Foretaste Nº 13
An occasional newsletter as a deep dive into the minds, habits, obsessions, affairs, and influences of our friends and fam.
Together & Roel Nabuurs
We met Roel when he was combining a top-model career (running catwalks for Gucci ao) with graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven on a project involving making delicious food with insects, while doing his internship at our studio (and teaching us the good things of a bourgeois life). In our opinion best combination ever, since he was literally all over the place. After the internship and graduation he started a position at Boglioli, doing design work for Fantastic Man, Anglo-Italian, 嘉人 NOW (Marie Claire NOW, China) and many more. Our friendship grew further on crazy good road trips to Milan and Paris where somehow food was always the recurring theme. Currently he re-started his own freelance gig after a few years at Convoy Agency working for clients in the luxury and menswear related fields. In a prefect mix of classic style and manners; here’s his Foretaste.
Currently reading
I’ve just finished Anton de Kom’s ‘Wij slaven van Suriname’ (We Slaves of Suriname) which I had been wanting to read for a while. It is a record on how the Dutch ruled Surinam in colonial times, seen from the perspective of the oppressed (His grandma was born in slavery). It’s a bloodshed book that describes the collective physical and mental abuse of slaves that were brought there by the Dutch in detail, and has been hidden away from the public since it was published. The book is finally gaining some momentum and has been included in the ‘Canon van Nederland’, a list compiling the most important/influential works of Dutch literature.
Currently watching
Trying to watch as few things as possible. Not into series/netflix these sort of things though I like the occasional apocalyptic doc as suggested by Chris Jakob. Inevitably as an Instagram consumer I watch people’s IG stories, something that already while I type it sounds like a waste of time. Let’s solve that.
Currently listening
These 3 songs for hitting me right in the heart:
Babyfather – God Hour: for making me optimistic
Modern lovers – Road runner: for making me want to rebel
Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1: 1. Allegro: For making me focus
During work hours it’s mostly Beethoven/Aphex twin/Lawrence – anything that is abstract enough not to make me think about anything else than work.
Currently eating
I’m lucky to have an amazing covered market around my place – one that is open 6 days a week and offers fresh produce, this definitely reduces the amount of times I’d otherwise indulge in Paris’ restaurant offering, something I enjoy a lot when I’m too exhausted to cook. Still though my current favourite dish stems from Italy (where I’ve lived before living here in Paris), it’s a side dish made up of Puntarelle (a fresh bitter chicory type of vegetable) with Crema di acciughe (anchovies cream). The perfect spring dish.
Currently drinking
Weekdays preferably no alcohol, so usually just water and coffee (the latter at 07:30 & 11:30 only). Weekends are for exciting drinks, like the great Dry Martini cocktail I had in Schumann’s (Munich) this weekend. A sober but exquisite cocktailbar.
Currently obsessed about
The work of Diane Dal-Pra, who paints still-life situations that seem to be locked into boxes, sometimes feeling very three dimensional, sometimes more two dimensional. Great use of colour and texture.
And I’ll have to add suits & tailoring though calling that ‘current’ would be contradicting, as tailoring is about endurance and longevity. What is current though is that I’m on the verge of picking fabric for a new suit that will be able to carry me 10 months out of 12 (something the Italians call a ‘Dieci Mesi’ suit). A taupe cotton one that looks low-key and somewhat casual, though it will be double breasted. Very 80s Armani.
Currently distracted by
Happily distracted by biking around Paris – trying to get back into more of it after I resigned my position at Convoy last month. I have a bit more control over my weekly planning now and that means I’ll be doing midday rides to shake of my desk posture ;). Paris’ surroundings are great for 80km rides with 600-1000 meters of elevation, something I can’t get enough of as a Polder lord.
Currently trying to avoid
Slacking – the real slacking that is. No excuses for postponing, daydreaming, not doing. Big note to self. I’m slowly learning to do things step-by-step, instead of wanting to solve the big puzzle all at once. This goes mainly for work (luckily? Sadly?)
Currently frightened by
Currently not very frightened. Mankind has continuously endured apocalyptic thoughts throughout its history – I stay sane by simply reducing every natural or cultural phenomenon to ‘Change’. Of course there’s a bunch of worrying things happening in the world but freight isn’t gonna solve much of these issues!
Currently transcended by
Nature transcends me – especially when living in Paris which is so obviously not built to transcend haha. It’s a city that keeps your feet on the ground at every moment. Escaping this is vital and I` do so on a weekly basis - whether that be on a bike on on a train or plane. It’s good to feel small but lifted in a world that was built not by mankind but by nature.
Currently fulfilled with
Working on a bunch of branding/design projects under my own name again after having worked in office at Convoy for over a year. It’s great how in a year one can gain so much clarity over what they have to offer creatively. I’m distilling that framework as we speak and ready to conquer new and exciting clients in Paris and beyond. It’s fun to be working on my new website – a place I hope to show you in the next months.
Thank you Roel!
Quick highlights from the Slacks (in no particular order):
Brendon Babenzien on Handcut Radio, via Joachim
New Billy Woods album, via Tim
The death of Ideals, via Joachim
Ancestral Futures, via Martijn R
Apollo 10 1/2, via Chris
How the MFA swallowed literature, via Katerina
Jennifer Venditti Will See You Now, via Joachim
Last grain of sand, via/by Matthijs
Boom Supersonic, via Hash
Belonging and Bias in Branding, via Joachim
From Cold War to Hot Peace, via Nalden
Our Thriving Huckster Economy, via Joachim
Slow Horses, via Luis
Hope you enjoyed this one - And as always, let’s get Together soon IRL!
PS. There are enough bots and ghosts in our lives. We’ve always seen Together&, human and alive, so please enjoy, participate, share and forward this. And we'd love to see you in Slack to discuss things often. If you know people who should join, let us know!