Ekho

Ekho is an online magazine about Music, Film and Fashion written and viewed through the eyes of three completely different girls

[ekhomagazine]

This week in our #MusicNewsRecap: Martin Garrix & Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber & Kanye West, Zayn Malik & One Direction, Azelia Banks and Chris Brown & Beyoncé.

Another Ultra Miami has come and gone and with it, as usual, we got a few surprises. Arguably, the biggest one being that this was the first time Martin Garrix played his long anticipated collaboration with Ed Sheeran: “Rewind, Repeat It”, less than a month after the release of his single with Usher: “Don’t Look Down”.

We love both Ed Sheeran and Usher and these boys could sing the yellow pages and still make us fall in love; however, we’re a bit disappointed with Ed, a few months ago he said on his Google Hangout that he felt every artist was jumping into the EDM bandwagon and they should just stick to their own thing.

What do you think?

In other Ultra news, Justin Bieber crashed Skrillex’s set to perform their amazing collaboration “Where Are U Now”. Sadly, and only because we love the Biebs, we’re giving this performance a 5 out of 10 because he was lip syncing the whole through and it was awkwardly obvious. The positive though is that he danced, way to save some of that disgrace.

Still on Bieber but in a way happier note, he just confirmed that a new album will be coming out in 2015 (about time If you ask us). He admitted that a lot of the album will be influenced by his brake up with Selena but also what’s he’s learnt from his bad decisions in the last few years.

He said: "(the album) is different, it's a grown-up version of Justin and I think people will be shocked, my whole direction has changed”. 

Even better is that Justin is working with Jay Z, Kanye West and Rick Rubin, who, in case you don’t know, is the legendary producer that has produced everyone worth listening to like Adele, Linkin Park, Johnny Cash, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Shakira and the list is endless. Bring on that new album Biebs.

We all know that Zayn Malik left One Direction last week to be “a normal 22 year old” seems like he got bored of that pretty quickly because a few hours after he released a solo track produced by NaughtyBoy, oh naughty naughty Zayn.

Zayn also said that Drake’s rap career inspired him to go solo… how, may we ask? Maybe a shout-out to see if Drake will sign him to his label OVO? Is 1D going to burn out without Zayn?

Only the future will tell.

Listen to Zayn’s solo track below:

Jay Z has launched Tidal this week, which is pretty much like Spotify but apparently “owned” by the artists. With Tidal however, You can only listen to it for free for a week and then you have to start paying. We still haven’t really understood the difference between Tidal and Spotify so help us out if you have.

Azelia Banks has an awesome new video:

Last but not least, Chris brown and Beyoncé finally have a song together, we don’t know when it’ll officially be released but we’re happy it’s out there. Enjoy.

[ekhomagazine]

Picky Items: Turtlelove <3

I simplyadore turtlenecks. There seems nothing more perfect for the human body than turtlenecks. They bring out the beautiful shape of the neck and show how harmoniously proportionate our bodies are.

Fortunately, these past few seasons they were all around us because they have turned into a classic item of clothing. It is not mandatory to own anything, of course, but if you are fashion-conscious and put a lot of thought into your outfits because your “aim is to create an effect relative to the performance of others, be the emotional drive erotic or aggressive as you will” (Dwight Robinson, 1961) or it makes you feel good to doll-up, at least one turtleneck in the wardrobe is a must (fashion journalists, since the beginning of fashion).

These being said, here you have some turtlenecks

And here’s how I would play with a turtleneck jumper/top

By: Anathea - @whatsthequestion

Follow us on Instagram:

@ekhomagazine

[ekhomagazine]

MusicWCW: Zella Day

Zella Day first caught our attention a few months ago with a flawless, acoustic version of her then unreleased song “Compass”.

Now she has just released her self titled debut EP at it is everything we have been waiting for and more.

Zella Day is a younger, less depressive, day-time version of Lana Del Rey.

Zella Day’s music is all the way airy West Coast with a of hint experimental European, mixed with Country, delivered through electronic music.

She reminds us of a 2015 Stevie Nicks. She’s hypnotic and we can’t wait for more.

Best tracks: “Hypnotic”, “East Of Eden”.

For fans of: Likke Li, Lana Del Rey, MØ.

Link up:

Spotify

iTunes

by: Catherine Sunday

instagram: @catherinesunday47

twitter: @catherinesunday

[ekhomagazine]

Picking Items: The Denim Skirt

… Out of an Imaginary Hat. When I first thought of this rubric , I imagined writing about those few items I love, I wear daily, I keep for one-time moments. However, I am going to start it off with one item, currently very "in" which I have trouble liking it. That’s right, I profoundly despise the denim skirt. I like denim: shirts, jeans, dresses. I don’t do well with denim tops and skirts. Therefore double denim kills me! If you picked up a fashion magazine or if you skimmed through at least one fashion blog, you definitely noticed denim, or double denim. Double denim just means a combination of items made out of denim. As there are different designs and variations for every item ever made, of course there are some denim skirts I find attractive. However, most of the ready-to-wear I have seen are tremendous disasters. What I can’t stand the most is that there’s a weird association between denim and pockets as well as denim and buttons. Then you’ve got people who put all of those on a skirt. There’s also the very same denim skirt all persons stuck in understanding social norms seem to wear it and on top of that they wear it with who-knows-what-length boots. I do own one denim skirt which I found, randomly hanging in my wardrobe. It is slightly conic, slightly short and has two parallel, vertically –aligned zippers. The denim is washed out and has more than one shade of blue. Despite its vintage feel, paired with a white shirt and black, chunky boots it looks very present.

This is only a matter of personal preference.

By Anathea C

Instagram: @whatsthequestion and @ekhomagazine

[ekhomagazine]

REVIEW of Kingsman: The Secret Service

Forget the adaptations of  superheroes comic books; forget the MI6 and James Bond. This time is Kingsman:the Secret Service who will be in charge of saving Britain, the World… and maybe even you if you are trying to kill boredom for 124 minutes. And I’m sure it’ll succeed at least in the latest.

Because Kingsman, loosely adapted from the comic book Secret Service by Mark Millar, has a very familiar plot that anyone in the mood of watching a bloody action comedy will enjoy for sure: the story of a Secret Service agency of the British government that tries to save the World from the machinations of an evil mastermind. A story we’ve seen many times; as always starring a group of (well-dressed and well-behaved) agents, this time forming a ‘Round Table’ whose most prominent actors (both as characters and performers) are Arthur and Galahad/Harry Hart, interpreted by renowned (well-dressed and well-behaved) Michael Cain and Colin Firth, respectively.  And, of course, also counting with a millionaire villain with only one name (the worst kind) and a minor speaking handicap: Valentine, interpreted by the great and bad-ass Samuel L. Jackson. Whilst it’s also the story of how a street kid tries to overcome his status quo and get a better life for him and his family with the help of a mentor that believes in his potential…

And does this combination of these James Bond and My Fair Lady premises work? Kingsman proves it does; at least with the impeccable direction of Matthew Vaughn, who also adapted Millar’s graphic novel Kick-Ass in a similar style: lots of kicks, blood and humor. This provides us an original approach to the genre with not-so-familiar features, being the most prominent Taron Egerton, the new talent that interpretes the main character, Eggsy, an English thug that finds himself contending in a more than intense competition to become the next member of the Kingsman Secret Service… and from whom we will sure see more for his interpretation and good looks.

The main cast is completed by Sofia Boutella, another young surprise that gives life to Valentine’s exuberant blade-legged sidekick, the most tough and scariest character in the movie for sure; Sophie Cookson, debuting in the big screen as a beautiful and professional peer that competes with Eggsy for the place in the Secret Service; and Mark Strong, whom we’ve seen working with Vaughn twice previously, in Kick-Ass and Stardust. Though also expect to see more familiar appearances as cameos.

This mixture of the familiar and the new represented by the cast choice is very relevant to the tone of the story, and supported by a kick-ass soundtrack that combines classic rock music (like the opening Money For Nothing by Dire Straits or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird, the background of Colin Firth’s climax moment) that puts music to the scenes of the Kingsman world, and the contemporary pop music (songs like Bonkers or Get Ready For It, by the new Take That) that give music to the scenes of Eggsy’s life outside the Service.

The music would be the clearest separation of the characteristics of both ‘worlds’ (outside and inside the Service), which are actually connected since the beginning of the story, when we see a flashback in which Eggsy’s father, a member of Kingsman, is killed in a mission in the Middle East in 1997 by a terrorist. After the incident, Galahad (Colin Firth), who was with the deceased in the moment of his death and feels responsible for it, visits Eggsy and his mother back in England to give them the bad news, as well as a medal of honor that belonged to the father in a scene that very much reminds us to the “Gold Watch Scene” in Pulp Fiction (but the medal wasn’t hid in any orifice that we know of). Galahad promised Eggsy that, if he needed, he could call him at the phone number carved in the back of the medal and, only with the phrase “Oxford’s not brogues” (and inside joke understood later in the movie), he would attend to the call immediately. But it’s only 17 years later, when Eggsy gets in trouble after stealing a car, that the medal is finally used… lastly connecting Eggsy with the Secret Service possibly with an unbreakable attachment due to the circumstances he falls into after that first approach.

Eggsy, however, doesn’t break completely with his old world when he becomes in touch with the Kingsman’s one, and him being a working class member (as the representation of the whole) is a very important message of the story.

Now that you know what you can expect from the movie, here is a little advice: if you liked the idea, don’t give up at the beginning of the movie if you find something just doesn’t quite work well. I too thought there were some scenes in which the narrative continuity was not well-developed, mainly when Eggsy is getting in trouble with his friends and some parts of his private life and his relation with his mom.  The scenes had either a very ‘teenager’ touch or a too-dramatic approach that didn’t quite fit with the previous tone of the movie, and since it was just in the beginning, it made me feel confused about the path the story was going to take… But it all works out before the middle of the film and it becomes the satiric and parodic James Bond-meets-My Fair Lady with a refined black humor film I promised you.

So definitely watch Kingsman: The Secret Service if you want to have 124 minutes of good quality and pure entertainment, or see a new approach to a well-known premise, performed by charismatic characters that will not leave you indifferent thanks to the interpretation of high-class acquainted actors and new promises and to the complex and edgy character traits and development only a comic book has… all under the signature of Matthew Vaughn and his dynamic, violent, black comedy movie style.

[ekhomagazine]

Justin Bieber, Skrillex and Diplo's new song about Selena Gomez?

You might have heard how yesterday Diplo and Skrillex’s attempted to DJ for 24 hours straight in Santa Monica.

Even though the event got shut down by the police, the duo (that plays together under the name Jack Ü) still managed to play for 18 hours.

A few hours into their set, the pair announced the immediate release of their album on iTunes.

Now, they’ve made it fully available to stream on youtube.

The album called "Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Ü" features the likes of 2 Chainz, AlunaGeorge, Kiesza, Missy Elliott and Justin Bieber.

“Where Are Ü Now” the track that features Justin Bieber marks his return to music after a year long break. Some of song's lyrics say:

“Where are you now,

When I need you the most?

I need you

To need me

Can't you see me

How could you leave me"

I gave you the shirt off my back what you’re saying to keep you warm”

 It’s an unusual song style for both Skrillex and Diplo.

Now, we don't know about you but we can’t help but noticing that the song comes out only a couple of months after Selena Gomez’s release of “The Heart Wants What It Wants”.

Is this Bieber’s way of getting his version of events out? It sounds just like it.

What do you think?

Listen bellow:

By: Catherine Sunday

instagram: @catherinesunday47

twitter: @catherinesunday

[ekhomagazine]

Record of the Week: "Up In Flames" by Ruelle

Our record of the week is Ruelle’s debut EP “Up In Flames”.

Up until now, Ruelle has been Nashville’s best kept secret but no more.

Ruelle is the new electronic/pop/rock project of singer/songwriter Maggie Eckford.

"Up in Flames" was co-written and produced by Maggie, Sam Tinnesz and Matt Bronleewe.

The EP is comprised of 6 songs, each one of them sounding like it could be the next theme song of Divergent or The Hunger Games.

The EP on a whole is a winner. 

It sets a certain kind of mood from the first track, which carries on through the remaining five, giving you the feeling that all six tracks are just one, a 25 minutes long one.

The EP however, is far from boring; if anything it'll leave you wanting more. It takes us on a journey that unfolds a bit with each new track. It’s haunting in a beautiful way.

Believe this, it’ll creep into your mind and it won’t leave you for a while.

 Score: 8/10

Best tracks: “Fear on Fire”, “Oh My My” and “War Of Hearts”

For fans of: Likke Li, Ellie Goulding, Massive Attack, and Florence + The Machine

Catch "Until We Go Down" in the upcoming movie "The Loft"'s trailer:

Link up:

Ruelle's Facebook 

by: Catherine Sunday

instagram: @catherinesunday47

twitter: @catherinesunday

[ekhomagazine]

LFW Special: Mariana Jungmann

Yesterday evening, Mariana Jungmann showcased her AW collection for 2015 at Freemason’s Hall in London.

“Hypnagogia” is the state of semi-consciousness right before falling asleep. Mariana Jungmann entitled her AW15 collection hypnagogia because she says it is a mix of paradoxes. She combined hard leather with soft lace and created empirical items. Mariana says she designs for the powerful, yet delicate woman, for she who is tough, but sexy. 

Marianna Jungmann the brand is run on the ethics of sustainable fashion as well as the pillars of haute couture. The pieces are made of raw materials: wool, leather, cotton and lambskin lace. Each garment is made by hand, therefore there are slight variations between them. Also, all items are carefully measured and estimations are made so no waste is produced.

Her signature is a special type of lace which she incorporated in most of her designs adapting it for different materials. For this collection Mariana developed a technique which creates leather blisters. Her colour palette in general consists of mostly nude shades, earth tones and nature colours (storm grey, forest green). 

Mariana Jungmann speaks passionately about her designs, her fabrics, her techniques, her brand.  She is a full-time designer, who looks into new ways of making her garments remarkable legacies. Her brand is young, but has the charisma of a well-established couture house. It seems like only time needs to cover it in order to gain momentum.

Watch Mariana Jungmann's AW 15 collection catwalk :

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By: Anathea

Instagram: @whatsthequestion

Photos source: gettyimages

[ekhomagazine]

Moodboards: Shades of Blue

Monday blues and hues

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By: Anathea

Instagram: @whatsthequestion

[ekhomagazine]

The yin-yang of The Libertines - New Music Videos from Pete Doherty and Carl Barat and The Jackals

There is no arguing that 2014 was a big year for The Libertines. 

First they shocked us by getting back together for a series of Festival Headlining slots (for which they got through the roof reviews), then Pete Doherty went to rehab in Thailand (and this time he seems to really be kicking the habit, read the open letter he wrote to other struggling addicts here) and last but not least, they got signed to Virgin EMI, their first time being signed to a major record label.

As 2015 kicks off, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat seem to be in better terms than they've ever been, however, as they release new solo material this month, we can't help but notice they're getting further and further apart musically. 

Pete Doherty released the video for his tribute song "Flags of the Old Regime" today, an Ode to his late friend Amy Whinehouse.

The song is beautiful,peaceful, we get less of Rock’N’Roll Pete and more of Poet Pete.

On the other hand, Carl Barat has turned up the volume to 100% with his new band Carl Barat and The Jackals. In their debut album “Let It Reign”, that was released on the 13th of February, we find a Carl Barat that sounds like he has rediscovered his love for guitar riffs. “Let It Reign” is a straight up, fun, Rock’n’Roll effort. Carl’s band has made him current and it suits him.

It’ll be interesting to see how Pete Doherty and Carl Barat’s minds will come together in the new Libertines record now that their personas kind of swapped bodies.

Are you excited? We for sure are.

There are still a few tickets available for Pete Doherty’s solo acoustic show on Monday 23rd of February at 8.pm at the Brixton Jamm. 

You can buy them here 

Carl Barat and The Jackals will be playing their next London show on the 15th of April at 7:30pm at Scala. 

You can get your tickets here.

You can also Pre-order “Flags Of The Old Regime” (which will be released on the 7th of March) here.

Carl Barat and TheJackals’ “Let It Reign” is available on itunes and Amazon.

by: Catherine Sunday 

instagram: @catherinesunday47

twitter: catherinesunday 

[ekhomagazine]

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Fifty Shades of Grey

However it pains, FiftyShades of Grey is our opening title as the Movie of the Week.

This is what happens when you need to review a movie in February, just a week before the Academy Award ceremony: Movie releases have their scheduling and those films that have potential to be critically acclaimed are almost always released in “the Oscars season” (i.e. the time period when theycan be considered for an award by the Academy, between somewhere in fall –usually November- and December 31st of the year*). 

So, basically, all the not-worthy movies are releasing now and will continue overthe spring, before the “blockbuster period” in summer comences. 

But DON'T PANIC! I'm sure there will be some worthy movie to see in the theater soon, just check Ekho every Monday for the movie of the week!

[To remember the schedule, I always recall the fact that in fall, Abraham Lincoln is deep and directed by Spielberg while in summer, Abraham Lincoln is a Vampire Hunter. In spring Lincoln doesn't even appear.]

But, going back to Fifty Shades of Grey, the other reason for the choice is that, wanted or not, this movie has had a lot ofpresence over the last few weeks inside and outside the internet world, withads in all social media, and in buses, posters in the street, TV commercials, the covers of basically every magazine… It was impossible to avoid it. 

But you should avoid watching it in the cinema unless you want to waste valuable money that you could spend in more useful stuff, like our Patreon. And if you really want to watch it because you’ve read the book and liked it for any reason beyond my comprehension, bear in mind the movie is not a loyal version of the novel either. 

So, the only reason I would understand you’d pay for watching Fifty Shades of Grey is because you find any of the main characters hot – although if you expect to see them in explicit and sexy sex action, forget about it too.  

The movie is a huge ad: the plot and the romantic scenes perfume-ad level, the sex scenes are condom-ad level and the message is an Axe-ad message...

This version of the movie could have been so much better... 

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* Note that this applies for the US date of release or, in the case of a foreign movie, the date release in the country of origin. This will explain why we had such great releases in January, like Birdman or Whiplash, here in the UK even though the “Oscar season” had passed.

By: Laura del Alisal

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[ekhomagazine]

Outfit Craze: Whitey

“Whether you follow fashion or not…” says a robotic voice in a department store. Well, whether you follow fashion or not, you most definitely noticed that white took up a serious ratio of  “consumable” fashion lately. White is, ladies and gentlemen, once again fashionable! From the old, white, pairs of Reebok to the newly designed, smart white tuxedo trousers and jackets, everything is white and white is everywhere. In my humble opinion this non colour sits very well in the vintage wardrobe, especially with a pair of “Mum/Boyfriend/Whoever else you can think of” jeans.

- sweater: H&M, Mum-jeans: Topshop, sneakers: Nike, coat: Marni, backpack: Forever New-

Depending on what your cultural background has taught you, white can take on a variety of meanings. Widely spread is the idea that white represents purity and cleanliness. However there are a lot of other things white is associated with such as: wedding dresses, women’s summer attires in the 1800s and early 1900s, sportswear in the 30s, minimalism starting with the 60s and many more.

- 1800 dress-

-Lacoste sportswear1930s-

-Balenciaga wedding dress 1939-

-Celine, a glimpse of modern-day minimalism-

Also, in case you are not yet familiar with her, Ivana Carpio is a fashion and lifestyle blogger who for the past 7 years has showed her devotement to white on her “digital brainchild” as she calls her website. I don’t know if she is also a very tidy person or whoever is in charge of her website is extremely neat and organized, but everything looks so well ordered there. It looks like a place where no digital footprints have been left. I think I might fall for the orderly whiteness.

-Ivana Carpio-

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By: Anathea

Instagram: @whatsthequestion

[ekhomagazine]

Brand Story: Susy Harper

Being a fashion student one is expected to have a rich brands culture. However, leaving aside the big league fashion houses, discovering smaller, hidden fashion hubs can offer a student great material to look into and make use of.

An example of such a place is Susy Harper in the Camden Passage. I stumbled upon it with some of my colleagues while we were working on a presentation for our Fashion History module.

Susy Harper is the art child of Michelle Anslow, who chose to name her label after her mother’s maiden name. The shop is located in a 19th century house in the Camden Passage. The window is very simple, matching the old vibe of the passage and harmoniously working along the vintage shops and market.

Susy Harper garments are “uncomplicated”, with clean cuts, made from raw materials that sit perfectly in anyone’s wardrobe. They are mostly basic items that “you’ll wonder how you did without them” as they chose to put it. Every season they reinterpret their favourite items thus challenging themselves and offering their regular customers something to look forward to.

Their items are all designed and created in house. The boutique also incorporates their studio so all their clothes are made in London, “made with love”. The customers can thus see the process the fabrics go through to reach the final stages and become lovely garments, some especially tailored as they also offer an alteration service.

The prices range from 70 all the way to 500 pounds, but the items come with the guarantee that they are made with care, from carefully selected fabrics and will last a lifetime.

If you are interested in checking them out, I recommend you visit them. This way you can get a feel of both the passage and the cosy boutique. In case you don’t have enough time and you’re looking for a statement item, their website might be just as useful. TIP: The staff is lovely and will answer your every question. Also don’t be afraid to try their clothes on. You might fall in love with the one you least expect.

By: Anathea

Instagram: @whatsthequestion