“WHEN I DANCE, IT'S THE MOST HONEST THAT I CAN BE IN THAT MOMENT.” MR: How did you get the name S0Phamish? Did you come up with that yourself ? P: It came from a joke, a guy named B-boy Airsick. We were on the way back to my friend’s crib and basically I kept saying how hungry I was and he was like, “Oh bruh you’re so famished.” He was like, “you should make that your name.” So I slept on it and I was like, “oh damn, I’m bout to change my name.” What was your name at the time? P: Poppin Pham [Laughter], but I gave myself that name, and in the dance world you should never give yourself a name. I learned that you should always earn it. You definitely earned it. So where would you say your dance style comes from? How do you set yourself apart in the dance world? P: A lot of people study foundations and techniques, the way a move is supposed to look. I don’t really have like a solid style so I was like I’ll just do whatever I want, make it look cool. It’s all about presentation. If I look at an object, [I ask myself] how do I feel the object looks dance wise? It may not look like it to you but that’s how I feel when I see it and I act it out. That might be the coolest thing you’ve ever said, that you find inspiration in objects. That’s wild. P: Yea, I mean it sounds silly but that’s what helps me create moves. So you’re saying you find inspiration in objects...so this hot sauce bottle in front of you, how would you dance that out? P: Yea, so like that bottle right there, off the rip, without even thinking, I’ll do this [starts dancing], and wave like that, you know what I’m saying. I’ll cut it open and it spills [Laughter], and I’ll wipe it all over myself and I’ll throw it. That’s how I view dance. I take whatever I see and I act it out how I feel, like charades. Do you find inspiration in fashion as well? P: Yea, like when I’m putting on a fresh pair of sneakers bro, or whatever it is, I don’t know how to explain it, I feel like I dance better. I feel like I’m untouchable. Who are some of your style inspos? P: Kanye West, Chris Brown, Pharrell, my friends, my surroundings, seeing how people wear things. If I like it I’ll take it. I saw how the Asians in Korea were wearing these beat up ass shoes but nice ass clothes, and I was like damn I wanna try that. That’s what influences me. So I literally went back home and busted up my Air Force 1’s. Who are some of your favorite brands? P: Right now I’d say local brands, but if I had to pick one thing to wear every day, it would be Dickie suits. 22 THE MIDDLE ROOM
THE MIDDLE ROOM 23
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