BALCONY FESTIVAL ONLINE

DIY’s makers and shakers unite on Saturday 28th March at Balcony Online Music Festival– 1-6pm GMT – presented by Louise Schofield (BBC Sesh) with virtual stages: CroCroLand, Louder Than War, Joyzine, God Is In The TV, Loud Women, Sonic Tonic and ourselves. Physically distanced but highly personal performances;

Raising awareness, it’s free to view on the above sites with optional donations. Musicians Against Homelessness are a thread of our documentary’s tapestry. Self employed and motivated: The Show Must Go On. Always starting something. Get updates, links and participants info, exchange ideas and natter with the artists and organisers via #BalconyOnlineFest on socials and at the FaceBook / announcements event  click here.

Alongside more MainStreams like Liam of Dork’s Industry Lockdown Lowdown and celebrity sing alongs, there has been the recent Quarantunes day and our own #TwitterFestival round ups of so much goodness on line. Modern Age Music‘s ‘Front Room Live’ series on Instagram being a case in point.

Lockdown Land has a wealth of discovery with a front row seat. Inspired by community singing across balconies, music remains the only truth and we are #LivingTheStream

Following ourJanuary #FuturePicks collaboration with increasingly in-demand Louise Schofield (who is also the Modern Age / Pistonhead go grrrl, and much more!), this would have been the weekend of a follow up, but how fast the world changes – and we adapt!

“The fertile environment of interdependent music world; proof that being competitive raises the game – and being collaborative is for the real players” (from TheZineUK latest picture diary book)

The Balcony OnLine Music Festival gang were already collaborating on the future. i.e. hope we are ready to harvest this amazingness in September!

Stay tuned for what we all create next! 
Re #BalconyOnlineFest – we will be tweeting on Saturday @TheZineUK

Words: Caffy St Luce

EDITH; ‘I KINDA LIKED YOU’

“…you don’t need anyone’s approval to be who you truly are.” Ryan Foster interviews up and coming cool queen, Edith, whose new single – ‘I Kinda Liked You’ – is out now.

Already getting Mabel, Halsey, Lany and Dua Lipa comparisons, Edith is emerging as a musical talent in a (polished) league of her own.

Aged ten, she moved from Romania to England to pursue her music career; singing, playing guitar and piano.

Edith started writing songs to be able to deal with, and express her feelings about her life. 

“Wanting people of all ages and genders to listen to my music and be able to relate to it. I think we all go through the same emotions, love, hate, pain, and we think we are the only ones, but actually all of us feel these emotions”

Ryan: Tell us how long you’ve been making music?

Edith: “I have been writing songs since I was eleven, but only started recording music last year.”

What’s been some of your highlights so far on your musical journey?

“My favourite highlight so far is, honestly, people who don’t know me, find my music and end up loving me. That, for me, is amazing, the way they can relate to my stories.”

Your latest single is called ‘I Kinda Liked You’, what are the kinda things you like to do when not making music?

“Hmm, to be honest I like to either see my friends or chill indoors and binge watch murder series.”

Tell us more about the single. Is there a meaning behind the song? … a story attached to it?

Yes, this song was written very fast, it kinda all came out at once. The meaning and story behind is that, you are the most important person in your life and when others cannot appreciate you, you only have yourself. 

Also you don’t need anyone’s approval to be who you truly are. The story is obviously about a certain someone in my life who I thought I could’t do without – but actually, realised I’m better than that.

‘I Kinda Liked You’ was a really fun song to make, I recorded this one in London with the producer I usually work with, Paddy Hunt.”

“I wrote the song in less than twenty minutes because in that moment that is EXACTLY how i felt about a specific person in my life. 

Realising that in fact, you need to love and like yourself as much as you can, before letting someone else in your life. If that someone is damaging, then just let them go, it’s honestly a waste.”

We hear you used to live in Romania. Tell us about there (if you do remember much, that is).

“I personally don’t remember a lot, but life there is very different. Part of my family still lives there so I go and visit every summer. I was born by the beach. The only downside of living in England now is the cold.”

What albums do you never get tired of listening to?

“Red by Taylor Swift. That album is a masterpiece.”

What can we expect from you this year? 

“I am planning on releasing an album and gigging around UK (as much as possible). Building up a stronger fan base is very important at the moment.”

Looking forward to that: Find Edith on Instagram |Facebook| Twitter

Edith interviewed by Ryan Foster.

THE MUSIC WALK OF FAME IS GOOD NEWS.

Spring 2020 positivity: The Music Walk of Fame has recently honoured the icon, Amy Winehouse. Her family and celebrity guests gave their tributes to one of Camden’s very own. 

The global star was honoured as the third (augmented reality!) stone on The Music Walk of Fame in Camden.  
Industry’s mover shaker, Heather Minx, was there to report on something very close to this documentary’s heart. Icon and Innovator stones have also been laid in honour of The Who, Madness and Soul II Soul.

One of the world’s most powerful, inventive vocalists, songwriters (and charismas), in her short, but multi award-winning career, Amy performed and released a string of extraordinary songs – included two perfect albums: ‘Frank’ and ‘Back To Black’.

Follow Amy Winehouse Facebook: www.facebook.com/amywinehouse Twitter: www.twitter.com/amywinehouse Instagram: www.instagram.com/amywinehouse Streaming: https...

Amy Winehouse has left her spirit in millions of souls and a permanent mark on music mythology and the Entertainment industry.

Big Narstie, Don Letts and many more turned up to honour Amy.

Camden was Amy’s home for most of her twenty-seven years and along with a statue in the Stables Yard, she now leaves an added attraction to London’s key music fan destination. A world-famous talent, a poignant story, never to be forgotten.

Fans; TV star, Jesse Wallace, (best known as Kat Slater from Eastenders) and her friend the artist, Pegasus, who has immortalised Amy Winehouse (among many more stars). Look what augmented reality does to his talent at Amy’s stone!

Jesse and Pegasus (who, like Amy, lead far from dull lives) support the Amy Winehouse Foundation

Positivity from tragedy, it was set up to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people. The Foundation informs, inspires and helps the vulnerable and disadvantaged to reach their full potential through initiatives and therapy.

“We like to say she brought us together”, says Jesse, continuing “She’s had such a massive impact… …She was one of a kind, a true talent”.

Pegasus adds; “I think somebody like her only comes along every so often and when they do they’re absolutely spectacular and they leave a real imprint”  “…She still continues to make such a huge impact on people’s lives. She also brings people together. She creates amazing friendships. This is the reason we are friends.”

They are right. 

Music’s importance can never be underestimated. Music Tourism can be experienced on land and on line. Watch some key moments from the stone unveiling as Amy’s family and celebrity guests gave their tributes to one of Camden’s very own. 

“Amy was that person who stood out from the crowd.” (Lee Bennett, Founder of The Music Walk Of Fame).

On March 4th 2020, The Music Walk of Fame honoured the iconic Amy Winehouse with the laying of our third stone. Watch the key moments from the stone unveilin...

There was definitely a festive feel to the occasion.

Heather Minx #ZineAndHeard at The Music Walk of fame March 2020

Launched in November 2019, the UK’s first Music Walk of Fame literally sets in stone the names of those that have blazed a trail in music. What the West End is to Theatre, Camden is London’s Popular Music HQ.

TheZineUK documents maverick arts culture – the rise of Music Tourism included. A great boost for the economy, as well as positive news, The Music Walk of Fame celebrates, educates and involves music fans (i.e. the majority of human beings).

Off to a strong start, more icons, innovators and industry movers-and-shakers will be celebrated, alongside unsung behind the scenes instigators.

The Who launched the Music Walk of Fame at the end of 2019. Find out more about the stones (not The Stones!), here;

A recap of the launch of The Music Walk of Fame, which saw us announce the recipients of our first award, The Who. Keep up to date to date with exclusive con...

Ground level goodness. There is so much more going on, and more to come.

Keep and eye on the website and socials for who is “Happening” here, next.

https://themusicwalkoffame.com

https://www.facebook.com/MusicWalkOfFame/

Words: Heather ‘The Minx” of Minx Media.

DOCUMENTARY : SUMMER 2019

TheZineUK June/July 2019 documentary. Photography by Lorna Cort, Brian Robinson Photography, Elly Bailey, Trust A Fox and James Corrin. Cast includes; Sisteray, Tiger Mimic, Hawxx, Musicians Against Homelessness, Madame Fairy, The Dirty Blonds, Live Circuit, Benumu, SONS, The Novus, Head Above The Clouds, Little Nans Bar, Bang Bang Romeo, The Velvet Hands, deux furieuses, Cold Water Swimmers, Joyzine, Smiley & The Underclass, Dutch Mustard, Dead Naked Hippies, The C33s, Cavalcade, Why Generation?, Sahera Walker, MOSES, Radio X Ruby Blue, Sh!tsick and it’s a bit of a Kick Out The Jams x Rotor Videos special. Diary/amateur snaps: Caffy St Luce.

Photography by Lorna Cort, Elly Bailey, Brian Robinson, James Corrin + diary of The Velvet Hands, Smiley & The Underclass, ShitSick, Bang Bang Romeo, MOSES, Wayne Thomas of Trampolene and the Kick Out The Jams extending collective. Snapshots by Caffy St Luce.

Words: Caffy St Luce

SARA – LOVABLE MAYBE - INTERVIEW

SARA graces 2020 with a spectacularly special slice of alternative pop – ‘Lovable Maybe’ – and a conversation with Kelly Munro for TheZineUK.

Kelly: Tell us how long you’ve been making music…

Sara : “I think I wrote my first (albeit terrible) song when I was twelve – so I guess it’s been eleven years now!”

What’s been some of your highlights so far on your musical journey?

“The first thing that springs to mind is last May when I had my first experience of recording in an actual studio. It really hit home that I could have big ideas and didn’t have to limit myself, and it was just nice to feel confident. Another highlight is playing my first London show and hearing my manager say we had really smashed it. To know you’ve done a good job at any gig is just the best feeling.”

Your latest single is called ‘Lovable Maybe’, what, apart from music, do you love to do?

“Whenever I have time to myself, I’m pretty much either reading or playing video games. Me and Toby (the keyboard player) play Minecraft religiously, and we also have a long list of films we’re currently working through.”

Tell us more about the single. Is there a meaning behind the song, or a story attached to it?

Listen to Lovable Maybe on Spotify. Sara · Single · 2020 · 1 songs.

“It’s a coming of age song about growing up believing you’re straight only to realise you’re not. 

A lot of my upbringing was very religious, and I don’t think I even knew gay people existed until my mid-teens. And by that point, a lot of people called me a lesbian in a way that made it very clear that wasn’t something you wanted to be. I tried to dress more feminine and take more of an interest in boys, and for a while I genuinely believed that’s who I was. At university I saw two girls on TV as a couple and this part of me that I’d silenced for so long just simply said “I want that”.

“In ‘Lovable Maybe’, I talk about meeting the girl who became my girlfriend and how our relationship is affected by my constant battle with OCD. Even though it was written a year ago it feels relevant to me every day, because in truth OCD can’t be completely cured. All in all, the song is pretty much a big warning label that reads: “are you sure you want to take all of this on?”.

Q. We hear you once lived in Mozambique. Whats your memories of there?

“I have so many really lovely memories of this really free childhood. Running around barefoot outside until it was dark and getting up to all kinds of mischief with my brother. We would also sing a lot together, practicing harmonies until they were perfect before performing them to our very patient parents. It was a very wholesome childhood in many ways, and I’m so grateful for it.

The most prominent memory of all was sadly the day when the arms depot explosions happened. It was a really hot afternoon and a lot of missiles and weapons started going off five minutes from where we lived. Around 100 people died in the end, and it was a horrific six hours or so of fully accepting we were all going to die as some of the missiles landed extremely near to us. Every day after that I would get home from school and check for smoke in the distance – and that’s when the OCD ironically started.”

What albums do you never get tired of listening to?

“It’s hard to narrow down but definitely ‘Carrie and Lowell’ by Sufjan Stevens, ‘Blonde’ by Frank Ocean, ‘iridescence’ by Brockhampton, ‘I Love you, Honeybear’ by Father John Misty and ‘In Rainbows’ by Radiohead. All of those albums are just so consistently strong and endlessly relevant.”

What can we expect from you this year?

“I have another single planned in May, and I’d love to get back in the studio at some point because there is so much I want to create, my mind is bursting with ideas. I really want to nail the performance side of things too. My confidence still holds me back a lot, and I’m aiming to kick my inner saboteurs butt by the end of this year. So, I guess you can expect a showdown between me and myself, and hopefully a lot more songs.”

Songs like this? Yes please, Sara!

https://www.facebook.com/saramusicuk

https://www.instagram.com/saramusicuk/

Words: Kelly Munro