CHAINLINKS 058: Nikki Sneakers

With the 10th anniversary of The Chain coming up in April, we've relaunched Chainlinks, a series we started back in 2017 to give our friends a space to share the stuff currently inspiring them — music, film, books, or anything else they wanted to recommend to the world.

For Chainlinks 058, we gave the mic to NYC photographer and nightlife queen Nikki Sneakers, who will be DJing the afterparty for The Chain’s official 10th anniversary celebration, April 19th in Brooklyn, NY (presented by Saint Vitus Bar). The show's at Elsewhere and the afterparty will go down just a few blocks away at Selva. Get your tickets!

1. Vivid Oblivion's weekly radio show, Two Hours In A Cellar Under A Lightbulb, on East Village Radio

Jim Siegel (Vivid Oblivion/ Raspberry Bulbs/ fka Ning Nong) is a literal encyclopedia of all things underground, niche and rare. His radio show is a carefully crafted glimpse into the mind of a true creative force, each week taking you on a journey through any and every genre for a truly unique and enlightening experience. I wish I could articulate further about what his show is like, but each week is entirely unique as he never has repeated a single track in any show. In his time at Other Music (as well as a plethora of other stores) you may have even been influenced by his nuanced album descriptions and recommendations without even knowing his hand was guiding you.

2. Metal Machine Music, Power To Consume: Vol. 2

Inspired by Lou Reed’s groundbreaking 1975 noise opus Metal Machine Music, this second chapter of sonic exploration includes three women who constantly inspire me: Pod Blotz (Suzy Poling) and Moonbeam Terror, as well as the queen herself, Lydia Lunch. Along with purveyors of maximalist sound, Merzbow, Masonna, Blixa Bargeld, EROS, Martin Rev… and Emil Beaulieau (of RRRecords)! A Record Store Day Exclusive, out on April 18th.

3. Anton Corbjin

My greatest inspiration as a photographer of music. With a resume including photographing and directing videos for the likes of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Ai Weiwei, Bob Dylan, Joy Division, Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Prāta Vētra, Peter Hammill, Miles Davis, Kate Bush, Björk, Captain Beefheart, Kim Wilde, Marc Almond, Robert De Niro, Stephen Hawking, Elvis Costello, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Creature Morrissey, Peter Murphy, Simple Minds, Clint Eastwood, The Cramps, Roxette, Herbert Grönemeyer, Annie Lennox, Eurythmics, Propaganda, David Sylvian, Echo & the Bunnymen, Golden Earring, Front 242, and most notably Depeche Mode, Corbjin most likely is, or definitely should be, part of your cultural lexicon.