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Martin Onufrowicz
SOUL VIBRATIONS
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Hanna Pallot
HOPEFUL ESCAPISM
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Martin Onufrowicz
MAN IN THE MIRROR
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Martin Onufrowicz
A LESSON IN EMPATHY
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Martin Onufrowicz
SURVIVAL INSTINCT

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THE HONEST TRUTH

Ever sit back and wonder what Mark McKenna is up to? Same. 

He’s a busy man, you see. From his acting debut in the charming 2016 musical Sing Street, to playing a hammer-wielding crusader in the exhilarating Amazon Prime Video series Wayne, and touring with his four-piece pop band Milk. The rising star’s latest role sees his untimely death in the Peacock Original series One of Us Is Lying. We asked him to dish on whodunnit?, and whether he’s good at keeping a secret.

Jacket N°21 and denim pants Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

 Hello Mark. How’s it going?

 I’m good. I’m currently stuck in Toronto, but I love this city so no complaints. 

Full look Valentino

When you read the script for One of Us Is Lying, what appealed to you about it?

 I’ve always liked the idea of changing things up every time I move onto a new job. The exciting thing about this script for me was the fact that I would be playing a “villain” type character, which I had never done before. It was also fun to play a character that mainly only exists in flashbacks and playing with the idea of changing up how he’s played, depending on who’s remembering the moment.

Jacket Paul Smith, pants N°21, sneakers Adidas, sunglasses Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and tee ATM

In the actual story, your character Simon outs everybody's secrets online, are you good at keeping secrets in real life?

 I like to think I’m good at keeping secrets. If someone stresses something is a secret, I often put it so far in the back of my mind, I’ll probably forget about it. Also, being bad at keeping secrets is a very fast way of losing friends or people's trust.

Jacket Paul Smith, pants N°21, sneakers Adidas and tee ATM

Full look Valentino

 The series is clearly set up for a sequel season, so without giving away too much, what can you tell us, if anything!?

 The producers and writers have been keeping their ideas for season 2 secret. So, at this point in time, your guess is as good as mine. Or maybe I do know, and they told me to keep it secret.

Left Jacket Paul Smith, pants N°21, sneakers Adidas, sunglasses Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, tee ATM

Right Trouser & sweater Fendi

 Well it’s no secret that your career has been on the rise since your breakout roles in Sing Street and the cult fave series Wayne, what do you look for when it comes to choosing projects? 

 To be fully honest, I’m not at a point in my career where I pick and choose my projects. I’ve only ever turned down a handful of roles, but I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. The projects that I gravitate towards are the ones that I generally find most interesting, no matter how big or small the scale of it is. I’ve never been too concerned with always being the “leading man”. I’ve always just wanted to play whatever character I find most interesting and see where I can take them. I’m constantly inspired by creatives who push boundaries and take risks.

Left Top Vanessa Krongold

Right Pants N°21, sneakers Adidas and tee ATM

 So which filmmakers/creators are inspiring you right now, and who would you like to work with?

 At the moment, I would love to work with the likes of Noah Baumbach or the Safdie brothers. I love how “slice of life” their movies are, and I think that gives actors a great opportunity to really develop their characters. In the next 5-10 years, I can only hope I have a roster of diverse work I can look back on and be proud of.

Left Trouser & sweater Fendi

Right Jacket N°21 and denim pants Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

 And be proud of your music too obviously, as you’re also part of the band Milk. You’re touring soon, what’s it going to feel like to play live again, finally?

 I’m excited to play music again. We haven’t played live since early 2020, so I’m nervous but it will be fun. I have a weird relationship with live music because I hate singing but I love playing music. But I always end up enjoying myself on stage.

Left Jacket Paul Smith, pants N°21, sneakers Adidas, sunglasses Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and tee ATM

Right Sweater Fendi

 You enjoy photography too from what I’ve seen on your Insta - is it therapeutic to disappear behind your camera and not be the subject anymore?

 I definitely consider photography a hobby. I’m still not sure what exactly it is about it I find so fun. I feel like it just coincides with music and acting. I think I just really enjoy having some sort of creative outlet. It’s a very “artsy” thing to say and I’ll probably look back and hate myself for this, but things just make more sense to me when I can express it creatively.

Left Full look Valentino

Right Jacket Paul Smith, pants N°21, sneakers Adidas & tee ATM

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Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Grooming by Candice Birns

COMPASSION IS KEY

Will Poulter says that the roles he gets excited about the most are the ones that have the potential to spark social change. ‘I think about what the story is saying and what it is contributing to society. Is it just pure entertainment or does it have some kind of social application and will stoke an important conversation,’ explains the British actor known for his roles in instant classics like ‘Midsommar’ or ‘The Revenant’. It’s no surprise then that he decided to be part of Danny Strong’s miniseries ‘Dopesick’ (out now on Hulu) without any hesitation. The show, based on an investigative book with the same title by Beth Macy, is a complex portrayal of the opioid crisis in American society - it simultaneously dissects the sinister tactics of a big pharma corporation ruthlessly trying to increase the sales of OxyContin and tells the stories of people who became dependent on the highly addictive drug. For us, Poulter talks about the research he did to prepare to play a pharma sales rep and what it’s like to act opposite his legendary co-star, Michael Keaton.

Left Jacket Alfred Dunhill

Right Jacket & knit Hermès and Lanvin

 What attracted you to this project? What was it about Danny Strong’s vision when it comes to telling this story that made you want to be part of it?

 The opioid crisis in America was something that I was aware of and interested in before this project came along – looking at it from a socio-political perspective, it really intrigued and concerned me. And so when I was asked to do ‘Dopesick’, I jumped at the opportunity to have a hand in trying to explain how the corporate forces united to trigger the worst drug epidemic in American history. Danny is a writer that I’ve admired for a long time. I think he does a really wonderful job when it comes to influencing important conversations and addressing societal issues. 

Knit & belt Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, pants Etro, shoes Malone Souliers Man and bracelet Sinum

What intrigued you about your character, Billy?

 I was really interested in the arc that he experiences over the course of the series. He enters the pharmaceutical industry with the best intentions, but with time, he starts to wrestle with the moral conundrum of being involved in such a successful company, when that success is built on the backs of hardworking people that are being taken advantage of.

Full look Ermenegildo Zegna. XXX Couture

 What research did you do to prepare for your role?

 I started by reading Beth Macy’s book. After that, I focused on getting a better sense of how my character would fit into this story. I was researching the Purdue Pharma training programs and looked at the materials that were popular amongst young salespeople at the time. There’s a book called ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ which is considered to be one of the earliest self-development books. And looking in retrospect, a lot of the principles in the book are wildly problematic – they go beyond winning people over and having a positive influence, and read more like a how-to on manipulation and deceit.

Jacket & knit Hermès, pants Lanvin and shoes Grenson

 What was the most surprising or shocking thing that you have discovered in your research?

 The extent to which Purdue lied and fabricated data in order to present their drug as being non-addictive when the reality was entirely opposite. I learned about stories of them inventing graphs and burying the information that reflected anything negative about the drug. Another thing was the level of intimidation towards the employees – anyone who reported any worrying feedback or said anything remotely negative about the company was threatened with legal action, which is really quite sinister.

Coat & tracksuit Cold Wall

 Most of your scenes are with the acting legend, Michael Keaton. What was it like to act opposite him?

 He’s phenomenal, I absolutely loved working with him! He was so generous with his energy and time, as well as very encouraging – he really bolstered my confidence along the way. He sets a great example with his professionalism and draws the best out of people around him because he is so good! He makes the experience so real and immersive that you just turn up and react to him – he immediately gets you in the right zone [to tell the story].

Jacket Alfred Dunhill

 

What’s important to you while choosing future roles?

 I think about what the story is saying and what it is contributing to society. Is it just pure entertainment or does it have some kind of social application and will stoke an important conversation? If I feel like the project will initiate social change and action, that’s when I get excited the most about any possible role.

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“Dopesick” premieres November 12th on Disney+.

Interview by MARTIN ONUFROWICZ

Photography by RAF STAHELIN

Fashion by MICHAEL MILLER

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Groomer FEDERICO GHEZZI

Digital Tech TONY TRAN

Photographer’s assistant CONNOR KENNEDY

Stylist’s assistant FRANCESCA RUSSO

ELECTRIC FEELING

Cassian Bilton says that he can’t remember ever not wanting to be an actor - ‘As soon as I did my first play while I was growing up, I caught the bug. I was hooked.’ The Brit has made his film debut in a short ‘The Devil’s Harmony’, which won the Sundance Jury Award in 2020. This year, Bilton has been catapulted into a whole new sphere of storytelling - he’s currently starring in a mega Apple TV+ production, ‘FOUNDATION’ - a show based on a classic sci-fi series of books by Isaac Asimov about a Galactic Empire civilization on the brink of apocalypse.  We spoke to Bilton about the experience of working on a bigger-than-life set, his favourite sci-fi films and his love for the theatre stage.

Full Look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

How did this project come about for you and what attracted you to this role?

This part is unlike anything I’d read or seen on screen before. The opportunity to play a cloned version of a man alongside two other brilliant actors is something that really excited me. 

Full Look Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane

What in your view is the biggest strength of ‘FOUNDATION’ from a storytelling perspective? 

‘FOUNDATION’ wrestles with a lot of very big ideas. It tackles the interplay between science and faith, the decay of power and the importance of hope in a time of crisis. The show doesn’t shy away from tackling these questions head-on and asking its audience to consider them themselves. I think that’s really thrilling. 

Pants Hermès, Knitwear Loewe & shoes Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane

What surprised or amazed you the most about the process of working on such a grand show?

I arrived expecting to be shooting against green screens but almost all of our sets were practical. We also travelled to half a dozen countries around the world to shoot on location. It adds such a rich, lived-in texture to the show and really helps us out as actors. 

Full Look Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane

Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre yourself? If so, what are some of your favourite sci-fi films?

I’m a big fan of Alex Garland’s ‘Ex Machina’ and Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Arrival’. Both films ask really searching questions about what it means to be human and what our not-too-distant future might look like. 

Left Full look Berluti

Right T-Shirt Acne Studios, pants Ann Demeulemeester, knitwear Hermès & shoes Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane

What made you first want to become an actor and when did you realize this is something you would like to pursue?

I can’t remember not wanting to be an actor. As soon as I did my first play while I was growing up, I caught the bug. I was hooked.

  You have extensive experience as a theatre actor. What do you love the most about performing on stage and what’s your dream theatre role?

I don’t think there’s anything like it. It’s electric. It’s where I feel most alive. I’d love to do a Duncan Macmillan play. His ‘People, Places and Things’ at the National Theatre was one of the best shows I’ve seen on stage.  

Shirt Our Legacy & denim pants Levi’s

What’s your dream collaboration? Any actors or directors that come to mind?

I love Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen’s creative collaboration. I’d love to work with either of them one day. 

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Interview by MARTIN ONUFROWICZ

Photography by JAMES GREENHALGH

Fashion by MARCO DRAMMIS

Grooming NADIA ALTINBA

Stylist Assistant MATTIAS REINULA

TWO STEPS AHEAD

Tom Mercier’s magnetic presence is palpable regardless of the medium, equally powerful on cinema screens and in his self-shot performance-like Instagram videos. The Israeli actor, who is currently living in Paris, received great attention back in 2019 for his debut role in Nadav Lapid’s ‘Synonyms’, and have continued to intrigue the audiences since – last year, he starred in Luca Guadagnino’s HBO coming-of-age show ‘We Are Who We Are’ and his most recent feature, ‘My Night’ (directed by Antoinette Boulat), premiered during the 2021 Venice Film Festival. In between being on set, Mercier collaborated with us on a limited edition publication simply named ‘TOM’, where he was shot in an array of dynamic poses by photographer Jan Philipzen. To celebrate its launch, we spoke with Tom about his most recent role, his approach to acting and why he loves the art of movement.

Your new film ‘My Night’ has recently premiered during the Venice Film Festival. What attracted you to this project and the role that you play in the film?

 At the time, I just came back from Italy [from shooting ‘We Are Who We Are’] and I felt a bit detached from Paris – I didn’t know what was my place in the city, so I wanted to have a job that would give me a feeling of structure. After reading the script, I realised that the character is searching for the same thing. So I thought it was interesting for me to explore this young man, Alex, looking for a connection to himself and his generation. But I also tend to do things without asking myself too many questions because I’m afraid to confront my own life - I prefer to observe it through the perspective of the characters that I play.

 Your big breakthrough was the lead role in Nadav Lapid’s ’Synonyms’ and you have just collaborated with him on a short film ‘The Star’. What’s your collaborative process like?

 When I first worked with Nadav, we had this relationship where I needed him 100% as a director and he needed me 100% as an actor. And we had a lot of luck that we met each other back then. Today, working with him is very special because it’s so effortless – we shot ‘The Star’ in just two days – I came to Israel for vacation and he was just like, ‘You’re here for one month. Let’s do a short movie!’ [laughs]

 

Last year, you starred in Luca Guadagnino’s ‘We Are Who We Are’. What are some of the lessons that you have learned from him on set?

 Luca is kind of like a ‘Peeping Tom’ on set, a voyeur. You don’t feel that he’s in the room, but he’s looking at you and he has constructed the whole area like an architect. Or like a DJ in a way – he’s putting on the music, but he’s not telling people how to dance. And when you’re with a good DJ, when you’re getting into that room, it’s rock.  And this is what’s so nice about Luca - he’s giving you all the access to get into that place, but then you will need to dance. Luca is a great filmmaker, but at the same time, also a great artist. He can design a perfume shop and look at the scene at the same time. [laughs] He’s a very special guy.

 You’ve worked with some great directors and actors already, but what is your dream collaboration? Any actors or filmmakers that come to mind?

 I think my dream is to actually direct myself one day! I want to work with actors, take my words and put them on a page, or take images that I have in my head and release them onto the screen. I would love to collaborate with Denis Lavant or Juliette Binoche.

 

What stories are you drawn to exploring on the screen?

 I want to tell a story of a master and slave relationship – I’d like to look at this approach of having that sort of undefined admiration towards someone and desire to do whatever they tell you without questioning it. I find this dynamic very interesting.

 Many of the videos that you post on your Instagram have a performance art-like quality to them. What do you love the most about expressing yourself through movement?

 I always have this feeling that my body is walking two steps ahead of me, whereas, with words, I need to search for what I want to say – so they’re coming as a bit of an echo. I think physicality allows you to access different characters and new observations. It’s a bit like with the dancer Vaslav Nijinsky – it’s not for nothing that he was considered the God of dance, because he believed that God was speaking through him. And similarly, I think that God (if he exists) is not speaking through our words, but through our flesh and our movement. And that’s why I love to explore body language.

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Jan Philipzen

Fashion by Jonathan Huguet

BEAUTY OF EMPATHY

For Swedish actor Edvin Ryding, empathy is key - ‘I think it’s important to understand your character, even if you don’t like the way they act at times.’ This year, Ryding proved how great he is at feeling for his characters in the Netflix mega-hit LGBTQ+ drama, ‘Young Royals’. In the show, Ryding created a beautifully nuanced portrayal of Wilhelm - an heir to the Swedish throne, who after being forced to attend boarding school, starts to explore his identity through a relationship with a fellow student (played brilliantly by Omar Rudberg). The coming-of-age series has been widely praised for its approach to queerness and diverse representation - it was also just picked up for a second season earlier this week! We asked Ryding about why in his view the show has resonated so greatly with the audiences, his dream collaborations and what he hopes happens to Wilhelm next.

Denim pants Hope, Tanktop Calvin Klein

Since its release, ‘Young Royals’ has become a massive Netflix hit. Why do you think the show has resonated with the audiences so strongly and what are you hoping is the message that people are taking away from it?

 I think it’s because, in our storytelling, we’re not making a big fuss about the sexual orientation of the characters. So what I’m hoping is that people feel like today, one’s sexuality shouldn’t be surrounded by any forms of stigmatization. Also, I think that it’s beautiful how most of the characters on the show are interacting with each other – they’re talking about their problems, instead of just acting out on their emotions.

Parka Prada

 Wilhelm is such a complex character. What has been the most challenging about becoming him?

 The thing I found most challenging was trying to find the right balance between his anger, sadness and his desire to be with Simon. I think it’s important to understand your character, even if you don’t like the way they act at times. I’m not a fan of how impulsive he can be – a good example is a fight he gets into at the club in the first episode  – but I get that he does it out of sheer anger, fear and shame. At the same time, I really like his capability of speaking openly with Simon and how good they are at communicating with each other.

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‘I feel really relaxed when I’m working. I think that’s why I still love acting so much – it’s a very safe space for me.’

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Jumper Valentino

 What scene was the most memorable to shoot?

 The first one that comes to mind is when Wilhelm is high and running around the football field. That scene was entirely improvised and I had so much fun doing it!

Denim pants Hope

What are you hoping will be the progression of Wilhelm, if your show gets renewed [Netflix confirmed the plans for the second season of ‘Young Royals’ two days after this interview]?

 I have a love-hate relationship with his decision in the last episode – I understand why he did what he did, but from an audience standpoint, I don’t agree with him. So I guess I’d want him to feel the consequences of his actions. But I also want the other characters to understand him a bit better.

Tanktop Dries Van Noten

When did you first realize that you wanted to become an actor?

 It was right around the time when I first became aware of what creativity was and that acting was the best way to express that creative side in me. I think I was about 10 years old – that’s also when I realized that I wanted to continue doing it for as long as it would bring me joy. It’s only now in recent years that I understood I could maybe do it for a living.

Full look Dries Van Noten

 What is your dream role or project to be part of? What are some of the actors or directors that you look up to and would love to collaborate with?

 It would be a dream to work with Greta Gerwig or Felix van Groeningen, the director of ‘Beautiful Boy’. And of course, I’d love to collaborate with Christopher Nolan, if I’m ever so lucky! When it comes to actors, there’s so many - Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey. But I also want to continue working here in Sweden – I’m now friends with a lot of the actors that I’ve worked with in the past and it would be a fun challenge to collaborate again on new projects.

Left Coat Loewe

Right Hat, jacket and pants Tiger of Sweden & shoes Lemaire

 What do you like to do in your spare time to decompress?

 Well, I have a few great friends that I feel really comfortable with when we hang out . I also like to be alone and read books or watch movies – that’s how I try to disconnect from everything. But at the same time, I feel really relaxed when I’m working. I think that’s why I still love acting so much – it’s a very safe space for me.

Left Coat Lanvin

Right Hat, jacket and pants Tiger of Sweden & shoes Lemaire

Denim pants Hope

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Marco Van Rijt

Fashion by Robin Lycke

Casting by IMAGEMACHINE cs

Grooming Lasse Pedersen

Photographer’s assistant Kalle Altin

Stylist’s assistant Monzora Shaw








BEAUTIFUL CREEPY HONESTY

After the Genesis album that marked her first significant steps in the music industry, Tessa Dixson is establishing her musical identity with the release of her new single "Creep". By grabbing the tools of electronic music, the 24 year-old belgian-american artist explores the possibilities of alternative music in order to build her own musical and visual environment. In between a world of reality and fantasy, Tessa Dixson asserts her own independence, both as a creative and as a woman. Love and sensibility, depth and vulnerability; these are some of the feelings on which the young woman is opening up about today - and the ones we discussed together.

Can you tell me more about your new single? Why is it different from your previous projects?
I wrote this song two years ago in London with the French band Planet 1999. I had a really great vibe with them and, when I came out of the studio, it just felt right. I never had this feeling before. My previous projects were more a reflection of who I was surrounded by. Even if Genesis was a big step, it did not completely represent me. “Creep” reflects me as taking my own direction. The video clip also embodies this new identity. I worked with completely new people for this project, and I am so grateful to them for understanding my vision. 

What is the song about?
It is about a heartbreak, and about having a hard time to trust somebody new. “Creep” is a bestial way to get into a person, but in a beautiful way by trying to get closer to their emotions. It expresses the attempt and the difficulty of figuring out how a person is beyond first impressions. This desire to access this person’s essence also mirrors my own wish to deeply access my own self. 

How do you qualify the genre of this new universe?
I like to define my music as a dark futuristic fairy garden vibe. Futuristic because of the sounds and the visuals that are used, fairy because of the tension between fantasy and reality that is brought. Even if I love doing pop, I wanted to explore different ways of composing by using programming and electronic. In time, I would like to find a way to make both pop and alternative music. 

It must be a challenge for you to release this song today, isn’t it?
It is! Especially because I lost the people I used to work with. I see this project as a new and fresh start, which is exciting but also very stressful. Sharing this song is like sharing a part of me, of my vulnerability. 

What does it say about you and your evolution as an artist?
I think you are reborn every time you create something new. This one says out loud that I am becoming more independent in my choices. It takes time in the music industry to understand what you want, and to be heard for that. 

I guess the music industry can be hard to stand in, especially for a woman...
It is hard indeed, but it is also beautiful. There are more and more women and queer artists rising up today. But there are not many women around, like women musicians, managers, producers, etc. It is shifting, but very slowly. I feel very lucky because I think I am working now with the only woman tour manager in Belgium. 

Do you think it would be different if more women would be at these positions?
Definitely. I am pretty sure that, as women, we have a deep connection between us, and in general. I faced a lot of men who judge you regarding your experience and taking control a lot. Of course, there are great men too in the music industry! But I feel more confident with women around me because it is a collaboration, not a “you are working over me” relationship. 

There is music, and there is performing. I heard you were pretty present on stage, how do you consider that part?
Performing is where music comes alive, and so do I. Being on stage when I was younger appeared as the place I wanted and needed to be. The feeling you get when you are there is so powerful, made up of nerves, adrenaline and excitement. More than singing in front of a public, it is about creating a real show that includes scenography, set design, lights, clothes, in order to transport people into a timeless universe. 

What is the goal of all of this for you?
To live. And to make people live. To escape, and give an escape to people so we can keep dreaming. 

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“Reaching a self-confidence is probably a lifetime work. So, I guess the dream is to be able one day to trust myself completely. That will be my personal achievement.”

And what is your dream?
The truth is, when you are a sensitive person as I am, you need a strong shield, because you give yourself to people all the time. You need to be sure about who you are and what you are doing. Reaching this self-confidence is probably a lifetime work. So, I guess the dream is to be able one day to trust myself completely. Even if doubting and criticizing are important, I would like to sometimes tell myself that I am good enough. That will be my personal achievement.

It must be a challenge for you to release this song today, isn’t it?
It is! Especially because I lost the people I used to work with. I see this project as a new and fresh start, which is exciting but also very stressful. Sharing this song is like sharing a part of me, of my vulnerability. 



What does it say about you and your evolution as an artist?
I think you are reborn every time you create something new. This one says out loud that I am becoming more independent in my choices. It takes time in the music industry to understand what you want, and to be heard for that. 

I guess the music industry can be hard to stand in, especially for a woman...
It is hard indeed, but it is also beautiful. There are more and more women and queer artists rising up today. But there are not many women around, like women musicians, managers, producers, etc. It is shifting, but very slowly. I feel very lucky because I think I am working now with the only woman tour manager in Belgium. 

Do you think it would be different if more women would be at these positions?
Definitely. I am pretty sure that, as women, we have a deep connection between us, and in general. I faced a lot of men who judge you regarding your experience and taking control a lot. Of course, there are great men too in the music industry! But I feel more confident with women around me because it is a collaboration, not a “you are working over me” relationship. 

There is music, and there is performing. I heard you were pretty present on stage, how do you consider that part?
Performing is where music comes alive, and so do I. Being on stage when I was younger appeared as the place I wanted and needed to be. The feeling you get when you are there is so powerful, made up of nerves, adrenaline and excitement. More than singing in front of a public, it is about creating a real show that includes scenography, set design, lights, clothes, in order to transport people into a timeless universe. 

What is the goal of all of this for you?
To live. And to make people live. To escape, and give an escape to people so we can keep dreaming. 

…

Interview & photography by Hanna Pallot

Tessa is wearing Marine Serre & Raf Simons

DEVOTION IS A WONDERFUL THING

For Finn Ronsdorf, Berlin-based singer and songwriter, the process of creating music is something that can’t be rushed. ‘Music comes when she comes, she can't be forced to manifest. If she wants to play hide and seek, even a bright and unfurnished room won't make her more visible,’ says the artist. In his debut EP ‘Odes’, Ronsdorf creates a beautifully melancholic landscape of love and loss - he opens up completely and encourages the listeners to create their own meaning to his lyrics and melodies. We spoke to Ronsdorf about the process of exploration in his music, his upbringing in the evergreen German region of Black Forest and the ongoing collaboration with filmmaker and photographer Matt Lambert.

Your EP ‘Odes’ came out a year ago. How do you look back on that work and the time you were creating it?

 The EP was recorded almost three years ago, in 2018. The songs were finished way before that. So all we needed was a nice studio, a piano and my voice. We recorded the whole thing in one day. Those songs are all one-takes as far as piano and singing are concerned. Here and there we added some subtleties afterwards. It was a lovely day; just a few people coming together. You can hear them spontaneously singing with me on the song 'Blue'.

What are the emotions or themes that you are looking to explore with your music?

 I can see that the songs have some devotional fragrance to them. Devotion is a wonderful thing. It is the holding of a very intense emotion in silence, without any resistance. But this is nothing intended per se. You must know, I'm not really looking to do anything. Factually, looking to do something and exploring don't go together. If I have any intentions or pre-built results in mind, exploration is impossible.


What environment do you find most inspiring when working on new music?

 Music comes when she comes, she can't be forced to manifest. If she wants to play hide and seek, even a bright and unfurnished room won't make her more visible.

I read that you grew up in the Black Forest area.  What was your upbringing there like and how that influenced you as an artist?

 The smell there is truly special. We have mighty mountains and remarkable trees. And it can be really silent. But there is also a lot of noise coming from the people. I grew up in a small town, people are always busy talking, 'this is good', 'this is bad'... I know this is the case everywhere, we're all grown in bad soil. What else can I say? My father played good music, my mother painted, my brother developed a very sharp mind, I was in between and in doubt.

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue music?

 There used to be a strong will when I was a child. But at a certain point, I found this desire rather exhausting. This is not the case with music only, it's with any desire. They're ever-changing, projecting themselves on something new, but they can seem very sticky, too. Today, I cannot say I pursue music.  It might pursue me, but it is not my doing. It is you putting me in this position, asking that question, and I will take it.

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“Factually, looking to do something and exploring don't go together.

If I have any intentions or pre-built results in mind, exploration is impossible.”

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You worked with Matt Lambert on videos for ‘Blue’ and ‘Ode to a Love Lost’. How does his work reflect the subjects that you are talking about in your music?

 I don't have any subjects to talk about. Those are words filling the sound, forming the melody. I don't have any message to offer. But if you truly understand that, you will see that you'll yet find some sort of message, created by your own thought process. If you see that very clearly, you might find that almost everything you see and experience is your own image-making process.

Matt has a great visual eye and knows how to put things in the right place. He has what you could call 'taste'. There was no ideological discussion between us, or anything of the sort. It is just two people coming together and working with sound and aesthetic. The rest is your business!


You’re currently doing some live shows at festivals. What do you love most about performing live?

 The people, the places. But there are people and places everywhere. Even now. Performing for me has no more value than any other activity.


What have you been working on since ‘Odes’?

 There is a lot of material. I think there will be a song and a video coming out soon, both finished. Now it's a matter of outer circumstances.. let's see!

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Yaël Temminck

Fashion by Leendert Sonnevelt

RAP'S REBEL

Sheck Wes is the multifaceted Harlem-born artist who creates atmospheric, yet catchy, bass-heavy dark anarchic hip-hop beats like “Mo Bamba” and “Live Sheck Wes, Die Sheck Wes”. 

Backed by Kanye and Travis Scott, his unshakeable confidence and distinctive looks have also earned him catwalk rights with LV and Yeezy, and he’s no stranger to ballin' like a mo'fuckin' (basketball ) pro either. We caught up with him to talk about fashion faux pas and going crazy.

Left Suit, shirt & sneakers Louis Vuitton and sunglasses Moscot

Right Jacket Balenciaga and hood Kenzo

Your father was a tailor for the legendary hip-hop couturier Dapper Dan - how did that influence your own style growing up?

 Growing up, my Dad’s shop really influenced me a lot, as I would meet so many other people who weren’t even Dapper Dan, and just get to learn about fashion and look at things in a different way, and see so many different people outside of my African / Senegalese heritage. Being in New York especially was really cool too, because there were so many designers and I met so many people who were all around my Pops, so he was really important.

Jacket & pants Balenciaga and hood Kenzo

 What was the first item of clothing or shoes you bought?

 I bought white Nike Air Force 1’s with the blue patent leather back and blue check, they were super smooth!

Suit, shirt & sneakers Louis Vuitton and sunglasses Moscot

 Did your Mother ever make you wear something that you were like, noooooo way, I can’t be seen out in that!?

 My Mother made me wear everything that made me say ‘No Way!!’ I had a Bob the Builder overall suit when I was like 8 years-old, and red turtle necks with Frosty the Snowman on the collar.  My Mom didn’t care, I had army fatigue chuck tailors, my swag was everywhere! I feel that’s why I just created a style which is just natural, everything I ever wear, even with my shoes, is just so natural.

Crewneck Denim Tears, short & hood Kenzo and sneakers Balenciaga

 You’ve modelled for Helmut Lang, Louis Vuitton and Yeezy, how did you perfect your ‘Blue Steel’ face? :)

 You gotta clench ya jaw man and look at the caaaaaaamera!

Left Turtleneck Prada, beanie Telfar, jacket APC X SACAI, pants Junya Watanabe & sneakers BalenciagaRight Crewneck Denim Tears and hood Kenzo

Left Turtleneck Prada, beanie Telfar, jacket APC X SACAI, pants Junya Watanabe & sneakers Balenciaga

Right Crewneck Denim Tears and hood Kenzo

 From when you started rapping to the multitalented artist you are now, how have you evolved musically, where’s your head at?

 I think I’m more patient now, very patient. I feel like now that I’m more established I can take more time to look at things, because when you’re not established you’re always having to keep your foot on the gas and keep things going. I’ve just been chill and be cool, but I’m used to going crazy, so I think I might just go back to going crazy!

Turtleneck Prada and jacket APC X SACAI

 You’re playing pro basketball in Paris too, so along with fashion and music, that’s your three wishes granted - next time you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, what are you going to wish for next?

 I’m gonna wish and pray for more time, a long life and good health.

 You have new music coming out too, can you tell us what to expect? 

 A more mature version of the young Wes, this is not my boy, this is Sheck Wes, headed to paradise it’s a whole journey, it’s levels, like from the bottom to the top or from the top to the bottom, however you want to see it.

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Ricardo Gomes

Fashion by Rita Melssen

Sheck Wes is represented by IMG

FLY AND FREE

Lil Dre means business. After proving himself as a skilled skateboarder on the New York scene, Dre was cast in the HBO series Betty - a show based on Crystal Moselle’s acclaimed 2018 film Skate Kitchen, centred around an all-girl group of skaters who navigate their lives through the male-dominated field. Recently, Dre has been also making his name known in the fashion world - he walked in the Spring 2022 Rhude show in Los Angeles and appeared in the Off-White eyewear campaign opposite Justine Biticon and 90s modelling legend, Helena Christensen.

Now, Dre is preparing to take over the music industry - he just released his new track ‘DONT ASK’ and we’re told he’s currently in the midst of a bidding war between a few major labels. We had a quick chat with Dre about his first experience as an actor, why he’s a big fan of Virgil Abloh’s work and what he loves about skating.

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

You recently starred in the HBO show Betty. How did this project come about for you and what attracted you to it?

 Rachelle Vinberg, who is a lead on the show, recommended me for the part. Acting is something that I’ve always wanted to try out. The show took me out of my comfort zone and it’s an outlet for me to open new doors. 

 

You also appeared in an Off-White campaign. What do you love about Virgil’s vision for the brand? 

I love that Virgil always gives opportunities to people who don’t get the recognition they deserve. 

Pants and belt by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello


Are you a fan of fashion more generally? If so, what other brands are your favourite and why? 

Yes, I step out of the house lookin fly as fuck every day. I like what I like, it doesn’t matter what brand it is.


What can you tell us about your music? What is the message that you want to spread with it?  

I go with the flow. I just rap about what I feel in the moment. 

Shirt and necklace by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

What are some of the rappers that you look up to? 

Thugger, Carti, and Uzi are the ones that inspire me a lot.


What do you love the most about skating?

Skating makes me feel free. I will never not love skating, it’ll never get boring for me.

…

Photography by Alex La Cruz

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Fashion by Jacob Dekat

Hair by Fitch Lunar

Lil Dre is wearing Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

The full story will appear in our upcoming FW issue, out this October.

THE SOUND OF AMORE

It’s clear that 2021 has been the year of Italian dominance, whether it comes to camp music competitions or massive football tournaments. That’s why there was no better time for Aaron Altaras, an actor known for his roles in Netflix’s hit show ‘Unorthodox’ or queer love story ‘Mario’, and his younger brother Leo to explore their Italian roots through their new musical project ‘Alcatraz’. Although the brothers were born and brought up in Berlin, they were always fascinated with their heritage (their mother is Italian) and decided to celebrate it by taking inspiration from the country’s iconic Italo Disco genre. A few days before the release of their first single ‘Amore Unlimited’, we spoke to Alcatraz about what’s the best part of collaborating as brothers and their dream set location.

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How did this project come about?

 Aaron Altaras: My brother and I have been thinking about it for a very long time. He started to produce music when he was very young and we have a very similar music taste, so we knew that we wanted to do something together. I was always quite busy with shooting, but then Corona happened, and we finally got a lot of time to work together on producing and recording.

 Leo Altaras: Yeah, I started producing about six years ago. Aaron and I always had a dream of starting a bit kitschy duo boy band. And we thought that this would be also a nice way of mixing our Italian heritage with our home, Berlin, and the music scene there.

 

Why did you choose to name your band ‘Alcatraz’?

 Aaron Altaras: There’s a couple of reasons. Firstly, the whole album is about longing and desire and unattainable things, and that’s why the concept of the Alcatraz prison island really resonated with us. But also, ‘Alcatraz’ was my nickname at school – a lot of people couldn’t get Altaras right, so they would call me that. So we took it back and fucking own it now! [laughs]

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The whole album is about longing and desire and unattainable things, and that’s why the concept of the Alcatraz prison island really resonated with us.

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What’s the inspiration behind the sound that you created?

Aaron Altaras: Our first single, ‘Amore Unlimited’ has been very inspired by the Italo Disco genre. But more generally, our sound is quite eclectic – there are some 2000-era disco, French electro or trance music influences. We also have a rap feature on one of the tracks.

 

 There’s a strong sense of Italian pride in the project. How important was it for you to explore your Italian heritage?

 Aaron Altaras: Well, it’s funny for us because we’ve always lived in this dichotomy of cultures – we were born in Berlin to a German father and an Italian mother, so we always ask ourselves whether we are allowed to own our Italian side or not. It’s that classic thing that I would assume most people with parents from different backgrounds have of questioning which side they are drawn to and which not, and for most families, those discussions never end. For us, the project has been a chance to negotiate and explore that exact struggle.

 

What’s the best part about working with on this project as brothers?

Aaron Altaras: I can recommend it to everyone who has a sibling, it’s the most beautiful thing to collaborate on something together. We understand each other very quickly and we have different strengths. We also fight a lot because we’re both very stubborn. But the great thing is, even if we scream at each other and someone leaves the room, we don’t have to worry that it will jeopardize our relationship because we have been fighting for 20 years now and we know how it goes. [laughs]

 

What is your dream club or place to play your music at?

 Leo Altaras: Panorama Bar!

 Aaron Altaras: Or on a little lido, somewhere between Napoli and Rome.

 

You launched an Alcatraz OnlyFans account. What can we expect to see on it?

 Aaron Altaras: You should go subscribe and see! 

…

 ‘Amore Unlimited’ is out now.

…



Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Pictures by Noah Kleist

FEELS LIKE HEAVEN

Dyllón Burnside is a man of many talents. Just in the past year, he played Ricky in the final season of the cult series ‘Pose’, released his new song ‘Heaven’ and hosted an Emmy-winning special ‘Prideland’, where he interviewed members of the LGBTQ+ community fighting for change in the American South. Now, Burnside is stepping into the Ryan Murphy universe once again – he’s starring in an upcoming episode of American Horror Stories, a spin-off anthology series based around the scary and camp classic franchise American Horror Story. We spoke to Burnside about his fondest memories of shooting ‘Pose’, his favourite season of AHS and what to him feels like heaven.

Trench, sweater and boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants MM6

 Your special ‘Prideland’ has just received an Emmy, congratulations! What were some of the biggest lessons that you’ve learned while working on this project?

 One of the major themes for me was thinking about the idea of ‘home’ – what ‘home’ actually means and what ‘family’ actually means. I left my hometown of Pensacola, Florida nine years ago and moved to New York City, where I started to create a home for myself, and really found a community and built my family there. This idea of a chosen family is something that connects both ‘Prideland’ and ‘Pose’ – both of these projects show how important it is for the LGBTQ+ people to have a community like that when so many of our families have rejected us. I also realized how important it is for us to sometimes stay in the place where we grew up, stand up for our rights, be proud of who we are and where we come from. There’s a value in that just as there is a value in going out and finding life in the big city. It was really inspiring to meet all of the people who decided to stay in their home states in the South and see how they are sparking change.

Suit AMI, shirt and boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 You mentioned ‘Pose’, which premiered its final season earlier this year. What have been some of your fondest memories of shooting the show?

 There’s been so many! All of the dance sequences that I did pop into my mind immediately. I’m a dancer, but I never thought that I would be asked to dance as much as I did on ‘Pose’. That was always very exciting and challenging, but also hard on my body. I also think back to the scene where Ricky finds out that he’s HIV-positive, and his love scene with Pray Tell [played by Billy Porter] – those two were monumental for me as an actor. The scene with Billy was also a huge moment for television – having two black characters who are HIV-positive make love on the screen and it being shot in such a beautiful manner. In the series finale, there was a number of beautifully written and directed scenes that I was very grateful to be a part of – the choir scene was a moment where I think I was the most grounded in my character since the beginning of the show.

Full look LANVIN

 Up next, you’re starring in American Horror Stories. Is there anything you can tell me about your character?

 My character’s name is James. [laughs] It was super fun to shoot and enter that world of horror, which was a big departure from my work on ‘Pose’. The fans of the AHS franchise love the show so much and are so invested in it – they create this whole zeitgeist around it and it’s really cool that I get to be a part of it now.

Full look LANVIN

Full look LANVIN

 Which season of American Horror Story has been your favourite so far?

 I really liked the ‘Cult’ season for its political and cultural commentary. And I’ll say that there is definitely some cultural commentary in American Horror Stories as well.  

Left Sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

Right Shirt SUPREME + NIKE shirt, coat and pants MM6, boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

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“I wanted to express the feeling of euphoria – what in my mind feels like heaven, which is the act of lovemaking and being in love”

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Are you a fan of scary films and shows in general?

 No! That’s also probably why ‘Cult’ was my favourite season – I could watch it without squirming. I get very squirmish and I’ll watch them only if I have a bunch of friends by my side. It’s a lot for me. [laughs]

Trench, sweater and boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants MM6

 What’s your worst horror movie experience? Something that traumatized you for life?

 I think when I saw ‘It’ as a kid and the fucking clown came out of the sewer. [laughs]

Shirt SUPREME + NIKE shirt, coat and pants MM6, boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

Shirt SUPREME + NIKE shirt, coat and pants MM6, boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 You also recently released your single ‘Heaven’. What is the story or emotion that you wanted to showcase with this song?

 I wanted to express the feeling of euphoria – what in my mind feels like heaven, which is the act of lovemaking and being in love. It’s a counter-narrative to everything that I’ve been taught about same-sex relationships when I was growing up through all of the dogma that comes with being brought up Christian. But for me, love has been such a euphoric experience and something that helps me become more of my higher self. If we think of God as love and if God is the pathway to heaven, then love is the pathway to heaven. And so I think love is actually the key to bringing heaven on Earth.

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Grooming by Annette Chaisson

Barber Parris Wagner

THE PERKS OF BEING A ROBIN

The secret’s out: Gossip Girl is back and there’s about four of them! The iconic show has been reimagined by its original creators and brought back in a format fit for the modern landscape, with a focus on showcasing diversity and tackling the reality of living with social media (and plenty of signature Gossip Girl ‘OMFG’ moments).

 In the new iteration of the franchise, the role of the all-knowing blogger is taken on by a group of teachers who relaunch the page on Instagram in order to seemingly regain authority over their privileged and irreverent students. One of them is played by Adam Chanler-Berat, an actor best known for his work on Broadway in productions such as ‘Next to Normal’, ‘Amélie’ or ‘Saint Joan’. Over the course of the first season, his character, a computer science teacher named Jordan, quickly becomes the go-to source of comedic relief and many memorable quotes that are too good to be spoiled here.

We spoke to Chanler-Berat on the eve of the Gossip Girl’s premiere on HBO Max about the show’s inclusive attitude, his most memorable shooting experience and being in a book club with his co-star and off-screen pal, Tavi Gevinson.

Left Shirt Celine by Hedi Slimane, underwear and socks Calvin Klein, boots Yoox

Right Coat Fendi


Were you a fan of the original ‘Gossip Girl’?

 Yes! I remember watching about four seasons of the show when it initially aired. Also, I rewatched it soon after I got cast in the new show. We had to stop the production for a while, and I was like, ‘What should I do with these six months before we start shooting?’ And it was a perfect thing to watch during quarantine. 

Suit Loewe, boots by Acne Studios

 What did you love about the show?

 I think one of the loveliest parts of the show is how much of it is such a celebration of New York City, and also a celebration of New York actors – it was such a treasure trove of some of my favourite theatre actors in the city. Watching them on the show brought me a lot of joy and, in a way, made me think of it as a certain right of passage for the community. It’s almost as if it wouldn’t be right if I went my whole life without being able to be on ‘Gossip Girl’. [laughs]

 

Who was the character that you related to the most?

 I think I related the most to one of Blair’s minions. [laughs] I’m more of a Robin than a Batman, which actually correlates well with the character I play on the show.

Left Shirt Isabel Marant

Right Coat and Sweater Prada, shirt and pants Etro, boots AMI

 That’s so true! How did you get the role of Jordan?

 It was all thanks to Joshua Safran [the show’s creator], who is a huge fan of theatre and a great champion of theatre actors. In 2019, I got an offer to be on an episode of his Netflix show ‘Soundtrack’ and once we met on the set, we became fast friends. When he told me that he was in the process of writing the new ‘Gossip Girl’, I said jokingly, ‘Can you write me a part?’ And he just replied, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that!’ Then, a couple of months later, he actually sent me a photo of my headshot on the wall and was like, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but I’m writing a part for you.’ I still had to audition for it and do test shoots, but that’s how it all came about.

 Another crazy circumstance is that at the time, I was in rehearsals for an off-Broadway production of ‘Assassins’ with Tavi Gevinson [the production didn’t run due to the pandemic]. We were supposed to sing a duet in that show and I guess you could say that metaphorically, we are doing it now on the screen.

Left Shirt Celine by Hedi Slimane

Right Shirt and suit Dries Van Noten, boots Fendi

 You and Tavi have great chemistry and there’s a very palpable feeling of comradery between you two. Are you close in real life?

Yeah, we’re really great friends. A few years ago, she did a production of ‘The Cherry Orchard’ with my boyfriend on Broadway, so we have been in each other’s circles for a while. And now, we’re thick as thieves. We’re also in the same book club – we’re currently reading ‘Playing in the Dark’ by Toni Morrison.

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“I think I related the most to one of Blair’s minions.

I’m more of a Robin than a Batman, which actually correlates well with the character I play on the show.”

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What in your view is the biggest strength of the new ‘Gossip Girl’?

It provides all the joys and delights of the original show, but it also has a fresh outlook and the underbelly that the first ‘Gossip Girl’ didn’t tread in. I think the show creates a really interesting discourse about ways in which social media impacts our lives. It’s also much more inclusive and queer, as well as much more self-conscious, in a good way. And I think this is the only way to bring the Gossip Girl universe to 2021.

Shirt Isabel Marant, pants and boots Acne Studios

 

What scene for you has been the most memorable to shoot so far?

The shot that’s in the first episode when I’m in the rain and taking a photo. It was November, I was standing by the East River in Dumbo getting hosed down and I honestly couldn’t have been happier while being frigid and wet. I was just thinking about what an amazing thing it was to shoot this show in New York and for it to come back at such a pivotal time when the industry and the globe is recovering from the devastation. We had an in-person premiere last week and it felt like we were not only celebrating the work that we’ve been doing on Gossip Girl, but also the resilience of people who are providing jobs in the industry. It made me really think about all of the theatre actors that the show is giving work and healthcare to, and made me feel so proud to be a part of it.

Left Coat and Sweater Prada, shirt and pants Etro

Right Shirt Celine by Hedi Slimane, underwear Calvin Klein

 

If you would ever end up on Gossip Girl, what do you think it would be for?

I honestly don’t think I would be on Gossip Girl. I would be the fingers typing. [laughs]

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by JJ Geiger 

Fashion by Michael Cook

Grooming by Anthony Joseph Hernandez 

THE TOTALLY JUDGING BREAKFAST CLUB

JANUARY 2021



It’s morning in NEW YORK as Thomas Doherty wakes up alone in his room. No wild brunches here, the actor is self-isolating as part of the health and safety procedures ahead of filming an intimate scene. Halfway across the world, it’s wine o’clock and I’m ready for the tea to be served on his musical abilities, that comment from the Pope and why he’s on a remake bender. What else did we talk about? That’s a secret I’ll definitely let you in on in this interview.

After the remake of High Fidelity, now Gossip Girl. Are existing frameworks something that you particularly enjoy?

[laughs] It does seem that I'm always in a reboot. I do think it's very interesting to see how the framework and the nature of the times, be it politically, economically, socially or culturally, can be transposed into later times, and see how those play out. With High Fidelity, the gender reversal was really interesting in light of how the power dynamics have shifted, and how prevalent the topic is in our society. With Gossip Girl, the original wasn’t so long ago but the world has changed so much since.

 So has the ability to play Boyz II Men on the guitar come in handy to seduce anyone after that?

No…

 That’s a very wistful “no”.

I don't think I ever will. The older I get, the creepier it will be, so I think my time with Boyz II Men on the guitar is done. I did learn to play a couple of songs on the guitar though, and I loved it.

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Right full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 Any temptation to take those new skills into a new career?

Funnily enough, no. I’ve tried to pick up the guitar again. But either you have it, or you don’t. And right now, I’m pretty sure I don’t. But I love musical theatre and want to do that so bad.

 Maybe Gossip Girl is your chance for that, given how musically inclined your castmates are. Starting with Eli Brown, who is also in this issue.

Yeah! I walked into his apartment where he’s got like 7 or 8 guitars. He’s very passionate about music, phenomenal with the guitar. All the cast is.

  It does also play into the idea that the human experience has some fundamental similarities, but that you live, learn and adapt to a given framework. That it’s what you make of it: how you write your own take on life is what matters.

Yeah, it's like continuous, isn't it? Yeah, I never thought about it that way before. But yeah, it is. I mean, obviously, my reservation about reboots is that you’re working with classics, or a cultural icon, so it’s filled with nostalgia for so many people. There’s always that kind of worry, but with a rebirth it’s about different generations coming along and appreciating the different “ages” of a story.

 Do you let this past of the narrative affect how you play? Or do you just take it as it is, and interpret each character as a standalone?

Definitely the latter. I have to kind of blank that, otherwise it would just be replicating something. For High Fidelity, it never crept into my mind, although there’s a comical side of being intimate with Zoe Kravitz, knowing that I was playing a character her mother had plaid. For Gossip Girl, it took me a minute to put it aside because there were all these expectations and also the comparisons to Chuck Bass who was such a massive character. My character is perhaps a bit similar to his, so I needed to shake off those expectations of what you associate with him in order to find my own character.

 After Ed Westwick, you’re continuing a proud tradition of handsome Brits playing decadently wealthy Americans.

You’re welcome, America. [Laughs.]

Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 On a scale of 1 to “alumni”, how close was your high school experience to St. Jude’s and Constance, especially with British boarding schools?

Although I went to the Royal High School in Edinburgh, the similarity stops at the uniform of a shirt, tie and blazer that I had to wear. But what’s weird is how different things are. When I was in school, just 8 years ago, I was just a schoolboy, making fires in the woods with my friends and just causing a bit of trouble. No social media, except maybe Facebook near the end. Whereas now I feel that they’re adults. I feel like the social media craze is robbing kids of being kids, or young teenagers. My Gossip Girl character feels like a 45-year-old man stuck in a 17-year-old’s body. He’s sophisticated in so many ways, like his taste in food for example, but at the same time, he’s still not centered as a human because he is only 17 after all. And that’s a bit heartbreaking because it’s like we missed the fun years of wearing rubbish, terrible clothes. They can’t look back on pictures, being so conscious of the world and being inundated with information. It’s kind of sad.

Underwear CALVIN KLEIN

 How different is the Gossip Girl universe and its “all-seeing” narrator from the experience of being a public figure in the social media age?

I have not been on Instagram for over two weeks. I'm just done. Too crazy and so addictive. It creates this invisible all-seeing eye that doesn’t exist but still perpetuates itself. And it's growing arms and legs, getting worse. To have to do social media just to fit in feels crazy. And I'm not taking any moral high ground here at all. I definitely indulge, both for my career and to connect to others. But on the whole I feel that despite an initial positive intension, it has just cascaded into something incredibly poisonous.

 When you say it like that, it’s like the Black Mirror version of the promises of social media.

Yes, Jesus, it is. It's some cancerous psych tumor that keeps growing. And there's no end in sight.

 Look at us complaining about the young(er) and social media like old biddies. Add to that the fact that the Pope recently said gossip was a plague worse than Covid. Should we listen to His Holiness?

He’s probably had enough of hearing about the disgusting behavior of some members of the church. Oh, don’t get me too heavy. And I was brought up very Catholic, too.

Full look AMI

 Then we can’t be friends! My father was a Protestant from Glasgow.

A Ranger’s man, then…

 We are heading into very controversial territory, Mr Doherty!

Here’s another controversial thing: people need to stop using God and religion as justification for committing evil and inflicting sadness on others. I think that you shouldn't teach religion to children until they're 18. And then, they can figure out for themselves if they want to be religious or not. In that way, people would be more in touch with their spiritual side and their true nature which I believe is fundamentally about compassion and love. Because the age-old conversation about God and about religion feels like it's just been completely misinterpreted and exploited, with those who are more concerned about “doing good to go to Paradise”, rather than doing good because it’s the decent, humane and right thing to do.

Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 Isn’t that what 2020 brought us, in a way? An opportunity to sit for a moment and consider our life choices.

Definitely. Being from capitalist societies, we’re constantly chasing after the next thing, feeling like you’re just a step away from something. Think about it: when we’re small, we go straight into a system, practically from the minute we’re born. Learning the alphabet, then math. Onwards with primary, middle then high school. From there, you’re thinking about college, then about getting a job. After that, white picket fence. This whole time, we’ve not stopped one second to think about who you are or what you want to do with that life. No self-exploration, no self-expression. That’s not being present. What you need is to stop, connect to yourself and flow from that place as opposed to constantly trying to manufacture your life.

 Is that what you were doing, too?

For a long time, I felt like I was doing the wrong thing, almost trying to fit myself from the outside. But I found that if I connected to myself, the right things started to happen. Sure, to some extent, I was filling needs but always to build a certain foundation of connectivity to myself. Looking at myself, I felt conscious that I’d put myself in a bit of a safety box of being that schmoozy, smoldering thing because I saw that it worked. But I’m definitely ready to shed that skin. I’m very fortunate, especially with working on an amazing show, but what I really want is just to get to know myself with no other incentive to gain other than knowing myself. At this point in my life, I’m focusing on myself, not what I can get or make or what my goals are. And I might be a complete asshole, but at least it'll be me.

…

Full feature in our Issue 10 SS21

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Casting & production IMAGEMAGINE cs

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ONCE MORE WITH RICKY

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Even if our lives are wildly different, there’s one thing we all have in common with singer, songwriter, and actor Joshua Bassett: an admiration for Harry Styles, whom he recently described as a cool, classy and hot man. But between his magnetic presence on “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, his broad repertoire of instruments and the fact that he’s lived through “5 albums worth of life circumstances in the last 12 months” (his words, not ours!) there was so much to go through as we caught up with him on a self-care Sunday in his new New York pad. 

Full look CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE

“Honesty” is a word that comes back a lot when people talk about you and your music. What does being honest mean to you?

 Art and honesty are inseparable. I always say that while context and story may change in the process of making art, as long as you’re honest about how you feel, you can’t go wrong.

 Working on HSMTMTS, I’ve realized the importance of being unapologetically authentic. So often people seek something outside themselves to make them like-able, good enough, etc. We forget that who we are is more than enough. Not only that, it’s who we’re supposed to be! How boring being a carbon-copy of everybody else? You are here to be YOU, so own it!

Full Look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 Why did you find Ricky so relatable?

 Ricky is an idiot; I am an idiot. Ricky has many blind spots; I have many blind spots. Ricky is impulsive but will stop at nothing to make things right; I am impulsive but will stop at nothing to make things right. Need I say more?

Full Look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 Throughout the show, he grew in confidence and into himself. What about you? How did you get your “sea legs” for stage, whether as an actor or as a musician?

 I think in the same way Ricky was forced to learn through experience, I myself have learned through experience. I started doing musical theatre at a very young age, so I guess I had lots of practice with that! But no one ever really knows what they’re doing; everyone at some point faked their way through whatever they had to in order to end up where they are!

T-shirt HANRO & pants SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

Cardigan CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE

 What is your creative process? 

 Ha! I wish I had a better answer for you here; I’m all over the place. I write songs either in 20 minutes, or 3 months. Sometimes over a year. It’s a mystery to me still, but I’d like to get into a more disciplined routine of creativity; which sounds contradictory but in reality is something I hear from every successful creative I look up to.

Full look VALENTINO

Shirt SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 What’s the best thing about coming from a musically-inclined family?

 They pick up the slack! You will never be in public with your family without at least 2 backup singers (and potentially dancers) on standby!

Full look CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE

Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 Do you go to them with your new pieces? 

 I often send my music to my sister Ashley and my Dad. My sister Ashley is always a good ear to bounce-off, and my dad appreciates music more than anyone I know!

T-shirt HANRO & pants SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

Full look CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE

 When you’re not working (given your film and music career, that must amount to what… half an hour a week? ;-) ), what’s your go-to relaxation activity?

 Honestly, it’s reading or TikTok. Reading is healthier, but I learn so much on TikTok it’s hard to put it down…

Left Coat VALENTINO, pants and shoes CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE

Right Jacket and jumper CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE

 I also hear you’re an avid reader. What’s the latest book you read? The one you’d take on a desert island? 

 Ha! Genuinely had not read this question when I answered the last! Latest book I’m reading is “How to Do the Work” by Dr. Nicole LePera. Desert islander would be either “The Untethered Soul,” “Big Magic,” or “The Power of Now.”

…

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Grooming by Drew Schaefering using Cruxe

Casting and production by ImageMachine_cs

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EXPLORATIONS

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Escaping definitions and usual conventions is something Shaun Ross has been doing since he was a teenager. If the multifaceted American is known within fashion circles as a successful model challenging traditional notions of beauty, Ross is also a talented musician, actor and singer.

Last month, he released his debut album entitled ‘Shift’, a surprising RECORD with a soulful and dreamy quality. Ross does in fact quote Soul as one of his key musical influences, which he seamlessly pairs with electronic elements. 

In this exclusive interview, Ross evokes one of his best fashion memories, developing as an artist and why the ALBUM freed him creatively.

Full look FENDI

Where are you right now?

 My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to New York, my hometown, for my 30th birthday. I thought I was just coming here to visit my family, particularly my mother whom I hadn’t seen for months, but he had been planning this surprise thing all along with some of my friends.

Shaun_Roos_BTBOnline_BehindTheBlindsMagazine_extra.jpg

“I feel liberated, because my entire mission with this album was to have something people could resonate with.”

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‘Shift’ is a beautiful album and an achievement as well. Can you tell me more about your creative process?

 I’ve been doing music for the past 5 years now and the idea you usually start with for a song keeps changing and evolving until you actually get there. Putting this album together and working with different people felt really exciting and fun. I learned what my style was and how to behave in the studio, too. Coming from fashion, I had to learn what certain things were and how to talk to people within that context. 

Full look BALENCIAGA

 Is the learning part as stimulating as the creative act itself?

 Definitely. When the pandemic started last year, I decided to learn how to play the piano by myself, which was also new for me. 

Left Suit and shirt VALENTINO

Right Jumper and jacket BALENCIAGA

 Which similarities do you see between fashion and music?

Fashion and music are quite similar. A form of yourself goes out there within both disciplines so you have to make sure you are comfortable with whatever that form may be, meaning that execution’s a big thing. Designers put collections together, but an album is also a collection of sounds. The process behind perfecting a garment until it’s finally complete is very much the same as refining or tweaking a song. You may add different textures to it, or take some of those layers away. Once your music is out in the world, people will judge it, too, the same way critics judge designers.

Left Jacket FENDI

Right Full look BALENCIAGA

 It does feel like you’ve put yourself out there. Is that scary or liberating?

 I feel liberated, because my entire mission with this album was to have something people could resonate with. That’s also a statement about my identity. It says who I am. 

Top BALENCIAGA

 Sounds pretty empowering. As a model, what are your best memories of this industry?

 God, there are so many… I mean I’m 30 now, which isn’t old at all, but I was already traveling the world as a teenager. I got to experience so many different cities and cultures, which is something I’m very grateful for. Being older, I’m more conscious of this and appreciate it even more. I have a great memory of one Life Ball in Vienna, which was just incredible. I think it was in 2014 and Franca Sozzani’s last time doing the ball. She was such a warm and sweet woman, and I remember meeting Jean Paul Gaultier there and partying with David LaChapelle, Natalia Kills and Naomi Campbell afterwards. 

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“My own style is still developing, which I’m excited about.”

.

Tunic SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants FERRAGAMO and shoes PRADA

 Did you enjoy modeling as a career or was it challenging?

 Honestly, I enjoyed all of it. I can remember my start like it was yesterday, my first test shoot, first runway show or first time in Paris when all my freaking luggage got lost…

Full look BALENCIAGA

 That is the ultimate Fashion Week nightmare.

 I was so annoyed, didn’t speak any French and had no money either. It was a complete culture shock. My mom cheered me up and I started to embrace Paris, which I’ve loved to this day.

Suit and shirt VALENTINO, sandals SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 

How would you describe your musical style in a few words?

 I’d say Soul Electronics. My own style is still developing, which I’m excited about. There will be many more albums to come, that’s for sure. 

Full look FENDI

…

Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Grooming by Candice Birns

A DAY’S WORK

Why sign up for a mercenary mission when your signature weapons are a fork and a spoon? For Dieter, the happy go lucky safe-cracker played by Matthias Schweighöfer, there are 250 thousand reasons, but for the German actor, it was Zach Snyder’s generosity in letting him spin his own funny ad lib that cinched his agreement to experience the ultimate very bad day at work (to find out why, Army of the Dead is now out on Netflix). But after our interview is interrupted by a personal call, it’s not the zombie apocalypse that Matthias has most to fear: it’s coming home empty handed, or worse, with something uncool. 

Is everything alright?

 Everything’s great. That was my daughter. I’m driving back for her birthday and she just asked me for a college jacket. So I asked her what kind. Her answer? “A cool one.” Uh-huh. 

 That sounds like the premise for another kind of road movie! 

 (Laughs.) That’s very right. And it’s called “Puberty, Reloaded.” 

You better be careful because shoppers are way more ferocious than zombies, after this last lockdown. So what’s your hunting perimeter? 

 Well, I’m in London for work. It’s going to be a long journey [back]. Border is like this kind of stasis. It took us four hours, but thankfully, we only have to do 5 days in quarantine because we come for professional reasons. 

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“Zack and the team asked me if we have experience with weapons in Germany, and I said “yes, I have a fork and a spoon at home.”

.

 

I hope it's a nicer setting than the Las Vegas refugees we meet at the beginning of Army of the Dead.

 Yes, thank God!

 Dieter gets offered 250 thousand dollars for a day’s work. What’s your going rate these days?

 That’s my going rate. I’m known for that. And given I usually have 110 shooting days on a film, life’s great. (Laughs.)

 Definitely enough to get the coolest of cool varsity jackets!

 Right. But 250 grand for a day? That’s a lot of money. It’s crazy.

 Depends how bad the day gets, even with that badass bat with metal spikes. Everyone else has guns, so what gives? 

 I am so proud that I have a bat in that scene. Zack and the team asked me if we have experience with weapons in Germany, and I said “yes, I have a fork and a spoon at home.” That, I can handle. Or something made of wood. So I got pretty lucky to have something that gangster version of a bat.

What happens after the zombie apocalypse? 

 I’m working on this film called The Swimmers. It’s based on the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, two Syrian sisters who swam across the Aegean sea 5 or so years ago, pulling a boat. They saved something like 20 people. After that, as they were both professional swimmers, they came to Berlin to train for the Olympics. Yusra eventually competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, in the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team, at the age of 16. I play Sven Spannenkrebs, her trainer.

Are your swimming skills up to the task to measure up to swimming across a sea?

 I’d love to say that it’s my genuine expertise. I think I’m a decent swimmer but would perform best in a calm setting. You know, a pool. 

…

Army of the Dead is currently airing on Netflix.

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Letizia Guel

Fashion by Fabio Pace

All clothes BALENCIAGA

Grooming by Paolo Ferreira

Casting by ImageMachine_cs

Production by Agnes Virag

Stylist’s assistant Lucas Avid

MORNING AFTER

A golden glow surrounds Rebecca Dayan on the New York morning where we talk. But this time, it’s not a halo of holiness left from her unforgettable role as a nun in the 2017 film Novitiate. It’s the after-party aura of Studio 54, where the French-born New Yorker stars as Elsa Peretti in Netflix’s Halston. 

Left Full look GIVENCHY

Right Suit FENDI



Since we still have to live vicariously through our screens for the time being, how did it feel, hitting the Studio 54 era with Halston? 

 It was really fun – the sets, the costumes, everything was amazing. Obviously, it’s a very exciting period to portray. To play a character that evolved during that time is very enticing and felt very liberating in a lot of ways. 

Left Top, skirt and belt CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE , coat vintage

Right Full Look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 

Was it jarring to have the real world turn into this quasi-monastic existence for most people while you were living the ultimate party epoch?

 We started filming before the pandemic, so Daniel [Minahan] had been very good about getting us to spend time together. He took us all to lunch at Bergdorf’s. We went to visit all the real locations the show mentions but where we wouldn’t be filming, like the original studio. It built a form of complicity, and it’s definitely what kept us going.

 Most of the show was filmed during Covid-19 so it was very interesting to experience this dichotomy between the world we were experiencing off-camera and what we were bringing to life on screen. The gap between the two worlds wouldn’t have felt so different, for sure. But this friendship that had really developed [between cast members] really helped, and I think it really transpires in the show. 

Full Look LOEWE

 

What was your favorite part of the whole project? 

 Definitely the scenes where you have all of us, and see us as a crew, being this Rat Pack of weird misfits that are both crazy and super fun to be around. 

 

Did you have any apprehension slipping into the fabulous skin of Elsa Peretti?

 Although I knew her work, I had never delved into her personal life or the details of her career, so it was exciting. Watching interviews, reading what others have said about her, all that was fascinating. You know, one of the best parts of a project is that you get to dive into worlds that you’re not familiar with and where there’s always things to learn.  

 

Left Full Look GIVENCHY

Right Full Look CHANEL

Is the coming summer going to be a “hot fun summer” or a studious one for you?

 Usually, I spend my summers in Europe, especially the South of France where I’m from. A Mediterranean summer is always something to look forward to. But given that I spent around two months away in Mexicorecently, I’m rather hoping I’ll be working this summer. Right now, we are trying to find a home for Born Free, a documentary I produced and which speaks about the rising maternal mortality rate in the US. How is it possible in one of the richest countries in the world? We explore all the possible causes, from women’s rights and [access to] healthcare, to racial bias. 

 

Suit FENDI & shoes LOEWE

At a moment where women’s rights have taken a hit – a step back worth decades – due to the pandemic, it’s a crucial topic. 

 Yes, it's a sobering thought. A crisis like that can happen and boom, we’re back to 1955 or something. So one of the main goals of the documentary is to educate people, without pretending to know better but by sharing information and giving them all the facts to make their own informed choices – whether I agree with them or not. 

…

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Martina Keenan

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Make-Up by Misha Shahzada at Kalpana

Hair by Seiji at Forward artists

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OPEN YOUR HEART

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With his vibrant and moving portrayal of Lil Papi in FX’s drama series Pose, Angel Bismark Curiel’s talent, and incredible skills as an actor, came to the fore.

Growing up in Liberty City, a rough and dangerous part of Miami, Angel’s life would have been quite different if he hadn’t embraced drama and developed his own creativity. With an exciting future ahead of him, the young actor is eager to take on new projects and challenge himself.

We caught up with Angel to discuss the profound impact the series has had on his life, creating a family unit on set, and how Poseencouraged him to be bolder when it comes to his own clothing choices.

Jacket VALENTINO

 Pose has been an incredible journey for you. How has it transformed you as an individual?

The show centers on black and brown people, and we are the heroes of our own stories. I love the fact that in Pose you get to see black trans women shine, in a society that deems them unworthy. I understood over time that being part of a show telling a love story between a cis dude and a black trans woman was in fact radical and revolutionary. 

Left Tank top SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants LANVIN & shoes VALENTINO GARAVANI

Right Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, bracelet & necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY

Jacket and pants EDEN HIGH BY MCQ, tank top Angel’s own, necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY & bracelet DAVID YURMAN

Why does transphobia still exist in our societies?

Anything you don’t understand, you’re fearful of. Individuals need the right education on gender and sexuality, in order to understand trans people. There is obviously no excuse being transphobic or homophobic today, regardless of how knowledgeable you may be. 

Full look AMIRI

 Did you know a lot about ballroom culture before you started shooting?

Not at all. The production was really helpful though and held a couple of courses on ballroom for us. I also watched Paris Is Burningin order to get more of an insight into that community. I learned a lot from my other cast members while shooting and just listened to their stories, particularly Dominique Jackson’s. It was an amazing experience.

ANGEL BISMARK CURIEL_BTBOnline_BehindTheBlindsMagazine_A.jpg

“We were playing a family, which means we spent a lot of time getting to know each other on set. It was deep and intimate.”

.

Full look BALENCIAGA

 The concept of family is obviously very important throughout Pose. Was there a similar sense of belonging for you while you were on set?

 I think that manifested itself quite organically. I came in feeling like a kid, I was scared and excited. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and I felt at ease almost instantly. We were playing a family, which means we spent a lot of time getting to know each other on set. It was deep and intimate. I think we were just open and willing to give everything we had.

Jacket, tee and denim pants VALENTINO, belt BALENCIAGA, necklace & bracelet ATELIUM JEWERLY

 There is so much love, passion and heartache in the show, which makes it very moving.

I think people truly engage with the show, not only because it deals with ballrooms, runways and categories, but also because it celebrates a space that allows people to be themselves completely.

Left Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO & necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY

Right Full look AMIRI

Did Pose encourage you to be more adventurous when it comes to fashion?

Definitely. I see clothing as a form of artistic expression. My stylist Jason Bolden, whom I love and consider a true friend, picked this amazing Lanvin outfit for the Season 3 Premiere, and when I saw shorts I was worried that people would make fun of me, but he was pretty convincing and when I tried everything on I felt great in it. Sometimes you just need to be open-minded and trust someone, and something clicked when I put it on. And I got to wear sneakers, too, which was so comfortable. Pose gave me room and allowed me to push the envelope more. I don’t need to be standard when it comes to my own personal style.

Left Jumpsuit ISABEL MARANT & necklace DAVID YURMAN

Right Jacket EDEN HIGH BY MCQ & necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY

…

Season three of POSE is currently airing on FX.

…

Interview by PHILIPPE POURHASHEMI

Photography by NINO MUNOZ

Fashion by CHRISTIAN STROBLE

Groomer CYNTHIA ALVAREZ at The Wall Group

Casting by ImageMachine_cs

Market assistant DANE NIKKO ALVERO

Stylist’s assistant SHAYLIN PYLE

AMICI

Directed and captured by AUSTIN AUGIE

Featuring Rockwell Harwood and Benji Staker at IMG

wearing full Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello SS21

Fashion by Michael Rosenberg

Director of photography Alec Nicholas

1st ac Sammy Levine

Music composer Alec Nicholas

Photographer’s assistant Massy Blakemen

Make-Up artist Mia Varrone

Stylist’s assistant Danielle Spadola

Production assistant David Friend

Special thanks to Sasha Kichigina

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Access to our exclusive interviews and features, selected weekly by the BTB team

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