JL: The fact that there were really nice interesting kids there who wanted to do something, and by association I hope that it's helped them out. EC: SURRENDER is a collective of people. In a way, there are more than 2 partners in SURRENDER. Everyone involved is a partner. James is the founder that gives us the direction, concept and idea then leaves us the freedom to interprete it. Once that's done, we run by him again then execute it. On to SURRENDER then - surrender to what ? Both: SURRENDER to life. JL: After all that I have felt I had been through it just became difficult, and I learnt about this whole concept of having to surrender yourself to what happens in the world - not constantly trying to push, and knocking your head against a brick wall. It's about letting go and let the thing happen organically. The old 'shit happens' scenario ? JL: Yeah let things happen. I suppose there's a slightly more spiritual connotation to what's going on rather than the fact that everything is so super military or core or this or that or pop art. I didn't want to have it so specific in that way - I wanted it quite open. But it is really about surrendering yourself to life. There's London, New York, Paris, Berlin... why Singapore ? JL: Because it's just the way it happened! Nothing more premeditated ? JL: No, not at all. JL: Earn wanted to do this thing - I'm pretty erratic in that way and it just sounded like a good idea, and something kind of nice to do. And as a friend it was nice to be involved in something together. The problem is people may say it's next big thing or whatever - I can't really think like that. It's the same with Mo' Wax, it wasn't really that thought out. EC: We started in Singapore because this is my home. Besides, it is always good to go against the grain and do something different. I bet most of the people who start out wants to have a store in Tokyo, I mean who doesn't? But to us, we just want to do something against what everyone else is doing. How did you decide on the interior for the store. Who was involved with its design ? JL: A guy called Jasper and myself. He's a local architect who now lives over here - he's brilliant. It was an opportunity to work with local, talented people, and he really pulled in a lot to achieve what he did. But I sort of came up with the initial idea of it being an experience - somewhere you had to walk through - not just a materialistic shop - something a little bit more interesting in that way, not too bright, and not so clinical. A lot of shops now are clean cut, we wanted it a lot darker - I suppose it's like going to the cinema really. EC: James had an idea of what he wants the store to be... a dark walk thru whereby you can experience the artworks, music, visuals and lastly our products. This allows a full introduction to what we're doing. We want to capture the same feeling when you walked into a movie cinema : Almost like a cinematic experience. Then I have an old architect friend, Jasper from FUUR Architects who is based in London to do it. He's a very creative person and understands where James is coming from so getting things together wasn't hard.