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STYLEZINE SPRING 2015
FASHION . ART . ENTERTAINMENT. LIFESTYLE
FROM THE EDITOR’s DESK Its is said that you should never cut down a tree in the winter season. Never judge the sea when the tide is low. Never make important decisions when you are in the worst of moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will end. The Spring will come. Spring represents new beginnings and new opportunities. This issue was inspired by those who weather the unpredictable nature of circumstances to reap the rewards of new beginnings.
A LETTER FORM NIK BARNES
A special thank you to all our sponsors, contributors and hard working staff at Stylezine Magazine. Join us as we continue to explore, experiment and inspire.
CONTRIBUTORS Editor In Chief Nik Barnes Creative Director Scharad Lightbourne Staff Writers Jaychelle Knowles Kedar Clarke TK Glover Parris Barnes Gail Lindsey Celeste Smith Keith “KJAE” Hinsey Sarsha Taylor Conesha Knowles Travis Edgecombe Disha Simone Smith Contributing Photographers Scharad L Leo Creary Owen Elliot
Nik Barnes Editor-In-Chief editor@stylezinemagazine.com www.twitter.com/stylezinemag
Sales Team Barnes Group of Companies Jaquay Adderley ESounds Marketing Public Relations Khashan Poitier Design Team Mecko Gibson Kai Sweeting Alanzo Bannister
STYLEZINE MAGAZINE © 2015 All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of the owners. For more information, please contact us. No part of STYLEZINE may be produced in any form by any means without prior written consent. For reproduction on articles, please contact Nik Barnes at 242.525.9751 or via e-mail at editor@stylezinemagazine.com.
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ON THE COVER
IN THIS ISSUE Click on a thumb to go directly to that page.
THE SPRING ISSUE FEATURING WENDI LEWIS
Photo: ScharadL Photography MUA: Dario Deveaux Hair: Jameelah Malika Hair Styling: LaVonne Alexis Grip: Kenton Ferguson
In this new edition of Stylezine, we cover the dynamic lifestyle of singer Wendi Lewis. She lets us in on her who reason behind singing and how heartbreat fueled her to write some of her biggest hits. See the behind the scenes of her photo-shoot by clicking on the video below.
WATCH THE VIDEO 6
STYLEZINE SPRING 2015
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STYLEZINE SPRING 2015
A NEW USER EXPERIENCE IS HERE WITH EACH NEW ISSUE, WE TRY TO IMPROVE THE USER EXPEREINCE WITH THE MAGAZINE. STAY TUNED, WE ARE ROLLING OUT MORE FEATURES THAT WILL TRULY ENHANCE THE WAY YOU INTERACT WITH OUR PUBLICATION. FASHION . ART . ENTERTAINMENT. LIFESTYLE
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CELESTE SMITH
French-Italian Love Affair Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses…
Lavender Creme Brulee (serves 4) This luxurious French dessert has been a classic since the 19th century. Straying away from the traditional version, this dessert has been modified in so many ways. One particular flavour that I like has to be lavender. This floral aroma adds an unexpected twist and this creamy dose of perfection is sure a great way to ‘torch up’ that unraveling flame within you both. Ingredients 2 cups heavy cream ½ T dried lavender flowers 4 egg yolks 1 cup granulated sugar (divided) Method In a large sauce pan, heat cream and lavender buds until just boiling. Remove from heat. Allow to cool to room temperature for (10-15 minutes).In a bowl whisk, together yolks and granulated sugar until color softens to a pale yellow. Strain lavender buds out of the cream. Add small amount of cream to the egg yolks and stir until combined. Slowly incorporate the rest of the cream into the egg yolk mixture. (tempering). Pour batter into ramekins (or anything oven safe). Place in a baking pan and fill with water so that the water comes up halfway, covering the ramekins. Bake at 325°F for 42-45 minutes. Allow creme brulee to cool. Cover, then refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight (up to three days).When ready to serve, sprinkle approximately 2 teaspoons of remaining sugar over each crème brulee and using a small hand-held torch melt the sugar until a golden brown crust is formed.
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Shrimp Scampi Pasta (serves 4) Per Amore Della Pasta (For the Love of Pasta)! One treasured memory whilst I traveled to Italy was the impeccable food from the simplicity of ingredients. This dish spices up the night by the night a but the night who knows maybe you will even create your own version of the Lady and the Tramp Bella Notte spaghetti scene. Ingredients 1 pound frozen peeled & deveined medium to large size shrimp, thawed ¼ cup olive oil 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped) zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 pound angel hair pasta 1 cup white wine (chardonnay or sauvignon blanc) juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoons butter ¼ cup heavy cream ¼ cup parmesan cheese ¼ cup parsley (chopped) Method Marinate shrimp by mixing the olive oil, chopped garlic, lemon zest, salt & pepper in a medium size bowl. Add shrimp and toss to combine. Cover for at least 30 minutes. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay shrimp in a single layer. Broil until turned pink. (3-6 minutes) Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package instructions. In a medium size pan over medium high heat, cook the remaining oil mixture from the marinade for 1 minute. Pour in the white wine, and reduce by half, about 5 minutes. Reduce wine, and then add in the butter, heavy cream, lemon juice and parmesan cheese into sauce. Stir to combine and season to taste. Add in cooked pasta and parsley, toss to combine. (If needed, add in pasta cooking water to thin the sauce.) Serve pasta warm topped with shrimp.
Strawberry Romaine Salad (serves 2) Yes, this will even make the notorious meat eater dive into the perfect merriment of yummy flavours. From the burst of fresh strawberries to the bit of bitterness from the spinach. Not to mention the lemon in the poppy seed dressing gives it that extra burst of fresh flavour.This easy appetizer gives you enough time to mingle with your companion. Ingredients ½ head romaine lettuce 1 bunch fresh spinach 1 pint fresh strawberries (sliced) Salt and pepper to taste Method In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine, spinach, and strawberries. Add in dressing and toss until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. For the dressing ½ cup mayonnaise 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon granulated sugar ¼ cup half and half 2 tablespoon poppy seeds ½ teaspoon lemon zest Method Blend mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, half and half, and poppy seeds. Stir in lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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M U S T H AV E KICKS for SPRING SUMMER ‘15
With this being the season for shorts, tanks and minimal clothing, your kicks dont have to “fall” short of this year’s spring and summer looks. We’ve found some great styles to compliment any spring look for both guys and gals. Many companies will switch up or update retro models to include funky patterns, floral prints and bold colours and of course, you can’t ever go wrong with a pair of all white sneakers. Check out some of our picks in this article. The Nike Air Max one takes a popular models for women and adds floral prints to its ensemble and for all you Jordan fans out there, the retro 13 low releases its “Hornets” colorway soon. The Air Max for guys will have endless colour choices and we are loving this orange and gray pair. A very popular model from Nike has its “Roche” line release bold colours like this Flyknit “Volt” colourway and the always classic Converse Jack Purcell model in the all white leather. Just because we know you always ask where you can find these models locally, we’ve highlighted a new retailer, THEE CONNECT 242, who can bring in a deliver any pair you want to your doorstep. Link them on Facebook or Instagram to get your kicks to match your looks for the season.
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When you spend a considerable amount of time with someone, they become a major part of not just your life but your entire being. You become wrapped up in each other and you are inseparable. Your families are intertwined and everyone sees you as the ideal person for each other. There is no question of whether or not there’ll be a wedding; it’s just a matter of when. Then, 10 years into the relationship he utters those dreadful words “I need time.” Most of us would fall apart. We all grieve in different ways but the pain itself is universal. However, while most of us would find ways of inflicting the most severe pain humanly possible on the man who did this to us, there are women like our very own Wendy Lewis who would simply channel that pain and allow it to inspire her.
InterviewJay’Chelle ImagesScharad Lightbourne StylingLavonne Alexis HairJameelah Thompson MUADario Deveaux GripKenton Ferguson WardrobeShoptheCC LocationBayroc c/o Matt Sweeting
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Having grown up around music with her first public performance being at her pre-school graduation, belting out Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All”, singing and songwriting have come naturally for Wendy. What she seemed to have struggled with though was inspiration. “They say I’m lucky to have loved and lost than not have loved at all. Whoever said that never had the best thing in their world crumble.” This song “I Lost You” was Wendy’s first single (found on her EP “Lunar”) and in true Taylor Swift form, she poured her heart out. It’s almost as if each of her songs takes the listener through the varying stages of grief. “I Lost You” is where she empties herself of all of her raw emotions. She acknowledges her loss, her pain and the utter despair she’s feeling as a result of the breakup. After she’s grieved and wallowed in her self-pity and her mother reminded her of who she is; pretty much commanding that she “stop crying over this boy”, “Gone Bad” is birthed. This is the pick me up, dust myself off and flip you the bird, kind of a song. Now, now, this song does not mean she became ratchet (to all the KeKe’s and Shaquana’s of the Bahamas, do not use Wendy’s song as an excuse to sling shot your hoo-ha around town because your first and fourth sons’ daddy decided to cheat on you and had twins with your cousin – and all of a sudden you have to go bad…again because you grievin’). What this song represented for Wendy is the evolution of Wendy. Transitioning from relationship to singlehood and using her experiences to guard her heart (and her hoo-ha because the girl’s been celibate for two years) and just focus on her artistry and her career.
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I try every day to be a better person. I have to check myself every day to make sure I remain humble.
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As talented as she is, she is extremely reserved and quite shy and had it not been for joining Visage in 2010 (and also co-writing the Happy Hour Song) we may not have gotten to see the evolution of this epitome of Crazy, Sexy, Cool. If you’ve ever seen her perform you’d never believe she’s a smidge taller than 5 feet. She has a vivacious onstage personality and a larger than life entertaining ability. When asked how she separates who she is on stage from who she is in life she simply states “I try every day to be a better person. I have to check myself every day to make sure I remain humble.” This is a difficult task because for some of our local entertainers, the minute 100 Jamz misses and plays our song right before the news, we’re ready to pull up to Bamboo Shack and request valet parking. There is a real dichotomy between onstage Wendy and Wendy walking down the street. As an entertainer she knows she has a responsibility to engage her fans and audience but she also knows that Bahamians are judgmental and extremely critical, especially of females. Her attitude is “just because you may see me shaking up on stage does not mean that’s who I am. I am an entertainer but when I walk off that stage, I walk away with my head held high and my shoulders drawn back because that’s who I am.” Back in 2014 she put on an amazing showcase at Volume Music Bar where she performed all of her originals and also a few covers. We can expect something similar but on a larger scale this year. Wendy doesn’t consider herself a fashionista per se, but she certainly is her own trendsetter. As far as she’s concerned a nice pair of pumps and her Chanel bag can make any outfit “the bomb.” With all of her major accomplishments such as, graduating from Berklee College of Music debt free, and putting on her showcase, the one thing she laments is “am I ever going to have a boyfriend?” Her first love right now is her music and as far as she’s concerned, any man that becomes even remotely interested in her will have to understand that.
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Don’t try to sound like Beyonce or Ciara. People will like your sound because it’s your sound, don’t try to change that but enhance it.
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Also, she values her personal relationship with God (to all you judgmental pew warmers please understand that a personal relationship with Christ is just that- a personal relationship. Jesus knows her heart just like He knows yours and doesn’t He still love you the same? With ya’ bad self). Wendy’s advice to all the up and coming artists and even those that have been around for some time is “be true to yourself and be true to your craft.” “Don’t try to sound like Beyonce or Ciara. People will like your sound because it’s your sound, don’t try to change that but enhance it.” I asked Wendy what her thoughts were on what happened on camera to another local and quite popular fellow female artist. “I don’t think what she did was wrong. She’s a grown woman. I think it’s wrong that it was sent out and put on display for the public.” Spoken like a mature adult, Wendy’s words rang true and she wishes nothing but the best for her fellow artist. There’s
a
misconception
that
female
artists
are
disingenuous or phony. But as we talked about some of her most embarrassing experiences and she divulged eating some bad Chinese food, begging her boyfriend to pull over but instead crapping in his car and tracking it all through his parents’ house, I realized this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
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Here’s what we think are the next hot gadgets on the market. This will satisfy any tech’s tastes buds and keep you “in” on what’s hip.
THE APPLE WATCH There is no questions what the MUST HVAE product of 2015 will be. The good folks over at Apple are finally getting ready to ship out its first wearable titled the “Apple Watch” The watch is truly a work of art bringing together seemlessly beautiful craftsmanship with their iOS technology. The watch comes in different models such as the Sport, Watch and Edition models. The price tag isnt cheap either with the Sport model starting at $349. Of course the bands are sold at a seperate cost but this give your the option of fitting your watch to your lifestyle. We here at Stylezine love the Stainless Steel model with the Milanese loop. A perfect look for the everyday on the go tech. This new Apple product will undoubtly sell and break records so try to get your hands on one if you’re into watches.
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