Foretaste Nº 20
An occasional newsletter as a deep dive into the minds, habits, obsessions, affairs, and influences of our friends and fam.
Together & Christoph
Christoph van Veghel and I go way back. Our journey together started years ago when he joined as an intern, quickly proving his talent. He became an integral part of Another Something, doing the deep dives and research, and interviewing the most inspiring people around (from Jurgi Persoons, John Stezaker to Brice Partouche a.o.). Together we worked on projects like Abel and the Catacombe movie, and most recently, we spent the last few years collaborating at Atelier Munro.
This summer, as we stepped away from Atelier Munro, Christoph and I embarked on an exciting new chapter: founding Another Everything. This creative partnership has allowed us to bring our combined expertise to a variety of companies, offering creative brand consultancy that merges sharp insights with bold, strategic thinking.
Together with Jordi and myself, Chris is the driving force behind Together& and it’s great to see his Foretaste being shared here at last.
On another note, we’re excited to share a little Together& project with you later this week or early next week. It’s a collaborative effort by Jorn, Jordi, and myself, inspired by Willem — so a real Together& creation again.
The idea behind this project is simple yet meaningful: it’s an invitation to celebrate and share all your favorites—the things that spark inspiration and fuel your creativity. Whether it’s books, music, movies, people, toys or anything else that lights you up—we want to create a space for everyone to share what matters to them and inspire others…
We can’t wait to see what you’ll share!
Stay tuned for more details soon. And for now, enjoy this extra long Foretaste by Christoph van Veghel
Currently
As per always, chronically trying to make sense of it all. Getting our duo operation Another Everything on the road, after having worked in-house at Atelier Munro alongside Joachim until July of this year. While also getting my extended family life on the road, with our son as the new fourth member.
Generally, in the little time that I have left to think, as we’re racing towards the end of the year, I’m automatically in a retrospective mood. Rather than being in the actual moment.
Currently reading
It remains a challenge to read things on paper, next to everything I read on my screens. But if I take a look at the things I read that had the most impact in the last few months, there is one book, fortunately.
I really love ‘Filterworld’ by Kyle Chayka. His second book (following the just as great ‘Longing for Less’) is in my humble opinion a must read (for everyone in the creative industry, at least). The book that was released in the beginning of this year, elaborately breaks down how the algorithmic ecosystem that we are all living in, has had an immense impact on the culture that is being created. With sameness becoming a dominant incentive, and global monoculture being the inherent result. It is an analysis based on a myriad of personal observations of the writer, that very much speak to the imagination, especially if you are around the same age or were aware of what was going on in the last 10 to 20 years.
Furthermore, there were two particular digital essays that I really liked and read more than once, so they get a special mention here. Although I read it more recently: this summer’s Burn After Reading substack post 'White Trash: The Death of Art Direction' by @dankartdirectormemes and this month’s Harper’s Magazine essay 'The Painted Protest' by Dean Kissick really struck a cord with me. Both can almost be seen as a field study of Chayka’s hypothesis, in the respected domains of art/creative direction and contemporary art.
I guess the underlying message here is to turn these observations into the ambition to start creating things outside of the norms, as less and less people seem to be doing so (professionally). Sameness is… (you know…)
Currently watching
Having a baby in your life offers a lot of (feeding/chest napping) semi-idle moments around the timespan of one (or two) episodes of a series (but never a complete feature film, of course), so we started rewatching Mad Men.
It continues to baffle me that Matthew Weiner created both The Sopranos and Mad Men in one lifetime. And that he masterfully succeeded in making both a series about the mob —that is more so about marriage— and a series about the advertising world of the sixties —that is actually about emancipating women within a changing post-war economy. Mad Men’s cast is so incredibly good, both in terms of the selection ánd their extraordinary performances, the much talked about art direction is spot-on, and the whole breakdown of mass media advertising emerging as the dominant framework of how we perceive the world — it’s really really good. And what I particularly forgot is how strange and surreal the story sometimes gets. I really love the character Bert Cooper in that particular realm.
I also love Joshua Citarella’s Doomscroll Podcast, which I prefer to watch on youtube. Joshua is a very empathetic and good interviewer, very knowledgeable about all relevant political macro developments all the way down to the most micro fringe internet cultures and phenomenas, while also having an outspoken position on (American) society at large. Read more on Joshua here. Watching Doomscroll has taught me a lot about the (American) systems that we are subject to.
And special mention to the 6-part DJ Mehdi documentary that dropped earlier this year, which I really loved.
Currently listening
We just did our end of year playlists: so here is most of the new music I enjoyed in 2024:
I’m also an avid listener of the How Long Gone podcast. I love the guys’ banter, which also serves a great ambient cause while doing chores or running errands. They also are masters in setting a very laid back atmosphere for their interviews. Sometimes that backfires, but a lot of times you get insights and anecdotes you normally don’t hear from their guests. Some of my favorites of this year:
And special mention for this playlist of “emotional” music selected by Ruben Oosterman that I have enjoyed many times, and will continue to do so:
Currently eating
I wasn’t much of a cook before my daughter was born, over six years ago. From that moment, I tried (and needed) to become better and as a result became more appreciative of it. Around that same time, I also discovered youtube as a nice tool (boomer talk) to learn new things. I particularly like making these two dishes by my favourite ‘youtube chef’, and all-round bon vivant, Davide Baroncini.
Currently drinking
Water, coffee and I try to drink more tea as my coffee intake is getting out of hand.
And I’m really (back) into Guinness since this year. Like everyone else? Although in the last months it’s been mostly their 0.0.
Currently obsessed about
My ongoing main obsession is finding nice pieces by designers that I like for cheap — early and some recent collections by Raf Simons, Helmut Lang’s 1995-2005 collections, Lanvin by Lucas Ossendrijver, early Undercover, Martine Sitbon menswear, Ann Demeulemeester by Ann herself, Comme des Garçons Homme Deux, amongst others. Accumulated in my archive, but a lot more in ever-growing lists of favourites on the different reseller platforms. I suppose it’s the modern day version of window shopping.
And speaking of obsessions. Overall, I really love discovering people that have a distinct personal style and perspective at large. In the things they like and why they do so. And as a result how they express themselves. Introspection over self-awareness. I’m obsessively looking for that in the cultural things I like myself.
That pretty much all came together in Anne Teresa De Keersmaecker’s ‘Y’ performance - that I was lucky to witness in Essen, Germany, during this year’s Ruhrtriennale. Probably one of the most visceral and moving (cultural) experiences I had in my life. And it made me realise that it’s a shame that the exhibition of art isn’t combined with a good curation of music more often, as it really enhances the experience. Not to mention seeing powerful, reflexive dance (very) up close, reacting or directly translating the art on display by the likes of Barnett Newman, Mark Rothko, Caspar David Friedrich and Rineke Dijkstra a.o into movement. I continue to think of it regularly (/obsessively) since.
Currently distracted by
My broken internet brain. It can be hard to focus, at times. Turning off the internet helps. And having even less time to get things done because of a baby, also really seems to help.
Currently trying to avoid
Political discussions. Sad but true.
Currently frightened by
Global society devolving, losing a lot of the liberal values that many people have fought for over the course of many decades. And instead, witnessing the rise of a new era of widespread suppression. Or are we there yet, already? Not to mention the ecological crisis that we are actually already in. Lots to be frightened about, unfortunately.
Currently transcended by
Seeing a baby take in more of the world, day by day. And seeing a bigger sister finding here place (ups and downs) in the new family composition, while still being very in love with her baby brother. Cliché, but very beautiful.
Currently fulfilled with
Getting things done. And being with people I want to be with. Ideally doing both at the same time.
—
Thank you Christoph 🙇🏻
And here are the quick highlights from the Slacks (in no particular order):
The Brutalist, by Kimberly
Another’s Gift Guide and ‘24 Playlists, by Chris
Stephen Fry's 7 Deadly Sins, by Luis
The Boom Boom Aesthetic by Sean Monahan, by Joachim
Learning to Love Minimalism with AURALEE, by Chris
Power of Magazines with David Haskell, by Joachim
OPEN Tennis Magazine, by Kimberly
Family Style Merch, by Joachim
Satisfy x Levi’s Stoner, by Joachim
Hope you enjoyed this one - And as always, let’s get Together soon on Slack & IRL!
Joachim, Jordi & Chris
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!