I think I’ve met like two tattooers in New York that are actually from New York, where did you grow up and how’d you get into tattooing?

So, truth be told. I didn’t grow up in NYC, but just outside of it. Roughly forty-five minute drive north from Brooklyn, up the Palisades Parkway in Rockland County. Having a brother and a cousin that were much much older than me really unlocked the blinders that some suburban people so often get trapped in.

Tattoos had a striking impact on me at a young age. The pain, the permanence and the fascination that someone carved this on another human really makes an impression on an eleven year old. And what? The black turns blue!? Lem, my brother, told me when I was a kid that getting a tattoo was like saying “fuck you” to your parents and that always stuck with me. I don’t hate my parents, but the revolt and, more importantly, the reclamation of self sent sparks shooting from my head.

My cousin Ariel apprenticed for Larry Davis in Nyack, New York and that was my first experience walking into a tattoo shop. I would follow Ariel, visiting the shops he worked around the beginning of his career, just hanging out. My first tattoo was from John Sultana while he was apprenticing at Snake Eyes’ B52 in Williamsburg. It was a biker shop like the ones your parents told you to not go in. Everything about that place is burned into back of my brain. Ariel would eventually guide my path into tattooing. The first job I got was in the West Village at one of those street shops that also sold bongs and fake I.D.’s. It was called The Pleasure Cave and the worst part was that literally right next door was a REAL tattoo shop where they did good work. It was humiliating but I thoroughly relished starting from the very bottom (it was in a basement). A year later, I got hooked up with doing some shifts at Millennium Tattoo in Newburgh, NY. I would commute an hour back and forth and at the same time, I’d be filling in the rest of the week with bar jobs, handling art at a gallery and graphic design gigs to pay the rent. I worked seven days a week for a good two years. A brand new shop in Williamsburg called Black Square was opening up and needed artists, so I eventually I took my portfolio back down to Brooklyn. I spent two and a half turbulent, but formative years there until I got a phone call from the owners of Allied. They had just opened up and asked me to work there. Six rollercoaster years down the road and it’s still my favorite place with my favorite people in NYC.

Oh yeah, I’ve been living in Brooklyn for 18 years now.

What’s your one go-to, essential clothing item for each season? (i.e. for me; in the summer I’m always wearing a short sleeve button up, winter time I probably wear a crewneck sweatshirt everyday)

Ok, let’s see if I can answer this right. I love jackets so that covers about three season in NY. I’m utilitarian so expect pockets and more layers with pockets (but no cargo pockets). Your boy carries a lot of shit and I try to ride all year, even in the winter if its just a couple blocks around. That leaves summer and which I’ll respond with A-shirts commonly known as wife-beaters. It’s fucking hot over here. I wear pants and boots year-round though.

Do you think tattooing and motorcycles go hand in hand? What’s the best ride you’ve ever taken?

For me, it was more of a replacement for skateboarding. I gave up skating when I put both feet into tattooing and I’ve missed it. It was such a huge part of my life growing up but I’ve always been petrified of hurting my hands since. Motorcycles fill that void in a way. Working on a bike can be expressive and an extension of yourself. I am by no means a ‘biker’ and I’m just as far away from being a competent mechanic. But I dig deeper and try. When I’m lost I ask for help and listen to those who know better. I guess the one thing in common with tattooing, is that you can learn what you want if you’re curious enough to take chances. There’s a whole lot to learn in both. Riding is also a constant re-evaluation of decisions. Similarly, tattooing has unforgiving margins for error. Yes, I’ve crashed. Yep, so much for that logic.

My favorite ride was a relatively short loop. From Bushwick to Time Square and Central Park. Back down to World Trade Center and took the tunnel down to Red Hook Brooklyn and back up to Williamsburg. This was during the Covid lockdown of 2020 and there was not a soul walking the streets. Close to zero cars on the road and the NYPD didn’t give a shit about anything. It was a once in lifetime moment to witness my city deserted and still. Incredibly mind blowing and surreal. The kind of story you can tell your grandkids and they’ll think you’re just recalling I Am Legend (rebooted twice by that point). I did that loop over and over just knowing it will never happen again.

What’s your favorite meal? Do you like to cook?

I enjoy cooking when I can, especially grilling for friends or at a campsite. There’s something that’s so unpretentious and primal about throwing food onto an open fire. Also grilled food tastes the best.

Second part of that question, my favorite meal would be some sort of creamy mushroom based pasta dish.

Do you think you’ll tattoo for the remainder of your days?

I really want to. I will tattoo as long as tattooing will let me. It’s as physically and mentally draining as it is nourishing and inspiring. Plus, everyone is a tattooer now so the pie is gigantic and cut into tiny slivers. Mmm. Really though, I cannot speak for styles and trends but if its one thing I have to offer its my weird ideas and approach to an image. I got into tattooing because other forms of work-for-hire never let me be the freak I wanted to be. My tattoos aren’t even that great technically, but if you like taking the alternative route I might have a chance of sticking around for a while.