Final Article draft

Blood, Sweat and Gigs

The music industry is full of great talent and iconic artists and bands. Bands and artists compete to reach stardom and fame yet many do not succeed. Ordinary teen, Kieran Ward is an unexpected gem from the industrialised Liverpool, who has achieved great success in only one year. Meeting in a quirky, indie coffee shop in a redeveloped factory, deep in the heart of the city, we met in his ‘favourite place’ to discuss his success. The laid back youngster greeted us in open arms and stated that he’d ‘never done this before.’Nervous yet excited for his first interview, we discussed his success in the year of Kieran.
In this exclusive first interview with Kieran, we discussed his great success as well as his heart warming album ‘PM’ and his first tour ‘A Year On’ as well as discussing and recapping many milestones the young singer has faced.

Kieran, your new album PM is the latest trend amongst fans and even the whole nation. Can you believe this is happening?
I never dreamt that that this would ever happen to me. I thought I’d be sweeping pavements, not receiving so much love and positivity it’s just so unexpected. To create the album was incredible and to work with an amazing team overwhelms me. I love writing songs from my past experiences as well as inspiration from my pop idols; it gives me that hot fuzz inside of me.

Your true talent is defiantly revealed in this album but what we all wish to know is what drove you to write such powerful lyrics?
[Laughs] Uh I still haven’t cracked it yet but I guess I just thought about how 2016 was such a good year for my career. This is the main reason I have named my first tour a Year On. Not very creative I know but it’s easy to remember hey! [laughs] Bob Geldof has always been an idol to me as my dad is his biggest fan. I’ve grown up listening to albums such as Vegetarians of love. His lyrics are so meaningful and hold many memories inside my heart. I wished to re-create that this album and hopefully do the same to many listening to my music. Liverpool too is deep in my heart and has influenced many of my songs such as Liverpool Remembers. The story relating to this was from my grandfather Bob, he’d tell me and my sis Pip about the 80s. It was mainly a chance for him to complain about Thatcher’s time but would always say how Liverpool was forgotten whilst many were sacked and living in poverty. Growing up in the rough skirts of the city in the 90’s, there was still poverty on our streets and low employment.

Fans will agree with us but we would all like to know how are you so down to earth with such a demanding and competitive career?
[Laughs] Thanks so much, no one has ever said that to me before...well except my mum [laughs] . I hope not to change whilst I dive further into my career as I believe that my nature defines me and my music.

Let’s discuss your first tour. How does this make you feel?
Its hasn’t really sunk in yet. I still think its pretend .[Laughs] I never would’ve thought this could’ve ever happened to me. I never knew I had a taste for music until I began secondary. Thank you Miss, you deserve the credit and fame.

How did you discover your amazing talent?
[Laughs] Thanks again for your compliments! I never thought about or aspired to have this career until I began Secondary school. My music teacher Miss James lent me a guitar to play a part in a lesson once and ever since she had me playing songs on my own. I can remember her telling me that I had some talent. I never believed her. Miss made me sing and I never had until I sang I don’t like Mondays by Geldof. It all started from there really.

We are all looking forward to new music from you in the future, but what do you think makes a good pop song?
You and me both guys![Laughs] In my view, I think that life experience and passion are the best combination for a pop song. Artists and icons such as Michael Jackson show what makes pop. The singing and the occasional dancing allows listeners to listen to the music or even wiggle their hips as madly as they possibly can. Just like Bob said, When Michael Jackson sings it is with the voice of angels, and when his feet move, you can see god dancing.


On your latest album PM, you have featured artists in two songs. How did it come across?

These guys are my rocks, honestly. Tom and my co-writer Phoebe have so much talent it certainly had to be featured on the album. We recorded Take me or leave me Together and I just love it. I couldn’t have wished for better mates to join my crazy rollercoaster ride. I’m ever so grateful for everything.
And what is your favourite song?
This is a tough one, alongside my Take me or Leave me it’s gotta be Liverpool to Dublin. I love this song as it reminds me of my first ever Bob Geldof concert. My dad and I travelled to Dublin to see him. It was the greatest experience of my life and I just feel all warm in side when I listen to the song, just reminiscing about the time.

Are there any other comments you would wish to say to the readers?

Yeah if I may. I would just like to genuinely thank everyone of you that has supported me and kept the dream going. I would also love to give Miss a huge hug for letting me acknowledge my ability as without you I could not be here today. I love everyone who has listened to a second of any of my songs to people that have bought my merch and music, you are just incredible.

Kieran’s album, ‘PM’ is now available on itunes and in many music stores nationwide. His upcoming tour ‘A Year On’ is already on sale on his website www.kieranward.co.uk and for more details on more upcoming events and shows follow him @kieranwardsings on Facebook.


Words: Nia Williams

Music Magazine Contents Page Process

Step One

Firstly to create my contents, I used Adobe InDesign. Using my draft I recreated the masthead of my front cover and redesigned to suit the design of a functional contents page. I am overall pleased with the outcome of this as it follows my draft and also is well laid out.

Step Two

Next I added an image of my front cover into

 the subscription box which is similar to Q's layout.

I also placed red lines between the page contents in the reviews

box to separate text and make it easier to read. I am pleased with this process as it is similar to my draft and I also use similar font to my front cover as well as keeping the same colour scheme to make it look professional.

Step Three

The next step I achieved was to insert all the text into all boxes.

I also inserted red lines in between the text to make it easier to read and to separate it from the topic. Following the colour scheme, I created my page numbers for my subsidiary images and used a yellow background to make them eye catching.

Completed Page

I have completed my contents page and personally I am pleased with the outcome as I followed my draft. I have continued my colour scheme and believe that my contents page is conventional and easy to read. My images have been influenced by my research and overall I am pleased with the images I have taken.

Steps to create my double page spread in Indesign

1. When the pop up is on the page, change the number of pages to two pages.
2. Tick facing pages
3. Then create how many columns you want (usually 3)
4. When it is working, go onto A-master which is in the bottom left hand corner.

To get all the article selected together:

1. Create an object box
2. Go to Adobe Bridge and find article
3. Left click and drag into a box and it will appear
4. Create columns to desired shape
5. Click on the red box and double click it so the article will appear.
6. Put the background in a separate box

 

Music Magazine Cover Process

Step One


I began to create my magazine cover by using Adobe In design and created the masthead as well as header and footer bars. I decided to change my mastheads design slightly as I believed that this design was more eye catching and interesting. I also placed my header and footer bars onto my page to allow space on the page.I followed my draft to make sure I included the correct colour scheme I believed was effective. I also tried to use similar fonts to my draft and believe that they are similar.

Step Two

I began to add text to my header and footers which I am pleased with as they are eye catching and work effectively against the black boxes. I also inserted a yellow box which is outlines in a strong black below my masthead which will include 'FREE Pullout Posters' ans my images of my artists. Using my draft, I think I have made the same format of it as it is bold and eye catching.

Step Three

Next, I inserted the majority of my sell lines which I had included in my draft. I used various fonts to draw out particular words such as artists names. I also inserted my pug which is bold due to the vibrant yellow used. The black outline makes the pug stand out from the page and catches the eye. I decided to use red text inside my pug as the two primary colours compliment each other. The final improvement was to include my bar code which makes the magazine look more professional.

     

Step Four

 I inserted my main image of my male artist and also inserted the splash and pull quote over the image. I decided to use Bold yellow font for the splash as It stands out and catches your eye. I used a different font for the pull quote to allow a division between them. I added another sell line to the right hand side as well as a subsidiary image whilst following my draft. By also following my plan I divided my sell lines by placing red lines between them. I also included to subsidairy images to reveal the free posters. I decided to change my pugs background colour due to the yellow blending in with the yellow box. Inside my pug I placed five stars to show the stardom of the artist as well as representing a five star rating of them too and therefore showing their status in the industry.

Final Cover 

Finally to finish my magazine, I added the final touches such as the price and bordering all of my subsidiary images to make them bolder and eye-catching. Overall I am pleased with the outcome of my cover as it is similar to my draft as well as being bright and colourful. Inspired mainly buy NME, I believe that my cover looks professional and neat.

Magazine Photo shoot Plan

Shoot Date and Time- 14th February at 1:20pm
Image Description- A medium close up of a male standing against a white wall. Preferably looking into the camera, to make the audience feel like the artist is directly looking at them. 
Shoot Location-  Against a brick wall or white wall in the school building 
Models- Nathan Williams, Lauren Stockley, Falesha Lewis, Imogen Scholefield and Elliot Webb
Permission Details- They are all willing to have their photograph taken
Props- No props are required