STAFF STAFF R.I.P. Steve Azzara President/Editor In Chief/MFIC
Santelmo “Saint” Vazquez VP Co-Founder/Creative Director Cypress Bates Video Journalist/Writer Steve Azzara President/Editor In Chief/MFIC (R.I.P.) Christiana Lucratif Photographer LA Santelmo “Saint” Vazquez VP Co-Founder/Creative Director Matt Sellers Writer Cypress Bates Video Journalist/Writer Yann Corneille Photographer France Christiana Lucratif Photographer LA Matt Sellers Writer CONTRIBUTORS Yann Corneille Photographer France Millz Marley Fame Montalvo CONTRIBUTORS Mike Johnston Concert/Event Millz Marley Photography Bitten Apple TV Fame Montalvo Neste Photography Mike JohnstonAnthony Concert/Event The Ink Project Bitten Apple TV Anthony Neste Special Thanks The InkRajdev, Project Golden Eagle Diner, Dr. Dr Lee, Dr. Bisson,
YC Photo, Millz Marley, Fame Montalvo, Joe Martinez, Brian Mackey, Ashley V, Special Thanks Goliath Needles, Lydia Bruno, Ricky Hu, Robert B. Dickerson, Devon at Nash10music, Alectra Ricky HuBusey Westchester Tattoo Con, Bang, Curtis and Co Dr Watches, Smith, Tommy’s Golden Eagle Diner, Dr. Rajdev, Lee, Dr.Jesse Bisson, Supplies, Jarrett Kelly, YC Photo, Millz Marley, FameDomenico Montalvo, Steve, Joe Martinez, Brian Mackey, Ashley V, Wildwood, sarahfuckingsnyder, Mark Lawrence, Goliath Needles, Lydia Bruno, Robert B. Dickerson, Devon at Nash10music, AlecChristiana Lucratif and Opulen Studios LA, the people who keep Steve sane, tra Busey Matt Sellers, Pam Sellers, Sorry if we forgot anyone. Westchester Tattoo Con, Bang,Trevor Curtisand andClint. Co Watches, Jesse Smith, Tommy’s Supplies, Domenico Steve, Jarrett Kelly, Very Special Thanks Wildwood, sarahfuckingsnyder, Mark Lawrence, Christiana Lucratif and Opulen Studios LA, the people who keep Steve sane, Sean Hightower Co-Founder Matt Sellers, Pam Sellers, Trevor and Clint. Sorry if we forgot anyone.
COVER: Model: Paige Photographer: Jordan Krate @paigeamaze @jordankrate
TABLE OF CONTENTS Steve Azzara—2
Fan Wu—64
Brianne Nicole Wilson—8
Lucy Bogus—70
Ricky Borchert—14 Alexandra Avella—18 Amber Barbee Pickens—22 Immortalizing Emotions—28
Ivan Androsov—78 Tatiana Waimanalo—86 Jenny Sousa—94 Magot Martinez—98 Bevan Bowman—102
Kara Rea—38
Tunisia Brignol—108
Perry Yung—44
Meghan Fritz—114
LALovetheBoss—56
Omari Amar—120
Khadeidra—60
Simon Lunche—126
Steve Azzara
STEVE AZZARA Photography by: 2
Steve Azzara, CEO/Founder, of Azzara Magazine and 247 Ink Magazine, was born and raised in New York City where he got his break in photography while still in high school. After shooting Rod Stewart in concert, he brought the images to Mr. Stewart at his hotel the following morning and Stewart liked them and used them on his upcoming album, Sing It Again Rod. After that he became regularly published in music magazines from Circus to Rolling Stone. During this time he was branching out into portraits, which he considers his strength. “Everything I shoot ends up having a portrait feel to it. It just turns out that way from nudes to fashion” he says. Over the past 35 years his work has appeared in People, Us, Time, Vanity Fair, Source, W, Vogue, New York Daily News, New York Post, Boston Globe, and endless other publications around the world. His books, NAKED, NAKED WITH A VENGEANCE, NAKED 3, and his “Greatest Hits Album” REFLECTIONS which is a good cross 3
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section of his celebrity portraits, fashion, beauty etc. Along with his many projects, his has been on MTV’s Making The Band, Dr. 90210, and his images used on ANTM. During this whole time had 2 small tattoos and always said when he had time he wanted to get more. His wish came true one night in 2012 while in the middle of chemo treatment for colon cancer. At the halfway point of the 48 hour treatment and boredom of listening to the pump, he thought “A tattoo!” He surprised the local tattoo artist when he took off his shirt to reveal the pump and tube running up his chest to the port, but after much convincing, and signing the release, the new chapter began. 70 tattoos later he was in talks to start 247 Ink Magazine and at the time said “I get to combine my love for photography with my obsession for tattoos and it just doesn’t get any better than that. The artists I’ve shot are some of the nicest people in the world and I just couldn’t be in a better place”. A few years later, “Better” 5
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just got even better with the release of his 2nd magazine AZZARA. While looking for a name he told friends “I’m looking for something with an Italian fashion type of name like Versace, Prada, Gucci, Valentino and everyone came back with AZZARA. I laughed and told them ok, that’s funny but REALLY! They all came back with REALLY! So I called Joe and Walt and a few other very talented friends and within 30 minutes AZZARA was born and it’s great to get back to music and fashion”. Steve will be greatly missed by all. He made a major impact on all those he came into contact with. Rest in Peace Steve! We all miss you! 9
Brianne Nicole Wilson
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Photographer: Vixen Photo Studio Gram: @vixen.boudoir.okanagan Web: www.vixenboudoirstudio.com Facebook: @vixe.boudoir.studio Model: Brianne Nicole Wilson @briannanicolewilson 11
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Ricky Borchert
Interview by Steve Azzara 16
Great color work and you’re doing black and gray too. Do you have a preference for color and what led you in that direction? I started out doing black and grey and really didn’t do much color at all. However I started doing more color work to challenge myself and fill the demand for color work at our shop. Do you paint much? I haven’t painted in awhile because I am constantly designing for tattoos but would love to get back into it when my schedule allows. How do you feel about guest spots and conventions? I love doing guest spots and conventions. It’s a great way to net17
work and it’s the only opportunity where so much amazing talent is in one room. No better way to learn than to surround yourself with talented people. Is there anything you won’t tattoo? (subject or image) Yes- phoenixes and tribal. Phoenixes are the one subject matter I have not been able to conquer. Tribal is just way too mindless for me to get artistic enjoyment out of. If you could tattoo anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and what would you do on them? If I could tattoo anyone it would be George Romero. His movies have always been my favorites and I’d love to be 18
able to tattoo a zombie on him. What do you do in your spare time? What spare time? Ha! When I’m not tattooing I’m hanging out with my family. Taking my kids to hockey practice and going rock climbing. I also enjoy fulfilling my Hank Hill dreams and mowing my yard. Is there one tattoo that stands out as the most important you have ever done? There isn’t a single tattoo that stands out as the most important to me but most portraits of family members tend to be the most meaningful and important tattoos that I do. @hatchetricky @blackhatchettattoos Wallingford,CT www.blackhatchettattoos. com 19
Alexandra Avella
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IG:@ Catsandtattss Photographer: Sarasota Photo Studio/ @Lovedarlingco 21
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Amber Barbee Pickens
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Immortalizing Emotions
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It may be a surprise for many that the art of tattoos and acupuncture (the procedure) have a lot in common. Just as people with tattoos are often judged superficially, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is often defined solely by acupuncture therapy (a needle in, needle out and pain go away bias). Acupuncture and tattooing stimulate the body using needles and the each often result in a feeling of euphoria during and after having them done. The artist who apply tattoos must be skilled in their craft just as practitioners of Chinese medicine must be skilled in theirs. And both result in the expression of Qi, either through visual art or improvement in health. The difference is that Traditional Chinese Medicine theory provides a template to better understand tattoo art, its placement and the perception of the person, based on their personal stories and reasons for immortalizing the art and emotion as permanent expressions on the body. Art has been used for centuries to communicate not only information but our ideas, expressions and interpretations of ourselves and the world. Many theorist have interpreted our ability to create art as one of the earliest expressions of human consciousness that sets us apart from any other species. It is suspected that the oldest form of art dates back to the late Stone Age during the Paleolithic period around 70,000 BC and that the first creative form of art using contrast and color made from 31
shell, stone and paint was around 35,400 years ago (1). As distinct as many of the canvases used for the expression of art are, one that may be the most revealing of human consciousness is the one that is placed on ourselves in the form of tattoos. Historically, tattoos have been relegated to a cultural or institutional phenomenon resulting from a myriad of motivations and external influences but they have evolved into the mainstream of modern day expression. Yet if art is truly an expression of human consciousness, tattoos may provide a valuable window into the psyche of the person and subsequently be an adjunct to clinical practice. Over the past decade the growth in people getting tattoos has grown in the United States to more than 29% in 2015 compared to only 14% in 2008, and are slightly more common in women (31%) than in men (27%) (2). However, women tend to have smaller and less visible tattoos overall. If tattoos are expressions of consciousness, what do these changes in behavior mean and what is the best method for interpretation? Psychoanalytical perspective Several studies of tattoos have considered the psychiatry of tattoos as opposed to an exercise in evolution. Carmen (3) and Grumet(4) cited that tattoos can potentially be used as a kind of “dermal diagnosis” And although we agree with that assessment, we disagree with their summary suggesting that tattoos be viewed as a “psychic crutch” rooted in antisocialism and exhibitionism. In contrast Dickson’s assessment of tattoos was viewed from the perspective of motivation, including body adornment, expressions of individualism, and markers of identity while overcoming difficult emotions as a means of coping, which was supported by several survey study outcomes. What those surveys revealed was that contrary to traditional stereotypes that most tattoos are impulsive or done while under the influence, Dickson found that the majority 32
of tattooed respondents take months to decide on the design and placement, research qualified artist and spend significant amounts of money to acquire their tattoo (5) supporting a very conscious effort and purpose. Although both perspectives may be consistent with statistical analysis of surveyed participants, the one perspective that has not been considered is the potential that the expression of body art, design and placement is a reflection of the health of the body and mind at the time that the tattoo was done. Without drawing a definition of the behavior but rather use the observation and patient perspective and placement to assess the healing process and how it is expressed through the art of the tattoo. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Theory Image 1 Image 2 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, developed over thousands of years, and what makes it unique is that it is rooted in the concept that health and consciousness are reflections of the same phenomenon. Just as conditions in nature are the result of the interactions between everything within nature e.g. the trees growth being intrinsically linked to the nature around it, in TCM our perceptions and health are the result of our interactions between ourselves and all that has and will surround us. In TCM both are defined simply as Qi. So based on this concept of Qi, a tattoo can be an expression of a moment in time and the state of mind at the time it was acquired influenced by that which surrounds us at the time. In TCM theory, Qi not only exists within but exists in all things to include exposures unique to the person’s experience in time. Thus we are all unique in that no one has identical exposure nor do we have the same state of health or responses. This variability and fluctuation will ultimately influence our perceptions within the context of time and result in 33
specific behaviors, and decisions that are reflections of those perceptions influenced by the qi within and around us. What is revealed in our book “Immortalizing Emotions a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective of tattoos” are artistic reflections of qi (Tattoos) within the context of the individual’s life at the time and their stories behind not only their intention but their interpretations of their tattoo and the TCM theory to show how both are reflected in the theories of the medicine. The findings and conclusions based on the self-reported stories of participants assessed using TCM theory consistently supported the concepts and theories in TCM that propose the influence of energy (Qi) not only as it is reflected in health but more important how Qi both internal and external influences perception and behavior in the placement, meaning and design of a tattoo. The Personal Story One example can be seen in soldiers returning from war who during the conflict have lost a fellow soldier. One common observation is that many will choose to place a tattoo of the soldiers name or unit affiliation, dates and common statements used during deployment on the interior of the forearm. Citing that they are reminders of sacrifice, giving honor to those who are not here and to relish the life we have and calm the spirit within. In TCM this area runs along the Pericardium Channel (meridian) 34
which in theory protects the heart. Often translated as the “Heart Protector” or “Spirit Protector” the pericardium is closely related to the fire (heart) element. From the psycho-spiritual aspect the heart is associated with the emotion of joy. Yet, when life events such as the death of a fellow soldier strips one of joy, not only does one’s health suffer but there is the challenge of regaining or feeling joy when the loss of another remains at the forefront of your thoughts. In TCM the pericardium is thought to rule our relationship and emotional issues by influencing what we allow in or not allow in, to protect or support the heart’s emotion of joy or protect against a lack of joy (depression). In TCM, extreme emotional outburst, e.g. depression disrupts the balance of the heart and body. Without the pericardium to protect it, the heart would be damaged if these outburst were allowed to continue, thus the pericardium controls them and protects the heart. The placement of tattoos on the pericardium, if observed as an intuitive behavior to influence the psyche of the wearer, is evidence of the relevance of TCM theory regarding tattoos, putting an artistic design on the pericardium meridian that supports healing. Another example is the increase in women who get tattoos located in the lower back. Depending on the placement, this area is called “Ming Men” in TCM and is associated with the Kidney energy, roughly translating to “Gate of Life” or “Gate of Destiny”. One of the fundamental theories In Traditional Chinese Medicine is the theory of the three treasures. The three treasures consist of the Shen (mind), Qi (energy/function) and Jing (essence). Jing (essence) is stored in the kidney which has many functions but from a psycho-spiritual perspective is associated with the emotion of fear. Ming Men influences the depth by which a person has the inner strength, and courage to face life’s challenges without fear and with self-confidence. Therefore it is used to strengthen the kidney to not have fear and increase one’s level of self-confidence to 35
cultivate a balanced and harmonious life. This includes aspects of our sexuality and identity. And often many of the female participants interviewed who had a tattoo in this area relate the images to power and strength consistent with the TCM perspective of Ming Men. The Art Tish Tish is a fifty-eight-year-old female and was fifty-eight at the time she got the tattoo. TCM Constitutional Archetype – Metal The Art: A naked woman wrapped in a quilt and adorned with reminders of family. What does the tattoo mean to Tish? Tish is a quilter and admirer of the work of a local tattoo artist Tracy W, who goes by the name of Jane. Her request to the artist was based on aspects of her family that she wanted to be incorporated into a design; a cameo like those worn by her grandmother, her husband’s blue eyes, her family’s color: orange, flowers to symbolize beauty, and she eventually hopes to add her grandfather’s HAM radio call sign, and the initial Q to represent the name of a close friend who has since passed. The woman is naked for several reasons: The first is her admiration for the artist’s skill at drawing female beauty but also to express the beauty of her own breast after having surgery. Interpretation: From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective Tish’s tattoo image is more reflective of her Archetype than her placement on the stomach meridian. In TCM metal as in nature is rare, and of extreme value. But that value comes from the element itself and not its polish. Metal arche- types not only are aware of value without being told or buffed but most importantly they have 36
the ability to see the value in others when others cannot and in small things that others would discard. For example, a hair pin, a simple code, or the softness in someone’s eye color. The metal element is also connected to the lungs and the emotion of grief. Without elaborating on why Tish had breast surgery, her reaction to enduring surgery on a specific area associated with the divine feminine and the pain of losing a close friend is typical of the metal constitutions. When balanced, the Metal Element is more apt to view beauty in life and turn grief into an image of beauty by expressing the emotion freely. This characteristic is particularly seen with quilters who take small pieces that are often discarded and create much larger patterns of beauty and art, which is indicative of the size of Tish’s tattoo and the piecing together of different elements to represent her family and friends. Elaine is a twenty-nine-year-old female and was twenty-five at the time of her tattoo. The Art: Replication of the Alphonse Mucha “North Star” painting. The Meaning to Elaine: Elaine decided to get the tattoo during a time of marital discord, which resulted in divorce a year after getting the tattoo. Although she was aware and admired the work of Alfons Maria Mucha, known internationally as Alphonse Mucha, (1860–1939), Elaine was drawn to the photo for its sense of beauty and femininity, during a time in which she admits to not feeling any of the former. 37
Alphonse Mucha was a Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period, who was best known for his stylized theatrical posters, particularly those of Sara Bernhardt, a popular French stage actress at the time. Archetype: Earth Interpretation: Elaine’s placement is one of the most interesting aspects of her interpretation as it lies primarily on the Gallbladder channel which in Chinese Medicine is associated with the emotion of courage but also decision making. As during the time that she acquired the tattoo she had to call on both energies to make the decision to get divorced but also to go through with it. This is particularly of interest because with a constitution of Earth, where there is a tendency to nurture, understand and accept, to draw on the energy of Wood which is paired with the Gallbladder can often be extremely uncomfortable. The other aspect of Elaine’s art is that it is defined by her as a symbol of extreme feminism which during a period of separation is often put aside and negated, yet the image highlights the deepest value a woman can have which is the confidence and sense of the divine feminine and the beauty and power associated with it. Elaine’s choice of the image draws on all of these powers to reclaim and redefine herself after her separation. Not to mention the placement is on the lateral side of the upper thigh which reflects young energy, strength, and a sense of sexual power for those who can observe it. As Elaine is an Earth by constitution, outward expression of power is not a strong part of their nature. What makes earth types so unique is that on the exterior they are generally viewed as kind and nurturing and unassuming yet for those who share a deep bond with them, if given nurturing in return, they have strong powers of intimacy that is only shared with those they trust. Summary 38
There are so many wonderful stories and art to share. And although no particular theory can explain the truth completely, the benefit of using TCM as a template to provide an examination of tattoos is that it provides a non-judgmental observation of energetic expression, unique to the wearer and can open a dialogue from the patient’s perspective. We hope that you will agree and share in our stories found in our new book “Immortalizing Emotions: A Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective of tattoos”. Bibliography
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journey-oldest-cave-paintings-world-180957685/ Shannon-Missal L. Tattoo takeover: three in ten Americans have tattoos and most don’t stop at just one. Available from: http://www.theharrispoll.com/health-and-life/tattoo_takeover.html. Carmen R, Guitar, A, Dillon, H Ultimate answers to proximate questions: the evolutionary motivations behind tattoos and body piercings in popular culture. Rev Gen Psychol. 2012; 16:134–143. Grumet GW. Psychodynamic implications of tattoos. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1983; 53:482–492. Dickson L, Dukes, R, Smith, H, Strapko, N To ink or not to ink: the meaning of tattoos among college students. Coll Student J. 2015; 49:106–120.0235 Image 1 https://www.clarityacupuncture.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/5978?opendocument&part=2 https://www.ndtv.com/food/here-s-how-getting-tattoos-may-put-your-immune-system-in-danger-1749661
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Kara Rea
Photographer: Tabetha Lynn Photography
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Perry Yung
Photographer Natalia Yandyganova www.Yandyganova.com Instagram: www.Instagram.com/angryfishtheatre Talent: Perry Yung Instagram: www.Instagram.com/perryyungofficial Twitter: www.Twitter.com/yungflutes Interviewer: Chantal Aytes Www.Chantalaytes.com Instagram: www.Instagram.com/curlycadma YouTube: www.YouTube.com/bittenappletv 46
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Hey Perry Yung! We picked you up after wrapping a PSA? The idea sprang from Teresa Ting’s work in starting Mainstreet Patrol to provide chaperones for the elderly in Flushing, Queens to keep our elders safe against racist attacks. The song was written by singer/lawyer Calista Wu & directed by Ron Yuan, the actor known from Marco Polo & director of the 47 Ronin film sequel. Will you be doing more projects like this? I’ve been participating in rallies, marches & a lot of zoom/online panel discussions about anti-Asian violence and the need for solidarity; Especially during the month of May as its Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I’ll be the keynote speaker for the National Day of Solidarity in Washington DC which will take place on the National Mall. It’s such an honor to be making a speech about unity on the spot where Martin Luther King made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. 48
You play the role of Father Jun in the hit HBO show “Warriors”, tell us about it & what Father Jun represents? On a topical level, Father Jun is the head of the most dangerous and powerful Tong in 1870’s San Francisco Chinatown. He is the Chinese threat to White society. However, the subtext for the character is one of activism & resistance. My interpretation of Father Jun is based on Malcom X. White society sees him as the enemy but he’s trying to protect his people from violence of the “Ducks” (slang for White people used in Warrior.) Father Jun’s backstory as a soldier who fought the Opium War thirty years earlier tells me he’s a revolutionary who has been fighting White supremacy for a large part of his life; Like Malcom, he loves his people & puts his own life on the line for them. There is a drastic difference in Father Jun’s relationship with his 49
community versus his son. What’s the lesson for the community he wants to teach versus teaching his son? From the 1870s to today, the Chinese were heavily influenced Confucianists where there’s a hierarchy in society & everyone must respect their elders. Children must obey their parents at all costs; It’s a patriarchy. Young Jun must learn the family business through the wisdom only Father Jun 50
can provide. The “Number One Son” title & pressure is a real thing in Chinese culture. As for the community, the tongs were associations in Chinatowns that were set up to support people from the same clan or village in China due to the lack of the nuclear family. Tongs were benevolent associations, but some engaged in nefarious activity like opium dealing. The Page Act of 1875 prevented Chinese women from entering the U.S., Chinatowns were bachelors societies. They needed tongs to care for one another. It was a brotherhood. In essence, Father Jun’s community was one of brotherhood, which was very different from Confucianism filial piety. In Warrior, the question I asked myself as an actor is “can Father Jun teach Young Jun up to lead the Hop Wei Tong for the greater good of Chinatown?” What aspects of “Warriors“ viewers can apply to current events? I would say every level of the show can find its equivalent in today’s contemporary American society. There is the political demagoguery & immigrant scapegoating. It really is history repeating itself. Has the role of Father Jun influenced you in your personal life? Greatly. I have always been an activist but it was mostly done through my art & performance work. Season 2 Warrior aired just after Covid 19 hit & sharp upticks in anti-Asian violence were being reported. Asian American social media was looking for strong voices for representation. Suddenly people DMed “we need Father Jun right now”; So I shifted into the public as Perry Yung/Father Jun. When I had my theater company the Slant Performance Group activism was already an underlying message in my artist voice, but not until Warrior did I find the perfect job that agreed with my politics. It was a marriage of Art & activism. Now I find myself vocalizing ideologies I was exposed to in college Asian American studies, Institutionalized racism, oppression, divide & conquer; these ideas were prevalent in every class in the School of Ethnic Studies. 51
I’m happy to see that some things have changed in 40 years, but there’s still much work to do. I’m finally playing a role I had been researching nearly all my life. What was Oakland like & do you visit often? I was born in Oakland’s Chinatown which was one of the oldest in the United States. A real functioning Chinatown, not a tourist one. It bordered West Oakland, which was one of the more impoverished and rough neighborhoods in Oakland. I remember hobos, pimps in purple suits with matching hats and cops all around Broadway, the border of Chinatown and West Oakland. It’s like 42nd st. in NYC in the 70’s. There were 3 downtown theaters where I spent a large chunk of my childhood. These were Grindhouse theaters where we could see Blacksploitation, B movies and Kung Fu films back to back. That’s how I spent my summers, 3 movies for one or two dollars all day long. 52
Was there culture shock moving from Oakland to New York? Yes, to some extent. I settled in Manhattan where everyone I met was transplanted from somewhere else - Midwest, Europe, Dominican Republic, Canada, Asia etc... New York City was a more cosmopolitan version of San Francisco. It was familiar to me, but different. It was more international than anything I was used to in America. Texas was more of a strange exotic place to a 13 yearold me. It was another world where everyone else was of a species I didn’t belong to. I suffered culture shock without knowing what it was. What inspired you to go into acting? Probably the culture shock of having moved to Texas! That experience made me an artist. It forced me to look at people. To question society. I was an outsider constantly trying to figure out how to fit into every situation. A good actor is always trying to figure out what is going on in a scene. Always asking questions in the moment. Is this working, what am I doing here? That keeps an actor alive, on stage & film. I majored in Fine Art in college. It was a gradual process through painting, punk rock bands, modern dance and finally theater. I also see you’ve got some amazing tattoos, tell us the stories behind your tattoos? I got my first tattoo, a traditional sailor style Chinese dragon with my friend Eddie when we were 18 years old. We were cruising in his 1965 convertible Chevelle & happened to drive by Ricky’s Tattoo Shop in Alameda. The artist Pinky Yun was a famous Hong Kong tattoo artist & had tattooed my father. I asked Eddie to pull over just to take a quick peek to see if I remembered anything; & We’re both born in the year of the dragon so we got dragon tattoos. After I had kids my partner & I got their names tattooed on our forearms. One 53
reads Sasa for bamboo leaf in Japanese Kanji (he was made in Japan while I was studying shakuhachi making.) The other reads Jet for Hero, after Jet Li the martial artist/actor. I designed them in the Chinese Grass Script style. At 46 years-old, I got a bamboo sleeve with leaves from one shoulder and pecked down my arm to symbolize my bamboo life. My most recent was 2 years ago in South Africa after I wrapped on the first season of shooting Warrior. Sasa was going through a lot in the middle of high school & transitioning from female to male. He would draw these penetratingly, beautiful selfportraits. He sent me one & I had it tattooed on the inside of my left bicep close to my heart. I understand you’re an artist & play the Shakuhachi flute. Tell us a little bit about the history & how you got into playing it? The shakuhachi bamboo flute first showed up in 14th century Japanese literature & associated with mendicant monks. The shakuhachi started being used in Hollywood soundtracks because of its evocative voice. I heard it in a production I was performing in called Oepipus the King directed by Ellen Stewart of La MaMa E.T.C in 1993. One of the pit musicians Yukio Tsuji was playing it & the soft yet penetrating tone blew me away. I learned how to make & play at the same time. Seven years later I received a grant from the Japan - United States Friendship Commission to live & study shakuhachi making and playing in Japan. That experience changed the trajectory of my life. Do you play any other instruments? I play guitar, bass, both electric & acoustic, other Chinese bamboo flutes, Western silver flute & the Japanese Shamisen, a 3 string banjo. I’m most accomplished with the shakuhachi. You performed at a rally standing for the current events of Asian Hate Crimes; how did it feel to share that song with the public? It was an elucidating moment. I saw that piece I wrote in 1996 was 54
relevant today more than ever & that it would’ve been perfect in 1960’s civil rights marches. The sad thing is it will still be relevant in the future. What other songs have you written? When I started song writing, it was in the early 1980’s when Punk and New Wave injected a sense of DIY into songwriting, anyone can do it. My first song was a punk dirge called “Ethiopian Sun”, 55
then I wrote poppy, new wave songs about love; I was 18 years old at the time (laughs)., I went onto artsy punk with a band called Fibulator that had two female singers & offbeat time signatures. When I moved to New York, I formed SLANT to do performance art & theater with the energy of Punk Rock. Our first song was a grunge tune opening our first show - Big Dicks Asian Men. At first, we kept laughing every time we played it. The chorus was, “We’re not the waiters on TV, not the Model Minority. No little dicks for you and me.” It was our anthem & we performed it across America for almost 10 years. The show was an examination on toxic masculinity and how each race was assigned a sexual stereotype. My last meaningful song was called I’m in Love with Connie Chung, a Country Western song. We found that over 10 years of touring that many of the presenters were Asian Women. We really appreciate the support from our sisters so we wrote the song to support them; as it was common to call out our Asian sisters for dating or marrying 56
outside the race. So, even if one of the most visible Asian American women was married to a Maury Povich, we still love her. What do you find to be your strongest influence on your music writing? Pop music with a strong social message. The image of Jimi Hendrix making love to his guitar. Congratulations on Season 3 for Warriors! What are you allowed to say? I honestly do not know what the writers have in mind! How soon do you start filming? We are slated to start filming in July 2022. Any last words for our audience? I’m grateful for your work in giving me a platform to help bring awareness to the need for social and racial equity. Thanks for the solidarity sistah! It’s a theme & message in Bruce Lee’s films. To the readers, thanks for making it this far! With palms joined and a deep bow. “Under one sky, we are one family.” - Bruce Lee Chantal Aytes Look4mylegacy@aol.com Cadmainc@gmail.com TikTok: @Cadmania Instagram: @CurlyCadma Twitter: @cadma YouTube: www.youtube.com/bittenappletv
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LALovetheBoss
Interview by Steve Azzara 58
How would you describe yourself as a music artist? I would describe my sounds as super refreshing, and bossy. What is the story of your upcoming EP? The EP is me really just stepping out of my comfort zone, and into my element of freedom and embracing my femininity as a woman. Do you write your own music? 59
Yes! I write all my own music! I take pride in that. No one can tell my story better than I can. Who’s your dream collaboration with? My dream collaboration is Missy Elliot And Andre 3000 and myself on one 1 track. Insaneeeee! How was your experience hearing your record, Monkey, on the radio for the first time? OMG!! When I first heard “Monkey” on the radio, I was ecstatic. Knowing all my hard work had paid off made me so proud of myself. 60
What’s the story behind your tattoos? All my tattoos have their own unique meaning. I’m also very spiritual, so I do have Bible scriptures on my body as well. What does your track “Monkey” convey to other women? ”Monkey” conveys to women it’s Ok To be liberated and sexy. Own it! Us women should feel confident in our skin. Always remember your sitting on a “gold mine”. Just have a gold mind attached to it! What advice/ wisdom would you give to other aspiring young artists in today’s music scene? The advice I would give other artists is to stay “consistent” and never give up. Never lose sight of the goal. No matter how hard it gets, anything worth having is worth working for. It’s not a race, it’s a marathon! You premiered your music video in Atlanta with a release party. Why did you choose that city and how did it go? I chose Atlanta for my single release party because Atlanta being one of my largest fan bases along with close friends of mine are locals there. VIDEO: LALovetheboss - Monkey (Official Video) @imlalovetheboss
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Photographer: @mattconrads @inkay._
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Fan Wu
Interview by Steve Azzara 66
What got you interested in tattooing and what led you to anime? I’ve loved drawing since I was a kid. Since I’m very introverted, I spent most of my time on drawing and watching anime. I can enjoy my alone time. My major in college is printmaking. I love printmaking so much because all the prints will be made by hand. Screen print, lithograph, woodcut, etching, all these require handmade, and it must be detailed. So I think tattooing is similar to drawing or printmaking, and interesting to me since I think I’m still drawing, but on people’s skin instead of drawing on paper. If I recall my childhood, the first thing will be drawing, the second must be watching anime. The anime world is full of magic, craziness, and imagination. When I’m into anime, I’m always impressed by the characters and the stories. It’s so real, but it’s also not real. Every anime character is created by humans, so every time when I am encouraged and touched by the spirits of the characters, I can tell how the author wants to express himself to the human world, and that’s the most important and impressive part to me. It’s just so 67
amazing. So I want to create more anime works and anything custom pieces related to anime. I want to show people, who also love anime as I do, a view from what I see. I want to express my feelings through anime works. I see you prefer black and grey to color, why? I prefer black and gray most, I don’t do full color pieces since every person’s skin tone is different, and some colors might not show on darker skin tone, that’s why I just choose to do black and gray since it will show on every body’s skin, and it stays longer on the skin. But I sometimes can add just a small portion of color to make the certain thing pop out. Do you get to paint as much as you would like? Yes, I put most of my time on drawing and designing, and I really enjoy the time. Whenever I get a strong inspiration, I will start the sketch immediately. If I decide to finish a drawing, no matter how late it is, I will still do it and I don’t feel tired. How do you feel about guest spots and conventions? I do love to do guest spots before the pandemic. I will choose to go to a different city for the guest spot every month. I love to explore the cities that I’ve never been to. Meanwhile, I love to work 68
at the local shop since I can learn and meet different artists and we can share all the stories and experiences with each other, it’s fun to me. For the conventions, yes, I do love it too, of course, before the pandemic. Since people may know my work through social media, in the convention, I can meet different clients from all over the world and I have a great chance to show my work to more people who have never seen my work before. But after the pandemic, I still feel a little bit worried about the delta virus, although I want to do the guest spots and conventions so badly, I think I will still wait for a bit. Is there anything you won’t tattoo? (subject or image) I think I won’t do any lettering of people’s boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s name. Also, the Chinese character/letterings, unless people are 100% sure about what they are getting and the meaning of it. Because I’m Chinese, when I walk on the street and sometimes, I see 69
people’s Chinese tattoos, I don’t think they understand what they got lol. If you could tattoo anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and what would you do on them? To be honest, I want to tattoo my future life partner, (but I don’t even know where he is, or if he was born or not haha). I will do a piece that he likes, as long as it’s not my name. What do you do in your spare time? Drawing, watching manga and anime, listening to music which can give me inspiration, reading, running, sharing any crazy thoughts with my friends, and staying with my lovely cat! Is there one tattoo that stands out as the most important you 70
have ever done? To be honest, I cannot pick the most important one in my mind. Because with me, every tattoo I do is so important, not only for me, but also for my clients. The tattoo I do for them will be permanent for them, and it’s also a permanent experience to me. 71
Lucy Bogus
Photographer: Correne Hankins Instagram | @bluecapture.photography Model | hair | makeup | stylist: Lucy Bogus Instagram | @Lucysushi_ Lucybogus.com Assistant: Marisa Dominguez Instagram | @nine25_design Ninetwenty5.com 72
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Ivan Androsov
Interview by Steve Azzara 80
How long have you been tattooing and how would you describe your style? I made my first tattoo at the age of 17, now I am 29. Back in those years, there were not many possibilities to get good equipment or at least to get some information about tattoos in Russia. I studied everything I could by myself, so the style came out very unusual. It’s rather a mix of everything (after all, it’s boring to do the same thing every day, isn’t it:) )? I would call my main style “watercolor blocks style”. It is a mixture of color graphics and realism. I try not to use lines as well, but to build an image through the contrasts of colors - it turns out very bright and unique! Is there anything you won’t tattoo? (style, subject, against your beliefs) I wouldn’t do tattoos that sound badly as a concept. I always try to tell my clients how to implement their idea in the best way possible, and how it would look on their bodies, and all other nuances. If clients insist on their own ideas, which might turn out poorly I often have to refuse - I would not take responsibility for bad work. My clients always appreciate my honesty towards them. 81
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How do you feel about guest spots and conventions? I travel a lot, and try to attend conventions and guest spots when possible! It helps to meet interesting people, learn something new about tattoo culture of a particular country, and just to get a new experience! Isn’t it the main purpose of any trip? If you could tattoo anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and what would you do on them? My childhood hero was Jacques-Yves Cousteau! He opened incredible and very bright new Worlds for us! I am sure that Jacques and I would have lots of stories to tell each other and one session would definitely not be enough for us to discuss everything! Despite the fact that he seemed a very sincere and hearty person, I think that his tattoos would be done in graphics or linework style because it would emphasize the seriousness and determination of his character, like ancient almanacs with engravings of bygone years, would show the wisdom accumulated in them. You’re originally from Russia, are there more or less regulations here or there. Any differences? Yes I am “From Russia with love”:) Perhaps the defining feature 83
of tattoos in my country is the fact that the culture appeared not so long ago! Before that we mostly had tattoos in army and prison spheres. With the collapse of the USSR, Western values started to spread, and with the advent of Social Media (literally in 8-9 years) we have adopted so many new things in tattoos that this incredible mix makes outstanding artists in literally any genre! Many of whom are unique! The tattoo industry in Russia now is developing day by day. New companies appear, and sponsorships are provided. This whole thing is rather interesting, but it’s more appealing for me to study tattooing in places where it has existed as a culture for many years! What do you do in your spare time? My main hobby is traveling! I spend almost everything I earn on it! My wife and I are city dwellers (Moscow), but we spend all our free 84
time in nature, hiking, mountaineering, rafting, etc. The decisive change in my life became my passion for surfing which started 6 years ago - it helped me to become kinder, look at the World easier and calmer, make friendships with incredible people all over the Planet! Is there one tattoo that stands out as the most important you have ever done? There is no such tattoo, they are all significant! After all, a tattoo is only one of the components. Many clients and their personalities are remembered, their way of thought and ideas are very significant! All that together allows you to enjoy almost every work. I may be mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the day, yet the happiest from the whole process of creation. Many of my clients become good friends with me after sessions! After all, the main thing in tattooing is to bring people together, and not to highlight one particular thing! @johnbrass 85
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Tatiana Waimanalo
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Jenny Sousa
Interview by Steve Azzara 96
What led you to single needle work? I learned to tattoo in pretty old school tattoo shops. And from time I was told about the history and the origins of black and grey single needle tattoos and just fell in love with the style and everything it’s about simply. And now with better tattoo equipment and technology, there are so many things you can do with this style. Essentially taking an old school tattoo or something generic and making it look fresh and trendy and sometimes nostalgic. That’s what I really love about it, it still has its old school roots but with a look that everyone wants now. Do you get to paint as much as you would like? I actually don’t do much painting. Instead I rather pick up a ball point pen and make some art that way or tattoo some fake skin with one of my original designs I created. But no, I don’t get to do much of that as much as I would like either haha! How do you feel about guest spots and conventions? I’ve done a few conventions with the team but haven’t done any international guest spots yet! In the next year I will be making that leap to California hopefully and definitely more conventions across Canada. With covid that’s all come to a haunt unfortunately. Is there anything you won’t tattoo? (subject or image) I won’t tattoo anything disrespectful or demeaning of course..or 97
anything that’s out of my comfort zone like colour realism haha! But I’ll tattoo about anything as long as I can put my own spin to it ;) If you could tattoo anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and what would you do on them? I would love to tattoo any member from the band Kiss! My dad has always been a die hard fan and I think it would just be really awesome to have him be a part of that session as well! What do you do in your spare time? I get this question a lot haha, in my spare time I like to tattoo!! No, I’m playing! Anything tattoo related that I don’t get to do much of though. Like visiting other artists at their shops and supply stores. Just finding new techniques to create tattoos and art with. Even spending some spare time on youtube watching tattoo videos, the more tattoo juice the better haha! You seem to like modeling as well. When and how did that begin? The modeling thing has just been something I like to do for fun. I guess you can say I like modeling in my spare time too lol! I really enjoy taking photos and got a little bit of an eye for photography. I’ve become so active lately and been working on my body and fixing some old tattoos and just feel like people want to see more than just your work. They want to get to know and see the person behind 98
the tattoos. Definitely something I want to do more of with some great photographers in mind. Is there one tattoo that stands out as the most important you have ever done? I feel like every tattoo is important. There isn’t one that stands out more than the other to me. It’s really all about the clients experience and what it means to them that’s important to me. And that is the most gratifying feeling in every piece I create. @jayinky 99
Magot Martinez
Interview by Steve Azzara 100
You tattoo in Black and Gray and Color, which do you prefer and why? That’s a really hard question to answer but overall I prefer black and gray because I feel like it brings out the Chicano aspect in my art work. I enjoy the smooth transitions from dark tones to light tones even though I know it’s almost impossible but I always try to perfect my work. Do you get to paint as much as you would like? With this new technology out aka procreate, I get to design a lot of pieces but actual painting it’s been years to be honest. How do you feel about guest spots and conventions? I have friends that I’ve met at conventions all over the US and I 101
would definitely like to guest spot at their shops to exchange tattoo techniques. It’s all about showing love in the tattoo industry. Is there anything you won’t tattoo? (subject or image) I’m kind of burnt out on infinity signs but other than that I see everything as a challenge and I like to take on challenges to perfect this craft. If you could tattoo anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and what
would you do on them? I would definitely tattoo Nipsey Hussle, having a conversation about knowledge and power would be hella dope. What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time me and my family go out to lowrider car shows and enjoy each other’s company. I also work on my lowrider car and truck. 102
Is there one tattoo that stands out as the most important you have ever done? Yes, I tattooed an Aztec piece on my wife’s back called “amor eterno” meaning eternal love. @magosworld36 103
Bevan Bowman
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Tunisia Brignol
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Meghan Fritz
https://www.facebook.com/meghan.ritz.7 Artist - Jay Cobb Supersauce Tattoo
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Omari Amar
Interview by Steve Azzara 122
What led you to color over black and gray? I always loved colours. Being able to create depth and definition by using a range of colours and tones is one of the most satisfying aspects of tattooing to me. Do you get to paint as much as you would like? No… not at all I wish I could, but with family life and owning and running 2 tattoo shops and my own tattooing career my schedule is FULL. How do you feel about guest spots and conventions? I personally love doing them when I can, I think it’s very important and helpful for an artist at any stage of their career. Going to a new area where you are unknown, going to a different shop and watching artists do their thing is one of the best ways to learn new techniques and work alongside amazing artists from around the world. Is there anything you won’t tattoo? (subject or image) I’ve done it all in the past. I am a little more picky nowadays. I won’t 123
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do large “Tree sleeves” because I think it’s a waste of an arm sometime and it’s just the easy space coverage that appeals to people but that’s just me being harsh.. to each his own. End of the day, who am I to pass judgment? I won’t tattoo minors or necks and hands on individuals without a lot of coverage but I think that is pretty standard . If you could tattoo anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and what would you do on them? I always loved Ozzy Osbornes chest piece. He has two demon heads I honestly always wanted to redo for him, but honestly anything on ozzy I think would be awesome he probably has crazy ideas. What do you do in your spare time? I spend most of my time working, when I’m not in the shop I try to spend it with my family. I’m a husband and father so those two roles take precedence nowadays. I also have a new AfterCare product @First_Session_Aftercare that I have been working on and will be out and available by Fall. Is there one tattoo that stands out as the most important you 125
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have ever done? I think that just depends on how you look at the importance of a tattoo’s emotional significance to the client. Or artistic improvements and the accomplishment feeling of doing a hard design and bringing it to life. I think the best mixture of the two is when I got to tattoo the portrait of a client of mine who passed away suddenly on his mother. Emotionally I never got to tattoo the portrait of someone I knew that had passed away... Especially on his mother. Artistically doing the portrait of a person I knew was a different challenging experience. @omriamartattoos @collingwoodtattoocompany 127
Simon Lunche
Interview by Steve Azzara 128
Hey Steve, it’s Simon. Hey, how are you? Hey, I see you’ve been busy lately! In fact you’ve been writing, playing and singing since you were 5 years old, do you remember your first song and what it was and what instruments you played? My very first song, you know, I don’t think I could tell you exactly which one the first one was. I remember definitely one of the first ones which was very notable, it was I was a little kid and I was singing and the chorus line was “it’s not all about you” That’s funny, I have to interrupt for one quick second. I have a a posted pad sticker that’s on my computer because a friend of mine said today to me. “It’s not all about you Steve” and I put that in quotes and I stuck it on my computer because I’m going to use it for something, isn’t that weird? I still have that from back then with Garage Band on it and a little m box where I can plug in my electric guitar and sing through it right now and I’ve got that tune still on that old iMac or on a hard drive now and it’s it’s just that that terrible Garage Band recording that I made as a little kid, but that was the first one that I thought “Oh, this might be okay and of course is terrible. So you’ve been a solo artist for how long and did you do the whole band thing before? Yeah. Now I’ve been a solo artist for let’s see, I guess really technically probably three and a half maybe almost four years, but a majority of my life and my records have been made in a band setting because, you know, when I was a little kid and I started it was like, okay, well, I guess I’m going to play these songs with my friends and so I would write these songs and every week we would get together and there’s a room in my house that when I was a kid that was just filled with, you know, drums, guitars, a bunch of our ampli129
fiers mood come in there and jam and it was every week. I would have a new song or two new songs that we would play and that kind of just turned into the band and of course, you know, as it got more serious a few people shifted in and out. I think I ended up doing four records and the last of which you know, we toured pretty heavily and you know actually got to finally get out of California and play. So right coming out of that and like having done that for my whole life and learned how to record really well in the studio and learned how to write songs and learned how to play live. When it sort of came time and I was graduating from high school. It was like I kind of always had in the back of my head like, all right, I want to play music all the time because it felt like, you know, pretty much all I had it was the thing that I loved. It’s you know, I think about it every day from the second. I wake up the second I go to sleep. So I had that in my mind already and a few of the other guys in the band sort of had that same thing in mind two and two of them were already in college at the time. When I graduated from high school and they actually took months off so that we could tour when our last record and it kind of became clear, they wanted to finish school and you know, that’s all fine. And we’re great friends, but I told them I can’t stop so there was a time when the songs that I was writing sort of shifted from me thinking about them as okay. So when we were on tour and I was writing I was thinking okay, these might be Simon songs now, right but honestly not a lot changed for me in the writing realm because I already was sort of writing and producing and I was the lead singer of pretty much everything. So I just kept doing my thing and then the real thing that changed was that in the band. I was always the rhythm guitar player because I thought okay if I’m singing, you know, I’ll let someone else play lead guitar and if I’m writing someone else can do their thing on guitar. I’d been playing for so long and I was definitely really confident in my guitar ability. I just hadn’t really let myself spread my wings and so I started doing the solo thing. I started 130
trying to figure out okay, like obviously I can. I’m very unique with my voice and that’s a big part of who I am. It’s a different journey every single night now. and it’s gonna be. It’s fun or whatever. It’s powerful and enjoyable, you know, I saw the first couple things on YouTube mostly balid stuff. That’s okay, because it lets me, you know control the song a bit more with my voice. Whereas I think when I’m playing on stage it’s a bit more. I mean, not that I don’t do the balance too because I write vows as well. But I think I’m a bit more, like let’s let’s Groove. Let’s play something even a little bit 131
more R&B a little bit of funk, you know, whatever you call Pop Blues sort of stuff. So I know, I allowed myself to branch out a little bit for sure on stage with a band rather than on YouTube. And playing guitar? I started playing the guitar because of Eric Clapton. I heard his stuff. Okay when I was little and I went I’m sure a lot of people have had that experience of they hear Layla or something or and they go Oh my God, that’s amazing. Yeah. That was the one when I was really little but you know, I think I mentioned the Beatles and just from a production and songwriting standpoint. Like I just I don’t think anyone comes close and then being from the Bay Area, you know, Van Morrison was up here for a long time. And and I love, I love that sort of thing. He does but it’s not totally jammed and but it’s also got this element of improvisation and yeah looseness and and just it’s just beautiful to me. Even more modern. I think I for a long time I was kind of jaded about just like modern pop music, which I think was a mistake, you know young and just being, you know, writing that stuff off because I thought it was corny when realistically now having played with a lot of those, you know guys who either play on those records or work on them or whatever this realizing like that, you know the musicianship that’s brought to the table and like how much there is to learn even from like for in132
stance, you know, like a Taylor Swift record, which I would never gravitate. Come on when I was a kid or now, you know for songwriting or something, but now I can listen to and appreciate it for like oh my God, like they might be the instruments beautifully in this whole thing that came together in such a perfect way. And you know, it’s just to find things like that and those songs and then hopefully somehow synthesized like the stuff. I like from like an old Van Morrison Song and all right the Recording Technology and the end production from something new, you know? Yeah. So there’s a lot of things to tell us for sure. Taylor Swift is painful. You got to give it to her. You’re going to give it to her. I don’t want to listen to it. But you know when you hear it, you gotta handle, cool, right? Yeah experience like that, like in quarantine, you know, like when she was releasing those two records and like, you know, like I said, I’ve never been some big Taylor Swift fan, but she released the first track. And everyone goes oh my God, this is so good. It’s like your best things. I listened to it. And I was like, okay, I see the Merit. I liked I thought you know, lyrically, it has something there and then she releases the second one like, you know a few months later and I’m going and that’s when I’m going. Oh my God, this person has written so many songs and produced this many songs in this amount of time and I can’t you know me knowing that 300 hours 200 hours can go into a song like that. I’m just going like, oh my God you got to respect the work. Yeah, you know, that’s a fact. All right, let’s talk about this tattoo that I’m hearing has so much about? Is that your first one? It’s actually, I think you would technically, it’s technically my second. It’s my first real deal tattoo. Okay. My first one was a little like quarter-sized thing on my on my ribcage, you know, but I had in my mind like this tattoos for a very long time and then I turned 18 I still thinking about it and I think I think when I was 19 or 19 and a half maybe is when I started getting it and then of course it took, you 133
know the artist who did it was in LA and I for the most part in men the bay area but I go down to LA to work. So every time I would go down there and like to have a mixing session or be in the studio. I would spend an extra day there and take four hours and I would go to his tattoo space and he would sit there and poke me for four hours and then go. All right, we’re done. Yeah, that’s cool. Yeah, that works. Here we go. So, let’s see anybody like to do a duet with, don’t say Taylor Swift. Oh, no, I wasn’t going to honestly would be hard to pick one. I really like, this artist Leon Bridges. He’s like from Texas. He’s not huge yet. But he’s definitely he’s sort of broken through. He had just had the most amazing record a few years back that I just like. Oh man, I would love to sing on something like this with someone and then I love him. He’s got a real R&B thing really classic and then man probably if It’s like a guitar thing. Probably like Derek Trucks or John Mayer. Right, you know Larry Mitchell? I don’t. You have to check out Larry Mitchell. I just thought of that because he’s texting me now. He’s a great guitar player. He did solo tours 134
with Ric Ocasek from the Cars. He did Tracy Chapman. Just played with like a whole lot of people plus he does his own records. Steve Vai does his Vai Academy every year. Number 6 is coming up, look into that, it’s awesome, has like 6 guitar players. Larry just did a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone actually because it was Sly’s birthday. So two weeks ago we did something and he had people recording all over the country, all over the world and they put it together and it was kind of cool. And you’re staying in California? Yeah so California, I feel like is usually a good luck place for most people maybe. I never liked it. (laughs) I mean, well, let’s put it this way. I never liked LA. Well, I always hated it, especially like in the 90s and shit, LA was just so annoying. Oh, yeah. The rest is smoggy and there’s traffic everywhere and his people are superficial and right exactly. But yeah growing up in the Bay Area is a very different story. Yeah for sure you feel spoiled in that there’s just amazing food, amazing bread everywhere and you can walk anywhere you want to go. It’s you know, it’s never colder than 85 degrees and never hotter than 75 or 80 degrees. I know that’s cool. And there’s a bunch of a bunch of sometimes very odd, but nice people usually right exactly. Whatever (laughs) Alright, sounds good. Alright, Steve. Thank you so much, It’s great to talk to you. You too and I hope people check out your music as soon as they read this! Instagram: @simonlunche Twitter: @simonlunche Facebook: /Simon Lunche 135
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