Been a minute since we had a Confessional. We grabbed Rose off her own blog, Around The Way Girls, and brought her into our limelight for a minute. This former chemistry major tells us why she dropped out of school to pursue a career in fashion. She’s currently the Fashion Editor of Missbehave Mag and a freelance stylist and has been going with the flow her fate has taken her.

Enjoy!

Name and Age, please:
Radio Rose Garcia, 26

Marital status:
My love has got to be the SureShot

Where are you originally from?
Sunset Park, BROOKLYN!

How long have you lived in New York?
Born and Raised

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Definitely has to be the days in High School when we would cut out go to hooky parties (lord those were fun) and I’d drink Zima’s thinking I was all grown up. We’d play handball and window shop through the Fulton Mall afraid that the cops would ID us because clearly we should have been in school. Oh, the thrill! Haha.

Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
I’ve worked retail for most of my adult life at several small boutiques in NY, but my last retail job was at American Apparel. I was their District Manager for the stores they had in Brooklyn for about 3 years, while doing that I freelanced as a stylist for a few publications such as Complex, Trace, LTD, Planet and Odd at Large. I also freelance designed some custom pieces for a few private events for Nine West, American Eagle Outfitters and Kiehl’s. After about 4-5 years of freelancing, I decided I wanted to settle down and try to pursue working as an editor, so I started at Mass Appeal as the Fashion Editor for their last 3 issues. Now I’m the Fashion Market Editor at Missbehave Magazine, a freelance stylist, part time DJ and Founder of AroundTheWayGirls.net.

How’d you get the name “Radio Rose”?
I wish I had a cool story, like- “I used to wear a boombox around my neck like Radio Raheem in ‘Do the Right Thing’” or “I have Love and Hate tattooed on my knuckles” (hey maybe I should do that) but the truth is, I said it out loud about 5 years ago and though, “hey that sounds about right” and just flowed with it. Although, I have been known as “Rose Gold” too, that may evolve when I undergo my first Madonna-like reinvention.

At what age did you start exploring your creative interests?
I’ve always been inspired to be creative, but was always taught that it wouldn’t be a very practical way of living. I was a Chemistry Major!! Yes, sometimes I’m a nerd but I wasn’t exactly sure if I was doing it for myself or to please my family. I think while in college my interests really broadened and I got to see that I had more options. By junior year I took all the sketch books around the house and decided it was time to just go with what I always wanted to do, so I left college with hopes of going to FIT. My mom, who I was afraid would kill me, was actually most supportive and took the time to buy me a sewing machine. I eventually started freelancing and designing for friends and artists so I thought college wasn’t necessary to actually pursue what I wanted to do. But to think I would’ve been in med school somewhere now kind of makes me laugh, I mean could you imagine me in charge of someone’s health? I would be too concerned about their wardrobe choices.

How did you begin your styling career?
It stemmed off by chance, actually. After designing for a few rappers like Guru from Gangstarr, Pharoahe Monch, Philly’s Most Wanted, and Bobby Simmons from Stetsasonic, I soon discovered I needed tons more training and was too young with no $$ management! While working in retail I always did the visual merchandising and started to ask if I could dress the mannequins. Who dresses the live mannequins?! I soon started to tell a friend to tell a friend and I talked to a few stylists I had met through my short designing stint. I started assisting a stylist Donald Lawrence, on editorials, fashion shows and commercials, he taught me so much. I also started assisting a few fashion editors like Anoma Whittaker and eventually it helped me do my own editorials and slowly get my own styling jobs.

You have styled shoots for a slew of women’s streetwear brands in NYC, how do you keep your work looking fresh while defining a look for your different clients?
To me streetstyle is just how I’ve always dressed growing up on NY. So, when I’m working on a shoot I try to think of it as a type of girl I may have grown up with. I try to think of each client as a different girl I may have known at some point in my life, and then try to think of how she would dress and express herself.

(Leah (MOB), Roxy, Rose)

Congrats on your new gig at Missbehave Mag, what’s it like working with the rest of the ladies there?
I love working at Missbehave! I feel right at home. I feel like individually we’re all different ladies with so many different interests but when you sit us down, we’re all on the same wavelength. I absolutely look up to all the ladies that I work with. We all put 100% into the mag and we have alot of fun doing it!

Got any favorite jobs you’ve styled for?
While I was assisting Donald Lawrence, I got to work on this amazing photoshoot for aRude Magazine. It was a 10-page spread with the legendary model Pat Cleveland, it was surreal. She was both elegant in her presence and photos and was willing to tell me about everything- being one of the first black models in Vogue, being Halston’s muse, Andre Leon Tally in the 70’s, Studio 54, everything! It was like I was in some sort of weird dimension where you meet someone you’ve looked up to your whole life and they turn out to be even cooler than you’d ever imagine.

(Pat Cleveland & Halston)

What do you consider your biggest career achievement so far?
My Missbehave cover for Issue #8. (The promiscuity/banana issue.) I had just started working at Mass Appeal and I did a few pages for Missbehave here and there. By chance, they wanted to do something different with the featured article/cover. I was so excited to work on it. I’ve worked on covers before for Complex mag and for Odd at Large but I feel that cover is pretty memorable for me.

You’re also a DJ, got skills?
Ha! well, that wouldn’t be up to me, but I think I’m aight! I’ve been a bedroom DJ for a bit but didn’t start playing until earlier this year, I’m just happy to play music for people. I actually met SureShot (who taught me everything I know) while he was djaying with Beverly Bond, and all I could think of was “Wow, how cool is she?” I also was impressed by all the record lugging. I’m still learning alot and I’m a stickler for learning how to do things the old school way, so even though I don’t use records to play at parties (I use Serato), I’m obsessed with making sure that I know every single aspect of how to rock a party better. I also really admire ladies with the skills like DJ Lindsey, DJ Elle, Roxy and NI** and more than anything I feel really priviledged that I can even be doing what they do.

Do your styling and DJing career ever overlap?
Absolutely! I was actually styling DJ Lindsey a few years back for special events and I’ve learned that a club and a photo set are exactly the same. You need to try to make sure your headphones look a certain way, your clothes aren’t too distracting form your other surroundings and accesories are way importante!! And you need to try to give a little eye candy. LOL! Make sure the boys like what they see and the girls want to google what you have on. Not to say you can’t rock sweatpants and work a party, I just feel like it’s important to evoke a certain presence and mood with your look.

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon?
I’m hoping to expand AroundTheWayGirls into more aspects of entertainment. I’m also starting a new online radio show called “Girlstown”, where me and other guest female DJ’s will play tunes every Saturday on Children of the Curb Radio (coming soon.) For now check out a few other shows from NYC’s most talented male and female like Roxy and Melo-X’s Booty and the Beat currently streaming on PNCradio.com. And who knows what 2009 will bring!

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
MadeMe has my favorite outerwear and tees this season, MOB has my favorite jeans and kicks (look out for the MOB dunks!) and for an overall collection Hellz Bellz takes the cake. I’m still obsessed for Jeremy Scott, I want him to make me a wedding dress- What would that look like?!? My favorite designers, hands down, are The Blonds. I want them to adopt me and adorn me in dookie chain corsets. Mixing all these together is pretty much a perfect wardrobe for me.

(Erin (MadeMe), Rose, Sarah)

Got a long term plan?
My plan is to not have a plan, how crazy does that sound! I’ve just learned every blessing I’ve had, has been by chance. I’m truly happy at everything I’m involved in so I wouldn’t want to change whatever divine course has been set out for me. I’m letting myself absorb whatever fancies me at that moment in hopes to live a fullfilled life.

Do you have much free time and what do you do when you’re not working?
I’m truly one of those people that’s never not working. Like it’s 3am on my first day off in a month and here I am making sure to hand this in instead of sleeping! LOL! But when I do peel away from everything else, I love to just cuddle in my bed with some junk and watch episodes of Spongebob back to back. Yes, I’m a dork too!

How would you describe your personal style?
Someone once said I was quirky, I totally didn’t understand that one. I think they just couldn’t pinpoint how I dressed because my mood really effects my look for the day, it’s hard for me to hide it. I don’t generally stick to trends, I just like to feel comfortable in my own skin. I tend to mix alot of things I love with classic pieces. I’m also a huge fan of all in one ensembles- jumpsuits, dresses, leotards.

Name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and your favorite dish there.
The Miso Glazed Salmon at Mooncake, The “Al Sharpton” (Chicken and Waffles) at Amy Ruth’s, the roasted duck club sandwich at Blue Ribbon.

What music have you been listening to lately?
Lately I’ve been obsessed with Baltimore House, I think I may do a roadtrip and take a trailerload of ladies with me!

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I think so. I’ved lived briefly in Mexico City and fell in love with the culture and the city but I was so homesick and seriosuly craved a slice of pizza that wasn’t the fancy “Argentinian” inspired ones. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else as a little old lady.

Tell us your favorite rolling paper or your cocktail/drink of choice.
Don’t use rolling papers but I do love some Vanilla Dutches. Jack and Ginger is my cocktail of choice

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list!
Damn just one! I‘d have to go with the other half of what makes us the DreamTeam- photographer and BFF, Marley Rizzutti.

(Rose & Marley)

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If you haven’t heard of her yet, this is the start of seeing her brand everywhere. New York newcomer Dana Veraldi seems to be doing the right thing at the right time. Her graphic t-shirt line combines her love of photography, illustration, and fashion into one clever and hip package sold at the best boutiques in the country.

We strapped her into our Confessional this week to find out more.

Name and Age, please:
Dana Veraldi, 24.

Marital status:
Not married

Where are you originally from?
Philadelphia

How long have you lived in New York?
Just over 1 year - I finished college May 2007 and moved here the same week.

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
BUSHWICK in Brooklyn.

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Meeting amazing friends, dancing, laughing, rooftops, arts and crafts.

At what age did you start exploring your creative interests?
My grandfather and father are both photography fanatics so they helped to introduce me to the medium at a young age. My family has always been supportive of my creative endeavors.

You graduated from the University of Maryland College of Art, majoring in Photography and Graphic Design. Is it safe to assume that you knew you’d be focused on your tees and totes after graduating?
No, I really had no intention or idea that the shirts would take off in the way they did. I knew I would always be taking pictures and that they would become a catalyst for other projects but I didn’t think that the tees would become a small business.

Can you tell us a little bit about how your photography, drawing, and fashion all come together?
It was natural how everything came to be - I’ve always taken an excessive amount of pictures and when I had assignments to draw and paint images for my screen-printing class it made sense to draw from my own photographs. I was not satisfied with two dimensional prints and loved the thought of my friends wearing something I made. I easily got a wholesale account to buy mass quantities of t shirts and began giving my designs away to friends. I love to take pictures of people in the shirts, their own shirts (for example Jackson in a Jackson shirt), because its almost like its come full circle - a photograph becomes a drawing which becomes a shirt and then a photo is taken of the final product.

Is there any one discipline that you enjoy more than the others?
Photography for me comes the most naturally and is the most satisfying.

When did you start selling your products under the name Deer Dana?
I created my website (www.deerdana.com) years ago and then decided to start selling shirts on the site as well as showcasing my photos. It just made sense to call my line Deer Dana.

I read an interview about how you create designs of your friends or people that inspire you including Agyness Dean, Tory Burch, and Andre Leon Tally. What’s your relationship to all these recognizable names?
Agyness is a dear friend of mine and I was happy to make the shirt of her after she began DJing with Jackson (our idea was that they could wear each other while DJing). Tory is the stepmother of 2 of my closest friends - I love her and her 6 kids. Andre I do not know personally, but have always admired.

You’ve also been assisting some big name stylists for the Sunday Times, Purple Magazine, and Elle. Is styling also something you plan on persuing?
No, but its been fun assisting my friend Christopher Niquet and occasionally assisting others. I love the energy of being on a shoot and the team work that goes into creating the images.

Any other creative outlets or projects we should know about?
I am working on a series of photographs of siblings right now, I hope to show them within a year.

Got a long term plan?
Photography, art, friends, family, babies.

Do you have much free time, and what do you do when you’re not working?
I am kept pretty busy between a couple shoots a week and making shirts the other days.

How would you describe your personal style?
Heirloom treasure chest meet lord of the flies.

What’s your most prized possession?
A golden piglet my friend Jon gave me.

Where do you like to shop?
Bess, Mario Besdescu, Olatz, deeandricky.com, Evolution, Opening Ceremony, Number (N)ine, Tory Burch, APC.

What are your top 3 fave restaurants in NY?
Schiller’s, Bubby’s, Blue Ribbon Sushi

What music have you been listening to lately?
Lightspeed Champion, Ssion, Kanye West, Beach Boys, Louden Wainwright III, Estelle

What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Shoe repair man on 17th and Irving. He is the best.

Tell us your favorite rolling paper or your cocktail/drink of choice.
Tequila

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Lyz Olko of Obesity and Speed

Visit Deer Dana online: www.deerdana.com

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This week we’re back in the Confessional featuring 21-year-old photographer, Texas Toussaint-Baptise, aka That Kid Texas!

As part of The New Pop, Texas has most likely been to more parties that any of us in the last year, documenting the New York party scene as well as some miscellaneous special occasions. Equipped with her 5D camera and often cruising around on her bike, this chick stays busy. Thankfully, she took some time last week to answer some questions for us.

Name and Age, please:
Texas Malika Toussaint-Baptise / 22 years old

Marital status:
Healthy ongoing marriage with my 5D/Photography

Where are you originally from?
East New York, Brooklyn

How long have you lived in New York?
22 years and counting

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
The maroon societies of NYC.

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Stealing hot cheese popcorn from the bodegas, riding my bike around for hours without any destination (I still do this), opening up the fire hydrants, double dutch, lunchables at lunch time, spiderman lunch boxes, giving this girl (when I was younger) I had a crush on ring pops so she could spend the rest of the afternoon with me in the park, getting into fights and not winning. Haha

How long have you been taking photos and how did you get started?
I started out with film in 2004. Went to college a little bit for Black and White Film and dropped out. I’ve been shooting digital for a year and eight months, though.

What was your first camera?
Film Camera: Nikon FM 10
Digital: Canon Rebel XT

You’re part of downtown New York’s most visible party photo crew, The New Pop, how did you link with Tone, Trevz, and the rest of the crew?
I knew Tone off of myspace and liked his work. I later met him and TrevZ at an FPC party (which was basically the first party I shot within this scene) and from then on – we clicked. Started bumping into each other a lot, and then I hopped on board. It was pretty much destiny.

What kind of assignments do you get as part of The New Pop?
Well, every time I shoot I’m doing something for the New Pop. Even if I don’t receive the gig through TNP, I still feel as if the content I put out independently unites with TNP. We all have a common purpose when it comes to the art we put out into NYC/The World. As far as assignments, if someone contacts us about covering anything – sometimes we all come through and just do the job together. If one of us is unavailable, then the other takes that person’s place.

What’s been your most outrageous photo shoot or event?
I’d have to say DANGER Parties. The first one we (The New Pop) covered was New Years Eve and it was the most interesting wildest party I ever experienced. Then, they teamed up with Mean Red Productions and Good Peoples (Shout out to Jen Lyon & Katie Longmyer!) and had another one this past Saturday (Dubai) . One thing, I do enjoy about danger parties is people actually dance at them.. They run from 10pm to 10am, and the party is usually still going on at 8am.. The DJ’s are amazing, and its overall a very beautiful and fun vibe. It’s pretty wack that people do not dance at parties anymore. They just stand around, with their drink in their hand, and stare at each other. That’s some shit you can do at home!

One event that was hella outrageous I must say (although, I did not shoot it) was this past Wednesday thrown by La-Mae (First Lady of TASTE NYC) — LICK. Joi killed it!

What’s the best part about your job?
The people I’ve met so far. Trevz, Tone, Katie Longmyer, The Agytators, iO (overspray magazine), Melo-X, and some others. I’ve definitely met some solid people in this cold industry. I’m sure I’ll meet a couple more.

I also love connecting with people and documenting an exciting moment within their life. I also began to notice how much I do affect people, and how my energy bounces off of them.

More Importantly, though. I’ve met some dope young hardworking women. It’s really hard being a female and young in this game. People tend to underestimate you a lot. I also find myself connecting with them on a different level as far as our careers go. It’s hard talking to someone who is twice your age about how broke you are, and how much you are struggling. I’m not any way implying that people who are much older than me aren’t struggling financially, etc. it’s just a totally different experience - A lot of frustrations and a lot of hurdles. So, it’s nice to sit down and let loose your annoyances and having someone know where you are coming from a hundred percent. And, a lot of people lately have been saying “blah blah blah all these women are coming together blah blah blah they are excluding dudes blah blah blah” no. shut the fuck up! We are supporting each other, and I see nothing wrong with that.

Name one person you’d love to photograph, dead or alive.
One is hard.. Can we say five? Haha.
Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
Prince
Bad Brains
Paulo Coelho
Broken Social Scene

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon?
I’m going to travel at the end of the year / beginning of next year – and reside for a little bit in Guyana and Venezuela (hopefully with my homeboy, Yego, from 21MC), in order to gain cultural influence and a peace of mind. I also want to go back to New Orleans. I will also be documenting out there as well. For those who do not know, that is my passion. Photojournalism/Documentary Photography.

NYC gets a little bit too claustrophobic at times, and we tend to forget that there is a different world outside of this wonderful city. I look forward to experiencing the outside world.

Also looking forward to expanding on my “I am King/Women are the new Kings” series.

As far as life, I’m looking to find romance/love =) Not the fake shit, though.

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
21MC (Twenty First Century Maroon Colony), first and foremost, they are my family and what they are accomplishing with their clothing line goes way over some people’s heads. A.L.I.E.N, Sikenomics, By Hand Clothing, ALIFE, IHMDJ, Peg Leg, etc.

Got a long term plan?
My long term plan is to continue to do my thing, grow, be myself, work hard, love hard, dislike hard, be inspired, and be content with the person that I am.

Do you have much free time, and what do you do when you’re not working?
I don’t have much free time, however, when I shockingly have nothing to do – I read a lot. I’m currently reading The Black Jacobins (Toussaint L’ Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution) by C.L.R. James, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Dreams From My Father by Barack “The Man” Obama, and a truck load of others. I hang out with my good friends, the ones who don’t see me as often as everyone else does because I’m always working. Bike riding. Digging for new and weird music. And, I currently got back into reading comic books! For those of you who don’t feel inspired as much, go back to the things you loved doing when you were younger, you’ll feel rejuvenated and creative all over again.

How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is King.

What’s your prized possession?
5D and my life.

Where do you like to shop?
I usually shop online (digital gravel), or I wear the same thing that I use to wear when I was 18 since I can still fit into them. When I do have money and time to shop though, I usually go to ALIFE or thrift shops. American Apparel for skinny jeans. I like to keep it simple.

Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
Jesus, all the time! To be honest, I’m bored of clubs. However, for looks.. it would have to be 205, since I like their whole Andy Warhol theme and the lighting set up is pretty dope. Other than that, I’m a huge fan of lofts. Huge Lofts. The best club of all time was CBGB. R.I.P.

Please name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and what your favorite dish(es) is/are there.
Veganism, here we go:
Red Bamboo (Buffalo BBQ Wings, BBQ Steak Hero, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake)
En Japanese Brasserie (Tofu + Avocado Rolls)
Dante Fried Chicken (Everything)

What music have you been listening to lately?
Astrobrite, Abcents, Mikey Factz, Theophilus London, Jesse Boykins III, Eternia, El Guincho, A Silver Mount Zion, Slum Village, Turning Point, Under Byen, Volcano, xLooking Forwardx, Bad Brains, Gorilla Biscuits, The Mae Shi, Radiohead (always), xKingdomx, The Paper Chase, Peanut Butter Wolf, J Dilla, Dizzee Rascal, J*Davey, The Four Tops

Ok, I’ll stop there. Too much!

What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Negative Space. Things seem so claustrophobic in NYC sometimes that I forget that negative space exists. Also, abandoned buildings. That’s my recent discovery.

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
Not forever, I plan on moving around a little bit. I may end up dying here, though. It’s possible. No matter how much this city is changing, I still call it home. Put up as many lofts as you like, the real new Yorkers will always stand out. We got that PMA.

If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us your cocktail/drink of choice.
Dutchmasters / Red Bull and Vodka

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Jen Lyon from Mean Red Productions and iO from Overspray Magazine

Visit www.thatkidtexas.com and www.thenewpop.com for more.



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Linyee Yuan’s been living in NYC for almost a decade and in true NY style has been on her grind, honing in on her marketing skills. She quit her job at Fortune Magazine when she realized “the only time [she] saw women or people of color on the cover of the magazine was in ’special’ editions.” Since then she’s helped grow two streetwear brands simultaneously, launched an apparel trade show in Las Vegas, and now currently wears many hats at her favorite Asian focused publication, Theme magazine.

We pulled her into the Confessional this week to find out more about her refreshing thoughts and opinions.

Name and Age, please:
LinYee Yuan, 27

Marital status:
Single

Where are you originally from?
Houston, TX

How long have you lived in New York?
Almost a decade!

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
I love summers in NYC. I also really love the random nights in New York when you have no real plans but one thing leads to another and you find yourself smoking on a stoop at 5AM, laughing your ass off with friends, and watching the sun come up from the back of a cab as you cross the bridge.

Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
After finishing school in NYC I moved to HK to teach English and was lucky enough to do some work for A-Vibe, a youth marketing agency. From there I returned to NYC to work in the communications department at Fortune Magazine. After realizing the only time I saw women or people of color on the cover of the magazine was in “special” editions I bounced to do Marketing and PR for The FADER/Cornerstone. After 2 years I left to pursue some freelance projects and help out with one of my best friend’s brand consultancy/streetwear lines, Kilo International. Not only did a small company of three people design, sell, distribute, and market two separate streetwear brands but we also produced a small boutique streetwear tradeshow in Vegas showing Japanese and NYC collections twice a year, timed with MAGIC. During all of this I was doing some freelance writing on the side for Theme Magazine, a bi-monthly publication with a lens on contemporary global Asian culture. It was (and still is) my favorite publication so I was geeked when they asked me to come on board as an editor!

You recently joined Theme Magazine as an editor, how’s that going?
I love it! Every day I pinch myself because I can’t believe I have a job where I get to work with a global network of inspiring and visionary creatives — thinkers, creators, artists in all fields, photographers, and writers. Besides the magazine, we also have a creative agency called emeht (the other side of Theme) and we work on a lot of interesting projects ranging from art direction for brands like Clae footwear and Inhabit cashmere to publishing an inspirational and beautiful breast cancer survivors portrait book for breast cancer awareness month this coming October.

Before working at Theme you were doing marketing for Kilo Int’l, what was it like switching gears?
It’s actually felt like a pretty natural transition. Even though Theme is totally different from most magazines that are out there, I’ve followed Asian/Asian-American publications for awhile (remember Yolk?!). I’ve always loved print magazines and have seen both sides of the publishing masthead. I am also really lucky to have lived in this city for a decade and have friends who do amazing things all around the world. I get to feed my natural curiosity for people, support my friends, and the magazine is a beautiful platform to tell people’s stories.

Theme focuses on Asian and Asian American people through a different theme for each issue, how difficult or easy is it to find material for the magazine?
I think one of the best things about Theme is that we get to tell stories of people who are creators in the world just doing them, and they happen to be Asian. For example, we’ve talked to a professional manga reader in Tokyo who started off just doing readings in the park, and for the issue on stands now we talked to an astronaut and an emergency room doctor who works half of the month on a Native American reservation and the other half of the month traveling to farflung locations to surf. The support for the magazine is really across the board and people are sometimes surprised to realize that we have an Asian focus. We have a great network of people who are plugged into creative communities around the world and we have a pretty constant dialogue with them and they always suggest great story ideas and introduce us to really amazing people. Also, because we’re based in NYC new people are constantly coming through and new ideas are always flowing through this dynamic city.

What kind of things do you bring to the table at Theme?
Because we have a small team of folks who work hard to put the magazine out, I get to wear a lot of different hats. Even though event production can be stressful, I really love putting together events and it’s a great excuse to see a lot of friends all at once. We have our Travel Issue release party tomorrow and we’re bringing the talented producer Eric Lau here from London for his NYC debut! Also, we’re relaunching the website soon and we’re going to have a really unique online store.

At your last job with Kilo you were heavily involved in streetwear fashion and tradeshows, how does that differ from Theme?
I really enjoyed working in streetwear, most of the people I met through Kilo are smart, young, focused and amazingly talented people who are brave enough to run their own businesses! I think the primary difference is that the people I’ve met through the magazine are really working in a range of different fields and because we’re not dedicated to covering a single industry, we can just focus on telling unique stories and giving some shine to interesting and creative folks. It’s also really nice to be on the other side of the press release.

Miss anything about working in streetwear?
I miss the parade of people and constant banter at the Kilo offices, the crazy hours, and the late night planning sessions on how to take over the world.

What’s the most important thing you learned at your last job?
I learned to dream big and work hard! Kenshin and Erik are two of the hardest working people in the game and I am really blessed to call them my friends!

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon?
Lookout for some fun summer parties and BBQs in the backyard!

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
I love Stewart & Wright in Fort Greene, Lola Y Maria and Honey in the Rough on Rivington. I rarely shop though…thanks to Audrey at Archetype showroom and the gentlemen of Surface to Air I can get everything done twice a year at their sample sales!

Got a long term plan?
One day I want to be able to wake up every morning and see the ocean. I also want to travel and see as much of the world as humanly possible.

Do you have much free time? What do you do when you’re not working?
I love photography because it appeals to my sentimental side. When the weather is nice I try to work on my garden, I love to cook, play mah-jong with the girls, and the ultimate luxury is sitting down with a good book. As I get older I realize I’m totally turning into an Asian auntie.

How would you describe your personal style?
Unfussy with a throwback flair.

What’s your prized possession?
I am obsessed with my cat, Oski. I adopted him when my friend Rebeca moved to London and he is so hilarious. He’s like a jungle cat with stripes on his back and spots on his belly and he runs around with his crew of other cats every morning before I go to work

Where do you like to shop?
I’m a die-hard thrift-er! I’ve been digging through thrift stores since I was in high school and when I travel I always try to take some time to checkout local flea markets and thrift stores. My favorites cities to thrift in are Houston (hometown love!), Vegas (great costume jewelry), Miami (where rich ladies go to die) and Chicago (for vintage furs). I am also a craigslist junkie. I’ve found bikes, furniture and my apartment through that magical site.

Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
I know this sounds kinda cliché, but anywhere there’s good friends and great music! I really miss Sam’s bar (palais royal) and the amazing bourbon selection.

Name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and what your favorite dish(es) is/are there.
Congee Village for all the crazy HK style junk food. Try the shrimp with candied walnuts and broccoli.
Royal Roti House in Crown Heights for its amazing goat curry roti.
Choice Market in Clinton Hill for lazy weekend coffee and people watching. Honestly, everything from Choice is perfect and I like all their savory scones.

What music have you been listening to lately?
Lykke Li, BLK JKS, Sachiko Kanenobu, The Cure, and some random compilations of 70s funk/psychedelia.

What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Cuchifrito – I’ve lived in NYC for so long but only recently tried Cuchifrito on suggestion from my good homegirl Jenay! Deep fried plantains stuffed with meat, just the thought makes my mouth water.

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I’ve lived here over the past decade and embarrassingly enough, I still can’t bring myself to say I’m a NYer. I tend to tell people I’m from Texas but live in NY. NYC is the place I feel most at home, I am inspired on a daily basis by my friends and the people I meet and by the city itself! If only I could have a porch and a proper beach setup in NYC! I trust that the universe will take me where I need to go.

If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us your cocktail/drink of choice.
Small-batch bourbon on the rocks, Smoking brand rice papers.

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Molly McIver - Publisher of Dossier Journal, Crossword Maven, Dim Sum partner, and all around badass Brooklyn girl!

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This week we’re stepping into the Confessional with DJ Lindsey, a perfect example of simple elegance. Her no-fuss style and selective taste in music have kept her on our Hail Mary list almost every month. She shares a little insight on married life and the party scene in NYC.

Make sure to keep up with her on her website: www.djlindsey.com.

Name and Age, please:
Lindsey Caldwell, age - old

Marital status:
Married

Where are you originally from?
St. Louis, MO

How long have you lived in New York?
I’ve lived in NY for almost 8 years

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
I live in Williamsburg

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
The day of the blackout was awesome. I was at work when it went down and I immediately linked up with my lunch buddy Doug Lee, we walked down Broadway to Opening Ceremony. There were like 30 people just chilling on the stoop and I spent about 24 hours hanging out with my good friend Ann. It just made me feel like I was right to move to New York and the whole day I thought about how lucky I was to have met such amazing and inspiring people. We went up to Times Square to see what it looked like with no lights, and ate beef jerkey for dinner. It sounds so simple but maybe that’s what made it such a good day. No one had anywhere to be and we were all just able to relax and be ourselves.

Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
Brief, ha! Straight out of school I co-founded a magazine called Frank with Steve Malbon, his cousin Josh and sister Cat. When I moved here I worked for a company called Upoc, then I asked around to find out what the best music PR agencies were in the city and found Girlie Action. I left Girlie to work at Rockstar Games doing project management and then went freelance for a while. I worked a very brief stint doing PR and Marketing for Rocawear (thank you Damon Dash for firing the whole department right before Christmas that year). After Rocawear was forced back to freelance and DJing full time. During that time I worked at a company called KCD doing castings during NY and Paris fashion weeks for Marc Jacobs, Chloe and a slew of other designers. In between I was DJing and hustling. I took another full time job at a marketing and PR firm called Ketchum and worked as the SAE on Absolut Vodka, Level Vodka and Nokia. I went to FADER as one of the editors and now I am back to the hustle. Oh and interspersed between all the other jobs I have been working at Opening Ceremony since 2002.

How long have you been DJing and how’d you get started?

I’ve been DJing since around 1998. I started out just admiring the DJs in Atlanta and, DJ Lord who is now the DJ for Public Enemy was in the apartment next to where we worked on Frank. I would walk over there during our downtime and watch him rehearse. I ended up buying an old beat up pair of turntables off of him and that was that. I started out playing drum and bass and before I had turntables DJ Rashida and I would sit on the floor of her apartment and teach ourselves to beat match. I used to also downtown on Mitchell St. where my friends lived. They were all in the group Massinfluence and they would let me on their turntables for short intervals, haha they could only take maybe a half hour at a time before they’d have to kick me off.

What kind of music do you like to spin and why?
I really like to spin everything but I guess you could say I focus on anything soulful. Mainly old stuff. For now.

Got any other music-related projects?
Yes. We’ll see if it ever sees the light of day.

You recently started a new Wednesday weekly, the Hump, what’s the vibe like?
It’s more chill than most things I attempt to do. Myles and I discussed doing something that was just regular for lack of a better word. We were sick of going out and feeling like people were focused more on what they were wearing than what they did at the party. We knew there was only so much we would be able to do at Blue Owl since it’s a lounge so we focused more on making the music good and I took a marketing approach to how we were going to promote it. We asked Grotesk to design an identity and it’s turned into some really fun parties with no pretense.

You also work at one of New York’s most exclusive fashion boutiques, Opening Ceremony, what’s your involvement?
I do a little bit of everything. I’ve been around since the store opened.

What kind of role does fashion play in your life?
I used to participate way more. Right now I have a uniform that consists of a white v-neck t-shirt by Hanes/Fruit of the Loom and any pair of jeans laying around. I sometimes dress up a little but I like to keep it easy. I like to sleep in so it allows me to sleep until the last possible minute every day. I know what I’m wearing.

What kind of perks do you get from working at OC?
Just being inspired by them! If anyone has observed their progress over the years knows what I am talking about. Their shit is MAJOR now! We also get free clothes and first dibs on stuff which is nice. It brings a lot of fashion that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford into my reach…kinda.

Of all your different creative outlets, what part is most satisfying to you?
Music has always been the most satisfying, it’s also so personal that it makes it really hard to do it for a living. For example, if I am playing out and people are not feeling what I am playing it hurts my feelings in a way. Any DJ who’s experienced that knows the feeling I’m trying to describe. I think that’s why it’s taken me so long to get my own personal music projects together. I am a perfectionist when it comes to that stuff and I am SCARED to let people judge it.

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon?
For now I can’t really say too much about it. But there’s something pretty huge on the horizon. Myles and I are going make some really cool shit happen. Shout out to Cortni.

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
Every season I of course drool over the Opening Ceremony stuff, especially the shoes. I also love the new Comfort Soft t-shirts by Hanes, perfect for the summer! My girl who I have just reconnected with, Meera Sleight, is killing it with the textile design over in the UK so some of the stuff that she’s done for Acne is so on point.

Got a long term plan?
Getting married changed a lot of stuff. The beginning of this year I slowed down a lot just to enjoy being a newlywed (CORNY!!). And after a long hibernation Myles and I feel ready to get ourselves back to work and really get our shit together. I wish I could get more into it but that’s all I can say for now. I want to try to get some more music done and actually put it out. A couple of young’ns in the next couple of years would be nice too.

Do you have much free time? What do you do when you’re not working?
My schedule has been a little crazy lately so my free time ends up being sandwiched in between other things. I watch a lot of trashy TV as an escape. The biggest mistake I made was to buy a gigantic TV for Myles a couple of years ago. We are like zombies in front of it.

How would you describe your personal style?
Basic. I wear a white v-neck and jeans and I build from there with cardigans, and scarves and the like. I never wear make up really, if I’m feeling fancy I wear red lipstick and that’s that.

What’s your prized possession?
Don’t make me be corny again! you know who that is.

Where do you like to shop?
I’m at Opening Ceremony a lot so I shop there the most. I like window shopping at The Future Perfect. I get my DJ stuff at Turntable Lab. For vintage No. 6 and Dulcine. I just got the chance to check out Fruition in Vegas and I am hooked. Lately I’ve been checking out street vendors a lot more. Chioma, a good friend of mine, reminded me that you can get some really unique things from street vendors. It’s easy to get caught up trying to afford stuff out of expensive shops when I can just wear my uniform and get something small off the street for a deal.

Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
I don’t go out much anymore unless I am DJing. If I could go out more I would definitely never miss the Rub, when I played that party the crowd was so into it I had so much fun. I am always DJing somewhere else during that party so I usually have to miss it unfortunately. Otherwise my couch is my favorite lounge, a pint of Vermonty Python ice cream and a movie and I am straight.

Name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and your favorite dish(es) there.
Barrio Chino - I love it here even though it’s now always so crowded you can’t get a table there anymore. It’s small and chill and the folks who work there are really friendly.
BarBossa - I like BarBossa for similar reasons that I love Barrio Chino. You immediately feel very welcome and the food and drinks are so good.
Diner - I love that they have their set menu and then a trillion specials every day. Half of the excitement of going there is to see what the specials are going to be. The food is consistently delicious.

What music have you been listening to lately?
I’ve been going through all my stuff from ‘88-’98 for the Hump. There’s a mix up on my site that Myles and I did so you can hear what I’ve been listening to here:
http://www.djlindsey.com/TheHumpVol1.mp3

What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Not that recent but the beaches on Long Island are really great. We try to get out there as many times as we can during the summer. Myles’s family are all out there too so it’s so nice to do family day on the beach.

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
Most likely, yes.

If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us your cocktail/drink of choice.
I don’t smoke but I love the Ellison at Blue Owl. Anything fruity has my name all over it.

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Miyazu Sato - She owns a company called Urban, they are a full service production company and their shit is really starting to take off. On top of that she’s just a really great person.

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California expat Natalie Blacker is a busy lady having worked in business development for Swindle Magazine and running Ladies Lotto- a networking and support organization for professional women- but she made time to give us her confession for the week.

We love Natalie’s dedication to the Worship Worthy cause of uniting us girls to help each other in “dude world,” so we snagged some words of wisdom about Ladies Lotto, future projects, and the possibility of running away to Hungary.

Name and Age, please:
Natalie Blacker, 29

Marital status:
in a relationship

Where are you originally from?
So-So Cal

How long have you lived in New York?
6 years

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Downtown – West Village

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Summertime. You cannot beat it. There’s an overwhelming energy and motivation to live life in the shared public experience. Living on the Bowery for years, walking out of my front door to see the new work on Jay Maisel’s bank building and riding my bike around town.

Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
PR for an art foundation, designers, musicians, artists, an indie publishing company (Girl Press), worked with non-profits, as an accessories buyer and even held a communications assistant position for Arianna Huffington. For the last 4 years worked with lifestyle media and brands. Some media includes SWINDLE, Anthem and Bust Magazines with numerous clients ranging from fashion to technology and everything in between.

Your job at Swindle Magazine, what were your responsibilities there?
Working on the business side of creative art/lifestyle magazines can be exhausting and rewarding at the same time. First thing, know the the brand and what it represents. It’s a constant grind when you’re representing any brand let alone a culturally influential media outlet. Let’s face it, the main goal here is to build awareness and make the magazine money so it can continue to grow on its own terms - creating and executing marketing strategies, project and event planning/production/management all within the perspective/branding. Building relationships, talking to as many brands/people as possible even if that means cold-calling, getting your foot in the door no matter what, pitching to clients, educating them on what the mag represents, its cultural coverage and how their brand can succeed in its goals by working with the publication. Maintaining a balance by taking care of the needs of the magazine along with the client’s requests/needs. Big thing is keeping your word and always follow through.

Did you attend business school in order to qualify for the position?
Nope. Finishing a Master’s in Media Studies at New School this May!

You’re also the founder of Ladies Lotto, can you explain the idea behind LL and how you came up with the idea?
Working with Anthem Magazine leant opportunity to many cultural outlets, parties, shows, openings, incredible people and resources. Although I worked with amazing women, it was a really dude centric perspective. Simultaneously I got into the idea of community and giving back by using these resources especially amongst the ladies making it happen in our culture. I came up with this idea to open up a nail salon/art gallery called Rosa Luxx where women could come, chill out, talk and create a supportive community in a cool environment. I didn’t have capital so it morphed into another concept. Passing a deli in the East Village I was inspired by a lottery advertisement. Like the lottery you gotta be in it to win it - just like you have to create and support your community as well as step up in life to achieve your goals. Shared the idea with some friends who were really into it but nothing happened for a year until I, out of frustration and boredom in dude world, sent out an email to 25 of the most amazing girls from various professions. It was a success, so I did it again the next month and it caught on fast. It was all really organic.

What kinds of things go on with Ladies Lotto and your meetings?
Ladies Lotto is constantly growing, inspiring and creating. There are positive influential and motivational factors with anything LL related. With a continuous flux of information and ideas floating about, LL the meetings are an extension of what is shared online – basically bringing it into the physical. Our meetings happen once a month in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco. We usually meet over dinner and drinks, preferably at a place that’s owned or affiliated by a Ladies Lotto member, hearing from a guest speaker. Our goal has been to provide a multi-experience one that provides education, new contacts and ideas for inspiration.

I was at one of the LL meetings and am on the message board which is a useful tool. What does a girl have to do to be a part of LL?
To become a member of Ladies Lotto a girl has to submit an application which basically ensures that they are the kind of girl who would both benefit and contribute to LL.
You can get access to the online application by emailing one of the ladies who run a chapter or by emailing membership (at) ladieslotto (dot) com with your request.

Any major highlights of LL since you started it?
LL isn’t even 2 years old and we have over 600 women who are apart of this community. I think that’s a major highlight. Others include starting chapters in Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle since January ‘08 alone! The success of the individual women within Ladies Lotto especially those which have been a direct result of LL such as friends Farah Malik & Dana Arbib’s A Peace Treaty (APT). The overwhelming success of 31 Under 31: Young Women in Fine Art Photography – coverage in major publications like The NY Times as well as getting over 1000 people to come out to Bushwick to see work by incredible female photographers.

Sometimes you invite guest speakers to your meetings, can you highlight a couple and describe the reaction of the Ladies?
There are a lot of women to chose from… Amanda Fairey, Business/Operations Director for Studio No. 1/SWINDLE/Obey in LA - after asking us in the car to keep quiet, she announced her 2nd pregnancy to which everyone cheered and applauded. Kiki T, Astrosexolgist in NY– she literally sat down with each individual, broke down their astrological sign, who they should be getting busy with and why. Most were blown away by how right on she was! Emily Griffin, Music Supervisor/Programming at Microsoft in Seattle – getting face time with someone in her position is nearly impossible so the reaction to her was really positive. Sarah Cirkiel, Pitch Control PR – she was straight up with how she opened up PCPR, inspiring one of the ladies to quit her day job to start a production company.
The women who speak end up joining LL and subsequently LL members end up working with the speakers.

Us ladies can be catty at times! How do you avoid that kind of environment when you get so many ladies in one room?
Yes, that is true with some ladies and we prefer they stay away! Those who come to LL meetings understand the power of creating a network of women allied together for professional and personal support. Rather than dismissing the potential relationships and resources readily available they embrace it. Every single person contributes to the successful environment.

What’s the plan for Ladies Lotto and where do you see it going?
We are currently developing 2008 initiatives to bring together the amazing women of each of our chapters and unite the global LL family on an individual basis. We are also developing and implementing the means and mechanics to continue to take our united energies out into the world to do collective “good” work, as networking is just step one in what LL is here to do.

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon? (Work or life)
Besides moving forward with Ladies Lotto, creating my own media is my goal. I want to make a documentary about women in reggae and its subsequent influence on broader culture (i.e, spawning various musical genres from punky reggae to 2 tone to dnb and beyond). I’m also getting my Hungarian Passport and would like to stay at my family’s home in Hungary while researching this documentary.

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
United Bamboo, Comme de Garcons, Marc Jacobs, Name Ribbon, Missoni, Blood is the New Black, YSL, La Perla, Anna Sui, Built by Wendy, Judi Rosen, See by Chloe, Top Shop, I need to stop.

Got a long term plan? (If yes, please describe.)
Part of going to grad school was to get a better understanding of media theory and learn how to make my own. I’m interested in creating media from experimental video, documentary and hell, maybe I’ll start my own magazine? Community and culture will always have a great importance and priority in my life. I think one can only plan so much, just go where life takes you.

Do you have much free time? And what do you do when you’re not working?
I work, a lot and I’m around large groups of people often so being in the presence of close friends in a more intimate setting is a relief. I’ve gotten more into Feng Shui lately and have subsequently been rearranging the things in my apartment. I hang out with my bf – together we have a small zoo - 2 dogs and 2 cats. I try to work out 3-5 times a week. Helps with stress and distraction. Love yoga at Jivamukti and walking with no destination.

How would you describe your personal style?
I spent years wearing stuff brands/people gave me (and keep on sending stuff over!). It’s “Ceci Cela” - little bit of this and that - a blend of vintage and ready to wear.

What’s your prized possession?
My mind.

Where do you like to shop? (Clothes, house wares, beauty, etc.)
I honestly don’t like to shop. It bores me and there’s too much emphasis on women to “consume.” I’d rather get gear from friends or brands I work with. But who doesn’t love a good vintage clothing shop that won’t bleed you dry? I buy food at Integral Yoga & the farmers market. Valley for my Brazilian wax. Fresh has incredible all natural ingredients and they don’t test on animals.

Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
I don’t go out much anymore! I’m too damn busy. So humm… L’enfant Terribles for an after work drink, I love Larry Lawrence for its lighting and subtleties. B-side has a good jukebox. I’d rather go to a house party than go to the club.

Please name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and what your favorite
dish(es) is/are there.
Caravan of Dreams – Seitan Quesadilla
Souen – Planet Platter (thank you to Sara Rosen for turning me on to this place)
Veggie Dim Sum- Mock Pork Buns
Runner up: Dumont - Mac N Cheese hold the bacon.

What music have you been listening to lately?
A little bit of everything – from hip hop to cumbia to metal. Rock steady, ska, reggae are always on rotation. Studio One and Trojan Records! For my birthday this March a friend gave me an iPod shuffle with the best doowop, garage rock, and girl-groups. I love listening to recent releases but you can’t help going back to discover the roots of the present.

What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Filmmaking in the city. People are generally narcissistic and love to be filmed!

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I’m always going to be tied to NYC and I plan on always keeping a place here. If another Republican steals the White House then it might time to leverage my Hungarian/EU passport for a while.

If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us
your cocktail/drink of choice.
Aleda cellulose papers. Champagne.

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
This is hard. I could give you a long, long list – everyone in Ladies Lotto and involved with Worship Worthy! Ok… Lyndsay Siegel. She is one of 6 talent bookers for all of MTV programming. She integrates artists in all platforms for MTV, MTV2 and MTVU. Can you imagine!? She has an enormous influence on culture and finds time to get involved with Stoked Mentoring along with having a social life.

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Photographer and Photo Editor of Missbehave Mag, Brooke Nipar lays it out in this week’s Confessional. Looking good both in front of and behind the lens, this striking beauty dishes out about how she got connected with the Missbehave crew, her favorite celeb photoshoot, and how her grandfather helped start her on the road to photography.

Make sure to check out more of Brooke’s work online: www.brookenipar.com

Name and Age, please:
Brooke Nipar. Age: 29

Marital status:
Single.

Where are you originally from?
Los Angeles.

How long have you lived in New York?
It’ll be 6 years in May.

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
East Village.

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Daft Punk at Coney Island, rooftop parties, trips to Long Beach in the summertime, the first MISSBEHAVE party at Happy Valley.

How long have you been taking photos and how did you start?
I started taking pictures when I was 13 or so. My Grandfather was a photographer, when he passed away he left me all of his photo equipment and I started playing around with it. Then I started taking photography classes when I was a sophmore in high school which led to me studying at Art Center.

Currently you’re the photo director of Missbehave, how did you connect with the magazine and what does your job require of you?
My connection with MISSBEHAVE was truly serendipitous. Samantha, the founding editor, had seen some of my work and contacted me to see if I wanted to contribute to a new project she was doing called “MISSBEHAVE”. At that point she was just working to produce a promo copy to pass around to advertisers so they could get the vibe of what the mag would ultimately be like. She had already started working with our other editors Sally and Mary but didn’t have a photo editor. We got on really well and she asked me if I wanted to be a part of it and the rest is history. It was totally meant to be. The four of us that started this magazine together have a really special chemistry, I don’t think any of us are replaceable. There’s a piece of each of us that goes into every issue and it’s so awesome that people have responded so well to it.

Being the Photo Director of MISSBEHAVE requires me to handle all things photo based. I research and hire all the photographers that shoot for us. I then edit and choose all of the images that go into each issue. I work closely with the other girls to make sure everyone is happy with the content and that we’re all on the same page. If one of us is strongly opposed to something it usually doesn’t make it in. I spend a lot of time looking at websites, meeting with photographers to look at their portfolios and checking out other magazines just to see what everyone else is up to out there.

Aside from the photo stuff I pitch ideas for content and stories in general, help with planning of MISSBEHAVE parties/events, and I’m also the de facto music editor. I guess I wear a lot of hats. Hahaha. But I like being involved in all aspects of the mag.

You’re also a freelance photographer, what do you consider your biggest or most rewarding job?
So far I think my favorite shoot/job was going to London to shoot M.I.A. for the cover of MISSBEHAVE. I’m a huge fan of hers and we had wanted her on the cover since the very beginning, so finally getting her for the cover of issue 5 and getting to shoot her myself was really rewarding all the way around. Plus she’s a really rad girl and super fun to photograph.

Any favorite photoshoots or people you enjoyed photographing?
Shooting Amy Winehouse definitely goes down in history as one of the most “interesting” shoots I’ve ever done. I’m a big fan, but she’s completely nuts.

Digital or film?
Both. I love shooting film, but it’s just not as practical anymore for multiple reasons.

What are your thoughts on all the party/event photography websites and photographers such as Cobrasnake, Last Night’s Party, and Photobytone that have come to the forefront of internet/digital photography in the last few years?
Yeah, the whole party/event photography thing has gotten really big over the past couple of years. People love going out at night and seeing themselves up on these sites the next day. It’s completely different from what I do but I can totally respect it. Especially with Bronques (Last Night’s Party). For a long time everyone thought of him just as a “party photographer” but he’s really pushed the boundaries over the past few years and is doing amazing work. He’s a friend and watching him shoot is fascinating to me– he connects with people on another level.

Which photographers do you admire or inspire you? What do you consider the highest achievement for a photographer?
There’s so many photographers that I admire: Guy Bourdin, Andreas Gursky, Richard Burbridge, David Sims, Larry Clark, Avedon, the list goes on and on. I think the highest achievement for a photographer is to be respected by those you admire.

What advice would you give to young photographers trying to get noticed?
Be yourself and shoot what you love.

Got any favorite clothing brands/designers?
I like Rojas a lot. My friend Alejandra designs for them and she does an amazing job. Brian Lichtenberg is a really cool young designer out of LA. I love the favorites like Ksubi, Jeremy Scott, Bernard Willhelm, etc as well.

Got a long term plan?
My long term plan is to be happy. That’s all I want honestly. Hopefully that will always involve photography.

Do you have much free time? And what do you do when you’re not working?
I could be busy all the time if I wanted to be but I definitely make time for fun. I need to or I would go crazy. I go out dancing with my friends as much as possible. My roommate Jules (www.bijulesnyc.com) and I have people over for dinner/house parties quite a bit as well. During the summer I’m usually at the beach on the weekends.

How would you describe your personal style?
I’m not really sure how I would describe it– I wear so many different types of things mixed together. I was having dinner with a friend the other night and he said that I “only wear pieces that are typically Brooke Nipar”… so whatever that means!

What’s your prized possession?
I have a few, but recently my black leather motorcycle jacket I picked up at a flea market in London. I wear it almost everyday.

Where do you like to shop?
I love Opening Ceremony and Seven here in NYC.

Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
Yeah, I go out a lot. Hahaha. Part of living in NYC that I love is that there is always something to do. I have to force myself to stay home sometimes. Studio B and 205 are the only places I go regularly. Other than that I just go to where my friends will be or where the music is good.

Please name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and what your favorite
dish(es) is/are there.
Peasant: everything is excellent.
BLT Prime: the fillet and the blue cheese tater tots.
Cafe Mogador: my neighborhood spot. I eat there a few times a week. The greek salad and the Lamb Tangine Casablanca are my fav. The brunch is also really great.

What music have you been listening to lately?
My friends band KUDU is about to release a remix album that I’m way into. Other things on rotation would be Modeselktor, Radiohead, The Kills, Santogold, Spiritualized… Too many things to list, really. I’ve also been listening to a lot of the music I loved when I was in high school: Fugazi, Nine Inch Nails, Jawbreaker, Stiff Little Fingers, Joy Division, The Cure.

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I think so… I feel like I will probably always be based here anyway. I love NYC. It’s been really good to me and it’s a great place to live while you’re young. Being that I’m originally from Cali I could see myself wanting a house with a yard and trees, etc at some point. But I don’t think I could ever leave NYC completely…. after all, it is the center of the universe!

If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us
your cocktail/drink of choice.
I’m a total wino. I LOVE wine. I drink it everyday. I have fantasies about owning my own vineyard one day. Right now I’m really into South American wines- Riojas and Malbecs. I was in heaven when I travelled to Argentina a while back because you can get the most amazing bottles of wine for like, 5 bucks.

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Mary Choi

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If you’ve gone to any great NY parties lately chances are that they’re “Good Peoples” affiliated, the (more than just) marketing company founded and run by this week’s confessionalist, Katie Longmyer. Longmyer’s got her hands in some of the best music events and parties going down in the city right now and also day-jobs as the Brand Partnership manager at Warner Brothers Records.

We had the privilege of questioning Katie to find out more about what it’s like for her working in the male-dominated music business.

Name and Age, please:
Katie Longmyer — 28

Where are you originally from?
Washington DC

How long have you lived in New York?
6 years

What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Lower East Side

What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Summer rooftop parties in Bushwick, sharing an apartment with my best friend of 10 years and having 4am dance parties to early 90s diva house, this crazy city every day.

When did you know you wanted to be in the music biz?
Always! I grew up watching so many artists, promoters and DJs at concerts that amazed me. I remember waiting in line, and watching them thinking about who really runs the show – I didn’t want to stand there wondering what was going to happen, and I didn’t want to perform, I wanted to be the person who made it all possible.

What was your first music related job?
Flyer bitch! I had a job handing out flyers and managing meet and greets for a street marketing company called Noize Pollution the summer before my junior year of college. (www.noizepollution.com)

Tell us how you started working at Warner Bros. Records and your responsibilities there.
I started out working in Washington DC and Baltimore as a club promoter for the Buzz/Fever/Origin parties. While I was doing that I got a job as a field rep for Maverick Records during the day. I eventually moved up to NYC and became a field rep for Warner Bros. Records, Maverick’s parent label, but hated working in sales. I went into the office and eventually landed an assistant job. After a year at that job I created Good Peoples and launched by creating and producing the 1st Beautiful/Decay Magazine Video Festival. (www.beautifuldecay.com) I continued to manage my own projects on my own time and when my boss at Warner Bros. discovered what I had been working on she called me into her office to talk about it. I totally thought I was going to get fired, but instead she promoted me to a job especially created for me! I’ve been working at that job in the Brand Partnerships department of Warner Bros. ever since.

You started your own company, Good Peoples, a few years ago. What’s the mission behind your company and how does it relate to your “day job”?
Good Peoples was born out of a simple idea – that I was surrounded by dope creative people and if they were all connected through a central hub the possibilities for success were limitless. It has evolved into a brand development boutique. All of the creative people around me have their own brands, events and projects so I help connect them, partner them with corporate companies, organize them, and promote them in a creative way. And as for my day job — “the machinery” as E-40 calls it I guess I’m an in house trendcaster, A&R scout and bridge between the company and the community of creators I work with. My department connects Warner Bros. artists to all kinds of brands (from Pepsi to LRG) with creative projects.

Do you encounter any challenges in your job that you think are set on mostly because you are a woman in a male-dominated industry?
Not really. I think that if you are the best at what you do and produce results, no one (man or woman) can really fuck with that.

You probably get the opportunity to meet a lot of talented music artists. Any good stories?
Omg so many – but too good to put in print

Who’s your favorite you’ve met?
Without a doubt – Madonna.

What’s the plan for Good Peoples and what direction are you taking it?
This is a huge year for Good Peoples. There are amazing partnerships that are happening (that’s all I’ll say for now but you’ll see soon enough!!). Stay tuned for some dope new mixtapes, huge parties in and outside of New York and maybe a tour!

Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon?
* TheNewPop.com new website and lots of amazing new photo and video content
* Maggie Horn’s new mixtape and release party with Scottie B @ Heartbeat on April 9th
* A dope track on Tittsworth’s new album with Warner Bros. artist Federation
* and some very special projects with MeanRed Productions

Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
clothes: IKKS, Mishka, Hellz Bellz, 55DSL, G Star, DSquared
stores: reed space, blush on bleeker st, pop up shops and random online boutiques – I can’t stand shopping in a crowd.

Do you have much free time? And what do you do when you’re not working?
I think the last time I truly had “Free Time” I was out of the country in Costa Rica with no internet or blackberry service. Haha. When I do have free time I’m usually trying to catch a couple hours of sleep and I have dinner parties at my apartment (we do a weekly Sunday Dinner).

What’s your prized possession?
Always and forever – my cello

Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
I’d say about ¾ of my time I’m “out” but I’m most likely “working”. You can usually find me at 205 Club, Von or Roxy’s party at Sway on Mondays. One of my new favs is the Hot Jams party at Southpaw.

Please name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and what your favorite
dish(es) is/are there.
* Inoteca – truffle egg toast with a glass of lambrusco (my favorite sparkling red wine)
* Pho Viet Hong – on Mulberry & Bayard – Pho (my ultimate comfort food)
* Prune – (brunch) fried oyster omelet, lamb sausage and a Chicago matchbox bloody mary

What music have you been listening to lately?
Bilal (always in rotation), Kid Cudi (is the future), Maggie Horn’s new mixtape, Roxy’s new mixtape, Kudu, I think I’ve played Mapei & Switch’s “CSS” track about a million times over and over, Million $ Mano is killing it with remixes right now! the new erykah album…. I could go on forever….

Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I think NY will always be my home base, but I want to travel (and take over) the world sooner rather than later.

If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us your cocktail/drink of choice.
I will never turn down a glass of champagne ☺

Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Jen Lyon aka Superwoman!

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