A conversation, in Los Angeles, with Mr. Kevin Moon

What's the first thought to come to your head when you think of a 14 year old? Ponder for a second. Okay great, you're probably visualizing a bad ass skater in middle school, or a group of girls singing Selena Gomez in the backseat of Dad's Suburban. That's your typical teenager. So it's only right for us to introduce Mr. Kevin Moon. If you're a trendsetter, or spectating hater, you may have seen Kevin hanging around Melrose/Fairfax area with some of the coolest kids in Los Angeles. Or you may have seen the infamous photos taken on his film camera. Kevin is a different type of hybrid. At first sight, you see his glasses sitting above his nose, a vintage-distressed Rolling Stones jacket, Acne pants and Raf Simons sneakers. His outfit is worth more than a studio apartment, but that's not important. So what the hell does this 14 year old do? You're in the right place to find out.

(Kevin Moon and Tastemaker Collective Media photo by: Brandon Chang)

TCM:
Glad to have you here with us. It's a rare, rainy day here in LA. It hardly ever rains, but it's okay, because you're the first person to ever be interviewed with Tastemaker Collective Media.

KEVIN:
Really? I'm excited.

TCM:
Great lets jump right into it. So tell us where you're from, your age and what brought you here to LA.

KEVIN:
I'm actually from South Korea and I came here like four years ago. My intention was to come here and study but, it just happened to turn out like this. I'm 14 years old and I'm turning 15 in September.

TCM
Dope. After meeting you, I noticed you had this cool, calm, demeanor about yourself. You're way ahead of your time for your age and that's one of the reasons why I thought you were fucking dope. With that being said, I know you have to have some cool friends, which leads to my next question. Who are Kevin Moon's friends?

KEVIN:
Usually it's like a young group of people. But As I matured, most people I see, or friends, are like into drugs and I just don't fuck with it. It's just not my thing. People offer me drugs alcohol and stuff. I'm not really a fan of it, so I just choose to stay away from it.

TCM:
That's actually really good. Coming from my experiences, college, etc I've realized that drugs wasn't my thing. I'm not big fan of drugs at all. I smoke weed and drink every now and then, but that's great. Say no to drugs. You're on the right path.

KEVIN:
Thank You.

TCM
Yeah, just continue to immerse yourself into your craft. Most people think they need drugs to be good at something, but in reality, they really don't. Was it a big adjustment coming from another country to the US?

KEVIN:
No not really. I just had language issues because English was like my third language. So it wasn't really hard. But as soon as I got here, it was really easy to learn because I have to use it everyday.

TCM:
Exactly

KEVIN:
It's not like going to a school to learn like English. I speak English everyday.

TCM:
Exactly. That completely makes sense. I feel it's easier to pick up a language when you're forced to speak it everyday. What other two languages do you speak?

KEVIN:
I speak Korean, I learned Chinese, I learned Japanese, English and I'm learning Spanish right now.

TCM
Damn Kevin's a freaking scholar over here. Damn I wish I knew more of another language. I feel, as Americans, we don't really know other languages that well.

KEVIN:
I think out here you just have to learn English because that's the major language. In Korea, they force us to learn one language. Like out here, we just make other kids learn Spanish. It's like the same thing out there.

TCM
Exactly. I think now, more so, Spanish is gonna be taught more in school as well. Yeah, so you're gonna be going to high school next year?

KEVIN:
Yeah I'm going to Wildwood High School.

TCM
Wildwood? Where's that at?

KEVIN:
It's Near Sawtelle.

TCM
Dope bro. Congrats on the high school jump. It gets a little bit cooler in high school for sure. So tell us a little bit about what interest you and how you got into photography.

KEVIN:
What interest me? I was really into sculpting. Like drawing and painting. But for some reason, after I started to become friends with Tyler and people that are like famous, I grabbed this $30 film camera just to keep the memory. Then I just started posting on my Instagram and my other social media sites. After awhile people started coming through liking them. I only shoot film, so I started to put my money into better cameras. So other people could look at my photos and enjoy them.

TCM
Exactly. So one of your biggest sparks to photography was through sculpture?

KEVIN:
Yeah.

TCM
That's really cool.

Kevin:
Thank you.

TCM
That's actually really interesting to know. You actually brought me to a few more questions that I have for you. I've only known you to shoot on film. I love film personally. I think film has that raw aesthetic as oppose to digital where it's just (flick flick flick flick) But with film, you may only have one or two shots and you gotta make it count. Have you dove into the digital camera world yet?

KEVIN:
No, because I only wanna shoot digital when I'm getting paid constantly, like everyday. Like people just paying me when I'm like really busy and can't wait for my film to develop. That's when I want to get into digital photography. But for right now, I'm just fine with film.

TCM
Word. Yeah I know a lot of of other photographers that brushed up on their skills and got really good at shooting film first, then they moved to digital later. So I thinks it's always a good way to start on film. And yeah, it is a little bit more expensive but hey. You're getting your craft better, so when you do go to digital, you will be making more money to invest in film cameras and everything else. So I think that's really really dope. What type of camera do you shoot on?

KEVIN:
I use this brand called Contax T2.

TCM:
Contax.

KEVIN:
Yeah, it's this Japanese brand called Contax T2. It's like a small camera, but it's like manual. It's full auto focus and then this camera called the Nikon FM10. Its the same as the other one, but this one is full manual.

TCM:
Dope and those are both film cameras. I seen some of your work and I seen you shot the girl Rainy Milo?

KEVIN:
Yeah Rainy Milo.

TCM:
Yeah I love that shoot and the aesthetic. It was very cool how she had the towel on her head and I like how you played with the colors in the background. I know you also worked with the self proclaimed "King of the Youth" Ian Connor right?

KEVIN:
Haha yeah he's like my brother.

TCM:
That's super dope and you have gotten the likes from Odd Future artist Tyler the Creator.

KEVIN:
Yeah, Tyler introduced me and basically put me on. He helped me meet a lot of new people.

TCM:
Super cool man. That's awesome that you're paying homage to the people that put you on. No matter who you are...

KEVIN:
You gotta remember where you came from

TCM:
Exactly. No matter who you are. There's always someone to put someone else on. That's just how the world works, because we all need each other. Rather you like or hate people, you always need someone to help you. So that's super dope. So tell us about some other people you've worked with. Its completely okay to be "LA" now and name drop.

KEVIN:
I worked with Pink Dolphin when Ian had his collab with them. I shot for HUF, took some photos of Tyler, Milo oh and Trash Talk.

TCM:
I also saw that you did some work with Midnight Studios?

KEVIN:
Oh yeah I think it was Fader.. Oh no it was for Complex Magazine

TCM:
That's dope. Congrats on that. So what exactly was it specifically?

KEVIN:
It was for Shane, basically his introduction about his life. He's the owner of Midnight.

TCM;
Gotcha. Is there anything else currently that you're working on or coming up?

KEVIN:
I'm shooting for Dexter Navy. He was the Creative Director of LSD

TCM:
Oh yeah that was Rocky's video that he just released. I really like what Dexter did with that video. He captured that whole aesthetic. That's like a brand new sound for ASAP Rocky in a sense. I don't think his fans ever really heard him rap like that. I thought that was really dope. So what are you doing with Dexter?

KEVIN:
I'm shooting something for Complex Mag with him.

TCM:
That's dope.

KEVIN:
Yeah, he helped me out with shooting for Jesse Rutherford. He's the lead singer of The Neighbourhood.

TCM:
Is The Neighbourhood a band?

KEVIN:
Yeah.

TCM:
Word. So you're about to work with Dexter next. Do you have anything else coming up?

KEVIN:
Not really everything just comes in waves.

TCM:
Totally man, I completely understand that. So I have scenario for you. So it's raining cats and dogs, you have a two seater car, but you can only give a ride to one person. Your choices are Ian Connor and Tyler the Creator. Who would you give the ride to?

KEVIN:
Uhh no one?

TCM:
Haha you have to choose one.

KEVIN:
Actually I would give Tyler a ride because he always gives me a ride.

TCM:
So Tyler over Ian!?

KEVIN:
Haha no it's not like that.

TCM:
Yeah I feel you. It's like you only have one ride and I don't think Ian or Tyler would want to sit in each other's lap.

KEVIN:
Haha yeah I would say Tyler because he gave me a ride before.

TCM:
Okay dopeness. So let's talk music, because music has a big influence on photography. You already said you're about to work with Dexter Navy, who shot ASAP Rocky's music video. What's your taste in music and who's coming out of your headphones right now?

KEVIN:
It's really different. I listen to everything except Country. But yesterday, was of course, Dirty Sprite 2.

TCM:
Hell yeah Future went so hard.

KEVIN:
Yeah I fucks with Future.

TCM:
Yeah his stuff gets you hype.

KEVIN:
Yeah Future gets me like really energetic. Before I go to bed, and when I wake up, I always listen to "I'm Good" by Clipse.

TCM:
Clipse hell yeah. I'm from VA so you know I'm down with Clipse.

KEVIN:
I always listen to Clipse. But my music taste is always different. I listen to bands like the Crash, Subhumans, Bad Brains, everything. Like it's always different. I don't really have a favorite band or anything.

TCM:
Yeah I feel you. It just goes with the mode of what feeling or mood you're in.

KEVIN:
Yeah sometimes I just wanna listen, to something
mellow like Mac Demarco.

TCM:
Exactly. By the way, have you seen that new Pusha T video?

KEVIN:
Nah

TCM:
He just put out a new video with Dennis Rodman in it. You know the old basketball player right?

KEVIN:
Yeah

TCM:
Yeah it's dope. I forgot the name of it, but you can look it up on YouTube.

KEVIN:
Isn't he the one with the crazy hair?

TCM:
Yep played with the Bulls and Michael Jordan. That's him. So what inspires Kevin and who are some of your inspirations?

KEVIN:
I always love looking at paintings. As far as photography, I always look at Helmut Newton and Mario Testino. But I really love Helmut Newton. Those photographers that I mentioned have like their own filters. They don't have to touch them. Like I can look at them and know it's Helmut Newton or someone else.

TCM:
Yeah those photographers basically created their own identity. They really honed in on their craft to make their work timeless. Like Helmut Newton work is still timeless till this day. Mario Testino is still killing it. I actually follow him too. He's dope.

KEVIN:
There's another photographer named Guy Bourdin that I really love.

TCM:
Oh dope I'll have to check him out.

KEVIN:
He was a photographer for Vogue during the 1960's.

TCM:
Yeah to me, that's almost when photography was at it's highest peak. Nowadays, because of social media, everyone thinks they're a photographer. There's a lot of washed down stuff, but I feel like the true talent always rises up. So you've been doing some modeling as well. You actually modeled for our first release and you were crowned Dad, which is awesome. Is modeling something you would like to do more of?

KEVIN:
Modeling uh.. I don't know. I'm not really into modeling unless it's for someone I know or friends ask me to do it. Like Trash Talk, I ended up modeling for them also. But I always have to be compensated since I don't do work for free.

TCM:
Exactly because you've been doing this for awhile. It's not like you just started and you have to stand up for yourself and get something out of it. I have a good one for you. If you can give anyone a golden shower

KEVIN:
What does that mean?

TCM:
If you can give anyone a golden shower and not think twice about it, who would it be? That basically means you can piss on anyone. So anyone who has made you upset or anything. Who would you wanna give a gold shower to?

KEVIN:
Uhh the Principal at my old school and Donald Trump.

TCM:
That's a great answer bro. I've definitely wanted to piss on my Principal a couple of times. Donald Trump needs to get pissed on by everybody.

KEVIN:
He looks like he would hire people like during the Purge.

TCM:
To me, Donald Trump looks like he would still have slaves stuck in his estate somewhere and nobody knows about you it (Laughs).

KEVIN:
It's scary

TCM:
Yeah it's really scary

KEVIN:
He terrifies me.

TCM:
He definitely is and you know with today's time and everything going on in America-

KEVIN:
There's so much shit that we don't know about.

TCM:
Yeah there's so much. At the same time, I'm happy to be an American. So I'm actually gonna go off topic a little bit and tell you a story that this kid told me yesterday. This kid lives in Singapore and he was freaking out because he moved from Tokyo Japan to Singapore. He smokes weed..

KEVIN:
Singapore is crazy when it comes to weed. Like if you spit gum or something you will get whipped.

TCM
Yeah literally whipped if you spit. That's what my girl said. The country is very clean and pretty but they're crazy. And this kid said he was freaking out so he left and fled to America for a bit. One of his friends were shooting a movie out there and some officers did a random check and found weed on him. Just a side-note: Weed, to me, isn't a drug, it's just a plant. But anyway, they arrested him and tortured him for the weed he had. So they stripped him of his clothes, put him a freezing room, below zero, for five hours and interrogated him about the weed. They would come in and out to ask him where he received it from and who he was smoking with until they got answers. Soon he started talking because he was in there, naked, forfive hours freezing to death over some WEED. That's crazy. I can't believe that. That story made me start to think like, okay America isn't that bad! So I guess he ratted on one of the homies. But the guy who told me the story was paranoid, so he left and came here to LA. He just wanted to lay low and smoke all the weed he wanted here before going back. Crazy random story. But we all have someone we would like to piss on. So is there any people or brands you would like to work with?

KEVIN:
I like two brands. I wanna work with Acne Studios because I've been getting inspired by their look books and Gosha Rubchinskiy.

TCM;
I like Gosha. Is there any models or people you wanna work with?

KEVIN:
If I could pick anyone I would work with Kate Moss. I think that's it. I'm not really one of those type of kids that's a fan of models. I don't care about any models to be honest. That's not really my thing. But I found out about this model name Emily Ratajkowski. She's like super hot

TCM
Emily Rosenberg?

KEVIN:
Ratajkowski

TCM:
Is she the Complex girl? Oh wait.. That's Emily Oberg she's not a model.

KEVIN:
Yeah she's wack.

TCM:
(Laughs)

KEVIN:
This is her (shows picture)

TCM:
Damn she is fine. How old is she? Where is she from?

KEVIN:
No idea she says she's from in LA.

TCM:
Kevin lets go get her bro, me and you. Let's go get her and see if she has some friends. Or we can Rock Paper Scissors for that one haha. So every time I see you, Ive noticed you have a cool sense of style and I was just wondering..What are you wearing nowadays? What brands/stores are you into?

KEVIN:
I really like vintage clothes. Ive just changed a lot. My style constantly changes. I hate wearing stuff that other people wear. So right now it's either really vintage or shit nobody has. Then I just switch it up and get stuff that kids my age can't afford.

TCM:
EXACTLY. You either go super high end on them or vintage

KEVIN:
Or low key haha.

TCM:
I think one for the coolest things about LA is finding vintage pieces, both regular and high end.

KEVIN:
Yeah Shane has showed me a lot of vintage stores. Most of my style inspiration has come from him. Hell point out things and be like "oh you should get this" and he'll show me websites etc. He took me to this store on La Brea called What Goes Around Comes Around. Have you ever heard of it?

TCM
No I haven't.

KEVIN:
It's like a high end vintage store

TCM:
On La Brea? Oh that's dope

KEVIN:
Yeah it's right across from American Rag. I use to just go in American Rag and look at their vintage shit, but whenever I would go into What Goes Around Comes, I'd get a small discount because I had a friend who worked there. They have like vintage band tee shirts. I found this vintage bow wow shirt I wanted but it was like $200.00 so I was like hell no. I'm not paying 200 for Bow Wow. You got me fucked up.

TCM:
Haha right that's too much for Bow Wow. You might as well go to the APC store on the corner and get the APC denim for $200.00.

KEVIN:
Yeah they have like a lot of vintage band tee shirts, some high end pieces, vintage jackets etc. I went with my mom for her birthday and she got this vintage Hermes bag and some Chanel. They got these black Chanel suspenders that I wanna get. It's like all black, that shit is tight.

TCM:
That's ill. I have some white suspenders that I wanna bring out. I'm thinking with the shirt tucked in and slip ons loafers with no socks.

KEVIN:
Hell yeah, but those Chanel suspenders are really nice. Those are like the only suspenders I would wear.

TCM:
Yeah those suspenders are hard as fuck I'm definitely gonna have to check that store out soon. That's a good find.

KEVIN:
Yeah I've just been looking around for pieces. I'm gonna go to New York on the 29th to take photos with my friends and hit the vintage stores out there.

TCM
That's dope have you ever been to New York before?

KEVIN:
Yeah I went there for the first time last winter.

TCM:
Oh yeah that's right. I remember you telling me that the last time we connected. That's gonna be tight. NY in the summer is the best time to go.

KEVIN:
Yeah it's really hot but Korea was really hot also.

TCM:
Yeah it's humid. Like today is a humid day in LA, but it gets more humid there. But it's either humidity or 13 degrees. I think I'd take the humidity haha. Cause during the winter it's 13 and the wind is blowing everywhere and you can't really do anything. So that's cool you're gonna be hanging out in New York and shooting some friends there.

KEVIN:
Yeah like lots of friends that I'm gonna be hanging out with.

TCM:
For sure, whose some of the friends you're gonna be hanging out with in NY?

KEVIN:
My best friend Manon (insta @mingblingbling). This Asian girl.

TCM:
Oh yeah Manon that's the girl I thought you were dating.

KEVIN:
Nah she's like my best friend.

TCM:
Yeah she hangs out V-Files right?

KEVIN:
Yeah she works for V-Files.

TCM:
Oh dope. We actually had Danasia from V-Files rocking the dad out there. She's friends with one of our affiliates, Jamel, who works with Tastemaker Collective also. So are there any particular brands you like?

KEVIN:
Everytime I wear something it's like full Acne. I like it because its really plain, low key, and kids my age can't afford that shit.

TCM:
Exactly the kids can't even fuck with it.

KEVIN:
That's the only reason I wear it.

TCM:
Haha exactly exactly.

KEVIN:
It's not like I'm trying to flex, because I hate flexing.

TCM:
It's not that you're flexing. You just like good quality and having other things that people can't get.

KEVIN:
Yeah it's really plain too that's why I like it.

TCM:
Yeah it's super plain, but they still can't get it. Even if they could get, you have your own taste which separates you.

KEVIN:
Yeah it's not like me trying flex, or tag the brand I'm wearing. I'm not really a fan of that.

TCM;
I completely understand you. I would usually only tag them for business purposes only. Like if it was for an editorial or something. If you tag them, (analytically speaking) It puts you in their category which could be cool, but it really doesn't matter that much unless it's business related to be honest. Speaking of tagging, what's your favorite feature or trait on a woman?

KEVIN:
I don't know. I really love girls that are different from other girls. LA girls are really wack they're likeall the same. So when I look for girl she has to be different. I've seen a lot of gorgeous women out there, but most of them are all the same. There's no point of me talking to them. Like I could care less about them

TCM:
For a woman I feel it's important to have something beyond the looks. You need to have something beyond your physical appearance. Like are you inspiring, do you have good energy, cool to hang out with, good conversation etc. It's just better to have someone around that can help you grow.

KEVIN:
Exactly. The person that's really influencing and motivational

TCM:
For sure so you have a girlfriend right?

KEVIN:
Yeah.

TCM:
How's that going for you?

KEVIN:
It's alright, I like fight with her a lot.

TCM:
Yeah that comes with being in a relationship, As far as age and experience goes. (Coming from my experience being older) anything that's worth having is worth the fight doesn't come easy. That comes for photography or whatever you're doing.

KEVIN:
Yeah I feel like I gravitate toward older girls just based off maturity level. I feel like most girls my age aren't on the same maturity level as I am.

TCM:
I can totally see that. Kevin you're on a different playing field than someone you would typically see as a 15 year old in America. I don't know how the kids are in other countries. But as far as America, you're on a different wavelength than other kids your age.

KEVIN:
Yeah that's why I surround myself with a group ofpeople that are older than me. I'm not trying to diss my age group, but that's just who I hang out with. Like I can actually talk to them about my life and they can help me out as oppose to other kids that just talk shit. I'm done with negativity.

TCM:
Nah you don't have time for that. Negativity breeds negativity.

KEVIN:
Yeah it's like the saying, "I'd rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies." For me, I'd rather have four people around that actually like me and actually support me in what I'm doing as oppose to people that talk shit and do nothing.

TCM:
Dude those type people aren't your friends. A friend is a someone that's uplifting. You guys converse, joke around, laugh with each other etc. But if you guys are going through an emotional /tough time, you can talk to each other and help each other out. That's a friendship. It's good that you understand this at your age, because it's going to help you out as you continue to grow in this life. Just knowing who to surround yourself with and being in touch with yourself. I think kids are most in touch with themselves when they're first born. Then once they get older sometimes they start to lose touch with themselves. As far as age goes, you're very in tune with yourself and I look up to you for that.

KEVIN:
Thank you

(Walking through Silverlake, CA Interview pt.2 photo by: Brandon Chang)

So yeah Kevin we've switched up locations. Brought it to the cool, hipster area of Silverlake (laughs). I don't like using the word hipster. I hate that fucking word to be honest. Did you see the last collection by Saint Laurent? It was very "Silverlake" influenced.

KEVIN:
Oh yeah my friend went to that show.

TCM:
Exactly. So now that we got that done. I kinda see where your taste is at Kevin. Lets take it back to more of how we can, I guess in a way, inspire and help others. What advice would you give to anyone out there aspiring to be a photographer?

KEVIN:
I just want to tell them, because I'm still learning, I'm not like a professional photographer or anything.

TCM:
Exactly

KEVIN:
I just want to tell them it's cool to just shoot whatever it is that you want to shoot and not focus on one single subject. I went to a photography school and they want you to do things a certain type of way. When really you should shoot what you want to shoot because shooting one subject can be really boring.

TCM:
So what you're trying to say is you want people to get out there and be creatively free, and not be forced in a box to a particular style.

KEVIN:
Exactly

TCM:
That's actually really good advice. I feel like people that go to school for the arts, no matter what it is, if you want to be a designer, musician, photographer, whatever. Mostof the time, schools try box you into doing things a certain type of way. Also just like teaching people the fundamental of craft but also letting them be creatively free which is really important. That's definitely good advice for anyone out there aspiring to be a photographer. You're of this social media age and you're apart of the social media generation. I see a lot of people on there that you don't necessarily know what they do, or what their talents are, but they have a following because they hang around "so and so." I guess their talent becomes social media

KEVIN:
Yeah it's pretty disgusting

TCM:
Exactly and I don't really see a talent in that. So my question to you is: How does this whole social media thing play a role in your craft as photographer (and actually being talented at it) and do you like social media?

KEVIN:
I do support social media if you're using it the way you're suppose to be using it. It's free also so it's like the easiest way of showing other people your artwork. For example, if I take a photo and post it on my social media accounts and people like support me like whether they don't. But it's like the easiest way to like show other people what I'm talented at and what exactly happened. There's like so many ways you can ruin your life using social media. You just have to use it carefully. That's what I believe. There's so many things on social media that you like can't get rid of. It's just always gonna be there be so you really can't do much about it.

TCM:
Exactly, because once it's there, it's there. Even if you delete it, someone can still come through and screenshot it.

KEVIN:
Yeah and about the follower thing..I think it's cool to have like followers where people just watch and stuff, but I don't think it's like a talent. Like its not cool to just have followers of the people you know.

TCM:
Yeah it's almost like what is it.

KEVIN:
For like no reason also.

TCM:
I completely understand it. And I understand, like you said, the cool thing about social media is its free, so it's actually a free marketing tool for you to start your own business In a sense. That's one of the pros to it. I feel like one of the cons is it can make people lazy, egotistical and caught up in things that don't even matter. Like "oh what's so and so doing," or "oh so and so was with them today," like it creates all of this shit that doesn't even matter.

KEVIN:
I was trying to delete my social media but I was thinking about how many people I met through social media. Like if I didn't have an Instagram or Twitter, I wouldn't have met most of the people I know now. It's like a really useful tool to use for like marketing and stuff. So I feel like I'm going to delete my social media when I feel like I've gotten up to a point to where I don't need it to find a job. It's like a waste of time when you think about it. You're just on your phone for hours like everyday.

TCM:
Yeah exactly. I have to catch myself, because I'm on that shit probably way more than I should be sometimes. I use to have like an old busted phone and I was like oh fuck that I don't care. But then I was like hold up, this is a business. Like people actually make money. I'm sure you can vouch for this as well, like I've gotten jobs and inspiration through social media. There's so many pros and cons, but like you said, be very aware and careful of how you're using it and how much time you're spending on it and balance that. One thing I do like about it is its helped older generations and generations below us not have to work so much in a corporate world, work a 9-5 everyday and be forced to be in this bunch. For example, my friend Laina Rauma I told you about who is a designer. To do what she has done (back in the early 80's and 90's) you would have to go work as an intern, work for a fashion house, go work to do this, work to do that and you could be designing things in your house. But it was so much harder to get people to see that, because there wasn't any social media. So you had to like go through the ropes. But now she can cut & sew, post up a picture, start getting fans, build her own website and sell it. There's so many pros and cons to it. Another question on that, is there anyway around social media and still be able to market your work without it.

KEVIN:
Wait can you repeat the question. The guy in that blue car is like staring at me.

TCM:
Really?

KEVIN:
Yeah like behind us (laughs).

TCM:
That's hilarious. They probably recognize you. I think they're staring at us all like wtf? Who knows what's going on (Laughs).

KEVIN:
I'm gonna stare at him (Laughs).

TCM:
Right haha. But the question was is there anyway around social media? Like for people who don'tnecessarily know how to use social media. Is there a way around it, by not being involved, but still being able to market your work?

KEVIN:
Uh not really. I think it's impossible. I don't think I could do it.

TCM:
I feel you. I kinda feel like social media is inevitable. So if you're really good at something and you're not doing it on social media, someone else is going to be doing it. They're gonna take a picture and say "oh look at what so and so did." So I don't really feel like there's a way around it. I guess there is still people low key in the game. Like the photographer who shoots everything for Virgil, Fabien Montique. He's pretty low key. He shoots almost everything for Off White.

KEVIN:
Yeah my friend Christina Paik shoots some of his stuff also

TCM:
Exactly, but yeah that guy is pretty low key on social media. I never heard of him before until my homie told me about him.

KEVIN:
That's cool yeah I didn't know either.

TCM:
There probably is still a way around social media. The way around it is being out in the streets and really meeting people. You know. Like really being that guy that's good. You may not be on social media, but you're at event or you know "so and so" and you're really good at what you do, so other people know you. That's the only way around it. That's still the authentic way. People that are big at what they do were recognized for what they did, but they were still out meeting people before social media was ever around. It's still like that in a sense, but social media can still help build your business and inflate your network. So moving along, let the people know where they can find your work, websites etc.

KEVIN:
I just put the links on my social media, but I usually have my photos up on my tumblr.

TCM:
Tumblr

KEVIN:
Yeah.

TCM:
Okay, so what's your tumblr name?

KEVIN:
It's the same as my Instagram username.
mrkevinmoon.tumblr.com

(Gianna Mora "I Think About You Sometimes" hat shot by Kevin Moon)

TCM:
Mrkevinmoon.tumblr.com okay cool and they can find your work on your tumblr and Instagram?

KEVIN:
Yeah, but I stop posting photos/works that I've shot on my Instagram and other social medias, because I feel like people just get lazy and look at my photos on Instagram. So I'd rather have them actually look at my work on Tumblr.

TCM:
Exactly. Instagram actually kills the art of photography. The photos are way smaller and you're not seeing the full image on Instagram. They should put a feature on Instagram where you can click on the photo and it enlarges. Tumblr has those capabilities. I feel like that should be a feature that Instagram should have, because it's not doing any justice for photography and people are being conditioned to look at images in that small square format. It's kind of interesting. So do you prefer Tumblr or Instagram?

KEVIN:
Instagram.

TCM:
Interesting. I'm more of a Tumblr guy personally. It's rated XXX on tumblr (laughs) and you can find anything on tumblr. You can get reported on Instagram easily you know.

KEVIN:
Yeah, I just support Instagram more because I've met so many people from it. Like if I didn't have an Instagram I wouldn't know nearly as many people that I do now.

TCM:
I completely understand that.

KEVIN:
Instagram also has direct messaging. Like people message me and ask me questions and they support me. That really motivates me.

TCM:
Exactly. I completely understand that. One of the things I really didn't like is Instagram is more personable. Tumblr isn't really that personable. Youdon't know how many followers people have. I mean, you can kind of judge it by how many notes they're getting, but it doesn't say. It's not really about the followers and comments on tumblr. That's why I really like it. What's the best prank you've ever played on someone?

KEVIN:
I don't really have any pranks that I've played on someone, but I really love scaring people. I don't know why. I get scared really easily, but I love scaring people.

TCM:
Is there any memorable moment where you scared the shit out of someone?

KEVIN:
Oh Yeah my friend Xuly. His mom is like the choreographer for Pharell. We were at his studio

TCM:
Oh Fatima?

KEVIN:
Yeah

TCM:
Oh word I saw her over here the other day actually.

KEVIN:
Yeah and we went to his studio and I turned out all the lights and scared the shit out of him haha.

TCM:
Haha Oh what's his name?

KEVIN:
Xuly

TCM:
Oh yeah he modeled for 424 right?

KEVIN:
Yeah he modeled for the Fear of God Collection.

TCM:
Word. So how do you feel about the LA youth culture? Especially being someone who isn't from this country and how does that art scene influence your art? Or do you feel like it does at all?

KEVIN:
I don't really like consider myself apart of the LA youth group. I feel like most of the people that consider themselves "LA Youth Group" are basically the ones who don't have any talent and just want to be apart of something. Like they just want credit for something that they don't do. It just like people that don't doesn't deserve it, which I'm not really a fan of. So I just want people to see me as an individual and not like a scene dude. Like I don't want people to see me and be like "oh he hangs out with everybody." I just want people to see me and be like that's Kevin Moon.

TCM:
You just wanna be known as Mr Kevin Moon.

KEVIN:
Yeah And I'm not just saying that, because Fairfax is where I met everyone and got put on. But they didn't "give" me the talent. You know?

TCM:
Exactly. You taking the initiative and being inspired creates the talent. To wrap this up, Ill like to give the floor back to Mr. Kevin Moon and this is your time to leave us with anything you would like to share with the people. Is there anything else you would like to share?

KEVIN:
No haha

TCM:
Haha great. Bro thanks again for taking the time out to let us interview you today. We most certainly appreciate your time and we're fans of your work here at Tastemaker Collective Media and that's why we wanted you to be the first interview because you supported us. We're very very excited to see your work in the future and whatever else you choose to do. We thank you. You're gonna be very successfully and we're gonna leave you with this statement. YOU GOT THE JUICE KEVIN MOON.

KEVIN:
Haha thank you thank you.