THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

I like to shock—I think it’s inspiring. I love to play and experiment, to be as tame or as outlandish as I happen to feel on any given day. When you are bold and open, artistically speaking, in music and in video, a whole bunch of people automatically feel threatened by you, especially in Middle America… OK, I may have been the naked-ass girl in the video, but if you look at it carefully, I’m also at the forefront. I’m not just some lame chick in a rap video; I’m in the power position, in complete command of everything and everybody around me. To be totally balls-out like that is, for me, the measure of a true artist.

Christina Aguilera in Duerden/Blender

So we assured her it would be [dirty enough], and we developed this underground Fight Club kind of situation.  We incorporated as many moments of insanity as possible.  Like no-one knew what a plushy was at that time.  You know, people who would dress up as animals and dance at parties [laughs].  I came up with this scenario where i wanted her to come in on a motorcycle.  My brother was a motocross state champion as a kid, so I wanted to bring a bike in.  I thought the best thing to do was shoot in those dirty leather chaps.

David LaChapelle in Gracie/Billboard