Before I begin, I would like to dedicate this issue of the zine to a good friend of mine who's currently having a hard time. If you're reading this, I want you to know that meeting you was the best unintentional thing to happen to me—it must've been fate or something, because thanks to you, my life changed forever. If there's one thing I've learnt in life, it's that connection is what matters. Doing the things you love with the people with love is the real source of happiness in life, and who cares what others think? Life is about embracing the fact that we were born to be wild, and we all get to the destination that is death anyway, so why not have some fun along the way? If someone wants to stir up shit, let them stir up shit, they're just trying to account for their insecurities, and they'll pay the price for their own stupidity down the road when they crash. Yeah, there's some bumps here and there, but really, with some good mates to help you out, you'll be alright. You're the sickest cunt I know, and I bet if the 900 people following this account were to meet you, they'd think the same. Ride on.
Well, it's April, and the scene is really what you make it. Set and setting is what counts. Antidismal's back doing their indie pop business, Deadtrigger Records is chugging along, having held SkatePunk just a few days ago, and the city has become a pretty cool hangout spot again. I've had quite an awful past few weeks due to school assessment, the awful weather, social isolation, and fake people, but I've realised that I need to do is lay back, relax, and reconnect with my roots, recharge from the burnout. It's when I try and fit in that I fail—I become the least significant member. Really, what I need to do is be loud, be the main character, and form my own group. That's why I decided to make this issue. It's been a long as time, and I might as well use this as a way to stop being in the perfectionist mindset I've gotten myself into during the exam season, and just do the things I've spent too much time polishing up to be perfect.
In this issue, there's an interview with Brax, founder of Deadtrigger Records and drummer for The Amphetamines, and a write-up of my experience at what everyone's been talking about—SkatePunk. Have at it.
From the archive. Editorial · 18 April 2025 · phone notes carried verbatim.