Student Pocket Guide Freshers 2021 #47 | Beds, Bucks and Herts Student Magazine

STUDENT POCKET GUIDE FRESHERS 2021 #47 BEDS, BUCKS & HERTS

TOM GRENNAN . MAISIE PETERS YOUNGR . RAG'N'BONE MAN

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E D I T O R ’ S

L E T T E R

Welcome to our Freshers’ edition! A time when rst years enter a new world and embark on an amazing journey, when second years wonder where the rst year went, and when third year students start to panic - no matter who you are, we’ve got you and we’re here to help!

It’s obviously been a strange period for us all, but here within is a jam-packed issue waiting for your curious eyes to help see you through the term and save you cash. From exclusive student discounts and competitions money simply can’t buy to exclusive interviews and words of wisdom from the stars of the moment, aren’t they kind!

Maya Jama offers advice to young people wanting to break into radio or TV, Tom Grennan reeects upon his career and reaching number 1 in the UK charts, Youngr talks all things music and teams up with us for an SPG exclusive Oasis mashup (and possibly an SPG house party!), Rag'n'Bone Man speaks about his upcoming tour and Maisie Peters sits down to discuss signing to Ed Sheeran’s new label (and we tell you how you can win a signed copy of her debut album)!

Plus read on for healthy food suggestions, beating a hangover, sustainable health and beauty swaps, landing a dream job, LGBTQ+ community, coming out and mental health. There really is something for everyone, so take a ick through and don’t forget to follow Student Pocket Guide on all socials for more student discounts, competitions, exclusive interviews and performances.

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M A I S I E P E T E R S S I G N E D A L B U M C O M P H I G H I N F I B R E F O O D S A L L T H E C O LO U R S O F T H E R A I N B OW A M I N D S E T R E F R E S H E R F O R F R E S H E R S B AC K TO U N I 2 0 2 1 E S S E N T I A L S S U S TA I N A B L E H E A LT H & B E AU T Y SWA P S L A N D YO U R D R E A M J O B H A N G OV E R H E AV E N M AG I C A L WO R L D O F A N I M AT I O N H OW D O YO U M A K E A G A M E ?

H OW TO T E L L S O M E O N E YO U LOV E T H E M K E E P YO U R C A R R U N N I N G C O S T S D OW N

All Rights Reserved © Pocket Media Group Ltd 2021. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any of the views or opinions expressed in this guide, errors or omissions which may have occurred, or accept liability for any services or facilities featured. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct, changes may and can occur.

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The first worry a lot of people have is making friends. No one wants to feel alone in general, let alone at the start of a new journey.

The best way to introduce yourself may be easier than you think.

A quick Facebook search for your chosen uni, plus the year and the word “freshers”, and you’ll be inundated with groups and pages all relevant for you. Add yourself to these groups and introduce yourself!

It’s a great way to find a friendly base in the city while you’re there.

When the time has come, and you have arrived at uni, it’s time for the next step. Taking advantage of events and activities you’re interested in is also a wonderful way to meet like-minded people.

So, do not isolate yourself. Broaden your horizons to the new range of people you can now get to know.

Maybe one of the more difficult challenges students face is the aspect of finance. At first, newly claimed money can seem as if it will never run out. But this is not the case. Over-spending can quickly become difficult to control. To sort this out, proper pre-planning seems to be the way forward.

If financial essentials are worked out and paid for first, the money which is left over to spend is then much easier to handle.

So, once rent, food, household expenses etc. are bought and paid for, the rest of the money can be used more freely. The last thing a student needs is money worries hanging over their shoulders. This simple pre-planning can save a lot of stress in the long run.

And be careful! Overdrafts seem all well and good, until you need to pay them back…

City-dwellers often already know how to navigate the built-up streets, and maze of events and functions. But, if you’re from a little rural village, a move to a big city can be intimidating. Because of this, you may not know where to go, or how to get there.

Resolution to this is simple. Research! An easy Google search for nearby events will bring up a plethora of things to keep you entertained, many specifically for freshers! On top of that, Google Maps is a saviour when it comes to navigation. Just put in your destination and find which public transport works best for you!

Uni life can be unpredictable – long lectures and even longer parties. For times like these, it’s important to keep a portable phone charger handy in case of emergency. Simply charge the charger overnight and the next day you’ll have a full battery’s worth of charge inside the device ready to go at any time.

As many current and past uni students can attest; thanks to a lack of the convenience that you may find at home, laundry duties can be especially tedious at uni halls. Therefore, any method of cutting down on tedium in your daily/weekly washing routines can be especially valuable. Investing in a coverless duvet eliminates perhaps the worst offender – the traditional duvet. Gone are the days of looking like you’re practicing being a ghost at Halloween as you try to slip a duvet cover on. With this all-in-one solution, you can wash it as is and wear it at night as is, with little to no hassle involved – you’re welcome.

It’s no secret that uni can be stressful and overwhelming at times. To help cope with this stress, you may slip into your creature comforts; whether that may be music or Netflix or spending quality time with friends and family. Another viable and proven coping mechanism is a lot simpler and outside the box – an indoor bonsai tree. Even if you have next to no interest in horticulture, studies show maintaining and caring for a bonsai tree can help lower stress levels and improve mental well-being.

Unusual though it may be, it’s worth a try.

After all, what have you got to lose?

Sometimes your wallet, purse, handbag, rucksack or even your room may not be enough to give you peace of mind when storing money or valuable and meaningful personal items when you’re out and about. To this end, having a small electronic safe in your room may be a worthwhile investment. While I don’t wish to give you trust issues about who you may be staying and studying with, sometimes it really is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your own possessions.

As I can personally testify, perhaps one of the biggest hurdles when it comes to living in uni accommodation can be the near-constant noise during the evening hours. While one of the bigger benefits of attending uni can be the late-night soirees and good times, those early morning lectures can be no joke, thus sleep is vital. This is where a white noise machine comes in.

Though it won’t drown out your noisy neighbours completely, it will help provide your brain with something else to focus its attention on as you drift to sleep.

Similar to the electronic safe, the Tile Item Finder is a nifty pocket-sized gadget, powered by Bluetooth. It enables you to keep track of your keys, wallet and bag remotely using the dedicated app on your phone. While this won’t eliminate the frantic, awkward search for your room keys as you stand outside your door, it will stop them from getting lost completely, which is inarguably better.

Youngr Oasis Mashup | SPG Exclusive WATCH NOW! Muszic Al - This is gonna be massive. Well done! Live Forever!

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SINCE FEATURING ON CHASE & STATUS’ SINGLE ‘ALL GOES WRONG’ BACK IN 2017, TOM GRENNAN’S SOLO CAREER HAS CONTINUED TO THRIVE. HIS LATEST ALBUM, ‘EVERING ROAD’, CLAIMED A NUMBER 1 SPOT IN THE UK’S OFFICIAL ALBUMS CHART, AND HIS SUMMER HIT ‘BY YOUR SIDE’ WITH CALVIN HARRIS IMMEDIATELY SECURED ITSELF IN THE TOP 20. IN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SECOND PART TO THIS INTERVIEW, WE REVEAL THE UNSEEN BITS FROM OUR CHAT WITH TOM EARLIER THIS YEAR…

HEY TOM, IT’S GREAT TO GET TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY… I HEARD THAT YOU INITIALLY TRAINED AS A FOOTBALLER, SO WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO TRY MUSIC AS A CAREER IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Yeah, I did play a bit of football when I was younger, but music just kind of happened for me randomly. I sung a few songs at a party once and then the music boys said, “do you want to join a band?” It was a bit of fun and I loved it. Then everyone went to uni so I moved to London and picked up a guitar and just wrote some songs. I just gigged until someone heard me. Then Chase & Status happened and Ella Henderson, and I’m just lucky to be still doing it if I’m honest.

YOUR SINGLE WITH CALVIN HARRIS HAD A VERY DIFFERENT VIBE TO THE MUSIC YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY CREATED. WAS IT NICE TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW?

Yeah definitely, Calvin Harris is Calvin Harris. I’m not going to be making Calvin Harris songs, am I? I’m just glad that I can kind of jump into his world and that he allows me to jump into his world, because it’s fun.

SO HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR MUSIC HAS CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST ALBUM YOU MADE?

Oh massively. I feel like my first album was me finding my voice and my feet in the music industry. It led more to the indie kind of route and my music is completely different now, but I’m glad that I can go through different things (like I said with the Calvin thing). I’m glad that I can put my voice on different genres, and I’m not just stuck to one thing.

I feel like my music has matured as well as grown. When I listen to the first album, I sound younger than how I do now because I’ve used my voice more and I’ve figured it all out, but I’m always going to love that (first) album, do you know what I mean?

DEFINITELY, I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT YOU CAN EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT GENRES THROUGH YOUR COLLABORATIONS AS WELL. IS THERE A GENRE OF MUSIC THAT YOU HAVEN’T YET EXPLORED BUT THAT YOU’RE EAGER TO TRY?

I like all types of music so whatever opportunity comes to me and I like it, I’ll dive into it, but I’m not like “I need to do this.” If it happens it happens and if it doesn’t then I’m happy with what’s happening now.

YOUR MUSIC VIDEOS ARE ALWAYS FULL OF LIFE AND ENERGY. I WONDER, HAS THERE BEEN A MUSIC VIDEO THAT WAS THE MOST FUN FOR YOU TO MAKE?

Yeah like ‘Little Bit of Love’ and ‘Something Better’ were good to make.

All of them have been pretty fun to be honest apart from my first ever music video called ‘Praying’. It was so late at night, and I was just running around London - it was a bit long. I love acting; I did physical theatre at uni so I love playing up to the camera.

DO YOU GET A LOT OF SAY IN WHAT GO ES ON IN YOUR MUSIC VIDEOS THEN?

Yeah, like ‘Little Bit of Love’ I worked closely with my friend Keane who is a director and we kind of dived into it together. If I like something I’ll do it, and if I don’t, I won’t do it.

YOU’VE ACHIEVED SOME AMAZING THINGS THIS YEAR (INCLUDING YOUR ALBUM ‘EVERING ROAD’ CLAIMING A NUMBER ONE SPOT IN THE CHARTS). AS AN ARTIST, DO YOU THINK THERE HAS EVER BEEN A PINCH ME MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER? A MOMENT WHERE YOU WERE LIKE: “I’VE MADE IT.”

I don’t think I’ve made it at all. There are pinch me moments like when I played at the Royal Albert Hall or KOKO or Brixton. It is crazy though.

Life is so fast you forget about the good things you do. Like, what you’ve just said now, I’m like: “maybe I have made it?” because I’m doing good, but I forget about those things. I’m just a normal boy do you know what I’m saying? I just get up, go to the gym, go to the studio.

I forget what I do really hahaha.

IS THERE A DREAM VENUE THAT YOU’D LOVE TO PERFORM AT AND TICK OFF THE BUCKET LIST?

Ah yeah Wembley or something like that. That will be when I can truly say that I’ve made it.

OK, TOM, LET’S PLAY A GAME OF SOME QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS. JUST COME UP WITH THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF. READY?

Yeah.

YOUR HIDDEN TALENT:

Playing the spoons.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:

It was when I was younger, I was in the school library, and I played football for the two years above me. One of the guys came up to me and said: “oh are you, Tom?” and I said: “yeah, Grennan, Tom”. I said it like James Bond, and I was young, and it was the most un-coolest thing ever.

FAVOURITE FESTIVAL:

Glastonbury.

SOMETHING YOU’VE GOT YOUR EYE ON BUYING AT THE MOMENT:

A house.

FAVOURITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME:

‘Back to Black’ by Amy Winehouse.

MOST LISTENED TO SONG AT THE MOMENT:

I’ve not really listened to much music at the moment - my own songs.

SOMETHING YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR CAREER:

A number 1 single.

YOUR BIGGEST FASHION FAUX PAS:

God I’ve had loads, but there’s one I wore on stage, it’s like this leather snake suit and it was awful.

A CELEBRITY THAT YOU’VE MET WHO YOU’VE GENUINELY BEEN STARSTRUCK BY:

David Beckham at the gym; I went boxing with him.

YOUR GO-TO HOME COOKED MEAL:

Corrr fish pie.

TOM WAS BOOKED IN FOR A FULL DAY AT THE STUDIO, SO, REALISING THE TIME, I ASKED IF WE COULD CONCLUDE OUR INTERVIEW WITH THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT IS YET TO COME FROM HIS MUSIC…

Exciting, uplifting, fun! Everything needs to be uplifting and fun right now. We don’t need no ballads mate, trust!

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Whilst we don’t condone excessive drinking, it’s likely you’ll experience the dreaded hangover every so often, it’s a part of student life. If your will power is defeated as soon as the first drink touches your lips, if you let loose and find yourself feeling delicate the next morning (day), here’s a few tips to help get you through…

If possible, drink as much water as you can BEFORE you go to sleep (and even in-between alcoholic drinks whilst out). It won’t be a priority at the time but it’ll certainly feel worth it when you eventually wake up, by helping to hydrate your body and hopefully avoiding an awful headache the following day.

When you wake up, if you’re feeling up for it, cook a full English breakfast! Eggs contain cysteine (found in the amino acids), which counteracts the poisonous effects of the chemical acetaldehyde (the chemical produced by the body as it metabolises alcohol). The tasty meal is also full of carbs which help restore depleted sugar levels.

Drift through the day in comfy clothes and a good Netflix binge, taking the occasional nap.

Order loads of junk food and pig out on your favourite pizza, garlic bread and ice-cold fizzy coke, using literally zero energy until you’ve recharged, however long that might be.

Depending upon your energy levels, try and pick yourself up and go to the gym. No need to go crazy, but doing some light exercise is great since it will release endorphins, improving your mood and increasing oxygen flow to the brain.

A nice steam room if your gym has one, is a much-added bonus!

If the gym is not an option, and you have a little energy (and if the weather is nice enough), go for a walk and get some fresh air. This will still help to release endorphins and give you that mental lift.

Feeling random? Grab your favourite hoody so you can hide a little from people and visit your closest zoo.

Wander round aimlessly whilst taking in the sounds of exotic and interesting animals.

Maybe adopt a goat.

If none of the above work, have another drink and make the pain go away, even if just for another day.

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Meeting the recommended fibre intake is far more important for our health than we care to think. Not only does it promote healthy and regular trips to the bathroom, fibre is also effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.

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This new superfood is packed full of fibre; a medium sized avocado contains 10 - 13 grams of filling fibre alone. Adding a few slices to your meals, smoothies, and breakfasts is a great way to introduce more fibre into your diet.

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To make it a high fibre cereal, it must contain at least 6 grams of fibre per 100 grams. All-bran cereals and many other healthy cereals provide us with around 4 grams of fibre per 30 gram bowl. It’s a wise breakfast choice if you need to up your intake.

They are an excellent source of fibre; almonds deliver 3.4 grams of fibre per ounce. Not to mention a hefty serving of protein - 6 grams to be precise. A great way to incorporate more nuts into your diet is to enjoy them with your cereal.

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AFTER MAKING HER INTERNET DEBUT ON YOUTUBE, MAISIE PETERS’ SONGS HAVE RECEIVED HALF A BILLION STREAMS. ACCLAIMED BY TAYLOR SWIFT AND SCOUTED

BY ED SHEERAN, PETERS SIGNED TO SHEERAN’S OWN LABEL, GINGERBREAD MAN RECORDS, RECENTLY. FOLLOWING THIS SUCCESS, PETERS HAS JUST RELEASED HER DEBUT ALBUM ‘YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS’.

FEATURING HIT TRACKS SUCH AS ‘PSYCHO’, MAISIE IS ONE TO WATCH ON THE POP SCENE! SO, MAISIE, DID THE PRAISE YOU RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE CREATION OF YOUR DEBUT ALBUM MAKE YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT ITS RELEASE? Yeah, I think so. I don’t think you can be fully confident about the release of something because you never know how it’s going to go until you do it.

I’d say it’s like that metaphor (which I’m going to get very wrong), but with the cat in the box and if you don’t open the box then the cat might be alive. So, releasing music is a bit like the cat in the box.

But some of the things, they’re just so cool, it made me feel that it had a higher chance of doing well.

BEFORE YOU WERE SIGNED TO A RECORD LABEL, I HEAR YOU WERE BUSKING. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU BEFORE YOUR DISNEY COVERS TURNED INTO MAKING YOUR OWN MUSIC? At that point I was already performing my own songs and writing them, and I would busk them too along with the Disney covers, but back then I was also doing a lot of open mics and local festivals and playing my songs there. Then I had a YouTube channel around that time and that’s where it kicked off.

WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU WERE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR IN A LABEL WHICH YOU FOUND IN ED SHEERAN’S GINGERBREAD MAN RECORDS? I think it’s more about the people who are there and who you can see yourself working with for a long time. Everybody will always have their differences, but if you believe and trust in the people and if they have the same vision for your future as you, then that’s when you know which one is right. Ed is a huge part of that, he’s amazing, that goes without saying. He is talented and has experienced everything, so he is a great mentor. They [the label] are really supportive and help me to make the music I want to make.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM WHICH WAS RELEASED ON 27TH AUGUST. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE TITLE! WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH IT? The title came from the first track of the album. In the verse it goes ‘I’m sorry to make it about myself but you signed up for this’.

For a long time, I wanted the title to be that, and everyone was like “Maisie this is too long,” which is very fair. So, I ended up going for ‘You Signed Up For This’. I just thought it was a statement title; it was addressing the listener and I was addressing myself in the same way.

YOUR NEW ALBUM COMBINES AN ACOUSTIC/FOLK VIBE WITH MODERN-DAY POP. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR MUSICAL STYLE HAS CHANGED SINCE YOUR DEBUT SINGLE IN 2017?

I think that I’ve maybe just gotten broader in terms of the range of things that I do, but I always loved pop music even in 2017 when it was more acoustic led. I always loved Taylor Swift and Carly Rae Jepsen, and then it didn’t take me long. I think the following year was my first venture into that pop music world. Nowadays I still make acoustic music, but I’m at the point where I can use a wider range of stuff.

I’VE REALLY ENJOYED THE MORE RECENT MUSIC VIDEOS FOR JOHN HUGHES MOVIE’ AND ‘PSYCHO’. BOTH TAKE A SLIGHTLY DARKER TURN WHICH CONTRASTS THE SUGAR-COATED POP MELODY WITH GORE AND REVENGE. IS THIS A STYLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN YOUR SONG WRITING AND IN THE REST OF THE MUSIC VIDEOS FOR THE ALBUM? Yeah, for sure. I really enjoy the dark twists I’ve used in some of these music videos. I think it’s really fun. I also think it’s accurate to the music that it feels sort of romantic and warm and colourful, but it also has this sort of sarcastic dark twist on them, which I think is relevant to me and my personality.

YOU SAID THAT TAYLOR SWIFT IS ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS, AND SWIFT IS AN ARTIST WHO USES HER MUSIC TO COMMUNICATE HER FEMALE PERSPECTIVE. HOW DO YOU THINK BEING A WOMAN IN THIS INDUSTRY AFFECTS WHAT YOU WRITE ABOUT IN YOUR MUSIC? I guess it sort of infiltrates everything you do, but at the same time it isn’t a motivator in my songs. I just make the music I want to make and if people find that empowering then that’s amazing. Art is art, and everyone should make what they want, but it’s wonderful when it has a positive outcome!

WE’VE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU PREFER TO MAKE MUSIC BASED ON WHAT FEELS RIGHT AT THE TIME. WAS THERE A CONCEPT OR THEMATIC PROCESS BEHIND THE ALBUM THEN OR WAS IT MORE SPONTANEOUS? There wasn’t a thematic process when making it; I tend to figure it out at the end. But I would say that just from doing interviews and talking about it a lot, I’ve come to realise that there are two key themes. There is a very dramatic, romantic side to it, and then there’s a more grounded breakdown of naivety. When you get to your early twenties, and you think you’ve been around enough to know that not everything goes the way it should do and there’s no wider reason to it. The album has those two themes at play with each other quite a lot.

WE’RE GIVING OUR READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF YOUR ALBUM, WHICH IS A HUGE TREAT TO YOUR FANS, SO THANK YOU! CAN YOU TELL US YOUR FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM? I have two favourites! I love ‘Love Him I Don’t’ which is track 5, and then ‘Volcano’ which is track 13. I think they feel the most ‘me’, just lyrically and sonically, everything about it feels very deeply rooted in me, especially track 5.

FINALLY, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM MAISIE PETERS IN THE FUTURE? Very great things. I’m working on a second album, but I’m trying to just see what happens and where it takes me!

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More Sustainable Health & Beauty Swaps You Can Make

By Mads Newton

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the environmental crisis our planet is facing. Making greener changes is key in prolonging the life of our world. And you know, these changes can be so simple! With a little bit of understanding, there is hope that we can reduce our negative impact by implementing more sustainable swaps.

Re-usable Cotton Pads Makeup wipes – well, where do we begin? Putting a stop to using makeup wipes can make a HUGE difference to landfill contribution.

Say you use 1 wipe a day, that works out to 7 wipes a week and 365 a year. You are looking at over 7 billion makeup wipes thrown into landfill each year – crazy!

1.

The great thing is there are many reusable options now available such as, reusable cotton pads. These are a more sustainable option than single-use cotton wool pads.

Simply use them with a bit of makeup remover and throw them in the washing machine after use to re-use again – straight forward really!

Second-Hand Clothes

2.

Purchasing clothes from secondhand sources such as charity shops, thrift stores and online marketplaces are excellent options to combat fast fashion. This issue is spiralling out of control and will only improve if we start to make sustainable clothing swaps.

Eco-Friendly Toothbrush

3.

Opting for a bamboo or beechwood toothbrush over a plastic toothbrush is an excellent sustainable swap. By doing this, you are reducing your plastic waste contribution to landfill and the ocean. Bamboo and beechwood are natural, eco-friendly materials which biodegrade over time.

Therefore, much kinder to our environment.

Menstrual Cup Did you know women in the UK averagely use up to 11,000 disposable menstrual products during their reproductive lifetime? You have got to admit, this stat is shocking...

Now, the thought of changing to a menstrual cup can be daunting for women. When it comes to periods, the last thing a woman wants to feel is uncomfortable. However, with time to slowly ease into the change, a menstrual cup is a great sustainable swap to go for.

4.

Reducing Animal Product Intake Evidence states that animal agriculture is responsible for around 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. Environments such as The Amazon are being cut down to make space for cattle to graze – known as deforestation. As a result of this, wildlife is being killed due to destroyed habitats and causing the extinction of rare species. The rapid loss of biodiversity – the enormous variety of life on earth – is a threat to the world and our existence.

Reducing your animal product intake – meat, dairy and eggs – does not mean you must completely cut these out your diet. Introducing vegan and vegetarian options is a great way to experiment and have a change in the kitchen. There is always something which can be served up to suit different taste buds.

5.

Supermarkets also now provide a whole range of vegan and vegetarian options. Found both in the fresh and frozen isles and ‘freefrom’ section, there are many delicious alternatives to choose from. It can be as easy as picking up a soya mince over a beef, or going for a dairy-free ice cream – you can still enjoy your favourite meals with a more sustainable food swap!

Supersizing Products

6.

Supersizing your products is an excellent sustainable swap. This is because less plastic waste will be sent off to landfill as you will not be re-purchasing as many product containers – the supersized products will last longer. Moreover, by doing this you will also reduce your rate of plastic waste.

Going for the supersized option may be more expensive initially, but you will find that they do work out cheaper long-term. Therefore, money saved, products lasting longer and our planet treated more respectfully – pretty good I say!

Round Up Just remember, it is not about being 100% perfect when it comes to being more sustainable. However, there are definitely things we can do to make a conscious effort. At the end of the day, it is down to us to make a difference!

YOUNGR IS THE ONE-MAN BAND BRINGING YOU UPBEAT “FORGET YOUR PROBLEMS, DANCE LIKE A LUNATIC, GOOD VIBES MUSIC”. NOT ONLY WERE WE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CATCH UP WITH THE MAN OF MANY TALENTS, BUT HE ALSO PERFORMED AN EXCLUSIVE OASIS MASHUP FOR SPG! READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INTERESTING PERSONALITY BEHIND THE UNDENIABLE SKILL...

HEY DARIO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I’M EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY! MAY WE START THE CONVERSATION BY YOU TELLING US ABOUT YOUR MUSICAL BACKGROUND? HOW AND WHEN DID YOU REALISE MUSIC WAS A TALENT OF YOURS?

Hey man! Thanks for having me! My pops is a musician, so he’s been gigging and touring and releasing music all his life, and still is!

So, it’s just been around me since I can remember! I guess I realised I had some kind of talent when I played the piano to Coldplay’s ‘Clocks’ at my junior school music competition and had wayyyyy more attention from girls after it! Ha. FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF YOUNGR, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE AND SOUND?

I guess you could say it’s upbeat/positive/forget your problems/dance like a lunatic/good vibe all day kinda music. I’d say that sums it up!

WHY THE NAME YOUNGR?

My middle name is Younger! I guess my dad thought it was a good idea!

I REMEMBER CONTACTING YOU THE WEEK YOU SIGNED A MAJOR RECORD DEAL SOME YEARS AGO! HOW’RE THINGS GOING ON THAT FRONT AND HOW DID IT FEEL GOING THROUGH THAT TRANSITION OF BEING AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST TO BEING “SIGNED”?

Ah no way! Love that. Erm, it was pretty mad to be honest! Big shift in how your operation works. Very easy to lose perspective / lose sight of what the hell you’re doing etc! But it’s loads of fun! I wouldn’t change a thing.

YOU’VE ADMITTED IN THE PAST THAT YOU DIDN’T “FIT IN” AS A KID. IT’S CERTAINLY CLEAR TO SEE THAT YOUR MUSICAL STYLE IS VERY UNIQUE. I DON’T WANT TO TAKE THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM MUSIC FOR TOO LONG, BUT AS A SUCCESSFUL AND TALENTED MUSICIAN, WHAT ADVICE MIGHT YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO FEELS LIKE THEY DON’T “FIT IN” BUT HASN’T YET FOUND THEIR PATH?

Man, not fitting in sucks… at the time… then you get older and realise it’s awesome! Ha. All the weird quirky things about you will become your most loved traits when you’re older. I mean, fitting in is also awesome, but those guys and gals don’t need any pick me ups, they seem to have it under control! But yeah, I would say, own your weirdness. If someone tells you you’re crazy, thank them, then try and be crazier!

IN TERMS OF MUSIC PRODUCTION, DO YOU PREFER MAKING SPECIFIC RELEASES, OR PERFORMING UNIQUE LIVE SETS?

Ah I love them both for very different reasons. I’ve always loved playing, so getting the chance to rip apart a song and reimagine it live and how it’s going to mix into the next song is a real joy. But also, the art of writing a song from scratch is just totally magical and I have no idea how it happens. It’s still a wonderful mystery to me!

I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR BOOTLEG MIXTAPE VOL. 01 (LIVE) - IT’S INCREDIBLE, I LOVE THE ENTIRE 48 MINUTES! I WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO HEAR YOUR AMAZING VERSION OF ‘FLOWERS’ WHICH BROUGHT BACK SOME NICE MEMORIES OF WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. HOW MUCH PLANNING GOES INTO YOUR SETS FROM THE SONG SELECTION TO THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE?

Wahayyyy thanks dude! Yeah, ‘Flowers’ is a straight up banger.

Well, that bunch of songs was selected from my record label Armada’s back catalogue, so the choices were a little easier to make.

But sometimes when I’m jamming my tunes live, I just hear an awesome vocal that could go over it and it makes wicked little live moments.

(For example, when I play my tune ‘Obsession’ the vocal from Robin S ‘Show Me Love’ goes perfectly over the 2nd drop! Always goes off live!)

I KNOW IT’S ONE OF YOUR OLDER PERFORMANCES, BUT I MUST DEDICATE SOME TIME TO YOUR ‘SWEET DISPOSITION’ (YOUNGR BOOTLEG) - LIVE AT MORNING GLORYVILLE VIDEO. I’M NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I SAY I THINK IT’S THE BEST PERFORMANCE I’VE SEEN, AND OF A SONG I LOVE SO MUCH - IT’S JUST INCREDIBLE, 11/10! WHAT TOPS THIS OFF ISN’T JUST THE SOUND, THE BRILLIANCE OF THE PERFORMANCE, THE ENERGY, CROWD, BUT IT’S ALSO YOUR PASSION WHICH IS CLEAR TO SEE. IT’S AMAZING TO SEE YOU DOING SOMETHING YOU ARE CLEARLY SO GOOD AT AND ENJOY SO MUCH, I LITERALLY HAVE GOOSE BUMPS - THANK YOU FOR PRODUCING SUCH A MASTERPIECE. WAS THE RELEASE OF THIS VIDEO A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Thanks again bro! Yeah, that event was a huge turning point for me… and I had no idea either. We asked a friend to come down to film some live footage (which was a huge ask as it was at 6am in East London!)...

We were all a bit knackered and confused and overwhelmed at the whole event (usually they just have DJs… but I turned up with my whole rig, and it was probably only the 4th or 5th time I’d ever played live... so it was very daunting). It turned out to be an amazing morning with thankfully no technical difficulties… and yeah, totally changed my life.

DID YOU GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM TEMPER TRAP, AND IF SO, WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE TO YOUR VERSION OF ‘SWEET DISPOSITION’?

Yeahhh I remember they shared it on their Facebook page and just said “This guy is trying to put us out of a job!” Ha. So awesome.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PERSONAL FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE OF ALL TIME?

One of my personal faves was probably Vaiven festival in Mexico. It was just epic. Packed crowd, they all knew the words, energy was incredible.

(The opening of the video for my ‘Turn Around’ bootleg is filmed there).

Mexico is just an amazing place… The people, the weather, the food, the drinks, the culture! I just love it.

I’M GOING TO THROW THIS OUT THERE. WE’VE ARRANGED TWO HOUSE PARTY COMPETITIONS IN THE PAST. THE FIRST WAS WITH ED SHEERAN, THE SECOND WAS WITH GABRIELLE APLIN. I AM WONDERING IF WE CAN ARRANGE SOME KIND OF STUDENT PARTY COMPETITION, OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO? I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MEMORY OF A LIFETIME!

F**k yeah let’s do it! You don’t have to say the word party to me twice! let’s do it. Warning… I have a LOT of gear… so, make sure it’s a big garden! Ha. ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE US YOUR TOP 3 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS, SO FAR?

Winning an EBBA was pretty awesome!

Hearing my song on the NEXT holding line music And receiving a tweet from Chloe Grace Mortez saying she loved my voice. Ha.

ARTIST PROFILE Name: Max M Occupation: Producer and IT Expert Music Genre: Future Dance (crossover dance/pop/edm) Location: France First Track Bought: Queen - Greatest Hits II, Latest Release: Any Other Night Global Streams: 6M+ Inspired by: Max Martin, Calvin Harris, Jean-Michel Jarre Ambition: Make music for a living / Produce with talented artists Favourite Artist: Culture Beat Bad Habit: Electronic cigarette Can’t Live Without: Music

OUT NOW!

A V A I L A B L E

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A L L

M A J O R

P L A T F O R M S

There’s no better time than now to start getting yourself ready for your career goals. You’ve taken the bold and wise move to go to university so are clearly already on the right tracks!

However, that doesn’t mean to say you’re going to land your dream job as soon as you graduate, so why not start to plan ahead and get yourself into the best position possible? I wouldn’t suggest you compromise on your education or the social aspect of uni, but there’s some really easy ways of making sure you’re one step ahead when it comes to moving on from the academic setting to a real-life working environment…

You’ll be surprised just how many mistakes often appear in people’s CVs. It is your one opportunity to impress your potential employer, so make it count! Check, double check, triple check and then get a friend to check there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Keep it brief (maximum of 2 pages, ideally 1) and when you come to apply for positions, include a tailored cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for the job.

This is such a simple and easy way to create a professional presence online. Create a profile, upload a presentable profile picture, and complete your profile as best you can. Once you’re happy with how it looks, start connecting with people! You can begin by asking around (or searching) for university friends to give your connections an easy boost. Connect with people in the industry you wish to pursue and even people at specific companies you’d like to join.

Follow companies of interest, people of interest and start to engage with (comment and like) relevant posts that appear in your newsfeed.

Chances are when you apply for a job, your interviewer is going to look you up online. If you’ve got a load of pictures from that time you got smashed at freshers, it’s not going to be a good look. Make sure any posts which might be deemed unprofessional are either removed or set to private! Create an online portfolio. It’s really easy to create your own simple website nowadays or host a portfolio online.

If you are able to send examples of your work (that are relevant to the job you are applying for) it helps your employer get an idea of your ability. So it’s a good idea to host your work online and why not include your portfolio link on your LinkedIn page!

If you are having an interview in person, dress appropriately.

If it’s a job in finance you’ll of course need to wear a suit and tie.

Invest in some nice shoes or at the very least clean up the ones you have. Not only are first impressions important but if you look the part, you’ll feel a lot better too, and this will likely shine through in your personality. If you’re being interviewed online via Zoom or the alike, make sure your internet signal is strong, that the background is presentable, that the lighting is good and the sound is clear.

Look into the company you are applying for a job with. Understand as best you can, the company, its values, offering and culture.

You’re not expected to know everything but it looks impressive if you know a bit of background about the company.

Preparation is key – by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.

So if you’ve put the effort in, there’s not much else you can do. Try to relax, be yourself and if you are unsuccessful in a job application, don’t beat yourself up over it! Request for feedback if you don’t get the job and use the feedback to better yourself for the next interview.

Good luck!

Mark Simon Hewis has recently been appointed as the Head of the Aardman Academy – a programme that is committed to nurturing talent by delivering excellence in film and animation and mentoring.

In an interview with Student Pocket Guide, Mark delves into his passion for animation, his journey as a filmmaker and animator, and his new role at the Aardman Academy…

Hi Mark! Perhaps we could start by you just giving us a little context about how you got into animation?

Aardman is a brilliant place where it gives you space to move and develop and grow. I started 15 years ago and was just helping on the studio floor, and I played Angry Kid. I don’t know if you’ve seen Angry Kid? I think I’ve heard of Angry Kid…

It’s a pixelated character with an animated head and a real body.

My future wife was producing it and her and the director were saying they couldn’t get anyone to play Angry Kid because people kept fainting and I said, “oh I could do that.” I came from an animation background, and I just kept working on the studio floor and production managing, but all the time making films outside my work at Aardman. Then I made a film that did quite well (an animated film), and I started directing and making work for the BBC and Channel 4. Then, while all that was going on there was this part of Aardman called the Aardman Academy.

The whole purpose of the Aardman Academy was to nurture talent and find ways to diversify the industry and to not be a closed door so much.

I think that’s what the industry does, it relies on the magic to a certain extent, the magic of going to the cinema and going “wow, how is that done?” So that closed door is difficult for people to open, and the Aarman Academy was always a place to try and help that.

What kind of people get involved and who is the Aardman Academy aimed at?

My role is to find ways to make our industry more inclusive, and at the Aardman Academy, we welcome students from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our professional courses are for over 18s but we have a really wide range of ages. Most of our students have some experience of animation but there were some people on our last 12-week course who had never animated before and their work was amazing by the end of the course. There are also people on our courses who are already professional animators, looking to brush up their skills. As part of the application process, we ask people to tell us a bit about themselves and show us their work. This isn’t a test, it just helps us match the students with their mentor.

Is it full time?

No not at all. The only way you can be truly inclusive is if you structure courses that allow people to do as much as they can. We’ve got a course called Stop Motion 1; it’s a 12 week course and it is about 10 hours a week minimum, but not maximum. Our working week is Wednesday to Tuesday, so people have the weekend as well. A lot of the course is online and our students can access the tutorial videos whenever they want.

Let’s talk a little about the animation industry in general. What I noticed about this year’s Oscar nominations for Best Animated Film, is that two out of the five involve some kind of exploration of space (Farmageddon (2019) and Over the Moon (2020)), while the other three all explore connotations of magic (Wolfwalkers (2020), Soul (2020), and Onward (2020)). I wonder, is there a preference at the moment for other worldly aspects in children’s films?

I think that Marvel has probably had quite a big part to play in this and before that it was Harry Potter (2001-2011) and The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003). It’s the escapism and magic of other worlds that is always exciting for young viewers. I think animation has always been about magic, even when it is stories about society. Live action can do brilliantly nowadays with VFX and the amount of animation in a Marvel film is huge, but you wouldn’t call it an animated film. Animated films take you aesthetically into another dimension. Like, Wolfwalkers, it’s so stylised.

It’s like you’re reading a beautiful picture book. They all create an aesthetic world that cocoons you and it is pure escapism and somewhere to experience joy. Maybe that’s the biggest influence of the last year, what we all needed was a big hug.

How would you say that Aardman are working to make children’s films more progressive?

We’re employee owned now so we all own and run Aardman.

One of the things that grew out of that was the belief that we should have a diversity and inclusivity charter. Obviously, that covers everything from us employees, us as individuals and our rights, but also the voices that we support in getting storytelling on to the screen and the characters that we represent on screen. Sarah Cox, Executive Creative Director at Aardman, is looking after the green lighting of a lot of the new projects coming out at the moment. Sarah describes Aardman characters as a family, so everything we do has to feel like it’s part of the same family, but there is no limit to the diversity of that family, and with a lot of the projects coming up it expands that family in a really wonderful way. I think Aardman has been really good at identifying change and I think that happened particularly when Aardman became employee owned. Anyone who doesn’t look at diversity and doesn’t modernise animation I don’t think would survive.

I think that sounds great Mark.

How about we conclude this interview with you telling us what you believe to be the best thing about a career in animation?

It’s so magical. I think everyone has that one moment in animation where they see something, and it makes them go “wow.”

The first time you see something, and it comes to life, it’s just magical.

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PAY M ENT PLA AVA I N S LABL E

Gaming has been a staple of entertainment for years, bringing joy to the lives of many.

But just what goes into making them?

At the game design stage, you’ll decide your overall idea and story.

Concept art is created, both for environments and for characters, and a rough level design would be beneficial to give you an idea of how you want to lay things out. This also allows for multiple ideas to be tested before actually making the game, so you don’t waste time on something you end up disliking.

All assets in the game need to be modelled. To do this, you need to make a simple version of the item (the ‘low-poly’). Then you can add your detail to a duplicate (the ‘high-poly’). After this, they’re ready to be put into a software that will create maps based on the object. The ‘normal’ map will essentially take the details from the ‘high-poly’ model and map them onto the ‘low-poly’, making the game run better and save on memory.

Now, unless you’re making a hand drawn game or something similar, your models will need to be rigged. This is the process of creating a basic skeleton for your model and adding in joints so that they can be moved into the positions required. After binding the skeleton to your model, you’re then able to change the positions of each joint and log them in the key frames for the game!

How do you get the basic, grey models to look realistic?

The answer is texturing. To prepare your models for this stage, you first need to ensure their ‘UVs’ are correct. This is basically like a net for the model, and you need to make sure it’s laid out properly so that the textures apply correctly.

After this, a software such as Substance Designer/Painter is required.

This allows you to create visuals to go on the model.

Another longer stage, programming is the art of creating the scripts that will run your game.

You’ll need these to set up stages, make them link on from one to the next, and even to cause certain events to happen (such as a game over). Everything needs a script, even things like a bullet or an animation.

At this stage, you’re ready to take your models into the game engine (such as Unity) and set up your level, adding in colliders and boundaries to make sure the player can’t fall through the floor or get out of bounds.

Lighting can range from little lanterns to stars and the Sun. Another thing that is included in this process is fog and particle effects. If you have fires or rain in your game then you need to add a different particle effect to each, and fog can be a great way to set an eerie atmosphere. When everything is almost exactly as you want it, you can add some post-processing.

This is just a way to make your game look more finished.

These are effects you can add to the camera that make the player see more detail, such as lighting blooms.

Now that the game is basically complete, the finishing touches can be added. Voice acting, ambience, music, and sound effects are all ready to be integrated into the game.

These aren’t required, but they definitely help to create the correct atmosphere. When you’re finished with the audio, all that’s left is to press the ‘build’ button, and your game is done!

MAYA JAMA IS THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER TO PRESENT THE MOBO AWARDS AND IS NOW THE HOST OF GLOW UP: BRITAIN’S NEXT MAKE-UP STAR AND DAZN BOXING, AMONGST OTHER ACCLAIMED SHOWS. ALONGSIDE PRESENTING, MAYA HAS LAUNCHED MIJ MASKS, AND BEEN AN AMBASSADOR FOR PRETTYLITTLETHING, ADIDAS, AND AUSSIE. AN ACCOMPLISHED INDIVIDUAL, JAMA WAS NAMED AS ONE OF VOGUE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL GIRLS IN 2019. NOW, GRACING THE COVER OF STUDENT POCKET GUIDE, MAYA ADVISES US ON POST-LOCKDOWN PARTYING, HER RECENT BUSINESS VENTURE, AND HER ANIMATED BROADCASTING CAREER SO FAR…

HEY MAYA, AS SOMEONE WHO DJ’S AND IS A FELLOW LOVER OF THE PARTY LIFE, I’M SURE YOU’RE AS ECSTATIC AS I AM ABOUT THE EASING OF RESTRICTIONS?

I’m over the moon that restrictions have eased. We’ve all been waiting so long to listen to live music again, party with large groups of friends, and I’m super excited now that music festivals have slowly started up again!

NOW THAT WE ARE HOPEFULLY SOMEWHAT RETURNING TO NORMALITY, I AM SURE OUR READERS WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE SPOTS FOR FOOD AND DRINK. WHAT RESTAURANTS AND BARS SHOULD WE ALL BE VISITING?

My favourite club in London is The Box. It’s a half club, half shock sex show, and is always the most crazy, random, and fun night.

If I’m in West London, then Laylow is a great place to hear live music.

New breakthrough artists play every week, and the food in the restaurant is also great!

I LOVED HEARING ABOUT YOUR LOCKDOWN RAVE SESSIONS ALONE IN YOUR KITCHEN ON THE JONATHAN ROSS SHOW. VERY RELATABLE. I WONDER, WHAT MUSIC HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO MOST AND WHO WOULD BE YOUR TOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BREAKOUT ARTISTS?

Over lockdown, I dug up some old classics like ‘Mardy Bum’ (Arctic Monkeys) and ‘Crazy’ (Gnarls Barkley), which I have been loving.

I like a lot of the classic big hits, and a breakout artist I’d recommend is Pa Salieu, he is a phenomenal rapper.

I SEE YOU’VE RECENTLY JOINED THE DAZN AND MATCHROOM BOXING FAMILY. TELL US A BIT ABOUT THIS: ARE YOU A BOXING FAN OR IS THIS A COMPLETELY NEW ENDEAVOUR?

I am thrilled to be joining the DAZN and Matchroom Boxing family, it will be an exciting new adventure for me. In recent years, I’ve started following more boxing and I’m looking forward to bringing something new to the sport.

IN YOUR NEW DAZN JOB, YOU’RE TEAMING UP WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOXING PROMOTERS. WHAT IS EDDIE HEARN LIKE TO WORK WITH?

Eddie Hearn is great; we met a couple of years ago and then he asked me onto his podcast. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the industry and it’s such an honour to be able to work alongside such a fantastic and world class team.

IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU THAT YOU TEST YOURSELF IN THE INDUSTRY AND TAKE ON PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Yes, I think it’s always important to test and challenge yourself. That’s when you learn the most and it usually becomes the most rewarding experience.

YOU’VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT PRESENTING EXPERIENCES, BUT I’M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING OR CRINGE WORTHY MOMENT IN THE INDUSTRY?

I’ve had my fair share of cringe worthy moments in the past; I’ve been papped with my trousers undone before. I also got my heel stuck in a dress on the red carpet, and the wobble board on Celebrity Juice is never going to look pretty. The list is beyond, but my approach has always just been about enjoying yourself, working hard and not worrying about the small stuff.

IS THERE A SHOW OR GIG THAT YOU’D LOVE TO HOST? SOMETHING TO TICK OFF THE BUCKET LIST PERHAPS…

Not in terms of hosting, but next on my bucket list I’d love a gig as a Bond girl. When I was growing up, Halle Berry was my idol, and I remember watching her as a Bond girl and thinking that’s what I want to do one day. I think it would be so jokes!

I HEARD YOU ARE A BIG BRISTOL ROVERS AND WEST HAM FAN. HOW WAS IT DOING THE PETER CROUCH: SAVE OUR SUMMER GIG WITH FOOTBALL LEGENDS?

It was a lot of fun and unlike anything I was used to. It was a shame that the Euros were postponed, but that meant that we were able to come back for a second season with more flavour, vibes, and jokes!

It’s great working with Peter, he’s such a hilarious guy and obviously knows a lot about the sport.

WE COULDN’T HAVE THIS Q AND A WITHOUT MENTIONING YOUR ALREADY HUGELY SUCCESSFUL MIJ FACE MASK PRODUCT. WHEN DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO START YOUR OWN SKINCARE BRAND?

I came up with the idea a few years back when I was always recommending face masks to people, and then I just thought I’d make my own. It has been such a surreal experience, but I spent a long time researching which ingredients and products actually work.

I wanted to release something at a more affordable price point that could deliver premium results.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR INTEREST IN BEAUTY HAS HELPED YOU IN YOUR HOSTING OF THE NEW SERIES OF GLOW UP?

To be honest, hosting Glow Up has made me realise how hard it is to do make-up well. I have so much respect for all the contestants who have come on and been able to take an idea and make it come to life through make-up. It’s like watching artists at work.

IS THERE A MAKE-UP TIP OR TRICK THAT YOU’VE LEARNT FROM HOSTING GLOW UP THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO OUR READERS?

I’m not great at doing my own make-up, but a trick I learnt on Glow Up (which has undoubtedly changed the way I do my eyeshadow) is to use an opaque white base before applying brighter and richer colours.

This not only brings out the depth but also helps intensify the impact of the eyeshadow. I also spent a long time perfecting the eye flick as a teenager, which is often my fallback if I don’t have my glam team with me.

YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH FASHION CAMPAIGNS SUGGESTS YOU ARE QUITE FASHION CONSCIOUS. AS SOMEONE WHO FREQUENTLY ATTENDS RED CARPET EVENTS, PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE LOOK OF ALL TIME HAS BEEN?

Gosh, so many favourite looks. But one of the most novel was when I attended the BAFTAs in 2020 and wore the world’s first 5G-powered AR dress. I got to open the carpet, and it was super cool to be able to debut a one-of-a-kind dress like that for the first time.

YOUR FIRST PRESENTING JOB WAS AT THE AGE OF 20 WITH MTV; DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE (OUR READERS) WHO MIGHT BE TRYING TO MAKE A CAREER IN RADIO OR TELEVISION PRESENTING?

Advice I would give to aspiring presenters is to not be discouraged and disheartened by a “no.” Always take a “no” as a lesson on what you can do to improve and implement next time. Persistence is key; you will get a million people say “no” before you get a “yes.”

FINALLY, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM MAYA JAMA IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

Always so many fun and exciting projects on the go! We’ve got some new TV shows in development; I also teamed up with Deliveroo in their new ‘Full Life’ campaign to help fight against hunger as we work towards delivering one million meals for people in need and remain committed to that. I’ve also got a few acting projects in the pipeline and really looking forward to working on a feature film.

An open-minded, colourful community, “LGBTQ+” is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning. Still, the community has many spectrums, including Asexual, Non-Binary, and more! True to the iconic pride flag, the LGBTQ+ community proves that the colours of our sexuality, gender and identity can be many shades of the rainbow.

Nowadays, we’re reassured to be ourselves, and the LGBTQ+ community has influenced much of this change. The LGBTQ+ group encourages members to pride themselves on individuality, self-expression, and the idea that love is love, no matter who you choose. This freedom of self and how you choose to identify has set thousands of people free from the shackles of what society used to deem “normal”. It is, for a lot of the community, the core of who they are. Built up of those who challenge the false notion of one “correct” sexuality, the LGBTQ+ community is inclusive, non-judgmental, and welcoming.

Rather than removing the labels that society deemed appropriate and socially acceptable, the LGBTQ+ communities printed their own. Now, there are options for who you choose to be, how you define yourself and who you choose to love.

Some people happily decide to erase their labels, whereas others proudly hold onto them as part of their identity. Either way, the LGBTQ+ empowers its members to take their own paths and be themselves; it’s okay to show your colours. There are multiple platforms for LGBTQ+ members, both online and in-person, offering comfort and support whilst surrounded by like-minded people. This reminder that there is no “normal” sexuality or gender identity is core to the community. And it is a powerful message to the world.

Sometimes, it can be intimidating to let your true colours out, especially in areas where the messages of the LGBTQ+ community aren’t yet accepted. Unfortunately, not everyone is welcoming to the idea of being “different”.

Fixated on how they perceive the world and their beliefs, many people sadly do not think kindly of LGBTQ+ members. As such, many LGBTQ+ members suffer from mental health issues. The Trevor Project, a national survey on LGBTQ youth mental health conducted in 2021, showed that over 60% of the LGBTQ youth suffered from anxiety or depression.

Coming out to yourself and your family and friends can feel daunting.

And being different to your peers is equally as scary at times.

But you’re not alone! The LGBTQ+ community is a bright prism of light, and there are many online UK based organisations available if you feel like you need support,

When your emotions feel larger than life, remember, there are people to help. Staying in the safety of your box is fine, and you should never feel pressured to show yourself to the world until you are ready.

And, when you feel comfortable, you can come out in the biggest and best way possible to celebrate who you are! Surround yourself with the people that support and help you because you are worthy of being loved and appreciated. And be proud of who you are; it’s called Gay Pride for a reason!

So be bold, be bright, and be eccentric, but most of all, be unapologetic. The freedom of showing who you are both to yourself and the world is such a fantastic moment.

And finally, never feel ashamed to let your colours show; pink, purple, or blue, they are all beautiful!

Are you an aspiring journalist?

Do you want your work to be potentially seen by millions of people and multinational companies?

> More info <

Rory Graham, otherwise known as Rag’n’Bone Man, released his second studio album ‘Life By Misadventure’ earlier this year. Now, he is set to tour the UK with the album in Autumn.

The new album is a step apart from ‘Human’ sonically, but it feels like a natural progression – are you excited to finally get the music out there as you’ve been sitting on it for about a year?

Yeah, it sort of feels like I’m starting afresh almost, because it is so different to the last project. It feels good and the right time to be releasing it. The worry was that it’ll just get put off until ‘everything’s back to normal’. But, you know, I think I really needed this.

You recorded the majority of the album when things were sort of normal back in Nashville, USA. What was it about the city that particularly attracted you to record there?

It wasn’t really the city; it was more the people. I went over there in the first place just to see what the song writing was like because I’d got to a point in the UK where I’d come to a bit of a hole. Nashville: I’ve been there before and I kind of knew a few people. I’d spoken to Foy Vance about Natalie Hemby, so I did some writing with her. I also wrote with Allen Shamblin and Mike Reid, the guys that wrote ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, which is like, in my top five songs of all time. The fact that they were still working (they’re both in their 70s) and were gassed to work with me, I thought, “these guys want to work with me?

They’re like heroes.” So, we kind of wrote the rest of the record and decided we’d record it out there as well.

So, the eight tracks that you had before you went out there, did they have the Americana vein within them already, and then it was just honed and amplified by being in Nashville?

Yeah, I had written all of these songs pretty much exclusively on just acoustic guitar and piano. We hadn’t really touched any production at that point. We went over to Nashville this time last year as the pandemic hit. We had three weeks set out to record the album then they said, “you’ve got to quarantine for two weeks when you get there.”

We had nothing to do for two weeks, but we started rehearsing the songs a little bit between us, and then realised we only had a week to record the whole album. We’ve got the most amazing drummer Daru Jones, and Wendy Melvoin played guitar, and she’s obviously from Prince and The Revolution. It just turned out like this real organic record and it’s my favourite thing I’ve ever done in my life.

You’ve announced a massive tour for the end of the year! How much are you looking forward to gearing up and playing these songs, the way that they’re supposed to be performed and heard?

We’re all ready. Me and my band are really well rehearsed at the moment; everybody’s just itching to get on that tour bus again.

I’m so bad at being at home for long periods of time. My Missus used to tell me to go out when I got back from tour because I just walked around the house aimlessly. It feels positive at the moment though, it feels like we’re on the brink of it.

You finished the album at home in Brighton. Brighton is also the first date of the UK tour - do you think it’s going to be quite like an emotional gig?

I’m gonna cry! 100%. But I’m ready for it.

It’s a brilliant long run of dates, are there any shows in particular you’re looking forward to?

I think Manchester for just the sheer madness of the crowds.

They really go mad and they’re a mental bunch of people, it’s beautiful.

I also have loads of friends in Bristol so I can’t wait for that.

You’ve said you’ve stayed away from the breakup songs in this album, but you’ve been very open with the lyrics in other respects. When you were writing ‘Anywhere Away From Here’, did you think about how the songs would relate to other people’s scenarios?

It always starts off with a personal story, but it’s in the back of my mind “can this song be somebody else’s song?” It always should be that for me because I always want people to make it what they want to make it and relate it to their situation. That’s what really helps people and that’s when music becomes everybody’s: when it’s relatable to so many people.

So, yeah, it’s always in the back of my mind when I’m writing songs.

What song are you’re most looking forward to people hearing?

I wrote this song called ‘Alone’. It feels a bit 90s, but then the subject is really different. It was a conversation I’d had with someone years ago about the possibility of becoming a parent, and how not everybody wants that, and it’s okay to not want that. As men we don’t really get stick from our families about ‘when you’re going to have to settle down’ but women do get that, and it made me think that must be horrible being constantly pressured.

Talking about life milestones, since the release of ‘Human’ you’ve welcomed your son. How do you think your outlook has changed towards your music since becoming a father?

I think you just become less selfish as a person. It broadens your thought process, but it also makes me a lot more worried about the future, so I’ve talked a lot about that on the album. It’s definitely made me a lot more open and honest. What I want for my son is freedom of expression, of thought, and to love whoever they want.

Telling someone you love them is the scariest thing in the world.

Scarier than a werewolf at a disco!

Why is a werewolf at a disco scarier?

Because of limited access to fire exits. That’s why.

But don’t worry! The SPG is here to help.

We have told LOADS of people we love them over the years and our bitter, terrible rejections are now here to help YOU tell people that you love them and want to kiss them on the head and face.

You need to find the right moment to tell somebody that you love them. Preferably a dramatic moment. Like what they have in the films at the cinema place. But you can’t always rely on there being dramatic stuff going on. Or can you? Find a mutual friend who is having a mental breakdown and hang around with them.

Sooner or later something dramatic is BOUND to happen!

So when the mutual friend is throwing ducks at the police and screaming you can be Mr Romantic!

A good setting isn’t enough on it’s own.

You need to say those magic words in the coolest way possible.

You know who’s cool? Rappers. Dress up in your best bling and make sure you have a beatbox to make sure she thinks you are the most dope playa in the world!

Know wa I’m sayin’ bruv?

Women love flowers. But we don’t want them to love flowers.

We want them to love YOU! Whenever you are out with your heart’s desire, show her how committed you are by aggressively stamping and ripping up any beds of flowers you see.

She will think you are romantic as FLIP!

That way, when you say “I love you” and she doesn’t look happy/bursts into laughter and/or tears you can just make it sounds like you are saying “I love you..lesscees. Ulysses S. Grant.

18th President of the United States.” Then take out the bill and kiss it gently before returning it to the pocket of your waistcoat.

WINNING.

Saying I love you takes a lot of heart and a lot of bravery.

You know who’s brave? Firemen. What I’m saying is, you’re going to need to start a few fires. No way around it…

DISCLAIMER: Don’t be a muppet….

Running a car can be expensive. Especially for new drivers who are just starting out at university. If you’re a new driver check out our guide to keeping your car running costs down.

Do your research when it comes to your car insurance.

It might be beneficial to get yourself and your car on a parent’s insurance when you first start to drive, to keep your costs down.

MOT and servicing need to happen on an annual basis. It is a legal requirement in the UK, and it ensures that your car stays in good running order for longer. Staying up to date will save you cash.

Getting into the habit of checking your car is in running order will help to minimise service costs. Check your tyre pressure, wipers, windscreen and general motor health regularly, so you can fix things before they become issues.

When buying your first car, price is often one of the deciding factors.

However, a cheaper car can end up costing you more over time.

Get a better condition car from the start to save money.

Keeping your boot clear and excess stuff off your seats and floor will help to reduce your fuel cost. The heavier your car is, the more fuel it will use to get around. Costing you more in the long run.

Buying your road tax annually will reduce your overall cost, helping you to save cash as a new driver. This also works for insurance.

If you can, pay all your costs for the year upfront to enjoy discounts.

Editor in Chief: Ben Farrin Graphic Design: Make North Editorial: Courtney Jennings, Jack Shannon, Jack Smith, Jenny Entwistle, Jessica Doran, Madeleine Newton, Skylar Grace, Tom Naylor Photography: Benj Cullen, Danika Lawrence, Dominique Froud, Lillie Eiger, Mark Mattock, Zakary Walters.

Advertising Enquiries: Email: info@pocketmediagroup.co.uk

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