STATUS Magazine November 2015 feat Lucky Blue Smith by STATUS Magazine

finds its silver lining n ov e m b e r 2 0 1 5

6 MASTHEAD 8 CONTRIBUTORS 10 STATUS MESSAGE

49 PRETTY

STATUSPHERE

51 GOLD

13 THREADS 16 SETTING 17 BRICK & MORTAR 18 SCREEN 19 BEATS

50 UNDER

Parkas

MUSE

52 SUNSHINE

By Janroe Cabiles

MAESTRO

56 FRESH

VANITIES: NIGHT OWL

Step into uncharted territory.

By Jericho Umali

STREET STYLE

and shows different sides of himself.

BEAUTY BITE: STRIP MANILA

FASHION 24

58 HIGH

VISION BOARD DAY

This pairing of bold outerwear and distressed appliqué will hit you like a ton of bricks.

By Ida Aldana

60 GREEN

DAZE

Get caught in a trance with soft fabrics, vibrant prints, and light layering. By Franey Miller

SHOPPING GUIDE

43 SWAG:

By Celene Sakurako

62 ON

MINUTE DETAILS

BUSINESS

45 KNOT

TODAY

Cardigans

By Pola Beronilla

Neckties

46 SHADE

Chinos

47 KICK

SECRET

FIX

Chukka Boots

48 BLOCK

PARTY

Heeled Lace-ups

THE FLY

En route to launching their eponymous EP this November, we have a quick chat with Manila-based indie rock quartet Oh, Flamingo! to give us a bird’s eye view of the local indie scene.

Sling Bag

44 COZY

AND MEAN

Last seen kicking ass at Road to Ultra: Philippines 2015, EDM’s newest staple DJ Mija clears the air out to say that she doesn’t give a damn about anything but making good music.

By Miguel Alomajan

34 PLEASANT

SIGHTS

Copping her own tune of ambient synth pop, 18-year old Claire Wilkinson a.k.a. Clairity sets her sights on revealing imperfect emotion with her EP Alienation, making us all freak out.

GO SEE

26 FIELD

OFF THE BOAT

Straight off the hip-hop CD rack and into a mix of soulful, introspective rap of his own, London-based rapper Nick Brewer offers a fresh cup of his music

PAINT: LASH MOB

Intensify your eyes to some extent.

SYNDROME

A disco-dancing karaoke queen in rainbow clothing off-camera, dolphin-slashmodel Teresa Oman catches you with her ever-parted lips and sea-drenched curls while morphing into any scenic landscape.

PACK: IMPERIAL ATTACK

BEAUTY 23

GESTURE

FEATURES

Come to the dark side; they have cool gadgets.

22 FACE

COVER

Hoop Earrings

GADGETS 20 TECH

PLEATS

Pleated Skirts

MASTERMIND

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Marching to his own beat, award-winning film director Jerrold Tarog broke cinemas with this year’s must-watch biopic Heneral Luna, declaring the start of his legacy on Philippine cinema. By Denise Mallabo

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66 QUICK

FIX

Also known for his role as Insurgent’s Uriah Pedrad, Australian actor Keiynan Lonsdale makes a pit stop to give us the lowdown of his life in the fast lanes as The Flash’s newest speedster, Wally West. By Pola Beronilla

68 POP

CURRENCY

Quick to quip an embroidered meme on a polo that your dad could wear, CEO and creative designer of Iconic Culture Joseph Evans takes viral scenes and immortalizes them from our feeds to our sleeves.

By Denise Mallabo

By Janroe Cabiles

70 REAL

UNDER CONTROL

With an eloquence in her movement to any character she plays, Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki enters a couple of dimensions entirely different from her own onstage and onscreen. Venturing into different lives with every role she portrays, her imagination takes its toll with her control.

ARTHOUSE

Reimagining dream sequences and recording them in real life, NYC-based filmmaker Christian Coppola puts his slow-burning, visually haunting style into pictureperfect memories clouded on film.

GENERATION Y

After dropping a debut EP and an album within less than a year, 21-year old prolific pop artist Shamir Bailey a.k.a. Shamir keeps us in check with his personal style, musical endeavors, and everything that is keeping busy, as he adds Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand to his ongoing tour. By Celene Sakurako

By Janroe Cabiles

HEAVY HITTER

93 DIRECTORY

STATUS INVADES 94 UNDER THE SUN

PEROXIDE PRINCE

Meet Lucky Blue Smith. Standing tall with his icy white pompadour and baby blue eyes, he’s fashion’s mane attraction. With over a million followers on social media and a flock of lucky charms following him IRL, this bleached boy is on a streak—and his luck ain’t running out soon.

By Pola Beronilla

Volcom girl, Servandos brand manager and ambassador, travel blogger, and part-time model Bella Jaeger rides the waves of every shore she steps foot on.

NO SHADE NOVEMBER

Just sit back, relax, and sip tea.

about the cover Shot in a studio in downtown LA, JM Dayao captures the youthful energy of a 17year old Lucky Blue Smith. Sporting his platinum blonde locks tousled as he gives a smoldering pout, the peroxide prince looks into the camera determined and tough, proving that he was born for this fame.

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

Finds its silver liniing November 2015 editor-in-chief

Rosario Herrera @RosarioHerrera

managing editor

Denise Mallabo @denisemallabo

art director

Nyael David @nyaels

features editor

Pola Beronilla @HiMyNameIsPola

graphic designers

Carlo Nuñez @oycaloy

Nadine Layon @nadinelayon

fashion assistant

Jill de Leon @orangetoenails

editorial assistants

Janroe Cabiles @janroetheboat

Celene Sakurako @deerwho

contributing writers

contributing artists

interns

Ida Aldana, Jericho Umali Miguel Alomajan, Malcolm Bacani, Renee Carey, Ian Castañares, Sydney Dagal, Sally Flegg, Elizabeth Hicks, Potchie Lazaro, Amath Magnan, Franey Miller, Hub Pacheco, Star Sabroso, Joyce Platon, Justin Ridler, Timothy Ro, Mathew Parri Thomas, Ruvan Wijesooriya, Jon Wong, Rudolf Zverina Una Ilarde, Penny Lane, Matt Panes, Ryan Melgar, JP Talapian

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

FASHION

facebook.com/starstyleph

Beaut y

@starstyleph

www.starstyle.ph

Celebrit y

@starstyleph

c ontributors Franey Miller Franey’s impressive résumé of work published in i-D, Rolling Stone, Wonderland, Oyster, and Nylon caught our attention, but her ambient flair for lighting, styling, and framing kept us coming back for more. Doing what she does best, she sets her eyes on fashion once again as she takes us through a Pleasant Daze (34).

RUVAN WIJESOORIYA

RENEE CAREY

Growing up as an avid skateboarder in New York, analog photographer Ruvan learned to see the world in different perspectives, harboring his eclectic palate for everything from landscape to fashion. With a wide portfolio that includes fashion brands Burberry and MONKI, rock band LCD Soundsystem, and even hit TV show Gossip Girl, he gives us a glimpse of his music journalist roots with shots of popstar Shamir (88).

Slicing her time between Harbour City and the City of Angels, Renee weaves elaborate emotion into her pictures, turning editorials into three-dimensional stories. With her lens peeking down the rabbit hole, she unveils a luminosity to her subjects that’s both delicate in nature but tomboyish in execution, as seen on her portraits for Teresa Oman (52).

RUDOLF ZVERINA With his snaps out in Vogue India, Vogue Australia, RUSSH, Friend the Magazine, Manuscript, and Fairfax Journal, Rudolf Zverina has a way with framing rawness in detail with every click of his shutter. Dabbling in black and white photography, he also takes pictures in color, with soft lighting and subdued shadows, revealing a delicate portrait of our Muse (52).

jm dayao

Mastering fashion photography, painting, and drawing in all media, JM Dayao is considerably a triple threat. With his love for art taking him places, this self-taught photographer has shot fashion editorials and portraits all over LA and New York. His focus doesn’t stop there, as he zooms in to give us a closer look on our cover boy, Lucky Blue Smith (72).

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POTCHIE LAZARO With being an illustrator, graphic designer, and art director under his belt, Manila-based photographer Potchie Lazaro truly knows no bounds when it comes to art. For his third STATUS spread to date, he channels his creative eye to exquisitely maneuver natural light, revealing the image of rising local indie band Oh, Flamingo! (62). As the say, third time’s the charm.

STATU S MESSAG E

FINDS ITS SILVER LINING

Lucky Blue Smith (72)

ame used to be for the chosen few who had all the right agents and gossip surrounding them, but now, it has become fair game for anyone with a social media platform. From YouTubers to bloggers, we’re in a new world where we can curate our entertainment and choose who we want to be influenced by. Lucky Blue Smith should be counting his blessings. Never have we seen a male model’s career shoot up into the stratosphere as quickly as his. We can’t really put our finger on how he’s catapulted to fame, it could be his brooding look or his piercing blue eyes, but he’s definitely got the fashion world’s attention. During our LA cover shoot, the young model opens up to us about how it feels like to be successful at 17 and his thoughts on the social media world. Actress Elizabeth Debicki has been busy flying around the world, building her career one film at a time. With her style and beauty, it’s easy to mistake her for a fashion model. But it’s her passion for performing that makes the actress a perfect cast for fashionable films like The Great Gatsby and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. In her interview, she reveals to us her stubborn qualities when it comes to going after what she wants in life and what it’s like portraying strong-willed characters. Prolific popstar Shamir has captured the ears of the millennials around the world. His unpretentious persona keeps it real as he confesses to us that he’s “ratchet.” Touring around Europe and America from one festival to another, Shamir discusses his vices on tour, tattoos, and his personal style he describes as “thrift shop chic.” Fame is no longer about being part of a bigger machine; it’s become a new status symbol for being relevant.

Editor-in-chief

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THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN

November 2015

check mate D

itch the norm and stand out in MATTER MATTERS. With a philosophy that understands the relationship between product and life and how they coincide with one another, the brand’s latest collection features a stand-out bucket bag with heavy hardware detail, satchels, and clutches in a monochrome palette of black, white, and various shades of gray. mattermatters.com

FONT range F

ind yourself a True Romance with 5PREVIEW’s Autumn/ Winter 2015 collection for fashion culture rebels. Given life in raw seams, leather accents, spray paint details, and androgynous silhouettes, their oversized jackets, fur coats, wool capes, parkas, chunky knits, flowy dresses, statement tops, skinny jeans, and funky accessories will definitely get you lovestruck. 5preview.se

midnight air S

tep into your dark side and breathe easy in OXYGEN’s latest pieces. Adorned with graphic prints, textures, and fabric treatments in a dark palette of black, gray, and white, the Holiday 2015 collection lets you vent your grievances as you take a break and enjoy the nightlife you truly deserve. oxygenfashion.com

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THREADS

BRANDS TO KNOW

graphic Content B

e on your toes and get handsomely rewarded as ADIDAS teams up with designer Jeremy Scott once again to bring three new show-stopping shoe designs to the table. With the designer’s new Tubulars and ZX Flux Techs, which came out this fall, Jeremy Scott follows up on another pleasant surprise with the Wings 3.0 “Camo” out this month. adidas.com.ph

dream team H

order in chaos I

t’s not too late to get to know your wild side with CHEAP MONDAY. Inspired by Lord of the Flies and pirate-punk aesthetic, We Did Everything Adults Would Do (What Went Wrong?) gives you a coordinated distressed look with sailor stripes, ripped knits, geometric details, big plaids, mismatched patches, heavy wools, and velvet crimps. cheapmonday.com

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Words by Jill de Leon, Una Ilarde, Matt Panes, and JP Talapian

itting you with a perfect strike of casual sportswear, ELLESSE × 80S CASUAL prepares their A-game for a collab that’s worth an ace. Their Spring/Summer collection are filled with Ellesse’s iconic 56-year history in shirts, track jackets, and polo shirts that would definitely score a touchdown. store.paris-tx.com

THREADS

live wire M

usic collides with fashion with Japanbased brand A.D.S.R. eyewear. Known for music engineering, the brand’s acronym stands for the parameters of sound: Attack, Delay, Sustain, and Release. Launched in 2010, the contemporary eyewear brand continues to create cool, understated designs that are wildly embraced by Tokyo’s music scene. adsrfoundation.com

utopian dreams F

ind yourself looking for gray areas as DZHUS releases their Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, Totalitarium. Inspired by industrial heights, political propaganda, and post-modern fashion, pieces like hooded tunics, straight dresses, abstract tops, and geometric skirts are given a better hold with utilitarian cuts, uniform aesthetics, minimal hues, textured fabrics, and raw seams. irinadzhus.com

renegade parade M

arch to the beat of your own drum with NONCONFORMIST. With A Great Fraud of jackets, headwear, pants, and shirts tailored uniquely in long and exaggerated fits with prints inspired by political and social disputes that are tapped by Scandinavian silhouettes, it’s time to explore the rebellious future ahead of us. nonconformistuk.com

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SETTING

PLACES TO GO

S U I TE

PHUM BAITANG, CAMBODIA S

ituated in close proximity to the Angkor World Heritage Site, a cluster of 45 spacious stilted wooden villas form the “green village” that is Siem Reap’s PHUM BAITANG resort. Surrounded by eight acres of lush nature, the reformed ancient farmhouse is a tranquil oasis that houses a yoga pavilion, a spa temple, an outdoor infinity pool with bar, and two restaurants that serve dishes using ingredients fresh from their own paddy fields and gardens. Inspired by traditional Cambodian design, the resort’s earthy interior includes pieces of Khumer-style handmade wooden furniture and handpicked local antiques like rattan wing chairs. Phum Svaydangkum, Sangkat Svaydangkum, Siem Reap, Cambodia phumbaitang.com

grub

he streets of Manila spill into D-Strip Building on United Street to find itself a roof at Asian fusion joint SKINITA STREET FOODZ. As its name implies, its deliberately grungy interior of wooden tables, plastic chairs, and tainted cement walls covered in street art and dated flyers is reminiscent of a typical dark alley or eskinita. Here, diners are encouraged to let loose and leave a mark of their own with colored liquid chalk pens handed upon entering. True to the aesthetic, their menu includes a selection of classic Filipino, Taiwanese, and Japanese street food usually sold at side street vendors, like bao buns and chicken skewers. D-Strip Building, 20 United St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City facebook.com/skinitastreetfoodz

PLATE

STREET SAVVY Get street smart with SKINITA STREET FOODZ’ flavorful puns in a pun.

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CHICKEN KARATE Korean chili paste-glazed chicken karaage bowl served with a side of stirfried bean sprouts

AKO NALANG! WAGYU! The finest class A5 wagyu beef skewered and grilled in between fresh leek

LOOK! A BOBO! A savory bowl of grilled pork adobo over garlic rice topped with tomato salad

PORK BELLY-CIOUS Peanut-sprinkled braised pork belly in a bun served with hoisin sauce and prawn cracklings

Words by Celene Sakurako, Phum Baitang is a member of Design Hotels™ Photos courtesy of Design Hotels™

SKINITA STREET FOODZ, PASIG T

BRICK AND MORTAR

STORES TO SHOP

TENOVERSIX, LOS ANGELES 8425 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA shop.tenover6.com Dime to Drop: P229.08-P57,269.38 ($5-$1,250) Don’t leave the store without: One of their geometric Imago-A bags

olve your design woes in a fraction of a second at TENOVERSIX. With vibrant lighting and clean, crisp white walls with geometric corners and shelves, the LA-based store focuses all your attention on a variety of products and their artistic design, placing their selection of shoes, handbags, jewelry, hats, belts, lingerie, scarves, sunglasses, swimwear, vintage mens ties and bowties, grooming products, books, magazines, film, and vinyl records, as well as a few eco-friendly pieces of art in all angles of the store. Founded in 2008, the brand aims to curate modern aesthetics in fashion, art, and design that all blend in harmony. Add staple brands like A.P.C., Acne, Alexander Wang, Vena Cava, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders, Rachel Comey, Comme Des Garçons, and Loeffler Randall to the equation joined with an assortment of countless limited-edition items and you’re sure to go through several degrees of amazement.

CURATED

Words by Jill de Leon

f you think that looking sharp means sticking to the classics, then you’re in for a big surprise with CURATED. Founded just last year, the newly established online store selects a wide range of menswear pieces, outerwear gear, and accessories that stay true to their brand. With unconventional items from brands like Arno de France, Askyurself, C2H4 LA, I Love Ugly, knomadik by Daniel Patrick, and Publish, they’re guaranteed to get it right everytime.

curatedatl.com

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SCREEN

SCENES TO SEE

RE M OTE CO N TRO L T I C K ET

THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE (AMAZON) Based on Phillip K. Dick’s scifi novel, an alternate reality is imagined where the Axis powers won over the Allies in World War II. With the U.S. split between the Japanese and German powers, Juliana Crain finds a film reel entitled The Grasshopper Lives Heavy, depicting the Allies’ victory and sets out to find the meaning of it.

FLESH AND BONES (STARZ) Taking an unflinching look at the ballet world with all its dysfunction and grace, Breaking Bad producer Moira Walley-Beckett tells the gritty story of Claire (Black Swan’s Sarah Hay), a young dancer who flees her dark past to join the American Ballet Company and earns the praise of the company’s mercurial director despite her troubled demeanor.

BROOKLYN Written by Nick Hornby based on Colm Tóibín’s novel, John Crowley creates a periodical romantic drama following a young immigrant who finds love in Brooklyn but is sent back home and reimagines a different life.

BARISTA From the same distributors of Super Size Me, Rock Baijnauth documents the world of coffee competitions, following five of the best baristas poised to compete in the World Barista Championship.

10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE Based on a reallife exposé, one of Joseph Pulitzer’s journalists, Nellie Bly feigns insanity and gets committed to the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island to reveal the brutality of their treatment.

THE DANISH GIRL Set in the ‘20s, Eddie Redmayne portrays Einar Wegenar, who becomes one of the first recipients of sex reassignment surgery under the name Lili after standing in as a female model for his illustrator wife.

CAROL Selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Todd Hayne’s adaptation of The Price of Salt set in the ‘50s sees a store clerk (Rooney Mara) who falls in love with Carol (Cate Blanchett), an older, married woman.

THE NIGHT BEFORE After 14 years of spending the holidays together, three friends Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris (Anthony Mackie) put an end to their tradition with one last, crazy Christmas Eve.

P L A Y BAC K HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986) Its ending is the greatest description of why life isn’t too awful.

HOLY MOTORS (2012) This movie just proves that anything is possible.

DAISIES (1966) There’s this willingness in Daisies to show its artifice.

BYE BYE BRAZIL (1980) With every frame, this movie believes in the magic of movies.

JIMMY MARBLE (Filmmaker) WILD AT HEART (1990) It evokes almost every emotion there is.

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Words by Janroe Cabiles

jimmymarble.com

BEATS PLAYLIST

NICK BREWER

itsnickbrewer.co.uk

OH, FLAMINGO!

soundcloud.com/ ohflamingomusic

SHAMIR

shamir326.tumblr.com

“Role Model” Eminem Every lyric on here will raise an eyebrow, but he does it in such a tongue-in-cheek way.

“P’s and Q’s” Kano This song is something special. Verse 2 might just contain the best flow of all time.

“Ms. Fat Booty” Mos Def I love Mos Def’s storytelling, personality, and playfulness on display here. Beat is banging too.

“N.Y. State of Mind” Nas He tells a vivid story of what life was like growing up where he’s from; just love the imagery he creates.

“Tulog Na” Sugarfree Billie: I need to sleep. I really need to sleep.

“Freaking Out the Neighborhood” Mac DeMarco Fries: Although I just really listened to it last night, I really got a lot from it.

“The Stars Keep On Calling My Name” Mac DeMarco Howard: I’m in that part in my life where I’m reaching out for my goals.

“Dampi (PCSO Theme Song)” Mirahel Pappu: It explains my life ‘cause I feel like what I’m doing as a teacher of young ones is very crucial.

“Like O, Like H” Tegan and Sara From 2007’s The Con, this song just spells it out.

“Walking the Cow” Daniel Johnston A classic from 1983, it’s also been covered by Pearl Jam so many times.

“Hold On To Your Misery” CockNBullKid It’s nice how Anita Blay brings out the positivity with such a catchy tune.

“Critical” Japanther It has a very lo-fi aesthetic, which is its natural charm.

MUSIC TO HEAR

Releases

Whether you like him or nah, JUSTIN BIEBER is making a comeback. Serving his Purpose to the pop charts with a fourth LP, he takes a break from paparazzi flashes and tabloid headlines. What does this mean? You no longer have to look for him ‘cause he’s here now that the world needs him.

Better hold on to KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD, ‘cause they’re about to float with a new surreality in Paper Mâché Dream Balloon. Released under Flightless, the sevenpiece neo-pyschedelic outfit creates a pastoral pop breeze with no use of any electric instrument in their latest record.

With a dope mix of international and local DJs POSSO, NixDamP, Dash Berlin, Project 46, and Duece, get your fist pumps ready for the Cosmicground Music Festival at the SM MOA Concert Grounds on November 21.

Join Sam Smith for a lonely hour or two on November 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City as the English crooner latches onto his greatest hits, signing softhearted anthems like “Stay With Me,” “I’m Not the Only One,” and “Lay Me Down.”

Live from The Armory Foundation in New York City, catch the VH1 Best Music of 2015: You Oughta Know on November 12 as they gather this year’s finest musicians: Hozier, George Ezra, Tori Kelly, Nate Ruess, Miguel, and many more.

Get your pockets ready; hiphop artist TY DOLLA $IGN finally drops his 16-track debut record, Free TC. Featuring homies Future, Rae Sremmurd, Fetty Wap, Wiz Khalifa, and Kendrick Lamar, Ty$ gives his name a run for his money in this album with tracks like “When I See Ya” and “Blasé.”

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Words by Penny Lane

MUSIC NEWS

T EC H PACK

IMPERIAL ATTACK

D O W N L OA D S

The forces are strong with these ones.

STAR WARS™ BATTLEFRONT™ PLAYSTATION®4 • Features a fully customized 500GB PS4 and DualShock®4 controller inspired by Darth Vader • Comes with the Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Beta upon purchase • Also includes four classic titles: Super Star Wars™, Star Wars™: Racer Revenge, Star Wars™: Jedi Starfighter, and Star Wars™ Bounty Hunter BUMPERDUCKS By Smithsonian Institution

SRP: PHP 20,672.32

BB-8™ BY SPHERO • An app-enabled droid that can record and view virtual holographic videos • Connects to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth® and is compatible with iOS and Android devices • Recognizes and reacts to your voice and has an adaptive personality

Release the quakin’! Help the ducks get across the pond, but watch out for turtles, frogs, and logs that’ll try to knock you off course.

SRP: PHP 6,922.56

MIMOPOWERTUBE2 STAR WARS SERIES • Compatible with iPhone, Android, tablets, and other 5V devices • Features a power button, four-level LED light charge level indicator, 1A output, and a high-quality finish • Choose from multiple designs: Lightsaber, R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, Stormtrooper, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader SRP: PHP 1,385.16

DEVON STAR WARS WATCH

INKBOARD By Doodle.ly, Inc. Doodle all over your photos or sketch out ideas on a blank canvas using realistic drawing tools such as pencils, markers, crayons, etc.

• A limited-edition timepiece that’s a mash-up of many of the Empire’s design details • Features a patented system of interwoven Time Belts™ to indicate the hours, minutes, and seconds • Comes within a TIE Fighter-like encasing for the finishing touches SRP: PHP 1,314,277.5

IHOME STAR WARS: EPISODE VII BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS • Wirelessly streams music from up to 30 feet away and plays audio from devices equipped with 3.5mm headphone jack • Answer and end calls from your paired device with speakerphone • Includes “Star Wars (Main Theme)” song SRP: PHP 3,232.66 20 - statusmagonline.com

GIPHY CAM. THE GIF CAMERA By Giphy, Inc. Take your selfies to the next level. Record your life as a series of GIFs and get creative with a variety of photo filters and effects.

F A CE PA I N T URBAN DECAY “Naked Skin” Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Light P1709.70

KOH GEN DO Aqua Foundation P3117.68

VINCENT LONGO “Pearl X” Eyeshadow in Code 6 P1257.13

GUERLAIN “Les Tendres—Écrin 4 Couleurs” Eyeshadow Palette in Les Precieux P3268.54

BOBBI BROWN “Perfectly Defined” Longwear Brow Pencil P2111.98

VINCENT LONGO “Pearl X” Eyeshadow in Code 6 P1257.13

LASH MOB

LANCÔME Le Curler P1156.56

Channel your inner Twiggy with pastel eyeshadow and statement lashes.

YVES SAINT LAURENT “Touche Éclat—Kiss & Love” Radiant Touch P2111.98 SISLEY PARIS Transparent Loose Face Powder in Rose Orient P4425.10

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BURBERRY BEAUTY “Kisses” Lip Gloss in Blossom P1458.27

Runway photo from Fendi Fall/Winter 2015

GEORGIE BEAUTY “L’Avant Gardiste” Faux Lashes P754.28

VAN I T I ES p r im e r s

Conquer your fear of the neverending challenge of evening out your eyeliner with BAREMINERALS “ON THE SPOT” MAKEUP REMOVER SWABS, which will be your best friends when you have no time to spare.

night owl Get in touch with your dark side with TOM FORD NOIR COLOR COLLECTION. Featuring cream and powder eye color, waterproof and lash tip mascaras, nail polish, and an eye-defining liner in shades like “Night Sky,” “Pure Cobalt,” “Black Out,” and “Navy Black,” as well as a light, peachy lip color to complement your eyes, the collection sets aside those who dare from all the pastels and glitter of the holidays.

Expert Advice

Apply a light powder to the inner corners of your eyes to define your eye shape. Let nature take its course as you enjoy ORIGINS “CLEAN ENERGY” CLEANSING OIL’s organic mixture of olive, sunflower, sesame, and safflower oils, as well as a grapefruit, orange, and lemon aroma.

When it’s time to strip your face from all that stubborn waterproof makeup, SMASHBOX “IT’S A WRAP!” WATERPROOF MAKEUP REMOVER, perfect for lids, lashes, and lips, is here to the rescue.

BEAUTY BITE

strip manila

Words by Jill de Leon

et all your bare necessities taken care of at STRIP MANILA. Originating from Singapore as Strip: Ministry of Waxing, the franchise is taking the Metro by storm with their services built to fit the needs of each client. With choices between soft or hard wax and strip ice, get silky smooth skin all over with waxing specifically designed just for you. Also catering to your post-waxing needs with creams, serums, body butter, and scrubs, nobody will spoil you like they do. 2/F Serendra Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (02) 901 0892 strip-manila.com

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GO S E E

Make a good impression with eye-catching prints. Photos courtesy of lookbook.nu

@janedean

@bymerks

@mikemuellner

@thatgirlgick

@tyler9.gif

TIGAR CHOU is a blueblood with this ensemble. @t1garchou

@giseleisnerdy

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@ellena_galant_girl

Model and blogger ebba zingmark keeps it casual cool with a freeflowing coat. @ebbazingmark

@annalisamasella

@xunphil

@dapperalien

@dean.simon.35

@douglasdbss

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l fie d y da Photographed and styled by Miguel Alomajan

coat and top by Nel Claveria

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button-down by Miguel Alomajan shorts by Vibora hat and eyewear by Factorie

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top by Zalora

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button-down by Miguel Alomajan plaid overcoat by Vin Orias

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hat by 21 Men top by Zalora jacket by Bossini

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jacket by Bossini pants by Nel Claveria

Grooming Sydney Dagal Model Tyson Kraft

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Photographed by Franey Miller Styled by Elizatbeth Hicks

top by Carleen dress by Allina Liu scarf by YSA NYC

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top by Family Affairs halter and pants by Vaquera

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top by Samantha Pleet dress by Carleen

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dress by Carleen vest by Nikki Chasin

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dress by Family Affairs vest by Carleen

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top and skirt by Nikki Chasin dress by Carleen scarf by YSA NYC

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SWAG nov e mber

20 1 5

MINUTE DETAILS Put a little edge into your wardrobe with cardigans, neckties, chinos, chukka boots, heeled lace-ups, pleated skirts, parkas, and hoop earrings. Product photography by Ian Casta単ares

bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs [P17,250]

CARDIGANS

COZY BUSINESS Warm up with cardigans in refreshing hues.

From top to cardigan by button-down cardigan by button-down cardigan by button-down

bottom: Sfera [P1,399] by Oxygen [P1,099] Tommy Hilfiger [P12,650] by Penshoppe [P899] Cortefiel [P4,790] by Aeropostale [P1,950]

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NE C K T I E S

KNOT TODAY These neckties will put you in the loop.

From left to right: Cortefiel [P2,890] Topman [P795] F&F [P395] statusmagonline.com - 45

C H I NO S

SHADE SECRET

These colored chinos will pick up the slack from your otherÂ basics.

Clockwise: Gap [P3,450] Aeropostale [P2,250] Gap [P3,450] Topman [P2,250] Old Navy [P1,850] 46 - statusmagonline.com

C H U K K A BOO T S

KICK FIX Put your best foot forward in one of these boots.

From top to bottom: Tommy Hilfiger [P8,250] Ecco [P10,050] Aldo [P3,450]] statusmagonline.com - 47

H EE L E D L A C E - U P S

BLOCK PARTY Chunky heels on lace-ups add fun into a dressed upÂ look.

From top to bottom: Forever 21 [P1,990] Call It Spring [P2,455] Aldo [P1,799]

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P L E AT E D S K I R T S

PRETTY PLEATS

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in for some fold comfort with these pleatedÂ skirts.

From top to bottom: Forever 21 [P1,175] River Island [P1,172] Miss Selfridge [P3,595] Topshop [P1,795]

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PA R K A S

UNDER COVER March out the door and turn heads in theseÂ parkas.

From left to right: Gap [P5,950] Forever 21 [P1,795] Topshop [P2,850]

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H OO P E A RR I N G S

GOLD GESTURE You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to jump through hoops to get this bling.

Clockwise: Sfera [P199] Forever 21 [P225] River Island [P390] Call It Spring [P245]

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M U S E

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Chasing endless sing-song musings and amusing moments, New York-based Australian model TERESA OMAN stays on track in the industry, with her hippie, sunlit attitude in tow.

By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Renee Carey and Rudolf Zverina

ith the wind playing with her sea-drenched curls, Teresa Oman morphs into any scenic landscape, making her inexplicably simple and unconventional beauty recognizable. Breaking a spot for her name in the industry in 2012, her nymph-like figure and youthful stare have continued to make their way into campaigns for brands like Rusty, Bershka, ASOS, and Urban Outfitters, as well as in publications like C-Heads, Oyster, Nylon, Human Being Magazine, i-D, Elle Vietnam, Wonderland, Live FAST, and Dossier. “I love the aspect of pretending to be someone else in front of the camera,” she says. “Through modeling, I get to meet so many amazingly talented people who are really inspiring. This is why I’m still in the game!” Discovered on the street in Byron at the age of 17, she did her first shoot with Spell & Gypsy Collective, paving the way to more gigs for local labels. “I never thought I would be a professional model. I just thought it was a bit of fun to play dress-up and take photos during the weekend when I wasn’t in school.” With her photos spreading throughout the internet, she got the attention of Urban Outfitters and was flown out to London for a catalog shoot. Since then, countless frames of her and her ever-parted lips, freckled nose, and light

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blue eyes made their way to everyone’s screens, either sprawled out on the grass or dancing under fairy lights. In 2013, she was crowned viral queen, beating models Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss. “I was and still am very honored to be given the title of most reblogged model. I’m not entirely sure what it means to my career, but I know I got a lot of publicity because of it at the time, and for that, I’m grateful,” she admits. “Social media still plays such an important role in my life because it gives me a way to keep connected with all the beautiful people in the world, and it gives everyone a way to voice out how we feel about certain issues.” Joining the pioneers of new-age models refusing to conform to the average stereotype, because of her five-foot-six stature, Teresa says, “I think I entered the industry at a time where it was introducing a lot of change and focusing more on individuality. I love the fact that personality now plays such an important role and can outweigh things like the traditional model height.” Proving this, the self-proclaimed part-woman, part-dolphin makes her presence known with her disco moves and her rainbow sense of style, including a vintage denim jacket with rainbow embroidery you’d be hard-pressed to find her without. Out to visit every tacky karaoke bar there is in the world, she tells us what’s next for her: “I’m going to continue to travel and attempt to make my mark on the world, and maybe even other worlds too.”

SHEER SOUVENIR

When traveling, I love picking up clothes from around. This may sound cheesy, but it’s like wearing a beautiful memory of a really, really great time I had. My staple items are my Stetson cowboy hat I bought in Nashville, my embroidered jacket I bought in Udairpur, India, and my highwaisted acid wash jeans from Sydney, which come with me everywhere.

BOOGIE AND BLUES

My early influences in music all came from my family. For example, my mum would always play disco tunes like KC and the Sunshine Band in the car, then my uncle would always make us listen to The Beach Boys and The Beatles. I enjoy disco so much also because it’s so groovy to dance to, and it’s such great feel-good music. I love listening to things that make me happy, but then again, who doesn’t?

MANE BEACH

My hair is crazy, and somehow, every morning I wake up with a couple of dreadlocks that need combing out. However, my hair is naturally wavy and beachy, and I’m grateful I don’t have to do anything to it besides brush and wash it. Sorry guys!

WORDPLAY

My family is German, and my favorite word since I was very young is gemütlichkeit, which describes a space or state of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. Other qualities include coziness, peace of mind, belonging, and social acceptance.

@diddysback

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M A E S T R O

FRESH OFF THE BOAT

Blending electronic sounds with his smooth yet fast-paced lyricism, London-based rapper NICK BREWER is one that shouldn’t be slept on. By Jericho Umali

“

’ve always tried to make music that made people who don’t necessarily like rap music still enjoy it,” says Nick Brewer. A man of his craft, the young rapper is an enigmatically skilled rapper from London. Taking time out of his busy day of working in the studio, he recalls his life-changing moment when he was first introduced to hip-hop. “My dad used to buy me CD singles whenever I did well at school. When I was about nine, he bought me Puff Daddy’s ‘I’ll be Missing You,’ it was the best thing I’d ever heard!” With an overall aesthetic influenced

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by a soulful, introspective, Grimeinspired UK rap music, he explains his creative process: “When I was making my mixtapes, I was coming up with all sorts of different vibes, just trying to work out what kind of artist I wanted to be. There were some UK underground sounds, old school hip-hop vibes, and some really commercial stuff on the mixtapes. When I got onto my EPs, I had more of an idea of who I wanted to be, so I think the sound became a bit more consistent.” His most popular single to date, “Talk To Me (feat. Bibi Bourelly),” best shows his signature take on music—think Logic mixed with a Disclosure-esque production. “It’s probably the most commercial song

I’ve put out, but I think it just highlights that I’ve learned how to show off different sides of my character through my music, and it still fits in with the artist I am.” When he’s not taking the UK charts by storm with, he takes inspiration by listening to other artists and having the time to read for the benefit of his creativity. “I read a lot, and I often get ideas and angles to write from stuff that I’m reading,” shares Nick. “Ideas will often come from real life situations: things I’m going through, things my friends or family members are going through, stuff I see in the news. It can come from anywhere. Sometimes, I just hear a word and it will give me an idea.”

MAESTRO

“I wanna highlight the mistakes I’ve made and the things I’ve learned from, in the hope that people might take something from it.” With his introspective style and personality, it’s no wonder that this music connoisseur’s able to work with some of the freshest artists. “I’m always keen to find new music and discover new artists, and all the artists I’ve worked with are people that I’ve been a fan of first. I love working with artists, meshing my world with theirs and seeing what comes out.” With tracks like “Jet Li” and “Any Time Soon” acting as a platform to show off his lyrical technique and adaptability, Nick showcases a small fragment of

his musical range, baring it all and letting his music and lyrics be a representation of life as he sees it. “There are a few things I want to get across in my music. I wanna highlight the mistakes I’ve made and the things I’ve learned from, in the hope that people might take something from it,” he explains. “I also wanna talk about what makes me the person I am, such as my relationship with God, the importance of my family, letting people know they are valuable and have a purpose in life, and staying true to the person I am.”

Currently working on his album Recreation, it’s nice to see that Nick’s just about to get started and yet we can already see that he has a lot of great milestones ahead of him. But when asked about his most proudest moment in music to date, he stays humble and recalls his performance at Reading and Leeds Festival. “My dad asked if he could drive the van for the band up there, and seeing him on the side of the stage when I was performing and how proud he was of me, that meant the most to me so far. Also, when my mum texted me the other day saying she was in a café and my song was playing on Capital FM! Seeing my parents proud makes me proud.” Already building an amazing loyal fanbase with his music, it won’t come as a surprise if everybody in the future gets amped up with a fresh cup of Nick Brewer.

itsnickbrewer.co.uk @ItsNickBrewer

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MAESTRO

Fresh from the release of her debut single, 18-year old Claire Wilkinson a.k.a. CLAIRITY clears the airwaves for her EP Alienation with her synthpop songs of isolation that make listeners fall in love at first sound.

n a suburban town in White House, Tennessee, 8-year old Claire Wilkinson took singing lessons and taught herself how to play the keyboard by watching videos on YouTube. The aspiring artist eventually caught the attention of Pebe Seberton, more known as pop star Kesha’s mom, who then introduced her to hitmaker Kara DioGuardi. A decade later, the singer-songwriter is introduced to the crowd of South By Southwest by her stage name Clairity. More recently, she released a fourtrack EP entitled Alienation, where she talks about her past, as well as what else she sees in her future. Describing her sound as “within the parameters of ambient pop,” she says she achieved what she intended to sonically create for her EP. “The new music has a more urban leaning vibe with some organic textures, like effected guitar, piano, and real drums, but it still feels like a Clairity record.” Owning up to a distinct style when it comes to her songs, she gets inspiration from a lot of other artists. “Fiona Apple, Björk, Imogen Heap, and Sia are all massive influences in both my writing and my aesthetic. Their intensity visually is

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By Ida Aldana something I definitely aim to channel in my own way. They’re all such badass femme musical pioneers.” Aside from the influence of strong women in the industry, she’s also a big fan of Coldplay. “I look up to Chris [Martin] in so many ways. When he performs, I get the feeling that music is deeply spiritual for him, which is so cool to me. I’m obsessed.” Proving she’s wise beyond her age, she uses her past experiences of feeling like a social misfit as a drawing board for her music. “When I was younger, I felt like a total outcast, but I also felt guilty in some strange way for feeling those emotions. Feeling like a freak is, for lack of a better term, normal,” she shares. But sharing her personal struggles is more than just about telling her story. “My EP is meant to validate every imperfect emotion associated with the feeling of alienation. I want to reassure listeners that what they’re going through is real and human; we’re a nation of aliens, in some way. We all know what it’s like to be the weirdo in the room.” As comfortable as she

is now talking about feeling left out, she admits that there were times that she didn’t feel this way while growing up. “I recall walking into our gymnasium before class in the morning to see everyone staring back at me from the bleachers. I remember getting this very heavy, visceral sense of being judged and sized up,” she says. But this experience wasn’t for nothing. It made her set her sights on being an artist. “In that moment, I came to the conclusion that the only thing I ever wanted to be judged for was my art. It was the only way I believed I could communicate my truth as a person. I didn’t know how, but I had to show everyone.” Aside from finding a way to channel her feelings and reach out to people through her EP, she also developed her artistry. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot about what kind of records I want to make and what I want to say as an artist while writing this EP.” She also talks about how

MAESTRO her personal experiences will always echo in her music. “I was around 15 to 17 when I wrote the EP, and I’ve grown so much as a person in that time. It’s very interesting because the heart of what I want to say in the future still lies somewhere in the theme of Alienation; it’s just a little more mature, nuanced.” It’s not a big surprise that she’s already envisioned the future of her music, since she’s already gearing up for a full-blown LP and more shows. “I feel as if I’ve been working on the LP for a while, even though the EP has only been out for about two months now. I’m so proud of the new records. I think I’m most excited to share those and generally to curate everything for LP1. Reconfiguring my live show will be a blast as well; I can’t wait to start playing more shows and directly interacting with fans.” It looks like there’s more to see and hear from her and her music, especially since they’re inseparable. “The only direct line of communication I have to the outside world is my music; I would be nowhere without it. Therefore, I have to do everything with it.”

clairitymusic.com @ClairityMusic

“My EP is meant to validate every imperfect emotion associated with the feeling of alienation.I want to reassure listeners that what they’re going through is real and human.”

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MAESTRO

GREEN

MEAN

Amber Giles is EDM’s newest staple who’s been slaying gigs left and right, playing genre-crossing sets under the pseudonym MIJA. With the Asian leg of her sick af. World Tour in wraps, she proves that this is just the beginning. really good friends after that, and he inspired me to start making my own music. So I did, and I moved to LA. He introduced me to his crew, and they became my family.”

By Celene Sakurako

ften spotted murdered out in an over-sized tee paired with a worn-down pair of skinnys, kicks, and her signature disheveled sea foam green hair, OWSLA’s baby, Amber Giles a.k.a. Mija doesn’t give a damn about what you think about her. Spewing blunt tweets like, “My job is not to look good for you, it’s to make and play good music for you,” from an account with the description, “Shredding a tidal wave of whiskey on a surfboard made of don’t care,” the eclectic DJ is as fearless in real life as she is with her music. As she kicks back amid her sick af. World Tour in her hotel at Bali, just before hopping onto a plane to perform at the inaugural Road to Ultra: Philippines, the Phoenixnative spiels, “I just do what I want, whenever I want.”

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Doing justice to her own words, she gets on stage early the next night and plays a versatile set that takes from a pool of songs diverse in genres, from house, trap, and indie to unexpected salsa. Apart from being the only female DJ in the whole festival, Major Lazer’s recent remixer to “b2gether” took Manila by storm by closing the EDM festival with longtime friend and mentor, producer-DJ Skrillex, energetically waving a black flag all over the stage as she manned the turntables to the hit Diplo, Skrillex, and Justin Bieber song “Where Are Ü Now.” To think that the 23-year old young gun was on the other side booking artists like Skrillex for raves just a couple years ago, and now is an artist in his label after bumping into him backstage at last year’s Bonnaroo to play a impromptu back-to-back set, is pure serendipity. She says, “We became

How has being from Phoenix shaped your music? The music scene was cool there. The rave scene was very underground for a while, and that’s what gave me such an eclectic taste in music. We were listening to house, jungle, drum and bass, happy, hardcore, etc. What do you think puts you apart from the rest? I kind of just play whatever I’m feeling in that moment, depending on my mood, who I am around with, or where I am in the world. I can play any genre at any point in time, and I think that’s what really sets me apart from everyone else. What can you say about the maledominated DJ scene? It is mostly guys, but it’s slowly changing. I think the reason it’s like that is because you need a

MAESTRO

“I just want to make music and be able to create freely forever. That’s my passion and where I want to be.”

lot of confidence to stand in front of thousands of people and play your music. Generally speaking, I think that guys naturally have more confidence than girls. Things are really changing though. More and more girls are stepping up and killing it, and I think that’s inspiring even more girls to do the same. It’s so rad! What elements go into a good DJ set? It’s definitely part-music, partperformance, depending on where you’re at. If you’re playing on a huge stage at a massive festival, then it’s going to have a lot to do with, not only your music but your presentation, visuals, special guests, etc. If you’re playing at a small rooftop party in Brooklyn, it’s going to be more about the music selection. It’s all subjective depending on where you are. What have been the highs and lows of touring for your sick.af World Tour? Highs are being with my best friends 24/7 and seeing new parts of the world that I didn’t even know existed. Lows are when you can’t fall asleep on the plane because that’s honestly the only time we really sleep. So far, I loved Tokyo. It’s the nicest, cleanest, safest place I’ve ever been to and holds so much creative freedom at the same time. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from Skrillex? Surround yourself with real people and you’ll get where you need to be. What’s the most important thing for you as a musician? I just want to make music and be able to create freely forever. That’s my passion and where I want to be.

hi-mija.com @hi_mija

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MAESTRO

ON THE FLY

erving a tasteful fusion of prog and R&B peppered in a knotty sense of harmony, UP Music Circle-bred outfit Oh, Flamingo! slowly spreads their wings as they become one of the local scene’s fast-rising bands. Comprised of Howard Luistro (vocals/guitar), Pappu De Leon (guitar), Billie Dela Paz (bass), and Fries Bersales (drums), the indie rock quartet boldly embraces their innate eccentricity, as seen in their live gigs and YouTube videos, to produce a poignant clutter of polyrhythmic tunes built from a chromatic mixture of broad influences. With only three songs uploaded on their SoundCloud, they still managed to appeal to the gig-goers by consistently playing tight live performances in every nook and cranny of Manila. However, their comfort in the familiar has gained them a fundamental hunger for adventure, which resulted to an eventual and much-awaited release of new music.

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Fresh out of the kooky cutter, indie rock quartet OH, FLAMINGO! strives for the offbeat to collectively deliver a sonic juxtaposition of the familiar and the strange. You know what they say, birds of the same feather flock together. By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Potchie Lazaro Special Thanks to Paprika

“As independent musicians, we play what we want, and we don’t let people tell us what to do because we think that the value of our music is what it already is.”

MAESTRO

“People in the indie scene are very strong and committed to what they do. Most of the independent artists aren’t going to compromise the art for popularity.”

En route to launching their eponymous EP this November, while simultaneously gearing up to battle it out in the upcoming Wanderband 2016, we have a chat with the four members of Oh, Flamingo! to discuss their future plans, #goals, and thoughts on what it truly means to be an indie artist. What’s been this year’s highlight for you guys so far? Howard: The mere fact that we’ve been recognized this year; I think that’s a big thing. ‘Cause there are a lot of bands, a lot of good ones, but not all are recognized. Fries: Yeah, we just met the right people at the right time and the right place. You guys are finally releasing an EP. What can we expect from your selftitled EP? H: I guess what you can get from our EP is clarity. When you’re in the live setting, you don’t really hear all the instruments and detail, so once you hear it in a recording, everything will make sense. ‘Cause it also happened to us when we listened to it. It’s a clear representation of our music. Billie: We just wanted to poop out all the songs to the public, because we’ve been playing them for two years  straight. Pappu: It’s like a gig in data form that’s tangible.

Apart from the launch of your EP, what are you looking forward to most in the next couple of months? H: We just want to start writing new songs and have more people enjoy our music. Actually, my best experience as a listener in the audience is being in a gig that has everything making sense. Like whenever I watch Ang Bandang Shirley, that’s what being in a band is like. It’s not just a band presenting music, the people who watch the band also have a deep connection with it. And that’s the goal; just having a profound effect on people and leaving a mark. I’m deeply affected by bands and music; it’s a success for me just to have that effect on someone else. F: That and being able to make a living out of this. P: Just to reach that point where we don’t have to have day jobs [laughs]. Do you guys see yourselves being signed to a record label soon? B: Our philosophy as a band is that we will not hire people to do things that we can do ourselves. But we’re not closing our doors. It’s very open. H: ‘Cause we’re distributing our EP under Wide Eye Records. B: But management-wise, we’re doing it ourselves.

Do you think that the current indie scene will eventually make it through mainstream OPM? B: It should get out there, seriously. H: People in the indie scene are very strong and committed to what they do. Most of the independent artists aren’t going to compromise the art for popularity. P: Now that’s what we need. We need artists that would take a stand for their music, even though it isn’t what sells. B: ‘Cause it’s a different thing when you’re being commoditized, when you’re being told what to do to earn money. They change you, so that they get money out of it. As independent musicians, we play what we want, and we don’t let people tell us what to do because we think that the value of our music is what it already is. It’s very genuine.

ohflamingomusic.com @OhFlamingoMusic

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M A S T E R M I N D

HISTORY IN

THE MAKING

Dictating the new wave of historical films, director JERROLD TAROG has a tenfold more tricks up his sleeves, marking that this is just the beginning of his contribution to Philippine cinema. By Denise Mallabo Photographed by Pong Ignacio, Hub Pacheco, and Star Sabroso

hen we caught up with director Jerrold Tarog, he was reading concepts for his next projects, admittedly something he does in his downtime. He deserves to relax considering that everybody wants to get a hold of him ever since the release of his record-breaking biopic Heneral Luna, which has been reported to be the country’s pick for the Best Foreign Film category in the 88th Academy Awards. When asked whether or not he feels the pressure, he says, “To be honest, not really. I’ve learned my lesson. I won awards for my first full-length film Confessional, and for a first-time filmmaker, that was a bit unexpected. It gave me so much pressure to perform even better for my next movie.” As the filmmaker went with a totally different direction with his second feature film, he recalls of the disappointing

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Heneral Luna

outcome of his follow-up. But instead of being miserable about it, it just made him realize to never put so much pressure on himself to please everyone. “After that, I’ve been telling myself that should my movies succeed or fail, I’ll continue making new projects, focus, and improve per movie.” A graduate of UP College of Music with a major in piano and minor in drums, he always held a penchant for making films, which led him to take excess units of Film Theory for added knowledge and to help with his transition. “After graduating,

I went straight to composing for TV commercials and movies, but I would make short films on the side,” confesses Jerrold. Being exposed to different kinds of music in college, from jazz to classical to world music, his background is rooted in rock and heavy metal. “Until now, my comfort music still comes from Nine Inch Nails and Pantera,” he says. He also doesn’t get tired of watching movies like Taxi Driver, Seven, and The Silence of the Lambs, all of

MASTERMIND which are crime thriller in nature, though he admits that he enjoys a diversity of movie genres. “I learn a lot from the craft whenever I watch different kinds of films. I do have a mental list of film categories that I would love to work on, and crime thriller would be one of them,” he says. Before Heneral Luna, his Cinemalaya 2013 entry Sana Dati showcased what he’s capable of doing. Working as a director, writer, editor, and scorer for the film, it went on to win praises and major awards at the Cinemalaya Festival and was shown in several countries. When asked whether he thinks it’s vital for movies to receive awards, he says, “It’s important because it helps you with your résumé and relatively validates your work, but at a certain point, it eventually no longer serves a purpose.” He goes on, “You should make movies for the audience and not for a chance to get

an award. It’s important for me that the movies I make connect with the Filipino audience, and if I think that I’ve achieved that at some point, that’s all that matters.” He also mentioned that his objective on making Heneral Luna was how to make history exciting for younger Filipino audiences. “The producers wanted to come up with a historical movie that mirrors our country’s current situation. We just wanted to create an exciting movie that people will talk about after they’ve watched it, and we think we have accomplished that goal with Heneral Luna. We browsed through other historical films and we’ve studied what we can improve and create new. One of the things that’s missing in historical movies is humor, some are just too serious, too formal,” adds Jerrold. When actor John Arcilla accepted the role of General Antonio Luna, he first thought it was a thesis film. “I remember

him saying yes to the project since he said he really likes helping out college students,” the director quips. But when he met John at their office, it was made clear to him how big and pivotal his role was going to be. “He realized how extensive the production was when he saw our huge corkboard with all the photos of the movie’s cast members.” Currently, he’s already in talks with the producers regarding the planned prequel of Heneral Luna, a biopic on Gregorio del Pilar followed by a biopic on Manuel Quezon. “I think it was already announced that we’re developing Arnold Arre’s graphic novel Mythology Class into a movie. We already have a storyline, and we’re planning to do it in two parts; two movies. We don’t have a timeline yet for it though,” he adds. For now, Jerrold is enjoying his downtime, but soon enough, he’ll get ready to go to the battle field again.

@jerroldtarog

“It’s important for me that the movies I make connect with the Filipino audience, and if I think that I’ve achieved that at some point, that’s all that matters.” Sana Dati

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MASTERMIND

QUICK FIX After putting on a brave face for his silver screen debut as Uriah Pedrad in Insurgent, Australian actor KEIYNAN LONSDALE pulls a fast one as The Flash’s youngest speedster, Wally West. By Pola Beronilla

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irst making his move in Australian television series Dancing Academy, actor, singer, and dancer Keiynan Lonsdale got his big break as Insurgent’s Dauntlessborn member Uriah Pedrad. Now, the dashing actor races to The CW’s hit DC Comics series, The Flash, as the show’s newest speedster, Wally West. “I started watching The Flash series because I knew I had an audition for a role in Legends of Tomorrow, but then I got absolutely hooked from one episode. I bought a few of the comics before I was even officially cast, just because I wanted to learn more about the awesome world these characters belonged to,” recalls the 23-year-old. “Some fans suggested I watch Young Justice, which has Kid Flash in it, so I did that and loved it. Watching television and reading comic books are the kinds of homework I wish I were given in high school.” Recently wrapping up his first leading role in an indie film called Like.Share.Follow., it’s safe to say that his career is on the fast track. “I also just released my debut EP on SoundCloud for free download. Music is a big part of my life, so whenever I finish work, I come home and write songs, and this is the first time I’ve shared a bunch of my originals to the public,” he adds. “The next film I have coming out is The Finest Hours, which comes out in theaters January 2016. That shoot was like nothing I’ve ever done before. I’m very eager to see all the special effects and chaos come to life in that one.” With his current pace, it’s full speed ahead for the young actor.

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YA novel adaptations generate quite the passionate fanbase. Shifting to the comic book universe, comic book fans are just as keen when it comes to the details of film and movie adaptations. How have you been handling people’s expectations of your character? When the casting announcement was made, there were literally thousands of people commenting on the color of my skin and arguing about what that meant for the character of Wally. That was obviously a new experience for me. The comic book world has many versions of famous characters, Wally West being one of them, so fans can really grow a strong connection to one portrayal, and in turn, they identify with how that character looks. I can totally understand that. Wally is known for being a Caucasian dude with red hair, which is awesome, but I think sometimes people forget that they love him for more than those two physical qualities. Overall, I think people are really excited about Wally, which just gets me really hyped! In my mind, all that matters is that the audience of the television show wants Wally to survive every episode, to overcome life’s battles, and to be happy. If we’re achieving that, we’re doing our job.

@KeiynanLonsdale

Coming into the third installment of the Divergent franchise, do you feel any pressure? I feel much more comfortable this time around. I felt the pressure during Insurgent, because it was definitely my big break, so I felt like there was a lot riding on my performance. But shooting for Allegiant was really fun! I was more in my own skin and was able to relax and enjoy everything a lot more. Part of the training to become a Dauntless member is conquering your fear landscape. What do you think would appear in yours? Spiders, the open ocean with no safe land to swim to, and a really impressive fridge with zero amounts of chocolate. In an interview with Teen Vogue, you mentioned that you didn’t feel like you could ever be in Dauntless. Why do you feel that way? I mean, who really knows? Had I grown up in that kind of world, maybe I’d be different, but if I had the choice between fighting for the rest of my life or learning for the rest of my life, I’d go with learning. How did you receive the news that you were cast as Wally West? My team had informed me that things were looking good, but I don’t like getting my hopes up, even if something is 99% most likely going to happen. So technically, I found out when everybody else did—online in the announcement. It was a pretty great day for me! I had auditioned a bunch over an extended period of time, so it was awesome to have it become real.

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MASTERMIND

Capturing viral scenes on our radar, co-creator of Memes on Clothes (The M.O.C. Brand) and CEO and creative designer of Iconic Culture JOSEPH EVANS transforms hype into immortalized bits of pop culture. By Janroe Cabiles

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traight outta current events, there are certain moments that catch the viral wave and make their way into our feeds, cementing themselves online as a meme, the product of our generation’s claim to fame. Quick to quip a stylish way of immortalizing the popular, albeit fleeting phenomena through his brand Iconic Culture, Joseph Evans stitches in the relevance of pop culture into classic pieces that could hang in anyone’s closet. “I’m really inspired by a clean, minimal look paired with the aesthetic of Ralph Lauren’s Polo, seeing as I take embroideries and put them on clothes in a similar fashion,” the designer says. “My goal has always been to make a product that you could wear at a party or on the golf course with your dad.” We all have that one friend who is an overachiever, and Joseph fills this title pretty well. With three brands already under his belt, the 22-year-old started up his first brand Titled back in 2011. “I had no idea about making clothes. I just knew what I liked and how I liked clothing to fit on me. As a result, I would mess around with clothing that I already owned to fit how I liked it, with the help of my grandmother, who taught me how to use a sewing machine,” he shares. “I started designing my own clothing in between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Titled was a streetwear brand that consisted of designs I would put on clothing. When all was said and done, I had a following of 34,000 followers on Instagram and had sold and shipped products to several countries. I considered it a really good start in the direction I knew I would be headed.”

MASTERMIND

“My goal has always been to make a product that you could wear at a party or on the golf course with your dad.” With the following he already gained, it served as a good starting point for his next project. Teaming up with business partner and friend Tony Cerniglia, they uploaded their first prototype, the “Drake in Dada” meme embroidered on a polo shirt, to gauge the audience’s reaction. “When we posted that Drake polo on social media, it eventually led us to the M.O.C. Brand. I had actually uploaded it on Titled’s Instagram and my personal Twitter to see what sort of buzz it would create,” he recalls. “I thought it was gold, so I knew some people would get a kick out of it, but the reception was phenomenal and the impact is evident in streetwear, even today.” Sipping tea while breaking the internet, they went on to create their blend of pop culture on pieces with class and edge, such as bucket hats, caps, polo shirts, and sweatshirts. Forever capturing icons and images like Miley Cyrus, Pharrell’s hat, Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” pose, and Kim Kardashian, publications like MTV, GQ, Billboard, Complex, Fader, and BULLET were quick to pick on the cultural mimicry that was leaking into streetwear. Evolving the already widespread phenomenon of our generation, Joseph created a fresh venue for jokes to be shared, embodying the universal urge to click the share button through being able to wear it. Taking this to the next level, the designer launched his latest brand Iconic Culture. “With the M.O.C. Brand, we just did memes in images that were immediately popping off. Iconic Culture is me reaching back into pop culture and capturing moments or even phrases that have stood the test of time, whether it was 20 years, ten, or as recent as this year. It’s an opportunity to embody other iconic moments in our culture, while keeping the same clean-cut, minimal, embroidered pieces for customers and strangers who recognize them.” A couple of icons in the line include Gucci Mane, Kanye, and the phrases, “Thug Life” and “Woes”. When asked what’s next, he answers, “Right now, my focus is Iconic Culture, but this definitely won’t be

the last thing you see from me. I plan to do something later on that’s my more serious approach to fashion. I feel that early on. Titled matured with me, and when my ideas and designs come to a point where they are ready and manifested, it will be a continuation of that brand mentally, yet entirely separated to the public eye. The concept has always been there, my ideas and inspiration grow with me and took new forms everyday.”

iconic-culture.net @_joseph_evans_

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MASTERMIND

REAL ARTHOUSE Taking a snap at our synapses, NYCbased filmmaker CHRISTIAN COPPOLA creates an entire dimension of his own through cinema: romantic, complex, yet always compelling. By Janroe Cabiles

ike something out of a memory, filmmaker Christian Coppola manages to make the noise stop where his films begin in the city that never sleeps. In his latest short Heartbreak Hotel, the doo-wop vocals of The Crew Cuts open the scene of a rooftop dream, with the red bricks of The Bowery Hotel’s balcony overlooking the cityscape framed by fairy lights above. The film’s protagonist steps into the picture with a cigarette, a bottle, and a length of rope in his hands, on the edge of suicide when his night is interrupted by reiterations of Courtney Love, James Dean, Yoko Ono, and Audrey Hepburn. With his already impressive filmography, including films Undergrad, The Place I Come From, CLUBKID, etc., Christian’s uninterrupted slew of projects started at home. “Movies have always been a big part of my life. When I was really little, I loved doing anything that got a reaction out of people. And like most kids, I loved playing pretend. As I got older, playing pretend was suddenly seen as childish or weird, but I didn’t see why I had to stop,” the filmmaker recalls. “In high school, I would constantly make movies with my friends at my house, which was a dream backdrop to shoot anything at. It was like my own little factory where I would churn out a video every month, and in doing so, I really began to fall in love with filmmaking. That was sort of the point of no return.”

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Heartbreak Hotel

MASTERMIND

Wrapping up film school at NYU with his last semester, he’s already found his direction as a modern auteur. On both directing and writing his films, he says, “Having creative ownership of your own story and being able to fully realize it onscreen is such a powerful thing. As an audience member, I want to watch something that stimulates my mind. I want to be excited about what’s going on in front of me–whether it’s the imagery, the story, the characters, or even the music.” This becomes crystal clear in any of his films, which are perfectly scored, sometimes heartbreaking but visually haunting in style. With a constant eye for thematic tales, Christian is only on the verge of peaking, continuing on to capture picture-perfect memories clouded into romantic reveries on film. What do you look for in a narrative that draws you in? I like stories that show me something I would have never found on my own. It’s a pretty stellar feeling to watch a movie that validates an experience you’ve had when you thought you were the only one.

For Heartbreak Hotel, why did you choose those four specific icons? And how did casting play out? I pretty much knew exactly who I wanted to play each character right off the bat. I wanted each character to evoke a different reaction from Nick (Jacob Morton) and have a unique repertoire with him, and these icons like James Dean (Dylan Hayes) and Yoko Ono (Yulu Serao) just really made sense to me. Originally, I had Grace Kelly in mind for Audrey Hepburn’s character, but finding someone who fit the bill for that role was pretty much impossible. I think Susannah Liguori did a beautiful job playing Audrey though. What is it about old Hollywood that you love? I suppose the main thing about old Hollywood that attracts me most is the nostalgia for a period of time that was all just pure fantasy. It was such a romantic time where the

“It’s a pretty stellar feeling to watch a movie that validates an experience you’ve had when you thought you were the only one.” motion picture industry was like this deity that just dropped out of the sky and defined our culture as we know it today. I don’t think we’ll ever see something like that ever again. I also just love the idea of cruising down Sunset Boulevard in an old convertible with slicked back hair, wearing suspenders, and staring up at the palm trees, maybe even cranking up the volume on a Buddy Holly song while I’m at it.

vimeo.com/christiancoppola @christiancopp

Can you describe the aesthetic you currently have that serves as a common denominator between your work? I always strive to make things that are beautiful–that hasn’t changed since day one. I feel like I have a good grasp on what I like and don’t like, but at the end of the day, I’m most interested in making people feel something. So why not make the film look as pretty as possible while I’m at it?

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Lucky, adj. /ˈlə-kē/ : Having, bringing, or resulting from good luck : Producing or resulting in good by chance

jacket by Pennant

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Stuck in a daze with a smoldering gaze, LUCKY BLUE SMITH has been taking the world of modeling by storm. Bleaching his tousled locks to platinum blonde, the 17-year-old finds his silver lining as fashionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest it-boy. By Pola Beronilla Photographed by JM Dayao Styled by Malcom Bacani

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jacket and pants by Unplugged Museum pullover by H&M

He’s Lucky Blue; he’s a star.

Buck-toothed and slender, you could say that he was just at the right place at the right time— with the right hair color. Barely in his teens, a 12-year old Lucky Blue was scouted in Utah by the director of Next Models LA, who was initially interested in his three older sisters Pyper America, Daisy Clementine, and Queen Starlie. Standing tall at six-foot-three, it’s been hardly a decade since the blue-eyed boy first struck a pose in front of a camera. “My first proper shoot was with Hedi Slimane. I had no clue who he was at that time, but it was really good,” the 17year old model recalls of his Vogue Hommes Japan shoot. “I was with my three sisters and we were playing music, but then Hedi Slimane wanted to shoot me outside. He was really nice and awesome to shoot with. I hope to work with him again in the future.” Ever since moving from Utah to LA with his family, he’s been on a lucky streak. But it was when he dyed his hair bleach blonde that made his modeling career have a life of its own. Just in 2015 alone, he has modeled campaigns for Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, and Moncler and has been seen strutting the catwalks of Versace, Fendi, and Balmain. Recently featured in i-D and New York Magazine, he’s also hit the glossiest magazine covers of Wonderland, L’Officiel Homme Italia, and Harpers Bazaar Germany (with his sister Pyper). But he’s not only fashion’s latest obsession, he’s also social media’s mane attraction. With his icy white pompadour and boyish charm, the LA-based model has collected over a million followers on Instagram from all corners of the globe. Aside from pursuing a career in music as the drummer of his surf rock band with his sisters, The Atomics, he also landed his first major movie role in Love Everlasting. Fluid and precise with baby blue eyes, this bleached boy’s luck ain’t running out soon. You’re quite the phenomenon of 2015. What are your lucky charms? That’s crazy to hear when people say that about me, but my lucky charms are my super awesome, amazing fans. They support me 100%.

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“I like being crazy onset. I just goof around and make funny faces, sometimes to keep the energy up and keep people laughing.” How does it feel to achieve success at a young age? Are there any disadvantages to it? Achieving success at my age is really crazy. I’m blessed that I’m able to be where I am right now. I don’t think there are any disadvantages to it, in my opinion. I’m having a lot of fun. I’m just glad I have this opportunity. Social media has played an important role in your career. What are the pros and cons of it, both in general and for your career? I would say the con is that people nowadays aren’t that in tune or in the moment ‘cause they’re all stuck in the social media world, but the pro is that you’re able to connect with people you probably wouldn’t connect with. For my career, it’s been helping me get my name out there easier. But for the cons, with me having a big following, some [fashion] shows think it’s gonna distract the audience from watching what they should be watching, like looking at the clothes and stuff like that. I mean there are more pros than cons, but there are some things that kind of happen. With all the impromptu meet-ups you’ve been instigating on Instagram, what has been the craziest experience so far? Just tons of people are there; everything about it is really crazy. There are tons of people screaming, pushing, and shoving, and some people pass out after I hug them. I haven’t really had an insane, crazy experience, but when that happens I’ll let everyone know [laughs]. What misconception about modeling do you hate most? I don’t know, some people think models are just a sack of rocks and not the smartest people, but most of ‘em aren’t. There’s a ton of misconceptions about modeling that I hate, but I think people need to coat by Sisley turtleneck by H&M pants by 2Placebo 76 - statusmagonline.com

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“Achieving success at my age is really crazy. I’m blessed that I’m able to be where I am right now.” statusmagonline.com - 79

“I’m changing [my hair color] very soon, so everyone, be ready for a change.”

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pants by 2Placebo dress shirt by H&M ankle boots by Topman sweater by Unplugged Museum

realize that all models aren’t stupid. But I don’t even worry about that. I’m just doing what I do and hope that people like it [laughs]. What’s usually going through your mind when you’re at a photo shoot or walking on the runway? A lot of things. I don’t really think about what I’m doing, but I think about the most random things actually, like homework I have to get done after the runway. When I’m shooting, I just kind of mess around and try to have fun. Honestly, I just don’t worry about it. How do you keep things new with modeling? Working with new photographers can keep things new ‘cause all of them mostly shoot with different styles. Also, I like being crazy onset. I just goof around and make funny faces, sometimes to keep the energy up and keep people laughing. You’re also quite passionate with your music. Who are your influences? My dad, for sure. Also, my band, The Atomics. And everyone knows that I play the drums, but I’m actually good at playing other instruments too. Where do you see The Atomics in the next ten years? Playing sold-out shows, going on crazy tours, writing albums, collaborating with really good artists, and just being awesome. You’re currently working on a film entitled Love Everlasting. How have you prepared yourself to make your jump into acting? Well, director Rob Diamond helped me out a lot onset. Whenever we were about to do a scene, he would sit down with me to talk me through it. He really helped me understand it instead of just throwing me out there to see if I can do it. I learned so much from him doing it. Now, I’m gonna go to acting classes and start getting more way into that.

pants by H&M ankle boots by Topman jacket and pullover by Unplugged Museum

If you were to star in a coming-of-age film, who would be the crew (director, co-actors/coactresses) and what would the title be? I actually have never thought of that, but I think it would be really cool to be in a movie with Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio. Doing a film with those two guys would be awesome. I would love to do that. In every aspect, your family is very beautiful. How important are they to you? My family is very, very important to me because they’re always there to support me and keep me humble. Growing up as the only boy in the family, I’ve been trained my whole life—it’s like having four moms ‘cause I have three sisters. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. They’re the best. How long do you intend to keep your whiteblonde locks? You know, I’m changing it very soon. I might go back to my natural color, or might go purple. JK. I don’t think I would go purple. I can’t tell anyone what I’m gonna do, but they’re gonna be gone in a little bit. So everyone, be ready for a change.

@luckybsmith

jacket by Pennant flannel shirt by H&M turtle neck by David Beckham for H&M pants by Martin Margiela Shoes by Topshop

Assistant Photographer Jon Wong Hair Timothy Ro of Shu Uemura Art of Hair Makeup Joyce Platon

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Whether she's playing a villainess, a sassy amateur golfer straight out of the 1920s, or a fiercely protective mother, Australian actress ELIZABETH DEBICKI can surely hold her own. By Denise Mallabo Photographed by Justin Ridler and Sally Flegg

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

urning heads in any country she steps foot in, Elizabeth Debicki has been busy jet-setting and working on one movie after another. “I was flying on a plane to Los Angeles from Paris, I just came from Fashion Week,” says the striking six-foot-two actress. Elizabeth attended the Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2016 collection and was rather the celebrity correspondent for Vogue Australia. Born in Paris but raised in Melbourne, both her parents were ballet dancers. Trained to dance at a young age, she eventually made the transition from one passion to a new one. When asked how she made the decision to shift from dancing to theater acting, she says, “It was a natural progression. I see the two art forms as quite similar to each other. I never really felt like I left one behind.” Receiving praises for the latter craft, specifically for her performance in Sydney Theater Company’s The Maids, she expounds on her love for theater saying, “I love stories and I love language. Acting is an art form that appeals to my sense of imagination and investigation. I love to know how

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The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

other people live and what else is out there in life that I have never experienced. Acting lets you explore lives so different from your own. I think for me, that’s that appeal.” From then on, she ventured on to the big screen with her first role in a comedy with fellow Aussie actresses Rebel Wilson and Olivia Newton-John called A Few Best Men. Through this film, she caught the eye of awardwinning director Baz Luhrmann that got her a part in the adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. After portraying the role of Jordan Baker, she went on to play Victoria, the key villain in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. When asked how it was working with these directors, she says, “Every director I’ve been privileged to work with has a very different approach to making films. I think as an actor, you learn to be adaptable

with the method of that particular director while staying true to your process.” Poised to play Lady Macduff alongside Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in the adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Elizabeth admits that she enjoys doing period films because it allows her to enter a world that’s so different from hers. “There’s a lot of research that has to be done on a period film, and I find that very satisfying. The costumes and sets are such a world apart from your own, so a layer of your work as an actor is done for you already,” explains Elizabeth. As for the strong-willed characters that she has portrayed, she acknowledges that there are certain similarities between particular aspects of the characters that she has played and herself. “That’s part of the job of the actor, to be able to empathize and identify with elements of the

character’s personality. I think I’m a very independent person, certainly stubborn and strong-willed. I go after what I want in life,” she adds. Currently busy traveling around the world, the Australian actress has been to three different countries over the past week. “I’m currently preparing for a new film that will be shot in Louisiana, so my days revolve around preparation to play that role,” she adds, making her free time more precious by spending it with family and friends. With Elizabeth’s keen sense of giving importance to every role she portrays and establishing her name by brilliantly making these characters come alive, she’ll surely be an actress that we won’t get tired of seeing.

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Hailing from the suburban lands of North Las Vegas is budding star Shamir Bailey a.k.a. SHAMIR, swooping the music scene with his kitschy pop tunes and quirky psychedelic style. A surreal breath of fresh air, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the millennialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; latest wunderkind.

By Celene Sakurako

Photographed by Mathew Parri Thomas and Ruvan Wijesooriya

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“Yes, I am ratchet,” confesses pop music’s new comer, Shamir, who’s released his first album Ratchet under XL Records earlier this year. “Like for instance, I was eating fried chicken on the side of the road next to a dumpster at 3 AM in South Philly last weekend.” Since quitting his day job at Topshop and flying to New York to record his highly acclaimed EP Northtown for GODMODE in the summer of 2014, Shamir has been living on the road, touring around Europe and North America, and performing in festivals like Festival Art Rock, Pitchfork Festival, and

Treasure Island Music Festival. Experiencing the crazy tour life at its fullest, the North Las Vegas-bred musician repents about smoking too many cigarettes and eating too much food. “Those are my two vices, and I am not proud,” he says. Lionized for his androgynous countertenor voice and looks to match, the popstar says, “My personal style is what I like to call ‘thrift chic.’” Thrifted shirt and Cheap Monday jeans-clad, he says, “This is usually what I wear everyday. So much of my clothing is from thrift stores, but those are the pieces I love the most because usually vintage stuff is unique and hard to come by. Like this Reba McEntire vintage tour T-shirt that I got for $5 because no one knew who she was in my hometown!” With ever-changing hair styles and six tattoos: a Tegan and Sara tattoo,

Beat Happening tattoo, GODMODE tattoo, CockNBullKid tattoo, Vivian Girls tattoo, and an alien head tattoo, he’s one cool kid who’s dared to be himself and won in doing so. Referring to his gender fluidity, he says, “Everyone should be able to be honest about who they are, regardless of how famous or in the limelight they are.” With his latest album being about adolescence and coming-of-age, Shamir does some growing up too. From the first time he held a drum machine to sing about an ex in breakout song “If It Wasn’t True,” he’s shown a new depth to his voice with slow tunes like “KC” and “Demon,” supplementing trademark dance anthems like “On the Regular” and “Hot Mess.” The pop artist shares, “I feel my voice got stronger in between the EP and the album.” He goes on, “Off the album, I’d say my favorite song is ‘Darker’ because it’s the most personal song I wrote; it’s about my late greatgrandma.” Waking up every day to a dream that he’s had since he was eight years old, he attributes meeting multi-instrumentalist Alex G at South By South West, playing Jenga with jizz-jazzer Mac DeMarco, and playing a sold-out show in New York’s Music Hall of Williamsburg as highlights of his career so far. In fact, he’s dazzled by the number of times he’s felt the “I made it” moment since his debut song “If It Wasn’t True” became the Best New Track on Pitchfork.

“I’m so excited to play in Asia! Firsts are always so fun because the energy is so infectious, and I always vibe off the crowd’s energy.” 90 - statusmagonline.com

Adding a new batch of tour dates following his fall tour, it looks like there’s no slowing down for Shamir. After hitting up Singapore for St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival next year in January, he’ll be heading to Australia and New Zealand for the month of February. “I’m so excited to play in Asia! I’ve never played or been there before, and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. I think this one will be extra special because not only is it going to be my first Laneway, but it’s going to be my first performance in Asia; firsts are always so fun because the energy is so infectious, and I always vibe off the crowd’s energy.” Playing alongside artists like Tobias Jesso Jr., DIIV, CHVRCHES, and The Internet, out of the kaleidoscopic lineup he says, “I’m really excited to see Grimes live. I think she’s such an incredible artist, and I’ve never seen her live before!” Although a full-on Asian tour is yet to be discussed, it’s safe to say that there’s more of Shamir that the world’s yet to discover and see, like his life-long plan of taking on a comedic project and his musical goals of playing on BBC Two’s Later… with Jools Holland, in South America, and at California’s annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

facebook.com/Shamir326 @shamirbailey

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ARTISTS GUERLAIN guerlain.com H&M hm.com HYPE justhype.co.uk KOH GEN DO kohgendocosmetics.com LANCÔME lancome.co.uk LAURA MERCIER lauramercier.com MAC maccosmetics.com MARC BY MARC JACOBS Greenbelt 5, Makati City MARTIN MARGIELA maisonmargiela.com MISS SELFRIDGE Greenbelt 5, Makati City NEL CLAVERIA facebook.com/nelclaveriadesigns NIKKI CHASIN nikkichasin.com OLD NAVY Glorietta 3, Makati City OXYGEN Glorietta 3, Makati City PAPRIKA facebook.com/paprikaph PENNANT pennant.myshopify.com PENSHOPPE Glorietta 3, Makati City RAY-BAN ray-ban.com RIVER ISLAND Glorietta 5, Makati City

SAMANTHA PLEET samanthapleet.com SFERA SM Makati, Makati City SISLEY sisley.com SISLEY PARIS sisley-paris.com SMASHBOX smashbox.com TOMMY HILFIGER Greenbelt 5, Makati City TOPMAN Greenbelt 3, Makati City TOPSHOP Greenbelt 3, Makati City UNPLUGGED MUSEUM vantvaart.com URBAN DECAY urbandecay.com VANS vans.com VAQUERA instagram.com/vaquera.nyc VIBORA facebook.com/viboraphilippines VIN ORIAS vinorias.com VINCENT LONGO vincentlongo.com YSA NYC ysanyc.com YVES SAINT LAURENT ysl.com ZALORA zalora.com.ph ZARA zara.com

Miguel Alomajan (Photographer) miguelalomajan.wordpress.com Malcolm Bacani (Stylist) malcolmbacani.com Renee Carey (Photographer) reneecarey.com Ian Castañares (Photographer) thestilllifephotographer.tumblr.com Sydney Dagal (Grooming) facebook.com/sydhelmsleyart Sally Flegg (Photographer) sallyflegg.com.au Potchie Lazaro (Photographer) potchielazaro.com Amath Magnan (Photographer) amathmagnan.com Franey Miller (Photographer) franeymiller.net Hub Pacheco (Photographer) hubpacheco.com Star Sabroso (Photographer) facebook.com/starsabroso Joyce Platon (Makeup) joyceplaton.com Justin Ridler (Photographer) justinridler.net Timothy Ro (Hair) timothyro.com Mathew Parri Thomas (Photographer) mathewparrithomas.com Ruvan Wijesooriya (Photographer) ruvan.com Jon Wong (Assistant Photographer) iamjonwong.com Rudolf Zverina (Photographer) rzsfrzsfrzsf.com

S TATU S I NVAD ES

under the sun With her never-ceasing lust for the sand and seas, travel blogger, part-time model, Servandos ambassador, and Volcom girl BELLA JAEGER spends her tokens on memories and experiences alone.

@bella_jaeger Portrait by Miguel Alomajan Product photography by Carlo Nu単ez Special thanks to Croque Cafe + Bakery

94 - statusmagonline.com

SEA GLASS WAVE PENDANT

I had this customized at Cat & Kai Jewelry, my cousin’s store. This serves as a constant reminder of my love for the ocean and my hometown.

NIKE FLEECE JUVENATE I usually have a hard time finding a comfortable pair of sneakers because I have big feet.

SAND CLOUD PILLOW TOWEL

My ultimate beach buddy! This is literally a towel with a built-in pillow.

35MM ASAHI PENTAX FILM CAMERA

I woke up one day wanting to discover film photography. I borrowed this from my good friend with no idea what to do, but I’m proud that the outcome wasn’t that bad.

BOBBI BROWN RAISIN LIPSTICK TRAVEL JOURNAL

Hair and Makeup by Sydney Dagal

I discovered the essence of traveling from my mom. She gave me this journal in support of my travel blog, so I jot notes down when I travel before typing them on my laptop.

MOSCHINO PERFUME SCAR TISSUE BY ANTHONY KIEDIS

The phenomenal biography of my soon-to-be-husband Anthony Kiedis. I’ve been in love with Red Hot Chili Peppers since I was 14, so I had to buy this when I saw it!

My scent is always either something herbal or floral. If it isn’t Moschino, it’s most likely Bvlgari Omnia or some baby cologne.

This particular shade has been my favorite ever since I discovered makeup. I can never buy red or baby pink, but I can use raisin over and over again.