Now then folks. We are glad to finally announce are third UN=IQUE collaboration in which we have teamed up with our good friends ONE Records (run by Adam Shelton & Subb-an) who are an independent record label which is synonymous with the  amazing Below parties at the Rainbow in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Adam approached us about doing a custom designed T-shirt for One records and instead as like minded peeps we thought it would be best to get One Records on board for a UN=IQUE release.

Inspired by algorithmic art, bold iconic patterns and a fusion of the One records logo we are buzzing to release this T-shirt. Once Again these are super limited and come with a custom designed sticker so don’t miss out.

We also posed Adam a few questions to give you a  bit more insight into the One records label and what it is all about. So go check it below.

1. Who, what and where are you?

I am Adam Shelton, I am  man and I am in the rainbow pub.

2. How did you come up with the name One records?

One records came from the fact, we are all one, when listening to music, playing it, buying it and enjoying it there is no separation, we are doing the same thing.

3. Can you give us a brief history and a little bit about the ethos/aspirations?

One is a project between myself and Subb-an who both wanted to set up a platform for ourselves to put music out, to get people we know to have that platform, and to use the label as a means of broadening what we are doing as a whole.

4. What inspires you and what is influencing you right at this moment?

If i am to be honest i like checking out new artists but still find myself constantly inspired by older music, house has all been done before, unless you are using a new live element which is cool it is virtually impossible to stand out. just because it may have have been done before does not mean you can’t put your own take on it. and that i guess its what sets things apart. listen to lil louis for example.. who is making that kind of fresh shit.. please get in touch if you are..  i find more inspiration in non 4/4 music these days. but please.. house rules and i love it! from the mid 80′s to current date constantly bad ass shit! too many names to mention to many memories to list..

5.Obviously collaboration plays a massive part in a record label like one records, can you tell us a bit who you have collaborated with and who else you would like to collaborate with?

This is the first collaboration i have done so i am really looking forward to seeing how it goes down, i am really happy with the design and have had great feedback on it so far so yeah i can see it playing a big part if the product and teamwork is right.
next on the list.. gucci or someone like that..

6.How important do you think branding/art work is for a new venture like One records?

For me it is very important, i am as in to art as i am into music and have not even begun to start bringing that side of things in to the label. Ok, brand awareness is very important these days but i want to really want to bring in an art element to the label. keep your eyes peeled.

7.Tell us a little bit about the One records logo?

The main focus of the logo is that when the vinyl is spinning around it trips you out, i love records with interesting inner labels that do stuff when they spin round. and i do like my geometric patterns i must say so this was also a factor in the logo.

8.Finally future movements and plans for One records?

To carry on putting out the music we are doing, to bring some new exciting artists to the label, to do label parties all over the world and spread the love in what we are doing.

Finally  much love to One Records and if you are in London or Berlin in July go check out their parties at Fabric and Watergate, they will be bad boy no doubt.

Stay UN=

For the 2nd installment of UN=IQUE we decided showcase the wonderful illustration skills of MERGS. Keeping with the same format as the 1st release MERGS produced us a sterling illustration for a T-shirt and a Screen print. Incorporating his signature bird character in the style of  the great depression era which was chosen due to the ever constant murmurs about the “credit crunch” when we began the project.

So we thought we would hit up Mergatron with a few questions:-

1. Who, what and where are you?

Ken K Chung aka Mergs. Hobo Freelance Illustrator currently working from the room I grew up in and aching to move onto New York or Berlin!

2. Where is your style derived from and whats with this bird?

The style is a growing, continuous process of trying to emulate all the things that interest me and fascinate me. There’s so much to name, I like a lot of things, not necessarily even art related that influences how I work! In regards to the bird, he’s the face of Mergs, sometimes just called a Merg bird, he was originally a black crow I drew in a massive illustration of a scene from Hell. Folks being punished and demons tearing away at them, it was all a lot more funny than morbid but there was a tiny little bird flying around with some intestines in his mouth, freshly plucked from a corpse. He just had this expression that really stuck with me, cheeky and mischievous. I went back to it later and developed him into a separate character. He always seems to be evolving, so I see him more as an actor who can play different roles in the different illustrations or comics I do.

3. Future movements and plans?

Keep working hard at what I do, getting my own clothing/accessories line going called Yoni Clothing and hopefully get stuck into producing a body of work for an exhibition in the next year or so! Also watch out for the The Silent Beak, a 12 frame silent tale of snipers, torture and high adventure, all published online at my blog!” There will be updates on my MERGS website or the blog no doubt!

Anyway massive thanks & much love to Kenzilla. Much appreciated. Also looking forward to work with YONI in the future.

Peace & stay UN=

As we finally find the time to post more regularly we thought appropriate to give more insight into the people we collaborate and help create our sub label UN=IQUE. If you are unfamiliar with UN=IQUE this is where we team up with guest artists, brands and general creative heads within the UK, bringing super limited hand crafted gear which is only available from our online boutique.

To open are UN=IQUE account we commissioned  Mikey Brains  to create a T-shirt & A2 screen print combo of which there are only 50, both of which are hand screen printed.

We chose Mikey because the guy has an original style when it comes to drawing & painting, what made it all the more easier was that he is good friend & you can’t help “buzz” of the chap. To get a better understanding about  Mikey’s and his  style we posed him a few questions  :-

Who, what and where are you?

My name is Mikey Brain and I am a painter/illustrator based in Leeds.  I am also one half of the Dick Brain Collective with Nicolas Dixon.

Where is your style derived from and whats with the size of your brain?

I have painted for around 14 years, over these years I have developed and changed my style.  My illustration work is heavily rooted in my graffiti beginnings.  My characters usually depict anger, sorrow, angst, addiction, hunger and pain, often with sexual undertones.  I am interested in telling subtle stories in the picture, a teenage M Kat user with a Hoover style nose and a tiger hat, an old tired sex worker with saggy tittie style bags under her eyes.  That sort of thing.  I use geometric patterns and line work to create depth and texture.  My painting work aims to blur the line between précis and planned work, so at first glance the work looks ambiguous and visceral, yet with further inspection themes become apparent (especially in relation to the titles).

My work and outlook has always explored the darker side of humanity, often with a comical duality, but always rooted in mans murky side. My collaboration with Nicolas Dixon – The Dick Brain Collective is a more positive affair and I am finding it enjoyable – the best collaboration I have done.  We create decorative abstract and abstract figurative pieces, with strong cultural and artistic references.  Like Art re-edits!

My real name is Brain!  People think that I have created it to be a smart alec but its real!  A local Birmingham historian once pulled me to the front of assembly (at school) and told me it is because my ancestors were either incredibly clever, or they had extremely fat heads.  Anyone who knows me knows which one this is!!!

Future movements and plans?

I am concentrating on the Dick Brain Collective for the rest of the year, with two shows planned the first on Saturday 9th October at Stinky’s Peep house in Leeds 8-10pm – this is a chance for people to see the work for the first time.  A more formal exhibition is planned for December which will showcase re-worked furniture and other strange artifacts. I am the resident artist for the disco night Throwback, producing giant live pieces.  I am also the resident artist for District bar, which is a work in progress and I am hoping to do a collection of my own work early next year. Website is landing soon!! So keep them eyes peeled.

Below you can see some of what to expect from the Dick Brain crew.

Anyhow much love to Mikey and stay UN=

Apologies for the lack of postage recently but we have been busy getting our online shop ready for our first  T-shirt drop, sampling  outerwear for winter 2010 and just general plotting for a hostile take over.

I am glad to say that UN=IQUE #02 created by the hugely talented MERGS is now complete & we are hyped.

We will be dropping the look book in the next few weeks with a complete overview of our own UN= T’s and the UN=IQUE series but until then stay UN=

A belated happy new year to each and everyone of you.

We have been beavering away so far this year and are just about to launch our online shop as well as our artist colab series UN=IQUE.

First of all the UN= shop will be opening in the middle of  February which will be ram packed with loads of goodness & essential items for you to purchase.

Also to go hand in hand with the launch of the online shop we will be bringing you UN=IQUE in which we will be teaming up with artists, brands and just general creative heads who we buzz off to bring you an assortment of limited goodies  produced to the highest standards. We are going with a real hands on personal touch  with this and it will only be available via our online shop.

The first two releases will see us team up with two of our favorite illustrators.

UN=IQUE #01 will be brought to you by Michael Brains who has been big pimpin his style all over & most notably recently at Secret Wars in Birmingham. UN=IQUE #02 will be brought to you by MERGS (the bird bird bird, the bird is the word). Both these guys are on point with a pencil and we are really excited with what they have produced. Both releases will include a  T-shirt and a A2 Screen print of which both releases will be limited to a run of 50. All this stuff will be also hand screen printed by the excellent ONE69A.

Anyhow in the meantime sign up to our newsletter for a heads up on when everything drops & to gain some special offers for newsletter only peeps.

Until then sign up and Stay UN=