BLANK GOLD COAST ISSUE # 79 – JUNE 2020 by Blank Street Press

HOTA Gallery Opening in early 2021 with a packed program of international exhibitions and incredible art, indoors and out. BOOK NOW MORE INFO

H O TA . C O M . A U -HOTA-GA L L ER Y H OTA . COM.AU/NEW

Artist impression of HOTA Gallery

PLACEMAKERS* GOES BEHIND THE GOLDEN DOORS

Creative Director: Chloe Popa Advertising & Partnerships Manager: Amanda Gorman

Somerset Storyfest 2021 dates have been locked in and organisers are already hard at work to make sure it's one not to be missed. So mark your calendars for 13 to 20 March 2021, and get excited!

TeamWriters: Anthony Gebhardt, Zac Fahey and Simone Gorman-Clark Intern: Amaya Coburn Contributors: Natalie O’Driscoll, Samantha Morris, Anthony Gebhardt, Zac Fahey, Marj Osborne, Glenn Tozer, Simone Gorman-Clark, Prudence Clark, Naomi Middlebrook, Olivia Gane, Amaya Coburn, Tiffany Mitchell. Editorial: news@blankgc.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankgc.com.au Gigs: gigs@blankgc.com.au

Cover: Dr Kathomi Gatwiri, image supplied by Southern Cross University

Acknowledgement of Country We genuinely respect and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and play. We honour their elders past, present and emerging as well as the rich contribution that continues to be made to society through art, story and music.

About us: Blank GC is independently owned and published by Samantha Morris and Chloe Popa. Founded in 2013 we are the Gold Coast’s independent cultural voice and we rely on advertising as well as our generous contributors to keep us in the fray. Opinions expres sed herein are not necessarily those of the editor, publishers or the writing team.

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Australian tech startup, Stay Local Australia, has launched an app to support local accommodation businesses impacted by bushfires and COVID-19. The aim is to encourage local travellers to support local accommodation providers by seeing that accommodation businesses receive direct bookings, rather than losing fees and much-needed revenue to major overseas booking sites, particularly after the ravaging of COVID-19. Guests and hosts can support local at staylocalaustralia.com.

ROBINA TOWN CENTRE DOES DRIVETHRU ORDER AND COLLECT SERVICE Order & Collect is a new way to shop securely at Robina Town Centre. Shoppers simply place an order with one of the participating retailers and collect their goods from the convenience of their car, via the collection zone on The Promenade. Simple! More details at robinatowncentre.com.au

QUEENSLAND’S FIRST DRIVE-IN CONCERTS ARE ON THEIR WAY Drive-in concerts have already started taking place around the world with great success with more and more countries, and artists, picking up on the idea. Queensland organisers are currently working with the relevant State and Local Government bodies to ensure all the necessary regulations are in place to keep fans safe. The first of Queensland's Drive-In Concerts Live events is planned for the beginning of June (dependant on State Government timeline) and will be held in the Brisbane bayside town of Cleveland in Redland City. The line-up and dates to be announced shortly. #DriveInLiveAU driveinconcerts.live

Support Act has recently announced that its Wellbeing Helpline has been expanded beyond the music and theatre industries to now incorporate all artists and arts workers across Australia. The Helpline is a free confidential service available 24/7, staffed by professional clinicians familiar with issues faced by people working in music and the arts. It can be accessed by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia, or via email. Zoom video calls are also available.

Earlier this year, Placemakers* Gold Coast opened expressions of interest from Gold Coast artists working in performance, dance, music, visual art, screen and sound to create a work which will be presented as part of a new salon series - Behind The Golden Doors, and the successful artists have recently been announced: Christian Tancred working with Uncle Steve Cora and Neville “Torry” Torrisheeba, Laurie Oxenford, Jorge Serra, Rick Roser, Natalie Popovski, Rebecca Ross, Merinda Davies and Matt Cornell, Corrina Bonshek and Salvador Cantellano, Ruby Donohoe, Christine Sharp, Kacey Patrick and Karl S Williams, Daniele Constance, Katie Hooper, Kerbside Collective and Loki Liddle. Congrats to all! Watch this space for updates.

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SUPPORT ACT WELLBEING HELPLINE NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL ARTS WORKERS

PACK YOUR PASSPORT FOR TASTES UNKNOWN, BAZAAR IS YOUR MARKETPLACE OF GL

Managing Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR STORYFEST 2021

To book please call 5584 1240 or visit qthotels.com/gold-coast/eat-drink/bazaar

B Y R O N B AY

BRISBANE

WELCOME BACK TO OUR TASTING ROOMS! Our Tasting Room in Byron and our Brisbane brewery are back open for our pre-booked Welcome Back sessions.

10 PEOPLE PER SESSION | FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY | 12PM / 2PM / 4PM / 6PM Tickets $40 + BF include tasting paddle, meal and a voucher for our bottle shop. Whether you’re riding solo, in a pair or a group of 10, we look forward to having you back in our space! Book your spot at www.stoneandwood.com.au or call (02) 6685 5173 Thanks for your support in #KeepingLocalAlive! We couldn’t keep independent beer alive without you.

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THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT RUNNING A MUSIC STORE with Gold Coast Music

old Coast Music, located in the heart of Southport, has rapidly risen to become arguably the City’s premiere hub for the supply of musical instruments and all things muso-gear related.

The store is owned and run by dynamic husband and wife team Stewy and Tamara Fairhurst. They’ve always been great supporters of the local music scene and this year has been no exception, with Gold Coast Music stepping up to sponsor the ‘Live music of the year’ category at this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards, which was taken out by Tijuana Cartel. In this day and age running any sort of bricks and mortar retail outlet, especially when it comes to music, is best left to the denizens of passion and perseverance. Challenges abound, and resilience is paramount for those with an eye for longevity. At the end of 2018 Stewy and Tamara took the plunge to bravely step out and open their own store at the Southport site (which had previously been an Allan’s Billy Hyde outlet). Stewy’s musical passion, customer savvy and retail background in music stores (having previously managed the Musicians Pro Shop at Mermaid Beach) combined with Tamara’s skills and experience with the behind-the-scenes, engine room component of running a business, has ensured that their perfect match has translated to the business realm and transformed the store when they rebranded it as Gold Coast Music. Keeping it focused on getting the simple, common sense stuff right every time has been a hallmark of the store’s success. In the words of Tamara; “Running a music store is about knowing your customer's demands so you know what to order. Customer service is definitely paramount, as well as problem solving and a quick wit to help solve your customer's issues. “You must also have a knack for predicting the future – HA! It would be great to have a crystal ball, but in reality, that is what a lot of your time is spent on, increasing business and the opportunity to keep the bills paid.” Tammy also enlightened us on a few of the more interesting aspects and surprising anecdotes when it comes to running a store catering for the music fraternity. You stock a wide and diverse array of instruments. Can you tell us about a few of the most unusual or 'niche' instruments or gear that you have in the store? We have a Lanikai eight string ukulele and wooden train whistles! Then there’s jaw harps – not many remember, or know of these little beauties. And no, you don't get to play all the instruments, like some may think! What's the strangest request or inquiry you've encountered in the store? Someone came in and asked if we sell bread and milk!! How has the COVID-19 pandemic played out and impacted Gold Coast Music?

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Well, to be honest, business has gone into overdrive, which we were not expecting. We are trying to keep up and have even employed more warehouse staff. To adapt to the situation, we are abiding by the strict regulations of social distancing, sanitation and cleanliness. We have the necessary signage and hand sanitiser in place to remind our customers as they enter the store. Although unfortunately during this pandemic, we have had to halt the workshops and industry nights we had planned for. However, stay tuned, they will be upcoming when we are safely able to! What are the most crucial factors to cover off in order to run a kick-arse record store? 1.

Good product knowledge

Experience in the industry

Customer service is everything

Problem solving and quick thinking

Have you had any famous or interesting people visit the store so far? Considering we have only been in business for just over 20 months, the list is relatively small so far. We've had Lee Kernigan, Virgil Donati, Brian Cadd, a couple of NRL players and of course lots of local musos and people in bands. Plus we have a staff member who had a few hits back in the day. As to who it is, well you’ll just have to come in and find out… Whether you’re a fully-fledged music industry type, a musical hobbyist or simply someone with a curiosity for all things music related, Gold Coast Music, located at 53 Nerang Street Southport, is definitely worth a visit. Check out their range over at gcmusic.com.au. Anthony Gebhardt

WOMEN IN RESEARCH WHO ARE CHANGING THE WORLD – PART 1 celebrates nurses around the world in 2020

hen the World Health Organisation designated 2020 to be the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, it seemed pretty appropriate, and not because it was the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, which is why they originally chose it, but for a more obvious reason which I think we can all guess.

Healthcare is a stressful industry as the best of times, but for those on the frontline during the COVID-19 crisis, it’s likely to be one of the most arduous and unnerving periods of their professional lives. And in some cases, like that of 29-year-old Gold Coaster Ellie Foley, it actually saw the launch of their careers in health. COVID-19 took Ellie Foley’s job in the hospitality industry, but she turned the loss on its head to pursue her dream career as a nurse. The job loss came as shock to Ellie, as it did to many people all over the world who found themselves suddenly without work. “I struggled to adjust to the reality of unemployment, while raising a young family and studying nursing fulltime at TAFE Queensland,” said Ellie. “I wanted to get straight back into the workforce and being halfway through my nursing studies was the perfect opportunity to use my newly acquired skills and pursue a job in the health industry.” The Diploma of Nursing student met with a TAFE Queensland Employment Officer who was able to connect her with Bolton Clarke Residential Aged Care in Currumbin. She then secured a job there as a personal carer.

hether it's marine science, environmental contaminants, regenerative agriculture, food security, stroke rehabilitation or social dynamics, Southern Cross University researchers are tackling the questions that matter, and coming up with solutions. In this series, we look at just a few of many women researchers who are pushing the boundaries in their respective fields. Part 1 takes a closer look at award-winning trauma researcher Dr Kathomi Gatwiri and passionate marine scientist and lecturer Dr Anna Scott.

DR KATHOMI GATWIRI

"Together the theory, practical work and placements ensured I had enough experience to start my nursing career and now I get to work and learn simultaneously while applying my skills in the real world.”

Dr Kathomi Gatwiri is an award-winning researcher, lecturer and activist. She is a regular guest on ABC radio discussing issues affecting Africans in Australia. Her book, African Womanhood and Incontinent Bodies, explores the issue of women living with vaginal fistulas in Kenya, the country where she was born. She campaigns against Female Genital Mutilation, early marriages and other forms of gendered violence that can give rise to conditions such as fistulas. Kathomi is also the founder of Counting Dead Women – Kenya, an initiative that aims to record every woman’s murder reported in the Kenyan media.

“I can’t thank TAFE Queensland enough - they not only gave me the confidence, skills and capability to chase my dreams, but also connected me with my new employer,” she said.

Kathomi enrolled in university when she was just 17 and at 27, she was one of the youngest Kenyan women to ever be awarded a PhD.

Upon graduating at the end of this year, the mother-of-two plans to go onto university to become a midwife.

“For my PhD research I wanted to understand how prolonged childbirth trauma that leads to obstetric fistulas impacts women’s lives. A fistula often leaves women with a body that is uncontrollably incontinent so I was interested in seeing how women showed agency, how they coped and how they interpreted what had happened to their bodies. My dream is that women in Kenya – and everywhere – can give birth safely and receive treatment for conditions like fistulas without humiliation, fear or shame,” she says.

Ellie, who studies at the Southport campus, said she is extremely grateful to have a job in the current climate, particularly just six months into starting her diploma.

Natalie O’Driscoll

A huge and heartfelt thank you to all our nurses, midwives, and other health workers who have been holding things together over the last few months. We don’t know what we’d do without you. There is some excellent content around nursing worldwide at 2020yearofthenurse.org. For more information about TAFE Queensland’s nursing programs call 1300 308 233 or visit tafeqld.edu.au. 8

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“My work now has shifted into other trauma aspects, primarily focusing on two areas. First, how complex trauma

affects the development and life trajectory of children and young people in out of home care and secondly, how racialised trauma impacts how Africans navigate their lives in Australia. “As a trauma researcher, it is very important to have very strong boundaries to ensure that the distressing nature of this work doesn’t seep into your personal life. But I am very lucky to have some fantastic colleagues here at Southern Cross and across Australia who have been very intellectually generous and supportive of my work,” she says.

DR ANNA SCOTT Dr Anna Scott is happiest when she's either in the ocean or studying things that live in it. This passionate marine scientist and lecturer at Southern Cross has been researching sea anemones – that form an iconic symbiotic relationship with anemonefishes – for more than a decade. Her research has provided the first scientific description of the sexual reproductive biology of host sea anemones, and she is using this information to develop methods for captive-breeding. This is particularly important given that these anemones are highly prized in the marine aquarium trade and collected from reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. Furthermore, these anemones bleach just like corals do, so Anna has also been documenting how these animals respond to our changing climate by determining bleaching thresholds, and how protective mechanisms are used to counteract stress and changes in their distribution and abundance in the field. President of the Australian Coral Society, the world’s oldest society dedicated to the study and conservation of coral reefs, Anna divides her time between the reefs of the world and the unique environment of the Solitary Islands Marine Park near the University’s National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour, where the world’s highest published density of anemonefish and sea anemones is located. Keep your eyes peeled for the remainder of this series. To investigate study or research options at Southern Cross University, visit scu.edu.au/study.

HOTA GALLERY SEEKS 20 STONE & WOOD SAYS GOLD COAST ARTISTS WELCOME BACK!

n incredibly exciting news for the world of Gold Coast art, Home of the Arts has recently announced it will commission up to 20 Gold Coast artists to create a suite of new work for a major exhibition to be presented in the new HOTA Gallery in 2021. Following its well-received Rage Against the V(irus) quick fire artist fund, the cultural precinct is fast-tracking the next stage of support for Gold Coast artists with a new commissioning opportunity that will see selected artists receive $5,000 to create a body of work for an exhibition. HOTA CEO, Criena Gehrke, said the callout was a unique opportunity for Gold Coast artists. “Now more than ever, we have a deep responsibility to support Gold Coast artists. We have fast-tracked this $100,000 commissioning opportunity for up to 20 artists to create new works for the inaugural HOTA Gallery program in 2021,” she said. “We have huge talent in our community and to highlight their work in this incredible gallery pays homage to that. Artists are at the core of our vision; without artists there is no home of the arts.” The newly commissioned works will be presented in an exhibition within the new HOTA Gallery’s 1000m2 AAA rated main exhibition space, with a number of the works to be placed outdoors in the surrounding parklands. Gold Coast artists, or those who can demonstrate a significant link to the Gold Coast region, are invited to submit ideas for indoor and outdoor works, ranging from medium to large-scale installations, video projections, free-standing sculptures and

performance, to all types of outdoor art that can be executed well in the environment.

HOTA are accepting submissions from established and emerging artists aged 18 years or older. Artists who share the belief that art has the power to unite, challenge, transform and delight, are encouraged to submit ideas. HOTA Gallery is the centrepiece of the City’s Cultural Precinct Masterplan which guides the evolution of the precinct over the next 1015 years as the city’s artistic and cultural needs grow. Currently under construction within the HOTA parklands, the new $60.5 million HOTA Gallery will be the largest gallery outside a capital city in Australia. HOTA Gallery will become the permanent home for the $32 million City Collection, whilst presenting international exhibitions exclusive to Australia alongside an ongoing commitment to present the work of local artists. This initiative only serves to further cement HOTA’s place as the beating heart of the Gold Coast arts scene. As well as receiving an artist fee for their participation in the exhibition, successful applicants will have the support from the HOTA Gallery Curatorial and Exhibitions teams to develop, prepare, and install their work. Natalie O’Driscoll

Applications are open now and can be submitted online at hota.com.au/opencall. The deadline for applications is Friday 19 June. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 3 July. Successful artists must have all artwork completed by January 2021, with further details around the exhibition date announced in late 2020.

opular independent brewery Stone & Wood is now officially saying ‘welcome back’ to ten patrons at a time, at its Brisbane and Byron locations.

Since mid May, Stone & Wood has been inviting up to 10 people at a time to their ‘Welcome Back’ sessions every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, where patrons prebook their spots and preferred time slot online before heading to either their Byron Bay or Brisbane brewery. The much-welcomed move is in response to the state governments’ relaxed restrictions on gatherings. Although completely necessary, the restrictions have seen many industries, including hospitality, grind to a virtual halt over the last couple of months. Since closing their doors in response to COVID-19 in late March, both Stone & Wood’s Tasting Room in Byron Bay and its Brisbane brewery in Fortitude Valley have been operating as takeaway windows for local beer-lovers to purchase cartons, six-packs and 1L sharer bottles of beer. Nick Boots, head of Stone & Wood, reflects on the period and how the team has gotten through things together.

country, all of whom are resilient, resourceful and keen to see indie beer thrive well into the future. Reopening our doors for like another important step in keeping local brewing alive.” Pre-booked sessions in the re-opened tasting rooms are a tiny $40 per person and include a three-beer tasting paddle, a meal, a brief tour with the Stone & Wood crew and a voucher for the bottle shop. There are four 100-minute sessions per Friday, Saturday and Sunday at both breweries between 12pm and 8pm. Patrons can book a single spot or any number of spots up to 10 for their friends, or groups of 10 can book out an entire session and enjoy the brewery to themselves. Stone & Wood’s specially trained crew will be keeping the breweries spotless and sanitised during and between the Welcome Back sessions. Any additional purchases will be card only, plus the crew will be practising physical distancing where possible. The federal government’s recent announcement of the first phase of the Roadmap to a COVIDSafe Australia was most welcomed by the Stone & Wood, who are looking forward to hosting their respective communities in the breweries once again.

“The closure of pubs, bars, restaurants and venues brought on a particularly tough period for venue-owners and people who work in hospitality – and it’s also been difficult for the beer industry, for the breweries who supply those venues with beer. For independent Australian breweries, this has certainly been the case.

“We haven’t had people in our Tasting Room for a good seven weeks, so it feels great to welcome our community back and to provide an opportunity for them to enjoy a fresh beer with friends or close ones – out of the house finally,” says Nick.

“Fortunately, we’re one of 600-plus independent Australian breweries around the

Bookings can be made at stoneandwood. com.au.

Natalie O’Driscoll

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Take back control of your future at Southern Cross University Start your music career with a university ranked 5-star for learning resources and student support in creative arts (Good Universities Guide 2019). Our contemporary music graduates have performed and produced on Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest stages. Learn in world-class music studios, from lecturers who are practising musicians with strong industry links. Our music degrees are delivered at Coomera on the Gold Coast and the Lismore campus.

Apply now to start in July.

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THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC It’s The Bomb!

he Business Of Music (BOM) is a group mentoring program for those working within the music industry (from artists and musicians through to venue owners, producers, managers and creatives), who are looking to take their business acumen to the next level.

at TAFE Coomera campus, as well as being a member of the Music Advisory Group for the city. So he’s clearly very qualified to be taking the lead role in delivering the BOM.

In the words of course convener (and all-round Gold Coast music legend, Brad Hosking), “it’s an opportunity for local Gold Coast music and arts practitioners to up-skill their music business knowledge and practice, and to build a community of local musicians with skills to positively impact and develop the local industry.”

“My role is somewhere in between a facilitator, a teacher, a mentor and an industry rolodex. I lean on my contacts throughout the industry - from label heads, A&R from major publishing companies, festival programmers, sync agents, major label artists, successful independent artists, booking agents, artist managers, tour managers, distribution companies, major radio stations, publicists, ticketing companies, online music marketers etc - to deliver really up to date knowledge and advice for current music businesses. We also have some great support staff from our other amazing music department at TAFE Queensland in Sam BesmehnBurt, Dylan Blackman, Donovan Lee and Ben Crawford.”

The program is delivered in partnership with the Gold Coast City Council as part of their Music Action Plan. It’s a fairly new initiative, utilising the expertise and resources of TAFE Queensland, who were proud sponsors of the ‘Musician of the Year’ category at this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards (which was taken out by Julz Parker of Hussy Hicks.) The program has already run twice, and has two more intakes schedules for 2021. The May intake has just kicked off and there’s an October one to come. What’s special about these intakes, apart from the fact that they’re being delivered online in order to adapt to the current social climate, is that their fees are being completely subsidised, meaning students won’t pay a cent. The course is dynamically tailored to the individualised needs of the participants of each intake, as Brad explains; “This program is not like a typical music business TAFE program where you have modules that students need to progress through. Everything that is covered, and the guest mentors/ speakers that we invite in, are all determined by the students’ needs, whose knowledge gaps we look to fill. We survey the participants areas of interest in week one and develop content specifically for that group of participants, and tailor the guest speakers to those areas of interest.” Brad is also a senior lecturer and course coordinator in the Southern Cross University Bachelor of Contemporary Music

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Upon asking him what his role in delivering the course specifically entails, it turns out he’s quite the multi-faceted all-rounder!

The upcoming intake into the next BOM will be the fourth cohort to progress through the ranks. The roll-call of previous graduates is impressive, and Brad is enthusiastic about what they’ve been achieving. “We have seen a lot of artists now starting to release music, develop working relationships with others in the group and think about their businesses in different ways to how they have before. Some of the alumni that have recently released music include Elska, Michael McCartney, Harry J Hart, Eleea, Matt Gray, Bones Rivers, Chloe Styler, Soft Nylon and Danny Dyson. “Michael McCartney is in the process of releasing some amazing music that he has been planning out for many years and getting great response from national radio. And Elska played a leading role in organising #goldcoastsoundslike - a virtual music festival during COVID-19 isolation that featured a number of Business of Music alumni.” With COVID-19 changing the face of the musical landscape for the time being, I ask Brad if the course has needed to be tweaked to reflect this.

“As mentioned earlier, the content is driven by the needs of the current cohort and COVID-19 has certainly temporarily shifted a lot of the industry”, says Brad. “The major change to the course itself is the online delivery for the next cohort. We finished the previous cohort online with Gang of Youths and Amy Shark's tour manager, Zack Marshall and Gregg Donovan from Wonderlick Entertainment, where COVID-19 became a major focus of those discussions. “Artists are still releasing music and music consumers are still hungry for it, so although being heavily impacted, the music business itself is still very active.” Upon wrapping things up with Brad, I ask him about of few of his other endeavours when he’s not in teaching mode. Turns out he has a few! “Blind Boy Studios is my production facility where I am lucky enough to produce, write with and/or mix some amazing work. Just recently a number of artists that I'm working with have released some great work, including Ella Fence, Soft Nylon, Karlou, Pure Milk, Calan Mai, Electrik Lemonade, Eleea, and Mardi Wilson to name a few. “I also am the MD and play guitar/bass/synths for Amy Shark. When I can, I play trumpet with Electrik Lemonade and guitar/piano for City Over Sand.” Phew! That’s one busy Brad. Places are limited to 20 per intake for Gold Coast-based music industry professionals who can evidence a minimum of two years professional activity. Note: you must also be a GC Resident and an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. And as mentioned, to help support the music sector in the current environment places in the next intake will have fees 100% supported by the MAP and TAFE Queensland valued at over $2000 per place. For those interested in finding out more about the course visit www. goldcoast.qld.gov.au. Anthony Gebhardt

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START YOUR STUDY JOURNEY WITH TAFE QUEENSLAND Study one of the below courses and explore our degree pathway options CUA50815 Diploma of Music Industry (Sound Production) CUA50815 Diploma of Music Industry (Performance) CUA51015 Diploma of Screen and Media CUA51015 Diploma of Screen and Media (Interactive Media) CUA50715 Diploma of Graphic Design ICT50418 Diploma of Information Technology Networking ICT50718 Diploma of Software Development

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WINNERS – 2020 GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS ARTIST OF THE YEAR

sponsored by QT Gold Coast

The Story – Eddie Ray GOLD COAST MUSIC PRIZE

sponsored by Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival

DENNIS. PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD sponsored by East West Presents

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JACOB LEE’S SILHOUETTE

old Coast singer Jacob Lee has a mega online following, measured in the millions, and attributes much of his success to being consistently active online with his fans. According to Jacob, this time of isolation is the perfect time for artists to build up their online presence and increase their revenue through streaming and YouTube. With his recent track ‘Silhouette’ resonating with fans worldwide, we thought it was the perfect time to catch up with this homegrown superstar and find out what else he’s been up to.

This month you released single ‘Silhouette’ from your upcoming album. It’s quite a sorrowful song and begs the question: Where does this sadness and, seemingly personal lyrics, stem from?

Your ‘Guidance Tour’ of Europe was cancelled in March due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel, and like most of us, you are now based at home. How have you been filling the days and nights during this hiatus period?

I feel this new album is more consolidated and could be described as a library of lyrics. ‘Silhouette’ is the second last track and it’s best described as electronic, electro/pop and is the most electronic of the ten songs. The album will be released firstly as an original pop version, then over the next few months, an acoustic version followed by an orchestral production with strings and piano but no vocals - pretty excited that this will happen in Nashville. Then I’m going for a completely different genre - a deep house, lo-fi package.

In lots of ways it’s not too much different for me. I have been learning new skills including piano and production. In fact, I have preproduced my whole new album which is a first. After my ‘Guidance Tour’ cancelled … I flew into Rome and was then turned back … I decided to keep the online content rolling for everyone to enjoy from the safety of their homes. It’s so important for independent artists to be active with their fans. I’ve also been focussed on keeping Nikki, my partner, healthy and happy. We’re expecting our little boy to arrive any day now. You still managed to connect with your fans in March with your ‘No Tour’ Tour and by all accounts it was a huge success. Tell us about that. I streamed live from my garage over three dates and time zones, using Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and was able to do a full acoustic set with a live Q&A. Each show was two hours instead of the usual 90-minute live show. It was an incredible way to bring the artist and fans together.

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Artistry is not always autobiographical. I wrote ‘Silhouette’ at the beginning of last year and I definitely wasn’t in a sad place. It’s a melancholic and introspective song and more honest that I would have liked, but it’s more about being empathetic, and this really resonates with people. ‘Conscience’ is your new album and we are already hearing great things about it, particularly the diversity of styles and genres. What can we expect when it’s released later this year?

COVID-19 restrictions are starting to ease but sadly it seems it will still be a while before live gatherings are happening again. What’s your best advice to other singers and performers who are at home in isolation? Get online and create a presence and a second revenue through streaming and YouTube. Do this while people are at home and online. People will find you. Naomi Middlebrook

Keep an eye on all the usual social media platforms (@jacobleemusic // fb.com/ jacoblee) and stream Jacob into your loungerooms. He won’t disappoint.

DYSON SHOWCASES A SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE When Gold Coast artist Elska hosted a #GoldCoastSoundsLike Instagram streama-thon on 11 April, the lineup was filled with a bunch of talented Gold Coast artists from a variety of genres. Amongst better known artists like Elska, San Mei, Ella Fence, Saint Lane and Tesla Coils, the instaschedule sported a bunch of names relatively unknown but nonetheless impressive.

2020 (available now on your favoured music platform). ‘What Ails You’ opened his #GoldCoastSoundsLike set, and was officially released on 22 April, following up ‘Stuck in the Moment’ from earlier in the year. Both tracks might remind a listener of a younger Tom Petty or Bernard Fanning but Dyson says his pedigree originates from a place a little more staid.

One of those unexpected gems was Danny Dyson, a self-described acoustic singer-songwriter with an indie/folk/ blues influence. Dyson appeared for #GoldCoastSoundsLike on his Instagram feed in a polished looking studio, wooden wall panels and a leather couch setting the tone perfectly for his smooth and husky voice, and his songs of love and hope.

“I actually grew up in church so was playing music on stage every weekend. This also gave me the opportunity me to be a part of quite a few ‘combined church' concerts over the years and I played electric guitar and vocals on three separate church music albums.”

A dad of 3 boys who cut his teeth playing covers at shopping centres, weddings and the GC Turf Club, before kicking on to a few higher profile events like Gympie Muster and 102.9 Hot Tomato promos, Dyson remarked on his studio setup. “I've always had the care factor and a passion to learn more about film, audio mixing and music production…My home studio, is basically a garage converted into a large room. On one side I have a giant timber pallet wall that I created from free pallets on Gumtree. I typically turn of all light except for the Edison bulbs in the background and the 5500k front light.” While Dyson has recordings planned for the coming year with his new outfit Cold Kites, he’s already released two singles in

Dyson is one of a growing number of emerging musicians who trained with Brad Hosking (Amy Shark, Electrik Lemonade) at TAFE Queensland’s Bachelor of Music course, which is where he bumped into Elska and ultimately landed the slot on #GoldCoastSoundsLike. No doubt when COVID restrictions lift and we get back to live music, we’ll be hearing more from Dyson and his musical magic. “I'm not naturally an extrovert … but when it comes to music, the beauty and mystery of it all overcomes any fears I might have of performing. Music is magical,” he said. Glenn Tozer

You can follow Danny’s musical shenanigans @dannydyson and fb.com/ dannydysonofficial.

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I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL

A Chat With Rebel FM’s Cheryl Jowitt

ebel FM is a Gold Coast-based radio network dedicated exclusively to the love of rock, in all of its many fist-pumping myriads, both classic and contemporary. Those with a penchant for guitar-based sounds have been tuning into the 99.4 frequency since the station transformed into a dedicated rock station in 1992 through the efforts of radio industry lifer and rock and roll tragic Cheryl Jowitt and her husband Aaron.

The pair leveraged off each other’s strengths, with Aaron taking the role of music programmer/director and engineer and Cheryl gravitating to the sales and marketing side of the operation. Together they forged not only a station dedicated exclusively to rock and roll, but also one of the few independently owned family radio networks in Australia. Chatting with Cheryl in person and via email, her reluctance for the spotlight gives way to an enlightening insight into the foundations of the long running station, and the role that she has played in its success, as one of the first female trailblazers in a traditionally male dominated industry. Cheryl has spent her entire working career ensconced within the world of radio, saying of her formative journey; “I met my husband at a radio station in Tasmania and if it wasn't for him, I'd probably still be working somewhere on air. He inspired me to greater things and together in our early twenties we started our first commercial radio station, (SUN FM), in November 1996 in Beaudesert. Five years later, we had five stations operating. “By 2002 we had nearly 50 stations operational around regional Queensland and New South Wales. It was this stage that we converted SUN FM to a rock station.” Which is what rock aficionados now know as Rebel FM. As to the reason why they chose to focus exclusively on one specific genre of music for their radio network, Cheryl frames it within a duality of smart business sense passionately driven by a love of the source material. “We found that most stations were trying to be all things to all people, which means catering for a big cross section of the audience - which is a very difficult ask. The music influences of someone who is twenty is very different from someone who is forty or fifty years of age.” This outlook also shaped Cheryl and Aaron’s decision to branch out into a more laid-back strand of the rock and roll equation, launching the co-aligned Breeze FM network in 2003, catering for the adult contemporary (35 to 64 year old) listening demographic, with a focus on non-pop classic hits and oldies. The Breeze FM network also broadcasts on the Gold Coast (on the 100.6 FM frequency), as well as regional Queensland and New South Wales. Cheryl expands on the synergies between the two networks. “Most people will tend to go from one to the other, depending on their mood. When you want to blow off the cobwebs you turn on Rebel, and when you want to sit back at night with a nice wine, you go with Breeze.” As one of the first female go-getters within the realm of radio, Cheryl has proven to be somewhat of a pioneer. For

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an ambitious woman, getting ahead and making a mark in the media, particularly in the often testosterone-driven field of rock, was a rite of passage that she can now reflect back on with a degree of wisdom and acknowledgement that the times have indeed a-changed and moved on for the better. “Media was a tough place for a woman in the 80s and you'll often hear people in the industry say what happened in the 80s should stay there and never be spoken about again.

“At that time, I was one of only a handful of women working in commercial radio in Australia on air. It was a very male dominated industry. It's taken many decades for that to change, but now we're seeing a lot of women, not only on air, but in management roles as well.” Cheryl is also forthright when it comes to how she came to be a rock and roll gal and why it resonates with her so profoundly. “It's the storytelling of rock that I love. Rock stars tell their story in a real gritty, truthful way that really hits home. And that's very similar to really good country music.” While broadcasting into such far flung regional hubs as Stanthorpe, Cooktown, Goondiwindi and Tenterfield, the entire Rebel FM operation is run from Helensvale on the Gold Coast. Cheryl and her family made the Coast their permanent home for lifestyle reasons around 12 years ago, having previously resided fairly close by, in Jimboomba. “I'm lucky enough to live on acreage, so Saturday mornings, my neighbours aren't upset too much when I blow out the cobwebs by turning up some classic Aussie rock on the sound system,” she laughs. “Usually, Rose Tattoo, The Divinyls or AC/DC. I've seen them all perform live and I reckon the time I saw Rose Tattoo in a paddock surrounded by bonfires, out the back of Townsville (which I coordinated as the promotions manager at radio station 4TO at the time) was one of the best live performances ever.” With Rebel FM broadcasting for close to twenty years now, its focus on operating as a closely knit operation akin to an extended family is clearly a big part of the station’s success and longevity. “I feel that Rebel's success has got to do with the fact that we are real,” Cheryl states. “Our people love what they do, love the music and are really passionate about spreading the message.” Cheryl’s marketing savvy and forwardthinking outlook has also more recently seen Rebel FM branch out into the global realm of digital streaming, such as on the I Heart Radio platform. So there’s still plenty to keep her busy, albeit at a more serene level, which suits her just fine, she says. “These days I live a more quiet life, still running our radio networks, overseeing our digital marketing business, Rebel Digital (and a few

other companies), which allows me to indulge my passion for marketing and helping local business owners to build stronger businesses. “I also want to further my work with women, to help them follow their true purpose in life and to learn how to excel in their own power. Equality for all genders is important and I think that once we remove all preconceived perceptions of gender and start looking at people as humans regardless of race, gender, sexuality or religion, we'll all be a lot better off.” Anthony Gebhardt

Rebel FM were proud Event Partners of the 2020 Gold Coast Music Awards. Gold Coasters can catch them on 99.4FM. Visit rebelfm.com.au for news, comps and more.

ENTERING THE ORBIT OF KOBRAKAI I

ntergalactic heavy-rock lords Kobrakai have set their phasers to stun with their epic new single, ‘Planets’. The track, which we review in the New Music column for June, takes the band’s metal and prog tinged, fuzzed out template and launches it into the stratosphere, off the back of a trip through the mind’s eye in the shape of its spectacular video. It’s a heady trip to the outer realms of the cosmos and beyond, resplendent in images of galaxies, supernovas, nebulas and distant, mysterious planets. In short, it’s a sci fi buff ’s starry eyed dream! Being renowned sci fi nuts themselves, the band impressively enlisted the services of the mysteriously monikered Palabara, who've worked on some of the most recent Star Trek films! Read on to find out more, as we enter the interplanetary orbit of the Kobrakai collective, Cloudy (guitar and vox), Fuzz (bass and vox) and Loco (drums)…

Congratulations on the new track, 'Planets'. Can you take us through the origins of the track and how it came together in the studio? Planets was conceived after having a couple of rogue riffs kicking around rehearsal for a few weeks. We gradually worked on making it tight enough for some studio time that was booked in advance. The lyrics and melody came along about three days prior to recording. Having being influenced by a binge of Sci-fi at the time, like the deep movies Ad Astra and Interstellar, and John Wyndham books, the lyrical idea of a cosmic reset for the human population was the focus. The idea that a utopian society could be forged and nurtured on a virgin planet appealed. Especially with the dilemmas the world faces at the moment - who wouldn't love a do-over? In the studio, it came together perfectly under the influence of Nik Carpenter at Core Studios. He guided us in a new way of recording that we hadn't tried in our past efforts - and I think the results speak for themselves. It is the most dense song we have done up until this point, with many layers and a lot going on in the mix. It was also the first time we had done a spoken word delivery - probably after listening to a lot of Henry Rollins at the time. The track was mastered by Paul Blakey from 12th & Vine Post. I understand that you're working on a new EP and that 'Planets' is the first of three new numbers recently recorded at Core Studios. How is the EP shaping up and when will it see the light of day? And is ‘Planets’ indicative of the style and sound of the other new tracks that'll be on the EP? Yeah, we are stoked at the prospect of releasing an EP, but at this stage the date hasn't been set. We have the fourth and final song ready for a basic demo. So that will be done 22

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relatively soon. We're super excited to get this song down, as it's another evolution of our sound. All three songs are produced and mixed and ready sonically. We are in the process of developing videos for the two remaining songs. Can't wait for that! ‘Planets’ is definitely an indication of the heavier direction we are headed, while still keeping melodies, subtle harmonies and meaningful lyrics as our backbone. The film clip is a stunning visual trip through the cosmos... great stuff! Are you able to shed some light on Palabara and how it came about that you collaborated on the ‘Planets’ video? It was blind luck that we stumbled across the skills of Palabara. We'd be searching online for the services of a videographer and animator, and we saw some sci-fi themed snippets of their work which seemed in line with what we had in mind. To our knowledge they hadn't done a music video before. They seemed excited by the prospect and we were mighty impressed by the final product. We still don't know if Palabara is one, or one of many. Maybe that's just how it is supposed to be. They cite sci-fi animators Allan Mcckay and Andrew Framer as their biggest influences. As self-confessed sci-fi nuts, what are your top three space themed shows or movies? And do you have a favourite sci-fi movie score or soundtrack? We don't think there is any doubt that sci-fi is a means of mental and emotional escape. That being said, here are our favourites from the genre:

Loco (drums): Star Wars and Ex Machina (if you've never seen the latter, do yourselves a favour!) Best soundtrack, The Crow. Fuzz (bass/vox): Watchmen, Interstellar and Running Man. For the best sci-fi soundtrack, Fuzz can't go past The Crow. Cloudy (guitar/vox): Interstellar, Event Horizon, the first Star Trek re-boot film, The Matrix and the mighty Red Dwarf. For the best sci-fi soundtrack, Cloudy recommends the Back to the Future trilogy (especially the ZZ Top cameos .. the outros to The Matrix films are rad too). How have you guys been coping in these crazy COVID-19 times of lockdowns and no live music? And has this zeitgeist filtered into your creative processes and steered you towards new outlets, inspirations and opportunities when it comes to your music? Initially, we just accepted it for what it was and did what we had to do. As time went on, the idea of jamming with your mates, (whether it be in a dark rehearsal room, or on stage in the middle of metropolis) is a welcome change for when the curtain finally comes down. We've been swapping video ideas for new songs (as we would normally do), but the pandemic forced us to make a call on whether we release our new material as one EP now, or drip feed the songs over time in line with a video release. We chose the latter, got to work on the video and we're pretty proud of the product that you see before you. Stay tuned for more! Anthony Gebhardt

You can take a ride through the awesome world of ‘Planets’ by Kobrakai right now on YouTube – be sure to, cause it’s well worth the trip! Follow fb.com/kobrakaimusic for all the happenings.

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FACING CRISIS WITH CYCHO’S PAYS IT FORWARD CREATIVITY – MEET JOE EXOTIC TheWings couple behind Cycho’s Buffalo in Southport, Hanzel and

uring hard times like COVID-19, staying in the public eye is a crucial factor in helping your business to thrive. Confined indoors or at minimum to the local area, keeping locals happy is of prime importance, as is an online presence to spread the word a little further. How to gain attention? Well, that’s another story… Enter Joe Exotic, infamous star of the Netflix documentary Tiger King. Not Joe in person, obviously, but Custard Canteen’s manager Dan, dressed up as Joe Exotic, serving customers. It’s a creative move by the restaurant, whose owners Ursula and Ben Watts founded Paddock Bakery (since sold), then Bam Bam, Cubby Bakehouse, and Custard Canteen. Ursula tells us about how their businesses have dealt with the COVID-19 crisis: “The health of our patrons and staff is our highest priority,” Ursula tells us. “Soon after the lockdown began, we set up a ‘drive through’ concept at our venues to allow safe social distancing. Now, about 80% of people are purchasing their Custard Canteen and Cubby treats via our drive through which opens each morning and evening.” Things took a huge upward turn when the team decided to find humour in the face of adversity. In a stroke of genius, Joe Exotic, together with his dog Chook, his tiger-painted companion, greets diners who come to Custard Canteen’s drive through pickup station. The public response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

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However, such fun-filled creativity should not be a surprise because it has always been the foundation of their restaurants’ appeal, with each dish a unique take on a world favourite.

Wildly popular since opening, their businesses felt the force of COVID-19 stress: “It's been a tough time for everyone,” she says, “but we decided it was important to keep a positive attitude for our community and our staff,” she says, “a glass half full approach no matter what.” “For us, it's about serving our local community. We are continuing to trade to keep our staff members in jobs, our regulars caffeinated and to keep smiles on local kids' faces with Joe Exotic as well as the sticker packs we gift them at the drive throughs,” she says adding that, as a mother of two herself, she understands the challenges faced by parents of kids during isolation. For many, it’s a bright spot in their otherwise dismal ‘iso’ week, giving them a laugh, with Dan's antics brightening their day. “A lot of locals continue to support us and we've also had people travelling from all across the Gold Coast for the food and to see Joe Exotic and his antics in the flesh. Laughter helps us all as well, so that's been a nice distraction.” Marj Osborne

Custard Canteen, 1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach Open daily from 6am – 2.30pm & 4.30 7.30pm. Ph: 0474 008 562 to order ahead.

Cyrus Platon, have started a Pay it Forward scheme in their shop. For $9, you can buy an Incredi-Bowl of food which will be donated to someone in need.

It’s a sad but widely acknowledged fact that personal hardship can lead to empathy for others, and that’s certainly the case for Hanzel and Cyrus. Newly arrived in Australia, the couple were international students, Hanzel completing her final registration as a nurse, when life-threatening complications arose with her pregnancy and the birth of their first child. With mounting medical bills despite health insurance, it was the kindness of friends that saw them through. “As international students, we didn’t have any family here to help us out and we were not entitled to any government benefits,” Cyrus says. “Friends would come and leave food at the front door, and then we stayed with friends until we were through the worst times,” Cyrus tells us. Now, despite trade in the shop being down by about 50%, the couple are intent on making it through the crisis while helping others at the same time. Their efforts started close to home, broadening as time went on. Employing four international students as part-time workers in their restaurant, Cyrus and Hanzel say that they have spread out available hours between their employees, but they also send ready-to-eat meals to their homes to see them through the tough times.

They have also donated platters of food to ‘frontliners’ – police, hospital workers in ICU and emergency to help them feel supported. For the couple, their Catholic church group, the Light of Jesus Family, provides support for each other through good and bad times. “When COVID-19 made things tough for the business, we brainstormed ideas with the group about how to survive and we came up with the idea of providing community support through the business,” the couple say. “Our goal is to provide 50 bowls a week, 25 each Tuesday and Friday.” Financed by the church group for starters, the scheme was soon expanded so that customers could also donate to the cause. When a bowl is donated, the donor can write a message of hope on a Post It note. So far, the recipients have been students who have lost their jobs and jobless who have heard about the scheme and come into the shop, picked up one of the notes and brought it to the counter for their bowl of food. “So many people have lost their jobs,” the couple says, “so we hope that this initiative is supported for as long as we need it. If everyone gives something, there would be enough to go around. It also helps us keep our business alive.” Marj Osborne

Cycho’s Buffalo Wings, 6 Young St, Southport Ph: 0433 207 692

EDDIE RAY’S STORY A WINNER

t’s been quite an interesting year for Gold Coast all-rounder Mark Gray – aka Eddie Ray. I guess the same could be said for most of us. But what most of us COULDN’T say is that our one man comedy show got cancelled due to COVID-19 so we rode a friend’s motorbike home across Australia, filming an impromptu apocalyptic web comedy series on the way, and upon our return to the Gold Coast won an award for a music video we made on our partner’s smartphone, out of sketches and cutouts from children’s books. Nope, that honour is pretty much reserved for Mark.

We thought we’d better have a chat with him about it all to try and get our heads around it. Turns out, Mark was still doing the same thing. Still reeling from his unexpected win for Video of the Year at this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards (a home DIY animated video for his musical alter-ego Eddie Ray’s single ‘The Story’), Mark laughs about how the clip came about. ‘I found a This Is Your Life book at an op shop for $3, and I just got this stop animation app on my partner’s phone and we took a bunch of photos of me and printed and cut them out and I drew a whole bunch of cartoons like a TV and cityscapes and kind of played with it and cut out pictures from children’s books and was just mucking around! I had a couple of hours to kill and I thought ‘I’m gonna give this a go’. “After the first six hours I realised I’ve had about 30 second’s worth, (laughs) and it was at that point I thought ‘well I’ve started now so I can’t stop’.” The end result is a lively and diverting stop animation that pairs perfectly with the song’s anti-establishment sentiments. In fact, it’s so thoughtful and so seamlessly executed, it’s exactly as though it’s come out of a big budget production house after a month of storyboarding, with a brief to nonetheless try and make it “look low budget and off the cuff ”. An astonishing achievement. It’s hard to believe it was done by one guy, on a phone. Especially one who doesn’t even own his own smartphone, a point Eddie Ray makes so regularly in his various appearances that he even made a one-man comedy show out of it, called the Leader of the Resistance.

four episodes were filmed over five days, and were completely improvised.

“[The show] was full of terminator references - my Nokia has the sound of the Terminator,” explains Mark. “It was this idea that I accidentally became the leader of the resistance by not having a smartphone. It was super silly and it ended up having a fight scene with a smartphone in it and it was quite autobiographical as well.” Having performed in Darwin, Hobart, Perth and Adelaide, to positive critical and audience reviews, the show was really beginning to gain some momentum when the dreaded virus struck, and Mark and his partner were forced to head home from the Flinders range. But with the universe clearly wanting the Eddie Ray phenomenon to continue, opportunity struck. Or disaster, depending on who you ask. “My mate broke his ankle and asked if I could ride his bike back to the coast for him, and it was this accidental fluke we were able to do it,” Mark says. “I had a couple of ideas bouncing around my head about being isolated by yourself, and not knowing what’s going on with COVID-19 because you don’t have a smartphone or any access to media.” And thus, the Road Worrier was born. Four short web episodes, shot in the Australian outback, of Eddie Ray at his tomfool best, trying to figure out why Australia is suddenly deserted. Thoroughly ridiculous and altogether hilarious. Even more impressive when you throw in the fact that all

Post-production happened once Mark and his partner Amy returned to the Gold Coast, and was funded in part by HOTA’s Rage Against the V(irus) initiative. “I think it’s really cool that HOTA’s being so proactive and not just waiting for the storm to pass, I think it’s great they’re giving us these opportunities, and it’s nice to see what other people are doing and how this thing is inspiring people,” Mark enthuses. “Mine is a prime example - I never would have done that if I hadn’t got that funding. It’s keeping us motivated. My news feeds are full of amazing beautiful creative people supporting each other and I’ve always felt like the Gold Coast arts community is really good. It’s nice to see it manifesting in this way and see people sharing.” With Mark emailing various peeps to see if he can get a second Road Worrier season happening, plus more music and vids on the horizon (his vid for single ‘Lost’ has just dropped on his socials, and his band Burger Joint may well bounce back after this forced hiatus), this Gold Coast musician-artist-comedian-actor is not likely to be resting on his laurels any time soon. “I’m trying to stay busy, not really interested in just sitting around,” he states. Good. More fabulous content for the rest of us! Natalie O’Driscoll

The best place to get all of your Eddie Ray goodness is over at fb.com/theeddieray, and if you feel like a good old fashioned belly laugh (who doesn’t), you can check out the Road Worrier now over at hota.com.au/eddie-ray-road-worrier.

LONELY WHARF WHARVES front man Matt Collins is flexing his singer/songwriter skills with his lush sounding solo project called okmattcollins. The debut single ‘Everything’s Changing’ was released alongside a moving video clip which features Collins staring down the camera while delivering a heartfelt vocal performance along a lonely gravel road. Writing and recording all of the musical parts himself okmattcollins creates a full picture of loss and self discovery with this beautiful track which was written in the wake of a major breakup. Press play on this beauty but keep the tissues handy.

EMMAGEN RAIN HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE

of work in the form of a stunning 10-track mixtape. Collaborating with a host of high profile produces including Paces and Kilter, the mixtape showcases Doolie’s undeniable talent for writing edgy electronic bangers. Channeling the likes of Banks and Halsey, Doolie offers her own flavor of contemporary pop on this impressive debut that could easily be considered as a fully polished album.

Showing musical maturity well beyond her years, Emmagen Rain has just released ‘City Lights Call’, a well polished country-pop ballad that will be sure to get your boots scooting. Preforming and busking from the age of nine, Emmagen Rain has been making waves in the country music scene for years already and seems to have consolidated her sound at just 12 years old. Tactfully mixing acoustic singer/songwriter sensibilities with pop production qualities ‘City Lights Call’ is an exciting debut release from Emmagen Rain, another local talent that is bound for the spotlight.

LINDA ANGLEDAL’S INTRIGUING NEW SINGLE

ATHENA BRINGS JOY DURING ISO A silver lining to this terrible global pandemic that we’re experience at the moment is the amazing music it’s inspiring, and this month we’re starting to see some of the first releases written and recorded from isolation. Athena Joy’s new single ‘Take Me Away’ is a dreamscape reaction to time spent alone, written about escaping reality and getting lost in your own imagination. Ambient guitars and electronic delicacies support Joy’s stunning vocals, succeeding in taking the listener away on a short 2:31 journey into the creative musings of an isolated musician.

DEVOLVED IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

IVEY’S DANCE FLOOR HIT Ivey are showing no signs of slowing down after one of the most productive 12 months of any Gold Coast band. Their fifth consecutive single ‘Midnight’ is a an instant dance floor hit, written about letting go and giving into the moment. Once again teaming up with superstar producer Konstantin Kersting, the band delve even deeper into electronic pop territory, solidifying themselves as major players in the widely popular genre. Ivey have also been doing an excellent job of connecting with fans during isolation with regular performances. Their socials are well worth a look, even if it’s just to channel some of that live energy we’ve all been missing so much.

Gold Coast-raised, LA-based tech-metal masters ‘DEVOLVED’ will get you out of bed in the morning with their new sensory onslaught of a single ‘No Salvation’. The track sees guitar, drums, bass and vocals go absolutely hell for leather for over six minutes, displaying complete mastery of instrumentation and synchronicity. Dark lyrical overtones fit the vibe and can only be truly appreciated by checking out the bands official lyric video; but beware, Devolved ‘No Salvation’ is not for the faint hearted.

ALL ABOARD THE RAW DEEP FREIGHT TRAIN ‘King Of The World’ is the latest offering from local alt-rockers Raw Deep and is cleverly described as a freight train by the band here - “setting off smoothly from the station before accelerating into a steaming locomotive of foot stomping guitar riffs, dexterous lead guitar, crashing drum fills and rich vocals.” ‘King Of The World’ was written about yearning for something more and as the first of eight singles to be released this year, it seems that Raw Deep will not be leaving us yearning for too long at all. Keep an eye on the band’s socials for creative rapid fire from this exciting new Gold Coast crew.

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Linda Angledal has released an intriguing new single from a forthcoming solo electronic EP titled ‘Rain Dance’. The purely instrumental track builds slowly from ambience to anthem with the help of a driving percussion section and a plethora of fascinating sounds both electronic and organic. ‘Rain Dance’ somehow manages to gently guide the listener from a relaxing morning yoga session to a 2am rave in the Tipi Forest at Splendor In The Grass. Seriously impressive stuff here from Linda Angledal.

A WINNING DUET Local singer/songwriters Mimi Bailey and Nicky Muir have teamed up to release ‘Last December’, a pop infused country ballad that spells success for this newly formed duet. Inspired by Taylor Swift ‘Last December’, it uses a call response style vocal style to reminisce on a summer’s romance from the perspective of both male and female voices. Meeting while studying Griffith Universities famed Bachelor of Popular Music program, let’s hope they stick to the winning formula and give us more collaborations in the months to come.

KOBRAKAI TAKE YOU TO OUTA SPACE DOOLIE’S MASTERFUL MIXTAPE Local pop artist Doolie has been steadily growing her profile over the past few years, releasing a handful of successful singles that have attracted attention from several major management companies and record labels. Now with a solid fan base and a great team behind her, Doolie has released her first body

Horns to the sky, local rock kings Kobrakai are back with a brand new single ‘Planets’. Born from a series of jam sessions this riffheavy romper stomper hits hard from start to finish leaving the listener pumped and ready to take on the world. If a sonic journey isn’t enough, let Kobrakai take you on a mission to outer space with the intergalactic video for ‘Planets’. The first of several new tracks set for release this year we look forward to blasting off with Kobrakai again soon.

YT DINGO IS IN HIS OWN LEAGUE Following on from his explosive single ‘EOTW’ from earlier this year, YT DiNGO delivers a knock out punch with his latest

‘WTFU’. The single sees YT DiNGO continue to proudly carry his own unique style, delivering thought provoking sounds and lyrical content alongside a killer video full of contemporary dance fusion. Rage Against The Machine is the only comparison that could be drawn but even then they are a far cry from one another. It’s certainly not for everyone but credit is due to anyone who continues to push boundaries and raise eyebrows with every release.

SAINT LANE’S IMPRESSIVE EVOLUTION

BIANCA POWER’S SOULFUL SLOW BURNER Bianca Power has followed up her debut 2019 single with the soulful slow burner ‘I Need You’. Building from sparse percussion and electric guitar into a haunting jazzinfluenced band track, ‘I Need You’ is gelled together beautifully by Bianca’s sensational vocals. Said to be written about “fresh high school freedom” the track displays the musical maturity of a seasoned artist with vocal depth and control to match. ‘I Need You’ is easily one of the strongest Gold Coast releases of the year.

It’s been so great to sit back and watch the evolution of local hip-hop artist Saint Lane over the years, from Blank GC issue 15 cover star during his time with Ike Campbell to today’s self assured solo artist that sees Lane positioned as one of Australia’s most exciting emerging talents. ‘The Family’ is his latest offering and continues the simplistic, sample-based vibe from his successful single ‘Hickeys’ from earlier this year. Written about his troubled family life, Saint Lane describes the song as his most personal to date, reflecting on the fact that he was hesitant to even release it at all. ‘The Family’ is yet another step in the right direction for our young saint.

HOT COFFEE KEEP IT SMOOTH Funk fusion fanatics Hot Coffee have got us dancing with their first release of the year ‘Alibi’. Smooth production and masterful instrumentation lead the way on this excellent release from the local four-piece, offering a tasteful mix between Jamiroqui and Anderson Paak. Known for keeping their listeners guessing, Hot Coffee take an interesting musical turn just after the two minute mark here with the help of a well placed trumpet solo, finishing the track with a seemingly spontaneous jam; very cool.

ANITA SPRING WEARS HER HEART ON HER SLEEVE TIEN CORTEZ DOESN’T WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND Tien Cortez is introducing himself to us this month with his new single ‘I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend’. City hopping between Gold Coast and Brisbane, Cortez grew up with an addiction to writing music as a way to cure boredom, penning over 300 songs during his school years. As a one-man project Tien Cortez does well to present a full sound here, recording and producing everything himself with the self taught skills he picked up over years of trial and error. Think a heavier version of Darwin Deez and you’ll land on something close to Tien Cortez.

Anita Spring is back this month with her first release in over two years and she wearing he heart on her sleeve. ‘This Ain’t Pretty’ reflects on mental health and how hard it might be for some people right now dealing with troubling relationships and other issues. Anita Spring’s visit to Nashville has certainly influenced her current sound giving the single a polished country shine with the help of an all-star cast of world wide collaborators. ‘This Ain’t Pretty’ is the first of several of singles to be released this year followed by a full length album slated for early 2021.

SUNSET CITY RELEASE STRONGEST SINGLE TO DATE Sunset City are masters at crafting insanely catchy pop songs and their latest release ‘Numb’ might just be their strongest to date. Influences from pop heroes The Weeknd and Maroon 5 are evident but the overall sound is clearly their own, drawing on their experience from many years within the Australian music community. First written over three years ago about living in complete chaos, the track went through a rigorous production schedule which explored several completely different versions before arriving at what we hear today. It was certainly worth the wait because ‘Numb’ is a total winner.

WILD HEARTED FIND THE EQUILIBRIUM TYLAH WINYARD’S ASSURED DEBUT Writing and recording music since the age of 12, Tylah Winyard is far from a newcomer to the scene but this month sees her releasing the debut single from her brand new solo project under her own name. ‘Easy’ is a straight-up pop hit that is comparable to anything on the commercial charts right now. With the chorus rhythm finding an infectious dancehall beat reminiscent of Drake’s super hit ‘Hotline Bling’ and a stunning music video to match, ‘Easy’ is set to launch Tylah Winyard firmly into the spotlight.

It’s guitars to the front with Wild Hearted’s new track ‘Equilibrium’, the second release from the Gold Coast four-piece vintage rock band who name their influences as The Doors and The Rolling Stones. Staying true to their roots the vocal delivery is reminiscent of a young Jim Morrison while the instrumentation ebbs and flows in a loosely structured way as all great rock music did in the 60’s and 70’s. So press play and take a trip back to the summer of 69 with this fantastic new release from Wild Hearted.

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OVER THE THRESHOLD WITH MOUNTAIN GOAT MOUNTAIN

OTA, Home of the Arts has just launched an epic family adventure that can be embarked upon from the comfort of your lounge room. It’s called Mountain Goat Mountain, and it’s the ‘home theatre’ experience you never knew you needed.

Developed by Australian arts company Threshold, Mountain Goat Mountain is a narrative soundscape; a 45-minute audio-led journey in which participants crawl through tunnels, cross lava pits and swim through underwater caves, all without leaving home. In fact, all you need to disappear into your own magical adventure is a charged audio device, a bed sheet, a piece of blank paper and pencils, pens or textas. We spoke with artist and co-creator Sarah Lockwood of Threshold about this innovative experience, and how it all started. “The world is so weird at the moment,” she laughs, “I wonder if it all came from a sleep deprivation blur!” Taking just six weeks from conception to delivery, Mountain Goat Mountain was developed in response to lockdown restrictions and the closure of the live arts scene. “We wanted families to have a chance to connect with each other in a time where there was a lot of time being spent together but also a lot of stress and anxiety,” explains Sarah. “We thought people needed to feel nurtured, so we wanted to give them a moment of beauty and wonder, an opportunity to feel calmed.” Although Mountain Goat Mountain was a fast response to a unique scenario, Sarah is quick to point out that its elemental themes and design still very much embody the mission of Threshold. 32

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“We went into the business with a desire to create theatrical moments for people in their homes… we thought that we’d start exploring ways people could gather around key milestones in their lives, so we’ve looked at the first day of school, at birth, we’ve even got a card game for people who are considering a vasectomy! (laughs).” Until the current project, the relational in-home theatre experiences produced by Threshold had taken the form of physical products, so in this case it was just a matter of keeping the principles and pivoting the medium. Well, that and getting partners on board of course. Fortunately for Threshold, this part turned out to be one of the easiest, with our very own HOTA, Home of the Arts, forming one of a quartet of Australian arts centres who were more than happy to work together to bring the project to a national audience, something Sarah has said has been a “unique and wonderful experience”. And with no one really knowing what the world will look like post COVID-19, who knows? Virtual experiences like this might even become part of a normal arts landscape. As Sarah puts it, it’s an “opportunity to explore a new world together.” You can explore the new world with Mountain Goat Mountain now via the HOTA website. Natalie O’Driscoll

Created by artists, Zoë Barry, Liz Francis, Nikita Hederics, Tahli Corin and Sarah Lockwood for Threshold, this adventurous performance was developed with support of a national collaboration by art organisations, including HOTA, Arts Centre Melbourne, Adelaide Festival Centre’s DreamBIG Children’s Festival and AWESOME International Children’s Festival.

FARM TO TABLE PRODUCE

ockdown may have put a stop to a country drive, but it hasn’t stopped farms and food producers from operating. The missing link until now has been delivery from farm to table.

Meanwhile, in the Northern Rivers region, several producers including Nimbin Valley Dairy and Kat Harvey Cheese have been delivering their own farm produce to homes in Tweed and on the Gold Coast, including COVID survival boxes of dairy products and accompaniments.

Not anymore. Recently, producers in the Scenic Rim, Northern Rivers and Tweed Valley areas have banded together to bring their unique produce and products to a wider audience.

In a first for the Tweed area, Mount Warning Tours and Taste Tweed have collaborated to produce Taste Tweed Farm Tour in a Box, a feast for the senses with a virtual farm tour complete with locally produced goodies and a complimentary bundle of extras.

A group of Scenic Rim producers, supported by the Scenic Rim Regional Council, has launched Scenic Rim Farm Box, a new ‘farm to you’ home delivery business which will deliver the region’s best produce, products, wine and beer to your front door, making it easy to eat local every week. Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said that the Council aimed to help minimise the impact of COVID-19 on the Scenic Rim's economy. “Council has committed to work with the region's agricultural sector to develop a 'Scenic Rim Providore' sales, logistics and delivery solution to open up growth opportunities,” he said. Scenic Rim Farm Box will deliver the best of the Scenic Rim to households in Brisbane and beyond. The first boxes are expected to be delivered in early May, filled to the brim with fresh, seasonal goods straight from Scenic Rim producers. Customers can immediately sign up and be the first to know when the Scenic Rim Farm Box online shop goes live by visiting scenicrimfarmbox.com.au.

From the Tweed Shire to your door, Taste Tweed Farm Tour in a Box includes tastings from Husk Farm Distillery (North Tumbulgum), Tropical Fruit World (Duranbah), Madura Tea Estates (Clothiers Creek), Bucks Farm (Chillingham) The Chilli Chick (Cudgen), Dona Cholitas (Burringbar), Flutterbies Cottage Cafe (Tyalgum) and Tyalgum Honey Thieves (Tyalgum), Tweed Shire and farm tour documentary, recipe cards and shopping list and a Mount Warning Tours Rainforest Cruise voucher (valued at $55) with an open validity date, and free delivery Australia wide. The Taste Tweed Farm Tour in a Box can be purchased online at the Mount Warning Tours website mountwarningtours.com.au Marj Osborne

OFF THE RECORD WITH THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

rudence Clark from Off The Record chats to popular Brisbane alt-metal band The Butterfly Effect.

BECOME AN EDIBLE GARDENS PROMOTER N ot for profit service EdibleScapes have been working hard with their volunteers to establish a wide variety of edible gardens in the first phase of their communal edible garden project. So far the gardens have produced culinary and medicinal herbs, vegetables, edible plants and fruit trees, with enough surplus to regularly donate to the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre’s Foodbank program.

The second phase of the project - The Edible Garden Promoters education program - is about to begin, and will equip volunteers with the knowledge and skills to grow food at home and then teach their neighbours to do the same. We caught up with Head Gardener and Project Founder Jorge Cantellano for a quick chat ahead of the education program starting. What was your inspiration for starting EdibleScapes gardens back in 2017? Around 2016 I was engaged with the Riverkeepers Bushcare group at Nerang’s Country Paradise Parklands. I developed a design for a proposed Great Walk track with thematic stations through the Parkland and in doing consultation and review of the park’s original master plan I came across the concepts of ‘community orchard’, ‘interpretive food centre’ and ‘permaculture food forest’. I started educating myself about communal edible forest gardens and edible landscaping in open spaces. Could you tell me a little bit about why it is important to initiate urban food solutions as a matter of urgency in our community? We have all heard the worrying predictions of potential huge food insecurity in the near future as the global system starts to show symptoms of societal, economic and environmental crisis. However, that point has now come and crises are already upon us. In this precise pandemic occurrence, just as in the occurrence of natural catastrophes in Australia and the world as a result of human induced climate change, it is clear how fragile is the global food system. With most of the population living in urbanised centres, is it evident a civic local response is needed to create resilient, healthy food systems in our urban spaces, both in

our home and in our common areas. The city has water, organic waste, spaces, a warm micro-climate and under-utilised labour which can all be harnessed to grow food to cushion us from food insecurity. How is the EdibleScapes garden model different to a community gardens model? The community gardens model is good to develop social food knowledge, however it is not a social impact solution due to the space limitations of plots that are normally shared by several club members for their own consumption. An intensively grown garden of 100 square metres is adequate to feed just one family of five annually. Therefore, EdibleScapes is a model of a different kind of community food initiative and promotes urban agroecology. Is there anything you are looking for particularly in volunteers for the Edible Gardens Promoters Program or is everyone welcome? We are looking for volunteers who can spare 15 hours per week over 6 months for the program. The training involves knowledge interchange and discussion, practical learning in the EdibleScapes Gardens and an individual practical assessment in the volunteer’s own home garden. We want volunteers who are willing to develop an edible garden at home, which can then become a demonstration garden for their neighbourhood.

It’s official. I’m banning the ‘C-Word’. It’s everywhere, the news, social media, the radio – yes, it is a global pandemic and economies around the world are taking a beating, but personally, I think it’s time to focus on the amazing creative projects all of the unemployed musicians and creatives are currently churning out. Amidst the doom and gloom, there is a shining light being generated by our incredible musicians and bands that is literally going to dazzle us and knock our socks off once this is all over. So, over the next few weeks, Off The Record will be chatting to a bunch of bands and musicians about how they are filling in those extra hours of the day, what they are reading or listening to and of course, any new music they’re working on. Basically, we talk about everything except you-know-what.

EdibleScapes welcomes new casual volunteers at all times and anyone who would like to support the training program or simply work in the garden from time to time is welcome.

To kick off what is going to be a cracker column, Off The Record was lucky enough to hear from Ben Hall, drummer from the epic Aussie band, The Butterfly Effect talking all things cricket, new music and, ah, eggs….

Our vision is to open many demonstration gardens within our communities where the connective spirit of neighbourhood community gathering.

Most people have a little more time on their hands of late, so how have you been keeping busy?

Simone Gorman-Clark

For more information about the Edible Garden Promoters education program, you can head along to an information session at EdibleScapes Gardens, 74 Billabirra Crescent Nerang on Saturday June 13 from 8.30am – 11.30am. Head over to fb.com/n.ediblescapes to reserve your spot. Visit blankgc.com.au to read the full article.

Hanging out with the kids! Playing cricket, teaching them chess and watching them destroy themselves trying to master the art of rollerblading! A true spectator sport, edge of the seat stuff. Are you working on any new material that listeners can look forward to hearing in the near future?

Absolutely. An Album’s worth. (hopefully) Aiming to have it out by the end of the year! Are you reading any good books or listening to any new music at the moment that you can recommend to our readers? Loving a country artist from the US called Pony Bradshaw. Van Gogh, killer track, give it a spin or a press or whatever. What’s your take on live streaming music performances? Is it something you have considered/done? If you have done a live stream performance, how did it go? I think it’s making the best of an unfortunate situation. It’s been nice seeing some of the world’s biggest artists doing stripped back renditions of their tunes from their homes. For us, we haven’t had a chat about doing any online performances yet. Glenn (bass) has been doing some song play-throughs and a bit of songwriting back story for a handful of tracks which people seem to be enjoying. Once this shit storm passes, how do you think the world is going to look? Smaller. Personally, we’ve come to realise that everything we need is within our local community and we rarely appreciate that. Probably be easier to get eggs too. Prudence Clark

The Butterfly Effect have just dropped a video for their epic new track ‘Unbroken. Check it out now on YouTube. And follow fb/ offtherecord1979 for more. www.blankgc.com.au

Karamilk

and I will shortly release a follow-up single called ‘Hurt’. I want to time the release of the EP with gigs re-opening as I am craving playing live. I’m definitely going to tour the EP, fingers crossed by summer.

MAKES A SPLASH WITH SWIMMING POOL

How did you choose Sam Parker? Sam was recommended by a producer in Sydney and we spent an afternoon in the studio laying down his vocal. That was like two years ago. We then went on to do the song so many more times and with two other male vocalists. I always kept coming back to Sam’s vocal because it was so soothing. Sam has some music out of his own and it’s sick. But he has also gone to uni to study medicine (yes he is really smart too) but I hope he keeps up his music.

ith a jam-packed year of festivals and a string of successes under her belt, which include plays on Triple J Home and Hosed and Unearthed, it is hard to believe Gold Coast songstress Erin Foster - aka Karamilk - has been releasing music for less than a year.

Teaming up with Sydney’s Sam Parker on vocals, Karamilk has just dropped her first duet, a shiny indie pop gem by the name of ‘Swimming Pool’. An epic labour of love over several years, 'Swimming Pool' went through more than a few versions, and saw a few producers take a crack at it, before finally Erin sat down, re-wrote it and pulled the entire thing together on her own. The bright, boppy production leaves no room for doubt that Karamilk’s producer savvy is well on par with her electro-pop songstress chops. With another single and EP planned for release this year, we thought we would sit down with Erin to chat about the single and what other Karamilky goodness she has up her sleeve for us for the rest of 2020. 34

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What have you been doing to keep sane during iso? A lot of artists would have given up after so many setbacks. What do you think it was that drove you to keep on going with this track through so many obstacles? To be totally honest I really wanted to get a return on all the investment of my time in the track. My partner said to me one night that I should just drop it and move on because I had so many other songs underway. I wanted to prove him wrong, so as a last ditch effort I stayed up all night and totally re-wrote the track. I remember finishing it around 3am and I just knew it was a sick track. I knew it was my best work. What lessons has this process taught you? I found it hard to describe my sounds to producers and mixers. I would get my demos to the best quality possible and then go into the studio and handover control to a producer. So many times I came away a little disappointed and I would feel there was something lacking in the finished product. I’ve now learnt to back myself and just go for what I want. It’s definitely a confidence thing. It’s taken me about five years but I’ve realised that only I know the real Karamilk sound and only I can produce it. It’s an amazing feeling knowing I can now be self-sufficient.

Do you think this experience has forever changed the way you will write and record and do business in the industry? Absolutely! All my previous tracks were recorded in a studio with professional production. I had a great team behind me, but all that cost a lot of money and takes a lot of time. Late last year a major label reached out and I went back into the studio under the label’s direction. In hindsight what the label really wanted was for me to produce my sound, and what I wanted from the label was their marketing and promotional reach. I made a mistake by allowing the label to control my sound. So for now I will remain independent and put music out myself. I have written more material than ever and I have self-produced five more tracks for my upcoming EP. I’ve also teamed up with an agent to kick start my promotion. I guess I’m doing things in reverse order – going from pro studios and producers and now back to home recordings! Tell us a bit more about what we can expect from the upcoming EP I’ve got a five track EP ready to go. It’s an EP with essentially five very strong singles. I don’t believe in B-side songs. After all, why put out a song that isn’t your best work. ‘Swimming Pool’ will be a single from the EP

Iso has been tough for the entire industry. All our gigs have been cancelled. We were selected to play at Surfers Paradise Live and that was going to be the biggest show of my career, so I was gutted when that was cancelled. But I have focused on writing a lot more material and I have been more productive than ever. I am an introvert so I’m actually fairly happy staying inside and working away on my laptop all day and night. Is there anything else you’d like people to know? I moved to the Gold Coast about 18 months ago and it’s home for me now. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. And despite what some people say, the Gold Coast has a really solid music scene. I hope that everyone stays safe and gets through COVID-19 and we can come back and build the scene even stronger. Interview by Natalie O’Driscoll, Words by Simone Gorman-Clark and Natalie O'Driscoll

You can follow Karamilk @karamilkmusic and fb.com/KaramilkMusic and can check out ‘Swimming Pool’ on all streaming services now.

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IT’S TOUCH AND GO FOR HONEYGUM

old Coast garage rock quartet Honeygum have spent the last couple of years developing their sound into a charming – if frenetic – sonic schtick that brings the rock energy in spades to their live appearances. And now, with time and funds on their side, they’ve finally hit the recording studio, releasing their debut single ‘Touch and Go’ onto the world in early May.

Pairing crisp and upbeat guitars with driving bass and punchy drums, Honeygum have channeled the garage-rock stylings of their inspirations The Velvet Underground, The Strokes and The Saints on their debut track, which premiered on triple j Unearthed’s TOPS show ahead of its wider release. Keen to capture the energy and sound of the band as authentically as possible, the group’s members Keegan Brown, Jack Merriman, Stephen Molan, and Mathew Bell opted to live-track the recording at Bedlam Records (Brisbane) with producer Keelan Sanders (WALKEN, Electric Zebra) in late 2019. We caught up with Mathew Bell and Jack Merriman, who are currently in their first year of the Bachelor of Music at TAFE Queensland in partnership with Southern Cross University, and got to know them a little better. Mathew picked up his first guitar 10 years ago at just 14 years old, when he asked his father to buy him the video game, Guitar Hero, and instead received an acoustic guitar – and hasn’t looked back since. “I mostly taught myself how to play and I’ve been trying to start bands for a few years now, but it wasn’t until I enrolled in the Diploma of Music at TAFE Queensland that things really happened for me,” he said. “Being immersed with musicallyminded students and learning from more

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experienced musicians really helped me to expand my horizons and experiment with sounds.” It was at the TAFE Queensland Coomera Creative campus where Mathew met Jack, a 25-year-old professional drummer with a thriving career to his name, who was a key member of the already-established Honeygum. “Within the first few days of class we had a bit of an insight into everyone’s musical background and what instrument each other played, and Mathew asked if I wanted to jam to show me some song ideas he had,” said Jack. Prior to enrolling in the Diploma of Music at TAFE Queensland, Jack had a 10 year musical career, which saw him support renowned international artists such as Smash Mouth, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and more. The Upper Coomera local also performed at the 2012 and 2014 Big Day Out festivals, and toured both Australia and the Philippines with various bands. Even though Jack already had a rewarding drumming career, he made the decision to formally study music to enhance his practical skills and further develop his knowledge. “I enrolled in the Diploma of Music at TAFE Queensland to further understand the theory behind music and explore new skills in production and song writing, as well as obtain a nationally recognised qualification to hopefully teach music one day,” he said. Meanwhile, Mathew had studied other courses in the past but kept being drawn back to music. “It wasn’t until I got let go from my apprenticeship in 2018 that I finally decided to stop kidding myself and jump into music with everything I had,” he said.

“It was definitely the best decision of my life, as I have accomplished more in my career during the one year at TAFE Queensland than I achieved in six years of trying to do it by myself.” Both Mathew and Jack graduated from the Diploma of Music last year and decided to continue their educational journey in the Bachelor of Music, offered at the TAFE Queensland Coomera Creative campus in partnership with Southern Cross University. Mathew said the fundamental reason he decided to continue on to the bachelor program was because of the teachers. “I learnt so much from each of them, as they are as eager to impart their knowledge of the music industry as we are to ask about it,” he said.

“The value of three extra years on campus to pick their brains about music and having the opportunity to develop working relationships with them cannot be overstated.” Jack agreed and said the teachers provide valuable insight into how the industry works and are happy give advice based on their own personal experiences. “Studying at TAFE Queensland has led to the formation of a vast network of industry contacts, not only from the teachers but also sound production students, film students and graphic design students, whom I have already been able to collaborate with.” Natalie O’Driscoll

‘Touch and Go’ is available on all streaming services now. For more music releases from Honeygum, follow them on fb.com/ honeygumband and @_honeygum. For more information about TAFE Queensland’s music programs call 1300 308 233 or visit tafeqld.edu.au.

YT DINGO WANTS In confusing times, the courageously creative leader of YT DiNGO, Travers Ross, draws from the wisdom of our First Nations People to deliver a timely message: Wake the F*** Up! In a cosy wooden room strewn with recording gear, the passionate choreographer shows no sign of letting government restrictions prevent the release of a second EP. Following a prosperous year with the six-song success, ‘Side A’, which included the 2019 GCMA best video winner ‘Shipwrecked’, Travers has just released two bold new singles, with more in the pipeline. The release of ‘EOTW’ (End of the World), the first tune to feature on the much anticipated ‘Side B’ album, happened to drop during the first week of COVID-19 isolation. The singer laughs at the irony, posting on Facebook: “New theme song for those who didn’t get their toilet paper in time.” “Some people were really triggered by [‘EOTW’], in good ways, which is what I’m asking for. In the world I live and create in, I would kind of want the world to end in regards to the way we’re doing things as a society and as a system,” Travers tells Blank Gold Coast. Inspired mostly by stories of the land and its people, Ross spent time in North Queensland communities writing ‘EOTW’ as bushfires ripped through the country. As First Nations knowledge put things into perspective, he couldn’t help but feel triggered. “Thank goodness I’ve got metal and hip hop, and different ways of releasing it so the aggression has a funnel,” he says. “You’re able to distort the guitar or make the bass hit a bit harder to allow people to experience those feelings… We need to understand the pain of not being heard now more than ever.”

S YOU TO WTFU! If you hadn’t guessed, the creation story of ‘WTFU’ has its own unique spin. The track is partially inspired by the artwork of the band’s DJ, Red Belly, who had woven a large black snake from natural materials to represent women of colour being heard and recognised, hence the lyrics: “Let the black woman speak!” The music video also features the opening poetry and visuals of Indigenous Rights activist, Ruby Wharton. Blended with a mix of chaotic visuals, the finished product will certainly get your attention, to say the least. “In the lyrics I say everything that needs to be said… I want to see ‘WTFU’ headed towards mainstream, but we’re so red taped with language and everything that it can’t get heard, but it is a dramatic time and it deserves dramatic sayings.” With an East Coast tour cancelled and performance privileges revoked, Travers focuses on reflection and redefining his goals. With an authentic stylistic approach, the main difference between the two EPs has been “getting to the point,” he says. “I believe it’s really important that we look within to find our own music, our own sound and our own feels. I understand we’ve been indulged by this other side of the world, but if we can turn inwards, maybe we could do a lot of healing that could’ve been done a long time ago.” As his eclectic community grows, we can expect to see the likes of more emerging talent featured on the upcoming EP, including Brisbane based hip hop artist Dancing Water. The next release for ‘Side B’, ‘Listen to the First Nations’ will be dropping in a couple of weeks, complete with a video based on a live performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Olivia Gane

Check out the video for ‘WTFU’ on YouTube now.

THIS AIN’T PRETTY FOR ANITA SPRING CW: this interview contains some mentions of family violence

ince her inspiring trip to Nashville in 2018, country chanteuse Anita Spring has been busy recording and producing a series of new songs planned to be released this year, which she says are going to define her as an artist.

The first song to drop, heartfelt ballad ‘This Ain’t Pretty’, was a true labour of love and unflinchingly investigates one of the biggest scourges on society – domestic abuse. With vocals recorded in Sydney, music recorded in London, mixing done in NYC and mastering in Melbourne, the track has certainly done a round-the-world trip to reach our ears. We sat down with Anita for a chat about ‘This Ain’t Pretty’ and what else she has coming up on the horizon. ‘This Ain’t Pretty’ is a real global effort! Tell me a bit about the team you assembled and how it came about that the track took such a journey before coming to fruition. Thank you and yes it is a global effort quite literally! The people I've collaborated with, are all dear friends that I've worked with in the past and they just happen to be in every corner of the world. They are all experts in their field so it was never any question as to who I wanted to work with when I started this project and being so far apart has had little or no impact on the end result. There’s a line “I’ve lost my patience and I don’t care if this ain’t pretty” which hit home for me. So often women are looked down on for not absorbing whatever comes our

way in life with patience, calm and a smile on our faces, while men are permitted to be angry without it diminishing them. Was that line a result of a personal revelation or some sort of personal growth that you experienced yourself? It was a big deal for me to write the lyrics in "This ain't pretty" and an even bigger deal to actually release the song...The lyrics shed some light on relationships and how hard they can be if you're with the wrong person like someone who makes you doubt yourself. They may make some people feel uncomfortable and that's okay, it's kind of the point. If the lyrics in my song make anyone more conscious of their own actions or of their situation, that can only be a good thing. I agree with your comments of women having to smile and deal with whatever situation they are in and it's so true...just recently someone said to me "Anita, just smile and sing" (as they didn't like the contents of my lyrics and what I writing about) and unfortunately, it's not the first time I've heard that either...Arghhhh! Of course, I'm happy to smile and sing LOL but I have a bit more to say too... The video tells a fairly confronting, but unfortunately not uncommon, story. Was it confronting to film? Yes it was...my dear friend Byron Tart (who plays my partner in the video) was an absolute champion for agreeing to be in the clip with me. Neither of us knew what we were in for...I knew how I wanted the scenes to roll out however, neither of us had much acting experience and it was insanely intense

to act out the scenes (I have a whole new found respect for actors). We spoke about the filming the scenes with the production team for a while after shooting as everyone was a little shaken by the experience. It took about two weeks to completely unwind from the shoot, it was seriously intense. Can you give us some idea of what to expect from your upcoming releases? I'm hoping to release a song every 2/3 months over the next couple of years and they will all take you a journey of some kind, whether light-hearted and fun (I promise, I do have a light-hearted side of my personality) or in a more serious way where there's some kind of message I'm trying to get across. Interview by Natalie O’Driscoll, Words by Simone Gorman-Clark

You can keep eye on Anita’s socials over at @anitaspringofficial and fb.com/ anitaspringofficial and you can also listen to more of her music over to Spotify. We’ve also reviewed ‘This Ain’t Pretty’ in our New Music column for this month, so be sure to check it out. To read the full interview, head on over to blankgc.com.au. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT. For counselling, advice and support for men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. www.blankgc.com.au

GETTING POINTED WITH GESTICULATIONS

he word ‘gesticulation’ is defined as; a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used to emphasise one's words. And an emphasis on words is very much at the forefront of the newest musical project for Graham ‘Asho’ Ashton, whose long-standing musical involvement in the Brisbane grassroots punk rock scene has seen him most recently put out music with his other project, The Shambolics, whose 2019 album, ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’, was an exercise in rootsy garage swagger, underpinned by a knowing turn of phrase and a wizened heart of punk.

The first fruits of his newest endeavour, Gesticulations, comes in the form of a debut single, ‘Stay Curious’, which strips things back musically and puts even more of a focus on the ruminations of its lead protagonist, creating a lineage between the edgy beatpoets of yore and todays new breed of sassy orators such as Courtney Barnett and Kate Tempest. We recently threw a few questions Asho’s way, and here’s what he came back with. Can you fill us in on the inspiration behind Gesticulation’s debut release, 'Stay Curious'? There is a Nick Cave lecture called ‘The Secret Life Of The Love Song’ where he discusses a Portugese word for longing Saudade. In my mind the inspiration for this song is based on a joyous kind of longing for a long lost and loved friend. You hooked up with multi-instrumental marvel Benny D Williams on the track. How did this come about? And are you working with him on any more tracks? I heard and loved Benny’s production work with Amy Elise and after seeing his multiinstrumental skills in action live I thought he would be the perfect foil for this project. We did a little pre-planning but mostly the song came together in one session of fun spontaneity. 38

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In your other musical project, The Shambolics, you make mention of your admiration for beat poets such as Charles Bukowski and Jack Kerouac. Have their literary-punk stylings been an important influence how the Gesticulations project has taken shape? I have had a lifelong love affair with the beat poets. In saying that I feel that modern female poets like Kate Tempest and Courtney Barnett have had more of an influence on the direction of Gesticulations. I understand that 'Stay Curious' is the precursor to a full-length album of Gesticulations material. How far along the road are you with it? And are these tracks embryonic or did you have a bunch of ideas left over from your Shambolics output? Yes there is a Gesticulations album in the works, with the working title ‘Sense Of Purgency’. The new The Shampolics album is a little further along and I plan to take turns in monthly recording sessions for both albums. I've been writing lots of songs lately and have about 20 allocated to The Shampolics and close to 10 for Gesticulations. What else is happening in the world of 'Asho' in these current crazy COVID-19 times, musically or otherwise? I've been spending most of the time on the Sunshine Coast helping care for my elderly parents. Thankfully I have connected with a very talented old friend and have been singing on his album while he helps me with demos for The Shampolics and Gesticulations album. The madness of the world will certainly have a positive impact on song writing. I can't wait to hear what my favourite artists come up during this time of challenging inspiration. Anthony Gebhardt

‘Stay Curious’ is out now via all the usual channels. Keep following the directions at fb.com/gesticulations.

BIANCA POWER NEEDS YOU R ising Brisbane-Gold Coast songstress Bianca Power has just dropped her second single, the haunting 'I Need You.'

It’s a spellbinding track that traces the memories of an early romance, accompanied by a hazy, dreamlike video collage of scenes shot by Bianca herself. The soulful vocals and smooth R&B grooves that Bianca is fast becoming known for are present and accounted for, as well as a bittersweet nostalgia for a lost love, and overall sense of sophistication that belies her years in the industry. Recorded with her friend and wellknown Brisbane producer Harry Fox, this sophomore effort is the follow up to Bianca’s successful 2019 debut, 'Blood On Your Shoes,’ and again, is one not to be missed. We decided to get to know this local star-onthe-rise a little better by shooting her a few questions. ‘I Need You’ is beautifully vulnerable. Are you ever afraid to put your heart out there for people to see, or is cathartic for you? Or a bit of both? It is nerve wracking sharing something I’ve written with everyone but ultimately I know most people have felt something similar to what I have and I’m doing it for those people that appreciate vulnerability in music. I would never achieve anything if I were too worried about other opinions, so yeah I guess it’s a bit of both! The track is obviously written about a real person. Have they heard it yet, and if so, what do they think of it? Yes they have heard it haha! I think they like it? The lyric video has a hazy, dreamlike quality to it. Is that how you want listeners to feel when they hear the song, and what would you like your audience to take from the single? I really wanted to make something classic, nostalgic and dreamy that took listeners

to another place - maybe to one of their favourite places or to a fond moment in time. That feeling of missing a loved one is really hitting a lot of people hard right now and makes the single really topical. Did coronavirus affect your release schedule at all?

Yeah it’s interesting because the song felt just as relevant while working on the release as it did when I was writing it, and I felt like I could really relate to what a lot of people have been going through. I think I was waiting to release this one so that I could create a music video to release it with. And then coronavirus happened and I was just waiting to see what was going to happen. It did come right in the middle of everything/ shift my release schedule but in the end we made a cool home-style lyric video and I’m really happy with how it all worked out. How have you been keeping sane during iso? I have kind of been taking it day by day. Journaling and writing a goals list has helped me, as well as making sure I have some form of creative outlet and exercise to do! I’m enjoying the slower pace but I know there are others that have been majorly affected by this event and my heart goes out to every one of them. What’s next for you? More music! I’m really excited for you to hear what I’ve been working on. Natalie O’Driscoll

‘I Need You’ is available now on major streaming services, with the lyric video available on YouTube. Follow Bianca on her social @biancapower and fb.com/ biancapowermusic.

MAKING AUSTRALIAN STORIES FOR SURF FILM LEGEND’S THE SCREEN ON THE GOLD COAST UNSEEN FILM FRAGMENTS

e’ve all heard how the Gold Coast is shaping its local film industry as a destination for Hollywood blockbusters, attracting productions from across the world. You’d have to be living under a rock to have missed Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson in town early this year, charming local Gold Coasters with their accessible smiles, until they were brought down temporarily by a bout of COVID-19 and filming of the Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis biopic paused. Luhrmann’s $100+ million production isn’t the first big deal to be made here on the Gold Coast either, with a legacy of bigger budget productions choosing the Gold Coast spanning over more than two decades, from Scooby Doo through to Thor Ragnarok.

But the presence of these big budget productions, sporadically attracted via government incentives, begs a pertinent question as the industry and the city addresses economic stimulus post-COVID… what do local production teams do in between? And how do we leverage those opportunities to grow our own Australian film production industry, utilising skills and experience collected to deliver market leading storytelling? Industry leaders are wrestling with this right now, as the federal government seeks feedback for an Options Paper on the issue. Deanne Weir heads up Hoodlum, an Emmy and BAFTA-award winning production company responsible for well-loved Australia content such as Tidelands and Harrow. Episodes of Harrow were filmed throughout Queensland, including right here on the Gold Coast. In April, Weir published an article addressing recently relaxed TV network quotas for Australian content (in light of COVID-19), meaning networks can source overseas content in greater volume without the necessity of funding or procuring locally. This adds greater pressure to Australian film industry recovery, Weir says, but not only for economic reasons. “Telling our own stories, supporting the development of our own voices and talent is critical to us as society,” she said.

“Our stories help us understand who we are, who we’ve been, who we might be… [but we need to] implement an industry assistance package that helps the sector build back up out of the crisis, but within the context of the new regulatory regime. We can build back better. We just all need to make clear how much we value our own stories.” Gold Coast executive producer at Glass Media, Christopher Boyd, agrees, at least to some extent. Boyd has been working tirelessly over two decades for TV, film and corporate advertising clients and laments opportunities for the local industry being lost, failing to leverage the big budget productions for a sustainable local economic impact. Boyd has devised the “Gold Coast Production Media Network” as a conceptual solution and hopes a post-COVID stimulus package might indeed help the city “build back better”. “The [local GC] screen industry has very few established businesses employing full time staff despite the vast amount of taxpayer money which has been invested in the sector over the years,” said Christopher. “An industry advisory group like the GCPMN will provide an environment for industry practitioners to collaborate to organically grow the production base and the industry’s local content while shaping governments focus on local industry outcomes.” With the Gold Coast the only local government in Australia to provide a film attraction program that includes financial incentives (beyond state and federal grant programs) and also the first city in Australia to invest in a fibre optic network arguably 60 times faster than the average Australian internet service, there’s no doubt the city will continue to punch above its weight when it comes to big budget productions. What remains is listening carefully to practitioners like Weir and Boyd, who invest in their own production teams right here on the Gold Coast and are committed to seeing a sustainable industry over the longterm, and not just focussing on producing stories for international audiences, but remembering Australian stories for Australian audiences, and growing our local industry organically while doing it. Glenn Tozer

You can make a submission for the federal government’s options paper at communications.gov.au/have-your-say.

nseen Film Fragments is a nostalgic video project by Josh Bystrom, a Gold Coast based photographer and son of renowned surf filmmaker Chris Bystrom.

Josh recently applied to HOTA’s Rage Against the V(irus) fund to present historical footage shot by his late father, much of which has been sitting in his garage for decades. Some of the original 16mm films have unfortunately gone mouldy over the years, he tells us when we catch up. “The way they manufactured they were kind of susceptible to getting mouldy. But [Chris] also shot in a different format in Super 8. So those ones are fractionally newer and they’re a lot easier to work with and lot less mould on them so we’ve been going with those.” And it’s not like Josh isn’t spoilt for choice. During Chris’ career, he produced three feature-length 16mm surfing documentaries and 27 surfing films, in fact, he holds the standing record for the most surfing films released by any single individual. Included in that list are such shortboard classics as ‘Blazing Boards’, ‘Beyond Blazing Boards’, ‘Cyclone Fever’, ‘Gravity Sucks’ and ‘Primal Urge’. Chris is also credited with helping resurrect the longboarding scene by producing films such as ‘Blazing Longboards’, ‘Full Cycle’ and ‘Soul Patrol’, films that influenced generations and ensured his place in surfing’s history books. This is a legacy that Josh is keen to keep alive via this current project. “I would love for these clips to inspire people to get in the water! Whether viewers are into surfing and remember going to local contests or even just visiting the ocean to watch large waves roll in during a cyclone event,” he says. With his dad being who he was, and his mother a high school photography teacher and his very first influence, Josh was almost certain to pick up a camera at some stage. He thinks his first shoots might have been underwater with a “little disposable” on holidays. “Just growing up there was always cameras and lenses laying around the house, and

photoshop and editing programs up on the home computer, so it kind of pushed me in that direction,” he says. “Dad’s work has had a huge influence on me, he was always travelling, shooting the best surfers in world renowned locations. He has left behind such an extensive body of work and his drive and passion is what inspires me to be the best photographer I can,” he continues. “My dad was renowned for getting unique camera angles, especially around Kirra, and pipelines, where hundreds and thousands of people have taken images.” Although at the time of writing Josh “isn’t even close” to making it through the piles of footage in his garage, he is busy categorising it and cataloguing it for future use, and taking out the classic Kirra and Burleigh footage for the Unseen Film Fragments project. “Over the course of the next ten days I’ve got the clips and I’m finding a good soundtrack and going from there. Surfing Life Magazine is on board, they’re going to release it through their media channels, website, Instagram, and Facebook. “It should be pretty nostalgic for some people, especially those who were at the events and went down and watched the big waves during a lot of the cyclones. And there’s a lot of great contest footage from the 80s and 90s too.” Excitingly, we should all keep our ears on high alert for some Gold Coast music on the soundtrack as well. As for the rest of the footage in the garage? “In the future I aim to release a best of Chris Bystrom film capturing his best film moments,” says Josh. Watch this space. Natalie O’Driscoll

Unseen Film Fragments has been supported by HOTA, Home of Arts through HOTA’s Artist Fund: Rage against the V(irus). You can check it out at hota.com.au/unseen-filmfragments.

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HOTA GALLERY

ARTIST OPEN CALL We’re offering Gold Coast artists the chance to create a body of work for a significant exhibition in the 2021 Gallery program.

Mari Hirata’s Heels Hoist #1 from the series Domestic Bliss (detail)

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