All posts filed under: Interviews

SKATEISTAN – Afghanistan’s Girl Skaters Collective is Pushing Boundaries

Published by Fernando Lahoz

— text by Rachel Khona It’s 11pm when I call up Jesse McConnell in Kabul, Afghanistan. While I’m sitting comfortably by my computer munching on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, McConnell is getting ready for another day of work at the skateboarding school known as Skateistan. Believe it or not, in this intensely conservative and often sexist society, boys and girls of all ages and socioeconomic classes learn how to ride the concrete waves like a California tween. McConnell thought it sounded wild too. “I couldn’t really believe it existed,” he said, but that unexpectedness is exactly what drew him in. Of course many of us are drawn to curious adventures, like skydiving, roller coasters, nose jobs, and feeding wild monkeys, but a majority of them don’t always follow through. So how does a nice boy from South West England end up volunteering in Kabul? Let’s rewind. Australian Oliver Percovich was just another veteran skater when he accompanied his social scientist girlfriend on her research trip to Afghanistan. With his skateboard in tow, Percovich …

BAST-ARDIZED – An interview with Brooklyn street artist Bäst

Published by Fernando Lahoz

Brooklyn-based street artist Bast has been an intricate part of the street art scene for the past 10 years, with his wheat-pasted images prominently featured across New York and Europe’s urban landscape. Long before street art became a part of the mainstream, Bast was setting the tone and raising the bar with his iconic collaged imagery. He has established himself as one of the most respected street artists of our generation. As fellow artist Banksy says, “The work isn’t so much a ‘melting pot’ of culture as a food blender set on max and left until the motor burns out.” In this editorial, portraits by photographer Walker Brockington are BASTardized (deriving from more than one source or style) by the elusive artist. –Words and interview by Natalie Kates. Natalie Kates: I’ve seen your street art pieces signed both Bast and Basto? Which do you prefer, and where does the name come from? Bast: I prefer Basto. It’s a long story but basically R.B. (Repulsive Bastard), a heavy metal graffiti guy from Brooklyn’s South Shore High School …

“Acoustic” an Interview with Misty Miller

Published by Fernando Lahoz

Misty Miller is a veritable ingénue of folk/pop. With a small ukulele, a big voice and a pure heart she has strummed up a strong, influential and growing following. She was featured as one of the first artists picked for Christopher Bailey’s Burberry Acoustic, a platform that showcases young and new British artists. these ongoing acoustic sessions are shared with the global Burberry audience. since then misty has had her debut EP on MySpace and released her first album. aaron radford-Wattley was lucky enough to meet with the very lovely misty miller in the swarovski Crystallized café in central london. –interview by Aaron Radford-Wattley, photography Nicole Maria Winkler, fashion Katie Burnett, hair Kota Suizu, stylist assistant Chloe Pierre. Special thanks to Anthony Gordon @ Premier Management In terms of music, which artists have influenced you? Misty Miller: Lots of artists for the 2nd album. But it’s really hard to think of (specific) artists because I don’t really listen to artists and think ‘Yeah, that’s it.’ I just have music on and I pick things from it. …