Elaine Kwok

Name, where are you from?
Elaine Kwok. Hong Kong.

Describe your style in three words?
Relaxed. comfortable. Casual. I am aware they are all synonyms, but I can’t be confident wearing something I don’t feel good in.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Hands down Erykah Badu at Field Day this year. It was phenomenal, to say the least. Me and my friends were moved to tears. Performing is an art, a craft and she got it down to a science. I felt so inspired and enlightened not solely by her words, but her aura. I want to be like her when I grow up.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Blink 182 and Brockhampton. Me and my sister used to blast Blink 182 every day when we got home from school (we still do occasionally). It would be sick to give a tribute to my childhood being on the same stage as them. My sister would be damn proud of me. 

Brockhampton refer to themselves as a boyband. They set out to redefine hip-hop and boyband by merging two together. They are the pioneers starting discussions about homosexuality and racial diversity in their music. I have mad respect for them. 

Which subcultures have influenced you? 
Definitely queer and hip-hop culture. Being brought up in Asia, I’ve always felt different than my peers. I never felt a sense of belonging there. It’s extremely important for me to have the freedom to be myself. I’ve fought for the right to express myself throughout my adolescence. And I identify that struggle with subcultures, therefore, I’ve immersed myself in those two cultures, in particular when I was growing up.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Michael Jackson. I just want to give him a long and heartfelt hug and tell him how pure of a heart he had. He did everything he could to exert a difference to the world and he certainly did. He blessed us with his talent and can never be forgotten. I just wish he knew that people recognised the good deeds he’s done to the world.