Urbanlunch Issue 4
disciples dornik • olivver the kid • phazz
@urbanlunch_
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In This Issue
Olivver the kid // P16 IYES // P14
dornik // P36 Odd Sox // P56
Disciples // p24 phazz // P50
THEFKDLF // p40
Twitter // @urbanlunch_
Web // URBANLUNCH Contact // URBANLUNCHMAG@GMAIL.COM
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That Your Girls Tour? 5
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Instagram // 2015 7
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The Next King of Pop 9
///////////// The undoubtable king of the Whilst most singers trade
stantly pushing at new
summer, who became unes-
success for clothes or com-
boundaries, and loved by
capable, whether on the air-
pletely sell out to the most
all.
waves, Spotify playlists or
popular sounds of the time,
Meanwhile, covered in the
party soundtracks, this year
The Weeknd kept it cool. He golden ooze of the beats, are continued to do him, not lyrics with dark meanings,
was the year in which The
Weeknd made the switch from blog favourite to pop
once did he break from craft- meanings that have to be deing his slushy and sexy sin- coded. Turning a song about
star.
gles to go follow whatever
drug abuse into the anthem
Already known for collabora- David Guetta had been engi- of 2015 in which slews of tions with fellow Torotonian neering. Instead, the Canadi- teenagers unknowingly an tinged his luscious beats praised its joyful appearDrake (think Crew Love) and more recently in 2014, with Ariana Grande, Abel Tesfaye had always been
with a bit of pop, to make
ance, is only something the
way for tracks such as The
wittiest, smartest and most
Hills and Can’t Feel My
in touch artists can do.
working his way to commer- Face, and turned himself in- His appeal on stage is undecial success. With the critics to the face of music of 2015. niable too, a presence that on his side from day one, all Quality and consistency are would lead you to believe he had to do was convince
words not many artists can
the world that he was the re- achieve together, however
he’s commanded audiences as large as he does (think
al deal, and he did this
hear we see a difference, eve- Coachella) before 2015. It’s through the most traditional ry track put out by The almost natural to see him medium possible—music.
Weeknd is quality, is con-
///////////// 10
///////////// perform like a seasoned pro. So what does this come to? Adoration from everyone, (have you ever met anyone
that doesn’t like his music?), double entendres that are almost too subtle, and the ability to rock in front of thousands with every last breath. It all must mean something, and quite simply it does. The Weeknd is purely and simply the next King
of Pop, who’s legacy has a lifetime left.
///////////// 11
Compilation Review: Downtown Funk Ministry of Sound Packed full of funk favourites,
of nostalgia when played, as funk
more importantly, is a communal
Downtown Funk, one of many
classics are put back to back. Each
genre. This compilation screams to
compilations drawn up by the
CD gives a clear explanation of the
be enjoyed with people around,
Ministry of Sound is a jazzy, lus-
recent funk wave in music that
and shouts to be danced to, it’s a
cious collection of sounds. The
started with Daft Punk’s smashGet crime if you don’t.
three CD pack celebrates in an air
Lucky, funk is a fun, lively, and
Album Review: 90059—Jay Rock Jay Rock has been a prominent
him one of the sleekest rappers
and club infused sound which dis-
figure on west coast hip-hop since from his collaborative efforts.
tinguishes the rapper from his
the punchy track Hood Gone Love
90059 almost feels like a spiritual
TDE wingmen.
It. Furthermore, his chemistry
successor to good kid, m.A.A.d
with labelmates Kendrick Lamar,
city, as west coast vibes dominate.
Ab Soul & Schoolboy Q has made
However 90059 has a more trap
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****
13
:
Brighton duo IYES went straight to music blog fame with their dark twist on BeyoncĂŠ's hit track Crazy In Love. Now the pair have just dropped their debut EP Part
One, which has surpassed all expectations as the band continue edgy experiments.
14
Rewinding to the Crazy In
How would you describe your so hipster, he wasn’t about listen-
Love cover, it blew up on the
sound?
ing to it unless he was on a come-
internet, you must have been
M: I’m the same as Josh, whereas
down; he’d prefer pop bands, ha-
so shocked by the reaction it
I don’t agree with genres or sub
ha! J: Yeah, and look at what’s
got? J: Man, that was such a fun
genres. We write songs like classic happened now! You’re into pop
cover to produce. I had this awe-
singer-songwriters, and then pro-
stuff and I’ve moved left-field. I
some idea to make it into a sad
duce and perform them in which-
think we taught each other a few
song, being crazy in love isn’t a
ever way feels natural and best for things in life, haven’t we?
good thing; it’s usually quite
the song. If you listen from song to
blinding and obsessive. The origi-
song, some are R&B influenced,
Tell us about Part One, what
nal was really upbeat and full of
some 80s, some 90s, some out-
can we expect from the EP?
excitement. I tried to write a piano and-out pop and some of it’s on
J: Part One is the first EP of a
piece around the chords and melo- the rockier or acoustic side… it’s
handful we have recorded. We’ve
dy, and then we went from there -
sat on some of this music for two
great to not be confined.
it still needed a little swagger, so
years, and was always holding
kept the R&B percussion and flow. Where did the band originate back, being told to be patient and from? How did you meet and
for the right time to release, along-
Was there much pressure to
why did you both decide to
side a team. Growing strength to
match the hype the cover
make music? J: We met at a
strength is the best part of being
gave you afterwards?
gathering I had at my old house in an organic artist. Music is like fall-
J: I wouldn’t say so. I mean, we
Brighton. Melis was at music
ing in love; you have a reasonable
kinda knew that the cover would
school here, and I was on a Lon-
relationship that has its honey-
blow, and that’s the reason we
don detox working out my next
moon period, and it’s amazing,
don’t do tonnes of them. We don’t
move… fortunately, I met Melis,
then it settles down and becomes
want to be known as that artist
we jammed and wrote some tunes
slightly monotonous during the
that broke through with a cover;
and I stayed here until now!
middle period, then all of a sud-
that’s against the point. If that
den, you either enjoy the rest of
happened, it’s the same vibe as if
Would you say you both had
the relationship till its end, which
we were playing in the local
similar musical influences
is hopefully never ending, or you
Queens Head pub in your town
growing up, or are you music
find better love. That’s a musicians
and doing the same set of rock
tastes quite different? M: Our
career right there... love-bound.
covers - we wouldn’t feel like peo-
tastes were different; as Josh said,
ple appreciated our song writing.
I was into really left-field stuff. Josh knew all the artists, but was
15
: After receiving a warm buzz as the drummer for indie band The Neighbourhood, LA based Olivver The Kid decided to depart from the band. Exploring solo projects, he has gone onto create electrically enticing masterpieces, with acclaim from both fans and critics.
16
Let's talk about Freak, being
How do you think your music
What can we expect on your
your first solo EP, was it a hard has progressed from Freak to I upcoming EP? process to adjust to making a
Want It?
Maturity. Better songs. Better mes-
body of music without a band
There are definite progressions in
sages. A better understanding of
around you? Not really, because
terms of song-writing & vocal
music and myself. Passion.
I've been doing it since I was 15. It
strength. But they are also songs for
just never saw the light of day. I
different emotions. There wasn't
You were recently in Russia to
wasn't someone people were paying
really a song about love & lust & sex
perform, how did you find the
attention to back then. But I have
on Freak. I really wanted to make
Russian crowds compared to
been making my own music for over one & get that out of me, so I did.
those back in America? Russian
10 years.
fans go off. They were great. I came Being based in LA, you must
on stage in Moscow to the stage
What's been your favourite
come across so many different
floor being full of paper aeroplanes
and worst parts going solo?
sounds, do you think living in
with notes the crowd threw up. It
I'm leaving behind my legacy. Win
LA has helped shape your mu-
was amazing.
or lose, top or bottom in this indus-
sic? It's helped shape my music in
try, I have no one to blame for my
almost the opposite reaction. I am
Finally, what do you have
failure or thank for my success oth-
surrounded by so much music and
planned for the rest of the
er than myself. That is a great feel-
so much industry that it makes me
year, can we expect another
ing. I want to make a difference and not want to be like anyone. I feel
tour? Will you be taking some
leave behind something and be
like everyone is playing this game,
reflective time out? I've been
100% creative. My friend told me
the game of breaking as an artist to
working on music for a while. I took
once that I keep my art sacred. It's
become successful, to be become
a little break after Russia to clear
true. It's like another human being
famous, to make money...that a lot
my head & travelled up north. But
to me, one that I'd do anything to
of the time the music that I come
I’m back now. And I’ve never been
protect.
across seems cheapened or un-
more ready.
original & pushes me away.
—
17
:
Soul successfully met dirty, grimy electronics on the second tape by American rapper
Daye Jack. His clever combination of the genres earned him leaps of support and helped to mark him as one of the slickest artists rising in rap.
18
How do you think you've im-
but also the very mellow and soul- I'm making.
proved form Hello World to
ful vibe. From the get go, these
Soul Glitch, his do you think
different feelings were meant to be Studying at NYU in New
your sound has evolved?
there and be in one body, which
York, did all the different cul-
My sound has gotten more elec-
turned out to be soul glitch.
tures in the city change the
tronic, also dirtier, and I've just
way you approached music?
gotten better at rapping between
Do you think, it puts pressure I got into dirtier music when I was
the time I finished Hello World
on you, all the comparisons?
out in NYC, the city is always
and started working on Soul
Not pressure, it's just interesting,
moving, always grinding, and eve-
Glitch. A lot of my mood, and the
at the end of the day the music I'm rything was knocking into New
music that I was listening to
going to be making is the music
York it seems. So when I was out
(which was very electronic) really
that like and listen to, being put
there, that's when I became harsh-
poured into Soul Glitch when I
into categories of other great art-
er. That was the transition be-
was recording it. It bought soul
ists is more of an honour than it is tween hello world and soul glitch
glitch together.
pressure.
for me. You get a lot of hustle from being out there.
Because there's so many dif-
How has growing up in Atlan-
ferent genres on soul glitch,
ta inspired your sound?
What made you take the mu-
did you find it hard to keep
I was more in the suburbs of At-
sical path, as opposed to con-
the electronic vibe through-
lanta rather than the city, and I'd
tinuing the conventional uni-
out?
hang out with my friends but we
versity route?
I think everything that I did on the were spread out. So the vibes I'd
For me, I was always making mu-
mixtape had a bridge - my voice.
listen to were mainly from the
sic, even before I went to college. I
Me, keeping my style and then
suburbs than the city, it's more
was studying computer science,
writing everything, made it easy to soulful rap. I think Outkast were
and to me that's quite a creative
be consistent. When I was build-
my favourite rap group growing
and free field, so in my head, I've
ing the feeling of the project, I
up, because of that I put a lot of
never wanted convention, or to be
knew I wanted this gritty sound,
melodic things into the things that in a box.
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ubanlunch.wordpress.com
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Remix Roundup #bbhmm
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BBHMM Curtis Heron Remix Dark, mysterious and glitchy is the most appropriate way to describe the Curtis Heron offering. The fresh take on the track makes for a trendy and powerful listen.
BBHMM Gent & Jawns Remix Gent & Jawns unload tip-toeing riffs, and west coast synth hits, transforming the track into the summery remix everyone was waiting on.
BBHMM Brenmar & Gutta Remix Instantly transporting us from soft opening to an atmosposhere where Rihanna herself is chasing you for her money, B&G craft a sound to make you naturally bounce. Don’t forget the Drake cameos either.
BBHMM KRS Remix From the hot, get-ready-for-it intro, to the waves of synth and trap cleverly placed onto the orginal mix, KRS creates a new formula, making the remix perfect for easy listening to fast paced body popping.
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BBHMM Karetus Remix Karetus offer the best remix of the Rihanna banger. The Portuguese trio manage to keep the essence of the original and Ms Fenty’s attitude; whilst also amping up the song with more trap elements and a punchy bassline, to create a remix that may even edge out the Kanye West produced track.
BBHMM Diplo & Grandtheft Remix Diplo can almost do no wrong when it comes to remixing, so it’s no surprise the producer unleashed a drop which attacks audial senses in the best way possible.
BBHMM Herobust Remix BBHMM gets the Herobust treatment, aka chopped and twisted, with the addition of the most enthralling vocal drop in recent times.
BBHMM Korn Remix Who knew Rihanna and metal could fit so well together? Veterans Korn rip up the club effects and turn the track into a head banging, aggressive, guitar fuelled anthem.
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After garnering support from the likes of Annie Mac and MistaJam, the London trio were surrounded by an underground buzz. With the unique addition of also being vocalists as well as producers, the group have uniquely set themselves away from the norm in electronic production. With their single How Deep Is
Your Love currently blowing up the charts all over the world, the guys are on track to make a mark on the UK scene. We spoke to Duvall about working with
Calvin Harris, and their album coming up in the loops.
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2015 has been a break-
crowds?
through year for you as a
Yeah, I think they're tougher to
band, what highlight would
please, but also more willing to
you take from the year so
listen to new music, which is very
far?
important, because what we're
If I could choose a highlight,
doing - it's a bit more eclectic
hmm, I think playing WMC in
than other styles; so sometimes
Miami was a real eye opener for
our music can be taken in a good
us, playing with Pete Tong and
way or a bad way, you never
Robin Shculz as well, I think that know. I think that's what excites we were really able to stretch our us about music, there's no midrepertoire of music. Another one
dle ground, it'll either hit or miss,
that was pretty sick this year was it adds a risk to making music. BPM Festival in Mexico, which I
But in general I find the Ameri-
think is a festival that is really
can crowd really good, they're
going to take over, it has an in-
really receptive.
credible setting on the beaches in Mexico, and again we played
You talk about your sound
with Pete Tong and other artists
being eclectic, do you think
like Gorgon City, Kidnap Kid,
it's because each of you have
and others like that, so it was
different influences individ-
really good.
ually?
Also just looking at the vibe from That's definitely the reason! It's a state-side standpoint, because
also from a lot of fights in the
it's very different from Europe,
studio, get the gloves on, we
and understanding what differ-
wrestle, but joking aside, at the
ent audiences like would be an-
end of it out comes tracks like
other highlight.
They Don't Know, it's a real concoction of our influences. You
You're going on tour in
have funk and soul from me,
America later this year too,
Gavin is really into his tech, and
do you think the American
Luke who is the youngest proba-
crowds are receiving your
bly has the oldest soul out of all
music well, especially since
of us, so yeah all the influences
they're sometimes notori-
help shape our music.
ously more difficult to please than European
26
You're also quite unique in
the tracks a unique little twist.
that you do vocals as well, whereas most production
The Calvin Harris collabora-
groups use guest singers,
tion How Deep Is How Deep
was the decision to include
Is Your Love has been really
your vocals a natural one?
successful, how did you
I think it was a natural for us, we manage to contact him and always in terms of production
start working with him?
and song writing, we always just
That one is pretty funny actually,
fell into doing our vocals. We're
the other two guys are signed to
not big fans of sampling vocals
Fly Eye which is his publishing
and we've always worked with
company, but we didn't really
singers; you can be a bit more
have much contact with him. We
unique with your own voice. I
were going through our music
sing and Luke also sings, howev-
and How Deep Is Your Love, and
er we're on opposite ends of the
it just needed that little extra
spectrum, I'm very high but Luke production, it wasn't quite finis very low, so we found that con- ished, so Gavin sent it to Calvin trast, which is actually quite in-
asking for a little guidance be-
teresting and why we do sing on
cause we thought the track could
the tracks. We do have features
be a record for us. replied and
coming up with other artists but
did one better, telling us that
using our own vocals, it just gives he'd do the extra production and
27
be down to release it together. It lead to it being a global release! Are there any other artists that you'd like to work with, any dream acts? A dream collaboration would be something more outside the box, maybe going a bit old school, like
Faithless and Sister Bliss. Also
lot of touring just so we can stay
maybe more of the hip-hop influ- in the studio and lock down. Now enced guys, maybe rappers like
that we've done that, we've been
Big Sean or Childish Gambino.
able to push the boat out in terms of our music, and that's is
Do you think you might go
the most beautiful experience
into rap production in the
when it comes to music.
future? A lot of Gavin's earlier beats are
Has it been hard to keep the
actually hip-hop influenced, and
album consistent?
the way our music is so eclectic
It's been enjoyably hard, it's been
allows us to experiment at a later a journey, you're constantly date, I think we could dive into a
learning and discovering new
few different places.
things, and it leads to better mu-
How are you finding work on
sic. It's probably difficulty be-
your debut album?
cause sometimes you can't see
It's going really well, it's really
the finished product, sometimes
enjoyable, we've had to pause a
it takes a while to come, and other times it's instant, so again, it's hard but very enjoyable. Creating an album allows you to go further than the three minute boxes for radio and we can explore how long we can go with a piece, we all want to explore with this album and go deeper.
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Label Highlight: B r a n d
Salt & Silk E d i t : explore creative Salt & Silk ideas.
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31
So tell us a little about Salt
You must never have
music alongside design. The
and Silk, how and why did it
thought that the brand
house music culture represents a
start off, and how has it been would have expanded this
pure form of vibration that gives
growing as a brand?
much in just two years?
rise to thought, and the explora-
I started Salt and Silk back in
The real growth of the brand has
tion of creative ideas. It is amaz-
September of 2013, I was on a
really taken place over the last
ing to see a twenty year old DJ
summer holiday and needed to
three months after I decided to
being able to influence thousands
get a job. Being someone who has make it my full time creative out-
of people on a deep and connect-
never really liked the idea of
let. It has also benefited from the
ed level through the power of mu-
working for someone, I instantly
new direction that really gives the sic. It’s the age that I have been
knew that starting a business was brand its strong sense of identity. born into and it’s hard not to be the only way of doing something
There is a long way to go though.
influence by it. The Shapes pat-
that I knew I would be passionate The love and support from all our tern has all of the elements of about.
followers is the main thing that
movement that is synonymous
At first, the brand was built to be
keeps the brand going.
with dance music.
a hobby, something that I could channel my artistic energy into,
Your latest collec-
an outlet for me to express myself tion Shapes is influenced creatively, but it started off
around electronic music,
stronger than I thought after a
how did you envision sounds
few famous personalities got hold and turn them into T-shirt of it. For about a period of six
designs?
months from mid-July 2014 I was Electronic music is one thing that deciding where to take the brand
always gets my hairs tingling and
as it was starting to become less
blood flowing. Being surrounded
of a hobby and more an authentic by a strong scene down at Cardiff passion. Growing the brand has
University has enabled me to ex-
been one word fun.
plore my love for
Black Electric T-shirt // ÂŁ29.50 32
BLACK SHAPES T-SHIRT // £29.50
“Do what you feel is right, follow what you love, always be authen-
33
“Be unique, create Your own path”
34
Are there any other clothing
If you could give a tip to any
brands that you'd love to do
budding designers, what
a collection with? One day it
would you say to them? Do
would be amazing to do a collec-
what you feel is right, follow what
tion with Blood Brother, I love
you love, always be authentic.
their constant direction and au-
You will only do well if you carve
thenticity.
your own identity, people love to support others that are just being
Which UK clothing compa-
themselves. Try not to be too
nies are you feeling right
heavily influenced by others, but
now? These bands do it right:
take inspiration from everything
Nicce London, Serge Denimes,
you see around you. Be unique,
Represent Clothing, P & Co and
create your own path.
304 Clothing. What have Salt and Silk got How important is social me-
prepared for AW15? Is there
dia in creating a unique feel
a name for the collection,
to your company and
what should we expect? Ex-
clothes? Social media is the sin-
pect some unique garments and
gle most important factor for the
interesting accessories. It will
brand. It has enabled us to reach
help you to stand out from the
an international customer base
crowd this winter.
and has given us the ability to create the brand aesthetic we vi-
What influences will AW15
sion without having to be a well-
be based on? This collection
established brand.
will be influenced by a theme of
Change. Pretty excited about this Is it a challenge to keep a ta-
one.
gline of luxury throughout all your social streams? It’s
Finally, what's been the high-
always a challenge keeping our
light of running S&S? The
vision at the heart of each and
highlight of running Salt and Silk
every post we send to social me-
is having a place for me to express
dia but what I try to do is keep
myself creatively. But the main
authentic to the brand. If you
highlight is the relationships that
don’t like what we are doing it’s
come out of it!
cool and if you do then we welcome you to follow our journey.
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36
Dornik When Dornik put out the 80’s inspired track Some-
thing About You on the internet two years ago, it spread like wildfire. Now being consistently hailed as the UK’s response to Miguel and Frank Ocean, we spoke to the ex-drummer on how Jessie Ware shaped his life, and how he found recording his soulful self-titled debut album. 37
Dornik is your debut album,
cially with the whole streaming
how did you find creating an
thing, it gives artists a chance to
album and keeping a flow
get more recognition.
about the piece?
influenced what music I make.
Michael Jackson is someone that you get compared to
Quite a few of the songs on the
You must be really happy
quite a lot when it comes to
album, I wrote a while ago at a
with the way people have re-
your sound, how does it feel
similar time, tracks like Something sponded to your 80s sound,
to get these comparisons?
About You and Mountain, and I
it's quite nostalgic, why do
I think it's a really huge compli-
was in a certain headspace. So it
you think people have been so ment, he's my number one, but it's
was really just finishing the album
warm to your sound?
off with a few more singles, I agree It was a really good era, a lot of
scary at the same time, he is the king at what he does.
the hardest thing for me, was just
classic songs came out around that
trying to keep a flow as we were
time, and a lot of good music came In your past, you were a
finishing.
out that time too. I feel like I might drummer for Jessie Ware, be reminding people of their child- how did you find the transi-
Rewinding to the release of
hood or their youth, that might be
tion from being a drummer in
Something About You two
a reason.
a band, to being the lead act?
years ago, it exploded on the
Well at first it was pretty scary,
internet, how important do
Do you think your sound
Jessie used to get me to sing with
you think the internet is for
comes from your influences?
her on tour, and that helped me
artists these days?
Yeah, definitely. A lot of artists like build my confidence a lot.
I think it's very important, espe-
Michael Jackson and Prince have 38
Dornik
// Out Now What actually made you swap making an album, it was only realroles?
ly when the label contacted, when
Well she had heard my songs, and
I then had to wrap it up into an
then I got contacted by her label
album.
and management, saying they were interested in me putting an
On the album you’re the only
album out, so it pretty much hap-
vocalist, are there any artists
pened by itself. I felt like I had no
you'd like to collaborate with
choice, but I'm really, really grate-
in the future?
ful though.
Jessie is an obvious one, but also
Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, You must owe a lot to Jessie
and The Internet as well, so many
for that then?
great people.
Yeah, she's like a big sister to me. What's next in 2015? You said you've been working 2015, I have a couple more shows, on your album for a long
I want to get some music out too
time, how does it feel to final- so there might be some online ly have it out in the open?
soon. There's no strict plan
It's a relief, like I was saying, a lot
though!
of the songs I wrote a while back and I didn't have an intention of 39
40
B r a n d E d i t : THFKDLF
41
So where did THFKDLF orig-
make it ourselves its always right
inate from, when and why
there infant of you so we can al-
did you guys start up?
ways keep changing things, mak-
The two of us who started this had ing it better until we're completely been in a band together, Jakub (co happy. -owner) was screen printing our merch and that kind of turned
Everything you make is de-
into us doing some screen prints
signed and created in house,
for ourselves to try out a few ide-
do you think that's the reason
as. We wanted a name/logo to
why you've grown faster than
give these ideas more purpose and other brands? some sort of platform. So we
Yeah definitely, if we were having
bought in about 10 tees, screen
to send ideas out to factories in
printed them and either bleached
whatever country most these
them or cut them up, sold them,
brands use, wait a month for a
bought 20 and it really just snow-
sample, make a bunch more
balled from that.
changes, have to meet their minimum order quantity and get a
In the two years you've been
product through about 3 months
operating, you've done some
later, this would’ve died a long
amazing stuff and have
time ago. Because everything is
grown so fast, did you ever
made in house it gives us that
think that you'd establish a
spontaneity that hardly any other
quality brand so quick?
brands can have. We can have an
We never really thought about it,
idea one morning and an hour
neither of us had any experience
later it exists whereas if you sat
in fashion nor really running our
the owner of most brands down in
own business so we kind of just
front of a sewing machine they'd
went into this. I guess if we'd been be lost. We don't have any ridicu-
“everything is made in house it gives us that spontaneity that hardly any other brands can have� to university or paid any attention lous minimum orders to meet eiin college we'd of had a sheet
ther so we don't get stuck with
showing all our research before
hundreds of items were trying to
starting a brand. Maybe if we
sell of cheap. It keeps everything
knew more about it all we would-
moving way quicker.
n't of just jumped straight into
.
doing everything ourselves but its worked out for us. Because we
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It must be hard to create eve- a small town in Shropshire, pretty rything in house and keep up
close to the Welsh border, so you
with demand?
only need to drive for about twen-
It's ridiculous, we have days
ty minutes and you feel like you’re
where we just think why the fuck
in the middle of nowhere. We got
are we doing this! Days where
waterfalls, lakes, forests, moun-
threads just won't stay in sewing
tains all so close, that’s definitely
machines, where printers are
had a big influence as you can
fucking up and we're stuck in traf- usually see with the printed tees fic picking up 1,000 meters of ma- we release. terial from a factory in Dudley! We could just send it all off to fac- Now your twitter account is tories but then we'd be like every
pretty unapologetic, and I
other brand out there. We've got
love it, especially when com-
the whole process pretty much
pared to other brands, do you
nailed down now so we can pro-
think it helps to be more in-
duce everything we need every day formal and in touch on social if not more. Unless someone
media?
comes along and places an order
Definitely. We pretty much just
for 100,000 t shirts we'll be fine…
use our twitter to talk shit and say
“We're not some corporate company, we don't have anyone we need to answer to, so why act like it” if that does happen we'll be too
anything. We got Facebook, Insta-
busy driving Ferraris around to
gram and Tumblr for all the pretty
care what’s going on back at
pictures. We don't take it too seri-
work.
ously, most the stuff on our Twitter is sarcastic and you gotta hope
So where do the team get
people are getting that and don't
their style inspirations from
think we're about to pay $30k to
when designing new collec-
some ridiculous American PR
tions?
agency to have them get 10 blog-
It comes from anywhere, one col-
gers to post something. Some-
lection we had an XL vest hung
times I will just be drunk and ob-
up, stuck a smaller t shirt on that
viously that seems like the best
same hanger and the bottom few
time to tweet. But yes, we'll reply/
inches of the vest stuck and it
joke with anyone, same with In-
looked great. Next thing we'd de-
stagram, Facebook. We're not
signed our first cut&sew collection some corporate company, and we with a sewn on layer emerging
don't have anyone we need to an-
from the bottom of tees. We live in swer to so why act like it.
45
Throughout the team, is
there. So if you’re getting fifty tees
there much inspiration taken screen printed split it down into a from music and music art-
few colours coz it doesn't cost any-
ists? If so, as a collective,
more and then you might realise
which artists do you think
not everyone wants a black t shirt,
influence yourselves the
but its ok because you got some
most?
light blue ones as well! So mainly
We were in a band together for
that, be clever with it all and don't
about 5 years, so obviously we
go spending thousands of pounds
now work with a few of the other
on PR because it doesn't work!!
guys who were in that band as it seemed like the best idea to give
What's been your highlight
our friends jobs! So we were pret-
from the past two years?
ty heavily involved in music for so We have moments where we'll long and we toured with loads of
create a new item, something in a
bands from different countries
new shape or new features that
and everyone would have different we'd never done before and then styles. A lot dressed like shit and
knowing that we've made that
not in a good way but it still influ-
ourselves, using machines and
ences you, as in you think never
equipment that has all been paid
dress like that!
for by the brand itself it very cool.
The whole connection between
Also seeing Zayn Malik, well he
rap artists or whatever you want
was in them at the time, wearing
to call them with these high end
one of our tees is just mad. We
designers has really come to the
have no idea how he ended up
fore over the last couple of years
with it but it's just hilarious to us.
so even if you’re not interested in
Also whenever anything like that
that side of fashion, you’re seeing
happens and all these people on
it a lot now without really mean-
Instagram pop up saying that the
ing to. Personally I couldn't really
brand is finished because we got
say any artists stand out as partic- someone famous wearing our ularly influencing us. That said
stuff. We aren’t cool and under-
we're all wearing ripped jeans so
ground anymore, but we're still
The Ramones?
here!
What tips would you give to any budding designers wanting to start a brand? I think the key for us was working in small quantities. It's a hard thing to find if you’re not making everything yourself but it is out
46
47
48
Can you tell us more about the R.Q.S.T Collection? We wanted to make a collection of just really nice, plain clothes. So we did it! We developed some nice
Finally what has THFKDLF got
shapes particularly for the sweats
planned for the rest of the year,
and shorts, features like drop crotch- can we expect some new dees, knee panels and longer length
signs or collaborations for
waistbands. We weren't trying to
AW15? Well were about to release
reinvent the wheel with this collec-
the R.Q.S.T collection and a new
tion but we like to think because it is
cut&sew collection at the same time.
all made in house by a bunch of
We got a collaboration coming up
friends it has that little extra some-
with an Austrian photographer who's
thing that you don't get when you
taken some incredible shots that we
order from Topman or Asos. (shots
felt really suited our style. That
fired!)
shouldn't be long! We'll also hopefully be popping up down in London for a few days with another collab. I won't give anything away just yet because it isn't sorted and if it doesn't happen I'll look like a dick! But yeah plenty of new items, lots of zips because we just found a bunch of zips. Pretty big clue into how things work around here with that last comment haha!
49
PHAZZ With a sound that fuses hip-hop, electronic and elements of soul, Lyon-based producer PHAZZ has stirred up a storm on the net. Fresh off the release of his debut LP Almeria, we talk to the Frenchman on his inspirations, the album and the future.
50
51
52
So let's talk about how you
version of Ableton, a year later I
Who would you love to collab-
got into music, where did
was opening my first SoundCloud
orate with on a song?
your love for music come
account and started to put weird
I think I would love to work with
from? What made you inter-
stuff online.
Pharrell Williams or Drake. They
ested in producing tracks?
are just insanely creative and great
I was interested by music at a very Growing up, who were your
musicians/singers.
young age. I started piano at age
influences?
three and never stopped since.
I used to dig a lot of rock, old
Do you think French music
After several rock bands, I started
school or new school whatever:
had helped change your
to consider making music on my
Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Foals,
sound at all?
computer.
Yeasayer, Arctic Monkeys, The
Of course. There's a lot of inspiring
At the beginning it was just about
Strokes (to name a few). I was also stuff in French music, even some-
recording an instrument, then an-
listening to some jazz because I
other, maybe loop it sometimes in
was studying it on piano. Some hip this "French touch" movement and
a sequencer and then bounce it.
-hop as well but to be honest, I was also lounge music with compila-
But then I was getting more and
just listening what I could hear
more interested by this new tool I
sometimes at the radio at this time fĂŠ, Hotel Costes where you can
had in my hands as a musician.
like Timbaland, Kanye West, Phar- find some great French music as
Plus, it was around 2005/2007 so
rell Williams, Snoop Dogg. Then I
well. So yeah, I think it definitely
electronic music (and especially
started to discover later some un-
built my sound even if I didn't
French electronic music) was
derground stuffs. When I was like
want to do the same stuff they
blowing up everywhere, I was al-
fifteen/sixteen a lot of electronic
did..
ready fond of big hip-hop produc-
music like : Amon Tobin, Daft
tions as well, so I got easily fasci-
Punk, Aphex Twin, Gotan Project,
nated by what people could do
even drum n bass! I always been
with electronic devices.
interested by any music I'm able to
It's like having any instrument you discover. I find them interesting in want in a mouse click, all these
a way even if I don't like them.
new sounds you can reach and discover, make them sound different... I know it's a geeky thing but I
Almeria LP // Out Now
love it. So I downloaded a cracked
53
times older. I've been a lot into
tions like St Germain des Près Ca-
54
Would you say it has been
what you're doing and why you're
to create with your crowd. I always
harder to get more of a re-
doing it, or why you shouldn't. It
feel good on stage.
sponse to your music interna- was an awesome experience. tionally because you haven't
How has 2015 been for you so
come from America?
How would you describe the
far?
No, I think the complete opposite
themes and sounds on the
2015 has been awesome. I've done
is happening now with internet
LP?
two tours, one in Europe and a
and SoundCloud. You can easily
The main theme inside is the con-
second one in the US, released my
build a real fan base somewhere,
cept of the girl of your dream. Eve- first album Almeria, some remix-
when at the same time nobody
ryone has a perfect ideal you
es, worked for rappers and singers.
may notice your work in your own
know, and we wanted to tell a 30
Each day has been a blessing for
city. For instance, I've been more
minutes story about that; how
me just because I'm doing what I
able to reach more people in USA
sweet and exciting it could be, or
love every day.
than France thanks to a label in LA complicated at the same time and
(Soulection) who released a song I impossible to reach out in a way.
What else do you have
sent them online. There's no rules
That's why we also wanted to use a planned for the last half of
anymore.
lot of organic sounds: pianos, gui-
the year?
tars, violins, brass, voices… be-
Working more man. I'm now on
Describe Almeria to us, how
cause it fits a lot more with feel-
my new solo EP (or album) which
was it creating an album?
ings we wanted to give. We also
should be out soon with a brand
Almeria is a city that got Every-
made some interludes to settle
new live show. My keyboard, my
dayz and I really inspired with,
some scenes of the story we imag-
MPD and me, that's it. I'll be back
thanks to a Serge Gainsbourg's
ined.
on the road soon in Europe and
song Initials BB. Making an album has always been such a pressure
You’re going on tour soon,
for me ‘cause it has somehow to be what's your favourite part of perfect. But making it with a good
performing sets?
musician who shares exactly the
I think the thing I like the most is
same tastes in music as you gives a the energy I can find on stage. I'm little bit of fresh air because you
stressed as hell before playing but
can get another point of view and
when I press the first button eve-
in a way get more confident by
rything goes away to let a real link
55
56
B r a n d E d i t : Odd Sox 57
58
So the designs featured in
to wait a little while to release
true you. Some use it to be loud
all of your collections are
them.
and there are some real OG's
very brave, very daring,
You recently collaborated
that keep them covered under
very unique, where do you
with Complex, how did that suits. With a ton of schools and
get the ideas to use such
come about?
work places creating dress
out of the box designs?
Complex is a powerhouse of
codes, sox give you the option to
Style is all about taking risks.
content and coverage and they
wear what you really want to.
No brand ever became some-
truly know style, art, and pop
Our sox are for everyone we
thing by being scared or boring. culture. They recognized us as a truly try to encourage everyone Most of our crazy ideas are from genuine brand from the jump
to stand out, and be odd but you
our designer Matty Mink but we and really respected what we do still have to respect those that do have design meetings to go
so when it came to collaborating wear them concealed.
over each release and some
it was easy. We started with a
styles and collections are born
giveaway on their site of our
Is there any ever subcon-
from those meetings.
Food & Beverage collection and
scious thought to please
went on to more talks about
everyone when making the
You must create many dif-
making some exclusives with
socks, when making such a
ferent designs that don't
their covers. To be recognized
different product, there
actually make the final cut,
by such a staple in our lives and must be some people that
do you think that's because
culture it is an honour when
simply don't get it?
there's a limit to how brave others respect our vision.
We don't aim to please everyone
some people may go?
with the sox that we create.
There are plenty of styles that
Was it hard to decide on
Each pair is made for the select
have sadly not made the cut.
the best magazine covers to few that get it and get us. The
Mainly because we did not like
use? There are so many great
problem with being a trendset-
the way the sample came out or
covers to choose from it truly
ting brand is not everyone is
if the image did not appear clear was a hard decision. There are
going to get what you do at first.
once tested/worn. The main
so many great ones that were
Sometimes it takes a few
reason why we are in the posi-
left out who knows maybe Com- months for our products that
tion we are in is because we
plex will have us do some more. are released to start selling like
know the market and actually
crazy but our true fans called
give a shit about what people
How vital do you think
the Odd Mob ride with us and
will be wearing. Some of our
socks are to elevating an
scoop the ones that suit them
extremely odd ideas go beyond
outfit?
the day they drop.
what society would allow, so
Sox are the ultimate sign of self-
those ideas get cut before they
expression and can take any
even get a chance to be sam-
outfit beyond expectations. It's
pled. Some of our ideas are
the one point of your wardrobe
ahead of their time so we have
that you are able to show the
59
“Style is all about taking became something by being s
60
Who else would Odd Sox love
today. Every partner brought in
crowd started a chant of Odd Sox.
to collaborate with?
has a skill and knows the market.
Thousands of people screaming
There are some true geniuses out
Not to mention we are all friends
your brand name and chanting
there that we dream to work with
which they say is hard but nothing something that you helped create
in the future and we are currently
is impossible. We grew to be where is a lifetime moment. It was truly
approaching them at the moment
we are by respecting our brand
amazing.
to see what can be done. We don't
and not doing what others said.
Close, if not tying second was
want to name any names, brands,
We went against the grain to re-
Travis Scott performing on our
or ideas because we are constantly lease what we believed is dope.
stage at a concert that we hosted.
ripped off and copied. We don't
The market reacted the best way
That man is the ultimate show.
want to give any brands some ide-
they know how. They respected it,
Much respect to all of his talents.
as to steal our future moves. It's
shared it, and eventually bought
Obviously Complex Collab is right
sad but that is the cost of being the it.
up there as well. Damn it has been
best to do it. Everyone will attack
a great year!
the beautiful things you create just What's been the highlight of
Do you think Odd Sox may
to make some change.
2015 so far?
venture out into different gar-
There have been some epic times
ments in the future, or is it
How did Odd Sox start out,
had for Odd Sox and we are only
most likely to stay socks only?
what was the idea behind it?
half way through 2015 but so far a
We are actually releasing our box-
How did you guys grow?
huge highlight for the team has
ers Odd Jox soon. We haven't pro-
C.E.O. Ahmad Akar was walking
been the riots that we started at
moted it heavily yet because sox is
down a sock isle in a store and
SXSW (South By Southwest). We
our market but who says that we
called his sister Ahlam over and
were in between shows that we
can't expand? The Odd Empire is
said "Look at this”, she said:
were hosting throughout the week
just getting started but sox is our
"What? They are just sox." He said and able to commandeer a rooftop heart and sole... wordplay!
risks. No brand ever scared or boring”
Finally, what's next for Odd Sox for the rest of the year? What can we expect in Autumn and Winter? We have been locking down some amazing licenses to release the
exactly and decided from there to
(shoutout to Collective Status
dopest styles and world renown
bring fashion to sox. He then
BTW) and started throwing hun-
brands to associate ourselves as
reached out to the realest people
dreds of sox off to the people. At
something major. If you’ve seen
he knew to put together his dream. one point the busiest street, 6th
our Food & Beverage collections
The experience between everyone
street, was full of people with their you’ll get a small glimpse of what’s
he started with brought insight to
eyes on the prize to snatch a pair
to come. As for telling you are next
bring this company to where it is
of Odd Sox. To top it all off the
move... Were smarter than that.
61
Albums You Must Own #3
62
63
Following the critically and
was undeterred. Releasing
charm; equipped with mix-
commercially successful de-
The Diary of Alicia Keys, the ture of tempo’s and emo-
but Songs In A Minor from
album was a stronger, more
tions , it pondered away
Keys, everyone was waiting
assured sophomore album
from being too slow and
on her next move. Could it
than anyone would have ex-
dragging along, but kept a
live up to the first album?
pected.
sense of pace too.
How could she follow up on
R&B in its greatest form, the Heartburn is a positively ag-
such a strong entrance into
fifteen song piece is still
gressive anthem, that at the
music? The second album
dubbed as one of the best
time pushed the boundaries
curse has been something
R&B and soul albums ever.
of conventional urban
that’s tainted even the best
Aging as good as ever, its no
sounds. Meanwhile soft,
of artists, yet finding the true surprise that anyone can fall soothing, soulful songs such New Yorker inside her, she-
for the album’s timeless
64
as the Kanye West produced
You Don’t Know My Name
it was an assured effort to
as beautiful as this, and emo-
gave a life to neo-soul, and
showcase her musical talent
tions so raw, this album will
captured the complete es-
and virtuosity.
never be old.
sence of a love song, a rarely All in all, the album is a masmanaged feat.
terpiece, for R&B albums
Meanwhile, If I Ain’t Got
like this only come once in a
You, where the New York na- blue moon. Full of the traditive’s chemistry with the pi-
tional warmness, compas-
ano keys is let free to roam
sion and love that made soul
high and far, is a classic in its so popular, the album kept own right. Proving the singer its wits with jumps of aggresis just as good, maybe even
sion, swagger and attitude
better when stripped down,
when required. With music
Must Listen tracks ://
If I aint Got You, HeartBurn, You Don’t Know My Name 65
R I T U A L // Instinct A Chilled, almost muted UK garage esque beat becomes the backdrop for Instinct by London group R I T U A L. Hushed vocals pour over the beat, to create a warm, and slightly saucy neoR&B track, highlighting only further how much UK urban music has travelled in the past two years.
Gallant // Weight In Gold Synth packed choruses shimmer on the glittery Weight In Gold. Somewhere between Keys N Krates and Frank Ocean, the track perfectly executes the balance of pulling up soul into the 2010 generation. Not to mention, Gallant’s delivery pulls its own weight, lifting the song from just a hot beat, to a full out power single.
Lana Del Ray // High By The Beach Reinventing a new sound, whilst keeping it distinctively Lana is not something new from the singer. However this rejuvenation, is one of her strongest and best yet, trip-hop continues to grow strong, and with High By The Beach, you can instantly hear why. It’s addictive, its never too much. 66
Croosh // Healthy Stateside rap freshens up with Healthy by LA based Croosh. Late summer beacons on the party friendly single. Yet, despite the shiny sounds, you might just find yourself bouncing to this track mid Autumn, due to the swagger and charm that the rapper asserts onto the track.
Kacy Hill // Foreign Fields G.O.O.D Music protgege Kacy Hills offers a taste of what’s to come with Foreign Fields. Piano riffs are ripped apart by wavy, distorted kicks and bassy synths. The rising singer certainly lives up to the hype she’s built over the year and further excitement looms.
Selena Gomez // Good For You Not many Disney stars have successfully transitioned from clean teen dream to making interesting, sultry music. Selena Gomez however, shows it can be done on Good For You. Sultry vocals and whispers melt into the bass filled, and cloudy sounds behind her. Meanwhile A$AP Rocky lends a verse with chemistry to set the world alight. 67
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