NYLON Q and A with Samantha Edwards

NYLON Q and A with the creative and talented Samantha Edwards. Sam is a MAN-NY, but gets an honorary NY-LON status, since she is not actually from London, but its sister city up north, Manchester.

Samantha came to NYC to actualize her ambition, armed with skills and talent where she landed a great gig at SKAGGS creative agency.
1. How long have you been in NYC?

Gawd, I got here in 2002 so that makes it 8 years – bloody hell that’s a small child in junior school!

2. Where do you live?

Stroller Mafia Central – aka TriBeCa
3. What brought you to NYC?

Work, work and more work. I realized that I wasn’t going to get my goal in Manchester and ya damn right I wasn’t going to move to London. (North/South Divide – whatchu know ‘bout that?)
4. What keeps you busy?

My work at GIF+D (www.thegiftd.com) and SKAGGS(www.skaggsdesign.com), my friends and loved one and my 2 year old furry beast of a dog child – Stella.
5. What do you miss about Manchester ?

Where to begin…aside from my family and friends – I miss Sausage, Chips + Curry sauce (it’s a Northern thing), Eastender’s Sunday Omnibus, patriotism without the racism, driving – GOD I MISS THAT!! Bombing it 100mph down the motorway – I miss that squillions.
6. What do you love about New York?

I love the non stop “get it” attitude that everyone brings to the table. I love the fact that “doing business” isn’t a bad thing and when it’s good – it’s always a pleasure. I love that no matter who you are – or where you’re from you can do anything you damn well want and people appreciate you for it.

In the UK I’ve always been very much aware of what I like to call ‘The Culture of Hate’. What does that mean?

Here in NY you can pretty much start your way from the bottom of the shabby scrap heap and scrape, climb, bleed, sweat and cry to get to the top – people might not necessarily hold your hand on the way up – but you’re supported and when you get there – you’re recognized and celebrated for your blood, sweat, tears and most importantly talent.

I find that in the UK, your struggle to the top is a lonely one – often prickled with “who do they think they ares” and “they’ll never make it”.

Sounds like I’m being harsh on my fellow Englishmen right? A little maybe – but I’ve experienced it first hand – granted it’ll put hairs on your chest though- hmmm maybe The Culture of Hate is a little hard and it’s just the stiff British upper lip?
7. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into NYC and what would it be?

Ok – I’m totally going to contradict myself here – see above re: Stiff British Upper Lip. Hmmmm I think sometimes people in NY could do with a dose of “it’s not that serious” – Keep Calm + Carry On!
8. What inspires you?

Everything oh and I’m going to confess here – sometimes when I’m feeling a little bit blue I’ll take a round-trip cab to Times Square and gawk at the lights or I’ll walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and back. Just call me the OG Secret Tourist – I just walk a bit faster. Ha!
9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know you’re a New Yorker when…’

You order eggs over-easy-medium, start drinking champagne at 11am and nobody bats an eyelash. (Mimosa brunch people!)
10. Survival tip to living in New York.

(see 7) Keep Calm and Carry On.

#NYLON#NYLON QandA#samantha edwards#culture

NYLON Q and A with Karley Sciortino

Q and A with Karley Sciortino a New Yorker living/squatting in London. A fearless and sassy lady, who blogs about her surroundings and the offbeat people she shares a squat with in South London.
1. How long have you been in London?

Five years
2. Where do you live?

Elephant and Castle – South4life yo
3. What brought you to London?

I originally came for six months as an exchange student, then ended up loving it so much that I just dropped out of my uni back home in New York and moved here (much to my parents’ dismay).
4. What keeps you busy?

I write a blog called Slutever, where I basically write about all the artists, fuck-ups, prostitutes, stupid junkie faggots, and punks that I live with in my South London squat, and the ins and outs of their pathetic and beautiful lives.
5. What do you miss about New York?

The food (obvs), my family, American Idol, The Jersey Shore (the MTV program—not the place, eww), frozen yogurt, American accents (this is recent), boys who are without-a-doubt straight (in London you never know—hot, but annoying on occasion), and OPRAH!!! Duh!!!

6. What do you love about London?

The endless creativity, the weirdos, the freaks, the opportunity to squat, effeminate guys, These New Puritans, the night life, Dev Patel, stuff
7. Is there a dose of New York you would like to inject into London? and what would it be?

MEXICAN FOOD WTF?!?!
8. What inspires you?

A big dick
9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know you’re a Londoner when…

…you’re famous in Japan.
10. What slang have you picked up while living in London? (Whats your new favourite word)

Obvs, mayj, hein, maybes, lolz, whatevs, totes, probs, squinx, regs, NovaRando, rando, basc… and I also tend to say “I fancy” now, rather than “I would like” or “I want to fuck.” My American friends find this really amusing.

My fave new word at the moment is Macaulay. Basc, a Macaulay is someone who is extraordinarily cool, particularly in a not-so-obvious way, i.e. “Louis Theroux is totes a Macaulay!”
11. Survival tip to living in London?

Marks and Spencers throw out lots of edible food daily. You can basically live off their trash!

For the fearless, check out her blog at: http:// slutever.blogspot.com

 

NYLON Q and A with Omar Dubois

Q&A with the one and only Omar Dubois: writer, music curator, brand guru and all-round creative talent with the nice-sounding last name. Omar got his start as Music Editor at TRACE Magazine and went on to write for publications that include Interview, Dazed & Confused, The Fader and The Financial Times’ How To Spend It. And then moving on to consult for several record labels (Capitol, Interscope, Star Trak, etc.) and brands that include Diesel, LVMH and Sony Pictures Classics, Omar’s back to his first love – writing. He’s presently working on “GOD MC” – a monograph on musician/cultural icon Jay-Z. It’s scheduled for release this Summer.
1. How long have you been in NYC?

I’ve been in States since 1999, but moved full-time to New York in 2003. And I might just be eternally addicted.

2. Where do you live?

In Brooklyn. This past Fall, post my sabbatical-of-sorts in Miami, I attempted to relocate to Manhattan only to be reminded of what I always knew: Brooklyn keeps on taking it! Tranquil yet agile, while only being a second or two away from Money-Making Manhattan.
3. What brought you to NYC?

The initial calling had to absolutely do with vocation. During my rather lengthy, self-imposed, gap-year exile, I figured out from my flat in West Hampstead that New York was the one city that afforded you the harmonious currency to do a myriad of things at the same time. Things that interested me: Music, Writing, Film, Creative Direction and Branding. So I figured it’d be resourceful to transfer to college (Princeton in nearby New Jersey) here first, and then make the smooth transition into the city thereafter.

4. What keeps you busy?

Too many things, actually… My plate over-runneth! I’m an avarice for ideas (and the execution of them). So one second, you might catch me pushing my pen, so to speak. And the next second, I might be curating the music agenda for a brand. Or even putting some event together… I essentially see myself as a Creative Ambassador.

5. What do you miss about London?

Very much the city itself; the physicality of London. Jermyn Street (St. James)) and Half Moon Street (Mayfair) are two of my favorite streets – for no particularly good reason. I miss the humor, for sure. I also miss the non-capitalistic context of human interaction in London – you barely ask someone what they “do” when you first meet them. And of course, I fondly much miss a good fry-up, Alpen and almost all the food in Marks & Sparks!

6. What do you love about New York?

The fact that it’s the utter embodiment of the American Dream, while being cosmopolitan as fuck. I’ve always described New York as a gymnasium: It’s not for the feckless, but if you’re willing and able to put work in, you’re bound to see more than a few good results. Opportunity truly abounds. Plus there’s much, much to do – restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, etc. The best of them are a mere stone’s throw from
everyone.

7. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into NYC and what would it be?

Maybe a minute dose of prim & proper manners!
8. What inspires you?

A: Mostly hip hop music/culture and history itself.
9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know you’re a New Yorker when…’

When very little impresses you..! (Laughs.)

10. Survival tip to living in New York.

I might just have to quote Shallah Raekwon off the purple tape on this one: “Keep your eyes open and your wallet in your front pocket!”

 

NYLON Q and A with Peter Semple

Peter Semple is a Brand Director at Anomaly, an independent advertising agency in NYC. That involves a lot of culture digesting, and when he is not reading, writing, listening to music or taking in some art, you may catch him running past you on a Manhattan sidewalk as he takes on his long-distance running.
1. How long have you been in NYC?

Since January 2008.
2. Where do you live

East Village.
3. What brought you to NYC?

I’d lived and worked in London for a number of years, and figured now it was a good time to make a change. I’ve always wanted to live in New York because a lot of the cultural things I love – primarily in music and art – have their origins in NYC. Hip Hop, graffiti culture, basketball, fashion, numerous literature and film references. The list goes on and on.
4. What keeps you busy?

Work keeps me much more busy than I’d like. But outside of that, I spend all of my time out in the city – there’s so much going on every day and every night of the week here that you’re always spoilt for choice. I’m rarely ever in my apartment for very long. Certain things I do regularly are: visit MoMA (there’s always something incredible on), go on long runs around the city, hunt down new music, drink a lot of whiskey, drink a lot of coffee, eat out, etc. And this year I’ve actually started venturing out to areas around the city or other US cities at weekends – with NY as a base it’s easy to see more of the States than I ever had done before.
5. What is the difference in strategy in advertising to the US audience vs the British audience?

Actually, a lot of the work I’ve been involved in since I moved here has been focusing on global audiences or specific overseas ones rather than the US specifically. That said, I’ve recently become responsible for a major US lifestyle/sportswear brand, so I’ve been fully engaged in Americana in that role. With the particular projects I’m currently working on, there’s a great need for deep understanding of American sports culture and how it’s evolved over the last several decades which at times proves challenging for someone who didn’t grow up here. But fundamentally, advertising strategy is about understanding the consumer mindset, consumer needs, and the market context – that’s basically true no matter where you are or what you’re working on.
6. What do you miss about London?

The most notable thing is of course friends and family, and with that the familiarity of a city you grew up in and around. Occasionally I miss the (comparatively slightly-less hectic) pace of life that London offers, but generally I figure I’ll return to that in a few years – in the meantime I’m here to experience everything I can.
7. What do you love about New York?

I always say to people that if and when I leave New York – even if at that point I feel like I’ve had my fill of it – it’ll be difficult to leave behind the convenience and accessibility of everything that the city has on offer. I don’t know if there’s another city in the world (maybe Tokyo I guess?) quite like it here. I also love the fact that almost everywhere you are in the city, it’s a place that’s somehow familiar – whether it’s been referenced in a song, or you’ve seen it in a video or a film. Every corner in New York evokes a story of some kind. And finally, contrary to popular opinion, the people here are pretty great – the English thing goes a long way over here, which I still find surprising sometimes, given how cosmopolitan this city is.
8. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into NYC and what would it be?

On a conceptual/philosophical level, not really, as I came here looking to experience something totally different to life at home. I do wish Americans could more easily grasp the English pronunciation of the name “Peter” though: the hard “t” stumps at least one person per week, so I have to slip into a faux American accent and repeat my name as “Peeder” for them to get it. That pisses me off.
9. What inspires you?

Meeting different, interesting people every day. Music – new and old. Reading. Running. The Manhattan skyline every time I come back into the city from the airport. That yellow New York light that hits the brown-brick tenement buildings on a sunny Winter afternoon. Occasionally booze.
10. Complete this sentence, ‘You know you’re a New Yorker when…’

“…leaving a party at 5am seems like a relatively early night.”
11. Survival tip to living in New York.

Never pass up an opportunity. Take the city for all that it’s worth.

NYLON Q and A with Antoinette Sheridon

Antoinette is a sassy Londoner who moved to New York with her job. When she is not working on planning and producing events, she is seeking out random food places, socializing and on a quest for new music online.

I want to hang out with you Antoinette, I can tell that you are a riot of lots of laughter with a pint in your hand…
1.How long have you been in NYC?

2 years and 2 months
2. Where do you live?

East Village. I used to live in Williamsburg but it was just like living in Shoreditch, needed a change!!! EV is so close to everywhere and I’m getting the proper NYC lifestyle here. I can order in my ciggies and coffee when I wake in the morning or call for beer and ciggies when I get home in the morning!!! They don’t do that shit in Brooklyn.
3. What brought you to NYC?

Work.

I came out here to help the NYC office for a project they took on and I hit the city hard and couldn’t ever imagine going back. I was supposed to be here for a month at the most. There’s something mystical about NYC. I had no friends or family at the beginning yet I felt so at home here I just couldn’t face leaving.

4. What keeps you busy?

Work and Play….NYC has this hard lifestyle; you must work hard and play even harder. I normally finish work quite late but I rarely go straight home. There’s always someone to meet up with for dinner and then even more people to meet for drinks later on in the night.
5. What do you miss about London?

1. My mum, friends and family

2. Steak Kidney Pie and Chippie chips with curry sauce and all the other really bad food. I’ve not been home in a year and I already have my dinners planned for the three weeks I’m home at Christmas!!!!!

3. Brunch is great here, but I definitely miss setting up shop in my local pub on a Sunday with friends dropping in and out all day. Chilling on a couch near a fireplace munching on a good lamb roast. There’s no couches here, it’s always a hard seat and no fireplace. The Bowery is the closest I get to this Sunday feeling, but slightly expensive if you’re drinking all day.
6. What do you love about New York?

GENERAL TSO CHICKEN!!! Nuff said

But seriously… I feel like a totally new person, feel like I’ve had a rebirth. I’ve really discovered myself out here. I was kind of set in my ways at home, had a certain set of friends and had the regular spots I went to. Here I’ve learnt to be more open and talk to any and everyone. You sneeze on the subway and more than one stranger blesses you.

It’s ok to talk to strangers in a bar, on the street and generally not be so uptight.

I also love the compliments from the guys. At home it’s quite seedy but here’s it quite funny. “Mamacita you look beautiful today…” not “pssst pssst give me your number”.

The most important thing I love is the food here. The standard quality is fantastic. For $30 I can eat like a queen, you hardly get a bad experience at any restaurant here. At home the general standard and service is shit. In fact I think my standard of living here is really good. I could only afford to go out for dinner occasionally at home, but as I said before I can go out all the time here and still have a little money left over at the end of the month.

7. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into NYC and what is it?

Hhhmm I have a couple of things:
1. Allowing people to drink in public!!!! The British summer is sooooo good. We all meet in the park, have picnics and beer or two and normally don’t leave until it gets dark. I really missed London Fields this year
2. The party atmosphere…. The music scene is amazing out here, the choices I have on a nightly basis is ridiculous: my only peeve is that no one gets down and dirty. At home we get sweaty and messy. It’s not a good night if your hair’s not frizzed!!!!! The Rub at southpaw is the closest I can get to this.
3. Seeing the light in dark situations. It’s a bit of a cliché but I really do miss a good old dry personality. People get a bit too sensitive and serious out here, just lighten up folks.
8. What inspires you?

Every single time I get a taxi/subway over the burg bridge I still get all goose bumpy looking at the New York skyline. Just being here in the city inspires me so much. I’m really lucky to be here and to experience all the amazing people I have around me. I have to make the most of every minute of this adventure.

9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know you’re a New York when…’

you say “get me the ketchup” instead of “Ooo please can you pass the tomato sauce”
10. Survival tip to living in New York.
Just do it: don’t think!!!!

NYLON Q and A with Peggy Jean-Louis

 

Peggy Jean-Louis is not just a lovely name that rolls off your tongue when you say it, she’s a New Yorker living in London, she has put together some big shows and events for some of my favourite artists, such as, Mos Def, Q-tip at the Roundhouse and the Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards.
1. How long have you been in London?

I’ve been here for 2.5 years
2. Where do you Live

Hoxton, East London
3. What brought you to London?

Music and a love of Europe
4. What keeps you busy?

My business Peggy UNLTD in which I promote club nights, music brand consultancy, and also special event management.
5. What do you Miss About New York?

Riding my bike through Brooklyn in the Fall.
6. What do you Love About London?

Everything really, but especially the ever-evolving underground music scene. At the moment dubstep is still dominating but its slowly maturing into a thoughtful sound that is more song based as suppose to just repetitive loops. It going to be interesting to see its development next year and the way it will connect to fans.
7. Is there a dose of New York you would like to inject into London and What is it?

A bit more hustle I think. Its good, but sometimes it can take long to make things happen.
8. What Inspires You?

At the moment its the Eurostar. Travel should always be this pleasant!
9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know your are Londoner When…’

You rush home to catch Eastenders. Its just a normal looking TV soap. Everyone looks so boring and plain but manage to get into the most complicated situations. I’ve become a die hard fan.
10. What Slang have you Picked up while living in London? (What is your new favourite word)

innit

11. Survival Tip to Living in London.

Ignore the rain.
You can keep up with Peggy on her blog peggyunltd

NYLON Q and A with Kizzy Knight

Kizzy is quite a multi-faceted and creative lady, if she sets her mind to anything she succeeds in it, she is an award winning stylist, a trained dancer and a fashion designer. Her recent venture an Eco Clothing line, JAI Activewear is a contemporary active wear collection that is completely sustainable, who knew you could make a beautiful outfit from an Eucalyptus Tree?
1. How long have you been in NYC?

The first time I came with the idea of living here was about six and a half years ago…
2. Where do you Live?

I literally just moved to the East Village…I love my new neighborhood…I was in Clinton Hill Brooklyn for over four years before that, I defo’ miss the Brooklyn Vibes but hey I still visit and to tell you the truth it rocks being in the city!
3. What brought you to NYC?

Life…I wanted to do Something new, learn and grow…
4. What keeps you Busy?

Dancing through the breeze of creativity…I just launched a contemporary active wear line
called JAI Activewear

5. What do you miss about London?

Loved ones…

6. What do you love about New York?

Everything…The place is swinging, constantly….

7. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into NYC and what is it?

A more profound understanding of British Humor…..Hahahhahhahhahahhahhahhahhahaa
British humor is smart and witty, you have to think about it to get it.
8. What inspires you?

Love…
9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know your a New York When…’

…you’ve got your stride on, you’ve set the fast paced New York tread mill to your own speed,there is so much going on around the clock…. Yea your a New Yorker once your chilling in your groove!

10. Survival tip to living in New York.

Korea town 24 hour Spa…

Q and A with Helen Job

Helen Job spots trends before it happens. She has worked as a trend forecaster, consultant and journalist for nearly a decade, most recently directing WGSNʼs US content. She is widely recognized for her expertise in trend analysis and forecasting and has consulted for major brands and retailers such as Liz Claiborne, and Urban Outfitters. While she is perusing newspapers and blogs everyday, she is also a Trendspotter professor at Parsons School of Design, a mother of two and a wife. 

1. How long have you been in NYC?

Five years
2. Where do you live

East Village/Alphabet City

3. What brought you to NYC?

I was transferred through work to run the New York office of WGSN
4. What keeps you busy?

Working on lots of freelance projects and raising two small kids. Teaching Trend Spotting at Parsons and also research, consultancy, and brand strategy work. Trendspotting involves constant media scan – reading magazines, blogs, twitter feeds etc.. And primary research checking out new music venues, retail trends, visual merchandising, restaurants, and hotels.

5. What do you miss about London?

People’s humor and sensibility – being cutting and rude and nobody actually taking offense. The constant laughter even in dire situations. My ramshackle group of friends. English Breakfast and builder’s tea at greasy spoon cafes.Ribena, Jaffa Cakes, Linda McCartney pies, M&S underwear, Boots the Chemists…I also miss the radio for the dry British humour, the news and a great selection of smaller music stations. The Guardian Newspaper…well G2, lets be honest I don’t read the whole thing. I don’t, however miss the bad weather, the buses and the whinging.

6. What do you love about New York?

You can get whatever you want at any time of the day. Great, cheap and fast food. Meeting fascinating people from many cultures – I have friends with such mixed backgrounds from Korea to Bulgaria – in England everyone I know is just plain ol’English.
7. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into NYC, what would it be?

Pub culture, going to the pub on a Sunday afternoon, listening to the jukebox and pretending to read the papers, with a good Sunday roast. Hanging out all afternoon and deciding you might as well stay for the evening too even with work in the morning.

8. What inspires you?

Simply walking around New York. I still love walking this city as everything is happening all the time, there’s amazing art, and street culture and I love the nutters too.
9. What are some of the differences in fashion trends and sensibilities between the UK (London) and New York?

When I first moved here, I thought NY was three years behind London, but it’s getting closer with all the fashion blogs etc… However, if you go down the East End in London it looks like everyone is in costume, – they’ve made a real effort. There are distinct style tribes in London too, for example there’s a night called Cockabilly where people dress up in a new take on Rock-a-billy, lots of pompadours. I feel that the hipster look in NYC is very American Apparel, hipster-by-numbers. Everyone wears the same outfit. People are more creative and it just seems fresher in London.

It’s a traditional British thing to dress with a sense of individual style and eclecticism. You have Central St. Martins, which is one of the most creative fashion colleges in the world, but in NYC \ you feel that it’s rolled out for the masses. Great cutting edge designers come from London such as; Giles Deacon and Gareth Pugh, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen etc.
10. Have you noticed a difference or impact in street fashion in NYC since Topshop arrived? 
Ha ha…I’ve seen TopShop bags around, it’s just another fashion retailer with disposable fashion trends here. It’s not the same clientele that frequents the Oxford circus location; there you get a mix of fashion stylists, models and industry people. I love TopShop so lets hope so…

11. Complete this sentence, ‘You know you’re a New Yorker when…’

You start seeing a therapist.
12. Survival tip to living in New York.

Hmm… that’s really difficult. I guess I’d say $2 pizza and not stopping to think about your next move. Like you are paying ridiculous amounts on rent, for a tiny apartment with no garden you have no savings, no car, and are living with mice and cockroaches but you still keep doing it, because you believe you are living in the best city in the world. It seems madness to some people but nothing beats the atmosphere just walking around this place. I love New York!

 

NYLON Q and A with Thimali Kodikara

Thimali is an all round renaissance woman. She is super creative, flowing with ideas, not only is she a sassy and savvy brand strategist and consultant, she is also a graphic designer, illustrator, and recording artist.

Thimali I salute you.

1. How Long Have you Been in NYC?

6 years, but I deserve to say 26, its been a trip
2. Where do you Live?

Prospect Heights/Park Slope depending on who i’m talking to.
3. What Brought you to NYC?

My move to New York? Adventure in one word. A lad (man) is probably the truth.

Although I prefer to credit my relationship with New York to my first trip here at 19, but my best mate traveled to Ghana the same year. She met a wily scrap of lads from New York on a beach, and fell in love with one of them (haven’t we all..).

She comes home to my flat, cooing, “you’ve gotta come with me and find out if it’s love!!”. To which I say, “I don’t know who these people are, what they do
… Alright. F*** it. Lets go.” We go. And I’m their bridesmaid three years later.

The boys were part of a non-profit art movement ‘The Freestyle Arts Association’, and were doing incredible projects at schools & colleges citywide. We started a triangle of collaborative work whilst I was studying atCentral St. Martins, between my shared studio in Whitechapel, theirs in Long Island City & my mates in Cambridge. We’re celebrating ten years of knowing each other this year.
4. What Keep you Busy?

I freelance for an exceptional London-based branding consultancy which keeps me out-of-state most of the month. When I’m not doing that, I’m working on my freshly-launched new company designing brand strategy & identity for bright, innovative start-ups. We’re in a new economic era, and I believe it should be prefaced by doing all we can to help small businesses get a leg up. Small businesses coax strong communities into fruition, and I live to see that happen! All my executions entertain a guerrilla attitude because it lends itself to interactivity, but I’m also a Left-brained soul, so they’re always painfully and meticulously thought out.

I’m also about to complete my first record singing & producing with Eka.
It’s a collaborative project between myself, Jason Drake (a.k.a super-multi-instrumentalist Cassettes Wont Listen) & Devang Shah (percussionist & founding member of Dragons Of Zynth). We’ve all evolved listening to anything we can get our hands on, but Eka’s natural frequency will span violent beats, to soulful house, to Brooklyn noise. We’re being represented byDope Lotus, which was founded as a collective of artists & musicians, not just for a musical genre.

5. What do you Miss about London?
1. Sense of humor. But no doubt everyone on this blog has said that.

2. Telly. I’m watching a BBC series on the History of Maths via YouTube right now. Can you see that shit on the CW11? Seriously.

3. The pub. Again obvious, but Londoners know how to survive the cold months better than New Yorkers for this reason. A pub lunch – a few solid pints – a fresh pack of Golden Virginia – the Saturday Guardian crossword – a roaring fire – the football – and all your mates who moved to live five minutes away from you so they can finally call your pub, their ‘local’.

4. Women. London’s ladies are feisty, smart, confident, mouthy, independent, intelligent, and most importantly, aren’t afraid to use it.

5. My family.
6. What do you Love about New York?

1. It does freedom in a way the rest of the States hasn’t figured out yet. New York is all free living & free thinking.

2. It has an overwhelmingly powerful creative energy that is completely unavoidable.

3. It’s non judgmental, If you have a great idea, there is no hierarchy to climb. You just do it. People will applaud you for your effort, not only the final product.

4. Community. You can be part of an accessible microcosm or macrocosm, depending on how you choose to live.

5. The Manhattan skyline coming over the bridges, never, ever, tires..

7. Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to Inject into NYC and what is It?

Talking about foreign policy, and your sex life, both in graphic detail, in the same sitting. Same sentence if you can manage it.

8. What Inspires You?

Brilliant people doing brilliant things. Everyone has something to offer you can’t acquire by yourself, so I try to talk to everybody.
9. Complete this sentence, ‘You know your a New Yorker When…’

.. you traveled to Philly to campaign, secured Pennsylvania, and won Obama’s election for the Democrats.
.. your accent is thought to be from southern Jersey.
.. you know Kip from TV On The Radio.

10. Has your Accent Changed a Little….

Not really, and I like it that way. I was born a Londoner, but I’ll plum it up
so Americans can understand me better. Which more often than not backfires
in obscene ways when someone attempts to mimic my accent. That’s about
2-6 times a day.
11. Survival tip to living in New York.

Move to Brooklyn.

Once you’ve done that, don’t think all cab drivers are going to take you home, even if you’re willing to pay, and it’s the law. Get in the cab with a minor knowledge of South Asian and/or Middle Eastern politics and worry about it when you get to Dekalb Av.

Thank you to Thimali, whose album will be out soon, so watch this space.

NY LON Q & A with a Certain Clive William

NYLON Q & A, with Clive Williams or C.Live to his friends, a very stylish dude, who is an aspiring film maker.  Funny with a quick wit, but still a geezer.

How long have you lived in New York?

10 years.

Where do you live?

Park Slope.

What brought you to New York?

Came to party, ended up staying.

What keeps you busy?

Screenwriting and Deejaying

What do you miss most about London?

The sense of humor, pirate radio, going to see Arsenal play and universal health care

What do you love about New York?

Food, culture, fashion and the attitude.

Is there a dose of Britishness you would like to inject into New York?

Football on national television on a Saturday night.

What inspires you?

Music

Complete this sentence, ‘You know your a New Yorker when…’

You complain about tourists.

Has your accent changed?

A little, but I still say ‘Geezer’ on a regular

Survival tip to living in New York City?

Keep one eye open at all times, don’t sleep!
Check out C.live’s photography site http://magicpie.smugmug.com/