EDITOR IN CHIEF CHARMAINE MAINOO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ART AND CULTURE DAME K MICHAEL NDEBUMADU ADRIAN RICHARDSON ASHLEA OGARRO MAISIE HAYDEN FASHION AND MUSIC EMMA WHITEMOSS LEANNE BROOKES
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ALEX PINERO CHARMAINE MAINOO JOYCE DUAH
EDITORS NOTE... I SPENT MY EARLY TEEN YEARS IN LONDON. THE CITY THAT THEY SAY NEVER SLEEPS...AND BY FAR, THOSE YEARS WERE PROBABLY THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. WE WERE YOUNG, WILD AND FREE. THERE WERE NO BILLS, RESPONSIBILITIES OR EXPECTATIONS... WE WERE JUST FREE. FASHION WAS FUN. IT WAS COLOURFUL AND QUITE FRANKLY LOUD AND DISTASTEFUL.... FROM MOSCHINO STYLE JEANS (THE ONES WITH THE AWFUL NEWSPAPER PRINT) TO BOLD SATIN SHIRTS. US GIRLS WOULD TOP THAT OFF WITH GELLED HAIR SLAPPED ON OUR FOREHEADS TO CREATE ‘BABY HAIRS’’ AND THE BOYS...A VISIT TO THE BARBERS FOR THE LATEST PATTERNS OR HIGH TOP. SWAG? NAH, BUT WE REALLY BELIEVED THIS TREND LOOKED GOOD. I CRINGE WHEN I LOOK BACK AT MY FASHION DISASTERS, WHAT WAS I THINKING? BLACK LIP LINER, SILVER EYE SHADOW AND LYCRA DRESSES...WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY STOP ME?! OH AND MUSIC, MUSIC WAS ACTUALLY MUSIC. URBAN MUSIC WAS AT ITS BEST, ARTISTS SUCH AS THE LATE AALIYAH, TLC, BRANDY, JODECI AND SWV (A FAVOURITE AMONGST MY GIRLS) - I EVEN HAD A CREW OF MY OWN SISTERS WITH VOICES....LEANNE PITTSON AND KIMBERLY D WITH LUKE FRANCIS DOING THE BEAT-BOX. WHEN WE SANG IT ALWAYS FELT LIKE A ARENA OF PEOPLE WERE WATCHING…EVERY TIME. WHY DID WE HAVE TO GROW UP? I DEDICATE THIS ISSUE TO THE 90’S. WELCOME TO THE HOUSE PARTY...
HOUSE PARTY ISSUE 4
PHOTOGRAPHER: CHARMAIE MAINOO MUA/HAIR: KATY MOORE MODEL: NELO TSHILANDA FASHION: CHIKA WEAR
BREAKING IT DOWN: 90’S HIP HOP Arguably the “Golden Age” of Hip hop, the 90’s saw the genre become mainstream. It was now accessible to everyone, including us Brits. I remember getting my dose of Hip hop from Yo! MTV Raps was the first Hip hop music show on the network; a cool mix of rap videos, interviews with rap stars, live studio performances (on Fridays) and comedy. God bless MTV! Here, I was introduced to the baggy pant wearing duo Kriss Kross, Naughty by Nature, Rakim, MC Lyte…and who remembers Sir Mix a Lot’s hilarious ‘Baby got back’ and MC Hammer’s ‘You can’t touch this’ video? I’m still traumatised by Hammer’s trade mark gold pants and dance moves... MTV raps was where I saw it all first. At this point Hip hop was still fun, remnants of RUN DMC were still present. It was poetic and artistic and less about the flashing lights of celebrity. The film, House Party, directed by Reginald Hudlin, really captures the feel of this era. Around the early 90’s, Gangster rap had become mainstream. This sub-genre evolved from hard-core Hip hop and was dark, angry, un-cut and of course...controversial, giving voice to underprivileged black youngsters like NWA, Ice T and others whose views contradicted the American dream. These artists introduced a new perspective and to date, Gangster rap is the most commercially lucrative form of rap.
Picture 1 -4: B.I.G, Tu Pac,Lil Kim, Eminiem
Rap music greats, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur also came from this era. Who’s the best? This was (and still is) the subject of many debates. Equally, they deserve the title. B.I.G. had swag like no other. He was playful with his lyrics and music up beat. His punch lines were PUNCH LINES. Pac on the other hand was poetic, outspoken, conscious, deep and sincere. Sadly, the mid 90’s marked the infamous beef between the two that ended with both lives lost. Shortly before this, B.I.G introduced the first lady of Hip hop (mainstream), Lil Kim. She was the first lady of B.I.G’S rap group Young Mafia. She was bad ass and unapologetic. Known as the Queen B, her sting was poisonous and addictive. Her lyrics were explicit, raw and overtly sexualised. She had that shock factor and this was fresh coming from a woman at that time. Kim was like a bull dog barging her was in to, what at this time was a male-dominated industry. The final years of the 90’s gave birth to a new generation of Hip hop artists; Nas, Jay z, Wu tang, Snoop dog, Dead presidents, The Fugees, and Eminem....one of the most successful non-black artists of the genre. Eminem opened up Hip hop to a larger audience.... it now belonged to everybody and no longer had colour.
MICHAEL REMEMBERS THE 90’S... The 90s, arguably the best decade ever! (Shout out to my 80s babies) When it comes to products...Pogs & Slammers rule!! Playgrounds at playtime were like entertainment arenas. Kids would be in full concentration slamming down their round plastic (or metallic if you were lucky enough) slammers on pogs in order to win! In fact, it was such a craze that my primary school head-teacher banned them because some kids would throw them in the air and others would end up in a pile with everyone scrambling to get one!
Oh, and how can we forget television?! Today decent viewing is hard to come by. Who remembers ‘Blind Date’, ‘Saved By The Bell’, ‘Moesha’ and ‘Gladiators’? Warrior was my favourite and so was Jet!...Jet, the pretty, wonder, beautiful, sweet...errrm, where was I? I can remember at school, kids would hang off the monkey-bars trying to play “Hang Tough” Lol! And let’s not forget John Fashanu yelling “Awooogah” ha! What does that even mean?
SHARAYA J
Oh yeah! And Kids’ channels actually had presenters back then! Where have they gone?! Nickelodeon, Disney Channel... Trends? Hmm, I do remember Nike TNs, Schott Jackets and Avirex jackets. I doubt you’d see anyone rock an Avirex jacket today....and girls they did the silliest things: They would swap stockings. You would sometimes see girls walking around, left-leg white stocking, right-leg black stocking...and dummies! Teen girls walking around with dummies in their mouths. Was that supposed to be cute?! L-O-L Later in the 90s mobile phones became popular. Nokia face-offs then 33/3210s were the dominant phones. Kids on the back of the bus would be playing their monophonic ringtones to see which sounded best. Real talk tho’ ‘Kick’ was a decent ringtone, teens would actually skank out to that tone....me too...only once though...or twice... What would I bring back? The prices. Things today are too expensive! 90s music! Yes, cheesy pop was cool! R&B had a lil more substance. What would I leave behind? Dial-up internet...that screeching-crunchy sound...#annoying.
BRITISH ART THAT CHANGED THE WORLD:90’S BY CHARMAINE MAINOO
Damien Hirst 1991 One of the most iconic pieces to come out of Britain is the infamous Shark tank. The piece by contempary artist Damien Hirst, titled: The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living consists of a 13ft Tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde and placed in a vitrine. The work was funded by Charles Saatchi in 1991 and was first exhibited at the Young British Artist Show at the Saatchi Gallery. The gallery later sold the piece for a whopping 8 million. ‘Hirst’s intention was to force the viewer out of their element by introducing into a gallery setting, a shark that was “real enough to frighten you” By isolating the shark from its natural habitat, with the formaldehyde providing an illusion of life, the work explores our greatest fears, and the difficulty involved in adequately trying to express them’. Source: www.damienhirst.com
Tracey Emin 1998 My Bed by Tracey Emin was first created in 1998, and was exhibited at the Tate Gallery in 1999.The piece generated huge media coverage, because before this we hadn’t quite seen anything like it. The piece took us out of our comfort zone. It was intriguing because it was so intimate. My bed consists of a bed which lays un made, the quilt hangs off, the sheets stained with bodily fluids, bedroom objects, knickers and slippers lay on the floor beside it. Emin describes the piece as a representation of her mind set, the bed stayed in the same state as it had been through her depression.
90’S STYLE MAKES A COME BACK... BY EMMA WHITEMOSS Looking back at the ‘90s, I can honestly say I made some unfortunate fashion choices that quite frankly are better off forgotten, but never the less some of the superior ‘90s trends have slowly crept their way back and the more I see, the more I begin to love it. (Saying this, I am not referring to the bowl cut hair, butterfly clips or patterned waistcoats). They say that fashion is cyclical and that everything comes back in fashion after around 20 years, and it is proven that for 2014 the nineties are back in full swing. Cropped tops, bold logos and overalls were seen all over the New York Fashion Week’s runway by designers such as DKNY, Alexander Wang and Rag and Bone and with most high street stores following the trend late last year, this spring we will all certainly be able to get our nineties fix. Doc Martens were huge in the 90s, in all types of colours, and fell in line well with the rise of grunge culture and they have certainly made an appearance in 2013/14. With a wide range of sandals currently available in store and online, with more yet to come, why wouldn’t they be a hit for Spring/Summer 2014? The one thing I remember wearing when I was younger were jelly shoes. Fluorescent and glittery, and even worn with socks, I was a huge fan,
although at the time I looked ridiculous, and to see they are coming back is a blast from the past for me and I will certainly be wearing some this summer! Will you?
How many crop tops is too many crop tops? I have no idea. This year we expect to see the crop top get, well, more cropped, so I better start my crunches pronto! Lacoste, Peter Som and Tanya Taylor are only a handful of the designers that brought us a fresh spin on this trend at NYFW.
Conspicuous logos are arguably this seasons big nod to the 90’s and it certainly had everyone buzzing during New York Fashion Week and late last year. In 2014 we expect to see bolder, brighter and bigger versions of this trend, on the runway and the high street too! Now these are only a small number of 90’s inspired trends that are due to be a hit this year, I haven’t even mentioned overalls, mixed prints or chunky platform sandals. However, with the vast amount of trends we all challenged in the 90’s, it’s hard to distinguish how far the fashion world are willing to take it..... though at the time I looked ridiculous, and to see they are coming back is a blast from the past for me and I will certainly be wearing some this summer! Will you? Pic 1: New York Fashion week- Elle Pic 3: Alexander Wang collection
Delicate spaghetti strapped slip dresses and clean 90’s minimalism also took over the runway at NYFW and we expect this trend to shine through this summer, taking a spin on the classic trend with tailored separates, simple suits and basic silhouettes.
AND 90’S MAKE UP... BY EMMA WHITEMOSS
The era of strange fashion choices.... sparkle enhanced everything and a complete lack of respect for the natural eyebrow shape, some say they hope beauty trends from this period, including body glitter and silly amounts of lip liner never resurface. However, I beg to differ. Although there are numerous beauty trends I would prefer to forget, I have put together a list of my favourite beauty trends from the 90’s that seem to be re-appearance so far this year... Dark lips wine, brown and burgundy coloured are a typical trademark of 90’s beauty trends (think Gwen Steffani) and these dark berry hues showed on runways earlier this year from designers such as Louis Vuitton,Derek Lam and Miu Miu.
This is no surprise as darker tones are incredibly flattering and tend to suit any skin tone. Why not try colour crush lipstick 325 Darling Blush from the Body Shop or even Urban Decays Brick Shade. This is no surprise as darker tones are incredibly flattering and tend to suit any skin tone. Why not try colour crush lipstick 325 Darling Blush from the Body Shop or even Urban Decays Brick Shade. Grunge hair “the lived in hairstyle” - Popular in the 90’s due to the rise in grunge culture, this effortless style is just as alluring today as it was back then and designers such as Vera Wang, Lacoste and Karen Walker seem to be loving this ‘do’ too. This look is not over styled, is purposely undone and it certainly does our hair some good to stay clear from the straighteners!
Glitter eye make-up I feel like it is literally impossible to talk about 90’s beauty without mentioning glitter. Since scooping Claire’s body glitter up by the gallon and dousing ourselves in it isn’t acceptable in the present day (thankfully), maybe we should keep this trend to a minimal. Dior nailed this look (see photo), but to keep the glitter more work appropriate, a light dusting of shimmer eyeshadow on the top lip will look just as lovely. Try metallic cream eye-shadow in ‘gold stone’ by Bobbi Brown.
The French manicure the classic pink base and white tip was a must back then, but can seem a little too minimal today. To keep it more interesting, colour block nails are a great way to revive this trend and keep it more appealing.
GOOD
BY LEANNE B
Top 5 Unsigned Urban Artists
1. Devyn Rose http://www.devynrose.com www.facebook.com/ OfficialDevynRose
2. Astroid Boys http://astroidboys. bandcamp.com https://www.facebook.com/astroidboys
3. The Allergies https://www.facebook.com/theallergies 4. Afrocluster https://www.facebook.com/AfroCluster 5. J-STRINGZZ http://www.reverbnation.com/jstringzzakastringwrk
MUSIC
BROOKES
Top 5 Ones to Watch
1. Nipsey Hussle www.facebook.com/ nipseyhussle https://twitter.com/ NipseyHussle
2. Valerie June www.valeriejune.com www.facebook.com/
3. Prop Dylan www.propdylanmusic. com www.facebook.com/ 4. Sabina Ddumba https://www.facebook. com/SabinaDdumbaOfficial
5. Liv Warfield http://www.livwarfieldmusic.com/
TOP FILMS OF THE 90’S BY ADRIAN RICHARDSON
“I’ll be back”. The 90’s saw a perfect mix of big-budget blockbusters, quirky, cheesy and inventive cult hits, an era we could call a maximum overdrive in movies. If you lived it, then you would know it. To name them all would require a whole issue and still we would probably miss a few of your favourites. It wasn’t a case of extra cheese with everything, movies had meaning (some may be too hidden or just merely hinted).Take Terminator or The Matrix for instance, in them we see a world dependent on technology.
Schindler’s List gave us a journey into the past, and an insight into human nature, showing us that one man can make a difference. Pulp Fiction brought coolness back and Jurassic Park took us on an excursion and a glimpse of how life would be if dinosaurs still roamed the earth, while Pretty Woman had us believing in fairy tales again.
The Exorcist scared the bejesus out of you and The Usual Suspects had me on the edge of my seat.... now that’s the sign of a good movie! All in all, we had movies for every taste and occasion.
What’s your favourite movies of the nineties?.....
GROWING UP IN THE 90’S
BY ASHLEA O’GARRO
I feel blessed to have grown up in the 1990s. Being a mid ‘80s baby, the ‘90s was the era where I was making sense of the world and developing my identity. It may be nostalgia speaking, but I feel that the ‘90s was an extraordinary era. For many, it was a time of opportunity, prosperity and girl power! In stark comparison to the late ‘00s, it felt like a time of possibility and optimism. Furthermore, there appeared to be a general sense that the world was changing for the better. Technology was advancing at a rapid pace and social issues, such as racism, sexism and homophobia were beginning to be analysed with a critical gaze. The cultural shift that began in the ‘80s was predominantly reflected in the music industry, the fashion industry and Hollywood. Personally, I believe that the ‘90s music scene had the biggest impact on my life. I grew up in Romford, Essex, which in those days was considered to be the suburbs. Romford was not as racially diverse as it is today and as a Black female, I naturally assimilated in order to survive. At school and amongst friends, I was exposed to ‘90s pop music. I personally favoured ‘cheesy’ boy bands such as 5ive, A1 and ‘Nsync. Even though the quality of the
the music could be brought in to question, I miss the fun, youthful, cheerful vibe that I believe is missing from today’s pop music. Looking back, the lyrics in pop music have always contained adult content, but it was cleverly disguised with metaphors and euphemisms. Also, the songs were accompanied with squeaky clean pop videos that did not always reflect the lyrics. It seems as if there was an attempt to maintain the innocence of the child, whilst still appealing to adult listeners. Nowadays, I believe that the lyrics are more explicit and are sometimes reinforced by sexual and violent music videos. There was innocence in‘90s pop music, where singers could be flirty and fun, without being overtly sexual. I miss that. I am most sentimental about the ‘90s American R&B scene. As a child, I took R&B music for granted, but I now have a special appreciation and love for the music. I was exposed to R&B when I visited my older cousins, singing and memorising lyrics that I barely understood. ‘90s RnB became the soundtrack to my life. My fondest memories were singing SWV, Jade and Brandy tracks (out of tune) and creating our own weird and wonderful dances. ack then, ‘90s R&B music was considered to be a lot more risqué than Pop -
music, which may be one of the many reasons that it was still relatively underground, in terms of the British mainstream music charts. For me, it was a pleasant escape to see Black faces in the music videos and to observe females that share my complexion. Currently, I do not believe that Black girls have so many role models in the music industry. The R&B scene gradually merged into the pop scene and it has been gradually ‘whitewashed’. It is now rare to see a Black female in a music video that is not her own. The urban look is now a Mediterranean or mixed raced female. That saddens me, as I wonder who the dark skinned young women are looking to for inspiration and validation. In my opinion, it is essential for a child to have a positive role model to identify with. My ‘90s role models were mostly from TV. Significantly, most of the Black people that I saw on TV were from American TV shows, on Nickelodeon. I was captivated by ‘90s TV sitcom, Sister Sister. It was refreshing to see a depiction of a Black family that was comedic, but did not reinforce negative stereotyping. Strangely enough, I also adored the hideous ‘crimes of fashion’ that were committed by ‘90s TV stars, of all races. I yearned for Clarissa’s bizarre wardrobe and Lisa turtle’s
(saved by the Bell) atrocious hats. I was also envious of Hillary Banks’ (The fresh prince of Bel-Air) colour blocked outfits! Admittedly, there is a lot to ridicule about the 1990s, but it is difficult to deny that it was a great time to be alive. They say that every generation is nostalgic about their own era and that may be true but nothing beats the ‘90s!
Pic : ABC news
RACHEL EDMOND INTERVIEW BY EMMA WHITEMOSS
When did your interest in printed textiles and design begin? I always enjoyed Fine Art as a way of working and I had a strong interest in Fashion. I went to college, believing at the end of it, I’d be going to study fashion at University. It turns out that Textiles offered me the freedom of Fine Art in terms of drawing and print making but for the context that I enjoy, Fashion. Therefore I feel I had the best of both worlds.
What would you say is a typical working day for you? A typical working day for me varies, that’s what I love. You can never get bored with something new and challenging to do each day! At the moment, I’m spending a lot of time producing more stock in the run up to summer, including new purses and I’m beginning my Autumn/Winter 2014 research for my next collection. Where do you find inspiration for your designs? Travel is always an influence in my work, one way or another. A trip to Barcelona sparked the idea for my degree show work. Miami and the abundance of Art Deco remnants in the city was the inspiration behind the Spring/Summer 14 collection. I didn’t get to travel much when I was younger so every time I travel now, I soak up everything that a different culture and place has to offer.
After being involved in Clothes Show Live 2013, do you feel this helped you with your brand? Will you be involved in this or any other events this year? It was such a privilege to be picked for the Graduate ASOS Marketplace competition by ASOS Marketplace and the Clothes Show Live, it gave me a foot in the door to the Fashion Industry as well as the confidence to pursue my own business in design. This Spring you’ll find me at various Print Fairs and specialist weekend markets at in the Liverpool and Manchester area. Accessories are currently your forte, but do you think you will design other items? Such as dresses, kimonos... I think a lot of my prints are suited for accessories as they are bright and are seen commercially as statement pieces. With scarves especially, they are a timeless accessory, limitless with Design. Autumn/Winter 2014 might see a small capsule collection of printed blouses, tees and dresses, but my focus will remain in accessories. What are your aims and objectives for the future? My aims for the future would be to have my products stocked in various Boutiques and Stores in the North-West, with the aim to have stockists in London too. I’m hoping to expand my accessories collection into different styles of bags and finding creative ways to incorporate print and surface pattern into jewellery.
Currently all of your pieces are made in Britain, do you intend to keep it this way? I would love to keep the manufacturing in Britain. Going to University in Manchester, I learnt so much about the old Textile Industry there. It makes me sad that a lot of that industry is lost now, but I think there has been a revival recently as people are proud of our fashion and textiles heritage and want to bring back ‘Made in Britain’. How have things changed since leaving University?
I miss having a big studio that’s for sure! The only big part that’s changed for me is the business side of things. It can be challenging to find the right balance when you’re an individual, but when it’s something you enjoy, self-discipline comes easy. I set myself weekly targets and as long as I get the business side done within that target, I do the creative side when I am in the mood. You can’t pause your creative mood just because it’s not in your schedule. I’ve had mentoring through companies that help new businesses and young graduates set up, they helped me put on my business head and gave me guidance throughout about starting up.
You are currently collaborating with ASOS and you have your own on-line site. Have you considered opening your own boutique/store?
In this current financial climate it would be difficult to open my own store, although I would love it. E-commerce is such a big industry now and enables products to reach a global scale. I think selling my products via my ASOS Marketplace Boutique ‘Rachel Edmond’ and my website www.racheledmond.com suits my business, although I do enjoy trading at Print fairs and Fashion stalls at Specialist Markets. Where do you see the brand in a few years’ time? I hope to gain a strong customer base of Fashion and Print Lovers buying into my Collections. I would love my collection to be worn by figures I admire in the fashion industry and stylish celebrities such as Fearne Cotton and Lena Dunham.
Twitter: @RachelEdmond3 Facebook: www.facebook.com/racheledmondcontemporaryprints Instagram: Instagram.com/rebyracheledmond www.racheledmond.com
Photographer: Alex Piñero. Stylist: Dimitris Folas. MUA & Hair Stylist: Liivie Live Model: Erika Sadunaite Fur jacket by Kelly Jordan ‘Hoku’ jumper by Lana Dumitru Checked trousers by Alex Huang
‘Frida’ print jumper by Lana Dumitru Knitted dress by Caitlin Charles Jones Neck brace by Kelly Jordan Shoes and socks Stylist’s own
Cropped wool jumper by Francesca Scott Stripped shirt by Alex Huang Pleated skirt by Francesca Scott Gloves Stylist’s own
Jacket made of hair by Kelly Jordan Cropped wool jumper by Francesca Scott Knitted skirt by Caitlin Charles Jones Shoes and socks Stylist’s own
See-through jumper with fur details by Kelly Jordan Knitted dress by Caitlin Charles Jones Leather wedges by Alex Huang
Shoes and socks Stylist’s own Checked neoprene coat by Alex Huang
REMEMBERING NELSON MANDELA BY MICHAEL NDEBUMADU
The Nineties, a wonderful decade not just for music, TV and life in general, but for great moments in history. One such moment took place on the 11th February 1990, the emancipation of the legend Nelson Mandela. After 27 long years in a prison on Robben Island, millions of people across the world tuned in on TVs sets and radios to watch and listen as Mandela walked to freedom. Thousands had the privilege of being there live to watch as he stepped out to face the world. Tears of emotion, joy, and applause of happiness echoed all around as he waved and greeted his loyal supporters. Mandela could be seen standing triumphantly with his fist clenched in the air; an image which would be ingrained in the minds of many for years to come. The day of Mandela’s release was understandably a tense one for some. It was a time when South Africa had begun negotiations to end apartheid. As many know, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist. At times he was quite radical in his campaign to end apartheid, and those who were pro-apartheid were apprehensive of what might happen now that Mandela had gained his freedom. On the day of his release there was some conflict; confrontations broke out and a few people were shot and some injured. The conflict that occurred that day could not outweigh the significance of Mandela’s release. This day was not just about Mandela gaining freedom from almost three decades in prison, it was also about taking one further step on the road to equality and justice in South Africa and finding a way to move forward after many years of division, oppression and racism. 1990 will remain one of the greatest years of the Nineties‌and in fact one could say that 11th Feburary 1990 will be remembered as one of the greatest dates in history.
The 5 best trends... Cropped tops Grunge Platform Trainers Denim, denim, denim Bold Prints
THE WORST AND BEST TR
RENDS OF THE 90’S
The 5 worst EVER...ewwww Bowl haircuts flared jeans Butterfly clips/bandannas MC Hammer Pants Crimped Hair
OH AND 90’S SITCOMS
BY EMMA WHITEMOSS
As we look back into the 90’s it seems only right to reminisce on the shows that we watched continuously throughout the decade and those that we all love and miss. Take a look at our top 5 and see if you remember watching these iconic sitcoms...
Friends - Friends is a sitcom that aired for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan going trough the humorous trials and tribulations of relationships, work and personal life and is a show that I dearly miss!
Fresh Prince of Bel Air - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a sitcom that aired from 1990 to 1996 that stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their wealthy Bel Air mansion, where his lifestyle often clashes with that of his more upper class relatives
.
Keenan and Kel - The show was about “Kenan Rockmore” and “Kel Kimble,” two best friends in Chicago that were always causing mischief - Keenan, a high school student that also worked at a grocery store and his orange-soda loving best friend Kel.
Saved by the Bell - Saved by the Bell was a popular 1990’s sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series followed the exploits of several students along with their principal at fictional Bayside High School.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, an American teenage half-witch who discovers she has magical powers on her 16th birthday. She lives with her 600-year-old aunts and their magical talking cat Salem and we followed her throughout each episode from 1996 - 2000.
SALLIE FOYEH INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL NDEBUMADU
Tell us a bit about your style, how would you describe it? My style is quite varied: it’s a blend of r’n’b, neo-soul, gospel, acoustic and a little pop. What I love about my style is that it’s something that’s ever growing, as I write more, listen to more and work with different musicians. What/who inspires your music? My music is inspired by words and concepts and images. It’s inspired by the life I live everyday; my faith being the main facet of that. I’m also inspired by other artists and musicians, including my peers. I listen to a lot of really, really good music so I’m always challenged to keep getting better! When you’re not singing, what else do you get up to? Hobbies, interests? If I’m not singing, I’m either listening to music, reading, appreciating nature somehow, writing (poetry, articles), doing something at church, tweeting (is this a legit hobby?) or studying for my degree!
When did you fall in love with music? I’m trying so hard not to give a cheesy answer, it’s not easy though! Ha ha. I don’t know if there is a ‘when’, it feels like music has just always been around and I have always loved it. My mum and my uncle have beautiful voices and were always singing in the house. My dad plays guitar and my sister and I were taught to play music from a young age. It’s just been constant, but I suppose it’s in recent years, the last 5 or 6 maybe, that I’ve really become consciously aware of how much I love music and how absolutely amazing music is; how it like, actually just sound. It blows my mind pretty much everyday. I make the stank face everyday.
What makes you laugh? So many things. Most embarrassing memory? Every time I get asked this question I think about how I probably need to sit down one day and just pick one memory that I will use whenever it’s asked. I never do though...
If you could collab with any singer/ group who would it/they be? Ooh. Amel Larrieux. Or Quadron. Or Robert Glasper. Or Snarky Puppy!
You recently had a secret listening party, tell us about that? Yes! In December, I put together an event called ‘Eavesdrop’. I invited folks to come and eavesdrop on my music - it was sort of a “here I am!” event as I’ve been doing music for a while, but it hasn’t been very coherent, a lot of random gigs and it felt like I had no focus. So I thought it was time to present myself to the world as an artist and have friends, family and strangers hear what I’d been working on musically. It was a wonderful night, I had such a good time! What do you hope for the future?
In terms of music? To keep gigging, work on more projects, share my music with as many folks as possible, collaborate with some other artists. Just to keep building and blossoming. What would you like people to take away from your music? I would like for people to take from my music whatever they need, whether that be something to bob their heads to, something to listen to in the car with windows down and sun blazing, something to give them hope, to make them smile... If I could tell the world one thing, it would be... all we need is Love!
SHORT FILM REVIEW: ON THE VERGE
BY MICHAEL NDEBUMADU
This short film explores the four stages of a break up: The tension, the denial, the confrontation and the outcome. ‘On the Verge’ is a short film written and directed by Waiki Harnais for Luster Works Media. Florence (Jade Carter) and Isaac (Michael Levi Fatogun) are a young couple. The film takes a dip into the life of Isaac and his responsibilities that seem to be putting a strain on his relationship. Isaac travels a lot to his home country of Sierra Leone to help look after his sick father. Because of Isaac’s travelling back and forth, Florence feels neglected and almost shut out.
Driving along in a car, we are introduced to the characters by extreme close-ups of their faces. From this opening scene we get a sense that all may not be blissful. The expression on their faces really speaks to the viewer giving us a feel of the situation between them both. The audience get a sense of melo-drama highlighted by the soft piano-music on the soundtrack. The silence between Florence and Isaac helps build the uncomfortable mood in the car. For a brief moment, the silence is broken when Isaac plays music: Jhene Aiko – The Worst – a song which conveniently tells us a bit about the situation between he and Florence. This short film is less than 10 minutes long,
but, we get a lot out of it. Through the convincing dialogue between the two characters, we get into the history of their relationship and the reasons why it is falling to pieces. From Florence’s dialogue, we get the sense that she not only feels distant from Isaac when he’s away physically, but emotionally too. What adds more interest to the film, is the third but invisible character… Isaac’s ill father. His father by no fault of his own, has come between the two. The scriptwriter and director did a good job in keeping the viewer interested. The acting is consistent and believable. A series of close-ups and dialogue are cleverly used in this film which takes a long story and sufficiently compacts it into a bite-size story. Overall one could tell the writer/ director knew what she was doing and is more than competent at her craft. Waiki Harnias shows that not all films need a big budget and elaborate settings to produce a quality film. Using a black car with a dark interior and shot on a dull day, the components, which make this film, could not have fitted in any better.
‘On The Verge’ is available for viewing on Vimeo.com. Rating:4*
Photographer, Makeup and Editing :Joyce Duah (www. theglamhut.co.uk) Designer - Maddy McIndoe (www.mcindoedesign.com) Models: Jonathan Jamys Bradley Howe-Lawsonn, Ellie Calder Calder, Chico Rudy Huggins and Michaela Phuong Thanh Tranova
JESSI MALAY INTERVIEW
To cover another artist’s song, the material has to feel personal to me in some way, so the next time a song does that to me, I’ll definitely do another cover! I really connected with Diplo’s ‘Revolution’ and thought it would also be a YES! Music is actually my first passion in great track to show off some of my tallife! I started singing and dancing as a ented friends, so I got together a group kid. I would wake up in the morning, of my dancer girls and my friend Tony throw on Michael Jackson, Mariah, or Madonna, put on this little white spandex Tommasi on drums, and we just put up a little video of our cover a couple weeks and lace crop and mini set (so not apago! propriate for a 4 year old) and perform for my stuffed animals for hours. I was always involved in performing groups, What artists inspire you? Dream collabowas signed to Jive Records as a young ration? teen in a girl group called No Secrets, then solo for a few years on Warner Bros. I’ve always been really inspired by powRecords before making the decision to erful, female divas that can sing and go back to UCLA to finish school. Over the past year, I’ve really dedicated my- dance, and do it with conviction! Madonna, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, self to my music and performing again Beyonce, these are all women I really and couldn’t be more excited to finally look up to who I think have not only be releasing a body of music. mastered their craft, but have some intangible thing that makes them unHow would you describe your sound? touchable, icons, yet at the same time I’m a pop/dance artist with lots of R&B in- human enough to let you see through to fluence. I also really love everything from who they really are through their music and performance. Hip-Hop to Samba so you’ll hear some of those influences in my sound and the I also really love all the new wave R&B from The Weekend, Frank Ocean, beats. Miguel, Pharell, and Jhene Aiko, but I We love your cover of John Legends ‘All must say, after meeting Robin Thicke, I know we’d make beautiful music toof me’ which, by the way, has reached just over 150,000 hits, have you any plans gether LOLOL Doing a collab with Iggy Azalea would be dope too! I’ve seen for more covers or are you solely foher live a few times and follow her on socused on your own material? cial media and I feel like we’d get each Thank you!!! I completely fell in love with other. Plus her new video is a remake of Clueless! That’s when I knew we’d defithat song and am so happy the little video we did for it got such a good look! nitely be good together. So...not only are you a popular fashion Blogger, you plan to launch a music career. Wow, what inspired the decision? Has music always been the plan?
Thanks for the exclusive listen of your up-and-coming debut EP ‘ Do not disturb’, its hot! What can we expect from the EP? Thanks! Everybody needs a little hotel room love from time to time LOL… there’s something about being in a new place, strangers next door, and room service when you need it that’s such a turn on! On this EP I talk a lot about lust, love, and fashion! You’ll get a pretty personal read on what I’m into…being an unapologetically domineering female on ‘Beg,’ the freak within on ‘Fetish’ and ‘Do Not Disturb,’ finding inspiration within another on ‘Give Me Life,’ and fashion on ‘Bougie.’ I also talk about the darker side of love and how hard it is to leave someone you care about when you know it’s not right, on ‘Thing About Love,’ and get even more personal on ‘Here I Am,’ which is an anthem for all those who refuse to give up on what they know they’re meant to do in life. Now, we know you love fashion, how would you describe your style?
On days off and during spring and summer, I also really love wearing lots of simple LWD’s (little white dresses) and gold jewellery. I admire girls that can style up unexpected combinations of patterns/textures/fits and aren’t afraid of being a bit unconventional. Who are you listening to right now? Listening to a lot of Jhene Aiko and Iggy Azlaea, this past week I’ve been in a Lana Del Rey mood, but I also just got the new Beats Music app and love how they just feed me different music and artists they know I’ll like every day! Our latest issue is inspired by the 90’s, what is your best memory of that era? Carpooling to school with my best childhood friend Ali Lim and having her cool, older sister drive us around listening to Power106 and, at the time, 92.3 The Beat, where I got introduced to all the hip-hop and R&B my mom wouldn’t let me listen to! Where can people find you?
Streetchic. I look at fashion as another means of expression…to me, it really is the most simple and direct way of being able to express yourself on a daily basis. My style has some range…I’m a glamour girl for life…love my heels and my hair has to be right or I just don’t feel like myself. I love body con pieces, lots of crops and minis (some things never change) and layering them with a sick jacket and jewellery that has a bit of rock star edge.
I’m super active on Instagram and Twitter @jessimalay and @mywhiteT (the fashion blog), Facebook.com/ JessiMalay, Facebook.com/mywhiteT, youtube.com/JessiMalay, and you can listen to more music and watch videos on my website Jmalay.com! And finally...choose one word that would best describe what we can expect from you?.... PASSION.
OFF THE HOOK SPRING SUMMER TRENDS Graphic
Tasteful Tassles
Graphic design meets fashion design when fabric is used as a canvass for image heavy print.
Tassels/Fringing are back this spring and now being incorporated in beautiful jewellery as well as making clothing look that little bit more edgy. This look took over Milan Fashion Week, so keep your eyes peeled for this trend on the high street too!Â
Spring Coat It’s time to shed the winter coat and make room for its lighter counterpart for warmer days. Bold Pastel
Wearable Art
It may sound like an oxymoron, but this season designers are set out to prove that pastel does not only cater to soft looks.
What better combination than art and fashion? We love the idea of wearable art and illustration and this is definitely a trend we are loving this spring! We are particularly
Wide Leg Trousers Stepping from the skinny to the not-so-skinny, wide leg trousers are back and going strong. Jelly Shoes These soft sandals are making a come back, with the sock addon trending for the chiller days.
DAME K REMEMBERS THE 90’S Yo! What a decade the 90’s was! For me, it was ‘wicked’. It was a time for firsts and you never forget your ‘firsts’. I dumped my pager in ‘96, and got my first mobile, which was a Siemens S8. Yeah... I felt pretty fly with that in its nice black leather case. Back in the day, phones were made to last, okay, yeah the screen size was smaller than a rubber and it certainly was bulky compared to nowadays, but I think that phones could have been driven over by an arctic lorry, and still be in perfect working order. As if, they could make phones like that now, well they probably can, but they won’t. Sometimes I hanker for a phone that is just that, a phone, to make calls and nothing else. Casio brought out G-Shock, and around ‘98 I was the owner of my first G-Shock watch... yep, it was the bomb, black and yellow and proper chunky style with a million functions other than just telling the time that I would never use, oh apart from the light. Technology wise, the buzz hype was the Game Boy, I was totally addicted to Tetris. Also, my computer, I had an Amiga 500 which I used every day, I’m talking Rainbow Islands, Back to the Future, Shadow of the Beast, Days of Thunder, Night breed and The Simpsons. If I could bring something back it would be my Amega 500. Yeah Sonic on the Mega Drive was pretty dope too, all about zooming around super fast as you reap the gold rings. However, I have to confess I still have the Mega Drive although I’d prefer the Amiga.Another first for me was going to Wimbledon to watch the
the tennis. Steffi Graf was a big hit of the 90’s, and seeing her play on center court was wicked. I also had my introduction into theatre. Early 90’s I was in my first production, it was West Side Story, I was a Jet Girl. And “when you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way”. One of the best musicals ever and a great love story got me smitten with the business. By the end of the 90’s I had my own Children’s Theatre company and was directing and producing shows with Danny Reeves at Lewisham Theatre Studio. After that, I worked in media, for LWT, that’s London Weekend Television for those that have never heard of it, coz it closed in 2002. This was one the best times for me, my first ‘proper’ job, in the LWT building on the Southbank. This is where my love of the Southbank came from, as you may have read in some of my blogs. LWT brought us great everything; drama, entertainment, comedy, sports, arts and current affairs and children’s programming. You got to remember London’s Burning, massive hit of the 90’s. I’d bring LWT back, for me it had a real sense of family about it, it was a great place to work. Another great place to work I reckon, was the Cheers bar in Cheers, the American TV sitcom, which scooped 28 Emmy Awards. Although season 11 finished in 1993, I’m sure they were still playing it here throughout the 90’s and I loved it. I can’t not mention the theme tune, which is one of those unforgettable ones that make you feel great.
“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name.” I loved the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, it was in fact the first time I’d heard of Will Smith, before this show he was already a successful rapper in America. Will played The Fresh Prince, this cool kid from Philadelphia who’d been in a fight and whose parents sent him to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel Air mansion to put him on the straight and narrow. I don’t even know how many times I listened to Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith’s Boom! Shake the Room, on my Walkman. Oh yeah I know Discmans had come out but I loved my Walkmam. Okay who else was on my Walkman? The Pasadinas and I did like New Kids on The Block, I actually had a poster on my bedroom wall. I remember most of my friends fancied Joey, but no, Danny was the one for me. Then there was mister Ro-man-tic himself, Shaggy, yeah, you know the tune you were whining and grinding to. Bombastic. It was fantastic! It was though. And this side of the pond, I can’t not mention Absolutely Fabulous.
The hilarious double act that is Patsy and Edina, high functioning addicts played by Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders. The five main characters, all women, and their real names all begin with the same letter, J. Just a strange little fact for you, Jonna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders, June Whitfield, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks. Great film work came outa the 90’s. I gotta mention a few of my all time favourite British made films; The Krays, Truly Madly Deeply, Life is Sweet and Secrets and Lies written and directed by Mile Leigh.... I could go on and on there were seriously so many. Finally, finally, finally, scrunches, yeah, if you remember scrunches you’ll remember making your own with your mates. Trainers, I love my trainers, always have, I don’t know if they still do them, but LA Gear, I’m not sure if we called them high tops at the time, but I’d bring them back. Something they have brought back, which I would love, but never had a pair of, is Reebok Pumps.
POEM: A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE...90’S I heart the 90 ‘s, don’t you I heart the rise of pop and the play stations too Then there’s the hip hop hottie boom The tick tick tick from the Fresh Prince shaking the room and adorning our screens in Bel Air style. While out in the open air the Youth craze of the 90’s Fields ablaze with neon lights, the ravers tooled up with glow sticks frantically, excitedly, dancing almost deliriously Non stop, all night. The high The thrill The frenzy Of it all In an empty warehouse Or on wasteland The ravers having it large With House music pumping. And the Major changes as the people of Britain’s fate from Maggie to John with the new Labour rise meant our finances didn’t, Black Wednesday dumped us in debts of 3billion. But the debt we owe to the 90’s that I heart is the fashion the music and the great art from fantastic film makers who challenge, entertain and inspire That gave me the desire to work hard in this industry. Dame K
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FILM REVIEW: THE VOORMAN PROBLEM BY MAISIE HAYDEN
Mark Gill’s Oscar-nominated short film The Voorman Problem depicts a more compelling and thought-provoking story in twelve minutes than do most feature-length films in two hours. The film is a dramatic portrayal of a psychologist’s struggle against faith and the impossible, as he becomes unsure of his own sanity while evaluating a seemingly delusional but cunning prisoner. Voorman, the prisoner, maintains he is a god and engages the entire prison population in his delusion. The governor then summons Doctor Williams to determine whether Voorman should be sent to an asylum. Voorman, who maintains that everything on earth is a figment of his imagination, repeatedly challenges Williams with witty comments as the doctor attempts to convince him that he could not possibly be a god. Voorman’s tactics cause the doctor to question his own mental state and sense of reality. Ultimately, Williams finds himself in an unexpected situation. Gill’s film eloquently depicts issues surrounding faith, destiny and the existence of a higher power, raising more questions than it answers. Starring Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander, these esteemed British actors provide entrancing performances. Played by Hollander, Voorman’s witty comments characterize the film’s sharp comedic tendencies. The mingling of social questions and talented actors confirms Gill’s status as a visionary writer and director. His precise use of camera angles and shot distances and the tangential involvement of Williams’ wife contribute to the success of this remarkable short film. Even though the short film is satisfying in its own right, a full-length feature would assuredly be well received. For now, however, the short version is available through online sources such as iTunes and Amazon or may be viewed at scheduled screenings, the next of which will take place at the Ashland Film Festival on April 4th and 5th. The film provides a truly memorable experience and sets the bar high for future short films. It merits a rating of 4 out of 5 due to its captivating narrative and intriguing characters.
SPOKEN WORD: Viva la nineties! It’s been stated that approximately halfway through every decade, we take a look back at the era that preceded us and think, “Wish I was still back then!” As I look back through a life’s memory The nineties really stood out for me So lets take a stroll, a journey And remember how it used to be Many a battle was fought with the airwaves, tempers lost and unpleasant words spoken, just to hear the songs that we have come to love. Move the radio to the right, the antenna to the left, no DAB here, so we do what we do, then throw down with my vinyl collection; watch me scratch it while I mix it... just me, the bedroom (my ballroom). Did someone say cheese; a double helping for me, we are in the nineties after all. Put a tape in it, cause I can’t mp3 it; and wait for my favourite song. You see my tape deck is always perma pause, on pause/ record (only a nineties child would know the relationship a pencil has with your favourite cassette tape). Waiting for that one song, I find myself rife with anticipation as the DJ does his thing; then finally I hear the cue as the intro kicks in, I hurdle the sofa and a chair as I dive for the pause button and I break out in my celebratory groove, bliss. What could be better than that, watch me dance like no ones watching, then as I get lost in the moment, the unthinkable happens, the one thing I dread, the DJ has a case of verbal diarrhoea and talks over the remainder of the song. I feel truly blessed to have lived in the nineties....
VIVA LA NINETIES! BY ADRIAN RICHARDSON
It’s an era always to remember Hip-hop at its best, known for its beats, style and swagger Come on Mr. DJ drop that beat Let me groove my dancing feet Gimme some room so I can bust a move The DJ has me in a groove Watch me hit the dance floor and let the music take over The nineties stamped to my heart forever The crazy hair styles, girls gone wild How great it is to be a nineties child Back then every artist had their own unique sound and style, and on hearing a track you’d immediately identify the performer. Dre remix or collaboration. Hip-hop ruled the nineties. Notorious, Dre and 2Pac all creating a frenzy and becoming legends in their own right. New Jack Swing was the hottest sound in the streets, so it was no surprise that when the two collided, the result; Father MC; a rapper from Uptown Records, combined the New Jack sound with hip-hop elements and blessed us with a classic. Performers were relevant and more diverse, told incredible stories that resonated with their fans, unique productions helped keep things fresh and different, so stood out to listeners. Their rhetoric expressions and portrayal of storytelling capturing our imagination. The nineties was also a time of loss, so sadly we had to say good bye to too many. Greta Garbo, Ava Gardner, Sammy Davis Jr. to name a few. Henry Wadsworth said, “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.” I can’t help but be misty-eyed thinking of how good it was back then.
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