Ludwig Persik

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?
The Second Viking of Sixth Avenue. You know, like Moondog.

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
Don Quixote.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
My girlfriend took me to the Bay Area over the pandemic. We hit Big Sur, Yosemite, and Half Moon Bay. We didn’t see anyone else for miles; it was amazing. The Sequoias were religious.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
Wake up late, make coffee, walk a few blocks to my gf’s studio, read a book while she paints, nap, work on music at my studio, cook dinner. 

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I’d like a guided tour by Luc Sante, who wrote a few great books about NYC, but the greatest—Low Life. Gangs of New York was based on it. I grew up on Ave B so old New York has interested me since I was a kid.

WHAT OR WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY AND WHY?
I’ve been thinking about this guy Matt Dike who was the *guy* in LA. He did everything—drove Basquiat around and gave him doors to paint on, DJ’d the best LA clubs (Powertools), created Delicious Vinyl, produced Funky Cold Medina by Tone-Lok. He had a massive record collection that inspired the Beastie Boys to make the seminal Paul’s Boutique, which Matt produced. He passed away a few years ago. I’m told we had a similar look.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
My rotation includes Kiki’s and Lucien, both places where I feel somebody is happy to see me. And yes, of course, the food. At Kiki’s, lamb chops then shots of Ouzo with the staff. Lucien is a great place for me to go sulk. Steak tartare, oysters, martini—happy.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
Angel’s Share was special. RIP.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC BRUNCH SPOTS; WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU GO?
I used to go to Mogador with my mom; halloumi, eggs, and coffee.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
Art fix at Michael Werner, Karma, and 56 Henry. My friend, painter Jo Messer, always puts on a great show. Roy Lichtenstein is one of my favorites. He was a friend of my mom’s and she would take me to his studio. Late nights at Nighthawk in Prospect Park. See a good movie, midnight walk in the park.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
I don’t know about under-the-radar but riding the Cyclone in Coney Island is still a thrill. People are afraid of it because it’s an old wooden roller coaster, but if I died on it, I’d think that’d be a pretty good way to go.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES AND WHY?
Control in Brooklyn for electronic music gear. Mast Books in the East Village. Modular synths and new books, what else could I want.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
Obsessed with a lot of things at once: Johnny Guitar Watson, Hendrix, Lansing-Dreiden, Mahler, Aphex Twin, Missing Persons, Wu-Tang Clan, The B-52’s. Favorite musicians—my bandmates in Beau.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
Miles Davis’ “Miles Ahead” or Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique”.

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
That feeling you get when you’re driving the BQE back from JFK, and you finally see the skyline.