NYC based photographer and filmmaker Michael Gogidze shares a varied and “sparkled with joy” series called “Girl in NYC ” featuring freelance model and blogger Iracho Martini.

With this beautiful colourful series Michael delves into the transformation of a model across different seasons in NYC, photographed at locations that come with stunning views all over New York. Both of them love exploring beautiful places through traveling, filming, and capturing photos. “We are inspired by simplicity, creative thinking and an aesthetic that responds to the way we live. So we also kept the styling simple and soft to contrast the backdrop of the city”, he explains to us. Our eyes drift across the Megapolis, the vibrancy of this city and get stuck at Iracho’s enchanting and infectious smiles.

instagram: michaelgogidze
youtube: Michael Gogidze
facebook : Michael Gogidze Photographer
website: michaelgogidze.com

Photographer: Michael Gogidze – Instagram: michaelgogidze
youtube: Michael Gogidze
facebook : Michael Gogidze Photographer
Website: michaelgogidze.com

Model: Iracho Martini
Instagram: @irachomartini
Freelancer Model & Blogger

The post Girl in NYC – A series by Michael Gogidze appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

interview by Shristi Jaiswal

As Professor Keating said, “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

Our world is filled with countless instances, be it something as small as watching the first flake of snow hit the dusty ground to something as big as deciding to share a life with the love of your life. These appealing occasions give our mundane lives meaning and poetry, or rather any form of art, gives a passionate sense of recognition to these moments.

During our conversation with New York based writer Sasha Nudel, we grasped what it means to delve deeper into the world of poetry and learnt how words impact our day to day existence. Further, we explore her tumultuous journey that comes in tow with being a writer and finally her endeavour to become unapologetically herself.

What is your writing process? Do you get a sudden thought that you note down on paper or do you set aside a time period to work?

I often get inspired by the simplest words and ideas. For instance, I might see a door/gate and instantly draw an analogy to a topic of interest. I do often get sudden whiffs of inspiration and whatever is on my mind I absolutely must put down on paper or in my iPhone notes to work on it later, usually at night.

Have you considered writing a novel?

Taking into consideration that I mostly write about my personal experiences, my novel would be more of a memoir and I think I want to create more memories before I write a memoir.

One book you believe that has changed your life?

Besides poetry, I mostly read books about psychoanalysis, human design, and self-improvement and one of the most impactful books I have recently read was Untamed by Glennon Doyle.

How has the city of New York influenced your writing?

New York has influenced me and my writing tremendously. Living here makes you feel like you have limitless potential. It has taught me courage and gifted me an abundance of inspiration.

Do you practice any other form of art excluding writing?

I practice painting and drawing as a leisurely activity but I wouldn’t call my attempts art.

“I used to spend a long time overanalyzing every single word and punctuation mark in my poems… I learned to leave my first draft for some time and come back to it to edit just one last time.”

Are your poetries usually the first draft or do you spend time editing?

I used to spend a long time overanalyzing every single word and punctuation mark in my poems, but it would do more harm than good. I learned to leave my first draft for some time and come back to it to edit just one last time.

A travel destination you consider a writer’s heaven?

I consider myself very lucky to have travelled a lot around the world. I’ve written in other countries, but no place tugs at my heartstrings as much as Paris does. Having said that, to me Paris is not a city, it’s rather a state of mind.

Most of your writings hold a feeling of deep rooted sensuality. What makes you connect to this genre of writing?

I’m an empath to a fault. I feel things keenly and it brings me pleasure and inspiration to ignite feelings in other people. Connecting to someone emotionally sparks the most magical chemical reaction in my brain. My sensuality is just a by-product of that reaction.

What drew you to writing when you were younger?

I started writing poems in Russian when I immigrated to the United States from Ukraine at the age of 16. I didn’t think of it as writing, back then it was more like journaling.

What is your remedy for a writer’s block?

My remedy for a writer’s block is proactively creating and getting lost in unforgettable moments.

How long have you lived in New York? What is your favourite memory in New York?

I am 35 years old and I’ve lived in New York since I was 16, and I have to say, I’ve I fully taken advantage of living here. Having said that, my favourite and most profound memories are always associated with people not locations.

“My favourite and most profound memories are always associated with people not locations.”

What do you do to get your creative juices flowing?

I live. I Experience. I let things happen to me. I happen to things. I feel. I show my feelings.

Why did you choose the words ‘A Mouth Full of Lust’ as your book title?

I feel consumed by my lust for life and I act on it, from pursuing my passions to being unapologetically true to myself.

What moment that can you recall in your life made you realize that you made it as writer?

To be honest, I am not sure if I truly made it as a writer, but I feel incredibly proud of my poetic journey and grateful to have gotten the most touching feedback about my words from my readers.

How would you describe your publishing process?

I’d be lying if I said that my publishing process was painless. Rejections sting, but they’re necessary. It took patience and perseverance to make the book happen.

Any quote to leave us with?

I’ll use my own quote from the book, which I also use as my daily mantra: There’s this one thing to be made clear. To find your passion, you must follow your fear.

www.instagram.com/sashanudel
www.sashanudel.com

The post Experiences, Inspirations and Tasteful Memories – A Talk with New York Based Writer Sasha Nudel appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

We caught up with super talented Compton-born, Los Angeles-based artist Channel Tres.

Photography and interview by Christopher Brown

You recently released “Weedman” which is just as much a feel-good jam as it is a political song. Can you tell us about both?

Weedman documents a time in my life when weed was really hard to get. It was really criminalized and is still very criminalized in some places. It’s just based on some of the stress I went through and some of the things I went through as a teenager. It was also a way for me to show that weed is not a bad thing and that it helps a lot of people and the things associated with weed are laziness and stuff like that, so I wanted to show a different side of that, like we still get stuff done and we dance, it’s medicine for a lot of people.

What comes first – the beat or the message woven into it?

It’s different on different days, I’m beat driven a lot but sometimes I’m really into writing down words and different things I have in my head that I went through. Maybe if I like something or read something, I’ll write it down. It comes out in different ways at different times.

Growing up who did you look up to?

My great grandmother, Kobe Bryant and Micheal Jackson

Did anyone encourage you to pursue music or did you seek it out on your own?

My Great Grandparents bought me a drumset when I was five years old. Going to church everyday — I was forced to be in the choir, I was forced to play drums and different things and it just turned out to be something I was in love with. But if it wasn’t for them buying me a drumset or forcing me to be in choir, I probably never would have gotten into it.

“I’m beat driven a lot but sometimes I’m really into writing down words and different things I have in my head that I went through.”

It’s been a year since your last EP Black Moses, we can only assume a new project is on the way. What’s going to be the difference between Black Moses and this next one?

This next project was made during quarantine so it’s not made with me thinking I’m going to be in front of a crowd, it’s more expressing myself and things I had to face during this time.

You’ve worked with everyone from Robyn to James Blake to Tyler The Creator – hard to top this list but who else would you love to work with?

Stevie Wonder and Frank Ocean

Speaking of Robyn, you just dropped a track with her and SG Lewis – how’d that come to fruition and are we gonna hear it live (streamed) anytime soon?

That track came through just me and SG Lewis hanging out when I was on tour with Robyn. A little before that run, me and SG had become friends. I remember we played the show at the Palladium and he came out to support me and support Robyn and we went to Rhonda after that and DJ’d and we just had a crazy night. Then we met up a few weeks later and we got into the studio and were just messing around. He played the beat and I just ended up getting on it. We were dancing around and we got drunk and then we went to a party and maybe a few weeks later we listened back to it and were like ‘wow this is really good’ and we were like ‘we should get Robyn on this one’ so we sent it to Robyn and she hopped on it. That’s pretty much what happened. It’ll be in a livestream soon, I wanna play it live though.

How have you been staying motivated during quarantine?

Ive been doing a lot of reading, books like Mamba Mentality, Marcus Aurelius, and just allowing myself to go through the process of my emotions. If I’m sad, just allow myself to be sad and if I’m happy, allow myself to be happy. Just looking in the mirror to reflect and appreciate all those moments in the past and being grateful to be here and appreciate that I haven’t been sick or anything. Just trying to hold onto the good things.

What’s your most played song in quarantine?

Self Control by Frank Ocean

www.instagram.com/channeltres

The post “Beat Driven” In conversation with Channel Tres appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

interview by Shristi Jaiswal

The smell of freshly baked croissants, charming hidden alleys and the glimmering sea of light that is the city as seen from rooftops at night… These are only some of the reasons why Paris is considered as the most romantic city in the world. A city full of muses, starting from the colourful flowers found down cobbled streets to gourmet cafes present at every turn to most importantly, the presence of beautiful people steered by the spirit of freedom and celebrations. These are the reasons why artists be it poets, photographers or painters find themselves drawn towards the city synonymous with the word magnifique.

Anna Yakovleva is a Paris based photographer whose pictures carrying hints of raw and natural colours never fails to appeal the eye. During our call, we learnt about her professional journey along with some intriguing facts about her life and of course, her long held affair with the gorgeous city.

What made you choose photography as a profession?

Basically, my Dad is a photographer, so I grew up around a lot of cameras and films at home. When I was seventeen I had started to take my first steps as a photographer but as it wasn’t a lucrative profession at the time instead I started attending university with the intent of becoming a criminal lawyer! However it didn’t last long as at nineteen, I realised that my true passion lay within photography. Therefore I put in all my efforts and started practising it full time.

How long have you lived in Paris?

It has been close to five years now. I originally moved here from Serbia, Russia.

Why do you believe Paris is the best place for a photographer?

I think Paris like New York is one of the best places for a photographer owing to the fact that here, there are ample opportunities for artists like us to grow in their career. The presence of events like fashion weeks and at the same time the existence of a huge market of people who love to get filmed for various projects be it look books or couple photo shoots makes the job really interesting and rewarding.

How would you say Paris has influenced your photography style?

Paris has greatly influenced my style as here I have learnt to play with more natural lightings and have thus developed my aesthetic in general. Furthermore while I worked for the Paris Fashion Week, it made me achieve certain important skills required from a photographer. For example, I can click pictures at a swift pace in order to capture the fleeting instances and thereby catch the precise perfect moments on camera.

Your pictures mostly focus on soft and natural colours. Is there a particular reason why?

Well, I have been practising photography for over eleven years now. During that time I had experimented with a lot of colours and it made me believe that we portray through our art what we feel within us. Earlier I used to shoot very dark and dramatic tones because I felt stressed, however, now I like shooting with natural and pastel colours as at this point in my life, I feel content, at peace and in harmony with myself.

“Earlier I used to shoot very dark and dramatic tones because I felt stressed, however, now I like shooting with natural and pastel colours as at this point in my life, I feel content, at peace and in harmony with myself.”

What is the best thing about being a photographer?

The best thing about my profession is that I have the full freedom to bring my imagination to life. Besides, being a photographer has its own challenges that I love to engage with. Like whenever I am shooting with individuals or couples, I only have a few hours to make them feel comfortable so that they can fully express themselves. So for me photography isn’t only about clicking beautiful pictures but rather establishing deep rooted human connections with complete strangers.

What camera do you use for your pictures on Instagram?

For clicking pictures of lifestyles in general I use my iPhone XS Max and for professional shoots I use Nikon D800.

What is your favourite season to shoot pictures in Paris?

My favourite season is autumn as there are fresh colours budding at every corner in Paris making way for a vibrant and a lovely atmosphere.

Who or what would be your dream subject to shoot?

Honestly, I don’t have a dream to shoot one particular place or a person. I really enjoy shooting with simple people who don’t really have an experience with professional photo shoots as it is more interesting and challenging. Bloggers and models are really comfortable in front of cameras and thus know perfectly well their best angles and how to pose. However working with people with no such prior experience comes as a challenge for me as now I have to find the best angles and guide them every step of the way thereby providing for me an opportunity for growth.

Books that you think everyone must read?

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and How to Win Friends and Influence People both by Dale Carnegie is a definite must read.

If you could live anywhere in the world except Paris, where would it be?

I think it would be Amsterdam. I find the city really cosy and charming.

“For me photography isn’t only about clicking beautiful pictures but rather establishing deep rooted human connections with complete strangers.”

What is your favourite travel destination and why?

It is a beautiful little village called Étretat in Normandy. It is around two hundred kilometres from Paris. It is very peaceful and picturesque.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

I hope that I’m still in Paris after five years and continue to create beautiful content. In addition I would like to mentor young photographers and share my experiences with them. I think I’d be ready to teach a few students about photography by then.

Croissants or macaroons?

Pain au chocolat! It’s a chocolate filled croissant.

What is the biggest goal in your bucket list?

For the moment it is to visit Iceland.

Anna Yakovleva

What does photography personally mean to you?

For me it is about making connections with people and help them express themselves.

What do you like to do in your time alone?

I like to edit pictures, learn something new about photography or hangout with my dog.

Do you have any advice to give to new photographers?

Keep on practising and study pictures by other photographers to gain a broader idea about photography. The more you see the better it is for you to discover your own new styles. Moreover it is important to analyse pictures and differentiate between the good and the bad. It helps to learn new techniques and thereby improve.

 Any quote you want to leave us with?

Never say never. Everything is possible in your life and I’m a living proof of it. I came from a very little village in the middle of Russia and now I live in Paris, meeting beautiful people and creating beautiful memories. So never give up and keep working hard!

www.instagram.com/annayakovleva_com
www.instagram.com/oui.photo

The post “Photography is about establishing human connections.” A talk with Paris based photographer Anna Yakovleva appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“She had a mind like a box of fireworks
and hands that played recklessly with matches.”

The title is out of the book of poems from Michael Faudet and turned out as a key phrase for Lennart Bader´s latest muse Maéwo. “This is to one of the most inspiring women I know. A model, mother, creative, friend – you’re exceptional in all you do, in everything you are.” Lennart directs his very personal praise to her. “Living up to your name, the sun literally goes up for everyone in the room when you enter with your bursting and contagious energy. You’re a role model to many. And I do miss you.” Enjoy this atmospheric visual journey – and hey, have you also spotted our C-Heads print issue?

Model:@maevvo
Photography Lennart Bader – www.lennartbader.de
@lenn

The post Light up the room appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“I wanted to capture an ideal summer day of lounging around by pool on a very nice sunny day.” Photographer Daniel Cruz latest work, with the two gorgeous models Olivia Sewell & Savanah Allen who are with Massardo Model Management, lets us feel those perfect summer moments where you just let time lapse away. “The goal was to create a feeling of euphoria through the use of natural lighting and attempt to capture that feeling on film in order to enhance it.” Oh, yes!

Photographer: Daniel Cruz / dayoungphotographer.com / IG: @dayoungphotographer
Models: Olivia Sewell & Savanah Allen / IG: @liv_sewell and @savanahallen
Agency: Massardo Model Management / www.massardomodelmanagement.com / IG:
@massardomgmt

The post A feeling of euphoria appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Romanian girl Andreea has been living in Italy since she is 3 years old and she started modeling this year. “I met her just before the lockdown. And I was so happy to finally see her again and was able to take this series on film and polaroid.” photographer Ray Litsala tells us. A perfect dose of Monday motivation!

Model: Andreea: @kwe3n
Photography by Ray Litsala @ray.litsala – raylitsala.net

The post One day with Andreea appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

interview by Shristi Jaiswal

A universal language, loved and understood by all, music is often a predilection of most when words fail to make sense.

The music industry, producing a colossal of songs every year houses a number of artists who rarely fail to give their level best – working tirelessly at odd hours towards their passion. However, even in the twenty first century we still see an astronomical amount of difference between men and women who actually own and produce their own music.

During our conversation with singer and producer Elina Segall we learnt about her experience in the industry and how she decided to forge her own path as an independent artist in order to be a part of a change where women are increasingly producing and owning their music, free from any and all strings attached! We further learnt about her plans for the future along with some interesting facts about her life.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

To start off, I didn’t really think that it was possible for me to pursue a career in music. I had started off with a nine to five office job and naturally thought that this was going to be my life. Then three years ago, one random Sunday I figured that I sing all the time, so I might as well just post it once on Instagram. I had filmed myself singing in the kitchen and was super insecure, hence if you look at that video you’ll realise that you can barely see my face! I was really nervous to post something as vulnerable as art, so after I posted it I didn’t look at my phone for almost two days thinking that people were going to hate on me. But people seemed to really like it and since then I started posting myself singing every Sunday which later came to be known as The Sunday Sessions. I think this was an important moment in my life as it made me delve deeper into how I wanted to live and made me choose music as my career.

What made you decide to be an independent artist?

So, the Sunday Sessions started reaching people, my following had started to grow and I was really excited about that. It was then that Warner Music Sweden held this competition called the Warner Music Talent and I thought to participate. It was a long shot and I wasn’t really expecting much so it was surreal for me when I ended up winning the competition! They had offered me a record deal but after months of going back and forth after reviewing the contract I eventually turned it down as I knew it wasn’t for me. I started to educate myself more about the music industry and realised that I wanted to produce and own my music and if I had signed a deal with a label then I wouldn’t be able to that anymore.

How would you describe your journey towards being an independent artist?

I have always been writing lyrics and melodies but I have never really produced my own music. So, I started to look into it and it made me aware of the drastic underrepresentation of women in the music production industry.  In L.A itself- being one of the world’s top music production capital- there are only two percent producers who are women! Therefore I decided that I wanted to broaden my network and develop myself as an artist. So I packed my stuff and moved to Los Angeles. Here, I met a lot of people- great producers who helped me grow. Hence, my journey is about me being in control of writing and producing my own music, inspiring other females to do the same and to show them that there is a place for us.

“My journey is about me being in control of writing and producing my own music, inspiring other females to do the same and to show them that there is a place for us.”

Out of all the sessions you have done, looking back what would you say was your favourite cover?

In some way I think it’s my first session, You don’t own me by Grace as it got it all started. However performance wise it’s Anywhere by Rita Ora.

What is your favourite album to jam to when you are alone in the car?

I’m really into the album Blood Type by Cautious Clay.

One quirky thing about you that no one knows?

I love to wear my socks halfway! I don’t why but I think I get the best of both worlds that way.

A travel destination that you love the most?

My favourite destination right now is Colombia.

 What does music personally mean to you?

It’s an emotional outlet. When I get anxious sometimes instead of talking I’d rather funnel my emotions through music.

“I want to step away from being known just as a cover singer and produce original songs thereby developing myself as an artist.”

Are you working on any original songs?

Yes, I am. Since I started working on learning how to produce music, I’ve been in sessions with people in L.A. Even now during quarantine I’ve been producing and writing music by myself.

What genre of music are you into?

I’m very much into R&B and Soul music.

Do you plan on moving back to LA after the pandemic is over?

Yeah, that is the plan. Right now I’m in Sweden but after things starts to look up I’m definitely planning to move back.

Growing up which band/singer’s poster would be taped to your bedroom walls?

Oooh, definitely Spice Girls! I used to dance around in my room and act like I was one of them. Also, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston were a huge inspiration.

If you could open a show for any artist who would it be?

Probably H.E.R.

Do you plan on releasing an album of your own?

Yes, I have not set a date for it yet but it is in the process. Whether it will be an EP of a few songs or an album, is still in discussion.

Who would you like to most collaborate with?

I would really like to collaborate with Khalid. His music is just amazing.

After completing your Sunday sessions, what step do you plan to take next?

After wrapping up the Sunday sessions, all that time is going to go into producing music and song writing. I want to step away from being known just as a cover singer and produce original songs thereby developing myself as an artist.

A favourite book of yours?

Annah Björk ‘s “Ni måste flytta på er” aka You all have to get out of the way. It’s a book where the music journalist Annah Björk tells the story of several female artists and producers. It includes topics such as sexism, sexual abuse and the patriarchy within the music industry.

 Excluding music, what are you most passionate about?

Definitely photography. It’s second to song writing and singing.

An experience that you believe has greatly influenced your life?

It was when I left Sweden for the time and moved abroad to London on my own. I moved to carry out an internship with the BBC. I think it was the time that made me take charge of my own life and be truly independent.

What would you say to all the budding singers out there who want to make a name for themselves?

I would say stay true to what you want to do because it’s so easy to jump on everything that’s trending and new. Be consistent; don’t just do something you believe in for just a week. Work towards your goals every single day.

Any quote you want to leave us with?

Opportunity comes to those who create it.

www.instagram.com/elinasegall
www.elinasegall.com
www.youtube.com/channel

The post Independence within the Industry- In Conversation with Elina Segall appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“This series is a culmination of effortless days, walking and dazing through hot summer days here in Quebec.” starts photographer Gabriel Boutin to introduce his story. “Taking time to wander during theses strange days gave me time to connect to my environment, with no particular intent. These images are the result of a season of change, soft days and of new encounters.” Looking at the photographs makes one calm down for a moment or longing for those quiet, peaceful times where you can fully immerse in one single action or view.

“I’m always looking through my lens as if I want to tell myself a story. As if I can’t remember how to speak or to read,  these pictures could be the universal language through which I could express my thoughts.”

The story contains images of Karine, Emma and Claudia and is shot on Olympus Mju ii.

Photography by Gabriel Boutin @gabrielboutin
starring : Karine / Emma / Claudia
Shot on Olympus Mju ii

The post Soft days and new encounters appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Interview and words by Alli Lindsey

A motion picture made still, Jordan Pope’s vision is a deceptively dreamlike reflection of the human experience. With work as whimsical as his, editing T6i portraits on an iPhone seems inconceivable. But when you’re breathing life into prophecies, anything is possible. The genesis of his career was 2017, when he found inspiration in flicking portraits of his friends as a hobby. By 2019, his work was viral. Destined to create something lasting, Jordan captures the innate beauty of humans in the natural world they exist in. Embellished with a cosmic charm, Jordan takes a plain-sight vision and transforms it into fantastical worlds that bleed truth and magnetism. Between defining the ever-elusive concept of personal legacies and amplifying the beauty of Black and BIPOC models, Jordan Pope gives C-Heads a glimpse into his psyche.

Your work often feels dreamlike, or out-of-this-world. What are your dreams and nightmares like?

My dreams and nightmares are mainly random, but always based off how I feel and truly think about something. I spend a lot of time listening to music in the dark because it helps me concentrate on my mental. Whether it’s a dream or nightmare, they always tie into my emotions and come from me overthinking and over observing.

Is your work solely product of your own ambition, or does it stem from a desire to leave other individuals with something to think about?

My art is a form of my emotions, a product of my thoughts, and the way I think and feel. With my art I leave everything in my photos and title with only focus to have the world feel me. See my vision and understand the bond between me and my art.

“My art is a form of my emotions, a product of my thoughts, and the way I think and feel.”

How do you use color to accentuate the beauty of black and BIPOC models?

I use color as a way to express my emotions and the meaning each photo means to me. Each color has a meaning to me and with each set, I edit those colors based on the feels and vibes the photos give me. I use color to accentuate the beauty of black and BIPOC models by simply showing the worth of elegance they hold.

You often use a cosmic effect on your models and landscapes, why do you use this glittering and starry effect?

I use this effect from time to time to give more focus to the photos, and in certain aspects, because I feel it adds value to the photo.

The models you work with are often shot in nature. Why?

Nature is the way of life, nature gives me the space I need to express myself creatively and mentally, which bring my photos to life and give them stability.

“Each color has a meaning to me and with each set, I edit those colors based on the feels and vibes the photos give me.”

You have used mirrors in a few projects, what does personal reflection, both physically and spiritually, mean to you?

As said before my art is a reflection of me. My personal reflection means everything to me because I believe you are who you want to be. You are you, and no matter what, you should love yourself for it. I feel that loving myself and loving my art are equal, because my art is me.

Is photography something that is spiritually and emotionally profound to you? Or is something you simply enjoy?

Photography is everything to me, taking photos is my pride and joy. It is emotionally and spiritually profound to me

If you wrote a book, what would it be about?

If I wrote a book it would be about the obstacles of my emotions.

“Nature is the way of life, nature gives me the space I need to express myself creatively.”

What does legacy mean to you? What is your legacy?

Legacy is what you leave behind and what your art, or you in general, have done for this world. How many people have you inspired or touched in ways they won’t forget? My legacy is my photography my legacy is my name.

The world is in a state of extreme social unrest and pressure. What creative and personal obstacles are you currently trying to overcome?

Creative and personal obstacles I’m trying to overcome are being patient and understanding everything will fall into place when they are meant to.

“You are you, and no matter what, you should love yourself for it.”

 

Why is it important for individuals to view the world from your perspective?

It is important for people to view the world from my perspective because I feel my art and story can touch and inspire people in great ways they will never forget.

How does your personal world change each time you publish a series of work?

My personal world changes each time I publish art as my support system increases, and it just feels good to show my art to the world. It gives me a thrill I’ll never get over. My world changes by being given more opportunities in life that I’ll never take for granted, and will always be grateful for.

www.instagram.com/joztakethosee

The post A deceptively dreamlike reflection of the human experience by Jordan Pope appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Photography by Karolina Wielocha

To wear a frown as the sun sets
These are the things I most regret

Soft voice and a smooth and emotional sound. South London based songwriter and vocalist Ego Ella May dropped the new video for the enchanting song “Tonight I’m Drowning” directed by Daniel Aremu and featuring dancer Shanika Wallace amongst the blue hues.

Her songwriting takes influences from equal measures of reflective moments of solitude and conversations with friends which she demonstrates with effortless power in each unique voicing. She talks about her source of inspiration: “It’s so easy to lie to yourself and others, so I really admire people who have the audacity to be truthful”.

Enjoy the video below:

www.facebook.com/EgoEllaMay
www.instagram.com/egoellamay

via sonofmarketing.com

The post South London based Ego Ella May dropped her new video for “Tonight I’m Drowning” appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

“We are able to feel other people’s emotions just by looking at them. And our restless mind is always seeking out things it finds engaging and intriguing, so if their eyes keep falling on you, it’s a kind of sign.”

“We were lucky enough to shoot a week before the heatwave in LA but the weather was already very hot and balmy in Calabasas that day, and the pool location was an oasis.” tells us talented Jonathan Benbaruk – who also contributed to our current print issue – about his stunning new series starring the two gorgeous beauties Kianna and Marissa of Next LA. “The models worked well together as I had hoped, and it was a fun day for everyone. I had to work quickly because of a pesky tree that would soon obscure the beautiful light I chose the location for; in the end I got most of the shots I wanted.” Make-Up done by Miranda Richards.

Creative Director/Photographer : Jonathan Benbaruk
www.jonathanbenbaruk.com – www.instagram.com/jonathanbenbaruk
Model : Kianna & Marissa
www.instagram.com/kkianac and www.instagram.com/marissaggrace
Make-Up Artist: Miranda Richards – www.instagram.com/mrandamua
Agency: Next LA – www.instagram.com/nextmodelsla

The post Eye Contact appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

photography and words by Martin Côté

The tyranny of nature pushes us to face our inner demons, constantly rubbing shoulders with death, we walk with it the redemptive paths of our feelings, taming it, letting it humiliates us, hides us, forces us to parade anxiously through the appetizing chasm that is our destiny, Mother Nature.

The term Scion can designate, in arboriculture, the development of a young shoot, or in a situation of heredity, a first family generation and even the succession of a throne.

“With Scion I tried to parallel the nature / human relationship by integrating a more or less approached factor, that of emotions. A selection of images spanning ten years, having been saturated with an emotional perspective, on the one hand, that of my environment but also that of our relations with the external world, thus coming to do echo to this theory of sensitive interdependence between these two entities. Without any doubts, we are the descendants of this beauty without malice, but it is probable and also without embarrassment, to wonder if this emotional sensitivity which we enjoy, does not come from this superior force which just
created us.” Scion, far from claiming an answer, wants to be an essay, a scenario, a playful question on the evolution of an omnipresent intelligence.

Photography by Martin Côté
www.martincote.org – @__martincote

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words by Nelly Bateman
photography: Pauline by Guillaume Gaubert

The boundaries between myself and other people have always been treacherous to navigate. I can rarely tell if my emotions belong to me or someone else. And so I like to imagine my brain like a kaleidoscope: a colourful hall of mirrors in which the only way out is to parse the real from the reflection.

I got my first kaleidoscope when I was seven. I thought the red and green metal canister, jingling with beads, was a telescope. Excited, I ran out to my backyard and held it up to the sky, but I quickly learned what a kaleidoscope does, and what bad telescopes they make. My mom raced after me, but she didn’t catch up before I broke down in tears because the image reflected between my hands did not resemble the crystalline blue stretching above me. And so I learned to think that kaleidoscopes speak in riddles; to find the inner contents of their mechanism distracting. I thought they were locked in their beautiful but lonely inner world.

And, seeing my mind much as the same, I learned to make conscious efforts to reach out, to break the repetition. I learned to draw in the boundaries that designate the in-between of myself and the world around me. My seven year-old self loved the sky because it was the same colour as her eyes; she wanted it to absorb her entirely. Now I know that half the fun of having eyes is not the longing to reflect the sky but the simple pleasure of cloud watching. Even when I get these crucial distinctions wrong, it’s helpful to know where I’m headed besides the vague out of my head. How can I love someone when I’m not sure where they begin and I end? Thus I have learned that love is a practice of distinction-making.

“I first encountered Weil when I was 16 and heavy with the world, and I’ve returned to her time and again until my copy of Gravity and Grace flopped open under the weight of ink and page markers.”

And so I learned to turn myself inside out towards the world, thinking I am imitating Christ when really I am only ever engaged in self-soothing sympathy. In sympathy, we drive ourselves further into our self because refuse to acknowledge that we suffer. We become so fixated on getting out of our heads that we forget our own brokenness and inevitably see the other person through our own suffering without realizing it. French philosopher Simone Weil wrote, ‘belief in the existence of other beings as such is love.’ How can I love if I cannot see my neighbour in their broken entirety, if I never see my lens for what it is: a kaleidoscopic intersection of experience and suffering?

I first encountered Weil when I was 16 and heavy with the world, and I’ve returned to her time and again until my copy of Gravity and Grace flopped open under the weight of ink and page markers. Weil reminds me that empathy, in contrast to sympathy, acknowledges the absurd and indiscriminate nature of pain. Empathy requires that we first admit to ourselves that we are a being who suffers, thus entering into the experience of another only ever means that we find something that already existed, in some way, within ourselves. We simply acknowledge something that was already there, our own pain. Being empathetic means entering into the soul of the other, which means allowing your suffering to be seen by them, in turn. Not only is this counterintuitive, but it is also the epitome of the void.

“To fall in love is to trip over the boundaries of your experience and to land with one foot in another’s. We pressed our nose to the glass, enraptured by curiosity, and we’re thrown off balance by the desire to know a person in all their brokenness.”

Weil frequently reminds me that ‘Among human beings, only the existence of those we love is fully recognized.’ In loving, we create within ourselves a projection of the world of someone else. This projection is radically personalized and runs on an overwhelming curiosity about the other-worldly. Only the full existence of those we love is recognized because they are the only ones whose suffering we are willing to comprehend. Or, more precisely, they are the only ones whose suffering we can even see in the first place. You cannot use a telescope to fall in love: only the refractions created by a kaleidoscope can allow us to see what we are doing when we love — seeing the brokenness of another person through our own suffering.

Weil wrote that ‘love on the part of someone who is happy is the wish to share the suffering of the beloved who is unhappy.’ Love — of the divine, of your neighbour, of your self — is a curiosity. Sometimes, that curiosity means confronting the reality of universal suffering. To fall in love is to trip over the boundaries of your experience and to land with one foot in another’s. We pressed our nose to the glass, enraptured by curiosity, and we’re thrown off balance by the desire to know a person in all their brokenness — a brokenness that is at once profoundly different and profoundly similar to our own. This curiosity is partially fuelled by the desire to know that the weight of brokenness is not only carried by ourselves.

“Empathy requires that we first admit to ourselves that we are a being who suffers, thus entering into the experience of another only ever means that we find something that already existed, in some way, within ourselves.”

And so Weil proposes a new of freedom — a freedom through, not freedom from. It is a freedom from the object of our love, but not from its suffering. She looks up from her colouring book to tell me that ‘to wish for the existence of free consent in another, deprived of it by affliction, is to transport oneself into him; it is to consent to affliction oneself.’ We use our inner kaleidoscopic mechanism to reflect within ourselves the beloved’s brokenness. This kind of attention is not destructive but decreative: ‘one gives oneself in ransom for the other.’

What we owe to others, in this way, is ourselves. We give ourselves ‘in ransom for the other,’ Weil repeats. She finishes the drawing and tells me it is the picture Lily painted in To the Lighthouse. This ransom is not a total renunciation, as the bond between ourselves and others created by the shared possibility of pain is fundamentally an expansion. To lock ourselves within ourselves out of fear of suffering limits the self to the icy cool contents of its mechanism. We turn from kaleidoscopes to telescopes We see nothing but distorted reflections of the real and mistake it for the truth of another person’s existence.

An acceptance of suffering is not a resignation to it, nor does it lock us deeper within ourselves. Knowing myself as an absurd being that the sky, that my neighbour, that I ought to love indifferently does not reduce me to an ant. Accepting suffering allows me to love because we etch a permanent crack on the side of our kaleidoscope. Instead of seeing the world through our own lens, we let its light trickle in through the sides and illuminate the real within ourselves.

The post About falling in love, empathy and boundaries appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Get to know gorgeous Nastasya Generalova who is an American individual rhythmic gymnast and model. Photographed by Keitaro Cloward. What an inspiration!

Nastasya, tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up…

My name is Nastasya Generalova, but people also call me Stasya or Stas. Im half Russian, Native American and Black, so this is where my very Russian name comes in. I grew up with my mom who is from Moscow, Russia yet I was born in Los Angeles, CA. As my mom did not know English so well when she immigrated to the U.S., Russian was my first language so I can fully understand and have normal conversations in Western Europe. Of course many people are fooled by my appearance at first, so always  be careful when using another language around others if you feel you can be secretive, you never know  who may understand. I am a 7 time US rhythmic gymnastics national team member, being in the sport for 16 years. Growing up, I had the opportunity to travel around the world in order to compete at many Grand Prix’s and World Cups in order to represent the United States. My lifestyle consisted of not being your average kid, waking up early to go to public school then straight after go to practice for at least 5 hours coming home late and continuing my studies. Some days I would have double practices for a total of 8 hours per day. The sleepless nights and dedication paid off as I have had so many opportunities such as traveling the world, becoming the first gymnast of color in my sport to win a World Cup medal, being a platform for all gymnasts of color as rhythmic gymnastics is not diverse at all, signing to Wilhelmina Models which has led to so many memories of working and meeting new people, and getting accepted into my dream school Columbia University. As the Olympics were cancelled this year, now one door closed for another to open and I am so glad I have stepped in to this door.

What inspired you to be in front of a camera?

Being a rhythmic gymnast on the U.S. team, you are constantly performing. I perform not only for the intent for the audience  and judges to remember who I was and my personality, but I perform for myself as well. The best feeling is when you know you are alone with just your apparatus and it is as if you are dancing with a partner. Everything blurs out and you forget you are performing in front of thousands of people. I feel like this did help me how how to perform in front of a camera. Another thing people would constantly tell ms is how confident I looked in front of the camera or on the gymnastics floor as well. The reality is, I was extremely nervous, but you don’t want the audience to know this, because how you put yourself on the floor or in the camera is how the tone will be set. If I look and feel confident, then the work will have more passion and more authenticity.

“It is hard to battle with your head because ultimately this is your biggest competitor.”

Do you ever get shy in front of the camera?

Yes! All the time actually, but I hardly show this. Most girls suffer with being confident in their own bodies and I most definitely do, there is nothing to hide. Especially the way that I grew up, I was told to constantly lose weight from the age of 12 due to rhythmic gymnastics prioritizing an extreme thin frame. When something is constantly implanted in your head from a young age you start to believe it, so when I was constantly told I needed to lose weight even though I was very thing already, I began to believe I was not pretty enough until I lose weight. To this day I still struggle with this, but I have gotten better than when I was younger. I am still constantly telling my internal self, “you are beautiful, you are unique, you are you”. It is hard to battle with your head because ultimately this is your biggest competitor. Now when I am in front of the camera, I am more confident as I realize I was chosen to be a part of the particular project and I was chosen for me and I should embrace this.

What life lesson did you learn the hard way?

A lesson I learned the really hard way was that never assume somebody won’t do you like that, because they would. Not everybody truly wants and wishes you the best. People lie and will stab you in the chest in order to get what they want for them and always them. I am extremely thankful my mom has raised me with amazing morals and to be kind to others and to kill people with kindness, but sometimes my kindness will backfire on me when I approach people with genuine love and positivity and they take advantage of this. I learned that a real hard way, and I fell after that experience, I have been more cautious and ultimately more aware of the people in my life. I tell everyone I meet that patience is the key to everything. Everything will fall into place. View the people who have disrespected you as a lesson for yourself, because you need to grow from this. Everyone enters your life for a reason, whether it is forever, 5 years, 1 year, a couple months, or even 3o seconds in the store, everyone who has entered your life teaches you something. So instead of wishing bad upon them or hoping they don’t succeed, wish them well and move on while you move up. Let them be around people in their frequency and their level. You continue to grow and surround yourself with people who genuinely love and want the best for you.

Your most important person in life?

The most important person in my life would be my mom because she is all I ever had. She sacrificed everything of hers in order for me to have opportunities I would not have. She was my mom and my dad. She taught me my morals and majority of what I know. I am very thankful for her and I think she overall did a brilliant job in creating a woman.

“I tell everyone I meet that patience is the key to everything. Everything will fall into place.”

A movie that made you cry.

I am not much of a cryer in movies, but a movie that always touches me and did make me cry every time I watched was Queen and Slim. It portrays the message of a real ride or die in a relationship as well as the corrupt system we live in. The beauty in the outfit designs and the settings and most importantly the connection two people can have when it is genuine.

What makes you smile?

Many things make me smile, but I’d say the main things that do is seeing my friends and mom happy. Seeing others happy fills me with joy as I know the people I care about are having a good time. I also really really love nature. I am so into detailed thins that Mother Nature has to offer. The view of any beach, sitting peacefully under a tree, having a connection with animals is better than any car, any house, and money. The fact that Mother Nature has the ability to create such picturesque natural things truly does fill my heart with joy. I could sit hours at a view and appreciate the masterpiece that nature has created.

A book to read before bed?

Aside of a book to read, I also really love to have a book in which I write my goals for the day and reflect on what I have accomplished for the day. When you really commit to this book, you feel more appreciative of your day and more determined to finish your daily goals. I highly recommend everyone to have this book/journal. It is like a manifestation journal book.

“Seeing others happy fills me with joy as I know the people I care about are having a good time.”

What do you expect from life?

This is a very difficult question, but overall the most important thing in life is to be happy. I want to be a successful woman in whatever career I aspire to be in when I am even older, continue to make a change in society, have inner peace, and have happiness. There are many people in this world who have practically everything yet cant find happiness and inner peace. I wish love and positivity to all and to find happiness in oneself as well as the simple things around them.

The post 5 minutes with Nastasya Generalova appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

words and photography by Elena Breuer 

“A couple of weeks ago I went on a journey to get to know the beauty and surroundings of my hometown better. In the past I never noticed them because it was more important to me to visit destinations further away in order to experience as much cultural changes as possible. Since my perspective had to change due to the current situation, I decided to go back to my hometown near the French border and I was surprised about all the beautiful places I found. With my analog camera I tried to capture the wonderful atmosphere between Germany and France and also how comfortable I felt during that time of my little journey.”

Photography and Model: @elenabreuerphotography
Photography @lucas_breuer_

The post Postcards of my homeland appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Golden sands, surf-loving winds, and that very special light of the Costa de la Luz. Enjoy some beach vibes with actress Cecilia Gomez photographed by Pablo Gil. Styling done by Cristina Padilla.

Model: Cecilia Gomez  instagram.com/aboutceciliagomez
Stylist: Cristina Padilla  instagram.com/_bycristinapadilla
Photographer: Pablo Gil www.instagram.com/pabloanyway

The post Beach Vibes appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

French musician and composer based in Berlin Aude Langlois has gained experiences in sound art, experimental band set up and theater sound design. The perfect prerequisite for her own atmospheric sound and musical poetic project, where her voice is the main carrier of her musicality and expression. And although her daily life oscillates between English and German we all know that our mother tongue is the language we use for thinking, dreaming and to identify emotion.

Aude tells: “I wrote ‘En Transit’ while in the process of moving out of an apartment that was shared with a partner to live by myself. I saw this transition to a new home as a space of healing where I could examine difficult feelings like sadness and grief, self-identity and love. I knew I had to go through these in order to start anew. When we shot the music video, the director (Carlos Vin Lopes) left a lot of space for me to improvise and it was a very transformative experience. Everything felt right and it made me realise the authenticity that can be found in the uncertainty of the moment.”

Enjoy the first single ‘En Transit’ of her debut EP Promesses which feels like a beautiful soft water drop on the summer skin.

www.audelanglois.com
www.instagram.com/aude_langlois

The post Aude Langlois releases a dreamlike video for ‘En Transit’ appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

Perth based artist Your Girl Pho releases ‘Surrender’ – her first single since signing with Melbourne label Daily Nightly. And we are in love. Her captivating vocal tones flow softly over a smooth emotional sound.

“To love is to surrender. To give yourself wholly to something/someone in a flow that is intuitively attuned and not guarding your heart. You cannot ask someone to surrender to you if you have not surrendered yourself. You can’t surrender with your head or your ego. This is an ode for the people who let love go and who won’t surrender to another. I’m singing to a person who has had their walls up, and holds a strong front – having a past of not letting anyone in,” says Phoebe on the track.

www.facebook.com/yourgirlpho

Film and Photo by Dylan.  

The post Your Girl Pho´s new single ‘Surrender’ is an ode for the people who let love go appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.

One day in Ibiza day surrounded by animals and flowers, dresses and lingerie, lace and cotton.

Sometimes there are no words needed to tell a story. Like for this breathtaking beautiful soft pastel colors series photographed by Delphine Brunner starring the three muses Carla Guetta, Shana Koehler and Kate Young wearing Catalina Bonet, Forever And A Day Intimates and Nadia with Love. Make-up done by Jlbmakeup and hair by Elia Martine. Incredible!

The perfect girl dream team already contributed to our print Issue 35.

All taken on film

Photographer: @delphinebrunner35mm

Models: @carla_guetta
@shana.koehlerr
@maisiekateyoung

makeup: @ljbmakeup
hair: @eliamartinehair

brands: @catalinabonetibiza
@foreverandaday.intimates
@nadia.withlove

The post Romantic Ibiza Girls appeared first on C-Heads Magazine.