Beside The Seven Seas MAY 2018
DEMUR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Noreen Chada – Editor Kay Samuel- Editorial Assistant Nicole Samoto – Social Editor Alice Diamond- Staff Writer Emily Bone – Fashion Writer Mia Seabrook – Music Writer Stella Dzingai – Contributing Writer Shirly Dee – Creative Content Manager Emma Gillett - Graphic Designer Hannah Smith - Music Writer Mia Woloszczynska – Music Writer Lydia Redpath - Features Writer Stefania Sarrubba - Arts & Culture Writer Jennifer Damian – Features Writer Nicholas Barber – Features Writer Published by Demur Ltd
Editor’s Letter really can’t stand how two-faced the weather in this country is. Each morning you wake up and you never know what to expect or even how to dress for it. Still, it makes for a great icebreaker. The weather seems to be the topic of interests for everyone and I reckon you should use that as your icebreaker when you decide to visit our lists of amazing bars that we have compiled for you in this issue. If you are unable to go bar hoping this time because you have other pressing issues on your mind, such as ‘what am I going to do with my life now that I have finished my Fashion Degree…’, you can flip through and read our ‘Life Beyond
The Glamorous Fashion Degree’ piece to see what you options are after your course. If you still have doubts we have some real-life advice from two experts who are already working in the industry, New York-based stylist duo Bryan Alexis and Miguel Carlos Martinez, sharing the pros and cons of their profession. We take a more sombre tone as we discuss mental health in the music industry and what more can be done. Sticking with music and healing, we tell you why you should be splurging all your money on concerts. Ntangou Badila talks us through her art and which celebrity homes she would like to have her art pieces hanging up in. Finally, we take a look at what hard work, consistency and talent can produce. I hope you enjoy this issue whether you are reading it in the sun or in a blizzard.
Until next time, Noreen Chada
PAINTING A PORTRAIT
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AMAZING BARS
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LIFE OF A STYLIST
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CONTENTS
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MENTAL HEALTH IN MUSIC
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LIFE AFTER A FASHION DEGREE
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CONCERTS ARE FOOD FOR THE SOUL
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A Fashionable Culture © All Rights Reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily of the publisher, Demur Ltd. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden except with express permission of the publisher. It is not the intention to print any matter that discriminates on the grounds of race, sex, sexuality or disability. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for the contents of these pages. Demur Magazine is a free monthly publication addressing a fashionable culture. Demur Magazine is published and distributed by Demur Ltd. For any distribution enquiries please email info@demur.co
Marc Jacobs Hashtag Gold Stud
Vans Old Skool White / OG Jade
£30.00 - marcjacobs.com
£60.00 thebureaubelfast.com
Because you want to make a statement, right?
These would pair well with some ankle grazer chinos.
DEMUR PICKS
When the sun does come out you want to make sure your outfit is on point and you look fresh!
Polar Flat Earth 1992 Shape Skateboard £55.00 slamcity.com
It won’t be very nice to be stuck on public transport if the weather does get too warm. You can use this to get out and about our you can just walk around holding it as an accessory.
Striped Wrap Midi Skirt £19.99 pullandbear.com
Keep it cute with a sweatshirt and a pair of heels for a bit of sophistication.
Rip N Dip Psychedelic Knit Crewneck £70.00 - flatspot.com
You can wear this with a pair of black jeans for that all black look and for the ladies you can wear this over a long top with some thigh high boots.
Crop Top With Front Knot £19.99 stradivarius.com
Would go well with a pair of white jeans and wedged heels.
Adidas Originals x Pharrell HU Holi Stan Smith £100.00 thehipstore.co.uk
You can go for an all-white ensemble outfit and let the shoes add the extra pop of colour to your outfit.
Penfield Cochato Colourblocked Jacket £99.00 cooshti.com
Pair this with black chinos and a pair of plimsoll shoes.
Terry O’Neill
Marilyn Monroe by Douglas Kirkland
Andy Gotts
MAY 10 - 31
s the number one spot for contemporary art, Box Galleries in Chelsea will host a new exhibition titled ‘FAME’ showcasing 30 rare and unseen celebrity portraits captured over a span of 40 years from renowned photographers Andy Gotts, Terry O’Neill and Doug Kirkland. Their shared passion for capturing rare, off-screen moments in the lives of famous music and film stars is beautifully curated in this new exhibition, portrayed by three of the most famous photographers in the world. Andy is a photographer based in London, England, and New York, USA. He is most noted for his black and white portraits of Hollywood actors and singers. The National Portrait Gallery holds a selection of his photographs in their permanent collection and in 2009 Gotts was honoured with the presentation of the Fox Talbot Award. In 2011 Gotts was conferred the degree Doctor of Arts by De Montfort University and he is a former
President of the British Institute of Professional Photographers. Andy has photographed the likes of Judy Garland, Rolling Stones, members of the British Royal Family and prominent politicians, showing a more natural and human side to these subjects than had usually been portrayed before. Terry O’Neill is a renowned celebrity photographer whose iconic portraits have been used for various album covers and some are currently hanging in museums. Terry’s photographic career began at Vogue, Paris Match and Rolling Stone where he worked as a Freelancer. After Terry developed a friendship with actors Michael Caine and Richard Burton and married to the actress Faye Dunaway, Terry gained access to this inner circle at play allowed him to capture his subjects at their ease, often in unusual settings, their posture abruptly angled or delicately inclined. Canadian photographer, Douglas Kirkland joined Look
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Magazine in his early twenties, and later Life Magazine during the golden age of 60’s/70’s photojournalism. Among his assignments were essays on Greece, Lebanon and Japan as well as fashion and celebrity work, photographing Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlene Dietrich among others. Through the years, Douglas Kirkland has worked on the sets of over one hundred motion pictures. Among them, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, “2001 A Space Odyssey”, "Sound of Music", “Out of Africa”, “Titanic” “Moulin Rouge”, "Australia" and “The Great Gatsby” Baz Luhrmann’s film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Every one of us has a fascination with celebrity and fame and this continues to grow. Through social media, everyone famous is now a celebrity and everyone who is a celebrity is famous. What this exhibition demonstrates is that true talent, strength and beauty validated through film or
Faye Dunaway the moring after her Oscar win by Terry O’Neill Douglas Kirkland
Kate Moss by Andy Gotts
Box Galleries CHELSEA
A show of important photography music will always be appreciated and respected as a true star – enduring and remembered. The exhibition coincides with this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the photographer’s dream, where stars and starlets vie for validation and embrace the Hollywood glamour of the red carpet. Works from Andy Gotts new Unseen series feature unseen and untouched celebrity portraits shot in a raw, vulnerable and intimate style. His subjects are shown through vibrant and fun contact sheets with Kate Moss posing through to Harrison Ford pulling faces. Represented by Box Galleries in London, his works held in both private and public collections, and this year major projects include 'iCons' for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, as well as a personal project 'UNSEEN' which features 100 photographic contact-sheets. Terry O’Neill, who joins Gotts and Kirkland, has photographed the frontline of fame for over six
decades from presidents to the stars of the silver screen and his fascination with the fame and talent of his models is showcased in this exhibition. His series captures the charisma of these superstars at the peak of their careers. O’Neill’s famous and favourite images include instantly recognisable works including the wonderfully feminine portrait of Bardot in Deauville to the controversial work of Raquel Welch strung up on the cross. Just as he found the stars he photographed fanciable, they too were seduced by the power of his lens. Douglas Kirkland photographed Marilyn Monroe on November 17, 1961, before she died a few months later in 1962. The stunning photographs of Monroe as she posed for Kirkland lying on a bed enveloped only in white silk sheets have since become iconic. The 1961 photo shoot became a historic event, due to the intimate exchange between Kirkland and Monroe. At the
time, Kirkland was a young 27year old photojournalist for Look Magazine, who spent the evening alone with Monroe, a 35-year old sex symbol and film star. Besides the iconic images of Marilyn, this series of work includes behind the scenes black and white photographs of Kirkland, taken during his photo shoot with Monroe in a California studio. The photo session required three encounters with Monroe, which according to Kirkland was like meeting three different women. Prior to the shoot, she was a sweet, naïve actress, during the photo session he encountered a seductress and the following day Monroe was a distressed, despondent woman. LOCATION & OPENING TIMES 402 King’s Road, London May 10 – 31 @ 10:00 – 19:00 Admission is Free Private view May 10 @ 18:30 – 20:30 By invitation only boxgalleries.com
Demur's
Possibly one of the hardest decisions we have to make in this day and age, is what shows to invest our time and energy into. We have compiled a list of shows we think are worth the investment this month.
The Alienist Netflix
Crime dramas are always a hit. In this series, we see bloody murders, vile diseases and creepy villains. The Alienist is based on a book of the same name by Caleb Carr. Set in late-19th Century New York, a police officer, a journalist and a psychologist investigate the killings of young male prostitutes. The cast includes Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans and former child star Dakota Fanning. The Alienist has been dubbed as the ‘grisliest period drama yet’, so if you are into all of that, this will be the show for you or if you are just curious on how the mind of a criminal works, this will show you that as well.
End Game Netflix
End Game is just one of the many documentaries that Netflix have lined up for us this year. This documentary explores the often-taboo subject of death by revelling it. End Game shows what end of life support systems are in place and how they work. We get insight from hospice professionals, nurses, doctors, patients and families who are at the forefront of it all. For what could be a devasting time for many people and something so hard to come to terms with, End Game gives death a different meaning.
Maya Angelou ‘And Still I Rise’ Netflix
This documentary is a celebration of the life of the late poet and civil rights activists, Maya Angelou. The film is compiled of retrieved photographs, archived footages and interviews with Cicely Tyson, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Alfre Woodard, Common, John Singleton, Angelou’s son Guy Johnson, President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. This was the first film to be made about Dr Angelou and the film gives us access into the untold aspects of her momentous life. The film is a tribute to a woman who left an unfettered legacy and inspired and educated many people from all walks of life.
Watch List
Dear White People Season 2 Netflix
If you haven’t heard of Dear White People, it is a comedydrama series based on a film of the same name. It follows a group of black students at a predominantly white school who face social injustices. In the second season, things do not seem any better for the students at Winchester with tendentious racial tensions and students taking matters into their own hands. Sam who runs a campus radio show is back in the studio again addressing issues of social injustice, in her efforts to use her platform to seek justice, she attracts the attention of a racist troll who goes after her online and offline.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season 4 Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt returns for season 4 with the first six episodes of season 4 released on 30th May and the rest to follow later on in the year. The comedy series by Tina Fey follows Kimmy Schmidt who was rescued from a bunker she was kidnapped in where she was forced into a cult, as she takes on life as an adult in New York City. In this season we see Kimmy at her new job at a startup tech company. The show touches on the #MeToo campaign showing Kimmy’s uncomfortable experiences in the office environment. There will be more singing from Kimmy’s housemate, the flamboyant Titus Andromedon and possibly more Trump references.
Life In Pieces Amazon Prime
This comedy series will make you realise you are not the only one with a dysfunctional family. We see a family go through their highs and lows with the head of the family trying to come to terms with the fact that he is about to turn 70 with his wife and his children and grandchildren by his side. Everyone in the family is approaching different milestones. One son is overwhelmed with parenthood, the other thinks he has found true love and the eldest daughter is considering having another child with her husband to fill the void as they get closer to an empty nest. Now in its fourth season, there is laughter throughout the series and plenty of relatable moments.
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Painting A Portrait
NTANGOU BADILA
uring our usual Instagram scroll, we bumped into Ntangou Badila, a young visual D artist based in Brooklyn. We love Ntangou’s work, which exudes empowerment, African adornment, and womanhood. In our Q&A Ntangou reminisces about the first
painting she did and which celebrity homes she would like to have her art hanging up in. What was the first painting that you did and made you realise you were good at this? Wow, that’s way back… I would have to say freshman year of high school 2002. My art teacher Ms Adams had assigned us this project where we had to take an image and enlarged it dramatically in size, like an ad poster. I painted a nail polish with the brush mid-use, like 24x30. It was red with a white top, Revlon, or something. I remember thinking how am I going to paint the clear bottom clear on paper lol. With some pointers I replicated it so well, I was so proud! Before then I didn’t think I was good at art, although I grew up in a super
artsy environment, with a father who painted every day, music, and art supplies readily available to me. I was always intimidated to follow in his footsteps though, funny how life is sometimes. What is the purpose of your art and what do you hope people will take away from your work? The purpose of my work I feel is always evolving as I do. At the moment it’s very much focused on showcasing beauty of all kinds. I’ve been on this portrait vibe for about a year or so, and it all came about through commissions. Being self-taught there was so much to learn in the skill of capturing essence/personality as well as
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making it look like an actual person. I just had my first solo show last spring titled QUEENDWOMBMEN which is a portrait study paying homage to women and tradition across the world in a cultural garden of faces. There is a video on YouTube which you can check out. Before this series of work, I saw myself as an artistic ambassador for indigenous tribes across Africa sharing their traditions and styles through painted interpretation. The recent celebrity portrait triptychs are a sort of coup de gras in this phase or portraiture... I’m excited to be going bigger and focusing on some of my more abstract
vibes. I want for my art to make people feel, contemplate, admire, and be inspired. I kind of see my pieces like flowers they are beautiful but purposeful. What does your creative process entail? Lots and lots of music and snacks and procrastination, lol honestly speaking though that’s pretty much my environment. I get very concentrated while painting, but I’m also a Gemini moon so my attention needs constant stimulus. I’m often working on two to three different pieces at a time and I paint straight, meaning rarely if ever do I draw things out first. It’s kind of like sculpting with paint if that makes sense. Also working on the floor is my preference, easels and table surfaces don’t feel as natural to me. What is your favourite piece from the pieces you have done so far and why? My favourite piece that I’ve done thus far is a portrait of my Papa. He passed away in 2012 and It was a difficult thing to go through. When I started painting portraits so frequently, there was always a yearning to paint one of him, but fear would stop me. I was so afraid that I’d be broken looking at
him for such long periods, having to face the fact that he’s no longer here. Building up the courage was encouraged by ego. A family friend had a portrait commissioned two years ago and when I saw it I immediately thought I should have been the one making this. My older brother saw the portrait and asked me to make him one like it. So finally, I gave it a go and it was such a beautiful experience. I could actually hear him in my head critiquing how I made his head too big or his eyes too small during the process. It’s the best portrait I’ve ever done!
You recently completed some pieces featuring faces of various celebrities. Who is the celebrity you wish had a piece of your art hanging in their home? Sade. I love her! she’s magic. I did an abstract piece of her which was the first piece I made myself. I don’t know if I would give her that one though I’d make her another one. I would love for Chris Brown to have one of my pieces, he’s also an artist and I admire his talent and spirit. Michael Jackson, Of course, I’m just dreaming now lol, I mean there are so many to name. I love music so if I painted all the artists I like I would never move away from portraits. Originally the celebrity series was created for popular demand, although it’s not really about the money for me, it’s smart to strategies if you intend to sell your work. Believe it or not, it took me a long time to stop running from art, but it changed my life in such a great way. Sometimes we get caught up trying to take the path that seems successful and disregard the talents and passions we have that can make us so. You can follow Ntangou Badila on Instagram: @ntangou
THE HIGH LIFE OF A STYLIST with Bryan Alexis and Miguel Carlos Martinez.
ver wondered what it’s like to E work as a Stylist? Is it really all about just getting free clothes and
getting invited to all the hottest parties in town? Apparently not! There is much work involved and Bryan Alexis one half of duo stylist team talks us through his work with his creative partner, Miguel Carlos Martinez.
What is the number one misconception about being a stylist? The biggest misconception about being a stylist is that it’s all fun and games. While there is truth to that, because when you love what you do it doesn’t feel like work…it also takes dedication, hard work and personal sacrifices. Style is about individuality, so what do you think makes a good stylist? We each understand the evolution of fashion and with being a styling/creative directing duo we are able to mash up my (Bryan Alexis) funky/eclectic with his (Miguel Carlos Martinez) classic/ sophistication. The result is something special. What has been the most memorable moment of your career? British Vogue!! Getting published back to back (July and August 2017) in British Vogue. Also, I would have to say getting the 2016 Boston
Fashion Award Wardrobe Stylist of the Year, it’s great to have the support of my peers. How do you work out what works for each client? Well, first it starts off with understanding each client’s individual style. Secondly, it’s about how to get the required style/aesthetic to be represented in the best way possible. Lastly, we go for what speaks to our brand. How do you solve conflicts of style with your clients? We do our best to be as versatile as possible, it’s important to listen to your client’s wishes. However, we also trust ourselves in our
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abilities to make the judgement calls that need to be made. When these moments occur, we make sure that we use communication to keep the client at ease. How do you source your clothes? We are constantly networking and building relationships with designers through our social platforms and events. Also, we love to shop around for unique finds that might work for future projects. You can follow Bryan on Instagram at @ BryanStyling and Miguel @ miguelcarlosmartinez
Life Beyond The Glamorous
Fashion Degree
W
here does the time go? You wake up at university one day and realise that your glamorous Fashion degree course is coming to an end and the panic of joining the real world sets in. Just what are you going to do with your qualification now? It’s a great thing that there are a wide variety of fashion courses available to study, but what are our options after? London is the fashion capital of England, and with most brands and magazines located in the City, you may find that in order to be where these opportunities are you need a change of location. As young talent fresh out of university, and faced with university debt, we become more like a fish out of water. For some, the choice to study at a Masters or PhD level may be appealing. There are various Universities that offer such options like UCA (University for the Creative Arts) and University of the Arts London. With the fashion industry being one of the hardest and most brutal industries to work in, by the end of our courses we should feel ready to jump into it, right? Well no. If you haven’t already undertaken internships or placements, now might be the time to do so. Often experience is the key to getting a good job in the industry, and although many opportunities may be unpaid, at least you will have that bit of experience on your CV. So what sort of exciting things are you able to do with your degree?
Fashion Design
For many studying Fashion Design, there is a constant battle to get noticed with your unique designs and work. To gain experience, a good place to start might be as a Fashion Assistant to a Designer, as you are assisting them with their designs and working in that environment, you will be learning new skills and gaining experience. We recently came across a Sample Room Placement with Erdem advertised on fashionworke.com which would be ideal for a Fashion Design graduate. With this, you will gain hands-on experience as you will be assisting the Erdem team from sourcing fabric to finishing final samples.
Fashion Journalism
For Fashion Journalism students, you will feel like you have finished your degree with too many options available to you. Some are certain after they finish, they actually don’t want to pursue Journalism anymore. That’s ok because skills on these courses can lead to work in... Presenting Many Journalism courses teach you key presenting skills for radio and television… we’re not saying you have to be a BBC Correspondent, you can report live from the catwalk these days too.
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Fashion Desk Many Fashion Journalism students dream of working for the magazines they grew up reading. Fashion Desk jobs will ensure you are well on your way there with newspapers who have their own magazines with fashion sections. That is a step closer to your Cosmopolitan or Vogue. Fashion PR PR is another aspect courses teach, and many brands are always looking for brand representatives. There are always PR jobs or internships available. Stylist If Editorial styling or trend forcasting is something of interest to you, you can start as an assistant to a Stylist, or like many do, work as a freelancer.
Fashion Marketing
For our Fashion Marketing students, there are often a lot of fashion brands, either clothing or jewellery that take on Brand Executives or Marketing Co-ordinators. But again don’t feel limited to just
We all know how dreadful it is traipsing online days on end for jobs. To limit the hunt, we have found some useful sites to find fashion specific jobs: fashionjobs.com, fashionworkie. com, fashionunited.co.uk, drapersjobs.com As Marc Jacobs once said: “Listen, ‘real’ women are the reason the fashion industry exists.” So go out and show your talent. Behind the glamorous fashion degree is the brutal fashion industry, so jump in headfirst and fight the world of Anna Wintours. By Emily Bone
this. You could also be a Social Media Co-ordinator, usually on behalf of a brand; coming up with strategic methods to market through social media.
Beside the
Seven Seas
Photography & Art Directing
Make Up
Model
Hair
GOKHAN GOKSOY PAIGE ELIZABETH
Production VR AGENCY
Styling
DANIELLA SALVANOU
Fashion Designing
LAURA MELONI MESS HAIR & BEAUTY
Photo Assistant ADNAN AL
Second Photo Assistant ROBERT HENRY
TUNCER TONUN
HEADPIECE & EARRINGS Vicki Sarge HEELS Peace + Love
EARRINGS Vicki Sarge
HEADPIECE & BRACELET Urbiana SHOES simmi shoes
HEADPIECE Vickisarge
EAR CUFF & BRACELET Urbiana
NOSE RING & BODY PIECE Vicki Sarge
BODYPIECE & NOSE RING Vicki Sarge HEELS Missguided SWORD Tlotr
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Amazing Bars
TO DRINK AT AND POST ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA By Alice Diamond
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f you need bucket list ideas, or a cool setting for a Snapchat story, these are some of the best bars around to check out. From drinks at the edge of a cliff, to getting pissed at Disneyland...
Sky Bar
BANGKOK, THAILAND
A 360 view of the city is on offer at Sky Bar, perched 63 stories above the streets of Bangkok, on the roof of Lebua State Tower. Some say the drinks are not that amazing, but the views are to die for. Even if just for a glass of tap water make sure you stop by this place. Staff are also very accommodating, and they will even be your personal photographers for the night (within reason), helping you take the perfect Instagram worthy picture. The bar was featured in ‘Hangover Part II’ and you’ll find the cocktail ‘Hangovertini’ on the menu in honour of the movie.
Fragrances
BERLIN, GERMANY
Located inside the Ritz Carlton in Berlin, Fragrances allows you to order a drink based on the fifteen different perfumes on display. The scents are matched in taste and produced as cocktails. Your Gucci or Loverdose scented cocktail will come served in an oversized strawberry, with cotton candy or a birdhouse or something similarly quirky that’s available that day. The bar also serves food to compliment the drinks selection. No doubt this will be one to remember with scents that will forever stay ingrained in your memory.
Palaciao de Sal
Sunland Boab Tree Bar
Salt is a household item, with many uses besides for cooking, the proof is in this bar, Palaciao de Sal. Built entirely out of salt at the edge of Salar de Uyuni - the world's largest salt plain. There is also a 9-hole salt golf course designed by Christian Pensu. You are not allowed to lick the walls, it’s against the rules, not that we need to tell you. Still, it’s handy for that rim of salt around your martini glass. The bar is also part of a hotel and restaurant also made out of salt.
What better way is there to be at one with nature than drinking inside a tree? Sunland Boab is one of the oldest African trees, thought to be 1,060 years old and what’s more, there is a bar inside it. The bar is fitted inside the massive hollow trunk of the tree, boasting a 13-foot-high ceiling. There’s also a wine cellar in the second hollow, which remains at 22 degrees due to the natural air outlets. The tree can only hold 15 people at a time. We are not certain if the bar is still open, but the tree still stands as a tourist attraction.
UYINI, BOLIVIA
LIMPOPO, SOUTH AFRICA
Buza Bar
DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Known as the ‘hole in the wall’ or ‘cold drinks’ bar, Buza is located on the seaside of the City Walls in Dubrovnik making it a little hard to find. Don’t go there if you have a weak bladder, as there isn’t a toilet at the bar. If you are the brave adrenaline pumped type, you will find the perfect cliffs for diving at this bar, although we wouldn’t recommend it after a drink and if you’re not experienced. Instead, you can take a swim in the Adriatic Sea. The streets on the way may look familiar, as they were a location for popular TV series ‘Game of Thrones’.
Sparakoff Pub Tram
Club 33
The Four Quarters
You can be pressed for time during a trip and have to try to fit in as much as possible. The Sparakoff Pub Tram is the perfect way to explore the city of Helsinki whilst enjoying some drinks with your holiday party. The tram only runs from May to August and can only hold 35 people at a time. The tour lasts 40 minutes with a fully functioning bar and toilet aboard the tram.
This is for the big kids exploring Disneyland, or should we say the rich kids. This exclusive restaurant is the only place that serves alcohol inside, only open to members who pay a £17,000 fee to join, followed by a £7,000 annual fee. Memberships are limited to 500 and there’s a 14year waiting list to join, plenty of time to save up for the cost then. Forget that house deposit you’re working on, Disney is the happiest place to be and you want to be happy right?
You might end up not wanting to leave The Four Quarters in Peckham Rye, This joint offers booze and retro arcade games in an ex butcher’s shop. From Pacman, Point Blank to Sega Rally and games consoles, come prepared with loose change to enjoy and beat your mates’ top score. Mario Kart Tournaments are hosted here and there’s a tantalising hot dog and chilli menu, offering up the ‘Winston Churchilli’ for instance. There is no better place to drink for the kid in you who refuses to grow up, but still enjoys the adult part of getting wasted.
HELSINKI, FINLAND
DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA
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LONDON, ENGLAND
Mental Health IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
e can all agree that music is a powerful tool that has the ability to influence our feelings. We admire the people that make the music and often forget that they too are human and have feelings and they too are also capable of feeling unhappy like we do at times. Struggling with mental health isn’t a new thing, however, the misconception is that celebrities are beyond that because they appear to be happy at all times as they are so successful but in reality, it’s far from true. The most common mental illness is depression which affects about 1 in 3 people in the world. People have the belief that depression is just sadness
and to fix depression you just need to be happier. Depression has many effects. It can stop you from getting up in the morning, hanging out with friends or even eating. It’s a serious issue that every human celebrity or not can experience. Former Wham! Manager Simon NapierBell recently released a film called ’27 gone too soon’ based on the fact that most of our beloved music stars coincidentally passed away at 27. Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse all died at the age of 27. The documentary looks at why these stars died when they did and what was the contributing factor to their causes of deaths. This documentary has propelled further debate as it offers further insight into the world of popular music and its many pitfalls You may also have seen Matty Carter and Ariel’s documentary ‘Creating With Depression’ which we premiered on Demur. In this piece, we see how one half of the duo, Matty has taken his depression and turned it into creative energy. In the film, Matty speaks about not caring whether he saw the next day or not and ‘just letting the bad times take him.’ Seeing such films offers an insight into the real lives of the stars and how they battle with their own issues. Matty shows us how he has used his depression for the positive. This leaves the question can music help with mental health and should the healing of depression be encouraged in the music industry? If you ask people what they do when they feel sad or want to feel good the majority
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will say they listen to their music playlist which is full of various songs for different moods. It’s to be assumed that if just listening to a song can lift your mood imagine how you’d feel to be the one to write that song and actually know you’re helping other people that may be going through similar things. In addition, being able to turn all that negative and destructive energy into something productive and creative to make something beautiful is inspiring in itself. However, the problem is no one decided to talk up about
these things until now. Amy Winehouse, Van Gogh, Basquiat, Bukowski, Heath Ledger, Robin Williams, Kurt Cobain, Mark Rothko, Ian Curtis, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Donny Hathaway and the list continues… These people gave the world some of the most beautiful and pure pieces of art, ever, and they were all depressed extremely creative minds.’ Depression is not a new thing in the world we live in and neither is a celebrity suffering from depression. In fact, it’s extremely common for most creatives to have or develop depression in their careers because either they are born with it or all the stress that comes with their profession takes over. Even though it’s great if you can turn those dark thoughts into a creative beautiful piece of music, but the time comes when you can’t be creative
anymore or as Matty puts it ‘if you stop and you think about it too much, you might realize that you may never be ok, and I think in those moments your mind can be really dangerous. ‘Depression' is highly unpredictable and left unchecked can turn into something serious and devastating. The music industry is well known for being a cruel and an unforgiving place, but if we could turn it into a place where more people of all kinds can produce music and help people, mental health, in general, would be so much better for everyone. With all the hate in the world music should be the escape for people and for that we need stability. Mental health is a super serious issue that affects most of the population at some point in their lives. However, even though it can be scary it’s important for us to speak out and do things like Matty which can help someone else in that situation. By Lydia Redpath
CONCERTS ARE FOOD FOR THE SOUL
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f you are feeling guilty having just splurged on a really expensive concert ticket, don’t beat yourself up about it. According to science, going to a concert is good for you and you really mustn’t argue with science. Besides being able to tell your social media followers that you got to see the greatest entertainer in the world live, there are some perks to your health in going to a concert. According to science, experiencing a live performance apparently raises feelings of wellbeing by 21 percent compared to other activities that you thought were bringing you happiness. I’m a big fan of concerts and when I saw this I didn’t have to think twice about buying my ticket to my next concert. Maybe it’s the excitement, the screaming, the shouting whatever it is you do when you go to a concert. Scientists say it all increases your mood and leaves you feeling all happy and giddy inside adding an extra nine years to your life, so yea that’s money well spent.
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Studies have shown that music can reduce the production of stress hormones and the endorphins and neurotransmitters that are released in your body by this experience can block pain. So, science is telling us the reason you might be miserable is because you are just not going to enough concerts and you obviously need to do something about that. Whether you go with a friend or go by yourself at a concert you are free to be yourself. The lights are low and no one is looking at you and thinking ‘why is that girl screeching’ as you sing along to your favourite artist. That experience that only lasts a few hours will stay with you for a long time and the way you hear that artist afterwards, will never be the same. Live music is an experience that lasts a lifetime, how many times have you heard your parents reminisce about the time they went to see so and so live? That’s often part of one’s happy memories. There is a sense of community within a music concert. You are all gathered
in one place for one common reason. Although I know for sure from experience, going to a concert is a pricey activity often reserved for the fewer privileged. Even if you can’t get to a big-name concert you try and get a local gig where the feeling is almost the same just on a smaller scale without the big theatricals. Concerts are also encouraged as a safer outing option. The majority of the people in attendance are there to enjoy the experience and they also want to keep out of harm’s way. Of course, you still have to be sensible and keep safe. What’s more, there is a lot of activity at concerts. All that jumping up and down, dancing, stretching your hands out trying to grab the artist (if you are close enough) and the long walk from the car park or train station. All that is helping you burn calories which is certainly
better than staying indoors Netflixing and chilling. If there is one thing that science has confirmed, and I shall not question, this is it and I don’t mind the spending my time proving this theory is correct by attending more concerts. Going to a live concert is not the same thing as streaming something live,
although that’s great too if you can’t get to your desired concert. Listening “in the company of others is associated with stronger positive experiences.” So go on just go for it, break the piggy bank and buy that ticket. You only live once and you must live good. By Stella Dzingai
Returning The Colonial Gaze BARBICAN CINEMA 3 MAY 2 - 30
Focusing on Francophone African and French cinema, the Barbican presents Returning the Colonial Gaze. Showcasing works by bold filmmakers who, in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, reversed the “colonial gaze” to interrogate the former occupying nation from the perspective of their own countries. The five-part season features films by directors from Mauritania, Senegal, Morocco, and Niger, using their art to reclaim the right to represent their cultures and histories, which had been undermined by years of colonial rule - helping to shape the national identities of their countries in the process. Also included are works by French directors who challenged and critiqued colonial narratives. Returning the Colonial Gaze is part of the Barbican’s 2018 The Art of Change season, which explores how the arts respond to, reflect and potentially effect change in the social and political landscape. Tickets barbican.org.uk/film Box Office 0845 120 7527
Wed 9 May Afrique 50
Wed 2 May Soleil O
105 min • Mauritania • 1970 Directed by Med Hondo A key work in post-colonial cinema, Soleil O follows the experiences of Mauritanian-born accountant Jean, who arrives in Paris to pursue his dreams. Told with caustic humour in a non-linear style, inspired by the European avant-garde as much as West African oral traditions, his story explores many of the challenges facing immigrants in France: menial jobs, unacceptable living conditions, naked racism and bureaucratic indifference. The accumulation of injustices finally breaks his composure and leads to a political awakening.
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17 min • France • 1950 Directed by René Vautier
To Be 20 in the Aurès
93 min • France • 1972 Directed by René Vautier This double bill presents two anticolonial films by French activist filmmaker René Vautier, the self-described “most censored director in France”. Afrique 50 is a scathing expose of French rule in West Africa. Censored for over 40 years in France and even landing its director in jail, the short work is paired with To Be 20 in the Aurès. This is a searing critique of the Algerian War, which follows seven days in the life of a military unit composed of young French conscripts. Held first at a harsh training camp then sent off to fight in the desolate Aurès Mountains, they become ruthless killing machines.
Tue 15 May Afrique sur Seine
21 mins • France • 1955 Directed by Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, Mamadou Sarr
Wed 23 May Si Moh, The Unlucky Man 17 min • France • 1971 Directed by Moumen Smihi
The East Wind
80 min • Morocco • 1975 Directed by Moumen Smihi
Little By Little
96 min • France • 1970 Directed by Jean Rouch Introduction by Barbara Knorrp In this double bill, France, its inhabitants and traditions are discovered by visitors from Senegal and Niger. Afrique sur Seine, by Senegalese directors Paulin Soumanou Vieyra and Mamadou Sarr, adopts the style of contemporary ethnographic documentaries to lead us on a tour of Paris, investigating the customs of the local tribe - the Parisians. The second film in the double bill is part comedy, part docu-fiction Little by Little by French director Jean Rouch. Featuring Nigerien film stars Damouré Zika and Lam Ibrahim, it follows an African man as he travels to Paris to learn about the construction of tall buildings, only to be taken up by the oddities of French life. Introducing the double bill is anthropologist Barbara Knorrp.
The Barbican presents two attempts by Moroccan director Moumen Smihi to make films in a new way, closer to the local culture, and more distant from the Western tradition. Si Moh, The Unlucky Man depicts the lives of migrant workers in France, as Si Moh lives in the industrialised suburbs of Paris while longing for Maghreb and sharing experiences of alienation with his fellow migrants. Following Si Moh, The Unlucky Man is The East Wind. Set in Tangier in the mid-50s, when the city was still an International Zone, the film portrays a place at the eve of its independence, as Aïcha resorts to magic to try to prevent her husband from taking a second spouse. Around her, a society of women creates its own form of active resistance as the larger independence movement grows around it. Screening materials courtesy of director, subtitles thanks to Peter Limbrick of University of California Santa Cruz.
Wed 30 May An Adventurer’s Homecoming
34 min • Niger • 1966 Directed by Moustapha Alassane
Touki Bouki
85 min • Senegal • 1973 Directed by Djibril Diop Mambety This double bill includes works
from directors from Senegal and Niger focusing on alienated young protagonists in thrall to Western pop culture. In An Adventurer’s Homecoming, a young man returns from a trip to the US with a suitcase full of cowboy outfits for himself and his friends. In their new get-up, they transform into a gang of swaggering bandits: barroom brawls and shoot-em-ups ensue. In ToukiBouki, two young lovers, Mory and Anta, wander the streets of Dakar hatching wild schemes to raise money for their escape to Paris, the city of their dreams.
REAL TALK Why Hardworking Creatives Triumph A YOUNG KANYE WEST IN 1997
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his is article is not designed to be another motivational post, it is simply an observation on what I have witnessed within the creative industry. If the post does happen to motivate you then there is no harm. I’ve always heard that hard work beats talent and I’ve always wondered if it does why would anyone be interested in your work if it’s rubbish? Well, hard work does indeed beat talent and if you combine the two you can surely triumph whether you are a singer, artist, photographer, or a designer. Being a creative is a tough job. There are about a million unpaid hours that will comprise your career, there will be sleepless nights and there will be moments where you will question yourself about why you are still chasing something that is not coming to fruition. The thing is, talent can be developed and along with hard work both can take you far. But if you are a talented lazy oaf, you will spend time bragging about your talent with nothing to show for it. There are many talented creatives who are sitting around complaining about not being
given a shot and yet their work ethic doesn’t match their ambition. Success, however you want to define it is accessible to everyone. In fact, success is a choice. If you choose to be successful you must be willing to take the route that brings you success. With so many resources now available to us, technology, the internet, and social media, it
has become easier to be successful although there is still much hard work required. Even with your talent as your main weapon, if you don’t remain consistent maintaining and developing that talent, you will soon fail. How many singers do we know off who are in the basket of one-hit wonders? Talent is never to be taken for granted. If you put two artists to the test, one who
DO WON CHANG WORKED THREE JOBS AT THE SAME TIME BEFORE HE BECAME THE BILLIONAIRE FOUNDER OF FOREVER 21
is talented but doesn’t work as hard and one who isn’t talented but works extremely hard, it is likely the one who works hard is the one to succeed. There is a tendency from people with talent to just expect success without the work. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Many talented creatives soon fade into the background because of a lack of a great
work ethic whereas the hardworking creatives take over the limelight. In life, you will always get what you put in and it is the same thing with your creativity. Although some people are gifted with talent, you can develop a talent by putting the work in and soon enough what seems like a gift will just be the result of really hard work over a period of time. If you are looking to be a celebrated creative who leaves a lasting legacy, you will have to understand that everything of value takes time to build and, in that time, hard work is the only thing that will keep you going. There is no shortcut to becoming great, only hard work. The hard work excels your craft. If you are not working hard you can bet someone else who wants what you want is working harder. If you want your creative passion to be more than just a hobby you will need to dedicate a load of hours perfecting it and even when you think it’s now perfect, you will have to continue working on it to maintain it. Hard work is not easy. It’s something that forces you to get out of your comfort zone, it’s painful, challenging, and uncertain. Hard work is universal and applies to whatever creative industry you are in, so there is no saying, ‘but my craft is different’, it all requires hard work. When you work hard you’re willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, you have fewer excuses and you develop valuable skills such as endurance. No matter how many times you fail you have to keep working to perfect what you are doing and do better. If you are hoping to achieve something meaningful in your lifetime it is going to come through hard work, I haven’t seen or heard of any other commendable way yet. By Noreen Chada
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