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TOBY® | Creative Intelligence

@occasionallyethan

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→ Behind worlds you’ve worn, watched + heard for a decade
→ Turning original thought into brands, books & moments
Building: @proofoflifes @60smiracle

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For over a decade, Ethan Asante (Occasionally Ethan) has operated behind the scenes as a designer, creative director, writer and cultural strategist - shaping language, campaigns and visual worlds across music, fashion, sport, business and cultural storytelling.
Through TOBY®, his creative work has connected to names including Stefflon Don, Liverpool Football Club, Olympian Nile Wilson, Snoop Dogg, CLINTS and Hoodrich, alongside his own Northern fashion imprint UpNorf™, which built major underground momentum in 2018.
But Ethan’s work has never just been about making things look good.
It has always been about making things mean something.
As a creative from Bradford, his journey speaks directly to the spirit of the Creative Trailblazers - the artists, thinkers, designers, poets, performers and cultural architects who build movements before the world learns how to name them.
After nearly five years away from the forefront, travelling, reflecting and developing his forthcoming book RAISED RIGHT. REROUTED., Ethan returns with a voice sharpened by time, faith, culture and lived experience.
His presence on the Poetry Scene stage marks more than a performance! It marks the return of a voice that has spent years building the language behind the culture. by @occasionallyethan

An exceptional piece & poster by our very own @occasionallyethan for A Night of Unity!

He opened the show in style, touching on unity in such a poised way. This was definitely one for the books!

🫀 by @occasionallyethan

A Night of Unity II!

What a beautiful night of class, excellence, creativity at the highest level and above all; human connection! Thank you to all who attended and made the evening the success that it was. 🤍

To all the creatives who touched the @beatingheart.ig stage, keep shining your light 💡 the world needs it.

#ANightOfUnityII by @occasionallyethan

Tomorrow evening, I have the honour of opening the long-awaited DAY AT THE MARKET® fashion show with @_fashionforhumanity at Riley Smith Theatre, Leeds.

It’s been a long, long journey a year in the making bringing this to life. We even flew to Ghana for this. A whole movie. I’m bringing some questions to the stage and hopefully into your family conversations afterwards.

What if the inheritance wasn’t missing?
What if we were taught not to recognise it?
Our elders deserved more than survival.
But they were more than what they survived.
Before you tell your children where you came from, ask what you were taught to leave out.
They will inherit your family’s history
and your judgement of it.
In memory of all of the matriarchs who came before me and made me 💚
Ticket link in their bio. See you tomorrow. 🖤 by @occasionallyethan

Friday on @bbcsheffield with my new best mate @irenekaali_ i was asked to pick 4 songs. Obviously each came with a whole TED Talk 😂

On Friday I joined Irene on BBC Radio Sheffield as her On Repeat guest. First up: Mavado’s ‘On the Rock’.

She asked why I picked it. Somehow we ended up in my Year 9 geography lesson & my old note pad. Swipe and it’ll make sense.

Caught the show yet? Listen back on BBC Sounds. The full story’s on Substack, because apparently the radio AND a carousel weren’t enough. Links on my story by @occasionallyethan

8pm THIS evening on @bbcsheffield having a chin wag with @irenekaali_ been holding this in longer than I’ve ever held my tongue 😂

Somehow the BBC have agreed to let me talk for 45 minutes.

Tonight, I’m joining Irene Kaali on BBC Radio Sheffield for a good old chinwag about Black identity, reimagining help and what’s been keeping me busy.

Proper grateful 🖤 8pm. Stick the kettle on by @occasionallyethan

WE ARE SO BACK!!

Your Creative Consultant cannot do this! Written, Flipped & Performed by me. Around 2 weeks ago we launched the HOPE CHALLENGE with the Birmingham trailblazers @smaverick0121 x @aclass_ - an online activation with one mission:

bring substance back to music.

There was no way I was letting this challenge come and go without stepping in myself because somewhere along the way, hope got marketed as comfort when it was always supposed to be movement.

Quietly approaching 5 years since you guys last saw me. We are back for good. HUGE announcement at the end👀🎯

#May19 #HopeChallenge by @occasionallyethan

Another beautiful night @45thand7th thank you to all in attendance - to the artists who graced our stage, we couldn’t have done it without you

@occasionallyethan @nina_hudson @jahmirspeaks @melodyfusiontribe @marktaiwo_ ✨ ✨ ✨ by @occasionallyethan

Happy Birthday to us! 💜🎉🥳
We are celebrating our birthday with 9 iconic poets and we would love for you to celebrate with us 🥰

A big thank you to all that have supported us in our first year- whether you graced our stage or found comfort in one of our soul seats 💜 WE APPRECIATE YOU!

So as usual-
📅 Wednesday 7th October
🕕 6.30pm-10pm
📍 @onthehushcafebar

Of course we’ll have our open mic at the end of the night as usual 🥰 so come along for a chance to jump on stage 🎤

Link for tickets in bio 🔗 by @occasionallyethan

Setting the tone for the evening: Occasionally Ethan @occasionallyethan

A writer, creative director and cultural strategist, Ethan has been touching stages across the North of England and now brings his powerful spoken-word overture to the capital for his first EVER London show.

With creative credits spanning Stefflon Don, Liverpool Football Club, Olympian Nile Wilson, Hoodrich and many more across retail, entertainment and sport, For over a decade, Ethan has helped shape the stories behind other people’s movements. Next Wednesday, he steps from behind the work and into the light with his own.

Bradford → London. Yorkshire → Shoreditch.
Rooftop Sessions: Golden Hour - Leaves & Keys. Wednesday 23 September @ 18:00 - 22:30. 45th & 7th Rooftop, Shoreditch by @occasionallyethan

Guess who!! @occasionallyethan himself is going to be gracing the @beatingheartent stage with some much needed spoken word for “A Night of Unity” & trust me you don’t want to miss a single bit of it!!

It’s going to be groundbreaking ✨

Limited space available // Get your tickets online 🎟️

LINK IN BIO 🫀⚡️ by @occasionallyethan

Been holding off posting ahead of my announcement but sometimes fuck a release schedule 😂 some things only make sense backwards anyway. Yesterday I performed this for the first time @ SAY IT AS IT IS, asking why we get so caught up about the ethics of products, but remain completely casual about the origins of the systems we use to think - even down to the handwriting we borrow to publish our own “written” work.

We’ll research who owns the company. Who funded it. What the founder said 12 years ago on twitter & who they’re affiliated with. Then come announce the boycott using an alphabet we never audited, in a font designed by somebody who’s name, beliefs & history we’ve never even thought to ask about 👀

I’ve been less concerned in my writing lately giving people answers and more interested in finding the questions that make it impossible to go back to thinking the same.

Nothing but love to @kirstybratfud for putting on an amazing event! & @kate.ireland__ and every other performer - was so inspired genuinely went home to write till 3am😂 Big up @mobashir12_3 on the 🎥 by @occasionallyethan