You ever see that video? The Russian kid in the club who says, “There’s a lot of pain in the world right now, but not in this room.” We’re not saying that’s exactly how we feel - but putting this issue together over the past month, it kind of landed.

 

This issue’s theme: Always look on the nice side of life. It’s about recognising that even when the world feels heavy, there’s still value in finding those small, shining moments - the bit of sunshine in on a winter’s day, the thing that makes you pause and think, oh yeah, this is why we do it.

 

Welcome to Nice Paper 002.

 

Festival season delivered two big teasers this month, and three of our people are front and centre. Charlie, Anna and Jack show up across both campaigns with our friends at Untitled. Daniel Radcliffe would be proud.

Andy Buchan is him. Founder of renowned establishments including Soi38, Pour Dianne & Lecoq Door, he knows a thing or two about food and wine. So when we asked him to write a food/wine article for Nice Paper, we weren't expecting an essay on existential pleasure seeking and carbon fiber submarines. And we promise you won't be disappointed.

HoMie just turned their Fitzroy flagship into Melbourne's own Tiny Desk situation. They're calling it Store Sessions - intimate live sets filmed between the racks, starting with Tash Sultana back on home turf. Every session helps fund HoMie's mission of supporting young people facing homelessness or hardship. Episodes drop every three weeks, with Bad//Dreems and Big Words coming up next.

Alice Naish is chasing something contradictory - how to photograph movement without killing it. Her latest series 'HELD' finds contemporary dancers tangled up in each other, proving that sometimes the most interesting motion is when bodies are trying not to move at all.

Until next time 🤘