Innocent times they were this Spring, when we first conceived of SinZine.com; an online alt. culture and lifestyle magazine to cater to Club AntiChrist’s regular revellers, and users of what was then The Alternative Community network (now upgraded and improved as The Alterium. At the time SinZine actually launched in May, it was still the case that we only had one part of the plan firmly filled in, and that part being the readers, it no doubt seemed to some we were holding the plan upside down. Working on the idea that the mag would be reader-driven, by the submissions, suggestions and skills of the network members and punters and performers at AC, we truly were innocent of what exactly would end up appearing on these pages!
The past six months then have been an eye-opening ride through many of the great, great many facets to what can be broadly labelled the alt. scene - as well as an education in some of the sinful delights and guilty pleasures to behold in the AC dungeon! Yep, time apparently flies when you’re dining with alien invaders, listening to the man with a third ear recount his unlikely life story and interviewing a vampire, so, as the year fast draws to an end, it seems SinZine has already been here half a year.
With the talent pool over at The Alterium providing a team of writers, photographers and illustrators (a team still growing - want to get involved? Just [get in touch!]), SinZine has stacked up some range of content in its first six months. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to speak to alt. icons like CombiChrist, Front 242, and Circus of Horrors ringmaster-come-freak Britain’s Got Talent star Doctor Haze, as well as exposing the designing, directing and all-singing, all-dancing, lesbi-whip lashing, poetry-penning, promoting new or underground stars to be uncovered in our quirky, creative online community and on the stage at AntiChrist. The AC crowd has taken regular turns in the spotlight too, when SinZine has headed to the club armed with camera and questions to meet improbable characters of all kinds, from the kinky family and horny devil, to a couple of clowns and a true tigress at the circus which was AC’s 7th birthday bash in June.
We intend to keep it coming too, and though there are only a couple days left to enter our current competition and claim tickets to Bizarre‘s Winter Wunderland bash, you can consider it a promise that SinZine will dish out plenty more pressies before Santa is even done emptying his sack! A few surprises are being wrapped up right now, but with the site still aiming foremost to serve readers, we really want to hear what you really want from SinZine - for the festive season, and beyond.
First though, Club AntiChrist present a party which is likely already on the wish list of everyone whose patience and wallet has been exhausted by amateurs’ nights over the years, and is craving a real alternative to costly and crowded New Year’s Eve clubbing and the home-based torture of TV reviews of the year. It’d only be right to round off our alternative (or just contrary) mid-November, half-year review by extending an invite to December 30th’s ’Not New Year‘s Eve' party! One day and several steps ahead of the pack, AC’s final event of 2011 brings you more music, more space and more entertainment (with acts, as ever, set to be profiled at SinZine in the coming weeks), across a massive 10 zones and for not a penny more than you’ll pay any other night of the year. There’s no doubt it’s one to etch in what’s left of the diary, whether you’re avoiding the ’big night’ altogether or aiming to get a warm-up in first. Once again, SinZine’s camera will be rewarding the best dressed - to the season’s themes of white and silver or glitter and glamour, or just to impress - by spotlighting the most striking senses of style to be seen at ‘Not New Year’s Eve’ on the site the following week.
Until then, there just remains a massive ‘thank you’ to be said for reading, contributing to, and supporting SinZine - through what has been only the beginning of Sin!
Alison B
