#89: Esoza
We're joined by digital artist & storyteller, Esoza who tells us more about The Spider-Verse films, Jamie Hewlett the mind behind The Gorillaz, Eastern Bazaar, their iPad + Procreate, and more!
Esoza is a digital artist and storyteller with a love for Afro-futurism, bold visuals, and narratives that make you think (or at least question reality for a second). Their work blends culture, sci-fi, and the occasional existential crisis. Here are 10 things that keep them inspired and creating.
We welcome Esoza to The FRM Newsletter to share what they’ve been into recently!
🧢👔 Avant-Garde & Unapologetic
I love fashion that feels like a statement. Think 2019 JPEGMAFIA in deconstructed streetwear, or Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 tour looks—flowing robes, military cuts, and a sense of controlled chaos. Clothes should feel like an extension of a story.
🎹🎭 Genre-Bending & Deep Cuts
Hiatus Kaiyote’s dreamy soundscapes, Kojey Radical’s raw energy, and Rae Khalil’s effortless blend of soul and rap—music that sits between worlds and refuses to be boxed in.
🦍🎨 Stylized & Cinematic
Jamie Hewlett (the mind behind Gorillaz) and Alberto Mielgo (Love, Death & Robots, Spider-Verse)—both artists who push stylization to a whole new level. Their work reminds me that imperfection and exaggeration make things feel more alive.
🕸📼 Stories That Bend Reality
The Spider-Verse films are a goldmine of visual storytelling, and A24’s mind-benders (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Under the Skin) show how film can feel like a lucid dream.
💥📕 Comics That Feel Like Literature
Watchmen (because it’s a masterpiece), Yasuke (for a fresh take on Afro-samurai lore), and Kingdom Come (because Alex Ross’ artwork is basically Renaissance paintings with superheroes).
🌊 Cape Town’s Essentials
A Gatsby is a rite of passage. Eastern Food Bazaar is a lifesaver. And any spot that does a proper Durban-style curry has my respect.
Bo-Kaap for color therapy, Zeitz MOCAA for an art reset, and the streets of Observatory when I need to people-watch and steal outfit ideas.
✍️ Digital Chaos & Creative Flow
Late-night sketching, soundtrack playlists that match my mood, and pretending I’ll start journaling properly (I won’t).
💻🧑💻 The Digital MVP
My iPad and Procreate are where everything starts. The undo button is the greatest invention of our time. 10. Underrated Obsession: Vintage Sci-Fi Posters Dramatic, colorful, sometimes unsettling—like if Blade Runner and old-school horror had a baby. The kind of thing that makes you stop and stare.