by Maria Pyatakova
Jason Monge, aka Jason Genom, has been into photography since he was 13 years old— running around, taking pictures of beautiful places with his cellphone. He has come a long way since then, from swapping his cellphone for a Canon to developing his own unique style that depicts his dynamic lifestyle. Jason Genom is a nickname that he created by reshuf ing the letters in his name.
Monge, 24, is a Swiss-Peruvian photographer who was born in Geneva and moved to Los Angeles when he was only nine years old. Monge went back and forth between the two cities for four years, moving back to Geneva at theageof15.Butontheeveofhis 19th birthday, he left Geneva again to work as a photographer in Los Angeles for three years.
When describing his experience of living in both cities, he said: “They’re two completely different cities, and I believe they correspond to two very distinct versions of myself. Growing up in Geneva was beneficial. I needed that ‘small town’ feel, security, proximity and I also needed to be confronted by the sometimes claustrophobic—both intellectually and physically— feeling of this small city. At nine years old in LA, I was overwhelmed. Too big, too crazy, too cruel. At the age of 18, the only thing I wanted was creative liberty. I needed to be somewhere teeming with life (and, admittedly, sheer chaos)— so LA was a no-brainer.”
When 13-year-old Monge realized the cellphone pictures of his favorite places in the city were too small to print, he found a solution. He bought a better camera to take bigger pictures. Monge became passionate about photography due to the desire to show his perception of everyday life. His style is quite unique. The emphasis of his photographic work lies in portraiture, architecture and concert photography. Various photographers like Benoit Paillé, Martin Chambi, Ryan McGinley and Wolfgang Tillmans, have inspired Monge’s work.
He describes his photography as “cinematic, sometimes bleak,” and says that in every picture he tries to “keep details but also interpret different textures.” In addition to his photographs, he also has a few websites (one being: dal-voyages.ch) and EP covers.
Monge never took any artistic courses, and didn’t even nish high school in Geneva, leaving for LA at 19. When Monge nally moved back to Geneva at the age of 22 to nish his studies, he then joined a non-pro t organization called the Global Apprenticeships Network (GAN). Now, he’s in charge of PR and “writing and designing anything that goes out, as well as social media.”
The main goal of the organization is to “solve the youth unemployment crisis using the Swiss apprenticeship system to provide skills and work experience for underprivileged youth.” The network places great importance on the issue of youth employment, as there are 74 million youngsters around the world that are still unemployed. They work with young people in order to provide them with work experience to help them nd jobs. The organization “ensures that every person’s training matches the need of the company that they want to work in, equips young people with important core skills and offers them a small income while preparing them for the job market.” The network’s member companies include UBS banks, Hilton hotels, The Master Card Foundation and Nestlé.
When asked about what motivates him as an artistic person, Monge says he wants to “portray his lifestyle” and “stay true to his vision.” His mind is always buzzing with creative ideas for new projects. In addition to taking pictures and making EP covers, his hobbies also include lming. In the past, he has helped his friends direct and shoot music videos and short lms.
As for future plans, Monge doesn’t see himself pursuing a career in photography—saying that he would rather direct short lms. He sees his future in Los Angeles, due to the lm industry being more advanced in the United States as opposed to Switzerland. His ultimate goal in the future is to “really make it” in the movie industry. For now, Jonas Monge is in the process of nishing his studies. He enjoys working in public relations, considering it a way of getting a great job experience while saving up money for his future career in lmmaking. As for any struggling photographers or directors trying to make it in the industry today, Jonas Monge has one piece of advice: “Have a backup plan. And keep that backup plan in mind. Once you’re not worried about money or time, you’ll be able to create freely.”
By Maria Pyatakova
The Genevois hip-hop music scene is hot right now, with SuperWakClique (SWK) blowing up the charts. Their goal is to make music they love and speak their minds— without adhering to the basics. For hip-hop artist David Bonard, aka Rico TK (Tha Kidd), rap is a way of defining himself. The 23-year-old is part of the SWK rap group, which includes locally known Francophone artists like Di-Meh, Makala and Slim K. Rico TK (RTK) is often featured on Makala and Di-Meh’s songs. His verses can easily be recognized since he’s the only artist rapping in English.
78: What nationality are you?
RTK: I’m half-Filipino half- American. My father is from the United States and my mom is from the Philippines.
78: Where and how did you grow up?
RTK: I grew up in Maryland, right outside of Washington, D.C. My grandmother raised me. I moved to Geneva, Switzerland at the age of 12.
78: How and when did you get into music?
RTK: Music was around me all of my childhood. Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved music. My mom bought a lot of vinyl CDs back in the 90s. I remember her bumping SWV and Whitney Houston, real RnB music. I got into listening to hip-hop later on in my life.
78: When did you start rapping?
RTK: I started rapping when I was nine years old because I wanted to be in a video game. I remember when Def Jam: Vendetta came out, and I was like, “Damn, I gotta be in that game.” Seemed so cool to me as a kid. I wrote my rst verse and that’s when I really started listening to rap.
78: Who are your musical in- uences? What do you listen to?
RTK: Not just rap and hip-hop artists. John Mayer is one of my musical in uences. Anything that moves me when I listen to it. I always pay attention to the lyrics and the instrumentals. I’m also in uenced and inspired by new artists my age.
I do listen to a lot of hip-hop music. I love Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Tyler The Creator, Future, PARTYNEXTDOOR and Lil B. When I lived in the States, I only listened to rap and RnB. But living in Geneva has changed things since it’s so multicultural. Now, I can listen to techno or I can listen to jazz, country or even heavy metal. I genuinely love all styles of music.
78: What is your career in- spiration? What makes you want to rap?
RTK: I feel free when I rap. I can say whatever I want, whatever is on my mind. It allows me to show people who I am. It’s all about creativity and self-expression. For me, rap became a way of de ning myself. And I mentioned being in a video game—so I’m just waiting for Def Jam’s new edition.
78: How did you all meet?
RTK: We knew each other before SWK was what it is today—before we started to rap together. SWK actually started because Makala wanted to make a T-shirt and we needed a name. At rst, there were just three of us. Overtime, it became a movement. People started coming into the group. It became a way of life—being able to express yourself and be who you are. We did not try to follow any wave. We wanted to do what we love and not care about other people’s preferences.
78: Who do you most like col- laborating with?
RTK: Most of my collaborations are with Pink Flamingo. I think he’s super talented. We like similar music; we have the same ideas and vision for things. Sometimes, we don’t even have to talk to each other. We just create, and it turns out exactly how we imagined it.
78: Do you see a future for yourself in the music industry?
RTK: Yes, if God wants it to be that way. For sure, I can envision a future in the music industry. I want to become a legend, one of the greats.
78: What is your ultimate goal?
RTK: I want to be a timeless music artist. I would love if, in 3016, people would listen to Rico TK. That would be dope. I want to create things, and it goes beyond making music. I would like to make movies, direct and act. I want to make art and do fashion shows like Kanye. I just want to be creative.
78: What would be your dream collaboration?
RTK: I have so many artists going through my head right now that I can’t answer that question. If I had to list every artist I would like to put on one track, the song would be 24 hours long.
78: Any new projects coming up?
RTK: I am working on a mixtape. And in 2017, I will put out videos and new songs.
78: “Hit a lick” hit 170,000 views. Are you happy/impressed?
RTK: I’m real happy. To be honest, I never expected that song to be one of the favorites out of that mixtape. At first, it was Di-Meh and Slim K’s song. We were just vibing to the chorus, then found a hook, and wrote a verse. It was done and recorded in 24 hours. I feel like all the songs that people like the most [were ones] I did in a day or less. And the songs I actually work on, people aren’t really into.
78: How do you think the Internet affects the music industry?
RTK: I honestly think that the Internet affects the industry in a good way. It brings the world closer together. You could literally live anywhere and listen to rap artists that come from all over the world. Before the Internet, this was impossible. It is way easier nowadays for rappers to get their music out— get the world to listen. You can post your tracks on SoundCloud and promote it through Twitter or any other social media.
By Aliaa ElSherbini
It’s exciting, but quite scary, to move out from your parents’ house to go to college and live alone. So much freedom, so little money … and many new experiences ahead. Whether you moved into the university’s dorms or got a studio, here are some tips to help you adjust to living alone:
Don’t go spending all your money at the beginning of the month. (You will starve by the end of the month.)
Don’t lose/forget/break your room or apartment key or you will sleep on the street!
Give a spare key to one of your friends—just in case.
If you’re getting an apartment by yourself, get a small one. You won’t have the energy to clean it. No, you won’t. Don’t ght this.
For a quick meal, boil your pasta in the kettle, and then put it in a bowl with some canned tomato sauce and, voila! An easy, filling dish.
Your alarm is going to be your new best friend. So learn to accept it.
Don’t pile up your dirty laundry. Mommy isn’t here to wash it for you, and you won’t nd anything clean to wear by the end of the month.
It’s okay to come in the sweatpants and hoodies that you’ve already worn “twice” this week. We won’t judge—life is hard. We get it.(Still, do your laundry!)
Try to clean your living space as much as you can. No one will find a week old pasta bowl and clothes on the floor attractive.
Go treat yourself to a good meal at a nice restaurant every once in a while. You deserve it.
Have the phone numbers of the police, hospital, fire department, and (most importantly) pizza places written down somewhere in case of an emergency. Better safe than sorry.
Find humor in the failures and obstacles you might face.
Don’t get too distracted by your social life and forget to study. Study well and do your homework in advance.
It’s okay to miss home.
All set now? Don’t be worried. You’re going to have a blast!
By Molly Petersen Skovgaard
University is a perfect time for individuals to gain once-in-a- lifetime experiences. And what could be more adventurous than studying abroad for a semester? Webster University has developed a multicultural society by creating a global network with a mission to enable students to welcome diversity and expand their opportunities. Webster offers students plenty of choices for studying abroad, as they can choose between eight locations: Austria, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, England, Ghana, U.S and Switzerland. So if studying abroad sounds exciting to you, here is a little more information about the seven other Webster campuses.
If you adore vast green spaces, are a fan of contemporary music and enjoy cities with historic charm, then Webster’s Vienna campus may be your ideal option. Vienna is the capital of Austria and is 50% nature—as well as renowned for its imperial sights, cozy wine taverns, and cultural events.
You could study abroad for a semester in a city ranked one of the most beautiful cities in the world by Forbes: Florence. Webster’s Italian site is optimal for students who appreciate art and architecture, as Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. In Florence, you could indulge in the delicious Italian cuisine or explore the acclaimed Renaissance art, architecture and monuments.
The ancient Agora, the museums at the Acropolis and the Benaki collections could all be within minutes of your university—if you chose to study abroad at Webster’s Greece campus. You could nd yourself in the birthplace of modern ideas, exploring intellectual and cultural heritage at the Athens campus. The city is engaged in many cultural events: recitals, concerts and theatres—which are just a few of many events that students can enjoy.
Leiden is home to the Netherland’s Webster campus, which is perfect if you’ve been searching for a quaint university town great at welcoming students. Studying in Leiden comes with the benefits of affordable public transportation. There are various incredible museums and galleries for students to visit. The town is located halfway between The Hague and Amsterdam—making Leiden an accessible town to travel to or from.