The Dark Side of Modelling

Emma is sixteen. She was first spotted as a gangly, unlikely thirteen year-old and was surprised to be asked to enter the world of modelling. Last year, after almost four years with one of the top agencies in Europe, she was ‘launched’. This is a slightly worrying term, used when models are thrust, rocket-like into the limelight to walk the runways of the world. Sure, there have been success stories in the past but when Emma was sent to New York alone, like so many other young girls, she found it to be more than ‘one small step’.

Image: Malin Oberg
N.B. The model featured in the image is not the subject of the article.

Firstly, it is important to emphasise that Emma is a very normal girl, albeit a staggeringly striking one. She attended a public high school and her life revolves around her friends and family, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of New York, where it’s normal for models to go to 20 appointments a day. This schedule is one of the busiest and most gruelling of any profession. It’s unbelievable that this job is done by girls as young as 13. If you ask an industry insider, they’ll tell you that it’s essential that models start young. They have taut skin. They don’t have hips. They can be ‘moulded’. They each essentially become a moving clothes hanger and they’re treated like one too. A multitude of young Russians are ruling the industry because they’re perfect for it- they are tough, they work hard and they don’t speak. It is exactly the same in women’s tennis.
Although Emma is confident, she’s English and she’s used to politeness. It’s no wonder she was shocked by the reality she found in New York. On her first day in Manhattan, an agent told her she couldn’t afford to put on any more weight. Size four just isn’t good enough, not when the clothes have been designed for a size zero figure. Emma might well become a famous model, but many tears will be spilt along the way. The issue remains: we’re still ignoring morality for perfection’s sake.

*The model's name has been changed to protect her identity.

Alex Clare

Alex Clare is another new kid on the block. He's also from London, which seems to be an absolute hotbed for this new breed of music. But he's not 'just another one of those'. He's a chef, he's a filmmaker, he's Jewish and he likes wearing boots.

Starting with his first single Up All Night, released in late 2010, the song begins sounding a little like alternative rock, the repetitive bass guitar being the centerpiece. But when Clare begins to sing, you realise he's a little bit special. I mean, you can't decide if he's more like The Offspring or Shakira, weird as that may sound. According his label, he used to be a soul/blues singer, but pairing him with producers Diplo and Switch for his upcoming album has created a bizarre amalgamation of sounds. The future of soul music, perhaps?

Luckily, this man has a voice that can be applied to all genres of music, seemingly with equal degrees of success. This is even more apparent with his latest single, Too Close, the video for which has been released today. At first, you're reminded of Maroon 5...and Adele. The song seems quite relaxed compared to his previous offering. How wrong this impression was. The chorus is distinctly diva-dubstep, quite similar to Nero, and it's brilliant!

I'm intrigued to know what he's gonna do on his next song. Screamo-reggae? I wouldn't be surprised.

Danish music is getting better...

Currently, the leading lights in Denmark's rapidly improving tech-house scene are quirky Danish duo Kenton Slash Demon (known to their friends as Jonas Kenton and Silas Moldenhawer). Since their early tracks 'Khattabi' and 'Singla', they have demonstrated their undoubted ability to create a fantastically diverse array of sounds. In a similar fashion to fellow Copenhagen artist Jesper Ryom, some of their tracks sound positively ethnic. Or should I say, 'otherworldly'? 

Fittingly universe-themed tracks 'Sun' and newest release 'Matter' are lengthy, yes, but their masterpiece status cannot be questioned. Right, now I'm gonna try and explain what they sound like, in basic English, for those of you who can't be bothered to click on the link. Imagine the sound that would be created when a few alien spaceships landed in Switzerland and started galloping around after the local bell-wearing cow population. That's Kenton Slash Demon. 

'Daemon' is their next single, so look forward to that one!

Diana leads lomography resurgence

The plastic analogue camera movement of the 60s may be about to make a comeback. Except now, because these things are 50 years old, we can call them retro.  A colourful remake of the original Lomography Diana F+ CMYK is being sold by Urban Outfitters at the ridiculously-affordable price of £85.It's not just a pretty face either- the Diana has an impressive range of features for such a simple camera, including a range of shutter speeds, a flash and an ability to take endless panoramas and multiple exposures. 

Admit it, this looks pretty cool (Copyright UO)

And if you think that model looks cool, take a look at the Parisian model, exclusive to Urban Outfitters and the Mini model. Both stunningly simple. Both painfully cool.

Oh...and another one.

Jamie xx in his natural environment (Copyright XL Recordings)

Jamie xx is Jamie Smith. He's also one quarter of London's Mercury Prize-winning band The xx. Jamie is probably the member of the band that you'd be least likely to recognise. And with his dark curly locks, big hoods and slightly boring name, he's also the easiest member of The xx to overlook. You'd be surprised then to learn that Jamie Smith mixed The xx's 'universally acclaimed' album almost single-handedly.

After legendary spoken-word performer Gil Scott-Heron released his first album in 16 years, I'm New Here, on independent label XL Recordings in February 2010, the question of who (of XL’s numerous other artists) would be chosen to remix the album arose. The album had attracted

substantial critical acclaim with The Guardian newspaper's Jude Rogers declaring it one of the next decade's best records. 

Well, the album's remix, We're New Here, has now been released, featuring reworking of material from the original album by- guess who- Jamie xx. It has been extremely well-received by music critics. This is unsurprising considering the startling originality of the album.

Jamie's album cover shows he's quarter of The xx

NY Is Killing Me showcases Smith's exceptional talents perfectly. Scott-Heron's vocals form a unique blend with Smith xx-influenced dubstep. The concept is remarkably simple but is pulled off with devastating effect. If you listen to this sober, you will feel like a criminal.

However, it is not Smith's work with Scott-Heron that has impressed me most. His sparse remixes are seized upon with frothing mouths by those lucky enough to have discovered him already. An indication of Smith's remixing ability came with his remix of The xx's song Basic Space. This led to him recording several further remixes. The standout of these is the his remix of Glasser's song Tremel. This is closely followed by an interesting remix of Adele's recent hit Rolling in the Deep and a fantastic remix of Jack Penate's song Pull my Heart Away. 

Jamie xx's music is atmospheric, dreamy, bass-filled,  inventive and completely and utterly undefinable.

One to look out for in 2011: Jai Paul

First thing's first. If you haven't heard this London artist's 2007 demo, BTSTU, listen to it here now.

Jai Paul's album art is both humorous and touching (Copyright Jai Paul)

I'll presume you enjoyed that, but that wont stop me trying to define this other-worldly music. Paul's incredible falsetto harmonies are punctuated by swirling synth-bass melodies and even the odd saxophone tinkle. According to his new label, the giants XL recordings (The White Stripes, Adele, The xx, Vampire Weekend, Beck, Radiohead, M.I.A. etc,), we can even expect some Harry Potter-themed sampling on his debut album, due sometime this year.

It has been an achingly-long time since his cult classic BTSTU emerged on the internet, and since then he's only gone on to post one more demo on his MySpace. That's not to say it wasn't excellent. His remix of Emiliana Torrini's 'Jungle Drum' features Torrini's original vocals with an occasional vocal addition by Paul. The song shows inventive percussion and- wait for it- the use of numerous synth melodies and blurred bass sounds. The one criticism I would have is that 2 minutes 13 seconds is not nearly long enough. I want this music to last all day, all week, all month and all year. The album will be waited for with baited breath.

New Red wing is set to be a classic

Copyright ASOS.com

American boot Gods Red Wing have recently released the latest edition of their Classic Work Boot. This is a boot with a great history on the farms and in the cities of America's heartland. Whilst the boots still feature the same great materials and hand-made craftsmanship that they always have, there are signs that they are turning their focus to fashion.

Copyright ASOS.com

The new boot is pretty damn cool, it has to be said. They are the kind of beautiful reddish-brown colour that seems to go with just about anything. However, my favourite thing about them, and possibly the most significant change from their previous boots, is the sole. It is noticeably paler than past soles on brown-coloured boots, almost white in fact, but I feel it works surprisingly well. It's hard to imagine the workers of the American dust bowl wearing this kind of thing, but if Red Wing say they did, who are we to argue? Personally, I never saw any of the characters in Of Mice and Men as particularly fashionable, but these boots certainly are.

 Already being sold by online retailer ASOS.com, the new boot is set to appear in Urban Outfitters stores everywhere, so you'll be able to try them on without buying them (if you're an fellow impoverished fashion fan). ASOS seem to be selling them for £200 but the price quoted in the recent Urban Outfitters winter magazine was £190, so that seems like the better deal to me. And of course you'll have the great feeling of urbanity that always comes with purchases from UO!