A Universal Language: RxDIO's Story

RxDIO was brought into the AUL project at the very last minute. After months of planning and running back-and-forth, AUL was surrounded by great uncertainty as the disappointments persisted. After it had emerged that we had to change our whole narrative to better accommodate the new subjects of our story, RxDIO came in and contributed to what is probably one of the most intricate stories I’ve ever worked on. He welcomed us into his home and introduced us to his world. RxDIO released his Live A Little EP in August 2013. In my view, Live A Little will be those ‘always-on-repeat’ type albums. Songs like Toberman St, Slave To The Truth, Merrier, and a song which had me reflecting a lot, Liars, are one of the many musical gems in a body of work that is both personal and graceful. What blew me away about him was his ‘unfilter-able’ and ‘unedit-able’ personality. In my opinion, his Live A Little EP embodies great substance. 

His responses to my questions bring a new dimension to the AUL story, revealing moments of reflection and wisdom. It’s important for artists to understand the source of their inspiration, not to only know it, but to understand it. Artistry occupies an intricate place in those who shape it. The AUL story is about those intricacies. What I’ve observed from RxDIO in the few months I’ve worked with him is that the source of our strength is in our inspiration. The degree to which we remain anchored to who we’re truly are depends on the significance we place in that which we draw our strength from. This is exactly what we wanted to achieve through AUL. 

phsicsmag (p): Based on your understanding, what would you say constitutes to the idea of “a universal language”?

RxDIO (R): The same way some would say there is beauty in everything, or that God is in everything, I believe all of those statements and others similar to those are true. I think when looking for the beauty in something, or God, there is certain understanding to be attained and a way of perceiving things around us to be utilized. I think the revelation of an idea and ideas such as this and applied to our daily lives is when “a universal language” is spoken.

p: Do you feel music is still the “universal language” it once was, or are artists better off creating musical niches for themselves?

R: Music will always be the “universal language” it once was...to me, artists “creating musical niches for themselves” is what helps music to be the “universal language” it is. We are all unique individuals who have unique reactions to the unique moments of our unique lives so of course sometimes things in our lives aren’t representative of how we may feel, like music, but that would be a bias opinion of my own if I felt that way. I’m not the only one this planet. So what I do is create music that speaks for how I feel. The same as the person miles away from me with a totally different life, lifestyle, way of thinking, and musical preference. How I see it, it’s not what type of music we do, or what we say, or if we agree or have totally different views or how we do it. It’s simply us doing it that allows someone to “speak the language”. To feel attracted to something as much as it is attracted to you.

  article originally published in phsicsmag's A Universal Language issue available for download here

A Universal Language: Maddy's Story

article originally published in phsicsmag's A Universal Language issue available for download here

Following their successful debut EP in 2011, Sound Fx grew to become one of hip hop’s hidden treasures. The duo would go on to release 2 EPs and 3 mixtapes. It was in 2013 that Sound Fx would bid farewell to their fans through the release of Empathy, a powerful and thought provoking body of work. Upon initial contact with the guys, I managed to get through to Sound Fx member Maddy McFly. Our first exchange was short and thorough. He was excited about my invite to be part of the AUL feature story. Maddy would later confirm with me that Empathy was it; Sound Fx would be no more.

Empathy taps into the soul of its listener. Apart from igniting passion, this album is also able to almost imprison you, causing feelings to fluctuate throughout its flow. Accompanying its solemn storyline is a musical album with melodic cords, imaginative basslines, samples which were appropriately selected and impeccably chopped, and an almost ‘sequential harmony’. Empathy speaks the universal language; whether it’s the universal language of love, pain, or frustration. To put a full stop on Sound Fx is perhaps premature at this stage. I’m waiting for the day these two will be back in studio working together again. Maddy McFly is more than an art-piece figure on the wall of music. His passionate discourse in the AUL documentary film reflects on his hunger and drive.

phsicsmag (p): Based on your understanding,what would you say constitutes to the idea of “a universal language”?

Maddy McFly (MM): I believe a universal language is a language that transcends the barriers of race, culture, politics, and religion.It is a language that is understood by all regardless of background. A universal language is felt and not spoken, it is relatable by pure emotion because that is the greatest and deepest level of connection we can have with one another as humans.

p: Do you feel music is still the “universal language” it once was, or are artists better off creating musical niches for themselves? 

MM: I do believe music is and will always be a universal language because rhythm is felt and not spoken. With the growth of technology we see more and more people turning to music as a form of communication so i do believe music is still a universal outlet. We don’t all speak the same languages but we all feel the same emotions and good music is emotional. It connects us all whether we are aware of it or not.

For more on the AUL Story:

A Universal Language Film can be watched here
Phsics Media online platforms Digital Timeless Facebook / Youtube / Twitter 

Perpetual rags of the second-hand clothing market

article originally published in phsicsmag's A Universal Language issue available for download here

Much of the commentary around the secondhand clothing market seems to be content with continuing on with the current secondhand clothing business model provided clothes in Western countries don’t pile up at landfills. Fashion is increasingly becoming disposable because of the way conventional retail has diminished what used to be considered as one’s ‘basic capsule’; a pair of jeans, a coat, a few dress shirts, and so on. Fast fashion retail isn't the sole contributor to the issue of unwanted clothes.  In the secondhand market, charities collect clothes from donors and sell them to secondhand dealers at a profit. The dealers determine among themselves, the market prices for the clothes without any economic references. When you factor all that in, along with the imported clothes from low income sourcing destinations which drive up the demand for secondhand items by contributing to contractions in domestic textile industries, the secondhand issue is enormous. 

I would like to respond to some critical questions on this topic which aren't being answered. Do we need a secondhand clothing market? Yes, I believe people should be given the right to choose to buy secondhand goods or otherwise. Should we regulate it? Yes, especially in countries where domestic industries are hurt by it. Does it add value? Sadly not; even though affordability is certain, the economic considerations for producing brand new clothes through stimulating local economies are far much greater. Even the people employed by the secondhand clothing market would  be better off benefiting from established, transparent, regulated industries where things such as retirement plans and social benefits actually exist. What should retailers do to prevent stockpiles of unwanted clothes? Perhaps fast fashion’s next drive should be to recycle clothes. You return an old unwanted item to a Zara or H&M and they top up your purchasing credit with it or something similar. This will be more aboveboard and less stringent on resources. The secondhand clothing market is a present day reality.

For more on the AUL Story:
A Universal Language Film can be watched here
Phsics Media online platforms Digital Timeless Facebook / Youtube / Twitter 

Private Life Collection by Phsics.Private

Contextualizing Private Life’s design brief is like driving in reverse through a mountain pass. This was a complex collection from its inception. It was the result of the frustration I had working on Phsics.Private’s first collection back in 2012, and I must have penned it more than five times. Accompanying the Private Life brief was a figurative moodboard which captured the symbolism behind the idea of the Private Life. The overall design philosophy behind this capsule collection can be attributed to a Margiela, Coppens, or Simons (notice how they’re all Belgian), alright then we can add Touitou to that list. Of all the Phsics brands, Phsics.Private has to be the one I’m most careful about. Being a participant and a commentator at the same time can leave you exposed. When I set up Phsics.Private back in 2012, I wanted to establish a link between my magazine publication and my higher-order imagination. I wanted to feel what the designers I wrote about felt, and I wanted to see what they saw. It’s possible to achieve all of these from an editorial standpoint too, but my experience so far has taught me that playing on the field and watching on grandstands are concepts which are at extremes of each other. So then, what is Private Life? 

The Private Life is a state of completeness. It’s about being able to see beyond your imagination. What I’ve observed along the years is how the ‘culture of fashion’ evolved into the ‘fashionable culture’, where anyone who chooses to live it becomes content with the allure of ‘living in the moment’. The Private Life is a bold statement which says, ‘I don’t have to be part of this fashionable culture, but I still possess great taste and sensibility’. The intricacies behind this collection are what make it so fascinating. It’s more than a clothing capsule collection, there’s an underlying discourse within it. An eye opening dissertation which the Private Life collection introduces so effectively is that of the ‘quality of life’.  

Lastly, I really hate sounding like a capitalist, but these capsules are the fuel to the business. The magazines I put out, the documentary work I’ve done so far, music and photography clearances, a major part of what I’ve put out was supported by this brand extension. Many thanks to my incredible team comprised of Marco Oggian, my designer, and Nedret Eren, my manufacturer. My next collection will be for women, but until then, guys can pre-order the Private Life by emailing me at soulphsics07@gmail.com

Blessings

// Crewneck – USD35.00

// T-Shirt – USD25.00 

Photographer Marco Oggian

Model Paolo Rossi

Location Laveno, Italy

Creative Director Tebogo Mohlahlana 

PhsicsMag Issue no.4 - A Universal Language

Working on this fourth annual issue made me be that person who forced their way into very uncomfortable situations. As people we are afraid to get uncomfortable. I found myself having to convince people who have never heard of what I do that they could work with me to produce something as remarkable as this publication. I’ve also introduced film to be an extended medium of this magazine. 

Waking up knowing that your film is in its second day of production, and everything is up in the air will have you asking yourself “what did I get myself into?” and frankly speaking,there’s nothing glamorous about feeling that way. You actually find yourself in a very uncomfortable position, and the only thing you can do is to put your life jacket on and hurry along. In the end, the greatest feeling comes when your product comes out exactly the way you had envisioned it to be. Even if only two people share it among themselves, knowing that you pushed through that very difficult storm to be where you are is the best feeling in the world. The creative process is similar to sailing through an endless ocean. There are moments of calmness, and there are moments of “we’re about to sink!”, but nowhere can you give in. The escape is just too perfect. A friend of mine challenged me. She’s about to launch her resort bag collection which was assembled in Ghana and Burkina Faso. She left her air-conditioned London home to be out there under the sun, on the grind, far from the glamour! If you had to ask me what other fashion people are doing right now? Probably picking outfits for Instagram or browsing the web for “inspiration”.My problem with glamour is that it’s very short sighted. 

During my recent trip to Milan I caught up with a friend who knows all about the fashion industry. He told me of how the back-end of the fashion business over there treats and nurtures its talent. On the surface it looks very glamorous, but what actually goes on is unbelievable. In this publication’s fourth edition, A Universal Language, I wanted to broaden my scope. I’m not a music reviewer and I never was. I knew that writing about music would challenge me. I wanted to do a music issue. I wanted to be uncomfortable. From where I’m sitting right now, this issue is more than a music review. It’s personal and it carries a lot of intricacies. I wanted to achieve exactly that be it with the publication, the documentary film, and the Private Life collection; each of these elements of my brand speak A Universal Language. Stay blessed

Download the full magazine here

A Universal Language Trailer: RxDIO’s Story

Taking on a project like A Universal Language requires one to be level headed and articulate. Film production is not easy. A strong motivated team can be the difference between a project’s success and failure. It’s important for me to explore film production so early in my career because I’m passionate about telling the untold story. PhsicsMedia is not an outlet for counter culture; it’s an outlet for universal culture. I want to be able to project honest, tasteful stories. If the magazine is the manual, then Digital Timeless is the embodiment. I was blessed enough to work with Les Deux, a brand which I’ve come to respect and appreciate. We wanted to bring a brand communication that was more than about the clothes. We wanted to make it about people. 

Meet RxDIO, he’s one of the musicians featured in the AUL documentary. In my opinion, his Live A Little EP is the embodiment of substance. RxDIO was able to put together a project that is both personal and graceful. What blew me away about him was his unfilter-able, unedit-able personality. There are no scripts here, and this is what AUL is all about. We encountered a lot of hiccups during the documentary’s production stage, but the team I worked with was simply out of this world. Working on PhsicsMag’s fourth annual issue has introduced me to the intricacies of stories. This journey has taught me to appreciate every little detail that my subject chooses to reveal, and the value it brings to my publication. A Universal Language will premiere early 2014 along with the release of the magazine. You can also lookout for Phsics.Private’s new collection which will be available soon. Subscribe to the Digital Timeless Youtube channel, and don’t forget to monetize those dreams. Stay blessed. 

A Universal Language Trailer: Maddy’s Story

In PhsicsMag’s 4^th annual issue, I wanted to move out of my comfort zone. Writing about music was exactly that. Music is a domain which I don’t normally ‘examine’ because people’s emotions always seem to be heavily invested in it. I find it unfair that artists are rated and ranked based on what they've accomplished. Releasing an album is an accomplishment; it’s like giving birth to a baby. Imagine if all the new born babies in the world were rated and ranked based on what they looked like or how much they weighed or something, that would be messing with people’s emotions. The commercialization of music has created a culture of unnecessary comparison and evaluation based on appeal or segmentation. For those who are interested in media studies, a scholar by the name of Marshall McLuhan once said “the medium is the message”. My interpretation of his statement is that when a music video is streamed on MTV for example, MTV is the medium, therefore it (MTV) is that message; the message is not in the content of the music videos which it streams! It’s an interesting notion for understanding the current state of media and its portrayal of youth culture, religion, race, and anything else you can think of.  

Earlier this year, I established Digital Timeless (Phsics.DigitalTimeless) to be the “medium” that Mr. Marshall McLuhan spoke of. Digital Timeless is a vertical agency for PhsicsMedia. In simple terms, we cover content creation from its inception right to its projection. Digital Timeless allows PhsicsMedia to be a ‘cable network’ that makes films, clothes, magazines and coffees (my good friend Vanessa Bolosier knows this), and still be able to be cool. We’re so secure about what we want to achieve that being in trend isn’t a factor for us. Our Youtube Channel will premiere many of our future works with A Universal Language being our very first. With AUL I want to achieve an effective connection between the Les Deux brand and young, progressive artists from Los Angeles. Maddy McFly (formerly of the duo Sound Fx) is one of them, and we’ll be revealing our other subject in AUL’s next trailer. This is fascinating because Les Deux is a clothing brand from Copenhagen. By bringing the two worlds together, we’re able to align them with a set of values which a globally relevant; humanity, grace, fluidity, respect, and substance. AUL is the first film I’ve ever produced and although this is its first trailer (we’re dropping another one soon) I’d just like to appreciate the contributions of my co-pilots Jared Soule, Andreas von de Hoider, and Kal Mokhtar. The full documentary will premiere on our Youtube Channel along with PhsicsMag’s 4^th annual issue in early 2014. Stay blessed

Nia Keturah’s Poetic Visualism

When skill and mastery reach a point of mass replication, authenticity is the last distinguishing differentiator. I’m saying this at a time when the word “authenticity” itself is loosely being thrown around. Is music still a “universal language”? Was it ever was? During a discussion with some friends on this topic, I was of the view that music no longer spoke to a universal audience, and that it had succumbed to the creation of niches and target segments; the type of stuff they teach at Business school. But is this a fair assessment of a subject which is constantly evolving? Ever since that exchange with my friends, I have become very selective about what I want to discover. But, I also realized that it wasn't the genre lines that drew me to a listen. I felt that in most cases it was the story; the visual detail that stimulates a repeated fondness of a song or an entire album.

One such musician who possesses such artistry is Nia Keturah. Her ‘poetic visualism’ is revealingly unapologetic and progressive at the same time. But these images she paints through her lyrics are far from being repetitive and monotonous. This is, in my view, something female rap musicians in the industry often struggle with: the ability to give variations in their musical tales. However, Nia Keturah has managed to master this very early in her career. Whether it’s the melodically playful Control, or the delightfully conscious Proper Poppa, her ability to address a broad spectrum of issues without isolating the listener reflects on what I mentioned earlier about authenticity. Po Lil Black Girl is her third and latest offering, and features the works of producer Wino Willy, alongside other notable storytellers such as ABGOHARD on the reflective yet uplifting, Blunt People.

Whether music is still universal or not, it’s here to stay. It’s through artists like Nia who reinforce the universality of it. We can’t afford to isolate the storytellers, and more importantly, we can’t afford to dilute authenticity. Let’s embrace the last bit of positivity that’s left

phsicsmag (p):Please tell us, what inspired Po Lil Black Girl?

Nia Keturah (NK):I've always wanted to speak to the Kanye line "black female addicted to retail” with an entire record dedicated to exploring materialism in a black girl's world. PLBG was that record. The lightbulb moment was an interview my friend HOA Bossman did about a song we had done together entitled "Paris"…he said something to the effect of "we all know a Paris who has not been to Paris"…the interviewer retorted with "or a Mercedes on the bus or a Diamond with no diamonds." It was such an elegant way to explore the current condition of the black female.

p: When did you touch base with Wino Willy to start working on the project? Take us through some of your in studio experiences.

NK:Willy attends Morehouse and I attended their sister school, Spelman. I met him at a weekly open mic held on campus. Willy is like a brother to me...we disagree, we fight, but we also get very hyped and encouraging. Working with him a blessed yet frustrating process.

p: Po Lil Black Girl is your third body of work. How have you evolved as an artist since the Missed Education of Denise Huxtable (MEDH)?

NK:I've come more into what I know to be my unique sound. As an artist I know what my voice is capable, figuratively. Literally, I understand now more than ever how my voice can penetrate. Comprehending both of these things allows my new records to have a fuller sound.

p: Any exciting new projects we expect from you in the near future?

NK: Look out for something lively very soon.

p: Lastly, do you feel music is still the “universal language” it once was, or are artists better off creating musical niches for themselves?

NK: I think music is the "language of understanding". It gives us windows and doors to other lifestyles. I think it will always possess these doors and windows. Inherently, music is a way to create a niche, but eventually most niches get a window or a door.

this interview will be published in PhsicsMag's 4th annual issue