Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked Quiet Luke to share a taste of his taste on Perfectly Imperfect.

Quiet Luke (aka Alexander Luke Bahta aka Alec) is a New York City-based musician, ex-model, and conceptual artist. In the years following his debut album 21st Century Blue Alec has been busy DJ-ing gigs like the Perfectly Imperfect NYFW party, working on film scores, and starting a weekly chess club, all while sculpting the exciting next era of Quiet Luke. His epic new single,"43VR", builds from a single hypnotic washed out guitar into futuristic pop gem by introducing Quiet Luke’s impassioned distorted voice and some fat 808s, it’s great. Be sure to check out the beautiful music video he made in collaboration with Kevin James Neal too. Lucky for us, Alec is here to tell us what he’s been into.

Without further ado

Quiet Luke (instagram)

🕴🏽🪨 All black

A great man once said all black “was a uniform that signified that one was a kind of downtown aesthete; not necessarily nihilistic, but a monk in the bohemian order,” and this still rings true. When you’re wearing all black you’re wearing every color. It also makes you look slim. 

🌊 Tao Te Ching

This book changed my life when I was 16, reframing the way I think about daily challenges and the ebb and flow of life and such. There’s an effortless clear-pilledness to these words. I return to them often and keep a pocket-sized version in my backpack at all times. Chapter 11 resonates the most with me right now.

🎠 Scott James

Scott is an old friend from school. We bonded over Radiohead, Debussy, and making detail-oriented architectural rock music during the Spotify “bedroom pop” era. Scott is the type of musician who makes music constantly and releases it sporadically. He’s one of my favorite songwriters and an expert texturalist. Check out his single “No Changes,” the “Shelter Island Heights” EP, which I consider the classic era of his early work, or “One of a Kind,” my personal favorite.

👨🏽‍🎤 Building lore

Building lore is crucial in this day and age. Sometimes not getting your picture taken at the function is ok. Refrain from posting banalities on your story when possible. Exercise deconstructive maximalism. Being an artist rather than an “Artist” is back, if you catch my drift.

♟ Café culture

The long canon of “alternative” lifestyles persists. Vibe expatriates. Downtown-core-core. Group chat as supergroup. Post-finpunk. Coffee & cig. Nicely tailored or altered clothing. Chelsea Hotel-core. Siestas. The Sun Also Rises is my fav book-core. Somewhere between Dada and vaporwave but still grunge. Digital folk art and hypermodern poetry. Making your living as a neo-cypherpunk bohemian post-dilettante freelancer.

 👽 The Prequels

Yes it’s true, I’m a Star Wars Prequels sympathizer. Cry about it. You are a midwit or probably too old to get it if you hate on them. Natalie Portman is great in them, and Hayden Christensen is not a bad actor, Anakin just has aspergers. I don’t cosign the Disney stuff. 

✏️🛡🗡 DRES

DRES is a supergroup made up of Damon Rush (damon r. on Spotify) and Extra Small. They’re currently in Seoul working on an electronic record—self-described as gangstalking/boarding school music—and, of course, building lore. Their drip is effortless and unique. Jeremy Scott Adidas, leather, and anime silhouettes. You should collect their singles “Pick6” and "Blackbird.”

🖤🔨 Theragun Mini

Belen gifted me this for my last birthday, and I love it. It’s not as expensive as you’d think, and it’s shaped like a heart. 

Follow Quiet Luke on Instagram

Listen to “43VR” on Spotify

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