THEGAYUK

Category: Interview

  • INTERVIEW | Kenneth Tindall – Designing The Architect

    There is one thing you can’t help but notice about Kenneth Tindall when you first meet him. He has a great big, beaming smile on his face all the time. And Kenny is a young man who has everything to smile about.

    Touted as “one to watch”, Kenny’s work is receiving critical acclaim and his reputation is quickly building as a creative powerhouse. He is one of the Principal Dancers for Northern Ballet, an international performer who has graced the stage at the International Ballet Festival of Miami and the International Beijing Dance Festival amongst others. His first piece of choreography won an international award, he has just premiered his second piece of work at the Royal Opera House Linbury Studio Theatre and his third piece, The Architect is in its final stages of rehearsal and development, in readiness for its world premiere in June 2014.

    Despite his success, Kenny remains remarkably genuine and down to earth. He invited THEGAYUK to Northern Ballet to talk exclusively about his new piece, The Architect.

    Your new piece of work, The Architect, is premiering at The Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds on the 18th June. The concept photographs of the piece look stunning – how did the piece come about?
    The Architect has been the longest process of research and development I have done on a performance piece. I have a collection of concepts, themes and creative ideas which are all sitting waiting in the wings – then something can suddenly set you off into fully realising one of those ideas and the inspiration for that can come out of nowhere. The Architect didn’t exist at all, until one day I picked up a children’s illustrated bible and flicked through the pages, stopping on the tale of Adam and Eve. This, coupled with hearing the song Wicked Game by Chris Isaac, seemed to come together and I became really interested in the notion of Adam falling from grace, the concept of being wicked or subjected to wicked behaviour, him realising the truth of his own infallibilities and about learning the truth of where you are from. I researched a number of religions and their individual versions of the creation of man, looking at both the similarities and the differences. The concept of learning the truth was one which has stuck with me since watching The Matrix and that led me onto considering the interplay between religion, science, technology and nature. But the most intriguing thing for me was a line from the Bible, which stated: “From dust, you came and to dust you shall return”. Life is an infinite loop and The Architect is about finding that out and exactly where you enter and exit that cycle.

    Is the concept of sin one which is easily defined?
    The piece allows you to consider the nature of sin and whether we are all born to sin and whether it is, in fact, acceptable to sin? For example, the piece can be interpreted as sexually charged. You can’t have a piece with two characters, regardless of their sex or sexuality, without there being some form of sexual tension.

    Does the physicality of dance enhance that sexual tension in any event?
    Yes, of course – dance is very intrusive in terms of performing. You have a physical closeness with those you dance alongside regardless of your sex or sexuality or their sex or sexuality. The five men that I am working with on this piece are all very sensual and they are all very comfortable with working with each other. You can’t have any awkwardness when you are working in such close physical proximity with others, especially when there is so much contact between your bare skin and their bare skin. All of the dancers in this piece are built like athletes – they are strong, toned and defined. The sculptures that they make with their bodies and with each other’s bodies and the way in which they physically interact are fascinating. But it is for the audience to determine for themselves what they take from this piece. The piece goes much deeper than eroticism, but that is a performance aspect available to the audience if that is what they seek or choose to take from it.

    So is The Architect a religious piece?
    No, not at all. The Architect is an abstract piece, not a narrative one. In the very early stages, I did away with the idea of a figure in the piece, either a representation of God or a God-like character. I wanted the piece to be based more on a foundation of an individual’s reactions to specific points and feelings. I also didn’t want there to be just one Adam. There is such diversity in Man, despite it being said that Man is made in the image of God. The mix of religion, science and nature seemed to encompass different aspects of a person’s inner conflicts –their faith and belief versus scientific fact versus their biological makeup and limitations. I wanted to find a creative way to have Adam born on stage, which I have been able to do, and this leads to allowing the self-realisation of someone who is born with an adults consciousness to be explored as they both rise and fall from grace.

    So how is this represented visually within the piece?
    All of the research has gone into the show on some level. When looking into the different concepts of Adam and Eve, I took inspiration not only from differing religions but from other sources. For example, Kundalini Yoga is based on the concept of a life force, coiled up like a serpent in the base of the spine which is reflected in the costumes, with a DNA strand design reaching up to the back of the performers – it’s the interplay between science and belief, between modern and ancient. But it is not just the costumes which represent the concepts visually.

    My first piece, Project#1, was a steep learning curve and one which I am immensely proud of. The piece was really stripped back, focusing solely on dance and movement, which allowed me to hone my craft in relation to the choreography itself. It allowed me to explore aspects of myself as a choreographer and to allow me to challenge myself in ways which have provided me with a set of skills, different to those of a performer, which I have carried through to my subsequent projects; The Architect included. My second piece, Luminous Juncture added the aspect of lighting, and I was fortunate to work with an incredible lighting designer, Alistair West, who showed me how to really use the interplay between light and shadow and helped me to understand the impact of light from the perspective of a choreographer and director. It allowed me to develop techniques of misdirection, which permitted the dancers to be able to move the piece forward without them ever having to leave the stage. Having built my confidence in terms of concentrating solely on the choreography on Project#1, it enabled me to free up some of the creative time away from the dance aspect of the second piece and to learn about and explore how to really enhance a piece of theatre using lighting. It is almost like learning in stages and I am fortunate that Northern Ballet is so supportive of me as not only a dancer but also as a choreographer. You don’t learn by repeating what you have previously done, so you have to add something else in, which ensures that in every piece you work on, you learn something new.

    So in terms of pushing yourself as a choreographer, how are you doing that within the setting of The Architect?
    The set… I have never worked in this role with a set before and it is a huge step. I am working with Christopher Giles who is designing the set. He is also developing his craft, which is great, as, like me, he is interested in really pushing himself and rising to whatever challenge is put before him. I’ll approach him and say “can we do this” and he’ll say “not really, but leave it with me…” The set does make a really big difference. Not only does it impact on how the piece looks visually, it adds a number of different aspects that you really have to consider as the choreographer and director. Choreography is much more than simply putting the sequence of movements and steps together. When you are trying to create a visual piece, you have to look at how the piece is presented overall, how the costumes look in the bright light and in the shadows, how the shape of the body of the dancers is displayed and the visual impact of that. In The Architect, there is the added challenge for me of the set becoming part of the piece. It is about using the set so that in itself, it is entrenched as part of the piece as a whole, almost akin to another character, but balancing that with it never being intrusive. Working with the set and allowing the dancers to interact with and utilise it has been an enjoyable challenge for me.

    How has the piece evolved throughout its life?
    It really has been an organic process overall. I would say that I have had four or five ballets out of this piece already, but the creativity finds its own level.

    So presumably having the experience of being both a performer and a choreographer helps you in all aspects of your work, in essence, having the ability to see it from both sides?
    Absolutely. As a performer, having that creative input is important as you are able to use your own personal strengths to enhance the piece. Equally, as a choreographer who has conceived and nurtured a piece, you have to be flexible and not too protective about your work. A dancer’s most effective communication is through movement as opposed to verbalisation. When you choreograph a piece, you create the movements, you choreograph to your strengths, but you are not here to simply extrapolate that onto the dancers you are working with. You have to allow them to bring their strengths too. That, in essence, is what makes it work – it is you bringing the idea forward and allowing those working with you to be able to give their optimum performance. There can be a day when you just discover a gem just by having that flexibility – a little movement, a step or a routine – something that no amount of research, planning or preparation could have produced. That is one of the pleasures in doing an abstract piece such as this – you can veer off to an extent.

    Your debut project as a choreographer, Project#1, won the Production Prize at the 26th International Choreographic Competition in Hanover in 2012. You must have been incredibly pleased to receive such a prestigious award for your first piece of work?
    It was an absolute thrill and that is part of the reason, amongst many others, why I am so proud of Project#1. But you have to keep grounded and that grounding comes from family and friends. Any piece is open to criticism and to be honest, I, like most performers, do appreciate criticism as it helps you to develop as an artist, whatever role you take in a production. Provided it is not personal, then criticism is not a negative thing. You just have to remember not to let it get to you. You are putting yourself out there emotionally and creating what you think is the best performance or piece that you can create. Of course, it hurts when your hard work is criticised, but you have to remember that art is subjective. I take the view that you have to admire anyone who is putting themselves out there, who is experimenting and expressing themselves creatively – whether that is through music, dance, acting, art, writing or in any other way. The worst criticism I could receive is that I was not expressing myself creatively. You have to be strong to be in an environment where, from a very young age, you are constantly told what you are doing wrong. That is in an attempt to enhance you as a dancer, but the constant highlighting of your mistakes when you are in a world of insecurities about how you look, perform and develop – Well, it can be difficult.

    Do you think that the traditional view of ballet, being all tights and tutus, is slowly disappearing?
    This is a really exciting time to be involved in UK dance. The reality is that there are a core set of steps and skills. Strip everything back and you have those core skills. That is why dancers train so hard – to ensure that these classical and traditional steps are perfected. There will always be those classical steps and therefore; traditional ballet in that sense will never die out. But companies like Northern Ballet and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures are really opening up the realms of storytelling and spectacle. The added contemporary twists on pieces based on classical techniques are helping ballet as an art form to progress. There will always be a place for what some people view as traditional ballet, but in reality, ballet is still there, but it is just dressed differently. Theatre is moving alongside advances in technology which only enhances what you are doing and helps to tell the story that you are telling. There is a real influx of exciting new choreographers and all major dance companies, even the more traditional ones, are pushing dance forward, taking influences from contemporary pop culture. I am really optimistic for the future of UK-based dance. There is a constant reinvigorating of this type of theatre which is really exciting to be involved in.

    And what is next for Kenny Tindall?
    I still love working with Northern Ballet and don’t see that changing for the foreseeable future, but I am enjoying developing my skills in other areas. I have just choreographed a music video for an upcoming artist and I have so many concepts for pieces which I would like to explore and develop. The film industry is a real appeal to me, as is the West End, but once The Architect has had its premiere, I will settle for a bottle of wine and a good film.

    The Architect will receive its world premiere as part of Northern Ballet’s mixed programme from 18th – 21st June 2014 at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre. For information and tickets visit northernballet.com/?q=mixed-programme-2014. You can read more about Kenny’s work at www.kennethtindall.co.uk

    You can also follow him on social media; either on twitter at @Tindallkenny or Facebook atwww.facebook.com/KennethTindallChoreographer

  • INTERVIEW | Rosie Beaver

    We catch up with Drag Queens Of London’s Rosie Beaver, who talks about dating and mating, why drag queens should never date each other and why App dating is sooo over….

    Tell me about your dating history. Have you had long terms partners, has it been short and sweet bursts, have you been single for too long?
    I’ve been single just over a year now, before that I was in a relationship with a lovely French guy to had to go back home to study. Since moving to london in 2006 I’ve had a varied dating life. I don’t know if it’s my probable ADHD or just the fact I’m fussy that has made it a bit of a struggle at times. I’m a big ol’ romantic at heart but I’m also a perfectionist so can’t settle for something that’s not right. As much as I enjoy a good night out, I’m very much a cup of tea and a movie person when in a relationship, I adore that feeling of going home and cuddling up, and when I’m single that’s what I miss the most- not having anyone to go home to. Becoming a drag queen, just over two years ago now, has made my dating life more complicated, plus the fact that my 30th birthday is creeping up on me I’m in this odd place of, let’s call it, despair, to be dramatic. I’d always had this notion of being 30, being settled in work and life and having a man there, so to be in such a state of upheaval it makes me a bit restless.

    What are the challenges when it comes to dating?
    The biggest challenge for me when it comes to dating is meeting people. Sure, there are plenty of apps and sites, but they usually lead to some quick sex and a speedy exit. My last few relationships have all been with people I met in social situations. It seems that nowadays a lot of people are only looking for a quick thrill, which I’m more than guilty of at times, so you never have the time to get to know a person. I enjoy bring a little old fashioned when it comes to dating, taking time and knowing someone is fun. It also makes the sex much better when it happens!

    People don’t talk anymore either- it’s a sorry state of affairs when you go into a bar and the only way you can talk to someone is through an app on your phone. When I realised I was gay (15 years old) it was when chat rooms and msn messenger and such were really taking off, so all of my dating life has been side by side and I’ve seen it go from talking and dancing in a club to sitting there texting and poking. I sound like I’m in my 80’s, but goddammit I want a conversation in life, not on an app.
    Dating is also expensive, to actually woo someone takes time and money: restaurants, drinks, theatre, it all adds up!

    What are you looking for in a partner?
    My biggest things I’m looking for are a damn good sense of humour and that indescribable chemistry. That feeling where you can’t wait to rip off someone’s clothes but also want to snuggle in front of a fire in baggy jumpers watching trash movies. I’m a big kid at heart so I need someone who can be silly with me and watch spongebob. Someone who has their own life, passions and interests, but shares and takes interest in mine… This is sounding like a personal ad…. I also enjoy long walks and knitting.

    Who is your celebrity crush?
    Oh I have so many- and they’re all the obvious ones. Zac Efron is looking hot right now, but for marriage I’d go for Joseph Gordon Levitt.

    How do you find dates? Dating websites? Through friends? On a night out?
    I used to use all the gay ‘dating’ apps, Grindr,Scruff etc, but have removed myself from them as it seems people are after only one thing, and usually when I logged on to them I’d be in the mood for something like that too. You get caught in a rut with apps like that. I have actually met a fair few guys from Twitter in the past. It’s a great site to chat away casually with someone and get to know them, their likes, and their sense of humour, then you can start to DM, exchange numbers and take it from there. One of my longest relationships (the one who when I get drunk I still Facebook stalk) started through a twitter follow!

    Have you had any horror/funny stories?
    There’s nothing worse than a stagnant date. I pride myself on being able to make dates fun, but there’s been a few where you sit there clock watching. Luckily no horror stories yet!

    What is their reaction usually, when you tell them you are a drag queen?
    Most people are a little unsure on the idea right away, but when you explain and tell them it’s a job and tell them that you DON’T want to be a woman (everyone asks that!) then it’s usually fine. A lot of gay men and drag queens have stories that are horrific in and out of the dating world, but I’ve been very lucky to have a supportive circle of family and friends throughout my life.

    Do you tell them upfront that you are a drag queen or leave it a while?
    I leave it a while, I always feel odd bringing it up. I think that’s my insecurities and fear of them not liking me than a judgement on the guys I date though. I want to find a man who like Chris, not Rosie!

    Have you ever dated another drag queen? If so how was it? Would you do it again?
    Nope, never have. It’d make it easier to date one as we’d know each other’s way of life and how demanding it is. I don’t think I would though as it’s also nice to have someone outside or the world you’re in to go home to and vent all your frustrations!

    If you were new to the dating scene – what would be your tips? Where would you go to find dates? Any good sites?
    Try and talk to people in life. Tell some jokes. Get your group of friends to join tables with another … There’s nothing better than meeting and giving your number to someone you’ve met in real life, and waiting til he texts (or doesn’t!). Speed dating is fun too- Village Drinks and 28 Gays Later are both great fun. If you do want to go online the Tinder app is the only one I use as it feels more social and talk based, as opposed to sending your cock shot as an opening line. Twitter too is as good as any site to chat and flirt…. And you can find boy me @chrisdclegg if you want to say hi!

    Drag Queens Of London continues tonight at 10:00PM on London Live

  • INTERVIEW | Adrian + Shane

    If you’re into social media of one form or another you can’t help but notice Adrian+Shane, the dynamic arty duo who march along to their own tune and create amazing art along the way. They produce t-shirts, prints, you name it, and they have a hand in it!

    This cute and hirsute duo have such talent and an amazing understanding of social media and the way to get your message and artwork out there. They are pan-european in the truest sense, and are forever hopping across the channel to show work, view work or simply march….

    Below is an interview I was lucky enough to do with this lovely couple:

    So, tell me about the Adrian+Shane brand:

    Q: How did you two meet? When and where?
    Shane: We grew up in the same town and went to the same schools. So we knew each others faces but we never actually met until mutual friends introduced us at a club in December 1997.

    Q: How did you first get to work together?
    Adrian: When we met Shane was a student at the Glasgow School of Art and I was still living in Ireland. I flew to Glasgow to visit him for a few days in February 1998. One night we got very drunk, on vodka I had bought in Dublin Airport duty free. We sat on the floor in Shane’s student flat and began sketching and painting in a pad. We didn’t speak. It just happened so naturally. We would swap the pad back and forth, taking turns of adding something. Then when we felt it was finished, we’d flip the page and start a new one. We did 10 pieces over those few days in Glasgow. We still have them. They’ve never been exhibited. Nobody else has ever seen them.

    Q: Do you still have samples of your early work?
    Shane: Oh yes. Everything we make goes into our archive.

    Q: Where do you call home and does it influence your work at all?
    Adrian: We live in Drogheda (Ireland’s biggest town). Looking at our work we don’t think it does influence it. We live in a bubble. Influence tends to come from all over the world usually when we are travelling and on holidays.

    Q: How do you divide the workload?
    Shane: It really depends on what project we’re working on. Once or twice a week we’ll have a meeting in our studio and figure out what needs to be done. We’ll each decide what we want to do, then we’ll go and do it.

    Q: Does one of you have more of a business brain than the other?
    Adrian: I’d say Shane has more of a business brain.

    Q: Where did the marching come from? How did it catch on?
    Shane: We were asked by a magazine to do some self portraits to accompany an Adrian+Shane interview. As we were taking the photos Shane just started marching. It wasn’t planned. We loved how it looked. That photo has become our most recognised image. And we use it as our logo.

    Q: Your work feels very European? Do you agree?
    Adrian: Does it? We never heard it being described as European before. Sounds good though.

    Q: Is this your full-time role? Does it support both of you?
    Shane: Yes, this is what we do full-time. Things have really started to take off over the last few years. Selling prints and T-shirts online is a constant income. They sell worldwide. We also get commissioned to make artwork/paintings too.

    Q: Where did the type t-shirts come from? Where do you get your ideas from?
    Adrian: Like a lot of our work they were accidental. One day we stencilled on to a couple of T-shirts to wear out to a club that night. Then photo’s of us wearing the T-shirts were posted online. Suddenly we got a tonne of requests from Facebook and twitter followers wanting to buy the T-shirts. We hadn’t planned on making them for anyone but ourselves. So we decided to give it a go. Back then we were using spray paint and stencilling directly onto the T-shirt. These days we screen print them.

    Q: What’s next for you two? What’s the next project?
    Shane: We currently have some new paintings on show in a gallery in Berlin (until June). There’s an exhibition featuring a brand new photographic print of ours opening in Brooklyn, New York next week. Right now we’re working on some new pieces that’ll be exhibited in London in September. And there’s a few major top secret projects that we can’t talk about right now.

    Q: You use social media very well, how did this come about? It gives your work a very 21st century feel.
    Adrian: Social media is an important tool to get your work seen by a large audience in an instant. It’s played a key part in our success over the last few years. We use it as a sort of visual diary, recording what we’re seeing and doing every day. Technology excites us. We love discovering new apps etc.

    Q: You offer prints of your work – do you like this option as it gives everyone a chance to own decent artwork?
    Shane: Yes, prints are a great way to own a piece of Adrian+Shane if you don’t have the money to buy the original artwork. We plan to offer a larger selection of prints in the coming months.

    Q: How did you get into video work? Why use this art form?
    Adrian: We love experimenting with different mediums. Our first short film “42 Rotations” was shown at several film festivals and won awards. We’d definitely like to explore film making some more.

    Q: There’s an air of Gilbert & George about the brand – not as in a copy, but were they an influence in any way?
    Shane: We get compared to Gilbert & George a lot. They’re great artists so it’s flattering. Maybe subconsciously they’ve influenced us.

    Q: What and who are your influences?
    Adrian: Films (we love documentaries), music, graphic design, fashion, Madonna, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Willy Wonka, The Catholic church, The Wizard Of Oz, Alexander McQueen, My Own Private Idaho.

    Q: Does it feel like a brand? My personal feel is that there is a G & G/Warhol/Factory feel about what you do. It’s all about clean, clear, wonderful images and colours.
    Shane: Wow. Thank you. They’re all great things.
    We both love graphic design and branding. And we’ve just applied that to ourselves and a lot of people have picked up on it. We don’t mind being called a brand.

    Links to follow the lovely Adrian+Shane:
    adrianandshane.com
    adrianandshane.bigcartel.com
    facebook.com/adrianandshane
    twitter.com/adrianandshane
    adrianandshane.tumblr.com
    youtube.com/adrianandshane
    flickr.com/adrianandshane

  • INTEVIEW | Adam Rickitt

    INTEVIEW | Adam Rickitt

    ‘Putin You’re A Prick…’ Is the last tweet that Adam had posted before I picked up the phone to the “I Breathe Again” singer and former Coronation Street actor. Something tells me that he’s back and ready for a fight…

    who is Adam Rickitt
    CREDIT: ITV / The Big Reunion

    So… That tweet! Tell us your thoughts…
    I’m quite into current affairs and politics, and I think the whole thing is a complete joke. He’s like some big Panto baddie, some horrible nasty from a Disney film. He’s there trying to show his own strength to his own people and there’s no justification for it whatsoever. The guy’s a twat. For someone to come out so blatantly homophobic, but at the same time posing for the gayest photo shoot, riding on a horse, is absurd. I think it’s bad form, I really do.

    Is sexuality a big deal?
    I genuinely find it incomprehensible that in this day and age someone’s sexuality is still a definition about the person they are. You don’t say, ‘so and so is a nice person but they are black…’ It’s always amazed me, because I was raised by my Mum to be like ‘if somebody’s black and a lovely person – they’re just lovely – if somebody is black and they’re an arse – they’re an arsehole!’

    If somebody’s gay and they’re a lovely person… it was never about the colour, the creed, the sexuality or anything like that…

    So it amazed me when I was doing pop first time round, everyone was asking ‘is he gay, is he gay? Well I’m not, but I’m not going to make a big deal about it. It should be an issue.

    Did you get a lot of sexuality questioning?
    When I first started I didn’t. I was seen as a bit of a Lothario because they kept getting pictures of me with girls all the time. I kind of found all that attention a bit freaky. So I became a bit of a hermit. Because the press didn’t have anything to print about me, because I never went out, they just started making stuff up – let’s be honest, I did look like a prepubescent girl and I am slightly camp. So it wasn’t the hardest thing in the world for them to start making that up. It never bothered me. I was so lucky for the support I got from the gay community in my career, the last thing I was going to do was do a bit of a Jason Donavan and insult them by making out it was a big issue.

    So are you still Torying around?
    I’m not a career politician. They’re lots of them out there who went to university and studied politics and then did an internship with an MP and then became an MP themselves, I’ve got no desire to be a front bencher, my thing in life is that I’ve had such an amazing family and so many opportunities and I’ve always felt that if you get dealt a good hand in life, you owe it to pay it forward. I don’t have the skills to be a doctor, I don’t have the temperament to be a policeman, and so one way I thought I might be able to help would be to get involved in politics – arguing for a local community. It would have to be the right kind of community. I’m a bit of a country bumpkin, so there’d be no point in me standing for Toxteth or something. It’s meant to be a partnership – you being their voice in Westminster.

    So we won’t be seeing Adam Rickitt for PM?
    Probably not, no. Politics nowadays is not so much about having a view; it’s trying to offend the least amount of people. Nobody says anything anymore, they just all try and appeal to the masses. My point of view is that politics should be – ‘You stand up there, and say this is how I think it should be and this is how I think you should solve it. If you don’t agree with me vote for the other guy.’ I kind of always get in trouble because I always mouth off and say what I think, which doesn’t always go down very well, because you’re not meant to do that anymore in politics. I think that’s a shame. People get frustrated with politics and lose interest – because nobody ever says anything.

    Do you think that UKIP is a viable threat to UK politics?
    Here’s my theory about them: Everybody thinks they’re a bit of a joke – and they are a bit of a joke. But at least they stand for something. That’s what attracts people more than anything else. It’s basically because of the Europe situation. They are standing there and they are saying, ‘we’ve got a view on this matter – agree with us or don’t agree with us’ and that’s what’s drawing people to them. At least they’re standing for something. The problem with them is that they are literally just a one-issue party, and when you go beneath that one issue there’s a slightly uncomfortable veneer to the rest of it. They’re such a new party and if you scratch the surface of a lot of them, I’m not sure they are the best option.

    What did you make of David Silvester’s gay flood controversy?
    That’s exactly my problem. It’s such a new party that you’ve got people like that who have snuck in. The saving grace about Labour or the Conservatives is that anyone who is quite such a prat would get found out well before that.

    So you’re quite a political animal…
    I don’t know about animal… It does interest me. When I first got involved, back in the day, I was doing some ghost writing for The Spectator when Boris Johnson was editor and it was a piece about ‘Why are the youth today so apathetic about politics?’ It was after the election where the statistics showed that more young people voted in Big Brother than they did in the election and you just kind of think – that’s just really f**ked up. But it is up to the younger generation to step up to the plate, if you want to have a voice.

    So how does that fit in with The Big Reunion – cause they’re kind of worlds apart – or are they?
    Laughter – I’ve always been a bit of a freak in that way. The Big reunion for me is about having fun. It’s pure and simple about having fun. I didn’t enjoy it when I was a younger kid and I always regretted it that I didn’t enjoy it – and there’s no one to blame but myself – I was always insecure, and I wasn’t in the right place in my mind and I kinda went through it by numbers and got road rushed into it all. It’s not rocket science let’s be honest – it’s just really good fun. The advantage this time round is being in a band. When you’re a solo artist it is pretty lonely. Back in the day it was me going from Travelodge to Travelodge and it was just really boring.

    Are you still really self-conscience?
    Not really – only as much as the next person. My major paranoia first time around was that people thought I was an arrogant prick. I was so fearful that people would think that I was an arrogant prick, just because I was on TV or because I was doing a pop song, I went so far the other way. I became this really servant like, this pathetic thing. The record company would be asking ‘what do you think about this?’ I would say, ‘whatever you want, whatever you want I’ll do!’ You don’t enjoy it when you do that, because there’s so little of yourself in it. All you end up doing is living a caricature of something you think somebody else wants.

    Do you regret any of pop stuff?
    I don’t regret it, because if it hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t be in the frame of mind I am now, I wouldn’t be where I am in my life now, so I don’t regret it. I was lucky enough that from the age of 18 to 32 the longest I had off between jobs was 2 weeks. I literally worked for 14 years. I had amazing opportunities, I’m not saying I enjoyed them all, but they were amazing life experiences.

    Has it been depressing or hopeful revisiting the pop world?
    It depends on your mentality. If you’re going in there to become the next Beatles I think you’re setting yourself up for a life of terrible disappointment. We haven’t done that as a group. We’ve basically said lets just enjoy it. We’re grown men getting to do something really silly and luckily we get on so well we’re having fun. Do we think we’ll be winning Ivor Novellos- probably not! The music industry has changed. First time round I found it so monotonous, Smash Hits interview after Smash Hits interview where they were asking you – ‘What’s your favourite cheese…’ It doesn’t really stimulate the brain cells. But this time around we can go off and do other things.

    When did you all meet?
    Well they approached us all individually, and we all kind of said yes, but on the proviso that we all get on together. For example I didn’t sign my contract until I met all the boys for myself. The nice thing was, if we had all met 15 years ago there would have been egos in the room, there would have been a pissing contest between all of us – whereas because we’ve all been through the mix a few times and we’ve experienced the highs and lows of it you realise what’s important, and what’s important is to enjoy it.

    Do you think that makes you better pop stars?
    I think it does because it makes you more confident. Your relationship to the audience is so much stronger. When you’re doing it first time round you’re so paranoid about where you’re going to come in the charts or whether people are going to buy your single that you’re almost begging them to. But now you don’t make money on album sales you make it in performing, so you might as well go out there and have a good time with your audience. If you enjoy it – they see it.

    Your first album deserved to do better than it did. Why do you think it didn’t?
    It was weird. Abroad it did really well. South East Asia went mental for it. Here It didn’t do so great, it did shit – let’s be fair. I think first of all I wasn’t very happy doing it and I think you can see that. You start looking like a Panto character. I also got famous for being an actor and I think a lot of people think of you as just an actor or a pop star – and because I had that slight crossover it was weird. The record company spent millions of pounds doing research in the market place – I always came up as really popular but that didn’t always translate into sales. I was seen more as an entertainer than a pop star. I’d get bookings for ridiculous amounts of money, but then it didn’t translate into album sales.

    It was a five-album deal I signed, but I knew after the first one, or even before the first single came out that I wasn’t enjoying it. I sat down with the record label and said, I know it’s a five album deal, but I can’t do five it will kill me. They were like ‘we’ve spent all this money on you can you do the first album and let us cover our costs and make a little bit of money and we’ll let you go.’

    So, the Corrie gay kiss…
    You know what – that was the thing that really disillusioned me. One of the characters was gay and the other wasn’t. The one that wasn’t was asleep – it wasn’t a tongue marathon it was a tiny peck on the lips. The fact that made the front page of The Sun or the fact it was promoted as such a shock horror thing, I was like Really? In this day and age, really? Is it such a big issue? I found it so disappointing.

    The body. Are you still as ripped?
    Yes I am for my sins. I do it all at home. I have a really bad back so from the age of 17 I had to exercise everyday otherwise my back gets really knackered. I always felt a bit of phoney, because everyone was like ‘oh my god look at his body’ and I was like, well if I don’t I’m f**ked. I still do all the sit-ups and I’ve still got my six-pack.
    (Eight!!!) A shout from in the background as Katy, Adam’s Fiancé corrects Adam!
    Eight-pack – Katy’s is shouting. My wife in about 10 months!
    It’s not about size, it’s about health.

    What is your favourite cheese?
    Goat’s cheese. ∎

  • INTERVIEW | Drag Queens Of London Lady Lloyd

    Star of London Lives’ Drag Queens Of London, Lady Lloyd, opens up about being homophobically attacked and how life has changed since.

    When and where exactly did the attack happen?
    It was when I was 15, and it happened as I was catching a late night train from Stansted Station into West End to see my best friend Siobhan Donaghy perform at G-a-Y when she was in Sugababes.

    How many people attacked you?
    3

    How old were they?
    They were the same age.

    Did you know who they were?
    I knew who one of them was, but the other two I never found out. The one I know for sure was put away for other attacks, and actually got a brain tumour and died. Now I wouldn’t wish harm on anyone, but you know – Karmas a bitch!

    Could you describe your injuries for me?
    Just completely bashed up! black eyes, busted lip and had my face cut open on my cheek. It was pretty horrific, I really think if it had gone to court it would have been attempted murder, as it happened on a bridge and they were trying to shove me off it onto the train tracks.

    What age did the abuse/bullying start?
    I guess it started when I started high school, but just words and stuff which has never bothered me. I was going out nightclubbing from 13 and hanging out with people 25+…I matured really quickly , I think i’m more immature now than I was then, and so playground bullying never bothered me, I used to play up to it really…I wore a Spice Girls puff jacket for goodness sake and had my own hair salon during lunch break! I had a great time at school, I loved it.

    Have you encountered any abuse/bullying since, in recent years?
    Not really, maybe some remarks here and there but nothing that stands out, but my friend, legendary nightclub host Phillip Salon, was brutally attacked and left for dead outside the GAP in Piccadilly, and the police claim there was no CCTV. On that corner in Piccadilly, Central London? I don’t think so. My attack happened in front of CCTV cameras, and it was claimed they just weren’t switched on. Shocking.

    When did you start dressing in drag?
    Probably when I was 16. But you know, we are born naked – everything else is drag. It comes in dribs and drabs – an eyeliner here, a heel there – I don’t really think of drag as a transformation, my clothes don’t have genitals, a man in a skirt, a girl in a nice pair of trousers it’s all the same.

    Do you think the attack has left any scars? Emotional and physical?
    I have a scar on my cheek and another on my hand, so there is that which isn’t pleasant, but some people like them. Other than that emotionally not really – I certainly gained in confidence and I think I have a really strong core and belief in myself , but I don’t know if that is a result of one attack or of living my life as true to my own self as I can, which I have always done, no apologies.

    HOMOPHOBIC HATE CRIME STATS
    The problem of hate crimes and incidents
    • One in six lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced a homophobic hate crime or incident over the last three years.
    • In the last year alone, almost one in ten lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced a homophobic hate crime or incident.
    • One in sixteen regard homophobic harassment or attacks as a big problem in their area.

    Drag Queens Of London Continues Tonight on London Live

    Freeview 8, YouView 8, Sky 117 and Virgin 159

  • INTERVIEW | Molly Smitten Downes: Eurovision – I wouldn’t say I’m an avid fan

    The UK’s Eurovision entry this year is a fresh breath of air for the UK. I chat to Molly Smitten Downes before the Finals of the world’s biggest music competition to find out that she’s a big hippy at heart, why she rates Gina G and how Hugh Jackman is a big fan!

    What are you most looking forward to about Eurovision?
    Oh gosh, loads really, but the performance the most. It’s going to be the biggest show I’ve ever done, it’s going to be an incredible experience to perform in front of that many people and to have such a big stage.

    Does 120 million viewers haunt you at all?
    A little bit… A little bit! Yes, but weirdly I feel more excited than anything. I’m genuinely excited. I feel really strongly about the song, and I’m really excited about getting everyone to hear it and to judge as they will. I don’t know if they’re going to like it or not but I’m really happy with the song, if they don’t like it, then that’s absolutely fine, but hopefully some of them will…

    Well out of 120 million, we’ll think you’ll find some fans!
    Some must, at least one or two!!! (Laughs)

    Was Children of the universe a co write or self penned?
    That was self-penned, I wrote and Anders Hansson
    produced it – he’s incredible. He’s an absolute dream to work with and he really understands my writing style and it’s amazing how much he can hear when I write. My little demos of basic chords, he just hears what I can hear and he knows how to make it into what you hear.

    What are you trying to say in your song?
    The song is about knowing your worth as a human being and feeling a bit disconnected, dreaming, feeling not really sure about yourself in the world and waking up and realising ‘you know what I believe every human is important, we all have a part to play, we’re not really sure what it is – but it’s about knowing your worth as a human being’.

    I guess I’m just a bit of a hippy… some people might find it very sickly – that message, but it’s what I believe.

    So a bit of a hippy then?
    I’m a massive hippy in fact.

    Is the UK ready for a hippy monster?
    (Laughing) I don’t know. But I think the UK is more hippy than we know. We love animals; we’re quite pioneering with human rights.

    We’re a lot more hippyish than we like to admit – but we’re quite a deep nation, I think we care a lot about issues and we’re quite rebellious and we don’t like to conform too much.

    Are you going to go for the full camp costume for Eurovision?
    It’s pretty glam, but that’s all I’m going to say. It’s going to be the most glamorous thing I’ve ever worn.

    Are you an avid fan of the show?
    I wouldn’t say I’m an avid fan… No. I used to watch it when I was little, but the last few years, I’ve lost interest in it I guess. I didn’t feel that connected to it, for whatever reason. So I’ve had to sort of do my research, after agreeing to do it. Looking at those who have come high up in the scoring, I feel like in this Country, certainly we’ve got a preconceived idea about it and a lot of people think it’s a bit naff. But if you look at the winning songs coming through, they’re really good.

    I’m really proud to be representing the UK

    To date who’s your favourite entry?
    I love Loreen – ‘Euphoria’, I think her performance two years ago was world class…

    Any UK acts?
    Not really. Not in recent years. A long time ago… Gina G was great, Katrina and the Waves obviously; she wrote that song and that means something to me. But in recent years not so much. I can’t speak highly enough of people of that ilk (Bonnie Tyler and Engelbert Humperdinck) and they were great performances, but with regards to the competition and looking at other acts that have won I think the winning acts have done well and deserve to be up there.

    What’s in store for us?
    It’s not going to be an easy competition at all, they all seem really nice and Ruth Lorenzo, is an absolute babe. It’s been really nice chatting to her.

    Last year there were quite a few gay moments… Any thing gay this year?
    I don’t know if there are any… But you know what, great if there’s a bit of controversy and rebellion, I’m all for it. You’ve got to let people be.

    If you could hang out with anyone from music history, who would it be and what would you talk about?
    I would love to hang out with Debbie Harry… I feel like her coolness might rub off on me. And John Lennon, I really believe he had such good ideas about peace and the potential of human nature, I really like his ethic.

    Are you going to be keeping sober after the performance?
    Hell no. Not even a little bit.

    Have you practiced your poker face for when we’re not getting Douze point?
    I’ve got, unfortunately, one of those faces that really like says how I’m feeling, I might find it really hard… I’ll be trashing the green room.

    Is there a diva streak in you?
    Probably, when I get tired and under pressure, I do get a bit snappy, but generally no, I’m not high maintenance or anything. Just normal. I wish I was a bit more of a diva actually. It could be quite fun to make diva-ish demands and say things like… ‘Hey where’s my champagne?’

    Who was the last celebrity you spoke to and what did you talk about?
    Mark Feely from west life, he was at my gig last night, so we talked about my gig, he said, I’ve got a great voice and he really enjoyed the show.

    So he’s a bit of a fan then?
    I think so, (giggles)

    Any other VIP fans?
    Hugh Jackman after Graham Norton (show)! He was really nice, I’m not sure if I’ve got any VIP fans.

    How are you finding the newfound fame?
    It’s a whole new level! Fine… Yeah, good actually! I was a bit sort of thinking what was going to happen. I didn’t know what to expect really, but it’s been fine and fun actually. I don’t think my profile is quite getting stopped on the street or anything, although I did get spotted in Stockholm and that was really surreal. That was fun. I’ve not really had a chance to take it all in, because it’s all happened so fast at the minute.

    Is there anything so far in your career that demands that you be added to the rock and roll hall of fame?
    Hummmm, getting the goody bag after the Graham Norton show. In the dressing room there was this amazing goody bag, with all really nice products in and I was so excited is as was like ‘Ahhhhhhhhh. Free stuff!’ They were like, ‘It’s so nice that your excited about the goody bag, so many celebs don’t even take it…’ And I was like WHAT? These people are mad! It’s free, so I love a freebie.

    Do you have a favourite phrase or saying?
    Reach for the top of the trees and you won’t leave the ground. Reach for the stars and you might reach the top of the trees…

    Ooooft that’s deep, where did you get that from?
    A nun! I went to a convent school!

    Milly Smitten Downes will be performing at the Eurovision Finals Saturday 10th May

  • INTERVIEW | Tara McDonald – I’m a poundland girl!

    One of hardest working vocalists, musicians and gay icons known to man Tara McDonald is almost ready to unleash her debut album – but this won’t have been the first time you’ve heard her steel-like vocals. Remember the Armand Van Helden hit MY MY MY back in 2005 – yes that’s her, remember the Axwell stonker FEEL THE VIBE Yes that’s her, David Guetta DELIRIOUS? Yep that’s her. Gay boys I present… Tara, performing at Prides around the UK in 2014.

    Sooooooo Tara, since our last interview, what have you been up to?
    It’s been a crazy year, lots of touring, finishing my album (which will be released this year on Mercury/Universal), writing songs for other artists and continuing to work on my radio show called “I Like This Beat”. The radio show is now weekly on Gaydio radio every Sunday at 9pm in the UK and every Friday on JemmOne radio. Its also now weekly in over 50 countries and on 56 FM stations worldwide and still growing! I’m actually going to call my album “I Like This Beat” too.

    Oh and I also now have a cute little dog, she’s a miniature Schnauzer called Annie and she’s featured in my new music video.

    Tell us a little more about your single Shooting Star… Some of it’s in French…. Ooooo la la!
    That’s right I’ve made a duet with the French Canadian singer Zaho called “Shooting Star” it’s now in the top 15 on French radio and I’m here in Paris today on promotion. Zaho is really cool, she’s like the French Alicia Keys and has made 6 studio albums and sold platinum so I was very honoured that she wanted to work with me and make a record together. I co wrote and produced the song with Duvall and Maegan Cottone which are the team behind Little Mix’s hit song Move. Shooting Star is written from the heart and very personal to me as it’s all about my truth, going for the things I want in life and making them happen and to stop being afraid. It’s a really positive song and I guess I wrote it as I needed to hear this message to push myself forward. Zaho had just come out of a long relationship and her part of the song is about going through hard times and coming out the other side stronger.

    The video for Shooting Star is very true to my life, the shooting took place in East London around my neighbourhood and I wanted to highlight an issue that’s really important to me, equality (for love, for race, for gender). I really wanted to show people of all races in the clip and I also have a scene in the clip with a gay wedding and my dog got to be a princess for the day in a chauffeured car wearing a crown and a pearl necklace.

    Shooting Star – video clip youtube.com/watch?v=7eoh0iL1gPo

    You’re constantly travelling around the world – what are your essentials that you have to take – any secret tips for getting upgraded?
    I always say good manners take you places, I would like people to remember me for being kind and not for that rude bitch on the plane. Having said that if you are a push over in life, you will be pushed over. Being typically English complaining doesn’t come naturally to me and I could easily sit in silence, but luckily it does come naturally to my amazing French tour manager who can eloquently express himself and so now I’m always upgraded or given compensation for any service that’s not up to par and I still get to be the nice one. If anyone wants to borrow him for a road trip just tweet me @taramcdonaldTV.

    Essentials that I always take are sunglasses and a few pairs coz I think no matter how tired you are sunglasses are an instant glamour reviver! I’m also really into my vintage 90’s Junior Jean Paul Gaultier plaid jacket which is massive and cozy so perfect for travelling coz I always get cold on the plane. Also I have a classic Chanel handbag which is the best organiser, there’s so many dividers in the bag that I’m organised and fabulous 😉 I’m a big fan of MakeUpForever cosmetics and they have a great range of waterproof and long lasting products which stay put morning to night so perfect for me, it’s not available in shops in the UK yet, only online, but I always get mine in Paris or when I’m touring in America.

    Now, you’ve gotten yourself a bit of a gay fan base… (naturally!) Are we going to be seeing a lot more campness from the McDonald this year?
    Well, I should co co! I’ve been splashing out on lots of new costumes and have found a great designer that I collaborate with to create some incredible one off pieces for big events that I’m performing in called EABurns who also makes incredible jewellery. Some of my favourite events I’ve performed at are gay events, I really look forward to Pride and are so grateful for the gay community for opening its arms to me and I can’t wait till the next time.

    The secret to youth is?
    Botox! No not really (although that can help) I think the secret to youth is doing something that you love. I think my job keeps me young because it never feels like work and I’ll happily spend 24 hours on a plane just so I can sing to people or spend days in a basement studio with no windows (which would be hell to some people) but feels amazing to me as I’m creating new music.

    What do you think the hot trends for 2014 are going to be?
    Musically speaking I think more deep house and 90’s inspired tracks. Fashion wise I was hoping that Buffalo shoes are gonna make a big comeback as I’ve bought quite a few pairs on eBay, I think I’m having an early midlife crisis!… My other prediction is my album “I Like This Beat” being massive!

    You’ve done a few gigs in Russia, have you managed to connect with any gay fans whilst out there?
    It’s funny you should mention that as I’m going to Moscow this month and I’m very interested to perform there, my tour manager that’s coming with me on this trip is gay. I have performed in a gay club in Moscow last year but of course it wasn’t openly a gay club… It’s a real backward step that Russia has taken and has shocked the rest of the civilised world with its new policies. I started working with a gay charity last year called Warriors for Love in The Netherlands in conjunction with Amnesty International, which aims to promote equality for love no matter who you love worldwide. It’s amazing to hear about the work they are doing and it’s so easy to forget how lucky we are in Europe to the freedom we have and the equal rights we have compared to other places in the world.

    Marry Snog Avoid: Justin Bieber, Boy George, Jessie J?
    I think I’d snog Jessie J, Marry Boy George as I know he’ll keep me laughing even though I think our sex life would be non existent for obvious reasons and I would avoid Justin Beiber (not because of him as an artist, we performed together in Paris last year as we are both on the same record label and he was amazing live) I just think it’s cruel to have a monkey as a pet, so not down with that.

    The best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
    Never eat yellow snow 😉

    Complete the sentence: If all fails and you’ve only got £10 in your pocket…
    Don’t worry you can still buy 10 things in Poundland 😀

  • INTERVIEW | John Krokidas director of Kill Your Darlings

    Kill Your Darlings follows Alan Ginsberg and the so-called ‘Beat Poets’ during their years at Columbia University in the early 1940’s. Bored and dissatisfied by the old views of the university, Alan is quickly taken in by fellow student Lucien Carr, who seems hell-bent on destroying the old and creating something new. Along with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, the group explores new ideas that would go on to be one of the greatest American literature movements of the century. As the group explores love, lust, sex, and drugs, events unfold that would ultimately change their lives forever. We spoke recently with John Krokidas, co-writer and director of Kill Your Darlings.

    What was it about this particular episode of Alan Ginsberg’s life that made you want to tell this story?
    Well, I wrote this story with my college roommate Austin Bunn about 10 or 11 years ago now. Austin was studying playwriting and I was just finishing studying to be a director, and we often shared creative ideas with each other. Austin came to me and said ‘John have you heard about this story, about the murder of David Kammerer, that brought all the beat poets together and started the revolution?’ I had never heard this story before, but Austin and I were both obsessed with the Beats at the same time, so finding out that there was a kind of like secret story of history untold that brought together our favourite authors and started them on their way to creating maybe the greatest American literary movement of the 20th century, it was really fascinating to me. He’s telling me this, though, because he wanted to write a play about it, of course, I start seeing the movie version flicker on and off in the back of my head.

    I completely convinced him, using my best Jedi mind trick, that a play would be really flat, and there’d be no proper way to tell this story on stage, but in cinema, it could really be brought to life. I convinced him/suckered him into collaborating with me in writing the screenplay, and telling him that I would direct it. But why this story? Besides my best friend coming to me 11 years ago and telling me this really great idea for a movie, I would say the thing at the heart of this for me – this movie took a long-ass time to get made, it came together and fell apart so many times over the last decade – but that there was always something that kept me up at night about it, that really pissed me off about it, and that made me want to tell it for so long, and that’s the fact that in the states in 1944, you could literally get away with murder by portraying your victim as a homosexual. I mean, that’s crazy!

    It was called an Honour killing, and it still exists in several countries around the world, although obviously, there’s been an international lens on countries that are still so homophobic that they have this so ingrained in their criminal justice system, but just to think that in my own country, 60-70 years ago, that this was possible, and that this kind of ugly stain on American history, is what ironically started one of the most gay-positive art movements of the last 100-150 years. That to me was kind of fascinating and infuriating at the same time. Ginsberg is somebody who, I’ve realised as I’ve gotten older, all the musicians, all the artists that you fell in love within your high school and university, college years, those are the ones that stay with you for life, like when it’s a rainy day, and you have a task to do, you don’t always put on the new stuff you just heard about, you go to the same seminal 5 or 6 albums that changed your life when you were 19 – which is great for me cause it’s all back in vogue right now – but the same thing with artists, theirs are the books you buy when you’re 20 that stay with you forever.

    Alan Ginsberg’s book I found when I was a closeted kid, in a suburban town in the states, I was 15-16 years old, I hadn’t come out to anyone, and somebody came out anonymously to the high school newspaper, and the reaction in my school was ‘who’s the f**king faggot we’re gonna kill him’ and I was so shocked, so terrified that I put a clamp down on my own personal self-discovery, and deciding that I would have to wait until I could leave this town and go to college before I can really figure out who the hell I am. Then I remember hearing somebody talk about Allan Ginsberg as a gay poet in a derogatory way like ‘that gay poet’ and of course to me, at the age of 15, I went gay poet? Where, who? Where can I find this guy? I drove all the way to the bookstore in the shopping mall, to the poetry section (when there were still bookstores – you couldn’t look all this stuff up on the interwebs, you had to do it in person) and I remember reading a collected volume of Alan Ginsberg’s works, and it felt like I was reading a dirty novel in the back of the book store, and I was going to get caught somehow, by somebody I knew, or one of my parent’s friends, but in it, his work was so open and so brave about his sexuality, about his thoughts on the country, and his thoughts on his people, and wanting us all to just take off our masks and be who we wanted to be, and I forged that special connection with him and kept reading his work at the age of 15-16, and hoping that one day I could be that brave myself, and be able to tell the story about how he became brave enough to find his own voice and start the beat movement. It was academically fascinating to me, and very personally fulfilling as well.

    And what was the experience like finally bringing it all together on screen?
    Oh my god we had the best time on set; we had no money, I had like 9 famous people, it was my
    first film, but everyone was in such good spirits, you know, cared about this movie just as much as I did, but it was like going back to high school theatre camp, with everybody saying ‘Let’s just put on a show’ and running around the city in period costume, – I shot this faster than any of my student films, at university – Because of that, we shot the movie, and it was very fast for a feature film, which was 24 shooting days, where you’re shooting like 5 pages a day and you know, you have to shoot basically every scene in two hours, every angle, every side. I remember after shooting the movie, Radcliffe said he wished every movie could be shot in 24 days, and I was like ‘are you insane?’ we were like having to run away from the producers in order to get the coverage we needed, but it was so liberating to him and then all of us, when you don’t have that much money, or time, you just gotta trust your instinct, you don’t have time to get nervous about things, or over think things, or, you just you’re working together on a ridiculously insane deadline and you’re just giving it all you’ve got. And a movie about young passion, young creation, and screaming and trying to find your voice, that kind of speed and flurry of emotion and intensity just kinda fit, and it really just started to shape what the voice of the movie was.

    We’re all still friends, I had dinner with Radcliffe and Dane last Friday, and then we played stupid card games until 2 in the morning. I call Ben Foster for emotional advice in my life – he’s like my therapist. Everyone in this movie we still keep in touch with, it was just kind of one of those really special experiences.

    Did anyone have any ‘diva’ moments, anyone threw any tantrums on set?
    Tantrums? On this set? Thankfully, there were no Diva moments allowed. Here’s one of the many reasons, #27 out of the 420 reasons I love Daniel Radcliffe, is that he is one of the most professional and kind people I have ever met, He gets to know the names of everyone on the set, no matter if you’re the director or the production assistant. He says hello to everyone and he treats everyone like a human being, and he refuses to let the filmmaking process ever be about him, ego or personality. And let me tell you something, when you’re the #1 or the star on the call sheet and you act in that manner, it trickles down, and it creates a kind of environment on set where you know that kind of behaviour is not allowed.

    You said you had a bunch of famous people on set, a group who are really well known for other things: Harry Potter, Dexter, etc. did you ever have a time when you were worried that their existing character would follow them in this film? Especially with Daniel Radcliffe: playing another lead character with glasses that it might be seen as ‘Oh another harry potter thing’?
    Well, the only time I ever had that concern was the choosing of the glasses and making sure the glasses weren’t the same. Otherwise, absolutely not. And you know why? He auditioned for me, and I saw the work and I saw how amazing he was, and if anything it was knowing that I was holding on to this exciting thing and the world didn’t know what was coming for him.

    You cast Daniel quite early on right, and then he wasn’t available and you had to come back to him.
    So, it must be like 5 years now, Christine Vachon, the legendary film producer who did everything from Kids, to I shot Andy Warhol, Far from Heaven, Boys don’t cry, you name it, all the cool movies coming out of NY in the 90’s the 00’s and now, she came onto the movie like 5 years ago, and we started putting together a cast list back then. I remember coming up with a list of all the young actors who we believed were smart enough and empathetic enough to play a young Alan Ginsberg. When I wrote down the name, Daniel Radcliffe, I thought to myself, hmm that one’s interesting, because the arch of the character Alan Ginsberg in the movie goes from someone who’s kind of been a dutiful son his whole life and only shown the world one side of him, to really finding his voice over the course of the film and by the end of it, having all this anger and passion and love, and showing people, and being a self-proclaimed poet and a rebel, and showing the world that there’s so much more to him than they previously thought, and I was like ‘huh, I wonder if the person Daniel Radcliffe – who I did not know at that time – could identify with this role. So I just sent the script to his agent, and it’s one of those great things where the agent loved it and gave it to Dan, and Dan loved it, next thing I knew I’m having an actor date with him, after seeing him in Equus. This was how long ago it was – Equus in New York City. And the two of us just started hanging out. And he offered to audition for me, and he offered to audition for me. I said ‘of course, are you kidding me?’ What actor offers to audition? What movie star? He wanted to make sure that he fit, that he had all the emotional qualities that I saw when I was writing this movie. It was also a good way, it was my first film, my first movie star. We had to make sure that that working relationship would be good, that that trust would be there. That we could really open ourselves up in front of each other to get the best work that we could out of each other. Obviously, it was a great time. I’ll give you the whole story, it takes another 3 minutes, though.

    I’ve got the time if you have the time….
    So Daniel Radcliffe auditions for me, and I tell Christine ‘I think I wanna cast Dan’ and she called his agent and his agent said Dan would love nothing more, but I need to remind you that he’s not available for 2 more years, he’s got two more HP films to do, and we had a potential investor who did not want to wait two years, and so I went with my other first choice for the movie which was the actor Jesse Eisenberg, So I built a whole cast around Jessie with actors that I really loved: Ben Whishaw as Lucian, Chris Evans as Kerouac, Lukas Haas as Burroughs, and we put that version of the movie together. But that financier that we had, ended up being a fraud, as many independent financiers, I’ve discovered in life, often happen to be, and disappeared. There went the money for our film. We found another potential investor and they decided ultimately to pick another project over this one, and there went that money. Then the Social Network came out, and all of a sudden Jessie became this huge Internationally known household name, and we had new investors calling us, but then Jessie called me, and told me that after SN he felt like he had just played the most iconic ivy league student in his life and that it was time for him to play grown-ups now. Which was fair, but now I had no movie and no movie star. The whole movie looked like it was done. And I looked at the calendar and realised it has been two years since I talked to Daniel. I did what they always tell you never to do, he had written me an email, right after our first meeting, telling me what a great time he had, I had an email address.

    So I wrote him at 2 in the morning, this long, ex-girlfriend-pleading email, begging him if he still remembered me or the project, wanting to do it, and I hoped that he didn’t think I was stalking him (Oh my god I just used the word stalking!) So I wrote this monster mammoth email and pressed send. And then went Oh my god, what have I done? The next morning I wake up and look at my inbox and there’s an email from Daniel Radcliffe. The answer to the question would you still like to be part of this movie, there’s a one-word response: Absof**kinglutely. So with that email, I began to build the movie and the cast around Dan. So he’s been by my side helping me get this movie made, specifically, really by my side the last 3.

    It’s certainly an excellent film, I was in tears in some parts, rolling on the floor in others.
    Thank you, it’s my first child, so that means a lot.

    Now all your darlings are dead, I’d like to know what’s next for you?
    I’m working with Fox Searchlight, bringing an adaptation of one of my favourite stories, called standard loneliness package, by an author Charles Yu, and that’s being written right now. I wrote a script for Fox, A contemporary retelling of an old Terrance Stamp movie called the Collector. I’m always looking with Dan to see if there’s a way we can work together again.

    Kill Your Darlings is available now on DVD and Blu-Ray across the UK and from Amazon and Apple Store

  • INTERVIEW | Kian Egan

    INTERVIEW | Kian Egan

    Whether you loved them or hated them or fell somewhere in the middle, there’s no doubt that Westlife dominated the pop scene at the turn of the century. With their boyish good looks, solid harmonies and Ronan Keating acting as their manager (although I’m not sure how much managing he actually did) they were destined for success. With hit following hit the boys became a household name and its individual members became known to girls, gays and mums across the country: you’ve got the main singer, the less pretty singer, the gay singer, the pretty ex-footballer and… the other one.

    Kian Egan
    CREDIT: Ray Burmiston PR Supplied

    However, since his triumphant emergence from the jungle in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, the other one has become known now as Kian Egan (that’s his actual name, just in case I was confusing anyone) and has released his own solo material for the first time ever. He may not have said much whilst he was in Westlife but he had the best body and he married a pop singer who was in Hollyoaks; I think it’s time we heard what he had to say.

    How are you feeling with the upcoming release of the album and the single?
    Yeah I’m feeling good, I’m excited. It’s nerve wrecking but exciting. But I’m just kinda going with the flow and hopefully it’s gonna do ok.

    Tell me about the album, what sort of sound can we expect from you?
    Well to be honest I don’t feel it’s a million miles away from what we used to do in Westlife, I feel like it’s still kind of balladry but it’s not too balladry y’know. It’s got a lot more guitar in it, a bit more of a rock beat, got a bit more of a drive in it.

    Did you have a specific direction in mind when you started putting the album together?
    Well for me it was about music that I love. I think making an album like this as a solo artist, coming out of a band like Westlife, it’s not about selling millions of records and doing the big thing all over again. I can’t imagine that’ll ever happen. So it was just about doing something that I was really passionate about, and that’s why the album sounds the way it sounds, the songs that I picked are the songs that I love, that I would personally listen to. So that’s the way I went about it and I just think it’s so important that when you’re making something on your own as an individual that it’s passion-filled. That it’s just raw passionate emotion and that’s what I’m trying to do with this album. I’ve definitely poured my heart into this album so fingers crossed that people hear that when they listen to it y’know?

    Why did you choose Daughtry’s song for your first single?
    Again it’s just that that’s the type of music that I love, that type of rock power ballad, emotional song, and all the boxes that needed to be ticked are ticked in that song. It’s not your typical slushy ballad it’s more of a kind of a drivey pushy rock ballad and that’s the type of music that I love. And for me Daughtry are the modern day ballad rock group. I think I rocked it a tiny bit it’s not as heavy as Daughtry did if you listen to Daughtry’s version compared to my version the guitars aren’t as loud and things like that. I’ve put piano on it and I’ve got strings on mine whereas theirs is a down and out rock band. I feel the rock element is there but at the same time not alienating anybody by making it too rocky.

    What was the process of recording the album?
    It all happened very quickly to be honest, I started recording in January. I got offered this record deal after doing the TV show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and when I won that show I came out of the jungle, came back to the UK and got offered a record deal and before I knew it I was in the studio recording an album. And now here I am about to release it so it’s been fairly manic it’s been fairly full on.

    Who’ve you had the chance to work with?
    Y’know I made the whole album with a guy called Brian Rawling who’s a very famous record producer he’s made massive amounts of albums throughout his career and sold millions and millions of records. So when his name was mentioned I knew exactly who he was. I knew the music that he’d made and I think it’s important that between the artist and producer that you can talk together, that you can express each others’ feelings. Because it is a collaboration when it comes to making an album with a producer; he understood me very well and I understood him very well and I think we got a very good balance on the album, of the sound of the album between what he likes and what I like.

    Was it hard choosing songs for the album?
    We kind of just did it song by song, we weren’t sitting there saying we’ve got our song list let’s go. It was like we definitely want to record this song so let’s record it and see how it turns out. We recorded quite a few songs that didn’t end up on the album, some songs that just didn’t turn out as strong as the others. They didn’t necessarily fit the sound of the whole album so things like that were starting to happen here and there. This is the type of album that I wanna make and this song doesn’t necessarily fit this sound and that was kind of how it worked. We just did it song by song, I definitely wanted to record this one, then definitely wanted to record that one, so I went into the studio and recorded them all, so y’know we put them together and then all of a sudden we had ten songs and an album that we thought was the right album.

    Have you chosen the singles you want to release?
    I’m gonna play it by ear I think is the best thing to do, this is the first single and y’know after that we’re just gonna have to see what the reactions like to the album and see what everybody likes. So it’s a bit early to be jumping on that bandwagon so we’re just gonna wait and see.

    Are you nervous about being by yourself for this album?
    Well y’know it’s definitely nerve wrecking having done it the other way with four other people but at the same time there’s a lot less pressure for me personally. I think in my life I never expected this opportunity to come my way, so for me I was kind of like yeah, that’ll never happen, so when the offer came in I was like wow. It’s not about selling millions of albums like I said, it’s more about the opportunity to do it and I’ve got to do it. That’s what’s special to me, being able to do it on your own and not necessarily y’know, coming away from such a huge machine that was Westlife. It can be quite weird, but I’m just really enjoying it and just kind of like taking every day as it comes.

    Kian Egan
    CREDIT: Ray Burmiston PR Supplied

    What are you looking forward to doing differently now that it’s just you?
    When it comes to the music and it comes to the videos it’s not that I would do anything differently it’s just it’s all my ideas rather than four people’s blend of ideas y’know? So from that perspective I’m kind of like y’know what I wanna have is the guitar around my neck in the video and I wanna be rocking out with my band, I want to feel like the front man of a rock band rather than just me out there on my own. I want it to have that feel and that’s what I really like about it because it is that feel to me so I suppose that’s one thing that I’m definitely doing different. But I don’t think it’s too different y’know, I don’t think it’s dramatically different. The video is as bright and shiny as the videos that I did in Westlife but just a bit more raw, just a bit more me I suppose.

    What’s been the reaction you’ve received from your fans, especially the gay fans?
    Y’know I’ve had a lovely reaction to be honest I’ve had loads of lovely support from everybody in the gay community but I don’t see it as any different to anything else. They’re just people that are being really nice to me about what I’m doing and that supported me this far whether it be Westlife or coming out of the jungle or doing this solo project y’know? I’ve just had fantastic support from everybody. I don’t really pay attention to whether they’re gay or straight but y’know I’d love to get into G-A-Y and play there at some point.

    Have you been in touch with the other guys to get advice about launching a solo career?
    No. There’s nothing like that with the boys, we’re all just doing our own thing as individuals, I think if we were all to sit around and give each other advice then we might as well be back in a band together. I mean that’s the whole point, we’re all leaving each other to our own devices. We all sing differently and think differently and that’s what makes the world go round in general doesn’t it? From that perspective I think it’s best that we just let each other do things our own way.

    Do you have time for normal things? Do you get to go for a coffee or go to the gym?
    The gym hasn’t kicked my ass in a very long time, I lost loads of weight in the jungle came out f***ing skinnier than I’ve ever looked in my life which was fabulous but now I’m back to where I was before I reckon. It’s kind of like all gone downhill. But once the summer kicks in I’ll start getting back into it, start getting back into shape, getting to the gym a bit. To be honest right now any time I have off I just wanna get home and chill out with my wife and my little boy.

    Well if you wanna get back into G-A-Y you’re gonna have to get back into the gym that’s all I’m saying.
    I know I know.

    So how are things going on The Voice, have you come across anyone yet that

    Y’know this is year three of The Voice for me, this is the third season that we’ve done in Ireland. To be honest with ya it’s a bit early to call it yet at this time of year. I mean yeah I’ve met lots of people throughout the years but I don’t think we’ve met that superstar yet. It could be that they’ve not stood out enough yet because we haven’t seen them enough, but right now I don’t think we’ve found the superstar that we’re all looking for.

    This interview was taken from Issue 3

  • INTERVIEW | Lisa Stansfield

    INTERVIEW | Lisa Stansfield

    This is the first time I’ve had to interview someone I feel like I grew up with, that I shared some of my most intimate moments with, that made me laugh and cry, made me shake my tushie round the living room – and still wanted to meet up and have a pint with.

    I should point out that when I say sharing the most intimate moments with, we weren’t actually in the same room, town or probably country… but you get my drift, I do mean as a soundtrack.

    The lovely Lisa Stansfield is back. After a brief recording sojourn, she’s here with one hell of an album and is working that whole media circus in her inimitable way. “Seven” (this is her 7th album) is chock full of tracks you feel you know but don’t – her style is here in full force, those vocals, that initial breath before she launches into a track that’ll tear your soul out and stomp all over it, and then make you dance like no-ones watching with the next track.

    I got the chance to chat with Lisa (I still can’t believe it!) and ask the Rochdale chanteuse what she’s been up to and what makes her tick.

    First up, I asked about the influences on this album…

    LS: Same as they always have been really, they are the reasons I got into music, Motown, R&B, Northern Soul.

    So, on this album, any favourite tracks?

    LS: When you make an album, it’s all very personal emotionally. An example is the track Conversation which makes no sense and everyone asks me what it’s about and I can’t tell them – but it makes them cry with its raw emotion.

    It’s been a long time since the last studio album, why the gap and what’s been happening?

    LS: I don’t see it as a gap. I’ve continued working, biding my time. Why bother making music if you have to compromise? These days it feels like if you’re not in the spotlight 24/7 then people forget you. I prefer to make work that’s timeless, doesn’t date, rather than something that’s trendy.

    So how does it feel to be more Radio 2 than Radio 1 these days?

    LS: Things shift and audiences change or grow older. Radio 1 isn’t the same as when I was younger, it seems less mainstream – that’s more Radio 2 these days.

    How do you feel about the current state of the music industry?

    LS: There are 2 sides, manufactured versus integrity. It’s always been like that though. You can feel empowered by taking your time, owning your work, putting your stamp on it rather than being told what to do and with some Svengali in the background.

    Lisa’s personal sense of style has always been a talking point – remember the kiss curl and bakers boy caps back in the day? For Jools Hollands Hootenanny, she showed how to grow up and look classy and still relevant (lisa-stansfield.com/lisa-on-jools-hollands-hootenanny)

    I asked her what input she had on this?

    LS: I’m in control of what I wear, I have to be comfortable with it and not wear something that’s simply given to me. I work with a fabulous stylist called Johnnie Blue Eyes. He understands what I like and I’ll ring him and say “I’m thinking of wearing this with that and those” and he’ll come back with “yeah, but add that too” and it works.

    It’s part of being who I am.

    With it being 25 years since the release of All Around The World, I asked if she still listens to her back catalogue?

    LS: No! Do I f**k! Once you’ve done an album and done the promotion and tour, you tend to move on to create the next. It’s funny but Ian and I (husband and co-writer/producer Ian Devaney) did a Greatest Hits a few years ago, and we had to listen to the back catalogue to choose the material, and when we were done, we looked at each other and said god, we’re good! You forget some of the material you’ve created and hearing it together was unusual.

    Some may be surprised by Lisa’s acting career – having appeared in several films and TV series already, she is set to star in the upcoming title: Northern Soul (imdb.com/title/tt1837613/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1), an uplifting look at the world of all-nighters, flares and American soul music via a town up North. She stars alongside Steve Coogan, Ricky Tomlinson and John Thomson.

    LS: Love acting, it’s looking at a character, getting inside them, finding their identity. I’m very excited about this film.

    I asked if she had plans to do more?

    LS: I’d love to, and might once my schedule calms down.

    As the clock was ticking, I asked Lisa why she thought she was so popular with a gay audience? Was it her torch song prowess? Her ability to convey emotions so strong in her music? With typical Northern bluntness:

    LS: Honestly, I don’t know but I think it’s because I don’t take shit from people and I stick up for my friends.

    You have to love this woman, she tells it like it is!Feeling daring, I asked if she had an inner Diva she hid from the public? Was she the kind that demanded only yellow M&M’s in her dressing room?

    LS: I think everyone has an inner Diva but to be truthful I’m an inanimate object first thing in the morning, I’m just human! I tend to live with whatever’s given on tour, no major demands – except for monkey balls!

    Forgive me here dear reader, I had to ask….

    LS: It’s a Chinese herbal medicine for your throat. I had a sore throat one morning and couldn’t see me going on that night, and was given one of these and it worked. Now I take them with me on tour. It’s this tiny herb that you put in water and it swells up to the size of, well, a monkey’s ball but it soothes your throat!

     

    And on that note, I’ll leave you to purchase a copy of the wonderful new album, “Seven”.

     

    Me? I’ll be off down the pub with the lovely Lisa to bitch and gossip the night away… ∎

     

     

     

  • INTERVIEW | Christopher Camplin

    If, like me, you’re a fan of social media, tumblr and Pinterest, Christopher Camplin will be no stranger to you – even if you only recognise the beard! Or, you may have seen or heard him play at one of the many nights he DJ’s and promotes. Either way, he embodies a new generation – a portfolio career generation who now survive by doing a multitude of things, making sure they earn good income but doing what makes them happy.

    I got the chance recently to chat with Chris and discuss the variety of sides to his work life, and his beard:

    So, how would you describe yourself in terms what you do?
    Model, DJ, Web Developer / Designer & Club promoter! An unusual mix I know

    As someone I see as having a true portfolio career that spans several areas, which is your favourite?
    It’s difficult to say which is my favourite as all have their pros & cons, like any job. Web development is really steady and there’s a lot of work out there, I recently went freelance & fortunately get calls from recruiters all the time. On the other hand it’s pretty antisocial and requires hours in front of a computer. Modelling has been great fun for me and I’ve been lucky enough to shoot with some lovely people in interesting situations & locations even travelling around Europe, working with Huskies & some people who became great friends. If I had to choose I would probably say DJing is my favourite, that moment when the crowd really gets into what you’re playing & the whole dance-floor is moving, there’s nothing quite like the feeling it gives you. I had almost stopped regular clubbing when I was asked to come & play little gay brother & it’s brought me back onto the scene and I am really glad about this. Terry (Vietheer) & I recently played in Berlin & the people there were going crazy, it was so cool to play to such a responsive crowd.

    You’re very tech orientated in your main job role – how did you get into this and how does it feed into your other interests?
    I got into the web development by accident really, I chose a university degree that was 50% analytical work and 50% vocational which allowed me to try video editing, sound editing as well as Flash and conventional Web development. From there I started making websites for people to earn a bit of extra money on the side and when I graduated I continued doing that whilst working At the Eagle, The Hoist & Comptons – after this I found a job working on Apple’s European websites. That was a lucky break as I got to go & work in California 4/5 times a year as well as learn a great deal from top developers.
    All this has come in very useful recently as I now make all the flyers & do any web work for our parties & as a full time career choice it seems to have been recession proof.\\

    As one-half of Camplin & Vietheer, what are your influences when it comes to your DJ sets?
    I would say I have been influenced by a wide range of sources. I’ve been on the London club scene since I was about 15 & 13 years of clubbing means I can draw from a wide range of DJs & unique experiences I’ve had over the years. I started going to places like Trade, Crash, Nag Nag Nag & The Cock, when I was probably far too young to be going to those places! I even used to hand out flyers for Trade & Salvation back then. The weekend would start at Atelier @ The End, then via Fiction @ The Cross, Crash, Trade & DTPM and usually end at Orange Monday morning at what was then the Viaduct! A really bizarre place that eventually became what is now Fire. I also was lucky enough to go to Circoloco @ DC10 in Ibiza during it’s early years and even Berghain in Berlin, I also went to the first Horse Meat Disco party in Soho & eventually spent some time working behind the bar at the Eagle which opened my eyes to Disco, something I had never really appreciated before but that I have grown to love. I’m also a big fan of the Blues, Soul, Motown, rock and a whole host of other genres which combined with the influences of these parties over the years, and a youthful love for UK garage and even Drum & Bass before I came out have given me a wide knowledge of music that I try to draw on when selecting tracks for a mix.

    How easy is it to collaborate on something most of us see as personal taste? Any arguments or is it match made in Heaven? Do you DJ alone?
    I think Terry & i compliment each other really well, he brings a different set of influences to our mixes & we often keep each other on our toes but also play records that the other would have probably played anyway. We have our differences like any relationship but no real arguments as yet! Of course a bit of discussion often goes into recording a mix.

    Describe your sound? Do you have a recognisable sound?
    I would foremost describe my ‘sound’ as HOUSE but that can incorporate Detroit, Chicago, New York, Garage, Deep, Tech, Techno, Disco, Funk, Soul & more… I like to find that balance between self indulgence & reading the crowd… I was until recently purely a digital DJ, using my Laptop & Traktor. Recently I managed to get hold of a pair of Technics 1210s & have started collecting vinyl & learning to beat match, which has been a tough learning curve but i think it’s essential for someone taking DJing seriously.

    Obviously, you’re on Soundcloud – how do you use media like this?
    Soundcloud is a great tool that I use to both share and discover music, it’s become the standard for a lot of DJs to post mixes & samples of their new tracks. There are pros & cons like with many new music technologies but being exposed to and able to share even more music has been great

    Where can people hear you play? What nights do you do and where?
    The next Little Gay Brother is going to be on 15 March @ Dalston Superstore and is called Chip Butty ( I’m making the flyer tonight) Terry & I have so far played Jodie Harsh’s Room Service In Soho, Lee Dyers’ Dirty Diana, and gigs in Berlin & will be playing Beyond @ Area in the near future + Dalston Superstore’s 5th Birthday in the coming weeks.

    I play at myself & Clayton Wright’s party Little Gay Brother which has a residency @ Dalston Superstore as well as touring several festivals over the summer. I can’t say which festivals we’ll be at as nothing is 100% confirmed but the summer is shaping up to be a lot of fun! I Over the coming weeks you can hear me play @ TheMenWhoFellToEarth, Meat & the next Little Gay Brother party @ Dalston Superstore on the 15th March. I also have a weekly residency at Gym Box, Bank on Wednesdays.

    You are also have a major presence on other social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter. Are these for business or pleasure or are the two interchangeable?
    Facebook & Twitter were initially for pleasure but I suppose they have increased publicity for me and as a DJ / Model I suppose it becomes business as well as pleasure. I try & keep things like that to a minimum because i worry that I can have too much exposure if I’m not careful. I bet my friends & family must be sick of the site of all those pictures that have been so popular. A lot of the time other users post & tag me rather than me promoting my own stuff.

    Moving into your modelling, how did you start in this area?
    My first foray into modelling happened about 7 years ago… I was Beyond when it used to be @ Club Colluseum in Vauxhall & i met twins Jodie & Bayo who run The Eye Casting. They were looking for a guy from the street to be in a nude shoot for GQ Style & Tom Ford, quite a major name to work for a first time! I never imagined anything more would come of it but after that but I was approached by stylist Toby Grimditch who has become a close friend of mine. He also was looking for guy from the street , this time one who could walk for J.W Anderson’s MAN show @ London Fashion week. Toby also introduced me to other people in the fashion world & gradually i was getting calls from various people. A few years ago I signed up with Models 1 in Covent Garden & more recently have moved to Established – an agency started by some of people originally behind Models 1. This year i have already done a shoot for Hero magazine &VisitBritain & have had a few interesting castings i can’t mention now…
    http://www.establishedmodels.com/model/christopher-camplin/

    You’ve done catwalk and studio – so which do you prefer and why?
    I really prefer studio as it’s a much more relaxed atmosphere & you have more chances to get the shot right!

    What “names” have you worked for?
    I’ve worked for Tom Ford, GQ, ID, Vidal Sassoon, Walter Van Beirendonck, Simon Foxton, Hero magazine, Nick Knight to name a few…

    Your “Google” image search has such a range – from the fully clothed and quite straight forward to the full frontal – any preference?
    I’m more happy doing fully clothed shoots really…but, if it’s tasteful enough I’d consider doing nude again.

    Do you find it easy doing nude work? You do seem at ease in your underwear – is this true?
    I have no real problem doing nude work although i would never do porn…I wouldn’t call myself a conventional underwear model but I’m pretty comfortable in my underwear yes…

    You are known for your look, which obviously includes the beard – yet you shaved it off for a Fantastic Man feature. How did that feel? And how long did it take to grow it back?
    When i first shaved it off I hated it, it didn’t feel right… I started growing the beard as soon as i was able, about 17, so 10 years without shaving i barely recognised myself when it came off. it took a good few weeks before I really felt comfortable with my own face! it’s crazy really… I even received messages from admirers saying ‘please don’t shave again!’

    Any beard maintenance advice for our readers?
    I am actually pretty lazy with mine, i’ve only really had it trimmed professionally when doing shoots… I do shampoo it in the shower and use a bit of hair wax if it’s looking a bit wild in the morning.

    You’re an avid surfer, so whats the appeal for you? What do you get from it?
    Surfing is an addiction, albeit a healthy one. Once you catch & ride an unbroken wave you have to keep chasing that feeling…I started a group on Facebook ‘London Gay Surfers’ & have met some really nice guys through it. We have already been on some trips down to the West Coast of England last year, one to Lanzarote & i just came back from Fuerte Ventura… We’re planning several more trips over the summer as the water gets warmer.

    So what’s next for you?
    It’s shaping up to be a great year. I’m currently working full time on a contract at MyOptique group beautifying their website a little… A number of photographers in LA have requested to shoot me so I’m planning to combine a California coast Surf trip, with getting those done. Several UK festivals & Bi-monthly Little Gay Brother parties… Another Berlin tour is on the cards for Camplin & Vietheer along with a number of UK dates… I’ve also been casting & have some interesting shoots planned. All in all it should be a good year.

    If you want to know/hear/see more, simply follow any of these lovely links:

    http://christophercamplin.com/
    http://christophercamplin.com/development
    https://soundcloud.com/christopher-camplin

    https://www.facebook.com/christopher.camplin
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