Marshall and Awake NY join forces for their first-ever collaboration, unveiling a striking limited-edition take on the iconic Acton III speaker. This partnership pushes the boundaries of audio aesthetics, blending Marshall’s legendary sound with Awake NY’s bold, streetwise design language. The result? A speaker that doesn’t just play music — it makes a statement.
At the helm of Awake NY is Angelo Baque. Baque is more than a designer — he’s a cultural architect. As the founder of Awake NY, his streetwear label is a vibrant reflection of New York’s ever-evolving identity, known for its bold graphics, sharp social commentary, and deep-rooted connection to the city’s diverse communities. Before launching Awake NY in 2012, Baque spent a decade at Supreme as Brand Director, helping shape its rise from a cult favourite to a global powerhouse. But his vision extended beyond hype — he wanted a brand that spoke to the heart of the city, fusing streetwear with high fashion and activism in a way that felt organic and unapologetic. Awake NY has since become a creative force, built on collaboration and inclusivity. Whether working with artists, musicians, or major brands, Baque uses fashion as a platform for storytelling and social change, infusing each piece with the energy of his Ecuadorian heritage, Queens upbringing, and deep love for art and culture.
Working alongside Marshall, Awake NY’s take on the Acton III embodies the spirit of both brands. Wrapped in a sleek black-on-black checkered pattern with embossed detailing and electrifying blue light accents, this reimagined classic is a testament to each brand’s fearless creativity. Overlapping logos on the grille symbolize the seamless fusion of two icons, creating a piece that feels as at home in an artfully curated living space as it does in the heart of the city.
Schön! chats with Baque about working with Marshall on the Awake NY Acton III speaker, advice for young creatives, and more.
Were there any specific musical influences — genres, artists, or NYC soundscapes — that inspired the design choices for the Awake NY x Marshall collection?
The design was inspired by bringing the speaker out of the studio and into the home, making it easy to adapt to the landscape of a house. We originally had an electric blue version, but decided to go with the black version and elevate it adding special touches such as the debossed checkerboard pattern and changing the dial lights to the blue lights tying in the identity of Awake.
The “Live from Awake NY” series was more than just music events — it was a celebration of NYC’s creative heartbeat. What inspired you to frame this collaboration as a year-long community experience rather than a one-off product drop?
The way we look at collaborations is more like partnerships. Knowing it would take some time to bring the speaker to market, we had the opportunity to build the foundation of our partnership organically. The main objective we went into this was creating the best mixtape ever with Charlotte Day Wilson, Styles P, Project Pat, HiTech, and Anycia. These artists are not within the same genre, but there is a common thread, and hosting these events in-store creates a modern nostalgia. We often reference the Alife backyard sessions and the importance that had in downtown New York in the early 2000s, and that is no longer seen in the retail experience. It gives us the opportunity to bring the community together for a musical experience.
Supporting the Queens Museum’s Queens Teens Institute for Art and Social Justice is a powerful statement. Why was it important for this collaboration to go beyond fashion and music, making a direct impact on the next generation of artists?
Bringing visibility to the Queens Museum is one of my main objectives of working with the institution. If I wasn’t sitting on the board of trustees, Marshall wouldn’t have visibility into the programs the museum is building and working on. There’s an assumption that these institutions have money or tremendous resources, but there is actually a shortage and disparity. Thinking of a younger version of myself there was a lack of programs that were available and changing that for this generation. This adds another layer of intention to the partnership when participating by going to the events or purchasing the Awake NY x Marshall speaker you’re also in a way supporting the Queens Teens.
Collaborations often involve a push and pull of creative ideas. Was there a moment during this partnership where you had to challenge conventional design ideas or push boundaries?
The entire project was a push and pull because we were asking Marshall to do design techniques and executions they had never done before. I always like to tell my partners “ I believe in you” and I believed that Marshall could get us blue lights and could get the debossing just right. You would think that getting blue lights is simple, but that was one of the most challenging parts of this design. In the end I think both Marshall and our team are happy we didn’t take an easier route on the design and our hard work paid off.
Looking back on your journey, what advice would you give to young creatives who want to build brands that are both culturally impactful and commercially viable?
I would say even before designing your first garment really learn what your story is and figure out how you want to tell your story. It doesn’t always have to be about your heritage or your upbringing, but honing in on the narrative and story your brand is going to tell… And then you have to come up with a really good name.
What do you hope people feel — or hear — when they experience the Awake NY x Marshall collection? Is there a particular message or emotion you want to amplify through this collaboration?
People know Marshall as a heritage amp company, and even when we look at the speaker, it’s inspired by a guitar amp. Our challenge was to honor the original design, but still make it feel like something new. We wanted to create something that feels sleek, modern and sophisticated, and could transcend time and space. This is a speaker that can live in your studio, home or even in a gallery and is for each person to use in a way that celebrates their own personal soundtrack.
Marshall’s collaboration with Awake NY is out now at marshall.com.
Find out more on Marshall.com.
