Six Months Meat-Free!

Tomorrow will mark six months since I stopped eating meat. If you’ve deftly swerved the dubious pleasure of hearing me waffle on about it, here’s the (excruciatingly mild) T, mawma: I’ve followed a pescatarian diet since September 1st last year. Prior to that, I had gradually reduced my meat consumption over a few years.

I haven’t found it difficult at all. I thought I would crave a few specific things, but there hasn’t been a single meat product I’ve missed. Not even bacon.

Some of my favourite meat alternatives include:


Richmond Meat-Free Sausages
No shit, these sausages taste like the real thing. I was shook the first time I had them, and quite honestly, I remain shooketh. Richmonds are my Mum’s favourite, and they’re so good that she’s permanently switched to the meat-free version.


Linda McCartney Vegetarian Shredded Hoisin Duck
The whole Linda McCartney range is miraculous, and this is a real treat. The texture is on point, and the flavour of Chinese-inspired spices makes it really authentic. You can also buy a meal kit that contains thin pancakes.


Vegetarian Butcher Chickened Out Burger
They’re a little pricy, but absolutely delicious. These burgers have a savoury chicken flavour, without the rank poultry aftertaste. Yummy in a bun, or with rice and veggies for a filling dinner.


Vivera Steak
My beloved. Similar to the faux chicken burger above, these steaks have a complex, savoury flavour that approximates real meat, but not specifically steak. It sounds strange, but they’re really good. If you miss the visual of a rare steak (I always had mine very well done, so that ain’t me, fam), Vivera use beetroot juice to create the illusion of real blood. I cook mine a bit longer to avoid that!


Fry’s Chicken-Style Strips
I’m a big fan of Fry’s; they make lots of brilliant meat alternatives. The chicken strips are really tasty on their own, and work well with every sauce, seasoning, and application I’ve tried so far. The only slight downside is that they’re a little high in fat, so I use them sparingly.


Oumph! Kebab Spiced
Quite expensive, but SO GOOD. If you’re planning a veggie fakeaway, get involved in this masterpiece. The kebab pieces have a fantastic texture, a lovely kick of heat, and they take literally minutes to prepare, straight from the freezer.


Sainsbury's Pigs in Blankets + Stuffing Pack
I was a bit glum at the prospect of no pigs in blankets on my Christmas plate. But Sainsbury's came through in their festive catering catalogue, with a pack of vegan pigs in blankets and sausage meat-style stuffing balls. I thought they were fabulous, and the meat-eating taste testers agreed. Plus, it was great to still be included in these essential components of Christmas dinner.


One of the best things about this change has been the support of family and friends. Some of them are vegans, vegetarians, or pescatarians already, and they’ve offered lots of helpful advice, as well as recommendations and recipes!

My meat-eating homies have also been lovely. I didn’t want to make this change inconvenient for other people – especially at events like Christmas – but everyone’s taken it in their stride, accommodating my dietary tomfoolery with kindness and encouragement.

A few folks have asked whether this is a long-term choice, a step on the path to a fully-vegetarian or vegan diet, or a temporary move away from meat. I hasten to add that these questions are always asked with respect and sincerity.

To be honest, I’m happy where I am for now. I’m about 95% sure I’ll never eat meat or poultry again. I eat a relatively modest amount of fish and seafood, and it seems to be a healthy balance for the time being. It’s never say never for going vegetarian, while a fully-vegan diet is probably less likely. Then again, I didn’t anticipate giving up meat until last year, so don’t believe anything I say!

Until Then, We’ll Have to Muddle Through Somehow

I love Christmas. Everything about it. Glitter! Lights! Music! Celebrations! Novelty knitwear! Bank holiday cinematic stalwarts! Rampant consumerism! All of it.

This year is different. I want to be excited about Christmas, but I’m apprehensive. It’s always hard to be upbeat after bereavement, or indeed any difficult phase of life. Christmas is simultaneously the happiest and saddest time of the year.

I was today years old when I found out there are two distinct versions of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I previously thought lyric variations were just C r E a T i V i T y. As it turns out, there’s a sad version (the original) and the later, in-the-present-happiness version.

The original – sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St Louis – is sombre, yet hopeful. It recognises that this year isn’t easy, but looks to the future with a belief that life will be better, and good times will reign again. There’s a beautiful, pared-down rendition by Jon Batiste and Danielle Brooks on Spotify that fits perfectly with the sentiment of the lyrics.



These are the original lyrics:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be
Out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yule-tide gay
Next year all our troubles will be
Miles away

Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more 

Someday soon, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, well have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

This is exactly how I look at Christmas this year. We’ll still have presents under the tree and animated chatter around the table. But there are two people missing, and the whole thing might not be as effortless as in previous years. Still, we’ll persevere, do our best, and look forward to the lightness and joy of future Christmases.

After a long year of hookin’…

Today marks a whole year since I took up crochet. I tried to learn a few times previously, but my initial enthusiasm waned immediately in response to the usual novice hooker annoyances; wonky chains, dropped stitches, extra-tight tension, and first sample pieces that resembled a small trapezium army. Mum always tried to help, but my all-or-nothing attitude jumped right out, causing an incredible sulk and a vow never to try crochet again. Which is very positive behaviour for a grown adult.

Anyway, this time last year I decided to give it another go. One of my best friends was about to have her first baby, and the lovely blankets and clothes my Mum made inspired me to try again. I borrowed one of her 4mm hooks and some spare DK and cued up a few YouTube videos. I wanted to do it that way, because if I ended up having a strop (and ofc I did), it would only be directed at a screen. Mum gave me a hand when I needed it, and gradually it all began to click. I made my first granny square within a couple of days, and haven’t looked back since.

I love crochet. It's been one of the greatest – and most surprising – joys of my life. That might sound a bit OTT, but it’s absolutely true. It’s a source of achievement, comfort, and relaxation; a creative outlet that’s taught me an actual skill. I really appreciate handmade things, and it’s been lovely to give special presents to my friends and family that I’ve crafted from start to finish.

There’s also a wonderful and vibrant online crochet community, particularly on Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, and Ravelry. People are always supportive, and they’re willing to hype every kind of project, whether you’re a beginner, expert, or somewhere in between. Alongside my irl homies who hook, it’s just a lovely collective of crochet queens.

Speaking of hooking heroes, my most beloved crochet YouTubers are:

Jayda In Stitches – My absolute favourite! Jayda is a quirky Canadian with a gentle demeanour and lovely teaching style. She goes through everything slowly and clearly, which has been instrumental in my learning process. Jayda’s tutorials helped me to unlock granny squares, C2C, the bean stitch, and cinch circles, and she’s currently teaching me to make Christmas decorations! I always go to Jayda’s channel first when I want to learn something new, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Blossom Crochet – A very sweet lady who loves her sparkly rainbow wool! Her tutorials are well-paced and easy to understand. And if you need a left-handed tutorial, she films alternate versions of pretty much everything.

Bella Coco – I reckon most folks have heard already heard of Bella Coco, with good reason – she has a tutorial for everything on her YouTube channel. She taught me how to master the waffle stitch, which I love for scarves, wraps, and small blankets. I’m also learning Tunisian crochet with her!

Persia Lou/Alexis Middleton – The first crochet tutorial I ever watched – before I even braved the hook again – was her simple chunky beanie. I’ve now made it a few times, and it’s still one of my favourites. Her blog is also a handy resource.

Crochet Crowd – Mikey is a charming, talented crochet king. His tutorials are easy to follow and you’ll find just about anything crochet-related on his channel.

Fiber Flux – Jennifer's channel is beautifully organised (check out her playlists) and she has a lovely range of beginner projects, as well as more technical pieces, unique items, and product reviews.

If you've been thinking about learning to crochet, go for it! This is an especially good time of year to get started; there's nothing like wrapping up warm in a scarf, hat, or blanket you've made from scratch.

Here's to many more years of happy hooking!

Thank you for waiting.

Did you know that on New Year’s Eve 1994, the good people of Kiribati moved their clocks forward by 15 hours, creating a brand new time zone? The International Date Line was redrawn in the South Pacific, swerving around the tiny nation’s islands. Finally, everyone in Kiribati worked to the same time.

Just like Kiribati, a special time zone exists around me. It’s called Jenah Standard Time (JST), and its divergence from the meridian is quite unpredictable.

JST’s flexibility is part of its spurious charm. Sometimes it’s 15 minutes early, often it’s at least 10 minutes late, and very rarely, it’s in harmony with the rest of the world.

JST is a pain. I know it is. Some of you have been waiting for a lot longer than 10 minutes. Even this blog has waited for two-and-a-half years!

But you have waited, with patience, compassion, and unyielding kindness. You know and I know that I’m not myself right now. I haven’t been for a while. And while I take tiny steps to get back in sync with the loud, opinionated, hilarious, very cool, extremely fashionable, and faultlessly modest person I am at my best, I know that you’ll still wait for me. What I don’t know is why or how I am so blessed to have you.

So, this is a massive thank you. For accepting every version of me.

So, how have you been?

Oh hi there!

For someone who self-identifies as a writer, I've not been very good at tapping the keys in the direction of this here blog. My apologies. It's been something of a whirlwind since last we spoke. I left my previous job, which was a yuge deal. My friends gave me the most wonderful send-off, and it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge them here. So, thank you Casswinder, Sarwah, Dixsitta, C-Ry, my Obs homies, and everyone who dropped in or sent lovely messages. It was a beautiful day that warmed my heart more than I can adequately express. It's been less than two months, but it feels like a lifetime ago since I left; and whilst I certainly miss the people, I don't miss the job. It was the right decision in March, and remains the same now.

I've also been on holiday, ain't I? The fam took a trip to Florida, which was beaut as always. Classic Calamity Jen occurred though, obviously; there was a heatwave (in an already sweltering destination, I know), in which temperatures sailed far beyond the mid-30s (plus humidity), and your jolly pale narrator developed heatstroke. Outstanding effort. I was fine for the first week, then became a bit over-confident and sat out for too long on a blisteringly hot afternoon. When I eventually decided to go inside for a reprieve, there was a lady being treated for heatstroke en route (she was OK though!), and I thought wow good decision Jenwah, you have been saved from the fate of Icarus. Unfortunately, the following morning it hit me. I've been to Florida nine times; almost every time I've been sunburnt, had a couple of dodgy tums, but I've never had heatstroke. And I've been in July. So I think there is some truth to the idea that after your first proper heatstroke, you're a bit more susceptible to it. Thanks for that, Frisco. Actually, it was my own fault. Sitting on an open-top bus for a couple of hours in (another) unexpected heatwave wasn't the best choice. Learn from my mistake, lads. Respect the sun and stay hydrated innit. And forgive me if I don't fancy events that involve heat and/or sun; I'm not being a brat, I'm just a bit tired of feeling faint for a couple of weeks afterwards. Icy bants? I am THERE. Anyway, aside from the heatstroke, I had a lovely time! I was apprehensive about visiting Trump's America, but I didn't notice much of a change. Saw a couple of Trump/Pence signs, that was about it. I had a brilliant conversation with a skycap just before we flew home; he assured me that there were less than four years to go, and everything would be put right. I hope for his sake that his prediction comes true.

As well as all of that excitement, I turned THIRTY at the end of May. When I turned twenty, I was thoroughly disgruntled with the apparent loss of my youth. At this milestone, I feel completely different. It has restored my hope, given me new focus, and re-affirmed the faith I have in myself to implement the changes that I want in my life. I'm also trialling the command to 'respect your elders', to limited success. I will persevere. I had a fabulous celebration with my close family and best friends on the day, and I've been thoroughly spoiled with presents and bougie dinners ever since. I am very grateful for all of the time and effort that has been showered upon me.

Since leaving my previous job, I have found my way into freelance writing. It was almost by chance; I'd joined a freelance platform and secured my first job, a small data entry task. The person who hired me checked my profile and found that I am a writer, then offered me a regular writing gig. In the words of Terry Tibbs, I couldn't fackin' believe it. I'm just starting out, so I have to be realistic about my hourly rate, but I'm being paid to build a portfolio, which is a hard thing to come by, so I am bare haps. The people I work with are also really kind and give great feedback; for example, on Friday I was told I am a 'copy wizard', which was a lovely boost, and got me thinking about whether I can deduct a wizard costume as a business expense. I'll keep you posted.

Aside from all of that, I am trying to get to grips with the healthy vibes. My mind is starting to feel rested, and sincere happiness on a regular basis is beginning to creep in. I haven't done a great deal of exercise since I came back from Florida, and if I'm completely honest, I've been a bit apprehensive about overheating and taking steps backward in terms of heat tolerance. But I have to try to get past it. One thing at a time. Right now, I'm re-focusing on getting my eating right. During the weekdays, I'm doing much better. It's in the evening, whilst I'm waiting for my parents to come home so I can serve dinner, that Mr Snack and the Snackettes start calling out to me with their siren song. I'm finding the Instagram account to be helpful in terms of accountability, however, and I'll be uploading my second vlog this week. The first one can be found here.

So, that's me! Very nice to be back. Jah bless!

Peace x

All good things.

I've written so many posts, on this here blog, about the importance of following our dreams. I've asked you, what would you do if you weren't afraid? I've told you, we are here for too brief a time not to pursue a wonderful life. And yet, for all those pretty words, I've not demonstrated commitment to my own ambitions. I have whinged about the stress of my job, allowed it to make me ill, and patched the damage with temporary solutions. The security of a regular salary, and the desire to fill the spaces of my life with things, pushed me so far from my aspirations that the route back to them seemed too risky to ever pursue.

Until recently, that is. I've had plenty of reminders that time is precious, and it's never guaranteed. Over a number of years I have told myself there would be a right time to go for it, possibly announced by an angel dressed in a bed sheet and a tinsel halo. Then I remembered that my life is not a nativity play. ALAS.

I realised that the right time might never reveal itself so clearly. And that in actual fact, there might never be a more opportune time than right now. So I did something for me.

I resigned.

Just like that. It was two weeks ago today, during what should have been my quarterly review. My new manager (as of February) was so sweet about it, even though it must have been a complete shock. Side note: this decision has absolutely nothing to do with him, nor my previous manager. I have been blessed with outstanding managerial bants.

As soon as I told him, I quite literally felt a burden begin to lift. Don't get me wrong; I am eternally grateful that the company simply gave me a chance. The job market in 2010 was savage, and it was certainly a gamble to take on someone with two very expensive pieces of paper but no experience in clinical research. If I'm completely honest, I didn't know what my job acronym meant for about three days. Still, a temporary admin job transformed into a permanent role, which eventually begat a junior monitor position, and now I find myself juggling responsibilities and doing things that I once thought impossible, every day. But the role itself is no longer right for me, and vice versa. There's no shame in admitting that. I had very little confidence at the age of 23, and while it's still a work-in-progress, I'm proud of the fierce determination that has emerged in the person I am now.

So, what's the plan? Firstly, I'm taking three months off. YIKES, RIGHT!? Not really. The last few summers have been rough in terms of mental health and tropical office conditions, and I don't want to reach the stage where the prospect of warmth becomes an irrational fear. So I'm going to do lots of nice summer things, like reading in the sunshine, walking barefoot on grass, and wearing short dungarees. Basically a supersoaker and a paddling pool away from the actual 90s. I'm also planning to do a lot of writing. The goal is to finish my novel, which is currently in the second draft stage. I'll be focusing on my health, too. The break will be good for my brain, and the time will allow me to improve my fitness, complimenting the healthy eating I've maintained since January. Finally, and most importantly, I'm clearing the calendar to make space for my peeps. I've been off the radar for too long; I want to spend my precious time with lovely people. Beyond that, I'm considering a PhD, perhaps contracting for a while, or full-time writing. Maybe it'll be something new entirely.

I have been inspired, as I often am, by my amazing friends. Whether it's buying a one-way ticket to India, or climbing Kilimanjaro, or becoming a paediatric nurse, or having the courage to leave teaching for a new career, or pursuing musical aspirations, or running marathons, or simply doing what you love; there is plenty of motivation to go around. I am grateful for all of you.

It would be remiss of me to finish this post without mentioning the most difficult aspect of leaving my current job; the people. The strength of any organisation lies with its employees. I am extremely fortunate to have worked with dozens (hundreds? Lol turnover...) of talented people from all over the world, who have shown me support, guidance, kindness, and most importantly, friendship. Most of you know how turbulent the last seven years have been; it would have been impossible to keep working without my daytime family. The prospect of no longer seeing them every day is still difficult to come to terms with. But friendships endure. We'll still laugh about shared memories and in-jokes. We will celebrate the amazing things that happen in the future. Our lives will evolve but our paths will never diverge too far from one another. Of that I'm certain.

Right now I'm experiencing a range of contrasting emotions; sometimes I am a bit scared of the complete unknown. However I'm also quite relieved by my decision, and a bit more relaxed, and I care slightly less about trivial things, which is actually pretty healthy. Mostly, I'm really excited about the great possibilities that lie ahead.

Peace x

15 for 15

Ahlan wa sahlan!

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year! Yes indeed, my little messengers of Yahweh, it's Christmas! I haven't felt especially festive this year, but I'm kind of getting there. I've finished work for the year and have watched Home Alone twice, so with a sprinkle of fairy dust I'll be feeling as seasonal as a Christmas pudding smothered in brandy butter with cream and ice cream, resting on a bed of tinsel, next to a cracker, while receiving the Queen's speech. And a partridge in a mahfuckin' pear tree. *Mic drop*

Anyway! The end of the year is also a time for reflection, and for the past couple of years I've performed an exercise in musical navel-gazing in the form of the n1 for n2 series, where n1 = the last two digits of the four-digit year identifier, and n2 = the same as n1. We've had 13 for 13 and 14 for 14, and in a shock twist, I present to you 15 for 15; a selection of tracks from 2015 that have been especially pleasing to the ear. Yalla! Let's go!


15. Let Me Be // Bondax feat. Bo Saris
Imagine the following objects: a piece of polished chrome, a (faux) fur rug, a wooden sculpture that has been given the fine sandpaper treatment, a bowl of melted chocolate, and a silk scarf. All of these things are smooth, but they ain't as smooth as this song! OH! Yes, Bondax feat. Bo Saris, you may be my gentleman.

14. Broken Generation // Of Mice & Men
CAN YOU HEAR THEM CALLING? Well, can you? Of Mice & Men have just one line of inquiry, and they'd really like to gather some further information on the matter. This song really surprised me; it's easy to write metalcore off as a bit shite scene; the kind of music reserved for surly teenagers with dyed black hair and plug earrings (magnetic, from Claire's; don't worry, we've all been there). Certainly, this is the kind of music I would have absolutely loved during my adolescence, but I found my 28-year-old self headbanging (lol soz yoots) to the drums and guitars and screaming and even the bits that didn't involve screaming. A fantastic burst of nostalgia, and more importantly, a great song in its own right. Never did receive any resolution as to whether they were heard calling, though. Ragrets.

13. Smooth Sailin' // Leon Bridges
Blues meets soul meets Raphael Saadiq-esque vibes meets something unquantifiable but completely fresh and unique. There's a lot of intersection here. WE NEED AN URGENT VENN DIAGRAM PLZ. Anyway, Leon Bridges' album, Coming Home, is completely gorgeous, and this is my standout track.

12. Love Like Mine // Miami Horror feat. Cleopold
I'm a big fan of things that are neon. Music is not neon, but this song is about as close to hearing neon as you'll get. It's a giddy mix of funk and synthpop, brought bang up to date for Generation Y. And y the funk not?

11. She Knows // Ne-Yo feat. Juicy J
Firstly, lol Juicy J. I'll be needing that on a t-shirt (that is a LIE). I make it a general rule of my existence to reject the output of Ne-Yo as vociferously as the bidding of Satan himself. However, this song caught me off-guard. The chorus makes me want to dance awkwardly at da club (only til about 11, mind; my musculoskeletal system isn't built for the long-term dutty wine as it once was), showing out with my homegurls and hypnotising any gentleman suitors, as the song alludes to. TLDR; Ne-Yo is shit, but this song is not. Juicy J is conceptually hilarious and horrific in equal measure.

10. King // Years & Years
I could listen to Olly Alexander's beautiful voice for quite literally years and years. OH SNAP. King is pop perfection; dance-friendly beat, delicious melody, and a chorus that's easy to sing/shout after a few sherbets.

9. House Every Weekend // David Zowie
When it comes to House Every Weekend (House Every Weekend House Every Weekend), I'm super enthused. Hearing this for the first time was a massive blast from the past; were it not for a lack of Turkey Dinosaurs for dinner and Sister Sister on the tellybox, I would have sworn blind it was the summer of 1995. Good vibes.

8. Huarache Lights // Hot Chip
Guys! Hot Chip! Remember Hot Chip? They were all ready for the (inside outside left side work that) floor, and now they're here to spread the word of Huarache Lights. I'm not sure of the song's meaning, but it's either a critique of the mechanisation of production, or just about dancing about in ya Nikes, like. There is no movement outside of those interpretations, for this is the word of the LORD.

7. Delilah // Florence + the Machine
Delilah packs a lot into five minutes, let me tell you. It starts off slow, then there's a drum just creeping in, some controlled shrieking (I don't think that's unfair guyz), followed by what I can only describe as the 'main bit', accompanied by a sick beat (not verified by Taylor Swift, but I'm rogue as fuck). There's an amazing 30-second interlude from 3:04 onwards, before Delilah's final flourish. Roarsome.

6. I Don't Fuck With You // Big Sean feat. E-40
There is nothing about this song I do not cherish and adore. I should be offended by the aggressive misogynistic language, but sometimes I just do not give a fuck about a stupid-ass bitch, and I do have a million trillion things I'd rather concern myself with. It's something to which we can all relate. Even if you hold legitimate concerns about the content, the sample is outstanding, and the breakdown at the end is just perfection ("yeah I know that karma too real so I hope you doing cool, but still stupid-ass bitch I aint fucking with you!"). Shout out to my homie Sarah; this is our specific 'lunchtime cruising to Sainsbury's' soundtrack. It's about as inappropriate as you'd expect.

5. Hotline Bling // Drake
Generally, the aforementioned Ne-Yo rule applies to Drake. I've never really liked his music, apart from the bits of Crew Love that are performed exclusively by The Weeknd. ¡However! This song, man. It's so fucking good. I played it solidly on repeat for about a week and it didn't get old. I think a lot of it is to do with the video, in which Drake performs his best/worst dad dance and still manages to chirpse da hoes. When I listen to Hotline Bling, I can imagine the exquisite awkwardness of the whole situation, which makes the song even betterer.

4. Can't Feel My Face // The Weeknd
Oh, The Weeknd. Your hair is madness but dat voice is angelic. I love all the layers and intricacy of this song, as well as one of the interpretations of its meaning, that being the euphoria of infatuation. It's also kind of about smack or crack or shellac; whatever the kids are shoving up their noses these days. Look, I'm old, irrelevant, and went to a convent school, OK? I know nothing of the street. Anyway, if I were Tony the Tiger (which I should propose as a career development goal), I would give my verdict of this song as follows: GRRRRRRREAT.
(Sorry.)

3. On The Regular // Shamir
I don't even know where to start with this fucking masterpiece. There's a cow bell, extensive synth, dope beats, sick lyrics, and the glitter-glue holding the whole thing together; Shamir. It's impossible to describe the exact combination of factors that makes On The Regular so incredible; I mean, I can't even figure out the genre. It's disco-hiphop-synthpop dipped in gold and sprinkled with diamonds. That's the best I can do. Listen to this song and embrace its strange beauty. Just don't try to touch Shamir's crown though, because there will be scandal.

2. Love Yourself // Justin Bieber
I know. It's Justin Bieber. I'm not going to deny that he's still kind of a penis, but he's had a bladdy impressive musical comeback.  I'll discuss Purpose in greater detail shortly, but trust that it was difficult to select just one track for this list. In the end I went for Love Yourself; there's something about the scaled-back arrangement, the crushing defiance of the lyrics, and the vulnerability in Biebs' vocal, that makes it completely irresistible.

1. Pedestrian At Best // Courtney Barnett
The crux of my perpetual love for Pedestrian At Best is that it's essentially a ranting monologue set to guitars and drums, but that doesn't do it the justice it rightly deserves. When Courtney Barnett roars "put me on a pedestal and I'll only disappoint you" in an unrepentant Aussie inflection, you're right there with her. Fucking right, Courtney, we're all having an existential time crisis. AND THAT'S OK. Pedestrian At Best is raw and meandering and fucking excellent and I love it.

Album of the Year
Justin Bieber // Purpose
I'm sorry, but I'm also really not sorry (is it too late now to say sorrynotsorry?). I have to hand it to the guy, Purpose is well-written, well-produced, and well-delivered. I'm not sure to what extent JB himself was involved in the foundation work, but the end result is impressive. I listened to the whole album several times, and while there are peaks and troughs in quality, there are no real clangers. I get that there's a high cringe factor, and trust that I was sceptical before the first listen, but it's worth a bash, nah?
Album highlights: What Do You Mean?; Sorry; Love Yourself; The Feeling; Where Are Ü Now; Trust

Soundtrack of the Year
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Come on, man! What else was it going to be?


I've created a Spotify playlist containing the 15 for 15 winners, which can be found by clicking here and entering the following password: kylorenisatwat2k15. Jk, there is no password, but Kylo Ren is a twat (#nospoilerz).

Peace x