

Andy is all grown up now and leaving for college, and all of his toys accidentally end up in a day care centre. Having to escape noisy kids and find Andy proves a bit difficult for them. It doesn’t help when Buzz ends up broken during an escape plan (while the toys try their best to restore him, he ends up speaking in Spanish!).

The mayhem and adventure as well as Tom Hanks and Tim Allen - are back and make this movie a complete must-see,

especially if you couldn’t get enough of the first two!

(Toy Story 2 will be showing in cinemas soon in 3D, so make sure you see it!)

Billie Waller

Avatar Rating: ★★★★★■ Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana Unlike most films, Avatar actually lived up to the hype surrounding it when it first came out. One of the many 3D films this year, the graphics will literally take your breath away!

There’s a lot of attention to detail that really makes the film come alive. You’re no longer a bystander but a participant of the film - from start to finish.

Noooo! Buzz gets broken in Toy Story 3!

Jake Sully’s brother is killed in action and Sully, a paraplegic war veteran, is taken to another world called Pandora. This planet is not like earth at all - it’s inhibited by the Na’vi, a humanoid race who have their own language and culture.

Sully’s job is to infiltrate the culture. However, he gradually becomes more attached to the people and trouble begins to unfold...

This is simply a phenomenal film. You’d be mad to miss it!

If you do miss it at the cinema, it simply MUST be added your DVD collection!

Denise Kodia

BOOK Bridesmaids by Jane Costello Rating: ★★★★ This tells the story of Evie, a journalist who’s always the bridesmaid but never the bride. By chance she meets a handsome guy called Jack at yet another friends’ wedding.

However, he’s dating her man-eating best friend, Valentina who, lets face it, cares a lot more about her looks than anything else!

This is a great, romantic book, which is written for girly girls eager to get their teeth into something juicy to read! Evie has many embarrassing moments – at one point her new confidence-boosting ‘chicken fillets’ fall out of her dress in front of Jack – which are really funny. It’s the perfect book to read locked in your room or by the pool in the summer.

Billie Waller

Grab your chance to be a heroic space traveller with Mass Effect 2

GAME Mass Effect 2 Rating: ★★★★ Once again gamers get the chance to become heroic space traveller, Commander Shepard, assembling their squad from among the galaxy’s most powerful mystics, geniuses and outright aliens.

Featuring stunning graphics and continuing the innovative conversation design from the original, this is definitely the game to get your hands on if you like to dream about intergalactic space travel or just want to converse with aliens.

Errol Anderson

THEATRE Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Rating: ★★★★★ Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Adrian Lester, Phylicia Rashad and James Earl Jones Written by: Tennessee Williams Location: Novello Theatre Having finished the book, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams in college, I decided to go and watch another of his plays, Cat On

A Hot Tin Roof.

The play is about truth and lies and follows the story of a family. Set in Big Daddie’s house, the family have gathered to celebrate his birthday, but the party is ruined when the truth about his health condition is revealed.

Maggie (Lathan), the wife of Big Daddie’s son, Brick (Lester), is desperate for him to love her again and tries everything to seduce him, but Brick has become an alcoholic.

Meanwhile, Brick’s elder brother and his wife have come to the party to try and get their share of Big Daddie’s wealth as they know the full story about his illness.

While these people are conspiring, Big Daddie’s wife, Big Mumma (Rashad) won’t let

her elder son split the wealth as she’s devoted to her husband.

The best scenes for me are when Big Daddie and Brick have a heart-to-heart and try their best to become close again and then, at the end, when the truth is revealed about Brick’s marriage.

This is a great play – it has a very good storyline and bit of comedy in it as well.

Farah Sadiq

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Lostprophets stick to what they know

MUSIC Artist: Silvar Track: Searching Rating: ★★★ After a first listen, I must admit that the stuttering arps of this hip-hop number didn’t strike me as something that would get a purchase. Yet after giving it some precious rewinds, the track slowly begins to grow on you – in particular, the likeable chorus section with its heartfelt lyrics. Although not really for me, Silvar’s catchy chorus and lyrics have the potential to please hip-hop fans.

Errol Anderson

ART The Sacred Made Real exhibition at The National Gallery Rating: ★★★★ People like to think that Modern Art masterminded the whole ‘art-to-shock’ genre.

However, almost 400 years ago in Spain, the Catholic Church was in desperate need of a revival, so commissioned artists like Velázquez and Zurbarán to create realistic religious art. And so brutal art realism was born.

The Sacred Made Real exhibition at the National Gallery showed some of the most harrowing examples of this period - the most shocking being ‘Dead Christ’.

In this piece, Christ’s body lays mutilated with his scars still glimmering, oozing blood seeping, as his expressionless eyes gaze out and his parted lips gasp their last breath.

As I wandered around the dimly-lit exhibition, I found myself wincing at various representations of dead Christ. One was a sculpture in which bound hands dripped with blood and his back was covered in bruises caused by whips.

The exhibition was a reminder of the brutal price Jesus paid for society’s sins.

In this exhibition, the sacred was made truly horrifically real. It was amazing and I only wish it was on for longer.

Jaccaidi Hypolite-Dyer

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Artist: Jaycee Payaso Track: Everything Rating: ★★ This sincere ballad marks the debut release from singer/songwriter Jaycee on a high with meaningful lyrics and a smooth production from Sermstyle. Talking about his attempts to be the perfect lover, this one is definitely fit for any iTunes library if you’re looking to please that special someone – all cheesy bits excluded.

Errol Anderson

Artist: Ke$ha Album: Animal Rating: ★ Ke$ha fancies herself as some sort of wild-child anarchist. So the fact that on this she sings through a wall of auto-tune on top of dance-pop choonz that sound like they were nicked from the 90s, lends her debut a feeling of unintentional irony.

The constant odes to

The sacred made gory

Artist: Lostprophets Album: The Betrayed Rating: ★★★★

partying and being a total rebel, combined with the euro-cheese rent-a-beats and tired vocal effects that make Britney sound like Whitney, mark Ke$ha out as a try-hard who somehow didn’t try hard enough.

Where Animal hits its nadir, on ‘Dinosaur’, Ke$ha comes off sounding chillingly like Daphne and Celeste. That’s enough reason to take this animal to the pound.

Chris Nelson

Lostprophets have been writing the follow-up to their 2006 No 1 album, Liberation Transmission, since early 2007 and allegedly spending over £500,000 recording it, so you’d hope the finished product was worth the wait. And to a point, it is - if what you hoped for was essentially more of the same.

This is no bad thing since Lostprophets are good at what they do and all the usual soaring, anthemic choruses and crashing, pseudo-metal riffs are there. Frontman Ian Watkin’s snarling drawl is still one of the most recognisable voices in rock today and seamlessly shifts from sexy whisper to anguished scream with impeccable ease.

At times the album recalls the rawer, heavier tracks of

Wild child Ke$ha needs to ditch the rent-a-beats

their debut album; hints of ‘Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja’ on Betrayed’s second track ‘Dstryr/Dstryr’ are more than welcome. Just try to ignore their painfully bad puns, like ‘For He’s A Jolly Good Felon.’

Chris Nelson

Monster Beats Headphones By Dre Rating: ★★★★★ When it comes to headphones, the general rule of thumb is that the more expensive they are the better the quality. This is definitely

Monster Beats by Dre

the case when it comes to Monster Dr Dre’s Beats By Dre headphones. The sound quality is amazing!

Dre’s inspiration for these headphones is summed up by this quote: ‘People aren’t hearing all the music.’

When you listen to music on ordinary headphones, you can’t hear the detail that goes into making the track, so Monster teamed up with Dr Dre and Interscope chairman Jimmy Lovine, to make a pair of headphones that

replicates the sound made in the recording studio.

You can get your hands on a pair of Dre headphones at HMV, Apple and other retailers.

Prices start from £79.99 and only get more pricey I’m afraid (the ones pictured are £279.99!). But you not only get a superb pair of headphones, you also get a touring case, Monster Cable headphone cable, Monster iSoniTalk™ cable (iphone/BlackBerry/Music phone ready), Monster clean cloth & two AAA batteries!

Denise Kodia

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Nang!Money

RECESSION?

WHAT RECESSION?

THE NANG! TEAM RECKON THEY’VE SAILED THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CRASH SO FAR. RTS, BUT, AS NANG!’S MARCUS EMMANUEL REPO THAT COULD ALL BE ABOUT TO CHANGE...

2009 MARKED the end of a decade, but also the beginning of the credit crunch. With the state of Britain’s economy in turmoil, the country found itself tightening its belt and many adults found themselves under threat of repossession, bankruptcy and redundancy.

‘Credit crunch’ is a term which causes much debate and hysteria – and yet at the Nang!

Headquarters it only seems to trigger groans of boredom. A discussion during a Nang! editorial meeting revealed that we feel the credit crunch has yet to have a massive impact on us personally. The team, which is made up of teenagers and young adults, felt they hadn’t experienced any effects at all from the economic crash because they’re fortunate enough to still live at home with parents who have, so far, kept hold of their jobs.

While many adults may be feeling the pinch, it seems many of the younger generation are being sheltered from the true reality of Britain’s economic state. And we’ve been making the most of the perks of the recession. With VAT in 2009 reduced to 15 per cent and high street stores flooded with Christmas sales and offers, it’s been great for us! We’ve all been tricked into believing that we’re saving money when really we’re spending loads more than usual and putting much needed money back into the economy.

But the situation is serious. Last year saw the closures of many large businesses and banks and, though this wouldn’t have personally affected the younger generation (unless their parents lost their jobs), the long-term effects

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of this will be truly devastating for us. With VAT now returned to its original percentage and the unemployment figure at 10 per cent at the beginning of the year, jobs for young people are getting fewer and harder to find.

This set back could find many young people forced to stay longer in the family home, meaning our thirst for independence will be brought to a standstill!

With the number of job offers decreasing, education seems more important than ever for the younger generation. But academia doesn’t suit everyone and many young people will have to fight for work experience placements, internships and apprentice schemes and accept that they may just have to work for free for a while to get started in the world of work.

As far as our own meager finances are concerned, there are ways to ensure that whatever the future has in store for us, we’re prepared and don’t find ourselves stuck. The UK has suffered an economic depression before and we should learn from the mistakes of the past and present to secure a comfortable future for ourselves. This means we may have to sacrifice those things we love to spend our money on and reduce our normal spending habits.

Of course, another way to beat the depression is to SAVE our money. For those of us who do have any sort of an income, getting reacquainted with our bank account balance will mean we’ll be ready for a rainy day. You could put a small amount into your account every week and find in the future

that you have money to spend on things that actually matter and have value.

WHAT DOES 2010 HAVE IN STORE FOR US? Despite politicians telling us that we’re climbing out of the recession this year, young people need to be prepared for the lack of jobs. Here’s how to be careful with your pennies: Staying in is the new going out! Save money by cutting down on the number of times you go out and borrow DVDs from your local library instead – they may not be the latest releases, but they’re free!

Limit yourself! To make sure you spend in moderation, you need to budget. Before you go out shopping, make a plan of what you want to buy and stick to it. Most of our money ends up being wasted on snacks, drinks and stuff we don’t even need.

•

•

WHAT DOES 2010 HAVE IN STORE FOR ME? This year I’m beginning a new chapter of my life as I leave home to go to uni. I hope to enjoy the full three-year experience, so I’m anxious that the Government sort out their grant system because I’ll be dependent on a grant for financially stability. I’d hate to be forced to quit uni midway through my course like many students had to do last year.

And by the time I do graduate I really want to be able to get a job and start making my own money. I’m determined not to fall prey to the dangerous rate of unemployment. Here’s hoping!

Nang!Recipe

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Young, vu and ho m Last year, leading homeless charity Centrepoint celebrated its 40th anniversary.

But, as Nang!,s SAMANTHA WEBSTER reports, there are still thousands of young people out there who don,t have a place to call home

Hidden Homeless

You don’t have to be living on the streets to be ‘homeless’.

You may be legally classed as homeless if you’re ‘sofa surfing’, staying in a hostel or even living in overcrowded, insecure or inadequate accommodation, such as a B&B or a squat.

Often there’s no single trigger that causes someone to become homeless. It’s usually down to a mix of complex

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issues that build up over a long period of time.

Uncertainty

The seeds of homelessness are often sewn in the family home.

If life is spent moving from one temporary home to another, homelessness may sadly be unavoidable. Children’s charity Barnados says: ‘Temporary accommodation offers children no stimulation or room to play, which can lead to depression or aggressive behaviour.’

Young homeless people are more likely to have experienced temporary accommodation, where they may have lived with step-parents, foster parents or relatives, by the age of 12 than those who do not become homeless.

Is home really where the heart is? Some young people find that living at home can lead to a downward spiral of arguments and tension which can become so negative that they feel they have no choice but to leave their family home.

Uncaring

Centrepoint recorded that one in six (17 per cent) of young homeless people have been in the care of a local authority.

Detimi*, 16, told Nang! that being brought up in a foster home since the age of eight was ‘difficult’ and that she ran away at 13 to ‘be normal and to fit in.’

Luckily she came across an organisation in Croydon, Hap

25, who work hard to make sure that care leavers, between the ages of 16-25, like Detimi, are eased into the adult world and allowed to reconnect at their own pace.

Alone

Being bullied, excluded or playing truant can all lead to social exclusion. A young person with low self-esteem may seek out all kinds of ways just to fit in, even if it’s at the risk of their own safety.

Forced to leave

Around 45 per cent of young people have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse in the family home on more than one occasion.

According to Crisis, a charity

*names have been changed

HOMELESSNESS CAN happen to anyone. According to the latest figures recorded

by Centrepoint, at least 75,000 young people are facing homelessness right now in England and Wales alone.

Nang!RealLives

ulnerable melesS that helps single homeless people, more than a quarter of homeless women lose their home before they’re 16 because of domestic violence.

For Jane*, being beaten by her father left her mentally and physically bruised and homeless. ‘My dad would beat me real bad,’ she says. ‘I’d go to the doctors; they could see what was happening to me, but they did or said nothing so I continued to think that it was OK - that it was normal.’

Jane became dependent on drugs to escape her problems.

‘I started smoking cannabis, took ecstasy and tried cocaine,’ she says. She continued to smoke cannabis for the next couple of years. ‘At worst I was smoking £20-£30 worth a day,’ she admits. ‘Friends would ask me where I was getting the money from. I couldn’t tell them exactly. I could just get it - I didn’t always pay.’

Jane tried to stay away from home as much as possible.

In order to get away from her father she was prepared to put herself in danger. ‘I first slept on a park bench after my GCSEs. Sometimes I’d sleep on buses

– getting on night buses and staying on there all night long.

After the second night on a park bench I decided to go home and make a fresh start.’

But Jane’s abuse from her father only got worse and her relationship with her mother began to follow suit, so she left home for good. Aged just 16, she was placed in a B&B where she stayed for the next two months. ‘My first night there was really weird,’ she says. ‘I had a kettle, some food from friends and a change of clothes.

The first week that I was there I didn’t realise that I was actually homeless.’

In the following weeks and months the reality of her situation began to hit home. ‘I became very depressed and I stopped going in to college.’ The issues mounted. Jane had already dropped some of her subjects at college, but she ended up having to drop them all.

Luckily, before it was too late for Jane, she found solace in homeless charity Centrepoint.

Since arriving, she’s started to get her life back on track.

She’s now in secure housing, is working hard at college and

plans to go to university one day.

She’s finally in a position to be able to realise her potential.

Escape

Not all young homeless people here are from the UK. I spoke to young refugee, Mohammed*, whose family had been killed right in front of him. On arriving in England, hungry and lonely, he now faces a language barrier, something which is not unusual for young refugees fleeing danger to start a new life. He also faces the challenge of finding a home.

employment and healthy relationships.

Some argue that local authorities are turning away 18 year olds without secure housing due to lack of resources, but whatever the truth there’s still much work to be done.

Life Changing

Charities like Centrepoint work with around 800 young people, aged between 16-25, every single day. I just hope it can find them a place they can call home.

Coming Home

Despite a decrease in the number of people sleeping on the streets, the scale of homelessness remains too high in the UK. Being homeless has an impact on all aspects of a young person’s life - education,

If you need emergency housing, contact Shelterline on 0808 8004444 (8am-8pm seven days a week). If you,re suffering from violence or abuse at home, contact Childline on 0800 1111 (24 hrs a day, every day).

Calls are free and confidential.

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Nang!LastWord

the winnlng formula As the 2010 Formula One season begins, Nang!’s Ligita Kneitaite looks at who could win in what promises to be a breathtaking season of motor racing

Ferrari Despite the horrific accident Felipe Massa suffered last season, he’s returning to Ferrari to race alongside Fernando Alonso, a new signing from Renault. Massa’s trauma wrecked Ferrari’s season last year and they’re hoping that Alonso, with two World Championships under his belt, can restore the team to its former glory. Team boss, Stefano Demenicali, claims: ‘Fernando is the only driver to defeat Michael [Schumacher] and he wants to win.’ With a history riddled with drama both on and off the track, the clash between Schumacher and Alonso promises to be one of the highlights of 2010.

Mercedes McLaren They had a disappointing season last year, falling more than 100 points behind their leaders despite having the 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel.

Yet, with the edition of the reigning champion Jenson Button on the team, McLaren look like they’re one of the favourites to win this year. Since 2007, the team have been under attack for favouritism, but have reportedly reshuffled their engineers to ensure that both Button and Hamilton get the same amount of support. McLaren looks set to excel with both drivers and the battle between the two is most anticipated.

RBR Red Bull It’s not surprising to see no changes on the drivers’ front for the Red Bull team. Both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber remain in the team for another season after a very satisfying run in 2009. Red Bull contested for the Constructor’s Championship until the very end, but Vettel’s last minute push was not quite enough to steal the victory from Button. Vettel, 22, triumphed on four occasions last season and is now tipped as a potential successor to Button.

As the Formula One chief Bernie Eccleston said: ‘I’m saying it well in advance, but for me Sabastian Vettel will be the next World Champion.’

Mercedes GP Mercedes Brawn GP will begin the 2010 season as Mercedes GP, since Mercedes now has the controlling stake in the company. It looks like the team could be off to a flying start in the new season with Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher at the wheel. The spotlight is, of course, on Schumacher, who was rumoured to replace Massa for Ferrari last season but opted for the full-time position with Mercedes GP instead.

The seven-time World Champion is impressed with his new team, saying: ‘This is the World Championship winning team, but it doesn’t seem to be spoiled by success at all – it seems to be hungry for more instead!’

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The race is on for Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button

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