Recollections of my early years as a graffiti writer. Subjects discussed include: photographic memory, moving to New Mexico, Cholo graffiti, Breakin movie, Subway Art book, Hip Hop graffiti, Olde English font, Thailand, seeing a writer at work for the first time, Uptown SK8 Posse, Matt Linnell (Circus), Albuquerque ditches, USP, difficulties with spray paint, GIANT, first freeway spot, PBT, Monolithic, 2ZC, CWK, Agree, NY fat caps, Doc, ATK, classified ad in UK skateboard magazine, Tom Brogan, London, Camden Town, EDM, acid house mixtapes, Street Beat, first meeting with Agree and Doc, buff paint, AOT, The All Time Kingdom, photo trading, Agent, Zore, Rafa, Vez, Chicago, recognizing writers, DTE, SB, Lone, rack and return, vintage paint, Wesk, learning security routes, tagging a crane, MC Rock, Dyse, Cheno, Sero, Quasar, Zodak, Zeno, Brisk, the Euclid Yard, Sake, stencil caps, APS crew, Agree dies.

Mike Giant Podcast

Episode 38: GRAFFITI WRITING: PART ONE

90min mix meant for moments of heavy marijuana consumption. Ambient, dub, jungle, downtempo, juke and more with spoken word from Mike Giant https://soundcloud.com/itsufo mikegiant.com

Episode 37: GIANT UFO!!!

Giant's interview with his old friend Justin Kerson. Recorded at Justin's home in Northern California on March 19, 2021. Topics discussed include: Growing up Marin County, Tupac, Ben Harper, Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead’s last show at Shoreline, LSD, Dark Orchestra, MoTown, Orange Sunshine Theory, the psychedelic experience, sharing tattoos, ego/graffiti, edibles, therapeutic uses of cannabis, finding his postulate, growing up around cannabis, Pompeii, archeological editing, psychedelics in religion, mushroom therapy, inherited skills, family of artists, first tokes at 13, water polo, scare tactics, Humboldt County, Larry Bird, modern access to information, don’t mix drugs, buying from the grower, decriminalize/legalize, family support, job security, tattoos as a symbol of dedication, Shawn Barber, Anthony G. Morris, array of friends, Bigfoot, Ishmael, aliens visiting in 1972, COVID19 vaccine, fighting infection with good health, peace of mind, The Point of Affinity, The Age of Aquarius, 42, light versus dark forces and kharma, degrees in Freemasonry, Hollywood pandemic prepping, Obama, checks and balances, voting for dynasties, packs and tribes versus hives and herds, sports fans, regional flavor, Phylos, Israel, medicinal cannabis, TOTT Global, Rolling High dice set, Sean Desmond, Francisco Agudo, production expenses, stickers, packaging, losing girls over growing weed, and turkey bags. @justinkerson

Episode 36: Justin Kerson

Mike speaks on the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. Recorded January 17, 2021 in his studio in San Diego, California. Based on material previously published in the "Buddhist Basics" zine.

Episode 35: The Eightfold Path

Mike's interview with his old friend DJ Eldon. Recorded in Eldon's home in Albuquerque, NM on October 19, 2020. Topics discussed include: Meeting each other during the early 90s rave scene, born in 1959 in Albuquerque, growing up in a large Hispanic family, graduated top of his class at Del Norte, radio program at the University of Albuquerque, soul/r&b music, late night radio jumps, Neil Murray, Priests from the East, KUNM, FCC license, Eldon Otis Grier, on-air persona, Wolfman Jack, music director at KRZY, weekend on-air spot from midnight to 6am, meeting country music stars, The Caravan East, Willie Nelson, stagehand work, Waylon Jennings, University of New Mexico, Black radio, sending demo tapes, reel to reel editing, Frankie Crocker, seizing opportunities, moving to New York City, 220 Central Park South, Camp Rising Sun, Jeffrey Troy, Larry Levan at Paradise Garage (late 1970s), Richard Long sound system, good sound, David Mancuso at The Loft, creative mixing, Broadway dancers, locker rooms, baby powder, Body and Soul, Danny Tenaglia, Jim Burgess, playing in key and on beat, Jeno, Garth, Angel Marais, seamless mixing, personal vs. fan satisfaction, Marriott, cafe owner, long sets, London 1990, Beyond Ordinary, Toc and Nona, Industrial music, warehouse raves, resurgence of rave samples, housemusic.com, wallstreet.com, deep house, tea dance, rave inclusivity, tribal connections, outdoor raves, 9-11, musician producers, pandemic creativity, Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, selling mixtapes, Mary Boone Gallery, subway noise, heartbreak, Andy Warhol, Studio 54, flash cubes, Crash, Francisco Clemente, subway graffiti, early Albuquerque graffiti, rave fliers, Mark Farina, DJ line-ups, dawn sets, 4am, hiring an architect, Tadao Ando, Tom Ford’s house, Frank Lloyd Wright, SAMO, Doze Green, the AIDS crisis, Area, the day job and producing raves. Search for "DJ Eldon" on Soundcloud and Mixcloud to hear a few of his mixes.

Episode 34: DJ Eldon

Mike's interview with his friend and mentor Wane COD. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on October 13, 2020. Topics discussed include: Agree’s tutoring, Top 3 New York writers, Wane, Hims, Know, IGT, Can Control, Ghetto Art, Bomber, Hype, Albuquerque Aerosol, Huffer, studying zines, San Diego vacation, born in London, moved to North Bronx, early fascination with subway graffiti in 1978, Min, Spin, readability of graffiti writing, Vin and Rolieo TCS, racking, Kato, Dyan, age gap amongst kids, The Players, early crew fashion, breakdancing, Burn, “motioning”, junior high, blackbook exchange, Michelob, the sneak peak, Agree’s blackbooks, stolen markers, Sey, show and prove, graffiti mentoring, Saturday art class, Bize, Rem 311, urban disarray of 80s/90s, painting at night vs in daylight, the addiction of graffiti writing, Allerton Ave, Tremont Ave, Key, Cav, Kodak 110 camera, making “connecter” photos, photos as evidence, hunting instinct, Blade, Comet, art in motion, graffiti pieces as dynamic objects, Ages, Albuquerque, East, Ghost, Reas, Ven, the Clean Train Era, Went, Ket, the timeless experience of painting transit systems, segregation in Chicago, exposed third rails in the rain, evading gangs, street hustlers, local obstacles, LA freeway writing, “All City”, cleverness, Dero, Poem, Dez, Duster, (UPS guy), studying Dez’s blackbooks, SMK, the 90s photo exchange networks, Graphotism, Phil Kosaka, Espo, On The Go, The Art of Getting Over, the quick wit of Steve Powers, Tower Records and the weekly graffiti magazine study sessions, Bomb the System, Scrapyard, hip-hop shops, Unique Boutique, Spin Art, Baba, Power, finding actuator producers, Doc’s cap business, the tools of graffiti, Roger Gastman, Zebster, tattoo gun, dropping knowledge, the cap sample kit, Liquitex cap, Poke IBM, the cap search, Phantoms, Wallies, window cleaner caps, stock tip style, blackbook writers, taking a wrap and getting kicked out of high school, honor, stepping up to chill cops out, graduating from an alternative high school, apprenticing at a print shop, first logo job at 17, stepping stones and building a resumé, SUNY College, graphic design study, Flashbacks, Mare and Kel, the Mac lab, custom airbrushing, cleaning airbrushes, handmade streetwear, investing in computers, cut and paste, CorelDraw, Gangstarr, occupational kharma, freestyling in blackbooks, outlines on abstracts, Renos, Doc TC5, Persué, Kaze, Jeru tha Damaja, Guru and Premier, working with record labels, Stash, Gerb, Tribal, Third Rail, Risky, ConArt, early streetwear distribution, Writers Bench, GFS, PNB, SeenWorld, Kingpin, resistance to commercializing graffiti, street cred through fashion, authenticity, getting hooked up from friends, Puff Daddy/Sean John, the fallout from 9-11, cooperating with clients, hiding bullshit freelance work, creative freedom, saying No to the wrong jobs, 1200 sq ft studio in Western Mass., working in solitude and lecturing. @waneonecod

Episode 33: Wane COD

Part two of Giant's interview with his friend Joy Shannon. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on July 5, 2020. Topics discussed include: Ed Hardy changing sanitation standards in tattooing, latex gloves, the Old Timer Splotch, tattooing in photo booth, re-using needles, Crown Needles, cartridge needles, loupe, fineline tattooing, carving and printing, support from her students, support from fans, apprenticeships, Nalla Smith, teaching, wardrobe, wig making, learning from Black girls, difficulties for college teachers, concussion, first meeting with Mike, Gifts from the Universe, the LA “Springboard” mentality, moving to Italy, tattoo tribes, side gigs going full-time, Shanti the service dog, Florence Tattoo Convention, Kai Uwe Faust, Druid tattoos, punks, throat tattoos, Laguna College of Art and Design, Ed Swanson, learn what not to do, private/public spaces for tattooing, shops full of specialists, tattoo TV shows, backstory, Karen Roze, private ritual tattooing, benefits of a support system, Paper Crane Studios, COVID restrictions, side projects to maintain a living, Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks, the “Liam Neeson” video, vocalizing to relieve pain. Link to "Liam Neeson" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E7JvpBsUz0 joyshannon.com @joyshannon @triplegoddesstattoos

Episode 32: Joy Shannon - Pt. 2

Part one of Giant's interview with his friend Joy Shannon. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on July 5, 2020. Topics discussed include: Culture magazine, art/music writing, offering a tattoo apprenticeship, growing up in Santa Ana, early years in Chicago, Irish bloodline, Celtic art, history of Celtic tattooing, tattooed mummies, Viking burials, personal tattoo tools, Ancient Ink, self-tattooing, continuing ancient traditions, The Audience Will Come To You, changes in how to enter the tattoo business, “specialty” tattooers, playing music and signing as a child, Elton John, understanding metaphors, costume design, Orange County, being a “weirdo”, Goths in California, avoiding people on the street, cheap used records, 90s home video editing, Headbanger’s Ball, Yo! MTV Raps!, Immortal, Symphonic Metal, the music students, Show and Prove, skater applause, cello, appreciating orchestral music, Jazz standards, inherited skills, Celtic harps, advances in technology, keyboard sensitivity, signing and playing instruments simultaneously, Natural Desire, family music connections, Lyle Lovett, Ancestral Karma, Old Souls, Bodhisattvas, The Magdalene Laundries, Catholicism, ancient Irish history, O’Carolan, Dead Can Dance, tattooing herself, Ogham, messages in a dream states/meditation, old school vs. current modes of tattooing, finding your clientele, tattooing through the pandemic, surviving the AIDS era. joyshannon.com @joyshannon @triplegoddesstattoos

Episode 31: Joy Shannon - Pt. 1

Giant's interview with his old friend Tony Bonetti. Recorded at Tony's home in Sunnyvale, CA on Sunday, June 14, 2020. Topics discussed include: Ramon Altorre, tattoo trip to New Mexico, ultra violence, San Jose, the Tech Boom, initial links to the tattoo world, The Skullz Press storefront, being an excellent tattoo collector, Chris Trevino, “A Tattoo You Can Read from Across the Room”, the unwritten rules of tattooing, seasonal mistakes, “Suited”, Amuletic, tattoos as markers of life experience, Greg Rojas birdcage, growing up around firearms and hunting, Nature Deficiency Disorder, Great Out Doors, Open Awareness, conservation, wild game, ethical harvesting, process of buying a gun from a licensed dealer, self defense concerns, avoiding mainstream media, sobriety, trigger awareness, Glock and shotgun, AR-style rifles, requirements for firearm purchase, written test, background check, customer cross-section, Tech immigrants, refusing stupid customers, long lines, teaching ladies to shoot, various types of ammunition, advantages of a shotgun, safety restrictions, suicide by firearm, mental health issues, self protection laws, semi-auto versus pump shotguns, "$500 Gun and $4500 in Training”, tie-dye, Positive Mental Attitude, the power and satisfaction of creating things, residential rehab program, recognizing when alcohol is a problem, building confidence through creativity, incremental steps, therapists, seeing and sharing the things that work, Alcoholics Anonymous and Zoom meetings. @tonethewellknown Bay Area Gun Vault 363 W. El Camino Real Mountain View, CA

Episode 30: Tony Bonetti

Mike presents a guided meditation in the Vipassana tradition over a digital mix he made featuring tracks by Steve Roach. Recorded April 20, 2020 by DJ Artistic at Lower Left Studios in San Diego, California.

Episode 29: Guided Meditation

Mike presents a mix of jazz vinyl records featuring outstanding percussion. Recorded on Monday April 13, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Mosaic, “Mosaic” Max Roach, Bitter Sweet, “Mendacity” John Coltrane, The Africa brass Sessions - Vol. 2, “Africa” Buddy Rich, A Different Drummer, “Barney’s Bugle” Gene Krupa, Percussion King, “Valse Triste” Elvin Jones, Mr. Jones, “One’s Native Place” Buddy Rich, A Different Drummer, “Back of the Bus"

Episode 28: "Jazz Percussion" Vinyl Mix

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, choir, synths, soundtracks, dub and breaks. Recorded on Monday April 13, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) DJ Rap, Proper Talent 001, “Get Under” LTJ Bukem, Suspended Space, “Suspended Space” Underground Crew, Jungle Warfare, “Melody Madness” Dark Soldier, Falling, “Falling” Loxy & Ink, Twisted 3rd Mind EP, “Skitzaphonic” Soundmurderer & SK-1, Rewind Records, “Badman" Adam-F, Section 5 Records, “The Bible” Dom & Roland, Moving Shadow 144, “Can’t Punish Me” Axis, Points in Time 004, “High Point” John B & Exile, Planet Mu Records, “Broken Language” DJ Rap featuring Hooligan, DJ Raps Propa Classics, “Lick Shot"

Episode 27: "Junglism" Vinyl Mix

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, choir, synths, soundtracks, dub and breaks. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi, “Koyaanisqatsi" Nightmares on Wax, Smoker’s Delight, "Nights Introlude" Jean Michel Jarre, Oxygene, "Oxygene (Part I)" LTJ Bukem, Earth 12001, "Cosmic Interlude" Stranger Things soundtrack, “Hawkins" Fort Knox, The Foundations EP, "Got the Funk" Tomita, The Bermuda Triangle, "The Giant Pyramid and Its Ancient People" DJ SS, Formation Records presents A Decade of Breaks, "Analogue Signal" Environments, Disc 4, Ultimate Thunderstorm White Label Vangelis, Beauborg, "Beauborg - Part I" Ink and J. Dub, Architecture Recordings, "Dance of the Titanium Minds" Beaver/Krause, Gandharva, "Nine Moons in Alaska" Dillinja, Valve Recordings, “Crunch" The Harmonic Choir, Hearing Solar Winds, "The Flight of the Sun" J. Krishnamurti, Mind in Meditation, LP. 3 - Side 1

Episode 26: "Koyaanisqatsi" Vinyl Mix

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, synths and breakbreat vinyl records. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Ice-T, The Iceberg, "Shut Up, Be Happy" (featuring Jello Biafra) Digital, Portica Recordings, “Clipper" Soundmurderer & SK-1, Rewind Records, "Search & Destroy" Tangerine Dream, Rubycon, "Part I" Massive Attack v Mad Professor, No Protection, "Radiation Ruling the Nation" Lemon D, Big Bad Bass, "Get Dirty" Tomita, Kosmos, “Aranjuez" Dylan + Loxy, Cylon Recordings 6, “Stereotype" Kryptic Minds, Unkut Recordings, “It" Tangerine Dream, Exit, "Remote Viewing" Kung Fu soundtrack, "On Evil"

Episode 25: "Martial Law" Vinyl Mix

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, synth and breakbeat vinyl records. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Yogananda, Chants and Prayers, "God, Christ, Gurus” Kitaro, Ki, “Sun” The Orb - Orbsessions Volume Two, “Shem Version” Sixtoo, Antagonist Survival Kit Instrumentals, “Amphitheatre" Steven Halpern, Eastern Peace, “Ming Garden Courtyard” Audio Pharmacy, Prophecies, “Prophecies” Jean-Paul Kreder Ensemble, Chants de la Renaissance, “Las! Ou Vas-Tu Sans Moy” Tobe Nwigwe, The Originals, “Zen Master” 2010 Movie Soundtrack, “Probe” Beat Junkies, Deeper Concentration, “They Don’t Understand” Vangelis, Antarctica, “Life of Antarctica” DJ Wally, The Stoned Ranger Rydes Again, “Drugs In Front of Me” Kitaro, Tunhuang, “Free Flight” Yogananda, Chants and Prayers, “Prayer at Eventide”

Episode 24: "God, Christ, Gurus" Vinyl Mix

Mike Giant interviews folks of all sorts, from criminals to celebrities, usually in a haze of cannabis smoke.

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Mike Giant Podcast

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