SHEM : F1C RDC WOTS 38TH

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I write SHEM (RDC, F1C, WOTS 38TH) started writing when I was 12 and grew up on Dandenong line.

How did you choose your tag, any special meaning?

Always liked S and E in a four letter tag.

How did you get in to graffiti?

While riding my BMX around Westall growing up I came across a wall "dimension zero" which at the time was a full colour mural with backgrounds and that blew me away. From seeing that I started noticing more graff on the train lines and around the same time I got Subway Art and a Grandmaster Melle Mel and the furious five cassette for my birthday which changed my life. Having the chance to watch Merda, Ransom, Pac(characters), Bondy, Paris and Peril paint walls in the 80's was also a big influence.

What is it that you love about graffiti that keeps you writing?

Self expression, style first and foremost and pushing the letter.

Tell us about your style and how it has developed over the years.

My style developed from being influenced by New York crews like FBA, FC, TC5, TFP, TNB along with the usual Subway art, Spraycan Art and Igt Times (phase 2 newspaper) and in Melburn the intricate wildstyles of Merda (the jay piece behind Revolver /  Merda wildstyle with the block A) and Dskiz's pieces were big influences on RDC in general. Along with
amazing sketches I would see from Jasper and Prowla. Nowadays I'm trying to simplify my style and add more funk and movement with a lot less fills than what I used to do. Painting with writers of a high calibre with an emphasis on the letters while all bringing the best out of each other has definitely helped me maintain and move with the times coming from the 80's. Shouts to F1C.

Who have been your major influences?

I was influenced by the likes of ESK, HAZE, DIER, PESKI who were the 1st generation FMC along with MERDA, DSKIZ, RANSOM, JASPER, MALKM.DMA

Starting out Prowla was a big influence style wise along with his giant archive of New York train photos and videos. He always had the illest and rarest graff, bboy clothes collection. I spent a lot of time at Richmond station, riding trains and on his couch.

Paint brand of choice

Anything that doesn't clog and has the colour to compliment my piece. I still can't get over Rusto (colonial red) accents for fills.

Cap of choice

New York, blue dots

What music motivates you to paint?

Every genre as long as the beats are fat. Drum n bass for bombing

Memorable mission moment

Steel is real.

Any tips you're willing to share to the next generation of writers?

Be original, sketch a lot and try new things that you haven't seen before. Correct the things you don't like about your piece within the next one and be confident when rocking ya final outline.

Get your straight letters down and know how to do a clean piece before you get into wildstyle. I'd rather see a clean chromey than a wildstyle with no form or purpose in the connections any day.

Anything else to add?

Check out www.myspace.com/beathedz