Who. What. Where?
First up on this week’s Who? What? Where? is the capsule collection of ready-to-wear by Olivier Rousteing in collaboration with evian. The Creative Director of Balmain and his design team have created a series of limited edition pieces inspired by sportswear silhouettes and the mineral water companies’ soft pastel shades and logo. In this exciting partnership, the design has utilised a variety of eco-friendly methods and materials to promote the future of sustainability in the fashion world. With 19 designs to pick from, accessories include a crisp white bordered tote bag with an accompanying pocket pouch adorned with the evian mountain range and an across-the-body luxury water bottle holder with a baby pink chain handle. Elsewhere, the evian name stamps sporty hoodies, shorts, t-shirts, and bombers, with swimsuits and activewear revelling in pastel pinks and blues. The collection is available to purchase globally, both in-store and online here.
In music news, Croydon-hailing singer, songwriter, producer, and rapper Jords has dropped two brand new singles for you to sink your teeth into. With a smooth mix of hip-hop and R&B, the creative backs his musical growth with socially conscious messaging, focusing on celebrating Black culture. ‘Stay Close’ (featuring Kranium) embraces Jamaican sound and dancehall, whilst ‘Mo Bay’ (featuring Tay Iwar) is laced with rhythmic lyricism and compelling vocals. Alongside the fresh new tracks sits a short film that outlines the journey behind the music and the new album which will be released under Motown Records UK later this 2023 – marking the first UK rap album for the label. Directed by Renee Osubu, the moving piece explores the duality between celebration and grief. Watch the film here, and check out Jords’ new releases on all platforms.
The Kappa Futur festival is back! Returning to Torino’s Parco Dora after last year’s sell-out event, Italy’s 3-day celebration is set to kick off with a bang to mark its 10-year anniversary. The impressive lineup will see the return of Black Coffee and Major Lazer, as well as The Swedish House Mafia and Fatboy Slim. On his own stage will be British house and techno club DJ Carl Cox who will be hosting, with house duo Martinez Brothers and the energetic Peggy Gou performing. As we wish Kappa Futur a happy 10th birthday, they are introducing two new stages in return – The Voyager and The Kosmo – which will blend art, music, and technology in an immersive space. So for all the electronic music fans and festival goers this summer, Kappa Futur 2023 is set to be a year to remember. Purchase your tickets now.
Last, but not least, Brighton natives Chappaqua Wrestling have released their debut album Plus Ultra this month. In between festival slots and a sold-out headline UK tour, they were writing tracks bursting with social exploration, from the effects of social media on mental health to the cost of living crisis and student debt. But as they revel in their grunge meets shoegaze-y tones, the band isn’t bogged down with these issues, in fact, they lace their album with a certain element of hope. The band brashly pushes the boat out with their topics of choice, with standouts including indie-rock breakup tune ‘Not In Love,’ and ‘Kulture,’ which explores racial allyship. The two lead lyricists Charlie Woods and Jake Mac have written an album that confronts all our generation’s issues head-on, and it’s with that outlook that the charm of Chappaqua Wrestling sits. Listen to the new album here.
