Eric Jerome Harper (pictured centre) – trombone player, founder and frontman of east London band Brassroots – shares his thoughts on The Breakfast Club, Hackney Wick and the Royal Wedding…

‘Home is a warehouse full of musicians. When I’m amongst other creators everything just flows so nicely and naturally. General conversation feels productive and inspiring. There’s nothing like it.

I’ve lived in Texas, New Orleans and Brooklyn so London feels quite dense and totally diverse to me. You can experience such a broad range of things without travelling too far.

Right now we are working on our new album. I’ve been writing and preparing for the release as well as organising tours and gigs coming up this year.

In Hackney Wick they’re always re-inventing themselves artistically to stay relevant. Oh yeah, and they have the best parties.

A day that sums up the spirit of the city was the Royal Wedding street party at The Book Club. There were elegant tea dresses, swing dancing, Pimms, top hats and braces, and then I look up and there’s this girl in a Queen Elizabeth mask hanging from a lamp post in hot pants, smoking a cigarette and chugging a pint of cider. I fell more in love with London that day.

We tour a lot. Sleeping on a tour bus that smells of dudes gets old pretty fast.

My perfect day in London would involve… The American Breakfast at The Breakfast Club, a walk in Victoria Park, lunch at the Caribbean spot in Stoke Newington, back to mine for a nap.

For something totally unique I’d catch a show at Shakespeare’s Globe. We played their end of season party and it was the best party I’ve been to since I moved to London. Hands down. I’m pretty sure they also have something to do with theatre.

I feel most creative literally just walking around London. London is such a great city for visual and auditory inspiration. I know it sounds crazy but my dad hipped me to it over the phone a couple months ago. We were talking about writing songs for my band and he mentioned to me that the city itself sounded pretty musical over the phone and to make sure I included that in my material because it’s influenced what I do here so much.

I really want to see Kew Gardens, I’ve heard a lot about it but haven’t been there yet. I’ve seen quite few really cool places just playing gigs around the city.

The Tube is horrendous; always problems and delays and so crowded and hot. Ugh.

I’m inspired by so many people. Recently I’ve been hugely inspired by the story of Kevin Clash, the voice and personality behind Elmo the Muppet. His story is incredible. It just goes to show if you dedicate yourself to your dreams, they will come to you.’

www.brassrootsmusic.com

Brassroots Presents… is a new night on every second Wednesday of the month. The next event takes place on Wednesday 8 February, 7.30pm at:

Rich Mix
35-47 Bethnal Green Road
Shoreditch
E1 6LA

Information and booking: 020 7613 7498

Photo of Brassroots courtesy of Briony Campbell

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

My London: Jerome Harper

London-born singer and songwriter Seal, who now lives in LA, reminisces on his raving years and the raw London of his youth…

‘Notting Hill is always a place that will be close to my heart. I grew up in Kilburn and Paddington, so Notting Hill was on the doorstep, but it was the epicentre of so much music that was being made at the time, and where I started my music career really.

I haven’t lived in London for a long time – nearly 20 years in fact. It was an incredibly exciting place then, but it was perhaps a little bit more raw than it is now. But that’s just my perspective as I didn’t grow up in what you could describe as a wealthy or privileged environment. It’s always been, and I think will always remain, the creative capital of the world.

When I come in to London these days, it’s for short periods of time to do shows or promo, and there’s just no time to ‘hang-out’. It’s great to drive past or through familiar neighbourhoods though. I’ve got very, very fond memories of the place.

The Soho Hotel – it’s probably not a secret any more is it?

What is my most vivid London memory? The dance scene; clubs and raves. It was such an exciting time – a crazy time really. Although ‘memory’ might not be the best term to use. I’m not sure I remember it all! I’m completely out of the loop with that scene these days. Four kids and nightclubbing don’t mix well!

I think anyone growing up in London at that time that was involved in music will remember the city as an incredibly exciting place. It was such a melting pot of cultures, especially in west London, so I think it’s safe to say the city had a huge influence on me and ultimately my career.

I just don’t have the time these days for hanging out. But I do remember great walks in the parks, friends, pubs, relaxing at friends’ houses listening to music. All good memories of my youth!

I don’t know if my songs captured the scene, or the scene captured me, but I think many people remember those early songs like Killer and Crazy as part of their youth. But that dance thing was what was happening at the time. It was impossible to get away from it.

I do love it in LA. It’s a totally different experience. The weather, for starters, that’s one thing that always used to get me down about England.

The people [in London], they are honest.  That’s not something that can be said for everyone in LA!’

Photo of Seal courtesy of Nabil

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

My London: Seal

Vocalist Lou Vainglorious, of London-based band Hoodlums, takes us on a tour of the capital via Big Ben and the Barbican, with breakfast in Primrose Hill…

‘As odd as it sounds my favourite area of London is the big clock in Stratford town centre. It was where I first met Nick Pini, the co-founder of Hoodlums. We had been introduced online by a mutual friend but the day we met in person was strangely date-like and beautiful. Then I opened my mouth.

Right now I’m in limbo, burning the midnight oil but in need of a kip. I’ve been walking around town with my old Walkman on pretending life is ‘cinematic’.

The first time I walked through the doors of RAK studios in St John’s Wood to record music is my most vivid London memory. Such a rich musical heritage and impressive building, like walking through the door to an era that’s long gone. Inspirational and overwhelming.

Big Ben… I wanna snoop it out.

My perfect London day out would involve… Russian Tea Rooms for breakfast in Primrose Hill and a walk through the park over to RAK studios in St John’s Wood to do something Hoodlumesque in the studio; pop to the Tate Modern for some culture before lunch at the National Film Theatre; spend the afternoon talking to the great drunks of Camden then finally a black cab ride to the Barbican for some sort of musical escapism; finally find a good roof somewhere with a friend and sit drinking and talking till the city finally falls asleep.

The mixture of old and new, the drama maybe, makes London unique. The sense that although you love your city… its gonna put you in the ground!

My biggest inspiration in life? There are too many conflicting inspirations to point the finger at any one person. Maybe Woody Allen.

Christmas is special for me. I used to spend them with my Nan in Lambeth… snow at the Imperial War Museum.

My grandad is a bit of a hero and bit of a villain… through his stories I have experienced London’s history through the lens of a glorious chancer.

Hoodlums release their second single ‘Dark Horses’ (via Blow the Whistle Recordings) on January 30 with a special release show on February 9 at The Wilmington Arms.

www.myspace.com/hoodlumsband

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

My London: Vocalist Lou Vainglorious

The latest on our ‘one to watch’ list for 2012 is German/English singer/songwriter Roxanne de Bastion – one girl and her guitar brightening up the chilly mornings with her honest, quirky lyrics.

This year Roxanne’s embarking on a tour and recording a debut album, but it was last year’s inspired video for single Buckle Up that first got people talking. We’ll let Roxanne explain the story behind it, but check it out here if you haven’t already seen it.

The London Word caught her for a quick chat about her musical heroes, the story behind that video and gigging with rowdy backpackers.

Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself?

‘My name’s Roxanne de Bastion and I’m a singer/songwriter. I’m originally from Berlin – my father’s English and my mother’s German, so I grew up with both languages and moved back and forth as a child. A few years ago I came to London with a suitcase, a guitar and a one-way ticket to pursue my music career – so far so good!’

I love your Buckle Up music video – what’s the story behind that?

‘I’m so glad you like it! It was a lot of fun to shoot… We thought we’d see what happens when you walk into BBC buildings and other musical institutions – the TV Centre, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6, Broadcasting House, to name a few – and try to play a song to the people at reception. As you can see, some reacted better than others! We did have a great time though, and it was pretty rock ‘n’ roll to shoot a video that involved spy cameras, escape routes and Hugh Jackman!’

What’s been your all-time best gig?

‘That’s a really tough question! I’m a huge Beatles fan, so the first time I got to play at the Cavern Club was pretty special. The best shows are the ones where you feel you’ve reached everyone in the room and made them happy.’

And the worst…?

‘Well, I once had a regular gig playing in the bar of an Australian backpackers hostel… always reminded me of the gig in the Blues Brothers film, only they had chicken wire for protection.’

Which artists do you admire, and why?

‘I love Regina Spektor’s music – I really admire how free she is with words and sounds, she could write a song about absolutely anything and make it sound cool! I had the pleasure of seeing Ray Davies play live last year – he was amazing! Nobody captures all things quintessentially English like he does, I admire that. Basically, I admire any artist that has something new or significant to say and the ability to deliver it in a way that’s moving. Music is either honest, or crap!’

Any tips for aspiring musicians?

‘Don’t waste your time trying to fulfill other peoples’ expectations. Make sure that you’re happy with the music you make and you’ll be fine. Also, never play Wonderwall. Ever.’

What are your ambitions for 2012?

‘I’m going to record my debut album, which I’m incredibly excited about. I’m going on tour in March and will hopefully also return to the USA for some shows. The tour dates will be announced very soon on my website so please do stay in touch and make sure you come say hello if you make it to one of the shows!’

How is living in London in comparison to Berlin?

‘I’ve lived in London for about three years now, so I’m slowly turning into a “LAndoner”, which means I get annoyed when people stand on the wrong side of the escalator and I never have time to clean my flat. I love London, but it couldn’t be more different to Berlin, which is incredibly empty and slow paced in comparison.’

Any favourite places to visit in London?

‘London has so many different faces, there’s no place quite like it. I’d recommend the old part of Highgate Cemetery, then down to Camden Town for a coffee at “My Village”, followed by a walk along the canal to Regents Park – where you can re-enact some Withnail and I if you like! – and end up somewhere in Soho for a drink, There, if I had a day off sometime, that’s what I’d do!’

Find out more about Roxanne and her forthcoming gigs here.

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

Singer Roxanne de Bastion

Come to London and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll avoid using the Tube. You can cycle all you want, buses are only going to get you so far and taxis are a twice a year treat for most of us. Sooner or later, you’ll find yourself heading down an escalator, peering at the spaghetti-like network of intersecting lines and trying to work out if Bank and Monument are the same or different stations.

We’re exasperated about having to wait three whole minutes for the next train to arrive, we curse the checkpoints that never apologise when they’ve taken too much money off of our Oyster card and yet we couldn’t do without it. This year saw the number of passengers using the Underground surpass one billion. It’s come a long way since its inception in 1863, evolving with different lines coming and going.

The changes in the Underground’s make-up have seen some stations left behind, and are now disused. But while they now lie dormant, they have not been forgotten and author Ben Pedroche tracks them down in his new book Do Not Alight Here. The London Word caught up with him to discuss the Tube, architects and why there is such a big gap between Caledonian Road and King’s Cross.

Your new book is all about the Tube. What first drew you to the London Underground?

‘I’ve always been interested in the city aesthetic. I come from just outside of Nottingham, so I’ve always been aware of cities. I had a brother at university in Luton and I used to come and visit him at weekends.

I was very taken with the gritty urban metropolis and it was also the transport that drew me. I thought it was pretty cool that you could take these trains that went underground. I’m not really interested in the trains per se, I’m not a train geek, but it was the whole combination of lines going across each other that intrigued me. Plus I’ve always had an interest in derelict buildings and I liked the idea of tracking down the stories behind them.’

How did you go about devising the routes for the walks that take in these abandoned stations?

‘Originally it was going to be short walks just within central London but as it expanded out, I had to refine the process. The problem was then that you had these large sections where you would see nothing for 20 or 30 minutes. It was quite painful to leave certain bits out and so I put those in at the More Things to See section at the back.

‘I got a big map of London and split it up into boroughs. I had about 16 or 17 walks but wanted to keep it even so I settled on 12, which meant combining some.’

Did you test drive some of the walks?

‘Yes, I didn’t want the walks to be over two and a half hours so I plotted them out on Google Maps. I went out with a stopwatch, stopping and starting and taking notes, revisiting some in case any had changed. There was a lot of refining, checking on maps, just to make sure I had a rough idea of how long they would take.’

Why is there such a big difference in the number of Tube stations in the north compared to the south?

‘It’s because most of the rail companies who make up the Underground we have now, they were aiming to get in from the north. That’s why we have Euston, St Pancras but once they got to the river, they would have to stop because the river was a physical barrier and it was expensive to build bridges.’

Do you think Londoners have a good underground system compared to those in other European cities?

‘Yes, I think so. I’ve ridden the underground in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Paris, Budapest and they’ve all copied the London model, which I think is quite a compliment. I haven’t been to every one but it’s certrainly the best one I’ve ever been on. Take the one in Los Angeles, which is rubbish. It’s strange because it’s such a massive city but the trains are infrequent and the network is pretty small. So for me, although there’s room for improvement, it’s still the best.’

In the book you talk about architects who were important in the development of the Tube, such as Leslie Green and Charles Holden. Given the significance of what they produced, are they somewhat overlooked in terms of important architects?

‘Definitely, because the Underground stations are beautiful buildings. The reason why they lasted is that they are not just functional with clear routes in and out but they are also beautiful places. I don’t see any reason why you should put stations on a different level to any other type of architecture.

‘I’m sure that at the time Leslie Green wasn’t intending for his buildings to be seen as aesthetically pleasing. The reason why he used the terracotta bricks is that they were easier to clean from the smog that was around at the time. It was one of those things that people see them now as beautiful in retrospect but I don’t think that Leslie Green was designing a station, I’m sure he had an inkling that it was nice looking but I don’t think he was aiming for it to be a design classic. So given that the stations are so iconic and so important in the history of London, I don’t think that these guys should be forgotten.’

How do you think the Crossrail project is going to affect London’s transport capabilities?

‘It’s a huge project and it’s actually going to make some of the stations in my book not disused any more! There’s a lovely stretch from Canning Town to North Woolwich, which is derelict at the moment and some of the stations are going to be brought back. I think it’s going to be good; nice brand new stations, a natural progression. It seems too straight a line and it’s a long time until it’s all going to be finished but I think it’s going to be good.’

What do you do when you’re not tracking down London’s lost stations?

‘I work in online marketing. The plan is to get a couple of reference books done, quit the day job and hopefully become a full-time writer.’

Whereabouts do you live in London?

‘Kilburn, although it’s more towards West Hampstead.’

What’s it like to live in that area?

‘I like it a lot, it’s a lively area. Both my girlfriend and I need to live where it feels like living in London. It’s going to be a problem in the future when we’re looking to buy somewhere as we’ll have to move further out to get value for money. The great thing about the book is that to begin with, I didn’t really know south London but I got to explore some great places like Sydenham and Herne Hill. But I don’t really mind where I live as long it feels like London.’

If you could pick any one of the disused stations in your book to bring back, which one would it be?

‘I wouldn’t actually pick a Tube station but would go for a train station. It’s on this stretch where the Crossrail is going to be. There’s a station in particular, near City Airport, called Silvertown. It’s right next to the river and it’s a ghost town. There used to be this big sugar factory and everyone who lived there would have worked at the factory. The station sits there dilapidated, all decrepit. The Crossrail is going to come right by it but it’s not going to be brought back, which to me is weird, because it’s two minutes from City Airport.

‘If I was going to go for a Tube station, I would go for York Road, which is actually on the cover of the book. The building is still there, and that one would be great to be brought back into use, because it’s the reason why there’s a big gap on the Picadilly line between Caledonian Road and King’s Cross. Trains still pass through it and if you’re quick when looking out of the window, you can actually see the platforms as you go past.’

Could you tell us a bit about the underground shelters and how they were used?

‘Sure, because they have a fascinating history. The deep level shelters were there not originally intended as air raid shelters but as part of a high speed train system within the Tube. There were to be tunnels underneath the tunnels to allow them to bypass certain stations. However, this never transpired because of the outbreak of the Second World War. Eight were created and they earmarked five to be used as air raid shelters. The other three were used for other purposes like the one at Goodge Street was used by Eisenhower who had his meetings there during the war.

‘Then in the 1950s a lot of people came over from the West Indies as there was a labour shortage and they were invited to Britain. They’re known as the Windrush Generation as they came over on the ship Empire Windrush. They were housed there and the nearest job centre was in Brixton, which is why Brixton is now the centre for Afro-Caribbeans.’

What other books do you have lined up?

‘The one I’m working on is about powerstations and gasworks. Obviously you’ve got a lot of those in London, like the ones at Battersea and Greenwich. Take for instance the Tate Modern, which shows you what a great building but how you can reuse them.’

Do Not Alight Here is out now, published by Capital History.

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

London Author Ben Pedroche

Broadcaster Emma B shares her thoughts on 7/7, Jamie Oliver and her perfect London day out…

‘Being in town on 7/7 was life changing. Everyone felt part of a big family suddenly and got really defiant about an attack on our city. In many ways it was an incredible day for standing together. I felt “at home” that day very acutely.

I love Soho, and being right in the middle of great coffee and meetings and huge diversity. But I love the South Bank as well, with all the arts and culture and the river as a backdrop.

On my perfect day in London I would… get the train in, so no need to worry about Congestion Charge or parking. Straight to Charing Cross, walk up to the National Gallery; cup of tea and a magnificent cake in the Portrait Gallery tea shops; over to Liberty off Regent Street to lust over handbags and gorgeous nothings; gig at the Royal Festival Hall; dinner at the OXO Tower and home.

What makes London unique? People. Our tolerance of such a diverse melting pot of attitudes, cultures and beliefs is something I’d fight long and hard to uphold.

Jamie Oliver is just a bloody nice guy who cares. And Kenny Everett was the man who made me want to be a radio DJ; a genius.

The parks in October are spectacular; most of the summer tourist madness has died down and you can get from A to B without wanting to kill someone!

I have never been to Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons. It’s a uniquely democratic thing to do and I’m proud that we live in a place where anyone can do that.

I love both recent London mayors in their own way. Ken Livingstone has London in his bones and truly cares about it as a city and as a home for millions of people. Boris is everything flamboyant about it; he’s the “chin up, it’ll be ok because we have tea” approach that Londoners are really good at.

I love the beginning of Great Expectations when Magwitch is escaping across Hackney Marshes; bleak and powerful but stunning as well. Lily Allen got it spot on as well…Dickens and Lily, she should be chuffed with that!

Some of the lesser known parts of the river, east past Greenwich towards the Thames barrier, are really spectacular. It’s a very different perspective to quaint west London on the Thames; amazing bird life, great structures and a real sense of what London was like when the Thames was a fully working river.

As a music lover, really really there isn’t anywhere else like London where you’ll get to see such a mountain of great live music in some of the most wonderful venues; huge and intimate in equal measure.

If the tube was subsidized to the same extent as public transport is in Europe everyone would use it. The fact is there just isn’t enough room for everyone driving into central London. It’s horrendous driving in London. I assume all cab drivers are on Prozac. It must be the only way they survive every day.’

Listen to Emma B on Smooth Radio, Sundays from 2 to 6pm.

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

My London: Emma B

Liz Earle’s Naturally Active Skincare line can be found all over the country from John Lewis outlets to QVC, but the ethos of the company has, remarkably, remained unchanged since 1995 when Liz and her best friend went into business together and started a phenomenon.

The brand embraced then, as it does now, an effective simple approach to skincare based on naturally active ingredients whilst keeping an eye on environmental impact. Liz made some time in her busy schedule to have a chat about skincare, tea and cakes and the best London has to offer…

You took the slightly alternative route of initially working in advising and commenting on skincare and then developing a range – do you think this had a significant impact on your goals and expectations for the line?

‘My own journey in search of great skin began more than 30 years ago as a teenager with eczema. This combined with my life-long fascination for botanicals and natural remedies led to my early career as a magazine health and beauty editor. Despite having worked in the beauty industry for more than a decade, and having tried and tested almost all products on the market, I had yet to discover high quality skincare with active botanical ingredients that really worked for all types of skin, even my own sensitive skin.

‘It was my great friend Kim Buckland who suggested combining my research knowledge with her marketing and business skills to develop our own range. Together we worked to create a dependable collection of pampering and affordable botanical skincare treats with hard-working, yet gentle, formulations which deliver outstanding results no matter what your age or skin type.

‘Kim and I wanted to help women around the globe in their quest to achieve radiant, beautiful skin. We never expected that 16 years on we would be helping women in over 90 countries across the globe, and that one Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser would sell every 30 seconds – it truly has exceeded all of our hopes and expectations!’

You went into business with a close friend – what would you say to those who believe in the adage of friendship and business not mixing?

‘Co-founding the Naturally Active Skincare range with Kim definitely helped make our venture a more manageable one! The key for me was not only working with a close friend, but also with another mother who understood family life. If I needed time off to watch a school play or attend sports day Kim always understood – and vice versa!. In the early years we tried to organise our working lives to fit around our families.

‘We would often start work as soon as the children left for school and break mid-afternoon to collect them, cook supper, and help with their homework. Once the children were in bed we would restart our day and work late into the evening. For me, juggling a business and raising children has been made much easier with the support and understanding of my business partner, and now with our fantastic ever-increasing team.’

Your Duke of York Square store in London charmingly offers Friday afternoon tea and cake. Is this your way of bringing a homely touch into what can feel like a largely impersonal city?

‘We want our customers to enjoy their time in our tranquil store, so every Friday from 2pm they can enjoy a slice of cake and a cup of tea at our flagship London store just off King’s Road in Chelsea. We have taken the traditional English habit of stopping for tea and cake to create a window of time and an opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends. This proved so popular at our offices that we now share it with our customers in store, and we encourage visitors to our store to browse at their luxury, and to chat with friends.’

What would your advice on skincare be to a typical London girl who wears makeup every day in order to keep their skin fresh and youthful without overloading on product?

‘The cornerstone of effective skincare is cleansing. The one product I can’t live without is our multi award-winning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. The ultimate in concentrated, yet gentle, cleansing power our iconic beauty staple works on every age and skin type – taking the guesswork out of choosing a cleanser.

‘Due to daily grime and the hustle and bustle of London life, our Cleanse & Polish is perfect for the typical London girl as it removes environmental pollution, all traces of make up and impurities leaving skin clear, smooth and exceptionally clean. Not cleansing the skin twice daily is often the cause of unwanted spots and blackheads. The action of cleansing also helps to boost the circulation and stimulate cell renewal.

‘I would also recommend our new Sheer Skin Tint as it is rich and creamy like a foundation, yet so lightweight it glides effortlessly onto the skin, blending easily to enhance natural skin tones, leaving London girls with naturally even and radiant skin.’

‘My favourite place to go when I am in London is our Duke of York store for a relaxing Signature Facial. Time is the new luxury, and I try to take an hour and a half out of my diary regularly to enjoy a bespoke facial and pamper myself, this allows me personal time to relax, restoring my wellbeing and it’s a blissful way to ensure healthy glowing skin.

‘I love scented flowers and buy bunches of seasonal blooms as a treat for myself or as presents. My favourite hidden gem is Jane Packer in New Cavendish Street, where they not only have beautiful fragrant flowers, but also a selection of unusual vases and Jane’s brilliant books. They also have a good delivery service for when I’m out of town.’

Liz Earle
38-39 Duke of York Square
King’s Road
Chelsea
SW3 4LY

uk.lizearle.com

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

Skincare Guru Liz Earle

In these difficult financial times, the incentive to get a good deal on anything is that bit more pressing. However, the British are notoriously resistant to making any attempt at haggling, bartering and bargaining. Ask a Brit whether they would prefer asking for a discount in a shop or dipping their hands in industrial strength bleach and it’s more than likely that they’ll start undoing their shirt buttons and rolling up their sleeves.

Thankfully there is someone who is taking the pain out of hunting for a good deal. Will Chapman’s new website, Trufl, collates all the best deals available and puts them in one handy email. Added to this is the fact that the website’s users are able to personalise the offers they receive. The London Word caught up with Will to find out how to score bargains…

Can you tell us about Trufl?

‘Trufl is an online aggregator of deep-discount offers for “daily deals” sites such as Groupon. In the UK, there are more than 50 companies like this, so we so saw a niche in the market to gather all their offers in one place so that people can get them without having to register with lots of different websites. Also, companies like Groupon don’t do a lot of targeting with their customers. You sign up with them and they send you offers every day but not necessarily things that are geared towards your individual tastes. I often get sent offers for massages, facials, waxing etc, when I might really be more interested in restaurants or theatre.

‘So we saw the need to not only aggregate deals from many different sites but also to use a collection of criteria to filter offers to match people’s interests. The process is actually pretty complicated but the basic ingredients are location and category – we send our subscribers local offers on things they like. The result is a single, tailored email from Trufl with the offers of the day most relevant to you.’

What inspired you to come up with the concept of Trufl?

‘It came about through watching market trends. I worked briefly for a venture capital firm and it was part of my job to identify industry trends, but frankly anyone could have spotted the tremendous rise of the daily deal or group buy model. There are new clones almost every week. There are even pre-pack websites available for this kind of business! Now if there were just three or four companies like Groupon, you could just sign up to them all and it wouldn’t be much hassle. But once there are 50 or a 100 there’s really no way to keep track of all the offers out there. That’s where Trufl comes in.’

How do you keep up to date with all the offers that are out there?

‘The daily deals business model is all about rapid growth. One of the ways in which Groupon has achieved that growth is to work with affiliates – blogs, independent publishers and websites who advertise offers on their behalf and get a small percentage of any resulting sales.

‘So the daily deals companies send us their offers each day, usually through affiliate networks. Our subscribers pay exactly what they would had they bought direct – we simply get a small cut if they buy anything.’

Is it a risk to start a website like Trufl, a website that encourages people to spend money on items and experiences, at a time when people’s disposable income is quite restricted?

‘In a poor economic climate many people are more cautious with their spending and start hunting around for better deals. In fact, our view is that this reflects a broader trend, at least in the UK: customers are increasingly unwilling to pay the “sticker” price. And that’s exactly where Trufl comes in – instead of hunting around on the web, you simply go to our site and tell us where you live and what your interested in. Then behind the scenes, our systems churn through hundreds of offers and send you a personalised list of relevant, local offers or experiences.’

As for yourself, where do you enjoy going out in London?

‘When I had a more “normal” job I used to go out a fair bit: mainly restaurants, independent pubs and the like. That kind of routine suits a regular job more: you need to unwind and relax in the evenings and at weekends so you go out, then you’re back in the office on Monday morning. When you’re starting a business, you do have less free time, but maybe you don’t so much need the routine of working hard during the day and unwinding in the evening. Plus I’m often sort of working when I’m out! I find if I’m at a party I spend half the time telling people about Trufl. We have some great business cards with our cute pig logo on them. I’ll probably stop getting invited to parties…’

What was your previous line of work?

‘Up until 2008, I was a management consultant. It was a great job in many ways but I wasn’t really passionate enough about it. I wasn’t too sure about what I wanted to do next so I decided to do an MBA at the London Business School, which I finished at the beginning of this year. It’s quite an expensive business doing an MBA but it does give you a solid foundation for future career moves. Frankly though the best thing for me was the two years to step back and think about my next move. I didn’t realise this at the time, but when you’re working flat out for a big company, it’s really tough to find the breathing space to make sensible decisions about your lifestyle and what you want to do.’

As someone who has started his own business, what advice would you give to someone who is looking to be an entrepreneur?

‘I’m really only just starting out so I have more questions than answers! But first of all, find an idea that you are passionate about. It doesn’t have to be the best idea in the world, and a lot of the time people are overly critical about the ideas they have. I imagine that there are thousands of businesses that never get started because people beat themselves up too much. For me a good test is this: if you can’t stop thinking about a business idea for, say, three months, and if no-one you trust can find any major problems with it, you should probably just get on and do it.

‘Secondly, don’t be afraid of fear! It can be quite valuable. Quitting your job, putting your savings in and not having a cushion really is a motivator! You need to feel positive about your own idea for a long period of incubation, so it helps to be someone who responds well to this kind of solitary pressure, or at least to have a like-minded business partner.’

What is the profile of the average Trufl user?

‘It’s something we’ve got a rough idea of but we’re still researching. It’s quite broad. Our market is really anyone who buys daily deals although our customers tend to be the “savvier” ones who are interested in saving time and letting Trufl find them the best offers. Our sales encompass a very broad range of categories, from bars and eating out, to fashion, female-focused categories like spas and facials, through to more active ‘experiences’ like hot balloon rides and fun outdoor stuff.

‘Those are a tiny selection – we actually have around 80 “categories”, and one of the big challenges is understanding our subscribers’ preferences for all those different things without bombarding them with questions. We’re developing some unique technology in this respect.’

Is Trufl London-focused or nationwide?

‘It’s nationwide, although the lion’s share of our deals are currently for places in London or other major cities. But there is massive growth in this area and you’re seeing deals now being offered all over the country. One of our suppliers for example only offers stuff in Cornwall. Also, a large chunk of offers are home delivered so are also available all over the country.’

How do you plan to develop Trufl in the future?

‘We want Trufl to be the best service of it’s kind, and to do this we have to send our customers only things they’re genuinely interested in buying. Now, what makes us unique is that we get better at this over time. It’s really difficult to do! When people sign up, they give us information about what they like and the general area in which they live. But what we’re trying to do over time is to learn more about their likes and dislikes, based on what they buy and don’t buy and various other metrics. So it’s using statistical information like that to get more and more accurate at what we send subscribers.

‘After you’ve been a member for say six months, we’ve got even better at ensuring what we send you is relevant. There are all sorts of subtle dimensions to “relevant” and our strength lies in making practical sense of these – we’re lucky to have a couple of experts in this field helping out.

‘Beyond this, we have to keep up to date with all the new suppliers springing up – on average, two to three a month! And that growth suits us well because the bigger the ecosystem, the more our customers need us to filter out all the noise and just send them what they want.’

To find out more about Trufl and the deals waiting to be snaffled up, visit the website.

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

Will Chapman and His Trufl Hunt

If you think journalist Rachel Bull looks a bit familiar, that would be because she was a rather fabulous part of The London Word team not so long ago. In the last few months she’s started her own magazine – Live Urban Love Rural.

LULR offers a slice of the countryside to hardened urban Londoners like ourselves. Rachel was born in ‘beautiful, rural Yorkshire’, and despite six wonderful years in London, she found herself pining for all the country has to offer.

So LULR was born – sharing tips, tricks, interviews and events to keep readers up-to-date with the latest ‘rurban’ trends, from urban beekeeping to the latest community green spaces.

Tell us a bit about LULR – where did the idea come from?

‘LULR sums up everything I’m passionate about. Green living, community projects, local food, crafts… to name just a few. I’d been writing about these topics for several years, having previously worked at Country Living magazine, and came to realise that all the things I loved and craved about the countryside – I grew up in a tiny Yorkshire village – I could actually find in London.’

Can you give us a few examples of some themes you might cover?

‘We try to show readers that they can inject a bit of that idyllic rural lifestyle into their hectic London lives, and that it is possible to find calm in the city. We have tips and advice on a variety of topics from DIY to urban bee keeping, as well as craft ideas, features on community gardening projects and London’s secret green corners, and interviews with the people who make London a more creative, green place to be.’

What were the pitfalls involved with starting your own online magazine?

‘Not having enough time to do everything! I could spend all day every day working on LULR and there’d still be more to do. I think when something is your own baby it’s hard to be satisfied – there’s always more you could do.’

Any tips for readers looking to follow in your footsteps and start something themselves?

‘Know your audience and give them what they want. It’s a constant learning curve for me and you always have to be prepared to adapt.’

As someone who didn’t grow up in the city, do you think London can be a difficult place to get your head round at first?

‘Definitely! It was very hard for me when I first moved here six years ago – I  felt so lost. But once you find a neighbourhood you feel at home in and understand how the city works and how to find your own niche here the reward is like no other.’

What are your favourite things about living in London?

‘I don’t think there’s a more creative city in the world than London. I’m constantly meeting people who inspire me and discovering new and independent shops, markets and gardens that make me feel very lucky to be a part of it all.’

And a few things you’re not so keen on…?

‘I’m not a big fan of the City, I’ll admit it. Not enough colour in the square mile for my liking – far too much black!’

Do you think there are things the Mayor of London could be doing to bring a bit of rural into the city?

‘He’s actually already doing a lot. The Mayor’s Capital Growth Scheme, which aims to get more of London to grow their own, was one of the first things Boris initiated, and it’s been a huge success so far. He also runs a tree planting programme and is a big supporter of community gardens. We always list the Capital Growth events and open garden days in our What’s On page.’

Can you give us a few tips for bringing the countryside to our little urban flats?

‘Growing a few herbs is one of the easiest things you can do. No outdoor space required – all you really need is seeds and some compost. Make a few holes in an old veg tray – the sort mushrooms come in from the supermarket – fill with compost and press your seeds gently into the top of the soil. Then simply water and leave in a light, sunny spot! Rosemary and sage are hardy herbs so are easier to grow in winter if you can get your hands on some cuttings.’

And lastly…. how would you spend your time in London on:

a) a rainy day…

‘I’d take refuge in the V&A and have some creative thinking time. Or I might head to Colombia Road Flower Market – there’s nothing like fresh flowers to brighten up a rainy day.’

b) a bank holiday weekend…

‘I’d stay close to home and chill out in Crystal Palace, first with a long walk around the park, then cake in Soulcialize followed by a cosy evening in my new favourite pub, The Sparrowhawk.’

c) a Friday night after a stressful week at work…

‘I’ve recently moved house, so I’d probably grab a paint brush and do an hour or two of DIY to clear my head before pouring a large glass of wine having a cuddle with my boyfriend and our two tabby cats!’

To find out about how to get your fingers green, visit Live Urban Love Rural.

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

Rachel Bull of Live Urban Love Rural

As Londoners, we’re frequently told that we’re living in one of the most creative cities in the world. It’s a place where people come to create, exhibit and perform in one of any number of galleries, museums or arenas. Yet for most of us, those who have to put in a 9 to 5 routine, this whirl of spectacle and artistry can feel a little estranged. It’s great having the National Theatre and the British Film Institute on the South Bank, but if the only time you see them is when travelling on the 68 bus over Waterloo Bridge on your way back to West Norwood, you’re going to feel a little removed.

However, London’s art world is not just confined to retrospectives and exhibitions in grand museums. It is spread throughout the city in the form of artist’s studios and off-the-beaten-path galleries. An organisation that aims to open up this side of London’s art world is Art Licks. Not just content with producing a quarterly magazine with contributions from up and coming artists, they also organise art tours around areas such as Peckham, Hackney and Clapton, providing access to the various local art scenes. The London Word caught up with Holly Willats from Art Licks to find out more about what it does.

What is the idea behind Art Licks?

‘After university, I moved back down to London and was working in a commercial art gallery. I found it very easy to find out what was going on in the commercial galleries in the area. But I found it really difficult to find out what was happening with the other side of the art scene – what young artists were up to, people who had just graduated, and new galleries and project spaces. I decided to set up the website, Art Licks, as a weekly listing of exhibitions and events around this side of the London art scene to provide a focused listing, that supported them by promoting their work, and also supplied the information to the wider public. So the idea behind it is to promote artists, but also curators, art writers, new galleries and artist-led initiatives.’

How did you convince people to come on board?

‘Before I launched it I did some investigation work, asking various galleries and project spaces if it was the kind of thing they would be interested in using – I didn’t want to launch it and then find that nobody wanted to list anything on it! But they were very positive about it as there wasn’t a website that was offering them this opportunity already.

‘To start with, the website was focused on the listings. Then from that we built up a reputation about who we are, and what we are doing and I think people recognised that there was no hidden agenda – we really are genuine in what we are doing. From that we then met more artists and we started the magazine a year ago, which focuses on the individuals – whether it be the artists or the curators, the people behind the galleries and space that we list on the website.’

Do you think more and more artists are making use of the internet?

‘It’s a fantastic tool and it’s free. It’s a great opportunity for an artist to present their work. They retain control over it if they design the site and anyone can look it from all around the world. It’s a brilliant chance to spread the word, their ideas. There are some problems with it but the opportunity is fantastic.’

What’s your background in the art world?

‘I didn’t study fine art, I studied English Literature. But since graduating I worked in a few galleries and on some artist’s projects.’

The Art Licks Tours take in places in London that are favoured by artists such Peckham and Hackney. What do you think makes places like these popular with artists?

‘I think you need to look at what the places were like before the artists moved in. Artists generally gravitate to places where there are cheap rent and studio spaces - 15 years ago Hackney was the place to go. Artists regenerate an area and this happened in Hackney, galleries started popping up and it became the hot place to be. It’s a victim of it’s own success – everyone picked up on it and moved in, and so now it’s so expensive for the actual artists who were there in the first place. So artists started to move out. Some are still there but a lot have moved and gone on to the next place, areas like Peckham. And so south London has recently got a lot of attention, but there’s always been a lot going on down there.’

Do you find that those coming on the tours have changed their preconceptions about modern art at all?

‘The thing with the tours is that we have a focus in terms of visiting artist-led initiatives and galleries, not for profit spaces and project spaces. So we get people who may know Hackney in terms of Vyner Street but may not realise that there are other pockets around it that are non-commercial spaces. So in a way we are trying to show what’s there that they might not have noticed. I’ve worked in a gallery so I know what it’s like to sit through all of Saturday and just get just five people coming in. So it’s great to take a big group of people in at once and there’s a real energy to that. We also arrange for the artist/curator to meet us at each space, to introduce the current exhibition so you get a much more personal experience.’

Are you thinking of doing Art Licks tours in other areas of London?

‘Yes, we’re about to start a Clapton and a Brixton one, we just need to get our arse in gear! We’re just trying to show people other places that they might not know because they’re quite new.’

What exhibits have you enjoyed recently?

‘It’s hard to say as we’re just coming out of summer and so it’s been quite quiet. But I’d say the PAMI (Peckham Artist Moving Image) Festival. In Peckham, all the galleries decided to get together and do a festival over four days in early September. Each gallery put on an exhibition for this festival and there were talks and screenings in the evening. It had a really good vibe and all the galleries made a really big effort. I think with Peckham, it’s got a really great community spirit. The galleries aren’t competitive and they join together to make things happen.’

Who do you think are the artists who will be making the biggest impact in the next couple of years?

‘I feel that’s a bit of a difficult question for me to answer. But I think the artists that we’ve worked with in the magazine, they’re all really onto a good thing. With each issue, we invite an artist to make a work especially for the magazine as I like the idea of anyone being able to own a piece of work. So the last issue we had Aaron Angell who has just graduated from the Slade. He made a poster that was an insert and could be folded out. He’s just had his first solo show at Focal Point and his next show opens at SPACE next week, so he’s someone who is doing well to name one. I think all the artists in the magazine are very interesting, their work is very inspiring and that’s why we invited them to be involved.’

As for yourself, are you originally from London?

‘Yes, I grew up in Paddington. People only think that there’s a station there so whenever I tell people where I’m from, I get this glazed look coming over their faces.’

How do you plan to develop Art Licks in the future?

‘We’re carrying on with the magazine, with Issue Six coming out in January 2012. Each year we’re planning to slightly redesign it to keep it fresh and feeling new. It won’t be so different as to be unrecognisable but just slightly different to keep it interesting and not too predictable. I think the thing we would like to do is to do more organised events but at the moment we’re just focused on trying to do what we are already doing, as well as we can.’

To find out about the Art Licks tours and the Art Licks magazine visit: http://artlicks.com.

This post is from The London Word and should not be republished elsewhere without prior permission. Please check out our site for more great stories and features.

Holly Willats of Art Licks