The Utopia Issue
How Germany’s rap scene is uniting a divided country
Change of tune — Grappling with societal fractures and a far-right surge, young Germans have discovered a new way of building bridges in the face of disunity: hip hop.
Written by: Alice Austin
Shu Lea Cheang is making art that hacks the system
Seek and disrupt — Pioneering artist, subversive filmmaker, voice of resistance: Shu Lea Cheang is difficult to box in. Whether adapting technology for activism or directing sci-fi porn features, she’s driven by a desire to create bold new worlds – ones where anything is possible.
Written by: Jake Hall
London’s Shaolin warriors are on a quest for self-mastery
Pumped up kicks — In a leafy London suburb, a group of dedicated warriors have carved out a space where they can be the best versions of themselves – mind, body and soul. Welcome to Shaolin Temple UK: a martial arts school where the path to mastery starts within.
Written by: Niall Flynn
Sex work allowed Isa Mazzei to embrace her outsider status
Behind closed doors — Last year, the award-winning writer took Hollywood by storm with a psychological horror based on her own experience in the sex industry. Now, ahead of the release of her debut memoir, she’s looking back on how her time as a cam girl saved her at her lowest point.
Written by: Lydia Morrish
Big-wave surfer Maya Gabeira is chasing the next high
Drop in the ocean — Last year, the 32-year-old rode a colossal 68-foot wave, conquering it at the same place she’d almost drowned five years prior. It was a crowning moment, one that saw her shattering a world record in the process. So what came next?
Written by: Alex Wade
The radical sounds of Black Belt Eagle Scout
At The Party — A self-identifying queer, indigenous, feminist musician, Katherine Paul burst out of Portland’s underground scene. Now, operating on a much larger platform, she’s determined to make a positive difference for marginalised voices.
Written by: Katie Goh
Florida’s hardcore punk scene, captured in its wild glory
Some loud thunder — For the past three years, photographer Stefano Lemon has been documenting South Florida’s hardcore scene – an underdog movement that refuses to die.
Written by: Niall Flynn
Mica Levi’s wild soundscapes are reshaping film scores
Chopped and screwed — Whether making pioneering art-pop or composing Oscar-nominated scores, the British artist has one rule: disrupt. With a haunting new composition for a feverish new film, she’s back doing what she does best – smashing boundaries, breaking new ground.
Written by: Dhruva Balram
What would the world look like if ecocide was law?
Season of disruption — In the face of a climate emergency, activists are fighting to see environmental destruction recognised as an international crime. By prosecuting those who harm the planet, individuals would finally be held to account – a victory that would change everything.
Written by: Jojo Mehta and Talia Woodin
Why imagination is key to building a fairer future
Reject the centre — By limiting our thinking to what’s deemed ‘sensible‘, we play right into the hands of those upholding the status quo. In response, writer Nathalie Olah is issuing a rallying cry: a better future is possible, we just have to dream bigger.
Written by: Nathalie Olah
The small coastal haven that became an outsiders’ paradise
Postcards from Provincetown — As a young photographer, Joel Meyerowitz spent his summers in an idyllic hideaway situated at the northern tip of Cape Cod – a place where lovers, artists and runaways could live freely, without restriction or judgement.
Written by: Benjamin Cook
Huck: The Utopia Issue
Out now! — Our new issue’s about bolder, brighter worlds – built by people sick of the status quo.
Written by: Huck