Guestlist

Issue 71

Monthly newspaper and online publication targeting 18 to 35 year olds. The ultimate guide to the hottest parties, going out and having fun. Music, fashion, film, travel, festivals, technology, comedy, and parties! London, Barcelona, Miami and Ibiza.

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7 7 Issue 71 / 2015 GUESTLIST guestlist.net Good EGGs: AttEntion AfGhAnistAn! introducinG... PArAdisE Paradise is a 28-year-old female rapper in Afghanistan, risking her life on a daily basis, singing about women's rights and gender equality with what seems like the weight of the world on her shoulders. fifty Artists fifty childrEn is A nEw ProjEct lAunchEd As PArt of An initiAtivE by thE uK chArity MirAclEs, AiMinG to rAisE ovEr £300,000 thAt will bE usEd to dirEctly hElP childrEn livinG bElow thE brEAdlinE in towEr hAMlEts. Fifty Artists Fifty Children is a new project launched as part of an initiative by the UK charity Miracles, aiming to raise over £300,000 that will be used to directly help children living below the breadline in Tower Hamlets. The London Borough has one of the highest levels of child poverty in the UK, making it an area of focus for such projects. Fifty of some of the most respected artists will paint, sculpt or photograph a child living in poverty in Tower Hamlets, whist raising awareness of their conditions and gathering sponsorship and donations for the initiative. So far, the list includes Emma Sergeant, Daphne Guinness, Christian Furr, Eileen Cooper and Jessica Albarn to name but a few. "The project is a celebration of Tower Hamlets and the children who live there. We believe every child should be afforded the same opportunities irrespective of the lifestyle they have been born into - the portraits are symbolic of that opportunity." Says Project Director James Burton. The exhibition of the art produced will be held later this year in London and all the works produced will be on sale. For more information about this fantastic cause go to their website at www.fiftychildrenfiftyartists.com .. did you Know? Although its sometimes feels that way, the common misconception that we only use 10% of our brain is a myth. Nevertheless, here are a few bits and bobs to keep those brain cells saturated and some facts to impress your friends with at dinner parties. The Egyptian Pyramid workers were paid with beer: up to a gallon a day, that's 8 pints! Boiling water freezes faster than cold water "Holy Smoke" is a company that turns a person's cremated remains into shotgun shells. No Egyptian president has left office without being arrested or dying. Some species of squid can fly. According to one neurologist, music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience. Over the past decade, giraffe populations have suffered a 30% drop in population numbers. Nike's slogan "Just Do It" was inspired by the last words of a murderer on Death Row (Gary Gilmore). Rats can survive longer without water than camels Here at Guestlist, music and verse play a key role in our world of communication, which is why the emerging musical scene and development of contemporary culture in Afghanistan immediately tingled our excitement. During the Taliban regime, any allusion to Western culture was forbidden, including musical expression and dance. Today's attitudes are changing, with shows like Afghanistar (the Afghan version of X Factor) drawing families together around the TV. "The arts were so strong pre-Taliban and are is something that is coming back with amazing strength in the period of time post-Taliban." – Kate Hughes, project manager at Amnesty Afghanistan Nevertheless, the transformation towards acceptance and freedom of expression like we have here is far from complete. Paradise, one of the first Afghan female rappers, incorporates gender equality and women's rights issues into her hard- hitting lyrics. Otherwise known as Paradise Soururi, the aspiring hip-hop star has returned to her country of origin now that a platform of hope has emerged. This does not mean that it is any safer for her to pursue her chosen musical path. The Washington Post tells us that; "In Herat, Soururi was attacked by five men one night when she was walking home with her boyfriend. Even in Kabul she is constantly harassed when she walks in the street or takes the bus." Paradise writes blogs and records videos, as well as performing live on stage to a handful of fans that are able to attend them. All this must always take place in secure, closed-off places. Each act she performs is seen as one of defiance. In her way, she is fighting for her rights, risking her life in the process. Paradise is not the only female artist trying to bring women's rights to the foreground and keeping musical culture alive, but she is certainly one that is continuing to propel her firey passion forward with a whole lot of entities pulling her back. Make sure to have a look at some of her videos on YouTube and keep up with her activity.

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