Round as their trademark Wham-O Frisbee, the captivating and innovative new Freestyle Magazine features insightful stories about spaced-out architecture, current fashion, worthy art and music projects -- even the occasional recipe. Daringly launched a few months ago, the team of international editors recently came up with a Twitter crime story that will keep you awake and guessing about its truth content. We had a chat with Jason McGlade, designated editor in chief, about the short history of the whimsical publication.
You are really courageous to launch a new magazine during the financial crisis. What made you decide to do so?
Thanks for calling it "courageous"; other less-kind people would call it something else! Things fell into place at the same time that this crisis fell upon us and once the ball was rolling -- or the Frisbee flying -- there was no going back. In the same year, my girl and I also got married and so why not? Bring it on!
It seems important for you to symbolically connect work and play – how come? Any bad experiences?
The only bad experience I’ve had was when work became dull and uninspiring. Life is too short to be a robot. If you have a shitty job then you have to at least make it fun, if you have a good job that’s fun, then you are the king of the world.
How much planning was involved before you came out with Freestyle?
There was a long phase of dreaming and the planning really never started until I got the team together. The other day I found a magazine that I had cut into a circle and I think that idea was probably from 890 AD.
What makes the ideal Freestyle editor?
Because of the special nature of the magazine, Freestyle editors have special skills: firstly, they are pretty good at Frisbee and if not they will at least twist muscles trying to be. They are ambitious and not afraid to express themselves -- discourse is really important for me. Secondly, they are funky and stylish and have good dancing skills as well as a strong power over the opposite sex.
You are using a Frisbee as a symbol to promote the magazine and express a certain philosophy – can you explain what the Frisbee means to you?
The Frisbee is an incredible object. Very simple and basic, easy to carry around and multi functional. When it’s a good disc, it flies through the air like a dream. Kids love it, dogs love it and you meet people when playing with it. In a 1983 American Playboy survey on the best way to meet a girl, the top answer was, "ask her to play Frisbee."
I was intrigued by the story “Who shot Bono?” How did you guys come up with that captivating horror story?
I am lucky enough to have a good network of artists, designers and writers – many from the time I spent at "Fabrica" art school in Italy. One such person is Tom Ridgway, who is an incredible writer working for publications such as WAD magazine and Colors magazine. I commissioned him to write a piece, the only guideline I gave him was that there had to be an element of Frisbee in it. It´s amazing what he came up with -- I think it’s my favorite thing in the whole magazine and I love that it is based around Berlin and Mauerpark, which is me and Ozzy the magazine dog’s Kiez.
How do you select your content?
We employ a very highly technical process in order to gather content: We find things we like and print them. Most stuff originates from our sketchbooks or from the wall in our headquarters and develops into something for the magazine.
What’s the aim of the Freestyle blog?
The blog was meant to be like a giant digital sketchbook. It has developed a lot over the last year and has almost become a separate entity in itself. We meet a lot of people through it and new doors are opened up for us and new connections made.
What’s your favorite magazine and why?
I like the Netto supplement they put through the door - it’s good to read on the toilet.
What else inspires you as Editor in Chief?
Having no money inspires me -- it’s amazing to work so hard without financial compensation (my wife Charlotte finds it particularly inspiring). When I get excited to see an empty beer bottle, I just think of the words of my old teacher Oliviero Toscani: "You have to suffer to create!"
What’s next on your schedule?
We are planning an amazing event in Germany in the early part of next year, which will involve a 15-meter truck and trailer, our tour bus She Hannibal, 15 beautiful girls, some serious Freestyle Frisbee action, loud music and a lot of glühwein. We have also started working with our mates Degustibus, a new label playing funky and fun party music and we are planning events for the future. Then in May, we’re planning "Freestyle Travel"; tailor-made tours by seasoned travelers who live between Europe and Indonesia. Using an extensive network of contacts and connections, we put together trips of a lifetime, like sailing on pirate boats and looking for dragons.
When is the next Freestyle Magazine coming out - any hints on the content?
Next issue is out in spring. I can’t say much as I am under orders from my scary Managing Editor, but let’s just say that it will kick the ass of the first one and the new Frisbee will be a Wham-o 119 mold specially remolded for Freestyle, with a design by someone in the higher echelons of popular culture.
Intrigued? Buy your copy here.
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