is a future vulture M a rch 2014
71 Warpaint
74 poliça 8 STATUS MESSAGE 9 MASTHEAD
STATUSPHERE 13 THREADS 18 SETTING 20 BRICK & MORTAR 22 SCREEN 23 INK 24 BEATS
GADGETS
25 TECH PACK: OUTSIDE THE BOX The future is here and now.
BEAUTY
27 FRAGRANCE SPECIAL: SCENT MESSAGE
28 FACE PAINT: SUNDANCE KID Put on 500 faces for summer.
29 ABOUT FACE: TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Let your skin soak up the SPF.
29 BEAUTY BITE: ST. NAILS
73 Mogwai
FASHION
STREET STYLE
30 GO SEE: STYLE STAKES
Be the heat on the street.
33 STYLE ID: MORTAL COMBAT Take your shoe game to boot camp.
VISION BOARD
35 NEON SIGHTS
Brighten up the daily commute. By JC Cerilla
42
LOST AND FOUND
Amish sensibility meets bohemian chic. By Irvin Rivera
50 HEAT THEORY
Letting off steam. By Johann Bona
SHOPPING GUIDE
58 SWAG: SUMMER DAZE
Trends for Spring/Summer 2014
60 HOMESCHOOLED
White and Khaki
61 HEAVY LIFTER Sporty
62 LIGHT ROOM Pastels
63 SLEEPER AGENT Pajamas
64 INTIMATE DETAILS Lingerie
65 SAND STORM
Resort Safari
66 ATTACK THE BLOCK Color-blocking
67 BOLD CHOICES Print-on-Print
FEATURES MUSE
69 LIGHT AND SPEED
Russian engineering student turned model Ira Chernova is the girl with too many tattoos. By Isa Almazan
MAESTRO
71 LOVE AND WAR
Dream pop quartet Warpaint find their rhythm with the release of their eponymous second LP. By Gabbie Isabela
72 VIRTUAL SANITY
Facebook friends finally meet to form Leo and the Tolstoys and record their gloom pop debut. By Pola Beronilla
73 REMASTERED
Mogwai leave their latest album, Rave Tapes, to their listeners to interpret their cinematic instrumentation. By Reena Mesias
74 HEAR THE NAME
Synth-pop experiment Poliça takes the metaphorical box that is genre and dismantles it. By Gabbie Isabela
MASTERMIND
75 WELCOME TO THE PUNCH
Funny lady Tamla Kari takes a break from comedy to kick ass on BBC’s The Musketeers. By Rita Faire
76 STATE OF PLAY Paulo Vinluan By Isa Almazan
77 MOTION SENSORS
Former LA-based artist Ana Kraš moves to NYC but is still inspired by her Eastern European roots. By Rita Faire
78 STRANGERS UNDER STRAIN
Pencil pusher-cum-pencil illustrator Mano Gonzales takes cues from old films for his works of woe. By Ken-Lyle Rafiñan
79 POETIC JUSTICE
Seoul-born and Milan-educated designer Cy Choi quotes poetry for his latest collection of minimalist cuts. By Pola Beronilla
is a future vulture M a rch 2014
75 tamla kari
69 ira chernova
78 HEAVY HITTER
81 SUITE ESCAPE
The French alt-rockers of Phoenix are happy to be lost: this time in the welcoming arms of Manila. By Kristine Dabbay
86
TAKE ME TO THE EAST SIDE
Zoë Kravitz and her besties shake off stage fright to perform as NYC’s new underground darling, LOLAWOLF. By Zoe Laurente
90 DESIGN STAPLE
Jeff Ng aka jeffstaple waxes academic on the ripple effect of teaching through visual mediums. By Rolly Ibañez
Manuel Gonzales
BLOCK PARTY: TRASH TALK
MORE
92 DEREK GORES 93 SU BLACKWELL 93 ERIKA IRIS SIMMONS
STATUS INVADES
Artists turning garbage into gold.
100 DIRECTORY 102 MARTINE CAJUCOM
Martine Cajucom, co-founder of Sunnies by Charlie, knows the importance of form and function.
EVENTS
NIGHTVISION
95 7AM REPRESENT 96 I HATE MONDAYS 96 ZERO MONDAYS 97 #BADDECISION 97 MOTORIK ACID HAUS 98 SOCIAL SATURDAYS 98 SUPER SOCIAL 99 TALK ABOUT TEDDYS 99 THE SHAKEDOWN
Phoenix is back on tour after a two-year hiatus to record Bankrupt!. Recently, they landed on Manila to a heated frenzy, breaking a 14-year drought. LA photographer Shelby Duncan captures the French alt-rockers in their natural element: confident and carefree against the summer sun.
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
Zoë Kravitz of Lolawolf (86)
Phoenix (80)
a future vulture
Exclusive interview with Phoenix
F
ortunate to have featured some of the biggest musicians, artists, actors, and designers, we are always on the lookout for creative geniuses. That’s why for our New Wave issue, we have placed our bets on the future’s next movements and rising leaders. French band Phoenix have been leading the way. Having achieved world domination by headlining countless music festivals and touring the globe, they also love to hole up in the studio to work on their albums. What keeps them moving forward with their music? “Trying to go as random as possible.” Coming from rock royalty, you could say that actress Zoë Kravitz was primed to join her father’s legend, but it was her songwriting sessions with her best friends that got her started in the music scene. Having an EP under her belt, we are excited to see how she will blossom as a singer-songwriter and actress. Jeff Ng aka jeffstaple is no stranger to us. Being featured in one of our early issues, it was Jeff’s career and accomplishments that gave us courage to start this magazine. After catching up with him for this interview, we see that he’s still busy traveling the world, dictating design and curating youth culture. We also want you to meet mixed media artists Derek Gores, Su Blackwell, and Erika Iris Simmons in Block Party. This creative collective is looking at art under a new light and keeping it sustainable. So you may ask yourself, who qualifies for the next lineup of artistic leaders? We believe that apart from talent and drive, it is someone who wakes something inside you, inspires your soul, and makes you come back for more. Jeffstaple (90)
Editor-in-chief
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contributors statusmagonline.com Rosario Herrera
@RosarioHerrera
creative director Patrick L. Jamora art director Paolo Geronimo graphic designers Nyael David
@padraick @PaoloStroodles @nyaels @bryanarcebal
editor-in-chief
Bryan Arcebal
Kristine Dabbay Rita Faire fashion editor Loris Peña fashion assistant Zoe Laurente editorial assistant Pola Beronilla Kathleen Curtis Angela de Dios
@tindabs @ritadoesnttweet @_dizzyrizzy @zoelaurente @HiMyNameIsPola @KzCurtis @angeladedios
Tina Herrera Buenaventura junior account managers Gabrielle Bailon Ken Lim III Marian Ortiz Clara Roxas
@tinaherrera_ @danbuenaventura @gabybailon @keneatsmars @HailMarian @clararoxas
associate editors
Shelby Duncan
LA-based photographer Shelby Duncan grew up in Reno, Nevada but moved to pursue her childhood love of photography. Snapping this month’s cover boys Phoenix (81), she was certainly an angel when we made a long distance call for a cover. Just like the French altrockers, she doesn’t need to try to be cool.
sales & marketing consultant account manager Dan
tweet us! contributing writers
Rolly Ibañez, Reena Mesias contributing artists
Borge Aloba, Anthony Arreola, Red Astrid, Seung Ki Baek, Johann Bona, JC Cerilla, The Cobrasnake, Fernando Colon, Grace de Luna, Shelby Duncan, Jenna Genio, Jaida Gikofsky, Alexandra Greenhill, Louise Hall, Brandon Niquolas Ho, Art Brandon Hunter, Monique Jacobs, Magic Liwanag, Amanda Lopez, Schelay McCarter, Miguel Miranda, Inez Moro, Patricia Nabong, Alexa Nikolas, Amanda Padilla, Jessica Park, Sara Pirtado, Irvin Rivera, RJ Roque, Maria Salazar, Nicco Santos, Pam Santos, JP Singson, David Sheldrick, Cate Underwood
Rita Faire
From funny gal Tamla Kari (75) to bonbon artist Ana Kraš (77), our editor Rita loves writing about all kinds of personalities. But when stress gets the best of her, she doesn’t need to book flights to escape reality. “I love to veg out in front of my computer, watching a season’s worth of a series in one go,” she says. “It’s one hell of a high, watching someone else’s problems for a change.”
interns
Maya Abellon, Isa Almazan, JV Gonzales, Gabbie Isabela, Ken Rafiñan
What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com
Nicco Santos
Photographer Nicco Santos’ portfolio is overflowing with stunning portraits of women, from top models to celebrities, including his latest muse Martine Cajucom (102). And when he’s not looking through the lens of his camera, he sets his eyes on beautiful sites. He shares, “I love scouting for new locations I can use for personal shoots.”
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
March 2014
CITY AND COLOR M
ade for the city woman, V SOCIETY always keeps it elegant. The collection Aura is all about simple silhouettes of bodycon mid-lengths, empire flowing floor-lengths, and sleeveless tops. The key is all in the play of textures from organza and metallic to sheer beauties in between. thevsociety.com
STITCH IN TIME V
ELT redefines contemporary shoe design by using old school methods developed in Switzerland. With hand-woven leather and a cork-based sole, its brogues, dress shoes, sneakers, and chukkas come in black, white, tan, and brown as they translate to the brand’s conceptual dialogue for summer. If cutout shapes, experimental laces, and colorblocking is what you want, this Berlin-based label answers your search. velt.ch
SUMMER BREAKERS O
XYGEN is ready for this year’s hottest season. There’s nothing like hitting the poolside with shark-laden board shorts or a cute bikini while you soak up under summer’s rays. You’ll be making waves with these easy-to-layer pieces, whether you’re heading out to the latest music festival, or a chilled afternoon out with your mates. oxygenfashion.com
SPECIAL SERVICE P
erfection to the last detail—that’s what THE LEATHER COMPANY is all about. Proudly handmade in the Philippines, goods such as backpacks, tote bags, sling bags, and messenger bags are all cut and sewn by hand. Accepting custom-made products, these bespoke accessories and home décor might be your next addiction. greyarea.com.ph
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
pearly whites S
OPHIE BILLE BRAHE channels an admiration for Scandinavian design through her eponymous brand and Perles collection. This season uses gold bases for necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Each piece emphasizes pearls that stand afloat on necklines and sweep through earlobes to make for that glowing attraction. sophiebillebrahe.com
SUBTLE SUBSTITUTE BEAUTY AND THE BEADS W
hen you mix retro glamor with street sensibilities, you get SARAH’S BAG. Its latest collection of clutches, satchels, beach, and evening bags are all handmade to ensure arm-candy goodness. Pick from beaded purses to graffiti print, embroidered calligraphy, and crocheted lip choices. These bags are all up for grabs. w: 19 cm / h: 12 cm / d: 5 cm sarahsbag.com
Lips Red on Straw
d: 5 cm
J
ackets and fitted tops get the clinical treatment with the latest from SOSNOVSKA. Its muted palette of whites, blacks, blues, and grays provides a blank canvas for your spring wardrobe. Playfully mixing heavy and sheer cottons, stern denim, fine light merino wools, dense jersey, and leather, its tunics, trenches, cropped trousers, and sculpted shorts underline clear lines, low–key detailing, and narrowed shapes for which the brand is best known for. sosnovska.net
Mini Straight Dentelle Beige Pink on Straw Gold 9227
Eggzy WAW Embroidered w: 18 cm / h:Me 13 Kiss cm / Beaded d: 6 cm Clutch w: 36 cm / h: 22 cm / d: 6 cm
8919 9197
YOUNG AND WILD W
ith an affinity to nature, WOLF & MAN hones one’s inner beast. Its Spring/Summer 2014 collection of printed jackets, shorts, tank tops, and button-downs rework floral and camo prints into pieces to suit the modern man. With the motto “inspired by the youth, for the youth,” they prove that there’s no greater rush than taming a wild beast prowling the urban jungle. wolfandman.us 14 - statusmagonline.com
GREENER PASTURES TOP: HELENA-P2 SHORT: ALEXANDRA-P2
L
FAN DAN GO S/S 2014 WOMEN
DRESS: TARA-G FAN DAN GO S/S 2014 WOMEN 9
COAT: LUISA-F
FAN DAN GO S/S 2014 WOMEN
AEND PHUENGKIT’s dark shades of green dominate its Fandango collection. Its garments give a safarifresh feel, especially when paired with earth-toned graphic triangles that tie everything together. Best matched with structured bottoms, these items prove that opposites do attract. laendphuengkit.com 5
3
THREADS
BRONZE AND BEES C
atch your PREY, and never let it go. The LA–based jewelry label rounds up its worker bees and covers them in silver and gold for its latest collection of earrings, rings, and other bling things. If you’re looking for something jaw–dropping, try its shark necklace on for size or leave scratch marks with its talon earrings. With these accessories, you’ll always be on the hunt. preyjewelry.com
TURNING JAPANESE F
ly to the East with VICTOR VON SCHWARZ in his Asian Perversion collection. Meshing Japanese street culture and Lolita fashion to his printed shirts, cape, and shorts makes each piece anything but boring. Playing it up with print on print, textures, and colors, the orient really knows how to turn the volume up. victorvonschwarz.tictail.com
ORIENTAL MOD T
his season, NEEMIC aims to create environmentally sustainable fashion. Inspired by the cocoon of a butterfly before it spreads its wings, the collective utilizes soft fabrics, cozy textures, and classic cut-andsew construction to ensure comfort. The brand channels effortless style with cropped blazers, pleated cigarette trousers, oversized parkas, and strong button-downs. neemic.asia
ZOOMING IN S
tructured sporty are two words that describe SEAN SUEN’s Mood Obsessor collection. Playing with tailored blazers, boxy jackets, and short shorts, these looks debunk good old menswear myth. Details like the kaleidoscope prints and exposed pockets make you fit in and stand out. seansuen.com
TRACK AND FIELD R
IYKA LONDON yarns geometric and athletic together with apparel that takes you from a lazy day to a buzzing night. Playful, functional, and classic sensibilities are remixed and contrasted with vibrant colors and clean silhouettes. The masculine side of the label carries leather panels and tailored finishes for an extra edge. riyka.com
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
BARN YARN
BLURRED LINES
S
O
top envying grandpa’s digs and get your own as HOWLIN stitches it up a notch with knitted range of funnel neck jumpers, ribbed sweaters, and flick-induced cardigans. Based in Antwerp, the traditional manufacturing offers more room for fantasy in shape and pattern. Hand-finished by old-fashioned Scottish and Irish, these products are made with upmost care. howlin.eu
NE WOLF takes you to Otherland with its drops fit for the colder seasons. The unisex apparel label intertwines masculine construction with streamlinefeminine features. Utilitarian jackets, trousers, oversized printed knits, jeans, and long-sleeved pinafores break the conventional lines. The brand looks to nature for functional clothing that is adaptable to your sense of style, with no expiration date. onewolf.lv
PRETTY EARS R
attle your jewelry with CIARA CLARK’s latest collection of pom pom earrings, fringed earrings, and acrylic neck pieces. From pastel colors to bejeweled bling, these beauties guarantee fun times and an overall good vibe. ciara-clark.tumblr.com
DEEP ARCHIPELAGO M
ARIELLA PILATO creates stories through precious metals and semi-precious stones. Influenced by mermaids and the island of Bali, her brand’s collection of cuffed prisms, bold linear designs, oversized hoops, and statement cocktail rings shares her cultural heritage and good taste through a joyful sense of modernity. mariellapilato.com
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HEAVY DUTY L
eave it to LANCELIN KEVIN to salute to all the well-dressed lads out there. The brands Fall/Winter collection is inspired by uniforms of the Scottish scouts to the Royal Air Force paras. Different ranges of coats, blazer, sweatpants, and tailored suits mix sportswear to classic British tailoring. March with the utilitarian vest with metal buckles to earn your stripes. lancelin.squarespace.com
THREADS
OH BROTHER P
laytime with siblings usually ends up in chaos but not for Jamil and Alia JUMA who come up with colorful masterpieces in the form of prints plastered on scarves and pullovers. The latest collection from the brother-sister tandem showcases colorful animal, tropical, and abstract printed scarves juxtaposed to solid-colored ponchos, tops, and sweaters. Ushering in spring with an array of prints, play under the sun with these wrapped on your heads. jumastudio.com
CHEST GAIN G
et conscious with DROME NYC’s latest collection of basic tees. With portraits of Michael Jordan, Snoop Dogg, Yeezy, Steve Jobs, and Tupac by artist Technodrome1, you’re basically walking down the streets with an artwork in your chest. Great way to support the arts, bro! dromenyc.com
HEAVEN SENT T
Words by Isa Almazan, Kathleen Curtis, Angela de Dios, JV Gonzalez, Gabbie Isabela, Zoe Laurente, and Loris Peña
he Turtleneck Relics of GOD FORBID FASHION’s latest capsule gives off a burning sensation this season. Consistent to the fiery aesthetic of the brand, the various terracotta tiedye and bleach-dye inkblot designs resemble Rorschach’s psychological test. Translating a complex personality through print, stay warm in these statement sweaters as you set off a few fire alarms on your tracks. godforbidfashion.bigcartel.com
WEATHER REPORT S
plotches of color and recurring prints are what NOR BLACK NOR WHITE’s summer drop is all about. Drawing inspiration from cleansing wind and the rebirth monsoons, you will find prints of gridded tiles, feather paint strokes, and diamond blotches along with a citrus palette. Reawaken in classic Kerala golden cottons and bandhani silks created in Kachchh. norblacknorwhite.com
ANGLE IN DISGUISE T
his season, MY DEER FOX brings the finest leather creations to the table. Using pastel pinks, notes of black, and details of gold, this collection stands out with its matte finish. Bags in geometric shapes like diamonds and triangles are the backbone of this angular collection that transcends any occasion. mydeerfox.com
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SETTING
PLACES TO GO
CORKAGE PLATE
THE BLACK PIG, MUNTInLUPA CITY
SWEET NOTHINGS Maple syrup is the basis of all things heavenly at THE GIRL + THE BULL.
What goes best with beer? A sizzling plate of sisig, of course. THE BLACK PIG, dressed in eclectic-industrial interiors, infuses a European flavor to the growing gourmet restaurant scene as the country’s first charcuterie. There’s Holgate craft brews on tap in small or large servings; but for a real trip, order the bar’s signature Beer Flight: a four-piece sampler served on a platter. Sip wines (red, white, rose, and sweet) while nibbling on succulent slices of Spanish Jamón ibérico and French cheeses. Southern living just got a little more refined.
ARUGULA SALAD Wild Arugula, diced apple, bacon, fried egg, and shaved parmesan with truffle vinaigrette
2/F The Commercenter Alabang, Commerce Ave. cnr East Asia Dr., Filinvest Corporate City, Muntinlupa City facebook.com/theblackpigmanila
S u i te
EL SECRETO, BELIZE
Settled eleven miles up the tropical coast of San Pedro, EL SECRETO unveils Belize’s greatest Caribbean secret with an exclusive barefoot luxury resort furnished with 13 thatch-roofed villas outfitted with all the right gadgets and threads, including marble bathrooms with tubs for two, outdoor showers on private patios, and plunge pools which double as Jacuzzis. While lying on some warm sand under the shade of a palm tree, enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking the famed Belizean Barrier Reef. Whether you’re looking for a seaside adventure or a calming beach experience, El Secreto offers an escapade you’ll never forget. 11 miles north of San Pedro Town San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize elsecretobelize.com
BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN Buttermilk-battered chicken and brioche French toast served with balsamic maple syrup
THE GIRL + THE BULL, PARAñAQUE
Thea de Rivera and Gab Bustos’s THE GIRL + THE BULL extends beyond the clean aesthetics of its monochromatic space. The restaurant complements gourmet comford food DIY décor, Gab’s artwork, and collection of books, trinkets, and memorabilia from the owners’ travels. The menu boasts a layered palate of contrasting flavors, including the sweetness of maple, the aromatic taste of tarragon, and the bitterness of arugula. Don’t leave without trying Buttermilk Fried Chicken; it’s only served on Saturdays so you better make a reservation, ASAP! 346 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City facebook.com/thegirlandthebull
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HANGING TENDER Hanging steak with brown butter jus, potato purée, maplesautéed red cabbage, and wild arugula
MAPLE OLD FASHIONED Bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters with orange rind
Words by Pola Beronilla, Kathleen Curtis, and Ken Rafiñan The Girl + The Bull Photographed by Kathleen Curtis and Zoe Laurente
GRUB
BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES TO SHOP
REED SPACE, SINGAPORE 100 Beach Road, #01-50/52, Shaw Tower thereedspacesg.com Dime to drop: P445-P13,000 ($10-$300) Don’t leave without: MHI tee or a pair of CLAE shoes.
K
nown as a New York store, REED SPACE has finally opened its doors in Singapore. It takes collaborative lifestyle concept to another level by partnering with award-winning hair salon, Hairloom. With a space dedicated to design and craft, the minimalist aesthetic exemplified by wooden floors, white walls, and zig-zag fluorescent lights is complemented by hanging chairs, black shelves, and a hair salon in the middle. The store brings international street brands together like Staple Design, CLAE, Brixton, Hershel Supply Co., Frank’s Chop Shop, MHI from Maharishi, retaW. It also hosts special events like launches and exhibits. From graphic shirts, outerwear, and trousers to snapbacks and beanies, Reed Space can get you set on your gear with a matching haircut. There’s no stepping out here without feeling fly.
BIRD, NEW YORK 203 Grand Street (Between Bedford and Driggs Avenues) Williamsburg, Brooklyn New York shopbird.com Dime to drop: P2,250-P45,000 ($150-$1000) Don’t leave without: Rag & Bone booties, Baggu backpacks, and Antipast socks ailed as a top shopping destination in the streets of New York, Brooklyn-based boutique BIRD has been flying high. With three locations in Brooklyn at Smith Street, Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, and the largest of the trio at Grand Street, the store boasts open spaces, well-lit nooks, and wooden interiors that also function as a gallery and performance space for local artists. The New York Times hailed it as a trendsetter as owner Jennifer Mankins brings fresh looks from designers who define the so called “Brooklyn Look.” Usually stocked with high-end pieces ranging from casual wear to corporate, you can get boots and bags from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Proenza Schouler, and Comme Des Garçons, as well as fashion favorites Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, Rag & Bone, and Acne. As the king of Brooklyn retail, native New Yorkers claim it as one of their favorites among all clothing stores in NYC. Bird takes pride on its goods from independent and seasoned designers. Sure, a visit could cause a hole in your wallet, but the price is worth every penny.
WILDFANG
T
aking its name from the German word for tomboy, WILDFANG is a band of badass chicks who steal your boyfriend’s style to be the ultimate resource for women who defy gender rules. Wildly packed with a neutral batch of blazers, button-downs, tanks, and tees to satisfy your androgynous flair, this online hub plays both field 24/7. wildfang.com
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Words by Pola Beronilla, Angela de Dios, and JV Gonzalez
H
SCREEN
SCENES TO SEE
REMOTE CONTROL
TICKET THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL Wes Anderson examines the adventures of legendary concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) and his lobby boy Zero Moustafa (newcomer Tony Revolori).
WALK OF SHAME Pairing up Elizabeth Banks and James Marsden, the film shares the shameful accounts of an aspiring reporter whose dreams are shattered after a pleasurable one-night stand with a handsome stranger. DIVERGENT This dystopian tale unlocks a futuristic world where people are divided into factions based on their personalities. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) soon discovers she will never fit into any one group.
VERONICA MARS Kristen Bell returns to Neptune as a full-grown Veronica Mars attempting to exonerate ex-boyfriend Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) from new murder charges.
NYMPHOMANIAC Written and directed by Lars von Trier, this two-part film explores the wild, poetic drama of a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac’s erotic journey from birth to the age of 50.
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RESURRECTION (ABC) Developed by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, ABC takes us to the other side with its adaptation of Jason Mott’s The Returned. The series follows Arcadia, Missouri’s residents whose lives are upended when their loved ones return from the dead, unaged since their supposed deaths. Leading the cast is House alum Omar Epps along with Samaire Armstrong (The O.C.) and Nicholas Gonzales (Sleepy Hollow).
COSMOS: A SPACE-TIME ODYSSEY (FOX) Nearly three decades after its debut, one of America’s best known scientists, Neil deGrasse Tyson, sets off on a new voyage for the stars reviving the late Carl Sagan’s popular television series Cosmos. Produced by self-professed science geek Seth MacFarlane and Sagan’s widow Ann Druyan, this 13part docuseries presents a stunning and iconic exploration of the universe as revealed by science.
SIRENS (USA) Based on the shortlived British series of the same name, Sirens follows the antics of three of Chicago’s best EMTs. Leading the crew is sports-lover Johnny (Michael Mosely) alongside longtime buddy Hank (Kevin Daniels) and their eager new recruit Brian (Kevin Bigley). Marked as an extension of producer Denis Leary’s charming yet foulmouthed brand of humor, the series is USA’s first foray into comedy.
PL AYBACK THE RAIN PEOPLE (1969) This film really resonated with me, the first time I saw it, and I have a great deal of admiration and respect for anything Coppola puts on screen. BEN SCHNETZER (Actor) @Ben_Schnetzer THE FUGITIVE KIND (1960) Anna Magnani is one of my absolute all-time favorite actresses. To me, she is raw femininity—she’s so earthy and fiery, has this unparalleled emotional depth, and yet stays so grounded in reality.
AMORES PERROS (2000) This film changed the way I look at cinema and had a huge influence on the kind of work I aspire to hopefully one day be a part of.
TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! (1990) Victoria Abril and Antonio Banderas going head to head in such a beautiful, whimsical, twisted story that only Pedro Almodovar can craft, is just about as good as it gets for me.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004) This film’s got just about the best of what every great film should have
Words by Pola Beronilla Ben Schetzer photo by David Sheldrick
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE Zack Snyder returns to Greece as General Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece, pitting him against the invading Persian forces led by Xerxes and Artemesia.
ink
BOOKS TO READ
BOOKMARK
HOT OFF THE PRESS PHILOGRAPHICS: BIG IDEAS IN SIMPLE SHAPES By Genis Carreras After going viral, thanks to his minimalist posters nearly two years ago, Genis Carreas launched a Kickstarter project to turn his web phenomenon into a book and postcard set. Merging the world of philosophy and graphic design, Philographics contains 95 designs utilizing a combination of geometric shapes and solid colors.
FILM NOIR: TASCHEN’S 100 ALLTIME FAVORITE MOVIES Edited by Paul Duncan From early influences in silent German and French cinema to seminal works such as Vertigo, Pulp Fiction, and most recently, Drive, that shaped the cult genre, this anthology contains posters, rare stills, production tidbits, quotes, and analyses of classic film noir and neo-noir titles. Along with an introduction by Taxi Driver screenwriter Paul Schrader, the book pays homage to the genre’s iconic faces and most revered directors, including Hitchcock, Wilder, Welles, Polanski, Mann, and Scorsese.
MARC QUINn: MEMORY BOX Edited by Germano Celant Step inside an artist’s mind and life according to British sculptor Marc Quinn. Published in line with his major anthology at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, the catalogue gathers Quinn’s powerful works, exploring life, death, sexuality, and religion. Edited by renowned art historian, critic, and theoretician Germano Celant, the volume probes deep into Quinn’s conceptual practice that incorporates sculpture, painting, and installations.
TOILETPAPER
By Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari
W
hen Maurizio Cattelan decided to “quit” making art, he left the scene by teaming up with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari to haunt the public with surreal and disturbing imagery through a bi-annual picture magazine, TOILETPAPER. This deluxe volume collects all of the images published in the first five issues, re-edited by Barneys’s current creative director, Dennis Freedman. Catch these eye-popping photos that would either make you laugh or cry: •
Travel in space through a galactic image of a hip grandma sitting on a vintage couch sporting a floral robe and checkered blanket.
•
Hear out the gossip behind the surreal photo of a filthy ear floating in a bowl of yellow soup.
•
Get a pinching feeling over a portrait a young lady’s minute bum
donning some red lace lingerie with yellow clothespins clipped all over the her body. •
Geek out over a snapshot of the greatest collection of sanitary napkins and tampons of all shapes and sizes, immaculately arranged on a grid.
Words by Pola Beronilla
FOOTNOTES On its third day, Genis Carreras’s Kickstarter project had already reached its goal of £15,000. By the end of the project’s period, it garnered a total of £65,217 with 1,629 backers.
Film noir scholar Paul Schrader wrote the script for Taxi Driver within five days. What kept him motivated? A loaded gun atop his desk.
Marc Quinn has made numerous studies of Kate Moss. In 2008, he unveiled a sculpture of the supermodel in solid 18 carat gold called Siren.
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MUSIC TO HEAR
PL AYLIS T
MILOSH milosh.bandcamp.com
TENNIS Alaina Moore (Vocals, Keyboards) tennis-music.com
DARKSIDE Dave Harrington darksideusa.com
“Lucky Connor” Christian Vogel The song is just so well produced. It sounds insane amazing!
“Open Eye Signal” Jon Hopkins It’s a crazy track, the production is impeccable, sonically beautiful, and just all around amazing.
“Before Your Very Eyes” Atoms for Peace It’s really fucking rad, the beats, his voice…
“Digital Lion” James Blake Such an inspiring track, love the song through and through. Saw him live recently, and he totally blew me away.
“Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” ELO Right now, ELO might be Patrick’s favorite band. We love their lush arrangements and frequent use of phaser effects.
“The Bells feat. LaBelle” Laura Nyro This song is epically beautiful, and Laura Nyro is my favorite piano player.
“Diamond Day” Vashti Bunyan If I could, I would wake up every morning to this song. It is so lovely and delicate.
“I’m Glad” Captain Beefheart This is a long time band favorite. We listen to it all the time, and it never gets old.
“What Do We Do” Bill Frisell Bill takes what might just be the most beautiful solo of all time.
“Free Jazz” Ornette Coleman The song that inadvertently created an entire genre. Epic.
“(Cross the) Heartland” Pat Metheny Group Deep ECM vibes and infinitely smooth tones.
“You Do You” Bear In Heaven This whole record changed the way I think about songwriting and how vocals can relate to truly heavy sounds and sensibilities.
MUSIC NEWS
Marking the 50th anniversary of Beatlemania, Vans collaborates with the Fab Four to showcase a footwear capsule that boasts the iconic Yellow Submarine graphics from both the album and the animated film. You may only need love, but owning a pair of these shoes wouldn’t hurt either.
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R eleases
Proving that they are no one-hit wonders, FOSTER THE PEOPLE come of age with their sophomore release, Supermodel. The indie rock trio ditch their electropop tendencies and explore a guitardriven sound on this album.
Following up ARTPOP, the little monsters are in for a treat as LADY GAGA AND TONY BENNET join forces the second time to bring a jazzy surprise with Cheek to Cheek.
RICK ROSS is back to shows us who’s Bawse with Mastermind. His sixth studio album features some of the rap scene’s heavyweights such as Jay Z, Diddy, and Young Jeezy, the latter was once a bitter enemy of his.
Billie Joe Armstrong takes his punk rock sensibilities back to the Elizabethan era to write music for Yale Repertory Theater’s production of Much Ado About Nothing. Due this March, These Paper Bullets will take Shakespeare’s play and reimagine it in modern England.
British indie rock group The 1975 finally reaches Manila to serve Filipino fans some “Chocolate” and “Sex.” The lads of Manchester are scheduled to perform a series of shows at the Ayala Malls this coming March 28 and 29.
New York-based group WE ARE SCIENTISTS are cooking up a new experiment with TV En Français. The 10-track LP promises to “Return the Favor” with some “Dumb Luck.”
Words by Pola Beronilla Milosh photo by Alexa Nikolas
BEATS
TEC H PACK
RICOH THETA • Captures 360° angle spherical images without adjusting image orientation • Shoots from between 10 cm and further • Implements automatic exposure control and compensation with automatic ISO100~1600 • Features wireless sharing and GPS location information via the Ricoh Theta app for iPhone
THE IMPOSSIBLE INSTANT LAB • Transforms digital image into an analog instant photo via your iPhone 4/4S/5/5S and iPod Touch 4th and 5th generation • Uses Impossible instant color and black and white film • Built-in micro-processor-controlled film processing unit • Optical system utilizes a four-element coated glass lens with wide-angle
SRP: P17,660
SRP: P15,100
OUTSIDE THE BOX
2014 welcomes the next generation of gizmos.
MY KRONOZ ZENANO • Bluetooth-powered mobile-synchronized smart watch • Stores phone book and call history • Features a 1.54-inch color touchscreen display with 256MB of memory and an audio jack SRP: P8,100
SYREN ILUV ENCIENTE • Streams music via Bluetooth and easy One Touch pairing with NFC technology • Outfitted with a full-range speaker and bass radiator offering 360° sound through top and bottom firing ports • Uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to five hours of play time • Includes a built-in mic and speakerphone SRP: P2,870
DOWNLOADS DUCK DYNASTY: BATTLE OF THE BEARDS By A&E Networks and RED Games Master sets of challenges to prove you can grow a beard as long as your favorite Duckmen.
JELLY By Biz Stone
INDIE SPOT By Vodio Labs Ltd.
This conventional search engine allows you to ask questions through images and allows other users to answer.
Watch the latest music video clips, find artists, and receive news about upcoming shows and concerts in a fun and easy system.
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Photographed by Nyael David
from left to right: Creed Spring Flower 75ml [P8,900], Valentina 80ml [P5,900], Mademoiselle Ricci 80ml [P5,300], Lolita Lempicka First Fragrance 100ml [P4,850], Juicy Couture Viva Noir 100ml [P5,600]
FAC E PA I N T RiRi Hearts MAC Superslick Eye Liner in Cockiness P2,550
SUNDANCE KID Sweet summer creams are made of peaches and tangerine.
NARS High Seize Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya P1,212
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Nectar P2,550
NARS Blush in Super Orgasm P1,450
Shiseido Radiant Lift Foundation in 120 Natural Light Ivory P2,040
MAC Lipstick in Morange P1,000
Guerlain Météorites Powder Brush P2,037.66 Ciaté Paint Pot in Hopscotch P727.75
Bobbi brown Pot Rogue in Calypso Coral P1,500 bobbi Brown Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color in Valencia Orange P1,350
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup SPF 10 in Tawny P2,100
Guerlain Shine Automatique Lip Color in Pamplelune P1,698.05
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MAC Trés Cheek Power Blush in Modern Mandarin P2,550
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Nectar P2,550
Clinique Cheek Pop Icon in Peach Pop P1,395
AB O U T FACE FRESHED FACED
Expert Advice
When things get too hot, cool burn areas with aloe vera leaves kept stashed in your fridge.
Exhale bad toxins from your skin and keep it fresh with PHILOSOPHY TAKE A DEEP BREATH OILFREE OXYGEN MOISTURIZER SPF30. Its blend of antioxidants and broad spectrum SPF 30 protect skin and provide oilfree hydration leaving it revitalized. P1,679
COVER ME UP
Get two for the price of one with KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL MOISTURIZER SPF 30. Its lightweight formula keeps your face smooth and moisturized while shielding it from damage caused by harsh rays. P2,399
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Slather up the SPF and let the good times roll by.
LIP AND LOCK
Get the perfect pout with DIOR CRÈME DE ROSE SMOOTHING PLUMPING LIP BALM SPF 10. Packed with anti-aging and vitamins A and E, it keeps lips soft like a rose petal. P1,295
BOTTLE OF SUNSHINE
If you hate thick and oily sunscreen then SUPERGOOP ANTI-AGING CITY SUNSCREEN SERUM SPF 30 is perfect for you. Its lightweight formula repairs skin from harsh sunlight and keeps it moisturized with antioxidants E and B5. P2,015
b e a u t y bi t e
SHEER PERFECTION
Cheat your way through the no-makeup look with JANE IREDALE GLOW TIME FULL COVERAGE MINERAL BB CREAM SPF 25. Its water-resistant, mineral-based formula protects skin from the sun while providing sheer coverage that lasts through the day. P2,303
FOREVER YOUNG
Refresh parched skin with ESTÉE LAUDER HYDRATIONIST MAXIMUM MOISTURE CREME SPF 15. Designed to keep your skin hydrated, it strengthens skins moisture barrier level by 50%, making it your express way to look young and beautiful. P2,015
ST.NAILS
Words by JV Gonzales and Zoe Laurente
T
ake one step closer to godliness with a visit to ST. NAILS. Not only does it keep your tips and toes pristine, it also scrubs yours sole clean. Every service rendered from the salon lets you pay it forward as it gives a portion of sales to Gawad Kalinga for building homes for the less fortunate. Its marbled counter tops and Venetian tiles add a homey touch to this salon along with its cream and purple couches and dark wood paneled ceiling. Perfect for a chill session with friends, it offers services ranging from nail art to heated herbal compresses that soothe your body. G/F NFB Building (Petron Gas Station/UCC Cafe) EDSA corner Arnaiz Avenue, Barangay Dasmarinas, 1221 Makati City
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GO S E E
Style Stakes Jackets, jeans, and hats are your best bet as you brave city streets.
Acubra Hat Black Thighs
Block Heeled Shoes
Leather Skirt
Houndstooth Sweater Mutton-sleeved Denim Jacket
Emerald Trench
Neon Cardigan Paisley Button-down Track Pants
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Drop Crotch Shorts Double-breasted Coat
Necktie Belt
Embellished Sneakers
Skirt Over Pants Floral Pullover
Photographed by Schelay McCarter, Sara Pirtado, and RJ Roque
Printed Clutch
Two-toned Oxfords
Printed Blazer Printed Turband
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S T Y LE I D
Brighten up a gloomy day with more than one pop of color.
Street style photos courtesy of jponfashionspeed.com and lelook.eu Runway photo courtesy of Seoul Fashion Week
Stand at attention for Murase Masahiro’s head-totoe Lanvin ensemble.
Street style icon Shoko Yamashita effortlessly incorporates a classic pair of Dr. Martens with Yamamoto and Margiela.
Street style photographer Youngjun Koo cleans up with a pair of white boots.
Malthe Rye Thomsen never leaves home without his black Silent by Damir Doma ankle boots. Male model Bruce Venida likes ‘em old school in Dr. Martens.
MORTAL COMBAT You don’t need to join the army to start a revolution; just grab a pair of sharp combat boots like the ones featured in KYE’s Spring/ Summer 2014 collection.
By JP Singson
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top and shorts by Alax W Diamond jacket by Cidenzi Mori
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NE
N
SIGHTS Photographed by JC Cerilla Styled by Jessica Park
top by Alax W Diamond skirt by Washington Roberts leggings by Emilio Cavallini shoes by Superga
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dress by Alax W Diamond socks by Joe Fresh boots by Rock & Candy
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jacket and overalls by Cidenzi Mori sneakers by Superga
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top by Valentine Gauthier jacket by Washington Roberts
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top and skirt by Alax W Diamond shoes by Alejandro Ingelmo
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top by Alax W Diamond skirt by Washington Roberts
Makeup Jaida Gikofsky Hair Maria Salazar Model Anastasia T of Muse New York
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Photographed by Irvin Rivera Styled by Brandon Niquolas Ho and Art Brandon Hunter
top by Andrés Sarda necklace by Zara pants by Zara
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scarf by Diesel dress by BTFL People
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hat by Mad Hatter shirt by Topshop coat by Diane von F端rstenberg
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hat by Mad Hatter shirt by Topshop coat by Diane von F端rstenberg
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dress by BTFL People top by Ralph Lauren skirt by Lush belt by Nasty Gal bag by Fossil Vintage
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cardigan by Rag & Bone bonnet by BTFL People
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dress by BTFL People
Makeup Anthony Arreola Hair Brandon Niquolas Ho Model Megan Gibbs of Photogenics
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H
e
T
H
t
E
O
R
Y
Photographed by Johann Bona Styled by Loris Pe単a
top by Olivia and Fifth bikini bottom by Suiteblanco
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top by Adidas by Stella McCartney bikini bottom by Suiteblanco
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one-piece by Koi Swimwear socks, stylist’s own slippers by Adidas
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bikini top by Koi Swimwear bikini bottom by Suiteblanco
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bikini by Koi Swimwear bikini bottom by Koi Swimwear
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one-piece by Koi Swimwear socks, stylist’s own sneakers by Adidas
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top by Topshop bikini bottom by Koi Swimwear socks, stylist’s own sneakers by Adidas
Makeup Amanda Padilla Hair Borge Aloba Model Elena of Elite Manila
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summer daze
Spring/Summer 2014 runway takes you outside your comfort zone and give you a crash course in dressing to beat the heat with color blocks, khakis, pastels, lingerie, and prints. Runway photos courtesy of Seoul Fashion Week Product photos by Miguel Miranda
SWAG SPRING /SUMM ER 2 0 1 4
w h i t e an d k h a k i
Pedro [P3,795]
21 Men [P2,725]
Cotton On [P1,349]
Marc Jacobs [P11,500]
ferragam o 2 0 1 4 spring /summer River Island [P990]
River Island [P1,790]
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Oxygen [P1,149]
Call It Spring [P3,495]
sp o r t y
heavy lifter Penshoppe [P169]
d yo ni p s t e v e j an 2014 spring /summer Marc Jacobs [P11,000]
Benny Gold [P790]
Oxygen [P399]
Salvatore Ferragamo [TBA]
UNDFTD [P7,890]
Adidas [P1,795]
Benny Gold [P2,350] Vans [P3,698]
21 Men [P1,025]
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pas t e l s
light room 21 Men [P1,325]
Lacoste [TBA] Lacoste [TBA]
Adidas [P2,995]
Topman [P6,795]
Salvatore Ferragamo [TBA]
River Island [P3,490]
l ac o st e 2 0 1 4 spring /summer
Penshoppe [P1,325]
Cole Haan [P15,200]
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Lacoste [TBA]
pa j ama
Lacoste [TBA]
21 Men [P695]
Penshoppe [P799]
a g e n t sleeper Topman [P1,295]
Cotton On [P1,695]
Pony [TBA]
n pus h b u t t o 2 0 1 4 spring /summer
Marc Jacobs [P8,500]
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Lingerie
intimate details Oxygen [P599]
Miss Selfridge [P1,895]
Call It Spring [P1,200]
Call It Spring [P355]
Miss Selfridge [P2,595]
Oxygen [P799] Miss Selfridge [P1,990]
j il l s t uar t 2 0 1 4 spring /summer
Pedro [P3,950]
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Call It Spring [P2,695]
res o r t safari
Cotton On [P799]
Forever 21 [P1,435]
rs M ic h ae l Ko 2 0 1 4 spring /summer
Warehouse [TBA]
sand storm
Lacoste [TBA]
Cotton On [TBA]
River Island [P2,890]
Topshop [P1,345]
Topshop [P3,195]
Forever 21 [P1,870]
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COLO R BLOCK I N G
attack the block
Pedro [P2,195]
DK N Y 2 0 1 4 S pring /S ummer Lacoste [P16,950]
Pedro [P3,595]
Miss Selfridge [P3,795] Forever 21 [P765]
Kate Spade [P30,450]
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Forever 21 [P815]
Jessica Simpson [P4,950]
P rin t - o n - prin t
bold choices Forever 21 [P1,535]
Lacoste [TBA]
Desigua l 2 0 1 4 S pring /S ummer Forever 21 [P1,125]
Kate Spade [P15,250]
Penshoppe [P899]
Pedro [P3,595]
Kate Spade [P14,250]
Penshoppe [P899]
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M U S E
A former engineering student, IRA CHERNOVA shifted gears when she decided that an office cubicle wasn't the place for her. With no limitations to her exploration, this creative soul creates her own rules. By Isa Almazan Photographed by Cate Underwood
W
hen asked what her favorite tattoo was, Ira Chernova quips to have none. “Too many limitations,” she says. The Russianborn photographer turned model has been doing the rounds in the fashion industry non-stop before landing a spot as the February muse for Terry Richardson’s 2014 Diesel pin-up calendar. Regret is one thing she fears, but by the speed she’s going, this inked lady has nothing to fear.
MOBILE MEMORBILIA I collect memories. I’ve been to many places, and I’ve met many people, but never had money to collect things connected to the places I’ve been too. It’s for the best; no need to attach to physical matter.
UNDER FOCUS
I ended up in front of the camera because of photographers who were following my work. They started asking to take photos of me, and since I was curious to see how they work, I agreed. I learned by knowing light and angles better. I remember I had a fever during my shoot with Terry so I was saving energy to avoid passing out. Nicola Formichetti did the styling and directing, and I really trust him because the man is a genius.
TURNING VIBE
I don’t have an absolute goal. It’s more about moods, and different seasons and stages. You never know the energy of the person you’re shooting with might have, so things could be switching around a lot. As for people I want to work with, there are so many talented musicians, artists, and actors. All of those with charisma and who you can have a good talk with while working. It’s all about getting inspired by your subjects.
WINE AND DEADLINES
It’s quite cold in NYC right now so I didn’t really leave my house, which is a perfect time as I have tons of editorials on deadline. Recently, I’ve been editing with hip-hop as my background music. I love Tupac; he keeps me energetic enough to keep working for hours. Right now, I’m finishing my Spring/Summer editorials. I’m excited about an upcoming story in Vandals Magazine. So that, and some wine with American Horror Story.
ichernova.com @ichernova
LOVE AND WAR
H
ailing from the West Coast, Jenny Lee Lindberg (vocals, bass), Emily Kokal (vocals, guitar), Theresa Wayman (vocals, guitar) and Stella Mozgawa (drums) have been painting the town with newly polished tunes from their eponymous sophomore album, WARPAINT. Forming on Valentines Day in the early 2000’s, Theresa explains that they chose their ironic name because “It’s just a striking word. It just seemed powerful enough to use, and it sounds good. It’s distinct and it’s good.” Through the years the name stuck, but changes– like band members and sound choices–were made; all of which were essential milestones that made them transcend their own standards.
All is fair in love and war when it comes to dream pop foursome WARPAINT. Collaborating since 2004, their newly released album threatens to set the bar for indie rock bands worldwide. By Gabbie Isabela
Previously producing Exquisite Corpse and The Fool, the band takes listeners by surprise with WARPAINT their newest release, a project Theresa describes as purely synonymous with sexy. Through the years, they have evolved by experimenting with technique and talent, usually putting together layers of instruments, altering tempos, switching riffs and even whipping out solos. Eventually, they found a signature style. Theresa mused, “We became Warpaint eventually after that first album. Not that we weren’t that before, but I think that we really settled into our shoes after that album. WARPAINT is an expression of us as we truly are.”
Nothing has changed since their early years of jamming together and playing until they came up with something to develop. The process is tried and tested producing postrock rhythms with ethereal vocals, trickling guitar lines, and tasteful bass riffs. Nevertheless their music reached new levels of maturity. “I think our sound is a lot more considerate now, in the sense that we aren’t doing too much all the time,” explains Theresa. “We aren’t getting too excited. Initially, we were all excited to be playing our instruments and writing our melodies, and we were just stacking them on each other without much consideration as to what that was doing to the whole. Now we think about the whole song, and there’s less of a need to have it being heard for the sake of being heard.” Building an image and creating a name for themselves
came second to coming up with their distinct sound. The vibe is so different, people often don’t know what genre they fall under. “I don’t think we’re indie rock, I don’t think we’re psych rock. Dream pop… I like that better than the other two. I don’t know, maybe it hasn’t quite been set yet, but we’ll leave it up to you to figure out” Theresa dotingly exclaims. Although the band is already on their tenth year mark, the progression from one project to the next does not disappoint. From tours and concerts to headlining music festivals, they are ready to finish on top like its no Biggy.
warpaintwarpaint.com @_warpaint
M A E S T R O
MAESTRO
virtual sanity
Our parents always warned us to never talk to strangers. However, that was one lesson that the guys of LEO AND THE TOLSTOYS never followed. Rebelling against the social typecasting of music, they stick it to the local scene and twist it to their advantage. As vocalist Rad Kauer puts it, “It’s a big fuck-you to OPM.” By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Patricia Nabong
evident yet, their future plans include digging deeper with every possible sound.
V
ocalists Leonard Corcuera, Alyssa Sibug, Maita Gonzales, and multi-instrumentalist Louie Santos formed a lasting bond after collectively losing a local songwriting contest. Instead of giving into their hate mail-inducing depression, they decided to keep at it. After some heavy googling (i.e. how to start a band) and cold contacting, they met longtime producer and Sugar Hiccup alum, Mr. Bone, who agreed to produce their tracks. With the final addition of electro-pop vocalist Rad Kauer, they ceased being a group of Facebook friends and became Leo and The Tolstoys. Their debut release, Mythological Metaphorical, was an homage to the cosmic universe. Their gloom-pop laments sprung from the vein of Florence + the Machine’s fusion of soul music and indie rock and Portishead’s slink yet subtle sensuality. As their idea of being genreless isn’t that
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How does it feel meeting, everyone for the first time? Rad: It’s weird, they’re quiet. With face-to-face, it’s different ‘cause I don’t really know them that well. Maybe in time, when we have gigs. It’s kind of awkward, honestly, but they’re nice. Do you think meeting each other will change the dynamic of your music? Leo: Maybe. Because if ever we’re going to collaborate on a song, we would have different ideas. But now that we’re meeting each other for the first time, at least we’re more comfortable with each other now. How did you guys unite your ideas before finally meeting? L: It’s actually kind of weird because most bands, if you ask them about their process, [they‘ll say] they jam or practice in a studio. With us, it’s very different. I write all
the songs–the lyrics and the melody… I record a demo of the melody and send it to Mr. Bone. That’s how 90% of our songs are made. Bone: He was sending me [demos in] hums. I had to sniff a lot of glue to figure out what they wanted. [Laughs] So Bone, what was it about their style that you liked? B: It reminded me of my previous work with Sugar Hiccup. Eerie, atmospheric, and dark things; I kinda missed that. It takes me away from the usual rock & roll clichés. You guys tag yourselves as a genreless band, why did choose that path? Maita: It’s kind of a cliché for people to label us in one genre. Because being an artist, you don’t have to put yourself in one place; anyone can put you anywhere. And that’s one good thing about the idea of it. B: It’s the fanbase that dictates where to put you. The artist usually doesn’t care. Every single artist that I’ve
talked to didn’t care about genres. That’s why you get into music: Because you have a penchant for rebellion and not being labeled. L: We’re exploring a lot of sounds–psychedelic rock, trip-hop, dubstep, new age, electronic, and stuff. But in the future, I want to delve into reggae… We want to do indie folk too. Don’t expect us to make just one genre. To quote Oscar Wilde, “To define is to limit.” If we categorize ourselves under one genre, we won’t be free to pursue the music we want in the future. There is clamor for you guys to play live. L: As of now, we’re just recordmakers, we want to do something concrete instead of doing live gigs; something that we can be proud of 10 years from now. But we’re looking into that, we’re not closing our doors into doing something live.
facebook.com/LeoAndTheTolstoys @LeoNDTolstoys
MAESTRO
REMASTERED We’ve lived with MOGWAI’s sound for over two decades now, but it’s as if we haven’t gotten used to it. Stuart Braithwaite says, “I think at one point you’re happy. You don’t want your music to be obvious. We always try and change what we’re doing to keep things exciting for us, personally.” By Reena Mesias Interview by Rita Faire
T
“
ake me somewhere nice,” take me where masters of psychedelic experimentation Mogwai are playing. The intricate layers of guitars and subdued vocals—if there are any—are as consistent as when they started in 1995, although first-time listeners would be better off listening to their earlier work with less use of electronics. What’s good, however, is that it’s still not hard to imagine yourself in a desaturated movie scene, walking in murky weather, when the sprawling post-rock often described as cinematic plays. Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Dominic Aitchison
(bass, guitar), Martin Bulloch (drums), John Cummings (guitar, laptop), and Barry Burns (guitar, bass, keyboards, flute, vocals) are set to mess with emotions. Last year, the group produced Les Revenants, the soundtrack for the French horror TV series of the same name. It was more low-key than horrific, subtly brilliant more than monstrous. Stuart says, “I think it’s important not to overpower the story. We had that in mind.” Their eighth album, Rave Tapes, went through a “more
upfront” approach. Stuart says, “I think [Rave Tapes has] a personal narrative in a sense that people view the music in different ways in themselves. I don’t think there’s anything [deliberate.] We make music just in terms of the music being good, making us happy.” So if there is any overpowering, that lies on the listener. The soundtrack to the dark afternoon could be the soundtrack to another’s bright early morning. You read however you want into it.
Les Revenants is your third soundtrack to date, is it something you want to explore more in the future? Yes, definitely. We’re always interested in that. I think it really just sort of depends on whether people ask us. But yeah, we’re always keen on doing something like that. In an interview with Tinymixtapes.com, you said that “Ideally, [albums] should be a cohesive thing…” Does the cohesiveness of the album still translate nowadays, what with iPod shuffles enabling you to skip tracks and listen out of order? It’s up to the people to decide about how to listen to the music. I still think a lot of people listen to albums [all the way though.] If that’s changing, then that’s just the way it is, isn’t it? You can’t stand in the way of people’s choices.
How do you listen to albums? I listen to them, usually, all the way through. I’ve got an iPod, but at home, I listen to vinyl, mostly. I think it’s a bit warmer [than digital music.] I like it. At the end of the day, what makes you happy with a song? It’s hard to quantify. It can be whether you enjoy playing it or whether you think it has musical elements you like. What would be the easiest way to describe your music? Probably instrumental rock music. It’s quite naked, and people can make their own minds about the actual music itself. Music today seems to be leaning more toward EDM. What do you think of its sudden popularity? I think it’s made for people to go dancing. In some angle, you can look at it as having something in common with post-rock in the sense that it’s all about instrumentals and getting a reaction out of people. Well, that’s true. [Laughs.] What was the most surprising thing to happen in music, lately? I was actually quite surprised that dubstep got quite popular in America. That seems really weird.
mogwai.co.uk @mogwaiband
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MAESTRO
hear the
Breaking the boundaries of experimental music, POLIÇA are fearlessly tearing down the walls where artists are boxed into. With a couple of albums and countless shows proving the rate of their success, there’s no doubt we’ll be hearing more about them in the months to come. by Gabbie Isabela
name “It’s always a good thing to me when boxes are dismantled and definitions are abstracted.”
M
inneapolis-based synth-pop group Poliça have quickly been gaining recognition for their spectral sound. Joining forces with producer Ryan Olson in 2011, lead vocalist Channy Leaneagh found their connection and success unexpected. The two arranged live sets with Chris Bierden (bass/vocals), Drew Christopherson (drums), Ben Ivascu (drums), and the rest was history. Putting autotune to great use, Channy creates an eerie effect by altering her voice until it hits a reverberating ambiance—distorting, dissecting, and delaying quality. Synthlaced tracks in webs of drum patterns, smooth bass lines, and harmonic details define their sound while telling tales of melancholy and heartbreak.
Your band has been described as an experiment turned success. Would that be an accurate description? It’s less of an experiment than just a playing around of ideas. An experiment might apply a
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hypothesis of what would happen– we didn’t have any expectations or ambitions. I was on my way out of the “music biz” and making Give You the Ghost was all about the fun of it. Now the big experiment is if I can be in this without losing the fun of it all. Most of your tracks feature a variety of beats and electronic layering. I suppose that is Ryan’s production style you are referring to. It is a chaos created to be a chaos, designed and eventually refined; layers of layers of nights and days and different moods and meanderings. The beautifully distorted version of your voice builds the foundation of the band’s signature style. What else do you think makes a Poliça song? All the pieces make the whole. All five of us are bringing a texture and a history to each song–that is what Poliça sounds like to me.
Talk to us about your new album, Shulamith. Rolling Stone called you “America’s Portishead” after that and NME said that it “is a record that takes on serious issues but always feels engagingly personal.” Was that what you set out to do in making this album? I never set out to do anything I only know how to do it carnally from deep inside of me. I want to operate by what feels good. I don’t want to try to make something, but I definitely try to avoid certain things. In Interview Magazine, you guys talked about the dilemma of genre and categorization when it comes to your own music. It’s always a good thing to me when boxes are dismantled and definitions are abstracted.
Are there any genres people have put you in that you just feel did not make sense? We get put in the R&B, pop, and rock category. None of those are right but I can understand why people would want to put us there. I don’t know what genre we are so I don’t expect anyone else to make sense of it. I hope they won’t even try, and people will continue to have less and less use for genres. You’ve also mentioned that making music is like an escape for you. Is there any place you would like to escape to right now? I’m in bed, and that is exactly where I want to be.
thisispolica.com @thisispolica
M A S T E R M I N D
WELCOME TO THE PUNCH TAMLA KARI is keen to keep the BBC’s The Musketeers mood light with sparks of wit and sass. By Rita Faire Photographed by David Sheldrick Styled by Alexandra Greenhill
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Assistant Stylist Monique Jacobs, Makeup Louise Hall, Hair Seung Ki Baek
he main key of comedy is to leave the audience laughing when you’re gone, and it seems as if 25-year-old actress Tamla Kari has taken this to heart. The Coventry-born, London-based actress has landed a string of comedic roles post-drama school, including a turn in The Inbetweeners Movie, a starring role in the BBC’s Cuckoo—playing an English rose from a straightlaced family who comes home from her gap year married to an eccentric hippie American (played by Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s
Andy Samberg)—as well as one in ITV’s The Job Lot—with a role as a young, single mother who’s just come off her maternity leave. Now, however, she has finally landed herself on a drama with the BBC’s The Musketeers; don’t expect her to keep you straight-faced for long. Despite the show’s darker, grittier take on the mud-caked and leatherdraped world of Alexandre Dumas’s classic adventures, the series has a penchant for throwing punchlines while rolling with the punches.
coat by Topshop, top by Zara All new, young actors have to go through a bit of a rough patch before finally getting cast in their first gig. What was the hairiest audition you had before finally landing The Inbetweeners Movie? Well, I was incredibly lucky to get the part of Lucy while I was still training at drama school. That was my first proper audition for a professional job. I did go through three years of drama school auditions before getting in which are bloody tough and can be pretty soul-destroying especially getting the letters through the post saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.” I was asked to ‘melt’ in one particular audition. That was a low point.
“NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO FIND THE SAME THINGS FUNNY AND GOOD! IT WOULD BE PRETTY BORING OTHERWISE.”
Your roster features a lot of comedic roles. Was comedy something you wanted to do coming out of drama school? It wasn’t something I’d really thought about. It’s kind of just happened that way. At the moment, I’m breaking away from the comedic roles what with the play and The Musketeers coming out in January. I love doing comedy, don’t get me wrong, but it’ll be good for people to see a different side to my acting and also good for me to have new challenges. They say that it’s harder to make people laugh than to make
people cry. Is that true for you? You’re right, comedy is hard. It’s difficult to make people laugh. There’s a massive pressure, and no one wants a tumbleweed moment. I don’t know how comedians do ‘stand up.’ It’s my idea of a worst nightmare. I think it essentially comes down to the writing and character, but of course timing is key. It’s a matter of taste as well. I’ve done The Job Lot, The Inbetweeners, and Cuckoo—all of which are incredibly different styles of comedy. Not everybody is going to find the same things funny and good! It would be pretty boring otherwise. What do you think will set The Musketeers apart from other recent adaptation? Will the BBC have Constance kick more ass? I can’t comment on the 2011 film as I haven’t seen it, but I can say that this adaptation is very different from any that has been before. It takes the essence of the characters from the Dumas novel, but it’s spanned across 10 episodes. It’s dark, gritty, and edgy but has humor too. As for Constance, yeah she kicks some serious ass! [Laughs] She’s one tough cookie, and you wouldn’t mess with her.
@TamlaKari
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Mastermind
STATE OF P LAY At age nine, PAULO VINLUAN dragged his dad to drive him to a local TV network so he could join Uncle Bob’s Lucky 7 Club’s Play Doh contest and win a mountain of toys. A year later, he ran off as the champion. More than two decades later, he’s still playing–though his horizons have gone beyond clay. By Isa Almazan
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t was probably a good thing that Paulo Vinluan’s parents didn’t get him the Ghostbusters firehouse he always wanted. He recounts that he made the firehouse out of clay and piled up chairs, instead. Never mind that it was flimsy, and had to be taken down by the end of the afternoon; it was his and he had made it. In a household littered with canvas, paint, and brushes, there was only one rule: If you can’t buy it, make it. The motto steered Paulo to a Brooklyn apartment, shows in Asia, Europe, and US, and a new foray in animation. After taking up painting at the University of the Philippine’s College of Fine Arts, he eventually enrolled himself in Pratt Institute for further studies. However, Paulo felt that his paintings were drawing blank. “I needed to find a way to make new work,” he elaborates. “I wanted to
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do something worthwhile, so I decided to animate.” “It’s all about stories,” Paulo continues, “If you look at my old paintings, there’s always a character and something happening.” Although unintended and regardless of the medium, there is a fluency of narrative that seamlessly threads through his work. With recurring visual elements such as compasses, themes of displacement and searching, and his graphic aesthetic, he maintains a strong grip on his metaphoric narrative by literally keeping his hands on the reins. Paulo draws every single frame of his work by hand–a time-consuming aspect that sets animation apart from painting. “You have to wait for every element to creep in and reveal itself, as opposed to painting wherein everything is there at first look.”
Nevertheless, you shouldn’t take this as Paulo putting painting on the back burner. Instead it is riding shotgun to animation. “They’re different media, but I want them to be one,” he says. After finishing his first animated sequence, Island Loop, Paulo found a way to marry the two. “For animation, you have to wait for every element to reveal itself,” he continues,” I wanted to do what animation would look like if all elements were there at the same time, like an animation map.” Hide and Seek and Wish You Were Here, showcased in an exhibit held in Manila and Singapore respectively, involved animated and painted installations. But his most
recent animation, BLOCK, stood alone last December 2013 as a one-medium show. This setup gives him room to breath as he finishes the paintings that will bring the story that BLOCK has started telling into full circle. The paintings are set to be shown this April (West Gallery) and August (Finale Art Gallery). And as he coyly hints that his scheduled show in the middle of 2015 will be about the “occupied space,” we are left in vague anticipation. Paulo Vinluan is set out to one-up himself even if it means being less fond of taking rests than he already is. You can even ask his optometrist.
paulovinluan.com
MASTERMIND
M O TI O N S E N S O R S Do not mistake the number of ANA KRAŠ’s media for a case of artistic fickleness. Going where her intuition leads, Ana has explored photography, illustration, videography, accessories design, or (recently) furnituremaking. She won’t budge from what moves her. By Rita Faire Interview by Pola Beronilla
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hile everyone from Woody Allen to Simon and Garfunkel has made various odes and troths to the city that never sleeps, Ana Kraš has yet to fall for its flare. No offense to New York City. It’s great and all—what with all its cinematic lighting, lush parks, energetic (if not deadly) streets, and eclectic mix of characters (actual and fictional, alike)—but not all artists have a whirlwind romance with the Big Apple. A recent transplant from the laid-back shores of Los Angeles, Ana only agreed to cross-continental drift because her partner, musician and visual artist Devendra Banhart, suggested it—one of the main lures being that she “liked the idea of walking instead of driving.” Now, a little over a year since the move, Ana looks at her work and admits, “Maybe it’s still too early to tell [but]… I don’t find NYC very visually interesting. It’s not particular enough. It’s like all the parts of Europe
You’ve been known to be very hands-on when it comes to your work. The most joy I get is from engaging my hands and my body in my work, but I am open to other things as well. I try to avoid computers as much as I can, I feel it makes my head numb and my eyes tired.
by yourself, trying on things you are curious about as an experiment. Work is a method of mediation for you. How do you view the pressure that comes with commissioned work? I think that was more related to “Bonbon” lamp-making, as it’s a long hand work, so that part is sometimes meditative. It gets stressful sometimes when the deadlines are close, of course. But I love to have a deadline, and I love to work on commissioned things. Your furniture pieces seem beautifully minimalist with a lilt of sophistication. Are there any specific influences that have brought you to this aesthetic? Belgrade, Serbia has influenced me as I grew up there surrounded with all the aesthetic chaos—a mix of communist, classic, and 90s modern. I still like when things are not in a perfect harmony. I love a touch of ugliness.
I’ve seen… New York doesn’t move me enough.” Her signature “Bonbon” lamps hint more of old-fashioned Eastern European handicraft and San Francisco’s retro rainbow-hued, sunshinebathed aesthetic than the cool chills of the Five Boroughs. The hand-woven lanterns stacked in tiers or hanging on minimalist wooden frames—transcending their purpose as decorative furniture, becoming more like functional sculptures—would feel more at home in a Queen Anne Victorian duplex than a Brooklyn loft. Intuition plays a great part in Ana’s life and rather than make solid plans for the future, she prefers to follow her feet wherever they lead. Ana “likes it when she gets a little scared.”
Do you have different approaches to the different forms of art you make? There are definitely different processes for different things. A drawing and a piece of furniture don’t have much in common when it comes to what’s behind it. One is a product, one is not. Making a piece of furniture has to be thought after from beginning to the end, how to produce it and make it logical when it comes to cost and use of material, you have to coordinate the people involved, and there is much more responsibility. Making a drawing or a painting on the other hand is not a stressful process. It’s a solo process. It’s more of a hobby or a dream job. It’s so chill, and it’s basically you
Out of all the professions that you could have gone into, why did you decide to become a working artist? I always loved to draw and make things since I was a little kid, so I guess my interests simply didn’t change much in almost 30 years.
“I still like when things are not in a perfect harmony. I love a touch of ugliness.”
anakras.com
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MASTERMIND
Strangers Under Strain
Illustrator MANUEL GONZALES meshes melancholia and mundanity in portraits of troubled youth that “look like they’ve just finished crying.” His sketches are inspired more by film than art itself, taking cues from Hitchcock, Anderson, and Allen. By Ken-Lyle R. Rafiñan
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mute sadness prevails over Manuel Gonzales’s work. “Sadness usually makes me wanna draw. They all look different, they’re in different ‘places,’ they all have different experiences, but they’re all melancholic.” A Manila-based visual artist, Mano—as he is known to friends—is inspired by Hitchcock’s signature approach to contrast. He mirrors the director’s voyeurism and knack for frames that evoke anxiety and fear in his own work by mixing cinematic decoys with modern pop culture. This is evident in I Practice Detachment, his two-man show of pencil works on paper with fellow illustrator Tof Zapanta. Among the works on display are cutout drawings of knotted garbage bags which, from afar, look like men to be hung at the gallows. Studies of the feminine face gaze at the observer or at something off-frame. They are juxtaposed with elements from Japanese animation done in red pencil: dots, contorted hands, wooden stumps, Zen sand swirl formations, and tentacles. Another work has white frames which border disembodied
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heads of more women: this time spaced unevenly beside a crumpled crossword puzzle and prefabricated housing. On his online portfolio, ILLUSTRSHNZZ | HLLCNSHNZZ, pencil reinterpretations of shots from Miley’s Terry Richardson shoot and Rihanna’s “Stay” music video display the pop stars at their rawest. He shows Miley scanned against a time sheet as she grasps and tightens her red leotard between her legs. Meanwhile, Rihanna soaks in a bathtub contemplating the words, “Rihanna I know you’re hurting but I wish you the best.” “These people are sad about something, but it’s been done,” explains Mano. The pain was there, but it’s all over so they all look sad. They’re over it—in a way they’re still hopeful.” Some call it an epiphany; others, a trigger. Mano calls it Hitchcock. He recalls, “I watched Strangers on a Train and I was blown away. I watched Rebecca right after that, then To Catch a Thief. I remember having a terrible headache after… but I felt like a different person altogether. That started my fascination with old films.” Mano has sketches and shadings of portraits and posters inspired by movies
alongside subtle odes to La Nouvelle Vague like a layered surrealist depiction of a woman’s face repeatedly zoomed in and inverted, not to mention of a black-clad woman with a pistol to her temple. He’s also drawn to the vitality of the urban milieu. “I love the city as much as I love nature. Walking around unfamiliar city streets is one of the best things I like doing, especially at night.” With several portraits that play foreground against digitally-rendered cityscapes, he explains, “There’s this energy you find that only you can feel because everyone else is sleeping. It feels like you have the whole city for the taking.” Adding Santa hats, postcards, convenience store drink coolers, and grocery lists to his illustrations, Mano enhances his artistic manifesto with pedestrian trinkets: “I am a huge fan of the mundane, and I think there’s something poetic about that. When I experience something sad or dark, I usually don’t express it by using a lot of dark colors. I remember fragments of that experience that are otherwise known to be dull images by other people.”
manuelgonzalesill.tumblr.com @manogonzales
MASTERMIND
P oe t i c J u s t i ce E
ver since launching his own brand in 2009, Seoul-based designer Cy Choi has refined his craft in couture. After studying fine arts and fashion design at the Hongik University in Seoul, he continued fashion design in Milan, where he lived and worked as a fashion designer and art director. While many industry insiders would consider this clout enough, Cy still considers himself a newbie in the scene. “I am still emerging,” he laughs. When asked what sets him apart from his self-professed emerging colleagues, Cy attributes his strong sense of identity saying, “You have, to know what you are exactly and you need to do it.” He continues, “In this generation, getting information is really easy because of the Internet. You can go to Google and all the information is in there.” Still he reckons that too much information can kill your artistic vibe; it’s a matter of making what the people want versus what you truly want. “Get information and research that’s yours and not of other people.” We caught up with him after his Spring/Summer 2014 show last Seoul Fashion Week. Under the title Image, the collection featured classic tailored
Budding menswear designer Chul-Yong Choi, better known as CY CHOI, is carving his name in fashion through minimalistic silhouettes and bold patterns. If you’re a man with good taste, this tailor will suit you. By Pola Beronilla Photos courtesy of Seoul Fashion Week
blazers with hand-embroidered words and phrases from Yoo Hee Kyung’s “The Blue Bird.” The collection, built around the theme of deconstruction, was a natural occurrence that sprung from Cy and Yoo Hee’s discussions around the vagueness of image and clearness of text. He recalls, “As we were talking in a kind of private meeting, Yoo Hee was like, ‘Oh, why don’t we put it in a collection?’” It turned out to be a great lyrical movement in fashion. Aside from the poetic details, Cy uses basic silhouettes and a grayscale palette accented by ivory, beige, and varying shades of blue. As he moves forward with his career, his future plans include opening a second line, titled Cy Document. “The second line is more couture, very simple, and more for the public.” Aside from concepts for his upcoming Paris collection, Cy also sets his sights on dominating women’s closets some time soon. “Even though my clothes are for men, in my shop, there have been a lot of women that have been buying it,” he adds, “After Milan, probably next year, we will present womenswear.” So ladies, better keep your eyes open.
cychoi.com @_cychoi_
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heavy hitter
STATUS catches up with PHOENIX in their hotel as they score Manila’s sunlit corners. From Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix ’s visible horizons to Bankrupt! ’s “Chloroform” crescendo, Phoenix shed light on their inner world and make sure that it is a room with a view. By Kristine Dabbay Photographed by Shelby Duncan Concert photos courtesy of Karpos Multimedia
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t took Phoenix a long time to travel across the globe, but the band brought years worth of entertainment with them. Finally performing live in Manila, Thomas Mars, Deck d’Arcy, Christian Mazzalai, and Laurent Brancowitz caused an instant Lisztomania among the jam-packed crowd of the World Trade Center. Moments before Phoenix could fly off to another city, I ask Thomas at the Diamond Hotel, “Since you’ve traveled a lot, have you ever felt lost in translation?” “Yeah, we do feel those moments—Those awkward, if that’s what you mean, like being too tall in the shower and things like that. But we do feel the good moments—the good Bill Murray moments, the sweet missed and lost endings so it’s more of a good thing than a bad thing. We’re happy to be lost. We’re happy to have those moments wherein we don’t judge and are just lost,” he proffers. From anecdotes of Sofia Coppola singing the Philippine’s national anthem to referencing Freddie Aguilar, Phoenix just keep surprising us. Deck, however, gets more intimate as he shares handwritten exchanges and engage in a tête-à-tête with STATUS.
How have you guys been since the release of Bakrupt!? Great, but it’s been an intense year, if not the most intense of our life! You went to Intramuros. How was it? A guide took us there and told us about the history of the Philippines, and then we went to the grave of the hero, your national hero. We like when we go somewhere to learn a little bit about the background of the country. It’s pretty rad so it was, well, pretty cool. So you guys have been here for how many days? Two. How was the experience so far? I was pretty shocked… We had no idea that we would be welcomed in this city in the Philippines—very welcoming country. So you’re touring Asia right now, any other places you’re looking forward to? Are you gonna check out beaches? No, we don’t have time. We’re going to Seoul now. So I don’t think the beaches are pretty nice as of the moment in Seoul.
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heavy hitter
It’s gonna be cold. Yeah. We had no idea the Philippines was looking so beautiful. We saw what’s around here and stuff. Yeah, maybe we’d come back Definitely! If you had to choose a favorite among your songs as of the moment, what would it be? It’s hard though. It’s like kids you know, like all your kids are the same. I like the last album because it’s the last thing we did. I like “The Real Thing”. It’s weird because people don’t really react to it. We never know, when we do an album, we have no idea how it’s gonna be, what people are going to like. We do it for ourselves in a very selfish way. So it’s very rare when it’s the same as what you were expecting. Most of our problem was working on the newest Phoenix, and how it should be good; the most complicated, people might not get it. It’s weird. So I read before that “Lisztomania” is about obsessions? Is it true? Yeah. Tell me about your obsessions. Obsession is dangerous you know. You mean my personal ones?
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Yeah, personal ones. You know, I’m fighting to have many obsessions and remain free. I’m obsessed by not being obsessed. No, it’s true, I’m walking on this. Obsession is a nightmare. Freedom is really beautiful. What took you guys so long to follow Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix? We toured for two years and stayed two years in the studio. It’s quite normal for us. All of our previous albums have been that long to craft.
It’s safe to say that Wolfgang had catapulted your status from playing in small venues to becoming festival headliners, what might have happened to the band if that record hadn’t been a success? I guess we would have gone the same way. Actually, we were already very happy with the success of the pre-Wolfgang period, we’ve been lucky enough to have a progressive success so it has never been something we we’re caring about.
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“But we do feel the good moments— the good Bill Murray moments, the sweet missed and lost endings, so it’s more of a good thing than a bad thing. We’re happy to be lost.”
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heavy hitter
“OBSESSION IS A NIGHTMARE. FREEDOM IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.” How does it feel like to be one of the few, if not only, French rock acts that have successfully raised your country’s flag in the mainstream music scene? It’s cool but it’s because there are very few rock bands in France compared to other countries, so it makes it easier, no? France is more about electronic music and singer-songwriters. Quite a lot are great and very influential like Serge Gainsbourg, Christophe, de Roubaix, etc. Your latest release has some 80s vibe, how did that come about? Was it intentional? Not really, actually the 80s is the decade we don’t really love in music, but we were born in the late 70s so we grew up in the 80s, and this probably shaped us unconsciously. It’s probably in our DNA.
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Time Entertainment’s review of Bankrupt! was titled “Phoenix Moves Away from Pop on Latest Album.” What are your thoughts about that statement? Have you ever considered your band as pop? If so, what do you think it means to move away from pop? Is it necessarily a good or bad thing? Pop has many meanings, so it’s a bit hard to discuss on that particular non-genre, but for sure what is a good thing for us is to actually move. It can be from anything to anything, it doesn’t really matter, but we can’t do twice the same. Now that you’re on your 5th record, was there any difference in the process of how you made your albums since United way back in 2000? We still try to go as random as possible in order to avoid any preconceived idea that would end up being non-original. The basic creating process is quite similar. We just have a much better way of filing all of our ideas which makes it easier to use them when they seem appropriate to a situation,
and that affects the songwriting a lot. We can go crazier in a more scientific way. Any advice to those struggling musicians who have settled in playing in small venues? I would not give an advice because I think that what took us out of the “small venues” is the fact that we didn’t follow any advice, but anyway, small venues, most of the time, sound way better than big ones. What’s next for Phoenix? We tour until this summer, and then probably gonna make a new album. We don’t know yet. We didn’t stop working on it. wearephoenix.com @wearephoenix
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EAST SIDE
T A K E M E T O TH E
Every now and then, actors and musicians cross over to the other side checking to see if they’ll find greener pastures, and while most rely on their star status to jumpstart their new venture, Zoë Kravitz try to keep things low-key. Along with her besties Jimmy Giannopoulos and James Levy, Lolawolf became Brooklyn’s best kept secret, but not for long, because when you’re scratching 80s electro-pop beats in a Williamsburg apartment, it’s hard to keep the cat inside the bag. By Zoe Laurente Interview by Rita Faire
heavy hitter
“When you’re on stage doing music, you have the words you wrote, the songs you wrote. You can’t just disappear.”
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t all started with crash diets, hunger pangs, and a movie role. Lolawolf was the answer to frontwoman Zoë Kravitz’s need of a good time who was then in the middle of filming The Road Within. Lucky for her her best friends James Levy and Jimmy Giannopoulos had temporarily relocated from LA to Williamsburg where they’d spend long nights writing music for an album that wasn’t intended to see the light of day. Sure, keeping a couple of secrets is what best friends are for, but when you debut a single with such sultry vocals cooing, “I could stare out your window and fuck you tonight,” it wouldn’t be long before everyone wants in on that little secret too–in this case, the band’s identity. We wouldn’t roll our eyes too much if Zoë said “We just wanted to have fun, people liking it is just a bonus.” Given her day job as an actress and her genealogy, pegging her as the type to be looking for attention is highly unlikely. What also doesn’t come off as a shocker is her decision to venture into music. “I don’t know what I could’ve gone into,” she says having been raised in a house built on rock & roll, she is after all Lenny Kravitz’s little girl. But with Jimmy’s influence, the band steered
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towards an 80s direction, citing influences that range from Madonna to Cindy Lauper. Jumpstarting the year with the debut of their first EP, the band is already working on a follow up, keeping everyone hanging by a thread. So tell us how Lolawolf got started. Jimmy and James were just my best friends and they’re amazing musicians. Music is a terrific goal for me because I need to find something to try and keep me occupied and stay focused in any of my chosen outlets. I liked that I was shooting as well as doing music. It’s kind of like hanging out. You know, it’s just you, it’s creative. You often mention that Lolawolf was a reaction to filming The Road Within and how that became a therapeutic outlet for you. Yeah, exactly, that’s the film I was shooting at that time. Does that sort of origin leak into the music you’ve made or do you think it’s very detached from that? I think, in a way, it’s definitely there. I would have very vulnerable times where I would go through breakups, make do with potholes, hence mentally fight anything you can find.
A couple of interviews peg you guys down as part of this 80s synth renaissance that music has been experiencing lately. Drive has been described as “pure Lana del Lennox with a surging chorus,” and then you’re compared to Madonna, The Eurythmics, Kim Wilde, Cindy Lauper. You told Hunger that it’s all about James and Jimmy when it comes to that influence. What direction would you have normally gone had they not been influenced by the 80s? I don’t know what I could’ve gone into just because in the Kravitz house, it was rock & roll music. A chorus is magic. Songwriting can be really fast. As long as I like the sound of it, I’ll listen to it. What’s the soundtrack of your life now that you get to choose the music that you play? I have to force myself to listen to the next gen stuff unlike classic rock. I can listen to that all day long.
So it’s actually a progression. You started off with the 80s, you go off into the 90s, is there a chance that you’ll go into the 60s and 70s sound that you were influenced by? Yeah, totally. Who knows? We don’t really know. We’re just feeling everything out. We’re very open. Every EP is going to be completely different. You associate a lot of albums with certain points of your childhood. Yeah, I mean, my mom played a lot of Van Morrison, Bob Marley, and Fiona Apple. When you’re a kid, you don’t really have a say. How differently do you approach acting and music? They’re completely different things. Everything I do has been considering the fans. I can’t avenge everything I’ve done in my life. That’s my approach to everything: make it real.
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You’ve mentioned that you get nervous before you go on stage and that you go through this whole emotional process. When you’re acting, you have lines and marks, but sometimes no one is paying attention to you in that moment. You can say lines that embarrass you. You have all these barriers to you and what you’re doing. When you’re on stage doing music, you have the words you wrote, the songs you wrote. You can’t just disappear. You can’t blame anyone but yourself. I always get really nervous beforehand, and I can’t get out of it, so it
takes me until the second song to really get into it, and I’m just in the zone until the show is over. I’m relieved it’s over. What’s next for Lolawolf? We have a second EP coming out. We just have to gather around, sit down, and record it. We don’t want to rush it after the first one came out. I just want to make music with my friends. I want to spit it out.
@Lolawolfband
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DESIGN STAPLE Considering Staple Design’s standout collaborative résumé with Nike, Microsoft, New Balance, and LVMH, to name a few, it is definitely safe to proclaim that JEFF NG, better known as JEFFSTAPLE, has pulled out all the stops to make the Staple Pigeon king. By Rolly Ibañez Photographed by Amanda Lopez in promoting the sea of unique ways of being educated.”
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t is a no-brainer that jeffstaple is a creative powerhouse, a high flier that promotes positive social contagion in the realm of design, consultancy, retail, and fashion. The ever-shaping Staple brand, which started as a humble T-shirt line, “grew organically and began to gain visibility in New York” through Jeff’s iconic design: the Pigeon. What started out as a collaborative venture with Nike in 2005, the Staple Pigeon was conceived and aimed to represent New York City and
be a worldwide symbol of “the gritty and reckless energy New Yorkers (and all urban dwellers) possess.” Overseeing Staple, Staple Design, and Reed Space is a tough task but Jeff still manages to share his skills in business. Through Skillshare, an educational community marketplace, Jeff continues to be keen on educating young entrepreneurs in “addressing some of the most fundamental aspects of starting a brand.” He continues, “I’m a firm believer
You were recently included in The Source’s #Power30 issue, what does power mean in a hypeobsessed world? Power means the same today as it did way back in times of royalty… There isn’t really power that comes from money or anything. It’s about being able to influence the way people think. You dropped out of NYU then proceeded to Parsons. How important is education in achieving success? Education is very important, but I just think that where you get your education from can
vary. It doesn’t have to come from a university, a school, or a learning facility. People can learn on the job, at an internship, on the streets, in jail. It doesn’t matter where you are or what environment you’re in; you can get an education. On the other hand, there are some people who drop out or don’t go to school and seem to think that they no longer need to learn. When they shut off the part of their brain that accepts learning, I think that’s wrong. You say that you got where you are today through a freak chance that someone wanted to buy the shirt off your back. What if that freak chance never
heavy hitter
“Haters are awesome. If you have haters, it means you’re doing something right.”
happened; do you think you would you be doing now? If and when Staple all falls to shit, I’ll just get a job as a full-time teacher. I think it’s something I was destined to do. In many ways, what we do at Staple is kind of teaching; we just use fashion, graphics, retail, and product design as a medium. You once said, “I’ve been so blessed that I can die now and be very content. There’s nothing more I dream of. In fact, I hate dreaming. Honestly.” Most people are driven by dreams, what drives you then? There are three things that drive me right now. One is to be able to get to a place where my mom no longer has to work. To retire my mom would be a dream. Second, to then create a situation where everyone who works under me at Staple and Reed Space can say that they have achieved their dreams or can live their lives very comfortably through believing in this dream… The third thing is kind of on the same scale; to be able to change the life of someone I don’t even know. To me, that’s the beauty of teaching. When you teach a class, even though there’re only thirty people in that class,
the ripple effect that you have through your teachings is infinite and immense. In line with that, how do you maximize technology without being a slave to it? I always treat technology and the newest thing as a tool, and that’s it. Social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are merely tools to get your word out. If you don’t have the words to say, but you have the tools, you’re not maximizing the potential of that. You’ve mentioned before that you abhor trends. When I say that I abhor trends, I mean that I don’t like looking at trends. I don’t hate particular trends. I hate the idea of looking at trends and trying to monetize off that. That’s what I hate. I hate trend-seeking or trend forecasting. How do you react to haters? Haters are awesome. If you have haters, it means you’re doing something right. If you don’t have haters, you’re not really pissing people off, and if you’re not pissing people off, it means you’re drawing within the lines–you’re staying on a straight road, you’re not doing
anything challenging to people. When you start to make lefts or zig-zag or color outside the lines, that’s when people are like “What the fuck are you doing? You’re not supposed to be doing that. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.” I get really weirded out when everyone says they love you because honestly, you can’t do stuff that everyone loves. That’s not real. If I’m ever in a room and ten-in-ten people think whatever I’m doing is awesome, I start scratching my head wondering if I’m in a room full of yesmen with everyone blowing smoke up my ass. I want to hear criticism. I want to hear the hate. The more constructive it
could be, the better. What’s next for you? I just want to keep doing things that make me happy. I don’t have a plan or anything like that. I live very much for the present. That’s the type of person I am. I don’t live in the past, I don’t live for the future. If I can make the next minute relevant and happy to me, then I’m doing a good job. It’s 6:35 PM right now, if 6:36 can be just as good at 6:35, then I’m doing a good job. I don’t really need to think about what 7:30 brings.
stapledesign.com
LESSON PLAN Jeff’s tips to twentysomethings 1) Go outside. It’s a beautiful world. Unglue your face from your screen and experience the natural world we live in. 2) Work hard. Think about the hardest you’ve ever worked in your life, and multiply that by a thousand. Be ready to do that. Every day. 3) Teach one. You should never stop learning, even after you’ve left school. Always be ready to absorb new things from different people wherever it may be. But also be ready to teach when needed as well. 4) You don’t deserve anything. Don’t ever ask for anything unless it’s been offered to you first. And if it never gets offered to you then get it yourself. Don’t sit there thinking that you deserve for someone to give you anything unless they want to offer it. 5) Brush your tongue. This is where all the bad breath comes from.
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Everybody wants to live in a spotless planet, but not all people throw their garbage right away. These litterbugs take your trash and turn them into treasure. By Pola Beronilla
Derek Gores Mix-media
How has your childhood influenced your art? As a kid, I made my own R2D2 out of buckets and bowls. In art school, I made a self-portrait using just magazine text, which was probably my first collage. Later, I found that fashion sensibilities combine my love of abstract shapes and the figure. Do your artworks have themes? One is the importance of being present–keeping your senses awake and open to surprise. Secondly, in my portraits of women, I depict a strength, a
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mystery, feminism–and the beauty of a life lived intentionally, vigorously, and for herself first. Why do you believe in expressing art through recycled materials? I think of it as collaborating with the universe. I like to have more than just my own linear, conscious intellect involved in creating. Using recycled elements lets me engage other contexts and hints at other moments. It brings time into the equation.
derekgores.com
BLOCK PARTY
Su Blackwell Books
What inspired you to use old books in your artwork? I have always had an interest in second-hand objects that have a history and a story behind them. After a trip to Thailand, I bought a second-hand book from a Khao San Road book shop and experienced seeing paper art while traveling around South East Asia. What is your favorite literary piece? I draw inspiration from books and from the pages inside the book. My favorite one is Alice in Wonderland. It was my favorite story as a child, and continues to inspire me. It works on many levels.
Can you tell us the greatest story of your career? It is a meandering tale with highs and lows. A highlight has been to commission to an installation at the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire. I was given complete freedom to do what I wanted. The staff was amazing. It was a real labor of love. I felt so honored to have my work displayed within the house and express my interpretation of the Brontës’ work and lives.
sublackwell.co.uk
Erika Iris Simmons
Tape
What inspired you to use tape in your artwork? I never formally studied art; I got my degree in Russian before beginning my art career. I was inspired by the “Ghost in the Machine” concept from philosophy. Arranging the data on the tapes to make the portraits illustrated that concept to me. Also I had no money to buy art supplies. I used whatever I could find around the house.
With the rate of how technology is going, do you think that the process of actual art would ever die and be taken over by digital art? I think technology is a tool, but it will never replace human invention. Technology will help us do more, faster–help us see farther–but we have to do the seeing.
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What’s the most interesting part of your work process? Usually, ideas take a long time to develop–years sometimes. I get an idea for material and just let it simmer until I think of an easy, effective solution to express something. The first 75% of my process is very predictable, then the finishing touches I just allow to “come together.” That part is always exciting because I have little control of the outcome. I like tangled hierarchies and allowing echoes to come through like a world-in-a-world.
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NIGHTVISION 7am Represent by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
i hate mondays by The Cobrasnake
Zero Mondays @ Imperial
by Jenna Genio
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NIGHTVISION
#baddecision @ Black Market by Red Astrid
motorik acid haus
by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
SOCIAL SATURDAYS @ Aracama by Pam Santos
SUPER SOCIAL by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
TALK ABOUT TEDDYS by The Cobrasnake
The Shakedown @ Black Market by Inez Moro
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DIRECTORY BRANDS 21 MEN SM Megamall, Ortigas City ADIDAS Greenbelt 3, Makati City ALAX W DIAMOND alaxwdiamond.com ALEJANDRO INGELMO alejandroingelmo.com ANDRES SARDA andressarda.com BENNY GOLD bennygold.com BOBBI BROWN bobbibrowncosmetics.com BTFL PEOPLE btfl-people.com CALL IT SPRING Greenbelt 3, Makati City CIATE ciate.co.uk CIDENZI MORI cidenzimori.com CLINIQUE clinique.com COTTON ON SM Mall Of Asia, Pasay City DIANE VON FURSTENBERG dvf.com DIESEL diesel.com DIOR dior.com ESTEE LAUDER esteelauder.com FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Ortigas City FOSSIL VINTAGE fossilvintage.com.au GUERLAIN guerlain.com JANE IREDALE janeiredale.com JESSICA SIMPSON Vince Camuto, Greenbelt 5, Makati City
JOE FRESH joefresh.com KATE SPADE Greenbelt 3, Makati City KIEHL’S kiehls.com KOI SWIMWEAR ilovekoi.com.ph LACOSTE Greenbelt 3, Makati City LUSH lush.com MAC maccosmetics.com MAD HATTER madhatterlk.com MARC BY MARC JACOBS Greenbelt 5, Makati City MISS SELFRIDGE SM Aura, Taguig City NARS narscosmetics.com NASTY GAL nastygal.com OLIVIA AND FIFTH oliviaandfifth.com OXYGEN SM Mall Of Asia, Pasay City PEDRO Greenbelt 5, Makati City PENSHOPPE SM Mall Of Asia, Pasay City PHILOSOPHY philosophy.com RAG & BONE rag-bone.com RALPH LAUREN ralphlauren.com RIVER ISLAND SM Aura, Taguig City ROCK & CANDY ziginy.com/rock-and-candy.html SALVATORE FERRAGAMO ferragamo.com SHISHEIDO shisheido.com
SUITE BLANCO SM Aura, Taguig City SUPERGA superga.co.uk SUPERGOOP supergoop.com TOPMAN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City TOPSHOP SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City UNDFTD undefeated.com VALENTINE GAUTHIER valentinegauthier.com WASHINGTON ROBERTS washingtonroberts.com ZARA Greenbelt 5, Makati City ARTISTS Borge Aloba (Hair) isakalabasa.wix.com/borge-aloba Anthony Arreola (Makeup) twitter.com/AnthonyMUArtist Red Astrid (Photographer) facebook.com/red.i.soundsystem Seung Ki Baek (Hair) facebook.com/seungki.baek.5 Johann Bona (Photographer) johannbona.com JC Cerilla (Photographer) jccerilla.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Shelby Duncan (Photographer) shelbyduncan.com Jenna Genio (Photographer) facebook.com/jennavgenio Jaida Gikofsky (Makeup) facebook.com/jaidakyi Alexandra Greenhill (Stylist) alexandragreenhill.co.uk Louise Hall (Makeup) louisehallmakeup.com
Brandon Niquolas Ho (Stylist) btfl-people.com Art Brandon Hunter (Stylist) facebook.com/Brandonscothunter Monique Jacobs (Stylist) bloglovin.com/moniquejacobs Magic Liwanag (Photographer) magicliwanag.com Amanda Lopez (Photographer) amandalopezphoto.com Grace de Luna (Photographer) behance.net/gracedeluna Schelay McCarter (Photographer) schelay.co.uk Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmirandaphotography.com Inez Moro (Photographer) inezwashere.tumblr.com Patricia Nabong (Photographer) dorkoinvasion.tumblr.com Alexa Nikolas (Photographer) miloshphotography.tumblr.com Amanda Padilla (Makeup) amanda-padilla.com Jessica Park (Stylist) stylebyjessicapark.com Irvin Rivera (Photographer) graphicsmetropolis.com RJ Roque (Photographer) inaninstax.com Maria Salazar (Hair) elitesalonsandspas.com/maria-salazar.html Nicco Santos (Photographer) ynigosantos.tumblr.com Pam Santos (Photographer) blogpamsantos.tumblr.com David Sheldrick (Photographer) davidsheldrick.com JP Singson (Photographer) jponfashionspeed.com Cate Underwood (Photographer) cateunderwood.com
S TAT U S IN VA D E S
AMERICAN APPAREL CROP TOP
Slightly inappropriate, I had this top specially printed at American Apparel by artist Dean Yeagle.
PRINTED DRESS FROM THAILAND
I never thought words amoebic and feminine could ever be combined into one garment but here it is in the flesh.
APC BAG
Sometimes you just need a quality beater bag. This is it.
PRADA PRINTED BACKPACK
I’m always a fan of playful and functional items.
MARTINE CAJUCOM @martinecajucom
OLYMPUS PEN
I’m as addicted to my iPhone and excessive filtering as the next millennial, but I’ll always have a love for taking real photographs.
ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK
Lipstick is the last and most exciting thing I put on when I’m putting together an #ootd. These are my go-to shades. Mix for ultimate customization.
STINGRAY CLUTCH FROM CEBU HAIRY SHOES FROM HONG KONG
Pony hair and snakeskin? I wore them straight out of the shop.
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Eccentric prints are always a must when it comes to my happiness.
MIU MIU AND NICK CAMPBELL GLASSES
I’m always on the quest to finding my next favorite pair of unique tortoise sunglasses. These two are currently in rotation.
IT by ALEXA CHUNG
She’s kind of synonymous with the word/movement of “girl crush.”
CHANEL BALLET FLATS These were too hard to resist with the perfect combination of pink and peach.
NIKE FLYKNITS
These are about as athletic as I take it, but I’ll find any excuse to wear them outside of my thirty minute elliptical quickies.
TEAPOT
Every morning starts with a cup of green tea.
Portrait by Nicco Santos, product photography by Grace de Luna
Formerly based in Los Angeles, MARTINE CAJUCOM has come home to dominate Manila. Modeling, blogging, and co-owning Sunnies by Charlie are just a few things that make her spunk, style, and killer looks shine.
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