SONNY HALL

Sonny started out as a model, but found a new creative outlet while he was in rehab in 2017. After posting poems on Instagram to huge acclaim, he self-published a book of his work, then co-founded independent publishing house Blue Beggar Books. With the backing of some fashion heavyweights – Nick Knight, Kate Moss (he's signed to her agency) and Christopher Bailey, to name a few – Sonny has proven he’s much more than fashion’s It-boy, with a second poetry collection on the way.

When did you first discover your creative talent?

I first discovered my creative talent – poetry primarily, but painting too – when I was in a desperate place. I needed some sense of release. It was a gift that came when I wanted an escape from what I was experiencing.

Do you think it's important to push the boundaries?
I like to be jolted, shocked and informed, all at the same time. I guess because of that, I'm drawn to people that are bold in their ways and willing to take risks by exploring emotional bounds.

How would you describe your style?
The style that I’m drawn to is something that is raw, and something natural that’s come out a bit rough. Authentic.

You're about to release a new poetry book. What was your inspiration?
It's based around the circus; it's playful and childish, but quite serious, too. The idea came purely because for a long time I was obsessed with there being just one truth to everything. I realised that to be so obsessed with that pursuit was actually misleading – and so I become fascinated with the circus, and things that have two realities to them. 

What's been the most challenging thing about writing a new book?
It's almost like the book hasn't been a challenge, it's been the antidote to life's challenges.

JAMES MASSIAH

South London Poet and DJ James Massiah explores life in the city in his ongoing series of New Poems. Citing Prince, Mike Skinner and Skepta among his influences, James has produced work for everyone from the BBC to Loewe, performing at Tate Modern, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and the Houses of Parliament.

When did you find out you had a gift for poetry? 
I first discovered my love for poetry when I was in school. My parents bought me John Agard’s Laughter Is An Egg and I loved it. Based on the amount of fun that I had with language and poetry, I kept pursuing it. And then a little later on, I got my first gig as a 12- or 13-year-old.

Why do you think it's important to push the boundaries?
It's important to take yourself out of your comfort zone, creatively and otherwise. I think that for some people, pushing boundaries isn't a choice so much as a necessity to be heard beyond their immediate sphere of influence, which requires tenacity, strength and clarity of vision.

Do you believe that you've broken boundaries in your career so far?
It's hard to say. Maybe for someone who's coming up in the generation after mine. It may be that they see me do it and that gives them the courage to try something out differently within the roles of poetry, music or otherwise.

You love a monochrome moment. What's your go-to performance outfit?
It's the same as my go-to outfit when I'm doing anything, which is a black top, black bottoms and black shoes. I like to be efficient with my dressing!

How important is your personal style to you?
It's a representation of who I am inside. Although I'm aware that there is definitely a lot more complexity inside than there is on the outside, but at the same time, wearing clothes that feel comfortable – that I feel comfortable in – allows me to push boundaries.

TOM MOUTCHI

Breaking into the industry via comedic Vines and YouTube videos, Tom Moutchi has had roles in the BBC's Famalam, Comedy Central's Drunk History: Black Stories, and starred alongside Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson in The Hustle. Not just an actor, Tom includes writer, musician and producer on his CV, with much more to come...

Did you always know you wanted to be an actor? 

n primary school we did a play, and something happened where I needed to stall for five minutes. I had to dance for a whole five minutes to Michael Jackson’s Black or White – after that, I just knew I had a knack for entertaining.

What does boundary-pushing mean to you? 

If you look at where online content creation is now it's actually a career. I started on my iPhone in 2012, till 2016. There's a lot of key people that pushed the boundaries way before we got to the point where we are right now. My whole theology with this is once you push the boundary, you open the door, and you leave that ajar for the next people come in. If you don't push boundaries, then the culture doesn't move forward.

Would you say you've broken boundaries in your career so far?
I would say I have broken boundaries in my career. I started off making Vines on my iPhone with a goal of becoming an actor and have achieved that and more.

Describe your style in three words. 
Infectious, cool and adaptive.

When you're acting, how important is fashion when building characters?
Fashion is very, very, very important. For example, I like to sit on a bus, I don't even necessarily need a destination, I just listen to people on the bus and watch what they're wearing. That's how I build characters. If you see like a person in a long white lab coat, you're gonna think they're a doctor. Clothing plays a big part in how you see someone.

SONNY HALL

Sonny started out as a model, but found a new creative outlet while he was in rehab in 2017. After posting poems on Instagram to huge acclaim, he self-published a book of his work, then co-founded independent publishing house Blue Beggar Books. With the backing of some fashion heavyweights – Nick Knight, Kate Moss (he's signed to her agency) and Christopher Bailey, to name a few – Sonny has proven he’s much more than fashion’s It-boy, with a second poetry collection on the way.

When did you first discover your creative talent?

I first discovered my creative talent – poetry primarily, but painting too – when I was in a desperate place. I needed some sense of release. It was a gift that came when I wanted an escape from what I was experiencing.

Do you think it's important to push the boundaries?
I like to be jolted, shocked and informed, all at the same time. I guess because of that, I'm drawn to people that are bold in their ways and willing to take risks by exploring emotional bounds.

How would you describe your style?
The style that I’m drawn to is something that is raw, and something natural that’s come out a bit rough. Authentic.

You're about to release a new poetry book. What was your inspiration?
It's based around the circus; it's playful and childish, but quite serious, too. The idea came purely because for a long time I was obsessed with there being just one truth to everything. I realised that to be so obsessed with that pursuit was actually misleading – and so I become fascinated with the circus, and things that have two realities to them. 

What's been the most challenging thing about writing a new book?
It's almost like the book hasn't been a challenge, it's been the antidote to life's challenges.

TOM MOUTCHI

Breaking into the industry via comedic Vines and YouTube videos, Tom Moutchi has had roles in the BBC's Famalam, Comedy Central's Drunk History: Black Stories, and starred alongside Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson in The Hustle. Not just an actor, Tom includes writer, musician and producer on his CV, with much more to come...

Did you always know you wanted to be an actor? 

n primary school we did a play, and something happened where I needed to stall for five minutes. I had to dance for a whole five minutes to Michael Jackson’s Black or White – after that, I just knew I had a knack for entertaining.

What does boundary-pushing mean to you? 

If you look at where online content creation is now it's actually a career. I started on my iPhone in 2012, till 2016. There's a lot of key people that pushed the boundaries way before we got to the point where we are right now. My whole theology with this is once you push the boundary, you open the door, and you leave that ajar for the next people come in. If you don't push boundaries, then the culture doesn't move forward.

Would you say you've broken boundaries in your career so far?
I would say I have broken boundaries in my career. I started off making Vines on my iPhone with a goal of becoming an actor and have achieved that and more.

Describe your style in three words. 
Infectious, cool and adaptive.

When you're acting, how important is fashion when building characters?
Fashion is very, very, very important. For example, I like to sit on a bus, I don't even necessarily need a destination, I just listen to people on the bus and watch what they're wearing. That's how I build characters. If you see like a person in a long white lab coat, you're gonna think they're a doctor. Clothing plays a big part in how you see someone.

JAMES MASSIAH

South London Poet and DJ James Massiah explores life in the city in his ongoing series of New Poems. Citing Prince, Mike Skinner and Skepta among his influences, James has produced work for everyone from the BBC to Loewe, performing at Tate Modern, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and the Houses of Parliament.

When did you find out you had a gift for poetry? 
I first discovered my love for poetry when I was in school. My parents bought me John Agard’s Laughter Is An Egg and I loved it. Based on the amount of fun that I had with language and poetry, I kept pursuing it. And then a little later on, I got my first gig as a 12- or 13-year-old.

Why do you think it's important to push the boundaries?
It's important to take yourself out of your comfort zone, creatively and otherwise. I think that for some people, pushing boundaries isn't a choice so much as a necessity to be heard beyond their immediate sphere of influence, which requires tenacity, strength and clarity of vision.

Do you believe that you've broken boundaries in your career so far?
It's hard to say. Maybe for someone who's coming up in the generation after mine. It may be that they see me do it and that gives them the courage to try something out differently within the roles of poetry, music or otherwise.

You love a monochrome moment. What's your go-to performance outfit?
It's the same as my go-to outfit when I'm doing anything, which is a black top, black bottoms and black shoes. I like to be efficient with my dressing!

How important is your personal style to you?
It's a representation of who I am inside. Although I'm aware that there is definitely a lot more complexity inside than there is on the outside, but at the same time, wearing clothes that feel comfortable – that I feel comfortable in – allows me to push boundaries.