Say You Swear

Episode 41 is with London-based skateboard videographer, Will Miles!

Recently coming off of filming and editing Nike's full Length 7-Ball; this episode is a deep dive into Will's journey. From shit like giving up playing football at around 12 for skating, Ben Raemers selling him his first camera for the cheap, and his first day out with the camera Kyron asking him if he wanted to spend the next couple months filming a part!

Will began to film edits that would end up on free skate mag and grey skate mag. These grey edits would partner with Nike in order to bring together and showcase the Nike London team. Over time, Will was getting his personal style down for his own future classic videos on Vimeo such as Billy Trick and Lambrusco. There's a lot I am skipping here obviously, but Nike decided to give him the reigns for 18-months both filming and editing for 7-Ball! No small feat!

We go quite in depth with the videos and Will teases a future Nike project on the way!

Much love XD

Episode 40 is with visual artist, Brooklyn's very own, Aya Brown!

Beginning to make art at a young age, she developed her style over years personal experimentation and time at Cooper Union. Aya consistently taps into the deep roots of her family, sexual identity, blackness, and community to illuminate an honest and beautiful depiction of her lived experience.

We discuss the intricacies of growing up in the church, her dad being somewhat of an influence on her style (hehe), her unequivocal passionate love for Spiderman, and Gush!
Aya sheds much light on the importance of having positive representations for black lesbian love and relationships, how brands can truly support communities, and the lovely environment and family of Telfar. 

We've been tryna get together to do this for almost 2 years, sheeeesh. Hope you enjoy XD

Episode 39 is with Bradley Carbone, who works in the space of brand strategy and management. Bradley has a keen ability to utilize his genuine connection with creatives in their spaces, his years of business/corporate expertise, and bridge the two. This allows both extremes to form more symbiotic relationships for their futures. 

Bradley has worked on SNEEZE magazine for the past 13 years, alongside founder Nic Fensom.  In recent years, he has been working closely with Born x Raised, based in LA, and Andrew, based in Miami. 

We discuss honing your craft, relationships, overcoming trauma, and a bunch of other lovely things! 

Bradley is not a businessman, he's a business, man...jay voice. XD

Episode 38 is with my Parisian brother, Greg Cuadrado!

We start by discussing Greg's roots in skating, manuals, the inception/creation of Les Blobys, and the route to going pro in 2018 for National Skate Co.

The interview then moves into discussing Greg's transitioning role in the skate world. He talks about the importance of Pussy Gangster, the Supreme store opening in Paris, and beginning to work for the company. Now Greg is Supreme's European TM and he talks about the intricacies of this position!

Working on the Stallion video during lockdown in Italy, wearing Vans to a LV x Sup shoot while still on Cons, James Cruickshank's SENSIBLES video, and a bunch of other shit sprinkled in therrr. 

Merci beacoup mfers <3

Episode 37 is with the artist CHITO.

CHITO’s early work went from airbrushing on blank tees and moved into using the airbrush to highlight the structure in garments to emphasize the craftsmanship. In the recent years, he has worked to “remove the line in the sand” of what he can and can not do in order to feel true artistic freedom.

“Fuck the boundaries, fuck the limitations”

Honored to have had the ability to bring you this spoken interview. Enjoy !

 

Episode 36 is with journalist and pop music critic, for the New York Times, Jon Caramanica. 

Long time interview extraordinaire, for publications such as XXL and Vibe, Jon offers insight into interviews he’s conducted over the years. From the likes of Pimp C to Taylor Swift, we talk about what it takes to give a good interview and many of the aspects that come along with it. Jon pivoted from a degree at Harvard with teaching aspirations, writing hip-hop articles on the side, to strong-arming his way into a nationally syndicated publication. 

We also chat about his years actively working on a book about Ye, journalistic integrity, how hip-hop journalism has changed, and more.

I literally only needed to make 3 cuts in this whole recording...natural talkers over here XD
Enjoy 

Episode 35 is with London based videographer Grant Dawson!

From a small rural town near Oxford, Grant moved to London for college as a teenager and in 2017 got deeply into filming skateboarding. Dropping out of art school after a year, moving in with his eventual girlfriend of 10 years, and then starting to work at Supreme...Grant notes that he didn't have a plan after stopping University rather that things just naturally started to pan out. Manifestations! 

Additionally we discuss filming for Yardsale and Supreme, developing his personal filming/video style, pushing to showcase more London skating, being obsessive with music, and more :)

Uh yea, little QnA for ya. XD

Episode 34 is with videographer Naquan Rollings and, a special appearance from, Father Bop.
Naquan spoke about his sister introducing him to skateboarding, being grateful to grow up in NYC, getting really into improv acting, linking up with thrasher, and why people in Philly don't eat food.

Once Bop got the mic, the two discussed going out culture in NY, worst trends in skating, the significance of LES growing up, and their love for niche rappers. Much love to Kevin Bradley for texting in questions during the interview lol and to Bop for hosting!

I know y'all will love this one. Pce!

For Episode 33 I am joined by Grammy-award winning engineer, Texas's very own, Vic Wainstein. Vic has worked with several different types of musical artists, in the form of engineering and production, over the last two decades. We speak at length about the importance of putting your ego aside, his love for not being a front-facing artist, and the joy he gets from helping out new up-and-coming artists. 

Being specifically close with both Tyler, The Creator and Mac Miller during this time had a profound effect on Vic's confidence to make music due to how they defied the odds. They all worked on projects together where people doubted their ability to redefine their sound. They had been boxed in to sole identities. Tyler and Malcom's ability to confidently take professional risks and be successful proved that you can do whatever you want as long as you do it well and with consistency. The rewards for trusting yourself can be immense.

"We did shit that we had no business doing and it worked. In a business built off of temporary come ups, it's good to see something slow burn. It's good to see someone doubt something that worked because nobody's opinion is god."

For EPISODE 32, I sat down with artist and supremely talented designer Nick Atkins.

Creating under the pseudonym label of ELECTROMAGNETIC STUDIOS, Nick’s works take the form of anything from painting and sculpture to garment design and jewelry. Nick expressed the level of importance in separating the physical-being and the art itself. That his goal is not to be the center of focus, rather the creations themselves, and let them do the talking.

While I was walking home and reflecting on the interview, I realized that this was my favorite interview I had recorded to date. Sure we discuss specific works and some of the usual parts that come with an SYS interview. However, this episode delves deep into the trials and tribulations of Nick as a person in hopes of offering potential insight that could be illuminating for another.