Soundtracking Our Lives with Bang & Olufsen and CLOT

7 December 2021

Ahead of the release of their collaborative Beosound A1 speaker with Bang & Olufsen, CLOT's founder and creative director Edison Chen sits down with END. to discuss the collaboration and the importance of music in our lives.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Clot Edition - BO1734028

Joining forces with their inaugural collaboration, iconic Danish luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen and the influential Hong Kong fashion label CLOT present their joint vision in the form of the Beosound A1 2nd Generation Bluetooth Speaker.

Renowned for their forward-thinking streetwear and high-heat collaborations, CLOT was proudly established in 2003 by Edison Chen and his crew with the aim of bridging the East and the West through impactful garments, accessories and products. With a rich history in music subculture, Chen's brand is irrevocably tied to musical inspiration and modern Hip-Hop culture.

Delving into the world of consumer electronics with their inaugural speaker with B&O, CLOT continue to build on their expansive portfolio of industry-shaking collaborations. Cast in a deep red hue, a symbol of joy, happiness, celebration and vitality in Chinese culture, CLOT bring the rich and nuanced traditions of the East to B&O’s modern and luxurious audio equipment.

Sitting down with CLOT’s founder and creative director Edison Chen ahead of the release of the B&O x CLOT Beosound A1 speaker, END. discuss the roots of the collaboration and the importance of soundtracking our lives with music.

With the launch of the CLOT x B&O Beosound A1 speaker next month, what instigated your collaboration with the Danish audio electronics brand?

I’ve been a fan of Bang & Olufsen since I was a kid. The aesthetic of the company has just stuck with me throughout the years, legendary pieces like the 6 CDs changer and their interestingly shaped speakers. Obviously, I would like to work on more product in a robust way, this is definitely a good beginning. My house has at least 5 or 6 Bang & Olufsen items in them, so I’m more than elated to start this journey.

You have a clear passion for music – how does music influence your creative and design processes?

I always feel every vibe, every moment should have some music accompany to it, even if it’s kind of static - it adds a little layer to life. Music is very inspiring to me, not really in a direct way but in a way that it gets my engine running and gets me to release from the everyday stress and pressure that we all live in, to escape somewhere without a visual, even closing your eyes and just listening to music sometimes you can see a lot of things. That’s just the way I live, it’s a big part of me and obviously Bang & Olufsen delivers sound quality that everyone’s into.

What inspired your collaborative Beosound A1 speaker?

I grew up being a Bang & Olufsen fan, seeing it in shows, movies, music videos and stuff, aspiring to the Bang & Olufsen kind of lifestyle. Now that I’m older, a home owner etc., it’s like Bang & Olufsen has kind of doubled down in its importance. The first one that we have is this portable speaker, one of their best products right now. The sound is impeccable. I've been using their other renditions for years, I also have the Supreme one, it’s just great. Literally you can mobile game, carrying it around anywhere, have a small party or just chill out at the camp site and listen to some vibes.

What was it about that model that specifically appealed to you?

Obviously, the sound and quality are excellent. This was really designed simply to just keep the original aesthetic of the design because the speaker is new. There is a huge energy push in the mobile gaming world, and this speaker is perfect for it - there’s a huge interest in this kit. And for non-gamers, this is a speaker that you can take anywhere and everywhere. It resonates with people and is perfect for all occasions.