Cian Traynor
Launching a band with no money, no connections and no following
The art of touring — Meet the Nude Party: an indie psych-group learning to navigate American's DIY circuit – a network defined by its lack of rules, its opportunity for growth... and the need to sleep rough.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Mapping the squats, strip clubs and bars that launched punk
London Calling — Forty years after punk first 'posed a threat to normal life', writer and cultural historian Paul Gorman charts the sub-culture's hidden history within London and reveals why the city remains the capital of cool.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Bloody Chunks: Vietnam's underground metal scene
Fade to Black — Photographer Neil Massey captures a perfect marriage of brutal energy and hardcore fandom in Saigon's fiercest subculture.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Getting off the grid in Argentina
Embracing the elements — Photographer Alice Zoo escapes the anxiety of London life for the 'rawness and grit' of nature by the Andes – a pure experience she likens to time travel.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Unearthing sounds from electronica's dark underground: an interview with christ.
Sublime imperfections — To coincide with a crowd-funded vinyl release of early experiments, musician Christopher Horne discusses the enduring grit of '90s electronica, standing apart from Boards of Canada and resisting computerised perfection.
Written by: Cian Traynor
In pictures: Road-tripping through the Australian wilderness
An oasis of imagery — Photographer Matt Moran discovers magnetic detail in unexpected places along Australia's Gold Coast, capturing images that bring barren towns to life.
Written by: Cian Traynor
How French commune La ZAD has become a symbol of resistance
Postcapitalism in practice — Ahead of a mass demonstration on February 27th, a 21st-century commune is sharing the story of its struggle against an international airport development.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Six surprising sounds behind Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo
Sample Scouring — Cian Traynor roots through the most intriguing music sources underpinning Yeezy's new album, immodestly touted by the rapper as the greatest of all time
Written by: Cian Traynor
Kurt Vile is not a stoned loner
Dreamy chords, no tortured artist myths — Philly musician Kurt Vile has an intuitive approach to his shoegazey sounds.
Written by: Cian Traynor