Brand New Beat: The Bright Young Things Taking Centre Stage In 2022

Charithra Chandran

What do you love most about your generation?

How brave we are. There are undeniable global problems – climate change, food insecurity, gender oppression, increasing wealth inequality – that need to be tackled if we’re going to have a more equitable and sustainable future. We’re the generation that’s going to provide the solutions and demand better.

Who in your generation do you look up to, and why?

Amika George is incredible. She started her campaign to end period poverty when she was 17. She saw a problem that affected one in 10 girls and committed to finding a solution. What a remarkable young woman.

Earl Cave

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I’d change the direction of Earth’s orbit and go back in time. I’d like to rearrange some things…

How does it feel to be part of the cohort reshaping the rules of society?

It’s a pleasure to be among these great people. Everything is pretty much up for grabs now. Anyone can do anything. What’s more important than that?

Iris Law

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

Sustainability in the fashion industry, because I feel that’s where I could make an impact. I would encourage the large corporations with the power to make change to do so, and discourage unethical production and overproduction.

How does it feel to be part of the cohort reshaping the rules of society?

We are the next generation. If we don’t do it, who will? Our future children are relying on us to change their world.

Louis Partridge

What are you most looking forward to achieving in 2022?

The release of the Sex Pistols biopic, Pistol, where I play Sid Vicious. I can’t wait for my mates to see it. (A bit less excited about my grandma seeing me shoot up heroin on-screen.) I’m also planning a bit of travelling, but we’ll see what Covid has to say about that.

How does it feel to be part of the cohort reshaping the rules of society?

I like the fact that, as with punk, the youth have the capacity to genuinely reshape societies. We heed previous generations, for their rights and their wrongs, constantly edging towards a fairer and kinder society. I just hope we don’t lose sight of that fundamental goal.

Dua Saleh

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

Abolish the military-industrial system. It has been particularly on my mind since the massacre of peaceful protesters in Sudan. I want justice for my people and ask everyone to keep their eyes on the ongoing civil disobedience against the corrupt government.

Who in your generation do you look up to?

I have a lot of respect for Megan Thee Stallion. She’s a rap legend, a queer icon and a fellow anime nerd, so I have a lot of love for her.

Archie Renaux

What do you love most about your generation?

We’ve been given a bit of a tough hand, if I’m honest, but on the whole I would say we are resilient as a result of that, and aspirational. I am proud to have grown up in such progressive times.

What are you most looking forward to achieving in 2022?

I’m actually really just trying to be better as a man and as a father. A lot has happened to me this past year, and I’ve had to grow up fast.

Who in your generation do you look up to?

Marcus Rashford. Footballers get a lot of stick, but when the country needed a real leader, he stepped up.

Bimini

What do you love most about your generation?

Pushing new language and switching rhetoric to keep up with how quickly the world changes. One of the most beautiful things about being human is that we are constantly evolving, and my generation is unapologetic about how drastically we want this.

How does it feel to be part of the cohort reshaping the rules of society?

I want people to know it’s OK to not know who you are right away. We’re always learning new traits or feelings, and there aren’t any right or wrong ways to identify. It’s way more punk to accept yourself as an individual in a world that’s constantly trying to define you.

Zinnia Kumar

What are you most looking forward to achieving in 2022?

I will officially launch The Dotted Line, or TDL, advertising agency and consultancy. We are a collective of creatives, technology aficionados, consumer behaviour and psychology consultants, and talent and production managers working globally but focusing on South Asia. I cannot wait to share the projects we have been working on.

How does it feel to be part of the cohort reshaping the rules of society?

Although I had social anxiety for many years, I’ve always felt a sense of responsibility to leave this world a better place.

Elliot Edusah

What do you love most about your generation?

That we have taken a step forward in unifying our voice and not letting race, sex, gender, faith or culture divide us. I don’t think there has been a generation that cares so deeply about the environment and how we play our part to preserve it. We are rule-breakers, we are nonconformists, we are the voice of change.

How does it feel to be part of the cohort reshaping the rules of society?

“Let them be well used, for they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time.” That quote from Hamlet expresses my purpose: actors are the abstract chronicles of the time. I believe it’s important to break the rules and see things from a different angle.

Kayako Higuchi

What are you most looking forward to achieving in 2022?

I am looking forward to making more lovely songs with my band.

Who in your generation do you look up to?

Kemio, a Japanese YouTuber. He talks about social problems, like racism and anxiety. This is important, especially for Japanese people, who typically aren’t used to speaking out. He creates a space where it is easier to chat about this stuff for my generation in Japan.

Arrdee

What do you love most about your generation?

We take a lot of control in what we do. The scene is full of young talent, people my age becoming successful via technology and new things we’re born into – Bitcoin trading, NFTs. We’re making it all happen.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I’d change the stigma of being different. Everybody’s cool in their own way.

Who in your generation do you look up to?

Me [winks].

Coco Rebecca Edogamhe

What are you most looking forward to achieving in 2022?

My goals are to improve my skills every single day. I tend to be hard on myself, but then I realise I’m only 20 and I have the time to make mistakes and to fix them. We are always in a rush and sometimes we forget to stop and breathe.

Who in your generation do you look up to?

Zendaya, for sure. She’s such a pure spirit.

Devon Ross

What are you most looking forward to achieving in 2022?

I just spent the past six months working on Olivier Assayas’s newest production, Irma Vep, for HBO. It’s my first-ever acting experience so I’m excited to take my first steps into this whole world.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I would bring back George Harrison. We need more people like him.

Who in your generation do you look up to?

My friends.

Hair: Syd Hayes. Make-up: Lynsey Alexander. Nails: Lorraine Griffin. Set design: Roxy Walton. Production: Ragi Dholakia Productions. Digital artwork: Output London

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