Formed in 2019, comprising musicians Alec McGarry, Nathan Lambert, and Ryan Meaney began their musical journey as New Rules. Within the last four years, the band’s shared passion and dedication to music has made them the artist to watch and driven them to the spotlight, leaving audiences, fans, and perhaps locals walking on the streets of London where they’ve busked amazed and intrigued.
The summer heat couldn’t dampen the immaculate vibes at the much-anticipated Summer Garden Party, hosted by Kamyiis Mclean in collaboration with Tres Generaciones Tequila and Open Bar Hospitality. Set in the heart of Brooklyn, this intimate event brought together a mix of influencers, editors, talented creatives, and industry professionals for a day of networking, dancing, and pure summer fun.
Host, Kamyiis Mclean
Tres Generaciones Tequila x Open Bar Hospitality
Kamyiis, known for capturing stunning visuals for major magazines and brands, set the stage for the unforgettable Summer Garden Party with his creative vision. His incredible photography work has been featured in prestigious publications like VOGUE, HuffPost, BET, and i-D Magazine. As the sun kissed the summer garden setting, attendees mingled, laughed, and enjoyed signature Tres Generaciones cocktails in a live manifestation of Kamyiis’ vision come to life.
Actress, Joy Sunday
Founder of Open Bar Hospitality, Lisa Lindo
Collaborating with Kamyiis, Open Bar Hospitality added its magic touch to bring Kamyiis’ first Summer Garden Party. Open Bar Hospitality, one of New York’s premier staffing agencies and bar caterers, elevated the Garden Party to new heights. Founded by Lisa Lindo and her mixologist husband, who boast event planning experience in the fashion and entertainment industry, their dedication to excellent service and fabulous cocktails is apparent. Adding a touch of sophistication and spirit, Tres Generaciones Tequila stepped in, showcasing their legacy and finely-crafted spirits. Paying homage to the three Dons who revolutionized tequila, each sip of Tres Generaciones Tequila was an ode to their enduring heritage.
NYC Influencer, Ash Forde
DJ Jeremy kept the atmosphere buzzing with his signature deep house mix, setting the stage for carefree dancing and joyous celebration. Thanks to DJ Jeremy’s curated heart-pumping medley, the party’s energy was infectious, leaving all attendees with unforgettable memories to cherish. The guest list boasted notable faces, including American actresses Joy Sunday and Grace Duah, alongside an impressive lineup of NYC-based influencers like Tiffany M Battle, Kelly Augustine, Ash Forde, Travis Harrison, Isaiah Hernandez, and many others. 
American Actress Grace Duah (center)
In the heart of Brooklyn, dreams were realized, connections were forged, and creativity blossomed. The Summer Garden Party was an extraordinary success, leaving a trail of smiles, laughter, and inspiration that will echo in the hearts of all who attended. Kamyiis expressed excitement for the future, teasing that the Summer Garden Party would become a sought-after series of events. Attendees couldn’t agree more, eagerly anticipating more opportunities to experience the magic and camaraderie of this whimsical summer garden gathering.
You’ve cat you be kitten me right meow! In this exclusive interview, NSYNC’S JC Chasez discusses his brand new Meow Mix commercial with The Knockturnal‘s Kinsey Schofield. This boy band-inspired campaign was executed by Publicis’ PS One and creatively led by BBH US.
Kinsey Schofield: JC, 90s boybands are culturally iconic now. Even celebrated in a Meow Mix commercial! What was your first reaction to the Tabby 5 concept?
JC Chasez: I loved it. You know, I’ve been offered… obviously, boy bands have been around forever and people are trying to find ways to market with boy bands and things like that… but it just never interested me. I don’t hop on a lot of things unless it’s something that I find genuinely interesting. This concept came about, it piqued my interest because it was different, you know what I mean? It wasn’t like, ‘Hey, you’re in a boy band.’ It’s like, ‘No, we’re gonna have dancing cats!’ *laugh* I was like, ‘Okay, where do I fit in?’ And they were like, ‘Actually, let us play the song.’ And I was like, ‘Oh!’ *excited*
They took the Meow Mix song and straight up remixed it, 90s style, like 2K, and that’s when I was all in! I was like, ‘Okay, it has the sound!’ We have straight-up dancing cats! I’m all in. So, the Tabby 5 and Tyler Snuggles became my guy. I loved it. Again, to do something that’s ordinary is fine, but to do something a little left of center, that’s why I was more interested in this than the other offers that have obviously come across before.
KS: I read that you did a lot of your work with Meow Mix in the UK. What was the process like?
JC: Well, look, the United Kingdom has some great filming facilities. But it was just a matter of, that’s where they had a production team and it was a European director. I go over there all the time, by the way, to work with different people. They said it’d be best if we just did it over here because we have a team over here, the director’s over here, you know, instead of piling the entire production and bringing it stateside, it’s easier to just bring talent in, you know, it’s one or two people.
KS: Have you seen the commercial yet? Did it put a smile on your face?
JC: Yeah! Well, when we were working on set, I had an idea of what it is, but you don’t know what it’s gonna look like until you see it, right? They were sending it to me in stages. They sent me the rough, and so you would still see the sticks on the cat paws and stuff like that. But that’s the charm of it, right? But yeah, the commercial’s cute. Again, what I like about it is the song! The song itself. Meow Meow, it’s iconic, right? So we’re so glad we get that but then we got the 90s remix on it, and they went all the way, the high note, you know, which… I’ve done in my day… which was really cute. And to see it all put together, yeah, it’s a cute commercial. It’s a bit of fun. It’s a bit of silliness, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
It’s just having fun. You know? We have fun with our, our animals, our pets, our pet friends. We have fun with them. And they took that point of view and said, ‘Let’s have fun with people who love their animals, who love their pets, and let’s just make a fun commercial.’
KS: I love it. Yeah, I watched it several times. It’s like a Super Bowl commercial.
JC: Oh, man, you had the wind machine going! *laugh* I was giving hands and angles. And the director was really sweet, by the way, everybody was really sweet. Everybody that I worked with on this project was lovely. I have to say, the people they brought around this campaign – just a wonderful group of people. The Meox Mix people did it the absolute right way.
Credit: Meow Mix
KS: Some of these boyband documentaries boil the success of the bands down to types… bad boy… baby face… if it was as simple as this mythical formula… wouldn’t we have an NSYNC type today and always?
JC: I don’t know if the type is as important as… for me… talent first, right? Once you have the talent, you identify the personality. That’s going to shine naturally. But you have to have something to lean on first and that’s why some will make more noise than others. The ones that make more noise obviously have a bit more talent. I would say talent first and then the stories tell themselves. But you have to have something there to work with in the first place.
KS: Do you have a favorite NSYNC moment? Was it getting the call that you were opening up for Janet Jackson? Was it the Super Bowl halftime show? Was it something we didn’t see… like being recognized or a tour overseas?
JC: It’s not one moment, right? There were a lot of great moments that I love and appreciate. The thing that resonates with me years later… it’s a feeling. It’s a feeling that you would get, that win, you know, when you felt like you did something. That was a great feeling. I don’t think it was any one moment. It’s hard to describe. It’s just a feeling. When you feel like you did something well. It could be in the studio when you feel like, ‘Oh, we’ve got a song here!’ Or when it’s a performance and you go, ‘Oh, we got ’em!’ You know, when you’re on stage and you realize that you have them? In the early shows, for us, it was always a proving ground. When we were unknowns, ‘Who are these people? What are they? What are they doing here? Who’s next?’ And then by the second or third song… they didn’t know they liked you until they saw you, and then you kind of, you pulled them in. I think the feeling of winning the audience is the greatest feeling.
KS: Was there ever really beef between the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC or were we all just fighting on the playground over an urban legend?
JC: Every individual is different. I can’t generalize because everybody will have a different point of view. I never had any animosity toward anyone. But, you know, if another band came out with a good song, I wanted to come out with a good song. If they had a good performance, I wanted to have a great performance. I’m not saying I want it to be better than anybody, but it would definitely motivate me if I saw somebody do something well. I was like, ‘Oh, I gotta dig deep.’ I think that’s a great and healthy thing.
KS: You’ve always seemed to have such a grateful heart about your success. Do you wish you would have done anything differently?
JC: I’ve been on television like basically since I was like 12 or 13, and I’m, you know, I’m getting up there now. I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t change a thing. My life is my life. I wouldn’t swap it for anybody. Like, of course, there are hard lessons in there and you don’t wanna go through those painful experiences, but honestly, without those painful experiences, I wouldn’t come out the way I did.
KS: What is the wildest or funniest meme you’ve ever seen about NSYNC or yourself?
JC: The band? I don’t know. Like, look, to be honest with you, my friends and the people that I run around with… they show me [stuff.] I don’t actually pay too much attention. So, it usually has to be shown to me by someone else… and they’ll go, ‘Have you seen this? Have you seen this?’ And I’ll usually be clueless about something. In general, every now and then, there’s something that pops up. But nothing comes to mind.
KS: I guess if you’re not active on social media… it’s not like when it becomes the middle of April… you just know that you’re about to be hit with…
JC: You’re gonna be MAY’d. *laughs*
KS: Exactly. What are you currently singing at the top of your lungs in the car or living room with your pets? What are you listening to?
JC: I mean, with my pets, I would be blasting the Meow Mix song. Real talk: Tabby 5. In the car, it’s gonna sound really lame, I’m constantly flipping channels. I mean, I flip between, maybe 10 or 15 different channels. But lately, I’ve been on a big classical kick… a ton of Beethoven right now.
KS: You autographed my Mickey Mouse Club cd years ago! Are you excited to see Ryan Gosling as Ken?
JC: This is actually… so this is fun! When you’re in the business long enough… you can see things come full circle, right? So obviously, you know, in my youth I worked with Ryan on The Mouse Club, right? Sweet, sweetest guy. And later, before he broke as a movie star, he was playing clubs in LA with his guitar. We would go support him and make sure that there were crowds to see him in the bars where he was singing at. Now he’s made this Barbie film… as it turns out, when NSYNC started in the early days and we were signed to a German label… one of the bands that we befriended… because we would see them at a lot of these radio shows in Europe… was the band Aqua! *laughs*
We became friendly with that band because we were just always running into them at gigs! So now to see that band have a resurgence and see those two worlds collide, has been kind of surreal! I’m kind of like, ‘Oh, wow, this part of my life is mixing with this part of my life!’ They both had nothing to do with each other and now they’re colliding and I’m happy about both! I’m happy that their song is giving them a resurgence and I’m loving the fact that – by the way – I love the fact that Ryan and Margot [Margot Robbie] have taken on these roles. You know? I don’t know if anyone would originally think, ‘What I would like to play?’ These actors saw the challenge and attacked it. And I love that.
That’s been one of the things that I’ve enjoyed… seeing Ryan’s career evolve. He’s made films in every kind of genre, which is lovely. The guy’s made musicals, he’s made dramas, he’s made comedies. When I see these roles that he and Margot have taken on… I think it’s a really interesting project. I just don’t think that anybody could do this. And that he jumped in and did it… I love it. I think it’s great. You gotta challenge yourself. And he’s obviously doing that.
KS: No, you’re absolutely right. It takes courage. And that is exciting to see. All right, JC. I think my time with you is up, but I just wanted to say you’re such a blessing and thank you for making my childhood so happy and sweet!
Check out JC Chasez’s new Meow Mix commercial on YouTube now!
Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
It’s almost a foreign concept nowadays: a company offering free bonuses beyond the scope of a purchase. Ford decided to go completely against the grain in a very pro-consumer move: giving every purchaser of a new Ford Bronco SUV the opportunity to take one from their private fleet into the wilderness, and learn the ins, outs, and nitty gritty about their new machine in an adventurous crash-course (with no crashes, hopefully!) before they begin going wild with their own vehicle. This exciting prospect was already available in three locations: New Hampshire, Utah, and Texas, and the opening of their Las Vegas location would mark the fourth.
The Bronco Off-Roadeo, Raptor Edition
This new ranch is different in one fundamental aspect, however; it is the only one specifically built for the new Ford Bronco Raptor trim level, which is the bigger, badder, and even more Bronco brother. In an incredible fairytale moment, I was given the amazing opportunity to fly out to Vegas and experience the Bronco Raptor first-hand, in its natural habitat.
After flying out to Las Vegas, I was given the first opportunity to interact with individuals from Ford. In a dinner arranged within my hotel itself, I got the chance to speak to individuals who were spearheading the program and others who were alongside me, invited to experience the program, over food and drinks. I spoke to Dawn McKenzie, Ford Truck Communications Manager, as she outlined what was in store for us the next day. “You guys are absolutely going to love it,” she gushed. “I can’t wait until you try out the training course. The jumps and drift areas are absolutely bonkers…”
“Jumps?!” I gasped. The scope of this course had been completely unknown to me, and I, probably the only invitee there that had never driven an off-road vehicle, started making peace with the fact that this would be absolutely beyond anything I had ever done before.
The morning of the event itself, I woke up at 5:30 AM to make my 6:30 AM hotel checkout on time. The group was already waiting in the lobby, looking red-eyed but talking excitedly. We boarded three shuttles that would transport us to the Mt. Potosi region, where Ford had set up its camp. After a 45 minute scenic drive through deserts and mountains, we arrived at the ranch. A large wooden gate loomed out from over the hill, donning the word “BRONCO”, in a very Jurassic Park-esque moment.
The main lodge of the Off-Roadeo
Our shuttle passed through, and began a steep climb to the top of a hill that had a small modern cabin nestled between two rocky cliffs. An actual Bronco was situated in the front, positioned above several rocks with its suspension stretched to make it seem endlessly frozen in an action shot, and the cabin itself had more Bronco and Raptor logos. It was all very well built, with a modern-rustic style to the cabin that looked like it had all of the modern facilities, but also simultaneously that we were a step further away from the rest of the world (in a desolate theme park for trucks). It was all very invigorating.
I entered the cabin, and was treated to the check-in/waiver process, a nice breakfast, and other small gifts and goodies. Before I could tackle breakfast (I was absolutely starving at this point), I received my helmet and got assigned a locker. The helmet would be used for the more intense lap runs, in which head protection would be absolutely vital. After I stuffed all my things into the locker, I picked up my complimentary thermos water bottle and Bronco stickers, and sat down for a nice breakfast burrito and coffee. Meanwhile, we got a quick rundown of the program, the vehicle, and the wonderful employees that made this all possible.
Outside, we received an overview of the Bronco, and how the Raptor variant compares to the base model. Essentially, every aspect of the Bronco was finely tuned to make any off-road terrain seem much more conquerable.
A close-up of the Bronco Raptor’s fenders and excellent suspension system
Ford started with a “go-anywhere” mindset with the vehicle, which meant they specifically developed it to take any obstacle head-on, should the driver desire it so. The suspension, front and rear bumpers, and chassis of the vehicle are all formulated to be extremely forgiving; able to take a hit anywhere while protecting its passengers. Enormous springs ensure a stabilized ride on any type of ground, and the ability to disconnect the front stabilizer bar meant even extremely large obstacles could be driven over. There is also a focus on the ride customization, with two main selectors: first, the G.O.A.T. mode selector, which stands for Goes Over Any Type of Terrain, allows the user to select what kind of terrain they would be driving over, with options including off-road, baja, sport, and rock crawl.
The Ford Bronco Raptor, courtesy of Ford
There are also Hero switches, which allow more minute-by-minute control for specific aspects of the car, such as the ability to lock the front or rear differential when necessary. All of these options, along with the Raptor’s four-seat capacity, means that a family can choose any destination, and head straight there, as the crow flies.
With precursory talks out of the way, we all headed to the fleet of Broncos. Each person would be driving their own, and I selected a flaming orange one because that’s just the kind of person I am. Each vehicle was equipped with a walkie-talkie, and we split up into groups of four vehicles. One of the vehicles in each group was piloted by an employee from the ranch, and they would be leading the pack and communicating to the others through the walkie. After some further safety checks, we hit the road.
My group of four vehicles entered the trail heading straight into the Nevada wilderness. It was a bit jarring at first, since we were driving over rough terrain that contained all manner of rocks, trenches, and boulders, but the vehicles excellent suspensions took on the brunt of the movement. I knew that if I was driving there in my car, my neck would have already snapped. We slowly followed the Bronco in front of us through the land, over hills and into pits, and got a feel for the Bronco’s handling and the way it could take on virtually any obstacle.
On the trail
There were several times when I thought, “No way I can clear that rock”, but the vehicle took it on like a champ. It truly felt dauntless.
Our leader explained to us the Bronco Buddy system, in which we could keep track of all of the people in our squad and not leave anyone behind. Whenever we reached an intersection, it was our job to wait there until we were sure the vehicle behind us had seen which turn we had made, and in that way, each vehicle would be accounted for. Our lead also had frequent breaks in which he asked for the status of each driver on the walkie, and would only proceed once he got the thumbs up from each driver. It was a very safety-first system, and it really spoke to how well thought-out everything was. We were having fun, but it was not at the expense of our wellbeing.
We finally reached the site of the ORX Training Courses, and got into position. Ford had enlisted the help of several professional off-roaders, from trainers to actual racers that offloaded for a living, to help us first timers get accommodated and ready to take on the courses. The first was a small rocky run that had twisting turns and rough straights. I sat as a passenger first, while my driver explained to me her thought process for each turn and straight she tackled. She first switched the G.O.A.T. mode dial from off-road to baja, and then stepped on the pedal. It was absolutely exhilarating watching not only take the course with speed, but also anticipate each turn, make minute adjustments to steering, braking, and speed, and be able to explain all of it before it even happened.
The writer of this article, in my Bronco
Seeing her do it with such ease made me more confident in my ability, but it was futile; sitting behind the wheel was absolutely different than watching from the side, and I couldn’t have gone more than a quarter of the speed that she went. My steering slipped several times, and images of my hurtling off the course and over a cliff flashed through my mind, but she helped me keep my composure from the passenger seat, and kept giving clear directions even when I made the wrong turn. It definitely was a great learning experience.
For the second course, I would be running a course that was wider, more varied in elevation, and had more obstacles. Here I saw the legendary jump that was mentioned earlier, as well as a sand pit and a winding sloped gulch area. Once again, my driver accompaniment drove masterfully, performing the jump with ease, turning the wheel quickly from side to side to prevent the tires from getting stuck in the silt, and drifted the vehicle around the slope, with the back end sliding out, before gaining traction once more and pressing for speed. When it was my turn, I was a little embarrassed with my lack of skill, but my driver laughed it off and said I was doing no worse than any of the other drivers he had witnessed that day.
After the courses and a quick bathroom break, we headed back on the off-road trail, making our way back to the ranch. Our lead driver communicated less on the walkie this time, as we had already gained enough exposure to the trail the first time, and only spoke to us to excitedly point out some wild burros that he spotted roaming the plains.
Back at the ranch, we received a lunch, and some final words from the team. As I listened, I couldn’t help but put myself in the shoes of someone who would be sitting in my very seat in the future, when the ranch is finally open to the public. The fact that an individual would be here after having just purchased a new Bronco, and would be about to find out exactly what their new vehicle could do, was enthralling. Ford is one of the best auto manufacturers when it comes to community engagement and programs, and the Off-Roadeo is a testament to that. While not serving any immediate monetary benefit, Ford gains the goodwill from their customers, bolsters their name, and creates life-long partnerships that will only benefit them in the long run. Heck, even I want a Bronco now. Someone who has already purchased one will only further solidify their choice in choosing Ford for anything that will touch both road and dirt.
The Bronco Off-Roadeo will be open to the public very soon, and I encourage any new Bronco owner in the area to book this wonderful opportunity very soon.
Last Wednesday, Prime Video held an exclusive screening with the cast for subscribers in NYC.
Graffiti is acknowledged as a pillar of hip-hop by some. For others, it is the lifeblood of their existence. Marly McFly, a DMV-based muralist, artist, and owner of McFly Enterprise, is readying for his latest New York event with the Bronx Brewery and Bastard Burgers NYC this Friday.
“My work brings me to New York frequently, as many corporations I collaborate with have offices in Manhattan. I grew up in Newport News, Virginia, and wanted to experience New York outside its tourist areas. The Bronx is where hip-hop began, and I found myself encouraged by how big street art is throughout the borough,” he explained to The Knockturnal from his D.C. studio.
Drawing upon this inspiration, McFly’s new creation, Zook, came to life and can be seen branded with an aerosol can in hand throughout his birthplace: BX. “At my last TriBeCa exhibition, the kids went crazy over Zook and his gumball. I’m excited. I did not have a character I could relate to as a child,” McFly laughed. The Knockturnal connected with the artist on his latest brand activations, why representation is important, and learned how Jackie Robinson’s family supported his work. Check out our exclusive below.
The Knockturnal: You wear many hats as a contemporary artist. What are some of the things you create?
Marly McFly: Yes, I wear many hats, but they are each interconnected. I’m a visual storyteller. This year alone, my creations include but are not limited to paintings, murals, toys, animation, and apparel.
The Knockturnal: Who are some brands you have recently collaborated with?
Marly McFly: Many doors have opened for me. I have recently collaborated with brands and companies such as Nike, Nickelodeon, Hugo Boss, 2K — the video game publisher, also the NBA, MLB, NFL, and a few public figures.
The Knockturnal: What led you to become an artist?
Marly McFly: Art has always been something I was passionate about. I initially had people try to push me in a different direction. Sometimes people will attempt to project their fears onto you. I loved to draw, but as a child, I did not know all the possibilities or roads that could open up because of my notepad. So, gradually, I immersed myself in as many art mediums as possible.
Over time, one of the things I realized about being creative is people might try to simplify or get you to dumb down your vision. It was common for people to want me to assemble in a way they could understand. For example, I would say, “I like to draw,” and people have responded, “Oh, you want to be an architect?”
You can flat-out tell others who you are, but it does not mean they will truly see you. Perception can be limiting. Today that desire to not be boxed in evolved into one of the driving forces behind the creation of my character Zook.
The Knockturnal: Okay, you have a few activations en route. What can you tell us about your new character Zook?
Marly McFly: Zook is a mischievous street artist from the Bronx. He is a reflection of my inner child. I want kids to see him possess what is often perceived as irrational confidence. You will need that in life if you aspire toward anything unconventional.
My young character is limitless. Much like youths from the ‘hood, Zook understands the culture. He is a trendsetter and also a collector of cool. I intentionally made him small in stature because his personality is big enough. Have you ever met people like that [Laughs]?
He is a bite-sized hypebeast who loves trading cards, comic books, and sneakers. I typically draw him in outrageous situations because I want children to see that thinking outside the box and being yourself is okay. The general message is not to let people defer you from your dreams. Imagination is necessary. In Zook’s case, if you want to ride a dinosaur through NYC, go for it.
The Knockturnal: Representation is a recurring theme in your art. Why is that significant to you?
Marly McFly: Representation is important, but in a period where corporate buzzwords are abundant, I don’t think that should stop at someone’s racial identity. I try to convey that with my characters. I remember when I was growing up, most fictional Black characters had the same traits and interests on-screen and elsewhere.
Zook is half-Black and half-Puerto Rican. There are nuances to his lived experiences. I thought, “Just because we have the same skin color as past characters doesn’t mean we have the same story.” Beyond him, I like to display my characters doing a wide range of things. Children deserve to feel seen.
There are recurring messages about what Black and Brown kids are [interested in]. For context, every Black child from the city will not become an athlete. I can appreciate that certain images may encourage kids to remain active, but what else? I like to show Zook in all types of scenarios. Yes, he can be a basketball player, but he may also like to read, paint, drive a racecar, or aspire to become an astronaut. There is nothing he can’t do.
The Knockturnal: You are also in an array of galleries. What are some of the cities that you have shown your canvases in?
Marly McFly: I have been fortunate enough to show and sell my work in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Paris, Tokyo, and Berlin, among other places.
The Knockturnal: Growing up, who were the artists that inspired you?
Marly McFly: My earliest inspiration growing up came from comic books. Before I developed technical skills or knew where art would lead me, I enjoyed reading comics. I began to collect them young.
I was always drawn to how artists could build worlds and tell stories or show emotion through their characters. For me, the biggest inspirations would be the Marvel greats Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita Sr.
The Knockturnal: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Marly McFly: In 10 years, I want Zook to be the next multi-media giant. There have been Black cartoon characters, but I would love to see one who is impactful globally. Think Mickey Mouse, Bart Simpson, or Hello Kitty. I want Zook to be aligned with those types of contemporary characters.
I am manifesting him everywhere. Zook is a child, but he is not solely relatable to children. He already has his community behind him. This month I have an activation with The Bronx Brewery, and we are collaborating with Bastard Burgers NYC.
Zook has his own drink called “Zooka Brew,” and his stacked burger includes a pink dressing and a gumball pinned atop it. You always see Zook blowing gum bubbles — I want that in cartoons, on t-shirts, backpacks, cereal, and more. His toys are beginning to sell.
The Knockturnal: You mentioned being a muralist. What is a project that got you excited?
Marly McFly: The project that excited me most was my new Jackie Robinson mural. I painted it for the MLB at the Jackie Robinson training facility. I have a great relationship with the MLB, but I was particularly proud to be a part of that work. To have it unveiled on Jackie Robinson Day and earn his family’s blessing is beyond anything I could have imagined.
The Knockturnal: Who is Marly McFly?
Marly McFly: I am a self-taught artist who has a vision for his life. I am limitless creatively.
I have always been very appreciative of the genre of horror that doesn’t settle for cheap scares and gore, but rather, fear of the unknown— mysterious masks and cults, strange figures and cities, and quiet gatherings that are right on the edge of plausibility.
A dancer, courtesy of Stevan Keane
This is what drew me to accepting an invitation for an event titled A Midsommar Night’s Dream: One Trip of a Party, at The McKittrick Hotel, home of Sleep No More. The look-book boasted images of individuals clad in white robes or floral embellishments, strange deer antlers or hellish bug masks, and even a rendition of the fungal zombies from The Last of Us. A strange party for stranger party-goers? I was in.
Every aspect of the hotel was completely converted into a magical forest, ancient ruin, or deep-city stomping ground.
The decor was fantastic
The first floor was redone to resemble a subterranean rock venue, with a live band and pole dancers adjacent to a well-stocked bar.
The first-floor live band
Attendees had come clad in the most unique outfits imaginable, with antlers and horns making a prominent appearance, large swaths of flowers and embroidery, and several people even adorning their heads with fake animal heads, like ravens and lions. I instantly got the feeling that I was peeking into an event that I did not belong to— some billionaire’s secret guilty pleasure, or a north-European pagan ritual. 
It felt like the crowd would suddenly begin conducting a human sacrifice, and if they did, I would only be half surprised (the half that still remembered that I had been invited to this event, like everyone else here).
The second floor was even more unique. The most prominent feature was a single porcelain bathtub, right in the center of the room. Attendees flocked for the photo opportunity, and I was surprised to see it was functional; a woman got soaked with water as she turned the faucet and a jet of water shot out.
In the bathtub
Otherwise, the floor was decorated with lines of dilapidated brick wall separating the rooms, making it look like I was in an old worn-down courtyard. There was a male dancer wearing a donkey mask shaking his hips on an elevated stage, and an area that allowed attendees to make their own floral wreaths and head covers. Another room had a single ominous baby carriage, illuminated by a deep orange light.
Me, with the baby carriage
Excited to see what the third floor had in store for me, I climbed the stairs.
The third floor was absolutely mental. I walked into a crowded rave, with dozens of people dancing erratically to deep thumping music and constant strobe lights. Even now, I can only recall faint glimpses of that room; simple snapshots only because I was unable to focus on any single thing there for longer than a breath. I slipped into a trance-like state, and I do not even remember how long I spent there. It could have been second, or it could have been an hour.
When I finally left the third floor, I stepped into the exclusive Oz’s Boudoir VIP bar. It overlooked a large club-type setting, with a mix of indie-EDM and classic rock-pop hits blaring over the speakers.
Center stage, courtesy of Stevan Keane
More storage decor…
At the bar, I ordered a fresh cranberry-pineapple vodka, and watched as several people jumped onto a full king-sized bed that was placed right besides the bar.
Oz’s bar, courtesy of Stevan Keane
It felt like something straight from a dream, and I really took a moment to appreciate the craft of those that had put together a place like this; they had gone into the mind and retrieved every small whim or fear that resided on the edge of an individual’s thoughts, and had materialized it.
These people lived regular lives, and worked at regular jobs, but on this night, they could let loose the psychedelic animal within and let it howl.
I greatly enjoyed my experience at The McKittrick, and am excited to see what Sleep No More hits us with next.
Wednesday, June 28th 2023. KSUBI Store, SoHo, Fashion District, New York—The Australian Global denim streetwear line, KSUBI, that emerged as the hottest fashion line, infamously known for their signature distressed denim and box cross logo, reinforced their reputation to stand apart from the crowd of traditional denim based brands with their most recent collaboration. The DIY rebel of style partnered with rising rapstar from Harlem, A$AP TyY of the A$AP Mobb, to launch a Limited Edition Moto-Inspired Capsule Collection. A$AP TyY arrived at the jam-packed KSubi SoHo (located at 26 Greene Street) on a four-wheeler in moto-royale fashion. The artist, adorning a two piece denim set from the official moto-inspired line, took to stage shortly after and performed songs from his new EP, “1840 Lex” that officially dropped on Thursday, June 29th. 
The inspiration behind the new nine-piece collection with KSUBI stems from A$AP TyY’s love for motosports and street racing. With TyY’s undeniable passion for the sport, streetwear fashion and heavy involvement as a multi-hyphenated creative, the conception and design of the capsule collection extended its spirit into the heart of the content creation for his new EP, “1840 Lex”. The 7-song music project brings in its wake A$AP TyY’s refreshingly eclectic sound fused with hip hop, trap and electronic music; the same audible styling that caught the ears of the legendary A$AP Rocky and A$AP Yams. A$AP TyY’s fashion-facing and trend setting appeal has been the vehicle thrusting him forward in the industry as an icon.
“I had the idea of doing moto-style denim and jerseys for a while. If you know your denim you know KSUBI. There’s no denying how influential KSUBI has been on hip-hop culture, and its ties to A$AP [Mobb], so it only made sense to bring this collection to life with the help of both of our teams”, said A$AP TyY.
There’s no formal way to say this but, the EP “1840 Lex”, is pure fire; coupled with a brand that leads the way in innovate streetwear, that’s a brilliant pairing. It’s a masterful adrenaline rush with blends of many genres and styles found in trap, punk, golden era hip hop and is ladened with synths and pitch distortion as found in electronic music. A$AP TyY’s performance on record displays a thoughtful expression of raw emotion. His hunger for artistic freedom bleeds through a confident showcase of his vocal coloring, choice of instrumental accompaniments and release of emotion through his penned lyrics. A$AP TyY’s ability to explode on track at any moment illustrates the energy behind KSubi’s hard-edged appeal. With Ksubi and A$AP TyY partnering on the creative direction for the music video of TyY’s newest single, ‘Purge’, from the “1840 Lex” EP, the two iconic figures merge their brands effortlessly.
KSUBI highlights that in the exclusive nine-piece collection, their collaboration with A$AP TyY emphasizes the focus on the ‘collateral damage as stressors to the fabric of the garments that incur while participating in the sport’ and ‘attempting to maintain the garment’s original integrity as motosport ware’ as part of the central theme throughout KSubi and A$AP TyY’s Limited Edition Capsule designs. Championing items of the in-demand collection include: two racing jersey designs with co-branded KSUBI & A$AP custom pieces influenced by sponsor logos on the jersey’s of the professional moto-riders. KSubi shines in their custom faded wash techniques on their iconic slim-fit Ksubi denim, which is also included in the collection, plus a t-shirt and hoodie offer the collection an ‘already lived in feel’, that is achieved only after ‘breaking in’ the traditional hold of new attire. The jersey-fabric pieces are accentuated in distressing fashion which lends a heavy nod and silent applaud to the look and feel of natural wear and tear. The denim has also been moto-style treated to provide oil stain effects, ‘gravel splatter’ artwork on the back of the garments, and repair style embroidery on the crotch to give the deteriorated feeling of motorsport ware. 
The KSUBI x A$AP TyY’s, Limited Edition Moto-Inspired Capsule Collection, will be available from 29th June 2023 at KSUBI stores in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and London, as well as brand’s official online retail store: www.KSubi.com and selected retailers globally which including Saks 5th Avenue in the US and Culture Kings in Australia.
“1840 Lex” by A$AP TyY is available on all major music streaming platforms Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal and more.
