#summerloves

Musicians Smith Westerns and the Lived In Chambray Shirt.

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20 letteRS
24 cOntRibutORS

genius
26 HiP cHeck

22 Jump Street star

Amber Stevens shows
us how to spot a hipster. By David Walters

usher photographed
by kenneth cappello.
stylist: j. errico.
hair: curtis smith.
grooming: cole
patterson. photo
assistant: gabriel
hernandez. shot at
big studio, atlanta.
sweater by versace,
tank top by public
school, pants by
diesel black gold,
ushers own jewelry.

28 eleVentH HOuR
Worlds collide with the
unlikely pairing of DJ/
producer Guy Gerber
and P. Diddy. By
Nicolas Stecher

30 PiPe dReamS
He may have just
turned pro, but for teen
skateboarding phenom
Louie Lopez, its just
business as usual. By
Stefan Marolachakis

douglas booth photographed by isa wipfli.

vol 10
issue 3

07.14

NYLON GUYS (ISSN 1931-2784)

[Volume 10, Issue 3, June/July 2014] is
published 6 times a year (Feb/Mar, Apr/
May, Jun/Jul, Aug/Sep, Oct/Nov, Dec/
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32 PRO SHOP
Master vintage curator
Brian Procell takes us
along for the hunt.
By Ashley Hoffman

34 Haute Stuff:
One seriously
classy bicycle

35 geniuS newS
38 tecH & gaming
40 take it OR
bReak it:
The Black Lips
Cole Alexander

42 cHOw
44 gROOming

taste
56 gentleman gym
Upgraded athletic bags

58 like tHe wind

Windbreaker jackets

60 let it Slide
Slip-on sneakers

62 tHink tankS
Tank tops

64 bRigHt eyeS
Lucite-framed
sunglasses

66 alOHa SPiRit
Hawaiian shirts

68 POint blanc
White jeans

drive thru
46 gOing tOPleSS
The best convertibles
out there. By
Nicolas Stecher and
Michael Crenshaw

70 tHe fliP Side

Beach sandals

72 tRunk PaRty
Swimsuits

74 bucket bRigade
Bucket hats

radar
76 tRackS Of
HiS teaRS
Unrequited love and
raw emotion fill Sam
Smiths debut album,
In the Lonely Hour.
By Joshua Glazer.
Photographed by
Anna Rose

80 gOin back tO cali

Rapper YGs tales
of L.A. hood life will
soundtrack your
summer. By Clover
Hope. Photographed
by Nick Sethi

82 wORldS aPaRt
EDM star Porter
Robinson shakes

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07.14

photographed by nathanael turner. below: photographed by eric helgas.

things up on his
first album, Worlds.
By Laura Studarus.
Photographed
by Jay Hanna

84 Stating tHe
ObViOuS
The wacky and
wonderful Jenny Slate
takes on a new kind
of pregnancy rom-com
with Obvious Child.
By Denise Martin.
Photographed
by Bryan Sheffield

88 HigH geaR

With exciting roles in

both film and theater,
Jim Parrack is lovin
life. By Claire Howorth.
Photographed by
Sunny Shokrae

89 HeaRt muRmuR
For Tom Krell of How
to Dress Well, music
is an existential
experience. By Dan
Hyman. Photographed
by David Shama

90 On tHe RecORd:
bOb mOuld
By Mark Yarm.
Photographed
by Jay Blakesberg

92 PablO HOney
Dont call Orange
Is the New Black s
Pablo Schreiber
Pornstache. By David
Walters. Photographed
by Beth Garrabrant

93 Seeing StRyPeS
Teenaged Irish band
The Strypes are
reviving old-school pub
rock. By Diane Vadino.
Photographed by
Alex Brunet

features
94 HOuSe Of uSHeR
After almost two
decades of stardom,
Usher isnt ready to

07.14

yg photographed by nick sethi. jenny slate photographed by bryan sheffield.

relinquish the R&B

throne. By David
Peisner. Photographed by Kenneth
Cappello. Styled
by J. Errico

102 tRue bRit

English actor Douglas
Booth discusses his
upcoming sci-fi flick,
Jupiter Ascending.
By John Ortved.
Photographed by
Isa Wipfli

108 dOwn tO
cHinatOwn
Take these savvy
summer styles
to the streets.
Photographed by
Jimmy Fontaine. Styled
by Allan Kennedy

118 intelligent
deSign
Tyler, the Creator
built a hip-hop world
with his own two
hands. By Jeff Weiss.
Photographed by
Steven Taylor

126 SHOPPing liSt

128 ROad waRRiOR
John Waters talks
the art of hitchhiking.
By Mike Guy

Enjoy Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider Responsibly.

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executive chairman marc luzzatto

executive vice president, chief revenue officer, publisher dana fields
executive vice president, digital daniel saynt

executive editor david walters

design director chris segedy

features

senior editor melissa giannini

senior editor mallory rice
contributing editor ashley baker
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contributing automotive editor nicolas stecher
contributing copy editor matt schlecht

fashion

art

fashion director joseph errico

market director rachael wang
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associate market and accessories editor tamar levine
fashion assistant marissa smith
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bookings director beth garrabrant

senior designer haley stark
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digital

senior web editor liza darwin

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editor-at-large, native beca alexander
contributing writers

rebecca bates, paul caine, michael crenshaw, matt dolby, joshua glazer, mike guy, ashley hoffman, clover hope, claire howorth, dan hyman, banu ibrahim,
ariana labarrie, stefan marolachakis, denise martin, taylor morgan, john ortved, alexa pearce, david peisner, laura studarus, diane vadino, jeff weiss, mark yarm
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New York Los Angeles Miami Montreal Toronto

020 letters

dear nylon guys,

I giggled like a schoolboy
when I read Shayne
Olivers favorite jean style:
Anything slim, worn-in, and
dirty. My mind may be in
the gutter 99 percent of
the time, but it sounds like
hes talking about more
than just jeans. Whats
that? My personal jean
style? Dark, heavy stitching,
and boot cutif you know
what I mean. ;)
ZAYNE MCGIBBONY
ANTIOCH, CA
dear nylon guys,
Aaron Taylor-Johnsons
current haircut just is not
OK with me. Why would
he ever chop off those
locks?! If youve got it,
flaunt it. And HOT DAMN,
hes got it. My girlfriend
would weep tears of joy if
she could run her fingers
through Vronskys hair
instead of mine. This is the
kind of problem even
Kiehls cant help me with.
NICO TAYLOR
WALTHAM, MA
dear nylon guys,
I think your editorial
department made a
mistakethey forgot to
mention Brooklyn Deckers
middle name is Perfection.
Andy Roddick is literally
the MOST ~hashtag
blessed~ dude in the
universe, and it has
nothing to do with tennis.
CHUCK SMITHSON
KNOXVILLE, TN
dear nylon guys,
Wondering how many
models are in the office
each day on average. I am
considering joining the
team, but I am going to
need complete assurance
that I will be surrounded by
many, many models.
Please advise.
ALEX NATHANSBERG
HELLS KITCHEN, NYC

dear nylon guys,

Yono ice for Rick Ross?
Youre lucky Im not famous
enough to be in the
magazineor old enough
to actually drink ros. But
I plan to be interviewed
soon, and my apple
juice better be super
fucking cold!
TOMMY RODGERS
PENSACOLA, FL
dear nylon guys,
As much as I liked the
Test Drive piece in your
last issue, I really need to
know more about the
Canton Kitchen behind the
motorcycle. Are they 24/7?
Do they deliver? Can I get

fried rice without veggies?

Please hurry, so hungry!
CHASE EVERTON
SEATTLE, WA
dear nylon guys,
As cool as CGI is, Im
really pissed they used it in
the new Godzilla film.
There are plenty of us giant,
city-destroying reptiles out
here who never even got
so much as an audition. I
cant be a waiter forever.
LEONARD WORDLY
TEMECULA, CA
dear nylon guys,
Super inspired by those
guys at the Knickerbocker
Manufacturing Co. and

illustrations by leonardo flores. disclaimer: nylon guys cannot guarantee the authenticity of any of these letters.

022 letters
send mail to:
nylon guys letters
110 greene street
suite 607
new york, ny, 10012
or email:
letters@nylonmag.com

their idea for well-made

caps. Even more interested
in how I could convince my
boss to build a half-pipe in
our officeany ideas?
LEO PATTERSON
OWATONNA, MN
only things keeping me
dear nylon guys,
from finally achieving
Tried Bar Palys spill prank bawse status are a blue
on my girlfriends new
fur coat, ice cold ros, and
Cline bag. Turns out, that
a shiny leather hoodie. Let
stunt might only work for
the hunt begin.
ridiculously gorgeous
MATTHEW LOPEZ
supermodels and not
GREENSBORO, NC
accountants from Virginia,
currently working
dear nylon guys,
weekends to pay for the
Thank you for finally
overpriced purse he ruined. cracking the code on
PATRICK CAMPBELL
mens style. Ingeniously,
HERNDON, VA
you recommend the
unexpected combination of
dear nylon guys,
being cool yet also
If anything, this issue has
incredibly handsome, while
made me realize that the
also being rich enough to

afford all possible luxuries.

As you cleverly suggest in
your May issue, readers
looking for a style update
should purchase a Dior
Homme crocodile portfolio
($19,000)in hindsight, an
easy tip! I really dont see
how anyone could mess it
up unless theyre simply
too lazy to hop in their
vintage Range Rover and
drive to the closest highend retailer.
JEFF JOHNSON
DENVER, CO

dear nylon guys,

Thanks to your May issue, I
am finally starting to find
my summer look. Ive felt
nothing short of dapper
rocking the makeup you
showed on Boy George,
page 94. And guided by
the suave styling of your
Aaron Taylor-Johnson cover
story, I now always make
sure I am sitting next to
a funny-looking dog. Ive
never looked better,
and I owe it all to you,
Nylon Guys!
MARCELO THORNBY
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

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024 contributors
Julie MurPhy

DaviD Peisner

Illustrator, Chicago

Writer, Decatur, GA

Drew the portrait of John

Waters for Road Warrior
(page 128).

Interviewed Usher for

House of Usher (page 94).
Ive met Usher before, so this
interview was very casual. Talking
to him at home with his kids
around, constantly popping
in to climb on him or ask him
questions like, Do I have to eat
this green stuff? made it feel
extra relaxed.

GeorGe unDerwooD

Photographer, Brooklyn

Hometown: Suburban Detroit

Twitter handle: @DavidPeisner
Latest discovery: Cold fusion.
Just dont tell anyone Ive figured
it out. Its kind of a big deal.
Playing on repeat: Lydia
Lovelesss Somewhere Else,
JPNSGRLS Circulation, and
The Antlers Familiars
Online fixation: meninblazers.
com, a soccer-focused, popculture-obsessed podcast/blog
Compulsively reading:
Remembrance of Things Past by
Marcel Proustwell, not really,
but its been sitting on my nightstand for an awful long time.
Mode of transport: A 2006
Volvo station wagon, chariot of
the gods (or at least the totally
uncool ones who have two kids)
Secret skill: A Magellan-esque
sense of direction
Sartorial signature: Pants. I wear
them most days.

I am a huge admirer of John

WatersI think hes brilliant,
creative, weird, and unique, and I
particularly like the honesty of his
writingso I was thrilled, and a
bit nervous, about illustrating him.
My creatures and characters
are paying homage to him in
this drawing.

seth howarD

Stylist, NYC

Shot Louie Lopez for Pipe

Dreams (page 30).
It was so exciting to meet Louie
Lopez after watching him come
up in the skateboarding world. It
was amazing to work with someone of his caliber who can lay
down tricks again and againit
made my job easier.
Hometown: Auburn, NY
Instagram handle:
@georgegnarlywood
Latest discovery: GoPro Copter
Travel plans: A cross-country
trip to take pictures for
Freedom: Volume 3, part of a
series of photo books about the
American landscape
Playing on repeat:
Hannibal Buresss stand-up
Online fixation: freaksleeper.com
for funny pictures of humans
and animals sleeping
Compulsively reading:
Spider-Man comics
Mode of transport:
A skateboard, always
Secret skill:
I have an excellent memory.
Sartorial signature: Alexander
McQueen shoes with HUF
weed socks

Hometown: Lombard, IL
Instagram handle:
@queenrooster
Latest discovery: There seem to
be a lot of wild rabbits running
around this spring. They play in a
most entertaining fashion; I could
observe woodland creatures
for hours.
Travel plans: Ill be visiting
Portland for the first time
this summer.
Playing on repeat:
DeBarges Greatest Hits
Online fixation: I often end
up on YouTube watching old
music performances. I also
enjoy voyeuristically browsing
apartments and houses for sale
through Zillow.
Compulsively reading:
Role Models by John Waters
Mode of transport: Im omnitransportationalI walk, ride
public transit, bike, and drivebut
I like the first two because they
provide the greatest opportunities for people-watching.
Secret skill: I can dance salsa,
cumbia, cha-cha, bachata, and
samba with some competence.
Sartorial signature: Fitted
dresses and jeansI dont like
baggy clothes.

Created the looks seen on

Douglas Booth in True Brit
(page 102).
Booth was great. He had
amazing energy and was up for
having some fun with the looks
we chose. And lets face it: The
guy looks great in everything.
Hometown:
Fountain Run, KY
Twitter handle: @SthHwrd
Latest discovery: Mintons
Playhouse, a 1920s-style jazz
club in Harlem
Travel plans: L.A. in June,
Mexico in August
Online fixation:
businessoffashion.com
Compulsively reading:
TextbooksIm currently working
on my masters degree.
Mode of transport:
Whatever is easiest
Secret skill: Keeping cool, calm,
and collected
Sartorial signature: I like
where old-school tailoring meets
casual comfort.

S I L V E R J E A N S . C O M
A V A I L A B L E A T M A C Y S A N D S I L V E R J E A N S C O . L O F T S
LOS ANGELES
CHICAGO
HOUSTON
DALLAS
MINNEAPOLIS

hip check
22 JUMP STREET STAR AMBER STEVENS MAKES JONAH HILLAND THE REST OF US
A LITTLE BIT COOLER. BY DAVID WALTERS. PHOTOGRAPHED BY MAGDALENA WOSINSKA

stylist: sean
knight. hair:
rob talty at the
magnet agency using
sachajuan. makeup:
jo strettel at
the magnet agency
using dolce &
gabbana beauty.
romper and belt by
martin grant, rose
gold ring by tomtom,
ring with crystals
by cc skye.

some good, old-fashioned youthful

rebellion never hurt anybody, but one
early act of revolt almost derailed amber
stevenss career before it began. my dad
[actor, radio host, and current The Late
Late Show With Craig Ferguson announcer
shadoe stevens] was on a sitcom called
Daves World, so i attended live tapings
every single friday for four years, says
the 27-year-old los angeles native. i went
through that phase where i wanted nothing
to do with what my parents thought was
cool, so when they told me, You know
what? You love putting on a show, i was
like, get out of here! im not doing what
you think i should do!
stevens wisely came around, landing
commercial work and small roles in CSI
and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,
eventually becoming a series regular
on the aBC family drama Greek, an
experience that sold her for good on the
family business. now i want to work on a
sitcom, says stevens. i want to do comedy
because it was so much fun watching my
dad do it.
The sitcom dream will have to wait, but a
role opposite Jonah hill and Channing Tatum
in sequel-of-the-summer 22 Jump Street will
earn her plenty of laughs. my character is
a cool art student who is somehow linked to
a murder that Jonahs character is
investigating. We develop a romance, and
he starts to become a little more hipster
himselfwearing skinnier clothes and
stealing my scarves, she explains.
since the condition is apparently
contagious and stevens has done some
real-life field research anyway (i do live
in los feliz, she cites as a credential), we
asked her to identify the classic warning
signs of hipster art student syndrome.

1. On Saturday nights,
you forgo keg stands and
beer pong for boxed wine
and pottery making.

5. You think Wes

Anderson was robbed at
that awards show. Every
awards show.

2. The only radio station

programmed in your car
is NPR.

6. You maintain an herb

garden exclusively for the
purpose of craft cocktail
infusions.

3. Your significant
other taught you how
to crochet.
4. Your monthly artisanal
coffee bill is more than
your car payment.
Because you dont have a
car. Because you ride
a bike.

7. You think David Byrne

has contributed more to
artistic culture than da
Vinci, Michelangelo, and
the Mayans combined.

nylonguysmag.com

027

PERCEPTION CAN BE A funny

thing. Back in 2008, Sean Diddy
Combs hosted a party at Cameo
during the height of Miamis
Winter Music Conference. Diddy,
to much surprise, tapped the
then-obscure DJ/producer
Claude VonStroke to headline,
and spent most of the bassheavy set on the balcony,
sporadically spraying the crowd
with champagne. Dance-music
critics cried cultural poaching:
What was the originator of blinghopthe man who brought the
world 112 and Danity Kaneeven
doing at WMC other than soiling
the underground with Krug and
bottomless sponsorship dollars?

eleventh hour

grooming: thea istenes at

exclusive artists using oribe.

DARK-HOUSE DJ AND PRODUCER GUY GERBER LINKS UP WITH SEAN DIDDY COMBS ON ONE OF THE SUMMERS
MOST ANTICIPATEDAND LEAST LIKELYCOLLABORATIONS. BY NICOLAS STECHER. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAY HANNA

It was the definition of worlds

colliding, explains Diddy, in a back
room of Hollywoods W Hotel.
A lot of people didnt know I was
such a fan of certain producers,
but I always want to see the DJs
who arent afraid to clear the dance
floor, the ones who are fearless.
Thats why when I heard Guys stuff
and went to see some of his sets,
I thought it would be cool if we
worked together.
If youre not familiar with the
Israeli-born, Madrid-based producer
and DJ Guy Gerber, its safe to

028

NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

say his sound is dark. Hypnotic.

The type of deep house thats
as welcoming as a hooded figure
in a dark alley. Together, Diddy
and Gerber have been working
on an album dubbed 11:11 for
two years, with Gerber alternating
between the Bad Boy moguls
New York studio and his own
to craft more than 50 tracks
(aptly, 11 of them will be chosen
for the final product). After
months of anticipationand
pre-judgingdance-music fans will
finally get to hear 11:11 this

July as a free download.

On the hotels sun-drenched
balcony, Gerber explains the
albums title: In some cultures,
its a date or an hour or a
moment when two worlds collide
and open a gate to another
dimensionand in that dimension,
anything can happen. The
closest real-life analog theyve
come up with is the mood at
an after-party: a psychotropicinduced sense that anything
can happen, and that reality is
a malleable dimension in which

music and texture are nutrition. In

the after-hours, people are kind of
fucked up, explains Gerber. If the
music is not great, it fails. If you put
a track on thats not next-level, its
going to feel awkward. So it has to
be. He trails off, making a sound
like water rushing over a cliff.
Diddy concurs, a wry smirk firmly
in place: Were, like, really serious
after-hours guys, so when we were
making the album, it was definitely
those types of vibes; there were
after-hours-type things going on,
just to be honest.

ITS A CLOUDY Tuesday morning on the banks of the Hudson River,

and Louie Lopez is effortlessly tearing up and down the empty
canyons of the Chelsea Piers skate park. His fatheraffectionately
known as Big Louleans on a chain-link fence, watching quietly
and attentively. The lanky 19-year-olds style is both calm and
commanding, and its not until he hops off his board for a moment
to check his cell phone that it becomes fully apparent that he wasnt
simply born with a skateboard as an extra appendage.
I was probably four or five when
I started skating, the Hawthorne,
California native explains. My
cousin always had this cheap
plastic skateboard lying around;
the wheels barely turned. Lopez
begged his father for a real board,
and his wish came true the day
Dad backed over the plastic one
in the driveway. Big Lou details
how his son made sure his new
board didnt suffer a similar fate:
He slept with it in bed every night
after that.
Its more than just an endearing
origin story of an on-the-rise
skating phenom; it goes a long
way toward explaining his style.
This is a kid who, at the age of
four, watched the X Games and
nonchalantly thought, Oh, I can do
this. Theres a pervasive sense of
confidence that colors his every
move, an ease born from having
skated in contests since the age
of seven. I was never the kind
of person who thought, If Im not
going to win, Im not going to go.
I heard about a contest and I was
like, Whatever, Ill give it a try. I
have nothing to lose. Ill just go
and see what happens, he says.

His graceful style has been only

further accentuated by a recent
growth spurt. I was always the
short one, and then finally I grew
a bit. Skating feels way different
now. I have more pop and it feels
like a whole new thing. It opens up
more opportunities to do different
tricks. The higher you can ollie, the
better you can be.
He officially turned pro this past
fall, and Flip Skateboards, one of
his longtime sponsors, announced
his arrival on the circuit with a
video unveiling his Piata pro
model board. Im hyped. Seeing
your name on the bottom of the
board is the best thing, he says.
The clip features Lopez beating a
piata with a little help from friends
like Tyler, the Creatorwith whom
he grew up skating in Hawthorne
and ends fittingly with a shot of
him soaring above the crowd
gathered there to fete him, the
innards of the piata raining down
around him.
While going pro has been a
thrill, not too much has changed
for Lopez. I still go out and skate
every day, do the same things
Id be doing if I werent pro, he
says. Theres a little bit more
responsibility, but its all good. He
certainly has a full plate with an

impending return to the Dew Tour

as reigning champ, a freshly inked
deal with Converse, and his first
invite to serve as an alternate for
the X Games. The kid who grew

pipe dreams
SLEEPING WITH HIS BOARD (AND, OK, LOTS OF PRACTICE) YIELDED GREAT THINGS FOR SKATING
SENSATION LOUIE LOPEZ. BY STEFAN MAROLACHAKIS. PHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORGE UNDERWOOD

030

NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

up watching the competition is

now a hair away from participating
in it. Its definitely overwhelming
skating with a bunch of people
youve looked up to, he says. But
at the same time its like, Damn,
Im actually skating with these
guys. Its a good feeling.

BRIAN PROCELL looks a bit like a hunter-gatherer with his full

beard and backpack covered in Turkish kilim (a special-edition
Purple label North Face)its fitting, considering the days plans
include hitting up New Yorks best flea markets to replenish Procell,
his popular Lower East Side vintage shop. Looking at me, youd
never guess I was obsessed with DKNY bicycle shorts, he jokes,
walking up to the West 25th Street Market, where two old friends
recognize him and promptly stroll over. They embrace and share
memories of a long-ago party. I remember getting really high with
Dizzee Rascal, says Procell, laughing. I slept in a Bronco!
Sniffing around for sartorial
relicslike the bright blue cap
with a rainbow Apple logo that he
recently posted to his Instagram
(which prompted an oh i love
that from Cara Delevingne)is
a seven-days-a-week operation
THE 90S ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN
for Procell. People put their best
BRIAN PROCELLS NEW YORK CITY
VINTAGE STORE. BY ASHLEY HOFFMAN. shit out on Saturday, he explains,
surveying a table of sun-dappled
PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRAD OGBONNA

pro shop

032

curios. Hell usually pull about four

pieces per trip. If what I carry
existed in abundance, I wouldnt
be who I am.
In addition to running the shop,
Procell has consulted for Marc
Jacobs, curated for Opening
Ceremony, and styled Rihanna. At
the moment, the street aesthetic
hes most excited about embraces
saturated colors, clean lines,
logos, and numbers, but his bread
and butter is cult classics. His
secret: filling his 200-square-foot
shop with time-tested pieces, like
old-school rock and hip-hop shirts,
items that have already done all
the legwork, he explains. They
sell themselves.
Procell pulls a Harley-Davidson
mock turtleneck from a rack and

twists the hem of its neckline.

These are coming back, he says.
Its too progressive for Harley to
make something like this now. He
flips past a stack of green jerseys
in an open suitcase to find a blue
basketball jersey. Oh, this is
dope, he says. Yeah, Ill definitely
grab this. Hell take it to his tailor,
who will crop itMiley Cyrus wore
one of his Chicago Bulls jerseys
with the same update. When
something like that happens, I
know I have to start stocking up
on them, he says.
The next market we hit is
The Antiques Garage, located,
appropriately, in a parking garage.
He makes a beeline to one of his
favorite vendors, Ziegfried, where
he spots a Mary Quant denim
jacket. Super rare, he says. Look
at this detail. Its a work of art. The
designer is a mod-era legend, but
Procell doubts anyone under 20
would be familiar with her work.
I dont think anyone under
40 years old knows who that is,
concurs Ziegfried.
Procell has a cool-hunters
instinct, but his taste took years to
cultivate. When he was younger,
hed take the train into New York
on the weekends from Elizabeth,
New Jersey, and run with a graffiti
crew. Back at home, hed study
the fashion in magazines, catalogs,
and films. His entire personal
history informs his impeccably
curated, shoppable museum. As
a kid growing up with nothing, I
became obsessed with everything,
he says.
Speaking of obsessed, what
ever happened to the blue cap
with the Apple logo? Of course
that didnt last, he says with a
laugh. He paid $3 for it and sold
it for $68. But good luck finding
another one, warns Procell. If you
want it, youll have to come see
me every day.

S I L V E R J E A N S C O. P R E S E N T S:

not for girls.

summer music tour

wITh:

cage the elephant

#NYLONGUYSxSILVERJEANS / FOR TICKET INFO, VISIT NYLONGUYSMAG.COM/MUSICTOUR20 14

(haute

stuff)

[NEWS]

joy

ride
ELEVATE YOUR CYCLING EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS EXPERTLY CRAFTED BIKE
FROM HERMS. PHOTOGRAPHED
BY ERIC HELGAS

bicycle, $12,500, herms.

DENIM NEWS:

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN STYLES, FITS, AND WASHES.

[dkny jeans]

[NEWS]

this season, dkny is

releasing two new
washes, tacoma and
otis, which mirror
the brands premium
offerings but come at
a more affordable
price point.

[silver jeans co.]

[a.p.c.]
in case you never had the
determination to break in
a pair of raw a.p.c.
denim (lightweight!), the
brand now offers stretch
in three styles.

the denimheads over

at silver have a
new style, dubbed
the joga, that
looks like their
standard denim on
the outside, but
feels like a
sweatpant on the
inside. it can be
your little secret.

TEE TIME:

the
beautiful
ones

OFF AND ON
Due to the popularity of the monthly Prince party that friends Mac
Huelster, Jams Jolliff, and Jade Chang host in Brooklyn, the three
friends decided to start making loosely R&B-inspired T-shirts for
fans of the event. No surprise, then, that the resulting line, The
Beautiful Ones, has been a hit, too. Were partial to the Chanel
collage shirt, created by artist Kalen Hollomon, but spring for
anything on the Sad Boy Club webstore, where these tees and the
gangs other creative friends wares are sold, and U will have Got
the Look. MALLORY RICE SADBOYCLUB.COM

In a classic case of striking while the iron is hot, rather than basking in the success
of his wildly popular streetwear line Pyrex Vision, designer Virgil Abloh elected to
start something else entirely. That something else is Off-White, a collection of
hoodies, T-shirts, and the like, which was dissected by various obsessives online
as soon as it debuted during spring 14 fashion week. For me, Pyrex was more like
an art project than a concept to run with for a clothing line, explains Abloh. But it
gave me the confidence to believe in my bigger idea of a lifestyle brand, like OffWhite. Abloh has already earned his design stripes as a gallery owner, member of
the Been Trill collective, and Kanye Wests right-hand man at his creative agency,
Donda, so it goes without saying that fans will be interested in what lifestyle may
exactly entail. Off-White is sort of like a blank canvasliterally the color of a blank
canvasbut when I think of it, I can imagine linen sheets, a living room, a closet,
he explains. I can think of, like, a knife set and china. You might as well start
making space in your apartment now. MR OFF---WHITE.COM

off-white: photographed by sergiy barchuk. stylist: mitsu tsuchiya. grooming: megan lanoux at exclusive artists using malin and goetz.
model: nic lafrance at soul. all clothing by off-white.

035

big time
advertisement nylon x g-shock

Singer Leroy Sanchez and dJ/ producer ryan hemSworth are making their markS on different SideS
of the muSic Scene. here, they diScuSS their JourneyS, work, and truSty caSio g-Shock watcheS.

LEROY SANCHEZ

SINGER
LoS ANGELES, CA
as a kid growing
up in rural
spain, did you
dream of one
day becoming
a musician?
I always loved to
sing and I imagined
myself performing in
front of a crowd, but I
never thought it would
become a reality.
Thats all it was then:
a dream.
what are your
earliest music
memories?
Ive been singing in the
shower for as long as
I can remember, and I
was in my school choir
growing up. One day I
picked up the guitar my
mother used to play in
church when she was
younger and gave it a
try. It took me a while
to figure out what I was
doing, but eventually
I started learning the
chords by myself.
what was it
like getting
your start
on youtube?
I began uploading
videos back in 2007
when barely anyone
was known for
YouTube coversit was
just for fun. I never
thought it would be the
beginning of a career;
I just thought itd be
interesting to see what
other people thought of
my singing.
who are your
musical idols?
I grew up listening to
Top 40, so Ive always
been in love with those
voices and techniques.
I like Beyonc, James
Morrison, John Mayer,

gdx6900cm-8
Bruno Mars, Tori
Kellyand the list
goes on.
what can we
expect from your
debut album?
The record portrays
my journey from when
I first came to the U.S.
from Spain in 2010
until now. Ive grown
so much, not only as
an artist but also as
a person. Musically,
the album mixes pop
melodies with a big
orchestral sound.
how would you
characterize
your personal
style?
I dont like my look
to be too much. Ive
never considered
myself as a very trendoriented person. I just
like things to be simple.
how does your
casio g-shock
watch keep
you on top of
your game?
My granddad and
my dad used to wear
Casio watches all the
time. Now, I cant get
away from my Casio
G-Shock. Ive tried so
many other watches
and I always end
up going back to it.
Its just the best:
so comfortable
and classic.

ga110ts-8a2

ryan hemSworth
you studied
Journalism
at college in
nova scotiahow
did you end
up in music?
I didnt want to turn
music into boring
homework, so I chose
to study journalism.
This ended up allowing
me to talk with
musicians and
learn more about
the industry.
how would you
characterize
the tracks
you create?
Genres dont matter
to me anymoreits
just about capturing
a mood and making
other people feel it, or
at least understand it.
what are your
favorite types
of events to dJ?
Small basements of
clubs: 150-capacity
rooms where you can
look up and see people
smiling and reacting.
I dont get much from
huge EDM festivals;
they feel more like
competitions.
who are some
producers whose
work you admire?
Im inspired by
producers who can
take on any genre and
who understand the
importance of sound
design, like Cornelius
from Japan, Jacques
Greene from Montreal,
and Sophie from
the U.K.

what artists are

you listening
to right now?
A.G. Cook of the
Internet label PC
Music does some really
forward-thinking stuff. I
also like these Scottish
kids DJ Milktray and
Inkke, and I cant stop
listening to Alex G on
the label Orchid Tapes.
Otherwise, Im just
crying to Lykke Li or
old Brand New albums.
how would you
describe your
personal style?
Confused kawaii
goth grandpa.
how does your
casio g-shock
watch keep
you on top
of your game?
I use the watchs
timer function when
Im heating up my
Alphagetti on the stove
and the glow for when
Im drinking my Capri
Sun in bed at night
not to mention
it has proven to be
quite resistant to
Pizza Pop sauce!

ryan hemsworth photographed by katie sadie. photo assistant: kim harkness. grooming: amanda blair
robertson. leroy sanchez photographed by chris shonting. grooming: thea istenes at exclusive artists.

DJ/PRoDUCER
ToRoNTo, CANADA

GAME ON:

THE WATCHMAN
PEBBLE FOUNDER ERIC MIGICOVSKYS SUCCESS IS ALL IN THE WRIST. BY DIANE VADINO.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIA DEL RIO
ERIC MIGICOVSKY was hoping to raise around $100,000 on Kickstarter to produce his new
smartwatch$190,000 if he was lucky, which would have been enough to cover the manufacturing of
1,000 pieces. Ultimately, Migicovsky and his three-person team raised over $10 million in April 2012,
breaking crowdfunding records and providing more than enough money to manufacture the Pebble,
which takes all of your phones notifications, alerts, and alarms and presents them, handily, on your
wrist. When the Kickstarter drive was launched, they were all hanging out at their respective homes
in Palo Alto, California. But then we realized something big was happening, and people had to get
showered and dressed, says Migicovsky. By the time we hit $200,000, everyone had made it into
our office-slash-my living room.
Migicovsky dreamed up the Pebble while studying at the Delft University of Technology in the
Netherlands. I was cycling all the time, and I always had my cell phone in my back pocket, he says.
I would constantly miss text messagesI never knew if I should pull over. I wanted to see what was
happening on my phone without taking it out of my pocket. Migicovsky reasoned that even if the
product appealed only to tech-centric athletes looking for an easy way to remote-control fitness apps
like Strava or Run Keeper, that market alone would be enough. Luckily for him, lots of people hate
rooting through a bag to locate a chiming phone.
For Migicovsky, the crowdfunding days are over. The second-generation Pebble Steel debuted
in January, and its benefited from a community of developers who have already designed over
2,600 apps for the device. Pebbles app store, he proudly notes, is the first built around wearable
tech and features Pebble-specific apps from Evernote, Yelp, and Pandora, among others; a GoPro
app even allows videographers to control the camera from their wrists. Migicovsky will soon face
competition from tech mega-monsters (think: Apple iWatch), but for now, he seems focused on the
new landscape, and how Pebble may figure as part of the coming wave of wearables. Its pretty
cool, because you can look back to the 70s or 80s and see how a lot of these concepts were played
around with, with no care as to the technological complexitiesjust the moral possibilitiesand I
think a lot can be learned from that discussion, how this technology integrates into our lives, he
says. Connecting Pebble to your thermostat, your car, your house, and helping you interact with
them easily is just one of the next steps for the smartwatch. As for the future? Migicovsky will let us
know when he gets there.

(tech)

BY MATT DOLBY

MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT

How do you investigate a
homicide when youre the
dead guy in question?
Thats the ghostly
premise of Murdered:
Soul Suspect. Set in
Salem, Massachusetts, this supernatural
thriller follows detective Ronan OConnor,
a spirit on a quest to find out who killed
him by reading the minds and influencing
the thoughts of the living, all while
fending off malevolent forces also occupying
the in-between world known as Dusk. Gameplay
is pretty straightforward, and the look of
Salem is wonderfully detailed, making this
a must-have for mystery enthusiasts and
anyone else who likes the idea of avenging
himself Swayze-style. AVAILABLE JUNE 3 ON
PC, XBOX 360/ONE, AND PS3/4.

THE WITNESS
To understand The
Witness, you have to be
familiar with two games
at the core of its DNA:
Braid, the best puzzle
game in recent history,
with which The Witness shares a creator,
and the adventure puzzle title Myst. That
pedigree alone proves that this game is
something special, a full and detailed
desert island filled with mazes to navigate
while losing yourself in the sprawling
surroundings. And unlike many games that ramp
up the pressure to conquer the next level,
this one actually feels relaxinglike a
working vacation for your brain. AVAILABLE
MID-2014 FOR PC, IOS, AND PS4.

WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW ORDER

[NEWS]

Moving beyond the World

War II setting of
previous Wolfenstein
games, The New Order
takes place in an
alternate 1960s reality
in which the Nazis won the war and
conquered the globe with mysterious
superweapons. Protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz
returns to lead a counter-offensive through
Europe, and purists will be happy to see
that the blood, guts, and black humor of
previous chapters remain. Lucky for stealth
enthusiasts, sneaking is as useful a tactic
as the shoot-em-up style of games past,
adding a new dimension to this legendary
franchise. AVAILABLE NOW ON PC, XBOX 360/
ONE, AND PS3/4.

ROCK N DOC
Youve assembled a supergroup of the most talented musicians
for miles, practiced well into the wee hours, and opened for the
best acts to hit your parts. Still, your bands video search results
are, shall we say, lacking. You might not have a few thousand
to drop on pro videography, but that doesnt mean you have to
sing into your laptops webcam to go viral. GoPros new Hero3+
Black Edition ($399.99, microSD card not included) has
instrument/mic stand mounts and
clamps for sweet POV recording. Use
your cell phone as a remote between
solos with the GoPro app, and then
edit your footage using the free software included. YouTube celebrity
awaits. MELISSA GIANNINI

gopro
photographed
by kelly
shami.

NATURAL
SELECTION
[NEWS]

London-based menswear brand Natural Selection is nothing if not

thoughtfully conceived. The line, which was launched back in 2009
by designer John Park, began as a denim label founded on the
theories of Charles Darwin. Denim is a fabric that evolves and
changes with use. And to wear a pair of jeans in, it has to become
your favorite, so its actually been naturally selected, Park
explains of the concept. This fall, the brand will expand to include a
full ready-to-wear collection, which, once again, involved careful
consideration, particularly of its customer. Our guy is someone
who doesnt feel he needs to shout, says Park. He wants to
express style and individuality in a subtle way, to wear stuff that is
subversively daring in the details. The resulting offerings, in stores
this summer, are a sophisticated and often understated array of
pieces ranging from a reversible collarless Mac to a slim tartan
shooting trouser. LISA MISCHIANTI NATURALSELECTIONDENIM.COM

LITTLE RASCALS
In 2008, Martin and Patrick Jrgensen, despite no formal training, cobbled
together what they knew about fashion design to launch Rascals, a line of fixieculture-inspired clothing, in their native Denmark. At first, it was a small collection
only consisting of track suits inspired by the scene that was really emerging in
Copenhagen, explains Patrick. But soon, the duo expanded it into the broader
sportswear collection that it is today. This season, the line will be available in the
U.S. for the first time, and while it has evolved from its fixie roots, its biking DNA
is still evident in details throughout the collectioneven if Patrick has had some
trouble keeping track of his own set of wheels. A couple of weeks ago my
mountain bike just got ripped off. So I just went to a small bike dealer and bought
one thats like 20 years old, he says. If it gets stolen its fine. MR RASCALS.DK

000

rascals: photographed by sergiy barchuk. stylist: mitsu tsuchiya. grooming: megan lanoux at exclusive artists using malin and goetz. model: nic lafrance
at soul. all clothing by rascals, hat by kangol. natural selection: all clothing by natural selection, shoes by bally.

039

take it or break it:

cole alexander
In whIch we ask a fashIon-conscIous dude to fIeld your most pressIng questIons about style.
[news]

AS A BAND, THE BLACK LIPS HAVE NEVER BEEN ONES TO FOLLOW THE TYPICAL path of the music
biz. One easy example: Their latest album, Underneath the Rainbow, was rolled out this spring along
with a scented cassette and scented live performances. Guitarist Cole Alexander has applied a
similar flair to his wardrobe over the years, making his own modifications to vintage pieces and
collaborating with brands like April77. With a strong affinity for the unique and worn-in, Alexander offers
his take on your inquiries.

Cole!
Your hat game is so strong
where do You get them? do
You have a preferred stYle?
sean, Baltimore, md
Ive gotten some beanies from
the gas station. I have one
cowboy hat for more formal
occasions. I have another
cool hat thats made from
pure snakeskin. I always
want to wear my hats to
nice restaurants. Ill tell the
manager, what if lady
gaga came in wearing this
hat? I kind of want to start
masculinizing hats
with veils.
oh heY, Cole,
seems like You have a ton of
awesome vintage pieCes. do
You have a favorite?
trevor, greenwich, Ct
Its actually something I wore
on the album cover. I was at a
garage sale where these kids
were selling stuff and there
was this bomber jacket from
world war II, and I was like,
whats this? and they were
like, yeah, our dad was a
paratrooper during world war
II and fought in that jacket.
It has this patch of a ghetto
knockoff mickey mouse with
a parachute. I asked, how
much? and they said, fifteen
bucks, so I said all right and
just got it. I think they should
have cherished it more, but I

040

cherished it a lot and took care

of it. one time I got beat up
by these kids in atlanta, and
I would wear a black eye and
my cool bomber jacket and I
was all tough.
help me here, Cole,
what should i wear to
the rest of the musiC
festivals this summer? im
Coming to You BeCause
im not looking for that
hippie-CoaChella shit.
justin, miami, fl
Im not knocking urban
outfitters or stores at the
mall...but its all the same
garments, [so people who shop
at mall stores] end up looking
like everybody else. I always
recommend people just go to
thrift stores and find recycled
goods and weird designer
brands from back in the day.
but sometimes the mall will
have a trend that Ill like and
go along with. native american
patterns kind of got played out,
but I always liked them, so I
keep wearing them.
heY Cole,
mY girl is reallY getting into
lordes purple lipstiCk thing,
and im not sure how i feel
aBout it. whats Your take?
leonard, Chicago, il
I think the lipstick look is
fineits a very unique thing.
I got a bit of flak for dissing
her song, but I actually have

nothing against her personally.

I remember when kesha
did, like, candy blue lipstick.
I thought that was a bit
much, but its all about the
person. I actually wear red
lipstick sometimes.
Coooooooole,
so, puBertY has finallY hit
me at age 30, and ive deCided
that im going to sport some
faCial hair. anY tips for
growing and grooming mY
new faCe mane?
Christian, denver, Co
I can grow a good mustache,
but not a good beard. I tried a
beard once and my mom told
me it looked like pubic hair
was growing out of my face.
If you have cool hair follicles,
then just go for it. I like the
salt-and-pepper look, so Im
waiting to get gray hair.
hi there,
mY girlfriend is trYing to
throw out mY favorite pair
of jeans. sure, theY have
holes and stains from a
deCade ago, But what good
pair doesnt? how do You
deCide when to get rid
of something?
stephen, mobile, al
I try to wear clothes until they
fall off my body. holey jeans
are great, and you can always
patch them up. I got this pair
of wranglers in thailand at
a random market for seven
bucks, and they have what I
call solar bleaching: the jeans
have actually started to change
color just from sitting out
in the sun. people have been
wearing holey jeans since the
50s or 60s. [throwing them
away] sounds like something a
grandma would say to do. but
I know grandmas who probably
even like them.

got a question of your own? send it to letters@nylonmag.com.

READ THIS:

THE
BIKERIDERS

Suiting is, of course, the most classic pillar of menswear. But in the hands of designer Joyce
Darkoh, tailoring gets the modern streetwear treatment. Its traditional masculinity taken to its
farthest limit, she explains of her eponymous line, Darkoh, which just launched this season. I
wanted to keep the quality and fit while adding some color and making it feel younger. Bold
hues and boundary-pushing designs indeed aboundthe spring 14 main-line collections suits
range from sky blue to camouflage. Meanwhile, the seasons special color-block collection
features more neutral suits with contrasting-shade swatches across the torso or checkered all
over. You have to have the right attitude to wear my suits, she says, and were pretty confident
we can sport these. LM DARKOH.NET

[NEWS]

In 1968, when Danny

Lyon published The
Bikeriders, motorcycle
gangs were nothing
new. Brando and
Dean had already
romanticized
the leather-jacketed
roughrider, but
Lyon, then a budding
journalist and
photographer, wasnt
interested in
Hollywoods version.
Through interviews
with prominent
motorcycle gang
members and dozens of photos, Lyon presented
Americas bikers as they were: grease-stained,
poor, ambitious, simultaneously jaded by workingclass life and fixed on the next big ride. This
summer The Bikeriders is back in print after
a decade, an exhilarating time capsule of a
subculture in all its filth and glamour.
For many, motorcycle gangs offered the chance
to build an individual legacy. One biker tells Lyon:
You dont just ride that son of a bitch. You put
thousands [] of hours in that son of a bitchin
bike. Lyons photos also show the tragicomedy of
races and booze-fueled rallies: riders and their
girlfriends outside a dirty clubhouse, grim-faced
gang members carrying a coffin, and a stylish girl
at a jukebox identified only as Big Barbara. In
Lyons short volume, men and women strive for
greatness with the motorcycle as a source of
power, roaring down open highways toward the
next race, or, as Lyon puts it, into oblivion.
REBECCA BATES

STRONG SUIT

U N DE R CO V E R
When it comes to
buying underwear,
youre better off
not dabbling in
various brandsits
so much easier
to just find the
perfect pair, buy
it in bulk, and
forget about it
until its time to
restock. This fall,
well be switching

over to Buffalos
brand new line of
loungewear, which
includes perfectly
constructed briefs
that, at the fair
price point of $22
each, wont break
our hearts if they
get lost at the
laundromat or left
behind in a hotel
room. WILLIAM FLOOD

darkoh: photographed by sergiy barchuk. stylist: mitsu tsuchiya. grooming: megan lanoux at exclusive artists using malin and goetz. model: nic lafrance
at soul. all clothing by darkoh, shoes by bally.

041

[news]

after a decade
of preparation,
together and
independently,
including brewerycentric road trips,
Deck & Donohue
set up shop in
Montreuil, on Pariss
eastern edge, at the site of a former printing
company that had been occupied by
squatters until they took over the now
completely renovated space. theyve just
finished production on the first run of their
five-beer core presentation, ranging from
Monk Brown ale to trouble #6; the latter
name plays on the French word trouble,
which can also translate as hazy. another,
dubbed Mission Pale ale, memorializes their
first brew, produced in San Francisco in
2005. Setting up shop close to Paris allows
them to streamline not only their distribution
process but also the labor-intensive
demands of rallying chefs and restaurant
owners to the possibility that brewing can
be as closely considered as the practice of
winemaking. you can go to a three-star
restaurant and theyll have Heineken. no
one asks if they have a beer, and if they do,
its easy stuff, says Deck. Were trying to
progressively change that.

nouveau brew

BOTTOMS UP:

The founders of MonTreuil-based deck & donohue are deTerMined To Make The french fall
in love wiTh beer. besT of luck, Monsieurs. by diane vadino
For a country obsessed with the provenance of its foods, France has maintained a
curiously anemic interest in the concept of the microbreweryinstead entrusting its beer
supply to corporate producers like the ubiquitous Kronenbourg. thats changing, though,
with a new generation of craft breweriesincluding the Franco-american Deck & Donohue.
thomas Deck met Mike Donohue when Deck left his native France to attend Georgetown
university in 2002. Im alsatian, so Mike thought I knew everything about beer, says Deck
of his German-inflected home, which has actually traded hands between the two countries
several times and retains an affection for beer that outstrips many other regions in France,
but still, Deck says, prefers wine. the two kicked off their brew studies at their local Whole
Foods (It would be Belgian abbey night and wed buy eight beers and go home and try
them, says Deck). they stayed in touch over the following decade, as Donohue worked
as a brewer across the u.S. and Japan (with stints at San Franciscos landmark 21st
amendment and Flying Fish in his native Philadelphia) and Deck went back to Strasbourg
to finish his studies.

cooking the books:

HOLD
TH E M EAT
E DITION

in which a Guy who

is kinda-sorTa inTo
cookinG evaluaTes The
laTesT publicaTions
by our favoriTe chefs
and resTauranTs.

042

some vegetarians are

morally opposed to meat.
others have health
concerns. and a number
of people just dont want
to eat things with eyes and
tongues. but for every
happy herbivore, there
are countless omnivores
who nod along to these
arguments in between
bites of fried chicken or

whet your PALAte with these

new ArtisAnAL French beers.

Blanche
A medal-winner for
two-year-old brewery Parisis, this
springtime brew has
peach and banana
notes. brasserieparisis.com
3Ter
A new collaboration
with coffee hot
spot caf Lomi,
this is brewed by
18-month-old La
goutte dor, which
offers tastings at
its 18th-arrondissement brewery.
brasserielagouttedor.com

filet mignon. Most of

us could stand to eat
more vegetables, but this
understanding dissolves
in the face of a perfectly
seared pork chop.
veggienomics (duncan
baird), a new cookbook by
british author nicola
Graimes, tries a different
approach: if you skip the
meat, she says, youll

Ligne 3
named for the metro
line that connects
their breweries, this
new amber ale is produced via a partnership
between My beer
(in Levallois-Perret,
northwest of Paris)
and outland (in
bagnolet, in the citys
eastern suburbs).
mybeercompany.fr
Loirette
this blonde, brewed at
the brasserie de la
Pigeonnelle near tours,
is one of Pariss most
popular craft beers.
brasserie-pigeonnelle.fr

spend less money and eat

like a king. hardly breaking
news, but easier said than
done. without
a strategy, preparing
meals from vegetables and
grains is too often just a
reshuffling of similar
textures and flavors,
resulting in forgettable
hippie mush. an hour later,
its time for delivery pizza.

deck & donohue: photographed by heidinger jean-marie / haytham pictures. veggienomics:

(chow)
Drink this:

host with the most

when iT coMes To suMMer booZinG, you can alMosT always counT on The
facT ThaT iT will be done ouTdoors, wiTh aT leasT double The aMounT of
people you drink wiTh durinG any oTher season. These are boTh GreaT
ThinGs, and when iTs your roof or backyard ThaTs occupied by The
ThirsTy Masses, youll wanT To have soMeThinG ready so ThaT you donT
becoMe a slave To The cockTail shaker.
enTer vincenT Mauriello, who oversees The beveraGe proGraM aT The
viceroy new york, hoMe To one of The ciTys buZZiesT roofTops. here,
he shares a cockTail of his creaTion usinG belvedere pure, a liGhT, buT
subsTanTial concocTion, Thanks To The spiriTs subTly peppery Tone.
belvederes head of spiriT creaTion, claire sMiTh, concurs, callinG iT a
delicious base To a baTch cockTail. puT This one ouT in a punch bowl or
piTcher and have GuesTs pour iT over fresh ice To Make sure The lasT
servinG is as Good as The firsT.

proMoTion

CHEAT SHEET

ONES TO WATCH
The days of sifting through endless blogs for new music are
over, thanks to Ones To Watch with Skype. This platform
escorts you to the edge of music culture with exclusive
interviews, performances, concerts, and more. Follow
@onestowatch on Instagram and visit onestowatch.com to fall in
love with your new favorite acts, like rising rapper Kid Ink.

TROUBLEMAKER:
(MAkes 22 cocktAiLs)
33 oz. (1 one-liter bottle)
belvedere Pure vodka
22 oz. bonal French aperitif
16.5 oz. simple syrup
16.5 oz. fresh-squeezed
lime juice
1 liter club soda
1 large english cucumber
24 large, ripe strawberries

Meat lovers? yes, please.

Graimes organizes each
chapter around a cheap
and ubiquitous staple:
beans, rice, pasta, nuts,
eggs, and cheese. from
here, she adds vegetables
to create strikingly
sophisticated dishes. Take
the lentil, squash, and
crispy chickpea salad:
three low-cost ingredients

cut cucumber into 1/4

wheels and strawberries into
one-quarter pieces. combine
belvedere Pure, bonal, lime
juice, and simple syrup with
strawberries and cucumber and
refrigerate overnight. when
ready to serve, pour cocktail
into punch bowl, add club soda,
and pour over ice.

cooked simply, tossed with

goat cheese and parsley,
which wouldnt be out of
place at a pricey farm-totable restaurant. page after
page, a few bargain
components coalesce into a
complete dish.
Theres always a tension
present in cookbooks that
focus on saving money. itd
be cheaper to eat rice and

beans every night, but

a lot of us are willing
to pay a little extra for
fresh produce, eggs,
dairy, and sundry
herbs and spices.
veggienomics doesnt
throw around numbers so
much as it says: you
could have so much more
if you dropped the meat.
PauL caInE

photographed by kelly shami. drink this: photographed by xenia rollinson.

ALOFT HOTELS
Designed for the always-on next-gen traveler, Aloft delivers a
fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel scene. Book now at
alofthotels.com/wxyzbar for two free drinks each night of
your stay.

(grooming)

KICK THE SLICK

Although summer is the most fun season, its

not a day at the beach, so to speak, for those
plagued with oily skin. Rising temps can
exacerbate the situation and increase the
frequency of acne flare-ups. Kiehls feels your
pain, and enlisted its skincare experts to craft
a guy-specific three-step Oil Eliminator line
that, as the name implies, acts as a
de-greasing agent for the face. The regimen
includes Deep Cleansing Exfoliating Face
Wash, packed with crushed apricot seeds to
eradicate pimple-causing debris, Refreshing
Shine Control Toner, a cooling mist that mops
up excess sweat, and 24-Hour Anti-Shine
Moisturizer, formulated with Aerolite (the
lightest solid material on Earth) to
weightlessly hydrate and totara wood extract
to shrink pores and mattify. JADE TAYLOR
KIEHLS DEEP CLEANSING EXFOLIATING
FACE WASH, $22, REFRESHING SHINE
CONTROL TONER, $20, AND 24-HOUR
ANTI-SHINE MOISTURIZER FOR MEN, $27,
KIEHLS.COM

pro rated

[NEWS]

ROLLI NG I N TH E DE E P

Between Davidoff Cool Waters distinctive aquatic scent and those iconic ads that depict sexy surfside
hijinks, its pretty clear the fragrance is inextricably linked to the ocean. So besides launching a watersport-based iteration called Night Dive (who doesnt love a nocturnal scuba?), this summer, Cool Water
is recommitting to its Love the Ocean campaign in partnership with National Geographic Society. The
charitable work benefits the National Geographics Pristine Seas project, which strives to safeguard the
last of the unspoiled marine spots. Every bottle sold equals 100,000 square feet that will be protected
through support of scientific expeditions that help locate the areas, survey them, and work with local
governments to establish preservation zones. This past April, a team of scientists and filmmakers was
dispatched to Mozambique to check out an untouched reef they hope to add to the protected list. You
can help simply by snagging a bottle of Cool Watereasiest conservation effort ever. KATIE DICKENS
DAVIDOFF COOL WATER NIGHT DIVE EAU DE TOILETTE, $68.50 FOR 4.2 FL. OZ., MACYS.COM

044

cool water illustration by sakke soini.

Fellow Barber owner Sam Buffa and his crew

know a thing or two about what men need in
their medicine cabinets: Buffas been in the
business for eight years, and his small but mighty
army of barbers tend to the beards, mustaches,
and hair of grooming-savvy guys in his San
Francisco, Brooklyn, and Manhattan locations.
Plus, his front-of-house shops have given Buffa an
opportunity to do a bit of crowdsourcing. Our
apothecary has given us insight into what our
customers want, he explains. And Ive always
wanted to create an in-house line. So for the past
two years, the team took a hands-on approach to
develop products that work for both professional
use and at home. The result is a straightforward
collection of hair and shaving essentials, scented
with a blend of vetiver, cypress, and cedar, that
anyone can use, regardless of hair type or choice
of razor. KD FELLOW BARBER GROOMING
COLLECTION, $20-$24, FELLOWBARBER.COM

BASIC
ZONE

COS EFFECTIVE

Attention, Europhiles: One of the best-loved purveyors of understated basics is making moves
stateside. Were talking about Cos, a sibling to H&M that stands for Collection of Style and
already bankrupted us once with its pop-up shops at Opening Ceremony earlier this year. Our
design ethos is always focused on a modern and understated aesthetic, says Martin Andersson,
the brands menswear designer. The essence of Cos is really clean designs with a subtle twist
that make every style a little different. In other words, consider it a pre-eminent resource for damn
solid tees, pants, sweaters, and jackets made of quality fabrics that, contrary to what we just said,
wont actually bankrupt you. ASHLEY BAKER COSSTORES.COM/US

Q&A:

ASTRID
ANDERSEN

British designer Astrid

Andersen is one of the
major players in the
latest resurgence of
cult streetwear, so this
summer, Andersens
capsule collection with
Topman will come with
a generous helping of
fanfare. (Thanks in
part to A$AP Ferg, who
will appear in the
campaign.) Here, we
catch up with Andersen
about the collaboration.

WHAT WAS MOST EXCITING

TO YOU ABOUT THE
CAPSULE COLLECTION?
At the moment, there are
so many of these really
young kids who support
my brand, and theyre
really into itlike a tribal
thing, really rooting for
my teamwhich Im just
super grateful for. But I
also realize that a lot
of them cant afford to
buy the real pieces.
So to be able to offer a
simpler range that these
kids can buy was a
great opportunity.

WHAT WAS YOUR BASIC

DESIGN CONCEPT?
I wanted it to feel a
little bit like a diffusion
line. So, I used very
accessible signature
pieces like the basketball
tank, the shorts, and the
oversize T-shirt, kind of
carrying them through.
The pink velour is a
fabric from one of the
mills I use for my main
line, so thats a fabric
that will also appear in
my own collection. I also
wanted to use the logo,
but hide it a little bit, so
you dont get a full
Astrid Andersen logo
T-shirt. You get a peek.

[NEWS]

When it comes to basics, no brand has more

credibility than Levis, the undisputed king
of plainly perfect denim. So pay close
attention to the brands new Basics line,
which stands to transform your wardrobe with
its ingeniously simplistic take on T-shirts,
tanks, Henleys, underwear, and socks. Available
in July, all of the categories will come in
various treatments and packs, too, from the
200 series, which includes two-packs of each
offering in red, white, blue, black, and gray,
to the 400 series made from premium 100
percent Merino wool. MR

AS A SHOPPER, WHAT DO
YOU THINK MAKES A GOOD
HIGH-LOW COLLABORATION?
Its really when two
brands have a history
that makes sense
Topman supported my
shows in London and
made it possible for me
to develop my own
brand, so thats a story
thats very relevant.

HOW DID A$AP FERG

BECOME INVOLVED?
I just think hes amazing.
Ive worked with those
guys beforeRocky, too
so I know that theyre
into it in a very genuine
way. Its not just them
saying, Ill make a few
bucks on this. They
wont do it if they dont
like the clothes. I really
respect that, and it keeps
everybody on their toes.

cos: photographed by sergiy barchuk. stylist:

mitsu tsuchiya. grooming: megan lanoux at
exclusive artists using malin and goetz. model:
nic lafrance at soul. all clothing by cos.

045

[ SPECIAL EDITION ]

photographed by NathaNaeL tUrNer

by NIcoLaS Stecher

Summers finally here, and what

better way to celebrate the balmy months
than by climbing in a sleek roadster and
dropping the top? Whether youre taking
a drive up the Pacific Coast, sneaking a
weekend getaway to Lake Winnipesaukee,
or escaping to the remote confines of the

046

NyLoNgUySmag.com

Smoky Mountains, theres no better way

to conquer the road ahead than with warm
sun on your face and 100-mph wind running through your hair. We gathered 10 of
the best convertibles the automotive kingdom has to offer to give you the lowdown
on the worlds finest roofless options.

From the terrifying 691-horsepower,

half-million-dollar Lamborghini Aventador
Roadster to the go-kart fun Fiat Abarth
Cabrio, the splendidly elegant Ferrari
458 Spider to the ruggedly mobile Jeep
Wrangler Rubicon, weve got you covered.
Or, more accurately, uncovered.

ferrari 458
italia spider
photographed by ISa WIpFLI
Look, a Ferrari rep once told me in
a moment of candor, the world is a
better place with both Lamborghini
and Ferrari in it. Boy, was he right.
While there are many elite boutique
coachbuilders in the worldSpyker,
Koenigsegg, McLaren, Gumpert
no automakers define the highperformance market duality quite
like the two diametrically opposed
Italian brands. On the one side is
the brash, cocky Charging Bulllike
a precious cut stone, all geometric
planes and glass-slicing angles. And
on the other, the muscular, fluent
Rearing Stallionall kinetic energy
like effortlessly flowing water. They
appeal to different buyers, they push
each other to greatness, and like any
classic literary foil, they define the
others existence.
While most car companies add all
Continued on next page...

[ SPECIAL EDITION ]

sorts of exterior spoilers and ground

effects to increase downforce (and
performance plumage), Ferrari
improves its aerodynamics not by
addition, but by subtraction, re-crafting wind channels and moving vents.
no modern Ferrari encapsulates this
less-is-more ethos better than the
458, and because of this there is
none more beautiful (and thats
including the ultra-rare LaFerrari and
Berlinetta). In fact, its so exquisite
that Ferrari deemed it worthy
of being named after its proud

homelandand anyone whos been

to Italy knows the love affair is
equally reciprocated.
There is nothing garish on a 458
Spider, and nothing unneeded. Its
extraordinarily clean in its line work,
somehow both prodigiously muscular and femininely curved. Its so
beautiful it makes you ache; the
Spider ignites a yearning in the
heart of anyone who simply walks
by. Its also the only car tested here
that looks better as a convertible
the lost roof exposing the two buttresses above the engine, an iconic
Ferrari design cue.
Ultimately, nothing compares to
the sensation of driving a Spider.
Though great pains have been
made to domesticate the Ferrari
experience, theres no question it
was conceived with the track in
mind. There is no comfort setting;
even its default street mode feels
poised for a back-alley knife fight.
The 458 runs through gears with a

eFFIcIeNcy: 13/17/15 mpg (cIty/

hIghWay/combINed)
0-60 mph: 3.4 SecoNdS
top Speed: 198 mph
horSepoWer: 570 hp @ 9,000 rpm
torQUe: 400 Lb-Ft @ 6,000 rpm

048

NyLoNgUySmag.com

thoroughbreds swiftness, screaming to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds with

brusque shifts. As you decelerate
for red lights, the Spider mournfully runs through downshifts,
exclaiming its disfavor of slowing
with a series of barks, all 570
horses objecting simultaneously.
Youll feel its pain.
Convertible: the first
mid-engined sports car ever
made with a folding metal
(aluminum) roof. topless in
14 seconds.
ConvenienCe: a shockingly
large trunk, able to
absorb two weekenders and
backpacks. cargo area
behind seats can fit a
golf bag. the ultimate
road-trip roadster.
Cost: $257,412 base /
$331,781 as tested

photographed by NIcoLaS Stecher

by NIcoLaS Stecher

bentley motors
v 8 -s convertible

When Bentley announced it was

making a V8 version of its normally W12-powered Continental,
gearheads wondered what in
blazes it was thinking. The
Continental GT, by all accounts,
was a roaring successthe
apotheosis of opulent GT
drivingand one of its greatest
attributes was its heavy-duty
6.0-liter 12-cylinder.
But once you actually get
behind the wheel of the V8-Sa
2014 upgrade from last years
base V8 modelyou realize
theres no reason to fear. The
4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 offers an
obscene amount of juice: 521
hp to be exact. With 40:60
rear-biased power being channeled to all four wheels, the
GT V8-S manages great grip
even while it whips around a
behemoth tipping the scales at
nearly 5,500 pounds. Still, itll
hit 60 mph from a standstill in
4.3 seconds, en route to a truly
mind-boggling speed of 197
mph. Thats quicker and faster
than a Porsche 911 Carrera
Cabriolet, from a vehicle that
weighs about as much as a
Ford F-150. Ponder that.
And thanks to its V8, the
Bentley boasts 24 mpg on the
highway and over 500 miles of
driving on a single tank.
Moreover, since the engine is
smaller it provides better
balance, making the car less
front-loaded. And as can be
expected from anything with a
flying B on its hood, the GT
V8-S offers a level of craftsmanship that is as sumptuous
as it is exquisitely rendered.
Convertible:
an insulated
soft top folds in
25 seconds. With
air scarf and wind
deflector, the vert
is conversationquiet, even at
100-plus mph.
ConvenienCe:
the biggest barge
you can still call
a gt, its the most
luxurious way four
peopleand their
luggagecan travel.
Cost: $216,200 base
/ $273,825 as tested

2014 B M W 435i Con v e rti B le

photographed by ISa WIpFLI

Not so long ago, BMW was akin to your crazy drunk uncle spouting nonsense at a party,
hoping others would believe the hype and comply accordingly. The styling waslost. The
Bangle era started with the 2001 7 Series and began a decade-long reign of highly
questionable design language. The period was an outlier in BMWs famed tradition of building
lust-worthy, iconic Ultimate Driving Machines. The new 4-Series returns that sparkle of lucidity
to your uncles eyes, that internal knowledge you knew would return after the inebriated state.
Wider, lower, and lighter than its predecessor, the 435i has a torque curve worthy of Jen
Selters Instagram feed, but with fewer followers, because this perky Bimmer is appropriately
quick: a combined 8-speed transmission and 300 horsepower. With the push of a few buttons,
the experience shifts from sporty to luxury, a car able to swallow whale-sized potholes with the
greatest of ease. So while you might cringe every time you nail a foot-deep hole in the earth,
the BMW just smiles and says, Enjoy the open air; I got this. MIChAeL CRenShAW
Convertible: For the
hard top to close in
20 seconds at speeds up
to only 11 mph, its
a parking lot closure
systemnot functional
for street driving.

ConvenienCe: a containment
device must be in place,
or you have to get out
and manually arrange
the trunk before dropping
the top. rear seats
are functionala true
four-seater.

Cost:
$54,900
(base) /
$64,625
as tested

laM Borg h i n i
av e ntador
roadste r
photographed by
NathaNaeL tUrNer

In the past decade or so, much effort has

been made to exorcise the brutality
from supercarsto sand off the rough
edges with supple leather, soften the
jackhammer shifts through double
clutches, meter the kindness of tracktuned suspension via adaptive dampers,
and, in general, to smooth out their
torqueladen mechanics. You can safely
say this supercar pacification has passed
over the Lamborghini Aventador.
Not that the Aventador isnt
categorically more humane than its
predecessor, the straight medieval
Murcilago. But for those who lament the
sissification of 21st-century supercars, we

suggest you take Lamborghinis flagship

out for a spin. Around the track or around
Palm Beach, the Aventador is in no mood
to cower to your commands of comfort.
The most merciless aspect of the
Aventador is its single clutch
transmissionat low speeds it runs
through gears roughly, while inspiring
your best Angus Young impression against
the headrests. This can be tempered by
switching from strada (street) mode to
sport (or even further to corsa), which
unlike many supercars doesnt change
suspension, throttle mapping, or steering
it only quickens shift times and opens
exhaust valves for more boorish behavior.
Slip it into manual mode and you
can further soften the locomotive blows
via better-selected shift points. Once
youre in third gear, however, the
Aventador grows much more sympathetic
to your vertebrae.

But heres the funny part: Its churlish

sensibilities wont matter at all. Because
having the keys to an Aventador is like
having possession of Mjlnir. It will
straight-up turn you into Thor, both in the
swell of power that overcomes you and in
the reactions from others. Even the most
humble man will feel a surge of potency.
Families will hold up their children as
you pass. Kids at bus stops will give you
props. People will be kind to you for no
reason whatsoever.
And that is the added dimension of the
Roadster, the somewhat-roofless
Aventador sibling. There is no being
inconspicuous. It is you and a half-milliondollar supercar on display, everywhere
you go, ready to take questions. If
youre a man who does not like human
interaction, this may not be the best

vehicle for you. Youre already in a car

worth more than some counties in the
Ozarks, so if you cant summon the
strength to be gracious then choose
another set of wheels.
While there are all sorts of corollary
advantages to being Thor, the real thrill
comes when youre alonewhen the sun
is setting on a warm Sunday evening, and
youre slicing across open highways.
Theres no point in pushing it to its
200-plus-mph limit; the joy comes from
simply enjoying the full torque available
anywhere on the power band, overtaking
everything in your path. Hear the low
rumble of the massive, naturally aspirated
6.5-liter V12, and realize its just you and
the road. No radio, no GPS, no distraction.

[ SPECIAL EDITION ]
by NIcoLaS Stecher

StatIStIcS:
eFFIcIeNcy: 10/16/12 mpg
(cIty/hIghWay/combINed)
0-60 mph: 2.9 SecoNdS
top Speed: 217 mph
horSepoWer: 691-hp @
8,250 rpm
torQUe: 507 Lb-Ft
@ 5,500 rpm

Convertible: pop off the

two 13-lb carbon fiber
panels manually, and then
tetris them into the
tight frunk (front trunk).
Learn to do this adeptly,
as onlookers will be
watchingand critiquing.

ConvenienCe:
once you remove
the hard top
and store it,
storage space
is zero.
prepare to ship
your luggage.

Cost: $441,600
base / $480,415
as tested

fiat 500 abarth cabrio

photographed by mIKe herNaNdeZ
even if you were a gajillionaire and could afford any and all
sorts of automotive wonders from houses Bugatti and Pagani
and hennessey, there should be a spot saved in your garage
for the Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio. Few cars encapsulate the joy
of driving the way the tiny Italian imp does. Its just, well, fun.
Unlike most high-performance cars thatll see you risking jail
time for testing their speed thresholds, the Abarth feels like
its going 150 mph when youre barely breaking 60. Sure, that
stinks on the highwaywhere youll be reaching to shift into a
gear that doesnt existbut it turns city commuting into a game.
Zip between cars, squeeze through tight jams, and basically
maneuver (and park) like youre on a sportbike. Adding to the
hooliganism is the fact the Abarth only comes in manual (!),
which means youll have a ball throwing the short-shifter
around, hands gripping the thick flat-bottomed steering wheel,
expertly manipulating the turbocharged four-banger as it fills
the air with a delicious high-pitched wail. Waaaaaaah! The
Abarth makes a quick jaunt to the post office feel like a scene
in Need for Speed. Throw in the Beats premium audio system
and you have the funnest street-legal go-kart this side of
the Ariel Atom.
Convertible: more like a giant sunroof than a
true convertible, the cloth top opens at speeds
up to 60 mph. With the roof down all the way,
rear visibility disappears, however.
ConvenienCe: the backseat is virtually useless,
but short trips can fit three. Storage space
opens up when rear seats fold down.
Cost: $26,095 base / $31,704 as tested

porsche 911
turbo s cabriolet
photographed by ISa WIpFLI
With gut-wrenching, face-melting acceleration that
rivalseven bestsso-called supercars, the 2014
Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is a progressive piece
of history, still defying physics at 50 years old.
Porsches 0-60 mph claims always err on the side of
caution, so wed estimate this 911 cab does the march
in 2.7 seconds with launch control activated. Porsche
uses technical wizardry: Computers and mechanical
parts work in harmony to achieve time- and spacealtering statistics. And, if the acceleration police call for
the fun to stop, massive 16.1-inch carbon-ceramic
front brakes fight gravity so hard youll feel your frontal
lobe smack your skull. And the Porsche can also
function with the cushiness of a Camry. The automatic
transmissionPorsches 7-speed, racing-derived
PDKis a workhorse of efficiency.
enthusiasts may complain theres too much
progression with the 911 brand: computer control, lack
of feel, and the driver-machine interaction that suffers
for it. But those people are living in the past while
this 911 heads toward the future at record speeds.
MIKe CRenShAW
Convertible: porsche claims this soft top
can drop at speeds up to 31 mph in 13
seconds; we got it going at over 40 mph.
ConvenienCe: you can fit your girlfriend
in the back, but dont bother inviting
your buddies. Interior compartments are
lacking, but the bonnet is surprisingly
deep and roomy.
Cost: $193,900 (base) / $210,620
as tested

052

j e e p W rang le r
u n li M ite d
ru B iCon e dition
photographed by NathaNaeL tUrNer

While the Fiat Abarth is the most pure fun in this class,
the Wrangler stakes an argument of its own. Its the only
car tested in which you can rock crawl through Utah, never
mind conquer Zuma Beach with friends. The optional rear
speaker acts like a mobile sound system, and with the roof
off, it encapsulates summer the way no other vehicle can.
Of course getting that roof off can be tricky, as it
requires a torque wrench that Jeep does not include with
the off-roader. Taking the front Liberty Roof off is a cinch,
but popping off the rest will require a friends help. But dont
sweat ityoull have no shortage of volunteers hoping to
benefit from the Wranglers many amusing possibilities.
Convertible: two topless options
a simple pop-off Liberty roof for
front seats, or whole hard-top
removalmake for roofless party action.
ConvenienCe: the only vehicle tested
that can literally conquer the rubicon
trail. optional 115-volt plug means
you can take your laptop (or coffee
machine, margarita blender, etc.) and
work while youre there.
Cost: $34,795 base / $43,715 as tested

NyLoNgUySmag.com

[ SPECIAL EDITION ]

aston martin
vanquish volante

by NIcoLaS Stecher

photographed by NathaNaeL tUrNer

Your first visceral connection to an Aston Martin is the hefty key fob. It has mass, crafted of Swarovski crystal and
black glass. Its an item of importance, instantly informing you that the mechanical chariot to which it is connected is
similarly ponderous.
Open the swan doors, slip inside the leather-wrapped interior, and fit the crystal into the awaiting keyhole in the
center console. Like some Tolkien sorcerer unlocking daemons from an ancient chest, woof!, the 5.9-liter V12
breathes to life. The spirits are released, the spell canted. The display flips up from the dash, and twin Bang &
Olufsen tweeters rise from the corners in ceremony.
In one of the venerable British automakers many, many quirks, you shift into gear not by lever or shifter or paddle,
but by pressing one of four buttons (P, R, N, and D) on the center console. Roll forward and out; the experience
has begun.
If Aston Martin failed to stir loins, it wouldve been out of business many moons ago. Aesthetics is its greatest
strength. The Vanquish coupe is simply one of the most beautiful vehicles ever imagined, and although the soft-top
Volante model loses a touch of splendor in chopping the roof, its sheet metal is still heartbreaking. Wrapped around
its aluminum monocoque chassis are exquisitely stamped carbon-fiber body panels: bonnet, trunk, quarter panels, and
doors with perfectly placed side strakes. Creases this sharp would be impossible on any other material, as would be
the geological shape of its integrated rear spoiler with sculpted air portal. Exposed carbon fiber touches like sideview
mirrors and front lip spoiler add fine flourishes of performance pedigree.
While the Vanquish Volante may pale in brash statistics to its direct Italian competitors, what it offers that the
others cannot is a driving experience that is categorically luxurious. Testing it back-to-back against a Lamborghini
or Ferrari underscores just how drivable and comfortable the Aston Martin is. The Vanquish is a true Grand
Tourer, as enjoyable on the first mile of a long voyage as it is on the 500th. For a 565-horsepower supercar, thats
saying something.
If its presentation is proper cotillion in normal driving mode, in sport mode the Vanquish morphs into Sasha Grey
after a couple tequila shots. Located on the steering wheel, coincidentally like a missile launcher, the sport button
transforms the machine instantly, terrifyingly. Hellhounds bark from the exhaust, and the car actually lurches forward
while drivingso make sure theres no one immediately in front of you, and that the horizon is clear. Once the
Vanquish gets its legs under it, it wont want to stop.

eFFIcIeNcy: 13/19 mpg

(cIty/hIghWay)
0-60 mph: 4.1 SecoNdS
top Speed: 183 mph
(eLectroNIcaLLy LImIted)
horSepoWer: 565 hp @
6,750 rpm
torQUe: 457 Lb-Ft
@ 5,500 rpm

Convertible:
the insulated
triple-layer
cloth top drops
at the push
of a button in
14 seconds at
speeds up to 30
mph. Windscreen
has to be
applied by hand.

ConvenienCe:
decent trunk
space, enough for
a couple weekenders. has nominal
back seats, but
only a couple
really cool
babies could fit
back theresans
child seats.

Cost:
$297,995 base
/ $315,795
as tested

NyLoNgUySmag.com

053

jaguar
f-type v8-s

[ SPECIAL EDITION ]
by NIcoLaS Stecher

au di rs 5 CaB riolet
We recently concluded that Audis spectacular RS 7 executive saloon is a
car approaching perfection. And while we love any car Audi deems worthy
of the RS (Rennsport) designation, the RS 5 Cabriolet may be the first
convertible wed prefer in Coup format. As a Cabrio, the excision of its
roofline transforms the A5 sportback profile into a traditional three-box
sedan, more akin to the A4a significant loss, in our opinion. Also, weighing
nearly 400 pounds. heavier than the Coup, the Cabrio loses some of the
fixed-roof RS 5s nimbleness.
not that the naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 gives any reason to lose
faithit is, in fact, the RS 5s greatest attribute. With 450 horses, the V8
not only feels powerful, but sounds divine piped out of massive dual oval
exhausts. One of the inherent advantages to convertibles is exposure to the
powerplants, and with the top down the RS 5 is almost as loud as the V12s
covered here. Its just that at this price point (nearly $90K as tested), wed
be tempted in other directions.
Convertible: the
button-activated
soft top rises
in about
15 seconds.

054

NyLoNgUySmag.com

ConvenienCe: one of
the biggest trunks of
all the cars tested,
with back seats that
you can actually use.
one of the few cars
in which you can roadtrip with friends.

Cost:
$77,900 base
/ $86,795
as tested

Weve covered the V6-S

version of Jaguars F-Type
in the past, but any
convertible roundup
missing this predatory cat
would be woefully
incomplete. The F-Type
wouldve claimed many
more Car of the Year
honors had it not been for
its price tag, but is sub$100K for a roadster of
this echelon unwarranted,
or even unwieldy? Sure,
its not an indisputable
world-class value like the
Corvette Stingray, but,
really, what is?
Stunningly beautiful, the
Ian Callum design will stop
you in your tracks like a
concussion. The front air
inlets breathe like gills on
a tiger shark, the running
day lights defining an
angular form on the fascia.
The linear profile is rigid,
tough, elegant. It sounds
less like a British roadster
and more like an American
muscle car bolstered

for drag racing.

When you unlock the
car, the sideview mirrors
swing into position, and its
flush door handles spring
out for easy grabbing (a
feature you wont find in
the $300K Aston Martin).
The center vents remain
invisible until you engage
them, at which point the
dash rises like a hidden
servant to condition the air
to your liking. Turn the
F-Type on, and thats when
the British civility ends.
Youre greeted with a
pronounced gurgling of
gas and explosions
sparking from the exhaust,
a beating of the chest
from the 5.0-liter
supercharged V8. If you
dare to press the Active
Sports Exhaust switch, the
volume becomes almost

comical. Youll scare

senior citizens as you
pass, who will yelp and
turn as if a mugging
were afoot. That is not
hyperbole; it is anecdotal.
But the F-Type isnt just
a lust-worthy trophy cat.
Performance of the droptop roadster starts from its
all-aluminum monocoque
chassis and aluminum
alloy body panelsmaking
it the stiffest convertible in
the world. Unlike many
brands just experimenting
with the ultra-lightweight
material, Jag has been
crafting aluminum-framed
cars since the 2003 XJ.
Add a perfectly balanced
50/50 front-to-rear weight
ratio, short wheelbase, low
seating position, and
8-speed ZF transmission
channeling 495 galloping
horses to the rear wheels,
and you have a rigidly
planted track star that will
spook a 911.

Cor v ette sti ng ray

Con v e rti B le
photographed by ISa WIpFLI

Looking down the deeply grooved barrel of the new Corvette Stingray Convertibles hood
lacquered, in this case, in a dazzling yellowyoure overcome by a collusion of aesthetic
riches: a bassy thrum wobbling from its quadruple howitzer tail pipes, the pulpy feel of its
thick, suede-wrapped steering wheel, the stiff yet twitchy handling of rubber playing on
asphalt. And perhaps the biggest shock: an interior worthy of European inspection, including
bright HUD, contrast stitching, and seats so well-bolstered youd think the Stingray was
giving you a victory hug.
The C7 Corvette Stingray is not as refined as the Aston Martin, not as opulent as the
Bentley, not as nimble as the F-type, not as sensual as the 458 Spider, and about five
Richter points less terrifying than the Aventador, but it has more than enough of each
attribute, especially for a $65,000 vehicle (195 mph top speed, 0-60 in 3.8 seconds!).
Exponentially more expensive cars will fumble to explain their worth to exasperated owners.
Not only is the 6.2-liter V8 brimming with 450 hp, but those horses have been so wellengineered they return an eyebrow-raising 29 mpg on the highway. Half the cylinders shut
down in cruise mode, but when you choose not to cruise, youll be served by the best engine
GMs ever made. Mated to a tightly sprung manual gearbox, youll swiftly run through seven
gears of up-and-down action with a grin as wide as the Vettes whale shark maw.
Helping to keep the Vettes obese Michelin tires from spinning uselessly is the optional
Z51 package. Its finely tuned electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) masterfully meters out
power between the rear wheels to maximize stability when cornering in, while optimizing
torque boost on the way out. Matched with GMs superlative Magnetic Selective Ride
Control, you have a true GT that can mash with supercars on the track, and yet rides like a
Cadillac when in town. This is technology licensed by the Ferrari F12 and Audi R8,
supercars with significantly higher price tags.
Convertible: the soft top
quickly drops in 12 seconds
at speeds up to 30 mph.
ConvenienCe: No back seat,
but the trunk will fit golf
clubs and small luggage.
about as good as you can
hope from a roadster.
Cost: $92,000 base /
$98,620 as tested

photographed by jay haNNa

Convertible: the soft

cloth top activates
in about 20 seconds
at speeds of up to
30 mph. but waityou
can actually drop
it remotely via key
fob. Why cant all
convertibles do that?

ConvenienCe: No back
seat, but theres a
large trunk. Front lip
is high enough that you
dont have to tiptoe
around inclines like
many other sports cars.
cushy comfort setting
makes it a viable
daily driver.

Cost:
$58,800 base
/ $76,465
as tested

NyLoNgUySmag.com

055

name: rivaldino santos. age: 24. occupation: taekwondo fighter. what are
you wearing? jacket and shirt by sage de crt, pants by undefeated, shoes
by supra, hat by exotrik clothing, bag by rochambeau, watch by g-shock.

the workout bag just upped its game.

gentleman gym

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
will anderson.

kings of
summer
all of the clothing,
accessories, and warmweather gear required
to rule the season.

clockwise from top:

lacoste, $295; bally,
$1,095; marc by marc
jacobs, $98; alejandro
ingelmo, $1,125

name: marcel pawlas. age: 20. occupation: student. what are you wearing?
windbreaker by puma, jeans by levis, shoes by nike.

lifes a breeze in these nylon jackets.

like the wind

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

buy this stuff at nylonguysmag.com: [1] saturdays nyc, $250 [2] patagonia, $199 [3] stssy deluxe, $270 [4] puma, $190
[5] isaora, $98 [6] gant rugger, $295 [7] y-3, $645 [8] black sail by nautica, $875 [9] nike, $180 [10] moncler, $635
[11] woolrich john rich & bros., $195 [12] marc by marc jacobs, $358

name: josh cassidy. age: 23. occupation: cook.

what are you wearing? t-shirt by new era, shorts by
undefeated, shoes by jimmy choo, watch by casio.

laces, who needs em?

let it slide

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

buy this stuff at nylonguysmag.com: [1] acne studios (available at mrporter.com), $390 [2] coach, $188 [3] creative recreation, $95
[4] vans, $65 [5] christian louboutin, $1,175 [6] tim coppens, $575 [7] seavees x katin, $82 [8] common projects, $405
[9] bucketfeet, $68 [10] lanvin, $515

NAME: MARK WESTINGHOUSE. AGE: 23. OCCUPATION: STUDENT. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? TANK TOP BY
BOOHOO, PANTS BY UNDEFEATED, SHOES BY ETNIES, HAT BY OFFICIAL, WATCH BY G-SHOCK.

SWEET SHIRTS THAT COME STANDARD WITH DUAL CANNONS.

THINK TANKS

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

BUY THIS STUFF AT NYLONGUYSMAG.COM: [1] vans, $30 [2] loser machine, $36 [3] stssy deluxe, $58 [4] american eagle outfitters, $20
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micah cohen, $51 [11] diesel, $58 [12] asos, $38

NAME: JEFFREY RYAN. AGE: 23. OCCUPATION: ACTOR. WHAT ARE YOU
WEARING? T-SHIRT BY 35MM CLOTHING, JEANS BY H&M, SHOES BY
CONVERSE, SUNGLASSES BY MOSCOT.

SEE CLEARLY IN LUCITE-FRAMED SHADES.

BRIGHT EYES

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

BUY THIS STUFF AT NYLONGUYSMAG.COM: [1] mykita & damir doma, $575 [2] oliver peoples west, $280 [3] oakley, $110 [4] saint laurent by hedi
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NAME: DAISUKE UEDA. AGE: 28. OCCUPATION: STUDENT.

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? SHIRT BY OBEY CLOTHING, PANTS BY
BELLEROSE, SHOES BY H&M, HAT BY SUPREME.

TAKE THE TROPICS TO THE STREET.

ALOHA SPIRIT

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

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at mrporter.com), $250 [9] scotch & soda, $89 [10] ami (available at mrporter.com), $235 [11] beams plus (available at mrporter.com), $140
[12] levis, $74

name: rafael valentino. aGe: 26. occupation: actor.

what are you wearinG? coat by stutterheim, t-shirt by
h&m, jeans by levis, shoes by bally.

don white denim.

point blanc

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

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exchange, $99 [5] 7 for all mankind, $178 [6] silver jeans co., $88 [7] shipley & halmos, $195 [8] guess, $128 [9] true religion, $178
[10] paige denim, $169 [11] denim & supply ralph lauren, $125 [12] topman, $50

name: ben stift. aGe: 18. occupation: student. what are

you wearinG? t-shirt by american eaGle outfitters, jeans
by pull & bear, flip-flops by havaianas, vintaGe hat.

time to let your feet be free.

the flip side

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

buy this stuff at nylonGuysmaG.com: [1] ...lost, $12 [2] hari mari, $80 [3] valentino (available at mrporter.com), $295
[4] sanuk, $26 [5] vans, $17 [6] ugg for men, $65 [7] hurley, $60 [8] y-3, $110 [9] lacoste, $35 [10] salvatore ferragamo, $195
[11] sperry top-sider, $40 [12] hype, $30

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wearinG? t-shirt by h&m, trunks by salvatore ferraGamo, shoes
by osklen, watch by G-shock, necklaces by nik stone.

celebration-worthy swimsuits.

trunk party

portrait:
akiko higuchi.
still lifes:
george underwood.

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[12] solid & striped, $160

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undefeated, shoes by etnies, hat by maiden noir.

summer was made for floppy hats.

bucket briGade

portrait:
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still lifes:
george underwood.

buy this stuff at nylonGuysmaG.com: [1] play cloths, $50 [2] mitchell & ness, $26 [3] neff, $28 [4] maiden noir, $70 [5] mishka, $38
[6] born fly, $32 [7] waimea, $36 [8] kangol x disney, $58 [9] vans, $30 [10] dark seas, $36 [11] stssy deluxe, $50 [12] undefeated, $36

TRACKS OF HIS

TEARS
SAM SMITH GETS EMOTIONAL ON HIS DEBUT ALBUM, IN THE LONELY HOUR. BY JOSHUA GLAZER. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANNA ROSE

shirt by burberry prorsum.

077

Sam Smith really wants you to buy his

album. he really wants me to buy his
album, too, which he loudly proclaims to
everyone in his Berlin hotel suite after i
mention receiving an advanced copy of
In the Lonely Hour, his upcoming debut,
from his publicist. he should pay for it!
he scolds.
Hes joking, of course, though its a little
hard to be sure. At 6'3", with another two
inches of pompadour on top, the 22-year-old
British singer-songwriter, who first appeared
on electronic duo Disclosures 2012 hit
Latch, is an imposing figure. But the real
force doesnt lie in Smiths physical stature as
much as the sheer power of his personality.
To call Smith a character is a bit of an
understatement. Hes more like a fit constantly
on the verge of happening, and whether that
outburst is one of pure joy or utter sadness
doesnt seem to make a difference. One
minute he is brashly ordering glasses of
champagne for the room, and the next, hes
wickedly offering to get dark, before going
into confession mode about the subject matter
of In the Lonely Hour.
This album was almost a form of selfharm, he admits, referring specifically to the
five out of 10 songs that directly address an
autobiographical story of unrequited love that
took place during the recording. I was so
lonely and in love with a person who didnt
love me back. If I werent writing the album,
maybe I would have cut the person out and not
spoken to them. But because of my situation,
I courted it a bit. Literally went out and set
the fire.
That level of honesty has become Smiths
calling card, in interviews as well as in his
music, and he delivers it with aplomb. It can be
heard on the albums lead single, Stay With
Me, which starts out as a quiet confessional of
a one-night stand gone wrong, until the gospel
choir suddenly cries out the chorus, pleading
for the stranger to remain. Its dramatic in
the way all good pop music should be, and

078

refreshingly absent of the sheen of swagger

that coats most radio tracks these days. In its
place are Smiths plaintive tales, delivered in
his soulful voice with a doe-eyed stare thats
equal parts Boy George and a pre-stubble
Justin Timberlake.
From that sincerity standpoint, its
appropriate that Smiths breakout moment
stateside took place on an episode of
Saturday Night Live hosted by Louis C.K., a
comedian whose mega-success has resulted
from unabashed honesty in the face of his
everyman tribulations. The biggest difference:

While C.K.s middle-aged struggles are usually

resolved with a comedic fuck it, Smiths
youthful navet means hes likely a long way
from a similar resolution. And while thats
probably good for fueling his songwriting fire,
its hard not to feel a touch of sympathy when
Smiths headstrong denials kick in.
I think the album has completely, once and
for all, killed my obsession with unrequited
love. Ill never put myself through that again,
he insists. When I joke that he, like everyone,
most certainly will repeat that particular
mistake, Smiths huge blue eyes become

THIS ALBUM WAS

ALMOST A FORM
OF
SELF-HARM.
I WAS
SO LONELY AND IN LOVE WITH A

PERSON WHO DIDNT LOVE ME

BACK. IF I WERENT WRITING THE
ALBUM, MAYBE I WOULD HAVE CUT
THE PERSON OUT AND NOT SPOKEN
TO THEM. BUT BECAUSE OF MY
SITUATION, I COURTED IT A BIT.

LISTEN UP:

STRAND OF OAKS
PHILADELPHIA
Timothy Showalter, a.k.a. Strand
of Oaks, is no stranger to defying
the odds. In 2003, the same year
his fiance left him, Showalters
house burned down, leaving him
to write and play acoustic guitar
on the Philadelphia park benches
that he called home. On Christmas
Day a decade later, a semi-truck
hit Showalter and his wife on the
freeway, leaving the songwriter with
severe head trauma. Once again,
he translated tragedy into musical
catharsis. His latest album, Heal, is
a series of autobiographical tracks
that ditch symbolism for raw honesty.
Bursts of guitar catapult weathered
vocals, forming an exhilarating romp
inside Showalters subconscious. Or,
as he puts it in his Facebook bio: Its
sad, but it sounds like a celebration,
like Im crying and laughing and
sticking both middle fingers in the air
all at the same time. BANU IBRAHIM
PLAY THIS: Goshen 97
photographed by dusdin condren.

steely: If I start fancying someone who is

unobtainable, I will run the other way. I
promise you.
Then again, there might be good reason to
believe in his determination; he has conquered
challenges before. An overweight child, Smith
battled his issues with the help of his father,
who went so far as to become a certified
fitness instructor to coach his son. Smith says
that his emotional openness comes from the
Y-chromosome as well.
We dont think before we speak. We
say how we feel. We live with our hearts
completely out there, he says, comparing
jacket by suit.
stylist: nina
byttebier. grooming:
sabine szekely.

himself to his dad. But Smith is careful to

include his whole family in the support network
that helped In the Lonely Hour through its
difficult birth. My family was on the other
end of the phone every night when Id ring up
sad. In a way, its a magical album for them
because they were there living it with me.
Despite his familys intimate participation
in the making of his music, there may still be
a few confessional surprises for them on the
album. Smith begins to squirm a little when
he thinks about it, although there is a sense of
extroverted thrill mixed in with the trepidation.
The things I say in my songs are things I
wont say to my mother. And the whole world
is going to know now, he says.
While that vulnerability is both scary and
exciting, Smith admits that its a necessary
part of finding himself as an artist, as well
as growing as a person. And he knows that
ultimately, his soul-baring is the reason why the
audience has responded to his music in the
first place.
I always get panicky because I get so
emotional in everything I do, he says. I call my
mum up, and she says, Sam, its your job to
be emotional.

MAHD
DETROIT
Like the city he hails from, Mahds
work represents stark contrasts:
grit and beauty, aggression and
vulnerability. One minute, hes
seducing the ladies with Red
Lipstick (which features maybe the
most surprising yet brilliant use of
a sample since Jay Zs Hard Knock
Life). The next, hes clearing his
throat to spit a low-lit street-brawl
soliloquy over an ominous loop
of boom-bap beats in Godfather
Favors. Mahd cites Motown and Slum
Village as influences, and hes quickly
making a name for himself among
Detroits latest hip-hop exports
Danny Brown, Black Milk,
et al. ARIANA LABARRIE
PLAY THIS: Red Lipstick
photographed by joseph mcfashion.

NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

079

GOIN BACK TO CALI

WITH AN ALBUM FULL OF SUMMER PARTY ANTHEMS, YG IS LEADING LOS ANGELES RAPS RETURN TO FORM.
BY CLOVER HOPE. PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICK SETHI

EVERYONE IS YGs hype man tonight, including Keke Palmer. The actress, decked out in
all red with a backwards Compton cap to match, is among the 30-plus entourage members
and media whove swarmed the backstage area of Irving Hall after an hour of limb-flailing
to the L.A. rappers party-starters like My Hitta and Who Do You Love? The creaky floorboards are showing their age, and the window unit is barely cooling the cramped space.
Standing toward the back in a bright white tee, tube socks, and RVCA shorts held up by a
Fendi belt, YG greets Palmer and waves her into his inner-inner circle.

The 24-year-old rappers ability to sketch

tales of his L.A. hoodand make people dance
in the processhas everyone from gang members to small-town girls like Palmer looking
to join his movement. Compton is a place
people always want to visit, says YG over the
phone, three days removed from his energetic
performance. They want to know about our
lifestyle. My music is like the culture of L.A.
gangsta-slash-party shit. Its like watching an
action movie.
A blunt narration of life on the illicit side,
YGs Def Jam debut, My Krazy Life, couldve
easily dropped during the era when Snoop
and 2Pac reigned supreme. Like his West
Coast forefathers, YG remains unapologetic
about his street lifestyle. He raps about burglarizing homes (see the true-to-life Meet the
Flockers), and his album cover art is a mug
shot. His odes to recklessness have simultaneously sparked criticism and made him a prime
representative of L.A.s rap rebirth. I wanted
to come out with a classic, says YG. So I
was studying classic albums while making my
albumChronic 2001, Ready to Die, Get Rich
or Die Tryin. Doing a lot of homework.
Academics werent exactly a priority for YG
as a kid. Back then, he just went by Keenon
Jackson, and stumbled into street activity by
association. Born in Compton, hes openly
flaunted his membership in the infamous
Bloods ganghis song Bicken Back Being
Bool incorporates their B vocabulary. I
aint go looking for it, says YG. Being from
L.A., thats all youre around. So you eventually
become a gang member if youre about that
life. Robberies and school brawls became his
unofficial occupation, before he found a
professional path in 2009. The humorously
titled Toot It and Boot It became big enough
to land him a deal with Def Jam, though a
parole violation for a prior home burglary held
up his progress.
Nonetheless, My Krazy Lifes debut at No.
2 on the Billboard 200 is a huge leap forward.
And YGs success has run in tandem with that
of his DJ, Dijon McFarlane (a.k.a. DJ Mustard),
whose keyed-up production and club thumps
are the perfect complement to YGs ruthless
raps about crime, sex, and everything explicit
in between. He wasnt producing at first. We
sat in the studio, and he started making beats
around my rap style, says YG. Thats why
our chemistry is what it is, and we got this shit
down pat.
Back at Irving Hall, the clock strikes
midnight. YGs most dedicated followers,
those whod like photographic evidence of
their allegiance, have formed a line in the
emptied-out venue. One by one, they walk up
to him for pictures and autographs. Theres
a kid with toilet paper stuck to his sneakers
and a girl in a black My Krazy Life T-shirt and
shorts that read LEFT and RIGHT on each cheek.
This is only the beginning, but clearly his music
has resonated. He already has disciples. And
his modest goal of taking over the world,
as he says, has been set in motion.

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PORTER ROBINSON HEADS to the minibar and fishes out a Red Bull almost as soon
as he enters the hotel suite. Its been a long day for the 21-year-old producer, but he
cant help but pace the room as he speaks, his statements peppered with little bursts
of enthusiasm. Hes excited about whats to comegrueling work schedule be damned.
Things have always seemed to move quickly for Robinson, though. He began composing
beats on a family computer at age 13, in the same bedroom he still works in. My family
dynamic is eerily perfectits a comfortable place for me to be writing music, he explains.
At the outset, his goal was to do little more than emulate some of his favorite musicians.
By 18, he began making a name for himself as a DJ, spinning in clubs he was too young
to patronize. Now, three years later, hes about to leave the dance scene behind with the
release of his pop-leaning debut, Worlds.
Its a weird way to go about a music
career, he admits. Everything that I released
up until now was a different genre every time.
Introduced by a 10-hour-long YouTube video,
Worlds is a big, unabashed pop album,
full of sweeping hooks and grand choruses
inspired by his love of Passion Pit and The
Postal Service.
A significant departure from his previous
beat-driven work, the dramatic tonal shift
has been confusing for some listeners. He
laughs when recalling SoundCloud comments
for the albums first single, Sea of Voices,
featuring Amy Millan of Stars. A large number
of the dissenters called out Robinson for not

WORLDS
APART
ON HIS DEBUT ALBUM, EDM PRINCE
PORTER ROBINSON TRIES POP
ON FOR SIZE. BY LAURA STUDARUS.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAY HANNA

082

NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

producing another EDM track. I expect some

degree of backlash, he says. People who
have been listening to me for three years are
never going to shake the feeling of wanting to
hear something like the first tracks I put out.
Its a really powerful psychological force.

Worlds thrives on a similar sense of

nostalgia. Inspired by the multiplayer games
(particularly Star Wars Galaxies) that he
played as a teenager, Robinson strove to
create a virtual reality where the listener
could feel totally engulfedif only temporarily.
Ive never talked about the album in this
way before, he says, pausing to gather his
thoughts and take another slug of energy
drink. It has to do with games and fiction
and dreams, the feeling that takes root when
you read a book. These places totally exist
and they arent real at all. But they feel real
to you. Its a very modern experience, to feel
convinced of a place thats not real. Id say
that fiction is a motif of the record. It has
nothing to do with the real world.
Of course, recording wasnt an entirely
high-concept, tightly conceived endeavor. In
the 11th hour, and still looking for a singer
for the Vocaloid software/human duet Sad
Machine, Robinson was forced to work
outside of his comfort zone. For the first time
ever, he stepped behind the mic and sang the
part himself. I was like, Hey, do you have any
alcohol? he recalls, laughing. Im going to
go take three shots and sing my ass off!
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at the wall group.

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STATING
THE OBVIOUS
JENNY SLATE HAS
MADE THE FUNNIEST
ABORTION COMEDY OF
ALL TIME. BY DENISE
MARTIN. PHOTOGRAPHED
BY BRYAN SHEFFIELD

UNABASHEDLY, JENNY SLATE leans in and says that the best part about fulfilling her
childhood dream of becoming an actress is getting to dress like one. Specifically Michelle
Pfeiffer circa 1993. Over micheladas at Bar Ama in downtown Los Angeles, she explains,
The outfits I wear to work are what I like to imagine the outfits Michelle wore to the
set of Wolf were: high-waisted jeans with a white tank top tucked in, no bra, clean, wellmoisturized face, hair pulled back into a bun. An impish laugh bubbles up, but shes
nothing if not earnest. Ive waited my whole life to be an actress, and this is what I
imagined it would be like, going to work in basics that didnt stress me out and made me
feel like a woman. In control. She raises her extra spicy drink. Cheers!

To be familiar with the work of the petite

comedian is to know shes often cast as
and kills at playingthe cuckoo (Parks and
Recreations klepto-nympho-pyro Mona Lisa),
the frenemy (the girl who water-birthed her
truth into a memoir on Girls), and the selfassured ditz (all her characters on Kroll Show).
Her new film Obvious Child is a swing in the
opposite direction. Its the kind of grown-up
role shes been obsessing over since first
seeing Amy Irving navigate love in the wry
1988 rom-com Crossing Delancey. For me
to really connect to a comedy, it has to have
heart, says Slate. Things that are bawdy or
sassy just to be that way are too easy.
Enter Obvious Child, a tender and bawdy
romantic comedy about an abortionthats
not a spoiler; its the pointhatched way
back in 2007 after pregnancy comedies like
Juno, Knocked Up, and Waitress charmed
theatergoers but left filmmaker Gillian
Robespierre cold. Robespierre wanted to tell
the story of a woman whod gone a different
way. Slate plays struggling comic Donna Stern,
who, following a bad breakup, goes home with
a sweet guy she meets at a bar, gets pregnant,
and immediately decides to terminate. Its not
a tragedy for her. Its a huge relief. Shes never
confused about that, says Slate, who gives
an especially affecting performance as Donna
comes undone in life and onstage. The movie
opens with a great cringeworthy set from
Donna about female flatulence, hard truths
about worn panties, and embarrassing details
from her sex life. Shes bombing. Shes out of
control, says Slate. She has to do a little bit
of cleanup before she can start again.
Slates been there. She famously dropped
an F-bomb by mistake her first week on

084

NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

Saturday Night Live in 2009, and was

not asked back for a second season. The
professional snafu shocked her, an otherwise
meticulous hard worker who received raves
in New Yorks underground comedy scene
while auditioning for film and TV. Shes
never been shy about wanting to be better
known for acting, and even wrote the quasiaspirational one-woman show Jenny Slate:
Dead Millionaire, in which she played a more
eccentric, more famous version of herself (think
modern-day Little Edie) hosting her own funeral
via pre-taped video. Her confidence in poking
fun at both her goals and insecurities makes
for an enjoyable cocktail, and she can be even
more candid one-on-one. To wit: Slate tells
me she was asked to wear short shorts a few
hours ago for a photo shoot and had to warn
the photographer, Im not really ready with
the bikini line. They were asking me to climb
something and I said, I can, but your magazine
is going to have to throw itself in the trash.
Slate chalks up the SNL experience as
one to grow on, and shes been doing more
than OK since. In addition to her roles on
Parks and Kroll, she recurs on the Showtime
drama House of Lies and the animated Bobs
Burgers, and tomorrow, shes getting up early
to do her Pfeiffer routine and head to the set
of the FX comedy Married, where shes landed
another of those adult roles she craves. Its
all been going great so far, except for the
shitty lady who, until recently, handled the
shows wardrobe and made the mistake of not
treating Slate like the 32-year-old she is. She
bought clothes from the juniors department at
Nordstrom, and when I didnt fit into them, she
told me I was big-bottomed, she recalls. Its
called having an ass, maam.

LISTEN UP:

DOE PAORO
BROOKLYN
Alt-R&B pianist and chanteuse Doe
Paoro felt like her life was lacking
direction, so she headed for the
Himalayas to train under a master of
Tibetan opera. Seven months later,
she returned with not only personal
clarity, but the seeds of what would
become her debut EP, Ink on the Walls
(out this past April). Her sound, which
she describes as being moved by
heart is defined by delicate vocals
over soulful piano, reverb oscillations,
and occasional xylophone-induced
whimsy. Keep an eye out for Paoros
full-length, slated for release at the
end of this year. ALEXA PEARCE
PLAY THIS: Walking Backwards
photographed by gary he.

GLASS ANIMALS
OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND
MEMBERS: Dave Bayley, Drew
MacFarlane, Edmund Irwin-Singer,
and Joe Seaward
Discovered by Paul Epworth (who
also introduced us to Adele, Crystal
Castles, Bruno Mars, and Florence
and the Machine), Glass Animals were
the first signing to the producers Wolf
Tone record label. The electro-R&B
band holed up in Epworths London
studio to lay down a collection of
sexy, witty, spacious tracks of elegant
savagery (think: songs that nearrhyme just gonna cry with peanut
butter vibes). After spending last
winter opening for St. Vincent, the
band released their debut EP, Gooey,
in April. On June 10, their full-length
Zaba will wash up on U.S. shores,
courtesy of Harvest Records.
TAYLOR MORGAN
PLAY THIS: The bands cover of
Kanye Wests Love Lockdown
photographed by liam cushing.
dress by west &
main, boots by
ash. stylist: dani
michelle. hair: aaron
light at celestine
agency using oribe.
makeup: amy chance
at celestine agency
using nars.

NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

085

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HIGH
GEAR

THANKS TO PROJECTS ON BOTH STAGE AND

SCREEN, THINGS ARE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE FOR
JIM PARRACK. SORT OF. BY CLAIRE HOWORTH.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SUNNY SHOKRAE

FiFty-two minutes into my lunch date

with Jim Parrack, i marvel at what a mystery
the actor remains. what was it like to play
lovable simpleton Hoyt Fortenberry on
five seasons of HBos True Blood? what
are his current Of Mice and Men co-stars
Leighton meester and Chris oDowd like
away from the stage? whats it like to be
James Francos BFF? so many questions,
zero answers. thats because Parrack hasnt
shown up yet.
When he finally lumbers into the Times
Square restaurant, hes laden with a giant
Army-issue backpack (left over from a role)
and just enough guilt. The excuse: A crappy
phone charger left him alarm-less back at his
apartment in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. And when
youre working nearly around the clock on both

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088

nylonguysmag.com

coastsstarring as the ranch hand Slim in the

Steinbeck show on Broadway; preparing for
the release of A Night in Old Mexico, a film
he made with Robert Duvall that premiered at
SXSW; wrapping Fury, Brad Pitts Nazi-slaying
vehicle due this fallyou need an alarm clock
that works.
Oh, and also, I fell in love with a girl last
Wednesday, adds Parrack, 33, breaking into a
goofy grin. Not that he even needed to say it
his Instagram feed is already filled with shots of
Leven Rambin and their week-old relationship.
Shes a refreshingly bright, exciting, sweet,
wild, talented actress, he gushes of the
Hunger Games starlet.
Parrack is almost as enthusiastic about
everyone else in his lifehis co-stars in the
play (Meester and her father came over
recently to watch a fight), his ex-wife (whom
he divorced last August, though weve been
able to maintain the most beautiful friendship),
and, most of all, Franco, his friend of 12 years
and collaborator in roughly half of Parracks
projects from the past couple years, including
Of Mice and Men and both of Francos William
Faulkner films, As I Lay Dying and The Sound
and the Fury. The two are also working on a
collaborative set of acting schools, Franco from
Los Angeles and Parrack from Brooklyn, with
plans to open this summer.
The theater is where he met Franco, who
happened to be in the audience of a play

Parrack was in. That was 2002, only a year

after Parrack had left his hometown of Allen,
Texaswhere he says he barely graduated
high schoolto pursue acting in Los Angeles.
There, he studied at Stella Adler and Playhouse
West, though it wasnt until 2006 that he
appeared in Annapolis, a Navy drama starring
Franco, and his career began to pick up.
In those earliest days of his career, I was
pretty lost, says Parrack. Anything I could
do to derail myself, I was doing it, and I didnt
know how to stop. I have a great family, a lot
of people who cared, but none of it took, until
it got so bad I thought this was gonna be the
end. James inspired me to a point that it made
a different kind of life seem worthwhile.
The admiration is mutual. Jim is such a
big presence, says Franco. Hes a devotee
of Robert Duvall and Jon Voight, and lends a
wacky Southern authenticity to whatever hes
in, adding that Parrack is loyal as hell. Loyal to
his friends and to the art he loves.
Parracks loyalty is certainly evident: The
only person he doesnt say nice things about is
Ben Brantley, the New York Times theater critic
who recently gave Of Mice and Men two and a
half stars and slammed Francos performance.
(Brantley was kind to Parrack, however, calling
his portrayal even, convincing.) Otherwise,
Parrack makes a habit of avoiding his own
press. Too bad, then, that he may never know I
forgive him for being so damn late.

I COULD KEEP breathing fast and push

away from it, says Tom Krell, sitting up,
arching his back, and eyeing me, like
a professor about to reveal the central
conceit of an hours-long lecture. But if I
really let my body tune in to the effect and
respect it, its not challenging to get in the
head space. Krell is in Chicago, backstage
at Lincoln Hall, where tonight hell perform
as How to Dress Well, attempting to
explain how music fully envelops him while
performing live: Once the violin comes
in, and when I go through the motions of
producing the melodies by singing them, I
am completely there.
Spend enough time with the Coloradoborn musician, and expect to go on a deep
philosophical dive centered on finding and
maintaining the proper space for him to
perform his emotionally jarringand, one
senses, drainingmaterial. Krell cant help
but get heady when talking about his craft.
Its integral to his well-being to make sense
of it all. At his core, Krell is an angelic-voiced
singer with a floating falsettobut hes also a
student of philosophy (working toward a PhD
at DePaul University) who views his musical
pursuits as out-of-body experiences. It all
comes from a very real experience of intense

HEART
MURMUR
HOW TO DRESS WELLS TOM KRELL SURFACES
FROM A SEA OF SOMBER R&B WITH HIS MOST
OPTIMISTIC ALBUM TO DATE. BY DAN HYMAN.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAVID SHAMA

pain and intense emotionality, he says of

his songs, which hit the ear like a waterslide
of futuristic-R&B twists and turns rooted in
minimalism and introspection.
His latest work, What Is This Heart?, is
the third in a progression of chilling, beatific
albums, after his 2010 breakthrough Love
Remains and 2012s more somber Total
Loss. Both of his earlier albums were painfully
intimate and ultimately lonely affairs below
surface-level prettiness. Theres a saying: No
one creates except to get out of hell, explains
Krell. Thats partially true. But there are
other strong emotions that push me to write.
Typically, people only think of sadness, but

grooming: reiva cruze at exclusive artists using oribe.

really intense happiness is a powerful emotion,

too. Its interesting.
Krell immediately began writing new material
upon completing Total Loss, spending 14
months demoing tracks. He commissioned
that albums producer, Roddy McDowell, to
join him for two months in Berlin, where they
spent 14-hour days recording and polishing
the demos. We just worked like dogs, recalls
Krell. Every single idea we were articulating in
a new, much more full-bodied fashion.
What they wound up with was Krells most
confident and upbeat work to date. Change
is coming, he murmurs amid chiming bells
and subtle horns on What You Wanted. And

Precious Love, an 80s-channeling synth

fantasia, may be the most hopeful track of his
career. Its all still the same pain that fueled
the first records, he offers. But I did want
to see what a record would sound like that
started from the thought, I want to share and
I want to be open and I want to be confident
and I want to be inviting.
Onstage, though, is where Krell feels most
powerful. Its a weird thing, he says. I hate
that singing is taken as something normal and
casual. The people who could sing in ancient
times, it was a fucking sacred thing. He
pauses, and smiles. It certainly feels sacred
to me.
NYLONGUYSMAG.COM

089

BOB MOULD
o n t h e r e c o r d:

BY MARK YARM. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAY BLAKESBERG

THE COVER of Bob Moulds new solo album features a photograph of the rocker around age
19head cast down, cigarette held to his lipspartially overlapping a ghostly image of the now
53-year-old Mould, bearded and grizzled, his eyes staring straight into the camera from behind
designer frames. The album, Moulds 11th solo release, is called Beauty & Ruin, but the
musician hasnt decided which one each portrait represents. I dont have a clue, says Mould,
singer and guitarist for 80s underground trailblazers Hsker D and 90s alt-rockers Sugar.
Nor do I think Im ever going to have an answer for that. Though some things might best be
left in the dark, Mould has been doing an awful lot of reflecting as of late. In 2011, he released a
memoir, See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody, and later that year he was fted at
L.A.s Walt Disney Concert Hall, where Dave Grohl, Ryan Adams, Craig Finn, and others
performed his songbook. There are those times when people say, Oh, if not for you, the Pixies
would never [exist], but until youre having people sing your songs at you, its still sort of this
abstract idea, he says. Then came the 2012 death of Moulds father, which forced the singersongwriter to contemplate his own mortalityafter years of growing up in a world where Im
encouraged to act like a childand informed the themes of loss and acceptance on the
melodic Beauty & Ruin. We recently asked Mould to look back some more, this time to the
albums that helped make him the man and musician he is today.

10 OF THE ALBUMS THAT HAVE SHAPED BOB MOULDS LIFE AND MUSIC, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

the Byrds

younger
than
yesterday

I liked The Byrds as a kid,

but it was in the early 80s,
when Hsker D was active,
that I started to dig in a
little deeper to the edge of
psychedelic records from
the 60s. Younger Than
Yesterday was a record
where The Byrds were
starting to get into flipping
the tape over and recording
guitar solos backwards.
Great, great stuff. Roger
McGuinns playingthe
chimey sound, those
open stringswas pretty
important to me.

090

nylonguysmag.com

germs
(gi)

When I first listened to it,

about 10 minutes in, I was
spellbound. Just the tone
and the aggressiveness,
and especially [singer]
Darby Crash. I was 18, 19
years old, and even though
you couldnt make all the
words out without the
lyric sheet, they had a real
profound effect on me. This
guy was a real thinker, but
also very primal. Not until
years later did I understand
his struggles. Whether it
was his battles with his
sexuality or whatever it was
that was driving his anger, it
hit me when I first heard it
and left a deep impression.

my Bloody
Valentine
loVeless

I was over in England in

December 1991 on a car
ride from Manchester to
London after a show. The
fellow who was driving
asked if Id ever heard of
this band or the record, and
I hadnt. He just cranked it
up, and it was a revelation.
I had never heard anything
like it before, but all of
it was very familiarthe
layers, the whispered
vocals, the in-and-out-ofpitch guitars. It just floored
me. Its a record that 23
years later still sounds
different every time I listen
to it.

the
Beatles
reVolVer

Im 99 percent sure I
bought that record as it
came out, at J.J. Newberry
department store on Main
Street in Malone, New York,
where I grew up. I was
probably six. The Beatles
were everywhere then, and
that record was fascinating
to me: the collage cover,
and what I know now was
their transition away from
being a straight-up pop
band to really digging into
experimentation in the
studio. I came to appreciate
it more as I got older and
started to learn to write
music and make records.
Thats an invaluable record
to reference.

Joy
diVision
unKnoWn
pleasures

There are all these musical

elements at play, and then
this voice that was fighting
from underneath the mix
to be heard. Ian Curtis
similar to Darbyhis words
meant something to me.
Joy Division were supposed
to come to Americawe
know how that went [Curtis
committed suicide on
the eve of the tour]and
Hsker D was supposed
to open for them in
Minneapolis, so I was really
sad about the whole thing.
Hsker D opened for a lot
of bands in the Twin Cities,
but that one, for me, would
have been real special.

richard
and linda
thompson

shoot out
the lights

Its early 1988. Hsker D is

no more. Im up on the farm
in northern Minnesota. I buy
a blue Strat and a plasticback 12-string acoustic.
I start trying to write in a
completely different style.
About seven months in,
I played a handful of the
songs for my friend. He
handed me Shoot Out the
Lights and another Richard
Thompson album: You
really need to listen to
these. I did, and I was like,
What the fuck? Apparently
I sounded a lot like Richard
Thompson. I simultaneously
felt like I was unintentionally
copying somebody and
finding a kindred spirit.

Foo
Fighters
ramones
ramones

I listened to Kiss,
Aerosmith, Fleetwood
Mac, and all that mid-70s
stuff, but Id read Rock
Scene magazine, and they
would have these threepage photo spreads of
the Ramones going to
the record store, and I
thought, These guys look
really cool. So for my 16th
birthday, I got that record,
and it really did change
everything for me. Looking
at Aerosmith in that same
magazineprivate planes
and guns and cocaine and
groupiesand then hearing
the Ramones, I thought, I
dont want that other thing.
I want this thing.

there is
nothing
leFt to
lose

Starting in 1999, I was

working in pro wrestling
[as a scriptwriter and
onsite producer], doing
those long drives, and
when it was my turn to
get the car stereo, I would
always blast this album. It
was funny because I would
also listen to the radio at
that time, and I would hear
[the single] Learn to Fly,
and I would just be like,
Who is this? I knew who
it was, but I was just like,
Wow, this sounds really
familiar! [Laughs] Like
Hsker D. But its a great
recordit got me through a
lot of long drives.

interpol
garBage

Version 2.0

When this came out, I was

starting to become more
of a fan of beat-oriented
and sampled music. The
way that they constructed
soundit was like, fuck,
people havent done that
in a really long time, and
done it so well and so
effortlessly. And Shirley
[Manson], of course, is
charismaticand strong,
strong words. I was getting
a little tired of just straightup guitar music and was
looking for new things,
and this record helped me
cross over to [recording]
more electronic stuff.

turn on
the Bright
lights

I was living in New York

City, downtown in Tribeca.
We all know what it was
like after 9/11. All of that
intensity and all of that
heatit gave way to a new
sense of community. It was
time to really take care of
people and say please
and thank you and stop
being a dick. That record
had an energy, and at the
same time it had these
somber tones, that muted
red artwork. It summed up
a lot of things for me. It was
a really good soundtrack for
when I was home.

nylonguysmag.com

091

pABLO HOney

orange is the new blaCk star Pablo sChreiber wants you to see beyond the PornstaChe.
by david walters. PhotograPhed by beth garrabrant

STUFFING hIS hULKING 6'5" frame into a chair in the lobby bar of Manhattans Ace
hotel, pablo Schreiber requests a Balvenie neat and begins talking about the great
outdoors. The British Columbia native (Canadian rocky Mountains, he specifies) spends
a lot of time communing with nature, building chicken coops at his home in upstate New
york and parking pop-up campers in the hills of Ojai, California. The conversation grinds
to an awkward halt, however, when I mention that Ive always wanted to take up whittling.
Whittling? he asks with mock incredulity. Lets at least call it carving.

092

nyLOnguysMag.cOM

Schreibers easygoing attitude tends to

shock people who conflate him with the
characters he playsrecently a bunch of, well,
Grade A jackasses. Thank you for saying
recently, he jokes. It kind of makes me angry
that every person in the world is like, Oh,
youre the bad guy! He takes a calming sip of
scotch. Did I just turn red and start spitting?
In truth, Schreibers career, like any
good actors, has plotted many points on
the morality continuum, from the hustling
dockworker Nick Sobotka on HBOs The Wire
to Charlie, the dutiful father-to-be in the indie
hit Happythankyoumoreplease. But random
New Yorkers still give him the stink-eye for
playing William Lewis, the sadistic criminal
who tortured Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska
Hargitay) on Law & Order: SVU. You dont
fuck with Benson, he reasons. Shes kind of
a New York institution. I learned that the first
time I took her on a three-day raping spree.
And then theres George Pornstache
Mendez, Schreibers ruthless prison guard
on Netflixs hit series Orange Is the New
Black, which recently returned for a second
season. Pornstaches drug smuggling, inmate
harassment, misogyny, and general crudeness
(sample dialog: Thanks to this missed
opportunity for cradle death, youre here with
me and all these other shit-birds.) has made
him the character everyone loves to loathe.
My agents actually put me up for Jason
Biggss role, but a friend on the writing
staff told me I should ask about Pornstache
because they were writing a bunch of great
stuff for him, remembers Schreiber. When I
read the pilot, he had one scene. Normally, that
wouldnt be something Id pursue, but since I
had inside intel. He laughs and continues: I
was very happy to have friends in high places.
The trademark facial hair is fake, by the way,
and has evolved over time. When I got cast,
I had a mustache fitting, just to see how it
would look. In the first episode its kind of like
a walrus. But it became a lot subtler, he says.
I wasnt privy to the conversationsall I knew
is every day Id show up and my mustache
would be a little smaller.
Late this summer, hell head to Los Angeles
to film The Brink, an HBO black comedy about
impending geopolitical crises, also starring
Jack Black and Tim Robbins. Schreiber plays
a fighter pilot on a mission to bomb Pakistan.
Each season will follow the characters in
different end-of-the-world scenarios, as if
anyone doubted his inextricable connection to
chaos and destruction.
Today, though, hes heading back up to
the Catskills, far away from the turmoil, to
continue his intimate relationship with nature.
And that doesnt involve whittling! he says,
snickering at his own callback joke before
dropping his head contritely. Im being a bit of
an asshole.
stylist: jessica margolis. grooming: joanna
pensinger at exclusive artists using la mer
and oribe. shot at alans alley, nyc.

seeing strypes

Meet your dads favorite new bandwe think you Might like theM, too. by diane vadino.
PhotograPhed by alex brunet
The STrypeS will be photographed today, on a hotel rooftop in pariss Montmartre
district overlooking the eiffel Tower, but this exceptionally promising group (average age:
17) from Cavan, Ireland, will not be cajoled into suitably on-brand clothes. We dont do
any of that industry shite, says bassist pete Ohanlon. When asked how long the band
expects to maintain control of their appearance before a marketing team gets their hands
on them, drummer evan Walsh is quick to answer: Until Im in a retirement home and
someones changing my nappies. Its just something we despisewhy should you not be
able to dress yourself?
Their style philosophy, their names Byrdslike misspelling, their influences (ranging
from 1920s barrelhouse to the Kaiser Chiefs
and Arctic Monkeys), and their high-profile
supporters (including Jeff Beck, who gave
them a standing ovation following a London
show in 2012) all underline the fact that The
StrypesWalsh and OHanlon, plus singer
Ross Farrelly and guitarist Josh McClorey
are the rare band composed of European
high schoolers whose rapturous YouTube
comments come from 60-year-old men reliving
their pub-rock glory days, not star-struck teens
offering up their virginity.
Take away the success of their debut album,

Snapshot, though, and theyd be spending

this temperate April afternoon back in Cavan,
preparing for their year-end exams. Theyve
known each other since early childhood and
have not been primed for stardom as much as
theyve been steeped in blues and rock. Me
and Pete spent a lot of time in Evans house
growing up, and thats where our music comes
fromEvans parents record collection, says
McClorey. We were surrounded by Chuck
Berry and the Stones, and this is what we
liked. (Farrelly was talent-scouted by the
band later, after he sang Oasis Wonderwall
at his dads behest at a pub in a nearby
village.) OHanlon says hes perplexed by the

fascination with the bands musical affinities:

People are like, Why are you liking good
music? he says. Too many people liking shit
music is the problem.
In some ways, The Strypes seem to harbor
a sense of shared fondness for the political
and social movements that gave punk rock its
power: Everyones too apathetictheyll go, Its
shit, but we dont really mind, says OHanlon.
Its an apathetic, dystopian world were living
in right now.
Perhaps, in part, because they so forcefully
reject this dominant tone, The Strypes have
found a welcome reception both at home and
abroad; they appeared on the esteemed John
Peel Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 2013,
and played seven shows in three days at this
years South by Southwest, followed by a March
appearance on the Late Show With David
Letterman. (The band is still parsing whether
the host concluded their breakneck rendition
of What a Shame with a cry of Buddy! or
Money!) In the morning, the group will leave
for Barcelona, where, by coincidence, theyll
be in the city at the same time as some of their
field-tripping classmates they left behind in
Cavan. Though theyre quick to contextualize
the perks of success (It just tires you out, says
Farrelly), theres no looking back, either. If you
had to pick a way to do 16, says OHanlon,
youd definitely do being in a band.

FROM LEFT: pete ohanlon,

ross farrelly, evan
walsh, and josh mcclorey.

nyLOnguysMag.cOM

093

AFTER SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDING HIS REACH TO FILM AND

TELEVISION, ANY POP STAR WOULD BE FORGIVEN FOR LEAVING
THE HIT-MAKING TO THE NEW GUYS. BUT TWO DECADES IN,
USHER STILL HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE MUSICALLY.
BY DAVID PEISNER. PHOTOGRAPHED BY KENNETH CAPPELLO

left: shirt by
dkny pure, pants
by dolce &
gabbana (available
at mrporter.com),
ushers own jewelry
worn throughout.
right: shirt by
alexander wang,
tank top by
calvin klein
collection, pants
by public school.

USHER IS BEING IGNORED.

The guy has been a star for nearly two
decades, hes sold tens of millions of albums,
starred in Hollywood movies, appears on
prime-time TV twice a week as a coach on
NBCs hit reality singing competition, The Voice,
and has had his personal life dissected by the
tabloids, but at the moment, his chosen
audience couldnt care less.
Hey! Hey! Are you listening to me? he says, his voice rising with annoyance.
Are you?
His five-year-old son Naviyd doesnt so much as glance up from playing
Minecraft on his iPad: No.
Youve got to wash your hands and get ready for dinner, says Usher. Silence.
I dont want to have to take the iPad from you, but I will. Still nothing. Naviyd!
Finally, Ushers youngest son is roused from his Minecraft-induced trance
and directed toward the kitchen. Usher looks at me and shakes his head. The
eye-contact thing... he says. Hes fine. He just loves staying connected to
the computer.
Its a warm Saturday evening in late April and Ushers homea large, modern
structure situated behind a wooden gate on a shaded piece of land in an
upscale Atlanta neighborhoodis buzzing with activity. His two sons, Naviyd
and his older brother, Usher V, stomp around the way most five- and six-yearolds do, Naviyd frequently attached to an iPad and Usher V occasionally toting
a baseball bat and whiffle ball. In the spacious kitchen, Ushers momwho was
his manager until 2007sits at a long counter, tallying the carbs in the chili
beans and cheese thats about to be served for dinner (Usher V is diabetic),
while Ushers girlfriend, former Def Jam executive Grace Miguelwhos also his

current managercajoles the boys to the table. Usher,

dressed down in a plain black T-shirt, black shorts, and
black socks, sits on a couch in a living room adjacent to
the kitchen.
Full house, he says with a weary laugh. The living
room is pristine and white, filled with provocative art
hanging on the walls, large coffee table books, and a
massive hand-drawn book under glass on the table
called The Illustrated Guide to Not Being So Fucking
Racist. This is Graces room, he says a little sheepishly.
The rest of the house is mine.
In the background, songs from his upcoming, still-inprogress album play over the houses sound system.
The LP will be his first since 2012s willfully eclectic
detractors called it unfocusedLooking 4 Myself, and,
for the moment anyway, the plan is for the new one to
be more streamlined.
I had this idea to create an eight-song album that
from cover to cover is just undeniable, he says. Im
also desperate in some odd way to get back to the era
of tying all the songs together like on Marvin Gayes
Whats Going On.
In person, Usher is soft-spoken but confident. He has
the reserved manner and easy charisma of someone so
used to attention that he knows he doesnt need to
draw any more of it to himself. When he speaks, its
often in meandering sentences in which the words
seem to flow out before hes actually decided what he
wants to say. As such, you hear things like, There has
been such a focus from me to re-establish or remind,
not even re-establish, to refine what the experience of
R&B is, which is why on this project Im sitting behind
the drums, Im playing the bass, just showing people
that the origin of what we love about R&B comes from
true instrumentation, which, when parsed, means
not much more than I played some bass and drums on
this album.
Usher Raymond IV has been famous since he was
16, and was working on it for quite a few years before
that. He first appeared on Star Search as a 13-year-old,
and scored a record contract off the back of that. His
first album came out in 1994, when he was 15, and
was a moderate hit. His second, My Way, sold six
million copies. By the late 90s, hed branched out into
acting, with roles in The Faculty, Shes All That, and
Light It Up.
By the early 2000s, hed established himself as a
sweet-faced, velvet-voiced hit machine, churning out
well-crafted R&B, just slinky enough not to be bland but
never so raw as to risk offense. 2004s Confessions
changed the narrative considerably. Released in the
wake of his very public split with TLCs Rozonda Chilli
Thomas, many of the albums songs sounded like a
reflection on the relationship, particularly the
temptations and infidelities that accompanied its
demise. Powered by hits like Yeah! and Burn, the
album was gigantic, selling more than 10 million copies
and turning Usher into a bona fide superstar.

there aInt shIt

worse than
standIng In a club
and they dont
play your record.

that does
not feel
good.

shirt by greg lauren,

jeans by paige, ushers
own shoes.

I had thIs
Idea to
create an
eIght-song
album that
from cover
to cover
Is just
undenIable.
Im also
desperate
In some
odd way to
get back
to the era
of tyIng all
the songs
together
lIke on
marvIn
gayes
Whats
GoinG on.

shirts and pants by

greg lauren, shoes by
adidas by rick owens.

By the time of the follow-up, Here I Stand, Usher was married to

Tameka Foster, and much of it is given over to songs celebrating his
newfound domestic tranquility. Fans were decidedly lukewarm on
Usher as Family Man, and Here I Stand sold only a fraction of its
predecessors tally. His marriage crumbled shortly thereafter and
2010s Raymond vs. Raymond, despite some big hits (OMG,
There Goes My Baby), felt like a slightly too anxious attempt to
recapture Confessions dirty-laundry vibe. Since then, a custody
battle over the couples two kids has periodically played out in an
uncomfortably public way.
Currently, Ushers sons split time between this house and
Fosters. When theyre here, he works while theyre at school during
the day, and again after they go to bed. I dont record here, he
says. I would never get anything done. The problem with music
and the creative process is that it has to be uninterrupted. If youre
constantly being pulled away, its hard.
Nonetheless, the new album has been something of a stop-andstart production. Work began last year, but during the first week of
recording, Usher V nearly drowned when he got caught on the
drain in the pool behind the house. Usher nods toward the pool,
which is visible through the living room windows, and currently
covered with a tarp. My son had an accident right here, he says. I
completely stopped and didnt go back into the studio for damn
near three months.
Soon after getting back to recording, the process was
interrupted again, this time so Usher could spend several months
training to play Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming Roberto Duran
biopic Hands of Stone, and film it in Panama. Then came another
break for The Voice.
Now, as he finally finishes up the recording, Usher finds himself
at an unfamiliar crossroads. Looking 4 Myself was his first album
since his debut that failed to sell a million copies. While hes
become a ubiquitous media presence, its not clear what the future
holds for him. Hell, its not even clear what the present holds. With
The Voice and his return to film after nearly a decades absencenot
to mention his ownership stake in the NBAs Cleveland Cavaliers
and a chain of wine bars in Atlantaits tempting to see him as a
guy who is smartly diversifying his portfolio. After all, can a 35-yearold divorced father of two ever define the pop moment the way he
did 10 years ago? More to the point, should he even try?
Usher Used to have a mUsic room in the basement
here, his musical man-cave, as he called it. Members of his band
would sometimes come over, and theyd jam for hours. But with
kids in the house, it was impractical. (I was just too loud, he tells
me.) Today, the only musical instrument left down there is his sons
drum kit. Most everything else needed to be cleared out to make
room for the boxing ring.
This is my boys club, right here, he says, as we walk in the door.
Usher constructed this room after being tapped to play Sugar Ray.
Although his early forays into acting had the veneer of youthful
dabbling, anyone needing proof of his commitment to Hands of
Stone, which is due out next year and stars dgar Ramrez as Duran
and Robert De Niro as his legendary trainer Ray Arcel, need look no
further than this room. Besides the large boxing ring at its center,
there is a speed bag, heavy bag, elliptical machine, free weights,
jump ropespretty much everything he needed to transform himself
into a believable welterweight champion.
I wanted to show a different side of who I am, not just throw my
acting chops toward a romantic comedy, he says. When I played

Sugar Ray, everything was Sugar Ray. Every day I trained like a boxer. I ate like
a boxer. I moved like a boxer. I talked like a boxer. He also hung out with
Leonard. We spent some time at his house. I spent time training with him
here and out in Los Angeles, just to get the nuances of how to move and to
understand his approach. As if to prove it, Usher walks over and begins to
work the speed bag like a pro.
One person impressed with his dedication was Leonard himself. When
they said that Usher would play Sugar Ray in Hands of Stone, a lot of people
said, Usher? recalls Leonard. But I saw it right from the start. He hopped
on the speed bag and kind of pissed me off, because he hit it better than I did.
The first thing I told him when I met him, I said, You have to surrender Usher to
be Sugar Ray. Youve got to know what it feels like to be a fighter. Its a bitch.
Youve got to go through the moments in training where your lungs are about
to burst, your legs are about to collapse.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell, who plays Leonards wife Juanita in the film, had
watched Leonards two fights with Duran as research for her role, and believes
Ushers intensive preparation paid off. When people see it theyre going to be
blown away, she says. He worked his butt off to get in the physical shape of
Sugar Ray. He was always jogging the stairs in the hotel. When you see him in
the ring, its scary how much he was able to embody Sugar Rays posture, his
quickness, his whole boxing style. He knew Sugar Ray inside-out.
The role has clearly stuck with Usher. He says he still spars, and has
maintained the same diet he adopted for the part. More than that, the boxers
mentality has stayed with him. I have bodyguards around me all the time, but I
aint got no worries, he says. Somebody step to me, I know how to handle it.
I dont because I dont want the lawsuit, but I know exactly where to hit them.
If Hands of Stone is Ushers attempt to show the world he can become
someone else, he views The Voice as a way to reveal a little bit more of
himself. Usher was 15 when he moved to New York to live and work under the
probably-not-all-that-watchful eye of Sean Diddy Combs. In those early years
particularly, producers, songwriters, record company A&R executives, and
others were among his valuable guides and confidantes.
Artist development made me who I am, he says. Somebody took the time
to help me find what it is that works for me as an entertainer and who I am as
a music maker. Hed already shown a predilection for paying that forward with
his mentorship of a young YouTube sensation named Justin Bieber. And while
Biebers path has obviously gotten a bit rocky in recent years, according to
Blake Shelton, Ushers fellow coach on The Voice, that relationship made
Usher an immediate asset to the show.
Ushers really the only one who has accomplished what were trying to do
on this show, and he didnt even do it on a show, says Shelton. With his
mentoring and nurturing of Bieber, he actually did have a hand in helping to
create a superstar. Thats what weve been trying to do for six seasons now.
With that on his rsum, he brought credibility right off the bat.
Biebers recent public stumblesa string of arrests for assault, vandalism,
and DUIhave certainly caused Usher concern, but there is a sense that at
some point, every pupil must sink or swim on his own.
I gave every bit of advice and always told him it was up to him if he really
wanted this, he says. Now that he has it, as an adult, its his to manage. Do I
turn my head in shame based off of what I see, what I know? Nah, I dont
because its all part of lifes process. Am I in it with him? Yeah. Its unfortunate.
I hate some of the things I hear. Is it all true? I dont know. But I will tell you
this: Success comes with a price. Every person that has grown up, grows
through something. It aint just perfect from the beginning.
In the lIvIng room of Ushers hoUse, theres a long shelf
lined with awardsMTV Video Music Awards, Peoples Choice Awards,
something called the ASCAP Golden Note. That right there is the last

Diamond Award given in history, he tells me, pointing

at a statue commemorating Confessions 10 million
copies sold. His eight Grammys get their own place
of pride near a black grand piano in another part of
the house.
Even beyond these trophies, much of the house
seems devoted to subtly telling the story of Ushers
myriad accomplishments. Its not just the nice things,
the high-end electronics, the beautiful furnitureand
there is plenty of that stuffits that nearly every item
seems to come with an enviable origin story. These are
black-and-white photographs Usher saw and fell in love
with when he was in Morocco. Thats a massive
painting by the famed L.A. street artist Retna, who sold
his very first piece to Usher 15 years ago. He found
that statue over there when he was in Beijing. Oh, and
that large print of a famous strip of photographs taken
of a young Barack Obama? Hes hoping to get the
president to sign it soon, a distinct possibility since
Usher knows him personally after campaigning for him.
When I ask about two wooden horses that are perched
outside next to the front door, Miguel explains that they
found them during a working trip to upstate New
York, where Usher was finalizing the track list for the
last album.
We walked around a little town called Hudson and
there was an antique store, she says. These are from
a carousel from 1901. Hes Chinese Year of the Horse
and this is the Year of the Horse, so its a whole thing
for him. In general, despite this bevy of no doubt pricey
items, the overall vibe of Chez Usher is exceedingly
tasteful. Theres nothing nouveau riche about it,
nothing particularly blingy. In short, this is quarry from a
life well-lived.
Which brings us to the slightly uncomfortable
present. Barring anything unforeseen, Usher will put
out his new album in the fall. It may be the exceedingly
tight, conceptual eight-song R&B masterwork that hes
planning on nowhe admits the eight-song thing may
be augmented by a few bonus recordsbut even if it
is, that may not be what the world wants from him.
You believe Usher when he says that Here I Stand,
Raymond vs. Raymond, and Looking 4 Myself are
honest reflections of where he was at those times,
but does it bother him that fans werent in those
same places?
In all honesty, I give one shit, he says. I do hear
themthats why I say one shit. I do give a shit, but not
two shits. Two shits is a lot. I care enough to make sure
they understand that Im making it for them, but Ive got
to be true to where I am.
And where he is, is here: 35, divorced, in a gorgeous

stylist: j. errico. hair: curtis

smith. grooming: cole patterson. photo
assistant: gabriel hernandez. shot at
big studio, atlanta.
shirt by public school, pants by alexandre plokhov,
shoes by balenciaga.

I gave [justIn bIeber] every

bIt of advIce and always
told hIm It was up to hIm If
he really wanted thIs.
now that he has It, as an
adult, Its hIs to manage. I
wIll tell you thIs: success
comes wIth a prIce.
house, with a beautiful family. Maybe that guy doesnt
have much to say to 21-year-old kids dancing in a club.
Maybe he shouldnt. Pop has always been a young
persons game, and Usher is nothing if not an old soul.
Does it matter whether or not his next album churns out
zeitgeist-capturing hits? Maybe he shouldnt give even
one shit. But he does.
There aint shit worse than standing in a club and
they dont play your record, he says. That does not feel
good. Im not turning my nose up at youth culture. Hell,
no. You cant consider yourself a real artist and not
recognize what it is. If your kids like it, youve got to find
a way to make sure you talk to them, too.
We argue a little about aging gracefully in R&B, and
he mentions Prince. I point out that Prince can draw
5,000 fans in any city in America on a moments notice,
but hasnt had a hit in decades. That doesnt seem like
a bad life.
But wouldnt it be great to be able to do that and
have a hit record? he says. Usher craves respect
whether its for music, acting, art collecting, whatever.
But the key to understanding him, at least right now, is
to realize he doesnt want to be Prince. Thats not
enough for him. He doesnt want to play decades-old
material to 5,000 people. My ultimate desire is to have
all my fans gathered in a dome, he says. He wants the
club kids and critics in his corner. I want to figure out
how to bridge those worlds. I dont think Im ever going
to stop trying to figure it out.
Only time will tell if the public follows him as he tries,
but if not, dont worry. Usher will be fine. I hope to have
fans that love what I do, but if I dont, Im not going to
lose my head, he says. If I just stop right now, Ive
done enough to ride for the next 40 years. He looks
around his home, then smiles. Maybe 50.

nylonguysmag.com

101

douglas booth wants to know what a london-bred chap has to do to stop landing roles
in hollywood blockbusters and snag himself a nice little festival film instead.
by john ortved. photographed by isa wipfli

sweater by burberry
prorsum, pants by
salvatore ferragamo,
socks by original
penguin, shoes
by bally.

jacket by billy
reid, shirt by atm
anthony thomas
melillo, jeans by
denim & supply ralph
lauren, socks by
original penguin,
shoes by santoni.
opposite page:
turtleneck by
david hart.

I was partakIng in a space

orgy, says Douglas Booth.
the space orgy was floating,
which is trickier than it
sounds. seated in the
courtyard of the Crosby Bar,
tearing into the smallest
piece of cod [hes] ever seen,
the 21-year-old actor is
talking about his upcoming
role as titus abrasax, the
youngest and most
debauched member of an
intergalactic regal family bent

on universal domination in
Jupiter Ascending.
the film, also starring
Channing tatum and Mila
kunis, is the newest action
and one assumes,
blockbusterflick from the
wachowskis (of Matrix fame),
and his second megabudget
project this year. Having just
played opposite russell
Crowe and Emma watson in

Darren aronofskys Noah,

Booth is on the short list of
some of the most powerful
directors in the business. now
that the zero-gravity freak-fest
is out of the way, whats next
to scratch off of the ol
Hollywood bucket list?
all I want to do is an
independent that goes to
sundance, he says,
shrugging in his black leather

jacket, a gift from his friend

and Burberry designer
Christopher Bailey, who
placed Booth in a recent
campaign and, a few weeks
after our interview, took him
to the Met gala.
Born and raised in London
(London will always be my
home, he says), Booths artsy
mother moved her dyslexic
son toward the trumpet, and
then acting, and he became a
member of the national Youth

darren [aronofsky] said to me in london, douglas,

its not a race. its just about working with good
flmmakers on good projects and youll get there.
theatre and Junior guildhall.
He was first cast in From Time
to Time, a drama from Julian
Fellowes, the writer-director
behind Downton Abbey, then
headed to the Middle ages
for his turn as a young
noblemanalongside Eddie
redmayne and alison pill
in the starz miniseries The
Pillars of the Earth. He
managed to keep up with his
castmates, on and off the set.
I was 16, but I was drinking
them off the table, he says
with a laugh. these days, its
fellow Englishman and Noah
co-star ray winstone whos
inviting him to drinks. I got an
email from him yesterday,
says Booth. Everything is like
British-British with him...
always loads of Union
Jack emoticons.
Booths star turn came in
the 2010 BBC biopic Worried
About the Boy, in which he felt
like he didnt just play, but
subsumed the legendary pop
star Boy george. as a kid, I
dreamed about living a
thousand lifetimes within my
own, he says. when I suggest
that such a statement sounds
mildly psychotic, he jokes
back, Or very pretentious. I
sound like James Franco. But
the sentiment is not without
depth; Booth is aware of
what he wants, creatively and
professionally, and of the

pitfalls that lie between a

handsome, capable young
actor on the rise and his
goals. I try not to let myself
get pigeonholed into one
thing, like nicholas sparks
adaptations. the only power
you have as a young actor is
to say yes or no, he explains.
thats the only power I can
wield at the moment. after
working with aronofsky
and the wachowskis, Booth
refuses to do anything he
doesnt find interesting.
It just means being really
patient, he says. Darren said
to me in London, Douglas,
its not a race. Its just about
working with good filmmakers
on good projects and youll
get there.
aronofsky also turned the
once social-media-phobic
actor on to the promotional
power of twitter. Dustin
Hoffman said, the more
people know you, the harder
it is to act, recalls Booth. as
a philosophical compromise,
he only tweets about his
projects. what else am I
going to use it for? he asks,
pretending to photograph
a cup and saucer. Heres
my cappuccino?
Booth is more concerned
with other facets of this
being-an-actor thingnamely,
the acting part. Im still
learning what it means, he
says. part of acting is
relaxing and feeling free, and
then great work can be
created. Because once you

take down your boundary, you

can create anything. But then
sometimes you think, the
carpenter makes an amazing
chair, but he couldnt do that
at the beginning of his career.
You hone.
that some of that honing
has taken place on films with
budgets comparable to the
gDp of small nations
provides its own unique
challenges. In the [ Jupiter
Ascending] script, they
describe his spaceship as a
cross between the playboy
Mansion and a gothic
cathedral. My character gets
what he wants. when thats
your brief, it gives you a lot to
play with, he says. there are
also complicated sets,
hundreds of crew members,
video villages, and green
screens. there are a lot of
technical elements, he
concedes. But when youve
got masters like the
wachowskis, they guide you
brilliantly. they complement
each other perfectly. Lana is
creative. she goes through
the character. andy is dealing
with the crane, but he comes
in and gives amazing acting
notes, too. theyre seamless.
He was especially
impressed with the
wachowksis lack of reliance
on computer effects.
Everything is done for real,

he says. Filming in Chicago,

they closed down the whole
city and flew this helicopter
through the skyscrapers,
swinging these stunt people.
Back here on terra firma,
Booth is figuring out his own
way. while its not the
smallest movie ever made,
hes also found an indie, The
Riot Clubabout a couple
of Oxford lads who join an
infamous university society
which he hopes will premiere
at the toronto International
Film Festival this september.
all well and good, but does
it have a floating orgy?
well, no, says Booth.
But I did bring a prostitute to
a dinner.

stylist: seth howard. grooming: kristan serafino at exclusive artists using recipe for men.

sweater and pants by

todd snyder, shirt
by original penguin,
booths own jewelry
(worn throughout).

the freshest takes on knits, prints, and athleticwear will

ensure that you stand out on these crowded streets. photographed by jimmy fontaine. styled by allan kennedy

jacket by paul smith, tank top by louis vuitton, jeans by buffalo david bitton.
PREVIOUS SPREAD: from left: jacket and pants by paul smith, tank top by calvin klein; sweater by
burberry prorsum, jeans by buffalo david bitton, stylists own belt; jacket by marc jacobs, pants by
3.1 phillip lim.
OPPOSITE PAgE: from left: all clothing by prada, shoes by marc jacobs; all clothing by prada, shoes
by marc jacobs, sunglasses by paul smith; all clothing by prada, shoes by y-3.

from left: shirt by

paul smith; shirt
by marc jacobs,
pants by prada,
sunglasses and
tie by paul smith;
all clothing by
marc jacobs.

from left: stylists own

jacket, pants by 3.1 phillip
lim; jacket by diesel black
gold, shirt and pants by
calvin klein collection,
stylists own tie.

all clothing and accessories by marc jacobs.

grooming: song hee at art department using oribe. models: daniel at ford, chan at major, and nathan at soul.

from left: jacket

and pants by 3.1
phillip lim, shirt
by marc jacobs;
jacket by 3.1
phillip lim,
tank top by louis
vuitton, pants
by buffalo
david bitton.

i
n

g
e

d
e
IN THE BEGINNING,

s
i

TYLER, THE CREATOR

BUILT AN ODD FUTURE EMPIRE SPANNING HIP-HOP, FASHION, AND TELEVISION.

AND HE SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD.

BY JEFF WEISS.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVEN TAYLOR

BoB Dylan once DefineD success as

getting up in the morning, going to bed at night, and
doing whatever you want to do in between. A halfcentury later, Tyler, the Creator has forced an addendum
to that original philosophy: Success is having a
trampoline inside your house.
I put it in my room two weeks ago, and for the first
time it felt like I made it, says Tyler, wearing a mint
green Stray Rats shirt, black shorts, checkered Vans,
and a Golf Wang hat, and bouncing Tigger-like in the
cavernous bedroom of his Los Angeles mansion. The
walls are covered with posters of The Neptunes,
Eminem, and Madvillain. Theres also a beanbag couch
and an arcade-style mini-Ferrari cockpit made for Xbox.
DVDs of Chappelles Show and Diane Arbus photography books haphazardly line dorm-esque display racks.
The whole scene looks like a cross between Moonrise
Kingdom and Big. Who else has a trampoline in their
roomwith enough space for another trampoline?
asks Tyler, rhetorically, in mid-air.
Its been less than four years since Odd Future first
mesmerized teenagers and enraged Internet moralists
with kill people, burn shit, fuck school chants. During
that span, Tyler, the Creator transformed himself from a
teenaged enfant terrible into a multimillion-dollar brand,
boasting his own sketch show (Adult Swims Loiter
Squad), clothing lines (Odd Future and the year-old
Golf Wang, worn in these pages), Fairfax Boulevard

I told Jay Z that I had a trampolIne In my

room and hes lIke, dude, keep that Inner chIld.
youre one of the few who have It. your Inner
chIld lets honesty be your maIn outlet.
boutique, an annual carnival (complete with custom
rides and cotton candy), and an independent record
label distributed by Sony Red.
His idols, Pharrell and Eminem, are now his friends
(Odd Future is opening for the latter at Londons
Wembley Stadium in July), and Kanye West has called
the 23-year-old a mentor. His influence has become
pervasive in pop culture, from Miley Cyruss space-cat
performance at the American Music Awards to Seth
Rogen wearing a Golf Wang shirt throughout
Neighbors. Fashion trends from tie-dye to the felinecentric tees that clutter racks at Urban OutfittersTyler
sees his own influence in their ubiquity.
I was the only nigga in school writing on everything.
Now its the cool thing to draw on your shoes and be
different. I used to get so much shit for that. Its just
crazy how things change and whats considered cool
now, says Tyler, removing vinyl records from a shelf and
neatly arranging them in two columns.
The albums comprise much of his musical DNA.
Theres Pharrell, Clipse, French fusion kings Cortex,
60s psych-rockers Strawberry Alarm Clock, jazz legend
Roy Ayers, and Motown mainstay Leon Ware. His
shock-value lyrics and riot-starting arrests foment

all clothing tyler,

the creators own.

I dont want these 15-yearshIt on tumblr and beg people

go do somethIng wIth your lIfe.

outlandish headlines, but Tylers musicality and monastic devotion to craft have quietly made him one of the
most realized artists of his generation.
When asked what hes been working on, he cues up
a new beata blend of gorgeous jazz-fusion chord
changes subverted by sinister tones played over a
soundless loop of Napoleon Dynamite projected on the holding the DVD case of Napoleon Dynamite. Niggas dont do this. Look at my
wall. There are rumors of a new album due later this
home. I have a pet horse in jeans. He gestures toward a stuffed equine sportsummer. Hes also coy about a screenplay, acknowledg- ing denim on only its front legs. Thats Chancho, by the way. (A second horse,
ing its existence, but refusing to confirm specific details. a bronze statue near the entryway, has been dubbed Stan.)
Im secretive, he says, flashing a toothy grin. I like to
Tylers fun house is also inhabited by his 14-year-old sister and his mother,
just drop shit and surprise people. I could announce an
who stretches out in a pink velour sweatsuit on a downstairs couch. Theres a
album next week, and youd be like, Fuck, why didnt he tennis court in the backyard, along with a half-pipe ramp and a basketball hoop.
tell me?
Today is a Saturday, and Tylers friends, including Loiter Squad castmate Jasper
To prove his point, Tyler begins flipping through a
Dolphin and photographer Sagan Lockhart, have stopped by to skate and
notebook containing storyboards for future music
stage raucous kayak-jousting matches in the pool.
videos, commercials, and next seasons Golf Wang line
Why? Because were into doing shit, says Tyler. I dont want these 15-yearneatly drawn, colored, and fleshed outall awaiting
olds to turn into insecure people who only want to re-blog shit on Tumblr and
execution. His creative streak is instinctive and without
beg people for likes on Instagram. Go play an instrument, go hike, go joggo
filter or block. I told Jay Z that I had a trampoline in my
do something with your life.
room and hes like, Dude, keep that inner child. Youre
The irony, of course, is that the same contingent he terrifies would probably
one of the few who have it, recalls Tyler. Your inner
agree with the core of his message. He is a self-made millionaire who grew up
child lets honesty be your main outlet.
poor in South L.A. and turned a Tumblr into a small empire cutting across
There arent many artists who tout their toy collectelevision, music, commercials, and fashion. He doesnt do drugs, supports his
tions as evidence of their hip-hop cred, but Tylers adofamily, pays a mortgage, and implores young people to get off the Internet and
lescent whimsy is the connective tissue that binds him
play outside.
to his cultish following. I love my fans because I am
Im trying to tell kids, you can have all of this, says Tyler, surveying the propthose kids. This aint no rappers favorite movie, he says, erty that sweat and Odd Future socks built. Im not rich yet, but Im doing OK
and still want to get better. Kids need to know that they can do this. They can
do everything that I did better than me.

olds to turn Into Insecure people who only want to re-blog

for lIkes on Instagram. go play an Instrument, go hIke, go jog

shopping list
3.1 phillip lim see 31philliplim.com
35mm clothing see 35mmclothing.com
7 for all mankind see 7forallmankind.com
a|x armani exchange see armaniexchange.com
acne studios see mrporter.com
adidas by rick owens see barneys.com
adidas skateboarding see adidas.com
alejandro ingelmo see alejandroingelmo.com
alexander wang see alexanderwang.com
alexandre plokhov see alexandre-plokhov.com
american eagle outfitters see ae.com
a.p.c. see apc.fr
arnette eyewear see arnette.com
ash call 646.422.7098
asos see asos.com
atm anthony thomas melillo see barneys.com
balenciaga see balenciaga.com/us
bally call 212.751.9082
beams plus see mrporter.com
billy reid see billyreid.com
black sail by nautica available at
saks fifth avenue stores nationwide
born fly see karmaloop.com
bottega veneta see bottegaveneta.com
bucketfeet see bucketfeet.com
buffalo david bitton available at
lord & taylor stores nationwide
burberry prorsum see burberry.com
calvin klein collection available at
654 madison ave., nyc, 212.292.9000
cc skye see glamboutique.com
christian louboutin
see us.christianlouboutin.com
citizens of humanity see citizensofhumanity.com
coach see coach.com
common projects see thecorner.com
cos see cosstores.com

creative recreation available at

bloomingdales stores nationwide
dark seas see losermachine.com
darkoh see darkoh.net
david hart see davidhartnyc.com
denim & supply ralph lauren
see denimandsupply.com
diesel see shop.diesel.com
diesel black gold
see diesel.com/dieselblackgold/
dkny pure available at select dkny stores
dolce & gabbana see mrporter.com
etro see etro.com
gant rugger see gant.com
greg lauren see greglauren.com
guess see guess.com
hari mari see harimari.com
herms see hermes.com
herschel supply co. see herschelsupply.com
hudson jeans see hudsonjeans.com
hurley see hurley.com
hype see topman.com
isaora see isaora.com
kangol x disney see kangolstore.com
lost see swell.com
lacoste see shop.lacoste.com
lanvin see lanvin.com
levis see levi.com
levis made & crafted see levi.com
lindberg see lindberg.com
loser machine see losermachine.com
louis vuitton see louisvuitton.com
maiden noir see maidennoir.com
marc by marc jacobs see marcjacobs.com
marc jacobs call 212.343.1490
martin grant see martingrantparis.com
matix see karmaloop.com

mishka see karmaloop.com

mitchell & ness see mitchellandness.com
moncler available at
90 prince st., nyc, 646.350.3620
moscot call 866.moscots
mulberry available at
605 madison ave. #1, nyc, 212.256.0632
mykita & damir doma available at
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neff see neffheadwear.com
nike see nike.com
oakley see oakley.com
obey clothing see obeyclothing.com
off-white see rsvpgallery.com
oliver peoples west see oliverpeoples.com
onia see onia.com
original penguin see originalpenguin.com
orlebar brown see orlebarbrown.com
paige denim see trunkclub.com
patagonia see patagonia.com
paul smith available at
142 greene st., nyc, 646.613.3060
play cloths see shop.playcloths.com
prada see prada.com
public school see publicschoolnyc.com
puma see shop.puma.com
rascals available at
urban outfitters stores nationwide
saint laurent see mrporter.com
saint laurent by hedi slimane available at
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salvatore ferragamo see ferragamo.com
santoni see santonishoes.com
sanuk see sanuk.com
saturdays nyc see saturdaysnyc.com
scalise available at
108 s. robertson blvd., l.a., ca, 310.734.7831

seavees x katin see seavees.com

shades of grey by micah cohen
see machusonline.com
shipley & halmos available at
select bloomingdales stores
silver jeans co. see silverjeans.com
smythson available at
4 w. 57th st., nyc, 212.265.4573
solid & striped see solidandstriped.com
sperry top-sider see sperrytopsider.com
stssy deluxe see stussydirect.com
suit see suit.dk
thom browne available at
100 hudson st., nyc, 212.633.1197
tim coppens available at
barneys new york stores nationwide
todd snyder see toddsnyder.com
tommy hilfiger available at
tommy hilfiger stores nationwide
tomtom see tomtomjewelry.com
topman see topman.com
true religion available at
true religion stores nationwide
undefeated see undefeated.com
valentino see mrporter.com
vans see vans.com
venroy see venroy.com.au
vilebrequin see vilebrequin.com
waimea see karmaloop.com
want les essentiels de la vie available at
opening ceremony stores nationwide
wesc see wesc.com
west & main see westandmain.com
will leather goods see willleathergoods.com
woolrich john rich & bros.
see lizardloungepdx.com
y-3 see store.y-3.com

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road warrior

HitcHHiking is an art that few people who still have their

sanity, much less a bank account, actually practice in this
millennium. Leave it to John Waters, the man who has elevated
filthiness to the level of gospel in such cult films as Pink Flamingos
and Cry-Baby, to rediscover it without any irony whatsoever. He left
his home in Baltimore with a credit card, a magic marker, and
a fresh piece of cardboard that read west on rt. 70. Lucky for us,
he wrote a book about the experience called Carsick, which
affectionately recounts the cast of characters who carried him all
the way to san Francisco.

John WAterSS LAteSt CroSS-CoUntrY eSCAPADe DIDnt Go oFF

WIthoUt A hItCh. BY MIKe GUY. ILLUStrAtIon BY JULIe MUrPhY

So youre a 68-year-old gay icon

filmmaker who hitchhiked acroSS
america. what a ridiculouS idea. I didnt
realize exactly how ridiculous until the
second day when I asked myself, Am I
really doing this? When I left, it was an
abstract idea. I recommend that people
do this. I mean, I would never do it again.
But I also know now that when youre late
for something or your flight gets canceled,
hitchhiking is definitely a travel option.

that would never occur to anybody i

know. But Im old, and I hitchhiked a lot
when I was young. this was a midlife
crisis thing. Some people buy sports cars;
I hitchhiked across America.
i gueSS that SoundS like Something
you would do. no offenSe. none taken!
Im flattered youd say that. no one was
that surprised when I told them. I mean,
people tried to talk me out of it, but
no one seemed to think it was that
surprising. In the book, I say Ill write a
follow-up where I take every drug Ive
ever taken at once. A lot of publishers
have expressed interest in that. I think Ill
pass, though.
So what did you learn, on a practical
level? Well, the worst thing you can ever
get is a local ride. You never want to be
in a city. Youre looking for long riders,
the kind who will take you for hours
and hours on the interstate. never leave
the highway. I know friends who had
guns pulled, but not me. I get along with
criminals, too. But I wrote my own
death in this book. I feared the worst.
itS illegal, right? Killing? Yes.
Completely. hitchhiking isnt, though;
you just have to stay off the interstate.
Put up your sign on the on-ramp. I even
got a ride from a cop.
the allure of life on the road Seemingly
doeSnt exiSt anymore. but you Sort
of found it. theres a truck stop that I
imagine in the book, you know, with
thumbelina the stripper. there are truck
stops like that left. Ive never been to
them, but they are there, off the major
routes. theyre illegal, but theres still
something like that. the truckers who
picked me up were great gentlemen,
really. they couldnt have been nicer.
And they were straight bears. theyre
everything that the bear movement wants
to be: macho, good-looking, chubby. they
were bears; they just didnt realize it.
waS there a Sexual fantaSy that you
wanted to play out on thiS trip?
waS that part of your midlife criSiS?
everything in hitchhiking is sexual! I
collect cheesy porn books about
hitchhikers. everybody who hitchhikes or
picks up a hitchhiker is thinking about
it. But did I think I was going to have
a lot of sex? no. When I was a kid I was
looking for it. not this time.

128

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