I feel very lucky right now. As someone working in a predominantly freelance field, I’m currently holding down a contract [touch wood]. Now, sure this is at the cost of a few things, but that stability is a real lifeline in times like this, especially in the volatile film & tv industry.
So in light of the fact that I’m on my feet, and knowing that all my independent friends, colleagues and just places I know and go might have had the rug pulled out right now, I wanted to put together a little semi-regular shoutout for them.
Making stuff with friends, the best way. Photo: Sophia Groves
This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while for creative and nice things that inspire me, but what better time than this lockdown to start digging through my scruffy notepads to find & share all the cool stuff creative friends & inspirations have been up to, and how you can support them now they’re stuck at home and away from regular work. Expect everything from photographers selling beautiful prints, to music artists with new albums & merch (who can’t tour this summer!), and even local cafes and restaurants doing cool stuff who are having to adapt to delivery life.
Now, I’m Bristol based, in the U.K., so there’ll be a lot of content centric to that, but PLEASE please get in touch with your suggestions from around the WORLD - ojelleyfilm01@gmail.com - maybe I’ll do some more regional based ones that you can share with your friends & family in your country!
I’m going to keep this looking a bit light, so that rather than swamping you with a wave of amazing people each post, you’ll hopefully have the time to have a proper look into what the few I’ve chosen are up to. Right then, intro over, here are our first couple.
001 - Carla Mundy, Photographer
Support by: Checking out the print & merch shop on her website (link in article).
I’ve been great friends with Carla for quite a few years now, meeting her through working with the wonderful Arcane Roots crew in a small recording studio in Bath, and shooting all things music & touring. However, we really hit it off over a shared love of (alongside the music life) hanging out, photographing and exploring the beautiful national parks in the U.K., nature FTW.
Carla has been on more tours than you.
However, as well as her amazing Tour/Live/Editorial Music work, Carla is incredible at turning her hand to a massive variety of photography, a quick look around on her site digs up some really beautiful Lifestyle & Brand work, and of course her stunning Landscapes too. (P.s. we’re well overdue a trip when we’re free from this lockdown mate, let’s do it!).
Diversity, I think only the photographers amongst you will appreciate how difficult it is to segue between styles this well.
Finally, Carla is also a serious D.I.Y aficionado on the down low too, with some killer homemade bits you can get your hands on. I have a few pieces of hers at home and that come on the road with me. She makes sick notepads (I’m a pretentious Moleskine user, and these things are legit lovely to write/doodle in!), handmade calendars to go on your desk (got one, it’s beautiful) and of course a huge array of awesome prints, if you love yourself a mountain, go get stuck in.
002 - FED 303 Cafe
Support By: Online food ordering with delivery around North Bristol (Link in article)
I’m almost loathe to hand the info on this one over… a real ‘treat yo self’ (Parks and Rec fans, rep) for the rubbish times we’re having right now, which is genuinely important. Tucked away a little distance from the centre of Bristol up the famous Gloucester Rd, this is easily the best breakfast spot in the city (now that Katie & Kim’s has departed!) It’s a little haven and always totally rammed, my immediate go-to when I’m back from a long shoot and craving real fresh food and amazing coffee, served up by a super lovely crew. It’s also dangerously close to the crossfit box I go to, I have to fight regularly not to immediately undo all my training.
I actually just went digging on my phone to try and find some shots of food from here to make your mouths water, and after 10 folders of phone backups found only one shot. I’m clearly much too keen to just get stuck into it when I’m there. Anyway, from the Salads to the Baked Goods (I’ll have one cinnamon bun please!) you can order everything you could want the day before online on their brand new delivery website, and have it dropped to your door, freshly made that day. But you’ll have to be quick, the service is proving pretty popular, orders open daily for the next days delivery, first come first served.
ORDER HERE!!
You’ll have to wait a while to be able to head back in for one of their incredible breakfasts, but it’ll be worth it. The best eggs you’ll ever have, and Harissa tomatoes that will blow your mind.
003 - Sampa The Great:
The Return
Support by: Buying the Album on Bandcamp (link in article)
Finally, the latest album I bought. From working closely with musicians and understanding how big a deal buying an album VS streaming is to them financially, I’m a huge believer in purchasing the albums you love with real money rather than a trickle of a subscription, and supporting musicians properly. I’ll happily go into this, (and why you should invest in high res audio) in another blog post if anyone is interested…
For now though, I was introduced to Sampa The Great on my last shoot by my friend Jo and immediately fell in love with this whole album, plus the artwork is BEAUTIFUL. I kind of recognised the name, but it’s largely totally new to me. I’m not going to write a big old review of it here, just go listen. Favourite track right now is “Leading Us Home”, some serious souly vibes to take on the likes of the legendary Anderson .Paak, but the singles like “O.M.G” and “Final Form” are killer too. It’s a great listen through, go get it on start to finish and don’t pretend you don’t have the time…
It’s a tiny £6.49 or you can pay more if you feel like it (I gave it a crisp £10, because it’s amazing) and then you can download it in any audio flavour you can think of from MP3, to WAV, FLAC all sorts, massive win. Plus, you don’t have to rely on having wifi or 4g to stream a rubbish sounding version of it… ok ok, I’ll wait and do that chat in a different blog.
So, just a brief start to this new format, I have tons more to post, but in the interest of keeping it high quality and regular am going to eke it out a bit, sadly I think we’re in this for the long run.
I’m just going to feel it out depending on what people are interested in, so please let me know whats good for you in the comments below, and like I said I’m dying for suggestions too. Let me know who is creating cool stuff, or has a wicked business we should all support.
I hope you’re all doing well in the lockdown, being sensible and taking the chance to breathe a bit with the space and slowdown we’ve been given. If you look at it right, it’s kind of a blessing.
If you’re struggling at all with figuring out the being stuck at home thing, I made a little video chat here, it might seem obvious to most but perhaps it has a few helpful tips for someone.
Catch you next time, Olly X