After over a decade off the shelves, the electronic music magazine returns with a quartet of cover stars
Fact has spent nearly two decades on the frontlines of the global electronic music scene. For the majority of that time, the magazine has been online-only, with its accompanying print edition being retired in 2008. In the years since then, it has been focused solely on expanding its formidable digital presence, and showcasing innovators “at the sharp edge of experimentation in music and art”.
But this month, Fact is relaunching its print edition. The new, biannual magazine is returning with four cover stars – Ryoji Ikeda, Kelsey Lu, Pan Daijing, Kahlil Joseph – and an exciting new team of creative visionaries from across the globe.
“The relaunched print magazine marks an editorial move towards the intersection of audio and visual art forms,” explains editor Sean Bidder over email. “We’ve always showcased innovators at the sharp edge of experimentation in music and art, and our new large-format magazine gives us the opportunity to champion the new wave of artists, performers and producers.”
The print version will prioritise long-form content, while also broadening the platform for some of the world’s most innovative image-makers. The first issue, as an example, includes work from established names like Campbell Addy and Matt Lambert, as well as from emerging talent like Julian Knxx and Freeka Tet.
It's a bold, positive move in what has been an unusual year (“no one will remember 2020 as the year of the lucky water rat,“ jokes Bidder), and there is even more planned in the months ahead. Once the world reopens, there are plans for each new edition of the magazine to be launched with an accompanying exhibition. For the A/W20 issue, that will be a Ryoji Ikeda show, which will open at London’s 180 The Strand at the beginning of next year.
“We’ve now postponed [that show] to the start of next year,” adds Bidder. “In 2021, we’ll open Fact Space at 180, bringing together celebrated artists and emerging talent.”
Fact Magazine’s first relaunched print issue is available to buy now from the Vinyl Factory website.