The Railside Street Files: Wayst GMF MTS-Graffiti Artist Interview

What name do you write, and where did it come from? 
I write Wayst Mts Gmf from Auckland city New Zealand, Unsure how i came up with the name but I drew "Waste" for my first proper piece so it kinda stuck from there, I tagged a few other names before but never too seriously.

Do you remember the first time you put your name up? Where did it all start for you?
My first tags were just with vivids at my primary school. I started writing Waste and did my first throwup in the infamous Pidgeon palace in AKL CBD around 2008.
 

What first pulled you into graffiti — was it tags, throw-ups, pieces, trains, walls, or just seeing names around?
My first memory is when a street crew tagged up my primary with massive straights and seeing a DPG throwup in downtown when I was probably 8 or 9. The main thing that attracted me to it and got me into actually partaking was growing up on the west line and starting High school where i caught the train too and from everyday.

What writers, crews, places, or eras helped shape your style coming up?
Gbak, Dmn, Tmd , RTR and everyone bombing the West line. new pieces and throwups would appear daily especially in combat zone and there were countless productions and styles to look at, kids these days are glued to phones but i was glued to the train window haha!

When you’re painting, what matters most — clean letters, flow, colours, impact, getting the name seen, spot location  or spot atmosphere?
For me, clean proportionate and legible letters with a little bit of swing. Spot location is key as well whether it be highly visible, scenic or my favourite - rolling by on a train.

What is Your main focus? (etc. walls,trains,travel,rollers tags,pieces )
Definitely trains, but I love it all.

Are you more of a sketch planner, or do you prefer to work it out as you paint?
I usually come up with sketches and ideas in my head. I hate sketching.

How do you think the graffiti scene in New Zealand has changed since you first started?
Definitely the cityscape. There are cameras everywhere now. Back in the days, kids from my school would just bomb the tracks daytime in our uniforms haha. The Auckland scene went real quiet after the Rugby World Cup buff, but it's definitely coming back with less buff and more writers new and old getting up again.

What keeps you motivated to keep painting and pushing your name?
My crew and friends still painting. I've had a few gaps in activity the last couple of years but once I get out again the buzz returns.

Any writers, crews, photographers, or people from the scene you want to shout out?
Shout out to my crews MTS and the GMFS, but also anyone doing it - nothing worse than a grey city.

What’s next for you?
Just enjoying life, bit of travel planned and hopefully more to come but just having fun with my friends and family with a bit of colour being sprayed along the way. 

Any last words?
Wayst one MTS GMF shoutout to anyone painting and never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!

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