Jeff Hamada: Converse (PRODUCT) RED | Hypebeast

EK: I think the term “lifestyle” gets thrown around all too frequently, and with doing so that’s not to say there are some genuine “lifestyle” movements as you just mentioned. With the creation of your creative website BOOOOOOOM!, what was the premise behind that? Where do you want to take that venture?

JH: Well I really just wanted to create a site that I wished already existed haha.

EK: So you basically filled a void, and did so remarkably well I might add.

JH: I just found I was always looking for things to get me stoked to make stuff. I like finding creativity and I wanted to somehow document it and share it with people. So it started out just as a personal blog and I didn’t expect it to get so big as fast as it has. I really want to push the community aspect some more though. Right now it is primarily a resource for visual inspiration such as photography and illustrations – there’s a lot there. I am just brainstorming ways to make it more of a… not a club, but something that people feel more a part of.

EK: Were you always instilled with a strong creative ability. I’ve always viewed your surroundings as having a large impact and Vancouver in itself seems to be a hub for that sort of creative development.

JH: I think it was just built into me. When I was in elementary school I used to invite people over to my house and I’d say “lets draw” and we would draw for the entire afternoon. It wasn’t until I was older I realized that most people probably hated coming to my house and doing that. I just assumed everyone would want to draw or make something.

EK: It’s always ironic that you connect the dots only after things happen. In a typical design environment for you, what do you have going on? Any particular things playing, music? movies?

JH: Yea I am usually listening to music. I can’t have a movie on because I end up just watching the movie. So yea usually music although I often put my headphones on and forget to put on any music. So I end up working for 45mins or so with my headphones on before I realize that I’m an idiot.

EK: Hahaha, what sort of music do you listen to? Who’s going to blow-up in 2009?

JH: Kings of Leon could be big in 2009? I am not so good at predicting this kind of thing, but their latest album, Only by The Night is amazing. I know this is where everyone reading this forms an opinion of my intelligence, like if I like bad music that’s it, that’s the third strike but here goes – I like Iron & Wine, the Dodos, Midnight Juggernauts, Radiohead. I listen to a lot of Hip-Hop but mostly when I’m drawing or designing something I listen to film scores, especially westerns. Ennio Morricone! It makes you feel pretty bad ass drawing while you’re listening to The Good The Bad and The Ugly. 310 to Yuma has a great score.

EK: Your music snobbery surpasses me, cause I am familiar with only a handful of those bands haha. Aside from your work, what other things do you do in your free time?

JH: Hahaha trust me man, there are no music snobs out there listening to the 310 to Yuma soundtrack! Haha that is the least cool thing to admit to, listening to soundtracks. I snowboard and I recently bought an acoustic guitar so my new hobby is learning to play from Youtube.

EK: So when’s the Jeff Hamada un-plugged CD coming out? Should I subscribe to your Youtube Channel?

JH: As soon as I learn to play guitar I am going to create a Youtube channel filled with guitar instructional videos but the trick will be that the chords will be all wrong and I will sabotage future generations of musicians making myself the last guitar player EVER.

EK: You’d do that too wouldn’t you. Before we go our separate ways, what does Jeff Hamada have up his sleeve in 2009?

JH: I have a lot happening with Booooooom.com that I don’t really want to reveal just yet but it will be good. It is now averaging 700,000+ visits per month so I am really starting to take it seriously. I have a bunch more work for Endeavor Snowboards on the way for this upcoming season so look out for that and I’m writing a film so we’ll see what happens with that.

EK: I’m sure I’m not the only one that says I’m looking forward to everything. Thanks a lot for the opportunity Jeff.

Livestock presents: Jeff Hamada for Converse 1Hund(RED) Release
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Livestock
1709 West 4th ave. Vancouver

BOOOOOOOM!
Livestock