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Underscore’s Justin Long discuss the importance of magazines and hotels with soul

SINGAPORE — Some of the magazine world’s most exciting names — Penny Martin of The Gentlewoman, Chris Ying (Lucky Peach) and Jop van Bennekom (Fantastic Man) — will be heading here for the first edition of The U Symposium, organised by award-winning Singapore magazine, Underscore.

Underscore magazine’s Justin Long

Underscore magazine’s Justin Long

SINGAPORE — Some of the magazine world’s most exciting names — Penny Martin of The Gentlewoman, Chris Ying (Lucky Peach) and Jop van Bennekom (Fantastic Man) — will be heading here for the first edition of The U Symposium, organised by award-winning Singapore magazine, Underscore.

Said its editor-in-chief Justin Long (picture): “A magazine symposium like this happens in Europe very often, but never in Singapore ... it just so happens that March is a perfect time for all to come together.”

Long and his team can’t wait to show their guests around. “For most, it’s their first time. We’re always visiting them whenever we’re in the United Kingdom or United States so, I guess, mi casa es su casa. Come see my home!"

Q: What power do you think magazines have in today’s world, where everything is going digital and there seems to be less time to appreciate print?

A: The analogue-versus-digital argument has been going on for decades, yet, look at how print is even more powerful than it was before — more so for a niche audience who appreciates the romanticism of print in their hands. But I think it’s important to stay relevant, especially as a contemporary magazine. Digital appetisers are great to complement the main course of print, so how content is presented in digital (form) versus in print is a whole new topic. It concerns how we read from left to right and how our eyes adjust to light shining from a device versus that bouncing off paper, as well as making no mistakes when you go to print compared with editing your content any time for a digital platform. The list goes on.

Q: What are your favourite mags to read when you travel?

A: My magazine selection depends on where I’m going. If it’s to another city, I’ll always buy new magazines to read about what’s out there. If it’s to the beach, then it’s magazines I’ve taken from home. As for travel publications, I like The Travel Almanac. I’ve been to four of its recommended places to visit and they were all to die for. I think trust is key. The content is sincere and always comes from the right place. The folks from Cereal are quite nice too — their hearts are in the right place.

Q: Do you have any favourite hotels that you find yourself going back to?

A: Ace Hotel Shoreditch is a new favourite when I’m in London. I think it has taken the casual hostel experience and made it effortlessly unpretentious in a four-star hotel set-up. It’s a comfortable genetic makeup that keeps me wanting to return for more. And it has its own cute-as-hell French bulldog as a mascot.

Q: What are some of your favourite cities and places to visit?

A: I’ve long lists for Tokyo, New York and London. In Tokyo, I go to Haritts Donuts, Afuri for ramen, T-site, Little Nap for coffee, Golden Brown for burgers and Trump Room. In New York, I like Egg, Peter Lugers, Five Leaves, Happy Bones, PDT and Neue Museum. In London, I love the art galleries such as Gagosian, Lisson and White Cube, as well as shops and bars such as Hostem and The Nightjar.

The U Symposium 2015 will take place from on March 14 and 15 at The Projector. Details and tickets at http://www.theusymposium.com.

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