The Essential List
The Essential List: Humberto Polar
Grey Mexico’s CCO’s life is soundtracked by jazz at all times and he's partial to a cup of mezcal... and another
Humberto Polar is the chief creative officer at Grey Mexico. But on top of his creative endeavours for clients, he’s also a touring musician and is set to hit the road on a European tour in 2020. So, it’s unsurprising that his idea of a staycation is getting his head down in his home studio and his idea of the perfect podcast is a mix from electronic music magazine Resident Advisor.
His idea of a cheap bite is, these days at least, a taco from his street corner. But he’s a Peruvian by birth and his favourite dish is still his country’s most famous dish, ceviche.
Get to know him better in his Essential List.
Lifestyle
o Place of birth: Lima, Peru
o Hometown: Mexico City
o Staycation: My home studio
o Vacation: Berlin
o Pet: My three cats
o Place of work: An average office on a 16th floor
o Place of workout: The streets
o Side project: Marriage
o Mode of transport: Walking and Uber
o Bonus travel essential: A tote bag able to carry 40 vinyl records
Culture
o Artist: Cindy Sherman
o Musician: Steve Reich
o Commercials / music video director: Still Michel Gondry
o Film director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
o Photographer: Nan Goldin
o Film: The Godfather, of course
o Series: One Step Beyond, a series I watched obsessively back in early ‘70s
o Commercial: Field Of Dreams for Reebok, Lowe London
o Music video: Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack
o Video game: Winning Eleven (Still exists?)
o Board game: None. Hate them. Risk if I’m forced
o Book: Complete Poetry By Cesar Moro
o Graphic novel: Optic Nerve By Adrian Tominé
o Podcast: Resident Advisor mixes
o Newspaper (off or online): NYT
o Magazine: Downbeat
o Bonus culture essential: Listening to jazz always
Food and Drink
o Breakfast: Eggs
o Restaurant: Tacos from the street vendor around the corner from my house
o Cheap bite: That one
o Working lunch: Boring standard shit
o Favourite dish: Peruvian ceviche
o Signature dish: Pork sandwich at the streets in Barranco, Lima
o Snack: Salmon
o Guilty pleasure: I never feel guilt for eating
o Bar: Home
o Booze: Good mezcal
o Not booze: Sparkling water
o Bonus food: Chifa (Peruvian / Chinese food)
o Bonus beverage: More mezcal
Kit
o Phone: iPhone
o Computer: MacBook Pro
o TV: I don’t have one
o Headphones: beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
o Camera: My iPhone
o Soundsystem: ADAM Audio P33A Monitors
o Pen / pencil: 0.38 Black Muji
o Where you document an idea: Muji passport notebooks
o Casual clothing: Black T-shirts
o Smart clothing: Black T-shirts
o Footwear: Camper shoes
o Watch: No watch
o App: iReal Pro
o Website: Mixcloud
o Favourite social media feed: Resident Advisor
o Work program: All the same shit
o Digital work tool: Whatever
o Analogue work tool: Muji pens and notebooks
o Morning grooming / makeup essential: Nothing
o Bonus kit essential: A little pocket sized concentrated vetiver oil
