axiom
FA S H I O N | S T R E E T W E A R | C U LT U R E | P H OT O G R A P H Y
SINK OR SWIM
D O M I N O V E RO N A / A N T H O N Y L I S T E R / C H R I S P H I L L I P S CABINS / ANTE MAGAZINE / RUSSIAN CRIMINAL TATTOOS ESTATE OF MIND / TRIPLE SIX APPAREL
THE NEW FRONTIER There are so many talented people in this country, and for our money they don’t get the support they deserve. We live in a country that worships footy players and V8 Supercar racers, but doesn’t give a second thought to musicians, poets and artists trying to enrich the world we live in. That’s why we tried to help. The New Frontier is the result of collaboration between Warhol’s Children, an online culture mag from Sydney, and Bulleit Bourbon. We’re trying to discover what’s there on the New Frontier of Australian creativity. Axiom Magazine is one of the projects we found, and we’re glad to be able to help. We think it looks great. We’re also on the lookout for more projects to help and to promote. You can find more about the New Frontier project at www.warholschildren.com Don’t forget to look for us and Bulleit on Facebook and Twitter. Enjoy Axiom!
axiom
FA S H I O N | S T R E E T W E A R | C U LT U R E | P H OT O G R A P H Y
LUCY STEVENS - EDITOR, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER lucystevens@hotmail.com
LAURA PIKE - PHOTO EDITOR RACHEL STEVENS - COPY EDITOR AMIE JONES - DRINKING BUDDY
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS - CARLY ZINGA, HAYLEY PEASE, CHRIS PHILLIPS, HANA BEGIC, LUCY STEVENS, BENNY LAU, BRAD SMYTHE, STEPHEN KEARNEY. CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS - HARMONY HEARSEY, LUCY STEVENS, ANGELA KATE, FRAN ABBOTT. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS - FRAN ABBOTT, LUCY STEVENS, ADAM HUNT. CONTRIBUTING HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST - LENNAN HAN
SPECIAL THANKS TO ESTATE OF MIND, CHADWICK MODELS, TRIPLE SIX, ZERO BOUTIQUE, LONDON MODELS, SIX WOLVES AGENCY, DEAD CASTLE POJECT, BESPOKE PR, BLEACH PR, MINETTE SHUEN, BRAD SMYTHE, CABINS, BULLIET BOURBON, WARHOL’S CHILDREN & MEL K.
ON THE COVER - PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUCY STEVENS, STYLING BY ANGELA KATE PUTRUS FEATURING JEREMY AT SIX WOLVES. FROM ‘YOUNG BLOOD’ pg. 132
www.axiommag.net instagram: @lucystevens
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CONTENTS 005 006
012
032
THE YOUNG NEVER SLEEP MEET THE CREW
008
ELLIE HEXTALL
010
ALL THE GOOD SHIT
012
TRIPLE SIX
022
CABINS AT THE ANNANDALE
032
048
080
DOMINO VERONA
040
ESTATE OF MIND A / W 13
044
ANTHONY LISTER
048
HANGING WITH THE MOB
060
UPPING THE ANTE
066
DOUBLE VISION
080
092
122
GIMME SHELTER
092
SKATE RATS
106
TEEN SPIRIT
122
SUPER FUTURE
132
YOUNG BLOOD
140
132
140
ORACLE
150
RUSSIAN CRIMINAL TATTOOS
156
ALBUM REVEIWS
158
WAYNE’S WORLD
160
SEEYA
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FOREWORD
THE YOUNG NEVER SLEEP
Hey there, and welcome to AXIOM. According to the dictionary that came on my MacBook, AXIOM means a starting point or premise for something. I like that idea; everyone and everything needs somewhere to start, a new idea, a fresh perspective. And thats what we hope to be as a collective. A place for fresh, young creatives to get their work out there, and show it to like minded people. We’ve interviewed young photographers and designers, collaborated with stylists and writers - all people who we’ve admired from afar, and wanted to talk to about their work, their passions and why they chose to do what they do. Young photographers like Chris Phillips, Hayley Pease and Hanna Begic, all doing amazing things within their repective aesthetics. We’ve been lucky enough to feature the work of these talented young people on our pages. This is what AXIOM is all about, young people doing cool shit. This issue is titled ‘Sink or Swim’. If you bothered to read it on the front cover, for obvious reasons, it’s either get this shit done or go down swinging. AXIOM started as an idea many months ago, and I’m extrmley proud of how far things have come since then. Even if this is the only issue that sees the light of day, and gets lost in the backlog of internet crap and stacks of magazines in my bedroom, it’s gonna be the best fucking issue, and you better read that shit. Cheers, Lucy
editor, creative director, designer.
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CONTRIBUT ORS
HARMONY HEARSEY CO-STYLED SKATE RATS, P. 92 If you had to jump on a plane tomorrow, where would you go? I’d go to Europe so I can go backpacking to see the Palace of Versailles, have a picnic at the Eiffel tower, see the Leaning tower of Pisa, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace in London, have a tomato fight in Barcelona, ride a moped in the Greek Islands, swim with with the Lochness monster in Scotland, steal a pint glass in Germany and ski in the French Alps. Yeah, Europe. What’s the best thing you’ve ever found? Well I did find a Unicorn ring... The title of your autobiography would be.... Harmony Hearsey and her life of unicorns The best musical act you’ve ever seen live is... Coldplay in 2009 and 2012, hands down!
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CARLY ZINGA PHOTOGRAPHED SKATE RATS, P. 92
FRAN ABBOTT WROTE UPPING THE ANTE, P. 68
If you had to jump on a plane tomorrow, where would you go? Greece!!!
If you had to jump on a plane tomorrow, where would you go? Anywhere I can drink cocktails and sun bake all day.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found? Friendship and the last cookie in the cookie jar haha The title of your autobiography would be.... “The Zinga Chronicles” or, “Buy my book so I dont have to work anymore” The best musical act you’ve ever seen live is... The Lion King - I am still 5 years old at heart!
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found? One time I found a possum in a bush and fed him sour worms. He was pretty cute. I never saw him again. The title of your autobiography would be.... No idea. It would be leather bound and very heavy though. The best musical act you’ve ever seen live is... That would have to be Muscles when I was like 16. I danced all night and it was amazing. At Splendor, Fat Freddy Drop and The Rubens were incredible.
MODEL PROFILE
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MODEL PROFILE
THE SECCOND TIME I EVER MET ELLIE WAS AT A FRIEND’S BIRTHDAY PARTY ON A SECLUDED CLIFF FACE OVERLOOKING SYDNEY HARBOUR. SHE’S THE KIND OF GIRL YOU’RE NOT LIKLEY TO FORGET: CIGGARETTE IN HAND, RAPPING TO BIGGIE LIKE SHE WAS YEARS OLDER THAN HER 17 YEAR OLD FACE LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE. SINCE THEN WE’VE WORKED TOGETHER A LOT, ELLIE FEATURES IN ‘TEEN SPIRIT’ ON PAGE 106 OF THIS ISSUE. WE THREW A WHOLE BUNCH OF RANDOM QUESTIONS AT HER, HERE’S WHAT SHE CAME UP WITH.
Name: Ellie Jean Hextall Agency: Chadwick! Current location: I’m in Tokyo bitches!!! Favourites: Drink: The mango smoothie from Grounds of Alexandria is my all time fave. Boy: Daniel Johns - you sexy human. Girl: Claire Boucher mmm Song: Right at this point in time it’s Tom ford- jay z. Artist: Banksy! Instagram or Facebook: Instagram fo sho Emotion: Well happy, but I weirdly enough love the feeling of being nervous. Book: Looking for Alaska. John Green is a clever, clever man. Band: Old Silverchair is fucking dope! Place: I LOVE TOKYO! Dude the fashion here, and the people and the food. It’s like heaven. Movie: Tossing up between Happy Gilmore & Billy Maddison. Adam Sandler you really do it for me. Flower: Cactus! That classifies as a flower yeah? Designer: I love Givenchy! Superhero: Nanana Batman Animal: Oh dayum, this would have to be a meerkat - just because I look like one Name: For a boy or a girl, ACE! I wanna be called Ace! Magazine: Monster Children for sure! Was lucky enough to shoot with the babes not long ago! Random: Last thing you ate: Well seemings I’m in Japan, the last thing I ate - I wouldn’t have a clue because everything is written
in Japanese! It was some form of meat, maybe chicken but oh hot damn it was mighty fine! Hip hop or rock n roll: Oh come on man, I love electric guitars so much so there comes the rock n roll part. But hip hop makes me feel funkehhh freshhhh! Imma go hip hop. Are you in a good mood: I’m pretty sleepy, the weather is so hot here! Like 34 degrees and 80% humidity. I’m dying! Give me Australian weather back! What are you listening to right now: All the Russian models I’m living with talking in their own language and me attempting to translate but giving up. Why can’t we all speak the same language? Who did I last speak to on the phone: My best gal friend ever jazzy fizzle! When was the last time I ate pizza: Last night!! I’ve been eating pizza every night it is so good!! But bad... But GOOD! So tonight shall be pizza again. Do you sing in the shower: Maybe.... Yes. But I do this weird thing that is kind of embarrassing where i fill my mouth with water and like do a fountain out of my mouth and I’m spinning in a circle. I do it every shower. Last time I got my photo taken: today! I got 3 street style people come up to me and ask to take my photo! Tyler or A$AP: A$AP! What did you want to be when you grew up: I wanted to be a face painter, haha Do you believe in god?: To be honest not really, I believe in the power of the universe and the Big Bang theory! What do you wear to bed: Usually a big baggy tee and undies! But I always wake
up with no clothes on. First concert: My first concert was when I was in year 7 I went to Usher haha! Target or Kmart: Kmart. More variety! Nike or Adidas: Oh come on are you kidding me!? They are both my fav brands!!! I love Nike shoes over Adidas, I love Adidas originals clothes, I like Adidas clothes better than Nike clothes! Damn son, am I allowed to pass? Or say both? Peanut butter or Vegemite: lots of butterlil Vegemite! Who would you like to see in concert: Allday would be heaps fun! Coffee or tea: Coffee & cig!! Can you roll a perfect cigarette: I wish! I can’t get the tuck! The tuck is evil!! I have to use a rolling machine hahah Do you have a nickname? My dad calls me mouse, but mostly just Elle. Least favourite movie: Any musicals, I really get bored with musicals Maccas or KFC: Maccas! KFC makes me feel sick after! It’s so good while I’m eating it but not after! Favourite hangover food: Definitely eggs & bacon!! Best thing to eat for breakfast: Yumm white chocolate pancakes! Star sign: Leo! What are you wearing right now: A pair of low slung pants I got from Tokyo which are rad! With a Nike mesh singlet I got from a cool op shop! Do you have any tattoos? I wish! Is Donald glover a babe? He is cute! But I’m not frothing too hard haha Have I asked you enough random shit yet? Dude I’m loving this keep em coming!!!
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AXIOM LOVES
VIOLENT SOHO - HUNGRY GHOST Violent Soho are a 4 piece band out of Queensland playing a mash up of 90’s garage grunge meets punk rock. Their previous offerings via singles Neighbour Neighbour and Tinderbox are are heavier affair, leaning more towards the punk genre. Hungry Ghost breaks things up more for the band with tracks like Dope Calypso and In The Aisle having a more melodic edge to the heavier grungy breakdowns. All with a punchy, kick in the teeth vibe that Violent Soho have been accoustomed to bringing to all their tracks. You can catch them on their Hungy Ghost tour around Australia, hitting all major cities throughout October and November. Relive the 90’s glory days of grunge and punk rock with the boys via the new record. For tour dates and more info hit up: www.violentsoho.com. Hungry Ghost is out now via I OH YOU.
ZERO BOUTIQUE Stocking a wide variety of both Australian and international labels such as Afends, Grand Scheme, Huf, Stolen Girlfriend’s Club, Jungles, Triple Six, UNIF and Vans, Zero Boutique is set to be anyone’s first stop on a trip to Adelaide. Sticking to their mantra of ‘Style & Elegance With A Touch Of Dirt’, you can be sure to find something that’s going to leave your wallet a little lighter by the end of your visit. Drop some cash at Zero, 61 Jetty Road, Glenelg, SA, 5045 ph: 08 82944222
DEAD CASTLE PROJECT Ever wondered what the cool kids of General Pants do when they’re not running an Australian street wear empire? That’s right, they start their own street wear line. As if they needed to be any cooler. Thanks for that guys. Dead Castle Project was founded by Sam Moore, head mens wear designer for General Pants, so you can see where the influence lies for the line he now designs for. Snapback caps with iPhone emoji embroidary, bandanna prints and low riding skinny trackpants all with a sporty vibe. Think mesh pannels, sports stripes and customised skate decks. For more info and to buy online, check out www.deadcastleproject.com
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AXIOM LOVES
PRIMAVERA AT THE MCA This much-loved annual exhibition is turning 22 this year, returning to the MCA with the next crop of unapologetically bold makers, thinkers and performers. Hailing from Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, the work of these eight young Australian artists will delight and fascinate, like the intense sound-scapes of Kusum Normoyle (pictured) Check out the free exhibition from September to November, at 140 Geroge St, The Rocks, Sydney
MARY’S NEWTOWN Just when you thought Newtown had turned into a place where you could only buy frozen fucking yoghurt, the gods opened Mary’s. Those gods being Jacob Smyth & Kenny Graham, ex Bodega and Gardel’s Bar respectivley, with Luke Powell from Tetsuya’s cooking up some of the best burgers and fried chicken this side of the US. Filling a gap in the Newtown market for a small local bar where you can hang out any night of the week, and consume your body weight in chicken, Mary’s is set to be your go-to local for the folk of the Inner West, with no need to head to Surry Hills for a night out. Hop on down and have a pint and a burger, 6 Mary St, Newtown
HUF X HAZE COLLABORATION New York City graffiti-artist Eric Haze made his debut on the streets of Manhattan in the early 70’s, writing under the tag name ‘Haze’. Haze turned to marketing himself, and in 1993 launched his own clothing and design line, which has come to be recognized as one of the original producers of street wear as we know it today. The Huf x Haze collaboration features a series of t-shirts, a snapback hat, and skateboard deck designed by haze. To check out the collaboration and to buy online, check out www.store.hufworldwide.com
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
HAND PRINTED AND DESIGNED IN ADELAIDE, TRIPLE SIX ARE A SMALL LABEL DOING BIG THINGS. AXIOM TALKS TO DESIGNER ADRIAN DORSEY ABOUT WHAT’S GOING DOWN IN ADELAIDE. EDITORIAL SHOT EXCLUSIVLEY FOR TRIPLE SIX. INTERVIEW, PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING USING TRIPLE SIX BY LUCY STEVENS FEATURING LUCINDA @ CHADWICKS
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
How are you today!? I’m sweet, I’m actually listening to old Sepultura and it rules hahaha. Nice one. I haven’t listened to them in ages. So, how did Triple Six come about? Well, Music being a pretty big influence in my life, I’ve always been into darker, well everything. I grew up listening to Faith No More, Cyprus Hill, Pantera, the edgier 90’s shit. When it comes to fashion, I found it hard to find a styled tee that suits a similar vibe. So I thought to myself im going to make them. Hence the RIP series right? Well kinda, I was just playing around with the idea & figured, fuck I’m going to make a tribute to DIME from Pantera, which then led to the Biggie Smalls, Kurt Cobain & RIP ODB tees. All dead rockstars that made a difference in my opinions growing up. Plus who wouldn’t wear a tribute tee for Biggie Smalls? Exactly! They’re really fucking cool by the way. They’re like the anti-football jersey The Name Triple Six came from a Baker Skate Video where I saw a rad skater Lizard king wearing this rad bubble tee as he skated this 12 stair which is now our ‘666’ print. It was that 10 second 50.50 that gave me the idea, he just looked so fucking cool! Haha. That’s sick! The play on the whole sports trend is clearly pretty big at the moment, I just wanted to pay tribute the people who deserve it! You’re a pretty small outfit in Adelaide, everything is hand printed & designed locally isn’t it? Definitely, we hand print everything locally in Adelaide. As we do limited runs of our prints, we just make a bunch of tees and do our best to print new designs as we feel like something is missing in our wardrobe. That’s a pretty good way of looking at it. Quality over quantity for sure. So you’re a pretty busy dude! Running Zero Boutique (www.zero-boutique.myshopify.com), designing and printing for Triple Six. You’re a one man machine Well in this industry, people want exclusivity but that does not always mean it should be expensive. I do work alot, but I love it, I still make sure I find the time to hang out, skate and enjoy the sunshine here in Adelaide Knowing someone hand printed something in a small run makes you appreciate it that much more than if it came straight off a production line in some sweat shop in China Well it’s always good knowing where your money is going, I use that same idea in my boutique where I stock mainly Australian designers Keeping it local. I dig it. Thanks for the chat man, keep up all the rad work! Thanks! Any time yo! Daylight Savings just kicked in so I’m going for a skate! FOR MORE INFO AND TO BUY TRIPLE SIX APPAREL, VISIT WWW.ZERO-BOUTIQUE.MYSHOPIFY.COM
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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BRAND PROFILE - TRIPLE SIX
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PHOT O DIARY - CABINS
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PHOT O DIARY - CABINS
CABINS LIVE AT THE ANNANDALE SYDNEY PHOTOS BY LUCY STEVENS www.facebook.com/cabinsband
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PHOT O DIARY - CABINS
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PHOT O DIARY - CABINS
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PHOT O DIARY - CABINS
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC
DOMINO VERONA CAPTURE THE YOUTH
INTERVIEW BY LUCY STEVENS PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNA BEGIC Hey! How’s it going? Good!! How are you?! Good! Ready to have a chat? Sure am! Awesome! So how old are you anyway? I’m 18! Sad as that may be! I feel that when I tell people that I lose credibility haha Haha, no way. So many great artists were good at a young age. Look at Picasso, that kid was doing masterpieces at like, 10. I know! It’s so refreshing to hear that from people! I think it’s good to be so creative from a young age. At least you work out what you wanna do pretty quick! Hahaha amen! It’s funny though, I feel like I still don’t know what I’m doing, it’s hard haha. If you saw my photos a year ago they are completely different to now. I guess that’s why I fell in love with photos and the creative industry in general it’s evolution at its finest. Exactly. Everything changes so fast in this industry, you’ve gotta keep up. So let’s talk about the blog. How did the name dominoverona come to be? Hahaha I get asked this quite alot haha my first ever camera was a canon ae-1 that I bought with my pocket money my parents gave me at 14 and that camera had “domino verona” carved on the bottom of it. Wow, that’s really cool. I take it it was an op shop find? Bit of a long story! Sure was! Bought it for $10 and it’s in perfect condition-it’s my favourite still even with digital That’s great, I love a good op shop camera, you can find some gems these days. Do you still prefer film to digital? Exactly, and the people selling them don’t know the worth of them haha. I do but I have had more experience with digital. I went backwards and learnt digital so I could understand my manual film camera more.
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC It’s probably the best way to do it! The girls you shoot have this beautiful candid feel to them. Are they your friends, models or a bit of both? I’m glad you think so! That’s so flattering! Yeah I’ve only shot with one professional model to date - the rest were friends or girls I saw in the street And the accompanying written piece and questions kinda makes you feel like you’re getting this little insight into who the girl is. Was that something you knew you wanted to include on the blog from the get go? Oh for sure it felt natural to do so. I wanted to create a platform that merged written and photographic aspects. I thought they complemented my aesthetic and the direction I wanted people to view my blog It’s a nice point of difference I think, as opposed to just having a shitload of images and no text. Yeah I thought so too!! It’s hard though because you’re essentially setting yourself up for twice the amount of workBut it’s rewarding to see people taking interest So what’s next on the agenda for you? More shoots, Uni? Definitely! I would love to try my hand at interning for a bit to see how the pros do it - I had an amazing experience to shadow and intern for a bit with photographer Ryan Kenny which made me fall in love with youthful rebellion and raw beauty.
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC
Yeah, awesome, Ryan’s work is really sick I know! He is incredible to work with, so casual and easy and very efficient which is a valued commodity I believe in this industry. What about you? How have you started in this industry?! Your photography is incredible a personal love of mine haha Thank you! Well, I first did photography in like, year 9 at school, loved doing all the darkroom type stuff, and that started it all I guess. Continued to do anything creative I could possibly do then, got into Whitehouse, started doing photo shoots all the time, assisted a well known Sydney stylist, now here I am! Wow yeah that generally happens. Such a good thing you continued!! Jesus that’s so impressive you will go far no doubt that’s why I am so excited for this mag! Yeah! totally, it’s stressful as fuck but worth it. Yeah it really is mainly about contacts - it would go hand in hand. Oh I have no doubt. I’m surprised you have hair left haha Haha, I’m getting there! So, I’m gonna fire you some quick, random last questions, ya ready for this?! Wooo! Lets go!
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC
FAVORITES : Song- Fitzpleasure by Alt J, or anything from The XX, and definitely Crystal Castles Not in Love. Magazine -Interview and Vanity Fair for the classics, Oyster and Russh are long term favorites have every issue since the beginning. Also a long term love for Lula and National Geographic. Fictional Character- Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Cecile from Bonjour Tresse, Written by Franciose Sagan. Both are hedonistic in nature- ruthless, free and complex characters! And both also focus a part of their lives on aestivation principles haha. Designer- Alexander Wang for his simplicity, Rodarte for their tribute to history through their work and a new and upcoming label Hatsumilaundry for beautiful attention to detail in their lingerie. Place- Banja Luka in Bosnia where most of my family lives - takes a couple of minutes to reach the sea and it’s the most picturesque place I’ve ever been to. CHECK OUT MORE OF HANNA’S WORK AT WWW.DOMINOVERONA.COM
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INTERVIEW - HANNA BEGIC
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LOOKBOOK - ESTATE OF MIND A/W 13
ESTATE OF MIND A/W LOOKBOOK PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM WHITESIDE MODELS - VERENA, JAYSON, KURT & NAHAAL ALL CLOTHING FROM ESTATE OF MIND WWW.ESTATEOFMIND.COM
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LOOKBOOK - ESTATE OF MIND A/W 13
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LOOKBOOK - ESTATE OF MIND A/W 13
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LOOKBOOK - ESTATE OF MIND A/W 13
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INTERVIEW - ANTHONY LISTER
“I always know if something is good or bad. But I definitly lose sight of when I should stop, based on enjoying it”
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INTERVIEW - ANTHONY LISTER
ANTHONY LISTER ADVENTURE PAINTING HELL MAN WORDS BY ADAM HUNT Australia’s leading contemporary artist Anthony Lister has exhibited works in galleries around the world and his street art occupies cities throughout Australia, the UK and America. Brisbane-born Lister has sold his art for up to $20,000, but his creative process does not come without difficulty. “I never lose perspective of whether I like it or not [a painting] – I always know if something is good or bad. [But] I definitely lose sight of when I should stop, based on enjoying it,” said Lister. “Moving around the room and working on a couple at one time and just using the brush because I’m holding it – I’ll go into an automatic mode where I can take things too far,” he said.
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INTERVIEW - ANTHONY LISTER Lister explained how he is continually learning the limits of his art and described how frequently he has overworked his paintings. “I usually take a photo and sometimes I continue. By those photos I’ll be able to determine when I should have stopped because I’m constantly learning that I’m taking things too far,” he said. “But occasionally I get it right on the nail and it’s perfect – but very often I’ve wrecked the best paintings I’ve ever made by continuing to paint on them – by enjoying them so much.” Lister suggested that modifications to his works quite often present new challenges but he persists until he reaches a sense of completion. “It feels quite natural to pay attention to problems in these paintings that are always in front of me and change it – which usually leads to another problem,” he said. “I keep carving away at these equations until I find that holy grail of ascetic.” CHECK OUT MORE OF LISTERS’S WORK AT WWW.ANTHONYLISTER.COM Images via www.anthonylister.com
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INTERVIEW - ANTHONY LISTER
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
HANGING WITH NEARLY EVERY STREET IN SYDNEY HAS SOME. FROM LARGE SCALE WALL PIECES TO TAGS FROM KIDS SKIPPING SCHOOL, BUT SYDNEY PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS PHILLIPS HAS AN EYE FOR SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL STREET ART TALENT COVERING THE WALLS AND STREETS OF SYDNEY
INTERVIEW BY LUCY STEVENS PHOTOS BY CHRIS PHILLIPS
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
I ASKED SYDNEY PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS PHILLIPS FOR A SMALL BIO OF HIMSELF, HIS REPLY WAS ‘ACCORDING TO INSTAGRAM: OCCASIONALLY GOOD SYDNEY PHOTOGRAPHER, ACCORDING TO TWITTER: RAP AND NBA AESTHETE’ - THE FORMER HAS PROVEN TO BE TRUE. WE SPEAK ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY, STREET ART, AND ROWDY SERVICE VETERANS. NAME: Chris Phillips OCCUPATION: I work in Radio and Digital Music LOCATION: Sydney - Potts Point HOW DID YOU GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY? WAS IT SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO? Never really something I was conscious of and not really sure how I got into it other than taking more and more shots and really enjoying the process and the results. It’s a great excuse to be quiet, relaxed and focused. When I go out shooting, it is almost always by myself and all I think about is what is around me and getting the best shots I can. That release is really hard to come by and is as much the reason I shoot as the finished product. Then again getting a shot that people really respond to, or that you’re proud of regardless of whether other people dig it, further validates the experience. CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPH YOU TOOK? Cool question and no, sadly I can’t. I remember bugging my dad to let me use the camera that my grandmother sent us, but have no idea what the result looked like. I was super young and it was fairly heavy, so it was probably of my feet. FAVOURITE PLACE FOR STREET ART IN SYDNEY? Don’t really have one. Beyond all the usual suspects I will usually see or hear about something new and go try to get a different perspective of it captured. In terms of a few specific places, The Flour Mill in Pyrmont, Hawthorne Canal, Malabar Battery, I tend to gravitate to the spots that are good photography spots first, with any killer pieces adding to that, rather than being the sole purpose to go there.
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
“I tend to gravitate to the spots that are good photography spots first with any killer pieces adding to that, rather than being the sole purpose to go there”
JOEL BIRCH WORKING ON ‘WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY TO GO PAINTING’ FITZROY ST SURRY HILLS
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MAY LANE, ST PETERS
INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
THE MALABAR BATTERY
“It is a funny place, there are warning signs about a military firing range, teenagers pulling cones and middle aged people walking their dogs”
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START A TUMBLR? BOTH YOUTH ATTACK MOB & MOB ORIGINALS? Youth Attack Mob is a scrap book of stuff I like from the internet, so despite it only being online for a couple of years, I have done that via emails to friends/colleagues for as long as I have been trawling the internet. Tumblr seemed like the easiest way to share that with the world and I have been posting ever since. Over time I was posting more and more of my own work, so I created the second blog as a standalone destination for my photography and linked them up. My stealing continues to be far more popular than my creating. YOUR PHOTOS OF THE MALABAR BATTERY ARE PRETTY AWESOME, HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THAT PLACE? IT SEEMS PRETTY DESOLATE… Thank you. I saw some photos online of some guys who had gotten into the tunnels that are down there and figured I would wander down and see what the fuss was about. I have done some shooting down at Bare Island before so knew the coastline would look amazing regardless of what else I found. All the underground tunnels are boarded up super tight, but the afternoon light and the WWII constructions make for a pretty cool canvas. It is a funny place; there are warning signs about a military firing range, teenagers pulling cones and middle aged people walking their dogs, all within earshot of Long Bay jail. I was bummed out that I couldn’t get underground or climb the buildings, but got some shots worth sharing regardless. YOU’VE PHOTOGRAPHED THE WORKS OF HEAPS OF SYDNEY STREET ART, FROM LISTER TO BEASTMAN, WHO DO YOU THINK IS DOING THE BEST SHIT RIGHT NOW? Watch me name check bro. Gotta start with the guys I know: Beastman, Numskull and Roach are consistently amazing whether on canvas or walls. I love the massive stuff Fintan Magee has been doing – the riot inspired larger than life people are incredible to look at. My shot of the one in St Peters is here somewhere and he is only going bigger with stuff all over the world the last few months. Also really dig what Shida is doing – super angular, aggressive abstract stuff and the colours are always brilliant. Twoone is also off the charts – his half human, half beast figures are so distinct and have a mythical quality to them that I really like.
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
YOU PHOTOGRAPHED ‘WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY TO GO PAINTING’ WITH NUMSKULL, ROACH & JOEL BIRCH, DO YOU KNOW THE GUYS OR JUST HAPPENED TO FIND THEM PAINTING? A little from column A and a little from column B. The wall was done by Numskull, Roach and Joel Birch, I know Numskull and Roach through my brother, and at the time I lived on the street that wall is on. I saw them post they were re-doing the “They Keep Painting, We Keep Painting” that had been there for years, so grabbed my gear and wandered up. 5 hours and 600 odd shots later, I wandered back. It was quite the eventful day. It was on ANZAC day and tonnes of punters were heading up to the SFS to watch the league match – turns out heaps of Amity fans like league (Joel Birch plays in Australian hardcore band The Amity Affliction), Joel had to get down from his ladder every 5 minutes to take photos with fans. We also had some of our nation’s servicemen drop by and let’s just say they were in a fairly jovial mood by 3pm. ANY COOL PROJECTS YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON? Just getting out as much as I can and planning a trip to a couple of exotic shooting locations that have been on the bucket list for many years. That being said, I start lots of stuff I never finish, so better to under-promise and over-deliver.
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
“I saw them post they were re-doing the “They Keep Painting, We Keep Painting” that had been there for years, so grabbed my gear and wandered up. 5 hours and 600 odd shots later, I wandered back”
NUMSKULL, JOEL BIRCH AND ROACH WORKING ON FITZROY ST, SURRY HILLS
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
THE MALABAR BATTERY
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INTERVIEW - CHRIS PHILLIPS
CENTRAL STATION
FAST 5… FAVORITES: MOVIE: Not a massive movie guy, but will say There Will be Blood – Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson is a fairly formidable combination. Excited to see what Anderson does with Pynchon’s Inherent Vice next year. MUSICIAN: If I can only pick one then Nas. Nas is the reason I started liking rap, so I have to say Nas and Illmatic still sounds phenomenal. BOOK: Blood Meridian – Cormac McCarthy. PHOTOGRAPHER: Changes every second day, but loving what Jared Chambers is putting out at the moment. ARTIST: Rothko CHECK OUT MORE OF CHRIS’S WORK AT WWW.MOBORIGINALS.TUMBLR.COM, AND WWW.YOUTHATTACKMOB.COM
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INTERVIEW - NINA HARCUS
UPPING THE
ANTE
AXIOM TALKS TO NINA HARCUS, DIRECTOR OF SYDNEY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE, ANTE. WORDS & STYLING - FRAN ABBOTT PHOTOS - BEN LAU TOLD BY NINA HARCUS
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INTERVIEW - NINA HARCUS
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INTERVIEW - NINA HARCUS
My friend Steph first introduced me to Ante magazine; I opened the cover to see a bulging bust restrained by the deck of a skateboard. I knew those boobs. ‘That’s you isn’t it?’ I asked her ‘Ahhhhh is it that obvious?’ ‘Yes.’ Nina and Ava, her business partner always had ‘a really business ethic (like) relationship’. After working hand in hand on Nina’s Design and Technology major work in year 12 and running their own fashion label together, the seeds had been sewn for the pair to move on to bigger things: Ante. ‘The name is the Latin word for before, for being one step ahead and that kind of thing… I didn’t like it a first … but it just stuck’. ‘Ante (anti), it’s funny because some people pronounce it un-ty or un-the but it’s good because it starts a conversation’. The problem with Ante is how it makes me cringe at how little I know about what’s going on. ‘It all really circulated around Ava’s content… so it was art, music and street wear… It comes about naturally, just because you’re in the scene and you talk to people and you know, friends of friends know a really cool band or a new artist… you look at what other people are doing as well as on a smaller scale, and that’s where you can find the diamonds in the rough’. “We didn’t really realize how much work it was…’ Three years after finishing high school and second year into university ‘I was really, well, a bit bored and so was she (Ava), and we were at Maisy’s (a 24/7 café in Cremorne), and I just popped out the question, lets make another magazine… We’ve got the skills, we can do this, lets try’.
“You look at what other people are doing as well on a smaller scale, and that’s were you can find the diamonds in the rough”
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INTERVIEW - NINA HARCUS
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INTERVIEW - NINA HARCUS
‘Its a lot easier now (dropping the magazine off into stores) because people know who we are, there’s a lot more word on the street, we have that reputation now…”
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INTERVIEW - NINA HARCUS
‘It took about, I think… I think from when we started talking, It took about uhhhh… five months? It was ages, maybe five or six… (counting on her fingers) Yeah, five or six months, and a lot of that was fluffing around… and then we launched in Novemeber 2011, yeah’. You can find Ante magazine in cafes, stores and hangouts in the Surry Hills, Darlinghurst areas, throughout Bondi and Sydney City. ‘Its a lot easier now (dropping the magazine off into stores) because people know who we are, there’s a lot more word on the street, we have that reputation now… at first, some people don’t like things in the front of their shop or some people are a bit hesitant and had to check the content to make sure it wasn’t about Nazis or whatever… but now people get really excited, people are waiting for the next issue.’ A new issue is released every three months and celebrated with a launch party. ‘At the recent launch party we had people trying to RSVP to the next one like the day after… yeah people count down the days for our parties… (My Parents) even want to come to the launch… my mum is like ‘can I please comment on the Ante Facebook page?’ and I’m like no! She is only allowed to like things, her comments are so embarrassing, she doesn’t know how to use Facebook properly…’ With only three issues out Ante has gained great momentum, so is there a plan for Ante? ‘Well if it keeps going the way it’s going and is successful, then yeah we would love to keep working on it, hopefully even make some money from it… but yeah it is building, you know, the snowball effect, it’s getting bigger and bigger.’
FOR MORE INFO ON ANTE MAGAZINE, CHECK OUT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ANTEMAGAZINE ISSUE 4 IS INSTORE AND ONLINE NOW
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FASHION - DOUBLE VISION
DOUBLE PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING - LUCY STEVENS PROJECTED IMAGES - BRAD SMYTHE HAIR & MAKEUP - ANNA BRUCE MODEL - BEC @ LONDON MANAGMENT
OPPOSITE PAGE - COTTON ON BODY BRA, STYLIST’S OWN JEANS LOVISA NECKLACE
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FASHION - DOUBLE VISION
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CROP TOP BY HOPELESS LINGERIE, STYLIST’S OWN JEANS
FASHION - DOUBLE VISION
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FASHION - DOUBLE VISION
HARNESS BRA BY HOPELESS LINGERIE, STYLIST’S OWN JEANS, SPORTSGIRL ARM BAND
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BRA BY BONDS, LOVISA CUFF STYLIST’S OWN JEANS & CHOKER
FASHION - DOUBLE VISION
STYLIST’S OWN JEANS
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FASHION - DOUBLE VISION
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CROP TOP & UNDIES BY BONDS HARNESS BY HOPELESS LINGERIE
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BRA BY BONDS, LOVISA CUFF STYLIST’S OWN JEANS & CHOKER
GIMME SHELTER
FASHION - GIMME SHELTER
PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING BY LUCY STEVENS / FEATURING PAUL TOCKUSS @ CHADWICKS THIS PAGE PAUL WEARS STUSSY SHORTS & JACKET, MODEL’S OWN CAP & SHIRT OPPOSITE PAUL WEARS KSUBI JUMPER
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FASHION - GIMME SHELTER
THIS PAGE PAUL WEARS SHIRT, SHORTS & VEST ALL KSUBI, NIKE SHOES, HUF SOCKS OPPOSITE, FOR THE HOMIES SHIRT, SHIRT AROUND WAIST STYLIST’S OWN, MODEL’S OWN SHORTS, YSL SHOES
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THIS PAGE, MODEL’S OWN CAP, BASSIKE JAKET OPPOSITE, GIVENCHY SHIRT, MODEL’S OWN SHORTS, STYLIST’S OWN BANDANA
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FASHION - GIMME SHELTER
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FASHION - GIMME SHELTER
THIS PAGE, HOW TYPICAL OF METAL TIE, RIK VILLA SHIRT, KSUBI SHORTS, YSL SHOES OPPOSITE PAGE, KSUBI JACKET, CAP BY THE CUT
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FASHION - GIMME SHELTER
THIS PAGE, GIVENCHY SHIRT / OPPOSITE PAGE, STUSSY JACKET & SHORTS, MODEL’S OWN CAP & SHIRT
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FASHION - GIMME SHELTER
THIS PAGE, KSUBI SHORTS & JACKET, CAP BY THE CUT, MODEL’S OWN SHIRT OPPOSITE, SHIRT BY GIVENCHY, SHORTS MODEL’S OWN, SOCKS BY HUF, SHOES BY NIKE, BANDANA STYLIST’S OWN
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FASHION - SKATE RATS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARLY ZINGA STYLING BY LUCY STEVENS & HARMONY HEARSEY HAIR & MAKEUP BY MAGNETIC MAKEUP MODEL, ELLIE ROSE SPECIAL THANKS TO ESTATE OF MIND
ELLIE WEARS STYLIST’S OWN SHIRT, NECKLACE AND SHOES BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD SKIRT
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FASHION - SKATE RATS
THIS PAGE - LAZY OAF SHIRT, HOUSE OF HOLLAND JEANS, NIKE SHOES OPPOSITE PAGE - BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD MESH SHIRT, AND DOOM CROP TOP, KTZ PANTS, NIKE SHOES
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FASHION - SKATE RATS
ELLIE WEARS PROUDRACE BEANIE, BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD CROP TOP AND MESH SHIRT, THIS IS GEN JEANS, NIKE SHOES
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FASHION - SKATE RATS
ELLIE WEARS DANIEL PALILLO DRESS, BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD LEATHER JACKET, HUF SOCKS, NIKE SHOES
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ELLIE WEARS HOUSE OF HOLLAND JACKET & JEANS, CROOKS N CASTLES BEANIE, NIKE SHOES OPPOSITE, ELLIE WEARS STYLIST’S OWN SHIRT, NECKLACE AND SHOES BITCHING AND JUNKFOOD SKIRT
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FASHION - SKATE RATS
OPPOSITE, ELLIE WEAS STYLISTS OWN BODYSUIT, KSUBI TOP, EMMA MULHOLLAND SKIRT, HENRY HOLLAND FOR LE SPECS SUNGLASSES THIS PAGE, KSUBI TOP, THIS IS GEN SKIRT, HUF SOCKS, NIKE SHOES
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
teen spirit PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING - LUCY STEVENS FEATURING ELLIE @ CHADWICKS
OPPOSITE PAGE - SUCK IS FREE SHIRT, RIK VILLA TOP (WORN AS DRESS) HUF SOCKS, NEW BALANCE SHOES
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
THIS PAGE - VANS BEANIE, VINTAGE BOY LONDON SHIRT OPPOSITE - R.I.P KURT SHIRT BY TRIPLE SIX
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
THIS PAGE - VANS BEANIE, VINTAGE BOY LONDON SHIRT OPPOSITE - ONLY NY CAP, FOR THE HOMIES SHIRT, DENIM SHIRT STYLIST’S OWN
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
TOP IMAGE - BROOKLYN NETS TANK, MODEL’S OWN CAP OPPOSITE - SHIRT BY TRIPLE SIX
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
THIS PAGE - SHIRT BY TRIPLE SIX, MODEL’S OWN JEANS OPPOSITE PAGE - BEANIE BY VANS, VINTAGE BOY LONDON SHIRT, ASOS SKIRT, HUF SOCKS, NIKE SHOES
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
THIS PAGE - SHIRT BY TRIPLE SIX OPPOSITE PAGE - CAP BY ONLY NY, SHIRT BY FOR THE HOMIES, STYLIST’S OWN DENIM SHIRT, HUF SOCKS, NIKE SHOES
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FASHION - TEEN SPIRIT
THIS PAGE - CAP BY ONLY NY, SHIRT BY FOR THE HOMIES, STYLIST’S OWN DENIM SHIRT, HUF SOCKS, NIKE SHOES OPPOSITE PAGE - SHIRT BY TRIPLE SIX
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHEN KEARNEY / STYLING BY LUCY STEVENS HAIR & MAKEUP BY LENNAN HAN / FEATURING NICOLA AT CHADWICKS
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
THIS PAGE - DRESS BY MINETTE SHUEN, NECKLACE BY SPORTSGIRL, SOCKS & SHOES BY ASOS
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
THIS PAGE - WIA DRESS, INDER DHILLION VEST OPPOSITE - WIA SHIRT AND SHORTS, SAGE AND AKARI JACKET, LOVISA NECKLACE
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
THIS PAGE - TOP BY BRONSON ATKIN, VEST BY MINETTE SHUEN, SHORTS BY HUMAN POTENTIAL, CHOKER BY LOVISA OPPOSITE PAGE - DRESS BY INDER DHILLON, SUNGLASSES BY JEEPERS PEEPERS.
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
THIS PAGE - TOP BY KTZ, PANTS BY BRONSON STKIN, ASOS BEANIE, ASOS SOCKS AND SHOES OPPOSITE - SILVER TOP BY ASOS, BLACK DRESS BY KTZ, SUNGLASSES BY LE SPECS
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
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FASHION - SUPER FUTURE
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THIS PAGE - LONG SLEEVE TOP AND SKIRT BY IINCO, TOP BY WIA OPPOSITE PAGE, DRESS BY MINETTE SHUEN, CAP BY SPORTSGIRL, NECKLACE BY ASOS
FASHION - YOUNG BLOOD
young blood PHOTOGRAPHY / LUCY STEVENS STYLING / ANGELA KATE PUTRUS MODEL / JEREMY @ SIX WOLVES
THIS PAGE - DEAD CASTLE PROJECT SHIRT (AROUND WAISTE) NIKE JUMPER
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FASHION - YOUNG BLOOD
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FASHION - YOUNG BLOOD
THIS PAGE - DEAD CASTLE PROJECT CAP & SHIRT, ASH SHORTS, MODEL’S OWN NECKLACE (WORN THROUGHT) OPPOSITE PAGE - DEAD CASTLE PROJECT SHIRT
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FASHION - YOUNG BLOOD
THIS PAGE - NIKE JUMPER / OPPOSITE PAGE - DEAD CASTLE PROJECT SHIRT, CAP AND SHIRT (WORN ON HEAD)
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FASHION - YOUNG BLOOD
THIS PAGE - DEAD CASTLE PROJECT SHIRT, CAP AND SHIRT (WORN ON HEAD) OPPOSITE PAGE - ASH SHORTS, NIKE SHOES, ADIDAS SHOES
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ORACLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAYLEY PEASE / STYLING BY LUCY STEVENS HAIR AND MAKEUP BY LENNAN HAN / FEATURING LOGAN @ CHADWICKS
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FASHION - ORACLE
THIS PAGE / VON ZIPPER JUMPER, LAUREN DAMELIAN SKIRT OPPOSITE PAGE / AE’LKEMI DRESS, RINGS BY LUNE WOOD, ISHARYA, LUV AJ. BRACELETS BY OS ACCESSORIES AND LUV AJ, BELT AND CHOKER BY OS ACCESSORIES.
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FASHION - ORACLE
THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE / TOP AND SKIRT BY IINCO, BRA BY COTTON ON BODY. CUFFS BY SERPENT AND THE SWAN, NECKLACES, FROM TOP : LUV AJ, LUNE WOOD, OS ACCESSORIES. RINGS BY LOVISA, ARM CUFF BY SPORTSGIRL. EAR CUFF BY LOVISA, EARINGS BY LUV AJ.
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FASHION - ORACLE
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FASHION - ORACLE
THIS PAGE / AE’LKEMI DRESS, RINGS BY LUNE WOOD, ISHARYA, LUV AJ. BRACELETS BY OS ACCESSORIES AND LUV AJ, BELT AND CHOKER BY OS ACCESSORIES. OPPOSITE PAGE / BUSTIER BY MOSSMAN, EAR PIECE BY OS ACCESSORIES, EARRING BY SPORTSGIRL, TOP NECKLACE BY LUNEWOOD, BOTTOM NECKLACES BY OS ACCESSORIES, RINGS BY LOVISA, CUFF BY CC SKYE
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FASHION - ORACLE
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FASHION - ORACLE
THIS PAGE / ALL NECKLACES BY LUNEWOOD OPPOSITE PAGE / LAUREN DAMELIAN CROP TOP, ASOS MESH SHIRT, BELT (IN MOUTH) BY OS ACCESSORIES, NECK CUFF BY LOVISA, CRYSTAL AND BULLET NECKLACE BY CHASE DAKOTA, BOTTOM NECKLACE BY LUNEWOOD, BRACELETS STYLISTS OWN
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FASHION - ORACLE
THIS PAGE / SHIRT BY SERPENT AND THE SWAN, TOP CHOKER AND NECKLACE STYLISTS OWN, PENDANT BY LUNEWOOD, JEANS STYLISTS OWN OPPOSITE PAGE / BUSTIER BY MOSSMAN, EAR PIECE BY OS ACCESSORIES, EARRING BY SPORTSGIRL, TOP NECKLACE BY LUNEWOOD, BOTTOM NECKLACES BY OS ACCESSORIES.
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FEATURE - THE NEW TATT OO
TATTOOS ON THE NECK, SHOULDERS AND CHEST WERE COMMON AMONG RUSSIAN CRIMINAL INAMTES
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FEATURE - THE NEW TATT OO
IT’S SO SIMPLE, THE TATTOOER SAID. LITTLE SCARS THAT WILL CARRY YOU ALONG, THAT LEAVE YOU BEAUTIFUL. THIS, YOU WILL NEVER LOSE. -Andrea Cohen, Story of the Tattoo THE NEW TATTOO : THE CHANGING FACE OF TATTOO CULTURE, WITH REFERENCE TO RUSSIAN CRIMINAL TATTOOS AN EXCERPT BY LUCY STEVENS
Despite the long, 150 year history of ambitious, talented artistically minded tattooists producing work of astonishing technical ability, tattooing has never quite overcome the sense of otherness- that it is strange dangerous and weird, though outsider, outlaw communities (the stereotypical sailors, bikers and prison inmates) have only ever been a small minority of the diverse people being tattooed. For many of us who are struck by the indescribable urge to get tattooed from a very young age, it is that almost mystical sense that comes from the popular imagination between tattooing and subcultures, which drew us to tattooing in the first place. Tattooing has come to stand as a beacon for freedom, radicalism, individuality, and rebellion. “It’s almost as if tattooing is something that speaks to people, and if you hear that call, if you can understand the desire to get tattooed, then it cannot be shaken from you”. “One can by hypnotized by the splendor of these mobile canvasses, or one can be shocked by the bewildering strangeness of these decorations and the monstrous metamorphosis which they represent. But one can also try and understand, hasn’t man always tried to unravel the mystery of destiny in order to master it?”- Grognard Like Grognard states, fascination plays a big part in the appeal of the tattoo. “The desire to decorate the public outside, of the private inside”. This idea of wearing our private thoughts and experiences on our skin is something that is evident in the culture of Russian criminal tattoos. Where the tattoo is a way for an inmate to show their position of authority in the prison ranks, and to also elude prison guards from their true identity or social status.
Tattoos were an essential part of the Imperial Russian penal system, partly because branding not only constituted a central component of the Russian penal complex but was also an important administrative measure whereby officials assigned status to individuals by literally marking their membership in various social groupings. In doing so, they sought to exert control over the subjects they governed. The guards realized the value of being able to establish the facts about a convict or criminal: his date and place of birth, the crimes he committed, the camps where he served time, even his psychological profile. All these markers were to help identify and section appropriately the inmates of the prison, all via the tattoos placed on them, and therefore their worth. “...Proposed that the state standardize and mechanize branding practices, marking the shoulders of fugitives with acronyms that denoted their status: exiles at resettlement were branded with the letters ‘SB’ (in Russian - ssylno-brodiiag, i.e. vagrant exile) this system would fix and render visible the status of every fugitive whom the authorities apprehended” This soon proved to backfire for the guards, with the inmates taking to tattooing each other with a complex and misleading set of symbols and markers that only an inmate himself could understand. It is this set of symbols and markers that is so fascinating about Russian criminal tattoos. This method of secret tattoo significance was a way to conceal their true identity. This folklore among vagrants and thieves is what sets them apart from each other, but also what ties them to this family of thieves and criminals.
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FEATURE - THE NEW TATT OO
“Russian criminal tattoos convey ‘secret’ symbolic information through the use of allegorical images which at first glance, may seem familiar to everyone, eg: a naked woman, a devil, a burning candle, a snake or bat etc. This is a language that is both highly socialized and politicized. A thief’s tattooed body is like a ‘depiction’ of full dress uniform, covered with regalia, badges of rank and distinction, the shoulders were tattooed with epaulettes as if their tattoos were an army uniform”. In effect, these tattoos embody a thief’s complete service record, his entire life story or biography. “…It occurred to me that it might be best to wear our lives on our skin, and so I do…” These tattoos detail a prisoner’s achievements, failures, promotions and demotions, his transfers from prison to prison, how many times he escaped, or was caught again. A prisoner’s tattoos are his case file, passport and diplomas. In other words, his full set of official bureaucratic documents, all in plain sight and open to translation. Therefore, in the world of thieves and prisoners, a man with no tattoos has no social status whatsoever. “Authorities had captured and sentenced to hard labour one criminal by the name of Kosoi. Upon this arrival at the prison, the local criminal ‘family’ greeted him…Because Kosoi demonstrated fearlessness in the face of authorities, the criminal family decided to reward him by inscribing his body. The group’s elder, the Starosta, exclaimed: “Mitka Kosoi, you have passed through many prisons in your life, like an honorable thief you’ve defended your comrades; therefore we would like to reward you with ‘regalia’ so that everyone will know exactly who you are.” Anyone not initiated into the secret meaning of thieves’ tattoos take them for a chaotic jumble of pictures, symbols and text. But in reality a thief’s body is anything but a random assortment of markers. It is a statement organized in a highly complex manner, some tattoos may have completely different meanings due to the placement on the body, even if the image is the same. For example, a tattoo of a female head on the stomach of a female is the mark of a prostitute, however a female head on the chest of a male is a juvenile convict’s badge of initiation into the world of thieves. “Convicts placed a premium on tattooing their fingers so that they would be visible to everyone” It is this meticulous use of misleading information that allows the criminals to hold power over the guards who in turn, are meant to hold power over them. The tattoos a thief carries with him classes the carrier as a ‘legitimate thief’ to other criminals in the prison. “A man becomes totally dependent on the symbols of his tattoos… tattoos effectively transform a man into the hero of his own criminal. A living person is transformed into a character in the world of tattoos”. This quote reinforces the idea that in the criminal world, nothing is held more dear, or sacred than the tattoos the criminal carries with him. While the thieves attempted to hide their markings from the prison guards, they openly celebrate these tattoos before each other. In criminal slang, they referred to these tattoos as Regalia (in Russian – Regalki), and used them to signify their rank in the prison world. In the world of
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thieves, anybody who misappropriates the tattoos of a ‘legitimate thief’ is killed. “If they discover that a tattoo is phony and was only made out of bravado, savage retribution awaits the transgressor”. This form of retribution may also be forced upon the criminal with the illegitimate tattoos. If the criminal is found to not reflect the ranks of his tattoos, other ‘legitimate thieves’ may force the prisoner to remove the tattoos with a knife, sandpaper, a shard of glass or a lump of brick. All this indicates that the tattoo is regarded as an inalienable and highly valued ‘body part’, and a man is regarded as a universal ‘tattoo text’, a page in the tattoo bible, one that is taken extremely seriously, as they are the laws that they live by. “The tattooed body as a whole is involved in a continual ‘dialogue’ with the world that surrounds it…In addition, tattoos also set the rules of behavior towards others. An individual interacting with a thief is obliged to strictly conform to his own complex stereotype. Criminal’s tattoos are therefore capable of structuring the entire socio-political space of the ‘community’ of the prison”. This dialogue that the tattooed body commands is spoken not only in text, but most commonly in symbolic pictures and marks. Each tattoo means something different, with a highly complex rationale behind even some of the seemingly simplest tattoos. In today’s society for example, a skull tattoo may be applied to a person for purely aesthetic purposes, or for the connotation that skulls are attributed with a myriad of other subcultures, punks for example. In the dialect of Russian criminal tattoos, a skull tattoo indicates that the owner is an authority figure in the community of thieves. He is not only a ‘legitimate thief’ but also someone to be feared, and respected. In addition, a skull is a symbol of death, as are images of crosses, axes and snakes. But a snake is not only a symbol of deadly fate; it is also a symbol of testament to the wisdom of the thieves’ laws. One of the most widespread symbols used by thieves is a cat, which symbolizes agility and a thief’s luck. This tattoo, while seemingly harmless, to prison guards at least, holds much more weight in the criminal community. This thief is a master thief among thieves. “Wings are one of the basic thieves signs, combined with a cross or eagle becomes a symbol of a thieves prestige”. The world of criminals and thieves is all about class and rank. These ‘legitimate thieves’ are the aristocrats among the exiles. They hold rank over everyone else. It can even be compared to the army of a modern society. The art of tattoo application is also a sacred art among thieves. “The (in Russian – kol’shchik) Tattooer is like a priest who performs a function similar to that of an executioner. The process of tattooing is an act that transforms the body into a symbolic corpse is specifically related to torture or execution… It is often employed as a means of forcing the body to tell the truth”. The fact that these tattoos are subject to multiple interpretations contributes to convict’s ability to keep the outside world at bay and thereby allows them to preserve their exclusivity.
FEATURE - THE NEW TATT OO
TRADITIONAL FULL BODY TATTOOS
TRADITIONAL HAND AND FINGER TATTOO DESIGNS
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FEATURE - THE NEW TATT OO
ORIGINAL RUSSIAN CRIMINAL TATTOO DESIGN
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AND THE SAME DESIGN TATTOOED BY DUNCAN X
FEATURE - THE NEW TATT OO
Exclusivity plays a major role in the new guard of tattoo artists in the 21st century. A new guard of tattoo artists are emerging. These artists are breaking the traditional ideas of tattooing by not only using skin as their canvas to convey their messages. Like the symbolism of the Russian tattoos, these artists also strive to push the technical ability, creativity and cultural traditions involved in their works. One such artist Duke Riley connects his audience with history through both installation and tattooing with the use of America’s maritime history as his preface. “So much of my work involves the research of the history of New York and the waterfront” The majority of Riley’s aesthetic in his tattooing is the use of intricate line work to create stories from old maritime books, similar to Moby Dick, with minimal colour. He cites experimentation with hand poked tattoos as another form of influence, drawing from the history of the practice, and the folklore surrounding it. He also works on large-scale drawings with ink, and carvings on whale teeth. “Like his installation and drawing projects, many of the tattoos Riley produces reflect a sense of social history, connecting to places and discreet moments in time. In essence, they are a celebration of the American people” Riley’s tattoos share stories, not just of the wearer, but of tradition and collective memory. Tattooer and visual artist Mike Giant is another artist blending contemporary influence with the historical. His works blend the two worlds of graffiti art and tattooing into a new exiting medium. His works both on skin, paper or wall all carry the same strong graphic element: strong bold black lines, black and grey tattoos, with reference to gangs of LA and Mexican gang culture. His tattoo lettering is also one distinctive feature of his practice that lends itself to Russian criminal tattoos. Banners of text and their placement with eagles and skulls are reminiscent of the symbols seen in Russian tattoos. His ability to translate elements of the tattoo vocabulary to various applications in a direct, yet almost whimsical way, laced with history, proves the power of his iconography between cultures. In Scott Campbell’s world, fashion, art and tattooing collide fluidly, allowing him to work across many mediums. Campbell is not only regarded as a influential tattooer, but also as a stunning visual artist. “It is that very interplay of high and low that make Campbell’s work so fascinating…He’s a link to
the street savvy downtown art scene, and a collaborator with a luxury brand. He captures the current zeitgeist-the aura of tattoo rebellion existing even as the art reaches mass-market saturation”. One of Campbell’s most recognized bodies of work, is that of laser cut US currency sheets, purchased directly from the US mint. Skulls and bones are laser cut into thousands of dollars worth of uncut sheets of money to create amazingly detailed sunken reliefs. He has also documented tattooing in the Mexican prison system, drawing influence from their designs and motifs. Of all of the new guard of tattoo artists, Duncan X most draws from the cultures of anarchy, rebellion, and symbolic placement in his tattoos, much like that of the Russian criminal tattoos. Even going as far as tattooing traditional Russian criminal pieces onto his clients. What he does champions brutal, often harsh images; they are stripped back to the bare essentials of tattooing. There is undeniably a punk element, a notion of the anti-social and a bit of the romanticized criminality of his style. Duncan X represents a radical old guard of tattooing, in his aesthetic and references, but also the new guard through the clients he chooses to tattoo, and their place in society. Duncan covers bodies with brutal elegance. “If Duncan X finds romance in the mystique of tattooing’s criminal association, we can certainly find romance in his blunt application of the art”. It is the history and references behind Duncan’s work that links him to both the new and the old of tattooing. His style of only doing strong black works made his tattoos renowned and sought after the world over. The application and knowledge behind his works make him one of the greatest tattoo artists in the 20th century. Excerpt taken from THE NEW TATTOO : THE CHANGING FACE OF TATTOO CULTURE, WITH REFERENCE TO RUSSIAN CRIMINAL TATTOOS Thesis by Lucy Stevens. References : Forever The New Tattoo, Russian Criminal Tattoo, Written On The Body. Images taken from Russian Criminal Tattoo, and www.duncanx.com
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MUSIC - ALBUM REVEIWS
ALL DAY - LONERS ARE COOL
FOALS - HOLY FIRE
Now we don’t usually play favorites, but this is one of the best Australian hip hop releases to date. It’s Aussie hip hop but not of the Hilltop Hoods or Bliss N Eso variety. Allday takes you back to driving around late at night in your dad’s car in Otto, with heavy bass drops and a catchy vibe. Other stand out tracks include Breathe Slow, Fly, Girl in the Sun and the cruisy Fly. We’ll be listening to Allday for a while yet.
Theres a reason Foals have been voted best live act of 2013, they bring as much energy and vibrance to their live shows as they do to their records. Holy fire is 11 tracks of the best indie rock to come out of the UK. To the exhilerating Inhaler, to the catchy jump around your bedroom My Number, to the ambient Out of the Woods, and heavy bass driven Providence, Holy Fire may take the cake for album of the year.
LONERS ARE COOL IS OUT NOW
HOLY FIRE IS OUT NOW VIA WARNER MUSIC UK
CHILDISH GAMBINO - CAMP
THE 1975 - THE 1975
This album may have been released in 2011, but it’s still one of our most played records ever. Who thought Troy from Community could put out such a solid hip hop release? Heartbeat is a thumping yet heartfelt track, with Hold You Down allowing for Donald’s vocal range to be utilized. Bonfire is all out dance assult, heavy riffs dominate the bass infused track. If you like Community and rap, this album is for you.
The 1975 are a fresh new UK four piece with a penchant for sweet indie pop and 80’s trumpets. The track Heart Out has the best 80’s trumpet solo not seen since The Bold and The Beautiful theme song. Other stand out tracks include Sex, about you guessed, it Sex. Settle Down is a snyth laced pop triumph, while Robbers is a more chilled out affair, picking things back up with Girls. This is the perfect album for summer.
CAMP IS OUT NOW VIA LIBERATOR MUSIC
THE 1975 IS OUT NOW VIA SONY MUSIC
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MUSIC - ALBUM REVEIWS
NOFX - THE GREATEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN
THE NATIONAL - TROUBLE WILL FIND ME
NOFX have been around for 30 years now. 30 fucking years. How are they still alive? How is a record company still supporting them? Because they fucking rule, that’s why. They are the epitome of LA Punk Rock. The Greatest Songs Ever Written is the best of NOFX from the last 30 years of their awesome career. Favorite NOFX tracks featured include Dinosaurs Will Die, Linoleum, The Longest Line and Don’t Call Me White.
I’m toally biased when it comes to The National. They can do no wrong in my book. This album may be their best offering yet, it just gets better and better with every listen. It is dense, beautiful and heartbreaking at times, and uplifting at others. Standout tracks include Don’t Swallow The Cap, Sea of Love, Graceless, This Is The Last Time, Demons and I Should Live In Salt. Prepare yourself for the ride of your life.
THE GREATEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN IS OUT NOW VIA EPITAPH
TROUBLE WILL FIND ME IS OUT NOW VIA 4AD
J COLE - BORN SINNER
THE KITE STRING TANGLE - COMMOTION REMIXES
This album reads like a who’s who of hip hop. Featuring artists include Kendrick Lamar, TLC, The Cults, Jhene Aiko, Miguel, Fauntleroy. Even 50 Cent makes an appearance. Does this mean he’s cool again? Who knows. This album is absolutley killer. Standout tracks include Villuminati, Power Trip, Rich Niggaz, Crooked Smile, Born Sinner & New York Times. Actually, fuck that. The whole album is amazing. Buy it.
The Kite String Tangle is the experimental solo project of alternative electronic artist and producer, Danny Harley. Launched in May 2012, The Kite String Tangle venture is a seamless blend of ethereal pop through to the darker shades of ambient, electronic music. Commotion, is an EP featuring the title track, with an original version as well as alternative remixes. Expect big things from The Kite String Tangle.
BORN SINNER IS OUT NOW VIA ROC NATION
COMMOTION IS OUT NOW
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10 THINGS - WAYNE’S WORLD
IF I COULD LIVE IN ANY MOVIE IN REAL LIFE, IT WOULD BE WAYNE’S WORLD. OR WAYNE’S WORLD 2, I CAN’T DECIDE WHICH ONE. ANYWAY, WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO HANG AROUND WITH A BUNCH OF MULLET WEARING, ROCK N ROLL LISTENING, QUEEN-SINGING HOOLIGANS SUCH AS WAYNE CAMPBELL AND GARTH ALGAR? NO ONE, THAT’S WHO. WITH THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CATCHPHRASES, CAMEOS AND HIPPNESS PUMMELING AUDIENCES IN 1992, IS NO WONDER I’M STILL QUOTING THIS MOVIE TODAY. HERE ARE MY TOP 10 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT WAYNE’S WORLD. GAME ON…
1. The Soundtracks Each Wayne’s World movie came with an excellentt (see what I did there?) soundtrack. From Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Black Sabbath, and giving way to new acts like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dinosaur Jnr. It seamlessly managed to blend the music of the 90’s with some of the old stuff my parents had been banging on about for the last few years. Thus, my love affair with Steve Tyler began. And how could I not mention Gary Wright’s ‘Dreamweaver’. This song is, and forever will be etched into my brain as a reminder of the babe herself, Cassandra. Schwing! 2. The Quotes I’m at the point in my life where I can probably recite 80% of the memorable quotes in both Wayne’s World movies. I’m quite proud of this statistic. I may even include it on my Facebook profile at some point. It seems like an endearing quality to have in a friend. Here are some of the best Wayne’s World quotes that are still making me laugh. “She will be mine- oh yes, she will be mine” “We’re not worthy” “Garth, marriage is punishment for shoplifting in some countries.” “Did you ever find bugs bunny attractive when he put on a dress and played a girl bunny?” “A gun rack? A gun rack. I don’t even own a gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack.” “Extreme Close up” “If she were a president she’d be babereham Lincoln” Party on Wayne. 3. The Naked Indian One naked Indian, and one Jim Morrison spirit guide in the desert. Enough said. 4. The Cameos Alice Cooper in concert in Milwaukee. A brief road trip later, they arrive at the concert and begin rocking out. After a conversation with security guard Chris Farley, the make their way backstage and expect to find a dressing room full of broken furniture, sex and drugs. Rather, everyone is kind of just sitting around and Mr. Cooper decides to educate everyone on history of Milwaukee. There are performances from Aerosmith, Rip Taylor magically appears in another movie, Heather Locklear, Christopher Walken, Drew Barrymoore, Kim Basinger, Jay Leno; the list goes on of all the random actors that ended up in Wayne’s World movies.
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5. The Suck-Cut Who could forget the introduction to what Wayne’s World? Seeing Garth’s hair get shredded due to an overly-enthusiastic neighbour Ron Paxton on Wayne’s couch in the basement studio? The ‘totally amazing excellent discovery’ of The Suck-Cut that is placed on Garth’s melon and all hell breaks loose. The world of Aurora Illinois will never be the same. 6. Product Placements Once Wayne’s World starts making it big, Rob Lowe (sorry, Benjamin) approaches Wayne to discuss sponsorship. Of course, much like many other scenes, this one just sets up a great piece of comedy about product placements. Nuprin, Doritos, Pizza Hut, Pepsi, and Reebok also join the scene. As Garth says, people who sell out are just really sad. 7. Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” Just as “Dream Weaver” is the song that plays in Wayne’s mind when he sees Cassandra, Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” is Garth’s own personal anthem for his dream girl, Donna Dixon, whom he imagines serenading at the coffee shop. Lacking all the swagger and sex appeal of Hendrix, Garth’s “Foxy Lady” dance routine is, for better or worse, now synonymous with the song, and the only thing I can think of when I listen to it. 8. Kung-Fu Fighting for Cassandra Need to settle a dispute with your girlfriend’s father? What better way to work it out then have a Kung-Fu showdown, complete with Taiwanese subtitles. 9. Waynestock “If you book them, they will come” or so says Jim Morrison spirit guide that comes to Wayne in a dream telling him to put on a music festival. Let’s be honest, the greatest part about Waynestock was the Roadie to end all Roadies, Del Preston, the Roadie training he puts all the new recruits through, and his Ozzie story about the tiger. 10. Bohemian Rhapsody The mother of all movie scenes. When Queen is unleashed on Wayne, Garth and the two random technical guys in this scene, next level head banging ensures. Not to mention picking up the drunk Phil and bringing him along for the ride. Not going to lie, I have re-created this scene in my car many times.
10 THINGS - WAYNE’S WORLD
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IT’S ALL GOOD BABY, BABY -BIGGIE