Letter from the Editor

Hey hey.

Six months ago to the day, I was standing on 48th street and 6th Ave. in New York City, staring up at a billboard for This Is Our Youth.  I had no idea that that night would introduce me to Tavi Gevinson and serve as a catalyst for Loner Magazine.  For a full breakdown on my obsession with Tavi click here.

This is our fourth issue and true to form, my first Letter From the Editor and accompanying vlog.  It is wild to think of that night.  Partly because it feels simultaneously like yesterday and a million years ago, and partly because I feel like I’m looking back on an innocent, wide-eyed younger self.  While no doubt a complete dramatization, the result of Oct. 10, 2014 is this: Loner Magazine, created and inspired by the idea of making a contribution to the world.  It had occurred to me six months prior to six months ago how much time I spend worrying about what I don’t have.  In some way, this publication is a response to that.

A cultural magazine, created by and for the 80-million modern teens/20-somethings coming into their own; raised in a very different world, a group of people with a new mindset and new values.  These are the people that are going to change the world.  For my full spiel on why Loner is focusing on millennials and why I think they will change the world click here.

This fourth issue–A Music Issue–came about like all our issues do, magically and by fate.  It just so happens that music–its effects and implications–are on the brain.  And how perfect, considering #Coachella weekend one also starts today.

We tend to take a critical stance.  Not just in this issue, but in general.  “Critical” can have a negative connotation, but in this case it means careful judgment on the good and bad parts of something.

This issue breaks down Jay Z’s Tidal, the coming of Apple streaming, a personal meditation on Almost Famous, the Voice of a Generation (Bob Dylan, the ’60s and the millennial Voice), a review of Action Bronson’s latest album Mr. Wonderful, a satirical guide to becoming an artist, why it’s OK to love Furious 7, the market surveillance of millennials and the Occupy movement, the reality of PWDs (performers with disabilities) AND the drama in Bexley, Ohio surrounding a discrimination case, a lesbian couple and the videographers who refused them. Whew.  There’s even more, too! “Something Old, Something New” takes a musical look at new and old works of poetry and this week’s “Fo’ Sho & Tell”–a modern retelling of the kindergarten share–features work from Andrew Peterson.

To all of our readers: A special thanks.  Keep tuning in as we develop our voice and don’t hesitate to write with comments, ideas or critiques, or if you’d like to be a Loner contributor.

All the best,  be thinking and breathing and BE-ing.  Engaging and putting yourself out there.

Katie
Editor/Creator/Writer
Loner Magazine