IYESHA

IYESHA “I’m a DJ, community organiser, and events producer from north London. My creative approach stems from my experiences in the world as a queer black woman and the interactions I have in the spaces around me.

“I found my feet DJing in the DIY party scene in Leeds, in dingy makeshift clubs and co-op spaces where I was exposed to an oasis of queer club music through collectives such as Love Muscle, Flesh in Tension and Not Exotic. I discovered the fluidity and openness of the dancefloor, an outpour of love and knowledge from the other DJs I encountered who spurred me with an eagerness to fuse everything I had learnt on the dancefloor and beyond into my own sonic identity.

“I think I’m a huge fan of the derivative – where do things come from and what could they create? My references come from an afro-futurist lens; an adoption of the rhythmic loops and percussive beats that stem from the black innovators that came before, and entangle local scenes across the globe. My sets are a sonic infusion of genres at the intersection of queerness and blackness, bouncing between techno, gqom, footwork, dancehall, bass and more.

“Rat Party is a queer collective and club night I co-founded centered around creating safer spaces for QTIPOC, sex worker and gender diverse communities. It started as a free party in response to the loss of community we’d seen in the DIY scene during COVID and a desperation to return to the dancefloor. At the time Leeds was a pretty lawless land and it was pretty easy for us to spring up undetected in obscure locations – a cave or under a motorway bridge – across the city. After throwing a few free parties, we graduated to throwing parties in clubs. My scene is anywhere my friends are! They’re my biggest motivators.

“I’ll be live with my resident show ‘DE:CONSTRUCT’ on Oroko Radio on October 2 at 7pm, and then I’ll be playing at the Skate Cafe in Amsterdam on October 11. In terms of where I’d want to play next – I’d love to play at White Hotel in Manchester.”

AARONY BAILEY

Aarony Bailey Spotlight: ’Subvert Your Gaze to Meet Mine’14 Images

“I’m a filmmaker and photographer who captures semi-autobiographical narratives surrounding femininity, sexuality, and sisterhood. I’ve been telling stories since childhood, but only began to materialise them in my late teens. What started as small projects after school has expanded into an art practice that I absolutely adore.

“‘Subvert Your Gaze to Meet Mine’ at Twilight Contemporary is an exhibition that explores the speculative imaginings of Black female and femme artists. My work within the show is a part of a photographic series unpacking young adulthood, inspired by the writings of friend and actor Alhena Al-Ali Douglas.I curated a night of workshops for the show inviting others to engage with its themes of resistance, intimacy, and identity. These included miniature sculptures with Natalie Charles, badge making with Marie Jatta, and cyanotypes with Studio Sessions.

“My work is extremely personal, drawing inspiration from my own life and translating it into docu-fiction. I’m heavily inspired by women who have been brave enough to share their experiences in the hopes of creating change, such as activists like Laura Bates, visual artists like Qualesha Wood, filmmakers like Andrea Arnold, and my own mother Sonia Boyce, who has contributed so much to Black British arts and culture.

“My creative scene will always be London, specifically spaces like Reference Point, Peckham Audio, Colour Factory, Dalston Superstore, and Venue MOT that consistently promote community, openness, and authenticity.

“I have an exhibition coming up with Teaspoon Projects, as well as a film premiere in November at Soho Revue.”

RENATA GONZALEZ

Renata Gonzalez Spotlight8 Images

“I am a fashion student based in Monterrey. I was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in several cities in the north of México. Growing up, I was always pushed into change and eventually found comfort in it. I never felt truly connected anywhere, which has led me to a deep passion for big cities and existentialism.

“My work is a blend between the things around me and my inner self. My latest design, Exilio, is the emotional journey of denying conformity and transcending into a controversial being. It reflects that bittersweet balance between the beauty and rawness that I experience in my life. The beginning of my process started from a poem I wrote ‘estoy cansada de vivir una vida que no es mía, anhelar otra que no me pertenece y perder la que nunca tuve’, which grew into a bigger representation of my ongoing search of self. It is made out of rice flour and activated carbon.

“In my work I tend to gravitate towards themes like existentialism, identity and punk philosophy, along with my constant thoughts about society and the way we interact with each other as well about how we find ourselves in life. I enjoy absorbing and analyzing my surroundings from the minute I wake up and express them through any creative medium. My creative process is a mix of photography, writing, textile experimentation and mixed media; it also reflects my everyday thoughts and questions about life.”

ITANSHA BY JELVI SANTOS

ITANSHA by Jelvi Santos Spotlight5 Images

“I’m Jelvi Santos, a London-based fashion designer. My practice is led by storytelling from which design, objects and images emerge. I treat garments as fragments of a larger mythology, each piece both functional and symbolic.

“Fashion drew me in from childhood. My father instilled in me the idea that clothing is language, a way to carry oneself and to use it as a form of self expression. That seed grew into ITANSHA. ITANSHA explores how products, garments, and ideas mutate over time. The first collection spans a hoodie, t-shirt, denim, and a custom USB, reflecting the intersection of fashion and obsolete technology.ITANSHA isn’t limited to clothing; it’s a framework. Architecture, sci-fi, tech, and world-building converge inside what I call the Nucleus Centre – a fictional research facility where experiments and archives live. The brand becomes less about apparel and more about constructing a multisensory experience.

“My tips for young designers starting their own label or brand would be – don’t chase trends. Figure out a message only you can articulate. Fashion is a medium, but your story will shape everything else.

“My creative scene is a combination of creatives, thinkers and friends around the world who move between fashion, music, and film.

“The debut ITANSHA collection will be available at www.itansha.com on October 10.”