BEAT's Book Captures Its Rise From a Basement Zine To a Beyoncé's Fave (Probably)

Rizzoli has just published Punk Perfect Awful: Beat: The Little Magazine that Could...and Did by Hanna Hanra, a book celebrating BEAT magazine's groundbreaking music journalism spanning over a decade.

Known for its pioneering photography and interviews with iconic figures in music and pop culture, BEAT magazine transcends boundaries, featuring indie stars like Devonté Hynes and St. Vincent alongside global sensations like Lil Nas X and Neneh Cherry. The magazine also has a knack for discovering emerging talent, introducing artists like Shygirl, Raye, Rina Sawayama, The Last Dinner Party and Muna before they gained widespread recognition. Notably, BEAT published the final interview with the legendary David Bowie.

Authored by BEAT's Founder, Hanna Hanra, Punk Perfect Awful offers a retrospective view of the magazine's influential journalism. The book explores themes derived from artists' insights, from seizing opportunities to the determination required in the music industry. Alongside archival portraits and interviews, it showcases never-before-seen images by photographers such as Alasdair McLellan, Ryan McGinley, Tyrone Lebon, Rosie Marks, Jack Davison, Clare Shilland and Sue Webster.

Talking about three highlights since launching the magazine, Hanra told Hypebae: "Getting Paris Hilton to interview Charli XCX via WhatsApp and getting Elton John to interview Lil Nas X... [...] Also, taking over the entire Ace Hotel in Shoreditch to throw a mega party, we had MØ, PC music's Hannah Diamond, Jesse Ware and a few others play throughout the hotel space, like a one-day mini-festival."

She finished: "Honestly going through every issue to make the book. I had forgotten the highs and lows, but seeing every shoot and interview and artist and moment collected in one place and revisiting them felt really... magical. Like, how did it happen? I have no idea." And on why anyone should get their hands on the title, she added: "The book really captures the last ten or so years in music--yet it feels so timeless, I can't think of anything else like it."

Punk Perfect Awful: Beat: The Little Magazine that Could...and Did by Hanna Hanra is now available at Dover Street Market in London for $55 USD.

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