Noisé #5
US magazine Noisé always packs a punch, its 300+ pages packed with culture, art and fashion, and the intersections between these disclipines.
What it’s always done well is bring people together for conversations to examine shared interests. A great, and magCulture-relevant, example in issue five, sees nineties uber art director Fabien Baron (Vogue Italia, Interview, Harper’s Bazaar) talk with Alastair McKimm, until recently editor-in-chief of i-D. Despite their magazine experiences being from different decades, the two find plenty in common as they answer ten questions set by Noisé’s Editor-in-chief Tang Siyu and Head of Content, Murphy Guo.
‘The idea actually came from our team, as we’ve known both of them for some time and they had each expressed interest in doing something with Noisé,’ explains the magazine’s Elodie W, ‘Both come from different eras and have experienced the golden age of print at the peak of their careers. Now, they are each exploring new ways to express their creativity in an increasingly digital world. What connects them—and what inspired this piece—is their shared appreciation for in-depth content. We felt it was something important to capture and pass on to the younger generation in the print industry.’
Over to Fabien and Alastair…
How do you see print fitting into today’s digital world?
Fabien Baron: Print magazines now feel a bit like vinyl records, don’t they? They’ve become something special and niche. There’s still a place for print, but it’s in highly opinion-driven, focused publications. They need to have something very specific to say. Like the magazine we’re doing this interview for—it’s a great example. There’s a lot of interesting independent magazines out there.
Alastair McKinn: Totally agree. As commercial magazines have declined, more independent ones have emerged. They’re smaller, more focused. It wasn’t about mass-market commercial reach; it was about loving the medium. That’s what independent magazines represent: a community of people creating something they care about. Maybe I’m just nostalgic. I’d love for you to do a magazine again. I’m sorry! I know the heyday is over, but I still want to see you make one.
FB: It would be fun! Maybe we’ll do a special issue one day, something completely different from anything I’ve done before. It would be great to bring amazing people together and create something unique.
AM: It’s funny because for my generation, I sometimes feel like I’m chasing something that doesn’t exist anymore. I’ve been working my way up in this industry, aiming for something that’s no longer there. It’s such an interesting psychological experiment.
FB: The thing about magazines was their place in culture and the way they captured the moment in pop culture. Today, they’re no longer part of that conversation in the same way.
What’s the most memorable project that fell through for you?
FB: I don’t know if it’s about specific projects falling through. The rejections we face are more about the state of affairs, the state of the industry and how it’s shifted over time. Things have changed dramatically, but I’ve always embraced change. Change is good.
AM: And change happens whether we like it or not.
FB: Exactly. You have to adapt and become a chameleon. If you have a voice and you believe it’s important for that voice to be heard, you’ll always find a way to express it. Ultimately, it’s about having something to say. Whatever the medium, once you learn its vocabulary, you’ll find a way to communicate through it.
AM: Right. I don’t think it’s about projects falling through either. It’s more about always striving to be better. Every time you work on something, you learn. The evolution is constant because you want to improve every time. People talk about 10,000 hours to master something, but in this industry, I can’t even imagine how many hours we’ve put in.
FB: Exactly. But today, it’s funny how quickly people want titles or recognition.
AM: Especially when they’ve done, what, one season?
FB: Or maybe three things on Instagram. It’s hilarious. For me, the way I approach my work and the world, I still feel like a kid. I feel open, curious, and humble. The day I lose my curiosity, that’s the day it’s over. That’s when you start rehashing the same things over and over again.
AM: It’s always about what’s next. What’s coming up, what’s new. It’s okay to change, to evolve. The conversation continues. We remain active participants, telling stories, moving forward. Whether it’s film, art, photography, fashion, or magazines. It’s about staying curious and always looking forward.
FB: And that’s the privilege of working in a creative industry. There are always new ways to be creative and to collaborate with like-minded people.