New Currency, Issue 1

New Currency acts a global youth culture platform dedicated to the exchange of ideas. Acting as as an "archive of culture as it's happening", New Currency showcases the works and ideas of emerging creatives through conversation, editorials and documentary-style photography. Toronto. 

From Kazeem Kuteyi, about the issue: "In the past, we’ve done everything from club nights, podcasts, pop-up radio shows and exhibitions at home here in Toronto and far flung places like London and Paris. We’re a platform that is energized to document and archive the culture as it is happening but also serve as a conduit for new ideas. The year 2020 allowed us to reflect and to think about what’s next. Our new magazine is a REFERENCE, an ARCHIVE and a CATALYST but also an operating tool for us to engage in new ways with emerging artists and creatives.

For the first issue, Zoom is our best friend and with no theme in place, we allow for free thinking and introspection around the events of 2020. Solutions and ideas on how we move forward are offered. Dialling in from Berlin, Octavia Bürgel meets Toronto’s own Bambii for a conversation on institutions, public space and escapism; A think tank called KGE GEK EKG ™ is formed for an interview with Eugene Whang, industrial designer, DJ and founder of Public Release records; Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion’s music video “WAP” has Sharine Taylor and Dr. Lauren McLeod Cramer curious about the future of Black music videos; Through an open call on Instagram, architect Reza Nik rallies for young people to offer thoughts on what the city needs for youth culture to thrive in a post-Covid world before offering his own conclusions, We also ask founder of Limbo Accra, Dominique Petit-Frère to offer her thoughts; In Lagos, Stephen Tayo has hope in being an artist at this time; Adeju Thompson, founder and designer of Lagos Space Programme chats to artist Wura Natasha-Ogunji on materiality; Manny Jefferson shares his documentation of the END SARS protest; Tom Mouna pens an essay titled “Who Wants a Future Art World” from his bunker in London; A series of photos from Paris, London and Toronto gives us a look into cultural production in a pandemic; The founder of SON., and Head of Public Programming at the Underground Museum in Los Angeles, Justen LeRoy chats to us about his early beginnings and more; Melissa Vincent connects with Sandra Poulson, a recent graduate from Central Saint Martins on her award winning final project, “An Angolan Archive.”; Mentee meets mentor and history is shared as London’s O.G Judah Afriyie and Will Stowe engage in a tete-a tete; We play host to archival and new works from a range of artists like Tabban Soleimani, Meg Prosper, Adria Kain, Geo Owen, Kadeem Ellis, Untradition, Justin French, Isabel Okoro and more."

Issue contributors include: Aaron Jones, Adeju Thompson, Adria Kain, Adrian Wong, Aeliza, Alica Hall, Atypic, Bambii, Bidemi Oloyede, Bior Elliot, Buggz, Cameron Ugbodu, cktrl, Cakeshop Seoul, Chris Penrose, Cozy Dq, Daoud Tabibzada, Dominique Petit-Frère, Egor Sokolov, Eric Slyfield, Eugene Angelo, Eugene Kan, Eugene Whang, Gbolade Oludare, Hansel Alonzo, Isabel Okoro, Jeremy Benson, Jeremy Joo, Jeremy Watson, Jibril Yassin, Jordan Sook, Jorian Charlton, Joshua Renfroe, Judah Afriyie, Justen LeRoy, Justin Aranha, Justin French, Kadara Enyeasi, Kadeem Ellis, Kahlil Hernandez, KGE GEK EKG™, Khalil Noah Mer, Kioni Picou, Lamar Robillard, Larry Tchogninou, Lauren McLeod Cramerd, Maas, Manny Dark, Manny Jefferson, Meg Prosper, Melissa Vincent, Michelle Nunes, Mosheh Herdsman, Moyosore Briggs, Mr Labemika, Nico Adomako, Noel Bronson, Octavia Bürgel, Osman Ahmed, P-Rallel, Remy Bourdeau, Reza Nik, Samuel Kojo, Sandra Poulson, Sarina Hamamgi, Sharine Taylor, Sid Singh, Spender Badu, Stephen Tayo, Tabban Soleimani, Tashine Hassane, Thomas Mouna, Untradition, Usen Esiet, Will Stowe, Wura Natasha-Ogunji, Yeti Out, and more!

8.5 x 11", 210 pages