AVA LONDON Festival 2025 – pushing the boundaries of contemporary culture
March 14, 2025
Conor McTernan on why Camden’s Knowledge Quarter is the best place for AVA’s London edition
Can you tell us about you and your work?
I am a musician, model and scriptwriter. I started modelling at the start of this year and have been a musician and scriptwriter full time since last May.
What is your process? How do you create?
As an independent artist, not only do I have to think musically, but from a business perspective too. I organise all my photoshoots, source clothes, create marketing plans and much more. With my music, I usually freestyle to a beat or write poems first before I sing them. With shoots, my process is making a Pinterest board that fits with the theme of the song I’d like to promote, but also aligns with my own style. With modelling for brands or photographers, everything’s sorted for me which is great. With scriptwriting I can only write about issues or something that I’m truly passionate about, so it usually stems from reading or seeing something that I want to change about the world.
Who or what inspires you?
Simply anyone doing whatever makes them happy and content. It is so easy to get wrapped up in a 9-5 that you hate, or neglect your dreams because right now it doesn’t pay the bills, or go to university only to please your parents. Those are all valid, but I think it takes a brave person to just follow their heart and do what makes them happy regardless of the opinions of others.
What appealed to you about Creators House?
The fact it’s a free space and equipment is provided. I like that the focus is on young people because it allows a sense of community and will help the next generation of creatives to thrive. The location is great too!
What do you think some of the biggest challenges facing young people are today?
The pressure to do well in a society that doesn’t respect or pay young creatives what they deserve.
So why are places like Creators House important?
It gives people a space to be creative, with no pressure. It also means that people can invest in other things because their budget isn’t exhausted by spending money renting space or equipment. To add to that, it makes young people feel heard. For so long we have been seeking out places that are able to provide what ‘Creator’s House’ does and for so long that didn’t exist, until now.
What has your experience using the space been like?
It has been great. Everyone has been so nice and accommodating and it’s great seeing familiar faces, as I go there quite often.
What do you hope to achieve in the next five years?
The freedom to do whatever I want whenever I want knowing that I’m secure in the creative industry financially.
How can we stay up to date with what you’re doing?
By following me @cyanofficially on all major social media platforms (@cyanofficially1 on Twitter) and everything is on linktr.ee/cyanofficially too.
Conor McTernan on why Camden’s Knowledge Quarter is the best place for AVA’s London edition
As Camden Town’s legendary yoga studio hits its quarter century, Tom Kihl looks at why it continues to have such a community and impact
The former North London Polytechnic assembly hall is finally going to reopen this April…
AI-generated podcast hosts discuss Camdenist and, er, synthetic content…
© Copyright 2025 The Local Content Company Ltd. All rights Reserved.
Regulated by IMRESS, the Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. For more info on our complaints policy, or to make a complaint, please see FAQ