Back in 1985, artists like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Kahn, Willie Nelson, and many others joined together to give both hope and money to millions of disenfranchised people in Africa. Band Aid, Live Aid, USA for Africa—it was a time when we as humans could gather together and join in a common cause. Today, the world unfortunately seems a bit different; many countries in Europe are moving towards protectionism and nationalism, and it’s a shame. I truly believe that working with people from different cultures has tremendous value, both personal and professional. For me personally, 2018 has been a year in which many great people have been added to my “friends” list.

At the beginning of January, INKISH was invited to film an amazing American printing company, The Bernard Group, in Chanhassen, Minn. Not only is the company among the most impressive companies I have visited, but it also made us new friends. I consider Sagen De Jonge and Scott More from Tilia Labs to be good friends—despite the potential issues this can raise when we are an independent media company. But it’s Christmas, and I’ll cast aside those issues for now. I also got the chance to meet Diego Diaz from The Bernard Group and he is now also a good friend. We share music; he sends me links to American music, and I send him links to Scandinavian music. 

We believe in exchanging not only knowledge, but also the realization that people mostly have more in common than not.