SOMA Magazine

Ali Ghanbarian is a disgusting individual. I worked for him briefly as an assistant editor/​intern when I was new to the city of SF. Years later and very much out of the blue, I get a message on facebook of all places saying the following
«you are a stupid bimbo and a trash! trash, you always have been and always will be. do not lie about working at SOMA!»
I was really disappointed to receive this, especailly after at least 10 years since my time working with SOMA. I worked there for free, and saw Mr. Ghanbarian as a sort of mentor for a short time. He probably didn’t remember me because he had hundreds of pretty girls shuffling in and out of his office, promising them careers… yes I was one of those naiive 21 year olds.
His irrational moodswings and his ill mannered treatment towards some of my coworkers still stand out years later in my mind. It was pretty clear he was trying to get in my pants, which is part of the reason I left the magazine and ended our friendship. This message years later speaks volumes to his character. I just think it’s important for readers to know the man behind the magazine. And there you have him… Mr. Ali Ghanbarian!

The founding editor is a crusty, ill-​tempered old man. After meeting with him about potentially distributing his magazines, all I could think was «What an asshole». Thanks for interrupting me, insulting me, insulting our city, and repeating yourself over and over like a broken record. Ali, when you die all alone, will there be anyone left to take over your legacy? Or have you been horrible to everyone you have ever worked with? I will never support this magazine knowing the awful little man that is behind it.

It’s a great magazine, probably the only independent one in USA that has such a long history.
I’m part of the same industry, and I know it’s well respected worldwide. I enjoy reading his contents and most of all his Fashion Story

Although I read SOMA from the east coast (New York) now, I went to art school in San Francisco to study fashion photography, and have been a fan of the publication since. I love the fashion issues specifically, the photography is always very bold and edgy. The simplicity and sleek design is really appealing. One thing I do enjoy about SOMA is how they connect with young artists and emerging talent. They also use one of my favorite photographers, Christian Conti, for a lot of their cover stories. Shining light on people such as recent fashion design grads from AAU is something I really admire. Any publication that connects with local talent is great in my eyes, and I will always be a fan of SOMA for this and many reasons.

The magazine is very simplistic no room for visual ingenuity. Lives by the photograph where the photograph itself is boring and cliché. Content is mediocre.
This magazine is in serious need of redirection. From I understand this magazine is always changing art directors and taking advantage of labor. If you believe in supporting businesses that have good morals and respect the actual artist, this is not a magazine to pick up. As a SF resident I have heard of the vicious owner Ali who disrespects the workers and is not nurturing to its interns.
I am very surprise that advertisers still buy space in this magazine. Since the distribution is minimal compared to other avenues. It does preach to the bourgeoisie but then they never really know what is hip until it hits mainstream.
I understand how this iconic magazine must have been vital in the hey day of the 80’s and 90’s. Yet with all that is available on line to be on the fore front of what is the next big thing it is failing.

I overall enjoy this magazine and the simplicity of its design!
SOMA magazine brings culture into SOMA. The magazine is filled with unique and interesting articles about things happening throughout the world, combining different interest from other cultures… kind of like living in SF. Ali is a pretty popular man and has met everyone big and little in San Francisco and internationally, he’s a pretty cool guy.
If you like to be the first to discover thing about; music, traveling, shopping, emerging artist, AWESOME PHOTOGRAPHY, mixed drinks, and etc. You’ll love SOMA magazine.

I saw this magazine at the coat check of a bar and decided to take it and use it as a fan after a long night to dancing.
The magazine overall is BLAH. Nothing really special about it that makes it stand out from all the rest. I didn’t enjoy the layout of the magazine either… extremely choppy.
The morning after the bar, i ended up flipping though it and there was one page that i really enjoyed: The Film Reviews. The writing for all 3 movie reviews were very eloquent and I loved that the films they chose to review were not typical main stream movies. Each of my stars is for the 3 different film review writers. Keep on writing.
The volume i read was: SOMA, The People Issue 21.8

This magazine has been around for 20 years… and 20 years it has been doing the same thing. It has been producing a magazine at the expense of young, hard-​working, students and cheap labor… and the product reflects this. Reading SOMA can be a fun drinking game… all you need is a tall can, and a soma magazine, wait to find one on the street, never buy one. Look through magazine… every editorial error, take a drink…(you may need more than one tall can).
The articles and topics seem interesting on while checking the index, but once you dive in… it is clear that not one interview with anyone in SOMA will be satifsying and/​or provide any new interesting information about the subject.
This magazine needs an over haul. This magazine could use some new direction.