NUTRIENT: WINTER 24 / 25

Nutrient: (noun) a substance that provides nourishment essential for the maintenance of life & growth. 

Here are ours for this quarter - 

Jolene: 

I know we are all struggling to hold on to hope right now. I'm leaning in to art, music, writing, films, so full of gratitude for those who dedicate their lives to creativity and trying to make the world a better place. I do find a controlled cry is really helpful - let it out and move forward. Spell Songs is a beautiful project that you can read about here, and this Lost Words Blessing live track might be exactly what you need right now. 

In our last nutrient I wrote about visiting the Yoko Ono exhibition in a fog of mid life hormonal meltdown. Now balanced on HRT, but during a recent bout in bed unwell, I greatly adored Miranda July's All Fours (main character is a woman who has run out of oestrogen) devouring it in a day. I'm not going to begin to try and review it, but if you have had this on your 'must read' list, DO IT 

My lovely cousin came to visit from Norway and we enjoyed an intense afternoon of life catch up, followed up by a recommendation for this beautiful + gentle life documentary filmed in our native Shetland. Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story.

 

Mil:

 

Of all the things I recommend to people i know, this is consistently near the top of the list: founded in 2008 by Nacho Alegre, Marco Velardi, and Omar Sosa and initially put together in Alegre’s home in Barcelona, Spain, Apartmento Magazine is a biannual publication which explodes the concept of what an ‘interior design’ magazine could be.

The premise is simple but consistently pleasing: interesting people frequently live in interesting homes, so rather than focusing on beautifully lit ‘dressed’ spaces, each issue features between 10-20 long-form interviews drawn from a hugely diverse spectrum of (typically creative) individuals of all ages, nationalities, professional and socio-economic situations. The photographic ‘house style’ tends towards fly-on-the-wall documentary rather than ‘staged’ and luxurious, and is a visual companion-piece to each story.

Although some of those featured are known to me - for instance the latest issue includes an interview with local legend Beca Lipscombe, co-founder of the fabulous Atelier EB - the BIG JOY is the introduction to a fresh bunch of amazing new people every 6 months… thanks Apartamento!

In other news, I have written about Gilles Peterson in a previous Nutrient, but only recently dug into the archive of the internet radio station Worldwide FM, which he launched almost 10 years ago and - as the name suggests - is a global platform with international partners bound together by common values: “an award-winning community and platform where marginalised voices, alternative perspectives and shared progressive values are brought to the forefront through music and culture. Whether our programming comes from Palestine or New Orleans, we try where we can to give voice to progressive artists and cultural figures who fight inequality in all its forms.”

Just like Apartamento, Worldwide FM is a brilliant place to discover new favourite people, ideas and of course MUSIC. They broadcast everyday of the year, often featuring special guests, performers, live sessions and all available here: what energy… what a life's work! Big thanks and hats off, Gilles! (and yes, it does appear that the bespoke wooden desk/cabinet shown in the above photo @ Worldwide HQ features a familiar name in a familar typeface… great minds, great taste etc!)

Lastly, I recently picked up a second hand copy of 'Remain in Love' by Chris Frantz, the memoir of co-founder/drummer of the hugely influential Talking Heads, in which he gives his side of the story of one of my favourite bands. I'm afraid I can't really recommend it as a great piece of writing, but somehow the inside perspective on what we already knew/suspected of the 'tricky' internal dynamics is quite compelling! 

David Byrne has subsequently 'fessed up to his extremely problematic behaviour during the band's existence, and it is therefore no surprise, but nonetheless satisfying, to learn of the fundamental creative influence of the powerhouse rhythm section, comprising Frantz and his wife Tina Weymouth on bass. Their combined 'solo project - the excellent and equally innovative Tom Tom Club - bears testament to that, and we in ISP are happy to endorse both!

If anyone saw the first incarnation of the ISP website,  you might recognise that we were channelling a bit of this. And if you liked David Byrne's distinctive moves, have you seen this?...

... and finally, if you think it looks like fun being in that space - NYC Studio 54 - check this out! Wish I could have been witness to Beck in '97 - full nerd-chic flow...