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Hot Rod

Hot Rod

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Jan Walaker

Hotrod is a forum for new and established creativity.
The main aim is to inspire.

Oslo, Norway

Po Box 1053 s, 0104

Email: inquiries@automotive.com

Category: Art, Artwork, Culture
Periodicity: Quarterly
Language: English
Format: 235 x 295 mm
Circulation: 2,000 - 5,000
Price: £ 10
Web: http://www.hotrod.com/index.html

Founded in 1998

Hotrod is a forum for new and established creativity.
The main aim is to inspire. The magazine has been defined as an art object and it appears in art shows around the world.

Exclusive Interview

Listen to your gut feeling, trust yourself and have fun.

Magazine favorite(s) from your childhood
Jan Walaker: Life, Zoom, Playboy.

Magazine favorite(s) that inspired you in your career.
Purple, L´Uomo Vouge, Nest, Vanity Fair, Artforum, Interview.

Magazine favourite(s) now
L´Uoumo Vouge, Purple, Acne Paper, V Magazine, Uncut and several others.

What else inspires and informs you?
Movies, books, exhibitions,news, travel and talking to other creators.

Proudest moment of your career in magazines.
Working with Antony Hegarty by Antony and the Johnson's as a coeditor.

Why?
He is extremely talented and a very nice guy.

Most well-known moment.
There are many great moments and memories regarding Hot Rod. Highlights are like when Antony and Johnson's gave me two songs on a picture disc to follow Hot Rod. Interviewing Jeff Koons was fun. Also having a garden party at the opening days of the Venice artbiennale. Magne Furuholmen from A-ha flew in with a private jet and Absolute gave us tons of Vodka.

Why is it so well known?
It is good when you get publicity from other media on your magazine. More people learn about your publication.

Most important lesson learnt, and from who/where?
Listen to your gut feeling, trust yourself and have fun. A former girlfriend was very helpful when I started Hotrod in 1998 as the first international magazine from Norway.

Do you keep old copies of magazines? If so, what is your favourite in your collection?
Yes, I have a collection of Pin Up magazines from Sweden. They are from the 60´s. They are very innocent, but very cool.

Choose three words to define your (favourite) magazine.
Cool and sexy.

Why do you work in magazines?
It is great medium with many possibilities.

If currently involved in a magazine:
What is the magazine about?
My next issue is a co-production with Manumission. Manumission is a club concept on Ibiza that involves cabaret, music and film.

Who reads it?
Many of my readers are creative people. Artists, musicians etc. The Manumissions issue will also be read by a lot of young english people going to Ibiza to party.

How do you find innovative ways to talk to your readers? Let myself inspire by for example vintage books and art-shows.

What do you like about the challenge of working in magazines?
Meting people, travel and create.

What don't you like about the challenge of working in magazines?
Paperwork such as writing invoices etc.

In five years, what will you be working on?
Magazines and my art.

We are compiling answers from some of the most innovative magazine makers around the world today. Who else should we ask?
Artists and musicians.

Finally, please give us a brief outline of your career:
I did my first professional publication when I was 18. Since then I have made, magazines, posters, cd sleeves, logos, books and art. I have also curated several art-shows.

When and where did you start working in magazines?
I started to work part time a trade magazine for the visual artists in Norway in 1988. Before that I took pictures and wrote for different magazines.

What are the most significant titles you've worked on?
Hot Rod.

What are you working on right now?
I have started a new publication called SUNDAYNIGHT. It is for the restaurant, cafe, bar and nightclub industry in Norway. It is a lot of fun and I get free wine.

E-mail interview from May 2008.