Amid lockdowns and quarantines, zine culture became an urgent space for reflection, exchange, and small-scale publishing, particularly within the music community. Many significant publications emerged during this time, shaped by a climate of heightened stillness and uncertainty.
Twilight
Twilight is a poetic meditation on collage, fire, and the music of Elysia Crampton, published by Future Ethics – a record label and zine devoted to fostering beauty and community in dance music. With a cover by Catalina Cavelight, photos from caner teker’s queered Turkish oil wrestling performance, a mind map on getting high without alcohol, and watercolours by Future Ethics founders Bee and Catherine. Further highlights include an in-depth interview with DanceSafe’s Mitchell Gomez, a fashion spread with Englesia, Faith Alexandra Marie, and DeForrest Brown Jr. (aka Speaker Music), and Asa Seresin’s reflection on queer nightlife post-pandemic, Spiral to Paradise. Also featured: an open letter from the Antifascist Music Alliance challenging Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, and Ostgut to confront Vatican Shadow’s fascist ties. → Read
Watery Erotics in Contaminated Times
Published in Susanna Li’s zine devoted to water, Watery Erotics in Contaminated Times is an essay bridging living through the pandemic – where breath and vapour became symbols of danger – with the liberating and sensual experience of wild swimming. Incorporating illustrations by artist Hannah M. Morris and an interview with ambient producer and DJ Perila of Weird Erotic Tension, alongside a text by Niamh Ní Shíothcháin on oceans and migration, poetry by Mia Reilly-O, and a comic by Sidonie de la Coeur. Riso-printed on recycled paper with a photo insert. → Read
