AXIOM ISSUE 05 by AXIOM MAGAZINE

axiom W E A R E T H E R E C K L E S S, W E A R E T H E W I L D Y O U T H

YOUNG BLOODS

BARO / MIKEY MCARTHUR / JESSIE MCNAUGHT J U S T I N VA G U E / C A R L Y Z I N G A / C H R I S F A T S E A S LAURA MARII / JACK STEEL / DAN SULTAN / NUMB APPAREL

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axiom W E A R E T H E R E C K L E S S, W E A R E T H E W I L D Y O U T H

LUCY STEVENS - EDITOR, PUBLISHER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER hello@lucystevenscreative.com RACHEL STEVENS - COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS - ALEKSANDAR JASON, JESSIE MCNAUGHT, JUSTIN VAGUE, CARLY ZINGA, MIKEY MCARTHUR, LIAM CAMERON, CHRIS FATSEAS, LAURA MARII, DANIEL NJEGICH & JACK STEEL CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS - KURT JOHNSON, GERARD WILTON, SUZANNAH SNOW CONTRIBUTING WRITERS - JOSHUA HODGES, LOUIE SMITH CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR - CRAIG ATKINS

ON THE COVER - BARO BY ALEKSANDAR JASON ILLUSTRATED COVER BY CRAIG ATKINS, @WOLFKID666

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FOREWORD

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WE ARE THE RECKLESS, WE ARE THE WILD YOUTH Apologies if this letter is a bit shit, I've tried writing it about 5 times and it gets worse with every try. So here you are, Welcome to issue 05 of Axiom, and my shithouse editor's letter. I'm pretty fucking excited about our cover star for this issue. I first heard about Baro about 6 months ago from a friend who is a real dick, but for some reason has really great taste in music. So to shut him up, I gave Baro's ep How Good Is Good a listen. And then approximately another 10 listens, and it's been the most played album on my phone ever since. He really is one of the most talented young artists in Australia right now, and we're stoked to have him in this issue. Go and download his ep, you won't be disappointed. In this issue we also have photo diaries by our friend Jessie who is currently living it up in Canada, and Justin who took an amazing trip throughout the USA. We've got beautiful portraits by Carly Zinga, we had a chat to photographer Mikey McArthur who is producing some of the best surf photography we've seen in ages, our friends Kurt Johnson and Chris Fatseas collaborated on Diving Lines, Louie Smith caught Dan Sultan in London, and Josh Hodges wrote a fantastic piece called I Am Sexist, plus heaps more from a bunch of amazing young photographers. Enjoy.

Cheers, Lucy editor, publisher, creative director, designer.

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JOSHUA HODGES

JESSIE MCNAUGHT

KURT JOHNSON

LAURA MARII

WROTE I AM SEXIST, PAGE 152

PHOTOGRAPHED ESCAPE, PAGE 10

STYLED DIVIDING LINES, PAGE 92

SHOT DOWNTIME, PAGE 104, & SHOT ROOKIE, PAGE 118

If you could only watch films by one actor for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? If Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix have a child, and then that child procreates with the child of Edward Norton and Amy Adams, and then that genetic freak baby becomes an actor, that would be the actor I would choose.

If you could only watch films by one actor for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? River Phoenix, all the films he made and would have made if he was still alive. He was not just a great actor but an incredible human being.

If you could only watch films by one actor for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? Omg, Cylian Murphy because he's an evil dreamboat.

If you could only watch films by one actor for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? Robert Downey Jr for all of the reasons.

The world needs less of... Rules.

The world needs less of... Pessimistic, pretentious assholes.

The world needs less of... Global Warming and rude people.

Best thing you've done in your youth? Finished every Spyro game within the week of purchase.

The world needs less of... Morons who decide to become politicians. Best thing you've done in your youth? I used to run a bootleg perfume operation out of my cubby house. My best selling perfume consisted of mum's Pantene Shampoo and dad's prized Chrysanthemums. My main customers were my sister and Teddo the Freddo.

Best thing you've done in your youth? Pack up my life in Sydney and move to Canada, as well as adopt my cats!

Best thing you've done in your youth? Photograph/create.

AXIOM LOVES

BLACK SEA I'm an absolute sucker for any movie involving lost treasure. That piece of shit Fools Gold with Matthew Mcconaughey? Saw it opening week. Into The Blue with Paul Walker? Own it on DVD. Why this film wasn't released in Australia is beyond me, as it is one of the best of its genre in ages. Jude Law plays a former Navy officer who after losing his salvage job, musters together a crew of misfits to man a beat up old submarine for a mission of finding a U-Boat wreck containing NAZI gold. The crew is half British and Half Russian sailors, meaning language and cultural barriers soon turn ugly with the realization that the fewer men that make it back alive, the more gold to go around. Black Sea is now available on iTunes, or ya know, hit up pirate bay.

NORTH ABRAXIS The guys over at North Abraxis are all about shining a light on new and upcoming brands and the stories that come with them. They stock a mean range of both mens and womens clothing, accessories, shoes, and watches. Your new favorite brand is waiting to be discovered. Plus they offer free shipping Australia wide on orders over $55. Cheering.

To check out the full range and to shop online, check out www.northabraxis.com

JAMIE T - CARRY ON THE GRUDGE I have written before in Axiom about how much I love Jamie T. The guy blends genres like no other. First was Panic Prevention back in 2007 which brought us gems like Sheila, and If You Got The Money. Then he came out punching with Kings and Queens which was the soundtrack to my 18 year old self back in 2009, still one of my most played records. Jamie is back with Carry On The Grudge, and it may be his best release yet. While Panic Prevention and Kings and Queens had more party vibes, this record is more of a dark, moody affair. Kings and Queens offered us Jamie's take of London life as a glossy, fun, party with mates- this time around it seems the party is over. The lyrics are darker, more reflective of Jamie's life and friends. Hints of overdoses and ex-girlfriends echo throughout Limits Lie and Turn On the Light. Even when he's back to his party roots in Zombie, the dark undertones are still there creeping in. Thankfully though, his songwriting emerges unscathed from all this emotional damage. Rougher than Kings & Queens, and with less rap and nothing quite as electrifying as Sticks 'n' Stonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nonetheless consistently enthralling. For tour dates and all that shit, check out www.jamie-t.com

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AXIOM LOVES

WELL DRESSED VANDALS Well Dressed Vandals have a made a name for themselves being cheeky bastards, really. Hailing from Sydney, these mischief makers stem from a graffiti background, and have a penchant for finding ways into the train tunnels under the city and pissing off A Current Affair. When not getting into trouble, they make quality garments as well as a pretty sweet line of accessories that includes money clips, bottle openers, paint markers and stickers. Everything needed for a good Friday night really, all you need is the beers, and best worn getting into trouble. For more info and to buy online, check out: shop.welldressedvandals.com

PAPERCUP CAFE This section is usually reserved for a bar or pub review, but we like coffee just as much as we like booze, so a cafe review was in order. And what a good one to start on. I may be biased in my opinion of Papercup because it's my local and the barista knows my name and coffee order and it's all a bit cute. But they don't fuck around. Serving up their own blend by Alchemy (Sydney's best roasters in my opinion) I've never had an average coffee from these guys. They also use bread and pastries by Brickfeilds and Chai by Sticky Chai so you know it's all gonna be good. The crew are legends, check them out. Papercup Cafe, Shop 2, 157-161 Cambridge St, Stanmore, 2048.

NUMB APPAREL Quietly going about their business, Numb Apparel have been on our radar for a while now. They believe in questioning everything, and never settling for second best. We've got selected images from their Fly or Die collection for you to have a gander at on page 154 of this issue, check it out, Stay Numb, Stay Foolish. For more info and to buy online, check out www.numbapparel.com

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Escape PHOTO DIARY BY JESSIE MCNAUGHT

CANADA

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Escape TRAVEL DIARY BY JUSTIN VAGUE

USA

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I journeyed across to the states with a few plans in mind but basically winged it from day to day. Arriving in LAX by myself was a bit daunting and I was kind of freaked out, as this was my first solo trip overseas as a young adult. I was jet lagged but for some reason I just wanted to hit the pub straight away, as I was too excited for what the next 80 days had in stall for me. So I ordered an Uber SUV and Paris Hilton's driver took me to my shitty hostel in Santa Monica.

decided to go easy on the beers for the next few days until we got upgraded to business class on our journey back to LA. I'm pretty sure it was a competition between my mate and I on how many tequila sunrises we could smash on the two-hour flight. Flying into LAX during sunset is an amazing spectacle. So much smog and colour combined. After a few beers on our Hollywood rooftop looking at the view of downtown I decided that the sunset wouldn't be as spectacular without the smog. For our first night out in LA we decided to hit up the famous Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Strip. The crowd in there is awesome. I think they refuse to leave the 80s, I was the youngest person inside. After a few well drinks we decided to hit the local strip club 'The Body Shop' which was seemed to be an institution for the people of Sunset Strip. I made it rain in there. It was a Saturday night and getting a cab home seemed impossible on Sunset and Uber was out of the question, as my phone had no battery. We were in luck when an 80-yearold limo driver parked outside the strip club offered to take us back to Hollywood for 20 bucks. Beers and cigarettes included. It was a fantastic end to a top first night out in West Hollywood.

After a few days I hopped over to NYC to visit a few mates and geez I got loose! We went out every night. We had many all nighters and at one stage I was looking living in a basement in Brooklyn, which had no natural daylight. This meant that I would often sleep in til 3pm, as I had no idea of time apart from my iPhone clock. Boston was the next stop, which felt like a small town compared to the hustle of New York. After nearly a month in NYC I had enough of the constant noise of sirens and tooting car horns. My mate Drew and I had a good few days rest before jetting across the county to Washington State to hit up Sasquatch Festival. 50,000 people and over four days it was the best festival I have attended. The main amphitheatre overlooked an epic gorge and was an amazing spectacle while the sun went down. We were lucky enough to snag some AAA passes and make the most of the free booze and golf carts back stage.

A few days later after the entire tourist shit was completed my mate Drew headed back to Australia so I checked into a hostel just off Hollywood Blvd. I really wanted a few days rest as I was flying back up to Seattle in a week to start a West Coast road trip adventure with another mate named Drop Bear who was flying over from Australia >>

After Sasquatch we drove back to a hotel at Seattle airport and had the longest shower followed by Pizza Hut delivered to our room. It felt brilliant. I had

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Instead I had a few froths with some fellas from Melbourne I had just met and they talked me into going to Vegas with them the next day. So I was on the way to Vegas and I ended up driving these blokes the whole way, as I was the only one with driving experience in the states. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of Avicii I still think it was the best part of this Vegas experience. An epic super club inside the Wynn casino was filled to the brim with a gigantic pool centred in the middle. 30 seconds into Avicii's set women began taking off their dresses and were jumping into the pool. Men followed but with their suits still on. I guess the bottle service had really gotten to them. My mates and I couldn't afford bottle service but with my drunken gift of the gab I was quickly smashing down some gin with the finest Vegas folk in the building. I headed back up to Seattle to get my froth on with my mate Drop Bear who had just arrived from Australia. Jet lag didn't seem to worry him one bit as we headed straight to the bar named 'Shorty’s'. If you ordered a jack and coke from this bar you'd probably only really need to drink two to get you well one your way. They make 'em strong! If you ever get to go to the states I recommend heading to a night baseball game at the local stadium. This is where you meet the best and friendliest people. Bulk beers are also a plus. A great night out had by all, especially when you receive a free Macklemore bobble head on entry! The bus to Portland wasn't one of my finest moments. I was so bloody hung-over from the Baseball in Seattle the night before. I could feel my face begin to sweat.

I was holding in the biggest power spew. The young bloke from Portland next to me seemed a bit worried for both of us and sitting next to the smelly toilet probably didn't help either. I got off the bus still feeling average and somehow made it to the accommodation sweating my face off. Our hotel in Portland looked like something out of a movie, usually a movie where somebody is murdered in such an establishment. As I was signing my credit away to the creepy dude at reception, I felt a sudden urge of spew making its up my throat. I sprinted out of the building only to power spew green goo all over the motel’s driveway. The reception guy looked out at me in shock! After it was all over I said sorry to the man and told him it was something I ate earlier. He replied, “It Happens.” One thing you have to do in Portland is to go to a bar called Dante’s. It’s a fucked up version of Moulin Rouge pretty much. That’s all I’m going to say about that one. The city brings the best out of everyone, so much that I decided to sing Wolfmother’s ‘Woman’ at a karaoke bar, and then proceeded to take my clothes off and do the worm on stage. Drop Bear and I hired a piece of shit car with a terrible sound system for the trek down to San Francisco. It was very economical on fuel though. The West Coast is filled with the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen. In the morning you could be driving alongside trees as tall as skyscrapers. At lunch be on top of an old volcano making an angel in the snow. And in the afternoon be driving along a long stretch of road through the desert >>

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We arrived in San Francisco ready to party hard and explore the great sights of the Bay Area. It’s a very fun city to explore. The bulk beers you drink at night are worked off easily the next day by walking up some of the steepest streets in the world. Sometimes it felt like I was walking on the spot. We found a bar that was hosting a beer Olympics night. It sounded like fun. And it was. You can’t go wrong with $1 PBR’s and a couple hundred young people getting loose playing beer pong.

city was pumping! Andy the British guy finally made it to our casino at 3am because he drove 17 hours in one day from Oregon to be with us. What a legend. I was more organised this time around booking us into the best clubs and pool parties in town. There are just too many stories to tell about this town. You just really have to experience it for yourself. I just love the fact that you can be covered in champagne from head to toe and be playing at the blackjack table topless by the pool.

On the way down to LA we dropped into Santa Cruz and Big Sur. The roads are unreal as they sweep around beaches and cliffs right on the oceanfront. We met a ripper British lad back in San Francisco and as we were driving down to LA we messaged him and convinced him to come to Vegas with us the next week. We were booked into The Flamingo for July 4th weekend in Vegas. I knew we were going to be in for a treat.

I was knackered after that weekend in Vegas. I was ready to go home but pushed through the last couple of days of my time in America. These were spent in San Diego. We decided to attend one last pool party a couple hours out of San Diego in the middle of the desert. It was hot as fuck. Drop Bear didn’t wear thongs and nearly burnt his feet off. The day was a fitting end to reflect on an adventure filled with so many stories, life experiences and new friends. I’ll definitely be back soon

My second stint in Vegas was yet again a good experience had by all. It was July 4th weekend and the

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I need my girl. portraits by Carly Zinga

opposite: hair & makeup by diana djurdjevski

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styling by candice lewin, hair & makeup by ana makridis

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styling by aimee bruce, hair & makeup by maree spagnol

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makeup by paris excell

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EBB AND FLOW I'll be the first to admit that I know absolutely fuck all about surfing. I can tell a long board from a short board for obvious reasons, but that is where the extent of my knowledge lies. When I discovered the work of Mikey McArthur, my interest peaked and I was completely fascinated. Mikey's work is full of contradictions, beautifully shot clean, light images one minute, and deep, dark and stormy the next, much like the ebb & flow of the ocean, a push and a pull. We caught up with this young talent to talk more about his work.

Interview by Lucy Stevens All photos by Mikey McArthur - @mikeymcarthur

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So Mikey, when did you first pick up a camera? Around the age of about 16 and a half, hard to say exactly but roughly around that age. Was it something you were interested in before that, or just thought what the fuck, let's give this ago? Nah wasn't interested in it at all hey, I was at my old home in South Australia in the back of a boat with two of my brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends who were filming my brother surf, and they had a spare camera, so I gave it ago. Simple as that. What was it like growing up back in South Australia? You must have had some amazing surf breaks to shoot right from the get go. It's an incredible place; it's very untouched in most areas, almost the same as it's been forever. And yeah there was no lack in crazy waves and photogenic things to shoot there, but after that first time shooting I never picked a camera up again until I moved here to the south coast. I didn't take photos at all in South Australia. Do you have a favorite place to shoot on the south coast? I used to- it was a wave like half an hour from home, it breaks super duper close to exposed rocks and comes out of super deep water, it's pretty exciting and photogenic, and humbling. Except, now. I don't really have a favorite, I can't really attach myself to one single break anymore. Sounds pretty sketchy, you wouldn't want to come off bad there. You shoot in some pretty big swells with big ass waves, have you ever gotten yourself into a sticky situation? Ahh not really considering I've shot a fair few solid/big sessions. There was one time when I was out at the same break we just spoke of, it was like 12ft and super rippy in the channel. I didn't watch it long enough and jumped out not being calculated, ended up in me getting many close out sets on the head, I tried to get out and go in, go left, go right, couldn't. I was stuck and getting really tired. That got really scary. Thankfully I slowly got pushed to the beach. I find it really funny how easy we all can die, defiantly when you are in the ocean with such conditions. Life, hey.

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Heavy, you never really know what Mother Nature is going to throw at you next hey. There's so much contrast in your work, some shots are super dark and moody, and others are so light and clean, it's like you've got a split personality thing going on, do you favor one style over the other? Thanks for noticing! I just try and feel, I do enjoy my dark deeper shots more. I share most of my crispy bright shots simply because they are nice to look at, and it's good to express something like that sometimes... only sometimes. It frustrates me though, so many people love that shit. It pisses me off. I like anything with depth. There is no limit to how deep you can go. Like how much more sharp can a shot get from here on out? It's done, it's dead. It's boring. It's an expression for me simple as that. I totally agree, I'm sick of seeing over saturated shots in general, it's rare to see someone going deeper than that. It's what I find most refreshing about your work. Thank you. Means a lot. No worries, the only other person that comes to mind with kind of, breaking the rules if you will, is Morgan Maassen. Yeah he is good hey, I enjoy his work from time to time. The biggest inspiration to me is Mickey Smith. Yeah, shit he's got some nice work The best. biggest legend I've ever met. His black and whites are so good, he has a knack for capturing the light, much like yourself! Haha thanks! So Mikey, what's next on the agenda for you? Any surf trips planned? Nothing set in cement. I love shooting my friend Russel Bierke, so may try and do a few trips with him this year. But I don't know what this year will bring, but it's feeling really good. I'm simply taking photos for expression, purely. No bullshit, if I don't feel like it I won't. Learning to listen to myself more. So wherever that takes me will be interesting, I believe it will help me express my best work yet. Well I for one, can't wait to see what you do next.

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BARO YOUNG BLOOD words by lucy stevens photos by aleksandar jason

The words 'Australian Hip Hop' generally strike fear into the hearts of most people these days, and bring back memories of music festivals full of wankers and overpriced drinks. Thankfully, there's a new crop of talent emerging that's not hellbent on playing every music festival under the fucking sun (Hilltop Hoods we're looking at you) Baro is one of the new guard of Aussie kids currently kicking major goals and releasing some of the best shit we've heard in a long time. Not too often does an artist appear out of apparent nowhere and completely loor you with their talent, the exception here being Baro. He released How Good Is Good on Bandcamp back in 2014, 13 tracks of slick beats, cruisey rhymes with consistency and restraint of someone well beyond his years, given the fact Baro was just 17 when How Good Is Good was released. What the fuck were you doing at 17? Smoking weed and working at Maccas most likely. We caught up with Baro for a quick chat between dates on his Well Baro Is Now 18 tour. The kid makes me feel lazy for not doing enough with my time. Now go and download his fucking record.

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First up, Happy Birthday! How is being 18 treating you so far? Thanks yo, being 18 is the same except shows are easier and I can buy some things legally. But yeah it's cool, I'm going to try get my licence soon. How responsible of you, I imagine your birthday show at Can't Say was a pretty rowdy affair... Yeahhh Can't Say was crazy, like I had all my friends on that small ass stage at a couple points and shit was jumpin' Killing it man. You've been a pretty busy guy the last few months hey. Releasing How Good Is Good, then touring with Jackie Onassis and Allday, as well as signing with New World Artists, you're in pretty good company over there. Yeah real busy, the Allday tour was mad fun. How Good Is Good has been on constant repeat at Axiom for the last few months, what are you currently working on? Thank you for playing it in the office! I'm sitting on a pretty much finished EP while working on the early stages of the album Records never really stick with me on the first listen, but yours did. It's such a good mix of different vibes and beats. I really dig that line 'I died of boredom and resurrected interested' so slick Thank you heeeaps. That's crazy There's been comparisons of you to a young Joey badass and Chance The Rapper and how you're the new breed of Australian hip hop. Shits getting real! Haha oh yeah it's so real Who are some of your inluences? Mos Def, Mac Miller, Slum Village & Mf Doom to name a few Nice mix there. Well man, if this is you at 18 I can't fucking wait to see what you're doing a few years down the track! Yeaaah you'll see much much more of me I'm counting on it. To hear How Good Is Good & for more info, check out b-aro.bandcamp.com

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I DIED OF BOREDOM & RESURRECTED

INTERESTED 74

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I WANT YOU BAD PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIAM CAMERON @LIAMCAMERON1 FEATURING GEORGIA COE @ THE WOLVES

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DIVIDING LINES P H OT O G R A P H Y BY C H R I S FAT S E A S S T Y L I N G BY K U R T J O H N S O N H A I R & G R O O M I N G BY C O L E T T E M I L L E R F E AT U R I N G J O S H @ H U N T E R M O D E L M A N AG E M E N T

C LOT H I N G BY P. A . M , D I $ C O U N T U N I V E R S E , B Ù L , PA R E D E Y E W E A R , I C N Y A N D W E M OT O F R O M N I O R D I S T R I B U T I O N .

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SHIRT Bonds SHORTS Stylist's own

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JUMPER One Family POLO Ralp Lauren SHORTS Adidas

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BEANIE Coal Headwear SHIRT Model's Own

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ROOKIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA MARII STYLING BY SUZANNAH SNOW MAKEUP BY LIDIJA JEVERMOVIC HAIR BY NAOMI ANDERSON FOR MURPHY GOZZARD FEATURING FELICIA @ LONDON MGT

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bayside photography by daniel njegich featuring lauren haynes

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BONEYARD photography by Jack Steel featuring Jesikah Bennett & Jessica Ognenovski

clothing by acid reign

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DAN SULTAN FIERY AND OPINIONATED, DAN SULTAN IS FAST BECOMING ONE OF AUSTRLIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL MUSICIANS. AXIOM WRITER LOUIE SMITH CAUGHT HIM IN LONDON. Multi-award winning rock ‘n’ roll idol Dan Sultan sat shyly in front of fellow Australian musicians at the APRA AMCOS annual Songwriter Speaks London event at Australia House. The event in which has seen the likes of Brian McFadden speak in previous years helps give young Australian composers living in London insight into the songwriting processes and experiences of accomplished artists. Organiser Adam Townsend opened discussion before handing the microphone over to The Australian Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Todd who touched on the importance of nurturing young Aussie talent in the UK prior to welcoming music journalist Mark Muggeridge and Dan Sultan to the stage. From spending grant money on Hungry Jacks whoppers as a 19-year-old to eating ribs in Nashville Tennessee, our very own indigenous songwriter Dan Sultan conveys his personal journey over the last two decades, leading up to the release of his brand new album ‘Blackbird’. “I was a shy kid and I still am that shy person. I get very nervous, I mean I’m very nervous now,” Sultan expresses to Muggeridge. Sultan’s genuine down to earth character shines through his slightly awkward posture as Muggeridge starts to delve into the humble beginnings of Sultan’s music career.

Illustration by Rachel Stevens

guitar players in the world” says Sultan. With the help of government grants they dived in to create an honest album ‘Homemade Biscuits’ with one thing in mind. “I wanted to be able to play live. A lot of young musicians have aspirations of making a living in performing and touring. Experiencing the touring life.” Sultan saw his musical ability progress dramatically with Wilson by his side, writing most of the lyrics while Sultan would primarily write the music. It was a very exciting period for the pair and as their fan base grew Sultan’s hunger for rock ‘n’ roll paralleled. “Someone can be rock ‘n’ roll without ever picking up an instrument or singing a tune,” Sultan illustrates. “For me personally rock ‘n’ roll is a very broad term,” describing it more as a way of living rather than the typical clichéd allusion of sex and drugs. “I generally have one or two speeds. It’s all or nothing,” Sultan declares while jokingly adding his girlfriend’s occasional distaste to his hot and cold approach to living. He may deliver a fuel fired show but offstage Sultan radiates humility, constantly reminding us how incredibly grateful he is for all of the opportunities that have helped him

After experiencing less than satisfying collaborations in high school bands ‘Tosser’ and ‘Indecisive’, Sultan thought he had reached his potential until he met Scott Wilson who “in my opinion is one of the greatest

achieve his passion. “I feel very fortunate and I work very hard, I always have. Some times are harder than other times…” Sultan teases. Muggeridge continues rambling off the impressive list of awards album number two ‘Get Out While You Can’ received, with Sultan being the second indigenous songwriter to take home multiple AIR and ARIA awards. Sultan humbly expressed his gratitude. “There were a few [awards] and to get that recognition felt really good, it was very special. It’s something I’ll always be proud of.” Little did we know that while ‘Get Out While You Can’ delivered great reviews, receiving huge support from community radio and Triple J, Sultan was feeling very “put down” and “stifled” creatively. His relationship with Wilson had depleted, causing Sultan to lose confidence in himself and in turn resulted in a three-year writer's block. “I don’t really want to get into it out of respect for Scott. We were friends for a long time but it got to the point where I couldn’t exist like that in that relationship as a creative person anymore,” stresses Sultan.

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“It got to a very controlling place where I thought it was a little one-sided. When Scott and I stopped working together it wasn’t like a band breaking up, it was like a divorce. It took a lot of soul searching,” expresses Sultan. Leaving Scott was one of the hardest decisions for Sultan to make as it pushed him out from under the ‘blanket’ and gave him the independence he had unknowingly craved for so long. “I found that I had to leave Scott to come out the other end much stronger. I took one step to what I believe was the right direction and a whole bunch of beautiful things started to happen,” Sultan enthuses. “Here I am sitting in Australia House talking to a group of people about a record [Blackbird] that came in at number four in Australia, where as ‘Get It While You Can’ won all these awards and the highest that got was 90.” It’s clear that the shift in Sultan's writing has been nothing but positive for his music and his own creative mind.

Straight Islander flag in the foyer and personally I thought: why isn’t it out the front hanging off the side of the building?” Once Sultan had embraced his new style of writing he couldn’t resist collaborating again with a little under half the songs on ‘Blackbird’ co-written, featuring household names such as Alex Burnett (Sparkadia), Pip Norman (TZU) and Chris Cester (Jet). Teaming up with diverse U.S. producer Jacquire King who has worked with the likes of Tom Waits, Norah Jones, Kings of Leon and Modest Mouse also seemed to be a natural fit.

‘Blackbird’ captures Sultan’s true essence of bluesy rock ‘n’ roll and the culture he grew up with. From seeing men dress in black jeans, pointed shoes and put ‘shit’ in their hair to gazing in awe of an old rockabilly band that played outside of the The Black Cat in Melbourne, the image of a musician formed in Sultans mind at a young age. Sultan explains how he’s never really had a concept for his work. “The concept is to exist as a musician and I think that’s something that has always been very true. It’s one thing that has always been fundamental for me.”

“That’s the beautiful thing about working with a producer. They can detach themselves emotionally and be very clinical with it,” notes Sultan. It wasn’t until King asked Sultan to play the track on piano to get the form down that the song really transformed. “I put it down, walked back inside and Jacquire, the engineer, the assistant, Josh [Jones] and Pete [Marin] were all in tears but they were smiling as well. It was a very emotional thing. It was about one in the morning after a big day, everyone was pretty tired, then Jacquire said something to me I’ll never forget. He said he’d been very fortunate in his life and his career to witness some very special things in the studio and that was one of them. So we decided to leave it at that,” Sultan declares.

The last song on the album ‘Gullible Few’ was written in London with Burnett. It was not always the beautiful raw piano track it is today. “We [Burnett & Sultan] wrote that song together and the original demo was very rock ‘n’ roll and had a few guitar licks and big sounds.” King thought it was a strong song, but not strong enough.

“SOME PEOPLE THINK I’M POLITICAL BACK HOME BUT I THINK I’M JUST OPINIONATED. I SAW THE ABORIGINAL TORRES STRAIGHT ISLANDER FLAG IN THE FOYER AND PERSONALLY I THOUGHT WHY ISN’T IT OUT THE FRONT HANGING OFF THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.”

Sultan chose to record ‘Blackbird’ in Nashville Tennessee, an obvious choice. Besides the grueling 13 hour days for the seven weeks of recording, Sultan got to experience some unforgettable moments in the city of music. “We went to Stax Museum in Memphis and stood in a room where Otis Redding stood.” Sultan describes the influence and effect Otis Redding has on him, looking up to Redding’s honest appeal. “I would never try to compare myself to anyone like Otis Redding but if I could exude that same passion and not hold back, then the stage is my time to go for it.” Touching on Sultan’s ‘all or nothing’ philosophy he expresses his desire to share his opinions rather than hide them away; a quality Redding radiated. “Some people think I’m political back home but I think I’m just opinionated. I saw the Aboriginal Torres

A fusion of experiences has made Sultan who he is today, and that person sure is one to be proud of. He remains humble as he talks of his first experience in business class on the way home from the U.S. just in time for his birthday. “I was pushing all the buttons and everyone else in business class was pretty much disgusted by my presence but I was pretty happy about it. I got a nice bottle of champagne and it was a great way to come home. My girlfriend had organised a big surprise party and I had a Gibson gold top Les Paul cake. It was amazing and I felt like I made a really great record that I was happy with and I think that’s all I could have asked from myself.”

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I AM SEXIST BY JOSHUA HODGES

(THIS ISN'T GOING TO END BADLY, WE PROMISE)

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Despite this upbringing, I was aware that something was missing from my left leaning narrative. There was something about my interpretation of feminism that prevented me wholeheartedly adopting its ideological thrust. Although as a concept, feminism is both broad and fluid, I felt that it represented an attack on me personally as a white male. On the surface, whether it was at a university lecture on domestic violence or a tutorial discussion about the differences in pay, I nodded my head in approval and acknowledged that there are issues of inequality between men and women in Australia that need to be rectified. However, on a deeper level there was something I found confronting in the message. I felt that it wasn’t enough to simply agree with the message, but that I should resent myself as a white male for being knowingly or unknowingly complicit in this patriarchal mechanism. I didn't believe these feelings were sexist, but a natural reaction to hearing something you didn't really understand. I didn’t understand how my position varied from that of my sister or the girls that I went to school with. They seemed to possess the same opportunities that were afforded me and achieved similar and more than often, far better outcomes. I didn’t understand why I was meant to acknowledge this patriarchal system that privileged my position when my personal experience didn’t necessarily validate its assertion. I sadly attest that this was my attitude until very recently.

that there hasn’t been progress or that every form of patriarchy is unequivocally a bad thing, but rather, that it still affects most people’s behaviour; mine especially.

Then one seemingly insignificant event happened that ultimately changed my perspective. The event that set off a chain reaction of inner dispute and reflection involved a humid summer day sitting on a couch watching Silicon Valley. My older sister and her husband were visiting from the US with their disgustingly cute newborn. As I was enjoying the comical delights of said show, my sister, who was sitting next to me, began to lift up her shirt and pull her left breast out to begin to breastfeed my niece. This was not my first experience of being in the vicinity of breastfeeding; however, it was by far the closest proximity to a blood relative performing the essential act. I mention blood relative as I would never have opened my mouth and announced the stupidity that I did that fateful day. I beckoned the following: “... do you have to do that right next to me with your breast hanging out, you’re my sister and I would prefer not to see your tits”. My sister gave me a sharp look and rounded in on me to take full advantage of my careless and sexist remark. “That is incredibly sexist of you; do you hear me complain about you walking around all day with your tits out?” (I had my shirt off as it was hot). After hearing this reply, it suddenly dawned on me, that despite my best efforts to reassure myself that I was politically and socially aware; I am what I thought I vehemently despise. My behaviour can be and more often than I would care to admit, oppressive.

Why do I immediately begin to question the validity of allegations about the current inequality between men and women in Australia? Inevitably any theory or attempt to understand the reality of social mechanisms will possess some flaws and portray some biases, however; my first reaction to become defensive because of feelings of wrong accusation or gender profiling immediately shifts my attention from what really matters; the victims of patriarchy and gendered norms. Perhaps this is how patriarchy is still manifesting itself in me, despite my belief in equality. It narrows my perspective and clouds my judgment about the actual issue by immediately becoming defensive about perceived blanket statements. Like really, who cares if I am offended by the fact that my lecturer doesn't distinguish between "men" and "men who commit violence". What should matter is that there is something structural at work and something seriously wrong when the number one cause of preventable death in Victoria for women under the age of 42 is domestic violence.

Walking around without my shirt on showed me the difference in expectations between men and women and how ingrained they really are. When you really reduce the difference of the action depending on gendered norms, exposure of my mammories holds no useful natural significance; they are as obsolete as the Yellow Pages (actually a lot more as they have never been of any use to anyone). Simply, there is no natural reason or utilisation for them being exposed. On the other hand, the exposure of my sister’s breast does have a natural imperative. They literally sustain life. How it can be, that I question their social acceptance in their exposure when conversely, I would not think twice of my dad walking around topless at home (a sight that should be riddled with questions of social acceptability). If we were to deduct this by any reasonable logic; it would simply be absurd. Comparatively this might be perceived as a trivial difference in equality, but it is a difference that has shown me how pervasive patriarchy really is. It really is everywhere. This is not to suggest

This is how my sexist behaviours and beliefs became apparent. I realised that it was far more systemic than I originally thought. It wasn’t necessarily about educational and or workplace outcomes, both of which are important areas needing continued discussion around the attainment of equality, but rather, how my beliefs and informal social interactions were underlined with an unquestionable form of patriarchy. This unquestionable patriarchy resides within my own ignorance of gender equality issues and more hideously, the uneasy feeling I get when hearing attacks on white male privilege. Obviously it is hard to hear that the “group” (I don’t have the space to challenge or deconstruct racial, gendered, and or ethnic labelling... I ask the reader to forgive my broad strokes here) you belong to is responsible for the oppression of almost every other form of ethnic, gendered, and or racial group. But this is the position in which I find myself in, and to be honest, it is a very privileged position to be in. It is so privileged that the only resemblance of oppression or stigma I feel is listening to my undergradraduate Social Work lecturers rightfully highlight the shocking statistics of male perpetrated violence against women.

Why do I feel uneasy when hearing these statistics and statements surrounding the privilege of men and the damage they commit in society today? It is a question that I have struggled with for a long time. I believe the answer lies in reflecting back to my ridiculous remark to my sister regarding her breasts. My patriarchal nature is so ingrained that questioning the difference in exposing one's chest does not even register as a gendered issue. This makes me think of how many other inequalities I am completely unaware of. This realisation is not necessarily about the identification of singular inequalities, but rather, the pattern of ambivalence to them. This is what I have identified that is concerning to me, and something that I want to endeavour to change. I want to be able to hear issues of gender inequality and not immediately get on the defensive. I need to understand that talking about these issues does not implicate me as a male but as a fellow member of a just society. It's time to get over the petty squabbles of perceived male victimhood and acknowledge that there is something wrong, and from there develop a serious dialogue to begin to tackle this systemic attitude. *Note: This article is not an attempt to inspire women to walk around topless for my benefit. 153

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H E ’ S A N AT U R A L B O R N WORLD SHAKER

New Vintage Store was created out of two things; a passion for a good retail store and quality products. Two friends on a pilgrimage overseas decided they needed a change of course in their respective careers. After a few late nights and some bootleg grappa, a concept was born. Out of share passion New Vintage Store was created. They decided that lifestyle was more important then the classic 9-5. Part of the recipe is good people and good product. Over the last two years they have established two bricks and mortar stores. Sourcing international brands such as Left Field NYC, Red Wite Blue, Nama, Rogue Territory, Mad Works, Boombap and Pherrows to mention a few. Heritage vs contemporary. New Vintage Store is all about inclusion. What was once old is new again.

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