2015 03 • gay express march 2015 issue by GayExpress

March 2015

Madonna Her Rebellious Return to Pop

Antony Cotton An exclusive chat with Coronation Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sean

Kelly Osbourne Her only y NZ interview! inter

The Best of Auckland Pride!

PLUS Celebrity Chefs | Peter Gordon | Robert Oliver Tanah Dowle | Short Story Competition Winner | Randa

Eczema and skin irritations

Eating of course!

Medihoney® Antibacterial medical honey is clinically proven to support wound p h healing. It is a medical grade h honey with standardised a antibacterial activity. Helps relieve itching Fragrance-free Dermatologically tested Effective for the whole family

C Comvita’s UMF 5+ Manuka Honey is a carbohydrate rich e energy source full of vitamins and minerals. To support inner health, enjoy it on toast, in smoothies, on porridge, or drink it in warm water with a squeeze of lemon. Easily digested, it is the perfect healthy sugar substitute.

Cleanliness for the dirty boy... Medihoney® Natural Soap Free Body Wash is formated for sensitive, dry and eczema-prone skin. Apply liberally during a shower for a clean fresh feeling. Soap free fragrance free pH balanced Dermatologically tested

no more tears

s a t e Swe

honey uses for

First aid d for rough times Medihoney® Antibacterial Wound Gel™ provides a natural alternative for wound healing and protection and is a great all-rounder for the ƂTUV CKF MKV CLEANS: Naturally cleans the wound of bacteria, dead tissue, dirt and debris by drawing it into the dressing. PROTECTS: Reduces the risk of infection. HEALS: Creates a moist, low pH environment that promotes wound healing.

Visit our caring staff at Health 2000, for more infomation or VQ ƂPF [QWT PGCTGUV UVQTG IQ QPNKPG VQ YYY JGCNVJ EQ P\ 2 | March 2015|

Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional. Comvita, Te Puke. TAPS PP6163 gayexpress.co.nz

What's Inside

Lord of the Flies? The last month has been an eye opener. The fantastic LYC Big Gay Out kicked off the party season, the religious protesters that once darkened this event are now a thing of the past, leaving us free to vent our frustrations at the Prime Minister instead! A week later I awoke to a succession of Facebook status' assuring me that homophobia still existed, backed by an image of a vandalised Ponsonby Road ‘GAYTM’. A few days later “Queers Against Injustice” outed themselves as the culprits. Auckland’s homophobes, it would seem, have been happy for the GAYTMs to sparkle in all their glory. Then, for the second year in a row, the Pride Parade was protested, not by those outside of our community but those within it. With less outsiders attacking us, are we all now turning on each other? As our cover girl Madonna says “the way we’re going to change the world or ultimately feel joy is through unity.” Let’s break bread, not arms, and cover the world in pink! Olly :) For more: News, interviews, scene pictures, entertainment stories and reviews, updated daily, keep visiting:

www.gayexpress.co.nz gayexpress.co.nz

18 22 12

News Pride’s Success, Remembering Robin Duff & Our Condom Use make headlines.

Antony Cotton Our exclusive interview with Coronation Street’s Sean Tully.

Scene pics From The Pride Gala, Big Gay Out, the Parade and more.

Kelly Osbourne Her only NZ interview!

Madonna Her new album Rebel Heart reviewed.

Auckland Arts Festival We interview Programme Manager Tama Waipara, drool over sexy shows Cedarlake and Limbo and give our top picks.

express’ Short Story Contest 22 express’ Short Story Winner Shedding SkinSkin by Contest Winner Shedding Carissa Sinclair. by Carissa Sinclair. 24

Celebrity Chef Summer Selections Peter Gordon, Robert Oliver and Tanah Jane Dowdle give top tips for the season’s best flavours.

Rewriting Raps Rules How local trans musician Randa's changing the game.

Giveaways

2 x Lush Gift Boxes Including an invigorating gift set full of fresh hand-made natural toiletries from www.lush.co.nz.

2 x tickets to David Grey Shows Grey brings his Mutineers tour in April. Wellington/Christchurch tickets via Ticketek, Auckland via Ticketmaster.

2 x DBL passes to Naked Magicians Like Magic Mike with actual magic! Coming to Auckland in May for Comedy Festival. Tickets: Ticketmaster.

Enter at gayexpress.co.nz

| March 2015| 3

NEWS

Contact Phone 09 360 7671 Fax 09 360 7663 2 Vermont Street Ponsonby, Auckland

People Editor Oliver Hall 021 206 2902 editor@gayexpress.co.nz News Editor Levi Joule 027 973 3084 news@gayexpress.co.nz Advertising Richard Todd 021 441 309 advertise@gayexpress.co.nz Guest Designer Zakk d'Larté 021 233 0318 design@gayexpress.co.nz Administration Kunal Sharma 027 315 0433 admin@gayexpress.co.nz

Publisher Cornerstone Publications Ltd PO Box 47514 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144 Printer Guardian Print

www.gayexpress.co.nz Ideas and opinions expressed in articles or advertisements in express are not necessarily representative of Cornerstone Publications Ltd. Publication of the name or photograph or likeness of any person in express is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organisations and any similarity between individuals named or described in fiction articles and actual persons living is purely coincidental. Publication of any letters/ articles/photographs is at the discretion of the publishers and the right is reserved to withhold/alter/edit and comment on any article, letter, or advertisement published. Permission must be gained prior to reproduction of any articles or photographs contained in express. express’s list of mail subscribers is confidential and is not sold, rented or leased to anyone at any time. Orders for any products/ services advertised in express are made by readers at their own risk.

4 | March 2015|

Auckland Pride Festival a Stand Out 2015’s Pride Festival was the best yet writes Levi Joule. Auckland Pride Festival, you were fabulous. Over the course of three weeks, the very best of our community was on display. Heading into the festival, there were doubts about a number of key events and the preparations made for them, however the worries proved unnecessary. All events were well organised and highly energetic. 2015’s Pride Festival was a beautiful display of what makes our community so vibrant and diverse. The theatre programme, which included Samoan story Girl on a Corner, local youth showcase Legacy Project and British hit Away From Home; was particularly strong. While record numbers participated in: express’ short story contest, the wide spectrum of visual arts exhibitions and the numerous events presented by Rainbow Youth. The highlight of this year’s festival was the parade. The quality of entrants was high, with organisers taking a number of extra days to decide on a winner for best float, which was awarded to Rotorua Chamber of Pride’s entry.

With the later start time of 7:30pm allowing the Gods and Monsters theme to come alive as the sun set. 2015’s parade attracted the highest number of entrants yet - a testament to the hard work and dedication from the hundreds of volunteers who put it together. Richard Taki and Baz Bloomfield in particular deserve special mention for their outstanding leadership in ensuring the parade was a success. Pride this year was the first to both embrace and be embraced by the wider Auckland community. This year had a distinctively Polynesian flavor with a greater presence of pacific influence in the gala to events being organised for South Auckland for the first time. 2016’s Pride looks set to be even bigger and better, with the Asia-Pacific Outgames bringing an international participation and a sports element to the proceedings. If 2015’s Pride Festival is anything to go by, Auckland is more than ready to play host to our overseas guests. Article | Levi Joule. Photo | Dan Liu. gayexpress.co.nz

GOING DEEP?

GEAR UP #loveyourcondom BCG2 LYC0029_EX_DIV

NEWS

Politicians Make Their Pitch to GLBT Community The election may be over, but politicians were out in force at this year’s Big Gay Out making their sales pitch to the GLBT community. John Key’s short speech received a mixed response, with many in the crowd booing throughout. Key said, “Years ago when I first came here the National Party didn’t get a terribly good reception but guess what? I voted for gay marriage so there you go!” Andrew Little attended his first Big Gay Out as Labour leader with a message about making sure those in the

gay community were treated fairly and equally as well as talking about the importance of the Human Rights Commission. “When you get the opportunity tell your MP and this government that we want a Human Rights Commission that’s going to work, that’s going to be good for your community.” Russel Norman also spoke at what would be his last Big Gay Out as Green party co leader, saying: “It’s great to be at a celebration of freedom and courage because today is a celebration of all the people who have stood up over many, many years to protect their rights.”

Gay Rights Activist and Educator Robin Duff Dies Long time gay rights activist and education leader Robin Duff passed away at Christchurch hospital on Monday 16 February. It is Duff’s pioneering work as a educator and gay rights campaigner that he will be remembered by many for. Duff was a leading gay rights activist and his home was often a safe haven for newly outed gay men, in 1972, he launched the Gay Liberation Christchurch and was involved in the gay rights movement his whole life. In 1972, he became the first

Study: New Zealand’s Young Gay Men Are Regular Condom Users New research shows New Zealand’s young gay men are regular condom users, with the research using information collected from the 2006-2011 Gay Auckland Periodic Sex Surveys and the Gay men’s Online Sex Survey. The study conducted in community settings and online found that most young gay and bisexual men use condoms as a habit, particularly with their casual partners (70% of the participants reported “frequent” use, defined as always or almost always using

6 | March 2015|

openly gay man to stand for parliament as a member of the Values Party. Robin Duff was a high school teacher at Burnside High and was the PPTA’s junior vice president from 2005 to 2007, before two stints as president from 2007 to 2009 and 2011 to 2013. He was senior vice president from 2009 to 2011, and again from 2013 until 2015. Until his death, Mr Duff had been working to support Canterbury teachers in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake.

condoms in the previous six months). Most young men who had used condoms frequently with a regular partner also used them with any casual partners they had over this period. However, over half (53%) of young men reported habitually low use of condoms with their regular partner, who can be an important and often unrecognised source of new HIV infections. Dr Nathan Lachowsky who led the research told express that he believed the strong habit of condom use amongst young gay men was a result of the work being done by organisations such as the NZ AIDS Foundation. "Gay communities and public health have successfully established and maintained a culture of condom use for these new generations of gay and bisexual men. In collaboration with gay communities, the New

Zealand AIDS Foundation has been a steadfast leader in providing consistent and ubiquitous condom promotion messaging. Their innovative programs, such as LYC, create and capitalise on the captive audience of young gay and bisexual men who are eager for information and education about how to protect their sexual health and that of their lovers and partners.”

gayexpress.co.nz

NEWS

ANZ GAYTMs Launched For Pride Nick Jonas to Perform at Sydney Mardi Gras In a surprise announcement, Nick Jonas will be performing alongside Jessica Mauboy, Jake Shears, Betty Who and Courtney Act at this year’s Mardi Gras party. Nick, of Jonas Brothers fame has recently embarked on a new solo career and is playing a gay MMA fighter in the TV series Kingdom.

Kevin Hague To Contest Green Party Co Leadership

ANZ unveiled a number of GayTMs around Auckland to mark the city’s Pride Festival and Wellington’s Out in The Park. The GAYTMs were located along Ponsonby Road, Karangahape Road and Queen St in Auckland, and Willis St in Wellington. ANZ Ponsonby’s GAYTM was designed by local artist Reuben Paterson and included 120 rhinestones. It's theme was Freedom Flowers inspired by the Rainbow Flag. GAYTM receipts had the words ‘cash out and proud’ printed on them and all non-ANZ card fees were being donated to Outline for the month. ANZ says it wanted to show their support for diversity and inclusion. “We believe that celebrating a diverse New Zealand is not only

the right thing to do but also makes good business sense given the make-up of our staff and customers” says ANZ Chief Financial Officer Antonia Watson, who is also the ANZ Pride Network’s executive sponsor. While positively received by most in the community, there was some backlash with a group calling themselves “Queers Against Injustice” throwing pink paint over ANZ’s Ponsonby branch’s GAYTM. The vandalism shocked many members of the community. ANZ also tweeted their disappointment saying, “Our Ponsonby branch was attacked, again. Shame people resort to vandalism. Our staff, str8 & LGBTI alike are gutted. [sic]” The GAYTMs will also feature at this month’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

All articles by News Editor Levi Joule. Read the full versions at www.gayexpress.co.nz

gayexpress.co.nz

Kevin Hague has announced he will be contesting the Green party co leadership following the recent resignation of Russel Norman. Hague says that “it’s a crucial time for our Party. Aotearoa New Zealand needs the Green Party’s values and policies more now than ever before, particularly to provide solutions to the twin crises of climate change and inequality. Hague has been a longtime champion of GLBT rights and is a former executive director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.

Pope Equates Trans People to Nuclear Weapons The head of the Catholic Church has claimed people who ‘manipulate’ their bodies are similar to “Herods... Let’s think of the nuclear arms, of the possibility to annihilate in a few instants a very high number of human beings,” he says.‘Let’s think also of genetic manipulation, of the manipulation of life, or of the gender theory, that does not recognize the order of creation.’The comments were made in new book Pope Francis: This Economy Kills.

| March 2015| 7

HOTTIE OF THE MONTH

Andy Russell

The age of the Lumbersexual is here. The ruggedly bearded, tattooed bite-back against the manicured metro has been embraced. Our hottie Andy, who was snapped mid-shower, is a beautiful example of modern masculinity. The graphic designer became Creative Director for Lush Cosmetics last year, a role that suited his technical expertise and fair trade ethics. Check out his award winning short film, The Experimenter on YouTube. Photo | Richard Skins

INTERVIEW

Coronation Street's Cottoned On! In an exciting express exclusive, star of TV One’s Coronation Street Antony Cotton talks to Oliver Hall about his time in NZ, his iconic gay television characters and accusations that his camp personas have put our community back 25 years! Antony Cotton, best known as for playing Coronation Street’s Shaun Tully, landed in New Zealand back in December 2011 straight after filming UK reality show ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ in Australia. (He describes his experience of Sydney: “So much leather, so few saddles!”) He was welcomed to Aotearoa by Gandalf himself, as Ian McKellen (a man he describes as, “one of my best friends”) invited him to tour the country with The Hobbit film unit for a month.

10 | March 2015|

“I saw it all from Mt Cook to the Milford Sound... It was the best month of my life! It’s the most beautiful place in the world!” Following this barrage of compliments, we enquire when he’ll be returning and he replies with an irony unique to British Northerners. “It’s quite a distance away… You can only do that sort of trip once.” “This interview is my love letter to New Zealand.” Cotton came to the attention of most when he played the part of Alexander in the original British series of Queer As Folk (before it was massacred by Americans). The show’s campest character, Alexander was given depth as it was revealed his parents had rejected him due to his sexuality and written him out of their wills.

“Without Alexander in Queer As Folk, Sean in Coronation Street wouldn’t exist,” says Cotton reflecting fondly on the role and the doors it opened for him. He tells us he never feared that the controversy the show stirred up would have a negative affect on his career, but, “did wonder if all of it would end up getting shown.” The opening seven minutes of the first episode featured the most explicit gay sex scenes and gay sex references ever shown on television at the time. Fifteen years on, no prime time show has broadcast more graphic man on man action. “The discussions that the art department had about the consistency of spunk and what it should look like! No body had ever discussed that for a scene with two gay characters in a television drama!” He laughs. gayexpress.co.nz

INTERVIEW Following Queer As Folk, Cotton’s phone rang off the hook as he was offered roles on the likes of Absolutely Fabulous and even his own selftitled comedy chat show by the BBC. But it was Coronation Street that would become home for Cotton who has now appeared on over 900 episodes of the show. “When you come in with a new character, you land and it either works or it doesn’t. With five episodes a week, the audience decide very quickly if they don’t like a character… I would never have guessed I’d still be here 13 years later; you get less for murder!” He jokes. Despite being broadcast on TV One, two years behind the UK’s episodes Coronation Street remains one of the most viewed shows on New Zealand television. Currently single on our screens, Cotton informs us that his character Sean is heading into a controversial romance. “He meets a man on a night out, who turns out, to be Weatherfield Parish’s new modern vicar.” “I was so excited when I got the script,” he tells us. “Nothing gets people talking and arguing like religion and gays!” Cotton’s portrayal of camp gay characters has been embraced by everyone. “I get gay boys who are only 18 years old clicking their fingers in my face saying, ‘you put the gay cause back by 25 years’.”

Cotton feels the polarising nature of his character is determined by how comfortable people are with ‘camp’. “I get sick to death of people putting down the camp and the effeminate. It’s always people who don’t want others to know that they are gay and for some of us, that isn’t a choice. That’s who I represent with Sean. To quote Queer As Folk: for some boys, it’s screaming out of them!” Cotton addressed the issue in his acceptance speech at the Stonewall Awards in 2013, stating, “it was not the straight acting gays who riots [at Stonewall]. It was the drag queens, the transvestites, the fem and the camp, that rioted. It was the sissies that fought with the police… because the straight acting community members were still hiding. It’s the sissies who wear their gayness on their sleeves, who were the warriors who gave us our freedom and our liberties…” Cotton tells us that at the end of the day he accepts that neither he nor the characters he plays will be for everyone. “Ian McKellen gave me the best advice I’ve ever had when he told me, ‘What anyone else thinks of you, is none of your business!’” Coronation Street screens on TVOne (every Friday and Saturday) and TVNZ OnDemand. Article | Oliver Hall.

However Cotton doesn’t believe it. This theory was first brought to his attention by teenagers confronting him. “They have no idea what the gay cause was 25 years ago! They read it online and it’s like a mantra, if you repeat it enough you start to believe it!” He believes that it is older men who compare Sean with 1970’s British sitcom character Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served, who are to blame for this backlash. “The word stereotype is banded around so much these days.. You name me another character on TV like Sean? There isn’t. He’s not a stereotype – he’s an archetype!” “Those older queens need to get their heads out of 1970 and realise that in 2015 we have a character who had never had to explain who he is, never had to apologise for who he is; never had to come out which is unheard of, as far as gay characters are concerned on television!” “Sean is transcending what was and what is, five nights a week on prime time television and is nothing but a success!” He admits that he also receives compliments on what his character has done for the community. “I get teenagers who will come up and say, ‘I love Sean. I told my mum [when I came out] - I’m like Sean’.”

gayexpress.co.nz

| March 2015| 11

Scene

LYC Big Gay Out Coyle Park, Pt Chev, Auckland. Sunday 8 February. Photos | Ashley J Gibson. The overcast weather served to make the 2015 LYC BGO one of the busiest and best ever. Personally we missed the bevy of shirtless men the sunshine usually attracts, but cloudy skies meant the crowd stayed at the park longer and partied harder. Main stage headliners the Williams trio can attest to this as the crowd ate up their performances. Our favourite was Lavinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s epic rendition of We Found Love, with sexy daddy King Kapisi on the decks!

12 | March 2015|

gayexpress.co.nz

FASHION ICON

14 | March 2015|

FASHION ICON

A Star Osbourne Kelly Osbourne was just 15 when her rock royalty parents let MTV cameras into their home to film a show that would pave the way for reality television and win them an Emmy. With a attitude and style made for TV, Osbourne transcended the show and surname to become a popular presenter on E!’s Fashion Police, under the nurturing wing of Joan Rivers. In her only NZ interview she talks exclusively to Oliver Hall about happiness, homos and the greatest advice Joan ever gave her.

“No one could have guessed how incredibly successful this genre of television would be,” Obsourne tells us as she reflects on the show that first made her famous. “I mean, for f***’s sake I was 15. I just showed up and lived my life with the family, while cameras rolled. And what a wonderful home video I will always have!” Kelly connected with the audience instantly, leading Rolling Stone to describe her as, “a wickedly funny, brutally honest, pint-size, pottymouthed spitfire.” But dealing with her new found fame wasn’t easy. As the size-obsessed media scrutinised her weight. Osbourne tried to work out where she wanted her career to go, trying her hand as a pop star and actress. Hailing from a family of addictive personalities it is unsurprising she ended up in rehab three times, before finding her feet as panelist and presenter on Fashion Police. “I am the happiest now [I’ve ever been] – these last couple of years let me shed the girl that everyone watched on television growing up to become the woman I am today. I have been through hell and back and have managed to build a life for myself that I can be proud of. I worked my ass off to get here and when I turned 30 this past year, I realized I have so much more to do.” She says.

“If you can’t laugh there’s no point. Joan taught me that… [and] never leave the house without knickers!” Both lessons to live by.

of the highest profile the world has thus far seen, when Elton John wed partner David Furnish. “To be a part of that moment was really incredible.”

Osbourne believes her greatest achievement is still yet to come. “I think I’ve got a lot more to give. But I will say, making the ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ list and seeing my clothing line “Stories…” and my mission to make fashion fair, come to life, is a pretty amazing feeling.” On the flipside, regrets are just something Osbourne doesn’t do. “I can’t think about that because if I did, I would always be living in yesterday.” She says.

Next month Osbourne may well get to witness a few more gay ‘unions’ having been named Queen of the White Party 2015 which kicks off the northern hemisphere circuit party season on Friday 24 April in Palm Springs, California. She tells us her job description for the event reads: “make sure that everyone gets off their asses, add another layer of glitter and dance until sunrise.” And she admits to being satisfied with her royal job title. “I’m so used to being called a cunt that being called a queen is refreshing,” she giggles.

Outside of her paid work Osbourne has pledged her support for both GLBT and HIV charities, noting the influence her openly gay and HIV positive cousin Terry Longden has had on her. “I have been very lucky personally in my life to have a number of people that have always been my biggest champions and role models. Most of those people have happened to be LGBTQ; a community that has always embraced flaws and quirks and celebrating exactly who you are without apology. I choose to live my life by that motto.” She tells us, adding, “sometimes I wish I could add a ‘K’ for Kelly at the end of the LGBTQ as it is the community where I feel most at home.”

Last year Kelly’s Fashion Week mentor Joan Rivers passed away. “I’ve known Joan since I was 6 years-old. She is my family and there are no words to describe what she meant and will always mean to me,” Osbourne tells us, still referring to Rivers in the present tense.

She looks forward to seeing gay marriage become legal in the US where she is based, just as it is in NZ. “I just know I will look back in my old age and laugh that there was ever a time when this was a battle. But until that day, I will never stop fighting the battle of equality and the right to love whomever you want to love.” She says.

Rivers left Osbourne with the best advice she has ever been given, ‘to always find a way to laugh’.

Osbourne certainly appreciates a good gay wedding and was lucky enough to attend one

gayexpress.co.nz

If you want to join Kelly and a large group of speedo-clad, gym-buffed gay guys details on the White Party Palm Springs Weekend can be found at www.jeffreysanker. com and www.facebook. com/whitepartyps. If you would prefer to see her from the comfort of your couch all new Fashion Police featuring new host Cathy Griffin is on E! Tuesdays at 8.30pm. Article | Oliver Hall. Photos | Jordon Nuttall.

Scene

The Pride Parade Ponsonby Road, Auckland. Saturday 21 February. Photos | Evan Donnelly. Kicking off just after 7:30pm, this new later start successfully gave the Parade more of a party feel. Highlights included: ZM’s tribute to Gods and Monsters, Body Positive’s inarguaral Pride float, Mika’s outrageous corset and thong combination and Tess Tickle’s gaggle of gold gods. The biggest applause went to police, ambulance and defence forces who all marched in uniform. It was a proud day!

16 | March 2015|

gayexpress.co.nz

MUSIC

The Rebel’s Return Madonna is back, and like, really back this time – not MDNA back and certainly not Sticky & Sweet back (thank God!) but genuinely ‘Rebel Heart is an awesome album back!’ Internationally the media are raving: the UK’s best selling tabloid The Sun called it, “her best album in 17 years and one of the greatest of her career.” The Huffington Post agreed labelling the video for Living For Love, “the singer’s best work in a decade,” and even in a essay bashing Madonna's handle on Social Media, The Guardian concluded, “at least the new music’s good.” For those who don’t know the backstory, ‘unfinished demos of Rebel Heart leaked on the internet just before Christmas, in what was

dubbed an ‘unprecendented security breach’ for such a major artist. Originally slated to be released in early April, Madonna’s team instead pushed to finish six of the tracks and release them within days of the leak – this official release made it to number one in 41 countries, proving Madge’s longstanding appeal. M meanwhile got to work on producing a video for first single Living for Love (originally slated for a Valentine’s Day release) and queued up promotional performances at the Grammy and Brit awards. Nine songs are now officially available on iTunes and on Friday 6 March, ten more will be released to complete the collection. Encapsulating themes of listening to your heart and being a rebel, this is what her Madgesty

had to say to Rolling Stone about three of express’ favourite tracks: Living For Love: Madonna teams up with Diplo to write “about having a broken heart and being hopeful and triumphant afterwards.” Think Hung Up meets Express Yourself with a chorus you can’t get out of your head. Devil Pray: A ditty ode to taking drugs in an attempt to touch a higher plain. M’s message: “The way we're going to change the world or ultimately feel joy is through unity… with consciousness, not drugs.” Ghosttown: On the surface this ballad focuses on a bleak future for humanity, but Madonna says it’s about ‘seeing hope’, when you look at the world we’re destroying. Deep! Article | Oliver Hall.

ARTS

The Summer’s Sexiest Shows Two of the most eye-pleasing jewels in the Auckland Arts Festival’s 2015 crown are the NZ debut of New York-based contemporary ballet company Cedar Lake and Australia’s sensual cabaret circus Limbo. Cedar Lake will perform three works by contemporary choreographers: Crystal Pite, Hofesh Shechter, and Jo Strømgren. The works will showcase what has become known as the company’s signature style: integrating ballet with contemporary and popular dance set to an urban soundtrack. Dancer Matthew Rich was offered an apprenticeship with Cedar Lake in 2005 at the age of 19. He tells us that he loves that dance allows him to, “express and convey so many emotions to the audience without words, purely through physicality and body language.” He tells us Auckland Arts Festival audiences, “can expect to see versatility, athleticism, and beauty… [they] will be taken on a diverse journey of movement vocabulary and theatricality throughout the program. Ultimately, as a dancer I want to give the audience a chance to be transported through the work and carried away to place they didn't know existed with feelings they didn't know they possessed.”

18 | February 2015|

Cedar Lake will do perform for four nights at Auckland’s Civic. The dancers will spend a total week staying in the country. “I really want to see the exquisite landscape,” Rich tells us excitedly, but confirms the big apple has made him a true urbanite at heart. “I also love clothes and shopping, so hopefully while I am in New Zealand I will be able to stimulate the economy!” A lady who will certainly be stimulating something while in NZ is Limbo’s super sexy fire breather and sword swallower Heather Holiday (pictured right). Limbo, which comes to us fresh from sell outs at London’s Southbank and the Sydney Festival, will present acrobatics and illusion in an intimate surrounding with moody live electronic soundtrack! Prepare to sizzle! Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet will perform at Auckland’s Civic Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 March. Limbo will take residence at Aotea Square’s Festival Club from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 22 March. Tickets for both can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Article | Oliver Hall. Photos | Julieta Cervantes (left), David Solm (right)

Scene

Pride Gala Q Theatre, Queen Street, Auckland. Saturday 7 February. Photos | Ashley J Gibson. Showcasing talent from various Pride shows and our community in general â&#x20AC;&#x201C; highlights included Buckwheat, Tess Tickle & Bumpa Love performing Heaven Is a Place on Earth and Hey Big Spender by Lola La Bomb and Kita Mean. In the end, the show was stolen by the rocking representatives of Heroes Out West who held nothing back in their performance of Venus.

AN EVENING WITH

Blues to Bebop James Morrison â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Journey through Jazz

apo.co.nz

8pm, Thursday 9 April Auckland Town Hall Conductor Brett Kelly Trumpet (and other instruments) James Morrison Vocalist Hetty Kate Journey through the history of jazz in the company of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s master of the medium, James Morrison. From the birth of the blues, to Dixieland, to bebop, to Birdland, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a trip through jazzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important songs, people and moments.

! " LY

ASB THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE AUCKLAND 18 MAY 2015 BOOK NOW AT TICKETMASTER.CO.NZ PH: 0800 111 999

gayexpress.co.nz

Book at ticketmaster.co.nz or call 0800 111 999 / 09 970 9700 (Booking and Service fees apply) Proudly supported by

PROFILE

The Hippest Programme Manager for Hottest Festival When he’s not working on the Auckland Arts Festival Tama Waipara is winning awards for his music. express caught up with the Kiwi icon to discuss: soul divas, perfect dates and being Maori in the music industry. As we settle with a coffee at Auckland Live’s XOX bar, express immediately asks the Auckland Art’s Festival’s Program Manager to do the impossible and pick his top five must see shows. We shouldn’t have, his list goes into double digits but with selections like Lady Sings The Blues and Neneh Cheery’s concert his love of soul music is apparent. It comes as no surprise when Nina Simone and Donny Hathaway make the list of the artists he feels have most influenced his music joining the likes of Kate Bush, Rufus Wainwright and Maori composer Hirini Melbourne. He is clear that Tama places his kiwi contemporaries on pedestals just as high as these international stars as he talks about the mentoring he received from Nathan Haines and sturdy advice dished out by Annie Crummer. “Annie always said, you have to give a shit about what you do.” He recounts with a cheeky grin. “You can do nothing but your best, because if they’ve turned up and bought a ticket, they’ve done their bit, now you owe them.” At the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards back in November, Tama won the award for Best Roots

20 | March 2015|

album for his album Fill up the Silence. Previously Tama had mostly been classified as a ‘Jazz’ artist and he admits he finds the need to be catergorised frustrating. “Why do we need to define Maori music and what’s a Maori artist – It’s music, just push play!” He says, elaborating, “I know it’s been difficult for PR People and managers I’ve had in the past - they just want a simple way in. Its not that I'm trying to be difficult, but who walks around full of self definition?” Tama refers to his music as a

‘polyglot’, because it combines many different flavours. “I'm really drawn to uniqueness, to sounds and styles that are unashamedly their own, its the same with people. I’m drawn to anyone who defies categorization.” He tells us. You can find many shows and performers that defy categorization at the Auckland Arts Festival from Wednesday 4 March. Article | Oliver Hall. Photo | Tux Hika.

A few of Tama Waipara’s favourite things… Holiday Destination: New York is great, but Wellington wins. TV show: Amazon’s Transparent about a father transitioning. First date: Hot pools, Fish and Chips and anything after that is fine! Dream festival line-up: Kate Bush, Grace Jones, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Nina Simone, Björk… they would probably all stab each other!

gayexpress.co.nz

Scene Lust in the Capital Ivy Bar, Cuba St, Wellington. Saturday 14 February. Photos | Steven Mawhinney With all the talk of love on Valentine's Day, Ivy decided to offer a Lustful alternative instead. Originally scheduled to be the After Party for Out In The Park, Wellington’s biggest Pride event was pushed back to a rain date of Saturday 28 March, where it will join forces with the Cuba Duba festival. The poor weather didn’t put off Ivy’s party goers with special appearances from Buffy & Bimbo, DJ Jordon Eskra and Miss Kola.

FICTION

express Short Story Competition Winner Shedding Skin by Carissa Sinclair

The 2015 express Short Fiction Writing Contest received a record number of entries. The judging panel that consisted of award winning writers: Peter Wells, Stevan Eldred-Grigg, Julie Helean and last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner Gina Cole shortlisted seven entries for the prize. Second place went to Steve Danby for his fabulously witty and bitchy story of lust and friendship in a material world; Aisle Altar Hymn. It was piped to the post however, by Carissa Sinclairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s polar opposite dark-fantasy, Shedding Skin. Originally from Christchurch, Sinclair (20) is currently studying English Literature and Creative Writing in Wellington. She tells us she is obsessed with magical realism, inspired by gothic comics and wrote the story with thoughts of puberty and the genre of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;body horrorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think identity became a key idea to the piece. I was interested in how we inhabit the bodies we

22 | March 2015|

are born into; also how outward appearances can put a strain on one's gender and sexuality.â&#x20AC;? she says. Shedding Skin: All her shoes were on the ground; stained boots and sandals and slippers. There were ruined white sports socks, ruined jean hems. Maybe it was walking up hills or breaking in QHZ ERRWV ,W KXUW OLNH KHOOÂżUH 6KH KDG D spread of oversized blisters on her heels; raw bloody matter and the faint white of bone. It was just bleeding everywhere. One ankle KDG VSUXQJ RXW LQWR DQ RSHQ IDXFHW 6KH ZDV sitting up on her bed and the blood just kept springing out. Blood on the duvet, in her underwear, on her big white t-shirt too. 6KH EHQW RQH NQHH LQWR KHU FKHVW KHOG WKH EDGO\ EOHHGLQJ KHHO LQWR KHU KDQGV 6KH wavered a large thumb over the open part of WKH ZRXQG 6KH NQHZ ZKDW VKH KDG WR GR 7KLV was the ultimate scab, she told herself.

This was the ultimate thread to pull and unravel. 6KH VORZO\ LQVHUWHG KHU WKXPE LQWR WKH wound. It went in a full inch before she hit WKH PRVW WHQGHU Ă&#x20AC;HVK 6KH Ă&#x20AC;LQFKHG 7KH NQHH MHUNHG LQWR KHU FKHVW 6KH VWHDGLHG KHUVHOI WKHQ FRQWLQXHG LQVHUWLQJ KHU IRUHÂżQJHU IROORZHG E\ KHU PLGGOH ÂżQJHU The pain was a sick pleasure. Her eyes were VPDUWLQJ WHDUV 6KH JRW D IXOO KDQG LQVLGH the pocket of her skin. Blood coated her wrist. From outside her room she could hear

gayexpress.co.nz

the front door clicking open and a

XS DERYH KHU VKRXOGHUV 6KH ZDV

couple of voices from the kitchen.

able to detach her breasts from

7KH ELWH KDG FRPH 6KH FOHQFKHG

KHU ULEFDJH 6KH ZDV EHJLQQLQJ

her teeth and pulled down. It was

WR EUHDWKH D ELW EHWWHU QRZ 6KH

persistent. It wouldn't budge.

could even see her heart beating

Then slowly the heel bone gave way

pathetically.

and tore through the skin. Her

6KH LQVSHFWHG WKH GRFWRU RQ WKH

tarsal bones broke out. A bag of

other side of her. The doctor was

pulpy muscle burst over the duvet.

ÂżOOLQJ RXW D IRUP RFFDVLRQDOO\

6KH OHW RXW D FU\

asking a question. Would you

There was a knock on her door

Jerry Clayton BMW

Takapuna

like me to contact your family?

DQG KHU Ă&#x20AC;DWPDWHV HQWHUHG WKH URRP Not just yet, she said and the It was a murder scene. Julia,

doctor nodded. They seemed way

peering over Todd's shoulder,

too understanding. Why haven't you

broke into hysterics. What the

stopped me from what I'm doing?

fuck is happening, I'm calling

The doctor heard her whisper and

for help, fuck I'm calling an

looked at her somewhat sadly.

ambulance.

You know eventually that you'll

Todd was calmer though. He approached her tentatively. He

DJDLQ" 6KH ZDV VXUSULVHG DW WKH

sized up the skeletal system of

comment but then gave a nod. Can I

her foot that she had started to

FKRRVH D VNLQ WKDW ÂżWV PH EHWWHU"

tear free. He gently gagged before

The doctor gave a nod back.

he held out a limp hand. Are you

6KH ÂżQDOO\ UHPRYHG KHU VFDOS

okay, Ginny? What is happening?

and shed herself completely. Her

His voice was caution and fear and

skin looked sad and grey on the

repulsion. And yet, he understood

SODVWLF Ă&#x20AC;RRU 6RPHWKLQJ WR EH

her; he knew that she was up to

placed in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lost and Foundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It

something important.

felt nice sitting in the back of

I'm just getting rid of all

the ambulance with the nice doctor

this fucking skin, she said very

DQG QXUVH 6KH JHQWO\ UDSSHG WKH

VRIWO\ VWRLFDOO\ 6KH FRQWLQXHG

tips of her phalanges against her

WR GLJ ZLWK KHU KDQGV WR ÂżQG WKH

cranium. Then she opened her lower

edge of skin sleeve behind her

jaw and her tongue slid out. It

ankle. When she had a two-handed

ERXQFHG DORQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;RRU OLNH D GXPE

grip she tore the skin right up

JROGÂżVK *RRG ULGGDQFH 6KH VWXFN

the calf muscle.

KHU ÂżQJHUV LQ KHU ULE FDJH DQG

Todd threw up.

POWER AND FORM, DOWN TO A TEE.

have to get back into a skin once

THE INCREDIBLE VALUE BMW 3 SERIES SPORT EDITIONS. Experience the ultimate drive this month, with the BMW New Zealand Open and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite premium vehicle, the BMW 3 Series. For this month only, OPU POMZ EP ZPV HFU #.8ŃłT DMBTT MFBEJOH FGčś&#x2018;DJFODZ QFSGPSNBODF BOE JOOPWBUJWF ConnectedDrive technology as standard, but now the rear-wheel drive 3 Series Sport Sedan and all-wheel drive Sport Wagon come loaded with complimentary upgrades. And with 0% interest and payments spread over 2 years the conditions are perfect to get behind the wheel of an Ultimate Driving Machine. This exclusive PGGFS NVTU čś&#x2018;OJTI BU UIF FOE PG .BSDI TP ESJWF POF IPNF UPEBZ TOTAL COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADES WORTH OVER

11,000

You could drive-away from just

25,633*

relieved an awkward itch.

In the ambulance, the doctor and QXUVH DOORZHG KHU WR FRQWLQXH 6KH

Illustrations | Sam Orchard. and clumps of muscle were still Photo | attached to her bones. Arteries Carissa strung around her in ribbons, Sinclair by ZHOO EOHG DQG GHĂ&#x20AC;DWHG $V VKH WRUH Evan Donnelly. managed to get her two legs and

pelvis structure free. Ligaments

up her belly her small intestines white plastic bag to collect them. The nurse helped her deposit her

gayexpress.co.nz

BMD0056_JCY_MT_GEM

stomach and kidneys and other out of her skin and pulled it

Ńź M SPORT PACKAGE Ńź 19â&#x20AC;? LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS Ńź HEAD-UP DISPLAY Ńź ADAPTIVE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS Ńź HEATED FRONT SEATS

1/3

0%*

/08

2016

2017

*/5&3&45

All new BMWs now come with an unbeatable 5 year warranty and 3 year no-cost service plan, for the ultimate peace of mind package. Visit your nearest authorised BMW Dealership today to experience UIFTF 6MUJNBUF %SJWJOH .BDIJOFT BOE ę &#x2039;OE PVU XIZ #.8 /FX ;FBMBOE continues to be the number one selling premium vehicle for 2014 and the most awarded brand by the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automotive experts.

fell out. The nurse had a huge

IUHH RUJDQV 6KH VOLG KHU DUPV

COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADES INCLUDE:

YEAR WARRANTY

Jerry Clayton BMW 445 Lake Road, Takapuna. (09) 488 2000. www.jcbmw.co.nz *Offer based on the 320d M-Sport Edition Drive-Away Price of $76,900 and a contract consisting of a 24 month loan agreement, 0.00% interest rate and a $250 documentation fee with a 1/3 deposit, 1/3 due on month 12 and 1/3 due on month 24. Offer expires 31/03/2015 and is subject to BMW Financial Services lending criteria.

PLUS 3 YEAR NO-COST SERVICING 5 YEAR ROADSIDE ASSIST

CUISINE

Celebrity Chef 's Summer Selections It's been a magical summer so far and we plan squeeze every bit of fun we can out of the last month before daylight savings ends. We asked three of our favourite community foodies to recommend the best food and wine to make the most of it and here are their suggestions.

Peter Gordon Peter Gordon, the golden boy of New Zealand cuisine has managed to slip out of his busy life in Blighty and come home for a small part of our summer. Here are his picks: Best restaurant for a casual summer bite Ponsonby Road Bistro – you’ll often find me perched at the bar having a pizza, (although Sarah’s delicious food also includes duck confit, clams and the like). Best takeout and best beach to eat it on Farro Fresh in Grey Lynn are currently doing the most delicious Beef Rendang pies. Grab one of those, a beer from their fridge and head to Herne Bay beach. Sit at the furthest end, where the sun sets last. Best place for a summer cocktail Last night I had two coconut and tequila cocktails at Mexico on Ponsonby Road and they were delicious. But if you're looking for a view

24 | March 2015|

with your cocktail, come up to the Sugar Club. I know I'm biased but if you haven’t been to watch the sun set over a drink there, you’re really missing something. Favourite summer meal at home Fish, sweetcorn and asparagus cooked on the barbecue. A salad of watermelon, feta and mixed tomatoes tossed with pomegranate and mint. And berries and vanilla ice cream for dessert. Three local summer pantry/fridge essentials 1. Stolen Rum Golden – mix with lots of mint, Heilala vanilla syrup, lime zest and juice for a refreshing cocktail. 2. Lisa’s Hummus with Dukkah – really tasty and really good. 3. Mash Tun crackers – from my home town of Whanganui. These are the most delicious crackers and essential to have at hand for the hummus above, but also for ceviche, pesto, soft cheeses and anything else that needs a crunchy companion.

Favourite summer beer Liberty Brewing Co, Halo Pilsner from Kumeu. Favourite summer wine I’m always on the lookout for a good rosé, a much-underrated wine. Ponsonby Road Bistro have a delicious one - ‘Georgetown’ from Cromwell, made from 100% Pinot Noir. Your perfect summer day Sleep in till 9:00am. It’d be high tide so Al and I would walk down the drive and jump in the sea for a swim. Next up, Meola café for a soy flat white and a savoury brioche (Jan makes the best), then a morning looking in galleries and shops - Michael Lett, Masterworks, Sabato for cheese. Then to Farro Constellation Drive - as I always find ingredients I didn’t know I needed! Crayfish Linguine and Peking Duck at the Sugar Club for lunch, over a few hours. A big long swim at Parnell baths, a walk around the bay, then an early dinner at Orphan’s Kitchen. Theatre performance at Q or a movie, then a drink somewhere on K Road. gayexpress.co.nz

CUISINE

Tanah Jane Dowdle Tanah Jane Dowdle knows a thing or two about food after 42 years working in the industry as a chef, restaurant owner, sommelier, wine consultant, food stylist, radio and TV food presenter, caterer and more recently in her company Gourmet joy who do food tours and classes. Here's her sage advice for a great summer: Best restaurant for a casual summer bite There are sooooo many. My current favourite is Orphan's Kitchen. You are greeted like a long lost friend by fun, passionate, staff. And the food! Pure local ingredients that taste like they've been cooked by an angel. I love Tom’s complimentary in-house baked bread wish lashings of smoky ash butter. For super casual you have to try the food trucks at the Silo Markets. Fabulous. Best takeout and best beach to eat it on Grab sushi from Yuzu on Ponsonby road, pack it into a chilly bag and head West to Piha for the best sunset. If that's too far, a crispy based wood-fired pizza from Garnet Station at Point Chev beach is an equally wonderful option. Best place for a summer cocktail Garnet Station does a great early evening sunset cocktail. Otherwise Blue Breeze Inn's seductive ‘Too Long a Lover’ cocktail - a fresh baby coconut delicately hacked open with a saw and dressed to party with coconut infused rum, hand smashed pineapple and a cherry.

Favourite summer meal at home Firstly kai moana - seafood served raw enhanced with Pacific ingredients like grated fresh coconut or Asian ingredients like lemongrass, wasabi, lime leaves, fresh chillies and fresh coconut all plucked from our terrace garden. After that any sausage that's free-range and handmade, sizzled or smoked over an open flame lashed with Picante bottled sauces. Dessert would be deep, dark and delicious chocolates or anything made by Kohu Rd. Three local summer pantry/fridge essentials 1. Lucky Taco sauces from the lovely Sarah and Otis Frizzell. 2. Local cheese, NOT the plastic bag supermarket variety, real, alive handmade cheeses - there are a lot more around these days. 3. Kohu Road – everything! Favourite summer beer Local brews from Riverhead’s Hallertau. Favourite summer wine Don't make me choose! For Summer it’s always zippy, bright and light wines preferably not too high in alcohol 'Rosy Posse’ Rose, Otago Rieslings, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Your perfect summer day It would have to kick off at one of the local Farmers' Markets with friends to create a casual grazing menu from what's on offer. And be followed by much debate about who’s creating which dish and what we are going to drink with each offering. Then all head out to the beach - sports - cafe or arty something with everyone returning around 5pm to start cooking. Dessert would be out and about: Giapo Gelato, the iconic Creme Brulee at SPQR, or the Chocolate and Olive Oil mousse at Maldita Mendez.

Natural looking Cosmetic Dentistry, Full Range General Dentistry and Dental Hygienist.

Dr. Matt Sumner

Giving you the best possible smile.

332

Ponsonby Road

376 4374

www.accentdentists.co.nz

CUISINE

Robert Oliver When Robert isn't representing the Cordon Bleu, hosting his TV series Real Pasifik, being part of the tasting panel on MKR, writing award-winning cookbooks, or working with international NGOs, he loves to explore Auckland. Here are his summer finds: Best restaurant for a casual summer bite For a weekday lunch my current favourite would have to be District 5 on Shortland Street. Great Vietnamese flavours. Best takeout and best beach to eat it on This one's a no brainer. Fish and Chips from Scott Brown’s Fishsmith on Jervois Road and a short hop to Herne Bay Beach to eat it. Best place for a summer cocktail Bedford and Soda in Ponsonby Central is great! Favourite summer meal at home I love corn on the cob with lots of butter, lime juice and chilli powder. Hapuka roasted in coconut oil is also a favourite and watermelon salad with shitloads of fresh mint and crumbled goat feta. One of my current favourite desserts is the chocolate flavour Nice Block - chocolate and coconut cream combined, what could be better? Three local summer pantry/fridge essentials 1. Organic pumpernickel bread by BREADMAN: wheat free and densely rich. Slice it super thin. 2. Lewis Road Creamery lightly salted butter (on that pumpernickel) 3. Hot Samoan Boys Chilli Sauce- try it on oysters…wow! Favourite summer beer/wine I don't drink, so tend to make homemade soda water. It's really good if you spike it with plum puree (make this by blending very ripe black doris plums with a little light honey and a squeeze of lemon juice) Your perfect summer day I've only been back in New Zealand for two years, after years in New York and Shanghai, so I'm still in exploration mode. I'm really loving all of the beaches a stone’s throw from Auckland. My perfect day would have to include a west coast Auckland beach or Ocean Beach in Hawke's Bay and a lot of relaxation. Is it wrong that instead of a fancy meal in a restaurant I would eat cold leftover curry made into sandwiches on the beach? It's not very cheffy, but lamb curry with a dollop of Friend Fiji Tamarind Chutney in some good bread is heaven. I guess after living in these big, busy cities, I've really learned to appreciate simple pleasures.

Article | Alexia Santamaria. Peter Gordon Photo | Manja Wachsmuth.

gayexpress.co.nz

HEALTH

Eat or Avoid? Health 2000’s Stu Cook examines five foods that health experts can’t stop talking about! With Pride all but done for the year, and the wine and food festival completed, it’s a great time to reflect on our diet. Even if we’re not looking to lose weight, what we eat reflects internally and externally. Outbreaks on the skin, intestinal bloating and headaches can be warning signs that what we eat isn’t good for us. Sugar: Having had a sweet tooth most my life, cakes, biscuits and just about everything else I ate contained sugar. It contributed to lows mid-afternoon and sleepless nights. Since cutting out the sugar, I have more energy than ever and feel great! Experts agree that sugar intake should be minimised or cut where possible. Alcohol: We know excessive consumption is bad, and being teetotal isn’t ideal, so is there a happy medium (or is that a joyful psychic?). Latest reports tell us a glass of red wine will help lower

gayexpress.co.nz

cholesterol, reduce blood sugar and boost the brain. While a small glass has benefits, just because your glass is big enough to take a whole bottle doesn’t mean it should! Eggs: Don’t eat the yolk . . . wait, now eat the yolk . . . wait, now don’t eat it. What the…? The yolk contains higher levels of cholesterol, considere d something to be aware of, but it also contains 13 nutrients! Now it is all about where cholesterol comes from and how it reacts in the body, and eggs yolks are again considered a healthy snack if they are free range and you don’t overdo them!

Fats: There are good fats like olive oil, and bad fats like canola. Then there are fats that are, not good or bad. The answers are slippery to find, and sometimes the evidence is speculative. We need good fats – virgin, non-hydrogenated and therefore easily processed. A bad fat is typically a trans-fat, one high in the inflammatory omega 6*. Avoid trans-fats as they can increase the risk of heart disease. And above all, don’t have too much of any of them! *Omega 6 should come from a healthy source such as oily fish and as part of the overall Omega 3, 6 & 9.

Coconut oil: Touted as the saving grace of weight loss gurus, coconut oil has had good and bad press lately. So what’s the deal? It is primarily a saturated fat, which we have all been told is bad. However, it is made up of short-chain fatty acids that bypass the lymphatic system (that removes toxins and other waste from the body) and are quickly burned for energy. So this makes it pretty good.

Article | Stu Cook. With a passion for Natural Health, Stu joined the industry 10 years ago in the UK. As the Health 2000 Marketing Manager he is constantly looking for ways to engage consumers to think about ways to live naturally healthy.

RAP STAR

Randa Rewrites Rap's Rules Kiwi music’s rising star Randa talks to Sam Orchard about his alternative inspiration, rising above hate and being openly trans in the media’s eye. I feel categorically too un-cool to interview Randa. He’s a rising star in the NZ music scene, opened the Big Day Out last January, uses words like ‘buzzy’ and ‘chill’ (without sounding like a knob), and spent last year touring his tunes across the country. Randa, or Mainard Larkin (as he’s known when he’s not rapping), is a baby-faced blonde 21-year-old. He raps about being described as a ‘hipster Justin Beiber’. He has only been rapping for three years, but is already making waves across the industry. Last November he took out the Vodafone New Zealand Music Critic’s Choice award, scoring a $10,000 recording grant. Randa started out spending days at a time locked in his North Shore bedroom sampling beats, writing, and rewriting, and worrying his mum. He began slowly, working out what worked (and what didn’t), did covers, wrote original pieces, and put them up online. He got inspired to write his own stuff after listening to underground rap that was coming out of San Francisco and LA. “I was finding rap music that was weird and alternative”, listening to Nas’ Illimatic, and a new wave of artists like Das Rascist, Childish Gambino and Chance the Rapper. He started getting heard, gaining confidence, and meeting people who steered him in the right direction. In 2013 he decided to say yes to everything and performed in a range of places and venues. It helped build his fan base, and his confidence in his work. By the end of the year he was working with songwriter and producer Josh Fountain. Together the pair wrote five songs; “going into Critic’s Choice… with those songs up, I just felt much more confident in my work,” Mainard

28 | March 2015|

reflects. Mainard has a kind of relaxed way of being, which is most apparent in the way he talks about his gender and sexuality. Throughout his rise to fame, and his many interviews across different media, I’ve seen him referred to in a number of ways, and with a range of pronouns. Such is the way for many trans folk. But Mainard seems to have an enviably cool way of dealing with it. He has tried to be really open about his

transition within interviews, which is no mean feat when dealing with mainstream media, and has subsequently taken his audience along for the ride as he explores his gender. In recent years queer and trans issues have been infiltrating hip hop in more and more ways, and Mainard has, happily, had really positive experiences of this. He talks about being inspired by queer rapper Le1f’s performance on David gayexpress.co.nz

RAP STAR Letterman last year, and how he enjoys seeing lots of GLBT people at his shows. As for advice he’d give to other queer or trans musicians starting out, he says, “it’s the same advice I’d give to anyone really; just be confident… you have this unique experience… don’t be afraid to let that influence your work, your experiences are valuable.” He finds that the more open he his about his gender the more relatable he is; people are more likely to approach him, and talk about their own experiences, and see him as a real person. He still gets the odd nasty comment on Facebook or Youtube, but tries not to let it get to him. Fortunately his fan-base is well schooled and if

they see him being misgendered will often comment to correct it. 2015 is shaping up to be another big one for Mainard. The Rangers music video from his recently released EP of the same name, will be out soon, followed by the Lifeguard music video in late February. If either of them are half as good as his Frankenstein video (which was nominated for a NZ music award in 2013) we will be in for a treat. As we wrap up the interview I ask him what super power he’d like to have, and he already has a definite answer: the ability to hover and fly. His wish is already being granted in 2015, as his career is set to soar! Article | Sam Orchard. Photo (left) | Suki Zhang.

FINAL SUMMER CLEARANCE! FURTHER REDUCTIONS LAST WEEKS PLUS

NEW AUTUMN COLLECTION!

Let your

LQVSLUDWLRQ À RZ

Get inspired with the The Range fashion colours fandeck, packed full of the latest designer paint colours and complementary colour suggestions for 2015 and beyond.

ARRIVING NOW

AUCKLAND 48 HIGH STREET WELLINGTON 51 WILLIS STREET WWW.FARRYS.CO.NZ

Available now at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller! www.resene.co.nz

INTERVIEW

Courtney’s Love Courtney Barnett, Australia’s latest musical export, approaches country music with catchy melodies, a grounded charm and quirky comic lyrics. And best of all – she likes girls! Lydia Zanetti tries to remain professional as she is seduced by Barnett’s love potion!

I discovered Courtney Barnett when I listened to Pickles in the Jar - her ode to the idea that opposites attract. From there I was enamoured with other hits History Eraser and Avant Gardener. It’s no wonder that her new album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit has been met with such acclaim – trust me, it's worth it. I'm ushered into a conference room at her hotel, only a few hours before Barnett will make her debut NZ performance at the Laneway Festival and am given a strict time limit. Courtney flew in at midnight and is flying out tomorrow, a relaxed schedule according to her. She's warm and welcoming, beating me to a how are you and considering each question with genuine investment. Key to all of Courtney's songs is her personal, observational storytelling. “It's pretty true, most of it,” she tells me, “almost lifted out of my journal and edited to rhyme better and fit into a song.” I wonder how her loved ones receive being written into songs and she laughs, “they know they'll end up in a song if they do something interesting.” A writer through and through, Courtney also pens poetry and has recently been dabbling in short stories. “It's fun mucking around with different styles,” she says, “[they're] like the songs, observations but sometimes I stretch them further and make them a bit more

30 | March 2015|

fictitious.” As for the songs, Courtney has written them all (to date) and then takes them to her band. “Then we arrange [the song] and they add their awesome beats in and tell me if something sucks or doesn't.” Courtney’s band has been playing together for two years. They previously played in country/psych band Immigrant Union, founded by Brent DeBoer of The Dandy Warhols. It seems Courtney has a thing for vaguely aggressive videos, with her latest single Pedestrian At Best featuring some rather competitive clowns. “It's totally accidental,” she laughs, “must be something subconscious.” But her presence onstage has some fight in it too. Throwing her hair around, Courtney has one of the most engaging performances of the Laneway line-up the crowd loves it. She tells us she is often asked, “who is the guy?” in her songs. “I don't really think about [being gay] that much,” she says, laughing. “Which sounds like a funny thing to say... [I'm] not purposefully ignoring just not thinking about it...but maybe I should think about it.” Courtney has been in a relationship with singersongwriter Jen Cloher for, “four years or something”. With a house and all their loved ones in Melbourne, she doesn't see them moving any time soon. She also features in Courtney’s new video.

Article | Lydia Zanetti. gayexpress.co.nz

PREVIEW

Five Must-See Arts Extravaganzas From Groupe F's explosive return to Limbo’s fire-breathing theatrics, the express office was too torn to give you our picks from the Auckland Arts Festival because we would have listed everything! Instead we grabbed creative cutie Luke Alexander Wilson to give his thoughts on not to be missed shows: 1. The Book of Everything – Journey to Amsterdam, as told through the eyes of nineyear-old Thomas as he records his fantastical life in his book of everything. Thomas’ world is full of wonder, magic and imagination that will enthral audience members of all ages. Brought to life under the masterful direction of Sophie Roberts, The Book of Everything is not to be missed. March 14 - 22, Q Theatre 2. Tai Whekuti/House of Death – Lisa Reihana continues her exploration of culture, identity and legacy with her latest multimedia installation. This large-scale work is showing in Aotea Square daily during the festival, so it’s an easy (and free) addition to your circuit. March 04 - 22, TimeOut Festival Garden, Aotea Square 3. Invisible Energy – Invisible Energy shows six different artists working in response to life postTohoku earthquake and tsunami. This show offers a dynamic look at contemporary practice in Japan, including performance, video and

printed works. For those wondering what life in Japan is like in the fallout of a nuclear disaster, this exhibition will surely give offer some insight. February 20 - March 27, St Paul Street Gallery, AUT University 4. HƯkoi – Nancy Brunning takes up the roles of playwright and director for her debut work, HƯkoi. A family in turmoil in 70's/80's New Zealand struggles with change and the challenges it poses to their identity. Lovers of New Zealand stories and supporters of homegrown talent will enjoy this one. March 04 - 08, Q Theatre 5. Black Bird – Lonnie Hutchinson 1997-2013: A Survey – Lonnie Hutchison’s work is delicate and whimsical. It’s a survey exhibition, so newcomers will get the chance to familiarise themselves with her sculpture, video and paper cut works. For diehard fans it’s the closest thing you’ll get to a greatest hits so don’t miss it. March 07 - May 02, Gus Fisher Gallery, University of Auckland Article | Luke Alexander Wilson. Photos | The Book of Everything: Alt Group

Luke writes about art, directs theatre and studies psychology. He can often be found waxing lyrical or caffeinating (often at the same time.) His latest show, It ends With the Sea was one of the highlights of Auckland Fringe at the Basement.

Scene

Girl on a Corner Basement Theatre, Greys Avenue, Auckland. Monday 9 February. Photos | Evan Donnelly. A cast of colourful characters turned out for the opening night of Girl on a Corner, the latest from great local playwright Victor Roger. This night served as the opening of both Prideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theatre programme and Auckland Fringe's productions at the Basement and proved to be a highlight of both festivals. express enjoyed seeing February's hottie Amanaki Prescott playing protagonist Shalimar, and Sandy Vukalokalo stunning turn as her bitter Uncle Sergio. gayexpress.co.nz 32 | March 2015|

gayexpress.co.nz | December 2014 | 32

DINE

Foodie Bites

Eden Asian If you haven't been to newcomer Zool Zool in Mt Eden, go soon. We went recently and loved the food, friendly service, nice interior and fun vibe. It's the brainchild of Toru Hirae (Soi) and Kazuya Yamauchi (Kazuya) and serves casual, affordable delicious ramen and other dishes great for sharing. We can personally recommend the soft shell crab, ebi chilli, miso ramen and we love the fact that the Edamame comes with the choice of curry, garlic or chilli salt. 405 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, www.zoolzool.co.nz

Say Cheese! If you're partial to a bit of brie, a smattering of stilton or a morsel of munster, the Langham will be your heaven on earth on the 18th of this month. CheeseFest is part of the 2015 NZ Champions of Cheese Awards and it's a great opportunity to sample the best of what NZ has to offer as well as meet all the people behind some of your favourite products. Not for those trying to work off Christmas kilos. For tickets see www.eventfinder. co.nz/2015/cheesefest/auckland

gayexpress.co.nz

Irish Actor Jamie Dornan

Authentic Ethnic Experience Two great opportunities this month to taste authentic ethnic food. The colourful and delightful Pasifika Festival on the 14th and 15th (at Western Springs) where you can load up on kokoda, chop suey and vanilla ice cream served out of a pineapple - as well many other delights. And also the Auckland International Cultural Festival on the 29th (War Memorial Park May Road, Mt Roskill) where there will be cultural displays and food from almost every nationality Auckland has to offer. Go hungry to both. www.aucklandnz.com/pasifika | www.facebook.com/CulturalFestival

Turkish Treats You can't miss the folks at the Turkish Bazaar stall at La Cigale and Takapuna markets. They do a gorgeous range of traditional dips (I've never seen more flavours of hummus in one place) olives, breads, baklava, Turkish Delight, oils, pomegranate juice, dried fruits, nuts, seeds and spices. They usually have some great buy-one-get-onefree deal - perfect for stocking up if you're having company you want to impress.

Irish Elegance If you fancy picking yourself up a lovely Irishman this St Paddy's day (March 17) but don't like the idea of drinking loads of thick black Guinness in the process, here's the ultimate solution. Several bars around Auckland will be serving Black Velvets - a mix of Guinness Extra Stout and champagne. Try the Doolan Brothers chain: Danny Doolans, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hagans and The Cav for this perfect mix of down-toearth and fabulous fun.

Article | Alexia Santamaria. Alexia is the co-author of popular blog www. cheapeats.co.nz, the Auckland guide to eating great food without going bankrupt.

Meet Our Community Bradley Harris Chief Petty Officer Master at Arms, NZ Defense Force.

Kiss & Tell r So your friend hires you to be the head (literally) of their Pride float, and then the choreographer takes over and tries to make it all about him and his boyfriend! I would have

How did you become involved with the NZ Defense Force? I was working as a butcher in Oamaru and was not feeling challenged in my job. I went to the local recruiter looking into options of a career in the Armed Forced. Two months later I was on a plane to Auckland signing an oath to Queen and Country. I have now been serving 14 years, travelled to 38 countries including a land-based operation in central Afghanistan.

spat the dummy too. You deserve to be on the highest swing, gurl! Let the other two walk the road in heels! r What PR-Guru has paid a wellknown maître d' to keep an eye on his fashion designer boyfriend, when he’s not around to down Astrolabe

What was it that drew you to the military? Family blood, my grandfather served for the Army during WW2. It was also the sense of adventure, imagining that every day would be different and never knowing what corner of the globe being in the Forces would take you.

with him? Honestly honey, you already know he’s up to no good. Why waste the money? r Now boys – do you really think what you write on ‘private forums’ remains private? People take screen shots and send them straight to the company whose product you were binning. Tread carefully or the next

When did you first come out? I was serving in the Navy when I came out. I was incredibly scared… there was the fear of losing friends, being ostracised by my family, and losing respect at work. I was dating another guy in the Navy at the time so we decided to ‘come out’ together. All of the fears I had never amounted to anything and I found a huge sense of relief. I could now be the real me.

box you’re ticking might be on a WINZ form. r You were dumped in it at the last minute and no-one would blame you for making a few unorganised errors, but both of you not turning up for a major TV appearance?! Seriously boys if you can’t be bothered then just resign. The former cook is laughing at your mess… and others about you bathroom activities at the Gala!

34 | February 2015|

Would you recommend a career in the Navy? One day you can be conducting Fire Arms training and throwing grenades, the next on boarding a foreign vessel suspected of trafficking, the next playing war games on-board a warship. Waking up to a day that is always different, challenging and with a great group of friends. I would recommend the Navy to anyone who wants a life less ordinary. Outside of work, describe your perfect day? It would have to be a weekend away in summer at a batch near the beach with close friends, good food and a nice bottle of pinot noir.

Where are your favourite gay spots in NZ? Uretiti beach is always great over the New Year and [Auckland Anniversary] long weekend. The beach is amazing. It is also great that LYC provides umbrellas, deck chairs, sporting equipment and condoms. Describe your perfect partner: He challenges me intellectually, a great listener, career focused, driven, charming and mischievous. I’m lucky enough to have found him; Stephen and I have been together for 5 years now. Read his full interview at www.gayexpress.co.nz. gayexpress.co.nz

Scene Post Pride Parade Celebrations Family Bar & Club, 270 K Road, Auckland Saturday 21 February. Photos | Evan Donnelly. We have never seen Family so full! By the early morning, security had to stop people entering because of maximum capacity. Inside, the air was wet with excitement. The heat ensured the boys had their shirts off which gets no complaints from us! This was one of the busiest nights we have ever seen on K Road in general, but as usual - nowhere was busier than Family! gayexpress.co.nz

| March 2015| 35

&ODVVLoHG

CLASSIFIED ADS

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Tall dark

WELLINGTON/HUTT VALLEY

handsome Maori masseur.

THE MALE ROOM. Male

Auckland’s most profess-

Therapist available for all

ional and premier nude

Massage, Body, Facial

sensual massage. Ph 022

and Waxing treatments.

082 7228 (no texts). www.

Book a 90 minute Mens

massageman.co.nz.

Spa

AUCKLAND CBD

Package

includes March

onna Madellio us Her Reb Pop to Return

2015

t of The Bes nd Auckla Pride!

Cotton Antony chat with

usive An excl n Street’s Sean Coronatio

ourne ! Kelly Osbiinter nterview n y NZ Her only

Oliver | Robert | Randa r Gordon Winner fs | Pete petition ity Che

Com Celebr rt Story PLUSDow le | Sho

Contemporary

Maori

which

Massage,

Facial and Body Scrub for

HEALTH & BEAUTY

TRAVEL & ACCOM

SITUATIONS VACANT

AUCKLAND

AUSTRALIA

Professional

Cove

AUCKLAND Genuine Masseurs

Chinese massage therapist,

Holiday Apartments, 82 Upper

wanted for New Queen St.

trained and experienced is

Hastings Street, Noosa Heads

spa. Both males and females

available for any type of

QUEENSLAND. Noosa's ONLY

massage - Medical therapy, sport, relaxation, tantric-sensual (no sex) and foot reflection zone

massage.

Based

Eastern Auckland. Call Simon 021 2766 778

582

mirimiri. A unique fusion of

$120 (Valued at $180)

Maori mirimiri, sports, deep

Mobile service available

AUCKLAND @R.M.M STUDIO.

tissue and relaxation

for some services. Phone

I’ve been massaging since

massage www.massage-

2002 and now specialise in

therapy.co.nz. Call Allan

Email:info@themaleroom.

focused relaxation massage for

(09) 550 9093.

co.nz

men. My massage ideology is -

582

Tanah

Txt

0224018345. 582

Exclusive

Noosa

GAY

boutique

accommodation location,

Prime

Short

Walking

Selection of fully self contained Poolside

Studio,

1 or 2

bedroom apartments. Free Wi

intellect, the spirit and the

www.noosacove.com.au

financial obligations sought.

including relaxation, sports,

A gentle, safe hands-on bio-

Ph/Txt Glenn 021735293. www.

au Telephone 61 7 5449 2668

energetic framework for

relaxedmassageman.co.nz 582

582

09 360 7671 Simple 30 or less word ads cost $35 each. 50c extra per word after 30 words. $5 extra for boxing, bolding or caps.

GOLDEN BAY GAY Housemates

individuals, businesses and

crisis, life transitions, stress,

hotels since 2005.

deep relaxation and more.

25 years old, 180cm, 77kg,

days, days / evenings in / out

calls.

www.

Please contact: Michael Owen on (09) 3769599 or at: mowenshens@gmail.com or

fullcirclemassage.co.nz. Ph

for further information and

Krys 0274 907 311 or 09 815

special introductory rates:

0458.

shentherapynz.com

594

587

wanted. All inclusive (food,

Discretion assured. Enquiries: email marymolly1802@gmail. com or call/text (027) 978 2807.

582

PERSONALS

power, internet) $250/week in

AUCKLAND

middle-long hair, average build,

awesome

Genuine,

smooth

Beautiful

hairless

skin.

Great

Golden private

Bay.

grounds.

Discipline/CP.

clean,

safe

and

discreet guy wants to receive cane from guys, prefer over

erotic massage and full service.

Established Gay Resort. Vibrant

Clear and friendly, located in

wider community. For more

CBD. Rate $200 call Anson

info Tel 03 525 9013 or email

Phone Ben in evenings 022 618

0212958202

stay@autumnfarm.com

7408.

582

35yrs old. Some guys view caning as fun and erotic. 582