First draft for article

She’s gorgeous, she’s lively, she’s confident, she also has extreme talent it’s the one and only Jessica Cardiff.

It all started a great 18 years ago back in July 1994 and a mother was soon to give birth to her baby. On the 23^rd July 1994 Tracy Barlow gave birth to Miss Jessica Ann Barlow weighing in at 8lbs 2oz, but of course no one knew then that this little baby girl would make British music history.

From a very young age Jessica had always been interested in music; from the tiny age of 4 she had already started singing, dancing and piano lessons, it was obvious to her family that Jessica had an amazing musical gift and that she needed to get noticed. Everything was planning out perfectly for Jess, she was giving her first singing audition at the age of 7 (which could potentially change her life), however sadly due to family matter she had to move to London immediately and she missed her audition. This turned Jessica’s life upside down and refused to sing or play an instrument again, she felt it was a sign telling her that it just wasn’t meant to be, she carried on with her school life and tried to live a happy enough life without music, but she couldn’t she lived, breathed and ate music it was her passion, her life and it wasn’t the same without it.

After gaining 10 GCSEs Jessica knew she’d end up in sixth form carrying on with science, but was she? A new upcoming television programme broadcasted on BBC1 would be released in November 2010 called ‘Young Musical Talent’ would this be Jessica’s answer to music again? Of course! but she refused to audition she didn’t want to get her hopes up again and then be crushed down, she was sick of being left down and was determined to wash that dream away forever. I bet your wandering what happened next? Well her mother Tracy and Stepdad David never gave up on their daughters dream so secretly entered her in for an audition to take place in Liverpool Halewood, the original venue which she was meant to audition at six years before. Jessica knew nothing and was told to walk into the audition room totally un prepared and was asked to sing, a huge panic filled up inside her but she knew that this could be an opportunity of a life time, and what do you know? She one the hole show and has now gone on to sell over 25 million copies, 3 albums reaching number 1 and also 6 Song releases reaching number one in astonishing 15 countries and holding the number title for 8 weeks running.

Talking exclusively to M.1! About her life and career here is the one and only official interview with Jessica Cardiff

Star Profile

Name-Jessica Ann Cardiff

Age-18

D.O.B-23^rd July 1994

Place of birth- Halewood, Liverpool

Favourite colour- Red

Favourite food- (hard choice) Chocolate or Quavers

Favourite Film- Harry Potter!!!!!

Favourite Book- Harry Potter

Where will you be likely found? - Recording studio or my bed!

Most loved possession- Life

Hi Jess, it’s an absolute pleasure to be able to speak to you today!

Oh well thank you very much! But it’s a pleasure to be here!

Did you always think you would make it as a singer?

(Laughs) NO WAY!! I never thought for a minute that I would become a famous singer like I am now! I have always loved singing it’s my life! But I never for a minute expected this at all!

If you hadn’t of had such a successful music career what do you think you would of done instead?

To be honest I have no idea! I’m a bit of a science geek so I would of probably ended up in that line of work or maybe a hairdresser? (Laughing)… that’s a toughie!

Who do you think your fame is down to?

Well obviously my mum and dad as they were the ones who auditioned me for the show, however the judges too because they were the ones to put me through and my agent ( Caroline Tamiflu) as she has been able to stretch my name out into the big wide world.

Now jess, you’ve had an astonishing six songs reaching number one in over 15 countries, what one is your favourite?

That’s a hard question as all my songs are meaningful but probably ‘Thankful’ because it’s a personal song thanking everyone for helping me get to where I am now.

You’ve recently split up with Sam Decays, Why?

Personal reasons which of course I can’t go into, but we are still very close friends and nothing ended on sour terms, we just both need to focus on our careers for now.

So, is there anyone else you have your eye on now?

Ahahahaa! No, I’m still getting over the breakup it’s got me bad even though the decision was mutual he was my first proper love.

So the music couples love could re appear soon then? 

I don’t know what the future holds for us, I’m just taking each day as it goes.

It’s rumoured that you are releasing your first tour soon is that true?

YES! The dates are not yet finalised but the tour will be next March time up until May, and tickets will be going on sale within the next month, I am very excited!

When are you next planning on releasing your new album?

Well I have about 5 more songs to go and then it should all be finished J

And are you able to give us a hint to what the album is called

Unfortunately not as team1 and TGU are featuring in the album, but hopefully there won’t be a long release date!

So what are your plans next in life then?

Well after selling two more albums and doing two tours think I’m going to settle down for two years and hopefully get married and have children … (A girl can dream…) I would love to get married and have children and hopefully one day that will happen! But first I would like to build my career up to as big as it can get and be in a happy long lasting stable relationship.

Oooo! Have you got any ideas on who you’re going to marry then?

(Laughing) well I have a long list of a good few names (jokingly), I don’t know what my life in tales I just hope I meet the one soon! As I love wedding dresses aha

Well as long as M.1! Are invited to the big wedding!

Of course you will be!

Picture ideas

Throughout my research of music magazines, I have been particularly drawn to ‘Q’ music magazine because of their amazing front cover pictures, colours and layouts, from my research I have chosen to use a similar layout to ‘Q’ and also stage my model for the cover similar to them too, because I like how their main cover star is the main picture on the cover.

Here are some designs I am focusing my front cover to

Codes and Conventions - Pictures, Writing & Organisation

Pictures – How many there are, Technical e.g. - Camera / Framing/ Lighting

On the Contents page for Tops of the Pops there is a print screen of the magazine front cover on the right hand side which has been annotated telling the audience what page each cover story is on, they have also used a mid-shot image from Fearne Cotton in the lower central part of the page, the image gives a big glow from the page linking in with the colour themes of the magazine, pink, yellow and white. Similarly Mojo have linked there picture in with their colour theme too. Mojo have chosen to use a close up shot of a man on a guitar looking straight at the camera, the picture is black and white linking in to the colour theme of the ‘Black and White’ contents page. I really like the idea of having one main image to the side and the contents besides it.

Mix Mag have used three main pictures which all stand out and relate to the genre of music magazine (Partying/ DJ), all three pictures are brightly set creating a night club atmosphere with the black background. Similarly NME have used seven pictures all linking to the theme of big music artists, they have made all the pictures pretty much the same size however there is one larger one in the middle of the page indicating that the man is the main cover story.

Writing – Number of articles listed, details about the articles

As Top of the Pops used a print screen of their magazine with annotations this allowed for a more space to be used, Top of the Pops then created five subheadings making the number of pages to 66. I quite like this idea because it is easier to read to quicker to find out however I feel it take the idea out of a proper contents page. Top of the Pops have also used subheadings to allow the reader to look for what they want to read quicker, Similarly Mix Mag have also used five subheadings for example ‘ Don’t stay in’ this subheading confuses the audience because it doesn’t tell you what the titles are actually about. I really like the idea of subheadings however I would make sure they are clear to the audience.

Both NME and MOJO have decided to go for a minimalistic contents giving the brief title for each page and the page number, both magazines come to around 66/68 pages. I dislike the lack of description used in both magazines because i want my reader to be able to find what they are exactly looking for instead of guessing from one word.

Organisation

Top of the Pops and NME have used a very busy contents page using lots of pictures and making the page all crammed in, I do like the busy atmosphere to the page however I prefer Mix Mag and Mojos slick, sophisticated edge with the contents to the side and a main focal pictures , setting the tone throughout the magazine.