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Molek FMAfter JUICE: Post Decadence
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MUNA NOOR
Former Editor-in-Chief (also The Mother of JUICE)
Fondest memory of JUICE
Splendour in the Grass – the best festival in the world. Air Asia X flew me there. I don’t think there’s anything like it. Multiple stages, the best new bands in the world, and just an amazing atmosphere. Crafting crazy headlines for the covers, mad feature ideas, being bowled over by the amazing cover viz, redesigns, new spin offs. It was always very DIY. If we wanted to do it, we just did it. And JUICE DJ Quest. People don’t rate it enough, but the peeps that participated deserved mad chops for their skills and the crowd that came out to support – especially at a time when local DJs were considered second to international DJs – well, collectively, they all have been responsible for changing perceptions. Hitting up a club to see your favourite local DJ back then was still unheard of so I’d like to think JUICE played some part in that. If I had my way they would all be superstar DJs today.
Expectations & reality
That I was getting paid to party. By the mid ‘90s I had been partying plenty and my interests were a lot wider than that. So I was a little freaked out by what I thought my job description would be. Partying is meant to be fun, not work. Fortunately I was able to include that sentiment and wider interests like new music and design in JUICE‘s and later HANGER‘s DNA.
Post JUICE
I’ve left publishing, corporate comms is paying the bills and I’m using my downtime to volunteer in tiger and other kinds of animal conservation, start a website dedicated to sustainable and cruelty-free dining, and roll out some other design and publishing related projects. I’m also Coursera junkie.
What you took from your experience at JUICE to this day
Being on the shop floor for nearly 10 years that covers a helluva lot of ground. We pretty much had to learn to do everything. When I joined in 2002, JUICE was the magazine, full stop. By the time I left, it was an eco-system. We had weekly mailer, a website, Facebook, Twitter, iPad…. For someone who is not keen on new technology I seriously had to get to grips. I was also very privileged to work with a lot of amazingly talented people on the team and through various collaborative efforts. They definitely rubbed off on me and I’m fortunate to call a lot of them friends. They continue to keep it fresh and constantly inspire me to do the same.
APRIL KUAN
Former Editor
Fondest memory of JUICE
Wow, too many! The JUICE and Catcha parties were always a riot. We were all just one bunch of loonies who worked hard and played harder. I have so many incriminating party pictures I could blackmail a whole city if I wanted to, nahaha! Am still proud that JUICE brought goth and trip hop music to the clubs (through The Knowledge series) and it was great to see the JUICE DJ Quest alumni graduate to helming their own nights/residencies. My friends still have a laugh about my JUICE days when all I said was “Take picture!” I was always the girl with the camera; I might as well have had one implanted into my arm.
Expectations & reality
I was just really excited to be part of a start-up team that was doing something great, and we always had interesting and exciting plans. Nothing could’ve prepared me for the late nights and how much work it took to put a magazine together (including managing your own team) but it was a great learning curve for me and it was some of the best years of my life. I have zero regrets!
Post JUICE
I’m the weekend jock at Capital FM 88.9 – I host Global Passport on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm (playing music from around the world) and Jazzscapes on Sundays from 2pm to 6pm (celebrating jazz in its many forms). The great thing about my job is that I get free rein on the content and concept, e.g. I get to decide on the people I want to interview and most importantly, the music I want to play. It was kind of a happy coincidence because I’ve actually returned to my first love (I started out as a radio DJ in Johor Bahru in the ‘90s). So I’ve come full circle! Other than that, I do a bit of freelance writing, PR, and events on weekdays. Am definitely loving the freedom!
What you took from your experience at JUICE to this day
You could say JUICE brought out the best and worst in me. It constantly challenged me and pushed me to my limits, and made me discover a lot about myself and what I could accomplish. I learnt so much from my then-editor Muna Noor and VP of Publishing Luke Elliott, and working at JUICE has definitely played a huge part in moulding me into the person I am today. I made so many new friends and contacts, it’s certainly helped with the new job opportunities I’ve been given. Until today, people still refer to me as April JUICE, lol!
WORDSMANIFEST
Former Writer, Associate Editor, and Photo Editor (also Grumpy Old Man)
Fondest memory of JUICE
When April Kuan entrusted me with the keys to the secret underground stash of Grabs giveaway items. I did not have to buy haircare products for a whole year. Also, I had no hair at the time.
Expectations & reality
I expected the JUICE office to be a sweltering den of sin, debauchery, and iniquity. The reality, to my utter dismay, was even more so.
Post JUICE
I am now smuggling conflict diamonds out of Sierra Leone. I would tell you more, but Interpol has a file on me already and under the terms of my contract, I can only let on that Jennifer Connelly will be involved in the movie adaptation of my current life and that she will be extremely naked.
What you took from your experience at JUICE to this day
A stapler and a Zouk KL discount card.