New London, photographed by Hedi Slimane
A portfolio of fresh faces bringing energy to the scene. Captured by Hedi Slimane over three days in East London, July 2025.
Culture
Interviews: Jade Wickes
Taken from the autumn 25 issue of THE FACE. Get your copy here.
Peezy, 22, model and musician
All clothing worn throughout, talent’s own
Who are you?
My name is Payusu but everyone calls me Peezy. I’m of Gambian and Senegalese origin and I grew up in Atlanta.
What do you do and why do you do it?
Music and modelling. It’s the best way for me to express myself without saying anything to anyone.
What is London?
Super raw!
What is now?
Now is music!
Do you feel part of a scene?
In a way. A new era is coming. It’s bright, it’s cool.
What is cool?
Being raw.
Who’s the coolest person you know?
Andi, who’s on this shoot. He’s a cool-ass dude.
What’s the best song in the world?
I just made a song about ripping my jeans at a show in London. It’s called Hedis Busting. That’s probably the best song right now.
What makes you excited?
Seeing people happy.
Aidan Duffy, 30, artist
Where are you from?
Glasgow.
Why do you do what you do?
I can’t do anything else.
What is London?
Home.
What is now?
Resistance.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
I feel like it sounds wanky to say yes… But yeah.
Do you dance?
I do.
What is this the age of?
Aquarius. It just changed from Capricorn or Pisces, I can’t quite remember. Apparently, now it’s Aquarius, things are going to be a little bit more fun. But we’ll see.
What is the meaning of life?
Having a good time.
Edward Drewett, 30, poet/boxer/writer
Where are you from?
The Black Country.
Why do you do what you do?
I left London to travel for quite a long time. I went to Thailand to train in Muay Thai and learn how to box. Arthur Cravan [Swiss adventurer who disappeared in mysterious circumstances, aged 31, in 1918] was a boxing poet, provocateur and shapeshifter. I’m inspired by him.
What is London?
A debauched, hedonistic playground.
What is this the age of?
Gritting your teeth and getting on with it as best as you can.
What makes you excited?
My puppy, Nico.
Luke Deighton, 24, animator
Where are you from?
Coventry.
Why do you do what you do?
It’s what I enjoy, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
What is London?
My friends. I wouldn’t be in London if it wasn’t for my friends.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
Yeah. I feel like the scene in London at the minute is really good.
Do you dance?
Sometimes, when I’m really fucked up.
What is this the age of?
Art not being dead.
What’s something we should always remember?
Things get better.
Matt Molotov, 17, singer in The Molotovs
Where are you from?
London.
Why do you do what you do?
I’m not good at anything else.
What is London?
Opportunity, belonging, hope.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
Not really. The Molotovs have always been a bit out on our own. Not that there’s not a lot of bands in London – there are. But we’re bigger than that.
Do you dance?
I’ve dabbled.
What makes you feel excited?
Gigs. Clothes. New music.
Who’s the coolest person you know?
Well, I don’t know him, but it’s got to be Paul Weller.
What’s the best song in the world?
The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow) by The Jam.
What is this the age of?
Comeback.
Wolf and Lux Gillespie, 23 and 20, Post Party founders
Where are you from?
L: London.
W: London, but I’m Scottish at heart.
What is now?
W: Now changes all the time. I could give you a song or a meme, but by the time this interview’s done it won’t be now anymore. It’s young, stupid, fun.
L: It’s about having a good time.
Do you feel part of a scene?
L: Nah. I don’t think you could put a name on it right now.
W: No, but we feel like we could be, one day.
Do you dance?
L: If I’m not dancing, I’m not having fun.
W: I love dancing.
What is this the age of?
W: We’re past the age of saying culture’s dead and everything’s dead and blaming the iPhones. The little maggots that have been eating culture are starting to grow wings. We’re gonna get some butterflies soon.
L: Optimism.
Tell me about the start of Post Party: when, where, why?
W: We’ve lived in and loathed London for a lot of our time growing up here. What’s changed recently is the scene in music, culture and fashion. It’s just exploded. We wanted to be part of it, but we also wanted to create a space and a place where you can come and see it all in six hours, in a super dynamic way.
What do you think caused that newfound cultural explosion in London?
W: Probably when stuff coming out of the UK was being talked about in online culture – which usually all comes from America. Suddenly it was cool to know about the UK and what’s going on here, who the musicians are. Before it was just us commenting on what’s happening there. When I was 16, I’d watch a random American guy in the middle of nowhere react to a drill song and I’d feel pride. Now, again, they’re making memes and talking about our music and the way people dress here.
What is the meaning of life?
L: Doing what you wanna do, being free.
W: I’m not qualified for this one. Give me 20 years.
Gabby Turton, 23, and Rowan Miles, 25 from The Femcels
Where are you from?
G: The West Country.
R: Brighton.
What do you do?
G: Code and dance and be silly.
R: Sing and dance and be silly.
What is London?
G: Where Lily Allen’s from.
R: A place in the south of England.
What is now?
G: Something shiny.
R: Three o’clock.
Do you dance?
G: Yeah. I learn everything from YouTube.
R: Yeah, all the time, but I want to do it in front of a mirror, in a proper studio.
What is this the age of?
G: The Femcels.
R: iPhone apps and long hair.
What is the meaning of life?
G: Trying not to crash out.
R: Running really fast and not punching anyone in the face.
What makes you feel excited?
R: The reduced section in my local Sainsbury’s. That really gets me going.
G: Waking up at 7am and knowing you have sweets in your fridge.
Do you keep your sweets in the fridge?
G: No. It’s a metaphor.
Canty, songwriter, Essex
How old are you?
It depends.
Why do you do what you do?
It’s a way of understanding the world around me.
What is London?
It’s where I was born. My family are from the East End. My nan always used to say I was born to the sound of Bow Bells, pie and mash and stuff… So I think London feels like home, but also not. It’s like a cat flap: I’m sneaking in and trying not to wake anybody up.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
I feel like I’m part of a community.
What’s the meaning of life?
I got ill a little while ago and was in hospital. I remember two things: that I regretted not writing more songs because it makes me so happy. And looking at photos of friends and family. So the meaning of life is about doing what you love and [being with] friends and family.
Who’s the coolest person you know?
My dad.
Emily Driver, 24, and Bella Strange, 22, two members of triage
Where are you from?
B: Gloucestershire.
E: New Zealand.
What do you do?
B: Play bass, make sounds.
E: Sing, mess around.
Why do you do it?
B: To feel alive. To be a part of something bigger than myself.
What is London?
E: It’s the best city in the world.
Do you feel part of a scene?
B: Yes.
E: And we love it.
Who is the coolest person you know?
B: Emily.
E: Bella.
What should we always remember?
B: Always be kind and compassionate.
E: Listen to your intuition.
Fakemink, 20, musician
What do you do?
I make music.
Why?
To put my talent to good use.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
Barely.
Do you dance?
I dance when I’m alone. When no one’s watching.
What is this the age of?
2025 is the age of looking back. Nostalgia.
What’s the meaning of life?
To truly know yourself.
What makes you excited?
Making something new that I’m proud of.
What is the best of something?
The feeling of not having to worry about other people. Or of not worrying about how you or someone else can get something that you really want or need.
Who is the coolest person you know?
My friend Rosh.
What is cool?
Unapologetically being yourself. But being yourself doesn’t make you cool. Everyone can be themselves, but only some people are “cool”.
What do you think the best song in the world is right now?
Rather Be by Clean Bandit. It’s just good.
What’s something we should always remember?
Love today before it ends.
George Rouy, 31, artist
Where are you from?
A place called Sittingbourne [in Kent].
Why do you do what you do?
It changes all the time. At different moments in my life it’s been different things.
What is London?
Train stations.
What is now?
The past.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
No.
Do you dance?
Yes.
What is this the age of?
Existentialism.
What is the meaning of life?
It’s a gift.
What makes you excited?
My bed.
Who is the coolest person you know?
No one.
What does being cool even mean?
It doesn’t.
What’s one thing we should always remember?
To say please and thank you.
Nico Cordischi, 28, tattoo artist and DJ
Where are you from?
A very small village in Italy.
Why do you do what you do?
Because it’s what I want.
What is London?
Freedom of expression and community.
Do you feel you’re part of a scene?
Yeah, for sure.
Do you dance?
If the music is good, I’ll dance.
What is this the age of?
Recycling and nostalgia.
What is the meaning of life?
That’s a question I’ve been asking myself for a while…
What’s something we should always remember?
To give back.
Andi, 21, musician and skateboarder
Where are you from?
New York originally, but I’m of Ethiopian and Sierra Leonean descent.
Why do you do what you do?
I grew up doing choir. At the time, I hated it, but it built a passion for music and singing.
What is London?
Purity, expression, creativity and freedom.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
I’m solo dolo.
Do you dance?
I dance.
What is the meaning of life?
I’m still trying to figure that out.
Who’s the coolest person you know?
My best friend, Peezy.
What is cool?
Embodying everything that you truly are and not putting on a facade.
What should we always remember?
Trust yourself.
Roly Walmsley, 25, fashion graduate
Where are you from?
Brighton.
Why do you do what you do?
Horrid question. It just happened…
What’s your favourite thing about it?
I like telling stories.
What is London?
It gets the job done.
Do you feel part of a scene?
I feel like sometimes I get typecast into a scene, but I don’t think I am.
What is the scene you get typecast in?
I daren’t say.
Do you dance?
Awkwardly.
What is this the age of?
Nothing.
Natasha Lipskaya, 27, tattooist
Who are you?
A human being.
Where are you from?
Russia.
What is London?
No fear.
What is now?
Trusting yourself.
Do you feel like you’re part of a scene?
Yes, I do.
What scene?
A scene of people who don’t want to play it safe and will do whatever it takes to make something work.
Do you dance?
A lot.
What is this the age of?
Authenticity.
What is the meaning of life?
Making the most of it.
What makes you feel excited?
My friends, communication with people, being on the edge of new ideas.
Gulliver Whitby, 26, performer, filmmaker and model
Where are you from?
London.
What is London?
Freedom, rebirth, renaissance.
What is now?
Presentness.
Do you dance?
I move. I’m not amazing at choreo, but a little five, six, seven, eight; a little dip, little shimmy…
What’s the meaning of life?
To play, to grow, to learn – about yourself, about others. My God, I’m getting all hippie!
Who’s the coolest person you know?
I don’t know any cool people, just losers and dirtbags.
What should we always remember?
Peace, love, happiness, your National Insurance number.
Niall Ashley, 27, musician
How old are you?
I’m at “unc” stage now apparently, according to TikTok. So, 27.
Why do you do what you do?
I do it because I have to, it feels like an itch. I don’t know how to live without making.
What is London?
The trenches.
What makes you excited?
Regaining my confidence and finding my light again.
What is this the age of?
Social credit.
What’s one thing we should always remember?
To stop chasing after time.
