Local Elections 2023 - Sheffield Wire

Live: Latest updates from Sheffield & Barnsley Local Elections 2023

From QT to Queer Icon: How SOPHIE Broke New Ground in Pop Music

12:15pm

(Credit: SOPHIE - Jason Altaan) It all started with a mystery. The track 'Hey QT' dropped on YouTube in the autumn of 2014. Nobody knew who was behind it. The artist was listed as QT, and the music video was presented as a strange mix of commercial product placement and a hyperactive sci-fi short film. Later, it was revealed that the people behind the song, which had gone viral, were American vocalist Hayden Frances Dunham and PC music-affiliated producers A.G Cook and SOPHIE. The track was given the Best New Music award by music site Pitchfork. In January, SOPHIE, 34, real name Sophie Xeon, met an untimely death after falling from a rooftop in Greece, climbing to the roof of her apartment claiming she wanted to "watch the moon." The incident sparked many tributes on social media and in the online press, both from her fans and people who had worked with her. Bold and unapologetic, SOPHIE was an icon to younger generations who grew up with the internet and the fringe communities fostered by this. The internet was SOPHIE's domain: she knew how to use it, and it was how she connected with her fans, regularly posting about her music and calling attention to various political causes, like the Black Lives matter movement. For a long time, little was known about SOPHIE. Although she was creating a buzz online, she left much of her personal life hidden. By the time Hey QT's identity was revealed, she had uploaded tracks to YouTube under her own moniker. It took some time for the general public to notice she was affiliated with the song, but after it propelled her to fame, her true identity was eventually revealed.

SOPHIE - Jason Altaan

In 2017, SOPHIE came out as transgender just a year before her debut album, Oil of Every Pearls' Un-Insides, was released. Although this was just five years ago, it was a different time for trans people: there were people who had transitioned and publicly come out as transgender, most notably Lana and Lily Wachowski, the creators of the Matrix franchise, but it was a time when doing so would result in it being brushed aside by the media. The two sisters came out in 2012 and 2016. Given that, SOPHIE did so in a flux period, during a period in which it was not quite as readily acknowledged, but was getting there, albeit slowly.

SOPHIE - Jason Altaan

On top of being a talented musician, SOPHIE was looked up to by the community and became a beacon for trans people. Although trans visibility has increased in recent times, the issues they have faced have increased simultaneously: in the past year, several high-profile celebrities like J.K. Rowling and Graham Linehan have been condemned for spreading anti-trans rhetoric on Twitter, with the latter being banned from the platform. Her work, particularly on her debut album, was specifically about trans issues, and fought against transphobic viewpoints, and she did so while working with some of the most well-known people in the industry, including Charli XCX, Kim Petras, and Madonna. She paved the way for a new sound of pop. At this point, her otherworldly, experimental style has become inextricably linked to people who are working at the cutting edge of the genre. To understand her influence on wider music culture, you only need to look at the obituaries of her on social media written by both fans and other musicians. Gus Bonito, producer of the Electro-Pop band Kero Kero Bonito, wrote: "Her music is righteous: a total vision of what pop could be if we embraced technology, each other and our truest selves. She was occasionally misunderstood by the music press at first, but true ability is stronger than that; she proved that this music was here to stay." A leading figurehead in the trans rights movement, SOPHIE was a well-known public figure and an inspiration for the trans community. Jack Cullen, an East London publicist, said: "She was a fantastic trans role model, playing a role not just in trans narratives and rights, but finding recognition in the music industry and being known for what she could do as well as who she was. When we look at women's rights or gay rights or civil rights, often individuals have to almost prove (unfairly) to straight society that they can be best at something in order to demand acknowledgement - be that a female pilot, a gay comedian, a Black tennis player, etc, and SOPHIE was doing that with top level production, it was like her name had the same currency or clout as Diplo or Max Martin or Timbaland." Up until the end, SOPHIE was constantly pushing musical boundaries, and this is perhaps most true of the final track on her debut album, 'Whole New World/Perfect World." The song is a speedy, kinetic song which fills a void on the pop landscape, making more abstract electronic production stylish and accessible to a mainstream audience. SOPHIE may have passed away, but the musical legacy she has left behind will continue to influence music in the coming years.

Improvements to Stannington playground in place after parents sign petition

12:05pm

Improvements are to be made to a Sheffield playground after parents sign a petition expressing their concerns over safety. These concerns arose after recent bad weather created muddy conditions in Stannington Park. Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet member for Culture, Parks and Leisure, said: "The bad weather has presented lots of challenges in our parks and I understand the frustrations of local parents who want to use this playground and cannot." The main issue is the water logging, but plans are being developed for updated drainage and improvements to playground equipment. Cllr Lea said: “We’ve listened to those concerns and now have a plan in place to improve this much-loved playground for children and families, which will enable everyone access throughout the year." Emily Baughan, from Sheffield, said most playground refurbishments tend to be funded by donors and campaigners. The petition for Stannington Park improvements has proven instrumental for initiating a plan. She said: "The pandemic has revealed both how little public space there is for children, and that much of it isn't fit for purpose. Recovery plans for the young need to focus not just on play but resourcing." But local parents are frustrated that this isn't being made a top priority by the council. They have argued that local people should not be the ones having to raise funds to keep places up to date and safe for everybody to use. The ground conditions have caused frustration at a time when lockdown means parks and green spaces are being used more than ever. Residents have also stressed that the park is not accessible for everybody, so improvements are urgent. Julie Levitt, a frequent visitor to the park, said: “This isn’t just about a few kids getting muddy, it’s more about accessibility. I see parents with prams avoiding the playground because tackling the mud and keeping up with a toddler is neither easy nor enjoyable. "My daughter uses a mobility scooter and that makes it impossible for her to take my grandson to the park to play.” Once the plan is ready, the options to improve the playground will be shared with the local community for comment and feedback. To sign the petition, click here.

Wilder: “We have to win games now” – West Ham United v Sheffield United preview

11:48am

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder taking questions in the lead up to tonight's game. (@SheffieldUnited on Twitter) In the lead up to tonight's Premier League game against West Ham, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder made it clear - if there is any chance for the Blades to turn their season around, an exceptional run of form in the league needs to happen sooner rather than later. "We cannot sugarcoat anything" Wilder said. "We really have to play well and hit top form towards the end of the season." "The players understand it, we've got to win games of football and we've got to win them soon. We have to win games now." It has been a challenging campaign for Sheffield United, having won only three of their 23 games in the Premier League, suffering injury setbacks and being without staunch support at Bramall Lane. Tonight, they travel to the London Stadium to play against an on form West Ham team, who under David Moyes have completely changed their fortunes. There is a compelling contrast between these two teams when comparing this season to last. The Blades are almost exactly in the same position as West Ham were this time last year. On 15 February 2020, Sheffield United had played 26 games and sat in 5th place on 39 points, 2 points behind Chelsea. This season, West Ham have played 23, are on 39 points and level with Chelsea who are in 5th. Wilder sang the Hammers' praises during his press conference on Saturday morning, making reference to how the Irons' season shares a host of similarities with their campaign from 2019 to 2020. The Blades boss said: "This is an experienced, established Premier League side." "I know they've got a few injury issues for Monday night but generally their players have been on form and kept fit. That's a familiar story isn't it?" One of those on form players is Tomas Soucek. The 25 year-old has been a starlet for West Ham since his move from Slavia Prague, scoring 8 goals from a defensive midfield position. Another is Jesse Lingard, one of Sheffield United's transfer targets in January. He scored a brace on his debut against Aston Villa, and if Chris Wilder was watching that game, he'll be frustrated he couldn't get the Englishman's signature. Despite West Ham's strengths, the belief from the Sheffield United camp seems to be there. Throw in the wild unpredictability of the Premier League, at the moment coupled with a good run in the FA cup, it becomes difficult to make any straightforward predictions. The Blades' 3-2 win against Bristol Rovers in the third round of the FA cup was the catalyst for their first Premier League win of the season against Newcastle three days later. Inspired by those performances, they went on to defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford and have continued their impressive cup form, leading to a quarter-final draw against Chelsea. But despite their decent cup run, Sheffield United have lost 11 of their 13 away matches in the league this season, and have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 away fixtures. The reality is that Sheffield United's front-line have not been up to scratch. David McGoldrick is their top scorer with 5 goals, while £23 million signing Rhian Brewster is yet to prove worth his price tag, having failed to score in 18 Premier League appearances. The stats may not make pleasant reading for Blades fans heading into tonight's game, but they can take something away from the reverse fixture. In November, the only difference at Bramall Lane was a Sebastian Haller goal from outside of the box. The Frenchman struck a fine finish after a clearance from Aaron Ramsdale went unopposed in the middle of the pitch. The last time these two teams met highlights these fine margins for Sheffield United in the Premier League this season. It shows the close-knit nature of their results. If the Blades are to put a run together and collect those much needed points, they need to command and capitalise on big moments over the next couple of fixtures. Team news The Blades are still without Sander Berg and Jack O'Connell, two players on the long-term injury list. George Baldock and Enda Stevens are back in training. Meanwhile, Michail Antonio should feature for the Hammers, despite there being doubts surrounding fatigue. Centre-back Angelo Ogbonna has picked up an ankle injury and Andri Yarmolenko is out with a knee injury. Tomas Soucek's red card for an alleged elbow on Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović has been overturned, so he should make plenty of impact running through from midfield tonight. Predicted Line-ups West Ham United (4-2-3-1) Fabianski, Cresswell, Diop, Dawson, Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Lingard, Benrahma, Antonio. Sheffield United (3-5-2) Ramsdale, Ampadu, Egan, Basham, Lowe, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram, Bogle, Sharp, McGoldrick. Match information Kick off is at 6pm. Referee is Simon Hooper Available to watch on BT Sport 1 HD.

Sheffield cycle routes to be improved in Connecting Sheffield’s latest proposal

11:23am

Safer cycle routes are part of the plans to be included in Connecting Sheffield’s new proposal to encourage active travel around the city. The proposal is part of a scheme to develop connections within Sheffield, focusing on linking Kelham and Neepsend to the City Centre, and improving the city’s environmental spaces and transport infrastructure. Martin Phipps, Green Party Councillor for City Ward, said many of Kelham Island's residents have been calling for a lot of these changes for some time. The proposal will introduce new cycle routes and form better connections to the city.

Coun Phipps, who lives and works in the city centre, added: “I couldn’t have imagined a change in landscape like the Dutch-style roundabout on West Bar where cyclists will have priority being proposed three or four years ago, so it is really exciting to see a change in mentality.” CycleSheffield said they were pleased to see the plans for the Dutch-style roundabout at West Bar. The roundabout is currently very hostile for people cycling and walking so improvements which prioritise active travel are very welcome, added Dexter Johnstone, Secretary of CycleSheffield. The Connecting Sheffield schemes will create an attractive environment for people to walk and cycle according to CycleSheffield. They said this is important because the biggest barrier to people cycling in Sheffield is road safety, and so the creation of high quality cycle infrastructure is essential to enable more people to make their journeys by bike. Sam Ingham, 21, Deliveroo Rider and Sheffield Hallam Student, said the plans will allow him to travel faster and safer. Mr Ingham added: “Plans to improve Sheffield’s environment are always positive in my opinion. It will be great to see more green spaces and safer ways to travel on bike or by foot, and it will definitely benefit me in both my job and my active life.” By creating safer, user friendly, walking and cycling routes the proposal makes active travel an attractive alternative to a short car journey. A reduction in road traffic will also help reduce pollution, according to Sheffield Greenpeace, who have said they support this second consultation, connecting the City Centre to Neepsend and Kelham. Mr Johnstone said: “The schemes are ambitious and of a high quality and we commend Sheffield Council for this.” Mr Phipps added: "I think it is a really exciting scheme and it would be great to have as much feedback on it as possible." The consultation will end on 3 March 2021. To review the proposal and have your say, visit: https://connectingsheffield.commonplace.is/proposals/neepsend-kelham-city-centre.

South Yorkshire Police issue appeal for man wanted on recall

11:03am

South Yorkshire Police have appealed for information on the whereabouts of a 32-year-old man who is wanted on recall to prison after breaching his licence conditions. Nathan Willoughby, pictured, is white, 5ft 7ins, of a slim build with short, brown hair. Willoughby is linked to Parkgate in Rotherham, Balby in Doncaster and Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire. If you have any information, please call 101 quoting crime reference number 420 of 1 February 2021, or contact Crime Stoppers via their website Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.