Artists: they say there’s one in every family. In some cases, they’re bona fide success stories; in other cases, bona fide black sheep. And then, there are the Ferarens — one resort wear designer, one hip-hop savant, one improv enthusiast and one visual artist. No signs of black sheep in this consummate bunch — just four artsy siblings who you might actually consider as black shepherds ushering in a new wave of opposition and “situation” to the corporate mainstream.
Twinkle, the eldest, and her three siblings Gino, Happy and Otto are passionate about their respective crafts, cradling a unique sense of community and camaraderie which were evident all throughout our interview and even as they made a family affair out of Young Star’s grassy-fizzle Coachella-themed photo shoot on a literal and proverbial holiday high-noon.
Without a prompt, Gino took the reins of the reflector (summoning his prod background) as Happy called out the cues, Twinkle made sartorial adjustments, and Otto, well, was the silent but deadly one of the bunch. Now, who says you have to tread the road most traveled in order to be successful?
YOUNG STAR: Tell us something about yourselves.
TWINKLE FERAREN: My name is Twinkle. I like to draw. I like to make clothes. I like to draw on clothes. I’m still making my swimwear and resort collections. But I’m now working with weaves. I want to push Philippine textiles.
Why’d you end up in resort wear?
TWINKLE: When I was studying fashion in London, I experienced my first winter. I missed everything here. For our school project, I was making pegs of beaches and beach trips with friends. I wanted to encapsulate the fun and good times.
How about you Gino?
GINO FERAREN: I’m into production. I make music once in a while. I go by Nimbus 9. Music is my hobby. I’ve been making (hip-hop) ever since fourth year high school.
What was it about the genre that struck you?
GINO: For me it was always about lyrics. I was always fascinated by intricate words — when they sound good with a rhythmic pattern. Later on, I fell in love with the culture. It’s a growing movement here—fashion, graffiti, urban retail.
And you, Happy?
HAPPY FERAREN: I’m 25 years old. I’m five feet flat. Right now, I’m an apprenticing assistant director for ads. I’m with S.P.I.T. (Silly People’s Improv Theater), an improv group. It’s what keeps me sane. I’m also a travel writer.
What made you join S.P.I.T.?
HAPPY: I watched S.P.I.T. with Gino once in Mag:net Katipunan. I had so much fun. I approached Gabe (Mercado) after the show. I asked if I could join. They needed girls. I joined the workshop. And that’s it.
And finally, Otto…
OTTO FERAREN: I do ummm… stuff.
TWINKLE: (Laughs) Good luck, Toff.
HAPPY: Sabi sa ‘yo ako nalang spokesperson niya eh.
OTTO: I do, like… art stuff, like photography, cartoons. visual art, and paintings. I had an exhibit over the past few months. One was with Mei (Bastes, his girlfriend and the queen of rock festival Meiday) and the other one was in Light and Space Contemporary. Now I’m working on a short film.
As a photographer, who or what has been your favorite subject to capture?
OTTO: Just the homies. I was exposed to the band scene ever since I was 14. I want to show people that that’s my world, that’s where I belong.
How are you guys as siblings?
GINO: Quirky. Sometimes we don’t get along but we understand each other perfectly.
HAPPY: We’re actually close even if we don’t want to admit it. We leave the house. “Bye! I’m going to a party.” Then when we go there separately, we’re all in the same party pala. If you know one of us, you know all of us.
How’d you all end up as artists?
TWINKLE: When we were young, we used to like the same things. So we were forced to find our own favorite music, favorite toy, favorite game. From there it just kind of grew. We each found our own medium.
HAPPY: When we were kids, we took ice-skating lessons, computer lessons. Our whole summer, we had courses on art, painting, singing, piano, theater. Si Otto lang hindi nag-theater, kaya tahimik. (Laughs)
You guys were never pressured to go corporate?
TWINKLE: No, naman.
GINO: Mom would always tell us not to be lazy, to always be productive. At a young age, I had summer jobs in different restaurants and retail stores.
TWINKLE: Don’t be ashamed of any job ‘cause it’s a job. And use your talents.
HAPPY: But not in the way na kailangan, “May business ka ha!” There was no pressure to get a corporate job.
GINO: It was more of follow your passion and make money out of it.
Is there a downside to being a Feraren?
HAPPY: You have to live with them. (Laughs) We all shared one big room before. It was a magic room. We had a slide.
TWINKLE: We made in to a Double Dare relay race. It had a slide. It had a ladder. We would put flags and play baseball in the room.
Aside from getting free swimwear from Twinkle, what are the perks?
HAPPY: Meron na akong street cred sa Meiday! (Laughs) Joke lang, Mei! Like when I need something, let’s say, a poster for S.P.I.T. I have access right away. Otto, can you shoot it? Layout.
GINO: Just having someone to talk to, really, (and) sharing interests.
So what’s next for you?
HAPPY: La lang. Marry rich, live a good life. Yun lang pala ang ending eh. (Laughs) Ayoko na ng mga art-art na toh. Walang pera diyan. (Laughs)
TWINKLE: After all the questions eh noh, we’re just gonna sell-out. (Laughs)
HAPPY: F*ck art, sell out, suck it!
(Silence)
OTTO: I’m planning to release a book next year.
TWINKLE: Teka, ‘di ko yun alam ah.
HAPPY: Wait, can I change my answer?