FASHION: Welcome to the Blogosphere

(Tanya Burr; photo from look.co.uk)

Blogs. Chances are we’ve all heard of them and possibly even own our own blog – whether it be to document our day-to-day ramblings, opinions on latest news or entertainment or indeed just to share something else with the millions of people online (or just your friend who lives down the street). But nothing has risen quite so high in recent years in the blogosphere than fashion and beauty blogs. In this blogs, people share their style tips, showcasing latest trends or simply displaying their outfit of the day (#OOTD).

(Zoe Sugg/Zoella; photo from Zoella.co.uk)

With easy-to-use platforms like Blogspot and WordPress available to anyone with an internet connection blogging has become a worldwide sensation – especially for budding fashion and beauty writers. It’s true that blogs are a great platform for those wishing to flex their skills in writing, photography or show off their unique style.

(Susanna Lau; photo from quietlunch.com)

But what are some of the best fashion and beauty bloggers and blogs around? This is a difficult question, as there are thousands of blogs that feature individual styles and trends and display wonderful make-up looks that it can seem a little daunting to just highlight a few. Probably one of the more notable ones you may have heard of is Norwich’s own Tanya Burr, who started her fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog in 2011 and ever since has become a hit with all types of people, for her cute and succinct reviews of various products, her monthly favourites and her signature styles. Burr’s success on her blog and on YouTube has allowed her to branch out and launch her own cosmetics line, showing the benefits of her blogging.

(Gabi Gregg; photo from gabifresh.com)

Want to know some more of our favourite fashion and beauty bloggers and read the rest of this article? Then check it out, here. 

Nicki Minaj - The Pinkprint [Album Review]

The self-described Queen of Rap’s new album, The Pinkprint, released 2 years after the fierce Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded showcases a change of thematic for the singer. Not content with mere bubblegum beats and quirky lyrical stylings, Minaj has opted for a significantly deeper and retrospective look on her life over the past years; with the lyrics offering up some intense emotional expression about the struggles she went through and how she finally ‘made it’. Although this type of self-reflection is nothing new, it’s interesting to see that The Pinkprint encompasses Minaj’s trade-mark quick-spitting raps mixed with addictive beats and an air of vulnerability.  

Opening the album is the highly personal ‘All things go’, documenting Minaj’s past emotional battles including the murder of her cousin, her abortion and the effects of her substantial success as a musical artist and a notable black female rapper. The inspiring and also tragic story is particularly evident in ‘All things go’ as Minaj combines rap with traditional melancholic singing, heavy basses and bittersweet synths. The effect is a powerful one. This softer, intimate sound continues in track 2 & 3, named ‘I Lied’ and ‘The Crying Game’.

But just in case you thought you had lost the sassy and sexual lyrics that Minaj is known for, you reach track 4, ‘Get On Your Knees’ – this time featuring the sweet and vocally powerful Ariana Grande – which is essentially 3 minutes 36 seconds of not-so-subtle allusions to oral sex. Dominant Nicki shows her talents at rapping in this trap track, whilst the addition of Grande adds a memorable segment to the song which essentially switches tables on the usual R&B tracks whose sole focus is male pleasure.

Queen Bey(once) is back and teaming up with Minaj on #5’s ‘Feeling Myself’, continuing the sultry sexual theme. The track is fun and features a killer flow from Minaj, whilst Beyonce shows her stopping power, by halting the track to a temporary stop, breaking up the rhythm and creating an interesting distinction. With a whole host of notable names making an appearance on The Pinkprint, it seems Minaj is still reigning supreme in the rap-world. Skylar Grey swoops in for an emotional stint on ‘Bed of Lies’, whilst Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown stop by for several verses on ‘Only’, a steely addition to Minaj’s discography, and one that shows her rapping skills outshining many of her fellow male peers.

Fans of Minaj’s ‘Starships’ should stop by #13 ‘The Night Is Still Young’, which sees the singer show she can still pull out a powerhouse, dreamy pop anthem. The Pinkprint also features phenomenal hit ‘Anaconda’ and previous hazy, heavy-beat single ‘Pills N Potions’. Additionally, if you happen to have the Deluxe Version lying around, we recommend checking out ‘Shanghai’, a dizzy grime-house sound featuring some killer instrumentals and has some of the best of ‘crazy Nicki’. We also recommend ‘Win Again’ is you’re looking for some super-confident, super-clear pop mix with a solid beat. Nicki really sells the last two tracks.

Overall, Minaj introduces us to a quirky and vibrant mix of several styles: from brash hip-hop to euphoric synths, accompanied by some serious rapping skills and confident vocal performances from the female rapper.  The Pinkprint has something for everyone, whatever ‘style’ of Nicki you are looking for, you’re likely to find it here, and the contrast between the more emotional additions and her trippy, domineering ones is fascinating. Whilst The Pinkprint doesn’t conquer any abstract ground or pave out any new pathways in music, it does show the individual style of the singer far more successfully than most albums, and this in itself is an accomplishment. 

4 stars. 

Sia - Elastic Heart feat. Maddie Ziegler & Shia LaBeouf (Official Video) [+ Review]

Remember Maddie Ziegler from the music video of Sia's smash hit, Chandelier? Well, the young performer is back and dancing to the unique singer-songwriter's latest music video; entitled 'Elastic Heart'. You can check out our review of the track itself, right here. The track featured on not only 1000 Forms of Fear but also on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, the latter of which originally featured The Weeknd singing the second verse. On this second (album version) however, only Diplo features. But whilst Ziegler returns dramatically to the centre stage for the new music video, she is accompanied by actor Shia LaBeouf, who performs a intriguing routine with Ziegler. 

The two take part in a tussle (or type of wrestle) and appear to be struggling with each other throughout the video, ending with Ziegler's character trying to free LaBeouf's but the latter can't seem to fully escape his cagey prison. There are many metaphors this could stand for and no doubt multiple interpretations but it is certainly an interesting spectacle to watch - and a though-provoking one at that. 

Sia's videos always do contain a certain element of creativity and 'Elastic Heart' is no exception, with a unique visual take that reflects the sentiment of the song, and compelling performances by LaBeouf and Ziegler, 'Elastic Heart' is definitely one to watch. Will it become the next Chandelier and see Sia rise again to the most watched ranks of video content? 

Get in on the action and watch below, and tell us your thoughts in the comments!

The Rise of the Superhero

Spider-Man. The Avengers. Batman. X-Men. These superheroes have taken to the big screen in recent years and proven to be incredibly successful amongst audiences and critics alike. It’s no secret that there’s big money to be made in the sub-genre that has been dominating contemporary cinema, and many studios are hoping to emulate the success of the big names and draw in the masses with their version of the ‘superhero movie.’ But what is it about these types of films that make them so popular? Why are audiences so inclined to go and see films that effectively feature people dressed up in unusual costumes, swinging around town and battling villains?

This is the beginning paragraph for a piece I wrote for newspaper, Concrete, and if you're intrigued to read more,  you can check out the rest of the article right here. 

Full link: http://www.concrete-online.co.uk/rise-superhero/

Demi Lovato - Nightingale (Official Video) [+ Review]

Soaring in as a new release is Demi Lovato's song 'Nightingale' (watch the music video below). The track comes straight from Lovato's fourth studio album, entitled simply Demi, and was written by Lovato alongside Anne Preven, Matt Radosevich and Felicia Barton - and boy does it pack a real emotional punch. 'Nightingale' is no doubt a particularly personal song for the singer, who has had numerous personal struggles that the song can be seen to highlight. In the track, Lovato talks about needing "a light to take me home/ I kinda need a hero/ Is it you?" as she sings the ballad-esque track with full volume, reaching impressive notes for such an underrated singer. I heard Lovato's 'Nightingale' track recently, and upon seeing the video it is particularly clear what the song is about and what type of message it is projecting to the singer's fans, many who are young and no doubt deal with their own struggles in life. 

I admit, I was surprised to see Lovato come out with such a powerful song that does a great job of reflecting her as a music artist, and it's intriguing to see what she will follow this up with - but one thing's for sure - all eyes are on her at the moment. 'Nightingale' is an emotional song and has that deep level of connection that will make it appealing to multiple audiences, but also a powerful chorus fuelled by Lovato's vocals that make sure the track is thoroughly memorable; you almost can't help sing along. The music video matches the track's sentiment perfectly and it's a very confident addition to the singer's discography.