Peeking over the edge of culture (Vol. 5)
Interesting things I saw in the wild lately…
Music i’m enjoying right here
My own thoughts:
I recently wrote about the Grammy Awards 2026, you can read it here → Grammys 2026: My thoughts and feelings
The last couple weeks, the Australian Open has taken over Melbourne. Tbh, it hasn’t been the most compelling year for the Open (Edit: I wrote this BEFORE the Semi-Finals and Final, things got dramatically more interest). As the top seeds have dominated and no. of 5 set/3 set matches has dropped considerably since last year. Interesting parallel to the condensed Ashes Test Series in the cricket. Sport is getting faster and faster on it’s own accord, no need for reduced minutes, it’s self imposed.
The chaos of the ICE raids and murders in Minneapolis have been tragic and scary to watch unfold. Every time I see a video from the scene I feel a sinking feeling in my stomach. It’s particularly telling how little pressure governments outside of the USA (such as Australia) are applying to Trump about this. To watch a government attack it’s own people is unbelievable to watch, and something I hope never to encounter.
I’ve been reading Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away. I am enjoying it, it’s fairly journalistic and interesting to see the tension of running a global apparel company whilst also claiming to love and care for the environment. Oh and have been loving the first few episodes of Industry, Season 4, worth watching if you haven’t seen it.
I was walking in the park this week on a warm Summer’s day and I saw a guy collecting 3 pizzas from an Uber Eats delivery driver. I’ve never seen Uber Eats delivered to a park. Maybe I’m not hanging in parks enough but this stuck with me.
“Ai slop is the junk mail of social media” - Me
—
Trends to keep track of this month:
I went to see Nettspend at Festival Hall. I filmed a couple of videos here. I noticed alot of the crowd (between 15-20 yrs old predominately) filming in landscape. I’ve seen a rise in non-vertical uploads on TikTok recently. An attempt at nostalgia perhaps but a reminder that being ‘perfectly optimised’ on social media is not necessary. It’s an ever changing landscape.
Choppelganger - “basically saying you're the ugly version of another person.”
Quotes by others:
“Politics is downstream from culture, we are driven by our underlying value preferences, and culture is how we interpret our value systems” Jason Falinski
“As fans of music, especially with the way algorithms work, we just make this first impression then we hold onto it like it’s so precious to us or we reject like it’s never going to mean anything to us. It’s so extreme one way or the other” - Zane Lowe whilst interviewing Fcukers
“Wilful perversity is rewarded (in advertising)” - Rory Sutherland
“East London Boy descending into existential crisis as he realises his entire personality is constructed around a set of cultural and consumer touchpoints he feels no real connection to.” Al Nash via Eugene Healey
Justin Bieber Live Streaming Debate [via Colin & Samir]
Justin Bieber has been live-streaming (influenced by Kai Cenat) himself hanging out, jamming, skating etc. The internet (and his team) clip the 8 hour content blocks and disperse these online. I personally think this is a smart way and low-cost way for JB to connect with his fans without having to leave his house and go on a tour. It’s a sustainable way to produce a lot of content without burning out. Obviously his built-in fame is important for this to work.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
FKA twigs x Gentle Monster
Amazing creative direction.
Industry Myha’la Promo
Incredible promo run for the HBO show Industry. I really appreciate with actors promote their project in new and exciting ways (eg. Marty Supreme). Myha’la (star of Industry) is native to TikTok so she gets it. The cast also made collab with the ‘Man In Finance’ girl.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Terrence O’Connor (Charli xcx Creative Director for BRAT) rare interview [via The Cutting Room Floor)
Demystifying (as best as he can) the role of a Creative Director lol
Lexa Gates promotes her album by walking on a treadmill for 10 hours
Love this concept, it feels artistic, meaningful, modern and captivating for social.
Hipster font-core brand Graza is launching a line of mayonnaise.
Keen to try this and also Molly Baz’s mayonnaise brand Ayoh!
Chaos Gardening is a trend where people spread native plant seeds in desolate and soil-ridden areas in cities. Applying seeds to the ground like parmesan is also funny.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
This Australian chef Toby Wilson is cooking meals from weird and whacky cook books
Below a Peanut Butter and Bacon Hot Dog from Fatty Vautin’s ‘Big BBQ Book’. This is a memorable and unique series. Makes me wonder how many whack cook books and receipes exist in the world.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Pigeons & Planes website returned designed by Portland’s FISK Studios
The written word is so back. I enjoyed reading P&P’s return article and explanation into relaunching their website 7 years after taking it down. “In 2019, we made the tough decision to shutter the Pigeons & Planes website. It was the wrong decision”
Jannik Sinner x Heinz (Unofficial)
Fun and could see this campaign actually happening. Heinz should jump on it.
Lier Archives “Turning Random Objects into a Design” series
Really engaging, and great way to show off his design abilities on TikTok
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
2016 music sounds so 2016 Charlie Puth
Another banger video from Charlie Puth
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Another banger take from Eugene Healey - The ‘analog’ narrative we keep hearing about is an inaccessible fantasy. Let’s be honest with ourselves.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Learn about the solar panel roof they’ve installed on the new Sydney Fish Market
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Burgers, beer and Beyonce’s designer: Inside the Australian Open’s transformation - Festivalisation of Aus Open
