Stuart Hammond

What is your involvement with G-Shock today?

I am an ambassador for G-Shock so I am sat at home wearing this watch and being photographed in it.

When did you first realise that you wanted to work in music and journalism?

I've been obsessed with reading, writing and music since I was young, I constantly used to make music as a kid, I've been dj'ing for years. I also always liked writing and I work around books a lot - I did music journalism for years and I still do. The last couple of years I've been books editor at Dazed [and Confused].I really like reading and thinking about books and then writing about them.

How did you start you professional career?

I started writing for skateboarding magazines, mainly writing about road trips that I'd take. From that I ended up getting the gig of writing about fashion for Dazed and Confused. That led to writing music for them and interviewing people. Then I was the Dazed writer-at-large for a few years. I was asked to do a couple of book reviews when I was working in a bookshop and Dazed ended up asking me to be the book's editor and I love it.

Would you say it was quite a tough process to get where you are now?

Yeah, it's tough because you've got to persevere to get anywhere in journalism. But the toughest thing for me is keeping up with all the reading that I've got to do.

How important do you think the role of technology is in the music industry?

I'm really interested in electronic music and I'm obsessed with rap music. Something like rap just wouldn't exist without the technology - the music that I like best you can't make without technology. It is fundamental

Have you met a lot of exciting people through your job?

Yeah constantly, and I really like getting to meet authors and musicians and musicians who's work I admire...Since I was a kid I've been obsessed with skateboarding and I've always had a lot of admiration for really good skateboarders. Now a lot of my best friends are some of the best skateboarders in the world.

Is there one person that you could say you were the most excited about meeting through your job?

I met Don DeLillo once - the American author. I think he is the greatest living writer which was a pleasure.

What is a typical working day for you?

Often I just walk down to the bookshop in London Bridge and kick around in there. On a typical day like this I'd get up, walk down Lower Marsh, get coffees, try to do some writing for a few hours, maybe read for a bit. I've got to fill up all these days with reading.

The G-Shock ethos is 'never, never give up' how can you relate to this?

A lot of the time it is hard to get a foot in the door journalistically. You have to persevere and you can't give up. I've had a lot of lucky opportunities that have been quite serendipitous, so I've lucked out a few times, You just need good luck and good friends and you need to never give up - the ethos is right.

How would you describe your professional style?

I think I've got quite an irreverent style. When I'm writing about literature I like to try to be funny. Luckily, with the places that I write for I can get away with being a bit flippant and I enjoy doing working like that.

How would you describe your personal style?

I've got a strange mixture of smartness and scruffiness. I like to dress like a librarian more than a skateboarder. I tend to wear clothes into the ground and wear just one pair of shoes, or one watch, until it has died. But I can't kill a G-Shock. Everything gets destroyed skateboarding: your shoes, your clothes, and your skateboard - and your body, but you know, a G-Shock will always survive.

Did you grow up with Casio?

This keyboard here is my grandmother's, which I used to play when I'd go to her house in Yorkshire as a kid. She gave it to me a couple of years ago. I grew up in the Eighties so I was just surrounded by Casio stuff constantly: digital watches and keyboards like these old vintage ones I've got here.

Did you have any Casio watches when you were growing up?

Yes, for sure. The calculator one was, when I was a kid at school, pretty much the height of cool, which is curious because doing math's wasn't cool, but to have a calculator on a watch was somehow deemed cool - it's a paradox.

Because you are interested in technology, with the music you like - does that help you appreciate the technology found in the G-Shock watch?

The mind boggles at its technology. I can't even get my head around how you make something as technologically advanced, so durable and small. I find it mid boggling.

What do you think of the watch you are wearing today?

I like it. I travel an awful lot, I've just got back from Rome and it was amazing how the time on my watch just changed on the plane - it is really clever.