Seth

Age, occupation and location?

I’m 24 years, playing the life game and I’m located in the cape flats, in Westridge (Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town)

When, where and how did you get into graf?

Well I’ve been writing professionally for about 5 years now, excluding the 3 years before that when I was just running around pretending to do graffiti to impress girls. I have always been artistically inclined and liked drawing random cartoons and stuff, ‘til one day a friend gave me a magazine with an article about graffiti in it. It was totally new school to me. I tried to mimic it by re-drawing the pieces I saw. The form of letter art was the best thing ever at that time. Back then I tried to be just like Wealz and Falko and the other artists in the book. Once I noticed the art form and started looking around I noticed more names appeared: Anoy, Slate, Drone, Skiet, Ice, Mak1one and plenty others with different styles. That’s when I realized I wanted to join the ranks of these urban make-up artists.

How did you choose your name?

Well, I tried various other tags at first. But as I sketched more and more I realized that the easiest word to write was my name, so I shuffled the letters in my name ‘til I got one that sounded hard core enough to be my alter ego (Mr. Hyde to my Dr. Jeckle). I came to the name seth, I found that I could add to it if I got bored e.g. setheliss, seth1time, seph, seta etc.

Describe your style?

Well I don’t really know what my major influence has been. To all writers it’s different, like the way I see wildstyle might not be the same way another writer from a different background views wildstyle. I’d say my style is a sorta short stroke wildstyle ‘cause of the way it flows, but I use mad effects which is the standard to a lot of lettering in the graffiti scene.

What is your graffiti goal / main mission?

My mission is to get my name up; more props more fame, Like Falko said: “the aim is fame” but I’m sure as time adds to my state of mind my goals should become more mature, but ‘til then, it’s all about the ego.

Who is your favourite South African and international writer?

Haha. I’m my favourite. But really now - I’m a big fan of all the kings in each field but if I must I’ll say Falko star! Internationally it’s Rusk from the m’claim crew. His style is totally versatile and could work in any production with any writer.

Tell me about your craziest bombing mission?

My first time I went bombing was the craziest mission. I didn’t have a clue about what to expect. My partner (Zeus) and I missioned out with high hopes of painting burners first time round. We tried to hit the furthest spot from our ‘hood. We walked about 3 hours through rough ghetto’s all paranoid for no reason. When we finally ran outta energy to continue we decided to hit the wall closest to us. Luckily there was a ditch right in front of the wall to hide in. Sadly the ditch was full of feces and other unrecognizable stuff that is perfect for pranks on little sisters and teachers. The session lasted just over 2 hours ‘cause of ducking and diving in crap. We painted the worst pieces we ever did and had to walk dirty and stinky back home to be harassed by locals that mistook us for hobos… Plenty rough missions followed that but none drove me so close to giving up as that night on Vanguard drive.

What kind of marker do you use?

Sad story, my marker now sleeps at a police station in Rondebosch. It was an On The Run 640 marker. I haven’t seen it since that time they caught me tagging out in the south. At the moment I use markers made from eye drop containers and glue tubes, basically anything I can use to write my name. Gorilla warfare technique!

How often do you draw in your sketch book?

I try to sketch as much as possible but have little patience to sit still nowadays, plus markers and sketch items cost an arm and a leg. But sketching is an important part of developing one’s style in graffiti so it’s not to be neglected ever!

Do you like painting trains, tell me about that?

That’s rough, I haven’t yet hit trains. I tried a few times, but still no success. Does that make me less of a writer? Some might say so. But in my defense: how many train bombers come paint my area? I think all writers’ environments affect what they paint and how they paint as well. I won’t stop trying though, but there are so many surfaces to paint other than trains… I say: write on what ever.

Do you think you’ll ever stop painting?

Yes I’ll stop. . . when I’m dead! Haha. I don’t think any real writer will ever stop. It’s not something one can just leave like a job.

Say something to all the guys out there who are still toys?

Don’t stop, even if your mom complains that your clothes are always grimy and your never gonna get far. There is a whole subculture that understands you!