August Edition - Amaze Magazine: Reloaded by Tim Knight

AMAZE www.moderncreativemag.com

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW CREATIVE EDITION 5: 3rd AUGUST 2012 MUSIC + ART + FILM + PHOTOGRAPHY + GAMING + INNOVATION + LITERATURE

OUR NEW NAME - FIND OUT MORE INSIDE...

ALSO: RON ENGLISH

THE RELOADED EDITION:

WE GET OUT OUR BEST CONTENT JUST FOR YOU...

THE GODFATHER OF STREET ART

RICHARD BRANSON SPEAKS TO US ABOUT VMP

EARTHTONE9 MORE FROM THE BAND

THE DARK KNIGHT WE TALK ABOUT THE FILM...

Photograph by: Gabrielle Zoe Munoz

MODERN CREATIVE

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: CEO ANGEL MUNOZ UNVEILS THE FUTURE

AMAZE

MAGAZINE December 2012 and over the next four months we will be releasing videos and other marketing material to showcase the new design and new content, plus we will be inviting you to take part in various ways this includes being able to write content for us and become part of our street team where you could earn an income.

MAGAZINE

RELOADED A special look at our previous articles re-designed and with new content, plus brand new interviews.

he last four months have been an amazing experience for the team at Amaze Magazine. It has taught us a lot about magazine production and we have taken what was initially just an idea and seen it through to implementation to very surprising results, but as ever there is always room for improvement and with every good experience, change is always going to happen, so it is with a real sense of excitment that we formally announce the closure of Amaze Magazine after five editions and the arrival of our brand new title: ‘Modern Creative Magazine’. You may ask why have we chosen to close the current brand and what are our plans for the future? Surely it is ludicrous to close a brand that is growing every single day and becomming very popular?! Well read on....

AM August 2012

Essentially when we started the magazine we had no idea what we were doing and in fact everything you have seen so far has been self-taught and our attempts at bringing you great content, but we feel we are now at a point where we have learnt enough to provide you with a professional quality publication and we understand what it is that our readers are looking for, so with that in mind we felt a re-brand was in order to reflect the changes that are coming... Some of the changes include a new design to the magazine, some of which you will see throughout this edition, regular contributors who will talk about creative subjects close to their hearts, brand new focused interviews with industry professionals, and brand new regular entertainment features such as film & game reviews, plus an entire setion that is dedicated to helping YOU to further your careers in whatever creative subject you have chosen. We will also be creating new opportunities for YOU to get involved with the magazine from producing articles, to designing the magazine and becoming part of our street team. You will also be able to earn money from the magazine, which is a first for any brand! We have a target release date of the 03rd

www.moderncreativemag.com

Can You explain the reason behind the new name? The new name was chosen because we wanted to better represent our readers who told us that they were not just the traditional creatives, but actually they were a mix of people from those who just have a passing interest in creativity to those who were trying to ‘make it’ in the industry and wanted to read about things they could do to further their ambitions. It seems to be a ‘modern creative’ you have to be much more then the traditional creative type you have to be able to compete in a market satuated with those who are trying to ‘get ahead’ and we plan to help our readers any way we can, so this is the reason behind the new name and our content will be a mix of speciality articles, interviews with both industry professionals and new talents, and entertainment news. We hope you will enjoy it as much as you have our previous editions and can’t wait to show it to you!

AM August 2012

What is going to happen in the meantime before launch? Essentially it is now about getting the conten mix just right and over the next couple of months we will be putting together the final designs of the magazine and releasing little snapshots of what to expect such as videos, and maybe a few demo articles if you are lucky. We do have lots of new features that we are proud of but it is now time to test them out and so we will also be inviting some people to get a sneak peak too. Where can I find the new magazine? Do I need to update my bookmarks? Yes you do, our new look magazine will be available on our website: www.moderncreativemg.com as well as the ISSUU platform: www.issuu.com/moderncreativemag We have chosen to make a complete break from our old title in order to make a truly fresh start, if you SIGN UP NOW you could potentially become one of our beta testers for the new design, but be aware that much like the magazine, the website is also under construction so there may be only limited information available to you at this time but when we laucnh everything will be live...

www.moderncreativemag.com

E S I D I INS TH IN THE BIZ MAKE A STAR PRESENTS:

AYDILGE

ONE OF THE WINNERS!

5 MONTHS IN ONE... MAGGY ADELEYE

FEATURING:

ANDREW KELLY

NIELLA D BIG INTERVIEWS & THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE COMPETITION...

CHASING FRIDAY - VALERIE ORTH - LUNIC - KILLAIN - MELISSA VANFLEET - IAN FLEMMING & THE SECRET AGENTS & MORE...

H T N O M

This month we have taken our previous magazines and reloaded our favourite articles with new designs and updated content... We also have a selection of brand new interviews and a worldwide product reveal for Mass Luminosity... This is a very special edition indeed as it will be the last edition under the Amaze Magazine name, as previously mentioned on the other page, so we wanted to go out with a bang and we wanted to ensure that you are left gasping for more so that you will come back to us when we re-launch in September 2012. Some of my personal favourite content includes our new ‘In The Biz’ mini-mag... Every month in the new magazine there will be a special pullout dedicated to the stars of the Make A Star competition.... Opps well there is an exclusive I didn’t plan to reveal so early ;) Other favourite content includes our super special Hometown Heroes feature which talks about my favourite bands from Aldershot & the surrounding areas... These are the bands that I think are special and you should too... The VMP section this month is outstanding showcasing the best of our previous stars, but under a nice new design, I think it really works

T N E T N O C . . T . S E E R B O R M U S O D PLU E D HUMAN TECHNOLOGY A O REL We also catch up with Ron English, the godfather of Street art, and complete a Dark Knight Rises film review - which is a first for us! Then we have Gamecast showcasing their most recent reviews, and we also have a special competition, but I won’t spoil the surprise, I will let you read the magazine to find out more... We would like to thank our loyal readers for the continued support and hopefully you will rejoin us in December when we re-launch. Tim Knight Editior.

OUR SPECIAL HOMETOWN HEROES SECTION IS DEDICATED TO THE BEST BANDS FROM ALDERSHOT & SURROUNDING AREAS.

Richard Branson talks exclusively to us

This month we give you the chance to view the best our magazine has to offer from the past four months from the world of music competitions...

THE NEXT GENERATION

What if I want

Do you love to dance but need a space to practice? Are you part of a band needing a space to rehearse? Do you need a location for your film or a space to inspire your photography, art or writing? Need experience being on the radio or writing for a newspaper? somewhereto_ is a new project helping young people aged 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 years to find the spaces they need to do the things they love within the arts, culture and sports for free, or at very low cost. Find out what is already available in your area by visiting www.somewhereto.com somewhereto_ is a project to help 16-25 year olds across the UK find the spaces they need to do the things they love. In partnership with Channel 4, somewhereto_ is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charitable trust established to use the inspiration of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to fund a range of cultural and sporting activities for all, which will leave a lasting legacy in communities throughout the UK.

Make your request at www.somewhereto.com/spacesearch Or contact Tristan Ward, your regional co-ordinator on 07545422318/ Email: Relays@somewhereto.org

One of the first people to ever inspire me creatively were my friends from my hometown in Aldershot. With this in mind I have always featured a couple of them every edition and this month is no exception as we put together a collection of articles about my â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hometown heroesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; both new, and old.

T E M O H

S E O R E H N W O

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

HOMETOWN HEROES: HOMETOWN HEROES: REUBEN Amaze Magazine stumbled across the Dead Press website and found it to be an amazing website with some great reviews, and with that in mind we asked them to help us out with our Hometown Heroes special and they generously let us ‘borrow’ the following Reuben review. Originally created in mid-2007 as a portfolio of founder Zach Redrup‘s reviews and interviews, DEAD PRESS! soon flourished into a fully functioning online music magazine. May 2010 saw the website go through a complete revamp, and brought a whole new drive to its contribution to the music scene the world over. Today, the site hosts a wide variety of news, reviews, interviews and other media for bands across the world covering a range of genres, from legendary acts like Metallica and Lady Gaga, all the way down to your local heroes who are playing pub shows. The DEAD PRESS! ethos that helps to set itself aside from its peers is honesty and passion for the music it covers. You’ll find no sugar coated or biased articles here, the good and the bad will be revealed for what it is. The team consists of music fans, who love music for the music. For the future, the site only aims to engrave its name deeper on the online circuit, and be known as an integral and key part of the music scene. Second to none.

Click to visit:

Reuben Members: Jon Peace, Guy Davis, Jamie Lenman

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Though many bands may disband or die out for one reason or another, one thing that should never be forgotten is their contribution to the music world and what they’ve done to help influence the new generation of bands that compose our music tastes as of late. That’s what our new Graveyard feature is all about, and what better way to start it off with one for Reuben, a band who’ve influenced some of Britain’s brightest new hopes like Lower Than Atlantis and Don Broco. Read on to learn more about the history of the band, their demise, the possibility of a reformation and how you can still get into a band who are on a hiatus: It was back in 1998 when the seeds were sewn in the creation of Reuben when singer, guitarist and chief songwriter Jamie Lenman was joined by school friend and bassist Jon Pearce alongside drummer Jason Wilcock to form Angel. Under this name, the band released a string of EPs between 1998 and 2000, including ‘Me Vs. You’, ‘Death Of A Star’, ‘Betrayed’ and ‘Hand Over Fist’. The year 2000 saw some big changes for the band with a new drummer in the form of Mark Lawton and a name change to the moniker they’d become better known as: Reuben.

FORMATION: The band released their ‘Pilot’ EP through Bad Music in January 2001, and despite being a relatively underground release the EP garnered rave reviews, including 5 Ks from Kerrang!. Business really started to pick up for the boys when stickman duties were once again swapped to the band’s third and final drummer Guy Davis as the band went on to release their first singles proper in the form of ‘Scared Of The Police’ and ‘Stux’. The band started turning heads and gained yet more support from the press as well as regular plays on MTV2 and Zane Lowe giving the band a 2 hour special on his then XFM radio show before they’d even released their debut album. DEBUT AND SOPHOMORE RECORDS: Thankfully when the debut dropped it steered well clear of disappointment. Released on June 21st 2004 through Xtra Mile Records, ‘Racecar Is Racecar Backwards’ was the band’s first true steps into the music industry and despite little commercial success, it was a huge hit with fans and critics alike. The band were also nominated as a Kerrang! Best Newcomer award, whilst lead single ‘Let’s Stop Hanging Out’ was number one

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

on MTV2′s request chart for a number of weeks. The band wasted little time in releasing the follow up to their debut, with ‘Very Fast Very Dangerous’ dropping just over a year later on September 12th 2005. The ‘difficult’ second album, which was produced by Chris Sheldon (who has also worked with the Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro), once again went down a storm, yet still little commercial success came from it. Zane Lowe once again championed the band, inviting them onto his Radio 1 show for a live session, while Billy Talent took them out on their first tour of Europe in September 2006.

and the band’s third and sadly final album ‘In Nothing We Trust’ hit the shelves. The record was the band’s most ambitious work to date, taking the Reuben template but also expanding it into a technical and almost progressive sound. The result was a collection of songs that most bands both underground and storming the charts would kill for, and, of course, ‘In Nothing We Trust’ was once again lapped up by fans and critics alike. The band even went on to perform on the main stage at Download Festival, which you can see some of below:

DVD AND FINAL ALBUM: 2007 saw some big changes for the band, as they parted ways with Xtra Mile due to finance issues and decided to release all further material on their own imprint, Hideous Records. March 2007 marked the band’s first independent release in the form of DVD ‘Whatever Happens In Aldershot Stays In Aldershot’, which included a full live performance, studio diaries of the band recording their next record (displaying their comedic side), a documentary into the reality of being in band and more. A few more months down the line

HIATUS: Though many high points were coming the band’s way as of late, 2008 was when the bubble surprisingly burst. On June 4th, Barney, the band’s manager, released a statement to all of the mailing list subscribers, stating that “the band are not planning any more gigs or releases for the foreseeable future” but that “the band members are all on

amicable terms and are supportive of the need to call a halt”. Following the news of their indefinite hiatus, ‘We Should Have Gone To University’ was released on July 24th 2009, a posthomous rarities and b-sides collection, spread across two CDs and one DVD. The release also featured the band’s last ever recorded track, ‘The Last Time’, a song that many fans think lyrically talks much about their split. Since their split, Jon Pearce and Guy Davis have gone on to form new rock outfit, Freeze The Atlantic. Frontman Jamie Lenman however has pretty much steered clear of any musical involvement all together, with the odd video here and there on YouTube, and is now focusing on his illustration work. Reuben emerged at a time that was a bit of a grey area for rock music. Nu-metal had jumped the fuck up as much as it possibly could and was hobbling off out of people’s memories whilst emo was still yet to apply its eye liner. This makes Reuben hard to class genre wise other than being simply a rock band. The band’s demise was reflective of many of the rock bands of their time, with even the acts who gained some success such as Hell Is For Heroes and

Hundred Reasons falling by the wayside. Despite never gaining mainstream success, the band’s influence is undeniable with those teenagers who listened to Reuben now forming their own bands. Their influence can undeniably be heard in the current wave of new British rock bands, with names such as Don Broco and Lower Than Atlantis openly admitting their love of the band. LTA‘s Mike Deuce has even recently stated “Without Reuben, there would be no Lower Than Atlantis“. REFORMATION POSSIBILITY?: The band remain close friends to this day and have never ruled out the possibility of a Reuben reunion. However, at the time of writing this is still yet to materialise. Recently the fans have grouped together in an attempt to get Reuben to come out of their hiatus with a Facebook and Twitter campaign. It is still yet to be seen whether this will have any impact on bringing the band back, however, all we can do for now is join the group, follow the Twitter account and hope the band are tempted and persuaded enough to reform and treat us all to their magnificent rock music once more. Written by Gavin Lloyd, for Dead Press.

REUBEN: The ultimate GUIDE

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Here are some key tracks by the band Reuben, some of which may include singles/music videos, album tracks or rarer material which we think are great entry points into getting into the band:

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Thanks too:

1. Everytime A Teenager Listens to Drum & Bass A Rockstar Dies. (2005 - Very Fast Very Dangerous) Reuben were never very shy about voicing their disapproval at the lack of love for the rock scene back in the early 2000s and were happy to take shots at other genres in the process, as evidence by the title of this song from ‘Very Fast Very Dangerous’. They also provided good reasons why people should be listening to rock with a killer chorus and a stirring orchestral climax.

2. We’re All Going Home In An Ambulance. (2007 - In Nothing We Trust) This retaliation to prejudice views and mindless violence from the band’s third album was one of the most intense Reuben songs ever recorded, especially when the chanting gang vocals of “you’re going home in a fucking ambulance” kick into the scene halfway through. A song that proved this band could hold their own with the heaviest of the scene.

10 key Reuben tracks

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Here are some key tracks by the band Reuben, some of which may include singles/music videos, album tracks or rarer material which we think are great entry points into getting into the band:

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Thanks too:

3. Scared of the Police (2002) The first music video Reuben ever released, and also the first time anyone had ever truly heard the band channel some Nirvana-esque angst with a self loathing street template but gave it their own 21st century twist. This vulnerable yet still powerful song was a sign of the good things that were going to come from the band, possessing one of their very many strong and sharp chorus hooks..

4. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Good For Me. (2009 - We Should Have Gone To University) Though pushed away from the forerunner of single material, thankfully the band still spared this fantastic bare bones acoustic track to stand as a b-side and eventually found itself on their post-homous rarities collection for more to find and enjoy

10 key Reuben tracks

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Here are some key tracks by the band Reuben, some of which may include singles/music videos, album tracks or rarer material which we think are great entry points into getting into the band:

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Thanks too:

5. Return Of The Jedi (2005 - Very Fast Very Dangerous) An example of what happened when Reuben flexed their creative muscles. This 7 minute epic takes you on a real journey of music piracy and the true struggles of being in a band. Capturing your attention from the off with a heavier than the cast of ‘The Biggest Losers’ riffs coupled with Jamie Lenman‘s intense screaming seamlessly evolves into a poppy middle section before ending in a piano laced crescendo, in which Lenman states how he “won’t bother to make his music”, more poignant than ever given the current state of the band.

6. Stuck In My Throat (2004 - Racecar Is Racecar Backwards) ‘Racecar Is Racecar Backwards’ had many stand-out moments throughout, and ‘Stuck In My Throat’ is most definitely one of them. Once again, the band brazenly wore their hearts on their sleeves yet delivered the romantic sentiments with a full blooded assault on the senses that left fans gasping for more.

10 key Reuben tracks

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Here are some key tracks by the band Reuben, some of which may include singles/music videos, album tracks or rarer material which we think are great entry points into getting into the band:

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Thanks too:

7. Deadly Lethal Ninja Assasins (2007 - In Nothing We trust) The band’s third album was their most experimental album to date. ‘Deadly Lethal Ninja Assassin’ was unique yet unquestionabley accessible in its own way. A rattling bass line, pounding drums, jagged guitar work and some extremely quirky lyrics (“You’re dressed like a Victorian at a swimming pool”) made this one of ‘In Nothing We Trust’‘s best moments.

8. Blamethrower (2005 - Very Fast Very Dangerous) The sound of Reuben at one of their heaviest, this song came belting into life with a metal laced riff that ignited many a mosh pit back in the band’s hey day. Switching between an almost spoken word vocal and venom spitting screams, Lenman‘s vocals were positively ferocious on this one. Despite the relentless delivery, the band still managed to cheekily smuggle the hooks in with the song’s “No, I don’t feel so fucking good” refrain being an absolute joy to scream along to.

10 key Reuben tracks

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Here are some key tracks by the band Reuben, some of which may include singles/music videos, album tracks or rarer material which we think are great entry points into getting into the band:

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Thanks too:

9. Freddy Krueger. (2004 Racecar Is Racecar Backwards) Undoubtedly one of the major aces in Reuben‘s pack when it came to attracting their fanbase, this single off first album ‘Racecar Is Racecar Backwards’ became an instant fan favourite, and at one point was even found playing in a Topshop store. One of the prime examples of the band’s pop sensibilities as a bouncy riff propels ‘Freddy Krueger’ along while a big chorus and a healthy smattering of “woahs” ensure that this is a 5 star banger.

10. Let’s Stop Hanging Out (2004 - Racecar Is Racecar Backwards) Reuben never claimed to be anything more or less than a rock band, and ‘Let’s Stop Hanging Out’ goes hand in hand with that mantra as it is a by-the-book perfect rock song. Following a tried and tested formula, the ever reliable rhythm section combines with another superb Lenman riff that results in something that is near impossible not to nod your head along to. Throwing a healthy level of angst into the mix, the band encapsulated lost love in a fresh and relatable way that results in proof, if it was ever needed, of how good Reuben truly were.

10 key Reuben tracks

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

Reuben: The Albums

With a career that admittedly didn’t carry the best commercial or financial success, and was definitely worth far more merit than it achieved, Reuben still managed to put out a successful string of albums during their activity. Here’s all of them summed up briefly, with some key tracks from each record: Racecar Is Racecar Backwards Released: June 21st, 2004 Their very first full-length effort, and with Kerrang! magazine nominating them for Best British Newcomer later that year, it was clear that the press had began to take notice of the Aldershot based trio. With singles like ‘Let’s Stop Hanging Out’, ‘Freddy Krueger’ and ‘Stuck In My Throat’ being the forerunners in promoting this record, it was those who delve a little deeper to find treasures such a ‘No One Wins The War’ and heavy stomper ‘Missing Fingers’ that truly won. Key tracks: Stuck In My Throat, Missing Fingers, No One Wins The War, Freddy Krueger, Let’s Stop Hanging Out

Very Fast Very Dangerous Released: September 12th, 2005 The band themselves described this record on a few occassions as a much more straight-up rock record than its predecessor. In some ways in tracks like ‘It’s All About Control’ and ‘Good Night’ may very well reflect that statement, but their more epic side as displayed with ‘Return Of The Jedi’ and ‘Every Time A Teenager Listens To Drum & Bass A Rockstar Dies’ tells something different of this album entirely. Reuben truly knew how to be very fast and how to be very dangerous. Key tracks: Return Of The Jedi, Blamethrower, Every Time A Teenager Listens To Drum & Bass, Best Enemies, A Kick In The Mouth

In Nothing We Trust Released: June 25th, 2007 Though unknowingly at the time of its release, ‘In Nothing We Trust’ was the band’s third and final studio outlet, and they most definitely went out with a massive bang. First single release ‘Blood, Bunny, Larkhall’ displayed Reuben were entering some darker territory, and when the album dropped it was evidence it wasn’t a one off. Tracks like the prejudice notifying ‘We’re All Going Home In An Ambulance’, the music taste appointing ‘Crushed Under The Weight Of The Enormous Bullshit’ and the album’s epic number ‘Suffocation Of The Soul’ were proof of that. Key tracks: Three Hail Marys, We’re All Going Home In An Ambulance, Deadly Lethal Ninja Assassin, A Short History Of Nearly Everything, Blood Bunny Larkhall

FREEZETHE THE ATLANTIC FREEZE ATLANTIC

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

HOMETOWN HEROES

Amaze Magazine catches up with Guy Davis (Former Reuben and now drummer for the mighty Freeze the Atlantic), he was kind enough to answer some Q&A for us for this special edition.

for a reformation of Reuben, do you think it will ever happen? (meaning maybe a few shows here and there for nostalgia?)

It’s quite humbling the attention people pay to Reuben, especially given we called it a day back Who is in the band and how did in 2008. I think Jon, Jamie and you come together? myself all share pride in the music we made, and hopefully look back The band consists of Andy fondly on the good times. Gilmour (Hundred Reasons), Tom However, it’s important to Stevens (Archie and the Instincts), recognise the difficulties we Chris Knott (Twelve Titans), Sean experienced along the way. It Shreeve (Talking Endlessly), and was a long hard struggle sprinkled myself. with some delightful moments. I think the moments were The band was originally formed sometimes overshadowed by the by Andy, who wanted to form a long hard struggles in between side-project from HR, to allow him though. to swap the bass for a 6 string (his first instrument). As Reuben We have all moved on, and had disbanded only a few months hopefully for the better. It’s previously, Andy very kindly asked important to enjoy life and keep me and Jon if we’d like to form things fresh, so I do believe we the rhythm section. We accepted, should look forward to new booked ourselves a rehearsal ventures and continue being space down at The Rooms creative in our own right. We Rehearsal studios in Northcamp, called it a day because we wrote our first song ‘Le Track stopped enjoying it... It would Premier’, and invited our friend therefore seem daft returning to Tom Stevens to join for the next a band that would be a tense and session. After a couple of years, difficult experience. So, probably and a few line-up changes, we’ve best people don’t fool themselves established what feels like a really into thinking we’ll ever reform! enjoyable, creative and strong partnership. The great thing is we recorded three albums, and they can Some of you are ex-Reuben and always be blasted out a set of there are a lot of people asking speakers.

Is it humbling to know Reuben are still held in such high regard?! Yes, for sure. It was amazing how many people came up and chatted to me yesterday at 2000 Trees festival and wanted share their memories of the band, favourite songs, shows they’d been to etc. It was really humbling, and makes me proud. Can you describe the new band and what the first release is all about? I guess our sound so far falls the ‘rock’ genre, but we aren’t bound to anything. Our ethic is to remain honest and just play the kind music we like as music fans - simple, no messing about, no following trends, just do what we like. Our album ‘Speakeasy’ comes out September 17th on Alcopop! Records. It has eleven songs, including upbeat tunes like ‘Shivering & Dazed’, dark and heavier moments such as ‘Loses All The Romance’ and the tuneful ‘Crestfallen’, which I always think sounds like Saves The Day. It should cater for all sorts of moods. I recommend blasting out nice and loud through the car stereo while driving down the freeway or the A268 in my case.

Where can people catch you? We’ve got a string of dates booked already and more in the pipeline, so best to visit www. freezetheatlantic.co.uk for the latest. However, we’d particularly like to push our album launch show which is Upstairs at The Garage on September 14th. We’ve got fantastic support that night from Katie Malco, Radio Alcatraz and Jumping Ships. It’ll be rad, so do buy a ticket now! What equipment do you use? I play Sonor SQ2 drums, Zildjian cymbals, DW hardware and pedals, Vic Firth sticks and wrap them all up in the lovely Protection Racket cases. Amazeballs. Andy plays a Gibson Nighthawk through a Marshall head and Blackstar cab, Tom plays a Fender Telecaster through a Marshall, Sean plays a Fender bass, and I think Chris uses a Shure microphone. However, it is important to note that I am only a drummer, so it is entirely likely that all of the above it wrong. Who are your heroes? Jimmy Chamberlin, Josh Freese, Matt Cameron, and Batman. I can’t speak for the others. What advice could you give to other aspiring bands?

Enjoy making music with honesty, and people will appreciate that more than a band that just churns out trend music for the sake of a quick buzz. Think about what you’d be proud to listen back to down the line, and go “yeah, I did that, and I’m really proud of it”. I’d rather have fewer people be really into the music we make, than masses of people who think we’re just okay. Keep the faith, but remain realistic. I personally always held down jobs throughout my time in Reuben, and today I have a full time job working for a small I.T. company which I really enjoy as well as having an amazing hobby, my band. Obviously, it would be amazing to have enough success as a band to make it a full time occupation, but that’s very difficult given the saturated market of music. There’s so much choice and access to music these days, that it is difficult to be heard by ‘everyone’. Finally, if you realise you aren’t enjoying being in a band, it’s probably time to take a break and try something else, or else the music will end up sounding forced and be just a bit shit. How hard is it to make it as a band these days? Well, it depends on what you define as ‘make it’. If you mean

to be successful enough to make a band be your primary means of income and be able to live from it, then I guess incredibly hard. I have never been in such a position, so I can’t tell both sides of the story, but I’m friends with a couple of artists who have worked their asses off for years, and the hard work is finally paying off for them, I’m very pleased for them. In both cases, they’ve earned their success and dedicated their lives to it. It takes determination, belief, honesty, a loyal fanbase, and relentless touring to grow enough to make a living from it. With success hopefully comes a bit more money, and that means you can afford to promote in more ways and reach more people. It ain’t easy, and not always is justice done. Who would you most like to gig with right now? It’s obvious, but people I get on with. Bands I’ve made friends with in the past, Sucioperro, Fighting With Wire, Billy Talent to name a few. It’s always nice to make new friends though, so I’ll keep my eyes open for who’s touring next. Psssst..Pearl Jam would make me very happy!

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

“This Fight” by Freeze The Atlantic, taken from the ‘Speakeasy Album Sampler’ only available free with Rock Sound magazine issue #164 in shops 15th August 2012. Written and performed by Freeze The Atlantic. Engineered by Tom Gibson at Surrey University and mixed by Guy Davis. Mastered by Ed Woods @ edwoodsmastering.com. © & ℗ 2012 Freeze The Atlantic. Under exclusive license to Alcopop! Records. Please take the time to check out The Forward 4 Wiz Trust at http://www.f4wt.org. Thank you. FTA x

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

“Waking Up” by Freeze The Atlantic. Taken from the band’s debut E.P, ‘Colour By Numbers’. Video filmed and edited by Robin Pearson (Check out his band Hold Your Horse Is) © 2011 Freeze The Atlantic COMPACT DISC: http://www.banquetrecords.com/ Alcopop048 DOWNLOAD: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/colour-by-numbers-single/id428956365

THE VIDEOS

FREEZE THELENMAN ATLANTIC JAMIE

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

HOMETOWN HEROES AN AMAZE MAGAZINE EXLUSIVE:

JAMIE LENMAN THE FORMER REUBEN SINGER TURNED ILLUSTRATOR TALKS TO US ABOUT HIS NEW CAREER IN ILLUSTRATION.

You were in a band, why did you move into the world of illustration? I think we made it appear more successful then it was - we certainly didn’t make any money or sell many records, which was part of the the reason that it stopped. I’d been drawing for years before I picked up a guitar and when the band happend the graphical side of my work took a back seat but I kept it bubbling away with various project and in fact within the band we started needing things like flyers and websites and CD sleeves designed so those skills came to the fore at that point and the music took a back seat, and the graphical stuff took over. How did you end up working for the Guardian?

I was very lucky, I’d been showing my work to everyone I could because I wanted (and still want) to illustrate children’s books. Someone from the Guardian happened to be at Frankfurt book fair and got hold of my portfolio, and asked me to come and work for a digital agency based on the strength of those few drawings. What I didn’t know was that they also needed me to be an animator and a designer so I had to learn those very quickly but it worked out well and I’ve been there for four years. So it was a bit of luck, and a lot of hard work before that. Most really brilliant things are usually a combination of the two.

what makes me want to create art, I suppose you could say that I’m always interested in a slightly grotesque take on things, both visually and musically. Like a horrible wrong chord in the middle of a beautiful song or a huge smudge on a delicate line drawing. When we made records I was always keen to keep the fluffs and the mic checks in the mix, and I never rub out my pencil lines on a finished drawing. I don’t like things to be too shiny, I like for people to be able to see where they came from. I hope that makes some kind of sense.

What inspires you as an artist?

What advice would you give to anyone else looking to break into illustration?

I’m not really sure how to answer that question, but if you’re asking what I look for in art or

I think the biggest thing is just to show your work to as many people as possible, and before

long, someone will remember it or call you up or something. It sounds obvious, but if people can’t see it they don’t know its there. Draw lots, and lots even if you have to force yourself, and you’ll get streaks better even though you may think you’re at the top of your game. Also - ask people you admire how they do their thing. I’ve spoken to lots of my heroes about their art and they’ve almost always been generous with their time and their secrets and I’ve learnt tonnes from all of them. We did notice the music on your site for Peugeot, how did that come about? That was a funny one. I had a chum who’d left the Guardian job and was making that game for Peugeot and he asked me if I knew any free music libraries and I said I had this little musical

doodle lying about that he could have for free as long as they came back to me if they needed any more. Still waiting for the call! But you never know, it still might come. It didn’t cost me anything! What are your proudest moments in your career so far? I’m always proud when I see people on youtube playing one of my songs. I was proud to have done a lot of work for various educational websites that get used in schools - they sent us back some little ‘I’ve been reading’ stickers for well behaved kids with characters I’d drawn on them. When you get proof it’s reaching people, you can’t ask for more than that. I’m very proud and flattered to be the subject of this interview. What else are you doing?

Well there’s another big project coming up at work that’s going to go into schools, and I just spent a few months animating some staff training videos for video rental shops across the UK, which was hard work. I’m also working on an ipad book with some colleagues and at time of typing I’m doing artwork for my old band Caretaker’s album. Then there’s a few more illustration projects in the pipeline - it’s been an unusually busy year for me, work wise, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing. Cripes! If you could change anything what would it be? What a huge question. If you’re asking serious, I’d get rid of the media entirely. If you’re asking silly, I’d make it so pizza made you thin.

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

CHRIS COULTER: SOUND ENGINEER HOMETOWN HEROES: CHRIS COULTER Amaze Magazine was proud to present Chris Coulter, a sound engineer who was self-employed in our first ever edition and felt he was a great example of someone we consider a Modern Creative.

What is it like to be someone self-employed within the music industry? There are pros and cons like there are with most jobs, but the pros out- weight the cons. Freedom to work where and when I like is awesome but it can sometimes be hard to get enough work in. Why did you leave Stakeout Studios to go on your own?

It was a mutual decision as I was collecting all of my own equipment and using the studio wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessary for my everyday work as a lot of it could be done at other locations. What would you say to anyone looking to break into the music industry? There are so many people trying to get into the music

industry these days and most of them coming through college or university. Although you can learn a lot from these courses you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t beat experiences. So I would say try and get as much experience as you can with other producers, engineers and bands. What would you say are your greatest achievements to date?

My greatest achievement is probably running my own successful business in an industry that I love, other then working with some amazing bands. Who are your favourite bands at the moment? As a producer I have to be interested in every style of music so I have different favourites from day to day but

a few artists that are on my ipod at the moment are Everything Everything, Worship, Knife Party, and Lana Del Rey. What do you have coming up? I have a full diary of bands from all over the country. I am also going on tour doing the live sound with Arcane Roots as well as finishing their

album that is due out later this year. Give us your top tips for students studying music production. Learn everything! Read every book you can get hold of. Use your knowledge to record everyone you can find, over and over until you are the best!

What is it like to be in Polar?

our live performance.

Its like being in one massive porno, a gay one.

Where have you travelled on tour and what is it like to be on tour?

How different is it to be managed compared to going it alone?

We have been all over the UK and tried to visit every town possible. The band even Its’ so much easier for us as managed to take us all around the band, as now all we have to Europe, which was a big concentrate on is the music and experience for all of us, as

we’ve dreamed of touring since we were young. We still can’t believe we’ve got this far and am very grateful.

and feel we’ve really grown as a band and musicians which we feel comes across with the new album.

Describe the new album

Who are your favourite bands?

The new album is a big step forward from the EP, as the EP was more balls to the wall with every track. With the album we tried a lot of different things

Personally, I listen to a lot of Pop/Punk and Rock such as Sil- verchair, Foo Fighters, The story so far and The gaslight anthem. UK music is what

POLAR

I mainly listen too though, they’re some great metal/hardcore/ rock/punk bands around, such as, You me at six, Deaf havana, Lower Than Atlantis, Young Guns, While She Sleeps, Defeater, Bring Me The Horizon, TRC, Feed The Rhino, Palm Reader, Heart In Hand, Mallory Knox, Hildamay. What would be your dream gig?

I personally would love to tour with, for our style of music, Comeback kid, Every time I die, While she sleeps and Bring me the horizon. That would be an insane line up. The gigs I would like to have seen the most is Nirvana or Dire straits.

FREEZE THE ATLANTIC HOMETOWN HEROES

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded - Hometown Heroes

TRAILS

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TRACK We got to ask some of the band a few questions, here is what they said. What is it like being in a band? Like swimming in an ocean of cherry panda pops and glistening nipple tassels. What advice would you give to someone? Question everything.

How much did you spend on your videos? We are a DIY band so all our videos have to be cheap. All The Other Humans was free and shot in a friends studio. I think any costs were however much we spent on drink that night. Before I Begin we forked out a huge amount of money for coloured tissue paper, face paints and a bit of black cloth. I think we invested more time and sanity than money

into that one due to the stop start animation. Lastly A Turn Of Phrase we upped the price again and splashed out on poster paint, balloons and sandwiches from the shop for lunch. You’re quite inventive with them, any advice for people looking to do something similar? Don’t strive for that supposedly professional video that’s just like

everyone elses, but has nothing exciting about it. It’s boring and lame and makes your band look on the budget you have. People will forgive slightly amateur production if they see you’ve put your heart into it and given them a new experience.

have too many influences to mention...

Where does your sound come from? Who are you influenced by?

A lot of people say you have to approach being in a band as running a business, how do you approach the whole management side of things?

The universe and we honestly

What plans do you have coming up? Touring, writing, recording, releasing, videoing, touring!

In a very serious and time consuming manner! We manage ourselves, and you have to look at it like a job, otherwise you don’t get anything done and you’ll be very disorganised. These days it’s mainly a laptop job – constantly emailing promoters, managers, press, fans, bands, merch companies, each other etc etc to get everything done.

THE CROSSTOWN TRIO

“The Crosstown Trio have a sound which is so familiar yet so unique to today’s music scene. Mellow vocals combined with what can only be described as “smooth grooves” is so refreshing to hear from 3 young guys who appreciate how a song is constructed and play their instruments with the passion that they deserve.” Stuart Provan, 96.4 Eagle Radio

Can you describe your sound? Our sound is hard to describe however, we like to think we are a blues band... however our folk influences come through quite a lot, but we've often been described as American Blues/Roots or a Skiffle Band... What equipment do you use?

Charlie: I use an Acoustic Guitar connected to a 'Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Bass Wah Pedal', I also use a Balalaika... a three stringed Triangular shaped instrument from Russia, I also play Banjo for a few songs on the album. Coşkun: I use an acoustic Double Bass and an Ud and a Saz in standard Turkish tuning Sam: I use a full house kit, sometimes I use a Cajon box

drum. Do you have any brand that you wear when on gigs? or during photoshoots? Charlie: Well I have a terrible "fashion" sense so I just put on the smartest shirt I can find on. Coşkun: I usually wear Quicksilver or Dolce & Gabbana Sam: No not really

Tell us about your upcoming ep

Track, was mixed by our other friend Mazz Sitima.

Our upcoming Album is a 10 track album, a date hasn't been set yet for its release but will probably be around July time. We recorded most of it in a Studio in Farnborough, and the rest in Charlies bedroom. Mixed by our friend David Bond, one track "Company", which is the Title

Who are your fav bands atm? Charlie: Recently i've been listening to alot of John Martyn & Nick Drake, my inspiration comes from artists like The Doors, Kelly Joe Phelps, Dylan, John Frusciante and Hendrix, who have all inspired my playing and

writing in fact. Coşkun: Currently my favorite bands are the Smiths & Fat Freddie's Drop Sam: At the moment my favorite band would have to be Rascal Flatts, they're a country band.

HOMETOWN HEROES

EARTHTONE9 EXLUSIVE

We speak to Karl Middleton & Owen Packard from the band about their pledge campaign to raise funds for a new album.

Amaze Magazine: Reloaded

Why did you choose crowdfunding for your new release?

committing their money months in advance of receiving the CD or whatever they have Pledged for.

What advice could you give any aspiring musician or band?

Pledge is a great tool because you get to connect directly with fans, the process of updating and commenting on the campaign gives the participants more involvement than the old model of buying an album. We also have the satisfaction of knowing that by using Pledge we have raised money for a charity that we really care about. http://www.pledgemusic.com/ projects/earthtone9- new-album

Also running the campaign involves a lot of admin work. None of these things are a particularly big deal though, the benefits outweigh these issues by a country mile.

Man, it’s hard to know what to say to a new band today. The industry landscape has changed so radically. But one thing remains constant – do it because you enjoy it. Once you do that it is hard for anyone to shaft you Ha! At least these days you you can exist as a band without the input (or dubious actions) of ANY third party. You can break a band through social networks. You can gig swap. You can get to foreign lands with relative ease. It’s a shrinking world, crammed with technological shortcuts. Embrace that.

What are the benefits of crowdfunding, and also are there any negatives? Aside from what I said in answer to question 1, the money raised comes direct to us and we decide what to do with it. There’s no label calling the shots and no supply chain taking a big chunk of money when it should be spent on making a great album, I guess that the negative is that Pledge in a new way of doing things so not many people know about it yet or perhaps people feel uncomfortable with the idea of committing their money months in advance of receiving the CD or whatever they have Pledged for. Also running the campaign involves a lot of admin work. None of these things are a particularly big deal though, the benefits outweigh these issues by a country mile. Who are YOUR musical heroes?

Who are YOUR musical heroes? It varies amongst the band members. Personally, I’m (Karl) inspired by anyone that stubbornly carves their own place in the musically landscape as well as artists that make music that I love. Doomriders, Neil Young, Thrice, Nick Cave, Converge, Clutch, Fleet Foxes, Neurosis, Radiohead, William Elliot Whitmore, Tool, Pink Floyd, Laura Veirs, Morbid Angel, Johnny Cash Santogold, PJ Harvey. Vocal-wise I love singers with great tone and epic sense of melody or have an insane inhuman harsh tone.

What do you think of Polar? http://www.facebook.com/thispolarnoise - Polar are a new upcoming band ;) They are awesome. Mega riffs and a little bit of sleaze. HA! There are some really killer bands around at the moment. The scene is so healthy. Love it. Why did you reform?

Bruce Dickinson, David Coverdale (Whitesnake/ Deep Purple), Layne Staley, Phil Anselmo, Tomas Lindberg (At The Gates), Ozzy, Ronnie James Dio, Caleb Schofield (Zozobra/ Cave In), Stephen Brodsky (Cave In), Mike Patton

We stopped hating each other, time puts a lot of things in perspective, you know? We hung out, had a good time, started talking about music and realized that we weren’t finished creatively. We still have fuel in the tank and something to say.

What equipment are you using at the moment?

What have you given away as part of your campaign?

Just my trusty SM58 mic.

We did a single called ‘Horizons End’ that all pledgers got. and we

EARTHTONE9: RELOADED EXCLUSIVE TO AMAZE MAGAZINE

“There really are some killer bands out there at the moment... The scene is so healthy. Love it...”

have been uploading video footage of behind-the-scenes activity. we have also just announced that anyone who pledges will get a free live album download too!! Where do you see yourselves going in the future?

We hit the studio in a few weeks to get the album recorded and we have a bunch of shows set for the end of the year. Sept 14/15

we play with Vision Of Disorder, which will be AWESOME! How does it feel to know the fans are still out there?

It’s amazing to think that people still care. We are really stoked that the support is available to us. We know we are lucky to have people willing enough to mobilise for something like this. I have NO idea how new bands cope - the modern method of acquiring

music involves google, bit torrent and zero money. It makes it impossible to finance yourself. The people that dig earthtone9 have made it possible for us to continue making music.

Interview by Emma Wallis What type of band are you? Give us a general overview to our readers! DVM: We are essentially a rock n’ roll band with unashamedly catchy “pop” songs. We have been described as “a bit quirky” -that’s ok, quirky is good. Musically we sound like a renaissance of late 70’s newwave (both sides of the Atlantic) this wasn’t intentional, it just kind of happened, I played my guitar and these songs fell out. GAZ: People think we give off a Stranglers or Elvis Costellovibe -even The Cars one person remarked. DVM: The early Manic Street Preachers, Hüsker Dü or The Clash’s approach would be more the kind of thing that has an influence on our live sound, although largely we like to think we sound like “us”. Tell us the brief history of your band. How you came about? What started it all? DVM: I’ve been writing for years in several bands and solo. I

AM August 2012

entered a track into the youbloom.com songwriting contest in 2011 and got as far as the Semi-Final where my work was critiqued by Sir Bob Geldof and producer Rupert Hine, I just missed out on the final. It was then I decided to quit wasting my time with these kinds of ventures and concentrate on being a real musician again. I concentrated on 11 tracks and wrote the album which would become “You Are Here” but I needed real musicians to play with rather than track everything myself so I made 11 rough demos and touted them to potential musicians. I just wanted to make the last great rock album before the word “album” is lost. STEVE: I was in as soon as I heard the songs. GAZ: I got the demos through my letter box and like Steve, I heard them I was in like a shot too. DVM: It pays surrounding yourself with people that believe in what you’re doing. We’ve know each other for years but the three of us had never played together. Although originally it was just to get an idea of how

the songs should sound it became evident that we have a natural chemistry together, the “project” was abandoned and the band was born. Who are your musical and non-musical influences? STEVE: For me musically it has to be Muse; non-musical? People that make stuff happen like Isambard Kingdom Brunel or Christopher Nolan. Life’s do-ers. GAZ: For me musically it’s the big guns on bass like Geddy Lee, John Entwistle or Geezer Butler. Non-musical? Probably humanity!? DVM: Musically for me it could be anyone from Buddy Holly, David Byrne or Neil Young. At the moment I’m taking a history lesson on Dr Feelgood, but any band like them or Hüsker Dü that had a totally D.I.Y. approach to writing and promoting their own music. Non musical? Sherlock Holmes or Spider-Man. Anyone that is troubled and fictitious. Who writes the songs, what are they about?

DVM: I write the songs, most of them in my head before I even pick up the guitar to find out what the chords are. I have so much music coming out of me that I physically need a platform with musicians that respect that. I couldn’t do this with anyone other than Steve and Gaz. Lyrically the songs cover all facets of the human spectrum of emotion: revenge, regret, frustration, sexual arousal.... but then a song like “From Hackman’s Gate” is about protectionism and our place in the E.U. so a bit of everything really I guess. How do you promote your band and shows? STEVE: Facebook and Twitter gets a battering on a daily basis. GAZ: Reverbnation is a great resource for looking more professional if it’s used right. Local press, radio etc. too. DVM: Currently we are sending out press packs to anyone or anything that casts a shadow, we have to try harder because it’s like starting all over again as soon as you have a new band. We simply refuse to give up. If

you cast 200 fishing lines overboard one of them has to bite eventually right? What do you think about downloading music online? DVM: At a semi-pro level the technology available now has empowered musicians with all the tools they need to make music which is good but as a result there is also some truly terrible music out there which is a shame when we see some really great young bands (and even older bands) whose music seems to just get dragged beneath this cyber sea of s**t. Just because you can make recordings that sound professional doesn’t make your music anymore listenable. The song has to come first always. GAZ: At a professional level iTunes hasn’t really improved the deal for musicians, between them and the big record labels who are taking their massive cut, I think the musician is getting something live 5p per track! They’re no better off than the bad old days. DVM: Web platforms like Bandcamp and Kickstarter are

the future for bands under the radar. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there. STEVE: Granted there are countless bands out there at the moment, some great some probably not so great but none are doing what we are doing and none of them sound like us. DVM: Our next gig is the big album launch party for our debut “You Are Here” so everything is gearing up for that and there is a lot of buzz around it. It kicks off at 9pm on Thursday 26 July at The Cock & Magpie in Bewdley. It’s in their bohemian upstairs room overlooking the river which is brilliant setting. GAZ: Live we have a powerful presence; someone once told us that our songs are like a series of controlled explosions. We like that....... The Dale Von Minaker Band “You Are Here” is release on 26/07/12 on bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, Last Fm and Spotify. A limited edition run of individually numbered CDs will also be available to purchase from www.dvmband.com

www.moderncreativemag.com

A Blooming Revolution! Bloom VC (Venture Catalyst) provides alternative access to funding for startups, businesses, community projects and social enterprises. Bloom is the first crowdfunding platform of its kind in the UK, enabling anyone with an idea, anywhere in the world, to reach out and receive donations from across the globe, using their social networks. The platform was designed and created not only to offer fledgling entrepreneurs with a business idea the opportunity to secure start-up funds but to provide the necessary ongoing support to ensure the idea becomes a success. Written by Michelle Rodger. Crowdfunding is beginning to come of age in the UK. We might be trailing behind the USA in uptake of the phenomenon, but it won’t be long before startups, businesses, communities, charities and social enterprises in the UK see crowdfunding as the preferred alternative to the traditional sources of funding. Why? Because it’s not just about the money. You can get a loan from a bank, or sell equity to raise funds, but that’s all you get from such a deal. Money.

AM August 2012

The beauty of crowdfunding is that it delivers far more than just hard cash. Obviously the money you raise is important, why else would you launch a crowdfunding campaign? But crowdfunding is about much more than just the funds you raise, and we’re going to reveal the hidden benefits. If you work your campaign effectively, you could benefit in a number of other ways, all vital to help you grow your business or indeed support your community or social enterprise in the future. Firstly, you’re able to do market research about your product or

service. By asking people to give money in return for your reward, you can establish whether or not there is a market appetite. If people are willing to give you money so you can create a product they want, then you’re on to a winner. You’re able to demonstrate proof of concept when you reach out to raise additional funding later on. You also build an engaged community of customers, people not only willing to pay you to start your business but happy to tell their friends about you also. Building testimonials from this

super-supportive crowd when your project is successful means you start your business with some really positive and powerful case studies to underpin your marketing efforts. Often the reward is the produce or service the money will be used to develop, so in effect you are pre-selling, generating a healthy order book to launch your business. Not many businesses can boast that they started out with a full order book. The fact that crowdfunding is based on the use of social media (often free but always

inexpensive compared to traditional PR) means word of mouth PR and the buzz around what you’re doing might also provide some newsworthy media coverage for your business or social enterprise. All of these benefits stack up into a significant opportunity for when you take your business to the next stage and need to raise additional funding, maybe from banks, Angel investors or VCs. You are in a much stronger position to negotiate, having already provided the answers to many of the questions they will ask.

But remember, your crowdfunding campaign is not just a one off activity. Once your project succeeds (and even if it doesn’t) what you’ve started leads straight into the next stage of your business or social enterprise. You continue to engage with your customers, build on the support they’ve given you to aspire to more and there’s no reason why you can’t crowdfund again. In fact, once you’ve discovered the “hidden benefits” we’ll be surprised if you don’t.

www.moderncreativemag.com

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

POST YOUR PROJECT

ASK FOR SUPPORT

SPREAD THE WORD

FACE TO FACE

DIRECT

EMAIL MOBILE WIDGETS

INDIRECT YOUR PAGE ON WWW.BLOOMVC.COM

FACEBOOK SOCIAL NETWORKS

IN THE BIZ AYDILGE

ONE OF THE WINNERS!

5 MONTHS IN ONE... MAGGY ADELEYE

FEATURING:

ANDREW KELLY

akeAStar.com has its origins in the early days of the web as a site for new artists to help build their careers by connecting with new fans and the music industry. Founded on a mission to provide artists with a platform to help grow their musical careers though monthly music competitions, Make A Star is a place where quality talent can gain large scale exposure - regardless of location or musical genre. MakeAStar holds monthly music and music video contests in bracket formats with $100 (£63) cash prizes given to the winners in several categories, totaling over $32,000 (£20,159) awarded.

Make A Star

MAKE A STAR PRESENTS:

NIELLA D BIG INTERVIEWS & THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE COMPETITION...

CHASING FRIDAY - VALERIE ORTH - LUNIC - KILLAIN - MELISSA VANFLEET - IAN FLEMMING & THE SECRET AGENTS & MORE...

Current monthly categories are Music Video, Song by a Duo or Band, Song by Male or Female Solo Artist, Instrumental, Sing in 30 Seconds (a cappella), Rap Battle and Stand Up comedy. Artists first upload their performances to contender rounds where 100% fan votes determines who qualifies for each monthly bracket. At the start of each month, the songs and videos with the most votes advance to the bracket, where a mix of fan votes and the discerning scores of music industry judges determines who wins. music video for The Disablists featuring Foreign Beggars. Other recent winners of note with great potential for success include LA rapper Dayda Bass, female vocalist Melissa VanFleet and South African rock band Chasing Friday. In 2008 Make A Star TV launched a weekly half-hour show in the states on Fuse. Make A Star TV ran for 13 episodes gaining thousands of fans and new artists culminating in a $10,000 (£6,300) grand prize on the final episode of the series. http:// www.makeastar.com/MakeAStarTV.asp To earn a spot on the show, performers uploaded their music video directly to MakeAStar.com and competed in bracket style matches with a mixture of fan votes and judge scores. Each week, MAS TV highlighted the best videos from the web competition, giving many artists an instant rise from web obscurity to national TV stardom. 29 artists advanced to the final phase of the contest, and included several names that have gone on to achieve measureable success: Authority Zero, Sick of Sarah and Friends For Hire to name a few. The final match featured Fools & Horses vs Zen Vendetta, and with a strong fan voting score, Zen Vendetta won the $10,000 (£6,300) grand prize. Recent winners include Turkish rock singer Aydilge, Canadian electro act Connekt, Brooklyn’s Dinosaur Feathers, Chilean singer Yael Meyer and young pop-country singer Killian – all of whom have large online followings on Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and/or Last.fm. MakeAStar is currently preparing for a second season of TV in 2012 which will prove to be another exciting contest with prize limits exceeding the first season’s grand prize of $10,000 (£6,300). You can enter your audio or video performances and be competing on MakeAStar.com today!

Maggy Adeleye calls Houston, Texas her home, and we’re proud to have this bright young talent as our newest Female Solo Artist winner. Playing a slick acoustic guitar, Maggy is a classic singer/songwriter who describes her music as “soulful, pop rock reminiscent of Juliana Hatfield, Lauryn Hll and Jenny Lewis”. That’s esteemed company, but one listen to her winning song ‘The City’ and you’ll believe as much as we do. Other similar artists she mentions are Taylor Swift, Kate Voegele and One Republic. Tracy Chapman might be one more name we’d add to that list. A singer to remember.

E Y E L E D A Y G G A M

az has been singing most of her life and now affectionately given the name “Mama” for her Big Blues Voice. Mama Kaz has stormed onto the local scene in Northern Ireland off the back of Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival 2012 which saw her perform alongside Nanci Griffith. She also had the honour of

supporting one of her favourite artists Canadian Blues Guitarist Matt Andersen at The Real Music Club in Belfast. Often branded Belfast’s answer to Etta James & Janis Joplin MK is known for her unique vocal sound. “Close your eyes, listen to MamaKaz and be transported back to a golden age of great female vocalists. Aretha, Dusty, Gladys, Etta – you’ll hear shades of them all.” (Mark Halsall, Musicians Together Magazine

“MK is more than ‘just’ a voice and she wants the world to know it. ‘Lipstick & Cocaine’ is a 3 track E.P. designed to showcase her abilities as a songwriter as well as her voice. She is pinning her colours to the mast and shouting ‘Here I am – whaddya think?’ or maybe even ‘Here I am – deal with it!!’ She exudes the fighting spirit of someone who has fought all their life to be accepted for what they are and what they want to be”.

With the release of her solo Ep Lipstick & Cocaine which Al Gilmore is closure to a dark past in (Chordblossom the hope of helping others. Reviewer) Mk is preparing the way for said her album & a brand new

musical journey for as she says, “I’m giving back to music. It’s been a force of nature for me, and I have to give back to it… I wouldn’t be here without music, it saved my life” MK isn’t looking for stardom, she just wants to be recognized as a songwriter by helping to modernize the blues, sex them up, and reinvent the genre. ”I’ve been waiting for years to explore music, and I thrive on that. “Bring on the Mama”.

Mama Kaz : The Interview T

he Make A Star Female Solo Artist champion for July 2011 is Mama Kaz – winning with her song “My Time to Tell & Show” From Belfast, Northern Ireland, she joins us for an interview. Tell us how it feels to have won. Are you happy, surprised, relieved? Mama Kaz: I'm so proud to be July Female Soloist and very excited as my song entry was the most recent I'd written. MAS: Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began. Mama Kaz: I started singing very early - my gran was a soprano and toured with big orchestras. She used to stand on my stomach to teach me when to breathe and when not to lol. I would say it’s my strength when performing coz even though I'm no opera singer it means I can belt the notes out with ease. MAS: How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative? Mama Kaz: My sound is forever

changing as I perform many different styles of music. My fav is blues - I was born to sing the blues but I sort of got stuck in pop genres for a long time, with vocals overlapping, stereo effects and doubling up which as any performer knows, that’s not how the gigs go lol. Nothing more than stripped down with a live blues band and I completely am lost in performing. MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve enetered in the Make A Star contest?

Mama Kaz: My song entry "My Time To Tell & Show" is also called "Survivor Song” - written for survivors of child sex abuse! Yes a taboo subject but not taboo for those of us who have been through it. Music saved my life and kept me fighting when I couldn't go on but I had never written about my personal experience until now. I wanted to gain more awareness for local charities devoted to creating awareness so my prize money will be donated to a local Rape Crisis Center who deal with these issues every day. MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?

Mama Kaz: Personally I don't think I sound like anyone but then an artist likes to be original lol - but people do compare me to some great female "shouters" like Etta James, Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin. I'm always humbled and If I am half as good as these greats then I am a very happy Mama. MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre? Mama Kaz: I think I'm different to most female blues singers in Ireland as I'm a "shouter" which you usually only get from the likes of Big Mama Thornton/ Koko Taylor/Sharrie Williams etc. As I am caucasian people are quite shocked when i open my mouth to sing as they think don't expect a "white girl" to sing gospel blues! Hopefully I can contribute in changing the way people think about female blues singers in Ireland soon enough. MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life? Mama Kaz: My inspiration ALWAYS comes from the experiences in my life and the people that I surround myself with. I have a very small close network that I trust with my life

so I draw inspiration from them. I would love to honor the likes of Janis Jopin, Koko Taylor, Nina Simone as they are my musical heroes. MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?

Mama Kaz: I am just forming the new "Mama Kaz Band" which will mix my own songs with covers from all genres of music. I also champion and try to support local new young artists coming up as I always feel those of us more experienced on the scene should share knowledge and support to the next generation. MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert? Mama Kaz: Growing up listening to music was very scattered music - my gran letting me hear jazz and blues, my dad buying my first vinyl of "War of the Worlds" and his love of The Eagles taught me every lyric there was, to my mums luv of Crystal Gayle, Nana Miscouri and Barbara Streisand. So not one fixed genre or artist changed my life musically but I did luv northern soul though it was hard to get vinyl of that

genre!

MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician? Mama Kaz: Best part of being a musician is being ‘lost in music’. That’s the best way I can describe it, when it completely takes over you, that’s when I’m happiest, when that feeling overtakes me and the audience enjoys it. The worst part of being a musician is the industry. There is so much amazing talent that will never be found across the world so If I had one wish it would be that every artist could experience something even just a little of what the mainstream artists get. Most of us are in love with our music so the money doesn’t matter it’s about finally being accepted for being who you are that we crave! MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today? Mama Kaz: In regards to the music industry I don't have enough pages lol. I shall keep it short by just saying that GREED has taken the industry over. It’s not about the artist it’s about the revenue. Does anyone TRULY do it for the love of music?

MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians? Mama Kaz: Makeastar.com is amazing as it gives fans a chance to support their artists as they might not often get to see them gig. My fans are fiercely loyal but can’t get to see me perform always so this was a great chance for them to support me from afar. It’s also good to for networking and passing on to other artists so they can enter. I’ve met some wonderful people networking on this project so thank you for this great opportunity but I have to say a bigger thank you to my supporters/fans as they really did all the work <3 MAS: Thank you Mama Kaz for a great interview – it's so honorable that you've chosen to donate your prize to a very worthy cause. You have a lot of talent and it's inspiring to hear you share your stories. But before we go, here's your chance to tell us something completely random. Mama Kaz: In Ireland we believe that the Greek God of Friendship is called Boutus lol (when greeting an Irish person please say) BOUTCHEE (what

Ian Fleming & the Secret Agents

an Fleming is a dynamic artist from Los Angeles.

Ian started his career as the original force behind the classic cult black metal band Ritual. Ian progressively began expanding his range of songwriting, and love of music in general. He was writing and playing by himself and had troubles finding like minded musicians in Los Angeles to accompany him. This spawned the idea for "The Secret Agents." It was also an obvious choice being that his name is what it is. So began Ian Fleming & The Secret Agents. The self-produced debut album "The Wrong One" was released in March 2009 to rave reviews and impressive success. The band opened for rock legends Blue Oyster Cult in the summer of 2009. The hit single "I Suck" has generated a lot of attention and has been played on many major FM radio stations throughout the world, including a feature by KROQ's Kevin & Bean in Los Angeles. The song " Far Away" was picked up for rotation in Landmark Theaters in 2010. Ian continues to write and produce and love all kinds of music. A new Ritual album "The Resurrection" was released in 2011 and is being very well received. Ian is currently keeping himself busy learning music theory, working hard on a new Ritual live show and a new Ian Fleming album as well.

AS: Congrats to Ruddy Meicher for winning the May 2012 Instru- mental Song contest. First off, tell us how it feels to have won. Are you happy, surprised, relieved?

MAS: What attracted you to recording instrumental music instead of other styles?

Ruddy Meicher: I’m happy and surprised and I would like to won again.

Ruddy Meicher: The power of music begins where words that stops And I like difficulty, I need to play a lot of notes, I’m no interested to play 4 chords. My guitar is an extension of me, I can speak more than words. I close my eyes and i let my hands play.

MAS: Tell us how you got started as a composer and how your recording career began.

MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?

Ruddy Meicher: I play music that I feel, feelings, sensations, ideas, thoughts reflect my hands with my instruments what I hear it. I need it, I do not really know how to explain.

Ruddy Meicher: I thought to my old friends, when I was a teen , at the past and the time. A part of my memories. MAS: Which musical influences

have other people compared you to?

MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?

Ruddy Meicher: I’m a fingerstyle guitarist, I heard Andy Mckee Antoine Dufour John Butler Chet atkins and others.

Ruddy Meicher: Continue what I started - make my album in fingerstyle guitar player, to be a recognized and endorsed official player.

MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre? Ruddy Meicher: More percussive and I have my own style with my groove, my own technique based on my story. MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life? Ruddy Meicher: The events of life.

MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert? Ruddy Meicher: When I was a child my favorite music was a group Rondo Veneziano. MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician? Ruddy Meicher: The best: it’s magical, if your work is your passion is a gift because is a

dream for a lot people. The worst: It’s hard , in france it’s very hard because people don’t like a lot musicians.the most important is the voice and the word ”performance” is a bad word for them. But it’s changing, it’s a good thing. When you are musician you need to be one of the best, is the hard part. MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today? Ruddy Meicher: Today the music industry is restructuring here, with internet is better than before to share work but so hard to make money to live with passion. MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for

music fans and musicians? Ruddy Meicher: The concept is good. MAS: Thank you Ruddy Meicher for a great interview! Before we go, now’s your chance to tell us something completely random. Ruddy Meicher: Thank you very much i’m happy to win, I’m a french musician , guitar teacher for a French magazine and i like to share my work. I hope to be recognized one day, I began 1 year 1/2 ago I have 7000 facebook fans and more than 600.000 views on youtube, I want to keep it this road with your help, you can visiting me at http://www. ruddymeicher.com, see you soon thank you! Ruddy.

Niella D Speaks to Make A Star! The hip-hop star making a wave thanks to Make A Star has agreed to give them an exclusive interview and we have got our hands on it ;)

AS: The Make A Star Rap Battle showcased great new talents in April and none better than Niella D. Our first female Rap Battle champion, the Philadelphia girl joins us now for her Make A Star interview to share some of her life story and what hiphop music means to her. First off, tell us how it feels to have won. Are you happy, surprised, relieved? Niella D: It feels great that I have so much support and that the voters felt I was talented! MAS: Tell us how you got started as a singer and how you developed your sound.. Niella D: Well I have been a fan of hip hop music since I was about 9yrs old and started emulating artists I liked until my teens when I developed my own sound.

Niella D: I would like to put out music that people can relate to and to inspire someone. MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead? Niella D: I am working on a mixtape and my own album as well as videos that will be on youtube. MAS: Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to hear and see your new work! Perhaps some of them will be entries in the Female Solo Artist and Music Video contests here on MakeAStar. Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert? Niella D: As a child I love Michael Jackson, Beastie Boyz, Queen Latifah and Monie Love. MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?

MAS: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the story behind the song "Femme Boss Freestlyle" you entered in the Make A Star Rap Battle contest?

Niella D: The best part is being able to express myself and do what I love and the worst would be not having enough promotion.

Niella D: Well it started off as a poem and just progressed from there into a freestyle.

MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?

MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to? Niella D: I would say I've been compared to artist Jean Grae who rapped on The Roots track "You Got Me", EVE and Salt n Pepa.

Niella D: I would say the best part is it has become more eclectic with the collaborations today that opens doors for people like me and the worst is the more unique artist are not selling as much.

MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?

MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?

Niella D: Well my sound although similar to certain said artist is unique combined with the things I rap about I just stay true to myself when I write, I write for expression not impression.

Niella D: I believe it is a very good site for exposure more than some other websites!

MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?

MAS: Thank you Niella D for a great interview from a very talented Rap Battle champion! Before we go, tell us something completely random.

MELISSA VANFLEET R

aised with an appreciation for all types of music, award-winning pop artist/songwriter/pianist Melissa VanFleet has the ability to perform all genres effortlessly, combining influences from soul, rock, jazz standards and blues. She began to take music seriously upon completion of her first studio recording at age 12 and immediately fell in love with the art of creating music. A self-taught vocalist from a very early age, Melissa is also an accomplished dancer and credits her 20+ years of extensive dance training in all styles and competing experience for the acquisition of stage presence and audience connection during music performances. Her unique, strong and consistent voice, ability to play piano by ear, ever-expanding repertoire, and humble personality has earned her much appraisal among listeners. In February 2008, she was recruited from Pennsylvania to Nashville to pursue her music dreams further. From New York City’s oldest rock club The Bitter End to Nashville’s most preeminent listening room The Bluebird Cafe, Melissa is currently performing her original material in popular and legendary venues all over the United States. A regular performer at Ellendale’s, an upscale restaurant located near Nashville International Airport, she also entertains crowds at the Drake Hotel’s notorious Coq d’Or when she is in the Chicago area and was dubbed a “stellar chanteuse” by Chicago’s Modern Luxury magazine. Melissa has shared the stage with many of her idols and inspirations, including the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, and had the honor of being featured by one of her favorite multi-platinum rock groups Incubus on their online presence for her cover video of their hit single “Promises, Promises”. As she prepares the release of her brand new EP, produced and engineered by Nashville-based producer Joel Schwamburger, her acoustic piano songs are garnering radio airplay in the UK and are streaming worldwide on Internet radio shows to millions of listeners. In her spare time, she records demos for publishers, is constantly writing new songs, and is available to perform at private parties and special events. For more information or booking enquiries, please contact: info@melissavanfleet.com

CHASING FRIDAY A

fter being kicked out of their rehearsal space, guitarist Adrian ‘Oz’ James Gregory and bassist Nico Mouissie had hit a brick wall in chasing their dream of being in a kick-ass rock band. Little did they know that Andrew ‘The Mule’ Mellish was just as desperate to form a band. After searching tirelessly on the internet it was fate that they crossed paths. Three months of solid jamming followed with many songs being written, all this new 3-piece needed was a vocalist to complete their line-up. After many awkward moments trying to get rid of super-keen yet not so super-talented candidates, Mule suggested an old school buddy, Phill Black who fronted his first band, to try crack the nod. A week later Chasing Friday was born.

ANDREW KELLY SPEAKS TO AMAZE MAGAZINE

Andrew Kelly winner of April 2012 Stand up comedy competition and he has agreed to speak to Amaze Magazine about his experience with Make A Star!

maze Magazine: Tell us a joke!

Andrew: Did the Mayans take into account Leap Years when prophesying our annihilation? Amaze Magazine: What do you think of Make A Star? Andrew: I really like the MakeaStar system because if you get into the Quarterfinal round it's like March Madness (college basketball hoops) where u win or go home. Also it's 25% judged by fan votes and 75% by a panel of judges. I also like the fact that I won a hundred bucks! Amaze Magazine: How do you come up with your routine? Andrew: The routine comes up in different ways. One example is I had a Punch line that I loved first then I formed the story around that. Amaze Magazine: What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry?

Andrew: For someone breaking into the industry you really must take charge! I spoke with a comedian at a club and told him I was performing at a well-respected club in New York City. He asked me how did you get that? I replied that I called them up... Amaze Magazine: What are the negatives of the industry? Andrew: There's definitely a lot of favoritism where it might not really be earned. I've seen comedians who I thought were not as funny as me get preferential treatment. But in the end I do believe the work wins out! Amaze Magazine: How do you adjust your act depending on the audience? Andrew: I did a St. Patrick's Day show and noticed the other comedians were doing well with a, well, dirtier presentation so i adjusted my act and Rocked the house! Amaze Magazine: What has been youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re career highlight so far? Andrew: I guess my career highlight has been that infamous show (still don't know why they laughed so hard?) on St. Patrick's Day but just recently I was on a radio show that was grand fun and the intelligent, creative community I'm involved with is a source of daily laughter...and weekly Therapy!

KILLIAN A

bout two years ago, at the age of twenty, Killian turned in her well-worn ballet pointe shoes for a pair of cowboy boots and a guitar. She spent her entire life in ballet studios all over the United States grooming herself for a professional ballet career. The result was two-fold: a contract with a professional ballet company at Ballet Arizona AND the distinct realization that she was much happier playing her guitar and singing in her hot car during daily lunch breaks. The lunch breaks in the car turned into cathartic songwriting sessions, often times making Killian late to ballet rehearsal. It was a difficult decision for Killian to turn her back on a lifetime of dance training and ballet performance, but while she appreciated the numerous opportunities and lessons learned during her life as a professional ballerina, Killian learned that dance did not feed her soul: music did. www.killiansmusic.com

LUNIC

"All-girl New Yorkers Lunic make distinctive and sultry psychedelic indie with hints of downbeat British electronica acts The xx and Portishead. Mournful dashes of violin and melodic lead guitar flourishes." -NXNE

unic is an all-female electropop band from New York City consisting of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Kaitee Page, electric MIDI violinist Megan Berson, and live drummer, Masha Mayer. The band was formed in London, UK in early 2008 and is currently based in New York City. Lunic released their debut album, Lovethief, in May 2009 and their new album, Future Sex Drama, is coming summer 2012. Lunic has toured the US, UK, & Canada and have shared the stage with Moby, Mindless Self Indulgence, Company of Thieves, Creed, Meiko, Deluka, Hypernova, Robert Francis, Bell X1, and many more, and now they are doing Q&A with Amaze Magazine... What style of music are you? Electro indie, electro pop. Who influenced you? At the moment, we're listening to a lot of female-fronted bands like Ladytron, The xx, Warpaint, Portishead, The Kills, Lights, Garbage, Metric, The Organ Where can people find out more about you? www.LunicMusic.com Facebook.com/LunicMusic Youtube.com/iLoveLunic Why did you enter Make A Star and has it opened any opportunities up for you? We wanted to present our music video to a new audience, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting us featured on various websites and in various magazines. What are your thoughts on the music industry at the moment? It is what it is. We try to celebrate the little victories along the way and make the best of it. What would you say to anyone looking to enter Make A Star? Do it! What is your biggest ambition? To spread our music to as many people as possible, worldwide.

VALERIE ORTH C

an you tell me a little about your history?

Born and raised in New Jersey, I believe I started singing as soon as I could talk. I was in my first theater production when I was 4, and performed in musical theater until I was 20. Then I finally started sitting in with bands as a vocalist, later picked up guitar and started writing my own original songs. I also spent time studying drumming and dance in Ghana, and singing in an African diaspora a capella choir at Tufts University. I wanted to play guitar so I didn't have to depend on anyone else to perform my songs. Still, I wanted a band to fully represent my music, so I started forming bands in 2005. I

met my match in 2009: Romani (ethnic Gypsy) bass player Veronika Safarova from the Czech Republic, who you see in the "Relinquish" video, and who recorded on all of our singles after my full length album, "Faraway City" (produced by Tori Amos's bass player, Jon Evans).

There was a moment in my life where music wasn't entirely the center focus - I was a grassroots campaigner for various human rights non-profits and unions for years, working for social and economic justice. Now I try to tie that activism into my music, when possible. What style of music are you? Rock with a unique blend of groove, edgy folk, soul and even some reggae. It's righteous, honest,

and genre-bending. Who influenced you? I've been influenced by artists as diverse as Ani DiFranco, Bjork, Zap Mama, Meshell Ndegeocello, Portishead, Jeff Buckley, Bebe, Matisyahu, Manu Chao, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and Radiohead. Where can people find out more about you? After almost 2 years spent conceptualizing and building it, we're just about to launch our new website - www.valerieorth. com - check it out! It has links to all of our social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, etc. Why did you enter Make A Star?

Our fearless music video director, Jason Mongue, won the Make A Star contest last year with him music video for Shovelman. It was his suggestions to enter into Make A Star. Has it opened up any new opportunities for you? Besides this magazine article, the Make A Star contest allowed a lot more people to watch our video. We also made a video for my song "Blinding," which we hope to enter in the near future. We hope for more opportunities soon! What are your thoughts on the music industry at the moment? Anyone can be in the game, which makes it an indie

musician's market, but it also means there are a lot more artists and music to sift through. So, it's not any easier to "make it" than it's been in the past. It's just different, and challenges, strategies and techniques change constantly. What would you say to anyone looking to enter Make A Star? Do it! It's free to enter and it's another way to engage your fans. And once you do enter, make sure you constantly (and tactfully) remind your fans to vote. What is your biggest ambition? I want to share my music worldwide by having regular, successful international tours with my band -and have a team

of people to book, manage and promote. Veronika and I have done all the booking, promoting and managing ourselves and it can be overwhelming - I'm sure I'll always do that type of work for the band but I want to focus more time on the music, songwriting and performing, connecting with my fans in person. I also want to add that, viewing music as a healing power unlike any other, I play often at juvenile halls, homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation centers, and high schools for "at risk" youth. The rewards go both ways - one teenage girls in a juvenile hall, said after one of my performances: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will remember this the rest of my life.â&#x20AC;?

WANT MORE? SURPRISE!! IN THE BIZ MAKE A STAR PRESENTS:

AYDILGE

ONE OF THE WINNERS!

5 MONTHS IN ONE... MAGGY ADELEYE

FEATURING:

ANDREW KELLY

hilst we down-tools and reconfigure the magazine we are proud to announce that we are not going away, far from it...

NIELLA D BIG INTERVIEWS & THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE COMPETITION...

In two months time we will be returning with another edition of In The Biz as our way of giving you something to look forward too. Our next edition will be live on the 3rd September 2012 with

some great new interviews and highlights from the music competition. We will also be looking behind the scenes to find out how the competition is put together and find out more about how you can get involved. So consider this an extra special present from the team at Modern Creative Magazine with thanks to Make A Star.

www.makeastar.com

CHASING FRIDAY - VALERIE ORTH - LUNIC - KILLAIN - MELISSA VANFLEET - IAN FLEMMING & THE SECRET AGENTS & MORE...

www.makeastar.com

Amaze Magazine - August Edition

My Online Band Explanation

yOnlineBand.com was created by musicians who met online and where looking for a better way to collaborate. All the software, content, and artwork used on the site is created and maintained by the community. They are made up of professional software architects and developers, graphic artists, and music industry professionals who share passion for music and a desire to make the world a more interesting place. The website allows amateur and professional songwriters, producers, musicians, artists to collaborate using online workspaces, extend their professional networks, and to publish and promote their music.

MY ONLINE BAND: RELOADED MyOnlineBand.com was created by musicians who met online and where looking for a better way to collaborate, and now they have created a special site for Amaze Magazine. All the software, content, and artwork used on the site is created and maintained by the community. We are made up of professional software architects and developers, graphic artists, and music industry professionals who share passion for music and a desire to make the world a more interesting place. Our website allows amateur and professional songwriters, producers, musicians, artists to collaborate using online workspaces, extend their professional networks, and to publish and promote their music.

We first came across My Online Band by accident but it was one of those accidents that become an important part of who you are, because when the magazine relaunches under our new name, My Online Band will be playing a major part in our future. If you are looking for an environment where you can upload your music tracks, take part in bands virtually, from writing songs, too creating videos and everything inbetween then My Online Band is the place to go. Over the coming months we also plan to make a special announcement concerning the website and our partnership, so look out for that on our website -

www.moderncreativemag.com Tim Knight

MY ONLINE BAND TOP SONGS. CRYPT SEX Sharkboy

Fairytales Bluemeanie72

Vengeance Sharkboy

Addicted Lingah

Awake Project_Junky

Fists of Righteous Harmony Sharkboy

Still Sharkboy

Amaze Magazine - August Edition

SONGOF the MONTH Our team pick what they believe is the best song they have come across this month. To get featured, send us your track to listen too.

his month we have chosen a band from our ‘Hometown Heroes’ article - Freeze the Atlantic with their track ‘This Fight’ taken from their upcoming ‘Speakeasy Album Sampler’ You can click the image to hear it for yourselves. For your chance to be featured in the Song of the Month page all you have to do is send us a link to your music that you would like the team to consider. The cool thing about this is that it can help you reach a whole new audience so it is defo worth doing and you can send everything you have to timknight81@gmail.com. Everyone that is featured here will get a FREE intetrview inside Modern Creative Magazine as well as a chance to help us choose the following months tracks. We think that it is important to

Freeze the Atlantic: This Fight help bands share their music with the world and so this is our little way of contributing. The next time we will be doing the ‘Song of the Month’ as a regular feature will be our Christmas edition, however, we will accept entries from now. A strict condition is that you must join our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/moderncreativemagazine. There are several new features that we will be introducing with the new magazine, including the Song of the Month, and the My Online Band Chart which is on the other page, plus we will

creating new articles based on themes such as ‘How to find the cheapest equipment’ and ‘Our experience in the industry’ etc... We are aiming for a Christmas edition to launch the new look magazine, but in the meantime we will be releasing our minimags including Make A Star’s ‘In the Biz’ magazine and possibly a monthly update magazine too. To stay up to date and find out more information, please join our Facebook page where you can get exclusive access to everything that is going on behind the scenes at Modern Creative Magazine. Tim Knight - Editor.

Introducing: Singing Competition

Singing Competition Open Mic UK is the biggest music competition in the UK for singers, songwriters, rappers and solo artists to showcase their music and get signed.

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Thousands of acts audition from throughout the UK ..... Are you good enough TO AUDITION?

Open Mic UK gives you plenty of opportunities including the chance to perform live in front of industry Judges from National Radio, BBC Introducing, Regional Press Celebrity Judges and of course an audience of your fans! Make it through the audition stage of the competition and YOU COULD BE PLAYING IN THE NATIONAL GRAND FINAL at The O2 in London! Over £50,000 in prizes are up for grabs along the way, with the winner netting £5,000 cash, the runner up receiving £2,500 and the remaining age category winners receiving £1,000! So, what are you waiting for? Enter Open Mic UK Now! Singing Auditions Auditions are held all over the UK, where you will get to perform in front of our prestigious judging panel. Should you be successful, you will be put through to the Open Mic UK showcase Regional finals, where you’ll battle it out for a place at the National Grand Final. With the Live stages being filmed for Sky TV. We have limited places, so please register early! Auditions begin in August.

The Showcase Regional FInals

If you’re successful in your audition you will be given a place in the showcase Regional Finals which will be at the most prestigious venues throughout the UK. The Regional Finals will include all the best unsigned acts in your region in a showcase to Judges from National Radio, BBC Introducing, Regional Press & record labels, as well as a huge live crowd! You will be battling for a place in the National Grand Final taking place at Indigo at The O2 in London, where you will perform in front of over 2,000 people. Open Mic UK National Showcase Grand Final

This is it, the climax of the competition! You could be performing live on stage at the National Grand Final of Open Mic UK in front of a packed audience and professional judging panel! All in a bid to become the UK’s best on the mic. The winners will be crowned in front of a capacity crowd and celebrity judges, as well as a host of media and music industry specialists! Audition for Open Mic UK Now The judges will be looking primarily at musical ability and performance capability. The act’s image must be one that’s distinctively individual and original, and they must retain an air of professionalism on and off stage. The judges will be seeking an act that has the potential to be successfully launched in the UK as a major recording artist.

Open Mic UK

So, what are you waiting for? Enter Singing Competition Open Mic UK Now!

What style of music are you and who are your influences? My style of music is hip-hop. I have so many influences because I’m a fan of many genre’s of music. My main hip-hop influences are, Mac Miller, A tribe called quest, Logic and Kixxie Siete, Rizzle Kicks and Odd Future. I’m mainly into old skool classic hip-hop. What equipment do you use to record your music? I haven’t recorded any music yet, but I will be getting into the studio this week. Who do you promote yourself? I promote myself using the social network (Facebook, Twitter) doing local gigs any by letting people know about my positive thinking really. I represent an ideology called B.R.O.S which stands for Bringing Real Optimistic Sound. That’s the movement I’m representing in my music. B.R.O.S is a way of life. What are the positives of you’re industry? The positives are that you get to be in a position to influence people with your music, also that you get to perform for a living. What are the negatives? The negatives are that a lot of artists are money orientated and don’t make music for the love of it. Basically selling out. What do you think of Open Mic? Open Mic was a great experience and it help me develop a lot as an artist. I’m humbled by the fact that I won it. People should because it enabled you to develop a lot as an artist. You really learn a lot about who you are during the journey. What is it like to be signed to BGM? It’s still early day’s, but I know that a lot of great thing’s are going to come out of this opportunity. What advice could you give to someone? Advice I would give is to work extremely hard, but most importantly always remember who you are and who you want to be. Don’t let other’s sway you from your dream.

HATTY KEANE What is your style of music?

Urban Pop, catchy with big beats behind it. Who are your influences? Blondie, Rihanna, Beyonce, Pink. How do you promote yourself? I have a team of people at BGM (my label) who promote me, and I do as much as possible to keep up the profile, performances, magazine shoots, recording and keeping my fanpage constantly updated! What are the positives of your industry? It’s different everyday, vibrant and full of interesting people! And the music obviously is what I live for so! What are the negatives? It’s a hard industry and it can knock you but its all about hard work! What fo you think of Open Mic UK? Why should people enter? I think it’s a brilliant platform, and people should enter to gain exposure and experience! What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry? Work hard and get up when you fall. What are your favourite experiences of the industry so far? Performing for 20,000 was insane and this year Ive started working with big producers and I'm finally hearing my own sound and I love it!

Coco and the Butterfields crowned best unsigned act 2012! Coco and the Butterfields have been crowned as the best unsigned act of 2012 after winning Live and Unsigned in front of a sell-out audience at The O2 on Saturday. The band Coco and the Butterfields from Canterbury have taken away £10,000 to develop their music and an incredible 18 date summer festival tour including a trip to Tour Fest in Rome. They were crowned Live and Unsigned champion at Proud2 within The O2 on Saturday night, describing the victory as ‘Brilliant, it hasn’t really sunk in yet. We’ve got so much out of the competition. In each round we’ve won something, now we’ve won the whole thing, it’s amazing’! The band won festival slots at Beach Break Live and Paddle Round the Pier in the earlier rounds of the competition. They also bagged a vintage guitar and a Blackstar amp before they even got to The O2 for the Grand Final. Coco and the Butterfields first won the Indie & Alternative Grand Final with their genre crossing brand of ‘Fip Fok’ (a combination of Hip-Hop, Folk and Pop) on Saturday night before being announced as the overall Live and Unsigned 2012 Champion, having their prize presented to them by Radio One DJ Ras Kwame, who was judging the event. As well as heading to Italy, Coco and the Butterfields will now tour the country taking in 18 dates at Tour Music Fest in Rome, Cockermouth Rock Festival, Leopallooza, Stockton Weekender, Strawberry Fields Festival, Relentless Energy Boardmasters, Edinburgh Fringe, Festibelly, Glass Butter Beach, Just So Festival, Bingley Music Live, Brownstock, Sundown, Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival, Deafbox Fest, Brisfest, London Summer Jam and Lancaster Music Festival. Coco and the Butterfields beat more than 10,000 other acts to eventually win the biggest competition for original performers in the UK. As well as winning £10,000 to spend on development they will receive £10,000 worth of publicity investment, and an animated music video worth £10,000 courtesy of Gavdude. Also winning prizes through Live and Unsigned were Contraband who won the Rock & Metal Final, Leon Bratt who was crowed best acoustic act, and Molly who won the Urban/Pop category. Along with Ras Kwarme, other judges on the day included: Kerrang! Unsigned presenter Alex Baker, Kiss FM Breakfast Presenter Charlie Hedges, NME New Music Editor Matt Wilkinson, one half of Artful Dodger Mark Hill, Universal A&R man Solomon Penumuchi, Metal Hammer’s Dayal Patterson and Si Hulbert who produces for Ed Sheeran & One Direction. Further festival slots were given out on the day as well as a Fret King Guitar endorsement, a Natal drum kit and Blackstar and TC Electronic amps. Chris Grayston, Events Director of Live & Unsigned commented: “this is a fantastic achievement for Coco and the Butterfields. They’re definitely the most original winner we’ve ever had. They beat a massive pool of talent on the day to take the £10,000 which they can spend on development as they like. They festival tour will be an incredible experience for them too and a great way of getting their name out there even further!” Live and Unsigned is the biggest original music competition in the UK for unsigned bands and artists. Attracting over 40,000 musicians to enter this year, it has set itself apart from its predecessors by promoting originality. To secure your audition place for next year’s competition, go to www.liveandunsigned.uk.com

SARAH WARREN

Sarah Warren answers some Q&A after being part of Live & Unsigned. Describe your style of music: My music is acoustic-pop, catchy melodies, but also has a unique/indie edge. What was it like to be part of Live&Unsigned? Incredible- I never thought I'd get this far at all, but everything has completely taken off now I have tonnes of gig opportunities. It's reassuring to have professionals recognizing my music, not just friends and family. Gives me and incentive to carry on.

What advice could you give to someone looking to do something similar? It takes a lot of rejection to get success-for years your music won't seem very special and I certainly had my fair share of rejection. But the criticism is very useful, don't ignore it-take on board what people say and act upon it then they have nothing to complain about. Eventually, and it takes time, you'll have more confidence in yourself and people will see that. Basically it's a very long learning process, but be

self-critical AND confident, it's so worth it. Remember music is all opinion, some will like, some won't, but just go for the sound you want, this makes you individual. Most importantly: Don't sign anything! The majority of "record deals" are not a big deal (and sometimes cons) and plus, you're better off on your own. What are the positives/ negatives of the industry? When things go well, as they are for me at the moment, you feel amazing and the judges/

promoters or whoever else you're networking with make you feel very confident about your music. This is all great, but it's easy to lose sight of reality and the industry is immensely competitive. There are massive ups and downs all the time and life can get VERY busy and stressful. But performing is the best feeling, live music is where it's at. Unfortunately, some singers mime or use autotune and this is very sad, because people that can't sing simply shouldn't pretend they can. Recording/live music technology is very clever, but it's abused

in these situations. Are you looking forward to Summer Sound? Very much some and Charlie (my cellist) are performing on the main stage, so this will probably be the biggest concert yet. We can't really believe our luck recently, this is our first concert abroad and I think the whole weekend is going to be so fun. Has being part of Live & Unsigned opened new doors?

I've got more gigs in 2 months than I had all of last year! I love performing, so I'm happy. Playing at the 02 is probably one of the most exciting things that's every happened to me. I do have A level exams going on at the moment (maths, physics, music), so stress levels are high, but I'm looking forward to my booked up summer. I'm most looking forward to the olympics-I have 2 weeks of busking slots in Weymouth, where the sailing is - so that's my summer job sorted!

New York is one of the world’s most influential cities, in art, theater, banking, industry and so much more. So it’s no surprise that its vibrant and robust music scene follows suit. It is one of the world’s true music hubs, generating countless artists whose works have shaped our culture. At the heart of the New York music scene is historic and iconic Greenwich Village (GV), where such luminaries as Paul Simon, Art Garfunkle, Bob Dylan, Joni Michel, Jimi Hendrix, James Taylor, Lady Gaga (Bitter End) Frank Zappa (Thompson St. at The Elbow Room & The Village Gate) and

countless others honed their musical craft. But if you peel back the veneer of Superstar-autographed photos and look past the aura left behind by the world’s music royalty, you’ll see a very real and thriving music culture, complete with struggling artists, anxious club owners and adoring (or not so adoring) music fans. Indeed, on any given night (or day in most cases) you can wander down Bleecker Street and pop into a pub or club to see some of the most talented musicians anywhere play mere inches from your eyes.

Unlike most other venues, eye-contact with these musicians is the norm. Better still, you’re often seated so close that you can strike up a conversation with them between or after sets. This close interaction drives home the point that these musicians are very real people, with real hopes, dreams, quirks and, of course, talents. And that fact remains regardless of how successful a performer becomes. Unfortunately, the more famous a musician becomes, the less we see the very real human that lies within, since agents, managers and promoters carefully script

the persona we ultimately see. So in order to show a little bit of the human reality behind the Greenwich Village MusicSuperstar-Generating-Machine, I interviewed Marcello Capparelli and Kenny Kramme, two successful veteran musicians who have been active and influential in the Greenwich Village music scene for the past 20 years. Kenny is an incredibly talented drummer, known for his precision and keen insight. He is often called upon to work with some of the most famous rock bands around the world. Marcello is an amazingly

talented guitarist. Having studied at the world renowned Guitar Institute in Los Angeles California, his unique combination of raw instinct, backed by a prodigious understanding of music structure and theory, make him one of the most sought after artists on the GV scene. Both Kenny and Marcello have played together in various bands throughout the village. They’ve earned recording contracts and have toured with the likes of Kiss and The Scorpions. How did you get started in the Greenwich Village music

scene? M: I used to go down to GV, hang out and watch with fake ID at 19 yrs. Paul Schafer. Guitar Guys from Hell, Marc Bosch – phenomenal bluegrass style on Fender Telecasters. Watching guys like that defined who I wanted to be. I knew I needed to get the ideas out of my head like they did. Trading solos, totally improvisational. Mike Stern Jazz Fusion guitarist – would completely blow my mind at a club on Stonewall. $8 got you two drinks and the enjoyment of watching Mike Stern for an entire set. Talk about closeness between musicians and audience:

Sat so close to him that he would accidently hit me with the headstock of the guitar. He was very gracious and would apologize in the middle of the set. Later on the interactions as I was working in GV and found myself embraced by other musicians who were congenial and truly felt it best to nurture other musicians really influenced. As opposed to One of the first act I ever saw on Bleeker St. (at Back Fence). Greg Aulden – Solo folk, grunge, rock covers playing there for perhaps 40 years. Amazing voice and guitar talent. Unbelievably, Back Fence is closing this year. K: Around 1990, I was living in the New York suburbs, when I saw an ad in the Village voice. A friend of mine, John Conroy and I started to go to open jam night at Kenny’s Castaways, on Bleecker. It’s a couple doors down from the Back Fence (unfortunately it is also closing for good soon). We started a band called Little Big Man. We wanted to be where the action was. So we got an apartment overlooking Bleecker

Street, across from a famous pub, called the Red Lion. Living and working there I made a lot of connections very quickly. It wasn’t long before I started playing for Peter May and the Mayhem. Peter May has long been a focal point of talent, down on Bleecker. On any day you could see him networking, promoting his band and also helping other musicians out, all around the village. He is also known as “The Dude” around GV. We played at all of the most popular live entertainment places, The Elbow Room, Terra Blues, La Margarita, The Back Fence, Kenny’s Castaways, The Red Lion, The Lion’s Den, and on and on. Lots of places to play. Lots of clubs. Lots of audiences. Oh and one of my favorites was this basement pub called The scrap Bar – If Guns and Roses were playing the Garden, they would hang out at the Scrap Bar after the show. It wasn’t unusual to hang out with some of the greatest musicians in the world in there. Some awesome talents to see in the village: Marc West – Base player and Singer – one of the best singers you are likely

to hear in your life. Vinny Ferrone – singer song writer. Still plays there – I have some gigs coming up with them this month. What were some of the most difficult parts? M: Getting your sound (tone) down. Know that in every room or place the sound of the same equipment can be very different. Getting over differences. In this respect having the right equipment can be important. No you don’t need to spend thousands and thousands. But you need reliable equipment. Fender Strat for $600 and a Fender Reverb Delux amp an excellent basic setup that will allow you to control your sound and tone very well and very quickly. Les Paul guitar also good. Know the audience shredding vs sweet tonal music. Know how it comes across to the audience. Shredding is not so popular in small venues. K: Paying the rent is the most difficult part. Rent is very high

in NYC. When I started out, rent was $2k/month. Today it is many times that. We [musicians] work hard, but only make about $100 per gig. Playing the music is easy. Paying the rent is hard. But that’s the reality of it. If you want to be a dancer, you know going into it that you’re in for a life of sore feet. If you want to be a painter, you’ll have to deal with paint under your fingers, working hard to sell your work and barely scrape by. If you’ve committed to live in NY under such harsh conditions, you’ve already shown dedication beyond what most people would. What’s the silver lining? Silver linings are personal. Some kids get married fresh out of school and have 5 kids and that’s the thing they want to do. The silver lining for me is if I didn’t lead my life the way I had, I would always wonder “what if?” I’ve been all over the world, and played with the best. Moving to Bleecker St was the biggest part of that. If I hadn’t done it I would never have had the experiences and successes I’ve had.

Is GV just for seasoned musicians? M: No it’s a great place to gain experience beyond open mic nights. Learning music and the very important aspect of getting on and off the stage quickly so the next guy can do a full set. K: People come from all over the world to be musicians in NYC. I know two great bass players from Poland, a singer from Serbia, and other musicians from Canada, Australia and lots of other countries who came to stay and work in NY. The reason they come is that there are a lot of live music venues in NYC. Plus the ability to meet other musicians. It’s a melting pot that brings together different styles and artists … and it creates greatness. That melting pot blends talents to create great music, bands, musicians and as a matter of fact – all artists. Open mic night is not dead in NYC. So there is still a place for young new musicians. One venue may close, but another will open. And It’s not just GV but all

over the city. Brooklyn has a new music scene opening up right now. It will never stop. I played all over NY, in GV outside of GV, lots of people want music. It’s alive and it continues to grow. People embrace new musicians. What is the business aspect like; club managers, booking gigs, getting payed, etc? M: I was lucky that I got hired by a lot of bands. My own gigs were more difficult. Some club owners were dishonest; you are promised a certain rate to bring in a particular sized crowd and they would find excuses to not honor the deal when you came through. Luckily they were few and far between. When you’re starting it helps to have friends because they are more forgiving of your mistakes. But as a hired gun they are more critical. But in the end if you’re not a good musician, sound very good and not professional, you won’t get more gigs. Being a good musician doesn’t guarantee success. You can bee technically good but lack artistry.

Emulating your favorite guitarist is not artistic. The crowd wants to like you. Most of the work is done – all you have to do is sound good. The simpler you keep it, the faster you glow. Be yourself as a musician.

is. Social skills are important in any business, including music.

There’s always competition in any business and any facet of life and that’s a good thing. If you don’t have drive, then why do it? You become a musician to K: People make very little money become as good as your at music. They do it for the love mentors or your influences. of music. Certainly not because Another drummer will want to do they’re cleaning up. When you what I do and better to give the play, you like to make people audience more. Who wouldn’t smile. Last time I played the Back want to be the best drummer or Fence it was 1 to 4 AM, guitarist? Everyone wants to be hammering away at the drums… that breakthrough guy. In NYC, and the people were loving it! just like the song says, if you can People’s smiles, that’s half my make it here you can make it pay, the other half is money. anywhere. The people who aren’t gonna make it fall out of the race You could cave and play just for pretty quickly. Those who are the money. That’s when you find left become friends. The strong a rock musician playing become friends and the weak go Broadway show tunes he doesn’t home. Nothing personal, that’s like. A lot of people let just the way it works. themselves be forced to play songs they don’t like. That’s not I have helped lots of young the GV NYC music scene that drummers because they are I’m in. We play because we like good guys with passion. People what we’re playing. I find it more helped me and I continue and fulfilling. help others. Not a pay it forward thing, just human kindness. What is the social aspect like; Some will try to use you as a do you pal around after hours ladder and step all over you. But with other GV musicians? not everyone is like that. M: The other artists in GV are more embracing, friendly, nurturing. Not like LA scene where I saw a lot of animosity, competition and rivalry. They recognize that helping each other helps yourself and everyone else ... most importantly the audience. K: I’ve always felt when I was younger … I felt like I was a little shy. Being in a band in front of people every day for years has definitely made me more outgoing, improved my social skills. Touring around the world opened my eyes to how small this ball of dirt we live on actually

Tell me about any of the bad personalities you have encountered and how to best deal with them. M: Overly competitive. Not courteous. Don’t announce you. Don’t get your equipment off the set quickly. I don’t like to dwell on those people. K: There are definitely some bad people out there. I try to keep the bad guys on their own island. What were some of the biggest successes for you, resulting from your time on Bleecker

Street? M: If you measure success by enjoyment, then every time I get to perform in front of people is such a rush and so enjoyable that each gig is equally successful. But if you measure it in other ways, then I would have to say that touring with Kiss and opening for the Scorpions were by far my most successful developments. K: Definitely the best thing that happened was that Bleecker St made me a professional. You can learn how to play in a basement, in your bedroom, but you don’t learn how to be a professional musician that way. Being in front of the crowd, being out, dealing with people. The success is receiving all the knowledge that you could possibly need to be a professional musician for the rest of your life. Once I graduated from Bleecker U [not a real school], I could go on to do much bigger things. Like playing with Joe Lynn Turner, Bonamossa, the Fourth Floor, Alice Cooper, The Scorpions, Leslie West, Living Color. Meet BB king, The Allman Brothers, Kiss, Ted Nugent, playing on the TV News show Huckabee. K: Social networking. Facebook is one of the strongest tools you can use to get people to come to your shows, hear your music, etc. I used to hand out flyers. Now I just post on facebook.

MEMBERS: Maisie Brizzolara vocals/guitar/synth Henry Louis Ogilvi Dabrowski - lead guitar Jakei 'Marmiyte' Marmot - Drums Alex Montgomerie-Corcoran-bass LINKS: http://sherlocksdead.tumblr.com/ http://twitter.com/sherlocksdead http://www.myspace.com/sherlocksdead http://www.sherlocksdead.bandcamp.com

INDIGO SEA Review by Tim Knight

DOWNLOAD FREE

Sherlock’s Dead debut ep ‘Indigo Sea’ is a bold attempt at trying to create a sound that is different to the current crop of manufactured bands churning out the usual drippy pop rubbish. The vocals are catchy and the singer has her own unique style that makes me think she will be set for big things, whilst the musical arrangement is quirky and when it all comes together you have a very promising band that people should look out for, best of all the ep is free to download, so don’t just take my word for it, go download it for yourself and make your own mind up. One of the things about this band that really highlighted to me their dedication was the fact that they have stuck to their own style and haven’t tried to copy anyone else, you can view their videos on Youtube where they have posted their first music video which is a clever little stop/start animation feature, as well as videos showing their ‘Almost Acoustic’ recording sessions. In fact I would suggest checking these out first, before listening to the album because you can really soak up their style and so when you listen to their ep, you can connect with them in a more meaningful manner. I’ve written a few notes about the band’s ep ‘Indigo Sea’ to give you an idea on what your letting yourself in for when you download it, but just bear in mind, music is a very personal thing, so you may take away a totally different feeling from it. Indigo Sea Track Listing: 01. Cinema of the Mind. A decent opening track which instantly highlights how quirky they are and sets you up for the rest of the ep. 02. Moonstroke. I imagine listening to this song in a smoked filled room at a house party towards the end of the night when your between that period of still enjoying the party, but feeling the effects of partying all night, and wanting to go home. I could imagine it being that type of song that just keeps you chilled and happy whilst you discuss the finer points of the evening. 03. Run Like Clockwork. Another solid effort by the band, I think this is probably the least quirky song of the ep, but instead that quirkiness is replaced by a catchy melody and I found it an easy to listen too enjoyable song which is perfect to listen too on those ‘long nights’ when your up trying to get work done or just want to chill out. 04: The End of Tomorrow. Kicks off straight into that quirky sound again, and you find yourself bubbling along with the band, which seems to be a theme for the whole release, as the song progresses it picks up a bit and gets more intense giving you high expectations of what the band could achieve as they release more material. You can see why they made this song into a video. I can actually hear a little of ‘The Doors’ in there with some of their sound too. 05: Losing You, Losing Me. It starts off pretty slow and chilled and pretty much stays in that vibe the whole song, but you find yourself bubbling along with the song and just enjoying the chilled atmosphere of it.

Q&A

The band provide us with some Q&A thanks to We Love Your Songs who put us in contact with them, find out more about them below.

Can you tell us a little about the band, who are you, why have you become a band? Jake: I remember our first “jam.” Me and Henry on the upper deck of a bus with a stylophone were feeling incredibly cool because we had learnt 12:51 by The Strokes, and we had just got exactly the right sound. We even managed to get our first fans on that journey. It was from that point on we realised how much we loved playing music together and so formed Sherlock’s Dead, albeit with a different line-up. Henry: It took us a while to realise that we couldn’t play all the instruments and realise that we needed to have other people, and a while longer after that to

realise that they needed to be the right people Alex: yeah, I wasn’t in the band from the start, and wasn’t even a bassist when I joined the band. I play a lot of jazz guitar and also saxophone in various bands. I’d played in crappy rock band for a competition, but it was nothing compared to when I joined Sherlock’s dead. The sound that we made when we first jammed was awesome. I just wanted to share that awesome sound with the world. Maisie: I think I had sort of the same sort of entrance into the band as Alex, I’d been in a band in the U.S before here which helped What equipment do you use to produce

your music? Jake: it’s…um…highly sophisticated. Henry: Oh, yeah, we’re strong believers of using what we’ve got instead of going out and buying the newest expensive devices and gizmos so we went through Jake’s attic and dragged out this 80’s mixing board, bought a few cheap mics and set up with a mac and logic in the living room. Alex: For the whole thing I used my £40 bass Maisie: …and I throw in some other instruments sometimes Listening to your music it seems to be very alternative, not what I was expecting,

but it fits your image, why did you choose this direction?

Henry: That’s still a difficult one, we love so much music.

Alex: It’s the music we want to play. It isn’t any exact style of music, it is just music that we enjoy and we hope that other people will enjoy it too.

Maisie: I love the 80’s stuff like the smiths, acdc and led zep.

Henry: Yeah, i mean our songs didn’t really get made with any template in mind; they were all created around whatever we were listening to at the time and whatever mood we were in. I also think that London played a big part in the writing process; people always think that cities can’t be beautiful, but they’re wrong, I’ve drawn much inspiration from London. Who are your influences?

Jake: We’re all so different with our influences. Mitch Mitchell is my main influence on drums for his almost jazz-like influence on Jimi Hendrix, showing you can take components from completely different genres, and not only will they work, but they will add a whole new dimension to the music. Alex: Yeah, I’m also influenced by jazz. Bands like the brecker brothers and the average white band are a big inspiration. With a lot of new bands which are similar to us, you

find most bass lines tend to be straight and continuous, but adding some funk in with the shoegaze feel of some of our songs gives them a much more interesting rhythm. Henry: I would be committing a crime if I didn’t mention either Joshua Hayward (The Horrors) or Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) somewhere here for the guitar influence. I mean there’s other more unlikely ones too such as Jim Root (Slipknot) but that’s more for technical stuff. What advice could you give to aspiring musicians wanting to do something in a similar style? Jake: I know this sounds monumentally clichéd,

recorded with the band and so far loads of people have watched and liked it.

but enjoying it is the key component to making great music. Find people you like to play with, and eventually something will click. I feel like giving advice beyond here would be meaningless, as we have barely reached this stage, but if you have fun playing music, then even if you never hit the big time, it will always be worth it. Henry: Don’t force anything. If you force yourself to write music it comes out like someone else’s music whereas if you just wait until you have a brilliant idea then although it might have been inspired by someone else it’s completely you. Maisie: oh and play at every chance you get, try things out and don’t

rely on covers How have you found the process of marketing yourselves? Alex: Quite easy, since Henry and Jake do most of it. Jake: Yeah, without putting people off, it is a bit of a bore. I’m the one in the band lumbered with the task of emailing record companies, venues, anywhere that will get some attention. It can be tedious, but it is worth it! Maisie: Well’ it’s not all us, we have great fans as well. We were recently shared by Alex Turner and that wasn’t us, that was the fans. Henry: At least it looks like whatever we’re doing is working

Have you ever thought about using platforms like Kickstarter.com to pay for recording your ep’s? Henry: Not as yet but maybe we will. Jake: Although, there is something cool about recording in Henry’s living room. The xx used a bathtub to create reverb, proving you don’t need to be high-tech to be successful. Maisie: We feel like we’ve achieved something quite big by doing this all on our own. What is the song The End of Tomorrow all about? Can you explain it to us? Maisie: This song was actually the first song I

Henry: Aaah yes, that one. The meaning of that song has been the centre of many questions. Well the lyrics we’re written at 4 in the morning and just came to me pretty quickly and easily. To me they really represent what I felt at that particular time because I was just not feeling in touch with anything at all. I mean I don’t like to give too much away about any of the lyrics really because to everyone they could have a complete different meaning and I don’t want to spoil their angle by telling them what I think it should mean. Jake: The song in my

head is about losing hope, perhaps with society. The character is frustrated, and at first calmly questions the world around it. However, frustration builds and the song reaches a climax, before dying again, showing the loss of hope. I find that is too much analysis for a song, though, and should be interpreted however one feels is right in their heads. Henry: …Well that’s taken an emotional turn What would be your dream gig? Alex: Glastonbury! Henry: Glastonbury! Jake: The Glastonbury of the 90’s.

Henry: You had to be different. Jake: What? Since it is a dream, I am allowed to go back in time, right? Maisie: Well mine’s Madison Square Gardens It’s big! and cool, and really represents the successful people out there, I mean right now even a funky festival or a support slot for a known band is good for me Henry: Fine, I’m changing mine then Reading, crowding surfing in a rubber dingy with a guitar as a paddle and a tent made of the people on each others shoulders, that’s good enough for me

Amaze Magazine - August Edition

Jeff Liberty

Introduces us to his new ep.

Describe your style of music! It's always hard to describe your music, but by categorizing it people have a better understanding of who you are. I certainly am influenced by pop music and music on the fringe... I'd describe it as Outsider Pop. What inspired you to sing the way that you do? Well my voice and it's colour and tone is what a higher power has given me.. It is what it is.. I guess inspiring vocalist for me have been Johnny Cash, Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields and Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears. What equipment do you use? Most of the songs I record at my friends Grant Heckman's studio we affectionately call The Bunker in beautiful Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Bunker has an English Allen and Heath soundboard. Grant also co-produced the "Bastard Town EP" with me.. Babette Hayward who co-wrote the original "Bastard Town" with me also has a producer credit for what we recorded in her basement. For demo's at home I have a Tascam 4 track portastudio! What has it been like to be on We Love Your Songs? I am new to the We Love Your Songs community, but I am loving it! It's home to some wonderfully talented unsigned artists and fans committed to promoting some of the best independent music today! What advice could you give to other aspiring musicians? Allthough I make a living in the music business I do it as a artist manager and music columnist. Check out www.jlartists.com My own music is all about self expression and therapy. My advise to any aspiring musicians would be to do what you love with passion, honesty and knowledge. Others will follow if what you do is REALl! Build a team around you of true believer's and be pro-active! It's not just going to fall in your lap! What is your new song about? My new song "Madeleine" off the "Bastard Town EP" was written by myself and good friend Dann Downes. I'm adopted and I began a search for my birth Mother Madeleine Dugas a couple years ago. I found out her name and other important info through the Children's Aid Society in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The song is the story of what I learned about who she was and my journey to find her. I actually found her not to long ago and met her for the first time after over 40 years. It was and continues to be an overwhelming Life experince.. The story is still unfolding. You can listen and vote for the song on the We Love Your Songs website. It's also on Itunes.. Who would you most like to gig with? Well I don't really like to gig! Although I have dreamed about this very question often.. My tastes are really eclectic to say the least. My Top three would be George Michael, Pref

KID BRITISH ....Headlining Heaton Park would be pretty fucking dreamy! One day... What style of music is your band? We like to to think of it as alternative pop music. Basically pop music that doesn't sound like the same mass produced generic crap that gets churned out on a daily basis. We dont stick to solely one sound as we like to experiment with different genres but whatever sound we do make will usually have an infectious melody. What do you think of the current music scene? It goes through its good patches and its bad. I think Its a lot easier for artist to get their music heard these days via online outlets so if people bother to do their research rather than just sit and wait for the radio stations to tell them whats hot and whats not then they will discover some amazing music. I don't think the radio is always a true reflection of whats going on. Who are your favourite bands atm?

My favorite new/ish band is probably a band called Little Comets. They have a Paul Simon/Vampire weekend kind of vibe about them. Their songs are full of social commentary which is what I like about them. What advice could you give to any aspiring band? Try to be as original as possible and know exactly what direction you want to go in before you get into the industry. Be patient as if you believe in yourself and you have the ability it will workout for you eventually. How long was the recording process for the new EP? I think the whole process from writing to recording was about 8 weeks but dont quote me on that!

Are you looking forward to playing with the Stone Roses? Yes, it should be amazing! Its very nerve racking but we will be fine. Its the biggest place we have played to date so we are all just hype and ready to go! What do you think about crowdfunding websites (Kickstarter, etc) to get your music paid for? I dont know enough about them to form a true opinion on them yet but any platform that allows artist to make money from their art sounds good to me. As long as the artists are the ones that come out on top and not the company. What would be your dream gig? Headlining Heaton Park would be pretty fucking dreamy! One day :)

RON ENGLISH TALKS TO AMAZE MAGAZINE. Amaze Magazine managed to summer edition (first catch up for a few questions edition), what was your with the artist Ron English. inspiration for the art work? (and would you be interested You were credited as 'The in doing one for our Greatest Living Artist' on the magazine? credits at the end of Pom wonderful Presents: The The image is about my own greatest movie ever sold... characters taking over pop how does that make you culture. Of course I would feel? create something for you. Very glad about the living part, want to keep that going as long as possible. Also don't mind being called artist.

You appeared in the Simpsons, that must have been amazing? How did that come about?

What is it like to have an action figure based upon your image?

I don't know but I suspect having Matt Groening tag along on a illegal billboard expedition last year might have had something to do with that.

I think everyone should have their own action figure. What advice would you give to an aspiring artist? Befriend a successful artist. Did you ever imagine your life being like this? No, I thought I would be a broke dishwasher and afterhours artist. You created Art Nouveau's

Your previous work has often related too Culture Jamming, can you explain why you take on the orporation? If they are granted all the rights of citizens, they should have the same responsibilities, like paying taxes. Are you looking forward to your group show with Risk,

Trustacorp and Saber? They are my inspiration.. What has been your best experience in your career so far? Doing this interview. How can people get their hands on your work? I guess they could buy it. See outdoor work by Ron English at the London Pleasure Gardens in association with Corey Helford Gallery LA from 30 June until December 2013. See indoor work by Ron English, Risk, Saber and Trustocorp at Black Rat Projects www.blackratprojects.com July 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18

RICHARD SPICER

We talk to Richard Spicer, an artist who isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afraid to speak out about his mental health condition, and actively encourages people to talk openly about it. Can you let our readers know a little more about you? I have painted and drawn for as long as I can remember. I have explored many different experimental and sometimes psychedelic forms based around my circumstances at the time but now as I near 40 and maturity as an artist I tend to be very relaxed in myself. I paint nature from my mind and imagination. These paintings are mainly fauna and plant life although I still enjoy portraiture as well. I paint on a largish scale around 1.5 meters on average. My main enjoyment

when painting comes from creating light, depth and form using multiple layering and by painting negative spaces. It works for me right now but as we grow so our art changes. What I dislike most is plagiarism and artists who jump on a particular bandwagon to cash in on a trend. I find it cheap and irrelevant but I am aware that this is the world we live in so following such trends has its own interest. What equipment/tools do you use for your art?

I use mainly Acrylic paint on board primed with Gesso but also charcoal, pastels and inks What advice could you give to someone looking to become an artist? It sounds obvious but do the work all the time. Work, work, work on your art. Try and treat it like a job instead of a hobby Also be curious about your own work so it develops and most of all, be humble and grateful for the gift. Who are your favourite artists?

I hate this question as there are so many to choose from so many different times and styles but I will say that anyone who creates and puts themselves out there is worthy of praise.

No I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t but I may in the future for some larger pieces I am planning

What are the negatives of being an artist?

Good question but I would love to do something large scale for Kew or the Eden project maybe.

Its obviously quite an isolated and lonely profession but I find radio 2 helps. Have you ever tried to secure funding for your art, and how did you go about it/what happened?

What would be your dream commission?

Why do you like art? What attracts you to this medium instead of something else? I can honestly say that art or more specifically drawing and painting saved me from a young

age from a life of crime or worse. It gave me an outlet and in the end forms part of your character. Ultimately there is no choice in being an artist as you are only really being yourself. Are you available for hire? If so provide more details... I am always available for hire and for commissions. Please contact me at: redsquirrelcreative@gmail.com

How does art help you in relation to your mental health conditions? As I have said it has always helped me as a channel for emotions. It used to be a form of avoidance when I was younger which is clearly unhealthy but as time goes by you mature into a visual language and feel more comfortable in the creative process. Anyone who has experienced trauma in their

life should always remember that experience makes you richer in wisdom and if you are lucky enough you may be ableto pass that wisdom on to others who need help. I am lucky enough to be able to coach others through their crisis in order to be more fruitful. My friend John Richards takes alot of credit for that.

mental health condition when it comes to presenting your art to others?

Do you think there are any drawbacks to having a

Describe a typical day when things are bad, and when

things are good

When things were really bad it was like being trapped down a Personally no, as I have well with no way out but managed my own depression nowadays there is a lot more well but I can imagine it would perspective and balance in my be very daunting for others. life for which I am very grateful. My advice would be to take the Luckily I have amazing friends plunge. Just close your eyes and and partner. You cannot put a jump. price on that. What do you say when it comes to people asking how

you would like to be treated when it comes to your mental health issues? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see it as taboo and speak openly about my experiences and am writing a book about them. I think it is the taboo that makes things worse. 1 in 4 men in the uk suffer from depression and its probably good idea that we all start talking about this epidemic sooner rather than later.

Have you ever considered having an exhibition with other artists who have mental health issues? Why not, it would be interesting as long as the other artists didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel sorry for themselves. I cannot stand that. I believe we should all be grateful every day.

Precious Moments with:

Why did you become a photographer? I have always been interested in photography from a young age, not only for the fun aspect but you can always re-live a memory through a photo, there has been many times I have pulled an old photo album and seen a photo and instantly made me smile, not only at the image that was captured but the story that goes along with it. Along with photography being the passion of mine, I have always loved meeting new people and had a creative side that I have always struggled to express and photography gave me that opportunity, whilst at the same time capturing memories that will last forever for other people. What are your favourite photos? Well I try all sorts of photography Landscape, night, wedding and much more and every good photographer has to be adaptable because you never know what that one unusual situation will bring from the lens of your camera but my favourite styles of photography would have to be one on one portrait shoots, studio or location based and natural photo shoots where you arrange a time and location with the client and let the client carry on as normal say in a park or walking in the woods so you capture their every smile and expression naturally and not forced, some of my most favourite images are of the client not even knowing they had their photo taken, so you capture them in the most natural way, that is the priceless moment for me. What are the positives of the industry? This is easy you get to meet new people every day, make them smile and capture a memory they will hold and cherish forever. Every image you take, you get to tell their story through your photographic art work. What are the negatives? Even though I am only just starting out professionally, I have noticed already there are surprisingly a lot of negatives to the industry and sometimes they out way the positives. For example not only do you rely so much on people being interested in your work that they are willing to pay for you to capture their memory but with basic digital cameras being so affordable and accessible, everyone thinks they can pick up a camera and capture the moments themselves, so you have to work 24/7 to stand out from the everyday photographer, many times I have woken at 3am to write down an idea that sprung into my head and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I keep a pen and paper by my bed. So many people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise that photography is not just turning up and snapping a few photos, there is prepping the location, especially if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wedding as you only have one opportunity to get it right,

James Littlejohn Photography

prepping the kit and being ready for all possible problems, the photo shoot itself, then the hours of editing after words. Also with the DSLR professional range being buy the right kit, like a nice lens or camera body, so it’s a vicious circle, you need to be recognised, so people will pay you, so you can buy new lenses or a top quality camera body, to give you a greater range of photo options, every lens has a different purpose, it’s not like one lens for every occasion and with the most basic lens costing £100 going right up to £4000+, so many people don’t realise the expense involved but after all of this negativity involved I would not change being a photographer and seeing people smile, I just LOVE IT. What do you want to do in the future? This for me is another easy question, I want to be able to be a photographer full time, to be a photographer that people ask for with my work being shown in magazines across the world and to travel around the world capturing everyone’s memories. What equipment do you use?

This question could be an interview on its own. Every professional photographer has a basic go to kit list but there is always a specialist lens or lighting set up that we could add to that list at any point. Personally for me I use Nikon equipment and always have, I started off with a Nikon D60 a perfect starter DSLR in my eyes and I still own that exact camera and it sits on my shelf as a reminder to me of where I started off, I find Nikon so user friendly they seem to place all the buttons and dials in exactly the right place for you to make adjustments on the fly without even thinking about it, which makes capturing that precious moment so simple and smooth. I now own a second hand Nikon D200 which is pretty old in terms of technology compared to a lot of current Nikon DSLRs professional range out there like D3, D3s and the amazing latest Nikon the D4 which is mind blowing in every way and what I wouldn’t do to get hold of when of them isn’t worth mentioning, but for affordability and an introduction into professional photography the D200 is the work horse of Nikon, with its Metal frame body it has so much durability and lets you know you have a camera in your hands. Photographers always have their own preferences in camera make and model

and

What Help do you need? Well I would love to have my name in the lights maybe an opportunity to photograph someone in the limelight and showcase my name with the, to give me that much needed recognition to help me push my name in to the world of photography. I would also love to be affiliated with Nikon who I recently sent a letter too and be able to test and review their products and use them on my every day photography projects, it is so hard to get started in the current climate, I know I have a talent in capturing what people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see I just need to be able to afford the kit to do it. I would personally like to thank Tim Knight and AMAZE Magazine for giving me this opportunity to speak about photography and hopefully I will be seeing you through my lens.

James Littlejohn Photography

I have yet to be on a forum or in a conversation where this exact topic doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause a little debate, however at the end of the day after all the singing and dancing about what equipment is best, as long as the photographer that is using the camera of his or her choice is happy and is capturing that special moment for the client to cherish, then everyone will be happy.

This picture is actually Tim Knightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s niece who was pregnant at the time with AJ (her new son). AJ was born on the 23rd March 2012 weighing 3 pounds 7.

This article was created thanks to our sponsors who put us in touch with the artist. www.creativitybackgrounds.co.uk

Portrait of Genius Selfe Portraits What if……….Titian had been a woman? And had they not been men, would the genius of great artists such as Turner and Rembrandt have been recognized and celebrated? Well, etymologically speaking, probably not: the word ‘genius’ stems from an eccentric Greco-Roman idea that sperm i.e. genus were produced in the head, so genius back then was defined by the alpha male with an impressive procreative score. By the age of the Romantics genius was used to describe artistic, moody men who displayed ‘feminine’ traits of creativity, sensitivity and an emotional disposition. The Romantics believed that these traits could only be made useful by men because women were too intellectually deficient to manage them. Struggle, courage and campaigning has led to an acceptance that in fact intellectual powers belong to both women and men but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that a stubborn hangover of belief in male intellectual superiority remains. This irritating chauvinism inspired Marko Dutka to produce a series of images entitled ‘A Portrait of Genius’ featuring classic octogenarian model and muse Daphne Selfe. The series explores some notions of how genius is and has been perceived in a number of great and celebrated male artists. Dutka studied the self-portraits of among others, a youthful William Joseph Mallord Turner and the stately elder Tiziano Vecellio, aka Titian. The self-regarding gaze of each artist has been subject to Dutka’s intense scrutiny and particularly acute pictorial analysis. Hours of forensic observation have equipped him with a profound visual understanding of these paintings on which the photographic images seen here are based. The construction of Dutka’s photographs is founded on his Fine Art training as a painter himself and also on his experience as a photojournalist. Dutka combines his ability to anticipate a significant moment and capture it in camera along with painterly skill and a detailed knowledge of Art History. This intimate relationship with painting and paintings is reflected in the process of how Dutka produces his images and the decisions he makes regarding their content. Like paintings the photographs in this series are constructed of

many layers: where a painter may under-paint and lay down glaze upon glaze, Dutka begins by ‘sketching’ an environment and then positioning his subject. There follows a painstaking task of directing light sources, some of which will overlap each other to create a layered spectrum of luminescence. Each ‘mark’ that makes the image, whether it is hair, textile, a button, seam, finger, reflection or shadow is there because it is selected to be part of the composition; this is Dutka the painter at work. The transitory, temporal and vital moments snared by the lens are the bounty of Dutka the photojournalist, working with one of the best models in the business.

familiar, popularized image of the Romantic artist known for his tempestuous and arrogant but sensitive genius. Dutka depicts Turner’s ‘feminine’ trait of sensitivity as hesitation, a moment of self-doubt that is directed towards the viewer, perhaps questioning the validity of his/her celebrated self. Turner, the son of a humble London wigmaker reputedly spoke with the stringy, nasally channeled verbal gait that is cockney and perhaps knew what it was to be one of society’s marginals, like women of that time he was perhaps an ‘other’. The dark and complex interpretation of Rembrandts self portrait exhibits the sophistication of Dutka’s image analysis: for this portrait Selfe is bedecked in a richly embellished capelet the surface Daphne Selfe is a vital, charming, fiercely intelligent and of which reflects the varied marks of and gestures of textured light. beautiful woman with a rather impressive profile; she was muse to Like Rembrandt her right side is illuminated and therefore visible, artists Barbara Hepworth and Sir William Coldstream, and is a clearly defined and readable. In contrast to his illuminated right side familiar face in the smarter fashion pages and on television. Rembrandt’s left side is buried in shadow and unless Together Selfe and Dutka re –present some of the great geniuses scrutinized is barely visible. Dutka reads this as the difference of painting’s history by indulging in a little gender manipulation and between Rembrandt's public face as a prestigious, successful and positioning of great age as arresting but unconventional beauty. brilliant painter, and the private self, the one that harbours doubt, In these images Dutka challenges the cultural expectations fashion insecurity and darkness. Selfe is depicted as not quite fully revealed as an economy of sexual desirability that privileges youth and yet other signals direct the viewer to some playful associations with narcissistic display. Instead Selfe, clad in a selection of sumptuously the dark side of life and imagination. The monumental hairstyle in textured and innovatively structured garments, takes charge of the this portrait echoes the volume of Rembrandt’s headwear and also gaze; regarding the viewer from the window of her framed makes a sly reference to Count Dracula’s elaborate ‘updo’ in Martin environment. Scorcese’s (1992) film version of “Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The Selfe as Titian presents a perfect profile resonating in a minimal inference is not that Selfe is evil but that we are constructed from palette of deep, velvet colour accented with pale, buttered ruffles many selves, some of which may be just a little bit wicked. Selfe and a wedding ring that is a small but bright fore grounded detail, projects the subject in this image as a woman who may have been indicating Selfe’s anchorage to family. In place of Titian’s beard, historically perceived as fragile but who is depicted here as imposing Selfe’s sweep of silver horsetail bows across her shoulder and a and definitely a force to be reckoned with. Part matriarch, part robust stroke of light illuminates her profiled forehead to suggest wicked stepmother and part angel Selfe is spectacular and divinely gifted genius. all-powerful. Beauty, intellect, wisdom, experience and frankly, bald As Reynolds, Selfe draws attention to the forehead by casting it into sexual allure of a kind that as a culture we are perhaps shadow. Looking intently beyond the scope of the frame, Reynolds/ unaccustomed to accepting, challenges face on the pre and misSelfe shows off a rakish frilled shirt cuff encircling her kid sheathed conceptions that women have borne for too long. hand, between these and a dark mannish coat the sharp lights of her With this body of work Marko Dutka seeks to make the portrait a eyes shine diamantine. representation of a population, a community but he also means to In this rendition of Reynolds Dutka has Selfe regarding the world depict the personal, the individual, the unique self/Selfe. beyond the frame in confident anticipation, she is gloved, booted and suited. A rock star Romantic, pin sharp and ready to roll. As Turner, Selfe presents a more vulnerable personality than the

Max Payne 3 on PC/PS3/360 By Christopher Lazenby Max Payne was a game changer for 3rd person shooters and shooters in general, it offered a gritty storyline, a likeable but flawed hero and a conspiracy theory loving storyline, but more importantly it bounced off a movie that was released a few years earlier, it was the first game that used "Bullet Time" a mechanic whereby the game world is slowed allowing the player to be more precise with gunshots with the added benefit of looking cool. Max Payne 3 picks up 9 years after Max Payne 2, although alot of what he did in this time is unexplained, it begins where Max's life has taken a turn for the better, he's now working as a security guard for the Bronco family in Sao Paulo, a wealthy family with ties to the Brazillain government, he spends his days escorting his boss' wife and brother to expensive nightclubs while most of the city sits in poverty, after a little while a miltia group kidnaps his boss's wife setting off a chain of events that will throw max straight into a situation he doesn't want to be in. Max Payne was always praised for its "Noire" narrative, offering twisted hallucinations, gritty characters and black humour, MP3 strays from this formula slightly, no more twisted hallucinations, instead Max's infamous inner monlogue has been given centre stage, all the way throughout the game, Max will express his opinion on the current situation, which brings me to the voice acting and the script. Max's original voice actor returns to full voicing and motion capture duties and succesfully brings max back to life, albeit 9 years later, Max's grizzled tones fit perfectly for a man on the edge on the world. The story can be confusing at times, as the plot twists and turns violently, and those people itching for a pure shooter will find the cutscenes annoying, I found they accompanied the entire experience pleasantly, all of them are well directed and there are some truly awesome scenes, all of which are rendered in real time, as the game will jump from cutscene to in game with no loading or break inbetween. Gameplay has been taken at a slower pace, in the previous games, Max was able to bounce around like a rubber ball, taking out groups of enemies in a stunning display of violence, Max Payne 3 takes it back to the board, slows the game down, adding in cover mechanics, which worked so wonderfully well in GTAIV and Red Dead Redemption. Bullet Time is still here, and it's as good as ever, swinging around cover to take out a guy with twin handguns is immensely satisfying, while shootdodging has been refined and will require some hindsight before its used, using it incorrectly will easily get Max killed or at least make him look incredibly stupid as you plough into a filing cabinet or table; but using it correctly and efficiently has made me appreciate the abilitiy far more. Weapon variety is sweet, offering twin handguns, shotguns, assault rifles and even a rocket launcher or two, the ability to mix and match dual weapons allows some crazy combinations, want to use a Sawn Off Shotgun and an UZi? Yeah go for it, or twin Colt .45's? Yeah no problem. The only thing older fans may not appreciate is the emphasis on rifles and assault rifles, but they all serve their purpose and don't take anything away from the already amazing firearms. Shooting through cover or chipping away at cover to deal with an enemy is also possible thanks to the Euphoria engine, which has come a long way for GTAIV, making Max Payne 3 one of the finest looking games on console, PC gamers will receive extensive graphical customisation options, allowing you to tailor it to your preference, although it's far more versatile and well optimised after the GTAIV issue. The only criticisms I can find of Max Payne 3 are the cutscenes and loading times, Cutscenes are often and long, and while the story, direction and voice acting are all top notch, they tend to break up the action far too much, players that are hungry for action will find the breaks annoying. Cutscenes can become dire after a couple of playthroughs, I had seen all the cutscenes and due to loading screens, only portions of cutscenes can be skipped, and if you are going to play this on Xbox 360 without installing it, be prepared to be waiting for a little while. The games length is probably close to 9 or 10 hours including cut scenes, I went throught the game twice, I was totally blown away at some of the gunfights and levels, some of Max's quotes are probably some of the most memorable I've heard and shooting a whole room of guys as a badly shaved drunken ex- cop is stupidly satisfying and brilliant. I award Max Payne 3 a 9 out of 10, Max Payne 3 is not only the one of the best games I've played in 2012, its one of my top games period. it's a great return to Max Payne, keeping all the best bits while steering the series in a new direction.

COMMUNITY ETHOS

ANGEL MUNOZ TALKS PRINCIPLES BY CHRISTOPHER LAZENBY

Mass Luminosity was launched on May 2011 as a social media and technology company specializing in online community experiences. It’s currently building a global online community on Facebook with the help of companies like AMD, Cooler Master, Origin PC, PowerColor, Patriot Memory, Sapphire Technology, Corsair, Logitech and others. Mass Luminosity is also testing its own social media platform, called Just to help out those new to the online gaming community experience, can you tell us what Mass Luminosity actually does, what is an online gaming community and why do you choose this method to interact with your fan-base? Thanks for the opportunity to chat with Amaze Magazine again! This is so very exciting for us! Mass Luminosity is a community building organization, which operates almost exclusively in the social media environment. Our basic assumptions are: social media ecosystems are here to stay; humans crave real connections; and video gamers have been slow

AM August 2012

Gaming Tribe, which has over 17,000 active beta testers. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Mass Luminosity is managed by an experienced team of professionals inspired by the vision of one man, Angel Munoz. We interviewed Angel Munoz in our May edition of Amaze Magazine. The issue quickly became our most popular edition ever, which clearly shows the excitement that is constantly growing for the

Mass Luminosity brand, but what exactly is Mass Luminosity? What do they do, what are their goals and aspirations and what do they have up their sleeve to surprise both fans and the industry at large? Once again we have caught up with Founder and CEO, Angel Munoz to delve deeper into the identity of Mass Luminosity and to find out about their goals and exciting new projects.

“...Markets are no longer defined by political borders and imaginary regions concocted in the boardrooms of top corporations...” adopters of social media and are marginalized in this new medium. Our primary goal is to unite the gaming community at a global scale - transcending gender, age, racial, or geopolitical differences. In the process, we have raised the bar in the level of communication we have with members of our community by dissolving corporate

hierarchies and investing countless hours engaging with our followers on a one-on-one basis The term gamer used to mean someone who enjoyed board games but since video games became more popular the term has now started to change to reflect the use of modern technology such as

PCs, what do you think a gamer is?! Why are they so special when it comes to gaining interaction from your fans for the companies you work with, after all you could quite easily go to companies and interact with the general internet user, and yet you choose gamers specifically. From an evolutionary perspective our success as a species has been primarily driven by how well we’ve managed conflict, adversity, change and resources. From the early rocks and stabbing spears, we are animals that have thrived through domination of our environment by the use of technology. Video gaming, and, even more so, PC gaming, is deeply rooted in this heritage and reflects the latest evolution of our innate desire for environmental domination. There’s a unique pride and sense of power that gamers derive from dominating a game and having the latest technology for gaming. This is

part of our DNA and I believe it’s the beginning of an entire new evolution of human capacity. We choose gamers because we believe in the future of gaming, and we have successfully convinced several forward-thinking companies that they are an invaluable asset, and that their companies should endorse and support this global community because they are the very foundation of their businesses. There is a worldwide community built by Mass Luminosity that interacts with each other and with ML, why do you think it works on a global scale? When we launched Mass Luminosity last year one of the first objections we heard to our global approach was “our corporate marketing is divided in regions, therefore we prefer to reach regional markets.” We believe that kind of thinking is outdated. Markets

are no longer defined by political borders and imaginary regions concocted in the boardrooms of top corporations. There’s a new global consciousness and gamers have a unique language, mental disposition and environmental perception that are not limited to a pinned location on a map. Mass Luminosity speaks to a global audience, not because it’s fashionable, but because we believe it’s necessary. Companies, regardless of size, should be thinking globally. How do you come up with your campaigns? Is it a joint effort between the team? Or do you direct them and they follow your delegation? Essentially what does a typical day look like in the ML office? We don’t really have campaigns, we have messages. Kimberly Vizurraga, our Vice President, and I spend a lot of

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COMMUNITY ETHOS

Consequently, our fan base has been expanding quickly. For example, during the past 30 days we’ve added 100,000 new fans to Facebook and 25,000 new followers to Twitter. Keeping up with this amazing growth has created quite the frantic pace at Mass Luminosity. We are the ultimate multitaskers, one moment answering messages from our fans across the globe, to jumping on conference calls with corporations that may want to partner with us, then next to speaking to some charity that we may want to endorse, following a session

AM August 2012

with programmers about Gaming Tribe, to then designing the messaging and visuals for a new promotion. It requires a certain type of person to manage the chaos, but we think we are up to the task and seem to pull it off. Your partners are pretty impressive; companies such as AMD, ORIGIN PC and Cooler Master for example have chosen you to work with, why do you think this is considering you are actually a relatively new company?! Anything I say will most likely come across as self-serving, so I’ve asked representatives of the three companies that you mentioned to answer this question for you. Here are their responses: “We at AMD really appreciate the partnership we have with Mass Luminosity, and the incredible growing community we have fostered together. Their fans have been incredibly supportive and positive to our brand, the products we sell, and to our PC game partners. We think there’s a unique convergence of values - those we hold within the AMD Gaming Evolved program, and within both Mass Luminosity and Gaming Tribe.” - Peter

Ross, Manager, AMD Gaming Evolved Marketing “There’s a big difference between working company to company and working individual to individual. When I am working with Mass Luminosity I know I am working on an individual, personal relationship with Angel. After working with Angel for something like a decade I know that he is all about the power of the individual. When Angel says something is going to happen, it does. Working with Mass Luminosity has been amazing!” -Kevin Wasielewski, Co-Founder and CEO, ORIGIN PC “We have been working closely with Angel Munoz and Mass Luminosity for some time now. They have been nothing, but attentive and professional. Each campaign that we embark on typically meets or exceeds the goals that we set. Through consistently impressive results, Mass Luminosity painstakingly carved out its position as our top choice for social media campaigns and communication.” – Lulu Lin, Marketing Manager, Cooler Master Americas

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HUMAN TECHNOLOGY

time trying to understand our audience, first at a basic kinesthetic level and then to the more elevated mental predispositions. We realize that most of our followers are skeptical of corporate claims and that to earn their trust our message has to be consistent, truthful and fun. Most of our followers have realized that our use of social media imagery is very different from the norm, and that our messages can resonate at different levels. Our followers are not a burden to us, they are the very reason we exist. I think our audience knows how we feel and appreciates it because over 90% of them have recommended us to a family member or friend.

“...Most hardcore gamers are already drooling at these core specs, so explaining to them what their gaming experience will be like is superfluous...”

TURN OVER FOR THE WORLD EXCLUSIVE

HUMAN TECHNOLOGY BY MASS LUMINOSITY & ORIGIN PC WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER LAZENBY

In the second part of this interview we switch our attention to a pending announcement by Mass Luminosity. There were sneaky mentions of the announcement back in May when it was briefly mentioned in our original interview with Angel, but since then he has also dropped various hints on Facebook and we want to see if he’s ready to reveal more to Amaze Magazine. Can you tell us what you have been building up to for the past months? Mass Luminosity somewhat reversed the traditional business model by first creating a fan base, without a product for the public. Our motto and guiding principle was (and still is) “Bring the fun back to gaming!” And for a little over a year we have done just that, via constant promotions and giveaways for our global community. Our immediate goal was to make sure gamers actually enjoyed their gaming experiences. On the other hand we also realized we had a unique opportunity to introduce quality products

AM August 2012

that could resonate with the hardcore gamers that follow us. With this is in mind we launched a project to design our first product for our global audience. We started by asking companies to partner with us, and one-by-one the following companies joined us on this new endeavor: AMD, ORIGIN PC, Cooler Master, PowerColor, SAPPHIRE Technology and Patriot Memory. We then established a goal that this new product would be built to the highest standards, tested for months and priced at a fantastic price. So after seven months of design, testing and manufacturing… we are excited to announce that Mass Luminosity is launching a limited edition high-end Gaming PC, expertly crafted by ORIGIN PC and powered by AMD! What are the specs? how will this change/improve the current gaming pc experience? The intent was to give gamers and technology enthusiasts

a phenomenal out-of-the-box experience, but also allowing room for their own customizations and component additions. At the core of the system is a water-cooled expertly overclocked AMD FX-8150 Eight Core 3.6 GHz Processor Black Edition paired with a brand new PowerColor PCS+ Radeon HD 7970 3GB VORTEX II Overclocked Video Card and 16GBs of AMD Memory PC3 -12,800 1,600MHz Performance Edition. Most hardcore gamers are already drooling at these core specs, so explaining what their gaming experience will be like is superfluous. The pricing will be key on this product, what can you tell us about your pricing strategy? There are two prices that technology enthusiasts follow: first is List Price and the other is what we refer to as RLP (Real Life Price). RLP is the price gamers can purchase the components online and build the system themselves. We knew from the start we had to beat List Price by a significant margin, but know of no other

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“...We started by asking companies to partner with us, and one-by-one the following companies joined us on this new endeavor: AMD, ORIGIN PC, Cooler Master, PowerColor, SAPPHIRE Technology and Patriot Memory...” Specifications for the Mass Luminosity Edition ORIGIN PC CPU: AMD FX-8150 Eight Core 3.6Ghz Processor Black Edition w/Liquid CPU Cooling System Memory: AMD Memory PC3 - 12,800 1,600MHz 16GB Performance Edition GPU: PowerColor PCS+ Radeon HD 7970 3GB Vortex II Overclocked Video Card Motherboard: SAPPHIRE PURE Black 990FX SSD: Patriot Wildfire Solid State Drive 120GB Storage HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB Optical Drive: LG 24X CD/DVD Burner (Reads and Writes to DVD/CD) PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1050 Watts Case: CM Storm Trooper Case (Black) OS: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Edition Mouse: CM Storm Sentinel Advance II w/ 8,200DPI Keyboard: CM Storm Trigger Mechanical Keyboard Headset: CM Storm Sirus True 5.1 Surround Sound Mousepad: CM Storm Speed-RX L Expertly overclocked processor Limited Edition Laser-etched Mass Luminosity “Human Power” logo FREE ORIGIN Maximum Protection Worldwide Shipping (Woodern Crate) One Year Part Replacement and Free Shipping Warranty with DVD image ORIGIN PC Lifetime Labor/24/7 Support

AM August 2012

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HUMAN TECHNOLOGY

company that endeavored to build a top Gaming PC system and beat RLP.

With the support of our corporate partners we are able to sell (on a limited basis) a cutting-edge system with the latest and best technology at a price that should eliminate the question: Should I build this system myself? Of course people can still build it, but we doubt they can do so at a significantly lower price than ours. How will you manage the marketing of this new gaming pc? We’ve decided that the promotion, marketing and recommendation of this product will be left entirely to our fans and members of our community. So you won’t see any ads in fancy magazines, banners on PC hardware sites or low-budget infomercials on TV. Our fans will decide if this product is worth recommending and determine how and where to promote it. We have absolute confidence in both our product and our community. This is the first time an external company has built a gaming pc through a major brand such as Origin PC, why has this happened now, what made Mass Luminosity so special that they were the first company to do this? I think our uniqueness is the

AM August 2012

closeness we have with our fans. Almost 5,000 of the Mass Luminosity fans have friended me on Facebook, so I have the unique opportunity to hear about their aspirations, activities, hobbies and their preference in technology and video games.

We are not a company full of theoretical formulas about this audience; instead we live with them and relate to them on a personal basis. This is one of the reasons companies partner with us. These companies invest in us so that we can continue to communicate one-on-one with this global audience and understand their needs and product preferences. We then share the highlights of our communication with them without violating our audience’s privacy. Therefore, I think it’s natural for Mass Luminosity to have serious traction with a company like ORIGIN PC, which is motivated by the principles of quality and community. Their CEO is a huge advocate of Mass Luminosity and we appreciate their trust in launching an entire new line of co-branded PC’s, timed precisely for the back to school season. There are various companies who have helped with this project; can you explain a little more about this, how did Mass luminosity get the blessing of the companies involved to do such an ambitious project? It wasn’t so much of a blessing

but more of an integral partnership. Each of these companies: AMD, ORIGIN PC, Cooler Master, PowerColor, SAPPHIRE Technology and Patriot Memory made huge contributions to the initial launch of the system and helped us with expert advice on component selection based on their own market research and experience. Without their contribution this project would have not been able to get off the ground. All of the companies were very excited to be part of a cutting-edge system that served primarily as a response to a year of interactions with a large global community of gamers and that will be exclusively promoted on social networks by our fans. It’s the ultimate social experiment! Some of these companies may be competitors, so why would they get involved? I have to say that while I appreciate that not every PC gamer is a fan of Apple, I have admired how they have been able to get diverse companies to contribute their best components to them, and subjugate their own brands for one that has almost a cult-like following. There’s a lot of wisdom in this approach, and I believe the PC market could use some of this cult approach without the stratospheric prices that Apple demands. So we are using a similar approach, and interestingly most companies understand it and are willing to support it. We have a close

BY MASS LUMINOSITY & ORIGIN PC relationship with both our audience and our partner companies so we may be in the unique situation to launch products that may have a real impact in the marketplace. What was the motivation for Mass Luminosity to move into the market in this way? It is a big leap from handling the creation of online communities to actually developing a new limited edition gaming pc... When you are fearless and ambitious, when you believe in yourself and know your strengths, when you face the future with confidence and your soul tells you that you are different from the rest, that is when something comes through that surpasses everything else. That’s exactly where we are right now, and that’s why we’ve launched the new Mass Luminosity Edition ORIGIN PC, powered by AMD. The Human Power logo will be on every machine, can you explain more about what this means? I first conceived the “human power” icon as a visual representation of what our community was all about: a power “on” symbol with a human icon in the center. In an era where most institutions have failed us and so much seems out of our control, our symbol professes our confidence in the power of the individual to effect

positive change in their lives and in the lives of others. At first I was uncertain if our community would relate to the symbol but then we partnered with G8 Brand to introduce it in the form of a t-shirt. It was completely unexpected that months of supplies would sell out in just days; we were amazed how well our community intuitively understood its significance. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that we should laser-etch each of our PC systems with this unique symbol, and continue to build upon its relevance to our global community. There has been the hint of more to come, what else can we expect in the future? I’m going to let our Vice President, Kimberly Vizurraga, answer this question as she has a unique view of where we are going and how to get us there. Kimberly’s response: The future of Mass Luminosity is only limited by our imagination, and, fortunately for us, it is also informed by our experience. We understand that our audience has a lot of options when it comes to learning about game-related products or services, or connecting with like-minded people, so we gladly acknowledge that we have to be different in our approach. We do this by constantly challenging ourselves to operate from a position of questioning the status quo. We strive to be bold

and innovative in our interactions and attentive to every detail, from the packaging of our content and relevance of our sites, to the benefits we provide to our partners. We are always working from the premise of how can we improve the experience for our members, and what can we learn by listening to our audience. This creative process of continually re-imagining the social media experience is the foundation for all of our inspirations. As Angel mentioned, Gaming Tribe will be a new social media platform. Many of our members are registered beta testers already, but what might not be apparent is that Gaming Tribe is the actualization of our interactions with our audience. We are confident that when Gaming Tribe is fully functional it will be unlike anything else online right now; it will represent a new evolution for gamers by creatively combining product information, site and audience interactions, and exclusive membership options. It’s an exciting time for us at Mass Luminosity and we are energized by the power of our community and what we expect to accomplish together!

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Be a part of the movement

Andrew Slane is the Vice President of Mass Luminosity and the team are proud of his work with the Hope Movement. The Hope Movement began in late 2011 when Co-Founder, Tyler Cook, desired to create a brand that would inspire a movement of people to change the world. Cook wanted to bring about this change by giving hope to those in need. Most of all, he wanted to use

ordinary people as the vessel to make it happen. “People are our greatest resource,” Cook explained. “It’s incredible what a movement of ordinary people can accomplish. They can truly change the world.” Although his vision of a world-changing movement was clear, Cook was still unsure of a cause. Cook shared his dream with friend and Co-Founder, Andrew Slane, a second year medical student. Andrew had just

attended a series of lectures on the growing malaria epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa where he learned that the malaria parasite was becoming resistant to current medications, making them ineffective. Pesticides, an effective preventative measure, were too toxic and costly to use. After further research, Andrew discovered that experts were suggesting insecticide-treated mosquito nets be used as the safest and

most cost-effective preventative measure against the parasite. “When I learned about the mosquito nets, I instantly knew we could make a difference,” Slane added. “That was the moment when it all came together,” Cook said. “I had the vision for the Hope Movement, and Andrew had identified our cause and our solution. After we began to research the malaria epidemic further, we were convinced that this was the problem that

needed our attention. We would start a movement that would bring hope to those affected by malaria.” Tyler and Andrew developed a brand that would financially support purchasing mosquito nets and distributing them to malaria-affected locations around the world. “We chose to generate support through brand sales so that people could take a first-hand role in spreading awareness for our

cause. The Hope Movement has always been about people bringing hope, not just Tyler and I,” Slane explained. The two chose to model the brand around a one-for-one concept, for every shirt sold, a net would be donated. It was simple, and even more importantly, it meant that every sale would bring hope to a family in need.

Be a part of the movement

.thefacts

malaria is an epidemic affecting half of the world's population. sub-saharan africa is the most affected region. children and pregnant women are the most common victims. every thirty seconds a child dies from a malaria infection. mosquitos allow the parasite to spread from person-to-person. medication is overused and ineffective. prevention is the best solution.

.hopegiven 165 nets .givehope It takes just $6 to buy an insecticide-treated mosquito net for a child in need. Why not send one, five, twenty, or even a hundred nets and give hope to children that have none. You can make a difference now. Become a part of the hope movement. Click this box to give hope yourself.

the truth is difficult to swallow. Believe it or not, malaria is an epidemic, and it is affecting the lives of billions of people worldwide. Malaria’s natural affinity for tropical regions combined with the impoverished status of many South American and sub-Saharan African nations has led to a crisis of

unimaginable magnitude. The crisis is most severe in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease ravages children, killing one every thirty seconds. The resilient nature of the African Anopheles mosquito helps localize 85% of the world’s malaria infections to the African continent. And malaria doesn’t

just affect children, it threatens pregnant women, the infants they are carrying, newborns, teenagers, adults, and the entire volunteer workforce donating their time to make life better in tropical regions around the world. Currently, a viable vaccination against malaria doesn’t exist.

And while ongoing clinical trials for experimental vaccinations are showing more and more promise all the time, they are still years, if not decades, away from being a potential solution to the crisis. Antimalarial medications used to be the first-line defense against malaria infections, but overuse during the past few decades

has led to the parasites becoming incredibly resistant to the traditional medications. Newly developed antimalarial medications, known as artemisinins, are more effective but can have adverse effects with a severity that rivals that of the malaria infection they’re treating, which tends to keep them sidelined for more severe

infections. The only effective way to currently prevent and combat the spread of malaria is prevention. Select information reproduced with permission from the World Health Organization.

Be a part of the movement .thesolution prevention is the best defense. mosquito nets are the solution. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are the easiest and most cost effective means of preventing malaria infections. Spraying homes with pesticides, while an effective solution, is costly, requires application of the pesticide by a trained worker, and lasts only for a couple of months. The effectiveness of pesticides are also limited in more primitive dwellings that are common to the more underdeveloped regions of Africa. In contrast, each insecticide-treated mosquito net costs only six dollars, lasts for three to five years, and can protect an entire family from mosquito bites. Additionally, a mosquito net can be setup in almost any type of dwelling, primitive or modern, which allows it to be used almost anywhere that an aid worker can distribute it. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are clearly the best choice for providing an outstanding level of protection to the absolute maximum number of people. The Hope Movement was founded solely for the purpose of combatting and preventing the spread of malaria by distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets to developing nations around the world, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the Hope Movement has partnered with Iris Ministries to distribute nets through their public health clinic in Pemba, Mozambique. The clinic sees, on average, fifty patients per day, a third of which are children under five-years of age. As our support begins to surpass the need in Pemba, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll begin to supply other Iris Ministries public health clinics throughout Africa with nets as well.

Be a part of the movement: Visit www.hopemovement.org

.givehope It takes just $6 to buy an insecticide-treated mosquito net for a child in need. Why not send one, five, twenty, or even a hundred nets and give hope to children that have none. You can make a difference now. Become a part of the hope movement. Click this box to give hope yourself.

INSIDE INNOVATION TOM PELLEREAU EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Tom Pellerau was the 2011 UK Apprentice Winner thanks to his inventive nature and since then has enjoyed a great career as Lord Sugar’s business partner with products such as his Stylfile idea which has won awards and been a huge success. He has agreed to give us an exclusive interview to ensure that others can benefit from his experiences.

What was it like to win the Apprentice? It was brilliant, just a dream come true. Since winning I’ve been busy working with Lord Sugar on the development of my product. It’s so exciting to walk into Sainsbury’s and see it on shelf, less than a year since I won the programme. How is Lord Sugar to work with/for? Working for Lord Sugar is a fantastic opportunity. He is a genius! He is insightful, has great experience and has helped to guide me in the right direction. What you see is most definitely what you get with Lord Sugar. Of course he can be a little demanding at times and he definitely keeps me in check, but that is all part of the experience

What was the process you used to come up with the Stylfile idea? One day, whilst watching my sister file her nails, I realised that using a ‘regular’ nail file seemed illogical, given that nails are naturally curved. Therefore, I decided to create a unique product that would make filing nails a much easier task, especially when filing your ‘other’/ non-dominant hand. My company, Aventom, is all about creating simple solutions to everyday problems, and the Stylfile is the perfect example of this. What are the drawbacks to being famous compared to the old days before the Apprentice?

None really. I very fortunate people are really nice to me when we meet. Sometimes it's a little funny watching people trying to subtly take a photo on their camera phone. What would you say to someone thinking of becoming an inventor? Become really good at watching and listening to people. It's not about what we say, more often than not what we don't say or do that matters. Possibly the biggest advice is to keep on pushing, it takes a long time to get a product to market, at least 3 years, sometimes 10 years! You have to be both impatient and very patient and concentrate on cash flow.

Have you ever had any disasters and how did you bounce back? Plenty. The week before a very big licensing pitch I discovered the key patent had failed. I had just 5 days to completely refocus the invention and find a hidden new invention. That was a tough week, however 5 days later the pitch was a massive hit and they loved my developed idea even more than the original. It's amazing what great things come out of disaster and pressure. How difficult did you find it to try and finance old products? And how has winning the Apprentice opened doors in terms of trying to look at funding for new projects? Finding funding for new inventions

is incredibly difficult. For my first project I knew my bank wouldn't lend me required capital I needed. But they were only too happy to lend me the cash to buy a car. I still don’t understand why borrowing money for a car is better than to start a business. However I simply pretended I needed the cash for a car, got the loan and bought an injection mould tool instead! Things are very different now for which I'm very grateful. You appeared with Darra a few times now, is he funny off camera? We want to interview him and Lord Sugar for future editions, do you fancy helping us contact them? (Always ask, you never know where it will lead?!)

Dara is incredibly funny off camera and one of the most intelligent people on this planet ! Not only is he a genius comedian and entertainer but he is also a Maths scholar. What do you have coming up? I have plenty of ideas up my sleeve! There are plenty of inventions that I would love to work on and have the opportunity to bring them to market like I have done with Stylfile. Watch this space for the time being and follow me on Twitter @inventor_Tom for all the latest news on my inventions!

“...Enjoy what you do and surround yourself with good people. That passion and enjoyment will help sustain you during the tough times...”

Special Feature

RICHARD BRANSON

talks to Amaze Magazine.

“...Enjoy what you do and surround yourself with good people. That passion and enjoyment will help sustain you during the tough times...”

RICHARD BRANSON talks to Amaze Magazine. To celebrate the launch of Virgin Media Pioneers new-look website we caught up with the original Virgin Media Pioneer, Richard Branson.

What is it like to be known as the world’s greatest entrepreneur? It is very flattering to be

described as that. I think it is probably based on the diversity of our businesses and my very curious mind, rather then limit the size of any of our companies. When I started Student Magazine in 1968 I never imagined in my wildest dreams that 40 years later some people would refer to me as the world’s greatest entrepreneur.

I am extreemely proud of each company we have started but more importantly I am proud of the amazing people who have helped me and been instrumental in Virgin’s success. What does your general day-to-day look like? I don’t think I ever have a ‘typical day’ but when I’m on

Necker Island, I do have a pattern of sorts. I always wake early - I love that quiet time in the morning. I am fortunate that I have the most beautiful office in the world - a hammock overlooking the British Virgin Islands! It is a fantastic time for reflection and sets me up for the day. I come up with more ideas on that hammock then I ever would anywhere else. I try to

exercise early on, a swim, a game of tennis or a kite-surf followed by breakfast. Then I hit the phone - I still far prefer talking to people - than all your interaction being on email. After a light lunch, I do work through my emails and maybe have a meeting or two in the island. What do you think it takes to

become a pioneer?

Pioneers dream big and are constantly looking or new challenges; I have always believed you should never give up on your dreams no matter what age you are! That belief as a teenager helped me to get where I am today. You need tons of belief – belief in yourself and the people around you!

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your footsteps? Just remember that it is impossible to run a business without taking risks. Virgin would not be the company it is today if we had not taken risks. Concentrate on the things that you are good at and delegate to others. Remember have fun with it, I’m still having fun now... My favourite bit of advice to give to people is...The brave may not live forever – but the cautious do not live at all! You really do have to believe in what you are doing though and give yourself to it 100% – if you go in to something expecting it to fail - 9 times out of 10 it will. We noticed how close you are to your family and think it is amazing that you are able to do so much and keep a strong

family, what is your secret?!

How can people impress you?

do anything you wanted?!

You can and must make time for both family and business. It is important to build a strong family life: I believe that it helps to give you a better perspective and balance in business. A key responsibility for each generation is to bring up the next generation – and you need to be present to do this. I have been extremely lucky to have been able to work from home for the majority of my career.

My parents actually encourage my sisters and I to be adventures and creative– to challenge ourselves and not be afraid to try new things and take risks – I found this extremely motivating and I like to see that in entrepreneurs.

From a personal point of view I am very keen to travel into space and we are not far off now with Virgin Galactic. On a broader scale, it would be wonderful to help address some of the World’s big issues around climate change, peace or saving so many of our endangered species.

Even though working from home was ideal for me, I always insured that I was not too distant or absent from the company. An entrepreneur must make sure to be seen be seen by their people and spend time getting their feedback and ideas. As I mentioned earlier, listening to others is a key quality of a good business leader and to getting things done.

What are the negatives of being so famous?! I am extremely fortunate to be in the position I am, so I would never say that there were negatives - I love walking down the street and speaking to people and just having a general chat. Nowadays more people stop me in the street to ask a question or ask for a photo. But I enjoy it, I am inspired and motivated each day by the people I meet. What would be your greatest ambition, if you could literally

How important is the role of innovation within Virgin, are you looking for team players who toe the line, or those who want too perhaps shake things up a little and are full of ideas? At Virgin we try to encourage people to think for themselves and not behave like automatons. I always say your employees are your number one asset and the way you treat your employees will impact the way they treat your customers. One thing I learned early was to make sure a

business did not feel too big and ensure your management feel in control. In business know how to be a good leader and always try to bring out the best in people. It’s very simple: listen to them, trust in them and let them have a go! They are the ones who will become the backbone of the business and will want it to succeed. Who are your heroes? I have been very, very lucky and met some truly inspirational men and women over the years. The late Freddie Laker was an extreemely inspirational business figure I met in my early years. Since then - Nelson Mandela, Al Gore, Archbushop Tutu, Mary Robinson to name a few - people with truly good hearts who are not afraid to say what they believe and raise the issues for people across the world who would

otherwise go unheard. You often do events where people can come meet you in person such as the VMP Pitch2Ritch event. What advice would you give to someone when it comes to presenting themselves to you? Keep the pitch simple, make it compelling and really think about how best to bring it to life. A sample, a design, a prop – it is always good to have something to support you. Above all - be yourself. Any message to the Pioneers on the website? Enjoy what you do and surround yourself with good people. That passion and enjoyment will help sustain you during the tough times.

Visit the website - www.virginmediapioneers.com AM August 2012

www.moderncreativemag.com

Fast 5 Interview: Yakes Dawriter!

Tell us a little about yourself?!

I'm a musical theatre writer/producer. Studied musical composition at Middlesex Uni whilst writing musicals which played at Theatre 503 & Jermayn Street theatre. Currently EDEM the musical is playing at the Spring in Vauxhall until the 3rd of September. Tell us about your theatre production EDEM is bassed on a mythical kingdom deep in the rainforest where locals say, in the beginning two humans once lived but were banished. The Creator seeing how gracious the trees were decided not to destroy the Earth but to make his trees in his own image, They begged for forgiveness but the Creator declined Adam in anger but took pity on Eve. The Creator offered Eve an alternative, sacrifice her humanity and become one with the world of Edem or follow Adam to eternal exile. Eve chose to re-enter the Kingdom and so became Emem â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mother earth. And so the world of Edem was created with Edem being the natural source to life on earth. However this world is in grave danger, as the oils spills are destroying its very infrastructure. The prophecy of the Son of Adam returning to save the kingdom comes to light as Andrew; the son of an oil rig owner get lost in the rainforest and finds his way at Edem's doorstep. As the oils destruction spreads Andrew accepts his calling and has to return to earth and to stop the drilling. What has been your biggest challenge so far? Working with no budget what so ever, having to beg borrow and acquire things from all sorts of places. What help do you need? We could do with a lot more promotion and letting the public know we're showing.

What has been the best part of the experiencs so far?

Seeing the production come to life from me fiddling about on the piano to full chorus numbers is an amazing experience for any writer. Tell us about the others involved in the production? We have a cast of 13 working hard week in week out performing for the audience. behind we have out costume designer who composed all the costumes form recycled materials and bags. Also we have our light and sound designers as well as the PR team working during the week to push the musical and organize events/showcases. What does the story mean to you? The theme of the story is sung in the opening number " there comes a time in our lifes where we must walk alone and leave our footprints in the earth for other to see" and I feel at no matter what age you are there will come that point where every action you chose to take will of course have a consequence and so its about choosing not only what is right for yourself at any one given time; but to also this of others who will be following shortly behind. What else are you doing? I'm also currently directing a web-series called the Unfamous bassed on the online book the Unfamous which had over 87,000 reads. What do you think about Virgin Media Pioneers? VMP is a wonderful network to be apart of but like any thing in life you need know how to use it - and its simple, talk to me people. There's a wealth of knowledge/experience and people who are in the same position waiting to collaborate.

INTRODUCING FIKAY FASHION

Fikay is an ethical fashion label for people who want to do life good, not just good but well, for those who want to Finish first fairly. We are so busy doing life, we often let moments of beauty pass us by, never noticing their true value. Its only when we look outside, ourselves and see the lives of others, that we can truly value our own lives. Fikay opens the windows of our hearts and eyes and brings us the untold stories of the world to our lives. Fikay connects us to something far, bigger and greater than our individual lives alone. Fikay brings unification through individuality, giving you snapshots of adventure, moments of inspiration, peace and calm. Fikays products have inspirational stories behind them that you can now carry on your shoulder, in your bag or in your pocket everywhere you go. Fikay not only enriches our lives but the lives of the unheard story tellers who make our products. Fikay is for people who want to do life well We are about successful living without screwing everyone over. We help provide education and healthcare in some of the poorest parts of Cambodia to the neediest families.

This mini-magazine has been created by CVN Media and will guide you through some of the great products on offer by Fikay Fashion, but remember there are plenty more to enjoy and purchase, ask a member of staff for more details. www.fikay.co.uk www.cvnmedia.co.uk

FIKAY FASHION COLOURS

Fikay Fashion products come in a variety of colours and you can get an idea on what colours they are by looking at the pictures below. When ordering the product you wish to purchase check with Fikay staff to find out what colours are available.

ELEPHANT BRAND WWW.FIKAY.CO.UK

Men’s Sport Holdall 54x28x29 V005-RL Price: £27.99 Available to order online www.fikayfashion.co.uk This really cool bag is perfect for your surf gear, swim wear or as a travel bag. Here at Fikay we love to use it as a travel bag and also for skiing due to it’s water resistance and thoughtful mobile phone pocket inside.

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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES OUR FIRST EVER NEW MOVIE REVIEW...

VERDICT: ?/10

BATMAN BEGINS RECAP We have all grown up with the Batman character and it has been one of the most iconic superheroes of all time to grace a screen, whether that is a television or cinema, everyone knows who the Batman is... After the horror that was Batman & Robin I thought the franchise was dead and we would have to endure even worse rubbish in a vien attempt by the studio to ruin the character as much as they could to get money out of the average cinema-goer, but I was totally suprised and humbled by Warner Bros and Christopher Nolan when they produced Batman Begins. It was a bold new direction for the superhero and a complete reworking of the Batman universe. Gotham City was a realistic, gritty environment that made you believe it could actually be real and the characters were sensible, to the point where you could fully understand and get involed with them and their storylines. It rebooted the franchse and several others in the process and now, finally, we could believe in the Bat again...

The second installment was always going to be a huge success thanks to the first film, the only critism I ever had of the first was that it needed to have a little more action, as it was reasonably slow to get started, but the second installment ensured everyone was more the satisfied with a legendary turn by the late Heath Ledger who created the most iconic incarnation of the joker that the

character has ever seen. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go into too much detail with this film, much like the last, if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen it, all we can really say is where do you live? Mars? We all know the drill with this film, and so ratehr then bore you with a whole summery of the epic event, I will simply say watch the trailer for a trip down memory lane.

THE DARK KNIGHT RECAP

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

THE BASICS

So we are now finally at the main event, the last in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, and what a treat you are in for. The storyline is on an epic scale with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end, and each time you think you have it sussed out, something new and wonderful happens to excite you and make you want to see more... SPOILERS AHEAD - BE WARNED.... The film actually picks up eight years later from the events of the previous one. Within seconds you meet Bane who has set up a daring raid for a doctor which involves planes and a misson impossible style escape. I did think it was slightly over-thetop and was worried this could set the tone for the whole film, especially when one of the henchmen willingly stays behind to die for Bane so that the correct

ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW By Tim Knight

amount of bodies are found, but little did I know that this was all part of a closly detailed story that would truly satisfy me and I would be happy to forgive the slightly over-the-top beginning as everything unfolds. You are then taken to Wayne Manor where you find out that Bruce is holding a party, only he isn’t actually a guest, prefering to hide away amongst rumours of him being scarred and all kinds of different things. Here you meet Meranda Tate, and Selina Kyle, plus you find out Alfred is still knocking around too as his faithful butler. This is the first point in the film where I knew everything was going to be alright and that we were in for a real treat...

You see I have a confession to make... I hated the look of Catwoman, and I didn’t like the appointment of Anne Hathaway to play her. This is nothing against the actress, she has been in

some good films, but for me personally I wanted the new Selina to be a carbon copy of my favourite Catwoman from Tim Burton’s Batman and she was not. I officially eat my words though, our new Catwoman aka Selina Kyle is hands down the best Catwoman, the suit makes sense and actually looks good in the film, and everything is right with the world again as she turns out to be one of the best characters of the entire film. Now you also meet Meranda Tate at the function and she starts going on about a green energy project that she and Bruce were

to be about some boring cover story and how Bruce used it to hide away, and yawn yawn yawn... But again you find out later, that this is anything but a cover story and in fact is central to the plot, so with that in mind as the story unfolds yet again it is another shock that you want to thank Christopher Nolan for. The next two central characters are introduced next, with Gordon being showcased as the ‘old war horse’ who is no longer needed thanks to Gotham being ‘at peace’ , but someone seems to have forgotten to tell Gordon who is still running around the streets trying to solve every crime there is...

someone much more important then a side-character - I am of course talking about Josepth Gordon Levitt.

unfold in front of you, and it is a great film with lots of interesting twists, but I won’t spoil anymore of it in this review.

His character seemed to have his own side stories and was essentially Gordn’s sidekick throughout the film.

All I will say is that it could have gone on a lot longer, and I would have gladly stayed to watch more too, and htis is where the one gripe I had about the film comes in because you can clearly tell in some parts where they have edited the film, for example, one minute Bruce is in bed with someone, the next he is standing, the next minute he is Batman on the rooftop looking over the impressive Gotham.

So Gordon is attacked by Banes men who are hiding in the sewers and the cocky young policeman goes straight to Bruce and tells him to bring Batman back - as it seems he has cracked Bruces secret double identity... Bruce then visits Gordon and realises that there is something going on that will need his attention and thus the Batman returns, much to Alfred’s upset who promptly tells him that he is leaving him, and also the truth about Rachel at the same time in an attempt to get him to change his mind about bringing back Batman.

And this happens a few times in the film, but that can be forgiven as I am sure it will lead to lots of bonus features in the blu-ray. So overall in my mind at least this is a great film, the best of the trilogy by far, and even though they say it is the end of this perticluar storyline arc, I hope it isn’t the end of Christopher Nolan’s Batverse, as I would be one very sad person...

VERDICT: 9/10 Involved in and my heart sunk a little as I didn’t want half the film

Also you meet a young policeman who I instantly clocked as

Now all the central characters are in place, and the film starts to truly

WIN A COPY OF THE DARK KNIGHT MANUAL We are proud to offer you the chance to win a copy of the new book by Brandon Synder ‘The Dark Knight Manual’ All you have to do is head over to our facebook page at www.facebook.com/moderncreativemagazine Give us a like, then leave the comment ‘We love Modern Creative Magazine (& Batman) to be in with a chance to win! The book is the ultimate guide to the tools of Batman and comes with an assortment of different items to enjoy. Look out for our full review on the book coming soon exclusively on our website. The winner will be chosen at random and sent the book anywhere in the world. The giveaway closes on the 4th August 2012, so get to our Facebook page straight away.

David Whitehead Presents:

David Whitehead introduces the Sight & Sound Top Ten from 2002 and reflects on what it has to offer for the modern cinema goer. 2002 Sight and Sound Top Ten 1) Citizen Kane (1941) 2) Vertigo (1958) 3) La Regle du jeu (1939) 4) The Godfather & The Godfather Part II (1972 & 1974) 5) Tokyo Story (1953) 6) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) =7) Battleship Potemkin (1925) =7) Sunrise (1927) 9) 8 ½ (1963) 10) Singin’ in the Rain (1952) This summer, something momentous is happening in the world of film. For the first time in ten years Sight and Sound

Magazine will publish the results of its critics' poll otherwise known as The Ten Greatest Films of All Time. The first Sight & Sound poll took place in 1952, when the world’s leading critics were asked to compile a list of the best films ever made. Bicycle Thieves (1948) by Italian director Vittorio De Sica was declared the greatest of all. The magazine has repeated the poll every ten years since and each time Citizen Kane has taken top spot. For 50 years Sight and Sound has told the world that Orson Welles’ directorial debut is the finest film ever produced. The 2002 poll was the biggest yet with 145 critics, writers and academics from across the world

contributing. Citizen Kane beat Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo by just five votes. Film aficionados everywhere are eagerly awaiting the 2012 Top Ten and the possibility of a new number one. This is one movie list which has real impact. But beyond the headlines and history books, is the Sight and Sound Top Ten - which currently includes nothing produced after 1974 - relevant to ordinary film fans? Is it a must-see list or just an intellectual curiosity? Over the next few months we’re going to look at the 2002 Top Ten and and see what it has to offer a modern audience. We begin with the first four films on the list.

9. 8 ½ (1963) Italian director Federico Fellini’s self-referential film is about the filmmaking process itself. Marcello Mastroianni plays an acclaimed, visionary director who gets lost in fantasy and memory whilst trying to craft his next masterpiece. It’s not surprising that the only group

who like 8 ½ more than the critics are directors. The film explores the tensions between art and industry, between real life and creative work. It’s a picture full of style, beauty, humour and intelligence. It’s also ponderous, indulgent and distancing. The characters are so loaded with symbolism

8. Battleship Potemkin (1925) Sergei Eisenstein’s Soviet propaganda film is the oldest film on the list. This silent film dramatises the mutiny which occurred on the Russian battleship Potemkin in 1905.

10. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

musical numbers, it’s a joyous watch.

The only musical and perhaps the most popular film on the list. Generation after generation have fallen in love with Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s feel-good classic and deservedly so.

For all its brilliance Singin’ in the Rain is far from the perfect movie and regularly feels like a collection of scenes rather than a coherent whole. Fortunately, any flaws are completely overridden by the pure genius of its lead actor, choreographer and co-director, Gene Kelly.

The script about two rival movie stars trying to survive the move to talking pictures superbly captures the comic reality of that famously difficult transition. Combined with several of the 20th Century’s most iconic

Verdict: Woody Allen once said that Singin’ in the Rain would be as fresh in 500 years as it was on the day it was released. He might just be right.

Eisenstein manipulatively pits a pure working class against the uncaring ruling elite. World politics may have changed a lot since 1925 but the underlying message about class and inequality still resonates today. Beyond the politics Battleship Potemkin is simply an outstanding action film. The groundbreaking quick-cut editing, use of violence and unforgettable sequence on the steps of Odessa continue to influence filmmakers today. Made with considerable help from the Soviet Navy, the visuals are so strong that words are completely unnecessary. Verdict: Forceful, efficient and provocative, Battleship Potemkin retains its power almost 90 years on. A perfect first silent film.

and ambiguity that it’s impossible to care about them. 8 ½ offers an intellectual rather than emotional experience. Verdict: This film is close to a piece of art and so is far more demanding than your average film. Your average film fan, however, won’t get back what they put in.

7. Sunrise (1927) Epic melodrama Sunrise is one of the most celebrated films from the silent era. German director F.W Murnau’s film is bold and ambitious in every way. The story is simply miraculous; it begins with a husband planning to kill his wife but somehow becomes one of Hollywood’s most romantic and moving stories. Actors George O’Brien and Janet Gaynor pull this off with

two of the most complex and subtle silent performances ever recorded. Technically, Sunrise is impressive even by today’s standards and pushed the boundaries of the time with its magnificent sets and never-ending tracking shots. Murnau was able to tell this story using very few title cards to explain the action. This makes Sunrise an immersive experience and also a challenge

of concentration and imagination. Verdict: A stunning achievement. Essential viewing for those with some silent film experience. Next month we look at how the list has changed over the decades and the next three films from the 2002 Top Ten 2001: A Space Odyssey, Tokyo Story and The Godfather Part I and II.

6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Part film, part symphony, part philosophical treatise, 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s boldest works. Beginning with the ‘The Dawn of Man’ and ending in distant space and time - perhaps outside of space and time - 2001 represents science-fiction filmmaking at its most ambitious. Co-written by Arthur C. Clarke it asks questions about the origin of humanity and

our ultimate destiny. In between the more ambiguous sections are two of the most compelling acts in all of cinema - a spectacular yet mundanely familiar vision of space travel followed by the chilling encounter with Hal, the artificially intelligent but disturbed ship’s computer. The latter is so iconic and effective that it could have formed a film of its own. The lengthy scenes combining

classical music and visual effects are famous (2001 is, perhaps, closer to Disney’s great experiment Fantasia than any other movie). These sequences will either hypnotise or bore. Verdict: 2001: A Space Odyssey is an exhausting and perplexing experience but it is also completely unforgettable; take it in at least once.

The Godfather and The Godfather Part II (1972 & 1974) Francis Ford Coppola’s first two films in his Mafia saga about the Corleone family are arguably the high water mark in American cinema. The rise and rise of the family through 60 years is stunningly told over six near-faultless hours.

5. Tokyo Story (1953) One of revered Japanese filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu’s most popular films, Tokyo Story is about two elderly parents who visit their adult children in Tokyo. The visit reveals the disappointment and frustration on both sides of the relationship. This family dynamic is one many will recognise today. Told in a slow and patient way,

the film is a showcase for the terrific cast. Like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner or On Golden Pond, Tokyo Story is built on fantastic performances from two veteran actors, in this case Chishu Ryu and Chieko Higashiyama. Their love for each other and longing for time with their children is genuinely moving. The younger generation are well portrayed too, guilty of working too hard and not making time for their parents.

There are so few films made about our later years, Tokyo Story is one of the best and deserves to be cherished. Verdict: A beautiful film which works across time and culture but, unlike some of the other films on the list, not essential viewing.

Based on the novels by Mario Puzo, The Godfather is much more than just a gangster movie, it’s a Shakespearean tale of power, corruption and betrayal. At the centre of the story is Michael Corleone, the youngest son drawn into the family business against his better judgement. Al Pacino’s performance and Michael’s transformation are amongst the greatest in cinema history. Speaking of great performances, there are at least ten across the two pictures. Every aspect of these films is exemplary, from the script, direction and acting to the music, editing and costume design. Few have matched them in terms of quality, power and popularity. Verdict: Intelligent American cinema at its very best. These films are every bit as good as you’ve heard and demand to be seen. In Part Three of the series we try to predict the result of the 2012 poll and look at the final three films on the 2002 list, La Regle due jeu, Vertigo and Citizen Kane.

3. La Regle du jue (1939) La Regle du jue or ‘The Rules of the Game’ is a dramatic comedy made by french filmmaker Jean Renoir. It is one of only two films to appear in every Sight and Sound Top Ten since 1952. The film centres on a hunting weekend and the various love triangles which exist amongst

the aristocrats ‘upstairs’ and the servants ‘downstairs’. It moves seamlessly between romance, comedy and pure farce before a satisfyingly dramatic conclusion. Marcel Dalio and Nora Gregor are effortlessly convincing as the married hosts and focus of much of the impure attention. Also, look out for Jean Renoir himself in the terrific role of Octave.

In 1939 it was seen as a biting satire depicting the self-indulgent upper classes. Out of context, the film loses that satiric edge and suffers as a result. Verdict: Fans of upper class misadventures will find La Regle du jue a delight. To others it offers just passing entertainment.

2. Vertigo (1958) James Stewart stars in this film about a retired detective suffering from acrophobia (an extreme fear of heights) who is asked to investigate the strange behaviour of an old friend’s wife. Vertigo is a slow-burning psychological thriller which is unpredictable to the very end

- a stunning final sequence. It features one of Stewart’s most intense performances as the detective increasingly obsessed by the case and its subject. Kim Novak is even better, holding the film together as a woman with multiple personas. Add a bizarre and unsettling romance and it’s a potent mix. Essentially, imagine what a film

called ‘Vertigo’ released today would be like...this is the opposite of that. Patient, purposeful and with surprisingly few heights. Verdict: Alfred Hitchcock is still cinema’s master of suspense, don’t miss one of his best works.

The Fastest Growing Worldwide Association for Professional Photographers. Welcome to the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers. If you are looking for a photographer for your wedding or family portrait then visit our members directory to find a member near you. Our members photograph thousands of weddings and can provide beautiful lasting memories of your 'special day'. When there is such a choice of representative organisations out there you may ask yourself, why the SWPP? To us the answer is very simple. If you are a newcomer to the industry or considering a career change then we offer the most comprehensive range of educational seminars by inspirational speakers. The profile of our membership contains many individuals who have enjoyed active careers in many of the traditional 'professions' and to whom 'professionalism' is second nature. We are dedicated to providing quality training and mentoring to all that ask and want to progress in Professional Photography without prejudice or discrimination.

1. Citizen Kane (1941) Orson Welles co-wrote, directed and starred in Citizen Kane at just 25. His first film is the one he will always be remembered by. The story of fictional industrialist Charles Foster Kane, told retrospectively and from different points of view, is one of cinema’s most iconic. I an ingenious move, the film is driven by the tantalising mystery of the man’s last word, ‘Rosebud’. Like one of Shakespeare’s Kings, Kane’s life and motivations are examined

in-depth but categorical answers are never revealed. In front of the camera Welles is as bold and confident as he is behind it. Playing Kane over many decades his performance is terrific - although, like the film itself, it all gets a bit theatrical towards the end. The problem for this film is its status. Given all the hype and praise which surrounds Citizen Kane it’s impossible not to be a little underwhelmed by the first viewing. The technical and narrative innovations in the film are so fundamental that they are

now embedded in the foundations of most movies. As such, what made Citizen Kane different is now invisible to a modern audience. What’s left is an engrossing but slightly overblown fictional biopic. Verdict: A picture which must be seen by anyone even vaguely interested in film. Unfortunately, out of its cinematic context and under the weight of expectation, Citizen Kane does not live up to its reputation.

If you are already in practice and want to gain that all important edge over your competitors, then we can help you too. Our invaluable 'Mentor Me' programme enables our members to receive a one to one appraisal of their work and advice for progression. All evaluation reports include recommendations for participation in training programmes pertinent to personal professional development and it doesn't just stop at reaching Licentiateship. In fact, that is only the beginning on a journey of lifelong learning. As we look to the future, the Societies Convention January 2013 is set to become the most memorable gathering in the history of worldwide Professional Photography with a stunning array of speakers from all over the world. We have attracted the support of over 200 of the most influential companies supplying goods and services to professionals worldwide in a trade show that promises to deliver face to face contact with an energetic and aspiring market.

How difficult has it been to spread the word, can our readers offer any help via their creative talents? I have been quite cautious about scaling up too soon. So far I have been more concerned with making sure that different types of people will join, to make sure that we do have a variety of expertise on board. Now that the infrastructure to handle large numbers is almost in place can start to scale up. I am sure the creative talents of your readers can be put to great use. There wasn't too much PR content in my physics course! The website is still very basic and I know greater use of graphics and video could have a big impact. You are trying to do things for students/creatives yourselves, can you tell us more about this and how people can get involved? One exciting project is to set up 6W2X, a social enterprise startup incubator for students. It should give students and recently qualified creatives the opportunity to work together with seasoned professionals. What do you think are the key challenges facing those looking to do good in today's society? The Amaze Magazine team first heard about Mardi in 2010 when they attended the Shine 2011 Unconference and met Doug Morrison who has been very helpful and provided lots of good advice to the magazine since then. We now feel it is time to return the favour and let you learn more about them and why you should support Mardi. We asked Doug a few questions, and hopefully it will inspire you to think about how you can get involved.

There are many worthwhile projects vying for people's attention so you have to be prepared for it to be an uphill struggle if you want to set up something new. Don't expect people to give you money just because it is for charity. It may be your charity but it is not their charity (yet). What advice would you give to someone looking to do something similar to yourself?

Describe Mardi and what it does?

First see if someone else is trying to do what you want to do and consider working with them instead of reinventing the wheel. If you still want to set up something new then you should have a very clear idea of what you are attempting to do. Make sure you really are adding value. Have compelling arguments for why people should support your efforts and get a good team around you.

Mardi is an organisation for university alumni and students to work together to make the world a better place. Working together we can achieve much more.

You need to be persistent to overcome setbacks - but also have the humility to recognise when things aren't working and be prepared to change.

Tell us about the impact you have had so far? We have helped quite a few people meet others with common objectives, helped publicise a several worthwhile projects and our Amabassador, Raghu Dixit, gave a shout out for Water Aid at Glastonbury but as we are still in the process of setting up, so the impact thus far is very small compared with the future potential of Mardi.

www.mardinet.org For more information visit:

www.bigbluecuddle.com

Contact Details: pr@bigbluecuddle.com lara@bigbluecuddle.com +44-(0)2081332439

Up & coming brands of children’s clothes pull together to support children’s charities. People can now discover new kidswear brands, buy unique and original clothes and raise funds for children’s charities all in one place. This place is Big Blue Cuddle, a new online store of baby and children’s clothes with a difference: it only sells products from brand that are not yet widely available in the UK and it donates between 15 and 50% of what people spend to the charity they select. The donations are made possible by the generosity of the suppliers. Lara Soetekouw, the founder and London based mother of 3, scouts talented and unusual brands, mostly not yet widely available in the UK, who embrace the idea of giving and therefore offer great prices on selected items. The clothes are sold for their regular retail price creating a margin that’s donated to charities. Suppliers only sell a limited amount of clothes through Big Blue Cuddle, so every garment is virtually unique in the UK. “It’s almost like a gallery” Lara explains “where you’re never quite sure what you’re going to find and once something is sold, it is gone!” The concept really resonates with brands who relish the opportunity to do good in an intelligent way: people can now browse through the products of 20 labels, mainly from Europe but also the USA and Australia, and their number keeps growing. But people really like the idea too. Big Blue Cuddle is the perfect store where to buy gifts, for newborn babies, who will stand out: the clothes are truly different from anything in the high street and the gift will feel extra special to the new mother too, as the greeting card (or gift voucher) has a discreet writing that says which children’s charity has been selected to benefit from the purchase.

Big Blue cuddle selected 4 wonderful and relatively small charities to make sure they are really making a difference in diverse areas such as supporting the neonatal unit of a London hospital (First Touch), helping deprived children in London (Kids Company), providing better education and opportunities to children with Autism (Ambitious about Autism) or offering free accommodation close to the hospital to the parents of the seriously ill children being treated there (The Sick Children’s Trust). The charities change every 6-12 months to give different organisations the same opportunities and keep the website interesting. At check-out the customer selects the charity that will receive the donation on their behalf. It’s big - for example purchases of £80 will see Big Blue Cuddle donating £20.00 to the children’s charity of their choice. At the end everybody wins: Suppliers have a great way to launch or get noticed in the UK, offer their stock for a good cause and show a big heart. Customers discover new brands, buy one-of-a-kind clothes and have the satisfaction of having helped raise funds for a good cause without spending any extra. Charities receive funds that can make a big difference and raise awareness about their projects & causes. The brands that like what Big Blue Cuddle does and have generously agreed to support them are: Ava&Luc, Bonkeli, Eazy-Teez, Eponime, Hektik.cc, i-Dare, Koeka, La Queue du Chat, Liandlo, LipFish, Name it, Nonono, Olive’s Friend Pop, Paul Frank & Small Paul, Pili Pala, Plastisock, Pluto, P’tit Chic...de Paris, Roda Hund, Simon Mignon, Supernatural Kids Clothing, Tom & Drew.

About the Founder, Lara Soetekouw Lara Soetekouw is half italian, half American and has lived a bit everywhere across Europe before settling down in London 10 years ago, with her Dutch husband and their three multilingual children. Lara is also a former strategy and marketing consultant who always dreamt of starting her own business and, at the same time, doing her bit to make the world a better place, especially for children. The initial idea for Big Blue Cuddle came from the frustration of not being able to find in the UK the colourful and imaginative brands of clothes that she so enjoyed buying for her children in the Netherlands and finding that everybody was buying the same brands in the UK. Lara thought that any stock of these brands that are not yet well established in the UK had a real market value over here because of their orginality and that a margin could be created and donated to charities. Just over a year later, Big Blue Cuddle today sells 20 brands on www.bigbluecuddle.com, mainly from Europe, the USA and Australia, and gives UK customers the opportunity to buy virtually unique childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothes, from newborns to roughly 10 years old, and to select the charity who will receive up to 50% of what they are spending.

www.bigbluecuddle.com

Harry Bingham Exclusive

How did you get started in writing? I always wanted to be an author but somehow ended up as a banker in my twenties. Then my wife became seriously ill. I gave up work to look after her and, sitting at her bedside, wrote my first novel – which went on to become, in a small way, a bestseller. My sixth novel has just been published and there have been four non-fiction books too. And tell us about the Writers’ Workshop – what it is and how you got started. I started the Writers’ Workshop as a way to earn a little money on the side: I thought I could offer editorial advice to new writers alongside writing books of my own. So I built a website and made myself open to all comers. But as it turned out, I

sat on a molehill and it turned into a mountain. I got deluged with manuscripts from would-be writers and so started to take on others authors and commissioning editors to help with them. We now have about eighty editors all told and we’ve helped countless people on the path to publication. We’ve had prizewinners and bestsellers too, even the occasional film / TV deal. What if someone has a manuscript they need help with? Just get in touch with us. We work with everyone from screenwriters to children’s writers to every type of fiction and non-fiction. Because we have so many editors working for us, we almost always have someone who specialises in your sort of work. Is it just editorial advice you

offer? No. Editorial advice is certainly the heart of the business, but where work is good enough, we always help to place it with literary agents – and we’ve worked with most of the best-known agencies in London over the years. We also run a brilliant Festival of Writing where you can pitch your work direct to agents (and much else!) And there are writing courses, if you’re at an earlier stage of things. Can you tell us about your books? I’ve written a few novels – historical adventures mostly – but I’ve just launched a major crime series with Orion. The first in the series is Talking to the Dead. It’s the best book I’ve ever written. Although it’s a crime novel, the real focus is its central

character: a woman detective who’s very strange, very intense … and turns out to have a lot of secrets of her own. The story is as much about her as about the crime itself. And any non-fiction of interest to a writer? Yes, I’ve written a couple of books on Getting Published and How To Write. They aim to be the most accessible, comprehensive and practical books on writing for publication – then actually negotiating the whole process of getting an agent and launching a career. They’ve had lovely reviews on Amazon, so I know they really work for writers. What advice could you give to an aspiring writer? Gosh, there’s so much. But here are my top three tips, I suppose.

First, you have to understand the market you’re writing for. That doesn’t just mean reading a lot, it means reading intelligently. You need, in particular, to read plenty of recent fiction by debut or newish authors – that’s your best guide to what editors and publishers are buying right now. Secondly, you have to write from passion. If you don’t absolutely love your story and characters, nobody else will. That doesn’t mean you can’t have creative doubts of course – we all have that – but you need to write from passion, not just as a means to an end. And last, you need to be perfectionist. At the Writers’ Workshop, we see too many manuscripts that feel rushed: bits of plotting that don’t quite work, thin characterisation and (always a telling indicator) sentences that are clumsy, unclear or too wordy.

The truth is that good writers are always perfectionist. I know one author who rewrites her stuff about 40 times before publication – and she’s an experienced author who also works as a publisher. And she’s not exceptional: you need to put the effort in, if you’re going to get the results. What would you tell them to avoid? Avoid rushing. Just know that getting published is going to be a long journey and give yourself time to do it right. That means everything from planning a book to getting an agent. Oh – and good luck! And happy writing!

Tim Knight writes a regular column, Watching the Watchdog, for Huffington Post Canada. A version of the following column first appeared on HuffPost’s front page on May 14. Knight is an Emmy and Sigma Delta Chi award winner who’s worked for three newspapers, Zambia TV, ABC, NBC, PBS and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), where he produced its flagship news program, The National, and for 10 years headed its TV Journalism Training program. In May, 2012, he won an Innoversity Creative Summit Angel award for “strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in the media.

Journalism’s Complicit Role in Sexual Abuse The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has just aired another in the long, sordid saga of rape of young boys by Roman Catholic priests. Breaking the Silence tells the stories of five Canadians who went to boarding schools in England and Tanzania run by the church’s Rosminian Order. In it, the five, now grown men, make horrifyingly routine accusations of sexual, physical and mental abuse suffered at the hands of priests. Along with the even more routine charge that the Church, in its infinite blindness, covered up the abuse.

The men stayed silent for decades, each thinking he was the only one abused. When they finally got together and swapped stories they were joined by seventeen other men in legal proceedings against the Rosminians. To this day the Order denies any liability. Breaking the Silence is a powerful, often heart-breaking, indictment of those who abuse their godly power and, as a consequence, do appalling damage to innocent children. Flashback -- Some 22 years ago, Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada were forced to close their Mount Cashel Orphanage in Newfoundland and Labrador after charges that the Roman Catholic

brothers sexually, physically and emotionally abused some 300 boys in their care.

its sins, protected its sinners and was simply too powerful for Irish journalists to dare challenge.

Shortly thereafter, I was in Dublin training senior journalists at Ireland's national broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ). During the workshop, I mentioned the Mount Cashel crimes and asked the assembled journalists if they were following up on the Canadian connection. Was it not likely that similarly horrific child rape also happened in Ireland, home base of the Christian Brothers? The journalists' response was that "everyone knew" of such atrocities but pious Irish culture and draconian libel laws made it impossible to report on Roman Catholic Church abuses, sexual or otherwise.

It took another ten years before RTÉ screwed up the courage to broadcast the TV documentary, States of Fear. It finally exposed Mount Cashel-like decades of pedophilia and sadism in Irish church-run and governmentsupported institutions for orphaned and abandoned children. Since then, thousands of pedophilic and hebephilic (sexual preference for children in early puberty) priests have been accused of child abuse in Canada, the U.S., and dozens of other countries.

In sum, the church covered up

Now, journalists, traditional watchdogs of the powerful, went to school and grew up in those countries.

“...Breaking the Silence is a powerful, often heart-breaking, indictment of those who abuse their godly power and, as a consequence, do appalling damage to innocent children....” It's impossible to believe these journalists knew nothing of the church's crimes, going back so many decades. It's much easier to believe that they knew and did nothing -- out of fear of the awesome temporal and spiritual power of the church. Mea Culpa -- I never went to a Roman Catholic school. Nor did I know a boy who did and was abused. Even so, I remember schoolmates whispering about boys they knew at Catholic schools to whom "something awful" had happened. But that was it. No details. Certainly nothing became public. So the abuse continued. For years.

When I grew up I become a journalist myself. I investigated all sorts of stories about abuse of power in South Africa, the U.S., Canada and a few other countries. But, to my shame, it never occurred to me to investigate those rumours I'd heard whispered by friends so many years before. In that sense I -- along with a great many of my journalistic colleagues -- am complicit in the terrible silence that so protected the guilty and harmed the innocent. The multinational corporation which is the Roman Catholic Church has many sins to answer for when its leaders finally knock on St. Peter's gates. As will my own beloved profession — journalism.

Postscript:

and it can be stopped.

There were a goodly number of comments to my column. Not one of them denied my charge.

I urge you and fellow journalists to continue to expose the truth.

What fascinated me most, however, was that no selfidentified journalist responded. Either to support or deny.

Wayne Mollison

So what does this mean? Is it possible that an innate, tribal fear of some awesome Almighty Being — whether actually believed in it or not — prevented me and my journalistic colleagues from responding to the rumours and asking hard questions of the men of God’s church? Or did my journalistic colleagues distain to comment because I — and the documentary itself — are so obviously deluded? Or just plain wrong? I haven’t the foggiest idea! Two “survivors” featured in the documentary did comment. “As a survivor, and one of the individuals “featured” in the broadcast, I would like to congratulate you on your article. The fact that you have recognized the abuse that we have shared with you is only the beginnings of public awareness. As a victim, it has taken me 40 years, but now we as a group have spoken to YOU the public,

Kindest regards,

Dear Mr. Tim Knight. I really appreciated your article that I read on the Huffington Post. “Watching the Watchdog: Journalism’s Complicit Role in Sexual Abuse” and the acknowledgement you made in the article. I was one of the children at St Michaels school in Soni referred to in the documentary (there was not really that many of us in the 20 years that it operated). What the documentary Breaking The Silence did not really discuss was the terror that hour by hour we had to endure along with a starvation diet. Most of us have had our lives blighted by what went on. Your industry is the only way that the common people can draw attention to wrongs that has or is being done and then shame or compel the powers that govern our lives to act & do something about it. Regards Phil Jones

My own view, for what it’s worth, is that the Roman Catholic Church is made up of two clashing and contradictory groups. The first group is dedicated to acting as a mediatory agent between believers and their God. And I have no doubt there remain in the church good men who perform this duty with diligence, piety and honour. The second group is, in essence, a pedophilic club. Made up of men who joined the organization because it would give them easy access to boys they could then rape with — at least until very recently — absolute impunity. Because of the second group, if the Church of Rome (motto “For God and Humanity”) were any other multinational organization, every country in the world would have long since closed it down. Its priests would have been arrested and forced to defend themselves against — at the very least — collusion and complicity in rapes of minors. Its tax exempt status would have been cancelled. But what to do with all those splendidly ostentatious cathedrals and churches? Here in Canada, they would make excellent longhouses for aboriginal First Nations people.

Creator Rights By Russell Payne. One of the thorny issues facing any Modern Creative is that of Creator Rights. Will your interests be looked after if your work is a success, or will others reap the benefits of your talent? Writer Russell Payne looks into some of the pitfalls. It’s one thing to be successfully creative, it’s another thing entirely to be financially successful. Are the two mutually exclusive? Often they are, but they don’t have to be. Which though, is more important to you? Financial recognition or

creative recognition? Your attitude regarding this will affect your work, and how you deal with the people you work for. With the age of crowd sourcing upon us, maybe the future is self-publishing. Maybe we’ll see a world where you can pay an artist direct for work you enjoy. Places like Indiegogo and Kickstarter are beginning to make a difference, but making a living as an artist is still a struggle uphill, an unusually steep hill, and the hill is covered in broken glass, and you’re naked. Far too often the creative force behind successful ideas isn’t the person who sees the financial payback. Unfortunately when you

are a naïve, wide eyed newcomer just wanting to get your babies released into the free world, the last thing you worry about is the small print, you’re just happy someone gives you some page, wall or web space to display your creations. You see anyone who encourages you as a benevolent benefactor, a kindly uncle acting as a patron of the arts and believing in you because of how completely awesome you are. This can sometimes be the case, in very rare cases or in the depths of your imagination maybe, but generally it isn’t, people may invest in you because you are good at what you do, but it’s really your potential for making them money that is the motivating factor. You are a financial

investment not an artistic folly. The grim reality is, many of the people actually running the commercial and sometimes non-commercial creative industries are in it for the money, not the love of good art. Never forget that, or they will rip you off, and continue ripping you off and feeding on the carcass of your ideas for the rest of their natural lives. The people paying you are probably businessmen of some sort or another, they may be greedy, without any ethical framework you’d recognise as such, and many of them wouldn’t recognise morality even if it had just been introduced to them in a formal setting in slow, distinct tones and was wearing a name

badge that clearly said, “Hi! My name is MORALITY”. That’s why it’s not the people who come up with the best ideas that end up seeing the dividends of the fruits of their labours, it’s their employers. It’s an ancient relationship model that can be symbiotic, but often ends up parasitic. So how can you avoid pouring your heart and soul into a project just to make someone else rich? It’s a tricky subject, partly because a lot of investment in the arts is speculative, partly because emotions run high when the product has such a personal origin. When you hire the latest modern creative, fresh from the

streets, to come up with your new advertising campaign, you’re taking a risk, you probably don’t sign them up but agree to not pay them if the campaign flops, but equally you don’t expect to pay him twice as much if the campaign goes viral and triples your stock price. You should also take time to consider why you are creating whatever it is your are creating, is your main motivation just to make money, or is the money just an enabler to let you create something you have to do? Would you rather put out something the client loves, but you hate, or are you the sort to stand by your principles and risk losing work in defence of artistic integrity? Is it more important to you to be recognised as the

creator of a worthwhile work and have creative control, or for you to be paid for any old pap that’s been spawned by committee? They are all valid models, although one of them means you have sold your soul and put too much value on monetary gain, but who am I to judge? It’s always nice to be paid. I enjoy eating regularly as much as the next man, probably more so if you see how wide I am, just make sure you enter relationships like this with clear expectations, and learn from those that have gone before. There is no reason you can’t have a good relationship with the people you work for, obviously it’s preferable to do so, but once you begin accepting

their input into your ideas, you risk compromising your artistic integrity, and potentially diluting the input you have into the final product. Collaboration can be a wonderful thing, just make sure you are prepared to give credit to your collaborators. Creator’s rights are not protected well by law, it’s better than it used to be, but it’s still a jungle out there, it’s just been pruned slightly. Take the field of comics as an example, it’s full of popular creators who are unhappy with their treatment by the industry. There was a sad case recently that illustrates the complexities of the issue, where Robert Washington one of the

co-creators of the popular DC/ Milestone comics character “Static” died of a heart attack. He had been living on the edge for a while, sometimes homeless, working in a call centre to make ends meet, while DC continued to feature his ideas and characters in comics and a popular cartoon.

Robert died June 7, 2012. Charitable donations from fans and fellow comic creators paid for his funeral via a charity called the Hero Initiative. The comic Static Shock #8 came out the same month and the title was then cancelled.

Some would argue that he had been paid as a work for hire employee, made some money and DC owe him nothing. Legally, they are probably right. Others would argue that since work he created was continuing to make DC money, he was entitled to some recompense or royalties payment, especially given his current circumstance. Morally, they probably have a point.

Alan Moore is another name that pops up a lot when talking about Creator Rights, he’s had a good many of his ideas made into movies – Watchmen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell, V for Vendetta, Constantine, and so sits in a place many would aspire to be in. Yet his relationship with the moviemakers has been a strained one, with Moore asking to have

his name taken off the credits, refusing to accept funds made from the films, often openly criticising the establishment for spoon feeding diluted versions of his works towards the mouth of mass media. It’s unusual to see an attitude like this in today’s sycophantic, materialistic world, is it biting the hand that feeds you, or making an important creative stand? I think it’s probably showing a lot more morality than we’re used to seeing in the world of the modern creative, and an example to be admired. What’s more, instead of chasing the money and moving to Hollywood to be courted by

sycophants, he stayed in Northants and got involved in an indie magazine called Dodgem Logic, which was brilliant, but currently on a break. It’s difficult to talk about creator rights in comics and not mention Jack Kirby, the man who created or co-created a staggering number of the superhero characters that remain popular today in comics and movies. He died in 1994 but his ideas continue to capture the public interest. The Avengers, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, the Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer, the X-Men, to some degree Spiderman and hundreds more all had Jack Kirby’s hand mould them. How many people

today have heard of him though? Movies based on his ideas make billions but his family see not a penny in royalties. Never mind the mountains of money though, what about some respect and recognition for the work the man did? If the creative industry can treat one it’s King’s like this, how do you imagine it is going to treat you? So what can you do? Two things. Go in with your eyes open, if you sign a contract, read it, make sure you know exactly what it is you are agreeing to. Even if you consider the person you are dealing with a friend closer than a brother, even if it is your brother, even if it’s your twin brother who

pulled you from an icy lake when you were 6 and saved your life, get it all in writing. It’s like a pre-nup, it’s not very romantic, you might never need it, but it saves an awful lot of heartache if things do go wrong. Don’t lose sight of why you got into this world in the first place, you had an idea you were proud of, that you believed in, that excited you, don’t let someone else change it, exploit it or steal it just to make themselves some money. You will never make art that makes souls sing if you make it to get rich. You probably won’t get rich either. So go have some fun and instead of trying to make money, try to make something amazing.

Related linkshttp://www.dodgemlogic.com/ http://kirbymuseum.org/ http://www.heroinitiative.org/

Russell is a great friend of Modern Creative and a talented writer. Can you introduce yourself to our readers? Let us know a little more about your career within the creative industry and what your passions are? I’m Russell Payne. I’m a writer, that’s probably what I’m best known for, but I’m also an artist, performer, filmmaker and musician. I’ve worked under a number of different pseudonyms over the years, sometimes for large companies, sometimes for small independent projects. I like to write humour, but you can find humour in just about anything, except possibly breakfast television, so I’ve written for all sorts of genres. I’m probably best known for the blog I used to write for the BBC website - “Morris Telford’s Salopian Odyssey” and the subsequent novel. I’ve written fictional blogs, novels, comics, screenplays, poetry, magazine, newspaper and the occasional “get well soon” card. I’m also co-founder of the production company Tiny Lapel. For the last three years I’ve been working on a government

communications team making films and designing posters and animations as a day job and writing in the evenings and weekends. On top of this I do a bit of performing in local venues, mostly for my own amusement, I do a ventriloquist act where the dummy never speaks. What has been your favourite piece of work? That’s a really hard question; I’m a massive fan of all my work. I did a government film where I got to dress up as a bear. We shot the whole thing in single frames, like live stop motion and set it to music. A bear in a business suit and tie. It really doesn’t get much better then that. I wrote a book quite a few years ago that I’m very found of called “American Spoon Indigo”. It was a hard-boiled detective noir thriller where all the main characters were items of cutlery. A One review cleverly described it as “Douglas Adams meets Button Moon” which I was very happy with as I’m a great admirer of the works of both Douglas and Mr Spoon.

What equipment do you use? And what would you recommend? For filming? At work I use a Sony HVR-VE digital camcorder, recording in HD on DVCAM tapes, boom mic and a three light rig. I’d just recommend using the best kit you can afford, you can film in digital HD now at a fraction of what it used to cost, make sure you have good lighting and sound, the rest is the really important bit though, what you put into it of yourself, I’d rather watch an original and clever movie on low-fi film than a predictable and dull HD movie.

imagination resonates with people, some of the biggest movies this year are based on his ideas. He didn’t just create stories, he filled universes. I’m giving some talks and hosting panels this year looking at the enormous impact of Jack Kirby on modern culture and supporting the work of Jack Kirby Museum and Research Centre.

Where can we buy your books?

I’ve done some schools and colleges, in February I was a guest at the 2012 Cardiff International Film and Animation Expo, and I’m hoping to give a talk or host a panel at the Northants International Comic Expo (NICE) at the end of September.

I’m available at all good bookshops. Morris Telford is on Amazon in hardback, paperback, and on Kindle, Jelhead is available in paperback on Amazon and some of my other out-of-print stuff is available in bookshops, second-hand or on ebay.

I’m also an admirer of the life and works of performance poet Jim Erasmus Lime Templeton, which isn’t all that well known and actively avoids media exposure, but if you get the chance to see him live, he is the absolute best at what he does.

Who are your heroes?

Who else? I know this is solid cheese, but my wife and kids, they can always be trusted to give me honest, sometimes brutal feedback.

Jack Kirby. He was probably the most creative mind that’s ever lived, and yet inexplicably he’s not all that well known. He died 18 years ago and yet still his

What advice would you give

someone looking to break into your industry? Create a product, a finished package, make something you’re proud of that reflects your talents, and put it out there so people can see what you’re capable of. You’d be amazed how many people say “I’m an artist” or “I want to be a writer” but have never actually finished a single thing. Meet people. Most aspects of the creative industry don’t really advertise at jobcentres, put yourself out there, go to conventions, get to know people, make friends, be nice, eventually one of them will think of your name when work comes along and once your foot is in the door, you find out if your talent is worth anything. Get involved with creative communities like DeviantART or Modern Creative, open yourself up to collaboration, bouncing off other people can enhance your work. I like to work alone, but I’ve also been fortunate enough to collaborate with some very talented people over the years. Crowd funding is also an excellent way to get some backing for a project, but you need to invest as much, if not

more, time into promotion as you do actually making art to get anywhere with that, but Kickstarter, Bloom or Indiegogo are all great sites to try. Remember there’s a world full of very talented creative artists out there who struggle to make a living, so don’t think just because you’re struggling you’re no good. I mean you might well be completely terrible, but commercial failure is not necessarily artistic failure, at least that’s what I tell myself when I’m sat in my bed-sit eating an out-of-date Pot Noodle as my only meal of the day. Whatever medium you work in, try to find space to do what you enjoy doing, it will come across in your art, the harsh reality of commercial art is that you often end up doing things you’re not all that enthusiastic about. It’s better to produce work you’re proud of, than work that pays well. And never listen to advice you read in interviews, you’ll starve. How do you juggle your filming and other passions with your work? I work smart, not hard and I haven’t slept since 1993