The EDIT Issue 12- Spring Edition- March 2019

MARCH 2019 - ISSUE 12

THE

Spring

GCU’s OFFICIAL STUDENT MAGAZINE

Edition

2019

THE

Spring Edition

Follow Us @theeditgcu

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News and Features It’s Time To Rethink Scotland’s Position in the UK Why We Still Celebrate International Women’s Day GCU Mental Health Instagram is Bad for My Mental Health GCU Learn Shutdown

Arts and Culture Glasgow Girls Club Top 3 Macaroni Places in Glasgow Looking is Not Enough: The Art Exhibition Encouraging a New Perspective Macbeth Review and Liz Taylor (Assistant Director) Interview

Jim Smith Back to the Teuchter Review Easter Cocktails Student Photography and Art Student Artists

Entertainment and Technology Who are GCU’s Caledonian Chargers?

REVIEW: If Beale Street Could Talk; A Love Letter to Harlem

Latest Gervais Offering to Arrive on Netflix Three Scottish YouTubers to Check Out

Fashion

16 How to Get Rid of Acne – A Natural Remedy Guide Under £15 17 Ink Prints: A Family Business 19 2019: The Year of Animal Print 20 Popping Accessorises for Men 21 Revive your Skin for Spring Using Lush Music

Letter from the Editor Well it’s been quite a year for The EDIT, we’ve seen committee members come and go and new ones take their place, but we’ve still stayed strong and we have had a record number of signed up volunteers than in past years! We have held successful events and worked great together as a team!

We produced the Freshers Edition once again (which we ran out of!) and this was our first year producing a ‘Student Election’s’ Mini Magazine. Our social media is prospering and we have had amazing interviewing opportunities, e.g.

Glasgow Girls Club, Tommy McGuire, Tom Walker and You Me at Six to name but a few! We have continued to work well with the Student’s Association and we hope that this will continue into the future!

I am personally proud of everyone for their endless dedication and hard work in the run-up to deadlines and I hope that this will continue on to next year!

Love Mon Editor-in-Chief

Meet the Team Monica Allen Editor-in-Chief

Erin Paterson Deputy Editor, Arts & Culture Editor Callum McQuade Deputy Editor, Music Editor Rebeka Lužaitytė News & Features Editor Adam Lyon Entertainment & Technology Editor Charlie Kelly Fashion Editor Peter Rancati Sports Editor Hannah Wood Head of Events Bethany Stevenson Head of Social Media Richard Mason Head of Photography & Online Agnieszka Michalska Head of Design

22 Maggie Rogers Gives A Little, Glasgow Gets A Lot 23 Tut’s TRNSMT Top Three 24 Still To Hear The Best From AJ Tracey 25 Top Class Tommy Takes Scotland by Storm Sport

Pre-season for Women’s Clubs as Scotland 25 Mixed Continues to Rise Will Women’s Football Ever be Taken Seriously?

26 F1 2019 Season Predictions 27 Top 5 Underrated Players in the Scottish Premiership GCU Wolves Cheerleading Round-Up

Cover photography: “Glasgow Necropolis Sunset” Jonny McKenna/Unsplash

It’s Time to Rethink

Scotland’s Position in the UK

After Labour lost 7 MPs and the Conservative Party 3, it is clear that Brexit has left British politics in complete disarray. With political parties at breaking point, the will of the Scottish people seems a mere afterthought. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain a member of the European Union. Despite this, our representatives are either given little time to discuss matters relating to Scotland, or they are simply ignored.

The threat of losing some of the powers of our Scottish Parliament still stands. Last Summer, thousands gathered to protest this across the country. Throughout the Brexit process, we have yet to see any plan that has set Scotland specific proposals. The original withdrawal agreement failed to mention Scotland once. Since voting to remain in the EU, the Scottish Parliament (including cross-party agreement excluding the Tories) have voted to remain in the Single Market and Customs Union. This was also ignored by the UK government.

We are certainly not alone in being shut out of the entire process. It was clear at the beginning that Brexit has always been about trying to resolve factions within the Tory party, which have since become even worse. In the meantime,

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the UK government is ignoring the looming economic disaster, thousands of possible job losses, decrease in standard of living and hundreds of thousands of EU nationals living in Scotland.

With days left until the Brexit deadline, at the time of writing, we will be leaving the EU through a deal agreed by Theresa May, which has been heavily compromised, or will we drop off a cliff edge into the unknown economic territory of a No Deal. The reality for Scotland is dire. We are being dragged out of the EU against our will by a party we have ultimately rejected for the past 50 years.

Scotland is running out of options and it’s likely that the next major issue for Scotland will be a referendum on which union Scottish people would prefer to be part of: the UK or the EU. Considering the UK government’s apparent indifference towards Scotland, perhaps it is time to reconsider our 2014 decision on independence.

It’s important to recognise how Scottish people are being treated in this so-called ‘partnership of equals’.

Christopher Lunday Photography: Mike Fenwick

News and Features

Why We Still Celebrate International Women’s Day There is one sacred rule you must abide during International Women’s Day: do not ask when the International Men’s Day is. Women are not walking Google searches. Also, you wouldn’t show up on Pancake Day asking when burritos are getting the recognition they deserve.

Some still question the need for international commemorations like this. Don’t women have equal rights yet? But women can wear trousers now! And, more recently: don’t we live in a post-gender world? International Women’s Day, feminism, women’s rights – it’s common sense now, isn’t it?

If, for some reason, you are still confused about why we continue celebrating a day that is dedicated to women only, here are some things you might have missed.

Unfortunately, we still live in a world where a person is blamed for getting raped because of the fabric of her underwear, where sexual violence is still a prevalent weapon of war, and where transgender people get abused and murdered in heart-wrenching numbers despite making a very small percentage of the population. These are gender issues.

This is not to ignore the role toxic gender ideology plays in male suicide, which is the biggest cause of death in men under 45 in the UK; or the fact a lot of medical research is done on male bodies, rendering many treatments ineffective for people with vaginas. Then there’s education opportunities, or lack of them, regarding women. It is proven that when women of the household are educated, they

elevate the overall income threshold, which can help elevate families out of poverty.

Here’s a thing about gender issues – they do not only affect women. For too long the term gender has entertained the mainstream narrative of feminism as a gateway to women-only problems. Men, non-binary, trans people – all experience gender issues in their everyday lives. These issues should not be left to them to solve.

Gender also interacts with other social signifiers including race, socio-economic background, and disability, and they all operate within the system of privilege and oppression.

Often our social signifiers can go unnoticed in environments where we operate because privilege likes the company of other privilege. For instance, I only ever feel white when I’m not in a predominantly white environment. I only notice my gender when I’m surrounded by men. It is important to break down the barriers of ignorance and realise that equality, despite the appearance of its abundance, is not fully implemented in our modern society.

It is far too easy to get comfortable in somewhat progressive institutions like universities, or even your friend circles in which you don’t identify people by their social signifiers, but life tends to come at you fast.

Be faster.

Rebeka Luzaityte

Photograph: Omar Lopez/Unsplash

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Student Mental Health at GCU “In the meantime, you may find our self-help resources useful,” claims the GCU Counselling Service. In the meantime, when you’re suffering alone, placed on a waiting list for “8 to 10 weeks”, you may find their self-help resources comprised of websites, apps, and videos helpful.

The BBC reported last year that from 2012 to 2017, the number of students across the UK seeking counselling rose by over half. GCU Counselling Service state that most common issues are “low mood, anxiety, and relationship problems” and that “many students benefit from exploring their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in the confidential counselling setting.”

Today students are faced with much higher debts than previous generations. With looming career insecurities, students are under a lot more pressure to perform well in exams and assessments due to fiercer competition. Social media is another major contributor to poor mental health amongst university students, evoking feelings of depression, anxiety and/or loneliness. These are real problems that don’t have the time to be put on hold, especially during term time when anxieties are at an all-time high. There is also the worry of students turning to unhealthy coping methods. In turn, their academic results may suffer, which can lead to students dropping out of university.

Students who have personal experience regarding the GCU Counselling Service say it has been helpful. However, due to high demand, students may have to wait up to 4 weeks for an intake appointment alone. In a time where more students are seeking counselling than ever, this is unacceptable.

The university offers 6 free therapy sessions, which is a great start but not ideal due to long waitlists. Not all students can afford a private therapist and with waiting times for NHS-funded therapy leaving people on waiting lists that reach up to six months, a lot of students will hope to turn to their university for help.

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GCU Counselling Service says they have doubled the number of mental health advisors since January and are hoping to receive more support from the Scottish government, who have recently pledged funding for more mental health advisors across Scottish universities. According to the service, they also provide long-term and one-on-one mental health support for students throughout their time at the university.

Therapy is so important as a primary source of coping and help. Those who do not want to or do not respond well to medication often rely solely on therapy to get better.

Therefore it is important to provide GCU students with crucial mental health support as soon as possible.

Some view therapy as something for people under extreme distress. However, it is also for those who just need a pickup in life. Therapists, counsellors, and advisors will cater to your needs, however big or small. Sitting down and talking to a professional can have a really big impact on your mental wellbeing, which is why more needs to be done to provide adequate mental health care at the university.

Website links and phone numbers can be helpful, but one-onone sessions are the best way to ensure students get the personalised support they desperately need. Mental health cannot be ignored by the university or its students, and it needs to take the front seat for once.

Student Wellbeing at GCU will be hosting a variety of events on University Mental Health Day on 6th and 7th of March.

Erin Sarah Lindsay Photography: Tim Foster/Unsplash

News and Features

Instagram

is Bad for My Mental Health Instagram is arguably one of the most popular social media platforms and rightly so. We get to share our filtered photos and connect with others. We can follow the picture perfect lives of strangers that don’t know we exist until we feel bad about ourselves for the rest of the afternoon because our daily lives are so different from theirs.

I realised I had a problem when one Sunday afternoon, my iPhone Screen Time alert notified me I had spent an average of 7 hours on Instagram a day, just scrolling.

I am possibly the worst when it comes to comparing myself to others on Instagram, and I’m confident that I’m not alone in this. I compare every aspect of my life to the typical, ‘insta-famous’ model’s account. It’s quite obsessive. Where is everyone eating, partying, holidaying, shopping these days? Look no further than your local insta-famous blogger to help you out. This need to keep up with the social trends is a paralysing one, yet we all fall victim to the insta lust.

Why does our generation of fabulous girls (and boys) feel the need to compare themselves to these highly-mediated celebrities?

As much as I recognise that who I follow on Instagram is my own choice, I cannot help but chose to swoon over the travel bloggers and fitness girls and wish my life was more like theirs. Looking at such accounts on the daily can make you feel like wearing sweatpants at your 9 to 5 just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Comparing yourself 24/7 can also be really damaging to your mental health. There’s no need to put yourself down all the time, Instagram will do it for you. When you’re constantly bombarded with seeing beautiful people on holiday with their perfectly chiselled bodies and shiny hair, it’s difficult to resist pitting yourself against them. Suddenly you don’t feel good enough, you don’t feel pretty enough and you don’t feel accomplished enough. All because a ‘fit girl’ has been endorsed by a laxative tea company to post a picture in the Bahamas. It’s an edited life, and one that isn’t sustainable or even healthy for most of us.

GCU Learn

Shutdown

“It will never happen again”

– Deputy Vice-Chancellor assures students GCULearn will not be shut down after the upgrade.

Some GCU students were left without study materials after GCULearn, which is operated by Blackboard, was taken down for two days during the holiday period. The January exam diet was extended, and exams and submissions for coursework rescheduled. Students turned to academic staff for explanations, but lack of transparency and a busy time of year left many without having the answers.

Speaking at a recent Student Voice Meeting, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Valerie Webster said the decision was made to update the system at that particular time because the number of students using GCULearn during the holidays is “the lowest in the year”. It was also stressed that the shutdown issue is being resolved by communicating directly with the students. Deputy Vice-Chancellor said students who were not able to complete parts of their module due to the rescheduling will not be made to wait lengthy periods to retake them.

The update was originally set up to “introduce new features” and “enhance the online student experience”. In the future, GCULearn will not be required to be shut down in order to upgrade the system.

Some academic staff expressed concerns over the push of the exam diet, which has caused a ripple effect in terms of teaching contracts, dissertation and coursework deadlines, and graduations. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor assured the number of students taking the exams this year remained the same despite the incident.

Rebeka Luzaityte Photograph: Brooke Cagle/Unsplash

I decided to take back control by logging off Instagram during the week so I can focus on my studies, and only logging on at the weekend to share and like pictures of my friends. No more envy over what doesn’t actually exist.

There’s nothing wrong about dreaming of holidaying in exotic locations and it can even be useful when fitness bloggers give you ‘gymspo’ and motivate you to get active and make healthy changes in your lifestyle. But for the most part, Instagram is a dreamland of filters and fillers and the reality is that we’re all perfectly fine the way we are.

Bethany Stevenson

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Glasgow Girls Club The world is a wonderful thing, technology and the internet has developed in ways no one could have ever imagined it to.

Glasgow Girls Club was initially just a Facebook Group, which allowed women to promote their businesses, get advice and just simply meet new people, today it is widely recognised throughout Glasgow and the surrounding areas as one of the up and coming businesses to keep your eye on. There are several Facebook Groups of the like out there but I have been a member of Glasgow Girls Club for several months and I have watched it grow and become the success that it is today.

For a personal membership it is £39.50 for your first year and from then on it is £35 per year. There are several perks to being part of the GGC Private Member Club and some include: You receive a rose gold GGC keyring that helps you unlock exclusive discounts with some of the city’s coolest locations and brands, some include Blythswood Square Hotel, NAF Nail Salon, Fake Bake and loads more!

You get access to an exclusive quarterly magazine bringing you the best the city has to offer when it comes to grub, style, beauty, interiors, people and more.

You will be a part of a community of kick-arse females who are randomly selected to review products, events and locations in Glasgow.

You get the opportunity to attend exclusive member events, openings and previews as well as discounted workshops and networking events.

There is a categorised blog with multiple contributors covering topics including health & wellbeing, mum & baby, style, beauty, women empowerment pieces, reviews and more.

Subscription to their e-newsletter, ensuring you are always in the know about upcoming events and offers.

The world is a wonderful thing, technology and the internet has developed in ways no one could have ever imagined it to.

Glasgow Girls Club was initially just a Facebook Group, which allowed women to promote their businesses, get advice and just simply meet new people, today it is widely recognised throughout Glasgow and the surrounding areas as one of the up and coming businesses to keep your eye on. There are several Facebook Groups of the like out there but I have been a member of Glasgow Girls Club for several months and I have watched it grow and become the success that it is today.

In December 2018, due to the success of the Facebook Group, a GGC Private Members Club was introduced which you can purchase online at their website www.glasglowgirlsclub.com.

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There is also a business membership available, allowing you to receive even more perks and the ability to promote your business and attend exclusive business meet-ups where you can receive tips and tricks from business experts.

I had the privilege of speaking to Laura Maginess the founder of Glasgow Girls Club. Laura has been in the marketing industry for ten years and she wanted to set up something to bring women together.

1. What made you want to set GGC up in the first place?

“I had a vision about six years ago about setting up a forum for women, then when Facebook groups became a ‘thing’, I thought this would be a good place to start. There was nothing like it for Glasgow women at the time and after launching, members grew to 800 in 3 days! I also had friends with their own businesses who were struggling to connect with their target audiences and I hoped that creating this community would help them and others grow their brands.

My background is marketing and so the much-used saying of spotting a ‘gap in the market’ comes into play”.

Arts and Culture

2. Could you tell me a little more about the Facebook Group and what kind of things are discussed in it?

“Everything! The Facebook group has over 12K women from Glasgow and the surrounding areas in it and so as you can imagine, the chat varies every day. I love the fact that there is a real mix of women in the group from all ages and stages in life and from every type of profession too.

Ladies use the group to promo their businesses, to ask for recommendations and advice, share reviews and more. City events are shared ensuring we do not miss any Glasgow gems and GGC events are promoted too. A few ladies have asked if the group is just for business women, but this is not the case, it is a totally inclusive community and there are a wealth of fabulous mums, students and retired ladies making use of the tips, info and more too”.

4. Would you recommend setting up a business to someone thinking about it? If so, what are your recommendations?

“I would say ‘Glow’ for it! There is something massively liberating about being your own boss and if you never try it, it may end up being a regret in life and who wants to have those!? When you have your own business, it is very likely you will do more work than you ever would in a 9-5 - it is really hard to switch off. However, with that being said, often what you do doesn’t feel like work as it is your own business and you love it”.

5. How did you go about getting all the free discounts which are available if you are a member?

“Last year I worked really hard to get out and network in Glasgow. Having connections is so valuable and so if you are thinking of starting a business, make it your mission to network as much as you can. I confirmed an array of offers from iconic Glasgow brands (created by iconic people) and now I am very lucky as brands approach me looking to feature an offer. Members can expect deals with brands such as Fake Bake, Rawnchy, NAF! Salon, Mud, BLOW, Blythswood Square Spa and Restaurant, Good Times Roll, Moya Wren, Tasting Scotland, Ministry of Laser, Van Winkle, Mharsanta, Sew Confident, Sarah Haran, Glasgow Gin, House of LBD, Champagne Central, Theatre School Scotland and all get the Entertainer app absolutely free for 2019 (normal cost is £30) and this gives you 2 for 1 deals across the country. Business members get all of that alongside business offers and access to the GGC Business Facebook Group and business brainstorm meetups”.

6. Where do you see GGC in two years time?

“I have big plans for the GGC community that includes a Youtube talk show, massive member events and more.

I am working on added value offers and benefits for the web members every day and so hopefully I can encourage as many women in Glasgow to sign up as possible!”

Monica Allen Photographs: Kirsty McElroy of Cherry Blossom Photography UK, Charlotte Kensington Portraits

If anyone fancies joining they would LOVE to have you and you can and out more at their website www.glasglowgirlsclub.com Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/glasglowgirlsclub Instagram account: @glasglowgirlsclub Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/glasglowgirlsclub

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Top 3 Macaroni Places in Glasgow

Brel, Ashton Lane

The Raven, Renfield Street

My number one macaroni is also the most expensive on this list at £9. However, the portion size is one of the largest I have seen and the waitress actually pointed this out when I ordered telling me it was alright if I didn’t finish it as not many do. The pasta itself was creamy but also very cheesy it melted in your mouth. It came with a very large slice of crispy garlic bread, which paired deliciously with the soft pasta. If you are one of the more adventurous among us you can add extra toppings to the macaroni at £2/£2.50 each, these include bacon, haggis, chorizo and tomatoes.

Coming in at second is the cheapest on the list at only £7.50.

This macaroni was still lovely and creamy just not as cheesy as Brel’s for my own personal taste. The service was fast and the waitress was very friendly and helpful. It was served with two slices of garlic focaccia that were maybe a little too overcooked for my liking but they still had the salty garlic taste to fit perfectly with the creaminess of the pasta. The portion size was much smaller than Brel’s although still a substantial serving, they also have three different macs to choose from; classic, ‘piggy mac’, and veggie. So again, they have something to cater for everyone.

Sloans, Argyle Street Sloans certainly are known for their ‘legendary macaroni’ and even though I wouldn’t quite describe it as legendary it still definitely makes it into my top 3. At £8.45 the portion size was pretty much bang on in the ratio of not too much or not too little. It comes with a decently sized side portion of skinny fries and some salad. The pasta itself seemed to be made with mozzarella as the cheese was very stringy but there wasn’t much flavour. The creaminess of the pasta almost cancelled out any flavour of cheese there may have been. So, if you are a fan of macaroni but not a huge fan of it being too cheesy this is definitely the macaroni for you.

They also have the option of adding toppings. My friend chose to add black pudding to his and he said the execution was perfect and ended up being very tasty. It was only small cubes of black pudding placed on top so if you decided you didn’t like it, it’s very easy to take them off.

Erin Paterson Photographs: Macaroni at Sloans by Erin Paterson

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Arts and Culture

Looking is Not Enough The Art Exhibition Encouraging a New Perspective Look around you. Our streets are rife with homelessness, the political views of the people in Scotland are greatly ignored

by Westminster, and people are struggling with loss all across the nation in more than one way. Simply looking at this is not enough; action must be taken.

A group of third-year students studying Graphic Communication at Edinburgh Napier University were tasked with creating projects surrounding the themes of ‘Freedom’ and ‘Loss’. These projects were displayed in an exhibit in the French Institute in Edinburgh which ran until February 3rd.

Myrna MacLeod is the programme leader of the Graphic Communication course at Edinburgh Napier. She oversaw the students picking a societal issue and presenting this issue through art. When asked what the inspiration behind the project was, Myrna responded, “I wanted to introduce the students to look at a big issue in a different way and take their ideas into a territory where graphic design meets art.

All graphic design is experienced by the viewer, and it was important for pieces to make the viewer feel something.”

They did just that, with creating a diverse range of projects which explore a large variety of societal issues.

Of course, when conducting such a broad project, there were always going to be some obstacles for the students.

“Sometimes making is a complex process, as it involves a lot of sourcing of materials and using machines”, said Myrna. It’s important to be organised and focused on time, so the students learn a lot from the process.”

As well as the students benefiting from the project and developing their artistic flair, the French Institute was also very keen to host art from a young generation of artists as they shed a different light on these issues.

Communications and Cultural Development Officer, Daniel Boden, was heavily involved in the exhibit and wanted it to inspire and also be unexpected.

As if the impact from the first piece was not hard-hitting enough, Kelsie also created a second piece, relevant to the politics of today and how Scotland’s voice is not being heard.

“I feel that Scotland does not get a voice in the UK wide elections simply because our voting system is set up so that the bigger the place, the more votes that are counted.

This is not fair because it leads to us being outvoted each time. So to be blunt, I said you may as well chuck your votes in the bin rather than a ballot box.”

The second student I spoke to was Anna Woods, 20, who decided to look into the theme of freedom. “For my two pieces, I looked at the loss of sight, in particular, Glaucoma, which is also nicknamed ‘The Silent Thief of Sight.’ This has a major impact on experiences within environments such as art galleries, where sight is relied heavily upon. Perhaps visiting galleries was the figure on the bench’s favourite thing to do, but now this experience has changed drastically due to their sight being taken.”

Anna’s second piece looked into the way people interacted with visually impaired individuals. “My smaller piece shows an egg within a case, with the warning sign ‘Careful! With other people’s feelings’. This egg was a critique of how some people treat visually impaired people – as if they’re going to crack.”

More exhibits are expected to be held like this in the future at the institute as it benefits the students, the institute and the public.

Myrna said, “I love to see the student’s ideas coming to life – sometimes I’m just blown away with what they produce.

I think they enjoy seeing their work as a group in such a lovely setting.”

Chloe Burrell

Photograph: Chloe Burrell

“The exhibition shows pieces designed by students of high artistic value. It focuses on unexpected and undesired freedoms. The exhibit is also really important in highlighting the partnership between the French Institute and Edinburgh Napier. It shows the cultural value that is implicated in our community.”

I spoke to two of the students who took part in the project.

Both created two pieces. Kelsie Baird, 20, created two pieces with one looking into the loneliness of the elderly in our society.

“My first piece centred around the elderly in society that become contained, almost prisoners in their own home because they are forgotten about. When the most vulnerable in society are left behind because they become a hindrance to our daily lives then we leave them to be surrounded by only their things.”

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Macbeth Review and Liz Taylor (Assistant Director) Interview Something wicked this way comes…

Many are familiar with the Shakespeare’s Macbeth; however, few will have experienced an adaption quite like the National Theatre’s extraordinary take on the tragic tale. Catapulting the Scottish Play from the 11th century into a new, postapocalyptic setting, director Rufus Norris breathes new life into the story of the ill-fated king, whose almighty downfall is driven by his unbridled ambition for power.

Following a sell-out run at the Olivier Theatre in London, the touring version of the show opened at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal back in February.

The tragedy begins with the play’s namesake holding aloft the bloodied, decapitated head of his enemy Macdonwald - signalling from the get-go that this is not a production for the faint of heart.

From there the play careers towards its tragic end, with the tumultuous events often being watched over by the three witches from large poles dotted around the unusually constructed stage.

I spoke with assistant director Liz Taylor to find out more about this daring production and gain some insight into the thought process behind it…

H: Could you describe your role in relation to the production and your main responsibilities?

L: Alongside director Rufus Norris and the casting director I choose the new cast for the touring production, as bar one it is an entirely new cast (compared to the London version of the production), and I rehearsed it with Rufus.

He was working back at the National Theatre at the time and working on various other projects, so I was doing most of the rehearsals in London for this touring production.

(Also) because it’s a touring production and we are going to all kinds of spaces that are going to be different to the Olivier stage, the show did kind of evolve and change quite a lot through being made for the tour, so I worked with Rufus on all of that as well. Now the show is open and it’s going to a different place every week I do the technical rehearsals and just make sure that it looks as we want it to look in every space, whether its large or small.

H: This production of Macbeth is quite unique in its setting of a post-apocalyptic world. Why did you decide to do this?

L: I think with Rufus, a lot of it started really for him with the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. He wanted the audience to understand what would make these two people so desperate that they would want to do this, to kill the king that they are so close to. In order to empathise with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth he wanted to set it in a world where it’s quite desolate and where these characters really are desperate, and the only means of security for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is for them to have power, to be king and queen. He didn’t really like idea of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth being high up in their ivory tower… he wanted to understand what would push them to do an act like this. (Also) with the witches there’s a lot of superstition in the play, and Rufus felt that in times of suffering and in bleak times people are more susceptible

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to those kinds of things... I know that Rufus was sort of imagining that it was 15 years in the future after a major crisis…the banks have crashed, law and order has gone out the window… we’re setting this 15 years ahead of that, which doesn’t sound like very long, but actually if law and order was to go out the window and if things were to be turned upside down then we really would descend into chaos very rapidly. There’s so much violence in the play and these people really are survivors, so he wanted to find the right environment in which to bring to light some of those themes in the play.

H: Were there any parts of the play that proved particularly challenging?

L: It’s epic but it’s also quite intimate. So, some of the scenes you’ve got big battles and 10,000 men coming over to Macbeth’s castle and the witches up on the heath… but you’ve also got intimate scenes between a husband and wife. On the Olivier stage and on the large scale venues which we’re touring to, it’s a real challenge for the design and for the staging to achieve both… the set has to change slightly every week and so does some of the staging, so it’s interesting how different moments in the play are brought to light in different ways, depending on the theatre space where we’re taking it to, so that’s kind of an ongoing challenge… But it was really interesting bringing it to life with a new cast, because that also brings new meaning and new ideas into the mix, so that was a really interesting process.

H: What were you looking for in the characters when you were casting?

L: Michael Nardone (tour version) is a very different Macbeth to Rory Kinnear (London version) and as a result it sometimes has a different effect on how the story is told.

With Nardone, you really believe that he has been a war hero and you really believe that he is capable of killing for survival… I think when you’re looking for someone to cast you’ve got to really believe that this person is a real survivor and a really strong soldier, but he also loves his wife and certainly feels the loss of them having lost a child.

So he’s very human, he’s not just a brute, so I think you’re looking for both those, someone who you can really believe that in… the journey that Macbeth has to go on is so massive from the start of the play to the end, so you really need an actor who can take the audience on that journey with him.

H: This play is full of engaging and complex characters, is there one in particular that really interests you?

L: I really like the porter and what Rufus has done with the character… what Rufus has done with this edit of the script is often given the lines of smaller characters, the maid or the servant, to more central characters so that you don’t ever have random people coming on stage for a moment and then leaving again… so it feels like a tight knit community, he wanted you to be able to follow these characters on a journey. So, you actually have the porter throughout the play, he’s kind of like Macbeth’s right-hand man. And the porter kind of knows what Macbeth is doing and is implicit but can’t do anything about it, so you follow his perspective of the events as they unfold. I really like

Arts and Culture

that, and I really like the way that Deka Walmsley plays that character as someone who can see that none of this is good news… you really relate to him as someone that is caught up in this mess.

I also really like Ross who is played as female character in this production. In this world which is kind of imagined 15 years after a crisis, society as we know it turned upside down, the people that are left, the people that have survived in this world have to have been real survivors… they’re all made of tough stuff and they’ve all been through a lot, and I think that Rachel Sanders really captures that; she’s a woman but she’s a fighter… it’s not just men that fight in this world, it’s based on your merit as to whether or not you survive.

Hannah Mackenzie Wood

Easter Cocktails With Easter just around the corner and coursework deadlines building up, Easter themed cocktails are exactly what everyone needs. So here is a list of some of the best ones:

The Loopy Fiasco For this cocktail, you’ll need to mix vanilla vodka, Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur and milk.

Next mix in some strawberry jam. Finally, finish off your cocktail with a handful of fruit loops and you have yourself a Loopy Fiasco.

Jim Smith

Back to the Teuchter Review Farming is an unusual and tricky topic for comedy, but Perthshire’s Jim Smith takes the bull by the horns and has a good go at it!

Born and brought up on a farm, the comic’s material revolves around the agricultural industry; however, Smith’s jokes and tales can be enjoyed by all. He has the ability to make a niche topic accessible and universal. No knowledge of the farm life? No problem.

Smith has starred in popular spoof series Scot Squad, as well as appearing on BBC comedy panel show Breaking The News. The Scotsman uses his noticeable thick accent to his advantage in his quips about Northerners and their unusual ways. His unique comedy differs to that of the country’s other beloved comedians, like Kevin Bridges.

Day-to-day life on the farm provides naturally funny content – mostly about teuchters and tractors - which he expertly uses to create his own version of Scottish comedy.

The 40-year-old also manages to incorporate some better-known topics into his set for those of us who were not reared on a farm. With impressions of everyone from tennis star Andy Murray to television presenter Matt Baker, he makes his agricultural material relatable and understandable for a range of audiences.

Chatty and conversational, Smith’s down-to-earth nature and tone on stage makes him even more likeable. He has a following of fellow farmers and people who can relate to his upbringing and lifestyle. This familiarity creates a friendly atmosphere in the venue – as if everyone knows each other.

When it comes to fresh and distinct Scottish comedy, Jim Smith is definitely the pick of the crop. Check out his series of short films, The Farm, on BBC iPlayer. He also takes to the road later this year as he tours his Back To The Teuchter show around the country.

Erin Maguire

The Bueno To get this chocolatey dream you need to mix Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur and Salted Caramel Kahlua, next add some vanilla ice cream and finally some crushed up white Kinder Bueno.

The White Rabbit Chocolate Martini You’ll need Havana 3yr Rum, Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur and Pure Coconut Water to finish it off add some Nutella and Canadian maple syrup and you’re good to go.

Easter Egg Cocktail The most exciting of our Easter cocktails will need Kraken dark rum mixed with Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur and Aztec Bitter finish it off with some chocolate milk and sugar and serve in a chocolate Easter egg.

Erin Paterson

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Student Art & Photography

Student Artists Holly “Gremory” Strain 1st year Computer Games (Art and Animation) student at GCU. “I love designing characters and outfits and I’m working on my own manga-style comic to learn and improve. I love the occult, Visual Kei, cryptids, UFOs and all that spooky stuff. In my free time I’m a convention artist that spends too much time raiding in FFXIV.”

@grempai

@gremory.x @gremoryx

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Who are GCU’s Caledonian Chargers?

Many students at GCU might not know this, but the university actually has its own Esports team, the Caledonian Chargers.

For those who are unaware, Esports is a growing movement throughout Scotland and the world, where people of all ages meet up and compete in video games for money, prizes, or just for bragging rights and honour. It is extremely popular among young people and is starting to become more prevalent in our universities. I posed them some questions so we could all learn more about them…

3. How would you describe esports?

Esports is the term used for competitive gaming. There are many games that can be played competitively from League of Legends to Super Smash Bros. For a lot of players, playing in an esports tournament is a whole different experience from playing casually and we would encourage everyone to try it!

1. Who are the Caledonian Chargers?

People can get involved by joining the esports society.

We have a dedicated discord server where we announce team sign ups and other events we host. Even if you don’t want to participate, we stream most of our matches on our Twitch channel ‘OfficialGCUEsports’ for people to tune in and watch us play. The GCU Esports Society welcomes everyone regardless of skill level to come along and play with us.

The Caledonian Chargers is the name for GCU’s esports teams. While representing GCU we’ve competed against many universities across the UK and have proven ourselves a force to be reckoned with in the esports scene!

2. What kind of things do you get up to?

Besides our national tournaments, we also hold inhouse games against one another as well as play less competitive games with each other. Out local meetups happen monthly and usually consist of meeting up for a drink and talking with others who share an interest in esports.

Logo: Caledonian Chargers

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4. How can people get involved?

You can find out more about the Chargers and the Esports Society by following @Cale_Esports on Twitter.

Adam Lyon

Entertainment and Technology

REVIEW: If Beale Street Could Talk; A Love Letter to Harlem Barry Jenkins loves cinema. Back with yet another Oscar contender, Jenkins proves his seemingly fearless dedication to telling difficult stories. Adapting If Beale Street Could Talk, a book by the evergreen James Baldwin, is a risky move that paid off. Despite the critical acclaim, Baldwin’s books have rarely made it onto the big screen. The pressure to shed new light on a well-loved story is not an easy one to shake, but Jenkins is successful in putting just enough of himself into the film without compromising the story itself.

If Beale Street Could Talk is a love letter to 70s Harlem, James Baldwin and the art of storytelling. The film is visually stunning without an ounce of arrogance or sacrificing of the content.

If anything, the cinematography and the script complement each other well, as the struggle of black communities portrayed in the movie is never fetishised yet still treated with relentless honesty.

The film focuses on Alfonso ‘Fonny’ Hunt (Stephan James) and his girlfriend Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne), a young couple looking to build a life in a world unwilling to give up the status quo.

The lack of privilege and a blistering racial bias feel all too current as Fonny is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and the pair and their families struggle to prove his innocence in court. Tish and her family do their best to get Fonny home in time for the birth of his unexpected firstborn.

The performances are immaculate and calculated without feeling stiff. James and Layne’s chemistry translates brilliantly on screen and is easily the highlight of the film.

Brian Tyree Henry delivers an emotionally-charged performance as Danny, Fonny’s childhood friend. Recalling his time behind bars, Henry occupies the screen in one of the most heart-wrenching scenes, the kind that tend to stay with you long after the credits finish rolling.

It wouldn’t be a Barry Jenkins movie if the characters didn’t stare directly into the camera lens, piercing the veil between the cinematic reality and that of the viewer.

The characters’ lives merge with your own and its effect is lingering. Cinematographer James Laxton, who worked with Jenkins on the Oscar-winning Moonlight in 2016, helps deliver some of the best cinematography this awards season.

The non-linear narrative works in the film’s favour. It entices through the exploration of each character’s own specific yet shared way of operating in a system that is set against them. The subject of the racist justice system and its effect on individual lives is approached with vulnerability and perseverance, and the merging of the two is what makes the film so special. If Beale Street Could Talk fuses political commentary, a turbulent love story and family drama all in one. It’s an ode to Harlem, black families and their histories. If Beale Street Could Talk is a feeling as much as it is a movie.

Jenkins proves once again the Golden Age of Cinema is not yet behind us. Maybe it never was.

Rebeka Luzaityte Photography: The Mary Sue

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Latest Gervais Offering to Arrive on Netflix Ricky Gervais’ dark comedy After Life will arrive on Netflix on March 8th, promising a philosophical exploration into grief and loss, with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Most of what we know of the format and content comes from Gervais himself, with no trailer as of yet. The six-part series features an impressive cast, including David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter) and Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey), as well several colleagues on previous Gervais shows such as Ashley Jensen (Extras) and David Earl (Derek). Some notable names from the comedy scene also appear, such as Joe Wilkinson and Roisin Conaty.

The show will feature Gervais as a widower called Tony who struggles to come to terms with the loss of his wife. It opens with him watching a video his wife left during chemotherapy but only to be watched after her passing. In it she describes how to live life without her, including details like how to use the washing machine.

It’s a dark, touching yet somehow funny moment which, according to Gervais, encapsulates the series.

After contemplating suicide, Tony decides to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he wants in the time he has left.

Netflix and Gervais have already tasted recent success with Humanity, his first-stand up show in seven years which centres around self-awareness, particularly the aging process. In it he jokes about the need for comedy in every situation, even family funerals, as a coping mechanism and as a fundamental part of life.

In that sense, After Life feels like the linear progression after Humanity, this time focusing on how other people experience grief and pain through the characters Tony meets in his last, great adventure. Whilst an obvious departure from the likes of The Office and Derek, fans of Gervais should be familiar with the dark comedy style. The show promises to deliver several classic ‘Gervais moments’, poking fun at the oblivious stupidity of the public, but with a tragic backstory which should turn even the jokes into hard-hitting moments.

Never one to put a filter on things, Gervais is famous for pushing the boundary in comedy without caring for consequences, but it will be interesting to see whether his style of frank comedy will mix with tragedy and raw emotion, particularly for new fans or the casual viewer.

Peter Rancati

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Three Scottish YouTubers to Check Out Every day, hundreds of thousands of hours of video get uploaded to YouTube, of all kinds and from right around the world. With so much choice, it can be hard to cut through the masses and find what you really want to watch. However, sometimes looking closer to home can produce great content, so with that in mind, here’s three Scottish YouTube channels that you should consider having a peek at…

MarleyThirteen www.youtube.com/MarleyThirteen A stalwart of the Scottish YouTube scene, MarleyThirteen (real name Gary Marley) created his channel back in 2011, where he has been creating comedy gaming videos ever since. With a focus on Call of Duty titles, he brings his own special Scottish vibe to an otherwise saturated video market, and this has led to great success. Marley currently boasts over 420,000 subscribers and 67 million video views, not bad for a 23-yearold from Motherwell. If you’re a fan of comedy gaming or are just in need of laughs from a fellow Scot, MarleyThirteen is the channel for you.

Kirstie Bryce

www.youtube.com/kirstiebryce A Scottish YouTuber on the smaller end of the spectrum, Kirstie Bryce has amassed a modest following with fun, original videos such as ‘Things You Think While on The Toilet’ and ‘The Stages of Sitting an Exam’. With nearly 7,000 subscribers and 394,000 video views, her high-quality videos and positive outlook are a hit with many fans. She says that: ‘My hope is that I can make you feel something. Share in joy by sharing a personal experience, have you feel happy you’ve learned something new, make you laugh with a Skit, random Rant or Movie Trailer Reaction.’ Kirstie’s channel has a wide appeal and is a big reason why she has been so successful.

Shaun www.youtube.com/shaunvlog With his tags ‘adventure everything’ and ‘from Scotland to the world’, it is clear what motivates Shaun Alexander on YouTube.

The content creator from Edinburgh bases his channel on all things Scotland, with videos exploring the Highland wilderness, to reviews of Scottish favourite Outlander. He has also taken his 69,000 subscribers on countless trips to Brazil, America and Iceland. His positive outlook and patriotism for all things Scotland make his channel a worthy visit.

Adam Lyon YouTube icons: Iconmonstr

Fashion

How to Get Rid of Acne – A natural remedy guide under £15

I’m not promising that this will get rid of your acne as every skin type is different and all people react differently to products, but so far this is the most loved way to get rid of acne and just clear up your skin in general if you’re needing a bit of extra love and deep cleansing affection.

This 3 step process has worked to get rid of many people’s acne with oily and dry skin and has also worked to get rid of eczema and pigmentation issues on many people, myself included.

1. African Black Soap

A friend of mine had really bad acne for 13 years but in just over a year, without being on any medication, she seemed to just clear up her skin and was left with minimal scarring.

I had to know her secret as I was always looking for the best thing on the market to maintain my skin and keep it as clear as possible. Her secret was African Black Soap.

This 100% natural soap is made with leaves and plants native to Africa and infused with vitamins A and E to help reduce redness and discoloration, gets rid of dead skin and other problematic skin conditions such as eczema, dark spots and scarring. As the soap includes ingredients and properties which are proven to help reduce and even get rid of scarring – it makes black soap the perfect skin care to help get rid of acne without leaving much scarring and can be used to reduce any existing scars. The most common ingredients are shea butter, palm oil, coconut, plantain and cocoa beans. Some soap bars include honey for an extra anti-bacterial layer but the ones which don’t are fully vegan and all traditional soaps are cruelty free!

For Best Application: Use black soap whenever you wash your face and even over your body when you shower! Can also be used as shaving cream.

2. 100% Aloe Vera Gel

The Black Soap can make your skin feel super dry so if you use an even thin layer of 100% natural aloe vera gel, it should soothe and hydrate your skin and add another barrier of anti bacterial properties to your skin.

For Best Application: Use after washing your face with the African black soap and let sink in to your skin for 3-5 minutes before step 3.

3. Vitamin E oil or moisturizer

The final step is a final moisturizing layer. This step is where knowing your skin type is important. For people with dry skin, after using the black soap and aloe vera, use vitamin E oil as your final step to fully hydrate and restore your skin. Use only a thin layer to be careful not to clog your pores and avoid using if your skin is oily as it will create excess oil. the same process applies for people with oily skin but instead of vitamin e oil, use vitamin e cream.

For best application (dry skin): Use the vitamin E oil and let it soak in for 5 minutes, if after using one layer you’re finding there are still dry spots on your face then apply another layer of oil, concentrating on the dry spots only.

Photograph: Alex Bello/Unsplash For best application (oily skin): Use a thin single layer of moisturizer all over the skin, being careful to avoid areas with excessive oil. If any areas feel dry then apply another layer of cream, concentrating on the dry spots only.

Keep using this process everyday until your skin has improved to your satisfaction and carry on this process to maintain your new and improved skin!

(Pro Tip: Use this process to take your make up off, in the morning when you wake up and at night when you wash your face.)

Charlie Kelly

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Ink Prints A Family Business

Ink Prints, started by London born and Dundee bred artist, Nkem Okwechime is a screen-printing company now based in Glasgow, churning out exciting designs and high quality screen-printed garments.

Nkem started Ink Prints on 15th November 2014, to the exact date. The story of this amazing brand is full of twists and turns I’m sure all students can relate to. When Nkem was 17 he originally tried to pursue joinery as a career but decided it wasn’t for him, so he dropped out. With his friends having their own T-shirt brands, the young entrepreneur decided screen printing was his calling so joined the Andy Warhol course in Perth. There he created his first print, a brightly coloured portrait on a white tee of rapper Capital STEEZ. After meeting Joey Badass, twice, a friend of Capital STEEZ, showing him his design and receiving praise from the rapper, Nkem decided to put all his effort in to screen printing.

After many creative schemes and projects worked on, Nkem now has a fully-fledged business and is a licensed sole trader selling t shirts, jumpers as well as offering a printing service to companies and groups for their official merchandise. I sat down with the printing genius over drinks in Glasgow’s city centre and managed to get all the gossip of his amazing brand and the inspirations for his hard work.

A main point of focus during our interview was his number one inspiration and who he credits the Ink Prints brand to - his mum. Born Mary Ruth Linton Craig, Nkem’s mother is also a talented artist with her designs being on many of Ink Prints’ tops. when asked about his mother being an artist, he told me “at home, we have this huge book, I call it ‘The bible” because it’s a huge book filled with all of her artwork from over the years”. Nkem and his mother share a unique bond over art which is heartwarming to hear of.

Ink Prints are a very accessible brand but earlier this year, we saw an exclusive limited edition line come out which was the first time tie dye shirts had been printed on and sold from the company. When asked why the shirts were so exclusive and he’s no longer doing them for the general public he replied “you see I’m a perfectionist, everything must be uniform, everything must look the exact same.Tie dye is so unpredictable it was hard to get them looking exactly right.” Looking at campaign photos from the release, you can see how well made these tops are for anyone who didn’t get one it’s a real shame due to the quality and craftsmanship.

The newest line out by Ink Prints is the M.R.L.C line, which is named after his mother and features her designs on the front and back. Printed by Nkem himself, it really is a family run business with strong family pride in each and every design. All his designs can be purchased online and I, like so many others are excitedly waiting any new drops he has coming in the rest of 2019.

Watch out for new drops coming in March as well as a follow up interview online to see the progress of this amazing family company!

Charlie Kelly

He told me how all of his designs are a joint collaboration with his mother, and described the design process for his new releases as being “like a game of tennis - it’s just constant back and forth, she sends me a design, I tweak it, I send her a design or idea, she tweaks it and sends me feedback”.

One of Ink Prints’ first ever designs released was a rendition of MF Doom screen printed on t shirts and jumpers.

The line was called Supervillain, a savvy spin off of Doom’s alias ‘vaudevillian’. The line was among the first official prints released with Ink Prints. Since that release, the brand has worked with companies such as Glasgow based radio station, LVLZ Radio, to produce top quality merchandise featuring their logo on the front and back in both black and white. Other merchandise was made such as balaclavas and I hear other garments are in the works too!

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Photograph: Khadija Moustafa

Fashion

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2019: The Year of Animal Print Y2K (year 2000) fashion has made a comeback this year with models such as Gigi and Bella Hadid rocking skinny glasses and British vogue promoting animal print since autumn 2018.

Being on a student budget, it’s hard to keep up with the latest trends but here’s how you can incorporate animal print in to your wardrobe with styling tips and tricks because - how do you wear animal print on a day to day?!

Leopard print Accessories are always a cheap option to incorporate the newest patterns and trends in to your wardrobe and also making an out-there pattern wearable. Leopard print hats such as a bucket hat, are easy to wear and can cost you under £10. Depop has always been the fashion conscious students’ best friend so its no surprise you can find loads of vendors selling animal print bucket hats on the cheap!

Styling tip: An all black everyday outfit is elevated by a cool bucket hat with a fun print. Not only does it add a pop of rich beige but it keeps you nice and warm while being an understated statement piece of an otherwise one note outfit!

Zebra Print Zebra print seems to be one of the more easier prints to style. As it’s only black and white a zebra printed top goes great with a pair of black jeans and black converse. ASOS have been on the ball with print, their own street style brand ‘collusion’ coming out with cute printed tops for under £15.

Don’t forget about that ASOS student discount!

Styling tip: To dress up, a mesh zebra print top under a black strappy dress and belted elevates any little black dress and adds a fun tribal flair to the dancefloor.

Snake Print We’ve all seen snake print being all the rage since autumn, with designers such as Tom Ford and Tomas Maier incorporating the funky print in their runways in various loud prints and bold colors. You can find fun snake print pieces everywhere from Pretty Little Thing to Primark but where to go for a fun wearable everyday piece which isn’t going to cost £40 and your best friend doesn’t own already? Charity shops! Pop in to any charity shop and you will probably find a snakeskin purse for only a few quid. It’s a fun way to incorporate print in to your wardrobe while making sure you’re not wearing the same outfit as someone else.

Styling tip: For flashes of snake print which aren’t OTT, pair your snakeskin bag with a similar printed belt. A pair of black belted cigarette trousers alongside a white blouse and your snakeskin bag gives you the business fashion killer look perfect for the occasions you need to be more professional but want to keep a bit of party in your look.

Charlie Kelly

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Photographs: ASOS

Fashion

Popping Accessorises for Men Bags

Whenever someone mention accessorizing you never really think of guys wanting to add a little bling or a cool bag to elevate their look - you think of women wearing dangly earrings and Micheal Kors bags. Here at The EDIT we like to include men in all aspects of fashion, including cool accessories. Here’s a few accessorizes every guy needs to add a little something something to their look that isn’t just a backpack or beanie!

The side bag

The tote bag

There are so many bags which any man, macho or femme can wear. All serve a purpose and some even help save the planet!

Hats

Instead of the normal black beanie or Nike cap, try a new kind of hat guaranteed to make you stand out.

The old school cap

Colorful beanie

Chains aren’t just for your neck. Wallet chains as well as chunky rapper chains can add a real edge to an all black or street look.

Chains

Funky socks

Charlie Kelly

Socks are severely underrated when it comes to the average person’s style. They can add a pop of color in an all black outfit and pull together the bottom half of your outfit. Not to mention finding the perfect shoe and sock combo is one of the most satisfying feelings.

Photographs: ASOS

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LUSH

Revive your Skin for Spring Using

The winter months have a toll on everyone’s skin, causing eczema flair ups and chapped lips but thankfully, Lush have amazing cruelty free products ready to combat any skin issues and get beautiful glowy skin in time for summer. There are two Lush stores located close to GCU, on Buchannan street and on Sauchiehall street, making these products accessible for anyone needing an extra bit of TLC. A good cleanser really changes the game and is great in any skincare routine. Lush’s ‘Herbalism’ is an all-natural cleanser designed to balance skin tone and get rid of any dirt on the surface of your skin. Made with nettles, rosemary and rice bran sugar, ‘Herbalism’ is a great product to start reviving your skin. Priced at £8.50 for a 100g pot, it is competitively priced with other cleansers on the market.

There is a rich scrub sold at Lush called ‘Cup o’ Coffee’ which is infused with coffee granules, cocoa extract and coriander oil alongside other rich ingredients. It provides a deep scrub alongside a strong scent of coffee which really wakes you up when applying the mask - perfect for waking you up during a pamper session before a night out.

For a 150g pot it costs £8.50 and a little goes a long way so you truly do get the best bang for your buck! Not only is the scrub for your face but also works amazingly on the body too for a full body pampering.

A good moisturizer is hard to come by as they are usually thick and can often clog your pores or make your skin look greasy. Luckily, ‘Vanishing Cream’ is one of the most deeply nourishing creams on the market with ingredients such as neroli and lavender essential oils. ‘Vanishing Cream’ also boasts being cocoa butter free, making the cream lightweight. This cream doesn’t clog your pores and gives your face a beautiful glow and giving the all natural dewy look. Priced at £19.95 for a 45g pot, it’s not the most student friendly price point but a little goes a long way and the cream really is one of the best on the market.

It’s great under your make up as part of your prepping routine but it’s also amazing to put on after using a good cleanser such as ‘Herbalism’ and having beautiful dewy skin before going to uni!

Lush also have a 5 pot program. This means any customer can go to any lush store with 5 empty product pots and receive a free fresh face mask. This ethical program is a great way to get a free product while saving the planet!

Charlie Kelly

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Photographs: LUSH Official

Music

Maggie Rogers Gives a Little, Glasgow Gets a Lot Fresh off the back of touring the UK as support for Mumford and Sons, American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers returned for her debut solo tour in Europe taking to the stage at Glasgow’s SWG3. As Mumford’s support at the Hydro, Maggie knew already how fantastic the Glaswegian crowds were and so the popular American’s show had to be moved from St Luke’s to a larger venue as she managed to sell out SWG3.

With her debut album Heard it in a Past Life coming out in January and charting at number 25 in the UK Albums Chart, fans were treated to every song on the album during Maggie’s set, with an array of hits from her earlier EP Now That the Light is Fading also played.

Australian rapper and musician Mallrat opened things up for the Glaswegian crowds playing a selection of songs from her debut EP In The Sky, before Rogers graced the stage.

Kicking things off Maggie got the crowd going with one of the album’s lead singles Give A Little, with the mixed crowd seeing people of all age groups boogieing along to her eclectic electrofolk sound. An array of album tracks came next before a little throwback from Maggie who played Dog Years and On and Off, which both featured on her EP which turned two years old on the same date as her Glasgow show.

performing in front of crowds across the globe both during festivals and her own solo tour.

Continuing to play through all 12 hits from Heard it in a Past Life, Maggie performed like a seasoned veteran on stage despite only having two years’ experience of being a live performer. A fantastically choreographed performance with her dancers was supported by brilliant vocals and musicianship which would make you think you were listening to the album at home if you weren’t watching her right in front of you.

As the set ended, fans were treated to a cover of Taylor Swift’s debut hit Tim McGraw which was released all the way back in 2006 whilst the fellow American singer-songwriter was only 16. As the inevitable encore approached, Maggie informed the crowd that she ‘never understood the point in going off the stage just to come back on’ and proceeded to play her final tracks with the crowds still connected to the performance.

The set was closed out with a fantastic a capella performance of Color Song, where you would be able to her a pin drop in the crowd whilst she displayed her vocal ability.

A rapturous applause and some more chanting of Maggie’s name were followed by the lead single from her debut album Fallingwater before the American left the stage after a fantastic show.

The crowd roared and sung along however to her breakout hit Alaska which came next. The brilliantly self-produced song arguably launched Rogers’ career into orbit in 2016 after a video surfaced of a stunned Pharrell Williams listening to the song with awe whilst Maggie was still studying at a New York music and arts college. The video went viral, as did the song, and the rest is history with Rogers now

With Maggie Rogers transforming from an internet sensation into an international superstar in just three years, her exciting performance at SWG3 leaves me in no doubt that this is still just the beginning of her career as a fantastic musician. The SWG3 crowd certainly enjoyed Maggie’s debut solo appearance in Glasgow and without doubt she will be back on The Scottish stage soon.

Photography: Alicia Canter

Craig McLean

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Tut’s TRNSMT

Top Three

The headliners of the main stage at this year’s TRNSMT may have generated some controversy and a talking point for music lovers, but let’s turn our attention to the biggest names gracing the often underrated King Tut’s stage.

Example

Elliot John Gleave, otherwise known as Example, is set to take to the King Tut’s stage on the first day of Scotland’s biggest festival. In the last decade, he has collaborated with the likes of Calvin Harris, Pet Shop Boys and Professor Green. He is also in the middle of a UK tour which included a date at Glasgow’s SWG3, one of the city’s most unique concert spaces, and regularly surprises fans on Twitter by generously offering places on the guest list at his shows as well as backstage access. Example is sure to please fans at Glasgow Green in July with a mix of his well-known chart hits and his more recent dance oriented releases.

The Hunna

Hertfordshire rock band The Hunna will headline the King Tut’s stage on the middle date following on from their April date at the Barrowlands. Inspiration from the likes of the 1975, You Me At Six and Kings of Leon the band has dropped two studio albums since getting together in 2015.

For those who are not as interested in the Saturday main stage this will be a good opportunity for the band to add to their expanding legion of Scottish fans.

Circa Waves

Fronted by lead vocalist Kieran Shudall, most of us are familiar with some of their most played songs like T-Shirt Weather and Fossils all thanks to Friday nights at Propaganda in Kokomo and formerly the O2 ABC. However, 2019 has already seen the band drop two singles in preparation for the release of their third studio album What’s It Like Over There? in April. With nearly 100 million streams on Spotify alone, this group is likely to give The Kooks, The Wombats and the Amazons, from the main stage, a run for their money when it comes to competing for fans’ attention.

Callum McQuade Photography: Circa Waves/Press

Still to Hear the Best From AJ Tracey AJ Tracey dropped his debut album in February but was it worth the hype? The Ladbroke Grove rapper saw huge success with his last project Secure The Bag! which peaked at 13 in the UK Albums Chart. His recent singles Butterflies and LO(V/S)ER, charting at 18 and 38 respectively at the end of 2018. On the back of this success he announced his first album titled, AJ Tracey, would drop in February, to the excitement of not just his fans but the entire UK Hip Hop scene. So how did the final product live up to the billing?

If I was a teacher, I would grade it a C and the notes would read, good start but could do better. The difficulty for the 24-year-old, like many upcoming artists in today’s climate is trying to tap into the pop market whilst remaining true to yourself. This album has traces of classic AJ T, but ultimately drowns in a generic American hip-hop sound.

Necklace, featuring American Rapper Jay Critch, is a clear attempt to try and break the already overcrowded U.S hip-hop scene. The song sounds so unlike AJ that it took several listens to try and figure out what part of the song was him. Lyrically it was more mumble rap than trap with the chorus I put a whip on my neck, I put a whip on my necklace, sounding like a Lil Pump bar.

However, in comparison the other new feature in the album, Nothing But Net featuring Giggs, manages to blend the American sound with the British. AJ’s lyrics delve into a slice of American culture, but the flow is traditional and of course Giggs always brings classic British vibes. It is a very fine line to try and cross between UK and US hip-hop and this song is a step in the right direction.

The best track from this strange mix has got to be Pysch Out! The verses are Tracey at his best, but the chorus mixes in a new auto-tuned R&B sound implemented throughout the album. The music video which was filmed in Atlanta, visually lines up the audio as he is combining the two cultures on the song.

In terms of the rest of the album, there are some classic AJ T tracks on here such as Doing It, which was released as a single beforehand and my personal favourite, Rina.

Produced by Nyge, who has already produced many of AJ’s classics like Pasta and Alakazam to his most recent hit Butterflies, featuring Not3s, the producer has set the Londoner up with another fantastic beat.

It is a decent effort for a debut album and AJ Tracey is only 24 so there is plenty of time for him to work on finding his place as an artist. This album seemed to be an attempt to play around in a few different genres which is fair enough as he openly admits he does not want to be pigeonholed.

It worked in some cases, but in others it made him sound unoriginal.

Lewis Moynihan

23

Music

Top Class Tommy Takes Scotland by Storm

A 23 year-old singer-songwriter from Motherwell is showing no end to his musical talent by grabbing fans’ attention through a combination of talent and sheer hard work.

Tommy McGuire has been gigging all over the country during the last few years as well as making an appearance on the Capital FM stage at the launch of the brand new First Busses at Saint Enoch’s Square in Glasgow.

“One day at school I saw one of my mates going for a singing lesson with a teacher and I asked if I could go in and give it a try.

“From then I took up going to gigs and I used to love going to the King Tuts Sunday Song Club and the Amethyst in Govan on a Thursday night.”

“I just love playing music and there is so many people trying to chase the same dream as me and when I started out at 17/18 a lot of people looked past me, but on the contrary at no point did I think I was going to give up.”

When asked how it feels to finally be getting the recognition he has dreamed of from radio stations around Scotland, he says it’s important as an artist to be ready to take your opportunity whenever it arises.

“It’s so important to keep going and plugging away and one day it will bring you the results you want.”

On stage, McGuire’s versatility ranges from covering the likes of Paolo Nutini to sharing some of his own self-penned songs.

If all that wasn’t enough to set him up for an impressive future, McGuire also regularly takes to the stage with his band the Amberjax on electric guitar and vocals.

“I’d like to tour the UK in the next couple of years and then find a way of touring the whole world over the next 10 years.

“I love gigging and being up on stage, I even prefer it to taking the time to record music in the studio.

“As long as I’m playing live music for as long as I can I’ll be happy.”

Callum McQuade

Photography: Scott Jackson

24

Mixed Pre-season for Women’s

Will Women’s Football Ever Be Taken Seriously?

After Glasgow City secured a twelfth league title in a row last October, the SWPL returned at the start of February with eight teams once again ready to slug it out for the title. The main off-season news did not involve the champions however, as Celtic, Hibernian and Hearts grabbed most of the headlines.

For Celtic, under new management in Eddie Wolecki Black, the man who led Glasgow City to four of their twelve titles, have announced their intention to try and go full-time. Time will tell whether that will be possible to do. Hearts, who currently sit in SWPL2 have said they are getting more money invested in them from the men’s team as they hope to get promoted to the top flight.

It’s 2019 and Scotland’s women team will be playing in the Fifa Women’s world cup in France this coming June. Yet despite their success women football players can’t seem to catch a break.

Clubs as Scotland Continues to Rise

The other main talking point has been the departures from Hibernian including top goalscorer last season, Abi Harrison to Bristol City. Hibs have been the closest challengers to Glasgow City in recent seasons and have won both the League Cup and Scottish Cup for the past three seasons and it is a case of wait and see whether they can make that final step.

Despite, the loss of players in Scotland domestically, the women’s game internationally continues to rise and the countdown ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is on with Scotland making their debut in the competition and their first appearance at a World Cup, male or female, since 1998 when the men’s tournament was also in France.

Shelley Kerr’s side have a tough looking draw as they start their campaign on the south of France in Nice against none other than England. The second group game sees them face 2011 winners, Japan before a potential shoot-out for third place (and a potential Round of 16 spot) against Argentina at the Parc des Princes.

The rise of the national team has been further evidenced by being in Pot 1 for the qualifying draw for the UEFA EURO 2021 qualifiers meaning the side avoid the likes of Germany and France in the qualifying group. So, while domestically the game may be losing players to clubs down south, internationally, Scotland are most certainly being taken seriously.

Craig Edwards

Last year saw a 400% rise in the number of reports of discrimination and harassment incidents directed at women in football.

Eva Lockhart (18), who plays for St Mirren W.F.C, says she has faced discrimination in her pursuit of a career in football, “I constantly get told that football is a boys sport and I shouldn’t be playing it. I’ve been called a lesbian and all sorts of homophobic slurs even though I have a boyfriend.”

“When I was younger, I played for St Mirren boys’ team and we would receive a lot of judgement. People would say stuff because there was a girl playing for the team, even though we were unbeaten for 3 seasons.”

“I never let any of this stop me from pursuing football, and as I have gotten older I have noticed more people respect me so it is a surprise that this sort of stuff is still happening.

Women should be able to play football without any sort of stigma being attached.”

This isn’t just a singular incident either. Just recently JD had to come out and apologise for the marketing of the new Scotland kit. The men’s version saw Kieran Tierney sporting the new t-shirt to advertise for men. Yet the women’s t-shirt was advertised using a model in ripped jeans, posing provocatively – why wasn’t a player for the Scotland women’s team used to start with?

Something has to change in women’s football. For starters the players should be considered professionals, even now with Scotland in the world cup and Glasgow City absolutely dominating the competition and winning titles left, right and centre, this is still considered as nothing more than a hobby to them.

In 2018 Norwegian footballer Ada Hegerberg became the first woman to ever win a Ballon d’Or and it was well deserved, she scored 31 goals in just 20 appearances and 15 goals in only 9 Champions League appearances. Yet when she stepped up on stage and was asked to twerk for everyone by host DJ Martin Solveig. Proving even when women are almost taken seriously by this profession it is ruined by sexist comments.

The current state of women’s football is an atrocity and if it is to ever be taken seriously by the public then it should at least be taken seriously by those actually involved in the sport.

Catriona Donald

25

Sports

F1 2019 Season Predictions As 2021’s regulation changes edge closer, 2019 looks to be season of evolution rather than revolution for most teams.

Essere Ferrari The vibe from testing is that this year (as always) COULD be the year for Ferrari. The message from the team is that of unity in a time of change, echoed in the new slogan of Essere Ferrari (be Ferrari). That looks to be the case with new boss Mattia Binotto who has worked his way up from the bottom over 25 years within the team. While the signs from testing are that Ferarri continue to push on, Binotto had made it clear the team have to go back to their roots and stay true their principles if they are to succeed in a post-Marchionne era.

Despite that, the move for Charles Leclerc was a bold one considering his lack of experience in Formula One and the team’s tendency to lean towards elder statesmen in the grid. Perhaps the idea is to inject focus into Sebastian Vettel who was at fault for missed opportunities in 2018, particularly crashing out whilst in the lead at Hockenheim.

The reality is that Vettel has no laurels left to sit on, this year could be make or break for the German. With Leclerc looking bright in testing, the Monegasque could be the missing ingredient in Ferrari’s title charge.

Renault to Reign Supreme in the Midfield Daniel Ricciardo provided the surprise move of 2018, leaving Red Bull for the yellow and black of Renault. Such was the extent of the Australian’s bad luck last season, he felt the car was ‘cursed’. Still, with the top brass unable to keep the Australian, Renault’s long-term ambition must have some serious substance to it that the rest of us don’t know about yet, if they were able to snatch up one the most entertaining drivers on the grid.

Ricciardo himself admitted it would be at least a year or two before his new team would be challenging for wins but after comfortably becoming ‘best of the rest’ last year (in part thanks to the reformation of Force India into Racing Point mid-season).

The feeling from McLaren is that they want an ‘under-theradar’ year as they steadily look to progress and use a reliable car as a platform to build from. They seem to have learned their lesson from a few years ago, no boasting about their chassis this time round.

Williams to Continue Their Woeful Ways Williams endured one of their toughest years in recent memory in 2018, the British outfit’s 2019 season has started in the worst way possible. Missing the first two days of testing means that the team could face the incredible situation of turning up to Melbourne with a relatively untested package.

The return of Robert Kubica feels more of a sentimental move to drum up some feel-good which was completely drained after last year’s misery, and the team will be looking to new-boy George Russell to provide some positive results and emulate the rookie season of that Charles Leclerc had at Alfa Romeo Sauber. The overall package surely will be an improvement, but the early signs look ominous.

Peter Rancati

Photography: Shawn Ang/Unsplash

26

Top 5 Underrated Players in the Scottish Premiership

GCU Wolves Cheerleading

Alan Power – Kilmarnock Without a doubt one of the top performers in a resurgent Kilmarnock team, Power often flies under the radar but is the man who makes the Rugby Park side tick. His ability to control and dominate the midfield area allows Killie’s forward players to work their magic, leading to a potent mix of midfield control and blistering attack. Power is without a doubt the unsung hero of Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock team.

GCU Wolves Cheerleading have flourished in the last few months, training hard for the start of the competitive season.

The team kicked off their competition season on the 9th of February, as they traveled to Manchester to compete at the FutureCheer University Nationals. This was the first ever time GCU have entered a Pom Dance team and a Stunt team! The Wolves smashed it and placed 8th in Pom and 15th in Stunt. Inspired by their success, the team took on the competition closer to home, at the BCA Nationals in Glasgow, placing second! They are currently training for the final competition of the season the Scottish University Cheerleading Championships. This is a highly anticipated competition for the girls as the event was first founded by GCU and Strathclyde University last year and continues to be co-hosted by both Universities. GCU Wolves Cheer will be entering 4 teams, when they travel to Dundee to compete at SUCC their competitive Pom team, 2 Stunt teams and their REC team. Hopefully this will be another victory for the team!

Zander Clark – St Johnstone One of the reasons for St Johnstone’s current position in the top six, goalie Clark has been in phenomenal form this season, with exploits between the sticks which are deserving of a Scotland call-up. The confidence that he gives his defence allows the rest of the team to venture further forward and hurt oppositions in the final third. He is without a doubt one of Scotland’s top goalkeepers at the minute.

Craig Halkett – Livingston They say that a captain should lead by example, and this is the epitome of what Craig Halkett is all about. A colossus at the back, his no-nonsense defending has earned him many fans over the course of the season, after he led them from the Championship before the summer. He has helped the team become a formidable force this season, especially at home, where they have achieved impressive results against some of Scottish football’s biggest sides.

Stephen McGinn – St Mirren There has not been much for St Mirren fans to smile about this season, but Stephen McGinn has been a shining light in the darkness. The midfielder has been a permanent fixture in the starting 11, with the captain playing the most games out of any Saints player this season. His passion and talent shine through and have helped the Saints to vital points in what has otherwise been a poor season.

Steven Naismith – Hearts Despite having reached the later years of his career, the Hearts striker has proved this season that he still has all the qualities to be a top class forward. Not only is he the Edinburgh side’s top scorer with 14 goals, his all-round play is a great benefit to the team. His link-up play and movement has been impressive and has helped his fellow forward players excel. Despite a lengthy injury, there is no doubt that he has been a standout player so far this season.

Adam Lyon

27

Round-Up

Melissa Stoddart