Kholisa Skweyiya

Image Courtesy Of Kholisa Skweyiya 

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED THERE?
I currently reside in Johannesburg. I haven't always lived here.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born and raised in Cape Town.
  
WHAT WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS GROWING UP?
I was in erected in becoming a sportsman, in either cricket, rugby or tennis and I had dreams of becoming an architect.

WHY DIGITAL INFLUENCER?
I chose social media because it is the best way to describe my feelings, and I'm also very passionate about writing. I have a certificate in business management and I am currently busy with a diploma in road transport management at the University of Johannesburg

HOW DID YOU GET SO OPINIONATED?
I've always enjoyed sharing my views with people. I took part in quite a few leadership positions in high school where I had to represent the students.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE?
 Politics, education, music and sports.

WHAT OR WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?
 My late mom, Nomsa Skweyiya is my greatest influence.

MUSIC, WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT? 
SA hip hop, Shane Eagle, AKA, Kwesta, A-Reece, Maraza, YoungstaCPT, Nasty C and Big Star Johnson.

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO OFFLINE? 
I'm usually busy with a school work or the business side of the PR company I work for. Pitching our service to clients.

HOW DO YOU UNWIND? 
Jogging, writing, listening to music or long walks

Music

Jazzy Amra

Photo Courtesy Of Jazzy Amra

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED THERE?
New York. I'm still living In the Bronx. I've lived here my whole life.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born and raised in the Bronx.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR PRESENT CITY OR YOUR HOMETOWN?
I would say everything! I feel like being from Bronx, NY is a culture. From the way we talk, the food we eat, the way we dance and interact with each other, we’re unique. I wouldn't trade being from Bronx for anything.

WHAT WERE YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAMS?
Honestly, when I was a young girl I wanted to be a astronaut. When you're a child everything you want to be seems so easy to obtain and the possibilities are endless. I was always fascinated with space, the stars and the planets, and still am. But as I grew older, I slowly but surely realized singing was something I loved to do. The way singing would make me feel at the age of eight to nine is a unexplainable feeling.

WHAT HAS BEEN A SEMINAL EXPERIENCE?
Definitely working with Wyclef Jean. He's a legend. Working with him has opened so many doors for me. I've performed in countries I never thought I’d travel to. I'm just a young Dominican girl from the Bronx who sees a lot for herself. And for somebody like ‘Clef to really go so hard for me and believe in me the way he does just keeps me going.

WHY MUSIC?
Why not music? I love music. Mark Twain said it best: "The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why." I feel like I definitely found my purpose in life. That purpose is to uplift people with my music and my story. God gave me a voice and I'm going to use it.

HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY YOUR SOUND?
I would say my sound is hip-hop and R&B with a lot of soul. I sing my pain and people can feel it.

WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE THROUGH YOUR LYRICS?
I don't stick to a particular theme, but I usually sing about love, love lost, and my daily struggles. I keep it real. Everything I sing about is real life. I wouldn't even call myself an artist of anything I sang about wasn't true.

IS THERE A SONG OR MUSICAL PASSAGE THAT NEVER FAILS TO MOVE YOU EMOTIONALLY?
There are many many songs I can name that move me. But one specific song is "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton. That was one of my mom’s favorite songs. She used to sing her heart out to it. Even when I was apart from my mom while she was still alive, I would hear it and would automatically envision her singing it. My mom passed away when I was 18. Now everytime I hear the song I feel like I still hear her voice.

WHAT OR WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?
My mother. Even though my mom was going through things which led to me being removed from her custody at a young age, I always thought she was perfect and beautiful. She sang beautifully, too. She's the reason I love music. I would always see her dancing and singing and as her daughter, I would always imitate her. Now that I'm way older and finally understand what went on and the reasons for what went on in her and my life, it keeps me going and makes me push harder for what I want.

WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
I get ideas out of the blue sometimes. I could be sleeping and I hear a melody in my head, then I’ll wake up and voice note it. On a day to day basis, I see and hear things that inspire me and that I can relate to, so I type whatever I'm feeling in the notes on my phone and come back to it later when I'm writing a song.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
I would say my style is laid back. I love wearing sweat suits, jerseys, crop tops, sneakers. Not too girly I guess. But that's what makes me feel 100% me.

HOW DOES YOU AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?
My lifestyle translates in everything I do. Being a recording artist is a lifestyle. I like to do things and be around things that inspire me. It's so much of a lifestyle that I don't go a day without singing. I could go visit a friend and their family would want to hear me sing.

WHAT'S YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE?
As for my hair, I straighten it more than I leave it wavy. But I always make sure to condition it very well not to use harsh products on it. I have yet to even color it. My hair is literally down my back and it grows fast because I make sure to treat it nicely. As for my face, I don't use foundation everyday, but I make sure to wash my face with Aveeno face wash, apply lashes, fill in my brows, do my famous jazzy cat eye wing liner and add some gloss to my lips. I don't really do too much to my face. That’s not by choice, though, because if I knew how to do my makeup like professional makeup artists do, I would!

HOW DO YOU SPEND A DAY OFF?
On my days off, I'm usually home on my laptop watching different types of interesting documentaries. I love learning about new things.

HOW DO YOU STAY MINDFUL?
I stay true to myself and never forget why I started. I stay mindful by not losing sight of what I really want and my longterm goals. I don't plan on living in an apartment building in the Bronx forever. There's so much more to life and I want it all!

Ghylian Bell, Yogini

Photo Courtesy Of Ghylian Bell

"I live in Harlem, New York City. I moved to New York eight years ago. I was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and raised in NY. The best thing about my hometown is family and we are really close.

My favorite spot in the whole world? Where I live. It's Harlem! It's where I am right now. It's where I travel from. I wanted to travel so I found a job that let me do that. I thought I was going to work with the airlines, but it ended up being a NY model, then on to management for recording artist and song writer Jocelyn Brown in London. We toured throughout Europe and other parts of the world. It was a dream. I was in my early 20's learning all life's lessons. So happy to travel to see the world outside the bubble I was in. To grow from a place unknown. Most of it sounds so easy but it wasn't. Every bit of that process was about creating a way while you had interest at something. Finding out what you were good at, and I was good at people. Being with people connecting with people building family and community.

I moved back to the U.S. and modeled again for the NY fashion scene. I had a daughter and wanted to engage in something with her to keep us bonded. Yoga. My daughter, Taler, was my assistant. She demonstrated the poses to her friends as I taught the class. It was then I knew I wanted to focus on teaching children.

I was 11 years old when my father brought home a Buddha and Quan Yin. I called her my Jade lady. It would be years later when I had my daughter and walked into my first yoga class at Yoga Shambala and saw a huge Buddha. My father would at that point take credit for introducing me to yoga. He didn't know what those images were he just brought them home for me. Then, I went on to study Asthanga Yoga with Eddie Stern for about a year. "

- As told to MFB
23 September, 2017

Veronika Istomina

Photo Courtesyy Of Veronika Istomina

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED THERE?
I'm in Manchester now for few days. I'm always traveling. You never know where you're gonna end up. This is the part of model life. You can be anytime anywhere. I'm based in Moscow, and I'm so proud to be Russian and live in this wonderful country.

WHERE'S YOUR FAVOURITE SPOT IN THE WORLD?
It's  difficult to choose which one. Every part of the world has its own charm, culture and interesting things to share. I think one of the cities that amazed me more than I expected was Barcelona. The stunning architecture of Gaudi add an unconventional touch to overall appearance of the city. Warm climate and wonderful people, nice food, arranged infrastructure, wide boulevards, beautiful port, etc. And if we are talking about an entire country then definitely Iceland! I love the attitude of the people, the beautiful landscapes and sense of adventure that is pervasive there. It's a small country but no matter where you go, there is so much to see.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?
The holiday memories. My mother would start the week of baking her pies, and cakes, and getting everything ready for the special day.

WHAT WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS GROWING UP?
I always wanted to change people's lives for the better. I wanted to make everyone laugh.

WHAT HAS BEEN A SEMINAL EXPERIENCE?
It's my entire modeling career in general. It really changed me. It's been the only thing I've done with passion.

WHY MODEL?
Why not? It's an amazing opportunity to meet wonderful people and always be fashionable. If you work hard, you have the opportunity to earn lots of money.

DO YOU STILL REMEMBER YOUR FIRST EVER SHOOT?
It's hard to remember in detail. But I remember that it was terribly exciting.

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ANY NEW DESIGNERS THAT YOU'VE TAKEN TO AS A RESULT OF YOUR JOB?
I'm always happy to work with new designers and concept stores in Russia. It makes me proud about originality in this industry.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
If I had to describe my style...Well, I couldn't. I wear all kinds of stuff that can't be defined with one simple word. You should see my music collection! Sometimes I almost feel like I'm 10 different personalities in one.

HOW DOES YOU AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN OTHER PARTS OF YOUR LIFE?
I'm quite not sure what I'm loving is the result of modeling. It's just my character. I like to open everything new: music, books, art pieces, movies and etc. I can listen Solomun then Future, and after that, Beethoven.

WHAT BEAUTY ROUTINE DO YOU SWEAR BY?
Drinking plenty of water and keeping my skin hydrated is an important part of my regime. I recommend it. Do what makes you happy. If you can fulfill balance in life, take 20 minutes to read something, exfoliate, put on a mask and relieve some of the stress. It's not about the nice products, you are also spending time on yourself and well-being. You can efface things because you think they’re not good for you or they are not healthy. And embrace your beauty, whatever it is.

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING? 
Basically everything I didn’t have time for during all the hustle of the week. I never feel pressured to do anything just because other people expect me to. I’ll be spending the summer doing research. I'm learning to cook, reading, making art, creating memories with friends.

HOW DO YOU RETURN TO CENTER?
A glass of wine in the evening helps me unwind after a busy day. If I'm feeling stressed, one of the best things I can do is go for a run or hit the gym.

Sneaker Genius

  Photo Courtesy Of Veronika Istomina

This contemporary urban footgear is obviously by Christian Louboutin.

Esther Sibiude, Artist

Photo Courtesy Of Esther Sibiude

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED AND WHERE TO DO YOU PRESENTLY LIVE?
I was born in Prades, a little town in the Pyrenees in France, and grew up in different places: Moroni,Comoros, Bonn, Germany, Paris, France, Los Angeles,U.S. and Berlin-Germany. Now I live in New York City.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT CITY OR HOMETOWN?
The best thing about New York is its fancy trash on the streets, I find incredible stuff for my art.

WHAT WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS GROWING UP?
I was trying as much as possible to not think about the future. This changed at some point.

WHAT HAS BEEN A PIVOTAL MOMENT?
I remember doing a hike with my father in the Sahara desert in Sudan when I was§17years old. This was an impressive esthetic moment.

WHY ART?
Why not? It would be totally weird for me to do anything else.

WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND TRAINING?
After studying philosophy for a year in Paris, I wanted to go to art school which I did then in Berlin UDK for six years.

WHAT'S INTEGRAL TO THE WORK OF AN ARTIST?
Necessity is important to me.

WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE?
I work more with problems than with themes. One of my problems is the impossibility to look inside yourself, so I try to find external systems that remind me of how it might look like inside.

WHAT'S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND PREFERRED MEDIUM TO WORK WITH?
I usually start collecting things, stuff, ideas. They all meet in the studio. It s like a big conversation with love, dramas, fights. I often get excited about new materials I discover and experiment a lot with it. This gets very physical and intuitive. At the end, I reduce and come back to sense again, hopefully. It s a lot of fun, a lot of thinking and a lot of trouble. The medium always depends on the ideas and vice versa.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU ON A DAY TO DAY? My new husband. 10. IN WHAT CONTEXT DO YOU PLACE YOUR UPCOMING INSTALLATION, "BLACK BOX" (CURATED BY LOLITA CROS)?
BLACK BOX, is the product of me walking through the streets of New York and observing delivery trucks since a year. All the material I use for this installation is new to me because it comes from this monster I met; New York.

HOW DOES YOUR AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
Walking, collecting stuff, observing people in the subway, eating Chinese food, going out, standing at art openings totally bored, talking to strangers, skyping with my artist friends in Germany, calling my mother in Britanny, living in Carroll Gardens, not watching TV, or if I do, being schocked by the news, going to the New Museum or Whitney when I have time.

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
I probably stay in bed then. Or play my harp. But that 's also a lot of work.

HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I like to dance. 

About To Drop

Photographed By Ellinor Forje 

The unsolved mystery that is iPhone X.

Lolita Cros

Photo Courtesy Of Lolita Cros

WHERE ARE YOUR RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED THERE?

New York. I've lived in NY for 10 years.

WHERE WERE YOUR BORN AND RAISED?

I was born and raised in Paris, but I lived in Casablanca for a couple years.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOU CITY OR HOMETOWN?

The food and the walks.

WHAT WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS GROWING UP?

I went from wanting to be a butcher to a stylist, to a scientist, to head of "Beaux-Arts Magazine".

WHY CURATOR?

I had a very good art history teacher in middle school who turned me onto art. I was looking forward to the class all week, I loved writing essays for it. it just gave me an incredible high. When I went to college I felt the same way talking to my friends about their artworks. It was getting me so excited and I wanted to share my excitement with a wider audience. So that's how I started curating. I liked the idea of translating a conversation, or a thought into a big art show.

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?

I went to Bard College for Art history.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION AND DO YOU EVER FEEL JADED BY THE FLUCTUTATE OF INFORMATION?

I kind of find inspiration everywhere, in the subway, on Instagram, friends, music, artists. Yesterday I had a very interesting conversation at dinner, and today all I could think about is. "How do I translate that into a show?" I've stalked people on Instagram thinking, "Why do I stalk, why her, why do humans sniff each other's butts all the time?" and from that came a show! in that way I don't feel that overwhelmed by the digital age because the organic world is just as lush.

WHO DO YOU RANK AMONG YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS AND ERA?

Hard to say. I think Manet is the father of contemporary painting and photography. And because I lived in France I got to see a lot of paintings and frescoes from the early 18th century Rococo period. It's pink and kinky, so making a comeback amongst millennials!

WHAT MEDIUM APPEALS TO YOU THE MOST?

I'm open to anything, I've curated paintings, photography, performance, video art, sculptures. One thing is for sure, I like to mix them up.

HOW DO YOU SELECT THE ART FOR A SPECIFIC VENUE?

It depends on the venue. since each of the spaces I chose have a strong symbol attached to it, I usually think of a piece that could play with the function or the connotation associated to the space.

HOW DOES YOUR AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

I'm a pretty classic person. I like my basics: Converse in my closet, Le Corbusier couch in my living room. Love a good throwback song. And for food, give me a steak and potatoes and I'll be very happy.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

I've been dressing the same way my whole life. Currently wearing blue and white striped overalls with a Petit Bateau shirt and red Repettos. I'm pretty sure you can find a picture of me at age two wearing the exact same thing. Same for makeup, with a little more mascara now.

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING?

When I'm not working I go to Chelsea and look at galleries, or to a museum. Otherwise, I walk to the West Village or take the ferry to Red Hook to visit Dustin Yellin's studio and check out his space: Pioneer Works.

HOW DO YOU UNWIND?

I have a cold beer.

Well I'll Be Damned

Photo Courtesy Of Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Online Collection

Slap me silly. But, seriously though. The solider in the painting, "Bashi-Bazouk", by Jean-Léon Gérôme, looks exactly like John Boyega. In profile, at least.

Nebulus Flair, The Body Painter

Photographed By Nebulus Flair

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
I was born and raised in West Philadelphia, and right now, I'm still living in Philly. I dont think I'll leave anytime soon.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR PRESENT CITY OR YOUR HOMETOWN?
For me, the best thing about Philly is everything, if you ask me. From the good to the bad. I just feel like Philly births some really resilient people and it constantly serves an a reminder to remain resilient and to persevere.

WHAT WERE YOUR INFANT ASPIRATIONS?
At first my aspiration was just to have something to look forward to. And although that's still part of my reason it turned to really wanting to use this gift that seems like it just dropped in my lap. Like now I aspire to constantly amaze myself or shock myself. I aspire to really come out of this shell I've been in my whole life. I aspire to be more than I've ever fathom. It's a thrill when I think back on how art entered my life.

WHAT HAS BEEN A SEMINAL EXPERIENCE?
I would have to say it's my whole artistic career in general. Art has really changed me. It has been the only thing I've "stuck with" and it just never ceases to amaze me.

WHY ART?
At this point art is my reason. It's my joy. It's how I break away from this crazy ass world and what it tells and forces people to be or do. I look at art as a path or like a journey, what I'm witnessing along the way that I couldn't have seen any other way. Or, by doing what I was doing before the art came. Art is the infinite catalyst to my purpose.

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND TRAINING?
I honestly have no formal background training in art. I lept and found my wings on the way. I didn't go to school or partake in any lessons as a child. So far my training has been trial and error. A lot of erasing and prime.

DO YOU PURSUE ANY THEMES THROUGH YOUR CRAFT?
The idea of freedom is reoccurring in my art. Freedom to be yourself, to break away, to find your own truth, to make your own way.

WHAT TOOLS AND MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
I'll literally use anything. Paint / body paint of course. But I find thrill in anything really. Anything big. I dont like small canvases. Glue. Glitter. My mind.

WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
I normally freestyle when I body paint. When I paint on canvas I usually have to see a vision of something cool. Or, I have to see colors. Like right now for some reason I see light blue and like fire truck red. It always starts as something I see. Then I get some water and turn music on and get busy.

WHAT OR WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?
Well when I first started painting I spent a lot of time alone. I sat with my thoughts a lot and when it got to be too much I would go to the library in the center city and just roam the art section. I was inspired more so by the stories of artists. When I got to Basquiat's name I feel like I fell in a hole reading up on him. I was heavily influenced and I think it was because he seemed like he couldn't paint at all when you saw his paintings, and there I was with no art background telling people I was an artist. And so I connected with him on another level. Thought it was hilarious when I found it he actually could paint and draw. I've had dreams about Basquiat. It was some time after I did a few art shows in the city when he came in my dream as the old Samo with the blonde Mohawk and he asked me if I was gonna have fun and I took it as like, "Hey, listen the moment your not having fun with this shit be done". So I'm constantly influenced to stay inspired and to have fun with this stuff. Basquiat keeps my art from the heart. I barely paint things I don't wanna paint or do things I don't want to do.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? 
My name is Nebulus, without the "O",  Flair...If anything my style will always let you know I do what I want. It's wispy and warm. Sugar and spice. This all goes for my fashion sense and art. My style is never the same two days in a row.

HOW DOES YOU AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?
I'm so before my time I think, so spaced out that I kind of created a whole world with a population of one, to the point people in my city will know when I come around or know when I had my say in something creative because I just exude Nebulus Flair. Everything spills over to being raw, untamed and infinite.

ANY BEAUTY RITUALS YOU SWEAR BY?
Rest! I'm not one of them I'll sleep when I die persons. I think rest is very important. I also love drinking lemon and honey infused water. I notice it helps clear my skin if I drink enough.

HOW DO YOU SPEND A DAY OFF?
Resting and listening to music. Daydreaming.

HOW DO YOU STAY MINDFUL?
I spend a lot of time alone.

Bonbons

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

From Edith & Ella.