FASHION
STEVE AOKI X KENNY SCHARF
JUL 22, 2024
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INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY
by TATIJANA SHOAN
STYLED
by STACEY JONES
HAIR
by LAILA HAYANI
with FORWARD ARTISTS @lailalhayani
SKIN
by ELISA FLOWERS
Grammy-nominated music producer, DJ, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Steve Aoki is a multifaceted force in the entertainment world. What unites these diverse roles is Aoki's commitment to fostering a sense of community, providing shared spaces and connections for like-minded fans and fellow artists.
His latest venture, the album HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix, follows the success of 2022’s HiROQUEST: Genesis. Serving as Aoki’s 8th studio LP, the album builds upon the multi-genre foundation laid by its predecessor. Drawing inspiration from Aoki's history with alternative rock bands, the collection seamlessly incorporates contemporary musical trends like Latin and pop while preserving his signature EDM sound. Recorded primarily in Las Vegas and Miami, HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix exudes a nostalgic charm while propelling Aoki’s music into the future.
Aoki’s deep connection to dance music is evident in his creative process. Emphasizing the significance of electronic music in forging genuine connections with his audience, he collaborates with artists like Akon to breathe new life into classic tracks, infusing them with a 2023 freshness. Notable collaborations include “Kids”with Tony Junior, reimagining MGMT's 2007 hit, and “Locked Up,” a rework of Akon’s 2003 track. Aoki’s dedication to Latin and dance genres is further showcased in collaborations with KAAZE, John Martin, Danna Paola, and Ángela Aguilar, offering a blend of nostalgia and contemporary flair.
Since his debut solo album, Wonderland, in 2012, Aoki has been a dominant figure in the music scene. He’s released three Platinum singles, and six Gold singles, and has produced over ten Top 10 radio records. With collaborations spanning BTS, Maluma, Linkin Park, blink-182, and more, he boasts 17.2 million monthly Spotify listeners and a 77 million average monthly reach across platforms. Aoki’s label, Dim Mak, has played a pivotal role in discovering influential acts like Bloc Party, The Chainsmokers, Bloody Beetroots, and The Kills.
A.Potts NEORASCALISM hooded leather jacket and leather pants | Tommy Hilfiger Hilfiger Collection men’s leather lace-up boot | Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph, 43 mm black ceramic case with blue ceramic bezel and blue ceramic and titanium pushpeice, smoked blue dial with “Méga Tapisserie” pattern, and blue calfskin strap with titanium pin buckle.
Artwork: Globulization, 2018, oil & acrylic on canvas with powder coated aluminum frame. 70" x 90".
Live performances are integral to Aoki’s career, with over 250 tour dates per year before the pandemic and an average of 200 in recent years. Holding the Guinness World Record as the “Most Traveled Musician in a Single Calendar Year” since 2012, Aoki has graced top festivals worldwide, including Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, and Tomorrowland.
Whether delving into fashion, technology, music, art, or culture, Aoki’s ethos remains consistent—to provide a community for those who seek it, driven by a shared belief in passion and the freedom of music.
When I photographed Aoki for our cover issue, he walked into my studio flanked by a documentary team recording his every move. Having watched his 2016 Netflix documentary, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, a phrase he also has tattooed on the back of his neck, I can only imagine what a follow-up documentary would tell us about an artist whose travel schedule is immortalized in the Guinness World Records. Luckily for me, and now for you, my lovely readers, Aoki has shared some of the things that have kept him busy over the last seven years.
With an insatiable drive to succeed, and a deep yearning to connect with people and to be of service through his music, for our issue 24 cover collaboration with Aoki, we wanted to work with the legendary American pop artist Kenny Scharf whose work personifies joyous artistic celebration. Scharf cut his teeth in the 80s on the streets of New York and was instrumental in marking that decade as a time in art history when artists were larger than life, superstars, and bad-ass kids playing in an adult world—they were anti-heroes. New York was back from the brink of bankruptcy and the Lower East Side’s Wild West anarchy attitude proved to be the perfect breeding ground for emerging artists with a non-institutional vocabulary. Scharf’s wildly fun paintings with their exhilarant cartoon characters gleamed brightly against the dark grimy buildings of lower Manhattan like a beacon of hope, a promise of happier days. Scharf continues his free-spirited, communal approach to art creating art for art’s sake and for everyone, not just the elite who can afford it. Today, Scharf’s signature paintings, murals, sculptures, customized appliances, and environments can be seen throughout the world on buildings, in parks, on cars, so-on-and-so-forth, as well as in major museums, galleries, and institutions. His unfettered attitude is still very much alive, and his work stands as a jubilant testament to his enduring aesthetic. It is for all these reasons we collaborated with Kenny Scharf and Steve Aoki, two extraordinary artists who continue to redefine their genres of art, and who put community at the forefront of what they do.
