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SUMMER 2015 SCOTLAND ISSUE 30
IEWS EXCLUSIVE INTERV
GORGON CITY PLUS: Exclusive Discounts, Competitions, Tips & Advice! In association with:
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H E L LO THE EDITOR
Longer days, sunshine, BBQs, holidays, festivals and people smiling wherever you go. Summer is here at last and we’re sure it’s going to be a belter!
To celebrate the festival season which is upon us, we’ve got a great line-up inside this summer edition of SPG. We spoke with the legend Liam from The Prodigy, who are currently on tour promoting their number 1 selling album; ‘The Day Is My Enemy’, to talk about their tour, mammoth 25 years as a group and whopping 25 million album sales worldwide! We caught up with Annie Mac, who’s touring the US and getting ready to bring BBC Radio 1 Weekender to our hometown Norwich (whoop whoop), and also talked to Gorgon City during their tour, who have had unprecedented success since they merged in 2012. If you’re one of the lucky ones jetting off around the world this summer, then we have some great content for you! Including tips and advice on what to pack, how to prepare and where to go! What’s more, we caught up with Levison Wood, after returning from his epic journey, documented on Channel 4 (Walking The Nile), which took 7 million steps and 9 months of solid walking! Ouch. If after reading about his epic journey you want to get fit this summer then you’re in luck, because professional personal trainer Scott Laidler is back to give you some top exercise tips to keep you in shape! We’ve also got top strategies for revision and exam success from expert Richard Harris and the all important student discounts, competitions and advice to help save you some money, get you some free stuff and see you through the term. We hope that this 30th edition of The Student Pocket Guide serves you well and whatever you do this summer, make it one to remember!
COMPETITIONS!
THE PRODIGY
6 WEEKS SPRING LEAN UP STRATEGIES FOR REVISION AND EXAM SUCCESS
ANNIE MAC
START: STUDENT ART
SUMMER AT HOME
GORGON CITY
TRAVELLING TIPS
SUBSCRIBE HERE FOR FREE
LEVISON WOOD
Discounts / Competitions / Freebies / Tips / Advice
All Rights Reserved Š The Student Pocket Guide Ltd 2015. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any of the views or opinions expressed in this guide, errors or omissions which may have occurred, or accept liability for any services or facilities featured. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct, changes may and can occur.
I FREE
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Interview by Lewis Woollard
With a heat wave of summer festivals ahead, as well as delivering your Radio 1 sounds, Annie Mac gave us a quick chat about the coming months, ones to watch and her favourite moments in the DJ booth. Coming away from her current US tour this is what she had to say... Hi Annie! Things are going crazy for you at the moment – you’re travelling all over the place! How are you getting on? Good, thank you! I am writing this on a plane from Seattle to San Francisco! The views are incredible – beautiful snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see... Wow! We’ve noticed you’re on a US tour at the moment too, with a massive set coming up at Coachella! You must be excited? This is huge! Yes, when you play Coachella, you have to play it over two weekends... So I’m one weekend down, and one to go. The set went really well. It’s such a beautiful festival, so neat and manicured, pretty and clean – the people as well as the grounds (haha!). The tour is going great. It’s when you travel like this that you realise the reach of BBC Radio 1. Everyone I meet knows about my shows and listens. When you touch back down in the UK, you’ve got even more summer spectacles lined up. Which set are you most looking forward to? Yes, I have a summer of gigs ahead of me... It’s quite daunting to be honest, as they are mostly all main stage festival gigs. There’s some new festivals I’ve never played before, like T In The Park and V, and then some I’ve played for years like Glastonbury and Bestival. The latter two I will look forward to the most. Glastonbury for me last year was one of the most special gigs ever. The energy from the crowd was unreal! Obviously the Radio 1 Big Weekend is in Norwich in May as well, that’s where we live! We’re genuinely buzzing! Have you ever been to East Anglia before? I’ve played UEA a few times and had a great time. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to know more about. I’d love to get a house on the coast and really take it in for a week…
Brilliant! It’s a fine city! We’ll make you feel welcome, keep an eye out for us in the crowd! What we want to know is what sort of toe tapping moves will make us stand out on the dance floor? Well Seattle last night had some fine dancers! It was all a bit free-form jazz-like. I realised when I was watching the crowd that in the UK there’s quite a formulaic way of dancing in a club. It was nice to see people really let loose in their own individual ways. You must have seen some quirky shapes thrown over the years, what has been your funniest moment behind the decks? Mmm... I had a gig a few years ago on the main stage of Global Gathering and half way through my set, there was a huge rain storm. My CDJ’s were covered in water, I lost half the crowd, and my dress kept getting blown up by the wind, exposing my bum to all the people standing behind me on stage! My tour manager had to gaffer tape my dress to my thighs while I was DJ-ing. It was hard to keep a straight face! Have you ever been tempted to jump into the crowd and start raving with the people? It must be hard to resist sometimes! I was tempted last night to be honest! At the end, during my last track… but there’s usually sufficient room in the booth to go for it if you really want to :) It’s a bit different when you’re sitting in the studio I suppose; now that you’ve taken over Zane’s late show you’ve dedicated your evening to delivering great sounds. Do you ever get annoyed if the headphones mess up your hair?! Especially if you’re heading out after the show? I’m not sure if you’ve SEEN my hair but it’s not the type of hair to get messed up by headphones... in that it’s already a mess! We love your Irish heritage, but what is your favourite thing about your home nation? St. Patricks Day and heap loads of Guinness are certainly up there for us. I love the people in Ireland. The sense of humour is very dry. I love the pubs, especially the ones that haven’t been touched in 50 years. I love how it’s such a musical and literary country, and of course I love the landscape. There are places on the West Coast of Ireland that are staggeringly beautiful. Cool, with the summer being the biggest party season of the year, what would you say makes the ultimate house party? The right combination of people is the main ingredient. A decent mix of music and...
“
My dress kept getting blown up by the wind, exposing my bum to all the people standing behind me on stage! My tour manager had to gaffer tape my dress to my thighs while I was DJ-ing. It was hard to keep a st straight face!
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...a stocked fridge. And of course a host who isn’t too house proud and won’t mind a spillage or three. With your DJ-ing you’ve been all over the globe, but where has been your favourite destination you’ve played? There are cities in the UK that are always “vibey” and fun to play – Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham… Scotland too. I played once on a disused fort off the coast of St Petersburg, that was an adventure… And I always love playing Dalt Villa in Ibiza. The Lost and Found setup in Malta looked mega! We saw some of the inked Annie tattoos. How does it feel when someone has a tattoo of, or associating, you? It feels kind of terrifying to be honest - the thought that someone is going to have my face on their body for the rest of their lives. It’s all very…..... permanent. Is there any particular artist or song that you predict will blow heat waves over the nation for 2015? I think Jack Garret could go a long way. Wolf Alice’s LP is so great, I think they will do big things this year at the festivals. Dance music has some incredible LP’s coming this year, Duke Dumont, Jamie XX, Hudson Mohawke, Julio Bashmore. It’s a great time for electronic music! Awesome! We’ll keep our ears out for that! Apart from your masterful music mixes which take up most of your hours, what do you get up to in your spare time? Spare time is always family time these days. Big long lunches with friends, walks in the park, HBO marathons… I used to shop a lot, but now I do it all online. I’d rather spend time at home. What do you see yourself doing in ten years time? I hope I will still be on the radio. Radio is a nice profession for growing older! Superb! It’s been a pleasure talking to you and we wish you the best of luck with what’s going to be a phenomenal summer! Thanks Annie!
Annie is a part of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend Norwich 2015, 23rd & 24th May. Listen to Annie weekdays on BBC Radio 1 (Monday - Thursday, 7-9pm & Friday, 7-10pm).
Mix Vol. III is Annie Mac’s Sunshinesupport of The coming May 2015 in Kids Company!
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Studied: Ecology and Biogeography University: University of Brighton Experience: Animal conservation and solo traveller
Where in the world did you go?
I went to Southern Chile, and then I went to South America. First of all and Bolivia. Lastly, I went to ntina I travelled around and visited Arge an organisation that deals with the Peru and volunteered with ORCA, tic animals. aqua of tion bilita conservation and reha
How long were you there?
a couple of months, then travelled Around five months. I interned for and explored.
What were you doing there? at a marine research station. There, In Southern Chile I was interning r research so I was helping whereve c tifi scien t eren they do a lot of diff species and g tifyin iden , ples sam ct colle ed I could. For example, I help when I volunteered with ORCA I assisting them on dive trips. Then onding to calls about stranded resp would be going out with a team also visiting schools with the team animals, and help rescue them. I was with ORCA. r ntee volu and encouraging others to volunteer abroad? What made you decide to travel and ’t lling after my degree but it wasn I knew that I wanted to go trave online and e rienc expe work for ing look something I planned. I was I Chilean research station came up. that’s when the internship at the me to back got they n whe est and emailed them expressing my inter there. with available dates it all went from
Did you arrange it all yourself or did you go throu gh a company? I arranged it myself which I was able to do because the company I was interning with paid for my food and accommodation, so apart from travelling afterwards, there wasn’t too much to organise. Did your university course put a lot of emphasis
on work experience? They would always mention that it is good to gain this type of experience and they do give you good tips on where to look, but it wasn’t a mandatory part of my course. It was something I wanted to do anyway. You just know having that added experience on your CV will make you stand out. Did you always know that you wanted to intern abroad? I think definitely with conservation you find that there are more opportunities abroad. In the UK there aren’t lots of chances to get out into the field and rescue stranded Penguins and Sea Lions!
How do you think your experience will help you
in your future career? Being in South America definitely gave me more of an outlook on what to expect in this field of work. You obviously learn lots at universit y but having the experience is so helpful. I now have a good idea about what I don’t want to be doing! Plus, it looks really good on your CV, I’ve had feedback from people saying that my experience on my CV looks impressive and that is down to the fact that I went abroad and volunteered. It shows that you have used your initiative and wanted to expand on your learning.
Had you learnt a lot on your university course that helped you? I would say the majority of things we had covered somewhere in my course, so I had a basic knowledge of what I was doing which was really handy. Little things like how to take notes in a scientific way. We used a bit of GIS which is a geographical computer system and I’d learnt that at uni so that was really helpful. I didn’t feel out of my depth, but obviously it’s a new company in a new area so you’re always learning how they do things.
What was your best moment that you’ll never forget? One moment I will never forget would be when I biked down Death Road in Bolivia. That was pretty extreme. The road is so narrow, there’s water coming off the cliff, the rocks are tumbling everywhere. You go down really fast, mainly because it’s more fun that way. I just remember thinking if I fall off my bike now it’s going to be all over...
What advice would you give anyone thinking of doing something similar? Go with a completely open mind and basically expect the unexpected. Don’t plan it too much and don’t expect too much from it. If you take it as it comes you’ll have the best time. I had a very general idea of what I wanted to do but I didn’t plan everything to the T. I did more research into the countries when I was actually there. Then I met a girl about a week into the travelling part of my trip and she was doing a very similar route to me so we ended up spending the rest of the time together. That was totally unplanned but we happened to get on really well and then we met people when we were staying in hostels. It’s so true how it is a small world because you’d meet people and then they’d turn up at the same place you would be staying a few weeks later.
Were there any issues with the language? It is a funny one, I didn’t know a lot of Spanish before and the Chilean language is very hard to learn, especially if you don’t know a lot of Spanish. They speak very quickly and they hardly pronounce their words so that was really difficult. By the end I did learn a little bit so now I can get by in Spanish. For the majority of the time I didn’t need to do any written work. Only when I was at ORCA in Peru, would I speak to the students we visited in Spanish. Have you got any more travelling plans for the future? At the moment I’m going to stay here in the UK, I’m volunteering again but for a company here. Maybe next year I’d definitely consider going again, I’d love to go to Asia and visit Vietnam and places like that.
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Ben Farrin
“They could've left us for dead and nobody would've even found us, so that was very concerning”
Levison Wood has dedicated his life to exploration. In 2014 he walked The Nile from its source to the sea. A 4,200 mile journey, taking him through 6 countries. 7 million steps and 9 months of solid walking later, we caught up with him to discuss the epic journey. Hi Lev, congratulations! You are the first man to have walked the Nile from its source to the sea. How does that feel? Thank you. It’s something that I have been planning and preparing for, for the best part of 3 years. So it took a long time to get together. And until I had actually got to the end, it was almost impossible to imagine that I was ever going to do it. It was an incredible feeling to actually make it. How long has this been a goal of yours and why? It is something that occurred to me originally about 5 years ago. I’ve always travelled quite a lot. My job has always revolved around travel, whether that’s as a writer or a photographer, and in the army I did a lot of travelling, and several (too many) gap years after university. For me, trying to create a life out of travel and exploration has always been my dream and this was kind of the next step. I had already setup my own travel company, guiding and leading other people through expeditions. I just wanted to do my own big expedition that would really test and challenge me to the limits. Is it strange to think that this time last year you were in South Sudan walking through a mine field!? Well yeah it is a bit bizarre! It’s such a stark memory too, all of it I remember very well which is strange because I can barely remember what I did yesterday! So yeah, it’s weird to try and think back, and to watch it on TV was such a surreal experience as well. It must’ve been terrifying walking for miles, past fleeing refugees and burnt out vehicles, whilst the country was in the middle of a war! How did you keep yourself focused and carry on? To be honest that wasn’t the hardest bit. I have been to plenty of war zones before. I was in the army and as a photographer I have been to lots of conflict zones, so
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I have seen quite a lot of war before. And when you’ve got that experience you kind of know what the risks are and OK, it is certainly dangerous but you can figure out ways to get around it. The biggest challenge really was trying to mentally motivate yourself to push through. I wasn’t necessarily scared of mines or people with guns, because I have dealt with all that before. It’s more just the unpredictability of knowing how long it is going to take, am I going to be able to physically get through these areas. It’s the unknowns that are really the more challenging things. You were robbed whilst in Rwanda. I must say you handled it very well and it was a good job they didn’t realise you were filming! What was going through your mind at this point? Yeah, I got robbed lots of times and you could only show it so many times on telly otherwise it gets a bit boring. But that was just one of several times that people robbed us or threatened us. So you just get used to it and accept it’s part of
the experience. That one in particular was quite scary because it was a very remote road and we hadn’t seen anyone for days really, apart from this car that eventually stopped and all these blokes got out - around 5 guys and you don’t know what they want or what they wanna do. That was genuinely scary because they could’ve left us for dead and nobody would’ve even found us, so that was very concerning. You just have to stay calm and try and figure out what they actually want and of course they wanted money. You don’t see that on the film but Boston who was my guide, was quick witted enough to say “do you honestly think if we had money we would be walking?” That sort of confused the robbers who said “yeah, that’s a fair point” so that’s why they just ended up stealing my belt, my bag and my hat. You mentioned that there were lots of other robberies, can you think of any other significant scenarios that you were put in that weren’t caught on camera? Yeah loads. There were plenty of times when there were road blocks by rebels, by government soldiers and police. Not everyone is in uniform, so you don’t know who the good guys are. They initially stop you and demand to see your papers and before you know it, you’re in the cell waiting to be asked “what’s going on?”. Plenty of people pulled the guns on us and said, “who are you?” For people to encounter random strangers walking through their tribal area or their land is unusual. So people wanna know what’s going on. And they wanna piece of the pie! They want a bit of money or they want to see some paperwork. A lot of the people can’t even read but unless you’ve got a piece of paper with a stamp on it they’re not going to let you through. On one occasion in Bor, South Sudan, a guy came running up with his gun out pointing it at us saying he was going to kill us all because he thought we were U.N. How did you get out of that scenario!? Well the guy was drunk as well but luckily we had a body guard with us who was one of the local policemen who basically had to almost fight this guy and threaten to shoot him back, it was fairly tense! There were some super lows, but also super highs, and you weren’t in Uganda long before you became a celebrity! How did that
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feel? Hahaha yeah, the incredible thing is communications in Africa are quite sophisticated because landlines don’t exist, EVERYONE has a mobile phone! So you can travel to the poorest, most remote villages, and people spread the word, and say that in 2 days these guys are going to arrive and before you know it you’ve got the local press who like the story and they put it in the papers. It was a bit weird when you got into these villages and there’s hundreds of people expecting you. Whilst celebrities around the world were doing ice bucket challenges, you were in Uganda having ice cold milk poured over your head by a witch doctor. Are you a superstitious person? Hahaha - No not really. Witch doctors and superstition is really rife across Africa. I wanted to try and understand a bit more about it and find out how this woman is making literally millions out of unsuspecting people. There are more witch doctors than there are proper doctors in Uganda which is a crying shame, but the mentality in a lot of places is still very superstitious and very orientated towards which tribe you belong to. There was this woman who was a complete charlatan basically ripping people off all over the place by doing these charms and spells and things. She even deals with the President! Wow! Getting back to Bor, which you entered and classed as a no-go zone (where there had been recent tortures and killings): On the programme you described Bor as a time bomb waiting to explode, and later that evening, there was a battle outside your hotel and you rushed to the roof. What was going through your mind at this point? We didn’t really know what was going on because we had heard all different stories. Trying to get information in a war zone is very difficult because we weren’t in touch with the other side (the rebels), who were attacking all of these towns. But it turns out it wasn’t actually the rebels, it was basically a load of youth malicia/ angry civilians really, who had basically taken up arms and they were attacking the U.N. base. They ended up storming the U.N. base killing about 60 people which was basically just next door to the hotel we were staying in. I call it a hotel but it was more like just a compound. So we tried to escape by getting onto the roof and getting an idea of what was happening. But there were bullets flying all over the place.
Was that the scariest part of the expedition? It was definitely up there! It was either that or getting robbed. When you’re surrounded, there’s no escape, literally. All of the roads are blocked. Everyone had guns. It’s not like you can blend in so you’ve really got to be careful. So that was scary! Let’s talk a little bit about the Sahara Desert - you walked through the Sahara in midsummer when temperatures can reach 50 degrees, and at one point you were dehydrated with no water left. Luckily you reached a well in time. Would there have ever come a point where you would’ve said enough is enough and stopped the expedition? The thing is you can’t really stop it. You’re in the middle of the desert and if you stop you’re gonna die. There’s not a lot you can do. So we had to keep on going. There were cer-
tainly times when you think is it really worth it? But for me I couldn’t really have faced going home with the shame of not having got to the end one way or another. This is something that I’ve been working towards for a long time and to just quit would’ve made the whole thing pointless. You walked a marathon a day for 10 days and your feet started to rot! Jack on Facebook wants to know: What are the best type of shoes? Walking those distances, in that heat is incredibly hard especially when you’ve gotta carry your own gear and you can only carry so much water. By that stage though, 7-8 months in, I had been walking that distance everyday and it was just a case of getting on with it really. The best boots you can get are called Altberg boots. They are a very small British company based in Yorkshire and they supply a lot of the army’s boots, so they’re really good and I only ended up getting through 2 pairs for the whole trip! Kieran on Facebook would like to know: If you could go back to one part of the trip, what moment would you go back to and why? That’s a really good question, I like it! I think just reliving that last day, because by then, mentally I was so focused on getting to the end that I was almost in a trance-like state. I wasn’t even paying that much attention to what was going on around me. I just wanted to get there. So it would be nice to go back and really enjoy it because I was surrounded by all of these journalists, soldiers and people, and it was so distracting that I didn’t have time to think and take it in. Which is a shame. What’s life like for you when you’re not exploring the world? Usually preparing for the next one really [laughs]. I spend most of my time either travelling, writing books, doing photography. But it’s always to do with travel one way or another. I am to and from the US at the moment promoting my stuff over there. And at the same time planning for the next trip. Can you tell us about the next trip? I’m afraid I can’t tell you what it is because I’m at negotiation stages with Channel 4 and the Americans. But
it’s going to be hopefully another epic journey, a similar sort of concept. Not necessarily as long or as physically challenging but I think it will be just as interesting for the viewers and to write a book about as well. Top tip for a student going on a gap year? For a start just do one! A lot of people talk about it and change their mind at the last minute or decide that they haven’t got enough money. But you don’t need money, you really don’t.
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When I was 22 I had just finished uni and I wanted to take a gap year. I hitch hiked all the way to India from Nottingham where I was a student and it cost me £750. That included the flight home.
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I went through about 20 countries and it was the most incredible experience of my life. So it’s doable, you’ve just got to trust yourself, trust others and ultimately take a risk. Get off the beaten track as well! By all means go to Australia and Thailand but if you get the chance, go to some more of the remote places as well. Where in the world is your favourite place? The one place I do actually love that I’ve just mentioned is Thailand. I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but as a traveller it was one of the first places I went as a young student and I know it’s changed over the past sort of 15 years, since I went for the first time but it’s just such a vibrant, buzzing place and it’s easy to travel around. Great food, super cheap and amazing beaches and friendly people and it’s a great place to meet other travellers. That’s brilliant, thanks very much Lev, I really appreciate your time. My pleasure!
Hello Homestay Book to stay with a local in their home when you travel
Travelling is about more than where you go. It’s also about the people you meet. Homestay accommodation takes you to the heart of a destination, connecting you with local hosts who can share the best parts with you. Return home from your summer holiday with a new understanding and appreciation for a world of diverse destinations, people and cultures. Check out our top picks for summer 2015 and start planning for after your exams...
Off the beaten track in Italy
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Leave behind the vespa-beeping streets of Florence and head to Siena in late June before the crowds pour in for the Palio, a 700-yearold bareback horserace around Piazza del Campo that ignites the passion of every local. Northeast of Siena lies Arezzo, a region steeped in natural beauty, history and culture, where the landscape is dotted with monastic settlements and Romanesque parishes. For a more authentic visit to Italy, try out a homestay from only £10 per night.
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Prague: one of Europe’s true gems
Prague is small enough to explore on foot and offers countless attractions that ooze wow factor. In the old town, admire the Gothic, Baroque, Art Noveau and Romanesque architecture before relaxing in a local tavern like U Sudu on Vodickova – a quaint wine bar at the front and student hangout to the back. The Jewish quarter Josefov is full of bars and restaurants, while Mala Strana (Little Quarter) has a much quieter pace of life. Czech out local life in Prague by booking a homestay from only £10 per night.
Beach hopping in northern Spain Close your eyes, and imagine yourself this summer swimming in sparkling turquoise water or running your toes through soft golden sand. Escape the package holiday crowds in Spain and head north to Asturias where there’s 220 beaches, most of which are natural and unspoilt.
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Discover El Regolgueru Beach, a small cove accessed down a steep cliff path from the rustic village of Pimiango, or Playa del Borizo, where there’s a small summer bar and charcoal grill. Sample the favourite local dish ‘cachopo’ which is two breaded steaks filled with ham and cheese, then fried. To experience the real Spain, chill out in a homestay from only £10 per night.
Travelling alone can be a very rewarding experience. You are on your own watch, doing what you want, when you want to do it. There’s no compromising at all because the only person you have to please is yourself. You hear stories about solo backpackers that have got caught out when travelling alone. Often it will be your parents that are worrying more than you, but there are some things you can do to make sure you are safe when travelling solo.
Be Social First of all, when you are backpacking it is very unlikely you will be alone for long. You are going to be meeting fellow travellers along the way who are in the same boat as you, who fancy a chat and a companion. We always hear about people who met whilst travelling and stuck with them for a few months because they have got on so well. Although you’re travelling alone, it’s still good to be social. Get chatting to people you meet because you never know where it will lead you. Just make sure you have your wits about you, and if you think someone’s a bit dodgy, steer clear.
Do your research Be respectful of the country you are visiting. You should do your research before travelling so that you know what to expect when you arrive at your destination. Be wary of your behaviour and dress, this applies to both men and women. You don’t want to draw negative attention to yourself because it could put you in a bad situation. Don’t go wearing yellow for instance if you’re travelling in parts of Malaysia - in 2011, the government decided it was illegal to wear yellow, as it was the colour of a certain group of activists! There are hundreds of unusual laws around the world so researching the places you’re planning on travelling to is very important. You will be able to make the most of your travel experience if you can blend in with different cultures and really soak up the atmosphere.
Stay Savvy Just because you are having a great experience, does not mean you should lose your common sense. If anything, you should really heighten your common sense in an unfamiliar place. Stay alert and keep your wits about you. Before you arrive in a new destination, try and book at least your first night in a hotel or hostel, especially if you are arriving at night. Anyway, you will really appreciate having a room all sorted so you can just fall into bed, rather than hunting around after a long day (or days!) travelling.
Pack Wisely Having a light backpack is surely the dream for all travellers? Then leave all your expensive stuff at home! Get yourself a cheap camera and phone before you travel so that your posh gadgets aren’t tempting any potential criminals out there. Backpackers abroad are seen as easy targets as they usually carry cash and can seem like they aren’t vigilant to their surroundings. Don’t let that be you!
Learn The Lingo Learning the basic words for each of the countries you visit will really help you a lot, and shows the locals that you are embracing their culture. Learn the key words such as: hello, thank you, please, yes and no! Learning to say “no” is more important than you might think. If travelling alone in the more hospitable cultures, you may find that you get a lot of attention which can become very intense. Foreign travellers are often approached for a number of reasons and learning to say “no” can get you out of awkward situations.
Get Insurance Make sure your insurance covers you for all eventualities and also put your insurance company’s number in a safe place so that you can contact them. There will be British Embassies abroad which will be able to help you if you need assistance. The website www.gov.uk has a guide about supporting British nationals abroad and how the government is able to help you.
Have Fun If you’re going travelling, either alone or in a group, this might be the one and only time in your life that you will get to see so much of the world. So wherever you go and whatever you do, have fun!
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Travel Adapter Unless you don’t plan on bringing along any electrical items, then a travel adapter is a pretty essential thing to remember. It’s always a great idea to take a couple of these away with you, in case of loss, damage or a desperate friend who happened to forget theirs. If your travels include multiple destinations, all with different ele electrical outputs, then buy yourself a world adapter. Carrying one of these handy gadgets is much better than having to lug around four or ve separate adapters for each country.
Medication It may seem like such an obvious thing, but believe me, medicines are always the things people seem to forget when packing. If you are on any regular medication, make sure that you pack enough for your travels and also bring along your prescriptions. Ensure these are in your carry on luggage, with each medicine in a separate container. You should always pack a stash of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, as when abroad, b your familiar brand may not be available to you. Next up are insect creams and ointments. It’s never a fun time when you get bitten, but not having anything to soothe the constant itching feeling, well that’s pretty irritating. Finally diarrhoea medication... you never know if you’ll end up eating something that doesn’t entirely agree with your body.
NNebooks & Cameras a Whilst on your holidays you are going to come across be range of sights, people and cultures, which may . completely different to what you are used to at home re a And there is nothing worse than wanting to captu and permanent reminder of these by taking a photo is realising you’ve forgotten your camera. A notebook of also a great idea as it will allow you to make notes sting shops, streets and restaurants you may intere in have visited whilst away.
Waterproo Coat They may not be the most fashionable of clothing pieces, but they are super handy when travelling. Even if you are jetting off to some hot and sunny location, you never know when a freak thunderstorm may hit. And it’s much better to be prepared with one of these than to spend the rest of your holiday complaining about your damp clothes.
Travel Documents
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Previews Creamfields
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What better way to spend your August Bank Holiday than by living it up in the south of Warrington at Creamfields Festival? The ultimate world of dance and EDM music will be gracing the hallowed turf of the North West of England and once again, they’re bringing some more music legends! New masters of the booth will see youngster Martin Garrix fuelling the fans, as well as the iconic Avicii tearing up the field as the headliner. Alesso, The Chemical Brothers and Annie Mac will also be adding to their summer calendar of music. A standard one day pass will set you back £80. If you’d like more information on how you can hit it up to cut some shapes, check out the website: www.creamfields.com
Photo credit: Melmif Photograhy.
Symmetry Festival
Burrowed in the emerald green countryside of Norfolk, Symmetry Festival is a beautiful musical landscape. Get lost in the jungle of trees and gaze into the glistening lakes in preparation to rave, because this fest is booming! On 12th-14th of June, you can see amazing acts, including: Slamboree, the Dub Pistols, Ed Solo, Black Sun Empire and The Mouse Outfit. Symmetry covers an array of styles and will be the host of some brilliant talent. Nominated for the ‘We Love Jungle Award’ the events prices start from £80. Visit the website for more information: www.symmetryfestival.co.uk
Lytham
Lytham Festival runs from 2nd-9th of August on the coast of Lancashire. Not only welcoming legends such as Faithless, Mcbusted, Elaine Paige, Marti Pellow, Billy Ocean, Vengaboys, Sinitta and Rae Morris, the festival also offers an array of other activities across the 5 days, like The Jazz Cafe and a Festival of Stories. Tickets start at £35 and are currently available from the Lytham Festival website: www.lythamfestival.com
BoomBap
Bringing back Hip Hop, Boom Bap is certainly true to its genre. The festival is going to be showcased at Mildenhall in Suffolk on 5th-7th of June. Being the biggest street style festival to grace the UK, you’ll not only be able to see Earl Sweatshirt, Skepta, Ratking and Foreign Beggars smash the stage, but you can also indulge in the Hip Hop Cinema and witness street art being made. Tickets for Bap can be snatched from £70. Want to find out more? Check out their website: www.boombapfestival.co.uk
Barn on the Farm
One of the UK’s most intimate music festivals, taking place between 3rd-5th of July in Gloucestershire, Barn on the Farm boasts a UK only lineup this year: Brits Critics’ Choice winner James Bay, The Staves, Jack Garratt, Rhodes, Amber Run, Prides, Little Comets and many more. Renowned for showcasing the best in up and coming talent, past performances have come from Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard and Bastille. Tickets start at £100 and can be purchased from: www.barnonthefarm.co.uk
Previews Latitude Festival
Setting its tenth birthday in the heart of the Suffolk wilderness, Latitude is sure to be another stunning musical affair. On the 17th-19th of July, East Anglia will yet again be hosting another sound spectacle. This time you’ll be able to witness the likes of Alt-j, The Vaccines, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Catfish and the Bottlemen perform. Whilst listening to the tunes, you’ll also be able to kick back, relax and soak up the sun. Tickets start from £84.50. If you need any more information, you can check out their website: www.latitudefestival.com
Photography credit: Rob Whitworth.
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Glastonbury
Bringing together people from every corner of the globe, Glastonbury is one of the largest festivals on the planet. Glasto, the annual UK mud fest, has been running since 1970 and is still the pinnacle of festivals. Taking place on 24th-28th of June, you’ll be able to see the self proclaimed God, Kanye West, alongside the likes of Lionel Richie, Paloma Faith, George Ezra, and many, many more. Being part of this spectacle will definitely be something special. Head over to their website for more information: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Radio 1 Big Weekend
Darting south from last year’s show in Glasgow, Radio 1’s Big Weekend is pitching up in the sunny city of Norwich this May. The UK’s biggest free festival is setting the stage for some big acts, including the likes of Snoop Dogg, Annie Mac, Foo Fighters and Florence and the Machine. With artists like that, Earlham Park will certainly be sparkling! Majority of tickets have already been allocated, however you can still get your hands on one via Radio 1 competitions. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007m0y2
No Tomorrow
Nottingham’s Wollaton Park festival, No Tomorrow, returns for it’s second year on 6th-7th of June. The lineup consists of some of the best from the electronic scene - think Bondax, Blonde, DJ Ez, DJ Fresh, Eton Messy and Gorgon City! You’ll also be able to participate in attractions such as the “Breaded Kitten Games Area” and “Car Boot Disco Bingo”. Tickets start at £65 - check out the site at: www.notomorrowfestival.co.uk
Truck
Truck, known as the Godfather of small festivals, will be returning to Hill Farm, Oxford, on 17th-18th of July, for another year of greatness. This year’s lineup consists of upcoming acts as well as old time favourites such as The Charlatans, Basement Jaxx, Saint Raymond, Don Broco, Ghostpoet and loads more! Tickets start at £83.50 - see Truck’s website for more information: www.truckfestival.com
Previews Bestival
Finish off your summer in style! Head over to the Isle of White to witness one of the biggest festivals this year. Bestival, which takes place from the 10th-13th of September, is the home of British beauty. Whilst enjoying the picturesque landscape, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on some incredible musical talent. With artists such as Annie Mac, Duran Duran, The Chemical Brothers and Mark Ronson, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. For more information, visit their website: www.2015.bestival.net
Photography credit: Louise Roberts.
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Brownstock
Brownstock festival, based in Essex’s Morris Farm, has fast become one of the UK’s most popular small festivals. Taking place from 10th-13th of July, you will get to see some great DJs and bands, but also experience a festival full of personal touches and personality. Brownstock will be welcoming acts such as Basement Jaxx, Example, Sub focus, DJ Fresh, The Darkness and Sigma. Tickets start at £83 and are available from the website: www.brownstock.co.uk
Standon Calling
One of UK’s best small festivals, Standon Calling is hosted in Hertfordshire’s Standon Lordship. Celebrating it’s 10th year from the 31st of July to the 2nd of August, the amazing lineup includes Basement Jaxx, The Dandy Warhols (UK Exclusive), Roots Manuva, Little Dragon, Ella Eyre and Kwabs just to name a few. Standon Calling is one of the only festivals in the UK to also have a swimming pool! Each year there is also a theme, and 2015’s is “A Town of Two Faces”. Weekend Tickets start at £117, for more information and tickets please visit: www.standon-calling.com
Y-Not
Derbyshire’s beautiful Pikehall setting will play host to Y-Not from 31st of July to the 2nd of August. Main acts include Snoop Dogg, Basement Jaxx, Primal Scream, Ocean Colour Scene, Johnny Marr and Less than Jake. Bringing together a good mix of Indie artists and Hip Hop, as well as great artists, Y-Not also offer glamping deals if you want to party in style. Tickets start from £89.50 and are available from the website: www.ynotfestivals.co.uk
LIMF
LIMF (Liverpool International Music Festival) will run from the 27th to the 31st of August, bringing some of the best music and activities to Liverpool. LIMF Summer Jam is taking place at Sefton Park and hosting the likes of Echo And The Bunnymen, Laura Mvula, Rae Morris, Katy B, Naughty Boy, Becky Hill and Labyrinth. Tickets will range from £0 to £18+. For more information on LIMF and tickets please visit the website: www.limfestival.com
Previews Croatia Rocks
Croatia Rocks, sister festival of Ibiza Rocks, takes place for its first ever year on Zrce Beach, Pag. The festival takes place from the 19th-23rd of July for 100 hours of live music. Bringing all the essentials from Ibiza, Croatia Rocks will include performances from the likes of The Vaccines, Clean Bandit, Jungle, Years and Years, Kate Tempest, Lapsey and many more. There will also be another stage hosting Rudimental, Gorgan City, Zane Lowe, Hannah Wants and tons of others. Pool and boat parties will also feature highly across the weekend. Tickets start at ÂŁ119, visit the website for tickets and more information: www.croatiarocks.com
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Innovation In The Sun
Slap on your sunglasses, dig your feet into the sand and soak up the sounds Innovation In The Sun is taking over Barcelona! Dubbed as the Drum & Bass/ Jungle giant of the festival world, Innovation will be a smashing week. This seven day holiday takes place from Tuesday 23rd-30th of June and the week is sure to be filled with memories you won’t forget. Expect to be raving in the wave pool and up to your knees in foam, this will be one hell of a party! To see all the packages they have to offer, as well as more information, check out their website: www.innovation.gb.com/index.php/news/in-the-sun-2015
Way Out West
Way Out West, situated in Gothenburg, Sweden’s music capital, from the 13th-15th of August, is well known for its green credentials. The Pet Shop Boys will be headlining, and there will be performances from Patti Smith, Years and Years, Alt-J, Tyler The Creator, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding and many more. Tickets are available from £149. Visit the website for more information: www.wayoutwest.se
Hideout
Croatian festival, Hideout returns to the stunning island of Pag, celebrating it’s 5th birthday. With five days of non-stop music and boat parties, Hideout takes place from 28th June to the 2nd July. Showcasing some of the best DJs there are to offer, the lineup includes the likes of Duke Dumont, Eats Everything, Gorgon City, Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex, MK, Nina Kraviz and many more. For more information on what Hideout has to offer visit: www.hideoutfestival.com
Fresh Island
Fresh Island, also based in Pag, takes place from the 15th-17th of July, and brings all things Hip Hop and RnB. International and up-coming acts include Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown, Migos Tinashe, Skepta, DJ Maxx and Tropkillaz. With beach facing stages between rolling hills, and daily boat and pool parties, Fresh Island is the place to be this summer. Tickets start at €89. For more information and tickets see the website: www.2015.fresh-island.org
How Are You Pitching Up
If you are off to a festival this year, chances are you will be requiring one of these babies... a tent. Somewhere you can rest your weary, spinning head and keep dry from the wet British summer that makes an inevitable appearance at most festivals. With a huge choice of tents out there, which one do you possibly choose? We’ve done all the hard work for you and even taken into account all types of budgets so that you are guaranteed a good night’s sleep. Quechua Arpenaz 2 (two man tent) What a cheap and cheerful tent for the festival season! We probably wouldn’t advise this for two people as there wouldn’t be a lot of space for your stuff. One of the most important factors is that although it’s cheap, it holds up perfectly fine in the rain. Also because of its size it’s a very easy tent to assemble and relatively light weight.
£19.99
Eurohike Avon (three man tent) The main appeal of this three man tent, we would say, is the large porch. It is nice and sheltered to chill out in of an evening and a good place to dump muddy wellie boots. The only down side to this tent would be the weight, at 5.6 KG you might want to take turns with your fellow campmates to carry it across the fields.
£90.00
Hi Gear Enigma 5 (five man tent) If you don’t mind getting cosy with your mates, then what is better than a five man tent for £220, that is £44 each. We think that’s pretty cheap for a large tent that actually does the job. It has a roomy sleeping area and a canopy where you can sit in bad weather. It has been given raving reviews by avid campers so it’ll be perfect for a festival weekend away. Quechua 2 Seconds (three man tent) Hurrah for the pop up tent. What a brilliant invention for festival goers everywhere. Watch on as your fellow campers try to work out how to assemble their tents in the pouring rain. All “Quechua 2 Seconds” tents are available in 2 man berth, up to a four man. Vango Banshee 200 (two man tent) With this price tag it’s not one you would want to leave behind at a festival. As it is designed for the serious camper, it holds up extremely well in really wet and windy weather. It can be set up so there is a porch entrance for one person, or there’s another door if two people are sleeping in the tent. Quechua T6.3 XL (six man tent) So Quechua are really on a role with good quality affordable tents of all shapes and sizes! This tent has three, two man compartments that all centre on a main ‘living area’. As it is absolutely huge, we are not going to fool you into thinking it’s going to be as easy to assemble as a pop up tent. You will need at least two of you to put it together and maybe a practice run. It has full head height and a large communal space so you and all your friends can sit around and chill inside.
0 £220.0
£54.99
0 £130.0
9 £349.9
Field Candy Picnic Perfect (two man tent) If you want to stand out this festival season then invest in a Field Candy tent. With so many quirky designs, you will definitely be able to spot your tent amongst the fields. Although classed as a two man tent, Field Candy pride themselves on providing extra roomy two man tents. This means there will be plenty of room for a friend and all of your stuff. Vango Incarus Air 500 (five man tent) Vango have gone a little bit high tech with their Incarus Air 500 tent. This is because it uses AirBeam technology, so basically means that this tent is inflatable. It takes about 10 minutes to assemble, you still have to put the pegs in the ground, then pump up the tent and attach the guy lines into the ground. The tent is still as sturdy and waterproof as ever and not having any poles means that it is a lot lighter to carry. Go VIP! Okay, so this may not technically be a traditional form of camping but all the best festivals now offer some form of VIP camping. This may be in the form of Yurts, Tipi’s, Log Cabins, the list is endless. You will be paying a hefty price tag but you will receive all your home comforts and more. Some VIP campsites have spas, hair boutiques and beauty bars. Please check out individual festival websites for more information and specific prices!
0 £295.0
0 £600.0
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ERVIEW IVE INT EXCLUS
Interview by Ben Farrin
25 years in and with 25 million album sales under their belt, The Prodigy are back with yet another iconic number 1 selling album ‘The Day Is My Enemy’. We caught up with the legendary Liam Howlett, who just nipped back to London for the day in-between their European tour… Photograph: Paul Dugdale
Hi Liam, how are you? Very well. Good stuff! Are you in France at the moment? No, I’ve dived back to go in the studio quickly before the gig. It’s a little break in the tour. Ah ok, are you due back in France tomorrow? Yeah, we just played two gigs in Germany and one in Holland. We’ve got France tomorrow, so I only came back for a day. Ah wow, so how’s the tour been going for you? Yeah, good man! It’s only really just started. We did Australia in February - that was kind of the start of it. After that there was a bit of a gap and then these last three gigs. It’s mega to have so many new tunes we can play. For us it’s all about moving forward. It revitalises the whole thing again and puts energy back into it. When you’re on tour, do you play any of your older tunes? Yeah, we understand people want to hear the old stuff. We’ve got to play some of the classics. There’s nothing worse than going to see a band and it’s all new stuff, so for us it’s about finding the right balance, but I would say the majority of what we play is newer stuff. Of course we play ‘Breathe’, ‘Smack My B***h Up’ and ‘Take Me To The Hospital’ but we don’t really play anything from ‘Experience’ at the moment, otherwise the set would be too long. We’re trying to find the right balance, so at the moment we’re chopping and changing, so each gig is different in a way. You’re touring the UK in May. Where are you looking forward to playing the most? Anywhere, man! London’s always a bit stressful because everyone tries to get on the
guest list. All my friends come out the woodwork! London always becomes a bit of a party, so it’s more of a pain in the a**e really than enjoyable, but yeah, it’ll be good. We’ve never played Alexandra Palace before, so that’ll be cool. I can’t go any further without saying congratulations on the smasher album that’s reached number one! Does it still feel as amazing now as it did years ago? Thanks, and yeah of course! We never expect anything when it comes to chart positions because at the end of the day, the music’s written for one purpose and that’s to take to the stage. The records aren’t written for radio or sales, they’re written for us to play live. We never expect anything to happen chart wise. All we expect is to supply music for the stage. This album was a pain in the a**e, it was a long journey, and the actual writing of it, between me and Keith, was bit turbulent. So this was a good end, a nice ‘pat on the back’ in a way, a nice result from fans supporting us more than anything. This record is quite hardcore – it’s heavy and doesn’t really let up much. It’s definitely not radio-friendly. That’s another good thing – we kind of feel like we got there on our own terms again really. That’s amazing. It’s really weird because we hear your music on the radio all the time at the moment. But you’ve got such an edgy sound – I can’t think of any other group whose music is so heavy but who goes massive so quickly. You’ve got such a niche. Yeah, I suppose. We don’t really think about it. We’re lucky, our following is very varied. I don’t really analyse it, we just crack on with it.
How does the producing on an album differ now, compared to when you first started in music 25 years ago? See even you saying that – it doesn’t really compute with me. Being part of the band has meant my life has moved at a different rate compared to my mates who are the same age as me for example. We seem to be in this time capsule that moves album cycle by album cycle. It feels like everything is much slower. 25 years seems insane. As far as the production goes, I have to make sure I keep myself interested in it, otherwise it can be really boring. The new album took this long because it just wasn’t ready to react. We’re not a push-button band. The record companies say, ‘’yeah, it’s time to write an album’’, and that’s kind of the worst thing they could say to me really. We had five tracks written in 2012 and we thought we were on our way, but when we started to play them live, they just didn’t feel like they were coming together. They didn’t feel like they were hitting the right spot, so I ended up binning them all and starting again!! There’s a time when it naturally feels like ‘The Prodigy’ emerges, it just happens to be now. Is it true you do a lot of night shifts when you write? On this record, yeah. I found I’d done as much as I could do during the daytime and it began to feel a bit like a 9-to-5 job. I needed to find a way to up the intensity and finish eight of the tracks that I kind of got stuck on. I decided to work all through the night, going to work at 7pm and coming home at like 4 or 5 in the morning. As soon as I did that, the whole outlook changed. Maybe it was psychological, it put my head in a different space.
Did this lead on to the concept of the fox on the artwork? Yeah. I kept bumping into a fox outside the studio. I think he was sleeping under my car or something and when I pulled off, it woke him up. I thought there was a bit of a comparison between this creature of the night, out there, doing his own thing, and what I was doing. So I went with the idea for the artwork, and then came the title, which was an Ella Fitzgerald lyric. The whole concept came together right at the end. With, ‘Invaders Must Die’ we had the artwork and the title right at the beginning, but with this one, it fell into place literally during the last month - that’s the way it goes sometimes. Can you describe what a studio session is like for ‘The Prodigy?’ It’s chaotic! It comes in all shapes and sizes. At the beginning, I decided in order to keep my own interest, I couldn’t sit at a computer. It’s the one thing I hate about what I do - the fact I have to use this PC to make music. I decided to just use it as a tape machine, flick it to record and just play a lot of stuff. All the first sessions were pretty much live jams and I’d say 80% of the vocals were done within the first 2 or 3 months. It was down to me then to build the tracks and sift through the recordings. We wrote half the album like that. It was cool and it was different to what we’ve done before. Those last three months were amazing. It was probably the best time that I’ve had in the studio. It was insane, really intense and ultimately really creative. I wouldn’t stop writing. How have you managed to keep your original sound but still make sure your music sounds current? It’s because I know how important it
is to just do that! Once you’ve carved out a sound for yourself, it’s important not to lose that. This album is harder than previous records, but for me it still has the same sonics and attack that we’re known for. I’m not interested in trying to break new ground or reinvent ourselves, that’s not what I believe we should be doing. If you’re reinventing yourselves, it means there’s something wrong with you. For us it’s about writing better tunes, or tunes that do something slightly different to what we’ve done before, but keeping the same ethics and fundamental sound of what we’re about. What is your favourite track off the new album? It moves around all the time really. I think ‘The Day Is My Enemy’ is a killer tune. Since we started playing the music live, it changes. I’m sure it will change next month by the time we get to
the UK tour. We always make the live versions slightly different to the releases because maybe the arrangements work better a certain way live. I like that because the tracks keep evolving. For example when we play ‘Rebel Radio’ on the UK tour it’s going to be a remix that people wouldn’t have heard before. What’s been your favourite era for ‘The Prodigy?’ They’ve all been so different really. Coming from the early rave scene, we were more like a PA then. We hadn’t really developed into what we are now. We’re still loving it, so ask us when we next split up, we’ll be able to look back then! We’re still doing some of the best gigs ever. Invaders was an amazing period because we’d just got back together, so it felt really fresh again. It’s probably easier to say the worst periods. Around early 2000 there was a low point.
You’ve sold 25 million albums over 25 years. How have you managed to keep so level headed about it all? I don’t know if I have stayed level headed! We’ve been through the ego stage and come out the other side. We’re on a mission, we’re focused, and when you concentrate on something, you do stay level. You just get on with what you wanna do. Once you’ve finished touring and smashing the festivals, will you guys be sitting back and taking some time out to relax? Nah, basically, we control everything we do. We work the gigs the best way we can so that it suits all three of us. We won’t do a solid 4 months and then
Photograph: Paul Dugdale
have loads of time off, that doesn’t work for us. We always keep it rolling and then we’ll stick in little breaks in between. For example, today I’ve come home for a day, to have a little break, and then maybe during the summer we’ll have a couple of weeks off. We’ve all got families so it’s important for us to not get pissed off with it. In the past, like when we did ‘Fat Of The Land’, we were on the roads solid for 3 years, and it burnt us all out. So we all set each other rules and we’ve all got to work within those rules. If we go on tour, it’s for a certain amount of weeks and it’s designed so we don’t get annoyed with it.
What’s life like for you when you’re not making music or touring? I don’t listen to music. I don’t even listen to music in my house. For me, music is not a job, so I’m happy writing beats, I’m just into it. If I get any spare time and I’m not with my family, I’ll still be writing, because that’s what I like. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from being involved in the music industry? I’m not in the industry. I pride myself in not being in the industry. The proudest thing I can say about the band is the way we’ve got to this point. We’ve manoeuvred ourselves, weaved in and out and avoided going down the same route most bands have taken. It’s about turning stuff down as much as it is saying yes. People don’t know how much we’ve turned down. That’s how we’ve got here today - by making decisions and not selling out.
These questions are from people on Facebook. Rob wants to know if there’s ever been any discussion about making a Dirt Chamber Sessions Volume 2? Yeah, course. I’m definitely going to do it, that’s all I can say. Maybe it’ll be this year, maybe it’ll be early next. I did ‘Dirt Chamber Volume 1’ on XL Recordings, the old label. The next one will be on Take Me To The Hospital Records, my own label. It’s just getting round to doing it! It’s something I can kind of do in the background, as we’re playing gigs, but it does take time. I think now’s a good time, because people want it to come out, so that’s cool. Benedict asks, ‘’How much did Essex influence your music, if at all?’’ The important thing about Essex is its location to East London. The whole mixture of hip-hop, break-beat and rave sound was kind of an East London thing, so I spent a lot of my youth there. You’ve only got to look at where the music was being written. We had Suburban Base Records in Romford and Shut Up and Dance in North East London. When I was living in Braintree we used to go to this club called The Barn and once it got rated in the top 10 of clubs! We spent a lot of time there, it was the centre of the sound. But Essex is a different place now. When I lived there, there was no tanning going on! It’s all gone a bit LA for me. Finally, could you give our readers a piece of advice? Keep it real. Keep it original. Don’t sell out. Don’t sell your soul.
The 7 guys you will meet at a festival.
By Lucy Drinkwater Festivals are awesome! There’s music, dancing, drinking, the fun of sleeping in your third hand tent that still smells of sick from last summer. Who knows! You might even find that special someone! However, buyer beware! The SPG has come up with a handy spotters guide to the seven guys you will meet at a festival.....
Acoustic Alan You know what’s great? Listening to professional musicians play their greatest hits on a live stage. You know what isn’t? Listening to a half-murmured rendition of James Blunt’s ‘Beautiful’, while Acoustic Alan strums away at a badly out of tune guitar. TOP TIP: Ask him if he knows how to play “The Ancient wolves of Broughty Ferry” or “How Do My Feet Hear?” by Simon Panty-Shield. He won’t. Because I just made them up.
Wristband Wayne Wristbands are a great souvenir from a festival. Remember all the good times. Maybe sigh a little before putting it back into a box where it belongs. Not Wristband Wayne. He is still wearing the entrance bands from the last few years. Imagine how much you sweat over a year. Imagine how many gross things you touch over the course of a year. Now imagine they are all condensed on a piece of raggedy material on your arm. TOP TIP: Don’t let him do the BBQ.
Last Year Larry Last year was much better. Larry was there last year so he can remember. The bands were better. The sound was clearer. And Larry is pretty sure that the mud was a much better quality than the junk they put on the field this year. You were here last year Larry! WE GET IT! SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT IT! TOP TIP: Cover your tent in tinfoil, pretend to be a time traveller and tell him next year’s festival was a lot better than this one as well.
Morph-Suit Mike Clad in skin-tight lycra, Morph-Suit Mike cuts a dashing figure. Stylish and practical, women want him and men want to be him. Try to pull him on the first day of the festival, because by the end of a full weekend of drinking, dancing and partying, that suit is going to be pretty smelly. TOP TIP: Enter our competition to win your own Morphsuit here.
Drunken Darren GREAT NEWS! He’s your new best mate! BAD NEWS! He’s drunk. And irritating. And because you have a conscience, you’re going to make sure he gets to bed ok and doesn’t pull a Hendrix on you (Google it). TOP TIP: There is no upside to this. A good deed is its own reward. Maybe guilt trip him into buying you a bacon sandwich. You’ll add him on Facebook and then never speak to him again.
Past-It Pete When you graduate and move on to a “proper” job, get a house, steady GF/BF and dog, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to re-kindle your youth from time to time. But Past-It Pete takes the mick. The kids are with the wife for the weekend and IT’S TIME TO GO CRAZY BABY! Past-It Pete will be the one moshing hardest, drinking mostest and throwing-up-in-their-tentthe-bestest guy at the festival! He’ll put his back out while trying to do a bellybutton shot with some rugby lads and need his wife to come pick him up in the Ford Focus. TOP TIP: Although epically uncool, due to his full time job, Past-It Pete is an amazing source of disposable income. And therefore, drinks.
The SPG Rep Probably wearing a red and white hoody with a cheeky grin on his face. TOP TIP: Buy him a pint. He’s a nice guy. If you’re a student and want to get involved with SPG, then why not drop us an email? You might be a writer or artist wanting to get your work published. You might be a people person who wants to get real life experience talking to businesses. You might be social media crazy and want to help promote SPG. Whatever the reason, if you feel you want to get involved, we’re only an email away, come and say hi: info@thestudentpocketguide.com
Illustrations by Rebecca Challoner
FESTIVAL FOOD HACKS Words: Jack Shannon
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USE POTS OF UHT FOR A MORNING CUPPA
A pint of milk left in a hot tent on a summer’s day will swiftly begin to smell like something your housemate keeps under his bed. Next time you are in a coffee shop, help yourself to a liberal amount of sachets of long life milk. Perfectly portioned and ideal for festivals.
ULTIMATE BBQ DESSERT
You will need: Tinfoil, 1 banana, a large marshmallow and Mars bar per person. After cooking the evening’s BBQ, this is the best sweet treat on the whole damn planet. Perfect for impressing that girl/boy you’ve had your eye on. Cut open a banana lengthways and shove in the Mars bar and the marshmallow. Then, wrap that bad boy in tinfoil (shiny side in as if you needed telling) and stick it on the grill. It will want about 5 mins per side. Be careful taking this off the grill, and make sure you have some wet wipes for afterwards - as, much like that weekend in Brighton, this will get messy.
COWBOY BEANS
You will need 1 tin of beans, some hotdogs, brown sugar (take it from the same place you got the UHT milk, just come back in an hour with a fake moustache) and some sachets of BBQ sauce (try to get these from a different restaurant). You’re just taking the mick with all your thieving ways and we are starting to get worried about you. Tear up the hotdogs and put them in a pan with the beans. Add the sugar and BBQ sauce and cook over a gentle heat until it looks ready. The sugar and the sauce will make this taste like Brokeback Mountain is happening right in your mouth. In a good way...
FRUIT
Apples are great when at a festival. The water in them helps if you’re hung over and a quick bit of fruit will freshen you up. But transporting them is a massive hassle. Get an old Pringles tube and ll it with apples to stop them from getting bruised. Also, if someone steals your Pringles, they will have only stolen some apples instead. Joke’s on them!
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Coming soon at the Rep 01382 223530 / dundeerep.co.uk THE HAZEY JANES Dundee’s Hazey Janes return to the Rep Theatre with an expanded line-up, featuring string players and other guest musicians, to showcase songs from their recent album, the critically acclaimed Language of Faint Theory, alongside selected gems. Sat 18 April at 7.30pm JUST LAUGH Each month Just Laugh comedy clubs will bring fantastic comedians to Dundee from the UK stand up circuit. We’ll do it all. All you need to do is come along and laugh. Fri 15 May, Fri 12 June, Fri 10 july at 8.00pm HORSE For the uninitiated, Horse is a Scottish female singersongwriter, with a wide following in the UK and worldwide. Horse remains a constant, performing with real passion, raw emotion and pure energy and remains one of Scotland’s best iconic singers. Sat 16 May at 7.30pm AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING Put your dancing shoes on and get ready to have the time of your life! Includes the classic songs: “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Hey Baby”, “Wipeout”, “Do You Love Me”, “Hungry Eyes” and the Oscar-winning “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”. Thu 25 June – Sat 27 June at 7.30pm
GORGON CITY E X C L U S I V E I N T E RV I E W
: Jo Cheung
ions Words: Natalie Deyes. Illustrat
So you’re all loved up? There’s no better feeling in the world when you find that someone who just seems to get you and knows exactly how to put a smile on your face. Well, there is a slightly better feeling….when you can afford to go out on dates. Dates cost. Most of the time, they cost a lot! You try so hard to please the other person but the pennies simply won’t stretch! Well we have a solution! Here, we have the answers to being loved up and skint. Even if you’re not, why not try them anyway?
Have a Night In! The ‘night-in-date-night’ is completely underrated! Cosy up and go Netflix crazy! Play Jenga! Get out the games console…even if you’re other half isn’t a game whiz, it will probably make for a great laugh! Crack open the nachos and wine and there you go! Sorted!
Go To A Quiz Night! Don’t just go as a couple either. Double date! It will bring out that inner University Challenge you never knew you had and if you win then even better!
Karaoke! Don’t just go as a couple either. Double date! It will bring out that inner University Challenge you never knew you had and if you win then even better!
Matt and Kye joined together to form Gorgon City in 2012 and in the short years since they merged, have had unprecedented success in both the UK and around the world. 2015 is set to be a massive one for these guys, hitting the festival circuit abroad with Coachella in the USA, Hideout in Croatia, plus many more still to be announced in the UK. We caught up with the pair whilst they were touring, to chat about breaking the law, playing live and ones to watch this summer! Interview by Richard Pearce
I think this is your fourth visit to Norwich in four years through your various guises, what is it about our fine city that you enjoy and like the most? Matt It’s always nice playing smaller cities, there is a local vibe and everyone’s always having a good time. I always like playing more intimate venues, and you get those clubs in places like Norwich. Kye We’ve played Hideout (club in Norwich) quite a few times and we love that because it’s almost like a house party. When we play in places like this it always feels like a lot of people know each other and that’s pretty cool.
experience because we work really hard on the live shows. We’ve toured for a while doing DJ sets around the globe but it feels like we have now made the gig as good as it can be. It definitely feels like we’ve achieved something, it’s quite amazing. Kye When you start to really think about it, like the crowds and stuff, you do get goose bumps! It’s a different experience to playing in a club because everyone who has bought tickets to the tour, bought them to see our show! We feel really proud of it, building up the show and seeing the reactions and the feedback we’ve been getting. It kind of makes it all seem worth it.
Your tour was officially sold out, how does that make you feel and what does that mean for the future? Matt It’s mad because when we found out that the tour was all sold out I didn’t really think about what it would actually be like. It is the most incredible
You seem quite humbled by it? Matt I suppose so, it kicks in when you’re chilling, like on a train or something. When there’s the ‘working’ part of it all, when we sound check, and do all the preparation, we’re not thinking about what it actually feels like.
Your fantastic music takes influences from House, Garage, Pop, Drum & Bass etc, what’s the music like in your head and where does your heart really lie? Matt Our influences are all the stuff we grew up with really... Kye When we first started working together we both had similar musical upbringings, listening to Jungle and Drum & Bass a lot. I spent most of my teen years listening to almost purely that but also Garage, Grime and House a bit later on.
Matt For me, a lot of it sounds quite Garagey, but then the basslines have got that element of House. The melodies are quite deep, but then it has an uplifting vibe so, I don’t know, it’s a bit weird. You don’t really think about your own songs, you just do it and you don’t categorise ‘that sounds like this or that sounds like that’. Some people are already calling you the new Chase and Status of the festival scene, how does that rank in your long list of accolades?
Matt To see our names in big letters at festivals, that’s definitely pretty crazy! Also, when we see our positioning on some of the line ups for this summer, it’s pretty mental. You know, we’ve only been making tunes as Gorgon City for a couple of years, so it all happened very quickly. What makes you most proud about what you have achieved so far? Matt We would have to say our tour, because the live show is kind of a demonstration of our album in a way. Obviously we add a lot of other stuff to it but the tour encapsulates all the work we’ve done. We get to show off the whole journey, from writing the album to performing it live on stage. Kye Now we’re working on the second album, we are concentrating on how it would sound like. How would we play this to an audience? It definitely has an impact on how we make music and has a snowball effect. Some of your guest vocalists have gone on to achieve incredible highs in their, so far short, careers. Who is the next future star for us to look out for? Matt I think Zak Abel is going to have a good year! He was on our track ‘Unmissable’. Also Sinead Harnett, she should have a good year. I also think Years and Years are going to be really big too. They’re going to blow up!!!
‘Sirens’ reached the dizzy heights of the UK top ten album charts, I’m sure you’re aware! Why do you think people have taken to you so much this year? Both Dunno haha! God knows why everyone is here! What’s your favourite post show food and tipple? Both Curry is always nice, and straight Vodka haha! We also really like red wine... From a personal perspective we think it’s a crime ‘Unmissable’ only reached number 19 in the charts. What crime would you commit if you could get away with it? Matt Haha! I dunno, probably to drive a Ferrari really fast all round the world kind of thing. Like really, really fast! World domination being a matter of time, will we ever see you back in sleepy Norwich again? Both Yeah definitely because there’s the UEA isn’t there, so we’ll be back.
sub Sessions Lorde - Buzzcut Season (Josh Schott Cover) Josh Schott puts a really cool twist on this cover version of Lorde’s Buzzcut Season. This meaningful performance builds up as Josh puts a lot of emotion into the track. Using multiple edits to cleverly layer his vocals and multiple instruments, there’s no surprise that this video is getting great feedback.
Mo Evans - Girl From The Sun London based Mo Evans and his band perform their track ‘Girl From The Sun’ exclusively for SPGtv. This acoustic, alternative folk track has a peaceful, happy and summery sound with a hint of Jack Johnson in it.
Sam Harmonix - Are You OK?
This short documentary/interview style video features Jamareo Artis (Bruno Mars’ Guitarist), who makes a special guest appearance for Sam Harmonix, as they perform an exclusive acoustic version of his song ‘Are You OK?’. All the way from North Carolina, and lmed at Reening House Studios, this recording has a very soulful sound with an RnB vibe.
Ellie Goulding - Lights (Nate Fredrick Cover)
Nate Fredrick was born in Springgeld Mo and began playing the guitar at the age of 12. Taking innuences from Ryan Bingham, John Mayer and Bill Withers to name a few, here Nate puts his unique, original and rustic sound on his version of Ellie Goulding’s ‘Lights’.
bscribers3 ws1,798,507 vide ,354 views2 os300 ,109,001 vide o Calvin Harris - Summer (Han & The Radio Flyers Cover)
Han & the Radio Flyers perform a truly unique version of ‘Summer’, originally by Calvin Harris. This has a really happy summer sound that you want to listen to over and over again. If the acoustic twist isn’t enough to make this version unique, Han even includes a rap half way through.
Twelve24 - Higher
One to watch !
We really love everything about this track. You know it’s a really good tune within seconds of listening to it and has that perfect summery, soulful and uplifting vibe, which we can’t get enough of! This is an exclusive SPGtv acoustic remix, which still holds onto the house/club sound Twelve24 are known for. Go watch it, you won’t be disappointed!
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For all of you DJs, Producers and Dance music fans out there, let us introduce you to Carl Rag. Already gathering a very respectable fan-base including the likes of D-Ramirez, Doorly and Mark Knight, this guy is shaping the future futu of live sets. Performing ““nger drumming”, Carl uses snippets of tracks, and uniquely blends, creates and chops tunes. The result: eye catching, ear pleasing sets, in his skillful style. Toolroom Records say Carl is an “Incredible example of how new innovations can offer creative possibilities”… And we couldn’t agree more! We caught up with the Philology student who’s already carved a very successful al future ahead for himself…
What you’re doing is crazy! It looks so technical and you’re able to create such an amazing sound using your combinations of samples. You’re really taking DJing to the next level, so how did this idea first come about? Thanks! I started mixing back in 2009 with a classic setup – 2 decks and a 2-channel mixer. After I learned the basics of DJing: beatmatching, eqing, fx and stuff, I wanted to do something more, something creative that would allow me to put my piano skill to good use. At this point, I started using a DAW (Ableton Live) to loop piano, synths as well as drums to create tracks on the fly.
Over time, it transformed into finger drumming. Fantastic! Was there anything that originally inspired you to drive towards the house/tech scene? We always love to know what kind of stuff inspires artists growing up. When I was a child, I used to listen to my father’s vinyl collection from the 1970s/1980s, although, only secretly, when he wasn’t at home… Because he never allowed me to even touch it ha ha! He was a big fan of Electric Light Orchestra and the Bee Gees, and so was I. A few years later when I was in my early teens, many popular artists from the house scene sampled those tracks and gave them a new lease of life which inspired me to get deeper and deeper into house music. The skill you possess is so surreal and truly mesmerizing, it’s a struggle to even keep watch of your fingers on the pad, however do you prepare yourself before performing a set? Surely timing the speed and remembering the right buttons to hit is mind-boggling? Yeah, my performances require a lot of hard work and preparation. Especially in clubs where I combine mixing with finger drumming. Therefore, I have to do way more than any other house DJ has to do before a set. I must select tracks and cut every single
sound (bassline, melody, etc.), place all the samples on pads, mix them, and finally, practice the whole performance to keep it in time – days of work. To be honest, remembering the placement of samples isn’t that hard. If all sounds are properly labeled, a glance at a computer screen (or pads’ colours) is enough. Wow, I don’t think we’ll be taking it up any time soon, we’ll leave it to the professionals like yourself. When you’re jamming out midway through a mix do
you ever panic that you’ll forget or miss a beat? How do you keep your concentration? During a show, everything goes really fast, there is no time to think about possible mistakes. I consider errors in advance, for example, I don’t play routines which I haven’t mastered yet and I always have a plan B, just in case. Furthermore, before a gig, I don’t let anyone distract me, and focus only on my performance and practice it to the bitter end... Well it’s an unbelievable talent once again. As we
said previously, your fan base is hugely respectable with the likes of Mark Knight, R3hab and D Ramirez all leaving glowing quotes, but what did this mean to you and how does it feel to be so hugely recognised? I’m glad that well-known DJs appreciate me, especially Mark Knight. In 2013, I sent a link with my version of “Nothing to take” to guys from My Digital Enemy and they loved it. Afterwards, they decided to put me in touch with Toolroom Records – that’s how I got involved in the Toolroom Ten campaign and drew Mark Knight’s attention to
festivals. The complexity of his rig and amount of work he puts into his live performances are really incredible.
myself. I was amazed that a living legend of house enjoys my stuff. It was an ultimate confirmation that I’m quite good at what I do.
Ahhh I see! Because you’ve made it off of your own back, what advice would you give to aspiring artists of today and the people who want to get themselves known? I would say that it doesn’t matter if you’re good at music production, mixing music or finger drumming, just do your thing and do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Watch tutorials, take part in music courses, develop your skills and don’t let
No doubt he’ll be appearing at a gig or two this year! We’d love to see you smash a solo set here in the UK, so is there any chance you’ll be finger drumming for us Brits in the near future? I have no upcoming gigs in the near future in the UK, however, I’m sure that there’ll be a chance to see me there in action later this year.
was amazed that a living “Ilegend of house enjoys my stuff. It was an ultimate connrmation that I’m quite good at what I do. “
Of current times we have so many massive DJs competing to take the top spot as king of the decks, wanting to headline the super summer festivals, but at the moment who is you mix master of choice? I would love to see KiNK performing at one of the
anyone dull your sparkle. Sooner or later someone will appreciate your talent. Clearly Youtube and Facebook have been major parts of your uprising, it’s crazy how fast things can go viral, did you ever expect to go as far as you have done already? That’s right, there is no doubt that social media has played a major role in my uprising. Without Facebook and Youtube, no one would ever hear about me. After a few years, my performances have hundreds of thousands of views – I never thought things would go that far when I was recording my first video. What really makes me happy is the fact that people who used to say that electronic music
can’t be performed live changed their minds after they watached my promo routines for Akai Professional, M-audio or saw me at an event when I was playing. Most of them had no idea that devices like that actually existed. Surely you can only keep getting bigger, it’s no doubt you have the talent! What we really want to know is what’s in store next for Carl Rag? In the near future I plan to build a website with all sorts of useful stuff for people interested in music production, finger drumming and DJing, such as: sample packs, tutorials, music equipment reviews and more. Moreover, I work on my original tracks as well as new videos.
We can’t wait! So far you’ve been thriving and the success is inevitable! What has been your highlight in your career so far? I would say that the collaboration with Akai Professional and Toolroom Records on the release of the new APC40 mkII was one of the most important events in my career. It opened up new opportunities and people started to recognise me. The SPGtv performance has got to be up there no doubt, it’s certainly one of our favourites. Finally, what mix do you love to perform the most? One that you’d never get bored of blasting out? Undeniably, I would never get bored of performing my live version of Doorly – Rush even though it’s quite difficult to play. The original was released almost 2 years ago but still sounds fresh.
Watch Carl Rag perform live HERE
Track Title: I Wanna Know Artist: Marc Vedo Ft. Mila Falls Release Date: 11th May 2015 Record Label: Urbana Records Radio Edit: 3:48 Music Video Edit: 3:24 Extended Club Mix: 6:07
By Richard Harris Exams are unfair. They’re unpredictable, fearsome and an odd combination of stressful and boring (how is that even possible!?). And we all know the gruelling marathon that revision can be. However, just like any game there are winning strategies that can gain you an unfair advantage. Here are six of my favourites.
1) Pressure On, Pressure Off. Human beings just can’t keep the pressure on indefinitely. Those who say they can are either lying or are one deadline away from imploding in the library. A great trick to maintain sustained study is to divide your time in to 45-minute study blocks. Set your alarm for 35 minutes, then keep studying. When the alarm goes take a 10-minute rest period (timed once again). During the rest period you should ideally
move around a little and socialise. Keep repeating this cycle for your entire study duration. I know many successful authors and professionals who swear by this technique.
2) Eat Real Food! Your brain accounts for roughly 2% of your overall body mass, yet it consumes a disproportionate 20% of the body’s daily energy. If you want your brain to perform at peak, you need to give it the right raw materials. Consume a steady flow of fresh fruit and
1) BEFORE you start work... Procrastination is the bane of any good essay. Once you get into a flow with things, ideas and paravegetables, good carbohydrates graphs can just flow out from your potato, quifi(brown ngertipsrice, likesweet no-one’s business. noa, etc.), healthy oils and proBut getting into the right frame tein. Avoid processed foods. I’ve of mind is a students tricky business at their best. coached who had performance entirely turned around fromyou simple Sometimes, willchanges need toto do their diet.right Evenatsmall changes an essay the last minute. in brain performance can lead This is never a good idea. Try to to big exam result boosts. Don’t have everything finishedtheyand consume sugary treats; wrapped up brain at leastsluggish a week and before make your the deadline. You won’t, as you scatty. probably actually have a life. But youyourself want athat sweet snack, ifTip: youIfset target then try making your own snack bags you should easily be able to hand with a mixture of dried fruit, althe essaycashew in on time. theory. monds, nuts In and seeds. They’re full of vitamins and minBy now, you should know erals, will leave youprobably feeing fuller for longer, boost your energy for is how you work best and if music and will helpLikewise, to enalong helpperiods or a distraction. hance your brains performance, you know if you reduce your stresswork levelsbest andduring imthe dayyour or the evening. prove overall health. No-one They’re is atalso their brightest at 2am and ideas very cost-effective. that seemed like genius then will seem awful in the morning. 3) Block Access to Don’t believe me? Think about the type Distracting Websites. of people who pull in all night kebab shops. Great at 2am, You’re studying hard, idea the knowledge settling but just as you not so is much thein,morning after. get on a roll you hear the familiar ‘ding’ of a Facebook update...
Close down Google Chrome. You can start it up again if you need to check something. Turn off your phone. You don’t friend is waiting, and he needYour to call anyone that urgently. has some hilarious cat essay videos Facebook will not write your for you. This scene could be true for you. And neither will Twitter. of any social media site, news Eat awebsites, light meal, glass tip ofis blogs,get etc.aA great watertonearby, go off toending the toilet and block the websites usingto your parental get ready rock this thing! control features on your browser. You can even download software 2) Staying motivated. which blocks the offending sites Essaysbycan be knackering. A deadly timer, so your study time is combo of staring at a white screen distraction free. while straining your brainpower 4) Caff eine. can quickly leave you feeling like an old sock full of porridge. Beautiful caffeine is my favourite performance-enhancing drug. Give Studies yourself rewards to havelittle shown that caffeine help increases you keep going. these focus, Make endurance achievement rather than and evenbased performance in IQ tests. Whenever haveyou a writing time based. If you sayI that will I always have slack a pot work deadline, for an hour and then of green tea by my side. Play off, I guarantee you will the around with yourspend favourite last 15 looking at the clock caffmins einated beverage until you in thefind corner of your one which hasscreen just theand right kick, you then were give yourself a good wishing on YouTube dose funny on exam day. of cats. watching videos
Find Your Make5) it something you will enjoy. Chocaholic? BuyStudy yourselfSpace. a big bar Sacred and give yourself 3 squares each Our mind reacts to cues and craves routine. When we spend
time in ayou place, we tend fall in Music time write 300 to words. to buff the behaviours usually associ? 1 song for each time you ated with that space. Find yourselfreference a sacred something. study space where only intense study is performed. A spare an offi is per- push If yourroom mindorstarts tocewander, fect. If you keep the space sacred through it if you can. It’s the same and only use it for serious study, reason why at the gym, you keep you will find the space evermore going a little bit longer than easier to for revise in. Conversely, you study think you are able to. So give don’t / revise in places it another 15 minutes after your where you’re used to socialising, sleeping looking up naffastuff mind isorstarting to get bit fluffy, ongo theoutside internet (bedroom?). for a walk for some fresh air and to stretch your legs 6)then Sleep. get back to the essay.
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Norwich Fashion Week (NFW) was created in 2010 to celebrate and promote the vibrant fashion scene, bringing together its nationally recognised independent retail offering, with the city’s thriving student fashion design community and professional practitioners in fashion and beauty. The Designers Show is part of Norwich Fashion Week. This year’s show took place in March at Epic Studios and was divided into two parts – the first featured 8 up-andcoming designers and the second featured sets from City College students, including the latest range of clothing from Cocoon. Photography Credits (Above): Rosa Hughes, (Right top): Sophie Butler, (Right bottom): Chelsea Ames, (Right Middle): Sophie Butler, (Right left): Connor Oldridge.
“Norwich fashion week had a cool and buzzing atmosphere and for good reason”, Danielle Wallace, (UAL Diploma Photography student)
commented. “As you entered the room and saw the catwalk under the burning lights, you instantly wanted the show to begin so you could see the models and latest garments”. With seats filled, many people witnessed an amazing array of outfits. It was an eye-opening experience to see some of the work from students who attend City College and to see the kind of work they produce on their course. It was great to see how the collective work of students came together, from the Production Arts students to the Hair and Makeup students. Rosie Laura (UAL Photography student) who went to the show commented, “the Sandra Reynolds models wore the beautiful designs down the catwalk. I think the day was amazing; it was great to see such astounding talent showcased. I feel like the designers have an extremely bright future in the fashion world as the clothing shown that day blew me away, it was outstanding. As a photography student, taking pictures of the day, I was astonished by the professionalism of the models; they made taking photographs exciting because of their powerful and flawless poses.”
The NFW formula has involved set-piece fashion shows, modeling competitions with contracts for winners, visual merchandising, in-store fashion events, in-store designer events, a vintage fashion strand, hairdressing and make-up events and in-the-street activity such as fashion processions. Jon Clark, UAL Photography course leader explained that, “Norwich Fashion Week is an excellent opportunity for students to experience real life professional practice. Photography students get to record the event from behind the scenes, through to the cat walk show in the evening. They work alongside professional photographers testing their photography skills to the full.” The show, which is run and managed by students from Norwich City College, was a huge success! If you weren’t lucky enough to have attended the event, then look out for it again next year! Photography Credits (Left): Rosa Hughes, (Middle left): Tyla L, (Middle right): Jon Clark, (Right): Millie Ruhl-Barrett.
TOP 5
STUDENT T-SHIRTS
1 2
Words: Jack Shannon The first date shirt Ok, you have scored a first date with the hot guy/girl/lecturer of your dreams! What do you wear? A suit and tie? Unless you are in the Young Conservatives or are on work experience, students have no business owning a suit. So you whip out this little number!
Impersonating a tiger I don’t know why you are impersonating a tiger, and frankly, at The SPG we don’t judge. Unless we are finding you GUILTY of wearing a great tiger theme t-shirt. We sentence you to twelve years of looking fabulous. The only way it could be better would be if it was on fire. WOAH! A tiger AND on fire! At The SPG we deliver!
3 4 5
Che Guevara This shirt is a student classic. And an absolute essential for any politics student, vague left wing type or anyone who wants to pull an attractive hippie. Embody the spirit of Marxist revolution while wearing a mass produced garment and drinking coffee at Starbucks. Giving a seminar presentation Sooner or later you are going to have to give a presentation at a course seminar. It’s ok, everyone does it and you’ll do fine. However, if you don’t want to just look fine, but FIII-INE then you need this t-shirt. “Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary, does it improve upon the silence.” Shirdi Sai Baba. Not only does this t-shirt make you look smart and profound, it also subtly discourages people from asking stupid questions at the end of your presentation. Darwin is my homeboy You are on a science course but haven’t bothered to turn up to any of the lectures. Now the person running the course is starting to ask lots of awkward questions and has invited you for a “friendly chat”... BAM! Right there! Darwin is my homeboy. Straight away the people running the course will know that you are ALL BUSINESS BABY. Committed to the course? JUST READ THE T-SHIRT.
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START
Welcome back to START, where we showcase a range of student art, from across the UK.
Megan Bayliss - Photography University of Central Lancashire
Grace Golding - Fashion Design Birmingham City University
Kitty - Fashion Design Nottingham Trent University
Rachael Saunders - Illustration Falmouth University
Sangeeta Bhagawati - Illustration Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London
Sangeeta Bhagawati - Illustration Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London
Afnan Abdullah - Design for Communication Westminster University
Laurissa Stanbury - Illustration Plymouth College of Art
START
in associatio n with:
If you would like to have your work showcased in the next edition, send your submission, along with your full name and place of study to: info@thestudentpocketguide.com. If the le size is larger than 1MB please use a third party le transfer service. Otherwise your email might not reach us!
Hirsutes you sir! A hair-raisingly good article by Jack Shannon.
Hair. We all have it. But when you’re a broke student, paying good money for a haircut, when it’s just going to grow back seems like a waste of hard earned student loan. Money that you could have spent on beer. Or books. Whatever, we don’t judge. Well never fear, SPG is here with the low-down on the various different hair options available to both sexes. BLOKES - Save money on razor blades by growing your very own beard! Think of it like a hairy pot plant.
THE SOUL PATCH A swinging piece of 70’s nostalgia on your face. Looks good on: Miley Cyrus’s Dad, musicians, Miley Cyrus.
THE GCSE So called, because this scraggly buff-fluff belongs more on a schoolboy than a sophisticated student. Some faces just don’t suit beards. Sorry. Looks good on: Justin Bieber.
THE GAME OF BEARDS A big bushy beard you could lose a badger in. This beard is the easiest to grow. Just let time and nature take its course. Looks good on: George RR Martin, Brian Blessed, Hipsters.
THE ONE BEARD TO RULE THEM ALL Game of Beards if it’s not trimmed and shampooed. Looks good on: Gandalf The Grey, Gandalf The White, the homeless.
THE JUDGE DREDDLOCK Stick up to the establishment by rolling lumps of your hair in beeswax and knitting your own organic hemp hair-net. Just make sure to cut them off after graduation. Looks good on: Vegans, headshop owners, hot wannabe hippies.
THE JOSEPH Coat Of Many Colours fame. If you’re going to dye your hair, make sure to do the roots as well. Looks good on: X-Factor contestants, Manga cartoon characters, My Little Pony.
THE TOILET DUCK WOW! Your hair looks great! Bright pink or blue! It looks cool as hell! However, it does look like your hair has some pretty weird cleaning products growing out of the top of your face. Sorry. Looks good on: Fresher student fancy dress parties.
THE I-CUT-THIS-MYSELF What you think it says: I cut my own hair to express my individuality. What it actually says: I’m broke. Looks good on: The individualists! If you are actually good at cutting hair, this is perfect for anyone :) Illustrations by: www.LeanneHearnden.com
: Jo Cheung
ions Words: Natalie Deyes. Illustrat
So you’re all loved up? There’s no better feeling in the world than when you find that someone who just seems to get you and knows exactly how to put a smile on your face. Well, there is a slightly better feeling…. when you can afford to go out on dates. Dates cost. Most of the time, they cost a lot! You try so hard to please the other person but the pennies simply won’t stretch! Well, we have a solution! Here, we have the answers to being loved up and skint. Even if you’re not, why not try them anyway?!
Have a Night In! The ‘night-in-date-night’ is completely underrated! Cosy up and go Netflix crazy! Play Jenga! Get out the games console… Even if your other half isn’t a game whiz, it will probably make for a great laugh! Crack open the nachos and wine and there you go! Sorted!
Go To A Quiz Night! Don’t just go as a couple either. Double date! It will bring out that inner University Challenge you never knew you had and, if you win, then even better!
Karaoke! For most people, doing this sober is not an option! But you don’t have to sing…. be the judge, sit and relax whilst other people belt out their tunes!
Go Bowling! This is a super fun and cheap date! Plus there are always student saver nights which make it ideal for a fun, moneysaving date.
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Go To A Free Gig!
A lot more venues are now holding free gigs, with upcoming, unsigned musicians. It’s also great, as the conversation doesn’t have to be flowing. Awkward silences are non existant!
Salsa! More and more students and couples are enjoying salsa nowadays! It’s perfect for keeping fit and is incredibly sexy!
Rent Paddle Boats! Great for the talking type…
Play Pool! Excellent for getting that competitive banter flowing! Plus, you don’t have to be amazing at it. All you need is a good sense of humor.
Go Hiking! This can be so much fun! Take food and maybe a glass of wine or two. Whatever you decide to do, you can save money. And it doesn’t make it any less exciting!
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IGNERS, ALSO REQUIRED: ERA OPERATORS, DES INTERVIEWERS, CAM IAL MEDIA GURUS ILLUSTRATORS, SOC ntpocketguide.com Get in touch: info@thestude
Scott Laidler’s
This workout will help you to increase your muscle mass and deenition, reduce your body fat percentage and, if followed regularly, along with a healthy balanced diet, will give you a lean, toned, well sculpted physique in time for summer. The training consists of an abdominal/ high intensity cardio day and a total body resistance day. Alternate the training days, giving yourself one day o each week. Do this for 6 weeks. Note: As your tness improves, reduce the resting periods between the exercises. You should also gradually increase either the reps or weights on your resistance training days. This will ensure that your tness continues to improve for the duration.
Workout 1: High Intensity Cardio Exercise 1: Kettlebell Swing 1) Begin with a comfortably weighted kettlebell. Start with 4 kg and increase according to your tness. 2) Stand, knees bent, feet shoulder width apart. 3) Hold the kettlebell with both hands, whilst pushing your bum out. 4) Bring yourself up making sure your back is at and start to swing the kettlebell through your legs by using force from your hips to carry it through. 5) Do this for 1 minute. Repeat 3 times.
Too easy? Try doing a one-arm kettlebell swing instead. Remember to alternate arms.
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Exercise 2: Mountain Climbers 1) Lie facing the ground. Slowly raise your body so that it’s parallel to the ground, supported by your hands and toes. 2) Bring one knee up towards the chest and return to starting position. Alternate legs, performing the motion as quickly as possible. 3) Do this continuously for 45 seconds. Repeat twice.
Exercise 3: Shadow Boxing 1) Position one leg slightly forward, and your sts clenched up by your ears. 2) Begin by throwing straight-arm left and right punches. 3) Then, progress onto thawing hooks. These will generate energy from the rotation of the hips. 4) Combine the 4 punches. Left straight-arm, right straight-arm, left hook, right hook... 5) Do this for 3 minutes continuously. Repeat 3 times. Exercise 4: Russian Twists 1) Sit on the oor (or a mat). Your knees need to be bent, tucked into your body and your feet rmly placed on the oor. 2) Holding a weighted medicine ball with both hands, arms outstretched, twist your torso to the left. Your arms should carry the medicine ball as far as possible behind your body as your torso twists. Alternating sides, repeat. 3) Do this for 45 seconds, repeating 3 times.
Day 2: Resistance Training
Exercise 1: Barbell Squat 1) To start this exercise you will need to use a squat rack and make sure the weight is set to something comfortable for you to use and that the bar is at shoulder height. 2) Step under the bar and let your shoulders take the weight while your hands are both grasping the bar, start to lift the bar up with your legs, at the same time straightening your torso, until you are standing upright. 3) Then move away from the rack and make sure your toes are pointed forward. 4) Then start to lower your body like a normal squat making sure your back is straight and your knees do not come over your toes. 5) When you are as low as you can go, pause for 2-3 seconds while contracting your leg muscles and then start to slowly rise back up to the starting position and repeat. 6) Do 3 sets of 12 reps.
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Exercise 2: Barbell Deadlift 1) Place a comfortably weighted barbell on the oor in front of your shins. 2) Position your feet directly below your hips, slightly turned out. 3) Squat down to the bar. Grasp it with an overhand grip. 4) Begin to push up through the oor, using the front of your heels, and ensuring you slightly are the knees out to the side so the bar can rise easily. 5) Once the bar is above your knees, drive your hips into it. Pause for 2-3 seconds. 6) Slowly lower the bar to the starting position. Repeat.
Exercise 3: Dumbbell Chest Press 1) Lie at on a bench, knees bent. Place 2 comfortably weighted dumbbells on your knees. 2) Holding a dumbbell in each hand, bring your arms out to the side. Keep your elbows bent in a 90 degree angle, and your palms facing straight forward. Slowly start to push your arms up and fully extend them making sure there is a slight bend in the elbow, pause for 2-3 seconds and start to lower the arms back se into the starting position and repeat.
Exercise 4: One Arm Row 1) Using a comfortably weighted dumbbell and a bench, 2) Rest one knee at the bottom of the bench and one hand at the top. Grasp the dumbbell with your other hand, letting it hang parallel to the oor. 3) Bending at the elbow, bring that arm (holding the dumbbell) up towards your chest. 4) Then slowly extend it backwards and out to the side, keeping your elbow slightly bent. 5) Pause for 2-3 seconds. Return to the position where the dumbbell is level with your chest. Repeat. 6) Do 2 sets of 10 reps.
Exercise 5: Posterior Fly 1) Stand straight, feet shoulder width apart, and each hand holding a comfortably weighted dumbbell. 2) Lower your torso keeping your back straight until you’re at 45 degrees. 3) Slowly raise the dumbbells up together straight out in front of you to chest height, with a slight bend in the elbow and your palms facing each other. 4) Then, bring them out to the sides, until the weights are parallel with your torso. (Not further!) 5) Pause for 2-3 seconds. Slowly return to start position. Repeat. 6) Do 2 sets of 10 reps. Need some help getting started? Visit www.scottlaidler.com for one-on-one online personal training with Scott. At just £150 for 6 weeks, it’s a bargain!
YES or NO? The power of the Internet has made our lives easier for many things. Essay research, online shopping and downloading music are all things we can do with the touch of a button. Dating was always something we used to do face to face, but the Internet has made that a lot easier too. Dating Apps on your smart phone mean there are a whole host of potential matches in the palm of your hand. Are you thinking about whether Internet dating is for you? Unsure if you should take the plunge? Well, read on for some pros and cons.
YES • Talking online before meeting face to face is a great ice breaker. You’re both in the same boat, looking for the same thing. • You can look at a lot of potential dates in one place, relatively quickly. There’s no more scanning a packed pub/club seeing who takes your fancy. • If you’re not one to enjoy said ‘packed pub/club’ then where will you meet people? (We’re not saying pubs and clubs are the only places to meet your dream date, but they are quite common places to do so). Online dating means you can do it from the comfort of your own home, in front of the TV with a cuppa in hand. • You are both behind a screen, so to an extent, you’re likely to be more open and honest. When you’ve met people in real life, there’s often a lot of pressure to impress, and you might not be as genuine as you should be.
NO • You always run the risk that you are talking to the ultimate selfie photographer. If they are absolutely stunning, you will always be in two minds whether they actually look like that in real life. • There are certain dating apps and sites that have got themselves a bit of a reputation for meeting up casually. Make sure you choose wisely, so that you will actually be getting what you want from your search. • Although being behind a screen may mean someone opens up more, it also means you miss out on the fun of flirting face to face. You aren’t able to gauge body language or natural cues, to see if they really like you or not. • Internet dating can also become quite addictive. You may feel the need to keep scrolling and scrolling, until you find the one that is perfect for you.
So you’ve just had a busy and tiring University year, where you learnt lots of important things; including how to wash your own clothes and how to down a dirty pint! Now that term has finished, reluctantly you have to trundle all the way back to your parent’s house. Here are some top tips for surviving those longggg summer months…
1) Act like an adult
I I went to Southern Chile, and then I went to South America. First of all Peru to t wen I y Lastl ia. Boliv and ntina d Arge and visite trave It is lled veryarou easynd to regress into a sulky teen when dealing with your parents, s with but deal ORCA which are an organisation that voluntee and actually you red will with find that bilita if you actoflike antic adult they’re probably going to als. anim aqua tion reha tion and cons the treat youerva like one too. Put your new domestic skills to use and tidy up your mess and cook the occasional family meal to show your parents that you have really matured.
2) Talk it out If you feel restricted by the household rules or patronised by the way your parents are treating you, then it is always a good idea to have a calm chat about it. Sometimes parents struggle to realise that you need more independence, and usually highlighting this to them means they change their ways!
3) Get ahead Read over last year’s lecture notes to make sure the info stays fresh, and be a bit of a geek and check out next year’s syllabus too. You could even start on the recommended reading list!
4) Be productive With the stress of deadlines being a distant memory, there is no better time to take up that hobby you’ve always wanted to do or to revive an old one. This could be anything from learning an instrument, to finally passing your driving test!
5) Have a safety net in place Sometimes your family will annoy you that smidgeon too much, which is why it is useful to have a list of activities that you can do when it all gets too much! Usually going for a run or just getting out the house gives you some mental clarity over the situation. Equally, you may find that taking a bath, reading, drawing or skyping a friend helps.
6) Get outside Don’t fall into the trap of being stuck on Facebook, getting jealous of other people’s holiday photos! If you can’t afford to go abroad, then just head outdoors and explore your own neighbourhood properly or visit a nearby town.
7) Re-vamp Take notice of your health and incorporate lots of fruit and veg into your diet whilst squeezing in some exercise. Maybe even get a new haircut to help you feel prepared for the new academic year!
8) Get a summer job or do some volunteering Nothing makes you feel more independent than when you are self-sufficient and earning your own money. Summer jobs can be hard to come by though, so consider doing some volunteer work to learn the necessary skills and to improve your CV!
9) Arrange regular meet ups with your Uni friends After spending nearly every day together, you are bound to miss your uni friends, so take it in turns to visit each other’s home towns or meet them in the middle in a busy city!
10) Consider your siblings and home friends You may not have realised but whilst you’ve been living it up (struggling) in a different city, your home friends and siblings may have felt a little ditched. Make it a priority to hang out with them and be mindful of their feelings, this goes for parents too!
11) Keep things in perspective! Remember the problems you are facing are just for 3 baby months. 3 months, that’s all.
By Marie Holyhead
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