SH: So you're the HAL ambassador in the United States. How did you get involved?

DRG: When I was visiting Shanghai a couple of years ago, I turned up at a Groupthink meeting. The topic of the session was sci-fi, so I read an unfinished love sonnet. I swore a lot, and HAL seemed to like it. I loved the atmosphere in the group: open-minded and welcoming. Eventually, the HAL editors asked me to write for them when I went back to the US, and I became a kind of satellite correspondent. 

SH: What do your duties include?

DRG: There's a lot of late-night emailing with Bjorn Wahlstrom, HAL's founder and chief editor. We throw ideas around, I keep him up to date with the independent publishing scene in the US. I've met some key players since moving to Portland, like Kevin Sampsell from Powell's Books, who is currently stocking HAL's first book and has been instrumental in its success in America. I work a lot with his independent press Future Tense, and he coaches me through aspects of indie publishing.

SH: Do you have a story in HAL's upcoming book?

DRG: I have two. One is a collaboration with Bjorn. Because of the time difference, he would send me a draft at midnight Shanghai time, and I'd be in my pyjamas with my laptop, a coffee and cigarettes writing in the bathroom, which is the only room in the house where I smoke. It was a long, tough process!

SH: What does America think of HAL?

DRG: For people in the States, Shanghai is not tangible. There are a lot of misconceptions. People ask me questions like "Do you publish Ai Weiwei?" "Are your books all in Chinese?" "What about censorship? Are you watched while you write? Are there even white people in Shanghai?" A lot of people are shocked that there is actually a revolutionary underground publishing happening - that there are people brave enough to forge ahead. Friends of mine in the US who have read HAL's first book have been blown away. Even by American independent publishing standards, it is progressive, dynamic and new. It's not predictable.

SH: Do Portland and Shanghai have much in common?

DRG: They do. Portland is known as the city of "refugees and fugitives", and Shanghai has the same reputation. Portland has the Shanghai Tunnels, which were used to trap sailors and smuggle them onto ships to work as laborers on the route to Shanghai. That's where the word "shanghaied" comes from

SH: You live on a farm in rural Oregon. How does that work?

DRG: I farm geese. I write. It works.

SH:  So what's in store for us at the HAL booklaunch?

DRG: We're launching the book with the third installment of SLAMHAI - the poetry slam that HAL has become famous for. I'll be leading a stage performance of my new work "A Brief History of Dan Orange" which is about a man viewed through the eyes of several women. I think you'll like it. It's a lot about panties.

SH: Interesting! And what do you have planned for 2012?

DRG: As well as launching Middle Kingdom Underground in the States as an ebook and in print through Powell's Books, I'm hoping to be in New York City in January to read at the Earshot series.
 

HAL Publishing's second short story collection, Middle Kingdom Underground, launches Saturday December 3rd as part of the River South Arts Festival. Details here and here. 

SH: Are you looking forward to playing in Shanghai?

TP: Yes! I'm really looking forward to it. I first came to Bar Rouge five years ago. It was really cool - there was sand on the floor for a beach party! China always surprises me.

SH: It's always good to have more electronic music in Shanghai. What sort of sound will you be bringing?

TP: I'm really happy to be able to share my music with the Shanghai crowd, as do all over the world - Russia, the Ukraine, Canada, Germany... I'll be playing progressive and pumping house, and some tech house. I'll also be debuting my most recent composition, Love is a Groove. It will really get people in the mood.

SH:. How has 2011 been for you so far? What are your plans for 2012?

TP: I had a bad motorbike accident so stopped working for a few months,
but after having almost died, I feel as if I've been given a new life in the music world. This year I released a mix CD recorded live in Kazantip, which I'm bringing to Shanghai as presents for Chinese clubbers. For 2012, I'm planning a new artistic direction for my label Moovment with my partner (whom you might know better under as DJ Philippe Ortega, the first resident DJ of Bar Rouge.

SH: You're French, and Shanghai has a lot of French residents. Do you have a special message for them?

TP: I'm on my way, so let's organise a very good party! No, just kidding. I'd like to convey the message that work and perseverance is the only way to be successful. Then luck will be on your side.

SH: What inspires you as a DJ?

TP: I want to make people feel good. Life is hard sometimes, and we have to work to "stay alive". There's music out there that you hear every day on the radio, such as David Guetta's stuff, which is great, but people need to hear something a bit different. I want to give people a break from their daily life. 

Catch DJ Tom Pooks at Bar Rouge on Saturday 12th November.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
DN: It's difficult to answer that question without reeling off a pretentious-sounding list of phrases that look like they've been copied straight off the spines of my local book shop's self-help section, but I really do think that travel is a great means to "Expand The Mind", "Aquire New Skills", "Learn About Other Cultures" and "Develop As An Individual". These may sound like rather lofty goals, but they really are what I try to do when I travel and when I create China experiences for our guests at Newman Tours.

SH: What are some of your favourite destinations?
DN: One of my favourite destinations in China is a small Buddhist Temple hidden away in the Cangshan mountains of Yunnan. It's called Wuwei Temple, and the abbot who runs it is a student from Shaolin who teaches local orphans Chinese martial arts. I love going to Wuwei Temple because you not only get to learn some amazing kung fu, but also get to experience traditional temple life, and spend time with the friendly abbot.

SH: Most valued travel tips?
DN: I think that learning a bit of the local language is one of the best ways to get the most out of any trip overseas. Even if you just read the relevant phrases in the back of your guidebook it will open lots of new doors in terms of culture, knowledge and opportunities. But perhaps most importantly of all, make sure you always carry a spare roll of toilet paper.

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
DN: Very little! Shanghai is an amazing city full of energy, excitement, great museums, architecture and fascinating history, but it is also very competitive place, so it's great to have the chance to escape the rat race once in a while. That's why Newman Tours also offers tourists and expats alike the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Shanghai for the day and enjoy the comparative repose of an excursion to Hangzhou, Suzhou or Zhujiajiao.

SH: Which aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
DN: I sometimes find it hard to be there in the moment and enjoy the experience without thinking about things left unresolved back home or the things I want to do when I get back to reality. I guess that's another reason that I like visiting temples that teach Chinese martial arts because whilst you're training, you feel like you're very much there in the moment.

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
DN: The temples and schools that I go to make you spend at least four hours a day practicing martial arts. So the problem is actually maintaining my health when I get back to Shanghai. Here I obviously do a lot of walking leading things like French Concession Tours and Ghost Tours, but I also spend a lot of time in front of the computer, so I try to make it to the local gym and do a yoga class when I get the chance.

SH: What can’t you leave home without?
DN: I guess it's indicative of my inability to completely leave my world back home behind me, but these days I can't go anywhere without my iPhone. I know that's rather sad, but having that equally cursed and beloved tool enables me to capture memorable moments from my trips, record key pieces of information with which to turn the best bits into future tours, and stay in touch with people all over the world. Actually, right now I am in Anhui leading a tour of the majestic Yellow Mountains and am writing this on my iPhone.

SH: What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
DN: That would have to be a Taoist duster that I picked up in Wudang Mountains. I know it sounds strange that my most prized travel trophy is a duster, but in Wudang these dusters also serve as religious implements and martial weapons.

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
DN: I was working as a teacher in Georgia shortly after the end of their civil war in 2000. That doesn't sound like much of a holiday, but what really made those four months so incredibly memorable was the warmth and hospitality of the local people. Having just been through a war, lots of people there had very little, yet I was constantly invited to wonderful feasts and weddings, and treated like a guest of honour, being forced to down huge quantities of red Georgian wine from enormous ram horns.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, bar that you have visited while traveling?
DN: I remember an absolutely amazing Indonesian restaurant in the middle of a small town on Hainan. In retrospect the food there probably wasn't that amazing, but in comparison to everything else we'd eaten in Hainan, it really was ambrosia. They had delicious curries, rice that you could scrape out of fresh pineapples and delicious lassi-like coconut milkshakes that they made right in front of you. It was so good that we stayed in the town for an extra couple of days just so we could bask in the heaven of that food and those milkshakes.

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
DN: I am yet to visit several "epic" countries like Egypt, Brazil, Peru and Russia. I'd also put Italy, Greece and China on my list, even though I’ve already spent quite a bit of time in each. I prefer non-English speaking countries because, although I'm far from good at learning languages, I enjoy trying to chat to the locals.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
TC: I’m mostly inspired by the books I read, the people I meet, the articles I read, and the idea of picking up challenges.

SH: What are some of your favourite destinations?
TC: In China, Qinghai, Gansu and Xinjiang Provinces are amazing, and still mainly tourist-free, as is northern Yunnan. Jiangsu has the best road network in China if you're a motorbike fan. As for overseas destinations, you really can’t beat France, Bali and Japan.

SH: Most valued travel tips?
TC: Travel light, as you can find everything everywhere these days. Don't plan too much, as the unexpected will create the adventures.

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
TC: The 11th floor terrace bar at The Peninsula hotel, El Willy, and the Cold Stone shop in Xintiandi.

SH: Which aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
TC: Crossing borders is always a hassle. I don't know why, but those guys always manage to make you feel guilty. Communicating with locals can be difficult too, but it's all part of the fun.

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
TC: I usually travel to remote parts of countries so food is healthy anyway, and my trips are usually quite physical.

SH: What can’t you leave home without?
TC: My iPod, my sunglasses, a few books and my toothbrush.

SH: What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
TC: Great friendships.

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
TC: Backpacking through Central America was pretty special. The trip I am doing right now is shaping up to be unforgettable too. We’re riding three sidecar motorbikes from Shanghai to Paris, and we’re currently at Kazakhstan's Aral Sea. Our trip can be followed at www.projectsidebyside.com

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, or bar that you have visited while traveling?
TC: Kudeta in Bali was a striking experience even though it’s quite expensive. The Galle Face hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is superb. It used to be a palace built by an Indian maharajah whose daughter in got married in Colombo. The maharajah couldn't find a place that was up to his standards for the celebration, so he built one! As for bars, I love the Felix Bar in Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel (try out the men's rooms!) and a nameless street-side dumpling restaurant in Shanghai's Old City.

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
TC: All the countries I haven't yet been to!

SH: Who is your favourite traveling companion?
TC: The most beautiful woman in the world: Valeriane

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
TC: A mix of rough, off-the-beaten-tracks travel and laid back, comfy stops, meeting new people and discovering non-touristic places.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
CM: The need for a change of scenery, to bring out the parts of me that can't flourish wherever I'm working.

SH: What are some of your favourite destinations?
CM: Now that I'm an actor, I usually work in cities, so my favourite places to visit are where Mother Nature is in charge. I grew up in England, so I like hot places! Kenya and Thailand are heaven, and for work Hong Kong is perfect because you can stay on a quiet rainforest beach like Silvermine Bay and commute to Central Hong Kong.

SH: Most valued travel tips?
CM: Noise-cancelling headphones. I've only been flying long-haul for the past five years or so, and I'm so impressed by the movie selections on Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. And with these headphones, flying is my favorite thing. I never sleep on planes anymore!

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
CM: The smiles of old people. There's a couple in their 70s in the lane I live in who have an apartment that is the size of their bed, with a kettle on a stool by the door. They collect and sell the recycleable waste for the lane. They're the happiest couple I ever saw.

SH: What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
CM: Being judged by one's nationality in Immigration and customs. The US border protection people don't seem to like ANYONE! I was told off for hugging in the queue!

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
CM: Living in China and eating the full range of available food means one has a pretty strong constitution, so eating local food isn't a problem abroad either. I thought street seafood in Thailand would be a problem, but it wasn’t at all. I like practising yoga on the beach early in the morning. You see the locals getting up and going about their business. It's a beautiful time. The trick is to find a hard, dry bit of sand, or you end up yoga-ing in a wet hole!

SH: What can’t you leave home without?
CM: Something to write in. Something to record my inner monologue so I can remember how places feel, not just how they look.

SH: What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
CM: My army medals. But I wouldn't want to go back to any of those places. Some of the most beautiful places around the world have been warzones. Nothing ruins the mood of paradise like landmines.

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
CM: On my own, driving a hire car into the USA from Canada for four days. Solitude is pacifying. It helps you let off steam.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, bar that you have visited while traveling?
CM: The Watergate Bay Café in Cornwall. I stayed there in a tent for a week, washing in the sea with my dog, taking long walks on the beach and writing all day in the café with a bottle of wine. The best way to mend a broken heart!

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
CM: The Caribbean, India and Brazil. One for chill, one for adventure, and one for madness. My honeymoon is coming up in six months. I wonder which it will be...

SH: Who is your favourite traveling companion?
CM: My fiancée. She’s tough but beautiful, organised and relaxed. Never stressed, always sexy. The opposite of me! I'm in safe hands.

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
CM: Lying on the sofa in our lovely old apartment in Shanghai for a week, watching DVDs. I've never done it, and probably never will; actors don't retire.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
DL: I have a tremendous sense of adventure. I get bored really easily with the environment I’m in, so I always want to be discovering new things – new foods, new cultures, new people. I have a constant thirst for discovery. Also, the more I travel, the more places I see… and the more I’ve understood the similarities in people and not the differences.

SH: What are some of your favorite destinations?
DL: Definitely Thailand. Koh Samui because it’s one of the first places I ever visited. I absolutely love it. It’s always been there for me when I’ve needed to clear my head. I love Paris too – it’s just such an awesome, beautiful city, especially when you have learned to avoid the tourist traps when it comes to eating and you’re able to find the hidden gems. Also southern Europe in general is a place I could spend a lot of time in. Borneo too as it’s still so untouched and beautiful. You know you’re in one of the last great jungles on the planet. To be honest, there’s not any place I don't like to travel to…

SH: Most valued travel tips for yourself and/or others?
DL: To always travel with an open mind and a sense of self-balance. If you’re in a bad mood or if people are getting to you, you just won’t enjoy the experience as much. You always need to be tolerant and open, especially when you travel to less developed areas. It makes the trip more enjoyable… you can connect with people. To summarize, go with the right attitude.

Also if you’re on limited time, make sure to pre-plan and have your hit list ready of what you want to see. Of course, make sure you have cash on hand for emergency situations!

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
DL: I don't miss the rain, that’s for sure! But I do miss the fact that it currently feels like home. I miss my friends and family of course. If I’m not traveling with my family, I miss them more than anything else really. But I don't miss places per se, because I’m always in the moment, wherever I am. I always look forward, never back…helps to make me a great traveler!

SH: Which aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
DL: If I’m somewhere that’s absolutely perfect…it’s leaving. That’s always really hard to do. Also long waits between destinations – delayed flights, bus trips, etc. On long trips, I don't look forward to waiting. Also, I don't like getting up really, really early to catch a flight! Apart from that, I have a natural sense of adventure so I don't really feel negative about anything. Oh, and if there is no internet connection, that sucks!

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
DL: If you’re away on business, eating and drinking is a natural part of the trip. So it’s about finding balance and finding the time to squeeze in workouts. Try to eat healthily. It’s challenging though – if you have early morning meetings, you can’t get to the gym. But on personal holidays, when I’m in a great destination with beautiful weather, good food (like Thailand or Greece), I naturally just want to hike and swim and eat well. Cut back on alcohol. It’s just a natural thing that happens.

SH: What can’t you leave home without?
DL: I would have to say my iPhone, iPad or computer so I can stay connected anywhere and anytime, so long as there is an internet connection. That’s all I need. Everything else I can do without. If I’m stuck anywhere, then it serves as entertainment. But really it’s about staying connected, no matter where I am.

SH: What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
DL: Memories and my tattoos.

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
DL: There have been los of great ttrips in my life. But I guess there are two that really are tied for ‘best trip’. The first was backpacking through Europe for three months when I was younger, which ended with my 21st birthday in Israel on the Dead Sea. I traveled through 15 countries during that trip and it was super-memorable. Rivaling that is the one month I took in Koh Samui about five years ago. I took off my shoes and basically became a hippie for a month. And I added to my tattoo collection. So it’s a toss up between the two.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, bar that you have visited while traveling?
DL: There are different ones for different reasons. From a gourmet standpoint, honestly there are just so many. But if I had to narrow it down, these are the three I would mention. Tetsuya’s - a Japanese restaurant in Sydney. He’s one of the finest chefs on the planet. I went there with great friends and enjoyed one of the best culinary experiences in the world. Then there are the beach side eateries in Samui where you get to put your feet in the sand, pick a fresh fish, have a BBQ, a bowl of steamed rice, prik nam pla – I’m in heaven. Many of the beach side joints offer this, but if I had to name one, it would be the Friendly Bungalow Restaurant on Samui.

Finally, theres a little tavern on the Greek island of Zakynthos where I stopped off while riding my rented motorbike. I indulged in fried calamari, Greek salad, olives, and a bunch of awesome little Greek snacks. This really stands out as one of the clearest pictures in my head. An incredibly cool meal.

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
DL: India is up there. I’ve always wanted to go to Goa. Then there’s Mexico, Brazil, Cuba… plus about 120 more!

SH: Who is your favorite traveling companion?
DL: My wife and daughter. Or alone – I love the freedom that comes with traveling by myself. I can go 100% with the flow.

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
DL: Being somewhere that allows me to enjoy great, simple food. Having a beach nearby, and somewhere I can go hiking in the mountains, so I have a combination of being physical, doing nothing and eating really well.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
CW: For me it’s all about visiting friends, or travelling with good mates to new places.

SH: What are some of your favourite destinations?
CW: Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I also love Europe for its culture, especially Italy, Spain, Great Britain and the South of France. Paris is one of my favorite cities.

SH: Most valued travel tips for yourself and/or others?
CW: After packing your bag, take half out. When you arrive, shop in food markets for a picnic lunch. Follow the locals for good places to eat. Spend your money on experiences rather than buying things to carry home.

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
CW: Riding my bicycle through the city streets.

SH: What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
CW: Mostly the planning, and finding unusual places to stay.

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
CW: I take early morning runs, swim laps in the hotel pool, and try to remember not to eat too much!

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
CW: My first big trip. I spent six months in Europe, and had so many eye-opening experiences. It was a big deal for a country boy from Australia.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, or bar that you have visited while traveling?
CW: I love all of the tapas bars in San Sebastian, and the Benoit bistro in Paris.

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
CW: On my list are Turkey, Greece, Russia and Eastern Europe, as well as Outback Australia and the Kakadu National Park.

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
CW: Anywhere with new places to explore, and time to rest.

What was the first thing you ever drew?
The first things I remember drawing were monsters. I used to draw really brightly colored monsters!

What’s the most memorable mural you’ve ever worked on? 
I was lucky enough to paint a mural in the Palace of Versailles outside Paris. It was a crazy setting to make a big, sloppy painting! Good fun. It was all gold and chandeliers and there was my dirty spray paint mural in the middle of it all.

What do you do when you’re stuck in a creative rut?
I don't force it. I'll eat, read, watch a movie, or most importantly, move on to a project that is working for me. The good energy of another project will sometimes jump start the one I'm stuck on.

One of your major starting works was a toy design for Fisher Price. We’re curious—what toy was it?
Ha! It was Smokey the Fire Dog for the Rescue Heroes series. I had done many rough designs before that, but they weren't actually produced.

You were commissioned some work for Barack Obama. Tell us about that.
It was a major honor. I was hired to design three posters for Obama's voteforchange.com campaign. I was able to attend a Presidential Ball and see D.C. politics up close. It was really valuable for me. It also made my mother very proud!

What are some of your favorite design books?
I love Chris Ware, Ashley Wood and James Jean. I buy all the books they put out. Every single one!

What is it about New York City that made you decide to focus your design work there?
It's such a harsh place to live. Only the best survive, so I wanted to see if I was one of the best! I always like a challenge and that was the biggest I could imagine. After five hard years, things started to go well for me.

Is this your first time at STGCC? What do you think of the creative scene in Asia?
Yes, it's my first time! I'm very excited! My work has always been inspired by anime and manga, so I always love visiting Asia. I also love the new modern artists that are coming out of Asia like Takashi Murakami, Ai Weiwei and Chiho Aoshima.

What advice would you give to a designer or artist who wants to show the world his work?
Just be honest with yourself. Make art you love that is original to you and who you are. No one can ever take that away from you.
 

The Singapore Toy, Games, Comic Convention 2012 happens on September 1-2, 10am at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center. Tickets are $15-50 from the STGCC website.

Ballpark figure—how many toys and toy collections do you have?
To be honest, I stopped counting after around 4,000 pieces, and that was six years ago! I have actually slowed down my toy buying and focused on key pieces I need to complete certain vintage parts of my collection.

What inspired you to get into collecting toys?
I think the inspiration came to me in the early '90s when I found a box of my old Japanese toys and displayed them on a shelf. I also started going to local antique and toy shows, and realized that there were many more of these types of toys than I knew of. From there, I started trading online with fellow collectors and once eBay started, it was "game on" for me!

As a commercial illustrator, you’ve worked with almost every important publishing and production house there is. Which project stood out for you the most?
The times I spent painting children's horror books like the Give Yourself Goosebumps and Graveyard School series really were my favorite. For the most part, I was given free range to come up with images that would fit the content of the books. So as an artist, I was able to come up designs that were fun to paint and also scary for the kids!

You seem to be doing something you really love right now with Max Toy Company. How’s that going?
Max Toys is really the nexus of all the abilities and experiences I've had to this point in my life. I use my art skills everyday, whether it's designing a toy, painting art for the packaging of my toys or hand painting the toys themselves. I constantly refer to my toy collection for inspiration and insight into how toys are made and painted. I know I am very lucky to have this career plus a very supportive wife who doesn't mind my crazy toy collections!

Is your son Max, whom you've named your toy company after, into Kaiju?
Max is actually more into video games like Halo and MindCraft, and also Yu Gi Oh cards. He enjoys the Kaiju and toys, but I think since he grew up with so much of it around him, it's not as special as it would be to someone who does not see it so much.

Is there a particular Japanese toy maker—dead or alive—you admire?
Without a doubt, the person that has influenced me the most is Yuji Nishimura of M1Go in Japan. Mr. Nishimura not only has a world class Japanese toy, art and prop collection, he also has his own toy company and in my opinion, produces the finest retro style soft vinyl toys. Many years before I started my toy company, I visited Mr Nishimura and watched him sit on the floor for hours hand painting eyes on the hundreds of toys he was making. This meeting made me realize that no matter what, toys are a result of a handmade process. So you really should appreciate any toy for the amount of work that goes into its creation—even if the end result is not great, at least you know that people were involved in the process. Nishimura also taught me that even the way you staple a bag is important. Fans may not be aware of such things, but subliminally the close attention to detail will influence their feelings for the toy.

Where are some of the most unexpected places you’ve seen your toys being displayed?
Quite a few of my toys were in a music video by a musician named OwlCity a few years ago. The song and video actually went to number one on all the American charts.

Inspiration—what do you do when you just don’t have it?
I guess I'm pretty lucky I don't seem to have a lack of inspiration, maybe just a lack of funding to make it all happen! I have many projects and collaborations with artists in process or in planning over the next two years. I'm always trying to push myself to think out of the box and not just do the same thing over and over. While not everything will be a unique project, I still strive to try a new painting technique or even work with an artist whose style is not at all like my own. In this way, the work never grows old and I continue to be interested in making toys and art.

What do you think of the creative scene in Singapore?
I think the artists in Singapore are incredibly talented and bring a fresh approach to the toy scene. My only advice is that they retain their own point of view and not change it just to fit into the American toy scene. With the internet, we are now more connected and aware of what other artists are doing or creating, which is amazing. But I worry that each culture will lose its identity, so I hope that whereever you are that you try to keep what's unique to your style or creations. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more Singaporean artists at STGCC.

Will any of your work be featured or available for sale at STGCC 2012?
I'm so honored that STGCC has asked me to be a guest, and am working on many small runs of exclusive toys to bring. I also hope to debut a very new Kaiju called Zanga at STGCC. It's the largest vinyl toy we have made to this point, and I think the fans will like it. But most of all, I'm looking forward to meeting the fans and eating really good food in Singapore!

The Singapore Toy, Games, Comic Convention 2012 happens September 1-2, 10am at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center. Tickets are $15-50 from the STGCC website.

If I were an animal, I’d be a… bat. Cause they sleep in the day.

I would love to… go skydiving!

The most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done is… trying to dance with Rihanna at a Stella McCartney party.

Facebook and Twitter… give me a lot of anxiety.

When I was young, I wanted to… be a painter.

My worst habit is… not answering my phone.

I like it hard… all the time.

When I’m drunk, I tend to… pee on things.

I get turned on… watching people dance.

If I had a million dollars… I'd be really fat.

My biggest pet peeve is… waiting in line.

I am the most creative… when I’m alone.

Spank Rock spins August 10 at the Heineken Green Room 10th Anniversary at Zouk. $25-32 includes two drinks.