BINGELY STREAMING
THE GODMOTHER
Novel + iHeart Radio
Spotify
We love a good kingpin podcast and in The Godmother, we are transported to the 1930s where Lucky Luciano is one of the most notorious mobsters of his time. He was taken down by a rookie prosecutor. Eunice Carter was one of the first Black women ever to be a prosecutor in America.
With her world and office being centered in the Harlem Renaissance, she navigates the world which is a blend of corruption that is rampant in downtown Manhattan politics along with the nuances of a racial and sexist pre-Civil Rights American social structure and society.
As a pioneer in what would be known as the “trial of the century” that has been previously lost to history.
In this podcast we learn how Eunice, a writer, social worker, mother, teacher, sister, socialite, political candidate, community organizer and previously known pioneer made her mark in this case as well as a far reaching legacy, search for justice and an undeterred ambition.
EXPATS
Amazon Original
Prime Video
In the limited series Expats, we are introduced to those who have taken residency in Hong Kong. On the surface, we see successful men and women at work, home, and at play. We watch as they engage in their surroundings and even enjoy the aesthetics of their wardrobe, homes, and the way they relax!
But throughout the episodes, we see that the goals and ambitions of the women in a multifaceted group are challenged by a series of events that bind as well as fragment them.
This complex web takes place between two friends with increased tension and a young woman who was initially there to assist their lives while becoming a catalyst to a chain of events that will affect all their lives as well as those that are related to them!
What is the balance between blame and accountability and where does forgiveness come into play - at what cost?
Although we hope that there will be a second season of this immersive series, you can watch all episodes in the perfect binge now!
UNTOLD: THE RETREAT
Financial Times
Apple
From the special investigations team at the Financial Times, Untold is a new podcast that we can't wait to see future stories. In Untold: The Retreat, host Madison Marriage looks at the Goenka network which promotes a form of intensive meditation known as Vipassana. Numerous people go on these retreats every year; however, there are those that attend and suffer while there as well as when they have returned. Some have described feeling terror or a break with reality that makes it difficult for them to cope and ultimately, they are no longer the people they were prior to going to the retreat. The investigative team follows the leads to see what is going on in this wellness space.
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY BOOKS in mag.
Featured
BINGELY STREAMING
MURDER 101
KT Studios + iHeart Radio
Spotify
Long time readers of Athleisure Mag know that we love a true crime genre podcasts! In Murder 101, we find out about a local serial killer in a small Tennessee town who was caught by an interesting group of investigators, a group of high school students! Led by their teacher Alex Campbell, during one semester the class was able to connect and identify a 30 year old mystery. Their efforts led to connecting the killer to at least 6 brutal murders.
Interestingly enough, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigators have publicly agreed on their theory but charges have yet to be filed against the murderer.
Some members of this class have already graduated, they continue to work alongside current high school students so that they can complete this assignment.
GRISELDA
Netflix Originals
Netflix
Continuing along with our enjoyment of true crime, we are always interested in hearing about the life and time of crime bosses. Generally, these names include Pablo Escobar, Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and even the Kray twins - Ronnie and Reggie to name a few. But women have also navigated this world. Griselda tells the story of Griselda Blanco, The Godmother of Cocaine of Miami's drug empire. Inspired by real events, we watch the jounrey of her life in Medellin, Columbia to being a force in Miami.
This mini series has Sofia Vergara (Machete Kills, Modern Family, America's Got Talent) playing the notorious Columbian drug lord. We watch as she enters into the drug business to support her family and as she gets deeper into this industry, we see what happens when greed and ruthlessness begin to take hold of those involved.
We also see how her downfall comes about as she comes up against betrayal and paranoia of the very ones that work for her.
We see how she navigates being arrested and being separated from her children. Her life becomes even more complicated when a staged kidnapping, arrests and deception are thrown into the mix. Through it all, her right hand Rivi (Martin Rodriguez) is a pivotal person in her enterprise. Karol G (WATATI, Mi Cama, TQC) also makes her acting debut as one of Griselda's trusted confidants.
RIPPLE
Western Sound + APM Studios
Apple
We've been enjoying a new investigative documentary style podcast known as Ripple. They aim to focus on major events that we know about and analyzing the long-term impact that continue to go unnoticed for years or even decades.
In their inaugural season, they look at the largest oil spill in American history from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil on the Gulf Coast.
At the time, we heard about the herculean response effort that made shorelines safe and avoided a worst case scenario. Was that really the whole picture?
The investigators visit the coastal residents to see how they are still impacted more than a decade later.
Read the JAN ISSUE #97 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.
Featured
WEEKEND VIBES ONLY EDITORIAL
This month, our editorial takes us to a hotel group that has been our favorites as we have stayed at their properties in Seattle, DC, and Philadelphia. In addition, we have gone to their hotels here to attend a number of functions there from launches, editor events, and more. Kimpton Hotels are always a great place to go to as the vibe always feels so comfortable and has a boutique essence to it. When you stay as a guest, you can enjoy their complimentary wine hours that take place in their lobby, they have yoga mats in their rooms, and they always have great restaurants on their properties as well.
Kimpton Hotel Eventi has always been a lot of fun whether we're attending a preview or meeting up with friends to grab a quick bite which turns into an epic night out! Because we've frequented it so much, for this month's editorial, we thought it would be perfect to take our readers inside one of their suites known as Veranda which has a large L shaped balcony, a living/sitting room, large bedroom, and 2 bathrooms. Whether you're having a weekend in with friends, enjoying it with your significant other, planning a wedding event, or anything of that nature - this is a great suite to make memories!
Our shoot looks at our models enjoying a weekend in by taking in the city and taking a moment for themselves. They're rocking a new line that we excited to share that is created by us known as ATHLEISUREVERSE! With pieces that are soft, various colors, and styles - there is something for everyone! In addition, this shoot includes a number of our favorite accessories that you should pair with your favorite looks as well as some treats that we've been fans of from our issues! Following the credits, you'll also find out more about Kimpton Hotel Eventi and why this should be a place that you stay at when you're visiting NY for vacation, business or as a staycation! Not only do they share more information about the property, but they also gave us insight on how you can get the most out of the neighborhood when you're staying here as well!
WEEKEND VIBES ONLY | CREDITS
LOOK I PG 38 | Emma Young - ATHLEISUREVERSE Zipped White Hoodie, Flowy Black Jersey Muscle T with Rolled Sleeve, White/Black Tipped Shorts | Tim Park - ATHLEISUREVERSE Classic Fleece Hooded Black Sweat Set Jogger | WHOOP 4.0 Health and Fitness Tracker | APPLE Watch |
LOOK II PG 40-49 (additional images in this photoset included here that are not in the JUN ISSUE #90) | Emma Young - ATHLEISUREVERSE Cropped Fleece Hoodie Off-White Sweat Set Short | BEIS The Sport Pack | CARRERA Superchampion | CARMEN SOL Red Aviator Sunglasses | Tim Park - ATHLEISUREVERSE Jersey White Muscle T, Fleece Off-White Jogger | CARRERA 302/S | APPLE Watch | DRINK SIMPLE Raspberry Lemon Sparkling Maple Water | JAMBAR Organic Energy Bars | SOUNDCORE Motion+ | BALA Bala Bangles |
LOOK III PG 53-57 (additional image in this photoset included here that are not in the JUN ISSUE #90) | Emma Young - ATHLEISUREVERSE Jersey Hooded Olive Track Short Set | CARRERA 3006/S | SPRAYGROUND Lasers Blazin' Backpack Sling | Tim Park - ATHLEISUREVERSE Olive Bomber, Fleece Cream Short | CARRERA Superchampion | WHOOP 4.0 Health and Fitness Tracker | APPLE Watch | NIKE Air Jordan 1 Retro |
LOOK IV PG 58-63 (additional images in this photoset included here that are not in the JUN ISSUE #90) | Emma Young - ATHLEISUREVERSE - Classic Fleece Hooded Hot Pink Sweat Set Jogger | CARMEN SOL Racquel Jelly Bucket Hat in Fuschia, Lisa Small Crossbody Bag in Fuschia + Tonino Wedge | CARRERA Flaglab 14 | Tim Park - ATHLEISUREVERSE Classic Fleece Hooded Neon Lime Sweat Set Jogger | CARMEN SOL Racquel Jelly Bucket Hat in White | CARRERA Flaglab 14 | NIKE Air Jordan 1 Retro |
LOOK V PG 64 | Emma Young - ATHLEISUREVERSE Cropped Fleece Hooded Peach Sweat Set Jogger | Tim Park - ATHLEISUREVERSE Classic Fleece Hooded Peach Sweat Set Jogger | DRINK SIMPLE Raspberry Lemon Sparkling Maple Water |
PHOTOGRAPHY | Paul Farkas
STYLIST | Kimmie Smith
MODELS | Tim Park/Prestigious Models + Emma Young
Now that you have seen a number of the features of Kimpton Hotel Eventi's Veranda Suite which is quite spacious! We wanted to know more about the property as well as the neighborhood so that you can plan accordingly for your next visit!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Kimpton Hotel Eventi open?
KIMPTON EVENTI HOTEL: Kimpton Hotel Eventi debuted in 2010.
AM: Before we talk about Eventi specifically, we have had the pleasure to stay at several Kimpton hotels as well as to attend events that are held there, including this property. For those that aren't familiar with Kimpton Hotels, can you tell us about what a guest can expect when they are staying at these properties in general?
KHE: The Kimpton brand is known for its unique, design-driven properties with warm, genuine service. Our hotels have exciting restaurants and aim to create moments of connection with guests.
AM: Tell us about the art at Eventi?
KHE: Kimpton Hotel Eventi features a variety of works sourced and installed under the creative direction of Reunion Goods & Services by Art Consultant Kyle DeWoody, Associate Art Consultant Laura DVorkin, and design team We Came in Peace. Extending from the hotel's original design rich in texture and depth with a variety of fine art pieces from renowned artist Barbara Nessim, the new collection introduces a mix of both established, younger artists and emerging artists with visibly promising talents.
Moving beyond the traditional decorative intention, this collection attempts far more conceptual approach by showcasing edgy and thought-provoking works including Kwangho Lee's hanging light installation made entirely out of electrical wire, and a Tony Matelli mirror - which is made to look dusty through a technique using layers of urethane. The dynamic collection also features stunning works by artists including Lorna Simpson, Alex Katz, and Ernesto Leal that flow throughout the lobby and fill spaces within The Vine and L'Amico.
AM: Our editorial shoot took place at the Eventi which is in Chelsea. What can you tell us about the property in general and how it connects to the neighborhood?
KHE: Kimpton Hotel Eventi’s location in the heart of Chelsea – on 6th Avenue between 29th St. and 30th St. – places guests conveniently in the midst from some of the city’s most prominent art galleries, boutiques, nightclubs and restaurants. Being located near Chelsea Market and the High Line allows easy access to popular attractions, and travelers are also within a few blocks of the nearby NoMad and Flatiron neighborhoods and landmarks including Times Square and the Empire State Building.
AM: Tell us about the 3 restaurants, L’Amico, The Vine, and Skirt Steak that are at Eventi which can be enjoyed by those on vacation, staycations or just hanging out in the neighborhood.
KHE: The three on-site restaurants, all helmed by Chef Laurent Tourondel, offer visitors a variety of dining experiences. L’Amico serves Italian-influenced American cuisine inspired by the simplicity of a countryside stroll and a wood-fired meal; The Vine’s welcoming environment complements locally sourced, vegetable-centric French dishes; and Skirt Steak harkens back to old-school steakhouses, serving only grilled skirt steak (or a cauliflower steak), salad and fries, followed by a rolling dessert cart.
AM: We like that regardless of the Kimpton properties that you’re staying at, hotel guests can enjoy complimentary morning coffee and tea to start your day as well as the hosted evening wine hour that’s in the Lobby Living Room. Can you tell us about this and why these have been an amenity for guests?
KHE: We aim to provide opportunities for connection, and this often happens over food and drinks. Beyond giving guests a morning or evening beverage, we’re creating space where visitors can relax, get to know one another and build a sense of community. Our wine hour, a core part of our programming, was started by Bill Kimpton and is practiced at every Kimpton property worldwide.
AM: We enjoyed having our shoot in one of your suites. For guests that are staying at the hotel, what guestrooms and suites are available?
KHE: Our guestrooms range from standard King and Queen/Queen rooms to our specialty suites featuring balconies, Jacuzzi tubs or pool tables. Each room in the hotel offers a spacious respite amid the city, floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the cityscapes, and design emphasizing brightness and clean lines.
AM: What amenities are offered in these rooms?
KHE: All guests receive complimentary morning coffee and tea and a hosted evening wine hour. In addition, there is a yoga mat in every room, mini-bar service, valet laundry service, and access to public bikes to explore the city.
AM: For those looking to maintain their fitness routines, how can they do so at Eventi?
KHE: In addition to our onsite 1,000 square foot 24-hour fitness center that includes Peloton bikes and other workout equipment, we also offer custom designed PUBLIC bikes and yoga mats in every room, free of charge.
AM: For those traveling with their four-legged friends, tell us how this hotel is pet-friendly as well as Wag! Premium.
KHE: Kimpton Hotel Eventi welcomes dogs and provides them with in-room water bowls, pet beds and courtesy bags for walks. We don’t charge a deposit or cleaning fee for bringing in dogs, and have no size or weight restrictions, nor a limit on the number of pets allowed. Our concierge keeps a list of pet-friendly restaurants, parks and groomers as well.
Guests receive complimentary access to Wag! Premium, meaning they receive 10% off of services, no booking fees, and round-the-clock access to licensed veterinary professionals. If a walk is arranged, travelers can leave a key at the front desk to be handed over to the dog walker upon their arrival.
AM: In addition to complimentary Wi-Fi, you keep guests connected with access to Press Reader (which Athleisure Mag is on this platform), are there other digital amenities that you offer?
KHE: Press Reader provides access to a vast library of local, regional and national newspapers and magazines, allowing guests to keep up with the news during their stay. Each guestroom also includes a Crave tablet that guests can use to set wake up calls, request housekeeping items, get information about local attractions, use as a TV control and channel guide and more. All TVs include Chromecast, allowing guests to stream from their personal devices.
AM: Tell us about the Kimpton Library.
KHE: The Kimpton Library allows guests to borrow from a curated collection of books on property, so they can pack light and still enjoy some of the most popular literary titles.
AM: For those that may be getting in a bit of work whether they’re there for business or simply need to do a few things, what is available at your business center?
KHE: We do not have a formal business center, but our team is happy to assist with small printing requests. Our concierge can also guide guests to nearby storefronts and libraries with extensive offerings.
AM: Tell us about the Public Bikes that are available.
KHE: Our PUBLIC bikes are custom-made. Guests are invited to take them on a spin at leisure and can use our Manhattan Waterfront Greenway map as a guide.
AM: NYC is always great to visit regardless of the time of year; however, the summer is always a lot of fun. What packages are you offering for those that are looking to book?
KHE: This month we are bringing the fictional world to life with a new Dream Blades offering. Taking inspiration from retro neon sportswear and summers in Malibu, we are launching a limited-time complimentary roller blade lending program for hotel guests looking for a fun outdoor activity. Hotel guests will be gifted neon retro skating accessories, including candy-colored sun visors, sweatbands and fanny packs, as well as the option to rent rollerblades.
We also have our Celebrate Summer offer, allowing travelers to make the most of their time to the city by enjoying a picnic in the park or taking surf lessons at one of the city’s beaches.
AM: For residents who are looking to enjoy a staycation, why should they book at Eventi?
KHE: So often, New Yorkers forget to be tourists in their own city. Kimpton Hotel Eventi is located in a central spot allowing guests to take in some of the city’s most popular attractions, whether they’re visiting for the first time or the twentieth. Our rooms also offer a peaceful escape above the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, making it a great spot to stay in the city while getting spot to stay in the city while getting out of a mundane routine.
AM: The hotel’s location is in the heart of several neighborhoods that are a must visit!
Although the hotel is great for those that may really want to stay in, there are a number of things to do outside of it!
For the solo traveler: where should they grab a bite for people watching, where should they shop, and what's an attraction/gallery/park they they should visit?
KHE: L’Amico on-property is the perfect place for a solo traveler to sit at the bar and people watch the world around them. We are centrally located, close to the shops in Chelsea, Flatiron District, and Herald Square areas. We are minutes away from Broadway and the theater district - perfect for a solo traveler to take in a show.
AM: Our shoot focuses on our models enjoying a getaway so for those booking their girl’s trips whether a staycation or traveling to the city: where should they go out for brunch, where should they go for a spa session, and where should they go for a bit of nightlife?
KHE: La Pecora Bianca and Oscar Wilde offer great brunches nearby. We are located near Juvenex Spa, a day spa on West 32nd known for their Korean-style Salt Glow Scrub. The Vine has a great wine and cocktail list for guests.
AM: For the business traveler who will be with a group of their colleagues: where should they go for a drink to decompress after a day of sessions, what’s a great spot for sightseeing and to take in the city, and what’s a great place for a group exercise?
KHE: The Vine’s cocktails are expertly curated and perfect to decompress after a long day. We’re in the heart of Manhattan, blocks from the Empire State Building, Chelsea Market, The High Line, Times Square and more. All are great for sightseers. We are located minutes away from a variety of boutique fitness studios from yoga to boxing, and more.
AM: For those that are booking Sales Meetings, conferences, editor events, etc. Why is Eventi a great place to host this?
KHE: Our meeting spaces are spacious and clean, and meeting attendees get all of the perks of our central location: great for those living in the city or anyone visiting for the day or overnight. These spaces are also filled with natural light, fitted with large screens, and our catering offerings are restaurant quality courtesy of Laurent Tourondel. Our caring staff, many of whom have been with the hotel for years, take wonderful care of our meetings guests.
AM: Are there events that Eventi participates in such as Pride, Summer Solstice, or NYC specific initiatives to support the community/neighborhood?
KHE: We just hosted a special Pride wine hour in collaboration with Absolut, benefiting the Trevor Project. The hotel often leans into major events to tie the guest experience into major happenings in the city.
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KIMPTON EVENTI HOTEL VERANDA SUITE
Read the JUN ISSUE #90 of Athleisure Mag and see WEEKEND VIBES ONLY Editorial in mag.
Featured
WELCOME HOME!
We love attending music festivals and here in NYC, Govenors Ball kicks off our summer season! This 3-day festival has a number of the hottest artists across 3 stages and a number of genres! Over the past few years, we've attended this event on Governors Island, Randall's Island, and Citi Field. This year, it settles into its new home in its 12th year at Flushing Meadow Corona Park in Queens from June 9th - 11th! This year's acts include Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Diplo, Kendrick Lamar, SOFI TUKKER, and Kim Petras to name a few! Over the 3 days, people can celebrate their favorite artists, have Instagram-worthy pictures, enjoy fabulous food and beverages and more!
We caught up Tom Russell, Co-Founder and Partner of Founders Entertainment who puts on Gov Ball from his vision of creating a music festival that also honors the spirit and diversity of NY! We wanted to find out how Tom got into the music festival industry, his passion for music, how Gov Ball was created, and what first-timers and veterans can expect when they come to the show this year! We delve into partnerships and the future of this festival. Make sure you read next month's JUN ISSUE #90 which will have our recap of this 3 days of music!
ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into Governors Ball, how did you get into the business of music festivals?
TOM RUSSELL: I grew up in NYC and was obsessed with music from a young age and I was going to concerts at a young age starting in middle school. I got really into punk rock going to concerts on St. Marks Place. As I got older, I went to high school, got really into jam bands, went to New Orleans for college and got really into funk music and world music and all of that of course Hip-Hop since I was young.
I went to a festival called Bonnaroo and had the time of my life and I had the best time ever! I said to myself after that weekend, “I need to work in music festivals." This was my passion. I was living in New Orleans going to Tulane and I discovered that the company that did Bonnaroo was based in New Orleans. So, I wrote them an email, wrote them another email, and another one and they finally wrote me back.
I somehow managed to wiggle my way into there and get an internship. I did it for a semester and then they offered me another internship and then Hurricane Katrina happened and they evacuated their offices to NYC which is where I was born and raised. I was in NYC for that semester as well. They offered me a full-time job and I had to make a decision at that time. Did I want to go back to college, or did I want to take a job with the company that I wanted to do more than anything? I decided to drop out of school, drop out of college with 1 semester to go, and take a job with Superfly. I worked with them for 6 years until I hit my ceiling at Superfly, and I decided that it was time for me to leave to pursue my long life goal of bringing my hometown and beloved city a music festival that they could call its own.
At that time, you had Lollapalooza in Chicago, Austin City Limits in Austin, Outside Lands in San Francisco, but there was no cultural institution in NY and I felt that that was just wrong and it didn’t make sense to me. So I left Superfly to start Gov Ball with a couple of friends of mine. It was good timing and we really hit the nail on the head with our programming and we really tapped into this growing festival culture and this demand for really good live music in NYC. It was kind of off to the races from there!
AM: I love that and that is such a great story!
What I love about Governors Ball is that you have different types of genres that are playing in the same space across 3 different stages. You can obviously see artists that you enjoy that you're already fans of as well as other genres and artists that you weren't familiar with and you always leave adding more to your playlist after going which I think is really cool.
TR: Well that was a huge thing for us. We all looked at our Spotify, Apple playlist, iTunes what have you and we saw that we weren’t just listening to Hip-Hop, rock, or pop, we were listening to everything and it was important to us to put together lineups that had artists that we loved and that we knew were amazing live musicians, but also we had something for everybody. People just have tons of different tastes. We carry that on to this day where we’ll have an EDM headliner, a Hip-Hop headliner, and we’ll have a pop headliner, and everything in between. I think that it just speaks to the variety of tastes that not just music lovers have, but also New Yorkers because it’s such a diverse city.
AM: Absolutely.
What is your process like when you’re sketching out a year ahead or whatever in terms of the different types of artists that you’re bringing in?
TR: So we’re always looking for the biggest and the best. We certainly know what bands have new records coming out. We certainly know what bands have a desire to tour around the Gov Ball time. We know what bands we would love to have, but they’re definitely not touring and we kind of go for all of it and see what sticks. We start out with the headliners and there are artists that we have made offers to every single year in the hopes that it will pique their interests and sometimes we just throw something crazy out there and they come back to us and say yes. Other times, it goes nowhere and we just fall back on artists that really want to play the festival and are releasing a record around that time of year. But for us, it’s important to have the biggest and best things. Because one of the beautiful things about NYC is that New Yorkers have access to the best of everything. We have access to the best food, the best music, the best parks, and there’s so much to do, that it's essential for us to put together a lineup that is the best and that people just can’t say no to because there are so many other things to do in this city. We have to stand out. So, it’s always, how do we put together the biggest and best lineup that will get people to have a double take and say, fuck, there’s no way that I am missing that.
AM: Well this year, it’s going to be at Flushing Meadows, Corona Park. What is the thought process behind finding the ideal space because it is 3 massive stages, plus all of these other activations that are also on-site?
TR: I would say that for any great music festival, the venue is almost as important as the artist. It really defines the vibe of the overall event and for Gov Ball over the years, we’ve struggled to be honest. We’ve moved. We started out as a 1-day festival on Governors Island, we moved to Randall’s Island where we grew to a 3 day festival, and we moved over to Citi Field coming out of the pandemic. But we never really had a large greenspace venue that is iconic and lent itself well to live events and that led us to Flushing Meadows at Corona Park. A park that was built and designed for events many many decades ago. It’s easily accessible by subway and LIRR. It is full of iconic structures, museums, and tons of trees. It’s such a unique green space. We’re so excited for this year and for our fans to see it because the festival will take on a whole new life and a whole new vibe and one that we have really wanted to have since our start. You look at Lollapalooza, they’re in Grant Park. Austin City Limits is in Zilker Metropolitan Park. With Gov Ball, we haven’t had that yet. Flushing Meadows is truly an incredible and special place that we just can’t wait to bring it alive!
AM: I’m excited and looking forward to it!
Food is always a huge component of music festivals as well and you guys have incredible vendors such as our favorites: The Halal Guys, and Taqueria Diana as well as food partnerships by bringing in the Queens Night Market. Why was this important to have such a diverse series of foods?
TR: So for us, we wanted to have the best of everything! The best music lineup and of course, the best food. People need to be able to eat and drink and to listen to great music. With us being in Queens, we couldn’t not think of the Queens Night Market which is such an institution. It has such an amazing collection of vendors from all over the world. We reached out to John Wang, founder of Queens Night Market and he’s so brilliant and what he created there and it’s so special. So we said, “look, we’re coming to Flushing Meadows and you’ve been there for so long and we have created this amazing amazing event, we would love for you to be able to help us curate some vendors that really speak to Queens and speak to what you have built and to help us give more variety to what we are offering.” He was kind enough to make a number of introductions and help us to feature food that will really be additive to the festival and to get people super super excited to have food from around the world. From Mao's Bao to Twisted Potato, La Brasa for those folks that go to Queens Night Market like myself, it’s really going to be great. So they’re going to go from seeing one amazing act to having an amazing meal, to seeing another amazing act to having another amazing meal. What do people want in life? Good food, good music, and good drink. That’s all that you need.
AM: It’s a full experiential opportunity to have all of these things together. What are some things that are being added to this year’s event that may be different from last year? For those who go every year or may have missed a few, what can they expect?
TR: I think that the biggest thing this year is our new venue. I mean, this is going to be a Gov Ball experience that’s unlike any other because it's a brand new site which is full of lush trees and iconic elements like the Unisphere. How we’re bringing the park to life with lighting and décor and art installations. What we’re doing to enhance the trees, it’s really going to be super duper special and for those folks that have been to Gov Ball once, twice, 5 times or 10, they truly have no idea what they are in store for because this venue is a whole new ballgame and it’s so exciting. We just can’t wait for people to be able to see it and to experience what Gov Ball has wanted to be since it’s iteration.
AM: In addition to all of the things that take place on Gov Ball’s festival site, it’s great that you also have After Dark. We love the idea of people being able to continue the party and to see a number of the artists that are performing at other venues around the city and to expand your footprint. Why is this an element that you love including with Governors Ball?
TR: Well look, the festival ends at 10pm because the NYC Parks tell us we have to end at 10pm and I don’t want to go to bed at 10pm! It’s way too early, it’s summertime in the city on a Fri., Sat., and Sun. night. So we reach out to the artists that are playing the festival and we tell them that we want to work with them some more, feature them in an After Dark show, keep the party going and we know the fans will like it. So we have events with Saba, Metro Boomin’, SOFI TUKKER, and tons more. So, for us, it’s giving the people the opportunity to keep the party going. We’re predominantly a NY festival because most if the people going are from NYC and the tri-state area. But there are tons of people that come in from around the country and around the world. So we want to give people the opportunity to see the festival at the park, but also to experience these great venues in Manhattan and in Brooklyn and elsewhere.
AM: That’s smart!
TR: Yeah. We just want to be able to have something to fill out there whole weekend.
AM: For those that won’t be able to attend the festival themselves, is there a way that they would be able to listen to the lineup whether you partnered with a streaming platform or anything else like that?
TR: So we aren’t livestreaming the event this year. If you want to get a take on this year’s music, you can hop onto Spotify and look at our official playlist. But that’s what we have in store for this year and I can’t say enough about this venue and what we are doing there. For those folks that are on the fence for going this year, I can’t sell it enough. It’s going to be super special and super new and Gov Ball unlike any other.
AM: You also have an entire philanthropic component to Gov Ball that involves the community which is amazing. Can you tell us more about that and how you’re supporting these particular initiatives?
TR: Since we started the festival, we’ve always wanted to give back to the local community. When we were in Randall’s Island for years in East Harlem, it was important for us to work with local East Harlem institutions because we were impacting that community the most. The flow traffic from the festival was going right through the East Harlem neighborhood. We started to build these relationships with local non-profit partners.
When we moved over to Queens, we brought that same goal in mind. This year, working with super local organizations such as Chhaya and ECRC (Elmhurst/Corona Recovery Collective) we’re giving them the opportunity to expose their amazing causes to a brand new audience and we’re also giving our audience an opportunity to work towards tickets to the festival by volunteering at those organizations. So for a few hours of work and volunteering, you can get a Gov Ball ticket and we’re fundraising for these organizations. These are super small and local that truly need exposure. They truly need funding so for us to be able to give back to them, it’s a really important initiative of ours. Over the years, we have worked with really large organizations too such as Everytown and Planned Parenthood and we’ll continue to work with those bigger organizations, but it is always important for us to be hyperlocal and to help these smaller organizations that have these great causes who have less awareness and to give them a means to benefit.
AM: Just looking at the future, do you ever see Gov Ball to be the same as a Lollapalooza, an EDC or a Tomorrowland that pops up in other cities around the world? Do you ever think that that would be a journey that Gov Ball will take at some point?
TR: I don’t. I think that Gov Ball is NYC born and bread. I think that the ethos of the event is NYC, we feature NYC artists, it’s NYC food vendors, NYC graffiti artists, NYC contractors and vendors and non-profits. The whole vibe of the event is NYC and we don’t really have the desire to stray from that. I think that the NYC works in NYC. I don’t think that you could plop that down anywhere else and we just want to continue to be able to make Gov Ball the best that it can be and now with us at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. I think this is only the beginning and we’re just super excited to go down this path of this incredible new home and new venue that we’re bringing to life and to just continue to bring NYC the very best in lineups whether it’s food, music, or what have you that we can!
IG @govballnyc
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 100 Charles Reagan | PG 102 Aaron Ricketts | PG 105 Roger Ho | PG 106 Carter Khowe | PG 109 Downs |
Read the MAY ISSUE #89 of Athleisure Mag and read Welcome Home! in mag.
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9LIST STORI3S | JOHN ROSS III
Read the OCT ISSUE#70 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | John Ross III in mag.
9LIST ROUTIN3S | BAR MALIK
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9LIST ROUTIN3S | CATT SADLER
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9LIST STORI3S | KELLEY O'HARA
GOOD VIBES ONLY WITH SOFI TUKKER
This month's cover story features 2 X GRAMMY-nominated musical duo that we have been a fan of for awhile now. SOFITUKKER's music can be heard in some of your favorite Apple commercials, TV shows and even when you're hopping on your Peleton. This group is known for their jungle pop vibes and continuing to expand their footprint in the world through their creativity. We talked with them about how they began working with one another, how they got into the industry, their body of work and what they have been doing as they have navigated this time of quarantine.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to becoming the powerhouse duo that you are, when did you fall in love with just music in general?
TUCKER HALPERN: I have always been in love with music. I played the drums and I was in garage bands growing up. But it al-ways took a backseat to basketball. That was my whole life for such a long time until I was like 20 – 22. For me, I didn’t really fall in love until the way that I am today until I got sick in college. That’s when I started turning my attention to something else. I really just fell in love with dance music and house music and stuff.
SOPHIE HAWLEY-WELD: I can’t really point to a specific period in time where I fell in love with music. It’s always been something that I have enjoyed listening to and I have always been dancing. I would always dance and be in musical theater as a kid. I started writing as a means of music therapy actually in middle school. I would play the guitar and I would write about my feelings. I found it so therapeutic to honestly just write about my experiences as opposed to thinking about it. It was my primary way of getting through my angst.
I was really into jazz and I took jazz singing lessons. I started to realize that I liked Brazilian jazz more than any other kind of jazz. I started taking Portuguese and I said, “hey, if I love this music so much, I should probably start taking lessons in it."So I really started loving the music and moved to Brazil for a bit and I just kept it going. I think it’s a long story but music is just such an experience in the way that you fall in love with it.
AM: We’re big fans of jazz music in our team and our co-founder’s great uncle was Joe Henderson, tenor saxophonist.
SHW: Cool!
AM: We love bossa nova as a form as well, what is it about this genre of music that pulls you in?
SHW: I just find it so intimate and sexy and soothing. I think that the language is perfect for jazz and singing. I think that it’s very vowel-y. I think it’s perfect and when you’re listening to it, the singers are whispering into the microphone.
AM: Pretty much.
SHW: Yeah and I just really enjoy that whole vibe.
AM: How did you guys meet one another and was the moment when you realized that you wanted to work together and that you had those traits that would be really beneficial together?
TH: Well, I think that I had to convince Sophie to do that – that I had traits to add to her repertoire. But the story goes, I was DJing after my basketball life in college during my senior year. I was DJing tons of house parties – like college stuff, but it was cool under-ground stuff. One of my friends asked me to DJ after this art show. We went to Brown and it was at this show in Providence in downtown like at a warehouse thing. I went early to set up and Sophie was the acoustical per-former at the art show and I think that there was only 10 people there. But I was sort of setting up and watching her perform with a couple of friends that I knew from my music classes at school. She was amazing and she was only singing in Portuguese and it was really beautiful bossa nova music which I had never really heard much of before.I thought that it was really cool but it was really slow. Like REALLY slow – like 4BPMs – I swear! I was like, man this would be so much cooler if it was more upbeat and had a house beat behind it. When she sort of finished and it was supposed to be my turn to play, I actually said casually,“hey keep playing and I’m going to bringing a beat with it.” So like, looping the intro with a house music track and I put it really slow at the tempo that they were playing at and then I started speeding it up and I said, “just follow the tempo.” She start-ed singing the song at a faster beat that was behind it. So I said, “ok this is going to work.
After that, I think she stayed for my set – did she?
HW: I did.
TH: You must have – you had to. She was probably hitting on a guy that was there ha.
SHW: Of course haha.
TH: So the role reversed. I had to introduce myself to her after I played and I was like, what were you singing. She told me that they were original songs that she made. I asked her if I could do a remix of the last one that she was singing. She agreed but told me that there was no real recording of it. I said, “cool, come over to my apartment tomorrow – a dorm apartment and let’s rerecord it and I’ll make an electronic version of the song. She did come over and we did start making a different version of the song and –
SHW: We just started working every day and making new projects. It was so easy to work together. Were we even friends? We started working with each other for a long time but we weren’t hanging out socially. We just had a great work friendship.
AM: That’s mind-boggling! You’d think that the two of you started this as being best friends or at least really good acquaintances.
SHW: Yeah we didn’t even hang out with one another outside of making our music. We were just making music. Eventually, Tucker convinced me that I should come to NY. Then I thought, “wait, who is this guy?” I talked to people that I knew that we had in common and I was like, “do you vouch for him and should I move to NY with him to create a band with him?” They were like, “oh yeah, he’s a great guy – you should go with him.”
AM: What is your process like when you do sit down and create music together? Do you guys have designated roles?
SHW: Yeah. Every song is very different. But for the most part, Tucker is at the computer and I’m on the guitar and writing most of the lyrics. Now he’s singing a lot more which is cool. It’s also because as the band has evolved we have done the same as well.
AM: You guys have worked with so many artists over the past few years, what are you guys looking for when you are deciding on collaborating with people outside of yourselves?
TH: Honestly, I think that we’re just looking at people with good vibes. We love working with friends and people that we admire and look up to. That actually has a lot to do with the vibe that they are putting out into the world. We enjoy working together. One of the coolest things about collaboration is about putting out like a baby into the world that you created together and then being able to celebrate that together. Then being able to perform it together. You’re sort of bonded with that group forever. It will sort of always be a part of who you are. It’s just fun and it also gets you to have that opportunity for that music to have a little more freedom.
Because you’re able to work with another artist who has their musical sound, we don’t have to worry about whether that music has the SOFI TUKKER sound and if itis really in our world, having that aesthetic and that palette because it’s a collab-oration. So it can also live in Icona Pop’s world or someone else’s world. So it can have a little more risk and it can be a little more out there. Maybe not more out there as I think SOFI TUKKER songs are out there.
AM: Oh yes in the best possible way!
TH: Right I love out there. In a way – the collaboration has a way of being able to be out there – you know what I mean?
AM: Yeah. It’s about blending. When you have two collaborators that you know their work separately, come together it’s a hybrid that’s undefined and gives you the space to create. That’s so exciting when you see that come together.
TH: You get me.
AM: Yes! Our team has done fun projects outside of Athleisure Mag. Our Style Director had the opportunity to style Nile Rodgers a few years ago and her style has its signature and Nile is known for his. So the two coming together to create a look really took the pressure off of her as they both had a united vision without her wondering how it would go against her aesthetic. She could just sit back and enjoy the work and embrace his vibes and interests while adding in her touches.
TH: Exactly, it’s fun to have the other create fingerprints on it as well.
AM: Prior to COVID-19, you guys had a number of tours that you were on and creating a number of amazing shows. In prep for this interview, when we have told people that you guys are the cover, everyone would tell us about their show experience when jamming out with you guys and how it was the best night of their lives. So many people have painted a picture for us about your shows, but for those that have yet to go, what is it like for one of your in-person shows?
TH: I don’t remember.
AM: It feels like so long ago!
SHW: It’s like an electric orgasm!
TH: It’s all that energy coming together on one wavelength. It’s like losing your shit. You know when you’re like 13 with your friends and you’re listening to music on your boombox in your room and you’re like dancing on your bed – like losing it? I try to bring the adult back to that – to that primal nature.
AM: Do you guys have pre-show things that you do to get your mind ready for the show and then things that you do when the show is over? You guys are pushing through so much energy that it’s unimaginable how much you guys must hype yourselves up and then come down from that whole effect.
SHW: It is a p-r-o-c-e-s-s.
TH: We have different processes.
AM: Assumed!
TH: I’m going to let Sophie go as it’s such a process.
SHW: I’m really sensitive to stimulus as a person. I have to warm up to and then cool down from it or else I would never be able to survive. Basically, hours before the show my prep begins. 4 hours prior to the show, I will have my last meal. About an hour before the show, I start my vocal exercises. They are very physical and funny. That will go for about an hour and a half. Down to the hour, I know exactly what I am doing. After my vocal warm-up, I will do my physical warm-up. It’s about rolling out my body and it’s intricate. For the last 5 mins, we will dance around and psych each other up. You know, just jumping around with nervous energy.
After the show, then I have a vocal cooldown and then ideally, there’s a bathtub or a shower that also helps me to come down.
AM: Although that was an unexpected answer, love hearing this and knowing that there is such a thing as a vocal cool down is something new to us!
SHW: It doesn’t take that long. It’s just learning about putting the vocal in the right place in your mouth if that makes sense. That way you don’t get hoarse. When you talk right after singing, it can be really draining on the voice.
AM: Totally. Tucker?
TH: Mine is a little simpler. Before the show, we both pretty much treat it like a basketball game. It’s all about the warmup, being able to blast music – usually, dance music. It gets more intense as it goes. The first hour maybe a bit more chiller. By the end, it could be trance by the time we’re ready to go out so we're losing it. I’m really big into warming up because if we don’t do it or don’t do it long enough, my hamstrings will just bedone and then it’s all over. Right before we go out, we really hype each other up and Sophie gives me a 5-star on the back, like a really hard one. And it always hurts, but it stings and it gives me a little extra jolt which I like – but I don’t miss it that much haha!
SHW: What?
TH: I call it the 5-star. Sophie didn’t know that that’s what I call it until now! It’s a big slap on your back – it’s a 5-star. Afterwards, I ice up my knees and my feet with bags of ice or an ice bath type of situation.
AM: Um truly like a basketball player!
TH: Yeah, it’s very similar to my routine when I was a basketball player. We kind of run around and go nuts on stage. When I come off stage, my shirt is entirely dripping in sweat. It’s like a full hour and a half of going nuts. So I really have to ice but I don’t have to do the wind-down when we go back to the ho-tel after shows, I can just lie on the bed and fall asleep a minute after raving. Sophie has to do like a full 2-hour yoga wind down. When we used to share a hotel room for the first couple of years because we had smaller budgets, it was not ideal to share a room. I’d want to put the TV on so that I could watch SportsCenter and fall asleep to it and she could not have any light stimulation or noise or she would not be able to fall asleep. She has like earplugs and an eyemask. If I had the TV on even in silent, she’d be like, “nope the light flickering is fucking me up.” I was like, “this is ridiculous.
AM: You guys have had such a successful career, you have 2 GRAMMY nominations, you’ve played a number of festivals, I al-ways love hearing your music when it's an Apple (Best Friend) or Peleton (Purple Hat) commercial – we’re huge fans of HBO’s The New Pope. So when we heard, Good Time Girls the opening song –that was amazing. What does it mean to you guys to have so much of your music placed into so many pop culture areas?
SHW: I think that we feel really lucky to be able to be in that space! It’s a great way for people to be able to connect to our music and it’s just such a great opportunity.
AM: Even as we navigate COVID-19, you guys have continued to stay connected with your fans. How did your daily con-certs from home start and how impactful has it been to be able to provide this to your fans? Especially when we’re in a moment where you can’t really, travel, tour etc.?
SHW: It started very organically and by accident. Tucker was DJing and I was working out. Our friend came down and started live-streaming what was happening. People were watching and it was really fun and we said let’s do it again. I think on the 3rd day, Tucker was like, we’re going to do this every day until COVID-19 is over. Obviously, little did we know that we would still be at it. What we’re doing is different than our live shows as this is a DJ set and has been so much fun. Honestly, it’s been one of the most meaningful moments that I would say of my life. We're in this moment in time right now where people are feeling loneliness and are suffering and we are able to bring people together every single day. Everybody that is coming together are our friends and our community is now called the Freak Famand it’s grown to be this big community outside of ourselves. They have come together and they’re so inclusive and warm– it’s been great to see and gives us hope. This year, we’ve seen a lot of things about our world that hasn’t been great so to see that there are people like this has really been something that I have loved being able to be a part of.
AM: Are these shows thematic by genre, country or dedicated to specific portions of your fan base? Do you guys just freeflow every day?
TH: The Freak Fam is really so world wide that our music is really for everyone out there. It’s interesting because there are so many different time zones and languages that for those, it would feel odd to be specifically towards just one place because it's so diverse. We have done specific shows like an all Australia set for Australian radio where it live-streamed and it only featured artists from Australia. We’ve done some Mexico specific ones – we’ve done it. But for the daily streams, we just try to keep it inclusive for everyone.
AM: When you guys createdTreehouse, there are so many good songs on it. How long did it take you to make it and what was that like?
SHW: It’s so different now versus then.
When we madeTreehouse, we didnt have real time off. We basically used the time in between our tours. We would go to the studio, work on the songs, etc. Since it was done that way, it probably took a year to get that album out. There would be gaps where we couldn’t work on songs for a number of months as it would be a couple of days here and a couple of days there.
AM: Last month we interviewed you andIcona Pop about the release of SPA which we loved. We just caught the video recently as we have it on repeat. What was the thought behind having Jordan Firstman and Mia Khalifa also being included in this video and how did that come about?
SHW: I think it started out with Icona Pop as they were friends with him. We’re so lucky that we were able to have them in their as they are so iconic and I love their videos. They’re both so cool and iconic in their own way.
AM: You guys have the interactive e-con-cert coming up on Yoop on Mar 12, 2021 at- live from their eSPACE in Nashville. How did this come together and how are you working in terms of being prepared for that one?
TH: We’re so excited about this one. We’ve been waiting for the right kind of virtual experience that would fit what we would want that would be really unique and would be different from going and watching one of our live shows from YouTube or something. We were looking for a platform that had a real two-way traction. One of the main parts about our show is the connection between us and the fans and the real give and take and not just for our enjoyment although we definitely do have that. But the shows have a real live effect as it gets everyone on the same wavelength which is an important part about our show. To try to do that in a virtual world through technology, we thought that this platform would be a great way to do that. It has no lag between communication. People can clap at the end of shows or scream and we can hear that. There are these 3 big movie like screens in front of us where the crowd would normally be and there’s the ability to scroll through thousands of people who are listening in from their house. We can even pick them out and hear them with no lag time.
It’s the first thing that we have seen that is close to a real show and being able to get that real energy. We watched a couple of them as they were getting their plat-form going and just watching the kinds of interaction between the artist and their fans, talking through the songs and see-ing everyone interacts – it was such a cool experience. It made me really thing that you were there in that experience altogether. You know it’s live. I’ve seen some live streams and it looks like it was just pre-recorded shows that you’re watching. That’s cool, but for us we want to try to really have that live feel.
AM: In these times that we’re living in right now, how are you spending your time in quarantine when you’re not doing your daily shows? Are you working on your next album or finding new hobbies that you didn’t know that you had?
SHW: We’ve never had this much time be-fore ever! It’s really interesting. We have been working on a lot of new music. I'm not going to announce anything specific.
AM: Thought so.
SHW: But, there is a body of work!
AM: Nice.
SHW: But we have never had this amount of time where we could work on songs like this. So we’re really excited about that process. I mean, we try to get outside a lot. I’ve been DJing every day. I wasn’t really DJing before this time. So I spend a lot of time practicing DJing now and I spend a lot of time doing tutorials. I take guitar lessons as well to take the time to work on my craft. I love being able to do that and I also play things in our DJ set of things that our Freak Fam is doing. It could be poetry or things that they are doing and so I will work on that. There’s a ton to do!
AM: How do you guys stay inspired?
SHW: I’d say that the DJ sets that we're doing right now are really inspired. It’s energizing and it’s fun to try out a set or song and see how it works. Then we can go back and work on it more and then try it out on a set again. It’s really cool to be able to have that feedback when we're working on something. We can go directly from studio to set to play it.
AM: A lot of people are thinking about what next year will look like in terms of returning to IRL events and things of that nature. Have you guys begun to sketch out what plans to doing something like that will look like? Or are you looking at circling that date in hopes that you can actually do that show or particular event?
SHW: I would say that we’re trying not to get our hopes up!
AM: Same!
SHW: I think that we actually haven’t even gone there. Like obviously our team is there creating plans, but in our hearts, we just believe that today is what today is and tomorrow is what tomorrow is. But it’s really hard mentally to go past anything like a month. I mean how the world is right now and what it will be, we know it’s really unpredictable right now and that’s all we can predict!
AM: We’ve literally had the same conversations on this end. When can we do IRL shoots, attend events etc. To be able to think about that and to think about the safety around those elements is just a lot to take in because the plans become so fluid and it’s definitely hard to predict. It’s too soon!
SHW: Yeah.
AM: What do you guys think about the fact that because you have had so much virtual/digital engagement and even hearing about this new platform that your show on the 4th will be on, everyone regardless of their vertical has embraced these concepts. When things at some point in life do get back to being in person, will you guys maintain some of these virtual nuggets that you have been playing around with and that people have enjoyed even when they can move around more freely?
TH: For sure! I think that he whole world has definitely embraced the virtual element in all industries. I’m sure a lot of companies are saying, “you know, we don’t really need that office space. We can do it from home and save all of this money.” I think that it will be the same in the music industry. We can’t get everywhere and there are still places that we have never been able to go. We have played in a lot of places but there are so many places that we haven’t been able to play for many reasons. Sometimes it’s just as simple as the currency of that country as doing it would mean that we would financially lose money and people can’t afford the show. I think there is such a good use of virtual shows and our DJ sets whether it’s geotargeted or geo-locked and can only be seen in certain places, I think it’s going to be really useful.
You can have people watching you from all over the world and be united and that doesn’t have when we have our in person shows. Only people in that space/that town get to be in that moment. It can accomplish something sometimes bigger and sometimes more broad. Because it’s free (not the Yoop show,) but what we have been doing is, hopefully, it’s just a 1-click for free mouse move as the barrier into entry. Those who may not have known us well enough to pay for a ticket or two to make a plan in their week to see us can do it now because of this platform when they wouldn’t have prior to. So there is always a good use for something like this and I think it will get creative when the world is back to the new normal or whatever it is.
AM: What do you guys see as being next in terms of the SOFI TUKKER brand? Launching a fashion line, getting into acting – are there other areas that you want to be able to embrace in addition to your successful music career?
SHW: Tucker is a thespian!
TH: No not really! Haha
SHW: Haha I don’t think my sarcasm translates well to print haha!
AM: Haha we caught it!
SHW: So we have our body of work that we are working on right now and I don’t think that we have ever been so proud of the music that we are making. We definitely are interested in launching projects of course.
TH: If you have anything in mind, we’re around!
AM: Of course!
SHW: We don’t have any booking plans right now to get in the way of that.
TH: We want to be able to continue to do what we’re doing and to grow the FreakFam as well! When live shows return, we want to be able to do it in a hopefully big-ger and more exciting place than where we left off. It’s exciting and we’ve loved being able to find ways to keep growing and to work with so many great people.
SHW: It’s been a really tough time as I’m really far away from my family. So that’s tough so to have the work that we do –our music and our purpose and to have a community that is so vibrant it really helps. It takes a time that is really tough and difficult and helps me and others get through it. It makes it a lot easier to focus on things and to be able to be excited about them.
AM: Clearly you guys inspire people with everything that you do. So we always like asking people who are 3 people that you know or admire from afar that have in-spired who you are today?
TH: There are so many people and I think when you think about the people that we have learned from – when we started the group or band or duo – still don’t know what to call it 5 years later ha! We start-ed, we were really uncomfortable taking photos, being on social media and we wouldn’t take selfies because we thought it was lame. Then something as simple as seeing other friends of ours do what they did and were amazing at social media, that was inspiring to us.
For me in short, it would be Larry Bird.
AM: Yes! Our Co-Founder loves Larry Bird!
TH: Is she from French Lick?
AM: No, Indianapolis but she’s all about him and you can never say anything wrong about him – his work ethic and focus is amazing.
TH: Exactly. I’m from Boston and as a sports guy, I grew up idolizing his work ethic, how hard he played and how hard he practiced. When I watched him play, that was always instilled in me and I learned it from sports. I knew that if you’re not working, someone else is getting better. It’s not like everything is a competition but it is competitive and that is motivating for me.
AM: In our Style Director’s home state, they believe in Life is Sports and Sports is life. How you are in sports is how you're going to go about life. So it is a competition and in many ways, that competition will be with yourself. And the reality is that someone else is also doing what you are doing so you need to be ready to perform. It’s a great point!
TH: A lot of what I learned there, we have brought into our world here. Being a captain on a college basketball team and working together – a lot of those skills are also applicable in what we do now and it was great to bring it in here.
SH: I’m going to give you an emotional answer because my grandfather passed away recently. I would say that he is one of the reasons why I am who I am today and he inspired me. A – he always treated me like I was the most special person in the world. The thing about him is that I think he actually treated a lot of people that way so it wasn’t just about me. That’s how he was with people and when he interacted with them, he made them feel that way. Feeling seen and having that kind of love in my life made me believe in myself and made me want to give that back to other people so that others could be seen and feel special. The other thing is that he was always jolly and I never heard him complain and I think that that value is something that we have also brought into the community and the band.
IG @SOFITUKKER
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Athleisure Mag's virtual cover shoot was shot by Co-Founder + Celebrity Photographer Paul Farkas. Throughout this shoot, Paul used an iPhone 11 Pro, iPad Air 2, Facetime and Clos.
STYLE CREDITS
Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith shares what she used to create the cover editorial with SOFI TUK-KER for a number of fun vibrant looks.
LOOK I | LOUNGE STYLE
FRONT COVER, PG 16 + 19 | SOPHIE: DIPPIN' DAISY'S Show Off Bralette + Friday Night Pant | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | EXPERIMENTAL JEWELLERY CLUB Gold Pyramid Stud Bracelet | NIKE Sneakers | TUCKER: RUSSELL ATHLETIC Tie Dye French Terry Hoodie + Short | PUMA RS-2K Messaging Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |
LOOK II | SPORTY STYLE
BACK COVER + PG 20 - 25 | SOPHIE: L'OEUFPOCHE Cloud 9 Crop Pullover | L'ETOILE SPORT A-Line Skort | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | Nike Sneakers | BABOLAT Pure Aero Tennis Racket | TUCKER: ALO YOGA Idol Hooded Runner + Chill Short | MATADOR MEGGINGS Cubed Meggings | PUMA RS-2K Messaging Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |
LOOK III | WEEKEND STYLE
PG 27 - 32 | SOPHIE: BALANCE ATHLETICA Tie Dye Hoodie | PANGAIA Lightweight Recycled Cotton Track Pants | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | PUMA RS-Fast Sneaker |TUCKER: MUNICIPAL Standard Issue 300 Hoodie | PUMA X KIDSUPER STUDIOS Track Pants | Nike Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |
LOOK IV | STUDIO STYLE
PG 35 - 39 | MUNICIPAL Sport Utility Hoodie + Jogger |
LOOK V | CASUAL STYLE
PG 40 + 41 | KALORE Ivory Satin Top + Stretch Pants | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | STELLA MCCARTNEY Holographic Sneakers |
LOOK VI | CHILL STYLE
PG 42 + 43 | BALANCE ATHLETICA Tie Dye Hoodie | MUNICIPAL Crossover Short |
IG @PVFarkas
Hear EDM musical duo SOFI TUKKER on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see SOFI TUKKER in mag as well as their 9PLAYLIST 9MIX.
Featured Music
9LIST STORI3S | STEPHEN "WONDERBOY" THOMPSON
Read the Jan Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | STEPHEN “WONDERBOY” THOMPSON in mag.
Featured 9LIST STORI3S
9LIST STORI3S | NGHTMRE
Read the August Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | NGHTMRE in mag.
Featured The 9LIST
IN OUR BAG THE DAY WARRIOR
In the debate of the backpack, we have always been a little dubious on bringing this into your day to day style; however, our Co-Founder fell in love with this style as she literally lived out of a mini backpack that could hold her laptop, notebooks, charger and more. So, of course - this month we're giving a nod to the Day Warrior who is getting things done!
| MOLESKINE Keith Haring | WATERMELON ROAD Pineapple Mojito | COLE HAAN Loralie Wave Backpack | BAO Kombucha Mango | L'OCCITANE Shea Organic Shea Butter | APPLE iPhone X |
Read more of the Oct Issue and see In Our Bag | The Day Warrior in mag.
Featured In Our Bag
PHOTOS COURTESY | B&O Play’s
LET'S PLAY
B&O Play's US Marketing Lead, Travis McMichael, is revitalizing the 90 year old brand. With a background that includes working directly under the CMO of Beats by Dre for 3 years - he was there during the Apple sale and helped create a "culture" around the brand.
Now he's building out a "Future Series" that celebrates music, art, technology and their relationship together. Their involvement in this year's events at SXSW and Coachella show the changes that he has made.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how that led you to B&O Play.
Travis McMichael: I was the sole director of marketing strategy at Beats by Dre under CMO Omar Johnson, responsible for the strategic development of brand and product marketing strategy in a cross-functional capacity.
I was recruited from the agency space in NYC in the Fall of 2014, shortly before Beats took a cash infusion from the Carlyle Group to buy themselves back from Monster.
AM: What does "creating a culture" around a brand mean and how did you do that within previous positions and how are you doing it at B&O Play?
TM: Creating a culture is about the codification of brand DNA and operationalizing brand behavior to create proprietary, defensible and dynamic brand tenets that permeate both product narratives and how the brand speaks to potential consumers and loyal brand fans.
At B&O PLAY, it’s about how we utilize our rich heritage as a brand in design, acoustics, and technology to lead and explore the world of cultural aesthetics, whether that's being in contemporary art, music, architecture or film.
AM: What is the relationship between B&O Play and Bang & Olufsen.
TM: PLAY is the contemporary iteration of Bang & Olufsen. All of the thoughtfulness, passion, pursuit and perfection in craftsmanship that is the legacy of Bang & Olufsen, but with a product portfolio aimed at a lifestyle that suits a modern urban living environment.
i.e wireless speakers, headphones etc.
AM: How does B&O Play differ from its parent's company and who is the target demographic for this?
TM: It's about Urban creative professionals who embrace a design ethos and interest in exceptionally designed and manufactured audio products that enhance everything from your commute to your home living space.
AM: What role does design play into B&O Play?
TM: Everything :) it is at the core of everything we think, do and make.
AM: What is the ethos of B&O Play?
TM: Here technology, design and how the art of human experience intersects.
Read more from the May issue