URL:
proxynoise.com
In the most non-professional way, Warren Smith is a Professional Surfer. He doesn't do contest. He's never been to Hawai‘i. He travels to unique destinations because he gets paid to do so. If he happens to find surf, then he surfs. Iceland. Russia. India. Barcelona. Chile. Space. Japan. Instead of chasing photos in Bali or any coast facing the South Pacific this summer, he chose to power fade through New York City. Based on the wave-starved-shitsicle that has been the summer of 2010, compared to last winter anyway, we'd say he made a good call. Joined by Dion Agius (Modern Collective). Rumored to be freeloading in "crack dens.” “Seeing more sunrises than sunsets.” All while chasing art, music, chicks and weirdness simultaneously. We asked Warren a few questions about not surfing, the NYC treatment and getting your twinkletoe on.
Have you guys even been surfing at all this summer?
To be honest I didn't really come here to surf. I just wanted to spend some time in the best city in the world and not really worry about surfing. But I have been one time. Took the train to Montauk to visit my friend Mikey Detemple. It was amazing. The scene there is awesome. I nose dived like 20 times. We surfed with Chris Martin from Coldplay, saw Mick Jagger on the beach, and Jimmy Buffet just hanging around. We did see something really weird, a man get his throat slit by another man at a bar on our last night. He didnt die, I don't think, but man that was a doosie.
How has NYC treated you? Highlights? Lowlights?
There's too many adventures to recount. I've seen so many amazing bands, met so many amazing people. And I've only been here 2 months. Some of the better bands I saw were Beirut, Wavves, Ariel Pink, and Health. Which were all amazing live. I've met some really inspiring people that make me want to do something cool with my life. And my friend Jeremiah runs this night once a month called
After Midnight. Its amazing. All these weird goths come out, get naked and pour blood on themselves. Its awesome. Some lowlights would have to be getting fat and pale. That part is sucky.
Are you guys gonna skip the North Shore of Hawai‘i and go to London for the winter?
Well I never go to Hawai‘i, so ya, I'll be skipping it. But I'm sure Dion will go for a bit. But I might visit that gental giant CJ Kanuha one day. He's always trying to get me to come over.
So you and Dion have been shooting a lot of photos — documenting your travels. What equipment are you shooting with?
I'm shooting with a Leica knock-off thing made by Panasonic that Chris Burkard gave me when he left me in Russia. It has a Leica lens but they're like $300 cheaper. Dion shoots with a Canon 7D. But I wouldn't call myself a photographer. I just like to play around with it. It's a really inspiring activity. A lot of my friends are real photographers, and to call myself a photographer would be an insult to them.
We hear you're an amazing dancer, where's your favorite spot in the city?
To be honest I don’t really dance a whole ton anymore. I used to go like five nights a week in Hollywood a few years ago. It was a huge part of my life. Not seriously or anything, but just being silly with friends. But I've had a few dables over here at Sway on their Smiths/Morrissey night and at After Midnight. I want to go into Harlem and find some weird old jazz/soul clubs. Those are my favs.
