After getting to know Sam Nivola for VMAN’s April digital cover story, we followed up with the star of of The White Lotus to ask just a few more questions, getting the inside scoop on his favorite music of the moment along with the best bars in New York.

VMAN: What’s your current favorite music to listen to? 

Sam Nivola: My favorite album right now is called The Legendary Typewriter Tape by Jorma Kaukonen and Janis Joplin. Jorma is my favorite guitarist of all time. I’m a blues nut, and his take on the blues is pretty unique and incredible. And obviously Joplin is THE singer for blues vocals. But my favorite artists that are around now are Olivia Rodrigo, Tate Mcrae, and The Kid Laroi! They are amazing! 

VMAN: Favorite movie?

 
SN: Favorite movie is for sure Swingers. Of all the movies I’ve seen it strikes the balance of comedy and drama perfectly. It really makes you feel something deeply, but you’re dying laughing the whole time. Really just about the absurdity of youth. But I also love Bad Blood by Leos Carax, Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant are two of the most ludicrously talented actors of all time! Impossibly good!

VMAN: Where are your favorite spots in New York?  

SN: My favorite restaurant in NY is definitely Bar Pitti. Love it to death, everyone that works there is from quite near Siena in Italy which is an area that I find myself in quite often so it’s really fun to talk to them about that, but mainly the food is just insane. I also love Doc Holidays and Dymphnas and all the Tompkins square bars. 

Photography Isaac Anthony

Fashion Nicola Formichetti

Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan

DP/Video Mynxii White

Casting Greg Krelenstein (gk-ld)

Grooming Jenny Sauce (The Wall Group) using Armani Beauty and Oribe 

Lighting Assistants Isaac Schell  John Vetromile

Stylist Assistants Arut Arustamyan  Adlet Bermukhamedov

Location Splashlight Studios

Post production Kushtrim Kunushevci Retouch