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You are here -> Lifestyle / Think Tank Sunday, 12 October, 2008
PLANETNOTION TELEVISION!
CAMERA-FOLK AND FILM EDITORS WANTED!
Planet Notion is looking for guys and dolls to film and edit features for its new TV channel, PNTV. Accompanying Notion to artist interviews, gigs, fashion shows, festivals and international events, you will be skilled, passionate and full of ideas about how to produce shit-hot video content. Camera-folk will be experienced and ideally have their own equipment, or at least access to equipment, while editors must be able to turn projects around quickly, and with stylistic flare. If you can both film and edit content, we would especially like to hear from you! These casual, unpaid positions would be ideal for those looking to develop their showreels, and to get the chance to travel, film major artists and top events.
 
Please email lucy(at)musichqmedia
(dot)com if you’re interested in getting involved, cheers!
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Nobby Clark: Starf*cker. Photographs of The Rolling Stones.
I have to talk about going to a photography exhibition. About the juxtaposition of the light and “OH, would you look at the way that Orange just happens to be in the centre of that woman’s bosom” (and all that jazz). About how the shot looks so AMAZING and the way this looks with that and “OH! Look at the way the light looks like a HALO!” But I can’t really do that. I don’t know what makes the perfect photograph in the eye of the connoisseur; the same as I don’t know what makes the perfect meringue, mash or onion gravy. What I do know is that if it tastes good I’ll eat it. So I wandered down to Nobby Clark’s latest exhibition at the GX Gallery in Camberwell; got a bus and a train and everything. Personally invited… The exhibition’s called Starf*cker and it’s a collection of photographs - many unseen, from Nobby’s time at the Observer. Nobby was assigned to cover the Rolling Stones at Earl’s Court in ’76, which is kinda like being asked to go on an all expenses paid trip to Tangier with the name and number of the finest local whore-house. Catch my drift? The title of the exhibition (just to clear it up) refers to a Stones song from their 1973 album, Goats Head Soup. The album was panned by many who claimed that it was the End of the Stones ‘Golden Era’. But the track, Starf*cker (later renamed Star Star), became part of Stones mythology with its lurid lyrics on celebrity sex exploits. We’re talking references to John Wayne, Steve McQueen, “tricks with fruit”, keeping “your pussy clean” and so on and so forth. It’s an excellent album and an excellent song, so screw the doubters… It summed up the spirit and the legend of the Stones to a T. For that I love it; Nobby must have too. Ahem; to the exhibition. Whether you’re a fan of the Stones or not - if you like your rock n’ roll with lashings of attitude, barrels of swagger, oozing sexual energy and dripping with big-tour glam, you’ll probably love Nobby’s iconic photographs regardless. Has it all in abundance. I’m no expert and you don’t have to be to feel an appreciation for the work on display at the GX Gallery… Put it this way… I could even (sort of) understand why some of the photographs were special from an arty perspective; I could appreciate the awesomeness of Nobby’s shots. Let’s just think about it for a second, you know, put things into perspective here. These are photographs taken during a Stones performance. I mean, nobody knows what’s going to happen when the Stones are performing, right? You can’t prepare for anything. Especially with Jagger gallivanting around like an antelope on hind-legs, dressed, from head to hoof, in skin-tight, knob-pinching, extrovert garb… Indeed, this is part of the reason Nobby’s photographs are so delightful. To capture such fantastic shots; such wonder; such delight; beautiful; stunning; the clothes; the lights; the scale; the extravagance; the rock; the roll; the Stones… that’s hard to do justice to with a camera. And yet Nobby has succeeded. There’s a crazy shot of Jagger hanging from the lights like some garishly dressed fruit bat; there’s another of him splashing a bucket of water into the crowd; and then there are those moments of intimacy, where Jagger joins Keith (Richards) as he tears up on guitar or pouts at Charlie (Watts) on drums… I managed to ask Nobby, whilst supping on the free wine and admiring some of the younger, ahem, posh females in attendance, what it was like to be involved in photographing a Stones show. I mean, it must have been pretty crazy right ? So, Nobby looks at me, a smile slowly creeping, and he says: “Crazy? Yeah… (a chuckle) to be honest, I can’t remember a single thing.” Keep on rocking Nobby… keep on rocking. Nobby Clark: Starf*cker (The Rolling Stones live in London ’76) is open until September 25th. For further information on both the exhibition and the GX Gallery, CLICK HERE !
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A selection of exceedingly Crap Cover Songs!
After watching Leona Lewis sing ‘Whole Lotta Love’ at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, Planet Notion was inspired to search out crap cover songs. And so that you don’t waste ten minutes of your life reading this when you could be eating a Magnum or watching The Wire or something, we’ve stuck to the old cliché Top 5 format. Except it isn’t really a ‘Top’ 5; it’s just 5 crap cover songs. Anyway, without further ado, here it is: Gareth Gates – Unchained Melody: G-g-g-g-g-a-a-a-a… Ga-ga-gareth Gates released loads of crap cover songs. In fact, it’s a bit of a tradition for X-Factor contestants when they leave the show. But his cover of ‘Unchained Melody’ by the Righteous Brothers was so cringe-worthingly (sic) low that Planet Notion had to think of the most sordid things, like tapeworms and granny-banging, to cloud our mind of the stuttering little tyke on our radio. Little surprise Planet Notion was unable to embed the video from YouTube. Embedding of this travesty has been disabled to spare us any further misery. Unfortunately they haven’t prevented live performances from being shown, so we managed to find evidence of Gates’ spiel. ‘Unchained Melody’ was also crucified by those two blokes from Soldier Soldier. One of them was Robson Green but we forget the other guys name… pretty sure it was Daniel Craig. Celine Dion – You Shook Me All Night Long: Celine Dion singing anything by a rock band is a bad idea. Celine Dion singing anything by a popular rock band is a worse idea. Celine Dion singing an AC/DC track is a ‘bang-your-head-against-a-brick-wall-over-and over-and-over-again’ bad idea. And Celine Dion singing it with Anastasia is a ‘jump-out-a-top-floor-window-and-think-about-the-consequences-when-they’re-wiping-your-face-off-some-poor-bastards-ford-cortina’ bad idea. Not content with shredding our ear-drums into oblivion with that song from Titanic that stayed at number one for 40 odd years, the Canadian decided to team-up with Anastasia and sing ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ at a Vegas concert. “She told me to come but I was already there,” is a kind of exciting turn-of-phrase to hear a songstress yelping. Unless the songstress in question is Celine Dion or Anastasia. We found a video of two fat birds miming to it… Ronan Keating – Fairytale of Newyork: Take the greatest Christmas song by one of the finest Oirish exports of all time: The Pogues. Then add one of the worst Oirish exports of all time: Ronan Keating. Then lock Ronan in the one recording studio that’ll touch the whole blasphemous affair with a bargepole and release it on one of the million Christmas compilations that hit shelves every September. And then watch it fizzle out like a wet fart because (A) its crap and (B) you should never, ever, ever attempt a cover of a Pogues song. Not that The Pogues weren’t good, it’s just that nobody can pull off Shane McGowan’s raspy brogue unless they’ve had four bottles of wine, two bottles of scotch, a can of special brew and fourteen bottles of Frosty Jack. Sorry Ronan, Dandelion and Burdock just doesn’t cut it. We couldn’t find a video of Ronan singing Fairytale of New York, but we did find a really scary video of Ronan Keating getting so close to the camera that you think he actually wants to eat you. Will Young – Light my Fire: God-damn X-Factor. Again!!! Jim Morrison would be turning in his grave if he heard this. Light my Fire wasn’t the finest Doors song, but it was a darn good one tarnished by this sacrilege bull-dung. It isn’t the fact that Will Young sounds like a small-boy being attached to jump-leads and zapped with 65,000 watts of electricity that gets our goat the most. Nor the fact that he stutters on the word ‘Fire’ like a 90-year-old Army Sergeant suffering from dementia and being force-fed Oxtail soup in a grotty care home. It’s the fact that it’s Will Young! Singing the Doors!! When he should be walking out of one, closing it, and sparing us from further outbursts of frustration in the future. I mean, what if we burst a blood vessel or gassed ourselves or something? Would that be murder by Crap Cover Song? Anyway, here’s a Neighbours montage we found accompanying the song... Britney Spears – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction: BLEEEEEARGH! Man, there’s a bit of pepperoni, a bean and several lumps of carrot among the projectile liquid that just spewed-forth from Planet Notion’s mouth and all over our keyboard. This, Britney Spears, is what happens when you take one of the finest songs ever and savagely rape it with beats, scratches, mixing decks and all the other crap that would make Keith Richards pull-out one of his hunting knives and carve some poor fucker up with it. I don’t think anyone should attempt to sing a Stones song; especially if they’re Britney Spears. To highlight just how terrible this version of '(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction' is, Planet Notion has located a video that merges snippets of Michael Jackson with Britney’s singing. Seriously, these are the things nightmares are made of… Words: Dangerous Dave
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Travel to Switzerland:
Uptight and staid is a common perception of the Swiss. But for every rule there has to be an exception. Welcome to the biggest party city in Switzerland; Zurich IT’S A FACT! Zurich is one of the banking capitals of the world, where billions change hands every day. It’s sited beside a lake, with the crystal clear river Limmat running through the city and making for ideal swimming opportunities. A natural spa feeds thousands of public drinking fountains throughout the city offering gallons of free Evian! Zurich is in the German-speaking region of Switzerland, but English is commonly spoken TONGUE-TIED? Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie englisch? What's your name? - Wie heisst du? Where is the toilet, please? - Wo befindet sich die Toilette, bitte? Thanks - Danke CHECK THIS OUT Think Zurich and think bankers, suits… and boredom? Think again. The city’s a cultural hotbed with one of the liveliest party scenes in Europe; along with beaches and spas galore on the banks of the city’s lake. So it might be a banking hub where billions change hands on a daily basis; but come the weekend the suits jump in their Ferraris and head for their Alpine chalets, leaving the city to the hedonists. As you’d expect there’s Prada, Gucci and all the usual suspects in this city. You’ll find them on Bahnhofstrasse; but the real treasures are to be found around the corner. Every weekend Burkliplatz turns into a sprawling flea market containing every imaginable collectable under the sun. Discover things you need - or never knew you needed in your life before you saw them. Lederhosen? Suits you Sir. Dada was one of the most important art movements of the last century, paving the way for the contemporary arts scene with its deliberately nonsensical stance. Where was it born? Right here in Zurich! Cabaret Voltaire (Spigelstrasse 1) operates as a shrine to the movement, with a café, shop, exhibition, and performance space dedicated to all things Dada related ( www.cabaretvoltaire.ch/ ). To get a flavour of what’s creating waves in the Swiss art scene today, take a short tram ride to Damnweg for the Kunsthalle. A former Lowenbrau Beer brewery has been turned into art central, hosting a maze of galleries with cotemporary and conceptional works. Most are free, but the eight Swiss Francs (£4) that the sizeable Migros Museum charges to view its collection is money well spent. ( www.kinsthallezurich.ch/ ). Churches might not be your bag, but there’s one that shouldn’t be missed in the city. The Fraumunster at Munsterhof is home to five stained glass windows designed by the Russian-Jewish artist Marc Chagall. Not surprisingly four out of the five deal with issues in the Old Testament, but the Jew had to compromise and concede one to the life of Jesus. Water prevails in Zurich. The city is built on a lake and a river runs through the centre. The river is crystal clear (a far cry from the Thames) and is almost of drinking quality making it ideal for swimming. Every summer the city residents flock to swimming areas on the river banks and lake. Most of the piers also offer massages and yoga making them an ideal place to detox and clear the head after a big night on the tiles. SWEAT BOXES Party zone in Zurich is located on the eastern side of the river Limmat. Narrow streets open up into courtyards populated by all manner of bars and eateries. Do as the locals do and indulge in bratwurst or fondue, before heading to an bar with an oompah band. Bar of the moment is the Moroccan themed, Pur Pur (Seefeldstrasse 9), but it has a rival with Kaufleuten Lounge (Pelikanstrasse 18) which is earning a reputation as celebrity central after playing host to Madonna and Prince. Cranberry (Metzergasse 3) and BarFusser (Spitalgasse 4) are a popular choice with the gay crowd, before heading to the cavernous club X-Tra (Limmatstrasse 118) CSD PARTY London has Pride. But Switzerland and Germany have Christopher Street Day (CSD), with Zurich painted pink on the last weekend in May. Compared to London, it’s a modest affair; with a parade of just 15 floats winding it’s way though the city. But the festival attracts 13,000 up-for-it party people, with entertainment from world class DJs and singers. Ultra Nate headlined this year. ( www.csdzurich.ch ) IT’S A DATE April – On the third Monday of April, locals dress in historical costume and light a firework-filled ‘snowman’ (the boogg) for Sechselauten, to celebrate the end of winter. June-July – The Zurich Festival is dedicated to the best in performance across the arts, from music to theatre, opera to dance. Mid-August – Berlin has the Love Parade. Zurich has the Street Parade, as techno takes over the city for Europe’s largest street party. ( www.street-parade.ch ) For more information on Switzerland visit www.myswitzerland.com or call the Switzerland Travel Centre on the International freephone 00800 100 200 30 or e-mail, for information info.uk@myswitzerland.com ; for packages, trains and air tickets sales@stc.co.uk . GET AWAY AND STAY Swiss International Airlines operate daily flights to Zürich from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester. Fares start from £49 return, including all airport taxes. For reservations call 0845 601 0956 or visit www.swiss.com/uk . The four-star Ambassador Hotel is the last word in luxury, with grand spacious rooms and plush bathroom. As a bonus for culture vultures, the world famous opera house is just steps away. ( www.ambassadorhotel.ch )
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Planet Notion tries out the Rock Band computer game!
A guy from a gaming website plays the guitar like a toddler on a dustpan brush; note perfect. Your writer pummels the pads of a makeshift drum-set with all the rhythm of a fat man’s teeth, chewing on a pork scratching. A guy from a porno magazine sings “I’m a creep / I’m a weirdo” like a screeching cat, punching the air as he achieves a surprise score of 100% ‘Perfection’. We look at one another with goofy grins; it wasn’t perfect, but for three minutes we were ‘A Band’; a damn good (sic) one. Welcome to the world of console game Rock Band, an ingenious shift from the much lauded Guitar Hero that had a console bod, a porn writer, and a lowly hack who’d never met before, truly believing we could be “The Next Big Thing!” I guess I’m a connoisseur on few of the so-called delights of the masses. Computer games were good as a young shipper-snapper - for interfering with schooling and playing with the Other Kids. They were an excellent form of escapism from the rough-and-tumble of those heady years - when everyone else was bonking in the bike-sheds, delivering crunching tackles on the playing field, and kicking-in bus shelters. Primitive celebration of London suburbia. Alas, Rock Band represents a rare occasion when serotonin kicks in like a three-pill swallow, a smile creeps up like a jackal, and you and a group of strangers lose yourself for three minutes in a bizarre moment of musical, technical, wizardry. A return to those bygone years . In case you’re totally unaware of Rock Band’s concept, it basically consists of two plastic guitars which - in the context of size to man ratio, are akin to the inbred boy’s banjo in Deliverance being played by Johnny Vegas. One represents guitar the other bass. Making up the package is a fake drum, just like the electronic ones used in the 90s, and a microphone. They plug into a console (XBOX 360) – the guitarists pressing coloured buttons and twiddling a flap to strum imaginary strings. The drummer pummels the pads of his makeshift drum with wooden sticks, like a barbarian clubbing a tough rump-steak, whilst the singer squeals into the microphone to correspond with the high notes and low. I feel it’s my duty to leave it there. No need to dwell on the technicalities because you’re probably aware of how these games work; and if you can’t visualise it… Rump-Steak!!! I was told by an expert on this new concept in cooperative gaming, that the songs on Rock Band are likely to be familiar to those with even the poorest knowledge of music. With classics by the The Rolling Stones, Pixies, The Clash, Beastie Boys, Ramones, and The Who, I make him right. An additional ten songs have been added to the European version of the game; old familiars from bands including Radiohead (Creep), Blur (Beetlebum), Oasis (Rock n Roll Star), and H-Block X (Countdown to Insanity). There’s a career option where your makeshift band attempts to go from grotty pubs to sell-out arenas and an online option so you can play against anyone who owns the game – from Papa New Guinea to Argentina. So what makes Rock Band so special? I guess it’s that sense of false hope, a feeling that you’re actually pretty damn-hot on the drums or a damn-good singer because an imaginary crowd is screaming for "more music"; some poor pixilated fucker getting buried underneath a mosh-pit by an ecstatic computerised crowd of reprobates. It’s not the kind of game you’d associate with a social outcast console geek, locked in his room with drawn curtains and thirty cans of Red Bull; unkempt hair, Elvis Costello specs and the latest issue of Manga Models Monthly - sticky and contaminated in a mound of empty bottles and crisp packets. No. Rock Band is a social game, the kind to play with a group of mates; a fridge full of beer and the delivery boy closing in with an Extra-Large Pizza. In my book, that makes Rock Band a gaming revolution and a must have for all music fans… Albeit, with money to splash. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW FOR AN IN-GAME TASTER! Dangerous Dave NEED TO KNOW: The UK release of Rock Band will have an exclusive launch window on the Xbox 360 videogame console from Microsoft, beginning on May 23. Rock Band will be available for additional platforms later this summer. Rock Band is a product of Harmonix and MTV Games. Additional tracks are available for download via the online option of the Xbox 360.
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Dangerous Dave shows class at the 'Nobby Clark shoots Noel Fielding' exhibition!
Dangerous Dave shows class at the 'Nobby Clark shoots Noel Fielding' exhibition!
25/04/2008
There was something quite disconcerting about attending a (fairly) high profile photography launch for one Dave Dryden; Dave Danger; Dangerous Dave, esquire. Someone like yours truly, thankfully, forever faithful to the limits of anarchy and all out debauchery, is like a fish out of water in the confines of a gallery; sophistication as alien as a Big Mac and Fries to the remote Wakakuku Tribe of Central Bogulugu. Nonetheless, following a somewhat anarchic couple of weeks, I decided to try my hand at the whole ‘class’ game and attend the ‘Nobby Clark shoots Noel Fielding’ photography exhibition at the Maison Bertaux gallery in Soho… First a spot of history for you the (possibly murderous/possibly okay) reader to mull over. Noel Fielding is the popular comedian from the beeb’s Mighty Boosh where he plays Vince Noir alongside Julian Barratt‘s ‘Howard Moon’. In his spare time Noel likes to paint - “It’s the only way I can relax” – he says. So, sometime ago, Noel held a pretty big exhibition showcasing his art at the Maison Bertaux (which is above a really quaint bakery that sells “well nice” chocolate éclairs). The gallery, you see, is owned by Noel’s dealer (art not drugs as there’s no evidence Noel takes them) Tania Wade – rated by The Observer as “the rising star of the London art world”. Noel’s art is kind of like a really cool acid trip incorporating talking crocodiles, a dude from the Ramones, Keith Richards and characters from the world of the Mighty Boosh, the comedy his work so often inhabits. So at the launch of Noel’s exhibition veteran photographer Nobby Clark, who’s photographed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Al Pacino, decided to snap Noel alongside his artwork in what I interpreted as an “art meets art” philosophy. Cool, huh? This brings us to the night in question (in a roundabout way), the ‘Nobby Clark shoots Noel Fielding’ photography exhibition… Upon arrival at the Maison Bertaux my (makeshift) photographer and I found ourselves wading through a herd of paps before being greeted by owner Tania Wade and pointed towards the complimentary drinks table. The Maison Bertaux struck me as an interesting establishment for a launch night and gallery, its size confining it to ‘tin can’ dimensions; packed to the rim with old people in cravats, suits, and tweed hats vying for an inch – nay, a centimetre of space. “More like a farmers market in Kent than a bakery in Soho” I thought to myself, in mock posh brogue. Needless to say my acquaintance and I grabbed another complimentary red wine and left the jam-packed interior, taking residence on some wooden chairs in the cool night air; waiters and waitresses flitting about and asking everyone if they’d “Like some cake?” Pap’s eagerly awaited the arrival of Noel Fielding, smoking cigarettes and nattering like long lost brothers before fighting with eyes of rabid dog for the first photo of their target. Hypocrisy personified. I took a gulp of wine and rolled a cigarette; trying in vain to become acquainted with the whole shebang; “lonely days and sleepless nights, this doesn’t seem so right” by Jay Reatard ricocheting from one side of my thoughts to the other; verbal table tennis of a confused mind. Alas, Fielding came prancing round the corner, dressed in token poncho, red winkle-pickers, skinny jeans and straw hat with flower motif; texting on his mobile as cries of “THERE HE IS!” rang-out from all corners; person to person, pap to pap. Gok Wan (How to Look Good Naked) remaining ignored on the other side of the road despite his efforts at recognition. I took another glug of my second wine as Fielding posed a dog’s cock away; flashing bulbs inadvertedly capturing me and my ‘photographer’ in background shot, the disappointment etched all over the Pap’s faces as they viewed their efforts moments later… There you go; if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to attend the launch of a (fairly) high profile photography exhibition, that’s a fairly accurate intro to the surrealism of the whole shebang. Now to the exhibition itself, where my attempts to chat-up Alison ‘VV’ Mosshart (The Kills) went down like a soufflé in an open oven. Despite the quantity of alcohol flowing through the veins the exhibition proved genuinely impressive, the intimate surroundings upstairs in the Maison Bertaux bringing a certain je ne sais quois to proceedings. I pointed in awe at the varying shades of photos, trying my best to look classy and show some understanding - “Look at the yellow exposure, the purple, the green” - the various poses Clark had captured of Noel alongside his art, amusing, intimate, bold - before pulling Noel to one side and asking him a question; the evasive Mosshart clinging to his arm like a Vampress to her prey: “How does it feel to have your art in art?” I asked Noel as he turned towards me. “Well,” he responded with a smile, “I love the fact this is an exhibition of photos of my exhibition. So I’ve basically been taking photos of this exhibition - of my exhibition, so then we have an exhibition of that exhibition; and Nobby’s gonna take some photos of that exhibition, until we complete the third part.” This was followed by much laughter and a mutual relief that we were as clueless on photography as each other. I pondered my question - ‘art’ photographed as ‘art’ - and carried on our exchange. “It’s like when you’re in a lift with loads of mirrors!” “Yeah,” chuckled Noel. “Like Russian dolls! It‘s an exhibition within an exhibition within an exhibition,” followed b y more laughter from the both of us; both fishes out of water; both strangers to the “nibbles” and the “wine” and the chats about “the race for London mayor”. In the end Noel left hand in hand with Alison ‘VV’ Mosshart, Vampress of The Kills, and I left proud. Proud that I’d only had three beers, five red wines, three whites, and spoken to “rising star of the London artworld” Tania Wade on an intelligent level. Class? It’s a piece of piss… Words: Dave Dryden Photography courtesy of the Nobby Clark/Noel Fielding exhibition Dangerous Dave photo by Christina Budhram The Nobby Clark Shoots Noel Fielding’ exhibition opens to the public from April 23rd - June 21st. Nobby Clark Shoots Noel Fielding Gallery Maison Bertaux 28 Greek Street , Soho London , W1D 5DQ
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Smokin Jo's Asia tour diary!
Smokin Jo's Asia tour diary!
03/04/2008
Singapore : Arrived in Singapore for my first stop on a two week tour of Asia very jet lagged after a long flight from London. Walking out into the heat the first time always gets me, it is just like opening an oven door, so humid as well, I love it! Actually, I love Asia full stop, the people, the vibe, the scenery and lets not mention the food, my favourite food on the planet!! There goes my waistline for the next two weeks! As usual with all big Asian hotels, it is stunning. We, and by we I mean my boyfriend James and I, head to the room to freshen up then head off to have a little look around and find something to eat. We find a nice place by a river and stuff our faces full of local fish and rice, delicious. I am not gigging that evening so we get an early night. Next day we decide to do a bit of sightseeing, that’s the great thing about touring you actually get a chance to see the countries you visit even if it is only a day or two. Most weekends I see the airport and the club and that’s it. I have been to Singapore a few times but James had not, so we head off in the searing heat to see what’s going on. We don’t last long, it is roasting, we seek refuge in a Buddhist temple which is beautiful, it is decorated with hundreds of mini Buddha’s, flowers and a lush garden in the centre, so we hang out there for a while. That evening we are picked up around 1am to go to the club, I am playing at Ministry of Sound. I usually play at Zouk in Singapore so I wasn’t sure what to expect this time. The club was a in a nice location, next to loads of bars and other clubs, the venue looked great. It was on 2 floors with about 5 rooms. They had a festival just the day before so they told me the club may not be as busy, but it filled up slowly and by the time I went on it was rocking, the sound system was excellent as with all Asian clubs, I wish all venue owners took so much care over their systems as they do over there. Shanghai: Next morning we are up very early to catch a flight to Shanghai. Aarrgghhh… nothing worse than having to travel early after late night. Thank God for business class and flat beds! 6 hours later we arrive in Shanghai feeling slightly better than when we left. I am playing that night so it’s straight to the hotel to chill. Around 2am we are picked up and head to Attica, the club is in a tall building with the most amazing view over the city and I must say the sound system is probably one of the best I have heard, EVER!! Once I am behind the booth I do not want to move, it is a dream to mix on and I just go for it, I usually play 2 hours but I play 3 on this night. The crowd is very mixed, some people in suits and party dresses they don’t look like hard core clubbers to me, but to my surprise they are loving it and get down to some serious dancing, when I take it harder and more techno edged they love it even more, I am having a ball and to my chagrin the 3 hours is over in no time. I go to bed happy. The next couple of days I have off so James and I go sight seeing in search of bargains and bootlegs but we change our minds and leave the rip offs behind. The language barrier in China is a big problem but very funny at the same time, James and I hunt down a place to eat off the beaten track and walk into a rather strange place where everyone stares at us, well, me probably. I find I am attracting a lot of attention in China which makes me a little edgy. Anyway somehow we manage to order some food but we have no idea what it is, it comes and it is actually delicious. The staff stand around and stare while we eat. Bangkok : Next stop is Bangkok. I feel very at home here. I love Thailand and have been going nearly every year for 17 years, last time I went I did a detox, I spent a week not eating anything and having 2 colonics a day!! You feel amazing afterward I highly recommend it. After a 4 hour delay in Shanghai airport, a fierce migraine and a dodgy curry we arrive in Bangkok. Bangkok is hot, steamy and BUSY. I thought it couldn’t get any busier but the traffic seems to have doubled in the last year, everyone seems to be racing around, buying, selling, shopping. Bed is the venue I am playing at it is a bar/club, when we arrive it seems very bright and they have a very cheesy house cd playing I am mortified. I am cornered by a camera crew and do a lengthy interview with some really dodgy questions, there is nothing worse than being asked for the millionth time, “what is it like being a female dj” aaaahhhhhhh……I hate that question, it is ridiculous. I ask them to turn the lights down, I get on the decks turn the volume up and slam on a fierce new Jamie Jones remix, the mostly European crowd run onto the dancefloor hands in the air, going for it. I go into a really deep house/ minimal set then into some tech house, they are loving it, the sound system has a good bottom end so I am dancing away myself and really enjoying it. I carry on playing till way after closing time and head back to hotel totally knackered. It’s funny because often you can be playing and feel fine and awake and as soon as you finish you realise how tired you are. The next day we spend shopping eating, a trip boat trip along the river past the royal palace and a fabulous foot massage for about £3, genius. Seoul : Another long flight and we arrive to the freezing cold, underdressed I may add. Seoul is quite the opposite of Thailand and the vibe is very calm. Both James and I are exhausted, it’s been a week of long flights and very late nights. We get to the hotel in the morning and stay there all day in bed vegging out and sleeping. In the evening we are taken to a Korean bbq place, this is one of the best meals I have ever had, the meat is divine. With my stomach full I am ready to go to work. Seoul has not really got a scene as such so it’s always tricky playing to these kinds of crowds they can either love it or hate it. I am taken up to car park then shown into a dark room with decks set up, they tell me to get my first record ready, I am totally confused and they are not explaining clearly what is going on, anyway before I know it I am being lowered down, the dark room I am in is actually the dj booth, as I am being lowered the crowd slowly comes into view, I feel like bleedin’ Madonna, there are lasers everywhere and the crowd go nuts I slam on my first track and it’s going mental, all a bit too over the top for my liking but fun never-the-less. Tokyo : Tokyo is one of my favourite cities in the world. It is all about extremes, new meets old. I love Japanese food and the whole culture. It was my fourth time to Tokyo so I feel I know the place. I always stay in Shibuya which is the centre where all the good shops are, it’s manic, so many people, it’s were all the schoolgirls and kids hang out, all dressed in their various outfits, it’s amusing to see. I feel like a giant over there though, nothing in the shops fits me, they laugh when I ask then for a size 41 shoe - they only go up to 38! I have a couple of friends in Tokyo so I put them on the list and arranged to meet them at the club. We arrived in Tokyo around 4pm and I was due to play at 6pm as it was an afterhours, I was exhausted and had to really get it together to go and do my job. Womb in Tokyo has been going for ages, it is awesome, a proper club, one huge dark room with a killer sound system. I was really excited to be playing, my Japanese mates were all down the front screaming and the crowd were very up for it. It was so dark you couldn’t actually see the crowd which I quite liked, I got into my groove and it was over really quickly, I fell into bed straight after. This was the final stop so we had two more days to enjoy Tokyo. To say we shopped till we dropped is an understatement. You can get such cool stuff over there. I got the latest Bose speakers to use with my lap top - they won’t be out in UK for ages they say. My friend took us to an amazing restaurant where we had a really interesting selection of food, we over ordered and made real pigs of ourselves. The next night the promoter arranged for us to go the best sushi place in town, we had a private room booked all to ourselves. There was no menu, the sushi chef just comes in and says what he thinks we would like then just keeps bringing dish after dish. It was the most delicious, amazing sushi I have ever tasted, the difference was so huge from other food I had tasted in the past. So with that flavour lingering in our mouths the next day we boarded the plane home. All in all an enjoyable trip, very tiring but well worth it. Words: Smokin Jo Check out Smokin Jo’s MySpace !
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Travel to Krakow
Travel to Krakow "Enjoy the craic..."
03/03/2008
You can’t beat a city break for hitting the shops and all the usual urban thrills and spills. But sometimes you might want to kick back and chill out somewhere more intimate. Yes? You do? In which case, say pah to Paris and head for the craic in Krakow. Words: Clark Turner IT’S A FACT According to legend a dragon lived underneath the castle. The beast is no more but its lair can still be visted. Helena Rubenstein, born in the old Kazimierz Jewish quarter, went on to found a global cosmetic empire. Karol Wojyla studied in the city before graduating to Archbishop of Krakow. He eventually became Pope John Paul II, the first Polish Pope. TONGUE TIED Beer – Piwo Your eyes are like the moon - Twoje oczy są jak dwa księżyce How about breakfast? - Co powiesz na śniadanie? Will you marry me? - Wyjdziesz za mnie? CHECK THIS OUT Small in size, yet huge in terms of historical importance, no Polish city is quite as European as Krakow. The main Rynek market square could have been lifted from Venice, while its bustling medieval streets echo those of Paris. Cheap bars have made the city a top destination for stag and hen parties but it’s easy to lose them by heading from the main fray. A good place to start and get your bearings is the Wawel Castle, sitting proudly on a hill overlooking the city. For six centuries Wawel was home to all manner of kings and queens in what was the capital of the country, until King Sigiusmund upped sticks and moved the court to Warsaw in 1609. It’s a Renaissance treasure trove, but look out for the room whose ceiling is filled with wooden heads – scarily bizarre. The chapel is also worth a visit. Look out for the bones of the “strange beast” suspended over the entrance. Popular myth has it that when they fall it will signal the end of the world. ( http://www,wawel.krakow.pl ) A short walk from the castle is the Rynek main square. A host of cafes offer the best seat in town from which to watch the world go by… or plot revolution. Lenin did just that at U Noworola under the arches of the Cloth Hall. It’s a fabulously grand place - a throwback to the turn of the last century - and serves a mean coffee and cake. The Cloth Hall itself is full of tourist tat, trinkets and souvenir beer mugs. You have been warned. But Rynek is worth a visit for the famous bugler. On the hour and every day, from St Mary’s Basilica, the bugler plays a ceremonial tune - only to be cut off mid-way – recalling an event in 1241 when a bugler, warning of an approaching Tartar attack, was shot in the throat by an arrow. To bring things bang up to date, Bunkier Sztuki, is a stone’s throw away and plays host to some of the best and contemporary art on the scene. ( http://www.bunkier.pl ) The old Kazimierz Jewish quarter is a must see. Here Hassidic Jews, in their traditional garb, rub shoulders with Krakow’s hip contingent whilst restaurants serve up traditional dishes to the sound of klezmer music. Troubled times befell the area though, with the Holocaust. The Schindler Factory, as featured in Stephen Spielberg’s film ‘Schindler’s List’, still stands, and there are constant reminders that Auschwitz is only 50 miles away. It’s possible to visit the extermination camp where more then 100,000 Poles, gypsies, gays, and Russian prisoners, were gassed in a day, but even after more than 60 year’s it’s a harrowing place. ( www.auschwitz.org.pl ) A SALTY TREAT An old salt mine doesn’t sound like a must see - but trust us - it is! The Wielicka mine, a 30 minute bus ride from Krakow city centre, is home to a fantastical underground world. As well as mining salt for everyday jobs, like roads, the miners also found time to express their artistic talents. A two-hour tour takes in the highlights of more then 200 miles of corridors, including towering statues and the jawdroppingly impressive Chapel of St Kinga. Everything is amazingly made of rock salt; from the statue of Christ, to the altar and chandeliers. Mind-blowing stuff! ( www.kopalnia.pl ). SWEATBOXES Avoid the tourist traps of Rynek square and head to the Kazimierz quarter for some of the hippest bars in town. Alchemia on Powy square is the height of all things bohemian, lit by dripping candles and decorated with old black and white portraits. Head to Prozak as the night wears on, as the bar/club is a cult favourite in the city. Klub 7 on Filipa street is the gay hub of Krakow. The basement club has the air of a school disco but the punters ensure it remains attitude free. IT’S A DATE May – The annual Soup Festival in Plac Nowy Square is a festival and it’s all about celebrating soup. Genius. June – The Grand Dragon Parade and Wawel Dragon Festival is all the excuse you need to party. September – The Dachshund Parade, we kid you not, is usually held on the second Sunday of the month. A must for doggy lovers. GET AWAY AND STAY Low-cost airline Centralwings flies direct to Krakow from London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester. For bookings and more information visit www.centralwings.com The Hotel Poleski offers contemporary glamour with spectacular views of the Wawel Hill and castle, but with only three-stars, charges rates that won’t break the bank balance. For the low-down and bookings visit www.hotelpoleski.pl
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Bacardi presents: The Cocktail of the Future
Bacardi presents: The Cocktail of the Future
27/02/2008
Those with a refined palate and a taste for culinary excellence; those that know their Shish Kebab from their Doner, will have heard of Heston Blumenthal. He’s that charming fellow with the glasses, the three-Michelin star chef who owns The Fat Duck in Berkshire, serving up such delights as Snail Porridge and Bacon-and-Egg Ice-cream. Mmmm… Our Heston uses ‘molecular mixology’ or, if one was to go all molecular and transcribe into an easy-to-read understandable lingo, he uses scientific methods to create his dishes. Anyway, now Bacardi are venturing into the whole ‘scientific method’ approach to celebrate the 146th Anniversary of Bacardi Superior Rum, in a bid to create the ‘Mojito cocktail of the Future’. Molecular mixology is a fairly recent avant-garde approach to cocktails; a kind of rock ‘n’ roll, counter-cultural, anti-establishment method of producing and delivering Bacardi to the masses. Rather than trudge down the standard mixing root, a bit of this in a shaker, a tiny bit of that, the molecular method is a far greater spectacle ala Heston Blumenthal. Sure, you won’t see someone throwing a bottle in the air, catching it on their toe and squeezing a lemon on their nose with a flick of a finger, but you’ll witness plenty of steam, liquid nitrogen, and Xantham gum being used, which in our opinion is way damn cooler. Frankly it’s mental. Bacardi first started pouring Mojito cocktails way back in the 1800s, using the rather simple, but nonetheless handsome ingredients of rum, lime, carbonated water, sugar and mint. In fact, Bacardi were so unique they became the original pioneers of the ‘cocktail’ as we know and love it today. In its infancy the Mojito would have been made with a standard shaker (wood perhaps or more likely metal), but the equipment used for the ‘Mojito of the Future’ would seem more at home in a DIY store, hospital or laboratory. Well, I say "more at home", but with all the MRSA floating about hospitals are the last abode I'd choose as residence. Anyway, the whole process of molecular mixology involves using different methods and processes of creation. Take the mint for example. The mint is pureed and strained to produce mint water. Ten-percent sugar and a little bit of water is added to the mixture before being poured into a squeezy bottle. Still with me? Good. The process of squeezy bottle mixture to solidified mint balls, or pearls if you were, begins by adding gelatin and Xantham gum to the liquid concoction. The bottle is then dropped into liquid nitrogen (hence the steam reference), and the top of the squeezy bottle creates the appropriately named ‘mint balls’ by slowly releasing the liquid; which solidifies when cooled down to room temperature. It’s All very, very bizarre, but fascinating nonetheless. Now, rather than beat about the bush and attempt to unsuccessfully describe the procedure for every aspect of creation, I’ve rather kindly placed a video of Molecular Mixologist Eben Freeman making the 'Mojito of the Future'. So far only two bars in the UK are offering these avant garde cocktails, though New York, Paris, Melbourne and Chicago have also joined the craze. Apparently, a no finer beverage will one ever taste. Words: Dave Dryden Bar: Mahiki Location: London Cocktail: Rio Popsicle Bar: Shochu Lounge Location: London Cocktail: Bloody Mary Prairie Oyster
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The Sims 2 Soundtrack: Rock 'n' Roll!?
The Sims 2 Soundtrack: Rock 'n' Roll!?
15/02/2008
Life; it’s a funny old game. As the old adage goes “live for today, not for tomorrow”, I mean, you never know what’s around the corner, right? Anything could happen… You could try asparagus for the first time, find that you’re allergic, keel over, and die; a string of drool gently trickling onto that plush new carpet… And god damn-it, you only bought it yesterday; five-quid a meter in Carpet Warehouse! Man, it’s just not fair. This brings us nicely onto the subject of this here article, this tête-à-tête between you and I: The brand-spanking new soundtrack for EA’s Sims phenomena, a gaming institution that allows you to control the lives of your own self-made little people, from house and furniture, to jobs and personality… Without the worry of Asparagus, mental break-downs and London ruddy transport. The Sims saga has continued to expand, with the little guys and gals in Sim-land now able to look after pets, take vacations, go shopping, and all that jazz. Anyway, the Sims also have their own language, Simlish, kind of like Klingon only slightly cooler and far more hip. Lily Allen, the Black Eyed Peas, Lemon Jelly and everyone’s favourite Brazilian’s CSS, have all recorded in Simlish… So there you go. Anyway, EA recently announced the list of artistes to be featured on The Sims™ 2 FreeTime soundtrack, and, wait for it, none other than Natasha Bedingfield has gone all Sim on your arse. Good ‘ol Tash has actually been made into a Sim for EA’s new venture, I mean, there’s a cheesy music video and everything. The makers of the game (apologies if you’re under the allusion your Sim is real) are chuffed to bits about the array of artists on offer… “This in-game soundtrack full of talented musicians from around the world, such as Natasha Bedingfield, is the perfect backdrop for your Sims to discover and develop their passions,” explains Steve Shnur, Worldwide Exec of Music and Music Marketing at EA. (Sorry to spoil your thunder Steve, but like I said, it’s a game man). Anyway, other artists to have recorded on the soundtrack include Datarock, the post-punk, electro, dance manifestation from Norway, and US of A bands ‘They Might Be Giants’, ‘Great Northern’ and New York City rockers ‘Fire Flies’. EA have even gone international, with singers from Spain and Sweden getting in on the act. With track names like ‘Take Out the trash’ and ‘Fa-Fa-Fa’, you just know that this soundtrack is going to be Kooj… which is Simlish for cool. “It was such a fun and delightful challenge to learn how to sing in Simlish,” explained Natasha Bedingfield. “The language of The Sims captures a wonderful sense of beauty, creativity and humor, so my song ‘Pocketful of Sunshine’ translated well!” The Sims 2 FreeTime, the latest expansion pack will be available from February 29th, 2008. In The Sims 2 FreeTime, your Sims can build their skills and enhance friendships by exploring new pursuits based on their personal interests, helping them live life to the fullest. In-Game Soundtrack Credits: “Fa-Fa-Fa” Performed by Datarock Written by Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes Published by Artwerk Music, LLC Recording courtesy of Nettwerk Productions “It’s A Party” Performed by Fire Flies Written by Dan Romer Published by Drawing Number One Publishing Recording courtesy of Asteroid B-612 “Into The Sun” Performed by Great Northern Written by Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler Published by Songs Music Publishing LLC obo Ram Island Songs (ASCAP) and Kill The Piano Music (ASCAP) Recording courtesy of Eenie Meenie Records by arrangement with Big Sounds International, Inc. “Britney” Performed by I'm From Barcelona Written by Emanuel Lundgren Published by EMI Blackwood Music (BMI) Recording courtesy of EMI Records under license from EMI Film & Television Licensing “La Otra Princesa” Performed by Lara Written by Massimiliano Minoia and Lara Pinilla Osuna Published by Lara What Songs Pop S.L. and Globomedia Musica Publishing S.L. Recording courtesy of Virgin/EMI Records – Spain and GloboMedia Musica “Your Forgiveness” Performed by Lexington Bridge Written by Cliff Masterson, Mark Read, Pete Martin and Robert Heart Published by Universal Music Publishing Recording courtesy of Universal Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises Words: Dave Dryden
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Say Hello to my DJ Friend: The Pacemaker
Say Hello to my DJ Friend: The Pacemaker
13/02/2008
You know, I attempted to cook a Victoria Sponge Cake last Tuesday. I thought “Man, anyone can bake a cake”, that’s some easy friggin’ s**t, right? Wrong! I broke the eggs and the eggshells went in the mix, and then I dropped the flour on my foot; man, it was belly-up from there. It came out the oven like Friday night’s curry… See, some people, like me, have limited ability when it comes to creativity… Stick me in front of a turntable and I’d crumble, the sound of a million banshees would fill the room, everything would go Pete Tong minus the ability. The ‘ol fat person in a pool effect… Enter the Pacemaker, an appropriately named pocket-sized implement that’ll have even the most tech-shy keeping up the pace with DJ luminaries the world over… Well, so expectations suggest. The Pacemaker’s a sort of glorified iPod; you could put any tune you like on this little baby, with a massive 120GB hard-drive allowing you to mix and mash to your hearts content. How can this be, you may ask? Because the Pacemaker allows you to play two, yes TWO, tracks simultaneously. It’s the future baby, yeah! Imagine remixing The Stooges, Rolling Stones and Kate Bush… “What, Wuthering Heights?” “It’s possible… It’s possible…” I mean, you could scratch and mix anything from any genre with the Pacemaker. You could even scratch some classic blues, Miles Davis, or Frank Sinatra with Hot Chip or Wu Tang Clan… Anyway, here’s the technical part about all this mixing malarkey. The Pacemaker has the ability to measure the BPM (Beats per Minute) of your uploaded tracks enabling you to mix tracks as simple as one, 1, 2, 3 or A, B, C. The possibilities are endless! “We’re out to try something different; to bring people closer to the music they love and to let music lovers be creative with their passion,” Inventor of Pacemaker and founder of Tonium, Jonas Norberg explains. “We aim to increase the diversity and reinforce the value of music by offering new means for people like us to creatively engage in what we love!” The Pacemaker is compatible with PC and MAC and supports all the major audio formats including MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG and FLAC files, which is pretty friggin’ impressive. Furthermore, the quality of sound is “twenty,” yes twenty, “times better than the average iPod”. Oh, and if all this tech-speak wasn’t salivating enough Pacemaker will offer a free download editor for your PC or MAC so you can play about with mouse and key, download new tracks and beats, and upload your creative babies to share the world over. Who knows? You could be the next Armin Van Buuren…? Even if you can’t bake a Victoria Sponge… Words: Dave Dryden www.pacemaker.net Tech Speak: IN THE BOX: • Pacemaker® • Quick start guide • Stereo amplifier cables • USB 2.0 cable • Power charger SIZE AND WEIGHT • Length 164/ Width 69.6/ Height 22.8 mm • Weight: 200 g (approx.) CAPACITY • 120 GB hard drive INPUT AND OUTPUT • Mini USB • 2x3.5 mm stereo plug POWER AND BATTERY • Exchangeable rechargeable battery; full-charge time: 1.5 hrs, fast-charge time: about 1 hr • Music playback time: 18 hrs • DJ operating time: 5 hrs DISPLAY • Dimensions: ø 45 mm • Resolution: 166 dpi screen resolution (0.153 mm dot pitch) • TFT display with 262 K colours AUDIO • Frequency response: 20–20.000 Hz (SNR: 103 dB) • Audio formats supported: MP3, AAC, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, WAV DJ FUNCTIONALITY • Two output channels: headphones and lineout • Two crossfaders: headphones and lineout • Pitch control: ± 100% • Equalizer: for adjusting treble, mid and bass amplitudes. • Mix saving: continuous caption to hard drive. • User Input latency: approx. 5 ms MAC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS • Mac with USB 2.0 port; Pacemaker® Editor installed • Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later WINDOWS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS • PC with USB 2.0 port; Pacemaker® Editor • Windows XP Home or Professional or Windows Vista ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS • Operating temperature: 0–55°C • Storage temperature: -20–55°C LANGUAGES All major languages supported
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Met. Police launch new campaign:
Met. Police launch new campaign: "Knives aren't a good look!"
07/02/2008
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have created an innovative online video and game to combat the UK’s rising knife crime. Now, we all know that carrying a knife isn’t a game (well the sensible majority of us) but when you consider that a large percentage of those that carry a knife are youths you can understand the Met. Police’s new initiative. After all, what better way to grab the attention and send out a message to the “kid’s” and “teens” than with a reasonably comical video and game? ( www.notagoodlook.org ) The intention of the MPS is to tackle issues of kudos (the way kids feel when they carry a sharp-tool). Sure, some people carry a knife because they think it gives them “street cred” and makes them feel that they’re “down with the kids”, but frankly that’s BS. Let’s face the facts here; it doesn’t transform you - “Ahlakazoo Alakazam” - from Bruce Banner to the Incredible Hulk, it improves the chances of causing physical (possibly fatal) harm and makes you far more likely to receive a hefty punishment… Hence why the Met. Police have made the knife carrying protagonist in their video and game a carbon copy of Dame Edna Everage, with a ‘ghetto’ twist that youth can relate to… Baseball cap, orange leggings, garish socks, green furry coat, that kind of thing. Oh, and the crème de la crème of nineties chic, the bum-bag, or fanny-bag depending on your stance. Gok Wan would have a field day! As an MPS spokesperson explains: “Our experience is that young people carry knives for a number of reasons including a misguided sense of kudos or self-protection, or in order to commit offences. Those engaged in serious violence will end up damaging their lives either tragically, or by being arrested and having to deal with a criminal record. We will not tolerate offending which blights the lives of our young people”. In the video our ludicrously attired knife-carrier is shunned and ignored by his casually dressed peers… Including girls, because let’s face it, they don’t find a sharp-tool “cool” or “clever”. They’d much rather date a lawyer, a mathematician or a journalist… Anyway, the video culminates in the ‘ol knife carrier showing his tool to a mate (who’s really impressed) and before you know it his wide-smiled acquaintance is transformed into a clown. The moral of the story? Carry a knife and you look like a twat, you’ll live the life of a twat and you’ll probably remain a twat. So get rid of the knife carrying and step back into the real-world you fool! The online game is pretty creative and fun too. Even at the (not so) tender age of 23 I had hours of enjoyment drawing fish, badgers and smiley faces to hamper the life of the knife-wielding thug. The game allows you to punish the knife carrier in a variety of ways by creating an interactive world, pressing play, and watching the madness as it unfolds. You can draw lines for the chap to walk across and draw obstacles that have various consequences when he comes into contact with them. Anyway, rather than bore you with the online adventures in my man’s world; the lemon that trapped him in a corner, the randy badger, and the huge cock that flew-up and hit him smack-bang in the bollocks; I’ll let you see the video and play the game yourself. To play the game and see the video visit: www.notagoodlook.org For further information on knife crime visit: www.itsnotagame.org A) It is an offence to use someone to hold a weapon. B) The maximum sentence for carrying a knife has increased from 2 years to 4 years. If you injure someone or use a knife to commit a crime the penalties could be far worse. C) There has been an increase to the minimum age to buy a knife from 16 – 18. D) New powers have been made available to members of staff in schools and further education to search pupils. Words: Dave Dryden
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Eastern Thinking: Celebrating London's East End
Eastern Thinking: Celebrating London's East End
01/02/2008
The Notion Office may be the media equivalent of a crack-den; people coming, going and praying for their fix of - “hard-copy, man, hard-copy” - from our whimsical palms, but we happen to be at the epicentre of London’s coolest, trendiest, most hip-and-happening area. Oh yeah, you’re damn right; we’re Eastenders baby, just like the good folk of Albert Square. East London ’s a pretty eclectic area. Nobody turns a blind eye at a guy wearing polka-dot hot-pants, a woman with a goatee, or a pigeon listening to Iron Maiden on an iPod Nano. Okay, so they’re a figment of my drug-frazzled, externally, internally and eternally damaged brain… But you get the gist? It’s a pretty diverse neck of the woods. Hence why the Art fraternity have stood-up and taken notice. Eastern Thinkin g is a new and permanent exhibition within the hallowed walls of the Andaz Hotel. A pretty famous establishment, it has be said. Basically, the whole Eastern Thinking initiative is to blend a bit of this with a bit of that, all with an undertone of the East End from past to present. The Andaz has teamed up with arty types from the creative hub of the area, ranging from a Drag Cabaret Artist right through to an Interior Designer, to make the hotel into a representation of those working and living in EC and E2. They’ve even got quotes hidden in the décor; those everyday snippets of conversation you hear about the "filth" and the "grime" and the "glamour" when you’re trudging around the East End, searching like Attenborough for the latest Banksy or vintage bowler hat. The quotes have been: “Designed into the fabric of the building. Some subtle and some more obvious - all positioned and designed with the aesthetics of the hotel space in mind.” Throughout the hotel there’ll be short films explaining the story behind each quote... Here’s a rundown of those responsible for the venture… Jonny Woo Drag Cabaret Artist Drag cabaret performer and starlet of the East End social scene, Jonny Woo has founded a series of significant music and entertainment events at key local venues –including ‘Stark Dallas Naked’ at Bistrotheque in Bethnal Green, and ‘Gay Bingo’ at Tea bar in Shoreditch. Peter Newman Artist and Sculptor A globally celebrated artist, Newman has made paintings, photographic, video installations and objects which explore how human beings 'grasp external space through bodily situation’. In 1999 he was awarded the Mark Rothko Travel Scholarship. Jason Bruges Interactive Creative Design The Jason Bruges Studio, founded in 2002, creates installations, sculptures and environments that focus on interaction with the individual and the environment. Recent works include temporary installations for Tate Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the London Architecture Biennale. Barber Osgerby Furniture and Interior Designers Super stars of the international furniture and design scene, working on architectural projects for clients such as Stella McCartney and even product design for Levi Strauss Jo Hunter Vexed Generation Fashion Designer Established in 1994, Vexed Generation Clothing was set up to produce clothes that suit an urban environment and promote issues of environmental and social significance. Recent designs included costumes for the arts council funded film Warstars, shot in Iceland. Joss McKinley Artist and Photographer Joss takes his inspiration from personal transience and the physical state and often focuses on taxidermy of everyday animals as his subject matter. As a photographer, his clients include Wallpaper, Vogue, Paul Smith and Betty Jackson. Danny Sangra Fashion Illustrator Sangra has illustrated for various fashion and style magazines, design prints, shoes, product and layouts – recent collaboration include work with the shoe company Double Identity, and designing prints for the Marc by Marc Jacobs range. Hannah Martin Luxury Jewellery Designer Designs fiercely opulent jewellery, as worn by David Beckham in his latest ad for Motorola earlier this year. Checkinit Art Direction and Trend-Forecasting Agency Checkinit offers a forward thinking world of cool, designed to breathe inspiration into brands and fashion houses – with a focus on art, style and media. Jam Art, design and Brand Expression Creative Group Leading creative group outputting art, design and brand expression across the world based in Hoxton. Clients include Playstation, Audi, Reebok, Sony, Coca Cola, Vodafone and Virgin Atlantic. Andaz Liverpool Street London , 40 Liverpool Street , London , United Kingdom , EC2M 7QN Tel: +44 207 961 1234 info.londonliv@andaz.com Words: Dave Dryden
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