NEWEST INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE INSPIRING YOUTH
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Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Cel and I am the new editor of the Colosoul Ezine! I have been a part of Colosoul for a few years and love the people I have met and all the behind the scenes antics that come together to deliver a publication jam–packed with fashion, interviews and music with a difference. It’s been a huge couple of months for us, with a move from our Subiaco office to one in the heart of the city and we are all excited to be working in a new space. This month we have a Mumford & Sons review and we check in with a very talented artist, Rachel Venheggen to see what’s going on in the world of Art in Perth. Watch this space for more info on what Colosoul will be bringing you in the near future and happy reading! // Cel
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E G A P S T CONTEN
Ocean Depths, 75cm x 60cm acrylic on canvas
RACHEL VERHEGGEN I am a 22 year old Perth based emerging artist currently studying at Curtin University. Predominately an abstract painter, I work with acrylics to create colourful expressions of nature. Each painting is an attempt to emphasise a particular colour, texture or atmosphere.
I have participated in numerous groups shows and held my first solo exhibition Rainbow Lollipops and Jumping Beans in 2011 with a second solo show in planning following a 3month residency at Fremantle Arts Centre from December 2012 – February 2013.
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// ARTIST PROFILE
Crash, 75cm x 60cm acrylic on canvas
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FASHION & ACCESSORIES STORE
105, South Terrace Fremantle – WA 6160
(08) 9430 4999 www.indiandem.com.au
// MUSIC REVIEW
GEOFFERY O’CONNER – VANITY IS FOREVER MUSIC REVIEW AS THE WELL–KNOWN FRONTMAN FOR AUSTRALIAN INDIE BAND CRAYON FIELDS, MELBOURNE’S GEOFFERY O’CONNER HAS SHED HIS NICKNAME SLY HATS AND STEPPED OUT TO THE WORLD AS A SOLO ARTIST WITH HIS OWN NAME.
O’Connor again collaborates with Jono Edmonds and Jessica Venables, as well as local musicians including Ben Montero, Julian Patterson and Guy Blackman. Their contributions of vocals and instrumentals to his songs make his album a rather dynamic and innovative one. As a first debut album, Vanity is forever speaks to listeners in a way which is even more personal and seductive than any of his previous work. It took him two years to fine–tune and finally release his very own album. The first track, So sorry, draws you in with its indie nostalgic tones and leaves you hanging on for more. His music is alluring, with classical, blues, ‘80s balladry, dance beats and modern synthetic tunes weaving through the song tracks. What is really striking about this album is its heartfelt lyrics. Most of his tracks. which were written by O’Conner himself. seem reflective and fearlessly speak of inner desires, such as in the track Like They say It Does – “When I go, I hope I had enough love to live for all the romantic lies that have loved me for so long.” Nostalgia, and longing for love and youth are evident themes in most of the songs in his album. The lyrics sometimes come across
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as ambiguous and are up to the listener’s interpretation. His inspirations about love and life, sung in his mellow vocals, are what draw listeners to be immersed in his music. Whatever leads me to you as the lead single particularly stands out in this album, with its appealing instrumentals of drums and waves of orchestral tunes, as with O’Conner’s trademark guitar. The song speaks to listeners about the trials of unrequited love and its tune can make anyone feel like a hipster.
“VANITY IS FOREVER” IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ITUNES OR IN SELECTED RECORD STORES NOW.
As a first album, it is certainly a very commendable effort on making the album as dynamic and personal as it is. It is definitely worth as listen. Vanity is forever is available for purchase through iTunes or in selected record stores now. // Written by Louisa Ong
// BOOK REVIEW
LIFE AFTER DEATH WHEN A POOR, SELF–PROCLAIMED “WHITE TRASH” EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD AND HIS FRIENDS ARE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON AND DEATH ROW, YOU HAVE THE MAKINGS OF A DECENT STORY, MAYBE EVEN A FEATURE FILM THAT WOULD PROBABLY DO WELL AT THE BOX OFFICE. THE CATCH IS THAT LIFE AFTER DEATH, IS NOT A MADE UP FEATURE FILM. IT’S A NON–FICTION MEMOIR WRITTEN BY DAMIEN ECHOLS, THE NAMED “RINGLEADER” OF THE WEST MEMPHIS 3, THREE TEENS WHO WERE WRONGLY CONVICTED OF THE MURDER OF THREE YOUNG BOYS IN 1993.
The written–in–prison memoir is critically acclaimed and sports a jacket covered with positive reviews from Echols’ large circle of celebrity supporters and friends. The fantastic thing about the book is that the reader doesn’t even have to try and ignore the celebrity endorsements and the media circus surrounding anything Damien Echols does since his much awaited, campaigned for and eventual release. This book more than speaks for itself and is a brilliant and emotional read. Without going into much detail about the case, (there are four extensive movie documentaries that do this already, courtesy of HBO and Peter Jackson) Echols holds his own with
his ability to seamlessly weave past with present. Echols’ style of writing allows the book to flow, from chapters about his first girlfriend while in high school, to hearing another Death Row prisoner be taken to receive a lethal injection, to the present as he is writing the words and describing the exercises he did that day. Echols spent half his life (at the time of his release) behind bars and the observations made while serving time are incredibly and affectively articulated. Echols describes his own abuse and treatment by the guards during the years he was incarcerated and clearly expresses his thoughts on the dehumanization of people in prison.
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// BOOK REVIEW He describes other men on Death Row having mental problems, one sticky– taping crickets to his body because they were his “friends” and others wearing the same underwear until they changed
memoir that he wishes he could shake the label of being the face of the West Memphis Three, he seems to have things in perspective and leaves the reader feeling that now that he is out, this memoir will not be the last we will see of him. “I’m not content to settle for one experience when there is a whole lifetime of experiences to be had. I am so hungry for knowledge that I live several lives to acquire it. …A SPECTACULAR PIECE OF
THE GREATER PUZZLE THAT MAKES UP THE WHOLE STORY OF THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE… A Catholic and a Buddhist, a reader and a writer, a sinner and a philosopher, a husband and a father, a Native American and a white man — I no longer have any desire to fit into one category.” The book comes in the midst of three older documentary movies about the case (Paradise Lost 1,2,3), Damien Echols, Jesse Miskelly and Jason Baldwin’s first year out of prison and just before Peter Jackson’s movie about the case called “West of Memphis” released at the end of 2012. Life After Death is a spectacular piece of the greater puzzle that makes up the whole story of the West Memphis Three but also is able to stand alone and serves as a remarkable read for those who haven’t followed the case or are new to the subject.
colour. Echols explains how many of the Death Row prisoners barely know what’s going on yet are led to their deaths when their execution date comes up. “The people here are all mentally defective in ways that range from mild retardation to extreme schizophrenia. Others are stuck in a no man’s land between sanity and delusion…The mentally handicapped are executed on a regular basis while politicians all give speeches about being tough on crime.” Echols possesses an amazing ability to draw the reader into situations they have little or no experience with and keeps them there until they feel the sense of injustice he has felt. His writing also appeals to the grown-ups who were once the misunderstood kids in black, listening to metal cassettes as he describes his activities before his arrest and all his favourite songs. His talent is something to be reckoned with and although he laments in the
// Written and edited by C.Eden
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CARTOON MOVEMENT CARTOON MOVEMENT IS A BLOG WITH A DIFFERENCE. NOT ONLY IS IT BRIMMING WITH POLITICAL INSINUATIONS AND COMMENTARIES, IT ALSO GIVES READERS A CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR EVER–GROWING COLLECTION OF DRAWINGS BIRTHED FROM THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSCIOUSLY SENSITIVE TO THE WAY THINGS ARE REALLY BEING RUN AROUND THEM.
It can be tedious writing reports lamenting the USA’s seeming declaration of wars all over the globe in the hunt for oil, or how television has been responsible for dumbing down nations, or how the news is really just a filtered, manufactured version of what exactly took place. And even with all that effort, few readers are willing to spare the precious five minutes to read your well–researched facts.
…PANELS WITH SOCIAL AND POLITICAL COMMENTARY SUBMITTED BY CONTRIBUTORS FROM THE USA, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, ITALY, MEXICO, AND TURKEY…
They might even deem you a little weird or paranoid. This blog seems to have cottoned on to the fact that using quick–witted humour to get the point across may very well be the best way to captivate otherwise nonchalant readers with a time crunch. The site describes its content as “A global collaborative platform for editorial cartoons and comics journalism”. For years, cartoons published on the back of papers have broadcast opinions, comments, and observations — no–holds–barred — throughout countries that regulate free speech the most tightly. Cartoon
// BLOG REVIEW
Movement takes this idea and makes it more accessible to everyone by publishing panels with social and political commentary submitted by contributors from the USA, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, and Turkey among other countries. Some contributors have resumes that list companies like Coca Cola too, showing that the average Joe is not the only type of person to contribute. The site intersperses input from the average person with those from talented individuals who have
already been recognised for their abilities and artistic flair. It is this collaboration that makes the site stand out from the crowd. One cartoon panel depicts a presidential figure with his fingers in his ears while people gather around forlornly, stretching out their empty pockets. Another shows a gleeful fat man dressed as ‘Uncle Sam’ shooting a syringe full of flags of the world into his veins –thought–provoking jibes that are usually popular in that backs of papers around the world. The ‘Webshop’ allows visitors to order T–shirts in different colours and designs ranging from Internet Censorship to people like Republican Candidate Willard “Mitt” Romney holding a piece of pie with dog poop on it There is truly something for everyone to buy, wear, and be witty in! New content is published at least four times a week, so visit the site (www.cartoonmovement.com) or follow Cartoon Movement on Twitter for a sneak peak at new submissions. Better still, log in and submit your own contributions today! // Written by C Eden // Edited by Crystal Abidin 15
103 Francis Street Northbridge, Perth Western Australia frisksmallbar.com.au facebook.com/friskespresso
WALKING IN JESSIE STOELWINDER’S SHOES JESSIE STOELWINDER IS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND ONE OF PERTH’S PROMINENT FASHION BLOGS, THE VELVET BOW. SELF–DESCRIBED AS “A PASTICHE OF FASHION, LIFESTYLE, PHOTOGRAPHY, WHIMSY AND VINTAGE CHARM INFUSED WITH MUSINGS, MANIFESTOS AND A HINT OF GLITTER”, IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY THE VELVET BOW IS QUICKLY BECOMING A GO–TO FOR FASHION ENTHUSIASTS.
or compiling them, writing up some text, posting the entry and then sharing it on social media. I’ll also spend a good chunk of each day checking other blogs and fashion websites to see what the general pulse is.”
How did you get into fashion blogging? Is there a story behind the name ‘The Velvet Bow’? “I got into blogging as I was looking for an outlet to write while studying journalism at university. So many people had told me how hard it was to get a job or even work experience in the industry so I decided to take charge of things and create my own little project. At first the blog was about lifestyle in general, but I found myself continually wanting to write about fashion in particular and that’s when I started to get followers. The name ‘The Velvet Bow’ just came out of me playing around with words. They are also two elements that feature heavily in my style so I thought it was the perfect fit.”
…PERTH IS OBSESSED WITH VINTAGE AND RECYCLING CLOTHES, BUT PEOPLE REALLY PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON IT.
You have a wonderful sense of style! How would you describe where you get your own personal sense of style? “Thank you! My style is a little all over the place to be honest. There’s usually a strong vintage theme running under the look, but beyond that it ranges from girly, to edgy, to minimalist, to glam. It changes every day! I do love florals and clothes with animals for some bizarre reason too. I like to play with trends but I think style means putting your own spin on it and not being a slave to what everyone else is wearing. I get inspired by other bloggers, people I see on the street and celebs such as Zooey Deschanel, Alexa Chung, Kate Bosworth and Michelle Williams.”
What is a typical, day in the life of a fashion blogger? “I think it’s different for all bloggers! Most of us have a goal for how many posts we do a week but the great thing about bloggers is we all do different things on the side – some of us are students, doctors, real life journalists, mums etc. I love finding out about the ‘other’ life bloggers lead! For me, on days that I blog, I’ll either scout a location for a photoshoot, plan an outfit and head over to take some pictures, or browse the net for some inspiration. Then it’s editing the photos
Do you have any go–to stores? “I do most of my shopping online so I am forever discovering new sites that
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// BLOG REVIEW
Where do you see Perth fashion heading?
offer products you would never find in a store here. My recent discovery (I know many people already do this) is using coupon codes for online stores. I managed to save 30 per cent on a Michael Kors watch I bought from Revolve Clothing just by punching in a code that was advertised on a coupon site. It’s definitely worth investigating! It’s really worth signing up to the newsletters of your favourite sites so they will alert you when they have things on sale. There are also tons of websites that specialise in designer sale items so you can score a steal — try The Outnet or the sale section of Net–A–Porter. For great vintage, you can’t go past Etsy.”
“That’s a hard one to answer, mainly because I think people in Perth march to the beat of their own drum. From what I have noticed, currently Perth is obsessed with vintage and recycling clothes, but people really put their own spin on it. There’s a really laid back vibe to the way we dress here and I hope that never changes.”
Earlier this year your blog covered the 140 Pop–up Project, what are your thoughts on this phenomenon? Do you see an increase in the popularity of this or any other store trends? “Pop–up shops bring a sense of vibrancy to any area they ‘pop up’ in. While each pop–up shop is executed in a different way, it’s a concept people seem to really get on board with. They offer a unique experience as the buyer gets to see something different in a location that may be unexpected. Pop–up shops work well as part of events but make sure you get in quick, as they tend to disappear as fast as they arrive!”
What do you think is the must have items for winter? “Ankle boots are an absolute must for winter. I can’t even count all the pairs I have! They are great because they transition so well from day to night and you can make them work for your own style as there are so many varieties out there. Also, I think every girl needs a great leopard coat. I have been wearing mine non–stop since winter set in!
// Written by Rume Faka. 19
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