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Pink faux fur bolero jacket from a selection at Vintage Modes and pink cotton skirt by Just Cavalli

Tamera Foster is somewhere on the A34, half way through this year’s X-Factor tour. A permanently nervous wreck on the TV show, we wonder how she’s coping with rehashing her performances, night after night. ‘Its going great!’ She gushes. ‘I absolutely love being on tour, its such an incredible atmosphere – oh, and yesterday I saw a mountain for the first time which was really beautiful!’

Last year’s X-Factor was spectacularly unremarkable. The nationwide search for number one was marred by such a lack of interest that organisers tried to lure passers by off the street to audition. Louis’ irrelevant ramblings – ‘you remind me of a young ‘Robbie Williams/ Frank Sinatra/Beyonce’  – had become a parody while Gary’s tedious boardroom criticisms were entirely undermined by the fact his own record label had folded months earlier. The only thing worse than the judges was the contestants: Luke Friend, (the gap-yah type who’d ruin any social situation with some sort of acoustic rendition of Skrillex) to the only thing that might sully East London’s name long enough to curb gentrification, Kingsland Road.

But then, like the Jesus of antiquated talent shows, came Tamera Foster. Initially auditioning with her BFF, the 16-year-old Kent girl returned a week later looking like a secret Knowles sister. She was a fully-fledged urban star, more ‘Roc Nation’ than ‘Teddington Studios’. Yet despite her obvious pop potential, the X Factor still turned Tamera into a bundle of nerves.

‘I was so nervous’ she reminisces. ‘It was the most terrifying thing.’ At her solo audition Tamera sang four words from the opening bars of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Have Nothing’ before going completely blank. She remembered the lyrics (with the help of closet Whitney fan Dermot O’Leary), but the tendency to draw a blank continued to plague her throughout the live shows. Forgotten words and missed cues spoilt otherwise spellbinding performances. ‘I had a million different things going around in my head – dances to remember, which camera to look at – there are all these cues you have to catch, you’re constantly thinking while you’re singing.’

Black wool skirt suit by Dsquared2 and gold plated pearl drop earrings from a selection at Vintage Modes

Vehemently determined, Tamera tried hypnotherapy and meditation to conquer her nerves. Post X-Factor, her performances have been word perfect. On tour she’s come into her own, happy at last and in a position where she can finally embrace being a teenager.‘It’s totally new to me, but I feel comfortable now’ she admits.

During her X-Factor stint she remained unloved by the public, and things went from bad to worse when tabloid newspapers dredged up all they could from her past. Incidents of her bullying a classmate did the rounds, as well as old tweets referencing marijuana. Despite being the closest thing to an IRL pop-star X-Factor’s ever seen, her talent appeared to seemingly slip through the net.

Yet Cowell himself has donned her ‘the British Rihanna’, and she’s just been signed to his label, Syco, a deal that none of the higher placed contestants were offered. Ultimately, she was too great to let go, though the format totally failed her. Tamera tries to be diplomatic about it. ‘I think some artists that have disappeared from the show are people with good voices who can’t really showcase it because you’re just doing covers. Not many people really know what kind of artist they are… I left knowing what to do, knowing what my sound is and they type of person I wanna work with – X – Factor gives you a platform, it’s up to you what you do with it .” Did the show give her any advice for real in the industry?  “Nicole [Sherzinger] – told me the main thing is to not get ahead of yourself, always keep grounded.’

 Suede trench coat by Loewe, black suede hat from a selection at Vintage Modes and gold crucifix chain by H Samuel

Grounded she is. When she’s not sashaying across the country on tour, she’s been doing all she can to prepare for her first recording sessions. ‘I’m writing poetry and short stories. I’ve been listening to a lot of music and just trying to get my head around learning how to write.’ What does she anticipate the finished product to sound like? ‘I guess if I had to put some artists together I’d say Jhene Aiko slash Drake slash John Legend.. a lot of soulful R&B, old school versus new kind of thing, that’s my vibe. I want to be really experimental.’

If Tamera’s imaginary EP has you watering at the mouth, you’re not alone. In Nicole’s words, “look into the future five years and this is going to be the most successful star to have ever come out of the show.”

Words: Shannon Mahanty

Fashion Editor: Danielle Emerson

Photographer: Liam Warwick

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Blue and grey shirt by Umit Benan

With lyrics about strange men in his bedroom, allusions to getting head off a fella and a song called Rentboy, it’s safe to say singer-songwriter Joseph Coward’s sexuality is up for grabs. The 22-year-old Brentwood boy is working through his issues on debut album The World Famous Joseph Coward, a title which is an clear-cut joke that certain people didn’t get (“some people think I’m taking myself too seriously. I also thought, ‘What’s the most ridiculous thing I can call it to stop people calling their albums Echoes and Tremors and Visions and all that fucking bullshit?’”).

When he sings “I can hear him breathing, he’s on top of me. My God, my Saviour, has abandoned me” on new single Idle Boy, it’s not a glib religious reference. Coward was brought up in “an Evangelical cult called New Frontiers International” and only formally stopped calling himself Christian when he was 18 or 19. Still now, his upbringing has a grip on him. “You know footage of American footage of super churches with people speaking in tongues and shouting and jumping up and down?” he asks. “Well it’s basically that. I used to get sent to Jesus camps and go to seminars on the evils of masturbation. So yeah, it was pretty intense. It took me a long time to get out of it. It was tough and it’s still something that I live with today, but I’m stronger for having lived it and I’m more informed and hugely interested in religion as a result.”

It’s easy to see the Morrissey influence on this young Essex boy, but he’s also cited Elton John, The Smashing Pumpkins and Jesus & The Mary Chain as favourites. What strikes you about Coward’s own music is the startling honesty of the lyrics and the clear way they are spoken/sung. Live too, he’s determined not to become a performer – something he clearly sees as fake and insincere – and wants each of his shows to be raw, real…confessional: “I just come on stage and play the songs honestly. I want to write in such a way that whenever I go up on stage, the songs retain their original feeling for me.”

Which is the reason why Coward has set up his own label, Stiffy Byng: to make sure he can keep his music and lyrical content as true to himself as possible. “Labels will try and push and pull you in directions they want, so it’s best to represent yourself. It’s a shame when you see artists being manipulated by big companies for their own ends. Lots of young artists are left by the wayside after they’ve been used up.” Through the independence that comes with his own label, Coward was able to make the record that he wanted. “It’s about me communicating the ideas that I have through stories from my life. I think there’s a kinship in finding out that people feel the same things as you. It’s about feeling strange and being sad, but overcoming that and accepting yourself.”

 Black mohair jumper and black denim jeans both by Kenzo

Words: Stuart Brumfit

Photographer: Liam Warwick

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Since you have become famous, have people’s reactions to you on the street changed?

Well, first some things stayed the same. My life style was already nomadic, living out of my backpack; working odd jobs, meeting cool people, as well as often  being stopped and photographed. This hasn’t changed. What changed was the masses’ reaction to me. Prior, I had my place amongst those who understood me and had the luxury of privacy. Now I often feel that every walk of life either has a question or an opinion about the way I breathe air – although I do seize this opportunity to raise awareness for tolerance, acceptance and embracing our differences.

What’s the philosophy behind your tattoos?

The zombie concept is also often used as a metaphor for runaway consumerism. Rebelling from this notion is the very meaning of punk. The origins of the zombie creature came about from stories of people being buried alive in times of plagues and such crises; that would come out the other side ‘transformed’. Zombies, to many, represent a pervasive xenophobia. As in my life, I was often out-casted, hated or misunderstood.

You’ve just become the face of Rocawear. Can you tell us more about that?

Growing up in the city as a teenager, I have always embraced urban culture and style. It is a great honor to represent what I live, breathe, and bleed for as long as I have. I’m excited to be involved with Rocawear’s re-launch across Europe for Spring Summer ’13.

You and your art have become synonymous with Lady Gaga. How do you feel about that?

I would defiantly have to say that we both share love for art, the love for revolution, and fearlessness of self-expression.

You’ve recently filmed a part in 47 Ronin with Keanu Reeves, is acting something you have always wanted to do?

Since my childhood, I had a profound interest in pirates. I recall in particular the movie Hook, starring Robin Williams, as well as pirate LEGO. As life went on, I had spent the greater part of my time living in likeness to the lost boys and pirates.

What would be your ideal film role?

I’ve had a chance to play as a punk rocker, a carnie and a pirate. My ideal film role yet would be as a deranged psycho in a horror picture.

Are you planning on any more tattoos?

I’m still working on my tattoo project. As well as finishing my bodysuit, I soon wish to sharpen my teeth, with likeness to those of a reptile.

What do you have planned for 2013?

In 2013, I will be starting to work on a music project, but more details would ruin the surprise!

Words: Siobhan Frew

www.rocawearbrand.co.uk

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Hello Marc. Would you share some of your career highlights with us?

My first big solo expo was in the Museum of Photography in Antwerp in 2006. My Overview Expo “XXML 20 Years Marc Lagrange” showed in Belgium for the first time in 2011, then in Austria and now at LMNT in Miami before it starts traveling aroud the world.

Your preferred medium is Polaroid photography. What attracts you to the use of Polaroid?

Because Polaroid is so nice to skin tones, it is glam in one shot. It’s an ultimate image and it is impossible to take two identical Polaroid. It’s exclusive.

What essence are you are trying to capture in your photographs?

The ultimate sense of a woman. Sensuality. I want to get my models to reveal their inner selves in a cinematic setting of mystery and charm.

The images you create are sensual, seductive, erotic and captivating. How do you achieve these images bringing out beauty and staying away from an overly sexual focus?

By being a good director and by working with a very good team of stylists and make-up artists. Behind my lens I create art. My work never gets sexual as I think the subtitle in nude photography is to keep it sensual, provoke the imagination.

Do you envision an image first or do you see a woman and then create a vision around her?

I prefer to see the woman first because it is important that she feels how we work. The second shoot is always better because the ice is broken and we can go for stronger creations.

What aspects are important to you when choosing a location or designing a set?

The feeling, the right elements and the light I bring into it. It could be natural or cinema lighting.

Which locations would you still love to shoot at and why?

Tahiti, because of the natural beauty and soon, St Petersburg, for the decadent stories.

You are based in Antwerp. What’s happening in the art scene there?

Antwerp has a very reputable Fashion Academy. People from around the world are studying here. Just remember some Antwerp fashion designers like Dries Van Noten, Raf Simons, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs and Martin Margiela.

You are launching a new book with your work in 2013. Could you tell us more please?

The title of the book will be “Diamonds & Pearls – A Tribute to Beauty.” The book will be launched in 80 countries and will be my first internationally published book. The book will be published by Te Neues and in 2013 we will travel to several countries for book signings and expositions.

Do you have any other news you would like to share with us?

We will be showing some of my new work during Art Basel Miami Beach next week. We will be at Art Miami Booth C-43 as well as at LMNT Gallery.

www.lagrange.be

Words: Heike Dempster

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How did the character Talisa compare to your role as Hector’s wife Marnie in The Hour?

Oh it’s wonderfully different!. I mean in ‘Game of Thrones’ she’s sort of really strong and calm, and wise. Which I think she does have in common with Marnie, but I mean let’s face it Marnie would never get her hands dirty, and Talisa is constantly like chopping a tree off and running around in mud.

What would you say pulled you towards acting?

I’ve grown up watching films and being on set, which was a great privilege in terms of it allowed me to travel the world. Seeing the process became quite familiar to me, all though in the beginning I really didn’t want to be an actress. I wanted to be an economist. I caught the acting bug when I was 15, but when I was accepted into RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), I just said well fate has spoken, because I only applied to one drama school, and five universities.

Do people have high expectations of you, because you are a Chaplin?

Well I should only have high expectations, hahaha! It’s a name that I sort of strive to carry with pride, and honour. I’m very proud of my family; it’s an incredible reminder of what one can do with one life, the ability to making films beyond entertainment and touching so many people. It’s a great inspiration to have, so yeah I mean I really enjoy it, and sometimes I wake up and I can’t quite believe it!

What actor or actress if they entered the room unexpectedly is most likely to make you faint because you’re a massive fan?

If Vincent Cassel walked in I would probably faint, yes, or hysterically run and jump on him. Either one I don’t know what would happen, but he’s definitely someone… or Will Smith, yes, bring it, anytime.

Do you see yourself directing or writing scripts in the future?

Definitely. I’ve already been doing that, I’m proud of the short film I’m about to shoot now with a few friends that I’m co- writing and producing on. I think it’s got the potential to be really good and I might be sending it out to festivals. I’ll definitely be going down the directing and script route. I’m a qualified editor and I’ve been to probably too many screenwriting master classes. I definitely have a lot of stories in my head.

When I was in boarding school, I used to be a compulsive liar. It’s quite funny actually, a story used to come into my head and I’d just pretend that it happened to me, but it was completely made up! So I decided instead of lying to people I’d write them down. I’ve since come clean to all of my friends, which was sort of embarrassing but hilarious. Because I’m a terrible liar, everyone knew I was lying at the time.

The third episode of The Hour airs tonight on BBC2.