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EDITORS LETTER
For Impulse Magazines 2015 issue, we wanted to
ocus on everything Edinburgh. Its a city that is
ull o creativity and culture, but most ofen over-
looked during the absence o the annual Edinburgh
international estival, AKA the other 11 months o
the year. We wanted to celebrate the wonderul artists,
comedians, musicians, poets, writers et al who live and
work in this glorious city, providing you with exclusive
interviews and content in one neat A5-sized package.
Our cover star, Groundskeeper Fanny is at the
oreront o creating a drag scene here in Edinburgh.Along with Alice Rabbit, the pair are determined to
establish a community where the art o drag can flour-
ish within the capital. With Fanny having debuted in
Edinburghs first monthly drag night in March, it is
hoped that this new residence will act as a hub or the
citys queens and those who worship them.
We chat music, bringing you some o the up and
coming bands, artists and DJs who can be ound
playing relentlessly throughout the city. We also show-case some o the minds who are creating unconven-
tional perormance spaces or these artists, with DIY
music and art estivals created off the back o various
venue closures.
Ten there are the books. We explore why so many
authors have chosen or been inspired by Edinburgh
as settings or their novels, looking at how the streets
and landscape have helped to write their stories.
I ashion is more your thing, weve got an exclu-sive shoot with designers Lizzie O, Nicci. N, and C.
Watson whose latest designs come together to create
a 70s inspired spread.
Weve even worked with some artists and illustra-
tors studying at the various universities here, so keep
a look out or our specially commissioned Impulse
illustrations throughout this issue.
I may be biased, but this issue o Impulse is looking
to be the best one yet.
Lauren Stephen, Editor-in-Chie
Lauren Stephen
Finlay Matheson,
Jamie Hall
Alice Cruickshank,Amanda Manno
Cassie Burke
Laura Palmer
Alex Godlewski
Deane Walsh
Katie Campbell
Meghan McCormack,
Marisa esoro
Nicola Park
Larissa Just
Rosie Smith
Deane Laouadi,
Emma Williamson
Editor-in-Chie:
Deputy Editors:
Features Editors:
Design Editor:
Photo Editor:
Online Editor:
Video Editor:
Chie Sub Editor:
Sub Editors:
Distribution Manager:
Production Editor:
Ad Sales Manager:
Ad Sales Executives:
Advertising eam:
Rebekah Heath, Lauren McKinney, Kirsten McStay,
Aline Siekierski, & Cameron Willis
Design eam:
Rebecca Barrett, Joe Burns, Jane Campbell,
& Sarah Devine
Staff Writers:Corri Allan, Robyn Baillie, Stephanie Gray, Jamie
Harkin, Drew Haughey, Daniel Hodgson, Ross Kelly,
Danielle Kinahan, Declan Kinsella, Matt Lawless,
Emma Logan, Max Meres, James Molloy, Lauren
Ritchie, & Scott Tomson
Photography:
Nicole Bell, Ollie Buchanan, Angus Duncan, Danielle
Kinahan, & Chris Scott
Illustrations:Peony Gent, Lois Glen, Patrick Hughes,
Nicola Laurie, Kirsty Struthers,
& Andrea Popyordanova
Special Tanks o:
Derek Command-D-or-Derek Allan,
Neil Braidwood, Kate Smith, Iain MacKay,
& J.Tomson Colour Printers
IMPULSE magazine is produced by BA
Journalism students rom the School o Arts
& Creative Industries, Edinburgh Napier
University. Te views and opinions within this
publication are not necessarily those o Edinburgh
Napier University.
IMPULSE TEAM 2015
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Windy City Wanderer
Paint The Town
Homegrown Talent
Scotland On The Silver Screen
A Cut Above
One More Tune
The Rising TideSpoken Word
6
8
12
16
20
22
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CONTENTS
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Illustration
s:LoisGlen
Altern Essence
Capital Collection
Drag Me To Edinburgh
Comedy
Books
Humans of Edinburgh
Not In The Guide BooksDown Memory Lane
30
34
40
48
52
56
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WINDY CITY WANDERERFrom Chicago to Edinburgh, and every Ceilidh she goes to,AMANDA MANNOis exploring Edinburgh with fresh eyes.
I was 8am, and my plane
had just landed. My trimester
in Edinburgh started in the
middle o January, and despite
the chill nipping at my cheeks,
it was a pleasant surprise rom
the sleet storm I had just escaped
in Chicago.I walked out on to the street,
and instead o the small, bright,
yellow cars that surrounded the
airport in Chicago I was greeted
with rows o unamiliar, less
colourul taxis.
I tried to look beyond, expect-
ing to see the hills and castles
that I had seen on Pinterest, but
the streetlights only managed
to illuminate the rain-soaked
pavement at my eet. Luckily the
promise o daylight showed on
the horizon, i only or a mere
seven hours.
Feelings o unamiliarity anduncertainty overcame me, and I
started to wonder why I decided
to come 3,000 miles away rom
home.
While this eeling o una-
miliarity never completely
diminished, the uncertainty o
this strange place did. I was over-
whelmed by the rolling green
hills that replaced dead leafless
trees and brown grass back in
Chicago. Ancient architecture
and a lower skyline replaced tall
skyscrapers in the adolescent 178
year-old city that I lef.
Walking the streets o Edin-burgh, I became constantly
immersed in the blend o
modern and ancient culture.
Te bold castle that watched
over me on Princes Street put
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H&M and Urban Outfitters in
its shadow. Looking at this castle
rom almost any part o the city
made me think o how many
people centuries beore stood
and admired or protected that
very same castle. It made me eel
quite small and humble.
While all o these eelings
were new, they are expected
anytime you travel to a di-
erent place. I expected to be
consumed with this aesthetic
beauty. I expected to be awedinto silence when I stood in ront
o the castle or the first time on
a snowy night.
But I didnt expect that it would
be the people o Edinburgh that
would truly give me a lasting
impression on this city.
I went to my first ceilidh on
Burns Night and was dragged
into a roomul o stumbling,
laughing strangers. We stood
in two lines acing one another
and attempted to listen to the
instructor over the loud music.
Our moves didnt quite match
the actual dance, but the pulse
in the room kept constant rom
our stomping eet and clapping
hands.
Te bagpipes and kilts werent
the only things that made this a
novel, unique experience. It was
a different taste o un. People
who had just met at the begin-
ning o the night were brought
together through a tradition that
had been in practice or over a
hundred years. It was genuine,
and it was rereshing.
Afer that night, I got theimpression that people werent
araid to be their raw selves. I
saw originality and creativity
valued more than conormity. I
was drawn to these traits in the
intricate architecture and in the
people, traits that are rooted in
a rich and ancient culture.
Illustration: Nicola Laurie
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PAINT
Local artists transform
bland walls into worksof art, reinventing
Edinburghs landscape.DANIELLE KINAHAN
found out more aboutthe scene.
TOWNTHE
Photos: Danielle Kinahan
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Pieute acts asa temporary
home for some
of Edinburghsmost renowned
graffitiartists.
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SUNDAY afernoon finds me breathing in the
umes o 20 spray-paint cans. Te pop-up
clothing store Pieute is undergoing a makeo-
ver and a unique one at that. Housed under the
stores roo, a graffiti jam is underway, and most o
Edinburghs graffiti community have shown up to
talk, drink and turn the place into an artists mecca.
Te store will soon undergo a complete renova-
tion so the walls o the shop are open season. Paint-
ers arrive and section off a piece o the wall or theirwork, all the while glancing down at sketches to
make sure they have enough room or boldly start-
ing their piece reehand. In the corner sits a Lady
and the ramp bag innocuously filled to the brim
with spray paint. Respirators make
an appearance, but a ew painters,
and me, have opted out o wearing
masks. All the more un.
Within the span o an afer-noon, the shop has morphed
rom a bland, beige-walled morgue
into a mosaic o colour and shape.
Characters and tags are embla-
zoned on the walls. Ranging in
size and style, or lack thereo
one painter quips, the work takes undeniable skill.
But the painter Vidal tells me hes not keen on the
term street art because it implies an audience.Its something I do or mysel, he says, looking
up at the tag he has spent the afernoon perecting.
Te tag names are born organically as a selec-
tion o the letters that the painter can do best,
Ches and Usoh explain. Still in high school, the
two had their interest sparked in graffiti through
skateboard culture.
It takes a lot o time, and even more patience, to
nail down a tag. Te work shows. In the course oa ew hours, the initial maze o incomprehensible
sketch lines has transormed into the two boys tagnames, blown up in technicolor and popping off
the wall. What is on display is dedication.
Graffiti, or all its subculture status, is not a cheap
hobby to undertake. Consider this: an average can
o spray paint costs around 6 and painters nor-
mally go through hal a dozen cans in one sitting.
It takes years to hone the skill to execute a decent
piece o graffiti, so the process can be pricey. For
most, its worth the catharsis o creative energy.But theres another drawback: or all its love o
culture, Edinburgh is a hostile place or painters.
Harsh fines and jail terms are common responses
to anyone caught painting where they shouldnt
be, and more moderate sentencing
doesnt seem to be on the horizon.
But or most the illegality adds to
the appeal and respect that comes
with the community. Its unny,another painter, Hobo, says, but I
rather like the act that its illegal.
As a woman, Sencha is the mi-
nority in the community but like
Ches and Osoh, her interest in
painting stems rom skateboard-
ing. But once she started, it maniested into some-
thing more. She began to use graffiti as a platorm
or eminism by creating emale iconography, whichcomortably can be coined art. Like most others
in the community, she attests to the act that theres
a thrill that comes with street art. It has the po-
tential to hit you while youre out on the street.
Its unexpected, which is something that no art
gallery can imitate.
Edinburgh is a beautiul city awash with historic
sites and imposing castles. Rain-washed and grey,
graffiti adds a punch o colour to the city and aspace to say whatever it is you want.
Its funny,another
painter, Hobo,says, but Irather like
the fact thatits illegal
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HOMEGROWN
TALENTIllustration:Andrea PopyordanovaPhotos: Chris Scott
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Grassroots events have
been growing in popu-larity or a number o
years now, with more independ-
ent estivals and events popping
up in and around the city. Events
like the Hidden Door estival and
radest Edinburgh grow more
popular every year. One o these
events is the much loved Leith
Late Festival.Leith Late is a two day event
that celebrates art and music
while highlighting new venues
and art spaces in the local com-
munity. Creator and organiser oLeith Late, Morvern Cunning-
ham believes that the economy
plays a large part in the events
popularity, I think the grass-
roots scene thrives in times o
difficulty. So I think in terms othe recession thats almost been
quite good because its been kind
o encouraging people to get off
their arses and do it themselves.
he growing attraction
o these events could also be
attributed to the kind o acts they
eature. Rather than attempt-
ing to reach out to more wellknown acts, the estival acts as
a showcase or rising local talent.
According to Cunningham,
Its made by people who live in
IMPULSE | MUSIC
Its a case ofgetting spacesthat have a
commitment toartistic value
already, whetherthey be gig orgallery spaces
Simply add some local talent and the DIY festival scene will flourish.JAMIE HARKINinvestigates.
King Creosote
entertains crowds at aphotography event at
LeithLate 14.
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Leith, care about Leith and want
to show Leith at its best capacity.
Another important actor is
the number and variety o acts
that they reach out to. Leith Late
is becoming known or its widerange o acts: Te particular
ormat o Leith Late to date has
been this idea o having almost
too many things going on, to the
point where you cant get round
everything. So theres that kind
o excitement and buzz.
It isnt just the quantity o
acts that keep people coming
back to Leith Late the qualityis also very high. Tey employ
a rigorous selection process or
both the venue and the artist,
Cunningham said they attempt
to capture the spirit o up and
coming creative Leith.
In terms o venues they also
have a lot o editorial decisions
to make, Its a case o getting
spaces that have a commitmentto artistic value already, whether
they be gig or gallery spaces.
Tats what we look or. We dont
want to just dress something up
Its not allabout music.Slam champion,Texture, performsat the BrassMonkey.
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Its important totake people awayfrom the norm andto inspire people
who maybe walk downthe same street theyhave all their lifeto look at it in a
different way
to be something its not; we wantto show whats there already.
he estival may have to
change tactics on what venues
to involve, as Cunningham was
concerned that Leith Late was
originally was a showcase o grass
roots art spaces. Unortunately
those art spaces no longer exist
anymore, theyve transormedinto something kind o a little
bit more established.
Te main intention is to have
more o a lasting impact on those
who attend. Its important totake people away rom the norm
and to inspire people who maybe
walk down the same street they
have all their lie to look at it in
a different way.
Tere is however a major
issue in terms o unding. Leith
Late has not yet received unding
rom any official source, leavingthem to und the majority o it
themselves through an ater
party. Arranging it takes blood
sweat and tears and they have
to consider careully how tofinance and plan the event. As
Cunningham says, I think its
all about being creative with the
ways you pull it off.
So i youre looking or a
good night, why not go along
and support the event this year. It
will not only give you the chance
to see a showcase o great up andcoming local artists and acts,
but it will help the estival grow.
Afer all, Its better than just
going to the pub and moaning.
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Revellers canenjoy a huge
variety of artsand culture
events aroundLeith during the
festival.
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SCOTLAND ON THE SILVER SCREENROBYN BAILLIEspoke to up-and-coming director John McPhail about his debutmovie, Where Do We Go From Here?
THREE years since his directorial debut, John
McPhail is ar rom losing his passion orfilm-making. Having just wrapped up his first
eature film Where Do We Go From Here?, theres
hope o screening at the Edinburgh International
Film Festival in June. When my riends ound
out Id made a romcom, they laughed at me, said
McPhail. Im not a romcom an at all. My avourite
films are like Arnold Schwarzenegger films Preda-
tor and otal Recall, but Im a big comedy an.
I love making people laugh on a day to daybasis. I I can make someone smile then thats
amazing and the inspiration or romantic comedies
came rom that.
Since he began directing, McPhail, along with
his production company, Worrying Drake, has
received a huge amount o recognition, with hisfilms being shown in 106 cities around the world.
He has also picked up several awards, including
best director afer a screening at the ribeca Film
Festival in New York, and two audience choice
When Im watching thescene unfold from the
monitor and my cast arebringing the charactersto life, nothing could
be more awesome
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awards rom the Virgin Media Shorts.Now with his first eature length film in the bag,
McPhail has nothing but ond memories o filming
Where Do We Go From Here? [It was] the single
best experience o my lie. I didnt eat or sleep or
two and a bit weeks he joked, but I wouldnt have
changed it or the world.
With an energy that seems inexhaustible,
McPhail describes what it was like working on a
project that was entirely his own creation: Beingon set was just amazing I loved the pressure,
the hustle and bustle o it all, he said. When Im
watching the scene unold rom the monitor and
my cast are bringing the characters to lie, nothing
could be more awesome.
Where Do We Go From Here? is centred on
the character o James as he tries to cope with the
death o his grandather. Living and working in a
care home, he realises that the only sensible thingto do is organise a breakout with the care home
residents to scatter his grandathers ashes.
Te movie also eatures McPhails regular col-
laborator, actor yler Collins. yler has been the
lead in all my shorts; he was just so much un towork with and we work so well together, McPhail
explains. When Im writing, Ill call him up and
just bounce ideas. I think having someone like that
in my lie is invaluable.
As he rapidly gains a name or himsel in
comedy, what was behind the decision to avoid
themes o drugs and violence so beloved o Scot-
tish film directors?
Dont get me wrong, I do love Scottish films. Ithink there are some great Scottish films out there,
and to be able to tackle big subjects like drugs and
anger is so important, but I want to tell my stories
to everyone. I dont want to just appeal to a Scot-
tish audience.
I try to stay away rom the stereotypical Scot-
tish film and just go out and make nice films,
McPhail said.
With the film wrapped, theres talk o estivalstrategies and distribution plans. McPhail has
already started writing his next eature, remov-
ing the need to ask the question: where do we go
rom here?
Photos: Laura Palmer
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THE capital has seen an upsurge in the tradi-
tional barbershop with men more eager to
take care o themselves than ever beore. Te
modern man has ditched the unisex salon and has
rediscovered the male sanctuary o the barbers,
which are re-emerging as a staple o Edinburghs
streets once again.Men are being men again, and they are be-
coming dapper gentlemen, is the verdict o hair
aficionado Murray McRae a man at the centre
o the male grooming renaissance.
Facial hair has made a comeback with debonair
gents eager to ollow in suit o UK models Chris
Millington and Ricki Hall the guys who brought
back the beard. Its the current trend that has bar-
bershops booming again.ucked away in Lady Lawson Street in Edin-
burghs Old own is Stag Barber Co, a modern
barbers with traditional charm, which was opened
by McRae last year afer cutting his teeth at estab-
lished high street hair salon Charlie Miller.
Stag has a strong masculine eel about it, with
the logo o the brand particularly eye-catching a
stags head dressed as a dapper gentleman with a
suit jacket and bow tie which was designed byMcRaes cousin, Eleanor Stewart. It provides a
unique, but classic look.
Te interior o the shop is in keeping with the
brand: I wanted it to look like it was something
that just didnt look like a barbershop and I wanted
it to be inviting or every kind o man, said McRae.
I wanted it to be somewhere that was warm and
comortable and somewhere where I would want
to get my hair cut. With the antlers that Ive got
on the wall, it is in keeping the theme o the name
o the shop. It seems to work as it is not overkill.Te current beard and barber trend has always
been there, according to McRae, but its just the
growth o a more liberal culture that has led more
men to be willing to take greater pride in their
appearance.
Tere are a lot o models who took it upon
themselves to grow a beard and its sort o accepted
o being a classic style rather being something which
is scruffy and overgrown, he said.We now live in a culture where its more ex-
pressive. Youre not just a man i you are working
with your head underneath a bonnet o a car or i
you are a soldier or whatever. You can do whatever
you want and express yoursel how you want to.
Once neglected or the salon, the barbershop
is here to stay. It should hopeully last or a long
time, said McRae.
Its not something that is going to go away, menare always going to have hair on their head and as
long as it continues to do that and everyone keeps
the passion or it, then they should stay alive. Its
a really good time or us.
A CUT ABOVEWith manscaping back in fashion and beards growing in popularity again, SCOHOMSONtook us to one of Edinburghs best new barbershops to find out more.
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RED RETRO PILOT
FILIP BLAST
Edinburgh pop/rock quartet Red Retro Pilot have been playing
to crowds across Edinburgh and as ar afield as London since
early 2013. A collective o local music students, they first met
and perormed under the namer Otoban, a creation o tal-
ented Edinburgh songwriter, Lewis Maxwell. With a chance
to catch their gigs in several locations across Scotland, youre
most likely to see them gracing the capital in venues such
as Whistlebinkies or Sneaky Petes with their eccentric andincredibly active on-stage perormances. Te debut single
attoo and their latest EP ransmission 101 are available now
on Spotiy and iunes.
Filip Blast are an Edinburgh-based pop/unk outfit, incor-
porating styles o hip hop, rock and jazz in their sound.
Mostly Scottish with the exception o a South Arican vo-
calist and London-native trumpeter, Filip Blast have re-
leased a bold five-track unk/rock EP since their ormation
in the summer o 2013. wo years on, they have continued to
perorm in Edinburgh and Glasgow, despite rontman Michael
Friederichs current London postcode. Te band have con-
firmed that they will be returning to the studio to record theirsecond EP this spring.
ONE MORE TUNETrough the depths of Edinburghs most infamous haunts, Cassie Burke,Joe Burns,Matt LawlessandMax Meres have compiled a showcase of the capitals finest musicalacts. So lace up those dancing shoes as we present an array of artists across a varietyof venues, from sticky dancefloors to sweaty moshpits.
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LAW
Leicester-born LAW (real name Lauren Holt) has
been a regular o the Edinburgh music scene since
early 2013. Her initial EP Haters & Gangsters was,
or a while, the only available example o her ex-
perimental style, which combines Holts raw vocals
with gothic hip-hop beats and eerie electronica.LAWs latest release, Cowboys & Hustlers, builds
upon her already growing reputation as a break-
through artist, with powerul tracks such as Peter
and Lilo redefining a new style o modern pop
music. Although LAW can ofen be seen perorm-
ing in the capital, she recently completed a small
tour o South Arica with riends and collaborators,
Young Fathers, the Edinburgh-based winners o last
years Mercury Prize. With her summer tour datesast approaching including a show in Edinburgh
be sure to grab both the EPs or ree download
via LAWs SoundCloud.
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PASSION PUSHER
Photos: Laura Palmer
Passion Pusher the moniker adopted by vocalist
and guitarist James Gage in 2012 play ambient,
lo-fi rock music influenced by the likes o Dinosaur
Jr among others. Afer releasing almost 200 demos
recorded in Gages bedroom, he later decided to
take on a backing band to urther solidiy theirsound. Passion Pushers demo releases came out
on labels like Benzo Records, which is also one o
Gages side projects, clearly demonstrating the do-
it-yoursel ethic o the group. Teir latest releases
Going Places and Distant Youth EP can be ound on
the bands intimidatingly lengthy Bandcamp page.
Passion Pusher play shows regularly all over Scot-
land, and have played in other cities up and downthe UK. You can check their Facebook page or
inormation about upcoming shows and releases.
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THEO KOTTIS
Label owner, DJ, and one hal o the legendary 6th
Borough Project, Craig Smith has been at the helm
o Edinburghs house music scene or over 20 years.
Alongside Peter Oakden, Smith runs the label Fify
Fathoms Deep, which released music rom Ugly Drums
and Te Revenge to name a ew. Since making his
debut at Edinburghs most influential club night Te
Hooch in 1987, Smith has played alongside some o
the most well known names in house music such as
Kerri Chandler. His most recent release, Love, Hate
and Everything Inbetween, released on Valentines
Day, proves Smith is still going stronger than ever.
For ans o Paramore and onight Alive,
Painting Rockets are a emale-ronted alt rock
band who released their debut EP Happiness in
Measures in January, with talk o an official launch
perormance this spring. Teir sound ranges rom bluesyatmospheric rock to eisty pop/punk, riding through on
powerul vocals, sincere lyricism and solid production. I
Happiness in Measures stands as testament to
anything, its that Painting Rockets are really about to
take off pun intended.
Teo Kottis is a young Edinburgh based DJ/Producer,
whose recent debut EP, Waiting Game released on
the highly acclaimed Moda Black label received
support rom some o the worlds biggest DJs, in-
cluding Pete ong and Solomon. Waiting Game was
brilliantly received, and charted in the top ten o Beat-
ports Electronica section. Kottis gained a wealth o
experience by playing extensively in Edinburghsunderground scene, as well taking to the stage at world
renowned venues like Fabric and Sub Club. His second
EP, Human Nature, is set or release in March, meaning
this year could be Kottis brightest yet.
CRAIG SMITH
PAINTING ROCKETS
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THE RISING TIDEDid the referendum leave you with a passion forpolitics? Well FINLAY MAHESON has news for you.
Illustration: Kirsty Struthers
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proportion o SNP members under the age o 30
more than doubled afer the reerendum. Under
30s now make up 21% o the partys ollowing. In
comparison, Scottish Unionist parties have been
quiet on membership figures since the reerendum.
Scottish Labour membership figures jump between
7000 and 14,000, depending on who you believe.
Te media will also play a huge role in keeping
youth engagement as high as it has been in recenttimes. All too ofen middle-aged newsreaders talk
to middle-aged politicians about middle-aged
problems.
Tats why Luna Webster set up Have I Got News
For Youth (HIGNFY) at the beginning o 2015.
HIGNFY is a politics website or
young people, by young people.
She says, I came up with the idea
or the website rom that eelingo exclusion.
Webster agrees the onus is
on the media to include young
people: I think the media has a
huge responsibility to represent
young voices in the run up to the
general election because the choices made by our
governments affect us.
Grassroots politics will play a huge role in theuture o Scottish politics too, according to the
HIGNFY ounder: Tese groups have more politi-
cal sway than politicians because they are actually
relatable to voters and speak to them directly.
What is clear in this General Election year is that
the media, both mainstream and alternative, will be
critical in keeping young people involved in politics.
I successul, we can make Scotland as exciting and
engaging as was in the run up to the reerendum.
LAS years reerendum changed Scottish
politics orever, o that there is no doubt. A
political wave crashed over the country and,
whether your side won or lost, Scotland arguably
became the most politically engaged country in
Western Europe.
Perhaps the most heartening result o the reer-
endum was the level o youth engagement ahead
o the vote. For the first time in Scottish politicalhistory, 16 and 17 year-olds were enranchised.
Scotland saw young people debating in school halls
and arenas, universities, pubs and clubs. In an age
o political apathy, young people genuinely cared
about the outcome o the vote. And it showed.
More than 106,000 under-18s
registered to vote, with 71% o
those who turned out backing
independence, according to apoll published by Lord Ashcrof.
During the campaign groups
like National Collective sprang
up, hosting gig nights and em-
barking on a estival road trip
around Scotland, getting young
people involved in the issues affecting them in
the debate. Even the Usher Hall sold out, with
Franz Ferdinand, Mogwai and Frightened Rabbitlending their support to the campaign. Te BBC,
though hugely criticised or their reerendum cov-
erage, hosted the largest televised debate in Scottish
history, with 12,000 school pupils taking on a panel
o politicians at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
Te problem now acing Scottish politicians is
how to keep young people engaged ahead o the
tribal mudsling that is General Electioneering. Tis
problem does not seem to exist or the SNP. Te
All too often
middle-agednewsreaderstalk to middle-aged politiciansabout middle-aged
problems
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SPEAK THE TRUTHMARISA ESORO spoke to Jenny Lindsay from Rally & Broadabout the rude health of Edinburghs spoken word scene.
Photo: Chris Scott
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When were both of you introduced to poetry in
performance and how did you find yourselves
on the spoken word scene in Edinburgh?
Ive been perorming since 2002. Back then, I was
one o very ew poets under the age o 30 perorm-
ing on the scene. I started out as a singer-songwriterin Glasgow, whose lyrics were always better than my
singing. Afer my flat was robbed and my electric
piano stolen, I started perorming those lyrics at
open mic nights, and someone involved in the scene
saw me and told me I was a poet. It was news to
me, but I havent looked back since. I moved back
to Edinburgh in 2004 and ran Big Word rom 2002
to 2008 and then Is Tis Poetry? in 2010. Rachel
and I met in August 2011 and that was when wehatched a plan to create Rally & Broad a plat-
orm or new writers alongside big name acts. We
launched in October 2012.
How would you define spoken word?
Spoken word is a great term as it encompasses
any literary medium designed or, or suitable or,
a live audience. o us, that encompasses great
poets reading their work well, slam-style poetsperorming, authors and short-story writers who
can entertain an audience.
How would you describe the spoken word scene
in Edinburgh?
In rude health. Tere are a lot o things going on
in Edinburgh rom student nights offering a first-
step to new perormers and writers, to Loud Poets,
where high-energy, rapid-fire delivery, and a ban
on reading, is the order o the day. Neu Reekie
[is] where you can see very established writers
alongside excellent bands and short films. Rally &
Broad prides itsel on showcasing the best o theScottish scene, alongside a New Voices slot and
acts rom outside Scotland.
Do you have any advice for anyone attending
their first spoken word performance?
Be open to something new. Spoken word is like
music people come at it rom lots o different
angles. I you see one bad spoken word perormer,
it shouldnt put you off exploring others!
Do you have any advice for someone hoping to
try spoken word or poetry performance?
Read poetry o all styles. Listen to poetry readings,
slam perormances, live literature, and author read-
ings. Explore different acts online and offline, learn
to recognise what works and what doesnt. Use your
own voice and dont eel the need to ollow someone
elses style or rules. Spoken word shouldnt haveany rules, other than to bear in mind that audience
reaction is a major part o the orm.
What has been one of your favorite memories
from either performing or organizing an event?
Rachel and I absolutely love running Rally & Broad,
and I have never enjoyed running events as much
as I have since meeting Rachel. From the nail-
biting will anyone turn up panics at the beginningo the night, to the cherry bourbon celebrations
when everything turns out right, theres nothing
better than bringing together amazing acts with
an amazing audience.
JENNY Lindsay is one-hal o the dynamicduo that makes up Rally & Broad, a platorm
or new writers and proessional poetic per-
ormers alike to showcase their work. ogether, she
and Rachel McCrum invite audiences to witness
a variety o acts, rom slam-style poets to musical
guests. Both seasoned perormers, Lindsay and
McCrum know a thing or two about the spoken
word, and Lindsay explains that there is definitely
room or that scene to grow in Edinburgh.
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Illustration: Nicola Laurie
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EDINBURGH: a haunt, a sanctuary, a dwelling
place. o many, Scotlands capital is a home-
stead. Walking through its antiquated streets
you would be orgiven or merely appreciating its
outward beauty.
But unbeknown to passers by, nestled in a stylishmodern flat, is the home o Altern Essence Per-
umery.
Aidan Cave and Fabio Cunha, both 22, are the
architects behind each handcrafed, cruelty ree,
vegan scent.
Creating perume is like a cross between chem-
istry and painting, explains Cave.
Te couple, originally rom Portugal, moved to
Scotland our years ago beore toying with the ideao creating their own perumes.
I didnt really see the beauty o it at first, Cunha
recalls. But when we made the first two scents,
Dead Elephant and Between Mountains, there it
was, it was beautiul.
Edinburgh certainly provides the pair with
a deluge o inspiration. One recent project saw
Altern Essence collaborate with Edinburgh-based
singer LAW to create a scent based on her single
Haters. We met her at a zine launch in Edin-burgh, laughs Cave. Her song was playing and
we just approached her. She was very involved in
the whole process. She gave us her lyrics as well as
their deep meaning and she even picked out some
o the ingredients!
IMPULSE | PERFUME
Meghan McCormack visited the brains behind Altern Essence Perfumeryto chat influences, home and all things Edinburgh.
The dampness of thehops; I would love torecreate that. An
Edinburgh scent wouldbe stunning
EAU DEDINBURGH
Photos: Lauren Stephen
Fabio Cunhacreates one of
Altern Essences
signature scentsin the couplesEdinburgh flat.
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I all in love with the Haters scent over and over
again, Cunha said. It was very difficult to make
because it was such a unique project, but we had
so much un doing it.
It is clear that the pair are passionate about their
chosen art orm. Each scent has a deeper sense o
purpose, with an intent to provoke an emotional
response with its wearer. Could an Edinburgh
inspired scent be in the pipeline?
Definitely, Cunha said. I would love to experi-
ment with the smells o the stone here. Or even,
you know that smell, when you arrive on the plane
in Edinburgh? Te dampness o the hops; I would
love to re-create that. An Edinburgh scent wouldbe stunning.
However it is not just the city that inspires their
ragrance. I am a people watcher, conesses Cave.
It would be cool to create a scent about a random
person, who would never know that they are the
muse.
With such ambition and an already apparent
ollowing o loyal customers, could Altern Essence
be on the brink o expanding?
Te thing about Altern Essence is that we are
not trying to make a business, explains Cunha.
We are just trying to learn more and have un.
However i we ever did open a shop I like to think
that it would be in Edinburgh.
Cave and Cunha are undoubtedly settled in here
in the capital. But what is it about Edinburgh that
keeps the pair here?
Te bus we used to get stopped on Princes
Street, just next to the Scott Monument, said Cave.
In Portugal, everything is very flat; but when our
bus stopped and you looked out o the window, all
you could see was hills and old buildings.
We had such a warm welcome when we arrivedadds Cunha. We made riends straight away.
Originally, the pair only planned to move to
Scotland or six months with the intention o
moving on to Australia.
Our six month plan turned into a year and a
hal admits Cave. Afer that we went to Asia or
five months, and thought we would go back to
Portugal aferwards. When it came to booking our
flights home, we booked tickets back to Edinburgh.Edinburgh is afer all our second home.
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AIDAN and Fabio kindly
let us loose among theirully stocked cabinet o
oils beore leaving us to experi-
ment with what worked. Or in
my case, what didnt work. I dont
think Ill be giving Jo Malone a
run or her money anytime soon.
Afer smelling each tiny bottle
I was lef in a bit o a haze. I like
gin, so did I like juniper berries?Or was that the one that smelled
like head lice treatment?
Playing it sae, I grabbed some
amiliar looking scents to con-tribute to our concoction. Rose,
cedar wood I had a eeling I
wasnt quite as good at pairing
as Lauren.
Oils chosen, it was time or
science. Each bottle had to be
tipped to allow precise droplets
to all into the beaker. his
required patience, again, notone o my stronger points.
Mix complete, we were both
given a small spray bottle o our
scent. It was strong, and myellow passengers on the train
home did not appreciate it. Note
duly taken.
Despite our valiant attempts,
our scent did not compare to the
beautiul ragrances o Altern
Essence creation.
Perumery is something
perhaps lef to the skills o themasters.
DID YOU KNOW?
HEAD NOTES:Evaporate quickly. Forexample, citrus scents.
HEART NOTES:Makes the main body o theperume. For example, floral
scents.
BASE NOTES:Bring a sense o depth to the
perume. For example, muskyand woody scents.
Illustration: Peony Gent
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, LAUREN STEPHEN AND I JOINED THE TEAM ATALTERN ESSENCE PERFUMERY AND MADE OUR VERY OWN SCENT...
Perume is made up o three levels. Each level o scent is grouped
together according to how much time afer application they can be smelled.
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Sittings Editor: Robyn BaillieAssistant: Alice CruickshankPhotographer: Natalie BaxterMake-Up: Samantha RachelModel: Rebecca Baillie
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CAPITAL COLLECTIONEdinburgh designers captivate with striking printed fabrics and
contemporary imaginings of vintage styles. Words:ALICE CRUICKSHANK
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LIZZIE OLuxurious orientalfabrics and a touchof retro Hollywoodglamour combine toshape this collection.With each piecelovingly handcraftedfrom vintage kimonofabric, every item by
Lizzie O has a uniqueheritage and a storyto be told. DesignerJulie professes to alife-long fascinationwith Japan, and theornate beauty ofgeishas serves ascontinuing inspirationto her designs.
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NICCI. N.
Specialised printingtechniques are centralto Nicci. N.scollections, which arecreated to give womenan alternative to HighStreet shopping. Thedesigner spans a wide-range of inspiration,from sweet shops tothe darkness of death,and these contrastingideas and fabricscombine to createstandout pieces.
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C. WATSON
Designer ChristineWatson puts twofingers up to
the questionableScottish weatherwith her luxurywaterproof designs.Leather-look fabricsand polka dotsare complementedby biker detailsand flowing cuts.Her full-skirtedskater dresses area staple piece andare reimagined indifferent coloursand fabrics foreach collection.
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IMPULSE | 2015 41
ME TODRAG
EDINBURGHShante you stay! DEANELAOUADI spoke to the Edinburghqueens trying to establish theirvery own drag circuit in the city.
Photos: Nicole Bell & Laura Palmer
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DRAG, the ancient craf o emale impersona-
tion, is having a moment right now. ypi-
cally the art orm has always existed in the
margins o our cultural zeitgeist, brazenly holding
up a mirror to society by exaggerating traditional
motis o emininity and mocking the ofen-absurd
expectations placed on women.However, thanks to the huge success o reality
show RuPauls Drag Race, as well as increased ac-
ceptance o different orms o gender expression,
drag is currently enjoying a level o mainstream
exposure not experienced since the nineties, when
pioneering queen RuPaul had the whole world
spinning on the tip o her bejewelled acrylics.
Tis newound cultural appetite is being sated
not only by the seasoned proessionals that have
been donning tits and tights since 68 BC (Beore
Cher) but also by the new generation o ingenueswho have only just been introduced to the glamor-
ous entertainment ormat.
Te UK boasts some o the most eclectic drag
scenes in the world, among which Glasgow is an
IMPULSE | DRAG QUEENS
GroundskeeperFanny ventures
out of herparlour to bask
in the shade
of the BotanicGardens.
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irreutable standout. Te citys thriving club nights
and competition circuits have allowed a tight-knit
community to prosper among its queens, a sister-
hood orged in love and lace-ront wigs.
Te same however cannot be said or Scotlandscapital. Edinburghs drag scene currently borders
on non-existent. Despite occasional sparks o bril-
liance in queer oriented events like Conusion is
Sex or Cilla Slacks string o drag competitions at
Chalkys, nothing has ignited enough interest to
create permanent drag scene. Te citys hollow
circuit is completely at odds with the throng o
talent within it. Edinburghs queens are fiercely
dedicated, and work tirelessly not just to perecttheir craf, but to cultivate spaces in which it can
be appreciated.
One o these queens is the elusive Alice Rabbit,
who describes her alter ego as a monstrously
sexual presence that exists somewhere between
reality and cartoon, and is steadily becoming a
ubiquitous fixture o Edinburghs gay scene.
On the reasons behind Edinburghs lagging drag
scene, Rabbit said: Whats good about the Glasgow
scene is that whether theres shade being thrown
its a sisterhood and they all support each other,
whereas here its more competitive than sisterly.
In the drag community insult is considered sport,
reerred to by many as reading or throwing
shade. Te exchange o biting remarks between
queens is observed as an essential wit sharpening
exercise but is generally practiced in good aith.
Rabbit alluded that this undercurrent o mutual
love and respect is less prevalent among Edin-
burghs queens.
Youll get a queen who goes or fish [a style
which seeks to achieve the authentic appearanceo a woman] and a queen thats a club kid [an
avant-garde style which draws inspiration rom
the New York ballroom scene]; fishy queen doesnt
want anything to do with club kid because theyre
different and she thinks theyll make her look bad,
said Rabbit.
Drag here is treated more as a bitch est than
perormance art.
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I started thisclub night witha clear goalto create
something Ilove and that I
know the
community willenjoy
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IMPULSE | 2015 45
Another local queen and Rabbits own drag mother
Fedora Homburg, whose aesthetic evokes a plethora
o pop icons using both emininity and masculinity
as a palette, agreed with this sentiment. She also
cited Edinburghs estival-centric arts and culture
calendar as a reason or the lack o interest.
Edinburgh is a tiny place that isnt that ar-
tistic or 11 months o the year then during the
Fringe the entire world comes here and the city
gets spoiled by having all this culture at its door
or one month which then dissipates immediately
afer, said Homburg. Tere are loads o drag acts
during the Fringe but the problem is it kills the
creativity or the rest o the year.You cant have a weekly drag scene because
everyone is basically preparing or this one month.
Rabbit agreed with her mothers sentiments,
going on to describe the Fringe as being like a
period or the city in terms o creativity.
In spite o bleak prospects, Edinburghs drag
drought has not deterred resh aces rom im-
mersing themselves in this gender blind world o
plunging contours and panty lines. Young queensare sashaying out o the drag womb with more
drive and polish than ever beore.
Groundskeeper Fanny, a relative newcomer to
the drag scene, already has her sights set on lofy
ambitions. Fanny likened her experience o the
more lively circuit in Manchester to tasting really
good ood or the first time, but its drag queens
slaying my entire existence.
Im currently co-ounding Edinburghs firstdrag club night. Its called Such A Drag and is pre-
miering at Te Electric Circus. I started this club
night with a clear goal to create something I love
and that I know the community will enjoy, she said.
Fannys project is set to eature a line-up o
local queens who will collaborate or a night o
perormances at the end o every month.
Discussing the possibility o her involvement,
Rabbit, hersel a fiery proponent o bringing dragback to Edinburgh, said: Any stage Im good or;
its another oot in the door and Im happy that
shes doing it.
O her own contribution to the burgeoning
GroundskeeperFanny andAlice Rabbitoutside ofthe ElectricCircus, whereSuch A Dragis set topremiere.
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popularity o drag in the city
Rabbit went on to stress the
potency o visibility: Drag was
quite quiet here and I think when
I started showing up and being
out in drag a lot it made other
little baby queens in the bars
think well i she can walk in and
do it all the time without being
araid then why cant I?
My goal was or drag to be
seen more, thats all I wanted.
Whether Such A Drag proves
successul or not it will mark ahuge turning point or the art
orm in Scotlands capital, and
prove once and or all that drag
has a home in Edinburgh. Tese
queens are a testament to the
inexhaustible possibilities drag
offers as an entertainment plat-
orm.
Observing the passion andproessionalism with which they
approach their craf leaves the
unshakeable impression that Ed-
inburghs gay scene could be on
the verge o a massive makeover.
Mascara wands at the ready.
To see exclusivebehind-the-scenes
footage of ourDrag Queen photoshoot
at the ElectricCircus head over to
Impulsemag-online.com.
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Photos: Angus Duncan
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IMPULSE | 2015 49
BARREL OF LAUGHSFed up of Te Stand? KAIE CAMPBELL tells youwhere you can go in Edinburgh to get your comedy fix.
DURING the month o August, you cant turn a corner in
Edinburgh without stumbling on a bar, club or phone
box advertising itsel as a comedy venue o some kind.
he other eleven months o the year, its a bit o a dierent story.
Globally renowned club he Stand operates several venues
throughout the city and has grown massively since its opening in
1996, but what alternatives do we have to he Stands stranglehold
on the Edinburgh comedy scene?he Beehive on the Grassmarket has been a mainstay o the
Fringe or years. Its attic is home to comedy club, Monkey Barrel
Comedy, which is held there on a Friday and Saturday.
he host, Rick Molland, is known or his antastically brutal and
audacious style o comedy. With such a well-respected name in the
Scottish stand-up circuit at the helm, Monkey Barrel Comedy is a
prime hotspot or discovering new talent on the stand-up scene.
Not a weekend goes by without established Scottish talent like
Vladimir Mcavish or Jojo Sutherland taking their turn on themic alongside some o the best rising talent. You can ind line-ups
or each weeks shows on the Monkey Barrel Comedy website.
I improvisational comedy is your bag, look no urther than
the Canons Gait on the Royal Mile, which plays host to Fringe
With such a well-respected namein the Scottish stand-up circuit
at the helm, Monkey BarrelComedy is a prime hotspot
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avourites Men With Coconuts, AKA Impro FX.
he show takes you on a 90-minute improvised
comedy adventure based on audience sugges-
tions. Its an all singing, all dancing, spur o the
moment aair that showcases the best aspects
o stand-up in one neat package. You can catch
the Men With Coconuts every hursday night
at the Canons Gait or a modest 6.
It is always worth keeping an eye out or whatis on in the Bedlam heatre. he student run
theatre has been another key Fringe venue or
many years, situated just o Bristo Square and
acting as a home or some o the estivals most
popular acts, such as the Penny Dreaduls and
Miles Jupp.
At the moment, its playing host to improv
troupe he Improverts, who host one late show
every Friday night at 10.30pm during Edinburgh
Universitys term time. he Improverts create
games using the audiences suggestions, leading
to a new and hilarious show every time. heyhave been a staple o the Fringe or 26 years, and
its easy to see why they are such an established
orce in Edinburghs comedy scene.
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ROSS Hepburn is a standup comedian like
no other. With an incredibly vivid andascinating imagination and comedic style,
he is certainly one to watch or the uture.
On April 2nd o this year, Hepburn will be
hosting a show at Banshee Labyrinth named
Science Fiction: Double Feature alongside close
riend Des Gorman.
Te inspiration or Hepburns show comes rom
his interest in cinema and his ascination with the
film Te Rocky Horror Picture Show while growingup, describing his act as a love letter about the
films I ound solace in watching.
Science Fiction ollows in a similar vein to
Hepburns previous works (which include three
perormances at Te Stand) in being a very conver-
sational show where the crowd are encouraged to
engage and share in the experience. However this
time Hepburn has a cause to promote Autism
Awareness.Hepburn has Aspergers Syndrome, a type
o autism that can be debilitating. Many with
Aspergers struggle throughout their childhood
and teenage years ofen with poor social skills and
a reluctance to interact with others.
Growing up with autism impacted not only
Hepburns lie but also his amily, with many people
simply not understanding how to cope with the
disorder.You know theres something wrong, but you
cant quite put your finger on it, Hepburn said.
I just thought differently rom other children.
Diagnosed at seven, Hepburn elt disconnected
rom his peers. Seeing the world differently was aterriying and strange experience.
His development in high school was at times
hindered by his condition. He describes being taken
out o class regularly as a disheartening process in
his education. But in many aspects, his condition
allowed him to be very creative and flourish in
art, English and other literary subjectsones in
which he could express himsel in a way he saw fit.
Hepburns state o mind reflects and compli-ments his style o comedy.
Im a conversationalist, he said. I like talking,
and I enjoy making people laugh. Having someone
say hey, that really brightened my day is the most
satisying eeling.
It was in the early days o high school he realised
he could make people laugh simply by conveying
his inner thoughts and eelings.
I love ommy Cooper, hes my idol, Hepburnsaid. In high school I stood up in ront o class
and told a joke. Te only thing I could conjure up
was something rom one o his sketches, and to
my surprise, everybody laughed.
It was at that point he knew he wanted to be
a comedian.
In using comedy as a way to vent the workings
o his mind, Hepburn will have you keeled over
with laughter but also ascinate you with how hetruly thinks.
Ultimately, audience members will leave with
sore sides and a newound understanding o autism.
TAKING A STANDRoss Hepburn is a stand-up comedian with adifference. ROSS KELLY spoke to him abouthis life on the stage.
Having someone sayhey, that really
brightened my day isthe most satisfying
feeling
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the story. Or even, that his idea o the characters
split personality was influenced by the differencesbetween the Old and New own.
Edinburghs aura influenced Stevenson when
he created Body Snatcher in 1884. Not only is this
story set in Edinburgh, it is also widely believed
that it was based on the amous murders associated
with Burke and Hare.
Kidnapped was set all over Scotland but key
moments took place in Edinburgh with reerences
to Corstorphine Hill and Queenserry Road.Mentions o the city continue throughout Ste-
vensons career. In Te Wrecker the main character
visits his grandather in Edinburgh and explores
Calton Hill, Arthurs Seat and Princes Street.
Nathan Lawrie works at the Writers Museum,
and is passionate about Edinburghs stamp on the
literary world.
Te city has such a unique history; the build-
ings, the way its laid out, its different rom any-
where else in the world and I think that can be
quite inspirational he explains.
I you look at J.K Rowling and the things she
wrote here I think its easy to set antasy around
the city because when you look about the place it
doesnt really have a modern vibe about it, and I
think that makes it much easier to inspire you to
do different things.
Te unique characteristics o Edinburgh have
The city has sucha unique history;the buildings, theway its laid out,its different from
anywhere else in theworld and I thinkthat can be quiteinspirational
Photo: Angus Duncan
helped create many fictional masterpieces. Even
when Stevenson moved thousands o miles awayto Western Samoa, his thoughts were never ar
rom his home city. In his last days, it was these
memories o Edinburgh that helped inspire him:
Writing as I do in a strange quarter o the
world, and a late day o my age, I can still behold
the profile o her towers and chimneys, and the
long trail o her smoke against the sunset.
Tis influence and lasting effect that Edinburgh
has on her residents and visitors, is what made herbecome the first city in the world to be presented
the UNESCO City o Literature award in 2004. A
fine acknowledgement o the capitals distinctive-
ness and beauty.
Edinburghs Old Town providesthe perfect setting for any
Scottish tale, and authors takefull advantage.
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AS you walk Edinburghs grey, cobbled
streets you walk where authors were in-
spired and where dreamers could finallysee their stories come to lie. Robert Louis Ste-
venson saw the pirates o reasure Island on
Firde Island, as he played with his riends in the
caves. David Nicholls imagined the romantic walk
up Arthurs Seat o Dex and Em in One Day. JK
Rowling envisioned Edinburgh Castle as a school
or young wizards and Ian Rankin could see himsel
sharing a pint with John Rebus in Te Oxord Bar
as he brooded over a case. Tese stories and char-acters were wandering lost in authors minds, but
they ound a home in Edinburgh. Why are writers
drawn to this tiny, old city? We asked writers or
their reason or setting their novels in Edinburgh.
David Nicholls has achieved phenomenal
success with his books and screenplays. His novel
One Day was adapted into a movie starring AnneHathaway and was a huge hit. In the book his two
main characters Dexter and Emma begin their love
story in Edinburgh.
Why did I choose Edinburgh? It probably
comes back to that old cliche o writing what you
know. One Day starts in July 1988, and I was also in
Edinburgh that summer, sharing a single room in
Rankeillor Street with twelve other student actors
while we put on a show at the Fringe.I loved everything about it. Tirty years later,
sitting down to write One Day, I wanted to summon
up that sense o excitement and anxiety, idealism
and uncertainty and so it seemed natural to return
THE CITY BEHIND THE STORYOf all the places to set your story, why choose Edinburgh? LAUREN RICHIEinvestigates the capitals popularity as a literary setting.
Photo: Lauren Stephen
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to the city at that particular time, and the little flat
on Rankeillor Street where the fictional Emma
Morley lives.
Samantha Young is a New York imes, USA
oday and the Wall Street Journal bestselling author
rom Scotland. Her first novel On Dublin Street is
about Jocelyn Butler who has lef her tragic pastbehind in the States and has decided to start over
in Edinburgh. Her guarded world is then shaken
by her roommates seductive older brother:
Very simply, the reason I chose Edinburgh as a
setting or my On Dublin Street series is because
o my love or the city. Tis series was my first
step into adult contemporary romance. I decided
it was pivotal to write rom my own experience as
much as possible and Id worked and lived in Ed-inburgh or a number o years. I knew the city well.
When you know the setting well it allows you to
concentrate solely on your characters and plot-the
setting naturally moves with the story. Moreover,
my largest readership is the US and Scotland has
extremely romantic connotations or Americans.
Christopher Brookmyres first novel Quite Ugly
One Morning was the winner o the Critics First
Blood Award or Best First Crime Novel o the
Year in 1996. Te book is about Jack Parlabane,
a Glaswegian journalist, who has just returned toScotland rom LA afer finding out that someone
wanted him dead.
My first novel Quite Ugly One Morning was
really based on my first impressions o Edinburgh
when I just moved there rom Glasgow in the 1990s.
My take on Edinburgh in the novel was actually
quite impressionistic which made it quite satirical.
At the time when I thought o Edinburgh I thought
o ladies in tweed jackets in Jenners and things likethat, but then my novels set in Edinburgh became
less like that as my impressions o the city changed
when I lived longer in the city. Te longer you live
in a city the less you understand it.
IMPULSE | BOOKS
Everyone has read a bookinspired by, or set inEdinburgh at one point.
Even Taystee.
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THE Humans movement began in New York five years ago,as the brainchild o Brandon Stanton. Te premise is simpleenough. Photograph anybody at all - with consent - andextract some words o wisdom. It quickly became clear though,
as others became inspire to document their own city, that the
appeal wasnt just confined to a ew square miles o Manhattan.Te architect o this more local Facebook phenomenon,
Humans o Edinburgh, is Ollie Buchanan. With over 43,000
ollowers, the 20 year old English student has an eye or stories.
A combined love or photography and Humans o New York
convinced him to shoot his first subject over a year ago.
I just thought o it as photography to start with, but now its
more about the finding stuff out, just being nosy.
Over time his photography has stood out or its accompanying
quotes, which give both deep personal insights and spark debatesvia the comments. A sense o community has conjured to the
point that people respond in turn with equally private detail.
As soon as I started doing it I realised people open up way
more to a stranger than they do to their riends. Even though
they know that their riends are going to see it.
Its getting it off your conscience. Somethings driving you
mad, and as soon as 40,000 people know it, its tiny then.
O course, not every opinion sought will be so admirable,
It is a concept that has swept the globe, and Edinburghwith it. DREW HAUGHEYtakes a peek at who isbehind the camera.
MAKINGEDINBURGH HUMAN
IMPULSE | PEOPLE
Photos: Ollie Buchanan
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thereore the quotes have been mildly moderated
to prevent an overload o downbeat opinion. I
like the unny ones, so its what I push or, Ollie
remarks. Some encounters however, such as with
two Russian girls asked their opinion o gay people
in the afermath o LGBQ protests at the Sochi
games, leave little light. What did emerge though,
I completely lost all element o being proes-
sional with it. It was like, what did you just say, how
dare you kind o thing. And then they were like all
gay people should burn in hell.
A notable aspect o the Edinburgh version o
this unpatented, worldwide brand is the effort to
intervene in the lives o those who are having di-
ficulties. Buchanan went as ar as to set up PayPalaccounts or homeless subjects, such as Carl, a man
who wanted to work with dogs. Although claiming
the process was a learning curve, and that he had
perhaps been naive, Buchanan still raised a large
amount quickly.
Tat guy ate good ood or as long as that
money lasted, which was a couple o months at least.
Humans o Edinburgh is just a platorm or
other peoples opinion. I could just go out everyday, photograph normal people on the street and
ask them what they had or dinner last night; or
I could use it or something that has a bit more
meaning, and can last longer than that.
was the character o the online community to
counter homophobia.Yeah, she spat, and I dont remember where it
hit but it landed on my shoe or leg, or the ground in
ront o me...but yeah, she spat at me, and I walked
away thinking, this is going to go viral.
I just thought ofit as photography tostart with, but nowits more about thefinding stuff out,just being nosy
IMPULSE | PEOPLE
Photo: Drew Haughey
The man behindHumans of Edinburgh,Ollie Buchanan,in front of thecamera for a change.
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[EN]GAGEFitness | Sport | Conditioning
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Our choice of flexible and affordable fitness packages really set us apart at
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YOU have scaled Arthurs Seat, youve shuddered at the price o the castle, and youve scared
yoursel silly through Mary Kings Close so whats next? Edinburgh guides always ocus on the
cliches, the busy tourist hotspots that weve all seen beore. Weve come up with an alternative
weekend in the capital guaranteed to keep you busy when youre sick o the usual suggestions. Whether
youre up or anything, or just afer a leisurely weekend out, we have it covered.
NOT IN THE GUIDE BOOKSIts a city filled to the brim with art, entertainment, and culture but the true beautyof Edinburgh can be found in the lesser known hotspots. SEPHANIE GRAYandALICE CRUICKSHANKreveal the citys hidden gems.
Illustration: Patrick Hughes
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1BESTBREAKFASTFair Trade Coffee Shop,
Albert PlaceThe Whole Shebang breakfastwill combat ravenous appetites(and hangovers) without beingheavy on grease. The coffee is
top-notch, too.
2SWEETTREATSMarys Milk Bar,
GrassmarketYoull fnd proper Italian ice
cream in every favour you could
dream of. Calories dont countwhen it tastes this good, right?
3KILLERCOCKTAILSPanda & Sons,
Queen StreetCleverly disguised as a vintage
barbershop, this speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar serves up
elaborate concoctions.
4BESTATMOSPHERE52 Canoes Tiki Den,
Melville StreetEnjoy a little slice of Hawaii in
this quirky venue. They servecocktails in tiki glasses, and thefood portions are huge.
A L T E R N A T I V EBARS AND CAFES
IN THE CITY:
Blackford HillStill got some energy lef? Go
or a sunset walk. Weve all
climbed Arthurs Seat a thousand
times, so instead you should try
Blackord Hill. It offers a quick
escape rom the hustle and bustle
o the city as well as great views o
the castle and Arthurs Seat itsel.
Royal ObservatoryFor the budding astronomers
among us, theres the Edinburgh
Royal Observatory. Tey holdpublic events weekly until the
end o April, and monthly
throughout the summer. Booking
is essential or these sessions,
where you can expect to spend
an evening observing the night
sky through telescopes as well as
learning to identiy constellations
with the naked eye. Head alongor an experience thats out o
this world.
Cameo CinemaFor a more relaxed activity, try
the Cameo Cinema. Just a 15-
minute walk rom the city centre,
its perect or crowd dodging on
a rainy day. While others flockto bigger chain cinemas, at the
Cameo, you can enjoy select
viewings o films in a cosier,
vintage setting. Tey do great
movie marathons and special
showings, too. In addition, theres
plenty o atmosphere in the tiny
screens, and you can head to
their bar or a drink i youve gottime beore your film.
Stockbridge MarketI you find yoursel in the west
end, wander down Dean Bridge
and into Stockbridge their
Sunday Market is a great alter-
native to busy town shopping and
youll be doing your bit or the
local community as well.
Foxfall Ropes CourseLooking or a challenge? ake
on the Foxall Ropes Course set
in Scotlands only wakeboarding
park about 40 minutes outside oEdinburgh. Te low ropes course
doesnt involve a harness, which
is completely unique to the UK.
With reezing water below you,
the course is a test o willpower as
well as agility with two different
courses to tackle.
Traverse TheatreI youre afer a quiet, cultured
evening head to the raverse
Teatre just off Lothian Road.
Tey opened in 1963, and today
they eature some o Scotlands
best new writing. Tey pride
themselves on their innovation
and risk taking. Teyre commit-
ted to providing opportunitiesor writers at all stages o their
careers, so youre bound to find
something unique and exciting.
Glentress ForestA real off road adventure to the
south o the city, Glentress Forest
is sure to get your adrenaline
pumping. Teir mountain bikeroutes are some o the best in
the country and are colour coded
according to a range o difficulties.
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DOWN MEMORY LANE
1. IRN BRU BARSScottish public, we must unite and
bring peace back to our precious
land. Our time is now, Scotland. We
must bring back the Irn Bru Bar!
9.JOCK FROM THELADY AND THE TRAMPForget Merida rom Brave or
Scrooge McDuck; Jock is our Scot-
tish Disney hero.
7. ACTUALHISTORICAL FACTSIN BRAVEHEARTA moment o silence or Scottish
historians when Braveheart was
released. Te historical inaccuracies
included a depiction o the Battle o
Stirling Bridgewithout a BRIDGE.
10. JOHN SMEATONI k icked a burningterrorist so hard in the balls I tore atendon in my oot. John Smeaton,you are a Scottish legend.
5. SANDI THOMBeore the movement o
Scottish independence, there was a
movement in being punk rockers
with flowers in our hair.
6. LEON JACKSONRemember that guy that won Te X
Factor? You may not find his albums
in HMV, but you will find his great
customer service.
2. STINXChildren used to think twice about
taking up smoking thanks to pop
music. Te girl band SINXs catchy
lyrics, Why do you keep on running
boy? Cant run so ast, got a pain in
my chest, have been stuck in our
heads or over a decade now.
4. GLASVEGASWhere on earth did our avourite
Glaswegian indie rock band go?
No one pulled off depressing songs
and big, old quiffs like they did.
Okay, maybe Te Smiths had that
pretty nailed and maybe Arctic
Monkeys did too
8. MONARCHOF THE GLENSunday night just isnt the same
without Monarch o Te Glen. Te
twee Highland drama made viewers
go wild when Archie finally kissed
his true love, Lexie. But Scotland
has never truly recovered rom the
heartbreak o poor, old Hector acci-
dentally blowing himsel up whilefishing. Bring back MOG.
3. THE SCHEMEAt one point, the height oScottish drama was Te Scheme,the documentary ollowing sixdifferent amilies all livingin a large housing scheme inKilmarnock. Does happy asLarry mean anything to anyoneanymore? And what happened toBullet the dog?
LAUREN RICHIE remembers the forgotten aspects of ourScottish past, from Irn Bru bars to Smeeto saving Glasgow.
Illustrations: Lois Glen
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