Psychic infrastructure
Plus The Whitney Review of New Writing Issue 003
A few years ago we were speaking with our friend Clare Farrell, cofounder of Extinction Rebellion and Hard Art, about the big idea behind Metalabel: that all creative people could start “labels” to put out work by themselves and others that reflected their shared worldviews.
Clare, always brilliant, called the concept “psychic infrastructure” — a mental framework that opened up a new way of working and thinking. A way of working, not coincidentally, you see reflected in the output of Hard Art.
In part because of Clare’s encouraging reaction, we’ve spent the years since deep in this universe, during which we’ve come across a few recurring forms of collaboration that benefit from this psychic infrastructure:
A group putting out work under a shared umbrella. Picture four people who make work in a similar style. Rather than competing through their difference, they celebrate what they have in common by co-promoting each other’s work and making projects together.
A curator(s) using their taste and voice to lift others up. Some labels are a single person or group of people who have unique taste and the energy to scout, support, and nurture good work into the world. The label structure allows them to self-legitimize and cast a longer cultural shadow than they would on their own.
An individual artist who works across mediums. Most artists today make work in multiple formats and mediums that has them collaborating with others for aspects of their work – logistics, a specific skillset, or specialty. Thinking of their work as a label allows this multimedia catalog to add up to a cohesive whole.
Each has its nuances and ways of working, but in all cases the psychic infrastructure of the label opens up new flows for energy and work. The structure allows us to distribute efforts and credit, share audiences and economics, and center the shared tastes and values behind the work.
This week’s featured release — The Whitney Review of New Writing — fits into the curator category. Led by Whitney Mallett, the publication’s exceptional contributors, taste, and design have quickly vaulted them from a self-legitimized indie publication to something increasingly influential in the literary world.
Featured release
The Whitney Review of New Writing Issue 003
Edited by Whitney Mallett
Featuring reviews, interviews, and essays from Mary Gaitskill, Pamela Sneed, Dennis Cooper, and many more
In celebration of The Whitney Review of Books Issue 003, which premieres exclusively on Metalabel this week, we invited Anika Jade Levy, editor of another influential NYC literary mag, Forever Magazine, to share her thoughts on the contents and meaning of The Whitney Review:
When The Whitney Review of New Writing debuted in 2023, it was an instant cult classic. The name of the publication is half-provocation, half-coincidence. No, it’s not a literary journal from the Museum of American Art; it’s the brainchild of writer and Pin-Up alum Whitney Mallet. The inaugural issue included dozens of short reviews and a handful of interviews. In Issue 3, Whitney casts a wider gaze. The editor’s note reads simply, “This issue is about surface, friction, inheritance, and debts.” The usual suspects are all here: Dirt founder Daisy Aliato skewers the new Rachel Cusk, Samuel Rutter considers The Queen’s Ball, a recent release from Inpatient Press, Molly Soda writes about the latest novella from Daniel Hahn, and Johanna Fatemman reviews Goodnight Sweet Thing, Christine Brache’s new poetry collection which debuted on this very platform. But there are also a number of surprise appearances: for one thing, the Review delves into serious, high-stakes political writing — Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza gets a review, as well as The New York War Crimes, a new publication devoted to chronicling the NYT’s ongoing complicity in Israel’s occupation of Gaza. Crucially, this new issue wades into the polarizing waters of geo-political conflict without sacrificing its playful edge. In addition to transmissions from warzones, you will also find a retrospective review of Preliminary Materials for A Theory of The Young Girl (2012) written in the same unhinged, algorithmic voice as the book itself, as well as a review of Arctic Vibe, Frozen Berry, the latest Celsius flavor (published of course, by PepsiCo). In this way, Whitney highlights the political importance of criticism without losing the magic that made it special to begin with: a specific point-of-view, a way of seeing the world, a way of reading. The Whitney Review of New Writing is important not in spite of the fact that it isn’t coming out of an art institution, but because of that fact. Issue 3 proves that new institutions are not just possible, but vital and necessary.
— Anika Jade Levy
Pick up Issue 003 of The Whitney Review of New Writing on Metalabel.
Featured catalogue
The Whitney Review of New Writing
Issues 001, 002, 003
Along with the debut of Issue 003 of The Whitney Review of New Writing, today brings the arrival of the entire back catalogue of issues. These include a bundle of the first three issues (only a few copies of 001 remain); copies of Issue 002; and copies of Issue 003 for both US-based collectors and international collectors.
We’re thrilled to welcome such a vital catalogue of work to Metalabel. Explore The Whitney Review of New Writing.
We’re exploring
This week three Metalabel releases arrived in our mailbox. Quick reactions to each:
FKMM, Trying to Remember Not to Forget. Photobook. Direct from Japan. Small footprint. Packaged perfectly. Pages tactile and rich.
Shantell Martin, Bad Ideas. Vinyl and art print, each well-made. Music chill and unique. The art print is big — 18 x 24 — and hand-numbered and signed by Shantell.
Hardcore Ambient, Mastering My Environment. Great packaging. Zine folded into the cassette case. Stickers. Handwritten thank you note. The cassette a rich blue. We listened on a Walkman. Ambient, floating, alive.
On Rotation
A few recent releases in the Metalabel catalogue that still have us hooked:
Paul Waters and Jamie Kim, Twins. Beautiful work, touching story, the love comes through.
Rebecca Clark, Book of Hours. Honest. From the heart. Continues to gather new collectors each day.
Cristine Brache, Goodnight Sweet Thing. The two sold out performances of this poetry book are this weekend. Will report on what we experience.
Live With Metalabel
Each month we create space for creative people to talk about their projects, creative strategies, and Metalabel.
Join us this week as Metalabel Director Yancey Strickler hosts an open conversation exploring recent developments in art and culture.
An open space for creative people.
Thursday May 9
12pm ET
RSVP here