Secret 7″ is a project in in tandem with Teenage Cancer Trust, Talenthouse and Universal Music to help encourage creatives to participate in a challenge that will help promote artistic talent. An challenge set by seven hosts; The Cure, Florence & The Machine, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ben Howard, CSS, Noah + The Whale and DJ Shadow,the task is to design an original piece of 7″ vinyl artwork inspired by each of their chosen songs.

Calling all visionaries from graphic designers to painters, illustrators and photographers, Secret 7″ is providing an incredible opportunity for professionals, novices and art enthusiasts to collaborate with celebrated bands and artists. Viewed by millions, and chosen out of thousands, the final pieces of artwork are decided by the public voters via Facebook and Twitter.

The project will culminate in 700 uniquely pressed vinyls (with a limited edition of 100 covers for each artist’s single) to be displayed in an art exhibition at Idea Generation Gallery in London, Shoreditch in the week leading up to Record Store Day April 2012.

All Secret 7” singles with chosen artwork covers will be available to purchase, but none of the buyers will know who has created the sleeve, or even which song it’s for, until they are holding it in their hands.

To get involved simply visit the Talenthouse website, find our creative invites and follow the guidelines. Deadlines start to close one a day from the 13th January through to the 19th

Check the dedicated DJ Shadow page here.

It’s less than a week before Jonny sets off for Mozambique. He is going to Africa as part of the APTA charity project (which we wrote more about in full here.) We understand everyone is tight on cash this time of year, but most of the funding to make it happen is coming from the participants’ own pockets, so any help you can give to the project will be greatly appreciated. If you’d like to make a donation, click here.

WWW.JONATHANDARBY.COM

GET SOME are proud to support Jonathan Darby as he embarks on his project with APTA in January 2012. APTA is an organisation helping address the lack of education about the prevention and spreading of HIV and AIDS. This show will act as a launch and a fund-raiser for the full project which begins in January 2012 along side the new school year in Mozambique. With your support, this project acts as a driving force in the fight against HIV and AIDS. By breaking down stigmas, we are painting a brighter future for Mozambique.

Thursday 1st December 6pm – 8.30pm

Art First Gallery
21 Eastcastle Street
London
W1W 8DD

ART FIRST WEBSITE

Be sure to check out our friends’ launch of New Artists down at the awesome Magg’s Gallery in Mayfair from the 2nd-5th December – a group show featuring the photography of Richie Culver, and contemporary works by Shorvon and Hunter.

The freedom of the hit and run gallery model is that it allows each show to be tailored to the specific space, removing the limitations of the white box, and providing the audience with a unique experience.

See y’all down there.

A new book will be available in January 2012 showcasing classic photos of our favourite rap stars. ‘West Coast Hip Hop A History In Pictures by Michael Miller’. This will be a limited edition 9″x 12″ coffee table book, strictly limited edition!

Michael Miller was the man at the right time when the west coast hip hop movement was exploding. Besides shooting all the major players in the game he also hung out with the artists and became a part of the culture. Shooting important and iconic figures like Cypress Hill, NWA, Tupac, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, House Of Pain to name but a few!

His photos are an amazing archive of a magical time in music and his crazy but true stories about the shoots are mind blowing!

Watch the video here:

WEST COAST HIP-HOP: A HISTORY IN PICTURES

The second release from south London based LV on 2nd Drop, but this one is a little different, you might say more international. Basking in the afterglow of their much hyped Kwaito inspired bomb, Boomslang on Hyperdub last year, the LV trio stick the brakes on and crank up the soulful vibes for this release.

With well established roots in South Africa, a recording session at the Red Bull studios in Cape Town saw LV record a number of vocal collaborations with the honeyed-voiced Zaki Ibrahim. Zaki’s Canadian and South African heritage not provides her with striking looks but also politically charged ammunition for her lyrics.

The third angle of this collaboration is a young band from leafy environs of Oxford. After discovering Message to Bears on YouTube trying to make more dubstep / electronic music, 2nd Drop saw the opportunity to link the disparate groups together. Explode was created, with Message to Bears providing lush piano motifs and subtle strings.

First up is the mysterious Mothy with his Implosion redux. Sounding like Mount Kimbe on Novacaine, the original is dubbed, filtered and squeezed into a cerebral paste.

DJ Rum brings more than most to his remix duties, here displacing the vocal pacing and adding luscious strings, creating something really special.

With support from King Britt, Kristan J Caryl (Resident Advisor), Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1), Mary Anne Hobbs (XFM) and Martyn (3024). With beautiful illustrations by Will Scobie, this is one for the long summer days ahead.

Available at all good record shop and digital websites.
Buy here:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/explode-ep-feat-zaki-ibrahim/id435910106

Check: www.soundcloud.com/2nddroprecords for more info.

Talented and relevant painter Jonathan Darby exhibits his latest work in a solo exhibition at the Signal Gallery’s new location. Go and check it out.

32 Paul Street
London
EC2A 4LB

I stumbled across this very talented photographer a few weeks back and in light of Georgina Cook and Ashes57 getting some hype recently for their insight into the UK’s underground music scene, it is yet another lady who is making waves, Nikanika. I had a chat with her via email and she is very humble, almost instantly agreeing to do an interview with us. NikA has shot some of the biggest names in the scene rangin form Ramadanman to Oneman, at venues like the Paradiso in Amsterdam to Fabric in London. She is also a graphic designer, check out her work here: http://www.nikanika.com. Enjoy her images and interview below.

GET SOME INTERVIEWS NIKANIKA

Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?
Hi there, my name is Rosa Maria Koolhoven, also known as Nika from Nikanika.com. I am from the Netherlands but moved to London in 2010 to follow a MA course in Image and Communication at Goldsmiths University of London. Next to that I am an (Dubstep) event photographer and graphic designer.

How did you end up in London?
Since I got involved in the Dubstep scene back in 2006 the love for London got bigger and bigger every year. When I started taking pictures I traveled a lot back and forth from de UK to Holland. So when I planned to do a Master in another city/country the choice to go to London was made very quickly.

What was the first record you bought?
Michael Jackson – Off The Wall. In terms of dubstep records I can’t really remember which was the first one, but Hijak – Tears is definitely my favorite.

What’s your favourite film, food and drink?
The Other Guys / Sushi / Mojito (Cocktails in general!)

When did you first start taking pictures and how did you get involved in the London bass music scene?
I started taking pictures because I met the talented Derek Djons, who was the first dubstep photographer in the Dutch scene. I am not sure why I wanted to start taking pictures, maybe because I got so inspired by the scene, the music, the people and Dereks pictures that I wanted to contribute something to.

After a while I got asked by Caspa to come to Fabric for his album launch to take pictures. That was the first time I went especially for a gig to the UK. After that more trips followed.

What/who inspires you?
A lot of things inspire me. Music, graphic design, photography and illustration. Also people who work hard and follow their passion are a big inspiration and they keep me going.

What are you listening to right now?
I’ve been hooked for a while now to Phaeleh. His tunes are just mind blowing. Also I discovered this new girl group Warpaint and their Billie Holiday track is so sweet. Their voices are really amazing.

Who should we be watching in 2011?
Phaeleh, Pariah and everything from the labels Hemlock and Swamp81.

If money was no object, what would you do?
Buy myself the perfect house somewhere in London with a fireplace, wooden floor, a room for my creative stuff, two cats, big piano and kitchen and invite all my family and friends over for an amazing dinner with lots of wine.

And finally, please complete the following sentence…

GET SOME… NIKANIKA.COM!!!

RL Nike size? Dave White 10 Years of Obsession (Full) from Rosie Lee on Vimeo.

Design & Build: Rosie Lees : www.rosielees.co.uk
Construction: Shape Construction : www.shapeconstruction.co.uk
Music: 2nd Drop Records : www.2nddroprecords.com : Track: Sully ‘Give Me Up’

The LAF boys will be out in force on Thursday evening (17/12/09) at the Number 22 store on Carnaby Street, London. Asked to come up with an idea for a window display, they went one better and created their own mini studio  in the corner of the shop. The window was filled with LAF paintings and illustrations. If a passer by liked what they saw they were entitled to take a canvas away on the condition that they replaced the work with a piece of their own.

The result is a constantly evolving display encouraging creativity. Very refreshing amongst all the mannequins out there… From 6pm the store will be open late for business, beers and hopefully some mince pies. Get down there and grab some art!

Store address: 22 Carnaby Street, London, W1F 7