NAME: Darian Symoné Harvin
AGE: 25
PLACE: Brooklyn
OCCUPATION: Journalist
“Happiness is a feeling for me. It’s how I want to feel, all of the time.”
Darian is a journalist who is constantly looking for new ways to tell stories. She’s got her own podcast called Am I Allowed To Like Anything, works at Yahoo as a news coordinator, and really wants to be a beauty editor in her next life.
What’s a thing you always forget to do in the morning?
Where do I begin… to drink more water, to answer backs texts that came late in the night, to pack my gym clothes.
What’s something you think that’s good about you that’s not good about most people?
I am good at ignoring people and shutting out the noise that doesn’t matter. It helps me to remain focused. I know who I trust, my morals, and what I should be focused on. It helps me to forecast where I should place my energy. It really helps me to stay happy and unbothered in this world where so much happens that tends to make me feel sad or like there is no hope.
What makes you feel sad or like there’s no hope?
The subway makes me sad because it spotlights the inequality in our city, and in America. Also, the 2016 presidential election.
What’s a natural talent that you’d like to be gifted with?
This question is a little hard for me. I do believe I can become good at anything I want. However, I would like to become a better dancer. I know how to dance in the club, but choreographed — I want to become good at that.
Is there a specific dance routine you’d like to learn?
I would like to learn 8 counts to Formation. And “Sorry” by Justin Bieber video. I thought those girls were amazing.
Name a desperate moment.
I feel like all the times I felt desparate were like… when I was broke and living/interning in NYC during the summer.
I felt desperate when I was working at Junior’s as a server. It was a bad environment for me. It wasn’t because of the people I worked with. A lot of them became my good friends during that time in my life. I think just the mentality of trying to “make it” but feeling stuck, and also needing to make money. I made the best of it for sure, but it was the juxtaposition of it in my life at the time.
What’s the most awkward phone call you’ve had to make?
Salary negotiation. But you gotta push through it. Gotta stay strong
What are three things you love to do alone?
Dance, eat dinner at restaurants. In general, I love being alone. I like to listen to Future alone because I can just spaz out.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I hate karaoke, but I do like the Trap Karaoke movement that is happening right now. So in that context, I would say “Back to Back” by Drake .
Wait, what is Trap Karaoke…?
Basically it started as a small party where it was karaoke but with trap songs- rap, R&B, and only girls could go up and do it. It’s amazing. Now it’s all over the world.
What is your idea of happiness?
Happiness is a feeling for me. It’s how I want to feel, all of the time. Right now, happiness for me is me feeling in control of my life. Not in a structured way… it’s more mental and being able to convert those into actions that make me happy. Happiness is understanding my goals and intentions and being fortunate enough to act on them. It’s hanging out with my friends, drinking coffee, working out, eating Swedish Fish, walking down the street and not getting harassed- that is happiness. Happiness to me is getting to experience the feeling of being carefree.
What’s the strangest thing you’d never leave the house without?
Sunglasses, which is odd because I always forget to put them on. Also, the mini microphone I use to record my podcast, because you never know.
Could you tell us a little bit about your podcast and what inspired it?
Well, my podcast was inspired by a conversation I was having with a friend. We were basically talking about how we don’t give people room to grow and breathe and create things and see how they play out. We are so much more prone to say that we don’t like things as opposed to being open minded, or offering critiques that push conversations forward. So, I wanted to create a space to do just that. I’ll bring on a guest to talk to them about their work and their lives, and things they like at the moment. I like to interview people, and i want to continue to hone that skill, so this allows me to do it.
Favorite book?
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Longest Netflix binge?
Grey’s Anatomy.
Margarita or martini?
Margarita with Cuervo.
Place to drink coffee?
Coffee from Bouchon Bakery- go sit in 30 Rockefeller plaza and watch the tourists on a bench.
Favorite body of water?
Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Grenada’s St. George.
First concert you went to?
B2K.
What’s the one word/phrase you are guilty of using too much?
LITERALLY.
What’s the last Google search on your iPhone?
Minibar delivery.
What does the last text in your phone say?
“Lol ME TOOOOOO”
Favorite insult?
“Go fuck yourself.”
Tell us one thing you think we should be getting into.
Book: Notorious R.B.G.. And I read a lot of magazines. Fast Company and EBONY, I love.
Blog/website/pieces of media: Lenny Letter Newsletter, HuffPo’s Highline, NYT Mag. ButDoesItFloat.com. This.cm‘s newsletter (which you don’t need to be a member of to subscribe to.)
Song: Too many.
Kali Uchis – “Rush”
Kanye West
Rihanna – “Famous”
Tear For Fears – “Everybody Want To Rule The World”
The Internet – “Just Sayin/I Tried”
You can find more of Darian here: theseam.co | HRDCVR | Twitter | Instagram