Name: Rachel Davies
Program of Study: Book and Media Studies
College: University College
Hometown: Brantford
Relationship Status: Single
1. Although you’ve lived in the GTA for most of your life, you’re new to Toronto. How do you feel about that transition?
I used to visit Toronto a lot so I’m really glad to be living here now!
2. What are some of your favourite spots in Toronto?
Type Books, Good Egg, and Soop Soop!
3. Tell us a little about your zine. What’s it called and who is it aimed towards? How long have you been working on it?
Pop Culture Puke is a website and print zine that I founded nearly two years ago. It is by and for young women and is intended to serve as an outlet for creativity that isn’t provided for most teens. We feature poetry, personal essays, illustrations, etc. Rather than being based in one specific location, Pop Culture Puke is open to submissions from girls all over the world. I’ve also made a few zines that only contain my work, and I’m working on another one of those right now.
4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, creatively?
Something I battled with a lot when I began Pop Culture Puke was the worry that my work was much worse than the rest of the contributors. I worried I didn’t deserve to be a part of the space and that people were just worried to tell me that I’m shitty because I’m the founder. I don’t really worry about that anymore. I think it’s silly to stop doing something when I’m so young because I haven’t had enough time to become practicing in order to become satisfied with my work. I don’t know. Now I mostly just find it hard to work because I’m trying to focus on dealing with my mental health, rather than worrying about productivity all the time. It’s become increasingly important for me to remember that this is just a fun thing to spend my time doing, not something that has to be stressful.
5. How do you stay motivated?
Looking at work by other <
6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Very hard question! Everything feels up in the air for me right now. I’d love to be working at an arts and culture magazine or maybe doing some documentary work. I’d be content with having a service job as long as I have time to work on a magazine on the side or do a lil freelancing work.
7. What is something you want everyone to know about you?
Drake’s Fader cover is the most important photo ever taken.
Want to check out Pop Culture Puke? http://popculturepuke.com/