RWD are bringing DIY Magazine along to the Stitch Menswear Trade Show for a great weekend of fashion and music.

Across the two days of the show, Stitch has brought in entertainment partners to enhance the event experience for visitors and exhibitors alike.

They have teamed up with the guys from DIY magazine to bring DIY Radio live to the two day event. This will include a special guest acoustic set which will be taking place on the Sunday afternoon.

Also RWD Live will be hosting an array of fantastic music in partnership with DIY, including The RWD DJs bringing their pounding beats to the Business Design Centre.

Exclusively to Stitch exhibitors RWD Magazine will also be offering a 25% discount on display advertising over 2012 as part of their partnership with Stitch (bookings made before February 29).

Coming down for the weekend is the Modcast, the ultimate Mod podcast. Hosts, Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland, will be recording from 3pm on Sunday, interviewing some of the brand designers and looking at everything Mod and British heritage

Complimenting the range of retro inspired menswear on display, there will be an exclusive screening of the documentary “Casuals”. The film delves into the world of the football casuals, who burst out of the early 80’s mod-revival and took premium brands like Pringle, Lyle and Scott and FILA to the terraces. On the day we’ll have, executive producer, Cass Pennant onsite chatting about the documentary, which was his brain child. As a face in the infamous West Ham firm in the 80’s Cass lived the “Casuals” lifestyle and is the perfect person to help tell its story.

Elvis Jesus will be hosting the onsite bar and quenching the thirst of exhibitors and visitors with a free bar!

On Sunday night RWD Live will be putting on the exclusive Stitch after party. Taking place in the Wenlock and Essex, and featuring sets from, award winning DJ, Scottie B and internationally renowned producer Charlotte Devany, it’s going to be a night to remember.

With less than two weeks left until the Autumn/Winter 2012 Stitch menswear trade show (February 12 and 13 at the Business Design Centre in Islington) time is running out to pre-register online. Register via stitchmenswear.com and you can also book your London hotel accommodation with discounts of up to 75%.

Schedule

Sunday February 12
9AM to 7PM

DIY Radio at Stitch

1PM – DIY special guest Acoustic Set
2PM – 5PM – RWD Live
3PM – Modcast style special with Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland
5PM – Exclusive screening for Casuals
7:30PM  – Late

AFTERSHOW PARTY
Venue: Wenlock & Essex, 18-26 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 8LN

7:30PM – 7:30PM – Charlotte Devaney – [djcharlottedevaney.com]
9:30PM – 11:30AM – Scottie B – [scottieb.com]

Monday February 13
9AM – 5:30PM
DIY Radio

2PM – 5PM RWD Live

stitchmenswear.com

Yep, you read it correctly. Wembley’s… Biggest fan. You’ll get to do things that no mere fan has done before. Trus’, it isn’t a joke – The 2012 Super Fan will get to attend some of Wembley’s biggest sport and entertainment events in 2012.

This year’s winner will not only get to attend huge events such as The FA Cup Final and a number of England internationals, but will also enjoy money-can’t-buy access to parts of the stadium that the public never see. *cue BBC ‘ooooh’ stock sound*

To enter go to www.facebook.com/wembleystadium and describe why you deserve to win this amazing prize. Entries must be no longer than 140 characters and the competition closes at 5pm on Thursday 16 February 2012.

The five best entries will be short-listed and Absolute Radio listeners and Wembley fans will get to vote for their winner online at www.absoluteradio.com

Grime… GRIIIIIME *Lethal B voice* producer Royal-T is set to release a full-length album on Rinse (EF EMMMMM) in April. Brilliant. All that we know is it’s a full album and what will come first is the singles ‘Inside the Ride’ and ‘ Cool Down’.

‘Inside the Ride’ will be released on March 3.

More of this? Who knows (obviously he does, but you know)

An Aml Ameen short film ‘12 The Damaged Race’, is a social commentary based thriller about the eventful year of London in 2011. This, will be interesting.

Yep, it’s here again. Milly’s World brings another nature line up straight from UK soil. This is definitely for the live music lovers that aren’t scared to move a little, even if you are, I’m sure they don’t discriminate.

On the 15th of February you’ll see Ash Catch ‘Em, Scrufizzer, Serena Soya, and Josh Kumra.

Don’t know what to expect from Fizzy Flow Fizzer?

Sunday Show Host & UK Stand-Up Comedian Mo, after having being featured on BBC 1xtra, SBTV & performing at The O2 Arena Presents his first ever one man comedy show, ‘A Class Clown’.

19th February 2012, the humorous chap will be bussing many a joke with support from George The Poet and sir mix-a-lot, Twin B on the decks.

Purchase the tickets now from TicketWeb

One London Club (Formally Sound)
1 Leicester Square WC2H 7NA
London

Doors Open:6pm-10:30pm (after party till 3am).

We were skeptical but we’ve got incontrovertible evidence that Nicki Minaj doesn’t actually exist and that it’s actually been Jay-Z sped-up all along. Internets, how did you miss this? It’s so obvious!

An enlightening post by Jamie Lee Curtis Taete over at vice.com has exposed the painful truth behind the rise and rise of Nicki Minaj. How does a rapper come out of nowhere, change the landscape and raise the bar for the culture? Well, they don’t, Jay-Z does, then when he’s bored, he speeds-up his vocals and does it as a female. Seriously, watch the video below. That is Jay-Z!

We’ve called Jay-Z for a comment but it turns out his number isn’t 0207 JAY HOVA. We’ve emailed his fanpage though, so we’ll let you know.

The spotlight on this Scottish singer and songwriter is burning BRI(gh)T right now*. Having written hits for half of the pop charts – as well as herself – will Emeli Sandé’s debut album deliver in the same way as singles Heaven and Daddy have? Hattie Collins finds out.

Artist: Emeli Sandé
Album: Our Version of Events
Label: Virgin/ EMI
Tracks: 14
Release Date: 13 February 2012

Well, the BRITS Critics Choice winner might not please everyone with this record, but she’s certainly kept RWD happy. While the previously mentioned singles are two of a small handful of upbeat tracks on the album, there’s plenty of heartbroken slow-jams for fans of Adele and Ed Sheeran to appreciate. Unconcerned with being ‘cool’, the 24 year-old plays to her strengths and sings insistently and convincingly about love, heartbreak, disappointment and hope. My Kind Of Love is utterly brilliant; searing, spine-tingling, eye-watering and empowering, Sandé sings the hell out of the song that could be a follow up to . The Alicia Keys collabo doesn’t disappoint either; team two talents like those two and you get Hope, a socially conscious, uplifting slice of soul that will no doubt appeal both sides of the Atlantic.

Third single Next To Me, dangerously close to God-bothery, steers clear of schmaltzy spirituality with its tribal percussion and sweeping strings. In fact a dedication to her love of music rather than a higher power, the Craze & Hoax created composition should give the Scot her next top 3 hit. Dolly Parton gets a Sandé remix on the amazing country and western flavoured Suitcase, a track recent dumpee’s will be hitting repeat to while sobbing into their chardonnay-soaked tearstained pillows. Lovers of a great lyric will appreciate River while Professor Green fans will be interested to hear Read All About It [Part III], a stripped back version of the original and one that we can’t wait to see performed live. Other excellent moments include Maybe and the brilliant Breaking The Law. With this, as with much of Emeli’s songwriting, everything is not quite as it seems. Metaphorical meanings lurk underneath her writing, making the listening to her songs an in-depth experience. Sit back and enjoy or try to crack the deeper meanings, if you choose. At the end of the day, they’re a joy to listen to, either way.

There are small missteps – Lifetime is both a bit twee and sonically mismatched with the rest of the record, though saying that, it has the potential to bag Naughty Boy’s musical Mrs. another huge hit with the teen market. And yes, the album will no doubt be criticised for being somewhat slower than the first two singles might have suggested. But essentially this is a pop-soul album; it’s an A Minor, a 19, a Get Lifted a Floetic for 2012. It’s not trying to be cool. But what stands out, and also stands up to the hype, is the incredible songwriting on display. Epic sounds underpinned by a global sensibility, Our Version… is likely to skyrocket Sandé’s around the world. This is music that millions will love.

Naughty Boy, Craze & Hoax, Mojam and Emile Haynie (Kid CuDi, Tinie Tempah) provide the production Emeli needs to showcase her incredible vocal and astute lyrics. This is an album that deserves all the success it will no doubt receive.

Rating: 4 out of 5

*Sorry, we were trying to do something clever with BRITS and bright. It needs work, we know this.

Words by Hattie Collins

Another delightful update from EA Sports on UBER Monday’s sees Kaori Nishidake come into our lives. With her signature ‘Pirouette Air Grind’ she’ll be a character well worth picking when SSX drops on 2 March 2012…

We caught up with Preditah ahead of the release of his highly anticipated Circles EP to talk plans for 2012 and how the instrumental came about in the first place.

Firstly the promo video is a good look, how do you feel about it seeing all of those MC’s on your beat?

Everyones loving that man because it’s something different. Its what I’m all about really, just something a little bit different.

How did Circles come about?

I went to a club and I thought to myself, well, the whole night there was no grime tunes getting played well and I thought I’ve gotta get together a tune that can get played in a club whether its a club or a party or whatever. I went home and I made that in one go really. It took me about two to three hours.

When you was making it who did you want to vocal it?

Basically it was all one tune at first like when it drops in the first 8 bars it was bit too serious so then I added a little happy part to it that everyone can remember like a ringtone and I just kind of thought this blends together nicely. So you’ve got the dark side and the kind of middle side thats why its an 8 bar tune.

What’s up next then soundwise because we hear you’ve been in the studio with everyone?

Something more like Circles where it’s a grime tune but its got played as Radio 1/1Xtra’s big track. I hear kids playing it in college, females like it which isn’t often because they don’t like all the dark stuff, adults like it, like somebody’s single.

For the rest of the year what can we expect from Preditah?

I’ve got quite a few plans but I’d rather keep it natural and leave my manager to make the plans and I’ll do all the beats and continue to push myself  but mainly work on people’s albums a lot this year and female singers.

Which artists are you feeling and hoping to work with at the moment?

Ruby Lee Ryder as far as females, she’s fresh. MC wise, I’m feeling Scrufizzer the most.

Lastly by the end of 2012 where do you want to see yourself?

I just wanna be a household name in the UK like Labrinth. I look up to him a lot he basically broke the rules of pop music because pop was usually just a bit dance and that and he’s just brought the D&B influence into it and I want to push grime further than what it’s ever been because grime has never been that far and I want to be the guy to do it.

You can buy Circles EP on limited edition orange vinyl here or the digital version on iTunes