Amelia’s Magazine | Lissie’s Star Is On The Ascendant.

Water Kerry Lemon thumb
Water Natasha-Thompson-Water-Umbrella-Editorial

It’s been sticky, viagra sale hasn’t it? The sunshine is all well and good whilst you are within spitting distance of a garden or beer garden (or a patch of pavement if you frequent the majority of London pubs), drug but battling with public transport, malady with people so far in your space that they may as well be inside you is no party. Some trains still seem to have the heating on and we are incessantly reminded to consider carrying a bottle of water with us which, curiously, makes me want to punch the drivers face in. Moving in any way other than a slow glide is ghastly in the heat. As one friend put it yesterday, ‘its like moving through hummus’.

Water Fritha Strickland

Where is this tirade taking us, you wonder? It is taking us to water. Or rather the lack of it. We have all seen the adverts that contain images of people in faraway countries using buckets to scoop putrid, fly-ridden water into canisters to use as drinking and cooking water. But the reality is that these images have become so pervasive in our consciousness that they simply cease to shock us. What’s that got to do with us? Whilst we are nowhere near the poverty of many countries with minimal access to safe drinking water, as the population rises and industrialisation increases, water will become more and more precious in all parts of the world.

WaterNatasha-Thompson-Water-Bath-Editorial

The northern, ironically much wetter, half of the country was aghast last month when the prospect of a hosepipe ban was floated before them. The rule only legislates against the equipment and not the water use, i.e. you could still tip the same amount of water over your garden, as long as you are not using the pipe. Oh, and it’s still ok to top up your swimming pool and wash the caravan. That repeated banging sound is my head hitting the table.

Water Kerry Lemon

With our once or even twice daily showering, long, luxurious bath’s, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes; We are a nation addicted to water. The government estimates that we each use about 150 litres of water a day, and rising. And right now? We couldn’t imagine our hot, hummusy lives without easy access to a glass of cold water and a cool shower. It’s a human right, right? The reality is that water is a finite resource. The days of using it with merry abandon are coming to an end, and we need to stop wasting it.

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén

There are some glaring absurdities in our liberal water use. Whilst almost a billion people on the planet only have access to dirty, unsafe water, we flush our toilets with drinking water. This is bonkers. Most of our homes are un-metered too, meaning water is charged at a set rate. This means there is no financial incentive to reduce water use. Ofwat stats show that metered homes use much less water and save tons of money. (So, water powers that be, and Mr Cameron, please change that.)

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén

Over the past year I have been trying to do my bit to save water, but I would also be very interested to hear your suggestions too, if you have them.

• Buy a non plastic bottle and refill it before you leave the house.
• If you have a garden, consider putting a water butt somewhere to collect water.
• If you own your house, would you consider harvesting rainwater (or greywater) to water your plants and flush your loo? Do you already do this?
• You don’t always need to flush after you wee. You probably saw this coming a mile off, but, all together now…if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down!
• Save any unfinished water dregs and pour them into a watering can or jug near the sink. Next time you need to water the plants you won’t have to fill the jug up as much.
• Instead of running the tap for ages to get cold water, put water straight out of the tap and into big bottles in the fridge.
• If you don’t have a double flush toilet you can get free water bags from Thames Water that fill up and save tons of water. Or you can just stick an old brick into the cistern.

So what’s your take on it? Are you a twice-daily-showerer, or a proud twice-a-weeker? Do you think it’s all pointless unless the government and authorities make changes? Do you already try to preserve water, and, if so, how? Couldn’t give two hoots, or are you a ‘be the change’ kinda person?

P.S. To learn more see Treehugger’s list of the top 5 documentaries to watch to understand the water crisis

Water Natasha-Thompson-Water-Umbrella-Editorial

It’s been sticky, erectile hasn’t it? The sunshine is all well and good whilst you are within spitting distance of a garden or beer garden (or a patch of pavement if you frequent the majority of London pubs), treat but battling with public transport, this with people so far in your space that they may as well be inside you is no party. Some trains still seem to have the heating on and we are incessantly reminded to consider carrying a bottle of water with us which, curiously, makes me want to punch the drivers face in. Moving in any way other than a slow glide is ghastly in the heat. As one friend put it yesterday, ‘its like moving through hummus’.

Water Fritha Strickland

Where is this tirade taking us, you wonder? It is taking us to water. Or rather the lack of it. We have all seen the adverts that contain images of people in faraway countries using buckets to scoop putrid, fly-ridden water into canisters to use as drinking and cooking water. But the reality is that these images have become so pervasive in our consciousness that they simply cease to shock us. What’s that got to do with us? Whilst we are nowhere near the poverty of many countries with minimal access to safe drinking water, as the population rises and industrialisation increases, water will become more and more precious in all parts of the world.

WaterNatasha-Thompson-Water-Bath-Editorial

The northern, ironically much wetter, half of the country was aghast last month when the prospect of a hosepipe ban was floated before them. The rule only legislates against the equipment and not the water use, i.e. you could still tip the same amount of water over your garden, as long as you are not using the pipe. Oh, and it’s still ok to top up your swimming pool and wash the caravan. That repeated banging sound is my head hitting the table.

Water Kerry Lemon

With our once or even twice daily showering, long, luxurious bath’s, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes; We are a nation addicted to water. The government estimates that we each use about 150 litres of water a day, and rising. And right now? We couldn’t imagine our hot, hummusy lives without easy access to a glass of cold water and a cool shower. It’s a human right, right? The reality is that water is a finite resource. The days of using it with merry abandon are coming to an end, and we need to stop wasting it.

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén

There are some glaring absurdities in our liberal water use. Whilst almost a billion people on the planet only have access to dirty, unsafe water, we flush our toilets with drinking water. This is bonkers. Most of our homes are un-metered too, meaning water is charged at a set rate. This means there is no financial incentive to reduce water use. Ofwat stats show that metered homes use much less water and save tons of money. (So, water powers that be, and Mr Cameron, please change that.)

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén

Over the past year I have been trying to do my bit to save water, but I would also be very interested to hear your suggestions too, if you have them.

• Buy a non plastic bottle and refill it before you leave the house.
• If you have a garden, consider putting a water butt somewhere to collect water.
• If you own your house, would you consider harvesting rainwater (or greywater) to water your plants and flush your loo? Do you already do this?
• You don’t always need to flush after you wee. You probably saw this coming a mile off, but, all together now…if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down!
• Save any unfinished water dregs and pour them into a watering can or jug near the sink. Next time you need to water the plants you won’t have to fill the jug up as much.
• Instead of running the tap for ages to get cold water, put water straight out of the tap and into big bottles in the fridge.
• If you don’t have a double flush toilet you can get free water bags from Thames Water that fill up and save tons of water. Or you can just stick an old brick into the cistern.

So what’s your take on it? Are you a twice-daily-showerer, or a proud twice-a-weeker? Do you think it’s all pointless unless the government and authorities make changes? Do you already try to preserve water, and, if so, how? Couldn’t give two hoots, or are you a ‘be the change’ kinda person?

P.S. To learn more see Treehugger’s list of the top 5 documentaries to watch to understand the water crisis

Water Natasha-Thompson-Water-Umbrella-Editorial

It’s been sticky, visit this site hasn’t it? The sunshine is all well and good whilst you are within spitting distance of a garden or beer garden (or a patch of pavement if you frequent the majority of London pubs), seek but battling with public transport, with people so far in your space that they may as well be inside you is no party. Some trains still seem to have the heating on and we are incessantly reminded to consider carrying a bottle of water with us which, curiously, makes me want to punch the drivers face in. Moving in any way other than a slow glide is ghastly in the heat. As one friend put it yesterday, ‘its like moving through hummus’.

Water Fritha Strickland

Where is this tirade taking us, you wonder? It is taking us to water. Or rather the lack of it. We have all seen the adverts that contain images of people in faraway countries using buckets to scoop putrid, fly-ridden water into canisters to use as drinking and cooking water. But the reality is that these images have become so pervasive in our consciousness that they simply cease to shock us. What’s that got to do with us? Whilst we are nowhere near the poverty of many countries with minimal access to safe drinking water, as the population rises and industrialisation increases, water will become more and more precious in all parts of the world.

WaterNatasha-Thompson-Water-Bath-Editorial

The northern, ironically much wetter, half of the country was aghast last month when the prospect of a hosepipe ban was floated before them. The rule only legislates against the equipment and not the water use, i.e. you could still tip the same amount of water over your garden, as long as you are not using the pipe. Oh, and it’s still ok to top up your swimming pool and wash the caravan. That repeated banging sound is my head hitting the table.

Water Kerry Lemon

With our once or even twice daily showering, long, luxurious bath’s, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes; We are a nation addicted to water. The government estimates that we each use about 150 litres of water a day, and rising. And right now? We couldn’t imagine our hot, hummusy lives without easy access to a glass of cold water and a cool shower. It’s a human right, right? The reality is that water is a finite resource. The days of using it with merry abandon are coming to an end, and we need to stop wasting it.

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén

There are some glaring absurdities in our liberal water use. Whilst almost a billion people on the planet only have access to dirty, unsafe water, we flush our toilets with drinking water. This is bonkers. Most of our homes are un-metered too, meaning water is charged at a set rate. This means there is no financial incentive to reduce water use. Ofwat stats show that metered homes use much less water and save tons of money. (So, water powers that be, and Mr Cameron, please change that.)

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén

Over the past year I have been trying to do my bit to save water, but I would also be very interested to hear your suggestions too, if you have them.

• Buy a non plastic bottle and refill it before you leave the house.
• If you have a garden, consider putting a water butt somewhere to collect water.
• If you own your house, would you consider harvesting rainwater (or greywater) to water your plants and flush your loo? Do you already do this?
• You don’t always need to flush after you wee. You probably saw this coming a mile off, but, all together now…if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down!
• Save any unfinished water dregs and pour them into a watering can or jug near the sink. Next time you need to water the plants you won’t have to fill the jug up as much.
• Instead of running the tap for ages to get cold water, put water straight out of the tap and into big bottles in the fridge.
• If you don’t have a double flush toilet you can get free water bags from Thames Water that fill up and save tons of water. Or you can just stick an old brick into the cistern.

So what’s your take on it? Are you a twice-daily-showerer, or a proud twice-a-weeker? Do you think it’s all pointless unless the government and authorities make changes? Do you already try to preserve water, and, if so, how? Couldn’t give two hoots, or are you a ‘be the change’ kinda person?

P.S. To learn more see Treehugger’s list of the top 5 documentaries to watch to understand the water crisis

Water Natasha-Thompson-Water-Umbrella-Editorial

It’s been sticky, recipe hasn’t it? The sunshine is all well and good whilst you are within spitting distance of a garden or beer garden (or a patch of pavement if you frequent the majority of London pubs), this web but battling with public transport, stuff with people so far in your space that they may as well be inside you is no party. Some trains still seem to have the heating on and we are incessantly reminded to consider carrying a bottle of water with us which, curiously, makes me want to punch the drivers face in. Moving in any way other than a slow glide is ghastly in the heat. As one friend put it yesterday, ‘its like moving through hummus’.

Water Fritha Strickland
Illustration by Fritha Strickland

Where is this tirade taking us, you wonder? It is taking us to water. Or rather the lack of it. We have all seen the images of people in faraway countries using buckets to scoop putrid, fly-ridden water into canisters to use as drinking and cooking water. But the reality is that these images have become so pervasive in our consciousness that they simply cease to shock us. What’s that got to do with us? Whilst we are nowhere near the poverty of many countries with minimal access to safe drinking water, as the population rises and industrialisation increases, water will become more and more precious in all parts of the world.

WaterNatasha-Thompson-Water-Bath-Editorial
Illustration by Natasha Thompson

The northern, ironically much wetter, half of the country was aghast last month when the prospect of a hosepipe ban was floated before them. The rule only legislates against the equipment and not the water use, i.e. you could still tip the same amount of water over your garden, as long as you are not using the pipe. Oh, and it’s still ok to top up your swimming pool and wash the caravan. That repeated banging sound is my head hitting the table.

Water Kerry Lemon
Illustration by Kerry Lemon

With our once or even twice daily showering, long, luxurious bath’s, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes; We are a nation addicted to water. The government estimates that we each use about 150 litres of water a day, and rising. And right now? We couldn’t imagine our hot, hummusy lives without easy access to a glass of cold water and a cool shower. It’s a human right, right? The reality is that water is a finite resource. The days of using it with merry abandon are coming to an end, and we need to stop wasting it.

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén
Illustration by Michelle Urvall Nyrén

There are some glaring absurdities in our liberal water use. Whilst almost a billion people on the planet only have access to dirty, unsafe water, we flush our toilets with drinking water. This is bonkers. Most of our homes are un-metered too, meaning water is charged at a set rate. This means there is no financial incentive to reduce water use. Ofwat stats show that metered homes use much less water and save tons of money. (So, water powers that be, and Mr Cameron, please change that.)

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén
Illustration by Michelle Urvall Nyrén

Over the past year I have been trying to do my bit to save water, but I would also be very interested to hear your suggestions too, if you have them.

• Buy a non plastic bottle and refill it before you leave the house.
• If you have a garden, consider putting a water butt somewhere to collect water.
• If you own your house, would you consider harvesting rainwater (or greywater) to water your plants and flush your loo? Do you already do this?
• You don’t always need to flush after you wee. You probably saw this coming a mile off, but, all together now…if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down!
• Save any unfinished water dregs and pour them into a watering can or jug near the sink. Next time you need to water the plants you won’t have to fill the jug up as much.
• Instead of running the tap for ages to get cold water, put water straight out of the tap and into big bottles in the fridge.
• If you don’t have a double flush toilet you can get free water bags from Thames Water that fill up and save tons of water. Or you can just stick an old brick into the cistern.

So what’s your take on it? Are you a twice-daily-showerer, or a proud twice-a-weeker? Do you think it’s all pointless unless the government and authorities make changes? Do you already try to preserve water, and, if so, how? Couldn’t give two hoots, or are you a ‘be the change’ kinda person?

P.S. To learn more see Treehugger’s list of the top 5 documentaries to watch to understand the water crisis

Water Natasha-Thompson-Water-Umbrella-Editorial
Illustration by Natasha Thompson

It’s been sticky, approved hasn’t it? The sunshine is all well and good whilst you are within spitting distance of a garden or beer garden (or a patch of pavement if you frequent the majority of London pubs), cure but battling with public transport, page with people so far in your space that they may as well be inside you is no party. Some trains still seem to have the heating on and we are incessantly reminded to consider carrying a bottle of water with us which, curiously, makes me want to punch the drivers face in. Moving in any way other than a slow glide is ghastly in the heat. As one friend put it yesterday, ‘its like moving through hummus’.

Water Fritha Strickland
Illustration by Fritha Strickland

Where is this tirade taking us, you wonder? It is taking us to water. Or rather the lack of it. We have all seen the images of people in faraway countries using buckets to scoop putrid, fly-ridden water into canisters to use as drinking and cooking water. But the reality is that these images have become so pervasive in our consciousness that they simply cease to shock us. What’s that got to do with us? Whilst we are nowhere near the poverty of many countries with minimal access to safe drinking water, as the population rises and industrialisation increases, water will become more and more precious in all parts of the world.

WaterNatasha-Thompson-Water-Bath-Editorial
Illustration by Natasha Thompson

The northern, ironically much wetter, half of the country was aghast last month when the prospect of a hosepipe ban was floated before them. The rule only legislates against the equipment and not the water use, i.e. you could still tip the same amount of water over your garden, as long as you are not using the pipe. Oh, and it’s still ok to top up your swimming pool and wash the caravan. That repeated banging sound is my head hitting the table.

Water Kerry Lemon
Illustration by Kerry Lemon

With our once or even twice daily showering, long, luxurious bath’s, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes; We are a nation addicted to water. The government estimates that we each use about 150 litres of water a day, and rising. And right now? We couldn’t imagine our hot, hummusy lives without easy access to a glass of cold water and a cool shower. It’s a human right, right? The reality is that water is a finite resource. The days of using it with merry abandon are coming to an end, and we need to stop wasting it.

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén
Illustration by Michelle Urvall Nyrén

There are some glaring absurdities in our liberal water use. Whilst almost a billion people on the planet only have access to dirty, unsafe water, we flush our toilets with drinking water. This is bonkers. Most of our homes are un-metered too, meaning water is charged at a set rate. This means there is no financial incentive to reduce water use. Ofwat stats show that metered homes use much less water and save tons of money. (So, water powers that be, and Mr Cameron, please change that.)

Water Michelle Urvall Nyrén
Illustration by Michelle Urvall Nyrén

Over the past year I have been trying to do my bit to save water, but I would also be very interested to hear your suggestions too, if you have them.

• Buy a non plastic bottle and refill it before you leave the house.
• If you have a garden, consider putting a water butt somewhere to collect water.
• If you own your house, would you consider harvesting rainwater (or greywater) to water your plants and flush your loo? Do you already do this?
• You don’t always need to flush after you wee. You probably saw this coming a mile off, but, all together now…if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down!
• Save any unfinished water dregs and pour them into a watering can or jug near the sink. Next time you need to water the plants you won’t have to fill the jug up as much.
• Instead of running the tap for ages to get cold water, put water straight out of the tap and into big bottles in the fridge.
• If you don’t have a double flush toilet you can get free water bags from Thames Water that fill up and save tons of water. Or you can just stick an old brick into the cistern.

So what’s your take on it? Are you a twice-daily-showerer, or a proud twice-a-weeker? Do you think it’s all pointless unless the government and authorities make changes? Do you already try to preserve water, and, if so, how? Couldn’t give two hoots, or are you a ‘be the change’ kinda person?

P.S. To learn more see Treehugger’s list of the top 5 documentaries to watch to understand the water crisis


Illustration by Abi Daker

A while back I happened to catch a performance by Lissie at the Old Queens Head in Angel. I hadn’t planned on watching her – truth be told, viagra 40mg I was there to check out the band before her; but my curiosity was piqued as I watched the room fill up with an expectant and excited audience, view all craning their necks and standing on their tippy toes to get a better view of the girl serenading us. It’s been a while since I saw someone so captivating. Golden haired, freckled and just a slip of a thing, Lissie entranced the room who in turn treated her to a hushed and reverential silence, punctuated only by bursts of spirited applause and cheers. I watched the audience watching her. Everyone seemed transported out of their location; away from the top room of a pub on grimy old Essex Road and into the world that Midwestern native come Californian girl Lissie inhabits, laced with the scent of orange blossom, filled with wide open skies, winding rivers and smokey mountains, and night-times spent on porches with nothing but a guitar, a couple of beers and a pack of Marlboro Reds . No wonder we were all enchanted.

A couple of weeks later, I got to meet the busy Lissie. In the time between, Lissie had appeared on Jools Holland, toured around Europe, duetted with Ellie Goulding at The Great Escape, and graced the airwaves, all in the name of the hectic promotion of her debut album, Catching a Tiger (hot on the heels of the release of last years Why You Runnin’ EP). The phrase ‘riding a juggernaut’ comes to mind with Lissie; bursting into our consciousness with the brightest of starts. The day we met was a rare moment of down time; her touring schedule is in a constant state of flux – stretching to accommodate gigs that are being added on a daily basis, and Lissie had only just made it back from the previous nights gigs in Manchester and Newcastle. Curled up wearing her newest acquisition – a red jacket with white piping brought from a charity shop up North which made her look, she remarked cheerily, like “Santa Claus”, she lamented the ever decreasing amount of free time but was laughingly quick to note that it’s “a quality problem- it’s only busy because it’s going well, if no-one liked the music then there wouldn’t be things for me to do!” As Amelia’s Magazine is nothing if not versatile in its roles, I was happy to take on the guise of English Tourist Board representative, and suggest a list of places to visit when she finally gets a day off; though when that day will be, we will never know! ( FYI, Lissie was especially keen on the visit to Hampton Court Palace idea). As she munched on a healthy beetroot salad – my lunch advice was a visit to Jerk City in Soho for some fattening salt fish patties; probably best that not all of my suggestions get listened to) – I decided to find out just where this free-spirited songbird got her start in life.

“I always loved to sing, I was a pretty outspoken, strong willed little kid! I got a little shyer and more introverted when I got older but as a kid I used to stomp my feet when I walked (swings arms in a very determined manner), I was always talkin’… My family were really sweet and encouraging, but at school I would get into a lot of trouble because I would talk back, I always knew what was best for me, and when other people used to tell me what was best for me, I would be like “uh oh! Not gonna do it!” (laughs) I loved to sing, so becoming a songwriter was a great way for me to express my feelings, you know. I wasn’t always great at talking about things, and so I could write these little melodies…. even as a little kid, I would sing my feelings. I sang to my sister; I do recall tape recording this mean song about her, and leaving a tape recorder about her under her bedroom door and then pressing play and running away! (laughs) And then in high school I went through my phase of being more introverted – I pierced my nose, got a tattoo, started smoking,….I did my own thing cause I didn’t really fit in to any particular group. I started writing music, taught myself guitar and then started working at this coffee shop where I could play.”

What type of music were you listening to then?
Music wise, when I was younger I was into folk, Americana, musical theatre, and then in high school I was into country and gangsta rap

Those are two very different genres!
You wouldn’t think that these are similar in any way, but when you listen to either country or rap, it’s people telling their story. Indie rock can be more obtuse or obscure. Country and rap is some one speaking in the first person, you know? It’s more like, “this is my story, this is my experience.”

Do you respond to music that is more heartfelt and honest?
Totally, but I like all kinds of stuff. Although I don’t really listen to music to get inspired for my own music.

Did you move to California immediately after high school?
First I went to Colorado, to go to study at Colorado State. I was playing music and sang with a DJ there, and he ended up getting our song placed on tv shows. That was a catalyst for me; I realised that I could make a living making music, maybe eventually a good living! And then I went and did a semester of school (our version of uni) in Paris. I was singing there as well; I met a woman who helped me get shows in bars, and I also got some stuff played on college radio. After that I dropped out of school, and moved to LA – only cause I figured that that’s where you go when you want to be a singer!


Illustration by Abi Daker

Comparisons have been made to the hazy and bohemian rock n’ roll that came out of Laurel Canyon in the 70′s (think Joni Mitchell, The Doors, and Stevie Nicks). Lissie’s 2010 version is honed from living in an area not more than a mile or two away; Beachwood Canyon, a creative hub of artists and musicians and a world away from the plastic glamour and sheen of Beverly Hills. Los Angeles is known for chewing up and spitting up many a wide eyed starlet and ingenue, but strong-willed Lissie was never going to be one of the victims….
I don’t know if it’s me being stubborn, or being from the Mid West, but….I’m not bullshit, I don’t want bullshit in my life. I’m still nice, you know? I was never tempted by (the LA madness.) I always knew what I wanted to do. And I wasn’t immediately successful… I had figured that by 22 I was gonna make a record, and I didn’t make one till I was 26. But I was never like “I’m never going to be successful, maybe I need to be skinnier, or prettier, or I need to start doing drugs!

A year ago (while dealing with the messy end of a relationship) Lissie made a decision – part gut instinct, part cosmic order – to leave LA and head north to the tranquil town of Ojai, a place that she had never even stepped foot in…

Do you get inspired by the peace of Ojai?
Unfortunately I was more inspired to write when I was in Hollywood, because there was more to get worked up about. (sighs) There was this guy that I dated…… we broke up and our breakup process was drawn out and painful, which gave me a lot of material (laughs). Part of the reason why I moved was because it felt like my family was broken, and I needed a change. I put it out there; I was on a plane coming back from Tennessee and…. sometimes I just say what I want, and try to have faith that it will happen, and this is the weird thing; I found myself sitting next to two people who lived in Ojai, and I told them that I was heading back to LA, and they suggested I visit Ojai. So I got back to LA and instantly knew that I couldn’t be there; there was something in me that said “you have to move to Ojai, even though I had never been there before!” I went online, and found this house that cost less than my apartment in LA . I put down a deposit and moved, gone! And it was the best thing for me. I totally healed my heart there, and got myself in a position where I could really focus on myself, and what I need to do. I live alone, with my dog, I go for walks – it’s so peaceful.

While you’re here, you have a summer of touring in England?
Yeah, every day we get a revised schedule. We’re (Lissie and her band) doing festivals for the next few months, and in October, November and December there will be at least one thing a month going on in England, so it’s unclear whether we will just stay here or start our momentum in the States, ’cause I still have to go promote my album over there. I don’t exactly know what’s going to be happening, but it’s all good.

Categories ,album, ,americana, ,blues, ,california, ,Ellie Goulding, ,folk, ,glastonbury, ,Joni Mitchell, ,Jools Holland, ,Lissie, ,The Great Escape Festival, ,tour

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Amelia’s Magazine | Bebe and Paolo: An Interview

The Christmas festive season is now upon us and many artists are selling festive products. However few are initiated to help the poor, what is ed the downtrodden and the destitute. All I Want For Christmas Cards 2009 is one such group of creatives whose latest project is in support of the Bristol based charity ‘Young Bristol’. 20 local artists’ and illustrators’ specific works for the project are being used to create a limited edition run of Christmas cards that will be sold as packs containing each of the 20 cards.A competition, price with the brief to create a piece of work based on the phrase ‘All I want for Christmas’ took place and after receiving an overwhelming response, shop the final 20 artworks were chosen, each on their individual merits and included in the final 20 cards. Initially created with the idea of promoting the charity Young Bristol, All I Want For Christmas Cards has also brought together artists and illustrators local to Bristol for this exciting illustrative project. Here is an opportunity to support those who need! We are today interviewing a few of those illustrators who very kindly lent their creativity to a good cause.

Valerie Pezeron: Hello all. I would like to know who came up with the idea for such a wonderful project and could they tell our readers a little bit about themselves?

Creator/Organiser Ben Steers: The idea for a project like this had been rolling around in my head for a while but I just didn’t know how to best implement the concept. After moving to Bristol to kick start my illustration career and spending some time building contacts with local artists and illustrators I realised the huge concentration of talent that Bristol had to offer and after doing some voluntary work for Young Bristol I saw the opportunity to launch the idea and bring established and aspiring artists together and at the same time help benefit a really worthwhile cause. We have been really blown away by the response from everyone involved and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and having the pleasure of meeting so many positive and friendly people.

VP: There are many charities out there? Why pick “Young Bristol” charity for this project? What is the aim of the charity?

Ben Steers: I have recently helped Young Bristol put together a quarterly magazine on volunteer work and events in the area. There are so many great charities out there doing outstanding work every day but I think in the case of Young Bristol I felt that I could offer my creative services in some way and they also focus on helping disadvantaged individuals of my sort of age through media and arts courses. They aim to give those who didn’t have the opportunities that a lot of us take for granted, the chance to further themselves in creative fields and I think that is really something.

VP: The competition was very popular. Was there a jury and how did you select the final 20?

B S: It was a really difficult selective process as we didn’t want to turn any of the designs away simply because people had made a real effort and in the end we had over 40 design submissions to choose from. We both sat down and went through all the designs trying to select 20 on their individual merits and on how well they would sit against the other 19 as a collection. We were very aware of how all 20 cards would look if we sat them all next to each other. In the end we were very lucky in the response we got and selected 20 great designs which are varied in both style and content.

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VP: What motivated you to apply for the competition?

Ben Steers: Ben’s enthusiasm made it very difficult to say no and it’s always fun to take part in Bristol projects especially when it’s for a good cause.

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

Illustrator Ben Newman: I’ve been involved in a few charity projects raising money for hospitals and endangered animals but my involvement always depends on whether my other projects allow me enough time. I’m really pleased that sometimes I can use a skill to help raise money.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

BN: My card was inspired by some of the designs on Record company advertising banners from the 1950’s.

VP: I know what I want for Christmas and it is to welcome lovely kittens into my home. What about you, lovely people?

BN: Booze, food, friends and lot’s of sleeping.

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BjornLie

Illustration by Bjorn Lie

Name of Illustrator: Bjorn Lie

VP: What motivated you to apply for the competition?

BL:  The fact that it was for a local charity. I normally do work for clients in other countries, which is nice, but makes me feel a bit detached from where I actually am, Bristol. This was a chance to be a part of something positive, by just doing my own thing.

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

BL: Not actively, no. I would like to do more of it in the future though.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

BL:  I’ve been doing a lot of wintry scenes recently for a picture book, so I was already in that frame of mind! My card features a guy on a “spark støtting’, which is an old school means of transportation back in Norway where I’m from.

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Name of Illustrator: Rich T

VP: What motivated you to apply for the competition?

Rich T: I thought it was a great idea for a project, a good brief and most importantly fun. If you want people to do stuff for free you have to make it fun, you can’t rely on good will. Kids today….

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

Rich T: I have donated artwork for charity auctions in the past.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

Rich T: I didn’t want to draw anything to do with Christmas so for me the opposite of Christmas is probably Pepsi, always forgotten in the festive period along with Jesus, job done.

VP: I know what I want for Christmas and it is to welcome lovely kittens into my home. What about you, lovely people?

Rich T: All I want for Christmas is loads of expensive gifts, preferably ones I can sell on E bay, and a dog but I don’t want it forever, just Christmas.

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Name of Illustrator: Chris Dickason

CD: More than anything else the brief sounded like a fun way to spend some time away from commercial work and a chance to get a little Christmas over nostalgic whilst I looked for inspiration. There’s a fantastic wealth of talent in Bristol and consistently the artists and designs here produce work that’s as innovative as it is clever, funny and engaging. I’m really interested in being involved with projects that help promote the city as a creative hub. And obviously it’s great to be involved with a local charity as well.

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

CD: I’ve worked commercially for charities and raised a bit of money from sponsorship for just about plodding myself around some marathons but I’d been looking for a project that consolidated my own discourse and a worthy cause. The ‘All I Want for Christmas’ project ticked a lot of boxes in my head when I received the email. It’s very much a win-win situation for the artists. Projects like this offer creative freedom are chance to see work viewed along side your contemporaries as well as providing a healthy dose of the ‘feel good factor’ as you get to support a charity to boot.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

CD: Christmas is a great time of year because it provides some very personal memories but these experiences are similar to that shared by most other people. I was motivated to create an image that was based on occurrences that are typical of my Christmas experiences (over indulgence, goodnatured gluttony, sharing & caring) and hoped that these ideas would resonate with the audience.

VP: I know what I want for Christmas and it is to welcome lovely kittens into my home. What about you, lovely people?

CD: The main thing I want for Christmas is in fact free and that is a nice chunk of uninterrupted sleep. If I had my may I’d turn into a big grizzly bear and snooze all winter long and wake back up when the temperature is back in double figures. Alas I’m yet to master this skill.

shop

So now you know what these chaps all want for Christmas. How about you? You might just want to escape the usual uninspiring, tacky and overdone festive art on display this season and treat yourself to fun, cheeky and sustainable charity cards. The Christmas card packs are a limited edition of 500, each containing 20 cards individually designed by 20 of Bristol’s finest illustrators, litho printed on 100% recycled card, 20 envelopes and an A2 poster. They cam be purchased on www.alliwantforchristmascards.com. Price per pack: £15 + £2.99 p&p

PB1

Bebe and Paolo are a rockabilly and jazz inspired duo from Weymouth. Just 5 months into starting out they played Camp Bestival, ed after winning a local Battle of the Bands contest. I ventured down to the Flowerpot, see Kentish Town, to see the dynamic duo play…what a gig! I got chatting to front woman, Bebe Black afterward…

How did you two meet and decide to start making music together?
We met about seven or eight years ago in Weymouth, and used to hang around the place drinking and smoking and generally being a nuisance like teenagers are. Eventually Bebe moved away to Bournemouth and then London and Paolo went to study at the ACM. We didn’t meet again until Christmas 2008 at an Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster gig back home. We started chatting about our love of jazz and 50’s rockabilly, and within a week Paolo had written a piece for Bebe to sing over. We finally got it together in February 2009, and have been gigging and writing non-stop since then.

What type of music would you say you make?
We’ve named it “Jazz Punk Erotica”

PB4

Which bands have influenced your music?
Kate Bush, Edith Piaf, Robert Johnson, Eddie Lang, Ruth Etting, Billie Holiday.

Who would you love to cover one of your songs?
I would like to hear Phoebe Legere covering “Good Boys” live with an accordion.

What has been your best live experience so far?
Playing at Camp Bestival was wild, the running order went something along the lines of: “Spongebob SquarePants, Bebe and Paolo, PJ Harvey.” You can’t beat that!
We also played on Sark, in the Channel Islands. It’s a little island with no cars, no streetlamps – only horse and carts and torches! We had a great time, but we were banned from singing some of our more risqué songs!

PB3

If you could play live, at any venue in the world, where would you choose and why?
We want to play Ronnie Scott’s, and we want to wear Nike air max whilst we’re doing it! Also the Luminaire would be amazing and of course the Jools Holland Show for reasons that do not need to be explained…

Bebe, Your outfits are always very cool and you express a very distinct style. Are your outfits always well thought out? or do you just chuck anything on that looks good?
I think it’s a bit of both! I studied and worked in fashion, so the way I put things together is probably fairly programmed by now in the way that I like wearing one striking piece of clothing and keeping the rest simple. I only buy items that I think will stand the test of time, and usually those kind of clothes stand out on-stage. I’m about to start collaborating with up-and-coming designer, Sam Membury, who’s pieces are simple but beautiful. My mum says “Look rich, Live Poor” so that’s my motto when it comes to how I dress!

What is your favourite item of clothing/ accessory at the moment?
A vintage studded belt that I forgot I owned until I found it hiding out in the back of my wardrobe last week and a Butler and Wilson skeleton brooch that I paid too much money for, but love endlessly.

Images by Briony Warren

See Bebe and Paolo play this Friday 27th, at the ‘Swinging Sixties Night’ at the Fashion and Textiles Museum.

Categories ,Billie Holiday, ,Camp Bestival, ,Eddie Lang, ,Edith Piaf, ,Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster, ,Erotica, ,Fashion and Textiles Museum, ,Flowerpot, ,gig, ,interview, ,jazz, ,Jools Holland, ,Kate Bush, ,live, ,london, ,luminaire, ,music, ,Phoebe Legere, ,PJ Harvey, ,punk, ,Robert Johnson, ,Ronnie Scott’s, ,Ruth Etting, ,Sam Membury, ,Spongebob SquarePants

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Amelia’s Magazine | Savages at Electrowerkz: Live Review

Savages by Sharon Farrow

Savages by Sharon Farrow

Tucked away behind Angel Tube Station, down a small side street, you seem to be a world away from this most respectable part of North London. Indeed, only a stone’s throw from a Jamie Oliver restaurant, Electrowerkz stands in stark contrast. Housed in an old warehouse, Electrowerkz, or more officially, the Islington Metal Works, is a slightly surreal warren of rooms that, according to the website (when it’s not hosting weddings and other functions) still operates as an actual metal works. As a venue, it’s probably better known for club nights, and its dark, almost claustrophobic interior has that late eighties/early nineties rave feel to it. I’d first been here almost a decade ago (to see a then housemate play an electro set) and, until a month or so ago, hadn’t been back since. In all that time, the place remained unchanged.

Tonight, the buzz was all about Savages, on the first night of a brief residency. First up, though, were Blue On Blue. I’d seen them a couple of years ago as a shoegazey three-piece, but now as a duo (Dee Sada on keyboards and bass, Billy Steiger on keyboards, guitar and violin), they offer a more minimal, glitchy sound. I was most impressed with them, and the crowd that had gathered to watch seemed supportive.

Savages by Shy Illustrations

Savages by Shy Illustrations

During the break, I went for a bit of a wander, navigating a new set of stairs I’d never noticed previously. Hidden away on the lower level, past what appeared to be a video installation of some sort, was a small screening room showing an unusual early sixties Japanese film (which I later discovered to be the avant-garde classic The Woman In The Dunes).

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Back upstairs, the crowd in the main room was beginning to swell as Savages’ set approached. This is a band that has really appeared from nowhere. Despite only being together since last year (and playing live for a few months), and with one single to their name (the double A side of Flying To Berlin and Husbands), they have earned lashings of praise from the music press, featured at a number of festivals, bagged a TV spot with Jools Holland and played at packed out venues (including an audience featuring the great and the good of the major indie record labels at Dalston’s Shacklewell Arms). I’d seen singer Jehnny Beth a couple of times before, as one half of French duo John & Jehn, but the sound of Savages is much darker than their pop noir, more a lesson in post-punk back to basics.

Savages by Gemma Green-Hope

Savages by Gemma Green-Hope

Taking to a suitably industrial looking stage, and bathed in harsh beams of white and blue light, Savages immediately let rip. With Fay Milton pounding away on drums, the rumbling bass of Ayse Hassan and Gemma Thompson’s squalls of guitar noise behind the jittery presence of Jehnny Beth, they recall such luminaries as Public Image Ltd, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Joy Division (indeed, the bassline on Flying To Berlin tips a sizeable doff of the cap to that of Peter Hook on Joy Division’s Colony). I tend to be a bit wary when it comes to hype bands, but with songs like City’s Full and Husbands reverberating around the tiny room, it proved that Savages are the real deal. And they are loud! They certainly got the audience going, though it looked a bit too sardine-like at the front for any moshing. Most surprising thing, though, was seeing a guy in front of me actually sketching the band on his iPad!

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As the set closer Husbands shuddered to an abrupt halt, Savages left the stage to roars from the crowd, but there was to be no encore. Instead, to console ourselves, there is the newly released live EP and the prospect of seeing them once more in the UK in November, after a short trip to the States and some dates around Europe. After that, we shall have to wait and see what surprises Savages spring next.

Categories ,Blue On Blue, ,dalston, ,electrowerkz, ,Gemma Green-Hope, ,Islington, ,Jamie Oliver, ,Japanese film, ,John & Jehn, ,Jools Holland, ,joy division, ,Peter Hook, ,Post Punk, ,Public Image Ltd, ,Savages, ,Shacklewell Arms, ,Sharon Farrow, ,Sheilagh Tighe, ,shoegaze, ,Shy Illustrations, ,siouxsie and the banshees, ,The Woman In The Dunes

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