Issue #19: Duality turns one!
May 15, 2026
Who knew that someone as inconsistent as me (Dam) could hold up writing a zine for a whole year? Somehow, though, we did it! Which is a lot, for someone that is the #1 procrastinator ever.
We decided to host a Q&A for the occasion, answering the questions you submitted in this last period. So, enjoy!
Q: How did you come up with the idea?
D: Oh well, first of all, I’d say I’m pretty impulsive, and bored most of the time. And what should a nerdy 18yo do if not write a blog? At the time, I was getting into punk culture; fanzines, music, complaining and politics were all floating in my head, so that’s where calling TDZ a zine comes from. Duality as a name stems from the checkers background. Black is the opposite of white, yet they coexist together, which made me think of that word. And then I pulled Cadence into it, but I’ll leave her side of the story for her to tell.
C: It was all Dam’s idea, and I’m always so happy to support a friend. I remember he texted me saying he would delete his blogspot and make a new one, and call it “The Duality Zine”. That’s when I was asked to write for it too, and I accepted. It’s an honor for me to be part of this, I enjoy it and have a lot of fun. So I’m glad we have it!
Q: your favorite post you've done?
D: My personal favorite has to be “Issue #11: Generative AI's environmental impact”. This was the only entry I wrote on paper (for some reason, picture at the end for proof) and also for the subject. I mean, seeing classmates, teachers, relatives using AI for everything when they could spend an extra ten minutes doing a better job is… Disheartening, to say the least.
C: My favourite probably is “Issue #10: Avril Lavigne: Life, Discography, and a Secret Doppelgänger!?”. I’m a big fan of Avril, and I had a great time writing that issue, exploring that weird theory that she died and was replaced, talking about her discography… so fun!
Q: Is there a specific direction the zine is going towards? (i.e. politics, internet things, games, etc) or will it continue to be a catch-all?
D: Honestly, to me writing this zine is more a pastime rather than something serious. So I fear TDZ will keep being a catch-all. (Unless…)
C: I agree with Dam. To be honest, I think that’s what makes the zine interesting: that it’s a bit of everything.
Q: What's your process in picking a topic for a blog? The variety has always piqued my interest, so it would be cool to see how you go about it!
D: To me it’s more a matter of ‘x thing happens in my life’ or ‘I hear about y thing’ And i find it interesting enough to cover on the zine.
C: I usually pick something about my interests, Dam tends to suggest topics because I fear I get writer's block often!
Q: how do you guys deal with burnout and art block?
D: This is probably overdone but… “Stop trying. Take long walks. Look at the scenery. Doze off at noon. Don’t even think about flying. And then, pretty soon you’ll be flying again.” - Ursula, Kiki’s delivery service (1989)
C: I honestly just wait a bit until it’s gone, or I try to write even while suffering from art block. Maybe what I write ends up being horrible, but hey, at least I wrote something!
Q: Who typically gets writer's block more often?
D: It’s Cadence, isn’t it? At times she texts me desperately because she doesn’t know what to write, lol
C: It definitely is me.
Q: Hypothetically... Who would you want as a guest writer on DZ?
D: I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest. Anyone’s always welcome, though!
C: Imagine if we ever got to interview someone we wrote about, like Avril Lavigne… not saying that will ever happen, but it would be really cool.
Q: What type of music are the people making this into?
D: I think my top-listened genre is punk, alongside metal. My current favorite albums are Coral Fang by The Distillers and Toxicity by System of a Down.
C: I LOVE pop rock. Think Selena Gomez & The Scene, Avril Lavigne, Skye Sweetnam, Fall Out Boy, Set It Off… it will forever be my favourite genre.
Q: ya like jazz?
D: I don’t think it’s a good conversation starter, especially if you’re a bee.
C: I don’t listen to jazz :(
Answering all of your questions was very fun, we look forward to Duality’s second anniversary. Until then, happy reading!
Dam and Cadence