Lindasy Shaver shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lindasy , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Recently I’ve been on the road a lot doing expos & festivals all over the country, so I’ve spent this year adjusting to a new normal. When I’m home, a normal day starts before I even get out of bed. I check my emails & social media first thing – probably not the best habit, but it works for me. My brain wakes up ready to go, and checking in gives me a sense of what’s ahead and helps me mentally organize my day. Then I feed my dog, Lemmy, and we go for our morning walk. If I have extra time, I’ll squeeze in a workout, though I’ll admit that has not been consistent lately. But when I do, it helps set the tone for a great day, and helps me a lot mentally!
Breakfast is usually small & high in protein, something to keep me fueled for the day, cause lunch is rare for me. I enjoy a morning matcha, the balanced caffeine helps me energize more. Then I’m out the door, I like to take the scenic coastal route to work, and enjoy some pretty views before being indoors all day. Once I’m at work, I spend the day helping customers and in between, handling all the behind the scenes tasks that keep the business running; accounting, ordering inventory, website maintenance, planning expos, travel, working on collaborations, social media…the list goes on! Like most small business owners, I wear many hats, and my days can easily stretch from 8 – 14 hours depending on my schedule & work load.
Evenings are my time to unwind, but my laptop is never far away. Lemmy & I usually go for our evening walk after I close the doors to the public for the day. This is my time to reflect & plan for tomorrow, ideally phone free so I can focus on my thoughts & being present. I try to finish the evening with a healthy dinner, whether that’s cooking at home, or meeting up with friends at a local restaurant for a little change of pace.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lindsay Shaver aka Lindsay Skulls, and I’m the owner of DeadRockers, a record & clothing store I’ve proudly run for the past 20 years (13 with a physical location in Long Beach, CA). I also own a macabre boutique, called L’esquelet, (which focuses on niche markets, expos, & online sales.), and I serve as a Creative Director for all of our in-house & private label lines, including Cyanide Brand, and our men’s line, Shock Troops.
My work blends my loves of music, fashion, subculture, antiques, & the peculiar. And those are the things that continue to inspire the brands I’ve created & built over the course of the last 20 years. Right now, I’m focused on expanding our wholesale offerings & growing our physical presence at expos, events, and music festivals across the country. We’re already planning our 2026 show schedule, and its shaping up to be an exciting year!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was just 18, at one of my early jobs, I worked at a hair salon called Ultra Lux. I’ll never forget getting keys for the first time, and locking up alone. I felt powerful in the sense that I held the trust of my bosses, whom I respected very much. They believed in me, and trusted young Lindsay. It may seem silly, because its just keys – but their trust in me led me to later managing their business, and starting my own. Seeing young women owning a booming business, being covered in tattoos, living life on their terms. It shaped me into the women I am today, and I’ll always feel grateful that they gave a kid just out of high school a chance.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’m gonna spin this to ‘Defining Words’, and say: KEEP GOING. I’ve definitely had to tell myself those words on more than one occasion, and in many different scenarios. From heartbreak, to feelings of failure, and even having to completely re-start my life at one point. I asked my dear friend Andrea Revenant (owner of Deep Seas Tattoo in Redondo Beach) to tattoo it on my hands for me, as a permanent reminder for myself. You cant let things bring you all the way down, no matter how bad it seems – if you Keep Going, it will all work out – exactly how it’s supposed to. Having trust in that is tough, but its brought me to places I never thought I’d be or belong in.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think what we put out for the public to see, is always a version of ourselves that we are comfortable sharing with the world. So yes, the public version of me is the real me, but its certainly not the whole me. Its definitely more of a highlight reel. I share things I love: my business, traveling, my pup, & things I find neat or funny. I don’t share the tough decisions, the overthinking, the financial crisis’s, family drama, etc, because I do think some things are quite personal & private. I appreciate privacy and wish others did a bit more too. We live in a world where we are under a microscope, so its nice to have things that are reserved for yourself, or the people closest to you.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace at the beach. It’s always been my place of solace, serenity, and to get back to myself. The vastness of the ocean reminds me how small our problems can be in the scheme of things. And the smell of the salt water air, the sand between my toes, especially at sunset, or the cooler parts of the day/night – some of my favorite things that always tantalize my senses into a peaceful place. It’s my happy place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LindsaySkulls.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsayskull
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayshaver/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deadrockers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/deadrockers-long-beach
Image Credits
Lindsay Shaver
