Taaj @taaj

“IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE TATTOOING.”

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO TATTOOING?

I grew up around tattooists, mainly my auntie. This was especially when I was younger, I used to go see her when she worked at shops in Melbourne, and even when she had moved to Perth, I had flown over and hung out with other artists. I was always drawing from a young age, so being around people that were drawing on other people always made me want to do what everyone around was doing,

I never saw myself slaving away on job sites
or sitting behind a computer.

It was always going to be tattooing. 

WHAT WERE YOU INTO BEFORE TATTOOING?

Obviously drawing, or anything that involved art mediums. Spent a lot of time at the skatepark. Video games have always been apart of my life as well, I don’t think I’ve ever not had a console of some sort. Always loved fighting, mma, bjj, kickboxing, whatever it is, always happy to watch it. 

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WORK AT ZANDAKA

I was working on Phillip island, and down there it’s dead 80% of the year. I wanted to learn more about tattooing and fine tune my ability and get better, I found it hard to on hill up island because of the limits on how creative o could be with tattoos due to it being a holiday/tourist hot spot. People mainly wanting a penguin or something small and was never really my flash or a place to build long term clients. I met another tattooist once (Bobby Maloney) whilst at an event and he gave me the tip

“You need to be where the people are”

and have never stopped running with it. So I moved and after one shop didn’t work out, I found Zandaka. When I did, I had hurt my hand and actually wasn’t able to tattoo, I could barely move my fingers without swelling and everything else involved with what I had done.

Nayte still put me on and even
taught me how to paint.

He took the risk of putting someone who couldn’t work, that’s what made me want to work at Zandaka.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE TATTOOING?

This is a hard one because I don’t want to forget anyone. I’ve admired and met so many fuckin awesome people in the industry, and even people who aren’t close to tattooing at all. If I forgot you, then I’m sorry xo. Stacey Ann, Bugsy, dickfish, Joey Vaider, mark lording, Danny young, Frankston tattoos in general, Nayte foo, surly Sam, Bobby Maloney, Pete kozul, sano botta, six gun, Kharni and muscles, yeah.gnar, chad coeplinger, Scott moss, Jesse Perez, mashkow, nisacco, man there is so many people who I love and have no issue giving credit to

everyone of those people have given me a reason to draw something or inspired me and my tattoos.

FAVOURITE THING TO TATTOO?

My own designs will always be my favourite to tattoo, anything I draw, I always have a great time putting on skin. 

STYLES OR SCENES OUTSIDE TATTOOING INFLUENCE YOUR WORK THE MOST?

Graf scene, Aus hip hop scene, politicians being fuckin dumb cunts,

food, fuckin anything tbh.

WHATS USUALLY PLAYING AT YOUR STATION OR HEADPHONES?

Usually hip hop, I don’t really stray to far from that path.

Country will never be allowed in my earphones, shit needs to be burnt. 

FAVOURITE MELBOURNE SPOT?

I think this means skate spot but it was the tannery diy, RIP :(
Favourite food spot atm is Biang Biang noodles in the cbd. 

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN YOU’RE NOT TATTOOING?

Drawing, chilling with my partner and our dog, playing video games, eating food, chillin with mates, nothing too exciting.

WHATS SOMETHING PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T EXPECT FROM YOU?

Oh fuck I wouldn’t even know, I do shit that I didn’t even expect,

probably how much of a
closeted nerd I actually am. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES ZANDAKA DIFFERENT?

This is another hard one to answer because I have t worked in many shops and each shop has their own steeze, but our flash days are always mad,

we let our art speak for itself. We’re not a copy and paste shop,

we want to be something the evolves past the present, and to include Melbourne steeze into that, it’s fresh.

WHAT DOES “BUILT FOR THE SCENE” MEAN FOR YOU?

Built not bought cunt. 

QUICK FIRE

Favourite album?  the war report - Capone and Norega 

Favourite brand? FTP

Go-to snack during tattoo sessions? splif

Dream collab? FTP

Current obsession? satire art.

One word to describe Melbourne? burning.