#292: Allyson Camitta (Shallowhalo)
Allyson Camitta on White Noise, Smudged Makeup, Women’s History Museum, and more.
Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked Allyson Camitta to share a taste of her taste on Perfectly Imperfect.
Shallowhalo is a New York City-based synth pop duo comprised of frontwoman Allyson Camitta and bandmate Ezra Tenenbaum. They’ve been making dreamy electro tunes together since 2020 when Ezra and Allyson first started jamming, which eventually became their debut album No Fun. Yesterday they dropped a brand new single titled “Renaissance Affair” with a music video, shot by Jackie Young, of Allyson and May Rio wearing sunglasses & powdered wigs. Allyson also used to play synth in Harrison Patrick Smith’s band Turtlenecked and you’ve probably heard her “that’s what’s up!” during “Girls”. Lucky for us, Allyson is here to tell us what she’s been into.
Without further ado
Allyson Camitta (instagram, spotify, youtube)
🔊 White noise
New York is so noisy and so are my thoughts. I’m super into putting a white noise machine on to go to sleep or when I need some privacy from the outside world. I also love using the white noise generator from my synth to add gratuitous bleeps and bloops on our songs.
👛 White tights
My style continues to waver between figure skating queen / haunted doll / tragic ballerina. White tights are my staple accessory that works for any of these. Bonus points if they’re a little dingy and ripped.
🎶 CSS
Cansei De Ser Sexy. Their song “Music is my Hot, Hot Sex” is iconic, and I remember hearing it in an iPod commercial. Everything about CSS is so fun and playful, from the lyrics to their live performances.
I first learned about Women's History Museum around the time I moved to New York and I’ve been obsessed ever since. I have vivid memories of being fresh to NYC and seeing a performance/fashion show of theirs at the Ukrainian National Home in the East Village and being blown away by the world they’ve created. Mattie and Amanda are true icons!
💊 Hangover Pills
My friend Rachel Lime turned me on to DHM supplements this past summer. I am sometimes susceptible to the “placebo effect”, but I’m like 85% sure they work. I definitely don’t feel worse in the morning.
🕶 Wearing dark sunglasses indoors
It adds mystique. We played a show at Market Hotel recently and I wore a pair during the performance and just putting them on helped me get into the zone. Added bonus: no one knows who you’re looking at.
📺 Nana (anime)
Nanas about a chance encounter on a train to Tokyo between two girls whose names both happen to be Nana. Crazy right? It’s about friendship, love and making it in the music scene. So relatable. The music and style is really cool too. As soon as I saw Nana O wearing Vivienne Westwood (RIP) jewelry, I was hooked.
🎤 Planet Rose
My first apartment in New York was on St. Marks Place and 1st Ave, which is just around the corner from Planet Rose. I love karaoke and I hope they’re around forever! Last time I went I performed American Life by Madonna and it was a hit.
💋 Smudged makeup
I like my makeup splotchy, a little chaotic, and smudged to perfection. I want it to look like I just made out with someone and/or just had a good cry. Once I’ve smeared enough colors around, I usually add touches of glitter to tie the look together.
Follow Allyson on Instagram, Spotify, & Youtube
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