Read It & Weep

Posted on Friday, 2 December 2011 by Ben

After a bit of a hiatus, interviews are back here at This Life. You’re up about to be presented with a cyber cluster fuck of creative individuals who are out there doing their own thing and making something of it.
With out any further adieu, let’s kick things of with Melbourne’s Read It & Weep. With a solid first range featuring designs from everyone’s favourite Graffiti Asshole, Lush, PhotographerTom Gould and the ever stylish Sauce the dudes are killing it right from the get go.

Firstly, thanks for your time. What’s been happening man?

No problemo, thank you. I just got back from trip up north actually. Good times.

So what’s up with RI&W? Tell us about who you guys are and what you’re about.

RI&W is an independent label, run by myself here in Melbourne with the help from a bunch of really great fucking artists. We’re about making great graphic tees and giving shine to some of Australia and the worlds best artists. We also plan to start a cult, but that is another tale for another time.

What prompted you to make the decision to take the idea to T-Shirts??

Always something I’ve wanted to do, and the opportunity presented itself. I have been playing with the name for sometime and knew I wanted to do something with it. I also have the added benefit of knowing a lot of mega dope artists and people that have helped me along the way.

It seems these days everyone out there thinks they are running some super sick T-Shirt label. Do you find it hard to establish yourself in such an environment?

No doubt, it’s definitely the hype thing to do now. Small fish big pond scenario for sure. However, our designs, quality and calibre of artists involved stand to set us apart from Johnny ‘Ijustboughtascreenprintsetup’ Designer.

Let’s talk about the designs, most of them have a pretty distinct Graffiti vibe, where does that influence come from?

10 years of writing graffiti for better or worse, as stupid as it sounds it wasn’t for graffiti I wouldn’t have done half the things I’ve done, travelled to the places I have, met the amazing people I have and definitely wouldn’t have been in the position to set this thing off.

You also have a tee featuring one of my favourite photographers, Tom Gould. How’d that come about?

Tom’s work always melted my face. His earlier ‘zines are super sick and his latest work is going from strength to strength. When I decided to do a photo print for the first little line he immediately sprang to mind.

You’re originally from QLD then made the move to Melbourne. Do you think you’d be doing RI&W if you still lived up north?

I think it would have been a lot harder to do from Queensland. I don’t know if I would have, the move an subsequent inspiration lead me to believe it possible and I had nothing to lose (except money) so I gave it a crack.

How have both cities had an effect on the brand?

Don’t really know how to answer that I guess they both have effected me and through that come to effect the brand. The Brand is based in Melbourne, printed tagged and designed in Melbourne but I still have close ties to Qld obviously and have some great retailers up there like my dude Matty at Rehab Records in Brisbane. I don’t really know if that was an answer…I’m a bit damaged today.

How is Melbourne life treating you so far?

I got a lot of love for Melbourne, it feels like home for me now. The winters are cold as balls and seem to last forever, but it’s worth it for everything the city has to offer.

What’s been blasting through your speakers of late?

Been listening to a lot of Propaghandi since I saw them live for the first time earlier this year. Fucking amazing band. Also been running Poison Idea, Mindsnare, Bad Brains, Municipal Waste, Trash Talk and on the rap side of things Action Bronson and a bunch or 90′s NYC rap particularly DITC.

What’s in the name? Why Read It & Weep?

I wanted to call it ‘Fuck You’ but I didn’t want to make my mum even more disappointed in me. I also like the saying and the iconography that goes along with it.

What’s in your pockets right now?

Phone, car keys, a few dollars and a receipt for ‘Anchors’ record I just bought at Poison City.

Name 5 things you take with you on your travels?

Money, your passport, 1 nice pair of versatile sneakers and a fly RI&W shirt is all you need haha. Travel light and pick things up as you need them.

We live in some pretty crazy times. What are your thoughts on the world and society today?

FTW. Society is fucked, people care less and less everyday. I say have fun, make enough money to be comfortable, try to be a good person, take care of your family and friends and do what makes you feel good.

Any up coming projects or collaborations that we should know about?

Going to drop a limited run singlet with the ‘Sauce’ design over the summer, it will be cut price and in limited supply. Black singlet with a white print. We also have a party coming up…the details aren’t finalized yet but keep your eyes on our blog - http://readitandweep.net/ and facebook - http://www.facebook.com/readitandweepbrand. We also have a co-lab with Don’t Sleep coming next year too amongst a bunch of other shit I can’t really delve into yet.

Word association, you know the deal, say the first thing that comes to your mind when you read the word.

Australia

What it says on my passport

Julia Gillard

Reptile

America

Opportunity

Obama

Reptile

Melbourne

Homebase

Religion

No thanks

Time

Never enough

Greed

Gordon Gekko

Paint

Wish I could do it more often

Legal

Protected

Illegal

Raw dog

Humanity

Doomed!

Peace

War

Freedom

Are we but?

Create

Destroy

Read It & Weep

The next shit! (hahaha)

Life

What you make it

Happiness

Double happiness

RI&W Says:

Thanks to everyone who has supported us and bought our gear. This label is completely D.I.Y and without the help and support of everyone involved we wouldn’t be able to exist. Support your homies.