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Month: January 2018

Robot scientist aids drug-resistant malaria treatment discovery

There are currently a number of drugs being used to treat malaria, but the disease is becoming increasingly resistant to such drugs. Malaria kills over 500,000 people each year, many of these deaths are in Africa and Southeast Asia and concern is rising over the disease becoming untreatable.

When a malaria infected mosquito bites someone, the parasites enter the bloodstream through the mosquito’s saliva. The parasites then make their way to the liver, where they reproduce and take over red blood cells to spread around the body. This causes the observable symptoms of malaria, which can be potentially life-threatening.

Triclosan is an ingredient commonly found in toothpaste and may be a promising step in developing a new treatment to stop drug-resistant strains. It helps prevent the build-up of plaque by inhibiting an enzyme known as enoyl reductase (ENR). Previously, scientists found that triclosan can stop the growth of the malaria parasite when it is in its later stages, and it was thought to be because of the ENR enzyme.

But new research, with robot scientist Eve’s help, shows that it is actually the inhibition of a different enzyme, DHFR, that is more significantly implicated in the stopping of malaria parasite growth. This enzyme is found in the liver, which is especially promising as it may mean that a drug could be developed which can target malaria in its earlier stages when in the liver, as well as later blood-stages.

Current drugs already target DHFR and inhibit the enzyme, but in Africa resistance to such a drug is not uncommon. Scientists in Cambridge were able to show that triclosan could act on this enzyme even against drug-resistant parasites.
Eve, the robot scientist, was designed by scientists at the University of Manchester, with colleagues at the Universities of Aberystwyth and Cambridge, to help speed up the drug discovery by automating the process. Hypotheses are automatically developed, tested and results interpreted by Eve, who is capable of testing over 10,000 compounds per day.

“Artificial intelligence and machine learning enables us to create automated scientists that do not just take a ‘brute force’ approach, but rather take an intelligent approach to science”, says Professor Ross King of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, who led the team that developed Eve. He went on to explain “this could greatly speed up the drug discovery progress and potentially reap huge rewards.”

Currently, Eve is able to use machine-learning and statistics to predict new structures that may score better in tests of quality. It is thought that future versions of Eve may even be able to incorporate a feature where she is able to synthesise compounds.

Tim Peake’s space capsule coming to Manchester

In June 2016, Major Tim Peake returned to earth in the Soyuz TMA-19M after the six month long Principia mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Major Peake is the first British astronaut to walk in space and the first European Space Agency astronaut to visit the ISS.

The space capsule is currently on display at the Science Museum in London. It will be arriving at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on March 10th and will be on display until May 13th in their Great Western Warehouse.

“The Soyuz is an iconic item, and I am very excited that the Museum of Science and Industry is part of this incredible tour,” said Sally MacDonald, the Museum of Science and Industry director.

One of Major Peake’s primary goals on the Principia mission was to run scientific experiments in the weightless laboratory of the ISS. The mission’s name hails from Isaac Newton’s famous physics text, Naturalis Principia Mathematica, in which he describes his law of gravity and three laws of motion.

In December 2016, the UK government announced its commitment and billion euro investment into the UK’s role in future ESA space programme. The ESA also announced in early 2017 that Major Tim Peake will once again fly into space and undertake a second mission, the timing of which is still to be confirmed.

MacDonald adds: “We know our visitors have followed Tim Peake’s adventures closely, and this will be a fantastic opportunity for them to see first-hand the capsule that was part of his important mission.

“Manchester is the home of industry and innovation, and what could be a greater symbol of that than this important piece of the history of space travel?”

You can find out more about the exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry’s website.

Top 10 British Sportswomen of 2017

10.) England Women’s Rugby Union team
The despair of losing a World Cup final is one that will stick with the England squad forever, but the team can take pride in the fact that they forced eventual winners, New Zealand, all the way. Losing the final 32-41 should not detract from the achievement of reaching the event in the first place. The year ended on a high with a 3-0 whitewash over Canada.

9.) Team GB Women’s 4x100m relay team
If you ever need a reminder of the sheer emotion caused by sport, look no further than the final of 4×100 metres relay at the World Championships in London. The quartet of Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith, and Daryll Neita secured a superb silver just 0.3 seconds behind winners USA but that did not stop them dancing in delight in front of a home crowd.

8.) Jodie Taylor 
2017 for English footballer Taylor can be described by one word: goals. Whether it was in the red of Arsenal or the white of England, the 31 year old was never far away from the back of the net. Her goals powered England to the semi-finals of Euro 2017 and Arsenal to third in the FA WSL Spring Series, just one point behind leaders Chelsea and Manchester City.

7.) Bianca Walkden
In her second World Championship, Walkden recreated the feat of her first. Winning gold in the heavyweight category, she defeated American Jackie Galloway to become the second Briton in history to defend a taekwondo world title. The gold was the ninth of her career and she also become the first to win all four Grand Prix events in a single season.

6.) Elinor Barker
Barker’s exceptional 2017 can be attributed to her relentless work ethic. 2017 saw her win eight out of 15 races including a World Championship and she began the year by being awarded an MBE. Studying for an Open University degree and learning sign language shows she is one of a growing number of athletes looking to better themselves outside of their discipline. A role model for all young cyclists.

5.) Johanna Konta
British fans’ hopes of a competitive female tennis player were finally satisfied as Konta reached the semi-final of Wimbledon. She was knocked out by Venus Williams but she became the first British woman to reach this stage since 1978. Konta sparked new life into the future of British women’s tennis and the hope is real for this Australian born Brit to go one step further at 2018’s Championships.

4.) Tammy Beaumont
The safe hands of Beaumont mixed with her appetite for runs made 2017 a year to remember for the Kent player. Her total score of 410 was the highest at the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, a tournament which England won, and she along with Sarah Taylor set the highest 2nd wicket partnership in the history of the tournament. A phenomenal year was capped off by being awarded an MBE.

3.) Hannah Cockroft
The undisputed queen of T34 wheelchair racing, Cockroft became a ten time world champion with three gold medals in the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships. At only 24, she set her sights on the 2019 Championships stating it would be a no-brainer to come back and defend her 100% record. She has also made waves away from the track, highlighting issues such as athletic disability tests and unemployment.

2.) Elise Christie
One day Christie will look back on the 2017 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships as the pinnacle. Winning the world title in the 1000m and 1500m, she became the first British and European woman to win the overall gold in the event’s history. The feat landed her the title of Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year, an experience she described as if she “just won the World Championships again”

1.) Eniola Aluko
During a shameful for year for the FA, Aluko fought tirelessly to ensure justice was done. Whistleblowing on her once manager Mark Sampson caused fractions within the squad but when The Department of Culture, Media and Sport confirmed Sampson had made discriminatory marks, Aluko’s actions were vindicated. For a woman with past achievements such as being the first female Match of the Day presenter, this may be her finest hour.

Where will Alexis Sánchez fit in at United?

One of the most protracted transfer sagas is over as Alexis Sánchez has completed his move to Manchester United. The winger adds some much-needed quality to this United side, and the pace and skill of the player is a dangerous weapon to add to United’s attacking lineup.

Left Winger

LW
The most natural position for Sánchez is on the left wing. He is naturally right footed meaning he can cut in and fire off shots with his stronger foot but his left foot is also good enough to be able to deliver accurate crosses from wide areas. His pace out wide will also put him into one-on-one situations against fullbacks and, given the player’s skill, it is likely he will be able to win the majority of these.

Left Inside Forward

Inside forward
An alternative to the left winger model is to sacrifice the width and play more as a left inside forward. This will create an overload in the centre of the pitch which will cause problems for the defence. They will not know whether to go out to meet Sánchez or to continue marking Romelu Lukaku. If they choose the latter, space will open up for the Chilean to get shots in at goal. This does, however, increase the attacking work of the left fullback.

Lone Striker

Lone Striker
A position Sánchez adopted on occasion during his Arsenal days was that of a lone striker. He has the pace and finishing ability to be a success in this position but this also limits the amount of time he will be on the ball. If Mourinho believes his midfielders are good enough to consistently pick out Sánchez then he could deploy the player in this role but it is more likely he would favour another so that Sánchez has as much ball exposure as possible.

Strike Partner

strike partner
The little and large combination is one rarely seen in modern football especially at an elite level. However, Chelsea’s public search for any English player over the height of 6ft 3 shows the tactic is not entirely extinct. With the aerial prowess of Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimović in the team, Sánchez can operate as the receiver of the knockdown. Running onto the end of headed passes and may give United a sight at goal especially against difficult-to-break-down teams.

Number Ten

n10
If you wanted to maximise the best of Sánchez’s passing ability, the most suitable role would be a number ten. On the other hand, this would limit the use of his most dangerous skill — his finishing. Jesse Lingard has flourished in this role despite being seen as a conventional winger in the past while other wingers such as Raheem Sterling have struggled. If given the chance, time will tell if Sánchez can perform in this role. Given the form Lingard is in, however, it is unlikely Mourinho would drop him.

Formations created using https://www.buildlineup.com

A tale of two teams

The final day of the fifth test can be used as a symbol of England’s fortunes in the Ashes. With day-4 temperatures reaching a record 47.3C, England faced another defeat and an overall 4-0 loss in the series. Test captain Joe Root was not present at the start of play due to a bout of severe dehydration that left him hospitalised and although he eventually returned, he was forced to retire ill. His side succumbed to Australia’s bowlers and finished the match 123 runs behind the hosts having played an innings more.

The series was a brutal one for England. Bereft of any encouragement, players were forced to rely on the hope that “we were better than the scoreline suggests” but the reality is Australia were a class apart. Steve Smith comfortably batted away any chances of an England win and the final ball of the series brought questions of the future of English cricket.

The mood of the nation was understandably low but the adventure down under was not over just yet. England and Australia would come together to compete in a five-match ODI series. Joe Root was one of few test players to make the ODI squad but he was liberated from the captaincy, as long-standing ODI captain Eoin Morgan took control.

For fans used to waking up and checking their phones to see yet another English collapse, the morning after the ODI was a welcome relief. Headlines of “Mitchell Starc takes four wickets as England fall to another defeat” were replaced with “Jason Roy hits record-breaking 180 as England win the first ODI”. An opening win was the perfect antidote to the Ashes hangover and a convincing one at that.

The second ODI was another English win. Aaron Finch was the only Aussie to score highly and Joe Root took two wickets to give England a 2-0 win in the series. A fantastic batting performance from Jos Butler saw England win the series in the third match and, at the time of writing, they have the chance to complete the 5-0 whitewash.

The disparity between the test and ODI side could not be bigger at the moment. The ODI squad is full of young, in-form talent while the test side is plagued with senior players living on past glories. Stuart Broad and Alistair Cook were largely anonymous aside from the occasional good day and James Anderson was the only senior player to be consistently good throughout the series. Meanwhile, the less said about Moeen Ali’s performances, the better.

It’s not as if the young talent made the most of their chances either. Jake Ball, James Vince, and Gary Balance failed to impress and although Tom Curran and Mason Crane looked bright, it was not enough for test fans to be overly optimistic.

Perhaps it is time to give the ODI squad a chance at test level again? While Morgan has made no secret of his belief his test days are over, players like Roy deserve a second chance if their stellar ODI form continues.

The next challenge for the test side is a four-match series against New Zealand. The first two matches will be played in New Zealand before the England squad return to home soil at Lord’s and Headingley respectively. This could be the chance for a freshen up of the squad. Preparation must begin now for the 2019 Ashes Series because, although it is on home soil, Australia looked good enough in the series gone to mount a serious challenge for the urn.

My experience with Greater Manchester Police

On Wednesday, December 13th, eight of my nine housemates and I left our Withington home just before 8pm. In the final days before the Christmas holidays, we wanted to take one of our last chances to raise a glass together and celebrate the end of a long and demanding semester.

Although Withington high street is not replete with Manchester’s hottest nightlife venues, we had tracked down a quiz at local bar Solomon’s. Despite our best efforts, we were bested in the final rounds — but unbeknownst to us at the time, our evening’s losses were about to get much, much worse.

About an hour later, at a friend’s house, my phone started buzzing – rarely a good sign when it happens so late. My housemate told me frantically down the line: “We’ve been burgled. Most of the guys have had their laptops stolen”.

Whilst we had been out, at least one burglar had climbed over our back wall, smashed the glass back door, reached through and opened it. Tracking mud and footprints through the house, they had gone into every open room and pinched everything of value they could find.

What the intruders didn’t know was that one of my housemates had actually been home at the time — watching football in his room at the top of the house. As they reached the second floor, they nudged open his door, and without properly looking, he had called out: “Yeah?” Suddenly finding that they were not alone, the perpetrators fled, down two flights and out the front door with their pilfered loot.

None the wiser, he continued watching as his side eased to victory. It was only later, when he came downstairs, that he realised how close he had come to encountering a dangerous, possibly armed criminal face to face in his own home.

None of us are sure how long the burglar or burglars were inside, but they had managed to swipe six laptops, a purse, a passport, an iPad, and some of the girls’ jewellery. Interestingly, after unwrapping it, they had neglected to take the vinyl player we had bought for an upcoming birthday in the house.

Reaching for a stress-relieving tipple, another of us noticed that in addition to his laptop and passport, the thieves had also pilfered his bottle of knock-off Baileys and a bottle of wine. Only four rooms were left untouched — two of which had been locked, and the two other top-floor rooms, which had been unwittingly protected by my unsuspecting friend.

I rushed home to find my housemates huddled together on the stairs, comforting each other and joking around — making the best of a bad situation. Whilst there was a warm sense of camaraderie it was clear that some of them were quite shaken up.

Although everyone was clearly safe and unhurt, the first question I asked was whether the police had been called. Yes, one of us had called at around 10.30pm when he realised what had happened. Someone had also called our landlady, who had been distraught to hear our news — she had already sent a handyman who had come and boarded up our back door within an hour.

As the time approached 12.30am, we began to wonder whether a police officer would ever turn up. “I might become a burglar if this is the sort of response time the police are working with”, someone joked. About two hours after the original call, I phoned the GMP non-emergency number to inquire. I was told that someone should have been sent by now, along with a forensics officer, and that they would be along shortly. I gave her my number and she told me that I would receive a call.

Another hour passed – my phone remained still and silent in my pocket. Our doorbell also remained worryingly untouched. The time ticked past 1.30. I decided to call back, this time slightly more indignantly. It was only then, three hours after our original call, that we were told nobody would be coming to the house until morning.

In a tone that suggested I was irritating her, the woman on the line told me that our house was secure, we weren’t in danger and that there were “more important things for the police to be doing.” I pointed out that no one had assured the police of our safety and that, in fact, we had not even been asked what had been stolen or if the thieves had left any evidence.

Begrudgingly, she informed me someone would visit in the morning. We all retired to bed just before 2am, the smashed glass and muddy footprints of the burglars who had invaded our house still decorating the floor. But for the kindness and initiative of our landlady, we would still have had a gaping hole in our back door.

By late morning on Thursday December 14th, I had still not received a call from the police. Again taking matters into our own hands, one of my other housemates made two further calls to GMP. At last, they admitted they wouldn’t be able to send anyone to our house as we were part of a long ‘waiting list’.

It didn’t matter, apparently; according to the police, the burglars were “probably wearing gloves”, and their capture was therefore out of the question. We were told we could clear up after them — not that we had ever been told to preserve any evidence.

Perhaps the most galling injustice came when a Whatsapp message from our house group pinged into my inbox later that day. It was a screenshot of a tweet that GMP Fallowfield had shared the previous evening: “Extra officers out patrolling Fallowfield & Withington overnight on #studentsafe operation. If you see anything suspicious please call us straight away.”

 

 

Burglaries in South Manchester are not uncommon — and, realistically, none of us really expected the police to be able to track down the perpetrators who had ransacked our home — we are all aware of the budgetary constraints from which GMP suffers. All we wanted was the reassurance of the police, some instructions on what to do next, and the comfort to know that we were safe. It speaks volumes that our landlady was able to offer better and more prompt support than our government’s tax-funded officers of the law.

It is a great shame that recent action on student safety in South Manchester has, as yet, amounted to nothing. A petition presented to Andy Burnham with over 9500 signatories as well as measures from the Student’s Union so far seem ineffectual. And worse this incident, alongside others like it, not only highlights the desperate lack of funding resources available to GMP.

At the same time, it calls into question their duty of care towards students. Was this Tweet an expression of a genuine commitment to improving crime conditions in Fallowfield and Withington, or a mere PR stunt, as students are left to fend for themselves?

Review: John Stezaker’s Still Life

Conceptual artist John Stezaker has arrived at the Whitworth, showcasing work that challenges the assumed conventions of photography and aesthetic sensibility.

The exhibition is a combination of 19 pieces gifted by Karsten Schubert to the Whitworth, as well as the presentation of three more collages by the artist himself.

The focus of this exhibition is a collection of studio portraits, actors’ head-shots, postcards, and book illustrations. Combined, this collection unsettles the context of the original photograph.

By splicing dissimilar imagery and weaving them together, these collages communicate a mood of distortion and evolution.

In the space provided by the Whitworth, a sense of interruption was certainly felt. With nothing decorating the walls and the space, save the portraits themselves, it crystallised this pause.

The act of taking a photograph preserves a piece of time within an image, and this was communicated in the exhibition room — time felt as though it was on hold.

Though it initially appears to be a random collision of imagery, Stezaker’s work is incredibly precise — there is method in his madness. Each collage is linked, starting with the original image and through to the secondary image.

These collages force the pictures to evolve in conjunction with each other, as Stezaker’s use of them imbues them with a new life and purpose.

By organising the imagery in this manner he creates a sense of renewal within the frame, a studio headshot being innovated from its original purpose.

This theme of renewal is most evident in images such as Mask XII (2005) that features a landscape picture of a bridge paved across an actors’ headshot.

The positioning is purposeful, the two arches within the bridge resemble that of the eyes when combined with the man’s face underneath. The image of the actor becomes useful when combined with the landscape of the bridge and vice versa.

Stezaker’s work also contains an element of mischief. By crafting imagery in this manner his work misleads the viewer’s brain as it scrambles to find a face within a faceless image and familiarity in an unfamiliar image.

This challenge to the viewers’ brain, to find a pattern in something alien and unrecognisable, creates a communication between the artist and the viewer through the medium of his creation.

In an article in The Guardian, Stezaker commented on the unnerving nature of cutting through a photograph — likening it to cutting through flesh, and perhaps that is why his work is so surreal but so enrapturing.

The viewer is hooked by the interesting and unusual image that contradicts the assumed rules of a photograph. But this is refreshing as it serves to challenge the viewer, forcing them to analyse and understand Stezaker’s work.

John Stezaker Photo: Eleanor Forrest
John Stezaker. Photo: Eleanor Forrest
John Stezaker Photo: Eleanor Forrest
John Stezaker. Photo: Eleanor Forrest

Interview: The Amazons

The Amazons are undoubtedly one of last year’s biggest success stories in the world of breaking British rock bands.

Their self-titled debut album smashed into the album charts at #8 when it was released in the summer, and it also landed two places higher on the vinyl album chart.

They made a triumphant return to their hometown festival Reading when they played to a packed Festival Republic Stage, while their autumn headline tour was entirely sold-out in advance.

The foundations for their success were set long before the year started. A Music Week survey demonstrated they were the most hotly-tipped guitar band of 2017, and now, at the start of 2018, they are about to embark on another UK tour.

Matt Thomson, singer and guitarist for the Reading band, took some time out to chat with us about the upcoming tour and where the band go from here.

How did you all deal with the madness of the last year?

Badly. We’ve had sunglasses stuck on our faces for the last 4 months. Going to the cinema, showering, driving at night: makes no difference.

You played a lot of gigs and festivals — what was your favourite show of last year?

Toss up between Fuji Rock Festival in Japan and our headline show at Kentish Town Forum in London.

How important is it for you to celebrate being from Reading?

At the beginning, when we’re introducing our music to the world, it’s really important. It’s part of our identity and we’d be fools not to acknowledge that.

In celebrating where we’re from, however unglamorous, it is has helped us connect with our fans from around the world who come from a small, slightly dead-end town. We just wanted to show you don’t need to be from one of the major cities to achieve something.

Was the album’s reception what you expected?

No. We have to admit it exceeded all expectations. For a rock band releasing a debut record in 2017, a top 10 chart position wasn’t really on the radar. I think we under-estimated the appetite for this kind of music.

So, you’re back on tour this February, are you excited to be getting back on the road?

Hugely. Our UK Tour in October last year was incredible and we learnt a lot. It’s going to be great to hit the road again.

What will the new tour bring?

We’re in the process of working out how long a bass solo we can get away with. It certainly won’t be a note for note recital of the record. We like to keep the audience on their toes.

Can we expect some new music soon?

We’ve been working on a lot of new material recently, so maybe…

Will another album be a while off? And how do you think it will compare to the debut?

Not sure. All we know is that unless we put together a record we love and would fight to the death defending, nothing is coming out.

Who is your biggest musical influence?

Influences change and morph all the time. It’s about being open to anything and everything, you never know what’s gonna cause the spark.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Joni Mitchel’s ‘Blue’.

You can catch The Amazons on Saturday 3rd February at Albert Hall.

A look at Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Back in 2006, Animal Crossing: Wild World was released — the first time I devoted an unhealthy amount of hours to a video game. I promised my nine year old self that I would never again fall into the trap. And look where I am now. Then in 2012, when Animal Crossing: New Leaf was released, I promised myself that I wouldn’t spend more hours playing than revising for my GCSEs. And look where I am now.

On the 22nd of November 2017, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was released. A follow up to New Leaf’s update last year, which was to include a campground within their game, and at first I was excited for this game.

Like the majority of previous Animal Crossing releases, you start the game by creating your character and finding out that you’re in charge of something — in this case a campsite — where your task is to try to get as many visitors as you can by befriending them with gifts of fruit, fish, bugs, and sofas — the usual stuff.

photo: Nintendo
photo: Nintendo

From this point on, you are constantly levelling up, trying to finish your goals in order to receive crafting items, trying to level up your tents, and fulfilling all the typical tasks you would expect in a free-to-play mobile game such as this. A formula found in abundance across the mobile market, most notably in games like Clash of Clans and Pokemon Go.

In the past, such games that lack a narrative like this and expect you to carry out the same tasks everyday would bother me, but then I found my nine-year-old self saying “Keep tapping the sea!” or “No, you are enjoying this!”

Whilst I was enthusiastic about this game at the start, I was aware of some problems. For starters, I opened the app to collect my daily rewards, and then checked the map to see what items I needed to collect for each animal. After helping one of the animals enough to reach a high level with them, you can’t just ask them to visit the camp. No, no, that’s not how it works. You need to craft at least four different furniture items for them to even agree to move in.

photo:Nintendo
photo: Nintendo

Then after a week I just stopped playing. Full stop. You find yourself stuck in a cycle, doing the same tasks every time you open up the game.

This is exactly what I expected, but I was still disappointed to find Animal Crossing — a game developed by 2017’s good guys, Nintendo — still reliant on a decade old model that uses tedium and repetition to encourage you into making in-app purchases to alleviate the boredom.

Whilst you can argue that the Animal Crossing series has always been about repeating the same tasks daily, it feels all too familiar in a market saturated with such games. Whenever I try to look in the mobile market for a game that I can commit to in my free time, I am greatly disappointed by the saturation of microtransactions.

At this stage my enjoyment of mobile gaming is slowly declining, and with the Harry Potter Mobile RPG being released in Spring 2018, I am not as excited as I should be, especially given the confirmed inclusion of in-app purchases.

I find myself asking the question of whether I’ve grown tired of this mobile gaming model, or whether playing this childhood favourite as an adult has shattered my nostalgia, making me realise how monotonous it has always been. Or perhaps it is the abundance of such practices in mobile gaming that has helped me realise this monotony. It may just be all these points combined. It certainly seems that way.

Student burglary victim feels sidelined

Students do not feel safe in South Manchester and not enough is being done to support them.

That’s the view of University of Manchester student Henry Carey-Morgan, who was the victim of a burglary.

The 22 year old was sat with a friend in the living room of his property on Kingswood Road, Fallowfield when a brick was thrown through his bedroom window, which had blinds that were closed at the time, and his laptop was then taken from the bedroom.

The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police at 12:30 AM on the 15th of January and the student was told that an officer would be along shortly but was called three hours later to say that no-one was available.

Henry said: “I received an apologetic call saying that no one was available and would I prefer to wait up or see someone in the morning. I had an exam that day so I went with morning and was told an officer would come by between 7 and 8 AM but no-one arrived and I didn’t get another phone call.

“Then at half three in the afternoon [of the 15th], I got a text message saying my case had been filed in the event further evidence should come to light.

“I understand it’s not an emergency and that the police are busy but the thousands of students who live in Fallowfield are part of this community too and we deserve to be treated as such.

“It’s a sad state of affairs when the people who are meant to protect us don’t even bother to show up. ”

The Physics with Philosophy student said that the police were helpful on the phone and felt the problem could lie more with a lack of available resources to the police.

On the 16th of January 2018, MP for Manchester Gorton, Afzal Khan, spoke about the issue of police funding in Parliament and said:

“Greater Manchester police has faced eight years of real-terms cuts and has lost 2,000 officers. Week after week, constituents come to my surgery in deep distress over antisocial behaviour, muggings and burglaries to which the police cannot attend. As a former police officer myself, I know that they are doing the best that they can.”

In response, Conservative MP Liz Truss said that the government “have given police authorities the power to raise additional precept to be able to deal with those issues,” adding that “it is a decision for Greater Manchester police.”

Based on his experience, Henry did question whether or not students’ concerned were always taken seriously by police.

The third-year student said “It feels like students, perhaps because individually we are temporary in Manchester we are slightly sidelined.

“There’s almost no police presence in Fallowfield and although my incident wasn’t lethal there have been other occasions of students being threatened with knives.”

A petition started in 2017 titled ‘Greater Manchester Police & Andy Burnham: Help us to make Fallowfield safe for students!’ received almost 10,000 signatures.

In response to student safety concerns, the University of Manchester Students’ Union proposed a ‘Night Owl‘ scheme where student volunteers would be trained in first aid, safeguarding, well-being training, and self-defence to safeguard vulnerable people.

This was due to launch in January of 2018 but is currently under review following initial criticism of the scheme.

Commenting on the ‘Night Owl’ proposals, Henry Carey-Morgan said: “It is a substitute for more police, which is obviously not ideal, but if the GMP’s resources really are spread that thin and they simply can’t afford to have more officers in Fallowfield then it’s either schemes like this or nothing.

“I think it’s a good idea if it’s taken seriously, it will increase the general presence on the street aiding the lack of resources issue and also create stronger ties between students and the GMP.”

Greater Manchester Police was contacted for comment on the burglary and the support they give to students in relation to safety but did not provide a comment.

Anyone with any details in relation to the burglary can contact police on 101, quoting 0037 on the 15th of January.

Interview: Riton

Q: I’m Qasim Akhtar. I’m backstage at Warehouse Project, at the Albert Hall… with Riton.

R: Waddup.

Q: What sort of music genre would you define your music at?

R: I come from classic house — sort of early 80s to like 90s house stuff. That’s why I like bass. Then I’m adding what I have to offer on top of it, like, I find a lot of vocalists. I work with a lot of people from Lagos and Nigeria. It’s like good old-fashioned house with some good melodies.

Q: Are there any other influences on your music?

R: I like any Dance through to Disco. Anything electronic. Even Electronica like Kraftwerk. I work on proper old machines, like 70’s analogue machines. That’s how I make all the sounds.

Q: What sort of equipment do you use on stage?

R: When I’m Djing I just use the CDJ’s. I play all of my own tracks. At home, I have Roland’s like 909, 808. All these old drum machines.

Q: Do you ever use vinyl?

R: No. I used to. Back in the day, I used to work in a record shop so I have a massive record collection, but I go digital now. Records don’t sound as good as CDs anymore. You can’t DJ them out as loud.

Q: Before you started Djing as a full-time job, what did you do?

R: I was always doing music but I wasn’t as well known as I am now. I was on the underground, I had a good living, doing good parties, smaller stuff, but still good. I’d do a couple of gigs a weekend and make music. I did that for twenty years before I had a hit, but I wasn’t trying to have a hit. ‘Rinse And Repeat’ was the first hit. But up until then, I was just making underground stuff, all sorts of styles. I was making DJ music you know?

Q: Nightlife is generally dying around the country, you know the whole Fabric situation, but why is it you think Manchester has still managed to stay so diverse? Warehouse Project wouldn’t really exist in any other city than Manchester…

R: I used to live here — I used to work in a record shop and know that there is a love for music here. A good, deep, proper love for music. You have a very good team that makes these parties happen. They have good taste and basically give the people what they want in a big way and they’ve been doing this for ten years. I actually did a mix CD for the first year of warehouse project for them so I’ve known these guys for years.

Q: Is Manchester one of your favourite places to play?

R: Yeah, in the UK it’s like Glasgow and Manchester and London are the best crowds.

Q: What makes Glasgow and London special?

R: Just the people, the music. You know there’s enough people in the city and enough people who will be into that sound so we can always have a good party.

Q: What draws students to the Warehouse Project?

R: It’s just that time of your life. You’re a student, you’re into music more. The more students there are, the better.

Q: What DJ would you like to back to back with?

R: I’m gonna give a shout out to my old partner DJ Mehdi who passed away a few years ago. He was my favourite partner to ever DJ with. Me and him used to have this crew called Carte Blanche and we were making tunes together. He was the best DJ to work with for sure. He was the best DJ in the world.

Q: As a DJ, what do you think is the most important skill? Dillon Francis said in an interview that it’s reading a crowd. Do you think that’s true?

R: Yeah. It just depends [on] what you want to get out of it. Either you want to say something or you want to entertain. You can sort of do a bit of both and its finding that balance where you’re yourself but not a sellout. You’ve got to satisfy everyone but you’ve also go to be your own person. Do your own thing and also know what you do best.

Q: In terms of your new music. Is there a certain direction you’re going with?

R: I’m keeping to what I do really. I just work on something until I love it. When I feel it in my stomach and my heart that’s when its time to put it out. I trust myself you know?

Q: Who were your inspirations when you were growing up?

R: There’s been so many all the way through the years. I’ve been making music for 25 years so it’s a thousand different people. Todd Terry, Carl Craig, all these old school house guys from the US that’s like when you grow up on something, you’ll always love it the most.

Q: Finally what is your all-time favourite city to play in?

R: Obviously Manchester’s top ten of all time. For me Paris is good — that’s just where I always play. I’ve played hundreds of places there. France is a really big place for me.

 

Bluedot Festival announce line-up

Bluedot festival have announced their 2018 line-up, with The Chemical Brothers, The Flaming Lips and Future Islands all headlining this year. The festival will take place from 19th-22nd July at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire.

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Photo: Zeitgeist

Bluedot describes itself as “an award-winning festival of discovery at the grounds of a deep space observatory”. Set against a backdrop of the iconic Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, the festival combines an all-star line-up with a programme of live science experiments, expert talks and art exhibitions.

Joining the headliners are Public Service Broadcasting, Gary Numan and Little Dragon plus talks from leading scientists and thinkers.

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Photo: Zeitgeist

The stand-out feature of the weekend is sure to be Blue Planet in concert with the Halle, with the purchase of an additional Thursday ticket.

It’s not all music and science though – a killer comedy line-up also graces the festival, with the likes of Gary Delaney and David O’Doherty taking to the stage. There will be film screenings, exciting food and drink as well as family encounters…surely something for everyone?

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Photo: Zeitgeist

With Pixies, Orbital and Alt-J having already made their mark on the festival, Bluedot is sure to be bigger and better this year, offering something alternative to the classic UK festival.

Tickets are available now from the Bluedot website.

New Year, new Céline

Despite an incredibly strong Paris Fashion Week, it seems it was the politics behind fashion houses that took centre stage. The news that Kim Jones was to leave his exceptionally successful post as Artistic Director at Men’s Louis Vuitton shook the circuit before his final collection.

If this wasn’t dramatic enough, the news that Hedi Slimane was to replace Phoebe Philo at Céline, being appointed to Artistic, Creative, and Image Director sent social media into overdrive. This move signifies the ever-present comercial demands of the fashion industry, and leaves us asking questions as to where this leaves the value of the aesthetic and creative expression.

Since rumours of Philo’s departure from the Parisian house surfaced at the beginning of last year, her legacy has been continuously reflected upon. Philo can be accredited with transforming Céline, the house founded by a woman (Céline Vipiana) into the ultimate label of chic femininity, overhauling a struggling, stagnant brand to one with an iconic sophisticated aesthetic, boosting sales from €200million to €700million a year.

Philo has redefined how women dress for a generation, championing elegance and style to transcend trend. Her work boasts intelligent femininity, and champions the idea of a ‘uniform’ by creating key staples that can be worn for a lifetime. Her work at Céline has transformed the house into an icon of the woman-power era, bringing an empowering style against the grain of skinny jeans and sexy mini dresses, favouring oversized, fluid pieces, outerwear and neutral palettes alongside architectural leather accessories.

Céline is a brand designed by women, for women, with Philo reflecting that, “I have no problem with a woman wearing anything as long as she has chosen to wear it for herself.” It is this authenticity which is much coveted by customers. In a world of see-now, buy-now and e-commerce, Céline’s non-conformist restraint to stick to tradition, mirrors Philo’s personality, being notoriously private about her life away from fashion. Thus, Céline’s transformation blooms out of the integrity of Philo herself, and her no-nonsense attitude has cultivated an IT brand founded upon integrity and timeless glamour.

Thus, the news that Hedi Slimane is to take total control of the feminist Parisian house — tasked with introducing Menswear, fragrance, and couture — inevitably came as a shock across social media. The central concern is how a dark androgynous, celebrated menswear designer is able to continue the true feminine aesthetic of the Céline woman.

Slimane came to critical acclaim as a menswear designer following his celebrated stint at Dior Homme until 2007, where his iconic skinny suits boasted his signature dark, and rock and roll aesthetic. Yet, it is Slimane’s last stint at Saint Laurent, most notoriously rebranding to drop the ‘Yves’ from the house name, which established him as one of fashion’s most celebrated and profitable designers.

Slimane wholly reinvented Saint Laurent to become an edgy, L.A.-inspired brand, focusing on a much younger millennial customer. This transformation paid off, transforming YSL from a modest house to become one of the most lucrative cash cows of its parent company Kering’s luxury catalogue. In February 2015, Kering announced that Saint Laurent had doubled its business since Slimane’s hiring three years earlier, taking annual revenues in the region of $600 million.

Yet, despite his undeniable commercial success, the controversy following his move to Céline signifies the unusual pairing. His skinny, typically non-diverse, and young ‘cool’ aesthetic seems entirely opposite to the inclusive, modern and authentic femininity championed by Philo, and many are concerned about how Slimane will interpret and honour the house’s legacy to work with his seemingly opposed conception of femininity.

Yet, perhaps we should consider this move for what it is, a wholly commercial move rather than a solely aesthetical one. Slimane’s posting at Céline is of great commercial significance, as the luxury LVMH conglomerate group reclaim Slimane following his success for their rivals at Kering. LVMH is hoping to cash in on Slimane’s non-disputable commercial appeal, hoping to boost Celine’s revenues exponentially to establish the house as a billion-dollar brand.

LVMH Chairman Aranult expressed, “I have been a great admirer of his work since we collaborated on Dior Homme, which he launched to global acclaim in the 2000s. His arrival at Céline reinforces the great ambitions that LVMH has for this maison.”

In the increasingly competitive luxury market, where the Kering Group is thriving from ownership of the booming ‘it’ brands of Gucci, Balenciaga and YSL, a ramp in commercial success for the LVMH group is key. Slimane’s typically controversial aesthetic being incorporated into the ‘grown-up’ fashion house of Céline is set to be interesting, and no matter what the critical response, will be guaranteed to be profitable.

Profile: Clare Waight Keller

When it was announced that Clare Waight Keller would be stepping down from Chloé in order to take over from Riccardo Tisci as Creative Director of Givenchy in March 2017, it was questioned whether or not her style: femininity wrapped in gauzy sunlit-dappled 1970s nostalgia, would fit with the darkly sensual gothic edge that Givenchy has been known for under Tisci’s direction since 2005.

How could these two very different approaches to femininity be bridged, or would Keller take Givenchy in a completely new direction, and abandon the grime and lust for something more whimsical? These were the questions that surrounded Keller’s first collection for Givenchy in October 2017, and in all honesty, they weren’t entirely answered.

The first collection in a lot of ways looked and felt like an extension of her work at Chloé, if Bohemia landed an office job. The colour palette of white, navy and black was clean and professional, but splashes of vibrant red in the makeup and accessories elevated the entire collection, injecting some of the light-hearted, easy feminine charm that Keller is known for. The styling of the models and the classical French shape and design of the separates and dresses was a lovely nod to Givenchy’s founder, Hubert de Givenchy, which surely helped to assure sceptics that Keller was the right (if not unusual) choice for the job.

The move away from Tisci’s punk glamour which had become a mainstay in Ginvenchy’s branding is interesting. Keller has replaced the hyper-masculine, aggressively cool rottweiler that had become an unofficial mascot for Tisci in his designs with cats. It’s a subtler, softer approach and one that works incredibly well with the image that Tisci created over his tenure as Creative Director. In Keller’s own words, “I love the idea of a woman with a feline air… They’re seductive.” In another nod to Givenchy’s founder,  not only were the slender, classical French silhouettes reminiscent of his designs, but the cats were a reference to a pattern created by de Givenchy himself in the 1950s.

It’s this idea of feline seduction; strength and stoicism wrapped up in softness and grace that might make sense of Keller’s vision for Givenchy. Almost a year after her appointment as Creative Director, Keller first editorial campaign for the spring/summer 2018 collection has just been released and offers potential insight into where she plans on taking the French fashion house. Shot by Steven Meisel in an uptown New York apartment, the vibe is very cool and very chic. The models are photographed in black and white, looking directly at the camera whilst the accessories take centre stage in full colour. Keller has stated that she wanted to “play with that modern attitude and expression because I feel like it’s an apt metaphor for Givenchy’s current evolution.”

Interestingly, there is still something very easy-going about Keller’s approach, and there’s still definitely a pull towards the 1970s nostalgia that she explored with Chloé, however, with Givenchy there is altogether a sleeker, more youthful edge.

My Future Fest returns to help students plan careers

An upcoming event will help students plan their careers and post-University life.

On 6th February, University Place will be transformed into a haven of new opportunity as part of the event My Future Fest.

Numerous work experience placements and internships will be on offer, as well as volunteering projects and chances to travel abroad. Organisations such as National Citizen Service (NCS) and Camp America will be attending.

Tammy Goldfeld, Manchester University’s Head of Careers, said: “no matter what your degree subject or year of study is, My Future Fest has something for you. In one fun event, you can find out about exciting opportunities, such as summer internships and volunteering, both in the UK and abroad. Lots of careers staff will also be on hand to talk to finalists about graduate jobs and further study options after graduation.”

While maintaining a focus on careers, with the availability of advice on CV writing and handling job interviews, the event is designed to give University of Manchester students an insight into the wide range of opportunities available this semester.

There is also the chance to become increasingly involved in exclusive University programmes, such as the Manchester Leadership Award, that can be completed through taking up one of the many volunteering options that will be on show.

The focus of the day will also expand to help students engaged with key skills to integrate into and aid their existing studies — providing a universal set of options to help the organisation of your degree and future work aspirations.

Whether you’re looking for a route into a certain career path in the long-term or looking for ways to add to your CV while still in full time education, or even just some casual advice, the event aims to offer something for everyone.

With no advance registration required, students should head down to University Place between 10:30am and 4:30pm on the 6th of February to get involved.

Recipe: Chicken Ramen

Ingredients

·         1 chicken breast

·         3 tbsp dark soy sauce

·         3 tbsp each of grated fresh ginger and finely chopped garlic

·         1 tsp Chinese five spice

·         ½ tbsp runny honey

·         Zest of 1 lime

·         1 pack of egg noodles, cooked as per packet instructions

·         1 lemongrass stalk

·         1 red chilli

·         ½ red onion finely sliced

·         1 spring onion

·         Vegetables of choice, for example broccoli, sugarsnaps, bok choi and beansprouts

·         1 small bunch of fresh coriander with the leaves picked off and the stalks finely chopped

·         Juice of 1 lime

·         2 tbsp sriracha sauce

Method

1.       Begin by finely slicing the chicken breast. Add 1 tbsp each of the fresh ginger and garlic, 1 tbsp of the soy sauce, the five spice, the honey and the zest of the lime into a bowl. Add the chicken to this mixture and leave to marinate for at least one hour.

2.       Preheat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, chilli, spring onion, lemongrass, coriander stalks, and the remaining garlic and ginger and fry for 5 minutes, or until the onion and spring onion begin to soften.

3.       Add the vegetables to this mixture, along with the remaining soy sauce. Fry these for approximately 2 minutes.

4.       At this stage turn the heat up to high and, once the pan has begun to heat up, add the chicken pieces. Brown the chicken pieces on each side, but only until they are white instead of pink. It is important at this stage to not overcook the chicken pieces so do this for approximately 3 minutes only.

5.       Add the stock to the pan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and, once simmering, add the noodles. Cook this mixture for approximately 3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are cooked but maintain a crunch.

6.       Serve into a bowl and garnish with the chilli sauce, the juice of the lime and the coriander leaves.

Carillion collapse puts Fallowfield Campus development at risk

Work has been paused on Carillion construction sites across the country following the company’s collapse on the 15th of January.

The second largest construction company in the UK went into liquidation after it struggled to cope with £1.5bn worth of debt. With Carillion employing 43,000 staff around the world, the collapse puts thousands of jobs at risk.

Carillion is responsible for a wide range of projects across the UK, and is currently the contractor in charge of the campus development on the university’s Fallowfield site.

The plan involves a three-phase project taking place between April 2017 and June 2023, and hope to see 3,000 new student accommodation units built. The plans also involve the demolition of Oak House and the Owens Park Tower to make room for more modern living spaces.

The first phase of the project is due to finish in the summer of 2019. It is unclear whether Carillion’s collapse will affect these developments but it is expected to at least cause delays for the project.

When contacted for comment on the affect Carillion’s collapse will have on this project, a University of Manchester spokesperson told The Mancunion: “We can confirm that Carillion is the principal contractor on our Fallowfield student development. At this stage we are considering our options and have no further comment to make.”

Carillion declined to comment.

Manchester student wins nationwide triathlon scholarship

“I didn’t think I would get it at all, I knew there’d be a lot of strong athletes going for it. I was pretty shocked to be honest.” For Laura Rose Smith, a dental student at the University of Manchester, it was more an application of hope rather than expectation. “I follow Yellow Jersey on Instagram and social media and it was all over Facebook and Instagram and I was like ‘ooh, I’ll have a look what that entails.’ Read it and thought I might as well apply, it’s a really good opportunity.”

The scholarship aims to encourage more students to both take up and keep up triathlon, as research shows a significant  number of competitors drop off at University level. The judging panel, comprised of professionals and business heads from the triathlon world, were looking for a student who could demonstrate how they would increase participation among their peers and community, as well as someone who is passionate about the sport.

That student was Laura. “They wanted someone who would take friends with them and get over people involved. I’ve done a lot of stuff for the cycling brand Liv. I was a Liv ambassador, promoting and getting women in sport. I set up a triathlon club at David Lloyd. Getting newbies involved. I’ve set up my own coaching business with my partner. They said they liked the entrepreneur side of things and the fact I was so passionate about not only my training but getting other people into it.”

Laura is studying dentistry at the University but began her higher education in Birmingham and it was here that a love of triathlon matured. “I was a runner since a really young age. My dad was a middle distance runner so I followed suit. The interest [in triathlon] arose watching the London Olympics.

“My mum was like ‘you should give that a go’ and I was like ‘there’s just no way I can swim for that long at all.’ I couldn’t believe how quickly they were getting their shoes on and off! How the hell do they do that? That got put to bed for a couple of years but there was always a little bit in the back of my head that was like ‘oh, I do want to give it a go’. Then I started uni at Birmingham in 2014 and they’ve got a really established tri-club and I thought ‘you know what, give it a go. University, prime time, try something new.’”

While the first session was understandably a little daunting, Laura said the welcome she received encouraged her to continue. “I went to the first swim session, I felt like I was drowning the entire time to be honest but I really loved it. The nice thing about triathlon is it just attracts people from elite to complete novice. There were people that couldn’t even swim at the training and then people that were competing at an elite level. Everyone was so friendly that I was like ‘you know what I will see what the run and bike sessions are and I’ll sign myself up’. It started from there and didn’t stop really.”

The love of the sport developed into an interest in coaching and in November of last year, Laura along with her partner Luke Pollard started their own coaching business, Rocket Coaching. “I set up a tri-club in David Lloyds and while I was in Birmingham, I worked there part time while I was studying for my first degree. It was a real success and I made real strong bonds with the athletes.

It was really sad when I left actually, I was getting a lot of messages. My parents are part of the tri-club so I was getting feedback from them like ‘people are missing you.’ Me and my partner thought ‘you know what, we kind of have a clue what we’re doing. Why don’t we set something up?’”

Laura’s work around the sport is what impressed the judges and it is something she hopes to expand on in 2018. “Part of the scholarship is they want me to get students involved. Especially as Manchester doesn’t have a tri-club maybe try and set one up. I’m going to be trying to do that other the next year so anyone that is interested or fancies trying it out. You can enter beginner aquathlons and duathlons which are run and swim or bike and run, just to give you a taste of it. Get in contact with me. Even if you’re a runner, it’s really good cross-training. They all crossover.”

The balance of university and triathlon can be difficult but Laura believes it is worth it. “I think my day starts and finishes just a little before everyone else (laughs). I swim with City so their training sessions are at quarter to six in the morning so it’s in the pool at quarter to six which means a 5AM wake up which is always nice. Then uni in the day and then I usually try and fit something in when I’ve finished uni. Try and work it best I can, just juggling things around really.”

Laura’s aim is to become a dentist but she hopes triathlon remains a big part of her life. “I do want to be a dentist. I think triathlon will hopefully always follow me. I would still like to do it at a fairly competitive level when I’ve qualified. Keep the coaching business ticking over as it’s something I do enjoy.”

In terms of 2018 goals: “for the past two years, I’ve come fourth at the British Triathlon Champs so it’d be really, really nice to squeeze on that podium. It’s very annoying fourth place so I definitely want to tick that one off this year. I’d like to be selected for the U23 Elite Great Britain Team for the World or European Duathlon Champs, that would be pretty good because it’s my last year of being U23s. So it would be nice to finish that on a high. I think Europeans are in Ibiza so it’d be quite a nice post-race celebration after. Finally, a podium at the Elite British Duathlon Champs.

“A non-performance goal would be maybe set something up at Manchester. Just increase the participant level as much as I can. It’s a great sport and it’s brought so much to me, it would be great to see something develop in Manchester.”

If you want to get involved with triathlon at university, Laura has given The Mancunion her contact details and asks anyone to get in touch whether you’re a complete novice or an established runner.

  • Facebook: LauraRoseSmithy
  • Twitter: @Iaurarosesmith
  • Instrgam: iaurarosesmith
  • Website: http://laurarosesmith.co.uk

Album Review: Camila – Camila Cabello

Leaving American girl-group Fifth Harmony in December 2016, Camila Cabello shows she is more than capable of going alone with her honest, heart-wrenching debut album.

The 20-year-old has taken the world by storm in 2017, ending with #1 hit ‘Havana’ (oh na na) under her belt, as well as being the most listened to female artist on Spotify, and #2 most listened to artist after Ed Sheeran with 43 million listeners. Which is pretty impressive considering she only released her album in January this year.

Camila Cabello has become the third female artist to have a first week as number one on the Billboard 200 at the same time as being number one on the Hot 100. The last artists to do this were Beyonce with ‘Crazy in Love’ and Dangerously in Love in 2003, preceded by Britney Spears with track and album with the same name ‘…Baby One More Time’ in 1999.

Originally meant to be called The Hurting, The Healing, The Loving, Camila provides a rebirth for Cabello. Breaking away from the sexualised pop-hits from Fifth Harmony, Cabello has writing credits on every track. Cabello’s long-awaited solo debut is a personal statement, low-key and mellow even when it’s infused with the rhythms of her Cuban-Mexican heritage.

Compared to previous songs, Camila is stripped down, focusing on Cabello’s biggest asset: her voice. She doesn’t go for ‘bangers’, and the album is dominated by slower, intricate songs. ‘Havana’ is the nearest Camila comes to a dance track, yet even that song is a bittersweet reverie of diaspora romance. She gets intimate in the reggaeton lilt of ‘She Loves Control’ and the light tropical steel-drum breeze of ‘Inside Out’, where she swerves between English and Spanish. She puts her heart into her lyrics, particularly evident in songs such as ‘Something’s Gotta Give’: “Counterfeit emotions only run skin deep/Know you’re lying when you’re lying next to me, next to me.”

This is a new chapter for Cabello, and we are listening to her story-telling, personal diary. Part of the speculated reasons for her leaving Fifth Harmony is that Cabello felt the group were “too sexualised”. Her song ‘Into It’ proves you can be sultry without going overboard: “I see a king-sized bed in the corner, we should get into it.”

Cabello sounds comfortable in herself. It’s hard to carve out any unique space in the crowded female vocal market, but as the first female in history to have a debut album go to #1 in 100+ countries, Cabello will be just fine.

Interview: Superorganism

Superorganism has not been together for too long ‘officially’, but have gained such a traction and following already, it is clear to see that the supergroup are on to big things in the future.

The members’ origins span England, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Harry, the guitarist, explains that despite the band being in its infancy, there has been a “slow convergence over many years, and an incubation period of about a decade.”

Harry goes on to describe origin story. Initially, they had all met on internet music forums and had experimented in recording projects with some of the members before. It wasn’t until 2015, however, whilst touring with a previous band in Japan, where Orono came down to watch and introduced herself. They all began to chat and Orono took them to the Zoo and even went to get burgers, this would be the beginning of their friendship and kept in touch, sharing their projects and ideas.

Fast forward to 2016, and Harry is embarking upon another recording project, but instead of involving just a select few they decided to involve everybody that they knew. The group asked Orono if she would like to be involved and sent them what they had. To their surprise, within an hour she had written and recorded the lyrics and sent them back ‘Something For Your M.I.N.D’. Harry laughs and says that it was then where everything clicked and kicked into gear, and from there on out it snowballed. The group began to start writing and recording for another six-seven months and remained anonymous whilst doing so, and when they did finally reveal their work “the floodgates just opened.”

Now that all the members of Superorganism live together in the same country, they all hang out and share music in the kitchen, “as long as it’s something catchy, it’s something we will all be into”. Their music is often inspired by things like science, space, and nature, and how everyone is connected. The lyrics that Orono often draws from her honest observations of the world, which she notes down on her phone.

It’s quite rare these days to have so many people in one group, so to highlight everyone in the band and what they do, here’s a rundown and introduction to everyone in Superorganism, it must also be noted that their roles are not the be all and end all, they all merge, cross and contribute.

  • Bee, Ruby and Soul — Live band, backing singers, dancers and general all rounded greatness
  • Toucan — Drummer
  • Emily — Keys
  • Harry — Guitar
  • Orono — Keys and Vocals
  • Rob — visuals, music videos, and staging

Harry emphasises how important visuals are for them when they perform live, which is funny because initially, they weren’t sure if they would ever play live. Some of the group already coming from bands who have performed but accept that this is totally different. “There’s something so pedestrian about four dudes in a rock band, we wanted to create this whole world.”

When on stage, the experience they create is meant to be somewhat of a “mushroom trip”, it can be slightly overbearing and overwhelming at sometimes, but in contrast, it makes you “laugh and think, it’s fun and playful as well as being distorted and broken”. It’s a night that you should come to with an open mind.

Superorganism will release their debut album on the 2nd March 2018.