IS RIGHT ON TRACK A PRIL 2012
63 CHIDDY BANG
68 KILLER ACID 12 STATUS MESSAGE 14 MASTHEAD
STATUSPHERE 17 22 23 24 25 26
THREADS SETTING BRICK & MORTAR SCREEN INK BEATS
gadgets 27
TECH PACK: UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Calm and ready to drop bombs
BEAUTY 28
29
34 SAPPHIRE ICE
I’m blue, da ba dee da ba da By Perou
42 OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO You’re off to great places, you’re off and away. By Lyka Orhel
48 GOD SAVE THE SCENE
Day-glo in gray ol’ London By David Sheldrick
SHOPPING GUIDE SWAG
53 HERE COMES THE SUN Aviators
54 MUSCLE BEACH Tank tops
54 ME AND MY BUD Flip-flops
FACE PAINT: SKITTLE TICKLES
55 BESPOKE PICKS
ABOUT FACE: BOTTOMS UP
56 BUTTER BITES
BEAUTY BITE: SNOé
57 KICK IT TO THE CURVE
Experience the rainbow.
29
VISION BOARD
A quality aquatic
FASHION
STREET STYLE
30 GO SEE
Stop, look, and glisten.
31 STYLE ID: THE CLASSICIST LBD, meet the WBD.
Tailored shorts
Cotton button-downs
Sneakers
58 CREME DELA CROP
Cropped sleeveless tops
59 SHORT CUT
Short skirts
59 AIN’T SHE SWEET Colorful belts
60 HAPPY HOUR
Sheer cover-ups
61 DIZZY MISS LACY Strappy sandals
89 BANGLADESH FEATURES mUSE
62 HOLLAND OATHS
Josefien Rodermans is a maneater. By Giano D. Dionisio
mAESTRO
mASTERMIND
68 HAZE FOR DAYS
With Killer Acid, one finds fiendishly detailed illustrations, like a hallucinated cross-breed of Labyrinth muppets and Pink Floyd ambience. By Alice Sarmiento
63 SWELLY CAT
69 AUTO-TUNE
64 JOYRIDE
69 MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU
64 PEST CONTROL
70 STROKE OF GENIUS
65 TIPSY ON THE GYPSY
71 A-PUNK
Hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang embodies a way of life that’s worth getting up out of bed for; hear all about it on Breakfast. By Giano D. Dionisio
This Bombay Bicycle Club article, unfortunately, does not come with a dance videotorial. Maybe next time? By Reena Mesias
We can’t get past Flying Ipis’ band name. Ironically, it captures the band’s indestructible force. By Rita Faire
A power pop diva that goes gaga without being gimmicky? Real-life gypsy Neon Hitch did trapeze before she signed a recording deal, so go figure. By Reena Mesias
66 TWIST AND SHOUT
Lil Twist makes monthly mixtapes, co-directs his music videos, and rolls with Young Money. Where were you at 19? By Loris Peña
67 MAEJOR LEAGUE
Producer/songwriter/recording artist Bei Maejor is bringing back the lush and luster of R&B. By Viva Gonzalez
Clothing line Nick Automatic’s head honcho Nicolo Nimor is a music lover who designs, not the other way around. By Rita Faire
Let’s get down to business; heed Filipino-American designer Shaun Samson’s every order, and you might survive. By Zoe Laurente
James Jean’s painterly pictures captivate. Well, he likes to spontaneously shimmy to “Canned Heat” during interviews, too. By Carina Santos
Nobody puts Molly Tarlov in a corner. Awkward.’s resident bully softens her stance. By Reena Mesias
71 SMOOTH OPERATOR
DJ Chedo is at the forefront of emerging music, giving everyone a chance to be heard on The Come Up Show. By Sam Goretski
72 TWO-TIMERS
For San Francisco design startup Eight Hour Day, life comes cartoonized in crisp color and shifty solid shapes. By Reena Mesias
IS RIGHT ON TRACK A PRIL 2012
69 SHAUN SAMSON
66 LIL TWIST
21 72 POP DON’T PREACH
Maggie Lee likes photos of skimpy skanks, and so do we. Sssh, parental guidance not advised. By Rita Faire
73 SHOOTING STARS
Hear this, aspiring music photogs: Steven Taylor says it boils down to “luck or relentlessnes,” or both. By Samantha Castro
HEAVY HITTER
74 SANTICHRIST
LUCIANA TEIXEIRA
82 GARBAGE’S PALE KID
Back in the 90s, Shirley Manson represented a fierce femme attitude that wasn’t ginger, posh, nor baby; though maybe a bit scary. The signature Garbage spice is flavored with grunge glory. Though the new album proclaims Shirley is Not Your Kind of People, this is definitely our kind of music. By Kristine Dabbay
BLOCK PARTY: ENTER SOUNDMEN Music Producers
Not once in the creation myth were any sounds mentioned. Santigold’s Master of My MakeBelieve assaults this notion, crafting a musical landscape filled with light and dark, land and sea, plants and trees, beasts and beats. This ain’t no utopia, though, it’s reality. By Giano D. Dionisio
80 THE STARTER PACK
Welcome back the boys of summer! Death Cab for Cutie take us on a post-OC crash course on stalking girls, playing the scientist, and solving puzzles with Codes and Keys. By Zoe Laurente
88 BEN ALLEN 89 BANGLADESH 89 DAMIAN TAYLOR
93 RONSON REGENERATION 94 UP JMA ADHOC: AT THE EDGE OF INFINITY
94 TERRYWOOD 95 FASHION’S NIGHT OUT 95 CALVIN HARRIS @ REPUBLIQ
MORE
96 DIRECTORY STATUS INVADES
98 DJ EURIC
Groove is in the heart of Euric’s absolute essentials.
100 P4K UNVEILED
The Illuminati are running this show.
EVENTS
NIGHTVISION
91 SUPER ELECTRO PARTY MACHINE EAST BLOCK
92 GRAMMY CITY 92 LINSANITY ROSELAND 93 FIST PUMP SATURDAYS
Glowing, glittering, gorgeous gold brocade juts out like wings or horns or burdensome pyramids on Santi’s shoulders in this photo by Sean Thomas. There’s something so royal, so magnificent, so divine about the almost statuesque image, yes? Those eyes speak to us loud and clear: “You are now entering my kingdom. Listen and learn at your own risk.” There’s no saying what to expect when everything is on shuffle. You’ve been warned.
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 free mixtapes paper and wallpapers
STATUS MESSAGE
SANTIGOLD Photo by Sean Thomas (74)
SHIRLEY MANSON Photo by Autumn de Wilde (82)
RIGHT ON TRACK A
fter going through renovation purgatory for a couple of weeks, STATUS now has a new HQ. We are turning 4 years old this month, and we’re ready to move, dance, and march to our own beat. No one marches like Santigold with her long-awaited second album Master of My Make-Believe. But another thing we love is her eclectic style that has always alerted the fashion radar. Since she appeared for a video of Alexander Wang’s Fall campaign in 2011, we’ve been paying attention to how her music and style are evolving. Our next Heavy Hitter, Shirley Manson from Garbage, is one of the coolest rock chicks out there. I mean, if you are one of the two female singers in Guitar Hero, you must be doing something right. After a 7-year hiatus, Shirley is back in the scene with a new album, Not Your Kind of People. It’s also a time for us to flashback to our pensive moments, often accompanied by the tunes of Death Cab for Cutie. We caught up with the boys and talked about love, lyrics, and shooting a music video all in one take. Of course being our Music Issue, we delved into the studios of sound producers behind the songs of Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Björk, and Animal Collective. Summer is around the corner and while we’re known for shufflin’, it’s nice to have that sneaking suspicion that we’re on the right track. Let the good times roll.
Editor-in-chief
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contributors statusmagonline.com
Rosario Herrera
@rosarioherrera
creative director Patrick L. Jamora art director Patrick Diokno graphic designers Nyael David
@padraick @patrickdiokno @nyaels @paolostroodles
editor-in-chief
Paolo Geronimo
associate editor
BENITO BAUTISTA
Award-winning Filipino filmmaker Benito spends his time between San Francisco and Manila; he makes movies, teaches classes, surfs, and rocks out to Mars Volta, Goldfrapp, and Turbo Goth— whose latest video he directed (24). He believes “A true artist should have no boundaries, therefore no rules.” A sentiment shared by post-minimalist composer Philip Glass, whose documentary biography happens to be Benito’s favorite music-related film.
Kristine Dabbay
Laurente Dionisio Rita Faire
@tindabs @yohitgirl @_dizzyrizzy @zoelaurente @giodion @ritadoesnttweet
Tina Herrera Buenaventura junior account manager Patty Mendoza
@tinaherrera_ @danbuenaventura @pmgmendoza
features editor Reena Mesias fashion editor Loris Peña
fashion assistant Zoe editorial assistants Giano D.
REENA MESIAS Too bad our Features Editor Reena couldn’t show Neon Hitch (65) her own secret circus trick. Unlike Neon’s trapeze act, Reena’s trick is more toe-curling than heartstopping, so we’ll spare the shameful specifics. Yet it proves that she’s got even more girl power than her Joan Jett style suggests. Reena also interviewed Bombay Bicycle Club (64), Molly Tarlov (71), and Eight Hour Day (72) for this issue. Ugh, overachievers.
sales & marketing cosultant account manager Dan
tweet us!
contributing writers
Samantha Castro, Viva Gonzalez, Sam Goretski, Vicky Herrera, Alice Sarmiento, Nante Santamaria, Carina Santos contributing artists
Ace of LA, Toch Barreiro, Diandra Burgos, Chad Burton, The Cobrasnake, Fernando Colon, Andy Europa, Ike Gube, Kai Huang, Marlon De Jesus, Shinji Manlangit, Maui Manalo, Nicolai Melicor, Kamal Mercado, Lyka Orhel, Sergio Orospe, Kiko Pedaza, Perou, Mara Reyes, Steffi Santiago, David Sheldrick, Ryuji Shiomitsu, Emily Shur, Junie Sierra, JP Singson, Tim Song, Andrew Stephenson, Daniel Tan, Adam Seth Teh, Sean Thomas, Autumn de Wilde, The XOXO Kids
editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com
DAVID SHELDRICK
Starting in the industry with modeling stints for Harper’s Bazaar Thailand and Benetton, London-born David now enjoys painting the town neon bright as in this issue’s “God Save the Scene” (48). If he had the choice, though, he would rather let contemporary artists “paint on the buildings as a huge canvas and let new artists repaint them every few years… Every strong color needs a whole palette of other colors to support it.”
advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com
CARINA SANTOS While she waits for The xx and Yeasayer’s albums this year, Carina is painting things, collaging polaroids and books, doing graphic design work, attending music festivals, and writing articles on artist James Jean (70). She’s probably glad the Dead Kennedys’ Jello Biafra didn’t win the San Francisco mayorship back in the day, since she “wouldn’t trust a musician who has political power.” Someone tell that to former concert pianists Nixon and Truman.
internship intern@statusmagonline.com Our deadline is always now.
What’s your STATUS? tell us.
general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com read our digital version statusmagonline.com/ digital-magazine like us facebook.com/statusmagazine follow us twitter.com/statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
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THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN / INK
APRIL 2012
BITE ME P
UBLISH’s summer collection goes wild with animal prints from subtle details like leopard printed pockets and cuffs to obvious statements like a snakeskin print short sleeved button-down. Trust your animal instincts and opt for patchwork sweat pants instead of the usual blue denims. Hear that? It’s the call of the wild. publishbrand.com
ROCK OF AGES G
et into material girl mode with SHOUROUK’s latest collection. Glistening with Swarovski crystals and hand-painted wooden beads, these intricately woven scoubidou wire necklaces add just the right color and glitter without going overboard. Nothing says classy like a Josephine cuff with an embroidered jewel of green and silver crystals. They may not be real diamonds but they can certainly last forever. shourouk.fr
DOUBLE VISION N
o, you are not seeing things; and yes, you are staring at 3D images of the fields brought to you by NOUMENON’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection named Tridulum. With the brand’s shirts, dresses, vests, and pants, you will not only find yourself wearing the outdoors, but you’ll also find everyone staying outdoors staring at you. nouio.com
SUNNY SIDE UP E
aster is coming and egg-hunting is for the kids. Maybe shoe-hunting would be a better fit. Happy pairs of SPERRY TOP-SIDER in Crayola colors are waiting to find their way to your closet. From bright sunny leather, subtle nylon, and checkered canvas, there’s a color or print for you to wear out while checking off things on your summer list. sperrytopsider.com
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THREADS
S P. MA
BRANDS TO KNOW
RAINBOW RUNNER VE JA SP. MA SUÈ DE CAME L
VEJA SPMA MOONROCK
VEJA SPMA NAUTICO LAGOON
VEJA SPMA CHINO EMERAUDE
VEJA SPMA NAUTICO FLAMINGO
G
FISHING POND
o the extra mile with VEJA. Leather, suede, and toile sneakers in soft pastels and solid colors get everyone ready for summer break’s day-long antics. Mother Nature gives these eco-friendly shoes two thumbs up. So tie those laces and get ready to run. Go vegan, I mean Veja while exploring greener pastures. veja.fr
N
ATURES OF CONFLICT splashes out color for Spring. Roomy rompers and jackets in bright shades of yellow and purple get a utilitarian touch with juxtaposed oversized breast and cargo pockets. But if it’s a classy look you’re going for, then slip into a floor-sweeping jumpsuit for added drama. naturesofconflict.com
WIZARD OF THE RINGS Y
ou don’t have to be Dorothy to make your way to the Emerald City. PASIONAE’s handmade emerald rings are already a sight to behold. Playing with color, texture, and shapes, these bold pieces are born with names like Lust, Delight, Fear, and Hatred. No need to ease down yellow brick roads to have a charmer ring around your finger. pasionae.com
HONEYMOONERS Y
ou deserve a break from work and away from layers of clothing. This is where NAILA SWIMWEAR comes in. With bright bikinis and cutout one-pieces for girls and pastel shorts for boys, you can pair outfits with your honey without looking like a tourist couple. nailacollection.wordpress.com
GET GO B
IG STAR likes jeans dirty and sexy just the way we like it in the great outdoors. Pair acid wash denim shorts with a loose tank or beat up denim jeans with boots and a wide-brim hat. For whatever journey you are planning to make, just hold up and denim ‘em up. bigstar.pl
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THREADS
CHIcks AHOY W
hether it’s lounging on a yacht or swimming in the deep blue, NUDO always sails the extra nautical mile. Its latest collection of swimwear gets the captain’s salute with bold stripes and high-waisted bikini bottoms. Move over Helen of Troy, we could launch a billion more ships with an itty bitty black halter bikini. nudoswimwear.multiply.com
ALL WORDS G
ALCOHOLICS UNANIMOUS C
heck the tags on AKOMPLICE’ premier line and you’ll notice letters familiarly used to mark the utmost of cognacs: VSOP. Fitting, as one of the menswear brand’s highlights (although from their AK line) is a rich amber brandy-hued parka that’s softer and smoother than a shot of Patron XO. But, truly, it’s Akomplice’ collection of leather bracelets and vintage accessories that really gets us buzzin’. akomplice-clothing.com
et educated with TEE LIBRARY’s Poetry collection of printed white tees, cardigans, and pullovers. Edgar Allan Poe’s, Remy de Gourmont’s, and William Blake’s words are printed on the tees, matched with a cool graphics to grab people’s attention. With a navy pullover that says “What though life conspire to cheat you,” you are sure to stop, think, and shop. teelibrary.com
FISHING FOR MEN
LIVID, LOVE IT
W
T
OOLRICH WOOLEN MILLS makes fishing gear accessible. Inspired by dad’s favorite pastime, the brand takes windbreakers and utility vests and pairs them with denim-hooded pullovers, bright printed button-downs, and khaki shorts. Update a white shirt with a hard mesh bucket hat or a printed cap and stay fresh in the open air. woolrich.com
here’s no reading between the fine lines with A.KNACKFUSS’ take on spring’s colorless trend. Whether it’s a striped button-down or an equestrian top, these printed numbers make spring dressing easy as black and white. But if you’re feeling iffy with the absence of color, throw over a khaki trench for a quick chic fix. aknackfuss.com
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
HOLLY WOULD T
hough her pieces reference American movie heroines (Bardot, Monroe, Garbo), Dubai designer Grana Khan’s Spring line for LE GRANA is fit for a Scarlett, Angelina, or Charlize; perhaps a more current Miss Golightly going off for breakfast at Tiffany’s, who mixes androgyny (like bold shoulders in the collection’s sole long gown) with crystal-embellished modernity. legrana.com
RICH FOREVER C
HARLOTTE MARTYR knows a thing or two about the gold business. Her two rules include: one, you can never have enough, and two, it’s always best to stack. Looking like nuggets molded together, these gold-plated rings, necklaces, and bracelets will make you look rich without even trying. charlottemartyr.com
MR. CARRIER I
f it’s a good sturdy carryall that you need then look no further. HASSO makes everything from wallets and pouches to backpacks and totes using leather and canvas. Whatever baggage it is that you carry, these simple and classic styles will help you lug around your stuff from the thinnest laptop to the heaviest book. behasso.com
KEY KEEPER C
LOSED is open for business with its new collection of slouchy pieces including vintage washed chinos, ultralight jersey knits, and oversized blazers. The pieces blend various blues with strong highlights of fluorescent colors, balanced with pale neutrals. The key to being laid-back always comes with some nonchalance and Closed chances. closed.com
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BIG DADDY P
UMA revamps two iconic styles with inspirations from Miami and the world’s fattest man Usain Bolt. The El Ray is reincarnated and introduces the El Vuelo Mid L with its Velcro ankle closure and leather make. Meanwhile, the Bolt Archive Lo gets its name from Usain. With a fully injected EVA outsole, the shoes are completely lightweight and comfortable. puma.com
Concealed 2 Button Zip Pocket Blazer LS Band Collar Shirt w/ Zig-Zag Elbow Seam Slim Track Pant w/ Tie Faux Ostrich "John Walker"
THREADS
SIMPLE DUDE A
.D.DEERTZ teaches the guys how to be modern gentlemen with its latest collection. From a good coat and a trusty scarf to a white tee, the brand shows how class can work its way into your day-to-day wardrobe. Pair maroon trousers with a bright orange tee to spruce up your basics. addeertz.com
BFF PROMISE E
veryone wants a nice leather tote, but ERIN TEMPLETON makes you need them. With soft vintage leather, classic designs, and minimal hardware, these babies are up for some wear and tear. With the goal of making the bags lifelong friends, you’ll never be without a cute arm-candies. erintempleton.com
POCKET ROCKETS I
rrepressibly chic boutique lodging ACE Hotel ups the ante as a clothing brand. Its latest collaboration with Beams has led to a selection of Sanca tees, chambray shirts, and a Buzz Rickson’s deck jacket. At once, the clothes reflect each hotel locale (New York, Seattle, Portland, and Palm Springs) distinctly, but also bring their diversities together. acehotel.com
SPELLBOUND B
Words by Giano D. Dionisio, Zoe Laurente, and Loris Peña
LOOD MILK’s The Conjurer collection is full of metal necklaces, bracelets, and rings that will make any curious eye curiouser. Each piece is handmade from Philly and comes with stories to tell. There’s the Prophet Owl necklace, Persephone’s jewel, and Swan Song to wake your nocturnal fantasies to life. bloodmilkjewels.com
HYPNOTIC BABY L
UCIANA TEIXEIRA has ways of inviting a lady to her Spring/ Summer collection. Reminiscent of summer days, her waistcutout dresses and prints of pine trees imagine a world of mojitos and margaritas. Her one-piece and cover-up place you right under a coconut tree—perfect for days when you’re feeling young, wild, and free. lucianateixeiralabel.com
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SETTING
PLACES TO GO
CORKAGE
EXCHANGE DEAL W
ho says drinks and dinner can’t be a fluid event? Australasian restaurant and bar THE EXCHANGE wants you to sip your bubbly and nibble on Singapore’s freshest fusion food without having to worry about switching venues. With signature drinks like The Exchange Bloody Mary and a cellar that would make any vintner proud, you’re free to enjoy Chef Kacey Whaitiri-Roberts’ sea bass carpaccio, prawn and scallop ravioli, and braised beef cheek with celeriac purée knowing that there’s a drink list that can stand on its own two feet. Call it dinner with benefits.
theexchange.com.sg
SUITE
ZEN AT WORK
T
ucked in the mountains of Boracay is the MANDALA SPA & VILLAS. Taking its name from the Sanskrit word for circle, the sanctuary reflects the holistic nature of its various treatments. It has gained praise from experts all around the world. Among the critics’ favorites are the Hilot Trilogy Treatment, which is based on the traditional Philippine healing massage; the Mandala Signature massage, which
GRUB
BEDTIME STORIES
uses long and gentle strokes that loosen up the body’s tension points; and the Shodhana Karma Treatment, which takes you through a three-hour Ayurvedic treatment that combines a signature massage with Ayurvedic sesame oil, a sauna session that releases toxins, and a final Ubvartan springtime scrub. Truly, Mandala caters to the body, but also makes sure to heal the mind and soul.
mandalaspa.com
S
nuggle up to your favorite book, fall asleep after a couple of chapters, and wake up to a steaming cup of coffee in Singapore’s THE BOOK CAFÉ. Known as a cozy place to unwind, the coffee shop-slashlibrary boasts soft lighting, stacked bookshelves, and al fresco dining to enhance the homey experience. And if that doesn’t get you rolling, then maybe the all-day breakfast service will have you singing a different tune.
thebookcafe.com.sg
GRILL SERGEANT
In SIZE MATTERS, it’s not just how big the sandwich is, it’s how much of it you can eat. G/F 500 Shaw Zentrum, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
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BREAKFAST IN BED Wake up on the right side of the bed by chomping into your eggs, bacons, sausages, and English muffins in one big bite.
ITALIAN BURGER JOB This peppery plate of Italian sausage won’t break the bank, but it will bust your belly.
BLUE AND CLASSIC ICED TEAS Guzzle down a glass of blue summer comfort, and if that’s too daring, there’s always the classic choice.
POTATO PLATTER One potato, two potato, three potato, more! Take a guilty pleasure trip by having your spuds three ways.
Words by Rita Faire and Vicky Herrera
PL ATE
BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES TO SHOP
FASHIONCLASH, MAASTRICHT Rechtstraat 88, 6221 El Maastricht, Netherlands fashionclashstore.nl Dime to drop: P840-P28,000 (€15-€500) Don’t leave without: Black and white button-down from Natascha Plum’s latest collection
T
wo mannequins standing behind a glass window with black frames adorned with Greek frets are ready to greet you as you enter FASHIONCLASH. Clean white walls contrast its exterior, and the only color you’ll see (aside from the racks of clothes) comes from the Spanish tiles. Located in the south of Netherlands, Fashionclash was established as a creative commune to build a platform for many young designers like Branko Popovic, Lotta Heart and Monique Poolmans to create a “clash” with fashion as its starting point. You’ll find various men’s and women’s clothes fresh off the runway like a ribcage-revealing dress from Sonja Schödel and a slouchy cardigan from Nawie Kuiper. It also carries accessories and jewelry like wooden rings from Susanne Klemm, feather danglers from Veronica Vartic, and fringed necklaces from Turina Jewellery. You can always rely on Fashionclash to supply you with a fresh batch of designer goods each time you visit. All you have to do is pick them out, try them on, and pay as you leave.
INDIGO & COTTON, CHARLESTON 79 Cannon St. Charleston, South Carolina, USA indigoandcotton.com Dime to drop: P400-P17,000 ($10-$400) Don’t leave without: A pair of Raleigh Denim
I
Words by Zoe Laurente and Loris Peña
f you ever find yourself in the city of Charleston, plainspoken style hub INDIGO & COTTON has to be on your list of places to visit. Its brick walls outside may suggest “any other men’s store in the area,” but its product range and minimalist Americana displays disagree. Its wooden floors and chairs, lined to the sides, welcome you in while its homey vibe makes you want to splurge on this lifestyle. Neatly stacked and carefully color-coordinated are apparel from Gitman Vintage, Billykirk, Jack Spade and Levi’s Vintage Clothing. Raleigh Denim is a great surprise for out-of-town visitors and, of course, the hometown preppy boy. Also with accessories from Happy Socks, tote bags from MAKR, and Bowery Lane bikes, Indigo & Cotton’s selections will make you a happy camper. Like everything that you expect, warm Southern hospitality comes with every purchase.
ART WEDNESDAY
A
RT WEDNESDAY gives you art you can either hang on your wall or on yourself. It offers various curated photographs, clothes, and accessories. Its signature fashion finds include Art Wednesday tees, drawstring jackets, animal print shirts, and
a selection of denim rompers, button-downs, and dungarees. It also carries an assortment of vintage sunglasses from designers like Paloma Picasso, Hugo Boss, and Christian Lacroix.
artwednesday.com
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SCREEN
MOVIES TO SEE
DIRECTOR’S CUT
“VENUS FLYTRAP” BY TURBO GOTH New York International Film & Video Festival Award-winning
director BENITO BAUTISTA isn’t all work and no play. The former production assistant for Gus Van Sant’s Milk likes chilling out to the cool waves of the San Francisco beaches and directing music videos for bands he loves best.
A
APOCALYPTIC EYE-CANDY VISUALS WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMANITY… AS A BACKDROP
fter witnessing Paolo Peralta’s unpredictable maniacal antics and distinct guitar-playing on stage as a member of the defunct El Mercurio band, I soon realized the possibilities of unrestricted expression in the Philippine music scene. So it was a nice musical treat when he finally collaborated with the enigmatic artist and model Sarah Gaugler. Sarah’s leave-it-to-yourown-interpretation lyrics and Paolo’s well-conceived sound nuances, guitar riffs, and dance beats make for a unique evolution of danceable electronic rock music that is Turbo Goth. To witness them live is a double treat as they don’t lazily throw shirts and jeans on during their hyper acts.
CINEMANTICS
PL AYBACK
THIS IS SPINAL TAP
T
Instead, they don stylish no-apology costumes as if inviting everyone to indulge in the drug of music and style. When my girlfriend, San Franciscobased filmmaker Emma Francisco, and I heard “Venus Flytrap” off Turbo Goth’s recent Destroy Us All album, we immediately sat down to conceptualize the music video. We wanted apocalyptic eye-candy visuals, with the destruction of humanity, abuse, and landscape negligence as a backdrop. It is, of course, open to interpretation. After my film Boundary and the documentary feature Harana, the “Venus Flytrap” music video is an exercise in short form expression done with love and passion.
MARLEY (2012)
(1984)
his Is Spinal Tap follows fictional British rock band Spinal Tap as they hit the road in an attempt to revive their spiraling careers and promote their new album Smell the Glove.
Avid fan Marty DiBergi captures every gory detail of their outof-control, party-hardy ways. Christopher Guest writes and stars in this satire about the holier-than-thou world of heavy metal rock and music documentaries of the 1980s. Living by the adage, “It’s funny because it’s true,” the film’s true legacy lies more within its keen observations of the music industry than its slapstick comedy and improvisational dialogue. This Is Spinal Tap holds no punches, calling out overzealous “artistes” for the antics that deify them to an adoring public. Musicians like Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, and Robert Plant all attested to the truth behind Guest’s farce. Eddie Van Halen even confessed to crying when he first saw it, stating that while others saw jokes, he saw reflections of his life.
C
all your friends—with or without dreadlocks—on 4/20 to watch Marley in selected theaters. After working on My Enemy’s Enemy and Life in a Day, Kevin Macdonald comes
back with a documentary about Bob Marley, chronicling the jammin’ life of the legend from rocksteady riots, ska sessions, and finally to his heydays of revolutionizing reggae. Though there is no shortage of Bob Marley documentaries, Kevin gives us one of the closest looks yet into the man who didn’t just revolutionize a genre but epitomized a cultural movement as well. Featuring intimate conversations with family (including son and film producer Ziggy Marley, Bob’s wife Rita, and daughter Cedella Marley), friends, and crew members, Marley looks past the weed and weirdness and into the heart of Rasta royalty. The only thing that could have made this better was if the MPAA didn’t take out every mention of weed.
Marley looks past the weed and weirdness and into the heart of Rasta royalty
Musicians like Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, and Robert Plant all attested to the truth behind Guest’s farce
THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
College kids get more than they bargain for when they spend their summer in a remote cabin in the woods in Joss Whedon’s latest thriller.
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BLUE LIKE JAZZ
Premiering at SXSW Film Festival, the movie sees a guy escaping his Bible-thumbing roots to live it out in a liberal arts college.
THE LUCKY ONE
Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) is a former US Marine who goes from Iraq to North Carolina in search of his lucky charm.
THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT Violet Barnes (Emily Blunt) and Tom Solomon (Jason Segel) reunite as a married couple going through the ups and downs of a long engagement.
AMERICAN PIE REUNION
The class of 1999 is out for more pie as they come back to East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.
Words by Benito Bautista and Rita Faire
TICKET
ink
BOOKS TO READ
PICTURE BOOK
GONZO: A GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY OF HUNTER S. THOMPSON By Will Bingley
R
elive the good old days of Gonzo journalism with Gonzo: A Graphic Biography of Hunter S. Thompson, showing the life of America’s quintessential hedonist in Kirby-esque cartoons illustrated by Anthony HopeSmith. Former editor Alan Rinzler asks in the foreword why Hunter’s drinking, drugs, and excesses continuously overshadow the man’s contributions to journalism and literature. Told in a series of anecdotes, Gonzo takes us from Hunter’s run for Sheriff to a one-off fantasy sequence as he imagines Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. One storyline shows him walking in on a gang rape by the notorious Hell’s Angels bikers whom he rode with for a
year before publishing Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Gonzo’s style puts the reader in the thick of the story, almost interacting with the characters. Writer Will Bingley takes Rinzler’s concerns to heart—neither injected nor popped—as they look at Gonzo beyond LSD and other swallowed highs.
SHOWS THE LIFE OF AMERICA’S QUINTESSENTIAL HEDONIST IN KIRBY-ESQUE CARTOONS
ONE SITTINGS
re a ding grou p
COMMANDO: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHNNY RAMONE By Johnny Ramone
W
e now live in a postWhitney Houston era. Lesson relearned: legends die but their legacy lives. After eight years of lawsuits and delays, The Ramones guitarist’s long awaited autobiography makes it to the stands. Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone contains the words of a dying man trying to make peace with his prostate cancer and eventual end while remembering what made everything that came before it so good—like his childhood, the formation of his band, and his
romance with wife Linda. Commando includes an introduction by drummer Tommy Ramone as well as an epilogue by best friend Lisa Marie Presley. It also features pictures from Johnny’s life, handpicked by the rock star himself. In a statement, Tommy said, “Johnny Ramone’s autobiography is a noholds-barred, straightforward book written in a nononsense style that is Johnny personified.” Surely, Johnny knew what he got before he’s gone.
WRITTEN IN A NO-NONSENSE STYLE THAT IS JOHNNY PERSONIFIED
UNHOLY NIGHT
By Seth Grahame-Smith
S
eth Grahame-Smith’s Unholy Night follows the Three Kings as they escape the dungeons of King Herod. They stumble across a pre-teen who has just given birth to the King of all Kings in Bethlehem. Pack leader Balthazar is all for gold, frankincense, and mirth, but when the paranoid Herod starts killing every first born he can get his hands on to save his throne from a prophesized rival, the criminals have no choice but to take Joseph and his family to Egypt and to freedom. Seth made a name for himself with his revisionist tales (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) and mash-ups (Android
Karenina), but the pitchforks of devout Austenites may not be as sharp as the ones in the Vatican. The best-selling author made waves last December 2011 when he sold the film rights of Unholy Night to Warner Bros. for a whopping $2 million. Now, we get to see if it’s worth the price tag or if the production company is in for a bit of buyer’s remorse.
THE PITCHFORKS OF DEVOUT AUSTENITES MAY NOT BE AS SHARP AS THE ONES IN THE VATICAN
Words by Rita Faire
FOOTNOTES As legendary as The Ramones made CBGB, their first gig in the famed music club was not as phenomenal. As Johnny Ramone put it, “We invited all our friends... and they all hated it.”
Buy the ticket and take the ride. Don a pair of KSUBI COLUMBA AVIATORS and adopt the Gonzo lifestyle in true Hunter S. Thompson fashion.
The Three Wise Men brought Baby J some bling, perfume, and scented death oils for his birthday, which is always our excuse for bringing tequila to a baby shower.
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BEATS
MUSIC TO HEAR
ON THE SPOT
CROON AND SWOON
S
ome couples use Skype to cope with long-distance relationships. A few give up and eventually move in together. Most just lose their minds. But Francis Maria Regalado dealt with this by creating the band LOVE IN ATHENS. “Love didn’t last, but music went on,” according to Francis. Sad, but it’s safe to assume he did find love—not with another girl, but with Manila, where the sounds of his new EP, Half Awake in the Morning, were influenced. “It’s a restless account of a change in scenery…
the surge of traffic and the low mechanical hum of the capital’s railways,” he says. Francis sings, plays guitar, and does the programming of tracks filled with haunting mixes of mellow, atmospheric guitar lines, hazy sounds, lush vocals, and pulsing rhythm sections. “Love in Athens is an endeavor subject to the wills and desires of my own emotions,” he says. “I have no say in the matter. It happens by itself.”
numberlinerecords.com/artists/ loveinathens
WILDERNESS
Mau Torralba (guitar) twitter.com/wildernessph “Between the Worlds” The Taal Tantra Experience I was blown away by how they fused jazz and Indian raga in such a way that it sounds like something different. “Drunkship of Lanterns” The Mars Volta Once you get this song, it releases your inner cha-cha dancer. “If 6 Was 9” Jimi Hendrix Sentiments of 60s counterculture wrapped by thoughtprovoking statements and screeching guitars. “Interstellar Overdrive” Pink Floyd One of the craziest songs ever. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the best Pink Floyd album. RIP Syd Barrett. “Fixing a Hole” The Beatles Just splendid.
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GEM CLUB
Ieva Berberian (vocals) iamgemclub.com “Used To Be” Beach House This track is really uplifting.
“I Hope You Die” Wye Oak I like to fall asleep to this.
“She Brings The Rain” Can Really heartbreaking in a happy way. “There is No Light” Wildbirds & Peacedrums This song sums up my state of mind. “Where Do You Run To” Vivian Girls I Have been listening to this on repeat.
KYLE KRONE
kylekrone.bandcamp.com “No Ordinary Love” Sade Like attraction to a beautiful woman. Dim lights, ocean breeze, wine, olive skin, soft sheets—you get the picture. “Said So What” French Kicks This underrated gem reminds me of breezy sunny days, chilled out by the pool drinking mimosas with friends. “Trouble” Lindsey Buckingham Such a cool vibe on this tune. Like being in love and being alone at the same time. “Fade Into You” Mazzy Star I took a 5-year break from this one so now I can listen to it again. It’s so beautiful, it hurts. “Strange Overtones” David Byrne & Brian Eno It’s cool and it grooves effortlessly; convertible weekend drive type jam.
Since when did people associate pumpkins with China? Since the Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan took us back to the 1930s with his Chinese-style tea house in Highland Park, Chicago. Promising a whimsical feel to the space plus an occasional open mic night, Billy makes sure he shakes the foodie blues away.
Rock stars align for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2012 this month in Cleveland, Ohio. Joining previous inductees Beastie Boys, War, Donna Summer, and Red Hot Chili Peppers are new nominees Guns N’ Roses, The Cure, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Now put those index and pinky fingers up!
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the long-awaited lovechild of Stephen King’s horror writing and John Mellencamp’s rock music, will debut in The Alliance Theater in Atlanta on April 4. Over ten years in the making, this musical ought to be the best scare of this year.
Love in Athens photo by Shinji Manlangit, Mau Torralba photo by Red Rivera, Ieva Berberian photo by Jared Graves, Kyle Krone photo by Justin Taylor Smith Words by Reena Mesias
LISTEN UP
TECH PACK NUMARK iDJ LIVE • DJ controller compatible with iPod, iPad, or iPhone • Processes music from a connected device via Algoriddim • Comes as a realistic two-deck turntable interface • Powered by iOS Core MIDI DJ software SRP: TBA
SYNCH BY 50 WIRELESS
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
• Bluetooth-enabled wireless earphones • Comes with on-board controls including bass boost, volume control, and mute • Features a custom 40mm driver • Offers passive noise cancellation technology SRP: P17,140
So the lyrics go: “You better lose yourself in the music, the moment you own it”—Amen, Em.
SONY WALKMAN Z1000
ETON RUKUS SOLAR
• A dedicated Walkman media player • Features 4.3-inch WGVA display • Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread • Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB sizes
• Solar-powered portable Bluetooth Sound System • Features E Ink SURF segmented display • Comes with a USB port for device charging • Consumes 14 watts with a 1,500 mAh battery
SRP: P10,710 – P14,140
SRP: P6,430
GENEVA SOUND SYSTEM MODEL XS • Foldable Bluetooth speakers and digital travel clock • Powered by a lithium battery with 5-hour playtime • Built-in battery is userreplaceable and rechargeable • Offers a 2.1 speaker system with two 1-inch tweeters and one 2¼inch woofer SRP: P10,710
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FAC E PA IN T
Tokidoki® Kabuki Brush P1,288
Too Faced Galaxy Glam Baked Eye Shadow in Deep Space and Amber Asteroid P839
CLINIQUE Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm P688
SKITTLE TICKLES
Benefit Erase Paste Concealer P1,118
NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Celebrate P1,032
Wanna see what happens with my bag of tricks? What goes on after it touches my lips? It makes a rainbow. NARS Trio Eyeshadow in Cap Ferrat P1,935
MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Insanely It P624 Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow in Chronic P731
Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Cheeky Chops P602 Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Wear Blush in Tipsy P1,075
Iris Apfel for MAC Nail Lacquer in Oriele Orange P645
Hard Candy Fox In A Box Blushing Quad in Hot Flash P282 YSL Vinyl Candy Palette 4 Colour Harmony for Eyes P2,795
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Maybelline Volum’ Express® The Colossal Waterproof Mascara P335
Model photo by Fernando Colon
Lime Crime Opaque Lipstick in Airborne Unicorn P688
AB O U T FACE Expert Advice
Cold moisturizer reduces skin blotching and helps tighten pores. Stash yours in the fridge to keep it chilled.
where my soldier at
Not only does BENEFIT DEAR JOHN come in a cute jar, it also provides extra moisture with its thick and creamy formula sans the grease. P2,304
BOTTOMS UP SPA DATE
Let your skin take a swig of H2O and turn on your natural glow this spring.
Think of SK-II FACIAL TREATMENT MASSAGE CREAM as a spa treatment for your face. Simply massage it all over face and leave it on for ten minutes or even overnight and wake up to beautiful glowing skin. P4,380
AS PRESCRIBED
SPRAY AS YOU SAY IT
LA MER THE MIST contains charged spring water with calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B12, and E that recharge parched skin in just one spritz. P3,225
FUEL THE JET
KIEHL’S FACIAL FUEL SPF 15 SUNSCREEN does double duty. Not only does it keep skin moisturized but it also protects it from the sun’s blistering rays. Not to mention it has a cooling menthol scent. P1,484
Using CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE EXTENDED THIRST RELIEF is just like getting a facial. It keeps skin from clogging and breaking out while tightening pores. P1,462
RINSE, LATHER, REPEAT
Smother your face with SOAP & GLORY MAKE YOURSELF YOUTHFUL™ SUPER REJUVENATING FACE SERUM. Its non-greasy formula works best for daily use and leaves skin soft and fresh smelling. P957
b ea u t y b i t e Model photo by Rosario Herrera Words by Zoe Laurente
SNOÉ
D
on’t be fooled by the size of SNOÉ’s humble kiosk. Though it may not be the type that falls from the sky, it surely is heaven-sent with the wide range of beauty soaps, lip balms, creams, moisturizers, and scent sprays found in their pop-up stall. Not only does Snoé manufacture exquisitely packaged buys but it also specializes in products made particularly for Asian
skin. Packed with both globally and locally sourced ingredients, the brand makes use of organic formulas to address skin imperfections through problem-solving. Robinson’s Galleria, Ortigas City Philippines +63-917-558-7663 snoebeauty.com
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GO S E E Whoever said “Your eyes are the windows to your soul,” lied. We say, “You are what you wear.” Everything else is just a matter of workin’ it. Photographed by Rosario Herrera and Fernando Colon
Red Blazer All Black Ensemble
Printed Pants
Denim Jacket
Full Length Cover-up
Color Blocking
PVC Leggings
Strappy Heels
Leather Shorts Strapped Leather Boots
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Caramel Trousers
Fur Jacket Sheer Dress
Printed Button-up Polka Dot Top
Patterned Tights
Mary Janes with Socks
Paneled Dress Loafer Heels Bowtie Suede Boots
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S T YLE I D
THE CLASSICIST The white button-down is definitely a staple in every wardrobe. Watch and learn how you can work this style. By JP Singson
Spotted this cute lady wearing a classic white shirt with red accents.
Gabriel accentuates his tailored oxford shirt with a plaid bowtie.
Liven up your crisp white shirt with some quirky accessories.
Charlotte pairs her sheer button-down with a pleated maxi skirt.
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Viktoria mixes her favorite long-sleeved shirt with a cropped blazer and a printed pencil skirt.
Experiment with neutral colors to achieve a laid-back and relaxed look. jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com
Kent Jeffrey of Dudes and Chicks jazzes up his shirt with a colorful sweater.
SAPPHIRE ICE Summer heat gets the cold shoulder in frosty shades of blue and silver. Deck out in sequined pants, metallic vests, paneled skirts, and pleated dresses. Watch the ice queen come alive. Photographed by Perou Styled by Ryuji Shiomitsu
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blue cutout, electric pleated dress by Ferdi Abuel pvc vest by Je-c Macaraig white wedges by Gold Dot statusmagonline.com - 35
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royal blue dress by Ferdi Abuel gunmetal wedges by Janylin Opposite page: metallic silver top by Paradigm Shift black headpiece by Leeroy New
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metallic blue vest by Eric Delos Santos silver sequined pants by Norman Noriega necklace by Bosquejo
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light blue cutout top by Joey Samson silver skirt with leather detail by Paradigm Shift pvc necklace with screw detail by Gold Dot pvc cuffs with screw detail by Gold Dot white sneakers by adidas Originals X Jeremy Scott
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Assistant Stylist Raizel Dy and Tin Ledesma Makeup Amanda Padilla Hair Jay Wee cropped blue vest by Seph Bagasao blue pencil skirt by Seph Bagasao silver spike necklace by Wear Mauve silver belt by Mango gunmetal wedges by Janylin
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navy blue jumpsuit by Joey Samson invertebrae necklace by OS black wedges by Gold Dot
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Step into sunny spots with bright colors and soft fabrics. There’s no reason to be bashful when you’re primped in flowy dresses, satchels, and feather accessories, all glowing under rays of light. Photographed by Lyka Orhel Styled by Loris Peña
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dress by Warehouse earrings by Accessorize socks, stylist’s own shoes, stylist’s own
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dress by Forever 21 bag by Forever 21 belts by Dorothy Perkins feather keychain by Serafina hat, stylist’s own
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sleeveless cardigan by Forever 21 sleeveless cardigan with hood by Forever 21 bag by Henry Holland belt by Warehouse earrings by Serafina necklace, stylist’s own bracelets by Forever 21
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Assistant Stylist Zoe Laurente Makeup Maui Manalo Makeup Assistant Diandra Burgos Hair Adam Seth Teh Model Jessica Yang feather headdress, stylist’s own dress by Warehouse bag by Dorothy Perkins bracelets by Forever 21
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jacket by Forever 21 dress by Topshop necklaces by Forever 21 socks, stylist’s own shoes, stylist’s own
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GOD save the SCeNe Tour London without a guide map. With crazy colors, prints, and cartoon slippers, getting lost is simply not an option. Photographed by David Sheldrick Styled by Chad Burton
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jacket by Burger & Fries leopard tank by Topman vintage belt, stylist’s own leggings, stylist’s own
sweater, stylist’s own overalls by Material Boy dinosaur necklace by Burger & Fries boots by Burger & Fries shark socks, stylist’s own
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shirt by Burger & Fries vintage belt, stylist’s own Winnie the Pooh slippers, stylist’s own
leather jacket by Burger & Fries sunglasses by ASOS leggings by Human Potential boots by Burger & Fries
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Makeup Chloe Han Model Pearl Hancock shirt by KTZ necklace by Burger & Fries sunglasses, stylist’s own
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TA N K T O P S / F L I P- F L O P S
MUSCLE BEACH
See these guns? I flex these babies to get the ladies.
Quiksilver [P1,490]
Billabong [P1,495]
Folded & Hung [P599]
Lonsdale [P810]
Billabong [P1,795]
ME AND MY BUD Flip-flops forever.
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Havaianas [P995]
Folded & Hung [P299]
Reef [P795]
Folded & Hung [P299]
TA I L O R E D S H O R T S
BESPOKE PICKS
Look like you swung by the good old tailor’s.
Topman
[P1,770]
Oxygen [TBA]
Penshoppe [P899]
Penshoppe [P899]
hai R ichard C 2 0 1 2 mmer S prin g / S U
Topman
[P1,770]
Quiksilver [P3,400]
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COT TON BUT TON-DOWNS
BUTTER BITES
Soft button-downs for the classic gentleman.
Topman [P2,045]
Penshoppe [P999]
Springfield [P2,250]
LIS PERRY EL 2012 U mmer S prin g / S
Celio [P2,595]
21 Men [P1,275]
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SNEAKERS
KICK IT TO THE CURVE
Sneakers that are here to stay.
Aldo [P3,495]
Topman [P2,450]
Vans Authentic [P6,495]
Pony [P3,195]
Boxfresh Keel Canvass [P4,290]
Ellese Concerto [P2,990]
Vans Slip-on [P6,098]
Ellese Columbia [P3,290]
Vans [P3,195]
Boxfresh Switch Prep [P4,990]
Nike Chukka Suede [P2,995]
Springfield [P3,185]
L acoste 2 0 12 S prin g /S U mmer
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CROPPED SLEEVELESS TOPS
CREME DE LA CROP Show off those abs.
Forever 21
Folded & Hung
Folded & Hung
Forever 21
Forever 21
Topshop
[P505]
[P699]
[P479]
[P715]
ONSON C H A R L O T T E R 2 0 12 S prin g /S U mmer
[P665]
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[P2,180]
SHORT SKIRTS
SHORT CUT When the temperature rises, the hemlines hike up.
Forever 21 [P1,015]
Topshop [P1,645]
Topshop [P1,645]
Topshop [P2,385]
J en K ao 2 0 12 S prin g /S U mmer
Calliope [P1,345]
Forever 21 [P765]
AIN’T SHE SWEET Candy-colored belts are licorice on your waist.
Dorothy Perkins [P545]
Dorothy Perkins [P395]
Folded & Hung [P299]
Charles & Keith [P999]
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SHEER COVER-UPS
HAPPY HOUR
Cover up that itty bitty bikini for an afternoon cocktail.
Forever 21 [P1,435]
Olivia & Fifth [P1,535]
ANNA SUI 2 0 12 S P R IN G /S U mmer
Folded & Hung [P599]
Forever 21 [P1,435]
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STRAPPY SANDALS
DIZZY MISS LACY Give your feet a breather with these strappy sandals.
Penshoppe [P329]
Charles & Keith [P1,799]
Charles & Keith [P1,599]
Steve Madden [P4,250]
ORE N A N E T T E L E P 0 12 2 S P R IN G / S ummer Steve Madden [P3,250]
Forever 21 [P735]
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M U S E
HOLLAND OATHS D OATHS I
With the vocal support of Calvin Klein’s Francisco Costa and the rest of the fashion world in hot pursuit, JOSEFIEN RODERMANS—all limbs and luscious looks—is ready to be sworn in as modeling’s latest rock & soul Hall of Famer. By Giano D. Dionisio Photos courtesy of Future Faces Model Management
t’s small wonder Josefien opened Karl Lagerfeld’s latest Chanel couture show. The rangy ramp model acknowledges her resemblance to the designer’s frequent fave Freja Beha Erichsen. Yet with every delicious development (editorials, catwalks, and then some), this Dutch teen single-handedly sloughs off the tiresome comparisons, proving to be unique with her own beat.
SHE’S GONE
The story most of us kids in Holland are afraid of is about Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas), an old man that brings presents on December 5th. But of course, if you’re not sweet enough, he will take you back to Spain—in a sack!
PRIVATE EYES
My 18th birthday was right after Fashion Week, so I was home and could invite my friends. I had a super big party in mind,
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but I had no time to organize anything. The cozy party I had instead was super nice; in the end, it’s just about the people who are there.
BIG BAM BOOM
I like to do musicals and I like to dance, so when I’m shooting and the music is on and really good, I just start dancing. Sometimes, that turns into awesome pictures… I would like to cause a non-ending flow of inspiration for a designer or photographer.
X-STATIC
My style is about mixing styles up. When I wear a suit, I look like I could teach a class. In a dress, I look like a baby; and in leather, a motor chick. What I would wear, for example, is a sweet dress with my black leather jacket on top, or leather pants with a blouse.
futurefacesmodels.com
SWELLY CAT CHIDDY BANG’s latest album, Breakfast, intros with a slow ambient piano that builds into an 808 beat, finally perking up into the title track that hits hard with the record’s get-up-and-go energy. This is early morning shit you’d like to wake up to. By Giano D. Dionisio Photos courtesy of EMI
P
ush aside the comparisons to Gang Starr, Blackalicious, UGK, and fellow Phillies DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. Though the throwback hip-hop M.O. of MC + DJ is evident, Chiddy Bang (rapper Chidera “Chiddy” Anamege and producer Noah “Xaphoon Jones” Beresin) bring the fail-proof formula forward with a driving passion— coincidentally, the original name for their album—The Swelly Life. They aren’t the next Madvillain or OutKast; Chiddy Bang don’t step it up, they “just raised up the ladder.” Praised for his flow and hyperreferential lyrical steez, Chiddy also holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Freestyle Rap, a nine-hour feat. Meanwhile, Xaphoon’s beats echo a 21st century sensibility that perfectly complements Chiddy’s wordplay (“Xaphoon, you crazy!” exclaims Chiddy in their tracks). Known initially for their free mixtapes that sampled the likes of MGMT, Hot Chip, Ellie Goulding, Sufjan Stevens, and even Mary Poppins; the duo have now grown into bringing The Swelly Life from catchphrase to campaign. “Basically, being swelly is being yourself,” begins Chiddy. “All happy and fun-loving. Not being afraid to take risks. Being comfortable with yourself. Once you have that comfort, you can push the envelope creatively. Because we’re so cool with ourselves, we’re so cool with what we
are… that’s a thing we’re loyal to—being ourselves with the music.” The carefree pleasures Breakfast exuberates merely reflect the duo’s nature. According to Chiddy, the studio experience has been a creative mess of spontaneity, which they wouldn’t have any other way (Google the story to their single “Ray Charles” and their—uh—joint adventures with Keith Richards). It would be easy to relish in the hype, but there’s never such a thing as all play, no work. “At this point, we’re excited about the album and everything that’s coming, so we’re going to do anything we have to and we’re not gonna complain. It’s a necessary part of being a success. You have to go out there and you have to travel,” says Chiddy. He talks about the trouble between being too busy (“Oh, man I’m tired. I’m always on the road. I’m away from family and friends. Life sucks.”) and not being busy at all (“Damn! What am I going to do now? What’s next? I gotta do something.”), though life on the road has been more rewarding to them than not. Chiddy and Xaphoon constantly “choose from all over the world and go to different places” to influence their music. In particular, “The UK is really a melting pot for genres and there’s so much going on there musically. It’s crazy.” Layering sound with unfamiliar techniques and complex orchestration, Breakfast is set apart from Chiddy Bang’s earlier mixtapes with fuller arrangements and a more realized Xaphoon oomph. Already, people are clamoring for the next meal. Mmm. Swells like success.
This article brought to you by
“In the day, it’s hard to keep your energy up. Chiddy Juice™ would be the ultimate energy drink. Once you drink it, you can go from zero to a hundred, bringing you right to the peak and, y’know—I’m ready to start my day now!” - Chidera “Chiddy” Anamege
chiddybang.net
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M A E S T R O
maestro
JOY JOYR DDEE JOY J OYRRIIDE
British band BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB have A Different Kind of Fix to power up a show. Apart from the fix being their third album, they also get together, put their hands up, and—in bassist Ed Nash’s words—“dance to Fatman Scoop.” Don’t be surprised to know they shuffle, too. By Reena Mesias
M
ove over, LMFAO. Ed Nash says, “Hells yeah, we can shuffle. Guitarist Jamie MacColl is, by far, the best.” Although Ed, Jamie, drummer Suren de Saram, and vocalist Jack Steadman can do the Running Man like a pro, they also have another “Shuffle” in the form of their single. A Different Kind of Fix tracks won’t make you slide, spin, and fist-pump like
a club hit, but they do inject a giddy dose of sunshine through their hooks and wonky piano samples. Much has changed for the band since their sophomore album Flaws. Not only did they revisit their electric, danceoriented sound in their debut and are touring more than ever, Ed also says, “Our live show has developed dramatically. We now
PEST CONTROL Some say that the girls of FLYING IPIS are garage punk, others go for the “Gem and the Holograms on crack” reference. Personally, they’re Scott Pilgrim’s Envy Adams covering “Black Sheep” by Metric. But don’t take our word for it. By Rita Faire Photographed by Nicolai Melicor
W
hat’s in a name? “Flying Ipis” literally translates to “flying cockroach” in English, but it’s actually a point of common fear for members Deng Garcia (vocals), Iris Jumao–as (bass), Gaki Azurin (drums/ backup vocals), and Ymi Sy (guitar/backup vocals). Coming
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up with the band’s name after a jam session invaded by “Metro Manila’s official mascot,” they mention ways to beat their archnemesis: “Alcohol. You just throw it on them,” says Gaki. Pest talks aside, Gaki explains, “The band name was one of several bad decisions we made
Plug 1 and Plug 2, two-thirds of De La Soul, rebrand themselves as FIRST SERVE. It’ll take a while to get used to the change, but as long as the duo serves quality music like the old collective, we’ll take it. play with two live musicians as there is too much going on in the new record for the four of us to play live. We have also developed a light show which is something we had never thought about until recently.” Ditching the acoustic sound and linking up with producers like Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley) and having the record mixed by Craig Silvey (R.E.M., Arcade Fire) may just have worked for them. To those who are easing into the summer, this is a recommended alternative to a beach trip.
bombaybicycleclubmusic.com
in high school. They should be burned, but they stuck.” Stuck like their music in our ears, Flying Ipis snare fans with their angsty vocals and dance rock melodies. Favorites like “SSSikreto” were staples in NU 107 and they’ve since flown into live gigs and underground performances. And while there’s still temptation to change their name, Flying Ipis seem to have taken on the qualities of their namesake and developed a talent for survival. “The fans will never forget it. It’s easy,” says Gaki. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Besides, if you’re going to have a spirit animal, might as well make it memorable. Now, on to more buzzing and flying.
flyingipis.tk
ORBITAL get Wonky for their album as they put a modern spin with Zola Jesus’ ghostly vocals and MC Lady Leshurr’s battle raps on their signature blend of emotive electronica.
Whipping her hair back and forth has earned WILLOW SMITH the momentum to release Willow: You Think You Know Me. Actually, we do: she’s a “Fireball.”
French musician YANN TIERSEN’s seventh studio album charges darker lyrics over happier vintage synths and electric guitars that provide the perfect soundtrack when you’re looking over the city Skyline and feeling bipolar.
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tIpsy on the gypsy
Prepare for British pop star NEON HITCH’s rainbow contagion. The world’s a stage—and she’s about to get her freak on. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Emily Shur
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he music industry is just as insane as a freak show,” Neon Hitch says. “There are so many crazy characters. Everybody is from a different story. All artists are a little insane. I feel at home.” If there was a parallel fairytale dimension, Neon’s story could be Cinderella’s. But instead of losing a glass slipper, she lost her house. Instead of a family with evil stepsisters, she came from a gypsy family of street performers. Instead of growing up to be the housekeeper, she was trained to be a trapeze artist, fire swinger, and stilt walker. And instead of a pumpkin carriage, she had a circus caravan. It is definitely a road less traveled and less expected of ubiquitous hot young stars, but Neon’s backstory is what makes her quite original from the rest. “While I was on tour recently with my band, we did some acrobat stuff onstage. I would love to be swinging live, but I’ve had accidents,” she says. Among her series of circus circumstances, Neon shares, bursting out laughing “This one guy thought I was a man before he’d seen what I looked like. I was like, ‘Really? I sound like a man?’ There’s a lot of funny things out there.” It’s pretty foolish—how does the voice behind the chorus of “Ass Back Home” with Gym Class Heroes sound macho? Falling between Ke$ha and Britney Spears with a jazz-inflected tone, Neon’s voice was mainly why former flatmate Amy Winehouse was magnetized to her, why Kara DioGuardi signed her to a recording deal, and why Benny Blanco (Katy Perry, Maroon 5) produced her highly-anticipated debut album, Beg, Borrow and Steal. The beat-busting real-life gypsy continues to fire up dancefloors smothered in mushroom headdresses and leopard-skin bodysuits with tassels on the butt—they may go all over the place but they do so in their most charming way. Pair that fashion supremacy with her hard-hitting pop/electro tracks and covers of Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa songs, and you get pure, unadulterated fun. “Performing onstage and on the streets are not that different,” Neon says. “I go wild onstage and I go
wild on the trapeze. Wherever I am, I’m a showgirl.” She is truly as colorful as her birth name, Neon Hitch. “I’m grateful my dad settled on Neon,” she laughs. “Otherwise I’d be called Brown Rice. Or Z. Ziggurat Zanzibar Zandorf.” True story. In an era where hype can be an enormous commodity, it can also be exceedingly shortlived. People will say Neon’s just another ordinary girl slapping on some wacky outfit, but she makes it clear that she’s anything but manufactured. “I’m not trying to make a statement. For some people, it may come off as that, but I’m just being myself. I’ve been trained at home since I was ten years old.” Tucked somewhere in Neon’s room is a crystal ball. In the future, she sees herself “performing in many countries, connecting with the fans, and bringing the music to life.” To her, “it’s what it’s all about.” In someone else’s crystal ball, Neon comes onstage to receive a music award. And when that happens, expect her to rock a “warrior goddess outfit.” She daydreams a bit, and quickly adds, “I’d make it myself.” Why not? She did make her own name.
neonhitch.net
“There are so many crazy characters. Everybody is from a different story. All artists are a little insane. I feel at home.” statusmagonline.com - 65
maestro
TWIST AND SHOUT
Lil Wayne’s Young Money works overtime to create star rappers like Drake and Nicki Minaj. Coming out of the woodwork is 19-year old Dallas-bred LIL TWIST who sets fire to the game with his debut album, Don’t Get It Twisted. Watch the smoke drop.
Everybody is talking about NEON TREES’ new album, Picture Show. The alt rock/new wave band prove old Habits don’t die easy with new songs sounding like they could have been from the last album. And we commend it.
This Machine of THE DANDY WARHOLS is running quite smoothly, i.e. stripped down and guitar-centric, especially since tapping English sci-fi writer Richard Morgan for the album’s biography, Hickory Mertsching for the artwork, and Tchad Blake (Pearl Jam, Black Keys) for the mixing.
By Loris Peña
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ackstage, I can hear all those screams and when I go out, I don’t really see anything. I don’t really see the fans… I just kinda blank out, go crazy, and do what I’m supposed to do,” says Lil Twist. While some performers prefer wearing their lucky underwear, all Twist does is a nice tenminute prayer. And it helps when he gets advice from the Female Weezy. “Nicki Minaj came after I got offstage and advised me to ‘Keep doing what I’m doing.’ She loves how I’m looking out there. That’s something I would never forget.” That’s just one of the perks of being affiliated with YM. He shares, “Being in Young Money is amazing. I couldn’t ask for more. This whole label is more of a family than a record label to me.” And maybe that’s why his relationship with his boss Lil Wayne is pretty chill. “Me and Wayne’s experience is always incredible. We just wild out every time.” Twist has been consistently putting out mixtape after mixtape and has his two million Facebook fans and more to thank
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for all the success. As a good gesture, he finally releases his debut album Don’t Get It Twisted after working on it for five years. How does he know which songs to put on the album and on the mixtapes? He explains, “When I’m in the studio, I always approach a mixtape record as a mixtape record, and an album record like an album record. If I know I’m working on an album, I would say I would be a bit more serious. Album records are just supposed to be straight radio singles… If you hear my album, every single sounds like a hit single.” In his current single, “Turnt Up,” the young rapper spits fast together with OG Busta Rhymes and shows his carefree attitude. He reveals that the video matching his colorful outfit (neon pink fur, heyyyyy!) was his idea. “I actually wrote the treatment,” Twist says. “I wrote down everything that I wanted to happen in that video.” On his Careless World Tour with Tyga, Twist—with his shades and knee-high socks on— has to deal with living away
from his family, crazy fans, and even crazier followers. “I actually ran into someone who ate my chicken fingers from the night before outside my room. That was actually the craziest experience that I saw with my own eyes. Then I got chased in a few cities. My first time getting chased by a few fans was amazing. I love it.” Being so young in the game, Twist remains grounded while trying to prove the haters wrong. He shares, “That’s the only thing I hate—when people take me as ‘the young rapper,’ when some people are hesitant to take me seriously, when they’re just not listening. But once the world sits down and listens to what I’m saying and gets familiar with Lil Twist music, I don’t think I’ll have a problem with anything.”
It’s gonna get real Ugly with these SCREAMING FEMALES. Blame Julian Casablancas all you want, but he tweet-praised the DIY rock & roll punk band for a pretty valid reason: their music is a hot mess.
teamtwist.net
“If you hear my
album, every single sounds like a hit single.”
M. WARD has more than just A Wasteland Companion. Guests like Zooey Deschanel, Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, and Mike Mogis help Ward deliver a melodic diary in both slow, meditative ballads as well as Belle & Sebastian-y beats.
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maejor
league
Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, and recording artist BEI MAEJOR breaks through the scene with beats that make a smooth landing but hits the right rhythm to get the booties shakin’. He calls it “upscale,” but we just like to call it as it is—pretty damn good music. By Viva Gonzalez Photographed by Ace of LA
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he song “Trouble” featuring J. Cole has put Brandon Green aka Bei Maejor on the radar of almost every hip-hop fan. “When I did ‘Trouble,’ I was kind of unknown in the industry,” Bei narrates. “I just made this song that I thought was a new style. I played it for different people, then I played it for J. Cole… When he heard the song, he instantly got it. He knew that I was going for something innovative. He just jumped on the song; we didn’t have to go through the label.” After releasing his Upscale EP last February, Bei’s now set to release his full-length album later this year. He says, “I spent a lot of time on it… It’s gonna be my best work yet.” And that’s saying a lot since the self-taught Detroit native had three infamous mixtapes and various collaborations with artists such as
Tinie Tempah, Ciara, T-Pain, Drake, Keri Hilson, and Frank Ocean even before the smash hit with J. Cole. Adding one of Atlanta’s heavyweights, Waka Flocka Flame, to this list with their recently released single “Lights Down Low”—accompanied by his distinctive smooth electronic beats and sublime pieces of R&B—Bei says, “I’ve been really blessed ‘coz most people, we’re usually on the same page. They respect my vision and I respect what they’re doing so it usually works out.” But what could’ve been a smashing hit collab is one with the late great Tupac. Love him or hate him, when it comes to Tupac, the lyric speaks for itself, and Bei Maejor would hold his own next to the vet and provide the polished music and singing. “I felt like Tupac made music from his heart and I feel like that’s what
I do. Even if it’s about partying or hanging out, I really write it. I went through it.” Bei has gone a long way from experimenting with beats in his room to crafting his own sound in the studio, particularly going into a different direction with his upscale brand of hip-hop. He recounts his first brush with producing: “When I found out that you can record your own music, I tried it out and then I just kept going. I never took classes or anything
like that. I kinda just figured it out.” But the knowledge that music was what he was destined for occurred even earlier than that. “I would watch The Lion King and see how important the music was to the scene, to the whole feel of it,” he says. A few years later, he isn’t just inspired by Disney movies, but he made a song for one, teaming up with R&B superstar Ne-Yo for The Princess and The Frog’s “Never Knew I Needed.” It’s kind of unexpected from a rapper, but it’s
also this kind of thing that makes people love him more—also consider that his stage name is inspired by his grandma (Edna Mae). As we wrap up the interview, he hints at a possible concert tour in the works and reveals future collaborations with Wiz Khalifa and Trey Songz. With feet laying firm on the ground, he hits the top of 2012 best up-and-comers lists. Smooth and without any strikeouts. beimaejor.com
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M A S T E R M I N D Bullied in high school, artist KILLER ACID says, “I’m half-Italian and halfIrish so I always had a mental complex from infancy that I could box way bigger people.” He might have received a few punches but do call for a high school reunion and this geek will show that he’s the boss. Plus, he rocks a “sometimes beard.” By Alice Sarmiento
Live and Let Live
Frogs N Flies
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ob Corradetti, aka Killer Acid, has created posters, shirts, and album art for The Black Lips, Beck, and Blonde Redhead. He also makes his own music with the trippy pop trio, Mixel Pixel. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts’ printmaking program, Rob has developed an aesthetic that can only be described as exuberant, same as his character that bursts with enthusiasm that’s felt even in our quick conversation. What’s up? I’m currently right in the middle of working on an album cover for Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang. It’s a large drawing that involves eagles, walking sticks, termites, flowing water and wind, and Bongo—which is slang for bling, bluff, or talkin’ shit. It’s called “Kill Me with Bongo,” which, quoting Boshra from the Bubu Gang, translates roughly to “I have no money and you’re killing me with your ostentatious lifestyle.” Describe a day in the life of Rob Corradetti. It’s like fighting the infernal darkness with disembodied sharks for arms.
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Tell us more about the recurring images of monsters and the influence of nightmares in your work. Some people do yoga or run or see a therapist in order to free their inner monster. I have to draw. Drawing, for me, is a form of meditation. When I draw, my brain travels. I can finally escape reality, I am able to tap into childhood memories, or more specifically, impressions. Often, I think of a doctor’s office. My doctor growing up always had the best art posters on his wall: Jim Dine, Paul Klee, René Magritte, Shel Silverstein. Somehow, my intense fear of seeing the doctor and the insane images on the wall always heightened my awareness. I would stare into the posters and really cling to the colors. The colors would explain my fear. That was my first connection to art, at around age three or four. I usually go back to that place when I try and understand my own work. On a side note, I had a similar experience when I watched Hellraiser for the first time. Do you ever imagine the people you know as animals and the animals you know as people? I am into astrology. People always look like something. My friend Hugo looks like a baby ram. I always felt I was more of a fox; then I thought that maybe foxes were seen in culture as being too sly and sneaky. Now, I am more of sleek, majestic old time elk.
Black Lips
What’s the best party game ever? Pin the tail on the Graunk, an invented animal. Loosely based on a donkey, a jackalope, a star-nosed sheep, and a wild outdoor cat named Hopper. My friend Amy Benfer made up the Graunk. Please direct copyright and trademark questions to her. Any dream Killer Acid collaborations? Yoko Ono, Dr. Dre, and I make a song together about being born on the same day and about how we are all ONE. What would you be doing if you weren’t doing art? I would like to be working at NASA, exploring the solar system, fixing lunar landers, peeing into a pee droid.
killeracid.com
Thee Oh Sees
“Some people do yoga or run or see a therapist in order to free their inner monster. I have to draw.”
mastermind
AUTO-TUNE Nick Automatic head designer NICOLO NIMOR likes to listen to upbeat punk pop music—a genre that translates to his shirts often donned by musicians. By Rita Faire Photographed by Patrick Diokno
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ick Automatic’s Nicolo Nimor is one of the lucky ones. It’s not everyday that a guy gets a job that produces what he likes to call “handmade world domination.” Even rarer is to design shirts that end up on the backs of rock musicians from California act Saosin to Malaysia’s An Honest Mistake. As far as he is concerned, he’s still a struggling artist, working the dole to “pay the house rent.” He goes on saying, “I don’t have a stable job. I am
not working for a corporation. I need to strive to look for projects everyday… I just wanna be classified as an underdog.” A dream project for Nick is a collaboration with New Found Glory and knowing his track record, he’ll have his shirts on these guys sooner or later. “I’ve met a lot of people in the music industry and shared the Nick Automatic stuff with them. The brand grew up with music,” explains Nick, who plays with the band Sirens by night.
“I’m not really into my band, I’m into my job. The band comes after the art.” The bottom line? The band’s for fun. The art is for life.
twitter.com/nckatmtc
“I just wanna be classified as an underdog.”
MAN Oh, boys—such wonderful beings that make life more interesting. But contrary to what most think, understanding them isn’t rocket science at all. FilipinoAmerican designer SHAUN SAMSON proves that boys are less complicated than they seem.
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ike most boys, London-based menswear designer Shaun Samson grew up falling asleep with the TV on—maybe watching Pinocchio— rather than with a bedtime story care of mother. Comparing himself to the character, he says, “Pinocchio endured and overcame public humiliation and eventually fulfilled his dreams of being a real boy.” If being a real boy was the goal since, he sure has scored it, because
he knows a thing or two about what makes one: a pair of jeans, T-shirts, underwear, socks all in black, and a pair of white trainers. Shaun also happens to like reading (and no, not comic books or emails). Shaun gets his lit fix from sci-fi and dystopia novels like Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card and Lord of the Flies by William Golding. If he had to give a lit character a
By Zoe Laurente
makeover though, it’d have to be Shakespeare’s Romeo. “I’ll make him dress emo,” he says. Why not? Staying classic and only getting better with age, for Shaun there’s nothing like a good smile to win over the
ladies. Match that with the designer’s clothes and a devilmay-care attitude, and you can snag the girls as fast as the guys snag his designs right off the runway.
shaunsamson.co.uk
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mastermind
stroke of genius
S
ometimes the biggest success stories turn out to be the biggest detours. When James Jean started showing his portfolio around New York as an art student, he didn’t aspire to be the next big name attached to DC’s Fables, Prada, Rolling Stone, and My Chemical Romance’ The Black Parade. The success was welcome but after years of commissioned work, James decided to pursue his original dream: painting. James shares that the best part about it is the creative and intellectual challenge. “The illustration tends to be very predictable in how I make them and how they’re finished,” he shares. While paintings are like “unanswered questions” that he faces every time he’s in the studio. Illustration relies on the clarity of the narrative while painting deals more with expression and chaos. James’ art, unsurprisingly, melds
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Armed with a stunning career in visual arts and a horde of devoted followers, JAMES JEAN takes us on the next adventure of his fabled life: painting. By Carina Santos Photographed by Patrick Diokno
those qualities as it’s heavily drawn from his own subconscious where “apparitions and ghosts from memories” thrive. Immersed in comic splendor and eerie realism, he still appreciates the beauty of banality. “I don’t think I live a beautiful life… I’m just a vessel,” he says. Although as an artist, James is displeased with the evolution of the art market where auctions have caused the monetary prestige to be celebrated more than the cultivation of culture. “The problems you’re solving in advertising and commercial art are relatively minuscule compared to the bigger questions that face someone who is basically staring at nothingness and asking for something in return,” James says. He clarifies, “Sometimes the less freedom you have, the more money they pay you. My goal usually is to have the most freedom possible and to be paid
as well as possible.” In that case, James has been quite an artrepreneur with his jewelry line, OVM, tying his organic motifs with fashion. “I think it’s important to be businessminded. It’s very boring stuff, but I think if you look at people who are successful, they deliver—on time.” Having had a stellar career spanning more than a decade, James has released Rebus, a book of collected personal monographs. “My greatest pleasure in looking through it is to just feel startled at some of the things that I’ve done… Sometimes, it feels like I didn’t make them,” he shares. James recalls previous challenges: “I feel like I’ve been lucky enough these past ten or so years to have had that energy to keep pushing through and to keep making the work despite setbacks and rejection.” Now, he’s on to establish
“I don’t think I live a beautiful life… I’m just a vessel,” himself as a fine artist. “Not everything goes as planned,” he says. “But I just want to be able to paint and to create my work when I want to create it.” James mapped a detour and if the previous path led to success, how much more will he gain now that he actually does something he loves? jamesjean.com
maSTERMIND
A-PUNK The stereotypical Regina George mean girl is so, like, over. Alpha teen MOLLY TARLOV breaks the mold. By Reena Mesias
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“
like to see things I can recognize but with totally new ways of watching it,” begins Molly Tarlov, who plays Sadie Saxton in MTV’s Awkward. It may have a common plot of “two cute boys who want to woo the heroine,” says Molly, but it certainly isn’t your average sexed-and-drugged-up teen show. Look at Sadie: she is not so much the queen bee as she is the bully when her vulnerabilities and physical insecurities are exposed. Knowing what it’s like to be on both sides of the bullyor-bullied coin, Molly hooked up with MTV for Love is Louder, a campaign addressing teen suicide and bullying. “I see so much negativity on the internet these
days and I wanted to reach out and try to show people that they’re not alone,” Molly says. Before she reads the script for her upcoming movie and watches Awkward.’s second season, Molly is watching The Bachelor and taking her time reading through the last hundred pages of a book she’s been trying to finish since January. “I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with the show,” she says. “I naturally choose sides and love to hate some of the girls—or I should say ‘like to dislike.’ No hating!” Sure, Molly’s the girl you’d love to hate on screen, but you probably can’t help having the desire to pinch her cheeks for it.
“I like to see things I can recognize but with totally new ways of watching it”
twitter.com/mollytarlov
SMOOTH OPERATOR DJ CHEDO is the man behind The Come Up Show, a multimedia platform offering the latest in hip-hop and R&B. He wants you to tune in. By Sam Goretski
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t was in the mid-90s when DJ Chedo moved to Canada from Saudi Arabia and first became familiar with hip-hop. “We lived with my uncle and his seven teenage kids. I remember dancing to ‘Boombastic’ by Shaggy and trying to rhyme the lyrics of LL Cool J’s ‘Doin It,’” Chedo says. “In high school, I was that kid telling people what’s hot, creating mix CDs for friends, and I knew I wanted to make that same impact on a larger scale,” he adds. Chedo’s affinity to music soon translated to The Come Up Show. Although you can read commentary and hear music from some of hip-hop’s biggest names, a large component of it is showcasing up-and-coming artists. Chedo is usually first impressed by the quality of
music, but he was quick to point out the importance of consistency and work ethic. “I want to offer artists a platform for their music to be heard and to gain fans. From that point on, artists need to take it further and build their brand.” Chedo explains, “We are fans first, and we want to deliver good music that people can dig, that they can share.” Of course, a good song doesn’t always guarantee fame or a better world. “Not every song is meant to inspire change or thought; there is music made for the clubs and to get people dancing.” That’s how he and his staff cover the full hip-hop spectrum: “Uncensored, raw, and with total control.”
thecomeupshow.com
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mastermind
TWO-TIMERS
Nathan Strandberg and Katie Kirk met in school, fell in love, then were led to design because of their parents’ “collective fear that they wouldn’t make any money otherwise.” Well, bringing creative things together didn’t only give them more money, it also gave them their first baby. His name is EIGHT HOUR DAY. By Reena Mesias
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ontrary to their name, Minneapolis graphic design and illustration duo Eight Hour Day’s business is “much more about a lifestyle than a 9 to 5 job,” says Nathan Strandberg. Picture this. It’s a Sunday. The couple are at the park with their chocolate Labrador, Eli. They bike and they grab dinner with friends. No, they don’t change into their PJs to sleep as they get home. Katie Kirk says, “We do a little more work in the mix, too.” The duo has already designed retro-styled children’s books, websites, booklets, signage illustrations, and posters for clients like Wired magazine, Target, and Harvard Business Review, but it’s the
“challenge of branding a startup,” which they love most about their work. “It feels good to help people find who they are,” Nathan says. Most likely, they felt as good when they found themselves on the cover of HOW magazine. Nathan and Katie planned the new year together by moving their headquarters to San Francisco and working on more studio and branding projects. They’re aware that their clock is ticking. “Down the road, we’d like to have a family, so we’re trying to get some of this restlessness out of our system,” Nathan says. They’ve birthed and raised Eight Hour Day well, so a human addition to their home may not be that much of a difficulty.
eighthourday.com
POP DON’T PREACH
Photographer MAGGIE LEE started a blog that opened doors for her Vice magazine gigs. But keep that part to yourself. She shares, “My parents are unaware of my photography; I don’t like to tell them everything.” Well, what they don’t know won’t hurt them.
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aggie Lee was in college when she ended up in bed with Vice magazine. “Jesse Pearson, the editor-in-chief of Vice at the time, called me while I was in class. I snuck out and he said, ‘We need a cover for the Fiction Issue by tomorrow and I want you to shoot it,’” she explains. That was the birth of the infamous Vice cover showing a girl in her undies, lounging in a book-littered bed.
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Later on, she shot the cover for the Technology Issue, featuring a photocopied picture of a woman’s cleavage. “It coincided with the photo story Copy Sluts, however the shoot was not published in the US because it was too kinky for advertisers,” she shares. Kinky as they were, Maggie’s Vice covers have reached cult status. Now, she’s sunk her chips in more than one
By Rita Faire
kind of dip. Recently featured by Opening Ceremony, the zine artist and critic, photographer, illustrator, video artist, and curator, is working on a book and can often be seen hanging out at the Museum of Modern Art’s Print Studio. Despite the busy schedule, Maggie still ends
a day’s toil with the way she started her career. She says, “At the end of the day, I love to pull a bunch of magazines and books from the shelf, lie in bed, and read.”
supmaggielee.blogspot.com
maSTERMIND
SHOOTING STARS Photographer STEVEN TAYLOR relates to most musicians, and like them, sometimes he has an aversion to publicity and always being photographed. Guess that’s pretty much why he chose to stay behind the lens. By Samantha Castro
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teven Taylor’s online portfolio—housing viral photographs of celebrities and music icons like Greta Gerwig, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, and Common—may bring about some assumptions that he’s a typical big shot LA photographer who won’t give anyone who doesn’t have a record album the time of day. But first impressions can’t really last long, do they? Get to the “Behind the Scenes” section of his site and discover that Steven is just a young, dynamic photographer like everyone else trying to cement his status in the industry. Steven does so by bringing out some of the most visceral moments from his subjects and documenting them on video. That said, he makes sure he shoots at least one roll of film despite the assignment’s requirement of shooting in digital. He says, “As a photographer, my goal is to capture whatever I’m shooting in the most honest way possible.” I’m sure a lot of people would love to have your job. What was your big break? I definitely lucked out! If I had to track back to something specific, it was when I moved to Los Angeles three years ago and worked with Incubus, the first notable artist I got to shoot. I think it comes down to luck or relentlessness, and the most successful photographers probably have a bit of both. Were you one of those people born with a camera in your hands or did it come later in life? I wish I had been a photographer from birth, but that definitely wasn’t the case. A good friend of mine from high school actually got me into it. He was
always shooting our friends and eventually we started coming up with any reason we could think of to shoot more. Inevitably, I ended up falling in love with it. What are your other interests besides photography and music? I have won a yo-yo competition or two in the past. But I definitely emphasize “the past.” These days, it’s just food and drinks with friends. I can always count on enjoying that. What type of music do you usually have on while you’re shooting? As long as a client doesn’t want to listen to Shakira, I normally let them choose what we play. When it comes to editing, I listen to chill music that makes me feel like I’m on vacation— like Youth Lagoon, actually.
“I’d want to shoot someone who helped shape the genre. I’d probably say The Beatles, but if that’s too cliché, then Justin Bieber.”
Dead or alive, who would you want to photograph and why? As a lover of pop music, I’d want to shoot someone who helped shape the genre. I’d probably say The Beatles, but if that’s too cliché, then Justin Bieber. Let’s turn the tables. If someone were to shoot you, how would you want to be photographed? I would hire Hedi Slimane and ask that he shoots me in a studio setting. I love his black and white portraits and how he makes his subjects look iconic. Who wouldn’t want to see themselves as that?
Savannah Outen
John Legend
Snoop Dogg
JoJo
steventaylorphoto.com
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H E A V Y H I T T E R
HEAVY HITTER
“I’m not saying I’m in a make-believe world. My make-believe is what becomes true.”
“I’m a creator, thrill is to make it up. The rules I break got me a place up on the radar,” SANTIGOLD announced auspiciously—five years ago—on her initial single. Now, the “Unstoppable” artist comes full circle in Master of My Make-Believe—after Santi’s own image and likeness, of course. By Giano D. Dionisio
Photos by Sean Thomas
IN
the beginning, before Santi created her heaven on earth, she almost quit performing altogether. While others claim to have left the womb belting out riffs, Santi was learning to spit verses. “I liked writing poems. I thought raps and poems were pretty much the same thing,” she explains. “I was never one of those people who wanted to be the center of attention, but I always loved creating music.” Though she was all about the writing at first, Santi joined her school choir in elementary, bagging a solo in sixth grade. “When you’re 11, you’re not that nervous,” she
shrugs. However, four years later, and with another big solo to tackle, Santi buckled. She then vowed “never to sing in front of anybody ever again.” Fate’s sense of humor had Santi going through a shortlived career at a record label and as a discontented songwriter. Eventually, she fronted alt rock band Stiffed, though she still insisted, “I’m gonna make a record, but I’m never gonna perform it.” Obviously, this story ends and restarts with “I ended up loving performing,” something she said and done in between releasing her debut in ‘08 and starting work on the next album two years after. After her years on the road, however, Santi was in need of a sabbatical.
She found it through a fateful Kilimanjaro climb. “That was a hugely influential trip. I came straight off that trip and went to work on my record. It just opened up a whole different perspective on the world, which probably found its way into my record.” From Africa to a Jamaican sojourn, where Master of My Make-Believe really started to take shape. Her image is typified by Cassette Playa craziness, Jeremy Scott kitsch, African drum beats, dancehall dub drones, and mantras like “Shove your hope where it don’t shine.” These sentiments seem especially stringent in “Freak Like Me,” which is a mocking paean to the weird and wack. Santi has been ridiculed for her alternative
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“I kinda think everybody’s kinda freakish in the complete opposite way. The mainstream people are the ones that are getting plastic surgery all over their face and getting ass implants and being reality TV-obsessed… We’re living in a weird time.”
Photo by Sergio Orospe for 192
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tastes, but she chuckles at the era’s role reversal, saying, “I kinda think everybody’s kinda freakish in the complete opposite way. The mainstream people are the ones that are getting plastic surgery all over their face and getting ass implants and being reality TVobsessed. The Real Housewives are the biggest celebrities. We’re living in a weird time.” First single “Disparate Youth” is the antithesis to that, calling for radical change. “How can that be going on while all this unrest is in the world and while we’re pretty much ruining the planet and while there’s so much that really needs to be paid attention to?” sighs Santi. Her voice echoes as loud and clear as the revolutionaries that came before her—except you can’t dance to Martin Luther King Jr. Her Mother Teresa benevolence may not be as dogmatic as the canonized saint’s, but, as her long-time partner and husband Trevor Andrew relates, “Santi wants to help everybody around her whether it’s for their art or
just how they eat. She wants the best for everybody and for herself; she really pushes herself so hard as well as everybody around her to be the best that they can be.” Marked by such signature strong convictions and unadulterated lyrics, Master of My Make-Believe is a fantasy universe of surprising disillusionment and downto-earth relevant-right-now realness. “This record is coming out at a time when people are really starting to take control and demanding to be heard, demanding for the truth,” Santi relates. “Look at all the riots that started this year and Occupy Wall Street and all these things; it’s a time when people are saying ‘You know what? I’m in charge of my world.’ On a personal level and on a broad general sense.” “I think my music probably is about going deeper and thinking about meaning—to life,” Santi speaks. It’s a theme that has continued from her debut—one of empowerment, imagination, uproar, and progress. It’s a lot
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“How can that be going on while all this unrest is in the world and while we’re pretty much ruining the planet and while there’s so much that really needs to be paid attention to?”
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Photos by Sean Thomas
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to swallow, but Santi has no apologies. Besides, every track sounds fuckin’ cool. The new record is more collaborative than ever, from long-time faves Switch and Diplo to TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner, and several more. It’s also slightly darker, in case you haven’t seen the striking cover art—with two Santis in gold Alexander Wang swimsuits, a painted Santi portrait in military regalia, and an androgyne Santi looking masterfully mafioso—envisioned by an increasingly perfectionist Santi. The entire offering is a
product of her supreme being, it seems, and she urges people to do the same. It’s best to imagine the following speech with Santi in her most colorful, wildest outfit, not on a mere podium, but on a global largerthan-life platform. After all, she is the Master and this is her sermon on the fount. “It’s a lot about having it in my voice and my vision, having the courage and the confidence to just trust that I am actually in charge of my reality, my creative vision, and my world. Everybody has that power, and if we just have the courage and the vision to
listen to who we are inside, our intuition, and our own personal voice, then we can create whatever we want to, we can make the world whatever we want to, we can be whatever we want to be, we can do whatever we want to do… Master of My Make-Believe… I make myself believe what reality is; I’m in charge of reality through what I create. It’s the same with everyone. We create reality by how we think and how we feel and how we act. I’m not saying I’m in a make-believe world. My
make-believe is what becomes true.” “Take control,” she punctuates. If it’s hard to imagine a musician acting as world leader or activist, then simply enjoy. At a concert, take in the Meadham Kirchhoffinspired outfits, the rumbling bass sounds mixing with tinny electro melodies, and Santi’s raw vocals. It’s up to you to take her music as toeing the line between pop and alt or drawing a clearer one between action and inaction. Go forth.
santigold.com
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The starter Pack The boys of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE are living their dreams but they also got the Codes and Keys to other people’s fantasies enabling them to preserve the purity of their sound. They’ve immortalized their music by being embedded in people’s memories, mixtapes, and so-called soundtrackS of the youth. when asked what’S becOme of them through the years, they only have good things to say. By Zoe Laurente images courtesy of warner Music
“We wanted this one to be a little bit more of a science project… for it to reach different things sonically.” BATCH REUNION
D
eath Cab for Cutie take me back to middle school when “The Sound of Settling” was on repeat on everyone’s playlists. Boys channelled their inner Seth Cohen from The OC since he was the poster boy of indie, complete with a Death Cab pasteup on his bedroom wall. But long before The OC’s first airing in 2003, Ben Gibbard (vocals) kicked off his journey with Death Cab for Cutie as a solo project. After getting much hype from his cassette demo You Can Play These Songs with Chords, he then turned his one-man act into a full band with the addition of Chris Walla (guitar, keys, and production) and Nick Hammer
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(bass). Later on, Jason McGerr (drums) completed the four-man lineup for their fourth release, Transatlanticism. With a growing fanbase extending even to fictional characters, Death Cab’s singles soon found their way to the soundtracks of many television series and movies. To the extent, you could say that Seth’s obsession with them stirred a mass euphoria to everyone who watched the show. The earlier part of his relationship with Summer Roberts could also be likened to one of the band’s songs, “I Will Possess Your Heart,” which talks about an earnest infatuation that borders on stalker-level
HEAVY HITTER fascination. As usual, it has that lovestruck sensitivity, something many could identify with. Jason says, “The song is speaking about the person whom one is sort of stalking—with the perspective of how this person doesn’t see anything wrong with the fact that he is attempting to possess or be a part of someone’s life.” Creepy as that seems, Jason says that only a few songs have been written that treat obsession as a perfectly normal thing. Rarely would someone burst into a song to reveal strange tendencies. Death Cab’s hymns are so relatable; just one track can make a moment seem like a Seth-Summer scene. Sing all you want while looking back: “This is fact not fiction for the first time in years/ all the girls in every girly magazine can’t make me feel any less alone/I’m reaching for the phone.” Recollections with Death Cab never suffer from a lack of color.
WELCOME TO THE SCIENCE FAIR Marrying music and obsession in “I Will Posses Your Heart” with its repeating bass line and irregular beats pushed
Death Cab to further venture into different music production techniques. Eight years after Transatlanticism, the band came out with their seventh album, Codes and Keys. Chris avoided the notion of having the four of them walk into a room, pick up their instruments, and just hit record. He wanted to make it less guitar-centric than their previous releases as well as more challenging. “We were all for that in terms of letting songs be presented by way of instrument other than our own instruments,” says Jason. “With sequences and drum machines driven by my drum parts, ‘Monday Morning’ came out that way,” he adds. Codes and Keys became their experimental project in terms of recording and live performance. Jason claims that their previous albums “were very much all of us playing our very traditional instruments like guitar, bass, and drums… We wanted this one to be a little bit more of a science project… for it to reach different things sonically.” Without Bunsen burners and test tubes, Death Cab’s novel approach earned the band a nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 54th Grammy Awards. Talk about chemistry.
TOMORROW’S GONNA COME TOO SOON Playing around in the music lab didn’t end at the recording studio. Right after finishing the record, they jumped straight into production for the music video of “You are a Tourist.” And if the almost-blinding neon typography from Kanye’s “All of the Lights” video caused the hip-hop scene to have seizures, then Death Cab caused indie junkies to have heartburns with the flashing LED lights and dancers running around like synchronized swimmers forming kaleidoscopic shapes with their legs. Believe it or not, the video was done in just one live take. “There could have been a mistake at any point in time. Forty-five minutes before the video went live, we were having some problems with the
feed” says Jason. But their lab lockdown number two pulled through. “It was really like a Super Bowl half-time show or something… It came off as a really wonderful sort of class variety show. You could see all of us looking from the corners of our eyes wondering if someone was going to trip or fall and if there was going to be a problem, and this sort of sense of uncertainty made it a special video,” shares Jason. Though creating musical Frankensteins might not be in the works for Death Cab, an eighth record might be coming out sooner than you think. “We’re all currently writing for this next record at the same time” says Jason. Whatever it is they’re brewing up in the studio, good to hear the boys are far from graduating from their heartfelt harmonies.
deathcabforcutie.com
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SHIRLEY MANSON Luminous redhead SHIRLEY MANSON pales in comparison with her overtanned Barbie-looking contemporaries. That’s actually a good thing. With Garbage’s latest album Not Your Kind of People, Shirley returns and proves that women musicians don’t always need to play the blonde card. By Kristine Dabbay Photographed by Autumn de Wilde Illustrated by Nyael David
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“I’M an open wound. I’m not hiding. It’s helpful to be open when communicating as a musician.”
are
you flirting with me?” Shirley Manson always used to ask people in a girly chirrup. She nicked it from Juliette of Natural Born Killers who says that line before killing people. Nobody really got the reference. I wish she asked me so I could reply while channeling my inner Brittany Murphy or Angelina Jolie circa Billy Bob Thornton days—angry in a Girl, Interrupted way. But what the hell, I was speaking to the real deal. One complicated girl at a time. Ergo, my line is choppy. “Hello, Shirley?” A few seconds later, I hear the voice that sang “Push It” and “Crush” with the eternal line “I will die for you,” which played in Romeo + Juliet. Boom—major 90s nostalgia attack. But Shirley’s not
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big on that. She tells me in her Scottish accent, “There’s no nostalgic bone in my body but what I do miss most in the 90s is the focus on alternative acts. I’m sad there’s no balance in the music scene right now.” Seven years after Garbage’s last album Bleed Like Me, Shirley retains her charisma that can cause a rush of blood to the head. It comes with the territory. This five-year shop assistant to Miss Selfridge laughs and cries, “I always felt that image has played a strong role in helping bands. Fashion and music have always enjoyed a relationship. I love beautiful things and clothes. I love trying to find a way to communicate… I’ve always had a deep fascination with escaping yourself through image.” But image is just a one-way ticket. The rest of the ride comes with attitude. She shares, “I’m outspoken and I’m not scared to say what I think. It’s misconstrued as rebelliousness since most are careful of their language but I’m an open wound. I’m not hiding. It’s helpful to be open when communicating as a musician.”
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“I’m not scared of death, I have to confess. I have an amazing life... I didn’t stop myself from doing what I want... You’re the only one who can design your life.” Apart from figurative gashes, she would cut herself in secondary school when depressed. “I’m hard on myself and have been historically destructive. Taking seven years off was a period of growth as a human being. I had an epiphany. I bored myself by feeling inadequate. But I discovered it’s okay; I’m not what I could’ve been. I am enough,” reveals Shirley. Well, enough of the drama, because Shirley Manson was born with the right name. Her setbacks, though emotionallycharged, are nothing she can’t handle. After all, her Marilyn Manson irreverence mixes well with her Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley sensibilities, a character from whom her name was derived. “I got better because as you get older, you get more fearless and you’re willing to take chances,” she says. Shirley grabs every shot to get what she wants. She joined the band Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie and then Angelfire until she struck a gold mine in Garbage comprising Steve Marker (guitars, keys), Duke Erikson (bass), and Butch Vig (drums). The band sold millions of seminal records such as Version 2.0 (1998) and hits like “Androgyny” and “Stupid Girl.” Also, when asked what Garbage would do if 2012 really signals the world’s end, Shirley blurts out laughing: “If it was, I would just hope we accept it with grace. I’m not scared of
death, I have to confess. I have an amazing life. I didn’t stop myself from doing what I want. I would encourage others to live like that. Do that without hurting anybody and follow your guts and instincts. You’re the only one who can design your life.” That same volition brought the band to its hiatus in 2005. Shirley expounds, “I think in the past, we got very disheartened by corporate decision-making. Our values are different from theirs. They don’t care about us. We were trapped. It was a frustrating period. Now, we are again connected to the joy of making music.” During that break, Shirley got busy with performing with the likes of Iggy Pop, Gwen Stefani, Debbie Harry, and Kings of Leon. She also acted for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. “The industry is hideous but musicians are very special. It’s an unorthodox playground… I like the freedom and honesty in musicians even when not necessary. It fits my personality. Acting was amazing, it helped me get to a place where I learned to play as a child and just have fun,” Shirley adds. With Not Your Kind of People, that’s exactly what happened—the band was just in the mood to create and enjoy. Shirley says, “The album title is a mission statement... we feel like we never fit with anyone or any music scene. We’ve always been outsiders.
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“I like the freedom and honesty in musicians even when not necessary. It fits my personality.�
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We’re not electronic or hipsters—we’re just trying to find ourselves and make music. Before, musicians wanted to be part of the scene, but got to a point that we realized that if you don’t fit in, it’s okay to just find people like you. Find your clan who understand where you’re coming from.” With this clan, she means anybody willing to listen. She thinks any person over 25 might already have a hard time understanding what’s going on with today’s youth. But Shirley is resilient. “I accept that I’m not a kid anymore. I’m fascinated by youth culture; but now, I’m also fascinated by adult culture. I’m ready to explore my world,” she says. Speaking of today’s pop queens, she loves and hates that Lady Gaga dyed her hair grey. It’s something she wanted to do for the longest time. For a redhead to be fearless about her hair turning grey, she’s really a brave girl. Though she’s over with her teens, twenties, and thirties—Shirley’s true color is brighter than her flame-hued tresses.
garbage.com
EMOTIONAL WEATHER REPORT Tom Waits’ titular track spells climate change but Shirley Manson’s referential adjectives from Garbage’s lyrics forecast climactic shifts in self-discovery.
QUEER “I have an affinity to underdogs who feel like outsiders. I have an affinity to linger out of the mainstream.” COMPLICATED “All day everyday, I definitely am a complicated girl. It’s hard to deal with. I’ll leave it at that.”
SPECIAL “Growing up, I had expectations of people. I constantly find myself seeing someone as special and rare and I put things on pedestals. To my absolute horror, people would prove themselves as humans. That’s my biggest flaw, I expect too much.”
ANGRY “I’m a redhead; I’m quick to anger. But as quickly as it comes, it goes away. I don’t hold on to it and I often forget why I’m angry in the first place.”
PARANOID “I used to be paranoid. The feelings of paranoia are feelings of insecurity. I’m not as paranoid as I was before.”
CRUSH “I get them all the time. I crush on my husband, my dog, a restaurant. I am never lukewarm on anything.”
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B L O C K P A R T Y
Pay full attention to these men behind the curtains of some of our favorite records. For the amount of work they do in the industry, music producers don’t often get the love they deserve. Let’s finally welcome these wonderful wizards of noise.
(Animal Collective, Bombay Bicycle Club, Deerhunter) What’s your favorite part of the recording process? I enjoy working with smart, talented people who want to explore the possibilities of what music can become. I enjoy the journey, taking a song from a simple idea and watching it evolve into something unexpected. From working with Notorious B.I.G., Asher Roth, and Puff Daddy to Matt & Kim, Youth Lagoon, and Washed Out—how has your musical preference evolved through the years? I think my taste has become more diverse. I used to be a lot more focused on one style or sound at a time, and now I seem to be listening to so many different kinds of records, from all eras, all at the same time. If you could assemble a Ben Allen Greatest Hits album, which would be the top tracks on it? Cut Copy – “Need You Now” Gnarls Barkley – “Crazy” Deerhunter – “Coronado” Constellations – “Step Right Up” Reptar – “Please Don’t Kill Me”
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BLOCK PARTY
(Rye Rye, Rihanna, Lil Wayne) Who would compose the soundtrack to your life’s biography? I don’t really listen to music; I listen to the beats and the classics. I don’t think I have really listened to something that I can say I can relate to. The album I’m coming out with later this year will describe my personality and my swag. Which part of your job do you enjoy the most? The best part of what I do is working with new talent and artists. Don’t get me wrong, I love working with established artists as well—but with new
artists, there is a different creative energy. I like seeing their progression: hearing their song for the first time on the radio and seeing it for the first time on TV. There’s been a lot of sampling and genre-crossing in hip-hop lately, what are your thoughts on that? It’s a great thing as far as bringing different cultures together, but can also be a bad thing. People are constantly trying to chase what they hear on the radio and it’s hindering their talent and creativity.
(The Killers, Björk, Arcade Fire)
Ben Allen photos by Tim Song Words by Giano D. Dionisio
Describe what you do. Fundamentally, I help people realize their vision; this can take any shape—recording, mixing, production, writing, or performing—but I’ve also designed and created custom musical performance systems in both software and hardware to draw artists into new musical realms. How do you decide to include such playful elements into your work? The joystick stuff [i.e. for Björk’s Biophilia recording sessions] was just a way to give artists a different physical way to experiment with and write music. Much like with the Reactable, it’s very liberating to break out of the unconscious ruts that characterize the
way we hear and have played music for many centuries. The underlying decision behind these examples, and pretty much everything I do, is simply trying to do something fresh and different and engaging. Is there such a thing as a “new” sound nowadays? There has never in history been any truly “new” sound, but I mean that in a really good way! Everything is influenced by everything else… Increased access to a wider variety of inspiration opens up the possibility of more and more unusual interpretations and contributions to music. Thanks to our online reality, this is probably the most exciting time in history to be making music—or any kind of art.
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NIGHTVISION Super electro party machine east block by The XOXO Kids
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Grammy city by The Cobrasnake
LINSANITY ROSELAND
by The Cobrasnake
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FIST PUMP saturdays @ 7th High
by The Cobrasnake
RONSON REGENERATION by The Cobrasnake
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UP JMA ADHOC: At the edge of infinity
@ World Trade Center
TERRYWOOD by The Cobrasnake
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FASHION’S NIGHT OUT by The Cobrasnake
CALVIN HARRIS @ Republiq
by Daniel Tan and Ike Gube
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DIRECTORY BRANDS 21 MEN Forever 21, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City ALDO Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City BENEFIT Greenbelt 5, Makati City BILLABONG Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City BOXFRESH Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City BUTTER LONDON butterlondon.com CALLIOPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City CELIO Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City CHARLES & KEITH Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City CHARLES DAVID Greenbelt 5, Makati City CLAE Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City CLINIQUE clinique.com DEBENHAMS Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City DOROTHY PERKINS SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City ELLESEE Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City FOLDED & HUNG SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City GOLA Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City
HARD CANDY hardcandy.com HAVAIANAS Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City KIEHL’S kiehls.com LA MER cremedelamer.com LONSDALE Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City MAC maccosmetics.com MAYBELLINE Available in all department stores nationwide. NARS narscosmetics.com NIKE Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City OLIVIA & FIFTH oliviaandfifth.multiply.com OXYGEN Glorietta 4, Makati City PENSHOPPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City QUIKSILVER Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City REEF Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City RED HERRING Debenhams, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City SINÉQUANONE Greenbelt 5, Makati City SK-II sk-ii.com SOAP AND GLORY soapandglory.com
SPRINGFIELD Greenbelt 3, Makati City TARTE tartecosmetics.com TOKIDOKI tokidoki.it TOO FACED toofaced.com TOPMAN Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City TOPSHOP Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City URBAN ATHLETICS Greenbelt 3, Makati City URBAN DECAY urbandecay.com VANS Vans Concept Stores, SM Department Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Landmark Department Stores, Urban Athletics, Toby’s Sports, Olympic Village, Shoe Salon, American Rag, Sole Academy, Greyone Social WAREHOUSE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City YSL ysl.com ARTISTS Ace of LA (Photographer) aceofla.tumblr.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Fernando Colon (Photographer) fernandocolon.com Chloe Han (Makeup) chloehan1203.blogspot.com
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Kai Huang (Photographer) hungryalien.com Shinji Manlangit (Photographer) shinji.manlangit@gmail.com Maui Manolo (Makeup) mmaui.multiply.com Nicolai Melicor (Photographer) nicolaimelicor.wordpress.com Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmiranda420@yahoo.com Lyka Orhel (Photographer) lykaphotography.carbonmade.com Sergio Orospe (Photographer) flickr.com/sergioorospe Mara Reyes (Stylist) marareyes_swathe@yahoo.com.ph David Sheldrick (Photographer) davidsheldrick.com Emily Shur (Photographer) emilyshur.com Junie Sierra (Hair and Makeup) Jing Monis Salon. +639178306515 JP Singson (Photographer) jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com Tim Song (Photographer) timsong.com Andrew Stephenson (Photographer) thecomeupshow.com Adam Seth Teh (Hair) themaneartist.tumblr.com Sean Thomas (Photographer) seanthomasphotography.com Autumn de Wilde (Photographer) autumndewilde.com The XOXO Kids (Stylist and Photographer) thexoxokids.com
status
S TAT U S IN VA D E S NIKE X PARRA VARSITY JACKEt
I love varsity jackets. Parra is one of my favorite artists. So it only makes sense.
PAUL SMITH FLORAL UTILITY JACKET
Not for the fashion conservatives. Definitely my style.
DJ EURIC
It doesn’t matter where the party is as long as DJ EURIC is there. With him behind the turntable, you can fistpump the night away with mixes ranging from Phoenix to Elvis Presley.
BOOTs
djeuric.tumblr.com
ACCESSORIEs
A real man should at least one good They’re built for and actually look scuffed up.
own pair. abuse, better
They’re one of the easiest ways to express yourself and stand out from the crowd.
PIONEER HDJ-2000
Functionality is king when it comes to headphones, and the HDJ-2000s rule.
GOLf
Golf is actually my first sport. Too bad DJ hours aren’t very golfer-friendly.
VESTAX VCI-300 MKII
This is my favorite toy at the moment. Every time I get inspired to make a mix, all I have to do is plug in and play on.
ORANGE SUITCASE
Stumbled upon this while shopping in Seoul back in 2009. I love it ‘coz it’s hard to miss when it’s on baggage carousels in airports.
HTC SENSATION XE BEATS BY DRe
LOUIS VUITTON DUFFEL BAg
People ask me, “Why use a Louis as your DJ bag?” I always answer, “Why not?”
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DR. MARTENS WINGTIPs
These babies are wingtips on steroids, sporting the thick, built-to-last, Dr. Martens soles.
This phone comes with a pair of Beats earphones, plus the battery life is really good, so I’m never without good music.