Hackney's Youth Magazine

Contrast Hackney’s Youth Magazine FREE DJ Ironik Damien O’brien DJ Abrantee email [email protected] Interested in journalism, photography, or design? Then joinContrast. You’ll learn new skills, meet celebs and get media training. Come to one of our Tuesday meetings at the Blue Hut, 49 Provost Street, N1 7NZ (5 mins from Old Street Station). If you would like us to run a workshop in your school or youth organisation then please get in contact by phone 020 8521 5495 or email [email protected] Editorial Team Contents Contributors Christian Jensen Your Say 6 Esther Ezegbe You ask the questions, Selina Meaden you give the answers Divine Kutuya Ella Bonsu In the Mix Tinesha Adams 8 Elesha Smith Choice fm DJ Fatou Mbowe Tehya Heyman 16 DJ Ironik Kasey Bishop Man with a plan Phoebe Ryan-faal Bria Patel Rachel Eriemo 24 Summer Planner Rhasan Brunner Where to be this Summer Abi Oyéwumi Durelle Stevens Elsa Mampuya 28 Damien O’Brien Lara Akinnawo Magician to the stars Gordon Adeyemi Merzan Roudette Mia Pernaud News Spending wisely ackney’s Youth Opportunity theatre, film-making, music, sports, Fund Panel is recruiting for residentials and events. youngH people to join the Grant Makers The Panel is made up of 15 young Panel. You could be responsible for people from Hackney who look at deciding how real money should be applications from young people for spent on projects that benefit young projects and decide which ones to people in Hackney. fund. The Panel meet every 1-2 weeks The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) on a Monday or Wednesday evening is a special fund run by young people (5:30 - 7:30) in Central Hackney. for young people. It provides money They also meet on a Saturday every (grants) to groups of two or more 3-4 months. young people to do a project that will To register your interest, please benefit young people. So far, over 150 contact Cat Garrett on 07527 385664 projects have been funded, from arts, or email [email protected]. Swim for free in Hackney housands of young people will be healthy recreational activity that can be able to swim for free at Hackney’s enjoyed by all members of the family.” leisureT centres this summer. Young If you are already a leisure centre people aged 18 and under now have member, you don’t need to register, just access to free swimming during school come along at one of the advertised holidays. free swimming times. If you are not Local pools participating in the yet a member, registration can be scheme are Kings Hall Leisure Centre, done online or at participating leisure Britannia Leisure Centre, and Clissold centres. Registration will be free of Leisure Centre. GLL, a not-for-profit charge before Easter and £1 thereafter. leisure operator, manage the centres Proof of age will be required. Once for Hackney Council. successfully registered, applicants will Mark Sesnan, GLL Managing receive a membership card entitling Director, said: “The scheme will impact them to free swims. on everyone from non-swimmers For more information visit the dipping their toe into the water for Hackney Council website: www. the first time, to competitive club hackney.gov.uk or the GLL website: swimmers. Not only is swimming an www.gll.org essential life skill but also a social and Your Say How would people react if Hackney was one postcode? “If Hackney changed into one postcode it would have a negative impact on the public. I think that the gangs that are caught up in postcode wars will find other reasons to fight with each other, based on race, religion or culture. Per- sonally I think that abolishing postcodes would only increase the amount of violence.” “I believe Hackney can change, as in everyone would say the same postcode. However, the postcode wars would still go on but wouldn’t be called postcode wars, they would be called something Ella else.” “I think the people living in Hackney would join more together as a family instead of fighting as postcodes that the government made up. But then again, there would still be a bit of violence and drama.” “If Hackney was one postcode, it may be one family.” Divine “There would still be ‘beef ’ because some people don’t care about postcodes, they would just want to be recruited to a certain gang even if it has nothing to do with endz.” Will Obama be a good president? “Obama has the potential to be a great president but Obama must realise that he holds a great position in society, because those who Esther hold great power can either use it the right way or the wrong way.” “I think he will be because he is determined to do anything to help the public and the people of America.” Fatou “Obama will be a good president because he will get good attention from all races of people.” Elisha “I think Obama will be a good president because he is the first black president of America and everyone will follow him.” Tinesha “I think Obama will be a good president for all the wrong reasons because people will follow Selina him just because he’s the first black president of America.” In the mix One of the many great things about DJs is they love to talk. DJ Abrantee tells all to Merzan Roudette and Gordon Adeymi How did you get into DJing? I started out in a street group of DJs and organisers called 90% - I used to carry boxes for them, roll with them We embrace and just learn the trade from them. American music We started an event called House “ Party and that’s exactly what it was: we but we need to would just get a house, charge people to come in and put on the music. Then embrace our own we started playing at christenings and as well. If you’ve weddings, bought a sound system and speakers and started putting on major got a flower in your events like Ghana Independence. At first it only attracted about 500 to 600 back garden and you people. Then we did it again and it don’t give water, it’s attracted about 1500, then 2000, then 3000, then 4000. Then other people never gonna grow. started booking us for their events. How did you get to work for Choice FM? Ghana as well) hand in an African beats I believe that you’ve got to put in 80% tape so you stand out. So we went to hard work and then get maybe 20% our parents and dug out some African” luck. Choice was about being in the music, put it together and submitted it, right place at the right time. We’d done and that’s what got us into Choice. So a lot of events with them, and when always look for a unique approach to they launched 107.1 they were looking whatever you’re doing. for DJs, and you can imagine, 101 million DJs all handed in their R&B What UK artists do you like? mix tapes. A guy who was working for The UK scene is so lively at the Choice said to us, look, you guys are moment. We’ve got all the funky house from Africa (I’m from Ghana and all artists coming out left, right and centre. of the other guys in 90% were from We’ve got grime artists like Dizzee. We’ve got Sway, Kano, Neo’s hasn’t always been number one and good, Lethal Bizzle. It’s good for the he hasn’t always had hits. I remember UK because it’s important that we have when Dizzee first started and he was our own. It’s all good the Americans begging to come on the stage; for coming over and we embrace their us to give him a mic. Now look, you music but we need to embrace our own can’t even call him! You look back and as well. If you’ve got a flower in your think, yeah, it’s all been worth it. But it back garden and you don’t give water, doesn’t stop. Whatever level you reach, it’s never gonna grow. you’ve got to still keep it moving. What advice would you give to young Do you prefer DJing in clubs or on the people? radio? Don’t give up on your dream and don’t I enjoy both of them but I think I get think it’s gonna come overnight. All more of a buzz from the club because of the DJs, whether it’s Westwood or it’s live, there are people there, you can Trevor Nelson, they have done so much talk to them, whereas on radio, you just hard work. I know Trevor very well and have to hope people are listening. As a he hasn’t always been Trevor Nelson, radio presenter you have to visualise one MTV, Radio 1. There was a time when person you’re talking to because people Trevor was broke and standing at the are listening all around the world and bus stop trying to find his next 10p. they could be doing anything. But in But he’s continued the hard work and a club you can actually feel the people now he’s where he is. You don’t go and there’s a different atmosphere from success to success. Dizzee Rascal altogether. Quick Bits What happens if you’re late for work? First record I’m never late for work.

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