Q & A With Lichiban

NLBK  Q & A Series is proud present to Lichiban, a Brooklyn-based self-taught visual artist, illustrator, curator, and full time creative hustler. She was born in a border town in Hungary and from early on she acquired a fascination with borders, limits and ambiguous dividing lines. 

Are you a Brooklyn Native?  If so,what part?

No, I’m a Brooklyn nomad. I live in Crown Heights.

If not, where are you originally from?

Budapest, Hungary.

How long have you lived or performed in Brooklyn?

For about a year and a half…but it feels like I’ve lived here for years…Brooklyn is a beast, I really feel at home here.

What is your favorite place of Brooklyn to hang out?

Don’t really have one specific favorite. I love to explore the streets on my bike…I’ve lived and traveled to a lot of places all over the world, but Brooklyn remains the most mysterious city that I’ve ever been to…I really love Bedstuy and Crown Heights.

What are your inspirations and influences?

Colors, patterns, water, spiritual freedom seekers, good beats, timeless music, erotica illustration, mystical teachings, childhood animations, felines & wild animals, artists who love creating, people who love life & are not afraid to love, honest art, and the unity of all beings.

What future projects do you have in the works?

I am going to be art directing & illustrating a number of music projects, will be doing a few murals for the new YOUNITY show Fresher…will be making some mischief on the street (looking forward to leave some traces in Budapest next month:) and doing more art shows & collabing with some brands. And working on a secret project I can’t tell about quite yet.

What are some of your favorite memories of Brooklyn?

Rooftop parties in Bedstuy and Fort Greene, Sunday brunches with my peeps at Habana Outpost, best jerk chicken at Brooklyn Moon (Fort Greene), my Secret Samurai show last winter, staying up all night powwows & doing art with my artist friend.

Who is the first person who comes to mind when you hear the word, “Brooklyn”?

Roy Ayres….. “we’re gonna make it, baby!” …though Spike Lee is right there too.

If you could choose one “mayor” of Brooklyn who would it be and why?

Nelson George, author, filmmaker, cultural critic. It would be great to have a native Brooklynite artist/writer who understands the city & the changes it has undergone to represent it. Though as much I’d like to see someone like him running the mayor’s office, it is somewhat of a sacrifice for a creative person to take on a bureaucratic job. Board meetings and paperwork are not as fun as doing art.

What are the top 5 songs on your playlist? And why? (Can I do 6:)?)

From last week:

Nikki Ntu :: The Birth Of Venus (I’m working on illustrating her debut album The History of Dreams, and this song produced by Melo-X (who produced the whole album) is on rotation to inspire me. This album is amazing and I love her music as much as the whole spiritual backdrop that goes with her project…this track, has so many layers and colors, and it flows so beautifully like a dream…the whole composition has an empowering and healing quality.)

Willie Isz (Jneiro Jarel & Khujo Goodie) :: Autopilot (from their upcoming album Georgiavania) I just got the promo CD of the new Willie Isz record, which mark my word is going to be a huge record..it’s off the hook! Autopilot is probably my favorite… haunting and penetrating electro trip

Sarah White :: I Wanna Be With You (Rucyl Bass remix) (These are my girls…two of my favorite artists! Sarah’s new EP just dropped on King Britt’s label, FiveSix Media. Rucyl keeps it dirty with heavy beats while Sarah’s smoky voice will make you feel sexy and playful. I keep coming back to it.)

Raye 6 :: Hold Me Down (…Raye is one of the dopest female artists out there. She is a fellow catwoman and am happy to have captured some of her spirit in my work…love this track…has a dark and sexy mood that goes deep.)

Theophilus London feat. Jesse Boykins III :: Cold Pillow (Theo & Jesse are two of the biggest talents coming out of BK these days. I love their individual sound but this is my favorite of their collabo joints)

[+1] Dam Funk:: Burgundy City (I’m really into the new galactic funk sound cats are putting out on the West coast. Dam Funk is timeless & this one makes me feel good, like good music is supposed to)

To get free music from these artists, check out my blog Lichiban.blogspot.com, Myspace.com/lichiban, Twitter.com/lichiban, Lichiban.net