Issue Twenty-Four
PVA The Magic Gang Rosie Alena Porridge Radio The Orielles Disq Scalping Orlando Weeks Legss The Goa Express Baxter Dury Hotel Lux
Michael Taylor, ‘The Mantis Jamboree’ Mixed Media on Paper
The new year has taken its grasp, and 2020 promises at the very least, six magazines from us at So Young. We first spoke to The Magic Gang back in Issue Five and we’ve caught up regularly ever since. 2018 saw the band release their debut album and wave goodbye to a lifetime of work. Two years on, the band have released their first single from the upcoming second album and you’ll find them on the cover. We give Kristian and Jack a call to talk ‘Think’ and bringing in the horns. There aren’t many bands who excite us more than PVA right now. The London group have been moving growing crowds with their brand of band led dance music. They took our call as we sought a thorough introduction into their world. Staying in the capital, Baxter Dury talks us through his progression from spoken word to delusionally urban and Hotel Lux take a break from writing dissertations to give us an insight into their upcoming debut EP.
Porridge Radio’s DIY slog has reaped the reward of a
record deal with Secretly Canadian. As they prepare to
release their second album, we touch base to talk about
emotional landscapes and arguing to avoid boredom. Last year teased singles from some of 2020’s most exciting
bands and we got in touch to add some detail. You’ll find
chats with Rosie Alena, Disq and Legss, all of whom you should plan to see right away. In Manchester, The Goa
Express are causing a stir. After years together in Burnley and Todmorden, the band are breaking out and we catch up to find out what we should expect and try to expose
their stickiest situations. Bristol’s Scalping are looking
to exploit the subculture grey areas. In a time where the
most exciting artists are combining dance music with live performance, it was vital that we got in touch. In Halifax, The Orielles are preparing to release their second album ‘Disco Volador’ and we spoke to the whole band about
frisbees, imaginary friends and space. In the first of our
artist series, we talk influences, postcards and more with
songwriter, illustrator and collage artist, Orlando Weeks.
3 Porridge Radio Sweet
21 Scalping Ruptured
8 Disq Daily Routine
25 Hotel Lux Tabloid Newspaper
9 Rosie Alena Mixed Messages
30 The Goa Express The Day
11 Legss Writhing Comedy
33 The Orielles Space Samba
13 The Magic Gang Think
38 Baxter Dury Slumlord
17 PVA Divine Intervention
41 Orlando Weeks So Young: Artist Series
2 0 2 0
Can you remember the first piece of visual art that had an impact on you? My grandmother painted and I remember her sitting me down and teaching me about how to keep the point on a soft brush. She was big on brush maintenance. She taught me how to blow smoke rings and how not to fuck up paint brushes. I remember her paintings of bowls of fruit dotted around the house. The So Young Artist Series is a new project we’re
What’s the story behind the collage you’ve used for our
launching in which we’ll collaborate with some of
collaboration? Where did you find the original images?
our favourite artists and designers on one-off items of clothing. Our first edition really encapsulates what we’re
I started doing postcard collages on the last Maccabees
all about at So Young, the combinations and crossovers
tour. No one buys or sends postcards any more. They were
of music and visual art in all their forms. Our first artist
the original Instagram post. A shiny, picture perfect image
is Orlando Weeks, songwriter, illustrator and collage
of your holiday. Two cocktail glasses clinking in front of
artist. We’re honoured to have Orlando on board for our
the dream sunset ... best life stuff. I liked the idea of doing
first item and so we caught up with him to talk about his
something with these increasingly discarded objects. The
creative process.
postcards on the T-shirt are from a holiday to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. On my holiday I didn’t see a single
What are the main differences for you between
eruption but you wouldn’t know that from the postcards
working on an illustration or writing a song? Both of
that I came back with.
which I imagine are initially isolating processes before you share with a publisher or bandmates…
A lot of collage involves collecting pieces of found imagery. Did you collect anything as a child? Where
With illustration I have a better idea of what something
do you think your tendency to assemble collages comes
should end up looking like. With song writing I feel far
from?
more at its mercy. It’s the boss of me ... usually. I tried to collect things as a kid. I wanted to be the kind of Do you enjoy one process more than the other?
person that collected things but I’m not diligent enough. Not enough of a dyed in the wool enthusiast in any
Not especially. I can feel just as sick of one as I can with
particular direction.
the other. Having said that songs are always more hassle. Both have their perks ... I like that I can have the radio on
In terms of collage... I think it comes down to genuinely
when I’m drawing and a muted film on in the background
rating my ability to cut stuff out. Growing up, no one
if I’m sat with the piano.
ever asked me to do their home work but I was asked to do people’s cutting out. Nice to do something you think
Where do you draw your main inspiration from?
you’re good at.
For me, any potential satisfaction that can be taken from
What projects are you currently working on?
making stuff has a sort of inbuilt vanishing horizon. The best song I’ll ever write or my favourite or most
I’m finishing my record at the moment which will come
accomplished drawing is always the one I’m about to
out this summer and preparing for the tour that’s coming
start. I suppose that counts as inspiration ... the fizz of that
in March.
potential.
41
everpress.com/so-young-magazine
Artists
Josh Whettingsteel
Editors Sam Ford
Josh Whettingsteel
Writers
Phoebe Scott
Matt Bisgrove Sam Ford Al Mills
Ross Jones
Rhys Buchanan Harley Cassidy
Eleanor Philpot Dan Pare
Josh Whettingsteel
Printed By Ex Why Zed
info@soyoungmagazine.com
Michael Taylor Adrian Forrow ABANG Cépé
Laylah Amarchih Mariana Malhão Holly Whitaker Mariana Sabio Daisy Link
Josh Scurville
Valat Ampavat
Orlando Weeks REN
Photos for Collage Dan Kendall
Darius Williams Holly Whitaker Mariana Sabio
Neelam Khan Vela Rhi Harper Tom Beard
Website
Art Direction
News
Special Thanks
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www.soyoungmagazine.com
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www.joshwhettingsteel.com
Jamie Ford
Cameron JL West Kai Fennell
Opposite, REN, ‘Big Boys Cry Too’ Watercolour and Pencil on Paper