In Conversation With: Losa E.

Early January, Losa Eguavoen, Laylo & Co. founder, stylist and model, “sat down” with PITCH editor Adeola Egbeyemi to discuss the Issue One cover shoot, “Work + Play”.

Adeola: If you wanted to start out by giving just an overview of what the shoot was: who was a part of it, where you shot?

Losa: For sure. Work+Play was shot back in August 2019. It was shot at an underground type of play park; it had lots of swings and basketball courts for people to play in. And I saw this park at night, actually. 

Before I found the location, though, I had the idea for the shoot, but I hadn't really conceptualized how exactly things would take place, but I had the idea in a document.

Originally, I had two specific models in mind, but one of them backed out. But then last minute one of my friends was in town and I was like “You’re actually pretty good at modelling (laughs) so I’ll keep you available to participate” and she was like “Yeah, for sure” and I was super grateful for that. 

And my friend, Yahya—he’s a film photographer—I knew he'd be perfect for it. I really love film photography, anything 35mm to 120mm...

Adeola: (has no idea what 35mm is, but is impressed) Mhmm.

Losa: ...so we just collabed! It was kind of a free for all: we came up with ideas, shot everything in one hour and it was tons of fun. I honestly wish we went for longer. Maybe there will be a Work+Play Part Two. We’ll bring some guys into the mix. 

A: Honestly, yes. And you mentioned the whole backdrop being, you know, a playground, an underground sort of area, so I can see how, in the title, the play part comes in. I was wondering about the work part?

L: Yeah, I feel like it might be hard for people to understand the work part. I guess it's hidden because...if anyone knows me, they know I love artistic and creative direction. And that is actually work for people, right? 

That was a personal message I was sending to the audience: “Of course we’re having fun here, but this is work for me”.

Left to right: Sonia Igboanugo, Jinnia Baiye, Losa Eguavoen. Shot by Yahya Sidow.

A: Yes, and that’s a wonderful message to send because oftentimes we just consume art and are like “Oh, that’s so delightful” but don’t realize the hours and hours of dedication that artists are putting into their craft, to get it to be that easy enjoyment for us. 

L: Exactly.

A: That’s fantastic. And then I guess, speaking about putting in a lot of effort, something that jumped out to me was the colours of the shoot. What was the process behind the colours, you know, in choosing some of the backgrounds, in choosing the outfits?

L: When it comes to outfits, I am very simple. I knew denim really goes with everything and white is really simple, too.

And I think it was really the park, to be honest. The graffiti and artwork that artists of the community had created really complemented the shoot itself, so shout-out to that. 

The idea of chalk and pastel—one of my favourite colour palettes is pastels—was easy to combine with the denim. It was just an easy fit and I also think that’s why I fell in love with the park when I saw it that night. 

A: And talking about the backgrounds, there’s two from the shoot that really jump out at me. I’ll start with first—the one that ended up being on the cover of PITCH—where the model is sort of looking right down on you. 

There’s an imposing, brutalist building in the back and the rest of it is this cloudy sky. How do you feel about that photo or is there anything behind that photo that you want to share?

L: The thing about this [shoot] is that it was a lot of freestyle, and what I loved about the location is that you were free to do anything you wanted. My friend, Jinnia, the model of that particular photo, we got her just to climb on a garbage —you know those...green boxes?

A: (laughing) Yeah, yeah...

L: Whatever that box was, we got her stand on that and she just did her thing. The interesting buildings that you don't see around the city were really cool to experiment with, and that’s also one of my favourites so (laughs). 

A: It’s striking! The softness of the sky and the model and then the intense building, it's...great.

L: Yeah, I’ve always been inspired by architecture; I actually wanted to be an architect when I was in Year 11. So for me, when I take pictures myself as a photographer—although I didn't shoot that particular photo—photos like that really strike me, too. It's cool to see it come to life. 

A: Yeah, super cool. And the other one I wanted to mention was the one where the model is upside down in the middle, and the other two are just sitting on the swings with the bubblegum.

“...Black women shouldn’t be shamed for having fun…Black women should be able to have fun the way other women get to experience that luxury without being...scrutinized for it.”

L: For me, I’m all about fun, I'm all about enjoyment. There's that Yoruba saying, although I’m not Yoruba: “Jaiye, jaiye”!

A: (laughs in Yoruba)

L: I want to implement fun into my life, enjoyment into my life and I think that—even with the current times we’re in—that messaging should be explored for everyone. 

There’s balance, sure, but I think people just need to loosen up and just show their goofy side. Or, I don't really...No, yeah, show their goofy side! It also just shows who my friends and I are as people; we like to have fun, right.

A: Awesome. And then, for someone who’s flipping through the pages of PITCH, who sees this, is there anything else you want to leave with them?

L: I think the messaging is loud and clear: work can be fun, enjoy life, spend time with your friends and, you know, add colour to your life. 

And don't forget the child side of you, you know? For me, that shoot really shows how much I loved different parts of my childhood.

I think when we grow up, we get into high school and university, even post-grad, we get very distracted by “adult things”. Whether it's love and romance or our careers...I think that just having that part of you that allows you to be free and have fun and be innocent, in a way, brings a lot of peace and sense of self. 

I still watch a lot of the shows I watched growing up and that's because it allows me to reminisce. So it's that whole theme of going back to the days of being a little girl, and playing on the playground with my friend, hopscotch and other little things that bring back great memories.

A: And Play—it's right in the title, you know? That’s a fantastic point you bring us; remember the youth and innocence, as you rightfully say and it’s evidenced right here, so thank you.

L: Yeah!

A: And I think even the fact that it's Black women in this too and sometimes we don’t even get the chance to embody that and show off to the wider world that we also deserve to be seen like this: happy and carefree. 

L: Exactly! Another point I want to bring is that Black women, I’ve noticed, we’re always focused on our career, how much we’ve achieved, all the degrees that we’re getting, all the schooling we’re getting and how much we’re being promoted in the company.

It’s great; I work in corporate, well, not America, but corporate Canada. I understand that pressure, I went to a prestigious business school, I get it. I think it's important for society because Black excellence matters. 

But I really do believe that Black women shouldn’t be shamed for having fun, because that's what I’ve noticed a lot. Black women should be able to have fun the way other women get to experience that luxury without being, you know? (takes breath) Being...being scrutinized for it. Being called lazy for it. It also sends that message, if people haven't seen it that way. 

I'm huge on enjoyment, I'm huge on having fun. If you’re always working, you’re not going to be happy. You have to find what makes you happy.

A: Amazing. It’s work and it’s play. I keep coming back to the title, I know, but your vision for the shoot is so well encapsulating of everything that's a part of it. 

L: Thank you very much.

A: No worries, no worries. Is there anything else that you thought would be notable to point out? Any part of it that was just funny or something?

L: (pauses) It's funny because I was one of the models on it, but I actually wasn't feeling well that day. I wasn't confident or feeling like myself. 

I remember my friend, one of the other models, Sonia, was trying to catch her train and everything, the whole thing was so crazy. I was rushing with makeup, too, but it’s just cool to see how everything comes together behind the stress. 

“…it’s really cool to see different styles of music, fashion and art all combine and intersect across the different decades.”

And one thing I really want to mention is that, of course, you can see that it's very inspired by 2000s pop culture, specifically within the Black community. Even Normani implemented that type of imaging in one of her music videos.

It just exemplifies the fact that, I feel like within our fashion today, a lot of it has been influenced by past decades. So it’s really cool to see different styles of music, fashion and art all combine and intersect across the different decades. 

A: Was...was that music video for Motivation? Yes?

L: Yeah, it was Motivation! The thing was I came up with the shoot’s concept before the video, so I was like “Wow, others have that same desire to be 2000s inspired”. It was like...

A: ...the gold hoops, the pink pastels. I see it.

L: Yeah! 

A: You inspired Motivation. We’re going to put it in right here. 

L: No! (laughs) I wish, I wish! I don't want to get copy-righted!

A: (laughs)

L: But the thing is that artists do get inspired by other artists. There’s nothing that you see that isn't inspired by other people. There's a reason why people create mood-boards... 

A: Exactly.

L: ...and watch videos for inspiration. You just need that spark of creativity to make it your own. I really believe we all learn from each other. The whole thing is a learning process; I'm still learning too. 

I struggled with imposter syndrome for real for the longest time, to be honest, so I think…we should all just give ourselves that credit and say we are creative in our own way. We don't have to let it be a competition; apps steal from each other all the time!

A: (laughs) Everything is inspired, everything is inspired. Thank you for that last point, it’s… aesthetics. Bringing them and revamping them for the modern age; it's super popular and definitely evident in Work+Play. 

L: I’m glad you like the work. I hope it resonates with everyone. It’s really “girls just wanna have fun” and (laughs) that's really it, to be honest. 

In closing, Losa gave a very special shout-out to the models, Jinnia and Sonia, and to Yahya for helping conceptualize the shoot and put together props and outfits. Peep Issue One’s Work+Play here.