The magCulture founder picks the top ten titles he’s loving right now
The magCulture Shop has stocked over 1500 magazines since opening ten years ago. There are plenty of big, successful, popular titles among that number, but for this list I thought I’d celebrate newer arrivals. We receive new submissions from publishers every day; here are ten of the best ones of the past few year or so.
New Papers #4
Literature, London
Subtle in form and provocative in content, New Papers delivers a bite-sized dose of poetry and prose every issue. The current one has eight pieces, and comes packaged in a trifold wraparound that functions as both graphic masthead and editor’s note, while also highlighting the tactile nature of the printed object.
Nose #1
Smell, Melbourne
This new magazine from Australia highlights how smell is the most overlooked of human senses. Clever imagery and an open editorial approach to its subject leave you questioning why something like it hasn’t been published sooner. The first issue asks: Does smelling make you smarter? Why is it so difficult to find words to describe a scent? Did I really just get aroused by the smell of my dirty jumper?
Outlander #1
Fashion, Rotherham
After 11 years online, luxury/streetwear fashion platform Outlander moves to print to further express the belief in being unapologetically yourself. It comes with a pair of front cover stars that set the tone—choose between the pastel-hued polkadot surroundings of Justin Bieber—dressed in Skylrk, or opt for the the more muted and snowy palette of a Hermès adorned Travis
Scott.
Vanguard Union Press #2
Creativity, London
Each issue unfolds into a large-format showcase of the work of one artist, accompanied by a long form interview with the subject. The large pages are unbound, allowing images to flow around the back of other pages to create large poster forms—each issue has four posters and a reference plate providing a visual background to the artist. A lively, inventive piece of print.
Its second issue features Polish-born composer, pianist, and vocalist Hania Rani.
Elastic #1
Art and psychedelia, US
This reminds us that psychedelia’s sixties heyday was more than the hippy clichés, and actually a time of radical artistic innovation. It picks up the original idea of psychedelia and transports it to the 21st century, the theme ‘Dying’ opening up subjects such as the infinitude of grief, the obliteration of the self through sex and childbirth, and the weirdness of ageing. And just as the art and literature is re-contextualised for now, so the visual representation of psychedelia is reassessed by brilliant designers Chloe Scheffe and Natalie Shields.
No Way Back #1
Music and cultural history, London
Republishing eighties music coverage might sound like something for the nostalgic rock dad, but this smart magazine shows how, with the right level of care and curation, repurposing old material can shed new light on major cultural moments, contextualising them for a new generation of readers. Early UK interviews with Kraftwerk and Spandau Ballet are matched by a photo story about young black New Yorkers, and an early report about graffiti art from NYC.
M Le Monde International #3
Lifestyle, Paris
This is an example of a major publisher looking at the indie market for inspiration. Pulling together the best stories from the weekend magazine of French newspaper Le Monde, and translating them into English, it seeks to take advantage of the international reputation the weekly has built on Instagram. The large, biannual, glossy format suits the material well: celebrity profiles and fashion featuring the work of the best photographers alongside long form political journalism. This issue ranges from Julianne Moore and Lorde to sisterhood in wartime Ukraine.
Vittles #1
Food and politics, London
This biannual is a great example of how digital publishers can successfully turn to print. Already a successful Substack newsletter, Vittles addresses food as an object of political agency rather than merely a meal on the table. They moved into print earlier this year and immediately made a mark. Its intelligent mix of polemics and restaurant tips transfers well to print, and you can sense the editorial team’s enjoyment of being able to add images and design to their armoury.
Scary Boots #3
Art, London
Risograph-printed and hand-sewn, this quarterly of art and writing is a beautiful piece of print—it looks brilliant and feels great too. Each issue mixes creative responses to a theme, in this case ‘Nostalgia.’ An addict trades in imperial postcards; the anonymous Scary Boots Collective longs for a figment of home; a former alcoholic reminisces on her storied career as a mixologist as she rides ‘the misery bus’ home from AA; and a New Yorker drifts off to sleep on the interstate.
Translator #2
News and language, London
Translator is a new magazine of journalism and reportage from around the world, translated into English, for the open minded and the language-curious. Produced by a small team in London in collaboration with an international network of journalists, writers, translators and photographers, plus the magCulture design team. This second issue includes stories about fatherhood under siege in Palestine, the three young Dutchmen leading an international nitrous oxide empire, a photo essay of the Gen Z protests in Kathmandu and word on the street from Belfast, Dublin and Guadalajara.
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