#sometimes you gotta go back to 1999 to feel alive again

[fiddlepickdouglas]

When in doubt, put on some music that will distract you from your breakdown, open Kidpix, and do random shit until the anxiety goes away

[sienablackwood]

Well I gotta deliver at one point or another. Needed a bit to think about those (and about my uni essay). So thank you for tagging me @drippinlou

I tend to take my music taste too serious 🤣 so sorry beforehand. This might as well be hilarious.

1. What’s the first song you remember hearing?

Dragostea din tei - O-Zone

It was the year 2003 and this was played over and over again on the radio. So my kindergarten teacher let our group create a choreography to present at the annual summer get-together in front of our parents.

2. What’s the first band you got into?

Probably I should say Led Zeppelin or Metallica. My dad was a big fan and when he drove me somewhere we would headbang in the car and he told me all about the concerts he's been to and who was playing which instrument and from which drug addiction they where suffering.

My first band Obsession was 5 Seconds of summer. I wasn't a Directioner, I was one of the cool edgy kids I listened to 'punk rock'. No, I seriously felt like I'm definitely not like other girls.

3. Do you collect physical music?

No, usually I don't. I own a few albums only because I like the cover artwork but my CD-Player broke a few years ago. I try to manage my possessions digitally as much as possible.

4. What is your favorite piece of music memorabilia?

A Rock am Ring 1994 Festival memorial shirt. I of course was born 1999. It was my dad's shirt he gifted it to me when it didn't fit him anymore. My parents met at this festival so it's quite precious to me. My dad missed 'apparently' missed Rammstein because of her (I checked, Rammstein didn't play that year)

5. What’s your favorite concert that you’ve been to?

It's quite embarrassing but I've never been to a concert yet. When I discovered my genre of music the pandemic hit and before that I was never so much into a artist that I considered going to a concert.

6. If you could see any artist that’s no longer alive in concert, who would it be?

I mean of course the Beatles, who wouldn't like to see the beatles. But technically some of those bands are still touring but I would have liked to see AC/DC, Deep Purple and the Rolling Stones in the original lineup. I mean the seeing Michael Jackson or Amy Whinehouse would have been nice too. But most of the artists that I actively listen too are still in the business.

7. Have you met any musicians?

No. And I don't really aspire too. I saw a German Pop-Singer once in a restaurant, and even through I did listen to his music at the time I would never go up to them because of privacy reasons. I can fangirl online I don't have to bring that up to them.

8. What’s your go-to album when you’re feeling sad?

The 'Recovery'-Album from Eminem. It throws me back into my teenage self who had - compared to me now - very different problems and I've overcome them and that kinda means I will overcome the recent ones too. And I hate being sad, so getting into an angy mood sometimes is better than crying in the corner.

9. What’s your go-to album when you’re feeling happy?

I don't have an album but I've got a "sing along in the car"-Playlist with cringe euro dance stuff. Or my "Barbecue with Daddy"-Playlist with classic rock and old school metal.

10. What is one music documentary that you love?

Does "The Dirt" the Mötley Crüe Biopic count? I'm not overly into documentarys. I did like 'Rocketman' too and the festival documentaries of the Wacken Open Air.

11. What is one concert DVD that you love?

I dont own a single one. If I watch something on TV I'm gonna go for a movie.

12. Do you prefer listening to playlists or albums?

Definitely Playlists. The music needs to fit my mood. If it changes theme suddenly I get aggravated.

13. Do you listen to albums in order or on shuffle?

If I do listen to albums I don't care about the order - usually. Except if it's like one of those concept albums where the order really matters to tie together some story (like Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones by BVB - I love this album. Its teenage wanna-be-emo Toni in a nutshell) but I at least listen to any album in order once to determine if I should keep it that way.

14. What is your favorite deep cut song by your favorite artist?

I change favorite artists so often... and favorite songs too. But my all time go-to is probably "Breath of Life" by Florence and the Machine. I love this song. I can dance my heart out to it or cry in my bed.

Tags are open, y'all!

[365days365movies]

January 14, 2021: GoldenEye (1995) (Part 1)

He’s suave. He’s sophisticated. He’s spy. He’s...

The late, great Sean Connery. 

Ignoring the less then savory aspects of his personality (AKA the Barbara Walters interview...both of them), Connery is undoubtedly the most famous Scottish actor of all time. Sorry, Whovians, I love David Tennant, too. But Connery’s got him beat. He’s been in so many iconic films and roles, his influence is undeniable. But most famous of all is his turn as Agent 007, the man himself, James Bond.

I’ve seen all of Connery’s original Bond films (not counting Never Say Never Again), and my favorite is Goldfinger, in case you were wondering. But outside of that...I haven’t seen any Bond movies. Since him, the character’s been played by David Niven, George Lazenby (now THAT’S an interesting story, lemme tell you), Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and the two I’ll be looking at this month: Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

I’ll be looking at Brosnan tomorrow, in Casino Royale. But today, I’m looking at arguably the third most-famous Bond, Pierce Brosnan, in one of the most famous modern Bond movies, GoldenEye.

Also, yeah, never played the game I KNOW IT WAS A ‘90S CLASSIC I WASN’T ALLOWED TO HAVE VIDEO GAMES. 

So, what to expect from a Bond film? Well, I’ve got a checklist here, hold on...HERE we go:

Gadgets

Girls

Good-for-Nothings

...Good music?

I’m feeling a little alliterative of late. But, yeah, looking for the Bond Girl, looking for cool gadgets, looking for dastardly villains, and listening for the theme song for the film. Got my list set, and expectations are set to Connery levels. Let’s do this, shall we?

Recap

We start at a dam in Russia. Bond James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is infiltrating the dam, and we get our gadgets checked off right away, as he whips out an acetylene torch. He barges in on a guy in the bathroom (rude, and awkward), then meets up with Alec, AKA Agent 006 (Sean “he dies, he’s the villain, or he’s the villain who dies” Bean).

Yeah, calling it now, Alec here’s gonna die, or he’s the villain, or he’s the villain who’s gonna die. It’s Sean Bean. More importantly, it’s Sean Bean in the ‘90s. There are very few options for him. Anyway, the Russians try to stop them from blowing up the plant, and...well, Alec’s being held hostage. Yyyyyyup. And he gets shot?

I don’t know how...but I’m betting that he’s still the villain. He’s Sean Bean. C’mon. He doesn’t die this early in a movie.

The unambiguously evil Russian general (hey, the Cold War just ended) almost get Bond, but he escapes in typical Bond fashion. They chase after him, and Bond chases an airplane. How, do you ask? I WILL FUCKING SHOW YOU HOW.

WHAT??? WHAT??? Physics just broke, and Issac Newton just tunneled to China. And then the facility blows up.

And THEN the opening begins. Let’s hear the Bond song and check out the opening.

...WOW. Just...I mean...OK, so Bond songs. From the first Bond movie, Dr. No, up until the one before this one, Licence to Kill, the intros were designed and directed by Maurice Binder. They were all composed of silhouetted women, often against colorful backgrounds, and almost always nude or skimpily dressed. There would often be themes or objects seen in the film itself, and sometimes actual scenes, often projected onto women themselves. They all definitely had a similar feel and style. And then, Binder sadly passed away in 1991.

Enter Daniel Kleinman. This is Kleinman’s first take, and this is also the first movie to use CGI. While it’s not terribly obvious or gaudy in the film proper, Kleinman uses this new technology to make this intro SURREAL AS HELL. It expresses the film’s connection to the fall of Soviet Russia, and a post-Cold War society. And is does that in a pretty obvious, if abstract and dramatic, manner. And honestly, on retospect...yeah. It definitely works. Even the song, which is sung by Tina Turner and written by Bono (yes, really), works well by itself, and in my opinion, better when with the actual film. So, crazy and weird as this sequence it...kinda grew on me. I like it! Weird, but I like it a lot.

We cut to nine years later, with Bond taking a woman on a drive/race on a cliffside highway with...well, there’s our Bond girl! This is Famke Jannsen, playing...Xenia Onatopp.

Yes. Really. Oh boy. We aren’t being even slightly subtle about this, huh.

The woman in the car demands him to stop, and they make out, as one would expect. That night, he heads to a party, as James Bond does. At the party, James enters a card game with Xenia. Again...as James Bond does. This is immediately followed by him hitting on Xenia, ordering a vodka martini (shaken not stirred), introducing himself as “Bond, James Bond,” commenting on the Bond Girl’s name, and saying suave shit. 

HOLY SHIT THAT SENTENCE ALONE HAPPENED WITHIN 1 MINUTE OF SCREEN TIME

Look, movie, when you got a Bond...you gotta space that shit out. Ration it a little bit, not front load all of it WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE OPENING’S FINISHED. It’s like giving someone a beer, and then they EAT THE FRIDGE.

Jesus. OK, Miss Moneypenny (Samantha...Bond, that’s neat!) gives Bond some information, tells him not to have sex with Xenia until they tell him to (yes, really), and then say’s that she trusts he’ll say…”On-a-Topp of things.”

YES. REALLY.

Speaking of Xenia, she’s with an Admiral, having the most TERRIFYING sex I’ve ever seen in a movie. And I’m legit not sure if he survived after it. Like, real talk, it was...frightening. Somebody steals his ID, real nonchalant like, and we cut to the next morning, after his maybe-death? James makes it onto the yacht the next morning (they were on a yacht, by the way), planning on getting some information.

Meanwhile, the ID is used by...someone...to get into a leader of global military leaders. Pretty sure the Admiral got Kegel’d to death; not even joking, it’s a real possibility, and I am shaken AND stirred. And so was the Admiral.

See? Toldja.

Looks like their unveiling a new tactical helicopter, the Tiger. However, the pilots are shot by Xenia and someone else, and they take their place, stealing the helicopter. Bond tries to stop it...even though there’s literally no way he could’ve known they were going to steal the helicopter? I mean, I guess you could assume that, but...I dunno, it’s a stretch.

Meanwhile, in Siberia, a group of radar analysts or some such, where we meet Boris (Alan Cumming, who I feel like I never see play an actual Welsh person...or in a good movie) and Natalya (Izabella Scorupco). Boris is a thirsty computer nerd who hacks the US government for fun (because ‘90s nerds in movies were basically only this), and Natalya puts up with him.

The Tiger helicopter arrives, carrying Xenia and the General (Gottfried John, by the way) from the dam 9 years ago. They show up here, seeking something. Xenia shoots up the place, killing everybody except Natalya (and maybe Boris, since we didn’t see him die). Xenia, by the way, appears to be a straight sadist, enjoying inflicting pain on unsuspecting victims. The two leave, getting what they came for.

London! James Bond returns to MI6 headquarters, and meets his secretary Miss Moneypenny, who calls him the fuck OUT. She is my favorite character now.

MI6 has intercepted a distress call from the station in Siberia, and found the helicopter. The mission is heard by both Bond and M (Dame Judi Dench herself, pre-Cats). Meanwhile, the base in Siberia is hit an electromagnetic pulse originating from an orbiting satellite, which causes EVERYTHING to explode. Pretty sure that’s not what EMPs do, but why not? Suspension of disbelief. 

Natalya’s still alive in there, by the way. And she’s not having a great day. You know those work days, right? Your coworkers are all dead, your equipment and office space explode, you’re trapped in a burning building, two American jets get hit by an EMP and crash into the building. Mondays, amirite?

And in case literally everything didn’t make it clear by now, this is a Cold War movie, taking place after the Cold War was concluded. See, the McGuffin for this film (it’s a Bond film, it’s kind of a requirement) is Project GoldenEye, a nuclear weapon meant to detonate in the upper atmosphere, creating an EMP. The weapon was developed during the Cold War, and has now been stolen by the Janus Crime Syndicate, whose heads include Xenia Onatopp. General Ourmunov is also suspected to be a part of it.

This information all comes out during an exposition speech, as is standard for a Bond movie. But after that speech...OH...OH, it’s so good. See, up until now, Miss Moneypenny was really the only major female recurring supporting character in Bond’s life. But we’ve flipped the script, having M played by Dame Judi Dench. And lemme tell ya...what follows is Dench REAMING BOND THE FUCK OUT. And it’s glorious.

Mind changed, M is now my favorite character. She tells him what’s what, then gives him his mission: get GoldenEye back.

We finally get our big gadgets showcase, as we see...Q (Desmond Llewelyn)! First introduced in From Russia With Love in 1963, Q is the MI6’s spy gadget man, and has been played by Llewelyn since then! He’s the only remaining cast member from the original Connery films, and it’s awesome to see him here! He’s been in more James Bond movies than anyone else, at 17. Sadly, he died in 1999, but it’s still cool to see him! We get cool gadgets, of course, including a pen grenade, a car with missiles behind the headlights, a leather belt with a grapple, a LOT of shit in the background, and a missile hidden in a leg cast and wheelchair. This is such a funny sequence, and absolutely the best scene in the movie so far, holy shit. More of THAT, please.

Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, the General finds out that Natalya is alive, as well as Boris being missing. Calling it now, he’s been taken by Janus, or he’s working with them. Bond arrives and meets up with CIA Agent Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker), whom I also really like. He’s had enough of Bond’s spy bullshit, and he cuts to the point. He also identifies himself by showing a rose tattoo with the name of his ex-wife, Muffy. Yes, really.

Bond meets up with a Russian gangster whom he has a...pre-existing relationship with. Apparently, he shot him in the knee, then slept with his wife. You stay classy, Jimmy. You stay classy. This man is Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane), an ex-KGB agent and current gang leader. He tells him that the head of Janus is descended from Cossacks, a group of Russians that worked for the Nazis in World War II.

Natalya finds a way to contact Boris over the internet, who tells her to trust no one, and sets up a meeting with her at a church. This is, of course, a trap, as Boris is working with Janus. Xenia, for her part as a Bond Girl, does her duty and finds James to have sex with. Xenia, it should be noted, is ABSOLUTELY THE FREAKIEST of the Bond Girls. Like, Goddamn is she kinky, you have no idea. Like...is this sex or a fight scene? The film genuinely can’t decide.

Bond forces Xenia to take him to the head of Janus, who’s in a Soviet statuary of some kind. And who’s waiting there but…

Yup. Called it.

See you (and Sean “died, but didn’t die, and is a villain, but is still gonna die” Bean) in Part 2!

[britneyshakespeare]

another tag thing apparently

 that makes 2 today

tagged by @real-pain-for-my-sham-friends :)

Nicknames: Di or Dee Dee mostly.

Gender: cis girl

Star Sign: Taurus

Height: 5′6 and a half

Time: (i’m goin back to) 5:05 pm est 

Birthday: 4/25/1999

Favorite Bands: well the Beatles have kinda owned my ass since I was a little kid but I also really like Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Arctic Monkeys, Panic! at the Disco, The Struts, Get Set Go, Carney, Nirvana, the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, kinda slippin back into the middle school music with Tonight Alive recently (the crush on Jenna McDougall is eternal), uh... yeah that’s enough to get a good feel of what I listen to.

Favorite Solo Artist: Bob Dylan, Reeve Carney, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley... kinda hard for me to go on because I don’t listen to nearly as many soloists as I do bands.

Song stuck in my head: Bad Reputation by Joan Jett (been rewatchin Freaks and Geeks all this week)

Last movie I watched: I... honestly can’t remember? I think it was Life (2015) dir. Anton Corbijn

Last show I watched: Freaks and Geeks like an hour ago

When did I create this blog: August 2012

When do I post: basically whenever I’m awake. Never really had a blogging schedule and I very rarely queue posts.

Last thing I googled: “thumbs”... I don’t need to explain myself.

Do I have any other blogs: I have my poetry side blog @creatediana but other than that, nah, it’s been this bitch since I was 13

Do I get any asks: Sometimes. Not often.

Why did you choose your URL: well I didn’t want a fandom URL anymore because the things I would blog about were too widespread at some point in 2015 when I changed it to britneyshakespeare because A) it reflects my interests but doesn’t sound inherently fandom-based and B) it’s a cute pun

Following: 779, apparently... God knows how many of those are actually active. I don’t usually clean out my follows or go on unfollowing sprees to “clean my dash” or whatever I live in my filth. I don’t even remember who some of the people I’ve been following for years even are. I don’t remember when or why I followed them but I’ll be damned if I clean out my followed blogs.

Followers: 2,352... Again I have no idea how many of those are active. My blog’s peak was in 2014-2015 when I was mostly a panic! blogger and made a lot of memes and shit and I hit the 2k milestone sometime then. I don’t even remember when I got the last few hundred I’ve been sorta at a standstill for a while but I’m okay with it.

Favorite colors: I don’t really have any? I love all colors. In all sorts of contexts. I mean. If you were to ask me my favorite color to wear, or my favorite color to paint a room, or my favorite eye color, those would probably all be different answers. But I just love colors I can’t even remember when I last had a favorite.

Average hours of sleep: Wooh boy is that inconsistent. Some nights 3 hours, some nights 13 hours.

Lucky number: ...None? None really.

Instruments: Mainly the guitar but I’ve dabbled in the ukulele, the piano, and the drums.

What I am wearing: An old t-shirt from when I was in the Crucible when I was a sophomore in high school and some grey jeans that I’ve had since like eighth grade.

How many blankets do I sleep with: Just one.

Dream job: Poet or musician. Maybe with a little bit of acting. Actually, you know what? I think I just wanna be Bob Dylan.

Dream trip: Hm... I’m kind of a homebody but I do love to travel when I get the opportunity. I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland, and also Rome.

Favorite food: Uh... kind of like the favorite color answer I don’t really have one but I mean all I’ve eaten today has been like... half a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, so that’s gotta count for somethin’.

Nationality: United States American

Favorite song right now: Oh gosh... hm. Let’s say it’s No Quarter by Led Zeppelin. Sure.

Okay now let’s tag some bishes... preferably ones I didn’t tag earlier. @buddyhollyscurls @folieafabulous @jisoox @won-woozled @lauraalamode @themainband @lookfamiliarr and @bimmypage

[thiswillbereportedtomanagement]

Sixty years of GQ means six decades of amazing clothes. And what you see here is a sampling of the amazing-est: the pieces that have stood the test of time and become modern essentials. If you were to start your wardrobe over from scratch with these 60 pieces, you’d be pretty much set. Because the clothes here are, above all, versatile. They’re classics. They’re the shirts, pants, suits, shoes, hats, rings, watches, and glasses that have defined our point of view since the Eisenhower administration. They’re what you need to look very GQ.If you want to buy these eternally cool pieces—and we're right there with you—you can click here. And if you want to see what inspired us, scroll down to wander through over a half-century of GQ moments that inspired this story in the first place.1. Slip-on Loafers (1965) They’re timeless because they’re versatile. Wear them with socks or no socks. Pants or no pants. (And by “no pants” we mean shorts.)2. Lace-up Wingtips (1986) The businessman’s shoe will be in style as long as there are businessmen.3. The Patch-Pocket Suit (1971) We hadn’t seen this one in a very long time. Then Prada brought it back. And you know how it goes: When Prada does something, so does everyone else.4. A Crocodile Belt (1985) Exotic leather suggests an exotic personality. People will wonder: Just who is that man with a reptile around his waist?5. The Flat Cap (1976) Who knew that the newsboy cap would outlast actual newspapers?6. The Repp Tie (1983) Just as “Bimmer” is an awkwardly spelled slang for your BMW, “repp” is an awkwardly spelled term for the diagonally striped ties worn by men who drive BMWs.7. Banker Pinstripes (1962) A thinly pinstriped suit is still the fastest way to look like money. Whereas a thickly pinstriped suit is the fastest way to look like you should be robbing a bank with a Tommy gun.8. Corduroy (1967) We love cords as the sweet spot between blue jeans and fancy trousers. For a great 1967 reference point, go re-watch Dustin Hoffman wearing corduroy in The Graduate.9. The Tweed Revival (2002) Tweed used to be so dusty and professorial. Then, about 15 years ago, designers started youth-ifying it. And now it looks like this.10. Zany Socks! (2006) Look, we love socks with some personality, but you don’t want to wear them every day. Unless you are the prime minister of Canada, that is. Then you can wear them every day.11. Tough-as-Nails Work Boots (2009) When you buy a pair of these, don’t baby ’em. Maybe even consider the radical notion of wearing them for manual labor. They look better scuffed.12. A Ritzy Dinner Jacket (1958) The next time you have a special occasion, make it feel genuinely special. Pull on the kind of jacket you might’ve worn to see Sam Cooke slay the Copacabana, had you been alive back then.13. A Tuxedo Shirt That Boogies (1968) Whether you do ruffles is up to you (we’re very pro, and so is Ryan Gosling). But definitely don’t shy away from color.14. Pre-Recession Cuff Links (2000) Please don’t let the president be the only man wearing cufflinks right now.15. The Indestructible Tank Watch (1973) Over the years, we’ve always championed wardrobe staples—like rectangular tank watches—that strike a perfect balance. They’re classics, sure. But they also evolve with the times.16. The Varsity Jacket (2010) Maybe you earned your varsity letter in high school and want to relive your glory. Or maybe you never did, and this is your revenge on all the jocks. Either way, there’s a jacket for you.17. Horizontal Chest Stripes (1996) By now you should know that horizontal chest stripes will bulk up your chest faster than any gym membership. They’re also an un-mess-up-able style move.18. A Perfect Camel Coat (1998) Kanye wears one. The old men at your grandpa’s law firm wear one. This is one of those pieces that’s never not in style. Just get one.19. Designer Track Pants (2015) They’ve been athletic staples for years. But it wasn’t until recently that designers figured out how to style them up into streetwear.20. Outlaw Boots (1979) Like anyone who’s seen a Clint Eastwood movie, we love westernwear. Start with boots and then work your way up to snap-button shirts and bolo ties.21. The Air Tie (1995) This may be the easiest style move of all time. The only trick to it is that you need a shirt with the right kind of collar. Basically anything other than a spread will do the trick.22. The Double-Breasted Power Suit (1987) Back in ’87, when Gordon Gekko was giving his “Greed Is Good” speech in a double-breasted suit, no man in America would dare wear such a thing with sneakers—or without a tie. We can’t wait to see how the DB looks in 2047.23. A Swankier Duffel Bag (2016) If you don’t want to be another one of those sad guys in the airport pulling a battered rolly bag, may we suggest a high-end duffel?24. Geezer Sneakers (2012) If you don’t know what geezer sneakers are, ask your dad what he wore when he was your age. Then go find the latest designer riff on those. Trust us, someone out there is still making them.25. The Shearling Coat (1977) It’s warm. So warm. It’s also a flex of epic proportions, because a real shearling is expensive. Then again, so are most things you’ll keep for 30 years.26. Masculine Necklaces (2003) The next time you and your girlfriend pass a jewelry store, pop in and look for the both of you.27. A Sleek Black Racing Watch (2005) Nothing is less badass than whipping out your giant smartphone just to check the time. Wear a real watch. Preferably one made in stealthy black.28. The Henley Shirt (1981) We like them with at least one button undone, the better to show the your manly-ass necklaces (or chest hairs?) you’ve got hiding underneath.29. An Oversize Logo Belt (1970) These things will draw attention to a very particular part of your body. So wear them with corresponding swagger.30. The Autumnal Toggle Coat (1980) Sometimes known as a duffel coat, it’s the official torso warmer of football season.31. A Statement Scarf (1988) By “statement” we do sometimes mean “scarves with writing on them.” But a statement scarf can just as easily be one that makes a statement through its size (usually big) or color (usually bold).32. The Preppy Button-Down Collar (1990) For extra prep points, refer to yours as an OCBD. That stands for Oxford Cloth Button Down, and it’s the kind of shirt that’s de rigueur at country clubs and frat houses.33. Aviators (1974) To stand the test of time, your glasses should look less like Tom Cruise’s in Top Gun and more like Michael Caine’s in...everything.34. The Three-Piece Suit (1978) Three-piece suits are some of the best values in menswear, because while they look polished and professional as a set, you can also pull the pieces apart and wear ’em as separates.35. One-Color Dressing (1994) This trick works with almost any color, but it works best with darks. The closer you get to wearing all orange, the more you’ll look like walking citrus.36. A Softer-Sided Briefcase (1997) Your briefcase should match your work persona: It should be tough and dignified, but also able to stretch and flex as needed.37. Don Draper’s Fedora (1964) We’re not sure whether Mad Men kick-started the menswear revolution or was just along for the ride. But during the show’s run, from 2007 to 2015, a generation of guys learned to care about clothes again—and menswear suddenly began outpacing womenswear in sales.38. The Turtleneck Sweater (1972) All due respect to Steve Jobs, but we’re not into mock turtlenecks—we like the full-on kind that keep you warm all the way up to your chin.39. A Big Plaid Coat (1960) We always say that a coat is the first thing people notice when they see you coming. So make yours count.40. The Military Cap (1993) Piece of advice: Keep the military reference in spirit, but maybe don’t go walking around in some old soldier’s hat that you found at the Army Navy Surplus store.41. A Fur-Collared Jacket (1963) Rebellion never goes out of style, especially if you conjure up your inner Marlon Brando with a leather jacket like this one.42. Rock ’n’ Roll Rings (1959) To paraphrase The Social Network: You know what’s cool? A ring. You know what’s cooler? A billion rings.43. A Minimalist Belt (1991) Fashion nerds (like us!) refer to this style of belt as a D-ring. Feel free to refer to yours as “the kind without the prong.”44. The Checkered Sports Jacket (1966) If we really had to, we could find 365 different ways to wear this jacket and simply never take it off.45. Albino Trousers (2004) White jeans have become a staple. Cosmopolitan and dandyish white trousers are the next level up on the swerve-o-meter.46. A Badass Biker (2001) You do not need to know how to ride a motorcycle to pull one of these off. Though it does always help.47. The Jean Jacket (1999) In these casual times, a good jean jacket is as crucial a piece as anything you own—because you can wear it with, over, or under pretty much everything else in your closet.48. Sweatpants for the Streets (2013) Did you know there was once a time when sweatpants were considered weekend cozywear that should never leave the house? That time seems very long ago.49. The Cleanest White Sneaker (2007) White sneakers should be a part of your footwear arsenal right alongside loafers, brogues, and boots. If you’ve got those four, you’re pretty much set.50. The Floppy Bow Tie (1975) Decade after decade, it never fails: If you want an instant attention grabber and compliment getter, all you gotta do is wrap your neck in a bow.51. The Retro Knit Tie (1992) As ties feel less and less necessary, the ones we want to wear are the ones with a little something extra: not kooky patterns, but interesting textures.52. The Old-School Tie Bar (2008) It does more than hold your tie in place. It holds your look together.53. The Foulard Dress Shirt (1957)—It’s pronounced foo-lard, and it’s what you wear once you’ve already conquered conventional stripes and dots.54. Arms of Steel (1982) A stainless steel watch is a little less precious (literally and figuratively) than gold, with a tough veneer that suggests it’ll keep ticking even longer than you will.55. A Plaid, Plaid, Plaid Suit (1969) Fear not the plaid suit. It’s an attention-grabber if you want it to be. But you can also ask for a “shadow plaid,” something like black on gray, which is subtler and easier to pull off.56. A Year-Round Beanie (2011) When guys started wearing knit caps outside the dead of winter, that’s when the beanie really became a style piece.57. The Puffer Vest (2014) We like it because you can wear it on the slopes…and then keep right on wearing it into town.58. The Beatnik Sweater (1961) What’s a beatnik sweater? If you could imagine wearing it to a smoky Greenwich Village café while grooving on some folk music—and, also, it has a funky pattern all over it—it’s a beatnik sweater.59. Faded Blue Jeans (1989) Most denim fits and washes go in and out of style. This particular blue, though, is as timeless as fashion ever gets.60. Alpine Boots (1984) Even if you don’t wear these to go hiking through Switzerland, you can always tell yourself you’re just not doing that yet.

https://www.gq.com/story/60-greatest-menswear-trends-in-60-years

[shadeof-sage]

I gotta do this. Nobody cares but I gotta do it

1. You woke up naked next to the last person you texted, what would you say? • "well, I didn't see this coming. Did you?" 2. What’s going on between you and the last person you kissed? • we don't really talk anymore. I don't really know what happened, but I wish our friendship wasn't ruined. 3. If your boyfriend or girlfriend was into drugs, would you care? • I'm down for them to be into anything except for meth 4. Is your last name longer than six letters? • nope. 5 5. Was your last kiss drunk or sober? • drunk cause New Year's Eve, baby 6. Have you ever wanted to have someone but you messed it up? •ohhh yeah. it's already happened twice this year 7. What does your last received text say? • "psst" 8. How many times have you kissed the last person you kissed? • I can't remember an exact number but it was multiple times 9. Where was your last kiss at? • in my friends front yard 10. When is the last time you saw your sister? • last night when I got home 11. What do you drink in the morning? • tea, water, oj, and beer on a good day 12. Where did you sleep last night? • my bedaroo 13. Do you think relationships are hard? • they can be if the other person doesn't give equal effort 14. If you could go back and change something in the past 5 months, would you? • ohh yeah, the list is too long to type lol 15. You’re locked in a room with the last person you kissed, any problems? • nah. we'd most likely start talking about what happened with us. at least I'd hope that would be what happened. it could also just be silent. or, we'd get drunk and then talk about shit. lol 16. Would you rather it be sunny or rainy? • raining while it's sunny!! 17. Do you know anyone with the same middle name as you? • surprisingly, no. it's such a common middle name 18. Are you wearing jeans,sweatpants,or pajama pants? • boxer briefs that I stole from someone. they're comfy as hell 19. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 years from now? • who knows 20. Does anyone like you? • I'd like to think so 21. Have you ever kissed someone with a name that starts with an S? • no, I don't think so 22. Is the last person you kissed gay? • haha no. that would be a plot twist 23. Is there a person you CANNOT stand? • Donald Trump 24. Have you ever considered getting a tattoo? • I plan on getting my whole body tatted 25. In the past week have you cried? • yes, in the shower 26. What breed was the last dog you saw? • a gorgeous German Shepard 27. Do you dry off in the shower or out of the shower? • in the shower 28. Have you ever kissed a football player? • 3. unfortunately. those lil fuckboys 29. Do you think you’re old? • my soul is old, but my body isn't 30. Do you like text messaging? •if I wasn't so shy, I'd definitely want to talk on the phone more. text messaging is a good safe zone 31. What type of day are you having? • I just woke up, I don't know yet 32. Have you ever thought about getting your nose pierced? • it's been pierced 3 times. it never works out, although I do want to try it again someday 33. Do you prefer warm or cold weather? • fucking warm as hell, r u kidding me 34. Is there a person of the opposite sex who means a lot to you? •hell yeah, multiple people 35. Would you prefer a relationship or a fling? • depends. some people are relationship worthy and some people are better as flings 36. Are you a simple or complicated person? • I'd like to think I'm a simple person, but I'm not 37. What song are you listening to? • palemote. it's from my sleep playlist 38. When you say you’re sorry do you mean it? • wholeheartedly. That's why i don't say it very often 39. Is there a girl that knows everything or almost everything about you? • yeppers 40. What made you start liking the person you like now? • I don't really like anyone right now. 41. When did you last receive a text message? • 4 minutes ago 42. What is wrong with you right now? • haha, don't get me started 43. How well do you know the last female you texted? • she works with me and I've never seen her out of work, so not much 44. Does anyone disgust you? • Donald fucking trump 45. Would you date someone right now if they asked? • depends who they were and if we have a connection 46. Are you in a good mood right now? • neutral 47. Who was the last person you talked to in person? • my sister 48. What color shirt are you wearing? • a darkish blue 49. Has someone recently told you something you didn’t want to hear? • yeah. this guy asked me on a date to the movies and it made me cringe a lil bit and I don't know how to get out of it 50. Anyone you’re giving up on? • nope. I don't give up on people. unless they want me out of their life completely 51. Do you hate the person you fell hardest for? • no. I'm still in love with him actually. I can't really move on because I haven't had the closer that I need 52. Have you ever thought about giving up on someone but couldn’t? • you have no idea 53. Do you like rain? • I crave it 54. Do you care if your boyfriend/girlfriend drinks? • nah, we'll having drinking competitions 55. Have you ever liked somebody and never told them? • haha yep. but I didn't tell them because I was too afraid that I was going to get hurt 56. Do you like to cuddle? • I love it, I just can't fall asleep when cuddled 57. Are you shy? • depends on who the person is. I try not to be 58. Do you get along with girls? • yessss, all da girls are my friendz 59. Have you dated the person you texted last? • no, and I don't want to 60. What do you carry with you at all times? • haha, this one will be funny. i carry my wallet, 4 lighters, weed, a pipe, rolling papers, makeup bag, 2 chapsticks, something minty, eye drops, naproxen sodium (for nasty ass migraines), a flashlight, phone charger, a water bottle and an old spice container I put tequila in sometimes so I can have a little somethin somethin during the day 61. If you were paid 1 million dollars to spend the night in a supposed haunted house, would you? • GHOSTS! :D :D :D 62. Do you think you can last in a relationship for five months? • I've never even had a relationship in general, but I'd hope so lol 63. Think back to October, were you in a relationship? • nah, single as the pringles I was eatin 64. The person you like kisses you on the forehead, do you find this cute? • yes, I'd cry a little bit on the inside 65. Did anything “cute” happen in the last week? • probably. can't remember anything too special though 66. How old are the last three people you kissed? • hahaha. 21, 20, and 28 67. Would you rather pay to get your nails done or do them yourself? • pay to get them done, I need those nice ass acrylics 68. Which do you like better- Zebra print or leopard print? • sheer print. heh. 69. Do you have any stickers on your car? • if I had a car, I'd have a shit load of stickers 70. Would you rather listen to Luke Bryan or Lil Wayne? • Luke Bryan makes me want to claw my ears off, so lil Wayne it is 71. Blackberry, Anroid, or iPhone? • iPhone. Always. 72. When’s the last time you had pizza from Pizza Hut? • ew. 73. Do you like diet soda? • I don't like soda in general. except for sprite when my tummy hurts. 74. What color are the walls in your room? • boring and white 75. Are you 16 or older? • turned 18 a month ago, boyyyy 76. Do you watch Pretty Little Liars? • I used to, now I think it's been carried out for too long so it bores me. 77. Do you have a job? • I got 2 78. What are your initials? • S.A.B. 79. Did you ever have braces? • yes, and I might need them again because my teeth hate me 80. Are you from the south? • nahh, Texans are hot as fuck though 81. What does your last status on facebook say? • it's a picture of the curly haired kid from Stranger Things pointing to a number on the wall that says "11" and the text above it says " on a scale of 1 to 10, how stressed out are you?" 82. Do you still talk to the first person you ever kissed? • noooo, I don't even think he's alive. sadly 83. Are you closer to your mom or your dad? • I was closer to my mom. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm drifting away from both of them. 84. Have you ever done cheerleading or gymnastics? • I did gymnastics for 3 years when I was little 85. What’s the last movie you saw in theaters? • split 86. Do you smoke? • not cigarettes but hella weed 87. Would you rather wear heels or flip flops? • depends on the occasion because I look good in both 88. Is your phone touch screen? • nah, this iPhone is from 1999. it has a keyboard hooked into it 89. Do you normally wear your hair straight or curly? • since its growing out right now, the only way it looks good is if it's curly 90. Have you ever snuck out of your house? • too many times to count 91. Would you rather swim in a river, lake, or pool? • all of the above 92. Have you ever made out in a car? • yes 93. …Had sex in a car? • nah, but I've given sloppy dick kisses multiple times in a car 94. Are you single or in a relationship? • been single since 1999 95. What were you doing last night at midnight? • fast the fuck asleep 96. When’s the last time you saw fireworks? • New Year's Eve 97. Do you like the camera on your phone? • it's not the bestest of the best. but it does its job 98. Have you ever had a friend with benefits? • yep. it never ends well and I end up losing that friend :( 99. Have you ever passed out from drinking? • ugh. yes. I hate it 100. Are you friends with people on facebook that you actually hate? • no. they're probably blocked 101. Have you ever had a pregnancy scare? • yeah, when I was 14. not good. I know 102. Name your favorite Kesha song: • sleazy. my go to song when I was 13. lmao 103. Do you have any tan lines right now? • yesssss and imma get more today 104. Would you ever wear cowboy boots with shorts? • I'd wear heels or doc martens with shorts. word.

[wait-what-no-way]

Interview with LADY ECHO

“Born in South Miami during the mid-1980’s, Emerald (also known as Echo or Lady Echo) grew up as the youngest and only daughter in a family of three boys. As a young girl, her favorite activity was riding on the back pegs of her oldest brother’s bike while being taught how to read the signatures of Graffiti artists from around their neighborhood. By 1994, Emerald had a “tag” and was learning how to use spray paint. In 1999, she began pursuing Graffiti and Art as a passion. She attended a pre-college program at Pratt Institute in New York City (just before 9/11) during the summer of 2001, receiving only a month of formal training in painting, drawing and art history. She has continued painting ever since. Many of Emerald’s works can be found interacting in public spaces throughout the United States and Europe, or rolling along freight lines from the United States to Mexico and Canada.” (Emeraldartstudio.com)

 So since your last interview in 2008, how has life been?

Life has been real! Lots of ups and downs in the past eight years. My best friend OiL died the year following that interview... I went into a bad depression. Poke BS, the only person in NYC who looked out for me at that time, died 8 months later. My older brother died a year and half after that.

In a span of 2 years, my protectors, the men who (although would give me so much shit in between us) wouldn’t let anyone fuck with me, were taken before I could realize how valuable they were. I spent the next several years in a bad place. It took a lot to figure out how to be happy again. I’m still kinda traumatized, I panic that the people I care about are going to die all the time. I panic that I’m going to die all the time – which is why I am constantly producing as much as I can. I don’t really party anymore, I don’t drink anymore, I don’t socialize very often, I stay in and I work on my legacy. I feel immense pressure to create while I still can. I feel immense pressure to leave things on good terms with people I care about as much as I can. I know how fragile life is, I’ve learned that even the strongest bonds are temporary, and I no longer take it for granted.

Also, since my last interview, Nekst - arguably one of the strongest American bombers in our current generation of Graffiti, passed away. Iz the Wiz passed away. Sace passed away. Countless other Graffiti writers have also died. Does this mean we, as Graffiti writers, are a culture of troubled people who will die young in higher percentages? I’m not sure but I’m well aware of the possibility.

Aside from that - technology has changed at a super rapid rate in the past 8 years. Smart phones became a thing, pay phones went extinct, social media emerged, instagram replaced Flickr (for me), information is being shared and spread at rates faster than ever before in our civilization, food (and nearly anything) can now be ordered through an app on your phone. It’s an interesting time to be alive!

 When did you start writing?

I learned about Graffiti as an 8 year-old in the early 90’s - and even had a tag, E.C.K.,  but didn’t actually start seriously writing until 1999.

 How many trains do you think you’ve painted since you started?

I honestly have no idea how many.. It’s gotta be in the hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more? It takes a lot of cars before you actually make a dent. I hope one day my panels get a catalogue raisonne like fancy artists do with their art works.

 What was your first train painting experience like?

Clumsy and inexperienced! Growing up in Miami, I spent most of my life in sandals. My dumb ass walked into the freight  yard with flip-flops and busted my big toe on a pile of rocks within 45 seconds of being in there.. My foot bled the entire time I painted, but I finished my piece - on a Chessie System coal car. I still have a scar from that day.

  Some writers love painting trains more than walls. What about you?

I prefer trains. I love smooth metal on clean trains but also love working on the rough, rusted surfaces of freights. Trains come more naturally to me than a clean wall. A panel that will end up moving with a train is more forgiving and less intimidating for me than a flat wall that will blatantly showcase any mistakes I make.

As an artist, what’s your favorite medium to use other than spray paint?

Stainless steel. I love welding and if you weld it properly, stainless steel will produce a rainbow of colors from the oxidation of the metal.

I also like epoxy resin, it allows me to make sculptures out of objects like used spray cans.

  What was the most thrilling experience you’ve ever had while you were out painting?

Hmmm. Graffiti is always kind of a thrill for me, regardless of how big, little or insignificant what I’m doing is.. There are different kinds of thrills for me with painting - some are fun, but some are hectic. Seeing my work running years later is a thrill for me. Discovering new mediums and new instruments is a thrill. Recently doing fire extinguisher tags thrilled the shit out of me - like, had me smiling all night and doing a little back-it-up dance kinda thrill.

Guess the most direct answer: I haven’t had a most thrilling experience yet, cuz I never know what to expect, the thrills just keep coming :)

 What type of music do you enjoy listening to while you’re painting a canvas or any type of work outside of the streets?

I listen to music literally all day (if I’m not listening to the news), it helps me work and it just feels necessary. I’m probably more into music than I am into art - even though I’ve never made music or ever had an interest in trying.

I listen to all kinds of music: Rap, Hiphop, Soul, R&B, Folk, Metal, Alternative, Jazz, Pop, Electronic, etc, etc, etc. Obscure stuff as well as super mainstream. Just depends on my mood or the feeling I need or want at the time. Music gives me a physical reaction, so certain songs feel better than others and sometimes I overdo songs that make me feel really good - to the point they no longer feel good and I can’t stand to hear them ever again.

My favorite song, since 1992, is “Minds is Playing Tricks on Me” by Gheto Boys - The melody really spoke to me as a kid and it can still give me chills if the mood is right. Since then, my other favorite is “In a Sentimental Mood” by John Coltrane.

My favorite albums of all time are “Live and Dangerous” by Thin Lizzy, “Ready to Die” by Notorious BIG, “Table Scraps” by MHZ (Megahertz), “Give Up” by The Postal Service.

I was going to start listing artists that I like but it would take forever. Instead, if people are interested in my music taste, they can check out the playlists on my youtube channel: youtube.com/c/emeraldartstudio. So far I’ve made 3 lists: Dance party station, Rap station and Soul station. I listen to these playlists all the time and I add to them whenever I have a free moment.

  What’s your favorite aspect of Graffiti? Is it piecing, hand-styles, throw-ups, or everything?

My favorite aspect of Graffiti is that one can never run out of surfaces on which to get up or instruments to do it with. I love tagging, I love throwups and I enjoy piecing too. It’s all fun to me, but some endeavors require more work than others. Tags and throwups are quick but require more strategy than a piece sometimes, even though a piece can be grueling effort-wise.

I prefer to paint super readable spots that will be seen in motion, whether the surface is moving (train, truck etc.) or the viewers are moving (trainline spot, highway spot, etc).

What’s you biggest motivator/ inspiration that drives you everyday to be creative?  That skirt you made the line of drips on was rad as hell.

My biggest motivator is death. Like I mentioned before, since so many people close to me have died unexpectedly, I have a panic inside of me that I’m gonna die very soon. I’m extremely concerned with my legacy and I think the work I leave behind is what matters.

As for inspiration - I’m just a creative person. My mind searches for that “new new” all the time. I like to experiment and try stuff that I’ve never seen, I like to put new spins on traditional things. Monotony exasperates me, I can’t even walk down my own street the same way more than a few times. I’m constantly exploring. I like to go where I’ve never been. I like to have fun and be silly, even if I’m alone, there’s never a boring day.

Glad you like the skirt with ink drips! It was a spin on an idea I had for photoshoot with black drips on skin, combined with my obsession for edding ink + the recurring theme of edding ink in my artwork. I wanted something funky to wear out that night and nothing in my closet was cool enough so somehow I had the idea of dripping black ink on my white skirt and took the risk. The dried ink was smudging at first so I sprayed it with rusto clear coat to seal it. The ink stained the vegan leather of the skirt, but the sexy surface black ended up cracking off by the end of the night. It was a one-time item, but very fun to rock!

  What’s the coolest place you’ve ever had the opportunity to paint in? (State, country, abandon spots wise.)

Hmmm… I think one of the coolest places to paint that I’ve come across is an abandoned factory in New Jersey - I have bad memory for some details so I can’t remember who took me to find it (maybe Tacoe). The factory had several floors, lots of walls, and old locker rooms for the workers, with a lot of stuff still in the lockers (including old porn magazines which I know I have photos of somewhere). For a while after we found it, I was the only person painting there along with whoever I selected from NYC to join me. I think I had like 5-6 pieces in there in the course of a few months. It was super cool to have an entire building painted with Graffiti that I basically got to curate.

Aside from that, I’ve had the opportunity to paint a freight spot that’s near the ocean. I’m a big fan of ocean, and a big fan of freights, so getting to combine the two is almost surreal. Imagine finishing an end to end, high as hell on paint fumes, looking up at the bright moon and stars, hearing ocean waves crashing as the moonlight melts onto your piece. It’s like a dream.

 What’s the creepiest thing you’ve ever experienced in an abandoned spot?

Never really had too many creepy things happen while painting, but the creepiest thing that’s ever happened in my life was on a “work” road trip with detour to the Grand Canyon. I was travelling with a friend, we were staying close to the monument the night before and had planned to visit  in the morning. We requested a room with two beds, but when we got to the room there was only one bed.. We soon discovered there was a door in the room which led to another room which had its own bed and bathroom. We assumed they either gave us the suite on purpose without saying so or that it was an accident, but we decided to use the second room either way.

I locked the manual door latch (which prevents the door from being opened even if someone has a key) and proceeded to wash my face and get ready for bed. B was in the room next to me and spoke to me thru the connecting door, told me he had to grab his shorts from the car so he could shower and would be right back. I was in the bathroom and heard a door slam closed.

When I finished I walked out, I heard B’s shower going next door but noticed the door latch on my door (in the second kinda sketch room) was open - which I thought was weird cuz B could have walked out of his own room - especially since we didn’t even know if we should be in the second room and he saw me make a point to latch the door when we first walked in.

I relatched the door and waited in B’s room watching tv. When B got out of the shower, I asked him if we could use his door only to go in and out of the room so that the door of the second room I was in would stay locked. I explained that when I got out of the bathroom my door latch was open and I was concerned someone could just walk in if they had the key.

“Emerald, but I didn’t go out of the door of that room. I went out of this door. Yours should have stayed locked, I didn’t unlock it.”

I looked at him in shock. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

“No, I swear.”

We both walked back into the second room and the door latch (which I had JUST reclosed) was open again. This time there was no possible way that B had opened it. We closed it again and watched to see if it was faulty and might open on its own. It didn’t. I got chills up my arms and tears started streaming down my face. B was in shock too, he didn’t know how to handle me crying but I could tell he believed I wasn’t fucking with the door latch either.

I ended up grabbing all my shit out of the second room and slept in the same bed as my homie that night. We both agreed it was probably a ghost and that the motel we were staying at had probably been built on some ancient Native American burial ground or something. I still get tears when I think of it. Creepiest shit ever.

 This is probably a difficult question to ask, but what’s the most monumental piece you’ve ever done?

Hmmmm… I hope I haven’t done it yet! I hope I still outdo everything I’ve ever done. I don’t want to be stagnant. I don’t want my highest achievement to be in the past, I want it to happen as often as possible.

 Most people probably wouldn’t know you have a dog unless they follow you on Instagram or actually know you. (Who, by the way is very cute.) What made you decide to get a dog and how has she changed your life

I’ve wanted a dog for a while and circumstances finally aligned for it to happen.

Also, after so many super disappointing experiences with disloyal people, I figured adopting a dog would be a safer bet than trying to connect with another person who betrays me. I rescued a pitbull mix and she’s changed my life in a lot of ways - it’s like having a kid, I take care of her before I take care of myself. She’s so smart and makes me laugh all the time with the things she does. She’s really strong and fast, but is the sweetest little thing ever + possibly a winner for the world’s best snuggler award.

I can’t imagine living without her but have already prepared myself for the fact that dogs have 13-15 yr lifespans. I get mixed emotions sometimes when I watch her sleep - relief and shock that they almost killed her at a shelter and then kinda sad knowing I’m probably gonna outlive her and that there will be no other creature just like her. Aside from that and all the work involved, having a dog is the coolest thing ever!

 What do your parents know about your Graffiti lifestyle?

My dad died when I was a kid, so I was raised by my mom and brothers. Yes, they know about it - in general, not necessarily all the details of what the lifestyle involves but they know I’m a writer.

When I was a kid, in the early 90s, my oldest brother wrote Graffiti and my mom was cool with it. She was cool with all his Graffiti friends hanging at our house, she even had her own tag, “Mom1” and would ask them to put her up + she would get excited when she saw them up on the highways or tags on toll booths etc.

When was 15 and started writing, and my mom found flicks, I got in so much trouble! It was OK for her son, but not for her daughter. I had to change my tag so my mom didn’t know what I wrote and I didn’t take photos of my Graffiti for the rest of the time I lived at home. During that time she found out (through one of my oldest brother’s friends) that I changed my tag to Echo but since she never caught me with photos, she could never prove any of the stuff she saw was done by me.

I moved out of her house before I graduated high school and after that she couldn’t tell me what to do so eventually I decided to be super open with her about what I was doing. In her attempts to finally have a close relationship with me, she was all of a sudden cool with it.

I remember when I lived in New Jersey at one point, she said she wanted to visit and do what I do - so I asked her if she was down to do backjumps on some subway trains and she said yes! I refused to take her but she insisted she wanted to spray. She’s never actually painted with me or really even made efforts to follow my work, but I have sent her flicks before and she has told me that she looks for “Echo” or “OiL” whenever she sees a train passing. She met OiL a few times and tells me that she remembers him fondly.

My oldest brother, who put me onto Graffiti to begin with, has reprimanded me a few times for writing on shit. Even so, I think he digs that I’ve gone so far with it and I think he respects my choices. I know he’s proud of me even if he doesn’t really think Graffiti is smart for me to do.

My older brother who passed way (I have three older brothers btw), never really liked it. He didn’t like that I would be out late at night with guys, didn’t like that I was going into train yards (with guys) and didn’t trust any of my guys friends - he was convinced my friends were going to sexually assault me or had already been trying to rape me in my sleep when I was on Graffiti roadtrips, etc.. On the other hand, he was also so amazed that I could get away with so much - like, statistically, he couldn’t believe how many times I had painted illegally and not gotten in trouble. I remember one night after telling him about a super-close call while painting in NYC, he was super stoned, got some sort of epiphany from my story, and explained to me, “The key to getting away with anything... is a girl.... All you need is a girl and you can get away with anything.”

What spots have you hit that you may have risked your life painting?

Ugh - recently did some seriously sketchy shit about 23 feet high on a ladder. The person I was painting with, who had just caught a fire extinguisher tag on the rooftop of a building - with security guard not far from us on the ground level - insisted that he could not bring the extinguisher down with him and that I needed to climb up and get it.

The logic of why he wouldn’t be able to climb down with the extinguisher and why I was able to do it made no sense to me -  but I needed him to shut up and get down, so I climbed up to get it.

The extension ladder was lifted to the max and still had a grip of space before the roof so he had to hand the extinguisher down to me from several feet above, and there was no chance of placing it into my hand - he was gonna have to drop it down (even tho there’s no logical or realistic way I could have grabbed it from the bottom). (As I’m typing this, I still don’t know how I agreed to do this). With one hand holding the ladder, I reached up above my head to have him drop a huge (way bigger than normal size) fire extinguisher into my small lady hand. I obviously couldn’t hold it and somehow (without falling off the ladder) repositioned the fire extinguisher mid-air, slid the bottom between my chest and the ladder and hugged it with my free arm and began to climb down. The entire time I was climbing down he kept going on: “Holy shit, you’re such a fucking gangster… You’re a fucking G.” I was shaking and my heart was racing from the adrenaline but I made it down safely and we didn’t get caught by the security guard. Definitely never doing that ever again.

New rule: You climb up with it, you climb down with it. Fuck that.

My final question… Are you a pizza or pasta gal?

Is both an option? I eat pizza and pasta more than once a week. If it’s a nice Italian restaurant I’m getting some form of pasta, but if it’s not boushie spot then I’ll go for the greasy pizza. Favorites: Joe’s Pizza on Carmine in Manhattan, Garage Pizza on Sunset in LA (yes, there’s decent pizza in LA!) and La Pizza on la Croisette in Cannes.

 Thank you for all of your time Echo!

Thanks for the interview! Super cool to follow-up with the same website 8 years later. I don’t do many interviews so these will be valuable one day :)

For those interested:

ECHO’s website: Emeraldartstudio.com

Instagram: @Emeraldartstudio

Facebook.com/Emeraldartstudio

OiL’s instagram: @crudeoilforever - All original flicks, no tributes!

Echo’s interview with Bombing Science in November 2008: http://www.bombingscience.com/echo-interview/