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.
Right now, it's Sweet Revenge on Carmine, but I also really love Babycakes' vegan cupcakes, especially the carrot cake flavour.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
"Don't let the hand you hold hold you down."
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!
love this girl!
Posted by: rose | 12/28/2009 at 12:36 AM
This was a great piece!
Posted by: Michelle | 12/28/2009 at 07:26 AM
awesome post!!
Posted by: veritas | 12/28/2009 at 07:38 PM