Through good times and bad, people always need to a place to release the stress and angst that accompany human life. For generations now, for many that place has been Las Vegas, NV. A true oasis in the desert, "Sin City" was built on catering to our most basic desires and that is still true to this day. Growing up in Southern California, Vegas was always a vacation destination for The Brvtalist and over the years we've become quite fond of it. Beneath the shallow surface layers lies a twisted wonderland of fantasy and dark reality. When we discovered the new title from Imperial Publishing was about our favorite weekend escape, we had to find out more.
Lost Vegas is a 48-page, glossy photo book with images by photographer Brooke Olimpieri (Filthymouth Creative). Exploring both the lustful glamour and seedy underbelly, Lost Vegas is a visually striking, cinematic tale of America's most divisive city. We were instantly drawn to Olimpieri's candid moments of retro beauty and native crudeness. The book is a great story of raw intimacy deep inside "America's Playground". We were fortunate enough to speak with the photographer about this thrilling new book and you can find our Q&A below.
*all photographs by Brooke Olimpieri
The Brvtalist: I was immediately pulled in by the sentiment you express in the book that America needs Las Vegas. I couldn't agree more. Talk a little bit about that and given recent events, do you think it's become even MORE important now?
Brooke Olimpieri: Absolutely! I think people always need an outlet, a way to free their mind from the worry and concern of all that is going on in the "Real world".. I think thats why things like reality tv, and social media is so popular. Its become a way for people to distract themselves. A way to stay busy, a way to feel connected. I like a to be distracted, thats one of the reasons why I do what I do. I can become completely lost and wrapped up in the few hours I spend with a model. We create our own world either in my car diving around listening to music, or meeting at a seedy hotel, jumping on the bed, taking shots of tequila, blasting Peaches. Nothing is fake, everything is just us, girls being girls, having fun, letting go.
TB: I'm an L.A. native and our family trips growing up were always to Vegas and I think that's had a big impact on me. Being a Vegas native, talk about how being from there has shaped your creativity and perspective.
BO: Well, I'm actually not from Vegas originally. Im from Oregon, which couldn't be more different. But I have lived in Vegas since I was 20, so I basically grew up here in the sense of what shaped my adult life. I never liked it - the desert, the dry air, the loss, the shame, the debauchery. It wasn't my thing. I was a small town girl, I grew up on a llama farm. But I never really fit into that lifestyle either, I was always a little too "wild" or I'd like to think of it more as a little to fun & ambitious to be tied up at 18, with a kid and a husband and forever stay in that small town. I always wanted more, glamour, glitz, freedom.
Vegas has grown on me, I now understand that it is an "easy" place to live, in terms of affordability, and that traffic is very minimal. But the only true saving grace I have, is my tiny apartment in Santa Monica that my husband and I escape to on a regular basis. Does it sound like I hate Vegas? I don't, I met my husband there almost 14 years ago. Vegas has been good to me/us.
TB: The photographs in Lost Vegas capture the glamor of the city but many are also focused on seedier motels and the hyper local atmosphere. What was/is your goal for the book?
BO: I didn't have a "goal" for the book. The book is a very true and honest interpretation of the way I see Vegas and what I actually like and where I like to spend time. My aesthetic is not and has never been about shiny new, fake, over the top. I don't like "Barbie". I don't like minimal, modern. I like real, I like quirky, I like dirty, and seedy, and raw.
TB: You also operate Filthy Mouth Creative - magazine, agency, creative outlet. Tell us a little bit about that and some upcoming projects.
BO: I never sleep....just kidding. It sounds like a lot, but it all has an effortless flow. Basically my baby is Filthy Mouth Creative. It's the bread and butter of everything. It allows me to express myself regularly and display my most recent work, as well as engage with other artists or brands that want to hire me for collaborations that range from simple social media content, all the way up to a full campaign shoot. I do it all. I will even organize models, hair and makeup, location. I love having full creative control.
I started Another Filthy Magazine based on that I saw a hole in the market. I was constantly shooting, and submitting my work, when I realized that so many magazines are vanilla. Im not saying their aren't other edgy magazines, of course their are. But I think as everyone has their own style, I have my own style and voice as an editor, and I felt I could help other like minded artists get their work out into the world. Raw, edgy, punk rock, and rock n roll.. All the good stuff. The stuff other people might be scared of. I like that I can put that out there and those artists can be seen. We all deserve to be seen if we are creating. My work has been described as "Erotic" a few times. I really don't see it that way. I see it as sexy, sure, but I'm there taking the photos, and i know that behind the velvet curtain.. Its all fun and games.
Thank you to Brooke Olimpieri for the great conversation and to Imperial Publishing for the stunning images. You can pre-order Lost Vegas now and it will ship the first week of December.
-JRS