In anticipation of the upcoming remastered audio release of the ‘One to One’ concert, Aidan Moyer from Atwood Magazine revisits an interview from April 2025 with Sam Rice-Edwards, co-director of the documentary documenting the events leading to the concerts, as well as Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s activism and the potential for more archival releases from that era.
“Imagine” – John & Yoko, Plastic Ono Band (live)
“Wherever You Are, You Are Here.”
Yoko Ono and John Lennon established the fluid micronation Nutopia on April 2, 1973, as a sanctuary amidst an ex-Beatle's immigration troubles. Their manifesto stated, “NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people!”
On August 12, 2025, Nutopia resurfaced, as the Lennon estate sent an email to its Citizens. Those who responded received a custom digital concert ticket inspired by the 1972 versions.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Aidan Moyer of Atwood Magazine explored the new documentary *One to One: John and Yoko,* highlighting the Ono-Lennons and their 18-month stay in The Village around 1972.
Following its publication, Moyer had the chance to interview Sam Rice-Edwards. During their discussion, Edwards navigated the film's musical and visual contexts, the candid aspects of John and Yoko, and the notable similarities between the activism of 1971 and 2025. Slight edits have been made for clarity.
Atwood Magazine: Thanks for joining me! Are you in New York for promotions right now?
Sam Rice-Edwards: Yes, that's right. I'm a bit jet-lagged, having just arrived last night, but managing!
I traveled to London for five days last summer and felt sleepy the whole time!
Sam Rice-Edwards: It’s a struggle! Where are you based?
I'm currently in Philadelphia, which worked out well since the press screening just happened last Thursday. I was able to take an Amtrak there quickly. I’ve now watched *One to One* three times—first with the press screener, again with a bandmate, and then at the New York press premiere with my girlfriend.
Sam Rice-Edwards: Oh, fantastic!
“Wherever You Are, You Are Here”: the author at the Imagine Peace Circle in Strawberry Fields, Central Park after the press screening of *One to One.*
[A John Lennon action figure tips over in the Zoom backdrop].
That was the Ghost of John.
Sam Rice-Edwards: Oh, look at that! He’s just really impressed that you’ve seen the film so many times!
My initial question is about editing. The narrative around Vietnam and Nixon carries significant weight, with interjections of figures like Angela Davis, yet there is also humor in the edits. One moment that made me laugh was when Lennon, at a rally, says, “we need to bring the machines home,” followed by a washing machine ad. There’s also a part where Lennon performs “Hound Dog” and we cut to Nixon playing the piano. Yoko mentions being upgraded “from being a bitch to being a witch.” How did you balance maintaining the narrative's seriousness while incorporating the humor that was so characteristic of the Ono Lennons?
Sam Rice-Edwards: You hit the nail on the head! We wanted to express that for a couple of reasons. First, they were incredibly playful both as a couple and individually, and humor, playfulness, and imagination were essential parts of Yoko’s identity and what defined them together. Additionally, we aimed to portray life in 1972 realistically, which often intertwines serious matters with lighter moments. If everything is too uniform in tone, it feels less genuine and monotonous. So, we tried to mix things up, and finding that balance involved a lot of experimentation, feeling out what worked and what didn’t, and not shying away from surprising elements. In some cases, surprising or shocking moments could really enhance the narrative.
Exactly. The recurring moment with George Wallace even made me jump the third time I watched!
I loved the television channel-surfing scene! It’s easy to mythologize Lennon and Ono, but they were couch potatoes who loved channel surfing. I appreciated how the film allowed Lennon to appear quite naive. There's an audio clip where Allen Klein is on the phone, and John's asking, “why can't I sing a song about a prison riot?” and there’s a sort of tense silence on the line. “Oh, sure. I'll write a song for the IRA,” just like McCartney did around the same time, exhibiting that gung-ho attitude of “Let's just dive in and worry about the consequences later.” Were there any concerns that some audio segments might feel too controversial? What was the intention behind depicting John’s willingness to
Few artists capture the emotional range of modern club culture as effectively as salute. The producer, originally from Vienna and now based in Manchester, has long been
Los Costureros from South Devon – meaning ‘The Tailors’ – are far from your typical band. They fuse Latin rhythms with the vibrant energy of rumba and a
Today, Leigh-Anne reveals her debut album, 'My Ego Told Me To’, set for release on February 20th, 2026. This marks the beginning of a new era characterized by freedom, artistic independence, and
The ultimate guide to the 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist by DIY.
Moncler is bringing together two lifelong friends and iconic film partners Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as the brand embarks on an uplifting new chapter.
After his comeback last month with 'JUICY’, St. Louis-native Jordan Ward is now officially starting his next phase with the drop of his new
In preparation for the upcoming launch of the remastered audio from the ‘One to One’ concert, Aidan Moyer from Atwood Magazine reflects on an interview conducted in April 2025 with Sam Rice-Edwards, the co-director of this year's documentary about the build-up to the concerts, Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s activism at the time, and the possibility of further archival releases from that era.