Today, June 27, London duo 13XL released the music video for their single “Frosty Tips,” directed by Nathan Sam Long. 13XL works in a space where artists like Lil Peep and Juice WRLD have previously made waves. But 13XL has a sound all their own – Scott Bowley employs emo, noisy guitar patterns honed during his time with the band Crushed Beaks, while bandmate Xena Hussain meshes her poetic lyrics and melodies with trap-influenced beats. The result is a moody, full sound sure to catch your ear and keep you hitting repeat.
The pair may seem like an unlikely team. Bowley’s presence has been felt in underground music scenes for quite some time; the techno party he co-runs, World Unknown, was once heralded by Vice as “London’s Wildest Night Out,” and he still records with the aforementioned Crushed Beaks. While always interested in music, Hussain came to attention for her spoken word pieces, which she would regularly perform at poetry jams. The two met through friends and, after realising the creative potential they had together, moved into an old pub they would later convert into a recording space.
Music produced by the group took the name 13XL, and soon, the duo was playing shows ranging from illegal events in South London to Milan Fashion Week parties. All the while they were developing their sound, generating buzz – and picking up fans.
photo by Nathan Sam Long
photo by Nathan Sam Long
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For “Frosty Tips,” the band joined up with South London trap and drill producer Tweeko, known for his single “The Coldest Link Up.” Tweeko added booming bass hits and percussion to the track, emphasising its lyrical themes of overwhelming desire.
“Frosty Tips is a heart-in-your-throat song about a crush, but it’s really about those nerves, and especially about frustration,” Hussain explains. “Sometimes the crush is a crush, sometimes the crush is just the will to get through a day. I think that kind of visceral frustration is something we’re all feeling more as an increasingly anxious generation being poked and prodded at and pressured in so many different directions.”
photo by Nathan Sam Long
photo by Nathan Sam Long
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The music video for the track went live today, with an EP coming in August. Watch the music video for the single below, and be sure to RSVP for the EP release party in London.
Photographer Alvin Kean Wong has spent the last five years embedded in Japan’s rockabilly subculture, camera in hand, capturing the raw energy of a movement that defies time. Now, his work culminates in Roller Zoku, an exhibition set to open in February at Cafe Studio in New York, offering an intimate look at the scene and the people keeping it alive.
Born in Singapore and now based in New York, Wong is known for his documentary-style approach to fashion and portrait photography. With Roller Zoku, he turns his lens on a subculture often overlooked, challenging perceptions and capturing the spirit of a movement that refuses to fade.
Wong’s fascination with Japan’s rockabilly community began in 2019, when he first set out to document what many assumed was a fading subculture. Instead, he found a thriving, close-knit world of pompadoured rebels, leather-clad dancers, and a deep-rooted sense of camaraderie. At the heart of it all was Johnny Diago, a key figure in the scene, whose mission to preserve and pass on rockabilly culture became the driving force behind Wong’s project.
By December 2019, Wong was on the road with Johnny and his band, touring Canada and documenting every moment — from electrifying performances to the quieter, in-between snapshots of life on the move. That journey solidified his bond with the community and deepened his understanding of what rockabilly means beyond the surface aesthetics.
Even when the pandemic forced a pause on live events, Wong stayed connected. Sifting through years of images, he crafted Roller Zoku, a book released in Tokyo in 2023 that serves as both an archive and a tribute to the people who welcomed him into their world. Now, the exhibition builds on that work, presenting never-before-seen photographs and a deeper exploration of Japan’s rockabilly culture — its Western influences, its rebellious spirit, and its place within the broader conversation on Asian identity.
The exhibition opens with a reception on 20 February from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, followed by two public viewing days on 21 and 22 February from 12:00 to 6:00 pm (and it’s free to the public!).
There must be something in the air as some of the most exciting voices in R&B right now have roots in London. East Londoner kwn is the latest star on our radar. Her music captures the essence of pure R&B in its seductive melodies and yearning lyricism. Where kwn’s sound takes on a life of its own, is in its pristine production. kwn’s vocals are always sharp and clean, while her signature sound is moody and bubbling with sexual tension. Its why her fan base is so mesmerized by her music, she truly embodies the aura of her art. kwn never shies away from teasing fans and just dropped a self-produced remix of her popular song Worst Behaviour featuring Kehlani with a hot and steamy music video to match. Schon! gets to know the singer, how the remix came about and a specially curated playlist by kwn herself.
Hey kwn, what are you up to right now?
I’m currently sat on the sofa watching Toy Story with my niece and nephew.
Looking back on the past year, what have you learned about yourself and your craft?
That I should never ever doubt myself and that I am doing great. I just gotta keep going.
How would you describe your sound to someone who is just discovering you?
I always say it’s just unapologetically me. I don’t put myself in a box, never stick to a genre. I’m just doing me and hoping people like it!
The British R&B scene is super strong right now. Why do you think you were most drawn to this genre in particular?
It’s what I grew up listening to. I’ve got two older sisters born in the 90’s so you can only imagine what I had going round the crib as a kid. It’s also just super feel good music. You can’t really pinpoint why it feels the way it does but I just love it.
You’re also an incredible producer. How did you first get into it?
My mum and dad bought me a computer when I was younger and I used to drag in loops from GarageBand to try and make some sort of a beat. Then I slowly started teaching myself by staying up till like 5 am watching people make beats on Fruity Loops on Youtube.
You’ve just released a remix of your popular song Worst Behaviour featuring Kehlani. How did you guys first connect and why was she your go-to choice for the song?
We have mutual friends! We met through social media initially and then started working on some songs together, one of them being Clothes Off on her tape. Then what’s funny is when Worst Behaviour came out she was like, “y’all should do a remix,” and I said “well, do you wanna be on it?” And the rest is history.
You’ve been working on a project. What does the music you’re currently making say about this era of your life?
I think it’s just very pivotal. The past few years of my life have been super challenging and I think this body of work has allowed me to just let go and let life do its thing. I’m very proud of this project. It’s still a work in progress but it’s solid for real.
So far, how does it make you feel when you listen to it?
PROUD. I am so proud, excited and also a little big headed because the music is great if I do say so myself.
What are you looking forward to in the year to come?
More music, more shows, more success, more everything. I’m ready to see what this year has to offer.
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Initially quiet and reserved, Devon Ross gradually reveals her vast artistic world. We connect with her via video call. Ross seems serene, vaping and surrounded by guitars in what looks like a music studio. She embodies a laid-back coolness that seems to flow in her veins—after all, she is the daughter of Crag David Ross, Lenny Kravitz’s lead guitarist, and former model Anna Bauer. Furthermore, her upbringing split between the shores of The Bahamas, the artistic vibe of Woodstock, and the never-ending energy of Los Angeles, has undoubtedly played a role in shaping her unique style. The more we talk, the more it is clear that her artistic journey has only just begun.
As a model, Ross has graced the catwalk of Valentino, landed a Gucci campaign, and more recently became a “friend of the house” of Louis Vuitton. Beyond modelling, Ross is a talented musician and actress. Last year, she launched her debut EP, Oxford Gardens and starred in the thriller Depravity, where she plays the role of Aria. We have also seen her alongside Alicia Vikander in the drama mini-series Irma Vep, and more recently in My First Film by Zia Anger. Presented as a film within a film, it’s an honest and insightful perspective of a young filmmaker struggling to create her first feature. Definitely not her first role, Ross plays Dina, the newly starring actress.
Speaking with Schon!, she discusses her recent role in My First Film and the challenges that come with starting in the industry, as well as the reality and struggles of any beginning.
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Let’s go back to where it all started, to your beginnings. So tell me, what is your earliest acting-related memory?
Probably when my sister and I were around eight and ten years old. We got these little video cameras and we immediately started writing and making our own movies. She would shoot and put me in them, so that was probably my first acting memory. I remember we made a mockumentary, so a fake documentary, about being a pop star. We were pretending to be those pop stars in the studio or getting ready… Just super casual, kids at home making movies.
This is not too far from your actual day-to-day. So now that you are older, how do you choose the projects you want to work on?
I think it’s super important to understand your director and get along with them before the process. You kind of have to know what you’re diving into. For example for My First Film, Zia Anger, the director, and I got on so quickly. It’s kind of nice to get to know the director beforehand. We were always on the same page with Zia. By the time you get the job, you’ve hung out a few times already. But also I would say, just taking risks and doing things I’m not the most comfortable with, that’s the best way to learn things in life.
There’s a real honesty about My First Film, where you play the role of Dina. How was it portraying being a newly starting actress?
I could relate to her so much, the scene where she is like, “Cause I’m an actor now,” that’s literally how I felt. So preparing for that was just getting to know the story, and trying to understand the motives. I could definitely relate to her, I loved her. It really was all in the pages, it wasn’t too hard to get into it. Also, even though we never really spoke about it, “by the way, you’re not supposed to be good.” I feel like it’s something I just understood. It was kind of a mutually untold thing, that was just how it was going to be played. This girl (Dina) has never acted before; she’s just kind of a watcher, an observer which I can relate to. I’m like that as well; half introvert, half extrovert. There’s a side to me that is kind of quieter, more inquisitive.
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What advice do you have for someone making their first movie or acting for the first time?
I just feel like you just have to go for it. It’s such a nerve-racking thing; it’s such a self-conscious experience. Obviously, your first time doing anything, you’re constantly asking yourself: “Am I doing this right? Am I good enough? Does anyone hate me?” But I think you just have to go through everything! You are there for a reason, you have to try your best to throw out your insecurities and get where you want to get. That’s the most important. I mean, my first job, I’ve spent weeks losing sleep. Why did they pick me? I’ve never even acted before. You just have to put trust in the people who chose you, have gratitude, and just do the best that you can.
My First Film is a movie within a movie. Wasn’t that too confusing to play?
It’s so funny because my first job ever was a show about making a film, and then the next one was a film about making a film, which is so funny to me. I mean, you’re around a fake film crew, with cameras, with mics and then there’s an actual crew with mics and cameras… It didn’t get confusing this time because we were all so close, so we obviously knew who everyone was. It was so fun to make something like that. It was a fun ride for sure!
What was your favourite scene to play?
The dancing scene was probably my favourite. Monica Mirabelle choreographed it. I used to be a dancer when I was younger. We filmed it on a night shoot, it was just me and Odessa (Young) on the scene and that was really fun. Also, the scene where I was trying to scream, was great! We were all so close when we filmed that, because we spent so much time together everything was fun, that scene in particular. It was all really cool to make, I can’t think of one scene that I didn’t enjoy.
There’s a real female perspective to the film. It talks about abortion and its struggles… Is that something that drew you to this project?
The script deals with things that people don’t talk about, which is so important to me. Now when my friends watch it, they’re like, “Oh my god! I’ve never seen people talk about that, or I can relate to that so much, or this happened to me.” When you write a script that’s the reaction you want from a film like this. I think films should always have real subjects, you know. It was female-directed; the DP was a female, the costume, and the make-up artist were all women… We were surrounded by females; so obviously as a woman, it’s the most comfortable environment you can be in. It wasn’t hard to take risks or try new things.
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In which movie did you have to get out of your comfort zone and take risks?
Just recently, with the movie Vindicta, which is not out yet. It’s a period piece and it was very dialogue-heavy. I was in every scene, which I’ve never done before. There was a lot of physical work as well. I would have loved to do every stunt but wasn’t allowed to, because obviously, I would hurt myself. But it was a great new experience; it took everything to the next level. I’ve learned so much!
I know you can’t talk much about Vindicta, as it’s not out yet, but tell me more about Depravity.
That was also a pretty crazy experience! We filmed it in Bangkok, Thailand for two months. I’ve never been there before, so it was really cool. Same with the film, I was in a lot of scenes and it was a lot of physical stunts but also choreography. We even had a stunt coordinator. They would teach us how to “kill” someone, how to make it look real… You never think about that part when you are watching a movie. You think everyone goes on and does it, but actually, you have to learn how to do these specific movements and where the camera is… It’s a bit confusing at first but it was really interesting to learn.
Is there a genre or film director you would like to work with?
Oh yeah! I have a list actually, I can tell you some… I love Annie Baker, she did the film Janet Planet this year, which I thought was amazing. I’ve watched it like 4 times! Wim Wenders is one of my favourite directors of all time. I love Sean Baker, I love Jim Jarmusch and India Donaldson just did this film called Good One… I’m obsessed with movies! I can just go on and on and on.
What you would be doing if you were not an actor? What about modelling?
I thought about this the other day, I feel like I’ll still do music. Or maybe casting, it sounds like a really cool experience, but I’ll definitely still be in the creative umbrella of things for sure. I loved modelling, it came out at such a great time in my life, I was the perfect age. It was so fun; it took me to so many places and met so many people. But modelling and acting are so different. When modelling you are there for someone to show their work, your purpose is to help someone make their vision come alive, but they’re in control of it. You are a mannequin, which is fun and you have some freedom in that… But with acting, it’s much more of a collaborative experience. You are constantly being asked, “What about this? What do you think about this? What if we try this?”, especially with indie films, everyone needs to have the same amount of passion around. Everyone is so in love with what they’re doing. It’s a little piece of art that everyone needs to put passion in to come alive at the end. I enjoy both, and it’s really cool that acting comes with that and I still get to do some modelling.
What is your relationship with fashion?
I love fashion! I grew up loving fashion, forever and I still love it. I always loved vintage clothes, my parents would take me vintage shopping, finding something special and irreplaceable pieces. So I love searching for things, but you know, I also love going to an LV store and getting beautiful things. I think that modelling fortunately goes along with acting so hopefully I won’t have to stop doing it. I recently became a ‘friend of the house’ of LOUIS VUITTON, which means I can participate in all of the events and go to the fashion weeks. I get to do all the fun stuff!
What are some exciting projects you are looking forward to in 2025?
None that I can talk about really… I can tell you that I’m shooting a film called The Deputy, it’s starring Julia Fox, William H. Macy and Stephen Dorff, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m also working on Vindicta, which is a Croatian film where I play the lead role. But overall, I’m always keeping myself busy, usually with music. I wanna do everything! I would love to direct one day, I just love everything about this business.
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