I properly discovered independent magazines two years ago and immediately fell in love. They were a combination of everything I loved: thoughtful writing, beautiful imagery and intelligent design. I thought the best way to get into the industry was to start one myself. It initially began as a local project, with the hope of showcasing my creative friends – however, it blossomed into something entirely different.
With so many new independent publications coming out every year, I wanted to think of something original. Of course, this is extremely difficult. Most issues have a theme that connects the features; immediately, I thought of colour; it seemed quite an obvious link, yet no one seemed to have done it before.
Chróma is a magazine about colour. It takes a colour and explores the themes that come along with it. It’s amazing how inventive you can be, how broad the topics are that you can cover. Red is literal, emotional, social, political and scientific. I like that we are looking at colour in this unusual and unique way.

Red is strange because it works in both extremes; it can represent both passion and anger. Because it is such a strong, vibrant colour, it has been adopted by humans both politically and socially; this means it can trigger a lot of associations.
Personally, as soon as I think of the colour red, I think of blood. Blood encompasses a lot of things: war, meat, science, life, death and menstruation. Strangely enough, red was one of my least favourite colours. I found it unlikable because it can be associated with a lot of negativity. However, through doing Chróma, I’ve learnt more about the beautiful side of it.

Absolutely. If you think about it, it’s very strange that colour is associated with emotion. Why is blue associated with sadness and red with anger? Blue is cold and red is aggressive. Is it us that have made it this way, or is it intrinsic to the feel of the colour?
As soon as a colour has certain associations, you think about it in a different way. In the West, red may mean anger, but in the East, it is a sign of vitality and fertility. It is the colour of happiness, worn by brides at their wedding and hung in their streets and temples. I think red is celebrated far more in Asia than in Europe. Red is associated with a lot of national and political flags, which I think is a major reason why we give it such a hard time.

Blue. A lighter, brighter shade of blue. Isn’t that everyone’s answer? There is something about blue that is so soothing.

I spend a lot of time exploring Instagram looking for artists; I then reach out to my favourites. I couldn’t say what it is I look for, Chróma has such an eclectic range of artists involved. I am a huge fan of photography and seem to love all types, from travel to portrait, to still life and fashion. I’ve also built up a strong online blog, which features a range of amazing individuals. I am looking forward to expanding this, as well as working towards my next print.
Regarding writers, I read a lot of literary magazines, my favourite being Structo. I contacted several poets that I found in these publications. I also received at least a thousand submissions, which I got by advertising on writers blogs and social media.

I am surprised to say that the age range is much broader than I thought. Chróma features an eclectic amount of artists, who will attract many different types of people. There is something for everyone. We feature several amazing artists, who, in the past few years, have been made famous by social media. These names will resonate with the creative youth of today: such as John Yuyi, Laurence Philomene and Ashley Armitage. We also feature artists who have been exhibited globally, for example, Cleon Peterson and Filippo Minelli: whose work has been displayed at Somerset House, for example.
The first issue contains an interview with the director of Cowspiracy, the team at period.org – a global youth-run non-profit organization that strives to provide and celebrate menstrual hygiene through advocacy, education, and service –, and the inspiring poet and filmmaker Greta Bellamacina. Chroma touches upon topics that are important for all generations. It aims to be intelligent, thoughtful and philosophical. It is almost impossible to put Chróma into a category; it is so eclectic.

Honestly, it has been a real struggle. I would not say I’ve succeeded in balancing all these aspects; there has been a lot I have sacrificed. Although I would say I can be motivated, I am definitely not disciplined. University is difficult because there is no routine. This often makes it harder for you to manage your time.
I have recently turned twenty-two and am currently in my final year at the University of Sussex. I have taken on Chróma almost single-handedly, with the help of an amazing graphic designer, Stephanie Specht (based in Belgium). This means I have had to fulfil a lot of roles: editor, creative director, interviewer, proofreader, advertising, finance, promoting, distributing, etc. It’s been an enormous amount of work.
At times, I’ve sacrificed having fun and spending time with friends and my partner. However, I also love what I do and am excited for the magazine’s future. I am also excited to have a bit of a break/relief after the launch and focus on the other things that I enjoy: travel writing and photography, among others. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen, because almost immediately I have an essay due!

Orange! I am going to be incredibly cliché and follow the colours of the rainbow. I love that orange is a really difficult colour. This means I am going to have to be disciplined and do my research. I think it’s going to be a fun colour to play around with. In the next issue, I would like to focus more on philosophy and fashion. I am hoping the success of the first issue will mean that others will be excited to get on board.

I have an idea to create a section in Chróma, online and print, called ‘Conversations’. I want to connect key thinkers of the day and give them the space to talk among themselves about a particular topic. Chróma focuses on intelligent conversation and thoughtful interviews, where we delve into the creatives psyche. I would like my magazine to become known for this: a platform where contemporary art is paired with an essential and interesting discussion. I hope this can then stimulate and change the minds of those who read it.