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Culture & Style

A Tale of Two Cities

We juxtaposed photos of New York and Los Angeles members to explore what it means to be a coastal creative
As told to Charlotte Steinway
Back in July, photographer and member Reza Nadji (@studio.nadji) photographed Soho House members in New York and Los Angeles to highlight the two coastal cities’ alignment. ‘First and foremost, the series generally concerns us as humans,’ says the German-Iranian photographer. 
 
‘If we connect two total strangers so intimately and if their images unite to become one, questions arise about our identity, the connection to others and to ourselves,’ says Nadji. ‘We are confronted with the ego-based theory of separation versus the age-old spiritual idea of human unity that is, today, highly topical.’ 
 
Here, we spoke to the members — including singer Tinashe, Madhappy founder Noah Raf and restaurateur Jesse Gomez — about what it means to be a coastal creative.
 
TINASHE (LA) and BMAJR (NY)
portrait of man and woman juxtaposed on top of each other
Tinashe, Singer/Songwriter, LA

@tinashenow 
 
When you are working creatively what forces and what goals are driving you and keep you going? 
‘I guess I have never really allowed myself to have a plan B. I go 100% all-in with everything I do, with no room for doubt. I feel those seeds of doubt are what grow into something much more profound and can be very detrimental to the creative process.’ 
 
In a science-fiction scenario, if you had to live another person’s life, whose would you choose? 
‘I would probably like to be Beyonce, that seems like a pretty cool life.’ 
 
When you are in the process of creating (your art), do you feel you are creating more for yourself or for others? 
‘Anything that means something to me, I have created for myself. I want to be inspired by what I create for years to come, so I can look back in the future and be proud. I figure if I like what I make, others will too.’ 
 
BMAJR, DJ, NY 
@bmajr 
 
To what degree do you think we see ourselves through the eyes of others, and how does this perspective change throughout life? 
‘I'm not sure if we necessarily see ourselves in the eyes of others, but I do think we are sometimes our own biggest self-critics. However, I think with age and maturity, we learn to love ourselves a little bit harder and become more forgiving of ourselves and less inclined to try to appease others. At least I wish that for everyone, no matter what level of self-love one may begin with. Self-love is important!’ 
 
Do you see a difference between New York and LA’s creative styles? 
‘Los Angeles is definitely a vibe. It is a green juice and yoga in the morning and maybe lunch by the beach and go hiking in the mountains type of atmosphere. It's very laid back, yet still invigorating; the energy you get when you run into fellow creatives in the city is infectious. However, I consider New York to be my second-home, and associate it with an unmatchable high-energy that I haven't experienced in any city that I've visited or lived in. One of the things I love about New York is that it has this unexpected, anything- goes atmosphere that sends my creativity through the roof. It's sometimes a welcome escape to spend time in LA to recharge to get back to the New York hustle and bustle that I love so much.’   
 
Are you inspired creatively more by spending time alone or with others? 
‘I enjoy being able to be surrounded by my circle and am constantly inspired by their presence and energy.  As a DJ especially, I am constantly reading the energy in a room as I craft each set, constantly configuring where I want to take the crowd with the next song. I enjoy creating new experiences and projects with people.  I think the important thing in collaborating, however, is to stay true to who you are and what you represent without comparing yourself to what others are doing or mimicking what you see someone else do. I'm constantly inspired by my fellow creatives and love creating new experiences and projects with others. Even when I'm not necessarily collaborating with someone, I think there is value in getting more than one viewpoint during the creative process.’  
 
NOAH RAF (LA) and GIAN CARLO LANFRANCO (NY)

portraits of 2 men juxtaposed on top of each other
Noah Raf, Founder of Madhappy, LA 
 
When you are working creatively what forces and what goals are driving you and keep you going?
‘I believe it totally depends on the situation. Sometimes when working creatively there can be what I consider to be a "blackout period." Where you tap into the subconscious and flow and end up somewhere without knowing how you got there. Now, I'm not sure what kind of force that is, but it's definitely something. I don't find that the best art is created when having a goal in mind. The word I would use is vision. For me, a goal is too concrete and final. You might end up with something that is totally different than you intended, but makes just as much sense. A vision is an outline that can be executed in a number of ways.’
 
In a science-fiction scenario, if you had to live another person’s life, whose would you choose?
‘This one can get a little tricky. If I live someone else's life will that life play out the same way as they lived it? Also, at what time in their life do I start living it? Do I have to start out as baby Micheal Jordan? Or can I jump right into filming Space Jam with Bill Murray? Also if I become Jordan is the shot over Russell still guaranteed to go in? I'd like to think I would hit that jumper.’
 
When you are in the process of creating (your work), do you feel you are creating more for yourself or for others?
‘I would say myself. I believe all great art comes from such a personal place that it can only be truly understood by the person creating it. I think an artist loses some of their integrity when they begin to create for others. For example, most of my favorite albums are debuts that were created in a garage with no label pressure by people just being themselves and trying new things. Obviously making money complicates everything tremendously but you should always put yourself first in life.’ 

Gian Carlo Lanfranco, Founder/Chief Creative Officer of L&C, NYC-LIMA
 
To what degree do you think we see ourselves through the eyes of others, and how does this perspective change throughout life?
‘I think is a natural thing to see yourself through the eyes of someone else. We are constantly building up perceptions in our mind (of ourselves and of everyone we interact with), but what you learn with time, is that the most important thing is to be happy with what you actually think about yourself. I think, especially now with Instagram, people are really trying to improve their perceptions in the eyes of others to the point that they almost care more about a “like” than what’s actually happening in their real life. But I’d rather have no followers and great friends who value me than a million followers I don’t really connect with.’

Do you see a difference between New York and LA’s creative styles?
‘When I used to live in Europe, we used to travel to LA often to produce our advertising campaigns, LA is this “magical” place – where thoughts turn into reality, where advertising, post-production and music make ideas alive – and being involved in the process is incredible. It’s a place with energy, color, and one that’s somehow loud compared to NY. New York on the other hand, is raw. creative people try to be a bit more undercover and a less flashy, which I think is related to its climate and history. New York is a tough city and also an international capital, making each cultural influence its own unique creative community.’

Are you inspired creatively more by spending time alone or with others?
‘I think it’s a combination, I guess by being an advertising creative director you are always absorbing what your surroundings bring to you, you are always looking for insights that will turn into campaign ideas at some point. So, talking to friends and people you don’t even know — especially from different industries — helps you have an open mind and catch these unique insights. Then, when you are by yourself you craft and shape those insights into actual ideas that can help a brand connect with people.’ f
 
JESSE GOMEZ (LA) and KARSTON 'SKINNY' TANNIS (NY) 
portraits of 2 men juxtaposed on top of each other
Jesse Gomez, Restaurateur, LA
 
To what degree do you think we see ourselves through the eyes of others, and how does this perspective change throughout life?
‘I think growing up, we totally see ourselves through the eyes of others; through the eyes of our parents, our relatives and our peers or friends. I think this is part of the process we all go through as we find our own identities. As we change and mature and learn more about life, I truly believe we start to change and see ourselves through our own eyes. As we age, we care less about how others perceive us and care more about our own self-perceptions.’
 
Do you see a difference between New York and LA’s creative styles?
‘I went to college on the East Coast over 20 years ago and felt that NY style was generally more conservative than LA style. As I have aged and had opportunities to go back to New York, though, I think my opinion has changed. I think New York style tends to have more funk and flair than that of LA. However, as we now have access to everything at the tip of our fingers, I think both cities are heading in the same direction, style-wise. We see all the trends and fashions at the same time and have immediate access to them.’
 
Are you inspired creatively more by spending time alone or with others?
‘Although I am not an artist in the traditional sense, I tend to get inspired when I am alone. In fact, I enjoy dining out alone at a restaurant or bar to think about certain design elements I enjoy. In this sense, I enjoy absorbing the artistry of a place in a more solitary manner. It allows me to focus my attention on all the elements of a particular place that I like without losing my attention to others I may be dining with.’  
 

Karston ’Skinny’ Tannis, Photographer, NY 
@skinnywashere  

When you are working creatively what forces and what goals are driving you and keep you going? 
‘When working creatively, my goal is to create authentically. Too often we can churn out work to complete a project; however, if I’m not truly satisfied with the end-result, I’ll start over. 

In a science-fiction scenario, if you had to live another person’s life, whose would you choose? 
‘Honestly my life is pretty interesting but, in a science-fiction scenario, I’d have to choose Diddy. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but maybe for the dance moves only.’
 
When you are in the process of creating (your art), do you feel you are creating more for yourself or for others?
‘When creating it’s both for myself as well as others. Energy is contagious. I create for myself to share with others. Sharing is caring.’  
 
PAULA ANDREA (NY) and GRAYSON WILDER (LA)

portraits of woman & man juxtaposed on top of each other
Grayson Wilder, Photographer, LA
 
To what degree do you think we see ourselves through the eyes of others, and how does this perspective change throughout life?
‘I believe such influence is part of everyone's DNA, in one form or another. We often see ourselves through the lens of desire and how much we wish to feel accepted. As I get older, I'm able to recognize my own level of conditioning more and more  and use it as a point of reference to decide how I want to design my future.’ 
 
Do you see a difference between New York and LA’s creative styles?
‘There’s a palpable difference in how inspiration moves. New York has often turned its nose up at LA because it sees LA as lacking in culture. However, LA in my experience is a canvas that allows creatives to color outside the lines more freely. New York, on the other hand, has a richer history and demands discipline. I spent a great deal of time on the East Coast towards the beginning of my career. It was a great bootcamp that ultimately provided a solid foundation for my work.’
 
Are you inspired creatively more by spending time alone or with others?
‘My better ideas spawn when I’m alone. It allows me more space to absorb inspiration. However, my subjects are mostly people, so I find it beneficial to draw ideas in a collaborative environment as well.’  
 
Paula Andrea, Head of Photography at Quoted Magazine, NY
 

When you are working creatively what forces and what goals are driving you and keep you going?
‘To be honest, this is a very loaded question for me. For the most part, my drive comes from the need and want for growth, for "a better life" than my predecessors had. I am an immigrant: I was born in Colombia and brought here as a child by my parents. This has held such a giant emotional space in my being here in the states, so much so that I stopped questioning my drive. It hasn’t changed in all the years of me being here. I fear becoming complacent. My drive is my parents’ struggle, my grandparents’ struggle and the struggle of their parents – my drive is breaking the cycle.’

In a science-fiction scenario, if you had to live another person’s life, whose would you choose?
‘I've worked really hard to have the life I have. The thought even in a science fiction way diminishes the work I’ve put in somehow, but maybe I’m overthinking it. But gun to head, I guess my answer would be Josephine Baker. A controversy of her time, she managed to make space for herself and major changes to her community using her platforms. That's very admirable and humble (even if it wasn’t perceived that way at the time). Plus, she even had homes designed after her—pretty magnificent to have structures inspired by you!’ 
 
When you are in the process of creating (your art), do you feel you are creating more for yourself or for others?
‘I feel that photography is very selfish. I'm selfish when creating. We as photographers take spaces in time and save them forever for our pleasure. It's a very human desire, almost primal in the grander scheme. The need to own time, the need to remember something, or someone. Photography is an un-natural solution for a natural desire. It's almost unfair we get to do this. I create for my pleasure, for my release. At times, others share that same indulgence and we can appreciate or create an image together.’ 
  

BLANDA (LA) and TIFFANY SAGE (NY)

portraits of 2 women juxtaposed on top of each other
BLANDA, Artist, LA
@blahblahblanda 

To what degree do you think we see ourselves through the eyes of others, and how does this perspective change throughout life?
That varies for each individual. Personally, I don’t want to see myself too much through anyone else’s eyes but rather get very clear with myself about the person I am and want to be.  We define who we are and how others perceive us says way more about them than about us. This sentiment has only grown stronger over the course of my life so far.

Do you see a nameable difference in the creative styles between New York and LA? 
New York is a very practiced and accomplished middle-aged creative with a classic academic background and LA is a teenager, full of ideas, energy and potential with a tendency to spend more time on social media than in the studio but nevertheless highly productive.

Are you creatively more inspired by spending time with people or rather while you are spending time just with yourself?  
Both. I like a perfect balance between time spent by myself and exchange with others. 

Tiffany Sage, Artist/Photographer, NY
 
When you are working creatively what forces and what goals are driving you and keep you going?
‘Photography and painting have been a constant pull throughout my life. Being visually creative is what my mind seems to do naturally and I couldn’t imagine being happy doing anything else.’
 
In a science-fiction scenario, if you had to live another person’s life, whose would you choose?
‘I wouldn’t want to live anyone else’s life. I have always been fascinated by time travel and would want to go back and start painting, drawing and taking photographs even earlier than I did.’
 
When you are in the process of creating ( your work), do you feel you are creating more for yourself or for others?
‘I’m definitely creating for myself. I did a painting recently that has been on my mind for years and I had to make it in order to move on to the next. The work I create is what I’d like to live with. It’s great to have an audience, but I’d do it regardless.’
Imagery courtesy of Reza Nadji