BENNETT + MONROE: Born in the Heart of Moorpark, CA

Captured by Brian & Sarah behind the scenes during a promotional photoshoot for a speech delivered by Mitchell Royel. Now, we find ourselves once again watching the music video for Alien — the 2021 song by Galantis, Ilira, and Lucas & Steve.

Backstage at Thousand Oaks High School, the atmosphere was charged with a quiet electricity—an unspoken tension that hovered just beneath the surface. Mitchell stood still, absorbing the gravity of the moment, his eyes tracing the worn edges of the room as Sarah’s voice wove through the space. She explained to him the story behind his makeup—the deliberate strokes that transformed his face into a canvas of identity and rebellion. The thrifted blazer and jeans he wore were more than just garments; they were fragments of forgotten histories, stitched together to reclaim a narrative that refused to be silenced.

This night marked a subtle but profound shift. It was the first time Mitchell wore platform boots—short heels that lifted him just enough to feel different, to feel seen. The boots grounded him even as they elevated, a paradox that echoed the fragile balance of the evening.

In a dim corner, Sarah and Brian leaned close to two young boys—perhaps Boy Scouts—tasked with managing the sound. Their whispers were conspiratorial, threading instructions about the delicate headpiece microphone that would carry Mitchell’s voice into the world. The microphone was fragile, a symbol of vulnerability and power intertwined.

Brian, known affectionately as “Light Boy,” held full responsibility for the lighting—a role he embraced with quiet reverence. His careful orchestration of shadows and illumination was more than technical; it was an act of storytelling, shaping the mood and texture of the night. His nickname was not just a playful moniker but a testament to the weight he bore in crafting the atmosphere where art and vulnerability could collide.

Nerves blazed beneath the surface, a wildfire of anticipation and doubt, but there was an undeniable alchemy in the room. The trio—Mitchell, Sarah, and Brian—found themselves bound by more than music; they were united by the shared act of creation, by the courage to step into the unknown.

From that night forward, their lives found a new rhythm. Every weekend, they gathered in Moorpark, a town that held the quiet pulse of their beginnings and the raw edges of their dreams. Moorpark was not just a backdrop; it was the crucible where Bennett & Monroe was born—not merely as a magazine, but as a living, breathing testament to their shared journey.

Their weekends were spent roaming the streets, experimenting with style and form, capturing moments on playground equipment and in forgotten tunnels. The conversations that filled these excursions were rich and layered—discussions about mental health that peeled back the stigma, cultural critiques that challenged the status quo, and reflections on identity that felt both intimate and universal. Their dialogue was a tapestry woven from threads of vulnerability and defiance, a hipster cadence that made the mundane sacred.

Moorpark held their hearts—their fears, their hopes, their transformations. It was a place where light and shadow danced in equal measure, where the past and future collided in the present moment. It was here, amidst the quiet streets and hidden corners, that our zine, Bennett & Monroe took shape—a beacon born from the depths of their collective soul, a testament to the power of community, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity.

-Unknown