Nightlife defines eras. For the disco generation, that’s Studio 54 and the “moon with the spoon”. Very few people know it better than Debbie Harry. Our cover star is, and always has been, a signifier and icon of hedonism and self-expression — she’s been immortalised by Warhol, a pop-art icon, in one of his screen print paintings. And now in a similar turn of fate she’s on the cover of Wonderland immortalised by Pierre-Ange Carlotti, a pop-culture icon in the making.

Debbie herself encapsulates an eternally youthful spirit better than anyone else we can think of. The rest of our stars are about to hit adulthood. As we transition into a new year of uncertainty and uncompromising change, we take from the past to make sense of the now. This issue we’ve grown up a bit… Having learnt from true pop culture icons who’ve instigated change, those — like Debbie — with longevity, a new breed of defiant creativity and unapologetic confidence reigns.

Ahead of his 18th birthday, we meet Brooklyn Beckham in his first ever interview — who knows, he could be celebrating his birthday, in the pub with his dad, the very second you read this — he ain’t a boy no more and his Instagram account proves so.

Next up is Yara Shahidi, breakout star of the TV show Black-ish, an actress and activist of American-Iranian decent, she’s mates with Michelle Obama and we’re super jealous. Inside we’ve got Ashton Sanders, whose critically acclaimed performance in Moonlight helped earn the film eight Oscar nominations at this year’s Academy Awards, he’s proud to be an ‘other’ and we’re proud to stand as ‘others’ with him.

Maisie Williams and Abra are two talents refusing to conform. The former won’t take on a cookie-cutter female role and after an adolescence spent in the spotlight, she explains how she keeps it real. As for the latter, well, Abra won’t even tell you her real name or age. An advocate for independence, she sheds light on Atlanta, America’s new city
of trap dreams and why she refuses to sign with a label.

Across music, fashion and film, our hand-selected British seven wonders share a snapshot of their rise to fame, their finding and their found. We meet new boy on the catwalk, Lennon Gallagher (you know you’re jeal) in his debut interview. Dressed in Burberry’s Henry Moore-inspired February collection, they remind us of our creative contributions here in the UK and how our artistic heritage continues to evolve.

We’re growing up – like it or not.

Thank you, as always, to our amazing advertisers, our talented contributors and to you, our readers.

Chloe

I can’t live without this in my universe.

….And your hair is beautiful tonight.