Smoke Mag Issue 15 by Westminster SU

MARCH 2017 · ISSUE 15 · FREE

uwsu.com/mag

a fashion week expose PG.14-17

interview with hannah wants PG.12-13

the benefits of chocolate PG.24-25

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TEAM

INSIDE

Amy Avent

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF amy.avent@smoke.media

IMANI LIVINGSTON

DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF imani.livingston@smoke.media

JOSHUA HACKETT

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

MANAGING Editor JOSHUa.hackett@smoke.media

cristian angloni

COMMENT Editor cristian.angeloni@smoke.media

LAREB NASEEM

MUSIC Editor LAREB.nASEEM@smoke.media

Lama el khamy

music editor lama.elkhamy@smoke.media

CHINA TEBB

ARTS Editor China.tebb@smoke.media

omar balde

FASHION Editor omar.balde@smoke.media

kate reichardt

fashion editor kate. reichardt @smoke.media

HOLLY PATRICK

LIFESTYLE Editor HOLLY.PATRICK@smoke.media

kIEra chapman

LIFESTYLE Editor keira.chapman@smoke.media

SMOKE MAG is produced monthly by a team of student volunteer editors and contributors. SMOKE MAG is published by the University of Westminster Students’ Union, but views presented do not necessarily mirror those of UWSU or the editorial team. If you would like to make a complaint or comment about our journalism, please contact the managing editor, Joshua Hackett, in the ﬁrst instance.

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This issue has been an emotional one, as this is my last issue as Editorin-chief, our next copy of Smoke Mag will come as a joint one put together by my team and the incoming editorial team for 2017/18. I have to take this moment to thank my incredible team who have worked day and night to bring you monthly editions of Smoke Mag, with every page and article oozing passion and commitment. We have had our up’s and down’s as a team and our breakdown’s in the media hub when things just won’t look right on the page, but it has been an experience nonetheless. I have to thank our fantastic student media coordinator who has

helped me build this publication from scratch when we met up in the summer of 2016, without him we would still be publishing every three months and using a horriﬁc website. I could write a dissertation on what an amazing time I have had bringing Smoke Mag to each campus every month, and despite the fact that is has quite literally turned me grey, I will forever be grateful for the experience. This issue we have your usual music and culture ﬁx as we interview Hannah Wants and share our experiences at London Fashion week and many many more fab articles - I would write more but I am running out of space and I am getting emotional. Enjoy issue 15! Amy x

06/03/2017 19:20

INSIDE

COMMENT PG. 4-6

FEATURES PG. 8-17

freedom of speech and right to offend & beyonce fever

Interview with hannah wants & london fashion week.

MUSIC PG. 18-19

ARTS PG. 21-23

FLYTE REVIEW & decoding music videos.

santa clarita diet review &TWELFTH NIGHT REVIEW

LIFESTYLE PG. 24-25

FASHION PG. 26-27

the benefits of chocolate & the two types of students at uni.

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an excusive interview with nude shoe designer.

06/03/2017 19:21

COMMENT

What is freedom of speech... By Sonakshi Sharma

Let’s start with the example of jokes. Why do we tell jokes? To make people laugh but sometimes people get offended by jokes. Who decides what offends one person and does not offend another? This is an important issue that can be opinionated in different ways. In my opinion, I feel it is important to understand the definition of Freedom of Speech which states, “it is the power or right to express one’s opinions without

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censorship, restraint, or legal penalty.” This clearly tells us that an individual is entitled to put forth their ideas about any issue without being scared to offend anyone.

“Who decides what offends one person and does not offend another?” Coming back to jokes, if

we closely observe, a joke always offends someone, does that mean they should not be told? The same is the link between Freedom of speech and right to offend. If disagreement is not expressed, then freedom of speech has no backbone. The relationship between freedom of speech and right to offend is a very complex one. However, it is very clear that they go hand in hand. We cannot generalise the term “offend” because what is right for one may be wrong for another. Legal issues on the same can say otherwise. It can be said that by expressing your opinions one should keep in mind their boundaries and not target people whilst doing so. But again, I feel it is essential to understand that everyone’s expression of thought is different. At times,

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COMMENT

... without the right to offend others? I feel it is crucial to target an aspect of the problem at hand in order to fully express oneself. If “bitter truth” is not confronted honestly, then Freedom of Speech stands false and invalid. “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter,” is rightly quoted by George Washington. The right to offend is included under Freedom of speech and its significance is the reason many people in

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the world are today able to speak out loud about various issues including – rights for women, religion, politics etc.

“The right to offend is included under Freedom of speech” Without disagreement or offending, we all stand at a dangerous ground

where there is no pluralistic debate and no scope for improvement. It is very crucial to understand that we as individuals do not decide what is right and wrong for someone by restraining their freedom of speech. Right to offend is integral in order to give liberty to people to freely express themselves. It enables us to stand up and speak our minds for when there are disagreements there will be debate and thus, there will be growth.

06/03/2017 19:22

COMMENT

Are we being offended too easily or is it just racist? BY katherine cenaj

When you hear ‘Eeny Meeny Miny Moe’ what do you think oﬀ? Do you think of a familiar child-hood rhyme? Or the deep-rooted racial connotations? Personally I thought the former, but for Ian Lucraft, it was the opposite. After spotting a t-shirt branding the slogan, made popular once again by The Walking Dead, he was quick to take his complaint straight to Primark’s head oﬃce causing the budget brand to pull the t-shirt from the shelves. Is it just me or would you consider that a slight overreaction to a light-hearted, hit-show inspired tee? In this past year alone, we have had to deal with tragedies and travesties of our social and political systems. Yet it was this particular t-shirt which caused such an internal uproar for Lucraft. For all I

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know he could be the biggest Black Live Matter activist, yet ironically his reaction could signify the naivety of his judgement. The matter of racism should be addressed in day to day situations, in Parliament and every established courthouse. However, the over-sensitisation of obviously not racist acts is pushing a wedge between the races causing what can be argued as irreparable damage. It is the idea of them and us, not we.

“When you hear ‘Eeny Meeny Miny Moe’ what do you think off?” When will we ever learn that the colour of our skin does not deﬁne who we are and who we may become?

It is an abhorrent ideology that should have been eradicated by now, yet regrettably that is not the case. In my lifetime, racism has never been as prevalent as it is now. We need to be able to rationally differentiate between purposefully racist and non-racists acts. Do not allow the Donald Trumps’ of this world the opportunity to use questionable events like this t-shirt predicament to mask the long fight to a world of equality. When will we ever learn that the colour of our skin does not define who we are and who we may become? It is an abhorrent ideology that should have been eradicated by now, yet regrettably that is not the case. In my lifetime, racism has never been as prevalent as it is now. We need to be able to rationally differentiate between purposefully racist and non-racists acts.

06/03/2017 19:22

BEYONCÉ fever is ruining us

explains Minal Maugi after the star broke the inernet with her pregnancy photoshoot.

The female superstar that is Beyoncé K n o w l e s Carter sent all social media platforms into a total meltdown with the multitude of her fans around the world going crazy in love with her pregnancy announcement. The musician set her second Guinness World Record for the most liked image in the history of social media, by using Instagram to officially announce her pregnancy to the world. According to Reuters, the post reached over six million likes in less than eight hours on Instagram and became the top trending item on Twitter, with more than 500,000 tweets within the first hour. As the news spread all over the internet, breaking social media records, it seemed that the world was going crazy. The world had caught Beyoncé fever. This resulted into a flood of fans recording videos to express their thoughts and feelings on the matter, which included a lot of crying and dancing.

berserk over the news of another baby Carter, and experiencing emotional attachment to Beyoncé, may an acute celebrity fever be underway? Images of celebrities are manufactured by the media and have become ubiquitous in dominating media discourse and society. Especially with the rise of social media, the boundaries between celebrities, such as Beyoncé and viewers are blurring, as celebrities are increasingly sharing aspects of their daily lives on social media. The mass media persistently circulates a culture centered on celebrities, where news stations, major newspapers, magazines, television and the

COMMENT

internet among others, focus on the comings and goings of celebrities, their fashion choices as well as their personal lives. As viewers and fans are deliberately exposed to this celebrity culture, they are developing an intimacy level and attachment to celebrities. They are experiencing similar feelings to the celebrities. The mass media seems to be deliberately producing a deception of interpersonal contact whilst playing on ideals of intimacy through its media networks. This is increasing a sense of proximity between our identity and that of celebrities in one level, and promoting an acute sycophancy over celebrities on another level.

“WORLD HAD CAUGHT BEYONCÉ FEVER” of

Witnessing swarms ardent fans going

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06/03/2017 19:22

FEATURE

TWO OF LONDON’S MOST UNIQUE MUSIC EXPERIENCES LAREB naseem & LAMA BY DAY & NIGHT BYelkhamy

totally unique p l a tf o r m that exposes emerging artists to music fans via an eleven day promo tour that is built around performances in student union coffee shops and bars around the UK and an accompanying media schedule.’ Having toured the likes of Izzy Bizu, Tom Walker, The Shires and more, CHS have been an essential kickstart to all of their careers. What makes Coffee House Sessions so unique is that they not only host night events but day events too. Having observed the lifestyle shift amongst students, coffee shops and bars are now much more popular hangout spaces in comparison to clubs. Coffee House Sessions keep live music on campus alive through weekly sessions at nearly twenty universities during term time, through October to March. “It’s good music and food It’s that niche audience, The audience that doesn’t need to drink to have fun. That audience that takes the time out of their day to support and listen to music with a cup of coffee. One might perhaps open up to a

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new genre. Bob Dylan made a living out of it.” - Gabby Espinet (Current Volunteer for CHS)

“Have you ever attended a concert where you couldn’t fully enjoy the music?” Taking you from your daytime, caﬃnated, beverage to the night is the equally unique organisation, Sofar Sounds. Have you ever attended a concert where you couldn’t fully enjoy the music? Where people spoke over the artist and recorded with their phones? If you were a part of the audience, chances are you only saw the artist through a screen and if you were the artist, you probably only saw a sea of phones and ﬂashes. Nowadays, gigs have lost their essence, the art performed no longer holds the same importance. However, a community of music lovers decided to try to change this by creating a platform in which there

are no distractions or annoyances, just straight music: all from the comfort of a single room. Sofar Sounds is a global community present in over 300 cities around the world. Their mission is to provide people with intimate gigs where artist and audience can connect on a deeper level and enjoy acoustic, stripped down sets. What makes Sofar so unique is that you never know where you’re going or what you’re getting until you’re there. Locations are kept secret until the day before and lineups are only discovered once you’re there. This makes the experience even more exciting and gives you a chance to discover new artists. Sofar provides an environment where everyone is equal, comfortable and connected. “If you’re a music lover, volunteering for Sofar is one of the most fulﬁlling things you could do. You make amazing new friends, network a bunch, learn important skills and, most of all, you take part in magical music experiences on a regular basis.” -Soﬁa Loporcaro (Long term volunteer for Sofar)

06/03/2017 19:23

FEATURE

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06/03/2017 19:23

FEATURE

YOUNG & TALENTED INTRODUCING BA CONTEMPORARY MEDIA PRACTICE STUDENT and modest designer LUNA AKKAD BY CHINA TEBB

rts editor China Tebb sat down with Luna Akkad to discuss her brand Luna’s Essentials and her experience at London Modest Fashion Week last month. “Elegant, modest and quality,” are the three words that Luna would use to describe her brand. After starting to wear the hijab, she found it difficult to find good quality scarves that are made especially for modest women to wear as headscarves. “It took me three years of continuous searching to find the perfect scarves. Once, on a visit back to the Middle East, I discovered top quality

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headscarves, in all colours and styles.”

“MY MAIN INFLUENCE IS MYSELF” After being asked on social media where she purchased her scarves from, Luna was encouraged to introduce them to the West, to help those in the same situation. “My main influence is myself. As a young modest woman, living in the West, I am able to relate to many people that go through the same struggles that I go through.

“I try to meet their needs by meeting my own needs. I look at what I would like to see in the fashion world for modestly dressed women, like myself, and fill in the gaps of what I feel is missing.” “My brand is about fashion and modesty. To show the world how you don’t need to show your skin to be stylish and that you can still practice your faith while being up to date with fashion,” Luna explained. “It’s about value for money; great quality essential products with reasonable prices.” “My favourite product is the colourful Holy Quran because unfortunately some people associate this

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FEATURE FEATURE

A CUSTOMER AT LUNA’S ESSENTIALS

beautiful scripture that has such peaceful teachings, that are relatable to all, to the propaganda. “I think that seeing a bright colourful book that looks very friendly and beautiful from the outside is a perfect representation of what is on the inside.”

“MY BRAND IS ABOUT FASHION AND MODESTY” Speaking about her experience selling her products at London Modest Fashion Week, Luna said, “It is difficult to pick one

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favourite moment, seeing the amount of people that were interested in my products was very rewarding. “However my top two moments would be; meeting so many amazing bloggers such as Dina Tokio, who was very personable and friendly, as well as being interviewed by Islam Channel.” “I hope I can reach out to a wider audience by expanding,” she says, speaking of her goals for this upcoming year. “As well being an influential brand that will change people’s perspectives towards the hijab, modesty and Islam.” Instagram: @lunas.essentials

07/03/2017 16:53

FEATURE

play TOUR: hannah wants

Hann wan LEON wan tu gets nostalgic with rising dj

annah Wants the British born DJ who has had the musical gene ﬂowing through

her veins ever since she could remember has oﬃcially taken oﬀ on her very own tour. ‘Play’, raw and authentic which will highlight Hannah’s

artistic progression. Smoke were given the opportunity to not only attend one of her gigs but also talk one on one with Hannah herself!

What got you into DJing?

I’ve always been a massive fan of music. Ever since I can remember I’ve always either recorded from the radio or brought mixes of other DJs. I went to my ﬁrst rave probably when I was about 16. It was then that I knew I wanted to be a DJ. When I knew who I wanted to be. I was gifted a set of decks for my birthday and from then on I taught myself.

That’s awesome, I do a bit of DJing myself and find it so encapturing. You just really get sucked into it don’t you? Yeah, I was just mesmerised. I remember I went into a club, and had this feeling as soon as I saw the crowd. I paid close attention to the DJ, the way he played with the music, having a good time yet had control over the dancefloor and I was dumbfounded- I want to do that. From the first moment I knew this is what I wanted to do. I’m blessed to be able to do it now, I’m happy. What would you say would be the first track that defined your earliest of rave/ club memory? When I first started attending gigs, speed garage was popular in Birmingham it was

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06/03/2017 19:24

bassline house and UK garage. It was always tracks from that era. A couple of tracks that stood out from bassline house was one called ‘Sarah Parker - My love is Deep’ and that was the sharp vocal remix, it was kind of like a mad dance bassline track that was sick. That was massive in Birmingham.

Is there any advice you’d give to someone trying to become a DJ? I’d say act professional is a really important one. Do it for the right reasons is another one. You know obviously, the hype around DJs, from when I started until now, a DJ is like a rockstar thing, not that I was around the rockstar age but you know what I mean. It’s cool to be a DJ especially when equipment has made it cheap to become

one. Act professional and go about it the way you know. It’s important to build up a fanbase and I’d say put mixes up on soundcloud so people can become accustomed to your style.

FEATURE

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Find the complete interview online at: smoke.media/ reviews

What kind of track are you playing a lot? There’s a few. There’s a track called techno and not techno which sounds big in my set. Also feeling Matt Sassari love listening to him.

Whilst breaking through as a DJ a couple of years ago, what was it like building up your career from nothing and starting to gain public interest in clubs like Fabric and or festivals? It’s surreal when you’re look back, day to day you don’t notice the diﬀerence just like with anything. But it’s when you kind of stop and take it in and recollect where you’ve come from that you kind of just go ‘wow’. It’s something that I’m really proud of, and I’m grateful for my journey from every step of the way.

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06/03/2017 19:24

FEATURE

Girls to be smokejust magwant at london fashion week 2017

Omar Balde and teodora baluta share their experiences from london fashion week.

ashion Week took over the month of February, with shows hitting capital cities across the globe. The month allowed for the most iconic designers and fresh names to hit the catwalk and to showcase what we can expect to see in stores during Autumn and Winter. Smoke Mag was lucky enough to send Omar Balde to London Fashion Week who worked with Teodora Baluta to provide an overview of the event and their experience at one of the world’s biggest events, in addition to an overview of what also happened in New York. London has always been considered a creative hub when it comes to design and the industry of fashion, London Fashion Week 2017 was no exception. Autumn/ Winter 2017 brought to life the various idea’s that have flooded the industry recently through the highly creative voices of the best British designers. The state of politics, both in the USA and the UK has been a concern for designers, just as much as it has been for the global citizens, which was reflected in their designs. Ashish used the catwalk as a platform

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to make his voice heard on the issues surrounding the recently appointed President of the United States, using slogans such as “Pussy Grabs Back” to fight against the sexist voices that have been voiced since Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“a middle finger to fashion conventions” When it comes to issues concerning the fashion industry directly, the stereotypical usage of models comes to mind and this problem was addressed by Simone Rocha. The designer used models of all ages, and even put the modeling legends Jan de Villeneuve and Benedetta Barzini, both in their 70’s on the catwalk to demonstrate his incredible designs, made even more spectacular by the statement he made to the industry - a middle finger to fashion conventions. Another highlight from LFW was the Burberry show that continued its tradition of creating an exhibition at Makers House. This season Christopher Bailey took inspiration from the iconic

British artist Henry Moore, incorporating details from its sculptures into the designs. In addition to the highly crafted, beautifully designed collection, the brand offered a capsule collection of 78 couture capes, using one of Burberry’s historical garments. A key designer which stood out at London Fashion Week while we were examining the catwalks was Phoebe English who has played the fashion game this season with current themes that considered to be “the struggle of society” such as: tyranny, fear, apathy, voice, courage, unity, repair and hope. The collection was showcased in the Fitzrovia Chapel elevating the show to a performance due to the mystic atmosphere that surrounded the beautiful concept. Phoebe designed 11 looks that presented the women as ‘heroines’, adorned with crowns and strewn with flora. The collection was based on characters with every look, mostly monochromatic symbolising one of the aforementioned themes. The designs were unique and revealed a new facet of Phoebe English with her initiation into tailoring. The

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FEATURE

image by tooba haq

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06/03/2017 19:25

FEATURE

concept behind the garments was powerful and struck a sensible cord in the heart of the audience whilst the set was almost surreal with the dim light and the smell of incense amplifying every emotion brought by the collection. Phoebe started a conversation between tyranny and unity in order to explore what is happening globally, juxtaposing sheer fabric with bold silhouettes and delicate forms. There is no better way to explain herconcept than through the brand’s words.

“Tyranny oppresses, Fear divides, Apathy rests, Me.You. Them.Us” Another designer who shone at London Fashion Week was Teatum Jones, with his collection named ‘The Body, inspired by the work of Hans Bellmer, which made a doll project to oppose the perfect body that prevailed in Germany during the Nazi period. The luxury brand brought this concept to the catwalk with the message that the so-called “perfect” image of a human can be deconstructed in unconventional ways and considered just as beautiful. Their textiles explore the signature shapes such as the oversized coats and column dresses, taking the seams apart and reconstructing them using contrasting sheer layers. The use of this

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technique gives the illusion of two layers of skin. Adding to this Teatum Jones adds imperfect squares, and incomplete youthful marks are hand painted onto silk satin crepes. Giving more enface to the idea of the beautiful imperfection, with shades of black, blue and mustard yellow making up the main colours for the collection. It was a show that marked the beginning of fashion week and was a symbol showing that the unconventional can be beautiful.

ew York, much like London took the appointment of President Trump and turned it into a statement through fashion, encouraging the industry to engage in politics and to express their opinions. This seemed to have been a running theme throughout fashion week across the world. Designers such as Public School and Prabal Gurung showcased their points by using phrases such as ‘Make America New York’ or “I Am an Immigrant” to prove their disapproval and to raise awareness when it comes to the critical state in which one of the most powerful countries has plundered into through the eyes of Trump’s opposers. The recently appointed designer, Raf Simons showed his first collection for the iconic American brand. The expectations were high for

the Belgian born designer that has once conquered the battle with the critics through his creativity in developing a new aesthetic for the house of Dior. The concerns were about the way in which he would be able to transform his immense imagination to be a perfect match with the more commercial brand. The change was more than noticeable, the usual sexy, millennial targeted ads being changed to a more refined, intellectual promotion and it was underlined as well by the new design of the logo. The collection was a successful first step for the reinvented brand, the influences were clear with touches of American culture everywhere.

“the most eccentric and vivid one of them all” Another highlight was the Marc Jacobs show that is usually the most eccentric and vivid one of them all, but this year it took a 180 degrees turn. The set was composed of two long rows of folding chairs that formed the catwalk, there was no music and a ban on social media. The theme of the collection was the epoch of the hip hop revelation in New York. The models wore corduroy, fur-collared jackets, miniskirts and track suit pants in all kinds of shades of brown with pops of denim to insert the urban vibe more in depth.

06/03/2017 19:25

FEATURE

image by tooba haq

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08/02/2017 11:49

MUSIC

introducing alt. band Flyte Lama El Khamy’s music recommendation to you this month

usic editor L a m a , introduces you to the latest alternative pop band, Flyte. With a short review and some background information on who they are, how they started and why you should listen to them.

“they’re capable of sending chills down your spine” Scrolling through spotify can be a long and boring experience when you have the desire to try some new music. A hot

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recommendation right now would be Flyte - despite being spelt in a way that is unique to the band, they are unlike anything you could have imagined. This four piece band will offer you perfection with their jaw dropping harmonies and beautiful intricate lyrics which is rarely found nowadays. Flyte are an English alternative pop band who have been around since 2013 with the release of their ‘Live EP’. Since then, they have released several marvellous singles, toured with Bombay Bicycle Club and are now expected to release a full album very soon. Why they still haven’t

gained recognition remains a mystery. Their songs are always able to take you on a journey, either through your mind with ‘Echoes’ or through your deepest emotions with ‘Faithless’

“toured with bombay bicycle club” They’re capable of sending chills down your spine with each song and will make you reminisce the good old days. They could perform anywhere and still deliver excellence. Flyte is definitely a band you must keep up with.

06/03/2017 19:28

MUSIC Katy perry - chained to the rhythm

Decoding:katy perry’s “chained to the rythm”

BY Meghna agarwal

e g h n a A g a r w a l talks through Katy Perry’s unusual new music video and highlights its political themes.

“chained to the rythm is a wake up call” In her latest music video Chained to The Rhythm, Katy Perry invites her viewers to an exciting ride. With a big smile and sparkling eyes, she enters an amusement park entitled Oblivia. Singing the

lines “are we crazy, living our lives through the lens?”. This immediately sets the mood of the video, showing how

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our lives currently consist of nothing but charmedup materialistic pleasures, with little to no emotional meaning or satisfaction.

“Something is wrong...” Society is represented through the park’s visitors who are stuck in a perpetual cycle, substituting life with virtual reality or in Perry’s words ‘happily numb and living in a bubble, so comfortable that they cannot see the trouble.’ Almost like hamsters running on a wheel; endless and futile Perry talks about prominent political issues, but dresses them up as colourful and preppy activities available in the park. Like the malfunctioning

of the ride hoisting suburban houses to the sky, indicating the US housing crisis, to the ‘Inferno Water’ petrol station as a reference to the West’s dependence on oil, but also to the looming crisis over the world’s water supply. Perry’s character senses that something is wrong in her ‘perfect world’ but is unable to put a finger on it. At the theatre scene, she notices a disturbing uniformness amongst the crowd who are moving entirely in unison. Once realising the truth of her existence, Perry tries to pass on the message that they are all ‘chained to the rhythm’. With unmistakably Black Mirror esque elements, Chained to The Rhythm is a wake-up call to everyone and anyone, unable to realise the hefty price of ‘going with the flow’.

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11/10/2016 17:48

SEASON ONE OF SANTA CLARITA DIET IS STREAMING ON

ARTS

NETFLIX NOW

SANTA CLARITA DIET REVIEW BY IMANI LIVINGSTON

Refreshingly humorous is the best way to describe The Santa Clarita Diet. Recommended by a friend who thought it would be appreciated, there was no real way to mentally prepare for what was about to be seen. Drew Barrymore plays a wife and mother, overcome by a sickness that results in her transforming into the undead. Those of you that are not fans of horror, don’t be put off as this is a series you most definitely won’t be able to look away from. Barrymore is bold, empathetic and absolutely beautiful even with human flesh stuck between her teeth. This show, although probably not relatable to

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most of you in the zombie sense (hopefully), reminds us of the ups and downs of everyday family life: a rebellious teenager who does not want to accept change, a lack of activity in the bedroom due to insecurities even after years of marriage, and nosey ass neighbors.

“BLOOD, GUTS, BODY PARTS, ROMANCE AND COMEDY” Ricardo Chavira, although Desperate Housewives fans may know him as Carlos Solis, plays the paranoid neighbor who also happens to be the Chief of

Police and is continuously sniffing around their lives, which results in him finding a finger that Sheila forgot to snack on. Of course teen romance has to be in the air somewhere. Skyler Gisondo and Liv Hewson play the perfect awkward pair as they find themselves learning new things about themselves, as well as each other. The shy looks, the word vomit and the cringe kiss. It’s all there. With a combination of blood, guts, body parts, romance and comedy, there is most definitely something for everyone. This Netflix Original is the perfect excuse for a much needed binge.

06/03/2017 19:26

BOOK CORNER NOMAD BY JAMES SWALLOW

TWELFTH NIGHT REVIEW

ARTS

BY OMAR BALDE

BY LAREB NASEEM With a blurb that gives zero to nothing away, you’re thrown into a dystopian world - which dare I say is quite relatable to our current state of affairs. Nomad is an exciting and thrilling story that will leave you on edge. From the very first page, you can feel the tension and heat. A modern day spy story with a headstrong protagonist, Marc Dane, a betrayed MI6 operative who is branded a traitor when he remains untouched of a messy operation. However, Marc isn’t our only character as we observe and look over that of which the enemy discusses. T r u l y unputdownable, this is a book which you must experience for yourself. Once you’ve read the last page, you’re left wanting more.

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Twelfth Night is a Shakespearean play that tells the story of twins, a brother and sister, who are separated as a result of a tragic accident. During the play they try to meet one another, with a number of obstacles in their way. Simon Godwin takes this play and modernises it, giving us house music, drag queens, more female roles and love in many forms.

“EXACTLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF DRAMA” But the most incredible aspect is the importance that Malvolia (Tamsin Greig) has in this play. She is a character that will provoke the biggest reactions from you. Greig does a fantastic job, playing a character that was not even designed to be a woman in the ﬁrst place.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Daniel Rigby) was another incredible character - he is the main reason for laughter during the play, his movements alone make him hilarious. The production design and scenery were fantastic too, taking the form of a set of stairs that move and open, creating diﬀerent spaces. A great work of production. Simon Godwin is to be congratulated for this because it is extremely well done. He picks up a Shakespeare classic and gives it the modern twist that the play needs, making it edgy and fun but with exactly the right amount of drama, to give you chills. The play will be at the National Theatre till the 13th May, and it will be broadcast live on the 6th April by the NT Live.

06/03/2017 19:26

LIFESTYLE Fond of fondue? Get adventurous with your chocolate.

cocoa sans chanel

Kiera Chapman uncovers the beauty of chocolate

here’s nothing more satisfying than the second a creamy hunk of a chunk of chocolate touches the tip of your tongue. Laced with bitter, caramel undertones, it starts to melt. Before you know it the entire bar is gone, reducing you to a sugary mess on the edge of cocoa coma. This epidemic claims most of it’s victims around a period called Easter. The chocolate comes in the form of an egg - a more visually appealing format and challenging eat. If you do not engulf the entire thing at once, are you even worthy of it’s oval beauty in the first place? Chocolate has an unhealthy connotation tied to it - it’s nothing but sugar and should be seen as a treat. Whilst the latter is true, the former is not. The cocoa

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bean is rich in flavonoids which lowers blood pressure, and the darker the bean, the higher the level of antioxidants it contains. On occasion, even more than green tea and red wine!

“The cocoa bean is rich in flavonoids which lowers blood pressure” It is also form of caffeine; it can act as a stimulant. However, it’s nothing compared to the buzz a shot of espresso gives you, so you should probably refrain from knocking back a miniature fondue in the morning. If you find yourself bored of consuming chocolate the

standard way i.e. wolfing quite violently down an entire bar in under two seconds, there are other ways to explore. Melt your chocolate in the microwave and dip marshmallows or fruit into it. You could even go on to make ‘crispy cakes’ from the melted mess with cereal or a healthier alternative: DIY granola bars! Dark chocolate is incredible inserted into the slits of a banana, wrapped in foil, and baked in the oven. If you wish to devour your chocolate in liquid form, make your own hot chocolate - with any milk you like! By swapping regular milk with oat, you get silky warm drink that tastes exactly like a Kinder Bueno. Don’t feel guilty this Easter. Embrace the beans! Flavonoids are your friends.

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FIVE RESONS TO vist THE LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL 6th - 9th April The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London. https://www. londoncoﬀeefestival.com

1) Who doesn’t love coﬀee? 2) Last year a savvy 30,488 caﬀeine enthusiasts attended. This amount is indicative of a very good time.

3) The festival will feature demonstrations from world-class baristas and interactive workshops. Make your own mocha? Yes please! 4) There will also be live music, art exhibitions and fashion and design shows. 5) If you’re partial to a tipple or two, you are even able to get your lips around a coﬀee based cocktail.

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THE spectrum of a student

By Lama El Khamy

t is a truth universally acknowledged that within a university establishment, there are two types of students: the ones who have their shit together, and the ones who don’t. Let’s call the students who have their shit together Monica, (you know, because in Friends her house was spotless) and the Joeys are the ones who don’t have a clue.

“there are two types of students: the ones who have their shit together, and the ones who don’t” Exhibit One: You’re sitting with a group of friends chatting about life, love and deadlines when suddenly Monica suggests to meet up at her place. When you arrive, it smells of a beautiful meadow with roses and jasmine ﬂowers. You enter her room and ﬁnd that Monica actually took the time to decorate it with the prettiest bed sheets, a

LIFESTYLE

desk well organised, drapes and twinkling lights. You get hungry and go to the kitchen, vegetables always on display and something is cooking in the oven... That’s how neat Monica’s house is and that’s only one side to the story.

Exhibit Two: It’s the same setting as plot one but you’re visiting Joey’s place instead, but you may as well be descending into Hell. The term ‘wild west’ cannot begin to describe the dust balls that are everywhere. A revolting smell hits your nose while you slip on empty bottles of alcohol. You walk into his room and it looks like a bin just exploded and toxic fumes have leaked out onto the ﬂoor. When it’s time to eat dinner, it’s rice and tuna - a just discovered ‘invention’ at uni. You open a cupboard to get a plate and there are none. Why you may ask? Because they’re all in the sink and haven’t been cleaned for almost a week. This is a day in the life of Casa del Joey. Whether you’re a Monica or a Joey, being a student is hard enough. However, we all manage in our own, unique way. At the end of the day, we’re all human trying to do our best at adulting and this thing called life.

06/03/2017 19:27

FASHION

send Nudes for all Kate Reichardt speaks to Jamela Acheampong, CEO and founder of Kahmune, a new revolutionary shoe brand that offers styles in 10 different colours, all defined as ‘nude’

he fashion industry is deﬁnitely going through some changes, with the subject of diversity and individuality being embraced by designers and renowned brands all over the world. New fashion alternatives for men and women of all shapes, sizes and skin colour are being introduced into the market at an impressive rate. One of these new alternatives is Kahmune, a luxury shoe brand oﬀering

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an array of footwear styles designed to match the skin tones of all women. “Kahmune is a play on the word ‘commune’ which is derived from the word community. I wanted a name that signiﬁed unity. The fashion and beauty industries have been built on exclusion and I personally believe it is time we changed that. Kahmune is about being inclusive”, says the Ghanaian-American Jamela Acheampong, founder and CEO of Kahmune.

“I wanted a name that signified unity” The shoes are made from premium leathers sourced directly from Italy, and the brand’s high manufacturing standards have ensured to minimize any detrimental eﬀects on the environment. Kahmune features two styles; a strappy heeled sandal and pointy court

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FASHION

shoes with a slim heel. The thing that makes this brand so special is that each style comes in 10 colours, all deﬁned as ‘nude’. The shades ranges from deep to fair tones, and Jamela had the brilliant idea of calling each shade after a diﬀerent city, with the lightest shade being Edinburgh in the UK and the darkest one Juba in South Sudan. “The majority of the shades are inspired by the amazing people I have in my life. I was fortunate enough to grow up in very diverse environments so I didn’t have to look far for inspiration”, she explains. One of the hardest decisions for Jamela was choosing only 10 shades to start with, as she wanted to make sure that some traditionally overlooked countries were included.

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It is true that the fashion world is increasingly becoming more inclusive, but there is still a long way to go. “I think the industry as a whole is still holding onto some unrealistic standards. Beauty is not something that can be normalised. We shouldn’t all be forced to conform to a set of guidelines determined by a select group of people”, adds Jamela. “The world is becoming increasingly diverse and it’s something that should be celebrated, it’s truly a beautiful thing!” Even before the oﬃcial launch, Kahmune has found early success with a huge number of pre-orders scheduled to be shipped within this month. So what’s next for the brand? “I don’t want to give too much away but there is much more to come this spring and

summer”, says Jamela. “We just wanted to start small with two very classic styles. Every woman needs a good pump and sandal in her wardrobe.”

“I think the industry as a whole is still holding onto some unrealistic standards” The current shades and styles can be found on Kahmune’s website (www. kahmune.com) with prices ranging from £150-£175 for a pair of nude heels that will truly match your skin tone.

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