Dash Speaks, rapper, producer, and DJ extraordinaire recently made this exclusive mix for us to get ready to. In the spirit of Retail DJ, the mix carries the proper mix of upbeat and party with mellow and pensive. It features tracks from a variety of artists and genres, and even includes a piping hot new track by Das Racist.
A note from Dash Speaks on the mix:
There’s a lot of music that I listen to that you can’t play in a club. Sometimes, before I go out or after I’m done, I listen to things that just have nothing to do with the club. You’ll hear that in my mix. It’s stuff that I get ready to. It’s not “normal” club stuff.
click to play / click the small arrow on the right to download
tracklist:
1) Matt and Kim – Daylight (Troublemaker Remix featuring De la Soul)
2) Souls of Mischief – 93 Till (Infinity)
3) Lykke Li- Let it Fall
4) Nass Marrakech- Zid el Maal
5) Uproot Andy- Brooklyn Cumbia
6) NSR- Better With You
7) RCMP- Moustache Love (Pumpkin Patch Remix)
8) The Beach Boys- God Only Knows
9) Crookers featuring Miike Snow- Remedy
10) Telephoned- Break Up
11) Cut Copy- Lights and Music (Moulinex Remix)
12) Calvin Harris- I’m not Alone (Herve Remix)
13) Fool’s Gold- Nadine (Memory Tapes Remix)
14) PRGz featuring Jackie Chain- Rollin’ (DJ Ayres Remix)
15) Red- I SHould Tell Ya Momma on You (Aems and Ben Dubstep Remix)
16) Mike Posner featuring Big Sean and Freddie Gibbs- Bring Me Down
17) Das Racist- Who’s That (Brown)
18) Lil’ Wayne- Let the Beat Build
In spite of the fact that he would be leaving for Mexico in just a week, singer/songwriter Felix Flores was kind enough to let us photograph him as he got ready his month South of the Border. As we photographed Felix packing for his trip, he continued to impart some pretty sage advice on shoes (Crocs hurt his eyes), revealed his sources of inspiration, and shared his thoughts on the future of fashion as we know it in NYC. That said, put on your favorite tracks and come with us as we Get Ready With Felix Flores!
Retail DJ: So your real suitcase—let’s talk about that! You told us a little bit about what you’re planning on taking, in a general sense, but you didn’t mention shoes. And one of the things I really like about what I notice you wearing whenever I run into you is your shoes. I’m always like, “Wow, those shoes are awesome!” You always have interesting things going on below the knees . . .
Felix Flores: Never heard that one before! [all laugh]
Retail DJ: But it’s true! I’ll see you in these cool socks with flat dress shoes, etc. So what kinds of shoes are you planning on bringing?
Felix Flores: Just a few pairs, really—a pair of flip flops for the beach and the ones I am wearing, which are by H&M.
Retail DJ: Are they really H&M? You’re lying!?!?!
Felix Flores: No, they are.
Retail DJ: Wow. I would have never guessed that they had come from there.
Felix Flores: And I am going to take this pair that my grandma got me for Christmas, a pair of black loafers. I don’t know what else, really. I don’t want to take too much stuff because I want to get things when I’m there.
Retail DJ: And now with all our lovely and fun regulations for luggage, security, and all that, it’s hard.
Felix Flores: Yeah. I was visiting a friend of mine in Florida doing recordings. I took my piano one way and no one said anything to me. But then on the way back, the woman was like, “Oh, I’m sorry. How would you like to pay for your oversized baggage?” And I said, “I’m not going to pay . . .” [all laugh] So she says, “It’s too large,” but I was like, “Well, they should have told me that when I was flying from New York.” She was insisting that I pay, but I asked for her to get the manager. “I’m sure he’ll agree with me. I am not even going to argue with you anymore,” I said. Then she just came back and dropped the subject all together.
Retail DJ: Nice. So going back to packing, do you have a specific method when you pack? Do you pack certain items first before getting to the rest?
Felix Flores: Yeah, I always pack my underwear first.
Retail DJ: Really? That’s what I pack last!
Felix Flores: I do it first –socks and underwear—that way, I don’t forget it.
Retail DJ: [laughs] I do it last because they are typically the smallest items, so you can fit them anywhere. And if you forget them, you can always buy more!
Felix Flores: You know, you’re right. I should probably do that.
Retail DJ: Yeah, but it’s important not to forget. So whatever works! So are you compulsive packer, the type who has to have everything neat or organized? Or do you just put stuff in and let it be?
Felix Flores: I roll my clothes, and I arrange things in layers. I’ll do rows [of clothes] then just stack. So it’s all the same.
Retail DJ: And do you have different clothing items separated into rows, like: pants one row, shirts another? Or is it just mixed?
Felix Flores: It’s mixed. I just go through my closet and throw stuff on the floor, and that’s what I take with me.
Retail DJ: Really!?!?!? How does that work? Have you been successful in that?
Felix Flores: Yeah. If I forget it, then I didn’t really need it. I didn’t remember it enough to care that much about it. Sometimes that’s bad though.
Retail DJ: So you have a little more of a method here, right?
Felix Flores: Oh yeah. I choose what I want first!
Retail DJ: Ok, because I was picturing you literally pulling random things out of your closet, throwing them on the ground, then putting them in your suitcase. I was thinking, “Wow, that must be fun once you get to your destination!” [all laugh] So is your trip expensive?
Felix Flores: Luckily, no. Flights to Mexico right now are pretty cheap, and we have friends down there, so we will only need to find outside accommodations for 10-12 days of the month. January, February, and March are not the best months when you do freelance work like we do, so we’d figured we’d just go down there and work in a better location. A big part of this is networking, meeting people, and expanding.
Retail DJ: How’s your Spanish?
Felix Flores: Good. Though, I mean, I haven’t used it in, like, 3 years . . .
Retail DJ: Uh oh! Does anyone else going with your speak Spanish?
Felix Flores: No, but I’ll be ok. I lived in Spain for a while and did ok.
Retail DJ: That you did. [all laugh] So I wanted to ask you a little bit about the music you listen to when you’re doing this sort of thing. Is there a type of music you listen to when you’re packing that motivates you and keeps you on task?
Felix Flores: Hmm . . . not necessarily a type. I mean, there are always artists I go back and listen to like . . . Kate Bush. I feel like the Hounds of Love album is really good . . . it’s a traveling album. It has lots of drum machine and stuff like that that makes you feel like you’re moving. Another album that helps me focus in general is Phillip Glass. He did the soundtrack for The Hours. That one just makes you concentrate on whatever you’re doing. That’s another good one to pack to. The Knife . . . I was watching the video this morning for “Pass This On.” I love that video. It’s so good. It takes place in what looks like some bumpkin town bar in Sweden. It almost kinda looks like a VWF.
Retail DJ: [laughs] We’re back to that?
Felix Flores: Aaaaand, we’ve come full circle. [all laugh]
Retail DJ: And what of your fashion inspiration? I see you have some photos of music artists up in your room—there’s a picture of Dolly Parton up in the corner over there, for example. I also see some Felix the Cat memorabilia, and God knows what else. I saw so many things. Do you have any celebrity inspiration, inspiration from family members, or is it just . . . you?
Felix Flores: Yeah, I think I am influenced by cartoon characters a lot. Felix is super awesome because he has a bag that turns into anything. It turns into a hot air balloon. He doesn’t ever have to pay for transportation. It turns into a toga. But yeah, I am sure I am influenced by tons of people, but I can’t really think of anyone in particular off the top of my head.
Retail DJ: It sounds like the inspiration is all conceptual – like how they think about fashion.
Felix Flores: Right. I guess I don’t say, “Oh, I want something like that.”
Retail DJ: Also, we touched a little bit on some things you see around the city that you don’t like (i.e. the Ugg boots, generic look), but are there any other trends that just make you cringe?
Felix Flores: The only thing that comes to mind, and I don’t know if people even wear them anymore, is Crocs.
Retail DJ: Nah, people STILL wear those!
Felix Flores: Do they? I know I saw winter Crocs that have fur lining or whatever.
Retail DJ: Yikes.
Felix Flores: That’s the worst.
Retail DJ: But on the subject of Uggs . . . I have never tried them on, but they look SOOOO comfortable. I am tempted, but then I am afraid I will give in and start wearing them for that reason alone.
Felix Flores: It’s not the look of the boot itself that I hate, it’s just the sloppiness and [sartorial] laziness I associate it with.
Retail DJ: I guess it doesn’t help that people don’t pick up their feet when they’re wearing them.
Felix Flores:YESSS!!! Also, not at all into flannel or plaid.
Retail DJ: Yeah, they definitely overdid it. I remember once, when I returned from Brazil, I walked into the Forever 21 in Union Square and saw an entire half of the store—no joke—dedicated to that flannel/plaid pattern in multiple colors.
Felix Flores: It’s like the uniform of Williamsburg.
Retail DJ: Or everywhere! It’s all over the place.
Felix Flores: There’s one exception: My So-Called Life. Of course, they could wear as much plaid as they wanted.
Retail DJ: But that was the 90s, which is where that trend belongs and needs to stay! [all laugh]
Felix Flores: I just think that everything’s a flashback. There’s very little innovation. I want to see spacesuits. I want to see futuristic stuff. I saw this Alexander McQueen show, I think it was Spring 2010, and everything was “alien.” They put prosthetics over their eyebrows and made them look like they had alien faces. Everything looks like Judy Jetson. He uses all these crazy prints on silk, but it looks stiff and involves really severe cuts.
Retail DJ: Yeah, it’s unfortunate that McQueen passed away. He was really one of the people out there trying to do something truly different. Do you ever make clothes yourself?
Felix Flores: Not really clothes. I made the costumes for the video that we shot, and will be making the costumes for the other one as well. I take stuff and alter it a lot, but clothes, no. It takes a lot of skill . . .
Retail DJ: Yeah, and it can be costly.
Felix Flores: It’s expensive. It’s often cheaper to go buy. Though I don’t buy things that often, just when I see something and I really need to have it.
Retail DJ: Do you have any favorite stores or brands? Or stores that you frequent where you find most of your stuff?
Felix Flores: No, not really. I feel like I just wander around until I find what I want. There aren’t a lot of places where I always find something. It’s usually just luck.
Retail DJ: Do you have an item you’ve assigned special meaning to? Something you cannot part with or your clothing equivalent of a child’s blankie?
Felix Flores: I don’t think I do, honestly. I do have attachment to some clothing, but I am also the type that whenever I buy something, I throw something away. I don’t keep clothing for very long. I guess it’s ephemeral to me. I think everything has its place in time. There’s no point in my holding onto something if I lose it because it’s meant to be lost.
For example, whenever I buy a new pair of shoes, I always leave a pair somewhere else. I don’t want to have too much of anything.
To view the entire Get Ready With Felix Flores photoshoot, click here.
EZRAKH has made Retail DJ an awesome mix for all the readers to get ready to! With a tracklist that includes a wide range of artists–from Todd Edwards and Kanye West to Fela Kuti and Jamiroquai–almost any and everyone is bound to love it.
A note from EZRAKH:
I was listening to the mix all the way through, and I realized it has a pretty positive feel to it. It’s uplifting. Hopefully people get that from it. It has a real soulful feel. It’s one of those mixes you’d play in the morning when you’re getting up, about to go to work, or before you go out.
Jamiroquai-”Canned Heat (MAW Dubapella)”/Farley Jackmaster Funk-”Dub Your Body Intro”
Osunlade-”My Reflection”
Kanye West-”Addiction (Kenny Dope & Terry Hunter Remix)
Ben Watt Ft. Estelle-”Pop A Cap In Your Ass
Michelle Weeks-”A Purpose (1200 Warriors Vocal Mix)”
MD Xpress-”God Made Me Phunky”
Todd Edwards-”Winter Behavior’
Omar-”It’s So’
Crazy Cousinz-”Bongo Jam”
Trackheadz-”Feel”
Fela Kuti-”Viva Nigeria”
——-
Acknowledgements:
A special thanks goes out to EZRAKH for being kind of enough to work with us. His talent will certainly get him recognized, but his general demeanor and love for life will get him everywhere.
Thanks to Amy and Lilibeth for alerting me to EZRAKH’s work!
Thanks, as always, to Kristal Munoz, amazing Retail DJ photographer, for her talent at working a flash and a lens.
Despite his ever-evolving and multi-layered musical tastes and talents, at the end of the day, EZRAKH likes to define himself as “simple” and “classic” when it comes to style. A big fan of Uniqlo, EZRAKH’s main concerns are comfort and fit. Yet within this aesthetic, style is not lost. With touches of color, hints of texture, and the inclusion of accessories chock full of sentimental value and backstories, you could say that EZRAKH’s style can get as deep as his music does. With that said, come with us for a moment as we Get Ready With EZRAKH:
BEFORE
Retail DJ: What makes your “comfy jeans” so comfy? Are they worn in or were they like that already?
EZRAKH: They are worn in but comfortable when I bought them. They are selvedge, from Uniqlo. Uniqlo is like my favorite brand as of now. I like more fitted clothing. These definitely fit me pretty well. They’re worn in, as you can see. I had to patch the whole underside of them. I guess also because the denim is a little more worn, it makes them feel less stiff.
EZRAKH showing us the underside of the shirt
Retail DJ: Where is your shirt from? EZRAKH: This is actually an old Abercrombie & Fitch shirt. That’s where I worked when I worked in retail. But it fits so well, but I don’t like that print on it.
Retail DJ: Oh so that’s why you wear it on the wrong side?
EZRAKH: Yeah, the other side says “Baghdad Ass Up”
Retail DJ: Ah no wonder you wear it in reverse! I was wondering about that. Can you show us the print? [demonstrates] Why would they ever make a shirt like that!??! Were you there during the Asian shirts controversy? EZRAKH: I was there toward the end of it. I was in high school. That was like my first real job. And I remember being like, “Whoa, Abercrombie!” That was the cool thing then. They always used to give us free clothes. But yeah, even this shirt is pretty offensive. It was right around the time of the war—right after shock and awe in Iraq. And then they put this shirt out. It’s like ok, it sounds like “back dat ass up,” but using Baghdad, especially at this time—it was pretty offensive.
Retail DJ: Your pants are form Uniqlo. Your belt is from. . . ? do you remember?
EZRAKH: No, some random store.
Retail DJ: Where is your jacket from?
EZRAKH: This one I found at Urban Outfitters a couple years ago. Retail DJ: I like the yellow lining. It’s a nice touch.
EZRAKH: Yeah, it’s a good accent on it right? Retail DJ: And your scarf is from?
EZRAKH: Uniqlo. I love Uniqlo. It’s a really good store. I wasn’t messing around!
Retail DJ: Buttons!
EZRAKH: Yeah, my students like it too. I actually got it from one of my students, come to think about it. Retail DJ: That’s awesome
Retail DJ: Is there anything you have to have on accessory-wise? For example, do you always wear this watch?
EZRAKH: Yeah, I got it this summer. I was like, “I want to start getting serious about things.” I mean, yeah, obviously I was doing music before then and other jobs and whatever, but I never really had a watch—with the exception of when I was a kid. But back then, you know, watches—you’d lose them, break them, whatever. But I realized, “Ok, I need to get a serious watch, and keep the exact time on it.” I wanted to be more prudent when it came to getting to places I needed to be, especially given the fact that I am DJing and I have to travel to different places to DJ, etc. People are paying me, and if I want to get paid again or paid the full amount, or just, in general, to provide a good service, the least I can do is get there on time.
I find myself looking at it a lot for no reason. For example, someone might ask, “What’s the date?” and I end up looking at my watch to answer, even though that’s not on there. [laughs] Even when asked about dates of future events etc, I’ll look at it. For some reason, I guess I just associate time (in general) with my watch now. That’s a good thing. It makes me feel mature, and it’s a good accessory to have.
Retail DJ: The shoes?
EZRAKH: They are Clarks. I have flat feet unfortunately, it sucks. But these are comfortable, and I put these Dr. Scholl’s insoles in to make them even more so. Retail DJ: When you’re performing, do you wear those shoes as well, or do you wear something different considering you know you will be on your feet for long periods of time?
EZRAKH: These are probably the most comfortable to wear when I’m DJing. I like Vans a lot too. It’s like, my favorite shoe. I like Vans and Clarks for their simplicity. But I am generally a pretty simple dude when it comes to physical stuff.
outfit 1
Retail DJ: Is that a word you would use to describe your style in general: Simple?
EZRAKH: I guess “Classic’ would be the best word. I mean you have these trends that come through, like Hammer pants and now there’s a big streetwear revival. I feel like jeans and a t-shirt or jeans and an Oxford [shirt] if it’s an occasion.. . or even chinos, khaki pants. Retail DJ: They never go out of style.
EZRAKH: Yeah, exactly. Those are classic pieces. You can find people, at least in western countries, all around the world, wearing those styles. It’s just the most comfortable. You don’t have to worry about wasting your money. Sometimes, it’s cool to be trendy. Take my glasses for example. At the time I bought them, I honestly needed glasses. Call them a trend if you will, but I think they fit my face, I know I didn’t want wire frames. I wanted something strong and durable. I bought them for next to nothing at the optometrist. Given the fact that they’re not necessarily the “in style” glasses for everyone, they were cheap, so I tried them on. I tried on several types, not just the wayfarer styles, but I wanted something that felt like it had some weight durability wise. I didn’t want something that would break easily. You obviously see people out there—no offense to people with small heads—with smaller facial structures wearing these big wide glasses that don’t fit too well (and you can even get variations on that style that fit their faces better).
EZRAKH:But like I said—stick to classic stuff and add things like colors. I like grays a lot. Grays, reds, purple, and once in a while, orange. This winter, I’ve been wearing this orange jacket that I love. Retail DJ: Is that your favorite color right now?
EZRAKH: Well, it’s my favorite color jacket to wear right now [laughs] It’s reversible too! I bought it from Uniqlo! Retail DJ: You are going to get a kickback from them for this interview! [laughs]
Retail DJ: So to go back, you mentioned you like purple. When I heard that, I immediately started playing “We All Wanna Be Prince” by Felix da Housecat in my head!
outfit 2
Retail DJ: Are you influenced by any artists style-wise? EZRAKH: Consciously, I don’t think so. I don’t go so far as to wear Sgt. Pepper outfits and 4-inch heels like Prince. I mean, you see people like Kanye West. He’ll sometimes randomly go on this outlandish kick and put on something that makes you go, “Whoa, that’s wild.” But generally, when he tones it down a little, you could maybe compare it to that. But like I said, I don’t really think so. It’s more about “Can I wear that?” and “Would it look good one me” rather than, “Hey, I wanna get that because it looks so awesome . . . on him.” You know? Retail DJ: [laughs] Like, “Am I Kanye West?” [laughs] Retail DJ: Quote of the day! [laughs]
Retail DJ: So back to fashion trends. . . did you fall into any bad ones?
EZRAKH: Abercrombie & Fitch. But it’s because I worked there. I feel like that was a bad fashion trend . . . yeah, that was bad! Retail DJ: Well was everything you wore from Abercrombie? Is that how bad it was?
EZRAKH: Yeah. I worked there. It was my first job. I’d get 40% off everything. Randomly, they’d give out pairs of jeans, new stuff that was coming out, etc. They’d give it to the workers because they have this idea of brand representation—which a lot of stores too—but theirs is hardline. Even in the 5th avenue store—my girlfriend used to work there—they pick out your outfit there. You’d have to go in 30 minutes before work and they would dress you, which I guess is cool, but like…what? I thought I just wanted to fold clothes and get some money. I didn’t know I was gonna have to do all that and wear a uniform. Retail DJ: Well even for guys, aren’t they usually shirtless and in a pair of pants? I mean sometimes you walk by, and it’s like, “Where is your shirt? Where are your clothes? Do you sell clothes?” [laughs]
EZRAKH: Yeah, I know, right?! I feel like they sell more of an idea to people, an idea that you can be like the people you see on the advertising. And sure, a lot of companies do that, but they are more hardcore about it. It’s practically porno.
Retail DJ: Well I see you use Scope. Are there certain brand favorites?
EZRAKH: I was raised in a vegan household, eating all natural stuff, no chemicals. The only thing we’d use for mouthwash was this hydrogen peroxide mouthwash. That’s the safest for you apparently because there are tons of other stuff in that. [pointing to the Scope] I actually bought that when I was on my way to Chicago.
Retail DJ: Do you get really hot when you play?
EZRAKH: Yeah, that’s the thing. I wouldn’t wear a button-up in the summer. It would be something light like a t-shirt. Even in the winter, indoor places, unless it’s a special occasion, I don’t really favor dressing up too much. It’s a good look, though, if I am going to a show or out to dinner, but only for special occasions.
Retail DJ: Who taught you how to tie a tie?
EZRAKH: Honestly? I taught myself. I know that sounds sooo bullsh*t. But considering I am in a single-parent home, and my single parent is a mother. . . There were tied ties in a drawer from my brother when he had gone off to school, and I was like, “Whoa, I need to stop with these clip-ons.” I saw the ties and I would take them apart and try to tie them on my own. I finally mastered it. The process was messy. But I remember one weekend, I went to go see my dad, and he cleared it up for me. [laughs]
Retail DJ: What kind of knot do you typically use? EZRAKH: Windsor not. Half Windsor, depending on the length of the tie (like if it’s a short tie, I’ll use a half-Windsor).
Retail DJ: If we had to stock your green room, what would we put in it?
EZRAKH: Mine would be dark chocolate—68%. I love chocolate, but I really like dark chocolate. It’s amazing. It’s really good and good for you. It has tons of antioxidants, it’s calming, etc. I would also want Guinness . . . and Trader Joe’s kettle corn.
EZRAKH wearing the hat while DJing
Retail DJ: What about music performance essentials for you? Any items you always need, clothing or otherwise? EZRAKH: I usually wear this gray hat a lot. I wear it everywhere—when I am DJing, when I’m not. It’s more of a winter thing. Retail DJ: Is it lucky or anything, or just a habit?
EZRAKH: I like the look of it. I feel like when i wear it with the peacoat especially, I feel very official . . . and naval. Like, I’m down at the docks! [laughs] I’m just kidding! I think it fits me. If something works for me, I’m not going to change it.
To see the entire Get Ready With EZRAKH photoshoot, check out the slideshow by clicking HERE
Here’s a sneak peek at the amazingly talented artist that is Ezrakh, aka Ezra Herbert. We met up with him last week on a super cold day and left with warmth in our hearts from the hope that good music and skill are both still actually in existence. Ezrakh is a reminder that they actually are thriving. Here’s Ezrakh giving us a live demo of his work:
Tracks in this video: Mr. Fingers- “Mystery Of Love” 2. Michael Jackson-”Liberian Girl (Funky Remix)” 3. Mujava-”Township Funk”(I ended the video right as Ezrakh was adding that one in)
DJ Lady Lane was kind enough to make an exclusive mix for us here at Retail DJ! Her “Get Dressed to This” Mix fuses tracks that go from grown and sexy to young and silly, chill to dance, and overall really encompasses the ideal vibe for getting ready for the weekend by way of music.
Retail DJ Presents . . . DJ Lady Lane’s Get Ready With DJ Lady Lane – The Mix
“Boop Boop” Betty Boop
“Jumping Jack” Tune-Yards
“Chemical Edu K-tion” (Croookers Remix Mashup w/ DJ Lady Lane)
INCLUDES:
["The Salmon Dance (Crookers Remix)" The Chemical Brothers, "Dr Love (Remix)"-Crookers &
"Gatas Gatas Gatas" Edu K ft. Crookers]
“Zap Zap” Cut Copy
“Jungle Fever” Chakachas
“Smooth Criminal (Bugz In The Attic Vocal Remix)” J.Viewz
“Crawl All Over” J*DaVeY
“Funky Shit” The Prodigy
“Doo Doo Brown feat. Luke” 2 Live Crew
“Up In The Club” Swizz Beatz ft Lil’ Wayne
“Show Me What You Go”t Jay-Z
“Nasty Boy Remix” Notorious B.I.G.
“Hold the Line (DJ Lady Lane Extra Booty ReFix)” Major Lazer
“Une Bande De Mecs Sympas” TTC
“Harder Better Stronger Faster (Neptunes Remix)” Daft Punk
“Nightlite feat. Bajka” Bonobo
Also, check out DJ Lady Lane’s pod-O-matic page, which includes a slew of other awesome mixes!
- – - -
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to . . .
Rena Anakwe, aka DJ Lady Lane, for being so gracious in sharing so much of yourself with us and being so energetic in all of our group endeavors . . .
and
Kristal Munoz, for yet another awesome set of photos and GRW question contributions
Remember DJ Lady Lane, whom we interviewed back in January? We were lucky enough to get ahold of her again to watch her get ready. Though in the process of moving out of the country (!), DJ Lady Lane was chill enough to let us come over amid suitcases to watch a Jersey Shore marathon on mute, listen to some music, and ultimately invade her space entirely to take some pics of her getting purty.
Her style fits her personality quite well–an eclectic yet easy blend of glamour and grunge. Her outfits are Saks Fifth Avenue meets American Apparel, Betsey Johnson meets thrift store. So take a moment with us to check out what we did a few weekends ago in Brooklyn as we Get Ready With DJ Lady Lane!
BEFORE
Retail DJ: Why are you into makeup now more so than before? DJ Lady Lane: Now [makeup is] easier because I know how to do it. Before, it used to be so tedious. I used to not care about it as much, but then once I put on makeup, I realized that it looked nice, and I thought, “Why not do it?” So I don’t think there’s any problem with putting a little bit on. I like something really natural that’s fast and easy. My whole concern is that if it takes too much time out of my daily schedule, then it’s not worth it. My makeup routine really doesn’t take that long. I feel like it takes longer to fix myself up without makeup because then I spend so much time trying to overcompensate for some other dumb sh*t.
Whenever I’d go out to a party, I’d always put on mascara. My favorite mascara—my secret weapon—is one I have by Christian Dior. Typically, I don’t like spending a lot on makeup products, but then it seems like all of it starts costing the same—it doesn’t really matter what brand, especially if you’re getting something of quality. I used to just use Maybelline (you know, the pink tube), but then my mom gave me this, and I really liked it.
Retail DJ: What other makeup lines do you typically use?
DJ Lady Lane: I really like Smashbox foundation because it’s really easy and it’s not cakey. It’s also good for cover-up. I was given some Laura Mercier concealer as a gift from a friend Alex who used to be a makeup artist. It’s really great, especially for under-eye circles. Sometimes, I’ll have a late night, and I don’t want to wake up looking like I’ve been fighting people [laughs]. I like Nars for blush and eyeshadow. Alex gave me some really good Nars eyeliner too. I used to put it on with the pencil, but then I switched to applying it with a brush because I got tired of stabbing myself in the eye! I typically only put eyeliner on my bottom lid, like if I am going out at night.
Retail DJ: Your eyes are great for eye makeup because they are a bit bigger, so you can have more range, more fun with what you do to the lid, etc. DJ Lady Lane: Yeah, when I was younger, I used to kind of mess around with eye makeup but never really took it seriously, but now it’s fun because I have real brushes that don’t have fibers that fall out in your face! [laughs].
Retail DJ: Do you have brush preferences too? DJ Lady Lane: Yeah, I really like the brushes by EcoTools. They don’t cost too much, and they are made of bamboo and earth-friendly. I think I got them at Duane Reade. They come in a carrying case. One day, I saw them and I just thought, “Let me try these,” and they worked out really well.
Retail DJ: Is there anything that’s a must have in your makeup kit? Something you cannot live without?
DJ Lady Lane: There’s this really cool lipgloss that I have that has a little bit of color, but some menthol too, so it serves as a balm. It’s very light. I don’t like wearing lipstick. I also have a water-based blush I love by Alison Raffaele called “Inner Glow.” I really like samples too, because it makes it easy for you to mix and match products, colors, etc.
Retail DJ: What colors work best for you?
DJ Lady Lane: Actually, almost anything works. Before I used to be big into color on my face. I am not in earth tones; I’m just noooooot. I’m sorry [laughs]. People always try to put earth tones on me, and I’m like, “I really don’t think that’s for me.” I am still into colors, but in terms of eye shadow and stuff, I just need a light tint. I don’t like looking like I put on a whole bunch of sh*t.
Retail DJ: Do you think the colors you use are reflected in the music you play?
DJ Lady Lane: Yeah! There’s a subtlety, but it’s like a morphing thing. It’ll be like, “Oh, that’s my song, then ‘BAM!’ you don’t know what that was!” [laughs] it’s like, “Oh there’s a little pink in there!” Retail DJ: The artists or the color? [laughs]
DJ Lady Lane: It’s a bit like a patchwork quilt. That’s how my music is sometimes. It all fits together, though. There’s a continuing line that goes through the story that I tell each time I spin, but those little underlying subtleties are always nice little surprises. I like to shake it up a little bit with the random songs.
Retail DJ: What do you think differs between the makeup routines you had when you were doing more modeling vs. now that you do your own makeup?
DJ Lady Lane: For photoshoots, the amount of makeup that is put on you is a lot more. They cake on the makeup—they put on a face for you, even though they say that the end result is going to be really natural (which is how it appears in the photos). It’s the makeup artist’s interpretation of you. They are dressing your face based on how they think you should look. And some of them get it, some of them do not. But I like doing things myself.
Retail DJ: How long does your makeup/hair routine typically take when you’re ready for personal vs. DJ outings?
DJ Lady Lane: I usually give myself an hour for both. With DJ gigs, I usually have something already set out to wear. The makeup tends to be a little different—i.e. if the event takes place at night, I do a little more with my eyes. I like to pick out a couple things beforehand. I don’t really like bumming it anymore. I did too much of that in undergrad, and now I just think, “eh, I can do that in the house.”
The biggest thing for me now is accessories. [pointing to earrings] These look like clip-ons, but I can’t wear them. They really hurt my ears after a while. I have a problem though – I like buying books, earrings, and sneakers. When I went to Nigeria, I bought a ton of stuff from there!
Retail DJ: I know that you said when you went to California, you had to make quite a shift appearance-wise (i.e. in terms of hairstyles, etc). How did that move affect your clothing style, if at all? DJ Lady Lane: At that point, I realized there was a lot of crap in my closet. I had a ton of ragtag pieces, and I wanted more quality pieces and less quantity. Bloomingdales is trying to make me poor—they keep having sales and putting that info in my inbox, so I’m tempted to buy sh*t (and I do)! [laughs] I also wasn’t really into heels for a while because THEY HURT and I am partial to flats. But I found heels that DON’T hurt, that are high, and that I can walk in. There’s a good pair of Miss Sixty shoes that I found. I still do thrifting here and there, but I realized that so I switched to more of a focus on quality.
Retail DJ: So can you tell us a little bit about what you’re wearing? DJ Lady Lane: This is a dress I bought recently from Bloomingdale’s online, which is sometimes risky because you don’t know how it’s going to fit. It’s made by Aqua. I thought it would be great for a party or something. Another thing I really like about it is that it has pockets. When I first bought it, I realized it was a little big, but fortunately it came with a little belt. But I would have moments where I would be like, “Um, is my dress still on? Because it’s kind of breezy all of a sudden.” [laughs] I wore it once in Vancouver with some snakeskin high-waisted tights from American Apparel.
[Pointing at leggings] Sometimes I run around the city in these, even though I KNOW leggings are not pants. Retail DJ: So the choice to wear leggings with a more formal dress. . . how does that work out? DJ Lady Lane: It’s honestly more for the cold. Usually, I would wear stirrup tights, but not the baggy old school ones, but the tights so that they STAY ON! The only reason I wear them is because they are comfortable! I have slim hips, so it’s hard for the tights to stay on and the stirrup part helps.
In terms of the boots…sometimes I make inappropriate clothing choices, but they’re comfortable. I call these my “homeless boots.” My mom hates them and threatens to throw them out! I bought these for like $20. They are by Palladium. I haven’t worn something like this in a while, but I don’t have my real going out shoes with me right now. Typically I’d wear this with my favorite Miss Sixty shoes I mentioned earlier.
Retail DJ: When you’re getting ready, is there a specific type of music you prefer?
DJ Lady Lane: It depends on my mood. I used to like getting ready to “Marina Gasolina” [by Bonde do Role]! It would put me in party mode. But then, when you go out, it’s like no one plays that song!
I also used to like getting ready to “Good Life” [by Inner City ]. But again, it depends on my mood.
For a while, I couldn’t get “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath out of my head! That has a sick beat to it, though! [laughs] The composition to that song is amazing. Black Sabbath is awesome.
Retail DJ: Typically, when you are getting ready, do you have any weird idiosyncrasies?
DJ Lady Lane: I have a perfume ritual! I was told it’s a little strange, especially by my friends. I have a tendency to spray…you know! I think you need to spray all the “good parts”! I spray everywhere!
Crotch spray! [all laugh] My favorite is Bulgari. I love the smell of it. Sometimes in the summer, I get in a Betsey Johnson mood. I go by seasons, because I feel like you change every season.
This bag is by Michael Kors (a gift from my mom. I love my mom!). This works with the outfit because I don’t do mixed metals! Gold with gold. With pearls, you can get away with stuff, but not metals.
Retail DJ: What about when you’re dancing? What’s important?
DJ Lady Lane: If the music is really good, I forget what shoes I have on and then afterwards, I’m like, “Oh, I can’t feel my legs!” I can dance in anything, but comfortable shoes are important for the long haul! When I go out (because I don’t get a chance to go out that much), I GO OUT! But I like to comfortable. I don’t like going to frou frou places where it’s all about appearance. I feel like I have more fun where everybody’s more comfortable with themselves.
Retail DJ: Do you have anyspecific source of inspiration?
DJ Lady Lane: I am just a non-conformist. Don’t tell me what’s in and tell me what I’m supposed to be wearing based on what they say on, like, Good Morning America. I say dress comfortably. I just like to be myself. I say avoid trends and focus on quality not quantity. I just pick whatever I want. Whatever makes me feel good and gives off good energy, then that’s cool. Clothes sometimes find you in a way. . .
NSR was nice enough to make an exclusive mix for Retail DJ to share with all of you. May this help you get your weekend started right.
A note from NSR:
This mix was uber fun to make. I chose artists that have been influential in my life and mixed them with some of my current favs, with the loose theme of going out/getting ready.
Retail DJ Presents. . .Get Ready With NSR – The Mix (click to play/DL)
Good Clothes- Little Brother
Change Clothes- Jay- Z
100% Dundee- The Roots
I Want You- Common
Ivy League (Circus Remix)- Gordon Voidwell
Seaweed (Turbz Edit)- Passion Pit
My Cool- Adam Tensta
Better With You- NSR
Better With You (Turbz LES Friday Night Mix)- NSR
Say Goodbye To Love- Kenna
Humdrum Town- Theophilus London
A Cause Des Garcons- Yelle
Rich Girl (The Twelves Remix)- The Virgins
Ready For The Weekend- Calvin Harris
—-
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to . . .
NSR: for being awesome and working with us at Retail DJ! It was a pleasure!
Ben Molinari: for being chill and helping us with both the interview and the photoshoot!
Gallery Bar/Darin Rubell: for letting us take over the bar for an afternoon!
Alex Herman: for connecting Retail DJ to NSR!
Kristal Munoz: as always, for amazing photos, creative direction, and GRW? interview questions!
After reading the What’s Good? Interviews (Part One) (Part Two) with NSR, you may have thought we’d have run out of questions. You thought wrong.
We spent some more time with NSR and were joined by his friend and manager Ben Molinari for a hilarious session of shooting the bull about our other half: fashion. We invite you to sit back, relax, and check out the serious sartorial knowledge being dropped as we Get Ready With NSR!
Noah Souder-Russo aka NSR
Retail DJ: Noah, tell us about your outfit and where everything came from.
NSR: Nike Vintage Vandal Highs in red. I got them from Nike, when I used to have the hookup – which I still do, actually. Shout out to Nike! Levi 511 khakis. John Varvatos cardigan. And the only brand of t-shirt that I wear: BDG, purchased at Urban Outfitters. It’s the most comfortable, best fitting t-shirt ever!
Ben: Don’t get the tri-blend!
NSR: Right. Don’t get those. They shrink!
NSR: Oh and the scarf I bought in Istanbul. Retail DJ: Cool. Is it a street buy?
NSR: Yeah, it’s a street buy from the Grand Bazaar. Retail DJ: Did you buy this during your Self-Discovery Tour?
NSR: Yeah [laughs]
Ben Molinari
Retail DJ: Ben, can you tell us a little about your outfit?
Ben: This jacket is from Zara when Zara was cool like 3 years ago, before they made everything all shiny and weird.
NSR: Yeah, Zara has gone way downhill.
Ben: The hooodie is American Apparel. Jeans are Levi’s 511s. Shoes are from Banana Republic, like 3 years ago. Pocket square is Ralph Lauren. Watch is a Breitling. I think that’s all I’m wearing. Oh, underwear is Calvin Klein.
Retail DJ: Are you wearing socks? Ben: [laughs] I mean, they are completely different, both of them. So the left one is Adidas, the right one is some sort of other…I’m not even trying. Socks to me are kind of an afterthought, like, “I actually have to wear these?”
After a long night at Gallery Bar...
Retail DJ: Do you have a routine to get ready? NSR: No. What I tend to do is pick out outfits that I probably won’t wear and try things on. Then I always resort back to the same sh*t. For example, I’ll have new things I wanna wear, and I’ll want to put together, but then I just resort back to what’s comfortable.
BEFORE
Retail DJ: That’s what you did today too, right?
NSR: That’s exactly what I do, every single day of my life. I should just face the fact that I’m gonna wear a t-shirt every day of my life. BUT. . . it’s about how you accessorize the t-shirt. [Ben is] totally different! There’s also a difference between wearing a size 14 shoe, being 6’2”, and being a slender good looking dude like this one [points to Ben] – a nice, slender, Italian male. [laughs]
I think the most important thing about fashion is, regardless of labels and anything else, wearing things that fit your body type and that look good on you. I think, ultimately, that’s what it’s about.
Retail DJ: So for you, is comfort above style?
NSR: Yeah. I think if you’re comfortable and you’re confident in what you’re wearing, that will show. I feel that if you’re 300 lbs, maybe you shouldn’t wear skinny jeans. It is what it is. But then again, if you’re 125 lbs soaking wet, why are you wearing XXL t-shirts? You can fit into nice clothes that work for your body type. Also, I find that certain colors accentuate features.
Retail DJ: Is that one of your major fashion faux-pas—when people don’t wear clothes that best suit their bodies?
NSR: I think that’s what bothers me the most, aside from the issue of brands. I do have specific brands and trends that I hate, like graphic tees.
Ben: Yeah, overall, graphic tees just never should have been invented.
NSR: I like colors that pop. You can wear some nice muted colors, then couple that with accessories –whether it’s sneakers, scarves, etc. I think that’s dope. Though, too much color I think is horrible. I think overly matching is also really bad. You know, you’ve gotta keep it in the same palette. [all laugh]
Ben: I don’t even know colors exist. [all laugh].
Retail DJ: So now a serious question: Do you watch Jersey Shore?
NSR: Oh yeah, but I didn’t see the last episode. Did you, Ben?
Ben: Yeah, I did. And you want a secret confession?
NSR: What, you watched it twice? Retail DJ: You dated Snooks?
Ben: [laughs] I did not date Snooks. . . Retail DJ: JWoww?
Ben: [laughs] Nah. But I am actually FROM the Jersey Shore Retail DJ: Awesome!
Ben: Born and raised. The northern most part, though. Retail DJ: Riiiight. The city limits!
Ben: Yeah, the part where people actually LIVE! Though as you can see, it didn’t reflect on my graphic tee game [all laugh]
Retail DJ: So as you know, they have the GTL lifestyle: Gym, Tanning, and Laundry
NSR: Hell yeah! Retail DJ: What’s your slogan? What’s your GTL? NSR: Oh my God! [laughs] My GTL is GIP. Retail DJ: Which is…? NSR: Get It Poppin’! [all laugh] It works with everything! If you’re gonna do something, you’ve gotta get it poppin’—whether it’s going out, what you’re wearing—just go hard. Go hard or go home.
Retail DJ: Put that on a shirt!
NSR: Yeah, GIP!
Ben: I concur. [laughs]
NSR: That food he just ate? Get it poppin’!
Ben: Yeah. I attacked that. [all laugh]
AFTER
Retail DJ: Do you have any products that you really really like or that you’re completely reliant upon before you go out? NSR: Deodorant. Deodorant and Q-tips. Listerine.
Retail DJ: Any hair products or stuff you bring with you when you’re going to do a show? Anything that’s essential? NSR: This is essential. This is all-day—the original Chapstick. I literally can’t go a day without it, especially in the wintertime. Are you serious? Apply and re-apply.
Ben: Do you wear facial cream?
NSR: Nah. [laughs] Oh I know what else—hand lotion! Definitely. Hand lotion is big. Retail DJ: Any preferred brand? NSR: I like Jergens. Retail DJ: Get it poppin’ with Jergens! [all laugh]
NSR: That has a whole different connotation![laughs]
Retail DJ is a site about incorporating you into the infinite pairing of music and fashion. A love story for the ears and eyes, Retail DJ profiles mixes that can serve as the soundtrack to your life, introduces you to DJs and designers you should know, and lets you peek into the closets of the unique and talented.
Retail DJ: Who taught you how to tie a tie?
Retail DJ: What kind of knot do you typically use?
