Ant The Elder (they/them) - London call - 2022 @anttheelder

I had the chance to catch up with Ant yesterday sitting in our respective homes. Last week I jumped the gun with excitement and was all read to dive in but a week early.

We first met at Sang Bleu in London and have since been in a tattooers orbit of each other (often meaning making it almost impossible to hang out even if you work in the same studio). Some years later Ant hopped the pond and worked at AKA (where I was gratefully welcomed upon arrival in Berlin). Our intersections are many and continue to deepen individually.

This one was a gem, thank you Ant. See you soon!

Hywel Francis (he/him) - Wolf Creek call - 2022 @hywelfancis

When I first opened the door to welcome Hywel into the studio for a tea, it felt safe and friendship ensured (his Pisces to my Libra was almost palatable even back then as I understand myself now). So very grateful that we lined up as Hywel was passing through Berlin to reconnect with lovers and the city (then considering the transatlantic move). Once folks have crossed over into my heart they are welcomed back whenever (he has since guested and barely made it back to NYC as the pandemic hit and most flights were grounded).

In this episode of the show we really dig into our shared intersections (and I always sponge as much up as I can). Upon each visit I have integrated a new life tool (at first - the importance of drinking enough water, then - fasting, and later - sleep hygiene).

Just have a listen!

Lou Andrea Savoir (she/her) - Berlin 2022 @louasavoir

We first met at a wedding of mutual friends out in the countryside of Berlin, (Lou kindly offered me to sit on the family blanket as the wedding was about to happen). This was my first camping-vibes weekend-away ceremony (with a ramp to skate and a lake to swim in). She made the wedding rings as a gift (her range of creative output is humbling to me).

Lou and her partner Julian have been working together as @cascadeberlin and crushing it (seemingly always in the cycle of pre production, on a shoot, or in post). They have released the highly regarded first book on Mark Gonzales (just as Corona swept over the world).

She has been recently awarded Best Director from the International Film Festival for @inthebunker.film (which demonstrates her commitment to fine art and several studio practices). Having managed to make a life happen as a family in Berlin is impressive (while making time for friends and family skate Sundays).

Merci bien!

Joshua Solomon (he/they) - Auckland call - 2022 @jjes.online

When we first met in Auckland it was clear that our lives had those most important connections (some of them came through in the last years but were felt way back then). Often just one episode feels not enough to re engage (but I’ve been promised a long overdue visit this summer).

Check out their modular queer community studio @electricceremony to find out more about how they are decolonizing tattooing, making is accessible for disabled folks, and all things Ratclaw.

See you soon!

Francisca Silva-Pabst (they/she) - Berlin - 2017 LOST TAPES @framacho

We landed on the same page upon meeting for a ritual at the studio years ago now (it’s always a sincere honour to tattoo other tattooers but often nerve wracking). Fra was sent to me from another planet on which somehow we never met before (they had already lived a full life before and after Berlin (fine art, sobriety, queerness, spirituality, all the good stuff).

These days Fra calls NYC home for love and community. Magically, they seem to be always in the right place at the right time (having to push against the patriarchy to be allowed to be themselves, a true raw creative pioneer).

The LOST TAPES are gems for me to revisit. I can’t wait to see you again, maybe a surprise trip soon!

Orne Gil (she/her) - Berlin - 2017 LOST TAPES @g.orne

We met during a very stressful time for Orne in particular (having been living a queer life and tattooing in Cairo). Her dog was stolen the day before I arrived (and somehow was able to get it back, still run the studio, generously host me as a guest, and have a crisis visit from her Mom). I will never forget the wild ride from the airport as we blasted down the highway, windows open, the swelter (let alone the airport experience of itself).

I am really enjoying going back into these times we had in the kitchen. Thanks!

David Schiesser (he/him) - Berlin - 2017 LOST TAPES @ds_008

For a number of years David would come up to Berlin considering making the move from Offenbach (he landed a huge old studio way outside of Berlin that was for painting, tattooing, and sleeping). I couldn’t count how many times he’s visited me by now (even when living in Berlin he would commute south and work here to be in the city energy).

These LOST TAPES have a video aspect from us sitting in the kitchen (one day there might be a good purpose for em’).

Thanks as always.

Dylan North Homer (he/him) - Berlin 2017 LOST TAPES @dylannorthhomer

I first met Dylan while he was engaged in a most impressive and humbling apprenticeship process (with a dear friend @rileytown at @tattoo_union_bc in Vancouver). It’s hard to put it into words how much appreciation for tattooing I feel when I get time with Dylan (who’s truly carrying the torch forward), respecting it’s history and perpetuating radical newness.

Dylan has visited Berlin a few times (I believe more than once over the years before Corona). Since then Dylan and @boonenaka have opened up @for.you.tattoo in Vancouver (their creative energy is unparalleled and really blows my hair back even if I don’t have much anymore).

See you soon!

Mike Mendes (he/him) - Berlin - 2017 LOST TAPES @mikemendes

I first met Mike tattooing in a wildly busy street stop in Toronto that I got a spot at (having fled Vancouver not prepared for winter I got super sick right away). You could tattoo 10 clients a day without blinking an eye (as far as I remember Mike holds the record of 15 somehow).

From Toronto to Melbourne to London to Berlin, we have always found ourselves on the same page (he has the most spectacular travel history always lining them up with tattooing).

Mike is currently visiting Berlin again last minute after a long hiatus (I had just unearthed 2 of his lost tapes we had video recorded in the kitchen). An absolute gem of a human (really jazzed to do a longer format sooner than later!) Thank you!

Spider Death (he/him) - Melbourne call - 2022 @spiderxdeath

From the first moment Spider arrived at AKA an easy friendship ensued (only recently have I come to understand that Pisces for my Libra). We were both raised by punk, drugs, and tattoos as our formative mentors (both of us hitting bottom finally at 23 - me in Canada and him in Australia). Spider has generously hosted me in his Kings Cross flat while I was on tour (between being in Berlin and London a few times it always feels like no time has passed in between).

Having several creative outputs keeps Spidey on track (he recently got 2 years sober after relapsing - having 9 years previously). This time Spider connected with a recovery community, works out regularly, paints and shows work @chinaheights takes care of 2 greyhounds, has moved to Melbourne, tattooing @melbournetattooco is somehow keeping up with lathe cutting punk records for his label @wintergardenrecords and has fallen for a lovely person (who happens to be a fellow tattooer).

So much love, see you soon.