Issue 18
Preorder Now
Issue 18
Preorder Now
Words Tessa Swantek
When did we stop asking questions? At some indiscriminate point in life, we feel like we should have the answers. We should have lived enough to know and understand. But how can we know if we stop exploring and questioning? In Issue 17, "Revolving Revelations," we find solace in the not-knowing as each talent surrenders to candor and vulnerability. One of our cover stars, James Bay, says he'll always be "a work in progress" and our other cover star, Ross Lynch of The Driver Era accepts that he "changes all the time"...which funnily enough is James' album title.
The coincidental unity is much appreciated, boys.
In this issue, we re-discover five out of eight artists. We first met James in 2020 when he and our editor-in-chief, Cecilie, were quite literally interrupted part-way through their conversation by the pandemic until they met again to finish up two years and one baby later for James. Now we meet again after two more years (shall we do this every two years, James?)
We revisit Booboo Stewart four years after we first met him in 2020 on his family’s farm, long hair and all. This time, we meet at his home, explore his art studio as he lays on tables, walks his dog (who is dressed in a very dapper tie), and jumps on his bed. It speaks a lot to Booboo's character that he always lets us in, not only emotionally but also in his physical personal spaces. While reading this entire issue, we hope you feel like you've entered each person's home in some way.
We chat with Bradley Simpson again, who is learning the vulnerability that comes with creating art on his own as he gets ready to release a solo album apart from The Vamps. We also meet Gavin Leatherwood again after four years and still find the same insatiable curiosity, but also an incredible sense of comfort in “knowing nothing at all.” We reunite with Blossoms after eight years, whose friendship and humour have withstood the test of time. They are now making music about a giant fibreglass gorilla.
There’s one thing all talents have in common: they are all questioning. We all find more questions than answers; As Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote, “Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.”
Thomas Doherty asks “Why do I mask?” While his incredible honesty is gorgeous to read, we also love that he danced to Sabrina Carpenter for most of the shoot. David Larbi asks along the way of writing his debut poetry book, Frequently Happy, “If I can’t properly reflect on [feeling happy] myself, how can I encourage others to buy the book and do the same?” Yet he fell back into the process, back turned, open arms. Our photoshoot with him was also a trust fall of sorts as it was his first-ever shoot. Can he get some claps for how he just casually gave us some of the best photos of the issue in his first ever shoot?
In his conversation, Booboo says, “I’m still climbing, haven’t reached the top, and I don’t even know if there ever will be one.” As many of the boys have realised, there doesn't have to be a "top,” or peak and often we lose sight of all the beautiful little things in life at the periphery. As David says, "It’s about embracing the challenge of finding what’s good, even when it’s not obvious."
To you, dear reader, we hope you find a sunny spot within all the questions, because there is one. We hope you discover something in this issue. We hope the artist who is most dissimilar to you shows you a new perspective.
Let go. Enjoy the view.
Our brand new Autumn Winter '24 issue Revolving Revelations is out now.
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