Nalla Smith

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, learning new styles, John Poverty, Chris Welk, blackout tattoos, self tattooing, Derick Montez, Hudson River Tattoo, Sticks and Stones (formerly Peter Tattoo), thriving in our 50s and being inspired by love.

@nallasmith
@sticksandstonestattoo