The sound of Zarif

According to The Guardian, 'Zarif is the next big thing in British soul', a major accolade for a major young lady. Having featured on the festival circuit and supported Chris Brown and Beyonce (!!), North Londoner Zarif truley is one to watch. Her songs are influenced by anything from Stevie Wonder to 80s pop Cyndi Lauper.

Zarif is a true lady and has a lot to give. I believe we have a new music and style icon upon us...Here are her 911's.


What are you doing right now?
Right now I just got home from being in the studio with Danny Byrd and I'm about to settle down to watch Glee, my new guilty pleasure. It's such feel good tv!

I like to sing because...
I like to sing because it's the most fun thing anyone can ever do in the whole world ever! I've done it forever and it's all I've ever wanted to do.

I like to illustrate because...
Sometimes a picture can tell much more much quicker than writing a whole paragraph of explanation. I love the immediacy, plus I love any excuse to get out the felt-tips and feel like a kid again!

What is your proudest moment in life so far?
I think it would have to be getting picked to support Beyonce on her UK tour. I had actually bought myself a ticket to the concert already, having no idea that I would ever be supporting her! So that was amazing, the whole tour was a surreal and brilliant experience.

What are your vices?
Coffee and chocolate! I'm not much of a bad girl so I guess those vices aren't that bad, but I do exist on caffeine and sugar especially if I'm writing, I need to be hyper.

Best music track to listen to to get the creative juices flowing...
Ooh that's a hard one. I find listening to new music always gets me going, it doesn't even matter what genre. When I listen to songs I've loved for ages I just get bogged down in thinking "how could I ever write anything this good??!!" so I end up not writing anything! New exciting music definitely helps.

What does 2010 hold?
I'm really excited because it's the year I will finally be releasing my first album! I did so much touring last year that it was hard to find the time to finish it, but now it's all done and I'm literally bouncing off the walls, I can't wait! The first single is called Box Of Secrets which is the title track of the album, and it's out in April.

www.myspace.com/zarifmusic

Louisa Gray

Since I met Louisa, I have always been transfixed and mesmerised by her illustrations. Scrap that, I would say slightly obsessed. I absolutely adore her work for their collage approach to illustration. The illustrations and graphics that Louisa creates are beautiful, kitsch and clever. Using vintage photographs layered on acidic coloured paper makes something that simply makes you smile to look at.

Louisa has just completed a Masters in Communication Design at Central Saint Martins School of Art. Her work centres around appreciating the bizarre in an attempt to escape the banal. She loves saturated colour, cutting and pasting, and collecting things; to produce work with an eclectic and handmade approach.

I saw Louisa last night at her gorgeous little house in Clapham Junction...

What are you doing right now?

Not doing what I should be.


I love to illustrate because...

It takes my mind of things. It is a form of escapism.


What is your proudest moment in life so far?

Seeing my work on the wall at the Mall Galleries for my St. Martins MA show.

Seeing my illustration for Lolita in print.



What are your vices?

Talking, markets, anything Mexican, lace, leopard print, old photographs, Thai food and my new riding boots.


Best music track to listen to to get the creative juices flowing...

At the moment I'm listening to Florence and the Machine, The XX and Temper Trap.

Too hard to choose a single track...


What does 2010 hold?

Fun times.

www.louisascarletgray.co.uk

Double Denim rules...

The double denim look has been sweeping over London town since the summer. The kids at Work It certainly know how to (ahem) work it when it comes to layering denim. Now it has well and truly established itself on the catwalks and high street too. For me, as soon as a trend hits Topshop, that is when you stop embracing it. But if you follow the rules carefully, you can still look hot for SS10.

If you have a boyfriend then try not to look like Britters and Justin circa 1996...Ha! That full length denim dress is too much.

Do look to Chloe's SS10 collection but with a hint of the 80s double denim super look. Et voila. Hot to denim trot.

Kate Moss for Longchamp

If you know me, then you will know that I idolise Kate Moss. She is a unique style icon with an ability to wear fashion with the London Look that I try so hard to create.

I recently read a biography on Kate and I know that she has always longed to further her career and move away from modelling, hence the major Topshop deal. Now she has worked with Longchamp and created a bag collection. It is ok. The bags look as though they are made from the most beautiful leather...but that is about it. Still, Kate can do no wrong to me.

Check it out...

http://www.longchamp.com/gb/home-10143.html

PRISM specs

I don't need glasses, my vision is perfect unfortunately. Since the tender age of 7, I have always wanted to wear glasses and I still do. These spectacular spectacles from Prism make me want them even more.

www.prismlondon.com

Pub Quiz goes East

If you love fashion and you love a pub quiz then A Very Fashionable Pub Quiz is just the ticket. The weekly event is held at The Marksman Pub on Hackney Road. For many of us who live and breathe a fashionable life, prepare fro some tricky questions, and creative challenges to get those artistic juices flowing!

www.fashionpubquiz.com

Lethal Puzzle

Everyone loves a puzzle right? Fed up with incomplete puzzles, dull flower pictures and all things grannie- fied? Look no further than SHOW Studio's online store. Wow. There are some real treats on there. Goodies include a gown by Gareth Pugh (2009, £7,500), John Galliano's Union Jack scarf (July 2001, £25,000), the incredible Julie Verhoeven's 'Forget Me Knot' wallpaper (2002, £55) but ultimately what took my fancy was Steven Meisel's jigsaw puzzle. The past Italian Vogue Cover (December 2007) has been sliced into 1000 pieces. There are only 25 available and are priced at £475. Perfect for evenings in with a large glass of red.

http://shop.showstudio.com/

Amber x