Author Archives: Frostie

Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders The Last Of The Originals | Music

Posted on by
Band/Artist: Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders
Location: Australia, Moree
Styles: Country Rock/Hard Rock/Folk/Blues
Similar to/RIYL: Neil Young w Crazy Horse, Hank Williams Jr, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Alabama Shakes, Wilco, Neil Finn, Black Keys.

CD: The Last of the Originals

davey-crockett-and-the-alamo-youtube-pic-340

Members/Instruments: Billy Anderson – piano, Ed Glass Drums, Billy
Roberts – Guitar, Vocs. Alex Quinn guitar on one track.
Production: Billy Anderson – Nashville, Matt Springall – Brisbane
Websites: www.billyrobertsandtheroughriders.com

Bio: Billy Roberts was raised in Moree, Australia, and is a man who is not worried about the status quo. He couldn’t give a damn what the Jones are up to and is simply focused on being true to himself; in life and in his music. And if that makes him a renegade, leaving him to go it alone, so be it.

Roberts took to music in his early twenties, inspired by bands and artists such as Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and Neil Young and Crazy Horse, to grab the guitar and start picking. Not limited to those influences, he took great strides to learn by listening to further artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, The Arcade Fire, Buddy Holly, and the Black Keys, among others, taking elements from each and beginning to incorporate various elements into his personal songwriting style.

That style of music, country rock with flourishes from hard rock, folk, and occasional blues, is one that leaves the artist feeling somewhat alienated in his native Australia where mainstream country music, as a rule, is not very popular. That’s led to issues with Roberts finding artists to play with in country, eventually leading the artist to seek out a studio in Nashville to record his yet to be titled debut album with producer Billy Anderson at Cumberland Studios.

Those issues haven’t gotten Roberts down, though. In fact, it’s actually only gone on to strengthen the artist’s resolve to keep putting his music out there while partaking of his other loves of sports, travelling, fishing, and hunting, among others, while also working as an industrial relations advisor. And for Roberts, music truly is just that, a love among many but, to be sure, it’s definitely a love that he’d enjoy seeing carried further.

Roberts takes those building blocks that he loves and coaxes them into his own arrangements, crafting tales that share both personal stories as well as evoke those very emotive notions he loves about the craft. On his debut, the artist crafts an American-flavored soundscape, one that showcases his loves and his history, capturing a devil may care attitude together with respectful nods to the place he grew up and the music he loves. Those nods are shown on tracks like the southern rock fueled “I’m Gonna Get That Girl,” the bluesy tones of “Red Headed Baby,” and the honest, fiddle-filled simplicity of “I Was Young.”

In short, Billy Roberts is who he is and, frankly, he’s not worried too much about what you think about that. He’s a rugged individualist who’s set on carving his own way in life and in music and, while he’s been favorably compared to the best, he’s happy to say, “I wanna be Billy Roberts.”

And for Roberts, that mission is summed up by the artist this way as he shares, “I would rather be more than I promised and less than I said. I don’t wanna be someone I am not.”

 

 

Editor Catherine Balavage’s Radio Interview With Orla Barry

Posted on by

Frost editor Catherine Balavage was interviewed on The Green Room with Orla Barry. Catherine was talking about her new book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. The interview is below and has lots of great acting advice. Have a listen and let us know what you think.

 

 

Are you an actor? If you have any acting questions then comment below and Catherine will answer them.

 

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur is out now and available here.

 

 

Paloma Faith, Bobby Gillespie Join Vivienne Westwood Launch of MyFrackingQuestions.org

Posted on by

Paloma Faith, Duffy, Jools Holland, Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie join Dame Vivienne Westwood + others to launch Launch of MyFrackingQuestions.org

frackingpalomafaith 

Musicians Paloma Faith, Duffy, Jools Holland and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie have come together with campaigning celebrities including Dame Vivienne Westwood and her son, businessman Joe Corre, chef Mark Hix, double Olympic Gold Medallist rower Andrew Triggs Hodge, artist Sarah Lucas and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell to show support for the launch of MyFrackingQuestions.org by taking a selfie holding up their fracking question for Minister for Energy Matthew Hancock MP.
 
In the images released today to mark the website going live, singer Paloma Faith is pictured holding up the question: “How can you be sure that our health will not be put at risk by fracking?” The singer goes on to comment that she is “really concerned about the health risks to the population and the long-term repercussions (of fracking)”. Duffy is shown in her photo asking Mathew Hancock MP if he will attend a Talk Fracking debate to address the public’s concerns and says: “I would like to call for a National Moratorium. A ‘stop the clock’. No more intrusive fracking until we, as a country, can assess whether this is the most sustainable, economic and safest source of energy”.
 
Vivienne Westwood says: “MyFrackingQuestions.org is asking the key questions that the public has told us they want answered definitively by the current government. We are acting now to empower the next generation, preventing them from having to deal with the potentially devastating effects of fracking should it go ahead in this country – from watching the economy crash to house prices nose-diving by 25 percent. This debate belongs to the British people but without any solid and reliable information, they cannot take part in this most critical of conversations. Until these questions are answered and until there is open public debate, there can be no social license and no democratic mandate.”

In his photo Bobby Gillespie raises concerns about whether or not we can trust the government on fracking when there are clear conflicts of interest. He adds: “Why is Lord Brown allowed to advise David Cameron on energy policy when he is a major shareholder in the fracking company Cuadrilla? Isn’t this a conflict of interest? Or is corporate corruption at the heart of the British government just business as usual?” Meanwhile chef and restaurateur Mark Hix asks: ”How will you ensure fracking companies have responsibility for compensation in the event of environmental or economic damage?”

MyFrackingQuestions.org allows the public to log on and ask their fracking questions directly to the energy minister with the aim of getting the government to provide factual answers to their concerns. The website allows users to choose their three most important concerns and send these questions to Matthew Hancock MP by Twitter or email. People can also submit their own questions via the platform if they prefer. MyFrackingQuestions.org poses questions relating to health, energy security, water, climate change, conflict of interest, economic benefits and also asks Matthew Hancock MP to attend a public debate to address the concerns of the public and engage in an open and factually informed debate about fracking in the UK.

MyFrackingQuestions.org is being launched by Talk Fracking, a UK initiative to raise awareness of the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing, ‘fracking’, and the government’s fast-moving plans to introduce it in the UK. Spearheaded by Dame Vivienne Westwood and her son, Joe Corre, Talk Fracking is calling for more independent debate into the potential dangers this industry holds for the UK at this critical moment, before the government’s plans go ahead, changing the UK forever.

Talk Fracking is supported by over 150 celebrities, scientists and respected organisations including Sir Paul McCartney, his daughter Stella, Yoko Ono, Helena Bonham-Carter, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Greta Scacchi, Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Guillem Balagué, Lily Cole, Thom Yorke, Russell Brand, Nobel Laureate Sir Harold Kroto, Lord Rea, Stephen Frears, the RSPB, The Salmon & Trout Association, Jeanette Winterson OBE,  Dietmar Hamann, Graham Norton, Nick Grimshaw, Alan Carr, Bill Bailey, Matt Lucas, Vanessa Redgrave, Gavin Turk, Noel Fielding, Sir Antony Gormley OBE, Cornelia Parker OBE, Mariella Frostrupp, Fergus Henderson, James Bolam, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore and Tracey Emin CBE RA.

Joe Corre says: “Talk Fracking has so far invited over 80 policy makers, industry figures and scientists to take part in a series of panel debates to discuss the merits of fracking in the UK. The former energy minister Michael Fallon’s email invitation was opened over 70 times. Despite this not one of them has had the courage to attend and answer the critical questions from the British public on the serious dangers this technology poses for the UK. I am astonished at the level of contempt this shows to the electorate. The ‘My Fracking Questions’ initiative offers another opportunity for the energy minister to set out his detailed answers to the questions we have gathered so far. This issue is not going to go away! It is building massive public support by the day as more people inform themselves of the risks and wake up to the fact it is happening on their doorstep. Fracking has the potential to fracture our economy, environment, health, communities and even political parties. The government should stop listening to the lobbyists, the spin-doctors and their industry friends. They need to listen to the people and realise that we are doing them a favour by facilitating the forum for them to do just that!”

 

Vajra Blind | Music News

Posted on by

 

Band/Artist:  Vajra
Location: NYC
Styles:  Dark, Alternative, Progressive Art Rock with Eastern Indian Themes
Similar to/RIYL:  Tool, Dead Can Dance, A Perfect Circle, Lacuna Coil, Kate Bush
Single title: Blind (Blood Mix)
Members/Instruments: Annamaria Pinna (Vox, Composer, Keyboards), Kevin Jones (Bass), James Rosenberg (Guitar); John Keener (Drums, Percussion)vajratemple Production: Written and Produced by Annamaria Pinna Vocal Production by Annamaria Pinna & Sylvia Massy Shivy Recorded at Vacation Island Recording by Matt Boynton & at Radiostar Studios by Sylvia Massy Shivy & Ian Rickard Mixed at Radiostar Studios by Sylvia Massy Shivy & Rich Veltrop Mastered at Precision Audio by Tom Baker *Blake Fleming (Ex Mars Volta) drummed on the single.

Bio: Vajra was formed by composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Annamaria Pinna during her self-imposed exile in India. The child of a former monk and school teacher, Annamaria was encouraged to learn about the world around her and to question her assumptions. She believes there is divinity in creativity. Annamaria has a neurological condition called synesthesia, where she attaches color and shapes to sound. Vajra’s music is hauntingly dark and hypnotic weaving Eastern Indian themes with melodic, progressive rock creating foreboding and mysterious lullabies. Their debut album “Pleroma” was released on the Summer Solstice, 2012 (6.21.12). Pleroma is an exploration in paradox (east vs west, soft vs pummelling, female vs male) and includes Blake Fleming (ex-The Mars Volta) on drums. Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of A Down, Prince, Johnny Cash) co-produced the vocals and mixed. Tom Baker (NIN, Foo Fighters, Ministry, Prince) mastered. Vajra is a force and is quickly generating a buzz after selling-out their first show in November, 2011 (at The Bowery Electric in NYC).

 

 

Fractions Reveal Second Single Burst‏‏

Posted on by
Fractions – Fractions EP released via Edils Recordings on September 29th
 

North-East five-piece Fractions are set to release their ethereal self-titled EP this September. A momentous piece developed from sweat, blood and glorious determination, this is Fractions’ debut EP and marks the beginning of an exciting new future for the bourgeoning outfit.

Fractions EP Artwork

Originally a concept for creative outpouring with no concern of marketability or listener numbers, Fractions has roamed gloriously feral amongst the subconscious outback of its originators. This endless freedom reverberates in the EPs sound; an untamed beast basking in its unbridled and limitless landscape. With Fractions organically becoming an increasingly honed and sleek sound over a number of years, steps are now being taken to concentrate more on developing the band and revealing their output to the world.

On describing the mindset of Fractions, guitarist Martin Downing explains it as “a combination of all of our individual strengths rolled into one. We are all fractions of Fractions as we all contribute our own part to what you hear”. A large majority of Fractions’ work is created by its member’s sending work back and forth between each other in secluded home studios, building on each other’s brilliance to create a single entity that is truly great. This insular working environment reflects the multi-disciplined and novel sound of Fractions, above and immune to external pressures or influences.

With their music concentrating heavily on the notions of isolation and abandonment, Fractions take real-world grit and steel and back it up with elegant poise; are a flawless rose wrapped in barbed wire. Into The Earth laments the end of youth whilst Burst highlights how truth is a thin veil purposely chosen by others. One of Fractions’ most poignant pieces, Resist, is a melancholic wonder, focusing on the inevitable onset of old age. Based in the North-East of England, a region that has suffered more than most in the recent economic downturn, Fraction’s EP reminds the listener, in their 21st century insta-happiness ideology and app-savvy stupor, that the real world isn’t always bright mundane skies but is often filled with beautiful, poignant and breathtaking tears.

Fractions’ debut EP will be released on Edils Records (Liverpool) on September the 29th on both physical and digital formats.

 

 

Win Tickets To The London Homebuilding & Renovating And Home Improvement Show

Posted on by

The London Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show makes its national debut at Olympia with new feature highlights and experts and Frost Magazine has tickets to giveaway. 

London, 26-28 September 2014

 

Credit: Steve Burden

Credit: Steve Burden

http://london.homebuildingshow.co.uk

 

As the property market regains its confidence, the UK’s fastest growing home show is coming to London for the first time as a combined event designed for both self-builders and remodelers. The new London Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show will take place from the 26-28 September at Olympia, London. The exhibition will offer visitors the chance to benefit from an extensive range of products and recommendations from more exhibitors than ever before and tips and bespoke advice from an extended expert panel on how to successfully complete a project from start to finish.

 

Credit: Steve Burden

Credit: Steve Burden

Piers Taylor, award-winning RIBA architect and co-presenter of BBC2 series ‘The House that £100k Built’ will be making his first appearance on the London expert panel to inspire visitors with quality interior design and architecture recommendations to help homeowners make the most of their projects. Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and presenter of More4’s ‘Building the Dream’, will be making his awaited comeback to the London event and will also appear alongside other homebuilding and home improvement professionals including Michael Holmes, editor-in-chief of the Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine.

 

Another new feature for this year’s event is the updated Interior Design and Decorating Clinic, brought to you by Dulux Design Service. Visitors will be provided with insightful ideas on how to decorate their homes through the use of appealing colour schemes, wall coverings and furnishings. Dulux consultants will be offering free one-on-one appointments to bring attendees one step closer to their aspirational house.

 

The Ask the Architects area will provide a space for dialogue between certified RIBA Architects and visitors curious about the design and construction process of their project. After a consultation with a member of the team, homeowners will leave with the assurance that their plans will be ready to be implemented by well-guided contractors.

 

For attendees undertaking major works, changes and additions to their property, a meeting with planning permission expert, Sally Tagg, is vital to ensure that they understand the complex application process. Sally will be waiting at the Planning Clinic for individual consultations with visitors to offer them professional advice.

 

Come prepared with your plans and ideas and benefit from the wide range of experts that can offer individual sessions at the Ask the Experts zone. This year, the panel of property specialists includes: Michael Holmes (editor-in-chief of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine); Jason Orme (editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Piers Taylor (award-winning RIBA architect and co-presenter of hit BBC2 series ‘The House that £100k Built’); Charlie Luxton (sustainable architectural designer and presenter of More4’s ‘Building the Dream’); Julia Kendell (Interiors and Decorating expert from DIY SOS and ITV1’s Daybreak); Matt James (designer and expert on ITV’s ‘Love Your Garden’); David Snell (Homebuilding & Renovating magazine’s self-build and plot finding expert); Tim Pullen (eco expert at Homebuilding & Renovating magazine), Bob Branscome (chartered surveyor and builder); Chris Reeves (Homebuilding & Renovating magazine’s Legal Expert and chartered builder and lawyer) and Roger Hunt (award-winning writer and eco expert).

 

Standard tickets are £12 in advance or £17 on the door (children under 16 go free). For further information visit http://london.homebuildingshow.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0871 231 0824.

 

To be in with a chance of winning these fabulous tickets follow @Frostmag on Twitter or Instagram, or like us on Facebook. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter. Or subscribe to Frost Magazine TV on YouTube here: http://t.co/9etf8j0kkz.Then comment below saying what you did. Competition closes mid-September.

 

 

 

 

University Fees-ability by Josh Edwards

Posted on by

Another period of A-level results has passed and thousands of students will be heading to University over the next 4 weeks.  But is a degree strictly necessary? For many it isn’t. It wasn’t for me initially, but as my career aspirations altered, a degree became the minimum requirement for my next goal.

universityfees

Three years ago, I decided to end a successful career in retail and become a student, studying Education. I became poor overnight and left behind a lifestyle of exotic holidays, new cars and weekly shopping trips to Topman. So how can university be financially possible for the majority of young people?

This is how I did it. I applied in 2011, just before the Government planned to increase tuition fees. Although the increase in fees would not have necessarily discouraged me, if I wanted to avoid paying up to nine thousand pounds a year I had to bite the bullet and submit my UCAS application.   Knowing my parents would not be able to financially support me, and aware that my maintenance loan would not be enough to live on, I had to work out how to support myself.

Josh Edwards

Luckily, my local Starbucks was recruiting so I decided to attend the day of open interviews. It went well and I was asked to start the following week. Although, somehow I had convinced people that I was a coffee lover, I wasn’t at the time. A great number of awkward coffee tastings followed, but that is another story. I soon realised that Starbucks was a revolving door for students, with many working weekends and between lectures which enabled us to earn extra cash. Throughout my three years at University, I typically worked between 16 and 25 hours a week. Without being able to work part-time, for me, University just would not have been possible.

university

For most, student loans are an inevitable part of the University experience, especially now. Only the very fortunate are able to leave University debt free. Many are put off by the huge sums of money they have to borrow, but I considered it to be a risk free investment. Only a small percentage of the loan is taken from your pay-check based on your salary, and repayment starts when you are earning twenty-one thousand pounds or more a year. If it all goes pete-tong and you never quite meet your earning potential, then you never have to pay the loan back.

I expect thousands of students will be in the same boat I was in three years ago. So if you need some extra money to help you through university, why not check out your local Starbucks, or Costa, or anywhere else that accommodates student hours. As well as helping financially, it’s good for your cv, and is fun.

I am now a graduate, with a degree under my belt, and a more than manageable level of debt. I am on the job trail, and who knows, I might get back to that sun-filled, fun-filled lifestyle, or just head towards a mortgage, or even both. Either way, I have had three years of mind stretching education, and have acquired great coffee making skills which keep me going in between interviews. Life is good.

 

 

American Pop Culture & Fast Food Fashion Leaves Brits Hungry For More

Posted on by

Have a crazing for some fast food? Well, what about some fast fashion: The fash pack’s tastes for food-inspired fashion, sees a super-size demand for delicious designs on eBay

Since Andy Warhol transformed a Campbell’s Soup can and boxes of Brillo soap pads into Pop Art in the 1960s, artists and fashion designers alike, have looked to everyday domestic products and beloved food brands for inspiration. This season has seen an explosion of Brits favourite ‘food on the move’ brands translated into must-have clothing and accessories, like never before.

caraonesiepepperoni

mileycyrus

ritaora

From Rita Ora modelling the McDonald’s ‘Golden Arches’ around London, to Vanessa Hudgens gracing the cover of super cool US magazine NYLON, swathed in Coca-Cola sequins, us Brits can’t get enough of all things kitsch and delicious – with sales of similar women’s apparel rising on eBay.co.uk 119%* over the summer months.

Most recently model and red carpet regular Cara Delevingne was seen taking the trend to another level. Whilst journeying home from her wild birthday celebrations she was snapped wearing an outfit inspired by what’s inside your fast food wrappers and rocking a pepperoni pizza patterned onesie. Across the pond, Katy Perry was spotted the week before wearing a similar all-in-one to The Philadelphia Museum of Art.

 

So where did this tasty trend begin?

 

British designer Ashish sent models down the runway for Spring Summer ’14 drenched in Coca-Cola t-shirts and vests, emblazoned with the brand’s unforgettable logo in his signature sequins. Not forgetting his UK roots, looks were complete with sequin shopping bags reminiscent of designs by superbrands ‘Tesco’ and ‘M&S’.

Autumn Winter ‘14 saw Moschino Creative Director, Jeremy Scott, showcase the chicest of McDonald’s uniforms, perfectly paired with ‘french fries’ iPhone cases and handbags, sparking a craze on eBay.co.uk with over 50** types of fast food phone cases available to buy instantly. Not just for ‘McFashion’ fans, Scott also created show-stopping silk dresses with prints taken from beloved food products including: Fruit Loops cereal, Hershey chocolate and Cheetos chips.

Whilst over in Paris, Lagerfeld’s Chanel runway was converted into a high-end luxury supermarket, with grocery aisles constructed in the iconic Grand Palais. Models including new face Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne and pal Rihanna, shopped the aisles with Chanel wire baskets and trolleys, and sported a range of tongue in cheek grocery ‘accessories’, from Chanel egg tray clutches to Chanel milk carton shoulder bags.