journalist & writer
By Sara Valle Tuesdays are for silver surfers at Five Bells pub in North London. Today, a white-haired lady walks with her cane, carrying a laptop on a black suitcase; an elderly man with dreads plays music sat at a table; and a blonde woman writes names on sticky tags. Free cups of steaming tea and coffee …
Continue reading "Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Inside the Heart of Five Bells Computer Club"
By Sara Valle Mary was confident enough to sit at the piano and bash up some chords. The words tumbled out of her – how scared she was and how she felt completely on her own. It was the first time she was able to articulate how she felt about being abused as a child. …
By Sara Valle Laura Silverstone had a dream that one day she would become a musician. Way before Simple Plan and Green Day posed on the posters plastered on her bedroom walls, she’d already learn to play the accordion. “Music in my day-to-day life is like drinking water, like eating. It’s the most essential part,” she …
Continue reading "Laura Silverstone’s new album, “Heartwood”: Harmony and Ambition"
By Sara Valle Taylor Swift is the devil. At least, tabloids seem to think she is. It doesn’t matter how and what she does, there’s always something to pinpoint for the clicks and the likes. She broke Ticketmaster, she’s caused seismic activity, and she pulled Lana del Rey to collect an award with her on …
Continue reading "Taylor Swift: Devil Incarnate or Scapegoat Extraordinaire?"
By Sara Valle At some point, almost all people have blasted Welcome to My Life in their room. Canadian band Simple Plan were arguably the kings of pop-punk in the noughties – and they haven’t retired. They jump on stage in their Chucks and Vans, tattooed head-to-toe, singing about being an outcast who’s not willing to …
By Sara Valle Petal Ashmole arrived in London during the Swinging Sixties. The Beatles were playing on the radio, women wore flowers in their hair, Carnaby Street boutiques were it, and women’s rights featured in everybody’s table talk. Ashmole came to the British capital having never travelled before, with a strong Australian accent that over the years has mellowed …
Continue reading "Retired Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet’s Petal Ashmole: Dancing Through Joy and Pain"
By Sara Valle There’re so many different reasons to enumerate to explain why book banning is wrong, that I don’t even know where to start. Mainly and quite plainly, knowledge is power. The advantage of having access to an education, to the written word, has made us more malleable and curious. We want to read …
By Sara Valle You’re not ugly, you’re just not in season right now. That’s what beauty influencer and owner of Somber Studios, Jessica Vill, said to her thousands of subscribers in a video two years ago. Her words are as relevant today as they were in 2021. The “clean girl” aesthetic looked like the light …
Continue reading "Fillers, Botox, and lifts: The “clean girl” aesthetic isn’t as clean as you think"
By Sara Valle AI is revolutionising the world – and whoever says otherwise is lying. It feels real – ChatGPT talks like a person. “I’m here to provide information, answer questions, and engage in natural language conversations on a wide range of topics.” It always knows what to say and it can also breathe life …
Continue reading "Art by Algorithm: Is AI the death of tattoo design?"
By Sara Valle It’s a strangely sunny day in the UK and you're queueing up under the blazing sun; ticket available with a couple thumbs on your phone. There’s litter on the floor – from colourful and silver wrappers, to cans of cheap beer, and mini glass bottles of all sorts of spirits. When you’re finally …
Sara Valle 