Nadia Tullin shares her take on street fashion with Trashed

“I love fashion and the real runway is on the streets,” says Nadia. “I like create images using styling and photography.”

If you’re interested in taking your own street style photographs, check out our How To.

A brand new, haunting piece of prose from Sydony Johnson from Guildford

She lies, lifeless on the damp ground, the bright sun covering her face as
a blanket of beatific brightness.
Yet, languid light reflects off every inch of her outside.
And under the cold, calm skin, there still remains a heart full of endless
ardour; devotion ready to rip through the tough sheet of stiff skin and rise, determined, out of the ashes, ablaze.
But, we know, everything must fall.
Like a feather, the object will float to the welcoming grass that will clutch it in a clasp so close, neither can ever let go.
Because, although all life must end, the tender embrace of friendship is
eternal.

Not even time can end what is time-less.

Regular Trashed contributor Charlotte Jarman takes stock of the pop charts

For the last few years the UK chart is something I have dipped in and out of as it suited me, bobbing my head above the sheltered recesses of the underground when the occasional good tune came along. But recently I’ve been venturing out less frequently and leaving my radio fixed on 6 music. If you have any interest in the music industry you will have heard this all
before but it’s dead out there. The chart is a wasteland strewn with boy bands dressed up in Topman’s finest and overdone remixes of songs you vaguely recollect from a better time. Take this week’s chart for example.

The UK’s current number one, essentially the most popular track in the country: Jessie J’s ‘Domino’. A far cry from the ubiquitous ‘Price Tag’ (Oh yeah were in a recession you’re so #relevant) that propelled her into 2011. To me the song sounds like it’s been rejected by Katy Perry and ripped off a Toploader song. From previous posts it may appear that I have some kind of personal vendetta against Jessie J. I don’t, she never bullied me at school or pushed me into an elevator shaft. She just epitomises everything I dislike about the mainstream music of today.

Firstly warbling every prolonged note does not make you a vocal gymnast. It makes you sound like Mariah Carey on top of a washing machine. Secondly, releasing statements like “breaking my leg has really given me a new found respect for people with missing limbs” does not make you a kooky zany Princeesque pop star, it makes you an idiot.

One of the most hotly tipped artists of 2012 is Emeli Sande or as I like to call her Emily. I cant help feeling that she wouldn’t be out of place as the backing vocals on a dance track. I know she did exactly this for that learned scholar Professor Green, and she was brilliant. Providing a melodic harmony to counterbalance the yelpings of Green. But that’s just it, she
was a pleasant accompaniment. Her voice is just like any other of a backing vocalist. I think we all Sande is not going to be the next diva, it’s just the fact that there is nothing else out there that she is receiving this much attention. As if she’s the only one to have shown up to a party and to hide their embarrassment the host is spending all their attention on their one
guest.

One act I am excited about this year is Lana Del Rey. Aside from the fact that Jarvis Cocker has announced his praise her voice is utterly unique and rich. Some have described her as dull and droney but those are the qualities I like best in her. That sense of wallowing in your own misery yet thoroughly enjoying it. Much the same as how I feel when listening to The Smiths. I guess all things considered she’s not going to take the chart by storm. I’m predicting success in the alternative chart and perhaps amongst the more sophisticated of the Radio 2 crowd. But her album will be one for the bedroom loiters who wrap their vinyl in plastic and read Edgar Allan Poe

Many “industry experts” (basically journalists) have blamed this to the dawning of the internet and the bevy of free music it brought with it. By raising this debate I am aware of the huge can of worms I am opening but I’ll briefly explain my opinion derived from the information I have read. I used to be of the opinion that free music would mark the collapse of the music industry. But have realized it will only rid us of the current system we know today. When television came around in the 1950’s Hollywood studios feared it would be the death of film making as instead of going to the cinema everyone would sit at home in front of their television sets. Well I think we can safely say they were proved wrong. For artists to survive they need to adapt to their changing landscape by embracing new platforms such
as Last FM and Spotify. There are more ways than ever before for bands to get their music heard by the right people, in theory the industry should be thriving.

At the risk of sounding patriotic, this green and pleasant land that spurred the likes of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Dusty Springfield, T Rex, David Bowie, Kate Bush, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Queen, The Cure, Oasis, Blur and Radiohead. The list is endless. ENGLAND! We have achieved greatness, it can be achieved again (just not by Jessie J).

Read more of Charlotte’s writing on her blog

Bogdan Chirila from Romania shares a brilliant dubstep mix

“I started music in 2007 as a hip hop MC,” says Bodgan. “In 2010 I made my first mix. I went through several musical genres to do dubstep – my first genre was hip hop, then I followed house music and now I stopped to dubstep. This genre catches me well and it just don’t want to let me go.


“Here’s one of my first dubstep mixes…”

Amal Mabsout from north Africa sent us her beautiful creative work with paint

We’ll let Amal describe herself and her work in her own words…

“Who is Amal Mabsout? Well, she is teenage painter who produces things that people don’t need to have but that she – for some reason – thinks it would be a good idea to give them. And sometimes she makes real to others her innermost feelings about all that she cares for. The secret becomes known to everyone views my art features and feel it.”

Regular Trashed contributor Charlotte Jarman dissects Florence’s latest album

It’s Saturday night. I’m sitting at home being told that my Saturday night “starts right here”, the studio audience are whipped into a frenzy. A mentally ill person sings a Bruno Mars song and is told by Gary Barlow he’s gonna be massive, and a famous chav disagrees. Then the guest performer is introduced by an overexcited VT. A statuesque figure graces the stage and there is silence.
 
The very idea of Florence performing on a show like the X Factor would be sacrilege to some of her devoted fans, but it’s an indication of just how massive she has become, and of course she makes a mockery of the contestants on this ludicrous show.  The performance is to promote her new album which has reached the number one position the very same day: ‘Ceremonials’.

It would be impossible for me to review this album without sounding like a gushing fan girl, but I have tried my best, so here goes:
 
The opener, ‘Only for a Night’, has a mammoth task at hand. The first song on an eagerly anticipated second album, it could have easily been a dud, but is rather a slow ominous builder. The proverbial drum roll heralding the arrival of something spectacular.
 
For what is essentially a song about getting rid of a hangover ‘Shake it Out’ is a major contributor to the album. It’s clear to see Florence and producer Paul Epworth are fans of the echo. Epworth – having previously worked with Jack Penate (prime example of echoey guitar music that isn’t The Smiths) and Friendly Fires – is an indie genius. The vocals are stacked high and layered upon like a teetering wedding cake, but the result is an astounding cathartic cannonball of magnificence.
 
The next track explores a darker subject all together. To fully appreciate ‘What the Water Gave Me’ you should read Virginia Woolf’s suicide note to her husband, as the lyrics reference her tragic death. Florence also draws on the influence of Frieda Kahlo’s painting by the same name. The song itself takes on a sombre haunting quality, and the tension is heightened by the monk like chanting before the chorus creating a gothic masterpiece.
 
Flowing seamlessly comes “Never Let Me Go”. The song moves into an altogether tender mood. Its use of minimal instruments and heavy focus on choral backing are a soothing caress. The soft backing vocals mimic ‘The Arms of the Ocean’ and the steady rhythmic pattern is a perfect lullaby. Listen to it and feel your insides melt like butter on hot toast.
 
At first ‘Breaking Down’ appears to be a light-hearted melodic pop song strategically placed to pick up the pace and to lighten the mood. But it soon pulls back the cloak and reveals itself to be a story of a sinister creature in the corner of her eye. Florence takes us back to relive repressed childhood fears. The effect of a jovial melody contrasting with such dark lyrics is strangely compelling.

Listening to Florence’s first album ‘Lungs’ it would have been hard to imagine an album that equalled it’ standard. But ‘Ceremonials’ exceeds expectations. Darker themes, various textures of sounds and of course the accompanying choir  In some places they create a gospel sound but coupled with Florence’s gargantuan voice and capacity to hold a note for a really really long time, the overall result is always a colossal sound. It’s as if she’s finished touring Lungs, sat down with cup of tea and thought: let’s just do the same again but bigger.

For more on Florence and the Machine, visit her website.

Sajeel Kapoor from New Delhi presents an exclusive glimpse of his new tracks

Update: Sajeel has now finished his mixtape, and you can find all of his tracks on Soundcloud.

He’s really excited by the results, and said: “Okay People..the moment is here..D-Constructed Hertz is live and rolling…u heard 4 of em pre released tracks not its time to bump the entire album..it got 12 tracks n one bonus release…what are you waiting for people…just clikc da link n start bumping some DUBSTEP MUSIC..n spread the word guys..fo real..its my hardwork n I hope you people will appreciate it DUBSTEP n PWPfor LYF…!!”

You can also listen Sajeel’s original track below.

Sajeel says: “It’s a one of its kind type of track. In India there is a little scope for dubstep music. So in order to make it appealing I have fused Indian Classical Instruments with dubstep, and prepared an Indian Flavour Dubstep Style mix of Astronomia. I hope you like it. The mix is not released and will be released in my first mixtape.”

Astronomia Indian Flavour Dub Remix 1 by trashedmag

This up and coming illustrator from Sheffield showcases her excellent work

These are just a few examples of Hazel’s work. You can check out more on her blog.

Upcoming director/photographer Kb Bishara showcases his hypnotic short film

Check out the movie below.

Kb says: ‘I would like to submit my visual project/ short film titled F.T.D (Free To Dream). The film s a visual story inspired by life, love/passion and dreams’

All photography and editing is by Kb, and the music is James Blake’s ‘The Wilhelm Scream’.

F.T.D [8935] from Kb Bishara on Vimeo.

Michelle Hennessey on the slow realisation that it’s time to face the real world as an adult

I’m not a superstar or supermodel, I’m not world famous or “about to blow”, I’m just an ordinary girl who has just realised she’s only a couple of months away from passing her driving test, finishing school, and moving out. And just as she thinks things couldn’t get any weirder, she realises she is now referring to herself in the third person. Brilliant.

It’s not that I want to be mollycoddled my whole life but it seems life is accelerating at a pace and I can’t keep up, with all other teenagers sprinting past knowing exactly where they’re going, whilst I’ve been crushed to the ground, without a clue. How is it that one day I’m listening to Britney Spears with my “boys smell” attitude and next, I have a part time job and thinking about uni choices? I feel the overwhelming sense that if I don’t make the right choices now, it will have a definite detrimental effect on my adulthood, which, although feels as far away as winning 100 million pounds (or dollars, I’m not fussed) on the lottery, it’s actually just round the corner!

I’m half imagining a giant frog to start following me, or Jedward to be my substitute teachers for the day, or any other indication that I’m actually dreaming and once I wake up I can go back to my life as a little kid that has mummy and daddy looking after her again.

And yet that’s not the reality. The reality is I’m 18 next year, which in itself sounds crazy, but I’m also now supposedly responsible for everything I do. No more “my dog ate my homework” (and getting away with it because it was just Year 4 spellings) or “Sara did it!” (Even though “Sara” is an imaginary friend). There’s no fighting it, it will soon be time to face the real world.

I am growing up. We all are. Done.