Art School Taught Me is a weekly topical podcast hosted by Laurens and The Other Guy. New episodes every Monday. Please lower your expectations.
Episode 117: Al-G Rhythm by Laurens & The Other Guy
Episode 116: "My name is J'onn but you can call me Martian Manhunter." by Laurens & The Other Guy
The boys chat with Makai Keyes and Donny Melrose about NO LOVE IN THE HILLS. This is Makai's second time on the show and Don's first. Enjoy!
Art School Taught Me is back with a Halloween Special Episode! We're sorry about sound issue with The Other Guy's mic. We found out about it after we recorded. We hope you enjoy the spooky soundboard at least.
This episode was recorded at the Radar Base.
Long time, no upload. On this episode Cris and Laurens take the show to the park. Listen to them talk about Martha Stewart, screenwriting, getting sick, K-BBQ, Parasite, and USA.
On this episode, Laurens chats with QC-based graphic designer Diana. They talk about Manila, design, Shakespeare, fitness, and isaw. This one's quite a ride.
For the Season 2 finale, we sit down with multi-hyphenate photographer, Andy to talk about her work and her experience navigating the competitive industry, in an age where everyone is a self-proclaimed photographer.
On this episode of Art School Taught Me, we sit down with film photographers Gab and Derald of Thirty-Five Studio. We talk about their decision to start a YouTube channel together focused on film photography and the outlet it has allowed for them to explore their interests in the art.
Hello! Julia joins us to on this episode to talk about modelling, social media culture, and her experience navigating the industry. We continue on to chat about the beauty standard, freelance work, signing under an agency, and model associations. Julia also talks about her online vintage shop Fits Ya Good and her affinity for vintage clothing and specialty items and how we should all move away from fast fashion. Make sure to check out Fits Ya Good's event this Friday, October 4th at Dulo MNL! Fits Ya Good is a treasure trove for finding unique, one-off pieces, ranging from high-end glamour to thrifty yet nifty mesh of second-hand gems for all genders. You may have noticed in previous episodes my tendency to always be "on," however when I met with Julia, I couldn't help but match her calm and laidback demeanor which made this episode a fun one to make. Thanks for listening!
On this episode we sit down with Isabelle of Fools & Foes and chat about the local band scene. She talks about what it's like as a female musician here in the Philippines as well as the band's history and being labeled "Math Rock." Our conversation also touches briefly on her secret love for writing fiction and her reluctance on sharing her work because she feels it's not good enough. The band's creative process is also explored and Isabelle shares how each member contributes to the music. One aspect of the show that I wanted to focus on was how women are treated in the music industry. Though the industry still suffers from sexism and harassment issues, Isabelle points out the many local events, labels, and organizations led by women. Something I hope is a catalyst for changing the landscape of the industry. Thanks for listening.
First thing's first, I'd like to apologize about the sudden jump in audio around the 50 minute mark, I fucked up and had the wrong settings on the recorder. Which I'm real bummed out about because I've been looking forward to this episode for almost 10 months now. On this episode I sit down with Raniel of Wednesday. He was actually the first person I met when I first got here. This meeting was the catalyst to this whole series actually. For this episode we talk about Wednesday, the importance of upcycling, social issues regarding the environment and what we can do as individuals to change in the world. One important topic I'd like to highlight is where we discuss the role, responsibilities, and obligations streetwear brands have, if any, toward the general public when it comes to pressing matters. These are my favorite types of episodes because we get to highlight the opinions creatives have and the issues that matter to them most. It's informative, educational and worth a listen. Thanks! Again, I'm sorry about the audio issue. I really wanted this to be good because I feel like Raniel is a key figure within the community and his opinions on these topics are important and worth hearing. Wednesday in itself, I feel is very inlined with the Art School Taught Me's ideologies of pursuing truth, a better future, and providing a platform for issues worthy of discourse. — Raniel would like to thank: Vince and Mil of DBTK Bryan Sochayseng, Paulo Reyes, and Lex Celera of Monday Off Cleo Colon, Aaron Lim, Argie Alcantara and Jap Regala of Wednesday Marvin Conanan and Sara Martinez of PURVEYR George Balobalo of Bawal Clan Kieran and Kirsten Francisco Dustin Calde Jeg Nealega, Lean Torres, Robert Pabiling, Joshy Pascual, Pusangkalat, Vector Tears, Angelo Alpasan, Joshua Villanueva, Heaven, and Boris Garcia of Season Pass.
The goal for this season is to branch out into a more broad spectrum of thought and conversations. And one way we're attempting to achieve that is by inviting guest who are involved in more esoteric activities. This episode is a prime example of that. We sit down with Lois, the Millennial Manghuhula. She talks us through what tarot really is and dispels many of the misconceptions surrounding it. Prior to recording she did a reading for Laurens and what he found most fascinating about the experience is how involved the process was and how specific certain topics were. It's not just a quick reading either. Lois said her reading usually range to an hour long. For the sake of time, Laurens' reading took swift 35 minutes. Still a barrage of information and advice were given. The Philippines is passionately religious country and you would never think of mixing religion with magick. However there are many manghuhulas around the city and citizens still hold out a belief in the practice no matter how dichotomous the idea may be. Lois specifically says her readings are an extension of God. She is the instrument that connects the cards to that of a higher being, which again dispels the preconceived notions that tarot is anti-religious. This was a fun episode and a nice change of pace. Hopefully you enjoyed listening and found the conversation as interesting. See you on the next episode!
Listen to Laurens lose his mind as he struggles to articulate his thoughts.
On this episode of the show, we sit down with Ice & Therese of Welcome to the Struggle; a newly founded streetwear brand here in Manila. We discuss the struggles of pursuing dreams and the hardships that go hand in hand with putting yourself out there, specifically within a creative field. I wanted to have them on the show because I thought their perspective was quite unique. You often find interviews of brands that are already established and have a history; Welcome to the Struggle on the other hand is just starting out and the perspective they have now I feel is just as valid and as important if not more to understanding the ins and outs of establishing yourself within the community and beyond. It's clear while listening to them that Ice and Therese have a grand vision of the brand which goes beyond making clothes. Welcome to the Struggle is an idea. It wants to go beyond the established perception of what a streetwear brand is or can be. It does not hide away the ugly side of creativity but rather embraces it as something just as vital to the process. They're off to a fantastic start and I wish them the best. I hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening!
On the show this week we have Perry, a manila-based photographer. We talk about his fascination with Japanese photographers like Masahisa Fukase and Nobuyoshi Araki and how they influence and inspire his own creative philosophy and process when taking photographs. Aside from photography, we talk a bit about the Japanese anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
On this episode of Art School Taught Me, we talk with multi-medium creative and aspiring fashion designer Aaliyah. We go in depth on the entire creative process; from the initial conceptualization and theme, to inspirations, materials, and techniques required to produce an overall aesthetically cohesive collection. Aaliyah on her collection: "It all started with the word “blue” and the many visuals that are attached to it. Each person would think of different things depending on their individual and unique experiences. For this collection, creatures of the deepest parts of the seas, swimming pools and boat sails were strung together to create a collection that is sophisticated and playful in its own way. The pieces may come off as ordinary but when given a closer, they are actually striking in subtle ways. Found deep in the ocean are some of the most unusual creatures ever seen, a fusion of the strange and the beautiful. Drifting in the darkest depths of our waters, they navigate their surroundings through their own luminescence. Inspiration taken from these glittering creatures are their soft and rounded shapes, their transparence and their ability to stand out in the dark. The contrasting handstitches that run across ruffles of organdy and on patchwork are from the way comb jellyfish tentacles light up in horizontal lines. Fraying denim mirrors the way other deep sea fish float in the waters. The more tailored and rigid looks are inspired by pool tiles and boat sails. Pool tiles are mimicked through patchwork using different shades of denim while some pieces were made to look like square rig sails in cotton twill. Taking different design elements from each of these objects resulted into a collection that is detailed and decorative yet wearable because of its neutral color palette. Like deep sea creatures, these pieces are able to blend into the background and at the same time stay seen." Check out her fahion illustration account on Instagram to learn more information about her collection and see detailed samples of textiles used, conceptual illustrations, and inspiration boards! https://www.instagram.com/scoutconfetti/?hl=en Thanks for listening!
Today on Art School Taught Me, we talk with graphic designer and illustrator Raxenne of Plus 63 Design Co. We chat about her illustration process, design inspirations, her affinity for flora and fauna and how she incorporates it into her signature illustrative style. We also discuss at length Hydra Design Group and the four companies that make it up.
Hi! On today's episode we sit down with the talented musician and producer Dominic aka MOKUA. We talk about production. Needing to have a day job. Design work. Films. We also delve into our thoughts on CHVRCHES' discography and out common disdain for their third LP. It was a good episode overall despite the technical difficulties. Enjoy!
Hello! On this episode I sit down and chat with DJ/Producer Pamcy! We talk about production, her musical influences, volunteering, and her upcoming album BINIBINI, releasing July 30th. Though an introvert, Pamcy loves the feeling of playing in front of people. We also briefly touch on her collaborative project DanCy with her friend Dani who plays live drums to accompany Pamcy's sets. A bit of an oversight on my part as I should've had Dani on this episode as well. Oops.
On this episode we sit down with architect Arts of One Zero Design Co. He talks about how geometry influenced his design style. He invited us to his studio in Escolta where we recorded this episode. Just with the short period of timeI had talking with him, I could feel the sense of drive and passion he has for this city; the yearning for a better Manila. We discuss the city's lack of inspired architecture specifically in the CBDs and what we can do to revive the Manila's cultural identity. One thing that stood out to me was when he said Manila is not a "car city" and that we should aim to create a more efficient system of travel. Anyone that's been in Manila can relate to the sometime frustrating amount of congested traffic that plagues the streets. But he has hopes for the city and so do I. Here's to a better Manila. As always, thanks for listening!
We're back! After an almost 2 month hiatus, Art School Taught Me returns with Season 2 of Conversations with Creatives here in Manila. On this episode we sit down with aspiring photographer and filmmaker, Hix. We discuss her views on film vs. digital photography, as well as her recent shift into filmmaking. Our conversation covers most aspects of production from writing to directing to producing. Aside from Pinterest, she reveals that random word generators are often sources of inspiration when it comes to conceptualizing ideas to write about, which was something that took me by surprise. Hix also talks about some of her past projects, and the importance of being sincere with your art. Vulnerability is a big aspect of her work and you can feel it when you watch her films. Towards the latter half of the episode we discuss the LGBTQ+ community here in the Philippines and what needs to happen in order to make the future a safer and more accepting place for everyone. Before wrapping up the episode, we talk briefly about Japan and how cool Daikanyama and Shimokitazawa are. As well as how sketchy Minami-Senju can sometimes be. I asked Hix about places in Japan that she finds special to which she responded with Yamanashi prefecture, her dad's province. As per usual, the environmental noise is above what it should be for a podcast. I'm a bit rusty from the season break but hopefully we can get back into the swing of things soon. Thanks for listening!
How does it feel to return to somewhere you have never been? This is the overarching theme of Meatfist's thesis; an introspective exploration on the identity people that have grown up outside of their birth country and inevitably feel like outsiders when they return. We kept it focused; discussing only a select few topics. Thanks for listening!
Episode 90 focuses on the Internet. Mac (Asshulz) and Czae (Crispy Panda) are multidisciplinary artists from LB who use the Internet to their advantage. In this age of instant and unlimited information, we often take for granted the resources available to us and fail to use them to their fullest. Sitting down with these two, I've grown to understand how much of a role the Internet plays on modern creatives. Mac is a multi-disciplinarian to say the least. He has his hand in many creative fields ranging from films to zines, event organizing, writing and design. Something I found interesting was when Mac revealed that he "doesn't really like art that much" but feels compelled to create. An internal conflict that I am unfamiliar with but I'm sure many of you can relate to. Czae on the other hand balances her creative life with a veterinarian career. She says has a difficult time labeling herself as an artist as she mostly creates on the side. This has been something that has come up in episodes past; the internal struggle of the artist label. Something I hope I can continue to explore in future episodes. We discussed many topics within the show's hour, as usual, it was not nearly enough time to fully express our thoughts and feelings. The overall theme though I suppose comes down to our love-hate relationship with the Internet. Apologies for the audio quality again. I keep fucking up. Thanks for listening nonetheless.
Meow! This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with the 2018 Philippines Coffee in Good Spirits Champion and cat lover, Yassie! As someone new to the Third Wave coffee scene, this was a particularly informative and educational episode. Yassie takes us on her coffee journey starting from the beginning, working at Caffe Bene then moving to Toby's Estate and then for the last four years at The Curator. She gives insightful information about the competitive coffee scene and how the process works. We also talk briefly about what makes a bad cup of coffee bad; burnt rubber and steel are notes you never want in a cup of coffee. The Philippines is home to a vibrant coffee scene, you just have to take a moment to look for it. And I'm not just talking about cafés, but also farms! Please try the Purple Haze at The Curator if you ever get the chance! It's so good! Thanks for listening!
On this episode of Art School Taught Me, I sit down with Visual Artist/DJ Andi! As per usual, the conversation jumps sporadically from topic to topic ranging from how creative courses are taught here in Manila to breaking into the DJ scene to the trauma of Catholic school to not putting out your own work in fear of being judged by your peers. We even briefly talk about about ghosts. I ask Andi to explain more about what transit records exactly is and she compares the company's model to that of Kitsuné which I found very interesting! Aaliyah also chimes in briefly when we discuss the state of local cinema and sci-fi.
Hi! It took a while, but we did it. I finally managed to get some filmmakers on the show! On this episode we delve into all things film; from the process of making one to the experience of watching one. We tackle the topic of cinema from all sides; beginning with our opinion on remakes then shifting to some of our favorite films. Then the discussion takes a turn and we really get into the generation-defining, late 2000s pop culture behemoth that was The Twilight Saga. We never got too deep into the arsty-farsty stuff, unfortunately. Gaby talks about how she got into K-pop and expresses her love for EXO, which leads to a brief morality discussion about the industry and how idols are treated more like products than people. Iris however, remains an enigma. All we've managed to learn about her is that she is a visual storyteller who focuses more on photography and film. Though admittedly, the overall vagueness ostensibly creates a more compelling artistic identity. Towards the end of the episode, Gaby talks about her experience working on a production, which I found very informative. This was such a fun episode! Shoutout VM Project Architecture.
The experimentation continues. Today's setting: Toby's Estate. Today's guest: Javier aka Lui. aka Papa Jawnz aka rocket_fries. On this episode, Javier shares how he got into music and we delve deeper into Manila's DJ scene. We also touch on Transit, Cosmic Sonic Arts, Fête de la Musique, and local Filipino streetwear brands. Towards the latter end of the episode we get into clothing and fashion and recount some regrettable purchases in the past. Excuse the technical difficulties. I'm not the audio guy, okay?! If anyone in the Metro wants to help me out, let me know lmao. Catch you on the next one.
I decided to start this one from the clap as to quickly immerse you, the listener, into the sporadic and often times loud episode. Bea and I cover a wide array of topics ranging from her modeling experience to teaching to illustration art to k-pop to gory movies like the Saw franchise and The Human Centipede. We recorded this episode at Yardstick Coffee on a particularly busy time of day. At this point you all should know what to expect when it comes to the quality of the recording environment. I had so much fun talking about gory films with Bea! Shoutout to Astlo and I hope you find this awkward episode entertaining lol. Go watch Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom.
Today we find ourselves in Alabang. Joining me on this episode is graphic designer and animator Agu as well as illustrator and industrial designer Dana! This episode tackles a plethora of topics ranging from animation to package design to that one time that one dude cut off three of his fingers in shop class. All of this quality conversation in a not so ideal recording environment.
Another week, another episode! This time we have the very talented Tamia AKA Grrl Cloud on the show! We talk in depth about her origin stories as a musician and film photographer. We also geek out about our mutual admiration for Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love. Around the 14:30 mark, Tamia mentions a gig she recently had at Grrl Gang's anniversary; however what she was actually referring to was The Male Gaze's anniversary! I also incorrectly credited Steven Spielberg for making A New Hope. I know. Fuck me, right? Sorry, George Lucas. Sorry, Star Wars fans. Anyways... I had a lot of fun making this one. Enjoy!
Back-to-back episodes at Poison Coffee & Doughnuts! Where's the sponsorship? The background noise on this one is a bit loud. Sorry. On this episode, I talk with portrait photographer Nico about social media fame, the art world, and Superbad. I also attempt to recall a this quote from Picasso, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." but totally fuck it up.
Location: Poison Coffe & Doughnuts. Guest: Ellyphant. Elly is a multidisciplinary artist based in Makati. Her photographs have been published on multiple blogs and magazines, including Scout and Pulp Magazine. Her illustrations have been showcased internationally in Japan. She also did calligraphy work for Louis Vuitton Philippines.
This is the fifth installment in the series. It is also a #MILESTONE! On this episode, I sit down with multimedia artist Marian aka the PINK KOMIKERA herself! We talk about the local indie comics as well as that one night she and her work friends "ended up crashing a movie shoot at this sketchy alleyway where there was a costume shop and guys chopping lechon." Take a listen. It's a fun one!
On this episode of Art School Taught Me, I sit down with DJ/Producer y o u n g s l e e p y b o i and we discuss the current landscape of music here in the Philippines. We also delve into his creative process and artistic growth s a producer and DJ, beginning with Vaporwave then shifting to Future Funk and then eventually Chill, Lo-Fi beats. We also talk briefly about coffee.
For the third installment of the series, I sit down with photographer Abes and discuss his photography and wheatpaste project "If These Walls Could Talk." Enjoy!
On the second installment of the Manila series, I sit down with Arts & Lifestyle Writer and Eraser Stamp Artist Marz at Panaderya Toyo.
Hello! It's been a while. I apologize. But at last, the first episode of the Manila series is live! I knew that during my time here I wanted to produce some episodes for the podcast. And I knew that I didn't want to them to be same nonsensical content that you're all too familiar with. I've been working hard on getting in contact with creatives from all around the city. The last few weeks has been hectic, to say the least. This is a more serious take on Art School Taught Me. This series focuses on people from a variety of artistic fields, living in and around the Metro Manila area. Every episode, I will sit down with an artist (or a group of artists) and discuss, among other things, what it's like as a working creative here in the city; the positives and the negatives. I want these episodes to be honest and uncut. These recorded conversations aim to showcase many perspectives from the people directly shaping Manila's blossoming cultural landscape. This first episode features Roby and Joey! The installments will be inconsistent in the beginning, but hopefully we can start posting on a weekly basis again eventually. Scheduling is difficult but I'm trying to make it work. I hope you understand. And I hope you enjoy listening to these episodes as much as I did making them! – Laurens
Laurens and Cris discuss their final week in Japan and the future of Art School Taught Me. Happy Birthday to The Other Guy!
Master Laurens and Master Cris talk about the Maid Café experience.
Romo joins Laurens and Cris and recounts his adventures during his week here in Japan.
Laurens and Cris experience Halloween in Shibuya.
Episode 70: "I Wanna See John Cena Transform Into A Wresting Ring." by Laurens & The Other Guy
Episode 69: "IT'S TREWAY!!!!!!" by Laurens & The Other Guy
Episode 68: "I've Never Downloaded Porn." by Laurens & The Other Guy
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