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
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.
GETSOME UK have been given the exclusive for the forthcoming new LV, Message To Bears & Zaki Ibrahim ‘Explode’ video.
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:
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…
One of my favourite, underrated hip-hop albums is MF Doom’s ‘Operation: Doomsday’.
The history of MF Doom’s debut album ‘Operation: Doomsday’ is a strange one – it’s been released in at least two different versions on different labels, out of print, bootlegged, and even released once with a cheap scan of the original cover.
This spring, MF Doom’s own label Metalface Records will be releasing the first complete and remastered version of ‘Operation: Doomsday’, containing the original album, alternate versions, b-sides and instrumentals – 51 tracks in total with all new artwork and two deluxe, metal formats:
Lunch box with 2CD and Metal 4LP box, each containing a 32-page lyric book, and set of 10 cards with images of the Operation Doomsday MCs.
Catch these whilst you can for some hip-hop history, packaged with beautiful casing and wonderful artwork by Jason Jagel and resident Stones Throw Records graphic designer, Jeff Jank.
Stones Throw records are taking pre-orders here: http://stonesthrow.com/store/box-set/mfdoom/operation-doomsday-complete – expect a later drop for the UK.
For the past year Rosie Lee have helped Nike & size? with their 10 year collaboration celebrations; a year which so far has seen the release of 9 limited edition shoes. To coincide with the release of the tenth shoe and put the finishing touches on a fantastic year we were asked to organising a party. The evening was held at Dover St’s Air Gallery and featured all ten limited edition shoes and a one off piece of Dave White Artwork, which was broken into pieces and given away. Drinks, DJ’s and Sneaker heads all culminated in a top night to celebrate Nike & size? and their ongoing obsession with all things sneaker.
You can’t seem to open a newspaper or watch the TV, without seeing an info-graphic at the moment. I recently came across this poster which I’m guessing was included with Tempa’s Roots of Dubstep Compilations. You might look at the sound some of these artists are pushing now, and question where they’ve been placed or who they’ve been linked to, but if you rewind back to ’06, I think most of them match up. The credits are on the on the other side, so we can’t see them, but like most of Ammunition/Tempa/FWD/Rinse work, I’m guessing they’re the work of Give Up Art.
EASY,
It’s been a while since I put out a mix and the sunshine over the last couple of weeks has really inspired me, so here’s my summer mix! I have been playing a few of these of these tunes for a while and there some other which I am just particularly feeling right now, kick back and enjoy! The last one being a personal favourite, and classic!!!!! Tracklist is below…
PEACE&OUZO
TRACKLIST
1: TONYA RENEE: About You (Karizma Boucha Remix)
2: TRACKHEADZ FEAT ZAKI: feel (Vocal Mix)
3: JOY ORBISON: The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow (Original Mix)
As most of you know I am a lover of design and my day job is graphic design. When I saw this I went nuts, probably not the most practical of investments but a beautiful piece of design and a great idea none the less. These guys have a whole array of amazing musical kit including a portable synth to die for, well worth checking out. Find out more here: http://www.teenageengineering.com/.
