I got to sit down and talk to Sneeze Magazine’s creative director Nic Fensom, during the Carbon Festival. It was one of the guys that I really wanted pick his brain, because dude is young and is making one of the hottest magazines right now, in an environment where the sentiment about print is still very cloudy. If you are unfamiliar with Sneeze Magazine, the laymen’s explanation would be a Canadian newspaper size magazine that covers skate culture, art and fashion but it really is so much more and so much more original than that. Every aspect of the magazine is produced with a careful eye, including teaming up with brands to create custom ads.

- T,

How did you get your start in publications…

My college news paper, i was the photo editor, i would organize photo shoots with professors, girls volleyball team, things like that, i was also into skate photography, and just through that I got really into publications and the editorial process, being part of a editorial team. It as just really fun putting something out there, like media for people to read, even though it might have been just a shitty school news paper, it was really fun, and just reach out to people you normally wouldn’t have access to.

Was it also about showing your work to people as well…

It was more like, getting work done, because it was more journalism back then, it wasn’t art, it was more shooting professors and protests, coordinating volunteer photographers, and I really liked that process and it really opened up the whole publication world for me.

What was your first after college gig…

I went to New York to intern at a magazine called ‘Trace’, (laughs) I don’t know if its still around cause it was kind of shitty probably, but at the time I was like yeah i got a internship, they were stoked on me, I had a great boss, and the first week I got there was the Lauryn Hill shoot, so that was pretty sick, we were Uptown in some penthouse apartment with Lauryn Hill, so it was pretty cool.

So this is when she was on the come back right…

Yeah this is right after she had disappeared for a bit, she was meant to comeback, so we were all psyched like we had this exclusive comeback story, (laughs) but she never came back, (laughs) so it was like this major photo shoot for nothing.

I think a lot of Lauryn Hill fans were disappointed as well…

Yeah a lot of the staff at Trace were like, “Yeah! we got Lauryn Hill! We are gonna kill it!”. Then she disappeared again, but that was all cool, cause at the same time I was doing a lot of photography work for other magazines as well, like Mass Appeal. I think one of my first New York shoots I was shooting ‘Lady Sovereign’, (laughs) but the photos were sick though. So yeah New York was the start for everything for me.

So why go back to Vancouver…

I am Canadian and the whole visa situation, things got a little messed up with the visa application, I should’ve researched more and gone with a lawyer, but I was young so I was trying to save money and that is what kind of messed me up then I went back to Vancouver. Then I am back in Vancouver and there is nothing like, those kind of publications I liked, so I started Sneeze then back in 2008.

What does it feel like now having ‘the’ magazine everyone is looking at…

I don’t even think of it like that, I don’t even know if people think of it like that, I just work so much on it, that I don’t even think of it as a sign of success.

All the brand over the years who would you say you have had the best time just kicking it with…

All the brands have been great, they are all sick brands, its not like I am hanging out with them, I am just usually behind a computer, in Vancouver, its not like I am on set, the most we get to interact is when I am in New York we might grab some lunch, my business partner Bradley Carbone who is in New York does a lot more of the face to face stuff. But all the brands are different, Adidas is great, Stussy is great, they have been with us since issue two.

Who has been your favourite cover so far…

After a issue comes out I usually like it or hate, “its not like this is the best one”, (laughs) its more like I hate this one. Ever since ‘Kenneth Cappello’ has started doing most of our covers now, even since he has come on board just every cover has been the best, like the Iggy Pop cover he just shot, was just like such a sick cover, the Kate Upton cover was great, he does a shoot just captures the issue, he is now sort of our staple.

Before when I was doing photography I would always think to myself why do publications go for the same photographer over and over again, but then you learn that you work with the same guy and he gets your vibe and they will produce every time, and there is just too much risk to have someone different every time.

I have had different people shoot covers, and like i will hate it, like Issue Ten I was pulling my hair out, ready to quit, it was just the worst experience just putting all this work into a issue then a cover comes back and its like the worst thing ever, and you are stuck with it. But every other cover has been great, the Odd Future one was great, every Kenneth Cappello cover has been great, he just shot Erik Ellington on the cover, that was cool.

Is print gonna die…

I don’t think so…well if you go to a magazine stand there are still plenty of them on the stands, like they were dying in 2008…2009 right like after the first wave of the recession, but it seems like there are still magazines but now its like journals, like soccer journal or fashion or menswear journal, who knows if these magazines are making money, like you can still print magazines, if you’ve got money.

Do you feel with that a lot of magazines have just become ad books with no point of view…

Yeah, I mean definitely there are lot of magazines, that are like yup lets just the print it and make money, but like we definitely have a lot of ads, but when we get an ad in, we take into consideration like where exactly it goes, like what is beside it, make sure the book flows front to back and all our ads are custom, like you don’t get to see those ads anywhere else, usually, like the ads are almost content.

We are very conscious of not breaking the flow of the book, its almost like ad break in between shows kind of takes out of the story. We don’t have control over every single ads we get but like Stussy is doing custom ads for use based on our issue theme, a lot of the thought goes behind the placement, the flow, but you know you get ad agencies you just send you a insert and you can’t really control that.

Any advice for people thinking about starting a magazine…

You need to work with good people, you need a good team, and basically not give up, its a tough and stressful business. Like after the tenth issue, everyone was like oh ‘Sneeze’, even then like Sneeze isn’t like world wide, it just takes a lot of time, it has definitely taken over my life, some days im like what am i doing, but then you have days were you are like yea this is sick. Just like anything, hope that makes sense. But yea advice (laughs)… don’t give up, be careful who you work it and surround yourself with good people.

Lets start off by saying, I am not a huge fan of Kobe, and I am over the moon with the Thunder whoooping them today, but these joints right here and are f*cking ice cold killer. Black and gold colourway is part of the post season Elite Series which also includes a Lebron 9 PS and a Nike Zoom Hyperdunk, these are the  Zoom Kobe VII and by far the best colourway out right now. Super comfy, looks like a low but doesn’t feel it, definitely has enough ankle support and the full zoom cushioning is always good, the collar around the ankle makes for a very comfortable feel and the built in sock fits like a glove, like no joke super snug.

- T, not much more to be said here then a big thanks to the folks at Nike for these lovelies

Nike produces a lot of dope football boots and for this weekends UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, they are launching a new collection, called “The Clash Collection”. If you click the image above you will see a breakdown of all the features of these very hard to miss colourways, which will also be seen on the Socceroos next month when they take on Japan for the World Cup Qualifiers in BRISBANE!

- T, so who wants to roll with me to the qualis?

Tom Sachs has worked with Nike before but never to this extent. Playing off his Space Program MARS project, the Mars Yard Shoe combines Sachs’ weird DIY aesthetic with Nike’s technological innovations resulting in a weird Sci-Fi yet somewhat familiar shoe that goes on sale this Saturday the 18th of May for $385. You can read up more on the Nikecraft project here. This whole project plays to my super space nerd side very well, also check some of the NASA branded Jordans in one of the promotional videos! Also a bit more info on the shoe itself on Sachs’ site.

- t, sadly as these are a Tier Zero release there’s no chance I’ll be getting my grubby little mitts on them.

For The Homies hit back after a tee drop from the Gold Tooth collection with a selection of caps. Featured here is my favourite graphic from this season; the "Paris" cap featuring a flip of a certain saddle maker turned high fashion house. There’s also some nice simple 5 panels for those of you who are so inclined.

- t, should be able to grab these caps from your local Homies dealer, which if you’re in Brisbane it’s Laced.

Captain Sip Sop’s Barbers Shop & Outfitters, just opened this past weekend in Noosa, Sunshine Coast. This unique concept store was conceived by one of my best friends, Malakai Mitchell aka Mdub aka Black Lightning. He teamed up with his homies from Thomas Surfboards, and joined forces to create this killer space featuring a barbershop, menswear, surf boards and lifestyle products, also a half pipe! Really proud of my dude, they worked their asses off to convert this old shed to a killer space, definitely a destination for anyone who is into cool retail spots and cool shit in general.

- T, really stoked!

It seems as though images of Sneaker Freaker‘s next collaboration that takes its form of a Saucony Grid 9000 have surfaced a little earlier than expected. Nicknamed the “Bushwhacker” the shoes take cues from previous SF releases such as the oatmeal midsole and white outsole (Skippy NBs) some nice mint accents (one of SF’s signature colours) and a bit of speckle which has seen its way on to many of Woody’s creations. There’s also a nice detail inside the shoe reminding us all that these Melbournites have been grinding away in the print industry for a decade this year!

Release is early next month, with more details sure to arise when the Sneaker Freaker crew planned for them. In the mean time save your pennies and check out the early release images. You can also read up about the shoe in the latest Sneaker Freaker magazine; Issue 24.

- t, very wearable and camo friendly colour scheme paired with a big comfy shoe is a winner.

- T, Scram Jones airs it out over Gotye’s, “Somebody I used to know”

Finally upgraded my daily spectacles with this killer ‘Ayalisse’ frame in Matte Black and Matte Tokyo Tortoise, they are by RVS Eyewear. The Turkish brand have made a name for themselves with their colourful matte finishing, hand painted red screws and vibrant colour combinations. I love the packaging, they come in a dope vintage fabric case and the overall feel of their product is understated boldness.

I copped these from my homies over at Optiko, they always look after me proper, they know what my big head needs and their range is always accommodating for all faces and they always have something interesting.

- T, really digging these!

- T, just chopping it up with the Rickster, about his Slide Show, Bobbito, Photography and Life in general. Checkout his Funky Uncle’s Park Bench mixtape.