COOL BROTHER: FOUNDING EDITOR
(ACTIVE: 2019)
Overview & role
5000 copies per quarterly issue, hand-delivered to over 180 London-based stockists, including The Photographer’s Gallery, APC, Carhartt, Shoreditch House. Available to order online – shipped to Tokyo, New York, Berlin and beyond
ART DIRECTOR: EMMA BALEBELA. CB EXISTED FOR A YEAR. MY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED:
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Brief summary:
Directing content strategy
Conceptualising all written editorial (print & online) and visual themes for every issue
Commissioning and editing (or penning) every written word
Producing interviews with artists, including Courtney Barnett, Gorillaz, 1960s photographers like Terry O’Neill, and many more (scroll for more)
Researching and selecting featured visual artists (around 30 young illustrators and photographers per issue)
Managing social channels (7,000+ IG followers at the time)
Working with 70+ people per issue (writers, advertisers, designers, PR agencies, photographers)
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Brief summary:
Conceptualising all editorial (online, offline – music, style, visual art features)
Directed the creative vision for Cool Brother, working closely with Art Director Emma Balebela, to design and refine every printed page as a two-person team
Conceptualising and directing style and music shoots
Personally designed and produced the Cool Brother website (coolbrother.co.uk, now archived), including the original site layout and features, promotional GIFs, Instagram content and grid, plus selected event posters
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Brief summary:
Sourcing advertising from the likes of Bestival, Celine, Folk, Fred Perry, Noah (scroll for many more)
Invited to collaborate with (Alexander) McQueen on a McQueen × Cool Brother clothing piece. However, I was unable to pursue the opportunity due to full-time work elsewhere (regrets!)
See a similar story with Fred Perry below (in the Live Promotor tab)
Merch and one-off collectables to reaffirm DIY roots
Managing partnership festival stages at Festival Republic’s The Great Escape. (See more in Live Promotor tab)
Co-promoting shows with Eat Your Own Ears, Live Nation, Rockfeedback. (See more in Live Promotor tab)
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Brief summary:
x6 looks per issue: x3 locations, x2 models, x1 shoot day
Modelled by up-and-coming artists
Organised, styled and directed by me
Scroll to see collaborating designers list (inc. Bella Freud, Clarks Originals, YMC, many more)
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Brief summary:
Organising gigs and launch nights to spread joy and cultural relevance
Scroll to see list of x60 performing artists (inc. Blue Bendy, Porridge Radio, Ugly)
Scroll to see full list of co-promoters (inc. Eat Your Own Ears, Festival Republic, Live Nation)
Scroll to see full venues list (inc. Venues: The Great Escape Festival, Shacklewell Arms, MOTH Club)
Scroll to hear more about partnership offers from the likes of Fred Perry as the Issue Five launch party (offered to be held at their Seven Dials, London store as a brand partnership) however, I took on a new job instead… She so silly)
Content strategy
Music
Interview feature series bringing you closer to the bands you love. For example:
1) Tour Diaries
Your alternative to gig reviews (because who reads them, really?). Giving musicians disposable cameras to document festivals and tour. See the shows through their eyes – on stage, backstage and throughout the in-betweens with an AAA pass
Artists: The Orielles, Little Dragon, The Growlers, Rhye, Pip Blom, Courtney Barnett, Maribou State
2) Behind The Lens
Long-form interviews with ‘60s icon photographers. Unearthing undocumented stories about their music legend friends
Photographers: Terry O’Neill, Baron Wolman, Gered Mankowitz
Artists: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Allen Ginsberg, Marianne Faithfull, William S. Burroughs
3) Tuesdays
See what days off from the music industry look like. Tuesdays is an open door to your favourite artists’ homes. One star per issue – shot on medium format, featuring candid photos + long-form chats
Artists: The Drums, Kano, Country Teasers, Puma Blue
4) Shoots From The Hip
Quick-fire interview rounds with live tour photographers about their craft, industry, subjects/friends + lighthearted, humorous topics
Photographers: Charlotte Patmore, Holly Whitaker, Neelam Khan Vela, Rowan Allen
5) Online features
Written and still features
Artists: A Certain Ratio, Allah Las, Charles Watson, Courtney Barnett, Fat White Family, The Garden, Goat Girl, The Growlers, Her’s, Hinds, Jonathan Richman, The Moonlandingz, Oscar, Paint, The Parrots, Personal Trainer, Pip Blom, Porridge Radio, Radiant Children, Ratboy, Squid, Sports Team, Sundara Karma, Twin Peaks, Yak, Willie J Healey, many more
Illustration & photography
A different visual theme per issue. Work by up-and-coming artists capturing youth, spirit and candour
Illustrators: Tim Head, SJ Hockett, Dan Whitehouse, Kate Walton, Max Marshall, Steph Dutton, John Strover, Alfie Wheatley, Jake Hollings, Darren Shaddick, Joseph Grahame, Zac Crocker, Benn Jackson, Jack Richards, Zoran Pungercar, Noah Harmon, Stepien Waldemar, Ana Popescu, Antony Huchette, Jun Cen, Kate Pugsley, Kit Agar, Robbie Simon, Tishk Barzanji
Photographers: Daniel Gonzalez, Adam Connett, Julia Klottrup, Mike Spears, Matt Martin, Marc Vallée, Fiona Smallshaw, Joe Goicoechea, Ben Wrigglesworth, Cole Flynn Quirke, Adria Robles, Matt Correia, Sadie Bailey, Michael Townsend, Callum Bailey, Cameron Hoerth, Kuba Trzciński
Style
High-end streetwear modelled by up-and-coming London-based artists. Brought to life with interviews with each protagonist, celebrating creativity and their craft
Details: x6 looks per issue: x3 locations, x2 models, x1 shoot day
Models: Alfie Kungu, Holly St Clair, James Christopher, Laura Harper, Eoghan Barra
Designers: YMC, YMC x Mundial, Folk, Carhartt, Rains, Ace & Tate, Norse Projects, Our Legacy, Wood Wood, Heresy, Bella Freud, Polari, Carne Bolente, Nanamica, Converse, Good News, Stepney Workers Club, Dr. Banana, Potato Head, Maison Kitsuné, Clarks Originals
Photographer: Caoimhe Hahn
Stylist, director: me
Written content & creative direction examples
Interview series and features bringing you closer to the bands you love
COVER
EDITOR'S LETTER: INSIDE DBL SPREAD
COVER
INSIDE DBL FRONT AND BACK LINING
MASTHEAD: DBL SPREAD
TUESDAYS WITH PUMA BLUE: DBL SPREAD #1
TUESDAYS WITH PUMA BLUE: DBL SPREAD #2
TUESDAYS WITH PUMA BLUE: DBL SPREAD #3
TUESDAYS WITH PUMA BLUE: DBL SPREAD #4
BEHIND THE LENS WITH BARON WOLMAN: DBL SPREAD #1
BEHIND THE LENS WITH BARON WOLMAN: DBL SPREAD #2
BEHIND THE LENS WITH BARON WOLMAN: DBL SPREAD #3
ROWAN ALLEN SHOOTS FROM THE HIP: DBL SPREAD
TOUR DIARIES WITH RHYE: DBL SPREAD #1
TOUR DIARIES WITH RHYE: DBL SPREAD #2
TOUR DIARIES WITH RHYE: DBL SPREAD #3
CHARLES WATSON INTERVIEW: DBL SPREAD
GORILLAZ INTERVIEW: DBL SPREAD
TUESDAYS WITH THE DRUMS: DBL SPREAD #3
Photography & illustration examples
A different visual theme per issue. Work by up-and-coming artists capturing youth, spirit and candour
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALFIE WHEATLEY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BEN WRIGGLESWORTH (LEFT), FIONA SMALLSHAW (RIGHT)
ILLUSTRATIONS BY SJ HOCKETT
ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN STROVER (RIGHT)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIET KLOTTRUP
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC VALLÉE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT CORREIA
Style content
Style Notes
High-end streetwear brands modelled by up-and-coming London-based artists. Brought to life with interviews with each protagonist, celebrating creativity and their craft
Details: x6 looks per issue: x3 locations, x2 models, x1 shoot day
Models: Alfie Kungu, Holly St Clair, James Christopher, Laura Harper, Eoghan Barra
Designers: YMC, YMC x Mundial, Folk, Carhartt, Rains, Ace & Tate, Norse Projects, Our Legacy, Wood Wood, Heresy, Bella Freud, Polari, Carne Bolente, Nanamica, Converse, Good News, Stepney Workers Club, Dr. Banana, Potato Head, Maison Kitsuné, Clarks Originals
Photographer: Caoimhe Hahn
Stylist, director: me
Marketing strategy
Events, advertising, collabs, grassroots promotion, DIY marketing and merch
1) Events
Organising gigs and launch nights to get people talking and promote cultural relevance
Venues: The Great Escape Festival, Green Door Store, Shacklewell Arms, MOTH Club, The Macbeth, Windmill, many more
Bands: BABii, Bamily, Blackaby, Blue Bendy, Bo Ningen, Bug Teeth, Circe, Chappaqua Wrestling, Cruel Intensions (DJ), Cup, Deathcrash, Deep Deep Water, Deep Tan, Drug Store Romeos, Ellis, Feet, Great Dad, Honkies, Jets (DJ), Josef Efi, KHUSHI, Lakuna, Legss, Liily, LL Burns, Luxury Apartments, Malady, Meggie Brown, MF Tomlinson, Mystery Jets (DJ), Peaness, Peeping Drexels, Pixx, Porridge Radio, Pottery, Pozi, PVA, Rachel Chinouriri, Rainn Byrns, Rhythm Method, Samana, Scalping, Silverbacks, Sleep Eaters, Sons of Raphael, Sunken, Swim Deep (DJ), Telegram (DJ), Malvis Key, The Murder Capital, The Rhythm Method, Two Tribes, Ugly, Unmoor Kiva (ex Savages), Ushio, Weird Milk, Winston Surfshirt, Youth Sector, Xaviers, many more
Co-promoting events with: Eat Your Own Ears, Festival Republic, Friends Serene, Grandma, The Great Escape Festival, Permanent Creeps, Rockfeedback, Saxon Zine, Live Nation, LNZRT, London In Stereo, many more
Also approached by: Fred Perry, The Social, McQueen
2) Advertising and collabs
Organising advertising, partnerships and creative collabs with...
Clothing brands: Celine, Noah, Folk, Fred Perry, Lazy Oaf, Saint Laurent, Stepney Workers Club, SCRT, Mahala
Festivals, venues and music promotors: Bestival, Green Man, Jazz Cafe, Phonox, XOYO, Festival Republic, Eat Your Own Ears, Crosstown Converts, Parallel Lines, Lovebox festival, Spilt Milk, Saxon, Glasswerk Presents, The Great Escape festival, Citadel festival
Other: Iconic Images, Howl, Mother, Friendly Records, Thingy, Ex Why Zed, Hatch, Whip, many more
Also: personally approached by (Alexander) McQueen to collaborate on a McQueen x Cool Brother clothing piece. Unfortunately, by that point I was working full-time elsewhere and missed the opportunity – one of my biggest career regrets :(
3) DIY marketing
Connecting with audience by making handmade merch, poster-zines and one-off collectables to reaffirm DIY roots
Cool Brother: Instagram feed
Managing all social posts, creating GIFs, curating Instagram grid to remain on-brand
Achievements & learnings
DIY = do it young. 365 days in milestones
An ever-growing family
Cool Brother was a two person team, but we couldn’t have done it without the musicians, artists, illustrators and contributors who featured on each and every page. That’s why we call ourselves an ever-growing family
In good company: cultural recognition
Discovered by Hedi Slimane
Hedi Slimane discovered Cool Brother and requested advertising placement, with the opportunity relayed through Bella Freud’s (previously Saint Laurent) publicist
McQueen x Cool Brother collab
Approached by Alexander McQueen’s creative team to create a collaborative McQueen x Cool Brother clothing product – highlighting the publication’s growing cultural influence
Brand partnerships
Invited by Fred Perry to host the (unreleased due to other work) Issue Five launch party at their Covent Garden store. Invited by Noah’s founder (former Supreme Creative Director) to create a Noah zine. Celine and Saint Laurent competing for back-page ad space. Aaand, festival stages.
Whole lot of fun
Bringing our community to life through 80+ live performances at renowned independent music venues – the stages where emerging artists break through – alongside a dedicated Cool Brother stage at The Great Escape.
INSTAGRAM: @COOLBROTHERZINE