SNYGREATS
TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOB AS EDITOR OF BRITISH GQ AND WHAT DO YOU DO DAILY?
These days my days start at nine in the morning and end at ten at night because there are so many international calls. Sometimes it’s just me and the security guard in the building, but even though the office we are still fully operational, and our website just hit 5m monthly users for the first time, so we’re pretty pleased.
I KNOW YOU ARE A SOUGHT-AFTER AUTHOR AS WELL - WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? WHICH BOOK HAVE YOU ENJOYED WRITING THE MOST AND WHY?
My most recent book, Sweet Dreams, about the New Romantic years, has proved to be my most successful, which is very gratifying. Right now I’m writing a book about the Nineties in the UK, everything from Tony Blair and New Labour right through to the YBAs, Britpop and the huge publishing explosion. I tend to write one book a year, but for me they are a hobby. It’s my version of playing golf. Or tennis. Or gardening. Or collecting cars. I don’t actually have any hobbies, so my idea of relaxing is sitting down and writing a 250,000-word book.
"I read everything, so I know just how much to disagree with!"
WHO IS YOUR DESIGN ICON AND WHY?
One of my favourite designers is Richard Neutra. Now, he did many, many things, but I especially like the Case Study Houses he designed. Between 1945 and 1966, the Case Study Houses programme commissioned a study of economic, easy-to-build houses. The study included the creation of thirty-six prototypes that were to be built leading up to post-war residential development. The initiative by John Entenza, editor of Arts & Architecture magazine, brought a team to LA that featured some of the biggest names in architecture at the time, including Neutra, Charles & Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig and Eero Saarinen, amongst others. A few years ago I visited Pierre Koenig’s Stahl House, the glass-enclosed Hollywood Hills home with a breathtaking view of LA. I loved it, but it’s so tiny!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PASSION FOR THE MUSIC WORLD.
I probably spend more time reading and thinking about music than any other form of art, and I find it continually fascinating. I’m especially intrigued by the idea that we might be reaching the end of the narrative arc, and that the rock stars we have now are going to be the last rock stars we ever have.
HOW ARE YOU DOING CONSIDERING THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WORLD?
Fine. This too shall pass.
HOW HAS LIFE DURING A PANDEMIC CHANGED HOW YOU LOOK AT SELF-CARE?
Well, I don’t exercise as much as I used to, although I do walk around Hyde Park every morning. What it has taught me is that there are a lot of mentally vulnerable people out there, and we know many of them, so take the time to check in with your friends!
HAVE YOU SEEN HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND MEN’S GROOMING SHIFT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS?
Editorially, men are becoming more and more obsessed, and commercially, it’s opened up a whole new world!
"The most important thing about keeping yourself fresh and clean is using a deodorant that works."
HOW DO YOU NORMALLY START YOUR DAY? DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS?
The most important thing about keeping yourself fresh and clean is using a deodorant that works. Everything else is secondary in my opinion.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOURSELF ALONGSIDE THE CURRENT DAILY NEWS AND WORLD EVENTS?
I read everything, so I know just how much to disagree with! Seriously, keeping informed is the most important armour right now. Read it all and decide for yourself.
IF I WEREN’T DOING WHAT I DO, I WOULD BE…
…on sabbatical in Mustique.
AN OBJECT I WOULD NEVER PART WITH IS…
…my notebook.
IF I DIDN’T LIVE IN LONDON I WOULD LIVE IN…
…Los Angeles.
THE LAST MUSIC I LISTENED TO IS…
…anything by the Chemical Brothers.
THE BOOKS ON MY BEDSIDE ARE…
Frostquake by Juliet Nicolson and Charlie Mackesy’s book…
THE ONE ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD WOULD BE…
Peter Doig. I wish I’d paid more attention as I went to college with him!
Dylan’s latest book, Sweet Dreams: From Club Culture to Style Culture, the Story of the New Romantics is available >> HERE