Why was Montreal named North America’s best student city last year by university ratings firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)? Recent McGill graduates Nia Blankson and Jeanne Bransbourg can offer some insight.
Blankson and Bransbourg are co-founders of Scatterbrain Magazine, a print publication focused on art, fashion, music and photography in their native New York and adopted city of Montreal. Each issue highlights the cities’ arts scenes and coincides with a live launch event.
“Montreal is never going to cease inspiring; I feel there’s always new things happening,” said Bransbourg. “For student life, for music and culture and arts, there’s no better city.”
“All I have to do is walk on St-Laurent Blvd. or Duluth Ave. to experience music or art,” she said. “I can open Instagram and see 30 different Montreal events happening in the city next week.”
The best of Montreal
Blankson and Bransbourg both attended high school in New York and met at McGill’s Schulich School of Music, which served as their introduction to Montreal’s music scene.
“We started to meet other music artists, expand our horizons, and get fully immersed in the city” said Blankson.
“I went to a lot of live music venues, art events and fashion shows,” recalled Bransbourg. “It really opened my eyes to a whole different world.”
It was Blankson who pitched the idea of establishing a print magazine while in her third year. Inspired by her mom’s vintage magazine archive, she envisioned something “vibrant, colourful and playful” that showcased up-and-coming artists and creatives.
The result is five issues (and counting) of Scatterbrain Magazine, which was named one of Montreal’s best magazines in CULT MTL magazine’s latest Best of Montreal issue.
Blankson and Bransbourg serve as co-Editors in Chief and lead a large creative team, many of whom are McGill students and alumni.
“We’ve got people studying political science, computer science, writing and business,” said Bransbourg. “They’re all looking for a creative outlet while at McGill, and [the magazine] was the perfect thing.”
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- Jeanne Bransbourg
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- Nia Blankson
‘Montreal is ever evolving’
Self-publishing a print magazine in university has had its challenges – namely balancing academics, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities – but the co-founders prefer to discuss the opportunities it has provided.
Blankson snagged an interview with her favourite podcasters, and other contacts she’s made have become collaborators on her solo music project; Bransbourg’s highlight thus far was hosting a Scatterbrain Magazine launch party and fashion show at SAT (Société des arts technologiques), one of Montreal’s premiere live venues.
“I’d been to events there many times and I never thought we would have an event there,” said Bransbourg. “We had 15 models, three makeup artists, three hairstylists, a sound team and multiple bands and vendors.”
“My jaw was on the floor. I was blown away at our own event,” recalled Blankson. “I was watching it thinking, ‘We put this on?!’”
Their success has inspired them to keep aiming higher: Blankson will soon start a McGill master’s degree in sound recording; Bransbourg is teaching in France and plans to pursue a master’s degree in business. And yes, the next issue is in the works.
“I love giving my energy to this, because I know it’s going to get even better and bigger,” said Bransbourg.
Blankson hopes to expand the brand to include video content, and the co-founders have discussed expanding to other cultural hubs, such as London and Paris.
But for the moment, Montreal will remain a Scatterbrain Magazine mainstay.
“Are we ever going to get to the end of stuff to cover in the city? No, not even close,” said Blankson. “Montreal is ever evolving.”
Scatterbrain Magazine recommends:
Cafés: Café Aunja, OSMO X MARUSAN Café-Terrasse
Cheap eats: Japote, Dumpling Hut, Mae Sri Comptoir Thai and the delicious samosas at Marche Brito
Live music: Casa del Popolo, La Sala Rosa, and Mai/Son.
For more recommendations, follow Scatterbrain Magazine on Instagram and Facebook.
Scatterbrain Magazine is available at The Word in Montreal and Quimby’s in Brooklyn.