Downtown Girl
Colleen Nika
* Global trotting Music/Fashion writer
-Best place to brunch?
Tartine on W 4th Street, steps from
where I used to live. Grape + Grain, steps from where I currently
live. And I also like Gemma, Falai, and 202, where they serve a full
proper English breakfast. Frankly, though, I can count on one hand the
number of times I've done "brunch" in the past year. Whether I get up
at nine or noon, I prefer to start my day with oatmeal and coffee at
home.
-Best place for a cupcake?
Right now, it's Sweet Revenge on Carmine, but I also really love Babycakes' vegan cupcakes, especially the carrot cake flavour.
-Most importantly, best place for a cocktail?
I don't know, I hop from place to place. Goldbar, depending on the
night you go, can be fun. Tailor has a really amazing rum drink called
"Crumble", which has a brown butter base (sounds strange, but trust me,
it is achingly divine). Death + Co and Sweet Paradise are consistently
good. To be honest, though, the ambiance of the place outweighs the
booze selection for me. That's why I like dive bars like The Magician,
Cabin, and Home Sweet Home. I live in the East Village, so there's
plenty of interchangeable little watering holes I can go to hide.
-Best place to watch Rock Stars in their natural habitat?
Bowery Ballroom. I like them best on a stage.
-Any muses?
Stylewise,
it is Kate Lanphear, Shirley Manson, Alison Mosshart, and Siouxsie
Sioux. I like women who defy conventions of femininity and who call
into question who we are dressing up or down for--I can tell you that
none of those women are doing it for the men. So, I prefer a strong and
unconventional visual: La Roux's aesthetic right now speaks to me;
she's so young, but already so incisive with her styling choices. I'm
caught somewhere between wanting to be these women and wanting to write
about them. They are inspiring in all facets, as a muse should be. If I
spoke of women whose minds, lives, and philosophies inspired me, I'd
never shut up, but I can confirm that both Shirley and Alison would
make a reappearance on that list!
Favorite designers?
Current: Rad Hourani, Hannah Marshall,
Ghesquiere for Balenciaga, Ann Demeulemeester, Raf Simons, Helmut Lang,
Nova Dando, Preen, Gareth Pugh, Helena Horstedt, Rodarte, Giles, Lina
Osterman, Burberry under Bailey, Christopher Kane, Staerk, Miu Miu,
Rick Owens, Comme des Garcons, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander Wang,
Givenchy under Tisci, and YSL under Pilati. And basically, anyone out
of Japan and Belgium. But don't talk to me about the Spring 2010
Margiela collection. Catastrophe. Fire the imposter!
What is it you do?
I am a writer for several publications like Interview,
Paper, and V. I primarily write about music and fashion, and
occasionally art and "culture". I also write press releases and artist
statements for several well known designers and art clients. And now, I
am also the director of Popjustice NYC, the US branch of a British
music entity and new live music project. We're trying to spotlight high
caliber pop music, especially British and Euro leaning acts. Our events
run the gamut from exclusive intimate concerts and band showcases to
dance parties featuring innovative DJ sets. It's a really exciting and
fresh concept. People are responding very well; early feedback is
immense. No one else in the city nightlife realm is doing anything like
it; it's an idea that took seed awhile back and it's so satisfying to
watch it grow into fruition!
-What is the best music store in your hood?
Not in my hood anymore, but Academy Records beats anything else in the city. In London, I spent hours in Sister Ray Records.
-And
on that note do we still even need those stores and why?I remember when
I would save up 20$ to take the bus to some obscure record store in
hoboken or the east village to buy rare indie finds,and Fanzines.
Today's generation will never know that excitement.
Nothing beats the physical product, even now. And vinyl is more
popular than it's been in ages. I think things are coming full circle.
For the ultimate convenient fix, we turn to our iPods. For the ideal
intimate listen, we put on a vinyl record. Maybe for the Generation Z
kids, CDs have fallen into purgatory, but I still have nearly two
thousand of them and I cherish every one.
-What can we expect from you in the future?
I'm a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a vest, Margiela style. Savor the mystery and await what's next.
-Which is your favorite site to visit?
Hype Machine for a quick snapshot on what bands and tracks are ruling
the blogosphere that week, AShadedViewonFashion for under the radar
fashion news, NYTimes.com, NYMag.com, Metacritic.com, and of course,
Popjustice.com. I also check the sites of the magazines I write for
pretty much daily. And I do subscribe to a lot of blogs like Idolator,
The New Yorker's art section, and Fashionologie, but often forget to
check them. Oh yeah: I read Pitchfork just get my hate back.
-Bands currently listening to?
Lately: The new albums from Mew,
Muse, Manic Street Preachers, and the Pet Shop Boys, The Big Pink, La
Roux, Florence and The Machine, Marina and The Diamonds, Yeah Yeah
Yeahs (old and new), The Dead Weather (and the Kills, always), The XX,
Howling Bells, Delphic, Woods, Health. The Horrors are probably the
most exciting indie band right now, and I'm proud to be one of their
early supporters, from way back in mid 2006. I'm also listening to a
lot of forgotten 80s relics from Blancmange, Visage, and Ultravox. All
times favorites are Bauhaus, Garbage, Primal Scream, Portishead,
Suicide, Blur, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, and
Curve.
-How do you relax?
By sleeping.
-Give us advice on romance?
"Don't let the hand you hold hold you down."
-Give us the formula for success?
Throw
your expectations out the window. Realize that nine out of ten
prospects will fail, but the one that doesn't is the one that matters.
Stake out your own turf and defend it: seize as much as possible
whenever you can. Find a void and fill it. If you can't find a void to
fill, create one!