Our first 314 event at Song Bird in China Town, Thanks to everyone who came out!

DJ Sets: Damar Davis, God Father & Alexander Blaine

Visuals: SHRIMPDADDY

Photos: Jerrall Thompson

A Conversation with Alexander Blaine of Bueno - “IT MEANS GOOD” 

Where were you born and raised? 

Bronx born, Florida raised. I'm from a small town right outside of Orlando. Shout out to my people and family back home in Kissimmee. As I am writing this, I am actually on my way back from visiting my hometown and man the place is growing!

How was your upbringing in FL?

Traditional Puerto Rican household, both parents, my older brother. We started in an apartment complex called Cascades and then moved to another apartment complex called Reef Club. My parents grinded and bought the house I basically grew up in shortly after that. I lived a pretty normal life- playing ball, had my homies that lived around my block, smoking, attempting to skate, attempting to rap (lol), working for sneakers and clothes I couldn't afford. I remember every Sunday my mom would send me to the store for some fresh pan. Low key hated it, but I'd always swing by my homies crib and take forever to come back. Florida, especially central Florida is a lot more "southern" then people give it credit for. Although after the recent hurricanes, many people have relocated out the city and it seems to be providing a growth spirt. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. I love the south, theres nothing like it, wish I had some boiled peanuts off the side of the road and if your from Kissimmee around the time I grew up, shouts to OG Roscoes.

Can you speak about a memory or a moment in your childhood that impacted you and sparked some of your current interests?

Honestly, it was majority though playing ball, listening to hip hop and attempting to skate. As a kid growing up, latino music is a part of your life like it or not. I would carry around a cassette player, tapes; I always had some music somehow someway. As far as hiphop, it was my brother who introduced me to that world. I remember riding in his red F150, he had just got two 12's in the back. Bumped so hard, my mom was scared the vibrations would stop my heart! I personally will never forget the first time I heard base knock that hard.

Sneaker inspiration was going to the outlets and seeing sneakers in such an abundant fashion. I wanted it all. Seeing it in hiphop, skate and basketball, just really drove me wild. Sneakers' tell stories and the people in them make history. Unable to afford what I really wanted, it set a fire under me. Creating an ever burning and maturing passion. Praying, still to this day I can work on a collection of my own. Through sneakers I found fashion. I'm not going to act like I care about fashion and I'm some savant who's liked and breathed for this. Fashion for me was Sean John, Lot 29, screen print tees I found at local skate shops like Covert and Galactic G. It wasn't until I was old enough to travel alone in the city (NY) that I fell in love with streetwear and really got a grasp of what it signifies. 

Is it true you have a YouTube video interviewing Post Malone right after White Iverson dropped?

LOL CHILLLL. Shouts to the homie Chef who asked me last minute to do this when I had no idea what I was doing. I hosted his first show in Orlando. - https://vimeo.com/129322503

 Like we mentioned earlier, you're from FL. What made the move to LA happen?

LA was a place that had it all for me. After visiting so much, I realized that it was time for a change and a challenge. We fear the unknown, we are taught all our lives that curiosity is wrong. I saw Neil Degrass Tyson give a great example. Long story short, he said when a kid drops an egg on the floor, we immediately reach negatively! Instead of allowing curiosity to take its course and championing exploration of things unknown. That should be a positive teaching moment. Granted, I dont have kids, but I'm just using it as a spring board to my argument on why I came to LA. Los Angeles felt like my teaching moment, my exploration of things new. I wanted to take a chance at becoming the best version of myself. 

LA feels like Florida and New York got together, had a few drinks and made a baby. I had already had a handful of friends living in LA and had came for months at a time. In anything, and sometimes to a fault, I do what I feel is right. LA felt right, culturally it was every I could ask for- music, parties, footwear, streetwear and most importantly, opportunity. The small town that I love so much shaped me to be the man I am today. Unfortunately, it's a place of great comfort, residential living, it really has no opportunistic value in the industry I plan on spending the rest of my life in. Yet, I had spent some time in NY, visiting family and working for a few months at a Boutique in Harlem. Winter came and man I left! I can't stand living in the cold. I'm a southern boy, so because of that reason as well, I decided on LA. I actually knew more people in NY at that time as well including having family there. 

Would you ever drive across country again? 

I would, and I would encourage people from all over the US- leave your hometown, not necessarily for good. But drive somewhere new and open your mind to the world that we live in. You'll find new inspirations, new motivations and beauty in places you'd never expect. 

Is LA everything you expected?

LA is more than I expected and taught me lessons I wasn't even looking to learn. No matter where life takes me, I will always love this place. Moving here, I was in this bubble of comfort, but reality comes quickly in Los Angeles. I do not see LA as a forever place, but I believe it depends on the industry that you are in. I've always had the dreams of calling multiple places home. I am still on that journey to make that dream a reality. So at this point I'm just going with the flow and I'll do whatever I see fitting for my future.

How did you get into DJing? Through your mixes and events, it seems you have a wide range of music. 

I never thought DJ'ing would be a thing for me, but it turned into something that I'll do forever, even as an old man. Just to being able to spin up some tunes and let the music tell my story- it's a blessing! Side note, I do not spin CDJ's or Vinyl, so I see myself more as a sound selector. I respect what real DJ's do, how they create their sound and cross over into producing. I started DJ'ing because I wanted to throw parties in LA and my Orlando resume apparently was inadequate. I needed a form of currency to exchange for trust from these venues. I ran into a good strong willed and lady killed, who is now a friend of mine- Laedi. He heard my playlist series known as Just 'N' Time and recommended I became a DJ. He had a DDJSX laying around and told me to use it, learn it and I promised I'd give it back when I made enough money to purchase my own. Long story short, with the help of Laedi and Osh I bought my own gear, have done a bunch of successful parties like, This Side Up and other events, with more to come. Music is a gift that will always give! Still a long way to go and if anyone reading this has some CDJ's they wanna let a player hop on- get at me! lol 

Let's talk about THIS SIDE UP. I remember all those parties were so insane. How did that come about?

Well, I wanted to take what I used to do back home and bring it to LA. I felt like the LA scene could use more free love, real love. In the South, you come to someones house and they offer you food, refreshments, comfort- you name it! It's Southern hospitality! Back in Kissimmee and Orlando, I ran a multipurpose blog that would shed light on the scene and act as a platform for young artist and creators alike. I'd partner with a bunch of local brands, throw parties and BBQ's, and feed as many people as I possibly could. I started this segment of parties with a good homie of mine that goes by Loss.

To partner that back with LA, Los Angeles seemed to be lacking in Southern hospitality. I knew I could give the city something they couldn't get anywhere else. Laedi, on the other hand opened his home to me and embraced my ideas. We sat down and I told him about my idea and BOOM- TSU was born with the help of the GLDVW team. We created a great series of parties that had people waiting 2 hours just to get into a house party. Our mission was to provide an experience for people. How do you get people to come to a party in a city that has parties everyday? You must find a void and create within that void and thats what we did.

What spawned the idea to create your clothing brand, Bueno?

Back home always serves and a source of inspiration within everything I do creatively. I've always been drawn to products with a story. It makes things relatable for me. Granted, I've always been into apparel and footwear- dreams of opening my own store, having my own color way of a sneaker. Through the experiences with the parties, my itch for providing tangible products grew and BOOM! Clothing gives me something music doesn't. There something about creating a physical product you can feel.

I knew I needed to makes t-shirts. I wanted to make product that reflected me, that spoke to who I was. But what would I do to stand out and make something streetwear doesn't have? I had my story- my Latin upbringing and hiphop background. I wanted to recreate what I had done in the past with my blog, but the form of a brand for myself. Creating a platform to raise awareness about the impact the Latin community has on street culture and sports. 

How did you get into photography? I know you shoot all your own lookbooks and content. Was that always the plan?

I wouldn't say I'm into photography, I just know what I envision for my brand,aesthetically. Nothing ground breaking. I have no problem working with a photographer! But I started caring more when I met Ricardo Jorge in Orlando. Through his photos and at the time share passion for good smoke. I became cognizant on how important photos were/are.

 

What can we expect from Bueno the second half of 2018?

I'm working on really building awareness so more parties, more clothes. Maybe a pop up shop, maybe a collaboration of some sort. I am committed to providing our consumers with the best possible opportunities to feel connect with the brand. Building a strong sense of community as our platform for our business is also a goal for the rest of 2018 and onward. I am not worries about being "cool" or selling out of product. I am obsessed with story telling, making shit I like and that's what I plan to do as I move forward with the brand.

I am currently working at Commonwealth LA and doing my best to keep my ears to the streets, seeing what type of pieces people are picking up. Asking questions and learning from the guys around me on their brand at the store- Q, Jay R, who are launching and building their own business. Omar is another person I look to for answers and options. Listening to guys like Anthony and Roland, who are embedded in streetwear and understand that it's also a business at the end of the day. There are also a lot of other sources of inspiration and I'm closely watching and learning from them all. The plan is that this information and research reflects within the brand. 

 

Do you have any events coming up?

Events are coming. We currently have a bi-weekly event, Thursdays at The Continental Club in DTLA. All events are subject to change. I'd just follow us on IG for any and all updates regarding events.

 

Where can we find you? 

IG: @alexander_blaine

Twitter: @alexanderblaine

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/alexanderblaine

Website: www.itmeansgood.com

 "Had the pleasure to visit Damar in his home studio and discuss his story of his background timeline as a musician" - Jerrall Thompson 

Filmed by Jerrall Thompson - Follow @profoundvision