Conversations with EVE: Ethan Thompson
On a late summer afternoon in Nolita, we caught up with Ethan Thompson — a friend of EVE and one of our favorite New York DJs. Known for his easygoing energy and a style that shifts from street to refined with ease, Ethan has spent the last six years building a life in the city that never slows down.
From late nights at Mother’s Ruin to fashion staples that carry him throughout his busy life, Ethan shares his life in New York, one spritz and one record at a time.
What’s a perfect day in the city for you?
Wake up around 10, I'm not a morning person. Get yourself a nice bagel, might hit Apollo, walk around the city, check out some music. Shopping, obviously. You gotta have an alcoholic drink at some point. You gotta have a spritz. The fun thing about New York is you can just go to any neighborhood and you're gonna see some of your friends. I could be in Nolita, meet up with some people. I'm gonna walk over to Soho, see a couple friends, come back, hit the Lower East Side. There’s a whole community everywhere. So the perfect day is just bouncing around and seeing all the friends and all the homies. When the day leads into the night – those are the best days.
“The fun thing about New York is you can just go to any neighborhood and you're gonna see some of your friends.”
Is there anyone who inspired your style?
Brad Pitt, Timothée Chalamet. I've recently gotten into flowy, oversized stuff. But at the same time, it's a baby-tee summer. I want to wear a cropped little single stitch T-shirt with a nice boot cut pant and a Chelsea boot or a high-top boot. I think most of the time it's just whoever I'm seeing on TV or in a magazine. It depends because fashion evolves every couple weeks. You're always gonna be one step behind or you're gonna be one step ahead.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I'm terrible at shopping in person. I'm a big online shopper. Acne Studios, Our Legacy, EVE, Wales Bonner, Margiela…Those are my main guys right there. And then you always have to have a good hat. Major key: good hats.
“You always have to have a good hat. Major key: good hats.”
If you could take someone to one spot in Nolita, where would it be?
If we wanna feel a little more like classy, upscale, nice drinks, we're going to The Mulberry. And then if we're trying to have just a real New York bar down to earth, nitty gritty, we're going to Mother's Ruin. We're gonna chow down on some wings and the waffle fries. You can just kind of let loose there. Do whatever you want.
"What keeps me in New York? The endless opportunities that you have."
How long have you lived in New York City?
I have lived in New York for six years, which feels like 15. Because, you know, New York years, every year counts as two or three. It's like dog years.
What keeps you in New York City?
What keeps me in New York? The endless opportunities that you have. You can wake up every day and it's a brand new day. You can go do whatever you want. The opportunities are endless. You can be bored if you want to, or you can go out and have yourself a day. That's what keeps me here.
Favorite place to DJ?
Favorite place to DJ? Wow, this is gonna be hard. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings. It used to be The Palace, but it's not there anymore. The sound system was nuts, and you're elevated. It's a sick room. Marquee is amazing because it's a staple in New York. My favorite place to DJ is when it's just all my friends. It doesn't really matter where it is as long as I got the crew there. It could be two little speakers.
Where would you like to DJ next?
I want to DJ at The Edge. I'm trying to get an Afro beat party there. But they’re sticking to house music right now. I want to do 99 Scott, Silo, Mirage. Mirage would be insane. We need to do a hip-hop party at Brooklyn Mirage. I think I need more Brooklyn in my life. It's always Brooklyn, that's the main staple for music. The city is where you're popping bottles and buying tables, Brooklyn’s for the love of the music.
"My favorite place to DJ is when it's just all my friends. It doesn't really matter where it is as long as I got the crew there."
Favorite song to play in the morning to get your day started off right?
Lovely Day.
What is your favorite album?
Don Toliver's last album.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I'm terrible at shopping in person. I'm a big online shopper. Acne Studios, Our Legacy, EVE, Wales Bonner, Margiela…Those are my main guys right there. And then you always have to have a good hat. Major key: good hats.
What are your favorite things to wear when you DJ?
Everyone who's ever seen me DJ knows that I always wear a hat. It’s definitely the staple for DJ sets, a hundred percent.
Fashion rules you live by?
You can never have too much underwear or too many socks.
Fashion rules you like to break?
People still give me shit for wearing socks with loafers, but like everybody does that… I'm not really a boundary breaker when it comes to fashion. I keep it simple and sweet.
Vintage or new?
New for shoes, vintage for clothes.
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