Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Brown.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
While growing up in the ’60s, there were three forms of media available for experiencing the world outside of a small town in southeast Texas: television, radio, and – most influential for myself – print. Television gave me vivid memories of events such as the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Vietnam war, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the debut of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, and the first humans on the moon. Radio gave me Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, the Rolling Stones, and The Byrds. But it was LIFE, the weekly magazine notable for the quality of its photography, that set me on a path to publishing Refueled.
At eight years old, I created a magazine titled “TEJAS”; My intent was to mix the counterculture shift I saw happening around me with the humor and rebellion of MAD magazine. I hand-drew all of the covers and inside pages, wrote articles about folks (especially young hippies) in and around the neighborhood, and developed a comic strip; I then sold that eight-and-a-half by eleven-inch stapled sheets of typing paper to kids for ten cents. After my best friend saw the money I was making, he started his own magazine and we became this little community of self-publishers. I was hooked, and have been (quite often told) a little ahead of my time.
Refueled is really based on three things: community, heritage, and discovery. Most of the people that surround me are creatives – artist, musicians, actors, photographers, makers. My friends alone give me access to amazing content and inspiration. I strongly believe in cultivating and supporting a creative community. Collaborating and bouncing ideas off of others is very important to me and what I create – whether it’s art, a magazine, or books.
As mentioned, the era in which I grew up in was pivotal to not only the magazine but a great deal of my life as well; injecting my heritage and influences into the look and feel of Refueled is never intentional but always evident. I love when a friend introduces me to an album I haven’t heard, a restaurant I haven’t eaten at; I love discovering a copy of Kerouac’s “On the Road” with a cover I’ve never seen before. Those are exciting moments and drives a lot of what I do.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m very lucky in the fact that Refueled gained an audience very quickly. My intention from the very beginning was to create a publication that was true to who I was. If folks dug it, I was honored. If not, there were no worries.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Refueled – what should we know?
Refueled actually encompasses more than just a publication. Alongside the magazine is RF Book Co. – a division which publishes photography, art and lifestyle books. Refueled Heritage Co. is the division producing clothing and lifestyle products. I am the owner/editor/creative director/designer for all divisions.
I’m extremely proud that I’ve continued to create exactly what I’ve wanted – what I’ve envisioned. I don’t follow trends. My philosophy has always been to create whats inside of you, what you want to share. Do that and you will never be disappointed.
Contact Info:
- Website: refueledmagazine.com / refueledheritageco.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/refueledmagazine / instagram.com/refueledheritageco / instagram.com/rfbookco
Image Credit:
Photos of Chris Brown by Steven Visneau
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
