36: VIBRANCY

EDITORS’ NOTE

As this is the committee’s first full-length print edition, I couldn’t be happier with the enthusiasm shown by our writers and illustrators. The cover competition for this edition was a huge success and I want to congratulate everyone on their submissions, we have tried to feature as many as we could. The theme VIBRANCY has given us a huge range of submissions and it’s been a lot of fun working on the design of such a colourful edition. Thank you as always to our writers, illustrators and designers - the number of people interested in submitting work for print has blown me away and I’m excited to be able to offer more opportunities to get involved in the next edition. And, of course, a huge thank you to my print team for working so hard on a magazine we should all be very proud of. I’m very optimistic for the rest of our editions this year and I can’t wait to work on the next one.

Kat Green, Print Editor/Co-President

Colour, life, and energy are the things I think of when I think vibrancy! All of the articles, illustrations and photographs in this edition beautifully embody this sentiment. There’s something about picking up a RAZZ magazine and seeing how people have infused every word with their distinct essence and personality that warms my heart and excites my mind. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this edition and for their hard work. Happy reading!

Chloé Jarrett-Bell, Deputy Print Editor

Welcome to VIBRANCY! The theme for this term has been especially exciting to incorporate into the design of this edition and I have loved being able to make use of bold and bright colours to match the articles. Big thank you’s go to the Print Team and especially Kat, our Print Editor for keeping everything organised. I would also like to thank Maia McGill, the winner of our cover competition and who has given me a hand with some of the pages in this edition, alongside Dharma Austin, whose photoshoot you can also see in this edition. I am very grateful as a stressed third year who has been bombarded with deadlines throughout the term! I hope as readers you are inspired when flicking through and I am looking forward to seeing where the next edition of RAZZ takes us!

Bethan Oakley, Creative Director

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Thomas Manon Martini

Chloé Jarrett-Bell

Maggie John

Nina Harris

Jessie Fairclough

Lucy Facer

Indigo Maynard

Mia McChesney

Annabel Jeffrey

Maia McGill

Swarnim Agrawal

Dharma Austin

Rebecca Johnson

Charley Huckerby

cover art by Maia McGill

Maya Fernandes

Rebecca Graham

Anna Kane

Luiza McDowell

Ciara Barton

Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Zoe Sperry

Ally Mannix

Grace Dunford-Elliot

Faith Dale-Hughes

Lilian Smith

Kat Green

Amelia Heasley

Kate Taylor

- POP: A GENRE UNMATCHED IN VIBRANCY

From elaborate dance moves to new fashion trends, Korean Pop (K-pop) has grown exponentially in the last few years. It has defied language barriers, brought Korean culture into the wider world and skyrocketed through the Billboard Charts.

So, what is it that makes K-pop attractive to such a large number of people? I sat down with the Exeter University K-pop society (@ kpopsocexe) to ask just that.

First of all, what is it about k-pop that you enjoy?

There are two main things. One is just the plain quality of the product. For every song, there’s a big eye-grabbing music video and a choreographed dance routine. I’m always surprised by the sophistication of some of the music, incorporating odd time signatures, interesting modes, some really beautiful chord sequences and inventive genre mixing.

The second part is the idols themselves. The distinguishing factor has to be the personality that comes with it, the interactions between group members, and the relationships that they then have with the fans.

I really enjoy the fashion and the style of masculinity idols present. The music is really varied, meaning I can find a whole lot of stuff I like. I love meeting other people who enjoy K-pop. They are all really nice, friendly and enthusiastic people.

Is there a particular feature of the genre that enticed you or drew you in?

Initially what grabbed my attention was the choreography. I remember being introduced to the song Stay Tonight by Chungha. I don’t know a lot about dance, but the extra layer it added to the performance was mesmerising, especially with Chungha’s skill and stage presence.

The music is unique. It’s not just a song, it’s the styling, the dance, the personality and the community.

While I don’t dance, it’s amazing to see the work that is put into the industry and how these people train for years and are genuinely extremely hard-working, talented, and making catchy songs that get me singing under my breath all day.

RAZZ writer Megan Thomas interviews the University’s K-Pop Society.

What do you personally think the best feature of K-pop is and why?

I don’t think it can be narrowed down to a single feature and I think that that in itself, is the best feature. The music, the visuals, the dance, the personality of the idols themselves, and everything else, are all parts of the product. It’s a mindset and culture which is very different to western pop, that provides a completely unique experience.

A lot of K-Pop is marketed to be quite an immersive experience so you can interact with lots of different content like Run BTS, VLive or Webtoons. Each fanbase becomes a tight-knit community with a lot in common.

There are a lot of good features in K-pop from the fashion, to the choreo, to the concepts utilised in the music. For me, it is the production value and the amount of effort artists go to to achieve excellence in their craft.

What would you say to someone who is interested in exploring the genre?

Twitter makes everything look scary, but when you actually dive into the fandoms, they’re just people who love the content, support their favourite bands, and appreciate and discuss the intensity of the industry.

The artists are very hardworking and put a lot of effort into their talents along with their releases. You probably won’t like everything you see, but K-pop is absurdly diverse, so don’t worry. Just get in there and explore.

Try a varied mix of groups and music. All K-pop, old and new (for example SHINee vs MCND) has a lot to offer, give it all a go. There are so many sub-genres and different sounds in K-pop; it’s really worth exploring as many different artists as you can to see what you like best.

Any additional comments you’d like to make?

Three personal recommendations that are favourites of mine, and good entry points for beginners include:

1. ‘Back Door’ by Stray Kids: a funky, upbeat hip-hop song by a boy group with two English-speaking Australian members, who self-produce and write all their own music.

3. ‘Fancy’ by Twice. Twice are one of the most popular girl groups in Korea, and ‘Fancy’ is one of their most iconic songs.

2. ‘Let Me In’ by Haseul from Loona. Loona is a slightly more niche group, but ‘Let Me In’ is some of their best work mixing a classical orchestral instrumental with a pop structure to create an unforgettable ballad, topped off with Haseul’s stunning vocals.

We’re all pretty tired of being judged as “Oli London’s” or “Koreaboos.” The music is good, the dancing is fun, the community is welcoming. Everyone has hobbies, this is ours.

There’s nothing weird about exploring music from around the world.

FASHION ICONS

Five RAZZ writers share fashion icons they feel embody ‘VIBRANCY’, spanning over many time periods, from Marie Antionette to Mimi Moocher.

MARIE ANTIONETTE

Let’s look past her lack of tact (‘let them eat cake’); Marie Antoinette was a vibrant fashion icon whose style ironically resembled a luxurious dessert. The Queen Consort of France had a lavish assortment of outfits, encapsulating her and her husband Louis XVI’s hedonistic lifestyle.

Portraits of Marie conjure up images of hyper-femininity and her allure resonates through the picture; her dresses being embellished with feathers and extravagant bows. In true diva fashion, she never wore anything more than once; she had 300 dresses made for her every year, while the destitute people of France were suffering during this period. Marie Antoinette’s style permeates through generations of French fashion and has had a knock-on effect throughout the fashion industry as a whole.

My personal favourite designer, Vivienne Westwood, has clearly taken inspiration from the French queen’s elaborate attire. The British designer’s runway collections revolve around the simple nature of the corset, much like Marie’s, as the centrepiece of her creations, which I believe to be fit for a queen.

‘My personal favourite designer, Vivienne Westwood, has clearly taken inspiration from the French queen’s elaborate attire. ‘

The fashion legacy of Marie Antoinette lives on today. With Kirsten Dunst as the lead, Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette presents the queen as the epitome of vibrancy, which we can take style inspiration from, but learn from as an omen against excessive indulgence.

Luiza McDowell, Deputy Online Editor

TWIGGY

A fashion revolution took place in the UK during the 1960s. Model Dame Lesley Dawson, aka ‘Twiggy’, became emblematic of this vigor and vibrancy, and remains an icon to this day. Twiggy’s aesthetic can be categorised into three compartments: Androgyny, ‘The Chelsea Look’, and Colour. Haute couture, or ‘high fashion’, originated in Paris and focuses on the designing of custom-made garments for a typically slender figure – Vivienne Westwood epitomises this style. Twiggy, so-named due to her thin frame, recently stated she doesn’t think ‘high-fashion will ever move completely away from slimness’.

In order to avoid digesting Twiggy’s aesthetic as harmful (her style is similar to the heroine chic of the 90s), we should keep in mind that she started modelling as a schoolgirl. She admits that her look was ‘a total impossibility for women over twenty’.

Her slimness did, however, aid her in commercialising androgyny. As well as opting for braless styles, Twiggy modelled ties, waistcoats, men’s hats, shorts, and suit waistcoats, men’s hats, shorts, and suit jackets. This innovative and playful take on fashion certainly paved the way for figures such as Bowie to bring androgyny to the mainstream.

‘You can’t comment on Twiggy’s aesthetic without acknowledging designer Mary Quant, and the iconic ‘Chelsea Look’. ‘

You can’t comment on Twiggy’s aesthetic without acknowledging designer Mary Quant, and the iconic ‘Chelsea Look’. Bazaar, the boutique Quant co-founded in 1955 on the King’s Road, was iconic for its miniskirts. These were

frequently modelled by Twiggy and went hand-in-hand with the transgressive youth culture emerging in London.

Finally, makeup and colour played a huge role in defining the vibrant side of Twiggy’s aesthetic. She is known for her brightly coloured eyeshadow and heavy eyeliner. The counter-cultural revolution of the 1960s is often associated with bright colours – I’d suggest that Twiggy is integral in explaining why. Twiggy revitalised fashion as an art form and a mode of self-expression; her legacy is timeless.

Anna Kane

DAVID BOWIE

Following the release of Brett Morgan’s documentary-biopic Moonage Daydream, it is only fitting to look back over the legacy of David Bowie and the mark he left on the world of fashion. Sure, we all recognise Bowie as a rock legend and leading figure of the 70s music scene, yet the ‘father of androgyny’ was just as influential in regards to his eccentric style.

The singer-songwriter occupied a liminal space between the masculine and the feminine through the creation of various alter-egos, often coinciding with his latest album release or creative collaboration. The gender iconoclast transcended contemporary trends, instead embodying the other-worldly creatures of his imagination. The 1972 album

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust not only gave us songs like ‘Starman’ and ‘Moonage Dream’, but gave birth to a transcendental alien rock star, clad with a striking orange mullet and nihilistic outlook on the world.

‘[...] the ‘father of androgyny’ was just as influential in regards to his eccentric style.’

Only four years later, the ‘Thin White Duke’ first appeared on the title track of Station to Station. Although his stripped-back tuxedo appeared relatively unadventurous, the suit’s rendering drew influence from the ‘Le Smoking’ Yves Saint Laurent piece – a revolutionary work in the emergence of androgynous fashion.

Most identifiably, the album art for Aladdin Sane produced the emblematic ‘lightning-bolt’ image. Now recognised as a symbol of the glam rock iconography, the portrait is distinctively synonymous with the rock star’s musical identity and electric presence.

Looking back on only three of Bowie’s most recognisable characters, it is clear that his legacy upon the world of fashion is undeniable. To many, he superseded style itself with a host of futuristic wardrobe choices that felt deliberately avant-garde, but never pretentious. Although we will always mourn the loss of David Bowie, his ability to rewrite the boundaries of men’s fashion earn him the title of a true style icon.

‘‘Although we will always mourn the loss of David Bowie, his ability to rewrite the boundaries of men’s fashion earn him the title of a true style icon.’’

Maya Fernandes

LADY GAGA

What word springs to mind when you hear ‘Lady Gaga’? Camp. Iconic. Genius. Trashy. Maybe you think of a certain song or an album. Personally, I think of couture. From the infamous meat-dress to catholic motifs, 9-inch platform heels and futuristic cut-outs, I think most of us can agree that her fashion has always been vibrant. Gaga was a pioneer for post-modern fashion, particularly in her early career, with artists such as Doja Cat and even Harry Styles taking inspiration from her looks (see the Marc Jacobs 2020 collection).

‘From the infamous meat-dress to catholic motifs, 9-inch platform heels and futuristic cut-outs, I think most of us can agree that her fashion has always been vibrant.’

Describing her 2019 Met Gala look, titled ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion,’ Gaga said she wants her work to ‘read like an essay or poem.’ Not only does this highlight her dedication to fashion as an art, it also explicitly references the influence of cabaret and cultural architects such as Elton John and Bowie’s androgynous alter ego, ‘Ziggy Stardust.’ Throughout fabricating this look, Lady Gaga asks herself, ‘Why be extravagant?’ I found this question relates to so much of our everyday life, whether to go for it, or not. Because, if vibrancy isn’t simply to be the most authentic, unapologetic version of ourselves, what is?

Rebecca Graham

MIMI MOOCHER

A slightly younger, Gen-Z fashion icon, Mia Regan (also known as Mimi Moocher) made her name known in the fashion industry during the peak of Covid-19. Since March 2020, Mia’s modern artistry and spin on sustainable fashion have taken over Instagram feeds with her colourful edits and collages. As a result, she has featured in British Vogue magazine issues, taken the likes of brands Miu Miu and Missoni, and featured on the Jaydon & Jodie’s podcast, A Place To Ponder. But why and what is this “Mimi movement”?

Mia’s aesthetic is largely defined by her ability to make ‘mismatched look matched’ using contrasting vibrant colours. She has inspired an age of colour amongst many young adults: those pink trousers you have…trade a white top for a bright blue cami to spice things up. However, her love for sustainable fashion with a creative spin is what gives her fame. An app many of us are guilty of spending a little too much money on, most of Mia’s pieces are found on DEPOP: sustainable, handmade, reworked, or second-hand.

‘She has inspired an age of colour amongst many young adults: those pink trousers you have…trade a white top for a bright blue cami to spice things up.’

Her Instagram has become the perfect platform to flaunt her sustainable fashion finds and demonstrate her artistry, targeting the Gen-Z audience with her short ‘outfit of the day (OOTD)’ videos – Mia is certainly a colourful insta stalk.

Ciara Barton

Illustration by Rebecca Johnson

Artwork by Charley Huckerby

VIBRANT CONNECTIONS

Three RAZZ writers share where they’ve found vibrant connections in their life, people who uplift and support them outside of their related family.

NOOMA FAMILY

My first year was tough. I’m sure many people who started university during Covid can relate. It was a difficult time for everyone so, naturally, people sought comfort in the familiar. But what do you do when everything and everyone around you is new?

My entire life is built around my faith, but I had been a coasting Christian for a long time, saying the sweet phrases but not completely believing in their divine spiritual power. So, starting university I mechanically thought “I’m not going to be alone, God is with me.” Whilst this was and still is true, I didn’t really believe it. Instead, a reality of deep-seated fear set in. Alone in my prison-like accommodation (shout out to Old Lafrowda), all my fears – new, yet heavy like a sudden fog – began to consume me. My thoughts constantly centred on what people thought of me or what they would assume about me.

I love my mother. There was no other person who willingly, and without being asked, called me every morning of my first (and second) year to check on me and wake me up for class (yes, I am her pampered princess). However, although I heard her voice every day, my mother wasn’t with me in Exeter. I needed a new family here. Everyone told me that you find friends for life at university and all the other hopeful phrases, but I couldn’t see any way this would happen to me – and that scared me.

I honestly can’t remember how I stumbled upon the NOOMA Society, but I do remember praying to God for good and loving friends. I went to their Wednesday Centrals on Zoom and was shocked to interact with so many people who were immediately and consistently kind to me, who checked up on me, prayed for me and with me, helped me with my coursework, and gave me advice about both serious and trivial matters. I slowly began to feel like God was answering my prayers and was carving a home away from home for myself.

There are two things that NOOMA did for me that will stay with me until the day I die (dramatic but true). They reminded me of who I am. I am joyful. I am courageous. I am open and I am not afraid. I am intelligent. I deserve the space I occupy. I deserve to be in the room. I am enough. They reminded me of whose I am. My heart, soul and spirit are protected. I belong to Jesus, and He watches out for me. Even in the depths of my despair, I am not alone. And so, my gorgeous NOOMA family awakened my dormant vibrancy, and I live happily ever after…

Most of the time :)

Chloé Jarrett-Bell, Deputy Print Editor

MY SAFETY-NET SISTER

Vibrancy. The word calls to mind fireworks exploding against an onyx sky, a kaleidoscope of shimmering neon club lights, and your favourite song pulsating in your ears and drumming through your bones.

Whilst there is nothing wrong with these lively scenes, it’s easy to associate vibrancy with the loud and the colourful, the noisy and the busy. But there is a subtle beauty to the quieter moments; a side of vibrancy that we are quick to overlook because of its more introverted nature.

It is through my chosen family that I have fallen in love with these moments.

Everyone tells you that you’ll meet your best friends at university, and sometimes, given how much time you actually spend alone, this can seem impossible. Whilst I had a blast clubbing and making wild memories in first year, in reality I found my chosen family by discovering that my flatmate and I shared a common interest: books.

Don’t get me wrong, we love a good pre’s and the classic ‘how did I end up in this trolley at 3a.m?’ moment, but through our joint love of reading we established an unspoken alliance. Sometimes all it takes is one shared look and we know we’d both prefer to stay in and curl up with a good book, and this has been beyond rewarding for our mental health. Just knowing that there is the option to spend the odd evening in a room lit only by the gentle glow of fairy lights and a well-loved paperback creates a safety-net of sorts, bringing a surprising kind of vi brancy to my life; one that I’d never considered possible from an activity so commonly deemed lonely, quiet, or private.

Except with my chosen sister, it isn’t. True vibrancy comes from the warm glow of company, and this includes lively company without the pressure to talk or hide the more introverted side of your personality. As a pair, we’ve begun to adopt other friends into our little community, all squeezing into one bed, reading lines aloud to one another and sharing recommendations.

Through my love of books, I’ve found a family that brings a different kind of energy to my life: even though the pages of our books are black and white, the moment isn’t any less bright.

ERASMUS FAMILY

How do you sum up something so monumental in just a few hundred words? This is what I’ve been pondering all week, since I left my friends on the Victoria line and headed back to Exeter. I’d spent the weekend in London with some friends I met on my year abroad and, as the bus crawled down the M4, I couldn’t help but reflect on what was a really incredible 15 months. It’s funny to think that just a year or so ago, I had no idea what was waiting for me.

Moving abroad is daunting and tough, and it’s difficult to fully appreciate the magnitude of it until you’ve done it. However, it’s made a whole lot easier when you meet people who you can ride the wave with. On my very first evening in Spain, my flatmate bundled me out and I met people who are some of my closest friends. It was pure luck - at least, that’s the way I like to look at it: not many of us planned to end up in Alcalá, but I’m so very pleased that we did.

I think that’s what is so special about Erasmus, and what makes it such a unique experience. While thousands of 20-somethings around Europe embark on a semester abroad, your actual experience is a one shared between very few people: a sort of dysfunctional family, if you will.

So, as the old saying goes, friends are the family we choose, and in this instance I can only agree. I guess you could say this is a thank you and a love letter of sorts, to my Erasmus family. Thank you for the tinto de veranos, the llao aos, the night bus, The Coffee Train, The Green and the many, many vodka limóns, the trips away and most importantly, all the chaos which ensued. I would have and would be completely lost without you.

Maggie John

When we think of homophobia, the image that comes to mind wouldn’t be originating from within the LGBTQ+ community itself. However, as a bisexual woman, I have found that most of the biphobia I’ve suffered has come from myself.

Internalised Homophobia, in simple terms, is discrimination against one’s own sexuality and a denial of its existence. It is born from our heteronormative (‘straight’) society that classes straight relationships as the norm, heterosexuality as a necessity and homosexuality as a sin.

For many years, I struggled to come to terms with the fact that I was bisexual - attracted to two or more genders - or that I even liked women at all. I denied it, hid from the truth and attempted to run from it. But, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t change who I loved or what I was.

“But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t change who I loved or what I was.”

As many other LGBTQ+ community members can attest, discovering that you’re gay can feel like something is utterly wrong with you. It can feel as though you are dysfunctional, broken and unlovable because you feel differently from those around you.

We fake who we are to fit in and even try to believe the lie ourselves. After all, it would be easier to be straight, wouldn’t it? It would be easier to push the ‘abnormal’ attraction aside and do as society expects from us.

“We fake who we are to fit in and even try to believe the lie ourselves.”

This is called internalised homophobia, and it is more common than you think.

It’s no shock that, according to a study by LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall in 2018, 1 in 8 LGBTQ+ people between 18 and 24 attempted to end their lives in the UK alone. Not to mention that over half of LGBTQ+ people have experienced depression, myself included.

The world is not kind to those deemed ‘different’ from society’s definition of ‘normal’: straight and cisgender. Even though at this point in history it is easier than ever to come out and be accepted, these emotions and feelings remain consistent.

The idea of being queer is still (quite frankly) terrifying when homosexuality is a crime in nearly 70 countries. It’s hard to accept yourself, even if those around you would welcome your identity with open arms.

INTERNALISED B I PHOBIA

RAZZ writer Megan Thomas shares their personal experience and perspective on coming to terms with your sexuality.

To put it into perspective, according to the National LGBT survey (July 2018), 40% of respondents had been discriminated against for being gay. With such horrifying statistics, it’s no wonder internalised homophobia is still rampant.

So, what can we do?

I won’t pretend I’m an expert on all things LGBTQ+, and I can only talk from personal experience, but I don’t believe there is any magical cure to internalised homophobia. It is a personal journey that many queer people have to go through in order to accept themselves, to be vibrant and true to who they are.

If you’ve ever questioned or are questioning your own sexuality, you aren’t alone. It took me until I was 16 to finally acknowledge who I was, to look at my sexuality in the mirror and be okay with what I saw. Even then, I only came out to my mum in a letter a year ago, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done.

“No matter what happens, there are people out there who will accept you, understand your plights and listen.”

Being LGBTQ+ can be scary, but you truly don’t need to be afraid. No matter what happens, there are people out there who will accept you, understand your plights and listen. If you’re feeling hopeless and lost, there are numerous helplines out there dedicated to LBTQ+ youth that are there to help you.

LGBT helpline: 0300 330 0630 (switchboard.lgbt)

LGBT Domestic abuse: 0800 9995428 (galop.org.uk)

Under 25s Non-Binary/Transgender support: 0808 801 0400 (Mermaids)

Emergencies: please call 116 123 for Samaritans.

Your journey to acceptance is unique, not abnormal.

We, as a society, are changing. All I can hope is that one day there will be a generation of queer youth who no longer experience internalised homophobia.

For now, though, there is no telling what will happen if you come out. It can be a truly freeing experience to finally live your authentic self, yet I won’t lie and say that everyone is accepting.

I don’t ever regret my decision to come out publicly, though I know that I’m one of the lucky ones. The response I have received from family and friends has been welcoming, accepting and inclusive. It was a frightening experience, but I never would have been able to do it without overcoming my internal prejudices first.

If you really want the truth, it’s simple: I’ve never been happier in my own body than I am right now.

My final advice to you is clear: be brave, be vibrant, be you. You don’t ever have to come out, but at least be true to yourself.

AN INTERVIEW WITH...

Whilst local queen Killya Darling is certainly a drag powerhouse, she radiates a genuine kindness and elegance at odds with the cutthroat competitiveness of drag show biz. During our time together, we spoke about everything from her personal style, to the wider Devonshire drag scene.

How would you define your drag?

Killya stresses the importance of women in her drag, incorporating pop icons such as Charlie XCX, Doja Cat and Ashnikko into her style. “I draw from classical drag styles but mainly sit in between campy and modern […] I pull inspiration from stuff that I think is cool, to be honest!”

Despite not wanting to commit to a specific character or aesthetic and using the form to explore, she feels there is a certain consistency to her outfits: “I definitely fit into a box, I’m just not sure where that box is!”

What inspired you to start doing drag?

Though she acknowledges the role of RuPaul’s Drag Race in shaping her understanding of drag, Killya is reluctant to be labelled as “one of those queens that only does drag because of Drag Race.” She explains that once she was exposed to drag in the mainstream, she was then influenced by other areas of her life.

“I think it’s very British to be like ‘Haha, I’m a man in a dress’ – and that’s fine, but it’s never really been my vibe. I’m not trying to look down on that kind of drag but it’s interesting to think about where that stems from in terms of wider patriarchal structures. [...] I want my drag to be a celebration of women, especially queer women- I want it to come from a place of appreciation.”

RAZZ writer Manon Martini interviews the darling of Exeter’s drag scene (Instagram: @KillyaDarling)

Photoshoot by Kate Taylor

As a Devonshire drag queen, do you consider the queer scene in Exeter to be reflective of its attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people?

“I think reception to drag is a lot kinder than reception to queer people. In saying that, I do feel that tolerance has gotten a lot better in Devon. When I was studying at university three years ago, Exeter was not a great place for queer people – in my experience anyway.” Killya added that the drag scene in Exeter can sometimes feel as if there is “no one there” with all but one gay bar and about eight local queens. She noted a knockback in tolerance with people expressing frustration at “boredom in lockdown”, but celebrates the “overwhelmingly positive” reception of her drag and looks forward to seeing how the scene will develop.

What have you learnt since starting drag?

“A lot! You don’t realise how much there is to learn until you start actually doing drag - I think you have to have a certain sense of cockiness to start in the first place, but that’s why I love it!”

Differentiating between doing drag for fun versus professionally, Killya emphasises the sheer amount of skill, patience and practise required for success within the professional environment.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race projects this mentality that anyone can do drag, which is great- anyone can and should do drag if they want tobut that doesn’t mean it’s super easy.”

Despite this, Killya deeply appreciates the help she receives from her community. Her ‘stepson’, Marlowe Darling, constitutes an important familial aspect of her drag, “It’s really nice to be able to involve your friends in what you do and use that to bring out their skills as well. Massive shout out to my friends and partner for helping me because holy shit- even getting into drag I need so much help!”

How do you navigate alcohol culture within the drag scene?

“Drag isn’t necessarily the best place for people to explore their relationship with alcohol”. Acknowledging the issues of substance abuse within the queer scene, she argues, “alcohol culture is exaggerated in drag.”

“I’m glad that I made the commitment to be sober before I started drag”, Says Killya, “I can only imagine the mess that might ensue otherwise!”

What advice would you give to those starting out?

“Two things - one, just fucking do it. Two, practice first.”

“That doesn’t mean waking up every day and doing drag” she argues, “but consistently

learning and practising all the skills needed definitely helps [...] cause holy shit it took me so long to learn how to glue my eyebrows down!”

If you could say one thing to your younger self, what would it be?

“Walk in heels more- please! No, but seriously, I think I’d say, ‘drag is going to be more fun than you think.’”

“At the start, drag was a lot about trying to change who I was. What emerged as a product of me not being entirely happy with how I looked, eventually became an alternative way to express myself”.

Watching Killya’s set at The Vaults a few days after having spoken to her, the hard work and drive behind her art was clear. If you’re looking for a refreshing and fun drag experience in Exeter, I would recommend seeing Killya Darling – you can catch her at Cavern’s BeYou night in January.

PDA: A vibrant display of affection or a public display of vulgarity?

“And they were making out on the escalators”, I exclaimed to my French class. I had just come back from a week-long exchange near Lyon, and one thing that really struck me, was the number of couples getting off in public.

I will hold my hands up and admit, I love love. I’m an absolute sucker for a Nora Ephron film, a friends to lovers trope and everything in between, including large-scale romantic gestures (I’m looking at you Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging). Yet, when it comes to PDA, I’m not so convinced. By definition, a public display of affection is, for all intents and purposes, an outpour of love, so, why am I amongst most other people, so opposed to PDA?

‘‘By definition, a public display of affection is [...] an outpour of love, so, why am I amongst most other people, so opposed to PDA?’’

According to GQ magazine, the location of PDA is very important. For example, if a couple are saying goodbye at the train station, a “modest display of affection” would be expected. When tears are added into the mix, you have everyone’s favourite scene from their favourite romcom. When PDA is witnessed in a restaurant, “very few will be thrilled with their unrequested side order of your passionate kisses.”

It got me thinking that maybe it’s not necessarily a case of location, but preparation. You expect to see goodbyes in the train station for example, but you don’t expect to see a couple getting off on the table next to you, while you are trying to enjoy your dinner.

Perhaps, the thing which people don’t like about PDA is the fact that it can creep up on you and catch you off guard. When people are eating each other in Timepiece, most of us don’t bat an eyelid, but if we witnessed the same thing in the library, I am 99% sure most people would be aghast.

Intrigued to hear what other people thought about it, I recruited my housemates, who agreed that location is key. They wouldn’t be phased by people getting off in a nightclub, for example, but they would be if it was in the queue at Morrisons. We also came to the conclusion that, along with where, what is very important too. Like most things, there are definitely degrees of what is appropriate, with my one housemate explaining “there is a difference between a public degree of affection and a public display of vulgarity”. But what also became apparent is what is deemed ‘acceptable’ by one person, is deemed as off-limits by the next.

By general consensus, handholding or an arm around the shoulder is fine, but a hand in a back pocket is not. There is nothing wrong

RAZZ writer Maggie John discusses public displays of affection and whether they are a vibrant dispaly of love.

with a peck goodbye, but God forbid if it goes any further.

‘‘[...] the idea of jealousy got me thinking - are we so opposed to PDA because there’s little part of us that wishes it was us?’’

Stylist magazines describe the levels of frustration which PDA can provoke, with people revealing that “seeing a couple locking lips in public fills them with either annoyance, despair or extreme jealousy” and the idea of jealousy got me thinking - are we so opposed to PDA because there’s a little part of us which wishes it was us? I mean it would be nice if someone fancied the pants off you, but as a perpetually single girl, I can honestly say I’ve never felt a jealous pang when I’ve seen a couple getting frisky on my daily walk.

So, all of this begs the question, is PDA a vibrant display of love or is it, as my housemate put it, more often than not, a public display of vulgarity? I would suggest that the general opinion on PDA rides upon where and what. In all fairness, very few people are opposed to handholding in the same way they may be imposed to an in-public, lunchtime makeout session, and the differences between affec tion and vulgarity stand true.

However, if I were to play devil’s advocate and if I allowed my inner-romantic to flourish,would both PDA and PDV simply become a case of if they’re that in love, let them get away with it? I think in an ideal world, yes, but unfortunately I’m not quite there yet and I’m not sure if I’ll ever get passed the shock of being caught off guard at the supermarket or

wherever it may be.

Despite all of our opinions on PDA or PDV, GQ raise the point that it is a privilege and a privilege typically given to white, straight couples. It’s all well and good if Steve wants to walk down the High Street with his hand in his girlfriend’s back pocket, but two men walking in front of him holding hands is taking it too far.

So, knowing what we now know, maybe it is time we begin championing PDA after all, particularly from those who don’t feel safe to shout it from the rooftops when they are in love. Maybe it is time to change our attitudes towards it and to remind ourselves that maybe, in the end, there’s no harm in it. It is supposedly what makes the world go around, after all.

‘‘It is supposedly what makes the world go round, after all.’’

VIBRANT

Two RAZZ writers share a word in another language that defines something or provides a concept that doesn’t exist in English.

Kalowkalow someone who is shifty, unreliable.

Sierra Leone (Salone) is one of my greatest loves, and the various languages that derive from over sixteen ethnic groups speak to such a rich culture and history. My people group, the Creoles, or Krios, are descendants of freed slaves and so our language is a mixture of European and African languages; mainly Pidgin English, Portuguese and French. To a European, Krio can seem easy to understand when spoken slowly, however we have so many words and phrases that are distinctly un-European and express feelings, characteristics and sentiments in a way that English cannot.

Perhaps because I study poetry, I have a great appreciation for the sounds words make and what those sounds reveal about the emotion or meaning behind words. There is a rhythm in the people of Sierra Leone that is exemplified through our languages. Sure, ‘shifty’ conjures images of dark corners and secret motives, but kalowkalow sonically demonstrates the ‘up and down’ nature of someone who is untrustworthy.

Chloé Jarrett-Bell, Deputy Print Editor

DICTIONARY

Saudades

A word one might find hard to translate, or possibly recognise as a song title from this year’s Eurovision, is the Portuguese term ‘Saudades.’ When searched online, the word is defined to be ‘a deep emotional state of nostalgia’ or a ‘profound melancholic longing for something... it often carries a repressed knowledge.’ Historically, the word was used to describe the emotions of both Portuguese sailors and their wives back in the 15th century.

Nowadays it remains to be used by those separated by distance and time. Though many connect the term to sadness and even death (in its link to absence), we can also suggest there remains a degree of positivity; as when one is in a state of absence or longing, we also focus on the beauty and happiness of the past. Despite mostly being referred to in literature and music, Brazilians even celebrate ‘Día de Saudade’ (Saudades day) on the 30th of January every year. While we can attempt to grapple with the word’s meaning, there is no direct counterpart in English. Therefore it remains a certain beauty, or some may argue, a uniqueness, in its use.

Photoshoot by Dharma Austin

Photoshoot by Dharma Austin

AM I AN INTROVERT?

RAZZ writer Swarnim Agrawal shares their take on ‘introversion’, drawing upon personal experiences and offering advice on how to find your vibrancy as an introvert.

Introverts. Extroverts. Ambiverts.

There are so many labels flying all around us...

Before moving to this new country, I decided to explore, experiment, evolve. I wanted to become more aware of myself as accepting yourself can be the path to self-confidence. Good company has the potential to bring out the extrovert in me and yet I find myself hesitant to sign up for socials and hang out with new people. There are days when my brain surprises me and declares, ‘Today is the day!’ Call it an adrenaline rush or just a wish from a fairy godmother, but I find my legs can cover fifteen kilometres in a day, my laughter seems perennial, the crowd around me turns into a party. But when the clock strikes midnight…whoosh! The spell vanishes.

‘‘There are days when my brain surprises me and declares, ‘Today is the day!’’

What do I do now? Social media floods us with snippets from an introvert’s ‘lonely’ life to the extent that the boundary between reality and virtual reality becomes blurred. These self-proclaimed introversion experts confine a person to a ‘sad and lonely’ pigeonhole, even going as far as suggesting introverts are more likely to have a psychological disorder. Which century are you living in? Just because introverts don’t go out as much or have a hoard of friends doesn’t mean they don’t have a life - you can be happy while being alone.

‘‘That’s what introverts do isn’t it? We travel with fewer acquaintances, and we build a life that brings us joy.’’

That’s what introverts do, isn’t it? We travel with fewer acquaintances, and we build a life that brings us joy. Social interaction is key to experience and learning, but so is the adequate allocation of your resources, your time and energy. Sometimes my work takes up most of my energy while others related to me bear the brunt, other times I have those rare days when I decide to leave my work for a little bit. It is all about investing your funds wisely. Instead of having ten friends maybe you can have one relationship of significance that holds substance.

An important relationship doesn’t necessarily mean a romantic one – it can be your mother, father, sibling, friend, whoever you enjoy spending time with. Maybe instead of partying every night, you can try snuggling up in your bed and watching a movie. Perhaps some introverts are actually less lonely and less sad if they have learnt that they don’t have to depend on others for their happiness.

I go for morning walks (yes, even in this unpredictable weather!) and, while most of the elements of my daily existence have seen a major shift, the silence of the mornings has always travelled with me across borders. That’s where my introversion finds an avenue to just pause, introspect and gear up for the day ahead, especially when I find myself walking in the twilight towards a brick-and-mortar building housing thousands of tomes – my old and faithful friends.

Bookworms. Nerds. Geeks.

More labels that surround us introverts. What is this tendency to put a name to everything? Labels are fine by themselves but not when they become the pathway to stereotypes. If I search for these

labels on Google (the temple of ancient wisdom) then I find articles such as ‘10 Ways to Impress a Bookworm’, ‘Why a nerd is totally anti-social’, or ‘Why Extroverts and Introverts can’t be friends’. Does that mean there are only two ways out – hate us or date us? Why is it so impossible to interact with us as well as giving us the space we need? You can use your energy however you would like but you must also let others do the same.

There are times when I get irked by my introvert-ambivert self and how this can make me experience loneliness, but it is more about getting in touch with who I am and recognising ways to thrive, not just survive. It can be a sad and lonely alley sometimes but there is the clichéd light at the end of the tunnel, that turn in the road where you can find both yourself and true companionship.

I manipulate myself into thinking that everyone else is having a good time just because they are ‘extroverts’ but I wonder why I play this ‘self’ and ‘other’ game even though I question labels. I find myself questioning why I feel I must be an ‘extrovert’ to be having fun. What keeps me going is my journey towards self-acceptance.

‘‘It can be a sad and lonely alley sometimes but there is the clichéd light at the end of the tunnel, that turn in the road where you can find both yourself and true companionship.’’

So do as you like - flaunt your labels or just let them go.

‘‘Labels are fine by themselves but not when they become the pathway to stereotypes.’’

Photo by Amelia Heasley

The Theatre

Squeezing my camera into my palm, I step over the window’s broken glass into the back of the theatre. Here, the empty building holds its dust and structure. Hear the sounds and cold air at your ears – bite!

I run along the rows of salmon pink seats, no - crimson under dust. I draw a line to reveal the red, snapped my photo, but the screen reveals nothing. I zoom in, but here there is a finger, here - there is sat an old man squinting to see the stage. His eyes widen, look to me, to behind himself – shush! I spin round as an echoing silence of laughter and applause rings in my ears. From a room this big, I could picture the people; the shuffling of feet and repressed coughs. The man is gone, I look back through my lens. Pointing up at the broken stage, I capture nothing so I put my camera away. In the space where the stage had sunk, I look over individual costumes and thickly painted makeup running down sweaty faces from the gold tinted lights. This perfectly precise atmosphere hangs around me in a sadness that makes me feel – tragedy, comedy, drama, music.

Faith Dale-Hughes, Print Copy Editor

Author’s Note: When the nights are long, and your emotion is full. You can still find the light, If you look to the moon.

All is sensation, the world falls asleep. Float in the hollow, sink into the deep.

Tomorrow is silent, salvation is empty. Her waiting whisper, sorrow in the plenty.

Devil in her begging, lucid hope in her dreams. Turning in the bitter, till light shines through the seams.

Before is nothing, she lives in the vacant. Only now is real, exists for the patient.

My Night is Vibrant

Her voice is made liquid, on wild currents blown, She is the ocean, and the ocean’s unknown.

Today is a woman, who lies under the moon. Stirred by her colours, dance through paper thin gloom.

Languid, her soft body, cups my soul in its curves. Luminescent skin, each moment observed.

All cannot save me, I don’t want them to. My night is vibrant, it turns me out new.

Grace Dunford-Elliott

VIBRANT MEDIA

Four RAZZ writers share their views on pieces of media that they feel is ‘vibrant’.

GLITTERING A TURD by

KRIS HALLENGA

Nothing says vibrant quite like glitter, and this book is full of it. In her memoir, CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga describes her trials and triumphs since being diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer at just 23. It is an extremely honest account, full of equally inspiring and laugh-out-loud moments. From boy drama, to travelling the world, the pain of chemo, a slight obsession with the television soap Neighbours, life as a twin and chatting about boobs, Kris explores the irony of life just beginning after being told it is about to end.

‘It is an extremely honest account, full of equally inspiring and laughout-loud moments.’

The book surrounds ‘glittering a turd’ - for Kris this was quite clearly cancer. Shortly after her diagnosis she founded the first breast cancer education charity CoppaFeel! , after noticing a lack of conversation about the symptoms of breast cancer. Like many, cancer has been something very present in my life after seeing the diagnosis of loved ones, which was the main reason I picked this book up. However, it is so much

had or will have a ‘turd’ in our lives. Whilst being the founder of a charity is a huge achievement, Kris makes the conversation accessible beyond cancer, encouraging us to ‘glitter’ whatever obstacle we have had to overcome in our lives. she now hosts a weekly podcast, Interviewing guests about the turds they’ve had to glitter, making for funny, emotional and inspiring listening.

Annabel Jeffery

PRE-PLEASURE by JULIA JACKLIN

Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin’s third album explores how shame intersects with romantic, familial, and platonic love. The album art depicts the singer with her hands splayed across a superimposed self-portrait, framed by the emboldened title Pre Pleasure, suggesting an overarching theme of introspection.

The dazzling opener ‘Lydia Wears A Cross’ delivers immediately, confronting the listener with vivid images of Jacklin’s formative religious education. Her confessional songwriting shines through in the chorus, where she admits “I’d be a believer/ if it was all just song and dance”.

Vibrant media

Alongside playful references to Jesus Christ Superstar, doubtful nihilism exists at odds with the naivety of a devout childhood.

‘Her confessional songwriting shines through in the chorus, where she admits “I’d be a believer/ if it was all just song and dance”. ‘

‘I Was Neon’ is a vivacious art-pop song that considers the loss of clarity when becoming an adult. The singer revels in ambiguity as the thrumming refrain, set over energetic guitar, questions whether she will “lose herself” as she evolves.

A personal favourite, ‘Ignore Tenderness’ brings her repressive upbringing to the forefront with the incisive lines “Right when pleasure begins my education creeps in/ I’ve been stripping right down/ Staring at my own reflection/ Ever since I was 13, I’ve been pulled in every direction”.

Finally, the song ‘Moviegoer’ makes use of impressive storytelling to evoke in the listener’s mind a cinematic scene of domestic bliss. Jacklin addresses a movie director’s dilemma with the searing verse “Forty million dollars, still nobody understands you”. Though the song ponders the pitfalls of artistic expression, it is through this blend of sincerity and biting wit that the album succeeds. Lucy

Facer

GREAT CIRCLES SOARS IN VIBRANCY

by MAGGIE SHIPSTEAD

The novel flies high from the very first pages, and each chapter only reaches greater heights. Great Circle follows two parallel stories – one of Marian Graves, an orphan twin who wants to become a pilot. The other, orphan Hadley Baxter, a Hollywood star set to play Marian on screen.

Shipstead portrays characters that readers care for deeply; like Marian’s twin brother, Jamie, a gentle, animal-loving artist. Shipstead’s additional narratives are intricately woven together; from Marian and Jamie’s gambling alcoholic uncle who took them in when their father was imprisoned, to Marian’s violent bootlegger husband who provides her with the initial opportunity to learn to fly. Even Shipstead’s secondary characters are nuanced with staggeringly different attitudes and experiences; a quality which contributes to the vividness of her writing. Whilst immersed in the changing landscape of the twentieth century, we see the novels’ strong female characters transcend past patriarchal boundaries to fly to their own greatness.

‘The vibrant energy that burns within Shipstead’s characters and the stories they tell is irrefutable. ‘

Vibrant media

The vibrant energy that burns within Shipstead’s characters and the stories they tell is irrefutable. Readers discover places, times, and people visiting prohibition-Montana, wartime London, and modern-day LA as she takes us on many unmissable journeys. In the diary of Marian’s final flight, she writes “there is too much of the world and too little of life.” The novel captures the vastness of life; encompassing the darkness of downfalls just as intensely as the radiance of sky-high exhilaration. We readers experience all of this through the powerful humanity of Shipstead’s storytelling. Spanning a whole century and around the world in a sweeping great circle, Shipstead’s novel is a six-hundredpage ascent to vibrancy.

Jessie Fairclough

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, vibrantly interconnects genres such as science fiction, fantasy, action and adventure and comedy, to create a thrilling and heart-warming multiverse story. The protagonist Evelyn Quan Wang undergoes a multitude of surprising and outlandish experiences, bouncing between different universes in an attempt to re-connect her family and save her failing business.

Multiverse theory, the idea that there are infinite universes and versions of ourselves where we make different decisions and have different experiences, is a concept that has been explored in media many times, but the possibilities explored in Everything Everywhere All at Once seem even more colourful, quirky and imaginative than what we’ve seen before. Evelyn explores universes where she’s a singer, a martial artist, a chef who meets ‘Raccaccoonie’, a take on the beloved Pixar film Ratatouille, and even a universe where people have hotdogs for hands.

Yet these weird and wonderful universes have a profound purpose in Evelyn’s life, and the film is far from a meaningless adventure. Through verse jumping Evelyn is finally able to face the problems in her own life, healing her relationships with her husband and daughter and accepting her past, ultimately starting to establish peace within the chaos that surrounds her.

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once shows how vibrant and complex life is. There are infinite possibilities,and nothing is what it seems.’

Everything Everywhere All at Once shows how vibrant and complex life is. There are infinite possibilities,and

nothing is what it seems. It shows how we should embrace the best version of our self even in life’s chaos, and above all, cherish the people we love.

Mia McChesney

PRIDE

One of my favourite films is 2014’s Pride, written by Stephen Beresford. It’s based on the true story of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), a group of activists, who, in the mid80s, raised large amounts of money to support a village of striking miners in the Welsh Dulais Valley. When a traditional working-class community is faced with demonisation from the government, press and hostile police, running parallel to the AIDS crisis and institutionalised homophobia, the two very different oppressed groups discover the incredible benefits of solidarity. And yet, the bond between LGSM and the miners isn’t just financial.

The Activists give the often change-resistant mining community an insight into their way of life, into a range of sexualities and forms of self-expression. Throughout the film, genuine friendships are formed in the alliance. In return, the Dulais mining community put gay rights on the agenda at the 1985 Labour party conference, contributing towards an equality resolution which would

eventually lead to the introduction of civil partnerships and same-sex marriages.

‘Throughout the film, genuine friendships are formed in the alliance.’

It glimpses a dream of unity and compassion, whilst never seeking to erase the unimaginable tragedy of AIDS, the day-to-day bigotry and violence faced by queer people, and the destructive impact of Thatcher’s government on working-class communities. It is an extraordinary portrait of joy and people power. The friendships, campaigns, love, and hope portrayed are all positively vibrant.

Indigo Maynard

A RAINBOW IN MUSIC

In the process of making this playlist I decided very early on that what I found most vibrant about music was its range - we all have vastly different tastes in music that cover every genre. It can be intimidating to share music with people you don’t know as we are so protective over our music and scared that someone will not understand our personal taste. With this playlist, I wanted to show the joy of music in all its varied madness by putting together songs that don’t really go together, guided only by their album cover colour, to produce a rainbow (almost) of music.

Pink

Sweet Jane – The Velvet Underground

‘Sweet Jane’ is (surprisingly not about drugs but) about the relationship between generations and the idea we are all the same in a battle to survive in society, secretly supporting a message of unity. (Though this doesn’t change the fact that Lou Reed is still an awful person).

Bonus track: Femme Fatale

Red

Glory days – Bruce Springsteen

As a native New Jersey-ian, a playlist is incomplete without Springsteen. The focus on the nostalgic heat of the past reminds us to live in the moment, recognising that maybe the days we are living right now are our own glory days, and we should appreciate every moment of them.

Bonus track: Hungry Heart Orange

Sweet Life – Frank Ocean

You can’t pick an orange album without just fully committing to Channel Orange.

The album has turned ten this year and Ocean’s storytelling and honesty still holds up.

Bonus track: Godspeed Yellow Song 2 – Blur

I included this song as it sounds unlike anything Blur ever made and in fact anything from the Britpop era, proving that music can defy the categories we place on it.

Bonus track: The Universal

RAZZ writer Lilian Smith shares a playlist based on the theme ‘vibrancy.’

Green Formation – Beyoncé

Beyoncé always empowers others, but ‘Formation’ empowers herself and teaches us to take ownership over our personalities, family and heritage.

Bonus track: Alien Superstar

Blue Me Against the Music – Britney Spears

Britney as a figure of 2020 is the definition of rebirth, with the free Britney campaign and the re-establishing of control over her own life. Certainly a win for women in music, though the controversy of her body image comment shows she still has work to do.

Bonus track: I’m not a girl not yet a woman

Indigo Lover man – Jimi Hendrix

Purple is owned by the Hendrix (see ‘Purple Haze’) but ‘Lover Man’ had to be featured. I think the cautionary tale of catching feelings for the wrong person (or just of doing the walk of shame) should be shared across Exeter (but especially with some of my friends).

Bonus track: Along the Watchtower

Violet Cloudbusting – Kate Bush

Kate Bush has made a vibrant comeback, breaking records and re-emerging as a Gen-Z icon. But no track on this album is as unique in its storytelling power as ‘Cloudbusting’ in its outrageous imagination and often perceived ridiculousness. Bonus points for an amazing music video.

Bonus track: the man with the child in his eyes

Black Tears Dry On Their Own – Amy Winehouse

Again it is impossible to not pick ‘Back to Black’, but Winehouse’s melancholy is mixed with a more upbeat melody to contrast her heartbreak with her awareness of her own bad choices in this track.

Bonus track: F*** Me Pumps

White Land: Horses / Land of a Thousand Dances / La Mer(de) – Patti Smith

To finish on a track more than 9 minute long requires patience, but Patti Smith’s mix of spoken word and music explodes into a vibrant collage of her poetic skills and rhythmic genius.

Bonus track: Dancing Barefoot

BAKED VEGGIES PASTA SALAD

If you’re bored of your usual pesto pasta, then change it up with this zesty, zingy, colourful baked veggie pasta salad that will wake up your senses. Full of bright and herby flavours, this dish is bound to make it on to your weekly rotation. Not only is it packed with yummy vegetables, but it’s also incredibly easy to make, which is needed after a busy day. This recipe is so versatile, so feel free to chuck in whatever you want or whatever you have in the fridge. As this is a cold pasta salad, it keeps well in the fridge and can be enjoyed for days after.

METHOD:

1. Chop up your vegetables and toss them in the marinade

2. Bake veggies at 218 C for 20 mins

3. Boil pasta according to package, drain, and rinse with cold water

4. Add the veggies, sun dried tomatoes, olives, and chopped basil to the pasta

5. Pour the delicious dressing over and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

Your favourite vegetables (for example; aubergine, zucchini, carrots)

1 cup dry pasta

1/4 cup sundried tomatoes

1/4 cup olives

1/4 cup chopped basil

Marinade:

1 tbsp olive oil

1tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried Basil

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp salt

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 tbsp English mustard

1/2 tbsp dried oregano

1/2 tbsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp greek yoghourt (or vegan yoghourt)

1tbsp honey (or agave)

1/4 tsp black pepper

Zoe Sperry

MOROCCAN LEMON CHICKEN

This easy one-pot wonder is chicken like you’ve never had before (probably). With warmth from the Moroccan spices, surprising tangs from the lemon, salty and muted flavours from the olives, and bursts of sweetness from the dried fruit, food doesn’t get more vibrant than this. It’s also pretty simple to make but will have your friends thinking that you have some insane cooking skills.

INGREDIENTS:

For the chicken:

1 large whole chicken cut into pieces

Kosher salt

Olive oil

1 big yellow onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

30g/a bunch of fresh coriander

1 lemon, thinly sliced

60g (roughly ¾ cup) pitted green olives

40g raisins (or ¼ cup)

50g dry apricots, chopped (or ¼ cup)

3 tbsp tomato paste

1 ½ cups (350ml) chicken broth

SPICE RUB

1 ½ Tbsp Ras El Hanout

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp black pepper

Make this meat-free by substituting chicken for an alternative such as tofu!

Toasted slivered almonds (if you’re feeling extra)

METHOD:

1. In a bowl, combine the Ras El Hanout and all of the other spices to make the rub.

2. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt on both sides, then rub the chicken all over with the spice rub, making sure to get under the skin (if you left it on). Set aside for an hour.

3. In a 12’ deep pan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil until shimmering but not smoking and then add the chicken and brown it for 5 minutes on each side.

4. Lower the heat and add your onions, garlic and coriander, then cover and cook for 3 minutes.

5. Add your lemon slices, olives, raisins and dried apricots.

6. In a small bowl, mix the tomato paste and chicken broth and pour it over the chicken as it cooks.

7. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, then cover and cook for 30-45 minutes on a medium-low heat until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

8. Et voilà. Garnish with more fresh coriander and the toasted almonds!

Ally Mannix

WHAT TV SHOW AESTHETIC ARE YOU?

Prepare for a night out and find out whether Chilton, Hawkings or East Highland High School is right for you!

Q1. FIRST THINGS FIRST, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

A. Hanging out with friends

B. Out? Oh no honey I’m staying in!

C. Clubbing

Q4. WHAT’S THE STATEMENT OF THE LOOK?

A. The jacket

B. The knitwear

C. The makeup

Q2. HOW ARE YOU GETTING THERE?

A. My bike

B. Walking

C. Uber

Q3. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

A. Jeans and a t-shirt

B. Skirt or patterned trousers

C. Dress or a shirt

Q5. WHAT’S ON YOUR GET READY PLAYLIST?

A. Indie

B. Pop

C. D&B

Q6. ITS COLD OUTSIDE, WHAT ARE YOU GRABBING TO KEEP WARM?

A. Vintage bomber jacket

B. Cute cardigan

C. Nothing - the fit’s more important

Q7. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN YOU GET HOME?

A. Crash out on the bed

B. Write in your journal

C. Home? I’m going straight to my seminar

QUIZ ANSWERS

A. STRANGER THINGS

You can’t get enough of the nostalgic vintage vibes. You’re all about hanging out with your friends and doing activities so your aesthetic is practical but also fun and colourful. Kilo sales are the highlight of your month.

B. GILMORE GIRLS

Think pastels, softboi and cottage core. You might have the same cardi as your Grandma but you’re making it chic. You know how to have fun but a lot of the time that looks like you curled up under a blanket with a good book.

C. EUPHORIA

You grew up on Pinterest boards and insta influencers and now you are one. You either read Vogue or you think you’re above it and you know how to put an outfit together, who cares if it’s impractical. Though, you are starting to realise that you maybe can’t get through uni on vibes alone…

Kat Green, Print Editor/Co-President

Issue 36

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