About this episode
Mike Giant interviews tattoo artist Nalla Smith, discussing his experiences and the evolution of tattoo culture.
Mike Giant interviews Nalla Smith at his home in upstate New York. Recorded April 26, 2026. Topics discussed include: Learning how to tattoo from Nalla, informal apprenticeships, piercing at Body Manipulations (1989-1991), Daljeet’s on Haight Street, Freddy Corbin, odd jobs, Spaghetti Western, Greg Kulz/Erno’s, ReSearch/Modern Primitives book, Jaime Trujillo, Dave Lum, Realistic Tattoo/Ed Hardy, Tattoo City, Eddy Deutsche, Dan Higgs, Jef Whitehead, Dungeons & Dragons, Kevin Howard, Japanese tv shows (1978), Art and Design high school, graphic design, Josh Humphries, Elf Quest, getting his first tattoo from Fineline Mike, early 1990s blackwork style, alternative sex scene, Greg Carroll, Everlasting Tattoo, Aaron Cain, Primal Urge, Marcus Pacheco, Grime, East Side Inc, Patrick Conlon, Jason McAfee, Scott Campbell, Andrea Elston, Hells Angels, flat shader needles, Allison and Tracy, Roseland Tattoo Convention, Dan Trocchio, move to LA in 2002, Shamrock Social Club/Mark Mahoney, True Tattoo/Chris Garver, Miami Ink, Kat Von D, stories behind tattoos, how women changed the tattoo business, off-the-street tattoo shops, shop lighting, Inkstop Tattoo, his father’s death, Goose Tattoo…
People in this episode
Host: Mike Giant
Guest: Nalla Smith
Topics covered
- tattooing
- apprenticeships
- tattoo history
- graphic design
- alternative culture
- personal stories
Keywords
- tattoo
- apprenticeship
- graphic design
- alternative culture
- tattoo history
- personal stories
- blackwork
- self tattooing
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Body Manipulations, Tattoo City, Everlasting Tattoo, Primal Urge, East Side Inc, Inkstop Tattoo
Books & works: ReSearch/Modern Primitives, Elf Quest, Spaghetti Western, Miami Ink, Dungeons & Dragons, blackout tattoos
Places: upstate New York
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