Features: Vic Banker

Meet jewelry making guru, Vic Banker.  Born and raised in New Jersey, Vic turned a series of rather challenging personal events into a very positive situation.  From never meeting his father, losing his mother at a young age and taking care of his grandmother with Alzheimer's, Vic is a great example of how to go against the odds and still come out as a clear winner.  Harvey Champagne and I, LOVE his necklaces and bracelets!  When we looked at his pieces, we knew we had to get him as a feature!

With much excitement, Street Walkers NYC presents our feature on Vic Banker:

SWNYC: How long have you been designing accessories?

VB: I've been designing jewelry for 3 years now, I'm self taught and have met my business partner Roger Zapke about 1 year ago.  He served as art director for Forbes magazine for 20 years then went onto jewelry making for 15 years. We have since met and formed our very own company- RockVictorious LLC

SWNYC:  When did you decide to turn this into a career?

VB: I decided to turn this into a career about a month or so after me toying and playing around with jewelry for the 1st time.  At that moment it hit me, I have found my talent!! It was an Amazing feeling!!

SWNYC:  What I love about your pieces, is that they are extremely wearable, but they still stand out.  How is the creating process for you? Like what inspires you to create each piece?

VB: We want the jewelry to stand out just as much as how everyday wearable it actually is.  I cant tell you how I get my ideas, I'm an artist, and a true artist cant explain such a thing. All I know is I pick up a pair of pliers and my mind takes over, my hands simply do the labor.

SWNYC:  Who are your clients and do you ever design with them in mind?

VB: Our clients range from all different ages. My partner and I were astonished months ago when an elderly women put on one of our designs and immediately fell in love with it, we were under the vague impression that only hip and trendy people or as I like to call them Trend Hipsters , would like them.  We have fooled ourselves you see.  We have gifted a piece to Kelly Rowland, She loved it!! 

SWNYC:  Can your pieces be purchased anywhere, and if so, where?

VB: Our pieces can be purchased online @  www.Rockvictorious.com, We are currently working with a band of Unique boutiques here in NYC, Miami, and London, and will have exclusive lines carried in the not so distant future. All info will be posted on our press page via RockVictorious.com.  We also donate jewelry to good cause foundations such as the Anti violence awards ceremony and Broadway in South Africa charity event.

SWNYC:  Many artists seem to always have their hands in many different things, so other then RockVictorious, is there anything else that you do or are involved in?

VB: I currently dance at Providence and Rockit for Tony Fornabiao and Brandon Voss's parties.

SWNYC:  Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

VB: In the next 5 years I can see RockVictorious as a complete style as we have plans in the works for clothing and leathers as well as Artwork for those not so trendy. There is even a cookbook that will be avail. soon! 

SWNYC:  Whats your favorite place in NYC?

VB: My favorite place in NYC is the Central Park, I love the city don't get me wrong, but I almost feel as though I'm in a different part of the world when I'm there. So peaceful.




For more on Vic Banker and RockVictorious, check out these links:
www.rockvictorious.com


www.facebook.com/rockvictoriousjewelry

South Street Seaport

Street Walkers NYC took on South Street Seaport this weekend in Downtown Manhattan. An area unlike the rest of New York City and frankly reminiscent of areas like Faneuil Hall in Boston but with a New York City aura and a little bit more of an international type of tourist equipped with breathtaking views of downtown Brooklyn. There's a lot to do on a Saturday on the seaport from dining, to shopping, to kayaking or even just to find peace by the waters...lol.

A Naughty Kult Event

Street Walkers NYC got the chance to attend our first "Naughty Kult Event" last Friday, which is a party thrown by both Naughty Music and Kult Records hosted by the fabulous Dina Delicious and Phat Mike, and we will say the two combined created quite a crazy night (in a good way)! There was live percussion by Detail, sexy dance performances by the Naughty NYC Mafia Dancers, and of course music by our Kult favorites Eddie Cumana, Danny "Buddah" Morales, David Martinez, and Peter Reyes. Oh! and it was held at the legendary Sullivan Room of course...

Dance Strong!

Our buddy Joe Buffa is apart of this funtastic event...and we would like for you to attend!  Why?  Because not only will you get your dance on, you will have fun, you can meet the fellas behind Street Walkers NYC, AND its FIVE DAMN DOLLARS!  That's right! Come out, dance, have a blast, get your picture taken by us and get a great deal, all at the same time!

We will see you there!

The Fire and Reason: Sunshine

Bella Saona, front woman of our favorite duo, The Fire and Reason, sent us this exclusive remix of their song Sunshine.  Remixed by the second half of the duo, Steve Navarez, under the moniker The R.O.A.R. the song hits hard and makes you want to get up!

Bella tells us that The R.O.A.R. will soon be coming out with a project that will include more remixed TFaR songs with guest vocals, rappers and in her words: "FULL ON original BANGERS!" She also said this is just a taste at whats to come.  Take a listen below...and after you're done, remember that you can come back to listen again when you are getting ready for the club! ;)


Sunshine by TheROAR

Features: Eddie Cumana of Kult Records

Kult Records is one of the most successful New York based underground dance labels. Part of the genius that Kult consists of is Co-Owner Eddie Cumana. He not only co-owns but he also operates the label himself, and still continues to make music. He has over twenty years under his belt as a Label Executive, Professional DJ and Producer, Songwriter and Sound Engineer. He's graced us with official remixes under his well-known alias "Dynamix" for artists like Pink, Toni Braxton, Natasha Bedingfield, and even Cindy Lauper just to name a few. Street Walkers NYC got the chance to sit down with Eddie and talk with him about his career, Kult Records, and then some. So without further ado, I'm pleased to introduce you to Mr. Eddie Cumana...and don't forget to hit the READ MORE link to see the rest of our Q&A, links to him and Kult Records.

SWNYC: Tell us a little bit about how it all began for you...
EC: Well the year was 1984. I grew up in a family of djs having three of my cousins being djs and they were a serious influence on me. Around the age of twelve with my saved up allowance money I managed to buy my first pair of turntables and a battery powered music mixer. I went at it 24/7 driving my whole family crazy with "noise pollution" [He laughs]. Once old enough to enter the clubs, I absorbed the punching kicks and hypnotic bass grooves that were popular at one of my favorite hang-outs Disco 2000 at the Limelight in NYC. My love for underground music led me to look for work in the industry. I was lucky enough to be one of the founding staff members of King Street when it opened it’s doors in 1994. Since 1991 I was also playing with equipment and making my first records... My first release was on Nervous and it was "See The day" followed by “Boulevard East” released on King Street. I went on to do many releases for record labels such as Avex (Sony Japan), Arista, Ministry of Sound, Maxi, Nervous, UMM, King Street till 1998 then I joined KULT...and the rest is history.

SWNYC: Has house/dance music always been your passion?

EC: YES!!! House music has always been my passion. I love all types of music and enjoy listening to many different styles but house music is what a listen to the most. To sum it up in house music terms, "house is a feeling, its a spiritual thing, a soul thing..." I was listening and witnessing the movement being born and grow when it all began back in the late 80's before people even called it house music and I have been hooked from the start. Producers like Mr Fingers and Ralphie Rosario plus Artists like Adonis and Liz Torres really ignited my passion....

SWNYC: Is there a formula for your musical creations? What inspires you to make music?

EC: Listening to other peoples music from anything old or classic or any of today's stuff too all inspires me if its good. This may sound funny but October and November seems to be the most creative time of the year for me. There is something about autumn that inspires me and I just get so many ideas that I need to get out. So I guess its time to harvest the crops! I don't have a formula for making records, (yes i sequence and that's a formula I must follow isn't it?) But in terms of how I go at it creatively, I just build up my tracks organically, feeling the vibe and trying stuff. I go from what I envision sounding good in my mind to materializing that on the board and continue while eliminating anything that might not work. I love "designing" my own sounds so sometimes that takes me a lot longer than actually making the record itself as i get stuck on tweaking a sound for a week.

4.) How did you get involved with the Kult Records family?

I came to work at the label in 1998 and never looked back. In retrospect I can say it was my destiny in many ways. I'm currently KULT's co-owner and I am also the general manager along with what I like to call "The Head of The Quality Control Department" (I pretty much fix anything that's technically off).

SWNYC: So what's it like running a label like Kult Records?

EC: Well worth it and very rewarding. First of all its freedom for me as I am my own boss. I can work deep into the night and sleep deep into the day If I feel like it. In addition, this job has given me the chance to meet, work and collaborate with dance/house music's biggest stars. Even some of which I grew up dancing to. I live it and I breath it! Also, another amazing aspect of running a label is that its great to meet people that know and love the songs you signed and worked hard to release and its mind blowing to hear all the tales of where they where when they first heard that one track they are raving about or how its their favorite record and or the played it at their wedding or even their Church function! (Well that was my Cissy Houston Gospel House tune! It got played in Church! Can you believe that? From being a hit at Twilo, to being played at Churches across the US....I was and I'm still stunned). One time, someone drove 4 hours to come to the KULT Records party to meet one of our artists to tell him that our song saved his life. That he went from being suicidal to using the song as a mantra to gain strength. To know that one was part in a project that was able to have that kind of impact with the music it releases on one's soul and save him....is just the best feeling one can have. And aside from lots of dancing there were lots of tears that night on Nocturnal's terrace but all rejoice and danced the morning away to KULT's party headliner DJ Vibe.

Whore Haus Mix

Because she does it all, here is a mix by Valissa Yoe:

Whore Haus Mix by Valissa

The Bachelor Auction

On October 5th, Street Walkers attended a bachelor aucton in which our very own Mike Milan was being auctioned off to raise money to benefit the Bronx Community Pride Center. The racy Logan Hardcore hosted the event and kept things what might have been a little too spicy as thirteen sexy bachelors were auctioned off at Club Escuelita in midtown Manhattan. It was also my first time behind the camera for a whole event so the pictures didn't come out as well as I'd like them too but of course, we ran into a couple of our friends from the new hit reality series on Logo "The A-List: New York" so that was quite the treat as usual.

That Was Me PSA Against LGBT Bullying

Neo-Club Kid and fellow photographer, Eric Halliwell, composed this wonderful video as a response to the unfortunate gay suicides.  Its pretty much his version of the "It Gets Better Project" that Harvey Champagne and I, participated in.

For more info on Eric Halliwell and his works, check out his site:  www.erichalliwell.com

Chinatown

This weekend, Street Walkers NYC took a walk through the world famous Canal Street in Chinatown.  We would have loved to get pictures of all the knock-off labels, but they keep those on lock down now! Anyhoo, here is some of what you will see on a Saturday afternoon in Chinatown, NYC...

It Gets Better Project (Continued)

This is my contribution to the "It Gets Better Project." I am extremely delighted to share my story with you guys in hopes of being able to enlighten, enrich, or inspire someone to stand up and reach out to our LGBTQ youth to let them know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

This was a very personal moment for me but I felt it important to spread the message through my experience and remind anyone who may be dealing with intense hardships that it, in fact, does get so much better and that where I am today isn't that far away from where our troubled youth may be at the current moment.

I encourage anyone who may feel the urge to reach out and make a difference to contribute to the project like we at Street Walkers NYC have done...You can find out more about the "It Gets Better Project" by clicking HERE

It Gets Better Project.

This is my contribution to the It Gets Better Project.  I am honored to share this with anybody who may need to hear what I have to say.  Its a bit long, but I winged it and didn't want to do a retake because it may have taken some of the honesty out of it.  In the video, I wanted to make clear that although having support from others is a blessing, the true strength comes from within.  As cliche as that sounds, its true.

You can have all the support in the world, but without a healthy perception of self, you will not get far.  Anyhoo, hopefully this gets a clear message across to any young LGBTQ (or anybody who doesnt fit in, for that matter) that "it gets better."

For more on the origin of the It Gets Better Project, click HERE.

Harvey Champagne will also be posting his video too.

The A-List: New York at Boxers NYC

These boys are everywhere!  Get used to it, this is barely the beginning for this soon to be hit show.  The cast of Logo's The A-List: New York, were special guest bartenders at Boxers NYC.  The fellas were making 5 dollar Stoli cocktails with proceeds benefiting GMHC.  A good time was had by all.  Good work guys!