50 Up-and-Coming New York Culture Makers to Watch in 2013

New York in 2012 may be a city that runs on money, but, contrary to all economic logic, it remains a city whose character is equally defined by the art it creates. Artists — by which we also mean artisans, writers, musicians, filmmakers, actors, designers, chefs, dancers, comedians, and makers of all kinds — and the entrepreneurs and curators who support them still populate the city by the thousands, maintaining its status as the creative capitol of the United States.

In what we hope to make an annual tradition, Flavorwire is celebrating our home city by profiling 50 up-and-coming culture makers you’ll be hearing much more about in the coming year. While we define “up-and-coming” broadly — just as New Yorkers will surely know some of the names on this list already, we guarantee you’ll also encounter some you aren’t familiar with — there’s one factor that unites everyone who appears here: they inspire us. Click through to peruse the list and read interviews with each and every one of these emerging cultural figures.

Ric Leichtung

With a foot in two of New York’s most interesting musical ventures — experimental music blog Ad Hoc and Brooklyn DIY institution 285 Kent — we’re guessing that Ric Leichtung doesn’t get a whole lot of time for doing things like, y’know, sleeping. As it turns out, by the sounds of his responses to our questionnaire below, we’re dead right. — TH

What are your plans for the holidays?

For Christmas I’m going to Florida to get some Skyline Chili and hang out with family. I have so much love for the both of them. I’m also really psyched for Ad Hoc‘s New Years Eve parties at 285 Kent. Every year I try to really do it up for New Year’s — last year we had Araabmuzik, Laurel Halo, and DIIV in one night — and this year we’re having Merchandise, DJ Rashad, and some special guests we can’t announce yet. It’s gonna be crazy.

Which New York artists do you count among your greatest inspirations?

Friends are the people who’ve inspired me the most. Todd P(atrick), my old boss and now partner at 285 Kent, has continued to impress me over the past six-plus years with his curation and ability to make the seemingly nonsensical and impossible entirely possible and sensical. It’s that type of surreal reality that makes New York worth living in squalor for.

Since working with her at Pitchfork on Altered Zones and now on Ad Hoc, my partner Emilie Friedlander has pushed the boundaries of my writing and allowed me take things one step further.

What’s coming up for you in 2013?

Ad Hoc has a lot of great hardcore shows coming up at 285 Kent like Iceage, Perdition, and Crazy Spirit. Pete Swanson, who I’m a huge fan of, is playing with another noise person who I’ve been obsessed with for years. I’m also excited to see what #Top8 have up their sleeve for this year.