STATUS Magazine April 2015 feat Sean O'Pry by STATUS Magazine

is on a fast track apri l 201 5

SHOPPING GUIDE

6 MASTHEAD 8 CONTRIBUTORS 10 STATUS MESSAGE

STATUSPHERE 13 THREADS 18 SETTING 19 BRICK & MORTAR 20 SCREEN 21 INK 22 BEATS

GADGETS 23 TECH

PACK: Hot stuff

Served Sizzling.

PAINT: Bronze age

It’s a treasure hunt under the sun.

VANITIES: GLASS ACT

No need for Prince Charming.

BEAUTY BITE: LULU NAILS AND DRY BAR

FASHION

STREET STYLE

26 GO SEE 28 STYLE ID:

SPORTSWEAR CHIC Put the work in like a streetstyle champion.

VISION BOARD

30 BEYOND

THE SPECTRUM

Let shiny jackets and pants, floral-printed tops and quirky makeup defy your usual color theory. By Paolo Crodua

38 SHADOW

Printed Joggers

47 PRIME

TIME

Silicone Strap Watches

48 HOME

RUN

49 HEAD

START

Baseball Jerseys Printed Caps

50 WASHED

Denim Jackets

51 BACK

IT UP

Leather Backpacks

52 DRESS

RELIEF

T-shirt Dresses

53 LOOKING

SHARP

Pointed-toe Heels

FEATURES MUSE

BEAUTY 24 FACE

45 SWAG: LUCID GLEAM 46 URBAN THEORY

PLAY

Oversized lapel coats and dark sheer tops paired with strong eyebrows and thick lashers will bring out your strongest suite yet. By Daniel Yoon

54 BARE

SHADOWS

In film prints and reflections, Lauryn Holmquist is a collaborator of sorts. In a traipsing affair with the camera, she stands in the sun and lays in the moonlight in pursuit of her art. By Janroe Cabiles

MAESTRO

58 SEVEN

NATION ARMY

Combined, Manila-based band Cheats form an unlikely sound looking at their diverse influences, but the resulting harmony sends out vibrations of fun, friendship, and all things free from rules and restraints. By Pola Beronilla

60 UNINTERRUPTED

DISPATCH

You don’t have to wait Until the Ribbon Breaks to know how diversified the trio’s tracks are. Give A Lesson Unlearnt a listen to hear about their take on life and everything it gives and gets from you.

By Nicole Nequinto

62 GONE

GIRL

This girl doesn’t let heartbreak off easy. In her debut album, Toni B makes being a scorned woman look and sound so good, you’d want a broken heart by her just so she’d write you a love song. By Ian Urrutia

brushes it off m ar c h 2 0 1 5

MASTERMIND

ART AND APPETITE

Artist Mike Bouchet rides off his artistic license and shows how you can never bite off more than you can chew in his reinterpretation of movie posters in Power Lunch.

By Kitkat Ramos

66 DREAMWEAVER

With an ambition to surpass her art around the world’s greatest city walls, Elle’s testament to the strength of imagination and girl power lies in the streets.

By Olivia Estrada

68 ON

DOUBLE VISION

It only takes two for BRTHR to completely capture and engulf you in their digital daydream. Alex Lee and Kyle Wightman have a shared imagination and vision that bounces of pixels and filters that produces a hyperreality in tune with our online instincts.

THE CHART

Coming home from the artistic landscape of New York, Local artist Ernest Concepcion finds another dimension in his world through color drips and enamel.

REQUIEM FOR THE WEST

Snapping hazy seduction with a flair for film, creative artist Neil Krug shutters at the thought of photographs existing without stories. With naked souls in bodies of water or faces floating on surfaces, he adds layers of fragmented scenes that hook you on a feeling. By Janroe Cabiles

By Nicole Nequinto

HEAVY HITTER

CAUGHT IN THE MOTION

Model of the moment, Sean O’Pry is having his time in the sun. From fastfashion influencers to high-end couturiers, Sean has posed for them all and more as he redefines model behavior with a sense of lightheartedness and hard work up his welltailored sleeve.

91 DIRECTORY STATUS INVADES 92 ELENA ORTEGA

In a dreamscape of islands and cities, model Elena Ortega fits each scene. Capturing clothes and moments, she scales images with her thick locks and mesmerizing gaze.

By Olivia Estrada

about the cover Every man who drove Taylor Swift crazy has got a charm we’d like to get in action. With the trained eye of photographer Sean Armenta, that James Dean daydream look in the eyes of Sean O’Pry in a white T-shirt with the glare and grime, put together by Meagan Brown and Sean Panella, were captured down in the hot streets of LA.

statusmagonline.com

Blogsphere

the pulse of hip at your fingertips

go see

we’re all models off duty. smize!

FEATURES

there’s more to what’s in print

NightVision who’s spotted partying where

Photo Diary confessional for lensmen

Digital Magazine DOWNLOADS STATUS in pixels, not paper

free mixtapes and wallpapers

is filling in the blank space April 2015

editor-in-chief

Rosario Herrera @RosarioHerrera

managing editor

Denise Mallabo @denisemallabo

art director

Nyael David @nyaels

graphic designer

Grace de Luna @GraceAnnD

Tiff Ko @happeetiff

Carlo Nuñez @oycaloy

features editor

Pola Beronilla @HiMyNameIsPola

fashion assistant

Jill de Leon @orangetoenails

editorial assistants

Janroe Cabiles @janroetheboat

Olivia Estrada @MsOliviaSylvia

Kitkat Ramos @KitKatRamos

account manager

Dan Buenaventura @danbuenaventura

junior account executive

Gaby Bailon @gabybailon

contributing writers

Nicole Nequinto, Ian Urrutia

contributing artists

Johnson Arguelles, Sean Armenta, Davis Ayer, Brigette Bloom, Meagan Brown, Aya Cabauatan, Ian Castañares, Paolo Crodua, Jesse DeFlorio, Jelly Eugenio, JC Gellidon, Gabs Gibbs, Katrina Guevara, Tamara Lichtenstein, Pamm Merrera, Sean Panella, Zoe Rain, Steffi Santiago, JP Singson, Edie Sunday, Alicia Wheeler, Lauren Withrow, Daniel Yoon

interns

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Isabella Argosino, Dariz Kho, Acushla Obusan, Matt Panes, Vin Quilop, Robert Valdellon

What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com read our digital version statusmagonline.com/digital-magazine like us facebook.com/statusmagazine follow us twitter.com/statusmagazine instagram: statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

FASHION

facebook.com/starstyleph

Beauty

Celebrity

@starstyleph

www.starstyle.ph

@starstyleph

c ontributors GABS GIBBS The last time we spoke to Gabs, we singled her out as a woman of many hats. For this issue, she put on another one: stylist. Beyond the Spectrum (30) is her tribute to bubbly indie music, proving that she’s not just a pretty face like her icon, Emma Watson. “She’s smart, beautiful, and an inspiration to so many women, like myself.”

JC GELLIDON

SEAN ARMENTA

The cool kids are always seen through Sean’s lens. “The best thing about my job is it’s never the same day twice, and I get to work with the most artistically talented and beautiful people in the world.” It made him a good match for our cover boy who’s got two feet on the ground. “He was down to earth, despite his fame. It’s something I find quite rare nowadays.”

A multi-slasher in the visual arena, JC called first dibs on shooting the new musicians the current has brought in, such as Cheats (58) and Toni B (62). Following the lead of shutterbugs like 13th Witness and Trashhand, JC isn’t just about the print but the people that pour in their passion in whatever they do.

SEAN PANELLA Like his favorite mint chip ice cream, Sean is cool despite being in sunny California. He was in his element with his namesakes. “My favorite moment with Sean was watching him do his thing on the streets of LA. It was impressive to see him in the zone, unaffected by the commotion of the streets while still connecting with his surroundings.”

nicole nequinto Issue after issue, Nicole is bound to turn up on our pages with the latest in the scene. She knows what’s up and coming. Frankly, we aren’t surprised, given her very reliable meter for determining if the person is hot enough to write about: “If it’s over 25°C, or if Leonardo DiCaprio would find it cool.”

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PAOLO CRODUA

Paolo’s approach to life is simple. “I allow myself to be crazy whenever I feel like I’m working too hard and I deserve a break.” But his formula to being crazy will eventually loop back to work. “I want to go to somewhere far and foreign. I would go there to take photos, get lost, meet new people, and do anything and everything that will inspire me.”

STATUS MES S AGE

Sean O’Pry (70)

is on a Fast Track E

very once in a while, there will be a rising talent that outshines the star. In this case, it’s our cover guy who stole the spotlight from the ultimate pop star. Sean O’Pry was already getting notable mentions as the hottest male model in the fashion world, but it was his stint in Taylor Swift’s music video for “Blank Space” where he stole a million teenagers’ hearts and crossed over to the main stream. In his feature, this fashion runaway enlightens us on modeling stereotypes and where he wants to take his career from here. Our other Heavy Hitters also include director duo Alex Lee and Kyle Wightman a.k.a. BRTHR. Between their passion projects and highly budgeted shoots, they can’t seem to get their fill on creative expression. Having collaborated with Charli XCX, Iggy Azalea, The Drums, and Foster The People for their music videos, they are taking their visual ADD to a whole new level. Neil Krug is another photographer/artist playing with our visual dimension. Specializing in post-processed cover albums, he has become the go-to image-maker of Columbia Records, Interscope Records, XL Recordings, and Warner Bros. Records. Adding to his already impressive resume, he has photographed First Aid Kid, Scissor Sisters, Foals, Devendra Banhart, and Lana Del Ray. As we talk to him, Neil tells why he describes his photography as “all wrong.” We always aspire to discover the next set of talents about to break in their creative field, and this issue is all about that. These Heavy Hitters did catch our eye because of who they’re working with, but we are certain that they now hold their own weight. We’ve got our eye on these scenestealers–and so should you.

Editor-in-chief

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THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN / INK APRIL 2015

SUGAR High

weet like candy to your soul, 202FACTORY’s syrup-covered goods will make you roll. Popping bottles of soda and splashes of color, the latest collection gives heart-shaped pouches, backpacks, cylindrical bags, clutches, and messenger bags in prints of baby blue and pink checkers, popsicles, cassettes, and colorful translucence, also offering bunnies and ice cream cones on socks. 202factory.com

DOWN AND DIRTY

hen the going gets tough, HARDWARE LDN gets going. Rock & roll makes a comeback in their collection of mesh tops, leather jackets, printed sweats, highwaist shorts, cutout skirts, and dresses in a strong black and white palette, as well as textured caps and custom eyewear. Get rough and ready for clothing not suited for the faint of heart. hardwareldn.com

AT ease

and-tailored for the modern man, GEORGE JAKUBS is the newest kid on the masculine wear block. Hailing from Shropshire, England, each item from the label is crafted from the finest British-made material. Claiming to flatter every male silhouette, Collection I features classic monochrome pieces with a twist. Think slouchy sweat tops, textured-print joggers, and oversized T-shirts for that effortlessly cool yet put-together look. georgejakubs.com

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THREADS

BRANDS TO KNOW

NO ROOKIE MISTAKES

aybe Amateur by name, but Spanish sea and surf brand FIRMAMENTO is definitely in the game. Inspired by the first swimmers of Club Natació Atlètic-Barcenoleta, the summer-ready collection is packed with sweaters, T-shirts, zip-up hoodies, and bonnets. Taking pride in their locally made garments, each piece would leave you ready to take a plunge. firmamento.com

defend the fort

ive GARRISON a salute as they fortify the local streetwear scene with their first collection. Providing you with amped-up basics like sweaters, bomber jackets, sleeveless tops, crop tops, and dresses, Urban Staples 01 features details of knit mesh, neoprene, laminated fabrics, leatherette, quilting, and zippers. This local brand is definitely ready to defend any fashion faux blows. garrison-store.com

reckless situation

hen you’re sporting turned up basics by DIEM, what else matters? Wear your spunk on your sleeve with the brand’s latest offering of closet staples with their simple logo on snapbacks, button-up shirts, baseball jerseys, T-shirts, and harem pants in balanced black and white prints that steer away from the bland and ordinary. doesitevenmatter.com

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THREADS

FEET tO RULE

hey say ABCENSE makes the heart grow fonder; designer duo Jhuosan and Yoyo built a brand that represents the perfect footwear of their oriental roots back in Taipei. A contemporary wonderland of vivid geometric shapes and playful lines that exude uniqueness and sophistication, the collection features hand-dyed leathers, kidskin, calfskin, and suede pieces. abcense.com

HONORABLE MENTION

et schooled on wardrobe basics as EUNIFORM reinvents them with sleek cuts and stylish shapes. This local independent clothing brand shows us that everyday staples will never be taken for granted with its first collection featuring long shirts, pleated skirts, apron dresses, cropped double-breasted jackets, and culottes. euniform.co

WATCH AND LEARN

ave you ever wished to have superpowers? 8CUFF tells us that we could be something greater and extraordinary. Inspired by the graphic novel, Who Watches the WatchmenÂ gives force to jackets, shorts, pants, sweaters, bags, and even kneepads with symmetrical shapes, crazy graphic prints, and sports lux fabrics. Wear one and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll feel you are above the others. 8cuff.com

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THREADS

BRANDS TO KNOW

luxury sweats

hether you’re out to warm up or to strut your stuff, sweat gold and look ace with KIRV. What was a half-baked project of couple Kaira Dimatulac and Miko Raval turned into a lovechild brand for sports luxe, featuring monochrome pieces of cotton, dry fit, and mesh fabrics in T-shirts, pullovers, oversized tees, drop-crotch pants, and joggers in cargo and black, with the occasional geometric pattern and houndstooth print. facebook.com/KirvApparel

black knight

he love child of Greco Roman and British Punk comes in the form of ADA + NIK. Noir Desir presents their darkest desires with straightforward silhouettes and experimental shapes in longline coats, geometric bombers, and textured tees. Playing around with Italian leather, showerproof tech fabrics, and crease-free memory cotton, the collection brings men’s outwear to the future. adaxnik.com

gorgeous pitcher

it your wardrobe with a perfect swing with VANESSA MORIN. Inspired by baseball games, elements of stripes and jerseys are infused with the brand’s feminine aesthetics to give it an androgynous twist. The collection includes tops, shirt dresses, coats, and pinstripe sets in black, white, and grey that truly show its minimalist and clean signature. vanessamorin.com

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THREADS

back alley warriors

using rock & roll and the Wild West with an athletic edge, get ready to fight on the runway with CHRISTIAN DADA. Inspired by the ‘70s cult action film The Warriors, Japanese designer Masanori Morikawa’s inspiration comes to life with the placement of cowboy prints, fringes, fur, paneled fabrics, leather, slits, and layered plaids into extraordinary areas and shapes. christiandada.jp

under the rugged

uillaume Philibert’s brainchild is back with a vengeance. Dutch footwear brand FILLING PIECES just dropped their newest offering—and it’s sleeker than ever. Bridging the gap between the streets and high-end couture runway, the Amsterdam-based line introduces sneakers with even more varied plays on texture, leather, and clean-cut monochromatic patterns, with each piece screaming rugged yet refined. fillingpieces.com

the heist

ndrogynous cuts and dark colors are boldly featured in the RUNWAY BANDITS’ newest collection. The dresses, shirts, and jackets from this Singapore-based brand fit the woman who is out and about town with a million things to do, and one of them is doing everything else in subdued style. runwaybandits.com

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SETTING

PLACES TO GO

CORKAGE

PANGAEA, PARAÑAQUE T

he world-class name in the club scene that is finally gracing our shores, PANGAEA ULTRA LOUNGE bridges the gap between exotic and glamorous. Housed in the country’s newest entertainment mecca, City of Dreams, it promises to give clubgoers distinct luxury by combining old Hollywood aesthetics with modern flair. Exquisite black and gold palette interiors emit an intimate vibe with unique details like contemporary artworks and leather belt-lined walls. Treat your ears to an array of sounds, from 1970s jazz to hip-hop and electro, while enjoying the view of a rotating grand piano DJ booth and indulging in their topof-the-line bottle service and extensive drinks menu. Pledging the most exclusive nightlife experience, Pangaea is poised to sky-rocket Manila after-dark to new heights. Upper G/F City of Dreams Manila Asean Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard, Parañaque City pangaeamanila.com

grub

ake your palates on an organic overdrive with the newest kid on the clean eats block, RUNNER’S KITCHEN. Nestled in famed food district, Tomas Morato, this health haven is perfect for cozy afternoons and casual conversations. Step inside and be greeted by its inviting cabin-like interiors, while feasting your eyes on quaint flashlight lamps, cardboard deer heads, and mountain bike wall fixtures. Sticking to their lighter alternatives creed, they offer twists to favorite dishes like Spicy Tuna Quinoa Rolls, Wild Boar Carbonara, Eggplant Caviar, and Black Rice Champorado. Though it is the brainchild of friends united by running, one need not be a health freak or athlete to indulge. Runner’s Kitchen is reinventing gluten-free gastronomics, plate by plate. G/F Creekside Square Bldg. 74 Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City facebook.com/RunnersKitchenPH

PLATE

OFFBEAT ORGANICS RUNNER’S KITCHEN’s all-natural and 100% healthy menu is anything but ordinary.

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Chicken Malunggay Pesto Whole wheat pasta, malunggay pesto sauce, and steamed chicken

Peppercorn Crusted Tuna Tuna in thick peppercorn coating, served with cous-cous

Spicy Tuna Quinoa Roll Quinoa with spicy tuna chunks, wrapped in nori

Wild Boar Sausage Wild boar sausage, served on a bed of cous-cous and oniontomato salad

Words by Isabella Argosino, GRUB and PLATE photos by Carlo Nuñez

RUNNER’S KITCHEN, QUEZON CITY T

BRICK AND MORTAR

STORES TO SHOP

ball and buck, boston 144-B Newbury St., Boston, MA ballandbuck.com Dime to Drop: P3103.07-P57,628.35 ($70-$1,300) Don’t leave the store without: One of their bestselling Upland jackets

Words by Jill de Leon and Matt Panes

he hunt for amazing wardrobe pieces is over. Drop by BALL AND BUCK and find everything a man’s man would ever need. Inspired by hunting and the great outdoors, the brand’s name itself is coined from troops who loaded their muskets with “buck and ball” during the American Revolution. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the store is surrounded with wood panel floors, brown leather couches, and hunting memorabilia, making you wish you could have it as your own man cave. The brand carries menswear pieces from brands like Danner, SOTA, New Balance, Dickies, and Schott NY. They also have a fully operational barbershop that offers hair and grooming products from Baxter of California, CaswellMassey, and Malin + Goetz. We bet you’ll never find a place with as much testosterone as this one.

volver T

ravel from Europe to Asia sans the jetlag with VOLVER. Carrying an array of brands from Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Italy, and France that mix luxury and streetwear, the online store consigns with Dzojche, Pas De Calais, and such. Not limited to just clothing, they also feature shoes and accessories from brands like Abcense, Drake & Barnett, and Bernard Delettrez to make your shopping rituals a little bit spunkier.

volvershop.com

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SCREEN

SCENES TO SEE

RE M OTE CONTRO L TICKET

DAREDEVIL (NETFLIX) Drew Goddard creates an action scifi adaptation of Marvel’s classic comic. Revolving around blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), he uses his heightened super senses to fight crime on the streets. As a flawed hero that preaches justice by day yet breaks his professional oaths by night, Daredevil blurs the line between good and bad.

DEREK (NETFLIX) After two seasons of the well-loved British comedy-drama revolving around a 50-year old bubbly nursing home caretaker, writer, director, and actor Ricky Gervais comes back with a one-hour special. Seen as naive and childlike, the awkward Derek struggles to get along with his co-worker Hannah in the special final episode.

FAST & FURIOUS 7 Director James Wans shifts gears from horror to action in the seventh installment of the Fast & Furious franchise as Deckard Shaw pursues revenge against Dominic Toretto for the death of his brother.

EX-MACHINA Making his directional debut, Alex Garland delivers a sci-fi thriller about computercoder Caleb Smith who’s selected to participate in an experiment, known as Ava, an emotionally deceptive A.I.

THE WOMAN IN GOLD Helen Mirren returns to the big screen alongside Ryan Reynolds to play true-to-life Holocaust survivor Maria Altmann, who takes on the government to reclaim her family’s iconic painting.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK! In celebration of Saturday Night Live’s contribution to pop culture and the arts for the past 40 years, Bao Nguyen directs a documentary featuring Eddie Murphy, Jack Nicholson, and many more.

CUT BANK Directed by Matt Shankman, the thriller revolves around an auto mechanic (Liam Hemsworth) who seeks to leave his town, and in the attempt, his life unravels after filming the murder of a mailman.

TRUE STORY Based on the memoir of Michael Finkel, this dramatic thriller brings together a journalist (Jonah Hill) and FBI Most Wanted List murderer, Christian Longo (James Franco) who’s hiding under the former’s identity.

P L A Y BACK FUNNY FACE (1957) A classic from Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. Photographer Richard Avedon’s fashion sequences are ‘S wonderful, ‘S marvelous.

WIZARD OF OZ (1939) I’m obsessed with the Land of Oz, I collect all the books. I will take any excuse to return to that magical world.

DAISIES (1966) Best friends wreaking havoc on everything and everyone in their path. Their life is a beautiful mess. Flower crowns unite!

3 WOMEN (1977) I love Duvall’s love for yellow and purple. The paintings are hauntingly beautiful. I love the idea of art being under water.

ALIA PENNER (Artist) WONDERWALL (1968) I love the sets created by Marijke Koger. Also, Jane Birkin floating through outer space topless with a mermaid tail.

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Words by Kush Obusan

aliapenner.com

ink

BOOKS TO READ

BOOK M ARK

HOT O F F THE P RESS I HATE MYSELFIE: A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS By Shane Dawson Known for his onscreen acts since his 2008 vlogs and full-length directorial debut film Not Cool, Shane Dawson captured the hearts of over 12 million Youtube subscribers. After the long wait, he’s finally taking us behind the screen and into the struggles of an eccentric yet introverted obese kid with a pretty face and a financially challenged but loving home.

WRECKAGE By Emily Bleeker Liar, liar, Lillian Linden’s got her pants on fire. Post-plane crash rescue, Lillian and fellow castaway Dave Hall fake their saga the moment they get back to their new reality as the center of every spotlight. Though the public is amazed at the survivors’ stories, journalist Genevieve Randall believes otherwise. Randall stops at nothing to set fact apart from fiction.

Words by Kush Obusan

GET IN TROUBLE: STORIES By Kelly Link As a bewitchingly unique writer, Link’s doing some magic with superheroes, The Wizard of Oz, ancient pyramids, astronauts, evil twins, and hurricanes in her collection of short stories—including The New Boyfriend, where she puts teenage friendship to the test in a twisted suburban slumber party. With every gripping anecdote, Link enchants us into a new fictional realm.

INVISIBLE MONSTERS REMIX By Chuck Palahniuk

laying DJ in Palahniuk’s latest spin of his 1999 novel, Invisible Monsters remix delineates its original structure by adding and rearranging the chapters while providing instructions on where to read next, similar to the Choose Your Own Adventure books. This spin to a riveting novel’s got us hooked on the fashion-model-protagonist who’s beauty was scarred by an accident and her consequent encounters with drag queens, sexual abuse, drugs, and more drugs:

“What happens here will be more of a fashion magazine feel, a Vogue or Glamour magazine chaos with page numbers on every second, fifth, or third page. Perfume cards falling out, and full-page naked women coming out of nowhere to sell you makeup.” “You young people, you who think you invented fun and drugs and good times, fuck you.” “Jump to here and now, Brandy Alexander bleeding to death on the floor, with me kneeling beside her, telling this story before here come the paramedics.”

F OOTNOTES Shane Dawson uploaded a short film on his channel of I Hate Myselfie, a flashback into his life as a teenager with his own sarcastic, retrospective commentary to go with the comedic scenes.

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MUSIC TO HEAR

P L A Y L IST

CHANCE THE RAPPER soundcloud.com/ chancetherapper

CHEATS Saab Magalona (Vocalist) soundcloud.com/ cheatsph

TONI B soundcloud.com/ tonibmusic

“I Like It” Debarge I like this ‘cause it taught me about lines and melodies. Like creating moments that reoccur.

“B.O.N” King Louie It’s just the best record to listen to anytime, wherever you are.

“WWYD” Rich Homie Quan This song is kinda old, but it’s still hot.

“Livin’ It Up” Ja Rule I’ve been listening to this for about 12 or 13 years now.

“Why” Pupil They just came out with their album, and this one is so catchy.

“Mikey Rocks” The Cool Kids Old one, but The Cool Kids always make me feel like I’m a cool kid—and not the Echosmith type.

“Elastic Heart” Sia Because Sia is awesome.

“In Transit” Albert Hammond Jr. This takes me back to college, and it’s perfect for when I’m driving or literally in transit.

“Fool’s Gold” Izzy Bizzu I like the song’s message. It’s like I found a love worth something, when it’s really nothing.

“Lundagin Mo, Beybi” Flying Ipis When you go running, this is the best song to listen to. It’s like having only three minutes left!

“Accidents” Cheats What I really love about them is their full sound. Plus their songs are refreshing.

“Hooked On A Feeling” Blue Swede When you’re down, listen to this song. There’s something wrong with you if you don’t end up smiling.

Releases

After a relative silence since their release in 2012, PASSION PIT graces our ears once again with their third studio album Kindred, a ten-track commemoration and celebration of life with their signature synthpop delight and lyrical poetry prowess.

Consider this the very last beat of Electra Heart. This time, MARINA & THE DIAMONDS leaves her inner “Primadonna” behind and bears a much darker Froot as she takes on a more “reflective” angle, evoking heartbreak atop audacious, girl power-infused beats.

M USIC NE W S

Complemented by a popup sale of their finest records, Satchmi’s Vinyl Day celebrates analog music with performances by BP Valenzuela, Tandems ’91, Ourselves the Elves, and Cheats.

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Boom and clap to the tunes of Charli XCX as she breaks the rules on April 18 at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier. This anti-pop queen will make you feel like a sucker if you miss it.

On April 17-19, mankind’s favorite things come together–beer and music. All roads lead to Atlanta as SweetWater Brewing Company launches the 420 Fest, featuring Cage The Elephant, Snoop Dogg, and more.

Chaz Bundick, a.k.a. TORO Y MOI, takes his new album up a notch with “Empty Nesters,” leaning towards the rocker side of the spectrum while keeping that funk punk and anthemic folk sound. What For, you ask? We’ll have to keep our ears peeled to know.

Words by Isabella Argosino, Chance the Rapper photo by Zoe Rain

BEATS

TECH PACK

HOT STUFF

D O W N L OA D S

We know they are, but don’t drop it like it is.

FUJIFILM X-A2 CAMERA • Features a selfie-friendly 175° flip-out LCD screen • Boasts of a 16.3 MP quality photos • Has a built-in wireless image transfer for easy and quick sharing SRP: PHP 24,343 SNEAKER PRICE GUIDE By Michael Tran

GARMIN FORERUNNER 920XT • Optimized to monitor advanced fitness trackers like cadence, vertical oscillation, and ground contact time • Water and sweatproof to keep up with different physical activities and exercise plans • Connects wirelessly to your phone for easy media sharing and progress storage

Get the latest news on sneaker drops with a complete history, availability guide, and customized messages.

SRP: PHP 43,000

BRAVEN BALANCE • An indoor/outdoor speaker with an anti-slip exterior, capable of surviving accidental spills or drops • Packed with a 4400 mAh battery to charge other devices • Available in different colors: Raven, Alpine, Raspberry, Electric, Sunset, and Periwinkle SRP: PHP 6,648

SENNHEISER URBANITE XL

AIRBNB By Airbnb, Inc. Travel across the globe and book yourself a unique room at an efficient cost in over 34,000 cities and offer up your own space safely.

• Controlled by an intuitive touch panel on the headphone for wireless mobility • Delivers sound through a double bass system for a stellar sound quality • Enabled with Bluetooth 4.0 technology to handle multiconnectivity pairing and simultaneous connection SRP: TBA

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE EDGE • Features the Note Edge design for quick access of apps and notifications • Boasts of a QUAH HD + SUPER AMOLED display for crystal clear display • Packed with a 16 MP back camera SRP: PHP 43,000

STRANDED SURVIVAL By Matthew Tory Play your way to survive in a mysterious deserted island by making your own fort and teaming up with fellow castaways.

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FAC E PA I N T LAURA MERCIER ‘Chameleon’ Baked Eye Color in Ballet Pink P1,145.52

bronze age

Warm up and finish strong.

TOM FORD Extreme Mascara P2,100.12

dior ‘Diorskin Airflash’ Spray Foundation P2,959.26

YVES SAINT LAURENT Couture Mono Eyeshadow in Argane P1,431.90 maybelline White Superfresh UV Cake Powder Foundation P299.00

GIORGIO ARMANI Eye Tint in 11 P1,813.74

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS ‘Brow Primer’ Clear Wax Pencil P1,002.33

STILA Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Bronze P1,336.44

ESTÉE LAUDER ‘Instant Intense’ Eyeshadow in Beach Metals P1,718.28

nars ‘All Day’ Luminous Weightless Liquid Foundation P2,291.04

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charlotte tilbury ‘Color Chameleon’ Color Morphing Eyeshadow Pencil in Bronzed Garnet P1,288.71

Runway photo by Jeremy Scott Spring/Summer 2015

BOBBI BROWN Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Telluride P1,909.20

Vani t i es SUN RECOVER Y

GLASS ACT No need for a fairy godmother to make all your beauty wishes come true. The MAC × CINDERELLA COLLECTION is complete with eyes, lips, and face products that give you a subtle satin finish, suited for a fairytale ending.

Feel the wind in your hair sans the split ends with ALTERNA BAMBOO SUMMER SUN RECOVERY SPRAY, which infuses moisture and shine to take away all the damage caused by the sun.

Alleviate your skin from those ever-so painful sunburns with JACK BLACK DRAGON ICE RELIEF AND RECOVERY BALM, containing willow herb and organic oil that speed up the skin’s healing process.

Expert Advice

Words by Jill de Leon, Beauty Bite photos by Kush Obusan

Get ready for a summer romance as SHISEIDO SUN PROTECTION LIP TREATMENT leaves you with no excuse for unkissable lips with SPF 35 and enough minerals to reverse dryness and chapping.

Use an eye primer to have a smoother and longer lasting eyeshadow finish.

beauty bite

LULU NAILS AND DRY BAR

aint your nails with the hues of the swinging ‘60s at LULU NAILS & DRY BAR, where the energetic colors and contrasts will greet you upon entry. Whether you prefer to relax in their lounge with ambient lighting and lazy boy seats or bask in ‘60s nostalgia in their bright and colorful room furnished with geometric décor and chairs embellished with icons, you’re sure to enjoy their mani-pedis, hand and foot spas, waxing, paraffin treatments, and massages. 5/F BTTC Centre 288 Ortigas Ave. corner Roosevelt St. Greenhills, San Juan facebook.com/Ilovelulunails

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GO S E E Explore your dark side with neutral statement pieces. Photos courtesy of Steffi Santiago, alex-closet.com, and mikuta.nu

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ST Y LE I D Have fun while getting perfect 10s on the scoreboard, courtesy of this lovely Jacquemus number.

Baggy printon-print numbers make it easier for your teammates to spot you in the sea of dull workout clothes.

Show your hard work at the gym by donning a peek-a-boo sheer tee.

SPORTSWEAR CHIC

Wear the perfect winter parka to keep you shedding those unnecessaryÂ pounds.

Embrace the athlete in you with luxe Olympic ensembles inspired by Henrik Silvius Spring/Summer 2015 Collection. Be the captain of the dream team in chic tech fabrics, cropped tops, oversized parkas, and comfy trainers. By JP Singson

Get a winning look by wearing cropped tops with a health goth twist.

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JJ Martin and her comfy oversized purple sports coat is indeed editorial-worthy.

Street style photos courtesy of jponfashionspeed.com, copenhagenfashionweek.com, and lelook.eu

Stylist Archie Juinio layers his neoprene and sheer combo top over a crisp button-down.

You can never go wrong with a pristine boxy, white tee.

FASHION

facebook.com/starstyleph

Beauty

Celebrity

@starstyleph

www.starstyle.ph

@starstyleph

BEYOND THE

Photographed by Paolo Crodua Styled by Gabs Gibbs

top by Miss Selfridge pants by H&M necklace by Shana

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top by Neon Island skirt by H&M shoes by Forever 21 belt by H&M necklace by Shana

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top by Topshop jacket by Bershka necklace by Bvlgari

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dress by Warehouse earrings by Forever 21

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top by Zara sweater by H&M skirt by Forever 21 watch by Casio bracelets by H&M

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jacket by H&M top by H&M shirt by Zara skirt by Dorothy Perkins

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dress by Warehouse jacket by H&M earrings by Forever 21 necklace by H&M shoes by Forever 21

Hair Johnson Arguelles of Unica Hija Salon Makeup Jelly Eugenio Model Hye Won of Titan Premiere Model

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Photographed by Daniel Yoon Styled by Katrina Guevara

jacket by BCBG Max Azira

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top by Phillip Lim dress by Weekday

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top by Phillip Lim

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coat by BCBG Max Azaria

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dress by Elie Tahari jacket by BCBG Max Azira

Makeup Alicia Wheeler Model Radha of NEXT Model Management

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SWAG a p r il

20 1 5

LUCID GLEAM Stack your closet with joggers, watches, baseball jerseys, printed caps, T-shirt dresses, heels, denim jackets, and backpacks that are good as gold. Product Photography by Ian Casta単ares

chain link necklace by Sfera [P619], rings by H&M [P499], geometric necklace by Shana [P399.50]

P r i n ted j o gge r s

urban theory Run this town with printed joggers.

From left to right: Forever 21 [P1,015] Forever 21 [P1,015] Forever 21 [P1,015] The Quiet Life [P2,995]

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s i l i c o n st r a p watc h es

prime time

Count on these silicon strap watches to give you an instant edge.

green watch by Oxygen [P899] yellow watch by Tokei [P699] white watch by Oxygen [P549] left black watch by Oxygen [P549] blue watch by Oxygen [P899] right black watch by Aeropostale [TBA]

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b ase b a l l j e r se y s

home run

Baseball jerseys will strike out the basics.

From top to bottom: 10.Deep [P3,190] Stussy [P3,990] Stussy [P3,290]

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p r i n ted ca p s

head start

Paint a picture with these printed caps.

From top to bottom: Topman [P1.195] Brixton [P1,990] Brixton [P1,990] Marc Jacobs [P5,750]

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de n i m j ac k ets

washed up Go through the blue spectrum with denim jackets.

From top to bottom: Forever 21 [TBA] H&M [P2,990] Aeropostale [P3,750] Sfera [P2,199]

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l eat h e r b ac k p ac k s

back it up Fashion meets comfort in leather backpacks.

From top to bottom: Something Borrowed [P1,199] Something Borrowed [P1,499] Aby Jocson [P1,450]

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t - s h i r t d r esses

dress relief

Add these T-shirt dresses to your wardrobe staples.

From left to right: Old Navy [P1,450] Dorothy Perkins [P1,995] Dorothy Perkins [P1,395]

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p o i n ted - t o e h ee l s

looking sharp

Dress to kill with pointed-toe heels.

Clockwise from top: H&M [P2,290] Sfera [P2,599] Forever 21 [TBA]

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M U S E

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BARE shadows Twisting around light planes and dark spaces, LAURYN HOLMQUIST streaks in and out of film in a stream of cadence and a sense of moving through rooms, with either timeless drapes for wings or nothing at all. By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Edie Sunday, Brigette Bloom, Davis Ayer, Lauren Withrow, and Tamaraâ&#x20AC;ŻLichtenstein

pinning on that dizzy edge, lenses kiss her face and kiss her head. Dreaming of different ways to glow, Lauryn Holmquist abandons the foray of conventional modeling and quips a reckless lunacy in lunar lights for the camera. But the path to posing for a photo wasn’t always in plain sight. “My mom tried to get me into modeling when I was little, but my priorities were nowhere near that,” she says. “Then, when I was 17, I came home to Texas one winter and my close friend Tamara Lichtenstein photographed me. I couldn’t keep a straight face to save my life, but she helped me realize a way of creative self-expression that I hadn’t yet found.”

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Aside from Tamara, Lauryn shoots with Davis Ayer, Jon Stars, Brigette Bloom, and Lauren Withrow, who have become frequent collaborators for the model. “I don’t know a better way to get to know someone than through the act of creation. I like working with people more than once because you get to know them. It’s really interesting to see the growing level of trust reflected from the relationship into the photos.” Building a dreamscape of photos, either as a subject or the creator, Lauryn stares into both the lens and viewfinder with her sharp, green eyes and sees different lands in her own radiant and surreal light. “I’ve been on the road majority of the past two years, so this is the first time in awhile that I’m stable in LA. I’m currently in a place where it feels as though I’m seeing the world for the first time, which makes me feel passionate about everything I see and do. Artistic expression and filmmaking will always absorb me.”

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

I took a photography class in high school that ultimately led me to pick up a film camera. I then realized how much more of a moment a film photo can hold compared to digital. Throughout modeling, there is a lot of observing you get to do, so I’ve learned to let my eyes lead the way. There must be a reason why they keep returning to the same things over and over.

CINEMA SOUNDTRACK

Documentaries and films made before 1995 have the biggest effect on me. It’s hard to pick, but a few of my favorites are True Romance, The Jerk, Under the Skin, House of the Devil, and anything by Stanley Kubrick or David Lynch.

OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE

I’m not sure what goes through my mind during those little moments in shoots. Sometimes, it’s like being a third person, lurking around, trying to examine all the details in the big picture. Trying to see what the photographer sees before they do. From there, it’s all based on how much my subconscious is willing to let go of.

ON A PEDESTAL

The attempt made to move people through your own power and vulnerability is something that will always fuel and fascinate me. There’s a plethora of knowledge you gain from being the observed to the observer and that is irreplaceable.

laurynholmquist.com @laurynholmquist

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MAESTRO

M A E S T R O

Pouring out their heart and console, Manila-based band CHEATS bypass the normal limitations of a genre. Accessing different stages, day or night, this seven-player combo cracks the code and enters a whole new level in the indie game. Press start to continue. By Pola Beronilla Photographed by JC Gellidon

rmed with a punk demeanor, an indie aesthetic, and an overall pop sound, Cheats will bring a party to your eyes and ears. Comprised of Jim Bacarro, Saab Magalona, and Candy Gamos on vocals, Ernest Aguila and Mau Torralba on guitar, Manny Tanglao on bass, and Enzo Hermosa on drums, the seven-piece outfit is that hidden gem that lies in the underground scene—but not for long. Formed in June 2013, Jim, Manny, and Ernest were in a band called Ernville long before Candy and Saab’s music front, Grrrl Scout, started booking them for gigs. This eventually led to a merge as the girls decided to add some spice to Ernville’s masculine grit. Soon enough, they got a fresh beat in the

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form of drummer Enzo. Thus, Cheats’ sound was fully formed. With influences that range from LCD Soundsystem and Radiohead to the Spice Girls, their sound is an unpredictable surprise. “Collectively, we’re all ‘90s kids,” says Jim. Even the influences for us have always been that ‘90s alternative rock sound. But Saab and Candy are into All Saints, girly things like the Spice Girls.” Focusing more on the music rather than labels, the group explains, “Genre is just the compartmentalization of image. Technically, you can say Arcade Fire is indie rock, but they’re one of the biggest sounds in the world.” However, they aren’t afraid to walk on the road usually taken. “Some people like to deviate from pop, but I think we really are pop,” shares Saab. With only three songs up on their SoundCloud, the anticipation for a full-length album built up easily. From the sugary melodic breeze of “Newspaper Girl” to the climactic indie pop anthem “Accident,” their high-strung intensity is an infectious glow that brings out the animal inside of you. And when they released “Headfoam” earlier this year, it presented a newfound side of the band. As Jim’s delicate vocals grieve, “There’s a life vest in my room / Guess the dust meant I was screwed / I didn’t know that I could sink,” the subdued track exposed a deeper charm, without straying away from their core. And it has left us with an addictive taste, begging for more.

MAESTRO

“No matter how big or small the crowd is, we give it our all.”

Represented by LockedDown Entertainment, they are currently the only band being produced by alt rock hero Ely Buendia—and it all happened organically. “We’d always invite The Oktaves and Pupil to play in our Grrrl Scout gigs, and Ely would also go to other Cheats gigs we had,” recalls Saab. “After our first gig at A. Venue, he invited us to jam at his place to try it out, and then he said, ‘Why don’t you record your whole album here?’” adds Jim. “Even now that we’re good friends, there’s still some sort of unreal element,” shares Saab. Being a staple in the Philippines’ rock scene, Ely’s guidance goes beyond their process of recording. “If there’s a crowd, you will never get the approval of each and every person. So stop trying to gain it. If you have a show and have one person who is interested, you’re good,” shares Jim on advice from Ely. “’Cause sometimes, we would have gigs that barely fill a venue, and we’d think, ‘Why do we need to go all out?’ But there would be at least one person who would like our music. So no matter how big or small the crowd is, we

give it our all.” As their bio reads, “a collective of couch potatoes, strung together by a love for video games, melodrama, and rock anthems,” it’s clear what fuels their passion: music and friendship. “We’re just like a party onstage,” says Saab. “I think that’s the benefit of being friends, we don’t play for anyone,” adds Jim. “The music industry is struggling; it’s not that easy being in a band. If you’re not having fun, don’t do it alone,” he explains. “I always compare it to playing basketball. Just because you’re playing in a village court and not in NBA, doesn’t mean you can’t have as much fun. That’s how we feel. At least we get to play, and every show is the shit.”

soundcloud.com/cheatsph @cheatsph

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MAESTRO

uninterrupted dispatch British trio UNTIL THE RIBBON BREAKS never cease to create music that forms a world fashioned by an infinite number of influences. We caught up with James Gordon to talk about the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s live performances, re-imaginations, mixtapes, and their debut album, A Lesson Unlearnt. By Nicole Nequinto Photographed by Jesse DeFlorio

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MAESTRO

“

emember the days when gifting mixtapes was the definitive romantic gesture? That careful ritual of combing through your record collection, choosing a myriad of musical moods and memories for the recipient to imbibe and devour again and again,” goes Until the Ribbon Breaks’ About Page on their Facebook account. James (keys, bass, programming, and backing vocals) laughs out as we asked about their well-explained band name on their bio. With the whole thought and feeling of making a mixtape for someone in mind, they have devised a series they called Until The Ribbon Tapes, now in its third installment. “Typically, what we’ll do for a mixtape is come up with a vision, an atmosphere, or an idea for the kind of world we want to create—a macro version for creating songs for the album, and we’ll think about the artists we’d listen to while we’re in it,” James explains. Rooted in the theme they choose, the bassist shares that they could still draw inspiration from anywhere without being confined to the theme— hip-hop, pop, electronica, funk, and a number of other genres that is best represented by their “reimaginations.” Their SoundCloud holds a lot of these “re-imaginations,” with an extreme selection from Blondie, Nirvana, Robert Palmer, and The Weeknd, which James says they qualify through the excellence of

“We’re more interested in making these songs and taking from it something that someone else wouldn’t take from it.” the track’s vocals. “Often, it’s more about the vocal—you’ll notice in a lot of the re-imaginations, we just use a piece of the vocal or a set of notes from the vocals rather than the traditional remix where they all would take chords or drums. The vocal really has to be something special.” All these re-imagined tracks finally led to an avenue that is their own—the making of their debut album, A Lesson Unlearnt. Pete LawrieWinfield (lead vocals, programming, percussion, and guitar) is at the center of the album, as bandmate James relays, “Being the frontman and the singer, he is very close to the songs that make up the album. He’s taught into the craft in the traditional sense and he’s someone who takes inspiration from anywhere and just writes songs—a visual element like a film he’s seen, perhaps something that’s going on in his life, or something that’s going on in our lives,” he says. “It could be some artwork or a short story, but I think the process itself and how it starts, Pete is the core of where

the song comes from.” As for Elliot Wall, James has this to say of the band’s drummer: “He provides a very useful objectivity and takes care of a lot of rhythm elements in the production.” When it comes to his own contribution, James takes on most of producing, so a lot of programming and technicality of the music comes through him. Describing the main artery of the music, James exposes the flesh and shares, “Often, the core of it all comes from a loop or a sample, there are a lot of samples in our music. Sometimes, we’ll hear a little harp and that ends up into a trombone, and then we add bass and a lot of other things, which makes up all our songs.” Bringing the focus back to artistry rather than intent, the British trio plans to tie the ribbon differently. “From track to track, we talk about the human race, the invention and evolution, how we are as a species, and the world that we make around ourselves in terms of technology and self-obsession—but to be honest with you, a lot of the music we make aren’t really trying to convey too much of a message,” James reveals. “We’re always careful that we don’t want to come across as arrogant or from a political standpoint or anything like that. We like to make music about issues that we think are important, but we just like to do that subliminally. We’re more interested in making these songs and taking from it something that someone else wouldn’t take from it. To make something that’s unique to the band.”

untiltheribbonbreaks.com @UTRB

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MAESTRO

goneg i r l The world obviously needs a breakout star in the form of TONI B. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only a retro-soul crooner of great skill, but this throwback muse is also capable of turning guilt and heartbreak into empowering anthems that jump off the seas after nearly drowning. By Ian Urrutia Photographed by JC Gellidon Makeup Pamm Merrera Location at Craft Pub & Grill

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MAESTRO

“

ow I’m picking up the pieces at the end of the day / and I promised that I wouldn’t let you get away,” howls Toni Brillantes on her debut single, “Carnival.” The 22-year old singer-songwriter wants you to feel the devastating pain, the rage that drives some women to do terrible things in creepy Hitchcockian fashion, and the bitterness piling up in the aftermath of breakup. Here, Toni B embraces the scorned woman drama with sass and soulful charisma, equally believable both as the victim and, as Gone Girl’s Amy Elliott-Dunne would become after several domestic failures, the victimizer bordering on sociopath. The song is not her story to tell, but she interprets the material like it’s her own. “It’s more about empathy, like trying to think about how you would feel if you were that person going through such a thing,” Toni B explains. Her songwriting has always been playful and strongwilled, even when the lyrics tend to tackle the grimy facets of modern relationships. But what makes it resonate more with universal appeal is that brassy soulful voice of hers that knows when to emphasize a vulnerable moment or ignite a wild, running climax. Somewhere between Adele’s power vocals and Jewel’s Lilith Fair touchstones, Toni raids a gamut of musical influences from the past and present. “Two of my biggest influences would have to be Motown and jazz. I also like Frank Sinatra and all those classic-leaning stuff from the ‘50s,” she shares. Carnival, also the title of her latest EP released last February, slips into these styles with a more contemporary verve, even drawing comparisons with some of the most notable indie-folk muses of the last decade. “I guess this album is more like Regina Spektor,” she reveals in a casual tone. “I really like quirky upbeat stuff because some of my songs, well, two of them are like that. The other ones you’ll notice are more intense compared to the other songs. But definitely, Regina Spektor.” The inevitable comparison, turns out, is just a mere scratch at the surface. There’s more to Carnival than its retroembellished singer-songwriter goodness. It’s also about

a person trying to find a way to let go of the past, no matter how cyclical, dour, and emotionally bruised it feels. “The idea of Carnival is like walking there thinking I would have fun, that I would give and give and give. But at the end of the day, I walk out with nothing but a broken heart. Boom. Cycle!” Heartbreak, the thematic figure connecting the songs in her latest EP, prompted the confident chanteuse to write a sequel called Mischief, which will also serve as her follow-up record. “It’s also the same girl who got her heart broken in Carnival,” adds Toni. “And then this girl goes from heartbroken to heartbreaker. So the second album is all about having fun and meeting people out there.” While the characters in her songs often seesaw between vengeful femme fatale and diarist romantic, Toni B exudes a captivating and bubbly persona on stage, fully committed to giving the crowd a memorable show. “I really like to connect with people while I’m onstage,” she confesses. “I’m the playful kind when I perform. I’m really talkative, and I want the audience to understand the song, to appreciate it.” When asked about how she prepares right before a scheduled performance or rehearsal, Toni B shares what could be the most interesting pre-gig regimen you’ll ever hear: “How do I hype up for a show? In my room, probably dancing and singing to TLC, Destiny’s Child, or The Backstreet Boys,” she shares with a shoulder shrug. “While I’m getting ready, I’m just like, ‘Yeah, come on girl you know you look good’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah I don’t want those scrubs, I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it’ and all of that.”

@tonibbrillantes

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MASTERMIND

art

M A S T E R M I N D

appetite In a world tangled in the gnarly, tyrannical hands of advertising and media, with all the cultural diversity and extreme consumerism in between, artist MIKE BOUCHET hijacks the medium for his own retelling of the intention, engaging in an organic, unending dialogue in his latest exhibit, Power Lunch. By Kitkat Ramos

Uptown 3

“I’m interested in effect, after it’s finished, not the validation of artwork through personal history or personal drama.”

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t would be difficult for any artist to name just one artwork that encapsulates his life as an artist, but Mike Bouchet’s representation was incredibly profound no matter how brusque and short his reply was to the question. “Wim Delvoye’s Cloaca, running in reverse,” he says. Arguably the Belgian artist’s best known work, Cloaca is a mechanic representation of the human digestive system, starting from when food enters the mouth all the way down to the other end. The activity interpreted by tubes, cogs, and pipes may be an odd comparison to his artistic way of life, but seeing his work seen in Power Lunch and how he reframes movie posters, it only makes sense. “The original images were made to sell a story, a fantasy, and a trancelike state: an actual physical experience,” he shares. “I like the idea of hijacking this to make something new, something that reflects my experience as an individual.” His appetite for art has received a wide recognition from his long-standing creative assessment and sometimes highly-publicized art shows on the massive psychosis of humans and consumerism. He says this interest takes root in Gregory Bateson’s double bind theory. “It’s a communication theory that relates to schizophrenia—that when a subject receives conflicting sources of contact, information becomes trapped and cannot form a normal response to the signals,” he explains. “Bateson felt it was a condition that many schizophrenics BMWW were raised under, which led to their condition.

MASTERMIND

“The original images were made to sell a story, a fantasy and a trance-like state: an actual physical experience. I like the idea of hijacking this to make something new, and something that reflects my experience as an individual in this.”

Ceremony

Cloudy Nymph

While to him, it probably dealt with communication on an interpersonal and emotional level, I feel that it applies to visual communication as well.” These masticated concepts have eventually evolved into what we see now as Mike’s own personal take into the world of film. As he takes a bite into the medium, he talks about how art functions critically and how his works are an avenue to a different perspective into the popular visual language. “What makes [movie posters] interesting to me today is that it is now tailored to speak to humans as a species, worldwide,” he shares. “It continues to reflect our times strongly. I do like skewing information that was developed with an intended effect, but not from some kind of ‘school teacher’ viewpoint.” Most of the works featured in the exhibit consists of movie characters and popular personalities. When asked about how he went about his selection, he talks about his movie poster collection. “I sort through them thinking about what combinations or compositions appeal to me. The compositions are simple though— mainly how the posters themselves are folded when I get them, which particular images I find intriguing, or which ones I feel vibrate more to our time, and headspace become the basis of the final paintings.” Over his collection, however, it’s bizarre to see how he admits a disconnect from the films. “I would not say they influence my work per se, as I’m strangely quite distant to the medium, when it comes to my own art ideas,” he says. “I don’t think of artwork in the narrow sense that a film narrative is restricted to. It’s generally a story of the pure representation. When it comes to being inspired by films, it’s

Sponge Age 1

the really forgettable and shitty commercial films that probably inspire me more than anything. It’s easier to consider their production and consumption, and their appeal to pretty much everybody on the planet.” His emphasis on human beings’ understanding as a whole of their experience at a certain point in time and how it translates to things like movie posters is the focal point of Mike’s Power Lunch. But even in this way, his perspective goes beyond the present. “The meaning and cultural relationship we have to these paintings shift quite dramatically over time. Some become drained and lose their cultural weight and others get intensified over time.” This constant craving for the study and bond between humans, their culture, and how they render it in other forms may be seen as something that favors him as an artist, but he admits it wasn’t easy. “My relationship to my own artworks is constantly in flux. There are works from this series that involved a lot of struggle, and others that came quickly and intuitively. But I find it important to drop that personal time relationship to the work once it’s finished—I’m interested in effect, after it’s finished, not the validation of artwork through personal history or personal drama.”

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MASTERMIND

DREAM WEAVER When street artist ELLE unlocks portals to different dimensions on city walls and public landscapes, creatures of our uninhibited desires are unleashed. As they populate the urban setting, her army grows and inducts new followers to join their movement. By Olivia Estrada

f you ever find yourself in the streets of New York, Berlin, Netanya, Tel Aviv, and Penang, beware of Elle’s sentinels. Her larger-than-life murals of beastly yet beautiful women depict beings that she had first encountered in her dreams. The street artist recalls, “I started drawing anthropomorphic images of women and animals a few years ago after a dream. At the same time, I was working on a woman warrior series where I was pasting my girlfriends up ten feet tall on the streets as peaceful guardians. I drew my own image with the lamb head, then I asked all of my girlfriends what their favorite spirit animal was and drew them with theirs. I liked what it signified: women as protectors of peace and beauty, at one with nature and themselves.” Such ambitions have surely surpassed Elle’s initial forays into street art. When she first moved to NYC, she was stuck in a small apartment that was a hindrance to make her artworks. She recalls, “I didn’t have enough money for a storage unit for my art or a studio. Whenever I had new pieces, I would put it on the streets that same night. When I discovered street art in New York, I understood it to be an incredible gift to anyone that walked by. I wanted to be part of what was happening and give that gift as well.”

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MASTERMIND As Elle rides the wings of her large, multicolored birds to bring her stories across continents, her works aren’t only fixtures in the metropolis but are standard bearers of the change she wants to bring into the street art landscape. “I’ve intentionally been pushing the female voice in my work on the streets. In every venue of work I have ever done, I want to know that I am treated equally and want to prove that I can do things as well, if not better than any man. This was a huge impetus for me when I first started doing graffiti and street art. The amount of women in galleries and museums is incredibly minute compared to the number of men represented. In every career, women are still fighting for equal pay to their male counterparts. I want to be a role model to women, showing that we can do whatever it is we want to do—but also to fight for our right to equality and fairness. Women are powerful, and we all need to realize our potential.” Claiming her own lot in the male-dominated street

art scene, she has been profiled in Complex and Paper Magazine, touted as a herald for a drastic change to come. There are some sacrifices that her vision dictates. Elle has spent many days behind bars for her illegal drawing on public walls. “I always bring something warm to wear in case I get arrested. My boots double as a great pillow,” she quips. She also suffered from a few occupational hazards from falling ladders and being on crutches. Nonetheless, her restless spirit remains untamed. In truth, her rebellious attitude is not out of a need to break the rules for nothing. “I like beautifying neighborhoods and bringing color to people’s lives. Whenever I see my friend’s street art and graffiti in a foreign city, it’s like running into them in person—so perhaps it’s like leaving love notes for my friends as well.”

ellestreetart.com @ellestreetart

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MASTERMIND Charli XCX

Swamp Things (detail)

ON THE CHART After pounding it out in the competitive artistic landscape of New York, ERNEST CONCEPCION returns to Manila with his ever-changing, imaginative visuals. By Nicole Nequinto Interview by Olivia Estrada

ubsequently growing from the changing artistic realm of NYC, Ernest has found his step in the local scene with showcases at Art Informal, Light & Space Contemporary, and UP Vargas. He’s also impressed the international stage with exhibits in Los Angeles, Florida, Singapore, and Hong Kong. His Fine Arts training and real world experience has brought about a passion that continues to evolve. From “The Line Wars,” where he drew the battles hidden behind everyday occurrences in ink, to “Invasion of Ona,” where he rendered a fictional planet under siege through rich hues of acrylic on paper, Ernest leaps forward this time by exploring the nature of enamel and drip painting. These results into characters that seem to be stepping out of the canvas or at least possess a more tactile quality. Ernest claims that this latest movement is something that he’s been planning to do ever since he conceived the planet Ona in his mind; mapping out its territory through his artworks. From inventive sculpture-like paintings to a graphic novel and a line of toys, his artistic flare is one that he keeps burning.

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Jose

Hey, Ernest! How are you?

I’m good! In fact, my year is pretty packed, so I’m busy and should be more stressed than usual, but I’m excited. I’m currently working on new paintings for our group show this April at Altro Mondo, which are new portraits that I’m really excited about because I haven’t done portraits in a while.

We saw your works at Art Fair Philippines and noticed that it’s a bit of a departure from your past work. I remember “The Line Wars,” and it’s a new direction for you yet still different from the others out there. I love this new direction. I’m glad I’m actually working outside my own box; not the box there, but my own. The whole point of being an artist to me is challenging yourself and trying to transcend from works you’ve done before. And every time I do exhibitions, they’re vastly different from one another. I don’t show the same style and process in the next exhibition all over again. I’ve always compared exhibitions to a new rock album. You don’t want to be putting out albums with the same songs. You want to do a different tune, create an entirely new song.

MASTERMIND

Self-portrait Ana

eph

Some artists tend to think of the audience first and ask, “Who am I talking to?” But sometimes it’s the opposite, like “I have this and I need to look for the audience that will respond to it.” Who do you think of first? The people I know would appreciate it. I’m glad you were able to see the trajectory of my work and how it kind of evolved or changed, and I changed it drastically, but it still has a very distinct Ernest Concepcion touch to it. It’s such an unconventional process. That’s what I’m known for, I push the boundaries of painting by using materials that aren’t common. Right now, I’ve been working with textured work and mixing my paint with plaster, glue, and enamel, creating this concrete texture to the painting, and that came out just because I’ve been playing with mediums and experimenting. I never ask questions to friends, what works or not. I’d rather do it myself and see what happens.

When you think about the new style, does it just come to you? Or is it something you saw yourself doing when you started? I have no idea how this came out to be. Doing art in New York, my colleagues and I had to reinvent what we do to stand out from the pack. It’s such a difficult city to be recognized. You can’t be an amazing artist there if you don’t push your boundaries. Even if it’s such a competitive city, the support group in there is not as individual as it is here. Here, everyone’s sort of on a solo flight. I’m sure there are groups and cliques, but in New York, we also have our own clique and ended up becoming good friends who collaborate and talk about different materials. I explore styles and techniques because that’s what being an artist is. You have to explore on your own dilemma. I like the idea of creating solutions for problems of my own making. There’s so much more fulfillment to it. I don’t want to be stuck in a comfort zone. As an artist, it’s impossible to be in a comfort zone. You won’t grow so you have to keep creating obstacles. There are always conflicts I want to make for myself, and I’ll find solutions for it.

ernestconcepcion.com @ernestoconcepto

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H E A V Y H I T T E R

shirt by H&M

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His face has graced pages upon pages of fashion editorials. His presence has taken over numerous runways in almost all the capitals of couture. With sparkling blue eyes that engulf a calm yet come-hither charm, it was inevitable that people would eventually want to know his name. Now, SEAN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;PRY walks past the runway and reveals the story beneath the smile that is far from a blank space. By Olivia Estrada Photographed by Sean Armenta Styled by Sean Panella Grooming Meagan Brown Special thanks to VNY Model Management

white crew neck by H&M denim pants by Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeans shoes by John Varvatos

“I don’t know what differentiates me with my look as much as my personality.” Any model is more than a mere mannequin.

A model is a fantasy, a character, an embodiment of an idea that the designers have envisioned for their audience. In Sean, the young American aesthetics of Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, and Calvin Klein are cast fresh and new. European staples like Versace, DSquared, and Emporio Armani have found their sleek and suave prince in him. Yet, in his core, a very laidback man exists. “I really do like a good burger. I really like a good Shake Shack,” he admits despite having a physique that held the world in an excited arrest through ads for Viktor and Rolf’s Spicebomb fragrance. Magazines like i-D Magazine, L’Officiel Hommes, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue Paris have included him in their editorials to herald fashion’s new guard. A few photographers Sean has worked with include the masters of fashion imagery such as duos Inez and Vinoodh, Mert and Marcus, along with the legendary Mario Testino. More than just a posing, however, Sean takes on a very proactive approach to these projects. “I like photo shoots, they’re fun. You get to be involved with the whole crew, their ideas, and together, you get to make something fun.” Somewhere in between his shoots, he also landed a lead spot in Madonna’s video for “Girl Gone Wild,” sporting black eyeliner and blowing up smoke

between his pillowy lips. In the past two years, Sean has been named one of the most successful models in the world, and upon his appearance in Taylor Swift’s music video, he’s been getting search engines and replay buttons on fire. He kicked off 2015 by conquering the other side of the world as a brand ambassador of leading youth culture label, Penshoppe. Sun-drenched and revealing his street credentials, he showed us that he can kick it up even if the catwalk turns into a sidewalk. Despite all these achievements, he quips to us, “I still think it’s strange people want to interview me.” It’s been a surreal ride for Sean to get to where he is now. A simple boy from Georgia, the half-Irish teenager was living a usual life in a small town. Like everyone his age at that time, he had a MySpace account and uploaded his prom photos. “My dad happened to delete all the bad ones, so luckily, no one saw the embarrassing ones.” By chance or luck, Noel Marin, America’s Next Top Model judge and owner of AIM Model Management, came across the album and referred it to Lana Tomczak, founder of VNY Model Management. Lana quickly signed on Sean that led to his first plane ride to New York; the beginning of a landmark career. A bit lanky yet full of the boyish charisma, he never really thought about pursuing modeling up until that moment. “There wasn’t an exact point I wanted to be a model, it just kind of happened. It was just a job that I kind of fell into and got really lucky.” At 18 years old, his portfolio contained tear sheets from Dazed & Confused, GQ, and V Man. On the third year of his career, Forbes named him most successful male model of the year. He’d been profiled shortly afterward by Interview and relates that the lure may

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think you need to change things up every now and then. [being a model] is great; it gives you a stepping stone to another direction in your life.â&#x20AC;? 74 - statusmagonline.com

cream shirt by H&M scarf by John Varvatos leather jacket by Superdry denim pants by Hudson

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have been looks, but there’s a little bit more beneath the surface that locked them in. “See, I’m in as much awe of me being successful as most people, because I don’t get it yet. I don’t get what’s the appeal about me to the business, you know? I guess I’d have to say it’s who I am. Because I know there are hundreds of other good-looking guys with blue eyes and brown hair. I don’t know what differentiates me with my look as much as my personality. So I’d go with my personality.” Warming up more and more to the spotlight as a star rather than just a pretty face, he’s candid during interviews with a joke or two. The secret to his achievements? “Definitely, my ankles,” he insists with an impish air. In a chat with Details, he credits a 27-hour flight to Bali, Indonesia for an assignment as all worth it because he got to touch a monkey. As he talks about his pet dog, Maya, you could hear how he hasn’t quite lost that hint of a Southern drawl to betray where he came from. When we asked what’s the craziest thing he’s done, he answers, “Crazy enough that I’m not telling you.” And when we followed it up by asking about one item he’d hate to see a lover burn, saying, “My sweat pants or my boots. But there was one time where I caught my boots on fire, but that's another story.” Unfazed by all the attention and praise, Sean dares to break the stereotype. He identifies with a model behavior that sees his career, unplanned as it may be, as a way to grab on to different opportunities. “I think you

need to change things up every now and then. This job is great; it gives you a stepping stone to another direction in your life afterwards. I get to travel the world and experience different things.” He also comes clean with the truth of models behind the scenes. “We don’t have any gasoline fights; I never had an orange Mocha Frappuccino, and I don’t have any posse called ‘Le Tigre.’ Zoolander kind of fucked us up for that; it’s funny though.” Right now, Sean is pursuing acting, taking lessons, and thinking of the possibilities he could be apart from being the most sought-after male model for both high-end and international fast fashion labels. “I like the the art involved in acting, becoming a role. It’s not just for a second; it’s for a whole time frame. My job happens in milliseconds—the picture, the image, and the outcome. In acting, you get to live and breathe that character, which I think is nice.” He also relates to us a dream project he has in mind that reflects his appreciation for the classics. “I would like to be in a film similar to Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart. I’d just like to shadow it and watch it all go down.” And if you think that after all of this he’s ready to rest on his laurels, he’d rather not speak of such things. “I’d like to continue my studies and keep moving forward in all aspects of life.”

@Seanopry55

“I’d like to continue my studies and keep moving forward in all aspects of life.”

denim jacket by Seven belt by Maddox Leather Design suspenders by Maddox Leather Design white v-neck shirt by H&M denim pants by Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeans

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HEAVY HITTER

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HEAVY HITTER

Alex Lee and Kyle Wightman are set to hatch your next hallucination through rap beats, pop anthems, memes, throwback techniques, and everything in between. Collectively known as BRTHR, the director duo hotwires our online sensibilities to create a cohesive story out of our snaps, chats, and double-taps. By Olivia Estrada

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HEAVY HITTER

itting pause on the record button, New Yorkers Alex and Kyle find themselves across the Atlantic. “I just woke up in India, and we have a shoot tomorrow. I slept in then ate sushi,” says Alex as Kyle watches The Office on his laptop. This tableau of random facts thrown together compliments the aesthetic BRTHR has established through works with Angel Haze, Ta-Ku, Jessie Ware, and The Drums. In most of their works for these musical acts, there’s a recurring use of flashing lights, old-school film treatment, overlapping images, and ‘90s animation. It’s dizzying and reflective of the Internetraised consciousness that is scared of stasis and communicates through GIFs and reblogs. It’s also the most flexible of canvasses to tell the different stories their collaborators have rendered through song, from the cheeky girl-power of Charli XCX’s “Breaking Up” to the disturbing and vice-riddled love story of Gems’ “Sinking Stone.” Shooting days are also real-life renditions of their works. “A day of production can go from us hailing cameras through NY for a low-budget passion project to having at least 30 people on set for a big shoot in a foreign country. It’s just hectic and all over the place usually,” Alex explains. “Kyle sometimes throws up. The hours can be brutal, especially when we shoot passion projects.” There has been a warp in hyperspace since these brothers took a turn for the fast lane. Three years ago, Alex and Kyle met during freshmen year at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Alex asked Kyle to play a part in his short film, and they ended up not quite just as friends but more like blood brothers. “The truth behind our name is we were shooting our first video at Maejor’s house and saw that he owned the DVD for the movie called Brother, starring Kitano Takeshi. We decided to take out the vowels to symbolize that we have a brotherly relationship, without being blood-related. Sometimes, we tell people we’re cousins just to mess around.” Shortly after, they left film school to actually start making videos. What was a high risk at the time paid off generously. In the past year, they have been included in the Visionaries list of Dazed & Confused and are currently working on a campaign for Facebook. “It’s an amazing project where we get to travel to India, Kenya, Thailand, and Brazil. We hope that this will help propel our commercial career.” At their early twenties, the duo isn’t just in it for the projects and the apparent fame that’s slowly following

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“we strongly believe that part of the reaso our careers kicked off quickly is because we bring something different to an edit.”

HEAVY HITTER

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HEAVY HITTER

“we think it’s important to think about what you haven’t done or seen yet, and then strive to do exactly that.”

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HEAVY HITTER them. It’s conveying that unique filter they have created through editing and color correction that kept them at it. “We strongly believe that part of the reason our careers kicked off quickly is because we bring something different to an edit. We both have visual ADD, so naturally, we like a lot of things happening in our project,” the duo shares. “We strive to create unique, filmic looks, even if we shoot digitally. Sometimes, we spend days on color correction itself, which can be painful, but it pays off. The downside is that our eyes start to burn.” Our eyes, on the other hand, are treated to visual wonders that inject a bit of humor, cultural hyper-awareness, and a particular quality that will make you hit the share button. It can be anything from Miley Cyrus’ meme cat crying diamonds while floating in outer space to Iggy Azalea re-creating Bollywood glamour to the tune of “Bounce.” As life is played out in this mesh of digital experimentation, BRTHR mixes it up with real-time spontaneity. “One weird thing we do a lot is improv. We act out scenes randomly through the day in our conversations. It’s super weird like the show Portlandia,” Alex explains. “Many ideas have surfaced from that, I think that’s why we do it. For example, one day we want to create a narrative film based on a character, we create it through improv.” He also combines this with the randomness caught on social media. “I also love using Snapchat, Instagram, and Vine, so I get creative ideas through those things all the time.” Still, there is one thing technology can’t deliver. Connected or not, the duo will always be wired. “The most important thing is the drive and passion. Inspiration usually comes naturally, when we see something we like or hear a great song. We think it’s important to think about what you haven’t done or seen yet, and then strive to do exactly that. We think of camera movements and visual techniques when we conceptualize a video, and interesting things always come out of that.” With one eye on the newsfeed and the other on their vision, BRTHR translates bits and bytes into images that leap off the screen into a live feed of what has yet to come.

brthrfilms.com @_brthr_

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Disillusioned humor and tumors on film hint at gentle cicada calls and eerie notes playing at the background with the touch of creative artist NEILÂ KRUG. The photographer, director, and filmmaker creates a world where color-casted canyons sing. By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Brigette Bloom

My Chemical Romance

Ratatat

lue-skinned women, naked souls in bodies of water, faces floating on a lake, flowers smiling before an empty house, eagle wings, saguaros, and feathers in odd spaces. Underneath all the psychedelic, sun-drenched pictures is one common denominator: Neil Krug’s love for images. “I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into visuals,” says the creative artist. “It’s been on my mind since I was a kid.” Both sun-bathed elements and cloudy hues are cast across hypnotizing saturation, adding acid-like splashes of cinematic sounds and visions to create the mood of a beat-up, beautiful, dusty LP cover. “I think this influence comes from listening to my dad’s heavy psychedelic music,” he says. “When you’re surrounded by weird sounds, it starts to influence you, it penetrates the way you perceive things. So whenever I’m making art, I draw on the music I love and that feeling of comfort.” Beginning with a 35mm Canon SLR from his father when he was in high school, the LA-based artist went on to shoot for music acts like Ladytron, Devendra Banhart, The Horrors, Foals, My Chemical Romance, White Flight, Scissor Sisters, Tame Impala, Juan Atkins, Sea Wolf, and Lana Del Rey, and built his list of clients including Columbia Records, Interscope Records, XL Recordings, and Warner Bros. Records, leading to being featured on publications such as RUSSH, Complex, Flur Magazine, Hook and Line Magazine, The Wild Magazine, and VICE. Despite the myriad of his mysticism on display, photography was never in Neil’s line of sight growing up. “When I was a kid, I just thought about film and art; I didn’t think about photography at all. And slowly, as I became a teenager, I got more and more into shooting little films and editing things– that’s all I did for years. And it was only through that where I got into photography. But before that, I was just a guy in Kansas doing normal, boring jobs, watching tons of films and gathering influence that way.” With a flair for hazy seduction imprinted in his works, Neil released his personal work in the form of Pulp Art Book alongside his former muse Joni Harbeck, featuring photographs that capture powerful personas in a raw ‘70s aesthetic. Done out of expired Polaroid film with old illustrated book covers in mind, he created a world around a fictional heroine fixated on different fabrications. Releasing two volumes of the series in 2011 and 2013, the duo used vignettes inspired by psychedelia and Spaghetti Westerns, adding characters such as a gangster, an Indian chef,

Justice

Wing I

Goo Goo Dolls

and a housewife portrayed by one person, all conveying an overall unnerving reality. Another passion project of his is Invisible Pyramid, a film revolving around two girls evading reality to escape the loss of a loved one, searching for an answer to their ambivalence. In the works and on the drawing board for five years, Neil shot Kalee Forsythe and Ainsley Burke against the backdrops of Wildcat Canyon and Death Valley in California. No stranger to collaborations, the long-term project reached a level of symbiosis between the creatives involved, obtaining a freedom and surreality to the film. With thousands of fragmented images and monographs around the studio, Neil chases the sounding aesthetic but keeps to soaking up his natural surroundings, adding his mix of mystery and vividness. “What I always try to do is just keep it about the images rather than the photography, if that makes sense,” he shares. “I don’t want people to be aware of what I’m doing, because I’m not really into photography as a medium; I just love pictures, so when I’m shooting, I try to create something that doesn’t look like anything else.” Straying away from the usual descriptions of American, idiosyncratic, and psychedelic

Foals

“When you are surrounded by weird sounds, it starts to influence you, it penetrates the way you perceive things.” Tame Impala

when it comes to his work, Neil describes his own aesthetic, saying, “All wrong. That’s the best way to describe it. Absurd things really interest me, like buying a dental camera and using it for portraits. Using the wrong kind of technology for something completely different is the thing I get most excited about.” Without any perfect photo within grasp, the only thing Neil looks for is if the material feels like it is something new, if it invokes a certain feeling. “Here’s a good example. There’s an image I took of my girlfriend at a botanical garden in California. Just a black and white Polaroid. In the next few weeks, I’m going to paint on it and reconstruct it, but as of now, it’s a blank canvas to me. I’m going to make it what I always thought it should be in my head when I took it. There’s no perfect photography, I think everything is about getting the mood right. I want you to feel the music even though there’s no music inspired by it. I just want you to feel it.”

neilkrug.com @neilkrug

First Aid Kit

DIRECTORY BRANDS 10.DEEP Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati City ABBY JOCSON pormada.com AÉROPOSTALE Glorietta 2, Makati City ALTERNA HAIRCARE alternahaircare.com ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS anastasiabeverlyhills.com BCBG MAX AZRIA bcbg.com BERSHKA bershka.com BOBBI BROWN bobbibrowncosmetics.com BRIXTON pormada.com BVLGARI bulgari.com CASIO casio.com CHARLOTTE TILBURY charlottetilbury.com DIOR dior.com DOROTHY PERKINS Glorietta 3, Makati City ELIE TAHARI elietahari.com ESTÉE LAUDER esteelauder.com FOREVER 21 SM Makati, Makati City

GIORGIO ARMANI armani.com H&M SM Makati, Makati City JACK BLACK getjackblack.com JEFFREY CAMPBELL jeffreycampbellshoes.com LAURA MERCIER lauramercier.com MAC maccosmetics.com MARC BY MARC JACOBS Greenbelt 5, Makati City MAYBELLINE maybelline.com MISS SELFRIDGE SM Aura, Taguig City NARS narscosmetics.com NEON ISLAND neonislandclothing.com OLD NAVY Glorietta 3, Makati City OXYGEN Glorietta 3, Makati City PHILLIP LIM 31philliplim.com PORMADA pormada.com SFERA SM Makati, Makati City SHANA Glorietta 5, Makati City SHISEIDO shiseido.com

SOMETHING BORROWED zalora.com.ph STILA stilacosmetics.com STUSSY Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati City THE QUIET LIFE Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati City TOKEI zalora.com.ph TOM FORD tomford.com TOPMAN SM Aura, Taguig City TOPSHOP SM Aura, Taguig City WAREHOUSE SM Aura, Taguig City WEEKDAY shop.weekday.com YVES SAINT LAURENT ysl.com ZALORA zalora.com.ph ZARA zara.com ARTISTS Johnson Arguelles (Hair) facebook.com/unicahijanailsalonandspa Sean Armenta (Photographer) seanarmenta.com

Davis Ayer (Photographer) davisayer.com Brigette Bloom (Photographer) brigettebloom.com Meagan Brown (Grooming) meaganbrown.com Aya Cabauatan (Photographer) facebook.com/AyaCabauatanPhotography Ian Castañares (Photographer) thestilllifephotographer.tumblr.com Paolo Crodua (Photographer) behance.net/paolocrodua Jesse DeFlorio (Photographer) jessedeflorio.com Jelly Eugenio (Makeup) instagram.com/jellyeugenio JC Gellidon (Photographer) jcgellidon.com Tamara Lichtenstein (Photographer) tamaralichtenstein.com Sean Panella (Stylist) facebook.com/seanpanellafashionstylist Zoe Rain (Photographer) zoerainphotography.com Steffi Santiago (Photographer) steffisantiago.wordpress.com JP Singson (Photographer) jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com Edie Sunday (Photographer) ediesunday.com Alicia Wheeler (Makeup) aliciawheeler.com Lauren Withrow (Photographer) laurenwithrow.com Daniel Yoon (Photographer) daniel-yoon.com

STATUS INVAD ES

elena ortega Belonging to both high-rise cityscapes and the white sands of the coast, model and urban darling ELENA ORTEGA walks through the haze with her heavy-lidded gaze. Jumping from one shoot to another, she is on the path to prove that there is either passion, or nothing.

@ortegaelena Portrait photography by Aya Cabauatan Product photography by Ian Casta単ares Location at Restock PH

HEELS

One of my favorites in my closet–I got it as a birthday present for myself.

I have two personalities when it comes to style, I’m either in the mood for dressing up like Adrianne Ho or a Zara model.

MODELING IDS

These are IDs I’ve gathered from my first year of modeling. Looking at them reminds me of how much I’ve experienced already.

SUNNIES

This has always been my favorite frame of glasses. It flatters my face shape well, and goes with just about any outfit.

WATCH

My dad gave this watch to my mom when they were still dating, and later, passed it on to me!

CUT-UP SHIRTS

I have a habit of cutting up my shirts. Also, The Weeknd is on the top of my list. If I could choose just one favorite SONY NEX-5T artist, it would be I’ve always loved this guy. photography ever since I was a kid. I got this camera a few months ago, and I take it with me everywhere I go.

SNEAKERS

They were the first on my list of things I wanted, and I finally bought them with my own money I earned from modeling.

BEANIE

My favorite beanie. Also, an easy fix when my hair isn’t cooperating.

Makeup by Pamm Merrera for Make Up For Ever

LEATHER JACKET