Stef Macbeth, Founder
Stef is a writer and creative consultant with 17+ years commercial experience working with leading artists, brands and studios in the UK, Germany and across Europe. A former promoter at Glasgow's Sub Club, Stef's narrative interventions have appeared at shows such as Cannes Festival of Creativity and Borealis Festival of Sound. In 2005 he received the Edward Caird Medal for Philosophy. He lives in Berlin with his partner and their two children. After taking his first trans-continental railway journey as a young child, Stef has remained a lifelong rail enthusiast, rejecting the carbon-spluttering joylessness of short-haul flights in favour of the romance and adventure of long-distance train travel, a gift he is now sharing with his own kids, to whom he would like to pass on a habitable, safe, and inspiring world.
John Neil Stephenson, Founder
An attorney with 15+ years experience in contracts, business formation, and litigation, John manages his own boutique law practice and provides general counsel for a number of companies and high-net worth families. John has wanderlust in his genes and comes from a family of adventurers and diplomats. He has lived and studied on four continents, travelled widely (60+ countries), and crisscrossed Europe by rail countless times beginning when he was 13. In 2018, John received diplomatic recognition from the Republic of Serbia for his work in strengthening allied ties between Serbia, USA and Israel.
John is also an entrepreneur, yoga instructor, adjunct professor of political science, rock climber, lifelong clubber and devoted dad. In his free time, he can be found meditating, playing with his kids, stretching by the fountains in his backyard, reading books on Eastern spirituality and mysticism, dancing at raves or spinning dark techno under the alias, Johnnie Blaze.
Marla Richardson, Promoter
Marla is a professional singer, dancer, choreographer, producer. She has performed in over a dozen production shows all over the world and is the founder of Paulina Productions, successfully selling out burlesque show runs in Nevada and California. She is the GM of a swanky cocktail lounge on the west coast and has been working with DJs, dancers, and bartenders on all sides of the nightlife industry for over 15 years. After over a decade of experiencing Burning Man in her backyard, she is passionate about infusing high levels of entertainment with radical self expression and inclusion into unique spaces.
Outside of the entertainment industry, Marla teaches yoga and is a Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner and published author on this topic.
Shaun Vitamins, Artistic Director
Born out of the Glasgow club scene, Shaun designs and produces globetrotting shows for the likes of Yves Tumor, Hudson Mohawke, Sega Bodega, Avalon Emerson, Arca, Lee Gamble, and Warp Records. Shaun and Stef have worked together on projects for the last 20 years, including the legendary Bob's parties in the early 2000s and the acclaimed podcast series Global Soundtracks, presented by Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6 Music). He has also thrown parties in unusual and challenging spaces such as abandoned railway tunnels, natural beauty spots, and at the Tate Modern (with Jeremy Deller). Shaun's many aliases include Double Nugget (LuckyMe) and Cloudo (Boiler Room etc.)
Clara Suess, PR & Artist Management
Clara runs Suess Media, a Brighton-based international music PR agency with a focus on promoting female artists as well as a tight cross-section of emerging and established talent showcasing the energy and diversity of dance music today. Artists on her roster include Faithless, Matthias Meyer, Konstantin Sibold, Matisa, Budakid, Theo Kottis, DASCO, Sara Dziri, Lia Mice, Eluize, Kate Stein, Johannes Klingebiel, Braxton, KEENE, with releases for Strictly Rhythm, Watergate Records, Permanent Vacation, Anjunadeep, Anjunabeats, Optimo Music, Afterlife, RAM Records, Skint Records, On Loop, Siamese, Champion Records, and Columbia Records. She regularly speaks on industry panels at events such as ADE.
Sean Johnston, Film Director
Sean is an acclaimed film, documentary, and commercial director as well as a prominent artist and photographer. He has lived, worked, and travelled all over the world including Southern California, Alaska (Bering Sea), Mexico, Mississippi, SoHo (NYC), Paris, New Orleans, Kansas City, and Fiji. His career began at an early age with a bold move - he left UCLA film school mid-semester on the invitation to join A Band Apart, Quentin Tarrantino's film company. The tutelage and lessons learned there were priceless and he's never looked back. Since then, Sean has shot print and video commercial campaigns across the globe for myriad brands, from boutique designers like Bohemian Society, to companies like ULTA, Nike, and Quiksilver/Roxy. Most recently he conceptualized, shot and cut the campaign for the KC Streetwear brand MADE MOBB, directing both the motion and still shoots. His short documentary film, “Aurora Saves”, won 1st prize at 3 film festivals in 2019/20.
Embracing his enthusiasm for the avante garde, haute couture and fashion forward streetwear, style is something very close to his heart. Sean is highly sought after for his expertise in fashion and design production. Hollywood Life Magazine featured him as commentator for LA Fashion Week during which he worked as Art Director for “Project Runway” winner Jeffrey Sebelia, after a chance encounter when Sebelia met and bought a painting from Sean at a solo exhibition in downtown LA. His photography and paintings are of considerable renown and are in high demand by collectors world wide.