Meet Romon K Yang, better known as Rostarr, a multidisciplinary artist who works mainly with abstract paintings. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> 
Like every work of art, Rostarr’s abstractions may have different meanings for different viewers, but there’s one figure you can constantly perceive in his creations: humans. “I love meeting people,” he says. “I’m interested in people. Like, why people get along or don’t get along. Like, good energy.&#8221;
Similarly, after moving to Bali with his family a few years ago, he also finds himself moved by the humans. “The thing that inspires me the most is the people, the Balinese people and their culture, the Hindu culture. The way that they’re always smiling, you know, even if they don’t have a lot of money. And the smiles are real, the smiles are not fake.”  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> 
“My influences weren’t just about the city; it was really about people or energy, you know,” he says. “So, when I do my abstract paintings, I feel like it’s like more creating energy fields, you know; different types of energy fields. I know that because when I have my paintings up and I’m around them, it gives me a lot of energy back. I hear that from other people who collect my work, they just love looking at my work, it gives them a lot of positive feelings back, or rhythm, or something. It really gives them something, which is what art should be or should do.”<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">

Conversations with brilliant minds, makers, and creators who continue to inspire and create work that define and shape our cultural landscape.

Visions of Visionaries

Abstract Artist Rostarr on Creating with Freedom

Arts

Design

Earlier this year, Chicago-based artist, furniture designer, and educator Norman Teague officially opened his exhibition, “A Love Supreme” at Elmhurst Art Museum. Inspired by the album of the same name by the legendary musician John Coltrane, the exhibit explores the influence of “improvisational jazz and unapologetic black aesthetics” on creatives of color.  
In our exclusive interview in his studio on our last visit to Chicago, Teague chats with Globetrotter&#8217;s Kennedy Ashinze about his artistic process, representation, finding inspiration in Africa, and creating work that speaks to his community amongst other things. 
Listen to our full convo here!

Artist & Designer Norman Teague on the Making of Cool

Culture

In celebrating her currently ongoing “Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry&#8221; at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Globetrotter revisits our interview with author and journalist Vikki Tobak. Vikki wasn&#8217;t just an observer of early hip-hop; she was part of the movement, from working nights at Nell’s nightclub where the Notorious B.I.G. filmed his &#8220;Big Poppa&#8221; music video to touring with the legendary artists of Payday Records (Gang Starr, Jay Z, Jeru, Mos Def, and more) as both publicist and writer. She witnessed the rise of the culture. 
<p class="encore-text encore-text-body-medium" data-encore-id="text" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment="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"> Catch Vikki discussing her books (“Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop” and “Ice Cold. A Hip-Hop Jewelry History”), the evolution of hip-hop jewelry, the blossoming of hip-hop culture, and a lot more on a Dubai day at Sole DXB with Globetrotter&#8217;s Kennedy Ashinze. 
<p data-encore-id="text" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment="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">Listen to our full conversation now!

Author & Journalist Vikki Tobak on Chronicling Hip-Hop

Fashion

Music

Photography

For Chicago’s legendary DJ and music producer Ron Trent, Bali proves to be a paradise in more ways than one. “It&#8217;s interesting. You have to come all the way around the world to give one of the best spots that I have seen in probably the last 20 years or so,” he told Globetrotter&#8217;s Kennedy Ashinze, following his set at Klymax Discotheque at Potato Head Bali. “They build a beautiful club here. Dope sound system, dope room. Which used to be standard back in the day. It&#8217;s a rare fine nowadays. And Bali did it right. You know, of course, with the curation of [DJ] Harvey and his crew.” 
&nbsp;
Trent knows a great deal about good curation, as he has curated several projects in the past, including “Walk the Night”, a photo exhibit on nightlife and club culture circa 1997 to 1990, which was held on 8 and 9 December 2023 to coincide with Miami Art Week. He also co-founded Africa Hi-Fi, a party dedicated to Afrobeat and African music in general.  
&nbsp;
“It starts off as a vision. And you have to incorporate that vision into something that could be digestible by someone who may not necessarily understand what&#8217;s going on, but they need it. You gotta bring it to their level in the sense so that you could take them to the next level, you know, making it [into] something that they can take home with them and then grow off of.” 
Listen now!

DJ Ron Trent on the Importance of Club Curation

<div class="xgmjVLxjqfcXK5BV_XyN">When Globetrotter met Nigerian illustrator and graphic designer Lemi Ghariokwu in Lagos, he described his legendary collaboration with the Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti as “preordained.”</div>
<div class="xgmjVLxjqfcXK5BV_XyN">
Lemi’s fateful journey into becoming the creator of dozens of Fela’s iconic album covers began with a chance meeting. The two hit it off right away, and it isn’t hard to see why; to Globetrotter, he talked about being proud to be an African, one of the similarities he shared with Fela. Lemi’s fateful journey into becoming the creator of dozens of Fela’s iconic album covers began with a chance meeting. The two hit it off right away, and it isn’t hard to see why; to Globetrotter, he talked about being proud to be an African, one of the similarities he shared with Fela.
</div>
<div class="xgmjVLxjqfcXK5BV_XyN">
We didn’t just reminisce about the past. In our conversation, Lemi also talked to Globetrotter about discovering Childish Gambino through YouTube and continuing to create artwork for contemporary artists.
</div>

Lemi Ghariokwu

Globetrotter caught up with Aaron Seeto, the director of Indonesia&#8217;s Museum Macan.

Aaron Seeto | Director of Museum Macan

We first met Bahrain-based DJ, producer, beatmaker, and experimental visual artist DUST last year at Sole DXB in Dubai, who, as he tells it, fell in love with hip-hop after starting his journey as a dancer at a young age. When he&#8217;s not busy making beats, DUST, who is also a member of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.dmt.experience/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the D.M.T Experience</a> band and the founder of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theredantsarmy/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Red Ants Army</a> crew, is on a mission to learn, share, and exchange his passion and experiences with others.
DUST showcases his groovy sounds, soulful selection of rare gems, and fresh cuts in his mix for Globetrotter. From chill vibes to midnight madness, DUST knows how to vibe in any atmosphere.
&nbsp;

funk

hip hop

house

soul

Sound Traveler

Sound Traveler: DUST.

In this inaugural episode of &#8220;Past, Present &amp; Future&#8221;, Chicago&#8217;s premier sound curator and Globetrotter&#8217;s resident DJ, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/djseanalvarez/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean Alvarez</a>, takes us across eras in one dynamic, time-defying mix.

afrobeat

Past, Present & Future

Sean Alvarez

Past, Present & Future with DJ Sean Alvarez

Bergas Haryadita, hometown favorite, has been bringing Funk, Jazz and Disco education to Jakarta since his return to Indonesia from the US. A pioneer, he&#8217;s the founder of Pleasure (a DJ collective, and event management company with its own clothing line) and is a Music Editors for Whiteboard Journal, where he curates selections for the online magazine. The seasoned pro has worked with many of the world&#8217;s best groups (Japan’s FreeDisco, Rong Music, and London’s LaserMagnetic Crew to name a few). Here he curates a special playlist for Globetrotter Soundsystem.

boogie

classics

disco

Sound Traveler 001: Bergas

A producer &amp; DJ based in Jakarta, Django started it all back in 2013, when he ventured into multiple endeavors with well-known names in the local dance scene: Ashram, Goodnws, and Trash Tapes, to name a few. He’s also active under the label/collective Divisi62 &amp; Deadrec. Django have been sharing the deck with renowned acts like: Thris Tian (Boiler Room/Worldwide FM), Fantastic Man (Fine Choice), Untold (Hemlock), Louisahhh!!! (Bromance). His craft behind the deck is enrichened by holding down residencies in his Jakarta base and playing arcane club nights in various cities across Indonesia. His set is dynamic and diverse, spanning from warm exotic grooves to bleeping club bangers. He’s always forward in offering a wide range of energy levels. Styles upon styles.

beats

electronica

Sound Traveler 004: Django

Number 003 of our Sound Traveler series welcomes the man with many hats, Funk Bast*rd, the co- founder, A+R, and creative mastermind behind fast-rising Singapore-based label Darker than Wax.

Sound Traveler 003: FUNK Bast*rd

Number 002 of our Sound Traveler series welcomes Chicago&#8217;s finest by way of Baton Rouge and one of our very favorites, DJ Tess.

Sound Traveler 002: Tess Kisner

<div class="styles__Description-css-in-js__sc-j82gfl-0 gRHshr">
<div class="ExpandingContent__Container-css-in-js__sc-1nqw5pb-0">
<div class="ExpandingContent__Text-css-in-js__sc-1nqw5pb-4 kdMCfL">
<div>
Our Sound Traveler mix series returns featuring Jakarta&#8217;s soul music champ, DJ/producer Leno Rei. Fresh off our Blackup Jakarta talk, we tapped the Jakarta native to bless us with some feel good black music.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="styles__Wrapper-css-in-js__sc-12xxm55-4 gFcFSf"></div>

Sound Traveler 006: Leno Rei

A Globetrotter guide to the King of Afrobeat.

Afrobeat

Best of Fela Kuti

The essential Globetrotter music playlist. Transatlantic boogie express for your earholes. Updated weekly

5by5

The greatest drummer in the world.

Mixes

Podcasts