DEADWEATHER

Photography: Tommy Clarke

Styling: Sacha Harrison
Hair and make-up: Annie Tagge

Model: India Wadsworth

Photographer’s assistant: Sophie Buxton

Stylist’s assistant: Christina Everington

With thanks to the Crookenden household x

MAGNETIC MAN

Magnetic Man is the recent dubstep amalgamation of UK bass pioneers, Benga Skream and Artwork.
This homegrown trio rose like hooded phoenixes out of Croydon's garage scene, as individual artists pushing experimental sounds that got heads nodding and sound systems shuddering.
Rumoured to have been locked up in a Cornish studio recently, it has been confirmed that they have been cooking up an album due for release on Columbia Records in the next few months.

"There's some risky tracks on the album that we've done," Artwork commented. "We could just sit down and write straight-up dubstep tracks, but instead we're taking risks. We're not doing what people expect."

Recent performances by Magnetic Man show they have used sounds that appeal to more than just capped grimesters, in order to push themselves into the MTV mainstream. Having recently graced the cover of NME, as an example of 'the state of music today', it appears that they must be worthy of such recognition.

“With all three of us doing it it’s going to get ultra-no-holds barred,” blurted Skream. “This is Magnetic Man. It’s no longer three people: it’s a whole.”
If three heads are better than one then Magnetic Man looks set to resonate their sounds globally.


Accused by the many devout dubstep fanatics to be 'cashing in' or 'selling out' it appears Magnetic Man could face constant scrutiny from loyal heads. Modelling matching white hoodies for their album promo shot, it seems the dubstep musketeers are just desperate for a taste of that boy band bling. Its definitely gonna get them the three cherries and force people to appreciate dubstep as more than just an experimental undercurrent.

Blending their finest, Magnetic Man are due to release their debut single at the end of July. The track 'I Need Air' is dance-floor riot fuel, although the dark signature wobbles of their Croydon days have sadly been neatened by poppy mash-up. It's a track to get the brightest high tops bouncing. If this is what its gonna take to lasso the masses towards the UK bass scene, get the world beating at 140, then big up.

By NettieHurley

PICTOPLASMA - 'PEN TO PAPER'

An ongoing art project called ‘Pictoplasma’ came to London’s Concrete Hermit gallery during March this year to exhibit its latest book ‘Pen to Paper’. Pictoplasma being a platform for contemporary art focuses on reduced and abstract character representations throughout different media forms. Since its first event in 2004 audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds have been attending its events and from this a network has grown. Pen to paper is one of its exciting publications so far.

I find this concept can inform creative practitioners helping them to understand visual aesthetics that are applied across the modern spectrum of visual language.

ptp04: "Hold Me", Ian Stevenson, 2008, Pen on Paper

ptp09: "A non-corporeal life form", Seth Scriver, 2006, Acrylic ink on
wood panel

The two images above are taken from the book.This work is refreshing and brings people are coming together in a big way. Peter Thaller of the project spoke to me. He said (referring to pictoplasma project participants):

"They now simply have the possibility to expose themselves to, get involved by, and communicate with like minded artists around the globe and we very much like the resulting work."

It’s given me ideas about what ‘new art’ means today. Since the term ‘Art Nouveau’ that translates literally to ‘new art’ was coined in the late 20^th century the creative practitioners of the time were also (much as is done today) pursuing the jump between the 'academic' treatment of art and art as an expressive and cathartic indulgence. I recommend this to those willing to explore creatively. And if you disagree with that, it’s worth investigating for the cultural journey.

www.pictoplasma.com

By Mairead Gillespie