Those three words get me every time. The mantra of Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous has a resounding effect on me, not only because it’s one of my all-time favourite films, but largely because I can relate. It’s been three years since I transplanted myself from the wheat-and-oil-mecca of Alberta to this fine city of Vancouver and it still seems like life is just getting started. But first, allow me to introduce myself: the name’s Jacey and I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be your new Editor-in-chief. It’s nice to meet you.
Your outgoing Editor, the enthralling Laurel Borrowman, wrote in her send-off that “life is a series of one anti-climactic event after another,” which I’m sure many of you can agree with. When I first met with Laurel to begin my transition into the position, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would she hand off a novelty-sized master key that opens every concert venue in the city? Might I finally learn the coveted secret-Editor handshake that has been passed down for generations? In keeping with the anti-climatic theme, none of this actually transpired. We mostly just talked about the billion people I would need to be emailing in the near future and discussed deadlines.
While I can attest to Laurel’s hypothesis, I simply must object. Sure, the years are filled with busts when there should have been booms, but I feel like Laurel left out one important factor: life is fucking full of climatic events. Like when I won a watermelon eating contest in grade nine. Or the first time I did a keg stand and no one dropped me. Or last month when I found myself standing out on my balcony, on the phone, accepting the job as next Editor-in-chief of Discorder. Your climactic moments will no doubt vary from mine, but I can assure you that they do exist.
But enough about me; let’s talk about this here September issue. I suppose I might be biased, but this first-ever issue I got to co-edit with Laurel is one of my favourites. Bob Woolsey is back with a piece tackling adulthood and what the heck that word even means; Discorder chats with the stand-up comedian/slacker extraordinaire Kyle Bottom; we take a look at the upcoming St. Ambroise Fringe Bar and how it’s grown over the years; and our cover wonder-children Weed talk about their first full-length album. I could easily go on for another 100 words about the other great stuff we’ve got waiting for you inside this issue, but I don’t want to give it all away on the second page.
As for what you can expect from Discorder going forward: a lot of the same great content that was already filling the pages, but also a snazzy redesign slated for this fall. Our Art Director, Jaz Halloran, has been in creative labour for the last nine months and the fruits of his efforts finally have a due date. Mark your calendars folks, ‘cause this will be a memorable one.
So while you can get stuck looking at all the ho-hum moments, let’s shift the focus to all the amazing things on the horizon. As Ms. Hudson would say, it’s all happening.
So it goes,
Jacey Gibb
