Interview by: Kasm78
Let’s just jump into things. We know you write “STYLE,” but why? How’d you come up with the name?
STYLE: Alright let’s do this! My first tag was MOR. Don’t remember how I got the name. I did learn quickly that there was already a MOR and he was crushing Frisco and surrounding Bay Area. So…this meant I needed a new name. During this era (97-98) being in high school it was important to me that I had style, freshly dressed to impress (wearing a pant waist of 40 although my true waist size was probs 20 at the time lol), nice bike, transparent pager on the hip, etc. The word Style was organic to me I guess? I liked the name and asked some crew mates what they thought. I was told there was a style from the Bay Area who put in work for years but was no longer active. So I started to write STYL with no E so that it was different from the original Style. I eventually got tired of the 4 letters and didn’t like ending my pieces with an “L” so it slowly became the full word/correct spelling.
Do you think that having the name “STYLE” has had an impact on how you paint? For example, you paint super clean and you definitely have a unique way of structuring your letters, could it be because the name “STYLE” adds that type of pressure on what you do?
STYLE: Yes. Writing the word Style is definitely challenging due to the weight the word holds. Out of the few pieces I’ve painted in the past 2 decades I probably couldn’t pick more than 10 pieces that I’m actually happy with. I’m pretty hard on myself and always seem to find something I hate within the finished product whether it’s my letters, fill-in, off balanced, or whatever. I’m usually over it before I’m done with the piece. Short attention span, lol. Instead of fixing anything, I’d rather go rock another piece. It’s more fulfilling knowing, I banged out 2 ugly pieces rather than 1. Getting the final pictures of the work I do is like collecting my own baseball cards I guess. lol. The more photo albums I have full of my pieces the more I feel accomplished.
One of my earliest memories of painting with you was at the Santa Rosa trackside wall (California Bay Area) and it was you, me, Wesk and a couple other heads. Did you grow up in the Santa Rosa area? What was the graff scene like while you were getting into it compared to now? And, where are you now?
STYLE: Sonoma County was my stomping grounds. I was born in Marin County, and raised in Sonoma County, bounced around city to city most of my childhood to high school.
The wall you’re referring to was called the Scrap Yard. It was located in Petaluma. Originally an illegal wall rocked by Bias, Byped, Solja, Wesk, Spidr, Bose, myself and many others. The wall was amazing and it was a shame to only be rocking it at night because I saw the potential the spot could have as a legal spot. I took it upon myself to locate the owner and talk him into allowing us to 
make it a permission wall. The owners name was Al Stack, a very well-known and respected guy in Petaluma (owned a grip of property in the town) and he ended up hand writing me a permission slip the first time I met him. Super nice guy! I couldn’t believe it! It was a golden ticket for me because all I wanted to do was paint pieces.
Funny story, I was out there painting solo on a diesel trailer a few years later and a cop reached over the fence to my left extremely pissed and yelling at me not to move, what the hell am I doing bla bla bla and that I didn’t have permission to be out here. Apparently the city was trying to shut the yard down. He ended up getting stuck on the fence which made him even more mad. He had me hand him my truck keys so that he could pull around in the yard and I wouldn’t be able to drive away. So I did and he pulled around with another vehicle behind him. Nice white Benz and a snobby looking fool walks up shouting to arrest me and that I was painting his property. I told them my history and relation to the yard, told them my piece said “steve” etc. and the snobby fool was like Al wouldn’t write you a permission slip and besides if he did you’re not on his wall, you’re painting my property. Ended up being there were 3-4 businesses. I explained myself, told them what I did for a living and the dude was like oh you do screen-printing and graphic design?? His tone changed and tried being nice as the cop has backup arriving, searched my truck and harassed the hell out of me. I was pissed. The cops made me pack up and leave. Well that snobby fool ended up stopping me down the street when I left and said he could use my services and if I could meet him the next morning he’d also give me a permission slip. So I met him, showed him my work got a slip and hit the yard to finish my piece. That dude is still a customer of mine today! Ha ha.
The scrap yard became a well-known wall in the Bay Area for years and had folks from all over the world paint it. Lots of great memories were made there! 
Who have been some of your biggest influences? Who’re those people that keep you motivated and moving?
STYLE: Ohhh boy… influences! My top influences are people that have shown me respect and who I’ve been able to learn from. Quake, Wesk, Zone, Topr, Pastime, Defie, Tawl, Axis, Clown and the list goes on. Honestly though, being surrounded by my crews I’ve got a massive arsenal of them and they all influence me in different ways, handstyles, throwies, color combos, breaking up letters, etc. The people who keep me motivated and moving every single day would be my amazing family! My wife and kids! Every morning I wake up with them in my life is my motivation and my opportunity to motivate them.
We’ve known each other a long time and one of the things that I’ve always noticed, and appreciated, is that you’re a proud family man. How do you find or make balance in your life to hold down the family business (which you don’t really have to discuss if you choose not too), family life, and the “graff life”? Does painting graffiti ever get in the way of everyday life? Or is this the reason for your “STYLE DON’T SLEEP” mantra? Because, frankly, you grind and grind! Is there any advice you can maybe give to other writers that have a similar lifestyle as you do.
STYLE: Thank you and yes my family is definitely my priority. Family, work, paint, repeat… Finding a balance is extremely hard and I don’t think I’ve found that “safe” balance yet and probably won’t. Yes graffiti gets in the way because it’s my hobby and I try to keep it that way. Like in high school when you know you have homework to do but instead you go out and bike ride or skate till it’s a couple hours past bed time. It’s my outlet for stressful times and a bonding time with crew mates. Between marriage, 2 very busy/active kids and running a business with 18 employees requires dedication and patience. Having so many important, exciting and demanding things going on a daily basis is a roller coaster but I fucking love it. Being busy and proactive is better than being bored and unproductive. How I do it… I don’t know lol. I don’t sleep and yes that’s probably how my “mantra” came about I guess? I’m the last guy you want advice from, ha ha. I do know that family, work and painting fulfill a happiness within me and I enjoy being happy which gets me through my chaotic days. 
Since we’re on the topic of “Family,” let’s talk a little bit about your crews. It seems like you’ve become a member of some really tight-knit crews the past couple of years; like, TITS and WST. You also represent LORDS and IDC, what can you tell us about your journey with these crews? How has being in these crews affected your growth in your style or motivation? For me, crews need to elevate you personally and elevate you as an individual, even when you’re down—especially when you’re down—do you feel the same way? What else allures Style to a crew?
STYLE: Yeah, “tight-knit crews” is correct. In my early teen years I was doing some shit I shouldn’t have been doing. Some of the bad situations I’ve gotten myself into have helped me realize I don’t need to get into those shitty situations. Having great crews has helped me surround myself with good people. These crews all offer so much positivity in different ways. I’ve found each crew has brought me different importances and feelings. Whether it’s an outlook on life or graff, all these folks bring something to the table. It’s a great network of resources as well.
Also, there have been a couple of crews that you seem to NOT push anymore. Would you mind discussing the “change of heart” or decision to not represent those crews anymore?
STYLE: I may not hit up UM or IDC as much as I use to but it’s not for any bad reason. They have grown in size, have new members and I don’t have any background with a lot of them. When I push a crew it’s from the heart and feel I need to understand who’s doing what and be on the same thing within this. If we aren’t on the same page, we aren’t seeing eye-to-eye, and I don’t think that’s what writing a crew is about. It’s also hard to make things happen with new cats being hundreds of miles away. As for not pushing CBS, I was told not to write it anymore and I’m still not 100% clear as to why except for there was some confusion as to why I would join TITS and WST. Reason I would push both crews are because they both have been huge influences to me for many years. I have many more reasons, but that shit don’t matter. I don’t hold any hard feelings on my end for leaving the crew. I made some solid friendships within CBS and that will never be taken away. I still talk and paint with those I connected with.
A little bit of change in the subject, but how has the internet affected your life and graffiti? For as long as I’ve known you, it seems like you’ve shied away from social media; that is, until you made your Instagram account. Has IG changed how you drive yourself to paint? What’s the impact that IG has had on you? How do you operate your social networking? Curse? Blessing? Both a curse and a blessing? Why don’t you have any other social media accounts? Or do you and you just keep it super-under wraps? LOL.
STYLE: The Internet is an amazing tool and resource for people. I personally think it’s a bit too much to handle. If I need to buy something I’ll drive down to a store and get it. I like the interaction between humans and not clicking buttons to operate my life. I feel the world is becoming way to un-interactive. Local businesses are going out of business because it’s being pulled out or a warehouse by a robot. All our ancestors had jobs and a purpose and we learned from that. Maybe not directly but it’s been handed down one way or another. I want to keep that tradition alive and installed within my life and children. Yes the smart phones are fun, texting with Emojis and shit, but if I miss a relative or friend I’m going to use my fancy phone and holler! Having an IG account has allowed me to connect with folk’s worldwide that I probably would have never had a chance to without it. I love seeing the artwork, places, food spots etc. I try to keep it as simple as posting pics, checking out what interests me and leave it at that. I don’t have other social media because I’m only social within my family and friends. Words become what they aren’t intended to be when talking online and that’s when problems arise. I ain’t into that shit!
There are a couple of questions I like to ask, mainly because the responses are always very unique to the individual, but what are your thoughts on this influx of crews using social media for recruitment? Do you think this is the future for graffiti crews? Do you think it has a negative effect on how crews operate?
STYLE: Hard to say. Other crews aren’t any of my business and I don’t really care. I mind my own as much as I can. I personally don’t think it’s a good thing if crews are recruiting artists through social media. I’ve seen many accounts/individuals that claim to “write” graffiti but really don’t even paint. If a crew wants a bunch of talented artist with heavy social media, or if they want all the active writers to say you’re the biggest and best, more power to them. A couple years will go by and they’ll disappear. Not all, but a good majority. Again, I don’t really care. I’ll remain in the cuts with my crew doing what we do and when you go on a hike 8 years later and find my cutty piece (in a place you’d never think of finding graffiti), you’ll be like holy shit, Style still around putting in work! Ha ha.
Mentioning, “super-under wraps,” you smash a lot, and I mean A LOT, of trains. For you, how’s painting trains different from painting walls? Really, is there a difference for you? Your paintings seem equally as clean on any surface you paint, is there a different approach that you use when painting different surfaces?
STYLE: Ha ha. You’re funny. That’s a huge over statement to say I smash steel. I appreciate the compliments though. I personally think painting clean is mandatory on any surface. It proves that there is can control within the artist. Painting trains versus walls I think requires being able to switch letters and flows within your letters (making letters dance a bit) if you mainly paint walls (depending on letter style) and I’m not good at doing that. I’ve always focused on walls and looking back I wish I changed that focus years ago. Seeing a freight roll by an intersection with a burner is so rad. Seeing your own work in a yard in a different city than it was painted in, is a feeling that you’ll never get painting a wall. I admire the technique and risk of train painters a lot. I personally will paint any surface you got man. You point, I’ll paint. The older I get, the more I like the grimy spots (for that baseball card) lol and in my earlier days it was the opposite.
Since we’re talking about trains and different surfaces, lately you’ve been traveling a lot it seems. From you viewpoint how important is it to travel to different cities? Have you ever had the chance to paint out of the country? Where can we see STYLE traveling to in the next few years? Is there anyone you think would be dope to paint with in a different country? I’m a firm believer that every writer has their own MVP list, that’s why I ask. So, who’s on your MVP list—we’ll make it easy, top five graffiti writers/artists you’d like to crush one with? Really, this isn’t easy at all. (LOL)
STYLE: Traveling is amazing if you can afford it, and, if so, make it happen. Lot of folks don’t have that option and, if not, who cares. Rock what you can and be happy you can at least do that. With my kids aging it’s allowed my wife and I to travel places I never thought I’d go and meet people I’d never think I could meet. Painting and collaborating with artists out of state is really cool. As of now, the only country I’ve been to is Mexico. Only painted there a few times and last time we went to jail. Shit was hectic to say the least. I’ve revisited, but not with paint. lol. If I could chose a country right now it would be Europe so I could paint with my crew. I’ve got some LORDS family [in Europe] and they’re on the top of my list to visit. I just need to save a grip of cash cuz when I roll that far, my wife and kids gotta go with. My MVP’s are who I paint with now. If I had a bucket list of people to paint with I’d have to say: Ces, Kem5, Virus, Bates.
I’ve never really known you to beef with anyone. Without really digging or having to bring-up old business, have you ever really beefed with anyone? How does STYLE deal with egos and graffiti? When we were young bucks, it seemed like the legit thing to do was have sort of ego. That seems to have changed in the past decade… and, realistically, I can’t recall you ever having any type of ego (even with the name like STYLE). What’s your perspective on egos and the graffiti culture? What’s your secret to staying humble? Is there a difference from having an ego about style than from sharing a constructive criticism about other writers work?
STYLE: Beef = bullshit. I’m a firm believer the less bullshit in my life the happier I am. My teenage days were full of drama, beef and violence and that’s the last thing I need nor my family needs. Egos are good to have as long as they don’t consume yourself. I always hated and fought with the jocks in high school because they had egos (maybe I had the ego) because they thought and expressed they were cooler or were better, etc. This caused a fire within me. I didn’t like always having to prove myself so egos weren’t and still aren’t attractive to me. Be confident not cocky. If you have a huge ego you won’t learn because you already know everything. If you’re humble you absorb which allows learning and growth. I’m always looking to grow.
And yes the difference is if you can give constructive criticism to a writer about their work or another writer’s work and they can feel you’re sharing knowledge from the heart to better them and not feel offended or feel your just being a dick then I think that’s the difference of having a positive or shitty ego. 
Is there any advice that you’d like to give to give to the younger generation that’s trying to make its mark in the culture?
STYLE: If you’ll want to make a “mark” it’s going to take a lot of work. Work isn’t something you necessarily do for money (even though that’s what we’re told) but for the love of your vision of what you want in life. Work is hard if you force yourself to the next level. When you hit that level (only you know what that is) it’s an amazing feeling. Try it! I work my ass off and it feels great. Stay humble and surround yourself with positive trusting people. If you have to hurt feelings by separating yourself from the negative it will only make you stronger and allow better within your life.
If you want to make a “mark” in graff culture, study and know your history. The past is the reason for the present. Study and educate yourself. Get off the internet and pickup an original graff mag from the 90’s. Don’t diss what you can’t burn (don’t let your ego fool you) if you know it’s good, prob safe to leave it alone and find another spot…
Is there anything you’d like to discuss that we didn’t hit on or talk about?
STYLE: Nope! Thank you for taking the time to read this interview. It shows interest in my thoughts and opinions and that’s a pretty cool feeling. Thank you, Kasm, for hitting me up for the interview
Styledontsleep
LORDS, TITS, WST
