Sept 4th and 5th brings Pinknic to Governors Island! We’re excited that our NOV ISSUE cover in 2020 was SOFI TUKKER and that they will be rocking out here! If you have yet to get your tickets, you should definitely make sure that you do as this music festival is the perfect blend to mix music, rose and more together!
This month's cover story features 2 X GRAMMY-nominated musical duo that we have been a fan of for awhile now. SOFITUKKER's music can be heard in some of your favorite Apple commercials, TV shows and even when you're hopping on your Peleton. This group is known for their jungle pop vibes and continuing to expand their footprint in the world through their creativity. We talked with them about how they began working with one another, how they got into the industry, their body of work and what they have been doing as they have navigated this time of quarantine.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to becoming the powerhouse duo that you are, when did you fall in love with just music in general?
TUCKER HALPERN: I have always been in love with music. I played the drums and I was in garage bands growing up. But it al-ways took a backseat to basketball. That was my whole life for such a long time until I was like 20 – 22. For me, I didn’t really fall in love until the way that I am today until I got sick in college. That’s when I started turning my attention to something else. I really just fell in love with dance music and house music and stuff.
SOPHIE HAWLEY-WELD: I can’t really point to a specific period in time where I fell in love with music. It’s always been something that I have enjoyed listening to and I have always been dancing. I would always dance and be in musical theater as a kid. I started writing as a means of music therapy actually in middle school. I would play the guitar and I would write about my feelings. I found it so therapeutic to honestly just write about my experiences as opposed to thinking about it. It was my primary way of getting through my angst.
I was really into jazz and I took jazz singing lessons. I started to realize that I liked Brazilian jazz more than any other kind of jazz. I started taking Portuguese and I said, “hey, if I love this music so much, I should probably start taking lessons in it."So I really started loving the music and moved to Brazil for a bit and I just kept it going. I think it’s a long story but music is just such an experience in the way that you fall in love with it.
AM: We’re big fans of jazz music in our team and our co-founder’s great uncle was Joe Henderson, tenor saxophonist.
SHW: Cool!
AM: We love bossa nova as a form as well, what is it about this genre of music that pulls you in?
SHW: I just find it so intimate and sexy and soothing. I think that the language is perfect for jazz and singing. I think that it’s very vowel-y. I think it’s perfect and when you’re listening to it, the singers are whispering into the microphone.
AM: Pretty much.
SHW: Yeah and I just really enjoy that whole vibe.
AM: How did you guys meet one another and was the moment when you realized that you wanted to work together and that you had those traits that would be really beneficial together?
TH: Well, I think that I had to convince Sophie to do that – that I had traits to add to her repertoire. But the story goes, I was DJing after my basketball life in college during my senior year. I was DJing tons of house parties – like college stuff, but it was cool under-ground stuff. One of my friends asked me to DJ after this art show. We went to Brown and it was at this show in Providence in downtown like at a warehouse thing. I went early to set up and Sophie was the acoustical per-former at the art show and I think that there was only 10 people there. But I was sort of setting up and watching her perform with a couple of friends that I knew from my music classes at school. She was amazing and she was only singing in Portuguese and it was really beautiful bossa nova music which I had never really heard much of before.I thought that it was really cool but it was really slow. Like REALLY slow – like 4BPMs – I swear! I was like, man this would be so much cooler if it was more upbeat and had a house beat behind it. When she sort of finished and it was supposed to be my turn to play, I actually said casually,“hey keep playing and I’m going to bringing a beat with it.” So like, looping the intro with a house music track and I put it really slow at the tempo that they were playing at and then I started speeding it up and I said, “just follow the tempo.” She start-ed singing the song at a faster beat that was behind it. So I said, “ok this is going to work.
After that, I think she stayed for my set – did she?
HW: I did.
TH: You must have – you had to. She was probably hitting on a guy that was there ha.
SHW: Of course haha.
TH: So the role reversed. I had to introduce myself to her after I played and I was like, what were you singing. She told me that they were original songs that she made. I asked her if I could do a remix of the last one that she was singing. She agreed but told me that there was no real recording of it. I said, “cool, come over to my apartment tomorrow – a dorm apartment and let’s rerecord it and I’ll make an electronic version of the song. She did come over and we did start making a different version of the song and –
SHW: We just started working every day and making new projects. It was so easy to work together. Were we even friends? We started working with each other for a long time but we weren’t hanging out socially. We just had a great work friendship.
AM: That’s mind-boggling! You’d think that the two of you started this as being best friends or at least really good acquaintances.
SHW: Yeah we didn’t even hang out with one another outside of making our music. We were just making music. Eventually, Tucker convinced me that I should come to NY. Then I thought, “wait, who is this guy?” I talked to people that I knew that we had in common and I was like, “do you vouch for him and should I move to NY with him to create a band with him?” They were like, “oh yeah, he’s a great guy – you should go with him.”
AM: What is your process like when you do sit down and create music together? Do you guys have designated roles?
SHW: Yeah. Every song is very different. But for the most part, Tucker is at the computer and I’m on the guitar and writing most of the lyrics. Now he’s singing a lot more which is cool. It’s also because as the band has evolved we have done the same as well.
AM: You guys have worked with so many artists over the past few years, what are you guys looking for when you are deciding on collaborating with people outside of yourselves?
TH: Honestly, I think that we’re just looking at people with good vibes. We love working with friends and people that we admire and look up to. That actually has a lot to do with the vibe that they are putting out into the world. We enjoy working together. One of the coolest things about collaboration is about putting out like a baby into the world that you created together and then being able to celebrate that together. Then being able to perform it together. You’re sort of bonded with that group forever. It will sort of always be a part of who you are. It’s just fun and it also gets you to have that opportunity for that music to have a little more freedom.
Because you’re able to work with another artist who has their musical sound, we don’t have to worry about whether that music has the SOFI TUKKER sound and if itis really in our world, having that aesthetic and that palette because it’s a collab-oration. So it can also live in Icona Pop’s world or someone else’s world. So it can have a little more risk and it can be a little more out there. Maybe not more out there as I think SOFI TUKKER songs are out there.
AM: Oh yes in the best possible way!
TH: Right I love out there. In a way – the collaboration has a way of being able to be out there – you know what I mean?
AM: Yeah. It’s about blending. When you have two collaborators that you know their work separately, come together it’s a hybrid that’s undefined and gives you the space to create. That’s so exciting when you see that come together.
TH: You get me.
AM: Yes! Our team has done fun projects outside of Athleisure Mag. Our Style Director had the opportunity to style Nile Rodgers a few years ago and her style has its signature and Nile is known for his. So the two coming together to create a look really took the pressure off of her as they both had a united vision without her wondering how it would go against her aesthetic. She could just sit back and enjoy the work and embrace his vibes and interests while adding in her touches.
TH: Exactly, it’s fun to have the other create fingerprints on it as well.
AM: Prior to COVID-19, you guys had a number of tours that you were on and creating a number of amazing shows. In prep for this interview, when we have told people that you guys are the cover, everyone would tell us about their show experience when jamming out with you guys and how it was the best night of their lives. So many people have painted a picture for us about your shows, but for those that have yet to go, what is it like for one of your in-person shows?
TH: I don’t remember.
AM: It feels like so long ago!
SHW: It’s like an electric orgasm!
TH: It’s all that energy coming together on one wavelength. It’s like losing your shit. You know when you’re like 13 with your friends and you’re listening to music on your boombox in your room and you’re like dancing on your bed – like losing it? I try to bring the adult back to that – to that primal nature.
AM: Do you guys have pre-show things that you do to get your mind ready for the show and then things that you do when the show is over? You guys are pushing through so much energy that it’s unimaginable how much you guys must hype yourselves up and then come down from that whole effect.
SHW: It is a p-r-o-c-e-s-s.
TH: We have different processes.
AM: Assumed!
TH: I’m going to let Sophie go as it’s such a process.
SHW: I’m really sensitive to stimulus as a person. I have to warm up to and then cool down from it or else I would never be able to survive. Basically, hours before the show my prep begins. 4 hours prior to the show, I will have my last meal. About an hour before the show, I start my vocal exercises. They are very physical and funny. That will go for about an hour and a half. Down to the hour, I know exactly what I am doing. After my vocal warm-up, I will do my physical warm-up. It’s about rolling out my body and it’s intricate. For the last 5 mins, we will dance around and psych each other up. You know, just jumping around with nervous energy.
After the show, then I have a vocal cooldown and then ideally, there’s a bathtub or a shower that also helps me to come down.
AM: Although that was an unexpected answer, love hearing this and knowing that there is such a thing as a vocal cool down is something new to us!
SHW: It doesn’t take that long. It’s just learning about putting the vocal in the right place in your mouth if that makes sense. That way you don’t get hoarse. When you talk right after singing, it can be really draining on the voice.
AM: Totally. Tucker?
TH: Mine is a little simpler. Before the show, we both pretty much treat it like a basketball game. It’s all about the warmup, being able to blast music – usually, dance music. It gets more intense as it goes. The first hour maybe a bit more chiller. By the end, it could be trance by the time we’re ready to go out so we're losing it. I’m really big into warming up because if we don’t do it or don’t do it long enough, my hamstrings will just bedone and then it’s all over. Right before we go out, we really hype each other up and Sophie gives me a 5-star on the back, like a really hard one. And it always hurts, but it stings and it gives me a little extra jolt which I like – but I don’t miss it that much haha!
SHW: What?
TH: I call it the 5-star. Sophie didn’t know that that’s what I call it until now! It’s a big slap on your back – it’s a 5-star. Afterwards, I ice up my knees and my feet with bags of ice or an ice bath type of situation.
AM: Um truly like a basketball player!
TH: Yeah, it’s very similar to my routine when I was a basketball player. We kind of run around and go nuts on stage. When I come off stage, my shirt is entirely dripping in sweat. It’s like a full hour and a half of going nuts. So I really have to ice but I don’t have to do the wind-down when we go back to the ho-tel after shows, I can just lie on the bed and fall asleep a minute after raving. Sophie has to do like a full 2-hour yoga wind down. When we used to share a hotel room for the first couple of years because we had smaller budgets, it was not ideal to share a room. I’d want to put the TV on so that I could watch SportsCenter and fall asleep to it and she could not have any light stimulation or noise or she would not be able to fall asleep. She has like earplugs and an eyemask. If I had the TV on even in silent, she’d be like, “nope the light flickering is fucking me up.” I was like, “this is ridiculous.
AM: You guys have had such a successful career, you have 2 GRAMMY nominations, you’ve played a number of festivals, I al-ways love hearing your music when it's an Apple (Best Friend) or Peleton (Purple Hat) commercial – we’re huge fans of HBO’s The New Pope. So when we heard, Good Time Girls the opening song –that was amazing. What does it mean to you guys to have so much of your music placed into so many pop culture areas?
SHW: I think that we feel really lucky to be able to be in that space! It’s a great way for people to be able to connect to our music and it’s just such a great opportunity.
AM: Even as we navigate COVID-19, you guys have continued to stay connected with your fans. How did your daily con-certs from home start and how impactful has it been to be able to provide this to your fans? Especially when we’re in a moment where you can’t really, travel, tour etc.?
SHW: It started very organically and by accident. Tucker was DJing and I was working out. Our friend came down and started live-streaming what was happening. People were watching and it was really fun and we said let’s do it again. I think on the 3rd day, Tucker was like, we’re going to do this every day until COVID-19 is over. Obviously, little did we know that we would still be at it. What we’re doing is different than our live shows as this is a DJ set and has been so much fun. Honestly, it’s been one of the most meaningful moments that I would say of my life. We're in this moment in time right now where people are feeling loneliness and are suffering and we are able to bring people together every single day. Everybody that is coming together are our friends and our community is now called the Freak Famand it’s grown to be this big community outside of ourselves. They have come together and they’re so inclusive and warm– it’s been great to see and gives us hope. This year, we’ve seen a lot of things about our world that hasn’t been great so to see that there are people like this has really been something that I have loved being able to be a part of.
AM: Are these shows thematic by genre, country or dedicated to specific portions of your fan base? Do you guys just freeflow every day?
TH: The Freak Fam is really so world wide that our music is really for everyone out there. It’s interesting because there are so many different time zones and languages that for those, it would feel odd to be specifically towards just one place because it's so diverse. We have done specific shows like an all Australia set for Australian radio where it live-streamed and it only featured artists from Australia. We’ve done some Mexico specific ones – we’ve done it. But for the daily streams, we just try to keep it inclusive for everyone.
AM: When you guys createdTreehouse, there are so many good songs on it. How long did it take you to make it and what was that like?
SHW: It’s so different now versus then.
When we madeTreehouse, we didnt have real time off. We basically used the time in between our tours. We would go to the studio, work on the songs, etc. Since it was done that way, it probably took a year to get that album out. There would be gaps where we couldn’t work on songs for a number of months as it would be a couple of days here and a couple of days there.
AM: Last month we interviewed you andIcona Pop about the release of SPA which we loved. We just caught the video recently as we have it on repeat. What was the thought behind having Jordan Firstman and Mia Khalifa also being included in this video and how did that come about?
SHW: I think it started out with Icona Pop as they were friends with him. We’re so lucky that we were able to have them in their as they are so iconic and I love their videos. They’re both so cool and iconic in their own way.
AM: You guys have the interactive e-con-cert coming up on Yoop on Mar 12, 2021 at- live from their eSPACE in Nashville. How did this come together and how are you working in terms of being prepared for that one?
TH: We’re so excited about this one. We’ve been waiting for the right kind of virtual experience that would fit what we would want that would be really unique and would be different from going and watching one of our live shows from YouTube or something. We were looking for a platform that had a real two-way traction. One of the main parts about our show is the connection between us and the fans and the real give and take and not just for our enjoyment although we definitely do have that. But the shows have a real live effect as it gets everyone on the same wavelength which is an important part about our show. To try to do that in a virtual world through technology, we thought that this platform would be a great way to do that. It has no lag between communication. People can clap at the end of shows or scream and we can hear that. There are these 3 big movie like screens in front of us where the crowd would normally be and there’s the ability to scroll through thousands of people who are listening in from their house. We can even pick them out and hear them with no lag time.
It’s the first thing that we have seen that is close to a real show and being able to get that real energy. We watched a couple of them as they were getting their plat-form going and just watching the kinds of interaction between the artist and their fans, talking through the songs and see-ing everyone interacts – it was such a cool experience. It made me really thing that you were there in that experience altogether. You know it’s live. I’ve seen some live streams and it looks like it was just pre-recorded shows that you’re watching. That’s cool, but for us we want to try to really have that live feel.
AM: In these times that we’re living in right now, how are you spending your time in quarantine when you’re not doing your daily shows? Are you working on your next album or finding new hobbies that you didn’t know that you had?
SHW: We’ve never had this much time be-fore ever! It’s really interesting. We have been working on a lot of new music. I'm not going to announce anything specific.
AM: Thought so.
SHW: But, there is a body of work!
AM: Nice.
SHW: But we have never had this amount of time where we could work on songs like this. So we’re really excited about that process. I mean, we try to get outside a lot. I’ve been DJing every day. I wasn’t really DJing before this time. So I spend a lot of time practicing DJing now and I spend a lot of time doing tutorials. I take guitar lessons as well to take the time to work on my craft. I love being able to do that and I also play things in our DJ set of things that our Freak Fam is doing. It could be poetry or things that they are doing and so I will work on that. There’s a ton to do!
AM: How do you guys stay inspired?
SHW: I’d say that the DJ sets that we're doing right now are really inspired. It’s energizing and it’s fun to try out a set or song and see how it works. Then we can go back and work on it more and then try it out on a set again. It’s really cool to be able to have that feedback when we're working on something. We can go directly from studio to set to play it.
AM: A lot of people are thinking about what next year will look like in terms of returning to IRL events and things of that nature. Have you guys begun to sketch out what plans to doing something like that will look like? Or are you looking at circling that date in hopes that you can actually do that show or particular event?
SHW: I would say that we’re trying not to get our hopes up!
AM: Same!
SHW: I think that we actually haven’t even gone there. Like obviously our team is there creating plans, but in our hearts, we just believe that today is what today is and tomorrow is what tomorrow is. But it’s really hard mentally to go past anything like a month. I mean how the world is right now and what it will be, we know it’s really unpredictable right now and that’s all we can predict!
AM: We’ve literally had the same conversations on this end. When can we do IRL shoots, attend events etc. To be able to think about that and to think about the safety around those elements is just a lot to take in because the plans become so fluid and it’s definitely hard to predict. It’s too soon!
SHW: Yeah.
AM: What do you guys think about the fact that because you have had so much virtual/digital engagement and even hearing about this new platform that your show on the 4th will be on, everyone regardless of their vertical has embraced these concepts. When things at some point in life do get back to being in person, will you guys maintain some of these virtual nuggets that you have been playing around with and that people have enjoyed even when they can move around more freely?
TH: For sure! I think that he whole world has definitely embraced the virtual element in all industries. I’m sure a lot of companies are saying, “you know, we don’t really need that office space. We can do it from home and save all of this money.” I think that it will be the same in the music industry. We can’t get everywhere and there are still places that we have never been able to go. We have played in a lot of places but there are so many places that we haven’t been able to play for many reasons. Sometimes it’s just as simple as the currency of that country as doing it would mean that we would financially lose money and people can’t afford the show. I think there is such a good use of virtual shows and our DJ sets whether it’s geotargeted or geo-locked and can only be seen in certain places, I think it’s going to be really useful.
You can have people watching you from all over the world and be united and that doesn’t have when we have our in person shows. Only people in that space/that town get to be in that moment. It can accomplish something sometimes bigger and sometimes more broad. Because it’s free (not the Yoop show,) but what we have been doing is, hopefully, it’s just a 1-click for free mouse move as the barrier into entry. Those who may not have known us well enough to pay for a ticket or two to make a plan in their week to see us can do it now because of this platform when they wouldn’t have prior to. So there is always a good use for something like this and I think it will get creative when the world is back to the new normal or whatever it is.
AM: What do you guys see as being next in terms of the SOFI TUKKER brand? Launching a fashion line, getting into acting – are there other areas that you want to be able to embrace in addition to your successful music career?
SHW: Tucker is a thespian!
TH: No not really! Haha
SHW: Haha I don’t think my sarcasm translates well to print haha!
AM: Haha we caught it!
SHW: So we have our body of work that we are working on right now and I don’t think that we have ever been so proud of the music that we are making. We definitely are interested in launching projects of course.
TH: If you have anything in mind, we’re around!
AM: Of course!
SHW: We don’t have any booking plans right now to get in the way of that.
TH: We want to be able to continue to do what we’re doing and to grow the FreakFam as well! When live shows return, we want to be able to do it in a hopefully big-ger and more exciting place than where we left off. It’s exciting and we’ve loved being able to find ways to keep growing and to work with so many great people.
SHW: It’s been a really tough time as I’m really far away from my family. So that’s tough so to have the work that we do –our music and our purpose and to have a community that is so vibrant it really helps. It takes a time that is really tough and difficult and helps me and others get through it. It makes it a lot easier to focus on things and to be able to be excited about them.
AM: Clearly you guys inspire people with everything that you do. So we always like asking people who are 3 people that you know or admire from afar that have in-spired who you are today?
TH: There are so many people and I think when you think about the people that we have learned from – when we started the group or band or duo – still don’t know what to call it 5 years later ha! We start-ed, we were really uncomfortable taking photos, being on social media and we wouldn’t take selfies because we thought it was lame. Then something as simple as seeing other friends of ours do what they did and were amazing at social media, that was inspiring to us.
For me in short, it would be Larry Bird.
AM: Yes! Our Co-Founder loves Larry Bird!
TH: Is she from French Lick?
AM: No, Indianapolis but she’s all about him and you can never say anything wrong about him – his work ethic and focus is amazing.
TH: Exactly. I’m from Boston and as a sports guy, I grew up idolizing his work ethic, how hard he played and how hard he practiced. When I watched him play, that was always instilled in me and I learned it from sports. I knew that if you’re not working, someone else is getting better. It’s not like everything is a competition but it is competitive and that is motivating for me.
AM: In our Style Director’s home state, they believe in Life is Sports and Sports is life. How you are in sports is how you're going to go about life. So it is a competition and in many ways, that competition will be with yourself. And the reality is that someone else is also doing what you are doing so you need to be ready to perform. It’s a great point!
TH: A lot of what I learned there, we have brought into our world here. Being a captain on a college basketball team and working together – a lot of those skills are also applicable in what we do now and it was great to bring it in here.
SH: I’m going to give you an emotional answer because my grandfather passed away recently. I would say that he is one of the reasons why I am who I am today and he inspired me. A – he always treated me like I was the most special person in the world. The thing about him is that I think he actually treated a lot of people that way so it wasn’t just about me. That’s how he was with people and when he interacted with them, he made them feel that way. Feeling seen and having that kind of love in my life made me believe in myself and made me want to give that back to other people so that others could be seen and feel special. The other thing is that he was always jolly and I never heard him complain and I think that that value is something that we have also brought into the community and the band.
IG @SOFITUKKER
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Athleisure Mag's virtual cover shoot was shot by Co-Founder + Celebrity Photographer Paul Farkas. Throughout this shoot, Paul used an iPhone 11 Pro, iPad Air 2, Facetime and Clos.
STYLE CREDITS
Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith shares what she used to create the cover editorial with SOFI TUK-KER for a number of fun vibrant looks.
LOOK I | LOUNGE STYLE
FRONT COVER, PG 16 + 19 | SOPHIE: DIPPIN' DAISY'S Show Off Bralette + Friday Night Pant | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | EXPERIMENTAL JEWELLERY CLUB Gold Pyramid Stud Bracelet | NIKE Sneakers | TUCKER: RUSSELL ATHLETIC Tie Dye French Terry Hoodie + Short | PUMA RS-2K Messaging Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |
LOOK II | SPORTY STYLE
BACK COVER + PG 20 - 25 | SOPHIE: L'OEUFPOCHE Cloud 9 Crop Pullover | L'ETOILE SPORT A-Line Skort | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | Nike Sneakers | BABOLAT Pure Aero Tennis Racket | TUCKER: ALO YOGA Idol Hooded Runner + Chill Short | MATADOR MEGGINGS Cubed Meggings | PUMA RS-2K Messaging Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |
LOOK III | WEEKEND STYLE
PG 27 - 32 | SOPHIE: BALANCE ATHLETICA Tie Dye Hoodie | PANGAIA Lightweight Recycled Cotton Track Pants | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | PUMA RS-Fast Sneaker |TUCKER: MUNICIPAL Standard Issue 300 Hoodie | PUMA X KIDSUPER STUDIOS Track Pants | Nike Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |
LOOK IV | STUDIO STYLE
PG 35 - 39 | MUNICIPAL Sport Utility Hoodie + Jogger |
LOOK V | CASUAL STYLE
PG 40 + 41 | KALORE Ivory Satin Top + Stretch Pants | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | STELLA MCCARTNEY Holographic Sneakers |
LOOK VI | CHILL STYLE
PG 42 + 43 | BALANCE ATHLETICA Tie Dye Hoodie | MUNICIPAL Crossover Short |
IG @PVFarkas
Hear EDM musical duo SOFI TUKKER on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see SOFI TUKKER in mag as well as their 9PLAYLIST 9MIX.
We’re in the thick of The Tribeca Film Festival which is filled with panels about movie/TV shows, showing new films, honoring films that have been successful, an array of parties and more! With so many options, it’s worth checking out a number of films that cover various topics and interests. This season, we enjoyed seeing Ashe 68 which was presented in VR and is an immersive way to understand iconic tennis player Arthur Ashe who broke barriers while winning a number of titles in his career. We also enjoyed seeing the Virtual Arcade which had an array of VR, AR and other technological ways to experience moves and TV shows.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
We’ve been fans of FUNKSHION for a number of years as they are involved in Fashion Week shows in Miami. In May of 2017, they launched The Retreat by FUNKSHION, a health and wellness experience that has generated a lot of buzz and has curated fun brands and attendees. With such a successful series of events in Miami, it’s no wonder that in 2019, they will expand to additional cities. On March 10th, they will deploy to Austin’s South Congress Hotel during SXSW where prominent experts, thought leaders, industry shifters and more will come together to enjoy classes, workshops and panels.
Attendees will have the opportunity to take classes ranging from yoga by Outdoor Voices to a Movement class hosted by Bethany C. Meyers. In true SXSW fashion, there will also be a slate of musical acts at several of the activations.
A riveting panel discussion on the Business of Wellness will be co-hosted and moderated with Bloom founder, Lindsey Martin with panelists Lo Bosworth and Bethany C. Meyers.
Ten VIP tickets will be made available for purchase on Eventbrite to give consumers the opportunity to mix and mingle with the industry-focused attendees. “We wanted to create an inspiring and interactive event that will cover every angle of this widely-grown lifestyle, and connect the industry on both a national and regional level,” commented FUNKSHION’s Creative Director, Natalija Dedic Stojanovic. “It was a logical move to take The RETREAT beyond just Miami in our third year of the event, and celebrate health and wellness lifestyle around the United States.”
Attendees will enjoy a range of partners that will be at this event including: Fiji, Essie, Love Wellness, Bloom, The Culinistas, Chameleon Cold Brew, Splendid Spoon, Pura Still and several others. Continue to check out their schedule as they continue to have updates for this event such as Ron Boss who will also lead a class.
The Retreat will continue to host its annual May event in Miami and will arrive in New York this September.
• Love Wellness Breakfast hosted by Lo Bosworth
• Beauty Hour hosted by Milk & Honey and Essie
• Outdoor Voices Yoga in Collaboration with Wanderlust
• The Retreat X Bloom Panel Discussion on the Business in Wellness
• Setting & Crushing Your Goals Workshop with Katie Dunlop @LoveSweatFitness
• Blank Label Active Creative Closet
• be.come Class with Bethany C. Meyers
• VIP Dinner Hosted by The Culinistas and Bloom
• Social Hour by Pura Still with DJ Maad
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Tribeca Film Festival is back for its 17th year for another full season of parties panels and films that span documentaries, thrillers, romances, sci-fi and more. We kicked off our time at the festival by heading to PUBLIC Arts at the PUBLIC Hotel in the LES for MCM's debut of the first global teaser for The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion Documentary.
The exclusive viewing party paid homage to hip hop. The documentary honored the cultural influence of stylists such as Misa Hylton who defined ’90s hip hop fashion by creating some of the most iconic looks with top artists such as Lil’ Kim, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliot. The film's producer, Lisa Cortes and director Farah X talked about the upcoming documentary which will debut in full, this fall.
The night's emcee and TV personality, Bevy Smith welcomed a number of performers who hit stage wearing styles for the upcoming MCM X PUMA collaboration that has yet to be released. Paula Weinstein of Tribeca Film Festival said a few words about the importance of the film and providing recognition to the efforts of those featured in the film. DJ Olivia Dope and 9th Wonder spun throughout the night along with hip hop dancers that hit the stage. The night culminated in two performances with this years 2 time Grammy nominated rapper, Rapsody and one of hip hop's founding father's Big Daddy Kane - all rocking the upcoming collaboration.
Additional attendees at the event included: Stefano Tonchi (Editor, W Magazine) Rich The Kid (Rapper), Naturi Naughton (STARZ's Power), Ryan Leslie (Recording Artist + Producer), Casanova (Rapper), Sheldon Bailey (Actor), Young Paris (Rapper), DJ Trauma, T-Barz (Rapper), Vickatrillion (Model + DJ), Talia Coles (R&B/Soul), Luann de Lesseps (BRAVO's RHONY), Gillian Hearst Simonds (Contributing Editor to Towne & Country), Hailey Laine (Wilhelmina Model) and Makalea Reve Heard (Wilhelmina Model).
Read more from the April Issue and see Hip Hop X MCM X Tribeca Film Festival in mag.
Read more from the Mar Issue and see 5 Items For Your Festival Style in mag.
SHOT @ Desmond Childs Home | PHOTOGRAPHY Paul Farkas | STYLIST Kimmie Smith | MUA Nydia Figueroa | HAIR STYLIST Zullay Sevilla |
We end our year the way we began it - with NERVO, but this time, in addition to our interview, we hung out with them right before their Lavo NYC show to shoot the International EDM DJ duo. Liv and Mim have been traveling, DJing around the world, releasing new music and continuing to connect with their fans.
We brought them to Grammy winner and music icon, Desmond Child's home (we have an exclusive interview with Desmond following this interview), which was the perfect location for this shoot. We talked with them about what they're up to, who they've been working with, where they'd like to perform, their upcoming show for NYE at the W in Miami and what festivals you'll see them in during 2018.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We kicked off the year with an interview with you ladies and it's only fitting that we close it with you as well as you're gracing our Dec cover - what has been a snapshot of this year from what you were up to personally, musically, - whatever you wish to share.
NERVO: We have had a year of absolute madness. Lots of great things going on that we just need to pinch ourselves sometimes. We also are just doing our best to keep our heads above water and enjoy the little moments you know… We think all touring artists or just busy people, in general, are the same. There’s a lot of pressure mixed with a lot of adrenaline filled moments. It can be a lot sometimes!
AM: You ladies are multiple threats as you're DJ's, producers, songwriters, composers, models, brand ambassadors, etc., so it was only fitting to have you shoot in Desmond Child's home
- can you share some of your projects that you did this year or next year?
N: Tell us about it - Desmond Child is a total legend. What an honour to be shooting in his home! Love how we decked his house out.
So… We released a bunch of music this year, including a few collabs - one with New York based band Sofi Tukker and some others with more dance artists like DVBBS and Danny Avila, Oh, and then there’s the collab we wrote with Cheif Keef which was pretty special! We have been touring mainly Europe for the summer, but we also have our residency at Omnia in Las Vegas, which gets us over to The USA about 16 times a year.
We have a bunch of new songs in the works which we are focusing in on now. Quarters 4 and 1 are always for making new music and that means touring a bit less.
AM: What's the process like when you're creating your music and how is it different when you're creating something for another artist?
N: We’re more relaxed when we make music for others or even for a collaboration. Something about it being less pressure. When it’s your own record suddenly you feel like people are going
to hate on you if they don’t like it. It’s a part time job blocking out that noise!
AM: How do you go about finding inspiration for upcoming projects?
N: We are constantly inspired. To be honest we don’t have enough time to not be inspired. We have so many unfinished ideas that we just need an extra 2 days a week to finish. We must be
ADHD or something.
AM: What is a NERVO Christmas like - do you make it home to Australia for the holiday, do you guys cook and what gifts are you looking for this year?
N: It’s pretty low key and is the same every year. We have a huge lunch in our family home in Melbourne, then we all go to our Aunty Mary and Uncle Max’s home for more food, and then we
eventually pass out around 10pm with belly’s so full that we couldn’t dream of eating dinner! Leftovers are eaten for the next 4 days or so. We are Italian/Australian so there’s always SO
much food!
AM: This NYE, where are you playing and what about 2018 makes you excited to ring it in?
N: We are playing Miamiiiiiii! At the W Hotel. We can’t wait!! Miami is just the best for New Year's Eve. We think we might hang around a few days and have some beach time and Cuban food.
AM: What's on your playlist at the moment that gets you up and moving?
N: Massively inspired by what Jax Jones is doing at the moment. Sampling Booka Shade and flipping it into a 2017 anthem! Go JJ!
AM: Where are some festivals/cities that you'll be hitting this year that we can expect to see you performing at?
N: We are playing Tomorrowland in Belgium again. Always a yearly highlight! We are also playing Creamfields in South America. And of course, everyone can catch us at Ushuaia in Ibiza and Omnia/Hakkassan in The USA for our residencies.
AM: What is a gig that you would like to do ie. Super Bowl Half Time show, that you have yet to be asked to do but want to check off your bucket list?
N: Probably Coachella. It’s such a great festival and one of the only ones we have never been asked to play at. We don't think they like us. ha! Maybe we're too bubbly or mainstream or
something... We dunno. But we have been to the festival and it's such a great vibe. Always perfect weather.
AM: You're rocking a lot of fun styles throughout our Dec cover shoot, but what is your personal style when you head out to play a set for NYE versus when you're hanging out?
N: We like to dress things up when we play a gig. We love body suits, lycra, face jewels, creepers, teased up hair, more is more. When we are hanging out we’re a lot more chilled and casual - for example we are loving the Fenty clothes that we wore in the shoot for our travel/studio days!
AM: You guys travel a lot, what are your 3 musts that you take with you no matter what city you're rocking in to feel like you're at home?
N: Iijin snake skin silver and gold shoes (for Liv), Hairspray (for Mim), and our laptops (for both of us).
AM: The Winter Olympics are coming up and we're fans of curling, what teams/sports are you cheering for?
N: Ooohh we’ll have to check it out!! We do love to ski so that’s something we would like to watch. Does Australia even have a team? If Australia is competing then we would have to go for
them but if they don’t then we would go for Italy because that is where our parents were born :).
COVER + PG 14 | FENTY X PUMA Blocked Track Jacket + Blocked Taped Track Pant | OUTDOOR VOICES Sport Bra | FENTY X PUMA AnkleStrap Sneaker | FENTY X PUMA Monday Cap | FRAME Le Original Patch Jacket |
FENTY X PUMA Hooded Zip Front Leotard | FENTY X PUMA Printed Bra | RUBEN GALARRETA Legging Harness |
PG 16 | BLACK MILK Fatale Dress | LAGOS JEWELRY Black Beaded Caviar Bracelet | ARTISTS' OWN Wrapped Bracelet, Charm Bracelet, Watch + Hat |
PG 19 | MCM Shearling Bag | ARTISTS' OWN Bra, Shorts + Scarf |
PG 20 | SPLENDID Racerback Turtleneck Sport Bra | ELIZABETH ACKERMAN Palazzo Palm Pants | DIANA ROSH FUR Olive + Blue Fur Coat | LOVE KNITZ Hat |
PG 21 | DIANA ROSH FUR Multicolor Coat | HAT ATTACK Arm Warmers | MIRA RAE Velvet Leggings | MCM Shearling Hat |
PG 22 | ROMPLY Blush Wrap Romper | HAT ATTACK Hat | LAGOS JEWELRY Ring | ARTISTS' OWN Bra |
PG 25 | ROMPLY Navy/Gold Tapestry Romper | NINA JEWELRY Swarovski Bangle | MCM Polke Backpack in Starry Eyed Bunny | ARTISTS' OWN Marcher Jacket |
Athleisure Mag readers know that a number of our shoots take place in luxury apartments that have yet to be released to the public or are being sold. We tend to maintain the privacy of the homeowners; however, this shoot was perfectly aligned as it took place at Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated songwriter/producer Desmond Child's home!
He is one of the most accomplished hit-makers, having written and produced more than eighty Billboard Top 40 hits spanning five decades including "Livin' On A Prayer”, “You Give Love A Bad Name”, “I Was Made For Lovin' You”, “Dude Looks Like A Lady”, “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and “Waking Up In Vegas.” From Aerosmith to Zedd, his genre-defying collaborations also include Bon Jovi, KISS, Motley Crew, Joan Jett, Cher, Michael Bolton, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Meat Loaf, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Sia, Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, selling over 500 million records worldwide as well as downloads, YouTube views and streaming plays already in the billions. His upcoming autobiography LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BIG SONGS BIG LIFE with David Ritz is scheduled for release the Fall 2018. Desmond Child was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and serves on its Board of Directors as well as the Board of ASCAP. In 2012 he co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and serves as its Chairman/CEO. He is also Chairman of The Fountains of Musica Foundation, who’s mission is to complete Alan LeQuire's aquatic bronze masterpiece MUSICA located at the entrance to Nashville’s Music Row.
ATHLEISURE MAG: It was an honor to shoot in your beautiful home and NERVO was very excited to see that they were in your apartment. Please share with our readers about how you got into the music business and whom you have worked with.
DESMOND CHILD: My beautiful mother, the late Cuban poet and Bolero composer Elena Casals, was always writing her romantic and soulful songs at her old upright piano on the dairy farm in Hawthorn, Florida, where I was born in 1953. At that time, I didn’t know that most people don’t write songs as a natural expression of the ups and downs of ordinary life. I would sit on my mother's lap at the piano and bang out long unrepeatable classical sounding improvisations. As soon as I could sit upright, she would make me play for her bohemian friends sitting around on the floor smoking and drinking during the Mad Men era when that was actually still good for you.
Not being able to afford a gift, I wrote my first official pop song titled “Birthday Blues” at the age of 15 in 1968 as a birthday tribute to a beautiful girl I was trying to impress named Laura
Stern. After that, I never looked back and kept writing songs all the way into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where I was inducted into in 2008. That only took 40 years. ;)
ATHLEISURE MAG: Your home is awesome and there were so many elements that were amazing, but we all enjoyed your piano - when did you decide that you would have these notable talents sign your piano, and are there signatures that you have yet to get, but still
want to have in there?
DC: It was a random day, and I was walking down 57th Street, and when I got to the Steinway showroom, I looked through the window and saw this gorgeous Steinway D lit up like it was on a stage. I went in, sat down at it, and it seemed to just play itself. I ended up buying it on the spot, but I had to put it in storage for 2 years while my apartment was being renovated. When the time finally came to move-in the piano, I had to hire a crane to lift it up on its side in a massive wooden crate and slip it through the living room window.
It was an incredible feat that tied up Fifth Avenue traffic and pissed-off a lot of people.
As soon as I started doing writing sessions with top stars or important visitors, I would ask them to write their names in the piano along with the date. It started to get crowded in there and some names are completely unrecognizable, so I guess I will have to create a map of the stars to keep track of them all.
These are the names I would love to have in the piano: Joni Mitchell, Sir Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Sade, Imogen Heap, Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons, Beyonce & Jay Z, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry.
AM: Are there projects that you are working on that you can share with us?
DC: I am just putting the finishing touches on my auto-biography - LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BIG SONGS BIG LIFE with David Ritz. I hope to release in the fall of 2018.
AM: What is currently on your playlist?
DC: I only play two records ever… AMOROSO by Jaoa Gilberto, produced by my dear late friend Tommy LiPuma, and Sade’s epic LOVE DELUX. Over the past 5 years I’ve added Concha Buika’s
rare but exquisite albums. Any other music I hear is by accident.
AM: With New Years Eve just around the corner, what's the perfect playlist that we should be creating to celebrate the end of 2017 and the start of 2018?
DC: Any of Amy Grants 5 Christmas albums. Amy is my husband Curtis’ favorite artist of all time…. It just ain’t Christmas without Amy Grant.
We enjoyed finding out more about Desmond Child and his home which is currently on the market. We sat down with Louise Phillips Forbes of Halstead properties to find out more about 1215 Fifth Avenue #8CD as well as the neighborhood it resides in.
ATHLEISURE MAG: There are so many great aspects to this apartment, from its layout to the INCREDIBLE views of Central Park - what can you tell us about this property?
LOUISE PHILIPS FORBES: What’s not to envy in this exceptional home?! It’s a full-floor combination apartment with panoramic views of Central Park that are breathtaking year-round, and an abundance of custom designer details like art-deco moldings and Venetian plaster walls. The grand and expansive formal living room is an entertainer’s dream with four large picture windows (manufactured by Hope's) facing west, high-beamed ceilings and a statuesque
wood-burning fireplace. Plus, the spectacular views carry through to the formal dining room. A peaceful retreat, the master suite also showcases the Central Park views and features superbly crafted built-ins and an oversized walk-in closet that resembles a luxury boutique. You can escape to the spa in the elegant Vitrolite tile and Terrazzo master bathroom with a deep soaking tub, double sink vanity, walk-in steam shower, and heated floors. But it's the park views that will transport you to another world. A culinary delight, the eat-in chef's kitchen is the heart of the home with an open design that includes a substantial casual dining/living and media area. Kitchen highlights are the sophisticated Terrazzo countertops, abundance of pantry storage cabinets, and high-end appliances. A coveted laundry room holds the side-by-side and full-size Miele washer and Asko dryer with a sink and storage. To top it off, there is a new state-of-the-art Lutron lighting system and Crestron integrated surround audio system with built-in
speakers all through the apartment. Two oversized bedrooms and a second full bathroom complete the home with through-wall AC's in every room and great closets throughout. It’s pretty close to perfect!
AM: What amenities are offered in this building for residents?
LFP: A pre-war treasure, the Brisbane House at 1215 Fifth Avenue was developed and built in 1928 by distinguished journalist and columnist for Hearst newspapers, Arthur Brisbane, and designed by the renowned architectural firm Schultze & Weaver. The beautiful 16-story limestone-and-caramel-brick building boasts an elegant lobby and full-service amenities, including 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, private courtyard, fitness area, central
laundry room, personal storage, bike storage, and pet-friendly attitude.
AM: Tell us about the neighborhood that is directly around this building and what neighborhood is this considered?
LFP: A premier residence nestled near Carnegie Hill, this elegant gem is conveniently located across from Central Park and along Museum Mile with easy access to world-class exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, among others. Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
beckon with high-end boutique shopping and fine art galleries, plus there is an abundance of distinguished restaurants, charming cafes, gourmet grocers, supermarkets, Equinox Fitness
Club, the 92nd Street Y, and many popular retail destinations.
AM: For those that are interested in purchasing this unit, how can they find out more information?
LFP: It would be very easy to call this stunning apartment home given the grandeur of the rooms, designer details throughout, and abundance of Central Park views! To schedule an appointment, simply contact me directly and I will be happy to give you a private tour and discuss the purchasing details. You can reach me via email at lphillips@halstead.com or at 212-381-3329.
AM: Where can readers find out about additional properties that you represent?
LFP: Visit my website and click on the tab for “My Listings”. You can view pictures, 3D floor plans, and videos along with detailed descriptions of each property I’m working with from
downtown to uptown. The available homes range from a three-bedroom loft apartment in Tribeca to a 6-story grand townhouse on the Upper East Side.
Read more from the Dec Issue and see NERVO YORK in mag.
| PHOTOGRAPHY Melissa Gayle + Dana Gerstacker for Wanderlust Festival |
On any given day, there is a festival taking place and although the concept may convey images of DJs, rock bands etc - there are other gatherings that also exist in this category. We learned about Wanderlust a few months ago and finally caught up with the trio to find out about their wellness-focused festivals that are four-day weekend retreats filled with yoga, meditation, live
music, speakers and outdoor activities as well as those that are single day mindful triathlons. These take place throughout the country and overseas to allow a series of people to come together as a means to become a like-minded tribe.
We found out more about these events, what's new this year and a quick snapshot of their growth.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Wanderlust launch and who are the creators of this wellness festival?
WANDERLUST: Wanderlust was founded in 2009 by three friends: Sean Hoess, Jeff Krasno and Schuyler Grant.
AM: We know that Wanderlust has operated in a number of cities, are there cities that are new to you that will have festivals in 2017/2018 - will you be in NYC anytime soon!
W: Our NYC event happened just two weeks ago at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. And we broke a Guinness World record at that event.
AM: What takes place at Wanderlust?
W: Wanderlust holds two different kinds of events—our multi-day festivals which are four-day weekend retreats combining yoga, meditation, live music, inspiring speakers and outdoor adventures for an entirely unique mindful getaway. And, our single-day “mindful triathlons” called the Wanderlust 108 which take place in public parks all over the world. The Wanderlust
108 includes a five-kilometer run (or walk), an outdoor 90-minute yoga class, and a guided meditation. New for 2017, participants can add a scheduled class such as aerial yoga, acro-yoga, hooping, walking meditation, photography or essential oils workshops, or a community yoga experience from favorite local teachers. At all Wanderlust 108 events, the Kula Marketplace will showcase local craft vendors, including clothing, jewelry, and handcrafted
items. Local and organic food vendors will be on site, as well as a retail store and juice bar collaboration between Wanderlust and Adidas housed in a 60 foot, geodesic dome.
AM: At the end of September, you will be in Tampa which was affected by Irma. How are you supporting the community and will there be any changes to the event because of the hurricane?
W: It was important to us to be of service to the local community. It’s our intention at all our events to come together as a community to lift each other up, and we wanted to help who might be in need in the local Tampa area. $1.08 of each Wanderlust 108 Tampa ticket sold in 2017 will be donated to the Tampa Bay Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. The Tampa Bay Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund (TBDisasterFund.org) is a strategic collaboration of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Pinellas Community Foundation, United Way of Citrus County, United Way of Hernando, United Way of Pasco, and United Way Suncoast. This fund provides a trusted and reliable way to make tax-deductible donations to local storm recovery efforts. 100% of the funds collected through this effort will be directed to address immediate and mid- to long-term recovery needs through grants to select nonprofits.
AM: How many times a year do you host these festivals?
W: Wanderlust 108 first launched in New York’s Prospect Park and Atlanta’s Piedmont Park in 2014, bringing the mindful triathlon experience to over 10,000 participants. After this overwhelmingly positive response, Wanderlust 108 expanded to 17 cities in 2015, 32 cities in 2016 and now, to over 60 cities in 17 countries in 2017.
Read more from the Sept issue and see Find Your Wanderlust in mag.
September's Issue begins our transition into fall with our cover from Athleisure Mag's NYFW SS18 event known as Athleisure House which debuted the launch of UG|RO Ugly Romper (a romper focused lifestyle line that is Co-Founded by our founders Kimmie Smith and Paul Farkas), we also have an interview with Michael Costello about his NYFW SS18 presentation to talk about how he got into being a designer and the importance of diversity along with a conversation with his makeup lead, Michaela Polanco. With the US Open taking place in NYC in August and September, we caught up with tennis player, Agnieszka Radwanska about her upcoming match as well as her partnership with Inglot Cosmetics. The month continues to be busy with the kickoff of Oktoberfest - and this month's The Art of the Snack shares some highlights for you to consider.
From a wellness perspective, we found out more about Dr Smood which has been popping up throughout NYC and Miami. We also share information on Wanderlust, a festival minded series of events that combine fitness, music and of course finding your ultimate tribe. As always, we have our monthly features keeping you in the loop on what you should be looking forward to in the weeks to come.
Read more from the Sept Issue here.
| PHOTOGRAPHY Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen - Green Day |
On Sept 23rd, the 2017 Global Citizen Festival came back for its 6th year on Central Park's Great Lawn in NYC. This event culminated Global Citizen Week, a series of more than 30 public, advocacy-driven events and digital activations that took place across NYC. Prior to this week, Global Citizens took 1.6 million actions over 2 months that secured 29 commitments, 55 announcements and 13 calls to action which totaled $3.2 billion to assist in affecting the lives of 221 million people. These efforts will continue to assist in holding governments and business accountable to deliver on their promises for years to come. The concert and summit like festival included world leaders, non-profit organizations, social conscious focused artists and Global Citizens that are intent on leading the world to Global Goals for Sustainable Development to end extreme poverty by 2030.
Over 60,000 attendees and millions watched live (via broadcasting partners at MSNBC, Youtube and Twitter) with performances by Stevie Wonder, Green Day, The Killers, The Lumineers, and featuring the Chainsmokers, with special guest performances by Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, Andra Day, and Alessia Cara.
| PHOTOGRAPHY Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen - Model & Activist Joan Smalls |
Top Campaign Victories
Economic Empowerment | Accenture, Citi, Ernst & Young, and Procter & Gamble each committed to source $100 million from women-owned businesses - a majority of whom will be based in the developing world. This amount totals $400 million will be delivered through Global Citizen's partners at WEConnect International which brings the amount to $1 billion committed on the Global Citizen stage from corporate entities towards women's economic empowerment in the past 12 months.
HIV/AIDS | Global Citizen partners Johnson & Johnson commits to accelerating the healthcare company’s HIV vaccine and announced that for the first time it is going into late-stage human clinical trials. It is the world’s first ever “global” vaccine, which means it can protect against all strains of HIV. In early-stage studies the vaccine has shown 100% success rate.
Famine | U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), as a member of the Appropriations Committee announced that encouraged by Global Citizens taking over 60,000 actions, his colleagues in the Senate have proposed $311.5 million more in funds for International Disaster Assistance compared to last year.
Yazidi Justice | Three years since the genocide was committed by ISIS, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, announced that the UK led the UN Security Council to a unanimous vote this week on the decision to set up a UN Investigation Team to pursue justice for the Yazidis. The UN resolution on ISIS accountability was described as a “long overdue first step” by the UN Office for the High Commissioner on Human Rights. This comes after an 18 month campaign and over 100,000 actions taken by Global Citizens.
| PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen - Priyanka Chopra; Demi Lovato; Michelle Monaghan; Freida Pinto |
Top Accountability Updates
France | Thanks to Global Citizen’s two year long campaign, and nearly half a million actions, including those of Global Citizen and Global Partnership for Education Ambassador Rihanna, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that for the first time ever a G7 country — France — was to co-host the Global Partnership for Education replenishment with an African country — Senegal in order to raise $3.1 billion to provide 870 million children with vital education.
GHANA | President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, committed on the Festival stage to end child marriage. The newly elected President inherited the initiative to end child marriage in the country from his predecessor, so this stage moment provided confirmation that the new president has officially committed to continue with the National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage in Ghana. As part of this announcement, the President also reaffirmed his pledge to provide universal free secondary education.
Famine | Executive Director of the World Food Program, David Beasley, confirmed that $575 million of $990 million committed by Congress in May — a commitment helped by 49,291 actions taken by Global Citizens — has been released to the WFP and others to immediately fight the famine. He then issued a powerful call to action to Global Citizens, revealing that after years of progress, the number of hungry people in the world is going up.
Partners of Global Citizen Week included: Gucci and CHIME FOR CHANGE, MSNBC & Comcast NBCUniversal, Live Nation, Johnson & Johnson, Citi, HP, Cadillac, T-Mobile, iHeartMedia, NYC Parks, lululemon, P&G, The New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs, Bira 91, Universal Music Group, the Empire State Building, Forbes, Guardian US, Omaze, TOMS, and Tribeca Enterprises.
Partners of the 2017 Global Citizen Festival included: presenting partner GUCCI and CHIME FOR CHANGE, premier media partner MSNBC & Comcast NBCUniversal, entertainment partner Live Nation, global health partner Johnson & Johnson, and other major partners Citi, HP, Cadillac, T-Mobile, iHeartMedia, and NYC Parks.
We're pretty excited to be media sponsors of NYC Pride which kicks off today starting with the PRIDE Luminaries Brunch and ends with the PRIDE Parade on Sunday. Make sure that you check out the schedule in order to see which events you and your friends plan on going to this year.
When you think of some of rock and roll's iconic imagery from festivals, album covers and concerts, you may have seen some of the work of photographer Ed Caraeff who was there for some of music's major moments! With the release of his work in Burning Desire: The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Iggy & The Stooges: One Night at the Whisky 1970, we took a moment to find out more about this photographer, how he got into the industry and where he is now.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how you became a photographer.
ED CARAEFF: I was fifteen years old, in high school and taking a photography course. My school was two miles from Los Angeles International Airport. During lunch hour, I went to the airport and took photos of a band called The Seeds returning from tour. A smartly dressed woman tapped me on the shoulder, handed me her business card and asked to see the
photographs when developed. That was the beginning of a career I never knew existed!
AM: We know that in addition to photography, you are noted for doing a number of album cover art for iconic artists. What albums that you created have been some of your favorites?
EC: After years of being hired to photograph artists for album cover art, I started to first Art Direct the entire album packaging. Soon after, I learned how to do all the Graphic Design work as well - size the photos with stats, spec the type, paste-ups, etc. Since I also did my own
darkroom work, developing b & w and color film, making prints, I was one-stop shopping.
Never had an agent, portfolio, business card or a listed phone number.
I did hundreds of covers, too many to mention. I like most all of them ... never hung any on my wall.
AM: Tell us about Iggy Stooges: One Night at the Whisky 1970 - how did you get to be involved in this and what made the Whisky such a key place?
EC: I was hired by their NYC record company. Whisky was THE place, World Famous.
AM: It seems like your career can be credited with being a great photographer as well as being at the right place at the right time! How did you get the iconic shot of Jimi Hendrix?
EC: Exactly, thanks for mentioning that. I'm a very good photographer, same today with my iPhone. It comes very naturally, fast, smooth, kinda like Jimi playing his guitar, or anyone doing
something effortlessly.
The burning guitar shot was taken while standing on a chair I had snagged in photographer's pit and then jammed it up against the elevated stage. I had just turned 17 and had an authorized photography pass issued by the Monterey Pop Festival.
AM: Why was the Monterey Festival such a pivotal moment in music history?
EC: With the 50 Year Anniversary next month there's many expert opinions, I do believe. For me, it was the furthest I'd ever been from home without my parents. The Summer of Love in Southern California. Lots of great images to capture and I had use of my family's friends high end German camera.
AM: Of the people who you have had the opportunity to shoot, which ones crossed over from a professional relationship to one of friendship?
EC: Members of Three Dog Night, Cheech & Chong, Sergio Mendes, Elton John.
AM: What can you tell us about Jimi Hendrix as we love that your imagery showcases him on stage as well as just hanging out - what is it about this artist that drew so many people to him?
EC: Jimi had the style, the swag, the coolness, and backed it up with the genius talent. One of a kind.
AM: Besides shooting one of Jimi's most iconic moments, do you have a story/experience that you shared with him that you can share with us?
EC: Picking him up at his two story motel on the Sunset Strip, smoking a joint and driving to John and Michelle Phillip's Bel Air mansion to party was a memorable evening.
AM: Beyond working with some of rock's biggest artists, you also worked with artists such as Marvin Gaye - what was that like?
EC: Marvin was one of a very few I photographed that I was in awe of meeting. I was a big fan. He was not in a good mood, going thru a divorce, obligated to release an album by his father in law's (Berry Gordy) record company. Motown hired me to "replicate a place in Jamaica that
Marvin had just returned from." The photographs were never published. The cover used on "Here, My Dear," is a funky b & w illustration.
AM: Do you still have artists that you have yet to work with, but they are on your bucket list?
EC: No. I left working with artists to working with food while a single parent with two sons living in NYC in 1985.
I was a photographer, art director, graphic designer for 14 years and then answered an ad in The Sunday New York Times to become a chef. I got the job on east 48th near 2nd Ave and started a career as hands on chef, restauranteur for 27 years.
When I thought to do my bucket list, only one thing popped up and it was instantaneous. I started working so young, still in school, and worked continually. I missed out on spending time after graduating and wandering and sleeping in my vehicle. Low stress, Zen, lifestyle.
AM: How do you view the photography industry now in terms of the use of digital and even being able to break into the industry to work with notable artists?
EC: I love digital, apps, social media. I like not having to worry if I have enough or the right kinda film! You just remember to have battery life.
For me, great way to express myself. In terms of breaking into that industry - I shudder to think.
AM: We hear that you're on a bucket list journey. What made you want to do that?
EC: I had a health wake-up call in 2012. Also, I attended funerals for two long time friends in the same week. Learned I would become a grandfather, twice, by both my children within a five month period. My Cardiologist said of my bucket list trip, "If not now, when?"
Then it took me a year and half to make sure I really wanted to do it. Followed by another year and half to find loving homes for my pets, got rid of ALL my possessions, sell my home and even sell my photography archive. Because that too is "work," though I love my work.
June 15 will be two years I've lived 24/7 in a vintage VW Westfalia Van named "Moonbeam."
AM: Can we expect additional books of your photography to be released, and if so, what artists will it be?
EC: Yes. Next month, my Jimi Hendrix photographs, "Burning Desire" will be available. I'm grateful for the books I have and the future is uncertain.
Stay in touch with Ed Caraeff's bucket list trip on Instagram via @thebucketlisttrip
All photos are courtesy of Ed Caraeff
The first weekend of Coachella is already in the books. The weekend included amazing music acts, branded parties and of course, tons of style. This week, we recap some of our fave Victoria's Secret Angels (Jasmine Tookes, Alessandra Ambrosio etc), Pretty Little Liars (Shay Mitchell) cast and more that made our heads turn as we deployed for amazing tunes in Indigo, California.
PHOTOGRAPHY | PAUL FARKAS
Festival season continues with a new city being added to the list. FOLD Festival kicked off Aug 4th for its two day event of musicians across genres coming together to perform at Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead, NY. Athleisure Mag attended this inaugural festival which focuses on Grammy winning producer and musician Nile Rodgers' love for Freak Out Let's Dance. Check out exclusive behind the scenes as well as performances that took place on both days.
The festival included performances from an array of musicians including Pharrell Williams, Keith Urban, Chaka Khan, Duran Duran and Janelle Monae.
