UNDR RPBLC MGZN #10 (Fat Heat Cover)

UNDR RPBLC MGZN #10 APRIL/MAY 2011 <--F25 EXECUTIVE

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PRO DOUGH ISHA WEBB ACEEVILLE DEWEY SAUNDERS KIMMO SAVOLAINEN KEM DRFRANKEN TAGGING

CONTRIBUTORS JACOB G. JEN M. UGLY VALENTINE SWEET16NINE WARPAFX TOMAS 36TH CHAMBER GORDON GEKKOH FUNKANDJAZZ SAY I WONT- SAY I DIDNT...

THEHARSHTRUTHOFTHECAMERA ITIZ3 KINGSPIDERS PETALUM L. SOKET YASTUVO SANTA CRUZ AND SUCH ELISHA COOK JR. <==XOXOX==> WESTBYMIDWEST & RUDEBOYMAFIOSO! THANK YOU.

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Pro Dough! What’s going down player?

Chilling, building, and finishing up these projects. Just staying out the way until it’s time to present my art to the world.

How’s the No-town treating you?

It’s love—in the streets that is. There’s a lot of small town politics that you’ll run into trying to market and promote yourself in this city, but as far as the people go, it’s love.

How has West Fresno helped to develop you as a rapper?

That’s where I come from and every rapper should represent where they come from. I represent the brilliance of the area, not its faults. A lot of innovative people come from the 93706—Wikipedia that!

What makes you stand out?

I’m versatile. My new projects—The Greatest Show On Turf and High Performance, should give listeners strong examples of that. I’ve been working hard inside and outside of the studio to release two free projects and give them the push they need to succeed. Another thing I do is rep the streets without portraying myself as a killer or kingpin. I’m one of them real dudes from my hood, but never banged it—just repped it to the fullest.

Would you say that your music is a direct extension of your personality?

Yes indeed. Laid back, well spoken, unorthodox at times, diverse, knowledgeable and creative. The beats I rhyme over are the determining factor of which personality traits come out, if not all.

Who do you have on production?

My new projects feature Cashis Dre (one half of SlapZu), Big Rob, Vinski and K. Pizzle. I also have a complete ten-song project called High Performance produced entirely by 3am.

All those cats are from the Fresno area. Any other producers got some heat for me, email it to me at professionaldough@gmail.com.

How do you make money from your music?

I don’t. [laughs] I make money doing other stuff and invest it into my music. Back in the day, we used to sell CDs here and there, but I’m still in the red as far as my musical investments go.

Has the Internet helped you to reach a larger audience?

Yes. My whole outlook right now has to do with the Internet hip-hop promotional outlets.

I’m still going to have to do my groundwork in these streets, but promoting online is where a lot of my energy is going. Coop over at http://siccness.net is one of the people that be helping me out on that tip—him and the staff over at http://ftkconstruction.com.

Have you been rocking any shows?

The last one I did was the Mighty Grand one-year anniversary show. I got some big plans for this spring and summer though—stay tuned.

Do you have a specified set list for shows?

Not even close… I’m known in my crew for performing songs that haven’t been recorded yet.

How do you go about making a new song—what’s your method?

I might have an idea already and I’ll come across a beat that fits it, or I might get a beat

and it’ll spark an idea. I take my time on some songs and others will take no time to write. Sometimes I don’t write anything and just come up with verses in my head.

What’s your affiliation with Mighty Grand?

Good friends—I wear their shirts and they listen to my music. We’re both local brands trying to express ourselves through our art.

How has that helped you as an artist?

Support and good pressure. I want to do well and make the best music that I possibly can like they want me to.

When can we expect your new album—The Greatest Show on Turf to drop?

April—maybe on my 26th birthday, April 13th. Soon after that High Performance drops—both are going to be for free.

What’s good with your group—Slap Zu? Working, supporting our families and making the kind of music we want to. Dre has been working on a lot of solo material. We’re building up our muscle so we can drop a group album like we supposed to been had did. Until then, I’m pushing this professionalism at a high rate.

Can we expect anything dropping from you two soon?

I’ma say yes because coming up with music is not an issue—time is. Before the end of the summer I hope. We got some dope shit in the vault, but it’s just about timing and a complete vision.

Would you say that you’re doing what you love?

I’m not doing enough of what I love. I know I’m blessed though and it’s up to me to get up and carry this shit to where it needs to be taken. I’m at the drawing board right now—there’s a lot of hard work ahead of me. And not just with this music stuff, but with life in general.

What’s next?

Two free projects, videos, shows, travel and business. This is like my first real push. I’m taking everything I did in my first ten years of recording, balling it all in one and using it as a stepping-stone.

I got enough game to do it myself, so it’s up to me now.

Any shout-outs?

My family and crew, everybody involved in the movement, everybody that looked out in the past and all my fans.

Isha! What’s going on in Sunny San Diego?

Fun and lots of sun.

Are you originally from Southern California?

Yes, I’m one of the few native San Diegans you’ll ever meet—most people here are transplants from somewhere else.

What gets you up and going in the mornings?

Sugar and lots of sugar!!! I start off each day with a Starbucks Frappuccino and a handful of gummy bears or mini donuts. Then, throughout the day I like to munch on chocolate, cookies and cupcakes—really whatever’s in the house.

You have a bridal line called Lovey Bridal, what inspired you to start designing bridal wear?

My own wedding inspired me to start designing bridal wear. I had this vision of how I wanted to look on my big day and then it dawned on me—I had to make my own dress, but I was really nervous because I had never made a wedding dress before.

After I got married, I just kept on designing more and more dresses and accessories and it sort of became Lovey over the course of a year.

What differentiates your work from other Bridal lines?

I think my line is very feminine, without being overly precious. I adore a lot of vintage dresses because of the craftsmanship, unique fabrics and simplicity. I try to inject a vintage feel into each of my designs without them being “vintage replicas”—because we are living in modern times after all. I really like to keep the silhouettes clean and simple, this way the bride can really make it her own by accessorizing.

What is your motif?

I think my main motif is lace—I just can’t get enough of it! I find myself daydreaming about lace and wanting to put it on each dress. When I see lace in a fabric store I just go crazy!!!

I love how simple and classic your gowns are. I see you have another line called Chocolate Cherries, where you design different dresses using brighter colors and vintage inspired swimsuits. Did Lovey Bridal derive itself from Chocolate Cherries?

Thank you. In a way Lovey is derived from Chocolate Cherries, but it’s more like they’re close sisters. I’ve evolved so much over the years since I started designing Cherries—I think Lovey represents that.

I picture Lovey as the more sophisticated older sister and Cherries is the free spirited beach bunny younger sister. They share a lot of the same quirks, but it’s really neat that they’re different because I can experiment with them both.

What type of gal do you see wearing your stuff?

My girl is a free spirited ingénue who dreams in Technicolor and is a hopeless romantic.

She’s probably in her 20s or 30s and likes to be fashion conscious without being “trendy”.

She loves clean lines, easy to wear pieces and she’s truly an individual.

What is your favorite part of being a fashion designer?

Well, I really love when a customer puts on something I’ve made for them. There’s this magic when they smile, or begin twirling in their outfit like a child. I mean—I really live for those small moments!

What is your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is managing everything as a one-woman crew. Sometimes I wish there were sixty-hour days and I had four arms. [laughs] I have to remind myself to eat and sleep because there’s just so much I want to create for both lines—and at the end of the day it’s just lil old me.

If you could design for anybody, famous or not, who would it be?

I would love to design for the Los Angeles band Warpaint. Their music was really inspirational for me when I was creating the first Lovey collection.

Living in San Diego, does your environment influence who you are as a designer?

The environment here influences me so much it’s not even funny! Looking back at my previous collections for Chocolate Cherries, I realize there are no sleeves on anything!!! [laughs] It’s definitely because it’s the same gorgeous weather here every single day—it’s truly paradise. And when you live in paradise, it’s hard to design all black clothes and be depressed—winter doesn’t even exist! So everything I make is tinted with a sunny feeling.

Do you plan on staying in San Diego?

I’m not sure… I love it here so much and it’s such a huge part of who I am, but I would love to see other places and actually experience all four seasons. I would love to live in France or Iceland—somewhere totally different than California.

Besides being a fashion designer, what else do you have time for?

I manage to squeeze in a very selective list of TV shows—Supernatural, True Blood, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Say Yes to the Dress and American Pickers. What current fashion trend attracts your attention?

I really love that brides are embracing color in their gowns! It’s so cool when you see a bride rocking a hot pink petticoat. As for swimwear, I absolutely love the retro pin up inspired look!!! It’s like women are finally realizing that you can be super sexy and not have to show everything.

How often do you design a piece?

It’s so random—sometimes I’ll design a piece in a day, other times I have to sit myself down and really focus on designing for days. I think my mood has a lot to do with it.

How often do you design a line?

I try to design new collections for each of my lines at least twice a year. This year will be unique because I have so much stuff that I’ll have to do multiple photo shoots and break up everything into smaller collections.

Any fashion shows/photo shoots coming up?

I just did three photo shoots, back to back, for my spring collection for both Lovey and Chocolate Cherries. This time around I shot with some amazing local photographers and I’m just on cloud nine! It’s such an incredible thing when you see your design on a person for the first time.

Aside from finding your work on http://modelmayhem.com, where else can we find both Lovey Bridal and Chocolate Cherries?

I currently sell both my lines on Etsy as well as at an awesome local boutique— http://bcatthreads.com. I’m really lucky to these venues for what I do.

Do it for love or do it for yourself?

Do it for love—love really is the center of everything.

Isha, it was a pleasure interviewing you and getting to know both of your lines—I hope to see more of your work in the future. Any shout-outs?

I want to shout-out Maystar, for creating a place for me and other designers to showcase our work. My favorite photographers, Sarah Layne and Somnang Vann—and most importantly, my awesome mom and hubby!!!

Acee-Ville! How the heck are you?

I’m doing good man—just staying blessed and grateful.

What’s new in San Bernardino?

The music scene out here is starting to take off since I’ve helped to put the Inland Empire on the map. There’s a lot of talent out here trying to gain respect and get noticed. They feel they can do it now since they’ve got one of their own opening the door and trying to make it for myself—feel me?

How did you get your start in hip-hop?

Word of mouth and people on the streets who knew, respected and listened to my music.

Grimm Image Records caught wind of the word that I was unsigned hype and asked me if I would like to go on tour with them. That was the legendary 1969 tour that consisted of Myka 9, Fake Four, Ceschi, Factor 3, Def 3, Tommy V and myself. At first I was a hype man for Grimm Image just paying my dues, until a fellow Grimm Image artist fell ill. It was at that point Myka 9 and Ceschi gave me a chance with a small set. I’m thankful to them for helping put Acee-Ville in the game. They taught a young thug a lot about the biz and they didn’t have to—it was a big start for me.

What influenced you to go that route?

Just listening to the classics like Rick James, Charlie Parker, Rakim, Run DMC, Freestyle Fellowship, Keith Sweat, D-Nice, Gang Starr, Myka 9, Smif-N-Wessun, 2pac and many more.

Had you of not been influenced in that way, do you think that you would still be making music?

I don’t know.... I’ma say maybe not because the streets will gobble you up!!! You know how it is out there—it’s a cold cold world.

Do you see music as your calling in life?

Everybody I’ve ever known has said so! I tend to believe that and keep on pushing. It’s the only thing that I’ve ever been good at since I started at eight. I don’t know anything else when it comes to this life. The drive and passion that I have for music will never die—music is forever!!!

I can see that you’ve been busy recently, how’s life on the road been treating you?

Rough and fun—it’s never easy, it’s always a grind, but without struggle there is no shine.

Who have you been touring with?

Towards the end of this last year it was all Iintercepterzz. Herman and I rocked the Learn The Letters tour, the Grind The Mic tour and the Lucky Charmzz tour. We’ve been everywhere, paying dues and grinding man. Different states with no backing, just making it happen! It doesn’t matter to me—nobody’s going to stop us. We just keep pushing! People saying, “How you guys do so much? It’s like you never sleep!!!”

Out of all the shows you’ve done recently, is there one that really stands out to you?

LA at The Knitting Factory for Myka 9’s birthday. That was the opening show for the 1969 tour and everyone was there that you could think of—legendary!

What’s the one thing you’ve learned definitely not to do from touring?

Not messing with too many groupies man... Even if you’re drunk because they’ll get you sidetracked—gotta stay focused!

What rewards have you received from your incessant grind?

Just being and staying recognized for my talent from my peers, friends, family—and most importantly, my fans. I’m nothing without all of these people. That’s why it’s so important to give back, especially if you take. As far as I’m concerned, respect is the greatest reward any artist in the game can receive. No matter how many awards, interviews or shows I do—respect is earned not given.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, Herman and I are working on new Iintercepterzz shirts, hats, stickers and music. Then, I’ve got my labels Worldwithoutcolor Ent./Blas1st Records dropping Heart of a King; Blood of a Slave, Smokin’ Aces The Album and multiple mixtapes. We’ve also got that new Iinterceprterzz joint—Learn the Letters and projects from Herman with Ikey Owens, DJ Press and more.

How’s everything with your group The Iintercepterzz?

It’s exceeded way more than what I could of ever imagined. Herman and I are taking off to new heights in a relatively short amount of time. We have to be one of the few underground groups to do it. And lemme say this, I couldn’t do it at all without the help of my partner/brother Herman Watson. We grind for the mic and respect so truly. Most people, if not everybody notices and respects our music, feels our struggle and simply would like to know more about the Iintercepterzz. So keep an eye out because we’re coming soon to a city near you.

When’s The Iintercepterzz album—Learn The Letters gonna drop?

Soon!!! I know folks have been waiting around on us while we’ve been making noise with only a single out. We’ve been busy, working, traveling and rockin’ shows. Not to mention all the other projects that occupy a good amount of our time. Just know that we are coming with a solid album, boasting features from respected artists like Riddlore, Castor Pollux, Ira Lee and Ceschi.

Would you say that you’re doing what you love?

No question about it. I feel like God has put me in the position to prove myself because lord knows I’ve wanted to this as far back as I can remember. Now that I’m finally here I feel like it’s up to me to let folks know that it’s not all sunshine and blue skies in California.

What’s next?

More songs, tours, shows, interviews and collabo’s! Look out for my team and me cause we’re doing big thangs.

Any shout-outs?

You know it!!! Shout-out The Iintercepterzz, my dogg Herman, Cold Spoon Ivan and Jay, Vantsa and the Kkidz Family, Bmoe, La-fe, Pro, Elegal Bizz, Fabito, Mic Bles, John Tripp and Tripp Apparel, Myka 9, Castor Pollux, Riddlore, CVE, Blas1st Records, Worldwithoutcolor Ent., DJ Press, DJ Siren, DJ Curt Connect, Fabric, Diana Olive, William McSwain, Derrick Davis, Zeke Howard, Rodney and Lil’ Rodney, 1st2blas, Clark and Ben at KGPA, Missoula, San Bernadino, LA and everyone who’s truly got my back and never lacks!!!

Dewey! How the hell are ya?

I’m doing fantastic—just chilling, drinking some coffee and eating some toast with blueberry preserves.

What’s new in Philly?

I’ve actually been living outside of the city, in the countryside for the last few months, but there’s so much going on in the city right now. It’s such fertile ground for artists and musicians—the whole scene’s just flourishing. With so many galleries and venues, Philadelphia’s really a great community of creative individuals.

How was your vacation?

Vacation was amazing!!! I went down to South Florida with my girlfriend to reconnect with family. Ten days of eighty-degree weather. We sailed on the Indian River, went to the beach almost every day, ate some dank Cuban cuisine and checked out South Beach.

As far as I can tell you’re an all around creative dood, have you always been this way?

I have always been this way—art is definitely in my genetics. My mom and dad are both super creative and my grandmother always really encouraged my going to art school and becoming an artist. I recently discovered this sponge print I made when I was five called “Fun City” and it’s numbered with an edition of five. I was pretty serious about art from the get.

When did you get started with your collage work?

I would collage over failed drawings in my sketchbook during art school and I started to focus on collage/mixed media a couple of years ago when I moved into Philly. I also do freelance illustration and graphic design, but collage really appeals to me because it can be done quickly and usually has more of a graphic element then my illustrations. I love collecting printed matter—I frequent used bookstores and flea markets searching for printed ephemera and vintage magazines. I often pick up weird dirty pieces of paper off the street to use in my collage work.

Have you studied art?

I graduated from Tyler School of Art, which is part of Temple University in Philadelphia, with a Bachelor degree in Graphic Design. Illustration was definitely the focus, although I’m really happy to have gone through the Graphic Design program at Tyler. It was challenging, but also really helped with conceptual thinking and communication through design. I would love to get my Masters in graphic design or illustration and eventually teach art on the university level. ...Music?

Music has been studied outside of the classroom and I’m a student still—learning more and more about music every day. My main musical teachers have been my producers. First, it was Zak “Raw Thrills” Mering. Now, it’s Rick Friedrich, who’s a super talented musician and producer. And then there’s the homie Fabian “Akilles” Thompson, who’s really helped me develop my writing, rapping and performing.

How often do you create?

I’m creating every hour of the day. I have a Moleskine on me at all times, either for my drawings or writing rhymes that I randomly think up throughout the day. I just wrapped up a couple poster designs for Under the Radar’s SXSW parties, an illustration for Main

Line Today and a series of collages based on Buddha and the experience of nirvana.

What’s you day job?

Besides being a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, I still wait tables at a couple restaurants for some steady bread.

What makes you happy?

Drinking water in the sunlight, skateboarding with my friends, performing in front of a crowd, hanging out with my family, reading good books and eating good foods.

What makes you sad?

The sleepwalking zombies that are completely unaware of the magical world we live in and the miracle of existence.

What makes you mad?

Usually, my own pattern traps and bad habit attachments.

Until earlier today I had no idea you rapped, is there anything else that you might like to add?

Skateboarding is a huge part of my life. Back in the day, reading skate mags and seeing the ads and designs really got me interested in graphics. The skateboarding culture, in general, is very art driven. I also discovered a lot of hip-hop as a youth from skate videos.

I saw Plan B’s Questionable video when I was fourteen or fifteen and heard Hieroglyphics for the first time—I was just blown away.

Of all the work you do, would you care to announce a favorite?

It’s all the same—expressions of energy and light. Some days I focus on writing songs and freestyling. Sometimes, I go deep into the zone and make collages and drawings for a few weeks straight. Usually, it’s a mixture of an audio/visual expression of creative energy—they both feed off of each other.

When did you start rapping?

I started rapping about ten years ago, in high school. I would always listen to hip-hop and come up with rhymes in my head, but the pivotal moment was when I saw Eyedea win this rap battle on TV. I was so stoked on his lyrical ability that I just knew I wanted to get into rapping. My friends and I started battling in gym class and on the school bus. Then I linked up with a few rappers in school and started freestyling every day—writing rhymes in class with hip-hop hanging in my head heavy.

Iconiclassic slaps—are you working on any new material?

Thank you. I’m working on new material and actually just finished up a five track EP called Preface with my man Rick Friedrich. We are a two-man group called The Rubix Qube Exclusive, on some psychedelic hipster-hop type future music. A few tracks from Preface and our last release—Forword are on the mix I made for this issue, along with a couple tracks from my last mixtape—Less is More.

What’s love got to do with it?

Love is everything—this mysterious force sustains the whole universe. I’m learning how to create from the heart instead of the mind to make work that will stand the test of time.

Bikes vs. skateboards… Go! Skateboards—I want a fleet of every kind of skateboard known to man.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself in warmer climates—Malibu, California would be ideal. I’ll be creating art full time, doing gallery shows and different projects/collaborations. I would love to be involved in art direction for a record label, along with releasing quality music for the elevation of mankind.

Would you say that you’re doing what you love?

I would say that—I even love waiting tables and connecting with people. But I love art and music more, so I’m just pushing hard with that.

What’s next?

I would like to combine my audio/visual aesthetics and get more into photography, video and multi-media projects. I want to travel the world, rock shows on a global scale and display my artwork in galleries all over.

Any shout-outs?

Shout-outs to my Light Tribe Crew—you know who you are. Shout out to the Earth people.

Big up to the Trifecta, my Pork Fried Posse, my boy Matty Dread, Raw Thrills, Justin Waldron, Misaki Kuwai, John Fitzpatrick, Bohay Gold, my wonderful family—and most importantly, my mom.

Kimmo! Who’s the man behind the name?

I’m a twenty eight year old photographer hailing from Helsinki, the capital city of Finland.

What’s up man?

It’s all good, pretty excited to be talking to UNDR RPBLC and its followers. I really like what you’re doing and appreciate the idea that drives you to creating all this and introducing different artists to people.

How’s Helsinki treating you?

Well, some might say the winter has been surprisingly harsh here—even for a Finnish winter. It’s -20 degrees Celsius today and we’ve been breaking some snow records this year too. But I prefer this to the dark and rainy days of October though. It’s beautiful out there.

I’m originally from Eastern Finland, close to Russian border, so a bit of snow and cold doesn’t bother me too much.

Even though it’s a really small capital city, Helsinki has recently become more and more visible and internationally recognized. Some Europeans view it even as a trendsetter, so this is a good place to live—apart from all the snow of course.

When did you take your first picture and how did you feel?

Oh man, I can’t remember... It must have been when I was something like nine or ten years old. There was always a camera around in my house when I was growing up, but at that time I wasn’t the one shooting or anything like that.

I’d like to say taking pictures came naturally for me, but I don’t know, there might be some truth to it. What I’ve always really liked is to try to make the photo look exactly like I see it and feel it at that moment in time—whether it’s a family photo or a landscape from our summer cottage.

What camera did you use first?

I think it was my father’s film camera. Can’t remember the brand, but he was always carrying it with him— or at least I feel like he did. On a side note, I actually bought my first camera in ’05. It was the cheapest point and shoot digital camera I could find when I moved to UK for a year.

Has much changed since then?

Quite a lot actually... I’ve always enjoyed taking photos—trying to get the best composition while catching the right moment. I never thought, however, that photography could be something I really could do. It was only a couple of years ago when I realized that there was so much I could get out of and gain from photography—I guess it’s the never-ending search for the perfect shot from now on.

What camera(s) are you using now?

The DSLR I’m mostly using now is Nikon D200. It’s not the latest model out of Nikon shelves, but I like its quality and the weather sealing comes handy when shooting in the rain, outdoors and whatnot. The other body I use is my first DSLR, the Nikon D40. I still use it because its size is very handy to fit into your bag (or even pocket) to carry around.

It’s worth way more in use than what anyone would pay for it now. Besides, the best camera is the one that’s with you!!!

Who inspires you in your life?

Well, I see that as a quite layered question... While there are lots of people that I admire

and generally look up to—artists, leaders and such—it’s also the people closest to me that I often find my inspiration from. I think it comes down to the attitude, values and the ways these people choose to live their lives. I’d say I respect those who are willing to challenge the status quo, those who think and not just talk and those who are willing to share and spread the good around.

I really like the quote: “Since when did ignorance become a point of view?” That goes with lots of things in life.

What enjoyment do you get from photography?

I think it’s the appreciation of the things I see—it’s simple as that. It makes me feel the urge to see even more, to find new places and to capture everything through the lens worth capturing. Sure, it’s great if other people enjoy my work, but everything starts from being genuinely interested in the subject.

There’s also the freedom you have with your camera and getting to show exactly the things that you feel are important. I find myself taking mental snapshots all the time and picturing the shots in my head—even when I don’t have a camera available.

Have you gone to school for photography?

I took a short weekend course a few years back, which covered the basics of DSLR shooting such as aperture, depth of field and some basic photo editing with Photoshop. Apart from that, what I’ve done is just lots of shooting by myself, browsing/reading photography blogs, articles and books and I’ve watched some videos for tips.

However, I’m planning on attending some weekend workshops soon, which will cover landscape shooting and photo editing. It’s always beneficial to get some positive feedback and to learn from other photographers. You just have to be open and soak in all you can get. I do realize that there’s much more to be learned and some aspects of my technical knowledge are still on a very immature level—I hope to make that up with my willingness to learn more and more.

Is photography your profession?

No, it’s not. I have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with main emphasis on marketing. My day job is in the marketing and online media business.

However, my intent is to get better and better with my photography—so who knows what lies ahead. It would be amazing to make a living off of photography some day.

What’s your preferred style of photography?

I love doing landscape photography. By far, most of my photos are of landscapes and nature. I also enjoy urban photography and travel shooting in general. I’ve been trying to get more active and better in taking pictures of people too.

How do you achieve such magnificent landscape shots?

First off, thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate it. I think the main thing is to have the willingness to get to different locations. You just have to look around, wherever you are.

Also, if you don’t notice and appreciate the beautiful scenery that you see every day, you probably won’t find beautiful landscapes anywhere else either. The same view might be dull everyday boringness to one person and a life-changing photo to another. Then, you have to start thinking about how you’ll get all the important ingredients included in the photo—what makes the view special? Don’t get too technical with the depth of field and stuff if it’s not important for the scenery and story itself.

Your ability to capture the inherent beauty of nature is profound, why do you think that is?

That’s a difficult question to answer... Growing up in beautiful Eastern Finland, close to lots of lakes and forests must have left its mark on me. I’ve seen all the different sides of nature—from rural areas and mountainous terrain to cities and towns—each with the full

four seasons. I know I’ve always enjoyed landscapes, as well as cityscapes, so I guess the camera was just waiting for me to be found.

Have you had any close calls during the wildlife shoots?

No, nothing too serious so far. When I was photographing wild bears in Northeast Finland last summer, I spent fifteen hours in a small hide without going out. The bears came really close, something like three meters from the hide. At one point during the night, I heard the bear walking behind the hide and realized that the lock from the door was broken and the door was a bit ajar. So there I was, squeezing and pulling on the door handle, but luckily the bear didn’t mind me much. [laughs] In Svalbard, we had to carry guns everywhere outside of the town in case we’d meet a polar bear. It would’ve been great to get a photo of a polar bear, but I’m happy we didn’t have to face any. Svalbard is an amazing remote place by the way.

How often do you get a chance to shoot?

Due to my day job, I don’t have too much time to shoot during the week, especially during the mostly dark wintertime. I try to shoot every weekend, but that doesn’t always happen…

Any travel plans?

My brother is getting married in Germany next summer and the location is close to Alps, so that will be great. We’re going to see some amazing landscapes—that’s for sure. I’m pretty open to every opportunity of seeing new places—the more the better. I’d love to see Asia and Australia soon, but then again, South and North America are on my list too.

What does happiness mean to you?

I think it’s just being and feeling content with what you are and enjoying the moments you have. Isn’t it just having the classic “having-loving-being” combination right and balanced then?

Would you say that you’re doing what you love?

When I’ve got my camera in my hands—yes—I can honestly say that.

What’s next?

I want to keep improving all the time and keep seeing new things. I have just started to put my photos out there (on the Internet that is) and have already received lots of really encouraging feedback. That helps me believe that I’m doing the right thing—and it’s also good to know there’s already people who enjoy my work. I also want to keep taking next steps in becoming more skilled and versatile with my photography.

Any shout-outs?

Take care people—keep your eyes and minds open. The best photo isn’t always about the best gear—it’s about just being present. So remember, your camera phones are as good as any gear.

Come and say hi on my Kimmo Savolainen Photography Facebook page if you feel like it—it’s always great to meet new interesting people.

Kem! What’s good player?

Everything’s good—I just ordered a gut buster of a sub. It’s steak, cheese, bacon and a fried egg with a side order of Lipitor. You should see the grease run off this bitch—the paper wrapper and bag are completely transparent. Amazing! I call this comfort food—it helps make the winter more tolerable while creating a warm layer of insulating fat.

How’s life?

Life’s been super hectic—I feel like a Jamaican working ten jobs.

When did you start writing?

I started writing around ’95, but really didn’t take it seriously until ‘96. Like most kids, I was interested in graffiti because I saw it around the city. I never knew any kids who did it until Junior High, when I started skating with this group of guys from the city—they were all about just straight tagging. My friend Lenin, who later became a professional skater, pretty much put me on to writing. But it wasn’t until I met Ges that things really started to take shape. Ges and I shared the same creative vision, so naturally it was a perfect match.

What crews do you write for?

I mostly push 3A, Fly ID and UPS Crew.

How many names did you through before you got the name you have now?

You know, I’m not sure… I think I’ve been writing Kem pretty much from the jump. The name has no special meaning—I just liked the letters. Each letter could be easily styled and you could add an R or S to the end to make it longer.

Why graffiti?

Shit, I’m not really sure why—life’s just played out this way... Sometimes I think that all life is predetermined with everything set in permanent motion regardless of what decisions we make. The older I get, the more I notice how the connections I’ve made through graffiti have altered both my personal and professional lives. Almost like it was suppose to happen: fate if you want to call it that. It’s a really abstract idea, but I would like to think I’m moving forward with a purpose. This could be said about any other direction my life’s has gone in, but it’s difficult to speculate. For me graffiti is now a lifestyle—work, vacation and everyday life all seem to have some connection to writing. I’ve never been more at peace with graffiti. I paint at my own pace, doing what I want, when I want—it feels more organic and natural this way. When I was younger I didn’t really have any direction, I used graffiti as a distraction from life—it felt like a non-stop job always painting to feel fulfilled.

I still have this youthful drive, but its more calculated—a constant balance with adult life and responsibilities. I consider myself blessed to still be writing and traveling at this age.

When I get old, I want to be like Wane COD—that guy’s my hero, still living the dream.

Do you pay for paint?

I really hate paying for stuff!!! I’ve always felt like there are other means to getting the things you want, or at the very least, getting it at a discount. Throughout my graf career, I’ve been able to come up on paint pretty easily, without putting a dent in my wallet. Over the past year, Molotow and Bombing Science have been super supportive on various projects I have been working on. I really appreciate all the love they have shown—it’s great to have people that share the same vision.

Who were you major style influences coming up?

When I was first getting into graf, I was very much into the Connecticut scene. It was the early to mid 90s and Connecticut had some of the most progressive styles around. I was not from Connecticut, but spent a huge amount of time there skating and going to shows.

Being situated just outside of New York, it was the perfect breeding ground for some experimental works. The styles being produced were grounded in strong letter structure, but with writers adding their own technical flare. Connecticut had a huge influence in shaping my style. I was super into writers like Ges, Jive, Rem, Nis, Brat, Veto, Cycle, Crest and Serk—along with other New York writers such as Yes2, Ces and TATS crew who had infiltrated Connecticut and Westchester County in New York.

I often take the Amtrak into the city for work and as I speed past all the spots we use to paint I get nostalgic just thinking about it. It was nothing but shows, skateboarding and graffiti—good times I wish I could relive.

Can we still see those same influences in your work today?

For sure, my style is still very technical. I would like to think that I have maintained it pretty well and haven’t deviated too much from the original recipe.

How do your folks feel about you and graffiti?

My folks are good people—they pay their taxes and contribute to society. So the thought of anything that goes against common decency is a bit of a stretch for them. I’ve always kept the whole issue of graffiti on a “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” type policy. I know I’m not fooling them because there was paint everywhere when I was younger. The whole idea of graffiti culture is foreign to any parent. The last thing a parent wants is to have their kid getting into trouble, or hit by a train.

Now that I’m older, they ask me about graf from time to time because I’m always going different places to paint. They are genuinely interested in the movement and see the artistic merit in graffiti. I love my folks—they still think I’m crazy.

Do you make a living off of graffiti?

Wow—it’s crazy to think that someone could make a living off of graf. For me graf has always been a creative release—a way of blowing off the nine to five. I have so much respect for anyone that has been able to turn graffiti into a profession. I know it’s a hustle, but I personally couldn’t hack it, nor would I want too.

Where has graffiti taken you?

I’m a restless soul with the worst case of wanders lust and graffiti has always been the vehicle or motivation for me to travel. The idea of having this worldwide network of friends that paint is absolutely amazing. The fact that I can go to another country, meet some people I don’t even know, not be able to speak to them for a week, but have this incredible time is beyond comprehension. No other movement can rival this bond that we have.

Traveling is the best thing you’ll ever do. You discover a lot about yourself as an individual and your fellow man. Life’s about the journey and the experiences that make up the moments. If you’re young, start traveling now before the trappings of adult life hold you back. After you finish reading this, call up some friends, jump in the car and start driving. Pull out that wallet and charge some plane tickets to the game, blow off work and go somewhere. Life is too short to wait for things to happen—this is the year—today is the day!!!

How do you feel about the current graffiti game?

Graffiti is so crazed these days. It’s all Hollywood—five-day productions, post-production, merchandising, videos, blogs, websites, twitter and paint sponsorships. You would think it was the NBA, but with no one getting paid. In fear of sounding like an old and shitty writer, I embrace it 100%. Nothings worse than being at the wall and hearing that phrase,

“You don’t know what it was like.” or “You have it so easy.” I don’t want to be that guy, so as the times change, I try to roll with the punches. I might not that agree with everything, but I’m not trying to be dated.

Legal vs. illegal and you...

I paint both legal and illegal graffiti. You can’t just paint legal graf—that’s not graffiti.

What’s your take on street art?

Some street art is brilliant, the majority of it sucks—I honestly don’t care. I know some writers really get bent out of shape over street art… Who gives a fuck!? If some street artist takes your spot, take it back. The streets are open to everyone no matter how corny the message is, but all must suffer the consequences. Personally, I think the street art movement has helped make graffiti more palatable to the masses. You go to any bookstore today and you will see stacks of books on graffiti. The public’s interest in graffiti has grown immensely over the past few years and I think it’s partly due to the popularity of street art.

How about graffiti and the Internet?

The Internet’s definitely advanced graffiti to a global scale. Before the Internet, styles and information were limited to geographical areas, but once the Internet hit, it was game over. Writers started networking, styles were no longer regional and everybody knows each other’s business. The Internet also became a powerful tool in combating graffiti with the authorities using exif data from images along with getting warrants on emails. It’s not smart to post anything highly illegal these days—keep it to yourself and save it for a later day.

Would you say that you’re doing what you love?

Yes!!! It’s been a long and tired road traveled, but I feel a certain level of contentment.

What’s next?

Honestly, I don’t know… Graffiti has been a journey—I have no expectations for it. I hope to paint for as long as I can and when it’s no longer fun, I’ll move on to something else.

I paint for self, crew and friends—you cannot be everything to everyone. In the end, all this don’t mean shit. The only thing that matters is true friends and family. When you’re young you can’t see the forest from the trees—don’t lose perspective on what really matters.

Any shout-outs?

For sure—many thanks to you for letting me shine. Big up to my team, friends and most of all, my wife—I love you all. To bluer skies and good times—pop the top for me!

drfranken! What’s up my man?

Hi there, nice to have a chat with you!

How’s life in Madrid?

Life in Madrid is fantastic, if you have enough money to stay, as it is very expensive. It’s a vibrant city with great cultural diversity, plus the people here are really wonderful and charming. Madrid’s full of opportunities, although currently it’s not the best time, as in all cities of the world due to the severe economic crisis we’ve been experiencing.

Where’d you get the name drfranken?

My friend Rulo named me drfranken because my real name is Fran and this is similar to Dr. Frankenstein and we are always making jokes—pretty much…

When did you get your start in graphic design?

I’d always been passionate about design and illustration in general—then I started professionally with design and digital art about seven years ago. This was before we created our site—http://nastplas.com—and when I was still learning various digital techniques to apply to our work.

What’s changed since then?

I have more work than before and more friends on Facebook...

What is NastPlas?

We started Nastplas five years ago to show our work and devote ourselves to our passions—design and illustration. Nastplas consists of my wife Natalia and me—I make the illustrations and graphic material and she is an interior designer and who gives the nod to the final works. Also, she makes several designs in the field of fashion and accessories.

So basically, NastPlas is the design firm and you’re the creative force behind it?

Yes—but the creative part is divided equally!

How does your hired design work differ from your personal stuff?

The truth is that design and creativity are always present in my life. I’m always thinking of new concepts—my head will not stop spinning.

What motivates you to create a new piece?

I’m inspired by everything around me—the cinema, the street, Internet and especially dark environments and black color. I’m a big fan of dark art.

What’s your creative process?

Every project I do is divided into several phases—first step is to study each project and collect as much information as possible by looking through related images, text, references and shooting some pictures. Once I have a clear idea, I usually select a technique, which I will use for such combination of a 3D element, photo retouching, vector, airbrush etc. The creative process and production will usually start from there. If you perform a preliminary study of the project, it is a lot easier to adapt for customer delivery at the end process. Before concluding, I add adequate lighting elements to the overall scene and finally chose a proper name that best suits my art piece.

How much time do you spend with each?

The part of the process that takes me the longest is conducting the study design and data collection. The part I like is the development of the piece itself, which sometimes can be very long, depending on its complexity.

Do you have a personal favorite from your collection?

I have no one favorite piece—all of them have special meanings for me.

Your work has a strong dark futuristic feel to it, why is that?

I love dark colors, dark environments, rare/strange things and technology. I try to somehow reflect these concepts in my art. Many of the effects that I make are with programming code and scripts, and other times using several programs combined. For the composition of the pieces and some effects I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Painter, etc.—as for the hardware, I use a Wacom Intuos Tablet, Intel Mac, as well as Windows.

What do you think the future of art is going to be?

I think the future of art is in the use and knowledge of new technologies. There’s still much to say about art and the use of digital media that’s currently emerging. Digital art is not yet widely accepted by the general public, but I think that it’s slowly taking a strong position on traditional art.

How did you find out about UNDR RPBLC? I found it on the Internet looking for an artist for my blog.

BTW, I’m feeling that song on you website, who is that?

The song playing is “Constellation of the Heart”, an excellent song from the musician and electronic music producer Thomas Huttenlocker—aka I Awake.

Would you say that you’re doing what you love?

Of course, I always do what I like—and I love the art!

What’s next?

Who knows—stay tuned!

Thank you very much drfranken! Do you have any shout-outs?

Thanks to Jacob Grossman for this great interview and greetings to all readers of UNDR RPBLC! See ya!