Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked Cole, Ruben, Jack, and Aaron to share some recommendations on Perfectly Imperfect.

Cole, Jack, Ruben, and Aaron make up the New York City-based punk band, Model Actriz. I first saw them perform in 2019 they were opening for the acclaimed Irish noise-rock act, Girl Band, in Boston and I was blown away by Cole’s stage presence. So when they came back onto my radar a few months ago with a new song called Mosquito and an insane music video directed by friend of PI Leia Jospé, I knew it’d be sick, and it sure was. Their debut record is coming out next year and tonight (12/8) they’re playing a special holiday show, “A Very Model/Actriz Chrismukkah”, at Union Pool. Don’t miss it. Lucky for us, they’re here to tell us what they’re into.

Without further ado

Cole Haden (instagram, twitter)

🌜 Night Sky App

In general, I like to keep up on the latest in astronomy and theoretical physics. This app, which is a recent addition to my mobile arsenal, allows me to contextualize and understand my place in a previously inscrutable map of the universe.  Living in Brooklyn makes it really difficult to stargaze, and with this app I never have a problem keeping tabs on where our local black hole (Sagittarius A*) is.

🐻 Beastmaster (dir. Don Coscarelli)

Over the last couple of years I became super addicted to the coziness of “Sword and Sorcery” fantasy movies.  My favorites are the ones made circa the 80’s:  Red Sonja, Apple, The Last Unicorn, Masters of the Universe, and Beastmaster; which is simply my favorite of the genre.  In a broader sense, these movies share the kind of sentiment I love to feel when watching B-movies: sloppy execution cannot destroy the charisma embedded in a labor of love.

✂️ Collaging

I’m a librarian at heart. I cherish the collection of images I’ve built and organized over years of dissecting the printed material that’s fallen into my hands.  The kinds of revelations and surprises that occur when juxtaposing new combinations keeps my writing process fresh and amusing.  If collaging is like assembling a puzzle, then maybe the collage is only finished when the composition reflects some kind of inner clarity… hmm

🏚️ Malls

I love entering through the department stores. I love the metallic smell of the fountains, and estimating the amount of change thrown there.  I love the manicured displays and the wigs they put on the mannequins.  I love Orange Julius.  I love washing my hands in the sink at Bath and Body Works.  I love having a place to walk indoors when it’s raining, and this was a crucial feature during the years I lived in Boston.  The Prudential Center is open 24/7, and I loved wandering around it in the middle of the night.

😭 Cut the World by Antony and the Johnsons

My old friends Ryan and Evan introduced me to the idea of a “friendship initiation ceremony” in high school.  Theirs was honestly really fun for me, but I’m not gonna be uncool and say what it was.  My own initiations (punishments? lol)  were vigils where I’d park my car in a quiet and dark spot and play this album front to back and cry.  With the song “Rapture” tears were unavoidable.  If someone could sit through the trial of my quiet sobs 1-on-1 then I was certain our bond was strong.  I did that ritual four times.

Jack Wetmore (instagram)

🔨 The Hero’s Journey by Tom Sachs and Van Neistat

Really amazing mini movie about craftsmanship and studio practice. Been pilled on their other lil shorts too like Ten Bullets and Love Letter to Plywood.

📚 Pomegranate Press 

Amazing independent publishing company focused on affordable photo books and zines. They have a new bookstore in Richmond called Agony Books. Super sick!!!!!!

🎷 Chaseland by Chase Ceglie

Chase!!! His first record Onion is one of the most underrated albums of all time and his new record Chaseland is still rolling out and it’s all amazing!! Underrated!!!! Fav song so far is Something (between us)

🐠 Tu Quieres Volver by Gipsy Kings 

I’m definitely 30 years late to gipsy kings but words cannot describe the hold this song has on me right now.

Ruben Radlauer (instagram, twitter)

🍰 altin gün’s turkish delights playlist

altin gün is a good band and they put together this really expansive and well curated selection of 20th century turkish funk, psych and traditional music

☃️ the church thrift on bushwick and cornelia

going here in the winter is one of the most magical experiences you can treat yourself to - they’ve got old jazz christmas classics blasting at top volume from a boombox somewhere and it reverberates through the massive space and you can just be there with your thoughts and peruse unspeakable amounts of items

🌝 butter

butter is really really good. i didn’t really grow up in a butter household and it constantly amazes me how it nourishes the soul

👞 les blank documentaries

just throw one of these bad boys on and bask in les blank’s loving portrait of humanity and the finer things in life - garlic, polka, gap teeth, etc.

Aaron Shapiro (instagram)

🥺  dyltwosix

brazen child is probably the only album i’ve listened to everyday this year. his melodies, beat selection, the skinniness of his denims…dylan’s music is hysterical and heart wrenching at the same time.

🐬  @happyendings917

this is the most futuristic, sinister shit i’ve ever laid eyes on. the fits are absolutely wild and i love all the blown out vignette edits. i imagine + hope this is what the kiddies will all dress like in 2 years.

 🔨 taiwan pork chop house

pork chop over rice with a hot tea while you wait! eat it outside! feel good!

Follow Model/Actriz on Instagram for more.

Listen to Mosquito and watch the music video.

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