Demos Interview

What do you write and where are you from?

Demos: DEMOS. NWK born and raise in the north west.

How long have you be doing graffiti for?

Demos: I started writing DEMOS in 2001, but had been tagging for a couple years before that.

What influenced you to start doing graffiti?

Demos: Good question. I was always into hiphop. Breakin, good music and even freestylin’ from time to time. Graffiti came naturally, plus the old Lonsdale wall was always an inspiration. Vancouver used to be crushed and seeing rooftops and spots when I was busing everywhere made me stoked on painting.

Did you write anything before choosing Demos?

Demos: I stared writing DEMS. Got busted and threw an O in the middle of that BI*CH!!!

You’ve had the experience to do some traveling with your graffiti. Where all have you painted? What was your favourite city to paint?

Demos: Some trips are graffiti orientated yes, But most others I end up painting when I get places. I wouldn’t say I travel with graffiti, cause it hasn’t taken me anywhere. More like graffiti travels with me!! And I have never been paid to go places for my graffiti talents. I am just a born traveler. Painting I’ve been up and down the west coast a few times and all around the north west. I’ve bombed London, Toronto, and Montreal. A few weeks in Budapest back in 2002. 3 months in Spain back in 2005. Asia 2 years in a row 5 months and 8 months. Australia for 3 months, and I did 3 months in central America recently. Favorite?? that is like trying to choose your one favourite song or food. Each place is special but to finish the question short and sweet. I’d say L.A. and Bangkok. cause those cities are so HUGE. L.A. cause it has so much graffiti history and I have made some good connects there. And Bangkok for the exact opposite. the scene is so NEW and you go and make your own spots that no one has hit before. AND most of it doesn’t get buffed.

How would you describe your style of graffiti?

Demos: Strong solid organic North West Koast wild style.

What does NWK stand for?

Demos: A bunch of things like any 3 letter acronym. But I most commonly use North West Kings or NWKINGS.

How long has the NWK crew been around?

Demos: Since 03 I believe.

What influences you to keep doing graffiti?

Demos: Influences?? I’ll be honest.. I’m ADDICTED. Like when you ask a crackhead What influences you to keep doing CRACK? hahaha on another note my homies, the high of bombing, and the chance to express myself in a way that 99.9% of the population cant and don’t understand!!

Whos graffiti have you been feeling lately?

Demos: Another good question!! For bombing the KOG’s, Katsu, Adek, the At Large gang and anyone who’s up!!

Fr8’s I ‘d say AmFm crew, (Rios, Kerse), Kwest, Kose, Villans (Jrafe, Oringe, Omens) Orek, Baer, Skilo and the IBD’s.

Walls…. Sueme, Pose, most of anything Seventh Letter, those UK guys Heavy Artillery, TMD’s, and always Asesr.

What kind of music have you been listening to lately?

Demos: Always got Mac Dre and the Thizznation camp on regular play lists. And I got Classic rock and breaks on at work everyday.

Can you share a good chase story that sticks out in your mind?

Demos: Soooo many… besides running with fire extinguishers and them going off inside moving vehicles… I was getting to the end of a 5 hour, 20 can walking marathon in Bangkok by myself tagging everything insight.. and on one of my last cans hitting a tag I was grabbed at the collar by some guy yelling at me in Thai. His only English he kept repeating was “I’m Thai FBI!!” he wasn’t accepting my apology and was radioing somebody. My arms were free and I was about to knock this guy out until I noticed tattoos all up his neck and on his face and the fact he was probably packing a gat. After he called in 2 cops in uniform, they searched me for drugs that I was fortunate not to have, told me they where going to take me to the police station in barley comprehensible English! After pleading my case for a minute 1 cop whispered 1000 Baht to me. I was willing to pay it, cause I had heard of horror stories of people being in jail for weeks at a minimum for the smallest sh*t, and a good friend told me once you get processed your F#%ked!! so I was scooters to an ATM and I gave them the money. While they were arguing how much each one of them got I bounced in a cab with my Bag and paint.. I realized the next day that 1000 Baht was around $25 US!! I laughed, I would have paid them more than 10 times that!!

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Demos: Bigger, Better and MORE!!! MORE fire extinguishers, tags, rollers, panels, burners, and see me up in more cities!!

Do you have any last words or thoughts you’d like to share with the Senses Lost readers?

Demos: Think BIG and go BIG!!! and KEEP BOMBING… at the end of the day no matter how you twist it 99.9% of graffiti is vandalism, and vandalism is illegal. Bombing is the realest form of graffiti and it motivates other writers to get busy. It is also where most writers get there start and without a new generation of bombers and toys this thing called graffiti will die. free ROLS…. shouts to my crew and the whole BHGang, Fishe, Versus and the koG’s in L.A. Foner and Kimes in Bangkok, the Phobia click in malaysia. All the writers I have met on my travels. if you have put me up or taken time to show me a spot or helped me get orientated with a city I thank you!! Foreal. I THANK YOU.

Check out my new blog I started….. nwkings.wordpress.com

New youtube videos at… www.youtube.com/user/nwkings?feature=mhum

And my flickr account… www.flickr.com/photos/32089921@N04