The EDIT Magazine - Freshers Issue 16 2020

Freshers Edition September 2020 Issue 16

MEET THE TEAM Abbie Meehan Editor In Chief/Sports Editor

Hannah MacKenzie Wood Deputy Editor/Arts and Culture Editor

Siobhan Macdonald News and Features Editor

Rachel Gibson Entertainment and Technology Editor/Head of Social Media

Georgia Brown Fashion Editor

Tsvetelina Peneva Co-Editor of Music

Chloe Burrell Co-Editor of Music/Online Editor

Chris Faulds Head of Events

Afia Kazmi Head of Photography

Hannah Temple Head of Design

Contents Editor In Chiefs Welcome Hello, and welcome to the Freshers Edition of The EDIT 2020! My name is Abbie Meehan and I am the new Editor-in-Chief of this amazing student magazine. I have been volunteering with The EDIT since 2017 and have been Sports Editor for two years running. I am so excited to take over the reins from former Editor Monica Allen, and look forward to continue the fabulous work she has done with the magazine.

In these unprecedented times, having a society as creative and inspiring as this one is a real pick-me-up. The EDIT will be going digital this year in a bid to keep everyone safe, and we are always looking for article writers, photographers and virtual event planners to make our student media the best one yet!

Make sure to keep up to date with us on all our socials, @theeditgcu on Instagram and @TheEDITGCU on Twitter where we will be posting Freshers Events and the date of our first All-Magazine Meeting, and check out all our previous editions and articles on www.theeditgcu.com.

Stay safe, Abbie Editor-in-Chief/Sports Editor

Cover / Carolina Ferguson

News and Features 1 2 3 4 5

The Climate App Strictly...Irrational?

Realities of Travelling Abroad in a Global Pandemic Mental Health in Men During Covid-19 How to Get Through University Whilst Living With a Chronic Illness

Fashion 7

Masking the Maskne, Looking After Your Skin During a Pandemic 9 Freshers Internal Fashion Struggle 11 Cottagecore - The New Fashion Trend 15 The Lockdown Lowdown: The Fresh-Faced Brands of the Pandemic 17 A Farewell to Fast Fashion Entertainment and Technology 19 Hitchcock Walked So Spielberg Could Run - The Underappreciated Classic 21 Zoom University: Will the New Ever Compare to Normal?

23 The BAFTAs: Award Shows in the ‘New Normal’ Lifestyle Arts and Culture 25 Black Lives Matter: 5 Books to Gain Better Knowledge of Black History 27 Freshers In Lockdown 28 Save Our Arts and Culture Industry!

29 Why Stevie Nicks has been the Saviour We Needed During the Pandemic Music 31 The Retrogrades: The Pandemic as an Up and Coming Band 33 The Aces - Album Review 35 Declan Welsh and The Decadent West 37 Katy Perry - Album Review 39 An Interview With Giant Rooks Sports 41 How Covid-19 Has Affected Football 43 SPFL Predictions 45 Glasgow City: One of the Most Successful Teams in Scotland

The Climate App

Photograph / Markus Spiske / Unsplash.com The Climate App is a project taking the world by storm as a way to tackle climate change and our carbon foot print.

Creations like this are becoming more and more important as recent news shows that nearly 80% of people would personally make as many lifestyle changes for climate change as they have for coronavirus.

The app is founded by a NASA research scholar Samuel Naef, and is designed to harness the power of peer pressure and competitive nature to help users reduce their carbon footprint.

As you monitor your carbon foot print on the app and share your progress, you will also get suggestions as well on next steps such as: Reducing your meat and dairy intake, moving to green energy, pressuring your local MP, cycling to work or university, switching to plastic-free products and car sharing as some examples.

Project founder Samuel Naef, who has previously created 8Billionminds (a free global live-learning platform) said,

“We know that people are starting to promote and speak about climate change, but we know that it is sometimes also difficult and lonely to change your own behaviour. It is much moreeasy to do when you feel everyone else around you are doing it too, and how it all contributes to a larger end goal. I was personally hugely inspired by a friend who had already stopped flying for several years, although hardly anyone else knew about it.”

He added, “We have been waiting decades for our leaders to solve this issue, but it’s progress has been way too slow, and now we need a movement of people taking action, instead of words - affecting every level of society - to help instigate ambitious change particularly for CEOs, politicians, policy-makers, investors, and influencers in all sectors. Everyone’s actions influence others.”

The idea is that the app is built on a shared community of friends, think of it as a combination of Strava, Duolingo and Instagram but centred on protecting the planet.

Siobhan Macdonald

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News & Feature

Strictly...Irrational?

The beginning of September means one thing – the Strictly glitter ball is defrosting! With only a few weeks to go until the shows seventeenth season airs, Strictly Come Dancing has already hit the press with a bang. However, it’s not the costumes that are turning heads this time around.

Strictly has been untouchable when it comes to its rigid (yet hugely entertaining) content and structure. The same perfectly toned professionals coach the celebrities, the same glittery studios host each live show and a line up of heterosexual couples dance to compete – until now.

Nicola Adams will make history this year as she becomes the first woman to dance with another woman competitively on the show.

The bi-sexual, two-time boxing champion will take to the dance floor in an attempt to win over the nation with her new-found dance moves.

Photograph / Karwai Tang With most people watching the show due to its lighthearted and upbeat nature, it’s surprising that so many people have taken to Twitter in disgust at the shows progression. With one keyboard warrior triumphing that gay couples on the dance floor simply “doesn’t work”, you might ask the question, why?

It is unimaginable that a primetime Saturday night entertainment

show is suddenly no longer seen as “family friendly” due to one simple, yet important change. Of course, the public can be both reluctant and accepting of changes of any sort, but is this sort of change really something to be so disturbed by? The shows primary purpose is for nondancers to learn from a professional, providing many laughs and amusement to viewers along the way. Will a bisexual woman competing simply strip the show of all its meaning? For some, it might.

It’s important to look at the roots of dance in order to truly comprehend the significance of a same-sex dance coupling. Strictly Come Dancing thrives on feathers, glitter and all things incredibly outlandish and camp. It would be wrong to incorporate such bold fashion statements into the show without acknowledging its origin directly from the LGBTQ+ community.

Perhaps homophobes are afraid. Afraid of a same sex couple winning the show. It would not be unheard of. Last year, Denmark’s version of the show made history as the first same-sex couple lifted the trophy. However, Strictly has always openly supported and celebrated the jazzy and camp attitudes and attire of two of the most loved judges – Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood. In that respect, it’s a surprise this change hasn’t come sooner.

Regardless of your personal preferences, it is ultimately irrational to be bothered by something so inoffensive. If you watch Strictly, like me, I’m presuming you’re watching it to spectate on the dances, the personalities and the theatrical elements of each performance. I hope Adams excels and proves all the haters wrong.

2020 has shown that there are much bigger problems lurking beneath the surface of society – two women dancing together on television should not be at the top of your list.

Kirsten Irvine 2

Realities of Travelling Abroad in a Global Pandemic As we all know, Covid-19 has made travel a distant memory for the majority of us with bridges between countries opening up, before swiftly being slammed shut.

the airport, in the middle of August, was. Those days of waiting in long lines for check in and security, well that is one thing non-existent in 2020!

However, for the lucky few that have had the chance to travel, it is certainly a different experience from that of normal times, if you can remember them.

Another noticeable thing within the airport itself was how empty the terminals felt. Even the boards where you would previously wait patiently to see your flight, featured every flight leaving that day, with blank space for more. In world before coronavirus, even flying at 2am you would still see loads of flight information but not anymore.

Talking about the lucky few that have had the chance to travel, I am one of them, however, not for leisure purposes. I had the unique opportunity to travel to San Sebastian in northern Spain for the UEFA Women’s Champions League Finals that took place in the Basque Country. My trip was not a traditional one compared to others on holiday but there are some experiences that I’m sure people can relate to and give some insight to what travelling is like right now.

This trip was slightly more unusual than just a simple holiday with a key component taking place prior to departure, testing. Now I’m sure those who have had a COVID-19 test will know what I mean when I say having a cotton bud stuck down your throat and up your nose is not the way you usually prepare for going away.

But two negative tests later, and I was allowed to arrive at Glasgow Airport. One of the first things that was very noticeable was how quiet

Photograph / GettyImages.co.uk 3

Flying itself is also a peculiar thing these days.

Masks were unsurprisingly worn at all times by everyone on the flight, and there was no trolley going up and down the aisle. Instead on our chartered flight, cups of water had been left in the seat pockets for us.

Rules in all countries slightly differ but for me in Spain it was quite simple. Mask on at all times.

Whether I was walking through the hotel lobby to my room or in the stadium itself, a mask was non-negotiable. However, one thing that was very apparent, no matter where you looked, everyone had masks on, even those just walking their dog.

The important thing during these times is everyone staying safe. Travel will return to normal, but for now, it is a very different experience.

Craig Edwards

News & Feature

Mental Health In Men During Covid-19

Photograph / Markus Spiske / Unsplash.com

COVID-19 has affected every person on this planet in one way or another; whether it’s being cut off from social activities or furloughed from your workplace, there’s not been a time like 2020 in recent history.

Mental health has been at the forefront of many discussions surrounding the pandemic, yet there is still a grey area when it comes to one gender. Over the past two decades, middle-aged men (aged 40–59) in the UK have experienced the highest average suicide rate of any age group.

This is according to a report published by Samaritans, who have also stated that the lockdown and after-effects of it have since ‘amplified’ the need for men to reach out for help and support.

A number of men described how they withdrew from those around them when they were feeling especially low, and felt little reaction from their peers when they did so. Many assume that when a man withdraws from society, he is just quieter and more reserved than normal, and don’t give it a second thought.

One of the most toxic traits of supposed masculinity is the assumption that men don’t feel the same types of emotions as

others, that from a young age they are taught to ‘man up’ and not ‘act like a little girl’.

This is one of the most damaging things to tell a young child, and can cause repression of certain emotions and become insensitive to those around them.

The most destructive stereotype of a man is one that is invincible, always in control and the higher power in all relationships.

When males are growing up and don’t fit this stereotype, they feel an overarching sense of shame and it can gain potential to turn into something a lot more serious.

The idea of catching an unknown virus that has no cure can be a terrifying thought to anyone, but especially someone who is convinced they always should be one step ahead.

The isolation we’ve all found ourselves in is also a danger to the mind and can cause intrusive thoughts to reach the surface.

As we are starting to rear our heads into the world again, take the time to check in on the men in your life; it could be a dad, husband, son, friend or other family member. It could be the conversation they were needing that day to refocus and come to terms with their mind, or just a break in their new, normal life that came at just the right time.

If you have been affected by anything mentioned in this article, reach out for help at the below helplines: PAPYRUS - Young suicide prevention society: 0800 068 4141 (10am-10pm) CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-12am) Samaritans -Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair: 116 123 (24-hours) Abbie Meehan

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How to Get Through University Whilst Living With a Chronic Illness Starting university can be a daunting experience for many, never mind starting university whilst dealing with a chronic illness.

Whether it be something which the symptoms aren’t visible, or if it is something you have lived with for years. There are several things that you can do to make your university life easier. GCU is a university which is dedicated

Photograph / Peter Devlin

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to providing an inclusive student experience, which gives all students the chance to achieve their full potential whilst studying at GCU. As someone who has experienced this the last four years,I have complied a list of recommendations for getting through university whilst living with a chronic illness!

News & Feature

Learning Development Centre I urge you to utilise the Learning Development Centre (LDC). Every academic school at GCU has a Learning Development Centre. They provide academic writing support for both home and international students. ICT support, guidance on study skills and other academic support and guidance. Your programme handbook will have details on the LDC and you will be able to contact them via the contact details provided.

Disability Team The Disability Team give information, guidance and different services to disabled students and applicants, depending on a person’s personal situation. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic the Wellbeing Service is not running on campus, instead they are working online.

If you need access to the wellbeing service contact them by following this link. The Disability Team offer a weekly newsletter, and they also have a variety of self-help resources which you can access via this link.

Advice Centre The Advice Centre are run by the Students’ Association. They provide a free, nonjudgemental and confidential service to all GCU students. They represent and advocate for the interests of both individual students as well as the student body as a whole, whilst operating independently from the University. The Advice Centre exist to assist students in obtaining information on all the services and rights that they are entitled to, as well as providing support, mediation, and representation where appropriate. You can find out more about the Advice Centre here. As with the Disability Team, they are currently working remotely due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Togetherall App The Togetherall app is available to all GCU Students. The online community is available 24/7 so if you ever feel alone or need to talk to someone, togetherall is there for you. The app is monitored 24/7 by trained professionals. Togetherall has an array of resources as well as having a wide range of courses. You can learn how to better manage anxiety or learn hints and tips on how to sleep better! Visit the website to find out more and you can create a free account by using your GCU email address to register.

Let your Lecturers know Let your lecturers know that you are living with a chronic illness. They will be able to provide you with extra support if required as well as understanding if you have to be absent due to your illness. You can also access further support from your personal tutor. All students are assigned a Personal Tutor at the start of their course. All Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate students will have a named Personal Tutor will be a member of academic staff from their department. Personal Tutors are there to give students the opportunity to talk if they have pressing concerns, but they can also be used to help students reflect on their personal and academic progress.

You can also get in contact with the Academic Disability Co-Ordinator (ADC), each department has an assigned ADC who can provide you with more help and guidance should you require it.

If you follow even some of these tips of how to get through University with a chronic illness I am sure that your experience will be positive allowing you to experience everything that GCU has to offer!

Monica Allen

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Masking the Maskne, Looking After Your Skin During A Pandemic Covid-19 has brought a plethora of changes to all our lives. Impacting not only our health; but our hobbies, friends and our jobs. Wearing masks has become the new normal, with regulations in place for shopping indoors, public transport and many other everyday activities. Let me reiterate the importance of wearing masks and continuing to social distance, they may not be the most pleasant things, but they are necessary in preventing an increase in cases.

Wearing a mask, may have left your skin breaking out, this is because the environment under a mask is perfect for acne to flourish. Friction from the mask can also make our skin irritated and make it difficult to heal the acne that is already there. When our skin feels nice and looks refreshed it makes us feel our best, even during a pandemic. Here are some tips to keep your skin in tip top condition.

Photography / kravebeauty.com If you are wearing a reusable mask, such as cotton or polyester, it’s so important to wash it after every use, otherwise it is defeating the purpose of using a mask to protect against the virus in the first place. Alongside it being less effective after being worn, it harbours acne causing bacteria after a long day of wear.

From sweat and oil build-up amongst the fabric. So, if you are wearing a fabric mask, make sure you are washing it daily, or have a few in rotation.

Double cleansing is the best thing to happen to my skin, the method usually involves two different cleansers, one being oil based and the other being a foaming cleanser. Using them one after the other. The oil cleanser breaks down makeup, sweat and sebum, whilst the second cleanser gets into the pores and removes dirt and build-up.

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Using medicated cleansers, with active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid and salicylic acid will help with active breakouts.

Follow this routine with an exfoliant and a moisturiser.

A simple 4-step routine like this, will help to keep your skin clean, preventing the build-up under the mask which eventually causes the maskne.

Keeping your skin hydrated is just as important as the cleansing process. Hydrated skin means a stronger skin barrier, and a stronger skin barrier means the deeper layers of your skin is better protected against UV light, pollution, infection and pollution, all things that can lead to premature aging and acne. Hydration is key, regardless of your skin type. Look for active ingredients such as glycerine and niacinamide, these ingredients will boost your skins overall hydration.

If you wear makeup, you may find it beneficial reducing the amount you wear under the mask, or swapping your products out to more lightweight coverage, whether it be a tinted moisturiser or simply some concealer. This will allow your skin the ability to ‘breathe’ whilst under the mask. If you are removing your mask throughout the day, perhaps try using a facial spray or blotting papers to keep the skin refreshed and feeling its best.

Although maskne can be incredibly frustrating, it’s so important to continue to wear masks whilst you are out, on public transport and when you are in close contact with others. The last few months have been very difficult, and in comparison, to coronavirus, maskne is a miniscule blip in our lives.

Stay Safe, Save Lives Georgia Brown

Photography / thegoodapparel.com Design & Illustration by Carolina Ferguson

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Fashion

Freshers Internal Fashion Struggle Mariella Maguire Photography / instagram.com Design by Carolina Ferguson

Need not worry this isn’t a ‘what not to wear’ piece, I think as a society we have progressed beyond the need for those articles.

This is more of a ‘you do you’ kind of thing, unless that involves wearing your sixth-year leavers hoodie… okay sorry, that is the only catty comment you will find from me here.

Starting university is such an exciting time, however that usually comes with a lot of stress and a lot of change. You are meeting loads of new people, possibly moving out of your family home, and finally starting to study something you are actually interested in.

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Fashion Before uni a lot of us were stuck wearing a uniform five days a week. Whether that be in work or school, having to conform to tucked in shirts and ties gets pretty tiring.

But now you are here in uni, there is no strict dress code and you’ve got the freedom to choose how you want to present yourself. Well, I say no strict dress code as you would probably be escorted off campus if you were sporting something as skimpy as a man-kini.

But, man-kini’s aside, there is basically no dress code.

This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for.

But wait, is anyone else finding this kind of overwhelming?

There is nothing I enjoy more than putting together a new outfit. Clothing has this ability to make us feel confident, portray our interests and express ourselves.

Sometimes being in a new environment and expressing yourself can seem daunting.

I’ve always had my own personal style and generally couldn’t care less if someone didn’t like what I was wearing. When I moved to Glasgow at eighteen, I started to feel the need to keep up with what everyone else was wearing.

The amount of money I wasted on clothing and accessories that I bought to fit in was ridiculous.

My self-confidence had plummeted, and I felt embarrassed when I tried to wear something that wasn’t like what my peers were wearing. Granted, I was probably hanging out with the wrong people.

Starting uni the second time around at twenty-one, my whole perception changed.

I started dressing for whatever mood I was in. If I were having a chilled day, it was comfy trousers and baggy jumpers. If I was feeling particularly confident, it would be heeled boots and dresses. I dressed how I felt each morning and it was so freeing to not care what people thought.

So now I’ve had my self-indulgent ramble, my advice to anyone reading this is don’t waste your money buying into trends to appease others. If you are meant to be friends, they are not going to care what you wear.

And let’s be honest, come trimester B everyone will be turning up in jogging bottoms and last night’s makeup anyway.

An internal crisis is inevitable when you start university but don’t let that affect your wardrobe or your wallet, there is enough to be stressed about. Use this time to enjoy not wearing a uniform. Wear that crazy outfit you were scared to wear in your hometown, you’re not in Kansas anymore Toto.

Start expressing yourself and enjoying getting dressed in the morning. And if that means wearing your leavers hoodie then you do you, who am I to judge.

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Cottagecore – The New Fashion Trend If you have spent lockdown gardening, baking cakes and knitting a scarf while listening to Taylor Swift’s new album ‘folklore’, you are not alone. After my fifth banana bread and third pair of crochet earrings, I discovered that I am not turning into a full-time grandma in my twenties, I am simply becoming a part of the cottagecore community.

Cottagecore is an aesthetic romanticising agricultural life and the activities that come with it. It has been popular on Tumblr for a long time, but recently started trending on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

The movement brings a form of escapism from the harsh reality of the current global pandemic with many young people joining the community during lockdown. The release of Taylor Swift’s song ‘cardigan’ and the accompanying merchandise brought this aesthetic into the mainstream and inspired fans around the world to try cottagecore fashion. The trend includes soft fabrics, simple designs and neutral colours, combining vintage classics such as lace gowns, peasant dresses and overalls with floral prints, ruffles and plaid.

If you want to adopt the aesthetic into your own wardrobe, here are some cottagecore essential must-haves:

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Tsvetelina Peneva Design by Carolina Ferguson

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Fashion

Cottagecore Embroidered Overall Dress – The Cottage Core (£38.23)

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Lace Trim Gingham Button Front Dress – SHEIN (£18.49)

This beautiful dress combines the practicality of a pair of dungarees, with the feminine silhouette of a dress.

The plaid piece of fabric with a pocket on the side brings a modern twist to the outfit and the floral embroidery emphasises the importance of crafts in the cottagecore aesthetic.

This dusty blue gingham dress easily makes you feel as though you are visiting your local country fair. The delicate lace trim and buttons on the front bring a light feel to the dress making it a summer wardrobe staple.

Green Floral Print Frill Hem Smock Dress – Roman

Apron Dress – Etsy

(£25)

(£38)

A traditional smock dress is another peasant staple that has become essential for the cottagecore lifestyle.

The loose-fitting silhouette is reminiscent of housework wear from the 20th century but adding a pair of ankle boots and a hat brings a modern twist to this classic.

A vintage-style apron dress is perfect for practising your favourite hobbies such as gardening or painting. The linen fabric is soft, and the design comes in various colours to choose from. You can also compliment the simple silhouette with hand-crafted accessories such as crochet earrings or a knitted hat.

Fashion UO Sofia Floral Mini Dress – Urban Outfitters (£59) Puffy sleeves are crucial for any cottagecore outfit. This flowy floral dress with a smocked bodice is perfect for a magical day in the meadows or a picnic with friends on a sunny day, a more modern twist on the classical style.

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The Lockdown Lowdown:

The Fresh-Faced Brands of the Pandemic Siobhan Macdonald During lockdown this year, it led to many of us re-evaluating our shopping habits. More people have pledged away from using big businesses like Amazon, to supporting smaller, independent business. As a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown, over 750,000 businesses were forced to close according to UK Tech News. However, it’s not all doom and gloom – lockdown saw a surprising and inspiring retail transformation of the United Kingdom with over 85,000 business launching online stores according to research from Growth Intelligence. If you’re looking for somewhere new to shop for cosmetics, accessories or clothes we’ve got the list below of the latest lockdown start-ups you should know about.

Perl Cosmetics

Photograph / Instagram / @pearlcosmetics Perl Cosmetics, created by Isobel Perl during lockdown after she lost her corporate job in March 2020. Isobel always had a dream to launch a UK based organic skincare brand.

Ingredients are so important, which is why Isobel takes special care explaining every ingredient that goes into the mask: pearl powder because it’s rich in amino acids and stimulates collagen to illuminate skin, aloe vera because it’s high in antioxidants leaving skin soothed and calmed, pomegranate because it’s high in ellagic acid and regenerative properties, elderberry because rich in vitamins A,B and C with skin toning properties, kaolin clay as it has a neutral pH level and detoxifying properties, and raspberry because it’s full of Omega-3 and Omega-6 and highly nourishing.

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Fashion The Crafty Wee Bee Noe Knits

Photograph / Instagram / @_.the.crafty.wee.bee_ Photograph / Instagram / @noe.knits Noe Knits is a student ran England based small business created during lockdown by Noe Banks Martin. Noe started off knitting pompom earrings before moving into scrunchies, hats, crochet bags, bandanas, hair clips and tops. Each item is hand-made and ranging in style from sunflower patterned tops, to fruit themed earrings. If you want a bright and unique addition to your wardrobe, look no further.

Grace launched The Crafty Wee Bee back in June 2020 where she focuses on making bespoke, handmade jewellery. All her items are handmade with clay or resin and made to order. She’s open to custom orders as well, so when shopping if any item is sold out or you want something different message Grace for something custom. Jewellery places start at £3.50 and all designs are available on etsy.com.

RE.BORN Swimwear

Wiltshire Masks

Photograph / Instagram / @wiltshiremasks Wiltshire Masks is another lockdown founded business starting in June 2020 by Helena Wiltshire. The business aim is to provide an eco-friendly and stylish form of protection during these uncertain times in the pandemic. All masks are re-useable and machine washable, featuring two layers of fabric for extra protection and to provide a barrier between you and others following the governments recommendation.

You can find Wiltshire Masks online at www.wiltshiremasks.com or on Depop.

Photograph / Instagram / @re.bornswim Georgia Braithwaite is the founder of RE.BORN Swimwear, an eco-friendly sustainable swimwear brand focusing on recycled and re-purposed fabric. Pieces are crafted from recycled plastic bottles diverted from landfill and material used are off-cuts and dead stock generated by larger companies that allow start-ups to utilise their waste product. RE.BORN are going to be a pioneer in the sustainable fashion field, launching on September 18 2020.

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A Farewell to Fast Fashion Saying goodbye to ‘fast fashion’ can be daunting. As a fashion-conscious student, it can be difficult to shop sustainably on a budget, but it is possible and so easy that you’ll never look back.

It is no secret that the fashion industry uses cheap materials and labour to churn out clothing collections at a rapid pace. Enticing customers who desire to keep up with the trends to buy more than they need. Zara and H&M are the world’s biggest fashion retailers.

They can design, produce, and have their clothing ready for shoppers in 25 days. For online stores such as ASOS and Boohoo it can take only two weeks. It’s clear the industry is creating more than what is needed. As consumers we don’t get to see the devastating working conditions of those who make our clothes or the environmental impacts it causes, so it can be hard to even question why you shouldn’t shop there. But behind the scenes of retailers, it is anything but pretty.

Companies use sweatshops in developing countries where basic human rights can be

Photograph / Tom Farmer 17

overlooked. The workers are payed a low wage for their long hours of non-stop labour while the industry they work for turns over $1.2 trillion a year worldwide. It is expected that it will hit to $2.1 trillion by 2025. How can they make so much money and still pay less than minimum wage? Aside from the ethical concerns the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world, second to oil. In the UK, shoppers throw way over 154 pounds of clothes annually.

Even the clothes you donate to charity shops end up in landfill as they struggle to cope.

It is not just the amount of clothes that go to waste it is also the material they are made from. Polyester and nylon take decades to decompose because they have petroleumbased fibres, these chemicals go onto pollute our oceans.

Fashion While the price tag on a fast fashion item may be low, it has a huge global cost. So how can you shop sustainably without breaking the bank? You may look to sustainable brands such a Reformation or Organic Basics, who spend more on materials. Companies that are eco-friendly, pay staff well and have safe working conditions. What brands like these do is incredible, however they can be too expensive especially for students. If you are wanting quality over quantity or are willing to make the investment, I would say go ahead. If it is not in your price range, don’t worry there are plenty of alternatives.

a hit or miss situation, but you will reap the rewards when you find a great piece. Online sites such as eBay and DEPOP are great if you want to search for a certain style. Shopping at vintage shops in Glasgow or online is another alternative. It is a more curated shopping experience and you are guaranteed not to see someone on your night out with the same outfit as you.

Morgan Bowcott

One thing that we have an abundance of here in the UK is charity shops. If you don’t mind searching through rails of clothes, this is a great way to pick up cheap clothes. It can be

Photographs / Facebook / @maisiedazevintage 18

Hitchcock Walked So Spielberg Could Run The Underappreciated Classic It is no secret that the film industry is in constant development and reform. This is with regards to: technique, characterisation, quality and cultural relevance to name a few. There have been hundreds of films which make that “cult classic” list and are known worldwide, the films that even if you haven’t seen you have most definitely heard of.

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to watch.

The lack of colour on screen leaves room for the imagination to fill in the gaps, creating your own pallet for the costume and setting makes every scene all the more personal to the audience. Zero colour equals full attention for the content of each scene, especially the acting.

Understandably, as time has gone on the term “classic” is now referred to when talking about films from the 80’s and 90’s by directors like Stephen Spielberg, John Carpenter and Tim Burton who are all excellent at what they do.

However, there is no longer as much appreciation towards the REAL classics (the grainy black and white fellas) who paved the way for the brilliant examples of cinema we see today.

The over-exaggerated acting style around this time, due to film being a direct leap from theatre, meant the actors already dominated the silver screen. Additionally, there was no red to convey danger or blue for sadness, the expression in the acting shows so much emotion and there is a clear difference to be seen between then and now.

Ultimately, it is a landmark in the development of film and if anything, it grows your appreciation for modern cinema.

First of all, a homage to the black and white film. There is this stigma associated with B&W films that they’re going to be boring just because it’s old which I absolutely understand, although there are many reasons why they are excellent

However, if B&W really isn’t your cup of tea there are some brilliant films in technicolour worth watching. There is something aesthetically pleasing about technicolour.

The use of rich and vibrant tones is so bizarre it’s like

looking at a faux version of life where everything is much brighter. At the beginning, technicolour it was mostly associated with musicals and that is definitely fitting as the bold pallet correlates with the in your face showbiz style perfectly. Because of how expensive the process was it took a long time for it to be the new way of cinema, all the more reason to watch the technicolour films and remember them. Examples of films which use technicolour in the most beautiful ways are Vertigo (1958), The Wizard of OZ (1939), Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and the Red Shoes (1948).

You might be enjoying classic storylines without even knowing it. There are a large number of modernday remakes you may not have known were remakes in the first place. A film fan’s favourite Scarface (1983) is actually a remake of the 1932 version with the same name with an almost identical plot.

The secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) is the latest of a few remakes of the original, this one however is the most

Entertainment & Technology Photography / GettyImages.co.uk popular and has the closest resemblance to the primary short film. Mr. Deeds (2002) with Adam Sandler is a remake of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and lastly homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) is a remake of The Incredible Journey (1963).

These are just a few modern adaptions of brilliant old school films and just as they are loved and renowned for their plots so too should the originals be watched and given the appreciation they so greatly deserve.

Remakes aside, there are other aspects of films which have been nabbed and used in more widely watched examples. The Hitchcock zoom for example is a camera movement most commonly recognised in the film jaws when Chief Brody spots the shark for the first time at the beach.

It was actually a movement created by Hitchcock (clues in the name) and was first seen in his film Vertigo. I am definitely not going to dwell on Tarantino as its common knowledge that he steals his ideas from other films. My favourite example is when in Pulp Fiction, Butch is in his car and Marcellus walks right in front of him. This is a copy from the film Psycho, when Marion’s boss does the same thing as she leaves town.

I am in no way discrediting the films which have thrived off of the inspirations of others, adaption and improvement is so important in the film industry. However, it is important to highlight the impact of the classic talkies and to not let them be an unfamiliar face in a crowd of Marvel and Fast and Furious anthologies.

Bethany Watt Designed by Megan Beattie

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Zoom University: Will the new ever compare to normal?

With restrictions ongoing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite not wanting to admit it all students knew that university would not be the same for the 20/21 academic year.

Photograph / Afia Kazmi

Photograph / Afia Kazmi Lectures in bed, lack of contact with course mates and the flat cleaning rota being more important than ever before welcome to the age of zoom university.

As much as it’s for the better and the safest option (boo I know) there are obviously some negatives that have to be acknowledged, and no I don’t mean the lack of pints in the union after your class.

Photograph / Afia Kazmi

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Entertainment & Technology This can lead to a further lowering of mood in a group that already suffer more than anyone else in terms of mental health, creating even more worry for these people in such uncertain times which at the start of a new academic year is the last thing any student needs.

In these times, as we huff and sigh over the lack of in person classes and seeing our friends; we should also be checking in one those who don’t have access to these or that have them there but the option to join them may cause more harm than good.

Rachel Gibson Designed by Megan Beattie

Photograph / Afia Kazmi Digital poverty was already an issue in modern day life but as university moves online and into our bedrooms, many will be struggling more than others. A 2019 study found that 12% (around 700,000) of 11-18 year olds don’t have internet access at home from a PC laptop or tablet, and a further 60,000 having no internet access at home at all.

This opens up the issue of inclusion and a potential class divide. With a majority of freshers being school leavers at 17-18, these statistics create a big worry of how well they will be able to get started with their studies.

Another worry many students have, is the lack of access to

facilities that may seem small to the outsider eye but really mean a lot to these students such as the LGBTQ+ Liberation Group.

With some families’ sadly not being as accepting as others, a zoom group may not work as well for them as discussions of sexuality and gender identity could lead them to danger in their homes.

This creates an issue for many in the ways that are obvious.

But another issue is the place that many see as a safe space, and the one place they feel alike others and most importantly accepted, is now no longer an option to partake in or even have an online meeting.

Photograph / Afia Kazmi

Photograph / Afia Kazmi

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The BAFTAS: Award Shows in the ‘New Normal’ Lifestyle Lockdown, what a time it’s been for us all.

Nothing has been unaffected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

It seems bizarre to me that this time last year, we were living our lives, completely oblivious to what would happen this year.

As the UK has come out of lockdown, some things have begun to get back to a somewhat normality but the majority of life has had to adapt in different ways in order to get back on track.

One notable example of adapting to the “new normal” was the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAS) that were hosted virtually on the 17th July 2020. It was an interesting evening to say the least. First of all, it was held at Television Centre rather than the usual London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Secondly, it was a lot later than normal. The BAFTAs were supposed to be in March, but were cancelled due to the UK going into lockdown. It was hosted by Richard Ayoade

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who was in the Television Centre and was socially distanced from everybody.

There was no crowd and all of the nominees who won awards accepted them virtually which of course brought some issues as we all know that technology is never fully reliable.

One particular moment was when Stacey Dooley attempted to present the Must-See TV Moment Award to Ruth Jones and James Cordon for the proposal scene in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special.

All was well until the sound cut off to the videocall to the pair

Photograph / London Entertainment

Entertainment & Technology Illustration / Megan Beattie

and Dooley wasn’t sure if they could hear her or not. Despite this the show went on, there were some shocks along the way with what awards went to what.

The big award winners were Chernobyl, The End of the F*****g World and Idris Elba. Whereas shockingly, The Crown and Jodie Comer of Killing Eve went home empty handed.

Chernobyl won the most awards with 7 prizes and the BBC adaptions of His Dark Materials also performed well at the BAFTAs.

that is the pandemic, the show must go on.

Emma Gilmour Designed by Megan Beattie

Despite the few technical errors and the awkwardness of there being no audience to laugh at the guest presenters’ jokes, the BAFTAS were important as it showed a semi sort of normality and it showed that despite the circumstances

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Black Lives Matter: 5 books to gain greater knowledge of Black History.

The tragic and unwarranted death of George Floyd at the hands of the police in May this year sparked international outrage and angry protests across America. Many across the globe wanted to highlight the injustices that still face minority communities everywhere in the world but were quite unsure how we could play our part in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

I was one of those people, and so while I was unable to attend any protests I did my best to try and gain a greater understanding and learn about the history that black communities still have to live with the consequences of.

In this article, I will recommend some of the books and other resources I used over lockdown that I learned a great deal from.

1.‘If They Come in The Morning… Voices of Resistance’ - Angela Y. Davis –. (1971) This collection of essays, edited by activist Angela Y. Davis was published while Davis was awaiting trial for involvement in a crime which she was subsequently acquitted. We hear the voices of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton as well as James Baldwin and Davis herself.

The essays discuss the reality of the United States prison system for black people in the 70’s. Many of the issues raised still exist to this today and every word can be brought into today contexts, making it a very worthwhile read.

2.‘Dark Days’ - James Baldwin (2018) For those who have a hard time reading long and heavy books, I’d recommend this small collection of essays published in 2018 as part of the Penguin Modern series from influential activist and novelist, James Baldwin.

The writing style of Baldwin is so impactful in its honesty and bluntness and his experience growing up in Harlem. His matter of fact approach when discussing racism is deeply moving, particularly in the third essay The White Man’s Guilt which rightly puts the responsibility on white people to play their part in ending racism.

3.‘Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, An American Slave’ - Frederick Douglass (1845) Douglass was Americas most famous abolitionist. Having escaped slavery some 20

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years before the Emancipation Proclamation, his story detailed in his memoir made a huge impact and is still today one of the most poignant stories I have ever read.

Similar to Baldwin, Douglass’s writing is simply put and the tales are heart wrenching but they are extremely powerful and useful in understanding the reality of racism at its core, and when read in the context of modern day, remembering how far we still have to go even today.

4.‘White Fragility’ - Robin DiAngelo (2018) This book has been an extremely popular resource for many people this year. It deals with the realities of White Privilege and is a great tool for learning how your own life might be affected by your privilege, how that impacts those around you and how you can use it for the greater good and help dismantle the racism we see all around us.

5.‘How to Be Anti-Racist’ – Ibram X. Kendi (2019) Similarly to DiAngelo’s White Fragility, How To Be Anti-Racist is a guide to those looking to find out how they can help dismantle racism in their everyday life. The idea is more prevalent now than ever that is it not enough anymore to just not be a racist, that we must attack and analyse ourselves and others to really deconstruct racism in even its most subtle forms within our everyday lives. For those who agree, this is the book for you.

Fionn Crossan

Arts & Culture Photograph / AFP / GettyImages.co.uk 26

Freshers in Lockdown: All aboard the saving grace of Fresher’s week 2020!

One of the most enjoyable aspects of university is the chaos of student nightlife, however with many lockdown restrictions still in place, this year’s is set to look very different.

The continued closure of clubs means that no students will be stumbling out of The Garage or Sub club this year and flat parties will no longer be the spectacles they were once were, with limits on household visitors still in place.

However not all is lost, with pubs and bars having reopened their doors in July to welcome back patrons in desperate need of a pint and what better way to celebrate than with the famous – or perhaps, notorious - sub crawl.

A far cry from the maze of the London underground, Glasgow’s simple 15 stop circuit is the perfect way to explore the best boozers that

Photograph / SPT Subway

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the west end, city centre and south side have to offer. An all -day ticket costs just £3 so it won’t break the bank, and just like everything else these days there’s even a handy app to help you plan your big night out.

Created by Robbie Wilkie and launched in 2017, Glasgow Sub Crawl app is free to download and features maps of all the nearest pubs at each stop and the walking times for each.

It also includes brief descriptions of each bar to help you decide which place you want to grab your next bevy as well as opening and closing times.

So, get together a group of your flat or course mates, within the government guidelines of course, and see if you can make it to the end of the line - fancy dress encouraged.

Hannah MacKenzie Wood

Arts & Culture

Save Our Arts and Culture Industry!

It is common knowledge that many industries have suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has sent the country into various stages of lockdown over a seven-month period.

One of industries the that is currently still in the danger zone is the arts and culture business.

Since COVID-19 hit, there has been no live shows, concerts or venues in normal capacities which has hit the theatres and venues hard.

The arts and culture industry has grown £390million in a just year and now contributes £10.8billion a year to the UK economy. The sector contributes £2.8billion a year to the Treasury via taxation, and generates a further £23billion a year and 363,700 jobs. This proves the value of this trade in the economy, showing how much music, art and theatre is needed across the country.

There are currently 556 music venues at risk of closure, and 30 flagship theatres also at risk. Many artists, actors, sound production and various other positions are suffering due to the lack of work available and audiences to perform to.

A report written by OffWestEnd is estimating that a total loss of income after lockdown restrictions are lifting will equal a staggering £7.6m for the 100 venues it has included within its report, should they stage work at reduced

Photograph / Music Venue Trust capacity levels of 50%. This figure is in addition to the £13.3m already lost by those venues during March to September.

Many musicians have started crowd-funders in order to continue their careers, and Central Tickets donation page has raised almost £50,000 in 37 days by 1547 supporters since its creation. Central Tickets is an agency based in London and their fundraiser aim is to keep the venues ticking over until the Government make a decision to reopen these places.

Another crusader of the arts industry is charity Music Venue Trust, who have created the #saveourvenues to secure grassroots music venues in order to keep them from shutting.

They have created a website to connect artists with venues close to them, and create virtual events in order to raise money to help all venues across the network.

It is a unique and clever idea for supporters to still get their virtual concert fix and artists being able to play to some form of audience, while still benefiting the venues that are missing out on the action.

Photograph / Alev Takil / Unsplash.com

So wherever you are in the UK, get online and support your local artists and venues to keep one of the most successful and creative industries alive during one of the weirdest times in history.

Abbie Meehan 28

Why Stevie Nicks has been the saviour we needed during the pandemic

Rock legend Stevie Nicks has been blessing all of her social media followers with lots of heartwarming content throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Stevie is pro-mask, pro Harry Styles and just generally a much-needed breath of fresh air during a deeply troubling time.

Photograph / Instagram / @stevienicks Back in March, Stevie’s first statement about the pandemic shared much optimism as she told fans how she was spending her time in quarantine. She was living with her three dogs, Lily, Luna and Mana spending her time painting while listening to her dear friend, Harry Style’s latest album ‘Fine Line’. Fine Line inspired Stevie to write new music and poetry, as she boldly

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Arts & Culture stated this album is his ‘Rumours’. Ending her statement with the eternally positive advice we would expect from Stevie: “My advice for all this free time and terrible news is – just dance, this will pass, love will find a way, it always does”.

In April, for the first time Stevie heard a dove sing before she mistook it for an owl. Believing the dove to be a guardian angel figure, she shared the video “This dove had come here to watch over me. So we filmed her singing her song & I’m sending her out to you.”

Photograph / Twitter / @StevieNicks Photograph / Instagram / @stevienicks As a celebrity who wasn’t the most prominent online, fans never really had much personal musings from Stevie on social media. Posts for valentine’s day, international women’s day or promotion for the rock and roll hall of fame were the usual. However, the pandemic and increased use of social media allowed Stevie to connect with fans on a much more personal note throughout the crisis as she shared the story of the first time she heard a dove sing.

Many people will know the infamous lyrics of Stevie’s song ‘Edge of Seventeen’, ‘Just like the white winged dove Sings a song Sounds like she’s singing Ooh ooh ooh’.

As controversy was growing on the debates surrounding masks, Stevie posted this to her twitter stating “Not letting a measly eye exam get in the way of wearing my mask...Stay safe everyone.”

In her July 17 2020 journal entry, Stevie urges everyone to wear masks and stay in as much as possible. She asks fans to make it their mission to do all we can to stop the virus before people we love fall victims to it.

Her posts, although some heart-warming and others slightly comedic always issue the same sentiment – filled with love and optimism, that she wants to get out there and see her fans again.

Siobhan Macdonald

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The Retrogrades:

The Pandemic as an Up and Coming band It is no secret to anyone that the Coronavirus/ COVID-19 Pandemic has been completely detrimental to the live music industry; no concerts or live events saw many artists and fans struggle as they lost out on the thing they love most.

The industry took a big hit with petitions flying around the web for the Government to step in and do something to save live music, to treat the arts industry in the same way they did the hospitality.

In these times, I couldn’t help but think about The Retrogrades, an up-and-coming band from Ayrshire. I had heard so much from them on social media waiting for their debut single, live events that I had interest in attending; so, I wanted to catch up with the boys and see how things were looking now that COVID-19 has taken over the industry and frankly the world.

The band consists of Daniel (20) on drums, Darren (20) on bass and backing vocals, Dougie (21) rhythm guitar and vocals and Dylan (20) lead guitar and vocals. The band first formed in January 2018 when Daniel, Darren and Dylan started jamming together in Dylan’s garage.

They claim at this point it was nothing too serious however when Dougie joined in mid2019 and the band officially started writing their own material and looking for gigs. They note Oasis, The Beatles, Sex Pistols, Green Day and Arctic Monkeys as their inspirations.

When I asked about how the Covid-19 pandemic had affected them as a group and as a smaller band trying to break into the industry they said the biggest struggle they faced was that they could no longer practice together and couldn’t get into the studio together to work on material.

They had a couple of gigs lined up for later in the year but with a lockdown in place across the country due to the pandemic they never ended up going ahead which was an obvious disappointment for the boys. Coronavirus

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also stopped them from being able to start recording their first EP, which they say had been the works for a while.

However, they do note some positives from the pandemic: “COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to write new material as a band, during lockdown we have written more songs that are just needing polished and they’re ready to go and be recorded.”

As much as lockdown had been a curse on their original plans, it’s clear to see they truly made the best of what they could get and are rolling with it fantastically.

When asked about the future, they said their main priority was getting back into the studio and working on their EP. They have some gigs in the works that they are hopeful will still go ahead and a single that they are hoping to also have released before this happens so they have more material to play.

My final question for the boys was how they felt about the Government response and help towards the music industry in these pressing times.

“As a band, we feel the way the government has handled the coronavirus pandemic surrounding the music industry has been good to an extent, to the point where recording studios have been reopened with social distancing measures in place. There isn’t much the government can really do for venues we feel as social distancing will obviously be difficult to put in place within smaller venues. We are just happy to be able to get back together playing as a band and get stuck into recording.”

I have no doubt in my mind that the future is bright for this small band, and it’s even better to see greatness coming from the place I call home.

Rachel Gibson

Music Photograph / The Retrogrades

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The Aces Album Review

Album title: Under My Influence

Rating:

Artist: The Aces Label: Red Bull Records Release date: 17 July 2020

Alisa branded as “quintessential Aces” while speaking to Billboard in July, with the unapologetic lyrics diving into the realisation of potentially crushing on a friend.

As the record progresses, it becomes apparent that most of the strengths lie in the already released singles, with both ‘My Phone is Trying to Kill Me’ and ‘Kelly’ packing an ardent punch.

Photograph / Chuffmedia.com Two years on from the release of their debut album When My Heart Felt Volcanic — a finetuned pop gem which ended up on several critics’ end-of-year lists in 2018 — The Aces are back and ready to dive deeper on their sophomore effort, Under My Influence.

The Utah-based quartet have markedly elevated both their sound and style to the next level. Citing 70s funk and 80s disco-pop as inspirations, The Aces’ 14-track follow-up record has well and truly cemented them as a true force to be reckoned with on the indiepop scene.

The record starts out strong, leading with their previously released comeback single ‘Daydream’. The track delivers exactly what you’d expect from the band — a fresh, feelgood listen packed with spunky guitar riffs and a signature catchy chorus, telling the story of a long-distance summer romance.

The playful, youthful sound is carried across to the second track of the album, ‘New Emotion’, another funk-inspired track that drummer

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On ‘My Phone is Trying to Kill Me’, lead singer Cristal croons her frustrations on living in the social media age: “On read / I feel hopeless / Trying to live in the moment / I check that screen just one more time”. The bright and unabashed track divulges the struggle of avoiding an ex-lover online because of the “monster in my pocket” — a scenario that many listeners will be all too familiar with.

Meanwhile, the reggae-inflected and synthheavy ‘Kelly’ boldly celebrates sexuality while articulating the true power of lust and attraction. With three of the four band members identifying as queer and the band having a large LGBTQ+ following, the ballad was first released at the beginning of June as a tribute to pride month.

The track signifies a turning point in The Aces’ lyricism, as the band previously chose to avoid the use of gendered pronouns on their debut album. Speaking to Pride about the shift to using pronouns on Under My Influence, Alisa said: “As we’ve grown and matured and stepped into what this album’s really about, stepping into your power and being unapologetically yourself, it was a no -brainer.

“It was like, f**k it, we’re setting out to make the most honest, authentic record we’ve ever made and that must include our whole truth.”

Music The simple lyricism coupled with catchy melodies and a new 80s synth-pop feel on ‘Lost Angeles’ — an upbeat lament exploring a tortured relationship with L.A. — makes for a classic The Aces-style break-up anthem.

‘Can You Do’ — with a likeness to Dua Lipa’s ‘Hallucinate’ — sees the band deliver a thrilling up-tempo track paired with unusually sultry lyrics and a heavy bassline, making for a powerful, audacious public embrace of their sexuality.

The Aces try their hand at slow serenades with ‘All Mean Nothing’ and ‘I Can Break Your Heart Too’ as they ruminate over break-ups and troubled relationships alike, but their efforts are lost among the seemingly disjointed tone at the heart of the album, essentially ending up as forgettable filler.

‘801’ is an ode to the band’s conservative hometown (with 801 being the area code for Provo, Utah), making this track potentially the most personal on the album. The sleek guitar riffs matched with silky vocals serves as a laid-back anthem to the city’s underground LGBTQ+ scene. “Leave your church shoes and your Sunday clothes,” sings Cristal. “Being ourselves can never be a crime.”

‘Not Enough’ and ‘Cruel’ provide back-toback ballads towards the end of the album, exploring the gradual breakdown of a once happy relationship — the latter delivering a strong bridge with the almost anthemic repetition of “I want you to know / That I’m gonna be just fine”.

Nearing the end of the record, the dreamy ‘Thought of You’ is one for the hopeless romantics — its soppy lyrics serving almost as a love letter to a future partner, with a few doo-wop samples thrown in for good measure.

Photograph / Red Bull Records

Photograph / Chuffmedia.com

The transparency and authenticity of the band finally shines through on the penultimate track, ‘Going Home’. With open and honest lyricism (“As long as it’s you and I / It feels like I’m going home”), accompanied by simple guitar chords and refreshing backing vocals throughout, this candid love song is arguably the best non-single on the record.

‘Zillionaire’ is the final track on the record with, sadly, perhaps the most uninspiring lyrics yet.

The song itself is a daring blend of R&B and dance-pop influences, but the other elements lack any real depth, bringing the album to a confusing and underwhelming close.

When compared to their stylish pop debut, Under My Influence feels somewhat lacklustre and inconsistent, with a handful of either misplaced or unnecessary tracks lacking the band’s usual verve. Perhaps a more careful approach to song placement and a slightly shorter tracklist would work in the ladies’ favour.

Ultimately, The Aces’ sophomore album demonstrates the marked growth and maturity of the band in terms of their experimentation with more R&B, funk and synth-pop sounds across the board. Although the record may seem quite experimental in places, The Aces have undoubtedly aimed high with their daring new sound with the balance of punchy singles and mellow slow burners — which, for the most part, pays off — and reminds us that these undeniable alt-pop powerhouses aren’t far off creating a modern masterpiece.

Sophie Adams

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Declan Welsh and The Decadent West

T

he music industry is undoubtedly one of the most effected businesses hit by what can only be described as an absolute whirlwind of a year. It seems like an age ago when we could meet up with friends for a couple of drinks and take in a gig at some of Glasgow’s famous venues. Despite the trials and tribulations for musicians, they have battled on with alternative means of keeping their fanbase’s excited and entertained.

Having released their debut album ‘cheaply bought, expensively sold’ at the tail end of 2019 ‘Declan Welsh and The Decadent West’ were set to take summer 2020 by storm before the world tumbled down what only seemed like a never ending spiral. Just like every one of Glasgow and Scotland’s musicians, Declan and his outfit The Decadent West have shown tremendous spirit and resolve in a situation that has brought the music industry to its knees. As it stands, it looks like we may not have gigs back in full swing until 2021. I caught up with Declan during lockdown and as he correctly pointed out, fans connect with musicians through the art they create, and gigs are essential for that. So, hopefully it won’t be long until we see all our beloved bands back on stage.

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How have you coped with the pressures during lockdown?

How hard has it been maintaining communication with your fans and releasing new content?

Ah how has anyone been coping with it? Ive been doing okay, it’s been hard not seeing people and then obviously our entire industry has been in a very uncertain place. To be honest, my priority has been making sure me and my partner are happy, keeping in touch with family/friends and writing music. I’ve deleted pretty much all my social media because I don’t really see the point in any of it. It’s not like fans of bands before social media were less passionate or felt less of a connection to the artist. You connect to an artist through the art they create. Then in terms of personal connections, its gigs that foster that. Actually, meeting folk, talking to them.

I really like that, and every now and then I’ll check our Instagram messages and reply to a few folk requesting birthday messages or just being nice, but these are almost always people who I’ve chatted to at a show.

So aye, if you are branding based on being a Very Online Person, I imagine this would be a great time to do that.

But I don’t really feel that’s for me, after trying it for a bit.

You would have been playing a packed-out show at SWG3 and TRNSMT this year, what other plans for the band has the virus had an impact on?

We were due to tour quite extensively this year, as well as those two shows, supporting some cool bands, maybe taking some of our mates on tour with us on our headliner. So, aye all that would have been nice,

Music but I find it very difficult to bemoan my own set of circumstances considering the global pandemic has taken lives. However long gigs have to stop for, that’s just something we’ll have to accept and try to circumnavigate. Hopefully a good amount of government support will be given to people falling between the cracks. Sound techs and that, they literally can’t do anything the now and it’s their lives. They need to be helped.

In your opinion is there more that needs to be done for local music scenes to recover from these few months?

I’m not the guy to ask, to be honest. I know a lot of money will have to be pumped in to make up for the loss of earnings, and that most of these small venues are surviving month to month. People will be excited to get back out to gigs, but that won’t be for a while yet I think. So, unless we want to see a vital part of our culture (and yes, economy) be irreversibly damaged, small venues and workers in the industry need a comprehensive stimulus package. One that isn’t based on what you’ve ‘earned’ previously through music but what you need to live.

Your song ‘Times’ was recently used in Tennent’s ‘Dedicated to You’ Campaign, what is it like being the voice of free pints for everyone and Scotland’s most loved lager?

It’s flattering, and the folk at Tennent’s have been very enthusiastic about the tune.

It’s meant a lot to my family hearing our tune on the tele, so that’s been really nice.

Have you managed to get your free pint yet? Surely, they’d give you a bit more than one free pint for using your song! Had any free barrels or crates sent to your door yet?

I’m assured it’s on its way!

Still negotiating for that Tennent’s tap to be put in the kitchen. I’ll keep you updated.

Your recent single ‘Ghosted’ came out the other month.

How’s the reaction been? For our readers who have not yet heard it, what’s it about?

Aye it’s been really nice. To be honest, I was terrified of it coming out. Just with everything happening, I kept thinking, do we need to be putting out something addressing the state of the world here? I mean, to be fair, we released some tunes that were a lot more political and raised some money, so I felt a bit better after that. I was still worried though. But it’s all gone really well. It’s a very tight pop song about someone you went on a date with not calling you back.

The way you record songs, you’re releasing stuff that’s often 2 or 3 years old. This tune was written just before I met my current partner, and so hearing it it’s of such a different time and place for me that its funny. I wanted, also, to not be a whiny typical guy talking about this stuff.

Hopefully, the tone of the song is more about being confident in yourself, and understanding other folk have a lot going on. “It’s not ideal I know but still, you’ll be fine after getting ghosted” etc.

change the world” type of slant. Now I think that you have to just tell stories and try and capture something real. You’re trying to connect with people and the best way to do that is by finding something honest and putting it down. It doesn’t have to be autobiographical, but it’s always about trying to uncover some sort of universal feeling and convey it well. Also, it’s nice when it sounds good.

How much of an influence has Glasgow as a city had on your writing and music?

Huge I think, its where I became who I am. I wrote and performed almost every tune I’ve ever written in Glasgow. Went from a wee guy singing about night outs with an acoustic guitar, to being a wee guy singing about the Spanish civil war with an electric guitar, to the 5”9 colossus you see before you singing about getting patched by a girl over synths.

It’s Bowie-esque, really.

After this write off of a year so far, do you have big plans for 2021?

What we’re writing the now is nothing like anything we’ve done before. I really love that, and I hope people do as well. That’s our big plan, is to put out a new album and hopefully surprise some people.

Joshua Carmichael

What general message do you tend to try and convey with your music?

I think it used to be a definite “I’m going to write songs to

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Katy Perry Album Review Album title: Smile Artist: Katy Perry Label: Capitol Records Release date: 28 August 2020 Rating: Photograph / katyperry.com A decade has passed since the release of the pure-pop masterpiece, Teenage Dream — a record which undeniably changed the entire pop game by becoming the second album in history to produce five Billboard 100 number one singles (after Michael Jackson’s Bad) — and everyone’s favourite pop princess Katy Perry is back with hopes to prove herself as a force to be reckoned with once again with her fifth studio album, Smile.

The release of 2017’s Witness, an experimental album of what Perry herself branded “purposeful pop”, was a jarring disappointment for most pop music fans (to say the very least).

Crafted with political wokeness and social consciousness in mind, the record flopped massively, and she seemingly lost her grip on what had previously made her a pop powerhouse.

After a tough three years struggling with harsh public criticism of her fourth album, bouts of depression, break-ups and makeups, and now — at 35 years old — beginning motherhood, Katy Perry is back with a brandnew outlook. Smile sees the now confident and recharged Perry take on pop once again, this time with a fresh feeling of uplift and a new sense of optimism.

Lead single ‘Never Really Over’ (echoing Norwegian singer Dagny’s giddy, electro-pop ‘Love You Like That’) is arguably Perry’s most compelling single since 2013’s ‘Dark Horse’.

The joyous pop track is markedly elevated

by Zedd’s production, with masterful drum programming and electronic synths reaching a euphoric post-chorus high.

The second and third tracks on the

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record offer a double dose of… well, almost the same story, really. ‘Cry About It Later’, written

by LA-based songwriter turned solo artist Sasha Sloan — who has penned some of the catchiest songs in modern pop for the likes of Charli XCX, Camila Cabello, and LANY — offers an early hit of dance-pop about crying in the club post-break-up.

Despite the bouncy baseline and catchy chorus, a rather underwhelming bridge and lyrics that lack any real depth majorly let the track down — but the electro-driven, crydancing vibe of ‘Teary Eyes’ afterwards is a welcome follow-up. The song continues the dance floor sadness theme, redolent of Swedish electro-pop artist Robyn’s early 00s discography, with Katy reassuring listeners (and perhaps herself) that their tears will one day dry.

Self-empowerment single ‘Daisies’ is up next, with an unusual mid-tempo electronic production choice for Perry, courtesy of Miami-based production and songwriting team The Monsters & Strangerz (who have produced and written for artists such as Halsey, Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, and Demi Lovato).

Admittedly, it’s one of the few true ballads on the record, with clichés (in typical Katy Perry style) sung over a moderately generic EDM beat echoing her 2012 hit ‘Part of Me’: “Took those sticks and stones / Showed ‘em I could build a house”.

‘Resilient’ carries on the flowery trope, opening with yet another disconcerting metaphor (“I know there’s gotta be rain / If I want the rainbows”). If you can see past the immediate

Music awkwardness of the first 30 seconds, the track — which openly delves into Perry’s own struggles over the past few years — eventually comes into its own, with the introduction of intermittent handclaps and a huge stringdriven bridge, the latter reminiscent of a more down-tempo ‘Firework’.

The frankly misplaced R&B and trap-inflected ‘Not the End of the World’ (which poorly samples 70s pop-rock band Steam’s 1969 track ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’) follows, tackling a trendier sound by incorporating heavy synths on top of a dubstep beat, almost attempting to make up for its lack of lyrical substance.

“Yeah, I’m thankful / Scratch that, baby, I’m grateful / Gotta say it’s really been a while / But now I got back that smile” sings Perry on the album’s gratitude-filled, glittery title track — the first in a trio of triumphant and upbeat songs on the record’s B-side.

“I wrote this song when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life” says Perry in a ‘Smile’ press release.

“When I listen to it now, it’s a great reminder that I made it through. It’s three minutes of energizing hopefulness.”

‘Champagne Problems’ delivers another unabashed nu-disco banger. Boasting a thick funk bassline and electro violins from the off, the track — produced by Johan Carlsson and John Ryan — is filled with gloriously cringeworthy lyrics that fawn over the success of her relationship with Orlando Bloom: “We put the dirty work in / Became the better version”.

The strongest track on the record comes in the form of the nifty, pure-pop earworm ‘Tucked’ — which happens to be produced by Carlsson and Ryan once again — featuring fresh guitar riffs, sleek synths, and an unbelievably catchy hook in the form of a “na na na na” chorus.

It’s plain to see that Katy Perry’s latest singles no longer offer the same effortless, bubblegum-pop sound of her early 2010s Teenage Dream era. But one thing is certain — ten years on, she still knows how to create a good old-fashioned radio earworm.

The Charlie Puth co-write ‘Harleys in Hawaii’ is peak Perry, with sultry vocals and soft synths layered on top of a mid-tempo beat that combines tropical, trap and reggae influences. The track, written after a trip to Hawaii with her fiancé, of course wouldn’t be complete without a handful of lyrics verging on ridiculous thrown in for good measure (“When I hula, hula, hula / So good you’ll take me to the jeweller, jeweller, jeweller”).

The self-improvement platitudes make a comeback as Perry channels her early roots as a Christian rock musician, injecting gospelpop sounds into the penultimate track, ‘Only Love’. Anthemic drums and a simple keyboard arrangement allows Perry’s vocals to shine, truth in her words, as she lists the things she’d “say and do” if she had one day left to live.

Bringing the record to an odd and underwhelming close is ‘What Makes a Woman’, a stripped-back country/folk song with simplistic production, using electric guitar and organs alongside Perry’s soft vocals, as she croons cringe-worthy lyrics about womanhood.

All in all, Smile isn’t a necessarily bad album — a few songs just sadly happen to be forgettable. The record might have benefited by including 2019 single ‘Small Talk’ (a second Puth collaboration) on the final tracklist instead of one for the deluxe edition, with lyrics about awkwardness with an ex making it one of the standout singles Perry has released in the past few years.

Despite the handful of gloriously crafted pop gems, Smile doesn’t quite hit the mark when compared to Perry’s glory days — but there’s promise. Smile may not be in the top tier of releases this year, but it could well be the project to set Katy Perry up for her big pop comeback (her own Confessions on a Dancefloor, if you will). She’s recharging, she’s growing, and there’s high hopes that she’ll return to reclaim her Queen of Pop title in the near future.

Photograph / Rony Alwin

Sophie Adams

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An Interview With

Giant Rooks Originating from the small city of Hamm in Germany, indie-rock band Giant Rooks have taken Europe and the world by storm, not conforming to any one genre and creating a sound that is entirely their own.

The five-piece band were formed back in 2014, composed of Frederik Rabe on vocals, Finn Schwieters on guitar, Luca Göttner on bass, Finn Thomas on drums and lastly Jonathan Wischniowski on piano and synthesizer.

It was in 2015 that the band released their first EP ‘The Times Are Bursting the Lines’, followed by their second EP the next again year, their ever popular ‘New Estate’.

Photograph / Frederike Wetzels

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Since then, the band have come a long way, from achieving numerous awards back home in their native Germany to selling out concerts right across Europe.

In the six years that the band have been active, they have been building their way up to this moment – the release of their debut album ‘Rookery.’ They have taken their time, refining their own unique sound and creating an album that looks deeply at the world with the intention of answering complex questions.

I caught up with band members Frederick and Finn over video call to talk all things ‘Rookery’ and to find out exactly what makes this unique and talented band tick.

Music CHLOE - “So the album was released on August 28th, what kind of overall themes are you guys trying to convey through this album?”

FINN – “I think our debut album Rookery is an album which asks a lot of questions, questions like: what is my role in this world; what am I supposed to do; who am I; and how am I supposed to handle my own privileges.

I think these are the main themes on the record.”

CHLOE - “Misinterpretations was the first single to be released off of the album.

What were you guys trying to represent in the music video?

FINN – “The idea was to show a history of our band and I think in the first clip of the video, you can see me and Fred playing in our first band when we were like eightyears-old as we are cousins!”

CHLOE - “What encouraged you guys to form a new band then?”

FINN – “We had this punkrock band when we were eight to 12 and we kind of stopped it and focused on other things. When we were 15, we started Giant Rooks.

There was a break of three years between these two projects.”

FRED – “We didn’t think we were punk- rock anymore!”

CHLOE - “So where does the name Giant Rooks come from?”

FINN – “That’s a good question! I think we just liked the sound of it.

FRED – “We definitely just liked the sound of it. We come from a very small town in the Western part of Germany called Hamm and we had a rehearsal space and back

in Hamm, Finn drove a bike called Giant and it was written on the bike. That’s where the first name comes from! The second name we just like the sound of Rook.

We filled it with meaning.”

CHLOE - “Who are your main influences as a band?

FINN – “I think what’s interesting about the time we’re living in and the musical times we’re living in is that genres are not that important anymore and you just listen to music you like and not something specific.

We have very diverse influences and we listen to all kinds of different music and this is also what we wanted to represent with our debut album Rookery.”

FRED – “Just to name a few artists, we can say that we are really influenced by Bon Iver, James Blake and Celeste from the UK she’s great. I’m listening to a lot of Arlo Parks right now. A lot of music; Drake is great and so is Kendrick Lamar. There is so much good music at the moment.”

CHLOE – “You guys have performed sold-out shows right across Europe, so what are your favourite venues to perform in?”

FRED – “We played at the Deaf Institute in Manchester!”

FINN – “Yes, this is one of the most amazing venues ever.”

FRED – “It’s a small club, like 150 capacity, but it’s so beautiful. We performed at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut a few years ago and we supported Mighty Oaks, the band from Berlin, and we supported them on their European Tour.”

to 2021, do you think the coronavirus pandemic has affected you in any way?

Would you rather it was rescheduled, giving you more time to prepare?”

FINN – “It really affected us of course and we had this tour planned from April to July, three months in total, and we would have been on the road constantly. We were devastated for one week but then thought you can’t change it and it is what it is.”

FRED – “We have to keep going on and we did the album throughout the last couple of months so it was good to have some more time to finish it and go into details.”

CHLOE – “What advice would you give other young bands and musicians who are trying to break into the industry?”

FRED – “Play live! Play shows!

FINN – “It’s difficult at the moment but playing live is good. Maybe in 2021!”

CHLOE – “What song are you most excited about off the album?”

FRED – “For me, it’s Into Your Arms and Finns’ is What I Know is All Quicksand.”

FINN – “I’m also excited for The Birth of Worlds.”

You can listen to Rookery on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.

Chloe Burrell

CHLOE – “Your world tour has been rescheduled

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How Covid-19 Has Affected Football From having no spectators in stadiums to having seasons being curtailed, the Coronavirus pandemic has had a massive effect on the world of football both domestically and internationally. All over the world, different football associations have taken various measures in order to halt the spread of Covid-19 and ensure that football can be continued safely.

The first sign of Covid-19 affecting football came in China which was the epicentre of the virus, with the start of the Chinese Super League being postponed at the end of January as cases began to escalate within the country.

This was a sign of things to come for European football as in March; the majority of European football had to be shut down with 4 of the 5 major leagues, which include England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, decided to restart their seasons over the months of May and June. Countries such as France, Belgium and the Netherlands decided to not resume their seasons at all with PSG and Club Bruges being declared champions in France and Belgium respectively.

The Netherlands declared their football season null and void as the league was too close to call between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, separated only by goal difference.

What happened in France and Belgium also occurred in Scotland with Celtic being crowned champions after all the Scottish Premiership clubs agreed to end the season early and prepare for the new

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season to start. This didn’t come without controversy as Hearts were relegated despite only being 6 points from safety with 8 games to go, along with Partick Thistle being relegated from the Scottish Championship despite being 2 points behind 9th placed Queen of the South with a game in hand. The majority of leagues in Europe managed to finish out their seasons which have allowed a transition into the 2020/21 season, allowing most leagues to start up again in August and September.

The Champions League and Europa League had to take a break along with all the leagues in Europe as football all over the world came to a halt. However, European football was allowed to be completed over the month of August with games being played almost every day.

This could happen due to the removal of two ties in a knock out round and all the teams having to play in the same country, with Champions League teams playing in Portugal while Europa League teams played in Germany. This allowed for more exciting and attacking games, along with getting rid of home and away

Photograph / Pixabay

advantage, with an example being Bayern Munich’s 8-2 victory over FC Barcelona in the Champions League Quarter Final. This trend of having one-off ties continued into the new season with the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers.

This allows the qualifiers to be completed in a quicker way and also ensuring less travel between countries has to be made. The only round that will be a two legged playoff is the 4th Champions League qualifying round, the step before the group stages. The strange thing about these seasons’ qualifiers is that they started before the Champions League final from last year had even been played. It is unknown if the one leg knock out ties will continue after this seasons group stages, but it would be a breath of fresh air with the chaotic and exciting football it produces.

International football also suffered the same fate as the rest of football as Euro 2020 had to be postponed till 2021, still keeping the same name despite getting played a year later. The Nations League playoffs also had to be postponed till October which

Sports will see extra teams qualify for the Euros, including Scotland which has a slim chance of qualifying through this route.

Despite the problems so far, the second instalment of Nations League groups have managed to go ahead as planned in September even though most of the games are behind closed doors.

The resumption of the Nations League and international football as a whole has caused fans and pundits alike to worry about the risk of infection through so much travelling. This was particularly concerning in the French squad as Kylian Mbappe tested positive for Coronavirus after he played against Sweden resulting in him having to go into isolation from the rest of the squad.

Games being played behind closed doors have probably had the biggest impact on how football is played and watched throughout the world.

Many fans and pundits in football have questioned the integrity of winning a title or cup if there are no supporters, especially without a home support as they are able to put massive pressure on an away team’s performance.

With no supporters, fans and players alike have missed out on memorable and historic moments with each other, whether it is celebrating a league title or avoiding relegation. The most famous case is that of Liverpool who waited a massive 30 years to win the league and had to celebrate in front of an empty stadium with no open top bus parade through the city.

This was also seen at Leeds United who celebrated promotion into the Premier League for the first time in 16

years, again not being able to celebrate with their die hard supporters. Empty stadiums have remained a theme at the start of the new season however some countries such as Poland, Hungary and Russia have allowed fans back into the stadiums with the majority of other countries staging test events over the summer and through September. NonLeague football in England was given the go ahead to have 15 percent of stadium capacity filled with fans in August however this may have to be reviewed as Covid-19 cases in the UK have shown a sharp increase.

Following successful test events in France through the use of a pre-season tournament which included Lyon, Nice, Celtic and Rangers, France has been able to welcome 5,000 supporters into grounds. This was seen at the opening fixture of Lens vs PSG which saw the newly promoted Lens take a shock 1-0 victory against Champions League finalists PSG. This victory could be credited to having a home support pressurising the opposition constantly and giving the home side a passionate backing to go on and win the game.

it was clear they were trying to exploit the system and save as much as money as possible.

Arsenal also came under heavy criticism in August as they made 55 staff redundant despite some players being paid around £350,000 a week.

This also frustrated the players as the majority of them had taken a pay cut to ensure this didn’t happen.

Sadly, for a few non-league teams the financial burdens of Coronavirus were too much to handle and had to take the decision to fold or pull out of leagues, with teams including FC Oswestry Town and Droylsden FC. In order to allow clubs to gather funds that can be used to purchase players, the transfer window has been extended to October in most countries. It will be interesting to see if clubs will still try to break the bank when making transfers despite such an uncertain financial climate within football.

For now, many well off clubs now view the footballing world as almost business as usual with a couple of rule changes and potentially missing a few players from time to time due to Coronavirus infections.

However, for lots of other lower clubs the future remains Another issue that Coronavirus uncertain and struggles over has brought to football is finances will continue until fans money issues, whether it is can safely return to stadiums through the transfer market which at this rate seems to or the survival of clubs. likely be next year with a Many clubs throughout the predicted second wave of UK that were outside the Coronavirus set to sweep over Premier League had to use the world throughout winter. the governments furlough The UK governments furlough scheme in order to pay staff scheme also ends in October, and players as they simply meaning without an extension couldn’t afford to without fans plenty of lower clubs will be paying to go to games. Top left struggling for a couple of Premier League clubs such months. as Tottenham and Liverpool Connor Ryan also tried to use the furlough scheme but after wide spread criticism they had to ditch it as

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SPF L

Predictions Now that the SPFL season has kicked off and the football is finally in full flow, it is time again to predict the winners, losers, top goal-scorers and most influential players of all 12 teams in the league.

This season can be historic for many reasons; a ten-in-a-row campaign for Celtic or a chance for Rangers to stop the Hoop’s decade of dominance and claim the title. Dundee United have also returned to the top flight after a 4-year absence. United will be looking to compete for a top-six spot against the likes of Aberdeen, Hibernian and Kilmarnock.

The relegation battle is already unpredictable as ever, with Livingston on the bottom having only won one of their 8 league games.

Motherwell are only sitting above Livingston based on how many goals both teams have conceded, with the Well on five goals against and the Lions on six.

Celtic are also playing catch-up to rivals Rangers after two of their league games were postponed, due to Celtic player Boli BolingoliMbombo’s blatant breach of COVID-19 regulations. In August, Bolingoli broke quarantine rules by making a trip to Spain, without notifying his club, before returning and playing against Kilmarnock on 9 August. This resulted in a three-match ban for the Belgian defender (who is currently on loan to İstanbul Başakşehir for the 2020/21 season, with an option to buy at the end).

Aberdeen were also in deep waters with the Scottish Government after eight of their firstteam players visited a bar hit by coronavirus in August, just days before a fellow teammate tested positive. The players were fined substantially and the club donated these fines to NHS Grampian as a way of apology for the players selfish acts.

It will be a tough call to decide the league this early, but in terms of previous track record and consistency levels, Celtic tip the post to Rangers for me. They have shown in previous

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Photograph / Alamy.com years that they can overcome poor results by performing steadily across the season, and their squad depth can also come in handy for the busy fixture schedule ahead. Striker Odsonne Edouard is Celtic’s top scorer so far with five goals. The Frenchman has been gaining attention from many big clubs south of the border, and has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Leicester City. Manager Neil Lennon will be hopeful the talented youngster will stay for the coming season and lead the team to league glory.

Rangers will not make this easy for Celtic however, with tricky winger Ryan Kent causing problems for defenders and is currently their top performer with four goals to his name. Transfer rumours flooded the internet surrounding Alfredo Morelos, but the striker is still at the club for now and is beginning to

Sports get back to his full form again. Rangers have also added to their history by securing a sixth successive clean sheet in the Scottish top flight.

the two to be battling it out for eleventh place to play against the play-off winners from the Championship.

The likelihood of a relegation battle between Motherwell and Livingston is something nobody could’ve predicted before the season beginning, due to their form in previous seasons. But, Scottish football is always full of surprises and bets are on that the bottom of the table will chop and change as the season continues.

So, the overall predictions are (given these players are still in the SPFL‌): League winners: Celtic Relegation: Hamilton Academical League Top Scorer: Odsonne Edouard

Hamilton Academical are favourites to drop to the Championship, having lost all three of their home games, but winning two out of their four away games is also interesting to see. Livingston and Hamilton seem like

Table 1st

Celtic

7th

Kilmarnock

2nd

Rangers

8th

Ross County

3rd

Hibernian

9th

St Johnstone

4th

Aberdeen

10th

St Mirren

5th

Dundee United

11th

Livingston

6th

Motherwell

12th

Hamilton Academical

Abbie Meehan & Connor Ryan

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Photograph / Steffen Prößdorf

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Sports

Glasgow City: One of the most successful teams in Scotland.

In the past month or two, five Scottish clubs have played on the European stage. Celtic, very briefly in the UEFA Champions League qualifying before defeat to Ferencvaros dropped them to the UEFA Europa League.

Rangers in the re-arranged Round of 16 of last season’s Europa League before featuring in the qualifiers of this year’s edition where they were joined by Aberdeen and Motherwell who both progressed through their opening ties and are preparing for their next qualifying round at time of writing. But can you name the fifth Scottish side?

No, not Hibernian or Hearts, but Glasgow City.

The UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter finalists. Yep, you read that right, quarter finalists. Something no other Scottish club, male or female, has achieved since it was the men’s version was re-branded back in 1992.

Now, we hear all about the financial disparity with teams in the men’s game but the women’s game also features a very similar, if not greater gulf in financial resources.

While City’s run may have ended at the quarter finals at the hands of VfL Wolfsburg, a side who would eventually finish runnersup to perennial winners Olympique Lyonnias.

The German outfit would also lose one of their stars, Pernille Harder, to Chelsea immediately after the final for a fee of £250,000 which is believed to be one of, if not the highest, transfer fee ever in the women’s game.

While this may seem like peanuts compared to the men’s overinflated transfer fees, this is what makes Glasgow City’s quarter final appearance all the more impressive.

The Scottish side feature players that are teachers, fitness instructors and scientists as their full time job. These players competing with teams featuring some of the most expensive players in the world, means City can look back at their performance at the Anoeta Stadium with great pride. It also shows Scottish football may not be in as bad a place as we all thought, the women’s side anyway…

Craig Edwards

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