“How much happier would we be if we spent more time moving with the force of life. Dancing, singing, making love, feeling sexy, walking in the woods, swimming at the beach, looking at flowers, watching animals, telling stories and gazing at the moon, rather than always pushing ourselves along a path that we think is leading us to where we want to go?”

Sally Mustang is an artist, yoga teacher, writer and a free spirit. We have been in love with the inspiring beauty already for a long time and we are happy to had an insightful talk with her about places, love, best life lession and sex&art.

You traveled already a lot in your life and currently you are Bali based. Where do you feel most at home?

Home is actually the hinterland of Byron Bay, NSW Australia it’s where my tribe lives my friends and family and is home to a really wonderful creative, conscious community. I am in Bali a lot to these days and while I’m there I live way out in the jungle very far from any tourists. I like the peace and the waterfalls out there :)

Nature is a big part in your life. Unfortunately the human race is constantly destroying the planet by it´s insatiable desire for always more and it´s growth on all levels. Or do you think nature itself is thriving in an age of extinction which is another scientific theory?

I think nature has a divine plan. Nature is our mother and we can by no means destroy her. All she has to do is have an earthquake or tsunami and it pretty much puts our lives and power as humans into perspective. But to be honest where I spend most of my time and what I see ( apart from a airport stop over in a city ) nature is alive thriving and beautiful. If I talk about destruction I see destruction, if I talk about beauty, I see beauty…

On most images I cannot find a photographers credit. Who is taking all that wonderful images of you?

Most of the time my partner Mitch snaps them, sometimes we self timer also. We both love photography and modelling so it’s another creative outlet for both of us.

On your instagram page you wrote: “Sex is Art”. Is there a connection between sexuality and art?

Absolutely! Our website www.sexisart.com shows you our erotic true stories and gives an insight into why Mitch and I most definitely believe that #SexisArt, or rather the way that we create it through our images and writing, is art. Our stories are a new perspective for us and many others on the relationship of sex, as art. A creative expression in a visual and written form that evokes beauty and emotional power.

The overall message behind what we’re doing with our stories is for freedom of expression, in an always criticising and controlling modern world. Of course we also want to promote love, connection and sexual exploration.

Through our art we hope to influence change and conversation, not just artistically but in peoples everyday life. This is art that can appeal to almost anyone with an open mind and we hope that people can not only appreciate, but also take something away from our work and use it in their own relationships.

“The overall message behind what we’re doing with our stories is for freedom of expression, in an always criticising and controlling modern world.”

How long have you and your boyfriend been together?

About 3 and a half years now. We are getting married in May and I just love him so fucking much !

What makes a relationship last long?

Good communication. Being open about everything. Growing together. Working towards common goals and missions in life. Passion and love.

What moment made you fall in love with yoga?

It was the first time I really connected spirit body and mind. It was through the body I healed myself and learnt about myself. It taught me how to be the best version of myself .. and still does. I’m forever grateful for the practice.

What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?

No challenge being an artist just sometimes also being a bussiness brain behind the art. It’s hard because creative brains don’t really work that way. Now thankfully I have a team that works that side of things for me, but at the start it was just me and I guess I tried my hardest but I never was on time, forgot to write  back, would sell my work for less if someone loved it etc etc. I remember my first business was my yoga studio a few years back and I basically had a system that was pay what you like for my students. I had a blacked out jar and a sticker on it saying donations. And that was how I was paying the rent and electricity. It seemed to always be enough but that’s just not how you run a bussiness haha. It was the best thing I did was get people on board that enjoyed that part of a mission and were good at it.

I would also say getting over fear. Fear to be seen, fear of not being good enough, fear of being judged blah blah the endless ego mind chatter, that’s a big one too. Getting over fear.

“If I talk about destruction I see destruction, if I talk about beauty, I see beauty…”

How much time are you spending on social media except for work?

Not much at all to be honest I have a really healthy relationship with it. Maybe 2 hours a week I’ll jump on and see what people are up to, and find creative inspiration on there. I try to follow people that inspire and make me feel good when I see there posts.

The best life lesson so far…

I wrote this the other day and I guess it was a huge life lesson for me :

As I sit here, I re discover the story. This is home. But it’s the story I have created. I feel as though everything I suffer with is just a story I have made up . I decide I’m my dogs caretaker ( or insert  mother / father ).. and I suffer thinking about if I’m caring correctly. Then I change the story and I’m her companion, friend and we are having an incredible time together. I’m happy.

I’m Mitch’s partner, am I fulfilling him? Am I good lover, is he fulfilling me? I wonder and

I realise again I am suffering .. I change the story, I love this guy and we seem to really embrace each other and support each other’s dreams. Again I change the story and I am happy.

I’m an artist, yogi, healer, writer.. blah blah.. am I doing enough? Am I good

Enough? What could I be better at? Whoops need to change the story. I am living and creating and I am doing what makes me feel alive. That’s enough always enough. Again I change story and I am happy.

I even create my own love story, have I given myself enough space/love/gratitude have I been gentle, caring, etc etc … still a fucking story. If I feel good than who fucking cares what I have given myself  Everything is a story. Make it up. Make it Fucking great. Better believe it.. society has tried very hard to create your story, make you believe in a certain style of success and happiness, but guess what, it’s actually you who decides !  This life.. it’s your story. MAKE IT UP

Where do you see yourself in around 10 years?

Painting, singing, dancing and travelling, a family, a veggie garden. Many friends and laughs, much love.. they are all things that come to mind

Is there a song you can’t stop listening to right now…?

Yesss ! Collide by Odette

A question we should have asked you? And your answer to it?

I guess you could have asked what my favourite sex position is …

I like being in top ;)

www.sallymustang.com

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post “Passion and love.” The world of Sally Mustang appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Nobody’s perfect.

Rather than hiding it, Girl Wilde is embracing it on her punchy new debut single, “BADSIDE.” It’s undeniably very pop, but it’s a short and sweet breathe of fresh air of major, guitar driven bubblegum, waving its hand back and forth in a classroom of minor keys and synthesizers. Clocking in at just under two minutes, it’s effectively imploring you to press play again. The LA-based songstress appears to have an arsenal of more songs ready to go, but for now, C-Heads has an exclusive peak at track numero uno today.

Words by Andy Gorel
Photos by Liza Boone

“(BADSIDE is) about the side we try to hide from people when we first meet them. The mess, the struggles, the downright uncomfortable and unattractive truths.”

“BADSIDE was unintentionally the first song I wrote for the project. I went into the studio with Allie Mcdonald and Dave Burris and spoke to them about the side we try to hide from people when we first meet them. The mess, the struggles, the downright uncomfortable and unattractive truths. We found ourselves giggling over the stupid and destructive things we did as our past selves to seem more desirable. We felt sassy and empowered. We just had a really good time making it and I hope people will feel that.”

Girl Wilde on Instagram
Girl Wilde on Facebook
Girl Wilde on Twitter

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Song Premiere: Girl Wilde – “BADSIDE” appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

FINDING HOME IN MY OWN VESSEL

“I came to Bulgaria for the first time last June for an artist residency, and ended up
staying in Sofia for two months. Lyubomir and I made those photos two days before I
left to come back home to France. It was the first time I ever accepted to be
photographed by a stranger. The first time I ever let someone see through the chaos
of my room, reflecting the chaos of my mind. The first time I understood the
importance of feeling at home, in your surrounding environment, but beforehand,
within your bones.

I have lived in various rooms across the world
from a narrow corridor
to a white cube of light

A life
made out of
packing
unpacking
falling in love
and packing again

Making a space my own
by collecting, amassing, stacking
appeared to me as the only way to feel at home
somewhere
somehow

I live in the surrounding chaos of my mind
objects crawl on the floor
photos pile up in corners
and bribes of words and leaflets found
are stacked on my desk

Colours melt
from my soul to the walls
and bright ideas pop up
in the middle of the night
***

I am not home in my own vessel
I am home in the surrounding confusion that I create
places after places

Trapped in my own momentum
a few months in,
half a year to the most
according to my unstoppable wandering
I would leave

But this time
it was different

I did not want to leave

Abandoning Sofia was like
crushing down the carapace
I had built to protect myself with

It was like understanding
What it feels like
To be the gooey snail
That has lost its shell

The emptiness of the room
I had once called “home”
And had wished to call home for longer
Made me understood that

Instead of looking around
I have to start looking inward

To find home in my own flesh
to make this pile of bones
A place of care and gentleness

To hold within
What I thought laid around

Because my body
Is what remains
And I need to find home
In my own vessel

Photography:
Lyubomir Ignatov
www.instagram.com/blahbamm
www.blahbamm.com
Text and Model:
Emma RSSX
emmarssx.fr
www.instagram.com/rssx

Photography:
Lyubomir Ignatov
www.instagram.com/blahbamm
www.blahbamm.com
Text and Model:
Emma RSSX
emmarssx.fr
https://www.instagram.com/rssx/

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Finding home in my own Vessel appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Vibrant fashion scene. Sydney based photographers, Tafa Ali and Hangah Liong went to Seoul, South Korea to shoot backstage at Hera Seoul Fashion Week S/S 2019 Collection.  Featuring the designers A.Bell, BNB12, Bourie, By.D’By, Greedilious, JWS, Lang & Lu, Tofit and Youser.

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Backstage at Hera Seoul Fashion Week S/S 2019 appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Brazilian photographer Pedro Costa Neves and model Dovile met for the first time in order to shoot together. After a gentle incrementalism into each other´s personality and overcoming an initial shyness, the creative glimmer clicked between them and with the music of The Weeknd in the background the shooting continued in an easy manner.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dovileparis/
Tumblr: www.dovileparis.tumblr.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/persocon
Website: www.killerrabb.it
Store: https://tkrp.net

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post A moment with Dovile appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“Without a certain degree of freedom, no movement is possible.”

“We say that with pictures we can capture moments.” starts to explain Swiss based photographer Yoshiro while lovely model Sara poses on a private rooftop in Barcelona, Spain. He pauses shortly and continues with powerful words: “In Latin, “momentum” also means “movement”. It`s important to realize that when capturing moments, you really capture movements. Movements are expressions of a living soul. Such expressions are more than a single-edged sword; they can (for example) be complex, ambiguous, vulnerable and powerful at the same time. But they always encompass a certain degree of freedom — for without, no movement is possible.”

Model: Sara @sarasolde
Photographer: Yoshiro Photography @yoshiro_photography

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post On a private rooftop appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Photographer Łukasz Dziewic teamed up with model Asia for this exclusive C-Heads series.  The outcome are natural and images about a girl who loves to spend unforgettable moments on the sea in Sardina.

photographer – Łukasz Dziewic www.instagram.com/lukaszdziewic
model – Asia www.instagram.com/asiapiwka

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Unforgettable moments with Asia appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“Creativity can really change the world! Remember when you’re a kid, and the creativity you had was something that allowed you to live life inspired and feel you could do the impossible? Just being wild with your imagination allowed you to feel something!”

the gorgeous model and photographer Emma Breschi replies when we ask her if art can change the world. And we can feel this sort of power that could change things around even just through her words. Images of her always have that sort of power too, no wonder that she got scouted on instagram to start her modelling career and soon after worked with some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Vivienne Westwood and Juergen Teller. In our interview Emma tells us about her exciting beginnings as a model and her fabulous project “The Kissing Both” in collaboration with Vivienne´s Creatives. “Something so powerful and yet simple …a kiss. And with this kiss, we hope that Love will conquer all.”

You initially got scouted on instagram by Carhartt. How was your initial reaction when you received their message?

When they first contacted me about the campaign, I thought they were asking me to shoot because originally I’m a photographer. Then I realised they wanted me to be in it as a model! I was so confused. laughs. Never in my life did I think I’d be model, so I was literally laughing like “wtf is this a joke !?”. I was so nervous because it was one of the first moments where I had to figure out what it’s like to be in front of the camera. I’m glad that I went with the flow, because at the end of the day it opened doors in my life I never even knew were there!

How fast after that did you get scouted to shot for Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler? And what did you learn from working with both of them – for your professional life but also for your private life?

Well shortly after that, I signed with Models 1. I owe it to them for having my back and allowing me to be myself in this world of fashion! I had no expectations when I first signed, because at the end of the day it was still a shock to me that I was even being signed to begin with! Never in my life did I think I’d become a model! I had no idea where my career was going to go, but I’m so lucky to have Models 1 guiding me and supporting me through it all!
I have such an amazing relationship with my agents and they truly are my family. They really believe in me, when I didn’t even know myself that this was something I could do! It’s because of them that I’ve been able to work with some of the most creative minds in this industry. Because of them, I got to meet and work with one of my idols Juergen Teller!
That day was one of the greatest days of my life, I made sure to keep cool and not be such a fan girl, but I had a whale of a time eating cake, shooting in his studio in a designer dress that wouldn’t zip up. laughs. But I didn’t even care and we made it work. After that day, I left feeling content with my life, that if it had ended there and then I’d been cool with it. laughs. 

Few weeks after, I got a call and my agents and they were like, “you’re doing Andreas’ AW Campaign for Vivienne Westwood, which Juergen is shooting.” I literally was like “SERIOUSLY WHAT!?”. I couldn’t believe it because who even am I to be so lucky to get to work with some of my heroes!? Like you never think that happens! I can’t express how shocked I was, I almost couldn’t believe it. I just wanted to call one of my tutors from Fashion school like “hey remember that time you called me into your office and said I was too immature (my teacher hated my sense of humour) to make it in the industry… well…”  Obviously I didn’t do that… but maybe I should’ve. laughs.

I’m just so grateful to have worked with Vivienne, Andreas, Juergen and everyone in the Westwood family. They are some of the industry’s most influential and creative minds around! People who I look up to so much, and they’ve welcomed me into their home! I’m so blessed to have worked with them and to call them my friends. I mean outside of all the work we’ve done together, Vivienne’s been such an incredible teacher and friend to me, taking me under her wing to see things differently and through her eyes. We have many great passionate conversations and she’s inspired me to be more open with my voice. I used to be scared to say what I really thought, and who better than the queen of punk to tell me “FORGET YOURSELF AND FOCUS ON WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT” … that’s the best advice anyone’s ever given me.

“I used to be scared to say what I really thought, and who better than the queen of punk to tell me “Forget yourself and focus on what´s really important.”

Tell us about a bit The Kissing Booth – did you or Vivienne come up with this idea or you both together?

So, Vivienne approached me and a few other creatives from Vivienne’s Army to interpret her AW1819 collection. We each had to create our own conceptual content, so I brainstormed and explored powerful key themes that I saw within the collection. Vivienne does everything in her power, trying to stop climate change and mass extinction of life on earth. She always expresses how important it is for to live in harmony with the planet, and it really is a matter of life and death.

So being part of Vivienne’s army, I just did some research into WAR and Soldiers… simply googled “soldier’s in WW2” just to get in the mind set of one. I came across so many photos of soldiers with their loved ones, or just women they met. War is such a horrible thing and I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma’s people of war have been through, and yet even at times of despair there are photographs of people being connected and bounded by love or even with a kiss. I started looking at all these photos of soldiers kissing or getting photobooth shots with their wife or girlfriend. It brought a warm feeling and a sense of hope.

That’s where I thought of the kissing booth. I walked into my meeting and pitched “THE KISSING BOOTH”… and that was that. I wanted my project to celebrate something as powerful and simple as a kiss. I felt it would send a very important message to everyone in this crazy post Brexit Trump world we’re currently in.

“War is such a horrible thing and I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma’s people of war have been through, and yet even at times of despair there are photographs of people being connected and bounded by love or even with a kiss.”

Do you think that art can really change the world?

Absolutely. Creativity can really change the world! Remember when you’re a kid, and the creativity you had was something that allowed you to live life inspired and feel you could do the impossible? Just being wild with your imagination allowed you to feel something! Visual thinking has allowed me to generate ideas that I think have potential to change the world. The world needs change and it’s people like artists, filmmakers, designers, performers, writers, activists and creatives that can have great influence on people’s lives. Especially, when creative people team up with people in other circles of science, politics, economics, education, sport, culture etc, together they have the ability to change the world at large!

Can you reveal some funny behind the scenes moments?

I casted my friends and family for this project and got my friends on board to help create this project with me. So, after everything was shot we had the kissing booth at the wrap party in Vivienne’s Conduit St Store. The funniest moment I think with all of this, was when my videographer got in the kissing booth and this random girl at the party went in with him. She was like “will you kiss me?” and they kissed! That was such a magical moment seeing the booth come to life for real! Seeing how something like a kiss can really unite people (even strangers) in a positive way. But the funny thing was, when he wanted to get her number we found out she had a boyfriend. laughs.

The best kiss you were given in your life so far?

I’m a very confident person, but when it comes to being intimate with someone, for some reason I get really shy and nervous. I mean I’m known to giggle before a guy leans in to give me a kiss! laughs.
But the best kiss I’ve ever had was the time I decided to lean in and give the kiss! I remember feeling nervous and noticing he was feeling nervous… both of us sat like a couple of lemons on my sofa…
So, I decided to let go of my nerves and thought FUCK IT! KISS HIM ALREADY! So, I grabbed his face and kissed him (WITHOUT LAUGHING FOR ONCE)! Sometimes, when you have a first kiss with someone you barely know… it can be all kinds of wrong, but this first kiss was something I’d never felt before (probably because it was the first time I ever made the first move on a guy) and my lady buttons were beeping with confidence! Yeah that’s been the best first kiss so far.

“At the end of the day if you believe in human rights that is feminism. So there really is no wrong or right way to being a feminist.”

You said you like discussing about topics such as environment, body positivity and feminism. What are the main things that each one of us could do right now to make things better for the environment?

There are many things that we all need to have open conversations about and raise awareness for! I’m very passionate about many social constructs, but saving the environment holds great importance to me because it’s very close to home. I grew up in Phuket, Thailand and my entire childhood was by the sea, I’ve experienced first-hand and witnessed the dangers our world is going through. One particular moment was in 2004 when the Tsunami hit Phuket on boxing day. I remember realising, that this is real and not something you just saw on the TV. It was a dark time in our lives and the planet was crying out to us that changes needed to be made. I’ve lived on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and swam in some of the world’s most beautiful waters, to see it being destroyed and treated with carelessness due to our selfish ways. It’s so important to take care of the planet and the nature that surrounds us … this is our home.
The main thing that each and every one of us can do right now, is to try and make small changes that will impact the world on a larger scale. It can be something as simple as donating to charities, recycling, to just spending 10 minutes on the beach picking up rubbish or if you see trash on the floor as you walk by on the street, pick it up and throw it in the bin. Try removing as much plastic in your life (because plastic is basically the devil lol) or just try out sustainable brands! There are so many incredible brands nowadays doing incredible stuff for the environment!

Great words, Emma. What about feminism. I think feminism is important. But I feel that sometimes in our Western societies feminism has become more superficial and only a „fashion word“ almost and we forget to fight for those in my opinion really important feminist issues such as child marriage, female genital cutting, forced veiling etc. I rarely see anyone mentioning those issues even though everyone says they are feminists. What means feminism to you and what are the main issues for you that still need to be solved?

I completely agree with you in the sense that we need to be fighting for all feminist issues. I can see what you’re saying in the sense that feminism is becoming perhaps diluted in to a “trend”, but I also think it’s great that people are feeling more confident and open to standing proud as a feminist. I think there are still moments where people fear the word “feminist” so in a way I’m glad that it’s being celebrated. However, I think because of this, people are forgetting the real meaning of the word and what feminism is all about! So, you’re very right in the sense that we need to be more involved now with raising awareness about feminist issues with the highest of importance.
I’ve been accused of “not being a good feminist” which is bizarre in my opinion, because there are so many layers to feminism that it doesn’t make sense to say “you’re not the right kind of feminist”! At the end of the day if you believe in human rights that is feminism. So there really is no wrong or right way to being a feminist.
I’ve been trying very hard to include more men into the conversation with me, because men are feminists too! I try first by having the conversations with the men in my life, like my father, brother and male friends. When they show interest in the work that I do as a feminist, I try to educate and empower them on certain issues I’m passionate about (for example period poverty), it brings hope for the future. I might make them feel uncomfortable at times, but once they let go of that and if I’m able to change a man’s perspective to really see from my eyes the sort of issues we face as women… I believe it’s playing a small part in solving some of the problem.

“I explore nudity for myself, no one else and especially not for the validation of others.”

In an interview you said „if you’re being naked to inspire, motivate and project self-love then by all means do it.“ How was your first nude shooting and did you have to bring yourself to do it or it came totally natural?

My first ever nude shoot was with the incredible Nadia Lee Cohen for her “100 Naked Women” project. I remember being so scared with excitement, because it’s such an incredible project. I also had my doubts prior to the shoot, realising that I’ve never been completely naked like that before in my life. Growing up I was so insecure to even be seen in a bikini let alone butt naked. So, it was something I had to just go in thinking ok… that was my past… but what do I think now? And I remember going in thinking who actually gives a fuck!? I had no choice but to think that way, because I was going into this shoot, working with another woman I admire so much, that it didn’t matter what I thought about my naked body. I would just have to be taken in as I am and work it!
After that shoot, I walked out a changed woman. Honestly. I remember thinking wow… I was literally on all fours, being photographed in a blonde Donatella style wig, with crazy makeup, that I had completely forgotten I was actually naked the whole time. It made me realise, that my body is my own and whatever anyone else thinks or says about it… really isn’t my problem at all! Once you let go of your self-doubts, being you and being naked isn’t the problem.
I explore nudity for myself, no one else and especially not for the validation of others.

You seem very confident. Is there still anything about yourself or any situation in life that you are not so confident about?

I’m a very confident person, content within myself, and a people person through and through. However, I have had issues with intimacy for the longest time. I would doubt myself in situations where I had to connect with a person on any intimate level, and I have lacked great confidence, when it comes to sex, being intimate or in love with someone else. But I’ve had some great women in my life like my friends who’ve helped me learn a lot about myself, and it’s ok to feel these things because we are only human. I’m learning to let go of the doubts I have with intimacy and feeling confident in myself sexually. My friend Portia always tells me “YOU ARE A GODDESS SO LET YOURSELF FEEL THAT GODDESS ENERGY!” and that is really important to hear! Sexual health and understanding female pleasure is so important, I think that’s something I need to learn and talk about more with women and men about.

“It’s so important to take care of the planet and the nature that surrounds us, this is our home.”

As a child you wanted to become…

I wanted to be a swimmer or marine biologist, but then I realised you had to be good at science to do that, which I really wasn’t. laughs. 

You were born in Switzerland, grew up in Thailand and live in the UK now and your parents are Italian and Filipino. Do you have the same „home-feeling“ in all those places?

I’m so lucky to have had such a multi-cultural upbringing, but for me home is wherever I am at the time. I’m so used to be thrown into new environments and adjusting to change, that literally home for me is where the heart is.

Favourite book / favourite movie?
Have too many favourites, but right now I’m reading Scar Tissue, by Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s. It’s a great book, you’ve got to read it!

In the video of The Kissing Both you also appear with your beautiful grandmother. What is the best advice she has ever given to you?

My grandma is my favourite person, she’s crazier than me! But she tells me off a lot… I think the best advice she’s ever given me in her words in her accent: “Now you know smoking is bad… it gives cancer of the throat. So you better stop it. Makes your mouth smell like ashtray too “.

www.instagram.com/emmabreschi

“The Kissing Booth” A Project by Emma Breschi
Photographer: Emma Breschi
Videographer: Rohum Pourtahmasbi
Set Design: Samuel Gosling
Music: San Scout
Make-Up: Anete Salinieka
Make-Up Assistant: Chihiro Yamada
Production: Vivienne Westwood
Featuring: Emma Breschi, Charlie Barker, Lily Jean Bridger, Laurel, Elliott, Tesz, Dennisa Villalobos and Brendan Mitchell.

all images provided by models1.co.uk

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Model Emma Breschi talks about Vivienne Westwood, human rights and being naked appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at the picture for a second and think of it all your life. Joan Miro

 Grace Gardiner of Elite Models recently moved from New York to Los Angeles. “That morning, Grace came over, there was nice October autumn light in my apartment, French music on the stereo…. a perfect time to shoot.” tells us photographer Darren Ankenman. Oh yes… Grace is wearing overalls by Eve Denim.

Photography by Darren Ankenman

Photography by Darren Ankenman
www.instagram.com/darren_ankenman
darrenankenman.com

Model is Grace Gardiner @gracekgardiner
Elite Models @elitela
print dress @jeuillimite

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Grace Gardiner by Darren Ankenman appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Lissabon, den 24.10.2018

– LEKTION –

Text & Photography by Konstantin Arnold

Ich könnte minutenlang dasitzen und in die Luft starren, bis die Minuten zu Stunden und die Stunden zu Tagen werden. Ohne an einer Zigarette zu ziehen, die Menschen erlösen würde, ihnen das Gefühl gäbe, ich würde etwas Sinnvolles tun. Ich könnte stundenlang Brüste unter einem Wollpullover beobachten, den Rundungen beim Runden zu schauen. Bis aus dem Pullover Unterwäsche und aus der Unterwäsche nackter Busen werden würde. Und ich könnte wochenlang durch einen kalten, klaren Herbsttag laufen, immer dem kondensierten Atem nach, bis der Herbst zu Winter und der Winter dann zu Sommer werden würde. Wochen zu Monaten, Monate zu Jahren. Ich habe viel gesehen, war schon weit weg und nah dran, kenne mich aus in der Welt und habe Bilder gemacht, die hoffentlich ein Teil von mir geworden sind, obwohl ich nie darauf verlinkt wurde. Wenn ich etwas tue, stelle ich mir oft vor, ich würde es nicht tun. Und umgedreht. Angst habe ich auch manchmal, manchmal wenn mir irgendetwas etwas bedeutet. Ich kann meine Gedanken nur schwer vergessen und habe moralische Ansprüche, an denen ich so oft gescheitert bin, dass sie sich endlich auf mein Niveau herabbegeben haben.

Ich selbst bin sportlich, breit von Natur aus, volles dunkelblondes Haar. Großgezogen von einem Model von Mutter, die meinte, Männer sollten um Himmelswillen nicht schön sein, sondern Geschichten zu erzählen haben. Daher mein windelweicher Kern. Ich bin jung, obwohl die Jüngeren wahrscheinlich sagen würden, dass ich schon alt wäre. Ich lebe schnell, voll, viel, noch schneller und das am liebsten an vielen verschiedenen Orten mit vielen verschiedenen Menschen. Die nicht verschiedenen Menschen sagen, ich wäre rastlos, hätte mich aber in Lissabons Gassen wiedergefunden. Gott sei Dank! Ich wohne in einem anderen Land, um frei zu sein und Dinge wahrzunehmen, die mir zu Hause nicht auffallen. Wäre ich in Portugal geboren, würde ich wahrscheinlich in Deutschland leben. Aber so rum ist’s besser. Deutschland ist kühl, sogar im Sommer und die Menschen müssen immer gleich wieder gehen und wenn sie gehen, Essen gehen, dann nur wenn jemand heiratet oder gestorben ist. Die Frauen sind emanzipiert, die Männer pünktlich. Die Wirtschaft boomt, weil die Mittagspause nur eine halbe Stunde dauert und in Portugal lieber alle leicht angesoffen zurück an die Arbeit kehren. Die Menschen lieben ihre Sprache, ihren Wein und leben von einer Höflichkeit, die sich nach innen neigt wie ein ernst gemeintes Kompliment an die Organe. Freundschaften gehen von der Sandkiste bis ins Grab, weit über ausgespannte Freundinnen und nie zurückgezahltes Geld hinaus. Das ist gut, denn je mehr Menschen ich kennenlerne, desto weniger Freunde habe ich. Je mehr ich kennenlerne, desto weniger mag ich.

Ich mag Herbst, keine griechischen Frauen und glaube, dass ich nichts zu sagen habe, deswegen schreibe ich. In mir ist ein Schatz von unschätzbarem Wert verborgen, ein innerer Reichtum, etwas Kostbares, das verloren geht, wenn ich es nicht in echte Sätze packe. In eine zementgegossene Sprache, in Worte mit einer unmissverständlichen Bedeutung, Worte wie Felsen an denen das Gerede zerschellt. All das Gefasel, die immer gleichen Wendungen, zermalmt von einer Wahrheit, die lockt Unanständiges zu sagen, mit dem man die tonbandtreue Kaffeeküchenunterhaltung aus dem Takt in die Luft, in all ihre Buchstaben zersprengen könnte. Denkmäler der Klarheit. Worte so präzise, wie mit einem Skalpell geschrieben. Worte, ohne Echo, die für sich selbst sprechen können, ohne dass man etwas zu ihnen sagen müsste. Worte, die eine Geschichte erfinden, die wahr ist und nicht von Spießigkeit gewollt und von den Blicken anderer großgezogen wurden. Worte, die sich nicht im Ruf einer Sache sonnen, ohne ihren Teil zu dieser Sache beigetragen zu haben. Es nicht genauso anders machen, nur damit es bloß nicht gleich ist. Worte, die benutzt werden wollen und im stillen Detail ihre Weltläufigkeit verwahren.

Keinen Schimmer, ob ich das gut kann, aber es gibt tausend Dinge, die ich schlechter kann. Und dass ich das jetzt besser kann, heißt nicht, dass ich es vorher gut gekonnt habe. Hinter all dem liegt eine Gabe, die zur Last wird, zumindest wenn um mich herum nicht alles beschrieben ist und Eindrücke und Notizen und Manuskripte auf mich einschlagen. Ich habe einen siebten Sinn, ich kann mein Leben aus der Erzählperspektive sehen, durch die Augen eines weisen, alten Mannes, der viel gefickt hat und dem das Leben Abenteuer in die Falten seines Gesichts geschrieben hat. So als würde er im Schaukelstuhl mit vollstem Vertrauen kräftig vor -und zurückwippen und sich warmen Schoßes an seine geladene Pistole und einen Herbsttag erinnern und so gerne noch mal Leiden, Leben, Lieben und sich nie fragen müssen, was wohl gewesen wäre wenn, weil er auch damals volle Pulle vor -und zurückgewippt ist. Er ruft mir zu, mit kaputtgerauchter Stimme, volle Kraft voraus und Gott liebt dich Junge, auch wenn du mal dein Kondom vergessen hast. Es muss schön sein, auf ein so vollbeladenes Leben zurückgucken zu können, aber es ist noch viel schöner, das Leben schon von der Zukunft aus sehen zu können, wenn man gerade dabei ist, es voll zu beladen.

Versuchs mal! Geh und sieh selbst durch die wachen Augen eines weisen, alten Mannes. Augen wie Planeten. Nimm einen kalten, klaren Herbsttag. Muss nicht der erste sein. Einen einfachen Tag im Herbst. Ein Sonntag wäre gut und reine ungeatmete Luft, die ein junger Mann über große Balkontüren ins Schlafzimmer eines Hauses lässt, um sie mit einer jungen Frau zu teilen. Das Haus ragt wie der Bug eines Kriegsschiffes auf eine Kreuzung und vom Balkon aus, könnte man Demokratien verkünden. Es ist ein später Morgen und der Wein hängt ihnen zum Hals raus. Es wird kaum richtig hell und früh wieder dunkel. Die Sonne steht tief, die Schatten lange nicht mehr so scharfkantig wie noch im Sommer. Außer den Dingen, die man lieber tut, anstatt sie zu beschreiben, ist noch nichts passiert, außer der Müllabfuhr. Sie könnten einfach liegenbleiben, müssten heute nicht zum Strand. Ihre Augen sind zu, geschlossene Planeten. Einander noch nicht gesehen, wie damals als sie neben ihm stand und er spürte, dass sie schön ist. Liegend neben ihm. Conchinha. Gäbe es in Lissabon Schornsteine, würde die jetzt rauchen. Draußen ist ein kalter Tag in festen Schuhen, die über trockenes Laub und glattes Pflaster spazieren wollen. Die Hände in den Taschen, das Kinn im Kragen, den Blick auf die Schaufenster gerichtet. Sein Gang ist viel gewaltiger und stärker als ihrer, und manchmal eilt er voraus und sie versucht mitzuhalten und sie machen dann an einem alten Buchladen Rast. Alte Buchläden haben etwas Schicksalhaftes, denkt er. Sie denkt, was er wohl denkt. Beide schauen nach Büchern, die Lissabon so zeigen, wie sie es sehen. Nicht als touristische Kulisse oder als Sehenswürdigkeit, sondern als Ort ihres alltäglichen Lebens, in dem sie aufgewachsen ist und er ein Buch schreibt. Hätten sie ein Ziel gehabt, wären sie nie hier gelandet, hätten nie diese Bücher in ihren Händen gehalten und später nie auf einer Parkbank gesessen und ihre Worte geteilt. Er hat ein Buch gekauft, das scheiße ist und wie froh er ist, dass es scheiße ist. Die meisten Autoren findet er ohnehin scheiße und die, die er gut findet, beneidet er so sehr, dass er sie noch beschissener finden muss. Sie ist da anders. Sie freut sich, wenn er sich Dinge kauft, die ihn hier halten. Auf dem Boden gekaufter Tatsachen. Bücher, Bilder, verstaubter Plunder, der es mittlerweile liebend gerne tonnenschwer machen kann, jemals wieder wegzugehen. Genauso gehen sie hintereinander durch Gassen, die so klein sind, dass kaum ein Straßenname zu ihnen passt. Enge Gassen, die sie frei machen und bis an den Largo de Sao Miguel führen, auf dem er Kastanien kauft, die von Castanheiros geröstet werden und so weit im Süden so etwas wie Schnee sind. Zeichen des Winters, eine Erinnerung daran, dass kein Sommer ist.

Wie jedes Mal zeigt er ihr sein Lieblingshaus, das neben einer großen Korkeiche vor einem Kirchplatz steht, und wie jedes Mal hört sie sich die Geschichte an, als höre sie sie zum allerersten Mal. Er redet dann mit den Augen eines Kindes, mit der Weitsicht eines alten, weisen Mannes, der zwar etwas verrückt ist, für seine Leidenschaft aber gut bezahlt wurde, anstatt an ihr zu scheitern. Das Haus hat große, starke Wohnungen und Balkone zu beiden Seiten. Auf der einen Seite hängen die Äste der Korkeiche und auf der anderen fließt der Tajo und man sieht den Frachthafen, an dem die Welt in Container verladen wird. Zwischen den gefliesten Hauswänden verläuft ein öliger Holzfußboden, der, vom höher gelegenen Kirchplatz aus, gut zu sehen ist und sich in den Lichtern der Stadt spiegelt. Die Möbel sind große schwarze Ungetüme, nicht zu erkennen. Es sind hohe stolze Häuser mit Flussblick, die übereinander ragen und viel besser sein wollen, als die Backsteinhaufen ohne Flussblick, den von Erdbeben vergewaltigten Bruchbuden auf der anderen Seite des Berges. Man sagt, es gäbe auf der anderen Seite des Berges jetzt eine Rolltreppe, die wie ein Zeitstrahl durch den Verfall der Häuser bis auf den Gipfel des Berges führe. Viele der Bars hätten mittlerweile Türsteher bekommen und das Essen der Restaurants würde immer fetter und schlechter werden. Die meisten Terrassen bestünden nur noch aus eingezäunten Ausblicken, die gebaut werden müssen, aber schon Stühle und Tische haben, von denen man sie genießen kann, bis sie endgültig eingehen.

Auf der Sonnenseite des Berges hingegen riecht es nach warmer Nacht. Anblick statt Ausblick. Sie sitzt auf einer Mauer und er lehnt an einem Laternenpfahl. Immer noch am Kirchplatz, immer noch Herbst. Erst wird das Laternenlicht grün, bevor es dann gelb wird. Sie trinken Bier aus Plastikbechern, und rauchen Zigaretten. Er starrt auf ihren Wollpullover. Sie reden mit deutschen und portugiesischen Vokabeln. Er redet am meisten, sie korrigiert. Sie war lange nicht mehr hier, weil er lange nicht hier war. Oft geht er auf Reisen, ohne sie. Aber nie kehrt er ohne ein kleines Geschenk zu ihr zurück. Er reist enthaltsam, nur mit ein paar Büchern, schwarzen Unterhosen, schwarzen Socken, schwarzer Jeans, alles schwarz, nur das Gleiche. Nur seine Jeansjacke ist tabakfarben. Sie hat große Taschen, in denen ein Notizbuch, etwas Geld, eine Schachtel Zigaretten, ein kleines Geschenk und ein ganzer Roman Platz finden. Sie ist alt und abgetragen, genauso wie die Jeansjacken der Marlboromänner im Norden Amerikas alt und abgetragen sind und Flecken haben, die von ihren vielen Abenteuern berichten. So fühlt er sich! Er macht sich etwas aus Mode, will nur nicht drüber nachdenken müssen, weil die Männer im Norden Amerikas auch nicht drüber nachdenken. Wenn ihm etwas gefällt, kauft er es dreifach und die Leute denken, er würde nie die Kleidung wechseln. Sie liebt seine Jacke, weil sie für all die Sehnsüchte, Hoffnungen und Vorurteile steht, die er für sie ist. Diesmal kommt er aus Zürich und hat eine alte Kamera für sie mitgebracht.

Sie reist auch gerne. Am liebsten einer Ausstellung nach oder den Handlungsorten eines Buches hinterher. Seine nächste Reise geht nach Wien. Diesmal wird er sie mitnehmen. Egon Schiele und irgendein Film, der dort spielt. Wenn er zu lang weg ist, streiten sie viel. Dann schicken sie sich meterlange SMS, die in die Ausweglosigkeit führen, bis sie, vom Streit ausgehöhlt, tausende Kilometer voneinander entfernt, völlig erschöpft, in sich zusammensacken. Dann schickt er ihr eine Postkarte, auf die er schreibt, dass er sie vermisse und ihm Portugal fehle und ihm fehle wie sie Portugiesisch spricht und wie ihre Mutter Fischsuppe kocht und das ganze verdammte Gefühl der Vollkommenheit. Wo auch immer er gerade ist. Und sie reden erst wieder miteinander, wenn die Postkarte ankommt.

Mit ihr ist er über einen Punkt hinausgegangen, vor dem er bei anderen Frauen stets zu fliehen versuchte. Mit ihm ist sie endlich wieder gekommen. Er hat sie schon aus den Flammen und aus den Fluten gerettet und sie kann all den Sturm ganz leicht aus seinen Segeln atmen. Beide haben einander zu schätzen gelernt. Beide ziehen sich an und aus. Es gibt kein Ausziehen, ohne eine letzte Scham und keine letzte Scham ohne das Ausziehen. Es ist ein Rätsel, dessen Antwort darin besteht, keine Frage zu finden. Ein Ding auf Abstand, durch den ein Bild von van Goghs, Monets, Urys, von wem auch immer, erst augenscheinlich spürbar wird. Es ist wahrhaftig nicht leicht, für einen Mann eine Frau aufrichtig zu lieben, ohne dass ihm seine Moral, aus Rücksicht, dabei ein Stück weit entgegenkommt. Er begehrt sie und sie begehrt seine Begierde.

Fast wäre er danach mit ihr noch in die alte Trambahn gestiegen. Und sie wären aneinander aus dem Fenster gelehnt durch die Nacht gefahren. Wären da nicht Anakondas von Touristen gewesen, die sie von dieser schnulzigen Tat und die Welt vor einem weiteren schnulzigen Absatz bewahrt hätten. Glaubt man all den für alle Ewigkeit zwischen den Pflastern verloren gegangenen Zigarettenstummeln, gibt es im Viertel mit Flussblick zu dieser Stunde außerdem noch mehr, als ein glücklich besoffenes Liebespaar. Es gibt junge Fado-Sängerinnen, die in Telheiras, dem Vorgarten Lissabons aufgewachsen sind und mit zarten 20 von den Problemen der Alten Mourarias singen, dem vom Erdbeben ins Mittelalter beförderten Backsteinhaufen auf der anderen Seite des Berges ohne Flussblick. Es gibt grüne Parks mit Enten und Eintritt, in dem alle Probleme dieser Erde gelöst werden könnten, weil wilde Enten zeigen, dass alles halb so wild ist. Es gibt Treppenstufen, auf denen man die heißesten Szenen drehen könnte und alte Straßenlaternen, die alles in gelbem Licht erstrahlen. Der Boden ist holprig, nicht für hohe Schuhe und Rollkoffer geeignet und die Luft riecht immer frisch gewaschen, egal wie hoch sich der Müll unter den Wäscheleinen auftürmt. Manchmal gibt es kleinere Ausstellungen zu denen Models kommen, die nicht wissen was ausgestellt wird und Männer mit Haarschnitt und Krawatten, die kaum noch sehen, was nicht ausgestellt wurde. Ein Leben für die Kunst, na klar! Wir schauen zurück und würden uns erhängen, noch bevor wir sterben, wenn es kein freies Leben gewesen wäre. Von jemandem wie ihr hatte er stets geträumt, immer kurz vor dem Einschlafen in all den letzten Jahren. Doch nie würde er die Liebe vor die Kunst stellen und das weiß sie, weil es sonst auch nicht er wäre, den sie lieben würde. Das macht sie traurig und ihn macht es traurig, weil es sie traurig macht. Ihr Herz schlägt zu gut, als dass sie es verbergen könne. Er findet dann die richtigen Worte, weil es immer Worte gibt, die richtig klingen, selbst wenn sie falsch sind und sie glaubt seinen Worten, weil er sie sich selbst glaubt.

Dann schaut sie zu ihm mit einem Blick, der sich einbrennt, wie eine gedachte Fotografie. Beide überkommt ein Hunger, der sie um Mitternacht in ein Bistro treibt. Ein schmaler Raum, eine lange Theke, die Wände gefliest und die Tische folgen wildgewordenen Geometrien. Das Licht ist grell und scheint durch zwei offene Türen auf das Pflaster der Gasse, die sich mit einem kleinen Absatz vom Bistro abzugrenzen weiß. Im Licht stehen Menschen wie Motten. Die Kellner tragen Schnauzbärte und weiße Hemden, die in schwarzen Hosen stecken und über den Tag mit allem Möglichen eingesaut wurden. Sie bestellt Sardinen, er nimmt Vazia mit einem Ei drauf. Obwohl sie weiß, dass man Sardinen eigentlich nur von einem Grill essen sollte, der hinter einem Elternhaus brutzelt und er weiß, dass nichts an die Erleuchtung herankommen wird, die beide im Norden des Landes gegessen haben. Es ist ein schönes Bistro, weil es ein schöner Abend ist. Im Winter, wenn die Winde über die Quadratmeter pfeifen, ein Ort zum Aufwärmen, im Sommer, wenn seine große Balkontüre zum Gewächshaus wird, ein Ort zum Abkühlen. Beide waren sie noch nie zuvor an diesem Ort, der jetzt ihr Ort ist. Er sagt, dass er Menschen schön finde, die alleine dasitzen, ohne auf ihr Telefon zu glotzen, sich mit ihren Gedanken zu beschäftigen wüssten und einfach nur in die Luft starren. Sie sagt, dass es aber auch viele Spanner gäbe, die ihr dann auf die Brüste glotzen würden. Er sagt, dass das ja entsetzlich wäre und räudige Typen seinen müssten. Sie sagt, Männer können eben nur so gut sein, wie sie sind.

Lektionen eines einfachen, klaren Herbsttages. Gesehen durch die zurückgezogenen Gardinen eines großen Fensters, vor denen ein notgeiler alter Knacker sitzt, immer vor –und zurückwippend. Es kommt nicht darauf an, was man daraus gemacht hat, immerhin wären er und sie fast liegengeblieben. Viel wichtiger ist doch, was man darin sieht, welche Worte man wählt, welche Perspektive man trägt und durch welche Augen man das Leben in all seinen stillen Momenten betrachtet. Ich wünsche einen erfolgreichen Herbst. Herzlichst, K. mit 69.

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post – LEKTION – appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“Inspired by the works of Berlin based photographer, Bob Sala, this intimate shoot appropriates his warm and dulcet photography style to a bedroom, somewhere in the city of London.” tells us the Nepalese Australian photographer Nirish Shakya about his recent work. And while everyone else tries to catch each second of the vibrant summer in the city outside, Swiss girl Leonie who visited London, decided to enjoy the summer inside. “Soaking up a careful selection of pop culture magazines and slivers of sunlight that make their way into the room.” Stylist for the shoot was Sophia Katyea Andrews.

Photographer: Nirish Shakya (Instagram: @nizzah, Website: https://nizzah.com)
Model: Leonie Fabienne Probst (Instagram: @leoniiefabienne)
Stylist: Sophia Katyea Andrews (Instagram: @sophiakatyea)

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Let’s stay in bed all day appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Photographer Alexander Scott Harris captures beautiful model Cece Buss, who is with Next Models Management, in Brooklyn, New York. The story titled “Stages of the Sun” superbly combines the raw beauty of the city and the girl.

“Carefree and genuine, Cece is a rare breed in an industry known for monstrous egos and meticulously curated appearances. She was briefly visiting from London, and we arranged to spend a late summer afternoon wandering around my neighborhood. Her easy-going attitude and effortless composure made our lack of agenda a non-issue, as we shot a few looks and shared the season’s last ripe watermelon.”

Photographer: Alexander Scott Harris // @asharris // www.asharris.net
Model: Cece Buss // @ceceldn // Next Models Management
Location: Brooklyn, New York

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Stages of the Sun appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Fickle Friends have been through the ringer already, and are showing no signs of slowing down..

Interview and Photography by Andy Gorel

Andy: So you’ve been a band since 2013, and have maintained a pretty linear sound, but your sound is still very hip to what’s happening now. What was inspiring the music when you first started?

Natti: The stuff we were listening to was like Friendly Fires, Two Door Cinema Club, Paramore, The 1975, who was brand new at the time. We were already doing something like that, and that’s when this weird wave of indie pop music with 80s tinge was suddenly getting popular.

Andy: Yeah, you guys were definitely a little ahead of the curb. “Swim” has been a key song for you guys for over four years. What’s it been like growing alongside that song?

Natti: It’s been weird because “Swim” has always been very relevant for us. We’ve always had to play it. We almost always finish our set with it. And it’s not like it had its moment and got left behind. It’s still the song that streams the best. I love that song.

Jack: We had to update it a few times.

Andy: Yeah, I remember having a version of that song years ago.

Jack: Yeah, the first version was really cool. It was really raw, but your voice sounded different.

Natti: Yeah, my voice sounded really different.

Jack: Then we did another version.

Andy: Did you produce it yourselves the first time?

Jack: No, we actually worked with this guy who wasn’t a massive producer, but he was just into getting vibes. Then we just went to the studio and cut it.

Natti: It was way more live, then we produced it a bit more with the second version.

Jack: And then the third version was just me adding some samples and stuff – making it sound like current Fickle Friends.

Andy: Was that the song that got you guys attention early on?

Natti: Yeah! It was basically fuck all until we put “Swim” out the first time. It was back when music blogs were way more of a thing. It got a lot of blog love, and Hype Machine.

Andy: Did you have music before that?

Natti: We did, but it was just one song on SoundCloud. And we made a homemade EP once, but it never reached further than… nowhere really.

Jack: And then we got a booking agent in the UK and started actually playing shows.

Andy: So those first few singles that came out with “Swim,” what was the creative process like? Was it a band at the beginning?

Natti: No, it was production, but it was pretty live. Jack has always been the producer of the band, and he’s just gotten better and better. And that was like four or five years ago so obviously it wasn’t as good. It sounded less polished.

Jack: Yeah, and we used to record more live instruments, but kind of gradually shifted towards writing and producing as we go.

“We were in a bit of a rut. We were running out of money because we were doing everything ourselves. To keep going and face a whole other year of touring, and festivals, we needed to sign a deal. So we signed with Polydor and Universal Publishing.”

Andy: So you’re newly an independent band again, but in 2016 you signed with Polydor. How did that come about?

Natti: We got new management actually. We were in a bit of a rut. We were running out of money because we were doing everything ourselves. To keep going and face a whole other year of touring, and festivals, we needed to sign a deal. We had run out of people to borrow money from, or working jobs and getting fired. So we got a new manager, and had offers on the table almost immediately because our manager was more of a baller. So we signed with Polydor and Universal Publishing.

Andy: Were there any other offers?

Natti: Our manager basically invited a bunch of labels to come to our rehearsal room in Brighton, watch us play, and have a chat. So it wasn’t people offering us deals, but people were interested, and I think we were more in control of picking who to go with, as opposed to them offering it to us.

Andy: Were you playing live a lot up until that point?

Natti: Yeah, we had been touring for quite a while, doing it all ourselves. It had been a long haul.

Andy: Was signing to a major something you’d always seen as an option?

Natti: It was something we’d always wanted.

Jack: I guess that’s what you dream of, isn’t it?

Natti: It’s funny cause that’s what you dream of, and then doing it now, you realize you don’t need it.

Andy: So after that, you then went into the studio with Mike Crossey to do your debut album. How did you guys get in touch and what was it like working with someone like that?

Natti: Our A&R at Polydor also works with The 1975, who did their records with Mike. Also, my old buddy from university was Mike’s engineer at the time, and he had already mixed some music for us. So when we had a chat about who we wanted to do the record, our A&R was like, “I think Mike Crossey would be good,” and we were like (laughing), “Yeah, we do too.” It just kind of fell into place.

Andy: What was it like working with someone like that in the studio?

Natti: It was an experience. Originally, he was going to move back to London from LA, and he didn’t so we ended up spending about four months of the year in LA doing the record, in his weird little treehouse studio. We wrote a lot of music while we were out there. We had a lot of fun. It was really good. Mike is very very specific with the way he records stuff, and he wanted to try a lot of different things. We learned a lot.

Jack: We shouldn’t have gone out there that early. We didn’t have everything finished. He was really just recording us, we should have figured out ourselves more. So then we wrote more, and came back to record the rest over the next few months. We got some really cool stuff out of it.

“There were always people trying to make us compromise, and when we did compromise, it backfired and was shit. Then we’d be like ‘Well it’s our fault for compromising, again.’ I think you just shouldn’t be on a major label if you want to be in that much control of something.”

Andy: Like we said, you’re not with the label anymore. What happened there and why did you decide to part ways?

Natti: Well we spent two years with Polydor. A lot of stuff had been good. A lot of stuff had been shit. It caused us a lot of stress and anxiety to be honest. I think we just realized how protective we were over things, and how much of our vision we actually wanted to execute ourselves. There were always people trying to make us compromise, and when we did compromise, it backfired and was shit. Then we’d be like “Well it’s our fault for compromising, again.” I think you just shouldn’t be on a major label if you want to be in that much control of something. If you’re willing to work with a label, and you don’t really know what your image is, or your vision is, and they’re the ones who’ve got a team that’s gonna do it for you, that’s great.

Jack: Plus, we didn’t know everyone there when we signed. We just knew our A&R guy. We didn’t know who was going to be working there. Sometimes it can go really well if you read into it.

Natti: It was difficult because they’ll pitch a video to you, and you’ll be like “No fucking way.” But then they’ll explain why giving it a chance would be beneficial, and then you don’t wanna piss them off or let them down, so you say yes to it, and two months later, you’ve spent $15,000 on a video, but you’ve thrown it in the bin cause it’s shit and you hate it, which is what we did.

Jack: Just spending money. And to be honest, LA was ridiculous as well. Coming out to recored with Mike Crossey, back and forth.

Natti: And that wasn’t our fault, our A&R could have said..

Jack: “Look, this is your first record. We’ll shop around with some producers and find someone who can help you out, and we’ll just do it here.” Instead of just getting us over to LA with a massive producer, and just pay a fee.

Natti: There were a lot of mistakes made, and they expected different things. They would say things like “Oh, well this is the amount of money we spent on you guys,” and we’d be like “But you forced us to spend the money.” We just couldn’t be dealing with that anymore. We wanted to be in control again, and do our videos, and decide how much money we’re going to spend on promo for the tour, and what not.

Jack: They hadn’t given us any money in ages anyways. We hadn’t run out, but it got to a point where, they weren’t against us, but they weren’t putting any more money into it.

Andy: You’re lucky you got out of it.

Natti: It was very amicable to be honest. Our A&R wanted to keep us on, but we just kind of new. Doing a licensing deal is what everyone’s doing now. It’s just so much easier.

Andy: How long of a deal was it? One album?

Natti: It was one with three options.

Andy: At least you had experiences you wouldn’t have had without those funds.

Natti: Oh yeah, it was the best couple years ever. It was great. We did some very cool shit.

Andy: I was told you’ve started your own label now. Are you planning to release other artists as well, or just your own stuff?

Natti: Yeah, it’s our own label, it’s called Palmeira Music. We’re releasing our own stuff, but we want to release other people at some point.

Jack: I think it’s something we’re slightly excited about. It’s not like we’re like “Let’s start a new label and focus on that.” We’re going to do our band, but if there are things we can do to help people out, it would be quite cool.

Natti: It’s a new adventure for us.

“(It) was never a massive dream, not like “Oh I wanna sell out arenas,” I mean that would be nice, but all I’ve ever really wanted was to write music I love and be able to live off it, and keep playing shows.”

Andy: Do you want to tell us more about this new era of the band?

Natti: Well we just released a new song a few weeks ago called “Broken Sleep.” We’ve got an EP coming out in November. It’s sort of a transition into a new era, we’re not quite there yet.

Jack: I will say it just goes around this tour, and we’ve got a UK tour when we get back. It’s just something for us to be focusing on.

Andy: You’ve worked with a handful of different producers over the past few years, have you found any differences in working with Americans vs. Brits?

Natti: Well, we’ve really only worked with a few American producers, but in the UK there’s a type of producer, and Mike Crossey is the exception to the rule actually. We’ve worked with Mark Ralph, and Mike Spencer, they’re kind of these guys in their mid to late 40s who have been in the dance music scene, or bands when they were younger, and now they’re slightly kemp, but ballers (laughs).

Jack: So specific (laughs).

Natti: And they’re very very chill, and laid-back. I don’t know. Producers are funny.

Andy: So now you’re now touring North America. What has it been like touring as a band over the past few years?

Natti: I don’t really think about it honestly, it’s just like getting in a van with your mates, and doing a job really.

Jack: Yeah, today in the van was mental. We were going mental. It was just crazy. We know each other so well that we’re constantly trying to make each other laugh cause we get so bored. Yeah, we’re good friends.

Natti: It’s just weird. I don’t know if anyone else has anything they could compare it to – spending that amount of time with someone. Even if you have a 9-5, you get to go home and be done. Going on tour for a month is twenty four hours a day, sharing fucking hotel rooms, doing everything together.

Jack: I kinda compare it to being a kid. I have two sisters. It’s not like we’re friends by choice, although we are, we’re friends cause we’re in a band.

Natti: I thought we were friends by choice.

Jack: Well… (laughs). It’s like we do things and find each other annoying, but not in a harsh way.

Natti: You have to love them (laughs).

Andy: Has everything that’s happened over the past few years changed your attitude or aspirations as a band?

Natti: I can’t speak for everyone else, but mine was never a massive dream, not like “Oh I wanna sell out arenas,” I mean that would be nice, but all I’ve ever really wanted was to write music I love and be able to live off it, and keep playing shows.

Jack: We always used to say that, which I think is quite unusual. We’ve always wanted to be a band that’s kind of big, but only because we’ve done it for a long time as a career.

Natti: I’m really happy as long as it’s this gradual build of us being able to do it as long as we want to do it, and there are still people buying tickets and records.

Andy: Yeah, if you get a quick bump in popularity from something, that tends to fade quickly as well.

Jack: Yeah, and if you’re waiting for that quick thing, like when we signed, that’s what the label was waiting for. It doesn’t happen like that. But selling out shows and doing a tour in America is quite a big deal for us.

Fickle Friends on Instagram
Fickle Friends on Facebook
Fickle Friends on Twitter

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Fickle Friends appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Leaving the familiar walls behind
but our laughters
will forever be painted there.

“Emma and Alyssa were moving out of their childhood home so Sophia suggested we all shoot there one last time.” recalls L.A. based photographer Cherokee Neas.  “The house is a beautiful, art-filled epitome of ’70s style Laurel Canyon houses. The girls all grew up together and are more like sisters than friends, so shooting them all together felt like peering into their world for an afternoon. Sophia made us coffee and the other girls watched as she and I went around the house taking photos.”

Sophia – www.instagram.com/phia.sooo
Alyssa – www.instagram.com/shuck.my.life
Emma – www.instagram.com/e.m.m_aa

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Three friends appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

She wasn´t waiting for a summer love.
She was waiting for the little beautiful moments

“It´s hard to book some time with Toni because she’s always away, especially lately, so Im glad we got to shoot those” tells photographer Rupert LaMontagne about his wonderful newest C-Heads series. A beautiful mix of black&white and colour images – all natural, sweet and unintended.

Model @tonimajdell
Photography @rupertlamontagne

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Potraits of Toni by Rupert LaMontagne for C-Heads appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

www.instagram.com/emilywarrennnn

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post “I love writing and never get tired of that” Interview with Emily Warren appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“Brittany came over to my place to shoot. We were both tired, and she and I were both going through some things in our personal lives.” explains LA based photographer Emma Holley about her amazing C-Heads debut. “We talked and decided to channel that and use how we were feeling to create images. We opened a bottle of wine and started creating with no agenda, gathering inspiration from the room and trying out new techniques. Brittany and I have only hung out a few times, but there’s this flow she and I have that just works. We’re so comfortable with each other, like we’ve been friends for years. It turned out to be one of my favorite and most fun shoots I’ve had. Besides her obvious outer beauty, her inner beauty is what separates her from the rest. I could never get tired of shooting her.” Oh yes!

Photographer: Emma Holley @emmabella_
Model: Brittany Hoffner @Brittanyhoffner
Styled by Emma Holley and Brittany Hoffner

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Behind Blue Eyes appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

James Drew is back on C-Heads with another lovely series starring gorgeous Alexa of Freedom Agency. “The shoot was at my apartment in Hollywood, LA on a sunny saturday afternoon.” he tells. “It was the first time we’d shot together but shes so chilled and has great energy, so the pics came out fantastic.”

photographer: James Drew
www.instagram.com/semajwerd
model: Alexa
www.instagram.com/alexafallica
agency: Freedom
www.instagram.com/freedommodelsla

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post Hey Alexa! appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“Marie has such a fascinating face and the most beautiful hair! I wanted to shoot with her already long time ago and finally it happend.” Paris based photographer Alex Jonas teamed up with gorgeous Marie Clavel. “I wanted to shoot with her at sunset to get this golden effect. We drove to a farm just outside of Paris called Ferme Du Prieuré and waited for the magic to happen.” Styling done by Marie Revelut and make up by Virginie Lacoste.

Photographer : Alex Jonas – @iamalexjonas
Model : Marie Clavel – @marieclavell
Style : Marie Revelut @ marierevelut
Make up: Virginie Lacoste @ virginiemakeuppro
Location : fermeduprieure_rennemoulin

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post The Golden Effect appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Photographer: Mr. Tanon Taweekitgumton
アフターライト – After Light www.facebook.com/afterlightphoto
www.instagram.com/after_light_photo
Model: Vallary

“Do you think is it a coincidence when we meet the right people in our lives?
I met Vallary thanks to a public post on my Facebook page when I was looking for models.
And that day was the first time that we met in “real life” at her place.
From the unknown, the unknown place grew our place… “In my place”
 

Photographer: Mr. Tanon Taweekitgumton
Facebook: アフターライト – After Light (www.facebook.com/afterlightphoto)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/after_light_photo
Model: Vallary

•  
• Share on Tumblr

The post in my place appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.