Quenched Unsigned

Apologies for the age that has passed since my last post but it's been a blur the last couple of months.Sitting here on this nerve wracking Saturday afternoon watching the footie results awaiting what coul be promotion for my belove Leeds. Scratch that. Useless bastards.

Anyway... If someone had told me that I'd be running two businesses about a year and a half ago I may have slapped them. But here we are putting the finishing touches to the launch of Quenched Unsigned. Dan Skerritt and myself have pooled our talents and under our new identity are offering the best unsigned musical talent across the UK and hopefully soon beyond an all round package including reviews, bios and visual identity. Website coming next week at http://quenchedmusic.com

On other fronts a whole host of new work about to hit your eyes in the coming month including a 12.5 meter banner for the new Next flagship store on Bond Street in London, Design Week, Mix Mag and The Guardian among others.

New Interview

My name is Ben Tallon and I am a media whore. Heaven forbid I should ever get a front cover, I will take the piss. I'm talking Zoolander, paint flying at me, leaping out of bushes full on Vogue shoots. You have to milk these opportunities. But for now I'm delighted to have my first Double Page feature interview in Advanced Photoshop. The kind people from the mag made contact just before Christmas and I jumped at the opportunity. Have a read here at the Dirtsheet. It's been a busy period of late, all good after the New Year lull. Upcoming project working with film makers on a potential world first but we'll save that one for another day...

Refreshed Mind

The fire is back in the old gut after a much needed three weeks off any kind of design work. I'm sure anyone who's passion is also their job can relate to the same problem of never stopping. Sat up in bed talking to imaginary Art Directors at 4am isn't advisable but unavoidable at times... So an amazing three weeks complete with over indulgence in films and the once a decade treat of beating Manchester United at Old Trafford, simply beautiful. Back in the studio and loving the long days that will lay the foundations of 2010. Dead at the minute but that's January for you... Time to get organized. Regardless of him being a close friend of mine, I believe Danny Allison is about as good as it gets in the design business at the moment. Check out this feature in Computer Arts this month- in my book the best thing he's done so far. Also catch up with his adventure in Australia in his Transit Camper- 'The Whore from 94.' http://dannyallison.co.uk/blog/

Christmas Special

The first Christmas since 2005 that I haven't been laid up in bed with flu and well worth the wait. Back in Keighley for a few days and a few great catch ups sealed by seeing some nugget over the road fall on his arse in true slapstick style in the snow and the bound back up squaring up to his unseen tormentor. Hilarious. WWE Deluxe Aggression Randy Orton action figure has to sit top of the presents list. Yes I'm 26, yes I have my own business but the thrill of getting a new wrestling figure has never faded! Great to speak to Danny earlier- a close friend currently down under. Check out his blog- a great read at http://www.dannyallison.co.uk/blog

A great little post lunch walk and a few great walks with the old hound Crash produced a few nice wintry photos

Boyhood Dream

I recently made a boyhood dream reality by doing an interview for the official Leeds United FC glossy magazine. From the age of 6 I've been a massive Leeds fan and if you'd told me at 15 years old, the height of my fanaticism that I'd be interviewed in the magazine I may have wet myself. Once I realized I wouldn't be playing professional football I never thought I'd be appearing in the mag but it's strange how things move in full circles! First my illustrations, now my mug ha ha! What makes it a little sweeter is being on the next page to Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics! At the same time as my fanatic peak I used to listen to Performance and Cocktails- the soundtrack to my early days of chasing girls albeit at Bradford Ice Rink and Shipley swimming pool! Have a read...

The positive side of snow...

If you're anything like me and live in England you'll probably share the same views on snow. Immense when it comes down and sticks, up there with toast and sex when you don't have to go anywhere and can just get out with the camera and roam. Fucking diabolical when you have to go anywhere on wheels. Whisper it at a conductor and the entire rail network collapses. The road's just become hostile strips of enemy territory for cars and inevitably you have to sit and watch the poor bastards sat in whichever airport the despondency correspondents for the BBC News could reach with their Christmas melting along with the slush on their wellies. I once had a Norwegian friend who almost lost her mind when she saw how pathetic we were at coping with it. "We just whip out the spikes," she said in amazement. Anyway after returning from Brixton trapped inside a train, trapped inside a hangover off the back of my agent's Christmas party and The Big Issue London staff party (I know people), I managed to upload the snaps I captured along the way. Also check out the classy snowman in the Church yard in Hulme, Manchester.