Final Magazine Layout and Download

Here is the final design of the magazine and links to download it through the web.

download option

http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/190795

New Horizons

A great advert for playstation looking at the double life gamers lead, from there day job to there gaming life.



For years, I've lived a double life. In the day, I do my job I ride the bus, roll up my sleeves with the hoi polloi. But at night, I live a life of exhilaration, of missed heartbeats and adrenalin. And, if the truth be known, a life of dubious virtue. I won't deny it I've been engaged in violence, even indulged in it. I've maimed and killed adversaries and not merely in self-defence. I'Â ve exhibited disregard for life, limb and property, and savoured every moment. You may not think it, to look at me, but I have commanded armies and conquered worlds. And though in achieving these things I've set morality aside, I have no regrets. For though I've led a double life, at least I can say: I've lived.


Chemical brothers star guitar video that partly inspired me for my new horizons video.







A brilliant video by etienne de crecy called no brain that I saw at the british film institute as part of the bug lectures into the evolution of music video. The superbly executed visuals work harmoniously with the track along with the unexpected ending.



A piece i think if it was presented for the new horizons project would without a shadow of a doubt get 100%. It works on all the levels I believe new horizons wants us to explore from what we get out of life to where we wont it to go. A line that has always stuck with me since I first saw the video is "if i only scrap a living, at least its a living worth scraping" which i think perfectly sums up an attitude to do something that you really love in life that if at all possible make a living from.


DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

Here are two tracks by the the streets that without really thinking about it feel have influenced my video for the new horizons presentation.
Mike Skinner the person who wrote the songs has a way with words that describe the every day living of the every day young man, the mischief they get up to along the life lesson they learn along the way.






A track that was then released after the album from where these two tracks came from some up the streets attitude and is a manifesto there ethos.

Oi Oi Oi
Sometimes I look down; sometimes I look up
Sometimes I look down; sometimes I look up
Oi thats it

Oi Oi
I'm a fake
I don't live the streets

But there's only so many hours in a day and I use 'em to make beats
oi
In the studio
Emerging
Rehearsing
My technique
I live loops
Sleep snares
And breathe beats
Then sit through
Keep the best there
And only leave to eat
Shut the door
Penne nary record the vocal just once more
And now you know why these walls are the only walls i ever saw
Call me the quick "??", my ??

oi
Kind of like a street score
Though, not the genuine article
More facts packed in a soundtrack to the anthem
In a film and I'm the lead
Believe me in a tragedy scene a tear ran down my cheeks
So que the fairytale finale
Listen to the dialogue
But not too deep
Soak up the feeling
But don't quote me please

Incidentally
Don't worry about continuity
The person we hired to do that has been relieved of their duties
Also, in the first scene my jeans are green
But then they change mysteriously to cream
Again bad continuity
But I still mean what I mean
I wear Nike a lot
My hoodie's a tight Schott
But does my life sound as interesting as a fight in a chip shop?
I think not

The hype's not to be believed
I am not the archetypal street geez but i am right on being a beat-junkie
Oi

I gave up the fight for an easy life a long time ago
When the last bird dumped me
Buy me, get one studio free
I use words for effect to illustrate passion
Themes ring fact and specifics are usually fiction
Oi oi
I probably couldn't tell you half of what
"Has it come to this" means,
I was simply setting a scene
Of concrete
Not sky and green trees

I still hold the same hundred feet high dreams
But a lot of things scare me, though
I think I read somewhere recently that fear is a useless feeling because
I can't run to where I'm heading without running from where I was
It's all because

Where I'm from is not the issue
This is my imagination
I don't sing the blues or feel fever
Which by definition aids broken through fever
It floats around places I've never even been to
So don't lean toward the door, up for
Just as the dance floor gets raw
Some of the things this tour makes out
I'd done been or did
Wasn't mean I weren't the one
I'd only seen it
I was always too zoned-out on drum machine shit
To worry about the day to day out in the dosh pit

Oi Oi
Flip the 12"
This is the original mix
Called
Maybe my sarcastic brick twist daunting will be my downfall
Oi
Suddenly I'm defined by my lyrical
So I apologise for being so self-obsessed on this tune
Let,s get back to the story
Soon as
The streets;
The score;
Tell me what you think it is - 'cos I don't know anymore!

A book that has influenced me and helped me in creating my video and its outlook towards london included Ian Sinclair's "Out of the Territory" which is Sinclair's views on a series of walks through London. Often known as Flaneurs or psychogeography Sinclair talks about the everyday and mundanething that often go unnoticed when walk through the streets of London, describing the "hit and run calligraphy" of graffiti writers and the buildings that act as a compass bearing when navigating the city.

Tracks that I have used for the presentation in there entirety 

I decided to use the intro from this as I felt i was a good introduction into the rest of the music, summing up that I haven't become someone that is not me and im still trying to find my way.



It wasn't until after I had laid down the mix for the video that realized the true meaningof this song, which is about death, originally written by Johhny Cash. However it seems somewhat relevant considering that the video uses a journey as a metaphor for life. The initial reason for using this track is constant beat and meaningful lyrics "travelling through this world alone"



The idea behind using heartbeaker by deadboy was the consitancy of beat to the movement of the train. It also provided me a space in the video where lyrics did not get in the way of the voice over but providing a rhythm to talk to.



"It's a London thing" is what i decided to end the video which i felt was a perfect track to have as the train journey on as it  pulls into London Bridge.

Train Journey

Train Journey New Horizons from Joe Nixon on Vimeo.

Printers and Development

I had trouble finding printers that would print a small number of magazines to the requirements I was after. Most printers needed a minimum order of about 500 to 1000 and as my print run wasn't going to be that big it wasn't that necessary. After more research and speaking to printers pronta print could print my magazine digitally with 130gsm glossy double sided full colour inserts with a 250gsm glossy double sided full colour cover for £50 for five. This was the best offer i had so far and was a short turn around so could still bide my time. 

I later found mag cloud that could do everything I needed icluding a perfect bind and give my magazine a web precence and the opportunity to have it available to be downloaded onto ipads. As a result I went with this method and am thoroughly pleased with the result and quality of the magazine.   

Buissness Card Design

As a small side project away from the design of my music magazine I have been designing my business cards. This has lead me to rethinking the way I brand myself as both an illustrator and a graphic designer.

From all the design the two below were my favorite. I then decide on the Orange and black tying in with my corporate colours. 

Magazine Development

I have worked through a series of different layout combinations, trying to find a happy medium between text and image. As I have progressed through the design process a few things have come to light. I want the magazine to capture a sense of atmosphere and energy that is experienced through the photographs. From a minimal approach to way the layout design was taking shape I have decided to try and express this sense of atmosphere through full bleed spreads and larger images.

Development for the front cover took a different route and was a bit more straight forward. The things I had to include was the name of the magazine "It's a London Thing" which came from an old skool garage track by Scott Garcia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N99xeRXItyI, which i felt summed up the nature of the magazine. The main focus on the design was coming up the right image that would attract attention as well as giving an indication on the magazine content.