We had the good fortune of connecting with Suede Silver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suede, do you have a budget? how do you think about personal finances?

I used to casually think that if I worked hard and was generally careful with my money, everything would sort of work out… Turns out thats not really the case. I have financial aspirations, and like many, I have some student loans to pay off. At the glacial rate I was building wealth, I would never be able to reach my goals. Once I realized this, a big shift happened in the form of some 2 small actions. First, I started tracking all of my spending at the end of every month. The second thing, was just caring enough about my finances to do some light reading on the matter and doing some quick google searching/financial-instagram-account following.
Understanding what you’re doing with your money is the first domino of a long string, which leads to much more intentional and smart spending.  I realized quickly where my money was wasted and where it could be more well spent. I also started to realize the importance of understanding taxes, and how to invest. After you know what you’ve been doing, and care about what you will do, then you become active in learning more about how to do better. Then things start coming together much much quicker.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m a tattoo artist and music producer predominantly. I focus on those art forms more than anything else and think they define my career the most, but I think my work is more well defined by all the other stuff I do too. I’ve always been obsessed with art, so I’ve spent a lot of time developing skills from graphic design to shaping surfboards to record engineering to painting, and virtually everything in-between.
I believe each art form informs the other ones, so when I’m finishing a cool graphic I’ll apply an epiphany I had about mixing a song that makes the graphic design much better. Those moments happen pretty often. I think it makes all of my work have a bit more quality and hopefully a more unique edge too. Ultimately I think the range of art I participate in defines me, and I hope that will lead to more special and unique work in the years to follow.
On a more personal level, I had a few existential moments where I realized everything I did in art and business pointed to me. The end goal, subconscious as it was in a lot of ways, was always for my own gain; my own attention, credit, money, advancement, etc. Suede Suede Suede. Pretty boring, and not super cool. With some extra time to think in 2020 with all the quarantining and such, I’ve tried to shift my thinking to be bigger, and more others focused. I understand that a certain aspect of my business revolves around my brand, and fingerprint as an artist, which is intrinsically Suede Silver. However, there is a lot more value I can bring the world as a person and a business than just making cool things that I get credit for.
I’ve been privileged with a life that led me to a lot of opportunity, and it would be a huge waste to not use it to empower other people/artists and do something with a bigger impact than feeling big myself. I’m not sure exactly what that looks like in practice right now, but I will say I’m trying to think really really big. I’ve had the idea to my experience in the music industry as a DIY artist combined with my education in business and strategy to challenge the swindling conventions of media consumption, and offer a better solution thats more ethical for artists, and users.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

A day with Suede Silver:
6am: Wake up to go surfing in Malibu
8am: Get Lilly’s burritos in Point Dume (Large, extra crispy bacon, extra green sauce)
10am: Sit on the roof rack of my car and read, chat, relax for a bit
12pm: Go thrifting for a bit in Burbank. (don’t miss The Holding Company) Maybe get Portos if the burrito wears off fast enough
2pm: Play tennis with the boys, doubles with some cash on the line to liven up the game
4pm: Get a tattoo from me to commemorate a great day
6pm: Get some Italian food at Pinocchios in Burbank, get a lot of cheap wine and take dinner slow
9pm: Play some music, jam, record, see what happens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to Tori for helping me be less self centered, and teaching me how slow down more often <3

Website: www.suedesilver.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suedesilver/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/suedesilver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suede-Silver-539813089390790
Youtube: www.youtube.com/suedesilver

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.