Occupation and Position.
Director/Artist/Designer and Creator of Violette/Permanent teenager.

What neighborhood do you closely identify with? What makes it so unique to you?
The Lower East Side or Downtown really. I love the cultures surrounding the area, the history of immigration, the new transplants, the artists, the bad smells, the good restaurants… it all makes it such a uniquely special area.

What’s the greatest item that you’ve dug up at a local garage sale? How much did it cost?
Garage sales are hard to come by living in NYC. The closest thing we have are sidewalk sales or overpriced vintage shops. I did find the hottest vintage tee at a vintage shop that was pointed out to me by my boy Josh Madden. Its a really bad cartoon of a black couple that reads “Postive Black Woman” and “Positive Black Man”. It was $30 and seemed so expensive, but since I hadn’t paid for a t-shirt in five years I decided to splurge.

If you could interview one unsung hero, who would it be? Why?
Hmmm. That’s tough, there are so many out there that are unsung. I guess I would interview my Mom. We haven’t had the best relationship, but that’s really the story of me and my whole family. Growing up I had a turbulent and violent home life, one that I would never wish upon anyone else. Having said that, I still love and respect them despite the situation. My mom and I are so different. She’s quiet and passive, I’m the opposite…constantly rebeling and pushing buttons. She was from another genertaion and culture, she barely understood her American daughter. Although we never talk about things like this, I think I could see her stuggles and I wanted to do the opposite. My mom came from nothing, literally, and endured half her life in an abusive relationship. She barely went to school because she had to tend to family and house chores. After my father left she worked double shifts to take care of us. I always think about how truly blessed I am to be living in a country where I can choose my life and be who I want. People take simple things for granted; running water, food, education. When I look at where my mom came from in Trinidad, I realize how lucky I am. her struggles and pains make it possible for me to do what I want to do, and I want go as far as I can.

What’s your favorite youtube video?
I had this sick suite at the Wynn in Las Vegas for my birthday and some of my best friends came out to hang. We had too much fun in the room. I made a video of my friend Raul voguing with a wig on. The wig was just a joke, but he used it to get into character. The doorbell rings as he does a drop to the floor and it interrupts his act and he gets embaressed. It was hilarious. It makes me fall to the ground laughing everytime I see it.

There’s also my other favorite…”CHAR-LEE”! The kids in this clip are so adorable and funny. Charlie has such an evil cute face the whole time he tortures his big brother. The accent adds even more unbearable cuteness. I want my kids to have foreign accents for no reason.

Where are your favorite local spots to eat?
I love eating at Franks on 2nd Ave. they have the most amazing Italian food and it feels like you’re in an old school Italian womans kitchen. You know, the kind of place where you’d get smacked for cursing or something by a little old lady serving you ravioli, but you wouldn’t mind because the food is so dope. I also LOVE Lovely Day…it’s Asian American food in the tiniest place, but so cozy.

What are your favorite local nightlife scenes?
1992, of course. Oscar and I do our monthly jam at R Bar on Bowery. I also love going to The Smiths party every now and again at Sway or hanging with good friends at Decibel (Sake Bar) on 9th Street.

What songs are at the top of your playlist at this very moment?
I must play “Flashing Lights” by Kanye everyday. Also, “New York State of Mind” by Nas, “Wake Up Alone” by Amy Winehouse, “Unstoppable” by SantoGold, “Big Fish, Little Fish” PJ Harvey, “Fate” by Chaka Khan, “Beggin’” by Frankie Valli. Anything by Biggie, Deee Lite or The Smiths basically.

What new projects you are building on right now?
I’m working on VIOLETTE, my debut line. It’s targeting women, but the tee’s are unisex and come in mens sizes. I see it as a reflection of my style…tomboy yet classic. The tagline I’ve been using to describe it is “imagine if Louis Vuitton had a daughter in the Lower East Side. She’d know a good pair of kicks and she’d also know a good bag”. It launches Fall Winter of this year.

http://violettenewyork.com

I’m also working on creative consulting for major companies. Working on image consulting for artists and events. Working at Def Jam as Director of Creative Services really exposed me as a creative force. People within the company and outside have been asking me for help with their projects. I’m still surprised people listen to what I have to say, especially major executives who are millionaires. I feel like “Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitters Dead”, like at any moment someone is going to reveal that I’m just a teenager.

I’m working on a photo show with my boy TIM MCGURR. He does cool travel photos and I’ve been working on a Polaroid series for a long time of all the people I know that I think the world should see. It involves celebrities, famous locals and just the coolest people I think need to be exposed. Overall, I want to do more in the Art world. The commercial art scene can be really depressing and I want to go back to my roots in the art scene for a little while.

I’m focused on making 1992 bigger and better than the last. My partner/best friend Oscar and I are working on some special events that we can’t yet reveal…but will be really different for our scene. Be on the lookout for Prom in June, the famous block party in August, and some European dates soon.

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http://myspace.com/1992theparty

via EM Staff, 7 July 2008 11:59pm | 10 |