Amidst the concern for what the next few months hold for the health of our families, our wider community and the businesses we work for or run, we are taking some time each day to switch off from the news and step away from the madness.

If you find yourself at home more than usual over the coming weeks then perhaps take the opportunity to listen to some new music, watch a classic movie, read a book, or treat yourself to an episode from a good Netflix recommendation. But most importantly go for walks and stay positive.

We have contacted some of our friends from the creative industry to give their recommendations for escapism, which you can find below. We have included photos of their own work or that of the brands they work for to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses and freelancers during this time. Please keep checking back as we will add to them over the coming weeks.

Enjoy the recommendations.

Wishing you all good health.

Ian & Felicity x

 

^ Ian & Felicity Campbell Cole, Co-founders of Campbell Cole

Ian & Felicity recommend ...

TV Series:

Wild Wild Country (Netflix) - eye-opening documentary series about an Indian guru, his assistant and their cult following as they build a utopian city in 1980s Oregon.

The Defiant Ones (Netflix) - upbeat documentary series following the careers and partnership of music legends Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, leading to one of the biggest deals in music history. Gives it some perspective if you watch Straight Outta Compton first.

Ozark (Netflix) - gripping drama based around an American family who find themselves money-laundering for a Mexican drug cartel.

Film:

Forrest Gump - life couldn't be more like a box of chocolates right now.

Isle of Dogs, directed by Wes Anderson

Podcast:

The Adam Buxton Podcast

The Secret History of the Future

Music:

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, David Bowie

Book:

Let It Go, Dame Stephanie Shirley - 'a moving memoir from a woman who made a fortune in a man's world and then gave it all away.'

 

^ Ross Baynham, Co-founder of Instrmnt

Ross recommends ...

TV Series:

Succession, Jesse Armstrong (Now TV) - Expertly written. Dry, dark comedy.

Film:

The Handmaiden, directed by Park Chan-Wook - If you like Parasite, then...

Podcast:

Ear Hustle

Radiotopia - Insightful, also sad.

Music:

Love Songs Part II, Romare - Put headphones on and start some work.

Book:

How Music Works, David Byrne - Fascinating look at world musical influences from my hero.

 

^ Ethan Buttress, Marketing Executive at Oliver Spencer

Ethan recommends ...

TV Series:

Big Little Lies (HBO) - you can stream on Now TV or Sky - Fantastic storyline, brilliant soundtrack and with it being set on the sunny, Californian coast it transports you away to somewhere warm and sunny, which is needed when you are stuck at home!

Film:

Since the Studio Ghibli films have been put onto Netflix I have been working my way through them. I grew up on these as a kid and the nostalgia for me is really rewarding. Don't be fooled, just because these are animations it doesn't make them kids films! For those who like any fantasy or sci-fi, these are a must watch and cult classic! Personal favourites: Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke.

Podcast:

Joan and Jericha - I have been howling at this since I was introduced to it a couple of weeks ago! Short 20-odd minute episodes that are completely outrageous and ridiculous. Definitely one to listen to if you have the isolation blues!

Music:

I can't choose one so here are my top 5 albums I am listening to at the moment:

1. Nothing Is Still by Leon Vynehall

2. Black Focus by Yussef Kamaal

3. Songs of Praise by Shame

4. DJ Kicks mixed tracks by Moodyman

5. The Oliver Spencer WFH playlist : listen here

Book: 

Like a lot of people I have read the Sally Rooney books; Conversations With Friends and Normal People. I really enjoyed both of these. I am now onto a classic - To Kill a Mockingbird. 

 

^ Olivia Aspinall, Founder of Olivia Aspinall Studio

Olivia recommends...

TV Series:

The Split ( BBC) 

Detectorists (BBC)

Film:

Jojo Rabbit

Podcast:

The Guilty Feminist

All Killa no filla

Music:

The Wood Brothers 

Book:

The Beach by Alex Garland. 

 

 ^ India Hobson & Magnus Edmondson, Photographers, and creators of Haarkon Adventures including the printed journal Haarkon Adventures Japan.

India & Magnus recommend:

TV Series:

We would've 100% gone with The Defiant Ones on Netflix here so we'll just have to second your recommendation! Love that doc and have watched it over and over. 

Gary Huswit is streaming his documentaries for free during this time, we love Objectified but you can't go wrong with any of them. Watch here. 

The US Office. We almost know it word-for-word and find that there are constant ways for it to filter into real life. Watch on Amazon Prime. 

Same goes for anything Alan Partridge. Some on Netflix. 

Fargo; cold, beautiful, awkward and funny. Watch the series on Netflix. 

Film:

The Lobster - we love Yorgos Lanthimos and the awkwardness he creates, also recommend The Favourite and The Killing of a Sacred Deer - they're dark but great. (Both on Amazon - TKOASD is included on Prime)

The Big Short (on Netflix)

The Pitch Perfect trilogy. Don't judge us, they're very uplifting! 2 and 3 available on Netflix. 

Music:

Nothing - heartily recommend opening your windows and listen to the outside.

Books:

I re-read my favourites over and over; To Kill a Mocking-Bird (Harper Lee), The Virgin Suicides (Jeffry Eugenides) and Perfume, The Story of a Murderer (Patrick Suskind) 

The Wild Places (Robert McFarlane)

Weeds (Richard Mabey)

 

 ^ Mac Collins, Furniture Designer / Maker. You can see his work here.

Mac recommends...

TV Series:

The War of the Worlds (2020) - Now TV 

Utopia - Amazon Prime - maybe a strange time to rewatch this series but I'm hooked again, dark and gripping

Film:

And Still I Rise, Maya Angelou - Netflix - incredible woman, incredible voice, incredible life!

13 Assassins - can't go wrong with a bit of Edo Period action sometimes - Japanese with subtitles

Podcast / Audiobook:

History Extra Podcast - I think I'm a bit old before my time but I listen to all of these

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Intelligence Squared Podcast - sometimes have some interesting debates

Book:

Natives, Akala 

Shogun, James Clavell

In Praise of Shadows, Junichiro Tanizaki

Music:

Freddie Gibbs - Bandana

Mndsgn - Body Wash / Yawn Zen

Tonyspark - CyberSpace.PunkFunk 

Roots Manuva - Brand New Second Hand / Bleeds

Jeshi - Bad Taste

 

 ^ Oliver Hooson, Photographer and all round creative @olvh

Oli recommends...

TV Series:

New: just finished up watching The Outsider which was definitely worth watching, do I wish I had watched Ozark instead? Possibly but I definitely enjoyed The Outsider.

Old: Sopranos has been at the very top of my list and only just dedicated some time to it, I feel part of the family already having only watched the first season and a half

Film:

Sticking to Netflix for ease here but if you haven’t watched some of these classics they’re most most recent rewatched and they’re not to be missed:

True Romance, Training Day, Midnight Express

Podcast:

One of my all time favourite listens is the now the deceased Corporate Lunch by GQ, I could go back and listen to those guys talk menswear for hours; good chat, good knowledge, no frills.

Music:

A few rando WFH specials:

Bullion - We had a good time

Aphex Twin - Xtal

Deb Never - Ugly

Portishead - The Rip

Strawberry Milk Cult - Portland

Brockhampton - Ginger 

Book:

Recent reads; 'once a runner’ a novel from the late 70’s illustrating track mentality and what it takes to be an elite runner also on the same wave I’ve been reading ‘why we sleep’ since realising just how key sleep is to the running routine.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Nicola Maughan, Interior Designer

Nicola recommends...

TV Series:

The End of the Fucking World (irony aside, both series 1&2 are excellent!) 

Big Little Lies (waiting patiently for the second series on Now TV from 26th March!) 

Camping on Now TV (beyond cringeworthy but hilarious)

Podcast:

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

The Adam Buxton Podcast 

Music:

Christine and the Queens ‘La Vita Nuova’

The Comet is Coming ‘Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery’

Khruangbin ‘Texas Sun’

Four Tet ‘Sixteen Oceans’

Book:

Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (just read! 😱)

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (about to start!)