Getamungstit - Music Edition (May 2015)

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G E TA M UNG ST IT MUSIC EDITION


ISSUE 02, 2015 / FREE EDITORS Rebecca Marshallsay Jessica Brown PUBLISHER Cameron Harrison TALENTED CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHIC Dan Carson Aidan Ryan Christian Nimri EDITORIAL Rebecca Marshallsay Paul Veitch Cameron Harrison Christian Nimri DESIGN CONSULTANT Max Duff DESIGN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild acknowledges the people who are the traditional custodians of the land, pays respects to Elders, past and present, and extends that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. SUBMISSIONS Are you a budding student journalist, photographer or have a random idea that could be a great story? Getamungstit accepts art, photo and story submissions for consideration however there is no guarantee your work will be published. Email us at getamungstit@ griffith.edu.au

Liveworm Gold Coast by QCA Students Creative Director Alejandra Ramirez Vidal Studio Administrator Sharon Searle

DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this publication may not reflect those of the Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild. The information contained within this edition of Getamungstit was correct at the time of printing but could be subject to change. If any article, document and/or publication is inaccessible and you require copies and/or more information, contact the Student Guild where staff will ensure your requests and needs are met.

T +61 7 5552 7262 E goldcoast@liveworm.com W livewormgoldcoast.com COVER ARTWORK Itgel. A ADVERTISING Jessica Brown Marketing Manager GUGC Student Guild j.brown@griffith.edu.au (07) 5552 8651 CONTACT Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild The Link (G07) PO Box 96 Griffith University QLD 4222 getamungstit@griffith.edu.au gugcstudentguild.com.au/getamungstit

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Contents Contributor spotlight

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Message from the President

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Live music on the Gold Coast

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How to host a killer Eurovision party

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Air Guitar World Championships

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Music on film

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Product review - Music streaming platforms 20 Vox pops

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SEED

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Being creative

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Feature artist

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Festival outfits under $100

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What’s on

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Snapped on campus

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Online - Top blogs

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Entertainment

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Get the hell outta here

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GET AMUNGST US

CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR

Love talking to people? Good at keeping your finger on the pulse?

CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR

Think there’s something missing from the mag? Have a great idea for a killer column?

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Can you work to a theme or brief? Can you compete for the front cover position?

CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR

CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR

Are you a great wordsmith with something to say? Can you write compelling feature articles?

Up to date with all things entertainment? Have an opinion on the latest films, books or albums?

EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Are you a word nerd? Do you have a good grasp on grammar and an eye for detail?

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Keen to capture campus events on film? See yourself as the campus paparazzi?

IF YOU ANSWERED YES, AWESOME! WE WANT YOU. Email getamungstit@griffith.edu.au

Get amungst us

Love to paint, draw, design or create? Want to see your work in print?

ART DIRECTION & DESIGN LIAISON

Great project management skills and a super multi-tasker?


Contributor spotlight Getamungstit relies on its creative and dedicated contributors and we wanted to put a couple of them in the spotlight and uncover their musical secrets.

Christian Nimri Aidan Ryan You might know Christian from his People of Griffith page. Christian has come on board this edition to run Vox Pop so you can expect to see much more of him getting up in people’s faces on campus. What are you studying? Dip. Health Sciences, which branches into Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science in 2016. You are very involved in campus life, can you tell us a little bit about that? I’ve always loved being involved in something if there’s a chance. It’s great to meet new people and be able to make friends all throughout campus or the workplace as well, plus it can have its perks in the future. Where did you get the idea for People of Griffith? I’ve always followed the page Humans of New York since it was around 500k likes on Facebook. I watched it grow to its over 12 million likes it has right now and got inspired. I started it on my normal photography page for months before deciding I should dedicate a page towards it. Why do you want to be involved with Geta? I saw that they were revamping the whole magazine, and when I was told about the different things being featured and the future series, I really wanted to be a content contributor. What was the first album you ever owned? The SoFresh2000 Album, best beats of the year! Favourite karaoke song? Chandelier by Sia, always one to belt out.

The Student Guild has been utilising Aidan’s photographic skills for some time and now much of his work is being featured in the Snapped on campus section of Getamungstit. If you’ve been to an event on campus, chances are you’ve seen Aidan there with his camera. What are you studying? I am currently studying a Bachelor of Digital Media, majoring in Graphic Design with Photomedia minors. How/when did you become interested in photography? All the way back in grade 10-11. I always used to go to the local library and borrow the skate magazines and just look at all the photos. I barely read them, I would just be so fascinated by the imagery. At this age I was thinking I wasn’t going to be a pro skateboarder any time soon, so I thought why not have a go at shooting from behind the lens? Are you looking forward to getting involved with Geta? Very much so! This magazine is getting radder by the minute! What was the first album you ever owned? Oooh that’s tricky. Let’s see. The first vinyl record I bought was a Kinks Greatest Hits LP. I still have it and it still sounds so rad. Favourite karaoke song? I haven’t done karaoke in ages haha. Umm I have no clue. What would the theme song to your life be? The Frowning Clouds - Stick Fight. It’s just such a rad little jam... something you can just hang out to and groove about.

What would the theme song to your life be? Beyonce - Flawless :o) 5


MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to the second edition of the revamped GETAMUNGSTIT! As the business end of semester 1 is approaching fast, I hope you are all beginning to get focused and are concentrating somewhat on your studies. The first semester of 2015 has been huge for the Student Guild with numerous sell-out events and the opening of our new Link Lane food atrium. A few major events to look out for in the coming weeks include the State of Origin at the Uni Bar and our annual Student Guild Ball (this year themed Alice in Wonderland) at Jupiters Casino. Your Student Guild Board has been meeting regularly throughout the semester, feeding back your suggestions and recommendations to make campus life even more enjoyable. We have made sure gym prices stay low and competitive, kept student friendly deals at the Uni Bar, and offered even more funding and support to our affiliated clubs and societies. Our Market Days have even more stalls and food options, and we have also installed a bike service station outside the library, with tools and a pump to make sure your eco-friendly transport keeps running smoothly. We are always looking to improve what is available to our students, so if you have any feedback or suggestions, let me know! Cheers, Mr President. Cameron Harrison

Message from the President


Presidential musings... Choosing the right headphones is quite a challenge as there are more options than there are songs on Spotify. While this review will not provide any technical specifications to help in your quest, it might inspire your headphone choice based on your own personal qualities.

Standard white Apple earbuds You most likely don’t care for music quality, and simple hollow noise is good enough. Back in the 2000s, the white apple ear-bud was a sign of being up-to-date with the latest and greatest Apple product, but now you are just supporting underpaid foreign labour. Chances are your snap-back authenticity sticker has not been removed, and your fridge energy efficient sticker is still proudly displayed some three years later. Although perhaps you enjoy the convenience of the inbuilt microphone for hands free phone conversation?

In-ear noise cancelling earbuds The combination of an earphone and a q-tip cotton bud provide your ears with daily eargasms. These headphones deliver quality, full sound directly through your ear canal straight to your soul, without losing any noise to inefficient misdirected soundwaves. It is likely that you are either a frequent flyer or reclusive loner who wants to speak to no one, and cannot handle ANY ambient noise in your daily activities.

Bluetooth headset

Beats by Dre These were invented by a Doctor, so they MUST be high quality. Wearing these headphones with their over-powered bass boosting ability suggests you are a wannabe DJ, wannabe Hip Hop gangsta, spoilt rich kid or a sucker for a good marketing campaign. There is the possibility you don’t even listen to music, but see these over-priced headphones as the must have fashion accessory to wear around campus.

Oversized retro ear headphones One word... hipster. You definitely paid too much considering the sound quality of these headphones, but their outer housing is crisp and on point. Your retro-tech looks like it was designed by Marty McFly, or dug out of your grandfathers attic along with his cardigan from the 60s. You most likely connect these headphones to your portable windup gramophone, and carry around a type writer to take notes in lectures.

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These headsets aren’t often used for music but are worn too frequently for my liking. To own one of these, you must either be a business man, douche bag or secret agent. You are selfindulgent, and like to appear super important, like the world would stop spinning if you weren’t connected to your phone 24/7.

Skull Candy Designer You are a pop chart loving tweenie bopper who enjoys the rattling of tinnie sounding auto-tuned chart toppers. Your headphone decision was made easy when your eyes caught the bright, shiny colours that scream ‘fun’ and ‘diva’. You are also living on a tight budget, and listen to the same song on repeat for a week until the new inspirational song from Nicki Minaj is released.

Whatever your style, wear your headphones with pride!!


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Live music on the Gold Coast If you haven’t discovered the live music scene on the Gold Coast then you probably haven’t been looking in the right places. Although the Gold Coast has more restrictive sound laws than Brisbane, there are still lots of options for those who want their music live. In addition to the sample below, the Coast is bursting with RSLs, surf clubs, other supporters clubs and taverns hosting top quality artists on a regular basis. Not sure what you’re looking for? Geta has found some top venues to get you started.

Top pick - Elsewhere Elsewhere Bar is a bit of a gem in Surfers Paradise. As well as offering a more cultured club experience with top quality electronic music, the venue delivers a unique live music experience. It often fuses the two with live improvised electronica. Some of the top acts hosted at Elswehere Bar include The Presets, Flume, Sneaky Sound System, The Grates, Children Collide and The Delta Riggs. The intimate bar has also developed a reputation as the post-performance go-to hangout for artists like Metallica, The Strokes and many others. Every Thursday, Elsewhere offers a stripped back, intimate live community-building concept called Arno Allstars; an improvised live jam hosted by a team of resident musicians. Other artists can approach the resident hosts to join in on the fun and meet other likeminded people on the Gold Coast. Elsewhere Bar is an eclectic world of its own sitting just above the crazy of Cavill Ave.

Surfers Paradise Beergarden It’s not the classiest of joints but if you want to sing along to your favourites played live, then the Beergarden is the place for you. Located in Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise, the Beergarden is centrally located and easy to access on the G. The venue hosts cover bands, usually of the Aussie rock persuasion, every Friday night. With plenty of other clubs

and pubs nearby, the Beergarden is a great place to start your weekend.

Coolangatta Hotel Again, although it is not the fanciest of places, the Cooly Hotel has established a reputation as one of the premier music venues on the Coast. There really is something for everyone at the Cooly, for example, their diverse May line up covers the spectrum

Live music on the Gold Coast

from hip-hop with The Funkoars, to San Cisco’s indie pop sound before rounding out the month with some thrash and grind with King Parrot. You never know who’ll be featured at the Cooly so do yourself a favour and sign up to their newsletter to make sure you don’t miss your favourite band.


Soundlounge (Currumbin RSL) Soundlounge operates above the Currumbin RSL and is one of the best quality live music venues on the Gold Coast. With capacity for 800 people the venue is comfortable but still reasonably intimate. Their May line up demonstrates the quality of acts and features British India, Josh Wade and Paul Dempsey.

Miami Marketta Miami Marketta (also known as Rabbit and Cocoon) is a cultural precinct dedicated to providing space for a range of creative artists. The space is most famous for its food based Marketta events but has also hosted top Australian and international acts including Tijuana Cartel, The Waifs, Tiki Taane and The Cat Empire. With a new dedicated live music space you can expect to see more fantastic artists gracing their stage. You don’t need to spend a fortune or travel to get your fill of festivals when there are a host of free or cheap local festivals offering a diverse range of options in our own backyard. Although they have a different vibe to your Stereosonic, Falls or Laneway, you have much less chance of being crushed, beer

soaked or just disappointed by the over hype at the upcoming local festivals we have found for you here. You can’t go wrong with free so even if it’s not your normal scene head along and try something new - you might find you are a closet country fan.

Blues on Broadbeach There is arguably nothing cooler than the blues and from 21-24 May the Broadbeach Mall, Victoria Park and local venues will play host to a program of blues stars including James Morrison, The Black Sorrows, Jeff Lang, and Tijuana Cartel. And you can see them all for free. bluesonbroadbeach.com

Cooly Rocks On There is more than music at Cooly Rocks On. Nostalgia is the the name of the day with stalls, cars, and entertainment all channeling the rock ‘n’ roll mania of the 50s and 60s. Free and low cost gigs include rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and swing across a range of outdoor stages and local venues to suit your taste and budget. The 2015 festival runs from 29 May - 8 June around Cooolangatta. coolyrockson.com

Elsewhere Bar is an eclectic world of its own sitting just above the crazy of Cavill Ave. Broadbeach Country Music Festival You don’t need to head all the way to the Gympie Muster to get a taste of country in Queensland, you don’t even need to trade in your board shorts... you can experience a bit of country right here on the coast. The free 3-day festival runs in the Broadbeach Mall precinct from 19-21 June and hosts artists including Beccy Cole, James Blundell and the Round Mountain Girls broadbeachcountry.com

Broadbeach Jazz Weekend The 2015 program has not been released yet but this annual free event brings the smooth sounds of jazz to the Broadbeach Mall and surrounds. The festival will run from 15-16 August - keep an eye on their website for further details. broadbeachjazz.com

Gold Coast Folk Music Festival With a concentration of mandolin, accordion, bass, fiddle and more the Gold Coast Folk Music Festival is guaranteed to get your feet tapping. The festival runs from 19-20 September in the Gold Coast Hinterland and weekend passes start from just $22. The program offers an eclectic mix of folk, bluegrass and roots and a host of artists from south east Queensland. The headliners, Perch Creek have featured at top festivals including WOMAD, Edinburgh Fringe, Falls and the Woodford Folk Festival. Miami Marketta, Photograph by Danny Santangelo, Santography

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How to host a killer Eurovision party You may be wondering why you would want to watch a European song contest let alone host a viewing party... ...because Eurovision is so much more than a song contest. It is a glorious, tacky spectacular that is equal parts awful and wonderful. Think - all of the wide eyed enthusiasm of Playschool meets the big hair and drama of The Bold and the Beautiful. If all of the sequins ever used in a Eurovision were pooled together, they would outshine the sun; harnessed together the power of every wind machine would make Cyclone Tracy feel like a gentle breeze; and the mind boggles to think of what could be done with money spent on teeth whitening and hair spray. Eurovision is open to most European countries (members of the European Broadcasting Union) and sees each country submit a song to be performed at a live televised event. Viewers then vote to determine which song will make it through the finals process to be named the winner. One of the most notable wins of all time was in 1974 when a little band called ABBA claimed victory with ‘Waterloo.’ The entries vary from serious power ballads to more fun ditties like the 2006 Lithuanian entry ‘We Are the Winners of Eurovision’; apart from the titular claim as the

catchy chorus, the only other lyrics were basically a chant of Vote, vote, vote for the winners. And it is not always light-hearted pop. Finnish heavy metal band, Lordi (whose costumes are reminiscent of the Uruk-hai from Lord of the Rings) managed to secure a shock win in 2006 with ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’. In 2014 the contest was won by Austrian Conchita Wurst, who looked every part the stereotypical Eurovision goddess - sequin dress, big hair, manicured nails - with the exception of the fact that she was sporting a very neat but very full beard. This was considered to be a (not so subtle) stand against conservative European leaders such as Vladimir Putin and a push for LGBT rights and acceptance. The Museum of Broadcast Communications estimates that approximately 600 million viewers around the world tune in to watch the song contest. SBS has been broadcasting the competition in Australia for 30 years. Due to it’s huge fan base, Australia has been invited to perform as a special guest in this year’s competition; Guy Sebastian will represent with ‘Tonight Again.’

How to host a killer Eurovision party


So, how to throw this party...

Turn your guests into fans Ask your guests to choose a country or randomly allocate them one. This is the country they will be cheering for on the night.

European feast Theme up your food! How do you feel about some Greek souvlaki or Polish pierogi? If you’re not a culinary wiz you could serve French fries with a side of mayo and voila, you have Belgian pommes frites! Or stop by IKEA and pick up some Swedish meatballs. Even better, ask your friends to bring a Euro themed plate to share. If you really want to challenge your guests, ask them to bring something from their allocated country. You could end up with some Maltese timpana (pasta pie) or some Azerbaijani lamb pilaf.

Quench your thirst in style Head to your local and pick up a selection from the hundreds of European beer options available. Have your own beer tasting and vote for your favourite. Beer not your style? Maybe a jug of sangria or just some good Italian coffee.

Eurovision checklist... One point •

Use of pyrotechnics

The commentator makes snarky comments about an act

Anyone sings in a language other than English

There is an aerialist or circus performer on stage

Traditional costumes are worn

Two points •

Costume change or reveal mid song

Use of wind machine

Beard scaping or eye-catching facial hair

The singer drops to their knees

A performer flashes the peace sign

The checklist

Three points

All the best parties have games (remember your fifth birthday?). Divide the items on the checklist amongst your guests - make sure everyone has three or four items to watch for. The person with the most points wins.

The singer winks or points at the camera

Overenthusiastic back up dancers

Glitter is dropped from above

Anyone kisses

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Air Guitar World Championships

Air Guitar World Championships. Not only is this a legit thing but 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the event. By Rebecca Marchallsay The annual event is held in Oulu, Finland and attracts air guitarists from all over the world who compete for the glory of being the best air guitarist and claiming the world title. The event’s website even states that “Air Guitarists from all over the world travel to Oulu literally for nothing. But in the end they realize that everything [around] that nothing is something they will never forget.” Air Guitar World Championships


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f you are still thinking this air guitar thing can’t be what it sounds like, cast those doubts aside. It is exactly what it sounds like. People travel all the way to Finland to step onto stage and compete to see who is the most impressive at miming a guitar performance. And it is serious business. Costumes, blood, sweat, tears and some very big personalities make air guitar more exciting than any rock performance you have ever seen that involves, you know, actual instruments. And the purpose of the championships? To promote world peace. Of course.

They also clarify that “personal air roadies are allowed” (they aren’t allowed on stage once the performance has started), “back-up bands - air or real - are not allowed” and that “the contestant may use a real pick or even play in a finger picking style.”

Costumes, blood, sweat, tears and some very big personalities make air guitar more exciting than any rock performance you have ever seen

Contestants perform two songs - one of their own choosing and a second obligatory song which is chosen for contestants and revealed just before they go on stage. Contestants’ performance is judged by a panel who score from 4.0 to 6.0 against the following criteria: originality, the ability to be taken over by the music, stage presence, technical merit, artistic impression and airness. The official rules are available on the event website and include the following: “The Invisible Instrument The instrument of the contestant must be invisible, i.e. air. The contestant can use either an electric or an acoustic air guitar or both.”

Air guitar is so popular that many countries, including Australia, hold regional and national level qualifying events to determine who will have the honour of representing their country at the ultimate invisible guitar event. The 2014 title went to Japanese performer Nanami ‘Seven Seas’ Nagura who proved that women can pretend to rock out just as well as, or even better than, the blokes. Although we have secured a couple of silver and bronze placings, Australia has never won an Air Guitar World Championships. If you still can’t believe it, you can rent or pick up a copy of the 2006 film, Air Guitar Nation. The award winning documentary follows USA rivals, David “C-Diddy” Jung and Dan “Björn Türoque” Crane, 15

through the first US Air Guitar Championships in 2003 and onto the world stage. This is not to be missed so if you want to know more, or think you could be the first Aussie world champ, visit airguitarworldchampionships.com.


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CREATIVE CONCEPTS \\ GRAPHIC DESIGN \\ PHOTOGRAPHY \\ ILLUSTRATION IMAGE RETOUCHING \\ PRINT & WEB \\ SOCIAL MEDIA \\ BRANDING Liveworm Gold Coast is staffed with a collection of skilled multidisciplinary design students, guided by a highly experienced team of industry professionals. The studio is also a creative incubator for student industry concepts, supporting the local business and cultural community. The studio opened its doors in 2008 after being converted from a grungy fine art and sculpture workshop into a creative studio and incubator space – under the wing of the 130 year old Queensland College of Art.

Liveworm Gold Coast designers are the future experts of their field. They know what’s current, enjoy predicting future trends and utilising classic design strategies. In the midst of a new studio image and direction Liveworm Gold Coast is working towards a stronger position within the evolving creative Gold Coast culture. The team of students and staff embrace the changes that are occurring locally and globally and enjoy creating design outcomes that reflect this unique approach.

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MUSIC ON FILM In order to celebrate our music edition, Getamungstit has compiled a list of 10 awesome films for music lovers and film buffs alike. It was really hard to pick just 10 so in order to whittle the list down we excluded the classic biopics like Ray and Walk the Line but if music bios are your thing then we highly recommend something a little different like Greetings from Tim Buckley (a Jeff Buckley biopic) or Notorious (the Notorious B.I.G)... see how we snuck in a couple of extras there! By Rebecca Marshallsay

Across the Universe (2007) Across the Universe follows shipyard worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) from Liverpool to the US as he tries to track down his father. When he arrives he gets caught up by a new group of friends as they deal with the social and political tensions of 1960s America, in particular the fallout from the Vietnam war. This story of experimentation and revolution is also a musical exclusively featuring songs from The Beatles.

Almost Famous (2000)

Blues Brothers (1980)

Buena Vista Social Club (1999)

When 15 year old wannabe writer, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), flukes his way into a writing assignment for Rolling Stone he ends up on tour with rock band Stillwater. It is a crazy coming of age journey for Miller fuelled by sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Almost Famous is a semi-autobiographical account of writer/director Cameron Crowe’s experiences as a young writer and also saw Kate Hudson with a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting role.

We’re sure you’ve heard of the Blues Brothers, what you may not know is that this toe-tapping, handclapping classic started as a sketch on Saturday Night Live. Trouble follows unlikely heroes, Jake and Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd) as they reunite their band and try to raise $5000 to save the orphanage where they grew up. The film will see you shake a tail feather to performances from mega stars including Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and James Brown.

Buena Vista Social Club is a documentary that showcases the lives and music of some of Cuba’s best artists as they come together to record an album and to play two live shows; one in the US and one in the Netherlands. Although the film is flawed - it would be great to hear more of their magical music - it is a beautiful piece overall and fans of Cuban music will be itching to download the album as soon as possible.

Music on film


High Fidelity (2000)

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

I’m Not There (2007)

Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is a record store owner with a penchant for making music ‘top five’ lists for all occasions - songs for a Monday morning, jobs, track-one side-one songs (you know, back when there were two sides to an album). When Gordon is dumped by his girlfriend he recounts his top five breakups to try and get over her. High Fidelity will remind you that before there were Spotify playlists, there was the humble mix tape - and it will make you want to record one.

The Coen brothers have delivered again with Inside Llewyn Davis. The film follows aspiring New York folk musician Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) through a low week in his life as he finds himself homeless and directionless following the death of his musical partner. Davis is not a lovable character and the Coen brothers’ grim humour is not for everyone but Inside Llewyn Davis is worth a try - you may just love it.

I’m Not There snuck into the list because it is a biopic in the very broadest sense of the word. Drawing inspiration from the music and events in Bob Dylan’s life, the film crafts an insightful portrait of the artist without ever mentioning him. The film stars Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and others as various characters in a series of loosely connected extended vignettes that are drawn together by the multi faceted enigma that is Bob Dylan.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)

Oh, What a Lovely War (1969)

This is Spinal Tap (1984)

Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist stars Michael Cera and Kat Dennings as the eponymous Nick and Nora. They are both adorable with Cera sporting his trademark nervous cool and Dennings, much toned down from other roles, as the down to earth and direct Nora. Their fledgling relationship undergoes a trial by fire during a night out in the city trying to find the surprise gig location of their favourite band Where’s Fluffy?.

Oh, What a Lovely War has the unusual claim to fame of being a musical for history buffs. If you fit into this very specific niche you will be blown away by this retelling of the First World War entirely through the use of traditional songs sung by troops and civilians throughout the war. It also features a cameo by the magnificent, Maggie Smith as a sex symbol promising to “make a man” of any young man who will sign up for the war effort - a far cry from her Downton Abbey dowager.

This is Spinal Tap is the original mockumentary - a satirical, doco styled look at the behind the scenes journey of fictional band Spinal Tap. Despite being played for laughs, the cult classic is considered by many in the industry to be one of the most accurate depictions of life as a high profile touring band with artists including Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Pete Townsend and Jimmy Page all admitting that there were some ‘close to home’ moments in the film. So good that you will want to turn it up to eleven.

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Product review It seems like just yesterday that everyone was swapping iPods and going through the convoluted process of trying to pull music off to add to their own library without wiping the original. But on-demand music streaming has made this, and the even more archaic practice of burning CDs, obsolete.

By Rebecca Marshallsay Music streaming platforms have exploded onto the scene over the last few years and listeners now have easy, free access to thousands of songs on demand. Most platforms offer a free version, supported by ads, with the option to pay for a premium service with no advertisements and superior quality and/ or functionality. These platforms have not been without controversy. The most common criticism being that they are ripping

off artists who receive little to nothing for their music. Opponents of this argue that artists are gaining exposure to markets and individuals who may not have listened to them otherwise (with the added benefit that they may go ahead and purchase) and who would not have paid to listen to them anyway had the free option not been available. But that is a debate for another day. Although our selection is just the tip of the iceberg, Geta has given its two cents on just a couple of the streaming services available.

Spotify

SoundCloud

It’s free, it’s easy and everybody’s doing it. Not always the best approach to life but in the case of Spotify, Geta fully endorses you to go ahead and jump on that bandwagon. Spotify offers a free music streaming service via their downloadable web player. The catch is that you will be forced to listen to semi-regular short ads... generally of the super annoying kind.

SoundCloud is regularly described as the YouTube for music and audio content. It operates more as a social network than a traditional music streaming platform with users able to upload their own content. This is extremely popular with new artists, amateur (and not so amateur) DJs, and at home wannabes alike.

You have the option of paying a monthly fee for Spotify premium which is ad free and offers options for downloading and listening offline. Make and share playlists through social media, browse others’ playlists for inspiration or put your trust in Spotify to create a radio station for you based on songs or artists that you like. Spotify will also make suggestions to you based on your listening patterns. It does come up with some random gems along the lines of You liked Ball Park Music and The Lumineers, you might also enjoy One Direction... umm, really? There is someone out there with a messed up playlist upsetting your algorithms Spotify.

If you just want to listen to mainstream artists then there are probably other platforms that are more suitable and user friendly but if you’re interested in exploring a little then have a play on SoundCloud. You could find awesome remixes or covers of songs you already like or a sweet new artist. The audio section of the platform is also worth a look with all sorts of content from audiobooks, speeches, radio interviews and even storytelling and oral histories. Like YouTube, you will need to wade through a fair bit of junk from time to time but once you’ve spent some time on SoundCloud you will get a feel for the type of posts you like and how to get to them. SoundCloud offers a mobile app as well as paid subscriptions for premium service.

Product review


Pandora

Google Play

Why you would choose to name your product after a jar containing not just a few bad things or a small plague but ALL of the evils of the world and (arguably just as bad) a tacky, over-priced piece of fad jewelry is beyond me. But, dubious name aside, Pandora has proven to be one of the most popular music streaming platforms on the market.

Google Play and Google Play Music All Access is a subscription service targeted to, but not exclusively for, the Android market (you will get limited Google love on your iPhone or iPad). Google Play markets its point of difference from other platforms around its ability to access 50,000 of your own songs from your existing library to incorporate them streaming experience. This music is stored in a cloud so that you can access music from your computer on other devices without eating up your storage.

Pandora operates by setting up a playlist or radio station based on an artist of your choosing. So if I enter Mumford and Sons, Pandora will tell me that I might also enjoy Of Monsters and Men, The Avett Brothers and Bon Iver and will make me up a radio station based on this. Pandora seems to have the ‘you might also like’ move nailed down with a little more accuracy than Spotify. You can’t choose to listen in a song by song on-demand fashion like other platforms but you can create quite a high level of customisation by banning artists you don’t like, incorporating more options into your playlist and by skipping songs (limited number per day). The paid subscription offers an ad free experience and better streaming quality.

Perhaps not surprisingly, coming from an internet behemoth like Google, the platform has been lauded for its high quality audio and clean interface. It is also simple to purchase music as you go (less so for iOS users). If you subscribe to the ‘if it’s not on Facebook, it’s not real’ philosophy then Google Play is not for you. With no social media plug ins, the world will not be able to see the unique, carefully constructed brand of cool you are seeking to cultivate through your music choices. Sorry, we should clarify... you do have a social media connection, it’s Google+. So you can share your music with about three friends.

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VOX POP Geta stepped out on campus to probe into your deep, dark musical secrets. by Christian Nimri

Tayla M The Pokemon theme song.

Portia Z Well it’s not to my life... it’s when I’m at work, but it’s “I don’t wanna do this anymore” Rihanna, Unfaithful.

What’s your theme song to your life?

Matthew W The Rocky theme song.

Nancy The Parks and Recreation theme song.

Darcy The Phineas and Ferb theme song.

Vox Pop


What is the first CD album you bought?

What’s your favorite Karaoke song?

Colby M

Rory H 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Eye of the Tiger. It’s easy to get enthusiastic to and real fun.

Hayden G

Grace B

It was a Deltra Goodrem album.

Shania Twain Man I feel Like a Woman.

Emma P Kylie Minogue Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.

Alex S Bohemian Rhapsody, easy. It’s parallel to my life, I draw parallels to the lyrics, and I’ve killed a man. 23


SEED

Did you know that one of the strongest initiatives for supporting local music is run right here out of Griffith? In 2012, Griffith University launched the SEED program which offered students from the Bachelor of Popular Music the chance to be included on a compilation album showcasing Griffith’s best new talent. Since its inception three volumes of the SEED album have been released for purchase in digital online stores such as iTunes. Imagine the benefits of graduating not only with the skills and knowledge from your degree but also with the industry edge and experience that comes with having a song recorded and released. The explosion of new media and the advent of digital production and circulation has opened up new avenues for artists to self publish and promote in the online space. Griffith and the Queensland Conservatorium developed SEED in order to take advantage of these changes in the industry and to leverage them into exciting development opportunities and experiences for Popular Music students.

The online release of the album opens up many opportunities for students. In 2014, the release of SEED Vol. 3 coincided with a partnership with Queensland Performing Arts Centre which saw SEED artists performing live at QPAC’s Melbourne Street Garden. This mini festival, The Seed Project, ran every Friday night for a month and offered a live showcase of the incredible talent emerging from The Con. Deputy Director of the Queensland Conservatorium (Gold Coast) Dr Donna Weston says that the program continues to grow with SEED artists involved in more than 200 paid performances last year. “In the near future we are planning to take Seed on regional tours building up to a national tour hopefully in the next couple of years,” says Dr Weston. SEED’s sound ranges from indie, folk and alternative, to country, rock and hip-hop across the three albums and listeners can look forward to more variety on the 2015 release. Article Title SEED

“While the artists for each album change of course each year, Volume 4, planned for release in June, will offer the same broad range of styles, from pop and rock, to rap and eDM, and everything in between,” says Dr Weston. In the meantime, if you are looking for something new and original you don’t need to look any further than SEED. With many artists such as David Baker, Taylor Moss, Brodie Graham and Lily Budiasa creating a stir in the local music scene, now is your chance to get in early because they are only going to get bigger and better you heard it here first. Check out SEED on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. Photos courtesy of Rachel Long.


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Being creative

Featuring work from current Gold Coast students of the Bachelor of Digital Media program, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.

SUZETTE MACGREGOR

CHERIE NOBLE

My background is in graphic design having worked over the last 20 years as a freelancer and in advertising agencies, but I made a switch to studio/ fine art to balance my skills on the computer with hands on tactile creating. I have predominantly worked with paper in the last few years to create 2D and 3D artwork articulated through hand cut and laser cutting techniques. However, I have recently enjoyed exploring different mediums such as found objects like plastic straws to reference our culture of accumulating ‘commodities of mass consumption’ to re-contextualise everyday objects through 3 dimensional sculpture that prompt dialogues about personal and collective issues.

My artistic practice explores the relationship man has with the natural environment, endorsing the need for strong environmental stewardship. In my current work, “Artery”, I explore marine plastic pollution through large-scale video projection of water environments combined with object and sound for a fully immersive experience that invites audience to consider their own connection with nature. My current work contextualises discarded plastics, exploring the effect plastic pollution has in marine environments and aims to initiate conversation and inspire others to take small positive steps towards a healthier ecosystem. Bachelor of Digital Media - Studio Art Major

Bachelor of Digital Media - Studio Art Major WWW.SUZETTEMACGREGOR.COM

Being creative


JACK PACKSHAW

Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours ‘Separated’, 2014-15. Jack Packshaw is a Gold Coast based artist working in art mediums from illustration and digital drawing, to sound installations and video art. WWW.JUMBLEDJACK.COM

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RACHEL SPENCER

Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours ‘The Sounds of Seuss’ For Rachel Spencer, playfulness leads to equally important life skills, which she grounds in the development of literacy. The Sounds of Seuss is a body of work produced by Spencer in 2014 which explores the phonemic sounds of Dr Seuss' nonsensical vocabulary. This body of work is proudly sponsored by

Being creative


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Feature artist Jared Adlam

Jared Adlam talks to Geta about his passion and projects as a producer, engineer and musician working on the Gold Coast.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? I’m a producer, engineer and musician. I’m originally from New Zealand. I moved over here in 2012 to study at Griffith. I produce and record and mix music for other artists locally and have even done work back in New Zealand too. I’m also the touring guitarist for the country rock singer, Jared Porter. What did you study? What are you doing now with your studies? So I studied a Bachelor of Popular Music at the Queensland Conservatorium here on the Gold Coast which was a three year degree

basically it had a couple of different facets to the degree so there was a focus on live performance, production, songwriting and music industry studies[...]. I’m currently studying my Honours in the same, Bachelor of Popular Music and my dissertation is on the sonic difference between home recording environments and a professional studio. So you produce and perform... do you have a favourite? Oh... I think, obviously playing live is a pastime of mine I’ve enjoyed since I was quite little. I started playing guitar when I was seven so being out in the spotlight is something I really enjoy so ... but I love producing all sorts of music. I’ve done stuff from country to metalcore to rock and folk so I

Feature artist

don’t really have a favourite. If it’s a good song I’m interested in working with it. What are you working on right now? Currently I’ve got a couple of things on the go with production. I’m recording some new singles for the Double Lined Minority which is a pop punk band from the Gold Coast, and Kirsty Abrahams whose a singer/songwriter from the Gold Coast. I also just had an EP, from a girl named Taylor Moss, that I produced came out yesterday actually and debuted at number 34 on the iTunes Country Chart and next week on Thursday I head off on tour for two weeks with Jared Porter around Queensland.


Tell us about working with Jared Porter... A couple of weeks ago we played at CMC Rocks [Australia’s biggest international country and roots festival] out at the Willowbank Raceway in front of 10,000 people and in January we had some major slots on the main stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival which were 10 and 12,000 people crowds as well, so they were pretty good. And I don’t know whether you’re familiar with him but he did the degree I did for a year and then deferred but he won Toyota Star Maker last year which is what Keith Urban won in the nineties that kind of kick started his career. It’s like a... the loose way you could describe it is a country version of Australian Idol but a little bit more uh, [pause] dignity I suppose [laughs]...

A bit more substance to it? [Laughs] Yeah. Ever since he won that I’ve been his touring guitarist. I’ve played with him before that too, he’s a good friend of mine but basically since January last year I’ve been his full time guitarist.

you’re able to get onto. Plus the Brisbane scene in terms of gigging at night is quite rich too. The Gold Coast is maybe lacking a little bit at the moment with the new sounds laws but hopefully that will be rectified in the near future.

Are there plenty of opportunities for artists in south east Queensland? How would you describe the local scene?

Right now who are your favourite musicians? What’s getting the most play on your iPod?

Yeah definitely. There’s a lot of festivals and things that happen around here. I know that through the Bachelor of Popular Music we have the Seed program which gives a lot of opportunities to up and coming artists that come through our degree and there’s just heaps and heaps of independent music festivals and larger ones that

Umm, it’s a funny contrast. The two most played things at the moment are country rock singer, Hunter Hayes and the metalcore band, Issues.

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jaredadlamaudio.com


Matt’s outfit RVCA cross muscle tee, Universal - $49.95 Ranger short, Factorie - $9.95 Camden plimsole shoe, Factorie - $19.95 Sunglasses, Carrara Markets - $20.00

What was the inspiration for your outfit? I suppose it’s just sorta the look that’s in at the moment, the whole muscle tee thing. Do you have a favourite festival? Yeah Splendour in the Grass for sure. How come? Just cause it’s like so many good artists and it’s over a few days so it’s just non-stop. Favourite pre-drink beats? Danny Brown fires me up… and RL Grime.

FESTIVAL OUTFITS UNDER $100 Sadly summer is over, but don’t hang up your festival boots just yet. There’s still an awesome array of artists and line-ups hitting our shores over the autumn and winter months and Geta has got you covered for a dirt cheap get-up. Fashion forward students Matt Hansford and Maria Mansi have put together an outfit each to inspire those dying for Splendour to arrive, all for under 100 bucks! Festival outfits under $100

You sing yourself, what artists inspire you? The guy that I copy most is John Bellion. He’s an American artist… he’s sort of a mixture between rap and acoustic singing. So you’ve got some rap skills as well? Yeah. You know, I can spit some bars. I can spit some bars. [laughs] Where do you shop? I usually shop online. ASOS… or SurfStitch is pretty good, stuff like that. I don’t know, otherwise General Pants is the way to go or Universal. Bag pictured: Handmade by QCA Bachelor of Digital Media student, Aidan Ryan. rascalltdpackco.com.au


Maria’s outfit Tell us about the outfit you’ve put together. What was your inspiration? Umm probably coming into winter, a winter festival look - so boots and a hat work well. Do you have a particular style that you work to? Definitely comfortable, festival days can be long! Do you have a favourite festival? Mm I love festivals but generally you’ll find me at a club event - I’d say my favourite event would be Circo Loco at DC10 in Ibiza. They also hold this party in Sydney once a year but I haven’t been to the Sydney one... yet! What kind of music pumps you up before you head somewhere like Circo Loco? I’d definitely be pumping some house tunes or a set by one of the artists I’m about to see. Do you have any favourite brands? Not particularly. I like to shop around and I love simple looks. Not too many accessories but statement pieces instead - the tassel bag was probably the feature in this outfit.

Day dress, Chica Booti - $7.99 LDS short boot, Big W - $23.20 Wendy wide brim hat, Rubi - $10.00 Sunglasses, Valleygirl $12.95 Enamel square stud earrings, Colette - $1.00 Bars bib necklace, Colette - $4.00 Mooloola fleur sling bag, City Beach - $19.99 Eyelashes, Stacks $3.00 OPI nail polish in alpine snow, Myer - $14.96

Does the kind of music you listen to influence your style? Probably yeah because I find that when you go to these events, you can wear what you normally wouldn’t wear anywhere else! Plus the more different your outfit, the more people you’re probably going to meet... A statement piece is always a good conversation starter.

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31 CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY TRIP

Head to www.gugcstudentguild.com.au to find out more.

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MONY H A-RDAY -

GOLD COAS T CAMPUS CELEBRATIONS WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH

Snapped on campus


J D - COMP -

THURSDAY 2 APRIL @ UNI BAR Ten talented student DJs took to the stage for the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus DJ Comp which was held in conjunction with the Toga Party on 2 April at the Uni Bar. A total of 15 DJ’s entered the competition and battled it out before the event for a top 10 spot and the chance to play in front of a sold out crowd. The competition was the first qualifying stage of the National Campus DJ Comp, with DJs vying for a top two finish to take them through to the State Final. Josh Rutherford and Nixtaa (Nick Hall) finished first and second respectively and will progress to the next round. Just behind them in third place was Maria Mansi. Geta spoke to the top three to find out all about it...

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Tell us a little bit about the DJ Comp...

What do you enjoy about being a DJ?

Maria Mansi (MM) I am so grateful that the Guild was able to offer this amazing comp. It has created such a great opportunity to be able to mix in front of an audience and get the necessary feedback. The Toga Party was definitely a hit!

MM The amount of people that I meet on a weekly basis is probably what I enjoy the most, especially other people in the industry. You can learn so much from each other. Being able to create a fun atmosphere and feed off the energy of a crowd is pretty awesome as well.

Josh Rutherford (JR) Heading into the comp I just wanted to have fun with it, it was hard only having a short amount of time but I tried not to overthink it and just enjoy myself. The night was solid, there was a big turnout and the room looked great. Everyone got into it and added to the vibe. Nixtaa (NH) I’ve played in nightclubs on the Gold Coast before so my plan for the comp was really just to play off the crowd. I normally like playing bounce and big room remixes of commercial tracks because it works the best for crowd engagement so I decided to go with that plan. How did you get started DJing? JR I had been interested in dance music for a few years and after a while I decided I wanted to be more involved so I went halves in a setup with a friend and started practicing. NH [DJing about 18 months] A friend from school was DJing at a house party one night. I had just turned 18 and started clubbing and I played guitar throughout high school so I was really interested in music. The combination of those two things sparked my interest in becoming a DJ so I bought a cheap pair of decks and started to teach myself off YouTube videos. I met new DJs as the months progressed and learnt things from them as well.

NH Sharing my favourite tunes and getting a response from the floor! JR Obviously the music but also the awesome people that you get to meet and hang out with along the way. Watching the scene continually change and grow in front of you is pretty cool. Also I think having a creative outlet is important. Josh Rutherford and Nixtaa will head to the next round. How are you feeling heading into the State Final? NH I’m pretty excited for it, should be an awesome night! I’m definitely keen to get behind the decks and play to another uni party again, the crowd was awesome at the Toga Party so my goal is to pretty much to replicate the Toga Party if not better! It’ll also be awesome to hear all the different DJ styles from other competitors throughout the night. JR Im really not sure what to expect from the State Final. I think it will be a good experience getting to hear what other people are playing and also the opportunity to meet other DJ’s from around the state. I’ll make the most of it and hopefully learn a few things...

MM I started getting into house and techno music from about age 12, so the interest was always there. I have a lot of friends who have been DJing for many years so have known the basics for quite a while, but I bought my first controller at the beginning of last year so that’s when I started to really practice. Snapped on campus


If you missed Nixtaa and Josh Rutherford, you can catch them at the State Final which will be held at the Gold Coast Back to School Party at the Uni Bar on 7 August. They will battle against the winners from other university campuses in Queensland for a place at the National Campus DJ Comp final, also to be held on the Gold Coast as part of the Australian Uni Games starting in September. 39


T-opartyg-a

Thursday 2 April @ UNI BAR

Snapped on campus


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Online – Top blogs

Nerdophiles

The Oatmeal

The Minimalists

Nerdophiles is your first point of call for all things nerd culture. Created as a collaborative blog by a self proclaimed “two-woman nerd team,” Nerdophiles now has over a dozen bloggers bringing you a constant stream of nerdy content on screen, books, games, anime, events and more. In the true spirit of collaboration, Nerdophiles is always looking for more fans, geeks and gamers to join the team and contribute to their awesome blog dedicated to “geek-tacular expression.”

Why is the Earth round? Why does toast land buttered side down? Why is The Oatmeal hilarious? It is hard to find a quantifiable answer to any of these questions so it is best to accept them for the unassailable truths that they are and move on. Don’t believe us? We challenge you to keep a straight face as you browse through The Oatmeal’s animated collection of blog posts, quizzes and comics.

The Minimalists is dedicated to encouraging people to live richer, more meaningful and more fulfilling lives... with less stuff. This simple blog has gained huge traction with a readership of approximately four million people, extensive press coverage in the US and their own TEDx Talk A Rich Life with Less Stuff.

Our favourite section is The Etsy Roundup which selects a weekly geek topic and finds you all the best art and craft on Etsy. Want to get your hands o n space invaders soap? Some Super Mario Brothers themed crotchet? How about a Batman coffee table?

Packed with gems including Why the mantis shrimp is my new favourite animal and hard hitting journalism such as 6 things I learned from riding in a Google Self-driving Car; The Oatmeal also boasts educational quizzes like How long could you survive chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor? Enough said.

So you’re not ready to dispose of all your worldly possessions on Gumtree just yet but The Minimalists offer some useful insight into the many ways that incorporating some minimalist principles into your life can make it richer. Dip your toes into the minimalist pond by challenging a friend to play the 30-Day Minimalism Game with you... the most dedicated declutterer wins!

theoatmeal.com

theminimalists.com

nerdophiles.com

Online - Top blogs


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Entertainment

Cinderella by Paul Veitch Is it just me, or are the animators over at Disney the only ones who are still trying? Their own animation studio gives us Tangled and Big Hero 6 while their live action give us drek like Iron Man 3, Into the Woods and now this. This is a film that is no good for children, adults or hardcore Disney fans. And it’s not because it’s a story we’ve already seen. No, it goes deeper than that. I won’t bother recounting the story, since you already know it. God knows, the advertisers thought the same. The filmmakers, on the other hand, had seriously mixedup priorities. This movie tries to add something new to an old story while still respecting it, and I applaud that. It creates some genuine emotion in its audience, and I give that a standing ovation. What I damn is its neglect of basic storytelling. As I said, we all know this story. So surely we should not expect anything to surprise us or create all-new intrigue. Wrong! Why do I say that, because I’ve seen

it before, in a live-action Disney movie that actually made an effort: Maleficent. That movie actually re-told an old Disney story in a new way, from a new point of view, with new twists and emotions. Cinderella does not. From the time this movie’s story reaches the same point as the animated version, not a single moment in the story will have you engrossed because it will barely differ from what you already know.

or not enough. How many times do us critics need to scream it into Hollywood’s ear before they finally understand: characters need motivation! It is the second tier of our very investment in the movie for Pete’s sake! We might like a character and we might admire the choices they make, but if don’t understand why they are who they are, we won’t care when stuff happens to them. You know, that stuff called the plot!

If the filmmakers were going to make the movie this way, why re-make it at all? Why create nearly all the same tension and twists as the original if you’re not going to tell the story any differently? Obviously the higher-ups sitting in Walt’s old chair weren’t paying attention when they saw the last 200 re-makes and adaptations that the company has been making recently.

So many times in this film, from Cinderella’s desire to go to the ball, to the evil stepmother’s cruelty, to the fairy godmother’s ANYTHING we have no idea why they do it, why it’s so important, so why should we think it’s important?

But perhaps even worse than that is the sheer neglect for basic character-development that infects this movie and too many others that we see today. Even if the movie had been re-told well, this factor could still break it: everything and everybody in this movie either has no reason to be

Entertainment

We get to see Cinderella grow up. We get to see her being molded into a young woman. We even get to see the prince be a human being. But that was something suited for a very different Cinderella movie. Just... just watch the original one. Make sure this version bombs at the box office, add it to Disney’s ever-growing list of reasons to actually make an effort. Final verdict: Worth a pass


vulturemagazine - vulturemagazine.com.au

Nanna Xavier Rudd Xavier Rudd & The United Nations Xavier Rudd is stepping away from the solo format and embracing collaboration with the release his new album Nanna which he has released with his new band Xavier Rudd & The United Nations . The latest offering was released on 13 March and is a big change from the coastal guitar and indigenous music

sounds of his last solo album, Spirit Bird. The change is sound is not at odds with Rudd’s music, political and social interests but those expecting some soft indie folk might be surprised by the full band sound. The Australian performer has created a culturally diverse band in The United Nations with performers from South Africa, indigenous Australia, Samoa, Germany and Papua New Guinea. The album has a strong reggae feel very reminiscent of Bob Marley and the Wailers.The world music sound is

in keeping with the album’s themes of Earth centred living, celebrating diversity and the harmonious unification of all people in the common interest of well being for all. The first single ‘Come People’ calls Come people, Come people now. Feel the touch of a gentle rain and we pull together when the Earth she breaks. So why are we so divided?

Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders

pursues the case even at the expense of his already fragile reputation. Brandreth has perfected the skill of creating imperfect characters who are not always likeable but always engaging.

Gyles Brandreth Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders is the first in a series of Victorian murder mysteries written by Gyles Brandreth and featuring Oscar Wilde. When Oscar finds the murdered body of a beautiful, young male prostitute of his acquaintance he appoints himself as an amateur sleuth. The Candlelight Murders is a compelling read not only as a whodunnit but also for its unique portrait of the wit, charm, and larger than life contradiction of Oscar Wilde himself. Accompanied by other notable authors of the time including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Sherard and, in following novels, Bram Stoker, Oscar persistently 45

The new sound is catchy, upbeat and engaging and very much worth a listen.

Whilst you don’t need to be conversant in the works of the real Wilde to enjoy the story, it will be best appreciated by those with a passing knowledge of Wilde’s works. Brandreth skillfully weaves phrases and incidents from the real Wilde’s work into the novel and suggests that Wilde tested his material out on friends before he incorporated it into his own writing. The Candlelight Murders is cleverly connected to The Portrait of Dorian Gray and its themes of beauty and morality. Wordsmiths, Wilde fans and English buffs, this one is for you.


Get the hell outta here Miami Marketta All the best social events include food. That is why this edition, Geta is encouraging you to drop the books, get off campus and head to the Miami Marketta at Hillcrest Parade, Miami. The Miami Marketta embraces the bustling social vibe of street food. Every Friday and Saturday night the Rabbit and Cocoon creative precinct is given over to 20 plus food stalls offering delicious and very affordable international cuisine. You will be spoiled for choice with regular stalls including Mexican, curry pockets, Hungarian pizza, and Venezuelan arepas... just to name a few. Friday nights include a number of arts and crafts stalls while on Saturdays the space is given over to even more food with the inclusion of a dessert hall. That’s right, a hall full of desserts.

Once you have browsed past the vendors it is time to find a table - the Marketta does not take bookings for Friday and Saturdays. At busy times you should have your eagle eyes peeled to spot an empty seat but there is nothing to stop you munching on your gourmet hot dog or digging into your dumplings while you wait. With hundreds of seats available including many large communal tables it is usually just a matter of a little bit of patience and a couple of minutes at most. If the idea of picking just one option (or two at a stretch) seems difficult or you are looking for something a little quieter then head along to the Wednesday night Tapas Club. The Tapas Club has less vendors but all of the offerings are small plates priced at just $6 to allow you to sample several options. Although it is growing in

Get the hell outta here

popularity, the Wednesday night is generally a lot quieter and you can book a table for large groups. The Marketta offers a mix of live bands with space to dance, and on Wednesdays you can enjoy the smooth sounds of DJ Freddy Fly Fingers. As far as quenching your thirst goes, many of the vendors offer unusual soft drink selections to match their food and there is a bar offering boutique beer, wine and delicious cocktails. No BYO. You will need cash for most of the vendors but there is an ATM on site. You are unlikely to get a park next to the front door but there is plenty of street parking available within a short stroll of the Marketta. If you operate sans wheels, there is easy bus access with the Marketta located just a few hundred metres off of the Gold Coast Highway.


Get the hell out of here with the Guild’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary adventure on Sunday 31 May. Includes transport, wildlife park and an Indigenous talk. Contact Stevie at s.snook@griffith.edu.au for more info. 47


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2015

FRIDAY 5 JUNE - 7PM JUPITERS GOLD COAST - BLACK TIE EVENT $99 FOR GRIFFITH STUDENTS $105 FOR NON-STUDENTS INCLUDES 2 COURSE MEAL & 4 HOUR PREMIUM DRINKS PACKAGE TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM GUGCSTUDENTGUILD.COM.AU/EVENTS TICKET SALES CLOSE MONDAY 1 JUNE FREE BUSES TO OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY AT SHOOTERS

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