Scenes

With the sales of chess boards increasing by 400% in 2020, it’s safe to say the sport is on the rise amongst younger generations. We spoke to Phil Makepeace, a professional chess coach and ex-professional player, about the sports gender gap, its funding and the monumental influence of ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ on the chess world.

Kostie and Ruby are joined by Craig Santicchia,  a gaming and eSports enthusiast, who started his career at the worlds leading esports brand Fnatic. helping shape the future of sports entertainment. Now running his own company, Wolfpad Gaming - who support brands, agencies and rights holders on all things gaming & esports.

Lennie and Ruby are joined by Dr. Matt Lodder, a lecturer, curator and author of artist history, who specialises in body art and tattooing, who takes them through his journey into academia, his incredible debut book ‘painted people,’ get a glimpse into history through tattooing, discuss what Gen Alpha’s relationship to the art form might look like, and how changing your body changes your relationship with the world.

Dr Matt Lodder online:

Instagram

Book:

Painted People

Podcast:

Beneath The Skin

Other Links:

Franko B

Ron Aithy

Lal Hardy 

Madeline Altman

Samuel O’reilly

Aimee Crocker

Joe Carstairs

Marlene Dietrich

Bang Bang

Sutherland mcdonald

Jessie Knight

Tattooed mummies from Siberia 

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie and Ruby are joined by sports photographer Duncan Nicholls, who takes them through his journey from banking to photography, the power of 'flow states', limitless mentalities, the secrets behind elite performance and his desire to leave a lasting impact.

Duncan Nicholls online:

Website / Instagram / Good Planets

Films:

Wali

The Speed Project

Other Links:

1% for the Planet

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie is joined by Lenny and Sophie from Sister Midnight who share what life has been like since they decided to create a community benefit society, the impact of grass root venues, southeast London’s unique music scene and the importance of funding in culture.

Sister Midnight online:

Website / Instagram / Twitter / Youtube

Recommendations:

Grants/Funding

Cultural Recovery Fund, Arts Council

Power to Change

Boosting Community Business London Fund

Co-Operatives UK

Community Shares Company

National Lottery Community Fund

South East London Culture

Solidarity Tapes

Steam Down at Matchstick Piehouse

The Ivy House

leather.head

The Fox and Firkin

Corsica Studios

Carpet Shop Peckham

Charities

MASS Action

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie is joined by record label owner and jazz enthusiast Will Abell, who shared his take on the jazz scene: touching on record collecting, inclusivity and open mindedness within the community, breaking down the inaccessible stigma surrounding it, jam sessions, the impact it has had on other genres and how important jazz is as a medium to communicate personal voice.

Ostrich Records online:

Website / Instagram / Events

Recommendations:

Artists

Xhose Cole

Sultan Stevenson Trio

Jelly Cleaver

Léa Mondo (⅓ of Peng Femme Jam, Léa + The Sunflowers)

Will Markham

AKU

Harry Weir

Ornette Coleman

John Coltrane

Kamasi Washington

Events

Peng Femme Jam @ The Shacklewell Arms

Orii Jam @ The Colour Factory

Records

IBEJI - Xhosa Cole

A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

Power to the People - Joe Henderson

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie is joined by podcaster, DJ, photographer, director and artist Almass Badat, whose collaborators include Dazed, The BBC, Netflix, Boiler Room and The British Council. Almass takes us on a journey through the transgender community in India, the flow state, discovering her roots, gender fluidity, the importance of being fearless with being curious, her incredible podcast ‘What Is This Behaviour,’ Disney’s process of ideation and building a community of South Asian people going against the grain.

Almass online:

Website / Instagram  / Spotify

Hijra’s Hustle / WITB Podcast / WITB101

Recommendations:

A Quick Ting On Afrobeats by Christian Adofo

Freedom Skatepark in Ghana

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie is joined by musician and drag queen Douglas Dare, who takes us on a journey through drag culture, its evolution, the contrast in his music career, the importance of being silly and the impact of his Dorset upbringing.

Douglas online:

Website / Instagram / Twitter / Spotify

Recommendation:

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie is joined by drum and bass pioneer Andy C, who takes takes us on a journey through the birth of drum and bass, how the scene has evolved over the last 30 years, the importance of an underground following, breaking Ibiza, the impact of Covid and the power of human connection.

Andy C online:

Website / Instagram / Twitter / Spotify

Recommendations:

Radio Babylon by Meat Beat Manifesto

Shut Up And Dance

Other Links:

Origin Unknown - Valley of the Shadows

RAM Records

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Lennie is joined by contemporary artist Alice Von Maltzhan, who takes us on a journey through temporality, the environment, her practice with the medium of paper, life in the art world and the importance of reframing the way we experience our surroundings.

Alice Online:

Website/ Instagram

Recommendations:

Film - Wendy

Book - The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

Museums - V&A, British Museum, Science Museum

Soundtrack:

Moss Gatherer - One

Truant Online:

@TruantLondon / Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn