VERGE
ISSUE IX
PJ Gallagher on his stand-up anxiety ..... Lottie Ryan talks about radio’s men’s club ..... Understanding Colin Barrett’s small towns ..... Jape on the soul destroying nature of making music ..... The bridge between TV and Gaming ..... Million Dollar Bloggers and more
Editor’s Letter Diverged
Marvel’s Agent Carter – Eoghan Currently midway through its eight-episode series, Marvel’s Agent Carter is just the latest in a long line of offerings from the inimitable studio. Following the post-war exploits of Peggy Carter – the love interest in the first Captain America film – the show not only richly enhances an already immersive universe, it also offers much more depth to a character that otherwise would have been solely remembered as a random superhero love interest. Recently it seems Marvel can do no wrong!
Coming up for Air – Robbie
Best of the Besties 02 V
Claire Fox Hey everyone! Welcome to Issue 9 of Verge! As always we’ve prepared an issue set to tickle your every fancy; from interviews with writer Colin Barrett, one man band Jape and the nation’s sweetheart, Lottie Ryan, along with the best of the best from the worlds of gaming, fashion and film! You could say that we here at Verge are like your very best friend, keeping you up-to-date with all the things that really matter in life! The term ‘best friend’ is something that is thrown around playgrounds and every social setting you can imagine on a daily basis; yet in the past couple of weeks it has been creeping its way into the crevices of social media. Snapchat, your favourite photomessaging app, decided in a recent update to discard its ‘Best Friends’ feature. While some delighted in the scrapping of this list system, others mourned the ability to be able to stalk their crushes’ or friends’ lists. In reality, it is better for the mental health of the Snapchat nation that the list has been
removed as this concept of ‘best friends’ is utterly false and yet another social construct our generation has created. With Snapchat creator Evan Spiegel stating in a tweet that the list will return (maybe it already has), it seems the world is in constant need to feel validated by a list. Continuing on the topic of best friends, a certain Taylor Swift seems to be everybody’s so-called ‘bestie’ these days. From hanging out with Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran, I wasn’t even surprised to see her recently pictured on vacation in a bikini-clad outfit with sister band Haim. While she may very well be ‘besties’ with the trio, it paints an artificial picture of what a friend should be and pressures young people into copying such an image. A good friend, rather than a best friend, should be caring, have your back and make you laugh; which all sounds a bit like Verge when you think about it!
Verge Editor: Claire Fox
Gaming Editor: Steve Barry
Film & TV: Eoghan Scott
Fashion Editor: Nicole Clinton
Music Editor: Robbie Byrne
Design: Kevin Hosford
Arts & Lit Editor: Molly Forsythe
January has traditionally been a quiet month for new music and this year was no exception, with only a handful of noteworthy releases including Mark Ronson’s funk filled Uptown Special and Bjork’s surprise Vulnicura. Thankfully February holds the potential for some great LP releases. Tame Impala offshoot, Pond, will release their musical take on ‘60s sci-fi, Bob Dylan will drop his 36th studio album and Death Grips are set to release their last studio LP. Still, the biggest release of the month goes to Kodaline’s eagerly anticipated Coming up for Air, which lands on Feb 9th.
This American Life – Molly Recently I’ve found that podcasts can provide a pleasant alternative to reading. My new favourite is This American Life, presented by the surprisingly high-pitched Ira Glass. Each episode features several real-life stories, connected by the same overall theme and told by ordinary Joe Shmoes. The website ThisAmericanLife. org provides free access to every single episode ever made, although with 540 (and counting!) episodes to choose from, it’s pretty hard to know where to start. My recommendations would have to be the classic ‘Fiasco!’ (a must for all newcomers), ‘Babysitting’ and ‘My Experimental Phase’.
Evolve – Steve Evolve is the newest game from the creators of zombie shooter Left 4 Dead, Turtlerock Studios. A four-player co-operative game, it pits hunters against a variety of alien monsters. Let’s be real though; the monsters are basically Cthulu, a mix between Godzilla and King Kong, and something taken straight out of Silent Hill. And you have to kill them before they kill you. Well, seeing as one electrocutes you, another simply excels at beating the crap out of you and the last can teleport you away, it ain’t gonna be easy. Evolve arrives on console and PC on February 10th.
Campus Style Name: Rebecca Pratt Course: Arts Favourite shop: River Island Why did you choose to wear this outfit? “I wore this outfit because it’s dressy yet casual when teamed with the kimono.” Image by: Aoife Cheung
Getting Under the Skin of Colin Barrett Molly Forsythe speaks to the award-winning writer about his critically acclaimed short-story, Young Skins. for these things because the society is a bit more diffused or scattered. The police have less of a presence. There are a lot of empty streets and by-roads so if people are eccentric or malevolent they can find a nice shed somewhere and be left alone to go about their... activities.”
“When I was younger, I didn’t have the intelligence or insight to realise that smalltown life could be an intrinsically very interesting topic if done well.” His current success was preceded by many years of hard graft refining his style. “You could euphemistically call it ‘apprentice work’,” he comments, “but really it was just sh... bad stuff; but that’s vital and necessary.” A self-confessed lexophile, Barrett says he always wanted to write and that his obsession with narrative and language began in childhood.
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or Colin Barrett, 2014 has been a year marked by a series of “wonderfully bewildering, gratuitous, and nice” events. His debut collection of short stories, Young Skins, has racked up an impressive number of awards including the Guardian First Book Award, the Rooney Prize, as well as the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. Opening with the line, “My town is nowhere you have been, but you know its ilk,” Young Skins offers a vivid exploration of life in the fictional western town of Glanbeigh. Drawing from his own experiences, the Mayo-born writer aims to tap into “that marginalisation, that sense of frustration, entrapment and the confinement that you can find in small towns; but importantly also to show that these are places where very peculiar and interesting things can happen.” Throughout the collection Barrett
expertly captures both sides of smalltown life with writing that is both humorous and absolutely heartbreaking, something that keeps in harmony with his goal for any collection: “I hope they’re funny and I hope they do something interesting with language.” Focusing on a motley set of characters, including nightclub bouncers, pool sharks and small-time gangsters, the prevailing mood of Young Skins is one of alienation. Yet the author manages to maintain a careful balance between sadness and humour; his colourful evocation of the local idiom injects a welcome streak of black humour into the otherwise bleak landscape of Glanbeigh. As darkly funny as it is violent and perverse, Barrett’s depiction of rural Ireland is as wild as the American West. He clarifies this with a wry smile: “I suppose a small town is a good setting
He initially tried his hand at poetry; enticed by the form’s potential to achieve “something different with language... It wasn’t just language as a utility to tell a story. Poetry is concerned with language in and of itself.” His current style, a result of years of hard work and experimentation, is an elegant mixture of prose and poetic technique. He adds that reading the work of established authors can often provide an essential guide to budding authors. For him, now more established in his career, reading offers a helpful means of “finding out if you have anything to say, of understanding your own experiences and learning how to order them into something you can use.” He cites the Southern Gothic as a particularly influential tranche of literature for him, reserving particular admiration for Flannery O’Connor, adding that he relishes the “marriage between humour and violent, bleak occurrences.” However, it is the Limerick-born Kevin Barry (a writer whose work is
frequently compared to Barrett’s) that has had the most significant impact on him. Barrett explains that Barry’s 2007 collection There are Little Kingdoms was a revelation: “Even though the stories are often very surreal, it was nonetheless an Ireland I recognised and wanted to write about. “When I was younger, I didn’t have the intelligence or insight to realise that small-town life could be an intrinsically very interesting topic if done well. It took examples like Kevin Barry or Flannery O’Connor to realise that you could find everything about the human condition, or whatever else it is that you’re into, in a small town. You can find it anywhere really; you just need to be bright enough to see it.” He warns young writers against rushing the writing process: “Go as slow as you need with it. When you write something, make sure to leave some time after and revisit it later, so that when you go back you can improve it.” One of the major advantages of being unpublished, moreover, is “the total freedom to experiment. You try and fail and you try again. You can try out different genres, different styles, voices and sensibilities.” So what can fans of Young Skins expect in the future? Barrett states that he is making tentative steps towards a new work – a novel this time. Although it won’t “move too far away from the rural, small-town world” of Young Skins, he is anticipating the challenge of a new form that “requires you do different things with language, narrative and structure and scope.”
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Film
All men drive The first thing that grinds my gears (pardon the pun) about films is the assumption that all men can drive and they courteously hold the door for their ladies as they daintily take the passenger seat. Frankly, this is entirely untrue and extremely agitating. Why can none of these women drive? And why can all the men drive?? As someone with a comfortable number of relationships under my belt, the fact was that not one of them was with someone who could drive. You don’t know reversed gender roles until you are 23 years old and forced to collect and drop your boyfriend home in your mother’s car.
The ugly nerd grows up to be hot
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It’s actually a little more than offensive to visually inadequate wearers of corrective lenses that the so called nerd-girl can completely transition into a prom queen by just taking off her glasses. Similarly, it seems that by just
Artistic licence? Jordan Williams Salter looks at where movies fail to reflect real life. straightening one’s hair and putting on a dress, they can utterly transform their entire appearance. If only it were so simple. The reality is that some people have no choice but to just grow into slightly taller and less awkward versions of themselves.
The loser gets the guy/ girl This is the contemporary adaptation of the idea engrained in us from birth by selfish Disney movies; that you can punch grossly above your weight and everything will turn out dandy. Who can forget Jonah Hill and Emma Stone in Superbad? Not that Hill’s character was a loser but it just gives us mere mortals false hope!
Drunk/ high people act crazy This is a common misrepresentation on TV and in movies that truly enrages me. In real life, when
someone has a cocktail or takes a puff, they don’t lose all sense of reality and laugh for two hours, get naked or fall over. They are usually just a slightly louder and more irritating version of themselves.
Hectic social lives In films we see people flooded with party invites, lunch dates and phone calls. It also appears that whenever
anyone throws a party, everyone in the world shows up. This is frankly a lie and a sham that exists just to make us all feel like lonely losers. Bad Neighbours, Mean Girls, even The Great Gatsby host monstrous parties! The truth is that even when you organise a party, you’re lucky if even half of your friends show up. This is also true of lunch and coffee dates; nobody has time to hang out with friends literally all the time. Don’t you people have jobs?
Film Review: Unbroken David Richard Coleman analyses Angelina Jolie’s most ambitious film yet. The life of Louie Zamperini was certainly an eventful one. Following a youth of petty crime, he eventually discovered distance running, went on to break college records and competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When WWII broke out, Zamperini enlisted in the Air Force, and in 1943 his bomber crashlanded in the Pacific. He and two other surviving crew members drifted across the ocean in a life-raft, holding out for a staggering 47 days before eventually being found… by the Japanese Navy. He spent the next two years imprisoned in a series of interrogation and POW camps, ultimately surviving to see the end of the war and his eventual release.
The second act, as Zamperini and his fellow survivors (Finn Wittrock and an excellent Domhnall Gleeson) face the elements from the minute protection of their life raft, is similarly riveting; the three men enduring storms, shark attacks, a genuinely frightening attack by an enemy plane and the ever looming threats of starvation and insanity.
As you can see there’s hardly a shortage of material for Angelina Jolie’s third and most ambitious directorial effort, Unbroken. And to be fair, it does get a lot of things right. It opens on a scene of Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) and his crew carrying out a bombing raid on Japanese fortifications and repelling enemy fighters. It’s a thrilling, edge-ofyour-seat intro and a late contender for best action scene of 2014.
The cracks begin to show, however, once the action moves to the prison camps. This section takes up half of the movie’s two-hour running time and the endless barrage of cruelty quickly makes the transition from queasy to monotonous. Zamperini, in particular, is singled out for torment and humiliation by a sadistic prison commander nicknamed ‘The Bird’, complete with homoerotic overtones so
“They add little that’s new to a Prisoner of War subgenre that’s been done to death since the sixties.”
thick you could cut it with a knife. By all accounts this is relatively faithful to the actual events of Zamperini’s ordeal but they add little that’s new to a Prisoner of War subgenre that’s been done to death since the sixties. Which brings me to the big issue with Unbroken, the one which keeps it from achieving its potential for greatness, and that is in the way this material has translated to film. Apparently taking
her cue from the majesty and spectacle of David Lean, Jolie directs the film in broad, sweeping strokes but The Bridge on the River Kwai it isn’t. The trouble is that the tale of Louie Zamperini is so epic, so extraordinary, that it’s hard to believe this could actually have happened. Unbroken doesn’t do much to lend it believability, making a myth out of its hero rather than humanising him.
Film Review: Into the Woods Glenn Dunlea sings his praises of the latest silver screen musical. screen, however, was one fraught with as many twists and turns as its plot. An adaptation almost came to fruition in the nineties, with a cast featuring Cher and Robin Williams. This eventually came to nothing and it wasn’t until 2002, when Rob Marshall’s directorial debut Chicago hit the big screen, that an adaptation was once again discussed. Now, 12 years on, Into the Woods is stunning both audiences and critics alike on the big screen.
Finally, 28 years after its initial stage premiere, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods has made it to the silver screen. And Rob Marshall’s lovingly rendered piece is the best any fan of the show could ever have wished for. Into the Woods, a musical based on the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, began life on Broadway in 1987. Opening in the same season as The Phantom of the Opera, it’s no surprise that Into the Woods never truly received the attention it deserved… until now. The basic premise of Into the Woods is simple enough, given the major
themes dealt with in the film. A childless baker and his wife are sent on a quest into the woods to retrieve the ingredients for a potion that will give them a child. Their story is intertwined with the classic fairytales we all know and love, but with many dark twists. Every aspect of the film has been meticulously thought through and executed, from the superstar ensemble cast, to the Academy Award nominated costumes and production design, coming together to create one of the best musical adaptations in decades. Into the Woods’ path to the silver
“It’s no surprise that Into the Woods never truly received the attention it deserved… until now.” Marshall was conscious of his desire to hire multi-talented actors who could sing well when casting his picture. As a result, Into the Woods, which is very much an ensemble piece, boasts such megastar performers as Meryl Streep,
The Blackfish Effect
earned him numerous awards.
popular YouTube channel VlogBrothers, has become one of the most successful young adult fiction authors in recent years, with novels. Green’s cryptic, facetious and humorous first person narrative style has propelled his popularity among teenage and young adult readers, while his works have
Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine, to name but a few; each of whom give magnificent performances as both actors and singers. Anna Kendrick enchants as a Cinderella for a modern age and her number, ‘On the Steps of the Palace’, is one of the film’s stand out moments. Johnny Depp gives a particularly creepy cameo performance as the Wolf. As usual, however, it is Streep who steals the show. Her performance as the Witch has earned Streep her 19th Academy Award nomination and deservedly so. ‘Stay With Me’, a lament sung by Streep, is one of Into the Woods’ most breathtaking moments, while her rendition of ‘Last Midnight’ will leave hairs standing on the back of your neck. There is little at fault with Into the Woods. Yes, several songs have been shortened or removed but this does little to affect the overall impact of the film. Whether you are looking for a film for the entire family, a musical escape or you simply wish to see Chris Pine rip his shirt open while singing about his fabulousity atop a waterfall, then Into the Woods is the film for you. “since [Green] wrote the book, the documentary [Blackfish] came out. I think it’s a little less playful to go to SeaWorld now.”
Jordan Williams Salter explores the documentary’s influence on upcoming release Paper Towns.
Following on from last year’s emotional ransacking at the hands of author John Green and director Josh Boone in The Fault In Our Stars, the pair intend to continue the vogue of Green’s fiction with the highly anticipated Paper Towns, due to be released later this year. Green, initially made famous by his
Film
Paper Towns, Green’s third novel published in 2008, follows quirky protagonist Quentin (Nat Wolff) who is infatuated with estranged childhood friend Margo (Cara Delevigne), with whom he undertakes a range of mysterious activities preceding her mysterious disappearance. The romantic mystery film adaptation will not, however, feature a significant scene in the novel, in which the pair break into SeaWorld. The scene was removed from the film for fear of sparking further controversy surrounding the theme park, following the release of 2013 documentary film Blackfish. Producer Wyck Godfrey is reported to have stated that,
The eye-opening documentary film, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, grossed an impressive $2 million despite only being released in 99 theatres. Since its release, Blackfish has sparked mass protest against the theme park and SeaWorld has suffered great damage to its reputation as a rehabilitation centre as well as a tourist attraction, reporting a 45% decrease in stock. Following the release of the documentary, SeaWorld published an official statement on their website entitled ‘Why Blackfish is Propaganda, not a Documentary’, which denies all allegations of abuse within their parks and the endangerment of animal trainers at the hands of the orca whales. The feeble arguments displayed by a disgruntled SeaWorld, however, fail to address any real issues or the overall message explored by the documentary, and continue to effect adaptations like Green’s to this day.
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Gaming Telltale is a somewhat unique studio in the gaming industry at the moment. Skyrocketing in popularity after the release of their critically acclaimed Walking Dead game in 2012, the studio has made a huge name for itself since. All Telltale games share the same characteristics; they’re released in ‘episodes’, they’re based on pre-existing IPs and they all share the same brand of gameplay. Most notably, their games are based around choices: conversation choices and plot choices.
“The heavily story based nature of their games, makes it feel like Telltale is bridging a gap between TV and video games.”
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Their episodic release system, combined with the heavily story based nature of their games, makes it feel like Telltale is
Tell Me a Tale Aoife Gleeson gives the rundown on Telltale Games. bridging a gap between TV and video games. While episodic release isn’t something entirely new for gaming, their quality games have revitalised and elevated the concept in recent years. Since The Walking Dead surprised with its affecting, original story, they’ve been expanding their portfolio with an eclectic mix of great series. The Wolf Among Us, based on the Fable comic series, is a noir murder mystery, featuring a cast of darkly reimagined fairytale characters. Tales from the Borderlands uses the Borderlands’ universe to tell a wacky, sometimes hilarious heist story (plus, it’s the only Telltale series that could be defined as ‘funny’). Most recently, they released the first episode of their version of Game of Thrones which, miraculously, exceeds expectations. Judging by the first episode (which follows House Forrester, a bannerman of the Starks, during the fallout of the Red Wedding), Telltale manages to perfectly match the tone of the TV show, while telling their own story. Their trademark conversation system lends itself perfectly to the
battles of wit and terse, loaded exchanges often seen in the series. A conversation with Cersei (voiced by her actress) stands out as a high point. The game even manages to pull off some trademark Game of Thrones twists. All that being said, Telltale’s series do have a number of problems. The irregular, protracted release schedule of episodes makes waiting a frustrating affair. The Wolf Among Us took nearly a year to be completely released, by which time it was difficult to remember important plot points from the first episode. The gameplay can often be
repetitive and buggy, failing to run smoothly. Often, the larger ‘choices’ you make in their games don’t have as much of an effect as you would be led to believe. Plus, with the recent announcement of a Minecraft game, they also risk running too many games concurrently and stretching out series. However these problems seem small when compared with the great stories and experiences these games have to offer. Watch this studio: they’re doing great things and, by ironing out a few kinks, they’re only going to get better.
From then ‘til now: The Legend of Zelda Steve Barry plots the past, present and future of the iconic series. The Legend of Zelda is arguably one of the most storied and critically acclaimed game franchises of all time. Cold opening, eh? Well it’s true. Since the late eighties, when the first entry in the series, the eponymous The Legend of Zelda, as well as its sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System, the adventure-puzzle genre has never been the same. Plugging in the goldcoloured cartridges would plunge you into the depths of the world of Hyrule, where you, as the young boy Link, would explore and seek to find the eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom to rescue Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon. Ah, nostalgia.
lakes, caves and rural villages as a young boy. While the series had humble beginnings as a creator remembering his experiences as a child, it quickly sprung into popularity.
But enough with the reminiscing; this is a history lesson!
The most iconic and memorable game in the franchise is without a doubt Ocarina of Time. It saw the series transition from its 2D roots into full 3D, hugely innovative and visually stunning in both its dank caves and vast plains. That game saw Link, alongside the infamous fairy Navi, travel through time to stop the evil Ganondorf, as is his destiny in every game. The game’s complex narrative has stuck with fans right up to today and the game still sits on many publications’ ‘Best Games of All Time’ list; a feat this masterpiece truly deserves.
The Legend of Zelda was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, who is now one of the key figures in Nintendo. Miyamoto cites his experiences exploring the hillsides surrounding his childhood home in Sonobe, Japan, where he ventured into forests with secluded
Another title in the franchise, which may not have gotten the recognition it deserved on release, was The Wind Waker. Switching visual style completely from the 3D-engine to a cel-shaded, child-friendly approach (thus ‘Toon Link’ was created), the
entry divided fans, with the initial response to its first showing being surprisingly negative. However, when it was released, the negativity was quickly overshadowed by the stunning game and its beautiful soundtrack. It was even recently remastered for Nintendo’s Wii U, becoming the first Zelda game to grace the platform.
The Legend of Zelda is a franchise that has become timeless and will continue to go from strength to strength. With two new games already on the horizon, between a remake of the creepier-thanyou-think Majora’s Mask and the first official Wii U title, expect to dive back into Hyrule sometime soon.
A book by Amy Poehler? Yes Please! Mary Walsh analyses the Golden Globes host’s memoir.
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Art & Lit
es Please, by comedian and actress Amy Poehler, is a book which commands great expectations; but those expectations are quickly not only met but exceeded. It’s just that good. Part memoir, part essay collection, Poehler’s debut is nothing short of genius. As a comedian, you would expect Poehler’s undeniable wit and humour to be the book’s defining feature. Although it is hilarious, Poehler doesn’t allow herself to get carried away. She knows when to be serious as she knows when to flaunt her famous comedic skills. That being said, this isn’t a “roll on the floor laughing” kind of funny. It’s clever. It’s observational. But most importantly, it’s perfectly in tone with the subjects Poehler covers in the book.
“Nothing is forced, not even the searing honesty that permeates each chapter.” Speaking of tone, Poehler’s literary voice is outstanding. It’s not often you encounter a writer who manages to sound like a combination of both your best friend and your cool aunt. Nothing is forced, not even the searing honesty that permeates each chapter. She tackles such topics as her battle with insecurity, her experimental drug use, her experience of motherhood and briefly mentions her forthcoming divorce from the Arrested Development actor, Will Arnett, which she describes as “too sad
and too personal” to explore any deeper. More often than not, however, Yes Please is a charming collection of anecdotes about Poehler’s friends and various celebrities (expect numerous appearances from the likes of Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Louis C.K. and even George Clooney), the years she spent as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, her admiration for her parents, stories about her Parks and Recreation cast-mates and great advice
The Gift of the Galvin Marian Brosnan reviews Paul Galvin’s unapologetically honest memoir, In My Own Words. “What are you doing with yourself?” A seemingly straight-forward question posed by many a fan to Kerry GAA legend Paul Galvin throughout the opening chapter of his autobiography, In My Own Words. An innocent enough question too, to most, but one which proved a struggle for Galvin to answer. In the ensuing chapters of this unflinching account of a career that has intrigued fans for over a decade, the Kerry half-forward not only reveals what he’s ‘doing’ with himself but also offers readers a front row seat in the likes of Croke Park, Páirc Uí Chaoimh and in his home turf of Fitzgerald Stadium to smell the fresh-cut grass and to hear the deafening chants of frantic supporters.
A poignant story documenting his “climb from the bottom,” subsequent “fall from the top” and “defiance to start again” – Galvin covers everything from his debut with the Mini 7s Primary Games Initiative as a hardy hurler, to his final throw-in at the 2013 AllIreland semi-final as a feisty footballer. A UCC graduate (winning the Cork Senior Football Championship in 1999), Galvin attributes his university years as a launch-pad for the colourful success that is his football story. Capturing the reader in the sepia saturated montage of his GAA pride and passion, he dusts off his 45 full championship appearances, 7 All Ireland appearances, 8 Munster final medals, 3 All-Star awards and 2009 Footballer of the Year title.
thrown in for good measure. The book is divided into three parts and even these are little gems of wisdom: “Say Whatever You Want,” “Do Whatever You Like” and “Be Whoever You Are.” It needs to be said that this book is not for everyone and has generally been met with a mixed reception. Fans of Poehler will be charmed by her distinctive voice and personality but those unfamiliar with the comedian may be left unimpressed by her occasional bluntNotorious for his elusive, stubborn and competitive character, we see much evidence of the characteristic defiance that has landed him in front of many a disciplinary committee, born to kick a ball and mad for a tussle. However the Paul Galvin we meet in this autobiography defies our expectations, countering the image of the fiery footballer we thought we knew half a dozen years ago when emotion controlled him, mastered him, moulded him. Today, his pride and temper are documented openly in this candid canter down memory lane. He acknowledges that his weaknesses have not made him weak; today he accepts them and in doing so has become stronger. In My Own Words portrays a man who knows what he’s ‘doing’ with himself. So, what is he doing with himself? Well, making the most of his life... He shows that all good things must come to an end but all great things don’t; all great
ness and strong opinions. But have no fear, Poehler’s refreshing indifference to her reader’s opinion means she won’t mind either way. Poehler’s debut is packed from start to finish with wit, wisdom and honesty, allowing the writer’s energetic personality to jump off every page. It’s a must read, not only for Poehler’s fans but for anyone with a dream and the ambition to pursue it. things live on. Paul Galvin lives on in this must-read; a great thing.
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Fright Night No More Claire Fox speaks with comedian PJ Gallagher about his upcoming Concussion tour, overcoming his nerves and his new found love affair with radio. cover documentaries on criminals and one night a guy put a knife to him. He said that he had a wife and family and couldn’t do it anymore. So he decided to do comedy. “He asked a whole load of comedians and nobody wanted to do it; they all thought it wouldn’t be any good. I was the last person he asked, the last person to say ok and the rest is history. The very first audition I did is the very first clip shown on Naked Camera. So it was the right time, right place really.”
“It’s getting more conservative again and people seem to want clean jokes, whereas beforehand we literally just got up and said whatever the hell we wanted”
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est known for his roles as the bizarre Jake Stevens and the lewd Dirty Aul Wan in Naked Camera, PJ Gallagher has come a long way from working in a warehouse with fellow comic Jason Byrne. Back then Gallagher barely even know what a comedian was, crediting Byrne for his entrance into the wacky world of comedy. “Yeah, I used to work in a warehouse with Jason and he always wanted to be a stand-up but, to be honest with you, I didn’t even know what stand-up was,” opens Gallagher in his unmistakeable Dublin accent. “I’d heard of Brendan Grace and all them, and I thought it was funny that he wanted to wear a suit and tell jokes,
but I didn’t really understand it. And then he [Byrne] used to get me to do gigs because he didn’t want to do them on his own and that’s how I started. After a while Jason’s career took off and I was left on me own, thinking ‘yeah I better write my own jokes.’” After years of slogging it out on the strenuous stand-up circuit across Ireland, Gallagher finally got his lucky break upon a chance encounter with director Liam McGrath who pitched the idea of a hidden camera show to him. “It was an accident really,” he says of the hit-programme’s geneses. “Liam McGrath, who was the director, was used to doing these Prime Time under-
The show which also starred Cobh comedienne Maeve Higgins and Father Ted alumnus Patrick McDonnell was on many occasions compared to The Live Mike, a show fronted by Mike Murphy in the eighties. Both shows had a similar format: pranking and pestering people as they went about their daily lives. The format was obviously a winning one as Naked Camera became the most successful programme in the history of RTÉ 2, something which came as a wonderful surprise to Gallagher and the gang. “When we were making it all we wanted was to make something that wasn’t rubbish. Let’s make something that’s not rubbish and that you can actually get away with. When it turned out to be the most watched show on RTÉ 2’s history we were like ‘What?!’ “It blew our minds,” adds Gallagher after a brief pause as if to momentarily reflect on the show’s fortunes. Like all good things, though, they must come to an end, with Gallagher stating that the only drawback of a hidden camera show is indeed a damning and fatal one.
“When you make a show like that you’re your own worst enemy because the day somebody knows your face is the day it’s over,” admits Gallagher. “It was hard to break it up, but it had to come to a natural end.” Having moved on from his memorable Naked Camera days, Gallagher is currently taking his unique comedic style around Ireland in his new tour, Concussion. The material is based on everyday experiences from his own life and sees him take to the intimate Everyman Stage this Valentine’s night. “I haven’t been doing stand up for the last two years, so a lot of it is just stories and what’s going on. I’m lucky enough that I get myself into all sort of stupid scrapes and I can make a story out of it. “I’ve got Joanne McNally touring with me, who is actually so good that I’m afraid to get up on the stage after her, and Derek Lawlor, who is just one of the most solid comics ever. I didn’t want to do it on my own anymore, so there’s a little bit more going on than there was before.” For Gallagher comedy is about “opening your eyes and paying as much attention as you can.” This is the oath he swears by when stitching together his stand-up material. “It is daily experiences for me, stuff just has to happen, you have to go out and just listen and talk to people and if anything annoys you just write it down and the next day it might gradually feel funny to you.” Like many of Ireland’s top comedians, Gallagher remembers a time, not too far back, when the Irish comedy scene was a fairly compact one. But with the explosion of clubs and social media sites dedicated to making people laugh, the circuit has drastically changed; perhaps not for the better though. “It’s going backwards a little,” comments the funnyman. “It’s getting more conservative again and people seem to want clean jokes, whereas beforehand we literally just got up and said whatever the hell we wanted and whoever wanted to listen to it listened to it. “It’s not a bad thing; it makes it more
“I wouldn’t be able to eat. I’d be shaking. I couldn’t hold proper conversations. I’d get nothing done on those days and it was just real over-powering dread”
mainstream. The amount of people trying to get into comedy is enormous nowadays. When we were getting into it there was 12 full-time comedians working in Ireland and now I would say there’s probably 1,000.” One thing that Gallagher has always had to battle against, at least until recently, is the frantic bouts of stage fright he used to suffer from in the days leading up to a gig. While in conversation with the Dubliner, Gallagher talks about the experience in jest, although it’s clear that it was a cycle that drained him both mentally and physically. “It never affected the performance, that’s the annoying thing about it. It just ruined the whole day before. I wouldn’t be able to eat. I’d be shaking. I couldn’t hold proper conversations. I’d get nothing done on those days and it was just real over-powering dread. “It was just so stupid and irrational and then you’d get onstage and it’s fine; literally the minute you touch the microphone it’s gone. It was just a bad habit that I got into and that I needed to break.” The shattering of this vicious cycle of nerves and nausea was no easy feat for Gallagher but he eventually turned a corner upon filming a show for RTÉ’s Reality Bites series, in which he documents the daily struggles of people living with anxiety and learns methods to overcome his own fears.
While at first Gallagher admits he was apprehensive about filming the show, it was a huge eye-opener for him.
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“It really made a huge difference. When I started the show, I was worried that the cameras would freak me out but it has ended up being one of the best things I’ve done because I don’t get stage fright any more. I get nervous but I don’t get ridiculously over-powering fears like I used to get. This year I know, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s just going to be one of the most enjoyable tours I’ve done.” By reacting better to situations instead of constantly fearing the worst, Gallagher urges those suffering from stage fright, panic attacks or any type of anxiety to speak out. “It’s all habit. Like when you think about phobias, they’re just habits. You just have to train yourself to react better and break the cycle, and one day I just realised that all the fear was just not worth it. You just have to move onto your next gig; what’s the worst that can happen? You should talk about it because when you don’t talk about it, you let it fester.” To those in his own industry plagued with phobia-like dread, Gallagher advises them to “do smaller gigs and just think about it and picture yourself on stage and, honestly, it’s not that hard a cycle to break. It just feels like it’s impossible to break, but it isn’t.”
As for the worst that could happen? Well, Gallagher isn’t too worried: “that is maybe at a corporate gig and sure then if you’ve ruined the dinner of 200 accountants, where’s the harm?!”
are only going to lunch; I really enjoy it. Who knew after years of doing night shifts that I’m actually a morning person?”
Learning how to cope with his irrational fears and fits of anxiety has surely been the mainspring behind the success of his early morning breakfast show, which he co-hosts with Damien Farrelly. While conversing with Gallagher about his recent entry into the world of the wireless, it’s clear to see that he’s found himself a treasured passion.
Having been charmed by Gallagher’s giggle-inducing personality and positive attitude, the advice he gives at the end of our conversation to those looking to break into the busy entertainment industry is straight-forward, much like the man himself: “Book as many gigs as you can, try everything that comes into your head and don’t start bitching about anybody!” A truer word was never said!
“It’s different but it’s better than standup. To be honest, it’s the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done. I love it, like, it’s the dream job. I hope I can stay there forever,” laughs Gallagher.
Gallagher takes his Concussion tour to Cork’s Everyman Theatre on February 14th, while PJ and Damian in the Morning airs on Classic Hits 4FM weekdays from 6 to 10am.
“The two of us have a great laugh in the morning. We’re up before the weather, we’re finished work when most people
Lots of Love for Lottie Lottie Ryan speaks to Claire Fox about women in the media and how she will always be proud of being Gerry Ryan’s daughter. thrive in the storm. “I think I learned more in the months that I worked on The Good Wife than I did in my five years that I spent in college. They work very differently than how we work over here. We’re a lot more lenient here, we have respectable working hours. But over there they eat, sleep and breathe their work; it’s really intense.”
“I, first and foremost, want to be recognised for the work that I do and the broadcaster I am.”
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adio presenter, dancer, columnist, blogger and fearless fashionista. Over the years Lottie Ryan has managed to clock up a rather colourful career; a remarkable feat considering she is still only 27. Having worked as a showbiz reporter in RTÉ for numerous years, the brunette now operates the world of the wireless, with The Early, Early Breakfast Show airing on 2fm each weekend. The show which she fondly refers to as her “little baby” has been a huge learning experience for Ryan as, up until this point, she had never been solely responsible for anchoring a programme. “It’s a huge learning curve for me because I’m in there by myself. A lot of the stuff I would have done in the years leading up to the show, when I was doing contributor work, meant I would never be running the desks or the technical side of things,” says Ryan in her polished Dublin accent. While Ryan is now lucky enough to be at the helm of her own show, this can’t be said for all female broadcasters, with the radio business in Ireland generally being labelled as a ‘Men Only’ club. However, while the figures may prove
this theory true, Ryan believes that the tide is turning in favour of women in the industry. “I think there used to be a stigma attached to it but that’s beginning to change. There are some incredible female broadcasters to admire. Claire Byrne is an incredible broadcaster; closer to home, for me, Jenny Greene; Marian Finucane; and Ciara King is a fantastic new talent. We are coming up in the ranks and there’s much more even distribution than there used to be.” Although radio was something Ryan had admired, it was not always her prime passion in life. Training as a dancer throughout her childhood and teenage years, Ryan never considered working in the media as a viable career until commencing her college education in Coláiste Dúlaigh. “Over the five years I developed a love and a passion for the industry. It all blossomed from there and it was really my college years that refined it for me.” However, while college may have provided Ryan with the knowledge to survive the rocky seas of media work, her internship on the set of hit US series The Good Wife gave her the skills to
Considering Ryan is still so young and has conquered so much in her short career, I ask her would she ever move abroad to work again? Reflecting on the question for a mere moment, Ryan is practical in her approach: “I’d never say no. I’m very happy at the moment. I’m not silly, though, and if the opportunity presents itself, you should never close doors. I don’t know what the future will hold but I’ll always be open to travel. I’m still in my 20s but, for the moment, I’m very happy where I am.” Satisfied with her amiable answer, the conversation shifts towards the inevitable subject that is her deceased father, former broadcaster Gerry Ryan. According to Lottie, her father “never encouraged or discouraged” her decision to enter the fickle world of broadcasting, preferring to support whatever made his children happy. With many critics constantly referring to Ryan’s famous paternity, I wonder does this ever come as a burden to Lottie’s own broadcasting work? “No, it doesn’t annoy me; I am who I am. I’m incredibly proud of my dad and I’m blessed to share his name and it will never be something that I’ll want to shy away from. But, obviously, at this stage in my career, I, first and foremost, want to be recognised for the work that I do and the broadcaster I am. While I am incredibly proud of him and in awe of
his work, I’d like to be recognised for myself.” While Lottie’s famous father was and is still a huge inspiration, her mother, Morah Brennan, is also a major role model, especially when it comes to the style stakes. Her mother’s “unique sense of self ” is obviously something that Ryan herself has inherited. Shying away from trends and catwalk conventions, Ryan moves on to giving her most trusted beauty tip: “Always, no matter how late it is or how many drinks you’ve had, take your make-up off!” However she is not just a font of beauty advice, concluding on some career advice for college students: “You have to really need to do it [radio work]. It can’t just be a want. You have to really feel like it’s something you need to fulfil yourself. It has to be something you need to do for yourself, a passion inside of you. “You have to feel like it’s your calling in life because there are 100 people who will want your job. It’s a tough job but once you believe in yourself and have perseverance and keep going at it, anything is possible and anybody can achieve what they want.”
Planet Jape Robbie Byrne talks to two-time Choice Music Prize Winner Jape about life in Malmö, self-doubt and his latest LP. are brilliant and must stay.’ That’s why I brought friends like Conor and Glenn on board.” Egan may be his own worst critic but, despite the problems this could pose, it remains a poison that Jape thrives on. “I love to argue over music; a group of friends working over something so impossibly minute to create something good. Still, the end product can only improve if you have someone trustworthy and I’m lucky enough to say I have that.” Fortunately Jape’s latest LP, This Chemical Sea, is one that thrives on collaboration. Villagers’ vocalist Conor O’Brien puts his hand to ‘Ribbon, Ribbon, Ribbon’, a Krautrock induced jam that whirls around a simple 808drum machine beat. Meanwhile, longterm jamming partner Glenn Keating builds on this sonic palette through brief acoustic cameos, providing some memorable chord progressions.
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full length Ocean Of Frequency. Despite an apparent knack for songwriting, it’s a process that sits uneasily with the Dublin native:
While bumping into an old friend was a welcome distraction from the frenzy of album launch day, Egan later explains that chance meetings like our mid-interview cut-off was one reason behind his decision to relocate.
“In Malmö I have some friends but not so much for me to get sidetracked every time I go outside the door. It allows me to focus everything I have on the music.”
ape’s Richie Egan is far from the easiest guy in music to contact. On the day of his album launch, establishing a connection was the first hurdle. His number, an unfamiliar string of digits – prime evidence of his relocation – fails to dial on both phones I have to hand. Sometime later, it rings. He answers. We exchange the usual interview pleasantries amid the background fuzz of a Dublin street. He interjects, “Ahh Aoife, howrya!?… Hey man, is it ok if you call back in ten minutes?”
“If I walk down a street in Dublin, I always meet someone and go for a coffee or pint; it was all very distracting. In Malmö I have some friends but not so much for me to get sidetracked every time I go outside the door. It allows me to focus everything I have on the music.”
“Crafting music on your own is like being snow blind. It’s absolutely soul destroying; you create so much self doubt, especially if you’re a guy like me who is his own worst critic.”
As one of Ireland’s most respected songwriters, Egan’s Jape remains the only act to have won Ireland’s Choice Music Prize on two occasions, in 2007 with Ritual and three years ago with his
“Before Jape I was in bands like The Redneck Manifesto, who’d get together every Saturday to jam. I still need that grounding. Somebody has to tell me, ‘no, that melody or those harmonies
It’s a difficulty that stems back to his earliest attempts at songcraft.
Delve into the LP’s subject matter and you’ll find an intensely personal record, one that transcends the meditative and spiritual, be it dealing with the topic of death in ‘Breath of Life’ or the ambiguous in ‘Absolutely Animals’. It’s a trait that propels his enthusiasm for the record. “The album is all killer, no filler. I think it was a guy from Van Halen who said he wanted to make an album so hot that it melts everything they made before it. I think This Chemical Sea does exactly that. There’s nothing I’m unhappy with on it.” While pride for his latest endeavour is evident, Egan remains a humble guy as we end our fragmented conversation, indifferent toward the possibility of nabbing a third Choice Music Prize: “I’m just not thinking about the Choice right now. Hey, if people like it as much as I do, great! Right now, I don’t even know if I’ll be nominated. But I’m glad I’m not in it this year with Hozier being in the shortlisted group. He’s totally deserving of it.”
However it is the opening track, ‘Séance of Light’, which thrives best on Egan’s collaborative goodwill. While its danceable synth melodies and hazy vocals are perfectly acceptable in a humdrum sort of way, the enlisting of Caribou and Jungle associate David Wrench behind the mixing board provides a delicate production style that allows an otherwise claustrophobic track to breathe. Wrench’s technique allows the record to explore a sonic depth and lightness of touch, one that mirrors a key motif of the LP: “One of the core themes throughout the album is breathing. It’s such a vital thing we do everyday, yet we never give it a thought. If I stopped breathing right here I’d die. Even giving it a second’s thought shows how important it is.” Still, you’d be wrong to assume that the worthwhile on Jape’s record is the end product of outside assistance as This Chemical Sea holds the heart, soul and graft of the Dublin man within its tentrack confines. “The guts of the album were cooked by myself and Glenn in Malmö, while the salt and pepper, the garnish was sprinkled in Dublin… Only when I had those ten songs fully formed and complete did I take a break.”
Listen to Jape
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Deeper Underground
Music
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espite the demise of the gangsta rap era in the early nineties, hip-hop is finally making a welcome a return on these shores. Since 2012 there has been a steady rise in the rap community across Ireland and Europe. Indeed, 2014 was a standout year that witnessed the emergence of hip-hop acts such Spekulitive Fiction, God Knows and Murli. Among these native acts, Chris Power, xDonovan, Pariah the Lonely Choir and Hope are also trying to make a name for themselves in the face of European competition. Power is already a wellknown Cork based hip-hop DJ and producer but 2015 could certainly see him reach new heights. On the other hand, electronic producer xDonovan is already enjoying huge online success, gaining over 40,000 streams for his bootleg recording ‘No Type.’
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Interviewing one half of Cork-based ApocalypsE, we delve into what he has to say about himself, his band and Ireland’s hip-hop culture. What made you take music seriously? When I realized that I was actually somewhat good at doing what I love. And that I can also make a living out of it! What influences inspired you to produce music with such a unique sound?
My Awesome Mix, Vol. IX
Mark Mavambu delves into Ireland’s burgeoning hip-hop scene. I didn’t really have a particular musical influence that encouraged me to write in a certain way but I loved the style of an old-school hip-hop group called A Tribe Called Quest. I was also influenced by the music that my mum used to play around the house such as Hugh Masakela, a South African Jazz artist. And how about the poetic side of it? That’s from my love of English and how I find it easy to use words to help me pin point my emotions and experiences. So how did you end up working with the other half of ApocalypsE? His style and yours aren’t that similar… Well, we knew each other from being brought up in the same area. During the summer of 2013 we grew to know each other more than expected and realised that we had more things in common besides music; that made it easier for us to connect. The difference is more of a blessing – we always have the same message despite our differences in approach. What are your plans for this year as ApocalypsE? Do you have any upcoming projects or any big events? The plan for this year is to get ourselves out there more and start producing our own beats, instead of relying on other producers who might not exactly create Gartland brings her soothing blend of folk melody and intricate fretwork to Cyprus Avenue on Saturday, February 14th. She gives Verge her very own Awesome Mix.
what we want. We also have a few shows booked this February, so we’re hoping to branch out and get events across Ireland.
ApocaylpsE play in the Live Music Society’s Battle of the Bands competition, which takes place throughout January and February.
Cork Gig Guide
tracks in what aims to be Skream inspired mix.
February 3rd – 16th
I Draw Slow Coughlan’s, Friday February 6th €15
1. Great Good Fine OK – Not Coming Home 2. Panama Wedding – All of the People 3. Rae Morris – Unguarded 4. SOAK – Sea Creatures 5. Gavin James – Nervous 6. Shura – Touch
Orla Gartland
7. Prides – Out of the Blue
Having amassed over 12 million YouTube hits in a little over two years, Dublin-based songstress Orla
8. Hozier – Someone New
Dublin roots band I Draw Slow have been drumming up enthusiastic reviews in Ireland since the release of their top-10-selling sophomore album Redhills. Their influences, rooted in both the Appalachian Mountains and traditional Irish music, brew a sound that straddles Americana and folk.
Waze & Odyssey Savoy, Friday February 13th €12 British-based house duo Waze & Odyssey claimed a top-3 hit last summer with their remix of R. Kelly’s ‘Bump n’ Grind’. Expect things to get very sweaty with a selection of progressive house
The Beat Crane Lane, Thursday February 5th €17 One of the biggest bands of the 2-Tone movement, The Beat present a wall of sound that transcends time and ska fusion rhythms in what should ignite the intimate surrounding of Crane Lane. They play their unique brand of worldclass musicianship this Thursday.
Album Review: The Pale Emperor Ryan O’Neil analyses Marilyn Manson’s change of pace.
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he man better known to us as Marilyn Manson has seen the world change irrevocably around him since the release of his band’s seminal Antichrist Superstar in 1996: Justin Bieber has been catapulted from internet anonymity to superstardom, famous actresses have had their
personal photos exposed for all to see and Kim Kardashian has, supposedly, ‘broken the internet’. With such furore in the world of entertainment, it is fair to say that perhaps a middle-aged man wearing makeup and singing about sex and Christianity isn’t quite as shocking as it was way back when.
Music
It is not just pop culture that has changed in the time since Antichrist Superstar was released but also Manson himself. Absinthe, illegal substances and hordes of obliging women are now, for the most part, off the menu for the self-proclaimed ‘God of Fuck’, who has had to find other ways to grab the world’s attention; something he and his band have arguably struggled to do in recent times.
There are times, however, where we glimpse Manson at his decadent and brilliant best. The cataclysmic ‘Warship My Wreck’ is a dirge-filled, eerie number where Manson muses: “Cannot say I’m breaking the rules if I can glue them back together.” His weathered voice shrieks unmercifully amid gloomy piano and thumping drums to mark one of the album’s finer moments.
“Absinthe, illegal substances and hordes of obliging women are now, for the most part, off the menu for the selfproclaimed ‘God of Fuck’”
Glam and performance have always been close to Manson’s heart and tracks like ‘Deep Six’ and ‘The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles’ hark back to his most shocking and outrageous live shows, dripping with his trademark attitude and imperiousness. The act does begin to wane a little in the second half of the album, however. The cocksure ‘Devil Beneath My Feet’ aside, there aren’t many standout tracks, with the themes of twisted love and repression beginning to wear thin.
On his new record we see a more mature, blues-influenced effort from Manson. The glam/ industrial roots have been toned down and lead single ‘Third Day of a Seven Day Binge’ is a brooding acoustic number uncharacteristic of the Ohio native, who professes, “I’d rather be your victim than be with you.”
Thankfully there are enough strong songs and memorable musical moments to cover The Pale Emperor’s weaker points and keep listeners engaged throughout. The result? Manson’s best record since the turn of the millennium.
Going her own way Claire Fox unlocks the legend that is the Fleetwood Mac singer and overall Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Stevie Nicks.
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ith her mystical onstage presence, epic sense of style and, of course, that voice which can haunt and hell-raise, it’s easy to see why the world fell in love with the pint-sized Stevie Nicks when she joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975. And it seems like the world is falling in love with Nicks all
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over again The latest issue of Rolling Stone dedicated nine pages to the life and times of Nicks – the first time her distinctive jawline and alluring gaze graced the iconic magazine for 30 years. So it seems like an apt time for Verge to dig a little deeper into the legend we call the ‘White Witch’. Like so many legends, Nick’s rise contains both controversy and contradiction. With journalists and bloggers singing the praises of the ‘Rhiannon’ singer, it’s easy to become
blinded by the hype that Nicks is a rock goddess from a parallel universe. But partying hard and dabbling in cocaine
“It seems like the world is falling in love with Nicks all over again.” is no reason to be lauded. Nicks is all too aware that her chronic cocaine addiction could have killed her, recently stating, “I was a girl, I was fragile and I was doing a lot of coke.” This cycle continued throughout the seventies and well into her solo career when she kicked the habit through a gruelling rehab stint.
So is Nicks an occultist like her more eccentric fans claim? While I am indeed a huge admirer of Nicks’ work, this opinion is somewhat bizarre. Just because Nicks states that her track ‘Rhiannon’ is based on an “Old Welch Witch” does not mean that Nicks is a witch herself. Nonetheless, you can’t deny that Nicks’ husky tone, blackhooded cloaks, white-lace dresses and mysterious origins add fuel to the occultist flame.
While Nicks allowed ‘Edge of Seventeen’s’ pulsating riff to be used on Destiny’s Child seminal hit ‘Bootylicious’, she has always remained loyal to her Fleetwood Mac roots... A point proved by the way Buckingham and Nicks bounce off each other in tracks like ‘The Chain’ and ‘Dreams’. So as the original band line-up embarks on their first world tour since 1997, a new generation will witness the music of the band and that of the reigning goddess or witch of rock that is Stevie Nicks.
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Fashion
Million Dollar Bloggers Marita Maloney investigates the business of blogging. enjoyable, albeit largely unprofitable, pastime for some, for others it is a fulltime profession that can earn them a significant amount of money. At the upper tier are those whose income is a staggering $1 million a year and for these million dollar bloggers, posting images predominantly equates to business transactions that can receive $5,000 apiece.
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espite the inescapable barrage of pictures featuring avocadoon-toast and scantily-clad Kardashians that greet us upon perusing Instagram, one will observe that sartorial images are the backbone of this aesthetically pleasing form of social media, and especially the individuals who feature in them. The site seems to trump its counterparts Twitter and Facebook in terms of garnering favouritism among fashion mavens and provides an invaluable outlet for thousands of blogs to exhibit daring personal style, a seemingly inexhaustible supply of daily outfits, exotic travel and product promotion. However, while this may be an
“For these million dollar bloggers, posting images predominantly equates to business transactions that can receive $5,000 apiece.” This figure is allegedly what designer Rebecca Minkoff paid Song of Style’s Aimee Song to post a picture on Instagram of her wearing a pair of the brand’s shorts; and so, with lucrative deals like this, it is no surprise that the Los Angeles blogger is one of the business’s top earners. Similarly Bryan Grey-Yambao of Bryanboy commanded a $15,000 appearance fee last year, while Leandra Medine of the Man Repeller dominates, thanks to affiliate marketing and brand collaborations, receiving 3.7 million page-views a month.
Style Gentlemen, Please! Nicole Clinton dissects the look of One Direction star Zayn Malik. If the scandalous pot-smoking video ‘leak’ didn’t prove that Zayn Malik easily holds the most dangerous image in boyband One Direction, his rocker style definitely does. His style loans him credibility among the cool crowd and offers a refreshing change from the usual clean-cut boyband look. Black is undoubtedly his colour of choice but his experimentation with atypical items, his addition of unique accessories and his generally rebellious appearance makes his look anything but safe. Malik’s outfit selection for the 2014 Brit Awards set him apart from his other four bandmates and expressed a sense of tasteful eccentricity. While the monochrome arrangement of a crisp white shirt and black trousers is hardly innovative, his choice of jacket
and accessories injected a fresh aura. He donned a long, black, one-buttoned blazer that appears almost like an oldfashioned morning jacket. With the end tailored long in the back and cut in a V-shape in the front, the jacket exudes a subtle costume feel. The look is infused with a cool, youthful attitude as he ditches the traditional tie, opting for a skull-print neckerchief scarf instead. His stage wardrobe also exhibits his
jour and former law student is now more businesswoman than blogger and oversees a team of 16 in managing what has become an international brand. As one of Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ brightest stars for 2015, the willowy Italian is touted to earn an outstanding $8 million this year alone. 70% of this revenue comes from Chiara Ferragni Collection, her footwear line which is stocked in 25 countries and the other 30% results from brand partnerships and designer collaborations.
Affiliate links provide a major proportion of a high-earning blogger’s income and by simply featuring an item of clothing, readers will be encouraged to view the link to a brand’s site; therefore procuring not only a commission fee for the blogger for each sale of the garment, but also for every click to the site. It is predominantly thanks to these programs that names such as Rachel Parcell of Pink Peonies and Tina Craig and Kelly Cook of Snob Essentials, who may not seem illustrious in fashion’s inner circle, earn upwards of the $1 million mark. As for the Blonde Salad’s Chiara Ferragni, she is in a complete league of her own. The designer darling du personal fashion tendencies. The group performed at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival in the middle of their Where We Are tour and Malik sported an understated grunge look. The colour palette heavily relies on dark colours again, with him wearing a loose, black shirt over a plain, grey t-shirt. His black, skinny jeans add a hint of hipster cool but it is his accessorising, once again, that emanates a bohemian spirit. A simple, long silver chain hung down over his chest and the characteristic neckerchief returned (this time in a red hue) to produce a gypsy flair. Overall, Zayn Malik’s fashion sense reflects the mysterious, artistic aura that distinguishes him from the rest of the upbeat band. He overturns the predictable, golden-boy image that we expect from a pop idol, instead taking inspiration from a rocker look, whether he is channelling an unconventional formal outfit or a relaxed stage ensemble.
In the past year, the jet-setting streetstyle virtuoso received an outlandish $40,000 stipend for merely attending a Stuart Weitzman store opening in Milan, was a Project Runway guest judge, published the Blonde Salad book and was a preeminent tour de force throughout the four major fashion weeks. At only 27 years of age, the savvy Ferragni, hailed as one of the most influential personalities in the fashion world, has evolved a blog that began in 2009 to a lucrative business. She successfully set the benchmark for aspiring fashion bloggers pursuing entry into the covetable Million Dollar Club, but a word of caution is needed before day jobs are abandoned, as the Blonde Salad and other million dollar blogs are the exception, not the norm.
Springing onto the high street Laura O’Connor details the trends that will be appearing in our favourite stores this spring.
Fashion
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hile it may still seem essential to wrap ourselves up in thick scarves, quilted coats and layer on the chunky, warm knits in order to survive the cold weather, a new season of warmth and sunshine is approaching and it’s time to prepare our wardrobe. Spring promises to be an exciting one for us fashionlovers, incorporating both fresh and vintage style vibes. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can expect from the hottest high street stores.
Topshop Topshop unveiled their latest collection recently at London Fashion Week. Campaign girl, Cara Delevingne showcased the hottest looks from their SS15 collection. Key trend pieces included tennis whites, light pastels and Britannia colours. It also looks like double denim (yes, I said it!) is set to make its comeback, while the co-ordinates combo has been given a more casual, everyday look.
River Island River Island are paying a huge homage to the seventies this season. Think wide
floppy hats, flared pants, tons of fringing and kimonos. Another key trend for spring is flared denims and wide palazzo pants (this is rumoured to be the pants of the season by the way), so grab a pair while you can! The classic spring floral, vibrant prints, pastels, white embroidery and embellishments are also on offer this season. In the denim department, distressed and ‘Mom’ style jeans are back in force. There’s also a nod to the nautical district of denim, with navy and white stripes alongside white blazers featuring heavily.
Global fashion faux pas Jayne Groarke critiques this year’s Golden Globes fashion, comparing its credentials to previous years. The Golden Globes have, like its successor The Oscars, have both showcased a number of iconic dresses over the years. Every year they act as a platform for fashion, although this year’s attire proved to be a collective fashion faux pas. Lopez won the camera’s eye with her seductive sequin, Zuhair Murad caped gown that revealed its fair share of cleavage! Teigan wore a pale pink embellished bodycon number with luxe sheer panels (also a Murad design) and to the envy of us all, dazzling Harry Kotlar diamonds. But while Jennifer Lopez and Chrissy Teigan lived up to the usual standards, many others failed epically. Evidentially Zuhair Murad designs have successfully contributed to the best-dressed list at this event over the years: one cannot forget the beautiful Miranda Kerr who stole the show at the 2013 awards. She worked the
runway in an unforgettable oxblood gown with a plunging neckline and side-draped detail. Murad also dressed Jennifer Lopez in another one of his ravishing designs that year when Lopez was fitted in a regal nude, long-sleeved dress, embroidered with ivory lace and embellished with beading. However the same cannot be said for the Chanel designs that crept their way onto the red carpet this year. Take Keira Knightley’s gown – or should I say nightie!? Overrun by butterflies and garnished with ‘doilies’, Coco Chanel would have turned in her grave had she laid eyes on it. By contrast, Anne Hathaway embodied the true mark of Chanel haute couture in the 2013 Golden Globes. Simple yet elegant in white, the gown’s peplum detail produced a feminine touch. Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson also wore Chanel this year, failing to make an impression with her
Penneys Our high street hero and bargain hunter’s paradise hasn’t disappointed as they’ve provided an exciting, lust-worthy, fashionable collection for spring. Fresh, quirky, vibrant co-ord prints are bold and brilliant, while the pretty pastels and cute florals make an excellent contrast. Boho chic is revamped; so wide brimmed hats, chunky soled wedges, flared culottes and luxurious scarves are to be expected. The nineties rather predictable attire. Lana Del Rey was yet another disappointment. Her vintage Travilla dress had an uncanny resemblance to a mermaid’s tail, while Amelia Warner was no improvement. She wore an offwhite drop waist dress reminiscent of the 1930s era, although it appeared that Warner forgot to take off her hula skirt before she donned the carpet. Underneath the dress was a fringe of pink feathers... For a designer who once dressed the renowned Marilyn Monroe, William Travilla seemed to have taken a different route for this year’s ceremony. This year there were too many fiascos and not enough simplicity. Remember Emma Stone’s chosen gown for the 2011 edition, when she donned a short sleeved Calvin Klein number with a jewel neckline. Its coral fabric brightened up the carpet. Overall this year’s Golden Globes was unfortunately more memorable for its disappointments than its successes style-wise. Let’s hope that next year designers will step up their game to really wow the fashion critics but, for now, we have the Oscars to look forward to!
slider is tipped to be the shoe of the season, featuring in an array of gorgeous colours, from melting metallics to pretty pinks.
H&M H&M’s collection is fronted by model Karmen Pedaru and is inspired by “the laid-back life of Miami and Palm Springs.” You can expect hot, cropped pastel knits, kitsch pyjama-inspired jogger bottoms, cool prints and sports luxe to be the key looks of the season.
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