In Spike Lee’s, She’s Gotta Have It, Nola Darling  is a young, attractive, sexually-independent Brooklynite who juggles three suitors. Nola is attracted to the best in each of them, but refuses to commit to any of them, cherishing her personal freedom instead, even though each man wants her for himself. Jaquita Ta’le and Alex Lavelanet embody this.

NOLA DARLING’s distinct look and sound is new school, yet reminiscent of the past; Their tongue in cheek sensibility and innovative sound combined with a unique image make Nola Darling incomparable.

We recently had a chance to g-chat with these cuties. CH-CH-CHECK IT OUT!

photo credit: Angelo Baque 

MM: Who are Nola D’s inspirations?   

ND: Just to name a few (in no particular order…besides stream of conciousness) Nina Simone , Fela Kuti, Lauryn Hill,  Tanya Stephens, Martha Jean-Claude, Grace Jones, Gil Scott Heron, Zap Mama, and Queen Latifah. On the film side, we love the magical realism of some French New Wve.

 MM: How did you two come together as NOLA D?

 ND:  We were both accepted into a summer arts program at NYU when we were 16.  Unbeknownst  to us, we were laying down the foundation….but Nola Darling was born while we were editing our first documentary, “Word.”  We were/are truly inspired by the hundreds of artists we interviewed across South Africa, Western Europe and the States. 

MM: Are you guys anything like the character “Nola Darling” in She’s Gotta Have It? If so, in what ways?

 ND: We’re pretty headstrong, determined, and fearless like the o.g. Nola. But this time the narrative of ND is being told in the first person, from her point of view, not through the eyes of a dude.  And if you’re asking us if we’re “freaks,”….. well, that’s subjective. 

MM: You guys looked great in MadeMe for your New EP promo shots! How would you describe your style?
 

ND: Thank you! Shout out to Erin for the fly pieces! Two words: Rude Gal. A Rude Gal will mix high end and low end, streetwear, thrifted and designer. She isn’t afraid to push the envelope.

MM: Pumps or dunks?

ND: Love dunks, but we gotta go with pumps!  But if we’ve got a pair of pumps on our feet, we probably have a pair of kicks in our bag, just in case.

 photo credit: Angelo Baque 

MM: Fave Madonna song?

ND: We Love Into The Groove….but our favorite album is Bedtime Stories. 

 MM: I LOVE IT! No one likes Bedtime Stories except me!! Anyhooo, if you could open up on tour for anyone in the business right now, who would it be and why?

 
ND: N.E.R.D. and Kanye. Maybe do a Glow In The Dark pt. 2.

Can’t get enough of Nola D? Check out their site www.myspace.com/whoisnoladarling

You can thank us later.

They pinky swear!

Love’s “Fashion Icons” issue has eight covers displaying eight supermodels in the same naked pose; Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Daria Werbowy, Lara Stone, Janeil Williams, Natalia Vodianova, Kristen McMenamy, and Amber Valletta. They were chosen because they represent “the ideal of beauty in fashion today,” not because they are gorgeous and have tape covering their naughty bits. COME ON!

“For this issue of LOVE, we took eight women who are generally acknowledged as the most beautiful in the world, got them to show off their bodies — widely regarded as the most perfect in the world — and photographed them all in exactly the same position for the cover,” LOVE’s editor-in-chief Katie Grand told VOGUE.COM. “We did this to show how much they differed physically from one another, which is why we also printed their measurements.”

I don’t buy it. What do y’all think?

My boo did a new video for their new joint Beautiful People.  (my mom calls them NINA-FLY! hhaha) Lot’s of MadeMe in here.  Check it out!

Skin is the window to your soul. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT. I am always looking for ways to improve my complexion. Especially since it was my birthday last week, getting a little older ya know. 

This is the NEW NEW! Introducing the DERMAROLLER the aging ladies masochistic dream! This UK invention has been seen on Rachael Ray and CBS’ medical show The Doctors, and last summer, reports started circulating that Angelina Jolie swears by the suspicious-looking device for her flawless complexion. The Dermaroller is designed to leave thousands of pricks as it glides over your skin, causing trauma to the epidermis and stimulating the repair process, thus boosting collagen production for a coveted youthful glow. Its purpose is to repair acne scares, stretch marks, facial lines and wrinkles. The approximate cost for a single treatment with a good doctor is $485.00. 

Don’t I look younger? 

Special thanks to my big brother Reid who brought LADY KIER (from DEEE LITE) as my birthday surprise. WHAT AN HONOR! I rang in my birthday partying with LADY KIER, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!  And of course eternal thank you’s to my favorite twins NINA SKY for throwing me + Mike the best birthday jam ever. I love you guys.

A few weeks ago I stopped by TONE’s loft and we had a lot to talk about.

Check out part 1 of a two part series.

A FEW GOOD WORDS WITH ERIN from TONE on Vimeo.

See more of TONE’s work at www.photobytone.com (he’s not JUST a party photographer) He’s a REALLY talented guy!

Big Bawse Dina at Karmaloop sent us part one of  this awesome mini series on Same Sex Marriage on Karmaloop.com

Globaloop looks at the issue of marriage equality in the US of A.

HOLY-SNEEKY PEEKY. My main-man VIRUS painted-up a MADEME leather vest. This is your first look at the MADEME summer drop. You can get one of your very own LEATHER PAINTED VEST soon enough. 2LEGIT2QUIT. 

January 19 is my big fat birthday, so we goin’ in @ the Eldridge!  

We’re gonna look pretty that day. I can feel it.  SEE U THERE.

(happy birthday MIKE!)

Next Nike delivery: Women’s AF1 Premium Studs. These’s are some dayyym sexxay Uptowns. Best way to rock ‘em: leather pants. Best way to rock anything: leather pants. 

Thanks Heron, Julien + Jesse.