An Insight to where the Southsea Bronx Strong Island sun comes from with Bruce Jamieson.
The Man Behind The Bronx. Ya Heard..
Hey Bruce,
We know that you're a very busy man, between your work at the creative powerhouse that is I Love Dust and being a daddy so thanks for letting us quiz you for a few minutes.
Let's get the basics out the way first.
We get asked all the time about it and over the years our version has become a little vague, so it's probably best coming from the guy that drew it. You designed the Southsea Bronx Strong Island t-shirt for us probably over 10 years ago now, can you tell us about the story behind the design?
Back when I was at college there was a decent Hip Hop night run by some older Southsea heads called the Go-Off.
Ali was behind it with a few others. He used to have the record shop, Uncle Als, in the old Bored location down by the cross roads. I remember one night the boys were warming up for the main act and they dropped BDP's South Bronx. I think it was Brendan or Morgan DJing, they were cutting in and out on the South Bronx hook and everyone was shouting back South Sea, South South Sea.
It kinda stemmed from that moment I guess. My mates would always refer to Southsea as Southsea Bronx, but it was more of a tongue in cheek comment on where we lived. I worked up a graphic for my portfolio site whilst i was studying. Gary spotted it and asked if he could run it as a tee for the shop. So it was all his vision really!
Were you still working at Fat Face at that time? Do you remember the year?
I don't think I'd started there at that point, I was second year of studies I think, so maybe 2002 perhaps?
What's the strangest or furthest away place that you've seen a Southsea Bronx t-shirt?
Honestly, I've never seen it anywhere else but I've had pals who've said they've seen one in NYC, Thailand and as far away as New Zealand.
Have you been able to find much time since becoming a dad to visit Fratton Park to watch PFC?
Still have my season ticket but admittedly my Dad has spent more time in my seat than me this last year.
So he's done quite well!
You're a Senior designer ILD. How long have you been there now?
Must be coming up to 10 years now i think. Fuck, where did that go..?
The company spends a lot of time in the U.S for work and especially Portland for all things Nike, so can you recommend to us a few bangin' fast food joints that you've come across?
Top question. I've been lucky to work alongside and for boys who love decent scran, so over the years I've had some top meals stateside. We've always made the effort to track down quality! Portland especially has so many top spots.
Excluding your career peaking too early with the Bronx sun for us, what have been the most memorable or enjoyable projects that you've worked on so far?
Working at Dust has offered me so many highlights over the years, but for me personally working on the Risk Everything World Cup campaign for Nike was certainly a highlight moment. I also had the chance to work up the presentation case and logo for Rooney's boots that he wore when he collected his 100th England cap. That was one I could show my mum.
The Southsea Bronx design has been a huge sucess in the business for a number of years. Do you have any sense of attachment or pride that the Bronx sun has been adopted by the city as a kind of unofficial mascot for Southsea?
It's been cool to see people represent over the years, I honestly never expected so many faces to take to it.
