DEBATE ISSUE 05 | MARCH 2016
AUCKLAND CITY LIMITS | CAVE CONCERTS | FEATURE MUSICIANS
HE LP M E T E A W H I NA I AH A U F A ' A M O L EM O L E , F E S O A S O A N I M A I
TOKO NI M AI 도와
私 を助けて
T UL U N GAN N I N Y O A K O
M Ē RĪ SA HĀ YA TĀ K ARŌ CAA W IN
帮助
AYUA DAM E
GIÚP TÔI
M ĒRĪ MA DADA K AR Ō A ID EZ MO I
HILF MIR
NGI SI ZE K ER E V E IV UKE
NE ED A DV I C E? I N T R O U B LE ? CAUGHT CHEATING? U N HA P P Y WI T H G RA DE S? L A N D L OR D /P O L I C E P R O B LE M S? N E E D A L A W Y E R /A D V IC E? CO NTAC T THE
AD VO CAC Y T EAM !
A DV OCA CY@ AUT . AC .NZ
AUSM .ORG .NZ
92 1 9999 EX T 83 79
Round the world
SALE ON NOW
4
STOPS FROM
$1949
STA TRAVEL QUEEN STREET 267 Queen Street queenstreet@statravel.com 09 356 1550
CREDITS PUBLISHED BY
EDITOR Laurien Barks lbarks@aut.ac.nz SUB - EDITORS Amelia Petrovich Julie Cleaver DESIGNER Ramina Rai rrai@aut.ac.nz CONTRIBUTORS Amelia Petrovich, Julie Cleaver, Sheetal Samy, Isla Norman, Shana Grace, Morgan Allen, Kieran Bennett, Daniel Vernon, Shivan, Tharindu Jayasinghe, Jihee Junn, Tyler Hinde, ADVERTISING Harriet Smythe hsmythe@aut.ac.nz
Contributions can be sent to lbarks@aut.ac.nz
PRINTER Debate is printed lovingly by Soar Print Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA) This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUCKLAND STUDENT MOVEMENT AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED (“AuSM”). Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AuSM.
DISCLAIMER
Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AuSM, its advertisers, contributors, Soar Print or its subsidiaries.
CONTENTS Pg 4 Editor’s Letter
Pg 19 Real Life Soundtracks
Pg 28 Cool Shit
Pg 6 Prez Sez
Pg 20 In Short
Pg 30 Advice Columns
Pg 7 AUT Sport
Pg 22 Four Best Love Songs
Pg 32 Fashion at ACL
Pg 8 What We Learned at Auckland City Limits
Pg 23 3am Thoughts
Pg 34 Fan Brigade Interview
Pg 24 Caving the Way
Pg 36 Reviews
Pg 12 Debate Debate
Pg 26 Rate Debate
Pg 38 Recipe
Pg 14 Top Six Songs of All Time
Pg 27 Comic
Pg 39 Puzzles
Pg 16 Feature Artists
AUSM.ORG.NZ
Cover illustration by Tyler Hinde FA C E B O O K . C O M / A U S M D E B AT E
That being said, a few years into their questionable lullabies and living room performances, I got sick of being an audience member and wanted to join in. I first asked for a violin when I was three years old because of a television show I’d seen. My favourite musical man, Fred Penner would strum his guitar and entertain me with sing-a-longs, and from time to time, he’d have other musical guests join him. This particular week, one of his side hoes brought a violin onto the screen, and I apparently fell head over heels.
EDITOR’S LETTER Hey All, Welcome to the Music Mag! In the spirit of Auckland City Limits and how excited this editor was about it being introduced this year, we decided to go all out and give Debate a melodic feel this week. I was always surrounded by music of one variety or another. I’ve seen home videos of family dance parties that started pretty much upon womb exit, and have given no signs of letting up any time soon. I have fond memories of Mum playing the piano in our little cozy family room, Dad showing off his trumpeting skills every now and again, and singing The Lion King soundtrack in the car nonstop whether it was a two minute trip to the grocery store, or a three hour drive to Grandma’s. I have a repertoire of madeup jingles, know a slew of plunky piano duets, and thought the lyrics to the lullaby Go To Sleep My Little Baby were “go to sleep, little creep” for the first ten years of my life thanks to Mum and Dad’s creativity. They did a pretty damn fine job of sparking my musical interest and keeping it alive during the fundamental years, and I’m grateful for it.
When I asked my Mum, she said “lol, ur 3 bish, you don’t know wut you want”, so I was forced to pester her and Dad for two years before they decided my persistence was probably a good sign that this was a real dream of mine. I mean, can’t blame them for making me wait. Had they gone out and encouraged every three year old dream I had, I’d have a sister, three horses, and a socks and underwear store to deal with right now. Ain’t nobody got time. So we trotted to the store, singing Down by the Bay all the way there (defying cheesy Canadian stereotypes like bosses), and picked me up a lil quarter size violin. It was itty bitty, and I proudly held onto it in the back seat, barely containing my excitement to get it home and play it. It was a long journey from that day to this one. One filled with many joys, many tears, weird contraptions to train my arms and wrists precision, and a screech-induced headaches that no doubt pushed parental patience to its limits. It’s a cool feeling to have an instrument/skill that’s been around for literally as long as you can remember. It’s a comfort and familiarity that grows and changes as you do, and that’s pretty darn ridonk. So get amongst and celebrate music in any way you can this week, kids! It’s one of the greatest forms of magic this world’s got! Have a good one, Laurien
Where will your degree take you?
Experience work life in the USA through once-in-a-life-time scholarships exclusive to AUT students
Institutional Banking Intern – Westpac Americas, New York Immerse yourself in New York’s financial sector while supporting Westpac to develop relationships with some of the world’s biggest companies. January – April 2017 (12 weeks) Corporate Restructuring Intern – Zolfo Cooper, New York Work on a variety of activities throughout the restructuring process including building and analysing financial models, preparation of filing for and exiting Chapter 11, preparation and review of business plans and due diligence process. January – March 2017 (8 weeks) See eligibility criteria or apply by 15 April
Register with AUT interNZ to start your career in New Zealand or overseas INTERNZ.AUT.AC.NZ Experience the changing world
PREZ SEZ
SRC SEZ SRC SEZ
PREZ SEZ
URSHULA ANSELL
MATT
Kia ora AuSMers,
Kia ora,
Only two weeks left until we all get a break from our classes. I can’t be the only one excited! I so need this extra time to catch up on everything that’s due. Is it just me or is everything due the first week back…like, I didn’t want to see the sunlight anyway!
My name is Matt and I am your Disability Affairs Officer on the SRC for 2016. I am currently studying a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Policy Studies having graduated last year with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Conflict Resolution. This is my fifth year at AUT and I have loved every minute of it. Last year I ran for the Disability Affairs Officer role because I have a passion for wanting to help people with disabilities and I wanted to be a part of the best SRC there has been in recent years.
This time is put aside for students to catch up on our study and pre plan things that are due in the next seven weeks, but the fact is that’s not reality. I wish I could say that most of us are going to spend some time at the beach or head back home to see our family, but the truth is most of us will try get full time work for the two weeks so we can afford to live for the next seven weeks. We simply can’t finically keep up and it’s not just bad for our study and the quality of it, but it affects the way we feel, what we eat and how deep in debt we are drowning. We students are now 15 BILLION IN DEBT! The cost of living in Auckland has gone up 56 percent since 2004, the student housing support we get from studylink has been 40 dollars since 2001. Things just don’t add up if you ask me! My question to you is…what should we do? Ursh x
Having been a student for the past five years, and living with Spina Bifida, I have a lot of experience of managing the work-life balance and the stresses that come along with being a student with a disability at AUT. My focus this year will be on strengthening the hauora of all students with disabilities at AUT, regardless of what or where they are studying. If students want to get in touch with me, they can send me an email to my Disability Affairs Officer email which can be found in the AuSM diaries or on the AuSM website. Matt
SPORTS PROFILE
The New Zealand 3x3 Basketball University Tournament It was an early start for the AUT Basketball team who made the trip down to a misty, overcast and dreary looking Waikato to compete at the inaugural New Zealand Universities 3x3 Basketball Tournament. The tournament is the first event in the new University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand’s (UTSNZ) sporting calendar for the year and winning teams would have the opportunity to compete at the World University 3x3 Basketball Challenge in Xiamen China in November. The AUT teams were looking to put the first points on the board and their chance to have a crack at the National title and a trip to China. The men’s team captained by NZ 3x3 player, Karl Noyer (see debate #2 Athlete profile) and featured Cameron Couper, Chris McIntosh, Matthew Loulanting. Despite a shaky start and losing the second match of the day to Auckland B, the AUT Men’s team fought hard throughout pool play and finished as the top men’s qualifier. Semifinals were set against old foe UoA which the AUT team won 15-12 and booked their spot in the final against Waikato. The final was closely contested but it was the AUT Men who held their composure and came away with a 10-8 win, taking out the national title and claiming their spot in China. The AUT Women’s team were comprised of Courtney Wilson, Alicia Manuiriangi, Annabelle Jenkins, and Casey Mcfadden. The AUT Women fought hard through the day and faced Waikato University in the semi-final, which the team won 7-9. Unfortunately they could not topple an on form UoA team and lost the final 14-12.
However, both these results have contributed to AUT’s overall standing for the UTSNZ shield and sees the AUT leading the overall points table after Round 1. The next event on the UTSNZ Calendar is the New Zealand Futsal Championships held on the 16-18 April in Palmerston North, followed closely by the New Zealand Universities Rowing Championships on the 23-24 April in Twizel.
The Shield University
Shield Points
Auckland University of Technology
8
University of Auckland
6
Waikato University
4
Canterbury University
0
Lincoln University
0
Massey University
0
Otago University
0
Inter Faculty Touch on April 1 at Hato Petera College NZ University Futsal Championships April 15 -17 in Wellingto NZ University Rowing Championships April 23-24 in Twizel
Things I learned at AUCKLAND CITY LIMITS Amelia Petrovich 1) Lovingly applying winged eyeliner beforehand makes me a twat Being able to do awesome winged eyeliner is probably the skill I’ve been most proud to master as an adult, but that doesn’t mean it’s ACL appropriate. It was an especially stupid move because I was playing Debate photographer, racing from stage to stage and smooshing my camera into my eye constantly in pursuit of that killer shot (I like to get up close and personal with my viewfinder, don’t judge me). At the start of the day, I was constantly peering into my phone rubbing liquid liner off my eyelid in a frantic bid to look not like hot mess but by the end, I kinda just figured “fuck it, ACL is too short to worry about looking good”. Even though the festival wasn’t a particularly glamorous one for me, I chucked myself right in there and had a sweaty, smudgy, ball of damn time! Who cares what you look like at a music festival? Just live yo’ life. 2) You aren’t missing anything not being in the V.I.P area I mean, I don’t want to trash-talk V.I.P tickets because I know people spend a lot of money on them, but I reckon at festivals like ACL the best time you’re likely to have is in a mosh-pit of crazy and beautiful people. The General Admission spaces are where you meet people and swap stories about the alcohol you managed to smuggle/not smuggle in, all the V.I.P zones have to offer are a few picnic tables and bathrooms with a mirror. Honestly, the yarns and banter in the mile-long queue for hot chips were well worth it, one guy even helped sneak us right to the front at the alcohol stall so we could grab our honey bourbon mixers in less than five minutes flat. That kind of recklessness just isn’t a thing when you’re a V.I.P, so live it all up. 3)
Being a white boy and wearing a cap isn’t an original thing anymore There were roughly two million vanilla-toned hipsters rocking the cap-and-expensive-tee combo at this year’s ACL and, as nice as it is to see people being sun smart, I think maybe 2016 should be a slip, slop, slap and wrap on that trend if at all possible.
Photos by Amelia Petrovich
Laurien Barks Peanut Butter can be the focus of creativity. I got a bit lost on my way to the festival, and luckily spotted two other souls trying to find their way along the twisty residential streets and into the Western Spring gates. We got chit chatting, and I got to learn that Corby (and his sister) were headed to the festival to see some damn fine bands, as well as work. I figured ‘work’ meant running a promo of whatever sponsors were there that day, but when I enquired, I was pleasantly surprised. Corby was there to promote his very own peanut butter business. Seeing as I’m about 90 percent peanut butter, myself, I was beyond excited that this dude made, packaged, and sold the stuff. I promised to come find him later for a photo, tiny interview, and a taste of ‘Twisted Nut’ (that’s his brand, guys…). When I tracked him down that afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of flavours, different roasts, one with white chocolate – who knew peanut butter was so easily played around with!? It was delicious, authentic, and turns out he was just messing around one day with some extra ingredients in his family’s café, Scarecrow, and one thing led to another,
and voila – a business seed was planted. His chilled-out advice for people looking to start a quirky business of their own is to just “give it a go”. And really, what more is there to say than that? Goat is not an appropriate ‘go-to’ food option Don’t get me wrong, I loved the quality of food offered at ACL – it was fancy, it smelled fantastic, it was priced decently. It was a food lover’s paradise. At least at first glance. I’m about as experimental with food as they come, so I feel I have the right to complain about these kinds of things. But I’m sorry, when you’re representing your Auckland restaurant with three food options at a music festival – you best pick three options that truly pack a punch and deliver. The Federal Delicatessen did it right, with their hot dogs and poutines – you can’t go wrong with high class French fries and sausages, they’re always going to appeal to a huge amount of people, and they really don’t have the potential to disappoint. But the stalls (who will not be named) that sat next door to The Fed had it all wrong. I’m sorry guys, but when your only two meat options are duck and goat – you’re opening yourselves to a
world of potential upturned noses and disappointed customers. I mean, be alty, but be alty with the right ingredients, and in the appropriate ratios. Try tofu, try paneer, try venison, or if you must, pick either the goat OR the duck option – don’t monopolize 2/3rds of your fancy pants menu with two meats that make me nervous. I took the plunge despite my nerves, because I’m badass as feck, and ordered the goat burger. It was the only burger in the near vicinity, and I wasn’t in the mood to compromise and risk my burger pangs continuing. How bad could it be? People…it was bad. I think goat must be one hell of an acquired taste, because I couldn’t deal. I mean, I hope I was the only one at the festival who was outraged at the exclusively alty meat choices, but I doubt it. I think it’s awesome to be out there and take risks, but if you’re going to do it with my dinner, at least have a back-up option for those of us who are left with no other choice but to force feed our left over burger patties to drunk guys in an attempt to rid our guilty conscious of its ‘food waster’ label.
Julie Cleaver Fuck boys You know how giving something a name makes you notice it everywhere? That’s what happened to me at ACL when I learnt what a ‘fuck boy’ is. There are a few definitions of this epic term in the Urban Dictionary, but my favourite one is this: “A Fuckboy is the type of guy who does shit that generally pisses the population of the earth off all the time. He will also lead girls on just for hook-ups, says he’s really into you but doesn’t want to deal with all the “relationship bullshit” just to fuck you.” Fuck boys tend to hunt in packs. They’re usually drunk or high and are always loud. They’ve probably been on a lads’ trip to Thailand and they probably still laugh about that time ‘Sam hooked up with a fat chick’. If you encounter one, they will most likely say something rude to you, but you shouldn’t get mad cos they’re “just being friendly, far out”. There were many different types of fuck boys gallivanting around Western Springs that day. There were the hipster dudes, the ‘I’m in a costume therefore it’s okay to be a dick’ crowd, and just your standard dark sunglass-wearing douche bags.
One guy, who I will give no identifying features to, came up to me and said, “I see you looking at your friends ass and wondering whether yours is better. Don’t be insecure, it is.” This is a perfect example of a fuck boy in action (although walking away was not likely the type of action he wanted). So thank you ACL for letting me observe thousands of fuck boys in their natural habitat. It was definitely an educational experience. Unexpected stuff is always better Like a lot of people at ACL, I was pretty much there just to see Kendrick. I’m interested in a lot of the other acts, but not majorly, so the famous draw card definitely hooked me in. Before Mr. Lamar came on stage, my friend and I went to the R18 section to get some beersies in our bellies. When we were waiting in line, we watched the most passionate Austrian man dance on a colourful little stage. He played 80s music, boogied like crazy, and pumped up the audience with his extraverted spirit. That was it. And it was beautiful. After we got our drinks we grooved in front of the stage like girls who just wanna have fun. We got physical, spun right round and didn’t stop believing, just as our Austrian friend
hadn’t. “Anything is possible, ya! I have been playing 80s music my whole life and now I am in New Zealand still doing it! Don’t give up on your dreams. You can do anything!” We hugged him at the end and praised him for being such a unique ball of energy. At the end of the night, Kendrick Lamar rocked onto the main stage half-an-hour late. At first I was really excited to see him. I went down and sung along to Swimming Pools like any good basic bitch would. Then as his set progressed, I got so bored I literally walked out of the stadium and took a taxi home. Big acts are impersonal. The people around me weren’t talking. They didn’t even look like they were having fun. They all just seemed to be there because they knew from this day forth they would be able to add Kendrick to their list of name drops. But that may have just been me projecting my mood onto everyone else. At ACL, I learned that spontaneous adventures are usually a lot more fun than anything with too much hype.
QUEEN Amelia Petrovich
Holy fuck, this is a tough motherflipper of a debate. I’m going to start off by making the obvious disclaimer- I love both Queen and the Beatles. They made up a hefty portion of my iPod album list back in the day and now that it’s 2k16 they feature on my Spotify too (also can we just take a moment to appreciate how cool it is that the Beatles are finally on Spotify? Smooth move, I love it). But now here I am, needing to argue that Queen is actually the better of the two. While my heart bleeds to speak as if I’ve abandoned Paul, George and the boys, I’m going to do my utmost to come up with some flimsy, lack-lustre argument that renders Queen ever so slightly cooler. Help me, I’m scared. So one reason that Queen is bitchin’ is that they’re rockgod pioneers. I know the Beatles were pioneers as well, but one thing they didn’t pioneer was music videos. Queen were the first band to release what we’d all consider to be a conventional music video. I didn’t think it was possible for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to be any cooler, but finding out that it was the very first somewhat arty, kinda broody music video has stepped it up that extra notch for me. And while I’m on the subject of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, it’s possibly the greatest song ever. You can go into any pub, party or public space and whack that masterpiece through a set of speakers and you’re guaranteed to have at least a hundred people lip-syncing their little hearts out. It’s just science, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ does unholy, raucous things to people and I love it. It also earns extra cool points for not making a goddamn ounce of sense yet somehow still getting every man and his canine companion up onto the dancefloor to knee-slide and yell “MAMAAAAAAAAAAAA OOOOOOOHHHHHHH”. Also, the Beatles worked really well as a band because they were super collaborative and their harmonies were pretty cool. My main man Freddie Mercury didn’t need to collaborate with anyone because his vocal range was so off-the-chain he could create an entire freakin’ choir just with himself. I know Mercury did collaborate with his band mates (at least, I assume he did… sometimes, maybe when he was in a good mood), but my point is that he was an effing boss and could do what he wanted. He was absolute insanity, I’m not even sure he was a real human. But I think that, above all, the most important point to consider is that Queen did not have Ringo Starr in it. Like, not at all. There we go, I think I’ve won this debate fair and square. Ringo Starr is a big dork and Freddie Mercury is a god, you’re welcome.
V
THE
BEATLES Julie Cleaver I don’t think any sane person could deny how great Queen is. Their songs are so ridiculously epic and unique they make my insides crawl with excitement. Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love and We Are the Champions have all transcended the word ‘song’ and are now considered by most as ‘anthems’.
S
In saying that, when it comes to bands, the Beatles are pretty much unbeatable. Many would agree that John, Paul, Ringo and George’s influence on the world of music is second to none. One of the reasons for this is because they were the first group to make the basic poprock band structure famous. Before these British heartthrobs came along, having a drummer, singer, guitarist and bassist all play together was kind of niche and weird. So we can thank these guys for paving the way for other great bands that came after them, like Queen and One Direction. Also, during the 60s, the Beatles had a popularity level that is incomparable to any creature, object, or deity that has ever existed in history. Theorists have spent years studying ‘Beatlemania’ and why girls went so outrageously wild over these local Liverpool lads. Some came to the conclusion that Beatlemania was a modern manifestation of female hysteria. Others accredited this phenomenon to the singers’ ‘moptop’ haircuts, as they were considered androgynous at the time and therefore perhaps less intimidating or sleazy. Although I realise that having a huge following doesn’t automatically give someone merit – as that would mean Donald Trump has merit, and we all know he doesn’t – the Beatles’ frantic, die-hard following is definitely a testament to how much their music speaks to people. In terms of musicality, the band members aren’t exactly known for their Hendrix-esque musical skills, but they are widely praised for their brilliant song writing ability – particularly John and Paul. Their music tells people that all the junk we as humans put up with on a day-to-day basis doesn’t matter, or is all worth it, because we have love for one and other and all we need is love. On a personal level, these Abbey Road stutters have always meant a lot to me. My mum and I both have a mad crush on Paul (only when he was younger of course) and this has bonded us in a weird intergenerational ‘hey, we’re not that different after all’ kind of way. Also, when I hear one of their songs, I feel a strange sense of nostalgia for a time I wasn’t even alive in. I think the Beatles are and always will be one of the best bands that ever existed. It’s been nearly forty years since they broke up and they’re still so unbelievably influential and relevant today. The Beatles (and strawberry fields) are definitely forever.
Top Six Songs of All Time (ACCORDING TO BILLBOARD.COM ) Sheetal Samy Music is a drug. It’s addicting, you can’t stop. It’s something that makes people feel all sorts of emotions. Music is such a universal element it brings people together. I personally have such a strong connection with music, it can change how I’m feeling drastically in just a couple of seconds. Recently Billboard posted a list of the Top 100 Songs of all time on their website some of them were very familiar and some of them, I had never heard of in my life, so I thought I would share with you the top six. 6. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas No.1 for 14 weeks (2009) The Black Eyed Peas have made many great songs that have topped the charts and made them one of the world’s best-selling groups of all time. The song, I Gotta Feeling, was a huge hit and was played in probably every school disco and school ball from the years 2009 through 2012. This song emphasised a good night and made you feel invincible on a night out. Also, this song was played so many times everywhere you went, there is no way nobody knows all the words to this song. 5. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett and Goon Rock No.1 for 6 weeks (2011) This song became the third best-selling Digital Single of 2011 with sales of 9.7 million copies. It went to number one in 13 countries including New Zealand. Although we might not feel the same way about this song as we did in 2011, you can’t deny it was a great tune at the time. It was awarded ‘Favourite Song’ at the 2012 Kid’s Choice Awards. This song was great but after the 30th time it was played on the radio it became somewhat irritating. 4. How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes No.2 for 69 weeks (1997) LeAnn Rimes is an extremely successful American Country and Pop singer. LeAnn Rimes became the youngest country music star after having her big break at the age of 13. She has won two Grammys, three ACMs, one CMA, 12 Billboard Music Awards and one American Music Award. The song How Do I Live set a record for the most times in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10. Upon listening to this song for the first time a couple of days ago, I can imagine this song being a great first dance song at a wedding.
3. Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin No.1 for 9 weeks (1959) Bobby Darin was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and an actor. His life was very scandalous. In 1968 he found out he was raised by his grandmother and the woman he thought to be his sister was actually his mum. Bobby Darin was very successful with his music; his songs went famously worldwide at the time. Mack the Knife is a beautiful jazz song and earned him a Grammy award for Record of The Year. This song is one I can imagine being played on the streets in 1960s America; one that everyone would dance to. 2. Smooth Santana ft. Rob Thomas No.1 for 12 Weeks Smooth is a mix between Latin Rock Music and American Rock Music. It won three Grammy awards for Record of The Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with vocals. Smooth is a song that I would horribly salsa dance to; the Latin mix makes this song very hard to resist dancing to. 1. The Twist – Chubby Checker No.1 for three weeks in 1960 and 1962 The Twist is the only single to be No.1 twice on the Hot 100 in two different chart runs. The Twist not only was a great song, it became a dance that was the equivalent of the Macarena at that time. The dance craze caught on again in 1962 when it was performed on National television and the older generation couldn’t help but have this song be number one again. The Twist is a dance move that is still done today if you’re of a certain age. I’m not going to lie I have busted out the twist dance in a club once or twice. This song was a phenomenon two times over. So there you have it, the top six songs of all time according to Billboard.com. The songs on this list are all very good and some of them defined a whole generation of people. Whilst researching and writing this list I was surprised not to see some key people that I would’ve assumed been on the list like Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley, two kings of their generation. Though overall this list is exceptional.
feature artistS
ISLA NORMAN
1) Describe your musical style. Indie folk rap? Picture the love child of Ingrid Michaelson and Flight of The Conchords, but less bearded and not as good. 2) What’s the goal for your musical career? The ultimate goal is to tour the world and never work an office job, but you know...I’d be very happy playing gigs around town and jamming for the fun of it. 3) Where do you draw song writing inspiration from? What’s the process of writing a song? 90 percent of my songs are written in the shower or on a walk. My subconscious hands me an idea, and I’m like “oh cool, and then what happens?” I record awful low quality demos on my phone and develop the ideas later. Generally the lyrics and melody come together, and then I figure out which chords belong where. It probably takes me about an hour to write a song, because I find that the first idea is the catchiest, so people will remember it. 4) Describe what goes into making an EP? I’m lucky enough to be working with a crazy talented family friend from his home studio, so in my case it’s a matter of two team members and a lot of procrastination. I would imagine that this is pretty different from other artists’ experiences in recording an EP, though.
5) How do you balance your music career with your everyday life? At the moment it’s pretty tricky because my bass player works a day job and my drummer works a night job, but we’re getting there. 6) Who inspires you the most, musically? Probably my Dad. He taught himself to play guitar amazingly without the internet, which blows my mind. He must have strummed random chords and gone “that’s probably F#m, sounds like it.” 7) What’s your favourite album at the moment? Probably Beautiful Freaks by Eels, their stuff is incredible. 8) What’s the last played song on your iPod? One for The Road by Dodie Clark. She writes beautiful music that will never leave your brain. 9) Do you have advice to people out there wanting to make it in the music scene? Network like a mother bitch (can I say mother bitch?) Just go to everything and talk to everyone.
SHANA GRACE
1) Describe your musical style? Chill, quirky acoustic tunes…with a musical theatre influence? I think it’s hard to be objective with your own music, but according to Wikipedia and its extensive list of song genres and their related musicians, I would probably identify most with ‘Indie Folk’ and ‘Alternative Singer-Songwriter’. 2) What’s the goal for your musical career? In the near future? Record and release EP. More gigs. Morre writing. In the mid to distant future? A full-length album, when I’ve saved enough to record at a studio. And touring would just be the most awesome experience ever. If one day I could make a living off singing and songwriting, that would be amazing, but so far I’m just thinking of the steps that are closest to me, and being thankful for any opportunities that come my way. 3) Where do you draw songwriting inspiration from? Words come first. Most of my songs have come from journal entries. I’ll notice a recurring theme that is significant enough to me to write a song about. Or sometimes an image or scene or phrase may come to mind that perfectly depicts a feeling or experience I’ve had, so I’ll jot it down. 4) Describe what goes into making an EP? How many/ Which of your songs would you like recorded? How much realistically do you have to spend on this project? What additional instruments do you want in the songs, and how do you get those? When do you want to release it? Do you want to also release a physical copy? As soon as I’d received a quote for what I wanted recorded (at a studio), I realized that I definitely couldn’t
afford it right now. But I talked to a good friend of mine who had recorded his entire EP at home, and since have decided to do that too. There are a bunch of wonderful people that are being very generous with their time and experience . 6) Who inspires you the most, musically? Oh goodness. I’m just gonna throw a few names out there. Katie Herzig. Sufjan Stevens. Mumford and Sons. Etta James. June Carter. Johnny Cash. Bono. Sia. 7) What’s your favourite album at the moment? Sigh No More- Mumford And Sons 8) What’s the last played song on your ipod? “Painting By Chagall” By The Weepies 9) Do you have advice to people out there wanting to make it in the music scene? Find at least ONE other who is on a similar path as you. Someone who understands whatever this is, someone who ‘Speaks your language’. And meet with them as regularly as possible. Meet to inspire and encourage one another through the different projects and events, celebrate the ups and empathize with each other through the downs. Someone you can trust with your works, to give their honest opinion in a gracious and constructive way. That support is so important. Lastly, keep going! I think as with anything, it’ll definitely be hard at times but ultimately if you come alive when you’re doing it and you can’t think of anything you’d rather be doing, then it is all worth it!
MORGAN ALLEN What got you into the production side of the music industry? What appealed? It was a rather slow transition really. I remember being 14 and thinking my band was the best thing in New Zealand, but we weren’t getting heard. I would have loved to go into a big studio at that age but was not financially able to, being a kid and all. So I began mucking around with equipment trying to learn how to do it myself. When I started recording other people it just became a case of “oh I could put a bass line down for you” or “how about this keyboard part here?” Unknowingly, at that point I was making the transition from being a recording engineer to producing as well. Would you like a career in music production? What would your dream job look like? I don’t really like to think too far in the future career wise. I don’t have any major goals I want to achieve career wise other than enjoying my work and helping other musicians. I’m currently finishing off my degree this year but apart from that, I’m working for a studio (Depot Sound) in pretty much all my spare time doing a mix of production and engineering work. As far as a dream job goes, I’d love to work with more and more professional musicians and have the freedom to work with artists I think are exceptionally talented. What’s the biggest challenge you face? When I’m producing for an artist it is always difficult to balance their needs and taste against what is creatively satisfying for myself. Obviously I’m providing a service for artists and it is of utmost importance to me that I deliver a product that is uniquely them. However, I can’t do this with authenticity unless a part of what I like about music is embodied in the track. Culling my personal desires and keeping things in line with the artists vision is a bit of a balancing act as these two things don’t always line up. At the end of the day the artist needs to tell their story, not me, so the more I know about them and what they like, the better.
What’s the most rewarding aspect? Making peoples’ dreams come to life. It sounds cheesy but it’s true. For most musicians, whatever they’re working on currently tends to be one of the most (if not the most) exciting thing happening in their world. To be able to enable that journey for someone is a pretty special thing. Especially when the positive impact music has on peoples’ lives and in the local community is very tangible. What’s your involvement in the music industry apart from production? I’m currently playing in a couple bands in Auckland. One is an eight piece rock/electronica/hip-hop group called LAKES and the other is an indie-rock trio called Hospital Sports. I organise the odd gig here or there for these bands but other than that, I leave the rest of the industry stuff to the people who do it best. Who inspires you the most in your field? Has to be my friends. I’ve got five or six close mates who all make music. Singers, rappers, producers etc. Their work is all excellent and motivates me. What’s your favourite album at the moment? Ego Death by The Internet Last played song on your ipod? Basement Freestyle by Travis Scott Any advice to people wanting to follow a similar path to you? Number one hack to making great music is to listen to lots and lots and lots of great music.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW MOVIE SCREENING
IN SHORT
Kieran Bennett After facing criticism for using tax funding to pay an outstanding parking fine, Prime Minister John Key has assured the public that publicly funded parking fees are nothing new. Several weeks prior, the Prime Minister was caught parking on a dotted yellow line while buying milk, an activity that was covered extensively by investigative journalists. The resulting judicial and media storm obscured New Zealand’s airwaves for several weeks as courts attempted to determine who was at fault, and why.
Tax Funded Parking Fines Nothing New
Now, after what has been deemed a shockingly short civil case of only 4 years, the court has ruled that no, Mr Key can’t park on yellow dotted lines. His defence that he would only be “a
Kieran Bennett In a stunning conclusion to a two year review, the Privacy Commission has come to the conclusion that New Zealand’s spy agencies do not currently have enough powers. After a series of controversial bills that were passed to the delight of absolutely no one, the privacy commission set about determining what the appropriate level of outrage was. After several million dollars and a lot of hard thinking, the commission has determined that the SIS and GCSB require the ability to not only warrentlessly search people’s property, but also to warrentlessly search their anal cavities and determine their favourite flavour of ice-cream.
Spy Agencies Require More Powers
Both agencies have welcomed the report, saying that they had long felt that their current abilities were inadequate. In a press release the GCSB praised the “brave opinion” of the commission and said that they looked forward to having even less oversight than they currently did. “At the moment,
couple of minutes” and that “it didn’t really matter anyway” was dismissed by the judge. Mr Key was then ordered to pay an 80 dollar fine, a fine which was paid using tax payer funding. Mr Key has defended his actions saying that the purchase of the milk was for the good of country. “At the time, dairy was in a slump, again, and so grabbing that bottle, saved jobs”. He then went on to say that using tax payer money to cover politicians screw ups was a time honoured tradition amongst all democracies and that it would be strange if he didn’t misappropriate public money. Mr Key’s excuses are not sitting well with the public however and so an inquiry has been launched into MP’s spending of public money. The inquiry will be funded by tax dollars.
we are able to do almost anything we please with no restrictions, but hidden in those restrictions and so called regulations are terrorists. We are glad that the commission is not siding with terrorists,” was just one observation from the 30 page release. Prime Minister John Key has also praised the privacy commission’s report, saying that potentially he would maybe possibly consider perhaps under the right circumstance, not slashing their funding. Opposition to the report was short lived with Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw slamming the commission, saying the GCSB needed more regulation. The GCSB responded by mentioning that Mr Shaw’s favourite flavour of icecream was Rocky Road. He has since withdrawn his comments.
Clean Up Crew
Sustainability Events Semester 1, 2016 Week 7 On Friday 26th February, AuSM and AUT teamed up with Sustainable Coastlines to conduct a clean-up of the Puhinui Reserve, part of the Manukau Harbour, about a 15 minute drive from the AUT South campus. Our volunteer crew was comprised largely of international students and students new to Auckland, in a fantastic amalgamation of both environmental and social sustainability. As well as being a hugely informative day, it was also a fantastic opportunity for students to see a beautiful part of the Manukau Harbour – one of South Auckland’s many hidden beauties. This clean-up was part of a larger clean-up project organised by Sustainable Coastlines for Sea Week, a Nation-wide annual event addressing the issue of marine litter around New Zealand. The theme for Sea Week 2016 is “Toiora te Moana – Toiora te Tangata – Healthy Seas, Healthy People” and, among other things, aims to raise awareness about the importance of healthy and plentiful seafood, not just for our economy but for our identity as New Zealanders. A huge part of Maori culture stems from our oceans and the seafood produced there. This means that sustainable fishing is vital in keeping that culture and identity alive (i.e. not catching too many fish, or fish of the wrong age/ size) but it’s also important that we look
after our sea and coastline if we want our kaimoana to be plentiful and healthy. All of the rubbish we dump onto our streets ends up at our beaches via storm water drains, and all of that rubbish plus the rubbish we leave at the beaches, pollutes our water and when it’s exposed to the sun, wind, and rain, it releases toxic chemicals. Due to their physiology, fish and other sea-dwelling critters are particularly susceptible to these toxins and bioaccumulation occurs just like it does with mercury in fish. Basically, the concentration of plastic-produces toxins increases along the food chain until the highest dosage lands on our dinner plates. In a society where we’re worrying more than ever about GMO’s and pesticides, surely this is something we should be considering too? There are loads of things that we, as New Zealanders, can do to protect our kaimoana, culture, and economy. It can be as involved as attending a beach cleanup in your area, and even going as far as organising one, or it can be as simple as holding onto your rubbish until you find the appropriate bin.
For more information about Sea Week go to http://seaweek.org.nz/
Earth Day: sunflower Growing and Trash to Art competitions. April 11th – South Campus, 12-1pm April 12th – North Campus, 12-1pm April 14th – City Campus, 12-1pm
Week 10 Fair Trade Shared Lunches May 16th – South Campus, 12-1pm May 17th – North Campus, 12-1pm May 19th – City Campus, 12-1pm
Week 11 Team at free feeds, promoting next week’s events. May 23rd – South Campus, 12-1pm May 24th – North Campus 12-1pm May 26th – City Campus 12 – 1pm
Week 12 Yoga May 30th – South Campus, 12-1pm May 31st – North Campus 12-1pm June 2nd – City Campus 12-1pm
The Four Best Love Songs Everrr Julie Cleaver
I love love. Everybody loves love. Without love I’m fairly certain no one would bother doing this whole ‘life’ thing. So here’s to you, love, thanks for, you know, giving us the will to go on and stuff. I sort of really appreciate it.
You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins Anyone who grew up in the 90s will know what I’m talking about. As featured in Disney’s epic film Tarzan (1999) this jam is probably the only way to describe the deep connection between a monkey mother and her nature boy son. “My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can’t be broken. I will be here, don’t you cry.” DAH. You better be here cos I’m already in tears over how darn cute this is.
Cause I Love You – Johnny Cash and June Carter This list would not be complete without a song from these two love-birds. Although this particular tune is not actually my favourite, I chose it because it represents Johnny and June’s beautiful and romantic love story. Singing country, growing old together, then dying just four months apart. Forget The Notebook, these guys have the bestest connection I ever did hear about.
The Wedding Song – Angus and Julia Stone If the harmonica in this ballad doesn’t make your heart weep with joy, the FBI will hunt you down for being a suspected mass murder. Julia wrote it for her friend’s wedding – hence the title – and it is absolutely stunning. “I’ll hear your voice come through the door, a thousand times, maybe more. And I smile inside, to know you’re mine, completely.” I’m a mess. Listen to this tune then propose to the person sitting next to you. Do it. Love is fun.
Anyone Else But You – Moldy Peaches This is the ultimate indie love duet. This nonchalant couple sings about their unique little adorations for each other in a totally sweet but non-cheesy way. “I kiss you on the brain in the shadow of the train.” I’m not sure what this means, but I think it symbolises how he is romantically attracted to her intelligence and that they’re poor students who have to catch the train.
3AM THOUGHTS
Did I care though?
Sometimes our sub-editor, Amelia Petrovich, likes to wake herself up at 3am, record the first thought that comes to her head, and share it with the world.
“Let it happen!” I thought, “let conscious Amelia deal with that nonsense, I’m about to smoosh my nose back into my pillow and snore myself hoarse.”
March 14th, 3:00am “Being drub is a slow brain fade/zoom in” This one actually leaves me a little annoyed by how much it makes sense. More and more people have been asking me about this column lately and I feel a lot of pressure to be ridiculous and Freudian, like some mad sleepy genius, to keep them all entertained. The truth is though, that sometimes when you have 3:00am thoughts they’re not mad or intelligent at all, they simply trudge into being like slower and more fumbly versions of normal thoughts. So clearly here I’ve misspelled something, because as far as I know “drub” isn’t much of a word in the technical sense of it actually existing in any dictionary anywhere (it does sound a little like a haughty pronunciation of the word “drab” though, which is fun). Spelling at 3:00am is actually a really funny thing. When I started this haphazard column I had a feeling my spelling would be all up the shit, but I figured it would be because I was just too asleep to realize I was screwing up. In actual fact, waking up that early to write anything does render you careless, but more the “I couldn’t give a crap about this” kind of careless rather than sloppy. I saw this spelling error happen ladies and gentlemen, as soon as my clumsy thumb pawed the screen of my phone incorrectly I watched “drub” rather than “drunk” become a thing.
Not at all.
But anyway, as much as it’s spelling errors and shortcomings make this thought somewhat messy, what it’s actually saying isn’t too shabby. This was a description of how the world looks and feels when you’re wasted, slowly zooming in when you focus your boozy brain on something and gradually fading to black as you pass out in your mate’s bath. It’s cinematic and almost pretty language from my bedtime self, but it’s no breaking news story. I’m pretty sure just about every person who has ever lived through mounting peer pressure and a box of Jim Beam knows about this sensation, why at 3:00am I felt the need to underscore it is completely unknown to me. See what I mean though? Boring! It’s such a boring thought! “When you’re drunk, stuff goes like this.” Cool story buddy, great click bait content, so relatable omg. Honestly, my subconscious needs to pull its head in and muck around with phallic symbolism once in a while so we can all have a bit of a thrill, right? Use of the word “head” in that sentence actually wasn’t intentionally crass, but I’m going to take it as a sign of things to come, maybe my brain is coming (lol) around already! Here’s to sweet, naughty dreaming I guess.
CAVING THE WAY Laurien Barks
My dad always tells ridiculous stories of when he was around my age. Things he’d get up to, trouble he’d get in, adventures he’d go on. I often find myself thinking about the kind of stories I’ll tell my kids (cats*) eventually, and I think it’s kinda cool to look at your present life from a future set of eyes – it’s a perspective that makes you appreciate the uniqueness and fun of your own present reality. There’s a tonne of stories I could talk about right now, but in the spirit of the music mag, I’ll go with one of the more recent events that’s quickly made its way into my repertoire of ‘back in my day’ stories. “Kids, we’d wait til low tide, haul a bunch of acoustic instruments and cooler full of beers down the side of a cave, and jam our hearts out til the tide started chasing us out again.” Cave gigs, founded by a dear friend of mine, have become the ‘it’ thing in my circle of pals (and, in fact, a few other circles of pals). There’s a fantastic cave in a Whangaparaoa cliffside that has proven, three times now, to be the perfectly picturesque location for open mic gigs. The acoustics are off the charts, natural rock platforms provide the perfect seats, and with candles alight and a sea view unlike any other, it’s a pretty solid example of real life magic up in there. This hole-in-the-wall venue has been stellar in a number of different ways. The creativity of the location has really brought out the creativity and confidence of the musicians. We’ve had cover bands, cajon and fiddle duos, soulful songwriters, mash-ups – smashing every genre from folk to rock, indie to Celtic – hell we even had some rap last time. It’s the ultimate chilled-out atmosphere that wraps each and every performer (young, old, and in between) within its walls in a comforting blanket of intimacy, comradery, and good ol’ fashioned fun. With the waves competing for ear space and the flattering glow of candle light, I feel we’re all indirectly encouraged to perform our best – Mother Nature at her nurturing-est.
These gorgeous little performances have also proved to be one of the coolest ways to meet knew, quirky, likeminded people. Right from the get-go, we had new faces. Not one person knew everyone present upon cave entry, but upon exiting, I had enough Facebook friend requests to bring my friend count into the double digits.
The creativity of the location has really brought out the creativity and confidence of the musicians. I mean, really…how could you not? Ice breakers are deemed redundant due to the amount of groping that’s necessary to help each other scale the wall into the cave. Chatting during the gig is easy because you’re in a blimmin’ cave with music and alcohol – that’s the kind of conversation fodder dreams are made of. And after the gig is done, you hit the beach, talk about how great the performances were, eat greasy food, listen to the next-level talented baes play guitar like gods and goddesses, and swoon into a heap til you’re too cold to sit outside anymore. It’s as easy as I am after the boy bands rock the cave. It really is one of the most unique kinds of fun I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of, and I’m thrilled at the way these lil gigs have taken off. There’s more new faces with each concert, more performers, and more reason to talk about it to anyone I come across. I can’t get enough, and I hope they continue for a helluva long time. Next one is April 11th, so flick me an email if you’re keen to attend/perform, or are interested but need a bit more convincing. You won’t be able to resist my passionate spiel; you’ll cave for sure.
RATE DEBATE You and Debate have been getting to know each other for a while now. Good chemistry, a few laughs, solid conversation. I guess we could go ahead and say things are ‘official’. We feel you’ve given us what we need, and now we want to ask you what you need from us. We want this relationship to last, and the only way to do that is through communication. Fill out this page, tear it out, and leave it in the side of our lil red stands. Love you.
Where do you usually pick up your copy of Debate?
What would you like to see more of in Debate?
How often do you read Debate?
What would you like to see less of?
What’s the first thing you read when you open Debate?
Do you enjoy themed issues of Debate? What themes would you like to see in the future?
What’s your least favourite thing in Debate?
What are your thoughts on the Debate covers? Any favourites? Any you hated?
How long is too long for a feature article? (1 page, 2 pages, 3 pages, I hate feature articles)
Any further comments?
COOL SHIT
SHAKE DAT CLASS We’re all about disguised exercise around here, so fun-filled Zumba, yoga, and pilates classes are more our vibe. AUT’s city campus group fitness has a wide range of classes to choose from, and they want to help you find your exercise niche with five free classes of your choice! Whether you’re keen to dance, stretch, lift, or box, they’ve got something for you to check out. We’ve got five of these passes to give away this week, all you need to do is follow us on Instagram (@debatemag), tag us and use the hashtag, #debatemag to be in to win!
Hungover What can you remember from last night? For the cataclysmically hungover Tom, Lauren, and Will, it’s not much. After an epic night, the three friends attempt to piece together the night before and navigate their own love lives – all through the haze of a hangover. And when Tom’s girlfriend, Rachel, arrives with big news, he is confronted with a choice that doesn’t just affect him. Directed by winning director, Hamish McGregor, and musically directed by Andy Manning, Hungover is a show you don’t want to miss. It will be running at the Basement Theatre from April 5 – 9, and Debate has two tickets to giveaway to opening night! All you need to do is Facebook message us with your name, campus, and most entertaining Hangover story to be in to win!
Jesus Christ Superstar Classic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar is returning to Auckland for a thrilling two week season from April 30 at Harlequin Musical Theatre in Howick Tickets are on sale now for the popular musical, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, which features well-known songs Everything’s Alright, What’s the Buzz, and Hosanna. Tickets are available at www.iticket.co.nz or you can phone (09) 361 1000.
This Unruly Mess I’ve Made Last week we ran a competition to win two tickets to see Macklemore and Ryan Lewis this year! They’re hitting up Vector Arena on July 28th this year, and we couldn’t be more excited. If you missed out on the comp, don’t fret, there are still tickets available – so make sure you get yours quick, it’s going to be one hell of a gig! Tickets are on sale now at www.livenation.co.nz.
Sass-quatch and Sky can hardly contain their excitement when it comes to giving you guys advice. If you’ve got something troubling you, whether it be uni, flatmates, or that weird recurring rash, they’d like to help you out. Feel free to leave your anonymous questions in the side of our little red mag stands, or email them to lbarks@aut.ac.nz. Just make sure you address the right advisor so we know who to pass it along to.
Heya Sky, I’ve just moved into a new flat with new flatmates and one girl leaves her unwashed dishes on the bench and is just generally messy as hell. I’ve cleaned her crap up a few times now just to make space! It really pisses me off but I also kinda don’t want to say anything because she’s the one who found the flat for us and I don’t want to hassle her in her own home. Any ideas? From Cinderella.
Dear Cinderella, Have you seen Disney’s new version of Cinderella? For your sake I hope you haven’t, but unfortunately I have. In that god-awful movie the sweet blonde protagonist never sticks up for herself. Ever. It’s kind of cute how giving and nonconfrontational she is, but it also sort of makes me sick. Her devilish step-mother and sisters push her around so much and she just takes every hit. Eventually she wins and rides off with her prince etc etc but I personally don’t think she deserves to live happily ever after at all. Sometimes avoiding conflict is a really sensible way of dealing with people, but if you do it too much, you become a walking punching bag, like our glittery friend Cindy. If you are going to be living with this girl long term you definitely need to say something, but tread carefully. Speak to her in person – not over a screen – and be super gentle. Tell her it’s a tiny bit annoying that she leaves dishes around and if she ever so kindly wouldn’t mind washing them once she’s done, well that be would just dandy. Maybe say, “I do it too, I know! It’s just something we all need to work on”. I’m sure you’re super tidy, but just do it anyway; it’ll make her feel like less of a dick. Then compliment her a few times, because seriously, her hair always looks amazing. Also, just to clarify, it’s not her house. If you live there and both pay for it equally (which I’m assuming you do) then even if she found it, it is still not hers. So don’t ever worry about hassling her “in her own home”, because the way I see it, she’s actually the one hassling you in your own home. If the conversation doesn’t go well, remember, it’s just dishes. There is absolutely no point creating bad blood with anyone over a few dirty plates and spoons. From you loving fairy godmother, Sky
AS K
SKY T HE S T UD ENT Sky is a fellow student who really seems to have uni figured out. She’s kind, real, and has first hand experience is a lot of issues y’all are facing, yourselves.
Dear Sass-quatch, Is it creepy to move seats once you’re already sitting down in a lecture theatre if it means moving to sit next to a very (and I mean VERY) good-looking guy? I always try and walk into the lecture after he does so I can just casually plop down next to him, but so far I’ve failed because there’s so many students and you can’t just stand around and wait for him to sit down, you have to find a seat, you know? Sincerely, Hot For Student
Yeah mate, that’s creepy as hell. How would you feel if you were sitting on a bus or something and someone way down the front near the driver looked behind them, spotted you, and then slowly got up and stalked your way? It’s predatory, it’s objectifying. The thing about hot guys is that they’re constantly being objectified but they don’t know it. They’re all under the same goddamn illusion that they’re actually enticing and special human beings, who are you to pull that comfy rug out from underneath their Van-clad feet? Don’t shock the poor guy by reminding him that, once the polite banter about where you both grew up and what your favourite papers are is over, he’s essentially just another jacked-up, testosterone-filled plaything. Also, you say you walk into the lecture right behind him and yet you STILL haven’t managed to score a seat? Bitch, get good.
ASK
SASS-QUATC H Sass-quatch truly does have your best interests in mind, but they’ll tell it like it is and won’t give a shit about crushing your precious little feelings in the process. Sometimes tough love is the only way you’ll learn.
Next time you’re in a lecture, I want you to ghost that motherfucker as hard as you possibly can, if you can’t inhale and tell me if he uses Lynx or Rexona to wash behind his ears then you’re dead to me. Just elbow people out of the way okay? If they’re showing up to a lecture and are actually eager to take a seat then they’re sadists and they relish pain anyway, you’ll be doing everybody a happy service. However if you actually do manage to scrape your life up off the fucking floor, smell his Rexona ear lobes and then shove everybody else out of the way to actually get that seat it’s going to be a nightmare, because you’ll need to work out what to say to him. I suggest don’t, the most effective means of flirting is to ignore a person until they’re too curious and obsessed to resist you. It really works, probably. Love and bubbles, Sass-squatch.
Auckland City Limits Shivan Walking into the Auckland City Limits festival, I felt like I had transported myself and ended up in LA during Coachella weekend - the fashion was really turned up. There was a big division in the fashion between concert goers. I would best describe it as a spectrum ranging from very psychedelic-gypsy-bohemian fashion, to a TLC-ish hip hop 90s babies fashion, and the rest of the concert goers fell anywhere in between. It was amazing seeing everybody making an effort to bring a real festival feel to the event. As for the acts performing at the event, their fashion was very sensible and set the mood for their act. The brother-sister due, Broods, took to the stage wearing these amazing white bombers with prints on them that looked like dripping paint. It really set the vibe of their act. Once momentum built up, the duo took of their bombers and were entertaining the crowd in all black. The best part of their act was when the lead singer decided to take off her shoes and was complaining to the crowd how badly the shoes were hurting as she took them off, as I always say: comfort before fashion. Yes it was amazing to the see the turn out. Concert goers were not afraid to take risks in the way they dressed and it was amazing to see that! From facial jewellery to crazy braids and glitter, it was a sight to see people having the confidence to pull it off. In the theme of Coachella and the Auckland City Limits we decide to style a shoot of our own, we leaned more toward the psychedelic bohemian side of the spectrum than hip hop, and decided to style this electric blue number for the shoot. Today’s fashion is fresh off the runway from last year’s AUT rookie show. Designer, Julia Thompson, showcased a very feminine collection down the runway last year, her mixture of flowing fabrics and intricate ties really made for a great show. In her entire collection each piece was a surprise, from electric blue to pink and orange, as a designer she is not afraid to take risks and those risks have certainly paid off. Hence why this editorial is a perfect match to represent the fashion of concert goers, and what they wore at Auckland City Limits: bold colours everywhere! Credits Model: Talia @ Bintang Models Hair & Make Up: Made by Ruth Designer: Julia Thompson Photographed and Styled: Yours Truly @gathum
This fabulous duo is gracing the 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival stage from May 9th to 14th this year. We thought we’d have a chat to them about comedy, music, and the challenges they face in the industry. Where did the title “The Fan Brigade” stem from? Livi: The Fan Club was already taken by an 80s Kiwi Malaysian pop duo and Salt n Pepa was already taken by women way cooler than us. Amanda: Brigades are better than clubs anyway. People are always snide and dismissive about brigades. Fan is cos we’re both big fans of different kinds of normal stuff. A lot of older women assume fan is short for fanny though. We don’t mind that either.
s
s
The Fan Brigade
Women in comedy – I gotta ask, how do you all find it? Do you face the challenges we hear so much about in the media? Livi: The biggest challenge (apart from constantly getting asked about what it’s like to be a woman doing comedy) is just all the dick and balls flying at you all the time from man fans. It’s not talked about enough in the media. Amanda: People need to tell all their funny female friends that they’re funny and should do comedy so eventually comedians don’t get asked this question. How do you go about planning your acts – what’s the process like? Livi: It starts with four or five bottles of wine and talking about stuff that we are passionate about. We then can spend weeks agonising over specific words. Sometimes the drinking thing doesn’t work out and we wake up with lyrics about using your index finger to hitchhike and feel ashamed.
We’re doing a music themed mag this week, what’s your top picks for: a. Best dance song Amanda: Sorry - Justin Bieber (sorry!!!!) or Wanna Be Startin Something - Michael Jackson Livi: I Touch Myself - The Divinyls b. Best cry song Amanda: Where do my Bluebirds Fly - Tallest Man on Earth Livi: I Touch Myself - The Divinyls c. Best movie soundtrack Amanda: O Brother Where Art Thou Livi: PULP FICTION d. Best song to send someone if they’re having a lame day. Amanda: Somebody’s Gonna Love You - Alice Russell Livi: I Touch Myself - The Divinyls Getting started in comedy isn’t easy, what’s the best advice you have for students with the same goals. Amanda: Get your ass on stage! Approach the Classic about doing Raw. NZ’s a great industry for starting out in comedy. It’s so supportive and encouraging. Livi: Having a stressful childhood and using comedy as a coping mechanism from a very young age helps. Do you have any great fan stories? Anything that’s happened during a show? Amanda: One lady just slow clapped and shook her head in shock through our whole set without stopping. Livi: Two fabulous women ran up to tell us they were listening to one of our songs while they were getting ready for our show and that they know all the words, which was pretty strange and great. How do you like the handle hecklers? Amanda: Our first heckler was a gross dude at us - as I leaned into the mic he yelled out “lick the tip!” I just did a big fake laugh then cut it off abruptly and stared at him. Everybody laughed except him and we didn’t hear a peep out of him after that. Dave from Pakuranga or whatever can go fuck himself. Nobody goes to comedy to hear some rando yelling shit out trying to be funnier than the acts everybody’s paid to see. It should be legal to spear tackle hecklers.
I know a few comedians who don’t mind them or just think it comes with the territory, but they are much better people than me. Livi: We don’t get really them cause we aren’t quiet for long enough. We don’t really stop talking, because women. Is anything off limits when it comes to comedy? Why/why not? Amanda: No, nothing’s off limits. But whatever you do, it has to be funny. The audience doesn’t go to comedy to feel like shit or feel irritated and pissed off - they go to laugh and feel happy, and doing nasty comedy that makes people feel terrible instead isn’t really comedy in my opinion. Livi: I strongly believe comedy should not be censored, but that you should expect an appropriate response from your audience and others if your material is isolating. It’s not up to anyone but the audience to set the bar about what you can and cannot discuss. Even in the last 10 years you can see a huge change in what is being talked about on stage and how certain/controversial topics are approached as a result of the changing comedy audience and the younger generation’s attitude towards discrimination. What’s the ultimate goal? What would have to happen for you to say “Oh my gosh, this is the dream!”? Livi: Guest appearing on Broad City or waking up next to one of the Hemsworths. Even if it’s the dad. Amanda: Honestly we’ve already been sent penis lollies with a note saying ‘EAT A BAG OF DICKS’ in the post from a dude who doesn’t like us so what could top that? Already living the dream! What are you most looking forward to with NZ International comedy fest? Livi: Arj Barker, getting out of Huntly for a whole week, the dress up parties and hitting on some of the international acts after plenty of tequila. Amanda: Our show “ASK THE FAN BRIGADE: a one hour musical comedy advice column talk show.” And being in Le Comique with some insane international acts. And just being part of a three-week festival whose only aim is to make people laugh and be happy. There’s nothing better than comedy. Livi: ...And hitting on some of the international acts after plenty of tequila.
REVIEWS
K E N D R IC K L AMAR Concert | Auckland City Limits Reviewed by Amelia Petrovich
I’ll admit it, before ACL the only Kendrick Lamar I knew properly was King Kunta. I went along to his headlining set at 9:30pm not expecting to feel anything much at all, I was simply there to get a nice shot and then skedaddle. As I’m not a long-time fan or anything I don’t know if my opinion is even valid, but from an outsiders perspective this was one impressive example of performance prowess. The first thing I noticed about Lamar is he struck me as a total cutie. The lead up was long and arduous but eventually there he was, center-stage, waiting patiently for all of Auckland to stop screaming. His first few songs to me (remember, I’d never heard any of these before) seemed a lot like explanations, almost soliloquies. Lamar is also the kind of guy to move his hands a lot, which makes him a pain to photograph but a little bit magic to watch. You could read his passion, enthusiasm and
sometimes even anger through the fluid motion or aggressive flicking of his hands. I’ve never noticed a rapper’s hands before, it was pretty cool.
bounced with the weight of thousands upon thousands of enraptured people- I didn’t even know that physics let stuff like that happen.
The thing that stood out the most to me personally about Lamar’s set though is just how easily and how completely he enthralled and held his crowd. Maybe his music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but at ACL that didn’t matter, all the people who weren’t as keen were over with Modest Mouse anyway. Western Springs Stadium was jampacked with people who adored him and focused on absolutely nothing else, a brand of complete devotion that I truly hadn’t seen for anybody else throughout the day.
I found myself standing there watching this all unfold for a lot longer than a non-Lamar fanatic had any business doing, just awestruck that one man who was a little bit late to get out onstage could capture so many people at once. I didn’t even hear King Kunta, and in the end I didn’t need to, Lamar had won my approval (a girl who barely had any idea what his music sounded like) just by the way the people around me completely and utterly lost their shit.
With this devotion came a really obvious collective effervescence, the entire crowd moving as one in time to Lamar and his music. There was one point where the earth actually moved. No I’m not kidding, the grass and dirt underneath my feet buckled and
It was a bit of an out-of-body experience, but one I think I’ll remember for a very, very long time.
“Dark witch rock” is how Mermaidens describe their unique sound. Upon initial hearing, it’s like a blend of early-Soundgarden with Brit singer Bat for Lashes. Undergrowth is riddled with dark imagery, and a central theme of the natural elements makes for a spooky combination. If you’ve ever read Emily Carroll’s creepyas-heck picture book, Through the Woods, this is probably a very appropriate musical score to accompany it. Some of the highlights include the opening track Under the Mountain II, the ominous sounding Seed and the steady crescendo of the closing track Splinter. Though on the whole, all eight tracks are highlights in their own right – tied together by foreboding melodies, riffs and percussion. The music isn’t all gloom and grey, with facets of nature: water, heat, earth and greenery being a major medium of the songs. It’s an unusual melding of ideas but is also part of what makes the album so fascinating. “A coastal stroll along haunted shorelines” is what Flying Out had to say.
MERMAIDENS Undergrowth Reviewed by Tharindu Jayasinghe
Undergrowth is the debut studio album by Mermaidens and comes on the back of two EPs. The Wellington trio has been playing music together since 2013 and is set to tour much of the North Island in April.
There’s something quietly magical about Carol. Set in pristine Manhattan on the cusp of Christmas, the story is a relatively simple one of love. Except instead of ‘boy meets girl’, it’s a lesbian romance set against the closeted and intolerant 1950s. Cate Blanchett plays Carol, a stately but world-weary divorcee who meets Rooney Mara’s young, doe-eyed Therese in a department store: unsure, uncertain, but inexplicably in love with her newfound companion. As their tentative encounter blossoms into a subtly intimate relationship, Carol serves as a painterly portrayal of nuanced acting and cinematic technique aided by Mara’s girlish expressiveness and Blanchett’s deft portrayal of a confident yet emotionally tremulous modern woman. Carol’s minority of detractors have accused the film as cold, indifferent, and excruciatingly understated. But for director Todd Haynes, it’s a deliberate effect with compelling results. Emotionally and mentally, Carol and Therese feel trapped. The characters are placed in close, yet enclosed spaces—between tables, through glass windows, and amidst hazy plumes of cigarette smoke. Rich and rueful, Haynes does justice to Patricia Highsmith’s latest adaptation with charming and artful panache. Even against the backdrop of Manhattan’s blistering December weather, Carol and Therese’s on-screen aura radiates a warmth that marks the film as a sensual and sensory exemplar of auteur cinema. Is there any better testament of attraction than the gravitational pull between these two characters?
C AROL Directed by Todd Haynes Starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson Reviewed by Jihee Junn
Iron and Wine Braised Chicken • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
4 bone-in chicken drumsticks, skinned 4 bone-in chicken thighs, skinned 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup chopped shallots 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 cup Chianti or other rich red wine 1 cup unsalted chicken stock 1 teaspoon sugar 1 can unsalted whole tomatoes, crushed and undrained 1 bay leaf 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Preperation: 1. Make 1 cut in each chicken piece; sprinkle evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Place flour in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken in flour. Add chicken to pan; cook 5 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan. 2. Add shallots, garlic, and rosemary to pan; cook 2 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add wine to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, chicken stock, sugar, tomatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; return chicken to pan. Reduce heat to medium; cook, partially covered, 15 minutes or until chicken is done, turning once. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-braised-wine-rosemary
PUZ ZLE S
S U DO KU
BAND NAMES THAT DESCRIBE YOUR SEX LIFE
Motorhead PearlJam
BeatHappening TheKinks
OneDirection TheClash
Nirvana NineInchNails
TheStrokes TheLonelyIsland
TenaciousD Spoon
DeepPurple Bush
Hole Weezer
FiveFingerDeathPunch
ExplosionsInTheSky
PassionPit
TheFlamingLips
Circle all the words in the wordfind, tear this page out & pop it into the box on the side of the red Debate stands, and you could win a motherflippin’ sweet prize!
Name:
Email: