In my six-part interview series for the Financial Times I spoke with ‘global rethinkers’ : people who are changing, disrupting and generally simply improving the ways we face global challenges.
For this piece for The Sunday Times, I headed back to one of my favourite places on the Kent coast.
In this piece for The Independent, I took a walk through some of the intriguing contemporary artworks in Folkestone, Kent, ahead of the summer 2021 return of the Folkestone Triennial.
My long-read feature for The Guardian, on the surprising culture history of whale song. I became utterly fascinated with this story and it became, in every sense, a deep dive.
I’ve done many tens of celebrity interviews over the years and always relish them the whole process, from research to write-up. This interview was Dev Patel, for MO Magazine for Mandarin Oriental, was a piece of ‘brand ambassador’ content, but of the best, light-touch kind, where were simply able to chat about Dev’s creative work and his career journey.
I’ve interviewed Marianne Faithfull a couple of times, and have long admired her indefatigable spirit. I was pleased when she told me that she liked my questions and added, reassuringly, “Not all journalists are c***s.”
It was wonderful to return to Iceland, where I’ve done several press trips, to write this piece for British Airways’ High Life magazine (where I was previously Deputy Editor).I learned a lot from. my interviewees about how Icelandic culture, from the climate to the childcare model (with lost of its education), shapes the music scene. Speaking of which, none of my interviewees minded that I brought my then four-month-old baby with me - in fact, he was a big hit.
One of my all-time favourite interviewees, Liv Tyler is articulate and so warm.
I’ve written several pieces for Conde Nast Traveller, including some of these front section trend pieces. They are deceptively short, but require detailed research.
Debbie Harry is an artist whom I have interviewed more than once, in person and on the phone, and was a hero of mine from the first time I heard Parallel Lines. Spending an afternoon with her and Chris Stein at Somerset House was one of my most enjoyable, yet nerve-wracking, work assignments. One of those ‘pinch me’ days at work.
Another memorable assignment: I was so glad to have the chance to sit in Ian McKellen’s London home and hear his stories of an extraordinary life firsthand. It was a cover story that I pitched and organised for Metropolitan magazine, for Eurostar. I went on to write a cover feature on Jane Birkin for them.
I often write and edit on contemporary art and artists, in this case for Supplement magazine, which is edited by Alex Rayner and Justin Quirk. I’ve also edited catalogue and exhibition texts, including for the Venice Biennale.
This lighthearted blog piece for The Guardian addressed a personal hang-up of mine; and as it turned out, many other people.
I considered the lighter side of Leonard Cohen, and his time on the Greek island of Hydra - where his fans still gather to remember him - for British Airways’ High Life.