18 minute read
OUR COVER STARS
House of Indy
The latest toddler tie dye t-shirt brand. House of Indy is a new small business, selling one-of-a-kind designs. Every single t-shirt from the House of Indy collection is unique; each garment is dyed by hand, right here in the UK. Purple Spiral Bolt T-Shirt £15.99 www.houseofindy.co.uk
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Studio Muse Pontcanna
Curated with a conscious eye and a touch of lux, this beautiful store, located in the heart of Pontcanna, is dedicated to self-care within the genres of beauty, skin, bath, fragrance and fresh flowers. Studio Muse is renowned in Cardiff its luxurious products and blooming spectacular floral displays. The Pontcanna store offers purely vegan and local British products, from bespoke face creams to hand-made candles. www.studiomusepontcanna.co.uk
Wing Stack
The perfect ‘wing’ destination in Cardiff. Wing Stack offers mouth-watering, tasty meat and vegan options, such as their signature wings. You’ll find an array of wings, burgers and ‘tings’ which are full of flavour. Every single dish has its own signature style, from popular classics to indulgent favourites, there’s something for everyone’s taste. @wingstackuk
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INTERVIEWS
PHOTOGRAPHER: Justin Harris @justinharrisphotography STYLIST: Jade Nadia @jnl.styling MAKEUP ARTIST: Clarise Stark @makeupbyclarise HAIR: Mwah, Cardiff CLOTHING: Black PR @blackprgroup Dati @daticlothing
LEANNE & SARA PEARCE
The Cardiff sisters who left a historic mark on the UK’s music scene
Leanne and Sara Pearce, who are known as DJ Precious and Tiger S, are sisters from Cardiff who gained fame in the early 2000s. Leanne became the first black female DJ on BBC Radio Wales and a previous member of Ladies First, who hit No.5 in the UK Dance Singles Chart with their single “I Can’t Wait”. Whilst Sara was a part of the British UK garage and hip-hop collective, So Solid Crew, which gained huge success and credited as being pioneers in the UK music scene. We sit down with the sisters who share their rollercoaster of a journey, childhood memories of growing up in Butetown and what they are up to now in their careers. When did you realise that you both had a passion for music, and how did your childhood reflect this?
Leanne: When I was 8 years old my school put my poem forward for a competition, which I won and ended up being published. I then started writing poetry and realised if I can write poems, I can write songs. We’re from a musical family, our Dad was always playing the saxophone and there was always music playing in the house, from maracas to vinyl. Sara: We used to perform together as sisters and pretend we were on ‘Top of the Pops’ and then it happened. Our parents had a huge part in our love for music, our dad used to have parties and run nightclubs, so we were constantly in that environment and surrounded by Jazz. They also took us to festivals like Glastonbury, WOMAD, Elephant Fayre etc. So, we were always listening to live music. After my older sister Nadia Pearce passed away, I wanted to be a solicitor to finish what she never could, but Leanne encouraged me to follow my own path. So, I started singing at the start of her DJ sets and that’s how my music career began.
Leanne, tell us how you started DJing?
Leanne: I was 13 when Nadia passed away and I was just wild after it, I used to joyride and all sorts. I knew a guy called Kervin Julien who was about to start up this community radio, and at the time I really wanted to be a journalist. So, he let me take care of the news department. I never thought I would be a DJ at this point. Jenny Jo was meant to be Bay FM’s DJ and I was meant to
read out the news part of it; Jenny could not make that day, so I had to play the music as well, live on air, at 14 years old. As soon as I did it, I loved it and I was addicted. The radio station definitely saved me, and it became a family affair as the years went on.
Talk us through the process of how you were scouted for ‘Ladies First’?
Leanne: From Bay FM I got spotted to go on BBC Radio and had my own show for a year and a half on a Saturday night; I was the youngest black DJ on BBC Radio Wales at that time. This is when I started getting recognition from London producers. From there, Sara and I decided to go to a music conference in Miami. Out there we met DJ Matt White, he wanted us to meet his friend Jade (Polydor Records) back in London who was starting up a band called ‘Ladies First’. From there, I was then signed to a huge music to move to London, and it was hard; I was constantly missing her. Sara: So, I put everything on hold and became the ‘Nanny’ so that we could all be together. Leanne: The music scene really changed, things got a lot darker. I felt that being signed meant that I was a product and my creative control and feelings were pushed aside. I was scared, I didn’t know the business like I do now. It was a very personal decision to leave the group. I still hold a lot of love for all the ladies, looking back I feel it was the right thing to do.
Sara, becoming part of the biggest garage group the UK has ever seen and being part of that movement, what did that feel like?
So, we grew up with Harvey from So Solid and he’d previously worked with Leanne and I had previously met Megaman [founder
of So Solid Crew] in Bristol. One day I got a call from him saying that Lisa was ill and wasn’t able to perform, so could I cover for her, which ended up being my first gig with them as ‘Tiger S’ at the O2 Arena. I got there and was so nervous, I didn’t even know her parts, so I had to learn it on the way. After the performance, Megs said to me that he owed me a favour, so I asked if I could write a track with him. He came up and we wrote the chorus to ‘Ride With Us’. We recorded it a couple of weekends later; then the label said that they wanted to sign me and wanted me on the album. It was crazy being a part of this group, the crowds use to mob us if we were all out together. When I was in it, I thought it was amazing; it was just fun for me. It happened so quick that it was a pinch-me moment, as one minute I’m pretending to be on ‘Top of the Pops’ and the next minute I actually am. I didn’t really get a chance to think of the severity of it and how big it actually was.
Did you realise you were making history and paving the way for future black artists, as nothing like this had happened before?
We did know, as people were trying to stop it. So, we knew we were a force to be reckoned with as people didn’t want us [So Solid Crew] to tour. When people want to tear you down, you must be powerful. There was so many of us, we were so talented, if we were to branch out, we would have taken over.
How did you grow as a person during this time Sara, and what did it teach you?
Wow, that’s a good question. It taught me to go for whatever I wanted and to believe in myself. The support system we had really kept us grounded and we didn’t forget our roots or where we came from. But it definitely taught us to follow our dreams.
What’s are you both doing now?
Leanne: Currently I have a series of mixes being broadcast on BBC Radio Wales and I present my weekly drive time show on MiHouse Radio (Wednesday 5-7pm). I’m also busy in the studio recording my own solo ep with Welsh super producer Paul Lyons. My first track ‘Feel it in the Air’ will be released this summer! Sara: I work with children at SEAPIA (Sands End Associated Projects In Action) hoping to inspire and support the next generation to follow their dreams and aspirations. I know first-hand that if you believe in yourself you can achieve all your heart desires!
LEIGHTON WALL
Professional dancer, choreographer and founder of the Welsh Ballroom Community
Leighton Wall is a professional dancer, choreographer and creative director based in Cardiff. He recently founded the first Welsh Ballroom Community, to celebrate Cardiff’s ballroom scene and helps to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. What inspired you to become a dancer?
What inspired me to become a dancer was my first introduction to different types of dance styles in my local youth centre, which was Butetown Youth Pavilion. They had a dance team, and they were called ‘Butetown Dancers’ who were all girls when I saw them; I think I was the only guy there. I just couldn’t stop watching them dance; I would sit there and just be mesmerised. Apart from seeing that, I definitely would say Michael Jackson influenced me. I was obsessed with Michael Jackson when I was a kid and got to see him live at Cardiff Arms Park. Also, coming from somewhere like Butetown, it’s very multicultural. You’re always around music; people would always be singing and dancing.
What style of dance are you most passionate about and what style of dance do you think is the most fun to teach?
So I would say the style of dance I enjoy teaching the most is Street Dance. underneath the Street Dance umbrella there is a lot of different styles, you have old school styles like popping, locking, breaking and then new school styles. I feel like Street Dance is my forte, that’s what I have trained in and that’s what I continue to train and learn new things in. I’ve trained in contemporary, ballet and other styles in the past but Street Dance is what I’ve zoned in on. Voguing is another Street Dance style that spoke to me; it’s a beautiful form of art when you see people voguing organically. I definitely want to specialise in that style eventually.
Can you tell us about how you started the Welsh Ballroom Community and how it has created a safe space for those in the LGBTQ+ Community?
The ballroom scene is an international community. So I started training with the Bristol Ballroom Community by an invite from a friend who runs there open training sessions, I teach weekly in Bristol so I was travelling back and forth to teach and train for awhile. I then had the idea of starting a Ballroom Community in Wales, with the support from Kyle London Tisci who is a part of The Impeccable Haus Of Tisci the Welsh Ballroom Community was founded which was long overdue as there was nothing like this in Wales. It is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ as they can be themselves, without the fear of being judged. For many, we are a chosen family, as some have previously been kicked out or disowned from there families.
The creative arts sector has been heavily affected by lockdown, what do you think needs to be done by the government to save the arts in Cardiff?
I would like the government to take us more seriously. This industry is a billion-pound business, and it should be respected as such. The arts sector has been a saviour to many over lockdown, I don’t think it’s going anywhere. In the first lockdown, I was doing dance challenges to try and lift people’s spirits and to do something fun to give back to the community. As a sector, I feel that we’re stronger than the government think.
What’s next for you?
Continuing to develop, educate and build an authentic Welsh Ballroom Community is my main priority; it’s really important for me to continue having this safe space for the LGBTQ+ Community in Wales.
LIANA STEWART
Producer & Director from Cardiff
Liana Stewart is a Producer and Director from Cardiff with over 10 years experience creating documentaries for television. She recently produced the BBC documentary ‘Black & Welsh’. We find out more about this incredible Welsh creative.
What inspired you to become a director?
Spike Lee! I initially wanted to make feature films and put myself in those films as an actor just like he did. But I didn’t get into the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; I was on the reserve list for the whole summer, so I decided to study a documentary degree instead.
Have you always been interested in the creative industry?
I’ve always been interested in the creative industry, from wanting to be Whitney Houston as a kid (didn’t have the voice unfortunately), to a backing dancer, to studying musical theatre and acting (I was a guard in Dr Who, 10 seconds of fame) I’ve always loved being creative. I’m very much an extrovert and I think that comes from my mum who always encouraged me to be and do whatever I enjoyed.
What do you feel has been your biggest achievement, in your career, to date?
My biggest achievements happened last year, one being my short film for Channel 4’s shorts series, Take Your Knee Off My Neck, which featured my very first short form documentary called My First Time about racism and then Black and Welsh for BBC Wales which was a celebration of identity. I’d say both documentaries have my stamp as a director, which I’m extremely proud of.
Tell us more about your recent BBC documentary, Black & Welsh?
I was approached by Producer Catryn Ramasut from IeIe Productions who felt a documentary about being black and welsh was overdue. The inspiration came from the brilliant documentary Black and Scottish by Stewart Kyasimire. With the support and encouragement from Catryn, BBC Wales and the black Welsh community I was able to make a film which was a celebration of identity but also not shying away from difficult topics which are unique to the black Welsh community. I loved making it as I felt I learnt so much about black people in Wales and the experiences of those outside of Cardiff, which were so different to where I grew up in multicultural Butetown.
Did you find any challenges whilst breaking into this industry?
The creative industry is well known to be difficult to get in to, but I think there’s an extra layer when you are black and working class. It usually means you don’t have the financial support to do multiple work experience placements or move to the bigger cities easily. I had to work full-time hours doing work experience whilst working part time in the evenings which was very difficult but had to be done in order to gain experience. I also had to save to move to London and then had multiple jobs to survive before getting my first gig in TV, jobs included promo work, admin jobs and working in a storage unit!
What boundaries do you hope to break/ continue to break in your industry?
I hope to support young black and workingclass people whenever I can and give them the knowledge I have about the industry in order for them to navigate it and know the pitfalls. I want to make content that is current, innovative and truthful. I’m really keen on working in Wales again and creating documentaries which are forward thinking and don’t conform to stereotyping Welsh people.
Cardiff’s theatres have been closed since March 2020, leaving the arts sector as a whole tremendously impacted by COVID restrictions. The sense of community within this sector is unlike any other, with many driven by passion for work that they genuinely love. Therefore, not only has this predominantly freelance workforce faced financial difficulty, but it has been battling to preserve an entire lifestyle and support group. We checked in with members of the community to find out what they’re up to and how the pandemic has affected their lives.
ARTS IN LOCKDOWN
Cardiff’s Creative Community
Kate Verity
Kate works part time as an Arts Officer for Caerphilly County Borough Council, but the rest of her usual income as a Freelance Artist has decreased due to postponed and cancelled projects. On theatre closures, Kate commented that there have been “quite a few discrepancies and imbalances” in Westminster government treatment of the sector. “Why should people be allowed to sit in ‘bubbles’ inside a pub and order drinks and food to their tables, but they couldn’t sit in bubbles at cabaret style tables, distanced, within an auditorium?” On the future of the arts, Kate commented that “the current Westminster government doesn’t see the value of the arts and theatre, and so these are the areas first cut back on when money is tight”. For more information, visit
For his own business, Real Audio Visual Entertainment, Jon works as a Sound Engineer/Technical Production Manager for theatrical productions, festivals and corporate events. Although some projects have gone ahead, Jon commented that “most of [his] work is impossible to do from home, as it is event based”. Having signed a pledge to work in the local area and boost communities post-COVID, Jon received a freelancer grant from the Welsh Government. Jon anticipates that the decrease in opportunities will remain, but has used this time to take part in technical training courses, hoping to “branch out and develop broader skills” as the industry adapts toward more live streamed events, podcasts and sound design opportunities.
Francesca Pickard Francesca is a Freelance Director, Facilitator and Arts Project Manager. Taking on a wide range of roles, she has worked predominantly in youth arts for twenty years. As part of the steering group for Youth Arts Network Cyrmu, Fran has been “really pleased” to see young people adapt to online working. However, when unessential shops amongst other businesses opened, Francesca commented that it “felt like the arts were being marginalised”, knowing plenty of theatre makers willing to take steps to share live work in a safe way. “We need to recognise the fundamental right of all young people to have fair access to arts and cultural experiences and we need to value the impact of the arts in everyone’s lives, especially our most vulnerable and those for whom other opportunities for expression and interaction may be limited”. For more information, visit https://yanc.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/CaerphillyYouthTheatrePage
Zak Peterffy Zak is an aspiring actor, gaining experience in the industry whilst working another job for income. With production company Snoozedays, made up of university friends, Zak was cast in the original play Cicero before the pandemic. The group continued throughout 2020 by “grabbing [their] moment” whenever possible to rehearse with masks in an empty storage unit, before releasing the play for a month online. Zak commented optimistically, “for me this was pretty cool as I’ve always wanted to do more work with cameras!” “I cannot tell you how good it felt when we finally wrapped! Not because ‘thank god this is over’ more for the fact of ‘we actually did it!’” For more information, visit https://www.snoozedays.com/
Jaydan Alexander Jaydan graduated with a Fine Art degree in 2020, and aspires to transition into theatre research and development to make educational plays for schools on LGBT topics. He advocates that more correct representation of transgender identities in theatre would be a “game changer” as it “makes you feel seen”. Current plans however, are “up in the air”, with previous opportunities to develop his skills having fallen through amidst a “definite drop” in new opportunities. Whilst working in retail for income, Jaydan is now gaining experience as a set designer for a sitcom pilot. Follow Jaydan on Instagram @jaydanalexanderart
