Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Turbo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Turbo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve realised that as an artist trying to authentically create I may never be able to earn a full-time living wage, and that’s ok. I think the biggest risk I’ve taken is financially investing in me and my art without the promise of making a livable wage or large profit. Sure, I make money, I could live a quaint life, but that’s not what it’s about. I don’t play music with my band to make money, I don’t create zines and art for recognition, nor do I pierce for the sake of turning a profit. I do these things and more because the joy and community I feel and have been able to create, which I think is something many spend a long time searching for. I get to express myself authentically and really be present in the process, and I think, personally, creating with the purpose of monetizing it takes away from the authenticity. It’s risky, living in such an expensive city like LA to not know if I’ll be able to afford my life or if people even want to buy what I have to offer, and yet I continue to do so anyway because not authentically creating for myself is a much bleaker existence than not being able to try that new restaurant down the road.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Turbo and I’m a body piercer, bassist, and artist. My art has evolved significantly since we last spoke – I even go by a new name. I started being a self-employed piercer as the abuse of power from “mentors” in the body modification community became too much to bare. What called me to piercing was being able to give an affirming service to clients to help them become their most authentic selves. Hearing that someone has wanted something their whole lives and finally worked up the courage to do something for themselves, and being the person to help them with that is a beautiful feeling that really speaks to my soul. I have had countless abusive experiences from past shops I’ve been employed at, which kind of turned me against working in traditional shops, so I thought I would venture out on my own. Since I now no longer work at a shop nor have a regular schedule I’ve been able to open up my time to broadening my passions and focus on doing anything that nurtures my inner artist, which has resulted in me making chainmail clothing and accessories, bedazzling hats and accessories, and creating a zine series called “Destroy False Icons,” which is in it’s second issue, all of which I will start to sell at pop ups and flea markets and whatever events I pierce at. I’ve also been playing bass for my lovely roommate Nitalia Hope, who’s first single is coming out later this month. Our next show is July 29 at Hotel Cafe if anyone is interested in seeing girls rock ! Deciding to not go the conventional route and have a traditional job has been one of the most fulfilling yet risky and challenging thing I have done in my adult life, living in a very capitalistic world. It’s been very gradual small steps to get to where I’m at now, and there’s only more steps to go!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT!!!!! Go see live music, buy art, do favors for people, ask others for favors, share their work and tell your friends about their services. Art and artists cannot survive on their own, even if you cant afford to buy tickets or attend big fancy events, go to art galleries, go to free shows, post about it on social media, give your vocalised support. There are a plethora of ways to support artists that don’t break the bank. Ask around for fun things happening in your area, talk to people to learn about them, not to see what they could do for you but what you could do for each other. I think as a society we’ve become very individualistic and starting shying away from community, but thats how art and people thrive.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that it’s ok to be a beginner. That you can’t just magically be good at everything straight away. There have been so many things lost in life purely because it was confronting not being good at it immediately and believing I would never get good at it. There are so many talented people in the world with so many amazing skills so it was easy to compare myself to them and make myself believe I would never be that good because I wasn’t at the time. But I was a beginner. I was learning, and still am. Sure, some people are born with a skill, but even they practice and get better and more capable over time. Everyone is allowed to be imperfect until it came to me and that’s not fair on me, and if you feel the same way that’s not fair on you either. We have so much time to practice and get better, there’s no shame in starting now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lilyanasummerton.com/
• Instagram: PERSONAL – https://www.instagram.com/turbo.trash/?hl=en PIERCING ACCOUNT – https://www.instagram.com/turbo.stabs/?locale=bz-hans&hl=am-et
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nitalia-hope