The British Isles are far from monolithic and rather than charging forth as though we are, it’s far more interesting to exhibit the diversity of our culture. After sharpening my editorial skills within the youth culture and independent magazine space, at the coal face of a media disrupter like gal-dem, now I get to do that on a larger scale for a wider audience. Glamour globally is shifting to focus on community, culture, and content with a purpose. Which brings me back to that vibe shift. Even if sociopolitically we find ourselves screaming right now, I find that what always re-centres us in challenging times, are those euphoric moments of togetherness. As the weather warms crowds gather together to dance and sing in unison like we’re in school assembly again, and this year, there are some new maestros.
The last few summers have been owned almost exclusively by musicians: Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer, Charli xcx’s Brat Summer and now we enter a democratised summer that does not have one clear almighty leader. In this power vacuum, I thought an authentic gesture, for my inaugural issue, would be to wax lyrical about some rising stars you should know.
Glamour UK’s three May cover stars are Darkoo, Joy Crookes and CMAT. This summer, festival fields all across this green and pleasant land and sweaty dancefloors will be filled with sounds of these phenomenal female musicians. Hailing from Nigeria, London and Ireland respectively, but all concentrated in London, these women are emblematic of the broad range of tastes that audiences in the UK relish. Darkoo is releasing club-ready Afrobeats floor-fillers and judging by the euphoric reaction from her sold out crowd in Koko last month, she’s resonating with screaming fans ready for a party. After her stunning debut album Skin soul singer, Joy Crookes has taken 4 years to reintroduce herself, coming back this year, a much more well-rounded and self-assured artist and her latest single, “Mathematics” has such replay value that she actually heard it in the toilets during our interview! Then finally we have Irish indie musician CMAT, whose magnetic energy (and bare bottom at the Brits) has made her a major talking point in the last year. Her soul-bearing lyricism and country melodies are making her a firm hit with the alt crowd.
So here, as we kick off summer 2025, is a music issue, curated with the underground in mind to direct you to whatever vibe fits the warmer months ahead. Enjoy! And thanks for reading.