20140720-180227-64947779.jpg

Interview with Violinist: Etienne Bizjak

1. When/how did you discover your ‘love’ of music?
When I (first) heard my father play the violin. I was about 5 years old. That made me feel a real ‘intense’ moment of happiness.

2. Where do you get your inspiration from?
From my emotions and feelings. Life hands me experiences, which I communicate through my music.

3. How long have you been playing the violin?
For 20 years…

4. How did you come by the name ‘Twistin’ the Swing’?
Twistin’ the Swing is the young brother of Fever Swing. A cover band that Mike and I created when we started to play Gyspy swing music. After two years playing together, we needed something fresh to bring our original music to the public. It’s really hard to think of a name! We are really bad at it. I remember that we wanted something ‘original’ which doesn’t sound like a cover band. Swing is the kind of music we (still) play. Twistin’ because we liked the word, and that brings the idea of something distorted.

5. Tell me more about your last gig with WHORE?
I went to see the play three times because my friend is one of the characters. I met all the actors, Melissa and the rest of the team and felt a really good connection with them. So at Lot23, we naturally played music and hope to collaborate again soon.

6. Who would you like in your next or future audience? Universal records?
I don’t expect anyone in particular. I’d like to see anyone (really) who I can entertain, and also make them happy while listening to us.

7. Any influences?
Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, Alexandre Cavalière and many others!

8. What is the most interesting thing about you?
I am an aerospace engineer.

9. Do you eat breakfast?
Sometimes. I love having breakfast, however it depends of what I have to eat (in the house) and what time I get up!

10. What makes you smile?
A lot of differents things. I try to smile (all the time) because it makes life a little easier. I notice when I busk on the street, people smile which makes me feel really content. Hopefully I brightened their day – this makes my music meaningful.

Whore ~ a theatre review

Originally posted on dykiegirl:

10254039_490355791066322_3222868366512444233_n

Whore
Written and directed by Melissa Fergusson
Produced by Natalie Tozer and Charlatan Clinic
Staged at Lot 23 café and bar, 23 Minnie Street, Mt Eden, Auckland 1021
11 – 12 July, 2014 at 7.30pm
Reviewed on Saturday 12 July, 2014

First impressions are lasting impressions.

My first impression of Melissa Fergusson was that she is passionate about what she does and totally committed, in a very smart way, to developing that work, her brands – personal and professional – and her company’s marque.

In the 3 years since I first met with her in a café in Kingsland I’ve had absolutely no reason to change this view.

What has changed is that I have now had the opportunity to experience three of her extraordinary works, namely ‘Motherlock/pURe’, ‘salt’ and her latest piece entitled simply ‘Whore’. Fergusson has evolved a unique socio/cultural voice addressing the pique and anguish of our…

View original 2,734 more words

Featured Image -- 2365

Interview with ‘Mister Burlesque’

Originally posted on charlatan clinic:

1. When/how did you discover your ‘love’ of burlesque?

I was an acrobatic performer before I discovered burlesque, there was one show, Cabaret Askew, made by the exceptional Kali Zahira, that had quite a nice range of cross over between dance, cabaret and circus. During the rehearsals I met the fabulous Miss Candy Phloss, now Phlossy Roxx. We became friends and at the afterparty of the show she asked me if I had a solo act, I said No, so she said she’d help me make one and put me on stage for my first time as a ‘burlesque’ performer for the first Queerlesque in Auckland, that was about three or four years ago now. I just never stopped.

2. Where do you get your inspiration for costuming and choreography?

Now this is a hard question. It goes back long before I started to dance. I have always been a…

View original 690 more words

20140705-165105-60665132.jpg

Interview With Artist & Curator: Natalie Tozer

1. How long have you been an artist? Since a dress-up day at primary
school – we had to dress-up ‘to be ‘ what we wanted, when we grew up.
Mum, Dad and I sat down and threw some ideas around, and came up with
‘artist’. A very formative exercise! I wore one of dads work shirts
(super oversize for an 8 year old), a red beanie my nana knitted
(positioned a la beret), found an old brush and made a palette out of card
board.

2. Where do you get your inspiration? Body memory. Repetition and
habit. Daily experiences.

3. Tell me about your exhibitions?
You know when you have a super
twisted dream which you wake up from and just have to tell someone about – for me exhibiting is like that. The world informs you, you mirror your experiences, then you share them. For me the work of an artist is like telling the dream – it’s just one way to describe the experience of living.

4. How do you define your style – as an artist?
I like to provide escapism for people. In contrast to blunt force media and the daily assault of our urban landscape, my style is organic and cellular. The shapes and vibrancy of my work matches what is happening in my life at the time.

5. Favourite colour?
The ‘mother colour’. Where a colour is made from combining all the other colours. Often a complex hue which speaks to all the other colours on the page.

6. Who would you (really) like to meet? Charles Saatchi maybe?
I’d love to meet Patricia Piccinini. Check out her work online and see why! She has incredible vision as an artist. Her works remind me of the
characters in one of my favorite novels by Margaret Atwood ‘Oryx and
Crake’. In fact these two powerhouse woman should meet each other as well. Although incredibly different from my work, the organic forms imagined in both these artists worlds are deeply inspiring to me and what I think about and try to convey in an abstract way.

7. Any influences?
People and experiences. Life is the same.

8. Do you believe in serendipity? Absolutely. In my work I chase
‘happy accidents’. The forms are fluid and design can only contribute to
50% of the outcome. Life is the same.

9. When it comes to chocolate -Cadbury or Whittakers?
If I’m at the supermarket I’d reach for Whittakers first, every time. But my Dad always has a stash of Cadbury, which I raid with glee.

10. What makes you smile?
Smiling!

20140704-045445-17685529.jpg

Sleeping Rough In Auckland City

All week I have been anticipating ‘sleeping rough’ for Lifewise #bigsleepout in Central Auckland. Loaded up with my essentials: (loaned) sleeping bag, beanie, merino gloves, IPhone (to tweet), house keys, ATM card, lipstick and WHORE flyers for potential audience. After registering for the event, we all received personalised cardboard mats and a goodie bag: beanie, Idealog, Special K bar and Merge Cafe voucher. The Whore team scouted an ideal location to settle down, then dinner was on the agenda. Over 100 people lined up for meatballs and spaghetti with a slice of buttered bread: hearty meal. Icecream quickly followed, sponsored by Nice Blocks. We heard great speeches by Lifewise, poetry and an interview with Chanelle who told her story about homelessness, sex work, foster care, mental health admissions and her new job. I was invited into the makeshift cardboard house, shared conversation with many new friends/rough sleepers and was photographed/filmed by random people. Yes – I did sign a media release. The night is chilly, however it’s not raining. There are sleeping bags all over the AUT campus filled with human life. At the time of writing the fundraising figure to (fund) frontline services for homelessness 2014 is $153,357.39! Whore team raised $3,165.00 for Lifewise Big Sleep Out 2014. I am humble. I am grateful. I am cold and slightly hungry, however this is a temporary measure. This experience keeps me real and makes me feel lucky to be alive, with people who care.

20140703-150929-54569080.jpg

Have you tried #hoptsoda?

After attending another enjoyable, vibrant ‘Yelp Elite’ event last night, I was lucky enough to sample some clean, fresh, non-alcoholic soda/s in various flavours: Salted Lychee, Pear & Basil, Watermelon & Mint, Elderflower & Herb. Hopt only hit the market about three months ago and is ubercool. There were scrumptious canapés for each sampled beverage: mini potato cakes topped with feta and pea mash, rice-paper filled with pork and Asian vegetable, sashimi, and bruschetta with haloumi. Stand-out catering by Quay Street Cafe. Bravo. I loved the Hopt soda ‘Elderflower & Herb’ the most, especially with gin! The Yelpers made their own Hoptails, (soda, white spirits, citrus & herbs) demonstrated by Ryan – the dapper brand ambassador for Hopt. Available everywhere from 1 October!