FREE ISSUE 11 9 December/january 2016
ALSO INSIDE: 2016 TRENDS | KRISS KYLE | SCOTTISH FILMMAKERS | BEARTOOTH
F e s t i v e e d i t i o n
Contents. 8
FESTIVE GUIDE 19
Whether you’re an Elf or a Grinch, you’ll find what you’re after in our exploration of all things festive (and how to escape it).
Stuff yourself with Scottish filmmaker interviews, stock up on essential cinema and games for 2016 and hark at world class BMX-er Kriss Kyle.
MUSIC 28
Unwrap a selection (box) of playlists and predictions about the stars of 2016, plus interviews with Beartooth, We Are The Ocean and more.
ENTS 52
38
ISSUE 119 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016
STYLE
Discover next year’s top trends and get kitted out for the party season thanks to these words of wisdom from our resident fashionistas.
CAREERS 60
From volunteering to making the most of ‘temporary’ festive jobs, we’ll make sure you’re a busy little elf beyond the festive period.
LIFE
Is Christmas sexist? Is detoxing bull***t? Will Hogmanay live up to expectations? Flick through, find out. Tell us what you think.
THE BIG INTERVIEW. Page 6
EDITOR’S LETTER
‘
tis the season to emerge, bleary-eyed, from the library, kick back, relax, and reconnect with pals: and this issue is all about helping you do just that.
While everyone’s bristling with excitement… or rage… probably both, as they trawl the high street and the internet for the perfect gifts and experiences to make their loved ones smile, we’re looking at the best ways to celebrate, or escape, the seasonal jollity. I’ve also started my reign of terror as Scotcampus editor by asking our writers to put their necks on the line and predict what’s going to be big in the worlds of fashion, film and music in 2016. Mwa-ha-ha! You’ll be pleased to hear I sweetened the deal by letting them chat to some of the most amazing creative folks from across the country, and have a rant about some of their biggest bugbears from the festive season too. So expect gushing and venting galore as you wander through our Winter Wonderland!
- Michael Edwards
Publishers: Graeme Barratt / Anna Purdie • 0141 249 0901 • graeme@scotcampus.com Editor: Michael Edwards • michael.edwardst@scotcampus.com Assistant Editor: Amy Johnston • amy.johnston@scotcampus.com Contributors: Emma Ainley-Walker, Tatiana Aldana, Kym Ballantyne, Gemma Clark, Jenny Cleeton, Rebeccca Cook, Jennifer Constable, Anne Devlin, Mina Green, Stephanie Hunter, Erin Kennedy, Dayna McAlpine, Shauna McGregor, Jonny McIntosh, Sara McQueen, Ross Miller, Rachael Procter, Jonny Stone, Emma Tomlinson
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The
THE NIGHTS ARE GETTING DARKER, THE BOBBLE HATS HAVE COME OUT AND WE’RE EXPERIENCING SIMULTANEOUS FESTIVE CHEER AND SEASONAL STRESS. YUP, IT’S HOLIDAY SEASON.
Measure. BY CASSAM LOOCH
1ST OF JANUARY
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
‘IT’S TRADITION’
Christmas is over. Hogmanay
OK, it can be one of the most frustrating tasks of the year but, crowds and panic-buying aside, there’s something about wrapping up cosy and shopping under the festive lights. Especially after a hot chocolate, or five.
Yup, we’re wearing loosefitting PJs while we jam insane amounts of turkey in our faces. So what? It’s tradition! Of course we’re wearing a reindeer onesie to the shop. It’s tradition! We can get away with anything over the festive season, and we’re gonna make the most of it.
is done. We’re stranded at an awkward flat party with no public transport. All we want to do now is get home and recover with a steak pie. Is that too much to ask?
L DI
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WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
"WANT YOUR WORK PUBLISHED?"
I
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"...YES!" EMAIL HELLO@SCOTCAMPUS.COM
THE BIG
INTERVIEW.
ALT-J
BY MINA GREEN
H
aving traversed the British music scene with gorgeous snyth, innovative lyrics and a genre-bending hand that writhes in our brains and warms our hearts, Alt-J have swiftly become one of the most unique and successful bands in the western hemisphere. We caught up with keyboard player and vocalist Gus Unger-Hamilton to chat about Miley Cyrus, travelling the world and combating writer’s block. You guys have a big tour coming up, what are you looking forward to most?
You’re coming to Glasgow in December, what are your experiences of Scottish audiences?
We have a really good touring family and crew around us so it’s just nice to get to hang out with those people and see the world with your best mates. It’s really fun, so I’m looking forward to that.
Really positive. We’ve been playing Scotland for years now, our first time we played in Aberdeen about four or five years ago, that was really good. I think Scottish audiences are a bit less uptight than English audiences, a bit more relaxed.
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WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
''
I think we sit comfortably on the edge of lots of different genres.
''
Both An Awesome Wave and This Is All Yours are genre-bending albums, how would you describe your music? We see ourselves as being quite experimental I suppose, slightly avant-garde. At the same time we’re not afraid to write a song that’s really poppy, so I think we sit comfortably on the edge of lots of different genres. What are your influences, musical or otherwise? We’re interested quite a lot in film; I think our influences are quite visual. We’re all from different backgrounds musically. When we first got together initially we felt this connection and that was enough, really. We didn’t need to sit around talking about how much we loved Pink Floyd - it was an unspoken agreement that we would let things go in the direction they wanted to go without worrying about what sort of band we are and who we’re influenced by. When it comes to song writing, is this a collective process or do you write individually and bring your ideas together? It’s quite a collective thing. Joe is the main creative drive behind the songs but I think we value most of all the time when we’re working together and working on ideas and all having input. That’s when we do our best work I think. Do you ever get writer’s block? Not really, and if we did it wouldn’t worry us too much! We know that we will come up with the goods eventually and we’re never going to come out with something we’re not happy with. So it’s quite a freeing state of mind to be in. @SCOTCAMPUS
How do you think you’ve progressed as musicians since you formed in 2007? I think we’ve gotten better at our instruments. We probably know a bit more about what we want, what stage to get to in a song and how to get there quickly. Initially, it would take us months and months to write a song because we were learning about how to write songs. Now, we’re a bit more slick at getting everything in the right place and we don’t have to try various different things as we have an idea of what will sound good the first time we try it. You sampled Miley Cyrus’ vocals in Hunger Of The Pine, but are there any other musicians you’d like to collaborate with in the future? We’re not really into collaborations to be honest. I think we’d probably like to collaborate with classical musicians. I don’t think we’re that big on the idea of getting into the studio with our heroes because I think it rarely works out that well. Our biggest heroes would be each other more than anyone else, which is strange. That’s inspiring! You’ve done two albums so far and have a tour coming up, what has been the most rewarding element of your career so far? The money! [Laughs] That’s a joke. I think getting to travel is really the most exciting thing. None of us were into travelling before we were in the band, I don’t think I would have made it to most of the places we’ve gotten to go to. Music takes you all over the world. I have to say I’m a bit of a homebody and it’s exciting to get together and play your own music around the globe and seeing people enjoy your music. And finally, what advice would you give to up and coming student bands? Don’t worry too much about who you want to be or what you sound like. Write good songs and build good relationships with people who you’ll want to spend all of your time with. Relationships with band mates are more important than how you look. Alt-J are currently touring the UK and will be playing The SSE Hydro, Glasgow on the 7th of December. Get your tickets from Ticketmaster.co.uk
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FESTIVE ESCAPISM
BY MINA GREEN
T
he best thing about the festive period is being transported into a Winter Wonderland of sharing and giving. An escape from the everyday, and a time to be positive and enjoy all the cheesy things we’re not allowed to go near for eleven months of the year. So buckle up, hop in the sleigh, and escape into a snowy world of wonder with us… MAKE YOUR OWN BAUBLES AND ORNAMENTS Add a personal touch to your Christmas decorations and create sassy and expressive works of art to hang above those long awaited gifts. It doesn’t matter if your sewing skills are rusty and your Virgin Mary ends up looking like a character from The Hills Have Eyes, it’s all about losing yourself in the craft and having fun with friends and family. Can’t cope with being cooped up with your crafts? Visit a local craft event or craft market. ABERDEEN: Bead Pop, St. Andrew Street EDINBURGH: Out of the Blue Xmas Arts Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall GLASGOW: Etsy Made Local, The Briggait
CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON There’s always a debate about which Christmas movie is the best, but y’know what? They all have a hint of magic and a bucketload of joy, so how about you prance your way through your favourites under a blanket with a bucket full of popcorn and chocolate Santas. There’s no better way of getting into the festive spirit than giving yourself heart palpitations watching Die Hard for the 50th time (in a row). EDINBURGH: Christmas Spectacular Drive-In Cinema, Royal Highland Centre, 19th-23rd December GLASGOW: Glasgow Film Theatre, 18th December MAKE LOADS OF EGGNOG
GO ICE-SKATING Hollywood movies tell us that ice-skating is romantic and fun, so why not shove your foot into a shoe with a dangerous weapon on the bottom of it and have a good time! Seriously though, if the snow hasn’t showed up yet, ice-skating is an inexpensive way to get the snowscape you crave, and guaranteed to give you that magical winter feeling. EDINBURGH: Princes Street Gardens 20th November – 4th January GLASGOW: George Square 27th November – 31st December
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Why not make some delicious dairy-filled beverages complete with a slap of brandy? There’s no other time of year that drinking before noon is acceptable, so take advantage of the festivities and rustle up some eggnog for you and your family. If you’re not keen on milk and alcohol (as Dr. Feelgood says) then you can stick to delicious mulled wine and cider. Don’t fancy making them? Buy them at a Christmas market. ABERDEEN: Union Terrace EDINBURGH: Princes Street Gardens GLASGOW: St. Enoch Square WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
ESCAPING THE FESTIVE
BY MINA GREEN
O
K, you’re sick of playing Scrabble with your family and going to bed with a belly full of Toblerone and your uncle’s weird brandy. We totally get it, so why not freshen things up by making some changes to your standard Christmas plans, and appreciate the holidays in a new way. Here are a few tips for escaping the avalanche of sugary-sweet festive cheer and embracing new traditions.
RENT A CABIN IN THE WOODS
GO HIKING OR WALKING
Although this may sound like a horror movie starring Chris Hemsworth, renting a cabin for the festive period can be a relaxing, stressfree way of enjoying the holidays. If you want to relish the crisp air, fluffy snow and mulled wine without the sound of your baby cousin screaming, this could be a festive alternative for you. You can find affordable holiday cottages and cabins in the likes of Sweden, Italy and our own Bonnie Scotland.
As the festive season often involves indoor activities, namely boozing, playing board games and huddling around the fire, it can be refreshing to escape into the great outdoors and savour the beautiful Winter landscape. Especially if you’ve gorged on too many Terry’s Chocolate Oranges, this could be a good opportunity to get some exercise and bond with your family outside the house (or leave them locked inside it).
For accommodation, try Airbnb or Hipmunk CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE
Find routes on VisitScotland.com
If you always end up doing the same thing for Christmas and New Year, organise something new and exciting to do with your time that you’ve never done before. If you spend Christmas with family, spend Christmas day with your friends or significant other. It’s OK to defy expectations and just do what you want. After all, it’s your holidays and there’s nothing wrong with staying inside playing video games and passing out at 9pm.
BOOK A CITY GETAWAY
DUNDEE: Just Laugh Comedy Night, Bonar Hall at Dundee Rep, 4th December EDINBURGH: Christmas Charity Festival 5k & 10k Run, 6th December @SCOTCAMPUS
Have you ever fancied seeing Prague in the snow? Or chillin’ beneath the Eiffel Tower with a steaming cup of chocolat chaud? Then a city getaway could be the ideal way of escaping the family arguments and non-stop commercialism in the festive period. Trips to European cities are reasonably priced and you can rent an apartment if you’re planning a Hogmanay abroad with friends.
For accommodation, try Euro Hostel
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HOME GROWN FESTIVE TREATS BY KYM BALLANTYNE
S
ometimes there is nowhere we’d rather be than Caledonia at Christmas. Our traditions are steeped in a love for all things edible with a healthy addition of goose fat, so without further ado, let's take a look at the best of the best Scottish food, and where to find it...
TURKEY
CLOOTIE DUMPLING
The Kelly Bronze turkey is the one you want, free-range and hand-reared on our perfect pastures. If you aren't in the mood for the yearly wrestle to get the old bird in your tiny student oven (WHEN will God bless you with an Aga?!) head over to Stravaigin in Glasgow, a restaurant whole-heartedly committed to serving the most ethical and traditional local produce possible. It’s served with pork and oregano stuffing, sweetcorn and sprout fricassee, pico de gallo salsa and mole poblano. Try saying THAT after a few Dalwhinnies!
A much tastier cousin of the classic Christmas pudding, Clootie Dumpling is as ingrained in Scottish childhoods as 10p Freddos. If wrapping up a big fruit cake in a wet cloth seems a bit much, head to Rogano on Exchange Place, Glasgow, where the Christmas menu serves Clootie with Drambuie Custard. Grab your finest and order the dumpling you deserve.
WHISKY A dram, a "wee hauf", a necessity. It's our official national drink, and has been produced here for centuries. Whether you like a bottle o' Bells from the local shop, or are more inclined with the peaty after taste of Laphroaig, the Whiski Rooms in Edinburgh is for you. Just off The Mound, with outrageously stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town, it’s perfect to enjoy a wee dram. If you’re a bit of a novice, indulge in one of their Whisky Tasting Flights with helpful notes explaining their origins and defining characteristics. Whisky expert? Check.
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STEAK PIE Traditionally round, to represent the seamless end of one year into the beginning of the next, Scots families were simply too busy to cook and bought big pies from the local butcher. Nowadays, there’s nothing better than staggering to your parents' on New Year’s Day, head pounding and - oh God, is that an eyebrow missing? - to smell the steak pie in the oven. If you’re lucky, you'll have some mash, Irn Bru and maybe even a wee dram- a "curer" as your granda calls it. Fancy treating yourself to a fancy pie? The Ghillie Dhu in Edinburgh boasts an absolute gem of a steak and ale pie, and one feels satisfyingly Scottish eating it among the dramatic vaulted Georgian walls. Get it doon ye. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
EXPLORING CULINARY CHRISTMAS CULTURES
BY KYM BALLANTYNE
W
hy not treat yourself and explore what other cultures are eating this Christmas? Throw yourself in at the deep end and check out where to find these dishes, although don't be alarmed if you discover you might be part Swedish (they love potatoes just as much as you!) COQUILLES SAINT-JACQUES
JANSSONS FRETELSE
The French know their stuff. Scallops, nestled in mashed potato with herbs and cheese served in a very pretty shell. Mmm. Head on over to the West End where Le Bistro Beaumartin excels in the finest of French cuisine washed down with burgundy, cos we're totes French, babes. Keep room for the fondue and be prepared to slide into a happy cheesy coma.
Like dauphinoise, but even better, Sweden have nailed it with their potato gratin traditionally served up on Christmas Day. Finely cut matchsticks of potato-ey goodness are nested in with anchovies and cream. Hemma in Edinburgh down beside the Scottish Parliament is open, airy and relaxed, but beautifully cosy in the winter while they serve up some stunning Swedish scran.
STOLLEN We've all had the squidgy supermarket version that sticks in your teeth and you feel obligated to accept when offered one of these curious, gem-studded logs of oddness. Never fear, true German stollen is insanely good. Go old school and trudge down to Edinburgh’s truly magical German Christmas Markets. Aside from the fact that it’s beautiful, the traditional baked goods are the best. If you leave stuffed full of stollen and hot-chocolate and you aren't an irritating bundle of Christmassy joy, we suggest you see a doctor, as you must be dead inside. Or just too full, we get it.
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FEAST OF SEVEN FISHES Sometimes it’s lovely to be uber-traditional, if only to please your Mum. On Christmas Eve, Italians sit down to this phenomenally fishy-feast, a custom that goes back to the abstinence practised in the weeks leading up to the birth of baby Jesus. Head to Rustico in Aberdeen, just off Union Street, for their beautiful Christmas menu boasting seafood linguine and calamari. It’s the oddest but most gratifying feeling to look around and imagine you’re in a Venetian trattoria, while it’s actually blowing a gale in the Granite City outside. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
FESTIVE THEATRE
BY STEPHANIE HUNTER
T
he light might be low but that doesn’t mean our moods should be! We can power through those dark nights in the theatre, watching elaborate dance routines and listening to puns about the state of our country. I will be disappointed if I don’t hear at least one joke about pork being on the table of No. 10 for Christmas dinner. But the performance doesn’t need to stop with the pantomime! We’ve got the must see shows this season all the way from the classics to the contemporary. THE LITTLE MERMAID
WHOSE SHOES?
Let’s start by ticking the essential Christmas panto of that list. Turning its back on rehashed versions of our favourite songs, expect original tunes and hilarious lyrics. This year, Johnny McKnight has written The Little Mermaid. Not only are his Christmas scripts hilarious, as a performer he storms the stage and lures you into the palm of his hand. If you don’t feel like it’s Christmas until you’ve seen a panto, why not get yourself to the Macrobert?
Scottish Youth Theatre have had great success with their annual Christmas performance aimed at 3-7 year olds and their families. This year the company takes on the tale of The Elves and the Shoemaker in their production of Whose Shoes? Expect to be encouraged to play – no matter your age! With sets that transport you to distant lands and performances that respond to every squeal and cry from the audience, Scottish Youth Theatre brings interactive performance to life. For those who keep a wary eye on people carrying babies, under 1s go free. You have been warned.
25th November 2015 – 3rd January 2016 Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, Tickets from £9
THE WITCHES If it’s true that the third strike is the luckiest then you better get yourself to Dundee Rep to see The Witches. The third of their Roald Dahl Christmas productions is an adaptation of a familiar tale – the story of a boy and his grandmother on their quest to root out evil magic. As Dahl’s work is for children of all ages, you won’t be disappointed by this excellent piece of theatre. 26th November – 31st December 2015 Dundee Rep, Dundee, Tickets from £9
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28th November – 30th December 2015 Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow Individual tickets £7.50, Family ticket (x4) £24
WHITE From acclaimed theatre company Catherine Wheels, White is another performance aimed at a younger audience. Fun, magical and silly, White plays with colour until the world is completely immersed in bold and bright vibes. While this performance is aimed at 2-4 year olds, this clever and precise piece will amaze everyone. 12th December – 24th December 2015, Traverse, Edinburgh Full price £10 / Family ticket £8 per person. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
FORWARD THINKING THEATRE
BY STEPHANIE HUNTER
W
ith Christmas brings Hogmanay and thinking about what the New Year will bring. Here’s my
recommendations to help us peek into the future of theatre with some exciting new works. INTO THE NEW
MANIPULATE
Manipulate is the annual festival from Puppet Animation Scotland that celebrates visual art and animated film. Previously featuring physical theatre, dance, hand crafted puppets and circus, it consistently pays homage to more traditional art forms. Focusing on innovation and experimentation, the festival aims to introduce international works to a Scottish audience. Prepare to be inspired.
Into The New is the annual festival of performance for graduating students of the Contemporary Performance Practice programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This year the festival comes to the Pearce Institute, Govan. With 9 shows dabbling in a range of topics including autobiography, magic, porn, adventure, trauma and sexuality, there will be no shortage of provocation here. 18th January – 21st January 2016 Tickets £5 for 26 and under @SCOTCAMPUS
29th January – 6th February 2016. The Traverse (Edinburgh), Dance Base (Edinburgh) and The Lemon Tree (Aberdeen). Ticket prices vary.
THE JAMES PLAYS Looking at our country’s culture, these plays are not shy on sharing with us the gore of our past. The James Plays and the skill needed to craft over 7 hours of performance will definitely make an impression both on audiences at home and far away. Not to be missed! February and July 2016
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BY REBECCA COOK
Be Your Own Barista!
O
ne of the best things about the Festive Season is those red cups that pop up in coffee chains across the country. Filled with sugary goodness and festive cheer, they never fail to warm our hearts… or empty our pockets. And there’s the rub. But what if you could concoct your own cup of tasty Christmas goodness? Well, that’d be a Christmas miracle!
EGGNOG LATTE EGGNOG INGREDIENTS (MAKES 8 SERVINGS): • • • • • • • •
3 cups whole milk 1 cup double cream 3 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 eggs, separated 2/3 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup bourbon, dark rum or brandy
LATTE INGREDIENTS: • • • •
1/3 a cup of milk 2 shots of espresso / ½ a cup of instant coffee Whipped Cream Powdered nutmeg
16 FESTIVE GUIDE
PREPERATION: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Add the milk, cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a saucepan. Gently bring to the boil, then take it off the heat to let the flavours soak in. In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until they’re combined into a paste. Add the milk, slowly whisking it in until it’s smooth. Add the booze and vanilla extract and stir. Put it in the fridge for 1-3 nights. (This bit’s optional) Beat the egg whites in a large bowl, then gently stir into your eggnog mix until its combined.
FINAL MIX: 1.
2. 3.
4. 5.
Gently heat your milk on a stove or in a microwave, stirring occasionally. Don’t let it boil. Add the espresso. Pour in 1/2 cup of eggnog while gently stirring until thoroughly heated through – particularly if you added those egg whites. Pour into a cup and add whipped cream. Garnish with powdered nutmeg.
TOP TIP: Skip the whole eggnog preparation by buying it in cartons from bigger supermarkets and specialist stores. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
BLACK FOREST HOT CHOCOLATE INGREDIENTS: 3. • • • • • • •
40g of dark chocolate or 3 teaspoons of cocoa powder Monin’s blackberry syrup (available on Amazon) or Blackberry unseeded jam Milk (enough to almost fill your mug) A pinch of cinnamon Whipped cream Marshmallows Cherry syrup
4. 5.
6. INSTRUCTIONS: 7. 1. 2.
Heat up the milk in a pan until it’s simmering, stirring regularly to avoid burning. If using chocolate, break it into chunks and add it to the milk still on the stove.
PRALINE LATTE
TOP TIP: Make a real winter warmer by swapping out your syrup or jam for some berry liqueur.
INSTRUCTIONS: 1.
INGREDIENTS: •
3/4 cup milk
•
2 shots of espresso
•
Or full cup of milk and 1 tsp instant coffee
•
1 tsp of sugar
•
Monin Praline syrup (available on Amazon)
•
Whipped cream
•
Caramel Syrup
@SCOTCAMPUS
Keep stirring until fully melted in. If you don’t want to use chocolate, you can use 3 heaped teaspoons of cocoa powder. If using jam, add a teaspoon or two to the mixture, depending how strong you want it to be. Add a small pinch of cinnamon at this point to bring out the chocolate flavour and add a wee bit of winter spice! When everything is fully melted, pour into the mug of your choice. If using blackberry syrup, add a teaspoon or two now and stir well. Add whipped cream / marshmallows until your heart’s content. To make it truly authentic, add some cherry sauce/syrup on top.
2. 3. 4. 5.
Heat the milk in the microwave or on the hob until very warm, but not boiling, stirring every 30 seconds. Mix the coffee and sugar with a small amount of milk in your mug until there are no lumps. Pour as much praline sauce as required for you, depending how strong you want the taste to be. Stir. Add the whipped cream on top. Drizzle with caramel syrup.
TOP TIP: For an extra nutty coffee, replace the milk with hazelnut or cashew milk.
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THE VACCINES USHER HALL 7TH DECEMBER The release of their third studio album, English Graffiti, saw the indie darlings incorporate punk and powerballad influences into their pithy but punchy musical formula. After relentlessly touring the festival circuit throughout the summer, they return to the capital armed with an impressive catalogue of catchy riffs and singalong choruses.
Ear Food. BY JONNY MCINTOSH
T
he most wonderful time of the year is finally here! ‘Tis the season to don your gaudiest Christmas jumper, eat your own bodyweight in food and pray that old St. Nick delivers your wish list of presents. Whether you’re as excited as Buddy the Elf or declare bah-humbug at the very thought of the festivities, there’s plenty of stellar gigs to add some sparkle to your yuletide.
Tickets: £27.50, Usherhall.co.uk
HUDSON MOHAWKE 02 ABC, 12TH DECEMBER The Glaswegian wunderkind, Kanye West collaborator and all round super producer returns home following the success of his daring sophomore album, Lantern. Possessing a penchant for experimenting during live performances, fans can expect raw and exciting reworkings of their favourite tracks set to a perfectlysynced light show. Tickets: £16.31, Ticketweb.co.uk
THE VIEW CAIRD HALL 17TH DECEMBER
THE MACCABEES BARROWLANDS, 15TH JANUARY 2015 has been an incredible year for everyone’s favourite indie rockers. Their latest album, Marks To Prove It, has catapulted them to new headliner heights, showing how far they have come from the arty beginnings of their debut, Colour It In. Prepare to enjoy a career-spanning set, jam-packed with heart-on-sleeve hits and fan favourites alike - including the perpetually immaculate, Toothpaste Kisses. Tickets: £23, TIcketmaster.co.uk
THE LIBERTINES SSE HYDRO 23RD JANUARY
Boasting a plethora of loyal followers, the Dundonians have earned themselves a reputation for high energy sets. With a weighty setlist of classics and newer cuts from their most recent album, Ropewalk, you’re guaranteed to be dancing your night away. The View will most definitely be on fire.
As the legend of the band continues, fans can relish in the comforting and iconoclastic romanticism of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat. Having returned this year with the aptly titled album, Anthems For Doomed Youth, brace yourselves for an emotive evening of heady nostalgia. Just try not to cry when Don’t Look Back Into the Sun blares out.
Tickets from £19.25, available at Dundeebox.co.uk
Tickets: £35, TIcketmaster.co.uk
@SCOTCAMPUS
19 MUSIC
MUSICIANS OF THE MONTH BY SARA MCQUEEN
W
hether you’re seeking carnivalesque beats to bring back summer (in your head, at least) or moody rock as dark as the Scottish skies this time of year, we’ve got a new band for you. So read on to discover the next big thing. Your ears will thank you.
OH WONDER
MOLOTOV JUKEBOX
This East London duo are shaking things up - from faithfully recording one song a month for a year before ever setting foot on a stage together, to interviewing their fans on their ongoing debut European tour rather than being the interviewees. Melodious vocals, stripped back instrumentals and thoughtful lyrics harmonise to create a minimalist yet utterly compelling sound. The proof is in the sold out shows dominating their tour schedule, check out their music (and their marvellously amber-tinted videos) online, unless you’re one of the clever ones who nabbed a ticket for their sold-out show at King Tuts on 21st November.
This seriously talented line up includes Natalia Tena, who you might recognise as Nymphadora Tonks of Harry Potter fame, or wildling Osha from Game of Thrones. They’ve been on the scene since 2008, and can always be relied upon for foot-tapping, dance inducing tunes with a plentiful dose of accordion, violins and bass. If you missed their winter warm up at King Tuts on November 28th, keep your boogie shoes handy, they’ll be back soon.
FKJ
For a fresh Scottish sound, top choice this month is Man of Moon, who boast a compelling repertoire of dark rock tracks to get lost in. The Edinburgh duo released their first single The Road/This World in the summer and are topping off the year supporting fellow Scots The Twilight Sad at their sold out Barrowlands gig. If the gravelly vocals, rocky sound and perfect matching of guitar and drums tickles your fancy - you can catch them at Glasgow’s fine West End establishment The Hug and Pint on 11th December.
FKJ (French Kiwi Juice), is a French musician and purveyor of the smoothest funk, soul and hiphop, creating electronic music that epitomises the summer (thankfully the French summer more than the Scottish). When you need something to get you going on the dreary dark mornings, look no further than FKJ and his sun-drenched mixes. He last played Glasgow’s St Judes in March 2014, alongside fellow fun food namesakes Eton Messy, but with new track Better Give U Up released in November, we’ve got our fingers crossed for a return visit soon.
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MAN OF MOON
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Fighting Tooth
& Nail.
INTERVIEW: BEARTOOTH BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
E
nigmatic Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo found fame early with metalcore band Attack Attack!, before abandoning it in favour of his own project. Now in the midst of their own headline tour and working on a third album, it’s time to catch up with this legend-in-the-making…
YOU FOUND SUCCESS REALLY YOUNG, CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU LEARNED? I found out more than anything that the most important thing, at least with music, is that you have to do something that you really love. If you get stuck in a band, playing songs you don’t like, which I’ve seen many bands do - just trying to make music to make money, it’s going to be miserable! At least make sure that the songs you’re playing are songs you really believe in. ANY NEWS ON YOUR NEXT ALBUM? HOW’S IT SHAPING UP? It’s coming. We don’t have any exact dates but after this tour with Bring Me The Horizon it’s pretty much just going to the studio and making sure it’s perfect. The writing process is the same as the first two, and the sound is still Beartooth, I’m not taking it in any crazy, drastic direction! Just trying to write better songs, heavier riffs and catchier choruses and all that good stuff. WHAT MAKES A GOOD SONG? It needs to be catchy, it needs to hook you in. When I hear a song I want to hear it once, and then have to listen to it another 50 times because I can’t get enough of it. That’s the goal! @SCOTCAMPUS
DO YOU ENJOY THE PROCESS OF MAKING MUSIC OR PLAYING LIVE MORE? They’re different experiences. I love making records, that’s a huge passion I’ve always had and that’s more of a personal experience for me. I can just get this stuff out and create this piece of art, piece of music, whatever. But I mean the live show is all about high energy and everybody being in the room and experiencing the same thing and having a good time. I love them both equally, they’re just different. DO YOU FIND THAT YOU CHANGE AS A PERSON WHEN YOU DO EITHER? [Laughs] Change? I dunno, man. I mean after the record’s really sunk in, that can help me press forward with stuff I’m dealing with. And if the tour’s really great or a show’s really good, you’ll definitely feel different after the show but… I dunno. I think if you want things to change long-term, you really have to assess what’s going on that you need to change and just take that head on. Even music I use as a tool to help me through stuff. I never use it as a tool to escape, you need to use it as something to face head-on and then just overcome that problem. Then you’ll be able to listen to music in a completely different way.
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SCOTCAMPUS PLAYLIST ALT. CHRISTMAS TUNES BY EMMA AINLEY-WALKER
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eople tend to have certain rules about Christmas music. Whether you blast it from Halloween onwards, ONLY in December or not at all, you might not have tried any of our alternative tracks before. Give them a spin, and they could just put you in the Christmassy place you need to be. I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS GAYLA PEEVEY
2000 MILES THE PRETENDERS
We’ve all had some unreasonable gift requests, but young Gayla has some logic we can’t argue with. You’ll hear this gem once and be singing it for the rest of the year.
With Chrissie Hynde’s vocals, this is a song you could listen to at any time of the year. You don’t only listen to The Beach Boys on the beach, so don't feel guilty about keeping this one on the playlist after December.
CHRISTMAS WRAPPING THE WAITRESSES Less alternative, this upbeat tale of Christmas magic and a love story for the ‘too busy to date or relax’ generation can’t help but put a smile on your face. CHRISTMAS TV SLOW CLUB If it weren’t for the title, I’m not sure I would have realised that this was a Christmas song. This sweet love song is perfect for snuggling up on winter nights. MERRY CHRISTMAS (I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT ANY MORE) RAMONES While the title might sound like a transition into some of Christmas music’s sadder offerings, this isn’t one of them. Actively against the Christmas break up, it’s upbeat and fun while still staying away from the cheesy Christmas music vibe.
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LAST CHRISTMAS FRANK TURNER This cover is here because when it comes on my shuffle in the heat of summer, I still listen to it. Partly because the intro is disguised, but mostly because it’s a great song anyway. (DON’T CALL ME) MRS. CHRISTMAS EMMY THE GREAT & TIM WHEELER Okay, so this is a song for the scrooges; a Christmas break up song. Don’t worry, it’s still super upbeat and full of Christmas spirit though. Special mention also goes to Christmas Moon, or really anything from this couple’s Christmas album. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, YOU BASTARD BLINK 182 This may be an incredibly different sound, but the message is the same: this is a song for the anti-Chrismassers. Fun fact: it also works as a "Screw You" to Valentine’s Day. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Never
Blue.
INTERVIEW: WE ARE THE OCEAN BY GEMMA CLARK
I
t’s been a big year for We Are The Ocean, with the release of their huge album Ark in May and then a massive festival season where their reputation as an incredible live act grew even bigger. We caught up with them during their headline tour in November to see how they’re getting on…
YOU’RE TOURING NOW, IS THERE ANYWHERE IN PARTICULAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING? Glasgow is always fantastic, and Berlin is great! At the train station we found these musicians, 2 guitarists, bass, drums made out of tubs, and there was this huge congregation taking it in turns, jammin’. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR TOUR HIGHLIGHTS? We were playing the Festival Republic stage this year at Reading and Leeds, and opened the main stage a few years ago. It all happened so quickly and the next thing you know it’s all over and you’re standing at the side of the stage like, “Wow, so that was a thing!” It was just a great show, lots of energy. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN A BAND FOR OVER 8 YEARS NOW SO YOU MUST KNOW SOME PRETTY HAIRY SCARY THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER. WHO IS THE WORST TO LIVE WITH? No one is really bad but I’d maybe say Jack Spence. He likes to make little nests. There will be a week old tuna sandwich wrapped in a sweaty sock because he’s forgotten about it. Sometimes you have to walk around the mess. It really has to get to critical mass; if you open the van and shit falls out then it’s time to clear it up. It’s like at home when people just throw everything in the bin and it’s overflowing… @SCOTCAMPUS
THAT’S CALLED BIN JENGA! Bin jenga! I’m using that! No one does it until it gets to that point, until it falls and then it’s your turn. DID IT TAKE YOU A LONG TIME TO MAKE THIS ALBUM? Yeah it took a while because we decided to take a bit of time out and really work on this. We wanted to wait until it was the right time rather than just churn it out. We went through a lot of songs. YOU GUYS HAVE KIND OF BEEN MUSICAL CHAMELEONS; YOUR SOUND HAS CHANGED A LOT. WAS THAT A CONSCIOUS THING? Maybe a subconscious thing. You never want to make the same record twice. You want to do something different. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BRITISH MUSIC INDUSTRY, DO YOU THINK IT’S IN A STATE OF CRISIS? I don’t think anyone knows what the music industry is up to. We’re all just blagging it! Venues are closing down all over the place which is really bad for fans and artists. But when free downloading came about, you could go on YouTube and make an entire basis for yourself as an artist without a label.
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ONES TO WATCH: THE VAN T'S BY STEPHANIE HUNTER
R
ecent release Growler lets us know exactly who The Van T’s are and what they stand for. Listening to them is like sitting in the passenger seat of a car seat while the sun warms up your face. Reminiscent of Girl Pool and Bully, their soft drones and chill vibes fill us with both comfort and clarity. Formed in 2013, the band consists of twin sisters Hannah and Chloe Van Thompson, Joanne Forbes and Shaun Hood, and I got in touch with Hannah to find out a little bit more about the group.
HOW DID YOU COME TOGETHER AS A BAND?
WHAT EXCITES YOU (IN MUSIC AND IN LIFE)?
We’ve known each other a while and been in bands since we were teenagers. We came across Deborah on Gumtree however [laughs], the wonders of the modern world eh!
I think we are all excited about releasing new stuff. We all lead pretty busy lives and it can be hectic trying to fit time in to practice, record and write new music but for it all to finally be coming together is pretty exciting.
WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF FINDING YOUR SOUND LIKE?
YOU’RE ON A ‘DIY’ LABEL. WHAT DOES DOING IT YOURSELF MEAN TO YOU?
It took a while. We wrote completely different stuff a few years ago, but now I think we are more in touch with what we are writing. We actually enjoy playing it!
It's great! The fact that everyone works hard and everyone is on board with things makes it work. Being with Bloc+ music has given us a platform and has exposed us to different aspects of the music industry. It supports up and coming bands and the fact it's independent is pretty cool.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? A lot of different things actually, my taste is sort of all over the place. We are really enjoying music that's coming out of Scotland these days.
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WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOURSELVES IN THE FUTURE? Probably just keep on writing and gigging. We are hoping to release something early next year and keep getting our sound out there. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
More-ish
Music.
INTERVIEW: NOTHING MORE BY GEMMA CLARK
N
othing More’s recent, self-titled album has swelled the ranks of their fans and the charity campaign around their new single Jenny has won them added kudos. Now they’re coming to Scotland and it’s time to find out what the buzz is about…
SO YOU GUYS ARE TOURING THE JENNY TOUR, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE FAN REACTION TO THE ALBUM AND THE SHOW? We never thought that we would be one of those bands that people would tattoo lyrics or the logo to their body, but here we are. I guess it’s an honor more than anything. There are so many bands we respect and adore as fans, and would love to ask questions, so it’s simply an honor for us to be viewed that way by other people. WORD IS THAT THIS IS YOUR BEST MATERIAL YET… Definitely. I think we all feel that we were still finding our sound with the previous records so we are absolutely stoked to move forward from here and continue to evolve. WHAT WAS THE WRITING PROCESS LIKE? The self-titled record was definitely hardest to write. We were really pushing ourselves to hone our song writing. We dug deep to stay true to our more progressive roots but still make everything as relatable to the masses as we possibly could. Our music is something we write to share with the world but at the end of the day it has to reflect our personal musical expression as well. @SCOTCAMPUS
WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM A NOTHING MORE GIG? We hope that people walk away feeling like they saw and heard something that they’ve never seen or heard before. We’ve put our heart and soul into everything that we do and that doesn’t stop at the stage. Whether it’s the show, the stage setup or the performance itself, we’re hanging it all out for people to see. YOU’VE ARRIVED JUST AFTER MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHARITIES FOR THE #IKNOWJENNY CAMPAIGN… The primary goals were to raise awareness of the issue, encourage people to join in community with another by sharing their story and raise a little bit of money to put toward the cause. As a group we haven’t directly suffered from mental illness, but have been subject to it with friends and family. Such a huge part of dealing with it is ending the stigma that it’s different to other illnesses. From the outside it’s hard to understand the pain of someone dealing with it. We wouldn’t ask a man in a wheel chair to get up and walk so why would we not be as understanding to somebody that is dealing with schizophrenia? Nothing More play King Tut’s, Glasgow, on the 6th December.
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ELLIE GOULDING
FOXES
2
015 was the year of Uptown Funk, and Cheerleader; we went to church with Hozier, held back the river with James Bay and swung from the Chandeliers alongside Sia. However, as the year reaches its perfect cadence, it’s time to turn our heads or, more accurately, our ears, towards the coming year: to scope out the trends and tracks that will dominate the score for 2016, the upcoming albums we’ll have on repeat and the bands we’re sure to be screaming along to. DEAD CERTS Starting off the year in style, rock legend and Star Man David Bowie is expected to release his 25th album on the 8th of January 2016, exactly in time for the rock star’s 69th birthday. The new album, Blackstar, continues Bowie’s trend
of cosmic themed album names, and is rumored by The Times to be his “oddest work yet”. Having already won the nation’s hearts in 2015 with Love Me Like You Do, Ellie Goulding is another artist who’s not planning on slowing down any time soon. Her recent album Delirium came out in November 2015 to widely positive reviews, and the singer songwriter is plotting a 31-date European tour supporting her album in March of 2016. Keep refreshing those tickets pages folks, they’ll sell out sharpish. Continuing the evergreen theme, Sia is set to capitalise on the overwhelming success of Elastic Heart with the release of new album This is Acting in January. The first track of the album, Alive, has already been released in September, and it’s so in keeping with Sia’s trademark soulful power ballads that the album looks oddson to be filled with iconic anthems for 2016.
Big In 2016: 26 MUSIC .
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
RISING STARS
LONG SHOTS
Canadian born singer Grimes has steadily risen to fame in recent years, gaining a loyal audience for her unique, and endlessly catchy sound. Her latest album landed in October 2015, bringing with it a collection of quirky electronic, synth pop ballads; now Grimes is plotting a UK tour for March 2016, playing at various locations throughout the country before concluding her trip in Glasgow. NME reckons the tour will be “the best live event of 2016”, and a “uniquely immersive live experience”. We’re inclined to agree.
Indie-folk band Daughter also have a new 10-track album, Not to Disappear on the cards for January 2016. The band was formed in 2010 and their debut album, If You Leave, charted at number 16 in the UK and received high praise from the music press. Five years down the line it’s safe to say that they haven’t exploded like they could have, but expectations for the new album are high. The first song Doing The Right Thing is already available, and if you can cope with the heartbreaking music video that accompanies it, the song will definitely evoke something raw inside you, with a melody in keeping with the usual gentle, and beautifully composed music the band is known for. This could be their year. We hope.
After a successful 2015, former Scotcampus cover star Foxes also has big plans for the coming year. The pop sensation is bringing numbers like Body Talk and Better Love together on her second album, All I Need, which is due for release on the 5th of February and will be perfect for dancing (or shouting) along to. Guaranteed. And if you want the full live experience, you’re in luck, she sets off on another UK tour immediately after its release. American rock band Pvris have also announced a massive UK headline tour for April 2016, and will stop off at the O2 ABC in Glasgow as they tour the nation in support of their debut album White Noise, which delivered iconic tracks like Smoke, St. Patrick, and My House. It slowly simmered success since it appeared in 2014, but we think this tour is going to be huge, and may well precede a follow-up album, so they’re definitely one to keep an eye on.
Of course, we couldn’t let this piece pass by without mentioning one of the biggest bits of music news of the DECADE (probably): the much awaited reunion of Busted. The infamous rockpop boy band have announced a reunion tour this coming year, with promises of new songs 11 years after the band initially split! The band plan to exit the dole queue and reignite their legacy on 11th May, playing Wembley stadium to the enthusiastic reception of thousands of loyal fans. If their return to the music industry is anything like the last time, they’re sure to continue their massive success… but will they win over new audiences or just be another heavily-marketed nostalgia trip? Time will tell. PVRIS
Music. @SCOTCAMPUS
BYJENNIFER CONSTABLE
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This Month We
LOVE. BY SHAUNA MCGREGOR
ILLUSTRATION: VERIETTE.COM
MEGAN ELLABY
Pages by Megan, the fashion blog from Mancunian stylist Megan Ellaby, has been my style holy grail for some time now. Not a day goes by when I don’t wish that every ensemble the 23-year-old impeccably crafts together could magically appear in my wardrobe. With the ability to transform looks day-by-day, Megan has now landed a stylist position at ASOS to put her fashion chameleon knowledge to good use. From minimalist to diva to Diane-Keatonesque androgyny, she gets it spot-on every time. Her staples consist of midi-skirts, flares, fluffy coats, anything of the striped variety and chunky leather boots. Megan shares her inspiring experiences on her blog, while adding to her extensive CV by launching the MEGAN X ASOS tops collection. Oozing with seventies-revival, it’s full of suede-tastic belted shirts, cords and leather. If you’re ever stuck in a style-pickle, you know where to go..
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BELLA & GIGI HADID Move over Jenners, Bella and Gigi Hadid are the hottest Californians on the scene now, and they're taking the fashion world by storm. The daughters of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reality star Yolanda Foster haven't been out of the spotlight since signing with IMG models, and have walked for the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Topshop and Moschino. The sisters dominate the catwalk in completely different ways. Gigi rocks a cutesy girl next door vibe that landed her a magazine cover and the leading role in Calvin Harris’ music video for How Deep is Your Love. In contrast, Bella wears all black, dates The Weeknd, has a DUI and probably stays out after curfew. The duo are often seen post-show partying armed by Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing and cutting about wearing exclusive pieces from the fashion house’s collection. Could we be their next sister-in-law please? WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Scot Street Style.
INSPIRED BY THE #SCOTSTREETSTYLE COMMUNITY ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIN KENNEDY: ERINKENNEDY.CO.UK
W
hile we’re leaving lectures under a cloak of darkness, the temperature drop does mean one thing: layers! Ok, so we know that they serve the function of keeping us warm, but we’re talking about fashion now, darling. It’s all about texture too, from rich burgundy suede to sturdy khaki jackets, this lot have Glasgow’s street style all wrapped up.
Aisling McMahon (@ aismcmahon) brightens up the low winter sun with a vibrant scarf and some classic yellow Converse.
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Michael Wallace stays warm with classic dark-wash jeans and keeps his North Face hoodie on trend with a knot that ‘ties’ the whole look together (sorry).
Emma Davidson (@ emmaajanee) absolutely nails the suede pinafore trend with this rusty mix of winter colours. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Join the conversation...
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Designer Of The Month:
Kelly Mackay. BY SHAUNA MCGREGOR
O
ur Designer of the Month is the ever-hardworking, most down to Earth girl I know: textile design graduate Kelly Mackay. She combines traditional screen printing techniques with abstract, spontaneous drawings to create intricate upholstered goods and fabrics that add hints of bonnie Scotland into any home. After receiving a grant from Scotland Re:Designed in October, Kelly is destined for a busy year ahead. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I had the privilege to move around the world, however I have always been drawn back to Scotland. I would say my style has a Scottish influence, in a really subtle way that’s traditional with a contemporary twist. My drawing style is organic but when I developed this collection it became more stylised. I am very passionate about colour and I’m never afraid to use it. I am constantly creating and searching for inspiration from Scotland’s natural surroundings, which I feel the desire to translate into fabric.
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WHAT'S YOUR OLDEST MEMORY OF BEING CREATIVE? Fourteen years ago I got out my pencil and paper and sat in front of the Oliphant Gate at St Leonards School, St Andrews. Then my wee drawing was produced onto cards for the pupils, families and friends… and of course my mother bought the majority! AND WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? One of my biggest achievements would be graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Textiles from a university that I wanted to go to for as long as I can remember. Also, being recognised and the appreciation shown for my work led to receiving a grant awarded by industry experts who I really look up too. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED? Appreciation for my work from others, my passion for design and the inspiration I get from Scotland's nature which is always changing. WHO INSPIRES YOU? Timorous Beasties, they are a Scottish interior design company who still use traditional screenprinting, with a style that is traditional but with contemporary components involving beautiful colour and intricate details. I love their use of pattern and colour whilst also maintaining an organic flare. WHEN YOU HAVE A DESIGNER’S BLOCK, HOW DO YOU OVERCOME IT? I always say don’t be afraid to step away and go wander and see what creative things are on your doorstep. Openly talk about your struggles with others and don't over think the problem, that way you will find your way through. DID YOU DO ANY INTERNSHIPS WHILE YOU WERE STUDYING? I had the privilege to work with not only a great designer but also a great friend, Hatti Pattisson. She taught me to listen to every piece of advice, be organised, keep being creative and if someone can do something better than you, then let them do it. It means you can continue with the creative stuff. @SCOTCAMPUS
HAVE YOU FACED ANY STRUGGLES AFTER YOU GRADUATED? Just to be recognised as a designer. You have to put yourself out there and take every opportunity to showcase your work, because people won't necessarily find you, you need to find them! WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG DESIGNERS? If you have the passion and determination, then go for it. But be prepared for criticism and negativity. You must remember it is not just about inspiration, it’s also about perspiration. There’s no substitute for hard work. You’re unlikely to walk out of university and be taken seriously straight away. You need to build a reputation and keep asking for advice from others; but most importantly have fun, otherwise your creativity may start to wane. Kelly is now preparing for her year ahead taking her work to shows up and down the country, while also helping fellow students with their final year degree shows as Designer in Residence. Keep up to date with Kelly’s work at: Mackaykelly.wix.com/kellymackay Facebook.com/mackaykellydesigns Twitter.com/@mackaykelly20
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Party Flats for Party Season. BY TATIANA ALDANA
W
ith Christmas and New Year parties just around the corner, we look to the shoes that will take us right through the festive season, and these party flats are the perfect alternative to heels. Whether it’s a work night out or a house party, these shoes have you covered for every occasion. The best part? Your feet will thank you for it.
1. GLITTER TRAINERS £25 ASOS
1. What’s Christmas without some sparkle? Perfect for the ladies who want to embrace their girly side this winter. Wear with a simple outfit and let the shoes do the talking.
2. FLORAL LEATHER SLIP ON TRAINERS £99 KG BY KURT GEIGER
2. Winter florals are in this season. Wearing them on your feet makes for a great statement piece, plus they’re super easy to wear and can move easily from casual to dressy; wear them with jeans and a top or toughen up a skirt with these leather slip-ons. 3. Metallic pointed loafers are the go-to shoes to transition you from day to night. Wear them to uni with some black skinny jeans and a print blouse for a casual look or put on your favourite dress and some sparkly jewellery and dance the night away!
3. METALLIC POINTED LOAFERS £65 OFFICE
4. SILVER SLINGBACKS £32 NEXT
4. With their sparkly buckle detail and feminine pointed toe, these slingbacks are a classic example of a classic, chic party flat. Perfect for pairing with a mini or midi skirt or dress on a night out. 5. Possibly the most popular shoe style this AW15, the Ghillie shoe is perfect in this vibrant red to spice up any plain outfit and stay on trend. These lace-up flats are versatile and a good way to incorporate femininity and colour into your outfit. We recommend wearing with a white, navy or black dress.
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5. RED GHILLIE SHOES £28 RIVER ISLAND
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
CHUNKY BLOCK TASSEL CHAIN EARRINGS £6 BOOHOO.COM
TIE-WAIST COTTON SHIRT £55 COS
LATTICE TIE-STRAP BARDOT TOP £26 TOPSHOP
STATEMENT SPARKLE HEADBAND £16 ASOS
SUEDE DRESS £49.99 ZARA
S
ummer 2015 saw the return of the '70s: suede, fringing and thigh high boots were back. If you’re ready to say sayonara to suede in 2016, then you might have to suck it up because it’s staying for spring. The good news is that the high street has made everything possible out of it so there is plenty of choice. Following that laid back look, bare shoulders are big for 2016. If you’re looking for something a bit more clean-cut, the white shirt has had a rework this season with many designers playing with the classic shape. Perfect underneath those warm layers. For jewellery next year, bigger is better. Make sure your earrings are visible underneath your woolly bonnet. The spring/summer 2016 runways were also full of tiaras and headpieces, so you can feel like a princess during the darkest months of the year.
Big In 2016: 36 STYLE
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
NAVY DIAMOND JAQUARD SCARF £12.60 BURTON
RACING T-SHIRT £24.99 SUPERDRY NAVY AND CHARCOAL CHECK SKINNY FIT SUIT JACKET £110 TOPMAN
TAN TASSEL FRONT LOAFERS £24.99 NEW LOOK
GREEN CORD TROUSERS £90 FRED PERRY
G
uys aren’t going to get to avoid the ‘70s either. Loafers and corduroy are back and won’t necessarily make you look like a geography teacher (but it is a fine line). Printed blazers flooded the menswear runways, an ideal winter to spring outer layer. If that isn’t really your cup of tea, another 2016 motif for menswear is the car. Racing car bombers and jumpsuits might be a little daring, so car prints might be the vroom vroom you’re after. To wrap up, the snood has been firmly replaced by scarves as neckwear gets back to its roots.
Fashion. @SCOTCAMPUS
BY ANNE DEVLIN
37 STYLE
Kaleidoscopic Vision. INTERVIEW: KRISS KYLE BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
K
riss Kyle left his home in Stranraer at the age of 15 and went to live at Unit 23, the skate park in Dumbarton. Today, eight years later, he’s one of the world’s most talented riders. He visualises tricks and sees lines where others would just see objects and obstacles, and his new video Kaleidoscope, produced by Red Bull, captures that on a massive scale. We caught up with Kriss to talk more about the video, his passion and the places a BMX can take you… OBVIOUSLY RIDING BMX IS REALLY ATHLETIC, BUT I THINK PEOPLE DON’T RECOGNISE HOW MUCH THOUGHT HAS TO GO INTO EACH TRICK. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO PLAN THIS FILM? This whole project took the best part of a year. The first concept was to build a revolving room, so it’d be like a big washing machine basically, but we quickly realised that it wouldn’t be possible to get a full video out of it. So Red Bull asked what else I wanted to do, and that’s such a tough question! I just couldn’t think what I’d want to build. So I thought about it for months and months and managed to sketch up some things, just roughly, and showed them to the project designer Ben. Then we bounced ideas off of each other and really worked to make it into something great!
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HOW WAS THE ACTUAL FILMING PROCESS? I was really scared about getting injured early on, because if I did, the project was ruined. That was always at the back of my mind when I was doing these world-first tricks that no-one’s ever done before. Stuff that scared me to death! I remember sitting at the top of the spiral, it was the first one we were doing, my body was aching from the rides I’d been doing the days before and I just thought “you’ve always dreamed about doing this, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, just soak it up, just man up and do it”. I never felt so drained as after those 10 days, both mentally and physically, but I loved every minute of it. I’d do it all again tomorrow if I had the chance. HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE RIGHT MINDSET FOR THESE INSANE TRICKS? You can always talk yourself out of something, but in the end you just have to decide, and force yourself to do it. The best thing I can do is just in my head say “right, I’m going to look at this three times, and then I’m going down it, there’s no two ways about it.” And the feeling when you get to the end is just amazing. I just want to burst. I feel it running through my whole body… adrenaline I guess. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
SO IT’S JUST A CASE OF BUILDING THAT ENERGY… Yeah, and that’s why I love BMX. I love pushing myself. I guess it’s a satisfaction I get from trying something for hours, and I’m bleeding all over and running on nothing and then I finally land it and it’s just incredible. Especially watching it back. YOU ALSO GET TO TRAVEL A LOT, WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST PLACE YOUR BIKE’S EVER TAKEN YOU? There’s been so many places. I went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and that was surreal. I remember we just pedalled under this bridge and there was a whole family living under it, they had pretty much no clothes, the mum was cooking out of a bin. It was horrible. But the father and son were playing football with a bottle, with no shoes, and just loving life. It shows you how much we take for granted. It was a massive eye opener. YOUR STORY’S INTERESTING TOO. PEOPLE MIGHT ASSUME YOU WERE A TROUBLED KID, BUT THAT’S NOT THE CASE… Yeah, I had the best mum and dad in the world, I was just really headstrong about what I wanted to do in life and where I wanted to go. Nothing would stand in my way and stop me from riding BMX. My mum and dad are super supportive and I love them to bits, they’ve had my back the whole way! If it wasn’t for them letting me go away and do what I love I wouldn’t be here. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T REALISE THEIR PASSION COULD BECOME A JOB. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THAT? I think if you’re enjoying it, and you really love what you’re doing, just keep doing it, keep pushing yourself and enjoying it. That’s all I’ve done from day one. I just love riding BMX that much. It was always in the back of my mind that I’d love to be pro, but that, being from Stranraer and everything, you’d never think one day you would be, but it just shows that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. If you want it bad enough, you can do whatever you want: and that’s the truth. You can watch Kaleidoscope on Scotcampus.com, and extra behind-the-scenes footage at Kaleidoscope.redbull.com @SCOTCAMPUS
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Sunshine To Sunset. INTERVIEW: KEVIN GUTHRIE BY AMY JOHNSTON
W
hen did you last walk out of the cinema lost for words? Do you remember how that felt? Well, get ready to feel it again, as Terence Davies’ big screen adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s classic 1932 novel Sunset Song, previously voted Best Scottish Book of All Time, is set to propel the story from school classrooms into the spotlight. “I think it’s going to be a real shock for people,” says Sunshine on Leith actor Kevin Guthrie. “This story can’t lie dormant for any longer.” Watched over by Edinburgh Castle in a fitting setting, we met the Scottish star to uncover the film’s potential impact on today’s modern audience. If you didn’t study the book at school, here’s a quick recap. Kevin plays the role of Ewan Tavendale, a love struck husband torn away from wife Chris Guthrie, played by former supermodel Agyness Deyn, when he is conscripted against his will to join World War I. As we sit in the grand Caledonian Waldorf Hotel, it’s a far cry from the film’s harsh setting of Blawearie Cottage, the unforgiving Aberdeenshire landscape in which Sunset Song is set, and Kevin is still recovering from tackling this epic piece of Scottish Literature.
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“I came off it and felt pretty clinically fatigued,” he admits. “I had a Sunset Song hangover in that respect. It was the only way that I could possibly have done it to get the kind of rewards we got.” It might boast beautifully dreamy scenes, but this is a film with an unyielding approach to war, “It goes against the grain of romanticising any sense of the war,” Kevin describes, “you’ve got this plethora of horror and endless mud bank of trench, it's a bottomless pit of literature. You cannot get to the end of it; everybody is going to have an opinion.” Reflecting on the shoot’s physical challenges and the emotional strains of the story, Kevin describes the cinematic experience as “feeling like you’ve gone ten rounds with Tyson”. The film certainly doesn’t shy away from a range of emotional highs and lows. “You’re looking for a break and a release which comes at the end with the redemption,” he says, “but you’ve really got to put the work in to get to the end and be with them, side by side”. “I don’t get too emotional on a set, although Sunset Song is probably the most isolated that I became,” he adds, “I think that’s understandable with the material. There’s such a heart-breaking revelation with Ewan in the cell that I still can’t quite deal with, if I’m being honest... The cowardice aspect of the story at the end, I can’t forgive the country that put that man in that situation.” WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
The commentary on war would be nothing, however, without its contrast to the idyllic romance between Chris and Ewan that sustains the first half of the story. Working with Agyness Deyn, Kevin admits that there was never any fear. “As soon as we did the screen-test, there was a kind of zing in the room where we thought, ‘we might just get this you know!’” And Kevin believes that their lesson of true love could still exist to this modern day. “That’s the story that I wanted to concentrate on, and that love story still universally exists for me in 2015, for sure.” Aware of the pressure of portraying a novel that has been analysed for 80 odd years, Kevin is keen to point out that it isn’t just about being Scottish. “It’s a film about soul, humanity, character and an endurance of love and life in the face of every challenge that can face a young couple.”
@SCOTCAMPUS
In turn, Sunset Song is still undeniably rich in lush scenery and strong Scottish tradition, demonstrating the building momentum of the local film industry with this powerful, nationwide release of a Scottish classic. “It feels like the stories that we’re telling and being in the centre of that melting pot are all really positive,” Kevin says, despite recognising that he has to resist other peoples’ cinematic visions that only want “twee, tartan and shortbread.” “That’s not what we’re about,” Kevin argues. “We’re not 2-dimensional characters. You’ve got to fight your corner in those discussions.” Ready to take on Sunset Song from start to finish? Describing the film as an extreme but rewarding watch, Kevin suggests approaching it with an open mind to hopefully “fall in love with the characters the way they deserve.” After all, as the story echoes throughout life’s trials, love endures. Sunset Song will be in cinemas in key cities from the 4th December.
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INTERVIEW: JAKE GAVIN BY GEMMA CLARK
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cotcampus chatted to first time Writer/Director Jake Gavin about homelessness, creative inspiration and his new movie, Hector.
HECTOR HITS ON THE SERIOUS ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TACKLE THE SUBJECT? I did a stint of volunteering a few years ago, in a Christmas shelter. I met some amazing people with amazing stories and one in particular described his journey to get to London. It took him 2 weeks. I thought that would be a good starting point for a film. HOW DID YOU BALANCE DEALING WITH SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT FACTOR? What I’ve done is tell a story that reflects real life. I used to be a photo journalist and I’ve worked in places where humans have done horrible things to each other, but people still retain a sense of humour. If you go to a homeless shelter at Christmas you won’t find a place more full of laughter. YOU’VE GOT A FANTASTIC CAST, WITH PETER MULLAN, KEITH ALLEN… We’ve got an amazing cast! As soon as Peter read the script and got on board it was extremely easy to cast because everyone wanted to do a scene with Peter Mullan. So it was wonderful working with him and he was a tremendous asset.
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Hec Of A
Guy.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE FROM THE MOVIE? As a viewer I don’t like the feeling of being told to think something. I think it’s very much for people to take whatever they can from it. If people see the world slightly differently after having seen the film then that’s its job done. WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING TO FOR INSPIRATION NOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE HECTOR? I’m taking inspiration from everything. I want to see as many pictures and films and theatre shows as possible, even conversations with people on the bus, whatever. The script that I‘m working on at the moment, I’m trying to do something completely different to Hector. I’m not going to say more than that because it’s still very early days though! WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG FILMMAKERS IN THE UK? Get out and make films! Just go out and do it. Young people are incredibly lucky because the technology is completely different. Everyone has a movie camera in their pocket. It’s never been easier to make films but at the same time it’s never been harder to find an audience. You just need enthusiasm and energy. Hector is released in UK cinemas on the 11th December. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Un-Swung
Hero.
INTERVIEW: COLIN KENNEDY BY MICHAEL EDWARDS
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cottish filmmaker Colin Kennedy has been part of the film landscape here since he burst onto the scene with his short I Love Luci in 2009. After working behind the scenes on some of the UK’s top films and training young Scottish talent, his directorial debut Swung, which tells the story of a couple who venture into the Glaswegian swinger scene, is finally reaching cinemas. DO YOU THINK THAT HUMOUR AND WARMTH ARE THE KEY WHEN DEALING WITH TABOOS LIKE YOU DO IN SWUNG? It was for me. Different people approach things differently, I mean if you take Gaspar Noé’s work, for example, he tends to come at it in a bit more shocking way! But, you know, that’s cinema… I found as I was getting to know Alice and David that there was a strong sense of absurdity with their situation, and I love the way that Alice tackles that head-on and uses that to help David through his problem. So yeah, humour was absolutely key for me, and for this particular film I think, and for this story. DO THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THESE STORIES ACCESSIBLE, TO HELP PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SEX? Absolutely. It’s very un-British of us! Alice is a great catalyst for that because she’s not British, she’s much freer with her emotions and the places she’s willing to go. She’s not a typically repressed British person. So do I think it’s important to discuss? Of course, we do find it difficult as Brits. @SCOTCAMPUS
HAVE YOU GOT ANY TIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING TO MAKE THEIR OWN FILMS? I’ve always tried to do filmmaking as a job, and I would recommend that, but maybe do some other kind of aspect of movie work while you’re trying to build your directing career. Be a runner, do whatever it takes. In all honesty though, good tips: get writing and get shooting. You’ve got access to the most sophisticated technology we’ve ever had and it’s in your pocket, so there’s no excuse for not shooting stuff. You can do it all on your phone. I THINK THAT’S ALL YOU CAN DO. YOU CREATE, AND THEN PERHAPS GET FOUND… But you build your own luck, it’s not necessarily about being found. I’m a trustee of an organisation called JumpCut, and we help take talented young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are passionate about making films and put them through a summer boot camp, we team them up with professional mentors from every department and get them making a movie in a professional environment, and it’s very successful. There’s lots of initiatives out there, so get looking for them! Swung is released in selected cinemas from 11th December.
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Scotcampus Bookshelf. BY AMY JOHNSTON
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ew Year is the perfect time to switch things up, whether it’s decluttering, introducing more veg (or cereal) into your diet, improving your vocab, or even attempting to move on from 2015’s dating mishaps. Whatever you want to change, we’ve got the books to take you there.
ACCIDENCE WILL HAPPEN, THE NON-PEDANTIC GUIDE TO ENGLISH OLIVER KAMM There’s something oddly satisfying about good grammar, especially if you can’t help automatically editing your Mum’s texts until they’re grammatically correct. But then again is it really that important? If you're incoherent with rage at the idea of a misplaced apostrophe, this investigation into language might leave you lost for words.
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THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP MARIE KONDO
MODERN ROMANCE AZIZ ANSARI
We’ve all been there. With fleeting motivation, the bin bags come out and you spend a day gutting out your room. Then the resolve disappears and everything becomes cluttered again. But not if you use Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo's special category system! Sound tough? Maybe. Rewarding? Definitely.
CEREAL KILLER CAFÉ COOKBOOK ALAN AND GARY KEERY One bowl of nostalgia please. Served up by the trendy Keery twins, you can bring home the deliciously pretentious pleasure of eating cereal out of a café in East London’s Shoreditch with this colourful gem that's packed with recipes, pictures and general cereal goodness. Sausage-stuffed Shredded Wheat with Frosty Flakes Mojito anyone?
Since when did waiting by the house phone for a call from your beau become waiting for your bae to Snapchat? Looking at dating in a world of endless technology, Parks and Recreation star Aziz and his group of researchers examine emails, texts and dating apps on a fun and informative journey into modern love lives.
THE SOCIAL BITE COOKBOOK MARGARET CALLAGHAN Food always tastes better when it’s made with care. With big fans like George Clooney and Bob Geldof, this cookbook inspired by Edinburgh’s Social Bite café features easy-tofollow recipes mixed with inspirational stories of the social enterprise’s successes working with the homeless. With 50% of the book’s profits going to help the homeless, the pages of delicious meals will kick off 2016 just right. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE
I
t’s time to cast 2015 aside and head back to the future! Join us in our hot tub time machine of cinema paradiso as we predict the best, biggest and most intriguing cinema you’ll discover in 2016.
Independence Day: Resurgence
GUARANTEED BLOCKBUSTERS
Prepare for more alien attacks and destruction from “disaster buster” maestro Roland Emmerich in this sequel to the 1996 classic. There’s no Will Smith this time (boo!) but Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman return, alongside ID newbie Liam Hemsworth.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Released: 24th June
Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) directs DC’s biggest assault on the Marvel monopoly to date, uniting Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and the Caped Crusader (Ben Affleck) against the Man of Steel (Henry Cavill) in an epic battle.
Suicide Squad
Released: 25th March Captain America: Civil War It’s not just DC looking to unseat Marvel’s mighty ensemble either. The second Captain America sequel starts the rift between The Avengers alliance AND marks the first appearance of Tom Holland as the new Spider-Man. Marvel might lay the smack down on DC again with this one.
Will Smith and Cara Delevingne suit up to show that the bad guys have all the fun. We’re particularly excited to see Jared Leto and Margot Robbie appear as favourites The Joker and Harley Quinn. Released: 5th August Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Based on the book seen in the Harry Potter world, we’ll follow the adventures of wizard and “Magizoologist” Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) taking on all sorts of magical creatures in 1930s New York.
Big In 2016: Released: 29th April
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Released: 18th November
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
AWARDS FAVOURITES Room
The Danish Girl
Joy Newsome (rising star Brie Larson) has spent years trapped in a windowless room with her young son, but she’s finally ready to plan her escape. As well as winning her freedom, her plight might just win Larson an Oscar too. Released: 15th January The Hateful Eight Quentin Tarantino’s new film sees him back in Western mode as eight new characters, played by the likes of Kurt Russell, Tim Roth and Samuel L. Jackson, are holed up in a wintery tavern where bullets and super cool dialogue are sure to fly. Released: 8th January Spotlight Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, Up) writes and directs this harrowing true story of how the Boston Globe newspaper uncovered the massive cover-up and scandal of child molestation in the Catholic Church. Released: 29th January
Eddie Redmayne might win his second Oscar in a row for his performance as Lili Eibe, one of the first recipients of gender reassignment surgery. Ben Wishaw, Alicia Vikander and Matthias Schoenaerts co-star with Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) directing, so we expect polished, potent performances across the board. Released: 1st January The Revenant Leonardo DiCaprio takes a fifth shot at finally winning an Oscar in this historical epic in which he plays 1820s frontiersman left for dead by his fellow travellers after a bear attack. With Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman) at the helm, this might finally be DiCaprio’s year too. Released: 15th January
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE...
THE REVENANT
Film. @SCOTCAMPUS
BY ROSS MILLER
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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES
UNDER THE RADAR GHOSTBUSTERS
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies We doubt there’ll be a more awesome title this year! This adaptation of the historical parody book turns the world of Jane Austen on its head by forcing the English high society to fend off flesh-eating zombies. Released: 12th February The Girl on the Train The adaptation of the bestselling novel stars Emily Blunt as a woman on a London train who witnesses “the perfect couple” and gets wrapped up in a murdermystery involving them. Trust us, “this year’s Gone Girl” is going to be a big deal. Released: Late 2016 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
GOOD CRAIC
FINDING DORY
Ghostbusters
BE A BIG KID
Paul Feig reunites with Bridesmaids stars Melissa McCarthy and Kristin Wiig for this female-led reboot of the popular comedy fantasy franchise. Joining them on the spectre-fighting squad are SNL stars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, while Chris Hemsworth plays against type as the “secretary.”
Finding Dory
Released: 15th July
Kung Fu Panda 3
Zoolander 2
Jack Black returns to voice everyone’s favourite buttkicking panda, this time reuniting with his long-lost father who introduces him to a secret panda village hidden in the mountains.
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson return as extremely vain male models Derek and Hansel in this long-awaited sequel to the 2001 hit comedy. As long as it’s really, really, really ridiculously good looking, we’re on board!
Pixar delve back into the ocean for this sequel to the muchloved Finding Nemo. This time we’ll follow the forgetful Dory (Ellen Degeneres) who attempts to discover more about her origins. Released: 29th July
Released: 11th March
Released: 12th February
The Angry Birds Movie
Michael Bay brings his brash sensibilities to this war thriller about a security team of soldiers trying to make sense out of the chaos when a U.S. ambassador is assassinated. Expect shootouts, explosions and jingoism galore.
Hail, Caesar! The Coen bros. go back to the screwball material they so excel at with this comedy musical about a 1950s Hollywood fixer trying to keep his stars in line. Get excited!
Yup, we’re getting a movie based on that mobile game where you throw irritated birds at green pigs. Hmmm. It sports an impressive voice cast including Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad and Danny McBride.
Released: 29th January
Released: 26th February
Released: 13th May
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WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
TACOMA
2
015 has been a great year for the video game industry; Batman hung up his cape (for now) in the final Arkham instalment, The Witcher made a triumphant return to the series and Undertale became an enormous runaway hit. When it comes to 2016, however, there’s a lot in store that will change the way we consume video games forever.
13 years and will now receive a full release; which goes to show how big a role alternative funding and player investment can play in the future of video games, whether that’s securing the release of an obscure title or investing in ambitious new gaming technology allowing players to contribute to the game themselves as seen in Steam Workshop.
One thing to expect is an increase in crowdfunding as a means to create and promote video games. Sites like Kickstarter have supported hugely successful titles like Eite: Dangerous, which by the end of April 2015 had sold over 500,000 copies. Crowd-funding for a sequel to the popular Shenmue series led to fans raising $2 million in under eight hours and $6 million by July, becoming the most funded game in Kickstarter history. The title had been in development hell for
When it comes to titles coming out in 2016, we’re slightly less inclined to make our big list of predictions and games to watch: if 2015 showed us anything, it’s that our highly anticipated favourites don’t always deliver. We’re still waiting on The Legend of Zelda on the WiiU, for example, true to form for a series renowned for delayed releases. The console certainly needs a hit title and fans have been eagerly awaiting the game’s open world, the largest of any Zelda game.
Big In 2016: 50 ENTERTAINMENT
WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
Other delayed titles like Tom Clancy’s Division and Uncharted 4 were also promised and have had no release in 2015, leading gamers to hope and pray for weird and wonderful indie games to tide them over. This humble nerd is particularly excited for titles like Inside, an eerie platformer from the creators of Limbo that promises to be super creepy, tense and beautifully designed.
with an OLED display boasting 1080p resolution capable of generating images at 120 frames per second, while Valve Software, the company behind Steam, has collaborated with HTC to develop its own VR headset, the Vive. Even Facebook is launching its own VR headset, Oculus Rift, showing how competitive and potentially lucrative this venture could be.
Also pretty exciting is Tacoma, a first-person experience in which you seem to explore a space station, use sign language to communicate and encounter holograph recordings, and Cuphead, a bonkers 2D platform tribute to '30s cartoons with an awesome jazz soundtrack and old school design. 2016 will surely see even more ground-breaking, challenging titles that give big studio games a run for their money.
VR gaming will undoubtedly open up endless possibilities for the medium, allowing game developers unparalleled creativity and possibilities. Seriously, imagine running alongside Sonic or being immersed in the Resident Evil universe. I already regret saying this, but VR headsets really will be a game-changer. I’m sorry.
In terms of technical advancement, virtual reality may finally be set to make a splash in mainstream gaming. Sony’s virtual reality headset for PlayStation 4 arrives early 2016,
SONY 'MORPHEOUS'VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET
With groundbreaking technology that will open up endless gaming possibilities and dynamic, genre-defying titles expected to be released, 2016 promises to be an exciting year for gaming. Even if Link shows up late to the party.
HTC 'VIVE' VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET
CUPHEAD
Gaming. @SCOTCAMPUS
BY JONNY STONE
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BY AMY JOHNSTON
Jobs Are For Life, Not Just For
Christmas. A
h, the Christmas temp job. Running around the shop floor, dealing with the festive-themed coffee rush, wrapping 10,000 presents on your own just to get that 10% in-store discount. We’ve all been there. But whatever struggles you may face this festive season, if you think of each potentially awkward interaction as a way to ace future interviews, you’ll leave your temp job with a lot more than some extra spending money. Competency-based questions play a big part in job interviews. They’re the questions that your potential boss uses to see whether your personality traits fit the role, and they require you to provide real-life examples of past decisions that you’ve made. Every experience is an answer in the making. We know it sounds scary, but remember, it’s not as scary as that time you got locked in the stockroom after hours. So sit back, relax and follow our guide to using your festive experience to prepare for a competency-based interview…
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DESCRIBE A TIME WHEN YOU HAD
TO WIN SOMEONE OVER, WHO WAS RELUCTANT OR UNRESPONSIVE Time to let those persuasion skills shine. Let’s think back to something from your time as a Christmas temp. How about when you tried to gently move the old man who had fallen asleep on the chairs in M & S on Boxing Day? You don’t get much more unresponsive than being unconscious in the land of nod. Slyly dropping that pile of hangers close to the chairs was your smooth way to awake said customer without drawing attention to him. That displays problem-solving skills, creativity and emotional intelligence. See? It’s that easy to turn a stressful shift into a positive. (As long as there were no hangers harmed in the making of this anecdote). WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN… YOU’VE WORKED IN A TEAM
GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A SITUATION WHERE YOU WORKED UNDER PRESSURE
Team-work is all about communication and sharing tasks. Why not talk about those lengthy team discussions when that customer didn’t believe that there were no more Lynx or Soap & Glory gift sets in stock? It isn’t easy to convince someone that their coveted toiletries are no more - it takes co-ordinated eye contact with your colleagues to back you up. With all competency-based answers, remember to round off with an example of how you solved the problem or completed a task. Your colleagues agreed with your suggestion to substitute the gift set with a 3-for-2 deal, checked it was all in stock, and brought it over to the customer while you made friendly small talk. Inspired.
Pressure and Christmas go hand in hand. Think about it, you have stressed shoppers frantically scanning the store, co-workers hoping that they can close in time for sorting out their face before the work party, and changing room lines that resemble a horde of The Walking Dead (except dressed in hats and scarves). While you may see it as a merry nightmare at the time, it’s the perfect example of what it’s like to work under pressure, and you’ve conquered it. Just recall anything from between the months of October and January and your interviewer will easily identify. If all else fails, 9am on Boxing Day is a go-to pressure point. If you’ve clocked in at this magic time at least once, we admire you.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN… YOU’VE FACED A PROBLEM You may not want to remember it, but that time an old lady had a…toilet-related accident by the till could be key to displaying your quick-thinking. Who else would have thought of nipping into the stockroom and coming back armed with three wads of industrial blue roll? We can all appreciate the value of this little lifesaver. Most importantly, remember to highlight how you managed to take the lady under your little temp wing, and help her to the bathrooms discreetly. Going above and beyond your role in moments like these mean a lot to the customer, and help illustrate your empathy. Just think of yourself as the ‘Christmas Temp Angel’, battling queues and helping people along the way, one shift at a time.
@SCOTCAMPUS
If you still aren’t sure how to turn your experiences into nifty competency-based answers, maybe that time you fell into the wine cellar but still managed to finish your shift with a smile, try the STAR approach: •
SITUATION: Describe the situation.
•
TASK: Describe what task was required of you.
•
ACTION: Tell the interviewer what action you took.
•
RESULT: Conclude by describing the result of that action.
Now grab a mince pie, put on your smartest ensemble and get ready for those awkward moments, you’ll be grateful for them later.
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GRADUATE PROFILE ANDREW STEWART MEDIA GRADUATE
T
BY EMMA TOMLINSON
he television industry is a difficult one to crack, but freelance editor and recent graduate Andrew Stewart is determined to give it a go, and he’s confident that experience can get you everywhere.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START A CAREER IN THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY? Before I completed my media course my lecturer recommended I do more practical work with cameras and editing equipment because it was with them that I did the best work I’d completed all year. I also really enjoyed telling stories through film, so I started an HND Television course following that. HOW DID YOUR COURSE HELP YOU DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS? In college I directed a couple of documentaries focusing on social issues, and when I was in university I did camerawork and edited a music programme called David Allan’s Record Shop. It was a pilot episode to be pitched to production companies to see if they’d like to take it further. It was nominated for an RTS Scotland Student Award for the entertainment category and, although we didn’t win, it was great experience. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE? I worked at the Commonwealth Games, covering the boxing. We worked with the big screens in the stadiums, kept social media up to date and kept spectators informed. I’ve also worked on the European games in Azerbaijan doing similar work, but this time handling the ribbon boards (boards that go around the entire stadium). Currently I’m doing an internship at Scrumptious Productions, editing a documentary.
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WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY AT SCRUMPTIOUS PRODUCTIONS CONSIST OF? We don’t necessarily have a typical day, as it’s all dependant on what the creative director needs done. One day I can be editing a documentary, the next I may be transcribing a script and others I may be in creative meetings discussing the next step on a project. It’s very different each day, which keeps the excitement going. WHAT DO YOU DREAM OF CHANGING IN YOUR INDUSTRY? Television is lacking originality. While the formats are tried and tested, you see a comedy panel show on every mainstream channel and it’s essentially the same show. I think the decline in live TV viewership over online is definitely due to the lack of original concepts. We need to come up with new formats to spice up the genres and make them less samey. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INTO THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY? Get as many contacts as you can. It doesn’t matter when it comes to qualifications. Production companies want experienced people who can do the job well. Education doesn’t get you out there, experience is the way to go. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
HOW I BAGGED MY DREAM JOB
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER
C
heryl McMillan has just landed her dream job as a primary school teacher, and couldn’t be more excited. We caught up with her to find out how she got there, how it’s going and why it’s so rewarding. WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU? I normally get to work around 8am to prepare and get ready for the kids coming in. This is usually a mad rush around the photocopier to get everything printed. When the bell rings at 9, it's non stop until 3 o’clock. That’s one of the perks of the job, the day goes very quickly! WHAT DID YOU STUDY AT UNIVERSITY? I studied Anthropology at uni, which I loved, and went on to do the postgraduate diploma in primary teaching a few years later. HOW DID YOU GET FROM UNI TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW? After I finished my undergrad I decided to move to South Korea for 2 years, teaching English in a language academy. That’s when I decided teaching was definitely for me. When I got back I volunteered in a local school for a couple of months one day a week to gain the necessary experience for the post-grad diploma.
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WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? Behaviour is always a big challenge to overcome, especially as a new teacher. There is plenty of support in the school to help deal with tricky situations you might face. As long as you have a good relationship with the pupils and respect them, they will show the same respect back. AND THE MOST REWARDING? The most rewarding thing would definitely be seeing the progress pupils make, especially with kids that really struggle in school. The moment when you realise a kid understands something they found really difficult is very rewarding. Kids are very honest so when they say they love your lessons, you feel great! IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE JOB THAT SURPRISED YOU, OR THAT PEOPLE DON’T REALISE YOU HAVE TO DO? I was probably most surprised at the amount of preparation that goes into planning lessons. However, seeing the kids fully engaged and enjoying a lesson makes you feel great. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A SIMILAR ROLE? I would ask your local school if you could help out to gain some experience. The post-grad course is really popular so any work you do to show you are committed definitely helps at the interview stage.
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Confessions Of A
University Dropout. BY DAYNA MCALPINE PHOTO: MOFF@ PHOTOGRAPHY
I
was 18 when I started university in Edinburgh. I was the first in the family to go (much to my parents' delight), and I was convinced that I was about to begin a journey that would take me four years and leave me with a degree at the end of it. Because that’s what you do isn’t it? Sitting writing this four years later in London, and at the beginning of my second year of my second attempt at a BA Journalism degree, I think it’s safe to say that sometimes things don’t pan out the way we expect them to. Let’s go back to starting second year the first time around. I’d spent my first year slacking off, missing class and feeling unready to commit to the course. I was more interested in how many nights in a row I could go to the Hive than how many days until the resubmission deadline. If, on the off chance, I had decided to show up, I sat through my classes feeling a sense of dread.
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I didn’t want to be there. I had to come to terms with the fact that this wasn’t what I wanted my university experience to be. And that was without having been to the Hive five nights in a row. It’s natural to feel like a failure at the thought of dropping out of university. I was scared my parents would disown me and tell people that I’d moved to a remote island off the coast of Singapore, and everyone I met at uni would never speak to me again but, personally, my biggest concern was that I was just giving up. A turbulent high school experience had left me with zero self-confidence, which led to worrying about whether or not my desire to drop out was because the work was hard (and let’s be serious, degrees are four years of a whole lotta hard work), or whether I didn’t believe that I was capable of doing it. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
If you’re contemplating dropping out, you have to break it down for yourself. WHY do I want to do this? WHAT am I going to do instead? Do I not enjoy the course, or the subject? Am I interested in something else? After a lot of thinking, stressing and practically burning my mum’s ear off on the phone, I decided I just wasn’t passionate about my course and it wasn’t right for me. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that you’ve got to have genuine interest and passion about your chosen subject in order to get ahead and make the most of the your degree. It took a couple of years to refocus; I got work experience, partied, worked, saved hard and took time for me. I knew that I wanted to go back to university once I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do. Just because I had dropped out of university education didn’t necessarily mean I wasn’t ever going to pick it up again. I realised during my time away from education that I hadn’t lost my passion for writing and journalism. A different course was the way to go. Before applying via UCAS, I thoroughly researched my chosen courses to ensure that I had picked interesting ones that I would actually enjoy. And yes, I had to do the dreaded personal statement all over again. Before I knew it, I found myself with a one way ticket into a BA Journalism degree at the
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University of the Arts London. I felt ready, more prepared and ,most surprisingly, excited. I can wholeheartedly say that I am passionate about being a journalism student, about doing well in this course, and gaining experience in the industry (thanks Scotcampus!). I’m so relieved that I made the decision to try university again once I felt ready. At 21, I may have been the least fresh fresher in the class but I knew sitting there on my first day that I wanted to be there. I also learnt quickly that I couldn’t party like I did the first time round if I want the work done. I much prefer a sensible night in with Netflix and homemade spag bol. If you’re debating about whether or not to drop out, TALK TO SOMEONE. Frankie Avalon isn’t going to come out of the sky singing Beauty School Drop Out like in Grease. Don’t sit and dwell and feel awful. Universities often have advisors or personal tutors who can offer guidance. My biggest mistake was that I stopped talking for more than five minutes and sat and stewed in my own head for weeks. Although the final decision is yours and yours alone, talking it through with someone can alleviate the feeling that you’re all on your own. Oh, and stop calling it ‘dropping out’, it’s far too negative. I don’t see myself as ever having dropped out, I simply changed my mind about what was for best for me at the time.
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presentS:
the careers annual 2015 read online
scotcampus.com/careers-annual-2015
Festive Volunteering:
Spread The Spirit. BY AMY JOHNSTON
O
h Christmas. When that last piece of wrapping paper hits the floor and the final roast potato has been scoffed, it’s natural to feel a little bit…deflated. Now what? A true Christmas miracle would be the chance to bottle up all those warm and fuzzy feelings you get when your present makes a face light up. Introducing the Festive Potion! A concoction of good vibes and happiness, gift-wrapped in a sparkly red and gold Christmas bottle. Ok… so this potion doesn’t quite exist yet, but we have the next best thing. You can still get the same feel-good effects by volunteering over the season. CHRISTMAS COMPANY No one likes to imagine their grandparents sitting by themselves at a time when families come together. Whether you step up to organise a big lunch, help out at a local event, or even just share your frankly great chat over a phone call, your company could mean a whole lot this season. With 87% of older people looking for a traditional Christmas spent in company (CommunityChristmas.org), someone out there could be missing out on your mean cup of tea. Contact-the-elderly.org.uk Communitychristmas.org.uk Royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT With record numbers using Scottish food banks in 2015, and 13 million people living below the poverty line in the UK (TrusselTrust. org), of course Christmas is not the only time that people go hungry, but sorting Christmas boxes is an amazing gift of your time. From volunteering during the festivities to helping out during the New Year, volunteering can extend beyond the traditional time for giving and bring about a time for change. Trusselltrust.org Volunteerscotland.net Fareshare.org.uk
TACKLE ‘ROOFLESSNESS’ WITH SELFLESSNESS With incoming presents and a growing collection of knitwear in your wardrobe (damn you student discount), now is the perfect time to take stock of what you really need. It’s hard to let go, we know, but just think of all those trendy parka jackets that you no longer wear being put to good use this winter. Drop off directly at a charity of your choice, or check out these websites for endless options. Getting everything sorted= the best start to the New Year. Charitybags.org.uk Crns.org.uk
With so many volunteering opportunities to choose from, why not kick off 2016 with the perfect boost of festive cheer? It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
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Mistletoe
& Misogyny BY MINA GREEN
H
e closes his eyes and dangles the mistletoe above my head. It is suspended, poised and expectant, like a mouse waiting to be gorged on by an anaconda. I think of this image and then gasp and snort at the same time. He drops the mistletoe and shakes his head.
This dramatic and incredibly awkward scene is something that many of us will be familiar with around the festive season. Mistletoe is supposed to be romantic, we’re supposed to, shyly and gingerly; meet the lips of our long lost lover after years of separation. At least that’s what the movies tell us. And as much as the whole mistletoe situation can be cute and endearing, since when is it socially acceptable to sexually harass someone just because Jesus was born? Christmas is a time of family values, feigned tolerance for Christianity, drunken uncles and indigestion. We’re bombarded with ‘For Him’ and ‘For Her’ in John Lewis at such a ferocious rate that we often wonder if we’ve inadvertently entered the 1950’s. Since when has the festive season become ‘a season to be pervy’? And why is it that we’re so obsessed with preserving outdated traditions?
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It’s common knowledge that women tend to be given sole responsibility for up keeping the holiday joy and maintaining the festive aura of the household, mothers in particular. From wrapping presents and making lists to cooking Christmas dinner and decorating the tree, the women of the house tend to be the cogs that keep the Christmas machine from malfunctioning. Although there are many households that do not adhere to these gendered roles, it is engrained into our psyche how men and women ‘should’ act around the festive period – mistletoe included. As well as fixed gender roles in the household, there exist unspoken rules of feminine behaviour just as soon as the sun decides to retreat, which in Scotland is 9 months out of 12. Women are urged to avoid walking home alone at night during festive season to avoid rapey ‘festive’ behaviour. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
If it’s dark, then us ladies should be locked up in a tower for our own safety, only allowed a glimpse at the outside world to see if a Prince is there to save us. If we are miraculously saved, we’re forced to relent to the Prince’s sexual demands and if we don’t, we risk getting strangled by mistletoe. The victim-blaming mentality is encouraged during the festive season despite the fact that this is supposed to be a holiday of joy, acceptance and peace. So what can we do to deter these archaic ideas and combat gender stereotypes? For a start, we could share tasks and lend a hand in our family at Christmas time to make the day a more collaborative effort. After all, that’s much more satisfying for everyone than watching our mother have another nervous breakdown over a burnt turkey. Combat those fixed gender roles by changing the meaning of lyrics to infamously sexist Christmas songs. For example, instead of singing All I Want For Christmas Is You and pointing to your significant other or a poster of Ryan Gosling, point to your laptop screen and the vacancy for that part-time role at Paperchase. You could also ban sexually suggestive Christmas songs like Santa Baby – the idea that Santa will gift you cars and jewels
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because you’ve ‘been an awful good girl’ is just horrifying. These sexist songs reinforce backward ideas concerning what makes us a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas sings a pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots is the wish of Barney and Ben’. But what if Barney and Ben don’t want to be rednecks? What if they want some fluffy slippers and a Sex and the City box set instead? Challenging sexist advertising around the festive period will allow yourself and others to reflect upon the blatant sexist indoctrination elicited by the media on a daily basis. Asda’s 2013 Christmas ad sparked uproar after it featured a woman doing all of the work in the lead up to Christmas, while her husband stood by passively and uselessly, only smiling when she served him dinner - literally on a silver platter. This was offensive not just to women, but also to men who did do their fair share during the holidays. So next time you’re confronted with some sexism at Christmas, or encounter a sprig of mistletoe inches from your eyeballs, just say no. I’m not going to tolerate mistletoe and misogyny, and neither should you.
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HOGMANAY EXPECTATION VS. REALITY BY RACHAEL PROCTER
W
e love the excitement and optimism surrounding a great Hogmanay: getting to welcome a fresh start with equally ripe faces, while simultaneously waving goodbye to others best left behind. But between countdown milestones and fancy champagne flutes, does the whole evening not reek of bittersweet awkwardness and a touch of disappointment?
Expectation. “MY NY KISS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE A GOD!”
Reality. “MISTLETOE? SORRY, I’M ALLERGIC.”
Let’s face it, if it wasn’t for the sheer satisfaction of pulling an absolute 10/10 in front of your mates, would there be any other reason to venture out into the cold until midnight? Every year up until this point has been a trial run. This time, guaranteed, you will land the Delevingne/ Efron equivalent (and, with any luck, a wedding by 2017).
So, the final countdown begins and you begin to accept that, instead of making the lifelong connection you hoped for, you’ve spent the evening chatting to a solid 5/10 whom you share little to no interests with. You will evidently spend the remainder of the year trying to convince your mates that their Facebook profile picture isn’t a true reflection of them in person.
“I AM GOING TO LOOK AND FEEL SO COSY!”
“WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO COME OUTSIDE?”
The Boxing Day leftovers have long since been inhaled, and you ‘boxed’ your way to a flash new Hogmanay outfit in the sales. Heck, even if you didn’t, your brand new Christmas knits are still unworn at home and perfectly adequate enough to keep you looking and feeling festive at any firework displays. “I AM GOING TO BE TOO OPTIMISTIC TO FEEL SAD!” Next year will be our year. We’ll lose the muffin top/beer belly, fake friends, negative attitude – even this haircut. We’ll save more, travel more, say ‘yes’ to more things, run every morning, sleep early on weeknights and spend more time with the family. This is the one.
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That Fair Isle scarf was a lovely gift from your relative, and your Mum may have been kind enough to iron your fleece, but when it came down to pre-party pics, neither made the final cut. Your friends better brace themselves for an evening of insufferable moaning, because your dignity will not make it to 2016 without a jacket. “I‘M ONE YEAR CLOSER TO MENOPAUSE…” Oh my god - another year?! The end is nigh. Let’s eat junk food while we can still burn it off quickly. We need to enjoy doing nothing while we’re still young, and make the most of these late nights while we can deal with hangovers at work. Someone pass the shots – hurry! I hate you all. WWW.SCOTCAMPUS.COM
BY JENNY CLEETON
Is
Detoxing
Actually
Bull****?
T
hese days, a different detox is around every corner. You can’t go on Twitter or Facebook without some sort of ad for a brand new detox programme hitting you in the face. It’s like the world is telling you your body needs a break, and boy do I know what it means. A few months ago, I wanted to know what all of the fuss was actually about. So after indulging in one too many bags of sharers Sensations, I decided to try one out. I’d tried a few in the past, but never actually stuck to one. This time, I was serious. I emptied my cupboards of all naughty foods, swapped the vodka coke for a glass of water, sat at my laptop and ordered a detox tea. Before the tea even arrived, I was noticing a difference. I felt healthier and the weight was falling off, but then the tea arrived and my “teatox” really started. To be fair, it did what it said on the tin and I did lose some weight, but it also made me feel ill and put me off food more than anything. Worse, though, was the fact that feeling rubbish meant I craved junk food, and eventually ended up eating worse than before. Not a good result.
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Next, I tried another very popular detox option: juicing. I did what any student would do and bought the cheapest juicer from Argos and a load of fruit and veg from Lidl. My fridge had never looked so colourful; but then my friend, who is also a senior dietician, caught wind of my new idea and let me know that it was a bad one. By juicing all of the fruit and veg, she told me, you lose a lot of the goodness: including the fibre. You know what fibre does? Help you lose weight. In the short term some juicing diets can work simply because you’re cutting down your calories, but if you cut out caffeine, sugars, salts, carbs; everything in one fell swoop, your body will not cope. It leaves you feeling drained, tired and, to some extent, really ill. And as soon as you do start to lose weight, your detox is over and you will more likely than not, go back to eating normally, returning to your old weight, and feeling the same. I understand the attraction of a detox, but if there is one thing I have learnt from my experience it's that they’re not worth it. Listen to that annoying phrase your mum repeats when she tells you to make that lifestyle change.
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5 Best... New Year’s Resolutions Apps. BY AMY JOHNSTON
Y
ou know the drill. New Year, New You. Or at least…New Year, new ways to procrastinate and fill up your phone with more apps. Kickstart 2016 with these nifty ways to keep you on track and give you a boost just when you need it.
ZOMBIES, RUN!
UNIBUDGET
If you need motivation to get moving, the sounds of zombies fast approaching should work. Pop in your headphones and walk, jog or run your way through 200 missions. There’s one small catch-you have to speed up whenever the undead get close. Good luck!
If your money seems to disappear on a baguette and chips between lectures, this student budget app can help. Tap in in your income when term starts (like your weekend job or student loan) and let it guide you on a daily budget. Just try not to treat yourself to a takeaway every time you have an essay.
Platforms: iOS Price: Free
Platforms: Android, iOS Price: £0.79 HEADSPACE It can be hard to relax, and that’s where mindfulness and meditation come in. For just 10 minutes a day, let the voice guide you through focussing on...nothing. Thoughts will come and go, but the aim is to let them go. Ease into the year with a de-stressing resolution. Platforms: Android, iOS Price: Free
Zombies, Run!
HeadSpace
UniBudget
Fabulous: Motivate Me!
FABULOUS: MOTIVATE ME! From getting out of bed in the morning to having trouble concentrating or struggling to nod off, try this bright little number to reset your body clock with 5 healthy living habits. Ideal for helping you set new goals for 2016. Platforms: Android Price: Free REMEMBER THE MILK
Remember The Milk
With all of these lofty resolutions floating around, it can be easy to forget the little things next year. Keep your to-do list in top shape, sort out your different priorities (from a presentation deadline to stocking up the fridge) and work out a new way to organise your time this year. Platforms: Android, iOS Price: Free
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What's Happening On
Scotcampus.com ONLINE MAGAZINE
NEW YEAR ACTION
LOOKING FRESH
Our magazine is on offer for free all across Scotland, from Inverness all the way to the Borders. Don’t worry if you can’t get hold of a copy because you can read all of our past issues online. Just don’t try to get through them all at once as procrastination during an essay-all nighter. We do not recommend.
Driving the momentum from Christmas into Hogmanay, check in with us for everything you need to kick start the New Year. If you’re sick of hearing Jingle Bells, we’re always on hand to keep you entertained. From the latest gig previews and hot interviews to all you need to know in film and music news, we’re on it.
Showcasing original hair and beauty video tutorials and bringing you highstreet fashion guides, we’ll get you out of almost any style situation. Unless that situation is a fancy dress party beginning with the letter Q, afraid that we can’t help you there.
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COME WORK WITH US! We all like having a nosey at the famous ‘Intern Diaries’ on our website. Have a look to get a feel of our two-week long internships and tell us what you’d like to do! Whether you want to write, create a short film or show off your photography skills, we’d love to get you on board. We also accept submissions for the website all year round. We can hear your keyboard tapping away furiously at your introductory email already…
FESTIVE FOOD We’ll be stocking up for the winter with a full menu of tasty treats to keep you going. Look out for some Surprisingly Simple Supper recipes straight from the top chefs to your kitchen, and Emma Tomlinson’s Veggie Diary as she goes all Bridget Jones and documents her journey as she becomes all about that vegetarian life.
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