If you think that Trey Gaskin is doing too much, then you’re probably not doing enough. Reflecting their outgoing personality, O.T.T (Over The Top) is the new fashion and pop culture podcast bringing frivolity back during dark times. From juicy gossip and scandals to candid conversations, the comic diva and Central Saint Martins fashion journalism graduate hosts weekly talks in the comfort of their own home - with a gin and tonic always by their side.

Had it not been for lockdown, which caused many students to reevaluate their degree projects, we wouldn’t have been introduced to this podcast filled with zealous energy and some truth serum. The seven episodes so far feature industry insiders such as Pat Cleveland, who Trey regards as “the countess of the catwalk” alongside young creatives such as Saul Nash, Essie Buckman and Jawara Alleyne. The flamboyant individual has recently divided their time between being Mowalola and Harris Reed’s muses and modelling for Wales Bonner and Charles Jeffrey. Most recently he featured in Christian Cowan’s SS21 collection presentation in collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X with all proceeds benefitting The LoveLand Foundation.

Nataal speaks to Gaskin about their rollercoaster journey from leaving Massachusetts for London to blossoming into an unapologetic fashion queen.

Yelena: Where did you grow up?

Trey: I’m from a small town outside of Boston. It’s like a suburban purgatory, predominantly white, uninteresting and very uninspiring. There was nothing going on. If you like sports, you can have a nice life but other than that, nothing gave me pleasure but Soul Cycle.

Y: What were you like before attending Central Saint Martins?

T: Miserable so I just did everything. I was on the debate team, I ran a diversity club and I man-aged the girl’s cross country team. I was trying to keep myself busy. That’s where this work ethic stems from. If you’re not happy in an environment, it’s going to push you to get out of that situation.

Y: Did you always want to study fashion journalism?

T: Yes, I really did. My interest in fashion journalism came from looking at magazines as a form of escapism when there was nothing around me. I loved the fantasy of it. I read W, Vanity Fair, i-D, Dazed. I remember when I shot for W in the second year it was a surreal moment in my life because this was the magazine that got me into fashion. I applied to Central Saint Martins so I up-and-left. God was on my side because I moved to London in 2016, the same year as the US elections, so I got to miss all of Trump’s shenanigans and watched it from the outside.

Y: Were you doing anything on the side while studying?

T: I was very much the guy in Everybody Hates Chris who had multiple jobs. When I first moved to London, I was a Social Rep for UAL. For two years I worked at my really good friend, Clemmie Meyer’s vintage store in Notting Hill called Lime Green Bow. I was also modelling on the side.

Y: Where did you intern while studying?

T: I was Mowalola’s studio assistant during my placement year. I also worked at L’Officiel USA. It was my first time working at a magazine and I was writing all the time. It gave me the confidence to put my writing out there and it propelled me. I was fortunate enough to go to New Orleans and interview Big Freedia.

Y: What advice would you give to a fashion student wanting to take a placement year?

T: I would say, my best advice for any fashion student, don’t just only try to apply to your dream job or the biggest companies. Try somewhere that is smaller because then you can be nurtured more and there’s more room for growth.

Y: Do you feel like your view on the fashion industry has changed?

T: I think it’s nuanced. I obviously love fashion but I do believe work needs to be done. Without a doubt and in four years, I have seen a lot of change but especially during this particular period, I have seen a lot of performances. It’s about intentions and a lot of people know they can’t get away with what they used to get away with. But what really matters is what are people really doing about it? Things need to change from the boardroom to the sales floor. I want to see real change happening at every level and not just a surface level.

Y: What made you want to do a podcast for your degree project?

T: Growing up, I loved daytime television. The View, The Real and all of those old daytime talk shows like The Tyra Banks Show. I had planned on doing a fashion talk show. I wanted viewers to feel that whole energy with the set design, production and lighting. From July 2019 until the plague, I had everything planned out, but then the plague hit. I wanted to reflect the world of today so I designed a website which included the articles as well as my podcast O.T.T because some people don’t like to read, they just like to listen.

For the articles section I interviewed Marcellas Reynolds who wrote the book Supreme Models, the first book dedicated to black models from the 1940s up until now. I also have a piece on the 20th anniversary of Lil’ Kim’s Notorious KIM album where I interviewed her longtime stylist Misa Hylton. I also spoke to the design team of the clothing store Voyage, which was really popular in the 1990s and 2000s. For the podcast, it was important to have a mix of young designers that I love and are interesting such as Jawara Alleyne and Harris Reed.

Y: Why do you want to be an advocate for young creatives?

T: They have the most interesting things to say. You gain a lot of insight and clarity from people who are established but you also need to balance it with the voices of today because they’re going to be the ones telling you what needs to change. They’re the ones who are the most affected by everything right now.

Y: What is next for O.T.T?

T: Coming up this season, we have image-maker and recent graduate Joseph Bates, fashion journalism alumnus Kacion Mayers and Kenya Hunt from Grazia. And our first musician guest, Shamir.

Y: How does it feel to be a recent graduate during these troubled times?

T: It’s a bit stressful. I need to get my visa sponsored to remain in this country, which is quite hard considering the fact that we’re going through a recession and depression. The bag won’t chase me so I have to chase it.

Y: How do you hope that the fashion industry will have changed in five years time?

T: I want to see people put their money where their mouth is. I want people of colour being hired in every position. It also needs to start at A-Levels. Go in and show kids that they can do this. Even applying to art schools, not all think they can because they’ve never been shown examples.

Y: What book are you currently reading?

T: I’m reading a few books at the moment. The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo, My Voice by Angie Martinez and Anyone Who’s Anyone by George Wayne. I’m not really a fiction girl, I can make stories up in my head.

Y: If you had to pick one wig that defines you, which one would it be?

T: I don’t know if there’s one particular wig that defines me but I do love a bang. I’m shy and also, if I see something that I don’t like then I can just shift it down and then it covers my eyes. It’s very multifunctional.

O.T.T can be streamed on Apple and Spotify

Words Yelena Grelet
Photography Jordan Sapiano

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Published on 07/10/2020