Drafted www.draftedmagazine.com
Issue 5 • August 2013 Free
ract
Inte
V V BROWN • BEAR GRYLLS • WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? FASHION • SHOPPING • BEAUTY / GROOMING • MUSIC • GOING OUT • CELEBRITY
ive
ine gaz ma
WWW.CARIZZI.COM
Blippar
The Team
Blippar instructions
Editor
celebrity
Rivkie Baum rivkie@draftedmagazine.com
LifEstyLE Editor / sub Editor
diana vickers charlie sloth bear grylls badults
fAsHioN Editor
features
dEputy Editor
Kyle Goodwin kyle@draftedmagazine.com Andy Ritchie andy@draftedmagazine.com
bEAuty Editor
Kate Temple kate@draftedmagazine.com
oNLiNE Editor
Michael Bartlett michael@draftedmagazine.com
fashion
dEsigN CoNsuLtANt
women’s Shopping men’s Shopping flower power tribal times women’s fashion editorial men’s fashion editorial
busiNEss dEvELopmENt mANAgEr
music
piCturE Editor
Jay McLaughlin jay@draftedmagazine.com
dEsigNErs
Kelsey Adams & Duygu Korkut design@draftedmagazine.com Tommy Bickerdike
Anastasia Meldrum anastasia@draftedmagazine.com
fEAturE CoNtributors
dj fresh v v brown little nikki new bands gigs charlie brown
musiC CoNtributors
Beauty
CommErCiAL mANAgEr
Emma Belle emma@draftedmagazine.com
Henry Fry, Bree Warren, Stuart Gower Matt Russell, Holly Janowski, Sara Darling
vidEogrApHErs
Beauty Story must-Have Products male grooming tried and tested
iLLustrAtioNs
Lifestyle
Liam McCreesh, Jono White
pHotogrApHiC CoNtributors
Elliott Morgan, Yao Kouadio, Eva K Salvi Laurence Dobie, Jules Guaitamacchi
restaurants bars a place in the sun things to do get active
Scott Mason
AdvErtisiNg
anastasia@draftedmagazine.com
pubLisHEd by drAftEd mEdiA LimitEd info@draftedmagazine.com
Keep in touch www.drafTEdmagazinE.com Twitter
@draftedmagazine
/draftedmagazine
14 29 62 65
poppin’ bottles: good pills gone bad 4 tube reactions 13 happy mondays 21 kate temple gets angry 43 drafted launch party 66
Krishan Parmar fashion@draftedmagazine.com
gENErAL ENquiriEs
5
6 8 10 11 22 30 37 38 45 54 55 57 46 50 52 53 58 59 60 63 64
Editor’s Letter
W
elcome to the August issue of Drafted, I’m going to be presumptuous and say it’s still baking hot outside and, as we head into another Monday, you’d rather be heading to the park than work - but hopefully this issue will leave you smiling. In our Happiness issue we go from the sublime to the ridiculous. Make sure you check out Holly Janowski’s investigative piece seeing just how friendly London’s commuters are when approached by a total stranger, while Henry Fry searches for the ultimate answer to happiness. Naturally we’ve also jam packed this issue with incredible summer fashion for all budgets as well as some top beauty and grooming treats. Don’t forget to check out our What’s On Guide for our favourite gigs, restaurants, bars and general August activities. We’ve also managed to grab hold of Diana Vickers, V V Brown, Bear Grylls and DJ Fresh for a chat (not all together, that would just be weird)! As always, do let us know what you think by tweeting us @draftedmagazine See you in September...
Rivkie Baum
POPPIN’ BOTTLES: G OOD PILLS G ONE BAD WORDS BY BREE WARREN | ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
How many prescription meds can you name? How many prescription meds have you tried? How many have your friends tried? According to statistics, your answers should be extensive lists. The trouble is, no one likes to admit it, especially not out loud.
T
he last decade has seen antidepressants, tranquillisers and other prescription medications gain notoriety. Xanax, Valium, Prozac, Zoloft, Adderall and Stilnox (just to name a few) have all gone mainstream. Affectionately known as “happy pills”, prescription drugs were immortalised by the Rolling Stones as “Mother’s Little Helper”. In an era of instant gratification, quick fixes are so appealing that being drugged up, zoned out and sleep deprived is hardly a deterrent. In this country, 46million prescriptions for antidepressants alone were dispensed last year. This is an almost 10 per cent increase on the year before and the largest prescription increase in any medication category in the UK. And these are the “safe” ones. One can only imagine the amount of pills changing hands on the black market. Whether they are used for genuine cases of depression and anxiety or simply to cure unwanted jetlag and insomnia, the reality is that an estimated one in three of us will need them in our lifetime and even more of us will use them. These are chilling statistics. What has caused this rapid increase in demand for antidepressant prescription medication? Is it that more people are suffering from depression, or just that more people are being prescribed pills unnecessarily? Like most controversial issues, there are two sides to every story. Some believe that these types of pills have been radically overprescribed to too many people, raising questions of efficacy and necessity. Others believe that the dramatic increase is a sign that depression has been undertreated and under-recognised in our community for far too long. Regardless of your stance on medication, with the amount of prescriptions spiralling out of control it is obvious that somewhere along the line, something has gone wrong.
It is here I would like to point out that I am not trying to belittle the existence of depression. It is thanks to the hard work of medical professionals and lobby groups that we are much more aware of depression and its effects than we used to be. Depression, like any mental illness, is a debilitating condition and its sufferers need medical care and attention. However, the issue is with the diagnosis, subsequent medication and the way in which it is administered. The diagnosis is usually a trial and error based system, that sees patients test out different types of brain altering medication at varying dosage levels with the hope of finding a cure. Over time, antidepressants alter how the brain chemistry works and tranquillisers suppress the central nervous system almost instantly. In some severe cases prescription medication can be a very helpful tool, however for mild depression (the most common form) this is ultimately a guessing game. Not only are the drugs highly addictive, but they impair cognitive functions day after day, and they’re only providing a temporary solution. The trouble is they don’t actually cure anything and when the effects of the medication fade, the symptoms are exposed once more. In other words, when you stop the medication, you can be depressed again. And the more drugs you are on, the harder it is to get off. Which brings me to the next issue – multiple prescriptions. There is an alarming trend of doctors prescribing other medications to cope with the myriad of side effects from the original drugs. Over the years, patients have discovered that a single drug isn’t as effective as if it is combined with one, two or even three other types of prescriptions. Add to this a mixture of alcohol and a culture of
illicit drug use, and you have a potentially deadly time bomb ticking over our society. A-listers like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, Brittany Murphy, and Anna Nicole Smith were all found with deadly concoctions of prescription drugs in their system. And they were adults. One can only imagine the effects on our youth. Perhaps Lily Allen hit the nail on the head with ‘Everyone’s At It’, when she sang: “So your daughter’s depressed, we’ll get her straight on the Prozac. But little do you know, she already takes crack.” According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, approximately 230million people globally used recreational drugs in the last year. This means one in 20 of us have perhaps been partying a little bit too hard. Add to this the amount of those people who are also taking prescription medication, and the outlook is suddenly a lot grimmer. Far too many young men and woman are losing control after combining prescription medication with alcohol and / or illicit drugs. They wake up and pretend it didn’t happen. They think it will be okay. They think passing out is simply a good night’s sleep. These people are your friends, family and colleagues, yet they rarely admit to taking any medication at all. The real danger in prescription drug use is the illusion of safety because they are legal. However the reality is, more people die of prescription drug-related deaths than they do from car accidents and illicit drugs. Antidepressants, tranquillisers and painkillers need to be controlled, prescribed and consumed appropriately. The warnings must be put in place if our society hopes to flourish in the way that it has in the past. The blasé attitude to multiple prescriptions and drug concoctions has to be monitored. With the number of prescriptions multiplying at a frighteningly rapid pace, some campaigners are likening it to the history of tobacco, when it first became apparent that smoking causes cancer. They are calling for a far-reaching, impartial investigation with evidence under oath and subpoena. The truth is, I believe such an investigation should be both welcomed and encouraged for the sake of our society. After all, it is the health of our friends, family and children that is at stake.
intro | 5
THIS IS AN E V I T C A R E T IN MAGAZINE
Download Blippar from your App store now to your iPad, iPhone or Android device. FILL SCREEN WITH IMAGE
BLIPP...
IMAGE JUMPS TO LIFE!
DOWNLOAD BLIPPAR
Once downloaded, look for the Blippar icon within the magazine to find out which pages can be scanned to give you extra content.
blip!p me
d video footage Watch behind-the-scenes clips an tton... or click to buy at the touch of a bu
2.
3.
1.
5.
4.
6.
fashion | 7
7.
Must-Have
8.
Fashion 1
MARKS AND SPENCER Cut Out Swimsuit
£29.50
2
MONSOON RCA Varsha Printed Skirt
£49
3
JAEGER Silk Malibu Print Shirt
£160
9.
4
DUNE Lord Trainer Wedge
£85
5
MISS SELFRIDGE Denim And Sequin Jacket
£49
6
RIVER ISLAND Cream Sequin Skirt
£70
11. 7
10.
TOPSHOP Red And White Stripe Crop Top
£TBC
8
ASOS Broken Hearts Dress
£50
9
NEXT Geo Bangle
£12
10
COLLECTION WEEKEND BY JOHN LEWIS Colour Block Shopper Raw Tote, Neon Coral
£99
11
BETTY JACKSON BLACK @ DEBENHAMS Coat
£95
2. 1. BURTON Trilby
1
£TBC
NEXT Printed Cuff Shirt
2
£25
RED HERRING @ DEBENHAMS
3
Print Vest
£16
H&M Blue Trousers
3. 4
£34.99
ASOS Pineapple Print Shorts
5
4.
£28
TOPMAN Printed Bow Tie
6
£8
RIVER ISLAND Blue Floral Oxford Shirt
7
£45
JOHN LEWIS Block Printed Stripe Crew in Gold
8
£25
JAEGER White Chino Shorts
9
£85
JOHN LEWIS De’Longhi PrimaDonna XS Coffee Machine
£999
10
5.
Fashion | 9
6.
7.
8.
10. 9.
R E W O P R FLOWE WORDS BY KRISH
AN PARMAR
F
loral prints have sprung in a variety of hues and sizes this season - from bold and bright to dainty or oversized. Championed across the catwalks by designers like Chanel, Holly Fulton and Moschino, the trend has blossomed into one of the most popular looks this season. Here are our favorite floral items to update your summer wardrobe. Dress by ASOS: £75 www.asos.com
Bracelet by Shimla Jewellery: £50 www.shimlajewellery.com
Bag by Aspinal Of London: £395 www.aspinaloflondon.com
Shorts by Tara Starlet: £50 www.tarastarlet.com
Top by Prey Of London: £109 www.preyoflondon.com
Sandals by Accessorize: £39 www.accessorize.com
FASHION | 11
Trousers by BITE @ Topman: £55 www.topman.com
Loafer by Poste @ Office: £35.99 www.office.co.uk
Cashmere Blend Scarf by Jane Carr: £215 www.office.co.uk
TRIBAL
TIMES WORDS BY KRISHAN PARMAR
Rucksack by River Island: £32 www.riverisland.com
M
issoni, Etro and E. Tautz were just a few of the designers that took inspiration from around the world for their summer collections. Fabrics from Africa have been effortlessly mixed with techniques from India to create a global carnival vibe. Inject some culture into your wardrobe this season with our favourite ethnic-inspired pieces.
Shirt by Duck & Cover: £45 www.duckandcover.co.uk
Weekend Bag by Eddie Harrop: £385 www.eddieharrop.com
SECTIOn | 1
words | 13
tube reactions: shall we have a chat?
L
WORDS BY HOLLY JANOWSKI | ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
et’s face it: Nobody speaks to strangers on the tube. It is ironic that, unless you have a particularly fruity private life, the tube is the only place where you will find yourself in intimate situations on a twice-daily basis with people who you will never see again, or ever know anything about. That guy in the blue shirt who accidentally stood on your toe last Thursday? That’s Jerry, he was having a bad day – his dog had just died. That woman you barged past (and accidentally brushed her chest) in a hurry to get off in time? That’s Louisa, she works at an accounting firm and plays badminton on a Tuesday night. Commuters find themselves so desperate to get to work no matter what the conditions, that it’s become the norm to cram into a metal cylinder and nestle within someone’s armpit or press up against a random sweaty, polyestershirted back without so much as a “hello”. You either look down at your paper / book / iPad / lap, or you look around but never make eye contact for longer than a second. Because if you do that, or (God forbid) say something to someone else, you automatically become A Nutter. Isn’t this ridiculous? I headed underground to find out how people react to a complete stranger striking up a conversation.
agreed that it was nice to chat on the tube; what a refreshing breakdown of our invisible walls. I was shocked. Is this how it has been all along? Why didn’t I do this before?! It was time to up the ante...
My aim was to find a varied demographic and start chatting. Surprisingly, the response was always the same: As soon as the person heard me say “well, nobody speaks on the tube so I thought it would be good to change that”, they opened up immediately. I spoke to a lovely older man who looked like a hippy Santa. He was on his way to a business meeting. There was the striking Italian woman with bright blue boots who I thought would be snooty, but immediately started smiling and laughing about how hot it was in London. I had a laugh with a guy who was on his way back to work after applying for a visa on his lunch break. Everyone I spoke to
If you make eye contact for longer than a second, or (God forbid) say something to someone else, you automatically become A Nutter. Isn’t this ridiculous?
An argument on the tube. Kyle, Drafted’s Deputy Editor and I decided to stage a mock argument between us, pretending to be a couple. The story was that he had given me a lift home one day, driven in a bus lane by mistake, and was asking me to pay half the fine. The cheek! (At this point I must thank my friend Anna for the inspiration, as this actually happened to her.)
We did our very bad acting and somehow I managed to refrain from slapping Kyle Dynasty-style for dramatic effect (Don’t judge, sweetheart: I’m classically trained). Then we opened it up to the forum. I turned to the girl next to me and asked her what she thought. Poor
love, she whimpered, “I really don’t think I should have an opinion on this”. Hmm, you’re no use to me, mouse-girl, let’s try the blokes opposite. Eventually half the carriage was engaged in full analysis of the situation, discussing who was right and who was wrong. An old couple sitting a little further away had heard everything and were debating the issue between them. Many people were just listening and giggling. The blokes opposite eventually concluded that I should not have to pay the fine as the driver takes full responsibility of the car and where it travels (quite right). Mousegirl livened up and exclaimed that I should pay half the fine (pipe down, mousegirl!) Everyone was getting involved with the debate. We had connected with a random group of people and it felt great. We are creatures of habit, and our habit of shutting off from others on the tube cannot be good for us. If anything, we should be more aware, more open on public transport. The elderly or pregnant stand unnoticed, disregarded. People shove and push to get on or off, not caring about the bodies around them or pausing politely to let someone go first. We see people purely as obstacles. I was on a tube recently where a lady was pushed so hard to get on that she fell and her leg got completely stuck between the train and the platform. People were screaming for the train to be halted, as it would have broken her leg. It was horrific but passengers and staff rallied around, communicated, helped each other and the lady was cared for. If everyone had behaved in the same manner before the incident as they did afterwards, it would not have happened at all. So put down that paper, switch off that iPod, turn to the person next to you and ask them how they are. You might discover a whole new world of communication that you never knew existed. What have you got to lose?
WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN Cover: Dress by Morella Sassoon www.morellasassoon.com Necklace by Cadenza Below: Poppy Print Dress by Beautiful Soul Red Shoes by Sophie Gittins Shoes on the floor by Pinucci, Ursula Mascaro and stylist’s own
celebrity | 15 Diana Vickers is officially back on the scene. Her new single ‘Cinderella’ has taken the country by storm, and she’s never been more excited. Drafted’s Kyle Goodwin meets the 21-year-old singer to discuss life in the spotlight the second time around...
Photographer: JAY MCLAUGHLIN / Stylist: RIVKIE BAUM / Hair and Make Up: BRENDAN Video: JULES GUAITAMACCHI / With thanks to: THE CADOGAN HOTEL, LONDON
ROBERTSON using L’oreal & Mac /
O
lder, wiser and more settled – welcome to the second coming of Diana Vickers. And, of course, she’s back with an unprecedented bang. With expectations piled high on the release of her new album ‘Music To Make Boys Cry’ this September, Diana has come a long way from the barefooted teenager we all fell in love with on The X Factor four years ago. Her debut single ‘Once’ shot to Number One back in April 2010, and since then, the 21-year-old pop starlet has been quietly blossoming into the artist she was always supposed to be – even if she didn’t realise it. Now, her return after a three-year break brings a more mature, sophisticated and prepared Diana with it, ready for whatever the world might have in store for her.
A lot changes between the ages of 16 and 21. For most of us, it’s those years where love is explored for the first time, when we first start uncovering the depth of our personalities, where we step out into the real world – away from the comforts of home life – and begin to make the life decisions that will shape our years to come. They can be the most formative and defining years of our lives. And when you step out at the other end, things are normally very different – and life has made no exceptions for Diana. “After my first album I had a bit of an identity crisis,” begins the rejuvenated singer, casting her mind back over what seems like a significant period in her personal development. “I wasn’t really sure what kind of artist I was. The album did really well but it felt very young. I really wanted to go away and find myself and rediscover a few things. But now I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved with this new album, and I finally feel like I’ve got to the core of who I am as an artist. I really understand myself now and I’m so happy with the songs. You can see the transition of me as a person in my music. It’s more mature and sophisticated and feels like there’s more of a structure and consistent vibe to it.”
After my first album I had a bit of an identity crisis. Her debut album ‘Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree’ – which featured collaborations with the likes of Ellie Goulding, Cathy Dennis, Dev Hynes and Eg White – was released two weeks after her chart-topping debut single, and again, peaked at Number One, selling over 200,000 copies in the UK. And although a substantial amount of time has passed between her first album and this long-awaited second offering, she certainly hasn’t been taking things easy in her down-time. Having already performed the lead role in the West End musical The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Diana has been exploring other creative mediums. And she’s not restricting herself to anything either; Diana has launched her own fashion range, delved into the world of modelling, starred in the forthcoming film The Perfect Wave and scored her first television role in new Sky Living comedy Give Out Girls. But while all that has been keeping her schedule full, music has never taken a back seat. Inbetween modelling, fashion designing and acting, Diana has been crafting the new sounds that make up ‘Music To Make Boys Cry’, and she can barely contain her excitement to be back doing what she loves most. “Music is my baby,” Diana beams. “It’s so nice to get back into the swing of it all. I had a bit of a break, but the second time round feels so much better. I’m in a much better headspace now and I love this album 10 times more than my first one. I’m loving it! This time around I know myself better and I’ve opened up to a whole different type of music. When I wrote my first album, I wasn’t listening to any of the music I listen to now. I’ve been working my hardest to get this album right – I’ve written so many songs and it means the world to me.”
B
ut while Diana’s been broadening her musical horizons over the last three years - she tells us even Pink Floyd has had an impact on the overall shape of ‘Music To Make Boys Cry’ - it’s her heart that’s shaped it more than anything. “I fell in love over these past two years when I was writing the album, so that had a big impact on the creative process,” Diana smiles. “It makes you feel happy and that affects your work – whatever you do in life. When you fall in love, you feel alive and everything is magical. You can always tell when someone’s in love because it radiates from them. I wrote half the album before I met my boyfriend, but falling in love has definitely had an effect on the overall record.”
Blue Dress by Sophie Kah Cuff and Necklace by PERSY
Of course, starting a relationship in the public eye is never simple. The obtrusive nature of paparazzi and the press will always create challenges and potential obstacles in the (normally worry-free) early stages of love. But that just comes with the territory of being a star. While most couples are left to enjoy their honeymoon period and unravel the mysteries of each
You can tell when someone’s in love. it radiates from them.
Bodice by I.D. Sarrieri Skirt by MaryMe - JimmyPaul
other’s personalities, celebrities have to meticulously consider each move they make, and that can’t be easy for someone who isn’t used to that particular lifestyle. “When you first start seeing someone, people want to know about that person and they dig up things about the person you’re dating,” Diana relays. “Sometimes that can be hard. But at the end of the day that’s not reality. The reality is just the two of you and the life you have at home and your friends and family. Going out and getting papped together is nothing, it’s just the superficial side to the relationship. That’s why I’ve found it good to date someone that’s in the industry because they’re generally used to it and not really fazed by it.”
celebrity | 17
Poppy Print Dress by Beautiful Soul Red Shoes by Sophie Gittins
You can see why dating a celebrity could be intimidating at first. Jumping from one world to the other so swiftly would be a shock to anyone’s system. After all, finding paparazzi hiding in your bushes and rummaging through your bins takes some getting used to. It’s a very different world. But if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be – and there aren’t many obstacles that can stand in the way of true love. Maybe it’s the fact that she’s dating someone who’s wise to the rumblings of the British press, but this time around it couldn’t be going better. “I find it really easy,” Diana explains. “We have something that is, knock on wood, very stable. He goes away for a few weeks here and there and I think it’s healthy for a relationship to have that – when you go away and miss each other and do your own thing. When I was living in Manchester for six weeks filming Give Out Girls that was difficult but, if anything, I’ve always believed that absence makes the heart grow stronger. At the moment it’s working really well, so hopefully it will carry on this way.” While some might find a relationship in the public eye daunting, on the flipside, there are many others actively trying to date someone famous purely for their status and the lifestyle that comes with it. Distinguishing between someone that wants to be with you because of you, rather than someone that has ulterior motives is an art in itself, and could leave someone like Diana with serious trust issues. But that’s never been a problem for her. “You can sniff those people from a mile off,” she laughs. “They’re just a certain type of person that only want to get with someone because they’re famous. But you see girls like that around guys too. I’ve never made that mistake or slipped up there. I’ll give them the time of day and speak to them obviously, but I’d never let them think they were going to get anywhere. I make it very clear from the offset – totally.” With love blossoming and the release of her new album just around the corner, life is good for Diana Vickers right now. She has the world at her feet once again. The next time you see Diana, whether it’s on stage or on television, one thing is for sure – the girl who makes boys cry will only be smiling.
‘Music To Make Boys Cry’ is out September 15th through So Recordings. www.dianavickersmusic.com
Purple Dress by ASOS Ring by Linnie Mclarty
celebrity | 19
Dress by Morella Sassoon www.morellasassooon.com Necklace and Ring by Cadenza
WoRds | 21
s y a d n o M y p p Ha WORDS BY HENRY FRY | ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
Despite unemployment figures staying relatives level at 2.5million (ish), most of us get up and go to work and will keep going until we can afford to retire. We’ll probably all end up working from beyond the grave. Lots of us love our jobs, but how defined by our work are we? How do you find happiness in your nine-to-five working day?
Y
ou will never have heard of it, but in South Wiltshire there’s a small village called Broad Chalke. It has a population of less than 1,000. It has a village hall, a primary school, a church and a Women’s Institute. Old ladies congregate around the war memorial to exchange crossstitch patterns, and until recently, it had a village shop. On the centenary of its time trading, JE Fry & Son family butchers, general store and post office – my family’s business – has closed down. My uncle, the last in a long line of butchers, retired after 53 years stood behind the meat block. He is famous in the community as a local character and raconteur with many stories to tell, from taking royal photographer Cecil Beaton’s meat up to his manor to being on first name terms with former Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden. He also openly referred to most of his customers as “bastards” in a thick West Country accent, which oddly added to his appeal. To everyone in the area he was Bob The Butcher, defined by his employment and his service to the community.
appeal to me as being Success in Life.” I don’t think he would have got on very well with my uncle, as he would routinely stay late preparing orders. But he’s also more than the local butcher. He’s a father, grandfather, husband and uncle. It just depends on who’s describing him. The issue is not really what you do, it’s how you perceive it that makes you happy or unhappy. A while ago, a friend and I were discussing what a ‘perfect day’ would consist of in our future imagined work lives. She said, “I want a good life. I want to go into an office and work hard with colleagues I like, and then come home to my nice flat and boyfriend.” She was basically describing the lowkey version of The American Dream.
In each of these roles I felt the same inside, but realised outwardly I was defined differently. I started to feel like an underachiever when I would meet junior graphic designers and trainee lawyers at parties who were the same age, or worse, younger than me, and happy. They defined themselves by their choices and roles, and I, as someone new to the table, defined them by it too. I have lots of friends either pursuing careers in standard, linear ways, or juggling three waitering jobs in order to supplement artistic ventures. I also have lots of friends who aren’t pursuing any kind of career at all. I define them by how they define themselves. I don’t think of them as underachievers if they are happy doing what they fill their life with. They’re not just their work selves – most importantly they’re my friends first.
The last thing you want is to look back and feel, like I did, that you were failing in the eyes of others, a sensation that I think often comes from secretly feeling like you are failing yourself.
It is a proud lineage I have chosen to renounce – partly because of my shameful vegetarianism – but mostly because I didn’t feel slicing ham was the best way for me to achieve happiness. In his 1877 essay, An Apology For Idlers, Robert Louis Stevenson warns of putting a disproportionate amount of personal devotion into work at the risk of neglecting other areas of your life. He writes with scorn about people who have no curiosity outside of their jobs, stating that, “There is a sort of dead-alive, hackneyed people about, who are scarcely conscious of living except in the exercise of some conventional occupation. This does not
Or perhaps this is its quieter, passiveaggressive cousin: The British Dream. Either way, she didn’t want drama; she wanted gentle, daily happiness. For three years after I graduated from my BA, I worked a varied array of low-paid jobs; corporate waiter, gallery invigilator, front of house in a West End theatre, envelope stuffer. For five awful months I worked in a hotel, getting up at six to take limp bacon and watery eggs from the terminally angry chef to the perpetually (and rightfully) irritated patrons. I also worked for over a year as a sales assistant in a sort of new age crystal shop, which meant I spent 40 hours a week essentially lying about rocks to hippies.
The problem is when you get stuck in a rut and don’t know how to get out. Invoking the slogan that was plastered across the Tube a few years ago: If you don’t like your life, you can change it. The last thing you want is to look back and feel, like I did, that you were failing in the eyes of others, a sensation that I think often comes from secretly feeling like you are failing yourself. Really only you can define your happiness and your success, getting stuck in and absorbed in whatever you fill your time with. As Stevenson also observed, “It is a sore thing to have laboured along and scaled the arduous hilltops, and when all is done, find humanity indifferent to your achievement.” True, Stevenson, true. But no one’s going to care as much as you about the climb, so try and enjoy every bit of the journey, and if you’re not, start to scale a different path.
Photography: JAY
Glasses Stylist’s own Earrings and Necklace by Tatty Devine Yellow Dress by Sugar And Style www.sugarandstyle.co.uk
MCLAUGHLIN / Styling: MEL THOMAS / Stylist’s Assistant: WILL SIMPSON / Hair and Make Up: AMY BRANDON / Model: LILY @ BOOKINGS
fashion | 23 Earrings by Freedom @ Topshop Necklace by Tatty Devine Belt by River Island Body by Charlotte Taylor Shorts by River Island Shoes by Sam Edelman Bag by Versace at www.ninesvintage.co.uk
Necklace Worn As Belt by Tatty Devine Earrings and Bangle by Tatty Devine Multicoloured Bracelet by Adorning Ava Black And White Body by Motel Rocks at ASOS Green Jeans by American Apparel
fashion | 25 Sunglasses Photographer’s own Bikini Top by Charlotte Taylor Blue Jacket by Qulit White Disco Pants by American Apparel Necklace Worn as Bracelet by Freedom @ Topshop
Glasses Photographer’s own Bracelet (just seen) by Tatty Devine Blue Dress by Spotted On Celeb www.spottedonceleb.com Shoes by River Island
fashion | 27 Glasses Stylist’s own Earrings and Necklace by Tatty Devine Yellow Dress and Yellow / Pink Bag by Sugar And Style www.sugarandstyle.co.uk Scarf by Bas Kosters Shoes by River Island
celebrity | 29
THE
PEOPLE’S PRINCE Radio 1Xtra DJ and music lover Charlie Sloth sits down with drafted to discuss life as a BBC broadcaster, taking over from Westwood and his involvement in the K-Swiss California Love campaign...
T
WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
he word ‘tame’ simply doesn’t exist in the world of Charlie Sloth. The Radio 1Xtra DJ (and part-time rapper) has caused quite a commotion since he walked through the doors of BBC Radio and slapped on a pair of headphones, and the fun doesn’t look like it’s going to be ending any time soon. “I’m constantly getting into trouble,” laughs London-born Charlie, talking us through his day-to-day life as a BBC broadcaster. “It happens all the time. I just can’t help it. They try to tame me and make me a little less edgy, but my ratings have gone up by 36 per cent so I must be doing something right.” Actually, he’s been doing quite a few things right. His off-the-cuff, high-energy style and passionate rants have been warming ears around the UK since his first broadcast, and just a few busy years have seen him catapult up the ranks of the BBC pecking order – adding to his reputation for being arguably the most entertaining and original broadcaster on air. With a personality entirely suited to modern-day radio (and one that’s lowering the average age of Radio One’s listeners), Charlie was given the honourable task of succeeding Tim Westwood’s Drive Time slot on BBC Radio 1Xtra. “Westwood was a huge influence on me when I was growing up,” Charlie admits, “so it’s a true privilege to take over from him. I think there’s an element of my influences in my broadcasting, but I’ve got my own style. I’m not trying to imitate anyone.” Having spent the early years of his career as an MC on the underground UK hip-hop scene, Charlie genuinely knows what it means to graft. He not only wrote, produced and released his own music, but also appointed himself as his own manager, filmed and edited his own videos, designed his own website and ran his own street team. In an industry where more and more artists are choosing to go down the DIY route, Charlie
epitomised the drive and ethics required to be a self-made success. He’s collaborated with some of the biggest names in UK hip-hop and packed out shows across the country. But with a record deal on the table and the chance to take his music career to the next stage, he decided that radio broadcasting was where his future lay. “It’s funny because when I first started at the BBC I had a record out cussing all DJs,” Charlie smiles. “It cussed everyone. So a lot of DJs were a bit like, ‘Who is this rapper coming in here and trying to take our jobs’. There was a little bit of tension at first but everyone was so welcoming in the end. The producers there have played a big part in moulding me into an all-round broadcaster. When
I first started I was a very raw and passionate music lover, whereas now I feel confident in saying I’m a seasoned broadcaster. I know how to broadcast.” Hailing from Camden Town and being heavily involved in the underground music scene as a youngster, Charlie makes it his mission to promote up-andcoming hip-hop artists in the UK. His cult show Fire In The Booth showcases the country’s newest talents, and gives artists a platform to show the world what they’ve got to offer – something very few DJs before him were willing to do. “I like to think I’m a very grounded and humble person,” Charlie says. “I grew up in a tiny little council estate in Camden and I’ve always been very comfortable with being myself. I’m not scared to be me and I’m not scared to say what I think or promote music I think people have the right to hear. There’s nothing worse than boring predictable radio. I think people appreciate me because they never know what I’m going to say.” Recently Charlie has been focusing his efforts on another passion of his – trainers – and he’s been spearheading the K-Swiss California Love campaign, hosting a four-part documentary style mini-series highlighting the rich history of a brand founded over 46 years ago. “I’m an absolute sneaker freak,” Charlie admits. “I’ve got thousands of pairs of trainers. There’s a whole generation of sneaker freaks out there who don’t know about the heritage of K-Swiss, so we’re just trying to make people aware of the history of the brand and ignite passion about the trainers.” And if there’s one thing Charlie knows how to ignite, it’s passion. From MC to broadcaster, music lover to sneaker freak – it’s been the fire underneath him since day one. www.charliesloth.com www.kswiss.co.uk
Shirt by ASOS Trousers by Banana Republic Shoes by ASOS
Photography: EVA K SALVI www.evaksalvi.co.uk / Stylist: MINNA ATTALA www.minnaattala.co.uk / Make Up: NICOLA MOORES www.nicolamoores.tumblr.com / Stylist’s Assistant: TARA KAYEDI / Model: ADAM FORSTER @ SUPA MODEL MANAGEMENT / Special Thanks: LISA’S CAFE www.lisasportobello.com
fashion | 31 Shirt by Paul & Joe Sweater by Banana Republic Shorts by Topman Shoes by Kurt Geiger
fashion | 33 Jumper by Topman Shorts by Paul & Joe Trainers by Kurt Geiger
Shirt by Topman
fashion | 35
Jacket by Paul & Joe Shirt and Shorts by Topman Sunglasses Model’s own Shoes by Kurt Geiger
music | 37
N A E L C , H S E R F
&
R E V O G N I K TA
page this the Blippheck outeo to c icial vid gle off new sin e’ for thquak PAR LIP ‘ear
B FORIONS... E5 PAG UCT SEE INSTR
As drum ‘n’ bass producer DJ Fresh gets ready to unleash his latest summer smash, he schools DRAFTED in the roots of the scene that he’s taking to the world stage.
W
hen DJ Fresh drops his new single ‘Earthquake’ next week, it’s quite likely he’ll be celebrating his third UK Number One. Having grabbed the first ever dubstep chart topper with ’11’s summer thumper ‘Louder’, last year’s ‘Hot Right Now’ featuring Rita Ora was the first drum ‘n’ bass track to do the very same. Fresh – aka Worthing-born and London bred Daniel Stein – has pioneered a movement that’s brought electronic dance music to the masses in the last few years and along with it, a whole cultural revolution. But as he tells Drafted, the change he’s a part of has been bubbling under the surface for far longer than you might think. “Fifteen years ago, drum ‘n’ bass captured the attitude of young kids in the UK,” Daniel begins, as he takes us back to a non-specifc late-’90s ground zero. “The real voice of the young UK was to be heard at those underground raves. It was a positive movement but it stemmed from feeling misunderstood by the government and society. It’s a different
time now and it’s difficult to understand how it felt back then, but drum ‘n’ bass was instrumental in bringing about that young cultural revolution.” Daniel has been a key part in that revolution, making waves and setting bars at every step of the way. Having first emerged back in ’98 as part of d’n’b group Bad Company who together founded one of the scene’s most important web communities, Dogs On Acid, he opened his Breakbeat Punk label in 2002. And, after teaming up with Adam F’s Kaos Recordings to create the Breakbeat Kaos label a year or so later, he’s since had a crucial hand in making the likes of Nero, Pendulum and Chase & Status household names. Under his own moniker, he’s sold over 2million records, and forthcoming track ‘Earthquake’ is set to become a summer earworm for all of us whether we like it or not, thanks to its inclusion in one of the year’s biggest blockbuster soundtracks. But while much of the credit can go to DIY scene starters like Daniel, he reckons the rise of drum ‘n’ bass and its affiliated fashions and attitudes have had a helping hand from the way our society’s evolving. “We are much more of an open society than we used to be back then,” he affirms. “Take the acid house movement; it was like a signpost for that cultural change that was happening, when everyone was getting over the whole class divide thing and uniting under the banner of music.” Fittingly, the Lucozade Lite campaign that was soundtracked by Fresh’s ’11 hit ‘Louder’ portrayed its very own subculture, with a horde of DIY ravers rollerblading, skateboarding, dancing and elating at their own impromptu beach rave, to the backdrop of the track’s seductive refrain and whomping sub drops. Somewhat unintentionally it portrayed that very culture Daniel was
WORDS BY ANDY RITCHIE
and is a part of, with its all-inclusive values, liberal thinking and DIY work ethic. And while it may have been a glossy advert for a multi-billion pound drinks brand, it was undeniably an example of art (or rather, marketing) imitating life for Daniel and his contemporaries. “Fifteen years ago, major record labels were scared to release [drum ‘n’ bass], scared to sign it, scared to spend money promoting it. And it took a really dedicated group of disciples to set up their own labels and learn how to distribute records; people like Goldie and Andy C, who were trying to get the music taken seriously and onto daytime playlists. If it wasn’t for those people, we probably wouldn’t be hearing drum ‘n’ bass on the radio today.” So while the rise of Fresh and the scene that birthed him has been a long one, his latest album ‘Nextlevelism’ confirms that today, drum ‘n’ bass is safely up there in the comfiest clouds of the mainstream. Peppered with guest appearances from the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Rizzle Kicks, Professor Green and Ms. Dynamite, It brings together some of the biggest names in UK hip-hop that all share a common background of earning their stripes through years of hard graft. But now, with his new single ‘Earthquake’, Daniel is setting his sights much wider. Featuring Philadelphian producer Mad Decent and Floridian rapper Dominique Young Unique, it’s set to crop up on the soundtrack to this year’s sure-fire Blockbuster Kickass 2, which will deliver Daniel’s sound and message to a global audience on a scale like he’s never yet experienced. ‘Earthquake’? If we’re placing bets, we’d say DJ Fresh is about to make the whole world shake. www.thedjfresh.com
“Music is My first love.
it starteD everything off.”
blipisp page th see vv to actionPPAR in 5 FOR BNLIS... O
I E PAG UCT SEE INSTR
With her new album about to hit the shops, Drafted caught up with the 29-year-old songstress V V Brown to discuss a hectic few years, her new album, and what REALLY happened with that record deal... WORDS BY MATT RUSSELL
music | 39
V
V Brown has been a very busy young lady, indeed. Since the critical and commercial success of her album ‘Travelling Like The Light’ in 2009 and its singles ‘Shark In The Water’ and ‘Crying Blood’, she’s toured the US, turned down a huge record contract to keep her artistic dignity, started her own record label and somehow found the time to take her idiosyncratic style and love of fashion to the next level with her fashion company V V Vintage. And now, here in 2013, V V has gone full circle and is back with her brand new single ‘Samson’, taken from her forthcoming new album ‘Samson & Delilah’, set for release this month. “Music is my first love,” V V declares with vigour. “It started everything off. It was what I wanted to do since I was a young girl and it remains in me. As much as I explore these other artforms and mediums, I will always go back to music because it is everything that I am and how I define myself. It pulls me back every time.” With the mainstream success that came from ‘Travelling Like The Light’, V V had the world at her feet. The album went Gold in America and France, and she went on to tour with the likes of Ladyhawk and The Ting Tings, as well as being invited on the African Express tour by Damon Albarn. In the last couple of years she has played almost every festival under the sun (or under the rain if they were in England), including Camp Bestival, SXSW and Glastonbury, at which she was the only new artist to perform on the main stage. She also opened for Pink on the UK leg of her Carnival Tour in 2010. Like we said – busy. Word of V V’s talent soon spread across the Atlantic and led to a multi-million dollar deal with Capitol Records in the US. And although an album was recorded, she wasn’t convinced the sound was what she wanted representing her name. It was never released, and she walked away from the whole deal on the basis of keeping her artistic integrity. With all the trappings that come along with an offer of that magnitude, there aren’t many artists who would have turned their backs on it – no matter how unhappy they were with the album. “I listened to the
record as a body of work and I just felt it wasn’t right,” V V explains, candidly. “I felt convicted to not commit to it. I worked with some incredible writers, really talented producers – people who I love and respect and admire – and still talk to now. But I felt I had to make a record that I was completely proud of. It was the scariest but most liberating moment of my entire life. I was basically saying no to millions of dollars, a major deal, masses of promotion – there was all of this stuff I was turning my back on just because I wasn’t sure about my music. But I had to do it. I just felt that if I followed it through, I’d forever look in the mirror and feel like I had just completely compromised.”
In a notoriously difficult industry, V V’s attitude is not only refreshing, it is truly honourable. For many artists a deal like that is the Holy Grail of their efforts. It’s the end goal. Turning down a shot at financial security would be tough for anyone, let alone a musician in the early stages of their career. “In my head I was thinking: ‘I need to eat, I need to pay my mortgage – how the hell am I going to carry on if I turn my back on all of this’?” V V continues. “This is what people go onto X Factor for, to get a record deal with a major label and get that support. So I was in complete conflict with what would be right from a career point of view and what would be right from an artistic point
of view. I chose the artistic point of view because I felt if I made a record I was truly proud of, it would connect better in the long term. There’s longevity in integrity.” It’s very apparent that V V Brown is passionate about songwriting and the image she wants to portray. Most artists start off writing for the love of it, but that can sometimes be compromised when the business side of the music industry starts to rear its hungry head (there’s only so long you can live off beans on toast). When discussing how her vision may have felt compromised, there’s a maturity and assurance that permeates V V’s responses that can only come from having made some tough decisions. “I think I was looking at music from a business point of view,” concedes V V. “I knew what I needed to deliver to carry on my brand that I’d created from ‘Shark In The Water’. So when I went in the studio I wasn’t writing for love, I was writing like it was a job. I knew because I’d got successful with ‘Shark In The Water’, that is what I had to write. And after I wrote the record I thought, ‘Wait a minute. I don’t have to write this. I don’t have to be a slave to the brand’. Art is supposed to reflect moments in your life.” Releasing a record she was not entirely proud of was never an option for V V. Her attitude has changed since the release of ‘Shark In The Water’, not only in
music | 41
tl y w ha t I “thi s reco rd is ex ac ac tl y ho w w an t to sa y, it ’s ex th e m us ic I fe el , it re pr es en tsothes th at I I li st en to , th e cl m in d I’ m in . w ea r, th e stat e of
I w a n t to le .” c h a l le n g e p eo p songwriting terms but towards the industry as a whole. There’s a direct confidence that comes with the knowledge you’ve done the right thing for the right reason, and V V exudes a healthy optimism towards the future and the forthcoming release of her new album ‘Samson & Delilah’. Having gone back to the drawing board after a tumultuous and hectic couple of years, she is clearly excited about the prospect of finally getting what she envisioned out to the public. “Whether it flies or it doesn’t, I’m proud of this record,” V V tells us. “It’s exactly what I want to say, it’s exactly how I feel, it represents the music I listen to, the clothes that I wear, the state of mind I’m in. I want to challenge people. ‘Shark In The Water’ was a happy, poppy song and I wanted to move away from that. I used to validate myself by chart positions and how many news spreads you’d get. I tried to not admit it, all in the name of being cool, but I think I did. Now for the first time I don’t, at all.” V V Brown is an artist with a definitive sense of self, whether that’s in music, fashion or the myriad other ventures she has under her belt. Having turned her back on so much, with ‘Samson & Delilah’, you can’t help but wonder as to what this passionate songwriter had in mind all along. From an artist with such clarity in relation to her music and persona, one thing is for certain: everything is exactly how she wants it to be.
BOXPARK SHOREDITCH / WESTFIELD STRATFORD CITY
SPRING/SUMMER 2013 IN STORE NOW
WWW.ONEPIECE.CO.UK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ONEPIECE WWW.TWITTER.COM/ONEPIECE
words | 43
Kate Temple
GETS ANGRY FROM BEING IN THE OFFICE TOGETHER, WE’VE LEARNED ONE THING ABOUT KATE: SHE HAS A RATHER SHORT FUSE. Each month, we find out what’s making Kate Temple angry. ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
Three annoying London based facts this week:
The English language is something we should be extremely proud of and the British Council states over 375 million people speak it as their first language. Pat on the back for us, hurrah!
• The tube is beginning to get that ‘summer sweat’ smell to it. • The sun appears to bring out only middle-aged men in convertible cars where are all the hotties?
W
• And an after-work drink in the sun is nigh-on impossible with every inch of sun-strewn pavement already taken up with stiffs in suits quaffing a pint at 5pm.
ith one of the most widely-spoken languages around the world at our disposal, why do I see strange pictures popping up in people’s texts, Tweets and emails? Are we really so pushed for time, we have to portray our feelings with silly illustrated ‘emoticons’ rather than words?
Back in my youth (about a year-and-a-half ago) I sold my soul to a corporate working environment for the ease of steady pay, standard working hours and the pleasure of paid holiday. In my first few weeks working for this unnamed corporate giant, I realised it was going to be harder work than previously expected. Not because of the workload, oh no. It was because it appeared to be de rigueur to litter workbased emails with colons and brackets thrown together to create a child-like smiley face (or not-so smiley, in my case). I was already biting my tongue about the improper use of ‘so’ at the beginning of every sentence spoken in the building, so this was just unfathomable. For a group of well-educated journalists, it seemed bizarre that they would forego the proper understanding of the English language to instead attempt to convey their feelings with crassly created faces.
lonely belly on the blood of our language, it is now a plague of the buggers and it shows no sign of ever going away.
But alas, it seems I must have been the one who was just not down with the kids, as everywhere I turn nowadays there is a picture replacing a word. Yes, occasionally it might be true that a picture paints 1000 words. But what would you prefer from your loved ones? A beautifully constructed sentence, letting you know that you’re the only one they’re thinking of and that you mean the world to them, or this: <3
No longer confined to a simple colon and bracket, there are people out there who have developed apps full of pictures to make the life of the working oaf simpler. Who needs to speak or write words anymore? We may as well regress to hieroglyphics and illustrate our lives. Friends can now text you with inanimate pictures of fruit and vegetables in the message, because that’s really helpful for the world. As are the pictures of hypodermic needles, loaded guns and an exploding bomb.
The choice, my friend, is yours. And am I the only one who thinks that looks more like someone’s mooning behind rather than a heart?
As I sigh to myself about the state of today’s world while trying to decipher which farmyard animal my friend has sent me with regards to this week’s Sunday roast, I come across the various rude hand gesture emoticons.
I’m afraid the emoticon has evolved into a bigger pest than I ever expected it to. No longer is it one solitary mosquito filling its
Well, maybe this emoticon malarkey isn’t all bad…
VENUE Bernie Spain Gardens & Riverside Walkway South Bank London SE1 9PH Free Admission
AUGUST 31ST, 2013
Sud de France is bringing the adventurous gastronomy and wines of the south of France to London this summer. Visit the South Bank and embark on a food and wine journey of discovery while listening to music from the region's Worldwide Festival curated by acclaimed DJ Gilles Peterson. SuddefranceFestivalUK @SuddeFranceUK
www.festival-suddefrance.com/londres
music | 45
BIGGER BY THE DAY
this ch Blippe to wat i’s g a p le nikk ittle litt o for ‘l vide i says’ IPPAR nikk FOR BNL S...
an unconventional approach to music IO E5 – and with today’s PAG UCT SEE INSTR technology evolving at such a staggering rate – it comes as no surprise that the young musician is finding novel and modern ways to get creative. “I always write on my iPhone,” Nikki informs us. “I generally start a session by going through the little emoticons face things and thinking, ‘How am I feeling?’, and then I’ll put one down and go with that feel. Sometimes I’ll get it wrong and put a smiley face and it will be like quite a bitchy track, so I’ll have to go back and change it to a sarcastic face. It’s quite inspirational in a really weird way.”
What she lacks in height, pop sensation Little Nikki more than makes up for in massive tunes. Drafted meets with the future star to get her story so far...
D
WORDS BY MATT RUSSELL
on’t let the moniker Little Nikki fool you – this girl is wise beyond her years. Having developed a taste for performing at a very early age, she was already writing songs at six years old and knew, even back then, the direction in which she was heading. By the age of 14 she was signed to a major label as a member of the girl group SoundGirl, who toured alongside the likes of Pixie Lott and Justin Bieber. Yet, while most people at such a tender age would be slightly overwhelmed by the concept of hitting the road with such big names, the opportunity didn’t faze the 17-year-old singer in the slightest. “I just took it all in my stride,” Nikki begins. “I was touring at, like, 14. I had to do school work and stuff, but I didn’t feel that young. It wasn’t completely scary because I wasn’t by myself and I wasn’t the only young one. The other girls were young as well, so there was lots of support. We didn’t really take much seriously. We were always joking around with our tour manager. There were a lot of little private jokes between us that we’d find absolutely hilarious.”
on the individual and less people you trust to riff with creatively, some people can find the pressure creeping up on them. Yet, as with the majority of her career, this young songstress seems to be taking her newfound creative freedom completely in her stride. “You just have a lot more space to have fun,” Nikki explains. “There’s more pressure because there are fewer people writing it. Going from writing with the girls to writing by myself was really nerve wracking because we always used to bounce off each other’s ideas. It was a big jump for me, but you can expand when you write on your own. You come up with ideas you might not necessarily come up with if you were with other people. But I know what my sound is and I know where I want to go with it.”
Even as a part of SoundGirl, Nikki has always had a sense of her own individuality. Insisting on co-writing the band’s songs, her determination to succeed as a songwriter was clear from the very start. Many artists can find the transition from band member to solo artist quite a daunting one, especially in relation to songwriting. And with more pressure
Having released her debut solo single ‘Intro Intro’ to critical acclaim in late 2012, Little Nikki had airwaves fizzing from day one (MTV recently listed her as one of their Ten To Watch In 2013). Her new single ‘Little Nikki Says’ is another example of her ability to transcend genres, mixing everything from hip-hop to dance and pop. For an artist with such
Many people may be quick to judge someone of such a young age in terms of experience. Nevertheless, having been a third of a successful girl band, and already having toured with some huge names (plus partnering up with All Saints and Jesse J collaborator Karl Gordon), it is little wonder that maturity exudes naturally from the future pop sensation. “I don’t think age really comes into it,” argues Nikki. “There’s not like an under-18s chart or an over-70s chart. There’s just one, it doesn’t matter how old you are. But when you get older
“I don’t think age really comes into it. Even though I’m quite young I feel like I can take from other people’s experiences, so I’m not at a disadvantage.”
you get more experienced and you have more stuff to write about. Even though I’m quite young I feel like I can take from other people’s experiences, so I’m not at a disadvantage.” With influences that range from Michael Jackson to Labrinth, Little Nikki’s tunes are eclectic in their sounds and catchy in their melodies. She may be called Little Nikki now, but expect big, big things from this girl in the future. www.littlenikki.com
in all looks: Eyeshadow Primer Potion by Urban Decay on eye as a base, Big Fatty Mascara by Urban Decay in Black, Brow Kit by GOSH for Brows in Dark Brown, Foundation by Make Up For Ever HD
eyes Under Brow: Orb by MAC Eyelids: Naked by Urban Decay Inner Eye Highlight: Virgin by Urban Decay Mascara: Big Fatty by Urban Decay
Cheeks Contour: Laguna by NARS Blush: Peaches by MAC
Skin Foundation: Make Up For Ever HD Mineralize Concealer: MAC
lips Lip Liner: Cherry by MAC Lip Colour: Morange by MAC
brows Brow Palette: GOSH
Photography: YAO KOUADIO www.edzin.com / Creative Director: CHRISTINE YU www.edzin.com / Model: ANA KURYLO www.chantalenadeau.com / Make Up Artist: MEAGHAN BELL-GREGORY www.eyecandydesignsmakeup.com / Nail Artist: NINA MALINA / Stylist: NALINIE BUDHU www.styledbynalinie.com
beauty / grooming | 47
eyes Under Brow: Bootycall by Urban Decay Lid: Sky Blue by MAC
Cheeks Blush: Giggly by MAC Highlight: Soft And Gentle by MAC
Skin Foundation: Make Up For Ever HD Mineralize Concealer: MAC
lips Shy Girl by MAC (applied lightly)
eyes Lid: Landscape Green by MAC (as base) On Top: Steamy by MAC Inner Corner: Bitter All by MAC
Cheeks Illuminator: Mix of Orgasm by NARS and Pink Swoon by MAC Highlight: Soft And Gentle by MAC
Skin Foundation: Make Up For Ever HD Mineralize Concealer: MAC
lips Lip Liner: Stripped Down by MAC Lipgloss: Prrr Lipglass by MAC
beauty / grooming | 49 eyes Lid: Landscape Green by MAC (as base) On Top: Steamy by MAC up to brow Inner Corner: Bitter All by MAC
Cheeks Cheeks: Contour Laguna by NARS Blush: Blend of Peaches and Springsheen by MAC
Skin Foundation: Make Up For Ever HD Mineralize Concealer: MAC
lips Lips: Cremesheen Glass by MAC in Richer, Lusher
1
Nails
Organic
Naked nails should be a thing of the past. Nail art has really taken over in the past year – and what better time to experiment than in the glorious British sunshine? TAKE YOUR PICK AND NAIL THE LATEST TREND!
Summer brings natural products to the forefront of our minds. No longer are we pining for heavy-duty moisturiser to keep our skin hydrated. TAKE A LOOK AT THESE ALL-NATURAL ORGANIC PRODUCTS FOR YOUR SUMMER ROUTINE.
While I was sat thinking about what women really want from their summer beauty products, I got thinking about organics. They’re such an important part of our 21st Century life, that I thought I would do a little more research. There’s a whole spectrum of products out there made from completely natural products, so we’ve picked our favorites – alongside some other serious summer essentials.
2 Sun Pearl Nail Lacquer, Kiko: £4.90 www.kikocosmetics.co.uk This limited editon polish comes in four summery shades – our fave Amable Chartreuse is pictured here.
4 Splash, Models Own: £5 per pot www.modelsownit.com. Inspired by the sea and distant shores, this pretty collection will have you dreaming of summer haze and tropical sun.
6
NAKED NAILS SHOULD BE BANNED BY LAW – SO CHECK OUT THE LATEST POLISHES!
Enjoy the sun…
3
4
6 Anti-Cellulite Body Scrub with Rosemary, Fennel & Juniper, Borealis £18.50 for 200ml www.borealisnatural.com Probably the best anti-celulite scrub on the market, this Dead Sea salt is a great buffer with grapefruit and fennel oils.
WORDS BY KATE TEMPLE
2
3 Paint Pots, Ciate: £9 per pot www.selfridges.com This Ciate polish is long-lasting and chip-free; it paints on thick and lasts forever. Almost.
5 Superico Omega Rich Body Oil, Orico: £19 www.oricolondon.co.uk This rich organic body oil instantly nourishes and protects the driest skin with a natural blend of super seed oils, flaxseed, rose hip and Vitamin E.
Must -haves
1 Professional Nail Lacquer, Morgan Taylor: £10.50 Available in salons citywide, including Harrods. An innovative nail polish brand created by professionals for everyone to use!
5
8 Oh! Detox Duo, Galvin & Galvin: £4 each www.danielgalvinjunior.com A perfect cleansing duo for an oilier scalp and lacklustre locks, Organic Head Detox & Purify Shampoo and Conditioner are specially formulated to nourish and revitalise tired and stressed hair.
7
9 8
9 Balancing Body Moisturiser, BLEND collective: £20 www.feelunique.com A balancing blend of star jasmine, geranium, vetiver and rose essential oils chosen for their harmonising, floral character. 10 Gamila Secret Packaging Wild Rose: £27.41 www.revital.co.uk Gamila Secret is an olive oilbased, handmade, all-natural beauty and healing agent. (And it smells dreamy…)
7 Skin-Brightening Serum, Apostle: £41.99 www.antipodesnature.com A gorgeous skin-brightening and tone-correcting serum.
10
beauty / Grooming | 51
Eyes Your eyes are said to be the window to your soul, so you need to look after the paintwork on your window frames from time to time. Here are the top eye creams from around the globe. THE EYE’S THE LIMIT…
Bright Eyes, Goldfaden MD: £48 www.spacenk.com This powerhouse formula instantly reduces the appearance of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines.
Eyecing Fatigue Fighting Eye Cream, Freeze 24/7: £70 www.feelunique.com This cream hydrates, brightens and helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area.
PC Advanced Eye Treat, Elemis: £39 www.timetospa.co.uk Super-active padina pavonica and blue flower linseed helps smooth and firm, targeting fine lines and wrinkles.
Splendid Eyes Elation, Sampar: £44 www.marksandspencer.com This renewing treatment fades wrinkles, polishes and revamps facial features.
Tan
Sunless SelfTanning Lotion, Dr LeWinn’s: £15 www.drlewinns.co.uk Great smelling tan, specially designed to develop a natural looking, golden colour, while conditioning the skin.
If you can’t make it outside to catch your Vitamin D, you can just fake it! What better than a gorgeous, glowing tan without the time and effort of sunbathing? HERE ARE OUR TOP TANS… Body Tone & Tan, Moroccan Tan, Dr. Ceuticals: £14.99 Xen-Tan: £19.99 www.boots.com www.feelunique.com This tone and tan helps This silky and lightweight improve the orange peel weekly self-tan glides effect, while firming and easily onto the skin, smoothing the skin, and giving an instant natural giving you a gorgeous colour thanks to its glow! That’s a win / win! deep guide colour.
Photoderm Autobronzant, Bioderma: £15.99 www.escentual.com The multi-position diffuser spray applies the tan in the form of micro-diffused mist, which prevents tell-tale lines and marks.
male grooming
SMOOTH SKIN WORDS BY KATE TEMPLE
1 NO! NO! HAIR, 8800 THERMICON MEN’S HAIR REMOVAL SYSTEM: £193.50 JOHN LEWIS www.johnlewis.co.uk
1
Painlessly remove unwanted hair with this heat-based hair removal gadget!
2 TIGI B FOR MEN CLEAN UP DAILY SHAMPOO / CONDITIONER: £7.50 / £7.95
It’s the time of year when gossip rags start printing pictures of uber-buff, totally smooth topless celebrity men, parading their perfect bodies on the beach.
But whether you’re more hairy biker than Peter Andre in ‘Mysterious Girl’, there’s always one patch of unwanted, unruly hair that just won’t go away. But don’t stress yourselves out, guys. We’ve got the latest technology to help you swiftly and safely get rid of that annoying patch of reappearing hair (and a couple of other products to invest in). Happy hair removal!
www.bedhead.com Both products work to clean hair and invigorate the scalp with a gorgeous, long-lasting smell.
3 TIGI B FOR MEN PURE TEXTURE MOLDING PASTE: £9.25 www.bedhead.com A versatile cream-to-paste fusion for men who want controlled separation.
4 CEDARWOOD & LEMONGRASS MOISTURISER, BOREALIS: £18.75
2 3
4
www.borealisnatural.com Natural skincare for men – it’s nongreasy and quick to absorb. No one wants a man with dry skin, trust me.
5
5 POST SHAVING BALM, BOREALIS: £22.50 www.borealisnatural.com You’re already reading this, so you’re thinking of a nice, smooth shave, right? Look no further for a great aftershave product. This balm is not only nourishing, but award winning!
6 FULL SCARAMOUCHE & FANDANGO RANGE: £72 www.scaramoucheandfandango.com The full works from Scaramouche & Fandango includes Body Wash, Face Scrub, Hydrator, Conditioner, Shampoo and Shave Cream – perfectly fresh and uber-stylish. What more do you want?
6
beauty / grooming | 53
Tried tested
WORDS BY KATE TEMPLE
STRIP –
WAXING BOUTIQUE Well out of my waxing routine and a full-time leg shaver, I sheepishly booked an appointment at the Soho branch of the Strip Wax Boutique.
S
et in the very heart of buzzing Soho, Strip is a welcome haven of tranquility. And I must say they went up in my estimation when, upon arrival, they were blasting out Usher’s 2004 album ‘Confessions’. What a classic. Anyway, after filling out the necessary legal forms to assure the company you’re not allergic to the wax and so on, you’re met by your waxing expert and taken into your private boutique room. The rooms are individually themed – there’s the Chocolate Room, the Berry Room, the Olive Room and The MANifico Room. All four are equally exquisite. I was in the chocolate room, which was almost as good as climbing into a giant bar of Dairy Milk and smothering yourself in the
melted chocolate. Mmm... Anyway, back to business. The beautician talks you through the process, provides you with some cleansing wipes and a pair of paper pants if you’re having a bikini wax (or perhaps just have a paper pant fetish). As I was just having a leg wax, I was asked to strip the appropriate amount and the young lady disappeared for a few minutes.
up leggings brushing smoothly against my silky skin, I proudly bounded back out into the heart of Soho. And with the two ‘Invite a friend’ discount cards in my hand, I am pleased to be able to preach the words of Strip Wax Boutique to you all.
BEAUTY EDITOR’S PREDICTION… THE NEXT BIG THING
When she returned, it was less like a waxing appointment and more like a chat with a mate. There was a TV on at the end of the couch with a classic episode of Friends blasting out, distracting me from the impending waxy doom. Inspecting my rather pasty calves, my beautician Diamente gave me a stern talking-to about the perils of shaving. Firm but honest, it was actually very informative (albeit a little scary). Then she began smoothing the hot wax onto my skin and I suddenly remembered how addictive the sharp pain of waxing really was. Twenty minutes, two wax strips and two smooth legs later, I felt it was almost a crime to cover up my smooth pins. So with rolled-
LukeJacob Hair Salon 80 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6LY This salon is set to be the next big thing to come out of East London. Book your appointment now to avoid disappointment (I’ve already got mine…)
NEW BA NDS D THIS LOT!
GET YOUR EARS ROUN
this Blippe to pag out
k checideo from v a h bandIPPAR eac FOR BNL S...
IO E5 PAG UCT SEE INSTR
WORDS BY LIAM MCCREESH
John Newman YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW the name yet, but chances are you’ll be acquainted with the voice thanks to his contribution to last year’s Number One hit single ‘Feel The Love’ by Rudimental. In fact, we’re willing to bet his singular and bracing voice has infiltrated your consciousness already through some kind of pop chart osmosis.
‘Love Me Again’ is the name of his debut single and it’s an impressive showcase, not only of his vocal chords, but also his abilities as a producer capable of repackaging Motown and Northern Soul influences for a completely new audience. The bottom line is that in six months’ time, there’s a good chance this 22-year-old from Yorkshire will be enjoying the kind of success and national reverence previously enjoyed by the likes of Plan B and Adele.
speedy ortiz ALTHOUGH SPEEDY ORTIZ clearly have a penchant for grungey, buzzsaw guitars, the Massachusetts four-piece are just as happy taking it down a couple of decibels when the mood calls for it. When they strip back their sound as on ‘No Below’, Sadie Dupuis’ lilting voice exposes the vulnerability of her sentiments in a way that’s wonderfully disarming. As a frontwoman she’s an engaging presence with a real knack for irreverent lyrical asides; no doubt, something she learnt from her songwriting hero, Pavement’s Steven Malkmus.
On the one hand they’re very much still a cult concern, but their debut full-length ‘Major Arcana’ is winning them page space in all the right music magazines and their popularity certainly seems to be growing.
Little Green Cars Teleman A SHORT WHILE AGO, London fourpiece Teleman announced their arrival with an excellent debut single in the shape of ‘Cristina’. An intelligent and perfectly-formed piece of indie pop, it detailed an amorous encounter that saw our nerdy protagonist dragging himself across town for what can only be described as a ‘booty call’.
The follow-up single ‘Stream Train Girl’ sees them hitting similar form, with a firm nod to Kraftwerk in its minimalist approach to indie pop. Their London show at The Lexington back in June was a total sell-out, and following a busy festival season, they’ll be hitting the European mainland with newlyreformed ’90s Brit rock kings Suede in October. They’re in good company, then.
ancient mariner DURING A PERIOD of self-imposed exile, Gabriel Jorgensen recorded his appropriately-titled ‘In Solitude’ EP inside a cabin in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. No wonder, then, that the music he makes under the Ancient Mariner moniker is heavily set with a deep sense of loneliness and space. The likes of ‘Child Of Wrath’ and the EP’s title track see him carefully arranging delicate strings and lush electronic textures to create what he and many others are heralding as ‘dream folk’.
There are hints of Radiohead and Bon Iver to be found within Ancient Mariner’s songs, and fans of the latter will find that whole cabin thing similar to Justin Vernon’s isolated retreat to record ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’. The difference is that Ancient Mariner relies more heavily on technology to create his captivating and otherwordly brand of folk music.
BARELY OUT OF their teens, Little Green Cars are an alternative rock band from Dublin, widely tipped for world domintion any day now. ‘Absolute Zero’ is the name of their debut album, and Markus Dravs (Mumford & Sons, Coldplay, Arcade Fire) is handling the production; a man who’s built his reputation on taking the kind of intimate, acoustic songwriting favoured by the likes of Little Green Cars and restructuring it on an unbelievably epic scale.
For now at least, Bono can sleep soundly, but there’s no denying this young Irish quintet have talent and a knack for creating the kind of anthemic, hands-in-the-air moments that will no doubt soundtrack many a festival experience this year.
merchandise DESCRIBING THEIR SOUND AS “somewhere between Erasure, Suicide, and Otis Redding coming out of a Japanese keyboard”, Tampa, Florida’s Merchandise have certainly created their own admittedly bonkers field, but in reality, they’re much more palpable than that musical melting pot might suggest.
Although they came up through the Florida hardcore scene, it’s fair to say that they have more in common with British guitar bands from the late ’80s and early ’90s. Reference points include all the usual suspects – The Jesus And Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and The Smiths have all been heavily cribbed in forming Merchandise’s sound. It’s not as naval-gazing as it sounds, though. Songs like ‘Become What You Are’ and ‘Anxiety’s Door’ are empowering and triumphant, coming off more like soundtracks to some lost John Hughes film (albeit played out of a broken Japanese keyboard).
music | 55
Suede
GIGS
KENWOOD HOUSE // 23RD AUGUST
OUR PICK OF AUGUST’S TOP SHOWS WORDS BY JONO WHITE
SOLANGE KOKO // 16TH AUGUST Solange Knowles shook that “Beyonce’s little sister” tag long ago, and that’s largely been down to her blossoming into an intoxicating ’80s pop soulstress. With the help of Lightspeed Champion's Dev Hynes and Pharrell Williams, Solange’s slant on 80’s synth pop reintroduces a soul train vibe that won’t let up until you’re back is off the wall and your feet are on the dancefloor. If you’re heading to see her at Koko in a few weeks, expect her to bring tracks like ‘True’ alive with her larger-than-life persona and unmistakable voice. Make sure to bring your dancing shoes for this one.
There must be something in the water; first Johnny Marr, then The Stone Roses, and now Suede. Ladies and gentlemen, the late-’80s / early-’90s Britpop comebacks are in full swing. Formed in ’89, Suede’s contemporary slant on indie rock fostered the beginnings of a compelling wave in British music. By 1992, Suede were described as “The Best New Band In Britain”, culminating in their ascension to Mercury Music notoriety the following year. The foundations were paved and Britpop had landed. Twenty years later and a decade since their last album, the London five-piece are back with ‘Bloodsports’ and it’s a fine return to form. With British Sea Power and Teleman also on the bill, it’s a night set to bridge generations. Time to party like it’s 1993!
alkaline trio Bat for Lashes SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE // 13TH AUGUST Natasha Khan, better known under her pseudonym Bat For Lashes, encompasses the very nature of a contemporary multi-instrumentalist and visual artist. If you saw her at Field Day you’ll know the kind of enrapturing performance she delivers, and this one-off London date is set to further exemplify her prestigious Brit, Mercury and Ivor Novelloworthy aesthetic. Bat for Lashes first captured hearts back in 2006 with a set of distinctively haunting songs, ripe with magic realism. Her latest, and arguably most rounded effort ‘The Haunted Man’ exhibits a transcendent blend of organic and electronic sensibilities, that firmly establishes Khan as one of the UK’s most premier female soloists. This one’s going to be a nostalgia trip to remember.
ISLINGTON ACADEMY // 29TH AUGUST Celebrating a decade of live music in the capital this August, O2’s Academy in Islington are calling upon the band that performed at the venue’s opening in September 2003, Alkaline Trio, for a special birthday performance. In the decade since that show they’ve released four albums, with their most recent effort ‘My Shame Is True’ proving a startling return to their ‘Good Mourning’ and ‘From Here To Infirmary’ songwriting peak. We’re expecting a trip down punk rock memory lane from this one, and as it’s a party, a few surprises. Not one to miss.
ducktails BORDERLINE // 22ND AUGUST Ducktails, the ever-burgeoning psychedelic pop outfit fronted by Real Estate’s Matt Mondanile are set to play Soho’s Borderline later in the month. In such an low-key venue, we expect the tracks from their latest release ‘The Flower Lane’ to radiate all the intimate and cosy sensibilities they captured on record. As far as we’ve heard, it’s the subtleties that Ducktails bring to fruition in their songs that make for such an elegant and engaging live show, and in this little place, that should only be accentuated.
this ch Blippe to watswer pag rlie an cha e quick ons som questi IPPAR fire OR BL S...
F ION E5 PAG UCT SEE INSTR
STEPPING Having spent years writing songs for some of the biggest artists in the UK, Charlie Brown tells Drafted what it’s like to finally be in the limelight himself...
INTO THE
SPOTLIGHT
WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
S
ometimes it’s best to just let things go. And until recently, those are the words that singer-songwriter Charlie Brown had lived his life by. As a natural performer himself, Charlie spent the majority of his early career writing songs for other artists, watching on as they sang his words and melodies to adoring audiences across the globe – all the while nursing a burning desire to be a respected artist in his own right. “I’ve always known that I wanted to perform,” Charlie tells us. “It was more of a case of
was I going to get to do it? I was around all these A&R guys as a songwriter and I was pitching songs, but no one was really giving me the opportunity to do it myself as an artist. It was just about getting the right songs together and finding the right A&R who believed in me and saw the vision. I used to perform anywhere I could – at open mic nights and industry nights – just trying to stay visible. It was more nerve wracking then because I was performing in front of an industry crowd and trying to get signed. Now that I’m an artist and people are
hearing my music on the radio, it gives me a lot of confidence. So now I go on stage and just love every minute. I’ve always wanted to do it, but there were a few moments there when I thought maybe it wasn’t going to happen.” Charlie’s ability to craft a perfect pop song is pretty clear. Over the years he’s written for the likes of Wiley, The Script and Jay Sean – as well as working alongside high profile producers including Fraser T Smith (Adele, Ellie Goulding), RedOne (Lady Gaga, Usher) and Future Cut (Lily
music | 57 Allen, Wretch 32). But songwriting can be a very personal art form, with many artists baring their deepest emotions on the page. And that can’t be easy when you’re in a writing session with complete strangers. “I just go for it,” Charlie explains. “The studio is kind of a free zone. You can put anything forward. Sometimes you’re going to say something that’s not right or suggest a lyric you cringe about later, but that’s all just a part
“Over the years I’ve realised you get the best reactions from songs where you’re really honest. So it’s worth putting yourself out there and worth any embarrassment because people connect with it more if it’s real.” of it. You have to get over it. It has to be a free flow otherwise you’re not going to get the best stuff in. In the beginning when I started I used to hold back and not want to say things. Now I just put it all out there and if it’s good, it’s good, and if it’s not, we just keep it moving. Over the years I’ve realised you get the best reactions from songs where you’re really honest. So it’s worth putting yourself out there and worth any embarrassment because people connect with it more if it’s real.” An analogy comes to mind. The role of an external songwriter seems somewhat similar to that of a surrogate mother. Charlie laughs: “It’s true,” he says. “I’ve never thought about it that way but that is literally what it’s like. It’s like saying, ‘Okay, I’ll give birth to this thing and nurture it and then you can just take it and have it and call it yours’. A lot of writers have this dilemma where they want to keep everything for themselves. When I first started I used to hate it when an artist took a song that I wanted. But I’ve realised how hard it is to get into that position in the first place and how hard it is to even get a song out there. So, eventually, I just became grateful if someone wanted to sing one of my songs – as long as they did it justice. It’s a huge compliment when someone says, ‘I love this song and I really want to sing it’.” It’s a very different story for Charlie these days. After signing a record deal with All Around The World Productions, he has finally been given the chance to show the
world what he can do. And the early signs are all very promising. His debut single ‘On My Way’ shot straight to Number Seven in the UK singles chart in March this year and his forthcoming album has been eagerly anticipated ever since. So how is life now that he’s on the other side of the fence? “Well it’s been hijacked by managers and things like that,” he laughs. “I don’t really know what I’m doing every day. I’m scared to look at my diary. But I’m getting to perform and do interviews and TV and radio and all this other stuff. It’s more varied and exciting and different every day. It’s a cool change of pace. I think being a songwriter first was useful. I’m really grateful for that opportunity, because it kept me one step ahead of the game. I had done some performing at music nights and things, just trying to get out there, but never at this level.” Charlie’s days of being a metaphorical surrogate song mother are over. Now when he writes a song, he writes with his own voice in mind, knowing it’s his own audience that will be enjoying the hard work and passion he puts in. Charlie Brown, after years of never giving up, is officially on his way... www.charliebrownldn.com
DINE OUT claude’s kitchen
DRAFTED’S FAVOURITE LONDON RESTAURANTS... EDITED BY ANDY RITCHIE
lazybones
THE ROOKERY A SHORT TRIP SOUTH of the river to leafy Clapham Common isn’t complete without dinner at The Rookery. Feeling like a mish-mash of a rundown workshop and dinner at your nan’s, the rustic light fixtures and vintage floral serving ware give this place its own unique charm.
SET IN PARSONS GREEN, this quaintly Parisian yet fully modern restaurant is as exciting and welcoming as it sounds. Be sure to grab a window seat on your visit, as it’s the perfect spot to people-watch with a crisp, cool glass of wine in hand. The staff are attentive but not pushy, and it lacks an air of pretence that other eateries in central London can sometimes bring to the table. The food? From the perfectly seasoned scallops to some of the leanest beef we’ve ever encountered (and did we mention the asparagus and artichokes?), it really is exquisite, and every dish is seasonally thought-out and accompanied by a delicate array of freshly-picked sides. We would eat here every night of the week if we could.
NOW HERE’S A PLACE for some proper comfort food. Serving up “slow food with fast service, hard drinks and good vibes”, Farringdon’s Lazybones truly delivers on all fronts. We went for a hefty portion of chicken wings and some succulent pulled pork on our visit, and with a large selection of European beers on offer, this is a place you come for a serious gut-filling. Oh, and with a popcorn bar offering up an extensive selection of the airy stuff to nibble on while you wait for your main dishes, it’s got its own little sweet-toothed twist, too. Serving nononsense soul food in a casual and cool environment, Lazybones is as relaxed as its name and all the better for it.
After we sipped on a few Prosecco cocktails to start, alongside a starter of Longhorn Beef and asparagus salad, we soon realised the main course is where The Rookery plays its trump card. On regular rotation is a sharing platter for two which we’d seen written on the blackboard behind our table, but hadn’t given it much thought, until we caught a waft of the ham hock as it drifted across the restaurant. Served on a bed of peas and new potatoes, it really was a sight (and smell) to behold. And the texture? The meat just fell off the bone – you honestly could have used a wooden spoon! It’s not Michelin-starred fine dining, but The Rookery’s homely charm is like a cuddle for your palate in every mouthful.
OPENING HOURS Tuesday to Friday: 6pm to late Saturday: 10am to late Sunday: 12pm to 5pm
OPENING HOURS Monday to Tuesday: 11am to 10pm Wednesday to Friday: 11am to 11pm
OPENING HOURS Monday to Thursday: 5.30pm to 11pm Friday: 1pm to midnight Saturday: 12.30pm to midnight Sunday: 12.30pm to 10.30pm
51 Parsons Green Lane, London SW6 4JA P: 0207 371 8517 E: info@abcb.co.uk www.claudeskitchen.co.uk
Unit 5 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6DQ P: 0207 250 3336 E: info@lazybones.uk.com www.lazybones.uk.com
69 Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 9DA P: 0208 673 9162 E: hello@therookeryclapham.co.uk www.therookeryclapham.co.uk
going out | 59
BARS OH, IT’S A DRINK YOU’RE AFTER? TRY THIS LOT... WORDS BY ANDY RITCHIE
skylounge PERCHED ATOP THE HILTON in Tower Hill, Skylounge isn’t the highest rooftop bar in London, but it’s the ideal spot if you fancy a walk along the river after a drink or two and a nibble. There’s an inside and an outside section (the latter proving to be extremely busy most days; when we stopped by it was a wait-until-somebodyelse-gets-cold kind of affair), and while there are currently a couple of construction cranes plaguing its view, it’s a good vantage point to soak up a good chunk of history in the Tower Of London and Tower Bridge nearby. Cocktail-wise, get yourself a Sky At Night (mouth-watering blackberries, Bombay Sapphire and Hayman’s Sloe Gin, elderflower cordial & pomegranate juice), but if you’re a whiskey drinker, they’ve got you covered from Bourbons and Ryes to blends and malts. OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday 10am to 2am Saturday: 11am to 2am Sunday 11am to 1am
7 Pepys Street, London, EC3N 4AF P: 0207 709 1043 E: lonti.skylounge@hilton.com W: doubletree3.hilton.com
the shoreditch THERE ARE TWO THINGS that keep us coming back to The Shoreditch in East London. Firstly, it’s happy hour every day until 10, which means you’re getting cracking cocktail value in a part of town that would usually charge you through the nose for a lowly Long Island Ice Tea. Secondly, their playlist is second-tonone if you’re after some solid late-’90s hits to get you fired up for a big night out. Our recommendation? Pile your office in after you clock off on a Friday, grab yourself a booth and order a Tea For Ten: any cocktail you want served in a high tea style at your table. Oh, and do not forget to try their signature Shoreditch Mojito; it’s possibly the best thing that’s ever happened to lychees.
cork & bottle TUCKED AWAY JUST off Leicester Square, the fully-underground Cork & Bottle wine bar is as hidden away as can be in central London. Serving a range of over 300 wines from across the globe (and they keep over 40,000 in their cellar at any one time), this is one for those that really know their wine. But, for the ignorant among us, their staff are overly keen to pass nuggets of knowledge with every glass they serve. Should you need something to snack on while dabbling in their bible of winery, their pork pies are to die for (and world famous, too). Be warned: it does get busy before the theatres open, but there’s a reason it attracts the crowds and has been doing so for over 30 years – quality.
OPENING HOURS Monday to Saturday: 12pm to 2am Sunday: 12pm to 11pm
OPENING HOURS Monday to Sunday 11am to midnight
145 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JE P: 0207 033 0085 E: Fill out webform for reservations W: www.theshoreditch-london.com
44-46 Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7AN P: 0207 734 7807 E: info@thecorkandbottle.co.uk W: www.thecorkandbottle.co.uk
I
t also has one of the best port wines in the world, according to wine critic Jancis Robinson from Wine Spectator magazine. So if you’re looking for a city break with access to the beach and a thriving nightlife, keep reading. As Portugal’s second city after Lisbon, Porto’s traditional old town is built around the pretty Douro River, boasting original architecture and ancient churches that are still a proud part of the heritage and dominate the skyline. New builds can also be found, as this is a modern working town, too. Culture thrives in the Arts District, with the Contemporary Art Museum of Serralves housed in a beautiful park; well worth a visit for its variety of exhibitions and tranquil surroundings. Porto is also home to the University; Founded in 1911, it is the largest in Portugal, with three campus buildings and 14 faculties, giving Porto its reputation as a creative hub with a young, friendly vibe. With that in mind, Porto is also a great place for shopping and nightlife. My favourite area (after the enormous flea market which takes place on Saturday afternoon in the central square) is the CC Bombarda centre. It’s a small and perfectly-formed arcade of shops which sell everything from vintage clothes, to hand crafted jewellery, to
A PLACE n u s e h t in RA DARLING
WORDS BY SA
If you’re looking for a holiday filled with sun, culture, great food, recordbreaking waves and, err, a giant flea market, Porto and the northern region of Portugal certainly have you catered for! small boutiques selling UK, US and local designer wares and books. There is even somewhere to leave your bonsai tree when you go on holiday, so you can be sure it gets all the attention its deserves while you are away! Further down the street in the Art District, a dark doorway leads you through to the most delightful back garden of Roto Do Chá – a traditional Chinese Tea house which serves all manner of teas, cakes and snacks, and if you ask nicely, they will even bring you sparkling wine in a tea cup! Which, in this setting of dark wood furniture, lanterns, candles and ambient music, is by far the best way to
drink it. It’s a difficult place to leave but when you do, there’s the Livraria Lello bookshop to visit. Said to have influenced JK Rowling when she was writing the Harry Potters series, it’s housed in a beautiful neo-Gothic building and is worth visiting, even just to speculate about the Potter-esque spiral staircase. With Porto boasting a young population, you can rest assured that the nightlife is buzzing. Most of the bars and clubs are within the Gallerias district, which starts to warm up about 11pm. Rua Galeria de Paris and Rua Cândido dos Reis are two parallel streets downtown which house a range of music, and are ideal for bar-hopping or people-watching. Porto also hosts a couple of renowned festivals. The Primavera Music festival is a successful little sister to the cultural behemoth that is Primavera Sound in Barcelona. Taking place early in the summer, it hosts an eclectic mix of local and international music. This year saw Blur, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Dead Can Dance and Four Tet among the star-studded bill.
travel | 61
fact box
• Hotel Vila Gale offers double rooms with breakfast from £65 per night www.vilagale.pt • Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa offer double rooms including breakfast from £80 per night www.douropalace.com
f o r c h o ic e t il po s e b l il yo u w in g f o r a c it y if y o u ’r e lo o k c h , a n d lo ts bea b r e a k w ith a a f t e r d a r k . do o f th in g s t o It’s not just music, though. There’s the Serralves em festa contemporary art festival in June each year (and it’s the largest in Europe). Lasting for 40 hours, this family-friendly affair takes place in the beautiful grounds of the Contemporary Art Gallery and over 250 activities are available for all ages. It’s a free event and an absolute highlight of Porto’s calendar. With a huge range of places to stay, you can opt for five-star luxury in the Hotel Infante Sagres and soak up it’s quirky charm in the hotel restaurant, Book. For those on a more modest budget or perhaps if you’re city-hopping, there are plenty of modern hostels located in the heart of the city. It’s worth hiring a car (and a driver if you have to) and heading elsewhere in the region if time permits. After the winding scenic roads, visiting one of the wine estates is a must, and getting to sample the different Vinho Verde port wines in the actual ‘quintas’ where the grapes are grown makes it taste even more delicious! After all the culture, great food and shopping, the Douro Palace Hotel and Spa is a great way to unwind in the peaceful setting of the open country. With views overlooking the valley and the river, this is a small piece of heaven only a few hours away from the bustling metropolis of the city!
• TAP Portugal flies from London Gatwick to Porto twice daily with return fares starting at £126, including all taxes and surcharges www.flytap.com • For more information regarding Porto and the north of Portugal, visit: www.portoturismo.pt • For more information on Portugal, visit: www.visitportugal.com
WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
Have you wondered where Bear Grylls has been recently? It turns out he’s been a very busy man, designing and setting up his new 24 Hour Adult Survival Academy. Naturally, Drafted wanted to know more... emergency shelter, cross ravines, rivers and descend cliffs with minimal gear, right!? Not to mention a bit of unarmed combat, first aid and key life values.”
W
e never know what life’s going to throw our way. One night you could be safely cooped up in your living room watching re-runs of Born Survivor and the next, who knows, you could find yourself stranded in the wild, frantically trying to battle nature’s elements thinking, “Damn, if only I was Bear Grylls”. But now, for 24 hours, you (sort of) can be. Well you can at least be shown a few very useful tricks from the man himself, anyway. Fate works in mysterious ways and when it does decide to hurl something unexpected in our direction, we had better be prepared. Okay, so perhaps the majority of us won’t ever find ourselves in a predicament where skinning a rabbit could mean the difference between life and death, but we can’t ever be entirely sure what’s coming our way next. That’s precisely what drove television’s survival expert Bear Grylls to set up his new Survival Academy and pass on some knowledge. “It’s all about ‘What if?’” Grylls begins. “What if I had to use these skills for real? Plus, of course, every man and woman should know how to light a fire with no matches or lighter, make an
Designed exclusively by Grylls himself, the 24 Hour Survival Academy encourages people to reconnect with the natural world and gives an insight into life without cosmopolitan cities, luxury apartment complexes and prepackaged chicken breasts from Marks And Spencer (can you imagine?). Identifying animal runs, learning to forage, laying traps, wilderness first aid, skinning and gutting animals, building emergency shelters, self-protection from attacks and tying knots; these are just a few of the things you’ll be taught, and how helpful those skills prove in a real life scenario is unquestionable. “The course teaches dynamic self-rescue survival skills across a series of terrains that one day could save your life,” Grylls explains. “It also encourages key life attitudes like optimism, teamwork, initiative, courage, resourcefulness and determination that could make the critical difference both in the wild and in life. The kick for me is seeing people literally grow in stature and confidence as they learn many of the skills and attitudes in practice. It makes it all worthwhile.” Grylls first rose to the public’s attention after starring in a Sure For Men TV commercial, which featured the story
of Grylls’ Everest climb when he was just 23-years-old. A Channel Four documentary Escape To The Legion soon followed, and within a few months he was commissioned to present Man Vs Wild, which was watched by over 1.2billion viewers worldwide. His book Born Survivor spent 10 weeks in the Sunday Times Best Seller List and, oh yeah, did we mention he’s a black belt in karate? Basically, if anyone is going to teach you how to get out of a sticky and potentially life-threatening situation, it is this man. And we’re not the first people to come to that conclusion. “So many people kept writing to us suggesting we do something like this,” Grylls tells us. “People want to learn primal life and survival skills as they know it empowers them. The TV shows have brought out that inbuilt sense of adventure in people and the Academy is there to enhance that.” And just before he leaves us, Grylls has one last piece of advice for Drafted readers. “If you’re going into the wild it is vital to be prepared,” he concludes. “Travel with good friends you trust and like. Have a back-up plan. Have some form of communication whether mobile phone or sat phone if there is no coverage. And finally, always pack a sense of humour.” So do you think you have what it takes to survive? There’s only one way to find out... www.beargryllssurvivalacademy.com
going out | 63
THINGS TO DO
film4 summer screen 8TH – 21ST AUGUST
WHETHER IT’S THEATRE, FILM, OR MUSIC, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED FOR AUGUST… WORDS BY ANDY RITCHIE
WE MIGHT HAVE a right pile to choose from when it comes to outdoor cinemas this summer, but to do it properly, you’re best off heading to Somerset House. Parked within the Edmond J Safra Foundation Court, Film4’s Summer Screen is set to host two weeks of classic films under the stars this August. Expect everything from Mean Girls, to Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, to Crazy Stupid Love, and though tickets aren’t cheap (they start at £14.50 plus booking fee), bringing you own rugs, blankets and picnics is more than encouraged. There are DJ sets before every screening (hey, it beats watching year-old trailers at least!), and they’ll even let you bring some tinnies in, too. As with any outdoor cinema it comes with a weather warning, but there are worse places to be caught short if the heavens do open.
www.somersethouse.org.uk
camden fringe
UNTIL 25TH AUGUST RETURNING FOR ITS eighth year, Camden’s Fringe might not quite be Edinburgh, but it does bring a plethora of comedy, theatre and live productions to North London each summer. Their ethos is simple: they want to give anyone the change to perform and showcase their talents – no matter how quirky or ‘out there’ they might be. And whether it’s the Shooting Stars Theatre Company’s modern take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream or RTW’s Too Cool To Care (a comedy show based on the life of a full-time carer), there’s something for everyone, and a full schedule of family-friendly events, too. It may still be in its infancy, but perhaps one day the name ‘Camden’ will command the same sort of reaction as Edinburgh itself…
www.camdenfringe.com
BBC PROMS
PERFORMANCES ALL MONTH BY THE TIME you read this, BBC Proms 2013 will be well underway,
and August is where the bill really picks up. This year, they’re expanding their horizons further than ever before – as well as the staples of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Brahm’s A German Requiem, the Urban Classic Prom on 10th August sees Fazer, Maverick Sabre and more putting their urban twist on classical music, while the 6 Music Prom on 12th August sees the Royal Albert Hall playing host to Cerys Matthews, Laura Marling and The Stranglers. Yes, classical music is still relevant, and if ticket sales of recent years (and the price they exchange hands at) are anything to go by, the Proms’ popularity is far from wavering. See www.bbc.co.uk/proms for full listings
the great british beer festival 13TH – 17TH AUGUST
BEER, GLORIOUS BEER. Where
would we be without it? Well certainly not London Olympia this month, as 55,000 brewdogs are set to descend on the exhibition centre in a few weeks for the UK’s biggest beer festival. With over 800 real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers up for the tasting, it’s enough to make any stubborn lagerhead open up their palate to the wonders of what hops and barley can really offer.
And if beer’s not your priority, there’s food, classic bar games and music to indulge in, too (just don’t try and boast about your Billiard skills once you’re a few pints down). Tickets start at £10 per day (or £8 if you’re a member of the Campaign For Read Ale), and for entry into what is essentially the biggest pub in the country, you can’t argue with that! www.gbbf.co.uk
flex & stretch WORDS BY STUART GOWER | ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
How do you exercise? Go to the gym, lift weights and spend hours pounding away on the treadmill? For most men this is an all too familiar story, but a few of us are slowly swapping that for the Yoga class happening next door.
I
say a few of us, because Yoga is foreign territory for most men, and the classes are traditionally packed with women. Now you may say that’s why we are heading in there. But it’s not. When you get home from work tonight, shut yourself away for 10 minutes, open YouTube and search for some 10-minute sessions; you will soon discover why more and more men are clamouring to Yoga up.
guys who practiced yoga for 12 weeks tripled the length of time they lasted in bed –from just over seven minutes to 22. A major component of yoga is working on meditation and breathing, which help you clear your mind from your stress-filled work day.
40 per cent humidity. It works every muscle, tendon, ligament and joint, so it can help you avoid injury. And thanks to the heat, there’s major weight loss. So if you want a change from your usual training or just want to try something new, sign up to that Yoga class you’ve always
Once you have completed the first 10 minutes (if you can actually manage it), have a Google search for Adam Levine, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Downey Jnr or David Beckham, and click images. Each one of those guys id famous in his own right but they also don sculpted and chiseled bodies, which are all thanks to the hefty amounts of hours put in on the Yoga mat. Make no mistake though, attending your first class is a hard experience and possibly one that you have never encountered before, regardless of the work you do in the gym. I remember making my way to the back of the class feeling as though I had occupied the perfect position; essentially I was looking to hide if it got a bit hard. I expected my Yoga coach to put me through my paces, but after a matter of minutes I was dropping with sweat trying to pull my body into shapes it has never before been.
t o n ly Yo g a n o str o n g ou m a k es y s c u l p t e d , and g r e atly o s l a it s i n crea s e d ity a n l i b i x e l f r e a pi n g e r a n me efi ts . th e b e n It releases serotonin in the brain, which will improve your mood and will also improve your confidence, because you’ll be in better shape. If you really want to up the anti, start Bikram Yoga.
Yoga not only makes you strong and sculpted, it also greatly increases flexibility and men are reaping the benefits.
Bikram focuses more on the physical aspect of yoga rather than the meditative. It’s done in a heated room for safe stretching and for detoxifying your body.
And the benefits keep coming. A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that
You will be doing 90 minutes of training in a studio that’s 105 degrees, with around
considered. Let’s face it: if at 39 Ryan Giggs is still playing 90 minutes against Real Madrid in the Champions League, it has to be doing something right.
words | 65
THE
Badults
After 10 years of making people laugh on the live circuit, the boys from Pappy’s have finally been given their very own BBC Three series – and it’s about time, too! Kyle catches up with the comedy trio to find out what life’s been like preparing for the camera...
T
WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
hey may be new to telly, but Ben Clark, Matthew Crosby and Tom Parry, the three comedians behind new BBC Three sitcom Badults, are certainly no strangers to putting on a show. Perhaps best known by their collective stage and writing name, Pappy’s, the comedy trio have had audiences across the UK in stitches for over 10 years. And now, after numerous critically acclaimed appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the trio are venturing away from the stage (temporarily) and onto our television sets.
“he told us we’d be able TO hear the car exploding...” With minimal interference from the BBC (which is always a huge compliment), Pappy’s were left to their own devices during the writing process, and it didn’t take long for them to find their feet in the TV world. Well, not that long, anyway. “I remember the first script we put in had a car exploding and a scene underwater and all this ridiculous stuff,” Tom muses, “and our director would be like, ‘You know, we can’t actually do any of those things’.” “He told us we’d be able to hear the car exploding,” Ben interjects. “But we just wouldn’t be able to see it. The scene would have just been us looking out a window going, Look there’s a car exploding!’ and a big boom in the background.” Pappy’s first met at the University of
Kent (according to them it was manlove at first sight), and their personal chemistry soon progressed into a creative and (somewhat) professional working relationship. After honing their style, the comedy team then known as Pappy’s Fan Club, decided that London, with all its endless opportunity, would be the most suitable place to continue their comedy pilgrimage. In 2004, the boys made the permanent voyage down to the capital and quickly began performing regularly at The Old Coffee House in Soho. Word spreads quickly in this city, and Pappy’s reputation for putting on an action-packed live show grew rapidly. Fast forward a few years, countless shows, a performance at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, a Chortle Award and a three-week run at the Soho Theatre, and Pappy’s are unquestionably one of the most established acts on the comedy circuit. But even all their years on stage couldn’t have fully prepared them for the leap into TV. “When you perform live, you know from moment to moment whether the majority of the audience is enjoying it or not and you can adapt accordingly,” explains Tom. “Whereas in television, the majority of the audience is people watching at home, so you can’t respond to what the audience think of the show until you’ve already finished it. And that’s quite a strange thing for us. You have no idea if they’re enjoying it or not.” “Because they’re in the future,” Matthew adds with a smile. “I’m sure the people of the future will contact us on Twitter and tell us if we’re good or not.” Although Pappy’s have a wealth of experience on the live circuit, they’ve had to adapt to their new roles in front
of the camera. Without any previous training, it was their initiative and ability to acclimatise to new situations that made the process, as a whole, as smooth as it could be when filming a TV series. But when it comes to adapting to new professional environments, nobody does it more effectively than a comedian. “When you work in the comedy business you soon get used to adapting to your surroundings,” Tom laughs. “It definitely felt like we were doing something that was new to us, though. But the more you do comedy, the more that just becomes a part of the job. You get asked to do so many weird, different jobs, so writing a sitcom was something new, but we work in a job where we’re always being asked to do something new.” As daunting as it may seem to write and star in a sitcom for the first time, never having produced a TV show before has added to the charm and organic humour of the series – a quality they stole directly from their live shows. “One of the things we had in our favour was that we’d never written a sitcom before,” Matthew continues, “so we didn’t really know what to do and what not to do. We just wrote exactly what we ourselves would want to watch. Ultimately, the process of writing jokes doesn’t change. You want to write a joke that people are going to find funny. So whether you’re writing it for the stage or for the screen it doesn’t really change – the only difference is that you just get the opportunity to try and have car exploding jokes.” Whether you’ve managed to catch Pappy’s on stage before or not, it’s well worth tuning in to Badults on a Tuesday night. And you never know... you might even get to see the odd car explosion!
DRAFTED HAS ARRIVED! OKAY, WE WERE A LITTLE LATE, BUT LAST MONTH WE FINALLY GOT AROUND TO THROWING OUR LAUNCH PARTY! DIDN’T MAKE IT? HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS... WORDS BY RIVKIE BAUM
D
RAFTED Magazine teamed up with Olympus to host a star-studded, glittering (if not slightly belated) launch party at London’s Rose Club last month. The night saw over 500 attendees from the worlds of fashion, music, beauty, lifestyle, PR and media toast the launch of London’s hottest new free distribution magazine. With cocktails specially created for us from Red Leg Rum, and plenty of JuiceBurst floating around, it was a night to remember for all!
showing our guests the new Olympus E-P5 and capturing some special moments from around the party, as well as at their pop-up booth. Danny Bolivia kept the tunes coming, getting even London’s fashion elite up and dancing well past the end of the party.
The Olympus team spent the evening
As the evening drew to a close, Olympus
Previous cover stars Simon Webbe and Lee Ryan from Blue stopped by for a few drinks and mingled alongside members of The Kooks and other DRAFTED feature stars, including Little Nikki and Tich.
gave away two brand new Olympus E-P5s to some very happy people, who can now capture their next party in style! Those still not ready to head to bed made their way to the after-party (every great party has one, of course) at DSTRKT nightclub, where the celebrations continued into the early hours. And all of that makes it official: DRAFTED magazine has most definitely arrived!
@draftedmagazine
THE NEW OLYMPUS PEN An icon of style – packed with premium image quality. The new PEN E-P5 is an expression of your lifestyle, and built-in WiFi lets you share your creative passion. A beauty in every way – with every picture you share. Find out more at your local dealer or visit www.olympus.co.uk/pen