SSUR has always based his inspiration on Sex, Politics and Protest. It is also derived from other forms of artistic influences whether it be street art, photography, digital art, conceptual art, dance and music. They all have a part to play when it comes to creating his "one of a kind" pieces.

The Pro Leather 76' SSUR shoe will be released in Australia on Monday August 30th, 2010. The 12 exclusive pairs will be available at the Hype DC store: Shop 25&26G, Sydney Central Plaza. Cnr Pitt St and Market St, Sydney 2000.

http://ssurempirestate.com/

Part of the Product(RED) campaign to fight HIV/AIDS the 12 exclusive pairs of Parra Cherry Chucks will be available at Hype DC: Cnr Pitt St and Market St, Sydney; on August 28th 2010.

You can learn more about Parra here.

In my eyes, Kunyu River refers to the area from Bali Village Bridge to Zizhu Bridge. It's the only way you can get from Gu-Lou East Street and Xin Jie Kou to my home. I feel extraordinarily calm when I cross this river. especially at night, the darkness and the light mis on these waters that have washed away so many tragic stories. Every time I drive past here, I can't help but checking to see if there is anything in the backseat. I'm not joking, I look everytime. I haven't done anything bad, but i'm scared we'll anger the ghosts!

It's quite pleasing to walk here in the daytime, so I walk as slowly as I can. Especially in the summer, the quiet river and the willows are so beautiful. If I ever compose a love song for Beijing, this place will be my first choice. Welcome to Bali Village Bridge, but take notice: No Fishing!

I often went to Hong Kong when I lived in Guangzhou, not for shopping but to walk and feel the energy of the streets. The Kubrick bookstore, next to Yau Ma Tei, started as a cinema, then they began to sell books, then posters, video and audio discs related to film, then local independent publications and crafts. Now they hold cultural events. using the bookstore to help the local creative community.

The Beijing branch of Kubrick opened at the end of last year. I'm curious to see how a store with such deep Hong Kong roots will blend in with Beijing. My friends and I have been hanging out here for a few months now and it has a lot in common with the original store. Wether it's the free movie screenings, film events, lovely selection of books and foreign magazines, or comfortable reading room, there's always a good reason to spend an afternoon there.

Xiao: 

It's easy to get a perking ticket here, but I have to come, because I spend at least half my time here in the practice studio at Hutong 6. There are two trees in the field. One is a date tree and the other one...is a date tree too. Almost every song by THE BIGGER BANG was written here. The Small field is filled with joy and beer bottles; I feel sorry that we've thrown so many cigarettes in the drain.

The landmark here is MAO, many of our bands performances have been here. There is no need to mention how important MAO is to everyone. South LUOGUO street is close but I've never been. Gu-Lou East is neither old nor new/ There are so many fashion stores on Gu-Lou East street but I have no interest in clothing. There are so many restaurants, none of which are very good, but I still eat there sometimes.

Madi:

For me, even though I haven't lived in Beijing too long, I spend most of my time around Gu-Lou. I want to avoid recommending it, but there is always something to eat and to find in the vintage stores there. As Xiao Gan says, maybe we don't love Gu-Lou East but we spend most of our time there. It's a miniature BJ.

Emilio's work is inspiredby his life experiences involving Mexico City, his familly and his friends. Ever since he can remember, Emilio has been drawing. "I think of my drawings like a memory that I am trying to expand and share," he says.

As in life, when Emilio makes a mistake in one of his drawings, it cannot ne erased--and so it stays. "In the end you can say whatever you want to your audience, but you will be able to fool yourself," Emilio explains. In this way, Emilio sees his drawings as a sort of battle between himself and the paper.

Converse has brought together three extraordinary musicians from different genres to form a unique collaboration known as Three Artists. One Song. The nucleus of this initiative is a brand new, all original track featuring Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and Kid Cudi. This is their first collaboration together, and it’s available for free download for a limited time here on converse.com.au

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Rostam Batmanglij is the multi-instrumentalist/vocalist in Vampire Weekend. The band's songwriter and producer, his eclectic contribution is key to the band's original sound.

Kid Cudi is a Brooklyn-based rapper from Cleveland whose debut single, "Day 'n' Nite", became an online favorite in 2008. His short film explores his life, and the influencesthat make him one of today's most pioneering artists.

Bethany Cosentino is a Los Angeles native who stayed briefly in Brooklyn, and Best Coast's music reflects a West Coast vibe mixed with an East Coast 60s girl group sound.

Nom de Guerre is a New York based creative collective that combines diverse influences from art, fashion and the city's various subcultures. They create clothes that are simple and conceptual, emphasising utilitarian basics and strong Army & Navy lines.

The Nom de Guerre shoe will be released in Australia on July 10th, 2010. The 10 exclusive pairs will be available at the Hype DC store: Shop 25&26G, Sydney Central Plaza. Cnr Pitt St and Market St, Sydney 2000.

http://www.nomdeguerre.net/

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in 1982. My father was a soldier and we came to Beijing. I first set my sights on being a football player. I got in touch with rock music when I was in middle school. I also liked design so I applied for art colleges. Then I started a band. After graduation I started working in the artworld and kept my hobbies. I'm an idealist.

What's your schedule like?

The alarm clock wakes me up, I take the subway, work, play guitar, draw, surf the Internet, eat something with my friends, go home, play guitar, read magazines, draw, watch movies, sleep. I have band practice twice a week. I have crazy thoughts all the time.

When did you start loving music and decide to start a band? What has been the most interesting or hardest experience?

I've liked music since I was a child but my music teacher broke my confidence. I got in touch with rock music and taught myself guitar in middle school. I had my first band "Ne Zha" close to when I graduated and later I started "Gar". the most interesting and also the hardest thing is the clash between the band members when our minds collide, the sparks, the novelty, the excitement, the unknown and the surprises. Then pushing to surpass myself before more surprises come and I am back in the unknown.

Zhan Pan in performance

Do you have any advice for kids who want to play music?

Just have fun.

What's your favorite musical style? Is there any musician who inspired you? Why?

I like and listen to many musical styles. But my favorite is still the music I heard when I was young. I remember the first cracked CDs I got, it seems like I was chosen to hear that music and I was deeply influenced by it.

You work as a magazine designer, you are an illustrator and you play in a band. How would you describe yourself?

I try to be "free" and I try to find a balance in my life according to my ability and status.

 Zhan Pan's design for self entertainment           The design he created for the band tee

Do you express the same things in your illustrations as in your music or are they two different messages?

There must be something similar. They both express my mind just in different mediums. I think for me music expresses it more directly because it includes melodies and singing, an expression of lyrics. It also has the interaction from band members, while painting is something more individual.

 Previous work by Zhan Pan. He can draw everythingno matter how small the space is.

For you, what is creativity?

Discovering essential connections between things and expressing them or showing them in some way.

What inspires you? People, things?

Just life and experiences, I think. Some person or event will impact my life, sometimes maybe only a little thing, so I continuously observe and experience the environment around me. Then I ask myself "Why?"

How do you feel about the city you live in and the kids here?

Because I live in this city, maybe what I see is a blur. I feel like there is always some kind of information or ideas that get thrown around and most people will follow them. But I don't know where it comes from. Beijing is a place that received outside information early. It is a cradle; an inclusive city, it has enough culture and history to nurture everything. But it is also a severe mother, it will punish you if you are out of line or too naughty. I like its mix of old and new, its chaos, I like that it's full of the unknown and the noisy. the people are what annoy me. But having no people is no good either, what a contradiction!

What is the most impulsive / crazy / abnormal thing you've ever done?

I stayed overnight in an old beacon tower in Simatai, on the old great wall, with two friends. We heard a lot of strange sounds, we don't know what they were.

What's your plan for the future?

I want to experiment with different kinds of rock music, keep practicing basic painting skills, designing, and go skating in Beihai before next spring.

Is there anything you want to do but haven't started yet?

Build the blocks high and beautiful. then knock them down before people come to see.

If there is an afterlife, what do you hope to be?

No idea, I want to be a better ME first.

Ana spends a lot of her time in fabric stores finding new materials to incorporate into the plush dolls she makes by hand. She then creates little worlds for them that she captures in stop-motion films. When asked about the colorful life she brings to inanimate objects, Ana says simply: "Making stuffed toys is what makes me happy."

Please share your story with us first?

I was born in Wuhan. I went to college in Guangzhou in 2001, I majored in French and always wanted to be a journalist. My senior year in college, I joined an indie visual magazine ‘Coldtea’ and started to take photos with a bunch of friends. In 2005, my friends and I established an online indie magazine, after 17, to promote female creators and turn the spotlight on girls growing-up.

While working on the magazine, I met Patrick Tsai, an American photographer living in Taipei. For two years I worked with him on a photo project called where we shot our lives. During that time I left Guangzhou for Tibet, Nepal, Xiamen, and Beijing. The project was selected to be in a fashion photography festival in 2008. 2009, I quit the media industry and travelled around Yunnan, India, and Japan making a personal photo collection and trying out some indie publications.

What is your everyday life like? What is a comfortable lifestyle for you?

I spend most of my time cooking, reading, writing, and taking photos. I think little sparks and changes in life are what make me comfortable.

When did you start to love photography?

I became interested in photography in 2005. Actually, when I was young I liked graphics and visuals too but I focused on writing at that time. Taking pictures was always just for fun but then I realized that it’s fascinating to be able to express myself in such a direct way. It’s totally different from writing.

Until now, these two means of expression are important to me and they complement each other. I like to use pictures to tell stories and capture moments beyond words.

Before I catch something under my lens, I am not even aware of it. All kinds of things in life shape my way of thinking and make me aware of the possibility of each moment. I try my best to record the pictures that are real and appealing to me. This realness is the way I face myself honestly, it is my training.

Many kids are interested in photography, what suggestions you could give them if they want to be professional?

If you want to be a professional photographer, you could start by assisting a photographer to learn. If you just like to shoot, then don’t doubt yourself, don’t hesitate, just use photography to see this world in your honest eyes.  

Who is your favorite photographer or artist? Why?

It always changes. I always focus on the young culture of photography. It has a real, natural, and humorous attitude.

How did you establish the ‘after 17’ magazine? What’s your initial idea?

The initial idea was actually from my friend ‘爱米’, we wanted to present an attitude of creative life, that was not restricted to the mainstream. I would say that the ongoing genuine, creative ideas and confusion in girls’ hearts make this happen.  My role is a producer, photographer, designer and editor.

What’s the difference between what you present in a magazine and in photos? What different meanings do they have to you?

What makes me excited about magazines is that I get to combine different people and stories and work together and introduce them to the audience. To bring out an attitude and point of view requires feedback and participation.

Photography is more personal. I prefer this because it is more comfortable and more about self-expression, it makes me reflect. But sometimes I have blinders on and I need other’s opinions, this is when doing magazines is interesting and rich for me. I like that they complement each other.

What does creativity mean to you?

A kind of trueness.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Life itself–what I see in life. I want to go out for a look, I want to know what’s happening in the world, my confusion, my ideas, what I find, all this is presented in my photos. They present the process of how I think.

You’ve been to a lot of cities and countries. Do you really love traveling? or is just an impulse?

Actually, I don’t have travel fever. From the moment I think about going somewhere I start to feel like staying here would be more comfortable. But once I am on the road the scenes and people outside drag me into situations that make me think. I should say that every journey happens for some reason, I rarely travel just because I want to. On the way I enjoy watching people living in different scenes of life. There are too many pieces in the journey to share, lately I’ve started to record my journey in words and photos. It’s all on my website, it’s the best reflection of me.

What’s your feeling about the city you live in and the kids here?

Everybody is fickle, but we all try to get rid of that feeling. This process makes me upset and happy. It just happens in this city.

What’s the craziest/most impulsive thing you’ve done?

Many times I’ve suddenly run to another city. The craziest story is when one night at midnight I suddenly wanted to go to Xiamen. I bought the ticket and when I was there, I called my friends from outside their bar and said ‘Hi, I want to see you now.’ Then, I just walked in.

What’s youth to you? What’s your way to record your youth?

Youth is what you know after you have been through it. And when you know about it, it has left you behind. The photo collection I just finish is called ‘Youth’, it collects my friends and theirs lives during 2005-2008. It’s a gift.

What’s your plan in the future?

I want to keep shooting this year and try to work with some interesting publications. Then I want to have a shop until I grow old.

If you have an afterlife, what would you want to be?

Still a human being, haha, but I would hope to be more free and easy.

Pacolli learned to draw in school--by drawing pictures of her childhood crush during class. She then started designing t-shirts and posters and selling them at parties she held at her appartment.

Now Pacolli sees her drawing as an art form. Inspired by her personal experiences, as well as music, movies, books, people talking and the personal stories she hears. These influences mix in her head in the moment that she starts to draw.

What do you do?

What's your story?

Wow, that's a big question. I came to Beijing around 2000, I joined Hang on the Box and TOOKOO. My day job is working for Music Radio. My experience basically is an atypical example of the rock movement in Beijing after 2000. I can't represent most people and I can't show all the happiness or angriness of rock.

Tell us about your day job? What is your routine?

Now I work for the MUSIC RADIO magazine department, it's not realistic to live off being in a band. In Beijing, there are so few bands that can live from what they earn at a performance. Usually, I go to work at 8am, get off at 6pm, do some exercise, write songs seceral times a week and have an occasional performance. I'm having fun and working at the same time.

What's your ideal lifestyle?

I am a little ambitious but also pretty easygoing. My life is perfect now besides having no money, haha.

Is THE BIGGER BANG your first band?

Of course not! Life is not complete without having played in several bands! My first band was in junior high school, like all idle kids, I skateboarded at that time. I remember there was a TV show about different sports, like car-racing and skateboarding all mixed with rock music. So much rock music from that time impressed me, I can still sing those songs now, it really opened the door to rock'n roll for me.

Have you had any interesting experiences in places you've performed?

Wow, that's a loaded question as well. I've performed in Beijing, Qingdao, Wuhan, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, New York, San Francisco, Berkeley, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Perth, Tokyo, Osaka and more. Performing is so fascinating, I always look forward to the next one. I love having eye contact with the audience, you win if you can stare at them for 5 whole seconds!

Are there any places that impress you? Cities that you like or hate the most?

I love San Francisco and Tokyo most. I love walking on Haight Ashbury in San Francisco, it's like walking the road of rock history. In Tokyo, I am totally weighed down by my credit card, the so-called 'overwhelming abundance of material wealth' There you can get the newest things and the oldest vintage things. I won't tell you the cities that I don't like, that is discrimination right? Who knows, I may have a chance to perform there again.

Are there any music festivals that you find impressive? Which festivals would you like to play in?

I've played the MIDI FEST, Strawberry, Modernsky, something in Japan, the Baybeat in singapore and a big festival in New York (I just can't remember the name, its on the tip of my tongue.) There are so many festivals I still want to join.

Who is your favorite band/musician? Why?

Different ones at different periods of my life. There are so many that represent my taste. There is no WHY to the music I love I just follow my heart.

Once in an interview, you said that you would not define the music genre of BIGGER BANG. Is there any particular music genre you'd rather play for yourself?

Actually, everyone will say that kind of crap, "I don't want to define my music or my style encompasses a mix of genres." It seems the media and music critics will decide your music genre for you. Frankly, for me, I want to try some MATH and SCI-SCORE, but it doesn't fit the BIGGER BANG. So, anyway, just enjoy our new songs.

Do you want to do any other creative things besides music?

I've started a DJ project and editing some MV pieces. All these are related to music definitely, at least for the last few years.

I also like to collect MV's and videos of underground bands, most of them are good, pretty interesting. Occasionally I host a party, invite people to watch them. It's called "DJ has no disease", open to everyone. It's a little show of my personal collection, usually just my friends and band members come, it happens like once a week in the summer.

Seems you like to cook as well? Do you have a signature dish?

Yes, I am good at cantonese cuisine. I like roast pork and fried shrimp. I would do anything for a good meal!

Let's talk about your collection? Is there anything you are proud of? Any fun stories?

I am greedy and don't want to abandon my stuff. So I have lots of collections: posters and souvenirs of foreign bands, skateboards, various musical instruments and effects, books and magazines. I am most proud of my synthesizer, the lights and wood are all customized, super fantastic, super luxury, of course it was super expensive. I spent my housing accumulation fund and used two credit cards to buy it!!! Then there is my organ. I bought it in Japan. It's an organ, can you imagine that?

What does creativity mean to you?

Must be new music, outdoor visual and sound. Creativity means I am the most special one, the one in 60000000000 (wow, help me count, I want to say 6 billion).

Where's the inspiration?

It is too random, too difficult to control. I will write something when I am very angry or very happy. After all, music is not a job where you have to follow a time schedule.

Can you balance work and music well? Is this annoying?

Asking for leave! This is the problem I have to face.

How do you feel about living in this city and the kids here?

I never thought I would stay in BJ for such a long time. Many friends came and left. recently I had a friend of ten years leave. I have quite a lot to say but it's too emotional. It's not my character.

What to say...if you love a person, send them to BJ. And vice versa. Am I villainous? I use to think about leaving but my whole life is here.

What's the craziest, most adventurous and unreliable thing you've ever done?

This is too embarrassing to tell! I was too young and too proud at the time. Tho who do bad things while drunk are irresponsible.
As time goes by...I almost see that love and life are written in the book, and my heart is still a little lazy about the life I have now. I've kind of become a post youth looser.

What's your future plan? What's the one thing you've always wanted to do but have yet to achieve?

Now, I don't want to break life's balance. Actually, I have thought many times about change. What can I say? I just keep walking, exploring and leaving it to lifes surprises.

If there is an afterlife, what do you want to be?

A whirling dervish, a true explorer, just keep on walking. But it all depends on money, you can't go anywhere without money.

With two of the three members also forming the band Black Drawing Chalks, the influence of these illustrators is very much based in the world of music. Drawing their influences from not only the world of Rock & Roll, but also Samba, theater, jazz, and the blues, their work shows eclectic nature of these influences. They restlessly desire to express themsleves graphically.

While in school, an assignment to create a poster for Monster Records sparked their interest in creating posters for the world of music was ignited. They have since created posters for the likes of Motorhead and the Datsuns.

What do you do?

What do you do? Comment, and let us know.

www.oliviabee.com

Schulze often sees his work as a form of acting, and his inspiration as a quest for freedom. He chooses his characters from daily interactions and explains, "The weird guy at the supermarket checkout can inspire me just as much as reading a good book. Creativity is an individual experience itself. The process is a personal answer to the environment we live in."

Between today and tomorrow, but always with fantastic dance floor hits, their set's energetic appeal is legendary beyond Berlin. Although they've only started out their career last year, the self proclaimed prettiest DJing duo in Berlin, Nadine and Sarah dream of having their own label, getting rich and furthermore, taking over the world.

What do you do?

What do you do? Comment, and let us know.

www.brunokurru.com

Creating coveted versions of Converse’s most recognizable styles, Hiruma has replicated the silhouette of the Chuck Taylor All Star, Jack Purcell and One Star shoes using old-world construction techniques. Each shoe features beautiful, supple leathers –all hand-stitched from upper and rand to insole. Hiruma gives each shoe leather soles that echo finely made dress shoes, yet with ink printed logos and trademark detail that give them a playful, comfortable feeling. Each shoe comes in natural shades of tan, off-white and black leather with hand cut logos and detailing for the shoes uppers. The attention to detail includes elegant hand-stitched leather rands and toe bumpers and charming touches such as a hand-cut star cut out gracing the ends of each shoe’s leather laces. The sak for Converse collection includes the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star shoe available now in black or off-white high-top versions; the Jack Purcell shoe in an off-white oxford version and the One Star 1974 in a black oxford version available mid year.

What do you do?

http://mentalgassi.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/tvvintage

What do you do?

http://suppaduppa.com/eles.php?id=223

Even educated fleas do it,

Let's do it, let's fall in love.

www.felixsmachines.com

This coming Saturday the 13^th of February, limited copies of the new Thrasher DVD presented by CONS, titled Prevent This Tragedy, will be available free at selected Australian CONS retailers. The DVD features parts from Emmanuel Guzman, Nick Trapasso, Andrew Allen, Dave Gravette, Raymond Molinar, Ethan Fowler, Devin Appelo, and Sammy Baca.

Go here to see Prevent This Tragedy previews online at Thrasher Magazine.

Or click here to view the limited edition CONS x Thrasher Prevent This Tragedy product line, video extras, photos and more.

Pick up a copy of the DVD on Saturday 13^th of February from one of these authorized CONS retailers:

VICTORIA

Fast Times, Melbourne

Fast Times, Frankston

Fast Times, Highpoint SC

Street Machine, Prahran

Hemley Skateboards, Fitzroy

Geelong Skateshop, Geelong

NEW SOUTH WALES

99 Degrees, Sydney

            Lowdown, Cronulla

            50-50 Skate, Kotara   

QUEENSLAND

            Skatebiz, Brisbane

Fuel, Bulimba

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

            Daily Grind, Adelaide

            MV2, Christies Beach

            Edukated, Adelaide

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Beyond Skate, Perth

Momentum, Fremantle