Interview research

For my music magazine I will be interviewing Sam Irving and Jake Ray as professional music artist in a band called Jam and Steak (the combinations of their name!) They both listen to indie music, which is why their genre of music (and the whole magazine) would be indie - hence the washed out colour scheme which is seen in similar genre magazines such as NME and Q. 

My double page spread will consist of:

• Picture that will take up one whole side of the double page with a quote from the band
• Headlines across the top of one page
• Drop capital at the start of the article - so you know were to start reading, they are sometimes in bold or bigger size texts.
• By line of the double page spread
• Strap line - short and should grab the reader's attention and make them want to read the article. 
• Smaller pictures on the opposites side to the big picture. 

Also, I have recently read a number of articles from the NME magazine to get a sense of which questions to ask and how to approach the tone of the article. Mostly, from what I have read, the mood is very chilled out, casual tone and the questions are always very laid back and flow into each other. So, I will write my mock interview in a conventional Question and Answer format. So I decided against planning questions but instead to ask them questions which were relevant to their answers.


Research ON GQ MAG...

The artist formerly known as Elliot Gleave has history with GQ. Back in September 2006, when he was still signed to Mike Skinner's label The Beats, he was photographed by legendary lensman Mick Rock in the 100 Club. "The way he shot me was almost like chatting me up," laughs the Hammersmith-born rapper, slouching in an Obey T-shirt and Levi's jeans. "He kept saying, 'Yeah! Show me them lips!' I can just imagine him in the Seventies being completely off his nut taking pictures".Since that fateful day five years ago, The Beats has imploded, the Streets have retired and Example, thanks to a newfound love of electro-pop, has topped the singles charts twice with "Stay Awake" and "Changed The Way You Kissed Me". Despite having already completed 14 interviews when we sit down with him in his PR company's central London offices at 12.30pm, Example chatted to GQ.com about surviving Ibiza, overrated chefs and the erotic effects of his own music...
GQ.com: You vent a great deal on Twitter. What's really irritating you at the moment? Example: The Toilet Duck advert. The animation's not bad, but the Toilet Duck himself has had a personality bypass. The new Toilet Duck is just a bit aggressive, a bit cocky, a bit like Jeremy Kyle - he's got too many faults to actually love him. I think that the Toilet Duck should be confident but sassy - like Mr Muscle.
What's the worst thing anyone's ever said about you? I've been called a "scruffy Inbetweener". My first album got really slated, but to be fair it was a bit all over the place, so I don't mind that too much. I don't really listen to critics - I don't mind interviews, but reviews are f***ing pointless. Someone can hear my album and say that it's the best thing they've ever heard, someone else can hear it and think it's the worst thing they've ever heard. Both of those people are right because it's their opinion. I haven't read a live or an album review for two and a half years.
Talk us through the outfit you're currently wearing. I'm scruffy, like every man, but with a few high-end brands in tow. I'll rock a Belstaff, maybe; a bit ofLanvin or D&G. I've got a couple of Margiela jackets, but really I'm a jeans and a T-shirt kind of man. I like just feeling comfortable, I don't care about looking tooflash. What's my style tip for autumn? Dress like a hero.
What the strangest request you've had on Twitter? Usually stuff like "Can I come round your house and sit on your face? You look like you've got a comfy face" from 16-year-old girls. I can't believe 16-year-olds are doing that now. At my age, 16-year-olds were probably just playing spin the bottle and now they're offering to come round and sit on my face.
You're just back from Ibiza. What are your top survival tips? Never do two days in a row. On your day off, sit on the beach or by the pool. Sleep lots, have a few piña coladas, maybe go for a nice steak, have 12 hours' kip then go out again the next day. And wear lots of sunscreen.
Other than this one, what question do you hate being asked?" Why are you called Example?" is the worst one.  I just think, "Look it up on Google or Wikipedia!" Or "Who do you want to work with?' I hate that question - boring. Look at my album credits, that's who I've worked with.
Who's the best dressed man? I'm a massive fan of Sergio Pizzorno from Kasabian. I think he's cool. Brad Pitt dresses well most of the time but every now and then really f***s it up with some dodgy sweatpant/boot combos. In the UK, Tinie looks great, doesn't he? I've also bumped into David Gandy a few times at press party events and he always looks sharp. But I suppose he was created by God to wear clothes, wasn't he?

MY INTERVIEW 

"Booze, drugs and the F word has made 17 year old Sam Irving a tabloid fixture. But with the support and guidance from his best friend, Jake Ray, the duo ‘Jam and Steak’ have had huge chart success in the last few months once again! Satina Sanghera meets the pair" - This will be the strap-line underneath the title, i think its catchy and when I will put it on my magazine, I will make certain words such as names bold to make them stand out.

Introduction:

After dropping out of school, both Sam and Jake were convinced music was going to change their life. Endless pub gigs and travelling led this pair on a journey of self discovery and in 2011 they were finally discovered! They brought massive hits such as ‘I’ll take you to the pub and back’ and ‘Crazy’ led to huge success and fame. However, there is always a price to pay with fame and for Sam this was his outrageous behaviour being widely reported in the media every day. The front man admits ‘I couldn’t cope... drinking was a way out.’ But after a long stay in rehab, they’re back with only one goal: ‘to become indie gods.’

Arriving an hour late, the two lads arrive in what seems yesterdays clothing. Sam walks straight over o the vending machine and purchases a hot chocolate; whilst Jake glances in a mirror to check on his perfectly shaped hair.

- I made this up entirely and based their appearance and attitude on famous indie music artist such as Peter Doherty.

Interview: 

Woah. It’s been quite a couple of months back in the lime light, how are you both coping?
Jake: It’s been pretty insane, but nothing I can’t handle (turns and looks at Sam sarcastically)
Sam: (laughs) I’m clean, rehab really helped and I’m not an idiot anymore. I’ve given up my foolish antics.

What changed for you and made you check into rehab?
S: Um... Jake I guess. I couldn’t let him down anymore and I didn’t want to lose him. The music we were producing was shit and that was down to me. I think it was when people started to not take us seriously, it bugged me, people started judging our music by my behaviour and that wasn’t fair.
J: He went through a pretty tough time, but all is good now. We’re back on track and this time nothing’s going to stop us.

You’re right saying you’re back on track, five months and three number one singles! That’s an achievement, how do you guys celebrate?
S: Beer! But without the total loss of control. (smiles)
J: Yeah, we like to party, last night actually we went to our friend’s house party. Was mental, didn’t get back until this morning, which explains why we’re late. Sorry. We’re packing all the sleepless nights before we go on tour - (July, LAD’s on tour), then we can give our fans a proper show. One that they’ve been waiting for!

Do you have a particular favourite song you like performing?
S: For me, it’s ‘madness’ it really describes the journey I went through, after the breakup (2011 he split from model girlfriend) and the whole drug addiction. I don’t know who I was back then, but with Jake’s help, I think I’ve found myself.
J: The crowd goes mental for our song ‘dumb and dumber,’ it really reflects who we are. Me being dumb and Sam, the dumber one obviously.
S: Can’t argue with that, to be fair.

You two seem extremely close. Perhaps, a bromance?
J: This is so much more than a bromance!
S: Yeah, bromance is an understatement; just take a look at some of the pictures from the shoot today! That is love, right there.
J: Too far Sam.

Well, it’s been great having you, and X readers will most defiantly follow your success. Last but not least: describe the album in three words?
J: Best Quality sound.
S: I am sober.

Layout:

 I may recreate this design and use one whole page dedicated to a image of the models and then use the two columns for the main article. I may need to add questions if I does not fill the whole page and I could 
add smaller images on the other side.