Severin Matusek

Brian Eno’s idea of the “scenius” is a constant reference point for how to channel this collective awareness. In case you’re unfamiliar, Eno coined the word in the 1990s to describe “the intelligence and intuition of a whole cultural scene” that can produce something greater than the sum of its parts.

According to Restless Egg co-founder Sam Lipnick, the cross-pollination between art and technology also goes some way to solving the dilemma posed earlier: how can art compete with the speed and scale of Big Tech as we move through the 2020s? “The best way to get an idea in front of as many eyes as possible 100 years ago was the written word, a few... See more

“You have to be embedded in the culture that you’re critiquing, in order to mirror the techno-dystopic landscape that we live in“ – Siâna-Leann Douglas

In 2026, we’ve become accustomed to the idea that we’re living through a time of radical change, and basically powerless to do anything about it.

I would love to have a proper staff, but the reality is that it’s taken me this long just to get the newsletter to a point where it’s feasible to financially support just me, and only at a very moderate level. Until quite recently, my salary at XLR8R, when I left in 2015, was actually higher than my annual income from First Floor. I’ve finally... See more