to Be Issue 03

Cover star: Pan Daijing

Last year we spoke about an impending cultural renaissance, a changing of the times on the periphery of a better year ahead. With a series of events leading us almost to the point of no words – cataclysmic flooding and so called WWIII – it seems on the contrary, there’s a lot to say.

With the political and natural world powers shifting us to a new rock bottom, on a spiritual, environmental and nuclear level, space has been made to regenerate humanity again. If you’re reading this, you’re lucky enough to witness the transformative times we’re living in.

The theme of this issue, Dissolve to Evolve, is named after a song a new friend Mikkel Rev dreamt up. The title speaks to the practice of transformation, and is a reminder that with every low comes a new spiritual dawn, one humanity can evolve through with the ebbs and flows of the unknown.

Contributors in this issue speak to their last year of evolution, and their personal, political and creative dreams for the year ahead. In here you’ll find our cover star, Pan Daijing speaking to our elusive writer ‘T’ on the cathartic power noise music poses, and our universal need for spiritual growth. Photographer Gareth McConnell relevantly reflects on the conflict in Northern Ireland, and tapping into a cosmic power through nature. Anisha Khemlani spoke to musician KMRU about his upbringing and the transformative power of music, and Mahmood Fazal speaks with Photographer Estevan Oriol on everything from hip hop and gang warfare to low riding in Los Angeles.

On an equally profound level, additional contributors include: Alasdair Mclellan, Gaetano Pesce, Hiro Kone, Silent Servant, Dasha Nekrasova, Devon Ross, Atong Atem, Alain Levitt, Thierry Le Goues, Christopher Polack, and more.

Let this issue be a catalyst for growth and a reminder that with every dissolution comes a rebirth, in one form or another.

- AB