Nottingham Independent Creative Community

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THIS SATURDAY 

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The latest mix in LBC (Lost Boyz Club) mix series comes from a top newcomer Lakosa. Check it out. 

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You can now download MIMM Recordings new EP for free from here, go have a listen. 

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NICC: First of all tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you from and how was Hyena born?

So, me....for the past 10 yrs i've danced all over the uk, worked as a promo girl for various brands and lived out in ibiza for more than several summer seasons! i had a shop space in leeds for a yr (the closest i've come to a proper job!) and along the way have always dabbled in making stuff for myself and friends! basically anything to avoid getting a 9-5! it had been looming on me for a while that i needed to try and build something a bit more solid for the future, my friend owns the Vintage Warehouse and offered me the space i'm in now so i took it as it was a route back into an area i knew i should be working in and and an opportunity that has provided me with a base to get things off the ground! Originally opening the space with my brother Paul, this arrangement was short lived for a number of reasons, then i met Steven Attenborough, he came in the shop, loved it, we chatted for ages, he bought a few bits and then a month or so later got in touch asking if i needed any help or if he could perhaps somehow be involved! Steven is a trained pattern cutter with many yrs of experience, i am self taught which means i have certain limitations on the practical side of things, what's great is that we literally have an opposing set of skills which makes us a brilliant team, but have a very similar design aesthetic so no fall outs so far!

NICC: You state that Hyena is 'Influenced by everything from the 80's, 90's, pop, rock, punk and electronic era's' what is it about this era's fashion that you enjoy?

The 80's and 90's were the last 2 decades that broke new ground in music and fashion and they still have an impact on style and design today and of course current music!

NICC: How much do you feel music influences fashion today?

Music has always influenced fashion and still does to some degree but everything is now so accessable that sometimes when you see people in the street and the style that they are repping you cannot assume that you know what they are listening to, it may be a punk outfit they picked up in topshop whilst listening to beyonce on their ipod!

NICC: What advice do you have for any aspiring designers out there looking to start there own brand?

Advice for future designers really applies to anyone starting there own business or any artist out there doing their thing, just to work hard and never give in, i struggle sometimes to refer to myself as a designer as i have no formal training or qualification but you know i'm just doing it because i really love it, you have to really love it though! Not just love shopping or like fashion! My brain literally does not stop churning ideas and neither does Steven's!

NICC: What are your plans for the future?

Exciting times lay ahead we hope, aiming to launch a website early next year and then to secure some uk and international stockists (a shop is not really part of the bigger plan for us), then hopefully a move into footwear and accessories! Aiming high and gonna see where we fall!

More info here: http://www.facebook.com/shopHYENA

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This video was put together after the 1st NICC event. Check it out for a taste of what is to come this Saturday...

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Forthcoming music from Metske on Mimm Recordings...

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New sounds forthcoming from Lyka on MIMM Recordings. 

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Under The Counter X MIMM 50 free t-shirts to be given away on the 13th October. 

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Next Rubberdub event. Flyer is a true spectacle. 

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Introducing: Wax 'N' Lyrical

Here at NICC we fully support any new and innovative creative ventures and Wax n' Lyrical is certainly that. Pushing all manner of vocally lead genres with a focus on hip hop, Wax 'N' Lyrical are set for a bright future. We caught up with them last week to find out more...

Wax ‘N’ Lyrical is Louis Cypher (1st Blood/Hey Zeus), Parisa (Origin One/Acoustickle) and Rob Threeman (NG64/Sola).

NICC: How did Wax N' Lyrical come about and how long have you been running for?

The concept behind WNL originated from a conversation between Parisa and Louis wanting to put certain hip-hop artists on in the city, and realising there was no outlet to do it from. We put the first night together with the notion of providing a platform for local artists to play alongside more established acts from across the country. For the first night in March 2012, Emcee Killa (previously signed to Notts label Dealmaker), and his new group Caxton Press were on the same bill as local legend Karizma performing with live outfit Our Helical Mind. Alongside Kount Masloff and DJ Kalutski, this eclectic line-up was a demonstration of the new and older having an equal footing in UK hip-hop despite style.

The second gig went deeper still with live MPC from Bristol’s Simiah and London band Granville Sessions with up and coming Nottingham artists Juga-Naut, Vandal Savage, El Negro Loco Nay and Nads Buhdha. The whole night culminated in a mass cypher between booked artists, emcees in the audience and Simiah providing live production, bringing back the old-school spirit of collaboration. Since then we have been approached by Get Nottz to host Roach’s leaving party, which bought together Lee Ramsay, P Brothers, Ms Tempz and Joe Buhdha under the same roof.

NICC: What were you your main inspiration for putting on the night?

Although Nottingham is renowned nationally for its vibrant hip-hop scene, no nights were being promoted with the sole idea of pushing hip-hop culture in Notts. Our aim was to unite the community, and encourage what has always been within Notts to come back out of its shell. There’s room for innovation between different heads across the hip-hop spectrum here.

NICC: Your main musical policy is hip hop which is a genre that has struggled in Nottingham's nightlife over the past few years, what state do you feel the local scene is in at the moment?

The renaissance of careful writing, slick production and live instrumentation has inspired a whole new generation of artists and gig-goers. The roots of the scene are there. We want to give newer artists a place alongside more established acts and bring acts who are well-known outside of Nottingham into our growing family tree. A lot of people live by hip-hop, but in separate places. Joe Buhdah, Big Trev, Dealmaker, Elementz, P Brothers, Out da Ville and Cappo for instance set the precedent, and now to continue the legacy we are shining the light back on what this city’s capable of.

NICC: What advice would you give to any young promoters who are thinking about putting on an event?

Get in it because you want to see something yourself, not to make a raise. Collaborate with others, include them in your ideas and pay someone to make your posters. Be creative with your line-ups and don’t be scared of competition, just grow. What have you got planned for the future?

Lots of audio-visual elements brought in, some gig swaps with different cities and maybe countries. From Glasgow to Bristol we’re going to bring conscious emcees, dope producers and pioneering musicians to Nottingham, and continue commissioning local artists, garm makers, photographers and videographers to work with us.

More info here: Wax 'N' Lyrical 

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This is the phenomenal music video for Metske's latest release on Wigflex. Truly inspirational audio visual experience. 

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Introducing: Bobblebotic

As our introducing features continue we meet up with one of Nottinghams up and coming designers Bobblebotic and found out what on earth it all means...

NICC: What on earth does bobblebotic mean?

Bobblebotic derived from a quite simple idea by collaborating two words that best described me. I wear wide range of woolly bobble hats and I do most of my graphics using a computer, clicking away like a robot robotically. I just put the two words together and created bobblebotic. My objective was to stand out from the crowd and create a brand that I hope one day will be well known. NICC: So you’re a young brand in your infancy, how have these first steps been and, in particular, what kind of hurdles did you find in your way?

It was quite difficult to get my brand recognised at the beginning when there are so many other great clothing designers. I would say the hardest part would be finding the right printing company, since my designs are most photography I had to find a particular style of printing.

NICC: We’re really liking the urban tribal vibe you have going as well as the fractal-like Polaroid Tee’s. Where do you see your designs going in the future/for your next batch?

Thank you, the next step I plan on taking is designing my winter collection. I want to go back to the bones of some of my designs and alter them to start printing of sweaters and hoodies. Also I plan on doing some cheeky woolly bobble hats for the winter months.

NICC: What brought you to Nottingham? Was it birth or have you moved here? Either way how do you find things in Nottingham for independent labels?

I moved to Nottingham at an early age form Huddersfield but either way Nottingham is quite an arty city with loads of independent local clothing brands. I feel Nottingham has a wide range of innovating artist but there was still a gap for me to join the market.

NICC: What would you change about Nottingham?

One of the things I would change would be more to do with stores in the city centre. They should support more independent local designers and artist.

NICC: Your slogan is ‘Forever Young, by any means necessary’. What’s your elixir of youth? Any tips for the elders?

Just to keep in touch with your inner younger self, have fun and enjoy life (YOLO haha). Spread peace love and prosperity amongst each other.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BOBBLEBOTIC HERE: http://www.facebook.com/Bobblebotic

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We will be speaking to The Elementz in a couple of weeks in anticipation of the 13th October. To get an idea of what they are about, watch this video. 

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Imaginary Foundation: The Deepest Collection

The Imaginary Foundation is a think tank from Switzerland that does experimental research on new ways of thinking and the power of the imagination. They hold dear a belief in human potential and seek progress in all directions. The small clandestine team is headed up by the mysterious "Director," a 70-something über-intellectual whose father founded the Dadaist movement. Avoiding direct publicity, the team has sought clothing as an unlikely vehicle for bringing their ideas beyond the academic realm and into popular culture.

View the exstensive collection at MIMM Shop (across the road from Broadway Cinema)

13 Broad Street

Nottingham

NG1 3AJ

Order online: http://www.mimm-shop.co.uk/collections/imaginary-foundation

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Introducing: Street Market

We caught up with the owner of Street Market to find out a bit more about his quirky brand.

NICC: First of all tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you from and how was street market store born?

My name is Jason and I'm from Nottingham. I run an online store called Street Market ( I'm a one man army at the moment) which was started in July 2011. The idea to start up a store was something I had been thinking about for quite a while. The capability to easily set up a store using such online tools as big cartel/shopify etc, coupled with the growing popularity of social shopping sites like Pinterest/Fancy/Svpply etc gave me the potential to not only network with a wider audience but also discover new designers at the same time.

NICC: You’ve got a pretty eclectic range of products. What seams these ideas together, what’s your ethos in your approach to design?

The initial idea for the store was to have an ongoing display of original and fresh T-shirt designs, basically the opposite of the mass produced products on sale at Topman. But  it became apparent fairly early on that I wanted to sell a wider range of products. The approach I have always taken when looking for new designs is to sell it to myself first. If it's a t-shirt, then would I wear ? If it's a print, then would it look cool hanging on my wall?

I also want to make sure that there is always something fresh and new for users returning to my site, which is a challenge but is something I will continue to work at.

NICC: Now, describe that ethos in three words.

Fresh, evolving, fun 

NICC: You’re selling works by internationally renowned artists such as Jon Burgerman, are there any young tailors/designers that you would recommend or like to give a heads up to?

I recently partnered with a collective called Ohh Deer, who are up the road in Loughborough. They work with a number of contributors to produce original product ranges. Their stuff is worth checking out.  

I have also been working with an illustrator from London called Joe Prytherch. Joe normally works under the name of Mason London and has done a series of prints of ' macked out ' historical figures. I'll have some of his stuff available at NICC.... not to be missed.

(images attached) 

NICC: How important to you is it to be a part of Nottingham Creative Culture?

Following on from the previous question, I'm also looking to start working with more young tailors/designers locally and hopefully the event on the 13th Oct will give me the opportunity to make some new connections.

There has always been creativity coming out of Nottingham. The growth of Social media (Facebook/twitter/tumblr/instagram etc) of the last 5-10 years has not only enabled young artists/designers/musicians to connect in new ways but has also allowed events like NICC to gain momentum.

NICC: What's the best street market you've ever been to?

Well as NICC has a market feel about it I'm going to say that.

For more info: http://www.streetmarketstore.com/

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An idea of what to expect at the afterparty...

Flako: http://www.facebook.com/flakomusic?ref=ts

Under The Counter.

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Ashes 57 at NICC pt. 2

Almost a year ago we invited London artist Ashes 57 to exhibit her work at our event, she decided to take some photographs and here are some of our favourites. 

For more information on Ashes 57 look here: http://www.ashes57.com/