Cosmopolitan Boys Sunday Snippets #009
Cover photo by Renell Medrano. Shanese Diana for ICE STUDIOS (2021).
07/07/2024, Sunday, 12:10 @ Centro, São Paulo.
I don't even know where to start... 3 weeks have passed since the last Newsletter, surely some of the most transformative weeks of my life. My first time in Paris, my first time in London, my first time doing so many things. An entire world of new possibilities was opened in my mind and perhaps that is the most valuable thing about the trip. I visited historical places, rich places, poor places, places I have always dreamed of. I had contact with dozens of different cultures and nationalities. I learned a lot and also had the opportunity to 'teach' a lot about our culture and reality, Brazil was always a topic of conversation and connection.
One of my biggest concerns was to have genuine exchanges and learn as much as I could. And so it was. I think that when you give yourself honestly, everything seems to align and people can feel your enthusiasm. I imagine that a large part of the people reading what I write do not know me well, but I am quite shy and most of the time I am not as eloquent as I would like, especially in another language. So it was a great challenge to approach unknown people and develop deep conversations, but I am glad to have overcome my fears and limitations.
At the same time that I want to rant about everything that happened, I also don’t want to, or maybe I’m still discovering my way of doing this. People constantly tell me to talk more, show more, etc., but I don't think I am that person. I have always wanted to create a Zine, a book, or something like that, and I think this is the right time. Something physical that represents more than I can say, that is the person I am/want to be. So that's what you can expect, I still don’t know when, nor where, but I will keep updating week by week.
Returning to normal programming, here is my curation from the last few days, I hope you enjoy.
*Each topic is dissected a bit more. Click on the arrows and/or the links.
THINGS I'M READING
Cam Hicks on the World Building of Hicks
Samutaro is one of the coolest pages on Instagram and this post with some quotes from Cam Hicks was one of the best I saw this week.
“As much as the term creative director has become a cliché, I really love telling stories. Especially for me, growing up in Virginia, it was hard to find people with the same mindset who were really interested in creativity.” “I had all these ideas I wanted to expand, but everyone in Virginia said they only knew how to point and shoot.” And so, YouTube became his university. “I felt like if I learned how to take photos, it could be a springboard to eventually become a creative director.”
Moving to New York in 2018, he connected with Virgil Abloh in Soho, a casual encounter that turned into work photographing for Off-White. But it was his time in Paris, taking behind-the-scenes photos of the LV debut show, where V exposed him to the role of creative director. “He said if I took photos, he would let me be a fly on the wall and learn everything he did.”
“I want to create my own world, that's why I started @hicks” The brand serves as a creative platform to execute his broader vision.
…his signed caps that took six months to perfect. Each one is embroidered with the slogan “Act Like You Been Here Before” - a piece of advice his father gave him about entering the industry. “It's worked and has always stayed with me.”
Mikey Krzyzanowski Talks Cars, hugo and Friendship
Here’s a good story from the trip:
I’ve been following Mikey’s work online for quite a while, and when I saw he was in Rio last year, we started talking. He told me he comes to Brazil almost every year for about six years and that he runs a surf social project in Rocinha with his friend Nick (owner of Always). Since then, we would sporadically talk, I mentioned maybe going to Europe in the middle of the year, but we didn’t make any plans. Then we happened to run into each other on the street in Paris. He stopped to grab açaí in front of where the Survival pop-up would be.
As soon as he saw me, he was the nicest person in the world to me, very happy to finally meet me (and I was too), he hugged me with great enthusiasm, asked to take photos of the Quadro jacket I was wearing, asked to take a picture of me in front of Oak Berry. It was a quick interaction, he had many commitments with New Balance, he had built a showroom for them during Fashion Week and needed to leave, but he gave me his number and asked me to let him know when I arrived in London.
We started messaging practically every day, but I only got to see him again on my last day in London. He invited me to hang out at the open! office (his creative studio) around noon (he had to leave at 4 PM, keep that in mind) and I went. Once again, he welcomed me with all the care and enthusiasm in the world, I had one of the coolest conversations of the entire trip there. He told me about everything they do there, the projects he is currently involved in, his relationship with Loyle Carner and asked me about Brazil in a way no one had done before. Although he comes here every year, Rio is the only city he knows and his contact is much more with the local community where he has the surf project, with the language barrier being a major issue. So he was really happy to be able to talk in English and with someone who understood the same things he did. In the middle of the conversation, as if he had an epiphany, he picked up the phone and made a call. “Hey, are you at HQ? I have a person you need to meet. Okay, going there” and announced that we would go to the Always office. But first, he gave me all the merch and materials possible from hugo, the album for which he did the creative direction. The project book with his dedication was one of the coolest gifts I have ever received in my life.
So we went down and walked to the other office. Upon arriving there, all the people at Always had the same energy; we connected right away and the conversation flowed very well, about everything, but mainly about Brazil. They took us to the stockroom and said we could take whatever we wanted, Nick was constantly pacing back and forth, opening boxes and handing things into my hands. When I realized it was 3 PM and I was with a bag full of way more things than could fit in my suitcase, which was already closed and packed. In the end, I found a way and everything turned out fine.
But anyway, I told this whole story to talk about this interview that Mikey gave to Wonderland, explaining about the process of creating the last album of Loyle Carner together with him. I think it’s a great representation of who he is and his energy. I’m probably his number 1 fan. Some translated excerpts:
The modern scope of art goes far beyond a single discipline. If there was a time when modern musical talent was at the height of acclaim, that time has passed. Now, the desire to encapsulate consumers goes far beyond pure craft; the concept is key for those who stand out in the crowded market.
imagining a form of art that depends on a vision that coexists with music.
When we met, he told me about growing up with ADHD and how much relief he found through cooking. From that point on, we started planning the first Chilli Con Carner - a cooking school for young people with ADHD. This project has been happening almost every summer since then. It's so beautiful to have a community project as the core of our working relationship. Above all, the cooking school is about showing other young people that they can do it too. This is something that matters a lot to both of us in everything we do.
We always work collaboratively; and the step to creative director taught me a lot about supporting an artist's vision, rather than imposing your own.
Sometimes, being present on a 20-minute walk can add more value to a project than days and days of 'work'. So, I think in response to the question; how do we work closely together? We talk! With honesty, vulnerability, and trust. Friendship!
Day by day I am working on a mix of projects with my studio, open! (open-open-open.co). Developing ideas around fashion, music, and design. We have a lot this year. Really and truly, I just hope we build a house in Brazil. Peace!
This interview is amazing and I highly recommend reading it in full. The Fader hosted a conversation between Little Simz and Erykah Badu talking about family, religion, career, fame, etc. I’m a big fan of both and the conversation is very rich. My first contact with Little Simz was about 10 years ago, through this song that only formally exists on the internet and has been one of my favorite songs since then. I think a lot of people came to know her through Top Boy, but it’s worth diving into her musical work and her music videos. She is one of the best current rappers. Some excerpts from the interview translated:
Astrological connection aside, there is an undeniable bond between the duo. Erykah and Simz alternate between older sister and younger sister energy, then mentor and mentee. Sometimes, they are just two Black women who understand a level of success in music that few will ever know.
THE FACE: How was the conversation when you decided to drop out of university to pursue a music career, Simz?
S: It wasn’t the easiest. I just had to show her [that] if I’m dropping out, I’m not going to be a bum or not do anything with my life, you know? I’m dropping out because I really want to try this. [For my mom it was] trusting how you raise that person [and believing] it’s going to be okay. And now we’re kind of here...
I also feel a new surge of something, I feel more energized. I’m taking on more challenges. [Especially] now that I know life will constantly present them. In my twenties it was like, what? A blow [negative] here and a blow there, but now I understand: oh, it’s life – this happens constantly.
I am a very quiet person. I’ve never been the loudest in the room. I’ve never been outgoing. I find comfort in writing, [and that] came about early on. Even when I used to ask my mom [if I could] stay at someone’s house, I would write in the form of a letter. It’s always been easier for me to write things down.
E: Is there any specific practice your mother taught you that you find yourself reverting back to?
S: Prayer, for sure. And listening to God. I think the other term for this would be meditation. When you pray, it’s your opportunity to talk to God and, when you meditate, you listen. Talking and listening to God, that was instilled in me early on.
E: Do you feel noticeably calmer and at peace when you’re surrounded by your family [or] friends at events and things?
S: Yes. Especially because I’m a quiet person and sometimes I fear that this is interpreted as antisocial or distant, although that’s not my vibe. If there’s nothing to talk about [then] I won’t talk. But my family and friends know so much about me that I just relax with that.
S: Every artist has an ego because they are artists. How much do you lean into that? And do you know when to remove it?
E: Ego is a more intricate thing than I thought. Ego is not just a part of your personality that is needy. Ego needs an identity, needs a conflict, needs all those things to help continue identifying that character you have become. It’s deeper than that because it starts to take over my mind. The ego wants to cling to anything that gives it an identity. It feeds it. When they say that you can feed both wolves, the one you feed will be the strongest. I feel that leaning into my family values has helped me make better decisions.
THE FACE: Can you explain more about “getting out of the way” of your music and art? S: Sometimes I get in the way, and it isn’t necessary. Being a vessel is really allowing something to pass through you. Even if you don’t understand it in that moment, allow it to pass through you and let go of the control. It’s okay to take command. As we were saying before, you realize you are responsible for all the creations and actions of your life. But I also think there is something to allowing things to be and seeing things through to the end.
Learning to be a little more patient. I can be impulsive – if I want it, I want it done now. I don’t like waiting for people. I just do it myself. But taking time, sleeping on things [is good too]. I wake up in the morning and think: actually, I don’t feel that way anymore. I’m glad I slept on it.
S: I think something that would really benefit me is being [more] honest, [having] more conversations like this. Sometimes I walk into spaces and I like to ask questions and genuinely love being a sponge, soaking up information – especially when the person is fascinating or has an interesting story, I just want to know. I want to learn. I would love for more spaces to be created where I could ask questions about things like you said – you went through this and [now] I’m going through it.
Not to say that you are going to tell me to do it this way or that I’m going to follow your path entirely. But knowledge that is not shared is almost wasted. What I do with that information is up to me. But being able to know or be shown that there’s not just one way would be helpful for my life overall.
THE FACE: With that knowledge, experience, and vision, Erykah, do you have any advice for Simz?
E: Don’t believe those negative things people say about you – and only believe half of the good things, because everyone has an agenda. Don’t lose focus of your inner voice. You’re facing a lot of adversity with social media. Sometimes I just want to jump through the phone at people. I had to learn [that] those people [online] don’t really know you and everyone has an opinion... But [with] all these things, people are on a mission to chain us, to prove that we’re wrong, to prove that you’re as common as I am. To prove that what you’re doing isn’t dynamic. But I could see through that: they want to investigate your flaws more than the great things about you. My advice: it doesn’t matter at all. And I know everyone says that. But that’s a real thing.
WHAT I AM LISTENING TO
These are the official playlists of the Aimé stores. ‘214 Mulberry’ is the address of the first store, located in New York.
I can’t even explain what I felt going to their store in London, it’s one of the coolest things I have ever seen. The ambiance, the smell, the soundtrack, the decor, the salespeople, the works of Slawn scattered throughout the store… And there’s a second space that is a cafe, full of Greek stuff for sale - Teddy Santis’ country of origin - and old family photos scattered everywhere. Not to mention, a friend who works there even took me to the private part of the store, where the music video for Sprinter was filmed, we spent almost two hours there talking about life.
Since then, I listen to these playlists while working every day to manifest ‘the Aimé lifestyle.’ I can’t wait to check out the one in NY.
James Blake, Lil Yachty - Bad Cameo
An unusual collaboration between Yachty and James Blake. I have always liked all the times that James Blake approached rap and now we have a collaborative album with one of the coolest and most unique rappers in the scene. I am particularly quite tired of generic songs and I really enjoy these experiments, but I know it won't be for everyone.
Completely updated after a long time. I have been trying to consume many more women and artists who are not American. This is truly my daily soundtrack. I really hope to reach 200 saves this month.
THINGS I AM WATCHING
I have mentioned Canoopsy and the creative scene in Toronto here before. This video is by one of my favorite creators showcasing one of the cities I most want to visit. It couldn't be better.
Loyle Carner - Hugo: Reimagined
Album by Loyle Carner reimagined for a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Like a concert DVD that used to be made more often back in the day. Very very cool.
TWEETS OF THE WEEK
That’s it, thank you for reading this far and I hope you enjoyed. I am completely energized and creatively renewed and have many ideas to execute through Cosmopolitan Boys. I’m happy to realize that I am increasingly creating my own unique path and I want to build a growing community. One of the biggest lessons I brought from abroad was their ability to collaborate with brands/companies and do things outside the box; I think we have a long way to go in Brazil regarding this, but I will be in the trenches.
OTHER EDITIONS:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Nl1EW19QTm3t5QMA6eLtM?si=4b55e5a881ff4376
©2024, We wake up and do things, Cosmopolitan Boys.
my portfolio http://caiodosreis.com my experiences http://instagram.com/caaaaaiooooo my research http://culturalmidfielder.tumblr.com my dj sets, beats, and remixes http://soundcloud.com/reisceo things I save http://pinterest.com/reisceo little notes https://twitter.com/reisceo
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