December is... Creativity over Consuming
This month we reflect on inspiring moments throughout the year, the importance of creating, not just consuming and chat to our guest Goldie Mutta about how confidence (even fake confidence) is key!
This year has really struck me as one of growth, both on a personal level and when looking at the industry. On a personal level, it’s the year where I chose to quit my 9-5 and pursue being a full time makeup artist after 5 years of juggling both. It’s had its difficulties, but when I compare myself to where I was last year I’m so grateful and I have seen so much growth in my abilities and confidence.
At the start of the year, I would spiral before most jobs, convincing myself something would go wrong, but then I’d be pleasantly surprised that almost everyone in this industry is kind, collaborative, and wants to support one another. Now I feel assured and excited when a new job pops up and that is a very freeing feeling.
That sense of freedom - to trust yourself - is what I want to highlight this month by walking us through the year and sharing moments where makeup, art, and fashion showed up in unexpected ways in unexpected places and in the best way possible.
.January - Pat McGrath Maison Margiela.
Pat McGrath had the entire makeup industry in a chokehold, we were all desperate to know how the beautiful glass skin was created on her models. With micro trends currently ruling the world, it's so rare to see an entire industry united in appreciation for a specific design. Pat McGrath managed to create something so undeniably captivating that it transcended the globe with people recreating it everywhere.
February - Charlotte Tilbury Sponsor F1 Academy.
Charlotte Tilbury starting their sponsorship of F1 Academy is huge! Not only is it a famously a male dominated sport regarding coverage, but also one that has sponsors which all come from companies run by male CEOs - until now! I think it's great to see a makeup brand stepping outside the box of where they would normally choose to advertise and hope to see more brands branching out this way.
March - FKA Twigs’ Skullet.
FKA Twigs and her team have been working overtime this year when it comes to creating showstopping looks, the star for me being her ‘skullet’ hairstyle. FKA Twigs’ hair stylist says the idea initially arose when looking at ‘70s images of children from north-east Africa, with shaved fronts and upward braids’, as well as drawing from Twigs’ heritage, and with styles seen in Ancient Egyptian sculptures. I think it's brilliant to see an artist separate themselves from the general western beauty standards to embrace a look that is, as stated by Dazed: “The ultimate creative-meets-confrontational look”. Twigs’ presenting themselves as a piece of art in a way that feels incredibly personal and self-assured.
April - Henrique Martins for Vogue Brazil.
I believe this may be the look that inspired the recent cracked doll trend; I think it's gorgeous and everything I love about makeup. It tells a story and uses unconventional textures combined with traditional beauty makeup to create something that is equally familiar and unrecognisable, like a dream rooted in reality with sprinkles of the fantastical.
May - Julia Fox premieres her show ‘OMG Fashun’.
Similarly to FKA Twigs, I really adore how Julia Fox presents herself as a piece or concept of art. It seems she doesn't care about looking ‘beautiful’, she cares about looking ‘interesting’. This separation from self is fascinating in a society where we pour so much thought and energy into how we are perceived. It's very freeing to see someone who actively chooses to be perceived differently every day and is constantly searching for ways to evoke emotion, whether it be through outrage or intrigue through their image.
June - Taylor Swift ‘Eras tour’.
I live in the UK and in June the ‘Eras Tour’ came to town and boy, did it bring me so much joy seeing train carriages full of people dolled up head to toe in sequins, red lips blazing, bangs flying! Seeing the joy and impact someone can have and its ability to unite strangers is amazing. Taylor’s evolution as an artist is really intrinsic to the costuming of the show and I love how a purple dress speaks to an entire album, or how a pair of glasses instantly throws the chorus of ‘You Belong With Me’ into your head.
July - Chappell Roan Liberty Makeup.
There have been many amazing looks from Chappell Roan this year, but this was my personal favourite. Not only is it executed beautifully, it also feels so symbolic. Whether Roan intended to create a political statement I don’t know, but to me, seeing a queer woman embodying the Statue of Liberty at a time when many women and queer people in America specifically see their liberty being threatened is incredibly poignant .
August - Nails at the Olympics.
Did I watch much of the Olympics (aside from clips of Snoop Dogg lifting weights and meeting horses) …no. But have I forgotten the iconic nails of its athletes… absolutely not. I love seeing athletes who are often encouraged to present a ‘strong’ appearance embracing something that is widely considered ‘feminine’ and showing that the two needn’t interfere or affect one another. I can be the fastest, strongest runner with the longest, brightest nails.
September - Colin Farrell’s transformation into The Penguin.
Many didn't even recognise Colin Farrell beneath the incredible prosthetics designed for his portrayal of the legendary Batman villain. Not only is the show phenomenal, but it truly is a testament to the ambition and skill of the prosthetics team; not only is his face transformed, but also his entire body head to toe, and in such detail. The Lead Makeup Artist - Mike Marino - is the creator of Heidi Klum's Halloween transformations and Sebastian Stan's prosthetics for ‘A Different Man’. Here he goes into detail about the entire process for ‘The Penguin.’
October - Halloween Prosthetics.
Halloween is a makeup artist's Christmas and I love seeing what looks people pull out. My favourite celebrity look this year was Amelia Dimoldenberg’s rendition of ‘Roz’ from Monsters Inc. Not only is the look hilarious, but it's also so well done, if Monsters Inc was ever to follow the live action trend they’d better call up Makeup Artist Georgia Olive and Costume Designer Ellie Walker who absolutely nailed this!
November - Pamela Anderson wears no makeup at premiere.
This year Pamela Anderson has spoken very publicly about stepping away from the full glam makeup many associate her with and in consequence, stepping away from the pressure to present that version of herself when it ‘no longer makes sense’. After having her looks be used as a tool of manipulation and judgement throughout her career, this seems to be one of Anderson's ways of breaking the cycle. She seems to have found a way of presenting herself that feels authentic, much like how FKA Twigs has found her authenticity, but in this case it’s on the opposite end of the spectrum.
December - Doechii on Colbert
Admittedly I hadn’t kept up with Doechii, a hip hop artist who is set to perhaps sweep the Grammys, but then suddenly their live performance on The Colbert Show popped up on my recommended. I watched a couple of seconds and saved it to watch later with my partner, who loves Hip Hop. The performance is a masterclass on how to take a simple concept and create something just out of this world. It features Doechii and two dancers all dressed identically with long interconnected braids performing extracts from her new album - the choreography is amazing and Doechii’s performance is something I really think will be looked back on again and again in years to come. Later that night she dropped her Tiny Desk Concert and I urge you all to listen to it. I promise you will leave feeling inspired and uplifted by the talent on display!
LIVING ROOM…
What I have been living for this month:
I’m already quite a crafty sentimental girl and that usually ramps up alot come the end of the year when we're all reflecting on memories. Martina Calvi’s Instagram is the perfect place to look for inspiration for scrapbooking projects and I highly recommend you follow her and join the beautiful community she’s created.
Currently I have joined the cult of the ‘Lost’ viewers. There is something so nostalgic about the show's format and it's great if you want something gripping and easy to get through with episodes being around 40 minutes.
Milatextiles creates beautifully beaded pieces of fashion that I am so desperate to wear, but know I could never pull off.
Solar is a natural hair sculpture and shares how she creates beautiful and whimsical designs on her hair. Her page is a celebration of afro hair and really showcases the versatility and creativity that can be had.
CATCH UP COFFEE…
An interview with Actress, Singer and Songwriter Goldie Mutta:
Welcome Goldie! You have so many different creative pursuits which make you a perfect guest for the newsletter, you are an actress, singer, and songwriter. Where did your love of performing come from?
Growing up I was really inspired by X-factor. I'd watch it every Saturday and then go and sing in my room for hours because I loved the show so much! I used to be very shy as a child and cling onto my mum, so from a young age she put me into loads of different clubs like drama and singing, where I developed my performing skills and also started to come out of my shell.
You said you were quite shy as a child, do you have a memory of the first time you performed without being nervous?
I joined a theatre company in Birmingham when I was 12 years old and we were doing a show. It was a twist on ‘Alice In Wonderland’ that was devised. I felt so shy! We would have to go around and show what we’d come up with for a character and I just couldn't do it in front of them. And one day I was like ‘I'm so tired of being shy I'm going to fake being confident until I actually am.’ I just pushed myself and that day the director of the show was like, ‘You're a totally different person - it's amazing!’ When I got that positive feedback I realised it's okay to be confident and that day really changed the trajectory of my confidence. So it's true what they say, fake it till you make it!
Do you think that’s a British thing, not wanting to come across as arrogant? And then having the reassurance that it's okay to be confident?
Yes I think it is. I do a lot of Meisner training and my teacher talks about how in society we are always people-pleasing and keep within our own space. Especially when you're at school. When you're a child at home you're free to do whatever you want, but when you go to school you are scared of people judging you so it's tempting to stay within your own shell.
You've been working on music and songwriting since you were seventeen, but have just recently started releasing music. How important was it for you to have the time to hone your craft?
I wanted to be prepared enough that when I begin putting things out there, collabing, and working with others, I’d be entirely confident. Being in a studio with other people can be quite daunting. I didn't want to have that imposter syndrome - I feel like we all have it, but I wanted to make sure I was over it enough that I didn't have writer's block. Now I’m confident enough in my writing skills that I can vibe with people and be comfortable enough to be as creative as possible. So it was about making sure I was safe and having those years of prior experience was very important to me.
I feel like now there is such a pressure to get somewhere fast…
I think it's a big thing within the industry, I've met so many people who are racing through when really we need to enjoy the journey as creatives. It’s the building blocks and the foundation of who you are, it's how you learn and improve. I love making mistakes because I know that I’ll learn and be stronger. It took me a long time to understand that mistakes are actually really beneficial because that's how you move onto the next level and also, you then know what you’d do differently if you're in that situation again. You can apply that to loads of different things
We worked closely on your music video for ‘Toxic Love’. You had very strong ideas for the visuals from the start. How important do you feel visuals are in the world of music?
When I was younger I remember going on Vevo (is Vevo still a thing?) when a new song came out to watch the music video and I’d be obsessed. I think the first artist I was really obsessed with was Taylor Swift, when she was in her country era. I used to love ‘Our song’, ‘Love story’, and ‘Picture to burn’. Growing up seeing those music videos, I now think it's so important to have visuals attached to the music, a lot of people will resonate with certain eras of an artist and it's great to be able to reminisce. When I go back and listen to things from 2010 I feel like I am there and remember how good life was back then!
This year has been a very busy one for you, you had your first TV appearance on a BBC Drama, dropped your first single, and just got back from filming in India, your home country. How was filming there?
I love India so much, we were in Mumbai and my family is from Pune, which is a big city nearby so whenever we go there we fly to Mumbai, but I've not really spent an extended amount of time in the city, so to be able to spend five days there was so amazing. It was also the first time I went without my mum, I went with friends and we were working and collaborating. Even though filming was full of long days and hard work, we had so much fun, we were able to see different sights and meet people from different countries.
Has your relationship to India changed as you’ve grown up?
I feel like my relationship has become a lot stronger, I now go there less because fitting that into my schedule can be so difficult. In my family I'm the youngest cousin and the only one to grow up outside of India, so everyone would treat me like a baby - some still do! Now I'm an adult and I'm able to be more independent. I just wish I could spend more time there in the future - I've already decided I want to have my own place in Mumbai! It is also so nice to come back to the UK, the roads are so much better, they have zebra crossings in India, but they just don't use them! I appreciate things like that in the UK, but on the other hand, in India I love that you can walk down the street and see beautiful jewellery in market stalls and also the food is so good, I love that you can get coconuts on the side of the road!
Do you have any ‘go to’ products?
Recently I've been really loving the ‘As I Am’ leave-in conditioner, my hair just soaks it up and the curls look really really good! With my type of curl pattern and porosity, if I use products that are too heavy it weighs down my curls, but if I use products that are too light then my hair ends up frizzy so it’s kind of about finding that balance. I also always have my trusty water bottle spray with me to refresh my hair.
Are there any goals you feel comfortable sharing and any lessons you learned this year?
Next year's big goal is to release loads more music and get my sound out there. I hope that my self-growth and discovery will continue the more I develop myself creatively. I want to experience and be present more, since Covid each year has been getting busier, which I love. I'm an Aquarius and we're very independent and like keeping busy - so that’s perfect for me!
Thank you Goldie for our lovely chat! To follow Goldie and keep up with their work checkout their Instagram and Music. If you have any requests or ideas for the type of artists and creatives you would love to hear from leave a comment - thank you for reading and I will see you next month. ♥︎