In an era saturated with algorithms and fleeting trends, there’s a profound beauty in tracing the origins of youth communication. What connects the raw, visceral energy of a hand-cranked fanzine from the 70s to the curated digital realms of today’s online magazines and guides? For us at Blend and LUV, it’s not just a historical…
When the world press celebrated the signing of the ceasefire, headlines spoke of a “pause” and—in some cases—of “hope” for a new phase. Many wondered whether, after months of bombing and destruction, the conflict could truly end and transform into peace. Today, nearly two months after the agreement, the picture shows how that distinction is…
I have lived with HIV since 2012. Thirteen years on, I can say with certainty that these years have not been easy. Medicine has advanced, yes — PrEP is widely available, treatment means undetectable equals untransmittable, and people living with HIV can expect long, full lives. But the social reality is far more complicated. In…
Words by Blend London Editorial This autumn, Somerset House marks its 25th anniversary with a landmark exhibition that pulses with basslines, street style, and generational memory. Rhythm & Roots is the first major solo show by Jennie Baptiste—a London-born photographer whose work has, for over three decades, captured the soul of Black British youth culture….
1987–1994 – The Acid House Epiphany London, summer 1987. In the basements of Southwark, beneath strobe lights and dilated smiles, Shoom is born. Not just a club: a collective baptism.Danny Rampling, fresh from Ibiza, brings a new sound—Chicago house, Balearic freedom, MDMA as sacrament.Clubs like The Trip and Heaven become temples for a new tribe:…
As Catching Flies with Honey, Joy Gregory’s first major UK retrospective, opens at Whitechapel Gallery, the celebrated British artist reflects on four decades of creative inquiry — and the enduring power of dialogue. For Joy Gregory, art has always been a conversation. Not just between artist and audience, but between past and present, image and…
In the shifting mosaic of South London, where cultures collide and communities coalesce, there are places that quietly hold the city together. Pecan is one of them. Tucked behind the bustle of Rye Lane, this modest charity centre doesn’t shout. It listens. It welcomes. It rebuilds. For over three decades, Pecan has been a lifeline…
There are some places where the rhythm of life is painted in color, carried in song, and served on a plate. Peckham and Bristol are two of those rare gems cities where culture isn’t just something you visit, but something you feel, taste, and carry home with you. In Peckham, the streets breathe creativity. Independent…
Where Mental Health Meets Community In South London, healing doesn’t always wear a white coat. Sometimes it arrives in the form of a peer-led workshop, a late-night sanctuary, or a garden tended by those reclaiming their sense of self. Across Brixton, Croydon, Camberwell and Peckham, a constellation of charities is quietly reshaping the mental health…
In Brixton, resistance doesn’t always wear a banner. Sometimes, it’s a book archive. Sometimes, it’s a pop-up kitchen. Sometimes, it’s a TikTok poem filmed on a rooftop. The soul of Brixton’s resilience lives in its spaces — physical and digital. Institutions like the Black Cultural Archives, nestled on Windrush Square, offer more than historical preservation….