(From left to right) T-Dro, Tufawon, RAW402, AntoineX, Destroykasmin, Gunner, The Real SR
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(From left to right) T-Dro, Tufawon, RAW402, AntoineX, Destroykasmin, Gunner, The Real SR
These goals come from a personal place for Antoine and Gunner, as their early development as artists shared a common struggle; accessibility. Gunner Jules a 33 year old father and singer was born and raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. A member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribe, Gunner began to record songs using a school computer on the Rosebud reservation where he grew up. He saw music as a hobby more than anything because there were no reference points close enough to him to see it as a viable career. It wasn’t until 2017 in Toronto where he met the directors of the Remix Project that things changed. It was at this time when he witnessed the effectiveness of community organizing that was leveling the playing field for young people from disadvantaged, marginalized and underserved communities. Gunner asked himself a simple question; “How do we bring this to the rez?”
ANTOINEX is wearing a vintage Pierre Cardin suit, ProClub t-shirt, Praying trucker hat, Prada sunglasses with his own shoes and jewelry; GUNNER is wearing a vintage Giorgio Armani sport coat, Dries Van Noten polo, Amiri Jeans, Moncler bucket hat, Celine sunglasses with his own shoes and jewelry
Fast forward to a show at Marty Indian School in Marty, SD where Gunner and Antoine shared a stage for the first time. Gunner realized he wasn’t alone in his struggle nor was he the only one thinking solutions. It was through this opportunity, mutual respect and genuine chemistry that the two of them began to breathe life into projects like the Dimensions and LandBack albums but more profoundly a partnership that would come to be known as ALLSZN, was birthed.
While not biological brothers, founders of ALLSZN hold a familial bond through their innate responsibility to their community, one that extends past music alone and lends itself to the vast ambitions that encompass ALLSZN. Laughter fills the air while they recall a cold plains winter morning in 2016 during the NoDAPL movement. You begin to hear a fondness in their voices that can only come from an unspoken understanding that protecting their communities is the first and foremost priority and any opportunity to do so is one to be proud of. Simply calling these men ‘warriors’ takes away from the gentleness that comes from a conversation with them. This kind of dedication to their people influences every facet of ALLSZN and keeps the two hungry and ambitious.
ANTOINEX is wearing an Amiri hoodie, Pro Club t-shirt, vintage wool slacks, and his own hat and jewelry; GUNNER is wearing vintage wool slacks with stylist's jewelry
“Our mission is to help refine the raw talents of young Indigenous people in order to help them find success as they define it on their own terms.” says AntoineX who makes reference to a time in his career when older artists didn’t know how to show love or offer guidance and mentorship. AntoineX, a 28 yo UmOnHon, Lakota Rapper and Singer says, “This is our way of giving back and providing what we, ourselves, could have benefitted from as young artists.” You can hear the balance of confidence and humility in Antoine’s voice as he affirms ALLSZN’s mission, “We envision a world where Natives are empowered through the creation and publication of high quality music and media allowing them to tell their stories and be seen in a world that otherwise systemically erases their identity.”
ANTOINEX is wearing an Amiri hoodie, Pro Club t-shirt, vintage wool slacks, and his own hat and jewelry
What was once an idea to refine the artistic talents of young Natives now carries with it a massive responsibility to give underserved communities a fair shot in the game. A responsibility that is aided by years of combined experience. By offering full service studios, artist management, and mobile youth workshops, such as the ALLSZN Youth Camps they can now give aspiring and established artists opportunities to advance their careers within the music industry.
The ALLSZN Youth Camps are one the engaging and impactful aspects of the group’s community work. Traveling to various reservations and first nation communities the ALLSZN team offers a series of workshops where young artists are able to learn the processes of songwriting, recording, and producing music through a hands-on approach. They write, record and produce a song and shoot a music video therein learning to express themselves in their own, unique and healthy way. The artists also learn techniques for recording, live performance, overcoming stage fright, and social media marketing. Workshops center around the four elements of hip-hop and connect them to our Indigenous teachings.
DESTROYKASMIN is wearing a vintage Givenchy blazer with his own pants and shoes; GUNNER is wearing a vintage Dior coat, ProClub t-shirt, Fred Perry slacks with his own hat, sunglasses and jewelry
The group also takes a step further with morning-motivation speeches that include discussions on healthy lifestyle practices, anti-bullying, suicide prevention, education, and breaking stereotypes. “Our goal is to give each individual artist their own personal freedom to express themselves while providing support, mentorship and guidance.”
The heavy nature of what this team is doing would lead someone to believe this group is all business all the time, and while you can count on something always in the works you can also find the ALLSZN team relying on the tenants of brotherhood and healthy masculinity. This often shows itself as laughter and love.
What separates ALLSZN isn’t the packed venues or the million views on their artists’ videos. It’s the intentional and familial relationships they hold with one another. Destroykasmin (23), one of the youngest members from Ganado, AZ, speaks to how ALLSZN made an impression on him as a young Diné man. “They were the first people to actually recognize me and bring me on tour.” and throughout their fall tour Kasmin describes a feeling of safety and support. While being concerned that the artist lifestyle would pull him from his obligation to sobriety and maybe more importantly his obligation to creating great music, he found quite the opposite. “These guys can fill venues but it essentially comes down to road trips and vibes,” he says as he fondly reflects on moments of kinship and mentorship.
ANTOINEX is wearing a Givenchy X Chito t-shirt, Amiri jeans and his own jacket, jewelry and hat
The community-oriented strengths of ALLSZN not only allow for young artists to tap in and work but encourages them to truly pursue their dreams through guidance from experienced professionals. These men follow a philosophy that sounds great in theory but is truly moving when you see it exemplified in experiences such as Kasmin’s.
As for the future of ALLSZN, a spring/summer tour is being planned as well as several individual projects that can be found on their personal Instagrams or @allsznofficial. However, more impressively there is an emphasis on further building the youth camp’s curriculum and carving a permanent space to which they will build a compound for the camps to thrive. A Native owned and managed space dedicated to the enrichment and development of underserved peoples fighting for their spot in the industry.
T-Dro is wearing a Stampd cardigan, his own hat embroidered ALLSZN
It’s not easy being Native, and breaking into places such as the music industry can seem impossible. But when a door is opened for one of us it allows for barriers to be broken and the possibilities to grow. They not only grow but change the foundation of what it means to be Native in America and there lies the power to be anything we put our hearts to. The game is set, the field has been leveled, all it needs is you.
Having been there to catch the action once again, after many special nights at various Standards throughout the world, office thought it was finally time to talk to one of the masterminds behind it all — Stephane Vacher, EVP Culture and Entertainment for the brand. He’s responsible for bringing the exciting and engaging programming and is a figurehead in building out the world famous nightlife scene we have come to know from The Standard. The thoughtful and diverse programming has been a direct reflection of the diverse crowd the brand has been able to capture from the tastemakers of the world to travelers just looking to be in a fun environment.
As Stephane toured us around the 155 room property inside the largest tower in Bangkok, King power Mahanakhon it became clear this would not only be a stand out in Thailand but in fact the whole of Asia, making it a true flagship.
Can you describe the culture of The Standard and how it sets you apart?
The culture of The Standard is a celebration of Life, Inclusivity, Art ,Music, Fashion and Creativity overall, nurtured by like-minded people who are passionate and excited by what we stand for, and create. It is a platform that allows our teams and collaborators to express themselves not only through artistic channels but also through self-expression.
The Standard is known for their innovative and distinctive approach to hospitality. How do you keep it fresh?
We are constantly evolving as humans based on what we are exposed to at a present time as well as the way we interact with technology and new trends. We constantly challenge ourselves to grow as the world and the way we experience it changes around us.
How would you describe the perfect night?
A perfect night happens spontaneously and evolves organically as the hours go by. It is with family and/or dear friend(s), we start with drinks and no real agenda, and let the night take us away from one place to the other. It is all about quality time, it is stimulating and interesting and it usually involves music.
You’ve had so many great celebrations throughout the years. What’s one party moment that will forever stick out to you?
The nights can be magical, I have so many incredible memories. Some of my favorite ones are unexpected moment such as a small birthday celebration we hosted at The Boom Boom Room for a young actress (which I will keep anonymous); Stevie Wonder arrived unannounced and sat at the piano to sing her happy birthday for a crowd of 80 guests. It was so unexpected and intimate, it was such an incredible treat.
What’s the biggest mistake you can make when trying to create culture?
Surrounding yourself with people who have no emotional connection with what you are working towards.
Have you had a favorite collaborator?
I am fortunate to have collaborated with extremely talented people through the years, from upcoming and established music artists to light, sound, graphic, interior designers and many others in different discipline. I could not name a favorite.
What one thing you hope guests take away from their experience of staying at The Standard or attending a Standard event?
We work towards creating an immersive experience for our guests. The harmony between the environment we create, the entertainment, the drinks and the food offering, as well each guest interaction is what creates the experience and makes it so great. But if I had to pick one thing, I would hope that our guests remember how kind everyone is.
Best advice you have gotten in nightlife?
Don't get high on your own supply.
What does it mean to finally have a flagship location in Asia?
It is an amazing growth moment for The Standard. It allows us to expend our community and connect it between the US, Europe and Asia, as well as opening opportunities to create new properties in this part of the world.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
Sala Sinephro - Space 1.8, or maybe Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders - Promises, actually, Harold Budd - The Pavilion Of Dreams .. huummm, I really need to think about this one.
What is the most rewarding part of your career?
To hear from our guests, collaborators and coworkers, how much of a good time they had and how inspired they feel about what we do and the way we do it.
If you could travel to any time period, which one would you choose and why?
It would be the future. We can learn from the past but we cannot change what happened, alternatively, the future is ours to define but also a true mystery which makes it exciting.
If it was a moment in time , it would be July 21st 1990, Berlin, for Pink Floyd s The Wall concert commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall eight months earlier, which was attended by 350 000 people.
What are some projects you are currently working on or are excited about in the future?
We are opening properties in Singapore, Melbourne, Lisbon, Brussels, Mexico and many other destinations in the next few years. Each projects is unique and tailored for its specific location. Diving into the local culture to understand how we can contribute to it is fun challenge I am looking forward to.
Led by Michael Nyarko, Ace Hotel Toronto partners with local brands and organizations to host a range of public activities. They recently collaborated with JEMS on a series of conversations, workshops and events that center sex and the culture of sex, followed by a public installation with Montreal-based Studio Rats called “The Garden of Inflated Delights”.
True to Ace Hotel’s ethos of embracing local culture in the cities they inhabit, its public and private space art features a diverse collection of works from nearly 40 Canadian creators, including Nadia Gohar, Erin Vincent, Ale Groen, Dahae Song, Rod Mireau, Meera Sethi, Victoria Sequeira, Claudia Gutierrez and Guillermo Trejo.
Nyarko says, “Ace Hotel should be your playground, a safe space and an opportunity to think big and connect. We have various spaces in the building that give you different sensations…Ultimately, if someone calls this their home, we have done a good job”.
Can you describe your role at Ace Toronto? What's your day-to-day like? And why do you do what you do?
At Ace Hotel Toronto, I am the Community + Marketing Manager. Aside from the standard email and Google suite usage, I often get to engage with creatives, brands, curious people and my colleagues to dream about ways to make impactful and exciting cultural moments. Programming gets me excited because I get to witness and contribute to my community in positive and dynamic ways.
Could you tell me about the JEMS event and installation at the Ace? What other events are coming up?
Our collaboration with Jems is called Rubber Hearts, a series of conversations, workshops and events that centres sex and the culture of sex. To bring the partnership to life, Jems invited Montreal-based Studio Rats to install 'The Garden of Inflated Delights' in our Lobby. It was amazing. In the very near future we are working towards a fun drawing class and a mini vogue ball. While not a programming moment, something else fun we have at the hotel is our direct-dial phone to our friends at Superette, purveyors of the best smoke in Toronto. You can find the phone in the lobby, give them a call, and have their budtender guide you through their offerings. They're just around the corner from the hotel, so it's an easy stroll to collect your goods and have a great time around the city.
Which artists commissioned for the public art space are you most excited about? And why?
I enjoy Nadia Gohar's work in the Lobby. Her use of colours, and textures of brush lines gives a very human example of home to me. David Umemoto's monochromatic yet highly-architectural concrete mural up at our rooftop bar Evangeline ; I really like its Escher-esque structure. Alo Groen's piece in our restaurant, Alder also gets a shout-out. His take on still life perfectly sums up the spirit of the space. Good food and good company.
Hotels are oftentimes spaces of exclusion - neutral spaces where people can escape to. Yet, they are also spaces for intimacy and gathering. What do you want people to feel when they visit the Ace Hotel?
Ace Hotel should be your playground, a safe space and an opportunity to think big and connect. We have various spaces in the building that give you different sensations. Alder hits the taste buds – courtesy of our Chef partner and Toronto icon Patrick Kriss – the Lobby allows you to relax or work, and Evangeline should be where you free yourself. Ultimately, if someone calls this their home, we have done a good job.