Nazlı lives in the Lower East Side, a neighborhood defined by contrast, creativity, and constant change. In our 10:AM Dialogue, she shares how small acts of joy become quiet rebellions, why she’s drawn to raw and imperfect expressions of art, and how New York’s energy inspires her to keep becoming. For Nazlı, 10:AM resonates because it reflects honesty and presence in a city that never stops moving.
Q: What kind of spaces -digital or real- make you feel most seen or understood these days?
A: With everything going on in the world, the weight, the noise, the rising sense that even basic freedoms can’t be taken for granted, I find myself craving safety in small, joyful moments. I feel most seen when I’m with friends, laughing about something silly, sweating through a dance class, or out on a run. Those moments to me become a kind of rebellion in themselves, like we’re creating our own little bubble of freedom, presence, and joy. That’s when I feel most like myself. It’s the same energy I feel when I come across something that doesn’t try too hard but still says something, like 10:AM’s way of making space for being real.
Q: What kind of expression makes you feel like you’re in it, like it sees you and you see yourself in it?
A: I connect the most with expressions that hold contrast like chaos and beauty. That’s why I love stumbling on graffiti in the city that says something raw and real, like “you are exactly where you’re supposed to be” scrawled on a brick wall, or hearing a song that captures what I can’t put into words, like when I listen to The Blaze or Max Richter’s recomposition of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and feel like someone’s reading my journal. It’s those unfiltered, imperfect forms of art that make me pause and think, yes, this sees me.
Q: We’re curious about what really speaks to people like us, who are figuring things out in New York, staying grounded, and finding what matters along the way.
A: New York is a city of constant becoming. Everyone’s chasing something like an idea, a feeling, a future. You’re surrounded by people who’ve come from all over the world, bringing their stories, their style, their vision. There are strangers who inspire you without even realizing it. It’s overwhelming at times, but also full of possibility. What speaks to me here is the permission to experiment, to keep evolving, and to find your own version of “making it” on your terms. That’s why I connect with brands like 10:AM. There’s no pretense, just honest expression and space to be in process, not polished. It feels like it’s for people still shaping their own rhythm.