As part of an ongoing, personal project entitled 'Stay Lovely', NYC photographer Kevin Amato, a Dazed contributor, shot this series of images exclusively for Dazed Digital. He was inspired by the culture and lifestyles of models Dan Felton and Abiah Hostvedt but didn't want to approach them as models and as such, he tried to "keep it fun and playful, very loose" and chatted to them as well as shooting them.

"Dan spent a bit of time in the States, growing up on the East Coast and ended up in the UK. Abiah is part Jamaican and Norwegian, grew up in the UK and now stomps the east coast. I found their parallels and diversity interesting." explains Amato.

Abiah Hostvedt
Photographed at home, downtown, NYC

What’s it like being 17 and growing up in Manhattan?
Easy going on, pretty chill, hectic at times.. a lot better than if I had stayed in Jamaica though
 
Where are you from originally?
Born in Jamrock.

Your style?
I like clean looks, whether it be a skinny jeans, fitted look. Or a baggy jeans, more street look. Plus if I look good in it that's also enough.
 
Typical Sunday morning?
Sleeping in definitely.

Typical Friday night?
Keeping myself busy. Whether it's going out with friends or handling my business.
 
Craziest shit you’ve done?
So what if this isn't the right time, I'm gonna play the innocent card here lol.

You see a difference between UK and the States?
Big difference but nothing in terms of people, anywhere you go, people are still people. The ideas and styles on the other hand...ya, that’s something else lol.
 
How did you get into modeling?
Walking solo around the neighborhood on a sunny spring day.
 
Your folks come from extremely different cultures?
Ya... daddy's Irish and Norwegian. Ma's Jamaican, Syrian, African, Spanish and some more... Mom is religious and born in Jamaica and Dad's an atheist born here in the United States.

How did they meet?
Dad used to be a painter in Jamaica and that's where my mom comes in the picture. They met there and moved back here with my sister and me when I turned 6.
 
What does your race and culture mean to you?
Its means a lot to me but it doesn't define me. There's so much more out there other then that that you could almost say that’s little stuff even though I do think it still holds meaning.
 
What was your first official date?
I was in the 7th grade and it was dinner and a movie, I paid lol.

Top 5 songs on your ipod?
The songs I wrote and recorded with my friends. Shit is all explicit to tenth power… (stay posted..)

First kiss?
Pretty young like 12 but definitely memorable.


Dan Felton
Photographed in the Bronx, NYC

What’s up with the scribbly’s on your thigh?
The shit on my thigh is a total fuckup...but i love it. I was working in a tattoo shop just outside London, there was a bar nearby where I had a bit of a session one night. The stupid fuck that I am, I ended up taking some people back to the shop at 4am deciding it was a good idea to let them write their names on my leg and play tic tac toe (which in england we call noughts and crosses). I woke up the next morning...totally forgetting that I had it. I walked downstairs in my white underwear and whilst pouring myself a glass of water, I heard my mum say ''What the hell is all over your leg?'' I looked down to see a mess of dried blood and ink covering my leg. At the time i was hoping it would fade slightly and was gonna cover it up with another tattoo...but now I think its pretty fuckin' sick...in a weird sort of way haha. I also have a smiley face and 'girth' tattooed on my balls....but that's another drunken story!

How did you get into tattooing?
I started doing an apprenticeship when I was about 16 in a shop in place called west Drayton, after a year of workin for 7 days a week like the bitch i finally got to start tattooing. It was tough trainin but i got through it and was definitely worth it. I spose im just havin a bit of break from it, i'll go back to it someday

Sunday morning?
Wake up around 12ish, feel hangover free even from the messy night before... go out for a pub breakfast with my mates, get back and chill with the family.

Friday night?
Alcohol...and much of it.

Messy drunk? Angry drunk?? Wet everybody-kisser??? Naughty drunk????
All of them actually. I'm not an angry drunk anymore, I used to be big time, getting in fights everytime I went out, but I've grown up a bit since then. I'm definitely a sloppy mess and I do enjoy a wet kiss with most people.

How does NYC compare to London?
NYC is quality. I prefer it cos everything is so much closer together, getting from A to B to so much easier. I think on the whole, everyone is more friendly too. People will go out of their way to show you the way.

How did you get into modeling thing?
I was over visiting my dad last year and was in SoHo. I saw this muscley black guy staring at me and thought what the fuck is his problem so I stared back, he walked past and I heard 'HEY EXCUSE ME' and thought 'Fuck! here we go...he wants to fight.' I suppose thats how it is in England where I live...someone stares at you...they have a problem with you. But anyway to my surprise  Dave asked me if I have ever modelled. he gave me a card and said I should swing by the agency. I did, and ended up signing a contract.

In 5 years?
Hopefully here in NYC with a place of my own, debt free and still enjoying myself. That's all that matters to me really...as long as I'm having fun, it's all good.

Top 5 songs on your iPod?
At the moment its got to be
-'Fell in Love with a Girl' by The White Stripes
-'Gas Panic' (live) by Oasis
-'If it wasn't for my' by The Courteneers
-'Dick Pleaser' by Lil Wayne....that shit is so funny.
-'Music when the Lights Go Out' by The Libertines

First kiss?
My first kiss was a dare. I was playing spin the bottle in some park with an old mate and two birds. I think I was about 13. I ended up havin' to chuck my tongue down this girls mouth. I didn't have a clue how to do it and she had braces...so it didn't go down too great!