It doesn’t matter what creative outlet somebody finds themselves putting out to the world, everything comes down to style; whether it’s music, photography, painting, styling, writing – to be honest you don’t even need me to outline the avenues. When you recognise something, it’s when there’s been a lasting impression, deriving from a style with expression. The synergy between music and fashion is everlasting… it’s one of the most important selling points for a music artist. It must be authentic, though. It takes a certain kind of person to be true to themselves and create an ‘image’ and when it’s done right, that’s when the facial recall comes.
One of the brands that possesses the recall that I discuss, it warrants a tiny recall time of 0.00001 seconds, is Converse. Now you’ve read the name, it’s that ONE STAR you think of or if I need a second guess, the distinctive high-top Chuck Taylor. It might not be facial recognition, but it’s the iconography you instantly think of.
Converse continues to push its boundaries, leveraging a new trio of silhouettes that debuts elements of utility, and comfort, for versatile and edgy styling. Dubbed the Chuck 70 AT-CX, Run Star Legacy and Chuck Lugged 2.0 CC HI, each new style retains the iconic DNA of the Chuck, while merging innovation and experimentation to produce new original design concepts.
Imagine you’re in that marketing ideation session, about to launch the new range of shoes. You get told they’re bold, dynamic and expressive and you have the All Star Community at your disposal, to front the campaign – who do you pick? Rasharn Powell. Good choice. Somebody that embodies creativity and expression in everything that they do.
To uncover more about the launch, and to learn everything I need to know about his music and persona, I caught up with Rasharn to discuss all. Enjoy.
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We’re out of the sunshine period, how was your summer?
It’s been good, man. To be honest, I’ve been reflective, and very introspective. When you’re doing music, the flurry of opinions come through – in this age we’re not shielded from it. Unless we actively do it for ourselves, you can kind of start forgetting why you started, I think this summer was more about me getting closer to the answer of why I do what I do.
As soon as creatives have an end goal, and start the work, the next action can be so engrossing that the enjoyment becomes momentary, rather than the bigger picture.
There’s a great thing about that, though, because doing good work just means that there’s more work. I love it, but you can get lost in that and it can sometimes just make you forget why you began. And that is where the fun started – it’s about keeping that in the centre of my mind.
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The R&B scene in London is really bubbling with some amazing talent right now, how does it feel to be at the forefront of the movement?
I’m genuinely humbled by what you’ve just said, you know? I’m grateful for the perception that you have on what it is that I do. In regard to my feelings of it, I don’t ever feel like I’m at the forefront of anything. I just feel like I’m trying to be the best version of myself within what it is that I do, and outside of what it is that I do every single day. There are some amazing talents coming through man, and they are so inspiring. It’s amazing to see other artists within the scene carving out their own things. I’m just trying to bring as much joy to as many people as I possibly can with the music that I make. The only way I can do that is by diving deeper into what it is that I do and focus on that.
With like London R&B artists particularly, I always see the scene supporting each other, there’s this lovely energy that shines through…
Anyone that I’m working with, or collaborating with, I have a personal relationship with. Ojerime, is a great friend of mine, and this energy we have is what helps build community and helps build the best output. I think that if we’re focused and genuinely leaning on one another, that’s what truly matters.
There’s a certain level of class that emanates from your music and this is something that concurrently runs throughout your style, how important is this synergy between your music and self-representation?
The music that I’m making, it’s about how it’s making me feel and where it’s taking me in that process. Regarding visually, it’s about what I lean more toward. Like, how do I want to represent this version of myself that I’m putting out?
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With your lyrics and style of your music, it’s personal and intimate – when you come to write, talk to me about the process and how you get yourself in the mindset?
Clarity. I do a lot of different things outside of making music that have helped me get closer to what I want to say, and in the most honest way that I can possibly say it. Obviously, there’s a bit of fantasy that comes in. I love writing stories and reading literature, so being able to fully understand what it is I want to say and how I want to be, comes from clarity.
When you perform, the energy you set, what’s the main takeaway you want audiences to leave your shows feeling?
That they had fun, like it was an experience, that they felt free and that I’ve given them an opportunity to do something that they don’t get to do all the time, like genuinely laugh, dance, like actually dance and be off your phone. Don’t worry about filming me, let’s just have fun. You look to the person you don’t know to the right of you and get to know them. You’re sharing that moment, and you go away and probably never see them ever again. It’s a shared experience. If you ever bumped into them again, you would only know that experience.
The All Star Community, what are the key things you’ve learnt whilst being on the roster?
There’s been so much. What I really do value, and I’ve said it to the team, is care. There’s a realness there with the Converse team, in regard to what it is that I’m doing, and the support that they give me. They’re just readily available. When we were in Paris, we were doing these workshops, and I was talking about “how you understand applying for grants”. For grants, this is something that everyone needs, especially me as an independent artist. This is not stuff that you would get anywhere else. Maybe you would, but at the same time, this was the first time a big corporation has opened doors for me.
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With the latest Chuck DNA experimentation and it’s embodiment of expression, if I was to give you the five points of the Converse star – what 5 characteristics of yours embody expression?
Clarity. Vulnerability. Discipline. I wouldn’t say confident, but definitely ‘unapologetic’, that’s a better way of saying it. The final one? Fearless.
How do you style the Chuck 70 AT-CX?
I typically drop them on with some wide leg pants. For me, it’s about how the pants sit on the shoe. But then in the summer I was wearing them with shorts as well. I think it depends on what your initial style is, and how your confidence is as well. A baggy pant is always a little vibe, it doesn’t necessarily show every part of the shoe, but it shows, and the sole is memorable.
What’s on the horizon for you?
Growth, self-exploration and music. Music.
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Words: Josh Clubbe
