SHANE HAWKINS INTERVIEW

Shane Hawkins is a man of many talents, working with WONDERLAND Magazine, part-time DJing, a host to many events and overall a pretty entertaining guy. With major projects in process, I wanted to find out more about Shane so I had the pleasure of speaking to him about everything...

First of all, you're a part-time DJ. Care to elaborate?

I used to play indie records in a shitty club in Wolverhampton with my best friend Betty when we were 16. I was a bit out of practice so got my friend Munroe Bergdorf to mentor me into playing again. Munroe is one of London's most colourful characters of recent years as well as being a full-time DJ at some of the cities amazing nights.

Why only part-time?

It's a hobby. I love music and for me to be able to play it to others, share nostalgic tracks that they grew up listening as well as brand new stuff that I'll be introducing them to is fantastic. I'm not technically great, in comparison to others but I'm getting better.

Would you say music is a passion of yours?

Yes. I always insist that friendships can be made purely on musical interest. It almost confirmed a lot of friendships for me.

Is there anyone you would like to work with in the future?

There are so many people that I admire and people that influence my work everyday but in different aspects of the different areas that I work in. I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by so many creative geniuses and many of them I can call friends or close acquaintances. I DJ and so there are lots of other musicians that I'd love to work alongside, I write for a magazine so I'm inspired by literature and vocabulary and I put on my own club-nights where I’d love to get some great PA's involved.

You must have met a lot of cool people!

I've met so many inspirational individuals throughout the years, especially being in London. Close friends and family, peers, loved ones… They're the real inspiration but working with Rankin was a great opportunity. If I could be any other male it would either be Jarvis Cocker or John Waters and I've been lucky enough to meet Jarvis a few times. I met Will Self who is another hero of mine. He's so fucking intelligent that he made me feel inferior. London, as vast as the place is, is relatively small when it comes to a certain subculture and someone is friends with someone that knows someone else. This week I’ve met Foals, Melanie Blatt, Tom Odell and Dido. 

I know you're with WONDERLAND Magazine, what is it you do with the publication?

I'm the Online Features Assistant at the magazine. I work alongside a really great team as well as other contributors. I commission around 3/4 features per week, source the artists, contact management, construct the interview and write it up. Recently I've been trying to introduce more live content to the site with exclusive videos.

WONDERLAND is mostly known as a fashion publication. Do you have an interest in fashion?

I love fashion but I'm not really concerned with trends. I like to look nice but I think I'm past trying to find the most obscure items of clothing to try and stand out and be different. I did that way back in 2006 when I used to have ridiculous hair, and wear suits and bow ties everyday. I'd say I'm fashion aware but when it comes to fashion history and things like that then my knowledge is pretty basic in comparison to a lot of my friends. I'm a regular at LFW and it's great to see emerging designers and trend forecasts but generally I just wear whatever I like.

Sticking with fashion here, describe your own style in 3 words.

1: SPORTY 2: SPICE'S 3: LOVECHILD 

You've launched your event 'Camera Club', tell me about it...

It's a Disco In A Darkroom. I'd been to so many of my friends’ club-night ventures that I thought it was time that I started my own. I used to host the Disorder Magazine event at Trash Palace years ago but launched Camera Club in Brighton. It's normally filled with arty types, girls with bindis and camouflage tankini's. Boys who wear white socks and listen to Bondax. That kinda crowd you know. Our launch party saw the LONG X DJ's come down and sponsor the event. They gave away loads of free merchandise and played a great set. We also got Alis Pelleschi to play as well as Brighton's most infamous female DJ, Fifi. Since then we've collaborated with Photocopy Club, Spinde Magazine and launched in London at The Rose Club where Labrinth joined us for an impromptu PA.

Do you have any other side projects?

I'm just about to launch another project with filmmaker Rosie Powell. You can watch the trailer for it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B_tx_ucOYM

You seem like someone who has a very strong vision, would you agree?

I'd like to think I have a vision, yes. I have a very determined and driven nature and I like to make sure that everyone, including myself, fulfills their potential. I really enjoy helping others, giving them guidance and unbiased advice. Maybe I should have been a psychologist or a counselor  I'm wasted in Journalism.

Where did the name “Piccadilly Boy” originate from?

I'm a massive Libertines fan and it came from a lyric in their track 'Dilly Boy'. I used to get asked if I was from London or Manchester because of the reference. Nah mate.

Tell me about “Piccadilly Press” what is it and what are your plans for it?

Piccadilly Press is a collaboration between myself and a few filmmakers. It's going to launch this spring and it's basically a poor man’s SBTV. I want to nurture emerging talent and introduce unsigned and established musicians, artists, fashion designers, illustrators… to a wider audience. I'm going to be showcasing them, with live sessions, strange interview techniques and general debauchery. I think interactive media is so important at the minute and it can really grasp the onlookers’ attention for a longer duration than a written piece.

You’re quite a busy guy… How do you manage everything?

I have a personal assistant. She's called Juanita and is the 2nd cousin to Rosario from Will and Grace. I jest.

Do you make any of your own music? If so, tell me about it…

To many peoples surprise I'm actually a really good MC. My delivery is too sick for calpol and I'm a wordsmith so my lyrics are normally a bunch of metaphorical nonsense. I've just 'spat' all over a track that was produced by Maloki and I'm just about to record something pretty special with a singer called AMiTY. She's going to be the Dido to my Eminem. 

Thanks Shane!

Interview by Darrell Larkin (SUPERNATURAL BOI)

DL