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The unique online male lifestyle magazine ISSUE 6
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The unique online male lifestyle magazine ISSUE 6
Julia Bryce Gear
James Dunk Man
Jade EssonMusic
John PrinceDirector & Editor
Steve SmithFashion Photographer
Holly Jayne MclennanFood
Pure Man Clothing Stylist
Barry StephenHealth
Gabriel AntoniazziSport
THE MICA TEAM
ABOUT US MICA magazine is a high-end contemporary online male lifestyle bimonthly magazine to offer an insight in fashion, sport, restaurants, music, health and fitness, gear and much more for our male audience of Aberdeen, the North-east of Scotland and beyond.
ALL rights are reserved. Reproduction without permision from MICA Magazine is strictly prohibited. MICA Magazine does not take repsponsabilty for claims made by advertisers in this issue or our website and any other media outlets associated to MICA
Magazine. Prices are correct at the time of the publication of this issue.Registered in Scotland SC518075 MICA Magazine LTD
CONTACT USe: [email protected]: 01224 318370m: 07896 835110www.micamagazine.com
..........Culture
Grant DickieDesign
..........Illa
FRONT PAGEmodel: Bobby Crossan V-Neck clothing » Navy Dual Knit Polo Neck £145 Pure Man Clothing
ThoseWinterWarmers
Linton&Mac
The Ciao Napoli Experience
Achieve your Desired Goals
The BigInterviewwithGrahamHunter
The Grey City
NairnMilne
WatchReviews
Ellis O’Connor
Adrian Gomes
Oliver Spencer clothing » Grey Jumper £165 Oliver Spencer clothing » Berkeley Ginger Bermondsy Bomber Jacket£375 Pure Man Clothing
Linton & Mac
Walking into the urban London meets upper class New York salon, I was sure this funky place had to be the salon everyone had been talking about. A home away from home, with a cupboard full of gins and craft beers, it almost sounded too good to be true…
Cue Linton & Mac, a stylish new Aberdeen salon. Based right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of the city and only a few months old, the salon has been making waves in the area, welcoming a number of new clients through its oh-so-couture navy blue doors.
As textured quiffs, and man bobs peak above the horizon, introducing us to the start of 2016’s top trends, the barbering world is about to be revolutionised with the layered quiff and longer scissor cuts, just two of the much-anticipated trends of 2016.
Pushing the boundaries of traditional styles, men are increasingly becoming more and more creative with their styling and finishing techniques, showing the girls that it’s not just us who love to get our hair done.
As the Christmas festivities died down, I sat down with creative directors Jennifer Linton and Joanna MacDonald of Linton & Mac, to discuss what this year holds for the heads of men across the UK…
You’ve been established for a few months now, how has your clientele base grown?
Jen: Initially we saw a lot of women in the salon, however after the first month we noticed a peak in men coming into the salon which is great. Barbering is a part of hairdressing and with Jaye’s (Joanna) creative eye and my styling techniques, we continuously update our style offering to make sure we can cater to all of our gent’s cuts.
Jaye: It’s important to stay fresh and vibrant in this industry. More and more men are looking to try something new with their cuts and styles, and being able to offer them something different at a high standard is vital. Innovative styles have become much more popular, you need to up your game to be able to deliver and the only way you can do that is continual education and training.
Male grooming is now just as fashionable as women’s beauty regimes. Have you seen any trends that you think will be big in 2016?
Jaye: Natural texturing definitely. Natural layers allow individuals to sport easy day to night hair options whenever they like. The no-fuss, au natural look can be achieved by layering, volumising and texturising, meaning the client doesn’t have to do too much with their hair once its been cut to achieve the salon look. Keeping layers neat will finish this look off nicely.
Jen: Long scissor cuts are anticipated to be extremely popular in 2016, and cuts will be much more customised as we continue to develop our creative flair with scissors on men’s hair. Celebrities like Jake Gyllenhaal have recently started to set trends with his textured quiff and a lot of the high fashion Spring Summer 2016 collections featured textured quiffs on their runway models.
Do you prefer working with men’s or women’s hair?
Jen: Everyone’s hair is completely different, you can be working on coarse, thick hair, or frizzy, thin hair on a man or a women. Men tend to be a lot more willing to let you loose on their hair, and really allow you to get creative. Women are a little more timid when it comes to change and having edgy hair styles. However, both can be completely impulsive in choice, it’s really just all about sitting down with the client in a consultation and getting to know their style and what they want out of their haircut there and then.
Written by Julia Bryce - Photography by John Prince
The Big Interview with Graham Hunter
The Big Interview with Graham Hunter
Graham Hunter, die hard Dandie and self-confessed ‘professional lover of football’, is one of the most well respected voices on Spanish football in the modern game. A regular on Sky Sports La Liga programmes, he has closely followed Spanish footballs rise to the top over the last decade, whilst keeping a strong eye on his local team. Graham spoke to MICA about Aberdeen FC’s chances this season, how he got in the winning dressing room after the 2010 World Cup final and why Pep hates ‘Tiki-Taka’.
“I was an awkward kid to teach, I was constantly in playground fights.” Says Graham, who was brought up just by Cults Academy, which was still a green countryside area back in the 60’s. His father had been taking him to Pittodrie since he was five years old and that’s where his love for the game started. “Words can’t describe how important my club is to me. It’s off the scale.” Not too long later something happened that changed the club forever. Billy McNeill left for Celtic in 1978 leaving the Dons manager-less. Until a man named Ferguson was appointed. And when he came to Aberdeen, he moved next door to Graham’s best
friend. “Fergie didn’t instantly make Aberdeen unstoppable, but when he did, when he made the team aggressive about beating Celtic and Rangers, he changed the mentality of the team. With a professionalism, a sheer will to win and an ‘I will not be beaten’ that I feel, looking back on my life, rubbed off on you as a fan. And therefore it changed how I approached life. I was there, not just supporting in red and white, but subconsciously soaking up a lot of information on what it takes to succeed.”
So Ferguson changed a lot off the field for Graham but he had on the field heroes too. “There was Jinky Smith who you probably won’t remember. But Joe Harper, he scored in the 1970 Cup Final against Celtic when we horsed them. He was always King Joey. And then there was Bumper Graham (Graham’s current twitter name). Those were my Aberdeen heroes. But then there was Cruyff. He moved so gracefully, his elegance and movement.” Cruyff, along with Paul Weller and Joe Strummer, are people who make Graham “wish their magic dust had shown me a better path in life.”
Being a journalist was something that came to Graham when he was really young. He first started out by writing short match reports after listening to Aberdeen’s away games on the radio. But he has come far since then. “The number one privilege of being a journalist is that I get to go to extraordinary games again and again.” Over the years he has interviewed countless top footballers and managers on
numerous occasion but the two that stick out are Cruyff, again, and Xavi. “Cruyff is as difficult to track in a conversation as he must’ve been for Berti Vogts to follow! But he’s bright, he can be funny and its a joy talking to him” Xavi is something different however. “Talking football with him is just electrically good. He explains and delineates as brilliantly as he plays but who shares your own enthusiasm.”
And the perks of being a journalist don’t really get much better than covering a World Cup. Graham Hunter and his team had been out in South Africa covering Spain for the whole tournament when he got a call from Fifa TV asking him to try and get into the dressing room if Spain win the final. “So I met the Spanish Football President who, after a chat about British football, let me in. But Fernando Hierro, Madrid legend and technical director of the team, wouldn’t allow it.” So they left it down to the players to decide. “I went for breakfast with them on the morning of the final and the President said ‘you’re in’, as Fernando sat there in a huf. So after the final we waited for them to run round the pitch and we’re straight in. It’s verging on the most extraordinary thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Keeping on Spain he talks about Barcelona and their ‘Tiki-Taka’ brand of football, although he explicitly opposes it. “That phrase doesn’t exist. It applies nothing to do with football and nobody within that Spanish school of football wanted to call it ‘Tiki-Taka’. Pep gets very annoyed about it because ‘Tika-Taka’ means meaningless possession.” Something Graham
is less decisive about is if this Barcelona team is the best one we’ve seen yet. “I truly don’t know. You can never define best because you can never play era versus era.” He thinks the team of Puyol, Abidal and Xavi are probably better than current counterparts Mascherano, Alba and Rakitic. “But I don’t think there has ever, ever, been a front three like this (MSN; Messi, Suarez, Neymar). I can’t prove it but their movement, conjuring, their lack of ego between them. Their amount of goals, their crucial goals. Its something else.”
Finally we come back to where it all started, Aberdeen. Can they do it? Can they do what no team has done for 30 years? “They must. They should win it, I’ve believed that for months. It’s about mentality; it should be their absolute aim. Not only are they good enough, talented enough and well coached enough to win the title, but Celtic have a glass jaw. And we showed it the other day (2-1 at Pittodrie in February). So definitely.”
Interview byGabriel Antoniazzi Photography by John Prince
Nairn Milne
It’s time for a new year, so let’s start off talking about music in 2016 with a proper BANG! That’s why we got in touch with Aberdeen based drummer, Nairn Milne, to talk about his craft, what inspires him and where you can catch him in the act!
How did you get into drumming?
I was one of those typical kids who liked to make a lot of noise and was given a toy drum at the age of five and it took off from there. I began lessons when I was seven years old, however I only became serious about drumming at the age of eleven when I was given an iPod and began expanding my musical knowledge and jamming to tracks.
You seem to have grown quite a following on social media, with over 1,000 subscribers on YouTube. How did you become involved with that side of things?
The inspiration came from other drummers I saw on YouTube such as Cobus Potgieter, and Luke Holland. I was given a ZOOM camera and began to publish my drum videos. Over the past few years I have put together my own home studio and I would like to think my covers encourage other drummers to share their enthusiasm and ideas as I do.
Having over 165,000 followers on Twitter allows me to interact with fans and promote my videos across the world but also catch the eye of celebrities such as The Wombats and Glen Power who drums for The Script and have made comments on my videos which is amazing!
You do covers of many songs, from international pop star Justin Bieber to the much heavier likes of Sheffield metal band, Bring Me The Horizon. What elements of a track inspire you to cover it?
The first time I hear something it has to catch my imagination for example the synth parts in Throne by Bring Me The Horizon. I also consider the popularity of the song to catch the attention of people who wouldn’t listen to drum covers and let them hear something new.
What kind of music keeps you inspired?
Anything really, I love discovering new bands and listen to all styles of music to pick up ideas which I may use.
Whilst planning our photoshoot, you suggested Aberdeen’s noted Music Hall as a location. Can you explain why you wanted to shoot here?
I’ve been to many gigs at the Music Hall, it is an amazing venue and I dream of playing there one day, in my home town.
Your Facebook and Instagram show you out on tour a lot! Is this something you hope to continue doing?
Yes, definitely!
What are your plans for 2016 so far?
I’m studying towards a degree in music and along with playing in Ghillie Dhu I’ll be really busy this year. I am hoping to produce more recordings including one at a local beach which I can’t wait to start planning. Expanding my YouTube is important, this year I will upload drum lessons and also start teaching in person and via Skype.
What words of advice would you give to anyone looking to pursue their passion in music?
To be yourself, stick to what you enjoy because then you’ll work your hardest. Promote yourself everywhere possible, be committed to practicing and have patience.
Check out Nairn’s Facebook, Twitter and his website at the following links:
www.facebook.com/nairn.milne
twitter.com/NairnMilne
www.nairnmilne.co.uk
Interview & Photogrpahy By Jade Esson
Arrivederci to the way you eat Italian food:The Ciao Napoli Experience
It had me at ‘ciao’ - the aroma of fresh bread and garlic, cosy atmosphere and promise of one of my favourites - Italian.
Normally, I’d be pondering over the ‘classics’ - pizza, carbonara, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese - but not now I’ve met Peppe Lepre, head chef and co-owner of one of Aberdeen’s finest independent, family-run restaurants, Ciao Napoli.
Apparently these dishes wouldn’t dare set foot on a traditional Italian menu - who knew?
From this point on, forget everything you thought you knew about Italian food and drink and let Peppe take you on a culinary journey…
“Different parts of Italy are renowned for diverse produce and we passionately believe in showcasing this in our cooking. From the South’s lavish seafood, centre’s seasonal vegetables topping exquisite dishes and Northern Italy’s magnificent oils and breads, there’s something for everyone.”
“When we decided to open our doors in Aberdeen over a decade ago, we ensured our ingredients were the best available, whether they came from the local Aberdeen larder, or from our hometown back in Naples. We aim to deliver the best, traditional Italian restaurant dining experience in Aberdeen.”
At Ciao Napoli, you will only find hand-crafted dishes made and created in-house. You won’t find pizza on the menu, or dishes such as carbonara which have been interpreted by Britons to be extremely creamy. In Italy, pasta dishes will consist of eggs, cheese, bacon and seasonal vegetables.”
The education on how to cook and eat Italian cuisine continued. My jaw dropped an inch further with each of Peppe’s revelations. I’ve spent a lifetime serving bolognese with the wrong pasta (it should be tagliatelle not spaghetti if you’re wondering).
I took comfort in Peppe’s determination and passion to help me, a born and bred Aberdonian, understand authentic Italian food. It’s a trait that runs in the genes. His brother Nino, who runs the eatery’s front-of-house operation, is equally as passionate about their artisan offering, delivering something westernised ‘Italian’ chain restaurants cannot.
Peppe’s wish for 2016? Welcoming many different locals and tourists to the restaurant to enjoy the real McCoy of Italian eateries. Italian heritage is at the heart of this restaurant and with its authentic interior, traditional menu’s and Italian wines guests are promised a culinary discovery.
Restaurant Review: As soon as we stepped into the authentic eatery with Italian-themed decor and intimate tables we were transported from the blustery streets of Aberdeen. We opted for the deep fried calamari and whitebait with lemon dip and homemade bruschetta with cherry tomatoes, wild rocket, parmesan shavings, and a drizzle of olive oil from an abundance of Mediterranean intros. A refreshing way to begin. Mains included a 10oz chargrilled ribeye steak, glazed with balsamic vinegaro and a splash of truffle oil, accompanied with rich rosemary potatoes, and a creamy saffron pasta dish ‘pappardelle asparagii & pancette’. Not a drop left on either of our plates.
‘Known’ for homemade desserts, Ciao’s infamous Nutella cheesecake and profiteroles were of course a must and naturally delightful. As for the drinks menu, Italian wine and beer is what you can expect. I opted for a crisp Pinot Grigio which complimented my fish and pasta dish beautifully. If you’re looking for the best Italian in town I urge you to say ‘arrivederci’ to what you’re used to and ‘ciao’ to the wonder of Neapolitan cuisine. You can thank me for it later.
Ciao Napoli is located at 10 Bon Accord Crescent, AB11 6DN and open Monday-Saturday for lunch
and dinner. For more information
call 01224 213223 or visit
www.ciaonapoli.co.uk
written by Holly Jayne McLennan - photography by John Prince
Achieve your desired goals
So in 2015 you didn’t quite achieve your desired goals and in 2016 things are going to be different right? Well before you get started, here are my top tips on what steps to take to ensure you’re best prepared.
1. Have a meeting with yourself.
Yes that’s right, have a meeting with yourself. You may think that sounds ridiculous but sometimes you do need to take a step back, take a few deep breaths and remind yourself of who you are and what you want to be. Until you are really honest with yourself I don’t think it is possible for you to seek the support of someone else and make a success of it. So lay your cards on the table and go over a few home truths as to why you are in the situation you are in and what is the trigger behind making you want to change. This little self pep talk is important at helping to build the right mind-set. You may well achieve your goals this year and there may well be some people that will have helped you along the way but the person that is going to help you the most is YOU! So before you start anything, have a word with yourself and make sure you’re ready and you’re clear on the reasons why.
2. Set Goals.
Once you’ve been honest with yourself decide what it is you actually want to achieve. You’re obviously unhappy with something and you’ve already identified that, so what is it you’re looking for? Goal setting is crucial. Set an outcome goal that you see yourself achieving in the long term then set some progress/performance goals which will focus on the short term and ultimately build you towards your long term goal. The best advice I could give here is to be realistic. Any desired outcome that you make is likely to be challenging but make sure these challenges are attainable. The motivation and knock on effect from reaching certain short terms goals far outweighs falling short of an over ambitious goal.
3. Plan it.
The next logical step would be to make a plan. By making a plan I mean how are you going to go about achieving this goal. It is likely going to involve some changes to your current regime. This isn’t going to be easy and so you’re going to have to plan realistically and logically. Your short-term goals will help you decide what it is you need to do to get started. Hopefully at this stage your making some solutions to problems and not excuses. I realise that even the best‐laid plans don’t always go to plan so be prepared to have some bumps along the way, if you plan for this then you’re less likely to let it affect you. It is not going to be plain sailing so as long as you’re mindful that you will undoubtedly have bad days when things don’t always work out as you hoped; its not the end of the world, don’t let it affect your overall goals.
4. Get Support.
A big part of executing your plan might be investing in the advice and support of a personal trainer, nutritional coach or both. Or it may just be that you have joined a group of like-minded people, or are now teaming up with a friend who has similar goals to you. It could just mean you get a little bit more support and understanding from your partner or family. I firmly believe that you should get some kind of support if possible, no matter what level you are at, we all need people to inspire us, pick us up at times when we are down, give us a kick up the butt when it is required and help us to achieve things that even you didn’t think you were capable of.
5. Re‐evaluate.
Whether you have reached your short term goals or not you need to re‐evaluate and then decide if any changes to your approach need to be made. This might include another pep talk with yourself or it may be a discussion with those supporting you to get their take on things and how you could plan differently going forward. At the very least you will have learnt something about yourself and something about the process and will be in a better position than you were when you started. As Winston Churchill once said “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”.
For more information on health & fitness please contact Barry Stephen Personal Training
written by Barry Stephen photography by Caitlin Wilkinson
MICA Watches Review
Nomad: £185
Design: For this inaugural design the company teamed up with Samuel Wilkinson, industrial design creative/craftsman, to produce a watch which neither compromises on detail nor craftsmanship. This talented, yet simplistic silhouette of art utilises curves and lines to bring forth a unique time-telling concept.
The face case has been created with 316L cast stainless steel, with a bevelled mineral crystal glass casing positioned on top. The Swedish organic vegetable tanned leather from Tärnsjö Garveri is comfortable and reassuring on the wrist. A reasonable size, the watch is guaranteed to fit all sizes. Although a little challenging to apply on the first few attempts due to its bespoke design of how the casing and the watch strap meet, the watch is a piece of art awaiting to don the wrists of minimalists across the globe.
Tip: You could always match the watch hands to different accessories or clothing…just saying.
Functionality: The hands on the watch are large, boisterous and easily identifiable. Although there are no numbers, or indexes to precisely identify the time, in simple terms, its extremely easy.
The leather is authentically stiff, and of course will loosen as it weakens with wear. However, due to the face being screwed onto the leather band itself, I would advise anyone wearing this watch on a day-to-day basis to be aware of its predominant protruded face.
Quality: From being designed by Samuel Wilkinson and sporting a state-of-the-art concept, the high-class contemporary watch is a stunning piece of modern art created skilfully by like-minded creatives.
When to wear: Lunch with friends or meeting someone on a casual date.
Value for money: 4/5
Website: nomadwatches.com
Paulin: £195
Design: UK born and bred, and manufactured in Glasgow, this swanky, stylish ensemble sits seductively on the wrist, hugging itself around the skin in a showy manner. With precision at the heart of its design, this groovy classic brings a life of characteristics to the arm of anyone who adds it to their wardrobe attire.
Functionality: Very simple to use and operate. Telling the time is no issue due to clearly marked indexes with numbers on them expressing every five minutes.
The watch sports a 24-hour dial, and both a 30 minute and 60 second stopwatch. All of which are very easy to manoeuvre and manipulate.
This luxury watch is 5 ATM water resistant, has a Japanese Miyota Quartz movement, and sports a domed mineral glass crystal facing.
Quality: This watch alongside the brand, screams high-class. The luxury packaging it comes in makes it the perfect gift for a fashionable individual, and its modern design ensures it would meet all the tastes of all ages.
This luxury watch dons bespoke hand-crafted threading above and below the watch facing, finishing the design off impeccably. It also possesses easy to manoeuvre buttons and crown and the watch strap is also unusually longer ensuring it fits all sizes.
When to wear: A business meeting or on a formal dinner date.
Value for money: 4.5/5
Website: www.paulinwatches.com
Slow: £200
Design: Manufactured in Switzerland; the country where the art of watch making originated, this one handed 24-hour gadget is ideal for anyone looking for something a little different to the norm. Slow Watch uses a Swiss Made Ronda Caliber 505.24H GMT Quartz movement, however, strips away the extra hands.
A fashionable, casual watch which possesses a complex movement within the inside of the watch, giving it its unique USP, and can be dressed up for business or dressed down for pleasure.
Functionality: Easy to use once you understand the concept of a one-handed watch. May not be practical for those who need to be able to tell the time by a quick glance, but is easy to navigate around after you’re used to the concept. The watch can reach depths of 10 ATM so can easily be worn to the beach for some shallow snorkelling. Although, it is not recommended to wear the leather in water. Straps are easy to change and can be bought from the website to give the watch a whole new look.
There’s also some handy hints and tips on how to set the time on the back of its durable 316L stainless steel face. The watch claims to be perfectly symmetrical from all angles, I must agree.
Quality: Sporting real leather straps manufactured in Italy, which have been made from the finest calf leather, the watch is smooth and soft around the wrist.
Its raised extra hardened mineral glass face with anti-reflective coating is resistant to scratches, although I urge you not to test this out willingly.
When to wear: Dressing up an outfit for a first date; a great talking point guaranteed to scream ‘stylish as hell’.
Value for money: 4/5
Website: www.slow-watches.com
Written by Julia BrycePhotography by Daniel McAvoy
adrian gomes
Nobody can accuse 10 Dollar Shake of being a one trick pony. This is a diverse organisation with three bars: Rye & Soda, The Tippling House and Bos’n; as well as running events, tastings and their own bottle shop. Despite covering several different aspects of the catering industry they maintain an excellent level of continuity. Each component is brought together and intertwined to bring Aberdeen a remarkably distinctive venue operator and event-catering brand. I was fortunate enough to meet the CEO, Adrian Gomes, to find out how this all began.
Why did you decide to start 10 Dollar Shake? And what did you set out to achieve?
“10 dollar shake started in 2000. I spent my formative years working away in various places in Aberdeen. Cutting my teeth essentially. I ran Snafu for four years, we achieved quite a lot there. I fine-tuned a lot of my marketing skills at Snafu learning how to connect what we are selling to the people we are selling to. I got a bit of itchy feet at Snafu; I wanted
to work on some of my own ideas. I did one year at Yo Sushi as a general manager, and my education was continued through this, learning more about how restaurants make money. Within that year I was doing various things, keeping my hands in the bar scenes, doing pop up bars, and this turned into 10 Dollar Shake”
What lead you to become the CEO of 10 Dollar Shake?
“I started on my own. I guess the point where I was able to break
away from working in a regular job to working for myself was probably when two opportunities came along at the same time. I ran a big event at St. Andrews with 2000 attendees and then realised this needed planning, which involved finding thirty members of staff, funding and logistics. I signed on with the Courtyard as a beverage consultant, got the bar together, worked on drink deals and training. This combined with the St Andrews gig meant that I built up six
months of revenue. Which I realised I could use to begin my own venture.
10 Dollar Shake has a unique style. Do you feel that businesses today are scared to be different?
“I don’t know if it’s a fear factor in terms of being different, I think some businesses are incapable of being different. Consumers have a lot more options than they used to, they are well travelled, especially in Aberdeen. You can’t look around Aberdeen and be inspired by other businesses and then say, “I want their customers” and copy them. If you do this you get an average business, which Aberdeen used to be known for. Now it’s moved to the bar tender opening a bar or the chef opening a restaurant, which has given the industry
people who know what they are doing, have an awareness of the guest experience and what they are serving. The bar tenders know about the drink trends and they go to various drinks expos in places like London, New Orleans and Berlin, bringing this knowledge back to Aberdeen”
What has been the most important lesson you have learnt in this business?
“I probably learn an important lesson every week. But I would say the one that has been most helpful in the last four years since we moved from being an events company to a bar operator is the importance of never taking your eye off the ball. I think that the mistake that we are still correcting today, is that we opened Rye & Soda with the view that people knew us in
Aberdeen as making drinks. We had 10 Dollar Shake events, The Tippling House which did food but people came here for the cocktails. We were opening from half ten in the morning until midnight and thought to attract people we needed to focus on the food and then the drinks will take care of themselves. But it didn’t work that way, people saw us as a restaurant and we missed out on the drinks side of things. And so a year and a half on we are still tweaking that; we are open late but nobody eats at 12 o’clock at night, we had to tweak that and change the mind-set from it’s not just food guys, we are also a bar. I think it will come together this summer. Don’t take your eye off the ball, don’t neglect your ethos, and what you’re all about.”
What has it been like running a business in Aberdeen? Do you think the demographic differs from other Scottish cities?
The size is a disadvantage. It is advantageous in terms of marketing and word of mouth but you can’t be as niche as in places like Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. You need to be accessible to more markets, you can be different but you can’t narrow your brand too much or you’re not going to hit a lot of people out there. Recruitment is tough, a lot of our staff are students, and we know they will only be with us for a short space of time. This comes back to our training program so we can maximise their potential. For us it’s recruiting people knowing that we only have them for a short space of time, we want to maximise people, their training and their potential so we can get the most out of them while we have them.
If you could give the Scottish government advice on promoting entrepreneurship in Scotland, what would it be?
“I don’t think entrepreneurship should be driven by the government, I think it should be driven by individuals. If from the beginning you’re looking to the government to give you a step up and essentially hold your hand through the process I don’t think you have got what it takes. I think you have to basically fight tooth and nail to develop your own ideas. Of course funding is beneficial but there is money out there with things like kick starter, but you need to write your own pitch, your own videos, get your own money. I think the government is doing enough; it shouldn’t be up to the government to hold your hand”
What advice would you have for an entrepreneur in North East Scotland?
“Build your contacts, nurture these relationships and collaborate with people. Collaboration is key; collaboration isn’t for a quick buck, it’s so you can further develop that relationship. There are a lot of people I know who were starting their businesses 5 years ago and we still have strong relationships because we did little things together; not for money but for the enjoyment and to build a relationship. Through this you gain a bit of exposure, a room full of people who enjoy it and you enhance your brand. Collaboration is key in this city and in the Northeast, try to know as many people as possible.
After speaking to Adrian it’s evident that his passion for what he does is represented in each area of his business. The owner of 10 Dollar Shake is an ambitious entrepreneur, who has used the experience he gained earlier in his life to create something unique which I believe has become a cornerstone of Aberdeen culture. What struck me most was his belief that a prosperous venture is down to the individual behind it. While also understanding that the recipe for success is in sticking to your principles, building on what you know and valuing the people that you work with. Check out 10 Dollar Shake online at www.10dollarshake.com
Interview by James Dunk
Photography by Daniel McAvoy
The Grey CityBy BLAZEJ MARCZAK
This is a story of Aberdeen, a personal and subjective impression of this northern city. Bounded by two river mouths, the North Sea and vast green stretches of land, it is often described as the Granite City, though others say it is silver. It is also the energy capital of Europe. The label I feel is the most accurate is the ‘Grey City’. A ubiquitous landscape has been created by the silver granite and a matching sky: this evokes an atmosphere of gloom. I cannot see the glamour as described by others; what I am attracted to are the things that are seemingly commonplace, things which many may see as unimportant and mundane. The silver remains but is becoming stained, a patina encroaching. I am a outsider and I see it as an outsider will, free from nostalgia, raw.
I moved to Aberdeen from Edinburgh where I finished my photographic studies in 2013. I decided that starting a documentary project about Aberdeen would be the best way to discover the city. I started photographing immediately however the title and more specific ideas for The Grey City series formed gradually as I was progressing with my work. During my research, I realised that apart from the vast archive of George
Washington Wilson images there is no other photographic record of the city available. The record which will match the high artistic and archival qualities of Wilson’s work that is. Although many differences, let alone the time scale, between mine and Wilson’s work I hope that The Grey City series would act as a contemporary record and characteristic survey of those places in Aberdeen which are often overlooked to not say neglected. I am aiming to show something else.
I am open to collaboration, especially with writers and poets so if you think our work may benefit each other do get in touch with me! The Grey City series is aimed towards a photo book.
Reactions of Aberdonians to my work differ from some negative comments to more complimentary words coming from locals including writers and academics. I am happy to see that the images I am making generate emotions, however I am surprised by some reactions and wondering if those more emotional responses should be directed to me or rather to the local authorities.
“The Grey City” was featured on both locally and internationally based websites and in September
a small photo zine with my work was published by The Velvet Cell based in Osaka, Japan. So far I was happy to exhibit my photographs of Aberdeen in Glasgow during the Documenting Britain show at the Street Level Photoworks and currently in New Delhi during “Origins” at the British Council’s exhibition space under the umbrella of PhotoUKIndia and The Alkazi Foundation for the Arts. Beautifully designed catalogues were printed for both exhibitions and I hope to self publish a book with the images from the series.
Prints from The Grey City made their way to the private collections locally and internationally and I am currently experimenting with new photographic papers. If you would like to purchase a beautiful print of one of my images simply get in touch with me via email or twitter.
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ellis o’connor
Ellis is a visual artist from Scotland, her talented work composes of drawings, printmaking and photography.
She uses a visual language to challenge assumptions about the natural environment, to reinterpret the grandeur of natural land forms, and to re-present this visual information laden with power.
She develops an attachment to the barrenness of rock and fragile lands, and show ambition by working in places of sparse population. While humans are absent, the spectral presence of the viewer who sees this land understands that it is not ‘empty’, but rather filled with the same elements that sustain all life.
Her drawings are large scale, gestural, and sweeping, in imitation of the landforms themselves. Within these remote and exposed places I go to, there is a feeling of powerful atmosphere and through her work she invites the viewer to feel the powerful presence of the landscape and the textures and marks that we do not necessarily notice.
Ellis’s prints are layered and tactile, responding not only to the land-forms but the textual rock surfaces as well. As her work has developed, it is the internalised grandeur of the landforms that take precedence. These are slightly abstracted from their original source, and start to signify on a spatial level, in imitation of land contours themselves.
Her photographs highlight the bareness and hostility of these wild landscapes that are exposed to the elements on the edges of the land.
The process of mark making and the layers explored through the work are a direct way of showing how the unforgiving elements wear away the land. Altogether, the ways in which I work convey potentials for underlying meanings in the landscape, investigating the places themselves and emotive human responses, and the elements to which these remote places are exposed.
Currently living in the far North of Iceland, Ólafsfjörður on an artist residency with Listhus Art Space, we caught up with Ellis starting off to find out why she’s in Iceland?
I have been living In Iceland for 5 months now having been selected for two artist in residence programmes called Nes and Listhus here in the far North.
So why choose art as a career?
It has always been my passion and so is travelling to wild and remote places so I realized from quite early on that I could merge both interests together and make influential work and visual art that I was passionate about. Also I have to be creative every single day or I go a bit crazy!
What motivates you?
Travelling, opportunities and finding meaning within my work and documenting it back to a wider audience!
Who inspires you?
Anselm Keifer and Frances Walker, both incredibly talented in their field but also the depth and ideas behind both work is fascinating.
Why are you so passionate about the barrenness landscape?
Because I am very much a conservationist of wild places, I find it deeply important to show people the land, the real nature and the power of the landscape. It is very true in our fast paced society now that a lot of people are disconnected from nature and the real earth; I find it interesting through my work to document the shifting of the landscapes and also the progressive effects of global warming in fragile and remote places.
You have had your work exhibited in many places, what is it like to see your work being displayed to the public?
I really enjoy viewing people’s reactions to my work but also interacting with others about the key ideas in my work. Because I am quite a messy and expressive worker it is great for me to see my work in such a polished and spacious setting so I can take a step back and see the development of it all.
Tell me more about your trip to the North Pole later this year and the fundraising campaign?
Of course, I have been invited among a select group of artists and scientists worldwide to participate in the Arctic Circle Residency Programme in October for three weeks around the remote and northern Archipelago of Svalbard.
We will be on a boat circumnavigating the polar regions and I will take this opportunity to work on my proposed project where I will
be documenting the effects of global warming here where it is most apparent around the North Pole and also capturing the overwhelming presence of the landscapes through painting, printmaking and photography. I’m very excited for it, however, even though I have been invited for the trip, I still must raise funds for expenses related to this expedition hence the reason for my indie gogo campaign. I have to raise a substantial amount for covering the expenses of the expedition to the organisation, travel and materials for making a new series of work for when I am there!
I cannot wait to go up to the very top of the world and document it back to a wide audience!
Here is the link for my campaign!
www.indiegogo.com
www.ellisoconnor.com
Interview by John PrinceImages & Artwork supplied by Ellis
