Meet Chris (and crew) from Bristol in the UK, specifically from a place called Turbo Island, figuratively and literally. What is Turbo Island you ask? Those from Bristol will most certainly know, but I had to look it up. Turns out it’s a couple of things.
Firstly, it’s a literal little wedge of the city, the triangle-shaped plot of land that sits at the end of two converging roads in what looks like a hip part of the city, that’s perhaps too narrow, too awkward a shape of a property to do much with, besides provide a place from the local denizens of said colorful hood to gather, to assemble, to commune. Seems it’s been a place of rich urban cultural heritage, where music has been played, art has been displayed, demonstrations displayed, rules disobeyed, opinions swayed, and where (counter-) culture has been made. And apparently it’s in jeopardy of going away, and needs to be saved!
Secondly Turbo Island is the name of Chris’s long-running, highly-acclaimed, lots-of-laughter-inducing, music-centric t-shirt and design studio, that for a long spell had a bird’s eye view of the actual island itself. Which came first? The wedge? The studio? The “Turbo” drink made famous by the island? You’ll have dig a little deeper, but one thing is for sure: Chris’s brilliant work (be sure to check him out), full of clever innuendo and smile-inspiring designs has no doubt influenced the aesthetics of the actual Turbo Island while the happenings of the islands has no doubt influenced his designs. What delight to discover these two gems of Bristol, the famed street corner, and Chris’s studio!
Chris had arrived Tokyo just a few hours before, and wanted to enjoy with his friends, so I didn’t take too much of their time, but we chatted up some music and I gave some Blue Identity stickers, and come to think of it, “YO CHRIS! DM ME! I want to send you a Tokyo Record Style sticker and get some Turbo swag! Hope you guys enjoyed Tokyo! Look me up when you come back! Tokyo LOVE to Bristol!”
More Tokyo Record Style on the way!
On Vox Pop – Sep 22nd: https://youtube.com/live/Txk8d0RRB5g