CKTRL on reaching his creative peak

To mark The North Face’s F19 Seven Summits collection, listen to seven stories of never-ending pursuit.

The North Face’s latest capsule honours the great Kit DesLauriers, the first person to ski down the Seven Summits. That is, the seven highest mountains from each of the seven continents, or a whopping 40,657 metres (phwoar).

To celebrate the esteemed ski-mountaineer and The North Face’s accompanying F19 Seven Summits collection, The Face spoke to seven style leaders at the top of their game. Sharing stories of their own creative endeavours aboard a rooftop in Wapping – where a backdrop of the capital’s towering landmarks emulated pure mountain epicness – it’s a reminder of the relentless pursuit of challenge behind every creative peak. One that then takes you to even greater heights.

Stay calm, have CKTRL. The DJ and musician describes his path from basecamp to summit as shaky, dodging a few obstacles on the way. The best lessons he’s learnt? Confidence is key and collaboration has helped him reach his creative peak.

Listen now: CKTRL's story

AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION

I would describe what I do as me, first and foremost. I just do my own thing within music.

If I was to describe my path from basecamp to the summit, it would be shaky, real shaky. Up, down, coming across some mad obstacles, peak peak things then having to figure it back out and try again.

The biggest avalanche I’ve had to overcome and I guess I’m still overcoming is myself. I think the thing that stops me from doing most things is me. Either by overthinking or lacking the confidence to do something you could probably do easily if you felt like, Yeah man can do that.’ If you don’t have that thinking then you just can’t do it. I’ve found the mindset to overcome it, from collaboration I guess. Friends gassing me up, parents as well. My sister is my biggest hypeman.

Collaboration is key to reaching your creative peak because you don’t know what you’re capable of. Usually it’s what other people see in you that brings out those things.

My plan for the rest of the year is just to learn as much as I can, keep learning and growing. Shedding light on all sorts of things, whether it’s my work or others.”

Art Director Alex O’Brien Creative Strategist Leo Robbins Producer Rosanna Gouldman Production Manager Katherine Bampton Production Assistant Natasha Hughes Sound Recordist Millie Gray Interviewer Amy Francombe Photographers Assistant Jack Grange Digital Operator Neil Bennett Art Department Ben Clark Art Dept Assistant Benthe De Vries Stylist Isabel Bush Stylist Assistant Jakrin Von Bueren Make-up Marina Belfon-Rose Hair Stylist Jose Quijano @ The Wall Group Hair Assistant Emmal Baker @ The Wall Group

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