Photographer: Sabrina Jeblaoui
Model: Alyha Love
Stylist: Saeed
Interview: Leanne Mark
It’s a few months into quarantine and many in Berlin are starting to settle into their new “normal”. While Neukolln somehow managed to remain calm as always through the shutdown, now more timid locals are even opening their social circles beyond their flatmates, and getting outside to enjoy the warmer weather – mit masks and proper social distance of course. It’s a moment of refrain, a tentative yet tranquil pause as we brace ourselves for what rumors say may be a second wave of COVID-19. If this global pandemic has taught us anything, is taking pleasure in whatever we can slap together for a moment of peace, joy or a little bit of lovin’ is well worth its weight today, as tomorrow holds no promises.
French documentary photographer Sabrina Jeblaoui and stylist Saeed Oulali visited Alyha Love in her sunny WG in Neukolln earlier this month. Sabrina’s photographs are notorious for candidly capturing Berlin’s club culture – catching ravers leaving parties after a night or a few out. While her photography during the pandemic has necessarily evolved from these now-quarantined subjects, she has continued to hone her beautifully barefaced photographic approach. “The crisis allowed me to refocus on myself and take the pressure off attempting to represent some element of society. I think that photography allows you to photograph, in a way, the reflection of your own soul through others” explains Sabrina. Sabrina made use of everyone’s open schedules to finally capture a different side of Alyha Love, a sweetheart of Berlin’s queer nightlife and DJ under the moniker Yha Yha. While the quarantine limited where photographers can shoot, Sabrina took this restriction as an opportunity to capture Alyha in a more intimate space. With these photos, “I was able to catch a glimpse of who she really was because the photos in her room are simple and without artifice.”
You seem like quite the social butterfly, how have you found quarantine given social distancing restrictions?
It might seem like that but I am what people call an ambivert. I get energy from being around people but I also value alone time with myself. Since quarantine began I noticed that I miss the people, the clubs, the weird and strange situations I find myself in when we’re all out, but mostly the hugs.
Looking at yourself pre-quarantine, at the start of quarantine and now, what is different or the same?
Before quarantine I just had my FFS so I remember being in the hospital and the nurses talking about this virus that was life threatening. When I woke up from surgery, the whole world had changed, well at least my world. After a month I came home to Berlin and noticed that things were more serious. The air was stale with everyone being held hostage by this invisible threat that we had to take precaution from. It was scary having just come out of surgery but I needed to rest so the timing was convenient. Thank god I live with my best friends, I had them with me to go through this together, I feel so blessed for that. So toanswer your question, everything’s different and nothing’s the same. The relationships in my life have grown stronger and I’ve become more myself.
Love comes in many forms, how have you gotten your fill of lovin’ during quarantine? Any hacks or tricks?
I am so blessed to be living with the most cool, (sometimes) chill, crazy wacko friends as my flatmates. We have this symbiotic friendship where we can check each other and still love each other at the end of the day. That’s what I call family. Hacks? Masturbate. Tricks? Go into nature and bring a good book or a yoga mat and connect with yourself.
What do you find yourself craving socially at this point in your quarantine journey?
Honestly, now that we’re in the later end of it and laws in Berlin have relaxed a bit, socializing for me has moved into the house party setting and I really do enjoy it. It’s more intimate and you learn about your friends more, or at least I have. I kind of don’t want quarantine to end. It’s funny, I never thought I would say I could live without the clubs (I can’t) but this isn’t too bad either. I just miss the friends who had to move away because of COVID-19.
Quarantine presented a great moment for many to reflect on themselves and their relationships, what’s something you’ve learned about yourself?
Quarantine has taught me that I can be such a cunt sometimes! So I’ve slowed down the way I interact with people. I’m thinking more about how simply being nice can go a long way because let’s be real, life is short, why be a cunt?
What does a typical weekend in quarantine look like for you now that social distancing laws have relaxed and people from different households can meet?
Oh if you could only see how wild yet contained my weekends are. I’ve even named my friends’ houses where we usually gather ‘club names’, but yes, my quarantine has been great actually. A “club” [friend’s house] has been closed down recently due to the police visit because of noise – luckily nobody got fined! Angels were looking over us that weekend but mostly my weekends include a bit of dancing, catching up and once, a wrestling match. Now that was wild!
Dating apps don’t seem like their business is slowing despite social distancing laws, what’s your take?
Dating apps? What are those? I’ve taken myself from the commoner position and placed myself in a deity position. I am here now to be worshipped and be brought gifts [PERIOD]. If you’re good enough, you can touch my skin and you’ll be blessed but no one has been good enough in this city of sin, so I’ll just enjoy being held up high as a goddess.
Some habits I would take with me would be reading in the morning. Just holding a book and being the director of the words your intaking is fun. Another one would be that I’ve become a chef; making all my meals at home compared to eating out is a healthy habit I will continue. I feel like I’ve lost a bit of weight because of that too! One last thing I would take with me is how I talk to people and myself. Just being more careful with words and saying them with love and care.
Let’s play a game, if you had to keep only one of the following what would it be: the party, the good fuck, the döner?
If I had to keep one thing, I think it would have to be the döner. I need food. I love food. I love food more than people. Sure people can nourish you but food tastes delicious and it can fill the hole inside of you like no one can. And I’m not looking for anyone right now to fill my hole so a good white wine seafood linguine that I’ve cooked myself will do!
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