from rags to niches A UGUST 2013
75
STATUSPHERE THREADS SETTING BRICK & MORTAR SCREEN INK
VISION BOARD
37 DARLING DEAR
Stop and smell the roses. By Claire Huish
44 TROPHY GIRL
Pedal to the petal. By Nick St. James
52 POINT BLANK
Follow the leather. By Cholo Dela Vega
BEATS
SHOPPING GUIDE
gadgets
61 SWAG: GAME FACE ON
29
TECH PACK: GONE BABY GONE
Easy come, easy go.
BEAUTY 30
FACE PAINT: IN THE FLESH
31
ABOUT FACE: MIRROR MASK
31
80
HALIK NI GRINGO
14 STATUS MESSAGE 16 MASTHEAD 18 24 25 26 27 28
76
BENJAMIN FAINLIGHT
Get yourself a nude attitude.
Scrub clogged pores clean with these mud masks.
BEAUTY BITE: PHILIPPE TORDJMAN LE SALON
FASHION
SWAG
Caps
62 MAJOR BLAZER Blazers
63 SHADES OF GREY Grey jeans
64 STEP BROTHER Sneakers
65 OVERDOSE Pullovers
65 BACKFIRE Backpacks
66 GRAN PLAN Cardigans
STREET STYLE
67 TUBE GROOVE
32 GO SEE
68 SPELLING BEE
Cool cats wearing many hats
35 STYLE ID: PRENE AND PROPER Bounce to the scene with sheen.
Pencil skirts
Statement tees
69 HIT THE SACK Rucksacks
69 BOOTIE CALL Booties
FEATURES mUSE
70 WINSOME STREAK
Model Sam Humphries isn’t the cookie-cutter rookie. By Giano D. Dionisio
mAESTRO
71 MYTHIC PROPORTIONS
Aussie electro-glam pop duo Empire of the Sun had to play with time and balance space from each other to bring Ice on the Dune to fruition. By Reena Mesias
72 DOOM EQUATION
Dark Horses front woman Lisa Ella reimagines Black Music as it fills the night with shadowy vocals and smoky melodies. By Denise Fernandez
72 PUT A LIGHT ON IT
Sharp wit and perfect aim guide Brooklyn-based duo Javelin’s fringe pop and sweet spots. By Reena Mesias
73 NEW GENERATION OLD
With age comes conviction. Hail to Suede’s newfound sound rooted in teenage nostalgia. By Ian Urrutia
74 LONG LOST B-SIDE
Folk crooner Jake Bugg isn’t shy about flipping off the man when his head’s gotten too big. By Rem Gomez
CELINA DE GUZMAN 75 REPORTING FOR BOOTY
Halik ni Gringo report for booty as they blast jokes and jingles for pure entertainment. By Alice Sarmiento
MASTERMIND
76 TEAM FAINLIGHT 12
LPD New York’s designer Benjamin Fainlight lines up his dream team by paying homage to fashion’s heavy hitters. By Reena Mesias
77 IN A PUNCHLINE
Fashion designer Whitney Pozgay steps out of her aunt Kate Spade’s shadow by WHIT and good old wit. By Zoe Laurente
78 SILK AND SPINDLE
Actor Alex Medina balances primetime posts with passion projects as he spins the web of Manila’s indie film scene. By Denise Fernandez
79 BODY SNATCHER
Photographer Magnus Hastings drags out personalities as he guides his subjects toward a gayer disposition. By Kathleen Curtis
from rags to niches
81
A UGUST 2013
74 JAKE BUGG
MATTHEW FROST
71 80 QUIRKS OF A WALLFLOWER
Oh baby, it’s a wild, whirled world with Celina de Guzman’s curious creatures. By Meg Manzano
81 FLASH FICTION
Nature takes over nurture as photographer Matthew Frost goes with his gut to capture truths in films and stills. By Rita Faire
HEAVY HITTER
82 TAKE ANOTHER HIT
Sticks and stones may break his bones but Skins alum Joe Dempsie proves that rough patches can never hurt him. Instead, it makes him a better actor and a stronger claimant for the Iron Throne. By Rita Faire
88 ERVELLOGY
Woodland daydreams reclaim designer Patrik Ervell from his sci-fi sensibilities as he roots himself deep into earth-bound menswear. By Kristine Dabbay
EMPIRE OF THE SUN
90 ONCE ON THIS LONELY ISLAND The Lonely Island may take flack for The Wack they serve, but best believe they’ve gone beyond child’s play to become stand up men. By Reena Mesias
92 SWEARING ON ELSEWHERE
Actor Michael Socha goes beyond Britain’s grit as he ditches his fear of fame. Welcome to Hollywood. By Rita Faire
EVENTS
97 ZERO MONDAYS @ IMPERIAL 98 SOCIAL SATURDAYS @ ARACAMA 98 WHAT HAPPENS IN EDC 99 CHANEL WEST COASTY 99 END OF DAYS LET’S PARTY
MORE
100 DIRECTORY
NIGHTVISION
95 STATUS INDEPENDENT ISSUE RELEASE PARTY
96 COPACABANA PELAYO VS DAVID 96 LOST AND FOUND #12 97 REPUBLIQ UNIVERSITY
STATUS INVADES
102 SAM SADHWANI
A real-life doll with the full range of accessories included
102 STATUS Guide to Vintage
@ REPUBLIC
Sticker Hunting
Alex White captures the wild side as patchwork leopard, cheetah, and tiger prints cover a Topmanclad, pounce-poised Joe Dempsie. The former Skins rager turned Game of Thrones ranger turns on his ferocious nature with a gaze that’ll rip you to shreds. Braving the jungles of Hollywood, the young actor is now aiming to be on top of the food chain.
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
The Lonely Island (90)
Joe Dempsie (82)
FROM RAGS TO NICHES W
hat does it take to reach cult status? I’m not talking about extreme religions; what I’m talking about are people who have attracted a loyal following through their craft whether it’s acting, designing, or frapping (fake rapping). From our last Freya Mavor cover to our current one with Joe Dempsie, it’s undeniable that Skins has been churning out actors who are moving on to become some of Hollywood’s most promising talents. We wouldn’t call it a coincidence, but Joe Dempsie is definitely one lucky bastard for getting a shot at HBO’s Game of Thrones. With upcoming project Southcliffe, he may soon surpass his cult-dom and rule over his own kingdom. Another young Brit who has gotten our attention is Michael Socha who plays a werewolf in Being Human. Though his good looks is comparable to Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s his acting work that puts him in the spotlight. From his debut collection in 2006, it was clear that New York-based designer Patrik Ervell was going to garner a special following in the fashion world. With sci-fi roots and genius use of fabrics resulting to menswear’s modern classics, self-proclaimed nerd Patrik invented trends you can’t easily bend. The Lonely Island crew has gained a fanbase not only with fans but with rappers and rock stars too. Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone have been producing fake raps and comedy skits for years now, and they always leave us rollin’ on the floor. It seems that gaining a following isn’t so much about being a misfit or rebelling against the norm; it is just listening to your gut and doing your own thing.
Editor-in-chief
14 - statusmagonline.com
contributors statusmagonline.com editor-in-chief
Rosario Herrera @RosarioHerrera
creative director Patrick L. Jamora graphic designers Nyael David
Jer Dee Paolo Geronimo
associate editor
Kristine Dabbay @tindabs
features editor Reena Mesias fashion editor Loris Peña
RALPH MENDOZA
Our contributing-writer-turned-contributing-photographer doesn’t want to talk about his day job, but his photos vouch for his vivid visions. Maybe day jobs aren’t his thing; after all, Ralph worked overtime at the red-light district to shoot actor Alex Medina (78). Weeks after that, he met with Manila misfits Halik ni Gringo (75) in the STATUS HQ with a film camera and some dolls. He says, “Their bro vibes were the best vibes. For sure.”
@padraick @nyaels @jerdeeee @paolostroodles
assistant editor Giano D. Dionisio fashion assistant Zoe Laurente editorial assistant Rita Faire
@YoHitGirl_ @_dizzyrizzy @giodion @zoelaurente @ritadoesnttweet
Tina Herrera @tinaherrera_ Dan Buenaventura @danbuenaventura junior account manager Bea Macalino @BeatMac Marian Ortiz @HailMarian
sales & marketing consultant account manager
tweet us! contributing writers
Denise Fernandez, Rem Gomez, Meg Manzano, Alice Sarmiento, Ian Urrutia contributing artists
Charlotte Alexander, Sean Armenta, Camilla Ashworth, Alfie Bogush, Rhoy Cervantes, The Cobrasnake, Fernando Colon, Danica Condez, Monique Cruz, Celina de Guzman, Cholo Dela Vega, Azer Dimalanta, Patrick Diokno, Gerard Estadella, Judd Figuerres, Alexandra Greenhill, Ming Han Chung, Tinette Herrera, Claire Huish, Ralph Mendoza, Miguel Miranda, Franz Navarrete, Lily Park, Hanna Pechon, Joyce Platon, Kappo Rivera, Steffi Santiago, Pam Santos, Adam Seth Teh, David Sheldrick, JP Singson, Tim Soter, Nick St. James, Monica Storrs, Ali Tollervey, Alex White interns
MEG MANZANO
It was a match made in heaven—like Alice first stepping into Wonderland—to have Meg write Celina De Guzman’s (80) feature. Both consider art to exceed any “so-called stable job.” But because of a few extra hours, Meg thinks she should “seriously stop cramming articles in the wee hours of the morning.” She’s a cult of genius, twisting words and metaphors, but she says, “Can’t I get a cult following instead? The username’s @megmanzano. I’m ready.”
Ivana Bito, Kathleen Curtis, Grace de Luna, MJ Genoveza, Stephanie Liao, Chelsea Madamba
What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com
ZOE LAURENTE
Fresh from graduation, our very own Fashion Assistant, Zoe, can now shriek à la Elle Woods: “We did it!” Though she loves to bend and snap, she’d rather catch your attention by lending her hand and swapping editorial ideas. For this issue, she styled On the Road (09) and Trophy Girl (44). She also interviewed designer Whitney Pozgay (77) whose tomboy-meets-preppy aesthetic puts her on a teenage trance revelatory of her own high school life. “I was a mean girl,” she confesses. Who is she kidding? She’s Ms. Congeniality.
16 - statusmagonline.com
read our digital version statusmagonline.com/ digital-magazine like us facebook.com/statusmagazine follow us twitter.com/statusmagazine instagram: statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN / INK
August 2013
HEAVY DUTY A
ussie label MESHIT’s pullovers, dresses, and sweatpants are built for work. Inspired by Aki Kaurismäki’s old films, its take on working clothes is showcased in its denim jackets, wrench-printed tracksuits, and dungaree-style dresses. Making a mark is its famous hash logo that adds a finishing touch to its button-downs and coats. meshit.at
GREEN PIECE A
ussie unisex label KLOKE is forged from the ideals of functionality and ergonomics, adding features such as internal pockets and back storm flaps in its jackets. Reinventing the Swedish splinter camo print and West German military dot patterns, Kloke’s dresses, pants, jersey, and shirting will make you salute. kloke.com.au
DENIM DAYS T
here’s nothing like a classic pair of blue jeans to keep you going for days. PENSHOPPE makes sure you’re stocked and ready to go from weekdays to weekends with denim. From basic indigo to washed and faded, Penshoppe got it all in different cuts and colors. penshoppe.com
FORTY NEVER C
ount on 40S AND SHORTIES to keep everyone looking cool regardless of age. Socks are anything but boring with offbeat images ranging from caps to a pair of shades; even Jesus’s face is knitted onto them. From your teenybopper sister to the modish old mister next door, these socks fit the bill. 40sandshorties.com
18 - statusmagonline.com
THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
SKINNY LOVE T
rim your figure sans the diet with FOR ME. Usher in the cold weather with its latest collection of button-downs and pullovers that are perfect for layering over your closet staples. Choose from an array of prints and washes of super skinny jeans and step out looking long and lean. forme.com.ph
GOOD GAME D
etailed up to the last stitch, STRONGHOLD brings your leather iPhone sleeves and lanyard straps to the forefront. No longer mere accessories, the brand uses premium leather to protect your gadgets. With all the messaging and gaming, make sure your wares are geared up. strongholdgoods.com
SUMMER SOLSTICE D
ELFINA BALDA masters the art of mixing bold prints and vibrant colors with tunic dresses, kaftans, and skirts. Its newest pieces allow summer dressing all year round with printed Bermuda shorts, button-ups, and tops. Pair knitted neon tanks with sherbet-hued midi skirts before stepping out into the sun. Summer is here to stay. delfinabalda.com
20 - statusmagonline.com
VINTAGE POINT F
or the love of old New York, KAI D’s The New American Artisan collection of handmade tailored vest, shirt, jackets, and pants is inspired by military and hunting clothes. Add some camo neckties and polka dot bowties to your daily rotation for that extra leverage outdoors. kaidutility.com
SUCKY LIFE W
HO CARES IF LIFE SUX? Well, the eponymous Taiwanese label certainly doesn’t. Preaching its manifesto through quirky T-shirts, designs dare to be bold with embellished crew neck collars and diamond logos. onlineshop-wcils.blogspot.com
THREADS
SUPAH DUPAH T
here can only be one LOCAL HEROES. With images of a pixelated middle finger, dollars on a tee, and a pullover that says “Fuck you, you fuckin’ fuck,” it’s no brainer that Rita Ora, Rihanna, and Cara Delevingne are seen rocking these threads. Like its beanie, this style screams “Whatever,” and we’re diggin it. localheroesstore.com
WRIST PARTY W
atch the clock ‘coz MAY 28th is coming up and guarantees to color your wrists with an array of printed timepieces. Dedicated to affordability, fun, and vibrant imagery, the latest editions include blue, green, black, and white kaleidoscopic treats with saturated graphics straight from the tropics. may28th.me
ONE TOO MANY Y
ou can’t be satisfied with just one; it needs to be 1 AND THE OTHER. Handpicked materials like embroidered oriental prints and pig suede give these caps unique character so picking a favorite among its latest assortment of five-paneled caps would be a tough call. Stamped with premium quality, hoarding them is a priority. oneandtheother.co.nz
COIFFED AND COILED É
VELIE MOUILA keeps you wired with its accessories and tees. Bended wires and thin chains make a statement with sign language rings and necklaces that double as ponytails. Forget putting your hair up and just pull it back and tuck it into the shirt’s back pockets. Bad hair days are long gone. eveliemouila.com
STONE COLD S
HALLOWWW picks up caps, and sweats. mix and match. Pull tight skirt; prints shallowww.biz
something from the ground with its tees, Eyes zoom in on marble prints made for over a loose sweater and wear it with a like these put you on a pedestal.
statusmagonline.com - 21
THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE T
hough subtle in execution, WILLIAMS HANDMADE’s craftsmanship embodies superior quality. Satchels, pouches, and wallets made from bridle leather are lined with suede and feature detachable straps, brass buckles, and rivets. Did we mention the bags come with leather cuffs and embossed flasks? True style doesn’t shout. williamshandmade.com
WONDER HAND L
ondon-based MONVATOO explores myths and legends as it preys on dragons, unicorns, and owls to liven up its line of artisanal rings made of rose gold, pearl rhodium, enamel, and textured brass. With these on, fingers transform from page-turners to head-turning beauties. monvatoo.co.uk
the misshapes F
innish brand MARIMEKKO crosses squiggly lines, connects polka dots, and stitches pockets and patches with manic color sludge in its women’s apparel collection. From slouchy to oversized, any shape works when fun is in the equation. marimekko.com
HIGH ROLLER Y
ou can be a POPULAR DEMAND if you dress the part. The brand’s latest collection of printed zebra, snakeskin, feathers, cheetah shirts, sweatshirts, and “Popular” headgear should be on your priority list. If you need a good word, just ask DJ Khaled, Diddy, T.I., and 2 Chainz who’ve been reppin’ the brand. Time to learn from the big dogs. populardemandbrand.com
22 - statusmagonline.com
UP IN THE AIR I
f you’re looking for something classic, cool, and cushy to the feet, then help yourself to a pair of NATIVE shoes. Its light, shock-absorbent, and waterproof models are perfect for walking long miles. Choose from a variety of silhouettes from boat shoes to boots in candy colors. With these on, cloud nine is at your feet. nativeshoes.com
THREADS
BEAST WITHIN G
o on a Safari with MISTER ZIMI’s Autumn/ Winter 2013 collection as zebra stripes, leopard spots, and African-inspired tribal prints mingle with fur shrugs, feather skirts, and flowing dresses. Patterned head wraps and solid-colored tops subdue the busy visuals for wild sophistication. misterzimi.com
KNIT KNACK B
Words by Kathleen Curtis, Denise Fernandez, Zoe Laurente, and Loris Peña
erlin-based MAIAMI’s knits don’t look like they’re from your grandma’s closet. Sweatshirts, blouses, jackets, cardigans, hats, scarves, and even slacks in bright colors and rainbow stripes are all up for grabs. Comfy woolen pants and French berets steal the show; you’d be hooked with Maiami vice. maiami.de
MAD HATTERS B
ROOKES BOSWELL’s background in architecture and fine arts makes each hat in her collection a free-standing masterpiece. Prints of watercolor washes please the eyes while oversized sun hats, equestrian caps, and visors reinforce the good life that will make you mad with desire. brookesboswell.com
GOOD BAD GAL CLIQUE CENTRAL S
how some school spirit in sweaters and skirts from NEON ISLAND’s latest collection. Stereotypes make a comeback with pullovers that brand queen bees, jocks, and geeks to keep them in check with their cliques. neonislandclothing.com
I
nspired by bad girls with good intentions, KWILTI’s Spring/Summer 2013 line includes necklaces, oversized earrings, and gold chained animal pendants. Our favorites are the shackled headpieces made from holographic nylon and white cotton; contrast is always good in terms of accessories and attitude. kwilti.com
statusmagonline.com - 23
SETTING
PLACES TO GO
PLATE CORKAGE
sunshine kitchen, the fort
The Fort Strip’s SUNSHINE KITCHEN may be known for its slow-roasted porchetta (in its many shapes and forms, including the Six-hour Slow Roasted Porchetta with French Beans, the arugula-topped Pochetta Pizza, and the mozzarella-brimming Porkichoo’s Sandwich), but why not try the dim-lit and dark wood-infused nook for a pre-dinner cocktail with friends? While its roster of international spirits and ales (including Stella Artois, Stone Pale Ale, Old Guardian Oak Smoked Barley Wine, and Ballast Point Big Eye Indio Pale Ale) will keep the laughs rolling and the conversation interesting, the night is best capped off with a scoop of homemade Key Lime Ice Cream to cleanse the palate.
facebook.com/sunshinekitchen.resto
taste as old as time Tall tales become spirited realities as MAPLE presents childhood favorites with adult sophistication. L/GL Shangri-La Plaza, East Wing EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard Mandaluyong City
Bourbon Bread Pudding Bread pudding served with Bourbon Créme Anglaise or à la mode
S uite
The House Hotel Bosphorus, istanbul Tucked within the cobblestoned locale of the Ortaköy Mosque is the former home of Ottoman Era architect, Simon Balian. A structure now known as THE HOUSE HOTEL BOSPHOROUS, proprietors Canan Özdemir and Ferit Baltacioglu collaborate with design group Autoban to infuse the 19thcentury mansion with a contemporary spin. Brass, oak, and walnut accents complement the interiors’ pearl white classical furnishing. The 26-room hotel metal frame façade leads into five stories of lacquered isometric cube wooden floors, Victorian flourish-engraved walls and cornices, and delicate customized light fixtures. The House Hotel also features a scenic lounge overlooking the Turkish coast as well as library lounges for fire-side relaxation.
Chili Soup Mild bean, beef, and pork sausage chili soup topped with sour cream, scallions, and freshly baked jalapeño cornbread
thehousehotel.com
MAPLE, SHANGRI-LA PLAZA While the name implies dish upon dish of syrup-dripping goodness, the playful fancies of MAPLE go beyond amber add-ons. Inspired by classic children’s stories, the quaint restaurant invokes a sense of childish whimsy—from the maplewood hue furniture reminiscent of a Wendy Darling’s nursery to bright yellow couches for relaxed dinning. Call Rapunzel down from her Blueberry and Cream Cheese Pancake Tower or exchange a pie of four and 20 blackbirds for the chef’s Bourbon Bread Pudding.
facebook.com/MapleRestaurantPH
24 - statusmagonline.com
Drippin’ Baby Back Ribs Slow-roasted baby back ribs basted in homemade barbecue sauce, served with snow peas, baked potato, and corn-on-the-cob
Blueberry and Cream Cheese Pancake Tower A stack of buttermilk pancakes with alternating layers of preserved blueberries and thick cream cheese topped with a blueberry compote
Words by Rita Faire Sunshine Kitchen photos by Jer Dee
GRUB
BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES TO SHOP
dr. martens, manila Two Parkade, Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig City facebook.com/Dr.MartensPH Dime to drop: P1,500-6,900 Don’t leave without: The classic 1460 boots
N
ow you can stop staring at DM photos online. Opening its doors at The Fort, DR. MARTENS never fails to deliver leather goodness. Known for its classic boots, the store makes you want to hoard every pair. With different colors and styles displayed against the brick walls and wooden tables, the space is more inviting than ever. The interiors compliment the brand’s rugged aesthetics as office wooden drawers are used to house satchel bags and leather seats for you to sit on and fit the perfect DMs. Accessories like socks, lace, and shoe-cleansing agents are also available. With the Agyness Deyn collaboration line of bags and clothes dropping soon, there’s definitely something to look forward to this season. Scout before they sell out.
PETITE MAISON DE COUTURE, PARIS 277 Boulevarde Raspail Paris, France annaruohonen.com Dime to drop: 250€-450€ (P13,950-P25,100) Don’t leave without: Pieces from the the Black Classics collection
P
Words by Kathleen Curtis and Loris Peña
ETITE MAISON DE COUTURE is Anna Ruohonen’s creative haven in the historical area of Montparnasse. Sandwiched between heritage buildings, the brown façade frames large, sundrenched windows which highlight four levels of the production line. The ground floor houses the RTW White Label and Black Classics collections. Level 1 is where the patternmaking and measurements take place, Level 2 is for the manufacturing process, and Level 3 is Anna’s office where inception happens. The timeless triangular floor space is cornered with concrete pillars that compliment the minimalist designs. Pinafores, babydoll dresses, bell skirts, boleros, and unisex suiting are the core components of Anna’s brand. Fabricated from silk, viscose, wool, and cotton, Ruohonen even offers made-to-order pieces for her clients. Step into this Scandinavian Zen of white walls and glass panels and nurture your inner peace with clothes that are fabricated within, made on demand, tailored to your true size, and finalized with every tiny detail imaginable.
EXCEPTIONAL NEW DESIGN
I
t’s all about unisex dressing with EXCEPTIONAL NEW DESIGN. With tees, trousers, hoodies, and hats from designers and brands like Born in Chains, Proudrace, Techno Jungle, and New World, you can create looks that are carefree and at the same time, experimental. exceptionalnewdesign.com
statusmagonline.com - 25
SCREEN
SCENES TO SEE
REMOTE CONTROL
TICKET PRINCE AVALANCHE This David Gordon Green remake of the Icelandic film Either Way sees Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsch) develop an unlikely friendship while repainting a battered highway’s traffic lines.
AXE COP (FOX) Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman stars in this adaptation of the popular webcomic of the same name. The six 15-minute episodes will follow the titular lawenforcer who only requires two minutes of sleep a day while surviving on a strict diet of birthday cake. Joining Nick is frequent collaborator Megan Mullally— who will be voicing numerous female characters—and Tyler, The Creator as the voice of Liborg.
IN THE FLESH (BBC AMERICA) After a successful run in the UK, the supernatural drama finally arrives across the pond. The series follows Kieren Walker (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2’s Luke Newberry), a sufferer of Partially Deceased Syndrome, who braves the prejudice against the undead as he re-immerses himself in his conservative hometown in the English countryside.
PL AYBACK V FOR VENDETTA (2005) I love it when the hero is a rebel of some sort.
SAULO VILLELA (Photographer) @SauloV ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004) Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet really make this film so damn cute and real.
IMMORTALS (2012) It was just an uplifting movie. Everyone in it is hot. Everyone.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND (2001) It’s such a mind-boggler and really almost made me fall off my seat the first time I watched it.
THE STRANGERS (2012) The scariest movie ever! It’s perfect.
26 - statusmagonline.com
MAGIC MAGIC This Cannes Film Festival 2013 Directors’ Fortnight entry follows insomniac Alicia’s (Juno Temple) loss of grip on reality while on a trip to the south of Chile.
SHORT TERM 12 Destin Cretton follows last year’s I am Not a Hipster with this film about a twentysomething foster care worker (Brie Larson) who must weather the storms of her life.
KICK-ASS 2 Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) must find a new partner buddy as former partner in crimefighting Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) decides to retire.
YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL A tale of youth and sexual enlightenment unfolds in director François Ozon’s (Swimming Pool) 2013 Cannes Film Festival entry starring Marine Vacth and Charlotte Rampling.
Words by Rita Faire
CLEAR HISTORY (HBO) Jon Hamm continues to exercise his funny bone as he teams up with director Greg Mottola (Adventureland) and writer/co-star Larry David’s (Curb Your Enthusiasm) in this television film about a disgraced marketing executive who plots revenge on the boss who stole his company from underneath his feet. Also among the cast are Eva Mendes, Danny McBride, and Kate Hudson.
EUROPA REPORT District 9’s Sharlto Copley helms this film about six astronauts who encounter death and isolation while in search of extraterrestrial life in Jupiter’s smallest moon.
ink BOOKMARK
BOOKS TO READ
HOT OFF THE PRESS NIGHT FILM By Marisha Pessl Veteran reporter Scott McGrath gets into the bottom of 24-yearold Ashley Cordova’s death. Found dead in a warehouse in Manhattan, she is the daughter of cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova. While others think it’s suicide, McGrath questions its verity, so he learns from Stanislas fanatics, takes a romp in the Cordova estate, digs through family ties, and unearths terror through surreptitious glimpses, withdrawn information, and blurred lines between the natural and rational. THE SURPRISE ATTACK OF JABBA THE PUPPETT: AN ORIGAMI YODA BOOK By Tom Angleberger McQuarrie Middle school life gets in the middle of Tom Angleberger’s new puppet book where students are threatened with the new educational program, FunTime Menace, which aims to improve performance in standardized tests. Consequently, they ask help from Origami Yoda to defeat this program that takes away everything they love from field trips to LEGO classes. The kids unexpectedly meet a surprise attack from Jabba the Puppett. Will they conquer or just give it a middle finger?
THE LAST MAGAZINE By David Renard
G
randiosely presented in this visual anthology of layouts from the edgiest publications are commentaries from publishing mavericks like Rankin, Terry Jones, and Steven Heller. Salivate over sprawling typefaces and provocative photography. Digital may be winning the masses, but this book proves that print is here to sustain its cult of readers. Yes, niches trump the basic bitches’ bibles. Here’s wisdom from the whiz:
•
Words by Kristine Dabbay and Rita Faire
•
“The beauty of the magazine in its infancy was that we all worked on it for nothing. There was no money. We all recognized that the magazine was a platform for new ventures, a way of regaining control of our lives.” -Rankin “If you want to make a magazine, there are two solutions: Either you create the product the market expects, or you
FOOTNOTES
THE SANDMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 By Neil Gaiman Morpheus escapes captivity and must rebuild his realm of mist and mysticism after a 70-year-long absence. His journeys towards redemption and retribution take him through the roads of Asgard, Faerie, Hell, and even contemporary America, and he must learn that even dreams cannot remain constant and all things must change lest they perish. Retrace the steps of Neil Gaiman’s Lord of Dreams in this thousand-page collection of The Sandman’s first 37 issues.
make the magazine that you believe needs to be made, for you and you only.” -Angelo Cirimele •
“I still believe in the magazine industry. What we do, our core competency, is trusted editing skills. Whether we do it in paper or not remains to be seen, but in an age of too much information, isn’t it our core competency worth more, not less?” -Anne Moore
Though Marisha Pessl is best known as a sterling debut novelist, she’s also known to play the mean French horn—even played liner notes on the The Pierces’s “The Power Of…” in their Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge album.
We all know Jabba the Hutt as a slimy slug-like alien but an old interview with director George Lucas reveals that Jabba was originally envisioned as a furry creature resembling Chewbacca’s Wookie clan.
Originally conceptualized as a revival of Jack Kirby’s 1974 DC series of the same name, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman took a different route when editors took a shine to Neil’s treatment and allowed him free reign to make an original character outside of Kirby’s shadow.
statusmagonline.com - 27
MUSIC TO HEAR
ON THE RISE
EMPYREAN STATE
N
ot every form of addiction is bad, especially when it’s the kind that will skyrocket a hobby into a career. For Isa Belle Añiga aka SKYMARINES, whose obsession started with the Nintendo DS synth program
KORG DS-10, the addiction was so strong she had to share with her daughter’s toys. She transformed most of them into musical instruments— along with old computer keyboards and Game Boys—and sold them online on eBay.
Making electronic music since 2008, she now has a variety of gadgets to create more sultry, steamy, chillwave music to vibe out with. Restoring faith in the future of Manila’s music, Isa’s style is delicate. The production sounds minimal but so put together, it gives space for her sweet, almostfragile voice; it’s like each track can pull something deep and find something that used to be lost in the listener. Translations, her collection of covers that includes The Smiths’s “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” and The Cure’s “Lullaby” give the songs a feel-good spin and dreamlike, vulnerable characteristics.
facebook.com/skymarines
PL AYLIS T
YOLANDA MOON Kyle Quismundo (guitar) facebook.com/YolandaMoonMusic
HUCCI soundcloud.com/hucci
HELOISE & THE SAVOIR FAIRE Heloise Williams (vocalist) heloisemusic.com
28 - statusmagonline.com
“I Am the Walrus” The Beatles My all-time favorite Beatles.
“Helen Zaas” Wilderness Solid energy.
“Separator” Radiohead Thom’s melodies, Greenwood’s riff, Phil’s beats, Colin’s basslines, and Ed’s atmospheres– Just aaahh!
“Leathers” Deftones First single from Koi No Yokan. Really exciting.
“YNRE” A$AP Mob The synth at the start just bangs so hard.
“Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” Kendrick Lamar The whole of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is straight fire, but this one especially delivers.
“Terrorist Threats” Ab-Soul ft. Danny Brown and Jhené Aiko The beat is so nice and both of ‘em tear shit up.
“Demons // Palace” A$AP Rocky Both of these are too trill and made me dig Rocky.
“Lovergirl” Teena Marie Bad ass! Those moves, that voice! I think I have that same shirt.
“We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” Jermaine Stewart Borderline creepy but again, the voice and moves–serious entertainment.
“Do the Du” A Certain Ratio Super satisfying get-down-onthe-dance floor stuff.
“The Wisdom of Stones” Zombie It’s new and sounds like the future/past. Gorgeous synths.
MUSIC NEWS
Save August 13. The one-nightclosing show for popular exhibition David Bowie Is Happening Now (it sold more than 67,000 advance tickets and has been seen by 200,000 visitors) at London’s V&A Museum will be a live cinema event— directed by BAFTA-winning director Hamish Hamilton and produced by Done & Dusted Productions—which will be screened at Picturehouse Cinemas around Britain.
O, Canada! The home and native land of indie rock duo Japandroids, who are performing for their Manila fans in Hard Rock Café this coming August 19. Kindassault brings Brian King and David Prowse to brand us with their pulsing rock & roll that’s reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen’s golden days.
For its 30th anniversary, the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards are leaving the City of Angels and are landing in Brooklyn, New York for the first time ever. They’re planting the flag at the Barclays Center on August 25.
Words by Reena Mesias Kyle Quismundo photo by Patrick Diokno, Hucci photo by Alfie Bogush
BEATS
TEC H PACK MILKCRATE ATHLETICS × BEATS BY DRE • Special edition standard studio headphones designed by Milkcrate Athletics’s Aaron LaCrate • Comes in an orange-based camo print • Sold with a matching Milkcrate × Beats tote bag SRP: Available upon request
GONE BABY GONE
FISHEYE BABY 110 BAUHAUS
You never know what you got ‘til it’s gone so grab these limited edition gadgets before they fly off the shelves.
TRIBE BARBAPAPA USB KEYS
• Working miniature version of Lomography Fisheye No. 2 • Comes with a 170-degree lens • Capable of multiple and long exposures • Uses a PC flash adaptor for night and low-light shooting SRP: P2,550
DIANA F + GLOW IN THE DARK
• USB flash drives featuring the characters of the 1970s French comic strip, The Barbapapa • Collection features Barbidul, Barbidou, Barbamama, and Barbapapa • Available with 4GB storage space • Comes with Tribe’s exclusive white connector
• Special edition Diana F+ camera glow-in-the-dark body • Capable of color-splashing with color gel filters • Choose between N” shutter speed and B” for nighttime and indoor • Uses 35 mm film
SRP: P850
with plastic Diana+ Flash for daytime shoots
SRP: P5,100
DOWNLOADS JAY-Z MAGNA CARTA By Samsung Mobile US
SNAPCAT By Snapcat
IFONTMAKER By Eiji Nishidai
Samsung-exclusive Android for featuring exclusive updates for Jay-Z’s upcoming album, Magna Carta Holy Grail
Social media platform exclusively for cat photosharing
iPad exclusive font editor that allows user to create customized handwritten typefaces
statusmagonline.com - 29
FAC E PA IN T Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener in Light Bisque P1,370
IN THE FLESH
MAC 167 Short Handled Blender Brush P1,590
Bare it all in barely there makeup.
Stila Brighten & Correct Concealer in Tone P1,280
Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara in Black P1,140
Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact P1,585.69
Diorskin Nude Natural Radiance Colour & Glow Powder in Sunlight P2,490
Giorgio Armani Rogue d’Armani Lipstick in 100 P1,460
Jane Iredale Bitty Brow Kit® in Brunette P1,230
Gorgeous Cosmetics Brow Fix Gel P910 NYX The Natural Shadow Eyeshadow Palette P320
MAC Cremesheen + Pearl Lipstick in Peach Blossom P680
Lanvin ME Eau De Parfum (1 Oz.) P2,510
30 - statusmagonline.com
Laura Geller Balance-nBrighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation in Fair P1,500
Butter LONDON Nail Lacquer in Crumpet P680
Model photo by Fernando Colon
Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer P3,220
AB O U T FACE GOOD TO GO
AHAVA TIME TO CLEAR PURIFYING MUD MASK deeply detoxifies pores to even out complexion woes. Jojoba oil, dead sea mud, and horsetail extract soothe while rejecting unwanted excess oils. P1,430
TINGLE ME OLIVE
GLAMGLOW TINGLING & EXFOLIATING MUD MASK is enriched with green tea leaves; this olive green scented goop ensures to keep all skin types well nourished. P3,180
Expert Advice
PRETTY IN PINK
Erase the evidence of environmental debris with BORGHESE FANGO BRILLANTE BRIGHTENING MUD MASK. This Italian mud will leave you feeling rehydrated, revealing younger skin with the assistance of vitamin A & citrus unishiu peel extracts. P3,090
Give yourself a dose of sticky sweets with a moisture-locking, lip-smacking honey mask.
MIRROR MASK De-stress your precious complexion with a little grit and grind.
MAKING MIRACLES
Prepare for a 15-minute skin makeover with MIRACLE SKIN® TRANSFORMER MIRACLE REVIVAL MUD SKIN RESTORING TREATMENT MASK which is rich in antioxidants and bioactive silts sourced from European lakes that provide collagen-producing properties. P1,750
GET ZAPPY
Stay clear of breakouts, discoloration, razor bumps, and in-grown hairs with GLAMGLOW SUPER-MUD™ CLEARING TREATMENT. P3,180
b e a u t y bi t e
INTO THE DEEP
Whether normal or oily, KIEHL’S RARE EARTH DEEP PORE CLEANSING MASQUE will refresh skin and eliminate debris and dead skin cells with ingredients from the Amazon River. P1,060
PHILIPPE TORDJMAN LE SALON
Words by Kathleen Curtis Model photo by Ming Han Chung
B
id farewell to bad hair days by embracing the crème-de-la-crème. Sofitel Manila’s PHILIPPE TORDJMAN LE SALON provides no less than 5-star service care of the eponymous celebrity stylist’s handpicked team. The sleek interior adopts masculine leather seating, rosewood veneers, titanium accents against lattécolored walls and glossed pistachio storage spaces. Add dimension to your locks by invigorating dull hair with a range of Schwarzkopf Professional OSIS+ styling pleasures. Pamper and primp yourself to a delectable menu of hairstyles, treatments, makeup flairs, nail transformations, and spa treatments.
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard Pasay City, Philippines 832 6954 philippetordjmanlesalon.com
statusmagonline.com - 31
GO S E E Mix hats, scarves, and leather gloves for a complete look greater than all of the above.
Denim Backpack Baseball Cap Animal Scarf
Neon Necklace Cropped Top Fur Jacket
Varsity Jacket
Polka Dot Tights
Pointed Pumps Denim Bermuda Shorts
32 - statusmagonline.com
Fur Trimmed Coat Pastel Dress
Striped Skirt
Bejewelled Turban
Beanie
Knee High Socks
Photographed by Danica Condez, Franz Navarrete, Loris Pe単a, and Steffi Santiago
Spiked Necklace
Plaid Top Strappy Flatforms Riding Boots
Printed Socks
statusmagonline.com - 33
s e pt e m b e r 2 0t h & 2 1 st 2 0 1 3
mar i na bar rag e s i n gapo r e
P H AS E 3 a n n o u n c e m e n t au g u st 1 st P H AS E 2
P H AS E 1 I NTE R NATI O NAL LIVE ACTS
I NTE R NATI O NAL DJ S ETS
DJ Set with Chad Hugo of (Neptunes & N.E.R.D) + Daniel Bitmore
+ID
LO CALS & R E G I O NALs
M AD
DJ
EXCLUSIVELY ORGANISED BY
DJ
1 wo r l d f e s t.c o m OFFICIAL
FASHION SPONSOR
OFFICIAL SUNGLASSES
VODKA
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL RADIO STATION
MAGAZINE (SINGAPORE)
MAGAZINE (BANGKOK)
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
MUSIC CHANNEL
ONLINE MEDIA (MALAYSIA)
PARTNER
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
PARTNER
OFFICIAL
PARTNER
OFFICIAL
MAGAZINE (HONG KONG)
OFFICIAL
PARTNER (INDIA)
OFFICIAL CHAMPAGNE
OFFICIAL
MAGAZINE (MALAYSIA & INDONESIA)
OFFICIAL
TICKETING (SINGAPORE)
OFFICIAL iPHONE APP
OFFICIAL HEADPHONES
OFFICIAL VISUALS
OFFICIAL
TICKETING (REGIONAL)
OFFICIAL TV CHANNEL
OFFICIAL
RADIO (INDONESIA)
S T Y LE I D
Street style photos courtesy of jponfashionspeed.com, Runway photo by Ming Han Chung
Blogger Vee Vee totes her fab neoprene find at H&M
L A B & iD boutique owner Junior Sealy puts on a flawless black Jil Sander neoprene tee.
Marcus Mayhem goes utilitarian donning a dope M65 from Burberry.
Christine looks androgynous in a black Francis Leon neoprene bomber jacket
Blogger Zanita Morgan from Sydney wears a bright orange mullet neoprene skirt from Josh Goot.
PRENE AND PROPER Blogger Judas Lee in attentiongrabbing, oversized digital-print neoprene pullover.
Imagine this soft, rubber-like material against your skin. Yep, neoprene is this season’s new BFF and Rebecca Minkoff’s Spring/ Summer 2013 keeps it classy. By JP Singson
statusmagonline.com - 35
dress by Caroline Taylor hat by Hermione de Paula necklace by Mawi London
While the leaves have yet to touch the ground, retreat to pastel frocks and floral-printed blazers, trousers, and dresses. With flowers in a row and gardens in full bloom, wake up and watch the world swoon. Photographed by Claire Huish Styled by Camilla Ashworth
statusmagonline.com - 37
coat by Keiko Nishiyama earrings by Mawi London
38 - statusmagonline.com
hat by ZoĂŤ Jordan top and trousers by Mother of Pearl bracelet by Mawi London shoes by Ursula Mascaro
statusmagonline.com - 39
blazer by Day Birger et Mikkelsen cropped top by Scarlett O’Sullivan trousers by Hilda Maha necklace by Mawi London shoes by Swedish Hasbeens
40 - statusmagonline.com
hat by ZoĂŤ Jordan top by Mother of Pearl
statusmagonline.com - 41
top and skirt by Hermione de Paula waistcoat by Day Birger et Mikkelsen accessories and clutch bag by Mawi London shoes by Swedish Hasbeens
42 - statusmagonline.com
Assistant Stylist Charlotte Alexander Hair and Makeup Monica Storrs using Mac and Bumble and Bumble Model Vivian Witjes of IMG Location One Fourteen Studio London blazer by Chloe Lennox cropped top by ZoĂŤ Jordan trousers by Caroline Taylor necklace by Mawi London shoes by Zoe Lee
statusmagonline.com - 43
p o i blank t These white walls might lock you in, but don’t let them get to you. Kick your way out clad in denim, leather, and some glitz. Truth is, they can never hold you down.
Photographed by Cholo Dela Vega Styled by Loris PeĂąa
52 - statusmagonline.com
necklace, stylist’s own bra top by Forever 21 skirt by Ever New
statusmagonline.com - 53
leather harness by OS top by Suite Blanco skirt by Forever 21
54 - statusmagonline.com
top by Veejay Floresca denim harem pants by Promod earrings, stylist’s own
statusmagonline.com - 55
56 - statusmagonline.com
necklace, stylist’s own fringe top by Eric Delos Santos denim pants by Suite Blanco shoes by DAS
statusmagonline.com - 57
body harness by OS denim shorts by Forever 21 shoes by Alexander McQueen
58 - statusmagonline.com
Assistant Stylist Zoe Laurente Hair and Makeup Tinette Herrera Model Rita of Elite Modeling Agency cap by Prblm Child NYC ear cuffs, stylist’s own vest by Forever 21 dress worn as skirt by Veejay Floresca shoes by 3.1 Phillip Lim
statusmagonline.com - 59
Blazers
MAJOR BLAZER Power up your sleeve.
Penshoppe [P2,499]
21 Man [P2,565]
Bench [P3,079.75]
s a r c j ac ob M a r c by m mm e r 2 0 1 3 S p r in g /S u Bench [P1,329.75]
Topman [P6,395]
62 - statusmagonline.com
GREY J EANS
SHADES OF GREY
Wash out, fade away.
Cotton On [P1,999]
Diesel [P12,250]
Oxygen [P1,299]
Bench [P899.75]
d N .H oo ly woo 2 0 1 3 er S p r in g /S u mm
Penshoppe [P999]
21 Man [P1,685]
statusmagonline.com - 63
SNEA K ERS
STEP BROTHER Tie up loose ends.
DC [P3,790]
Obey [P6,990]
Aldo [P3,495]
Creative Recreation [P3,995]
DC [P5,290]
Keds [P3,495]
Creative Recreation [P3,995]
Y-3 er 2013 mm u /S g in r p S
Aldo [P3,495]
DC [P3,990]
Vans [P6,298]
64 - statusmagonline.com
PULL O V ERS / B AC K PAC K S
OVERDOSEÂ Push the lengths over the limit.
SSUR(Greyone) [P3,890]
Proverse(Greyone) [P3,890]
Springfield [P2,450]
Topman [P1,895]
d N .H oo ly woo 2 0 1 3 er S p r in g /S u mm Topman [P2,245]
BACKFIRE These bags got your back.
Penshoppe [P699]
Cotton On [P1,199]
Oxygen [P1,199]
statusmagonline.com - 65
cardigans
GRAN PLAN Cover your coolest pieces with cozy knitwear.
Forever 21 [P1,025]
Bench [P929.75]
Springfield [P1,650]
c e lo n a C u s to Ba r er 2013 mm u /S g in r p S
Forever 21 [P1,175]
Springfield [P1,850]
66 - statusmagonline.com
PENCIL S K IR T S
TUBE GROOVE
Blocked and striped, down to your knees.
Topshop [P1,095] Forever 21 [P915]
Bench [P599.75] Topshop [P1,495]
Derek Lam 013 er 2 S p r in g /S u mm
Dorothy Perkins [P795] Dorothy Perkins [P1,095]
statusmagonline.com - 67
S T A T E M EN T T EES
SPELLING BEE Read between the lines.
Oxygen [P499]
Dorothy Perkins [P795]
Penshoppe [P429]
Cotton On [P799]
L im 3 .1 Ph il l ip 2 0 1 3 er S p r in g /S u mm
Forever 21 [P555]
Bench [P389.75]
Cotton On [P799]
68 - statusmagonline.com
RUC K s AC K S / B O O T IES
HIT THE SACK
Leave your load on the backburner with prints galore.
Aldo [P2,895]
Forever 21 [P1,135]
Call it Spring [P2,395]
Forever 21 [P1,420]
Topshop [P2,595]
Topshop [P2,595]
Forever 21 [P1,870]
BOOTIE CALL
Stride with pride with black booties.
Charles & Keith [P3,520]
Call It Spring [P3,795]
Forever 21 [P1,700]
statusmagonline.com - 69
M U S E
I
“
winsome
streak
Like every rookie in the game, you just can’t wait for your turn. That time is now for SAM HUMPRHIES whose beauty and laidback personality have gotten her some good attention. From here on out, we just want to see her win. By Giano D. Dionisio Photographed by Cholo dela Vega
’ve wanted to model ever since I could remember,” begins Sam, “But I thought it was an unreal dream, like dreaming of becoming a basketball player when you’re only five-feet-tall.” Now, the 17-year-old has become one of Manila’s fresh faces. From scoring editorials to walking the runway, there’s no doubt she’s on her way to the big leagues.
TALKING MIRRORS
[I usually wear] a pair of shorts, a loose boy’s top with a jeans jacket, combat boots, and round shades… My wardrobe is a huge reflection of my personality; it’s a reality that people automatically judge you from what they first see, so I like to wear who I am so that I’m perceived the way I want to be.
BREAKING POINT
Hopefully, if I’m lucky, my career will take me places; traveling is my goal—just making memories and telling myself when I’m old and grey that I’ve really lived and used up all my “loserunities” to the fullest. What I would like to gain from this whole experience is the confidence to be someone with substance.
REALITY CHECK
Be yourself; embody who you are. Society now is slowly starting to accept all flaws—models who are supposed to be the exemplars of perfection are now the ones with huge imperfections. Don’t compare yourself or look up to anyone; looking up means you think you’re lower than them.
70 - statusmagonline.com
M A E S T R O
MYTHIC
PROPORTIONS Emperor Steele and Lord Littlemore of EMPIRE OF THE SUN are into “haute couture,” “ancient cultures,” and foreseeable futures. Even within their five-year hiatus, they remained to be one with the forces of nature. As they reclaim their territory—and give us, regular citizens, a chance to chat with them via Facebook—Nick Littlemore says, “Yes, we will never die. We will keep the flame alive until the whole world is walking on a dream.” So now, let’s fall back to sleep. By Reena Mesias
I
asked the world a question / When did you begin?” Luke Steele sang five years ago. The world didn’t answer them back, but 300,000 years ago, when there were only dense rain forests and Neanderthals inhabiting caves, the world did give primitive people an idea of how it’s gonna end—with Empire of the Sun. At least that was implied in the band’s “Discovery” trailer for their sophomore album Ice on the Dune, where cave paintings of the electro-glam pop duo are found in an archeological dig. The archeologist’s discovery of the Empire of the Sun is as historic as when the band discovered their sound. 2008’s Walking on a Dream literally made people walk on dreams made of cheery synths, epic parties, pop melodies, theatrical costumes, and dancing swordfish girls. The year was a good run, and they toured nonstop internationally. It, however, didn’t guarantee eternity; Nick set his sail without notice. For a while, Luke had to do publicity shoots and gigs alone. Nick worked on Cirque Du Soleil’s Zarkana, and with Elton John for the fourth Pnau album, while Luke worked with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. After a lengthy phone call between the two, they decided to reunite and create Ice on the Dune. We conclude it was a natural progression. Nick says, “[The inspiration for Ice on the Dune] is the tyranny of distance. What I mean by that is that the time spent away from each other allowed us to flourish separately, so that we had stories to tell each other upon reconnecting.” Their stories are told by a children’s choir of choruses in hit single “Alive,”
“
“ The inspiration for Ice on the Dune is the tyranny of distance…” by dark, pulsing synths in “DNA,” and by embellished ballads in “Keep a Watch” and “I’ll Be Around.” Nick says, “’I’ll Be Around’ brings me to tears every time I listen to it.” But in its entirety, Ice on the Dune is just like Walking on a Dream in terms of hanging real tight across tracks of exhilarating falsettos and otherworldy disco vibes. While they keep to their grandeur, their lyrics are grounded, making everything else about them relatable (“So I made up my mind / I’ll be around for a while” or “Loving every minute ‘coz you make me feel so alive”). In the live interview, Nick tells a fan, “The creative process is usually very quick and instinctual, but there are some lines that take a long time to grow into prophecy.” The prophecy is clear—their chemistry will always bring them back together. In an interview with UK’s The Sun, Nick says, “I’d be lying if I said the best I’ve ever made was not with Luke because it clearly is—on this album.” You may not necessarily like each other’s habits, but if you both have the same vision, things just might
work. For Nick and Luke, it’s really all about the good and the groove of everyone. “Empyreans are our people, and we adore each and every one of you,” Nick says. Someone else replied to the thread, saying, “Your people are the happiest people.” It’s true. It’s a give-and-take thing. Nick adds, “The elation comes from the audience; we are made possible because of the beautiful faces out there in the dark.” “Can you describe to me / All the world that you see?” Luke sings now. We see an Emperor, in his blue headdress and cape, beside a Prophet in an animal-skin waistcoat, and the people surrendering to the beat and to the Sun.
empireofthesun.com @EmpireOfTheSun
statusmagonline.com - 71
maestro
PUT A LIGHT ON We’re outwardly normal people with strange interiors,” says Tom Van Buskirk of Brooklyn duo JAVELIN. Ah, no problem. That’s exactly what drew us in. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Tim Soter
T
om is having coffee and enjoying cat observation. “Watching cat watching bird,” he says. Whether or not he and his cousin/co-pop genius George Langford got inspired by coffee and cats to make more catchy hooks and organized song structures in their latest album Hi Beams, we’ll never know, but Tom does find drive in “listening to a lot of online lectures, talking with friends who are artists or creators, and—when [he remembers] to—listening to records.”
As we listen to theirs, we can tell that Javelin pushed their pop boundaries compared to their homemade 2009 Jamz n Jemz. “Jamz n Jemz was infused with discovery—we were figuring out how to make music using new machines, and also discovering these weird aesthetic ideas. You can’t fake that kind of weird inspiration,” Tom explains, “Hi Beams is informed by our experience of the last few years, which has been very different for us.” Now in Brooklyn—where Tom thinks they “received metabolic steroids”—Javelin like to spend their time “reading, camping, and philosophizing.” In fact, before we wrap the
interview, Tom muses over his cup of coffee. “I identify with William Carlos Williams—who was a pediatrician as well as a poet—that once the blinds to the outside world are drawn, ‘Who shall say I am not the happy genius of my household?’ ‘Genius’ being a relative term here.” If you think about it, “happy” is, too. But as you listen to their irrepressibly upbeat sounds, we really don’t mind if happy is relative just as long as it’s contagious.
dollarbinsofthefuture.com
DOOM EQUATION Clad in all-black as they belt out haunting, psychedelic tunes matched with equally gloomy lyrics, British band DARK HORSES insist that their musical style isn’t dark at all. “I see it as defiant and an attempt to explore the internal world,” frontwoman Lisa Elle explains. “If this is dark, then so be it, but out of darkness comes light.”
L
ight does come out of Dark Horses’ 2012 debut Black Music, that’s overcast with an intoxicating and raw sound akin to The Kills and Massive Attack. Lisa’s hypnotic vocals resonate in the band’s first single, “Radio,” its music video giving listeners a taste of the distinct Dark Horses style—monochromatic colors, runny makeup, occult imagery, and all that fun stuff. “It’s precision with abandon,” Lisa describes their music. The term “dark horse” refers to a little known competitor who wins against everyone’s expectations, so we asked Lisa, guitarist Andy Bang, drummer Steve Ingham, bassist/synths Harry Bohay-Nowell, percussionist
72 - statusmagonline.com
By Denise Fernandez Photographed by Ali Tollervey Tommy Chain, and guitarist/organ Bobby Waterson if they stand for their name when it comes to rock & roll. “Possibly,” Lisa ponders. “Dark Horses is the coming together of creative minds to cultivate a safe space for the experience and discovery of sounds, images, and feelings. It has been a long process of inward and outward discovery, and is deeply important—perhaps vital to all it involves.” A new LP in the works and a summer packed with festival shows and studio sessions keep the band busy at the moment with
“lots of late nights leaning on the bass amp buzzing.” While the music industry’s taking Dark Horses at a whirlwind pace, its members still make sure to wear their uniform black clothing for a reason. Lisa explains, “We might wear black to mourn the death of one generation’s passion, rock & roll, and herald the glory of another’s birth— ours!”
darkhorsesmusic.com @darkhorsesmusic
OFWGKTA wonder kid EARL SWEATSHIRT gets more chummy with the likes of Mac Miller and his ever-dependable crew Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean for his new LP, Doris. Far from the hit single “Earl” that he released when he was 16, the songs from the now 19-year-old are more somber, mature, and introspective.
ROBIN THICKE cleared the Blurred Lines about his new album. With a much more feelgood pop vibe this time, the crooner decided to work with more hitmakers—e.g. Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams—rather than doing things on his own like he used to.
The “Great Escape” can be found in Paracosm, WASHED OUT’s new album, where alien creations, 50 different instruments, old keyboards, computers, and synths coincide. “It All Feels Right,” just like his first single; in simpler terms, it’s just pretty, optimistic music.
Recorded in Brussels, the BIG TV sees British post-punks WHITE LIES on a more lighthearted path—less guitars, “less of everything in general,” frontman Harry McVeigh told NME.
MAESTRO
NEW GENERATION OLD
Eleven years after the unforeseen split that saddened Britpop diehards, alt-psych ringleaders SUEDE have found themselves screeching for careerhigh comeback on Bloodsports. As frontman Brett Anderson puts it, “Anything that burns with a bit of intensity matters.” Suddenly, it smells two decades late again: a new old sound hatched on teenage nostalgia and romantic disillusionment, still aimlessly wandering on ambitious guitarrock romp warped somewhere in between 1992 and 1997. By Ian Urrutia
“Why do Suede matter in 2013? I think for the same reason that we mattered in 1993 and 2000.” I
t’s pretty admirable how Suede shrugged off smudges of commercial and critical slump, and returned to global prominence after March 2013’s Bloodsports, their sixth album to date. Mining the darker, emotive pop sensibilities of the first three albums Suede, Dog Man Star, and Coming Up with renewed confidence, the new Suede record is a melancholic art-rock opus. But like any other band trying to get back from square one, Brett, guitarist Bernard Butler, bassist Mat Osman, drummer Simon Gilbert had a rough time finishing the album. “Making a comeback record after ten years away is a very, very tricky thing to get right,” Brett relates. “Because you’ve got to walk this between being yourself and sounding like yourself, but not sounding like a self-parody and not sounding dated.” Bloodsports takes on the challenge of reliving Suede’s signature sound in ways far removed from the slit-wrist anthems of their past, updating the musical core with stadiumsized guitar riffs, moody arrangements and big-tent romanticism. To get in touch
with their old soul, Suede recruited long-time collaborator and producer Ed Buller.“It’s quite weird working with someone that knows you that well, who had worked with you for such a long time, because he, literally–every now and then–would hear something that he thought was the sound of Suede,” Mat waxes appreciation of Buller’s efforts in keeping their music tight and elegantly lean at the same time. “The record wouldn’t be anything like what it turned out to be if it wasn’t for Ed. He was so the right choice to have as producer on the record. He’s one of these people that really care about the band.” Aside from the lush production that showed Suede’s
musical vulnerability at its most disarmingly enticing, Bloodsports engages on a thematic narrative inspired by Alain de Botton’s book Essays in Love—a strangely compelling mixture of novel and nonfiction in which the nuances of relationships are examined in sharp-eyed philosophical annotations. “Bloodsports is a reference to the carnal cutand-thrust of relationships. The endless chase and game that you find yourself in, in relationships,” Anderson reveals, “I wanted it to have a narrative where the first song would be about meeting someone and the last song would be about splitting up and in between you’d have these phases like infatuation and obsession and
co-dependency and all these sort of things, and suspicion.” By excising their most introspective set of songs since 1996’s Coming Up, Suede have easily made yet another relevant album that rivals their peers’ work in the post-Britpop canon, a feat that’s hard to achieve especially in today’s ever-changing music trends. Mat sums it up, “Why do Suede matter in 2013? I think for the same reason that we mattered in 1993 and 2000. I think there’s something that we do, there’s a kind of passionate, heart-onyour-sleeve, live feeling to the band that not a lot of people do really well.”
suede.co.uk @suedeHQ
statusmagonline.com - 73
maestro
LONG LOST B-SIDE JAKE BUGG embraces who he is. Besides openly dissing One Direction earlier this year, he also likes holding two fingers up. (It’s an English gesture to say, “Fuck you.”) He holds them high to yesterday, the life he escaped from, and then to the present with his guitar and a certain degree of nonchalance.
According to FRANZ FERDINAND, there are Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, and there is a right time to release it: right now. We’ve waited four years for more of their band’s heavy hooks, daring lyrics, and disco-funk-rock music, and we’re finally getting it.
By Rem Gomez “Beware.” BIG SEAN’s Hall of Fame looks Shady. The Detroit rapper hit the studio with Eminem for his recording sessions— whether for a track or for words of wisdom, it’s unclear. Either way, Big Sean wants a place with the legends, and this album should usher him there.
A
lot of “cool” bands claim to be far reaching in musical preferences, but it’s rare to find an artist who’s genuinely attuned to music that was, that is, and that could become. A diamond in the rough is Jake Bugg. Even the most casual listener— like someone who couldn’t tell Kings of Leon and Usher apart—will identify him. There’s a voice that’s reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Don McLean, there’s an updated retro-tinged guitar sound, and there’s that mop– top that’s hard to ignore. Hailed as the “antidote to plastic pop” by Telegraph, Jake’s gritty vocals isn’t the only reason to like him. He’s also just a kid—a 19-year-old folk rocker who toured with Noel Gallagher; opened for Stone Roses, The Killers, and Lana Del Rey; modeled for Burberry; was linked to supermodel Cara Delevingne; and fed off the success of his self-titled debut album in October last year, dethroning Mumford & Sons in the UK album charts. More than just an old soul in a young body, Jake has an iconoclastic sound and messages that are timeless.
74 - statusmagonline.com
“I listen to a lot of old love records,” he says. And although he used to practice, sit in bed with his headphones, and listen to “Johnny Cash to get the low notes and then to The Beatles to get those high notes,” he says, “I see myself as a songwriter; I’ve never classed myself much as a singer.” His debut album is a tribute to his upbringing in a working class environment, his parents being separated, and his having left school at 16. “It’s nice to write about what you see and the things you do and experience,” he says. “I also love to make stories as well, you know… You gotta have some feeling, you can’t just write. Love is such a bold subject, you gotta have some emotion in there.” Jake pours all emotions out in his lyrics (“One Friday night I took a pill or maybe two / Down at the carpark I saw everyone I knew”). He sings about what he knows, and what he knows, we understand. But Jake is not someone who is easily fazed like his fame-hungry peers. Jake says, “For me, I don’t have to wake up and put a costume on everyday. I just
go out, walk out the door as me and people are cool, you know.” It’s a slap in the faces of vain, restless nonedirectioners and musicianteenagers. For the next album, Jake says, “I’ve always got songs knocking about… I always go through a stage through every song, it seems like the easiest thing in the world, but sometimes it seems like the most difficult task ever.” But like his music that tells us it’s all right to feel bad about things because it will get better, so will he. “I’m sure I’ll come back around,” he insists.
PORCELAIN RAFT found Permanent Signal in the eight months of touring. Mauro Remiddi moves away from the heavy layers of arrangements apparent in his previous album, and moves toward a far more organic approach.
jakebugg.com @JakeBugg
“…You can’t just write. Love is such a bold subject, you gotta have some emotion in there.”
An Object will be released this month, and it’s NO AGE’s follow up to 2010’s Everything in Between. The noise-rock duo is as reckless as their sound and as revved-up as ever, manufacturing, producing, and assembling the record’s packaging and labels on their own.
MAESTRO Even with the institutionalized portrayal of the Philippines as more fun, entertainment still fails at being defined as an end in itself. Fortunately, HALIK NI GRINGO have become a fixture in the local live circuit; and if anyone would hesitate to mark their calendars for Call of Booty’s August album release, at least the next sweaty gig is right around the corner.
REPOR TING F OR B OO T Y By Alice Sarmiento Photographed by Ralph Mendoza
I
t’s possible you may not have heard about self-proclaimed “dumbest band in the world” Halik ni Gringo, considering their forthcoming release, Call of Booty, has been delayed by three years. So next time their frontman Joey Santos (of Love One Another Studio and Wide Eyed Records) announces the 16-track album’s August release date, note that he could mean any of the Augusts between this one and the end of the decade. “We’re struggling with it,” says Rio Vargas, one of the band’s newest members. “But in the meantime, we’re about to release a hit single!” adds Santos. “A thousand hit singles!” Four out of seven Gringo members, Santos, Vargas, Edu Ibazeta, and Joaquin Acosta sat down over beer and pizza (because they’re boys!) to discuss the band’s growth; alluding to an infographic
online (google that shit) detailing the number of lineup changes they’ve gone through, and the shifting scope of the subject matter tackled in their seven-year-old oeuvre. “Lahat kami, tanga (We’re all dumb),” says a very sober Acosta. “And we’re all dicks to each other,” adds Ibazeta, the band’s supplier of “Physical Emotions” when asked about what brought the band together. With topics running from masturbation to getting laid to erectile dysfunction, we are clearly witnessing a very gradual shift. While Halik ni Gringo want this next record to be a significant indicator of growth, at both the personal and collective level, Santos admits there is a stigma against the band for being little more than just seven (sometimes six) silly dudes who are in it for the lolz. Yet, seven years of playing live, with props and choreography—and the gruesome task of bringing
seven (sometimes eight) people together on a regular basis— should attest to their level of commitment and hard work, as well as the friendship they’ve built (Santos and Ibazeta have known each other since 4th grade) –finishing each other’s sentences and getting together not only to play music, but to drink and watch porn. The work that goes into performing at this level also raises questions about the state of music in this day and age: Is there still more to be gained from a pressed piece of plastic (or for today’s young ‘uns, vinyl) with your band’s name on it than there would be from, say, a digital file circulated online? Or, in the case of Gringo, why can’t the music industry draw from the potent energy of a live performance to illustrate growth? Tough stuff coming from the dumbest band in the world. Given the dismal state of the recording industry—or the
shifts that the machinery for peddling Pinoy music has yet to catch a hold of—why should bands still treat the conventional album as a necessary step? These are the types of questions one asks after getting soaked through with sweat, on top of the occasional elbow to the jaw from mush-pitting (Attraction! Reaction! terminology) to any Gringo song, attesting to the fact that—despite admitting to not being “one of the most technically proficient or creative bands”—Halik ni Gringo remain a tough act to follow on any lineup. And unlike their dancey-dance predecessors, Pedicab and Taken by Cars, Halik ni Gringo need their listeners to know the words to their songs in order to be in on the joke.
facebook.com/HalikNiGringo @HalikniGringo
statusmagonline.com - 75
M A S T E R M I N D
TEAM
FAINLIGHT 12
When you’ve already worked in fashion for five years—in PR, sales, buying, and styling—the only thing left for you to do is to make fashion. BENJAMIN FAINLIGHT, at 21, scores. By Reena Mesias
U
nless you’re a well-known designer, using materials that are about to be extinct, or you’re already striking gold, selling your T-shirts won’t be easy. But young brand Les Plus Dorés New York (LPD New York) isn’t just into basic shirts. While it’s hard to pick teams when the lineup includes Margiela, Philo, and Slimane, it’s even harder not to pick them up. “It’s been a whirlwind,” founder and creative director Benjamin Fainlight describes everything that’s gone down in the last—which is the brand’s first year. In his T-shirt and jeans (his “usual outfit”), Benjamin was going over samples for the future while answering our interview. “As great as high fashion is, the most important and interesting aspect of fashion is how people wear what they do on a regular basis,” he says. It’s a shirt, but it doesn’t slack on style. These stocks will not last. There are so many brands that do logo “parodies” now. What makes LPD different? I think one difference is how we go about our goods. We’re not in the business of making parodies—to me, the shirts are homages to great minds I admire. We might be making a little joke with The Dream Team, but at the end of the day, these are people I greatly respect. The relationship between high fashion and streetwear is strong these days. Is there a deeper message behind it? Do you think it’s a middle finger to high fashion? I think some brands represent streetwear as a middle finger to fashion, but I don’t really think that’s the right way to look at it. Instead, I think it’s an expansion in definition for each. High fashion is becoming more casual, as streetwear becomes more conceptual. I think it’s a reflection of modern society, where people of any age or other characteristics have access to and are influenced by everything from skateboarding to Prada.
76 - statusmagonline.com
You’ve worked in fashion for five years. What has been the biggest challenge for you? I think the biggest challenge is putting in lots of work for something that doesn’t motivate me. When I worked at W Magazine, I learned to work hard despite long hours and uninteresting tasks. I work best doing things that I’m passionate about, which has helped make LPD New York so exciting. Your Twitter profile reads, “Good taste is the worst vice.” How is that so? I don’t tweet much anymore, but it’s a little joke about what a burden good taste can be, especially in today’s society of consumption. But Pablo Picasso also said, “Good taste is the enemy of creativity.” I’d have to disagree. I think good taste can stymie creativity because one strives for perfection at the same level as the objects one admires, but in the end I think good taste can be a guide toward better execution and goals. If we didn’t have the ability to appreciate the construction of Margiela or the materials of Rick Owens, who’s to say we wouldn’t settle for mediocrity? Any guilty pleasures? I love mint chip ice cream. We’re living in a time when it seems like all these 19-22-year olds wanna make big names for themselves. You’re quite young. Do you ever get pressured? I think there’s always some amount of pressure when you create something people react well to, since they want to know what’s next. But as far as my age goes? No, I don’t feel pressured by my age. If anything my age is a relief, since I have time to fail and restart if needed. What do I gotta do to have my name on your shirts? Do something that inspires the fashion world at large.
lpdnyc.com @fainlight
Benjamin’s tips on how to make it in New York “Stand for something. It doesn’t matter what it is, just have a story and a perspective, and stand by it.” “All black everything.” “Immerse yourself in the downtown culture.” “Network nonstop.” “Be genuine, be yourself.”
mastermind
in a punchline “A film on my life would most likely be a comedy,” says fashion designer WHITNEY POZGAY. When asked who she would cast for the lead role, she says Kristen Wiig–a lady who can capture the silliness and playfulness that Whitney calls her essence. By Zoe Laurente
W
hitney Pozgay may not be the only fashion designer in her family (yeah, she’s Kate Spade’s niece), but after working for a couple of fashion houses, she’s pushing her own label, WHIT, to become a household name. Sure, her aunt might have played fairy godmother to a certain extent, but the hard work and talent are purely Whitney’s. It may have taken a while before her brainchild was launched, but we’re sure that WHIT will stick around for the next generations. STATUS finds out how she plans to evolve from fashion’s poster child to someone who creates for posterity. When did you realize you were ready to venture out on your own? I had always planned to but tried to resist the urge so I could learn from others as long as I could. Eventually, I couldn’t wait any longer so we started WHIT in 2009. I had also gained more confidence in my aesthetic at that time. If I had launched in my earlier twenties, it would have been a very manic line. I needed that time to explore some creative phases to see what space I wanted our brand to live in. Any plans on putting up a physical store soon? I would love to have a store and plan to in the future. My husband and I fantasize about it all of the time. We envision a playfully curated store that offers more than just WHIT or fashion for that matter. Maybe a store/gallery/candy shop.
Fall/Winter 2013
You and your aunt seem to share a great sense of style. What was it like growing up? My mother had four sisters each with her own sense of style. I grew up idolizing them all. My grandmother had a wonderful way of putting herself together, and
I think that rubbed off on all of the girls, but in different ways. I hope a little of that trickled down. I grew up in Arizona and my mother’s look was a very glamorous version of American Southwestern classic whereas Kate’s aesthetic is more of an irreverent New York preppy. My aesthetic lives in the middle, but with some extra quirks. Do you have a closet cheat sheet? Which pieces from your closet gets you through any day? I have about 40 versions of the French striped top. I treat them as a neutral and wear them with anything. We make a few different versions every season, but I also love St. James’s classic staple to mix with our printed pants and structured skirts. You mentioned that most of your collections’ ideas can be tracked from actress Michelle Williams. What about her do you like? I really like Michelle’s sensibility, style, and ideas. However, I have a handful of fashion icons that I always go back to including Jean Seberg, Jane Birkin, Mia Farrow, and Françoise Hardy. Michelle Williams has that same effortlessly cool spirit. Her look is never too fussy or complicated, but she always looks pulled together. Her look is a little classic, but still playful and modern. Where do you see WHIT five years from now? We do collaborations with different artists for our prints each season, and it’s been a dream. We’d love to do a Jeff Koons print or something with Hugo Guinness. In five years, I would like to have a store and expand into accessories and possibly men’s.
whit-ny.com @Whit_NY
statusmagonline.com - 77
Mastermind
“My dad told me to treat characters like regular people with objectives, goals, and aspirations.”
T
“My brother Ping asked me to work on a project. I had a lot of free time on my hands, so I was like ‘Yeah, okay, let’s try it!’” explains awardwinning actor ALEX MEDINA on how he first got into performing for independent cinema. Coming from a bloodline of distinguished actors, Alex breaks free from familiar ties as he creates his own web of work including Cinemalaya 2013 finalist Babagwa. By Denise Fernandez Photographed by Ralph Mendoza
78 - statusmagonline.com
here is a preconceived notion of actors putting on contrived personalities as soon as they face the press, but actor Alex Medina is not one for fronting. Quiet but self-assured, he shook off the stress of taping-filled week—even agreeing to go for a stroll among the neon lights of midnight Makati. It didn’t take long for Alex to establish a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Within his first year of acting, he managed to work on roles from a handful of local indie flicks like Pascalina and Mariposa, but it was his performance on Cinema One original Palitan that bagged him an award for Best Actor last 2012, proving his natural talent influenced by his father and veteran actor Pen Medina. Growing up with his older sibling, Ping, Alex assures that there were absolutely no pressures of following in his father and brother’s footsteps. “’It’s up to you on what you want to do,’ my dad told us as he raised us. There wasn’t any pressure into becoming an actor. He’s very open to any career path we wanted. It just so happened that I got into acting, and my dad couldn’t be any happier,” he says. Having worked on numerous independent films last year, Alex shares that he isn’t particularly picky when signing up for a project. He’s just grateful for the opportunity. “I usually just get what’s coming to me,” he shares. “Directors have specific people and characters on their mind so I’m thankful that they think of me when they write scripts or make concepts.” While Alex heavily focused on film in 2012, he made a
successful mainstream debut as he crossed over to television, seizing a part in series Ina Kapatid Anak. Alex mentions how intimidating it was working with showbiz heavyweights Cherry Pie Picache and Renaldo Valdez. He stresses, “The pressure is more intense because you’re there and you’re working with all these veterans and legends. They’re institutions and pillars of acting. It’s always nervewracking but they’re very accommodating and open with me.” After offering a taste of his performance for local television, Alex returns to his roots in independent film as he stars in the Cinemalaya 2013 finalist Babagwa (The Spider’s Lair). He plays an internet scammer who attempts to con a wealthy bachelorette, falling for her in the process. “It’s easy to trick people online, especially with money, sex, and all that,” Alex says of the dangers of cyberspace. Despite his early success, Alex keeps himself grounded by following his father’s muchtreasured advice. “My dad told me to treat characters like regular people with objectives, goals, and aspirations. Say, your character wants fame, and he has these drives to pursue it,” he shares. “And the basics really—always talk to directors…” The easygoing 25-year-old enjoys music, fine arts, and comic books, even admitting to wanting to produce a short stop-motion film at some point in his life. Wherever Alex decides to go, we’re sure to follow. After all, after witnessing his good-natured manner towards the dozens of fans mobbing him in the streets during our photo shoot, it didn’t take much to get us tangled up in the web he’s effortlessly spun.
@AlexVMedina
mastermind
Courtney Act
W
Boy George
Matthew Rhys
BODY
Jaimie Alexander
For photographer MAGNUS HASTINGS, taking people’s portraits is about communication more than anything else. The human form is fascinating and catching the moment when it exposes its hidden codes is what the game is all about.
hile jetsetting from LA to Miami, Hastings had the opportunity to chat with us while preparing for a friend’s birthday. Excited to unwind with a large Mojito by South Beach, he quips, “It’s a hard life.” Moving to LA 18 months ago, Magnus coveted for a shift in his career as a noted photographer back home in London. Though he had been shooting celebrities, he felt as though he needed to mix it up, so he moved to Hollywood with his dog, George. Moved by the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, and Robert Mapplethorpe—his portfolio reveals a changeability that he describes as having a “split personality.” From shooting natural portraits, drags, and constrained fashion editorials to being a major contributor to Boy George’s picture book, King of Queens, Hastings continuously attempts to capture realness by rolling with the risqué. How did you develop your passion for photography? My father dabbled with photography so I always saw him playing around with pictures, often of beautiful women and it seemed magical somehow. When I was 15, I found all his old enlarging equipment in the attic and turned my bedroom into a darkroom. I just taught myself, stubbornly not attending any classes or reading a book. I just photographed my friends. I fell in love with the instant fix of it—well, nearly instant. I realized that I have always seen light. When I look at someone, I always notice how the light is falling and what it does to the face. What about the drag scene, how did you get into it? I find drag queens fantastic subjects. There is freedom and creativity that you don’t really get with models; it’s a real collaboration of ideas, which is
exciting to me. I shot Courtney Act in a dumpster full of trash, which was absolutely disgusting, but we both had a creative vision that took over and was more important to us both than discomfort. I also understand how to light them which is very specific, because the makeup is all about shading. If you light most drag queens from the side, they just look like a bloke. So you must have praised the movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Priscilla is great; it’s very Sydney, Australia and very of its time. There is a lot of joy in that film. You’ve made me want to watch it again now! How was it like working with Boy George? It was amazing. The first time was for a gay magazine cover, but he loved the images and immediately booked me to do some press shots for him which ended up everywhere. We had met a couple of times socially before, but I got to know him, and he really is a genuinely lovely and obviously a funny man. Who has been the most outrageous character you’ve worked with? I have had a very rude singer who wouldn’t look me in the eye. I had publicists from Disney screaming, “You got it? Move on!” while I was shooting Hilary Duff. The person I expected to be most outrageous was Janice Dickinson, but she was charm personified and couldn’t have been sweeter or more professional. In a positively outrageous way, I have worked extensively with British burlesque star Immodesty Blaize who is funny and constantly naked.
@magnushastings magnushastings.co.uk
By Kathleen Curtis
statusmagonline.com - 79
Mastermind
We Move to the Ways of Mercury
QUIRKS OF A WALLFLOWER Celina de Guzman emerges from the rabbit hole and allows us a glimpse into her own whimsical whirled. By Meg Manzano Photographed by Nick St. James
E
We Left the Kitchen Cold
These Were Our Dialogs of Sweet Suddender
80 - statusmagonline.com
ver the riddle, 23-year-old Celina de Guzman’s oddly enchanting works are quite the curious lot. “Everything I create is emotion-driven,” intimates Celina as she stares at us through a mist of elaborate graphite and playful watercolors. “Unfortunately, I can never create anything I’m content with unless I’m experiencing emotional crises or recovering from mental challenges.” Skilled at seamlessly fusing contradictions in a most lyrical manner, Celina’s art has gotten audiences (particularly self-proclaimed grammar Nazis) at a constant standstill—perhaps out of sheer confusion at how a piece could be found nonsensical and yet still entirely profound, delicate and arresting, whimsical yet thoughtful, fluorescent while simultaneously hinting at the realms of the dark and twisted. Although the homegrown artist’s day job involves various aspects of graphic design (she holds the executive creative director post at Trifecta Visual Communications and is a cookie monster supplier with her baking brainchild, Sweetleaf), Celina admits a hell of a stronger affinity to illustration over graphic design upon interrogation of loyalty between the two crafts. “Graphic design is too objective, [it] dwells too much on problem solving and message-conveying,” muses Celina, “I feel that I function best through illustratively expressing and satisfying my emotionally-charged art-heart.” Reveling in the allure of expression through art, Celina spent her kindergarten doodling about. “My 10-year-old self was set on becoming a painter,” says the artist,
“during my kinder graduation, I faintly remember stating on stage that I wanted to paint and donate to charity.” Though her painting profession has yet to take off, it’s safe to say Celina has found a similar avenue of madness—one that has afforded her the chance to introduce her little “artbabies” to the outside world. Presently known among internet folks as the illustrator, Celdee, Celina has not only managed to gain an online following but has also transcended computer screens as she showcased her peculiar little pieces in her first solo exhibition last summer. “Cold Milk Culprits was surreal,” says Celina of her exhibit. “As much as I wanted to veer away from my frequented topics of love and the lack of it, I felt the need to utilize pent-up emotions settling in my system.” Thus began the start of Heima’s love affair with the artist as they hosted Celina’s Cold Milk Culprits in Heima Brixton. “I took the idea of lucid dreaming—using dreamscapes as a venue in taking advantage of certain people, dictating events, and releasing suppressed emotions,” contemplates Celina. What it then resulted to was a raw and imaginative flight of fancy care of the wunderkind herself. Asked what new “artbabies” we can expect to be beheld in the future, Celina hesitates, and admits that she’d rather surprise the universe. But upon further prodding, the artist admits that she’d like to spend the rest of the year working on her craft. Other than having a few collaborations here and there, and perhaps even an interesting concept of creating a wordless novel (this we absolutely cannot wait to see), Celina carefully strolls back in the rabbit hole to create what we assume will be another otherworldly occurrence.
celdee.com @celdee
mastermind
FLASH FICTION
Photographer MATTHEW FROST doesn’t care what camera or app you use to validate your selfie-esteem. What he cares about is that you find a unique voice and exploit it until it finds meaning. He explains, “It’s very revealing, to keep something interesting happening or naturally to your eye or friends. You can show something really interesting by being.” By Rita Faire
T
“
he last shoot I did was this little job… for Victoria’s Secret,” jokes Matthew Frost. Of course he knows it’s anything but little. While he understands the commercial pressure to produce the perfect photo for the perfect girl, he treats the shoot like any other day in the office. “Normal day, pretty laid-back… We had a lot of fun. It was pretty random, especially in a studio in an open space. Everyone had a signature pose; you always want to make them look like themselves.” That’s the Frost way: Deal with headliners head on and stream the tension toward scene-stealers for photos boiling with reality’s pressure points. He explains, “I quite like fashion stuff, but it’s just really retarded. It’s nice to stay outside and look in. [Fashion] is just a really random world with people who make great clothes as a form of expression and photographers capturing it, but there are people who just want to be around something glamorous. It’s a strange world, but it attracts gossipy, super trendy, or pretentious people, and they don’t even know it.” Such caricatures were the inspiration for Matthew’s Fashion Film, LA-based brand Viva Vena!’s tongue-and-cheek campaign video starring manic pixie dream girl personified, Lizzy Caplan. Though the piece is ripe with jibes about fashion films in general (which Matthew notes are often beautifully shot but lacking in story and purpose), the photographer and filmmaker
has been known to occasionally indulge in its world of finesse. As a rule though: he takes fashion as a nice vacation spot for his creativity, though he’d never really consider making it a permanent residence. That said, he hopes that the exposure it provides will take him home. “The visibility that one project brings you can really contribute to the tone you are putting out to the world,” says Matthew. “[Your work] is linked together now in a really nice way where [no one medium] is separate anymore… It’s not so much about the different hats you wear; it’s more about your overall tone… People really do enjoy recognizing or seeing a voice.” With the platform that Fashion Film and Une Fille Comme Les Autres (a straightforward foray into the genre in collaboration with Jalouse) has given Matthew, he is now able to balance photo shoots with client-related film work and doing rounds in Hollywood and New York. “I’ve been working with movie agents, but as every director who does short films will tell you… trying to do something long form to a screenplay is a huge undertaking,” he shares. Taking the road not taken, he can only welcome the challenge. He adds, “It’s exciting. That will hopefully be the next step.”
matthew-frost.com
statusmagonline.com - 81
HEAVYHITTER
For JOE DEMPSIE , life after the party doesn’t have to become post- Skins depression. At the end of the day, it’s a liberating experience that grants you a shot at the throne. By Rita Faire Photographed by Alex White
statusmagonline.com - 83
HEAVYHITTER
Working class. Big broad-shouldered blacksmith with thick black hair. Tall and muscular… Joe Dempsie? I dunno kiddos,” Game of Thrones fan Leilani Holmes reacts when Joe Dempsie’s casting as Gendry Waters broke on Winteriscoming.net back in 2010. At the time, Joe had brown hair, a pale (if not pasty) complexion, and a reedlike frame—hardly what people imagined for the blacksmith’s apprentice with an unexpected royal lineage. To fandom newcomers, it seemed like a huge fuss for such a small role (especially since Gendry only had two scenes in the Game of Thrones’s first season). But longtime fans of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series knew that whoever got Gendry would play a larger part in the grand scheme of kings. Skepticism had become the norm ever since the show first started development in 2009. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau had been accused of having too big a nose to fit the role of Ser Jaime Lannister. Michelle Fairley had been called out for not being attractive enough for Catelyn Stark. Even Jack Gleeson had been slammed for not looking cruel enough to play the psycho king Joffrey Baratheon. All in all, many of the doubts proved baseless. No one cared about Jaime’s nose after they saw his entitled swagger. Catelyn did look quite pretty, even as she mourned over the tragedies her family was dealt. And true enough, Joffrey’s head-chopping, whore-shooting, ego-driven antics proved more than evil enough for the now fully satisfied fanbase. As for Joe, he dyed his hair black, hit the gym to gain some muscle, and endured a costume of gunk, mud, and grime to fit the bill. Now, fans (specifically of the female persuasion) eagerly await scenes with his shirt off. As for the height, well, they seemed to have forgotten all about that. This break, however, was not instantaneous as it seemed. Like most of his career, it took time. Known mostly for his TV debut in E4’s Skins, Joe played the show’s fun-loving, nudity-prone Chris Miles—a character the official website describes as someone who will “snort/screw/rob/ snort anything.” The party raged on for two more seasons before Chris met his untimely end via brain hemorrhage. Shortly after, the first generation of Roundview College rebels left the party, and the actors who played them ambled on to life beyond the rave.
84 - statusmagonline.com
Co-stars Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, and Kaya Scodelario got a good head start. Hoult starred in a supporting role for Tom Ford’s A Single Man, Patel made awards circuit rounds with Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionare, and Scodelario carried the torch for the next generation of Bristol-based twats while becoming somewhat of a London It girl. Joe recounts his life after the show. “It was a testament to Skin’s popularity that I became too closely associated to that show in the couple of years that followed.” Outside one-off stints on the BBC’s Merlin and Doctor Who, and minor roles in flicks like Tom Hooper’s The Damned United—albeit alongside the likes of Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, and Jim Broadbent—he mostly stayed out of the limelight, leaving both fans and critics wondering with, “Why isn’t he doing more?” The answer: Because he didn’t want to. Joe Dempsie fell off the grid because “the type of work he wanted to do wasn’t coming his way.” Instead, the bulk of it just wanted him to reprise his party animal, goofball persona to capitalize off his fame as Chris Miles. The result was a crippling two years of relatively no work. But instead of thinking it was the end, Joe referred to it as the beginning. “[Those first two years after Skins] were probably the most important of my career. It gave me a chance to think about what it is I really want to do… I went through various stages. It’s wasn’t all just plain failing,” he laughs; reminding us that he didn’t sit on his ass the entire time. He still went out to auditions and took to the daily grind—even doing voiceover work for a Clearasil lipstick ad—but things weren’t falling into place. “First, you’re wondering if it’s something you’re doing wrong. You’re worrying if you’re ever gonna get a job ever again and then you kind of come through the other side and it ends up strengthening your resolve.” Discovering that being a struggling actor was more of a weapon than a disability, Joe became more selective with scripts and the type of projects he would gun for. “I was out of work for nine months. I might as well have been out of work for nineteen months,” he explains. “You get through that stage and then you go, ‘Well… I’ve gone this long without having any work. I’m not going to go back just to do something I don’t believe in.’”
HEAVYHITTER
“You might as well give the actors you’ve already got a chance of doing something a bit different.”
“
statusmagonline.com - 85
HEAVYHITTER
Guts led to glory with a slew of gritty roles with enough meat for an eager young actor to sink his teeth into—one of which was John, a wandering soul who ends up being the primary villain in Jack Thorne’s critically acclaimed supernatural drama, The Fades. Eventually, he got a chance at the throne. Originally auditioning for Jon Snow—a role which eventually went to friend Kit Harington—he came back two more times to try for the smaller roles, both ending in a bust. The rejection made him feel like rubbish, that was, until he got cast as King Robert Baratheon’s bastard. Three seasons down the road and another one already filming, he’s relishing the fact that the Game of Thrones’s writers and producers saw it fit to give his role more depth than the book promised. “They’ve gone so offpiece with Gendry,” he admits—addressing the topic that fellow Baratheon bastard Edric Storm was written out of the series to give Gendry the gist of his plotline. “You might as well give the actors you’ve already got—and I’m being biased here—a chance of doing something
86 - statusmagonline.com
a bit different.” Instead of trotting along with the Brotherhood Without Banners, Gendry is taken by Carice van Houten’s Melisandre to the isle of Dragonstone so she might cast dark spells using his royal blood. “That [scene in Dragonstone] was the first time I had a wash in three years.” Up to that point, he’d spent most of filming in Belfast, where he and co-star Maisie Williams (Arya) were deprived sunlight and clean clothes—at least while the film rolled. Joe muses, “It’s amazing how small things like that start to become so exciting. You’re not only getting wash but you’re getting new clothes!” Not to mention stripping them off shortly after for a lovely lady like Carice. “It was like all my Christmases had come at once.” His Christmases continue beyond the Game of Thrones set. He gleams about his new project Southcliffe, calling it a “stylistic” and “poignant” four-part drama about “an outsider, played by Sean Harris, who goes on a shooting spree throughout this sleepy town. It’s about how those who are left behind deal with the aftermath of it… trying to move on with their lives.” The Channel 4 series
puts him alongside British heavyweights Sean Harris, Eddie Marsan, Shirley Henderson, and Rory Kinnear, as well as fellow Skins alum Kaya Scodelario. “There’s so much pedigree attached to it even from the first few sentences my agent sent to me,” says Joe, “It’s really quite a heavy subject matter, and it’s not gonna be an easy watch for people, but I think it’s really going to be powerful… I’ve never been in a job before where I’m this excited about seeing the finished [product], and I think they’ve done something really special with it. Hopefully, I hold my own against these screen legends.” If Joe’s track record proves anything, it’s that he has enough balls to stick out the rough patches and come up on top in the end—on the Iron Throne or not.
@joedempsie
HEAVYHITTER
statusmagonline.com - 87
bags and set foot in New York. He started a line of graphic shirts for Opening Ceremony comprising images of marble statue heads and nebulae from the Hubble telescope. Up to this day, he’s the kind of designer who stays true to his thinking man’s aesthetic. His shows’ music score transitions gracefully from Slowdive to Prokofiev. In the same way, he doesn’t believe in drastic reinventions. He tells Vice, “I like shows to build slow, like a narrative that grows naturally into a crescendo.” Fashion isn’t exactly rocket science, but Patrik fancies this equation.
In another universe, menswear designer PATRIK ERVELL would have been solving the world’s problems by being a diplomat, but the cosmos led him to calculate risks in centimeters, not charters. The evolution is slow but exact. Precision is in the prescription. Science fiction is the inspiration. Overstating is not an option. By Kristine Dabbay
G
oing back to his sylvan roots, Patrik Ervell’s Fall 2013 collection depicts nocturne in shaded woodlands, ivies, and budding petals. Always the first to cut off his designs’ overgrowths, he grounds his fantasies through industrial methods such as using gold foil, silk parachutes, and even oxidized fabrics that balance utility and elegance. He tells Vice, “Menswear—it has to be grounded in reality. If it’s not grounded in reality, it loses its power.” Though sci-fi has enough material to drown onlookers in a maelstrom of information and overarching themes, Patrik prizes the genre for its innate masculinity. Forget costumes and cartoons; there is reward
in filtering the weird and fertilizing its soil. Fruit of the labor: One learns to tend to a garden without making it flowery. Born in America and raised by Swedish parents, Patrik dreamed to travel the world and tackle foreign affairs, but his revenge as a nerd came in unexpected ways. Who would have thought that the kid who hated shopping and won a county science fair in middle school for experimenting on biodegradable garbage bags would soon be a fashion designer heralded by a cult of welldressed gentlemen? After realizing he wasn’t meant to become a diplomat even if he already passed the requirements, he packed his
Hey Patrik, what’s up? How’s 2013 treating you so far? So far so good. We just moved into a beautiful new office which I’m happy about. You wanted to be a diplomat but decided not to pursue it. How did you get the courage to just go ahead and chase your path in fashion without formal education whatsoever? I started very small with just a few T-shirts at Opening Ceremony when it first opened. Gradually, I expanded each season with new categories. It wasn’t ‘til three years later that I actually had a full collection; a lot of it was learning by doing. You mentioned your parents are “pretty buttoned-up people.” How do you think this background affected your aesthetic? I definitely think my background has had an effect on my aesthetic. My parents are Swedish, but I was raised in Northern California. I think the combination of those two things has definitely led to a specific aesthetic. You used to be the Associate Editor of V which was so much smaller back then. You also met Humberto and Carol of OC before they were even into fashion. Now, all of you are bigger and
HEAVY HITTER
“Creative independence is not worrying about selling things.”
doing your own thing. How did you do it? Were you always one of the ambitious types? I think I’ve always been pretty ambitious, but I think that’s also very common in New York. This really is a city that draws the most ambitious people. I think if a person comes here, it’s usually because they have drive to do something. I’m just curious; being a selfproclaimed nerd, can you tell us how a nerd can survive the highs and lows of the fashion industry? I think the best way to survive the fashion industry is by keeping it at arm’s length. But I also think the fashion industry is full of nerds. I’m a girl who’s always loved menswear. Since most people know your views about men’s fashion, what’s the ideal girl for Patrik? Is she androgynous, powerful, delicate, low-key, or flashy? Any muses? I think she is probably pretty low-key. The menswear mindset is very different from a womenswear mindset. I approach women’s
clothes the same way I do men’s clothing. I think where I end up with the women’s clothes is something less about “display” and more about the quality of the product. You told T Magazine that you “want to make something more than clothes. You want to send a bigger aesthetic message.” What’s the underlying meaning beneath the clothes you create? What is the “bigger message”? I think of it as a romantic modernism… an approach to modernism that isn’t cold and sterile but is instead deeply romantic and emotional. That’s always been my goal—to make clothes that make you feel something. I like what you said that menswear should be grounded to reality; otherwise, it loses its power. But you also use sci-fi elements in your work. How do you marry contrasting concepts? Sci-fi is an important reference because as a menswear designer, it’s a way of experimenting with fantasy while still feeling very
masculine; that is a tricky thing to do. I also feel like sci-fi is a kind of romantic futurism that’s useful to think about when I’m designing. In fashion, you have the chance to reinvent yourself every six months. Does that apply to you personally? How does fashion evolve from vanity to something deeper and substantial? I’m pretty steady and even as a person. I don’t really ever reinvent myself very often. I think my clothes have a bit of the same spirit. I don’t go through dramatic seasonal shifts; there is one narrative
arc that continues through all of my collections. For something lighter; you travel a lot. What are your favorite places and why? I always love spending time in Paris. I think that’s a very American thing… falling in love with Paris. Lastly, complete the sentence: Creative independence is… not worrying about selling things.
patrikervell.com
statusmagonline.com - 89
HEAVY HITTER
Just when you think THE LONELY ISLAND have focused on separate, serious, and more sensible projects after Saturday Night Live, they haven’t. The incredibad American comedy troupe have reunited to loosen their turtlenecks and chains for the The Wack Album. Hold it: this isn’t another second childhood phase. Jorma Taccone emphasizes, “It is our most mature album.” Can you believe it? “Sensible” is clearly relative. Story by Reena Mesias Interview courtesy of MCA Music
The rap game
is not just a young man’s game. You have Snoop Dogg metamorphose into Snoop Lion. Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail pushed Recording Industry Association of America to alter its rules. Nas is still on fire with the rumored twelfth album. Then there’s The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone who have been making live comedy skits since 2001. But is it justifiable to compare frappers’(fake rappers)
90 - statusmagonline.com
parameters for success to the ones of real rappers? Schaffer can only aspire, “You can’t fake rap when you’re too old. Then again, rappers keep getting older, and they don’t stop rapping. So maybe, as the rap game matures, so can the fake rap game.” Jackassery, vulgarity, well-crafted hooks, as well as famous and legitimate featured guests; The Lonely Island’s formula is still the same. Sticking to what got them on top of the frap game was the best thing to do, but this time around, despite reiterating a million times that it’s a strictly comedic venture, listeners can make sense out
of their ideas—especially today when everything’s about conformity, consumerism, and vanity, giving the boys something to make fun of. Even if they are getting older, their blueprint surprisingly does not. “You afraid of death? / Well I’m afraid not.” Satire or not, the lyrics to “Diaper Money” are tongue-in-cheek, inyour-face, and super sarcastic to the point that they sound irritating. But if you think about it, the charm lies on how it becomes even more annoying because it’s logical. “It’s an honest song about the inevitability of your own death and the letdowns of life,” Samberg laughs.
HEAVY HITTER
“People were like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna go take a shit in that driveway—YOLO!’ … That’s not really seizing the day. There’s YOLO and then there’s being a dick.”
In hit single “YOLO” with Kendrick
Lamar and Adam Levine, there is a deeper message behind 2012’s most clichéd expression. Samberg says, “I have no problem with the idea behind YOLO… but it got so co-opted and homogenized and boring. People were like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna go take a shit in that driveway—YOLO!’ …That’s not really seizing the day. There’s YOLO and then there’s being a dick.” And how can you not talk about “Spring Break Anthem?” They sing in chorus: “Bros before hoes and chicks with no clothes and / Slammin’ shots and marry a man!” But Samberg explains how the song is more than just about spring break. “It was pointing out how so many of the macho, aggro dudes who have such a problem with gay marriage have no problems with acting like fucking animals on spring break. Meanwhile, gay marriage is about people who just want to be civilized and have rights and care for each other.” With a few hits and a number of misses, Samberg, Schaffer, and Taccone will still take a go at it. People call it fake rap, most call it a joke, but the creative process isn’t. Ironically, the art of humor is something to be taken seriously. “Whenever we work with a rapper, we always assume they’ll write the verse themselves because it’s weird to hand a rapper a verse and, of course, our verse is never going to be better than theirs,” Samberg says, “But we will explain the song’s premise and suggest things they may want to hit on. And sometimes they take those notes and shape the verse based on that, and sometimes they don’t.” The production is also carefully deliberated. They choose to have different sounds—from the pop, white rap-style of “YOLO” to snare-heavy “The Compliments”— just so listening to their album doesn’t get redundant. When it comes to collaborating with
first-class artists, Schaffer adds, “Our one note to everybody is: ‘We want it to sound like you’re singing one of your hits.’ Because some people come in and think, ‘Oh, this is a joke thing, I’ll just spit it out and be done.’ But we want it to really be like one of their songs.” Spoofing pop culture, celebrities, and recent events can demand some insensitivity, but the band seem to be very conscious about their image and that of the featured artist who spoofs with them. “Generally, we try to make fun of ourselves and how we’re trying to take part in this culture that we don’t belong to,” Samberg says. “If we were going to puncture the image of an artist that we thought would affect them negatively, we would try to bail on it. Take for example Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, who still kept his cool demeanor in the music video for “Boombox.” It’s just something even three crazy guys wouldn’t wanna mess with. “There
are people you look up to, and you don’t want to ruin their thing.” The Lonely Island are people you should commend as well. Scientifically speaking, there is a high correlation between topical humor and intelligence. To be able to parody something, you need to be creative and know a lot about something to avoid looking and sounding like a mere, complete idiot. The Lonely Island may be fake rappers, but they are authentic fans of hip-hop. “We definitely do some stuff just for us. The Song ‘We Need Love’ has a Digital Underground reference,” Taccone says. “And on ‘We’ll Kill U,’ there’s a reference to East Flatbush Project’s ‘Tried by 12’ that zero percent of people would ever get. And we did a ‘Superthug’ reference on ‘We Like Sportz.’ If you had to know something to get the joke, we’d pull back, but that’s not the case with those references,” he adds.
While some people can judge The Lonely Island solely in terms of music and conclude that they’re only “catchy but shallow,” The Grammys disagrees. In 2009, they were nominated for “I’m on a Boat.” Samberg recalls, “It was also like a reverse point of pride because most people were like, ‘Dude, you got nominated for a realsong Grammy!’ And we’re like, ‘We’re making comedy, we want the comedy nomination!’ We’re not complaining—Pink did her circus show above us during the show and dropped glitter on us.” So don’t be so uptight, talking about the three like they’re full of crap and crap alone. The Lonely Island’s The Wack Album is a music parodist’s paradise. You can’t deny it. We have moments in our lives that warrant a soundtrack just like that.
thelonelyisland.com @thelonelyisland
statusmagonline.com - 91
HEAVY HITTER
Hollywood is a scary place, but it’s nothing that a rogue can’t handle. MICHAEL SOCHA trades in the gritty streets of London for the whimsy of Wonderland. By Rita Faire Photographed by David Sheldrick Styled by Alexandra Greenhill Makeup by Lily Park
B
eing a villain on cult sci-fi drama Doctor Who is something every British actor has on their bucket list. For Derbyborn Michael Socha, he imagines that his stint on the dream show would be as “some earthling who wants to be an alien…” With that in mind, it’s hard to believe that he wasn’t even into the entire genre until being cast in the late (but great) Being Human where he played the rough yet gentlemanly werewolf, Tom McNair. Michael says, “I’m an avid viewer of real, sort of gritty drama, but then when I was watching vampires, werewolves, and all that sort of shit, I was loving it! I was getting really into it, and I’ve been suspending my disbelief for enjoyment’s sake.” A fine approach by any standard, it has led him down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland where he will play the Knave of Hearts in Once Upon a Time’s upcoming spinoff. At what point did you decide that you wanted to become an actor? I did it because of a teacher, I suppose. When I realized that I wanted to do this for a living, I was still probably in school. But people thought I was a twat.
People couldn’t get it. My mates took a while to get used to it. But the teachers kept asking me, “So what do you want to be when you grow up,” and I’d say, “I want to be an actor.” And then they’d say, “If you don’t do that, what do you want to do?” [I said,] “I don’t want to be fucking else. I want to be an actor.” They all thought I was a bit of a dickhead. Tell us about your take on the Knave of Hearts. He’s a really cool guy… He’s happy by himself but whether or not he’s happy with himself is something I’ve yet to find out. He floats through the world, maybe a little but not bitter, but he is just untrusting. He’s okay with himself. I fear to break him down before I do him but I’ve not read… [the rest of] the scripts. He seems very different from your previous character, Tom from Being Human, Yeah. He’s not half as nice as Tom. How was the switch like from playing Tom to the roguish Knave of Hearts? Every character is a different, I love it. I want to take a bit of time in my life to be a bit like someone else. It sounds weird, but I’m so lucky that I can do that… to explore and be different. Yeah, that’s true. When you look at the roles you’ve had so far—Harvey from This Is England, Tom from Being Human, and now the Knave of Hearts—it’s really polarizing in that sense, and yet they’re all complex characters.
92 - statusmagonline.com
But you know, I also think that there is a core similarity between every character, and I always try to play the truth. I never perform by textbook. I always try and have as much real emotion in it as possible. There’s always a little bit of that truthful core that I try to bring into all my roles. There’s always a glimpse of something behind the character. On a whole, I do try not to make up stuff. If you do it for the sake of it, then you just ruin it. With the cult following for Being Human. What’s the weirdest fan encounter you’ve had so far? I don’t know, I mean with the Being Human fans, they’re all supernatural fans. They’re not weird, but they’re very expressive. I’ve been to Comic Con before where people come dressed as the characters, and I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life. I was quite awed by it. I was shocked. Did you meet anyone dressed as Tom at Comic Con? I did not see anyone dressed as Tom. That would have been so weird though. Yeah, but it doesn’t take much to dress like Tom, does it? All you need is to borrow a coat… and you’re done. But you know they dress like the Twilight kids and that’s just a checkered shirt and they can call themselves a vampire. Yeah, that’s it. It seems like dressing the part has gotten a bit easier lately.
HEAVY HITTER
““I don’t want to be fucking anything else. I want to be an actor.” They all thought I was a bit of a dickhead.”
British dramas have been getting a lot of attention across the pond lately. What do you think is so unique about it? I’ve not done loads of telly to be honest with you, but I started out doing English films and it started out that every single person involved in these local, independent British films were doing it for the love [of the project]. No one was getting paid; they only did [the films] because they wanted to. There was no real hope of massive stardom. There was just a sheer love for every department who works in these films. We’re doing it because we love it, because we love creating these films and we expect nothing. For whatever reason, I think it’s just passion. British actors are also getting a lot of attention. Does it pressure you to try for Hollywood? To be honest with you, this kind of thing is the biggest thing to ever happen to me. I never once, when I was a kid, actually think that I could be able to do this sort of thing, like work abroad. It’s never entered my head, Hollywood… scares me. And even speaking to you, and being featured in a magazine, this is odd for me. This is completely a new ball game. But I don’t know. If [the chance] comes, I’m go for anything. I’ve got to like the project, obviously, but I’m just happy that I’m doing what I do. So I’ll do any project that I want to do that will have me.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get a part? It was one of the first short films that I did. It was a Hindi film, and I had to do a dance. I was about 15 and I was a capwearing, cigarette-smoking, little shit. After the audition, I thought, “Fuck it. I’ve just made an absolute idiot out of myself. For what?” [Later on, the crew contacted me] and said, “Yeah, we want to cast you.” And I was like, “Oh wow! That’s incredible.” And then they said, “And we’ll give you three hundred pounds.” Wow! Even better! But I still had to dance like that in the actual short film which is still out there, if anyone gets it.
@michaelsocha
statusmagonline.com - 93
PRESENTS
FEATURING
NIGHTVISION STATUS INDePENDENT ISSUE RELEASE PARTY @ Hyve
by Kappo Rivera
statusmagonline.com - 95
NIGHTVISION
Copacabana Pelayo VS DAVID by Gerard Estadella
LOST AND FOUND #12 by Gerard Estadella
96 - statusmagonline.com
NIGHTVISION
Republiq University @ Republiq by Pam Santos
ZERO MONDAYS @ Imperial by Pam Santos
statusmagonline.com - 97
NIGHTVISION
SOCIAL SATURDAYS @ Aracama by Pam Santos
WHAT HAPPENS AT EDC by The Cobrasnake
98 - statusmagonline.com
NIGHTVISION
Chanel West Coasty by The Cobrasnake
End of Days Let’s Party by The Cobrasnake
statusmagonline.com - 99
DIRECTORY BRANDS 21 MEN SM Megamall, Ortigas City 3.1 PHILLIP LIM 31philliplim.com ADIDAS adidas.com ALDO Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City ALEXANDER MCQUEEN alexandermcqueen.com AHAVA ahava.com BENCH Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City BOBBI BROWN Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City BORGHESE borghese.com BUTTER LONDON butterlondon.com CALL IT SPRING Greenbelt 3, Makati City CHLOE LENNOX twitter.com/chloelennox CLARINS Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City COTTON ON SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City CREATIVE RECREATION cr8rec.com DAY BIRGET AT MIKKELSEN day.dk DAS dasmyshoes.ph DC SHOES dcshoes.com DIESEL Greenbelt 3, Makati City DOROTHY PERKINS SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City ERIC DELOS SANTOS ericdelossantos.com.ph EVER NEW Bonifacio High Street Central, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Ortigas City GIORGIO ARMANI Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City GLAMGLOW glamglowmud.com GORGEOUS COSMETICS gorgeouscosmetics.com GUERLAIN Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City HERMIONE DE PAULA hermionedepaula.com JANE IREDALE janeiredale.com KIEHL’S Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City LANVIN lanvin.com LAURA GELLER laurageller.com MAC Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City MAWI LONDON mawi.co.uk MIRACLE SKIN TRANSFORMER miracleskintransformer.com NAIL LOFT nailloftspa.com NIKE nike.com NYX nyxcosmetics.com OBEY Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati OXYGEN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PENSHOPPE SM Mall Of Asia, Pasay City PROMOD Bonifacio High Street Central, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City ROCKSMITH Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati SPRINGFIELD Greenbelt 3, Makati City SSUR Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati
STEVE MADDEN Greenbelt 5, Makati City STILA stilacosmetics.com SUITE BLANCO SM Aura, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City SWEDISH HASBEENS swedishhasbeens.com TOPMAN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City TOPSHOP SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City URSULA MASCARO ursulamascaro.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 VEEJAY FLORESCA veejayfloresca.com ZOË JORDAN zoe-jordan.com ZOE LEE zoelee.co.uk ARTISTS Charlotte Alexander (Assistant Stylist) charlotte-alexander.com Sean Armenta (Photographer) seanarmenta.com Camilla Ashworth (Stylist) camillaashworth.com Ming Han Chung (Photographer) followmystory.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Fernando Colon (Photographer) fernandocolon.com Danica Condez (Photographer) daniboy.tumblr.com Monique Cruz (Makeup) tel. 09175010185 Celina de Guzman (Illustrator) celdee.tumblr.com
Cholo Dela Vega (Photographer) cholodelavega.tumblr.com Azer Dimalanta (Hair) Tel. 09234685259, Jing Monis Salon Patrick Diokno (Photographer) patrickdiokno.com Gerard Estadella (Photographer) icanteachyouhowtodoit.com Judd Figuerres (Videographer) vimeo.com/juddfiguerres Alexandra Greenhill (Stylist) alexandragreenhill.co.uk Tinette Herrera (Hair and Makeup) facebook.com/tinetteherrera Claire Huish (Photographer) clairehuish.co.uk Ralph Mendoza (Photographer) ralphmendo.tumblr.com Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmirandaphotography.com Franz Navarette (Photographer) lilreddotfolks.com Lily Park (Makeup) lilyhpark-hairmakeup.blogspot.com Hanna Pechon (Makeup) tel. 09175079564, Shu Uemura Joyce Platon (makeup) joyceplaton.com Steffi Santiago (Photogapher) kerasaku.carbonmade.com Pam Santos (Photographer) facebook.com/pamparazzi Adam Seth Teh (Hair) twitter.com/dumders David Sheldrick (Photographer) davidsheldrick.com Tim Soter (Photographer) timsoter.com Nick St. James (Photographer) nickstjames.com Monica Storrs (Makeup) monicastorrs.com Ali Tollervey (Photographer) alitollervey.com Alex White (Photographer) alexwhitephotography.tumblr.com
S TAT U S IN VA D E S
audrey hepburn dvd collection
I love Audrey Hepburn because she’s iconic. Her movies are a big part of my life.
miss dior perfume
I like the scent and it matches my personality. I don’t use any other perfume.
Planner
With all my shoots, I get confused and this makes it convenient.
C
M
Y
SAM SADHWANI It’s the first ever fashion book that I bought for myself so it’s very sentimental.
beaded rings
I found them in Pylones. It’s a quirky store in Paris and I fell in love with these things.
I’m heavy on booties now because of the rainy season.
I’m not a big photographer, but this one is great for taking pictures.
pearls
When I’m lazy to dress up and just wearing something simple, I put these on.
102 - statusmagonline.com
CY
CMY
K
twitter.com/SamSadhwani
mac lipsticks
booties
Lumix Camera
MY
earrings by tweetie de leon
My favorite pair of earrings. They’re classic and go with everything.
I’m a fan of MAC lipsticks, mostly the nude ones but I like orange too.
ysl muse
It’s my mom’s but it became my everyday bag. Actually, I just steal bags from my mom’s closet.
rocio olbes clutch
It’s from my mom that I inherited. We share most of our clothes.
Portrait and products photographed by Grace de Luna
teen vogue hand book
An ever-changing schedule may keep SAM SADHWANI on the go, but when she isn’t getting dolled up for her close-ups, this laid-back chick slows things down by keeping things low-key.
CM