Meet Kapil
Harlem is a cultural and artistic mecca attracting many people to the neighborhood for all it has to offer. This stands true for Kapil, a new Harlemite who moved to the community about four months ago. He is a musician and has played saxophone since he was around 11 years old, “I think at the time it was for school. I think the reason why I stick with it is- I don't know, it's weird. I'm not the type of person who's very outspoken, but… when I play, it feels very comfortable, so I like that part of it. Kind of speaking through another thing.” Kapil also plays the flute, but currently he mainly writes and produces, “I have… a couple of gigs every now and then, but mainly producing. Put out a song… a couple months ago, which I'm excited about… I also do video editing…” He is also looking for more activities that he can join to get to know Harlem better.
Regarding what drew him to Harlem, Kapil says, “I went to college in Boston. A lot of people I know… moved here after school and stuff… And again… a lot of the stuff with producing is like, you work with a lot of other musicians and it's like, if you don't have other musicians, it's kind of pointless.” During his brief time in Harlem, he has been learning more about the community everyday, “I guess from what I can tell, the way other people talk about it seems like one of those places that [is] sometimes disregarded in… the whole scheme of New York, which is kind of annoying… [Gentrification is] a very real thing. But it's like, people [from Harlem] also still live here… And I don't know… I enjoy being here. Just… being around locals and stuff… I enjoy that. Just the community aspect of it. Because it seems like Harlem specifically seems more community based. Like, if you go to a lot of other places, I mean, Brooklyn maybe is… more community based slightly… Lower East, it's like, I don't see a community. A bunch of people move there and just kick it. That's it,” he laughs.
“New York is just a melting pot of… everybody’s from everywhere. It’s crazy, you know? But… I love that. I’m like, thank God there are people who are so different. You’ve always learned something new… I think that’s why I also like moving.”
Kapil moved around a bit before settling in Harlem, “I lived in Brooklyn for a couple months. That was like a sublease situation before I moved here… It's different. Manhattan. I feel like it's just one of those things you gotta get used to if you're not used to the speed of it… Just gotta get used to [it]. You can kind of chill if you want to. It's like you gotta… stay on your toes… sometimes.” Prior to Brooklyn he lived in New Jersey. He moved there after attending college in Boston, but he was raised in California. Spending time in a variety of places he has had to adjust each time he has moved, “I think people are just different depending on where you go… I guess… depending on where you are, certain people are ready for things versus other people… And… sometimes people make a big deal out of stuff that doesn't need to be a big deal out… Or it's the reverse where it's like, people don't make a big deal out of something that does need to be a big deal.” The transitions from place to place were mainly social, “I think… New York is just a melting pot of… everybody's from everywhere. It's crazy, you know? But… I love that. I'm like, thank God there are people who are so different. You've always learned something new… I think that's why I also like moving. It's just the opportunity to interact with people that are nothing like you. I think it's such a cool thing.”
Kapil enjoys eating locally but is still exploring Harlem. Riverside Park has been a great place for him to relax and play his saxophone. When we interviewed Kapil, he was playing in Riverside Park for the first time. The music from his saxophone could be heard as you walked through the park, providing an accompaniment to the great weather. Many of the memories, or experiences, he has in Harlem are from playing, whether it be in parks or playing with his friends at their houses, “This is actually the first day I've actually done this. But… a couple of friends and I, we like to... play out sometimes... so that's fun a lot of the time... I think a lot of the stuff I connect with Harlem is a lot of... playing for the most part.” Being active, like running and playing basketball, has been a source of enjoyment as well, “I like to… play pickup games and then get killed by all the high school kids,” he jokes.
“I love my street just because… it always seems like all the old heads are just… hanging out and stuff, and I don’t know why that’s just… a comforting thing for me… I always like going outside and there’s… a sign of life. Instead of just cars or… whatever it is… or it’s just silent.”
He is getting more ingrained in the community of Harlem over time. Some of his favorite places are a local falafel cart and fruit stand within walking distance of his street, “I see the same people. Like the... fruit [stand]... He's super chill, and… sometimes I get to finesse some strawberries... A bunch of the delis and… I know a couple of my neighbors, which is cool… There's also… a handful of people I've met and that I've just never seen again.” The community feeling is what Kapil loves the most, “I love my street just because… it always seems like all the old heads are just… hanging out and stuff, and I don't know why that's just… a comforting thing for me… I always like going outside and there's… a sign of life. Instead of just cars or… whatever it is… or it's just silent.” Kapil is excited to know Harlem and the people that make up the community more and sees himself living in Harlem long term.
