I wish when I was 19-years-old I'd had a better understanding of what I wanted to do with my life. I was creative and had lots of great ideas and aspirations, however that was all they were...ideas, with no follow-through. When I left school I felt so free and liberated by what seemed like limitless choices that I ended up doing nothing. So dumb! I highly don't recommened it. Callum Parsons on the other hand has the ideas AND the ability to see them through to fruition. I caught up with the ambitious young skater, photographer, zine maker and clothes creator to find out a bit more about him.
Where are you from?
I was born in Dunedin, but lived in Invercargill until I was 5. I moved to Dunedin this year with a few of my Invercargill breathers.
Do you/did you study? If so what?
I’m studying Communication Design at Otago Polytech, but not carrying on with the degree into next year.
When did you start your clothing label, Sober Karaoke?
I started doing tees last year while at high school, setting up a screen I made with a local screen-printing company.
Do you make the clothes yourself or just screen-print?
I only screen-print them myself at the moment.
Who do you envisage wearing Sober Karaoke?
I suppose Sober Karaoke's target audience would be youth, but I'm stoked on anyone who's supporting it. I want it to always have a connection with the skate scene too.
Why did you decide to start a label?
In Invercargill there wasn't a lot happening with the skate scene apart from a skate-park upgrade. There wasn't really any local brands supporting it either at the time, we really just had Quest in Dunedin as our main support. I felt like it had to be done ourselves if we wanted anything to really happen. That's where I was trying my best to get footage out and began getting into photography. I really hope to get somewhere with Sober Karaoke and be able to support the skate scene where ever I go.
What kind of things do you make?
At the moment I have only done short and long-sleeve tees and stickers.
Do you make as you go or do collections?
I make as I go, but when I get a bigger following and a better source of income I’d like to do collections. I’m hoping to get some hoodies, half-zip tops and hats on the way into the new year.
Being a student this year has been hard with the lack of income to really push what I can do so that’s why I’m taking a break from study next year and just going to work and develop my ideas.
How’d you come up with the name Sober Karaoke?
The name initially came from a skateboarding video project I was working on with my mates in Invercargill, the name was thought up by my friend Josh. We both pondered on the idea and thought it sounded like a good brand name. The video is now called It's So Bad which I released in July.
You just recently launched a skate zine, Under the Grime and Grit with Quest, how did that come about?
Craig, the owner at Quest hit me up about doing one for the store. I had always loved the idea of a zine. I think since I moved here at the start of the year, I started taking photos of the breather's in Dunedin, so I think that might have sparked the idea of a store Zine.
How often will you be releasing the zine and where can we get one?
I think the next Under the Grime and Grit will be released in summer next year, so that they're going by opposite seasons, the last being over winter. They're still up for grabs at Quest, but I’d like to have a few on my website in the future. Might even have one for Quest and a strictly Sober Karaoke zine…but we'll see what happens next year!
Sober Karaoke is available here
To connect with me go here, here or email me femmehysterique@gmail.com