EZine 10 // September 2011 by Colosoul Group Inc

WA Bron theatrical Fashion Show// Solo Travels Part 11// Horrible Bosses Review// Words from Syndicate// Unicorn Conundrum Blog Review 1

hello Happy September everyone. Have you noticed that as you get older, every year goes a little faster than the last? This fine year of 2011 is passing us by, and before we know it we’ll be slip-slop-slapping for those scorching summer days. In this month’s edition, Celeste investigates the dangers of fluoridating our water supply and, in a separate piece, the secretive nature of the Obama administration. In the travel department, we’ve got the second part of Julie’s firsthand account of her journey across Australia, in a van. Our commitment to exposing up and coming talent continues, with emerging designer profiles of the incredibly gifted Cynthia Chong and happiness-inspired lass Jenni Stewart. Steph Soderborg reviews Unicorn Conundrum, a blog that deals with the perils of growing up and questions the responsibilities that come with the aging process. In music, Lisa brings you a cracking review of Abbe May’s much anticipated and highly-acclaimed debut album Design Desire, while Steph Lane catches up with Sydney rock and rollers Syndicate. On the film front, I had the pleasure of catching the new black comedy flick Horrible Bosses earlier this month, and penned a review for y’all. Long live Kevin Spacey! I’d like to thank all the writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers, models, and advertisers who contribute to this e-zine. Your efforts are priceless. Enjoy the read, and watch this space for a politically-engaged October edition! Aidan Shaw, assistant editor @ Colosoul E-Zine.

read all about Stph’s review from Unicorn Conundrum about growing up and the questions and responsibilities that come with it.

featuring

engage in the travel Read all about the travel adventures and stories from Luke Gribble when he talks about his trip to Monchique a town in the south of the Algarve region in Portugal which was one of the stop of his adventure.

read all about them Interview with the band members from SYNDICATE

album reviews Read a detailed review on Abby May and her style of music genre. Her award winning album, ‘Design Desire’ is dirty, edgy and bristles with pure punk attitude. It brings to mind drinking whisky, smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, sporting ripped black denim and tattoos and the careless sexiness that the rockand-roll lifestyle exudes.” 3

THIS MONTH

SEPTEMBER2011presents

WA BORN THEATRICAL FASHION FESTIVAL EMERGING DESIGNERS ACROSS WA ARE SHOWCASING THEIR WORK ON THE 22nd SEPTEMBER AT THE BAKERY IN NORTHBRIDGE

LUCY ABOAGYE AND CYNTHIA CHONG 19 Written by Nadine Pougnet Photography by Mira Studios PAULINE HO 32 Written by Camille Chapleau Edited by Nadine Pougnet

JENNI STEWART 30 Written by Nadine Pougnet Photography by Otilee Lamb

SARAH EASTCOTT 26 Written by Stephanie Soderborg Photography by Courtney Illfield

WA BORN FASHION FESTIVAL HELD IN THE BAKERY IN NORTH BRIDGE 4

COME AND SEE ALL OF PERTH’S EMERGING DESIGNERS

FASHION FESTIVAL 2011 22nd SEPTEMBER VENUE : THE BAKERY

GET TICKETS NOW FROM THE BAKERY IN NORTHBRIDGE STUDENTS $10 ADULTS $15 WWW.COLOSOUL.COM.AU MYM MAGAZINE

17 5

his elusive birt

Obama, Obama, where for art thou? Written by Celeste Eden

Barrack Obama is a controversial president for many reasons. He is the first African American to take office, which many people saw as confirmation that America has moved forward. However, his skin colour has proven to be the least remarkable thing about his presidential term. We’ve all heard the speculation around Obama’s past and his elusive birth certificate. Now that Donald Trump has used the controversy in his own bid to secure a presidential run, it seems more people are interested in just who Obama really is. To become the president, the United States Constitution states candidates must be natural born citizens. Section 1 of Article 2 in the United States Constitution states:

“No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” When the Obama Administration was asked to present proof he was born on US soil, they provided a short receipt that gave minimal details and just confirmed there was a live birth to his parents in Hawaii. The public was told it was the only document in existence in relation to his birth and it was standard procedure for birth certificates to look like that in Hawaii. The public was expected to ignore the fact that, in Hawaii, only one family member needs to be a witness to claim a birth there and that his grandmother in Kenya is on record as saying he was born in her country and she was in the delivery room. While being sworn in as an attorney of Illinois, Obama stated he had never been known under any other names. However, there is evidence suggesting he attended Fransiskus Assisi school in Jakarta, Indonesia as “Barry Soetoro”. This has been conveniently and constantly left out by the mainstream media up until recently when a report surfaced that his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro, had ties with the CIA and suggested Obama’s rise to power may have been manufactured. Adding to the

Pictures from http://www.infowars.com/new-obama-birth-certificate-is-a-forgery/ , infowars.com, http://media.photobucket.com/image/obama

interested

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seems a just mos nu mystery is the fact that Obama’s first presidential act was an executive order to seal his personal records on January 21st, 2009.

It seems as though the birth certificate is just the problem that has received the most publicity. There has now been a full length birth certificate released to the public, ignoring the declaration that it did not exist. Strangely, the new document contains typewriter-styled computer font rather than genuine typewriter font; which would have been the case in 1961. It is also bent at the edge because it supposedly came from a book, yet is printed on safety paper that does not crease in that way. The certificate also states Obama’s race as “African” when, in 1961, it would have been written as “Negro” and there are crosses in the boxes marked “twin” and “triplet.” Photoshop buffs and others who have opened the document (officially posted at the White House’s website) in Adobe Illustrator have discovered that whoever created this document did not even bother to “flatten” the image and seal all the layers they had used to create it. They have found the signatures depicted were added at later stages and on different layers, and also that the number of the certificate itself has clearly been modified. Perhaps the most convenient thing is that the signature on it belongs to a doctor who supposedly died eight years ago and therefore cannot comment. So why, with this certificate being so obviously fake, would Obama present it? Is it a decoy? Since the drama surrounding his birth certificate and the supposed disposal of Bin Laden, he has managed to sneak by an announcement about a Carbon Tax that will be paid for by the mile which involves tracking cars and individuals to measure their emissions. He has allowed the Transport Security Agency to gain more power and stick their hands down people’s pants before they get on a plane. What else will he come up with while we are all looking the other way? If the leader of the free world rose to power through deceit, what example is he setting for the rest of us?

th certificate

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Solo Travels Pt II:

WRITTEN BY

Ride to Monchique

LUKE GRIBBLE /

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

LUKE GRIBBLE

iful, t u a a be with s i e chiqu ld village . n o M ing o st people m r a ch ndlie e i r f the

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Travel . . . 9

When a dusty, beaten-up caravan pulled over and a toothless, bearded face leaned over to the window and yelled “You want a ride?”, I realised I had been faced with more tempting offers. But I was hitchhiking, so I figured how bad could it be? Clambering into the truck, I put my pack in the back and went to take a seat. To my surprise there was only one other and his best mate was occupying it - a dog - lying there licking his genitals and looking in no hurry to move. So I stood for the journey, doing my best to communicate through a mix of Portuguese and Spanish with my toothless friend. Monchique is in the south of the Algarve region in Portugal and it was the next stop of my adventure. After an interesting forty minutes with a man whose name I will never know, I was dropped on the outskirts of Lagos to wait for another ride. Chewing on dry crackers for lunch, I imagined how good they would be with some hummus and salmon, or cheese, or even butter. But in the life of a solo hitchhiking traveller, sometimes all you can do is imagine and be happy with what you have. With the hours in the day slipping away I began to look for an appropriate place to pitch the tent for the evening. As I was inspecting the area a van pulled up. “Where you going?” asked a young lady. We chatted for some time and when she found out I was from New Zealand, she insisted I go for dinner with her family. Without any good reason to say no - apart from that I’d be heading back the exact direction I had just come from - I went for it. Again the pure kindness of people from all over the world was shining through and the excitement from solo travelling was becoming more addictive. Never in my life had I felt so welcomed in the company of complete strangers. We sat around the table chatting and laughing like family. I didn’t want the nightfall to come. The time we had was so genuine and was for me one of those moments in life where everything is clear, when you just know you are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. However, as good as something may be, you eventually have to continue on your journey, and mine was to Monchique. Saying goodbye to my new family was one of the most difficult goodbyes of my trip. We all said we would see each other again but we knew it was highly unlikely. Yet again I found myself waiting on the side of the road, light dwindling fast and feeling slightly sad. Solo travelling is great, you experience so much, learn so much, and discover things about yourself every day. Yvon Chouinard said “the best thing about travelling is you answer questions you didn’t know existed” and this was one of those moments.

As a hitchhiker, one of the funniest sights are the huge caravans that look like something from Star Wars cruising the highway. They are so extravagant and have more room than any other vehicle on the road, yet they seldom pick up hitchhikers. Getting a ride in one of these is the super bowl of hitchhiking. Maybe it was my sad face, or the compassionate parent coming out in the Dutch couple, but I was shocked to see one such caravan extravaganza pull up, shimmering in the last of the light. The tinted windows lowered slowly and the friendly faces offered me a ride to Monchique. Monchique only has one road in and is hardly designed for such gigantic vehicles. Getting a significant amount of attention as we squeezed through the narrow streets, the locals looked amused to see the young dirty man with a backpack exit the mother ship. The contrasting travel options could not have been more obvious. Monchique is a beautiful, charming old village with the friendliest people. Surrounded by mountain ranges and home to the highest peak in the Algarve, Mt Foia, the natural earthy atmosphere adds soul to the area. The cobbled streets, Portuguese restaurants, butchers, fruit shops, and sweet shops all combine to give you an insight into true Portuguese life. It has churches, bull rings, natural spas, local food festivals, music festivals, and wine festivals. In fact Monchique has so much happening they have a monthly magazine dedicated to what’s on each month. Arriving at such a magical place, I knew I would find a great spot to camp for the evening, and after a long day of adventure I was more than ready to set up my home, recharge and be ready for the next day.

I stood for the journey, doing my best to communicate through a mix of Portuguese and Spanish with my toothless friend. Again the pure kindness of peo ple from all over the world was shinin g through and the excitement from solo travelling w as becoming mo re addictive.

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437 Hay Street | Subiaco | Western Australia | (08) 9388 1916 12

INDIGENOUS INDULGE

YAN ZION “For be, to be a designer means being inspired, being creative. To enjoy what I do everyday is a blessing.” For Yan Zion, her love of fashion bloomed from observing her mother’s methods of financially managing a large family. Specifically when it came to dressing the six Zion children. “[My mother] made clothes for my brothers and sisters to save money. She would put together beautiful outfits for us made from left over scraps.” According to Zion, she wanted to follow in her mother’s creative footsteps, beginning her love of fashion. However, originally sewing was simply a hobby for Zion, with fashion design a “far-fetched dream.” She began her university studies in community service instead, but soon realized it was not the right path for her. “So I took the leap to study fashion, where I can be more creative in my everyday life.” Zion attended the Central Institute of Technology and then went on to further study at Curtain University. Zion’s collection for WA Born, called “After the Burn”, is inspired by Australian flora and the natural environment after a devastating bushfire. Using satin, silk and chiffon, Zion has sculpted the fabric into flowering shapes, incorporating them into the detailing of the collection. Burn oranges and gold are complimented by charcoal grey and black, indicative of the dry Australian landscape, a fiery blaze, and the ashy aftermath of bushfire. In order to achieve the overall effect of her collection, “most of [Zion’s] outfits and fabrics have been individually hand dyed, printed and burnt with a soldering iron.” Despite the somber theme of Zion’s work, the dresses are breathtakingly beautiful, ideal as an eye-catching formal ensemble. Intricate folding, layering and stitching make each outfit a high-end design. The tall, avant-garde headpieces, ranging from flowering shapes to abstract designs, further emphasize Zion’s bushfire inspiration. The collection is sophisticated and striking, demonstrating both Zion’s current skills and promise for the future.

WRITTEN BY : STEPHANIE SODERBORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY : NICK FITZPATRICK 13

Theatrical Fashion Fantasy JESSICA GLASER & CO. WRITTEN BY : STEPHANIE SODERBORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY : Alexandra Raphaela Werrstein

Almost every little girl plays with Barbie dolls, yet few can claim the activity inspired the rest of their life. Not so for design buff Jessica Glaser. “I would do their hair, make clothes for them, even build houses for them.” The result, years later, was Glaser’s passion for all things design, ranging from fashion to theater design, styling, creative direction, interior design and photography. “Barbies just started it all!” Currently in her third year at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts studying Design for Live Production, Theatre and Events, Glaser has turned her passion into preparation for a future career. According to Glaser, the importance of design is to “trigger thought and encourage discourse. It’s a designer’s role to act as a facilitator to entice people to explore and see more in the world. What’s beautiful about design is that while we may not always understand a piece the way the designer understood it, we can still respond to it. We can still feel from it and appreciate it in a way that suits our lives. There’s no right or wrong, which is what I find makes design so perfect.”

The piece Glaser created for WABorn showcases her creative abilities. Working in a team with two other designers, April Richards and Alexandra Raphaela Werrstein, the girls originally constructed the costume for a performance at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. The brief for the design was “Welcome to Land,” with the team given the freedom to interpret this as they chose. “My group’s concept

was based on the idea that the Australian land is incredibly harsh and powerful. Such images came to mind as an old rusted abandoned car that we often see in Australia’s deserts.” The team decided that Mother Nature, rather than the industrialization humans have introduced to Australia, is the most powerful force in the country. The skirt of the dress is composed of numerous tree roots, using the deep reds and browns often found in Australian landscapes. The construction required several techniques, including felting, dying, fabric painting, stuffing and corseting. “I really enjoy dying, as I feel that color can transform an outfit!” The form of the dress draws focus to the skirt, which is large, long, and full, emphasizing the strength of the land, while the slimmer, corseted top reflects the sleekness and shape of buildings. Alexander McQueen’s Oyster Dress directly inspired the structure of the costume; while the similarities are evident, the team clearly imposed their own creative ideas to their design in order to make it their own. While Glaser will feature this costume in WABorn, her work has moved forward to new projects. She is currently designing the set and costumes for a contemporary show, which involves taking clothing directly from shops. Her abilities come into play through her styling, focusing on character suitability, rather than the actual design of garments. She does, however, directly put her design skills to use in another project, as she is designing the costumes for an opera slated to open later this year.

THEATRICAL FASHION FANTASY DESIGNER

Emerging Designer

JENNI STEWERT Written by NADINE POUGNET Photography by OTILEE LAMB

“The best inspiration comes from things that make you happy.” From a young age Jenni Stewart was always crafty and knew that she would eventually do something in relation to the arts, but it wasn’t until she studied sculpture that she discovered “a love for fabric, plush and all things squishy.” Her experimentation with various materials and fabrics stimulated a desire to learn more about garment construction so “fashion was a natural progression” since then she has spent the last few years studying Fashion and Textiles at Polytechnic West Bentley and loves it. Stewart describes fashion as “an extension of your personality [which] gives you the freedom to be who you want to be” and loves that fact that her garments can exude her personal style “cute, playful and a little bit quirky.” Being an avid lover of Pop Culture, Stewart also finds inspiration from various mediums some include “music, video games, books and movies” and thoroughly believes that “the best inspiration comes from things that make you happy.” This positive out look extends to the development of her garments, specifically the one she has designed for WABorn. The concept of her garment revolves around “balloons at different stages of inflation” Stewart was inspired by balloons “because they represent celebration, happiness, surprise, joy but are also ephemeral.” Stewart describes the garment as a “boned strapless bodice with a-line skirt, [which] has ‘circles’ of organza hand sewn onto the skirt to create the petals.” This garment embodies her love for the whimsical and feminine, and also showcases her background knowledge of sculpture due to its structure and form.

Lucy Aboagye & Cynthia Chong

Lucy Aboagye and Cynthia Chong; who is also showcasing her personal collection at WABorn, are both in their third year at Polytechnic West studying Fashion design. Aboagye new she wanted to become a fashion designer from the tender age of 11, and remembers

“Spending hours a day during school holidays drawing designs and filing them away for when [she] started [her won] label.” Her Ghanaian heritage and Norwegian upbringing generate ideas for most of her designs, which she describes as

“Feminine, classic, minimal and bold.” Although she loves her personal design aesthetic she also has an admiration for creating and “watching designs evolve 18

into something more extravagant and more elaborate” and this other passion gave Aboagye and Chong the opportunity to work and design together.

Mira Studios approached the two designers to create a series of garments for a particularly exciting photo shoot, an underwater one. Aboagye and Chong drew inspiration from “water itself and mystical creatures under the sea” and the pair created three outfits, which recreated the mysterious and interesting underwater life. “Dramatic silhouettes and shapes [were designed] to emulate the different shapes of fish, coral and underwater plants” which were further emphasized and stylized with fabrics like “silk chiffon, denim and sequined fabrics [which were in turn] ripped, shredded, gathered, sculpted and sewn together to add textural effect.” These much anticipated and beautifully detailed garments will be sure to dazzle and turn many heads.

T C P D P

THE NAME IS CALLAHAN... PUNK...WHY DO YOU ASK. PUNK...

Established Designers

Rasberry

Pop

“The Raspberry + Pop girl is a bohemian and fun free spirited girl that has a quirky edge to life; obsessed with music and fashion, regardless of age.”

The dynamic duo behind fashion accessory label Martini + Coz, Erica Allia and Natasha Hinette, have launched a new clothing and fashion label called Raspberry + Pop, “derived from the very thing they have in common, love of vintage and op-shopping and rock and roll… music festivals of the past and present.” While the original Martini + Coz is about luxury, Raspberry + Pop is relaxed, free and quirky. Both born in the 70s, the girls drew upon their experiences growing up, “our inner 70s free spirited childhood,” to design the first collection for Raspberry + Pop, called “Age of Innocence”. Their muse? Brook Shields’ naïve yet sensual behaviour in Blue Lagoon. All this topped with the “vibrations and sounds of the music that a generation of lost and wild souls left us with,” and the collection’s inspirations coalesced into free spirited and easy wearing pieces perfect for “a fresh and sexy look for summer.” The dresses are long and flowing, the fabrics psychedelic, hand-dyed silks, and the accessories bold and beautiful. The due met at Myers many years ago, and realized quickly that they would make a great fashion team. Erica’s background is in fashion retail and visual merchandising, and she created her first jewelry label at fashion school. Natasha, also in fashion retail and fashion school, gained critical experience in the buying and selling side of the business at Moschino in London. Their collective experiences have helped them both run and design the business, and their success is evident with the start of their second label.

Written By : STEPHANIE SODERBORG Photography : OTILEE 20

“ My designs are about showing the beauty in the not so perfect and slick. Every piece has a point of difference and a character.” Having been drawn to fashion from a young age, Da Cruz remembers her diary being “full of design sketches” motivated by the exciting world around her, specifically from her many travels which led her to discover various and interesting cultures, which continue to enthuse her designs today. Da Cruz has describes her design style as a focus on “after five wear with a fashion forward twist” her garments are a marvellous mesh of elegant embellished feminine fabrics with innovative and edgy cuts and structures. Adoring designers like Givenchy and Australian duo Sass and Bide for their ability to see and create beauty in the “not so perfect” has encouraged Da Cruze to develop statement pieces that embody cutting edge and sophisticated designs “that every women will fall in love with and feel amazing wearing.” Her attention to detail, observant eye and love for “everything in Life from the magnificent to the distorted” was a blessing for her latest collection as it led explains that this was the concept behind her latest collection, with a particular her to see the beauty and “the amazing effect” left by a deteriorating wall. She interest in reproducing the layers and colours by using various materials and fabrics as well as using natural dyes to achieve the earthy and dusty colour pallet. Her label is “for fashion forward women who love to have fun with their clothing but still value quality in their product and fit.” With garments worthy of being worn by Serena Van der Woodsen in ‘Gossip Girl’, Da Cruz takes party perfect to a new level.

EMERGING DESIGNER

WRITTEN BY :NADINE POUGNET PHOTOGRAPHY : TESSA KIT ZAWADZKI

EMERGING DESIGNER

WRITTEN BY : NADINE POUGNET PHOTOGRAPHY : JESSICA YEH, MIRA STUDIOS

“Seeing my friends and family wear garments I have designed and made brings back those fond childhood memories.” Cynthia Chong never intended on becoming a fashion designer, but her career path started with the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design when she realized that she “didn’t enjoy working in front of a computer as much as playing and experimenting with fabric and wearable art.” Her flair for fashion started when she was growing up, Chong and her two sisters would always be “folding, gluing, sewing, and making jewelry and clothes for [their] dolls and would spend hours raiding [their] mother’s closet playing dress-up.” To fulfill her renewed passion, Chong enrolled in Fashion design at Polytechnic West “to learn about the technical side of fashion” but has also learnt the fundamentals by creating couture gowns for several Bridal Couture houses in Perth and more recently by completing work experience at Collette Dinnigan, all at the same time working on her own collection inspired by Frances Burnetts novel; The Secret Garden. Her collection embodies luxury, elegance and sophistication both with its luscious “hand dyed colour palette of pale greys, champagne, ivory and mossy greens” and the lavish use of delicate fabrics like silk, chiffon and cotton. The collection is a range of modern and elegant evening wear, which consists of structured and tailored suit pieces and detailed and embellished dresses that emphasize and celebrate femininity. Chong hopes her label to become “synonymous with beauty, luxury, creativity and style” and she is well on her way to achieve just that. Her creative abilities have not only led her to create a dazzling wearable collection but have also earned her to be a finalist at this years Styleaid due to her masterful talent at creating Haute Couture. Chong will also be showcasing some Haute Couture pieces at WABorn, which she created in collaboration with fellow designer and friend Lucy Aboagye. Chong says, “seeing [her] friends and family wear garments [that she has] designed and made, brings back those fond childhood memories” which were the source of her passion and feels incredibly “privileged to have the talent and creativity to carry on that play.” 22

FEATURING

EMERGING FASHION DESIGNER GEN ORTON

WRITTEN BY NADINE POUGNET

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEN ORTON “Once you are committed and motivated to learn, you can achieve anything.”

Currently in her final year at Curtin University studying Fashion and Textile Design, Gen Orton has had a passion for fashion for as long as she can remember. Her love for design was sprung from her ability to express and reveal herself in an industry with few restrictions and rules. This creative freedom was heightened by her admiration for quirky designers Victor & Rolf, famous for their theatrical and performance driven runway shows, “I love their sense of humor and playfulness, they are bold and define fashion’s future.”

“Her inspiration from nature and love for eccentricity has enabled her to develop a collection that embodies both originality and wear ability.”

chiffon and silk” because of their ability to easily be manipulated, pleated and gathered to create new and interesting forms and layers analogous to the bird’s anatomy. Her inspiration from nature and love for eccentricity has enabled her to develop a collection that embodies both originality and wear ability. The delicate falling fabrics worked into the garments are analogous to feathers and add a touch of excitement and will definitely bounce beautifully down the runway. Although Orton knows that the fashion industry is extremely competitive she has a very positive philosophy and believes that “once you are committed and motivated to learn you can achieve anything” with such an optimistic out look on life she is definitely destined for a bright future.

Orton has incorporated some of Victor & Rolf’s dramatic demeanor in her latest collection “Take Flight” which explores the concept of a bird’s flight and “their free forming silhouettes, whilst creating texture and depth on the body.” She reproduced these ideas using “feminine and free flowing materials like 25

the

emerging

designer

Sarah Eastcott

Written by STEPHANIE SODERBORG Photography by COURTNEY ILLFIELD 26

“Like any true artist, Eastcott relishes in the potential of her craft. “I love figuring out what coloUrs, shapes, patterns and textures will work together. There is never ending possibility and inspiration.”

Sarah Eastcott’s avid love of art has translated into a natural flair for fashion. However, despite her inherent creative edge, Eastcott was not always set on transforming her artistic skills into a career. She recounts, “After finishing high school I was travelling in the UK and was still struggling to decide what to do with my life, when a friend of mine told me about a girl he had just met who was studying fashion in London. I suddenly realized that was what I wanted to do! So it was a bit of an epiphany.” Upon returning to Australia, Eastcott began to study fashion at Bentley TAFE, and eventually moved to Curtin University. Like any true artist, Eastcott relishes in the potential of her craft. “I love figuring out what coloUrs, shapes, patterns and textures will work together. There is never ending possibility and inspiration.”

And where does she find such inspiration? The sources are varied, but according to the designer, her childhood is a recurring theme. She loved to play dress up as a kid, and is still attracted to the idea of costumes, or creating garments for specific characters. Her particular love for eighties fantasy movies has made its way into her current collection, with textile and construction choices influenced by the era and genre. Poof skirts and ribbed bodices are evocative of both an eighties prom night and fairy tale princess. The mesh fabric detailing simultaneously inspire thoughts of the decade’s grunge trend and futuristic fantasy. The combination of fancy dresses and casual hoodies make Eastcott’s work truly reminiscent of childhood, both its whimsical freedom and comfort, yet the clothes are fashionable and wearable for today’s woman. They embody Eastcott’s style, “quirky and fun with a touch of nostalgia.”

emerging designer

Eraine Poon

“Poon launched her own label called “Sweet Mallow”, which is “based on living in a world of fantasy.” The line combines fanciful, feminine cuts with pastel pink and creamy white fabrics to create flowing, ethereal silhouettes.” Eraine Poon has travelled far in order to pursue her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Born in Hong Kong, Poon taught herself to sew, and used her love of reading to fuel her imagination and create designs. She moved to Australia in 2006 to study Fashion & Textile at Curtin University in Perth. Even before completing her degree, Poon’s designs began receiving recognition, including being chosen as one of the top ten finalists for both women’s ready-to-wear and contemporary evening wear at the 2010 Perth Fashion Festival. After graduating in 2010, Poon launched her own label called “Sweet Mallow”, which is “based on living in a world of fantasy.” The line combines fanciful, feminine cuts with pastel pink and creamy white fabrics to create flowing, ethereal silhouettes. Every garment is exquisitely detailed, incorporating bold, structured necklines, trailing hemlines, and intricate rushing and gathering. Poon draws her inspiration from both nature and fairy tales, creating pieces that “define beauty with sweet, girlish simplicity and elegance.” Part of Sweet Mallow’s appeal is that Poon “does not worry about following trends,” which is reflected in both her personal style and the collection. Poon wants her clothes to “bring the best of your childhood memories back to life,” resulting in a whimsical style with an inherent beauty, independent of seasonal style. In the future, Poon plans to expand her collection with bags and jewellery, saying she “looks forward to many more years of helping women feel beautiful, unique and empowered in their clothes.”

Written by STEPHANIE SODERBORG Photography by NATHAN SOH

ETABLISHED DESIGNER

PAULINE HO Written by CAMILLE CHAPLEAU Edited by NADINE POUGNET

“I love fashion because it’s so versatile, it can hide flaws or enhance certain features.” Like most little girls Pauline Ho liked drawing pretty clothes, but by the tender age of nine she began designing clothes for four members of a fictional anime called ‘Girl Band’. Ho designed about 20 ranges for them and soon realized that she wanted to turn her passion into a career. Ho worked for various fashion companies such as Costarella, Rusty and Sunseeker International and all this interesting work experience gave her the desire to create her own label. In 2008 Ho’s passion finally became her job, and her label “Starring” was launched. I’m sure you’re all wondering why “Starring”, Ho thought about the name fifteen years ago “I guess I was trying to work out why people wanted to be like someone else” when you can be you, the best.” The philosophy behind the brand is “you are alive for a reason, make the most of it, your life is Starring... you.” Fashion is always changing, that’s what Pauline loves about it “it’s so versatile, it can hide flaws or enhance certain features, it’s not permanent, so you don’t have to feel guilty if you had a “what was I thinking day. You just hit re-set and wear something else the following day”. Ho says she and her brand don’t have a precise style, rather they have flexibility and adaptability so that any type of woman can wear her clothes, but she does love mixing “hard edge against soft textures” and that is why she “juxtaposes those two elements.” Ho describes the girls wearing her clothes as self-confident, “they also are individuals who have an appreciation for the creative and unique design and are not afraid to experiment with these aesthetics.” Animals have a special place in her heart, and she says she will never use fur on her garments. Her laid back nature mixed with her strong ethics, values and respect shines through her collection.

“

The Jonté label encapsulates feminine beauty through its clothing empowering a woman with confidence and an edgy fashion conscious style.

JONTE PIKE emerging designer

”

written by : STEPHANIE SODERBORG photography by : ADAM NALAPRAYA

Turkish Delight, is inspired by her experience at the grand bazaar in Istanbul, where the vibrant colors of the spices and semi-precious stones grabbed her attention. As a child, Jonté Pike loved going to work with her mother, who lectured on fashion design in South Africa. She thrived in the creative environment, interacting with students and admiring their artwork. This early exposure to fashion sparked a life-long passion for Pike, whose talent has evolved from sketching her Barbies in fashion outfits as a kid to creating wearable art pieces as a teenager to finally gaining an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design at Poltechnic West TAFE. Her talent is palpable, and Pike has already left a train of success in her wake. She was awarded the WA Apex Teenage Designer of the year as well as the Xpress Graduate Student award. Her work has been showcased in UK Kismet Magazine and US Style-ology. She also won a scholarship to Japan to work with Banshu Textiles, which Pike describes as “a major turning point in my decision to start a design label that showcases my own designer trends. Having spent time with Flannel designer Kristy Lawrence on this trip to Japan, I was inspired to set up my own label and just go for it!”

“Early exposure to fashion sparked a life-long passion for Pike, whose talent has evolved from sketching her Barbies in fashion outfits as a kid to creating wearable art pieces as a teenager to finally gaining an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design at Poltechnic West TAFE.”

Pike drew upon her extensive international experience in order to shape the concept behind her label. “Having been born in South Africa and immigrating to Australia when I was eleven has certainly opened my eyes to the artistic beauty and creativity that lies within various cultures,” and she aims to create “edgy, wearable, empowering, [and] feminine” designs that are culturally and ethnically influenced. Her first collection, Turkish Delight, is inspired by her experience at the grand bazaar in Istanbul, where the vibrant colors of the spices and semi-precious stones grabbed her attention. Various shades of red, green and orange are set against bold black and white geometric patterns, making each garment visually pop. Silk organza, leather and suede add a touch of luxury, while the intricate semi-precious stone and pearl detailing enhances the ethnic feel of the collection. Some pieces boast a structured bustier, others looseknit tops, yet the cut of every piece “keeps a young woman’s figure in mind, maintaining a flattering edgy, yet stylish silhouette.” Although still on her first collection, Pike is already successfully emulating the creativity and innovative textile combinations she so admires in other designers, such as Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano. Her label “Jonté” is versatile, unique, and cohesive, an ideal fit for her ideal customer: “the fashion savvy woman who is not shy to turn heads.”

FILM REVIEW

HORRIBLE BOSSES Directed by Seth Gordon Written by Aidan Shaw

Horrible Bosses tells the all too familiar tale of three working class buddies who’ve been driven by their respective bosses in to states of absolute disgruntlement. Nick (Jason Bateman) works at a financial firm for his sociopathic boss Harken (Kevin Spacey), who dangles the possibility of a promotion under his nose as a form of emotional abuse (note the remarkable similarity to the pilot episode of Arrested Development, in which Bateman also starred). Dale (Charlie Day) is a dental assistant who faces ongoing sexual harassment from his nymphoDentist boss Julia (Jennifer Aniston), who is far too gorgeous to be a rapist (just sayin’). Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) works for a chemical company and actually admires his boss, but finds himself in the same boat as his buddies when the company is taken over by the bosses cocaine-addicted maniac of a son, Bobby (Colin Farrell). When these three frustrated gentleman congregate, they discuss how much happier they’d all be if their bosses were gone, but trouble (in

the form of blackmail, adultery, and murder) begins to unfold once they jokingly suggest they should have their bosses killed. This soon becomes their prime objective, and hilarity ensues when Dale misreads an advertorial and hires what he thought was a hitman to meet them in a secluded hotel room. Michael Markowitz, the films key writer, walks the tightrope of political correctness when the three characters walk in to a predominantly African American bar in search of a hitman and bump in to Motherfucker Jones (Jamie Foxx), who implies he is experienced in that line of work. While some viewers may perceive this scene as distasteful or even racist,

“I thought it stretched the taboo just far enough without snapping it. “ Kevin Spacey revives his role as John Doe from Se7en, only in a more comedic context. His ability to play an equally convincing sociopath in a black comedy as he once did in a psychological thriller, truly solidifies his credibility and brilliance as an actor. Hats should be taken off to him. Go on, take it off. Horrible Bosses is modern cinematic evidence that a wishy washy, unoriginal plot can be rescued by the casting of seven perfectly suitable actors in the main roles. Check it out if you’re chasing a laugh.

“They discuss how much happier they’d all be if their bosses were gone.”

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Syndicate have just released their selftitled album, are in the middle of a national album release tour, and are set to support Alice Cooper in Sydney and Melbourne later this year.

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Sydney Based Rock band Syndicate have just released their self-titled album, are in the middle of a national album release tour, and are set to support Alice Cooper in Sydney and Melbourne later this year. Sound impressive? Well so is their music. I caught up with lead singer Greg Agar to talk about all this and more. So your album came out on the 1st of July and you’re currently in the middle of your national album release tour, how are you feeling about everything at the moment? This very second, really really tired, but it’s come from a lot of hard work. It was such a big achievement for us to get the album over the line and the whole thing has been a step process. The first thing was: alright we need to get the band together, we need to get the songs together and then we need to get the opportunity and now, the next thing was get the album and that whole process has taken about a year and so, we are so happy. So to be half way through it, tired as I am, this is where I want to be. Do you prefer touring to making music, or is it something you can’t really choose between? Even though they go hand in hand, they’re so different. I love exploring music and songs in the studio. I love to be able to sit there and create and have the freedom to do things again and get them how you want them. But at the same time, nobody claps you when you do a good take in the studio and so we kind of need to feed that side of us as well. I mean playing live is definitely where we’re our most comfortable, in our element. No matter how tired you know, something just wakes up when you go and play. You’re from Sydney, and usually playing in pubs/venues around there, is that where you started? Yeah, I mean we all started individually playing in other bands and stuff so I play a lot of shows just around Sydney, playing other peoples songs, like covers and stuff. So we’ve done the hard yards in that sense, so it was great to have the freedom to switch off from that and do things just for us and create what we wanted to create instead of reproducing something. So that was a hard thing in itself, was really just shutting off everything else and saying now what do we want to do, how can we be original and not just copy what’s been done. How did you guys actually form? Well there’s a different story every time I tell it. I feel bad though, I did this interview last week and a guy asked me, and I said that we met in ukulele lessons and we went with that for a while and I felt bad. Other ones have been, we used to go to the same strip club, Jimi’s mum was the dancer that worked there or something. But the real story is not quite as interesting as that. We all used to do sky diving...no just joking! We all ended up in the same rehearsal studio with other bands jamming. We all got to know each other, it was a big kind of family from there. From there we just had a jam and it kind of just never stopped, it just felt good. There came a time where we had to make a conscious decision to concentrate on this band and not our other bands, but we did it.

CDREVIEW 36

SYNDICATE By Stephanie Lane

How many bands did you have going before you decided to concentrate on this one? It’s all different for all of us. We were just playing music every day. It’s a big step as well to be playing music as a hobby, then to turn around and say you know what, I don’t have a job anymore, this is what I do 24 hours a day. I’ve been lucky enough that I’ve never had to work a ‘real job’ so to speak, but I know from a couple of the other guys it’s been a hard kind of journey giving that up but at the same time so, I don’t know, what’s the word; free, not working for the man, all that kind of stuff. Having said that, this has become our job, but we love it. Are you all around the same age? Yer, ish. I’m 26, and I’m average in the band. Jimi’s a lot younger, Kris is a little bit older but yer, it’s all around there, mid 20’s. What is your favourite song/s on the album? Well I’ve got to stop trying to give diplomatic answers and give the real ones. For me, ‘Don’t Go Falling Apart,’ otherwise known as ‘Falling Apart’ on the album is one of my favourites in the sense that it means the most to me, about what we wrote about. And it was times like on the road doing the long haul, playing kind of small shows and hoping people would turn up and being away from people that you care about. It’s cliché but it’s only cliché because it happens a lot. And so I mean that song for me, I think we got it just right and how I wanted it in my head. Plus it was a really cool experience singing the vocal for that with the band. I mean with a lot of these songs, before we were a band called ‘The Next’ and we were really rock based and I wouldn’t play piano at all because we were like no, we’re a rock band, rock and that’s it and they’re the rules right. And then our producer said, “Why are you guys being dickheads? If you can play, play.” So we played the piano and it was a really kind of freeing experience in itself. I’d say that ‘Falling Apart’ was definitely my gateway song towards that newness.

What’s it been like working with such talented and famous musicians? Jeff Blue (Linkin Park), Brandon Friesen (Nickelback), Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver/Guns N’ Roses), Mike Fraser (AC/DC) to name a few. I feel a couple of ways about it. First of all, if someone had have told me a year ago, well a year before we did it, you’re going to go work with Tommy Lee, and you’re going to go work with Matt Sorum, I would have thought that I would lose my shit you know because I’d be like oh my God I’ve read the dirt, I’ve grown up listening to these bands. I mean obviously we all have something that got us wanting to play music and rock. There was a time when I was sitting at Jeff’s house, at his piano in the Hollywood Hills looking out, I saw the Hollywood sign here, and the City’s just down there, and I look up on the wall and there’s Linkin Park and Matchbox 20, like all these gold records on his walls and I thought, shit, these are the people. And so for me that little experience was about realising that these are really humble people that even though they have super rock star status, were just cool guys that wanted to make music. It’s like they’ve got all they need, but this is what they want so that was really cool. You kind of find that the people at the top are the nicest ones.

So did you write that one by yourself? Pretty much. A lot of our songs are co-written and so there was a time where I took it to the guys and we did all that kind of stuff, jammed it and that, but the majority of it was mine. So is that how all the songs work, there’s not really a plan, so if someone comes up with a song, you just go with it? We kind of used to. Now when we sit and write songs we do it more on purpose. It’s not so much jam as, ok we’re going to write a song, structure time, sit down and do what we want to, and how do we say it in the coolest way. So we’ll sit, we’ll jam on musical ideas and there might only be a couple of us or a few of us. Having said that Kris will come to us with a song, he’s shown me since we’ve finished recording the album he’s got another 19 songs that he’s written. They’re just waiting to go but they’re good songs as well, just don’t tell him I said that. What made you decide to make the album self titled? That’s a tough one actually, I hadn’t really thought about that. It just seemed like the right thing to do. We changed the name, we changed the style. We kind of really wanted to make a statement. We didn’t want to give it a name, it was just Syndicate, this is what it is.

YNDICATE 38

So when did it all change from being a Sydney band, playing at all these different places, to recording. What actually happened in these stages? We had released our EP under the name ‘The Next’ and it was going ok, this was with Sony as well. Denis, the CEO of Sony, would say look, I like these guys, they can play, they can sing, they look the part but they need songs. They need good songs and so we thought ok, we need to work out how to do this so we kind of went through some contacts of ours, we went over to L.A. the first time, that was to meet with songwriters to work out our sound. I thought we were going to go over there and sit down with these people and they say, alright now this is how you write a song, take out your pencil...But it wasn’t like that at all. It’s exactly like we were doing it except with a purpose. And we just thought, ok we really want to say this and we agree on a concept and now we just need to say it the coolest way we can say it. And so once we really concentrated on the melody and lyrics in that way, that really established our songs. Even though we wrote with a lot of different people, even though we had three different producers on the album, they all sound like us and I think that’s because we realised how to be us when we did it. So, it was a big chunk of time that that happened over, it wasn’t overnight.

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It was incredible to have the freedom and the means to be able to record at a high level with all these people, in such a cool, reputable place.

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How did you enjoy your time in L.A.? It was incredible, it was so cool. As I said it was hard work. I remember one day I was singing in the studio for 17 hours and that’s like, you sing until you’re just beyond tired. But never for a second were we like, this is too hard work we don’t want it. And so it was incredible to have the freedom and the means to be able to record at a high level with all these people, in such a cool, reputable place. Still go out and party, we partied a little too hard, but that was to counteract these days in the studio. As a friend of mine said, if you put your last year into a 30 second clip and put it onto YouTube, everyone thinks you have the most rock star life, but there

are a lot of gaps that need filling and they are filled with hard work and everyone getting angry at each other, and not sleeping. But that’s cool, I love that stuff.

with Slash last year and he wore our band t-shirt, then we hung out at Soundwave and stuff with him, and I’m pretty sure that he said look, get these guys on, they get it and they want to rock.

How would you describe your sound? Genre? There’s been a lot of words thrown around since we released and there’s been a few reviews and people calling it ‘melodic rock.’ I’ve had pop rock, I’ve had a whole bunch of things and I’m glad you didn’t ask what band we sound like because there are so many influences we have, it’s like putting it in a big pot and stirring it around you know. As far as that, I would just say rock. People can put whatever they want on it. We try to be as similar as possible in genre. I mean, there’s always that story about Extreme releasing ‘More than Words’ and all the mums and grandmas loved it and when they came out to see them, they didn’t realise that Extreme were like a glam, 80’s metal band and so when they played the rest of their songs they were like ‘what’s going on?’. And so yeah we have a couple of piano songs but we try keep it all within sounding like us.

It must be such a good feeling having someone... Batting for us? Yeah definitely. That was the coolest thing about hanging out with the guys back in L.A. was that instead of getting autographs we were able to have their phone numbers in our phone. It’s a lot different when you go out in public and you kind of forget, oh I’m hanging out with these people, because people come up; can we do this, can we buy this, can we have this photo and it’s like, I forgot. No disrespect about that, it’s just they’re such down to earth people. The best thing about that was having friendships like this, that guys like Brent would do that for us, that’s the biggest compliment for me.

Who influences you, not necessarily someone that sounds similar, growing up and now? We’ve all come from really different backgrounds. I grew up playing Jazz piano. Played since I was six, so that was a big part of my life. But I remember the day I heard Deep Purple play and I heard John Lord play the organ and I thought, this is so badass, I want to do that, and I hadn’t really grasped that before. And then I just kind of threw the piano away, got the keyboard and put distortion on it and from there I was just kind of hooked. So, having said that, we don’t sound anything like Deep Purple but there are bands that you take little bits and pieces from. I love Jeff Buckley’s vocals. I love the way he has a voice that isn’t just high and low and soft and loud but it actually has so many layers of thickness, and it’s almost like he’s got a game knob on his guitar and I admire that so much. I know Kris grew up just listening to Van Halen, that was his thing so we joke that we like to keep him in the cage a little bit but every now and then we let him out to go crazy because that’s who he is right. and I know our drummer Jason grew up loving Elvis and playing an Elvis show and travelling around the world doing that and so it’s like you couldn’t think of more extremes. But chucked together, they work. What advice would you give to others out there who want to make a career out of music? I want people to realise that making music is something that is so personal, and it’s something that is so special, but not to get caught up in thinking that getting signed and doing it that way, or that that is the only avenue. I think success comes on a lot of different levels and it sounds like an indie approach but, you don’t want to follow in someone else’s footsteps just because they did it. You don’t want to be a band that’s going and hanging out on the sunset strip in L.A. just because Motley Crue got picked up doing it like 20 years ago. Everyone has to make their own way through. And so yeah, my advice is: be as original as possible and if you sound like someone else then change it. Just stop trying to be something, and be something, you know what I mean? How did touring with Alice Cooper come about? Our management and our booking agents sort a lot of that stuff out. But I know that a recommendation came from a guy named Brent Fitz and he played drums for Alice Cooper, and he was playing with Slash when we were in town and because he was a friend of our producers, he came into the studio and we hung and he just came and played on it just because he wanted to, and we were like, yeah, come and play two songs, as if we’d say no right. And so, he supported us a lot. He came out playing

So how many shows are you doing with Alice? Three are confirmed, but unfortunately not west coast, it’s all east coast. We’ve got Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. They’re the sideshows that are confirmed, so I’m not sure if there are any more in the pipeline. We’d love to come over to Perth again, we’ve been there a couple of times and everyone is so nice.

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There was a time when I was sitting at Jeff’s house, at his piano in the Hollywood Hills looking out, I saw the Hollywood sign here, and the City’s just down there, and I look up on the wall and there’s Linkin Park and Matchbox 20, like all these gold records on his walls and I thought, shit, these are the people.

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Do you have shows planned other than your current tour, and tour with Alice Cooper? We’re playing with Altiyan. He’s a friend of ours from before when he went on the show, so we’re touring with him next month and that’s similar east coast kind of stuff. We’ve got a U.S. tour that we’re working out, with people who want to put it on which I probably shouldn’t say as none of them are confirmed but it will be 20 states, 20 shows in 30 days kind of assault. All on a tour bus, four bands; one from Canada, us from Australia and two from the U.S. all travelling around together, that’ll be killer. We’re going to Germany in a month or so for a festival. Have you ever been to Germany before? No, I haven’t been to Europe before. Now, just to end our chat, the first word that comes to mind when you hear these words: Music - Rock Travel - tired Australia – I was going to say home, but I was going to say it in a different way, but home is definitely a good choice. Cardigans – My nanna. Food – Hungry Tattoos – Got lots of tattoos. Julia Gillard – Everybody teasing all the clothes that she wears. What about the hair colour as well? I was going to say, the first thing I thought of was ranga. Syndicate recently announced a Perth show, at Challenge Stadium on Sunday, October 2. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster. 39

ALBUM REVIEW:

Abbe May Design Desire Abbeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ardor

Written by Lisa Morrison

There are as many variations of blues music as there are of the colour: John Lee Hooker boogie blues; BB King southern blues; Bob Dylan folk blues; Tracy Chapman soul blues…and then there is Abbe May’s latest bluesinspired album, Design Desire: a dark, intense, sexy-ashell record that slaps you in the face with its ferocity.

If this is blues then it’s deep inky sapphire. And like the jewel, Abbe May indeed has humble rock beginnings, but this album is a glittering gem in the Australian music scene. Since the early 2000’s, she has been a member of Bunbury group The Fuzz, released a debut, Howl and Moan, a live collaboration, The Devil and Abbe May, an EP, Hawaiian Disease, with yet another group, The Rockin’ Pneumonia, before joining forces with Sam Ford from The Silents, Cam Avery and Clint Oliver from The Growl and KT Rumble from The Rockin’ Pneumonia for this latest offering.

“Design Desire is dirty, edgy and bristles with pure punk attitude. It brings to mind drinking whisky, smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, sporting ripped black denim and tattoos and the careless sexiness that the rock-and-roll lifestyle exudes.”

message of primitive desire: “there’s food and there’s shelter and water and you, you and your mammalian locomotion’s”. Upon release, the song was featured on Entourage, also popular for its depiction of a ‘sleazycool’ lifestyle. The Design Desire film clip is just as fierce. It depicts Abbe shredding a white electric guitar in a barren landscape (a dried salt lake near Gin Gin), clad in big black boots, bare legs and a flame-red tutu. Embodying the classic rock chick elements, it also illustrates the new psychedelic progression in her sound. Scenes of her writhing over a black leather backseat in a white muscle car have been manipulated with a ‘house-of-mirrors’ effect, lending her movements a snake-like, seductive quality.

“Prince was a huge influence on Design Desire, saying “there’s an element of sleaze that, when it’s done well, is so cool”. The albums central themes of gender and power, love and lust, mystery and misery have Design Desire on high-rotation in my car, and in agreement with the New York music critic who said she “…is in possession of the voice of both god and the devil”.

As if that wasn’t enough, the songstress has taken out Best Female Vocalist in the West Australian Music Industry Awards for the last four years running, an unprecedented reign. More psychedelic-electric than her past work (perhaps due to the introduction of The Growl members) Design Desire is dirty, edgy and bristles with pure punk attitude. It brings to mind drinking whisky, smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, sporting ripped black denim and tattoos and the careless sexiness that the rock-and-roll lifestyle exudes.

“The songstress has taken out Best Female Vocalist in the West Australian Music Industry.” Abbe told Beat Magazine that Prince was a huge influence on Design Desire, saying “there’s an element of sleaze that, when it’s done well, is so cool”. This influence is clearly demonstrated in the Mammalian Locomotion and Design Desire film clips. In the former, she rides a bicycle through the streets of Brooklyn, accompanied by members of New York roller derby posse, Sisters in Motion. The combination of femininity and sensuality coupled with movement and muscle reflects the songs

Blog Review

Unicorn Conundrum Written by Stephanie Soderborg

Taylor Soderborg, author of The Unicorn Conundrum (and my sister), blogs about the difficulties and uncertainties of being an “adult” in her 20s. With the tagline “I keep wondering when I am going to grow up. Is this it?”, the blog puts a hilarious spin on trying to cope with the real world. I sat down with Taylor to discuss her blog and the story behind it. What is your favorite part of writing the blog? It’s productive, like adults are, but it’s not the work I should be doing, so it’s also procrastination. Procrastiductive, you could say. Actually, never say that, it’s a horrible sounding word. I also love when a friend chats with me about a post, commiserating similar feelings of semi-adult-awkwardness that they also experience but try to pretend doesn’t exist.

Anything else you want readers to know? It’s ok to be 28 and drinking on your porch until 4am. It’s also okay to be 23 and stay in on a Saturday night to make homemade pesto. Don’t listen to anybody who says you are too old or too young to be/do/act a certain way. They don’t have any clue either.

What was the inspiration behind the blog? The inspiration was a conversation I had with a fellow teacher. She was sharing her adventure of staying up till 4 drankin’ and smokin’ and shootin’ the shit. A guy was hitting on her, and she admitted he was cute, but then said, “If I’m going to date a guy who is 28, do I really want him to still be out smoking until 4am? Shouldn’t he be over that sort of stuff?” Then I realised, holy shit, I had absolutely no freaking clue what a 28 year old should be like. Or a 23 year old. Or any age in the 20s and 30s. When you get to 20-something and you are on your own, all the sudden you realise, “I have NO clue what I am supposed to be doing. Should I be cooking myself more vegetables? Should I stop going out three times a week? Do I buy soap dishes?”

Visit http://theunicornconundrum.blogspot.com/

What is your background? Anything that led you to starting the blog? I graduated from Oberlin College in 2010 with a major in neuroscience and I will start medical school in 2012. I am currently in my second year as a 7th grade science teacher in Chicago Public Schools. All of these things are SO GROWN UP! I take my work and school very seriously, but I still love unicorns and glitter. I have dinosaur and robot figurines around my room. So this contradiction led to the blog? Remember you once told me that when getting me a present, you just think of what a five year old would find awesome, and it’s the perfect gift? You can imagine that between my very adult job and my very childish interests, I get a little confused. To deal with this, I blog. 42

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