YEN Magazine

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NEW ISSUE 39 OUT NOW

As we take this issue to print, we’ve just passed the shortest day of the year – from here on, we’ll get that little bit more daylight each day. Usually I’m pining for the onset of spring by this point, but this year, things are a little different. I’ve learned to idolise the indoors, crave the cocoon, delight in the darkness… You get the picture. Perhaps this inner content is due to the abundance of homely pleasures available at the moment. It’s certainly a great time for music – many, many hours have been spent in headphones, the floor littered with CDs, discovering new favourites (I'm enchanted by Oh Mercy) and arranging in order of love (we're all pretty sweet on French popsters Phoenix). And we do love to share the love; from page 103 we show you the tunes that made us shimmy and spoke to our souls. Unfortunately we simply don’t have space to include everything we'd like to tell you about, so keep an eye on our website for more musical magic. But it’s not just our ears which are happy this issue; our eyes get some lovin’ too. When we saw the dreamlike, romantic images by Eleanor Hardwick, we just had to show you them too (see page 42). And this photography prodigy is still only 15! Her pictures even inspired me to grab a camera (and scarf and beanie) to take some wintry, early morning snaps around the streets of my inner city neighbourhood. See, the best things in life can be free… Just ask the freegans in Katrina Fox's story (page 48). These guys rummage through rubbish to feed themselves for nothing (we sent a photographer on a dumpster dive with them to get the pictures to prove it) – but there’s a lot more to their ethos than simply a free lunch. Speaking of passionate people devoted to their cause, our favourite Middle East correspondent, Sophie McNeill, has written a moving and enlightening piece, telling the tale of her friend’s life in Gaza (page 52). Raed was Sophie’s translator, guide and all-round right-hand-man during her time reporting in the region, and his story shows us the faces and fate of those struggling to maintain some form of normal life behind the bombs and barricades. It’s a read which will make you appreciate the beauty in your own life. So take some time to take stock – relax with a bath, say (see page 100) – be inspired and embrace the chill (out). Louise and the YEN team

See you soon with some new stuff....

Contact Us

Editor - Louise Stewart lstewart(at)yenmag.net
Art Director - Sarah Walters swalters(at)yenmag.net
National Advertising Manager - Ana Neves aneves(at)yenmag.net
Music & Film Editor - Mel Bampton
Beauty Editor – Melissa Skewes For a full list of the YEN team please see the latest issue of YEN magazine or head to www.yenmag.net

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