Alex – East London

Alexander Hislop was born in London and lives in a flat overlooking the canal in Dalston, East London. He works in A&R at Warner Records and runs GETME! which is a label, club night and collective. I have spent many a night huddled up in the corner of a packed club at a GETME! night, I even earned the name Punchy, but not actually sure how I feel about that, particularly as I can’t remember the friend of a friend that honored me with the title and that the name Punchy makes me sound like a brawler. Brawler no, apparently its all down to my penchant for dancing with my fists, something I, until now, was unaware of. Regardless of the fists, thankfully Alex was kind enough to let me into his bedroom and he has also put together WIYB’s first bedroom mixtape.

Do you work in your bedroom?

I mainly work in my bedroom on my computer, exciting! I have a good set up for listening to music, much nicer than being based in an office.

What does your bedroom mean to you?

Somewhere to read books, sleep, not be disturbed, draw and hide things under my bed.

Is there something in your bedroom that means a lot to you?

I have a massive T-shirt collection which means a lot to me as it reminds me of growing up and all of my good / bad purchasing choices.

Tell me about the designs on the T-shirts? 

They are all GETME! T-shirts. The genie one is designed by Dan Freeman who does nearly all our illustration work. The big GM is the first tee we printed – Robert Mathieson designed it, I think that's the last one I have. The foot graphic is by Jiro Bevis, one of my favourite illustrators.

What makes you happy?

Good brain chemistry.

What is your favourite colour?

Red.

What song do you find yourself always going back to?

Animal Collective – Street Flash

What song have you currently got on repeat?

Dusky – NobodyElse

If you could time travel where would you go and why?

2020, maybe bring back a sports almanac and clean up.

What is your favourite word?

Abomination.

What would you save if your bedroom were on fire?

My computer as it has all my photos on it.

What would your super power be?

Flying would be good, I can already time travel though, right?

What keeps you awake at night?

Anxiety and coffee, perhaps anxiety brought on by coffee.

Naked or bed clothes?

Just a T-shirt and socks, no pants.

You have kindly made the first ever bedroom mixtape for What's in your bedroom... it is very different to what you would play at a GETME! night, it feels filmic and dreamy, was that your intention?

I suppose I compiled some songs I would listen to by myself in my bedroom rather than at 3am in a club. It’s pretty sombre, a homage to all 14 year olds freaking out in their bedrooms.

Track listing:

01. Philip Glass – Opening


02. Aphex Twin – Qkthr

03. Brian Eno - In The Future


04. Berberian Sound Studio - The Sacred Marriage


05. Dean Blunt - Coroner


06. Dosh - Bring The Happiness


07. Halls - Winter Prayer

08. James Blake - I Only Know


09. Washington Philips - Denomination Blues Part 1


10. Moodymann - Mahogani 9000

See and hear more about GETME! on the website and Twitter @thisisgetme

Special thanks to @suzieseal for lending her jumping skills

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Katherine – Stockport Greater Manchester

Stockport isn't all kids having kids, moody Ugg Boots and pastry goods, these are just some of things that create a veneer that disguises the true spirit of the place. Scratch beneath the surface and you will find gold. I spent a lot of time in my early teens in the late 80s shlepping about round Stockport town centre, wishing I was from Manchester – wanting to be at the heart of the action, the City that was cool. But life isn't just about what's hot and what's not, it's about balance and what you're into as a person, what you want to learn and what excites you. One of my earliest creative influences lives there, I went to art school there – where I met some of my closest friends, who have gone on to become brilliant creative talents. Stockport has been an important influence, it shaped me and without it, I wouldn't be who I am today... a nosy good for nothing, obsessed with looking at other peoples bedrooms. 

For years Stockport has quietly maintained a rich creative identity, Martin Hannet of Factory Records fame, faved Stockport's Strawberry Studios, where he produced Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, as well as the Happy Mondays. The Smiths and The Stone Roses both recorded their debuts at Strawberry too.  So, if you ever have the joy of passing through Stockport, don't be fooled by its industrial overtone, there are many diamonds in its rough, one of which being the super talented Buddha loving embroiderer, Katherine Beefheart, born on Christmas Eve of 1976 at Stepping Hill Hospital. Nestled in amongst the red brick terraced houses of Edgely, Kate has lived in her home for twelve years, with her son, Maximus, and her two moggies.

Tell me what you do? 

Primarily, I'm a mum but I also stitch strange things in my spare time.

What does your bedroom mean to you?  

Peace! Its my favourite room in the whole house because nobody is (normally) allowed in and there's no distractions from technology. It's my sanctuary, if you will.

Tell me about an object(s) in your room that particularly means something to you?  

The brass owls. They belonged to my Grandmother and I remember me and my brother playing with them as kids, along with other brass tat. She gave them to me when she was ill, I was touched that she remembered how much I loved them as a nipper.

What makes you happy?  

My family. My pals. Eggs. Music (loud). Mountain striding. Shoes. Trinket hunting. Reading. Dancing like a tornado.  

When did you last cry and why?  

On Mothers Day because my mum isn't here anymore and I really miss her.

What is your favourite colour?  

Red.

If you could choose one song to lull you to sleep what would it be?  

A Day In The Life by The Beatles. 

Tell me about the clothes on the mannequin?  

That's a Welsh tweed vintage coat. It's beautiful so I decided that when I'm not wearing it, I would like to admire it. I wanted one for such a long time and, after a particularly vicious ebay battle, was finally victorious.

What is your favourite word?  

Egg.

If you could time travel where would you go and why?  

Probably the Neolithic age. I am a nerd for stone circles/burial mounds and regularly go hunting for them so I would love to have a peep into their lives (although I reckon the massive culture shock would have me running for the time machine to come back)! 

What would you save if your bedroom were on fire?  

My mothers wedding ring.

What keeps you awake at night?  

The neighbours mainly. 

If you could invite anyone into your bedroom who would it be and why?  

John Lennon. For a bed-in, obviously.

Naked or bed clothes?  

That all depends how cold it is, it fluctuates from ridiculous fleecy pyjamas to me birthday suit.

Find Katherine on Twitter @Beef_Art – see her work here

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COMPANY magazine feature WIYB

The lovely Lena Des Casparis got in touch and asked if I would like to contribute to a piece COMPANY magazine were running on Generation Rent in their April issue. Of course I jumped at the chance. So we put our heads together and picked out four of the ladies that had featured on What's in your bedroom... Emily, Jade, Tracy and Plum. And they all gave their tips and advice on how to make a make a rented bedroom your own. Click the feature above to read more about the article.

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What's in your bedroom met all girl choir – GAGGLE

What's Gaggle?

More Nu Rave than Songs of Praise, they're an all-girl alternative choir, whose ages range between 21 to 39.

How did the collaboration come about?

In November 2012, it started with a tweet and within moments, myself, Chief Gaggle, Deborah and Jade Gaggle were all buzzing over the fact that there was a strong possibility that I was on the verge of entering their bedrooms. When Christmas was done and New Year's Eve was dusted, I started planning the schedule and on Saturday, 12 January 2013, Gagglemania began.

How many did you do?

Through wind, rain and snow, jumping from one form of public transport to another, I visited eighteen of the fair maidens at their homes, in London and Herfordshire, over the course of two weekends and a few odd days here and there.

Eighteen? I bet you were knackered?

Delirious. During the first weekend alone, I visited ten of the babes, by the sunday evening I was so tired it hurt, feeling a mixture of excitement and thinking, Christ, I've still got eight to go.

Has it been fun?

Massively. So glad I was given the opportunity. Considering I haven't visited more than eighteen bedrooms in one year, it's a big accomplishment to have achieved so many in one month and with such an interesting group of women, all part of one collective, yet all so different.

You can see all of Gaggle's bedrooms in the following eighteen posts...

This Q&A was compiled from the re-occurring questions asked by different people whilst doing this project.

Find Gaggle on Twitter @GAGGLE and facebook

The above photo's were taken during the first weekend of the project by Jay Fenwick

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Angela Gaggle – East London

Last but not least, number 18 of the series, the fabulous green haired Honey Gaggle. It was a bright sunny afternoon in Clapton, East London and the sounds of Bowie poured from her bedroom into the house and out onto the street through her open window – as he sang 'don't be afraid' I looked up and noticed the words on her wall, like some sort of strange coincidence. She had only moved in one week before and had done a pretty good job of making it into a homely bohemian den. As we chatted and took photo's, I could hear the bark that had previously greeted me when Katie W answered the door just one hour before, 'Peaches wants to come in...' and before I knew it the door flung open and in walked the dog – a proper blonde bombshell working the camera like Claudia Sniffer.

Name: Angela Maria Platt

Born: Stockport

Day job: Fashion Designer for Topshop

  

Gaggle name: Honey 

  

When and how did you join Gaggle? 

I lived accros the road form the George Tavern at the time and Debs noticed me in there, I was probably quite wild at the time. I think she heard me singing a Hole song at the top of my voice in the garden. She found me on facebook and sent me a message asking me to join this new project she was starting and I thought it all seemed interesting and Deborah was crazy and fabulous so I decided to go to a rehearsal.  It was at the very beginning so there was only a few of us singing in a little room together! 

What does your bedroom mean to you? 

Its like an escapist dreamy paradise I suppose, its your space in the world which is the most representative of who you are and its your most private space(maybe not anymore now its on this blog). I like my room to be neutral and white with plain walls because my head often feels so full I find it helps to clear your head. I put pictures up on the wall of things which inspire me but I take them down when im bored of them and put something new up. There's a few things that I've had on my walls for years though, one being the Andy Warhol poster. I would like to have a tidier bedroom but it's impossible. 

Tell me about an object in your bedroom that particularly means something to you?

There are two jackets in here which mean a lot to me. One is a leather jacket which I made and I'm quite proud of. Another is a fur coat which I bought from a vintage shop back in Manchester for only £10 and I wore it all the time when I first moved to London so it reminds me of my first years spent here and loads of amazing memories.

  

What makes you happy? 

Singing, making noise, dancing, playing base guitar, grooves, music. Having amazing people in my life,  feeling free, feeling inspired. Having no plans and having some time out. travelling to new places...love and lust.  

When did you last cry and why? 

Yesterday, I had a euphoric moment and cried in a coffee shop.

  

What song do you always go back to? 

Thats a really difficult question. Maybe John I'm Only Dancing by David Bowie.

  

What is your favourite word? 

Fuck.

If you could invite anyone into to your bedroom who would it be and why? 

I would like to invite Morrissey in my bedroom for chats.

What would you save if your bedroom were on fire? 

I have a blue suitcase which has a lot of things I'd like to save in a fire so I'd take that with me.  Although I don't think any objects should be too precious. I love my clothes but if I had to I think I would just have to feel excited to start again.  

What keeps you awake at night? 

I am normally so tired I can fall asleep in seconds. Worrying about people I love. Excitement, ideas and anxitey. 

Naked or bed clothes? 

Always Naked.

Find Angela on Twitter @HONEY_GAGGLE

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Katie W Gaggle – East London

At the heart of Clapton in East London, lives my seventeenth Gaggle with Honey Gaggle (more of Honey on 15 March). It was a Sunday in January and the last day of the Gaggle shoot. I was greeted at the door by Katie, a bright young thing with flaming red lips and a barking blonde dog, called Peaches. 

Name: Katie Wilkinson

Born: Staffordshire 

Day Job: I'm just finishing off my degree in English Literature (I have just over a month left!) but I also run a club night, Munki with Ange (Honey Gaggle), do bits of writing, DJ and other such things. 

Gaggle name: Wilko

When and how did you join Gaggle?  

I interviewed Deborah for my website and she asked me to join Gaggle. 

What does your bedroom mean to you? 

It's a space where I can not only work on things (essays, articles for my website etc...) in peace but also read books, light candles, drink tea and just have some time on my own (I live with friends so it's nice to balance out the madness with a bit of time on my own in the day). You don't really realise how important having your own personal space is until you're a homeless sofa hopper (I didn't have anywhere to live during December) and you go a little bit mad! 

Tell me about an object in your bedroom that particularly means something to you?

I went to my first real festival when I was 17. It was Leeds Festival – the one I'd wanted to go to forever. No-one would come with me (I didn't have a lot of friends when I was younger and no-one in my small set of friends would even pay twenty quid to see live music, never mind over £100!) so I went alone and saw about 30 /40 bands or something. I also bought this massive black tasselled leather jacket that clearly used to belong to a fat sweaty biker as it absolutely stank. I came home wearing it and my mum was like "what the hell is that? It bloody stinks!" 

What makes you happy?

Music, candles, whisky, peppermint tea, dancing, seeing live music, friends, food, a successful DJ set / show. 

When did you last cry and why?

I don't cry that much, only when I'm stressed. I've got quite a lot of deadlines and stuff at the moment so I cried just the other day but ate some refried beans, drunk some peppermint tea and watched a really awful J-Lo film and I was okay again then. 

What song do you always go back to?

There are a lot of these. I guess All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem is a big one to mention though as I don't think there are many songs that fill me with such euphoria as that one. It's just a really simple, relatable, beautifully written / produced song about going out with friends on a Friday night for a big one. I've had many an emotional moment to this song. 

What is your favourite word?

I don't think I really have one.... 

If you could invite anyone into to your bedroom who would it be and why?

Maybe Fleetwood Mac could come and do a set in my bedroom. I couldn't afford £140 to see them at the 02 Arena (how surprising). They should come and play in my bedroom as redemption for putting their tickets on sale at such a high price. Surely most of their average fans can't afford to see them either at that price? It's shocking. 

What would you save if your bedroom were on fire?

I'm not particularly sentimental. I would probably just save my Macbook as it would be the most practical thing to save. It has everything on it... 

What keeps you awake at night?

Too much caffeine or too many creative ideas or sometimes just pure excitement for the coming months – SXSW Festival in Texas, new job (hopefully), The Great Escape, Primavera Festival in Barcelona, Glastonbury, Leeds Festival (System of the Down + Deftones fuck yeah!) etc... Katie is currently in Austin at SXSW festival and has just got herself a Gaggle tattoo.

Naked or bed clothes?

An old band t shirt. 

See Katie's online magazine here – find her on Twitter @K_E_Wilkinson

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Jana Gaggle – East London

 

It was a cold Saturday afternoon in January when I arrived at the sixteenth Gaggle's place in Old Street, East London. The door opened and there to greet me was this Louise Brooks-esque of a gal smoking a liquorice rollie, looking lovely and sun-kissed having just stepped off the plane from Thailand.

Full Name: Jana Pejkovska

Born: Bitola, Macedonia (Former Yugoslavia)

Day Job: I work as Conceptual Creative/Art Director in various ad agencies.

Gaggle name: JPeg

When and how did you join Gaggle? 

I joined Gaggle in January 2012 after drunkenly messaging Deborah via facebook and repeatedly telling her how much I love Gaggle and would looooove to be part of it. Eventually she got back to me and asked to meet me. Woop!

What does your bedroom mean to you? 

It's a place where I can enjoy my second most favourite hobby - sleeping! I'm pretty good at it. The bed and mattress combo is probably the most expensive thing I've bought after my laptop. Ideally, I'd sleep for about ten hours a night, but who has the time for that now?  These days I'm lucky if I get seven.

Tell me about an object in your bedroom that particularly means something to you?

I have this ring that my mum gave me when I was 16. I was leaving home to come and study in the UK. She bought it with her first pay check when she started working as a doctor and I think for her it was a kind of message to study hard and make a life for myself. It sounds a bit cheesy but hey (Destiny's Child Independent Women starts playing in my internal jukebox hahaha). I also like it because I think it's beautiful and really elegant in a very un-fussy way. I don't like bling and when things look obviously expensive. I don't really wear any jewellery at all and it's the only piece I occasionally put on.

What makes you happy? 

Sleep, cats, my boyfriend, singing, making things and generally being around people I like.

When did you last cry and why? 

Oh lord...this one is a bit embarrassing. Can I first say that I had a very long and stressful day when this happened? I was watching Top Gun (it happened to be on the telly – I didn't deliberately put it on, ok) and when Goose died I was bawling my eyes out. 

What song do you always go back to? 

Hmmm, I think it has to be Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Never fails to cheer me up.

What is your favourite word? 

Mellifluous. The word itself sounds mellifluous too. Like Stevie Wonder's voice.

If you could invite anyone into to your bedroom who would it be and why? Unless I was romantically involved with them, I don't think I'd specifically invite anyone. It's not a great place to hang out in I suppose. I'd probably just fall asleep. But, if you ever do a blog about kitchens let me know and I'll give you a long list!

What would you save if your bedroom were on fire? 

My boyfriend, obviously. But if your question is about things, then not sure I would save anything. I'm not great in a situation of great danger either so I'll probably just panic, scream and run.

What keeps you awake at night? 

Not much. Did I mention I love sleeping?

Naked or bed clothes? 

Depends if the heating is working. But generally I always have socks on.

Find Jana on Twitter @janapejkovska

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