Kerouac’s Dog in the hot-seat
First off, please tell us a little about how the Kerouac’s Dog Magazine ® came to be
One hot summer evening in an apartment in Surrey Hills, Sydney. Kerouac’s Dog was to be a magazine that was truly independent, with no advertising, no classifieds, and no editorial-led advertising. A magazine that oozed pure creativity, with a free-thinking, uncensored, underground-press feel. To give aspiring creatives of all disciplines, from all over, the opportunity to exhibit new writing/new design/ new illustration/ new photography/ new whatever, in something beautiful and tangible. And at the same time, pay homage to the philosophy of the Beat Generation. Kerouac’s Dog Magazine was born.
Why Kerouac’s Dog? Why now?
Because genuinely it was needed. Keeping print alive in a truly independent publication in a digital world is really important. In a digital age, getting stuff in print; in something real and tangible is incredibly exciting. Having something that you can hold; that you can thumb through – rather than click-through, scroll through, or touchpad flick-through – is still an exceptionally beautiful thing. It still means something. It’s evocative, resonant, and it stays with you.
Who out of the people that you’re working with should we be keeping an eye on?
We’re not going to pick anyone out, mainly because the work that has been submitted for the inaugural issue, and Issue 2 next year is of such a great standard. But yes, there are lots of people you need to be keeping a serious eye on.
As you aren’t having print ads are you looking to collaborate with brands at all?
We’ve started as an independent, and we want to continue to be independent. Many ‘independent’ magazines that exist today, started off the same as we did, and have, for one reason or another, given in to advertising, and brand and organisation collaboration – mainly for financial reasons. True independence is a tough ideal to live by, especially when you’re totally self-funded, but I think it will be worth it.
What are your favourite magazines?
Wow. Where do we start. We love EYE magazine. We love Wallpaper* Magazine, and Mad – that’s just great.
Where do you see Kerouac’s Dog in a year?
Still having fun; still getting new creative work out there; still believing in ourselves, why we’re doing what we’re doing, and the people who submit such awesome work; still holding on to that creative fire that got us into this.
