Archives

All posts by Ginny Marriott

Celebrities are stepping in to help young Britain get the skills they need to jump start their careers.

Louis Theroux, Dan Gillespie Sells, Brix Smith Start, Amber Atherton, Amal Fashanu, Nick Ede, Hardeep Singh Kohli and TOWIE’s Jessica Wright are among the VIP guests attending the YOUYOU Mentoring ‘Be Inspired Secret Summer Dinner’ on Tuesday 3 July.

The intimate, glamorous and fine dining fundraising event has been curated by Disappearing Dining Club and will be hosted at a secret location in Shorditch, East London.

The celebrity supporters of YOUYOU Mentoring, a scheme that helps young people aged 17-21 gain practical on hand skills and career building development with mentoring from renown individuals in creative industries.   Louis Theroux said:

“I’m delighted to be supporting YOUYOU. Join me for a fantastic night for a fantastic good cause that is helping and giving today’s young people opportunities to develop their talents and job prospects. ”

Guests will be treated to a welcome drinks reception, 5-course meal created by Fred Bolin and exclusive after dinner performance from Martina Topley-Bird. Mercury-nominated singer songwriter, female vocalist on Tricky’s Maxinquaye and prolific collaborator with Damon Albarn.   A silent auction will be held where guests can bid on beautiful items to include Atelier-Mayer 1950’s diamante pendant necklace, snap up stunning photographs by rock music photographer Andy Fallon, illustrations by Big Active and once in a life time food experiences at The Cube Electrolux at The Royal Festival Hall.

Amongst the guests will be some of the young people benefiting from YOUYOU.   These will include:   Nicola Jones, 20 from Greenwich who aspires to be a music journalist. Her mentor is Q Magazine former editor in chief Paul Rees. Nicola recently interviewed Little Boots with published work in Q Magazine.

Laura Pratt, 19  from SW London, a keen photographer mentored by portrait photographer Richard Bailey. Lauren’s photographs along with nine other young photographers had their work exhibited in January at YOUYOU’s photography exhibition Close-Up at The Strand Gallery.

Farhan Mannan,20  from Acton. Farhan a budding singer songwriter and musician has been mentored by songwriter and producer Guy Chambers, 3 times winner of the acclaimed Ivor Novello Awards. Farhan has recently recorded his first professional track ‘Remember Yesterday’ at Guy’s private studio in London.  Sarah Francis,18  from Ilford, Essex is one of three mentees selected to be mentored by TV Celebrity Stylist & Brand Expert Nick Ede (Owner and Creative Director of EdenCancan.) Mentees will be styling the outfits for Dan Gillespie Sells, Amal Fashanu and TOWIE’s Jessica Wright who are attending the dinner on the 3rd July.

 

‘Go for what you believe in, Be determined to make yourself a better person… to elevate in life’

‘Go for what you believe in, be determined to make yourself a better person… to elevate in life’,  That is the motto this young R&B artists lives by, and 22 Year-old Fola, takes this with him into the studio, to influence his music, along with the inspirations of artists he grew up listening to, such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Usher, and Beyonce.

Fola grew up in South East London, Intent on nothing less than success, Fola has worked hard since the age of 11 to develop his singing and writing abilities, growing in confidence, he took to the stage, performing in many talent competitions and showcases, in front of audiences around London. His first big moment came 2007, when he auditioned for the ITV’s,  XFactor talent competition, and beat thousands of hopefuls, to get through to the boot camp stage of the competition.

Fola has been touring this year with Grammy nominated Joshua Groban, on his Awake UK Tour, performing to thousands, and the response has been phenomenal. Fola’s debut solo track Star was released in 2011, and it’s release attracted the attention of dj’s across the UK, and established Fola with an ever-growing fan base, The track was perfect for the clubs with its Grime/pop sound, edged with an electro sound. Fola’s  new track Living a Lie is produced by DDark a UK producer and shows exactly how smooth this young talent is.  It’s a track from his first solo Mixtape Go.

We caught up with Fola, and had a little chat about his inspirations and wanted to know what is next for this rising star.

  • Fola, I’ve been listening to your new ‘Living a Lie’ track and it’s great, you have an incredible voice, when did you first realize your voice was one that stood out from the crowd?
  • Well I have been singing my whole life, but I think people noticed it more than I did when I got to the ages of 11/12. That was when I started really working on my craft.
  • tell us about the track?
  • The song ‘Living a Lie’, is actually about a relationship where the partner has been living a facade the entire time, and finally, you find out so many lies about that person. It’s like a huge wake up call. I think we have been through that, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a boyfriend, girlfriend scenario, just a general one. 
  • you spent a lot of time over the years entering talent competitions, and showcases, how was that experience, as a young singer trying to make it in the UK?
  • The experience, is definitely something I won’t forget. But being unknown and not having any connections, it was something I felt I had to do, and I feel that it’s a great platform for young talent to be exposed and celebrated. 
  • in 2007 you entered the X factor and got as far as boot camp, how fierce was the competition there ?
  •  The whole x-factor experience and being at boot-camp was FUN!!! I met so many great people and it was such a friendly environment that the competition wasn’t too cut throat. I think the audience and the TV crew make it out like that, but when I was there, we the contestants were so cool. I still talk to a lot of the people who went on it.
  • would you audition again?
  • I am not too sure if I will go back, hopefully my music will take off if everything goes to plan.
  • You are a songwriter as well as a vocalist, what and who inspires you to write?
  • I get inspired by life in general, the things I go through and what I see others. Some things I write are fiction is all in my imaginary world, but I find those topics fun. I love Michael Jackson, Brandy, Usher, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce …. and the names go on.
  • Your track Living a Lie is Produced by UK Producer DDark, how well do you both work together creatively?
  • Me and DDark work so well together. I think it’s because we both want it and our passion and work ethic is really strong. Outside of music we are actually friends so that helps too. In terms of taste we tend to like the same things musically, I think that’s a key to why we click musically.
  • It’s from you Mixtape ‘Go’ are all the tracks just as smooth, or are there some upbeat R&B tracks on there ?
  • Go the mixtape has so many different feels. I am a smooth type of singer, but i consider myself versatile. There are some electronic pop  club type songs there, ballads and some dub-step.
  • what track would we find on your iPod right now
  •  On my iPod right now, you would find,  usher (his new album), Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, A LOT of Brandy, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. I am also into a lot of UK artists like Angel, Loick Essien, Labyrinth, Emelie Sande, Talay Riley and David.B. 
  • where can your fans see you performing next?
  •  You can catch me performing next week Tuesday on the 19th of June at Music is my drug at Brickhouse on Brick Lane.
  • what’s next for Fola?
  • Whats next? I am currently working on a new project. It will be an EP, so I am working hard in the studio writing and recording. Be expecting some more music video’s from the mix-tape

You can download Fola’s Mixtape ‘Go’ at www.officialfola.com

Cheryl is back with her brand new single ‘Call My Name’.

Cheryl is back, and after dropping her married name, this is the first release under her new proffessional name ‘Cheryl’ .

This is the first track from Cheryl’s  new Album ‘A Million Lights’ available 18 June The track is out right now, and here is the video.


produced by Calvin Harris.  Pre-order on iTunes now: http://bit.ly/CallMyNameiTunes

SEE CHERYL PERFORM HER TRACK AT THE SUMMERTIME BALL 2012

Cheryl Cole has announced the tour dates for her upcoming A Million Light Tour.

Cheryl Cole fans, were delighted to hear about the tour for the new album, ‘A Million Lights’ , it was announced by Cheryl this morning. The UK tour will cover the UK in arena’s up and down the country, including of course her hometown of Newcastle , at the Metro Radio Arena, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham and London among them.

The Girls aloud favourite, has amazing success during her solo career and says if her new album

“it’s the one I’m most proud of”.

Cheryl performed at the Capital FM’s  Summertime Ball last night wearing a bright multi-coloured jumpsuit by designer Pam Hogg, showing her flawlessly toned body.  The Geordie singer raised the roof along with twelve backing dancers, performing  her latest single Call My Name, which went straight to number one on the Vodafone Big Top 40 , and the iTunes download chart following her performance.

She said:

“I had the best time I’ve had in a long time. The best moment since I recorded the album,”

Her third album ‘A Million Lights’ is released next week. And the tour dates and information can be found on Cheryl Coles website.

 

 

 

Zara Phillips, , has been chosen to compete at the London 2012 Olympics after an epic performance at the Bramham Horse Trials at the weekend.

Zara Phillips, the Queen‘s granddaughter,  missed out on the 2004 Games in Athens, and again at the Beijing Games in 2008 because of injuries to her Horse, Toytown. At the games the 14th in line to the throne, will ride High Kingdom, after taking third place with him at Branham Horse Trials on Saturday.

Zara Phillips said :

‘It’s awesome to be given this opportunity, I’m really excited….’High Kingdom is a pretty cool, very relaxed kind of guy. I was really happy with him at Bramham as he’d obviously grown up and is improving all the time.

Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, was the first ever British Royal to compete in an Olympic Games, when she rode at the Montreal Games in 1976.  Zara has always followed in her mothers footsteps, with her love of horse and riding, and already has some impressive titles under her belt.  We are sure the country will be behind her and the other four athletes to be chosen for the Team GB eventing team , Kristina CookWilliam Fox-Pitt, Georgina ‘Piggy’ French and Mary King hoping to take the Gold medal at London 2012.

 

 

British actor James Corden has landed himself a Best Leading Actor Tony Award, and the humble star couldn’t have been anymore emotional during his acceptance speech.

There was not a dry eye in the house, as Cordon tearfully accepted his award, with a look of shock and awe on his face.  Talking of the other nominee’s in his category he said

“To be on a list with you was enough, and holding this honestly just reminds me there is no such thing as best. Honestly, I am overwhelmed”.


Corden was honoured for his role in One Man, Two Guvnors, which transferred from the West End to Broadway earlier this year.  He beat the favourite, Philip Seymour Hoffman in Death of a Salesman.  Cordon ended his speech with an emotional tribute to his fiancé Julia Carey, who gave birth to the couple’s son, just days before the rehearsals for One Man, Two Guvnors, began, saying

“My girlfriend Julia gave birth to our son like, five days before we started rehearsals. She’s my baby mama, and I can’t wait to marry her. Seriously, I would not be holding this if it wasn’t for her.  She makes me say “us” instead of “I” and “we” instead of “me”, and I love her. Thank you very much.”

Julia was clearly moved by Cordons speech, with the camera catching her wipe away a tear, and a smile which had pride written all over it.    Backstage, he described his competition – Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Lithgow, Frank Langella and James Earl Jones“as four of the finest actors alive”.

 

 

 

 

Funding for Children’s Arts Under the Spotlight as UK Gears up for the Games

A number of public figures and leading lights in the art world are putting their weight behind a campaign by national charity, Action for Children’s Artswww.childrensarts.org.uk to draw attention to the lack of public funding invested in art for children.   As young people across the UK look set to benefit from the sports legacy of the 2012 Olympics, Action for Children’s Arts is calling for the arts not to be overlooked. Findings from a report published on 1 June outline that children up to the age of 12 make up fifteen per cent of the UK population but only get one per cent of the arts funding.

The report – based on Freedom of Information requests made by the charity – questions the current funding policies of the national Arts Councils and the British Film Institute, as well as the programming policies of flagship arts organisations including the BBC.   Children’s author, Michael Morpurgo, will join other distinguished speakers in asking what can be done to make sure that the arts make their vital contribution to the well-being of all children at a conference taking place at the Unicorn Theatre in London on 19 June.   Among the proposals that Action for Children’s Arts will put forward at the conference are:

• Making 15% the benchmark for children’s share of public funding for the arts

• Making children’s arts part of the remit of leading arts organisations

• Making children’s film and television a national responsibility

Action for Children’s Arts Patron and Children’s Champion, Peter Duncan, says:

 “While it’s fantastic that sport is receiving so much positive attention this year, we must be careful not to neglect the arts. The programmes of most cultural organisations in the UK are child-free zones. Typically, organisations spend around three per cent of their budgets on education activities and around one per cent on productions or exhibitions aimed directly at children. The case we want to make is for children to have a fair share of the available funding. That doesn’t mean less for adults, children don’t go to the theatre or cinema on their own, art is a shared experience.”

“Children’s imaginations are stimulated through reading, singing and dancing, watching plays and films. The attitudes, values and skills that we learn in childhood stay with us for the rest of our lives”, he adds.

In the wake of successive reports, such as those from UNICEF, the Children’s Society, Barnardo’s and the Mothers’ Union, each raising concerns about the state of childhood in Britain today, Action for Children’s Arts aims to draw attention to the positive contribution that the arts can and should make to children’s well-being.   Speakers at the conference include:

Dr Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England

Sharon Hodgson MP, Shadow Minister for Children & Families

Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Children & Young People, Scottish Government

Aideen McGinley, Chief Executive, Ilex, Northern Ireland

Some of Britain’s most talented singers, dancers and performers are coming together tonight to bring awareness to the Rays of Sunshine charity, which grants wishes for seriously ill children.

 JLS, Pixie Lott, Leona Lewis, & Alexandra Burke, are among many names performing in this one off  event. Adam Lambert, Conor Maynard, Jaz Ellington Stooshe, and Spelbound will also at the Rays of Sunshine Concert at The Royal Albert Hall tonight, [Thursday 7th June]. The event will be  hosted by Kiss Fm’s Melvin Odoom and Rochelle Wiseman from The Saturdays.

 JLS and Leona Lewis are ambassadors for Rays of Sunshine https://www.raysofsunshine.org.uk/, the charity helps children between the ages of 3 and 18

 The boys from JLS said:

 “JLS loves supporting Rays of Sunshine and has been privileged to meet hundreds of amazing children and teenagers through their work. Every one of these young people has inspired us with their strength and bravery. ‘The Rays of Sunshine Concert’ will be a moving event for the performers and an amazing night of entertainment for music fans everywhere.”

British Global superstar, Leona Lewis said:

“I love being an ambassador for Rays of Sunshine. Every day of the year the charity adds a touch of sparkle into the lives of brave and deserving children. The Rays of Sunshine Concert will bring hundreds of children together for a precious night of fun and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

Amongst the audience will be 1500 seriously ill children who have previously had their wishes granted by Rays of Sunshine. These will include 14-year-old  Isabelle  from Barnet who is living with Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the tibia. On the day of the concert Isabelle will be fulfilling her wish to go for a shopping spree at Lipsy in Brent Cross before coming to the concert and meeting Pixie Lott.   17-year-old Wasim  from Harrow.   Wasim had a liver transplant last year and was doing very well. Unfortunately, as a result of the transplant has developed a life threatening illness which is currently undiagnosed. Last year Rays of Sunshine fulfilled his wish to cook with Gordon Ramsay at Claridges Hotel. He also attended a recent reception hosted by Samantha Cameron at No 10 Downing Street.   Katie, 10 years old,  from Lambhill, Glasgow is living with Neurofibromatosis (tumours) diagnosed in 2007. Katie’s greatest wish was to design a giant teddy bear and name it after her consultant, Jennifer. In August last year, Katie designed her giant bear complete with a pink spotty dress and pink bow in her hair!

The Rays of Sunshine Concert is sponsored by www.adot.com

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow have come together to write and produce the official Diamond Jubilee Song.

the track SING is performed by the Military Wives with Gareth Malone and musicians from across all the commonwealth countries.   The video for Sing, the official song of the Diamond Jubilee. Performed by the Military Wives with Gareth Malone and musicians from across the Commonwealth including the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Slum Drummers from Kenya’s Kibera slum, African Children’s Choir and many more.

Recorded at Abbey Road studios and also on location in Australia, Kenya, Jamaica and the Solomon Islands, find out the full list of performers here: http://www.jubileesing.com/performers

Amazon: http://amzn.to/AmazonSing Itunes: http://bit.ly/SingiTunes HMV: http://bit.ly/SingHMV Play: http://bit.ly/PlaycomSing

Miley Cyrus has announced her Engagement to her long time boyfriend Liam Hemsworth.

In an interview with People Magazine, American actress and singer Miley Cyrus, talks about her relationship with the australian actor, among other things in her life and says

“I’m so happy to be engaged and look forward to a life of happiness with Liam”…

which led to the magazine reporting the news earlier today (wed june 6).  Cyrus, 19, and Hemsworth, 22, met on set, whilst filming the movie “The Last Song” in 2009, and have dated ever since, with a few short-lived splits back in 2010 and early 2011.  Liam Hemsworth has had recent success with his latest role, in the ht movie “The Hunger Games“, planting his firmly on the hollywood Actors list.  Miley Cyrus shot to fame for her role of Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel.   The show and Miley herself became a global phenomenon, as t was beamed into their living rooms of ‘tweens’ across the globe.  She sang all the songs involved in the show including the theme tune, then embarked on “Best Of Both Worlds” world-wide tour under her Disney Character pseudonym.   Breaking away from her Disney persona, In July 2008, Cyrus released her first solo album, Breakout (2008), which was successful in its own right.

It is thought that Hemsworth proposed to the pop country star on May 31 with a 3.5-carat diamond ring.  Some Hollywood on-set romances are doomed before they even start, but this clearly isn’t the case for Miley and Liam, who have stood the test of time, and are now ready to embark in the next chapter of their lives, Marriage.