debate issue 1, 2012

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01

5 President’s Welcome 6 AuSM Update 7 News 8 Freedom Isn’t Free

Sebastian Mackay explores the affects of the proposed US anti-piracy act

on the cover

10 Sport

Orientation 2012 Deanne Antao

Scott Moyes relays his predictions for the sporting world in 2012

11 Life as a First Year 12 Microcelebs 14 Columns 15 Orientation Lift Out

Features a three-week O Week timetable, plus profiles on all Orientation artists

23 Fashion 24 R.I.P Big Day Out

Matthew Cattin says farewell to the iconic Kiwi music festival

Generation of Whomp 26 The Most Anticipated Movies In 2012 28 Reviews 32 Suggestions/Horrorscopes 21 Spot The Difference 25 The

editor

Samantha McQueen samantha.mcqueen@aut.ac.nz

designer

Deanne Antao

sub-editor

Alisha Lewis

contributors

David Bellinger | Hazel Buckingham | Kate Campbell | Matthew Cattin| Emily Davies | Kizito Essuman | Laurene Jooste | Melissa Low | Sebastian Mackay | Scott Moyes | Ashleigh Muir | Matt Neary | Sophie Putze | Rachel Ramsay | Renee Simpson | Tamsyn Solomon | Scott Winton

advertising contact

Kate Campbell kate.campbell@aut.ac.nz

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, PMP Print or its subsidiaries.

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3

PRESIDENT S WELCOME reception

City Campus Level 2, WC Building 921 9805 Mon-Thurs: 8.30am-5pm Fri: 8.30am-4pm North Shore Campus Level 2, AS Building 921 9949 Mon-Fri: 11am-1pm Manukau Campus MB107 921 9999 ext 6672 Mon-Fri: 9am-3.30pm

K

ia ora and welcome to AUT University. It is my great pleasure to officially welcome all students on behalf of AuSM to the 2012 academic year at AUT. I am very honoured as a fellow student to represent such a distinguished and diverse group of individuals as your student president. To all the first year freshers, congratulations for working tirelessly to gain admission to this university for the changing world.

AuSM is your student association which serves as the rightful mouthpiece at all levels of the university for the entire student body. As some of you may be aware, the Voluntary Student Movement (VSM) Bill was passed

by New Zealand Parliament last year and is now in effect. This means all AUT students are not AuSM members by default; you need to sign up as an AUT student to be able to enjoy all the services and facilities we provide.

The services AuSM provides are aimed at supporting, representing and entertaining all students while you study at AUT. Some of the services we deliver to our students include Orientation gigs and activities, weekly free feeds, entertainment at your student bar Vesbar, exclusive discounts on products and services with Mates Rates, opportunities to express yourselves in this fine publication, debate (your free weekly student magazine), SJS – a free employment service, advocacy and much more. And guess what? It’s FREE to join! What could be better than that? We are here to supplement your strengths and to help you to become a source of strength for others through your own personal successes. It is the primary goal of AuSM to improve the quality of student life on campus and ensure students enjoy their university experience.

You will be exposed to the world of many opportunities, but in your endeavours I urge you not to lose sight of the core reason why you are here – for academic success. I would also recommend that you get involved in extracurricular activities to give you the opportunity to make friends and have time out from studies. With the help of AuSM, you can also start or join any of the cultural, religious, recreational, social and faculty-based clubs.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact any of the AuSM offices and we are always happy to help you. After all, we are here because of you and to deliver the best service, support and entertainment possible.

Also, make sure you become a fan of AuSM on Facebook and or follow us on Twitter to get access to all the latest news, event information, promotions and competitions.

Good luck with all your endeavours this academic year and I look forward to getting to know you all. Congratulations once again and go for gold!

management

Sue Higgins General Manager 921 9999 ext 5111 sue.higgins@aut.ac.nz

representation

Kizito Essuman AuSM Student President 921 9999 ext 8571 Kizito.essuman@aut.ac.nz

advocacy

Nick Buckby Liaison Manager 921 9999 ext 8379 nick.buckby@aut.ac.nz

marketing

Kate Campbell Marketing and Communications Manager 921 9999 ext 6537 kate.campbell@aut.ac.nz

events

Carl Ewen Student Life Manager 921 9999 ext 8931 carl.ewen@aut.ac.nz

media

Samantha McQueen Publications Co-ordinator 921 9999 ext 8774 debate@aut.ac.nz

sports

Melita Martorana Sports Team Leader 921 9999 ext 7259 melita.martorana@aut.ac.nz

vesbar

KIZITO

Zane Chase Vesbar Manager 921 9999 ext 8378 zane.chase@aut.ac.nz

For a full list of contact details plus profiles of AuSM staff & student executive and information on clubs visit: www.ausm.org.nz

www.ausm.org.nz

5

There’s no catch; if you don’t want to be a member, you don’t have to be, but keep reading to see why we think you should be!

AuSM Services for ALL students

There have been a few changes in our service offerings. AUT University now contracts AuSM to provide some of our core services. All students of AUT University are able to access these contracted services for free.

Other services provided by AuSM are funded outside of the AUT University contract arrangement. These additional services are generally free/discounted to AuSM members but not available or available only at a cost to non-AuSM members.

The Learner Services Levy (LSL)

Welcome to another AuSM Orientation!

If you’ve never experienced an AuSM Orientation then get ready for three weeks of entertainment, games, gigs, competitions and meeting lots of AuSM friends! Orientation is a great time to find out what AuSM clubs you can join or what AuSM events you can get involved in during your time at AUT.

What’s new with you?

We’d love to hear what you are up to! Join us on www.facebook.com/ausm1 As for us, AuSM is your student association – any AUT enrolled student can be a member.

In previous years all AUT students automatically became AuSM members, but this year that’s not the case, due to the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Act 2011.

The good news is you can still sign up to be an AuSM member and it’s free! Sign up at an AuSM stall during O Week, at any of the AuSM offices or at www.ausm.org.nz

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issue 01 2012

It is important for students to know that all of the Learner Servers Levy does NOT go to AuSM. In 2011 the LSL increased dramatically and while a portion of the levy increase will come to AuSM for contract services, the university will retain the rest for other services and the maintenance, restoration and development of student facilities and buildings.

One of AuSM’s roles as the student association has been to keep tabs on fees like the LSL. AuSM does not believe that AUT adequately justified how the LSL was spent in 2011 and did not support the fee increase for this year.

You can find the AuSM submission to the AUT University Council on the AuSM website www. ausm.org.nz The setting of the LSL and the proposed budget for it is now considered by the AUT/ AuSM Student Services Advisory Committee on which AuSM has representatives. You can find the Memorandum of Understanding AUT/ AuSM Student Services Advisory Committee information at www.ausm.org.nz Your feedback to inform our position on the LSL is important – please let us know.

You can email feedback about this or anything, anytime to: kate.campbell@aut.ac.nz

AuSM Services for All AUT students

AuSM have been contracted by AUT University to provide some independent services to all AUT University students. These services are: »» Advocacy – AuSM can help you with any issues you are having while studying at AUT University, including issues in your classes or other areas of the university. AuSM advocacy can also help with general legal info, tenancy issues, issues of harassment, financial struggles or general advice on life. »» Representation – AuSM provides an independent student representative structure which widely involves students in AUT University’s decision-making, brings forward student views on current and emerging issues and generates feedback on the various aspects of AUT University’s programmes, services and facilities.

»» Media – Start off your new year by picking up a free AuSM diary from the AuSM office on your campus. AuSM provides your free student magazine debate which is distributed across all three campuses every Monday of the academic semester and is also available online. debate aims to keep you entertained and up-to-date with what’s going on at AUT University. It also provides an opportunity for all AUT students to contribute and showcase their talents.

You can also…

- Follow us on www.facebook.com/ausm1 - Keep in the loop on our website – fill in surveys, sign up for focus groups and provide your feedback - Devour our e-newsletter - Stalk us on Twitter or relive the latest gig on YouTube You can view details of the AuSM services that AUT University funds on the AuSM website.

The contract AuSM has with AUT University recognises that AuSM retains its autonomy and independence in representing students as a whole and as individuals.

Extra AuSM Member Only Benefits

AuSM provide services in addition to those that AUT have contracted so that members receive the services they want and enjoy.

Student life shouldn’t be all work and no play.

Sign up now – for access to these services: - Classifieds - Clubs and social sport - De-stress week - Events and Orientation - Free Feeds - Foodbank - Locker service - AuSM Lodge in National Park - Free Movie Screenings - Mates Rates – online discount directory - Exclusive specials at Vesbar – your student bar (R18) - Work and volunteer experience

We’re still here, but we’re missing YOU!

We are a not-for profit organisation and a transparent organisation. We believe all members have a right to know how we operate.

We make information available on our website for all members to see. This includes the AuSM constitution (rules), General Meeting minutes and our annual budget.

Find out more:

Explore our website, catch up with your student executive or visit your nearest AuSM office

JOIN AuSM www.ausm.org.nz

news

AUT stubs out the cigarettes for good On February 1, AUT University campuses – City, North Shore and Manukau – plus all student accommodation became smoke-free .

The decision was taken after consulting with students and staff, with support being offered to smokers who have made the decision to quit.

AUT student Sachin Arora, who smokes three cigarettes a day, says the smoke-free policy has given him an extra incentive to give up.

“AUT going smoke-free is a good

thing. It’s extra work to go off campus to have a cigarette.”

Arora will be using a Quit programme to help him quit smoking.

“I’m actually off to get on a Quit programme now. I will be using an electronic cigarette and nicotine patches.”

Senior lecturer in nursing and director of Smokefree Nurses Aotearoa/New Zealand Grace Wong says some smokers will be prompted to quit or to try nicotine replacement

therapy.

“People who have quit won’t be tempted to start again because they won’t smell cigarette smoke and see their friends smoking,” she says.

“Non-smokers and children in the crèches will not be exposed to second-hand smoke outside or smoke-drift inside. Young adults who don’t smoke will be less likely to start.”

AUT Health Counselling and Wellbeing Centres are offering free help for staff and students who want

to quit smoking. To aid those who want to quit smoking, volunteers are acting as smoke-free ambassadors (for students) and smoke-free champions (for staff).

The champions and ambassadors have been trained by the Quit Group to provide advice and support to AUT staff and students who are thinking of quitting.

For further information about AUT smoke-free, go to http://www.aut. ac.nz/about-aut/aut-smoke-free

City campus counting down until WG building opens its doors

by Emily Davies Right now, part of AUT’s city campus is occupying a rather large building site. If the dominating cranes, concrete steel and mountains of scaffolding have not yet given away its location, we’re talking about the site between Hikuwai Plaza and the Business School building.

Since November 2010, AUT students have watched as the 20,000m2 site transforms from muddy foundations to a dominating steel structure, right in the heart of campus.

The great news is this major development will be complete at the end of this year – with doors opening for business from semester 1, 2013.

So whether you’re just starting your undergraduate studies or thinking about embarking on a postgraduate programme, this is going to interest you.

Linking WA, WE, and WF, the 12-storey precinct will be open for all students, no matter what you’re studying. It will provide an extra 1100m2 of extra indoor covered space – a lifesaver for sheltering from the Auckland rain. There will be space to sit with friends, grab some private study time, enjoy a coffee or lunch in the café, or even bring your own food in to cook in the open student kitchen. Choose to sit and surf the web using free public Wi-Fi, or if you have an exhibition or function to host during your studies, there will be a wide range of different areas to reserve.

Also within the precinct will be the most advanced and contemporary Communication School in the country, providing access to the very latest in technology. Facilities will include a screen and television studio, motion capture and chroma

key studio, performance studio, radio station, sound studios, edit suites, and digital media computer labs. The on-site media centre will bring together advertising, digital media, journalism, public relations, radio and television under one roof, rather than running from building to building.

There will also be new lecture theatres for use by all disciplines, including the university’s largest glass walled theatre, so passerbys can stare in and see each class in action.

We’ll be sure to keep you informed – because after all, you’re the ones who are going to benefit. Keep an eye on AUT University’s website, Facebook and Twitter over the coming months as we’ll be posting heaps more info online. This is a really exciting time to be a student here at AUT University.

If you want a sneak preview of the new precinct, visit www. aut.ac.nz/futureme and take the virtual tour through the new WG building.

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7

downloading . . . please wait.

I

f it weren’t for Time Warner, Disney, DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox we wouldn’t have half the films we do. If it weren’t for the internet, we wouldn’t have free films. And if it weren’t for National being the lapdogs of America we would still be able to enjoy free films, the easy way. Without hours of combing the internet and without having to pay prices no one can justify – or waiting six months for $1 day at the DVD rental store. Everybody mourned the death of Megaupload; whether you used it for anime, films, music or porn and especially if you paid for online storage for legitimate purposes.

As we all know though, Megaupload and Kim Dotcom were taken down with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

For now SOPA has been squashed. Whether it was the heavy-handed Anonymous hacks or Wikipedia shutting itself down for a day and Congress not being able to wiki ‘the effects of SOPA’ or ‘how poor people think’ we will never know. What we do know is that the act was lobbied for by the billionaires, the corporate owners of the parent companies that own many smaller companies. These companies create media, own the American government and apparently own our government.

Cynicism aside, it is hard to over exaggerate the potential effects of SOPA. Before I go into those and SOPA itself, I’ll give you a crash course in what copyright and copyright infringement actually are – because believe it or not, the next time your study partner copies your notes, you could, technically sue them. Copyright is law that gives the creator exclusive rights to their creation, though they must be registered. This is usually for a set period of time, however – as is the case with steamboat Mickey – it can be extended to multiple lifetimes. Copyright law applies as soon as something is registered and has your name scribbled at the bottom.

This applies to everything from romantic

downloading...

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issue 01 2012

poetry to smartphone apps. Copyright infringement is the use of a copyrighted work without permission, which covers everything from remixing, direct copying and on selling without alteration.

The purpose of SOPA is to extend the powers of U.S. law enforcement officers into the internet. The bill would have allowed copyright owners to remove their content from a site that they claim is infringing it.

For example, if Eleven Seven Music claimed that a website in Korea is providing a torrent download of the new Drowning Pool album, the label would only need to send a letter (based on ‘good faith’ no evidence required) to Google who would have had five days to remove the site from its search results or fight the claim in court. The rights holder could also demand that PayPal do not receive payments to the site and that advertisements and other forms of revenue are also cut off.

The bill has now since changed and the five day period has been replaced with a compulsory court order. But this is only part of it – the claimant could go as far as to block access to the website entirely. A ‘vigilante’ clause allows companies, such as Visa, to cut funding and payments to websites on a whim, like YouTube, if it decided they could prevent the uploading of home videos which use your favourite song as the soundtrack.

The potential for abuse of the bill is very much alive; after all, almost everything is pirated. Websites like Tumblr depend on copyright infringement to exist. Taking an album cover from Google Images can also be become a very touchy subject, let alone taking files that you believed to be yours, from Facebook. Interestingly enough, SOPA does go both ways, allowing any copyright holder permission to remove files from the internet. This would mean that any US citizen that has copyright ownership of a file they believe to be pirated could effectively take down a website. An implication that has

been largely ignored by the fighters of SOPA, but this raises the curious question of “just how much do SOPA opponents contribute to the internet?”. It’s one thing to steal, but it is another to neglect to contribute towards the public domain (a justification perhaps?

Perhaps not). A system can survive on everybody taking and nobody contributing.

The anti-SOPA war has been fought by everyone from Google to Wikipedia, from The Oatmeal to prolific activist organisations, including the international website of Green Peace and Anonymous. One of the most interesting aspects of this war is the idea that if you do not steal any type of content, then the law shouldn’t affect you. For a while I thought this to be true. It is easy to conceive any rebellion over such a law that simply protects copyright holders as over-hyped scaremongering and especially so when the New Zealand media have been very light on the matter. However reading any one of the hundreds of blogs about SOPA opens up a much broader idea of the situation we are facing. The anti-SOPA war is aimed at protecting the internet. That said, it isn’t aimed at destroying copyright on the whole.

With the powers that would be vested in copyright holders, the destruction of the internet as a place to share knowledge and information could take place.

It sounds like a ludicrous notion; the very same internet that assisted the Arab Spring uprising. However, if it were not for the laws governing free information, Wikipedia could be a potential target for any looking at claiming copyright. The board definition of the term ‘copyright’ coupled with the trademark and patent would mean any circulation of content can be claimed as a breach of copyright if the owner is not given credit or if you use the copy and paste function on your computer and then share that information around.

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sports

The Contenders vs. The Pretenders 1

. Blues to claim the Super 15 title

The Auckland-based franchise has the arsenal to go all the way this year. With key recruits Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu playing in pivotal positions, the Blues will have that much more experience under their belts during tight matches. The Crusaders will be in the mix as always, but a full season on the road in 2011 might just catch up with them. The Reds will also struggle to emulate the form that crowned them champions last year: opposition defences will have their number.

2

. Black Caps struggle against South Africa

When I first found this magazine two years ago, I assumed nobody really read it. I guessed it was published to make the Orientation pack a little heavier. But you’ll actually have many fun times with this thing, including the moment you realise a stack of them is called mass-debate. Inside you’ve got your fashion fans, health gurus and general rants at everything mainstream. Though if you’re still reading, you probably find comfort in the uncomplicated joys of sport. So for you, fine sir, I have compiled a small list of predictions for 2012 in the hope that they will help you conquer Monday morning lectures and perhaps even inspire you to contribute to this section during the last year of your life. Supposedly.

Consider this; we beat Australia in Hobart by the barest of margins, against a team deprived of confidence. Now we’re building up courage bullying the littlest kids on the playground, Zimbabwe. Form is temporary, but class is permanent. The likes of Jaques Kallis will rip into our inexperienced bowling attack. Add the fact that our captain and best batsman is out for a month and I think the Blackcaps will be going upstream without a paddle unfortunately.

3

. Novak Djokovic completes Grand Slam

The Serb’s form is simply undeniable. He currently holds three of the four Grand Slam titles and will surely head to Paris as the favourite to take out Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal holds a mortgage on that particular title, but considering that Djokovic has defeated Nadal in seven consecutive finals, you’d be a brave man to bet against him. For everything that Nadal and Roger Federer have achieved in their careers, neither have held all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. Exciting times if you’re a tennis fan.

4

. Warriors grab the double

Touch wood. The Junior Warriors have won the title two years running and will always have the depth to contend for the title on a regular basis. The senior side also have a golden chance to go all the way this year. They have the X-factor in Kevin Locke and Shaun Johnson, the best prop-rotation in the NRL, a consistent captain and the desire to achieve after being beaten in last year’s final. Mind you, I was very close to saying the Tigers here; the Warriors have a habit of crumbling under expectation.

5

. New South Wales to win State of Origin

Perhaps the boldest prediction? It’s now or never for New South Wales. Although Queensland have won six successive series, they will now have to cope without legendary captain Darren Lockyer. Also, consider how injury-prone the rest of their backline superstars are. New South Wales have hope in Paul Gallen, who will lead his troops with pride and passion once more. His side will not have to play at Suncorp until the final match of the series, and if the selectors have anything between their ears, they’ll slot James Maloney into the no.6 jersey.

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issue 01 2012

6

. Jacko Gill for a medal in London

7

. All Blacks win the Bledisloe, not the Four Nations

8

. Breakers go back-to-back

9

. Spurs spice up the EPL

What an achievement this would be. Perhaps slightly optimistic but stranger things have happened. He’s an exceptional talent for a 17-year-old and is destined for great things. Who knows, we could have the shotput King and Queen in years to come? (Valerie Adams as a gold medalist was too obvious to be a prediction. The same can be said for an Australian franchise winning the ANZ Championship.)

With Argentina joining the tournament, things are about to get quite interesting. Every team plays each other twice, so the All Blacks will only have to beat Australia once to retain the Bledisloe Cup. Easy. But long trips to South Africa and Argentina may prove taxing. Also consider Rugby World Cup hangover and the experienced midfield combination of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith no longer paired at club level. But if you’re after a certainty, back Sonny Bill Williams to ejaculate over every headline you can get our hands on.

They may have lost their marquee player, Kirk Penny, but the Breakers seem to be coping just fine. Sitting in a comfortable position on the ladder, our boys are in a good position to strike while the iron is still hot. Look for CJ Bruton to step up to the mark once more to lead the way when the going gets tough.

Machester United and City are looking the goods at the top of the table this season but Tottenham’s signing of Ryan Nelsen could prove to be a master-stroke. Sitting only five points behind the leaders, the Spurs have a great chance of coming from behind for their first ever EPL crown. Their strike power has so far seen them net 44 goals so far this season (the third best behind the Manchester clubs), but the experience of Nelsen will help plug the spurs defensive leaks which has been their weakness.

10

. Phoenix beaten in the final

The boys from Wellington have surprised the Australian punters two-thirds into the season. The return of Mark Paston and Paul Ifill has put the club in a good position along with Brazilian import, Daniel.

If the Phoenix can secure a home playoff by finishing in the top three, they’ll have their best chance in the club’s history to take the silverware.

However, the Mariners are looking fairly snug at the top of the table, having only conceded 15 goals from 19 matches.

So here I am, about to enter my last year at uni, looking back on my experiences so far. I regularly think back on the first few disastrous weeks upon first stepping into AUT. My memory of academic orientation is a blur of confused flashes of buildings, corridors, and strange group mates. All I remember about my mentor was her small size. All the people in my group, bar one, towered over her like multiple Towers of Pisa, and in the masses of people streaming out of the hall after the ‘introduction welcome’, we kept losing her in the crowd. We ended up loitering for nearly 10 minutes outside the Town Hall waiting for the tallest guy to spot her. Talk about a solid start.

After already having a delayed kick-off on our exiting “this is the university, you will probably not remember a thing” tour, we flew down various passageways and corridors, frequently hitting dead-ends and having to retrace our steps. Note: retracing does wonders if you want to get really lost. I had class at 8am the following Monday morning and I had to remember all these twisted directions.

Following an introduction like that, it was safe to say my first day was not a confident one. After being repeatedly bombarded by tips, hints and wisdom from my sister about how to make friends at uni and alienate people (see what I did there?), I left home early to loiter in front of my building before class – and to give me ample time to get lost at least three times.

As I loitered outside the tower, I desperately looked around for people as frightened looking as me. I HAD to make a friend and fast; my sister’s threatening voice echoing repeatedly in my head with her morbid advice: “you have to make as many friends as you can in the first few weeks. It is prime ‘friend acquiring’ time.

Everyone is freaking out about friends and if you don’t make any then, making friends later is going to be a LOT harder.” Images of me sitting in a toilet stall eating homemade sandwiches like one of those sad American teen movies kept swirling in my head.

Eventually I saw one of the small quiet girls from my orientation group, looking frightened and horribly confused and took that as my cue.

As we debated where exactly our first class for the day was (as neither of us remembered to write down the locations), we were joined by another member of the group who, luckily, did have the locations. And so, my first day commenced.

The year turned out well enough though: debate horoscopes quickly became my weekly coping addiction – often with exciting challenges given to each star sign which my friends and I always attempted. One of my lecturers shouted at one of the AUT staff about not having 8am starts (this was shocking due to the fact that she was well into her 60s and was the most soft-spoken human being I had ever encountered), and I even joined the gym.

Go me.

But seriously kids, uni life is awesome. If your family is anything like mine, they keep talking about the “good old uni days”, and repeatedly telling you to “make the most of your time there because it will be the best years of your life”, and I must admit, for once, they were right.

Looking back, I have never laughed, freaked out about assignments, or taken public transport so much in my life. And every minute was worth it. So savour it (as well as the delicious, delicious Christmas menu at Starbucks) and remember, these are the best years of your life.

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11

Megan Patterson Bachelor of Arts - English and New Media Studies ‎

What was one thing you missed out on this summer because of the crap weather?

The supposedly hottest day of the year at the V4 and Rotary Nationals.

Barely any sun behind all those clouds. Mind you, I didn’t miss out on the sun burn What do you think of AUT University being smokefree?

It’s awesome! I’m waiting for a global ban on smoking

If you could relocate AUT to any other location in the world, where would you move it and why?

Maybe a bit further up the Nor-Western Motorway so that I don’t have to travel for an hour and a half every morning What’s your number one study goal this year?

Do enough to be able to transfer to BCS at the end of the year, hopefully with a B+ average Would you rather live in a world with no music, or a world that only played One Direction?

I can’t say I know anything about One Direction, but any music has got to be better than none, right?

Katy Mary Bachelor of Design – Fashion

What was one thing you missed out on this summer because of the crap weather?

New Year’s Eve fireworks! Could hardly see a thing off the Skytower through all the cloud even sitting in Aotea Square What do you think of AUT University being smokefree?

I think its great! When you step out of a lecture you want fresh air not smoke blown in your face If you could relocate AUT to any other location in the world, where would you move it and why?

Milan, Paris, London, or New York - make all those fashion weeks part of the uni timetable!

What’s your number one study goal this year?

Learn 10 new things I didn’t know before and pass all my papers spectacularly!

Would you rather live in a world with no music, or a world that only played One Direction?

I’d have to say live in a world with One Direction. They’re not that bad, and there’s always remixes!

JV Villanueva Bachelor of International Hospitality Management

What was one thing you missed out on this summer because of the crap weather?

Was so gutted that I couldn’t go to the beach as much as I did the previous summer.

What do you think of AUT University being smokefree?

It’s awesome mate. I have nothing against smokers but it will be much appreciated if everyone in uni can breathe decent air If you could relocate AUT to any other location in the world, where would you move it and why?

I would go for US so that AUT can give Harvard a run for their money ha ha What’s your number one study goal this year?

To finally graduate! This is my last semester, yes!

Would you rather live in a world with no music, or a world that only played One Direction?

I’ve got nothing against those guys but it’s better than listening to people nagging

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issue 01 2012

Stuart Timmins Bachelor of Communication Studies

What was one thing you missed out on this summer because of the crap weather?

Getting a proper tan before uni

What do you think of AUT University being smokefree?

I’m impartial, it wouldn’t have bothered me having smokers on campus as long as people didn’t throw their cigarette butts on the ground If you could relocate AUT to any other location in the world, where would you move it and why?

Wouldn’t, I moved to NZ partly because AUT is in NZ and Auckland.

What’s your number one study goal this year?

To pass with the highest grades I can

Would you rather live in a world with no music, or a world that only played One Direction?

One Direction. As much as I hate them as people – my friends knew Liam and said he was full of himself – some of their X Factor covers were decent and as an aspiring radio presenter, bad music is better than no music

Stacey Kenzelmann Bachelor of Business

What was one thing you missed out on this summer because of the crap weather?

Beaching it! This summer I’ve been to the beach like three times... we did also move to a place with an indoor pool so that would’ve had something to do with it!

What do you think of AUT University being smokefree?

I like it! I smoke socially sometimes but I still don’t enjoy the smell while I’m just chilling on campus, it’s a great change If you could relocate AUT to any other location in the world, where would you move it and why?

I’d move it to my hometown, Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Universities there are awesome but still quite old in the ways they run and still do a lot of things by hand and snail-mail so it’d be so wonderful to give them a university as first-world as AUT What’s your number one study goal this year?

To graduate! And to find a damn co-op placement!

Would you rather live in a world with no music, or a world that only played One Direction?

Don’t know who One Direction is but some is always better than none!

Mikey Brenndorfer ‎

Bachelor of Nursing What was one thing you missed out on this summer because of the crap weather?

I missed out on swimming. I went to Whangamata every weekend during the summer and every time I was there it was raining What do you think of AUT University being smokefree?

I think it’s about time we caught up with other universities on this one.

The walk from the cafes to the library on the North Shore campus was always full of smoke previously If you could relocate AUT to any other location in the world, where would you move it and why?

I reckon South America, so that I can hang out with sloths and monkeys What’s your number one study goal this year?

To make it through my mental health unit of nursing without being admitted into a mental health unit.

Would you rather live in a world with no music, or a world that only played One Direction?

Wait, One Direction counts as music?

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level zero: Searching for gamer cred with a portal gun

How to de-clutter your bedroom in eight doable steps

by Melissa Low

I

have a collection of video games at home, and not to brag, but I’m pretty good at them. I’m quick with the arrow keys, I know how to rack up high points and I’m fantastic with reaching achievement levels. Sound impressive?

Apparently, it’s not. Because playing Angry Birds, Singstar and The Sims 2 doesn’t mean anything, according to gamers. To gamers, I’d be a person riding a dorky tricycle while elite gamers ride their shiny motorcycles around me.

It’s a shame because I have a lot to say on those darn pesky green pigs. But when standing in a circle of gamers, they’re more interested in discussing weird World of Warcraft minerals or the things they shot up in Minecraft last night. (I’m making this up; I don’t even know what you do in those games.)

So this gives me two solutions. One, find a new circle of people to stand with, or two, actually learn how to play these games so I actually have some clue what they’re saying.

I don’t know why, but learning to play games seemed like the more appealing option. Maybe it’s the fantasy of being able to earn cool points in the nerd realm, or maybe it was the idea that boys would forget my lack of cooking skills as I distracted them with my ability to take down virtual evil robots and zombie gorillas.

So, with a Steam gamer account installed, I started with a video game that was suggested to begin my “gamer” conquering journey with: the 2007 computer game, Portal. For months, I had heard about the phrase “the cake is a lie” but never understood what it truly meant.

Playing this game would allow me to finally figure out what those circle of gamers kept talking about.

I’ll admit, Portal sounded easy. It’s basically a puzzle where you have to get from the start point to the end point on each floor, with only a Portal Gun in hand to teleport yourself with. No bloodshed, no assassins out to get me – just learning how to solve the puzzle. And I like puzzles (it’s why I play Angry Birds). And although you’re the only person in the game, the friendly computer voice GLaDOS guides you through all the levels. Everything was just so nice and polite. Even the little laser robots (called turrets) were apologetic when you had to kill them to get past, telling you “no hard feelings” or “I don’t blame you” as they died. Every time they would say that, it made me feel so guilty, like I had squashed a forgiving sympathetic kitten.

It took a while to get to the end of the puzzles (you need to know the law of physics for this game) but I made it, expecting a celebration and the virtual cake that GLaDOS promised. But when I did reach the “end”, I finally found out why everyone said “the cake is a lie”; because (SPOILER ALERT) GLaDOS tries to kill you in a fiery furnace. What kind of twisted up game leads you on for 20 levels before it ends up killing you without virtual cake?

I have to confess, after that false ending, I had some help with finishing the rest of the game properly. But your virtual persona feels violated and alone after being tricked by the artificial intelligent program that tried to kill you. So in this first “gamer’s conquest”, this video game has taught me a few things about games: One: don’t trust the robots even if they tell you to.

Two: don’t pity sympathetic laser shooting turrets.

And three: games make promises but then try to kill you when you go look for virtual cake. Damn robots.

14

issue 01 2012

by Rachel Ramsay

I

t was the end of semester one, 2011 when I finally decided that enough was enough. A small mountain of cups balanced precariously on my desk, my corkboard was filled with APA referencing guides and various garments were strewn over the floor from the previous day when I’d lost my keys. I had just nearly stepped on my cat who was sleeping on a stack of debate magazines and I had an assignment due that day which remained incomplete despite it being 12.22pm and despite it being due at 4pm. I was standing in the middle of my bedroom, nails bitten, hair in disarray, and I had just forgotten what I had been looking for two minutes ago. Life was not good.

I concluded that a cluttered bedroom leads to a chaotic student life filled with all-nighters, caffeine induced body shakes and unhealthy procrastination proficiency. An orderly bedroom translates to a peaceful student life filled with vitality, low level stress and punctually submitted assignments.

I have since compiled an eight-step approach for bedroom declutterisation.

Classes have only just started, meaning there’s ample time to get your life in order. Take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves and follow these steps. I have four words: you. will. thank. yourself One: Clear your working space — Empty your bin, pick up your laundry, take used dishes to the kitchen, strip your bed and so forth. Basically, get everything that’s in your way out of the way. You should finish with a relatively clear space that’s ready for an overhaul.

Two: Wardrobe — Get everything out of your wardrobe and chuck it on your bed. Label three boxes ‘Keep,’ ‘Donate’ and ‘Pending Approval’.

Categorise your clothing/other crap accordingly. You should only keep items that a) You have worn in the past six months b) Make you feel good c) You fit properly Anything else should be definitively placed in the ‘Donate’ box. If you’re really struggling to make a decision on something, don’t waste time dithering. Put it in the ‘Pending Approval’ box.

Three: Desk — Start with the paper – recycle old worksheets, to-do lists and AUT brochures. Put important documents in labelled folders.

Next, tackle stationary. Toss dead pens and protractors you haven’t used since fifth form. Get your old Interpersonal Communication textbook ready to sell.

Move onto your computer, deleting old files and programs. Tidy your desktop and categorise important documents into unambiguously labelled folders.

Finally, sort out your chargers, headphones and chords, tossing the ones that belong to old gadgets.

Four: Shelves — Take everything off your shelves. Again, categorise items into ‘Keep,’ ‘Donate’ and ‘Pending Approval.’ Dust each item as you make a decision on it, and return only the best, most useful items to the wipeddown shelf.

Five: Bedside table — Remove old magazines and books you aren’t reading.

Put away that hot water bottle you haven’t used since winter.

Six: Get cleaning — Give your room a huge clean, doing all the stuff you wouldn’t do in a normal tidy-up. This includes moving furniture and vacuuming behind it, washing your walls down and cleaning your windows.

Seven: Do your laundry — Wash, fold and iron any clothes you cleared away at the beginning. Put clean sheets on your bed.

Eight: Reward yourself — Pick some flowers or buy a new light fitting or something that will make you feel exultant in your new refuge. Feel good about yourself. You’ve de-cluttered your life and you’re hopefully ready to tackle whatever curveballs 2012 throws your way - or at the very least, you’ll have a clear patch of floor to curl up on when it all gets a bit too much.

Here’s to a clutter-free year filled with tidy bedrooms and sane minds.

Happy O-Week everyone!

KORA / LUGER BOA / SOLJAH / BLACK RIVER DRIVE / PNC / pancho brothers / STEVE WRIGLEY / JEREMY ELWOOD / NICK RADO / GUY CATER / DJ CXL / DJ INFAMY / OFF THE WALL / BITCHIN’ BINGO / IPW WRESTLING / BMX JAM / FOAM PARTY / JIMMY HILL BAND / RED BULL DJ SESSIONS/ PUB QUIZ & MORE… www.ausm.org.nz

15

Soljah encapsulate the sound of the Kiwi summer. Their music is filled with catchy rhythms, soulful vocals and a hearty dose of drum and bass that have audiences grooving on their feet. If you need more convincing, check out their official music video for Summer Time, which is an ode to a typical day at the beach; rugby on the sand, surfing and swimming in secret watering holes and grilling steaks on the barbecue.

Made up of Ben Ratima (vocals, guitar), Les Watene (lead guitar), brothers Tawhiri (drums) and Raniera Littlejohn (bass) and Jacob Nansen (keys), the five piece band have made a name for themselves in the New Zealand reggae/roots scene. Aside from a promising career in their own right,

It’s long been argued that bands that grow up together play better together, and proving the case is Pancho Brothers, a trio of “fun-loving banditos”. Although they’re all still in their 20s, Jake, John and Josh have been carving up stages since 2001, both in New Zealand and over in Australia, Singapore and the Philippines.

They’re no strangers to AuSM either, having won the AuSM’s Battle of the Bands crown in 2009 and opening for Deja Voodoo and I Am Giant at 2010 AuSM Orientation. They don’t need any embellishments when it comes to their sound – they are straight up rock, citing Metallica, Bob Dylan and Neil Young as big influences in their music (among thousands of other artists).

With diverse influences from Nickelback

16

issue 01 2012

every member of Soljah has worked with some of New Zealand’s most recognised artists, including King Kapisi, Anika Moa, Savage, Che Fu, Nesian Mystis, Annabel Fay and Sons of Zion (to name a few). They’ve also got a connection to New Zealand reggae legend Tony Littlejohn, who is Tawhiri and Raniera’s father.

Their influences are varied, from jazz (Les has a jazz degree) to reggae (Tawhiri has been playing it from a young age), with funk, soul, R n B and a bit of Stevie Wonder sound thrown in the mix as well. Combined with their incredible stage presence and sound, they are guaranteed to have you dancing to the beat long after the music stops playing.

and Metallica to Bob Dylan and Neil Young, to ZZ Top and Rodrigo y Gabriela, besides the thousands more. The brothers’ style of music is a blend of hard modern rock, with old-school structure, topped with 3-part folk-rock harmonies, and a bit of mexican guitarra. Expect a tight and dynamic set from these three come March 8 – and make sure you have a spare set of clothes the next day because Pancho Brothers are going to make sure you don’t leave Orientation without smelling like sweat and exhausted from dancing your ass off.

Sydney-based DJ Infamy – aka Travis Joy – has been laying down tracks since he was 18 years old. Now 28, the former AUT student (he graduated with a Diploma in Event Management) can’t wait to cross the ditch to round up AuSM Orientation on March 16.

In his decade-long career he’s played support for The Naked and Famous, Kids of 88, Kidz in Space, House of Shem, Electric Wire Hustle, Benny Tones and many more. He was also a host of the Shantytown Soundsystem on Boosh FM from three years, ending in 2011.

There’s only two things you need to know about DJ Infamy before you head along to his gig on the 16th: He’s obsessed with Chimichungas from The California Burrito Company and he doesn’t want his sound to be narrowed into one genre. “I have been playing music for the past 10 years and have been ever evolving my sound, Anything and everything gets played in my sets if I like the beat. No rules. no boundaries.”

Four of you are related so you’ve grown up playing together, but how did Kora “officially” come to fruition?

Many moons ago, Dan and Laughton lived and played music in Queenstown with a band called Soul Charge. At the time I was living in Wellington studying at Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School. Laughton was accepted into Toi Whakaari and later moved to Welly to study. Laughty and I started playing music in cafes for a bit of cash and every now and again Dan would visit his folks [in Wainuiomata] and we started out as a trio playing music where we could.

The trio was going really well and we were noticed by Loop for the tracks Barely Can See and Politician. We had two brothers (Stu and Brad) still living in Whakatane and pulled them into the band, and the rest is history.

With that family vibe running strong through the group, how does that contribute to the band dynamic?

The Kora boys were taught how to play by ear and feel. My dad is a very talented musician and he taught us all how to play. Every musician has their own way of communicating their ideas, but in terms of vibe, we have our own musical language of communicating musically.

It’s been almost five years since your debut album was released – why have you been taunting your fans for so long?

A lot has happened to the boys over the last four and half years. Juggling family life, finding other passions outside of the band, other bands and individual musical needs and learning. I think also we are still experimenting with sound and technology, and the biggest one of all... THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED! So what do you think about the state of New Zealand music at the moment? And

www.ausm.org.nz

how does it feel to be partly responsible for the creation of Six60, after they met at a Kora gig four years ago?

I think there are some exciting times ahead and it is great to be recognized for sparking inspiration for others. However to be completely honest, on a world level (not just New Zealand) music is not how it used to be. People don’t value albums like they use to. The modern world is in a society where they can somehow get it for free or just watch it on YouTube, which causes a snowball effect. If they can get it for free, then they expect everything else for free and the value of everything declines. The sonic quality of modern music has lost its honesty to the ‘loudness wars’ and the form of MP3s, and worst of all people are obsessed with perfection, using autotune and quantize.

Perfection is fucking boring!

You always read that you have your whole lives to write your first album, but only a few years to write your second – did you feel that “second album” pressure going into the writing process of this album?

Yes! There is a saying called ‘The second album blues’. I think it’s fair to say that people will always judge every album you make here and onwards off of the first album, and many people never want that to change. We like to do things differently so expect change in this next album.

Do you have a designated songwriter in the group, or do you each contribute?

Everyone in the group writes together.

It might just start from a simple riff put forward to the boys and by the end of the process turns into something completely different. Being open to change and making mistakes is a huge part of the process.

I prefer music with strong story telling whether it be lyrically, instrumentally or both. I’m sick of listening to shit where I don’t believe or feel what the artist is saying.

I read in an old interview that you recorded the first album in your own studio under your own label – was it the same process for the second album?

Yes, we are recording it ourselves at home

this time as well. There is a catch 22 doing it yourself or going into a pro studio. The price of pro studio time is very costly (approx $900-$1500 a day) and we would need at least three months minimum ($81,000-$135,000) because we are very fussy. That’s a lot of money to make an album and then to find that most people will probably download it for free. Punks. The flipside to that is many people have home studios nowadays, but they don’t have the necessary skills to make it sound like a big studio, so the standard of music suffers. So we have decided to do it ourselves, up-skill our recording techniques and songs in the studio and take however long it takes to make it.

What are the main differences between the sound and influences of this album, compared to the sound on the last album?

It is definitely a lot more produced. We call it Alien Funk and we have found a sound that suits us.

This is a question I ask any artist that I interview; what was the first album you can remember owning?

A random tape cassette with jazz guitarists (Jango etc) and Saxophone players. I remember it was a white tape with blue writing. If anyone knows what I’m talking about I would love to hear that tape again.

How does the live show aspect compare to the recording process?

I think they are two different beasts. The album has a more polished approach and the live show is very alive and powerful. Live allows you things push things much, much harder, whereas the studio you can only push it to a certain point. Anymore than that and you start to take the life away from the sound. Less is more in the studio.

For some of the students at O week, they will be freshly 18 and will never have seen a live gig in their lives - what can they expect from Kora’s performance at O Week?

High energy, really heavy and a versatile arrangement. Basically party time.

17

CITY CAMPUS Hikuwai Plaza WEEK 1

27FEB - MON VESBAR RELAUNCH PARTY 6PM

28FEB - TUE

FREE FEED + JIMMY HILL EXPERIENCE (ACOUSTIC)12PM VESBAR PUB QUIZ 6PM

1MAR - THURS

PHOTOBOOTH FREE FEED 12PM AN EVENING ON THE GREEN W/2FIVE9 VESBAR 4PM VESBAR DJ NIGHT 7PM

29FEB - WED

MINI GOLF ALL DAY FREE FEED 12PM BITCHIN’ BINGO VESBAR 7PM

2MAR - FRI

FOAM PARTY VESBAR (FEATURING DJ CXL) 7PM TOUR OF CLEMENS VON WEDEMEYER EXHIBITION ST PAUL GALLERY (WM BUILDING) 1PM

WEEK 2

5MAR - MON

FREE FEED + IPW WRESTLING 12PM SPACIES NIGHT VESBAR 6PM

7MAR - WED

VESBAR PUB QUIZ 6PM

FREE FEED 12PM

PNC + FREE FEED 12PM

8MAR - THURS

9MAR - FRI

LUGER BOA & BLACK RIVER DRIVE VESBAR W/ PANCHO BROTHERS 7.30PM

TOUR OF CLEMENS VON WEDEMEYER EXHIBITION ST PAUL GALLERY (WM BUILDING) 1PM

THE O’WEEK CHALLENGE + FREE FEED 12PM

KORA / LUGER BOA / SOLJAH / BLACK RIVER DRIVE / PNC / pancho brothers / STEVE WRIGLEY / JEREMY ElwOOD / NICK RADO / GUY CATER / DJ CXL / DJ INFAMY / OFF THE WALL / BITCHIN’ BINGO / IPW WRESTLING / BMX JAM / FOAM PARTY / JIMMY HILL BAND / RED BULL DJ SESSIONS / PUB QUIZ / MORE ...

6MAR - TUE

GIANT GAMES ALLDAY COMEDY NIGHT VESBAR 7PM

OFF THE WALL COVERS BAND & HAWAIIAN PARTY VESBAR 7PM

ALL WEEK

RED BULL DJ (VESBAR) 1PM - 4PM

WEEK 3

12MAR - MON

BMX JAM & FREE FEED 12PM

13MAR - TUE

14MAR - WED

VESBAR PUB QUIZ 6PM

GUY CATER HYPNOTIST VESBAR 7PM

CARNIVAL DAY (FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES) 11AM

2FIVE9 BAND + FREE FEED 12PM

15MAR - THURS AuSM CLUBS DAY 10AM FREE FEED 12PM VESBAR’S EARLY ST. PATTY’S DAY FROM 4PM ALL WEEK

17MAR - FRI

KORA (FEATURING SOLJAH & DJ INFAMY 7.30PM (DOORS OPEN)

AUSM DJ SESSIONS (VESBAR) 1PM - 4PM (EXCEPT FRI)

18

issue 01 2012

NORTH SHORE CAMPUS

MANUKAU CAMPUS

Awataha Plaza

Outside MB Building

WEEK 1

WEEK 1

28FEB - TUE

29FEB - WED

1MAR- THURS

PHOTOBOOTH & VOLLEYBALL 11AM

BMX JAM & FREE FEED 12PM

GIANT GAMES ALL DAY BMX JAM & FREE FEED 12PM - 1PM

FREE FEED + EATING COMP 12PM - 1PM

WEEK 2 WEEK 2

5MAR - MON

RED BULL ENERGY LOUNGE 11AM

5MAR - MON

6MAR - TUE

CARNIVAL DAY (FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES) 11AM

CARNIVAL DAY (FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES) 11AM 2PM

8MAR - THURS

12MAR - MON CLUBS DAY 10AM

FREE FEED 12PM - 1PM

WEEK 3 CLUBS DAY 10AM FREE FEED 12PM

MINI GOLF ALL DAY

FREE FEED & ZM ICE CREAM TRUCK 12PM

WEEK 3

IPW WRESTLING & FREE FEED 12PM

13MAR - TUE

7MAR - WED

15MAR - THURS

RELAUNCHparty_27Jan.pdf

PNC LIVE FREE FEED 12PM

1

1/02/12

14MAR - WED FREE FEED 12PM

17MAR - FRI

BUS TO KORA CONCERT LEAVES AT 6.30PM Sign up at the AuSM Office to get on the bus.

10:35 AM

The information on this timetable was correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change. All Vesbar events are strictly R18

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CMY

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w w w. a u s m . o r g . n z www.ausm.org.nz

19

by Samantha McQueen

In a time when dubstep or bearded indie artists are dominating the airwaves, Black River Drive have managed to make an impressive name for themselves on the rock scene. Their singles from debut album Perfect Flaws have high radio play on both The Rock and Hauraki radio stations and last year they had two entries – Bullet and Call The Doctor – into The Rock’s 1000 greatest songs of all time. They’ve also been on tour with some of New Zealand’s top rock bands, including AuSM’s Rock Orientation headliner Luger Boa. Talking to Black River Drive’s front man Sam Browne, it’s clear he loves his rock. His first album was Use Your Illusion I by Guns N Roses (although he admits he owned a Paula Abdul single not long after) but his obsession with rock and metal really kicked off when his “naughty” pot smoking friend and his brother introduced him to White Zombie and later, Metallica’s Black album.

The band – made up of Rusty McNaughton (bass), Matt Stone (lead guitar, piano) and Mike Tan (drums) – formed in 2008. Sam was playing corporate events at the time and had heard whisperings about them in the music scene.

“Mike [has] this AC/DC drumming; Rusty [has] this beautiful, melodic bass playing. Matt is actually a really accomplished pianist – he’s our guitarist… so in terms of his guitar playing, he’s much more interested in

20

issue 01 2012

clean textures. I’m much more into big, dirty riffage, which is cool. It’s a good contrast.”

Everyone but Sam had played together previously so he asked them all individually if they wanted to become a band. And so, Black River Drive was born.

It’s been more than a year since the release of Perfect Flaws, which was recorded in York Studios in Parnell. Sam says they learnt a lot about the writing and recording process during that time, and they’re definitely making some changes the second time around – like getting a mix engineer in the same time zone as them.

“I was getting mixes sent to me at 4am and I was meant to listen to them and then make critical decisions about this album, like ‘this snare drum needs to be two decibels louder’ when I’m barely able to see straight.”

While 2012 has been off to a great start in regards to new material for album number two, Sam admits 2011 wasn’t the most productive of years.

“I actually wanted to write in 2011, it just wasn’t really happening. Anyone creative would know that you sit down to do your creative thing and it’s not there and by and large, it wasn’t there to the same extent in 2011. I was tapped out.”

This was difficult for Sam, as song writing is his favourite thing about music. While some prefer cutting loose on stage with the final product, Sam likes the beginning challenge, where you have to come up with something complete from absolutely nothing.

“It’s like having to build a house and all you’ve got is a plot of bare land. You can see there’s going to be a shit load of work.

You can’t even think about the end at that point, you just have to get the concrete down.”

While they were waiting for the mental concrete and framework to go down, they decided to satisfy fans waiting for new material, by releasing a limited edition of the album, with five new acoustic songs on top of the track list. But the reaction wasn’t what they expected.

“It was an eye opener, I guess, the fan reaction to that. Fair enough too – some of them had bought the original album because they were loyal fans and really into it and it was a bit of a kick in the guts for them to have this better version of the album come out that they didn’t really want to buy because they had the original. It seems obvious, I know, but we wouldn’t do that again. We try and look after our fans really well and that was not a good move.”

Playing music they love for fans is the number one drive, if you will, for the band. It’s definitely not for the cash – all of them have full time jobs outside of the band to pay the bills. Sam runs a corporate entertainment agency, Mike drums in the Royal New Zealand Navy band, Matt is a music teacher and Rusty is, according to Sam, an electrical genius, who can fix anything in any object, “be it a car or a guitar or a speaker”.

They’re hoping to expand their love for music out of New Zealand in 2012, Sam says, with goals to play in Australia, Japan and, eventually, America. But before that, they’ve still got a few gig in New Zealand to complete, including Orientation.

Having toured with Luger Boa last year, Sam hopes the two bands are going to create one of the wildest nights Orientation has ever seen.

“If every other show we’ve done with those guys is anything to go by, it will be the best party you’ve been to in the past five years. It will be like a killer house party, but instead of whatever shit someone wants to throw on the stereo, it’s just this kick ass rock n roll. Come prepared for that I guess. It will be a night that hopefully you’ll be talking about for a long time afterwards, not just the bands playing, but the aftermath as well.

Everyone will go out hyped up into the night and probably will be out until five o’clock in the morning I hope.”

R

ock fans will fondly remember Jimmy Christmas from his days as the lead singer of The D4. The garage rock group blew up in New Zealand and around the world, spawning two successful albums, a tour around Europe with The Hives, appearances on US talk shows Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live and countless gigs, before they went on an indefinite hiatus in 2006.

While The D4 may not have returned, three years later, Jimmy did, with a new hairstyle and a new rock project – Luger Boa, a raw and more primal rock ‘n’ roll band, he says.

Made up of Jimmy (vocals/guitar), Joe Mac (drums), Simon “the dirty wizard” Nicholls (bass), Sam Lockley (guitar) and Johnny Lyon (guitar), Luger Boa now has two albums to its name – 2009’s Mutate or Die and last year’s New Hot Nights - and are headlining AuSM Orientation’s rock night on Thursday, March 8.

While chatting with him over coffee, it’s clear that if there was an award for the most rock ‘n’ roll person in New Zealand, Jimmy would win, hands down. Every few minutes he mentions artists I’ve never heard of and when I ask him what the first albums he owned were (hoping to catch him out) he responds with Twisted Sister, Meatloaf, Moody Blues and a metal compilation given to him by a babysitter.

So it’s apt that our interview falls on the same day as the last ever Big Day Out, a festival Jimmy is sad to see go.

“I think it’s been part of the fabric of my musical upbringing, as it were. I have got lots of memories… from jumping the fence as a young lad to a story that involved all sorts of craziness and police and gastroenteritis at the end of the day.”

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These boys are the real deal when it comes to rock ‘n’ roll, so it’s no surprise that New Hot Nights, apart from being a much tighter album musically, is loosely based on K Road.

Jimmy himself is no stranger to the infamous strip, having lived above a sex shop – the Pleasure Chest – when he was 18.

“I saw a lot that I can’t really purge from my mind.”

While writing material for the album, the band spent a lot of time wandering the streets in the early hours of the morning, watching people stumble out of Family and Coherent or disappear down dark alleys. You know, for research. Their album artwork features a fictional set up of the street (so that you can apply it to any part of the world) and their music video for Lazy involved them navigating a ‘party couch’ into some of K Road’s well known bars.

Jimmy is no stranger to “second album pressure”, but he says he didn’t have nearly the same amount of panic going into this writing process that he did when he wrote the follow up for The D4, or when he was creating the original direction for Luger Boa. In fact, it was written in a 10 day period at the end of 2009, and recorded at the beginning of 2010 in a small studio out in Waiuku.

“I had a lot more faith in my ability to come up with something, rather than putting myself under all that stress. The Luger band had come together between the albums and it was a really good gang going in there; it was a real solid crew to work with. You could feel that it was a different sort of monster.”

The other monster Jimmy refers to frequently in our chat is the beast called live shows. Luger Boa may enjoy commercial success and plenty of radio play, but their passion lies with their chaotic live shows.

They’ve supported rock heavyweights like

Kings of Leon and Meatloaf and according to Jimmy, have plans to dip their toe into the worldwide music pool in 2012. But you won’t find America, Europe or even Australia at the top of his wish list.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to Japan and taking the boys to Japan.

There’s something about that place that… you almost yearn for it, really.

“When you go there, you’re like a yokel.

Everything’s so much bigger and faster. And the enthusiasm is amazing – the culture really does it for me.”

It seems everything about performing “does it” for Jimmy. Just one mention of live gigs and Jimmy’s face and hand gestures become more animated – and the musical references increase tenfold as well. Seeing this, I have to ask the obvious question: what can students expect from a Luger Boa show?

“I think what we enjoy and what we want to put across is a sense of abandonment and chaos to a certain extent. I remember seeing Head like a Hole when I was really young… I wasn’t sure whether they were going to stay on stage or leap up, steal my girlfriend and head out the door – and I really liked that.

“That’s what we try and do. It’s not choreographed or anything. It’s just kind of thrown together and sometimes in that environment you can really find that something fucking crazy happens between the band and the audience and the energy on the night. Surely, that’s kind of what we’re selling.”

Speaking of selling, now that album number two is ticked off, Luger fans will be anxious to know whether there will get the chance to buy a third, or whether another hiatus – or worse – is impending. But Jimmy assures me, in his own coy way, that Luger Boa isn’t going anywhere in a hurry.

“Yeah, I think we’ll get to a third something, whether it’s an EP or an album.

We want to get something moving fast.”

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fashion and this is an easy way of honouring a trend without the risk of deciding which colours to “block” yourself.

When crafting their collections for this year and forecasting trends, fashion’s finest seem to have been influenced by the global credit crunch. Looks were minimal, with some subtle detailing and ensembles were made more workable, as opposed to downright extravagant. But that doesn’t tell you much – apparently the credit crunch has affected fashion for the last four years. So I decided to look deeper, spending my last remaining weeks on holiday scouring the web for some concrete trends we can base our wardrobes around this year. And since it’s the first week and uni and no one likes reading more than they have to – it’s mostly shown through pictures! Hurrah!

Blocked Out Colour blocking has been featured everywhere recently – from clothing to handbags, but more so with footwear. Heels featuring this colour combo will usually also have a blocked heel

Flowergirl Frida Kahlo has often been a source of inspiration for many of us over the years, especially her bold print dresses and floral headbands.

The latter are a favourite of both Florence Welch (of Florence + Machine) and newcomer Lana Del Rey. They are appearing at summer markets and accessory stores, however they are easily something you can cheaply make yourself with a headband, strong glue and fake flowers.

Sweet as Candy While white may have been the colour du jour for many designers, pastels are starting to make a comeback. Nobody did this as well as Marc Jacobs designing for Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer collection. A heap of icing shades made their way down the runway in the form of simple garments, think shift dresses, collars and crochet florals.

Hair at Louis Vuitton.

Pretty hair Again, this was kept simple yet effortlessly elegant, with pearls being a popular choice of embellishment. At Louis Vuitton this meant miniature pearl headbands and at Chanel up-dos were adorned with glittering pearls.

By the Sea Designers had clearly been spending a fair amount of time at the beach, in particular Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel and the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte. Garments were the colour of sea spray and many featured sheer panelling. So expect to see more sheer garments in pastel hues sometime soon.

Frida Kahlo inspired headband as modelled by blogger Lady Melbourne.

Chanel Spring 2012 RTW.

Louis Vuitton, SS12 RTW.

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Sculptured Shoes While the hype of Alexander McQueen’s armadillo heels may have finally died down, the crafted shoe is still very much alive. Marni, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent all produced shoes to this trend and seem very inspired by Italian architecture in doing so.

Marni Shoe.

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by Matthew Cattin

I’ve always said if you don’t dig the line-up of Big Day Out, it will be the worst day of your life.

The heat is punishing, a meat pie will set you back six bucks, the noise is inescapable and I swear in every portaloo there lies an unflushed, forearm sized dump. But oh, what a day! It’s been on the calendar of nearly every Kiwi summer since its debut here in ’94 and despite its controversies and critics, nobody can deny the quality of bands it’s brought to our shores – Rage, Muse, The Strokes, The Killers and Arcade Fire are just a few. As well as bringing hoards of sweet internationals, it also gives Kiwi bands a huge opportunity to play, often for the first time, in front of a decent crowd. It’s a day of sun, sweat, music, moments, tragic drunks and celebrating another year gone by but mostly, it’s a day we’re all going to miss.

Scoring venue-side free parking at midday was the first sign that BDO 2012 was to be the smallest Big Day Out of recent years. A free Cornetto at the door was the first sign that it was to be one of the best. First band on my list was Cage the Elephant who delivered a crazily energetic set worthy of a much later time slot.

Their crowd surfing antics seemed wasted on the tiny 12.15pm crowd but we appreciated it immensely nonetheless.

Next on the agenda was a general look around. With question marks on my time table until Kasabian at 7.15pm, it was time to take in as many sights, sounds and sensations as I could, beginning with a couple more free Cornettos. With tiny queues for everything I finally got on the loop ride which very nearly made me pay dearly for those free ice creams.

So to celebrate not vomming them up, I got a couple more. I had a gander at Unknown Mortal Orchestra and watched skaters beside Cairo Knife Fight before having my gag reflexes tested once again when Gin Wigmore took to the stage. Oh my gawwddd. That voice… it is

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the stain on the clean white suit pants of our fine nation.

So with a buzzing in my ears, I ditched main stage for a look at Best Coast, a girl-fronted altsurf band from California. The best thing about Big Day Out is that the whole day is a build-up.

I was completely satisfied sitting there in the sun munching on home-made chicken and bacon pie and I still felt like my day was only just beginning.

Next up was Tony Hawk and his skate team on the vert ramp with a running commentary

by Levi “nek minute” Hawken. Well isn’t he a one trick pony! I’m embarrassed to say I chuckled a little the first time he said it. The third, fourth, fifth time? Not so much… As impressive as the skating was however, it did seem a little out of place at the BDO. Perhaps if the promoters had spent more money on the music line-up, we might have a few more years to look forward to.

My Chemical Romance, whom I thought died with emo, put on a surprisingly good show at 5.30pm, preaching to screaming girl fans and their unimpressed boyfriends. It’s a shame Gerard Way is such a complete dick because their music isn’t actually that bad. Next on the main stage in their third BDO appearance were Kasabian. It was immense. A perfect set list of awesomeness – L.S.F, Club Foot, Switchblade Smiles, Empire… Superlative.

At every BDO there are clashes - decisions that could potentially make or break your day.

After getting my Kasabian fix I left a little early and gapped it to the top field to see the last five songs of Foster the People’s set. My only regret is I didn’t leave sooner because they were brilliant. They had the energy of a fresh band that can’t quite believe how many people have shown up to see them. After a quick dance to Helena Beat and summer sing-along Pumped Up Kicks, I headed down to Mariachi El Bronx for

a bit of culture. The punk-turned-flamenco act looked suave in their matching mariachi outfits but it did in no way overshadow their awesome talent.

The stroke of 9pm meant it was Soundgarden time and it became quickly apparent just how small this years’ BDO really was. Usually the headline act fills the stadium but with the East stand completely empty and plenty of room on the field, it just felt depressing.

Soundgarden were solid, playing a greatest hits set list spanning through Badmotorfinger, Superunknown and Down on the Upside.

Compared to Muse and Rage Against the Machine however, who headlined previous years, it definitely lacked energy. But perhaps that was the fault of the lacklustre crowd.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. The last band to play a New Zealand BDO ever. Would it be nostalgic? Retrospective? Fitting? Yes. But only the Oasis tracks. His new songs, which sounded just like the old songs, were still appreciated but nothing could have closed the Big Day Out better than an acoustic solo of Wonderwall and epic sing-along Don’t Look Back in Anger. Well played Mr Gallagher.

It’s a shame that after 18 years of Kiwi Big Day Outs it died not with a bang but with a whimper. It seemed that the controversy preceding the event turned a lot of folks into haters making the day feel like a birthday party that nobody showed up to. I don’t think it will sink in properly until next year’s line-up is announced in Australia. But that’s cool. We’ll just make our own festival! With John Toogood!

And Dave Dobbyn! Ahh sheeit… Farewell Big Day Out. It’s been a pleasure. I miss you already.

The polarizing 90s kid that everyone either loves or hates, dubstep was birthed in the underground of the south London music scene as the love child of a musical orgy, which attempted to fuse the funky elements of breakbeat and the dark elements of drum ‘n’ bass into 2 step garage tracks. Dubstep grew up on B-sides and spent much of its youth in the London night club, Plastic People. By 2002 the term ‘dubstep’ became known as the genre’s title, as it became further separate from 2 step and grime. Once Skrillex’s half shaven head emerged onto the dubstep scene, the uneducated of us (including yours truly) thought something like this: ‘Skrillex equals dubstep’, and for the most part put more effort into avoiding it than we would have the plague. Defences ranged from ‘talentless’, to ‘over saturated’ to ‘screechy noise and 90 style hip hop sirens’ and then the ‘there are no instruments, it can’t even be called music’. That one I still believe. We believed that, and some still do, dubstep is simply producers making noise and sequencing loops in order then adding some obnoxiously over thought bass.

As a genre however, dubstep has very much cemented itself into pop culture. It is has infected the likes of Britney Spears, Rihanna and, even Public Enemy’s Hank Shocklee dabbled. It is now safe to say that dubstep has blown his filthy drops and wobble bass onto the face of the earth with such vigour even the record labels are shaking – KoRn’s latest soul selling album anyone? – but is there more to dubstep than Rihanna, Britney and Skrillex?

Fortunately for those that still enjoy any real music, yes there is. A little known artist that has been tearing the face off the electronic rock scene for years has released an album of dubstep remixes. Celldweller’s remix CD The Complete Cellout Vol 1 has been remixed by some of the best names, but most unknown names, in dubstep. If they were to replace the Skrillex association, they would even have the indie kids trading in their clothes in for something more contemporary.

DrivePilot thrashes out a track so well done and so effective it feels like your brain meats are being rearranged and reprogrammed into a state I never thought possible, a state of pure dubstep enjoyment. There is a lot to be said for great production, and while many may argue that remixing a song into dubstep is easier

by Sebastian Mackay

than the creation of it, DrivePilot doesn’t fail to impress on his numerous solo EPs. The list doesn’t stop there; Toksin, Bare and Josh Money all have the power to either make you reconsider your initial standing or even want to dive head first into the land of the internet and seek out worthwhile dubstep – believe me, such a thing exists! – while not implementing any form of self loathing for picking up a little Brostep along the way. And no, Brostep isn’t Compton’s idea of a remix, but a mid range version of dubstep – a bastard child, if you will.

So can one album really turn a cynic into a believer or spawn a guilty pleasure for 148 beats per minute while drooling from the mouth for the next mind numbing drop? No, it can’t – at least not this one. I will however concede that I am yet to give dubstep any kind of justice.

And this may not be as hard as you think.

When someone says “I love dubstep” the first question that now comes to mind, after “are you insane?”. is this “have you ever heard of Ad Noiseam or Hymen records?” The ensuing answer is usually no and is at times followed by a “Skrillex is God” comment (or something of the like).

Ad Noiseam is an electronic/dubstep label, the home of the seriously talented Broken Note and Hymen Records is the label of Hecq one of the masters of pristine Dubstep. Broken Note first turned my anti-dubstep sentiments upside down with a great album titled Terminal Static then affirmed their status with a two track collaborative EP titled Existence/Obey (which featured DJ Hidden, Niveau Zero & Balkansky).

Hecq’s new EP is perhaps one of the greatest works of dubstep you are ever likely to hear.

Much like DrivePilot, these artists are not cut from the mainstream US dubstep cloth, but have made their own ‘cloths’, so to speak.

Heavy bass, very tight production, dark with fluctuations of experimental elements and filthier than and as grimy as anything ‘big name’ artists have produced to date.

If you are willing to try something different and are considering giving dubstep another go – whether it be the second ‘other go’ or the 10th – Ad Noiseam and Hymen records show that even if the dubstep we are all used to, is about to crash and burn in a Skrillex led march to death. And consequently while Brostep is smothered by the smoke of its father’s shadow, the producers of, dare I say it, real dubstep are very much alive and kicking. And at the impressive rate that EPs & albums are being released it is safe to say that for some, the newly found love affair will not be burning out any time soon. As the genres lesser known names gain traction in the night clubs and remixes of heavy metal albums, Asking Alexandria’s Stepped Up & Scratched as one example. The love for radio friendly, Grammy nominated, mainstream dubstep will cave into the uprising of mind blowing drops, production and remixes that may led even the most cynical to believe that dubstep is not only a staple in pop culture, but has, in only 14 years earned its self a place in the history of music.

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25

by Hazel Buckingham and Matthew Neary

The Most Anticipated Movies Of 2012 Twenty twelve is a year of much anticipation. We are all anxiously awaiting to see if the world is going to end. There is the release of Apple’s iPad 3 and the iPhone 5 to look forward to. Many of us will be holding our breaths to see if New Zealand can win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic games in London. But perhaps one of the most anticipated in 2012 for most of us will be the world of cinema. 2011 was an underwhelming year at the box office and it seems like they are pulling out the big guns in 2012 to make up for it. Let’s see what the movie machine has in store for us this coming year.

The Artist Who: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman When: February 2012 What: Silent film star George Valentin worries about the impact of talking pictures on his career, while falling for Peppy Miller, a young dancer waiting for her big break.

Why: A black and white silent film? In 2012?

Don’t be put off - you’ll hear this film’s name a lot as the Oscars get closer. Check this film out, even if it doesn’t immediately appeal, because it promises to be one of the most moving and entertaining films of the year in a wildly unique way.

Project X Who: Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Oliver Cooper When: March 2012 What: Three friends plan a huge party which goes wildly out of control as word spreads.

Why: Produced by The Hangover director Todd Philips, Project X looks set to be one of the most epic party movies ever made. It looks to be similar to Superbad, but on much bigger scale.

It’s filmed like a documentary (think The Office) and looks amazingly ridiculous.

The hunger games Who: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth When: March 2012 What: Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in post-apocalyptic America. Think American Idol, but with brutality, craziness and people fighting for their lives.

Why: Cause those whining teens need something to scream about now that Harry Potter & Twilight are over.

Wanderlust Who: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, When: April 2012 What: A couple, who, fed up with their fast pace city lives, find themselves living in a nudist, free spirit, rural community.

Why: Jennifer Aniston is only really funny when she stars opposite someone funny, so thankfully, Paul Rudd, one of my favourite comedy actors,

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should give her plenty of material to bounce off.

It’s going to be funny, no doubt.

The Avengers Who: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson When: May 2012 What: The Avengers brings together the superhero team of the Marvel comics including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the Hulk, to fight the biggest battle there ever was.

Why: It will be interesting to see if this goldmine of a film idea will be good, but one thing’s for certain, it certainly has made its producers rich. The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America combine in one epic plot, with Samuel L Jackson starring as the leader of the Avengers. Will be full of big action, big explosions, and big one liners. It’s a big film.

The dark knight rises Who: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway When: July 2012 What: The final installment in the Batman trilogy by Christopher Nolan features the return of Batman eight years later, to save the city of Gotham once more.

Why: Ahhh Nolan. We love you. The Dark Knight was one of the best action films of all time in my book, and I can’t imagine this film being much different. Anne Hathaway as Catwoman may raise a few eyebrows, but I have a feeling she will own her role. Check out the trailer, and try not to squeal with excitement.

The gangster squad Who: Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin When: October 2012 What: A look through the life of the LAPD’s fight against the East Coast Mafia in 40s and 50s.

Why: Did you not just read the plot and see the cast? I want to cry I’m so excited for this film.

Guaranteed to be incredible.

skyfall Who: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench When: November 2012 What: Craig’s third Bond outing, Skyfall

involves 007’s loyalties being tried and tested as MI6 comes under attack.

Why: With all the stopping and starting of the progress of this film, it will be interesting to see how it has turned out, especially since it is released in the year of the 50th Bond anniversary.

There is also the anticipation that comes with any Bond film – the car, the weapons & the girl.

The hobbit: an unexpected journey Who: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis When: December 2012 What: The first installment of the Hobbit movies brings the reunion of Middle Earth and the revival of Hobbiton in our very own New Zealand. Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey set out on an epic quest to recover a stolen treasure.

Why: When the casting call has to be called off because of too many people showing up hoping to be extras, you know it’s a big deal. The return to Middle Earth should be breathtaking - and of course every Kiwi feels a sense of nationalistic pride in being able to claim living in the same country as Mt Doom and Rivendell.

And finally, what quite possibly may cause the world to end prematurely:

The twilight saga: breaking dawn part 2 Who: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner When: November 2012 What: After Bella’s horrific birth of her half vampire child and her transformation into a bloodsucker, the vamps & the werewolves form a truce to protect the half-breed from the Volturi.

Why: For fans, it’s another reason to scream in delight at R Pattz and dust off the Team Jacob t-shirts as this epic vampire love story comes to a close. For haters – never fair, THE END IS HERE!!!!

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27

The Adventures of Tintin

Directed by Steven Spielberg Film Review by David Bellinger

(A)

Billions of blistering blue barnacles! How on earth can director Stephen Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson take a vintage French comic character from the racist, sexist, very ‘unpc’ 1930s and translate him to the big screen for a 21st century audience? With great finesse, wit and a dose of modern technology, that’s how!

Bringing Tintin to the big screen was always going to be a big task. The two major problems anyone faces with the Tintin stories is 1) they are French at heart, and 2) they are set in an historical era that no longer exists. With 200 million copies sold of the original Adventures of Tintin comic series (drawn by Hergé, the pen name of Belgian artist Georges Remi), in approximately 50 languages, that’s a lot of fans around the globe, including yours truly, to impress.

Drawing plot elements from just three different Tintin stories (The Crab With the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure) the Spielberg/Jackson pairing have woven a fantastic tale around lost pirate treasure and daring do detective exploits. The hero of the story, Tintin, is voiced

by Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot), who is joined on his adventures by Mr “Blistering Blue Barnacles” himself, Captain Haddock (Lord of the Rings’ Andy Serkis). Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) plays a convincing bad guy in the form of Red Rackham/Mr Sakharine and for splendid comic relief we have the detectives Thompson & Thompson voiced by Nick Frost and Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz).

Through the main characters of Tintin, Haddock and the Thompsons the story writers have very ably anglicised the story. Tintin comes across as a young London Fleet Street hackneyed reporter and Captain Haddock is effused with a strong Scottish brogue accent. Similarly, Thompson & Thompson

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are characterised as two dim-witted London coppers rather than a couple of Gendarme’s.

French influence taken care of: tick!

Though no date is given, the setting and other props suggests the 1930s. The use of animation, coupled with motion capture, has enabled Weta Digital to render and fantastically authentic view of the 1930s era. At times it seems like you could almost feel sea spray on your cheeks, or imagine the overwhelming sounds and smells of a Middle Eastern bazaar.

For this lifelong Tintin fan, the film was a boyhood dream comes true. Haddock was exactly how I heard him in my head as a boy when I read the Tintin comics, from his ranting of “blistering blue barnacles” right through to his somewhat problematic addiction to a certain wee Scotch dram. I only saw this film in 2D so I can’t wait to go back for a 3D session to see what it adds to the experience. Full marks.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Directed by David Fincher Film Review by Matthew Cattin

(A-)

The news of the Dragon Tattoo remake was met by my angry, but expectant ears. Intolerant of a language barrier, Hollywood seems intent on regurgitating any original foreign content it can get its greedy paws on. It’s shameless. But all of my doubts vanished the moment I discovered David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) was taking the reins. Not only is he one of my favourite directors, but his unflinchingly dark style is perfectly suited to the story. Being a fan of both the book and Swedish film adaptation however, I was curious to see whether Fincher could keep me entertained my third time around.

One thing I love about Fincher’s work is his opening title sequences and he definitely did not disappoint. It was brilliant. Inky, dark, twisted, violent, sexual - everything that sums up the mood of the story rolled into the glorious sequence backed by Trent Reznor

and Karen O’s distorted cover of Led Zep’s Immigrant Song. It was worth my free ticket alone.

You have to admire any actress willing to take on the role of Lisbeth Salander. Weight loss, nudity, sex scenes (consensual and not so much…) and intense makeup and hair are just some of the challenges to deal with. You have to admire an actress even more who can hold her own against the excellent Noomi Rapace from the Swedish film. As fantastic, believable and committed Rooney Mara was however, she seemed a little too gentle and accessible for the character. Rapace seemed to portray Lisbeth as more fiery and prickly than Mara managed to, which to me felt more true to the novel.

The film itself was riveting, well cast, brilliantly acted and somehow even darker than the original but I still had a few niggles with it. Firstly, the sexual violence was way too extreme. Obviously a scene of that nature will cause people to feel uncomfortable but this really was quite graphic. I imagine it was intended to shock and make a point but I think the same point could have been made a little less explicitly. Subtlety, Mr Fincher. Make friends with it.

For someone who is unfamiliar with the book, the storyline may have been difficult to follow.

Smaller aspects of the plot were skimmed over without explanation which probably disorientated viewers and I kept getting urges to lean over and explain poorly-covered scenes to my neighbour.

At two and a half hours, it’s a long time to sit down. I felt like the story reached a natural climactic ending about 20 minutes before the credits rolled and started to get a little tired.

Sure there were a few loose ends to tie up but I’m sure some of them could wait for the inevitable sequel. But all in all, a surprisingly solid remake. If you’re a fan, don’t miss it.

Hugo

Directed by Martin Scorsese Film Review by Matthew Cattin

(A)

I have to say I was curious. Martin Scorsese, a famously anti-3D director who made his name directing violent films (Goodfellas, Casino) taking the reins of an emotional kids film of self-discovery and friendship. Maybe that’s why it was so darn good…

Set almost entirely in a Paris train station, Hugo tells an enchanting story through the eyes of 12-year-old Hugo (Asa Butterfield), an orphan boy who lives in the station. His father died in a tragic museum fire and left him with nought but a broken writing automaton that Hugo, convinced it will contain a message from his father, is desperate to fix. He works during the day maintaining the clocks within the walls and ceiling of the station and in his spare time, he steals gears and cogs from the station toy shop so he can repair the automaton.

What follows is a not-so-kiddy adventure driven by the curiosity of kind Hugo and his new friend Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz).

Constantly dogging Hugo’s trail is the orphansnatching station master played by the quirky Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen performed brilliantly, adding comic relief to every scene he was in. Despite this, it wasn’t enough to shake the images of Bruno out of mind and I half expected him to flop out of his uniform and dance.

One thing I loved about Hugo was the time and attention spent developing minor characters in the story. They added little to the plot line but in the big picture, added so much depth and magic to the film. Well done Martin!

Since Scorsese was so staunchly anti-3D, I assumed he would make the leap to 3D effects only if it was vital to the story or visually stunning. Unfortunately, I don’t think it was either. Not being a huge fan of 3D myself, I couldn’t see the advantage, apart from perhaps the gimmicky, money-making factor.

I hate it when films climax before the end credits. Think Return of the King. It’s brilliant the entire way but the last half hour is such a challenge. This is where Hugo really triumphs.

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The ending is truly the best part of the film. All the loose ends are tied up in such a wonderful way that you can’t help but smile.

If you are a fan of cinema, go and see this film. It’s so much more than what the trailer promises and everything is definitely not what it seems. I wouldn’t pay extra for the 3D, the story is good enough without the dicky glasses.

Scorsese for the win!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Directed by Tomas Alfredson Film Review by David Bellinger

(A)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, from the novel by John le Carré, is set in this world of international espionage. It is 1973, and veteran spy master George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is brought out of retirement by ‘Control’ (Alien’s John Hurt) to catch a mole that may be seated right at the top layers of Britain’s MI6. Possible suspects include Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) and Ciaran Hinds (Munich). Assisting Smiley is a couple of agents from the rough end of MI6, played

by Benedict Cumberpatch (The War Horse) and Tom Hardy (Inception).

Director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) has magnificently recreated early 1970s London and its surrounds. Authentic clothing, everyday equipment and vehicles used are all faithful to the era, right down to the chain smokers at work. There are no satellites to peer at suspects from 150km orbits or CIA computer instant surveillance teams pouncing on internet passport alerts. Spying in this era involved trawling through paper files, notebooks, covert drop boxes and grainy black & white photos taken from a long distance, all the while looking for that one little piece of information that may point to the guilty party.

To complement the attention to detail the film stock has a grainy washed out colour feel to it, reminiscent of films like Dirty Harry or Chinatown.

The dialogue has a quintessentially British feel

and the tension of the era is brought splendidly to life by Alfredson and his ensemble of great actors. Oldman is near perfect as a mildmannered Smiley, almost the antithesis of spies we have come to expect. Firth’s Bill Haydon is smarmy and self assured while Cumberpatch’s angst as a closet homosexual (illegal in early 1970s Britain) is empathetic with the morality of the age. As for the storyline itself, what could be a complicated onerous plotline is followed steadily and methodically without leaving the audience confused.

I enjoyed Tinker Tailor so much I have decided to read the book (a third of the way through at the time of writing). This film is exquisitely good, a real window on the life and times of the early 70s Cold War era. The characters are complex, the tension is tangible and the settings are just vintage. I would recommend this film for anyone who likes to think a little.

Daughtry

Break The Spell Album Review by Renee Simpson

(A-)

Daughtry’s lead singer Chris Daughtry has come a long way since his days on American Idol – and it shows in the band’s third studio album, Break the Spell, which consists of 12 great rock tracks.

The album kicks off with Renegade, a gritty, hard-hitting song which gets the blood pumping straight away. It is a fantastic song and it’s no surprise it was the first single released off the album.

Daughtry return to their most comfortable, pop rock style of music with the second single, Crawling Back To You. The song starts off slower then ups the tempo during the chorus, offers up a bit of guitar and then has Chris belt out the chorus one last time. These types of pop rock tracks have always worked well for the band and this is no exception. Most of the album continues in this style, but I would particularly recommend listening to Crazy and We’re Not

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Gonna Fall.

My favourite song off the album would have to be Outta My Head. It’s slightly less gritty than Renegade, but delivers a great rhythm and a nice change up from the rest of the pop rock tracks on the album. Daughtry pushes himself more vocally in the song and there are great guitar moments throughout the track.

All the songs on Break the Spell are written

by Chris and his song writing has improved immensely since he began his career. This shows in Gone Too Soon, a slow, heartfelt song about a lost baby. Daughtry creates a powerful image in this song and it lingers in your mind long after the song has finished. It’s a brilliant track and a credit to the whole band.

The only reason Break the Spell doesn’t receive a perfect rating is the lack of diversity from the previous albums. While die-hard Daughtry fans will find this pleasing, I personally would have liked to see their music head in a slightly different direction. I would have liked to either see more gritty songs such as Renegade and Outta My Head, or more meaningful and slower songs such as Gone Too Soon.

But this is a great album, and a definite to add to your rock collection.

Lights Siberia

Album Review by Melissa Low

(A-)

Canadian synth electric princess Lights is a sweet power-pack of sound. No longer holding the clean electro-pop sound that showcased on her first album, The Listening, Lights has roughened up with a bit of grit and grunge for her second album. A heavy influence of dubstep, Siberia welcomes a better layered and more daring sound.

From the start, the title track Siberia punches sound in loudly with the bass. Lyrically, Lights can be a bit repetitive, and melody wise it can be a bit thin, but the drive for this song comes from the heavy bass. It sounds fantastic through a set of loud speakers and is pretty catchy to listen to.

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issue 01 2012

The following track, Where the Fence is Low, is a stellar song. Its tripped up intro and poetic lyrics complement each other into something mesmerising, with the main lyric “the fence is low” so distinct and resonating. The layers of synths and the chorus’ dub step uniquely stand out. Lights knows when to hold back the dub step in the right places too, playing with the song’s natural rise and fall.

This then smoothly transitions to the ever so catchy Toes (featuring electronica band Holy Fuck). Strong beats, catchy melody and happy lyrics makes this song the album’s anthem track. Holy Fuck definitely seemed to have contributed a positive influence over this track and they also contribute in the song Everybody Breaks a Glass. A real gritty dub step track, so many contrasts play and work together, from Lights’ strong vocals in a dub step heavy verse, to the soft melodic vocals in a light, fantasy like chorus, and then to hip hop artist Shad’s crisp rap.

On the other end of the electronic spectrum, Cactus in the Valley is the closest to being an acoustic track on the album. With soft vocals and a slow delicate melody, it’s a refreshing break from the heavy dub step and bass tracks.

While I really enjoy and love many of the songs on this album, there are a few I don’t particularly favour as much. And Counting… is a track I’d call “energy sucking”, a phrase that is emphasised when it follows punchy beat strong songs like Flux and Flow and Fourth Dimension.

I’m also unsure how to feel about Day One, the last track on this album. While I believe all albums should have peaks and dips in beat for variation, it should never end on a dip. Day One isn’t a strong song – if you can even call it that.

Recorded live in an eight minute synth playing session, you would need to be a major synth/ dub step lover to appreciate this track. And I am not one of those lovers.

Despite this, the positives outweigh all the negatives. The choice to use dub step and heavier bass is well fitting and provides more dimension to her music. The way Lights’ vocals have evolved has given her a better varied sound and thankfully lacks the auto tune she had in her last album. She’s come miles from her debut; I’m very excited to see what she releases next.

The Maccabees Given To The Wild

Album Review by Ashleigh Muir

(B+)

The Maccabees are a largely unknown band in the New Zealand music scene, even among indie rock music circles. However their earlier albums (2007’s Colour It In and 2009’s Wall of Arms) became quite popular in England with singles appearing in the top 40.

Given to the Wind has a totally different tone and atmosphere from the previous albums and can be likened to the musical style of Coldplay.

It’s soft and mellow rock as opposed to the stronger definition of their older style.

In saying this, The Maccabees seem to be shying away from a mainstream sound, more so than their earlier style. This is very much a chill out album. I don’t know why it was released during the English winter; it certainly has a relaxed summer feel to me.

Ayla is the fourth song on the new album and is one of the strongest. This is one of the first songs I was able to sing along to. It is more upbeat than a lot of the other songs and the vocals come through stronger.

Pelican is a great song for get you up and going in the morning. It’s vibrant and alive right from the first beat. Contrast to the almost jolly sounds, the lyrics can be quite depressing if you read into them – “before you know it you are pushing up the daisies”. This use of cliché has been common across a range of early and current Maccabees singles and it is great to see a continuum of this aspect of their style.

Slowly One is a great mix of relaxed background but manages to pull in some fantastic manipulated sounds to keep you wanting more. It is something different and challenges what you thought you had been listening to for the last 11 tracks.

This album is a great one if you are looking for something to chill out to when summer finally turns up. It has a great mix of slower, relaxed songs and a few that are more upbeat.

This is the album to have on at your next barbecue or drinks night.

Write now or forever hold your pen.

debate is looking for awesome contributors for 2011.

If you are a news hound, sports nut, political guru, pop culture fanatic, columnist, reviewer, feature writer, camera happy, cover designer, cartoonist, general know-it-all or astrologer get in touch.

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For more info on how you can get involved with debate, email debate@aut.ac.nz or pop into the AuSM office for a chat

31

VOLUME 01

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Now Watching

New Girl, 8pm Tuesdays on Four

I first saw the trailer for this show back in September and have been counting down the days until I could watch it on TV. Zooey Deschanel plays Jess Day, a teacher who moves into a loft with three guys after her boyfriend cheats on her. She uses Dirty Dancing to get over break ups, sings to herself a lot and likes to do pecks instead of claps during the chicken dance because it’s more realistic. So if you’re still watching Two and a Half Men and are not watching this show, rectify this immediately. Because I need someone to quote Schmidt lines to be 24/7.

Love seems to be following you around lately. Keep a safe distance and try not to make eye contact. Don’t give it any ideas – love will end up drunk dialling you at 3am.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Now is the absolute best time in your life to travel! Too bad you’re broke and have just signed up for a full year of study.

But hey, you can always visit Albert Park and pretend it’s the Amazon.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Success and money will come out of nowhere this week! But don’t overspend it – the bank will find out eventually and being on the run looks bad on a CV.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

Now Listening Ed Sheeran, +

If someone can sing about a meth addict who doubles as a prostitute sound like the most whimsical thing in the world, you know there’s something special. Ed Sheeran has blown up in the UK and I predict in the next few months we’ll be hearing a lot more of his stuff on the radio. Do yourself a favour and get his album + before it goes triple platinum. And email me with your favourite track – mine keeps changing!

Now Applying Fake Tan

Since summer decided that instead of tan lines and bikinis it would be gumboots and umbrellas, it means most of you will be a lot paler than usual.

And since tanning au natural seems to be out of the picture now that uni is back in business, it’s time to dig out that fake tan you got for your ball and lather up. If you’re afraid of turning orange, opt for one of the gradual tans that build up over a few days.

You want to look like Jennifer Aniston, not Snooki!

Now you’re a fully-fledged uni student, it’s time to learn the secret handshake. Instead of shaking hands, bite someone. Try it out on a lonely Scorpio.

LEO (July 23-August 22)

A complicated inter-office romance appears to be on the horizon. Calm down, this usually happens when you settle for minimum wage mediocrity. Let’s hope your co-worker has higher aspirations

VIRGO (August 23-September 22)

You will start your university year the way you ended 2011 – drunk, naked and alone. Sorry the stars couldn’t bring you better prospects.

LIBRA (September 23-October 23)

A party may happen at any moment during your day. I’d suggest wearing a party hat and a toga while out and about – it’s always best to be prepared.

SCORPIO (October 24-November 21)

The stars say it’s a good idea to finally step out and join some clubs and group activities. Go on, people don’t bite... except crazy ones. Don’t befriend the crazies.

SAGITTARIUS (November22-Dec21)

Now Making Friends

It’s the first week of uni. Orientation is going to be in full swing and everyone will be relaxed from three months holidays. This is the perfect time to make friends. For the newbies, make sure you strike up a conversation in class with someone that looks equally as scared as you and head to as many Orientation gigs as possible – there will be hundreds of people just like you looking for someone to survive the year with. And if you’re a returning student, don’t shut out the possibility of expanding your circle. If you’re in a degree like Communications, you still won’t know every person in your class. Trust me.

If you think you’re on the pulse with what’s happening in Auckland, email debate@aut.ac.nz with your own Suggestions.

Throw a blow out party this week to welcome all your new classmates – but only let them in if they accept your friend request on Facebook. Have a computer handy for when they arrive.

CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19)

It’s only the first week of uni and already your computer has started to play up. Invest all your course-related costs into USB sticks – technology obviously hates you.

AQUARIUS (January 20-Febuary 18)

You just realised you have absolutely, amazing hands. Take every opportunity you can to show these bad boys to the world.

PISCES (Febuary 19-March 20)

Your brain will be brewing with ideas this week, so make sure you are always ready with a pen and paper for that ‘lightbulb’ moment - you may just come up with something brilliant! Or something really, really stupid.

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Adobe Student & Teacher Editions give students the full versions of a range of Adobe products at up to 80% off the regular price!

For all your Adobe software see Cyclone Computers. www.cyclone.co.nz or call 0800 686 686

32

issue 01 2012

Hungry?

V Energy Drink 250ml + any Hot Pie

Correctly identify the five differences in the two photos then circle them and drop your entry into your nearest AuSM office, or the box on the side of the red debate stands, or post to debate PO Box 6116 Wellesley St before 12pm Thursday. What’s up for grabs?

Two “squawk burgers” vouchers for Velvet Burger on Fort St, Auckland CBD.

Any Deli Made Sandwich + Signature Range Water 750ml Excludes Sparkling & Flavoured

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both for

$

6 $ 8 both for

$ Any Deli Made Sushi + Signature Range Water 750ml Excludes Sparkling & Flavoured

both for

The National Bank

Victoria St West

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PR1236CDDEBATE

Name Phone # Email Campus

WE ARE HERE

Victoria Street West

Queen St Whitcoulls

Offer valid until Sunday 19 February 2012 at Countdown Auckland Metro, 19 Victoria Street West, standard opening hours 7am – 10pm, 7 days.

Featured products are available while stocks last.

Images shown are styled and are serving suggestions.

Props not included. Customer Support Freephone 0800 40 40 40.

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Warner Bros. Pictures and debate are giving you the chance to in-season double passes to the film.

From the producer of The Hangover films comes Project X, which follows three seemingly anonymous high school seniors as they attempt to finally make a name for themselves. Their idea is innocent enough: let’s throw a party that no one will forget… but nothing could prepare them for this party. Word spreads quickly as dreams are ruined, records are blemished and legends are born. Project X is a warning to parents and police everywhere.

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issue 01 2012

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AuSM MEMBERS - $5.00

OTHER TERTIARY STUDENTS - $15.00 PUBLIC - $30.00 ALL TERTIARY STUDENTS - $30.00 ON THE DOOR PUBLIC - $40.00 ON THE DOOR

Tickets available at www.eventfinder.co.nz For more information visit: www.ausm.org.nz www.ausm.org.nz

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