Sonar Magazine - Issue 4 by Sonar Magazine

FROM THE EDITOR A

s Editor for the society Sonar Magazine, I would like to welcome you to issue four of our student publication. This magazine has come to fruition through hard work and dedication from every single member of the society and I want to thank every of them for their unrivaled commitment to the project. I first joined Sonar Magazine as an awkward fresher in 2016, and I could’ve never imagined I’d be here now, trying to fill out a few hundred words for the beginning of the magazine. Excuse me while I weep on the keyboard. Our focus for this issue was to highlight the talent and passion Southampton has. I feel like this has been reflected by the amazing amount of variety our content has this time around. We’re a society full of passionate individuals, and we pride ourselves in creating opportunities for students to dive into while at Solent. I took over the role of Editor near the beginning of 2018 and it would be an understatement to say it’s been a wild ride. I’m quite happy to say that the magazine has continued to attract talented writers and all round creatives and the future looks bright for the society going forward. None of this has been easy, but I’m loving every single minute. Our aspirations are

big and our hearts are in the right place, which is what I’ve always wanted for the society. I was incredibly pleased to find out that October was the best month on record for the website, in terms of clicks and views. This is a testament to all the hard-working students who take the time and effort to create content for the magazine. A big thank you to every single person who continues to put in the effort for their student media. People are joining to write and contribute for the magazine because it’s a healthy and fun society that will always encourage its members to go further and do more. I can’t imagine where we will be next January when we publish issue 5, but I’m hoping we’ll be just as enthusiastic when we return. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for everyone to read some of the amazing content we’ve made this issue. I’ve been blown away more times than I can count by the sheer imagination and tenacity the members show. Hopefully, that transitions effectively onto the following pages. If you think you’re up to the task, we’d love to work with you as well.

Robert Anderson Editor-in-Chief

ON MY RADAR THIS ISSUE

AN INTERVIEW WITH J-GRREY

STORY-TELLING & VIDEO GAMES

WRITE ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON Sonar Magazine is Solentâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s very own student publication and website. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;re a society full of passionate individuals, and we pride ourselves in creating opportunities for you to dive into while at Solent University. Join us and start your career in the media!

/sonarmediamagazine

@sonarmagazine

www.sonarmagazine.co.uk @Sonar_Magazine

CONTENTS DEFCON LAWLESS MUSIC - PAGE 18

OKTOBERFEST P.6

LIFESTYLE

THE INVISIBLE ILLNESS

P.12

HEALTH

FOR A GOOD CAUSE P.14

FASHION

THE DCEU: A UNIVERSE IN CRISIS TYRESE JOHNSONFISHER SPORT

P.34

ENTERTAINMENT

P.26

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Social Media: Tait ap Ellis & Tommy Corlito

Editor-in-Chief: Robert Anderson

Magazine Influencer: Karoliina Varret

Deputy Editor: Joe Parker

Design & Vision: Robert Anderson Karoliina Varret Johanna Bebbingtion Ioana Simion

Graphics Editor: Johanna Bebbingtion

Treasuer: Varrie Young

Content Coordinator: Ollie Laurie

Oktoberfest meets southampton By Corinna Eckhart, Mara Möllenhoff & Johanna Bebbington

he world’s largest folk festival is called Oktoberfest and is held annually in Munich, Germany. This year was the 185. celebration, which is called “Wiesn” by locals. What comes to the mind of many people when they think about Oktoberfest is Beer, pretzels, dirndls, leather trousers and dancing on the tables to German folk music. No wonder it has captured other countries, such as the UK: On the 26th to 27th October the Oktoberfest Southampton took place in the Mayflower Park. Over 9,000 Visitors celebrated together the exceptional tradition. Not only did the crowd enjoy dancing to German folk music and munching on many tasty spcialities from Bavaria, the majority actually dressed up in tradtional German dressed and leather trousers with checked shirts, alongside massive hats made of felt.

However, it is not only the dress that matters. In fact, did you know that the bow on the dirndl can have enormously different meanings depending on where it is tied together? Have a look on the next page to find out what your bow really meant...

LIFESTYLE

have you been wearing your dirndl correctly? Did you wear a dirndl?

yes

No Did your dirndl have an apron?

no!

Did you tie your apron in the front?

sort of no

yes Did you tie your bow in the middle?

yeah!

not really Did you tie it on the right side?

you are

boooring!

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your bow says:

widow or waitress

yes

your bow says:

virgin

single

taken

12 beer facts you should know

hen it comes to Oktoberfest, beer isn‘t just beer. It‘s a drink brewed espicially for this ocasion. Here are some interesting facts that show how seriously the Germans take their festival and their golden goodness.

1. Every year over 6.1 Million people visit the Oktoberfest in Munich, of which 19% of the visitors are foreign. 2. As we know Oktoberfest is all about beer, which is specially brewed for the festival only. One mug of beer is identical to 8 shots! Not surprisingly that 600 to 800 people suffered from alcohol poisoning this year at “Wiesn”. 3. One mug of beer costs around £9,50 to £10,15 in 2018. 4. Did you know Paris Hilton is banned from the Oktoberfest? She used her visit as a promotion, what is officially forbidden. 5. Everyone knows Albert Einstein. But did you know that he worked as an electrician and helped to set up beer tents in 1896, before he became famous. 6. After more than two weeks of extensive celebration, there are 4000 found objects each year, of which only 20% are collected by the owners. Maybe the owners never notice their loss. 7. After drinking some mugs of beer, the queue for the toilets becomes longer and longer. There are 878m pissoirs and 964 toilets in total.

8. Adidas launched a sneaker called Oktoberfest Originals, which perfectly match your leather trousers. These beer and vomit-proof shoes have a typical traditional design. They cost £176.45 and come with a free beer mug. 9. There are official beer mug carrying records. One man could carry 27 beer mugs at one time, which equals 64kg. Don’t believe us? Convince yourself and look at a video on the internet. 10. Did you know that the mug in which beer is put in isn’t called „Stein“? It’s actual name is called Mass. It is pronounced similar to the word „mars“, only with a sharp „s“ in the end. 11. The mayor of Munich actually has to open the first barrel of beer every year, by hitting a piece of wood into it. The most hits have been 12 (how embarrassing!) and least have been two! 12. Did you know that the actual Oktoberfest starts in September and ends in the first week of October? It’s only because the German weather is a lot better at the end of summer and able to attract more people during that time.

LIFESTYLE

CAN YOU STUDENT? By Shreya Patel

y biggest rule when shopping (for anything from groceries at ASDA or shopping in West Quay) is if you can’t use contactless on your entire shop, it’s too expensive! Everybody knows the first rule of being a student is budgeting. No one actually likes to budget but it’s a secret rule that all students should know, especially in first year. First year students get their first installment of their maintenance loan in September and its happy days, but then when you subtract the rent by October and the cost of keeping yourself alive, you’re left with about...99p to your name in November. This doesn’t even get you a 99p flake from the ice cream van anymore! For many students, including myself, clothing is a priority. Signing up to NUS and/or UniDays is like a rite of passage, getting all the discounts most adults can’t get is a luxury, take advantage of it, even shopping at West Quay or the high street can be very pricey, so save some of that money you don’t have and use the discount to buy clothes you can’t afford because how else do you become a student? Primark is known for its affordability. Why spend £37 on a white t-shirt with the tiniest logo in the corner when you can get the same thing without the logo for like £3? Remember my rule at the beginning, £37 doesn’t cover contactless so buy it when

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you can actually afford it because I can barely afford a £3 meal deal from Tesco at this point. At a stretch, New Look is…questionably budget friendly - especially during their sales. But, the only problem with that is, there’s never anything in the size you want - so you’re stuck between with cobalt blue ripped denim jeans that are four sizes too big, a flamboyant yellow summer dress in the middle of November, or tragically leaving the store empty-handed! But other than that, New Look is trendy and in the cheaper end of high street shopping. As for groceries, everyone should just shop at LIDL. ASDA is great for on the go as it’s close to the University, but LIDL is a budget friendly; own-brand Cherrios for 99p rather than actual Cherrios for £3.30! Nothing else to say about grocery shopping except go to LIDL, make that extra effort that you don’t put into attending 9am lectures into shopping for much cheaper groceries! So, can you student? If you already look for the biggest bargain in Southampton every time you go shopping, if you don’t spend any more than the contactless limit, and if you shop at Primark rather than shopping designer, then congratulations! You’re a student, welcome to the broke life! If you haven’t experienced this yet, just wait for it…it’ll come in time.

s i t a h W ? a e T e l Bubb W

e dropped into Bubble Drop Southampton to chat with one of the owners of the business, Paul Snook, who agreed to help answer the question – What is Bubble Tea? Paul explained what makes Bubble Drop different, and unique compared to other bubble tea joints. “You don’t need to go to business school to create a business, we are all about customer service. We let our customers try before they buy, and make sure they are happy with their choice. If a customer is not happy, we will make them drinks until they find one they enjoy. We engage with our customers while keeping a clean space. All of our products are from Taiwan to offer an authentic experience.” ‘Authentically Taiwanese’ can be seen across the Bubble Drop branding, and that’s exactly what the fascinating and delicious drink is. ‘Bubble Tea’, also known as

‘Boba’) is a Taiwanese tea-based beverge. There are many varieties of the drink and a range of milky or fruity flavours. Even though bubble tea has been around for a while now, many people still don’t know what it is. The ‘bubble’ part of the name refers to the froth you get when shaking it. However, many people think bubble refers to the toppings. “Bubble tea is taking the UK by storm,” according to the Bubble Drop website, and after tasting it, it’s hard to disagree. What makes the drink so great is the addition of some tasty toppings. Some of the options are fruit jellies, popping pearls, and tapioca. Tapioca has a chewy texture and is not for everyone but in my opinion it’s worth trying. If you want to play it safe for your first time, then go for a fruity tea with popping pearls. Most bubble tea shops have vegan options and include gluten-free ingredients so there is something for everyone.

LIFESTYLE

Owner, Paul, told me abit about BubbleDrop’s beginnings, “we started out selling our drinks at street food markets and festivals. As we became more popular, we decided to have something more permanent, so we created a stall at WestQuay.” With two locations under their belt (Winchester and Southampton), the future is looking bight for the company, and Paul affirms us that they want to keep expanding, while still keeping to their market roots. “We want to get into as many cities as possible, while growing organically. Investing as we earn.” Since it’s nearing the festive season, Paul told us about the winter menu. “Our winter menu is currently out which includes different flavours of warm milk tea. We also have a new addition which is the Black Forest Gateau.” We tried the black forest gateau and it is a chocolate lovers dream. Need a tasty pick-me-up in the morning? They also do a ‘Bubble Coffee’. Outstanding.

Mon - Tues: 12:00 - 18:00 Wed - Sun: 11:00 - 21:30

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CROHN’S DISEASE: THE INVISIBLE ILLNESS By Bethan Long

he word Crohn’s may not sound that familiar to you - or in fact to many people - as it is not a widely talked about or known disease. Crohn’s disease is definitely something that you should acknowledge, as it effects over 300,000 people in the UK alone. Crohn’s disease is known as an invisible illness. On the outside, the sufferer can look as well as you and I. However, on the inside, it is like a war zone. Having a younger brother that was diagnosed at a young age, I am able to share my experiences from over the years, in hope to spread awareness, so that Crohn’s sufferers won’t be so misunderstood in a society that knows very little about this disease. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) comes in two forms, the first is Ulcerative Colitis (UC), this can cause inflammation in the inner lining of the large bowel, and ulcers develop along the surface lining, and can bleed and produce mucus. Crohn’s Disease (CD), is an illness that causes inflammation in the

gut or digestive system. The most common effected parts are the colon or the small intestine, but any part from the mouth to the anus can be affected. Patches of the gut can be affected, with sections of normal gut in between. Both of these diseases fall under IBD, so if somebody states they suffer from it, they could be relating to either of these illnesses, and they may suffer slightly, controlled with medication, or they may suffer heavily, having to undergo operations, take extreme medication and have to spend a lot of time in hospital. Unfortunately, neither UC

HEALTH

nor CD have a cure, and are both lifelong diseases. Sufferers can have periods of remission or periods of flares. Some symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, extreme fatigue, fevers, ulcers in the mouth and throughout the digestive tract, extreme weight loss and much more. Doesn’t sound too great, does it? My younger brother Nathan was suffering with some of these symptoms at the young age of 7, but not being visible to doctors or even family, the severity of his problems where swept under the rug. His pain was put down to stress, poor hygiene levels, poor diet and even that the pain might be all in his head, and often people would not believe him.

We were soon to find out that he had been telling the truth all along. It is important not to give up, to keep persevering and make someone listen to you. You know your own body. After many, different doctors’ appointments and through sheer determination, my brother was finally diagnosed with both forms of severe IBD. Nathan was so young; he did not really understand the implications of this horrible disease. His quality of life dramatically changed, missing large proportions of his education, giving up sports clubs, never ending hospital appointments and stays, missing time with friends and family and spending an awful lot of time on the toilet. It is also very important to recognise the physical and emotional strain this had on Nathan SONAR MAGAZINE

too. Nathan’s school, his friends and even my family and I did not understand his pain because we could not see the pain (It sounds awful I know, but the truth). People are often confused and are misinformed when it is mentioned that he has IBD. This is why a lot of people go undiagnosed. They are not aware of their own symptoms and the risks, and why a lot of people that do suffer feel very isolated. Charities such as Crohn’s and Colitis UK are doing great things to raise awareness and research money for this cause. My brother’s illness continues to have a massive impact on not only him, but also our whole family. I saw first-hand what dealing with an ‘invisible illness’ looks like and it is an experience I cannot put into words. 13

FASHION FOR A GOOD CAUSE

RITISH HEART FOUNDATION: Can you introduce yourself and your position at British Heart Foundation? My name is Preston Davies, I am the Area Manager for South Hampshire managing all the shops, we raise funds by selling quality merchandise and new goods, Xmas cards etc. Can you tell us a little bit about the British Heart Foundation Charity? Since the British Heart Foundation was formed in 1961, tremendous progress has been made in the fight against heart disease. Thousands of lives have been saved; new drugs and surgical techniques have been developed. The quality of life for heart patients has been greatly improved. But the fight must continue. The British Heart Foundation is the largest independent funder of heart research in the UK and, within a generation, our aim is to reduce cardiovascular disease in the UK to one of the lowest levels in Europe. More needs to be found out about the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease. Research is expensive and the British Heart Foundation relies almost entirely upon voluntary donations for its income. Your support is greatly appreciated. How can students contribute to the British Heart Foundation? Students can contribute by volunteering (25% discount on all purchases except new goods) and by donating their unwanted clothing, bags, shoes, CD’s, DVD’s and electrical items, in fact anything. Is there anything else you want to add? I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the British Heart Foundation. 14

Full outfit from British Heart Foundation, Southampton. Sneakers, stylist own.

By Kai Lin Tan

Hat, £5.99

Model: Mia Wells @mimimaui Stylists: Mia Wells & Kai Lin Tan @leocouturee Photography: Kai Lin Tan

Jumper, £5.49 Coat, £14.99

Trousers, £2.99

“THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HEART PATIENTS HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED. BUT THE FIGHT MUST CONTINUE.” PRESTON DAVIES

FASHION

ARPLACE ANIMAL RESCUE: Can you introduce yourself and your position at Farplace Animal Rescue? My name is Kevin, I am the Manager for the Farplace Animal Rescue Charity in Southampton, in the Marlands shopping centre. Tell us a little bit about the Farplace Animal Rescue Charity Shop. We are a no kill animal rescue centre in the north east. We take in animals from the little tiny mice to big horses, and these could be animals that are wild animals that are injured to domestic animals that are neglected, and we look after them and re-home them. In here, we have people who can walk in donate, which is fantastic. We also send the van out once a week to collect any donations, if there are bulky items like furnitures that people can’t really carry into the shopping centre. All the money donated, after the bills are paid, are going into the animal rescue centre in county durham. How can students contribute to the Farplace Animal Rescue? Any old clothes or furnitures you have, feel free to donate. If you are moving into or out of student residences, old furnitures can be donated, or if you want to come and get some cheap furniture, we are here. The other thing students can do is, if you are looking to improve your CV, come in and volunteer, we are always looking for more people. Is there anything else you want to add? SONAR MAGAZINE

“IF YOU WANT TO DONATE, DO MAKE SURE IT IS ANIMAL FRIENDLY.”

Shades, £0.50

Tee, £3

Skirt, £1

Bag, £2

Full outfit from Farplace Animal Rescue, Southampton. Trainers, stylist own.

Model: Mia Wells @mimimaui Stylists: Mia Wells & Kai Lin Tan @leocouturee Photography: Kai Lin Tan

Farplace Animal Rescue is a vegan charity shop, so if you are looking to help contribute to a vegan cause or if you just want to help out animals, please come in, buy stuff, donate stuff, or donate your time to come and help out. Additional to that, we are an animal charity, so we don’t take in any leather goods. Someone donated a Louis Vuitton leather bag and we couldn’t sell it. So please, if you want to donate, do make sure it is animal friendly, thank you. 15

STYLE & SAVE The Latest

Fashion

Trends By Rebecca Violet

Being up to date with the latest fashion is an essential for students and our student discounts really benefit us. Yet sometimes we’re eager for more. Living the student life isn’t easy; trying to budget between socials, food and of course our own little luxuries. So, having cheaper alternatives for ourselves is no doubt a blessing, and beneficial that you can find them right just down the road, at West Quay shopping centre.

o start, it is the most spoken about trend which is making a famous return! Starting from 1920’s and only progressing annually, Animal print is hitting our shops once again, bigger and better. New York fashion week was the start of this animal print revelation when Tom Ford opened with these dazzling garments. This wild fashion trend has been seen on other catwalks such as Victoria Beckhams, Calvin Klein and Balenciaga. Ranging from leopard, zebra and tiger print, this daring trend covers coats, dresses, hats and bags.

The bucket hat has overtaken any 90’s fashion trend like no other. Once a forgotten accessory now an iconic garment as one might describe as. Ranging from Parada, to ASOS and Urban Outiftters, there’s plenty of shops to buy them from. 16

This all sounds very promising, yet it could be unlikely that budgeting Balenciaga’s new range into our student loan is possible, right? Well, fortunately there are various alternatives to the iconic animal print. Places such as Primark, New Look and H&M offer duplicates of this trend for a fraction of the price. Bags are just the start of this unforgettable trend. (Below) Both these animal print denim skirts were only £12.99 in our local Primark. This crop was only £4 from again, Primark. Matching it with the skirt below, and the whole outfit would only cost you 16.99.

PRADA, £225

ASOS, £20 FASHION

Comfort is key this winter, but so is style, so now… we’ve got both. Introducing the cosiest and the cutest coat this year, the Teddy Bear Coat. Ranging from online shops such as PLT and Boohoo, high street shops; Misguided and River Island making it all the way up to the high-end side of fashion to designers such as Off-white and Max Mara. These coats are unstoppable and have successfully made their way into everybody’s hearts… and wardrobes. Celebrities such as Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian have been spotted out and about in these iconic garments. The soft fabric makes you want to keep it on forever which is exactly what you need to keep you warm! Luckily this trend has filtered into every shop so us students won’t have to worry about pricing or availability. This cream cosy coat was spotted in Primark for only £25. We even had to go into the shop to try it on for ourselves! Opposingly, the same style of coat but in a darker brown is sold in River Island for £85. Are you ready to get Christmassy? You will be once you hear that the infamous red lip has returned! At the Alexandra McQueen show, a bold red lip was presented accompanied by the subtle base makeup, catching everyone’s attention and persuading everyone that a red lip would be their autumn/ winter go to! As tempting as it is, some of the best red lips known are; “Ruby Woo” MAC, and “Oh Miley” Marc Jacobs. Some that may not fit into our budget. Nevertheless some of the best dupes have been spotted and do not fail to disappoint. There is no doubt that men’s fashion is equally as important as women’s and just like animal print, there is another famous return, the 90’s. The 90’s is making the biggest comeback and SONAR MAGAZINE

This YSL red lipstick is perfect for Autumn but also comes at a price of £28.00. However, New Look are selling the identical dupe for only £3.99. Success! YSL, £28

trends such as the bucket hat, chunky trainers and cargo rouders have hit our shops famously for men and women. Designers such as Parada, Balenciaga have desgined according to the trend and high street shops such as Zara, Topshop and Urban Outfitters have coined in to.

BALENCIAGA, £615

NEW LOOK, £3.99

ZARA, £34.99

NEW LOOK, £34.99

DEFCON LAWLESS By Tommy Corlito

here’s a newbie in town. Grasp the term ‘newbie’ with a pinch of salt; Philadelphia’s Defcon Lawless is no stranger to lyrical craftsmanship. There’s an unwritten rule that hip-hop artists and the like tend to lead poor lifestyles - lifestyles that many would say poison the youth of today. However, imagine an artist that leads two separate lives. You’re right, that’s not so alien. To a certain extent no idea is unique in the modern day. So, what sets Defcon apart from the rest? By day, a loving husband and father of one... by night? The Lawless Collective comes alive, abiding by the rules of no man and unleashing a ravel of talent and crowd-enticing vibes. Let us find out and dig into the depths of what makes Defcon tick. TC: So... tell us a little about yourself and who you are. Defcon: Well, my name is Defcon Lawless. I am a sonic explorer if you will - I like to experiment, music producer, occasional multi-instrumentalist and just an all-round experimental artist I suppose! You know what I mean? ...

Been living in England for about sevenand-a-half years now, come from Philly; right outside of Philly to be specific. A place called Norristown, so, still support the Eagles though eitherway way. Know what I’m saying? Phill-birds and all that. Um, yeah, I’ve been rhyming for a while. I’ve been really into all genres of music my whole life; everywhere from new-wave, alternative, grunge... erm, punk, hip-hop obviously, jazz - I don’t discriminate against any sound if it sounds good. I don’t now man, I’m not really used to... I’m Defcon I suppose. TC: Did your music stem back from when you were in Philly? Like, were you in a group of friends that influenced you, or was it something you just grew up with? Defcon: Well, skateboarding is a major part of my life. So, it’s been a combination - it’s kinda like a, almost like a patchwork of influences. Growing up, I come from a long line of musicians and artists in my family - I’ve always been surrounded by people who have amazing taste in music from my Mother who listened to Duran Duran ‘n’ Joy Division. You know what I mean - Prince and Michael Jackson - every decade there’s been a new influence. So, when I was younger it was my family, as I got a little older it was my surroundings people in my hood were really getting into hip-hop. Music to me is therapy, right? It’s what evens me out. My Uncles were DJs as well, DJ Disco Pete and Easy Mike back in the day so I’ve always been surrounded by turntables. As I got older, say teenage years I really got into skateboarding - which really opened up Pandora’s Box for me. Because, when I was 14 I started watching skate videos that would introduce you to sound you wouldn’t usually listen to.

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So, in the ‘90s it was very much hip hop ‘n’ flow, you know what I mean. You might get some ill shit like Gang Starr, Camp Lo, you know, Biggie - the obvious stuff that I was already familiar with - but then it opened my eyes to punk and hardcore. Erm, indie and alternative; it all kinda comes together. So, I even to this day can’t listen to the same genre of music for more than 15 minutes at a time. So, the main influence especially right now is - a lot of it stems from skateboarding. One of my favourite bands of all time is “At the Drive-In”, you know, like I was telling you earlier man, some days I bump WuTang most of the day, or some East Coast fly shit. But, today I was listening to Cheryl Crow, Tears for Fears, and playing Pokemon! It’s just what it comes down to, depends on my mood I suppose. Yeah bro.

“ DEFCON

LAWLESS is bringing the fun back

“

to Britain’s hip-hop scene.

TC: I know you’ve just spoken on skateboarding, but is there an aspect not so much within the industry but the culture behind it, that attracted you to get involved? Or is it purely your love for music? Defcon: Yeah! Actually it’s a bit of both, that’s a great question. I’ve been skating for what, fucking 17 years now? It’s a very DIY approach, it’s very hap-hazardous, like, you look at the world differently. You go out on the street you see a bench - people sit on it, skateboarders? They wanna shred that shit. If I hear some fly shit from a different genre of music, I don’t think about it as the end game... Voice: *Daddy?* Defcon: Yes buddy? Voice: *I’m thirsty.* Defcon: Alright one second! (Laughs) He never stops man, never stops. We then took conversation outside and delved deeper into Defcon’s inspirations and true influences when it comes to his lyrics. Defcon: Carrying on man, I take background from everything. I’m very perceptive in my surroundings, I always absorb. So, it depends on what I’m directly around for instance I’ve even done a drum’n’bass track, I’d have never done that back in America. I’m in the UK, I’m getting ready to do a couple of grime tracks with some homies from around here - I never would have touched grime. I like to adapt, so that’s why skateboarding directly affects it.

MUSIC

It’s about adaptability, it’s about being a sonic chameleon; you know what I mean? Like, being true to it. The day that it’s not fun anymore, is the day that Imma quit doing it. Music to me is therapy, right? It’s what evens me out. I feel like I’m a vessel, like, I couldn’t give a fuck about the music industry. I couldn’t give a shit, in the same way that I don’t care about what clothes I put on, I really don’t care about earthbound stuff. I prefer an existential approach, so, I just love the fact that I’m able to express myself. You know, that’s why I keep throwing skateboarding around - anything that allows me to just throw it out there without having to answer questions, is exactly why my stage surname is Lawless. I don’t give a shit. I love that, I love being able to be like, “hey, I’m in the mood to do...”. I got R’n’B tracks downstairs, I got tracks that are rock orientated - I just happen to put out more tracks that are hip-hop style tracks right now. But, I love the freedom that comes with it, that’s my main thing. I don’t give a fuck about the industry, but it would be nice to get paid for this shit. TC: (Laughs) So, at the moment it’s fun but it would be nice to then reek the benefits of that? Defcon: The day that it’s not fun anymore, is the day that I’mma quit doing it. Because, I have a full-time job, you know what I mean. You heard my little boy come down the stairs, I will never sacrifice the bread and butter ‘cos I gotta take care of my kid. But, but I’m doing this strictly for fun - I may as well be playing Sega Megadrive when I’m down playing. Like, I’m playing around and I decide to present it to the world to see how people receive it. But the psychology behind people supporting it, makes me happy. That’s what fuels me. So, it’s kinda just like... right... I’m just gunna throw this out there, it’s like a social experiment, let me see what happens. Then the recession has been so positive, that, it has nothing to do with my ego or who I am, but more about the people who’re willing to receive it. Does that make any sense? TC: Who’d you say have been the most influential characters when it comes to your style? Is anyone kind of base yourself on, or is it as you said earlier, you just do what you enjoy? Defcon: I think it would be unwise to say that I am not influenced by anybody in particular, but

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since I take information in non-discrimatively, because I take information from all aspects, it’s hard to say. My wife said to me before, ‘you can tell you’re influenced by Pusha T when you freestyle sometimes’. Well that makes sense. I wasn’t intending on sounding like Pusha T; but I love Pusha T. It’s funny though -- the things that influence me more rather than individual MCs, is actually completely different genres. So, when I was on stage the other day I took a lot of energy from a Texas band called At The Drive In. A post hardcore band that I’ve been fuckin’ in love with since I was about 14; so, I love that type of energy. I mean, so, I think the thing is it’s not an individual influence and it never will be. My own thoughts right now will be different in 15 minutes. One thing you must know about Defcon, is that his lyrics will never seemingly correlate with anything you’d expect to hear in a verse. We’re talking anime, cartoons, the lot. Don’t forget who’s behind the mic. Defcon: If you talked up the subject when you were like 15, 16 and it would stoke you out. Are you actually keeping it real? Like, I have Megazords in my house. And Dragonzord. One of the most talked about lines that I performed the other day was a comparison to a Rapidash from Pokemon. You know why? Because I fuckin’ play Pokemon! I don’t carry guns, I’m a father. I am a 31 year old dad, and I want y’all to know it. I want people to know that it’s okay to have a duality. The person I present to you guys, in this country -- I have a whole different image back home. Even back home I got dualities, multiple dualities. Another big deal for influences, non-musically is comic books. You know, Defcon Lawless is my alter ego. Aaron is Peter Parker, Defcon Lawless is Spider-Man. All I’m saying is, I get on the stage and rock it, but then I come home and I give my kid a juice box as you’ve just seen. That’s real gangster shit to me.

THAT’S HOW I FEEL. Photography: Rachael Sanchious

J - GRREY

By Tommy Corlito

ou may be familiar with with London’s current youth movement, where numerous up-and-coming artist have broken onto the music scene in full-stride. But, who are the stand-out names to you? One vocalist in particular has taken the industry by storm, going by the name of JGrrey. After featuring on Youtube channel, Colors Berlin, JGrrey’s following spread worldwide. An immediate and seemingly unstoppable response to Don’t Fade led to an official charts release, one million streams for the Youtube channel and even an Adidas sponsorship drawing upon

streetwear roots. Her neo-soulstyle lends itself generously to this year’s summer vibe; not to mention a refreshingly hands-on social media approach. Grrey took advantage of momentum gained from Don’t Fade, with the release of Growing, a single seemingly dedicated to selfdevelopment and love for an occasional smoke. But, where did this young London artist start out? Streetwear, where every young musician seems to start and find inspiration from throughout their career; for many it’s a feature that can attract an audience, or merely add to the appeal. I caught up with J, who allowed me to get a glimpse at

MUSIC

inner-workings of her mind and behind-the-scenes motives that influence her lyrics and persona. TC: Could you tell us a wee bit about yourself please! Maybe something we wouldn’t know? JGrrey: Hi my name is JGrrey, obviously you already know that -- and I’m a sing-a-song writer. I sing songs, and write songs and record songs. I release songs and people listen to those songs, and I thinkthey enjoy them, so far people seem to be liking it. Err, something you wouldn’t know, that I... you wouldn’t know that I really enjoy cooking. Or maybe you would know that. I love cooking, there you go! That’s something you might not know. TC: Jumping into things now; how did you initially get into streetwear, or was it something you’d just been brought up around? JGrrey:It kinda just happened naturally to be honest. I worked as a stylist for a while, and when I realised after working as a stylist that the more you kinda, play down what you’re wearing, the more chill it is and more relaxed it is. And opposed to wearing shoes you can wear trainers, and as opposed to wearing jeans and chinos or smart trousers, you can just wear tracksuit bottoms and stuff like that. That’s kind of when I realised that there’s actually this whole genre called streetwear , which is like this really relaxed way of dressing, super chill. That’s when I first started noticing it. Ever since then, every since it’s been a thing I’ve kind of just naturally fallen into dressing that way because it’s easy; it’s what comes easy to me. TC:And music... how did you get yourself into that world? JGrrey: I got myself into music through my friend, Manga Saint Hilare who used to be in Roll Deep,

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essentially leaving me around the studio and trying different stuff out with him. And then, kinda just paid off really. TC: People seem to be fixated on the Adidas tracksuit you wore for Colors. What influences your style, if anything at all? JGrrey: To be quite honest, and I wish I had a really cool answer for this -- I don’t. Absolutely nothing influences my style. Sometimes I’m really lazy with my style, like today my boyfriend said to me, “don’t wear that“, and I just wore it. It’s just laziness (laughter)! Unfortunately, I wish there was some cool answer, there really isn’t! TC: 2018 has been a big year, with Don’t Fade hitting 1 million streams Growing releasing. Is there anything you’re looking to accomplish over the next few years? JGrrey:Erm, release an album, and just be able to treat my family through the fruits of my labour is the next thing I’m trying to do, that’s my goal really. TC:If it wasn’t for music, where do you think you’d be right now? Can’t imagine this is something you’ve considered! JGrrey: I’ve actually been asked this question quite a lot! Which is weird, I don’t know why -- to be quite honest I have absolutely no idea what I’d be doing. Interior design, or cooking maybe? I really couldn’t tell you, I have absolutely no idea. I’d hope that it would, if not music, be something I enjoy still. So, yeah. TC: Lastly, what’ve we got to look forward to from JGrrey; what’s hiding up those sleeve? JGrrey: Hopefully I’ll be releasing an EP for the third time now, and working towards a headline show, just small collaborations, more work and stuff like that. So yeah, it’s all very good!

MUSIC OF THE WORLD E S T O N I A

By Karoliina Varret

- The Boondocks//Indie Most popular song: “Incognito”

- Reket// Hip-hop, Rap Most popular song: “Teine”

- Lexsoul Dancemachine

//Funk

Most popular song: “Calavera”

- C. Tangana//Rap, Raggaeton Most popular song: “Mala Mujer”

- Rosalia//R&B, soul, pop Most popular song: “Malamente”

- El Canto Del Loco//Pop Rock Most popular song: “Contigo”

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the DCEU: A UNIVERSE In Crisis By Akash Beri

t’s no secret that the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been in trouble for years now. With a slew of super-powered box office bombs under its belt, it trudges ever forward in a kind of desperate perseverance I can only admire. Despite an impressive repertoire of superheroes, DC has been consistently trumped by Marvel in box office numbers, critical reception and audience approval. With the release of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the DCEU has definitely lost the superhero arms race and at this point, will never be a serious contender. But how? How did the studio with the three biggest superheroes of all time lose? I’ll tell you how. They

made one bad hire. That fateful decision derailed any hope of this universe amounting to anything more than a silent fart in a tempestuous hurricane. Following Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Zach Snyder was selected as the golden boy to kickstart DC’s universe with Man of Steel (2013). In an effort to emulate Nolan’s dark and gritty style, the studio selected the guy who made 300 (2006) and Sucker Punch (2011). Seems fair right? Wrong. Those movies bled style, but most of his films fail to develop interesting characters or a competent story. Unfortunately, that mojo seeped into the soul of Man of Steel. The result? Superman flying through buildings as millions scream in fear.

That’s not a superhero, who stands triumphant when the world is burning - that’s a rockstar. The tonal misstep in this film would become the blueprint for every other movie in the franchise, a mark that DC has struggled to remove ever since. Batman v Superman (2016) and Justice League (2017) repeat these cardinal sins - hiring the wrong guy and creating the wrong tone. To put it simply, Superman should be flying in blue skies, not grey ones. Hiring the right man or woman, a director with proven experience in handling character and story, would have done wonders for the franchise. Like the great detectives of fiction, Batman is famed for his preparation and forward-thinking. He’s always in control of the situation, and even if he isn’t, he knows the game plan and contingencies when things go wrong. It’s the shame the studio who owns him can’t follow suit. Since the very beginning, the DCEU was always playing catch-up with Marvel. In a desperate effort to sidestep solo movies and go straight for the team-up box office numbers, DC just skipped them entirely. Batman V Superman, the second movie in the franchise, introduced the entire Justice League and managed to squeeze two amazing comic book storylines into one film and still have it turn out bad. The only thing worse than falling behind is rushing to keep up at the expense of good storytelling. And that’s hard to do when the screen is filled with superheroes we’ve never met before and don’t care about, and you’ve got so much ground to cover. If DC had taken the time to map out the universe and setup each hero before the team-up, we would have had a much more satisfying result. Say what you will about Marvel, but they knew exactly how to orchestrate a universe in motion that built to a grand crescendo. Justice League SONAR MAGAZINE

played out more like a bad Taylor Swift song. A good universe is a consistent universe. Apart from the recasting of Rhodey in Iron Man 2 (2010), Marvel has done pretty well in keeping actors on contract for the films needed. This helps build a cohesive franchise, where all the films slot into one another to create something grander than its parts. Unfortunately, both Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck are reportedly out as Superman and Batman respectively. It’s mainly speculation at this stage, but even the talk of such major departures puts the entire universe in trouble. You can’t replace the two biggest heroes in your arsenal with different actors and expect things to go smoothly. You just can’t. It won’t work. If Wonder Woman wasn’t such a huge success, DC probably would have pulled the plug already, Amazing Spiderman 2 style. They’re also in the awkward position of running parallel universes with multiple actors playing the same character on the silver screen. Both Jared Leto and Joaquin Phoenix are now the Joker, since Leto got cold feet after the train wreck that was Suicide Squad. With a foot in the door and a foot outside it, the DCEU just cannot make up it’s mind what it wants to be. The only real solution is to hit the reset button, wait five years and start again. But there’s just too much money on the table for them to turn back now.

The upcoming Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) and Aquaman (2018) look set to turn things around, but I’ve been burned before. Many, many, many times before. Overall, the DCEU just doesn’t know what it wants to be. Does it want to be ultra-serious and gritty, or light and comedic? It’s a hard balance to strike, but they’d be better served by hiring directors like Patty Jenkins, mapping out the next ten years of movies, and figuring out their brand identity. Maybe then we can start loving the DCEU again. Photo Credit: Warner Bros. 27

LET THE

DEVIL OUT

DAREDEVIL SEASON 3 REVIEW

he Netflix Marvel Universe has always been a tricky one for fans. The grit and inyour-face dark nature of the shows was a massive attraction for viewers looking for a more mature take on the superhero genre. It all started with Daredevil – and the grounded tale of Matt Murdock played, masterfully portrayed by Charlie Cox, taking down the infamous Kingpin, Wilson Fisk (Vicent D’Onofrio). It was as if Frank Miller himself had penned this glorious tale of criminal versus vigilante - there was a Dark Knight sensibility to the show, but with the glam of a Marvel hero. But after the success of Jessica

BY ROBERT ANDERSON

Jones (all hail David Tennant as Killgrave), it seemed to go rather down kill. Bulletproof Luke Cage has promptly been shot down and discarded of, and the punches of Iron Fist seemed to make as much of an impact as a frantic child throwing a tantrum while waving their arms in the air – it’s also been canned. Although, there’s good news, the fantastical elements have been put aside, and the gritty drama of Daredevil has returned for its third season. Gone are the mystical cults and resurrecting demi-god ninjas – thank god, season two wasn’t the best. On the positive side, season three picks up where the Defenders ended.

But don’t worry if you don’t want to watch that rubbish, there’s a re-cap and its quickly passed aside. But, what we do have is a barely alive Matt struggling to recover after a building basically fell on him – never again will I complain because of a paper cut. With his senses rattled his ‘sight’ is impaired and we initially see him trying to recover while the world around him starts to fall down and crumble as well. The danger that looms is none other than Wilson Fisk, incarcerated, but, oh my, the tension certainly tells you he’s up to something. I could feel it in my chest and my bones. I was tensing my fists as he (one step at a time) twisted the world upside down and made it his playground again. It’s astonishing how much sizzling energy D’Onofrio’s return brings to Daredevil. Everything from the weird, heart stopping tension that he brings to the little ticks and bold actions that make it clear that Fisk is a criminal mastermind child, longing for love. A monster, that certainly jailbreaks into the protagonist’s souls and takes no mercy. The magic, it’s acting at its very best, and he should be highly commended for it. It is one of those times that you can never see another actor playing the role so well – like Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, or Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. But this isn’t the only fantastic performance in this season, as every single actor certainly hits Matt in the face and then does a powerful scream. Angry acting! They were all great, is what I’m saying. We even got to see a rendition of Bullseye this time around, which played again on the aspects of mental instability - similar to Fisk. I don’t want to spoil to much of his character arch, but his addition to the show was perfect in my opinion. Again, it was a breath of fresh air to have a down-to-earth style storyline again, with every single character on board. The fight for a few blocks of New York couldn’t be more invigorating – and the fight scenes certainly don’t disappoint either. There’s one fight that takes place over around six minutes or so in a prison, and it’s basically one take. I was out of breath by the end of it, and you could see Charlie Cox probably was after it as well. It’s this kind of pure ruthlessness that will grip you so much with this show. Season three hits the nail on the SONAR MAGAZINE

head tremendously hard when it comes to the audie3nce feeling incredibly amounts of empathy for the cast, their pain is felt in every single scene and there is never any let up. Nor should there be, the drama of Daredevil should be commended for not needing a tension breaking joke every few lines. Matt’s religion is touched upon a lot in this season, and although many may take issue with it, I welcome it. As mentioned before, Frank Miller’s portray of Daredevil certainly had influence this time around, simlair to the first season. Matt Murdock’s faith is a constant motif and it’s fantastic to see it done so well. “Thank God for you.” – “He didn’t help you, I did.” The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, this show is spectacular. Daredevil season three is most certainly the best piece of television the Netflix division has done for Marvel. Photo Credit: Netflix Media

top 10

by Adam Farrar & Tait ap Ellis

most disappointing comic b ook movies 21st Century

10. BLACK PANTHER Admittedly a harsh inclusion, Michael B. Jordan and Andy Serkisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performances are both exceptional, but a big proportion of the remaining cast lack a lot of depth. One of the biggest draws was the soundtrack crafted by Top Dawg Entertainment and it was heavily underused throughout.

9. venom

With a run time of under two hours, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite astounding how slow the first hour is. The film is rife with forced humour and a plethora of poor one-liners. Eddie (Tom Hardy) is the saving grace of this film, his relationship with Venom forms the glue which just about holds everything together.

8. Suicide Squad

7. the amazing

spider-man 2

ENTERTAINMENT

6. spider-man 3

5. HULK

2. BATMAN V SUPERMAN Imagine a child smacking two action figures together for two and a half hours and you have Zack Snyder’s film. The hype behind this film was enormous, this only adding to the film’s downfall and overall disappointment. An over reliance on CGI, lack of any depth whatsoever and a lack of understanding who the character were are representative of the muddled outcome Snyder left us with.

4. Ghost Rider

1. GREEN LANTERN

Ryan Reynolds himself said “I’ve never seen the full version, only saw a very late rough cut; it was poster first, release date second and script third.” It was supposed to be the rich, kick-start to the DC Extended Universe. Dodgy, unconvincing CGI and a script that relied on the skills on Reynolds led to this film only managing to rake back £19m from a £200m budget.

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3. FANTASTIC 4 31

story-telling &

video

games

here are so much potential for games to become an engaging storytelling medium. This potential is not being fulfilled. Most games seem to fall into two categories when it comes to writing. They either do not understand storytelling techniques, and fail to tell an intriguing story, or try to imitate film, which can come across like it can not decide what it wants to be (like every David Cage game).This article will examine effective techniques developers can use to communicate narrative in compelling ways.

by David Mincer

Many game studios are under the impression that adding choice also adds depth to the story. However, because it scales up the game, designers are sometimes forced to choose between quantity or quality. In the end, to reduce the scope, all the branching choices eventually come back together; just giving the impression of complexity. Bioshock got away with this as it relates to the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s themes of libertarianism and the illusion of choice. Fallout 3 is a great example of a game that pulls off effective repercussions for choices, forcing players to question their morals and what they have to gain or lose. Level and world design is another important tool in the game developerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toolkit. A location can hint at the lore or even foreshadow an upcoming event, like a boss fight. If you want to see this in action, play Hyper Light Drifter. The world is filled with little breadcrumbs that hint at a

post-apocalyptic past which the player tries to unravel like a mystery. In filmmaking, the number one rule is ‘Show Don’t Tell’; if you are going to communicate something, use the visuals. Game designers have now adopted the view of ‘Do Don’t Show’; which means that information show be conveyed in gameplay rather than cutscenes. Just think of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. The character’s strengths, weaknesses and personality are portrayed to the player through the core mechanics. When cutscenes are shown, it is important to keep the character consistent with the gameplay. Stray too far and you get ‘Ludonarrative Dissonance’, which is when the player feels like the character they are playing as is different to the character the story is trying to portray. When talking about story in gameplay, it is important to clarify the difference between ‘Game Story’ and ‘Player Story’. The game story is the narrative that is carefully crafted by the studio, while the player story is the unique experience that arises from emergent gameplay. All game stories lie on a spectrum between these two, with linear stories (like Uncharted) on one end and open-ended experiences ( l i k e Civilisation) on the other. The way these two approaches differ the most is how they approach ‘Character Development’. Game story normally borrows from other media, such as film and literature, where the player character starts the story believing in a lie or a desire. By the end of the narrative, the character discover

what they actually need to believe, which often conflicts with their original beliefs. Player stories take the approach of developing the player themselves, either by unlocking new abilities or through learning new mechanics, techniques or even the story’s underlying themes and messages. While we are on the subject of themes, there are very few games that actually try to explore a subject matter like film or literature has. This can be narrowed down to the design process, which starts with a core mechanic before the studio even considers story or level design. Designing with the theme at the centre of the game also comes with the problem of implementing it into every element of the game. This does not mean that it is impossible. Nier: Automata and Catherine are great examples of games that have a deeper meaning behind the surfacelevel gameplay experience. Due to the added level of i n t e r a c t i v i t y, games have the promise to be such an engaging storytelling m e d i u m . However, the industry still has a long way to go, especially as many players and gamers alike are absolutely against video game narrative. If games are to evolve, we must be open to new ideas and allow professionals to bring in ideas from other artistic mediums and experiment. Although I believe one could never replace another, games truly have the potential to rival films, television and literature. Photo Credit: Square Enix

TYRESE JOHNSON-FISHER Promising British American football player, Tyrese Johnson Fisher, has already made his mark in sports at just 18. From becoming a youtube sensation at just 15 years old, to be-coming the first player outside the US invited to play in the UA all American game in Or-lando. Tyrese tells me “Being the first player from outside of the US was unbelievable, it gave me even greater coverage and hype going into the game which meant that I was not ‘just another player’ but one to look out for. It gave me great pride as it felt like every-thing that I had been working towards came true.” The Under Armour All-America Game is a high school all-star game created to spotlight the nation’s top high school seniors. I asked Tyrese what it must of felt like to be invited to such an event, “What I really liked about it was the opportunities that it proved because although coaches like my film, having the game in my sporting CV adds value to my name and

thus, gave coaches an even greater reason to recruit me and provide jaw dropping offers.” We can imagine the offers, and being the first English player, the pressure was on. “It gave me even greater coverage and hype going into the game which meant that I was not ‘just another player’ but one to look out for. It gave me great pride as it felt like everything that I had been working towards came true.” The Londoner’s eagerness to be noticed has helped with his passion to reach for the stars. You may be thinking, how did he get here? well let’s back track a bit. Fisher’s transition from rugby to american football was far from normal. But after playing rugby straight for eight years, he felt as if change was needed. “I got to a point where i was not enjoying what I was doing. I was constantly down and felt as if the sport was not necessarily made for me.” The search for a sport that would show the player’s talents and skills was found

SPORT

in American Football, “It appeared to be the sport that I would inevitably pick up. Given the speed, agility and mentality within and needed for the sport. I feel as if it is a sport that allows me to be myself.” Tyrese took a short break from rugby to focus on his sprinting, achieving a PB of 10.72 over 100m. His power and pace were a combination that turned heads when seen on the rugby field. It was at the NatWest Schools Cup for Oakham U15s video that went viral. Reaching up to 30 million views, the athlete became a YouTube Sensation overnight. Bringing in endless opportunities for the young star to prosper in. However, Tyrese tells me the honest truth. “Being a YouTube sensation is not necessarily as glamorous as it seems. For sure, it has opened many windows and if it wasn’t for that video, then I may not be where I am today but, the trade-off is one’s happiness.”. The video helped the 16 year old get more exposure but from what he tells me, maybe it wasn’t for the best. “I be-gan finding fake friends, old friends that turned against me and teams would always plan to target me either verbally or physically. It forced me to grow up faster and it forced me to take time to truly find myself.” It is obvious the South London born star has dedicated drive to succeed, an important factor in a competitive sport. But his dedication is not just about the sport but proving ste-reotypes wrong. Tyrese fills me in about the South London stereotype that has been growing for a series of years. “If there are a lack of jobs, a lack of afterschool activities and a lack of quality of education, one may lack the understanding between right or wrong- which I think is our biggest problem.” With an increase in an already high level of consistent crime in South London. Fisher hopes to use his success as a platform. “I am hoping that my success can provide the youth with the right mentality that anything is possible, that if I can make it out then so can anyone.” Tyrese hopes to create talent academies when he’s older to help nurture young talent. But for now, he says “I have to make sure that I accomplish getting to the NFL.”

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BY JULIET SAWYER

WHY DO I CLIMB? I ’m not a big fan of sports. Football? No thank you. Tennis? Have you seen my hand-eye coordination? Gymnastics? You’ve got to be kidding. In all honesty, I am, at heart, quite a lazy person. So how on earth did I end up getting into a sport as resilient, challenging and scary as rock climbing? I’ve been climbing on and off for seven years now, and I think it’s a sport everybody should try once. Even if you’re scared of heights, it’s got to be on the bucket list. There’s something very rewarding about looking at something that seems utterly unclimbable, and surprising yourself as you clamber your way to the top. Climbing is quite an unconventional sport for many reasons. It can be very competitive – it’s even going to be in the 2020 Olympics – but it’s not like athletics or rugby where there’s a clear winner. There are so many types of climbing and so many styles that it’s hard to tell who’s the best. The UK’s best climbers may be able to fly up the hardest route at their local climbing centre, but struggle to get a metre off of the ground on a real rock face outside. There’s so much variation, which means there’s something for everyone. Today, the best climber could arguably be a 48-year-old man, or a 17-year-old girl. How many sports can say that? Steve McClure has climbed the UK’s hardest sport route at grade

9b. To anyone who is unfamiliar with climbing grades: that’s pretty damn hard, with the scale only currently going up to 9c. Only a handful of people in the world would even attempt a 9b. To anyone who is unfamiliar with climbing grades: that’s pretty damn hard, with the scale only currently going up to 9c. Only a handful of people in the world would even attempt a 9b. Whereas Ashima Sharaishi, a 17-year-old from New York, has been bouldering (this is when you climb shorter walls without needing a rope or harness) grades higher than any other woman has achieved, while also being the youngest, male or female, to do so. She conquered her second 9a+ (just a grade below McClure) during her spring break in grade eight. Not too shabby, right? Perhaps people like Sharaishi (right) are the reason why increasing numbers of women are trying out the sport. We all need somebody to aim to be like, don’t we? And for the next generation of climbers, maybe the five-footone teenager ticks the box. “I never really questioned if I was weaker than the guys,” she told Huck magazine earlier this year. “I always thought I had the same strength, and I knew I was capable of showing what was possible.” Nowadays, everyone seems to be hitting the gym, living off of protein shakes and raving about quinoa.

SPORT

That’s fine for some people – don’t get me wrong – but me? Not a fan. Climbing, however, is a full body workout that is also actually fun. You’re having to support your whole-body weight, while battling endurance through longer climbing sessions. And what’s cheaper: a loyalty card at your local climbing centre, or a David Lloyd Gym membership? Exactly. But screw the physical side – what about the mental side? Climbing is one of the best things you can do to sort your head out. It doesn’t matter how stressful your shift at work was, or how many essays you need to write for university, as soon as you’re alone on the wall nothing really matters. Nothing makes you feel more content than literally being above the world, away from distractions, and simply climbing. Southampton has the Boulder Shack as its local climbing wall. Primarily a bouldering centre, the place mostly consists of smaller walls with squishy mats to land on – and there’s a slide. This is also headquarters for Solent University’s climbing club. “I climb because I love the social aspect and challenging myself to try new things and push myself,” says Emma, who joined Solent’s climbing club this September. There is also a climbing centre in Romsey, as well as plenty of outdoor opportunities in the south of England. Portland is considered

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climbing Mecca, as well as Dancing Ledge further afield in Dorset. “There’s nothing better than climbing outdoors,” says Andy, a student, who has been climbing for 11 years. “I like going to the local wall but you can’t beat being on real rock – it’s much more intimate, and I always push myself harder outside. Nothing ever compares to the view at the top of a crag you’ve been dreaming of sending for months. Climbing gyms are good places to meet other climbers, obviously, but I find climbing projects outside much more rewarding.”Climbing can be considered a dangerous sport, but if it’s done properly you can have plenty of freedom without any safety concerns. Set your equipment up correctly – even if that means getting an induction course at your local centre – and you’re good to go. There are some insane climbers out there – Alex Honnold for example, who is probably the most famous climber, known particularly for his free soloing. This involves climbing walls, sometimes thousands of metres high, without any safety equipment. And we’re not talking about easy step ladders here – he’s climbed some of the hardest routes around the world. One wrong movement and splat. But actually, climbing is statistically safer than badminton. Concerns aren’t necessary because, essentially, this sport is about being in control. Find what you love about it, and you’ll never look down.

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