Page 5

www.roehamptonstudent.com

NUS NewsA round up from the national voice for students.

NUS joins forces to rally for young peopleNUS and UCU will be joining the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to organise a mass protest and rally in Manchester on Saturday 29th January, A Future that Works: National Rally for Young People.

The protest will act to highlight youth issues, including access to education, the scrapping of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) and youth unemployment. Manchester has both the largest further education college (Manchester College) and higher education institution (University of Manchester) in the country, and sits in a region in the UK with the highest rate of youth unemployment. It is important to ensure that not all our activity is based in London, and so staging a national action in a region with such high levels of youth unemployment, jointly alongside the TUC and UCU is a positive and constructive development at this time. Aaron Porter, NUS National President will join trade union leaders to speak on behalf of NUS.

NUS will also be mobilising for the TUC National Demonstration on Saturday 26 March, which will be taking place in Hyde Park in central London.

NUS President Aaron Porter said: Mobilising for both these mass protests and rallies will act to both highlight and build upon the widespread popular opposition to the cuts agenda. The savage cuts to the further and higher education sectors, the tripling of tuition fees and the move towards a market-based approach within our universities and colleges are all widely recognised to be profoundly unfair, unsustainable and badly thought out. And, what is worst, this is all against a backdrop of staggeringly high levels of youth unemployment.

It is now more important than ever that we stand together to strongly make the argument for investing in our young people, and in our future. Despite the obvious challenges we face, I remain confident that together, we can win.

Sneaking out cut in teaching funding shows government policy is incoherantThe Governments decision to sneak out the announcement about levels of university teaching grants immediately before Christmas demonstrates that they know their plans are incoherent and are hoping that no-one will notice.

When last years letter about teaching grants was released immediately before Christmas, Universities Minister David Willetts MP, then Shadow Education and Skills Secretary, accused the government of hoping to smuggle this announcement out at Christmas when no-one will notice.

The statement also reserves the fines, criticised by Willetts last year, for universities

that over-recruit meaning that it is likely that we will see a repeat of the 2010 chaos as hundreds of thousands of qualified applicants missed out on university places.The announcement means that University budgets are being slashed for successive years leaving students with a poorer experience and risking staff jobs.

Aaron Porter, NUS President, said: Last year David Willetts was right to attack the Government for sneaking out an announcement that affected the lives of thousands of people studying and working in universities but his decision to try the same trick, with the same policies, this year is further proof that students are being treated with contempt by every corner of this Government.

These fines will see hundreds of thousands of highly qualified students, who we should be investing in to secure our economic recovery, missing out on places and being left between a hostile jobs market and tripled tuition fees if they dare to reapply.

Students and their families are not prepared or willing to pay more for less, yet these cuts will in combination with a tripling of fees look set to damage the student experience. University heads must make sure that that experience is protected by cutting costs without cutting contact time or staff/student ratios.

Students unite to save the EMAThousands of students took part in protests, stunts, petitions and written to their MPs to show their anger and raise awareness of the consequences of scrapping of the EMA.

The proposals, put forward by the coalition Government, would get rid of the 564 million of funding the initiative provides each year - a lifeline for 635,000 young people in further education. The save the EMA campaign caused a stir on Twitter, where it was the second most talked about subject on the social networking site, with thousands of people tweeting reasons why the EMA should be saved.

Students from Warrington Collegate, where 61 per cent of students are dependent on EMA, showed their local MPs just what EMA means to them by giving them their socks. The stunt demonstrated how the Government is taking everything away from young people. Education is a human right and not a privilege for the rich said Alistair Worrall a BTEC sports student from Warrington Collegiate. While another student, Amie Colligan, says she will suffer severely from the proposals. Amie said: 30 a week is hardly enough to get me to college already, losing this will mean I have no choice but to find a job and forget about going to university.

Vice President Further Education Shane Chowen said: There is significant momentum growing across not just the FE sector, but also the wider educational community, that scrapping EMA is a massive mistake. Now is the time that the Government listens to those who know best in this instance, college principals, student representatives and indeed students themselves.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Collection or delivery. Please mention off er when ordering. Not valid with any other off ers. Valid at participating stores only. Not available online at www.dominos.co.uk. Limited delivery area designed with safety in mind. Off er is subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice.

Proof of student I.D. will be needed. For a full explanation of Dominos Family, please see our privacy policy at www.dominos.co.uk

huge student savings

TXTTo receive off ers from the Dominos Family direct to your mobile, text the word PIZZA & your postcode to 60606. Text is charged at standard network rate.

To order call (020)

Opening hours: 11am - Late 7 days a week

8878 56 56EAST SHEEN, 188 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14

dominos.co.uk

Fresh Newspaper

Page 10

UNIVERSITY STUFF...Moving Off CampusNow we are in the new year it is the time for some people

to start thinking about the next academic year and

moving off-campus, and there are a number of things

which need to be taken into consideration.

For many people this is the first time that they will be living

completely independently and have not been through this process

before, so below is a guide to help make this as simple and easy as

possible.

When moving off campus there are a number of different

things that you need to consider:

Finding a trusted and respectable Landlord and suitable

property

Signing a tenancy agreement

Paying a deposit

Budgeting for moving in

Budgeting for the year ahead

Paying bills

Insurance

Living in the local community

Knowing who to talk to if you have any issues or concerns

when living off campus

Student PadStudent Pad is the best way to find property off-campus. All

landlords and properties that are advertised have been approved

by Roehampton University and have met a number of University

set requirements. Not only is there a search engine facility to

look for properties under your chosen criteria, there is also useful

information, including terminology and general help and advice.

This is the recommended way to find a property off-campus

ww.roehampton.ac.uk/admissions/accommodation/offcampus/

index.html

Being a TenantThere are a number of things which need to be taken into

consideration when becoming a tenant.You now have a number of

responsibilities, such as paying rent each month on time, paying

bills (water, gas, electricity and TV license), sorting out council tax

exemption forms and keeping the property and local area tidy and

respectable. By moving off campus you are moving into the local

community, and you need to make sure that you take other people

living in the area into consideration. Noise is one the biggest issues

that tends to occur every year. It is important to make sure that you

take all neighbours into consideration when living off-campus. This

needs to apply to a whole range of things, such as any house parties,

general noise (TV and music playing late etc) and coming back from

events. Students do make up a large portion of the local community,

however there are a number of other residents who range in age

who will not appreciate being woke up in the early hours of the

morning. These noise issues do get reported back to the University

and to Wandsworth Council and can have serious repercussions.

Please be Noise Aware!! NB. Remember to print out your council tax

exemption forms and send them off to Wandsworth Council. These

can be printed off of your student profile on MyZone. It is important

that you do this asap once you have moved into the property

otherwise the Council will be expecting you to pay Council Tax and if

they do not receive this they may take legal action.

BudgetingBudgeting is an important part

of living independently, not only

once you have moved in, but

when you are in the process of

moving in. As with anywhere

you will be living you will be

required to pay a holding deposit

on the property which you will

be asked to put down as soon

as you have chosen a property

you want to live in. When you

move in you will be required

to pay one months rent + the

equivalent of another months

rent (minus the holding deposit

amount). This additional money

is the full deposit that you pay

on the property, which providing

the property is left in a good

state and all rent has been paid,

will be paid back fully at the end

of your tenancy. This deposit is

variable depending on landlords.

When you live on-campus you are asked to pay your accommodation

fees at the beginning of each semester (timed with your loans),

however living off campus means that you will be required to pay

your rent on a specified date each month. This is something that

you need to budget for with your loan, so you need to make sure

that you have enough to last until your next loan instalment. Bills

are also something that need to be taken into consideration. You

will be required to pay bills for gas, electricity, water and TV license.

(depending on the property gas and electricity may be on a pay-

as-you-go top-up meter or a quarterly bill which is sent through,

though your landlord will go through this with you when you move

into the property, and your tenancy agreement will state which bills

you are responsible for). When living off campus you may decide to

get extra things (which are not a necessity) such as broadband and a

landline phone, so make sure that you have budgeted for this extra

expense.

The best thing to do is to use a Forward Planning budget planner

from the Money Doctors. This gives practical steps in how to

time and money manage finding a property to live in for the next

academic year. You can pick up copies of this from Becky Aston

(based in RSU). To contact the Money Doctor, Nicky Reid, please

email moneydoecotrs@roehampton.ac.uk or call 0208 392 3199

InsuranceIt is important to make sure that you have insurance, whether you

live on or off-campus. When you live in halls of residence you do

have basic block insurance, though this does not cover everything

that you own, and a further insurance policy should be taken out to

make sure that items such as laptops, phones and iPods are covered

in case they go missing or get damaged. When you live off-campus

you have no insurance cover, so it is important that you take out a

policy, which again protects your contents in case of theft or damage.

As well as offering insurance on your property, Endsleigh also offer

a number of other policies, such as key cover. This policy means

that if you get locked outside your house and you need to call out a

locksmith to get back into the property Endsleigh will cover this cost

for you. Endsleigh are a student friendly insurance company, and

offer competitive rates of insurance, and are recommended by RSU

and NUS. For more information on Endsleigh, and their policies and

prices please go to www.endsleigh.co.uk

Crime Prevention and Personal SafetyCrime Prevention as with living anywhere you need to make sure

you keep the property safe and secure. It is important to make

sure that windows and doors are not left

open and that nothing valuable is left out

on display as this may make you a target

for thieves. As students you are a target

group for thieves as they know that you will

most likely have expensive things such as

laptops and iPods in your possession. It is

important then when items of value such

as this are not being used that they are put

away properly and are property marked.

The PCSOS are on-campus regularly and

can be found to help you with property

marking, as well as give you guidance

if you may have any concerns. Personal

Safety - at all times you need to be aware

of your personal safety whether you live

on or off campus. This can be done by

taking a few simple precautions, such as

not walking about on your own at night,

not engaging with people that you dont

know or recognise, not having items such as

laptops and iPods visible on your persons

and letting your flat mates know about your

whereabouts (where you have gone, when

you should be coming back etc.) All of these

are common sense, but are important to

remember.

Please remember that the PCSOs are able to give advice and support

to anyone who has any concerns relating to crime and personal

safety. Please go to www.roehamptonstudent.com for contact

information for the PCSO team, as well as dates that they will be on

campus.

Welfare and Contact InformationVP Welfare and Community (RSU) Becky AstonExt 3736Email becky.aston@roehampton.ac.uk

Off Campus Accommodation Officer Maxina PattisonExt 4451Email maxina.pattison@roehampton.ac.uk

Digby Stuart College SWO Will CooperExt - 3204Email w.cooper@roehampton.ac.uk

Froebel College SWO Anne-Marie JoyesExt 3304Email a.joyes@roehampton.ac.uk

Southlands College SWO Belinda StottExt 3402Email b.stott@roehampton.ac.uk

Whitelands College SWO Ejiro EjohExt 3502

Email e.ejoh@roehampton.ac.uk

If you have any questions about moving off campus, or are having

difficulties with this, then please do not hesitate in getting in contact.

Becky Aston

Student Pad is the best way to find property off-campus because all landlords/properties have been approved by Roehampton University

Page 11

www.roehamptonstudent.com

The National Student Survey or NSS is conducted by an independent company Ipsos MORI and is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HE and FCE) and has been running since 2005.

The idea behind the survey is that all final year undergraduate students across the country are asked a series of 22 questions on the service that they received at their respective University or Further Education College. Questions range from teaching and assessment to learning resources and more personal development.

The results are then put into a league table, pitting institutions against each other. This table is open to anyones eyes, meaning that press, lecturers, politicians and more importantly, prospective students can see where we are placed.

An important point about the NSS is that it is not run by the University themselves, but the government. In the past, those who have not filled out the survey have been subject to follow up phone calls and emails asking them to complete it. So please bear in mind that its not the University or the RSU behind this.

Our advice remains the same, get it done ASAP! As someone leaving the University, it is a great method to feed back to the University on what you did and didnt enjoy about your experience. In the past it has prompted the University to change its ways and to improve facilities and services. Therefore, the NSS is an effective way of provoking change within Roehampton University and with a bigger and better Summer Ball, there is no greater incentive to complete the survey, and to shout about it to al of your friends, flat mates, and course-mates.

So, what is the NSS?

Changes prompted by the NSS in the past:- Opening of Wired cyber caf - Opening of RoeActive fitness at a cost of over 300,000- Range of new facilities created including the MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) at a cost of over 140,000- 100% of student bedrooms in halls now fully networked.

- Welcome Centre created.- Extension of catering hours to make life easier for postgraduate, PGCE and part- time students. - Now 365 open access computers available across campus.

VOLUNTEERING AND WORK EXPERIENCE FAIR 2011

Q Find out why volunteering is good for youQ Meet local organisations who are recruiting volunteersQ Advice to help you get a volunteering position

Workshops on the day includeQ Tailoring your CV to gain volunteering

experienceQ Volunteering matters!

ALL STUDENTS WELCOME!TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2011, 11.30AM2.30PM ADAM AND TERRACE ROOMS, FROEBEL COLLEGE

For full details and to book your place contact Julie Powell on j.powell@roehampton.ac.uk or 020 8392 3573

www.roehampton.ac.uk/careersNational Student Volunteering Week

Fresh Newspaper

Page 14

FLYING HOME FOR XMAS...Travel Misery for International students as viewed on FacebookWe had heavy snow mid-December and once again the UK airports freaked out. Transport died and children laughed. Students thought theyd be enjoying it too but cancelled and delayed flights were a real kill-joy especially for international students returning home. While most of us were worried that our 20 train ticket, taking us home, would be delayed there were others that were not sure their 400 (or more) plane ticket would get them home by Christmas! With a third of all flights grounded at Heathrow for several days Roehamptons international students faced a tense wait.

Every Facebook status at the time seemed to be a day-by-day update on either weather conditions, flight cancellations or the miracle story of getting home. A successful journey home would unfold on Facebook like this: Lots of prayers and crossed fingers for my flight home tomorrow! Then a day or two later: After a long journey: bus, tube, and 11 plus hour flight (which was a little delayed) I am finally home safe and sound :). Thats nice but what about the more unsuccessful travellers? What about the failed journeys that are actually interesting to read about? Stuck in London. Forever. is how the updates began, while another one simply read: Cancelled. In terms of unlucky travellers I didnt see a worse update than this: Im FINALLY back home :D ..after two cancelled flights, more than 24hrs at the airport and then having to switch airport! What a mission.... I am not writing this from a distance while pitying all those who were unlucky enough to have slept in an airport over Christmas. Instead, 48 hours after the snow came relentlessly, it was me trudging through Heathrow equally worried that my Christmas plans were about to fall flat. I saw the sleeping stranded, no beds; just Terminal 1 as their private shelter. Sleep, though, must be at a minimum when your bedroom is shared with thousands of travellers, many sleep deprived and all completely hell bent on leaving the country. I was a lucky one and able to fly out the same day my flight was scheduled and though it was a little delayed

I at least didnt spend the night curled up on the highly polished Terminal 1 floor. I think most people did make it out by Christmas Day but having seen those that had gone through such Christmas misery you realise its not much fun. To all students that complained when their 20 train was marginally delayed by the snow- shame on you. To the international students that spent more than their fair share in an airport terminal- I salute you.

Jack Bentley

Keep calm and carry on snowing.Not being from London makes going home interesting. It involves two buses, the Picadilly line, two airports and a lift from a parent. Thats my standard journey back to Belfast and I had hoped that going home for Christmas this year would be no different. I had booked my flight for the 20th and told mum I would be home on the 22nd, my dad and I were planning to surprise her and we did just that.

In the week leading up to the 20th BA cancelled flights and there was lots on the news about people being stranded, I however was drinking four bottles of wine with Stephen and making snow angels in Froebel. I turned up at Heathrow and waited in the queue of Irish trying to get home. I met Aisling going to Shannon, (thats in Limerick for you Brits) and Andrea going to Belfast, between us we queued for four hours taking it in turns to run to the loo or scavenge whatever remained on the food shelves at Boots. We were told four times that our flights were scheduled, all the while I grew steadily more concerned I would end up stealing the space of that poor sod over there under the christmas tree on the green mat.

Finally at 8pm we were told our flights were cancelled and what ensued was a human stampede. I grabbed a space in a corner, ripped out my laptop and rang my dad. We booked a ticket to Stranraer from Euston and a ferry to Belfast, the grand total? 225. I later found out I had been had, I could

have gotten the whole thing for 46 from Stenaline if I had of known. I realized that with my train leaving at 5:39am I wouldnt have enough time to go home to my nice warm bed and back to Euston as the tubes would be closed. So I spent the night in Kings Cross station with Crystal Ann and her husband Mohammad. As well as 13,000 Euro Star passengers.

I got to Kings Cross, bought Nandos and I am afraid to say I nicked a knife and fork from them as there werent any plastic and I was too tired to ask. Shoot me. I sat cross legged on the floor eating chicken and counting down the hours till 5am when the coffee shops opened again. I was quite happy until I realized how quickly the temperature was dropping.

Kings Cross is the only station to leave all its doors open 24/7, I never did find out why. But luckily the Red Cross came over and offered us blankets. If youre like me then the closest youve ever come to a charity donation is a Trocaire pen or the bucket at the till.

I have never loved an inanimate object more in my life. I wore that blanket for 16 hours straight. I was wrapped in it at 5:45 on the platform waiting for the delayed train, I wore it on the bus from Ayr to Stranraer, and I was wrapped in it when I walked out of the ferry terminal towards my dad who was in stitches at the sight of me. I even tweeted my gratitude to the British Red Cross on twitter who replied hoping I got home safe. Aww. The virgin train was delayed getting into Glasgow and the only advice we were given was to run and catch the train to Ayr. I hope no-one reading this has ever been to Ayr, you would remember it, imagine 15th century Scotland and youre close. We were then all provided with a bus to take us to Stranraer where we waited for an hour (in the cold) for them to open check in. All I know is that when we finally got on the ferry at 5:30pm I got fish and chips and a bottle of Magners and fell asleep on a sofa somewhere. Best thing that had happened to me (apart from the blanket) in over 24 hours.

When I was finally delivered to the other side my dad was in tears of laughter at my sorry state, I bundled myself in the car and we drove home in the fog with a dirty window and frozen wind screen wipers. When we finally got to Banbridge we parked in the spar and dad and I donned wellingtons and dragged my suitcase up the ridiculously steep hill to my house. My mums face was a picture, Ive never seen her so shocked. I stood at the front window and just waved, then she came running to the front door in tears and hugged my dad. I mean, come on. Then she grabbed me and continued to cry. I put the kettle on. I was finally home for Christmas.

Becca Newton

Two buses, the Picadilly line, two airports and a lift from a parent. Thats my standard journey back to Belfast

Page 15

www.roehamptonstudent.com

Snowhampton: the best photos, taken by you.

Photos: Jonathan Carter, Laura-Liz Partoon & Gloria Gaspard.

To order call (020) 8878 56 56

* From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings. Double Decadence and Dominator bases are charged as extra. Not valid with any other off er. Please mention off er when ordering. Valid for a limited time only and at participating stores. Subject to availability.

COLLECTION OR DELIVERY

)&&.#)(),,3

Every Tuesday

* At regular menu price. Only valid with medium or large pizzas. ** Free pizza must be of equal or lesser value than the regular priced pizza. Double Decadence and

Dominator bases are charged as extra. Valid on Tuesdays only. Not valid

with any other off er. Please mention off er when ordering. Valid for a limited time only and at participating stores. Subject to availability.

To order call (020) 8878 56 56

Fresh Newspaper

Page 20

CAMPAIGNSGearing to Go Greener!Hey everyone,Us lot up at RSU Towers are psyched for the upcoming Go Green Week in Febuary. Weve got so much planned; were going to blow last years GGW out of the water! Check out whats going to be happening!

Meat Free MondayTry being veggie for the day! With the college canteens serving green-goodness all day, and us signing you up to our part-time carnivore group, you can pick between 6 options of reducing the amount of meat you eat. You can sign up at http://roehampton.parttimecarnivore.org to get a kick start on things. Well also be sorting out cheap, tasty and green recipes for you to give a go too!

Tunes-DayMusic and culture galore, our very own Union Bar with be hosting a live music night featuring artist MIDI and a load of others. Drinks offers will be on especially for you all and is set to be an amazing night! Keep an eye open for posters around the uni.

Spirituality WednesdayA chilled out day of talks by Green Peace and our very own green-team!

Transport ThurrrrsdayRoehampton BUG will be hosting a Critical Mass Bike ride for us a perfect excuse to get on your fancy dress and toddle around the uni and our beautiful Richmond Park on a bike! This was really popular last year and so much fun, come! Well also be chatting about ways that you can cut down on the amount of petrol you use and the greenest way on travelling everywhere.

Energy and Recycling Day of ActionTo celebrate the Energy and Recycling Day of Action, the fashion society will be hosting workshops to redesign you old clothes, and to make those things at the back of your wardrobe look amazing! Well also be having a Top-Shop Swap-Shop style jumble sale for anything you dont want anymore and a Do The Green Thing photography contest!

Keep an eye open for the details of our Can Film Festival too bring a can to recycle instead of paying to watch an awesome movie!

Well also be hosting a Can Film Festival - bring a used can for us to recycle in exchange to watch a film for free! Keep an eye open for details!

So excited!Fern, Jesse and the Green Team!

R.A.G. Week: The shortlisted charities and how to voteHello, R.A.G. Week 2011 is coming up quick and fast, and Im very excited about what weve got planned for you lovely lot!

Firstly a bit about RAG, it stands for raising and giving and R.A.G. Week has been a long running tradition in Roehampton and every year it gets bigger and better. The deal is we give you amazing events and activities and you give us (or the chosen charities) your lovely hard earned cash in return! Its all for a good cause and it helps three amazing charities.

During Refreshers week we will have a voting system in place allowing you beauts to pick the charities you want. This is very easy to do, simply visit www.roehamptonstudent.com (or theres a clever little link on the studentzone page) and choose away! No hassle! The other way you can vote is at the National Student Survey stall in The Union where there will be a ballot box and paper with the charities to put your magic little tick next to, and youre all done!

There are three catgories and two in which to vote for. The shortlisted charities are:

International:The Childrens Trust, Right To Play, UNICEF

National:Broadway, Broken Rainbow, CAFOD, Celia Cross Greyhound Trust, C.L.I.C Sargent, Crisis, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Debra, Guide Dogs, MENCAP, Meningitis Trust, MIND, Noahs Ark, NSPCC, P.E.C, Seva Mandir, Young Carers, White Ribbon Campaign.

Local (no voting): Regenerate

Ill give you a cheeky little teaser as to what to expect in RAG week, just to tantalise your taste-buds with the sweet taste of charity! Firstly, we have a brilliant ribbon campaign to show your support, so look out for noisy (but friendly) volunteers with buckets and orange ribbons. Next we have daytime events for everyone to get involved in, and maybe even a naughty bit of Krispy Kreme action will grace the university one day

And of course we have the nighttimes events- FEZ is going to be a cracker with a brand new theme- GRANNIES! Granny pants at the ready and a load of talc powder in your Barnet and your on to a winner! Then theres acoustic night, with your lovely student union sabbatical team up for grabs for a night out on the town- have your money at the ready, because Alex Murray is going for big bucks! To polish off this charity filled week, is a beautiful R.A.G. Ball, so dust down your finest wear and prepare for a R.A.G. Ball with an exciting little blow up package inside!

Looking forward to seeing you at all of these events and dont forget to vote for the charities in Refreshers Week! Happy New Year fellow studentsAgnetha (your RAG officer)

P.S if you want to boost your CV, get involved in volunteering during the week just email me at addisona@roehampton.ac.uk

Fresh Newspaper

Page 24

I.............ts 2011, so which musical acts do we expect to become ..... successful this year? Yes, this is yet another Tips for 2011 post, but, quite frankly, I dont care; I love trying to predict the future of music. Heres who some of our writers think will become huge this year:

Eugenie Johnson predicts great things for...

James Blake Blake may have lost out, predictably, to Jessie J for the Brit Critics Choice Award but hell still be making waves in 2011 with his unique way of sampling, singing and producing pretty haunting, yet brilliant tunes. CYMK was a slow-burning explosion of beats and sub-woofing that wouldnt have been out of place alongside Joy Orbison and Magnetic Man and Limit To Your Love put an entirely new spin on Feists original with a soulful piano and slicing slow beat that makes listening to it both amazing and unnerving at the same time.

Niki And TheDoveIts a shame that with all the awe-inspiring music that Niki put out in 2010, she still hasnt found a record deal. Still, a small buzz is forming around the Swede which can only lead down the road of success. Her work does sound a little DIY for electro-pop but theres enough darkness embedded in it and her voice is typically enigmatic. Recent song, Mother Protect, was filled with jungle rhythms, beats and an element of mystery. In these times of auto-tune and transatlantic voices, its just nice to be able to find someone like Niki who is at ease with their unique voice and can construct a soaring tune to go around it.

The Naked & FamousSome might say that their blend of shoegaze guitars and synth-pop elements is just a rip-off of MGMT in their 2008 heyday but after repeated listens the true glory of this five-piece from Auckland really starts to shine through. They stand out well amidst the wave of Brooklyn bands that weve been awash with and have some killer tunes to back up the hype; Bells even sounds like a Bjrk song with some big beats behind it. If you were seriously disappointed by the posturing of Congratulations after the brilliance of Oracular Spectacular then youll be very pleasantly surprised by The Naked & Famous.

Katie Wilkinson predicts success for...

Bear DriverI watched them play a gig at The Bull & Gate in Kentish Town a couple of weeks ago and can indeed confirm that they are the future of indie pop with their sharp, yet light and pleasant melodies. Their music is just so beautifully ear-pleasing and could never fail to put you in a great mood; their music is just so uplifting its difficult not to like it.

Summer CampWith the album release next year and a heavy tour schedule planned, they will achieve mass recognition in 2011, for sure. Theyve already played all of the 2010 summer festivals and supported Local Natives and Slow Club. Their music is romantic 80s tinged pop at its best. Ex- Platform Magazine Editor, Elizabeth Sankey, and Ex-solo artist, Jeremy Warmsley certainly make an excellent team as their voices complement each other so well. I predict a lot of success for them in 2011.

Too Young To LoveHailing from Madrid, Spain; Id say that this band is a more diverse choice. Their music is a mlange of witch house, indie, shoe gaze and classic pop. Thus, giving them the sound of The Big Pink, mixed with These New Puritans, mixed with Fever Rey, mixed with Hurts; whom theyll be supporting on their Italian tour next year.

MUSIC Tips for 2011

Page 25

www.roehamptonstudent.com

Alex Yau plots critical acclaim for...

WarpaintThe Fool was a showcase of celestial psychedelia that was entrancing and blissful. Not necessarily a bad thing, Warpaint had a delicate frailty behind the vocals but the combination of enveloping rhythms, malignant melodies and explosive epiphanies created a visceral and exciting experience.

Chapel ClubChapel Club manage to evoke ecstasy through their sonic guitar sweeps whilst their heavy, polarising bass lines point to darker designs. Their sound is one that rings and resonates through your head like an alarm. The album is set for release next year and I imagine it will be pretty spectacular.

Beach HouseThis band has the ability to transport you to a tranquil paradise that you cant help get lost in. Its a world in a strong reverberant state and you cant help but lay down, close your eyes and let everything go.

Sam Kirby went close to home...

Redtrack hail from my hometown of sunny Southend and already have a lot of credibility in the music scene. They played last years Reading & Leeds festivals, have supported The Buzzcocks and released their debut album Whole Towns Heart in September last year. They have been a band that I have known since I was sixteen and ive seen band members come and go, and even after a large number of years as a three-piece they are now a well established four-piece with the inclusion of an occasional keyboardist.

They started out as a bit of an adventure in slippers, by this I mean that they were great fun but never seemed to venture too far into musical genres or, to brutally say it, had much depth, but the more they settled as a band and the more popular they became through out the country this soon changed and the additional guitarist has pushed them heavily along the way. Singer and songwriter Billy Wright tells stories charmingly to a quirky indie-punk sound about girls, drinks, and niuickly gave them a fan base that would follow them to every gig without fail. I think soon, you could too,theyll be causing a right old mischief in the year to come. Go to:

and Ben Mercer says itll be all about these guys in 2011...

OberhoferOberhofer is the brain storm of Brad Oberhofer. His songs stylistically doth their cap to the likes of The Dodos and in them display an emotional honesty, his voice roar, creaking with a kind of nervousness. They still pack a man-size portion of punch though, shrieks and oOOoOs propel their way through the tracks creating some great hooks. He put out a bedroom produced EP all by himself earlier this year and hes currently still unsigned. But he has a lot of hearts on hype machine and is heading out on a supporting tour with TapesnTapes in the America, so a deal is inevitable really. www.myspace.com/oberhofermusic

Funeral SuitsNo, not Funeral Party Funeral Suits; an Ireland-based 3 piece quietly beavering away making delicious lo-fi indie grunge. Delicious tracks like Colour Fader: smashed up samples echo in a plodding beat, guitars swirl in reverb, the vocal hook repeats with gusto and all build to an emotive yet stripped-back climax. The hypnotic pace is deceptively addictive, once the songs left you it lingers in the system for some time. They are working on an album that will drop sometime this year, their up for a brief American excursion soon, which will of course include SXSW. I like them. You should like them too.www.myspace.com/thefuneralsuits

Gobble GobbleGobble Gobble are an indie/borderline psychedelic outfit from Toronto, Canada. They are a fun band that makes fun music; its disgustingly upbeat in fact. They appear to write songs high on a sugar induced rush which is then sent though a blender of electronic mess, to produce an oddly addictive mulch of melody and beats. Want some other bands that they sound like? Okay, one of my bestest tracks of 2010, Lawn Knives combines elements of MGMT, Penguin Prison and, to an extent, the cut up stylings of Four Tet. Their live shows look like buckets of fun too, so naturally, I implore them once again to come to England and play some music. www.myspace.com/leatherjowels

www.redtrack.co.uk to hear more.

Redtrack