A LupEND Blog Interview with Va$htie [Part1]

(Photo courtesy of 13thwitness)

I guess some of you might follow me on Twitter...if so...you probably knew about this already...if not...SURPRISE!!! I just recently had the chance to do an interview with the one and only Va$htie...this right here is the first part of the interview and I hope you enjoy it!


TheLupENDBlog: Hey Vashtie, what's up? Can you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself, just in case they don't know who you are...

Vashtie: Hey there! Sure... I'm an artist. I direct music videos, design my own clothing line, throw parties and creative consult for other companies.


LEB: So, you're a director, a designer and a party promoter...how do you manage to do all these things, you must be really busy, aren't you?

Vashtie: I like to make things...so, I've accrued a lot of creative titles. It always sounds overwhelming, but it’s been the same since I was kid - always drawing on something or making clothes. Now, I just get paid for it. It definitely keeps me busy. I'm still learning how to balance all my projects, but I still find time to chill and hang out with friends.


LEB: Are there people who inspired you to do what you do, like other directors, designers, actors or just regular people. If so, who are they and how did they inspire you?

Vashtie: There are so many...

Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Egon Schiele, Basquiat, John Hughes, Spike Lee, Bernardo Bertolucci, Akira Kurosawa, Quentin Tarantino, Diane Martel, Anthony Mandler, Bjork... All of my art teachers, Bruce Kaplan from the Tattoo shop, my brother and sister.

They all inspired me to be no one else but me. To create my own lane and be true to who I am.

LEB: Let's talk a little bit about Vashtie the director. You directed music videos for Solange, Kid Cudi, Justin Bieber, Good Charlotte etc...and you just recently shot a commercial for Pepsi which featured Will.I.Am & some other artists.

When someone asks you to direct a video...how is the creative process behind it? Do you get a concept from them or can you come up with one yourself? How does it work?

Vashtie: Well, it depends. Usually I'm asked to write, and it can be a blank canvas. Sometimes there are points they want me to address or rarely they have their own concept that I expand on. It’s always a collaborative effort either way.

Music is sent to me by my rep or directly from the artist themselves. I listen to the music and think about what the song or artist is saying and how I can creatively project them. If there are ideas or themes they want to incorporate, I try and accommodate that. It’s art, but its also advertising. You want the audience to embrace the artist in a cool and appealing way.


LEB: How did it feel when Pepsi asked you to work for them? That must have been really exciting for you, wasn't it? (You can check the commercial that she directed right HERE)

Vashtie: Goodness! It was like "NO EFFING WAY". I grew up drinking Pepsi. I mean, it was never "soda" it was PEPSI, like it's not "sneakers" it’s NIKE. It’s more than a brand, it’s a staple. I was (and still am) in shock to have such an iconic brand ask me to direct a commercial.

Not only that, the company was so open to my thoughts and ideas. The whole process was so collaborative. All of their ideas were brought to me, and I was asked "what do you think?". In my mind I'm going, "ugh, your Pepsi. Are you serious?" Ha. Seriously, they listened to all my ideas.

It was my first commercial, so I was stoked. The agency asked me to write on it, and I did. There were other great directors up for the gig, but PEPSI said "we want this Vashtie guy." Ha, I love that. I think I would land more jobs if people thought I was really a guy!

LEB: You also did a video for the CRS track "Us Placers" (which is awesome by the way). Now, unfortunately there never came more music out of this project (besides the Everyone Nose Remix). Do you think that we'll ever get to hear more CRS music?

Vashtie: It might be my favorite video I ever directed. I was so moved by the Thom Yorke sample and the verses by all the boys (Lupe, Kanye and Pharrell) that I HAD to make that video. Not sure what they are doing, but I hope they are cooking up some tracks...I know we all would appreciate it (right?).


LEB: Definitely...alright, so... 'cause this is an interview for a Lupe Fiasco (fan) blog, I have to ask you about it. How long do you already know Lupe and when did you guys meet for the first time?

Vashtie: That's a good question. We've had mutual friends before we met, and I always remember those people saying we NEEDED to meet because we shared a lot of the same interests.

I remember working at DEF JAM and seeing him around, but I think we met officially backstage at a show in Las Vegas. At that point, it was like we already knew each other for years. We really got along like old chaps. He's very laid back and cool, not to mention SUPER FUNNY.

LEB: You're also a party promoter and you're very well known in the party scene in New York. For how long have you been doing those parties at Santos?

Vashtie: Parties I've been doing for like 4 or 5 years now. I prefer the term "Party Producer.” The term "Party Promoter" has a different connotation; it's someone who usually works at a lot of events and clubs.

For me, it just started out of fun, and I only do parties for fun with friends. New York City is all about hustle and juggling many acts, to pay the bills and also to contribute. I like being able to give back to a scene that inspires me.


LEB: Can you tell us a couple of your favorite spots in New York, like, some places where you can find great art, music, food and stuff like that?

Vashtie:

- Great ART, can be found on the streets. From graffiti to murals, it’s like an urban art gallery.
- Great MUSIC, can be found on Friday nights at Santos with music by Q-TIP
(a favorite spot of Lupe's).
- Great FOOD, can be found at FRANKS on 2nd Ave and 5th Street or SCHILLERS on Rivington and Suffolk.


-I want to thank Vashtie for taking the time to do this...I really appreciate it! and yeah, that's it for the first part of the interview...in the 2nd part, which will be up on here within' the next few days, you'll be able to find out more about Vashtie and her fashion label Violette. She also told me how she got to know Cudi, what kind of music she's into, her thoughts about bloggin' and more!

So...until then, make sure to check Va$htie's Blog and Violette New York !