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New Britain. TrendsetUK unveils the forth installment of its Magazine, here is a lite version.
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Little Simz Filling Pieces Stormzy Mista Silva Kojey Radical Rachel Foxx A2
The Illestrator Babylon Cartel
New Britain
GO GO
New Britain - Millz
This season brings two key styles to the Nike Tech Pack Collection, emphasising movement and environmental protection.
For men, the Nike Tech Windrunner IRD elevates the jacket that was designed for Nike-sponsored runners back in 1978 and became a street -style statement. A water-resistant iridescent woven overlay, borrowed from the original, increases protection from precipitation and highlights the classic chevron aesthetic of the Windrunner.
For women, the Nike Tech Butterfly Jacket is a fresh silhouette that elegantly plays with proportion. An oversized hood and dolman sleeves that transition to a fitted, feminine cuff allow for a greater range of motion andflattering fit.
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Stylist Fix
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From Virginia BenMista SilvaRachel Foxx
SR&Co Clara Amfo Back To Schoolin
Trend News Hot Picks Best Of Both World
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Back To Schoolin
*Clears throat*
*Begins singing*
‘Maybe it’s because I’m a LondonerThat I love London soMaybe it’s because I’m a LondonerThat I think of her wherever I go
I get a funny feeling inside of meWhen walking up and downMaybe it’s because I’m a LondonerThat I love London Town’
Well… scratch the word London, replace it with Britain and you’ve more or less got issue 4 of the TrendsetUK magazine summed up for you in a catchy little rhyme. We here at TrendsetUK are so very obviously proud of our culture and heritage – hence the name, that we have decided to dedicate the ma-jority of this issue to showcasing real home grown British talent.I give to you, New Britain – Issue 4.
Who better to feature on the cover but none other than the rising star, 20 year old Little Simz from the north side of that London. Mak-ing absolute waves in the UK and across the pond, we caught up with the wordy rapper to find out what was new and to show those that don’t know, that they should.
Sticking with the UK music scene, we have some absolute gems for you this issue. You might even say we went overboard, but when there is this much talent bursting from the UK, too much is not enough.Lest to forget anything unrelated to music, we have spotlights featuring designers, poets and artists for you to devour as well.
As always, we here at TrendsetUK never disappoint in bringing you the hottest of the hottest in fash-ion and this issue is no exception. From your Adidas shelltoes to your tailored trousers, the spectrum is ridiculous – check it out for your-selves. Also, keep an eye out for the new Nike Tech Pack advertised throughout, some key pieces for the coming months most definitely. Be sure to follow the TrendsetUK campaign alongside this - #TECH-YOURSTYLE
We hope you enjoy our New Brit-ain issue.
Editor Aniah Boakye - Smith
Fashion Editor Alize demange
Art Direction miillz Miller
Designkeaton richBenjamin ampofo
Photography places + FacesEddie fiascoruben gomesMatteo scaglionesumeet shamaludjero martinsbardha krasniqicre8tive.effection
Contributors luci ellisJordan denzelclarissa henrydrey styleskhloe baileyalfred bronsonsam adegunlebelinda whitfield Danielle frimpongCarmen walker
Editor - Aniah Boakye - Smith
Aniah Boakye Smith
TrendsetUK 13
Thanks To
Rachel campbellvee chandajordan amyCUrtis jehsta
TrendsetUK 14
Trend News---------------------------------Words by: Eddie Fiasco
Looking for somewhere to go? Well, this may just be the spot for you – London’s number one basement party held at the London Edition Hotel, provides a night of the best music, chilled environment and all round epic experience. With the likes of Virgil Abloh, Tinashe and some of London’s best DJ’s, Tax Free hosts one of Thursday Night’s most exciting events.
Tax Free @ The Edition---------------------------------------------------------
From the hottest night spots in London, to thAT DOPE NEW ALBUM YOU'LL NO DOUBT HAVE ON ]REPEAT ON YOUR ITUNES, TREND NEWS STAYS KEEPING YOU IN CHECK.] YOU]re WELCOME.
Is your hair parched, unquenched, thirsty? Well, why not check out Cherryade Hair. Recently launched by London’s very own DJ Siobhan Bell Cherryade hair is a new line of extensions with Vi-brant, two toned, mouth watering colours. Cherryade Hair is set to give you girls a breath of life when deciding to change up your barnet. The hair is inspired by British punk and Harajuku fashion and now has an online store where you’re able to choose from a whole range of different colours.
Cherryade BY SIOBHAN BELL---------------------------------------------------------
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Tax Free @ The Edition---------------------------------------------------------
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There’s no such thing as a Travis Scott project with-out a little bit of a delay. After his website supposedly crashed, Travis Scott finally has blessed the universe with another offering in the form of a project ap-propriately named Days Before Rodeo, a free album of sorts leading up to his highly anticipated debut studio album, Rodeo. This is a must have in your iTunes.
TRAVIS SCOTT---------------------------------------------------------
Trapstar London marked The 6 date tour Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Trapstar were blessed with the opportunity to partner with Em and Ri to design the offficial tour merchandise, which will be availa-ble to purchase online at Rihannanow.com
Trapstar x Monster Tour---------------------------------------------------------
Kicks, trainers, creps… Whatever you want to call them - these seem to be the only thing getting people out at the stores at 8am. The Huarache hype however, is definitely one of the things this year that has been an uprising trend. The Huarache was first released in 1991 and it’s been rejuvenated in 2014 with brand new colour ways and a few OG’s for the enthusiasts.
Huarache Hype---------------------------------------------------------
American designer 3 Hunnah has been an underdog in the upcoming market, but has suddenly revealed his new collection with a piece inspired by none oth-er than the fashion greats. His new collection sees a 2 piece collection consisting of a bomber jacket and shorts. The design inspired by some of fashion’s most memorable names.
Designer: 3Hunnah ---------------------------------------------------------
f e a t u r e sWords By Sam Adegunle
The worlds of streetwear, footwear and even high fashion have seen a rise in collaborations lately; the common agenda is for both (or all) parties to open up a new world
for each other’s followers and brand aficionados. We at TrendsetUK are all for collaborations that promote quality, mass appeal and especially collabs that take steps to
enrich the culture, of course the finished look counts too but you probably already knew that.For this piece I have compiled a small list of our favourite sneaker collaborations, both past
and present for a number of reasons. Reasons such as versatility, aesthetic appeal, mass appeal/popularity and general hype around the release.
What I personally like about some of these releases is that they are a show of pushing the boundaries with quality and creativity and commemorate certain events without being an
overly obvious ploy to turn a profit. Check out the list and tweet us your thoughts!
Trainer Collabs
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1996
Supreme x Vans
Supreme x Vans Old Skool Camo ]1996] – You’d think that Nike sought inspiration from this release for their recent Air Max Camo pack, as the similarities are apparent. Supreme as usual, did what they do best and added an interesting twist on a streetwear staple, the staple in this instance being the Old Skool. Very hard to find, which is a given considering their age, consider these a coup if you stumble across a pair.
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2009
p a t t a x nike
Patta x Nike Air Max 1 ]2009] – To this day the colourways from this pack are still very much coveted highly in the sneaker community. From a time period where Air Max 1’s were going the same way as all white Air Force 1’s in the summertime, the introduction of a gang of colours combined with the addition of the forefoot Swoosh and premium materials made these arguably the hottest kicks out at the time. Patta’s finest hour.
2009
u n d e f e a t ]ed x jordan
Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 ]2005] – Very limited, very risky, these ultimately ended up looking very clean. A triumph, when you consider that Jordan Brand aren’t known to give other entities (Vashtie and Dave White, we see you) free reign with one of its most storied creations. And boy did the execution of these give the Air Jordan 4 another story to tell. You couldn’t get a pair through general release, which is a shame (not really), the people that REALLY wanted a pair ended up getting them. A shoe that is above the reseller culture for me.
TrendsetUK 19
2005
2000
s t u s s y x nike
Stüssy x Nike Air Huarache ]2000] – Couldn’t be a TrendsetUK list without the inclusion of a Huarache now could it? You have to hand it to Michael Kopelman and Fraser Cooke as they are responsible for creating a shoe that gets forums buzzing. It’s even more remarkable with the current hype surrounding the Huarache, newer heads think of the new models but dream of releases that mirror the Stüssy Huarache. An end result that is still desired to this day, by both consumers and creators alike.
2000
2014
p i g a l l e x nike
Pigalle x Nike Air Force 1 Low ]2014] – A recent offering but a very solid one nonetheless. With all the current hype surrounding some of Nike’s other models, I’m glad that someone somewhere decided to give my favourite sneaker growing up a premium face lift. Good for both parties involved.
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2003
bape x a d i d a s
Bape x adidas supperstars]2003] – These right here? Instant justifica-tion as to why people depart with good money for certain collaborations. Everything about this collab was done to perfection, from the minimal Bape branding on the shoe to the carry handle box the shoes were presented in. Proof that quality control still exists in a world of mass production. Plus, very few things drop cleaner than white Superstars, Run DMC will tell you themselves.
2003
Brand Feature
Filling Pieces
TrendsetUK caught up with the Amsterdam footwear patriachs to find out the story
behind the brand and the future of allthings filling pieces.
B r a n d F e a t u r eWords By Khloe Bailey
Filling Pieces
B r a n d F e a t u r eWords By Khloe Bailey
“ Filling Pieces are more than
just a foot]wear label]”
“ The label also operates a project for
charity ] FP FOR CHARITY ] which serves to give
back to the community they
operate in. ”
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t is hard to not appreciate the breath-taking nature of this brand. Even as a female I cannot help but want to wear these shoes, buy them for my brother or friends and would-be partners. For me they easily precede Balenciaga and Giuseppe Zanotti as a go-to brand for men’s footwear. The collections ex-press a meticulous and creative design capability, which also burdens itself with fundamentally bridging the gap between tasteful, awe evoking footwear and affordability – a rare find these days.
Guillaume Philibert Chin the founder and creative mastermind behind the Filling Pieces brand. Established in 2009 in Amsterdam and created as a way to ‘fill the gap between haute and street couture’. The overarching idea being that one can buy top quality foot-wear with thoughtful design, which is reasonably priced. All models are also handmade using the finest leather and fabrics with an Italian margom rubber sole.
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IThe AW14 collection features a re-newed and fresh leather type known as wrinkled leather, which comes in a very striking red and white low and mid-top shoe. The collection also features mesh-detailing fabric, which is selling very fast, available in black and a black and camouflage blend. These make for exciting additions to previous collections that include; perforated leather in low and high top sneakers is made in colourways grey and beige, nubuck, colourful suede, gradient cut, embroidered and transformed fabrics. The sheer range of fabrics, tones and colours are expressive of the attention to detail and design and highlight Filling Pieces as a premium sneaker brand, that is steadily paving the way for footwear brands overall.
The brand has been growing steadily ever since; now also available globally in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Russia, the Middle East, the United States, Asia and the UK. Filling Pieces footwear is available at retailers Colette, Kith, Harvey Nichols, OKI-NI and more.
“Established in 2009 in Amsterdam and created as a way to
]fill the gap between haute and street couture”
All models are also handmade using the finest leather and
fabrics "
“Established in 2009 in Amsterdam and created as a way to
]fill the gap between haute and street couture”
s p o t l i g h t
Words By Aniah Boakye-Smithf r o m v i r g i n i a b e n
After gathering an audience on social media and a grow]ing fanbase, TrendsetUK wanted to get to grips with one of the UK]s key trainer artists; Meet Benjamin Ain]sley, better known as “From Virginia Ben”.
In short, who are you?21-year-old born and raised in Manchester - the London of the north.Artist/designer - I basically paint anything I can get my hands on. Growing up in a house with an older sister who was always creating her own things, I was always bound to get into some sort of art some-how.
From Virginia Ben, where does the name come from? From Virginia Ben has a very simple meaning behind it, my mum is called Virginia and I’m Ben. I’m from Virginia; literally as simple as that, nothing to do with America at all.
What made you pick up a brush to paint your shoes that very first time? I got a book for Christmas or my birthday - not too sure, called Subway Art. I loved the whole concept of putting your alias name somewhere it’s not supposed to be. I found myself copying pieces out of the book before finding my own name and then, with a friend writing it all over Manchester. I got 4 buses to school in total, 2 there and 2 back - we drew all over them every single day. There wasn’t a better feeling of watching a bus go past with your name all over it, that all started in 2004.I kept getting into trouble and had ink or vandal grease all over my school clothes all the time. This then developed into me writing MC names onto their shoes in like 2005-2006 when everyone wanted to be Dizzie Rascal. Nothing happened for a few years until I got to college… I lasted there about a month then found myself having a go on shoes again; sticking spikes into Air Force One’s and spray-painting them.This was in 2012, I did hundreds of them; the style was so in demand. I was copied by several people even though they will argue against that. I packed in the spray painting and started painting with acrylics & found myself here somehow!
“ I basically paint any]thing I can get my hands on. ”
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f r o m v i r g i n i a b e n
Explain the process behind your work from start to finish ]does the customer give you a brief of what they would like and you interpret it in your own way? do you do a practice run or does the design go straight onto the shoe? materials used? I started by taking private orders.A simple process; send your shoes into my studio, have them painted, pay and then I send them back.I got bored of working this way and was sat on too much work at one time. I now no longer take private orders or commissioned work as such. I do drops on my site where I make a particular shoe available for 1 week or so, then never recreate it. This way I can see the demand for my product and have work to sell and also be able to produce all the orders at a steady pace.I often get told to ‘do whatever you want’ half the time its not something this person will actu-ally wear (lol), but yeah I prefer to work off a brief basis by the owner. I never really practice, never been one to plan I like to just dive in!
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Spotlight
Your designs are not just restricted to footwear are they? I]ve seen a customized bag showcased in Harvey Nichols... What else do you work on? This is a big thing to me, I hate to be labeled as only to paint a shoe, however I do think I created that look myself!I can paint many things! I love to work with leather, jackets are so much fun and a big canvas! Im looking at pianos for my new home at the moment; I want to paint one too as well as learn how to play it. I have painted all sorts, I’m currently in discussion with a company to go to their show room and paint some leather interiors on high end cars which will be great!
A custompiece designby FVB
“ I hate to be labeled as only to paint a shoe ”
“ Huaraches are 100] the most painted shoes I work on. It]s like the country has just gone wild for them! By far, my favour]ite shoe to work on are Christian Louboutins.
Having your work on display in Harvey Nics is a pretty big achievement, what has been your great]est achievement to date? The Harvey Nichols thing has been a great basis for me to display on - many thanks to Nathan from Fresh Laces for giving me that opportunity. I have had a few achievements but I really think it was when I did a drop of Air Max; the amount of people that actually bought from me… I sold A LOT of pairs at £250. Some argued that the price was too much but I think it was actually too little when I look at the work I put in. I see this as an achievement because it just goes to show how many people actually want my product! What has been your strangest design request? I have had a few odd ones over the time, strangest would have been some-one asking for hot dogs all over Air Force Ones it looked good, but I was a bit confused - each to their own though.
What model of shoes do you find yourself work]ing on the most? I can imagine it to be the Huar]aches… with their grand resurgence as of late..Also, what is your favour]ite model to work on and why? Huaraches are 100% the most painted shoes I work on. It’s like the country has just gone wild for them! By far, my favourite shoe to work on are Christian Louboutins. They are at the complete other end of the scale to Huaraches but the leather on those shoes is unreal! The best I have ever painted, Balencia-gas are close behind them too, hope-fully I’ll be painting just shoes of that caliber some day!
What are your favourite pair you have designed? It is very, very hard for me to even think what my favourite pair could be to be honest! I’d probably say this pair of Christian Louboutins I made.
Favourite pair of foot]wear in general and how do you style them? Also a very hard question, most proba-bly be varsity Jordan 6’s , timeless shoe you can just put with anything! I find these work so well with light colour denims & just a plain T & shirt on top!
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In 5 years time... I have an end goal to eventually manufacture shoes, I have sketches of silhouettes that I would like to produce on a grand scale some day, I’d love to run that alongside From Virginia Ben, still creating art here and there. Definitely, the end goal is to be a high end shoe brand that I have designed under my name Benjamin Ainsley… but who knows, this path can take you all over the place!
CONNECT WITH FROM VIRGINIA BEN
Instagram:from_virginia_ben
Twitter:@fv_ben
----------------------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 33
Adidas SwimsuitAmerican Apparel White Tennis SkirtTights: Stylist’s OwnNike Half Cushion SocksNike High Air force 1
B A C K T O S C H O O L I N ]
Photographer: Ludjero MartinsStyling Clarissa Henry & Yvonne JayModels: Sabena Sattar Paris Rabone
Nike White Polo NeckAdidas Response Tennis ShortsBumbag: Stylist’s OwnNike Half Cushion SocksAdidas Navy Track Sweat JacketNike Air Max 1
TrendsetUK 34
TrendsetUK 37
Nike White Polo NeckNike Navy SweaterNike Grey Track BottomsNike Half Cushion SocksNike High Air force 1--------------------------
TrendsetUK 39
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Adidas Climalite Sports BraWhite String Vest: Stylist’s OwnNike Grey Track BottomsUrban Outfitters ScrunchyEbay Hoop EarringsNike Half Cushion SocksNike High Air force 1
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Adidas Climalite Sports BraWhite String Vest: Stylist’s OwnNike Grey Track BottomsUrban Outfitters ScrunchyEbay Hoop EarringsNike Half Cushion SocksNike High Air force 1
TrendsetUK 41
LittleSimz
LittleSimz
Highlighted as one of the stars of the future on jay]z]s life and times blog; Little Simz has already started mak]ing waves in the world of music with her ecletic sound. The London rapper / actor looks set to leave to her mark.
Words by Aniah Boakye]SmitH
Photographer Ciesay ( Places + Faces)Stylist Luci Ellis
Stylist Assistant Belinda WhitfieldMUA Danielle frimpong
Hair Carmen walker
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Why music?
I think when you enjoy something, when you like something and it starts small, the longer you do it you passion I suppose increases for it and that’s kind of what happened with me, musically in the long run. I’ve been doing it for years. So, in answer to your question I’ve been doing it such a long time I’ve just grown to love it.
Was there ever a song that made you feel like ]Yes, I want to be able to create music like this]?
Probably, either a Lauryn Hill song or a Missy Elliot song... It’s probably a Missy Elliot song.
So in terms of that, who would say is one of your biggest influences?
Oh, Lauryn Hill definitely.
When you were younger what did you want to pur]sue as a career?
It’s always been music or something performing arts related; dancing, act-ing, musical theatre, like something in that sort of category but predominantly music.
So how come you prefer rapping to singing be]cause you can sing?
Nahhh
You can]t?
Well, I enjoy singing but I would nev-er call myself a singer. I would sing on songs but my thing is rap.
How would you describe you personal music style in terms of what you cre]ate?
Umm eclectic, definitely rap and hip-hop but then I don’t always like to pi-geonhole it because in terms of what I listen to, I listen to a lot of different mu-sic. I try and draw inspiration from dif-ferent types, sometimes it doesn’t work sometimes it does. So yeah (smiles) ex-perimental rap.
You said you wanted to do something performing arts related as a career, you went to uni right?
Yeah, I’m in uni now.
Oh, you]re still at uni, wow…
I don’t how long that’s going to last to be honest.
What year are you in?
I’m going into my second year.
And what are you studying?
Music technology, specialist course… it’s related and to a degree it’s music and science; there’s lots of physics - like how sound travels, how to measure sound, it’s a lot to do with acoustics: it’s very complex.
Wow, I didn]t realise it in]volved stuff like that. So you]re not sure if you]re going to stay?
Depending on where music takes me… I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it but for now I’m still studying.
“ I listen to a lot of dif]ferent music. I try and draw inspi]ration from dif]ferent types, some]times it doesn]t work some]times it does. So yeah ]smiles] experi]mental
rap.”
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TrendsetUK 45
How about your family? You pursue music but obviously you’re still doing education, what sort of route do they want you to take?
They’re all really supportive; they just want me to have my options open. They don’t want me to put all my eggs in one basket, you know? Just so I can be able to say I can do this AND I can do this, why not? And I’ve always liked the kind of idea that I’m killing it at what I’m do-ing and I’ve got a degree.
Exactly, it’s so good to be able to say that you’re not just a one trick pony.
Yeah, to be able to say that it’s like rah. But yeah, they’re very supportive they’ve been there from the get go, my sisters especially - they’ve believed in it probably more than me. They took me to all my shows, helped me write my lyrics, everything; like they were on point, they were there for me still.
So you started out when you were quite young, where was your first show?
My first show was at a venue called the O2 Academy Islington. I was like ten haha. I can remember I had an on an Echo tracksuit, white air forces… I can proper remember it.That was my first ever performance, then there were loads after. I can’t even put my finger on how many shows I’ve done since then.
What has been the most iconic one, like the one that’s meant the most to you?
There have been so many you know… one of them had to be opening for Schoolboy Q. I did a UK tour with him; I did Glasgow, Dublin, Birmingham, London – I did two London shows and I think that was it. Performing at the Tate Britain was pretty special too, because it was in a gallery so something different to what I normally do; you know what I’m saying? So yeah that was special definitely.
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How does it feel to know you]ve interested so many influential and typically American artists?
Crazy.
How do the American art]ists receive you? Because you]re over at the States quite a lot.
I don’t know… it’s hard for it to sink in. I think the time it hit me was when I went South by Southwest Texas. It’s amazing, it’s crazy. You NEED to go South by Southwest. When I do shows here peo-ple are usually familiar with who I am, even though they might not have seen me live… but over there, because I’m stepping into a whole new territory no one knows who i am.
That must be so scary…
Yeah, it’s intimidating especially when i thought i had all the odds againt me; I’m black for a start, I’m British, I’m a girl and I rap. So yeah, stepping into that territory it was just weird… but it was well received and they enjoyed it, since then the love has just been so consistent and so strong.
How much did having your release showcased on Jay]Z]s Life and Times blog af]fect your career in gener]al?
It affected it a lot generally, I don’t know if he personally showcased my release but it’s probably safe to say his team did. It definitely helps a lot to have a pub-lication like that behind you, obviously it’s a lot more exposure – opens you up to a different audience so you have a lot more eyes and ears on you… So yeah that helped a lot.
So have you crossed paths yet?
No, trust me if we did everyone would know.
It]d be a memorable day… what has been the most iconic or memorable mo]ment of your career so far?
Porbably being in a studio with Kendrick because we hung out and we spoke.
What]s he like as a person?
Ahh man like so nice, like he’s just cool! He’s just like you and me.
It]s so nice to hear things like that…
For real, he’s a proper nice guy, what he had to tell me - he didn’t have to take the time out his day to do that… while he was recording his album, he didn’t have to do that; I shouldn’t really have even been there… but he took time out to chat to me for a bit. That’s definitely been a highlight. Also South by South-west. The highlight is definitely yet to come though, I reckon.
“ I]m British, I]m a girl and I rap. So yeah, stepping into that terri]tory it was just weird… but it was well received and
they enjoyed it,”
TrendsetUK 48
Definitely big things to come… Who]d be your dream person to collabo]rate with?
Dead or alive? Definitely Lauren Hill. Definitely Jimi Hendrix, he’s like my favourite and like Tracy Chapman: her story telling (smiles)
Who would you say is your favourite person you]ve worked with?
I think my favourite group of people to work is my team only because we un-derstand each other and get along so well – when we make music it’s always organic. When I work with artists, I like to be able to know them because music is personal to someone I don’t want it to just be ‘ah yeah your manager will talk to my manager...’Like two different entities, you have to be able to connect. If we can’t get in a studio together due to the fact that we’re not from the same country I’d at least like to have an email or a number just to get to know what they’re saying. I just think you get the best out of it that way.
Tell me a little bit about your latest release.
My latest realease... Releases. AGE 101: DROP 1 is basically fun. I put out E.D.G.E and E.D.G.E was doing its thing, it was doing really well. During the process when it was bubbling and it was on people’s radars and people were finding out about it, I was still making music as if I hadn’t put out a project. I couldn’t hack it… just having all this music that you’re literally itching for people to hear. When you hear your own music over and over again, to me it gets old. I do understand to a new listener it’d be new to them but i just needed to put out music and so, you had AGE 101: DROP 1. It was also a way to introduce my new label AGE 101 Music.
How would you describe your personal fashion sense or style?
I don’t really try, if that makes sense?
So really laid back and relaxed?
Yeah, more times I’ll just put on a hood-ie, jeans and I’m good. I think it’s to do with my personality, I feel like I’m mad laid back and that’s the same with the people I’m around because more times I hang around people that are always in tracksuits.
So not in a pair of heels..
Haha you know what I’m saying.On the odd night out I will wear a pair of heels or whatever but yeah, when it comes to fashion I’m really chilled.
What do you really like in particular?
I’m quite big on hats. Um, trainers I have a fetish for…I rarely wear shoes. I think it’s because when I went to school I always thought I could beat the system and wear vans or something, but they’d always send me home. Now that I don’t have to wear shoes I don’t ever want to wear shoes!
So what sort of trainers do you really like? Do you have favourite pair or brand?
I’m into Puma, they put out some nice stuff. My favourite pair are the Trinom-ics, they’re just like my every day. Like if I’m going to the shop… if I’m going wherever I just put them on. I don’t like shoes that are mad loud. I’m not real-ly a fan of Jordan’s, I’m not really a fan of Huarache’s. I don’t know that’s just me…I’m into converses and things.
“ I]m quite
big on hats. Um, trainers
I have a fetish for…I
rarely wear
shoes. I think it]s be]cause
when I went to school
I always thought
I could beat
the sys]tem and
wear vans or
some]
thing,.”
TrendsetUK 49
What]s your go to item that you just pick up most days?
My watch, does that count?
So what are your aspi]rations for the future? What]s to come?
I’d love to start working on my album some time soon. Aside from all this music I just want to like be a good per-son. Being successful in my career that’s great but it won’t mean anything un-less my family’s good and I’m around good people and I’m good to people. I think I’d be more than happy with that and then to be successful in my career would just be a bonus on top of that, if that answers your question.
“ Being successful in my career that]s great but it won’t mean any]thing unless my family]s good and I]m around good people and I]m good to peo]ple. I think I]d be more than happy
with that ”
So what can we expect from you in the near future?
More music, an EP: Drop 2 and I’ll be travel-ling: Germany, Italy, and Paris, Switzerland. When you go to places you haven’t been and you absorb stuff that’s always good.
CONNECT WITH Little simz
Instagram: little simz
Twitter:@littlesimz
-----------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 50
CONNECT WITH Little simz
Instagram: little simz
Twitter:@littlesimz
-----------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 51
s p o t l i g h t
Words By Aniah Boakye-Smitht h e i l l e s t r a t o r
TrendsetUK 52
The illest
Trator
A lot of artists recog]nised their talent at a very young age, when did you realise you were talented and how did you get into art]illustration?
I have always been into art/illustra-tion, from a young age, I always en-joyed creating stuff. I used to read a bunch of comics when I was young and I feel that my inspiration to draw came from these. I only really noticed that I was able to create the stuff I do now about 3-4 years ago, I used to just draw in my own private time and not really show anyone until I started putting my drawings up on social media and start-ed showing a few friends, they were all quite surprised with what I was creat-ing and then I just practiced more and more, as I felt motivated by people giv-ing me encouraging feedback.
What elements and who in particular influences and inspires your work?
Regarding who inspires me, I can sim-ply say well known comic artists such as Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane. However, despite them being two of my main in-spirations their styles are very different to what I do now: their focus is com-ic style art, whereas mine has evolved from comic art to realism. I don’t actu-ally have a name to drop when thinking about my inspirations for realistic art as I am really just inspired by work I see in galleries, on social media and in mag-azines. A lot of my artwork is created from reference images, so the work of many photographers is just as impor-tant as the inspiration from an artist.
When did you decide that you were going to make your talent into a suc]cessful business and what made you decide this?
I decided that I would turn my art into a business when I noticed that my art-work was making me more money than my day job was. So I thought to myself if I focus on my artwork full time I can really start expanding my business and brand.
Were you surprised at the volume of people that ad]mired your work?
Of course, I never thought in a million years that I would have such a large following; it’s really nice knowing that your art is being seen by a lot of people from all over the world. It kind of blows my mind when I think of it.
t h e i l l e s t r a t o r
The illest
Trator
What is the biggest high]light of your career so far?
I have had a few; the first one would be having Neyo’s management team com-mission me to do a piece of Neyo for his birthday and then having the opportu-nity to go and present the artwork to him. Another was having Iggy Azelea receive a Christmas present from her sister that was of my artwork, which Iggy thanked me for through her Insta-gram page. However personally, I find that having hip hop producer Alchemist having the artwork I did of him up in his new studio is my biggest highlight, as I am a huge fan of his work and I listen to his music more than anyone else’s, so it’s good knowing that any new stuff he re-leases is with my artwork in the studio.
You have over 150,000 fol]lowers on Instagram, what would you say is the most beneficial part of show]casing your work on this social media platform?
It is the best gallery space you can get, you reach thousands instantly, it’s free and you are able to showcase your work all over the world.
TrendsetUK 53
Would you say that illus]trating celebrities has brought a lot more atten]tion to your work?
Yes, in a way it is good as it has helped me build my fan base and it has allowed me to experiment and develop my style as I am just using a reference image so I can focus more on my style than trying to create something from my imagina-tion. However, do not get me wrong I am now attempting to step away from just drawing celebrities as I feel my style is now developed enough to the point where I can start using my imagination a lot more. I have been working on cre-ating people that are not real people but just faces I create in my head. I want my art to start having more meaning and substance to it, I do not consider my-self a true artist until I am able to create more stuff from my imagination. I want my art to be liked for its creativity and meaning rather than just being liked for who the artwork is of.
It has been said that your signature style of draw]ing is a ]handmade smokey effect]. How did you devel]op this style and what do you most like about the way it looks visually?
It was kind of an accident in the way it was created, I just use to rub out a lot of my work and my hand would sometime smudge the charcoal I used and this created a smokey effect and then one day I thought wait, what if I can draw a face within the smoke... and the rest is history. I like the way it looks visual-ly as it gives a mystic feeling to the im-age sometimes, this creepy ghostly look which I love.
It is safe to say that you have ultimately turned your artistry into fash]ion by adapting your work onto T]Shirts? What can we expect to see from your upcoming clothing line advertised on your Insta]gram page?
You can expect to see T-shirts that have more of my own original artwork on it, not images of celebrities but images of things I create myself.
CONNECT WITH the illustrestor
Instagram: Theillestrator
Twitter: @Theillestrator
-----------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 55
Showcasing some of the music stars of tommorow, TrendsetUK engages in an extended music spotlight for this New Britain issue. Words by Aniah Boakye]Smith
Mega Spot Light
who is a2?
A2? A 24 year old music loving insom-niac from south London, in a nutshell. The name came about when I was 15, I used to call myself “a2 da gee” when I was doing grime music. I remember I said a2 to shorten the name in a lyric once and ever since then, it’s been a2. My friends even call me a squared.
Describe your music style? It’s crazy because I still don’t know what style of music I’m creating. Some say it’s UK rap, some say its R’n’B, others say Trip Hop. I think I’m just giving you a piece of my mind in audio format. I like the name Trip Hop the most, so for now I guess I’m classed as that.
what inspires your music? what are your personal music tastes?
I get inspiration from everything literally. Day to day life experiences and past experiences definitely play a big part in my music. It’s just a hunger to produce good music and have fun in life. The more I see new people finding my music, the more I want to put out, so the support I get is 100% inspiration; it’s overwhelming sometimes. I float from genre to genre each day. My iTunes probably has every genre you can think of from Coldplay to Brandy to Beres Hammond. I personally prefer music with meaning and thought. You can’t beat a song where you know the artist put their mind and soul into the end product.
-------------------------------------a 2
Mega Spot Light
-------------------------------------
Most played song on your iTunes?
Dom Kennedy - P + H. Dom is too dope, this song has been played 261 times, its mental. At the time when I heard it, I felt like he was saying everything I was thinking. The old skool 90s flavour had me feeling nostalgic, definitely one of my top 5 songs of all time – I’ll probably play it another 500 times this month.
Your once too many EP re]ally blew up, did you ex]pect this? What has hap]pened since then?
If I’m totally honest I never thought I would get as much love and response as it has. The EP wasn’t even planned, I recorded the songs over the space of 2 months. At the time, I was finishing recording EDEN 1994 as I was listen-ing back to a playlist. The songs played through perfectly so I thought hmm… a spare of the moment EP nobody is ex-pecting? Why not? It’s the only EP out of the 4 that I never planned but it’s got the best response.
The coverage has been crazy, its ap-proaching 100,000 plays on my Sound-cloud and its been out just over a month. It’s getting blogged daily from different countries, my emails pilling up. im just happy and grateful people love my work.
Since releasing the EP, opportunities for shows have come around. I’ve got a few at the end of the year but more impor-tantly it made me start on my album and a few sneaky collaborations from some dope artists. I have a big surprise planned for the end of the year.
You are also a producer, do you produce your own music? What do you enjoy doing more?
I’ve been producing my own music for 11 years now. I love producing for my self. I can set the mood for the track, I have full control over the feel and the style - its the best feeling. I produce, en-gineer and mix down all the music on my EP’s. It’s a difficult choice to choose between producing and writing, for en-joyment purposes, it has to be produc-ing – it’s therapeutic at times, the zone is unexplainable.
What]s the dream?
The dream? I just want the world to hear my music. I want it to spur up emotions; make you sad, make you happy, make you miss someone, anything. Music can fix anything; I don’t mind if I’m giving that feeling to 100 people or 100,000 - as long as its makes people feel something. The dream is slowly turning into reality and I’m only getting started. How fashion focused are you?
I’ve grown to love fashion as I’ve got older. I never thought I would have a in-terest in it but I’m always keeping an eye out for new releases from brands; well known or unknown. When my mum used to dress me in Jordans and col-ourful jackets and tops I used to hate it, now it seems like that is the latest fash-ion. Infact, I still have a pair of Jordan 4s that a bought in 2005!
Favourite item right now? ]
These 2 gold and rose gold chains from SR&Co. They stand out man, I love that. Everywhere I go people ask me where they can get them. I don’t really usual-ly wear chains but these pieces have got me wearing them daily. Let the sun hit these bad boys and it will be all eyes on you, trust me.
TrendsetUK 59
a 2
“ I still don]t know what
style of music I]m creating. Some say
it]s UK rap, some
say its R]n]B,
others say trip
hop ”
CONNECT WITH a2
Twitter: @a2artist----------------------------
Mega Spot Light
It seems you are a man of many talents, tell us what you do.
I started off as a painter and illustrator, moved into writing poetry and making music: that’s what most people know me for (music and poetry) but I’ve done and do so much more.
I make art.
You teamed up with Chelsea Bravo ]Brooklyn born menswear designer] to design a capsule col]lection... Tell us a little about that.
Working with Chelsea was a blessing; she’s quickly become one of the closest people in my life; an incredibly down to earth and inspiring woman. When I set out to make my EP I knew I wanted to translate the story of Dear Daisy across a number of different mediums; I want-ed it to flow seamlessly through film, fine art, illustration, sound, and fash-ion in order to flesh out what could be deemed as quite a convoluted project. Chelsea and I had a really long conver-sation in The Love Shack in Shoreditch ( Go and try their Oreo milkshake, it’s awesome) and the rest just clicked and we got to work; she allowed me to have a great amount of input into the gar-ments while still implementing her own aesthetic and keeping authentic to the brand. The final product speaks for it-self.
Is clothes]designing some]thing you are interested in exploring more?
Yes, probably more so down the route of art direction. I’m still working with the Chelsea Bravo brand as Artistic Di-rector which is really exciting. We’re in the early stages of putting together our AW15 collection which is coming along great, our SS14 was very well received which we’re humbled and thrilled by.
Music & poetry are extensions of my artistry which puts me on the platform to explore other ventures. I’ll definite-ly be involved with fashion in years to come, I just graduated with a BA 1st de-gree honours from London College of Fashion so who knows what the future holds.
What is your own person]al take on fashion and trends? What do you love right now and conversely what do you not like?
I like good design detail and thought.
I’m not digging the repetitiveness of street wear at the moment, I feel like a lot of product and design concepts at the moment are fairly uninspired and geared towards what sells. I’d always en-courage designers to push their artistry and make their garments an example of their growing passion not a regurgita-tion of current trend.
Would it be safe to say that your spoken work is heav]ily influenced by Hip Hop? What else influences and inspires you?
Hip Hop is life and life inspires me, I draw references from so many places. Hip Hop is in the mainstream so that side of my influence is easy to pick up on. I can find inspiration in anything along as it conjures thought.
k o j e y r a d i c a l
-------------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 60
“ I started off as a painter and illus]trator, moved into writing poetry and making music
Mega Spot Light
Every line I]ve ever written is because I]ve felt some]thing and hopefully makes you feel something as the viewer, the listener or the subject matter.
People are my greatest inspiration be-cause people make no sense what so ever and that’s the beauty of human complexity.
What is the aim of Kojey Radical?
To live past 27To encourage people to think, to feel and to understand.To create and keep creatingI don’t ask for much
Where can we catch you next?
Get at me on twitter, it’s the easiest place to find out what I have going on next
Live Forever.
CONNECT WITH Kojey radical
Instagram: kojeyradical
Twitter: @kojeyradical
-----------------------------------------
Mega Spot Lightr a c h e lf o x x-----------------------------------
For those that don]t know, who is Rachel Foxx?A girl from east London. Songwriter and singer.
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as futuristic soul. My music has elements of hip hop, R&B and jazz.
Who would you compare yourself to & who do you aspire to be like?At this point I couldn’t really compare myself to anyone but I am heavily influ-enced by artists such as Jill scott, Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys. I aspire to have my music touch people just like these women.
What has been your big]gest achievement so far?Having had so many people hear my music.
And your aspirations for the future? What should we be expecting from you?
You can be expecting an EP from me by the end of August. It will be August be-cause its the month of my birthday and then I fly over to NYC for a few months to record my second EP. As for the fu-ture; I hope to make an album one day; one that people love. Even if it doesnt sell millions or whatever, I just want to reach out to the people that feel me.
Mega Spot Light
“ At this point I
couldn]t really
compare myself to
anyone but I am heavily
influenced by artists
such as Jill scott,
Erykah Badu and
Alicia
Keys”
You have a fairly unique sense of style, describe your image, tell us your fa]vourite trends etc
I dress like a boy most days, Im always in trainers lol. I also like matchy things so like a matching top and bottoms....And I love mom jeans. My style is most-ly relaxed, I just wear what’s comforta-ble - I don’t really like tight stuff.
How important do you see image to be in the music in]dustry these days?It can be very important depending on the music you make. But I mean, if you make dope sounds I don’t think it mat-ters what your visual image is.
Your go to item of cloth]ing as of late?I pretty much wear airforces with everything. The highs and the lows. I’ve got so many trainers, I love Jordans but somehow I always end up in my Forces.
CO
NN
EC
T W
ITH
ra
ch
el
fox
x
so
un
dc
lou
d: r
ac
he
l fo
xx
Twit
ter
: @r
ac
he
lfo
xx
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Mega Spot Light
So Dreamers Disease hit number 1 in the iTunes Hip Hop]Rap chart within it]s first week of release, that]s pretty amazing right? Did you ever anticipate the EP to make this much of an im]pact when recording it?
I didn’t anticipate that much hype if I’m being honest! So yeah it was all a bit mad for me. It was a good moment, not only for myself but for my friends and supporters as well. I’m just happy it got the reception that it deserved.
How does it feel to be reached out to by the likes of Skepta, Wretch 32, Naughty Boy and even those from across the pond such Dj Mustard?
It’s the most humbling feeling ever, most of the time it feels so surreal. Because all these artists are artists that I’ve grown up listening to or genuinely inspire me or influence my music, so when they reach out it’s crazy. It makes it feel like the dream is slowly becoming real.
who would you describe your sound?
This is the most difficult question ever for me. As the EP will show you, my sound ranges all over the place, I’m a bit of a mess LOL! But I just go off of what I feel, so if I’m feeling hyped up and gassed you’re gonna get a Wickedskeng-man freestyle. If I’m feeling reserved and reflective you’re gonna get some-thing along the lines of Storm Trooper or Forever. I can go from the merkiest trap beat to an Afro beats riddim LOL! I just enjoy making music that I love per-sonally and then after I just hope every-one else likes it!
S T O R M Z Y-------------------------------------------
stormzy
Mega Spot Light
S T O R M Z Y
stormzyYou have collaborated with quite a few different types of artists. What has been your favourite col]lab to date and why?
Erm I’d have to say my favourite collab to date would have to be StormTroop-er ft TE DNESS and produced by Chris Andoh. The way it came about, the pro-cess behind the production, the experi-mentation, how long we sat on the song. That song was literally a journey in itself from start to finish.
Who would you like to link up with next?
There are a few artists that I would love to work with and I’m blessed enough to have the opportunity of working with them all. All of the artists I want to work with, I’m now currently working with or have planned to work with be-fore the years out so yeah! It’s an excit-ing time.
“ It]s the most humbling feeling ever, most of the time it feels so sur]real. Because all these artists are artists that I]ve grown up listening to or genuinely inspire me or influ]ence my music, so when they reach out it]s crazy. It makes it feel like the dream is slowly becoming real.
TrendsetUK 65
What has been the high]light of your career so far?
The highlight of my career so far would probably have to be my EP launch party. It was an incredible night, there was a lot of love and support in the room and the atmosphere was amazing. Also, I’d be lying if I said that the recognition from Skepta went unnoticed haha!
Where can you see the UK music scene progressing to?
A good place. Hopefully. I’m always very careful of how I speak about the UK music scene because it is a very delicate subject in terms of the fact that everyone has their own opinions. Some think it’s a lost cause whilst others think we’re almost there. I just believe that with the right young talent coming up and being guided and pioneering in their fields we will be ok.
What has been the high]light of your career so far?
The highlight of my career so far would probably have to be my EP launch party. It was an incredible night, there was a lot of love and support in the room and the atmosphere was amazing. Also, I’d be lying if I said that the recognition from Skepta went unnoticed haha!
Where can you see the UK music scene progressing to?
A good place. Hopefully. I’m always very careful of how I speak about the UK music scene because it is a very delicate subject in terms of the fact that everyone has their own opinions. Some think it’s a lost cause whilst others think we’re almost there. I just believe that with the right young talent coming up and being guided and pioneering in their fields we will be ok.
What should we be expect]ing from Stormzy in the near future?
You can expect good, consistent music, possibly another project before the year’s out. My plan right now is to carry on climbing and elevating and making sure that everything rises in terms of work ethic and quality. I’m trying to polish up and attempt to take everything to the next level so the next year or so will just be about challenging myself and apply-ing pressure on everyone else haha!
We see you in a lot of Adi]das, is this your favourite brand?
Haha who doesn’t love a bit of Adidas!? But yeah Adidas is my favourite brand which makes me even more blessed to have the opportunity to be in partner-ship/sponsored with them. It’s still ear-ly days but they’ve welcomed me on and I love the set up that they’ve got going on down there! Plus the Adidas slippers are like the most comfortable crep on the planet!
“ ADIDAS IS MY FAVOURITE
BRAND....IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS BUT THEY'VE WEL]
COMED ME ON
“ It]D BE LYING IF I SAID THAT THE RECOGNITION FROM SKEPTA WENT UNNOTICED HAHA!
CONNECT WITH STORMZY
Instagram: STORMZY1
Twitter: @STORMZY1
-----------------------------------------
CONNECT WITH STORMZY
Instagram: STORMZY1
Twitter: @STORMZY1
-----------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 67
m i s t a s i l v a-------------------------------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 68
s i l v a
We did it and it just went off! Bo Wonsem Mame, the first track was crazy - 100000 views in 2 weeks. The rest is history; Boom Boom Tah came, the EP came, the website came, this came [laughs] labels got involved…I’m very grateful for the opportunities that have opened up.
What are your thoughts on how Afrobeats has literally exploded firstly in the UK but also across the world? Is this some]thing you ever envisioned?
It’s a good thing, it represents the culture. To be able to have a culture and for people to accept it… it’s helping to motivate the British born Africans to see that we should unify and help each other to create something. I’m glad to see the positive movements Afrobeats is creating, there is still a lot more work to be done but it’s heading in the right direction.
You started off as a Grime artist, then progressing into Funky House. How did you then venture into Afrobeats?
People might not know I’m a versa-tile artist. My name; SILVA stands for strong, inspirational, lyrical, versatile artist. I like to play around with the mu-sic that I enjoy. I started doing Grime when I was younger, obviously Grime was the ting. I was rapping for time... college times Funky House was starting to pop off and I started hosting sets. Eventually, I thought to myself i wanna go further in this music thing but Funky House wasn’t really going where I wanted it to go.
“the first track was
crazy ] 100,000 views
in 2 weeks. The rest is
history
The flag bearers; people like Funky Dee, Tribal Mags and Gracious Kay those were the ones that got the deals and to me they didn’t really take it where they could have, that was a shame. People started downgrading the sound and it died out. At this point, you could see the rise of Afrobeats coming. People started saying to me, your Funky sound is kind of Afrocentric and tribal... why don’t you do an Afrobeats track. At first I was skeptical. I wondered how I could go about it, my sound was so Funky, so London, so British…I was like, do you know what… let me go back to my roots and jump on the wave!
“ I started doing Grime when I was younger, obviously Grime was the ting. I was rapping for time...
TrendsetUK 69
How much does your culture and heritage influence your mu]sic?
About 90% of the time, that’s me - those are my roots. Grow-ing up in the UK has fully in-fluenced me with what I do and how I project myself. British people like to take the best of things from everywhere and put them together to make some-thing great. Also, not to forget having my African heritage be-hind me… I gotta do something to inspire them back home.
How do they receive you and your music back home in Ghana?
They’re very receptive of me. They’re like you’re the one that’s doing it in the UK. They always want me to stay for longer and work out there. I was there in December.Now that they see us British artists going back to our roots it really encourages them to be themselves, not trying to be like the Americans or the British. They really appreciate what I do. At first they are like you’re a UK born boy, you don’t know about the scene, but when they see how you move in the cul-ture they realize that you’re one of them. They see that I’ve got a blend of the UK culture as well, which is a plus.
Who are your influ]ences and]or inspira]tions?
In terms of the Afrobeats cir-cuit - Castro was a big influ-ence. I’ve been listening to him from when I was young. I like the fact that he was able to keep himself relevant for so many years. I saw him as the leader of the new skool Afrobeats that were coming out. He reminded me of myself, as I have done the transition from Funky House to Afrobeats… where he came from Hiplife to Afrobeats.In terms of UK artists, Skepta - I really like Skepta, I’m a big fan. The way that he’s an independ-ent artist as well, he just does his thing.
What has been the highlight of your ca]reer so far?
Getting signed at the begin-ning of this year. Having a la-bel obviously means things are more systematic, it takes a lot of weight off my shoulders but at the same time, where I’ve been an independent artist for so long, I realise the worth of be-ing independent as well. It’s re-ally good, because they’ve given me a platform.
How is the ]Eybaabaa] T]shirt line going?
It’s going well! We start-ed it when Boom Boom Tah launched and it’s been alright… but where I’ve really been fo-cusing more on the music, I’m waiting to get that where I want that to be before we focus back into that brand. 100% though, the brand is still there and we will be doing more stuff to-wards the end of the year. We definitely want to expand it out of T-shirts as well.
I know you]re a fan of your shades…what are your favourite pair?
I’ve just got some Ralph shades that I’ve been really messing with lately. I was a big fan of Rayban’s but I feel like they’re getting rinsed out recently. I’m just looking for something new and unique!
What can we expect from you in the near future?
More great singles, an album, a mix tape as well. Look out for more fashion stuff as well; you might see me on a few catwalks. I walked in LFW last year for Ashish, so I’m trying to get back there again. Just look out for those things…I’m just trying to take Afrobeats where it wouldn’t go to be hon-est, if you’ve been following me -keep following me; I’ve got a lot to give.
“I walked in LFW last year for Ashish, so I]m trying to get back there again.
CONNECT WITH silva
Instagram: mistasilvaf2d
Twitter: @mistasilvaf2d
-----------------------------------------
TrendsetUK 70
CONNECT WITH silva
Instagram: mistasilvaf2d
Twitter: @mistasilvaf2d
-----------------------------------------
Style Guide
Photography by Bardha KrasniqiStyled by Jordan Denzél
Models: Aaron Miller at AMCK & Shama Anwar
style guide
Style Guide Style Guide
Jacket: B-Side by Wale - Bra: Calvin Klein Skirt: B-Side by Wale Shoes: Zara
style guide
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Crop Top: B-Side - Dungarees: Stylist’s own - Sneakers: Adidas Originals
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Jacket & Shorts: Adidas Originals
Jacket & Shorts: Adidas OriginalsJumper: Adidas Originals - Skirt: B-Side by Wale - Sneakers: Adidas Originals
Jacket: B-Side by Wale - ShORTS: B-Side by Wale - Jumper: Adidas Originals
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Jacket: B-Side by Wale - ShORTS: B-Side by Wale - Jumper: Adidas Originals
Hat: KREW - Jacket: Puma x BWGH - Shirt: Topman - Trousers: Puma x BWGH - Sneakers: Adidas Originals
Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters Vintage - Watch: Model’s own
Hat: KREW Panel - Sweatshirt Adidas Originals - Shirt: Uniqlo
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Hat: KREW Panel - Sweatshirt Adidas Originals - Shirt: Uniqlo
Jacket: B-Side by Wale - Shirt: Stylist’s own - Trousers & Sneakers: Adidas Originals
old BoyStylist DREY STYLES
Photographer SUMEET SHAMA
old BoyStylist DREY STYLES
Photographer SUMEET SHAMA
Plaid Trousers - Antony Morato Suspenders - H&M White T-Shirt River Island Black Shirt - Siksilk
Plaid Trousers - Antony Morato Suspenders - H&M White T-Shirt River Island Black Shirt - Siksilk
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White Collarless - Topman Blue Trousers - Topman
Jacket - Antony Morato
Hot Picks
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Hot Picks
Blue Blazer - Topman Wine T-Shirt - Topman Grey Smart Trousers - Gabicci
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Brand feature
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Brand feature
Bomber Jacket - Bellfield Turtle Neck - River Island
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B r a n d F e a t u r ebabylon Cartel
In 2006, Philidelphia DJ and producer Gianni Lee teamed up with best friend Aaron Ramsey and birthed the brand that is now known as Babylon Cartel. Not solely a fash]ion brand, Babylon Cartel are known also for their events and design collab]orations.
The literal meaning behind the name “Babylon Cartel” derives from the He-brew word "Babel", translating to mean confusion. Babylon was an ancient but beautiful city, tormented by evil - very similar to the world we live in today. The idea of Babylon Cartel represents a resistance movement.
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The mission of the brand is quite sim-ple; “to provide high quality, cutting edge, and most importantly,creative, high end apparel to the masses.Their vision however is a little more complicated. Through the designs that embody influences and experiences, we are able to see this vision.
As the brand has progressed over time, a new theme has arisen accordingly. Babylon Cartel has transitioned from the very first notion of “Back to Baby-lon” onto the “80′s is Dead” movement and most recently and equally as popu-lar, “Flight Academy”.
The product is very clean cut simultane-ously graphic. There are jerseys, bomb-ers, tee’s and hats to choose from, not to forget the signature camo jacket that Rihanna had instagrammed herself in a good few times.Their soon to be released collection also does not disappoint . Continuing on with the baseball-esque theme that seems to be all the range right now, ex-pect some sharp product with extreme-ly precise detailing.
CONNECT WITH babylon cartel
www. babyloncartel.com
Twitter: @babyloncartel
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Established in 2010, the south London brand appeared on the scene with an ethos of creating simplistic yet intri]cate design pieces.Their minimalist approach com-bined with skilled craftsman-ship has resulted in the brands increased success.SR & Co’s most recent collec-tion, launched earlier this year goes by the name of The Usual Suspects. This collection ( The U.S Collection for short) was in-spired by the 90’s mystery thrill-er movie – The Usual Suspects.The symbol of the villain Keyser Soze is present in every piece of this collection.
Some of the other SR & Co col-lections include Carril, the Ro-man Bangle and the super ex-clusive Limited Edition collection.
The Carril collection showcases geometric dia-mond patterns that come with the option of chains and rings.The Roman Bangles are individually customised to accommodate a personal date in Roman numerals for the customer.All the SR & Co collections use a selection of precious metals ranging from the choice of 9 or 18 carat gold, sterling silver and even a rose gold finish.More exclusively, we have the Limited Edition col-lection targeted at the very unique customer. Only 25 one-off pieces are created. The feeling of owning such an exclusive piece must be one of high satisfaction.
At present the Limited Edition collection offers intricately cut Nefertiti head pendants and soon to come, gold Lego blocks. The Carril collection showcases geometric dia-mond patterns that come with the option of chains and rings.The Roman Bangles are individually customised to accommodate a personal date in Roman numerals for the customer.All the SR & Co collections use a selection of precious metals ranging from the choice of 9 or 18 carat gold, sterling silver and even a rose gold finish.
With all the different col-lections to offer, SR & Co’s jewellery is made to suit an exceptionally wide spec-trum catering to many dif-ferent archetypes of peo-ple.
CONNECT WITH Sr & co
www.srlondon.co.uk
Twitter: @sr_ldn
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B r a n d F e a t u r eSR & co
---------------------------------------------------------------------------by Aniah Boakye - Smith
CONNECT WITH Sr & co
www.srlondon.co.uk
Twitter: @sr_ldn
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SR & coby Aniah Boakye - Smith
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H O T P I C K Sby Eddie Fiasco & Alize Demange
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by Eddie Fiasco & Alize Demange
Brand feature
F a s h i o n F au x P a s ?
Lets face it, socks and slides have been around pretty much our entire lives with most of ourfirst encounter coming with our grandfathers sporting his hip slides with the freshest white socksyou’ve ever seen, however, every so often the trend boils over from being a fashion statement thatis fixated within the college dorm or your chilled out days at home into a whole new statement. In recent months the socks and slides trend has become more than an indoor phenom, with many fashionista’s choosing the socks and slides as the prefered choice of footwear in public domains. We asked our followers their opinion on the socks and slides mania.
“ Everyday socks and slides - @fionnxedge
@rapsthemartian
“ I t ’ s d i s g u s t i n g
s o c k s & s l i d e s
Brand feature
F a s h i o n F au x P a s ?
s o c k s & s l i d e s “ ah I Dono about out]side households man that]s just being cheeky@jasoncostello95
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“That is a ooold skool @tarapehx
“ We never stop doing that in Cali.@wynn_in_rome
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Renowned stylist Zack Tate started off his journey as a Visual Merchandiser in Lon]don]s Selfridges. He was head hunted at the age of twenty by Marc Jacobs and went on to work in the London office for a brief spell, before one day accepting the spontaneous of]fer to fly out to New York. Here, he was offered a creative job at Marc Jacob]s head office where although he was based in New York, spent most of his time flying around the US.After being out there for less than a year, Zack decided to return home.
by Aniah Boakye - Smith
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Word must have got out that the boy was back, as Zack was again head]hunted upon his return by none other than Prada. He joined the Pra]da team taking on the role of Visual Merchandiser at their head office, where he remained for three years. During this time, he received a call from his previous employers Marc Jacob that resulted in a role being created for him; European Visual Manager where he operated for a further three years.One day, Zack stumbled upon the chance of meeting the President of Urban Music at Universal. Through this, his connection to Keri Hilson came about. Keri Hilson was his first styling gig] as he puts it ] not bad for your first eh? Lol. After this, it all happened. Teyana Taylor, Rico Love, Little Mix, Jour]dan Dunn and The X Factor are just a few clients Zack Tate has under his belt.
Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?
My friend KESH, we can hang out for hours / days on end and don’t even need to talk to each other as we got it like that ;)
What 3 items would you bring to a desert island?
-My favourite pair of Raf Simons x Adidas trainers- Tea bags!!! - A fine china tea cup
A typical weekend with Zack Tate?
Hanging out with my best friends, drinking tea and eating fish and chips! I’m an old man at heart!
Most used catchphrase?
“BABE”
Cant live without?
Instagram obviously...
Can]t stop listening to?
Alexa Goddard - So There! We just shot the video today!
Celebrity style crush?
I enjoy 2NE1 ;)
Most ridiculous item you]ve ever bought?
I bought a 3ft lava lamp yesterday… Don’t ask me why!
Who would be your dream person to style? And what would you put them in?
The Queen... I feel like she needs some Adidas shell toes in her life!!
CONNECT WITH ZACK TATE
Instagram: ZEDTASTY
Twitter: @ZEDTASTY
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by Aniah Boakye - Smith Photogrpahy by Alfred Bronson
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s p o t l i g h t
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by Aniah Boakye - Smith Words by Khloe Bailey
Clara Amfo
“ I truly believe that your achievements are not solely on your own. There are so many people I have met and worked with and they have helped me get to where I am, looking back I can see the chain of events.
A meeting with Clara on a mildly warm summer day in 4London at Eat along the Strand, where she tells me about her career progression which includes plenty of ]ninja moves] as she calls it!
Clara Amfo
First of all tell us a bit about yourself, how have you got from point A to B?Well, I grew up in King-ston, that is Kingston-Up-on-Thames, not Kingston, Jamaica. I went to St Mary’s College and studied Media Arts with Professional and Creative Writing. I fell in love with radio during my final project, met Michael Kay who had wicked stories to tell and then fast forward I worked with a woman; Karen who helped me land a marketing intern role at Kiss which was initially for three months and I end-ed up staying there for 4+ years!
We must never underesti-mate the power of intern-ing! So what did you get up to at Kiss during your time?My journey kind of went from making tea etc as their intern to becoming the station coordinator and I was really pretty loud around the office so the boss was like ‘ohh lets put her to some use!’ So I would often record voice-overs like the ‘coming up on KISSSSS’ and ‘WIN! WIN! WIN!’ type stuff. I also did the overnight show which was pre-recorded, then I got the Saturday Morning show live 6am-10, and then I was of-fered the Drive Time Show which I did till July 2013.
You now have a show on BBC 1 XTRA, as well as being the ‘voice’ on Lon-don Live. How did all that happen?During my time at Kiss I was constantly making my ninja moves, working to get something better. I did a few demos for BBC 1 XTRA at the time and then cou-ple months later I got the call…’We want to offer you a show!’ And I couldn’t say no. I absolutely love BBC 1 XTRA, ever since I was young, and I’ve been here less than a year and I love it. London Live happened, I went and auditioned and wrote some continuity scripts for them and yeah, they liked my voice so that was that.
Who would you say are your main inspirations in radio and in general?At the moment, there are so many wicked women in radio, and there’s a particu-lar group of girls who I like - Monki, Georgia LA, and Gemma Kay, Adele Rob-erts, Yasmin Evans, June Sarpong – I think every brown girl in media must resonate in some way with June. I saw her once and my heart kind of jumped but I remained composed, she was so important for me to be honest as a young girl watching TV. Sara Cox is a fantastic storyteller and she’s awesome. Lauren Lav-ern, ah and Angie Greaves, AJ Odudu. I could go on. It’s an exciting time; the girls that are out and there’s such as amazing spectrum of women. They’re killing it.
What are your highlights so far?Being nominated for a SONI radio award, meet-ing some great people like Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani and Mary J. Blige. Work-ing with Plan UK in Ghana on the ‘Because I’m a Girl’ campaign but most of all getting the call for BBC 1 EXTRA.
In 5 years…I will still be doing radio, without a doubt. I would also like to work overseas more and hope to start my own production company definitely.
So finally, right now what is your go-to item?Nike Destroyer Jacket.
Wear it all the time; par-ticularly love the little inside pocket for my iPod and its just fantastic
“ went from making tea etc as their intern to becoming the station coordinator
“ I absolutely love BBC 1 XTRA, ever since I was young, and I]ve been here less than a year
-------------------------------------CONNECT WITH clara
facebook: clara amfo
Twitter: @claraamfo
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an actual rap show
“An Actual Rap Show” - does what it says on the tin. The first of its kind to grace London’s streets, Nephew of Dame Dash – US rapper DASH headlined the rap show that took place in Shoreditch club XOYO a few wednesday’s ago. The line up consisted of Rejjie Snow, Little Simz, the Mcabre Brothers with Trellion n Sniff, ItsNate, Chynna, Onoe Caponoe and Denzel Himself. Each of these bar Chynna from Phillidelphia and New Jersy’s DA$H of course, are established UK rappers.
All participants are ev-er-present in the rap scene but are yet to break through onto the mainstream. The aim of the show was to pave the way for this, but more importantly to give back to the fans. Here, there was a chance for the artists to debut some of their newest releases and also in some cases, to perform never before performed tracks.
The crowd was treated to five hours of banging beats and straight fire on the mic. Denzel Himself opened up the show bursting into an exploding performance shortly followed by the chick from Philly, Chynna who performed the ever popular hit “Glen Coco” that the crowd went wild for – yep, that’s her!
Slocal’s ItsNate then took to the stage, a clear crowd favourite from the get-go. His performance was deliv-ered with an undoubtedly infectious hype that had the audience entranced for the entire performance.
“ aars -does what it says on the tin.
e v e n t san actual rap show
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“ The crowd was treated to five hours of banging beats and straight fire on the mic
The Mcabre Brothers] performance complete with additions from Trel]lion, Sniff and Milkaveli that fol]lowed ended in a slightly less or]thodox way compared to the others but then again, what is a rap show without a full on mosh pit? Our cover girl Little Simz abso]lutely tore up the stage with her intricate wording and skippy lit]tle voice, all eyes were certainly on her. Headliner DA]H closed the show getting the crowd absolute]ly pumped off ]Swordfish] from the V.I.C.E.S mix tape.
The show was nothing less than a vibe and an obvious success in being the first of it]s kind. Keep an eye out for more from ]An Actual Rap Show] bringing you the sounds of tomorrow.
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