Calvin Klein has maintained its cultural relevance over the last five decades by always being at the fore of pioneering young talent, the US brand’s latest collaboration with recently relaunched music journal Wax Poetics is no different. Titled Plugged In, the project aims to shine a light on the up-and-coming voices of music journalism set to shape the future of their craft.

Having received over 100 applicants, four winning writers have been given a platform to share their stories within the contemporary music landscape through educational resources, mentorship from industry professionals and a paid long-format commission for Wax Poetics in which they discuss their favourite music topic.

Amelia Fearon, Maeve Hannigan, Violeta Arango, and Vuyokazi Mtukela are the dynamic group of individuals chosen to participate in the programme for their distinctive voices and musical knowledge, all reflecting their own cultural identities in one way or another: Manchester-based Amelia opted for the city’s 80s post-punk Factory Records heyday; Maeve explores Glasgow’s emerging jazz scene; Violeta draws on her Columbian heritage, dissecting London’s rich Latin influences; Vuyokazi spotlights songwriter and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba, who was forced into exile.

On the partnership, Brian DiGenti, Editor-in-Chief of Wax Poetics said: “Since our relaunch, we have set out to give as much support to younger writers and content creators as we can. Calvin Klein has been an amazing partner in helping bring this to life. We have been overwhelmed by the quality and energy that the applicants and winners have brought, and we can’t wait to see what the future brings for them.”

The writers’ stories and video portraits launch today on both Calvin Klein and Wax Poetics.