Feature // Manchester Reborn #2

Hello! My second column as Artrocker Magazine's Manchester reporter is now live here! I talk about Antwerp Mansion, how WuTang's GZA popped in and other amazing events that the people behind the project put on. Apart from that I've been in deadline hell and spending way too much time in South but more articles (Including my ~records of 2012~ list) coming soon, I promise! Oh and another thing; some fabulous friends of mine and other university students are curating and partaking in an art & design exhibition this Thursday (aka tomorrow!), showcasing numerous photography, graphics and other works over at the Bench Gallery in Northern Quarter- it's going to be fun, free and you can come along too if you just join this group to be on the guestlist. There is going to be booze, tunes, films and beautiful work to see all evening from 6pm-9pm, so come play out whilst I swoon over pieces and take your party pictures! 

Words by Yours Truly X

Interview // Chad Valley

Newsday number 1; IN THE BAG! I celebrated early by going to Resident Advisor X WHP on Saturday (It was my last one of the year, pass the tissues :'( ), I had a rad time meeting the three up- for-a-rave Irish chaps we found in Room 1 during Apparat and a group of wonderful new Manchester faces' of whom made me feel very welcome indeed, never feeling so happy as I did during 90% of Orbital's set and bouncing off the walls on my own to Julio Bashmore! I also did philly cheese steaks and mulled cider with FreedomSpark Katie and went to see Passion Pit with my lovely Jadey who came to the city for the evening earlier on in the month; we swooned, caught up on life by being overly girly and drank too many pints before I had to go to work, ooops! But I did manage to Interview the  terrific Hugo Manuel of Chad Valley who also played. We talked "A&R vultures" and their attempts to wine and dine him along with one crazy night in Paris; it was great to speak to the man behind the falsetto as 'Equatorial Ultravox' is definitely up there in my fave EP's of 2011. Anyway, it's all over on Noisey here, ch-ch-ch-check it out!

Words by Yours Truly X

Feature // Manchester Reborn

Good evening! I'm now a Manchester correspondent for Artrocker Magazine, isn't that nice? For my first feature, I wrote about how the city and more specifically, Salford in its own right (REPRESENT!) is providing itself as the perfect DIY hub for the creatives of Manchester today. I discussed the cult Fuhrer Bunker venue (pictured below) and Sways Records along with mini-reviews of Great Waves and M O N E Y's work- you can read it over here!

Words by Yours Truly / Image c/o Magnus Blikeng  X

Interview // Fucked Up

I FINALLY treated myself to some r&r after a "few" post-shift staff drinks turned into the inevitable continuation of sharing a bottle of Morgans Spiced, a mass game of musical bumps and drunk Sunday morning breakfasts in Wetherspoons (I don't know either...). I've been hammering deadlines like my life depends on it and it is thankfully beginning to pay-off after gaining a first on my music journo assessment and a mostly-successful news day assessment this morning, yeah buddy! Anyway, enough of my humble brags, I interviewed the gentleman that is Damian Abraham of Fucked Up as we disturbed the bands three-course-dinner to talk Pot Noodles, Kendrick Lamar and why professional WWE wrestlers wouldn't return his emails. The wonderful Harriet accompanied me and bought me gin cocktails and ginger beers, what can I say, she knows your girl well! You can catch it all over here with a few of my shots from their show on Noisey- ciao for now!

Words and Images by Yours Truly X

Interview // Adam J.Kurtz

Remember when I said November was going to be busy? So far I'm coping (I DON'T KNOW HOW), after infinite coffee-fueled essay sessions, catching Jessie Ware, Two Inch Punch, Lapalux, Flying Lotus, Jamie XX, Fucked Up, Lunice, Koreless and Haim live all in the past two weeks, I still have a lot of shifts to work (being a student sucks, sometimes) and reunions to squeeze in. I say that like it is a bad thing, it totally is not! Around all these (un)necessary outings, I also interviewed Brooklyn based graphics artist Adam J.Kurtz- his work is a hybrid of fun, awkward truths and bursts with relatable topics, you can read the whole thing in its entirety over here! 

Words by Yours Truly / Image by Adam J.Kurtz X

Freedom Spark Playlist // November

November, you're here! I've welcomed in the month by eating too much sushi (is there ever such a thing?), visiting a photobooth made famous by Jarvis Cocker, listening to the new Foals track repeatedly and extended cab rides in minus temperatures on bonfire night. This month is going to be quick, exciting, stressful and straight-up peachy continued by a Death Grips and Wet Nuns show tonight! Oh yeah, and my new (second to last ever, SOB) playlist is now up here on Freedom Spark featuring Jai Paul, Danny Brown, Churches, Metz, Holy Other and the return of Chad Valley...

Words by Yours Truly X

Recently...

The past two months of being back in the city and post-Summer debauchery have been fantastic. Onwards and upwards for deadline season and inevitable Winter snow!

  Images by Yours Truly X