IS Starting A MOVEMENT M a rch 2013
73 JASON LEE PARRY
65 ALT-J 12 STATUS MESSAGE 14 MASTHEAD
STATUSPHERE 17 22 23 24 25 26
THREADS SETTING BRICK & MORTAR SCREEN INK BEATS
gadgets 27
TECH PACK: ACTION JACKSON
Rev them up and zoom.
BEAUTY 28 29 29
FACE PAINT: CANDY SHOP
A Tutti Frutti kind of beauty
ABOUT FACE:DICE AND SLICE
Cucumbers aren’t just eye accessories.
BEAUTY BITE: FOX AND JANE
FASHION
88 RYE RYE VISION BOARD
34 CREATURE OF THE SUN
Reintroducing the tagline, “That’s hot.” By Miguel Miranda
42 RESIDENT CRUSH
She brings all the boys to the yard. By Zeko Eon
48 STOLEN SUNLIGHTS & SWEETHEARTS
Tropical bombshells hit the floor. By Louiza Vick
SHOPPING GUIDE SWAG
54 SWAG: RUNWAY REPLAY
Spring/Summer 2013 Trends
56 COOL CATS Leopard
57 EXECUTIVE CHECK Boardroom Dressing
58 RAINBOW BRITE Neon
59 STRIPE TEASE Stripes
60 BUILDING BLOCKS 80s Color Blocking
STREET STYLE
61 TROPICAL HUT
30 GO SEE
62 TEEN SPIRIT
Rain or shine, stay sparkling.
32 STYLE ID: JEEPERS CREEPERS Where’d you get that steez, sir?
Tropical Prints
90s Grunge
63 EXTRA EXTRA
Tweed and Plaid
FEATURES mUSE
64 THE CHASER
Holla annyeong girl, Ji Hye Park. By Giano D. Dionisio
mAESTRO
65 GANG OF FOUR
With a few simple keystrokes, Alt-J (Δ) represent a virtual rate of change in the world of music. By Marla Cabanban-Darwin
66 SHE’S GOT YOU HIGH
From fashion catalogues to musical ones, Sanya Smith is switching the mix into dancey diva DJ territory. By Karlo Cleto
67 DARWIN’S EVOLUTION
Three years after an indie debut detectable on everyone’s radars, Darwin Deez returns with Songs for Imaginative People. By Reena Mesias
68 THE DIRTY DUTCH KING
DJ Chuckie is still baffled that people pay him to party, but no one’s complaining, the sun is still hot, and the rain is still wet. By Bianca Cruz
68 HISTORICAL MAPS
“Trojans” helped in their conception, now Atlas Genius make music that penetrates our deepest defenses. By Reena Mesias
69 RAC CITY
Out with the old and in with the new, the Remix Artist Collective aka RAC, put their own spin on
top hits and old tunes you miss. Luckily, they ain’t a hit or miss. By Jericho Umali
MASTERMIND
70 MANNING UP
Designer Eunice Lee appropriates New York masculinity for her esteemed menswear label, UNIS. By Josh Lao
71 SET FIRE TO THE TUMBLEWEEDS Whether in the streets or on the cliffs, French photographer Yougo Jerberg is used to roughing it. We catch up with this stranger in the strange land amidst his Kerouacian trek across the American wasteland. By Boo Umaly
72 COMIC SANS COMEDY
Artist Rob Cham gets chummy about illustrated bunnies, industry dummies, and morning funnies. By Petra Magno
73 REBEL RENEWED
Motorbikes, leather jackets, and adrenaline rushes fuel photographer Jason Lee Parry’s captured moments. By Liza Constantino
74 GIMME THA LOOT
New York photographer and LavishLivez blogger Paul Chin is living it up while taking pictures of his view from the top. By Reena Mesias
75 TWIN SPEAK
Actors Felix and Dominic Roco are tackling their rising careers together with a bond that bolsters brotherly ambition. By Nante Santamaria
IS Starting A MOVEMENT M a rch 2013
70 Eunice Lee
34 Creature of the Sun
68 Atlas Genius HEAVY HITTER
76 COMMAND AND PROSPER
With killer steez and killer beats, “jiggy nigga” and fashion killa A$AP Rocky is zooming toward the frontlines of fame and fortune, with a baggage boasting kilos of Margiela and Raf Simons. By Loris Peña
82 BORN TO BE A LYON
Artist Kevin Lyons has been nonstop with his creative hustle, roaring through projects with Girl Skateboards, Nike, and Urban Outfitters to get to the top of the food chain. Now, with his own Natural Born brand, the monster doodler shakes his mane and collects his Lyons share. By Victoria Herrera
88 KINETIC
Bouncing off Baltimore’s rich blend of beats and booty shaking, Rye Rye pioneered the wave of amped up Gen Y femcees as far back as 2006 with “Shake
It to the Ground.” She’s matured since then, but continues to live loud with her colorful style and unconstrained energy. By Karlo Cleto
97 RED
BULL RL GRIME SOUND
92 MANILA FIXED GEAR
98 SOCIAL SATURDAYS @ ARACAMA 98 IGGY AZALEA & COPACABANA 99 BIRTHDAYCABANA 99 7TH HIGH CLUB ROOM
93 THE CLOTHING
MORE
BLOCK PARTY: GROUP DYNAMICS Fixie bikers
Streetwear collective
100 DIRECTORY
93 THA PROJECT Dance crew
STATUS INVADES
EVENTS
102 DEE JAE PA’ESTE
95 END OF DAYS APOCALYPSE 96 MMHMM GO TEAM! GO! 96 RANDOM CITIZEN II 97 SNOW LIGHT
103 FITNESS FLIRTS
NIGHTVISION
The traveling artist lands on solid ground.
How to exercise your love muscles
Standing tall with his sneaks planted firmly on the pavement, A$AP Rocky embodies the spirit of hitting the street and getting busy. Amid the frenzy of his sonic ascent to the top, Pretty Flacko remains “LVL”-headed, stunting in London designer Astrid Andersen’s all-grey sweatsuit. Whether you’re aiming to score or shooting for the stars, long live the locked and loaded.
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
RYE RYE (88)
A$AP ROCKY (76)
starting A MOVEMENT W
hen we started STATUS, we wanted to change how people viewed fashion, music, arts, and night life in Manila. We wanted to discover the new creative minds and give them a platform to showcase their work. Creating a youth culture magazine turned our dreams into reality. The man behind “Pe$o” and “Purple Swag” defined our Active Issue. Yup, A$AP Rocky, with his double French braids, has been creating a movement with his recent album, Long.Live.A$AP. In this issue, we discover why Rocky ain’t your ordinary rapper. Rye Rye, on the other hand, has been making the moves—literally—by being one hell of a performer. This 22-year-old has been balancing being real, taking care of her baby, and busting beats while being shot exclusively by Rick Craft and Ashley Gomila. But what keeps the voice of Baltimore energized? According to her, keeping things fun is a huge part of it. New York-based artist Kevin Lyons has made a major impact in youth culture by being connected to influential brands like Nike, Stussy, Urban Outfitters, Tokion Magazine, and Girl Skateboards. With that body of work, he definitely had his hand in molding our magazine’s creative development and fashion taste. He tells us his perspective on design and how he developed his own clothing line. We also felt that we should include the local crews in our Block Party that are making a collective effort to change the status quo. Manila Fixed Gear, THE Clothing, and Tha Project have come together to ride the streets, create clothing, and break barriers through dance. Also check out Swag’s Runway Replay which will get you laced up just right for spring. All in all, the secret to getting ahead is getting started. So take the first step, do what we did, and take action.
Editor-in-chief
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contributors statusmagonline.com editor-in-chief
Rosario Herrera @RosarioHerrera
creative director Patrick L. Jamora art director Patrick Diokno graphic designers Nyael David
Jer Dee Paolo Geronimo
associate editor Kristine features editor Reena
ASHLEY GOMILA
With an early 16-year-old start, makeup artist Ashley has worked with the Miss USA pageant, the Emmys, Grammys, celebrities, magazines, campaigns, you name it. In our March issue, she lends her expertise to bouncy recording artist Rye Rye (88). Ever the professional, Ashley dresses down in a Gap tee and Burberry denim for her shoots, accessorizing with Nike Airs and a handy coffee mug. But come nighttime, she flashes her Alex Wangs and McQueens for that fashionphile finish.
Dabbay Mesias fashion editor Loris Peña assistant editor Giano D. Dionisio fashion assistant Zoe Laurente editorial assistant Rita Faire
@padraick @patrickdiokno @nyaels @jerdeeee @paolostroodles @tindabs @YoHitGirl @_dizzyrizzy @giodion @zoelaurente @ritadoesnttweet
Tina Herrera @tinaherrera_ Buenaventura @danbuenaventura junior account manager Marian Ortiz @HailMarian
sales & marketing consultant account manager Dan
tweet us! contributing writers
Marla Cabanban-Darwin, Karlo Cleto, Liza Constantino, Bianca Cruz, Victoria Herrera, Petra Magno, Nante Santamaria, Jericho Umali, Boo Umaly contributing artists
ZEKO EON
Hailing from Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York; this young fashion photographer has shot some of STATUS’s own alums (ADEEN, Coco & Breezy) while remaining a regular contributor. Though he used to run track, nowadays Zeko gets his rush from capturing bold beauties with his camera, such as this issue’s “Resident Crush.” (42) And when he wants to recharge, all it takes is a little meditation and mystic recreation: “I carry crystals everywhere I go, so I think they play an awesome role in raising my vibration and energy.”
Andrew Apuya, Maria Alejandra Barrios, Anouck Bertin, Ming Han Chung, Tiffani Chynel, The Cobrasnake, Rick Craft, Yesenia Cuevas, Jake Davis, Joyce de DiosIgnacio, Jon Duenas, Zeko Eon, Grissel Esparza, Gerard Estadella, Bea Fabros, Debby Falcon, Ashley Gomila, Salomon Gutierrez, Sofia Hardy, Tinette Herrera, Victoria Herrera, Carlos Jamieson, Man-E Jay, Apollo Lara, Squalie Malone, Miguel Miranda, Franz Navarrete, Joseph Pascual, RJ Pascual, Jeruel Pingol, Jose “Hoza” Rodriguez, Nikki Ruiz, Nante Santamaria, Pam Santos, Phil Sharp, JP Singson, Patrick Velasco, Louiza Vick, Aleksey Volchek, Heather Wolverton interns
Grace Ann de Luna, Isabelle Kim, Josh Lao, Paulo Montesa, Regina Vega
What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com
ANDREW APUYA
Tired of holding down a nine-to-five graphic design job (he’s had four in the past three years), Andrew is through with adjusting fonts, brush widths, and margins by .5 intervals. At the end of 2012, he decided to pursue his main passion full-time: photography. A frequent contributor for local broadsheets, magazines, and events, our old chum returns to STATUS to capture our Block Party (92) movers and shakers this month.
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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 2013
silent Killer M
ixing prints is the name of the game for RENE GURSKOV’s Spring/Summer line. Monochromatic portraits of models, bold stripes, abstract floral patterns, and black and red lace are shuffled around to create pieces worthy of a second look. Strike a pose and live for the moment because all eyes are on you. incircus.dk
BRING IT BACK P
UMA is pulling a sneaker master class by taking its cues from classics like the “1968 Puma Suede” and the “R698.” The result? “The Future Suede Lite” and the “R698 LTWT Future.” While maintaining its signature profile, the Future line upgrades its minimalist aesthetics, proving that old school doesn’t mean old news. puma.com
ATTENTION PLEASE L
adies and gals, kindly set sights on the N/TICE’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Inspired by all things vintage and downtown New York, the brand’s cropped sweaters, silk shorts, cutout blouses, midi dresses, and printed caps give you a taste of the Lower Manhattan scene. nticeclothing.com
FREAKS OF NATURE G
reat ideas come when good things collide just like JANSPORT’s collaboration with Benny Gold and Pendleton Woolen Mills. Its new line sees a rebirth of rich textures and Native American art. While function comes before form, happy campers will be glad to know they can get both from these printed backpacks and accessories. jansport.com
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
FREE FALLING P
lay DRESS UP in designer Stephanie Downey’s Some Dreamers collection. Try on a cashmere denim jacket in rusty red or blue checks while twirling around in an organza dress. From trench coats and patchwork dresses to knit skirts, you are sure to daydream from one piece to another. dressup.net.au
JUST RIDE T
ake nautical pieces to the street with NAISSANCE’s Spring/ Summer collection. Sail away in boat shoes, espadrilles, and striped long-sleeved sweaters. Wow ‘em with oversized white and denim trousers, brightly colored hoodies, plaid blazers, and short shorts. Put a fedora on; you deserve to enjoy the view. naissance-tokyo.com
FOOT FIRST M
ove forward in life with these babies from TEN & CO. With woven material, festive colors, and prints, these ain’t your ordinary pairs of footwear. Aztec patterns and bold stripes make these shoes stand out. Whether worn or torn, they make you want to get up and go. ten-and-co.com
SAVAGE GARDEN G
et into the jungle rhythm in tees and caps from Cebubased streetwear brand SCARS. Blend with the animals of the concrete jungle in tiger print tanks and camo caps that give people a taste of the wild. Leave all inhibitions ‘coz there’s no turning back once you’re part of the pack. facebook.com/SCARS5COLUMNCREW
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BAD TEACHER H
igh school is so yesterday but it doesn’t mean you can’t channel your inner prep school rebel. Thanks to M’S BRAQUE, the school girl style is given a cool, contemporary spin in Palm tree-print blazers, swirl print trousers, oversized cardigans, Peter Pan collars, and poofy skirts. But the real A+ goes to the pleated neon shorts and button-downs. Girls, take note! msbraque.com
THREADS
YOU AND YOUR PAINTINGS N
ORTH’s latest offering of delicate white fabrics are infused with symmetrical prints that look like they were painted with watercolor. From sheer button-downs and basic tees to tailored shorts and dresses, these items scream femininity at its coolest. Feel free to call yourself a full-fledged girly-girl. facebook.com/norththelabel
SUN DAYS B
are it all with SABO SKIRT’s summertime drops. Digital floral prints and fancy lace take your spring break wardrobe to the sultry side of town. The brand’s latest collection of shorts, dresses, and skin-flashing tops are waiting to join the fun under the sun. So turn up the temp and turn them on. saboskirt.com
WAVE LENGTHS C
atch a wave this summer in QUIKSILVER’s “Diamond Dobby Cypher Roam Boardshorts” and 100% cotton slim-fit graphic print shirts. Getting wet and wild certainly gets hotter in geometric print and vintage speckled tees. Don’t forget the sunblock when you’re getting that R&R. quicksilver.com.ph
AS GOOD AS IT GETS P
ut your phone, iPad, and credit cards in their place with MILLER GOODS’s leather holders and cases. Carry those coins in style and break free from the fuss with triangular coin purses in brown, blue, white, orange, and green leather. Don’t forget to untangle the mess of annoying laptop cables and earphones with the brand’s cable bands in a brown leather finish. millergoods.com
PIRATE BAY
DALLASANDCARLOS SS13 P10
D
ALLAS AND CARLOS’s Shipwreck collection is a treasure trove full of anchors, crosses, skulls, and diamonds among drop earrings, gold chain necklaces, and beaded bracelets. So, when you’re all dipped and drowning in gold and silver, you wont need any saving at all. dallasandcarlos.com
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
BEACHY ATTITUDE T
ake the 6 SHORE ROAD and expand its Half Moon Lagoon collection. Offering sizzling printed high-waisted bikini bottoms, halter twist tops, and cutout onesies, you’re bound to be the center of attention. Even hotties need help cranking up the Celsius. 6shoreroad.com
FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT S
tand out in DC’s “Smoke Glo” tee, made with performance glow-inthe-dark ink. Available in both black and white, the green smoke design glows in low light and appears white under the sun. Whether you’ve got the hippie swing or the laid-back blues, this tee lights you up like neon. dcshoes.com
LIGHT VICES A
boy can never have too many jackets; just ask the folks over at ÉCLECTIC. Its latest collection reworks the classic staple with a variation of cotton materials. Channel Jay Gatsby in a cool blue suit with pastel blazers that can take you from a day out in the town to a night in the manor. With a good jacket on, you can do no wrong. e-eclectic.com
SPRING AWAKENING I
T’S OKAY MY DEAR’s definition of coming-of-age doesn’t spell awkward. With a few lemon slices and skinny legs printed all over your threads, your inner kid will be delighted. Spring 2013’s line of sheer dresses and peplum tops mix prints with pastel solids in skirts and shirts that keep you looking like you’re dressed in your Sunday best. itsokaymydear.com
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SWEAT IT OUT H
emlines go higher, shorts get shorter, and polo shirts spell out preppy perfection in DOODLES HOMME. If shorts aren’t your thing, then get comfy and cozy with black and white graphic tees and drop-crotch sweatpants. Don’t forget to pair them with some penny loafers for the kicker. doodleshomme.com
THREADS
CLEAN ACT F
eel the warm breeze and live the simple life in HIEN LE. For the ladies, white button-downs, shorts, and skirts, splashes of nude, coral, and mint make an appearance in flowy dresses, pencil skirts, and billowy tops. For the gents, structured tees and short-sleeved button-downs make their way to clean and crisp tops and trousers. hien-le.com
HEY LADY D
ress for the night and stay out ‘til dawn in NHA KHANH’s frocks with sleek silhouettes that make you look inches taller. Whether you’re going for classic in black and white or bold in magenta, these dresses spruce you up like a lady, never like a tramp. nhakhanh.com
SNAKE BITE V
ANS is celebrating the Lunar New Year with its “Year of the Snake Old Skool Pack.” Sticking to its vintage “Old Skool” silhouette, these kicks keep up to date with suede finishes and faux snakeskin detailing. Adding a celebratory flair to the skater classic, the shoes are available in seven colorways: yellow, mint, navy, red, orange, green, and purple. vans.com
‘SUP HOMESLICE I
nvert the Hermès logo and rebrand its typeface for a design that only FOR THE HOMIES can get away with. The label adds the “Dogg” and “Golden Eagle” printed tees featuring rappers Snoop Dogg and Ghostface Killah to the lineup. Still wondering what this brand is about? Take it from them when they say, “Get angry, listen to rap, get busy.” Yessir! forthehomies.com
POETIC LICENSE D
on’t worry about WRQ.E.D wrecking your style. Elaborate drawings and collages come together in the brand’s newest scarves that keep you warm while providing custom-designed artwork signed off with a unique border of written poetry. wrqed.com
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SETTING
PLACES TO GO
CORKAGE
DILLINGERS 1903, MAKATI P
rohibition may be dead but the spirit of bootlegging lives on at DILLINGERS 1903. Taking inspiration from notorious American bank robber John Dillinger and the era he grew up in, the space is occupied by dark wood interiors and lush black furnishings. While there’s enough Filet Mignon, Grilled Pork Chops, and Australian Lamb Chops to go around, the booze is Dillingers 1903’s true draw with Lychee Martinis handed out to ladies during “The Slumber Party” Tuesdays and enough Kamikaze shots and Jägerbombs for a good night out.
dillingers1903.com.ph
GRUB
SUITE
NEW MAJESTIC HOTEL, SINGAPORE T
he NEW MAJESTIC HOTEL sits among the quaint restaurants and coffee shops of Singapore’s Chinatown district. This 30-room boutique hotel features interiors designed by five Singaporean artists including fashion show producer and director Daniel Boey’s all-pink David LaChapelle-inspired “The Pussy Parlour” and Glen Goei’s Oriental red “Wayang.”
All rooms are equipped with vintage and designer furniture and customized baths, while some come with attic-style rooms, private gardens, and loft beds. Visitorfavorite amenities include Nespresso coffeemakers, Kiehl’s toiletries, and iPod docks.
newmajestichotel.com
Kabila, Makati N
amed for its relative position from food management company Raintree Hospitality’s first major success, M Café, Greenbelt 4’s KABILA (roughly translating to next door) reinterprets home-cooked Filipino cuisine. Featuring regional delicacies from various Philippine provinces, Chef Kalel Chan and creative director Martin Wisniewski keep the flavors simple with ingredients stripped down to the bare essentials. House favorites include BBQ Sa Tabi-Tabi (Streetside Barbeque), Shrimp Ukoy, Fresh Lumpia Sa Kabila, and Leche Flan Turon served with a side of chocolate sauce and Chocnut.
PLATE
D’ AMBURGER GASTROPUB, QUEZON CITY D’ AMBURGER GASTROPUB’s fires may burn for the sizzle of American burgers, but that’s not the only midnight craving it aims to satiate.
facebook.com/amburger31712 Greenhills Town Center, 1112 Granada St., Quezon City, Philippines
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BMM Half-pounder burger patty topped with mushrooms, cheese, and bacon
STEAMY MUSSELS AND CLAMS IN CREAMY BLUE CHEESE SAUCE A bowl of mussels and clams topped with crispy fries
PIZZA MARGHERITA Traditional Italian pizza served with tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil
PIZZA BURGER Stuffed burger patty sandwiched in between two slices of deep-fried mozzarella cheese
Words by Rita Faire and Victoria Herrera New Majestic Hotel photos by Victoria Herrera
facebook.com/raintreekabila
BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES TO SHOP
OTHER WILD, LOS ANGELES 6727 7/8 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90028 otherwild.com Dime to drop: $4-$667 (P160-P27,100) Don’t leave without: Sozelle crystal necklaces, Amy Von Harrington tarot deck, and Closet Case T-shirts
H
ollywood may be home to some of the brightest stars, but this town has more to offer. Exhibit A: OTHER WILD in Los Angeles. Both a retail space and a design studio, this store transports you to a world full of tarot cards, crystal charms, hand-cast wax candles, and one-of-a-kind fragrances, while offering services like graphic and website design for Ford Models and HBO. It also houses Navajo purses, graphic tees, dresses by Dori Midnight, Adina Mills, Sozelle, 69, Closet Case, Jo Boyer, Antelope Studio, and tons more in a single room for your convenience. Look up and see an assortment of tree branches and pots of lush plants hanging from the ceiling. Wooden floors, tables, and natural light make a great place for artists like Kayla Mattes, Sara Peterson, and Ashley Thayer to show off their work. If you aren’t in touch with your feral side yet, then hurry and scurry. At least now you know where the wild things are on this side of town.
TABLE OF CONTENTS, PORTLAND 33 NW 4th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209 tableofcontents.us Dime to drop: $50-$2,000 (P2000-P81,000) Don’t leave without: Hope Grand Sweater, Arnold Circus Stool by Martino Gamper, vintage magazines like Andy Warhol’s Interview from the 70s and 80s
Words by Isabelle Kim. Josh Lao, and Loris Peña
J
udge your books and wardrobe by TABLE OF CONTENTS’s standards. Located near Chinatown, this all-white sanctuary is a getaway from the bustle around that area. This minimalist concept store aims to inspire customers through fashion, design, art, and literature as seen in its racks full of Comme des Garçons, Henrik Vibskov, Hope, Issey Miyake, Jan-Jan van Essche, Reality Studio, and Zero + Maria Cornejo. Works of local artists are also displayed to complete the experience. Spot white tables alongside wooden stools where you can read different magazines and books. Word on the street is even the owner’s personal collection is displayed here. The space personifies a physical magazine that features different designers, artists, and stories catering to a specific theme. Like flipping through the pages of a good read—but with things you can touch and own—this store is for bookmarking.
JOA + CLOSET T
hink military, think studded leather, think native prints. JOA + CLOSET turns these thoughts into coveted things. From gilded clutches, bolt wedge sneakers, and lace dresses to shaggy sweaters, this online !
! !
boutique got you covered from head to toe. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the Designer’s Closet, a collection curated by Joa + Closet’s own designers.
joacloset.com
WWW.JOACLOSET.COM FOR ALL PRESS INQUIRIES – HERSCHEL HERMOSA (HERSCHEL@BOLLARE.COM)
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SCREEN
SCENES TO SEE
TICKET
REMOTE CONTROL LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE After suffering personal and financial setbacks, a young Japanese student (Rin Takanashi) finds herself doing escort work for a gentle, doddery academic in Abbas Kiarostami’s Cannes 2012 entry.
GINGER & ROSA Two teenage girls (Elle Fanning and Alice Englert) live through the Cold War and the sexual revolution of 1960s London.
STOKER India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) copes with her father’s death while dealing with her mother’s (Nicole Kidman) emotional instability and her uncle’s (Matthew Goode) enticing nature in Oldboy director Park Chan-wook’s first English language film.
BATES MOTEL (A&E) From Norma Bates’s heartbreak-induced seclusion to Norman’s ensuing jealousy at her finding love again, the 10-episode series delves into the Bates Motel—before Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho— and the serial killer who runs it, tracking down Norman Bates’s psychosis to its oedipal roots. The prequel stars Freddie Highmore as the teenage Norman and Academy Awardnominee Vera Farmiga as mother Norma.
SKINS (E4) Hannah Murray, Jack O’Connell, and Kaya Scodelario return to the roles that shaped their careers as the now cult British teen drama draws to a close after seven seasons and three generations. The new season focuses on three characters’ (Cassie, Cook, and Effy, respectively) individual stories as the direction of their lives change after finally realizing that the party is over.
VIKINGS (HISTORY CHANNEL) After the success of last year’s Emmy-lauded Hatfields & McCoys, the History Channel returns with another scripted series—this time based on legendary Norseman Ragnar Lothbrook. The series—from the same production companies that brought The Borgias, Camelot, and The Tudors— stars model-turned-actor Travis Fimmel as Ragnar, alongside Clive Standen (Camelot), Jessalyn Gilsig (Glee), and Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment).
PL AYBACK CLUELESS (1995) Obviously. I am a girl. It’s classic.
A PLACE BEYOND THE PINES A stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) meets a copturned-politician (Bradley Cooper) after attempting to commit a crime to provide for his newborn son.
I’M SO EXCITED The Skin I Live In director Pedro Almodóvar returns to over-the-top camp comedies with this film about a kooky cast of passengers and crew confronted with a life-and-death situation while on a flight to Mexico City.
SPRING BREAKERS Four young offenders (Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine) are bailed out of jail by a drug dealer (James Franco) who wants them to do a bit of dirty work.
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TOMMY BOY (1995) I love slapstick humor. Before movies had gratuitous sex and swearing, comedy like this was genius.
HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992) It advertised Christmas the way all kids want Christmas to be.
PULP FICTION (1994) I fall in love with Uma Thurman every time she tells the joke.
TRUE ROMANCE (1993) I love the idea of two random people meeting, falling in love, and going for it. Words by Rita Faire
YSA PÉREZ (Photographer) @ysaa
ink BOOKMARK
BOOKS TO READ
HOT OFF THE PRESS THE TRAGEDY OF MISTER MORN By Vladimir Nabokov Translated into English for the first time, Vladimir Nabokov’s The Tragedy of Mister Morn tells the story of a masked king who rules over a realm restored from the devastation of a violent revolution. But peace comes at the price of Mister Morn’s beloved Midia, the wife of a banished revolutionary. Renewed bloodshed threatens the kingdom when Midia’s husband returns.
THE FUN PARTS By Sam Lipsyte A collection of short stories previously published in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and Playboy, The Fun Parts goes from stories from New Jersey’s shot putting circuit to the tales of a would-be warrior safeguarding his fantasy realm from a reality-brandishing beast. This collection showcases Lipsyte’s limitlessly rich imagination.
BICYCLE DIARIES By David Byrne
T
alking Heads frontman David Byrne may have been born in Scotland but he’s a citizen of the world. His 2009 book Bicycle Diaries chronicles how he traveled across the US and around the world on two wheels. Here are some of his thoughts while biking.
Wprds by Rita Faire and Isabelle Kim
• With an almost vintage cinematic palette of dull greens, sulfur yellows, and muddy beiges, Berlin made David think about national colors beyond those on a country’s flag. Instead, it’s the colors that one sees outside a window when driving along the crowded streets. Makes you think, “Does every culture have its palette?” • While he describes the Argentines as thinking themselves more sophisticated and European than their Brazilian
THE UNCHANGEABLE SPOTS OF LEOPARDS By Kristopher Jansma
neighbors—as reflected in various aspects of their architecture and culture— David thinks that the art community in the city is an exception to the rule. Good to know we don’t have to cry for Argentina. • Although a lot of native Filipino locals would contradict his thoughts on Manila traffic moving with “chaotic grace,” it just goes to show that one person’s trash is another’s form of amusement.
This debut novel’s unnamed narrator has always dreamt of becoming a writer but ambitions elude him as he is both inspired and haunted by his relationships with girl-who-got-away Evelyn and arch-nemesis-slash-bestfriend Julian. It results in a falling out leading to a path of self-discovery littered with lies.
FOOTNOTES Vladimir Nabokov literally inhabited his novels Lolita and Ada, or Ardor as recurring cameo character Vivian Darkbloom, whose name is an anagram of Vladimir’s own.
They say write what you know and Sam Lipsyte took that to heart. A native of New Jersey himself, he played in his school’s shot put team and placed second at an all-county meet.
A blogger before releasing his debut novel, Kristopher Jansma has been known to compare AMC’s The Killing to Franz Kafka while writing about his problems with honesty.
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BEATS
MUSIC TO HEAR
PL AYLIS T
FREELANCE WHALES Chuck Criss (vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizers) freelancewhales.com
SHE’S ONLY SIXTEEN Roberto Seña (vocals/guitars) facebook.com/shesonlysixteen
“Passin’ by the Graveyard” Eddie Money Good backup singing, great Tom Dowd production.
“Keeps Me Wondering Why” The Steve Miller Band Things just get weirder for Steve Miller.
“Rock Steady” Bad Company This one’s got great cowbell/ woodblock percussion.
“Over the Ocean” Here We Go Magic It just feels really chill and sexy.
“Houseboat Babies” Reptar Graham’s voice is so raspy and screamy, but always in key.
“A.M. 180” Grandaddy They made synths cool again when I was growing up—to me anyway.
“This Is the Kit” Birchwood Beaker I have this song on vinyl. It’s beautiful and so understated.
“The Man Who Sold the World” Nirvana You can just feel every lyric in this David Bowie cover.
“Suck It and See” Arctic Monkeys I’m disheartened as of the moment.
“Campus” Vampire Weekend Nothing like taking naps in school.
“Hard to Explain” The Strokes It really is.
ON THE RISE
MOTION CITY SOUNDS
U
niversal Records and Orion Entertainment bring you four college students—Kevin Lim (vocals, sound effects), Aaron Cruz (programming, guitars, synthesizers), JR Jader (electronics, beats, electro drums), and Ignacio Cuyegkeng (guitars, synthesizers, sound effects)—
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who will RUNMANILA. “Rock meets dance; head banging meets booty shaking,” the “electropoprock” (as they’d like to call it) band explain their sound. Imagine Taking Back Sunday with strong guitar riffs and drum beats whisked with Cobra Starship-esque synthesizers
and pop sensibilities. The heavy, addictive rhythms balanced with storytelling (“My illusion, I had the best night with her / We kissed and we hugged but nothing was real”) will be ringing in your head for the rest of the week. Runmanila’s music takes you back to your fresh-fromhigh-school days when you would stalk rockers—only, this time, it’s all about following their cult of sound versus the cult of personality alone. It’s good to know that the band can compose well and perform covers, too (e.g. Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and Chris Brown’s “Forever”). Making music since 2008, this year sees the release of Runmanila’s debut album. Go ahead and race with the rest. Catch them while you can.
facebook.com/runmanila
MUSIC NEWS
The Ultra Music Festival taking place this month will be the first major EDM extravaganza to take place over two weekends (March 1517 and March 22-24) at downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park. Celebrate its 15th year anniversary and check out the festival’s YouTube page for a 14-minute film compiling the best moments last year.
With great power comes great responsibility. Hopefully, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl keeps this in mind since he’s been handed down the keynote address at the South By Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival, succeeding Bruce Springsteen. SXSW 2013 is scheduled for March 12-17.
Not like you don’t already follow her on Twitter, but it’s better to remind you that our former Heavy Hitter Sky Ferreira is coheadlining an 18-city tour around North America with an artist we also wanna feature in our pages, Tom Krell aka How to Dress Well. His R&B beats and falsetto will be a fancy touch to Sky’s sass—that is, if they perform a duet. Show begins this month.
Words by Reena Mesias Runmanila photo by Debby Falcon, Scott Wells photo by Anouck Bertin, Roberto Seña photo by Patrick Velasco, Sky Ferreira and How to Dress Well photos courtesy of pitchfork.com, Dave Grohl illustration by Nyael David
FREE ENERGY Scott Wells (guitars) freeenergymusic.com
“Cosmic Energy” Kitaro Sort of a cross between Deuter and Tangerine Dream.
TEC H PACK EA SPORTS MVP CARBON BY MONSTER
NIKE + FUELBAND
• Gaming headset powered by custom-designed amplifier and processor, Gamebox • Outfitted with Monster high-definition surround sound • Compatible with PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Wii U consoles
• Sports-tested accelerometer that tracks daily activity and calories burned • Provides progress reports via mobile sync and the band’s multi-colored LED lights • Keeps visual activity records and shares them via social media platforms SRP:
SRP:
P10,960
P6,050
ACTION JACKSON Pump up the adrenaline and feel the buzz with these gadgets.
ARCHOS GAMEPAD • Specifically-designed gaming tablet • Has full access to Google Play™ and Google Mobile Apps • Features 14 gaming console buttons, as well as dual analog thumb-sticks • Powered by Android 4.1, Jelly Bean SRP:
P6,860
SONY WALKMAN W273 • Waterproof wire-free media player with built-in MP3 internals in the headset • Has eight hours of playback on a full 1.5-hour charge • Compatible with MP3, WMA, AAC-LLC, and Linear PCM file formats SRP:
TBA
DOWNLOADS CYCLE TRACKER PRO - TRAININGPEAKS GPS by Peaksware, LLC A fitness app that turns iOS devices into GPS-enabled cycle computers that track athletic progress
JETPACK JOYRIDE by Halfbrick Studios
THE COLOR OF by Kwok Pan Fung
An interactive game that follows a high-flying jetpack rebel in his quest to collect as many coins as possible
An interactive project by Singaporean artist Kwok Pan Fung that turns Instagram photos to abstract art
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FAC E PA IN T Vincent Longo Pearl X Eyeshadow in Code 6 P1,100
Benefit Posiepal P810
Smashbox Love Me Eyeshadow Palette in Entice Me P1,490
theBalm Eye Believe Eye & Brow Brush P1,070
Haute Polish Tourmaline Gel Nail Polish P700
CANDY SHOP
Benefit Watt’s Up! P1,220
theBalm Powder to the People! Powder Brush P1,290
theBalm Schwing Matte Liquid Eyeliner P750
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
Lancôme Blush in Love Blush in Peche Joue-Joue P2,140
Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder P2,200
Lancôme Spring 2013 Color Design Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow in Tremendous Turquoise P1,070
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Guerlain Meteorites Pearls Illuminating PowderPure Radiance P2,530
Model photo by Ming Han Chung
Clinique Happy In Bloom Fragrance P2,100
Chantecaille Radiant Fresh New Poudre de Perle P2,360
AB O U T FACE Expert Advice
DON’T SAY NO
YES TO CUCUMBERS ON-THE-GO FACIAL TOWELETTES are handy for those who can’t catch a break. They fit perfectly into your purse, and keep skin hydrated, smooth, and refreshed even at the most parched places. P120
Keep your pores tight by applying a layer of cucumber juice and milk on your face.
DRY ICE
No worries, KIEHL’S CUCUMBER HERBAL ALCOHOLFREE TONER won’t dry you up. Keep skin soft, clean, and revitalized while providing a couple of astringent benefits on the side. P1,180
DICE AND SLICE Obey your thirst and freshen up with cucumber bits.
wipeout
Wipe off the cake of a long day with ALMAY OIL FREE MAKEUP REMOVER PADS (80 pads). It conditions your lashes while taking out eye makeup and the toughest mascara in just one swipe. P190
BEDROOM STORY
Opt for YES TO CUCUMBERS SOOTHING EYE GEL instead of trying to balance cucumber over your eyes. It gently calms and smoothens your peepers, reducing puffiness and brightening dark circles. P410
THE FRESHMAKER
A cool take on the classic Dove bar, DOVE® GO FRESH COOL MOISTURE BEAUTY BAR keeps skin hydrated and zesty with its soothing cucumber and green tea elements and scents. P42
BREAKING BAD
Breaking out? Stock up on MARIO BADESCU CUCUMBER CLEANSING LOTION (16oz). It takes out pore-clogging residue and deeply cleanses your skin, leaving the T-zone shine and acne free. P950
b ea u t y b i t e FOX & JANE
Model photo by Ming Han Chung Words by Josh Lao and Zoe Laurente
L
ocated at East Village, urban salon FOX & JANE must be tried and tested with the best of girl friends. Its brick walls, hardwood floors, and industrial steel chairs give it the feel of London neighborhood pubs especially that the place offers a wide array of drinks from soda to rum that you may order while lounging in the salon. Not only does this hub feel like home to women, Fox & Jane also welcomes gentlemen who are in the mood for a massage or a neck cleanup. So sip a glass of wine as you chill and enjoy a haircut before the big blow out. 277 East 10th Street New York, NY 10009 (646) 688-3643 foxandjanesalon.com
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GO S E E Whatever the weather, pose like there’s no tomorrow.
Round Sunglasses
Clutch Plaid Harem Pants
Ankle Booties Leather Pants
Trench Coat
Suede Loafers
Denim Skirt
Statement Necklace White Trousers
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Printed Scarf
Sneakers
Statement Heels
Military Parka
Fur Vest
Photographed by Ming Han Chung, Loris Pe単a, and Nikki Ruiz
Snake Print Blazer
Gold Necklace
Lace Shorts
Sweatpants Knit Sweater
Printed Dress
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S T YLE I D
Jeepers creepers From catwalk to high street, these alternative thick-soled flatforms are making a comeback. Get a glorious lift from these bad boys ASAP! By JP Singson
A modernday Minnie Mouse sports multi-colored creepers.
Model and Simonn designer Simon Nygard channels his inner goth by donning a pair of masculine Damir Doma crepe-soled boots.
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Stylist David Vasquez pairs his Prada brogues with denim overalls.
OS designer Paul Jatayna looks like a real champion wearing his KTZ Champion metal boots.
Stylist Austeen Avecilla never leaves home without his black Prada brogue espadrilles.
Fashion student Rosanna Aranaz looks smashing in her comfy rubber-soled creepers. jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com
Dandy Diary’s Benjamin Koch wears his Wooyoungmi flatforms to death.
bikini by Swim shades by Ray-Ban hawaiian top, stylist’s own sneakers by Nike
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Come hither all you solar deities. Glisten with gold hardware and bask in bikinis and denim cutoffs. The heat wave is coming so sweat, scorch, and sizzle. Photographed by Miguel Miranda Styled by Loris Pe単a
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onesie by American Apparel cap by Sly Guild
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bikini top by Koi Swimwear
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bikini top by Topshop shorts, stylist’s own sneakers by Nike
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bikini top by Swim bikini bottom by Koi Swimwear sneakers by Nike
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Hair and Makeup Tinette Herrera Assistant Stylist Zoe Laurente Model Olga of Elite Agency bikini by Koi Swimwear cap by Sly Guild
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After you quit messin’ around with your sparkly outfits, colorful dresses, and sheer tops, let your hair down with flared jeans and button-ups. Give them your number. The winner gets your address. Photographed by Zeko Eon Styled by Man-E Jay
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top by David Dalrymple for House of Field jewelry by Nior jeans by Patricia Field shoes by Nicole Lee
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dress by Patricia Field jewelry by Nior
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bodysuit by David Dalrymple for House of Field earrings by Patricia Field
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dress by Patricia Field earrings, stylist’s own
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Makeup Heather Wolverton Hair Squalie Malone shirt by Seamless pants by Patricia Field bracelet and ring, stylist’s own shoes by Ellie Clay
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N E L O ST S T H G I SUNL S T R A E H T E E & SW ur skirts with o y p u ss re d d afterno on an g in rn u en from your b re a g n o e s th d p u e b e e d sw are Wake up th back a do an ll u P s. shing pin-ups m o la -f lo b ra r b e , g m in m p su -pop fresh rs. The cherry e p e e p r u o y totes to ready to go. Louiza Vick y b d re e h p ra Photog ni Chynel Styled by Tiffa
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jacket by Chaser top by Chaser skirt by Cameo shoes by Miezko sunglasses, stylist’s own
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necklace by Nissa dress by Cameo bag, stylist’s own shoes by Alejandra G.
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top by Darling skirt by Darling shoes by Alejandra G.
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dress by Darling tote by Darling cardigan by Darling
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necklace by Danielle Stevens bracelet by Danielle Stevens top by Finders Keepers pants by Cameo shoes by Miezko
Assistant Stylist Yesenia Cuevas Makeup Maria Alejandra Barrios Hair Grissel Esparza Model Chelsea Freeborn of Photogenics
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SWAG S PRI N G/SU MM ER 2 013
RUNWAY 54 - statusmagonline.com
REPLAY New kids on the block get a taste of old hits with spring’s fresh runway picks. Head back to the 80s and 90s with blocked colors and crazy prints and give your summer a throwback twist. Runway photos by Ming Han Chung Product photos by Miguel Miranda
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L E O PA R D
Forever 21 [P225] Forever 21 [P1,175]
Call It Spring [P2,695] Topshop [2,445]
Terranova [P195]
cool cats
Steve Madden [P4,450]
Forever 21 [P220]
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3.1 PHILLIP LIM
CARLOS MIELE
ANNA SUI
SinĂŠquanone [P5,950]
Topshop [P1,495]
Aldo [P4,295]
b oardroom dressing
Nixon [P14,000]
Dorothy Perkins [P2,545]
JASON WU
Kate Spade [P23,450]
JASON WU
Chado Ralph Rucci
Warehouse [P6,445]
executive check
Call It Spring [P2,695]
Forever 21 [P1,695]
Warehouse [P5,945]
Forever 21 [P1,175]
Forever 21 [P735]
Dorothy Perkins [P945]
Dorothy Perkins [P2,545]
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neon
Folded & Hung [P249]
Topshop [P995]
Terranova [P1,745] Penshoppe [P199]
Skechers [P3,750]
Topshop [P595]
Bench [P849.75]
Penshoppe [P229]
Steve Madden [P3,950]
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3.1 PHILLIP LIM
RAG AND BONE
CHADO RALPH RUCCI
rainbow brite
Kate Spade [P7,450]
Bench [P849.75] Steve Madden [P3,950]
Penshoppe [P229]
stripes
stripe tease
Oxygen [P599]
Forever 21 [P1,530]
Warehouse [P2,645]
VIVIENNE TAM
MICHAEL KORS
MARC JACOBS
Dorothy Perkins [P2,395]
Forever 21 [P225]
Folded & Hung [P300]
Warehouse [P2,945]
Aldo [P2,095]
Folded & Hung [P179 each]
Oxygen [P649]
Forever 21 [P1,530]
Forever 21 [P505]
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8 0 s color b lock
building blocks
MICHAEL KORS
Topman [P795]
Michael Kors
MICHAEL KORS
Terranova [P1,345]
Terranova [P145]
Penshoppe [P269]
Keds [P2,590]
Terranova [P1,995] Folded & Hung [P1,999]
Folded & Hung [P379]
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Tommy Hilfiger [P6,150]
Folded & Hung [P1,799]
TROPICAL PRINT
Forever 21 [P330]
Bench [P1,079]
Bench [P399.75]
Nixon [P9,050]
tropical hut
Folded & Hung [P100]
Topman [P795]
21 Men [P450]
Sperry [P4,795]
Custo Barcelona
Y-3
21 Men [P625]
Custo Barcelona
Bench [P299]
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90S GRUNGE
21 Men [P455]
teen spirit
21 Men [P1,795]
N Hoolywood
N Hoolywood
N Hoolywood
Pony [P2,695]
Terranova [P2,395]
Bench [P429.75]
Tommy Hilfiger [P5,150]
Oxygen [P399]
Terranova [P1,345]
Superga [P2,590]
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Topman [P2,395]
TWEED AND PLAID
Bench [P988.75] Topman [P7,995]
Topman [P3,995]
Call It Spring [P1,500]
extra extra
Topman [P1,295]
Aldo [P500]
21 Men [P1,425]
Oxygen [P1,199]
Pony Oxford [P2,495]
MARC BY MARC JACOBS
MARC BY MARC JACOBS
Springfield [P2,960]
MICHAEL KORS
Tommy Hilfiger [P5,550]
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M U S E
THE CHASER JI HYE PARK, Korea’s latest international catwalk breakout, is a prancing queen skipping the baby steps and striding headlong into a cherry blossom photo finish. By Giano D. Dionisio Photo courtesy of ESteem Models
A
lready a two-year staple at Seoul Fashion Week, Ji Hye Park’s Spring 2013 debut on the runways of Alexander Wang, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Hermès, and eventually Chanel Haute Couture came unsurprisingly. Since then, the rising star has done more than just twinkle, booking a Meisel-shot Louis Vuitton campaign and editorial jobs left and right. We caught up with this bunny backstage at Berlin’s Hugo Boss showcase before she hopped off to her next destination—into the new world of fashion’s Asian fusion.
FRESH START
I saw a runway video on TV, and since then I was interested in fashion/ modeling… I like to portray comic, sexy, and chic concepts. Actually, photo shoots often urge me to be someone else for the moment, so any character is fun to portray… Through style, I can express myself and that is very important for a model.
OUT STANDING
I was famous for being tall among my friends. They used to make fun of me. People stared at me for being tall, but now that I’m a model, I am proud of my height! This career has taught me to have a positive mind, be confident, be patient, be proud of oneself, and enjoy work while managing an irregular work schedule.
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SMOOTH MOVES
I try to live an active life with lots of movement; when I’m in Korea, I go to fitness gym and sometimes I study ballet or dance… I enjoy hanging out with friends, shopping, taking pictures, watching movies, and working out. When I’m abroad, I tour around the city.
TIGER CHARMER
Recently, the fashion industry has been more interested in Orientalism than before. As a result, many designers prefer Asian models. As an Asian model, this is a proud and gratifying event. I also believe that Asian models’ active participation in the industry contributes to their rising visibility. Working in this international fashion industry at such a time makes me feel very lucky, and I hope to continue.
esteemmodels.co.kr
GANG OF FOUR Somewhere in Rome, in the middle of touring, drinking beer, and eating “something with avocado,” guitarist/ vocalist Joe Newman of ALT-J (∆) tells us why his band will be your new favorite. By Marla Cabanban-Darwin
W
hen things went digital, music was one of the first things that we scrambled to click, drag, and curate. It has become a way of life for a sizeable amount of people, this whole business of clicking and dragging—which is why it’s been a pleasant surprise to see an album from 2012 that has us listening to something from start to finish again. Enter British band Alt-J (∆) and their debut album An Awesome Wave. The band name comes from the Mac computer function that allows you to create the Delta symbol (try it now, ∆, ooh fun!). Formerly known as “Daljit Dhaliwal” and “Films,” Alt-J grabbed attention across continents with their fresh take on genre defiance—a lot of emphasis on bass lines and a smattering collection of hip-hop, trip-hop, and dub beats. But before the musical grandeur and evolution by Joe Newman, Gwil Sainsbury, Gus Unger-Hamilton, and Thom Green, they were just typical
students in Leeds University. “We were really nasty pieces of work,” Joe says. “We couldn’t be trusted by anyone. We were loose cannons all the way.” If you can’t trust the men, at least trust An Awesome Wave, a musical equivalent of everything emotional, euphonic, exhilarating, and explosive. Last year has been a breakthrough for you! Did you anticipate this kind of reception for An Awesome Wave? Joe Newman: We all believed that the album would be received well by fans but we certainly didn’t expect this attention. It’s fantastic. Tell us something unique about your songwriting process. JN: Sometimes I write lyrics while listening to other artists. I loved singing gibberish along to “Fitzpleasure”—then I did a double take when I actually read the lyrics. What is your fascination with Last Exit
to Brooklyn? Whose literary references are we reading into? JN: That would be mine. I really found the book to be quite exhilarating, particularly that chapter that focuses on the character Fitzpleasure who sings about Tralala. Her story is grotesque and the abuse she inflicts and takes makes reading quite uncomfortable, but she always seems in control even at the end of the chapter. Always write about what moves you.
toured with us, and they’re also good people and a great band. You tend to see venues and hotels more than the sights, but sometimes you get out into the light.
After the album’s release, you all set off for a bunch of shows abroad; what were your favorite moments on the road? Any stark differences between the crowds of each country? JN: We just played in Northern Italy, and we noticed the crowd there would applaud at bits of the set they liked. Japan is silent and attentive when watching, and as soon as the song stops, the crowd uniformly erupts into applause then stops dead as the next song begins.
How long has everyone been friends with each other and how does that affect the band? JN: We are friends because of our chemistry, and we improve on that connection through hanging out and enjoying each other’s company. We live like a married couple as a group of four but we still seem to get on as strong as we ever did.
Who are the bands that are fun to tour with? Do you ever get to do some sightseeing? JN: We toured with Grouplove in America and they were the loveliest people ever. Recently a band called Stealing Sheep
Who thinks of the concept for the music videos? JN: We choose a pitch we like and leave it up to the director to realize his vision. Unless it’s really shit. If it’s really shit, we throw a wobbly.
What do you guys do for fun these days? JN: Wi-Fi is fun, right? I’m hip? Are you already thinking of a next album? JN: Always.
altjband.com @alt_j
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M A E S T R O
maestro
she’s got you high
Releasing for the first time an all-English album, the angelic Icelandic songbird ÓLÖF ARNALDS gives feelings of pure bliss while juxtaposing feelings of falling and being lifted up over and over like Sudden Elevation.
Like any good artist, SANYA SMITH refuses to be pinned down, and is right now moving away from full-time modeling to focus on DJing. “I’m slowly making my exit from modeling to make room for more adventures,” she says. “I always like to challenge myself to see if there are any limits to what I can do.” So far, we haven’t found any. By Karlo Cleto Photographed by Patrick Diokno
I
“
’ve been modeling forever, and it seems like nothing surprises me anymore,” Sanya says. “DJing has become a new passion of mine.” Sure enough, Sanya has been keeping very busy in the booth, both on her own and as part of the Zombettes (together with fellow models Ornussa Cadness and Mia Ayesa). Known for her eclectic sets that run the gamut from heart-stopping booty bass music and razor sharp electro to booze-stained indie and slick dance pop, Sanya is steadily establishing herself as a presence in the local club scene.
Have you seen the Portlandia episode “Wanna come to my DJ night?” It seems like everyone is DJing these days. As someone who’s put in years honing her craft, what can you say about all the people claiming to be DJs? Yes, I love that show! It’s so true though—thanks to technology, everyone can learn to DJ just by watching YouTube videos or pushing a button, or owning a MacBook Pro [Laughs]. I believe anyone can DJ, but the question is, are you any good at it? Whether you want to be very technical about it, or
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have a great selection of music, or both, I think it’s great that there are so many different flavors out there! What can you say about the crop of DJs that’s been coming out in recent years? Is there anyone in particular who impresses you? Katsy Lee! My God, the girl can work the shit out of those turntables. She competed at the Pioneer Digital DJ Battle this year—that’s when I saw her really go at it. She went technical on everyone’s ass, it was amazing. I hope to play like that someday. Craziest gig you’ve been to? There have been quite a few, but the one that comes to mind at the moment is the back-toback gig we did in Dumaguete. It was after exams so the college students were ready to party. With the help of Chaos Fuel (tequila and Red Bull), the music, and the already wild crowd, the party just kept getting wilder and wilder. I call them the Dumaguettas! [Laughs] It must feel great to have rock legend Pepe Smith as a father. Do you get together often? I’ll catch him at gigs every now
and then. Our schedules meet from time to time. Yeah, every time someone tells me a story about my dad, I can see their eyes light up. It’s amazing how much impact he’d made in music here in the Philippines. I don’t think anyone will leave his mark the way he did. I’m hoping we can get together and work on a song. That would totally make up for all the lost years [Laughs]. Both he and I share the same passion for music; it would be great to collaborate with him. Are you in love right now? Yes. I’m in love with life and what it’s given me. If I could marry it, I would. I’m in love with cheese and the way it pairs with almost anything. I’m in love with the show Modern Family… a world [without] Gloria is a sad and empty one. I’m in love with Skrillex and the way he drops the bass. I’m in love with Adventure Time… everyone should allow themselves to be a kid for a couple of hours a day. I’m in love with the 50s, the 40s, the 30s, the 20s. Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong era, and I can’t seem to pick which one I want to live in. I’m in love with the Amazon Kindle and how it’s made reading so much more convenient. I’m in love with video games… I wish I had more time to play them. I’m in love with Manila… it’s given me so much and it just keeps on giving.
@sanyasmith007
Ladies and gentlemen, the legendary DAVID BOWIE has returned from a decade-long hiatus. His 24th studio album The Next Day will include fourteen original tracks all expertly telling stories á la classic Bowie.
If you know any other album with songs inspired by dreams about eleventh century saints becoming MTV VJs, please let us know, because this one by DEVENDRA BANHART called Mala kicks ass. Need we say more?
Newcomers YOUNG DREAMS pack a hard-hitting one-two in Between Places. What starts as bare vocals over promising tribal percussion, soon blossoms into an electronic candyland to seamlessly blend into a collective whole nothing shy of gold.
MAESTRO
DARWIN’S Things have changed for New Yorker DARWIN DEEZ. Even if he still sports his hippie curls and mustache and doing synchronized dance moves for Songs for Imaginative People, he hasn’t lost his signature Deez steez that makes him a revered specie in the music landscape. Story by Reena Mesias Interview by Rita Faire Photographed by Phil Sharp
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like to brag about how long I’ve been composing,” Darwin Deez (Darwin Smith) says. At this point in time, he has bragging rights. In his previous life, he was waiting tables in a New York restaurant, but as soon as indie electropop music seemed all the rage in 2010, he decided to join and lead the obsession. That’s not an exaggeration. The “Michael Jackson of indie rock” label wouldn’t have gone around if it weren’t true. While Darwin Deez’s New York drawl remains, he recently left the city for his childhood hometown, North Carolina. It was quite a change that has influenced the making of Songs for Imaginative People, as it reconnected him to his Nietzschenuanced puberty phase. He also explains how he wrote most of the lyrics before the melody—a stint he’d never done before. “The new direction was both conscious and of its own volition. I think I was just mostly inspired by the possibilities of what I could express lyrically—rather than through musical moods—after getting such a positive response to the lyrics on the first record. My debut was the only time I ever really expressed myself lyrically to my own satisfaction in my 17 years of composing.” His single, “Free (The Editorial Me)” (“Life is a greenhouse gas / Half the police in masks / Pretending to be my friend / But nothing can box me in, ‘coz I’m free, yeah”) inject more noise rock than cheeky indie pop tunes in his self-titled debut. “If you noticed, the production on my debut is extremely consistent,” he says. “The intention behind that was to establish my artistic identity
concisely. Variation on that production style was the next step.” It’s probably best not to judge Songs for Imaginative People with a single. Accompanying his outlandish style is an even more outlandish songwriting. He sings about radar detectors, twinkling little stars, about lost love, and existentialism. He looks like a junkie, but he doesn’t take drugs or drink alcohol. He sings about hope but admits that he goes through extreme periods of loneliness. Soft female singing makes him “feel safe.” His future plans—besides the typical composing and touring—include “some snuggling,” but he clarifies, “no babies, no wives, no houses, no rings.” He likes to talk on the phone for an hour or so with a friend. He likes to take walks. “I strongly prefer to walk in a circuitous path rather than to retrace my steps,” he says. At his very first gig, he triggered samples from a desktop computer by pressing the space bar with his foot while standing. “It was so traumatic… I couldn’t seem to finesse the press or remember the words to any of the songs. The bartender gave me a free beer out of pity. My friends tried to reduce my distress with kind words. Thank god Julia Stiles went back upstairs after watching her brother’s band play before me.” These quirks add to the Darwin Deez charm, but if there’s something in the old Darwin that remained, it’s his knack for making catchy tunes that inflict us with acute last song syndrome.
darwindeez.com @darwindeez
PURE IMAGINATION
Darwin Deez describes the first thing that comes to mind when he reads his song titles. “800 Human” Blue TV screen with a white 800 number at the bottom and credit card company logos “Moonlit” A silhouetted wild wolf howling at a large full moon with steam rising from somewhere “Redshift“ Test tubes and bubbling beakers, Beeker from The Muppets “All in the Wrist“ Bathtub suicide à la rules of attraction
“Chelsea’s Hotel“ Picture of herself that another girl named Chelsea sent me today
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maestro
THE DIRTY DUTCH KING “It’s crazy how, as a DJ, people pay you to party with them,” says DJ CHUCKIE. He’s pumped dance floors all over the world and is quickly carving a wide avenue in the city of the electronic industry, all while making it look so easy.
33 years and still kicking, English alternative rock band DEPECHE MODE release their 13th studio album Delta Machine and, according to frontman Dave Gahan, it promises that it won’t sound “too normal.”
By Bianca Cruz Photographed by Jeruel Pingol
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was doing 300 gigs a year in Holland, but at a certain point, I wanted to have more control over the parties. I wanted to decide more as far as the music, I wanted to have more decorations, and I wanted to do it in my own way,” DJ Chuckie shares his inspiration in starting Dirty Dutch—a phenomenon that has evolved over the years from a solid urban event for 6,000 people into a massive house night for 30,000. DJ Chuckie’s career continues to develop as he takes house music to Vegas and brings hip-hop attitude to house, turning him into a global prodigy. He says, “I like to have a set where it’s
all spontaneous and not so orchestrated.” Other than DJing, the Dirty Dutch King has proven to be a prolific hitmaker in the studio with a steady back catalogue of highly successful singles and remixes such as “Aftershock (Can’t Fight The Feeling)” and “Let the Bass Kick.” “You can definitely test your record and see if it works, and that’s what I really like about Djing,” he says. “If you DJ as well, it’s really cool to produce because you approach a record differently. With my records, I make sure they work on the dance floor, that’s really important to me.” Being “90% on tour and 10% at home” most of the time last
year, DJ Chuckie is excited to be focusing on finishing his own album now which he promises will have “more radio-friendly songs.” “Sometimes, I get sick of [Djing]; I wake up and I’m like, ‘I don’t want to do anything,’” he says. “You’re in different time zones all the time. It’s really heavy to travel especially when these parties are so nice. It’s like everyday is your birthday so you go wild every night… but in general, it’s all good.” And who can protest if you have a job that allows you to drink and stage dive.
All you kids holding your breath for JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE to return to music can finally breathe easy because he’s bringing sexy back again with his new album The 20/20 Experience.
djchuckie.com @djchuckie
HISTORICAL MAPS
When thousands of copies of a first single sell even before a band gets signed to a label, it’s either the band becomes a success or a one-hit wonder. ATLAS GENIUS navigate straight to the first option.
After just releasing last year, T-Rawww is back at it again with Hotel California. The star-studded album drops this month featuring collaborations with Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross.
By Reena Mesias
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id you know we’re having an interview today?” I ask vocalist/guitarist Keith Jeffrey of Aussie indie rock band Atlas Genius. “No, actually,” he laughs. The intensity of the surprise is probably not the same as what he, drummer Michael Jeffrey, bassist Steven Jeffrey, and keyboardist Darren Sell experienced after releasing their first single, “Trojans,” a song with a simple drum beat and guitar pattern, sold thousands and earned them spots in Jimmy Kimmel Live, SXSW, and tours with Fun., Wolf Gang, and Of Monsters and Men. “The first time I heard ‘Trojans’ on the radio, we were driving along in a friend’s
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car at Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. There were times I heard it on the radio and I never got tired of hearing it, but that first time meant something more.” This split second must have been poignant, but Atlas Genius’s music goes beyond bouts of shimmering optimism. While the biggest challenge for the band was finishing the last chunk of recently released LP, When It Was Now (“It was hard finding that spare time to finish the album. A lot of the stuff was finished in hotel rooms in America.”), it was much harder not to mention melancholic, when Keith did solo gigs. People would peep through
the store’s windows not to check out the show, but to check their own reflections, thus the song “Through the Glass.” Keith says, “Most human beings are guilty of spending too much time focusing on their own problems and missing what’s around them. By no means am I trying to preach with the way ‘Through The Glass’ was written. It’s more of a statement to say, ‘Hey, I’m here.’” And Keith’s got enough of us looking through and listening to his band’s music. If Atlas Genius can muster their genius in that, they’re far from falling flat.
atlasgenius.com @atlasgenius
What do you get when you cross one’s fascination with the human psyche with the space where the spiritual world meets the physical world? YOUTH LAGOON’s sophomore album Wondrous Bughouse.
MAESTRO
RAC
CITY
“One of the main reasons I got into remixing is ‘coz I don’t really sing,” says André Allen Anjos of RAC, aka Remix Artist Collective. But if you can remix/make songs as good as he and his partners Andrew Maury and Karl Kling do, who cares if they can only (relatively) sing in the shower? By Jericho Umali Photographed by Jon Duenas
“Our goal here isn’t trying to make the song better. I’m just trying to take it to a different place.”
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emixing in my younger days— circa 1997—is when a track is basically the same song with another artist dropping a few verses. It could make the original song “better” to a certain degree, but not necessarily different. Nowadays, a lot of remixed tracks become one of the following: heavily layered, damn annoying, darker, lighter, trippier. A common denominator for all of them though is that they will always be compared to the original song. But André Allen Anjos (DJ/ producer/songwriter) of RAC (Remix Artist Collective) says, “Our goal here isn’t trying to
make the song better. I’m just trying to take it to a different place. For that reason, it almost feels like nothing is off -limits. It’s just for fun… just for something different.” More than the fun that comes with remixing, André says, “It’s not about chopping [a song] up or changing it beyond recognition. It’sabout being respectful.” And RAC’s musical fingertips have been doing so. Just listen to their remixes of Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans” or U2’s “Magnificent.” “I really messed with Bono’s vocals,” André laughs. “I tuned it; I changed the melodies [Laughs].
It’s not that crazy but a lot of people—if they had the opportunity to remix it too—they would have played it safe. I didn’t feel like doing that, so I took a few liberties.” Although they started remixing/producing in 2007, André and his band of producers have also worked in various fields. André worked on movies (Holly Rollers) and TV shows like (Entourage, 90210). Andrew Maury worked with bands like The Static Jacks and Ra Ra Riot. 23-year-old Karl Kling worked on some of the group’s latest mixes. In short, these guys know what they’re doing.
André surprises us with Phil Collins and Paul Simons in his iTunes. Obviously, they have to listen to other genres in order to “keep any kind of level of insanity,” as he says. “Especially if you do [remixing] for a living, the last thing you wanna do is burn out on music,” though when it comes to “burning,” heating up parties and gigs, it’s a whole different thing. “House parties can be really fun just because… they’re a little bit ridiculous,” André says. “There’s never a real sound system so it’s somebody’s home entertainment sound system or whatever. It never sounds good.” But like their tracks, RAC’s gigs are also adventures every time. André recalls, “At this particular show in Argentina, we got mobbed. That was the first time it ever happened. It was very weird.” Another first is their alloriginal debut album coming out early this year. André says, “It’s all the same concept: I write the music to it or they sing on it. Obviously, we collaborate on the music itself, too, but it’s a collaboration album and every song has a different artist.” Whether creating an original song or remixing a track, RAC will always be the group to get us dancing. “There’s no set of rules for these kind of things. Especially with the way it worked out with RAC, it was so random,” André says. “I just fell into this; I mean I’m happy I did, but there was no grand plan… I’m no visionary.” Don’t we wish it works like that for the rest of us?
rac.fm @rac
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M A S T E R M I N D
MANNING UP Designer and owner of classic, understated, but definitely cool menswear label UNIS, EUNICE LEE, gushes on her appreciation for men’s clothing as she explains why “more guys should embrace their dude-self.” Gentlemen, start your engines. By Josh Lao Photographed by Jake Davis
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hifting from womenswear to menswear can be tough. Take it from designer Eunice Lee. “There were about 65 people in my graduating class and only five of them were into menswear, and I wasn’t one of them,” she says. For her senior project while in Parsons New School for Design (“pre-Project Runway,” she emphasizes), the administrative office encouraged Eunice to take the road less traveled menswear. Eunice’s internship with Joseph Abboud set the path, but the real dealmaker was during her job as a design assistant in DKNY. “After three and a half years of working on the men’s team, I asked to be transferred to women’s denim, and I hated it. I missed the relative calm and family atmosphere of the men’s team,” she added. Now, she’s flying from Los Angeles to New York in her RRL women’s jeans, old UNIS Henley, and a vintage grey sweatshirt, busy checking her email as she continues to design and run her own men’s clothing brand, UNIS.
Which designers influenced your aesthetic? I don’t know that other designers influence my aesthetic. I do think while I was in DKNY—starting out as an assistant who knew nothing—I was heavily influenced by my male bosses and co-workers. All the guys there cared about how they looked and put a lot of effort into their appearance (but didn’t want anyone to know that). Though their styles were different, they all seemed to put a lot of emphasis on quality and authenticity. That really stuck with me. What made you decide to start your own brand? My time in the corporate world has been invaluable in helping me shape my own company. It has taught me a lot of dos and even more don’ts. It also made me appreciate the freedom that comes with having my own line. There’s no one telling me how or what to design. I don’t need anyone’s approval. Personally, I don’t think there are any real mistakes. Big deal if some colors don’t sell as well as others. You have your hits and misses. I try and follow my own instincts. So far, so good.
Which city has the most exciting menswear developments right at this moment and why? The city that has the most exciting menswear developments is, of course, NYC. It’s always NYC. The best dressed men in the world live there. I’ve always said, no one is cooler than the downtown NY guy. What would be your ultimate style guide for the modern guy? More guys need to embrace their dude-self. Back in the day, a guy bought a pair of jeans and broke them in himself. None of this pre-distressed bullshit. Just keep it classic. You can’t go wrong. It’s nice to see guys embracing fashion, and wearing fun things, but a room full of statement pieces makes me a little queasy. If you were a guy, what do you think would be your go-to outfit? I’m probably wearing it right now! But seriously, I really do think a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans (ones you have worn in yourself), or my Gio-chinos and a sweater or sweatshirt is all you need.
unisnewyork.com @UnisNewYork
“a room full of st at e m e n t p i ec e s m ake s m e a l i t t l e qu e a s y .”
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mastermind
SET FIRE TO THE TUMBLEWEEDS French photographer YOUGO JEBERG is slowly carving a name for himself in fashion and street photography. But being behind the lens only shows one angle of the man. On the other side, Yougo takes STATUS on a road trip through sharing his life lived in the streets, rocky terrains, and mountain cliffs. By Boo Umaly
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he dream of most, if not all, is to travel and hang out with friends. But in all honesty, life tends to get in the way. For Yougo Jeberg, this isn’t the case. Internet sensation? Hipster? Nomad? Yougo is all of these and none of them at the same time. “I love to be polyvalent. I love to try things I never did before,” he says. This French photographer, musician, and graphic artist moving through the American wasteland gives us an insight into his world filled with provocative portraits of young American rebels in the countryside. Whether in swamps or seas, Yougo doesn’t stop or turn around. He wanders but isn’t lost. He hasn’t been to all places, but trust him when he says that everywhere is on his agenda. It seems that you’re more an explorer than a fashion/street photographer. I love to travel and explore new landscapes. I can’t live without that, but I work for fashion, too. I like to put my personal touch to that. My travels are still influential even when I’m not traveling. I mean, when I change my habits, I’m ameliorant when it comes to my photos
because I try to make something new; it’s like when you are too used to a skate park and you go to another skate park, you will be better when you go back to the first one. It’s the same for photography. America is a strong theme in your work. How do you feel on the subject, especially as a foreigner? When you are a foreigner and not used to an environment, you are not bored of it. There is always something to shoot, but you have to do it right—the good frame, the good light. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s not. The foreigner is always [marveling at] the place where he is in; this is great but it doesn’t last a long time. So, it’s important to move to another place, land, country, or continent. I’m kind of lucky because when you do photos, and people know you for that, it’s easy to travel, because then you work for them, for magazines or brands. It’s the best job ever. Death is a consistent theme. Is it your obsession? Yes. I used to be with a girl, and she died when I was with her. It made my thinking
more mature about the things I do, the time I can waste, how it’s important to meet new people, traveling, sharing moments with people I love to show them how I like them. It’s an obsession, yes, but now the pictures I do about death, I don’t post it anymore on the internet, I keep them for me or maybe for an exhibition. It’s more personal now. It’s common for photographers to feel uncomfortable in front of the lens. Who photographs you? Are you somebody’s muse? My friend Théo Gosselin photographs me a lot. We began photography together, we influenced each other. I’m less shy in front of his lens. He is often with me when I’m traveling. If you had to be anything other than a photographer, what would you be? I would be a cowboy riding my horse in a landscape between the mountains in the middle of nowhere, looking for my cows with my dogs and friends on horses, too. But the cows won’t be for eating; we’ll take care of them and watch them eat the grass—and take some pictures of all those, too. Any projects coming up later this year or the next? Yes, our movie of our roadtrip titled Goodbye Horses.
yougojeberg.com @yougojeberg
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mastermind
COMIC SANS COMEDY Artist ROB CHAM is good at being nonchalant because he saves all his feelings for his chosen outlet: comics on the internet, proving that the highest form of expression is art. By Petra Magno Light
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ob Cham gets called Rob Cham—not exactly his whole name and not exactly a nickname—because it’s catchier. Well, people tell him it’s catchier. “No idea,” Rob Cham says, and we can almost feel him shrug through our screens. The twenty-two-year-old is a graphic designer, illustrator, and a comics artist. He feels differently about each, and appropriately so. Shirt design is something he’s “grown to hate,” because the business has always gone sour; people have screwed him over each of the myriad ways an artist can be screwed over by the Man: they “either pay badly, have yet to pay me, have yet to make the shirts... or just plain rejected me and moved on.” Illustration is a “more formal process” involving clients, art directors, and meticulous details, while design is “a weirder beast” that Rob Cham is still wrestling into submission, with a little help from Create.ph—a local design studio with international hustle—in which Rob has found both kindred spirits and employment. Comics, though, are something else entirely. “I just really want to make amazing comics someday,” Rob Cham says, and we can only imagine this, wistfully. It would have been that simple: a boy making comics and putting them on the internet. If only Rob Cham weren’t so damn good at it. It wasn’t long before the internet took notice of his droll wit, his chameleon linework, the Adrian Tomine earnestness—and
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the rest is (browser) history. “I then post it online, and move on with life,” he says about his comics, yet he adds: “other than [constantly] checking how many ‘likes’ or retweets it has. I’m insecure that way.” Beginning with a blog and mushrooming into a Tumblr following thousands-strong, the online audience convinced Rob Cham to turn the usual publication process on its head, and to consider putting his online comics out on paper. This resulted in the first two volumes of Stories, and Rob Cham “showing up at what comic conventions we have here, trying to sell [his] stuff to whoever would be interested in it.” Well, all hail the internet, where Rob Cham’s art begins, exists, and sometimes ends—if not reblogged into infamy. “The internet is amazing and never-ending and just all encompassing,” he muses on inspiration in the 21st century. The internet was instrumental in certain Rob Cham accomplishments—which include getting invited to send in his work for Six Seasons and a Movie, an LA-based art show organized by PixelDrip in an effort to save the wonderfully cheeky and could-be-cult-classic TV show, Community. The internet is also home to an oft-ignored revolution in the way comics were conceived, produced, and distributed: the webcomic. Rob Cham rattles off a list of the webcomics he tries to keep up with, some of which are: brilliantly bleak Perry Bible
Untitled
Fellowship, irreverent Three Word Phrase, appropriately-named Pictures for Sad Children, and the historically-accuratebut-not-really Hark! A Vagrant. Rob Cham’s taste in webcomics seems to lean toward the bleak, or maybe bleakness just comes naturally to webcomic writers the way the internet makes it easy to be nonchalant about both the size of your talent and the size of your audience. Maybe it has to do with the sneaking suspicion that no matter how much you put out there, you’ll never really affect anyone. Ever. “Twitter is a great way to just feel like you’re connected to the world even if you’re really not,” Rob Cham says, even as he points out that he tweets from the “need for attention.” As evidenced by the existence of Stories, however, and the possibility of a third volume coming soon, Rob Cham hasn’t lost faith in print. Or in himself. His comics are laconic, dark, and hopeful all at once. The strips give the impression that they were dashed off carelessly, yet they stagger under the weight of heavy thought. Or political commentary. Or poop jokes. Rob Cham’s comics can be cynical in content, but—simply because he’s still making them for us—they’re all inherently hopeful. robcham.me @robcham
mastermind
Rebel Renewed Living life on the fast lane is one thing, but capturing it on film is another. As far as he can remember, JASON LEE PARRY has been doing both. By Liza Constantino
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hen road movies became popular in the 1960s, there was a certain image that came with being a rebel: a guy who’s grown to become hardened by life. Shunned by the outside world, he’s chosen to live on the fast lane, alone or in the company of but a few people. But on the flipside, rebelliousness may also tell a different story—one of a free-spirited girl—rough around the edges but entirely comfortable in her own femininity. It’s precisely these kinds of images that photographer Jason Lee Parry, in All-American glory, loves to concoct. Jason shares childhood experiences of traveling around the country with his father who was a professional flat track motorcycle racer in the 60s and 70s. “I traveled a lot and was visually stimulated by the things I saw, so I wanted to recreate images I had
seen in my past. I love how photography tells a story with one picture and how everyone, including myself, can interpret it differently.” Having worked with clients like Free People, Wrangler, and Alternative Apparel, as well as with models like Charlotte Free, Ashley Smith, and Abby Brothers, Jason’s nonconformist ideal is at home on the road—or in a bar, arcade, or garage. While photographing his muses in his preferred setting— in rugged landscapes and under natural light—he also documents the unfolding narrative on video. He says, “Directing is something I am very much interested in, in addition to photography. I like how the films help bring the editorial to life and help tell the story. [As for the scene itself], I like to keep the shoot as real and believable as possible. When I shoot, I want it to be like I’m
making a film where the model gets into the character.” As it happens, Jason Lee Parry is heavily influenced by the counterculture kind of artist—musician, actor, visual poet or otherwise. Among his favorites: “Jim Morrison, Dennis Hopper, Patti Smith, James Dean, and Janis Joplin. I [also] look up to older artists—in particular, [French fashion photographer] Guy Bourdin for his simplicity.” Spending most of his time in LA, Jason’s life hasn’t slowed down since living in over 15 states as a child. “I push myself harder and strive to shoot as much as I can,” he says. “I’m more balanced in LA, more focused, and I’m inspired to write more treatments for editorials.” He no longer skates eight hours a day like his teenage self, but he does make a point to inject some natural playfulness and a dollop of risqué in all he does. In 2012, he and his wife, model Jenny Parry, took a trailer around his home state of Oregon and chronicled their road trip in polaroids. Keeping himself in the company of fun and fearless people is all part of his lifestyle. As for his more recent plans, he’s been working on a campaign for Von Dutch Philippines. “[I’ve also been] shooting as much as I can and working on my book, I’ll Keep You Wild.”
jasonleeparry.com @jasonleeparry
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mastermind
GIMME THA LOOT Sure, street style blogger and photographer PAUL CHIN of Lavish-Livez used to cut class to buy sneakers, but he throws light on one thing: “I live far from a ‘lavish’ life.” Satisfying his high taste levels isn’t so far away considering he works extra hard; but we like how he remains funny and humble. Vanity is an instant dealbreaker. By Reena Mesias
Portrait by Dapper Lou
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t’s no secret that style and Paul Chin have a symbiotic relationship. Take a look at his blog, Lavish-Livez, and you’ll instantly get off your lazy ass and put on a fresh button-down. Wearing a pair of Zanerobe pants, Benson T-shirt, Thom Browne cardigan, and J. Crew socks, he sits on his office chair during trade show and fashion week season, telling me how hectic his weeks have been. “I’m also working on something very special, already have my mind on 2014.” While he won’t tell us what it is yet, he shares his views on Junior High, couple T-shirts, other fashion bloggers, posers, and K-Pop. When did your interest for fashion start? I think it started during Junior High. The first few years I knew I was the worst dressed kid on the block! There were these Nike sweats I used to wear every fuckin’ day because I thought they were fresh, but after two months, it looked like our janitor’s mop. Then one day, I said, “Enough is enough. Mom, let’s go buy some damn clothes!” Next day, I came in with a clean yellow Old Navy polo—don’t lie… Old Navy was the shit!—denim shorts—stop frontin’ you did this too—and a crispy white with black stripe shell top! I walked into my class and kids literally stopped and stared. I saw a spit ball floating in mid-air just waiting to hit the forehead of the girl I didn’t like… good for her. I was fly!
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How did Korea influence your style? Korea’s fashion didn’t do much for me. They sport super tight denim and wear “couple T-shirts” (gag). But for the people who actually know what they’re wearing, they wear it the same way you and I do. Which bloggers/fashion icons do you look up to? As far as bloggers go, I really liked what Marcus Troy and William Yan were doing back when I started taking my blog seriously. I remember I went to a block party when Nike’s 21 Mercer store just opened, and I saw William and confessed my love for his work. I even went as far to ask for a photo together! [Laughs] Few years later, we are live-blogging side by side and at the same parties. As a matter of fact, we will be going to Las Vegas together to live blog with Marcus Troy for Magic. As for Marcus, I see him as my mentor; I’ve learned a lot from him since we’ve met. He tweeted me, asking me to email him—my heart was pounding at this point. He responds to my email, saying he enjoyed my latest product review and wanted to know if I would be down to write with him on his new blog rightfully named The Combined. I accepted—obviously— and I now write among the elite menswear editors on the planet, Luis Ruano (senior editor at Hypebeast), Nick J E (former SlamxHype) and Marcus Troy (MarcusTroy.com). It’s amazing
to have my name associated with these fine gentlemen. Shows what not only hard work, but consistency can achieve. What should someone have for you to take a photo of him/her? I don’t think it’s anything physical, but rather something they may possess within themselves. I’m sure your Tommy Tons and Scott Schumans out there will agree; there is definitely something that draws you in, whether it may be their smile, energy or personality. On the other hand, I stay away from the posers. They wake up, put on a costume, dance around the pavement, and pull on their cigarettes, waiting. They’re sharks swimming in the sea of flashes hoping to end up on GQ. I know quite a few of these cats.
How is 2013 looking? I do want to start branding myself more than just a blogger or photographer. I’m working on a few things. One big thing is a collaboration between me and a shoe label… it’s in its baby phase; hopefully it becomes reality! I am working on a sister brand where I can create garments by the season. I don’t want to rush it. Most important question: do you listen to K-Pop? Yes! Legit, it’s the only kind of music I listen to. My favorite is Big Bang and they are so fly! They are the trendsetters for all of Asia, and I’m not kidding. That boy GD puts Kanye to shame!
lavish-livez.com @lavishlivez
mastermind
TWIN SPEAK
FELIX and DOMINIC ROCO now both have their own share of indie fame after the Venice Film Festival-winning Engkwentro and the Cinemalaya audience favorite Ang Nawawala. Learn about hardcore music, tattoos, and being “gangster” from these twins scaling to the peak of their young actors’ life. Story and photo by Nante Santamaria
brother, and I decided to get a tattoo that says, “Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.” That’s our first tattoo. Lex: Until it kept on growing. Good for Dom that he got to control himself not to put easily visible tattoos. Mine are exposed, so it’s hard in TV productions.
Felix Roco (left) and Dominic Roco (right)
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hey no longer share the same room, not since high school, not since they started working as actors at 16. But today, at 23, Felix Roco would say about his brother, “When we don’t have work, I’m with Dom. I could say he’s my best friend.” Dominic would laugh at this, but underneath is a serious bond they share, and in their movie, Ang Nawawala, they were finishing each other’s… “cigarettes.” It’s a strange thing, living with a legendary actor, Bembol Roco, as a father, but they like to live it real—covering each other’s asses when they have to and feeding on fish balls and strong beer at the gigs. This is a portrait of these young celebrities as young men. You both hang out at The Collective and SaGuijo. Lex: That’s me. When they say it’s Dominic, that’s actually me, but I don’t make a fool out of myself. Who are your friends there? Lex: There are many of them, but they’re mostly bands, the likes of Cosmic Love.
Ang Nawawala has a really nice soundtrack, which is now on vinyl. What track do you relate to the most? Dom: It’s Ciudad’s “There’s a Lonely Road to Sunday Night” for me. Lex: It makes me feel like, “This is really sad.” It’s something different. My chest feels heavy when I hear that song. Besides those from that OST, what bands do you patronize? Lex: Greyhoundz, Franco, Queso. Queso is coming back! I’m a really hardcore punk who would claw my way to see a band. Dom: I also like Franco and such, but I rarely go to gigs. Lex: I’m the one who’s like, “Woooh, let’s do this!” You both like tattoos. Let’s count! Dom: I have nine. Lex: I stopped counting after three, I think, because I now have tattoos on my whole back and on my legs. How did you end up with them? Dom: It started with the Three Wise Monkeys—Lex, our eldest
Don’t they fit your bad boy roles? Lex: But I would be a typecast. You cried after this butt-naked scene in Sagrada Familia. What happened? Lex: They just said, “Oh, we’re just gonna cheat it. You can wear shorts,” so I was even pleased during rehearsals. But when it was time for the take, they were like, “Go on, take off your shorts and briefs.” I was like, “Huh?” If I said no, the shoot would pack up just because of me. So you did it. Lex: Yes but without saying anything. They put plaster on my privates, but I was crying as they were applying makeup on my ass. They said it’s too fair. I never wanted to be in a film in which I would show my body. It’s like I violated myself. Dom, awards might be coming up after this good character. Dom: I don’t really think
of awards. I love what I’m doing, and I love that people appreciate what I do. When you expect something and you don’t get it, it hurts more. Lex, you were thought of as a real gangster in Venice Film Festival. Lex: Yes, I got surprised when someone approached us, a black man, and he was like, “Hey, you’re here! I thought, man, you’re a gangster. You did a really good movie.” But how do you want to be known if not as a bad boy? Lex: Just a good actor. I don’t wanna be known as half of the Roco Twins or as the son of Bembol Roco but as Felix Roco. Same as Dominic. What makes you talk, Dom? Dom: I wait for people to go near me ‘cause I’m scared that I might say something stupid. I’d rather keep everything to myself and watch people. Who have been your mentors? Dom: What really pushed me into indie and acting in general are my friends like JM De Guzman. They’re really the ones who encourage me, “You can do it. You just have to believe in yourself, that’s all.”
@dominicroco @felix_rocoV
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A$AP ROCKY (short for Always Strive and Prosper) rhymes well and dresses well. The ladies love him, and all the other rappers (according to him) wanna jack his style. Being on top may include “Extraordinary Swag and a mouth full of Gold,” but STATUS thinks there’s more to it than that. By Loris Peña Images courtesy of Sony Music
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(“Who said you can’t live forever lied / Of course, I’m living forever I’ll / Forever, I’ll live long’) off his latest album’s title track, “Long.Live.A$AP, ” indicates how the Harlem rapper intends to stay in the game through music, we may be seeing a lot more of him for a while. Some critics argue over A$AP Rocky being dubbed “the future of hip-hop,” but his influence is undeniable, having caught the ears of hip-hop heads and the eyes of the fashion-forward. An odd mix to some, but A$AP Rocky is just that type of rapper. He says, “Rocky is music, music videos, and fashion” and he backs this up with his charisma, quick-witted lyrics, penchant for everything designer, and just the right amount of fucks not to give. While the haters will hate, numbers won’t lie; they would even tell you that A$AP Rocky is starting his year right, bathing in the success of his debut album, Long.Live.A$AP. It sold 139, 000 on its first week of release and his first single—“F*ckin Problems” with Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and 2Chainz—has also sold more than a million copies. The album also includes collaborations with Skrillex, Santigold, Florence Welch, and Big K.R.I.T. Though it may have been pushed back a couple of times, the album’s release last January proved the wait worth it. With infectious beats, relaxed flow, and experimental sounds, the rapper proves his versatility. “I try to give them everything
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they want… I talk about how my day went… I get joy out of making music and sharing it.” With the help of producers Hit-Boy, Drake (aka Champagne Papi/C.Papi), Noah “40” Shebib, T-Minus, and Clams Casino, A$AP Rocky evolved with a totally different sound, but as expected, he speaks his mind about anything and everything. And, of course, he still remains very trill for real. From calling out different brands in “Fashion Killa” and being ignorant in “Goldie” to holding his own alongside Santigold’s and Florence Welch’s heavenly voices in “Hell” and “I Come Apart,” Rocky addresses being a non-conscious rapper. In “Suddenly,” he raps, “Don’t view me as no conscious cat, this ain’t no conscious rap / Fuck the conscious crap, my mac’ll push your conscience back.” But down the almost beatless trail of this song, maturity makes itself known in the verse, “I only got one vision / that’s for kids in every color / religion that listen/ that you gotta beat the system / stay the fuck out the prisons / They try to blind our vision / but we all got children and siblings / You my brother, you my kin, fuck the color of your skin.” Long.Live.A$AP proves that the Pretty Flacko is more than just a pretty boy. His new sound and confidence have lived up to the hype, if not exceeding it. Rocky says, “I think it’s too much hype about me. I want to prove myself to these people.” He continues, “I want to prove to them that I’m an all-around artist, I’m a great video director, I’m a great human being, I have a good head on my shoulders and I’m a great lyricist. I’m ready to represent now. I got too much style not to be.” And while there are arguments about him representing New York rap, the East Coast rapper is catering
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to an even bigger audience. Rocky says, “I’m not saying I’m the one that everybody needs to listen to. What I’m saying is I have a different kind of standpoint and I got different views and I bring a different approach. And if you fuck with me, good. You should.” While this young lord is drowning in Xs and Os and is enjoying the fruits of his labor, it wasn’t too long ago that Rakim Mayers—coincidentally named after OG rapper Rakim—was rapping his first rhyme at eight years old. He recalls, “My sister was born, she was on the bed, and the first rhyme I did was about her.” Heavily influenced by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, UGK, and Wu-Tang Clan, it was his late brother Ricky Black that encouraged him to rap. Rocky, who has candidly talked about the shooting of his brother, relates, “My first true friend. God bless all big brothers, man. I had a good one.” He continues, “Being in Harlem and growing up, everything was about being the man and having all the bitches and so on and so forth.” Rocky was living a hard knock life—from missing his dad in jail to losing his brother, living in shelters, and drug dealing—which he would later on realize wasn’t for him. He explains, “I got
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tired of that spotlight. I’m not going to prosper off of being the man. I was like, ‘Yo, I can take this money and do something productive.’” Fast forward to 2011, Rocky’s “Peso” and “Purple Swag” videos went so viral that they would get him a three million dollardeal with Sony, RCA, and Polo grounds. “I feel I brought back that essence with the ‘Peso’ video,” he recalls, “Not just New York but that hip-hop in the 90s thing. Hip-hop in the 90s set the format for hiphop today.” He continues, “I’m really, really tired of the cliché rhyming and the mansions with every night you popping bottles, and you got a bitch in your flying spur—all the time.” With the release of his mixtape, Live.Love.A$AP, Rocky established himself as a key player in the game, offering chopped and screwed choruses, low-mid tempo beats, a southern style of rapping, and of course, a totally different sound from all his peers. While A$AP Rocky was busy trying to be a PMF, everyone else took notice. Besides his music, A$AP Rocky’s fashion
has been making headlines (even GQ took notice). Always in Maison Martin Margiela, Raf Simons, Rick Owens, Alexander Wang, Jeremy Scott (whom he shared a Complex cover with), and Goyard, Rocky has also helped streetwear brands like SSUR, Black Scale, and Pigalle by introducing them to the world. Together with his A$AP Mob crew, which he describes as “the guys dressing like they were rolling on the red carpet,” they’ve been pioneering urban dress sense consisting a mix of high fashion and streetwear—a look that can only be described as ghetto gothic. While Rocky has no interest in becoming a designer, he has become a poster child for Hip-hop × Fashion. During Paris Fashion Week, Rocky wore an oversized Shaun Samson sweater, shorts, and black boots with fur earmuffs while attending Raf Simons first Dior Couture Spring 2013 runway show. In the recent New York Fashion Week, A$AP Rocky closed Hood by Air’s Fall 2013 show wearing an all black outfit to support designer Shayne Oliver. As the rapper lives up to his “Clothes get weirder / Money get
longer” lyric, he exclusively gets to hang out with Martin Margiela in his trailer; has “RAF A$AP” crewnecks by Raf Simons for him, his family, and friends; and cameos in the campaign video of T by Alexander Wang. A$AP Rocky breaks all stereotypes by being that kid from Harlem making music that affects kids from the neighborhood of Bronx all the way to Tokyo. What he wears, people want to buy. What he says, people want to live by. Though he recently lost his dad, according to Rocky, he is being blessed in tenfold. With a successful debut album under his belt and a cult following that rivals lord’s, there’s no need to worry. He’s probably counting stacks or having a “Wild for the Night” type of party. But really, A$AP Rocky is grinning right now with his gold teeth and his French braids, knowing that this is his world, and we all just live in it. asapmob.com @asvpxrocky
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Monsterz Go Nutz
Creative director, designer, illustrator, and founder of clothing line Natural Born, KEVIN LYONS, just wants to “fuck around.� Embracing a metaphor that takes steps from restraint to self-indulgence, he is an artist who creates with guiltless freedom. By Victoria Herrera
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Colette Carnaval Skateramp
“In the past, I thought design was all about doing something for someone else. Now I think it’s more about doing me for someone else.” I
thought design was all about making out—now I think it’s more about fucking around,” says New York artist Kevin Lyons. Not all artists can compare ideas on past and present design philosophies like he does because not all artists have had the same extensive career. Lyons has held vital design roles that shaped our culture’s favorite brand identities: the art director of Spike Jonze’s Girl Skateboard Company, the US art director for Tokion, the senior designer for Nike, the design director of Stussy, and the former global creative director of retail heaven Urban Outfitters. Despite the changing business cards, the environment remains consistent. He says, “I have worked a lot of places but always kinda within the same
culture.” The youth culture, that is. But after years of helping other brands and winning Emmys and Cannes, Lyons is investing some of that creative energy in his own projects, with ideas that mean something more to him. His own clothing line, Natural Born, is a step in that direction. “It really became a place to put my most personal ideas and work—which did not seem to have a home anywhere else. It best represented the shit I wanted to see on the world,” he says, which brings us back to his changing opinion about design. “In the past, I thought design was all about doing something for someone else. Now I think it’s more about doing me for someone else.”
What changed in your style throughout the years? I still approach each thing I do the very same way and with the very same thought process. I am constantly pushing my style away from what it was yesterday though. I look to always see how I can make it looser, simpler, funnier, more quirky, and more sincere. Much of what I have done in the past have been copied by other young designers, as it should be. Emulation and reverence lead to reference and imitation, so I put periods of my work behind me stylistically as quickly as commercially possible. I think what has significantly changed for me of course is the rise of my characters affectionately known as “monsters.” For many years,
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“You will change your career path many times and you should not be afraid to do so. You are the company you keep.”
my work consisted of many graphic styles, and I had very few iconic images or a signature style that screamed Kevin Lyons. The “monsters” now do that. People look for them now and they, in essence, become very empowering and allow people to better recognize my work.
Colette VIPP Trashcan
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You like to collaborate and draw for your daughters, True and Lulu. Is there anything you learned from them about their approach to creativity? I have always seen art and design through youth. I think I made that observation really early on. Design and art are about physical, mental and artistic expression. It is about fucking around and really not adhering to a set of rules. I mean there are basic design principles that I follow, but it is not like I am laying out and setting type, so I feel that the more playful I am, the better the result. I have always believed that the more fun you have, the more it shows in the work. I guess my daughters have reinforced that. I mean my youngest daughter, Lulu, draws my monsters better than me. She thinks less about what they are
supposed to be, and more about what they can be. True writes dark and really imaginative stories that go off the rails of reality. They do not labor over stuff or over-think stuff. They just do. All youth movements throughout the history of time— graffiti, skateboarding, surfing— are reactive activities. They were rebellions to something else. They are all done as part of a natural process… I still love graffiti because it is done under a time restraint. In fear of getting caught... what can be more kid-like than that? What was the last thing you doodled for fun? Literally, I doodle for fun all day. When in doubt, doodle. Drawing can really answer a lot of your questions. You’ve also been a teacher to many, what’s the best advice you’ve ever given an art student? Do your own outside work. Make prints, zines, T-shirts, a website, a blog. Do not show me a portfolio with a business card design in it and a designed history of the Frutiger typeface
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Naughty By Nature OPP
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“All youth movements throughout the history of time—graffiti, skateboarding, surfing— are reactive activities. They were rebellions to something else.”
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Football
in it. Show me what you are passionate about. Punk, hip-hop, reggae, and dancehall music have affected your work in the past. What are you listening to in 2013, and what do you think this reflects? I am always listening to music. It is so ingrained in my life. It informs everything I create. In many ways, it has always been my muse… To ask me what I am listening to now is a pretty open-ended question… but sitting in my studio right now in front of me is the new Nosaj Thing record, the Miss Lily’s reggae compilation, the new A$AP Rocky (“1 Train” is my shit right now), the about-to-be-released Karl Hector EP, the reissue of X-O-Dus on Factory Records, amazing reggae mixed CDs by Deadly Dragon in NYC, and about five or six newly reissued albums by the Black Jazz label. It’s a lot. It’s rap reggae and roots! Why “Natural Born,” and what makes this different from the other brands you’ve handled in the past? Natural Born was started back in 1998 when I was working at Girl Skateboards but has its
roots in my long collaborative relationship with Russell Karablin of SSUR. The name even tells a lot about me as I am a combination of the land and the city and this idea of giving birth to new ideas and new revolutions. It was political, thought-provoking, funny, and aggressive. Beautiful and revolutionary. It became a place where all of my extremes could co-exist. In this brand, I had no real customer or consumer that I was speaking to. It was the simple reflection of the ideas that spoke directly to me. Not the best way to maintain a popular brand, but it’s funny how many people actually really responded to it and still crave it today. What do you think is the most important ingredient to success? Sincerely, being brave, having fun, and making friends. You will change your career path many times, and you should not be afraid to do so. You are the company you keep. Make lasting relationships with good people and work with them. Collaboration and being entrepreneurial are keys to success. I am blessed to be
around the very best in the industry, and I owe a lot of my career to those who I have been friends with since art school. What projects do you have lined up in 2013? The biggest is being in an artist series with Stussy… I also have a collection coming up with Hall of Fame which will include an installation. I will also have another solo show at HVW8 Gallery in LA—a long-time favorite place for me to show. Near the end of the year, I have two biggies: one is a DC Shoes collab that is around apparel—that should be super fun. And the other is around the upcoming Girl Skateboards 20th Anniversary in August. In the meantime, toys, zines, and posters.
www.naturalborn.com @natbornklyons
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Kinetic RYE RYE has been jumping around 21st century streets and paving the avenues for some of today’s most prolific movers and shakers. As the anointed “Voice of B-more,” she speaks on her life and music getting physical but staying grounded by the beat. Introduction by Karlo Cleto Interviewed by Giano D. Dionisio Photographed by Rick Craft Styled by Jose “Hoza” Rodriquez
Assistant Stylist Salomon Gutierrez Makeup Ashley Gomila Hair Carlos Jamieson Lashes Faux Lash
tights by Alexander McQueen bolero jacket by Manish Arora necklace and belt by Mango cuffs and earrings by Randi’s Candi
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“When you’re confident and comfortable with yourself and what you wanna do, you remain you!”
c
F
or dance musicians making the exodus from the back to the main room, it can be easy to lose touch with one’s roots. The emergence of four-on-the-floor electro-house as the dominant theme in post-millennial urban radio has seen a broad sacrificing of originality for formula, with many artists trading in the grimy ingenuity of their original work for the carbon copy fluff of mainstream dance pop. So it’s refreshing to see an artist break out of the basement and into the Top 40 while retaining the freshness, vitality, and sense of adventure that made people take note in the first place. Rye Rye (née Ryeisha Berrain) is one such artist. Rye Rye first came to prominence at the sweet age of 16 on the strength of white hot booty bass bumper, “Shake It to the Ground,” which was produced by Baltimore club impresario Blaqstarr. After the track became an underground club hit in 2006, Rye Rye attracted the attention of B-more club stalwarts Wesley Pentz and Maya Arulpragasam (you may know them better as Diplo and M.I.A.), who would take Rye Rye on the Kala tour in the fall and winter of 2007. A clutch of crucial guest verses on street-certified club sizzlers would follow, including
spots on M.I.A.’s remix of Busy Signal’s “Tic Toc,” the remix of Adrian Lux’s “Strawberry,” the Afrikan Boy remix of “Paper Planes,” Crookers’ “Hip Hop Changed,” and Teenage Bad Girl’s “Backwash.” In 2010, rookie designer Alexander Wang opened his (now iconic) spring catwalk show blasting Rye Rye’s “Shake It to the Ground,” subsequently inviting the feisty femcee to perform at his afterparty. With a flounce of footwork, a shimmy of stage presence, and her unapologetic swagger, Rye Rye set the trend for fresh talent backed by vogue vim. Within the next year, she would play SXSW, collaborate with Robyn, tour with Katy Perry and LMFAO, debut her single conjointly with Prabal Gurung’s resort collection, guest on an Adidas advert, and eventually drop her mixtape, RYEot PowRR, which contained her cheeky remix of Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA.” Currently signed to M.I.A.’s record label N.E.E.T., an imprint of Interscope Records, Rye Rye finally released her debut album Go! Pop! Bang! in May 2012, the same year she sassed Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum onscreen. An urgent call to the dancefloor as well as a document of Rye Rye coming into her own as a rapper, singer, and
songwriter, the album features a top-flight roster of producers, including The Neptunes, Bangladesh, Play-N-Skillz, Steve Angello, as well as notable appearances from M.I.A., Tyga, and Akon. Here, STATUS speaks to Rye Rye about her singular style as a performer and what it takes to keep twerking it in the face of life’s hardened realities. Hey, Rye Rye! Your music has always been upbeat and all about fun. Would you say that’s similar to your own outlook in life? Yes, definitely! Fun is me, generally. It’s my personality outside of music, too. In my music/career, I like to keep it the same way. I just feel so blessed and I appreciate life, so it’s really hard to break my spirit. Plus, I realized that if I want happiness, I’m the only person that can bring it upon myself, and so I smile way more than I frown! I’ve got one life to live and I don’t want it to be a miserable one.
dress by Farah Khan earrings by All Saints
You recently celebrated your 22nd birthday. What are the things you’ve cherished most in your 22 years? My daughter is my biggest blessing. And I cherish all of the people who are rooting for me, my career, and my family. I
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“If I’m satisfied with what I do, then that’s all that matters.”
In your opinion, how does dance make the world a better place? Dance is so free spirited! It’s just movements of greatness! When I dance, it puts me in my own world. I don’t be having no worries; I just be happy! It’s some people’s way of expressing themselves and takes a lot of people away from their problems. It makes other people smile and it makes you feel so good about yourself.
Some might argue that our airwaves are already oversaturated with hyphy, bouncy music. How do you stay unique in your style? I’m not a fan of wanting to do what everyone else is doing. That goes on a lot in this industry, but I can never get with it. When you’re confident and comfortable with yourself and what you wanna do, you remain you! A lot of people live off of other people’s approval… I’m the type who thinks, “If I’m satisfied with what I do, then that’s all that matters.” If people like it, then so be it; if not, then oh well! I’m not changing to live up to somebody else’s expectations. You’re very fashion forward. But it’s not just the clothes or the hair—it’s also your personality. Could you talk a bit about expressing oneself, especially in this day and age? You gotta have a backbone to be who you wanna be, especially in this day and age when a lot of my generation lives off of the perception of others. I guess it’s about maturity as well. Everybody in this day and age feels like they’re more than what they are, but they just gotta develop a mature mind state and get back to reality. I don’t like to pretend, so I let everything flow natural with me. It’s all about confidence.
pants by All Saints top, Rye Rye’s own shoes by Jerome C. Rosseau necklace by All Saints
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dress by Dauxilly Headpiece cuff by Randi’s Candi ring by Mango
“Everybody in this day and age feels like they’re more than what they are, but they just gotta develop a mature mind state and get back to reality.”
Music and fashion have always gone hand in hand. From your experience, how do those two things come together? Fashion complements music. And music gives you that opportunity to go as far as you want with fashion. When you do a music video or any type of visual, that’s when you can go overboard and get away with it. Nowadays, everybody is into fashion. Whenever they’re looking at magazines, videos, or TV appearances, they’re looking mainly to see what somebody is wearing! Another aspect of your music is its solid connection to your roots. You’ve mentioned before that you like to keep it hood. Besides the dancing and the Baltimore bass beats, how else has your environment shaped you? I believe my upbringing is the reason I am the performer I am now. It humbles me because I know what it feels to not have
a lot. It makes me appreciate everything so much more when I look at the people I grew up with from the hood and be like, “Damn, that could have been me.” But at the same time, I don’t know what it is to be fake! I can’t pretend to be all Hollywood and like I’m living in a perfect world. When I meet people in the industry, they already respect me because I’m real and I don’t act all stuckup. I still got my roots in me—when I feel like somebody’s trying to play with me in any way, I’ll bring the hood out and correct it! You can’t let people get it twisted because I live this other life now! [Laughs] What’s your pick-me-up of choice after a long exhausting day? Music, definitely. Play my favorite song, and I’m ready to go! I love bass.
ryeryemusic.com @RyeRye
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GROUP DYNAMICS As the urban jungle thrives, its restless citizens scour the streets for signs of life. Among herds of thrillseekers in the Philippines’ bustling capital, we pick three packs that break from their chains to form different gangs thirsting for blood-pumping action. Bond over beer, bikes, and breakbeats with these crews that are energizing our local landscape.
P A R T Y
MANILA FIXED GEAR
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Could you briefly describe Manila Fixed Gear? Manila Fixed Gear is initially an informal group or organization of fixed gear/track bike riders in Manila, but it has now become a bigger umbrella group for subgroups from other nearby and faraway cities within the Philippines. What’s the mission and vision behind Manila Fixed Gear? I don’t think there really is a mission or vision. It’s just a platform to meet other riders or potential riders. The driving force behind the group is each individual member’s desire to ride on the street… Keeping up that drive is out of the question, at least as far as I know. When you embrace it, you want to do it. You don’t really
think about it; it becomes a part of you. How often do bikers get together and what’s usually on the agenda? Most subgroups meet other groups at big events like the recent WeFXD × MFG Drag Sprints last January; the regular PusaKalye Alley Cat Races, where riders and groups from all over come together for a friendly competition on the streets of Manila; or Bike Palo (bike polo) in UP every Sunday morning, where other groups are welcome for a game or two. There’s also the annual Rekta Karera in Pasig, etc. Aside from the big events, each subgroup (WeFXD, Down South Fixed, Pasig Fixers, QC Fixed, Cebu Fixed Gear, Iloilo
Fixed Gear, and many others I’m forgetting to mention) has their own activities. Where’s the best place to go in Manila for someone who wants to get active? Anyone can get active anywhere. For those who ride fixed, the streets of Manila are a sure adrenaline trigger. Ride safe, ride harder!
manilafixedgear.blogspot.com
BLOCK PARTY
THE CLOTHING Could you give a bit of background on the label and how you’ve evolved since? THE works with a lot of people, doing collabos or whatnot. It’s about getting your shit out there—wholeheartedly. Submitting to your fancy before anything else. Back in 2007, the boys of THE would sell their stuff to random people in random places— guerilla style—parking anywhere there are people. Luckily, circa 2009, they got to open a shop of
their own that’s perfect for the whole idea of the brand. How do your individual personalities come together to shape the brand? Different perspectives. Different views. Our differences, when put all together, results in THE. From skateboarding to biking, art, and street culture. Crazy! We just mix it all up.
How does THE promote a lifestyle that is relevant to the everchanging times? By ever changing the fucking norm. Everyone wants to be ahead, be in the spotlight, or make it in the industry. But THE—we defy the standards. We keep testing the waters and taking risks. Then, I guess, people notice the different and weird chemistries THE is always mixing up… then fucking up again to see who follows. Where’s the best place to go in Manila for someone who wants to get active? Visit the slums. Or whatever ghetto place you think won’t do you any good. Get lost, get in trouble—anywhere in Manila. You gonna learn a lot. A lot more than reading this interview.
facebook.com/theclothingmanila
Words by Giano D. Dionisio Photographed by Andrew Apuya
THA PROJECT Could you briefly describe Tha Project? Tha Project is a group of dancers, bound by passion and moved by music, who came together from different backgrounds. Prince Paltu-ob, leader of Tha Project, was looking for young, talented dancers who wanted to pursue further training in their craft. With goals of reaching new heights in the international scene on and offstage, this group continues to come together to progress in their art, even after representing the country in several international competitions, both in the crew and solo categories. What’s the driving force behind the group? Our driving force has always been the essential love for
dance and music. That being said, we see the potential of every member as they grow and understand their own dance. We aim to create an environment where that potential is nurtured and exposed to different areas that can deepen their understanding of dance and music. We also see the potential of the hip-hop dance community in the Philippines to reach out and interact with other dance communities around the world. In order to reach out, we should first start within. How can dance make people’s lives better? “Hustle. Earn. Burn. Repeat.” Haha! Dance can benefit you in so many ways such as staying fit, keeping a healthy lifestyle, and meeting new people who could become great friends. Dance can
even be a great stress reliever. Some dancers also get to travel around the world while earning a living. A word of advice to all the bums out there? Find something you love to do and work hard at it! We’re all meant to be great, but faith without action is dead. So make a plan for yourself—what you want to do, what you want to achieve, what you want to be—and follow through.
facebook.com/ThaProjectPH
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NIGHTVISION End of Days Apocalypse by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
Mmhmm Go Team! Go! by The Cobrasnake
RANDOM CITIZEN II by Volchekshot.Me
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NIGHTVISION
SNOW LIGHT by Volchekshot.Me
Red bull RL Grime Sound by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
Social saturdays @ Aracama by Pam Santos
iggy azalea & copacabana by Gerard Estadella
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NIGHTVISION
Birthdaycabana by Gerard Estadella
7th high club room by Apollo Lara
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DIRECTORY BRANDS 21 MEN Forever 21, SM Megamall, Ortigas City ALDO Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City ALEJANDRA G. alejandrag.com ALEXANDER MCQUEEN alexandermcqueen.com ALMAY almay.com ALL SAINTS allsaints.com BENEFIT Greenbelt 5, Makati City BENCH Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City BOBBI BROWN Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City CAMEO cameothelabel.com.au CALL IT SPRING Greenbelt 5, Makati City CALLIOPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City CHANTECAILLE chantecaille.com CHASER chaserbrand.com CLINIQUE Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City DANIELLE STEVENS daniellestevens.com DARLING darlingclothes.com DAVID DALRYMPLE BY HOUSE OF FIELD patriciafield.com/daviddalrymple.aspx DOROTHY PERKINS Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City DOVE Available in all leading supermarkets and department stores ELLY CLAY ellyclay.com FARAH KHAN farahkhan.com FAUX LASH fauxlash.com FINDERS KEEPERS finderskeepersthelabel.com.au FOLDED AND HUNG SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Ortigas City GUERLAIN Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City HAUTE POLISH hautepolish.com JEROME C. ROUSSEAU jeromecrousseau.com KATE SPADE Greenbelt 3, Makati City KIEHL’S Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City KOI ilovekoi.com.ph LANCÔME Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City MANISH ARORA manisharora.ws MANGO mango.com MARIO BADESCU Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City MIEZKO miezko.com NARS Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City NICOLE LEE nicoleleeusa.com NIKE nike.com NISSA nissajewelry.com NIXON nixon.com NOIR noirjewelry.com OXYGEN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PATRICIA FIELD patriciafield.com PENSHOPPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City RANDIS CANDI randiscandi.com SINÉQUANONE Greenbelt 5, Makati City SMASHBOX smashbox.com SPRINGFIELD Greenbelt 3, Makati City STEVE MADDEN Greenbelt 5, Makati City SUPERGA Greenbelt 5, Makati City
SWIM Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City TERRANOVA SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City THEBALM thebalm.com TOMMY HILFIGER Greenbelt 5, Makati City TOPMAN Greenbelt 3, Makati City TOPSHOP Greenbelt 3, Makati City VANS Vans Concept Stores, SM Department Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Landmark Department Stores, Urban Athletics, Toby’s Sports, Olympic Village, Shoe Salon, American Rag, Sole Academy, Greyone Social VINCENT LONGO vincentlongo.com WAREHOUSE Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City YES TO CARROTS yestocarrots.com ARTISTS Andrew Apuya (Photographer) andrewapuya.com Maria Alejandra Barrios (Makeup) marialejandrabarrios.com Anouck Bertin (Photographer) anouckbertin.com Ming Han Chung (Photographer) followmystory.com Tiffani Chynel (Stylist) tiffanichynel.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Rick Craft (Photographer) rcdesignstudios.com Yesenia Cuevas (Assistant Stylist) twitter.com/MyLifeAsYesenia Jake Davis (Photographer) jakedavis.typepad.com Joyce De Dios-Ignacio (Hair and Makeup) joyceignacio.com Jon Duenas (Photographer) jonduenas.com Zeko Eon (Photographer) zekophotography.com Grissel Esparza (Hair) grisselesparza.com Gerard Estadella (Photographer) icanteachyouhowtodoit.com
Bea Fabros (Videographer) isabela.fabros@gmail.com Debby Falcon (Photographer) debbyfalcon.tumblr.com Ashley Gomila (Makeup) themakeupexpert.net Salomon Gutierrez (Assistant Stylist) twitter.com/SalStylesU Sofia Hardy (Photographer) flickr.com/sofiahardy Tinette Herrera (Hair and Makeup) twitter.com/tinetteherrera Victoria Herrera (Photographer) victoriaherrera.com Carlos Jamieson (Hair) facebook.com/carlosdidmyhair Man-E Jay (Stylist) mane-j.com Apollo Lara (Photographer) apollonius.tumblr.com Squalie Malone (Photographer) facebook.com/SqualieMalone Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmirandaphotography.com Franz Navarrete (Photographer) lilreddotfolks.com Joseph Pascual (Photographer) josephpascual.tumblr.com RJ Pascual (Photographer) whatdidyoublogtoday.com Jeruel Pingol (Photographer and Videographer) ohmyjeruel.tumblr.com Jose “Hoza” Rodriquez (Stylist) hologramcity.net Nikki Ruiz (Photographer) nmgruiz.tumblr.com Nante Santamaria (Photographer) facebook.com/nansan Pam Santos (Photographer) facebook.com/pamparazzi Phil Sharp (Photographer) philsharp-photo.com JP Singson (Photographer) jponfashionspeed.com Patrick Velasco (Photographer) putograft.com Louiza Vick (Photographer) louizavick.com Aleksey Volchek (Photographer) volchekshot.me Heather Wolverton (Makeup) heatherwolvertonmakeup.com
S TAT U S IN VA D E S TOOLS OF MY CRAFT
I am always thinking of what to sketch or what to paint next. You never know what surface you might want to leave your mark on.
HATS
They are a bit fancy, but also knitted and equally comfy. I am obsessed with finding the perfect hat.
MISTER JEWELRY
I design for a clothing line called Mister and these are some of the fruits of my labor.
TIES
A man can never have too many ties, or that’s what I tell myself to justify my purchases.
ART BOOKS AND FASHION MAGAZINES
FANCY SHOES
I am drawn to vintage and classic styles. My style tends to reflect a different era.
Keeping current and staying ahead of the fashion and art crowd is a key to survival, but sometimes I just like to enjoy other people’s creativity.
BLUE KARTELL LAMP
It makes for great and trippy mood lighting when you’re listening to Architecture in Helsinki and umm… Architecture in Helsinki.
DEE JAE PA’ESTE
After living out of a suitcase for the past ten years, artist and designer Dee Jae Pa’este is settled and proving his mettle, making his presence a staple in Manila’s creative scene.
deejaepaeste.com @deejae408
WEAPONS OF CREATIVITY
SKETCHBOOKS
I love the feeling of buying a brand new sketchbook and making the first pen stroke.
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HARIBO GUMMIES
I am totally a kid at heart and one thing that keeps my inner child happy is Haribo gummies.
tiny sketch and a 30-foot wall with concept for the see is a wonderful
Photographed by RJ Pascual
Taking a covering the same world to thing.