Thumbnut

Journal on the inspirational leaders in style, media, technology and design who strive for better rather than bigger. Lead-er-ship* An act or instance of leading; guidance; direction: They prospered under his strong leadership.

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David-Hieatt

David-Hieatt is one of those rare individuals that seems to be able to create a success out of whatever he turns his mind to. Having worked for Saatchi, co-founded the clothing brand Howies (which he then sold to Timberland) and co-founding the Do Lectures (along with his wife Clare), he has since returned to clothing with his latest venture Hiut Denim.

Hieatt is a man who believes in working with the best people and that the word 'social' does not always have to mean 'media', that people matter and that marketing is storytelling not the selling of products. His grassroots drive is change. In a recent interview he was asked how he switches between creative and business man. 'I don’t think I am a true businessman' he replied 'A true businessman spots an opportunity and goes for it regardless of if it matters to them, regardless if they believe in it. But for me, I have to find something that matters first. Can we bring some change to it? Is it broken? And can we fix it?'

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Jefferson Hack

He is the co-founder and Chief Editing Officer of Dazed and Confused Magazine, Creative Head of sister creative agency White Label, as well as the Editor in Chief of bi-annual titles AnOther Man and AnOther Magazines. 

He is also the brain behind LVMH’s ground-breaking online video magazine Nowness, which pairs actors, directors and musicians together to create beautifully original short form video commentary.

Flight of the Pompadour on Nowness.com

Since the age of 19 Hack has been changing the print industry having started Dazed and Confused with friend and photographer Rankin in the early 90’s, and he is looking to do the same in the digital world. Famed for his marriage to the model Kate Moss and for his championing of British bands, designers and digital trailblazers, he himself has also managed to become something of a style icon - and it's easy to see why.

Much of his success is due to his ability to hire the right people, keeping the brands under Dazed Group both fresh and relevant. The AnOther titles for instance have published work by JG Ballard, Richard Prince and Tom Waits, as well as many young writers who have their fingers firmly on the pulse. “The print magazine has to become something more than it was.” He says “It has to become a printed manifesto and make a radical statement with more elaborate photography and more inspiring content. It has to be collectable and set the agenda.”

His publications and creative agency have demonstrated what independence in publishing can achieve, whilst acknowledging that the digital medium (Dazed Digital) is a utility that can nestle in alongside great print. If you are yet to come across these titles – we urge you to check them out Nowness.

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Sam Smith

One part music hot topic, one part style icon, singer Sam Smith has had a hell of a year. With a BRIT and a BBC Sound Poll Award under his belt, this new talent has been splashed across magazines and plastered over the airwaves throughout 2013.

Having made his mark as a guest vocalist on Disclosure’s big breakout hit ‘Latch’, this virtual unknown man has since bagged one of the industry’s biggest accolades for a new artist, the Brit’s Critics Choice Award.

His much anticipated debut album ‘The Lonely Hour’ is out on the 26th May through Capitol Records and promises to be risky. “I don’t want to have a genre” he said and the 10 track lament is set to be one of the hottest releases this year.

With a slick cut and tampered clothing this young acolyte is a breath of fresh air when balanced against other manufactured breakthrough acts like The Vamps. If judged by his music alone we think he 2014 will be a good year for Sam.

Check out the first single ‘’Money On My Mind’

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Jimmy Wales

Wikipedia's founder Jimmy Whales has become a beacon within the digital community. His encyclopaedia of content produced largely by its users has become both a household tool and a household name. However Wales is about to spearhead a new project, one which he hopes, "will change the way businesses give."

It has, until this week, been shrouded in mystery, so the media and tech community at the conference were wrought with anticipation. As Wikipedia is non-profit, the question on most people lips at DLD14, was, will this new project be a money maker? Will it be a sharing platform, an app, a new media model entirely? In fact the project titled The Peoples Operator isn't that new at all, just new to Wales, which is all that matters when it comes to making a start-up company a big one. Pitched as a business mobile network that allows its users to give 10% of their mobile tariff cost to "do good" organisations, Whales hopes to "instigate the giving of a billion dollars to charitable causes in the near future." Now acting as CEO and chairman of TPO, Wales knows only too well what weight his name carries. He said "I aim to use this press attention and my connections with large corporations to get the ball moving, I am very aware of what I can do to both highlight and engage people with giving." The company’s mantra is now very much about celebrating success through digital connectivity, sharing profits with transparency and opening up communications (literally) between profiting companies and the charities who exist off their donations. When asked if it was likely that there will be a collaboration between The People's Operator and Wikipedia in the near future, Jimmy Whales was reluctant to say anything for sure. "Maybe" he said, "it is an idea that I have considered but as yet we really do not know how it would be done, if at all." One thing is for sure, with Wales at the helm, The People Operator will certainly be a topic for discussion at DLD15. Check it out here.

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Put Your Money Where Your Art Is

Kicking off the new year with an increased sense of market optimism is the London Art Fair and it's director is keen to set a new bar for the event, providing budding collectors the opportunity to get on the art investment wagon.

Frieze decreased its number of exhibitor stands by nearly 40 last year in a similar drive for quality meaning some of the galleries that missed out will most likely have taken stands at this fair instead. A fresh set of ideas, a host of new projects and a revamped globally focused set of galleries with a host of emerging talent means the London Art Fair has got a whole lot more interesting. "Put your money in art they say", and never before have we seen so many people put their hard earned cash into paint and canvas rather than bonds and saving accounts. The newspapers will always report the sale of a 145 million pound painting but if you have a few thousand pounds sitting in an unyielding ISA you could do worse than investing in a little cultural capital. Here is our hot picks of the show and most of it does not come from the main fair. Head to Art Projects on the right hand balcony - that's where it gets interesting.

#5 The Sunday Painter Gallery

This contemporary gallery represents a very wide range of artists who make challenging but ultimately more thought provoking work. Check out Jan Kiefer. She had a show towards the end of the last year with Max Ruf and Yves Scherer at the gallery in Blenheim Grove and it was fab.

#4 Ink-D Gallery

Certainly the most commercial gallery in the list Ink-D from Brighton have a bunch of young artists on their roster which will serve the new collector well. Put your money in ceramicist Carrie Reichardt aka The Baroness and an original from Pure Evil.

#3 Transition Gallery

Within the fair the gallery has opted to exhibit a selection of works from their collaborative exhibition with Galerie d'YS in Brussels. The Masques series takes different stances on the themes of disguise and concealment which range from the folkloric and ethnographic to mystical and theatrical. 

#2 Seventeen Gallery

Representing the likes of Susan Collis and Jon Rafman Gallery Seventeen is one of the more cerebral galleries in our list. Headed up by Dave Hoyland the gallery is undergoing a move from its current Kingsland Road premises to a larger space further up the road.

#1 Limoncello Gallery

Two names for you: Matt Golden and Jack Strange. If you are looking to collect art by anybody in this list we urge you to take a in an eyeful of theirs. The gallery itself is one of the most forward thinking in London and should be followed with vigor.

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Hattie ‘Doodle’ Stewart

Hattie Stewart is more than just an illustrator - she is fast becoming an institution. With big name brands and publications vying for her work this fun loving Londoner has carved out a niche for herself with her distinctive doodling’s - and these scribbles are appearing everywhere.

Having recently interviewed Stewart for an upcoming international art project (which is still under embargo - sorry folks) we quickly became obsessed with her work - but more importantly we became obsessed with her. This young illustrator (now sporting wonderfully bright pink hair) can often be found on the floor with a box of pens drawing over everything from 10ft square photographs to magazine covers. She has managed to strike up a friendship with fashion designer Marc Jacobs, creating some garish patterns for his clothing collections, as well as collaborating with House Of Holland and Adidas to boot. Her illustrated magazine covers have become her trademark, scribbling over vintage copies of Playboy, interview, I-D, Dazed & Confused and Notion to name just a few. Here is a little selection of our favourite pieces. You will be seeing cartoon hearts everywhere from now on..

If you fancy owning a piece of the artist – grab yourself a limited edition print here.

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Dancing Dapper Shoes & Todays Beat

Owning a pair of battered beauties by Guidi has become something of a street cult - with fellow Guidi lovers able to spot a pair a country mile away. There is even a blog about the Guidi wearing community and Thumbnut counts itself among them. Their gritty and wonderfully worn aesthetic is beaten only by the quality standards they uphold. Alternatively source yourself a pair of boots from Tim Hamilton. The US designer is something of a whiz when it comes to understated style. Check out his AW14 here.

But what to wear them to? Well If you like the sounds of Last Dinosaurs and Two Door Cinema Club check out new single 'Australia' by Satellite Stories - Should put the boots through their paces.

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Fashion & Beat: Kit Neale & MØ

The best things in life always come in twos. Kit Kat’s, left and right, lemon and lime, hugs and kisses, cake and ice cream, heck even Harry Potter and Ron Weasley come as a pair. So here is our round up of fashion designer Kit Neale’s AW14 collection with a banging soundtrack to match.

Colourful upstart and all round whiz kid Kit Neale worked under the tutorage of Gareth Pugh and Duckie Brown prior to setting up on his own. Known widely for flamboyant and outlandish prints this London born designer has received acclaim for his printed jeans and reversible bomber jackets.

A native of the increasingly gentrified Peckham district of South London his eclectic surroundings have heavily impacted on his AW14 collection. He chose to pitch his collection this year in Elephant and Castle, a rather run down part of London known for its increasingly active creative community. Much of the collection includes said elephants and said castle motifs, which contrast nicely with the British Museum inspired patterns that adorn but a few inches of material. The colour – well that’s all Kit Neale.

There is only 1 track suitable to pay homage to Neale’s latest collection and it comes from another trailblazing youngster. Denmark’s MØ hit a home run last year with single ‘Glass’ and it set to do it again with latest release ‘XXX 88’. This track has got a rework by Australian DJ maestro Kilter (who we are also a big fan of – see previous post on Ozzy’ Electro) and much like peaches and cream – prove a tantalisingly good combo. MØ’s debut album ‘No Mythologies’ is out 24th Feb.

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Art from LA via Iceland

thumbnut has written extensivly on Iceland and its creative outpourings and we are particular fans of its capital city Reykjavik. During the 80's it was a hot zone for musical talent (NME made constant trips during its heyday) as the city swelled with grungy rock groups and exotic singers (Bjork, Emiliana Torrini) and in the 90's and early Noughties it was (and still is) a hub for talented designers. Another cultural beacon for the country is artist Heimir Björgúlfsson whose works have been exhibited all over the world. His eclectic collages give the viewer a glimpse of his homeland, and its a beautiful thing.

'Not entirely unrelated I' 2012

Now residing in LA, Björgúlfsson paints, draws and collages non-iconic totems of the mundane. Using a variety of techniques to both titalate and stimulate, his works repeatedly include misty landscapes, woodland creatures and evergreen shrubbery. He utilises the everyday to make objects that are both subtle and beautiful. Its surprising that his work still appears so Icelandic (whatever that may be) as the frosty tones and highly rendered birds flitter around the canvas like playful children. The images have a distinct style and voice which make for pleasurable gazing.

'A mighty ornery lot' 2013

'Not entirely unrelated IV' 2013

 'There is no memory that does not fade' 2013

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God Help This Girl

There is nothing we like more here at thumbnut than creative crossover. It could be an author who turns their voice to music, an artist who turns their fingers to writing, or in this case a musician who has had a crack at a feature film. Titled God Help This Girl, the much anticipated indie flick has been written and directed by Stuart Murdoch of Bell and Sebastian fame and boasts the by-line ‘A Better Summer’.

Due for release in cinemas around the world early this year, the film is pitched as a sort of ode to the city of Glasgow. The gritty surrounding of this Northern metropolis create the framework for a story about the aspirations of the young, the folly of youth and the sanctimony of the old. Between the grizzly green canals and the grey concrete buildings of the inner city the film charts a time in three peoples lives when dreams appear so wondrously possible, relishing in the enthusiasm and optimism often so taken for granted by many.

Sounds a bit twee? Yes but what’s wrong with a little twee? The film gets its European premier at the Berlin International Film Festival in February and is showing at The Sundance Film Festival – well - right now! It will no doubt feature some of the amazing musical talents we have come to know from Murdoch’s moniker including a nice collaboration with Linnea Jönsson of Those Dancing Days. We are very much looking forward to its release. Watch the teaser here.

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Electric Oz has Banging Beats

OK so we admit it. We love Australia and we are not afraid to say it. Not only does the country have year round sunshine, 12ft waves and gorgeous people, healthy living and a pretty buoyant economy – it also has some of the best electronic music producers/bands around. Acts like Cut Copy, The Presets, Mitzi, Van She, The Bamboo’s, Bag Raiders, Gypsie & The Cat and Kilter have been clogging up our ipods for over a year now and its time that word spread (if it has not already) If you find yourself asking ‘Ozzy Electro…Really?’ Read on.

Kilter

Kilter is the stage name of up and coming producer Ned East. Hailing from the iconic city of Sydney this 20 year old has made a rather solid name for himself since stepping onto the nightclub scene in 2011. In that time he has supported Elizabeth Rose, Albatross, Fishing and Galapagoose and released a whole host of samples, features and remixes on some of the hottest acts across the globe.

Our favourite is the latest mix of ‘XXX 88’ featuring the vocals of Danish woman of the moment MØ.

Chela

There is a new kid on the block and her name is Chela. Oozing uber-coolness this Melbourne based singer has grabbed the attention of equally hip label Kitsune Maison and the electro pop world. ‘Romanticise’ and ‘Zero Mixtape’ are fine examples of a hipster girl done good. Heavily influence both the 80’s synth-pop and Nile Rogers guitar riffs this Ozzy wonder-kid will no doubt break into the mainstream in 2014.

Polographia

Getting down and dirty is electronic outfit Polographia proving that chilly, whimsical house is still very much in demand. ‘Righteous Hit’ was released in 2012 and was quickly picked up in clubs across Sydney. The chillwave slow motion style of the track is both catchy and hypnotic. Check out ‘Stevie’ for a soul inspired number. We are guessing they commissioned Basement Jaxx favoured designers from XL for the cover art. It’s stunning.

The Townhouses

The Townhouses AKA Leigh Hannah is another Melbornite and is a pretty big fan of the vintage aesthetic. His tracks are more stories or old fashion bards than they are songs. Any single will take you on a whirlwind adventure where base notes are demons and treble clefs morph into majestic flying unicorns. Influenced by the likes of Caribou, Sea Worthy and Beach House the latest single ‘Nag Champa’ is a must listen. 

Oscar Key Sung

Straight up producer Oscar Key Sung has a name that befits a musician of his calibre. He is regarded as a young bright talent among many a star in and around his home city of Melbourne.  Originally one half of Oscar-Martin this youngster had quite a year in 2013. He was handpicked by both the UK’S Ghostpoet and Brooklyn based MeLo-X to produce their debut release MELOGHOST. Tracks ‘It’s Coming’ and ‘Sure Thing’ are finger clicking catchy and no doubt his EP set for release in early 2014 will be too.

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English Soul Please Winston

Jonny Winston is a born and bred Northampton lad with a penchant for soul music. Sporting backwards caps and tattoos this singer/songwriter popped up on our radar last year with his single ‘Hide Love Away’ (watch the performance for Playlist Unsigned). 

His bluesy pop sound sites influences from classic soul artists like Marvin Gaye and Al Green as well as more contemporary artists like Jamie Woon and Ben l‘oncle Soul. His vocal range is admirable and the electronic production underneath his ‘JW EP’ does well in cutting through the sometimes buttery lyrics. He also works on Underground electronic productions and has collaborated with Scullious and Roughmath. ‘JW’ is set for release on the 24th of Feb. Get excited.

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2014 Can Funk Off

If you ask us, 2014 is set to be a good year for funk. For too long musicians have failed to make fresh sounding funk, soul and R&B, but while most attempts have ended up sounding just a little pastiche, there are some artists making distinctive sounds that harness the roots of the genre whilst giving it the necessary contemporary twist to make it tingle in the right places. Enter Roxy Ray, Alexia Coley and Harleighblu.

Harleighblu

‘Let me be’ is released on the 27th of January and sounds so cool we had to put the album in the microwave less it stick to our fingers. The second single off the acclaimed album by soul songstress Harleighblu, the track looks set to delight electronic music producers the world over providing a great vocal to sample on next year’s club mixes. The honeyed tones are a beautiful contrast to the dark and brooding backbeat, whilst the singer’s charisma shines through the production values. It’s deep and daring and reminds us of early Solange Knowles – easily the better of the two sisters.

Alexia Coley

We became fans of Alexia Coley earlier in 2013 via a visit to London Ronnie Scott’s Ruby Sings night. This unabashed London based soul singer keeps the traditional soul vibe through big red lips, glamorous hair and slinky red dresses, and then hits you in the face with a belter of a voice. Tracks ‘Keep the Faith’ and ‘I Like a Drink’ serve as great examples of a young singer destined for great things. Since releasing her single through Jalapeno Records a few months ago she has since done the radio rounds, performing exquisite sets at BBC radio London, Radio 1, 1Xtra and Capitol FM.

Roxie Ray

Known widely for her part in the Australian funk outfit Dojo Cuts, it didn'’t take this soulstress long to make a name for herself in clubs across the South Pacific. Her delectable tone shrieks of the 60’s and 70’s, whilst the thoroughly Ozzy’ band bring the whole sound up to date. Both gritty and powerful Roxie Ray is in demand having featured on tracks by the Milano Dance Combo and The Underbelly amongst others. Check out Easy to Come Home and Confessions for your funk fix. However our favourite of them all is a new track by The Liberators who dropped ‘Water Somewhere’ in November and features… yes you guessed it, the vocals of Roxie Ray herself.

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A 'Beat' Director for 2014: Michael Polish

Michael Polish is the multi-talented director, writer and actor that first shot into the limelight in 1999 with a little indie flick called Twin Falls Idaho. He wrote, directed and starred in the film alongside his twin brother Mark. Ever since his quirky and thought provoking aesthetic has been in demand but Polish has never ventured too far from his dialogue driven path. He is drawn to stories of isolation and characters struggling to cope with the changing world around them. He himself has become something of a ‘beat’ character for the modern age, all stubble and brooding facial expressions and we for one welcome his work with open eyes and ears.

Polish seemed to pop out of nowhere. Having acted a bit in the mid to late 90’s both he and his brother were sort of seen as gigging actors. Yet once they had taken their relatively low budget indie film to The Sundance Film Festival the critics and the offers flocked in. It is not often that a director comes along who steals the show away from his leading lads and ladies. Christopher Nolan did it recently with his Batman Trilogy sure and of course there are the Tarrantino’s, Scorsese’s and Coppola’s of the world but they are in a minority - plus they have been around a while. We have been waiting for some young blood to come to the table and Polish might just be it. Here is our pick his back catalogue which had us hooked from the play button.

Twin Falls Idaho

In Twin Falls Idaho he and his brother play conjoined twins Blake and Francis Falls who take up the mantel of a run-down guest house in an attempt to rekindle a relationship with their estranged birth mother. However when the twins have to be separated due to health problems the surviving brother has to learn to live on without his sibling.

The film was an indie hit and won at the Athens International Film Festival. We came across it when visiting a local film club and have been obsessed with Michael Polish ever since.

Jackpot

Another film directed by Polish is Jackpot from 2001. Another story set amidst a changing Mid-West. Sunny Holiday, an aspiring singing star, abandons his wife and young baby to set off on a nine-month tour of bleak western towns. He takes off with his road manager in a pink Chrysler in search of their own version of the American Dream. It shrieks of the author John Steinbeck and maybe even a little of the renowned Texan art critic Dave Hickey, purely in its humour, candour and depth of character. 

Big Sur

In 2013 Polish stepped into some rather large shoes as the co-writer and director of the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s 1962 novel Big Sur. Baring in mind the love people hold for the beat gen' writer and the cult following his work still has, adapting the lesser known novel Big Sur was no easy task. Although it somewhat passed by the media circuit it did receive favourable reviews but in our opinion Polish did good on his word and created a vision of paranoia, sex, delirium tremendous misery and madness for the screen. It is full of intensity, hallucinatory breakdown and some beautifully choice lines from the novel.

Other titles include The Astronaut Farmer from 2006 which cast Billy Bob Thornton as struggling farmer who dreams of the stars and NorthFork from 2003 which follows an oddball town in mid 50’s America which seems to be losing a battle with the onslaught of modernisation. Both are charming in their own way – if not entirely polished (mind the pun) but certainly worth a watch.

What them all and look out for upcoming film Unconscious, which is due out soon...

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Get us To Brooklyn Pronto

It has been tarnished in the past with overcrowding, violence and poverty as its poor immigrant population struggled to make its way in the US. The gentrification of the area has changed this somewhat and the Brownstone buildings that line Brooklyn walkways are now a desirable and expensive place to live. One thing that has never changed however is Brooklyn’s impact on the creative industries. Whether its art, music, design, writing, cinema or dance, Brooklyn and its people has influenced culture across America and indeed the world.

Brooklyn is the most populous borough in New York and it has since its foundation accepted into its arms migrants from all over the world who have managed to find a home amidst hundreds of nationalities and countless languages. A poll taken in 2010 charts a linguistic diversity that encompasses English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Yiddish, French Creole, Italian, Polish, Arabic, Indic, Urdu as well as a variety of African languages among others and we love it.

Writer/Director Woody Allen comes from Brooklyn, as does the cult actors Mel Brooks and Steve Buscemi, comedian Eddie Murphy, artist Jean-Michel Baquiat, musicians like rappers Big Daddy Kane and Jay-Z, crooners like Lena Horne, straight up rockers like Melvin Gibbs, Lou Reed and Pat Benatar. Even Barry Manilow is from Brooklyn. Its outpouring is significant not only in its volume but also in its influence. It’s the birth place of many a trend, style and attitude. It was in many respects the gateway to the Big Apple dream as cheap rent allowed young creative individuals to live, influenced along the way but their multi-cultural and vibrant neighbours. And it is still a hotbed today. Here are a couple of names that you should keep an eye on.

Njideka Akunyili

Occupation: Artist

Having left Lagos at the age of 16 for the shores of the US, African born Njideka Akunyili wanted to be a doctor but by chance fell under the artists spell. Thank god. Her beautifully crafted pop inspired collages and paintings tell tales of a not so distant land where questioning cultural identity is integral to ascertaining a person’s sense of place. 

She often paints her American husband into the center of her portraits combining her American influences with that of Chinua Achebe and other Afro-Caribbean writers. As a result she gives us images of both beauty and conflicting narratives. In an increasingly globalised society, the idea of home is always a fresh one and Akunyili reminds us that home is not a place but a state of mind.

Zachary Cole Smith

Occupation: Musician

Currently fronting Brooklyn band of the moment DIIV the man formally known as Z. Cole Smith also keeps his toes in other waters. He appears in the line-up for the band Beach Fossils too.  DIIV is easily one of the biggest breakout bands of 2012 and have since amassed a cult following as Cole’s gruelling lyrics, dreamy pop melodies and solo guitar licks have made them the band an accidental hit in the music industry. 

Debut LP Oshin was applauded by both critics and audiences and got thumbnut interested in Brooklyn again. They managed to steer our heads away from Scandinavia and New Zealand to remind us that Brooklyn’s constantly evolving swamp is a place where nobody is certain what creatures yet lie beneath its surface.

Amanda Smeltz

Occupation: Poet

Having lived in Brooklyn for a little over 5 years this cock sure poet comes with some industry clout. She is the author of Imperial Bender, her debut poetry collection and is also the Assistant Poetry Editor of Forklift, Ohio. We discovered her after Imperial Bender was listed as a notable read by the Chicago Tribune and we haven’t been able to put it down since.

Excerpt from ‘Crown For a Natural Disaster’

Let’s drop the corset and the bullshit. I lop off the ear of a Roman soldier. He’s tough, but doesn’t call my bluff. Jesus, however, is perfectly clear. Knock it off, Amanda dear! Sorry! I call. I’m not sorry at all.

She has become consumed by the Brooklyn spirit having been drawn to the area due to het love of Hip-Hop and can often been seen in Evergreen park, perhaps jotting down a few lines amid the crowds playing softball on the weekends. And like a true poet she hangs out in the quieter café spots to get words to paper. 

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The Painted Face of Pakistan

Rashid Rana has emerged as a leading figure in contemporary art in Pakistan. His politically charged and socially aware artwork has gained much attention in the international art press due to his satirical pop culture images and parodies of alternative political scenarios. His upcoming exhibition at the Lisson Gallery in London looks set to explode some misconceptions about the modern art of Pakistan.

His art is by no means a new phenomenon. He has exhibited in London, New York, Shanghai, Karachi, Miami, Dubai and Auckland among others. He has become an unofficial poster boy for a modern Pakistan. Ommatidia II (shown above) sold for $16,000 in 2012 and Dis-location 1 (shown below) sold for $102,000 in 2010, demonstrating that his work has a cash value too.

Tradition is a key factor in Rana’s work, both artistically and culturally. Often adopting the readymade as a vehicle for his work, it looks contemporary, however it is also steeped in traditional South Asian techniques. It is conventionally decorative and appealing to the eyes.

Combining the exotic with digital techniques gives Rana a distinct voice. At times it is humorous, other times cutting and every now and then extremely tender. Rana’s work seems to suggest he is somewhat at odds with his home town – even his home country.

The challenge for Rana is to create work that resonates with its Pakistani audience while also speaking to an international viewer, work that manages to combine tonga runs alongside a Mercedes.

Rashid Rana will be exhibiting at Lisson Gallery in Milan from the 24th January – 14th March 2014

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Rainer is one to watch in 2014

Rainer are a musical duo hailing from London. Their synthetic pop basks in the glow of post garage beats and more recent Scandinavian pop. Its sheer oddity makes it both mesmerizing and enthralling. They recently released a double A side called Girls/Money, which went down well, and have since launched a début EP. Hope/Satin/Glass/Dreams looks set to do good things.

It’s not often that we find ourselves falling completely in love with starry eyed shoe gazing pop. Too often it is void of either lyrical credibility or a decent beat, but Rainer seem to be able to accomplish both. They say that their music is inspired by “staring out of the window of a night bus on the way home, through the empty streets and estates around Elephant and Castle”. To be honest we couldn’t describe it any better. Their sound is a cross between LA’s Rhye and the French DJ collective Clockwork Opera, at once both hypnotic and compelling.

The video for latest release Satin is out now. The EP is an emotive ride but one well worth taking.