HARPER SCHEINMAN: FROM COVER ART TO CULTURE

Texas as a Medium

INTERVIEW BY: EMILY ARAUZA

OCTOBER 12th, 2025

“I make for the 17-year-old version of myself,” Harper Scheinman says. At 19, he’s already living that truth. Houston-born and raised, Harper moves between graphic design, photography, and artist management with no lane. What started as helping friends with cover art has grown into Southside FM, a project shining a light on Texas talent, and a streetwear vision that’s loud and intentional.

Here, Harper talks about how he finds inspiration in the world around him, how collaboration and trust shaped his work, and why creating for yourself — not for likes or clicks — is the only way to make something real.

Harper: Scheinman: “I’m Harper Scheinman, I'm a 19 year old creative from Houston. I do freelance graphic design primarily, but am also a photographer and venturing into some other creative endeavors, like creative direction / artist management.” 

Emily Arauza: “Hey Harper. I love that you’re working in graphic design, photography, and artist management. I’m curious what inspires the way you approach your creative work. What’s the most unexpected influence you’ve had recently?”

HS: “Honestly everytime I see any of my homies create some cool stuff  it inspires me to go harder and think more outside the box. I'm also inspired a lot by things I see out in the world, whether it be logo design for random trucking companies, to billboards or wheatpast ads around town. It helps me to see things out in the world because it gives me a reminder to always think about if I were to see my work in context of the world, what would I like or dislike about it / how could I catch people’s attention.”

EA: “I really respect that approach. Taking inspiration from the world around you and translating it into your own vision shows a lot of awareness. Do you find that noticing these details changes the way you approach each project.”

HS: “For sure, I think it’s made my design style a lot more minimal. I’ve noticed that designs or photos can look a certain way on a screen, but when I think about how they exist in the real world, I realize that most of the work I admire is actually really simple. Even when something seems bold or complex, it’s usually simpler than it first appears—if that makes sense.

EA: “I get that completely. Simplicity takes a lot of vision. How did you first get into design and photography? When did you realize this was the path you wanted to follow and what pushed you to start exploring it?

HS: “Two of my best friends started making music when we were about 13, and I was instantly fascinated by the process. I wanted to help however I could. I’d always been into clothes and art, but only on a basic level. Naturally, I started coming up with ideas for cover art and music videos and would share them with my friends. They always loved my ideas, but none of us really knew how to execute them—so I just started trying and ended up teaching myself along the way. I was also inspired by so many Houston artists who were creating amazing work on a smaller scale than the big mainstream names I looked up to, and that made me realize how possible it actually was to make art.”

EA: “I love how your curiosity and willingness to just try things led you to teach yourself along the way. When you were figuring all of that out, was there a moment that made you realize you could actually turn it into something bigger, or a project that really made you feel like your ideas could have impact.”

HS: “Definitely. Once I'd grown a lot of good friends / connections through my work, I had come up with a concept called Southside FM, where I curated and released an album of Texas artists to shed light on the scene we have here. When it was released, it was written and covered by Kids Take Over, and some other media pages that brought a lot of attention to the album. I got flooded with DMs from people I knew and didn’t know, even like Zack Bia, praising the concept and appreciating the light I shed on Texas. It made me realize that there’s no boundaries to being a creative. We’re all human, I'm not just a graphic designer or photographer, I feel like as a person I don't have to stay bound to just one medium of art / expression, and I want to take advantage of that freedom to just do what I want, which I did with southside fm. I want to make Southside a brand, and continue doing more albums, which I'm working on right now.”

EA: “That’s amazing. The way you turned connection and community into something tangible like Southside FM says a lot about your vision. It’s rare to see someone your age think that broadly about creativity and impact. I’m curious, who’s been inspiring you through all of this; either creatively or personally. Also when you talk about turning Southside into a brand, what kind of identity or feeling do you want it to have?”

HS: “Damn it’s really hard to pinpoint one person. All of the dontdie movement was a huge inspiration to me in wanting to bring this concept to life. Isaiah Rusk was one person who believed in me early and we worked together a lot. Broadday was the first person I met in the music scene who introduced me to so many people and helped me build connections. All my best friends too have been supporting me and helping me in different ways, like my boy Felipe (@f.tamara_) who executive produced the album with me and helped me put it all together. In terms of making southside a brand, I've always had immense love for streetwear. Virgil of course is a huge inspo, but brands like supreme and punkandyo’s graphic game is a huge inspo. Obviously I love graphics, and I know there’s a lot of streetwear out there right now, but I wanna build something that I'd love for myself, even if it doesn’t resonate with everybody. I just love good streetwear and have a really strong idea of the ethos for the brand. Loud, kind of in your face, but very intentional.’

EA: “That’s really interesting. The way you’ve built Southside through real relationships and creative vision says a lot about you. What have you learned from the people who’ve been part of that process with you like Isaiah, Broadday, or Felipe. Have they shaped the way you see collaboration or creativity in any lasting way? Any words of advice that stuck with you?”

HS: “Absolutely — one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that the best collaboration never feels forced. When it’s real, when it’s built on trust and mutual respect, everything flows differently. That’s how it’s been with people like Isaiah, Broadday, and Felipe — we all bring different strengths, but there’s this unspoken understanding that we’re building something bigger than ourselves. As far as advice goes, one of the biggest things has been learning to know my worth. I got into this industry at a young age, so I had to figure out early on how to stand on business — for lack of a better phrase — and recognize that my time, my ideas, and my creative vision hold real value. Being young doesn’t make any of that less valid.”

EA: “That makes a lot of sense. You have a really grounded understanding of collaboration and self-worth, which is rare. I’m curious what your goals look like moving forward. Where do you see yourself taking your work and Southside in the next few years, and what do you ultimately want it all to lead to?”

HS: “Great question — honestly, I’m not entirely sure yet. I do want to build Southside into a full clothing brand, like I mentioned, and keep releasing more renditions of the Southside album. I’d love to eventually expand beyond Texas and represent the South more broadly. Ultimately, I know I want to work in the music industry or in clothing in some capacity, but I’m still figuring out exactly what that looks like. I really love music and could see myself working on the management or creative side, maybe even both. It’s a dream of mine to start my own label, so maybe that too. I guess we’ll see.”

EA: “I get that. I love how you’re thinking big but still grounded in where you come from. Do you feel like being from Texas is a big part of what drives your vision? Like is that where a lot of your inspiration comes from? I get it completely because I love Texas too; that’s a big reason why I’m doing this and trying to highlight what’s happening here. Houston really feels like it’s next up.”

HS: “Yes I love Texas with my whole heart. I wouldn’t want to be from anywhere else. It inspires me so much, the people, the talent, the history. It’s a special place, and there’s inspiration to be found in every part of it I feel like.”

EA: “You can feel how much pride and love you have for it. Texas has such a strong creative energy running through it. Do you think that connection shapes the way you approach your work or the stories you want to tell through it?”

HS: “It depends. For Southside 100%, but for other projects only sometimes. It really depends on what the project is, but my relationship with texas inspires my everyday life for sure from what I wear to how I present myself.”

EA: “Yeah I get that. It’s cool how Texas kind of lives in everything you do, even when it’s not the main focus. You can tell it’s part of who you are, not just where you’re from. I’d love to ask you, what’s a piece of advice that’s really stuck with you or something that’s changed the way you look at creating or even just how you move through life?”

HS: “Virgil saying “everything I  do is for the 17 year old version of myself” definitely resonates with me. Just him making the point to remember that we create for ourselves, and not for likes or other people, has been a big thing to me. I find myself sometimes getting caught up in trying to get more likes or clicks or impress other people, and it just feels hollow. This quote reminds me as to why I started creating in the first place and why I still do it to this day.”

EA: “That’s such a real answer. It’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re trying to grow, but staying connected to why you started is what keeps it meaningful. If you had to give one piece of advice to someone just starting out; maybe a younger version of you, what would you tell them?”

HS: "Literally I’d  say  just don’t care about what other people think. So cliche, but I know that I regret not being myself from a younger age honestly, I feel like to this day I still get caught up in how people perceive me and I wish I could rid that feeling because it only can hurt you.”