Girls can be horrible creatures. I would never normally show an ounce of sympathy towards the male species, but (and before you decide at this point that I am definitely a sad ugly feminist man hater, I’m not) I have to say that living in a world that is half populated by girls must be horrific. If not horrific, then baffling. Because girls behave in a way that only they understand and collectively partake in, even though it causes most of their problems.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
The Fairer Sex
Richard Cooper - Interview
At only 21 years of age, you would expect Richard Cooper to be full of himself, especially since those in the recording industry have a less than saintly reputation. On the contrary, Rich (as he is known to all) has kick started a career that most people his age can only dream of, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to him.
Cooper has now worked at British Grove Studios in Chiswick for nearly two and a half years, as a recording engineer. He modestly counts Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits fame) as his boss, and countless chart toppers as clients. But how did he achieve so much, so young?
“After my GCSEs, I moved to
Richard, originally from
“Ok, but not particularly inspiring. I did what I had to do, then left to persue recording.”
He was almost immediately offered a job at British Grove, after achieving a “degree type-thing” from engineering college. When I again bring up his age, and his thoughts on where he is, he states matter-of-factly:
“I think it’s a lot to do with just getting on with people and being relaxed and stuff, and having a good education – actually knowing what I’m doing.”
And, I add, knowing what you want to do and having the drive to do it?
“Yes, definitely. I have been drumming and recording since I can remember. I guess I’m lucky that I left school knowing where I was headed.”
And the highlights?
“I get paid pretty well, depending on who I’m working with. I loved the Razorlight sessions because they were here for six months and it was like working with friends; I got really involved. However, working with The Darkness was horrible because the producer was not the nicest person.”
Other artists who have walked through the doors of British Grove include The Killers, The Libertines, U2 and Kanye West. Cooper is clearly heading for the top of his profession, and when I ask where he wants to be in ten years time, he has a think before deciding he would like to be “in demand as an engineer, working with rock and pop bands, or just playing drums. I’m easy.” Indeed, he is an accomplished drummer, playing in the up and coming signed band Wall Street Riots (formally Death Can Dance) who we are sure to be hearing a lot more of in the future.
“We play loads of shows, have good management and just recorded with the same producer who worked with Supergrass, so it’s going really well.”
Krystle Gohel - Interview
The ‘lad’s mag’ industry is, to the outsider, a knot of male editors with an un-politically correct sense of humour, chasing after bleached blonde women with fake breasts - among other things. In reality, what’s found is a community of arguably the nicest and most down to earth people within the magazine world, one of whom I am lucky enough to meet today.
Krystle Gohel is a former Page3 girl (she has over thirty Page3 appearances under her belt) and current lads mag hottie-turned-make-up artist. She is, quite frankly, the total opposite of what I had in mind. Her chatty, friendly, quirky comments are delivered in a girly
“I started modeling half way through my degree in Fashion Marketing, then [after several course changes] changed to HND, finally completing it. I decided to do modeling full time, but was not satisfied after a few months of not using my brain, and went back to university!”
She went on to graduate in 2006, aged 23, with a degree in Media Design at
We meet at a halfway point, in the home of her model friend with whom she shared this very flat with during her early
A year ago, after struggling to know what to do with her life and unsure of the perfect career choice, Krystle decided to throw herself back into the magazine industry – but with a different goal: “I moved to London and got a full time job, which I hated, to cover my rent, and took evening courses for a diploma in make-up and hair.”
She has now settled in
Indeed, this business is all about helping each other out. The models, stylists, and photographers alike have such a sense of passion and frivolity in what they do which makes the glamour industry so inviting to so many girls. One independent men’s magazine, Front, commission Krystle as make-up artist in almost every photo shoot they organize. The photos are often shot by former Page3 girl-turned-photographer ZoĆ« McConnell, another close friend of Krystle’s. And you can bet your bottom dollar that the cover girl they are working with is a close acquaintance.
“I think my job is the best job. I love it! I am very lucky to meet the people I do and have the opportunity to work with creatives alike. It’s taken nearly 10 years and several university courses to get here, but I wouldn’t change a thing!”
After just under a year of working, Krystle can count herself as a regular contributor to Maxim and Front, among others. She recently worked for the Guinness World Records where she met the woman with the longest legs and the smallest man in the world, calling it “quite an eye opener!”
What makes her instantly likeable is her grounded attitude and youthful enthusiasm. She tells me that for all the girls in college training to become a part of the industry, very few are employed. This is because, quite simply, someone who is older, with experience in the same or similar field, will always get the work first and foremost. In this way she is glad that it took her so long to find a job which makes her happy.
“Every make-up job I do is my best achievement!” She suddenly becomes animated with enthusiasm, and her eyes sparkle. “It is so rewarding when you know that you put 110% into your work and everyone is pleased with the whole outcome.”
It is clear that she has indeed found her perfect career; one that suits her care-free, excitable, creative personality down to the ground. The only downside she can think of, after a wrinkle of her nose, is the fact that the weight of her make-up case and the
What else would I expect, then, when I ask her the obligatory where-in-five-years question? A sudden widening of the eyes, followed by the exclamation: “I want to be the best make-up artist in the WORLD!” seems to establish her point, and she springs off her seat to make us some more tea.