Q&A: Crybaby Zine
A STAPLE IN THE ZINE COMMUNITY AND KNOWN BY ALL - Crybaby continues to showcase all the creative community as to offer. Started in 2015 by Editor-in-Chief Remi Riordan as a Tumblr blog, Crybaby has become something of a benchmark for creative communities everywhere. The Internet-based zine, created for and by Generation Z with a focus on art, stories and interviews, has earned itself a passionate and well-deserved audience over the course of five stunning issues and thrilling website content.
Lately, in this tough time of isolation and uncertainty, Crybaby's “Happy Hour” livestreams with artists and creators have been making most days a little better, in addition to their colourful, bright posts. These radiant aesthetics and dazzling colours, however, are just a bonus– a wondrous addition to an already incredible magazine. Read below to learn more about Crybaby, their inspirations, advice and origin story.
LUNA: For those unfamiliar, can you please introduce Crybaby?
RIORDAN: Crybaby is an online and print zine founded in January 2015, for and by Gen Z.
LUNA: What ultimately lead to you creating Crybaby?
RIORDAN: I was a sophomore in high school and a lot of my photography was getting rejected by large magazines. I read Rookie at the time and also found out my favorite magazine, i-D, had started as a zine. I looked more into what a zine was and decided to make one on Tumblr.
LUNA: Who is the team behind the zine?
RIORDAN: Right now, our team consists of me (Remi Riordan as editor-in-chief), Zoe Allen, Alycia Dalfonsi, Zoe Yu Gilligan, Tina Tona, Rosie Yasukochi, and Branden Ruiz.
LUNA: What have you been inspired by lately?
RIORDAN: I've been really active on TikTok--I think it's really interesting how much variety there is on there. Looking at how people us the platform to create art, fashion, comedy... despite the many issues I have with the platform, I enjoy using it for discovery.
LUNA: I've been loving your lil happy hour chats you've started doing lately. Can you talk more about this idea and any future guests?
RIORDAN: I actually have had the idea for a long time, but never got around to doing it! And once quarantine started, I felt like I finally had the time to get it started. One reason to do it is definitely because more people are active on social media than anything else online and another is because it engages followers/communities from both accounts.
LUNA: How do you stay motivated in your creative endeavors?
RIORDAN: It can honestly be very hard, but working with other creatives keeps me the most engaged. Especially right now it is hard, but seeing the fantastic work our contributors create keeps me excited to work on Crybaby. And coffee.
LUNA: Crybaby has really served as a staple in the zine community and has inspired sooo many to start their own project. Overtime, how have you seen both Crybaby and your audience adapt?
RIORDAN: (First off... thank you!!) Well, Crybaby started on Tumblr and what we posted then was impressive for 15-year-olds and it still is... I'm not talking down on what we made then, but it's just not what I want to make now. So in that sense, Crybaby and our audience has grown with me and our team. We became better writers, illustrators, and photographers and our readers got older, and wanted to read and see better work. So I really think we've adapted by growing up and really allowing Crybaby to be a fluid platform.
LUNA: Who are some dream collaborations/features on your mind these days?
RIORDAN: I really don't know!! That's a hard question! I feel like we've had so many exciting features/collabs recently that I'm not thinking of future ones quite yet.
LUNA: Why is it important to have a community for Generation Z creators?
RIORDAN: It is so important because I think growing with your peers and helping each other succeed feels a lot better than doing it on your own. The world and the internet is less scary and daunting when you have people to experiment and learn with.
LUNA: If you could share any piece of advice for those wanting to start a zine or creative project, what would you like to pass along?
RIORDAN: Know that it is so hard. I've been doing this since I was 15 and doing this for almost 6 years has been a struggle at times, but if you really care about it, it is worth it. It is worth making something you're proud of and it's worth it to work with other young people who care.
LUNA: How are you taking care of yourself during quarantine?
RIORDAN: I'm trying to keep as much of a routine as possible. Getting dressed in "outside" clothes, drinking coffee, going on walks. Just trying to be as healthy both mentally and physically as I can right now.
LUNA: Do you have any upcoming plans / goals you’d like to share?
RIORDAN: We have some *maybe* projects in the works, but I think I wanna hold off on announcing those!
LUNA: I know things are in a weird place now, but y'all really seem to be making the best of this time and put out some great content. What can we expect in the coming season from Crybaby?
RIORDAN: We just started a Patreon where we have exclusive coloring book pages, collage kits, phone/computer backgrounds, and a newsletter! We're also planning on starting a book club and a regular movie night. Besides that, we may have a big project soon, but that's top secret!
