Deney Adam
Deney Adam, an accomplished make-up artist and aspiring singer, is currently based in New York. He is known for his editorial make-up looks featured by Susanne Bartsch, the event promoter often credited with the popular Copacabana parties of the 80s. His work has been featured in multiple accredited magazines such as Vogue Australia, NYLON, and the New York Times.
Sleeves by Chromat
Skirt by Stylist Own
What inspired the song?
“Red Lights,” the first single of my upcoming EP, sets the tone of what’s to come. This whole EP is influenced by a dark time in my life where I dealt with death, rejection, abuse, drugs, and even what I thought was love.
How would you describe your music?
My voice makes everything sound like ‘baby making music’ can’t help it, lol. The lyrics are so deep it can make you cry. (No wonder I like having sex while Listening to Lana Del Rey (LOL)). On a deeper level I want to provoke a different kind of emotion from people. Some fucked up shit happened, and now I’m ready to talk about it, not in a sad way, but from a place of healing that I think a lot of people can relate to.
The music video seems very intimate. Were there real-life experiences that you pulled from?
Yes, “Red Lights” is about my first boyfriend who died because of an overdose, and I always felt like we had unfinished business because I left when he needed me the most. At the time I was over the drug abuse, but he wasn’t so I left. A few months later they found him dead.
Does working with nightlife personalities influence your music?
Of course, it does! Huge influence both aesthetically and mentally. I know and have been working with Susanne Bartsch for an undisclosed amount of time, LOL she’s my Inspiration in life. She shaped me to the person I am today. Not to mention a countless number of talented and brilliant people I got to work with.
Left:
Dress by Marina Leight
Right:
Dress by Adi Karni
What was your creative process for creating the music video? Where do you find the inspiration to be creative?
I know this might sound cliché, but I find inspiration in everything around me, whether a positive or a negative experience. These experiences are all materials to me..
How long have you been producing music?
Four years now. I took two years off from putting music out because there was a pandemic and I wanted to change my direction.
For this EP I really wanted to take time to come up with a sound that was unique for me, in a most commercial way, but I did not want to lose the creativity side of it all. The music I was making before weas great but was mostly for the club scene. I realized I want to make music for everybody but not just for a moment but something you can reference to over and over again.
Does your music work inspire your work as a makeup artist?
In a weird way, it’s the opposite. My job as a makeup artist gives inspiration for the music I make, especially for the creative part, e.g., videos or performances, or even the way I present myself to the world.
If you had to choose between music and makeup what would you choose? Why?
I don’t think this is a fair question. Music has always been in my soul as long as I can remember. Makeup is something I happened to fall in love with and be really good at. The days when one could just do one thing and stick just to it are gone. You have to be able to multitask to make it in this new world.
Dress by Troy Dylan Allen
Gloves by Phallic Cunt
Boots by Syro
Who’s your ideal music collaboration?
Well, this is a big question. There are so many artists I have been dreaming to collaborate with. But it also seems like I move on fairly quickly as new talented artists keep emerging. Although, there are two artists who I’ve been fan of for a long time – Banks and Sevdaliza, these women are super talented and everything they do musically is gold.
What can we expect from you in the next couple of months?
I am always struggling to answer such a question because I never know. Life is a funny thing and full of surprises. We just gonna have to wait and see.
Social Media:
IG: @iamdeneyadam
CREW CREDITS:
Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Talent: Deney Adam
Fashion Stylist: Phil Gomez
Groomer: Deney Adam
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Junior Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Brielle Italiano, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Studio: Your Space NJ
