Natalie Yepez’s dream almost never came to fruition. A bad case of stage fright kept her downtown’s little secret for years. A chance meeting with Diplo while singing karaoke led to her becoming Mad Decent’s first lady and MadeMe’s new obsession.

We swapped emails with the “half Dominican, half pain in the ass” to see what Maluca Mala is all about.

MadeMe:When did you first fall in love with music? How does your dominican-ness come into play?

Maluca: I was born in love with music…straight out of the womb.  Being Dominican is the base for everything I do…how I dance, how I love and how I make music. My culture is my core.

MadeMe:  How and when did you overcome your stage fright?

Maluca: My boy TJ from the Bowery Riots asked me to sing back-up.  At that point in my life, I had given up doing fashion and PR and went back to bartending, but I knew I had to just attempt doing this music thing. When TJ came along, this was my chance to get over my fear.  I just kind of jumped into it.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to really fit in because it was a Rock and Roll band, but surprisingly I did!

MadeMe: How did you hook up with Diplo?

Maluca: I met Wes at a bar I used to work at. Remember 205 on Rivington? I used to have sooo much fun working there!

MadeMe: I know Mala means bad, but what does Maluca mean? That ain’t Spanish, Honey.

Maluca: In some Spanish speaking countries Maluca means ugly brown woman. If you Google “Maluca”, an image of me and someone woman with wild hair in black face comes up it’s so crazy. In Brazil it means crazy women and I just found out that in Arabic it means queen. So Maluca Mala is a – Crazy Ugly Mean Black Queen…. Fucking AWESOME!

MadeMe: Growing up in the heights, I know all about “El Tigeraso.” I have to explain stuff to Erin all the time what stuff means in Spanish. What was the WORST pick up line you’ve ever hear in the heights?

Maluca:  The worst is when they try to holler at you by grabbing on your hand or even going as far as pulling hair!

MadeMe: You have a GREAT sense of fashion. (I mean you did wear a MadeMe Moto which looked totally amazing, by the way.) How would you describe your style?

Maluca: I try not to take my style too seriously.  In the El Tigeraso video, girls take their rollers out before they get to the club. I’m like, “nah fuck it”! I’m going to wear ‘em in the club because I can and I know I’ll still look fly. I really do try to have fun. I wear things because it feels good and not because it’s “in”.

Thanks Maluca Mala! MadeMe loves you mama.

We like this. It’s cool.

Fashion editorial inspired by The Goonies via Jalouse Magazine, February 2009

1985, kid pack, varsity jackets, denim vests, henleys, and  a whole lot’a mischief. My kinda crew.

(Source: TFS)

MADEME would like to wish you a very MERRY MADEME XMAS + HAPPY HOLLERDAYZ! From MY FAMILY to YOURS we’d like to present you with the gift that keeps on giving “STRIKE A POSE III” mixed by NI**SKY! 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Pumped full of house classics and sprinkled with some new goodies, this mix is inspired by the early 80′s at Paradise Garage .  NI** & I just shut our eyes and travelled back in time as part of the Paradise Garage scene to bring you “STRIKE A POSE III”.

HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG. Enjoy. 

MORE MIXES BY MY FAVORITE DJ: www.soundcloud/nisky

Oh ya, NI**SKY is the shit.

How cute are THESE????? Converse is really turning out the sneaker collabos lately. Mainly collaborating with ‘fashion’ brands and sticking to what’s iconic to each particular designer. These Missoni x Converse Chuck Taylor Hi Tops are certainly on my SPRING WISH LIST!  Not available until April 2010, I WANT I WANT I WANT.

On Friday night, we brought out all the best for BEATS + BRANDS @ The Rivington Hotel.  With my girls, Claw Money, Hellz Bellz, Kerin Rose, Cubannie Links, Valley NYC & Nina Sky – how could it go wrong? Special thanks to Nastyones and Guinness for making it a BANGER. 

Incase you missed us, you’re lucky I brought my camera….check us out. 

some pics borrowed from my new friend Amelia @ loveislovelovelove.blogspot.com

if you still haven’t got enough you can check out more pics at nastyonesnyc.com 

Miss Piggy, the classiest and sassiest muppet diva, dishes it out with Wendy on her show tomorrow! They talk about everything from Miss Piggy turning the Big 4-0 to Tiger being a CHEETAH!

She spoke of Woods during a pre-recorded chat for the Wendy Show and revealed what she would do to Kermit the Frog if he ever tried anything similar.

“My Kermie is nothing like (Tiger). I just want to say, he would never do anything untoward moi,” the Mirror quoted the porcine princess as saying.

“But if he did, you can rest assured there’d be a hole in one… and he’d be the one”.

GANGSTA!

“TRICK LUH DA PIG”!

Come wash my dishes boo!  After checking out this exclusive first look at Madonna’s spring 2010 Dolce & Gabbana campaign, I don’t think I’ll be able to stand up for the rest of the day. HOTTTT, HOTTT, HOTTT.

All photography by Steven Klien. The MADONNA-MAMA really killed it this time. Eat your heart out Marc Jacobs (and your team at Louis Vuitton), this new D & G campaign puts yours to shame. I can’t wait to see the rest!!

It’s that time again! FIRDAY 12/18.

All your favorite girls, all your favorite brands, all in one place, all at one time. (try not to E XPLODE). There will be SALES, SALES, SALES GALORE! 

MADEME x NINASKY x NASTYONES x GUINNESS PRESENTS:

BEATS AND BRANDS at the HOTEL ON RIVINGTON (107 RIVINGTON STREET)

BEATS BY NI**SKY

BRANDS INCLUDE MADEME, CLAW MONEY, HELLZ BELLZ, A-MORIR BY KERIN ROSE, CUBANNIE LINKS, FUNKYFANNYS, & VALLEY NYC. 

ALSO –  CHANCE TO WIN 1 BIG-ASS GIFT BAG (W/ 1 AMAZING GIFT FROM EACH BRAND) RAFFLE TICKET $5.00 

GUINNESS OPEN BAR FROM 8-9

FOR MORE INFO: events@nastyonesnyc.com

SAVE THE DATE!

V magazine’s first issue of the new year will be devoted to plus-size models.

“Big, little, pint-size, plus-size — every body is beautiful. And this issue is out to prove it,” V editor Stephen Gan said.

Models, which include Crystal Renn (above), appear clothed and nude, shot by photographers Terry Richardson and Bruce Weber just to name a few.

I’m all for the big girls, but if V Mag wants to do this right, they have to be real plus size models. Size 6 won’t cut it. MM LOVES V MAG! We’re sure they won’t disappoint.

MADEME has a serious ‘LOVE AFFAIR’ with Kim Ann Foxman. She’s a jewelry designer, sold at OAK and OPENING CEREMONY, she’s an amazing house DJ, and the lead vocalist of Hercules & Love Affair.  This girl truly has our attention on lock, so much so that MADEME wanted to know more about this triple threat. Check Out The Interview!!

MadeMe: What’s your specific involvement in Hercules and Love Affair? (btw WE TOTALLLLLLLLYYYYY LOVEEEE H+LA like totally).

Kim: I am the gay messenger vocalist who delivers stories from the gods and a key animal in Andrew Butler’s house of Hercules and Love Affair.

MadeMe: When did you realize you were talented in design, singing, DJing? Did you always have an idea of who you wanted to be?

Kim: I grew up around jewelry design, so I was exposed to that very early. It wasn’t until I took a metal arts class in college that it was fun to do when its stuff I’d actually wear.  Djing, I started collecting dance music and mixed tapes in high school when I was in Hawaii. I was into raves and I was working in a nightclub in Hawaii during high school and worked behind the non alcoholic bar serving sodas and making special energy drinks for the club kids. I moved to SF to get more nightlife and starting collecting vinyl when I was 18 and going out to clubs and raves. A lot of my friends were DJs and I always wanted to be one too. In SF  I got my first band experience where I was in a lil electronic band in the 90′s. It was kinda cheesey but really fun, and that def sparked my interest in being involved with electronic music more. I never thought I wanted to sing seriously really until I met andrew butler upon moving to NY.

When I moved to NY, Andrew butler and I found each other in a sea of people that rejected dance music. It was insant friends love at first sight. We spent a lot of time just playing records we love and bonding over that, and listening to all his early creations. He made exactly the music I wanted to hear. And I’d be at his house all the time during his process. Eventually we would make lil songs to DJ out which started our work relationship. That led me to being his guinea pig for vocals pretty much to test ideas,that’s how I got to sing Athene. I sort of fell into singing and I had so many fears to get over at first, now I’m having so much fun with it.

MadeMe: In your jewelry line, Foxman Jewels, you utilize crests and emblems. Where did that inspiration come from? Are you continuing with the current templates
or taking new inspirations?

Kim: I was inspired my heraldry and family crests.  I am working with other templates as well, kind of more street style next and inspiration from music.

MadeMe: What do you think sets you apart from other female DJs?

Kim: Well, I have a very good collection of vinyl and I play a lot of classic stuff, including a lot of classic house music. I have a lot of obscure gems, you can’t just download a lot of stuff I have. A lot of house music mixed with some fun new stuff too here and there. I think I have a distinct flavor from other female DJs. I can def serve house realness Its obvious I’ve dug deep, I know my genre, and that I’ve been collecting for so long. Some other girl DJs may also play house but I think I have a distinct style within that. Also with the way I mix my records too. Many people have told me that my sets are sexy Which I think is a nice compliment.

MadeMe: How is it separating Kim Ann Foxman the designer and DJ from a vocalist in Hercules & Love Affair or is there no separation at all?

Kim: I don’t think it has to be seperated, I don’t really worry about that. Maybe I should but I don’t. I think its nice for people to do more than one thing at once and be themselves in all activities.

MadeMe: If you were spinning a Madonna track what song would you pick?

Kim: Borderline