We have a new album out! It’s called ‘Des Animaux Pires Que Moi’, featuring music by Louis Fontaine, and vocals by Yzoula, formerly in the French band La Femme. (An English translation could be ‘Creatures Crueler Than Me.’)
After the positive experience we had working on our song ‘Tormento’, composer and multi-instrumentalist Louis Fontaine asked if I would like to brainstorm and write the lyrics for his next album with the singer Yzoula. We met up in his studio in Paris. Pointing to an old film poster above one of his 1970s synthesizers, he said he wanted to make an album about a vampire or a young witch. He played some of the tracks he had composed and I took some notes in my sketchbook.
Excited about the project, I walked to my local library and checked out a stack of books about witchcraft and the history of the occult in Paris. Fontaine sent me the music, along with more specifics: one song should have the mood of chanson française, another should be a speech, another a kind of spell, another a spoken story, and the last song should be a bit melancholy. I walked the rainy streets of Paris, crossing the Seine, singing poems to myself, and remembering the times I could have used some magic powers.
From there, I created the character of the album's protagonist: a kind of sorceress with my personality and experiences combined with elements of the singer. Then I wrote the songs in French, layering my stories and moments with my research, along with inspiration of witchy movies and 1970s pulp books, (which I collect) plus a sprinkle of imagination… and a dash of dark humor. I also came up with the titles of the instrumental songs, except for the second song on the record. Fontaine liked the lyrics, recorded Yzoula’s dreamy vocals, brought in a harpist and a violinist, and spent many hours mastering and perfecting the songs.
‘Des Animaux…’ tells a story about supernatural powers, taking risks, playing with seduction and revenge, and prowling around Paris. Broc Recordz is releasing ‘Des Animaux Pires Que Moi’ on April 18th, 2025 on vinyl. You can listen to the first single here or watch the video here. If you don’t have a record player, you can stream the album to get in the midnight mood.
I put on my green and white striped suit and walked into Arco, the huge art fair in Madrid. It was right before the pandemic and the place was packed with gallerists, collectors, artists and their admirers. One painting stood out from all the other works: ‘Quiet Listening’ by Peter Uka. The painting depicted an elegant young man listening to records. It sang of another era and yet it is completely contemporary. It spoke of memory, music, and beauty. This summer (2021) I was delighted to interview Peter Uka for Metal magazine. We talked about art, music, 1970s culture, and identity. You can read the full article here.
Visit Peter Uka’s solo exhibition, ‘Longing’, at Mariane Ibrahim gallery if you happen to be in Chicago. It’s on view until January 15th, 2022.
Peter Uka, Quiet Listening, 2020. Courtesy the Artist and Mariane Ibrahim
Denge Pose II, 2018. Courtesy the Artist and Mariane Ibrahim
Peter Uka, Still Riding 2, 2021. Courtesy of Mariane Ibrahim
After years away from my second home (in my heart, not in bricks) I finally flew to London. Aside from museum-hopping and eating Indian food, I visited the coolest bookshops in the city, discovered new authors, distributed my book, met up with friends, and had some wild times in East London. The highlight of the trip was seeing my art book, ‘The Pleasures of Hackney Road’, at Koenig Books in Frieze Art Fair.
It’s also available in 12 other bookstores and art museums. Write me on Instagram @thefortunyverse if you would like to find a copy at your nearest bookseller.
Have you read all the articles and juicy interviews in my portfolio? Check out my conversations with Jeremy Scott, Kaws, Futura 2000, Massive Attack, KR, Nan Golden, Alec Soth, Alan Aldridge, and many more at margofortuny.com .
Exciting news: I have a new artist website! You can see my drawings, performance art (yes, I love rubbing paint on naked skin, dancing at bus stops, and lifting shamans into the air), photography, and paintings at thefortunyverse.com. Check out www.thefortunyverse.com and let me know what you think.
This year has been hell at times and yet there came a point where I woke up and started acting with urgency. Between the global pandemic, two members of my family in life-or-death situations (unrelated to Covid), and the intense loneliness of spending so much time alone, I thought 2020 might break me. But at the end of summer, suddenly I took action. I wanted something good to happen! I created an artist book and distributed it to numerous bookstores and art museums, where it was received well. I started drawing and painting like my life depended on it. I was invited to participate in two important exhibitions (details are in the previous two posts.) And in December 2020, I had my first dual exhibition in Madrid.
'Use Your Illusions' examined the purpose of illusions and memories, nostalgia and desire, questioning whether these trips into imagination are positive or detrimental to one's present reality. The exhibition featured both my figurative paintings and the surreal analog collages of the Spanish artist Ella Jazz. We both lived in California at the same time, before meeting in Madrid, and this experience greatly influenced our artwork and worldview.
'Use Your Illusions,' Exhibition View, 2020
'Walking Up To Your Street', Margo Fortuny
Acrylic on canvas, 26 x 18 cm
'The Fighter', Margo Fortuny, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 80 x 60 cm
Beto looking at 'Love Me When I'm Gone' by M. Fortuny.
Photo: Larry Balboa
'The Trip', Margo Fortuny, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 50 x 65 cm
'The Lover', Margo Fortuny, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 70 x140 cm
'Use Your Illusions' Madrid 2020. Photo: Larry Balboa
Here I am outside 'Use Your Illusions', at Pavilion.
December 2020. Photo: Diego & The Blue Sea
For more images of my artwork check out my Instagram @margofortuny .
A few weeks ago, I read Gala Knörr's letters to Jack Kerouac, along with four other artists, for her exhibition 'Tumbleweeds' in Bilbao. We read lively letters in a seance-like performance on Zoom (due to the pandemic), in between jazz played by a live saxophonist. The reading premiered on December 14th on Youtube. (Mine is in English at 36:10 if you're curious.)
"Tumbleweeds' is a project based on the fictitious epistolary relationship that artist Gala Knörr established with her "silent mentor" Jack Kerouac. A mentor whose answers could only be found within his oeuvre. Modelling her writing after Satori in Paris, a cognac infused short novel based on Jack Kerouac's search for his family origins on a ten day trip to Paris and Brest, in which the author alludes to a spiritual awakening, yet finds said 'kick in the eye' in a series of Parisian pilgrimage-like extravagant encounters. Knörr narrates similar anecdotical rendez-vous over a four month period at a residency at Cité Internationale des Arts. Utilizing the figure as the one of a confidant, she invokes Jack's spirit, in a seance like performative activation reading of her letters as if we were in a 'Shakespeare&Co' tea party." -Nicolas de Ribou/ Gala Knörr
The exhibition is on until January 8, 2021 at Torre de Arriz. Go see it if you're in Bilbao.
Last month I had the pleasure of performing in 'Hold Up', William Mackrell's opening piece of his exhibition 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' at The Ryder Gallery. The live performance (with all safety measures in effect) featured the British artist, Alicia Cano, Manuel León, and I acting as a band. I danced around with maracas and gripped the microphone like a lead singer, trying not to channel Axl Rose more than necessary. We interpreted various songs Mackrell had recorded from phone hotlines as a "monument to waiting." How relevant for 2020!
The exhibition at The Ryder, runs until January 29th, 2021. Go see it if you're in Madrid, then wander around Lavapies and go out to lunch. Tia Carlota and Los Chuchis are fun spots to have a bite to eat.
William Mackrell, Hold Up, 2020 Live performance at The RYDER, Madrid. 19th November 2020 15 min. Air Europa 3.57′ / NHS England Switchboard 3.28′ / Direct Auto 2.10′ / TeamKnowHow 3.02′ Performers: William Mackrell, Alicia Cano, Margo Fortuny and Manuel León.
William Mackrell, Hold Up, 2016-2020 (detail) Record player, Hi-Fi System (110 x 60 cm), steel hole, speakers & cable 6 Vinyl discs Sound loop, variable Display cabinet (120 x 90 cm)
William Mackrell, Do not go gentle into that good night.
Installation view at The RYDER, Madrid, November 2020
This year I wrote and illustrated my first artist book! The Pleasures of Hackney Road: Five Tales of Wildness features drawings and stories about my adventures in London. You can find it at two major contemporary art institutions (The CCCB and La Casa Encendida) and at numerous bookstores. There's also a Spanish edition, Los Placeres de Hackney Road, which is now in its second printing.
You can write me on Instagram @margofortuny if you would like to order a copy internationally or stock it.
It's the first in a series of books about different cities I've lived in. What cities do you dream of moving to, if you just move spontaneously?
Holding my book in Madrid
The inside of 'The Pleasures of Hackney Road' by Margo Fortuny
A drawing from 'The Pleasures of Hackney Road' by Margo Fortuny
On my first night I raced
through the city at sunset on a motorbike as the wind lifted the hem of my
dress above my bare knees... A few days later, an enchanting Colombian girl
took me to an ancient tapas bar with no chairs and the best tortilla in Madrid. Then there was the time
my friend Martina, a willowy Austrian with Marc Bolan curls, invited me to
watch the cult Super 8 film 'Arrebato' at the Filmoteca, followed by vermouth
at a bar where they only played vinyl and everyone had long shiny hair. One
evening I strolled through Retiro Park, queasy, yet enjoying the dusk cloaking
the trees in shadows.
A still from 'Arrebato', 1979.
Every night was
different, and many were calm (noodles, movies on the sofa) so I'll just tell
you about my last night. On Saturday, I put on a long striped dress and met my
friend Guillermo at the metro, along with an exciting Mexican girl named Mayra.
First we went to a classic nightclub that reminded me of some cruise ship disco
from the 80s (not that I've been on any cruise ships or to discos in the 80s -
but one can imagine - a James Bond set where Grace Jones appears - in a velvet
catsuit, right?)
Grace Jones in Vogue
My friend Will invited us
there to see his band play. The audience was loving Flat Worms, dancing,
drumming their fingers on lanky thighs, and murmuring excitedly, even though it
was only seven o'clock, which is practically the middle of the afternoon in
Spain. After the gig we walked to a quiet bar called Picnic, where they serve
cheap beers and frozen piña coladas.
A madrileño, source unknown.
Next we
fortified ourselves at Aio, a delicious Italian restaurant. My other friend
named Guillermo, a fascinating young professor, was waiting for us with a round of Aperol Spritzes. Mayra's
tales of wildness had everyone laughing. Everyone was getting along swimmingly.
Soon we were calling the guys 'Los Tres Guillermos'.
After the feast of pasta and tiramisu, we stepped
into a bar with faded rock posters and old covers of Melody Maker collaged onto
the walls and ceilings. Girls were drawing on boys' arms; boys were looking at
girls, while others played pool in the corner. I chanced upon an empty barstool
and began the tower of coats with my sky-blue raincoat. Mayra and I danced to
the 70s rock & roll and soon everyone joined us.
After it got too
crowded, we ambled through a parade of debauchery in Malasaña, to a nightclub called Trashcan. We checked out the mostly Mod
and psych crowd and found a spot near the dj. He was picking out the best 45s.
Every song was fantastic. He put on the Buzzcock's single 'Ever Fallen in
Love...' Everybody danced and sang along and swerved into each other with that
elation that appears sometime between midnight and dawn. We met new friends,
danced and hollered, and continued on our disco safari.
I found some pretty girls on the way to the next little club and invited
them to join us. The brisk walk was enormously refreshing. We were ready for
more dancing and excitement. Much frolicking later, it was the hour to part. To
hunt for taxicabs that would deliver us to different corners of the city. We
sauntered into the night, half-dreaming of sleep and tall glasses of water.
MARGO'S GUIDE TO MADRID
DAYTIME FUN
-Check out obscure films at Matadero or the beautiful Cine
Doré. Tickets cost 3 euros.
-Madrid has some
of the best art museums in the
world. Modern art fans should check out the Reina Sofia Museum. It's massive
and maze-like so bring a snack or have lunch and a coffee first. If you like
traditional art (e.g. Velasquez and Goya) visit the Prado. The Fundación Canal usually
has interesting shows and it's free. The hip contemporary art galleries are on Calle Doctor Fourquet in Lavapies.
-On Sundays,
wander around El Rastro flea market
for knickknacks, comic books and sexy magazines from the 70s. It ends around 2
or 3 pm.
-Pop into the
bookshops and vintage stores in Malasaña (that's vaguely the Dalston/ Echo
Park/ Bushwick of Madrid.)
Madrid in the 80s, source unknown.
THE BEST FOOD (All these are carnivore and vegetarian friendly.)
-My favorite restaurant is 80 Grados. Amazing menu del dia (4 dishes & a drink at lunchtime for €12.50).
Try the salmorejo with parmesan ice
cream, the truffled egg, and the crazy tiramisu. Make a reservation. c/Manuela
Malasaña, 10. 914-458-351.
-Bodega de la Ardosa. Casual tapas bar from 1892. Try the croquetas. Veggies can also ask for a
salad or salmorejo minus the jamon. Calle de Colón, 13.
-Chan Street. Chinese street food in Chueca/ Gran Via. (Though the
menu appears to be non-vegetarian, veggies can ask which noodle dishes can be
made with tofu instead of meat.) Try the saucy onion and garlic noodles, and
green beans. Calle de Barbieri, 4.
-Casa Lafu. Elegant Sichuan Chinese restaurant. Calle Flor Baja,
1.
-Grosso Napolitano. Delicious pizza. There's one in Lavapies and one in Malasaña. -Takos al Pastor.Fantastic, cheap tacos. There is always a long line so get there when it opens. -Pez Tortilla.Cheap, delicious tortilla with unusual ingredients, as well as tasty croquettes.
-Fit Food.Filling salads and cold-pressed juices when you need to detox, or if you're in some kind of California mood. Not all have
the fresh salads (there are 4) but this one does: Calle Génova 25. I suggest the
avocado, edamame, tofu, mozzarella, egg, and quinoa salad with pesto dressing.
They have lunch deals too for €10.
THE BEST BARS
-Bar
Benteveo. Low-key, 70s vibes. Near Lavapies. c/Santa Isabel, 15.
-Toni
2. Classic bar where everyone, young and old, stands around a grand piano
and sings Spanish songs. Calle del Almte., 9.
-Picnic.
Quiet cafe and bar with tea, beer, and cocktails. Calle Minas, 1. Good for chatting. -Pavon. Fun, mixed cafe/ bar near Tirso de Molina.
-José Alfredo.
Cocktail bar. A little pricey. Calle de Silva, 22.
-Or
just walk around Lavapies and
Malasaña
and see what you find!
A bar in Malasaña, October 2017.
SMALL DISCOS
& LATE NIGHT SPOTS
-Trashcan
Music Club (check for 60s nights, it's either hit or miss, as is Fun House), La Vía Láctea (rock/indie scene, better on weekdays), Lucky Dragon, Ballesta (if Seven Mad are DJing), Apartament, Sirocco (updated November 2019)
-Feel
free to add more in the comments - I haven't covered the electro scene here...
I had just arrived in Austin
after three hours of sleep and a Bullit-style
taxi ride. I put my suitcases inside and grabbed a polka-dot bikini. I needed a
drink and a burrito. My friend Tim swung by a taco truck and a liquor store.
Water, food, wine, let’s go.
He drove the back of the
little car right into the river, with me in the boat so my feet wouldn’t get
wet. I never saw such a thing. Boat detached, he drove out and parked. We set
sail. With the tornado warnings and a lively breeze the boat cruised down the
river. The vessel veered towards the dam…”what happens if we’re about to go
over? Should I jump out and swim?” I asked. “We won’t go over,” Tim assured me
as the boat drifted into some trees on the bank. He jumped out and pushed off
against the side before hopping back in, splashing water on my suntanned knees.
It was so warm out the hours
seemed to sway by. We swigged cold wine from the bottle and talked about movies
and books we want to write, our mothers, and crazy girls we know. The sun came
out and turned up the color of the trees lining the river. The leaves were
shaking between shadows and sunlight. I looked down and noticed the wine bottle
was floating in several inches of water by my boots. I laughed and asked for a
pail. “That’s some leak you’ve got!” Water was tossed overboard. We slowly
sailed back to shore.
The next day I woke up to
sunlight dancing in through a tall window, with a long gauzy white curtain that
fluttered by a fan. Next to the window there were plants and a round wooden
bookshelf mounted on the wall, stuffed with paperbacks. A round bookshelf! I
walked out to the porch in my pyjamas and greeted Sally. She had just flown in
from Los Angeles.
Sally and I ate delicious tacos at Torchy’s. Next
we went to an airstream trailer and ordered a massive donut covered in peach
jam and cream cheese icing. “That donut almost ate me!” We explored the vintage
shops, picking up an electric blue disco dress for Sally and a suede jacket for
me, along with a book about Latin American culture from the ‘Uncommon Objects’
shop.
Later on, I met up with more friends at the Black Angels show. Some of us swooped over to a mysterious gathering at a big house.We discovered giant gazebo, a hot tub and an old VW minibus, where we drank beer and befriended Spaniards with mutton chops. When the revelry slowed we went for a long drive to a ranch. Tumbling out of the taxi, we came upon a rambunctious party with bands playing on the dirt. Everyone clapped and leaned and smiled. Sally, Tim, and I danced and drank cherry beer by a fire-pit. The night was all sky and music.
++++++
MARGO’S QUICK GUIDE TO
AUSTIN
TO DO:
-Go swimming in Barton Creek
-Check out cowboy boots,
suede jackets, and Gunne Sax frocks at the vintage shops, including ‘New
Bohemia’ and ‘Flashback.’ There are several around the South Congress area,
near ‘Uncommon Objects, a great store for unusual gifts or antique postcards. 1512
S Congress Ave, 78704.
-Austin is full of fun live
music. See what’s on at Scoot Inn or Cheer Up Charlie’s or Mohawk…or just ask a
local. Everyone is pretty friendly.
-Dance country-western style
and watch bands play at The White Horse. 500 Comal St.
-Buy hot sauce. Texas is
famous for it.
-Try Deep Eddy grapefruit
vodka or Espolon tequila. (Espolon isn’t from Austin but it’s popular here and
goes with everything.)
TO EAT:
-If you get a chance try
tater tot nachos and if you eat meat, BBQ.
-There are numerous
excellent taco trucks all over Austin but I like Torchy’s on 1st
street because they have great vegetarian options. For vegans, there’s a great
vegan truck a few feet away (try the bbq seitan salad.) 1311 S 1st St, 78704. Also Torchy’s is walking distance to the South Congress
thrift stores and…
-Gourdough’s Donuts: a
trailer that serves delicious and bizarre sugary concoctions. Inside out cherry
pie, minus the crust. Bacon and maple syrup atop a nest of dough.Try the Son of a Peach. Open late. 1503
S 1st St, 78704.
-Arlo’s veggie burgers at
Drinks Lounge on Cesar Chavez. Get the vegan bac’n cheeseburger. Mind-blowingly
delicious.I’ve seen carnivores
devour these too. 2001 E. Cesar Chavez, 78702.Opens at 4 pm.
-24 Diner: a 24-hour deluxe
diner with fantastic milkshakes and big brunches. People get excited about
their chicken & waffles too. 600 N Lamar Blvd, 78703.
That’s just skimming the
surface. Tell me more in the comments… ++++++ On my last night, at a party filled with enchanting characters, I was talking to a new friend from Chile. He declared, "I love Texas!" A man sauntered by and drawled, "Texas loves you, man."
Margo Fortuny is a writer, lyricist, and artist. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Cabana, Exit, Wallpaper, and other publications.
Read more at www.margofortuny.com. For the latest info, follow her on Instagram @thefortunyverse and @margofortuny.
Send your thoughts and any assignments to pensforeverything (at) gmail.com or send a message on Instagram for a quicker reply.
All text and photographs are by Margo unless otherwise specified. Get in touch first if you would like to use any images or excerpts.
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