We’ve Got a Friend Crush Too

We’ve Got a Friend Crush Too

  They’ve been listed on the BBC’s Sounds of 2012, alongside Frank Ocean, Azealia Banks, and A$AP Rocky. It’s no surprise, and this is no buzz band. When I first saw the video for “I’m His Girl” by five piece too-cool-for-school band Friends, I was like ‘woah that’s some cool looking shit.’ And as it [...]

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Corey Shapiro’s World

Corey Shapiro’s World

Posted by ThinkCONTRA   | 
Interview by Ryan Bolton Welcome to Corey Shapiro’s world. A realm comprised of rubbing shoulders with Rick Ross, Pharrell Williams and Gaga with a bounty of endless vintage eyewear in tow. Shapiro, with his distinct shaved head oft-capped with a fitted ball cap, full beard and an ever-changing selection of shades perched atop his nose [...]

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Odyn Vovk

Odyn Vovk

Posted by Melissa Fox   | 
Austin Sherbanenko keeps his studio in Skid Row in downtown LA because “it’s a good hiding spot.” He’s not trying to hide, just escape the white noise so he can hear his own thoughts, so he can filter out the garbage and do what he was born to do – create. His creative contribution? Odyn [...]

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The Talks

The Talks

It’s strange to interview famous people; stranger still to interview people who interview famous people. That’s Johannes Bonke and Sven Schumann, childhood friends from Germany, and the masterminds behind The Talks, an online interview magazine, dedicated to long form journalism and in-depth Q&A’s with ‘interesting, remarkable’ people. “It’s a range of people” Johannes says, “designers, [...]

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Army Girls – Close to T.O

Army Girls – Close to T.O

Andy Smith and Carmen Elle, together known as Army Girls, began their musical love making, uh, lovely music making journey in 2010, when they wrote and recorded their debut EP Close To The Bone (Blocks Recording Club) with producer Ben Cook, of the Toronto hardcore band, Fucked Up. Not a bad backer for a first [...]

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Honest to Goodness Mr. Dougie

Honest to Goodness Mr. Dougie

Honest Ed’s is synonymous with ‘landmark’ for most Toronto residents. They know it’s the spot for the best deals on cheap products, for nearly every facet of your life. Located on Bloor and Bathurst Sts, in the safe, culturally vibrant Annex neighbourhood, the one-of-a-kind retail space lights up like a 1940′s Hollywood movie trailer. Oozing [...]

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Rich Hil Exclusive

Rich Hil Exclusive

Posted by ThinkCONTRA   | 
CONTRA x Community 54 x iluvlola presents Rich Hil Live in Toronto! Peep our exclusive interview with Rich discussing his tat’s, SYLDD, and his debut album. Video by Naphtali McKenly

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Matthieu Lemaire-Courapied Keeps It Real

Matthieu Lemaire-Courapied Keeps It Real

As long as he can remember, Matthieu Lemaire-Courapied has always had an interest in photography, and through it, would develop a penchant for the complexities of women. It’s his favourite subject to shoot. It was in Paris (France) where he works and where he will probably die, that he remembers being impressed and curious about [...]

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Quentin Jones- ‘Fashionable Art’

Quentin Jones- ‘Fashionable Art’

It’s always a sweet taste in your mouth when you have those annoying bug-like doubters and haters all over you in the beginning, and you prove them all wrong in the end. They always make good stories, right? This is somewhat similar to what Quentin Jones, the 27-year-old illustrator/animator/filmmaker/model went through during art school. While [...]

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