Vashtie Kola
Vashtie Kola (often stylized as Va$htie; born April 23, 1981) is an American music video director, filmmaker, artist, designer, creative consultant and disc jockey. She has been active in the downtown New York City scene for over a decade.
Vashtie Kola | |
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Born | Albany, New York, U.S. | April 23, 1981
Education | School of Visual Arts |
Occupation | Creative director, film director, DJ |
Years active | 1999–present |
Website | Official website |
Early life
Kola was born and raised in Albany, New York, and of Trinidadian Dougla (mixed Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidadian) descent.[1][2] She moved to New York City in 1999 to attend the School of Visual Arts, where she studied film. She graduated in 2004.[3][4] During this time, she worked at Stüssy, a clothing store.[5][4]
Career
2005: Kola was signed to Box Fresh Pictures as a director alongside Anthony Mandler. Many of her first videos were done with this company, including videos for artists such as Beans, J-Status and Tony Hussle. At the same time she was also writing music video treatments for established directors such as Anthony Mandler, Lenny Bass and Dr. Teeth. She wrote the treatment for Common's video "Testify" which starred Taraji P. Henson and Wood Harris. During the same time, Kola styled and modeled for the clothing line Billionaire Boys Club.
2006: She was asked to re-vamp the company of Island Def Jam as director of creative services. Antonio "L.A" Reid, president of Def Jam, said she would be "the one to keep the building cool, someone in tune with downtown cool and pop mainstream." That year Kola also started an monthly '90s party with her friend Oscar Sanchez called "1992". Playing only music from the late '80s and early '90s, the event brought out a mix of tastemakers and celebrities including Dave Chappelle, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Jermaine Dupri, Patrick Ewing, Redman, DJ Premier, The Clipse, Maxwell, Chanel Iman, Zoe Kravitz, Grand Puba, Lord Finesse, and KiD CuDi. Although its residency is in New York City, the party has taken place in Miami, Paris and Amsterdam. In 2008, 1992 was nominated for Best Party at the Paper Magazine Nightlife Awards and also received press in The New York Post, i-D, Trace, Paper, and a feature in The New York Times.
2008: Kola started her own clothing line, VIOLETTE. With an official debut in fall 2008, the clothing was described as "a mix of opposite worlds: uptown and downtown, hip-hop and rock, feminine and masculine, casual and couture". The following year, Vibe listed the "31 Most Stylish People Under 31" with Kola coming in at 23rd. She was also featured in Nylon as part of their lineup of "It Girls". In this year Kola was interviewed Sean "Diddy" Combs for Supreme Magazine, which was photographed by Terry Richardson, and was included in the Nike Destroyer Campaign alongside Dee & Ricky and Scott Campbell.
In 2010, she was featured in a Rachel Roy campaign. Later that year, she became the first female to collaborate with Brand Jordan on her own Jordan sneaker. The shoe was offered at select boutiques nationally, most of which sold out in the first few days. Publications including Women's Wear Daily, Footwear News, TeenVogue.Com, Complex, and The Source covered the occasion. In 2011, The New York Times did a feature on Kola.[6]
In 2015, Kola wrote, directed and starred in an art film for Drake's Hotline Bling video. She also starred in the reality documentary television series 3AM, which aired for seven episodes on Showtime.[7]
Videography
2007
- Child Rebel Soldier - "Us Placers"
- Armand Van Helden - "I Want Your Soul"
- J-Status featuring Shontelle & Rihanna - "Roll It"
2008
- Slim featuring Ryan Leslie & Fabolous - "Good Lovin'"
- KiD CuDi - "Heaven At Nite"[8][9]
2009
- Solange - "T.O.N.Y."
- Yung L.A. - "Futuristic Love (Elroy)"
- Justin Bieber - "One Time"
- Junior Sanchez featuring Joel Madden & Benji Madden - "Elevator"
- Jadakiss - "Letter to B.I.G."
2010
- Theophilus London - "I Want You (Marvin Gaye Cover)"
- Curt@!n$ - "EXODUS"
- Jasmine Solano – "That's Not It"[10]
2011
2012
- Big K.R.I.T. - "Boobie Miles"
- Big K.R.I.T. - "Insomnia"
- Joey Bada$ - "Waves"
- Gym Class Heroes - "Martyrial Girl$"
2015
- Drake - "Hotline Bling (Art Version)"
- 3AM (TV Series)
References
- https://www.elle.com/fashion/interviews/a29325/vashtie-kola-puma/
- http://www.vashtie.com/blog/life-this-trini-american-has-her-very-first-trinidad-carnival/
- "Upstate Misfit Becomes Downtown's Sweetheart". NBC New York. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- Swerdloff, Alexis (11 May 2011). "Vashtie Kola, Role Model for Young Tastemakers: Up Close" – via NYTimes.com.
- "The Vixen Q&A: Vashtie Kola (Pg. 2)". Vibe. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- Her Cool-Kid Clubhouse ALEXIS SWERDLOFF, New York Times, MAY 11, 2011.
- Hale, Mike (2015-05-27). "Review: '3AM' on Showtime Peeps In on a World After Hours". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- Behind The Scenes Kid Cudi's "Heaven @ Night". YouTube. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- "kovideo.net - a song lyrics domain". kovideo.net. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- "Viral".