My Bob Marley bootleg shirts from the swap meet just weren't cutting it in the quote-unquote booya department, so when Rockers NYC hit the scene, I knew I'd found my Jah cure or whatever. But seriously folks, if you've ever listened to a dub record, then you know it doesn't sound like a dorky cartoon lion or a collage of Marley heads; it sounds like a spliffed out dread with a samurai sword or, like, a paranoid gas mask. I talked with Sean and Marcus about Rockers and other bits of stuff. It was cool, they're some mad dudes and are pretty much the perfect mix of cultural exposure, design skills and spliffs.
How long have you been playing in bands? What was your earliest?
Sean: Since I was 15. My first band was Diverse & Effective, a peace punk band in SF. I started toasting when I was 18. Two years later Del from Hieroglyphics produced my first demo when I was going to UC Berkeley. I moved back to LA and became apart of the Goodlife Movement (Freestyle Fellowship, Volume 10, Ganja K etc...) I stopped doing music when I first moved to NYC. That all changed when I moved to London, my first musical home, and started working with The Beta Band, Roots Manuva, Petra Jean and David Holmes etc... When I moved to Seattle for eleven months is when I met my now musical partner Dann Gallucci. Together we formed A Gun Called Tension. Our first LP came out last March on Cold Crush. Music is a part of every breath I think!It’s rad that you guys have shouted out DC Hardcore in a few designs; any favorites?
Sean: Okay, here it goes... SOA, Rites of Spring, Void, Minor Threat, Lungfish, Scream, The Apes, Dead Meadow, Fugazi, Discord Records rules! I was thirteen when I bought my 1st piece of Discord vinyl; Flex Your Head.
Marcus: Don’t forget RE and Junk Yard.What’s the Rockers design process like?
Marcus: It usually starts with an idea or a concept that’s been in my head. Or sometimes I sit at the computer and just start putting images together until I come up with something fly. Sometimes I'll come up with something fly but it needs something else, so Sean and I will sit down and smoke a spliff and he'll usually come up with a catch phrase or a slogan. Then it’s a wrap.How integral then is plant life to your design process?
Sean: Yes, the stoner rock legions roll on!Ideally, how would one rock Rockers?
Sean: If a certain design speaks to a person then our job is done. Oh yeah, make sure you are wearing the clothes and the clothes are not wearing you.
What’s been the path to doing Rockers NYC?
Marcus: I was always into fashion and art so after I graduated from art school starting Rockers seemed like a good way to combine the two.
Sean: Organic streams of life that become the roads one travels manifesting our destinations!
Words to describe this path-
synchronicity
faith
first skateboard
friends
famlee
P funk & The Bop Gun
southern California hardcore punk
the native tongue
nyabinghi
DYI lives forever
Crass
Travel
hard knocks
get ups dreams are reality.Is this season any different from your past seasons, design wise, or in any other respects?
Marcus: Bigger pallet, different inks, and working with TJ, an artist from Seattle on a couple of designs.
Sean: Sign of the times.For me growing up I always looked to get the t shirts of the music I was into, but I was always picky about which design... can you recall any of your favorite designs from growing up?
Marcus: When I was ten in Negril Jamaica , the summer I broke my leg, Winston Rodney (Burning Spear) gave me an ill allover print autographed band tee. I can't put into speech how fly it was. At the end of the day I'm more inspired by LP covers though.
Sean: Z- boy (Z-flex) tees from the ‘70's worn with a fresh pair of OP's. Suicidal Tendencies hand drawn shirts by Rick Clayton, only the original Suicidal boys could rock ‘em. I also loved all of the Crucifix and Discharge tees, anything related to Crass.I was wearing the “Death To Black and White Downpressors” shirt on the train in Brooklynand these kids were yelling at me and shit, about to kick my ass because they thought it said “Death To Blacks"... I guess where I’m going with this is; do you feel like people usually get your shirts?
Sean: the humans that are supposed to overstand do overstand.
Does it frustrate you to see other people do Jamaican inspired designs poorly?
Marcus: Sometimes yes, but on the flip side, there is a lot of Jamaicans who do Jamaican inspired designs poorly, so I don’t feel like just because I’m Jamaican that I have an advantage.What’s the inspiration behind the KVK line? What’s the distinction between that and Rockers?
Marcus: We started KVK to make clothes without certain limitations that Rockers NYC has. One of the biggest differences is how we produce them. Since we produce everything for KVK ourselves, we can control every aspect of the quality better.
Sean: To do away with those that want to slay the dreams of others! KVK expresses a different part of our creative plane. One reason is that every piece is limited edition. Due to this fact, we can achieve a higher artistic standard. To best understand KVK is to view it. A Knights of the Vampire Killers website will be unleashed onto the world. Big up big up to Desiree Zondag, our KVK partner.
How closely do you follow streetwear? Any thoughts on things?
Sean: I'm totally into streetwear; Japanese to me are ill! From day one, street styles have been a part of my DNA. Right now mad heads have there imagination on blast, doin’ it!Have you ever gotten feedback on your designs from folks in Jamaica ? Do you go often?
Marcus: Every time I go I get good feedback on the designs, but being an underground brand is not the best look.
Sean: Yes, yes! Going into the hills is where I can encounter spiritual thrills!Any take on current reggae and dancehall, here in the states, and on the island?
Sean: The ‘90s and ‘80s rule! Where is Jr. Cat? ‘Nuff said!
Marcus: I love what's going on with the roots revival.... especially Jah Cure and I Wayne.How long have you lived in NYC?
Marcus: ten years
Sean: Off and on for five and a half years.Favorite kick it spots?
Sean: Watching sunsets on Venice Beach , Bricklayers pub in Oldstreet, my local NYC bar, Max Fish.Shopping spots?
Marcus: KVK and Rockers NYC HQ
Sean: In my own brain and with the help of my creative partners, we create most of what I wear. Plus, I rock what I’m flowed from community friends who have clothing companies!Favorite NYC bands right now?
Marcus: Gang Gang Dance, A.R.E. Weapons,77 Klash, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Dead Prez
Sean: Les Savvy Favs, Lungfish, Rapture, The Virgins, Blue Label, The Dipset Movement, A Gun Called Tension, Early Man, Superwolf, Saigon
Rockers NYC shout outs and big ups
All those who rock Rockers NYC big!
All the Rockers NYC vendors worldwide, big up!
Our famlee worldwide by blood and universe.
lower east side massive: big Desi( k.v.k. creative star),Aaron "aNYthing", Seanbear, Cindy Green, Keeva, Surface To Air, Tino, Merly, Lizzy, Shelly, Carrie, Ben Cho, Brian Degraw, SSUR, All the O.G. Supreme heads, A.R.E. Weapons, Dash, Leo, Matt D, Shannon, Irak, Anita Darinmal, Uli, Harry, Anita, Air Borne Audio, Beans,Libertine, Gang Starr Wu fam: Dreddy, Killah Priest, Genius Special Ed, Slick Rick, Supa Cat, The Fader, Author, Complex, i-D
Seattle massive: Blood Brothers, Pretty Girls Make Graves, MCD, The Cha Crew, A Gun Called Tension, Seattle Crustie Punx, The Gossip, Big Business, Trevor & Travis, Big Gabe, Gia, 746-Hero, Modest Mouse crew, Vitamin D, Jen Ghetto...
UK massive & famlee: Petra, Roots Manuva(AKA black Frank Sintra & fam), The Beta Band, The Free Association, Kevin Shields, The Kills, Lewis Parker, Skitz & Rodney P, Abashanti Sound, Don Letts, Maharishi, Crass, Subhumans, Skinnyman, Bricklayers pub, The Dub Syndicate, Si & The Verve, Mani & Primal Scream, the London parks, Dee, UK Mcs big up- keep it grime!
Westside Connection Hold it down: Union LA, Hiero, Freestyle Fellowship, The Liks, King Tee, O.G. Rollin 20s, OG Venice sho-line, V13, Cypress Hill (do your thang Muggs), MC Eiht, Dilated Peeps, all my cuzzos, nephews & nieces, Venice sunsets! O.G. Z-boyz polar bear,Froggy, Solo,Blockhead, the bros Jackson, Natas, FTC, Mark Gonzales, The Jaks, Rip City Skates, Jordan, all southern Cali 80's hardcore bands, Tuma, Pep, Digital Underground, Tupac, 2 Short, E-40
All yardie massive inna & outernational: Pablo, Yami Bolo, Blacka T, Jr. Delgado, Ras Pie, D. Brown, Sista Judy, Ini Kamoze, Jr. Reid, Black Uhuru , All O.G. Sounds: Killamajaro, Stone Love, Africa Love, African Star, Stereo’s Mars, Skeng Don, Jr. Cat, Baby Wayne, Bounty Killa, Mr. Kartel, Pan Head, I-Wayne, UK sound massive Saxon sound!
Give the Almighty thanks to Jah Rastafari for the guidance.
The Theocratic Government Nyabinghi, Twelve Tribes, Bobo Dreads, Coptics, Ethiopian Orthodox.
