MAGAZINE: Interview
NEWSTANDS: May 2010
MODELS: Madonna
PHOTOGRAPHER: Marcus Piggott, Mert Alas
WEBSITE: http://www.interviewmagazine.com/
NOTES: ‘Like a prayer’, Madonna shot by Mert + Marcus for Interview May 2010. Love her or hate her, the queen of pop nabs the cover of this month’s Interview photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Taking on ensembles from the likes of Versace, L’wren Scott and Givenchy, the musician gets rebellious with the help of lace, leather and a few dangerous accessories styled by Karl Templer.
How has Madonna the singer, dancer, actress, writer, activist, shape-shifting re-inventor eternal controversialist, fashion icon, newly minted film director, and toned single mother of four, managed to become one of the most influential artists of multiple generations? By choosing “dare” every single time.
Here are some highlights from his interview.
GUS VAN SANT: Hey, Madonna.
MADONNA: Gus, is that you?
VAN SANT: Yes. I’m at my house in L.A., just reading the paper.
MADONNA: Are you living in L.A. now?
VAN SANT: I still live in Portland [Oregon], but I have a place in L.A., and I’m starting to work on this film down here.
MADONNA: You’re always working on a film.
VAN SANT: Usually.
MADONNA: But that’s what you do.
VAN SANT: It’s my habit. [laughs] I heard you’re going to Africa.
MADONNA: Yeah. I go to Malawi twice a year. It’s where two of my children were adopted from, and I have a lot of projects there that I go and check up on and children who I look after. It’s sort of a commitment that I’ve made to this country and the hundreds of thousands of children there who have been orphaned by AIDS. I made a documentary about it [I Am Because We Are, 2008], and it’s just become part of my life. I’m going to meet with Jeffrey Sachs [the economist]. I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s starting a global education initiative, and I’m going to be his Girl Friday, so to speak. We’re going to hold a press conference to talk about the school for girls that I’m building in Malawi. It’s kind of our way of making sure that every kid has a chance to have an education-more specifically girls, but boys as well. Girls, though, in a lot of developing countries don’t have the opportunity to go to school, nor are they encouraged to go to school, so what we’re doing is the beginning of a dream. But I’m going to Malawi for lots of reasons.
“I think it’s good to get into arguments with people and have them say, “That sucks” or “You’re crazy” or “That’s cheesy” or “What do you think of this?” If anything, it helps you understand what you believe. —Madonna
“Seymour Stein is the person who signed me and gave me my first record deal, which was my only record deal… He was in the hospital, and he had me come in to visit him… He made me bring my boom box and play my music for him. He was laying there in bed in his boxer shorts and a wife-beater.—Madonna”
For more on MADONNA, check out the rest of her interview + watch the video at Interview Magazine.
Check out some more photos of Madonna below….
JNEL & J. Magazine 