PARADISE ISSUE #6
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Para-para-paradise. Whilst Coldplay weren’t exactly our inspiration when we decided the theme of this issue, the song is rather apt. These long, summer, Brisbane months are kind of like paradise. Whilst we may endure the occasional (intense) thunderstorm, the weather generally offers no complaints. I remember learning the word flora and fauna when I was in high school and having the mundane job of studying the plants on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens. It took a while for me to come to appreciate Brisbane’s natural beauty. I guess until you leave, it’s hard to realise how good we have it here. So the motto of the story is, Brisbane can sometimes suck but it really is a beautiful place. As you trudge through the long school, university and working months, know that paradise is just around the corner.
Founders Nicole Pires (Editor) nicole@izemagazine.com Madeline Hay (Art Director) madeline@izemagazine.com
regulars Thea Halpin (Feature Writer) Matt Meintjes (Film Writer) Lucia Stein (Literature Writer) Alice Waterhouse (Fashion Writer)
DISCLAIMER Any views or opinions in this magazine are of the authors and not of IZE as a whole. We endeavour to bring you the most upto-date and accurate information, though we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will occur.
contents 06 08 10 12 16 28 29 32 34 36 48 50 52 54 58 60 66 68 70 72 76 88 91 94 96 98 101
Photography by Grace Markham
IZE Loves... Trend Report, by Alice Waterhouse Opinionslave A Day in the Life of Stylist, Tamzen Holland On the Road by Chris Polak The Rookie’s Guide to Camping Vietnam by Marnie Buchecker Free $tuff To Do A Page from my Adolescent Diary Dark Paradise by Grace Markham Argo by Matt Meintjes The Paradise of Food by Freya Bliss The Dream by Laura Bianchi The License by Thea Halpin My Week in a Psychiatric Hospital by Freya S Windy City by Chantelle Elise Bootlis Major Leagues Interview Album Reviews Gung Ho Live Gig Review Big Day Out Festival Review Sun by Lost in Wishful Thinking 2012 In Film by Matt Meintjes 13 Films of 2013 by Matt Meintjes Dracula’s Post Mortem by Lucia Stein Old Dog, New Tricks by Lucia Stein IZE 1st Birthday Paradise Playlist
IZE LOVES odd future Lookbook
Odd Future have always had the coolest merchandise, and their latest collection is no exception. Their new lookbook features plenty of the trademark OF donut, cats eating rainbows (of course) and a hot dog smoking a cigarette. You never know what this rapper collective will come up with next. OFWGKTA.
alloneword bar
Alloneword Bar is tucked away in the Valley near the end of Brunswick St. It’s got an amazing inside deco and a outdoor back area that stretches for miles. Because of the versitility of the layout, it’s the perfect place for laidback drinks or to have a dance. Alloneword do the best student friendly night in Brisbane on a Thursday called Frat House. Grab all your mates and head over to Alloneword for a great night out.
photobooths The best thing about a photobooth is that you can go in as many times as you want and don’t have to ask the professional photographer if you can “have another photo please”. Plus, they create instant memories that you can keep forever. Photobooth Affairs provides a great, affordable photobooth service. They also provide plenty of signs and dressups to make it fun.
southside tea room If you haven’t already heard of the Southside Tea Room, you’re missing out. The café/restaurant/venue/ bar is famously owned by Patience Hodgson (the lead singer of The Grates). Located in Morningside, Southside features old favourites on the menu like avocado on toast and a grilled cheese (but it’s still fancier than anything you can make at home). The bar menu is superb and the venue has an awesome atmosphere for casual drinks.
grill’d rekorderlig slushies
There’s nothing better than a slushie or cider on a hot day, which happens a lot in Brisbane. So when Grill’d starting selling Rekorderlig slushies, our hearts swelled with joy. They are now available at most Grill’d franchises in Brisbane, hooray! There is also an equally as yummy non-alcoholic version. Get slurping.
TREND REPORT Words by alice waterhouse
Winter often encompasses an array of drab, boring colour palates to match the dreary weather. Yet this year we will be seeing clashing black and white colours, luxurious embellised pieces and bold statement coats.
monochromatic Black and white is the key trend for winter this year, with mismatched, monochromatic prints becoming a must have. The stark contrast between black and white is a refreshing change between last seasons vibrant colours. The trend has even trickled down to the streets of Brisbane where Soot’s winter collection features an intricate monochromatic neoprene print.
STYLE
royalty
Think deep purples, gold embroidery and baroque patterns. Dress like royalty this season with a piece inspired from the 17th century. First seen on the Dolce and Gabbana catwalks, Australian labels, Ksubi and Shakuhachi, are featuring these luxuriously decadent fabrics in their Autumn/Winter collections.
coat it up
Coats are the epitome of Winter and come in every shape and form. The London catwalks presented a distinctively masculine take on tailoring, seen in the slouchy shapes. Oversized boyfriend jackets and blazers along with boxy, cropped biker jackets are the seasons key silhouettes.
opinionslave The up and coming Brisbane fashion blogger, Francesca Guterres talks to IZE Magazine about blogging, shopping and style. www.opinionslave.blogspot.com
When did you begin Opinionslave and why? March 3 is Opinionslave’s 3rd anniversary and it was created initially as mostly a place to document my shopping habits although the blog has evolved into more of a style and outfit journal. Where’s your favourite place to shop in Brisbane? Fallow in Fortitude Valley. What is your Autumn staple going to be? Although I love the Summer heat, I can’t wait for it to cool down so I can bust out my Acne leather pants.
Do you look up to anyone as a style icon? I can’t name one person in particular. It’s mainly an amalgamation of what I see on the streets, magazines and on my favourite blogs. When you’re not blogging, what do you do in your free time? As of January 2012, I work full-time as a media trader at Ikon Communications. It’s stressfully cool. What do you have in store for 2013? It’s hard to juggle working full-time and regularly updating my blog so I’m going to concentrate on maintaining content. I’m also going to be treating it more like a journal and throwing fuckloads more personality in there.
STYLE
a day in the life of STYLIST
tamzen holland How did you begin styling and why? Well I actually started out as a Kindy Teacher, but as a child I loved drawing and collecting images and magical things, I once cut up a pair of my little sisters favorite frilly sock to make an outfit for my doll. My then boyfriend, now husband, encouraged me to apply for a course, Diploma in Design, Clothing, Textiles and Footwear in Brisbane. I got in, so off I went. I really loved the History and Design side of the course, and excelled in the Personal Styling and Merchandising sections. From there, fresh out of the course, I was lucky enough, after a lengthy (and I mean lengthy) interview process, to be selected to work and travel with the truly inspiring Cirque Du Soliel as a Merchandisers/Sales person. Best experience in my life so far, and I love that I get to say I truly did run away with the circus. Deciding not to travel with them any further and wanting to branch in the fashion side more, I worked as a Personal Stylist and Merchandiser in a Vintage and Retro Collectors assisting customers, other fashion stylist, photographers and some celebrities with choosing the right historical pieces for them. I started to build a bit of a rep for putting outfits together, and so photographers would ask me to help them by being a stylist on their shoots.It was wonderful, I would get to mold some of my
favorite garments into the magical stories to be captured in a still image. Why fashion styling, I really enjoyed the idea of taking garments that have been designed and made to look a certain way from a concept, story of their very own, and giving it a new story, a new personality. One of my first shoots was based around this beautiful antique tribal jewellery
from Afghanistan, it would have been worn in ceremonies and with lots of coloured garments. In the shoot we stripped everything back to the pure essence, leaving the magic and glow of the amazing model and the striking jewellery. Once you’ve been given a brief, where do you draw inspiration? Once I have the brief, I start by
STYLE
going through my archives of images and forecasting magazines to see what will suit and what inspires me. You have to be able to pick what will be a key trend and what will best express the story. If the shoot is based around a theme like the shoot “Somewhere in Between”, it was based around the 1800’s era, therefore research and collect as much information about the theme possible, combinding this with the images and information provided by the client. Then its a matter of connecting the right designers/garments with the right themes/shoots. I additionally spend time keeping up with the latest runways and designers look-books, I am always on the lookout for new designers to showcase in my shoots, I like to keep in touch with art and historical garments as well by visiting collectors and museums. Inspiration that is readily available to me, I draw it from my friends, family, music, poetry and books as well, I am a very visual person
so I am always collecting beautiful things to inspire. What trends do you love right now? I love that we are apart of a fashion movement of dressing for the individual. We are dressing, appreciating and understand how WE want to dress, with little touches of the current trends sprinkled in there as well. I love that designers for 2013 are re-visiting the early 60s and 90s fashion trends, that there are strong Asian influences coming through, that we are mixing it up by wearing florals for winter. I love all the colour, print on print action and that designers are playing with texture, surface treatments and tailoring.
What is the most out there piece of styling work you have done? To be honest with you, most of the creatives I work with know that I am Avant Garde and a tad crazy with my fashion styling. I am known for focusing on shape, texture and colour in my work, so a lot of my work could be considered out there. Maybe more so in the shoots that are based around my concepts, like one of latest shoots I have done with the amazingly talented photographer Glen Krohn, I came up with a concept based around layering and movement and we just built on it from there. I had garments upside down and inside out and well everything happening. The poor model just looked at me and said …. okay Tamzen! with a huge laugh. I have done some mean things to models like putting them in garments they can’t move in, things that scratch and feel uncomfortable. We once asked a
model to stand, in 6 inch platform heel, on a very tall pillar that was at the top of some very long stairs. We also needed to spray water at her! Only thing is that she is super scared of heights. She agreed to stand on the pillar but I had to stand behind her, while the photographer was clicking she worked her magic, when he stopped she would clutch for my hand and grip it so very tight.
The images look fantastic and the model was inspirational and brave! What is your favourite part of being a stylist? The challenge! I get to be a story teller, a painter and a designer all at once by expressing myself in fashion.
I always have to be problem solving, for each shoot is very different from the other and each client has different needs and wants. I love the whole approach that the model is a blank canvas and I get to paint. www. tamzenhollandfashionstylist .com
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On the Road
Photography by Chris Polak Styling by Kirby & Lucy @ You Are What You Wear Makeup by Toni Hewitt Modelling by Chelsea @ Dally’s, Aimee and Jordana
Jordana wears: Stylist’s own vintage maxi, Bardot belt, ManiaMania necklace
Chelsea wears: Wildfox tank at Princess Polly, Vintage Sequin Shorts, Stylist’s own boots and jewellery Jordana wears: Vintage tee, Fairground Princess Shorts at Princess Polly, Model’s own boots, Stylist’s own jewellery Aimee wears: Mink Pink tank at Princess Polly, Faith & Lola shorts at Princess Polly, Bardot denim vest, Stylist’s own body chain, jewellery and shoes
Jordana wears: The Hiding Tree t-shirt at Princess Polly, Urban Peach overalls at Hopscotch, Cotton On Body Socks, To Be Announced Boots at Solestruck, Flower Crowns by Hopscotch Chelsea wears: Pick Up Polly crop top at Hopscotch, Unicorn Print Shorts at Hopscotch, Lovisa Head Chain, Stylist’s own shoes and socks Aimee wears: Loving Things playsuit at Hopscotch, Cotton On Body socks, stylist’s own shoes, Diva Spike headband
Chelsea wears: Faith & Lola dress at Princess Polly, ManiaMania necklace
Jordana wears: The Story Of dress at Princess Polly, Two Flower Crowns from Hopscotch Boutique Chelsea wears: The Hiding Tree dress at Princess Polly, Flower Crown from Hopscotch Boutique Aimee wears: The Hiding Tree dress at Princess Polly, Flower Crown from Hopscotch
Aimee wears: Stylist’s own vintage maxi dress, stylist’s own body chain, Low Luv ring
Aimee wears: Wildfox tank at Princess Polly, Unicorn print shorts at Hopscotch Jordana wears: Pick Up Polly crop top at Hopscotch, Urban Peach overalls at Hopscotch
Chelsea wears: Stylist’s own vintage dress, Believe Me USA tank at Hopscotch, Stylist’s own boots and jewellery Jordana wears: Bardot dress, Flower Crown (worn as belt) from Hopscotch, Gee Wa Wa shoes at Solestruck Aimee wears: Stylist’s own dress and shoes, photographer’s own bag
(THE ROOKIE’s)
GUIDE TO CAMPING
After embarking on my first camping adventure, I know that I’m awfully ill-equipped to provide much useful information about how to camp. And as I’m told by my friends, camping at a campsite with showers and amenities is technically classified as ‘glamping’. However, I see nothing glamourous about sleeping on the floor in a hot tent. But anyway, here is the rookie’s guide to (gl)camping. 3. If you’re camping near the beach, you might have crabs in your tent. No not those crabs, but the actual living, breathing, crawling, multiple legs kind of crabs. Apparently they like to take shelter in the upper crevices of tents. Who knows how they crawl so far away from the beach, but it happens.
2. Do not leave any food outside of the tent unattended. Even if your food is sealed in a plastic bag, evil Bush Turkeys have the ability to rip up any packaging and munch up all the food. They’re really quite clever things. Make sure you don’t let them get the best of your Turkish Delight Tim Tams like we did. RIP.
4. If you go clubbing when you’re camping, you’re going to have a bad time. If you’re camping at a beachside town, there’s likely only going to be one club in the area. And that club is 90% going to be made up of foreign backpackers who will try to impress you with their sexy multi-lingualism. And the fact that you’re from Brisbane will award
you with replies that “I’ve heard Brisbane is boring”. 5. Bring your swag. Swags are the number one camping essential. They’re like a sleeping bag and a bed all in one. It’s better than sleeping directing on the tent floor as the inbuilt mattress provides a small amount of comfort. 6. Drink lots. Water or alcohol, you’re only going to get through camping if you’re hydrated and intoxicated.
WORDS BY Nicole Pires
1. Make sure your tent is zipped up fully. Rookie error number one. Don’t learn the hard way, an unzipped tent is the sure way to turn it into a swimming pool. Apparently there’s a thing called rain, and when it pours overnight you will wakeup to find your sleeping quarters surrounding by water.
vietnam BY marnie buchecker
When I think of the word paradise, I picture myself on a tropical beach with a cocktail in hand. Or in a never-ending shoe closet. Or in IKEA with a million dollars. Or in a world where some sweet soul has invented gluten free Kit Kats. The list goes on. I never imagined that a country with no road rules and coffee made out of weasel dung could bring a whole new meaning to the word. Vietnam is the perfect marriage of the old and new. Around one corner is an ancient temple displaying craftsmanship from the 900’s and around another is Christian Louboutin.
Hailing from a suburb where the introduction of a sushi bar is a “culture shock”, I had never experienced anything quite like Hanoi. The streets are laced with French architecture, loud motorists and more karaoke bars than you can imagine. So how do you take on a city with as many motorbikes as the entire population of Brisbane? With a cup of Vietnamese coffee. Consisting of extremely strong espresso and condensed milk, it packs a punch. No dung in this one though, I promise. Perhaps after a coffee break you’ll be ready to tackle a day of shopping in Hanoi. Retail therapy has never been more chaotic. Within the
city, you’ll find a lane dedicated to everything you could possibly dream of owning. There’s a street for electronics, hats, lanterns, pottery and even mannequins. My personal favourite was shoe street; just for the record. If you’re not overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stores crammed into such a small space, you’ll certainly be taken aback by the shoppers. I learned the hard way that Vietnamese women love Nine West shoes and aren’t afraid to get aggressive in order to get that last pair. Picture a giant game of capture the flag crossed with cage fighting and you will have an accurate picture of Hanoi’s Nine West at sale time. It’s intense.
After experiencing the busy shopping precinct, you’ll be ready to wind down and relax. For under $20, you can treat yourself to a foot massage and a healthy dinner of pho, steamed fish and mint rice paper rolls. Yum! If that doesn’t take your fancy, head four hours out of Hanoi to sail on a junk. I know what you’re thinking, a trip on a “junk” doesn’t sound particularly relaxing. Despite its name, a junk is a beautiful ship that will take you on a voyage across one of the New 7 Wonders of the World; Halong Bay. Taken straight out of a scene of Avatar, Halong Bay is home to breathtaking rock formations busting out of the ocean and the most peaceful people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Fishermen inhabiting the bay often live in beautiful floating villages and are keen to share their simplistic way of life with you. For the first time in my life, I actually believed that I could ditch my material possessions and live a simple life out at sea, basking in
beauty as nature intended it. The natural wonders of Northern Vietnam don’t stop there. A journey to Tam Coc; sometimes referred to as “Dry Halong”, will have you pinching yourself and wondering if you’re in a dream. A private oarsman (or woman) will take you along the river which passes right through a mountain range, allowing you to travel through incredible caves. I was fortunate enough to experience
Tam Coc in the midst of a winter fog, giving the area a whimsical aura right out of a fairy tale. Nearby in Hoa Lu is the temple once home to Vietnam’s first king. The temple was constructed during the Ngo Dynasty in the 900’s and still features most of its original architecture. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are remarkable, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Calling all photographers, historians and
TRAVEL
designers; you cannot miss out on this work of art. Once you’ve finished gawking over the natural beauty of the north, strap yourself in and take a short flight to the dynamic region that is Southern Vietnam. I was completely captured by the laidback attitude of the people of the south. Despite all they’ve been through, the Vietnamese are resilient, friendly and quirky. Driving through local villages, you will notice that every truck stop has hammocks in place of chairs or is hosting a wedding. It’s crazy. If crazy is your style then stop by Ho Chi Minh City and prepare to be blown away by the vibrant mix of places to eat, shop, relax and play. Saigon, as the city is known to the locals, is home to ancient architecture and sleek skyscrapers that coexist in perfect harmony to give you the best of both worlds (minus the tacky Disney tunes). It’s refreshing to see that the introduction of the 21st century hasn’t ruined the spirit and cultural
traditions of the city. Handicraft stalls selling lanterns, silk scarves and tea sets sit opposite pricey boutiques offering dazzling rings and platforms reminiscent of the skyscrapers they’re sold in. Bamboo carts selling fresh fruit and bowls of noodles sit opposite minimalist bars and gourmet bakeries. As a result, you’re left with a city of people who work hard, live fast and are proud to show you their roots, all with a smile and a “discount, just for you madam.” For a more traditional slice of paradise, Muine is for you. Luxury resorts and palm trees are dotted along white sandy beaches. When the sun is shining brightly you can soak it up and enjoy fresh fruit and coconut water offered from local merchants on the beachfront. You’ll be living like the infamous Rhonda, looking hot like a sunrise. So, what did I learn being thrust into a new culture and what should you know before you go? 1. Vietnamese is a difficult language to learn. One slip of the
tongue turns “thank you” into “you owe me money”. If you’re not a confident speaker, save your dignity and use Google Translate to communicate. 2. The laughter of the Vietnamese people is absolutely infectious. I have never met so many hilarious people in such a short amount of time. 3. Whenever you hear the phrase “jou”, you are about to take a shot of really strong alcohol. Prepare your throat. 4. If you wear bright lipstick, you will be stopped and asked to pose for photos. 5. Always be friendly and polite, people will give you things for free or a discount simply because they like you. It’s awesome. Don’t just take my word for it. You’ll never visit another corner of the world like Vietnam. Despite all the country has been through, the people are strong, resilient and willing to carry on and share their lives with you. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this remarkable nation and explore it for yourself.
free $tuff to do the edge workshops The Edge is an initiative by the State Library of Queensland, which is branched off from the main library at South Bank. Its ethos is about providing young Queenslanders with the opportunity to explore creativity in various faculties including the arts and technology. They run a calendar of workshops that are available to anyone for free. The workshops are a perfect way to hone in on a craft, or learn a new one. It includes beginner, intermediate and advanced workshops in programs such as InDesign, Wordpress, Albeton and many more. There are also workshops in different areas you can learn about including citizen journalism, media law and ethics, film editing and producing, radio documentary and social media. The learning possibilities are endless. http://edgeqld.org.au/calendar/?month=mar&yr=2013
brisbane airport free program
Thank you Brisbane Airport for keeping things for free at The Powerhouse (although I’m fairly certain that their rip-off airport parking makes up for the costs to them). Nonetheless, the Airport runs comedy, visual arts and music activities and shows at the Powerhouse. If you’re looking for some entertainment and are strapped on cash, the Powerhouse is the perfect go-to. The free comedy show ‘Livewired’ runs every Sunday is a highlight of the program. It features new local, interstate and international comedians weekly. http://www.brisbanepowerhouse.org/content/whats-on/brisbaneairport-free-program/
free movies If you find your decision is between affording to eat lunch for a week, going out on a Thursday night or spending the last of your money on a $16 movie ticket, I’m sure either of the first two will prevail. But alas, there is a solution. On the Brisbane City Council website there is a plethora of free movies showing all over Brisbane. From the Wynnum Library to free movies in the park at Milton, there really is something for everyone. With the free movie calendar, you’ll never have to pay for movies again. http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on/type/movies/index.htm
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a page from my adolescent diary Looking back at photos of your teenage years is humiliating. If, like me, you documented it in a diary, it may be possibly worse to read what you thought about. I invite you to read a page from my adolscent diary. Name: Nicole Pires Age: 13 Year Level: 8 Date: 22 November 2007 Author Notes: Cara* was a meanie. * Names have been changed to save my humility
Ello Poppet! Hey journal, how are you? I have had such a busy week – so much stuff has
been happening! Well let’s see… on Sunday I told Luke* I like him! OMG I was so frickin’ nervous telling him! I was like um I have something to tell you. He was like yeah what is it? So I told him I liked him! It was so
exhilarating lol! Anyway…then I said I had to go really quickly & then he said:
I get it bi xx. I was so sad and then I said I didn’t have to go anymore & he wouldn’t reply to anything I said. I was telling him how I had liked him
for ages. I am really sad as he won’t reply even to e-mails I sent to him… :( I made up a chant:
What’s a girl supposed to do,
Does she sit around and cry,
When the guy she loves doesn’t love her too.
Or should she let it float on by…
I was and still am cut up about it :( Amy* told me that she told Luke that I liked him & that well here is how it goes:
Amy: Nicole talks about you a lot.
Amy: Heaps of positive tings
Luke: What does she say? Luke: Why
Amy: Coz she likes you.
Luke: I thought so but I wasn’t sure
Later...
Amy: Luke you here
Luke: Yeah I jus don’t know what to say.
See! I dunno if it’s real coz Amy could be lying…. Anyway I am still sad. I had my last maths test today – problem solving xx( I pretty much sucked! I think I did alright in the 1st test though. I only studies 4½ hours with
Georgie*! Anyway… sorry about rambling on about Luke… I am just so in love with him! <3 I told Kurt* about it & he was like you gotta meet some Australian guys!! I’m tired & got Rachel’s* party tomorrow so good night!!! Love & Kisses Nicole
Dark Paradise
Photography by Grace Markham Styling by Gill Creative
Makeup and Hair by Shantelle Hall Modelling by Cassandra @ Viviens
argo
Words by matt meintjes Prior to the film awards season you may not have heard of Argo. But as 2013 opened up and the nominations trickled in, there is no doubt that you will now have seen or heard of Argo as a critically successful film from 2012. Based on a real story and set in the late 70’s, Argo follows the story of six American diplomats trapped amongst a political revolution in Iran. After fleeing the US embassy after their colleagues were captured, the six hide away in the Canadian Ambassador’s house. With Iranian revolutionists hunting for American “spies” and uprooting any member of the public affiliated with the United States, tensions run high in the CIA – now on a mission to extract the six. Enter Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), an exfiltration specialist within the Agency. While shooting down any of the suggested options put forward by the State Department, Mendez develops his own plan – cover the diplomats as a film team scouting for exotic locations for use in a sci-fi film. With time running short to put forward his proposal, Mendez enlists the help of Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) and within a few
days they find a script, establish a fake film studio and even gain publicity for an upcoming science-fiction film named – you guessed it – Argo. With approval, Mendez flies out to Iran to assist the team in their cover. It’s a crazy idea – something you’d never think would actually happen in reality – and that’s what makes it such a great premise. Argo’s prime strength as a film lies in its ability to tell a story. It may sound pretty straightforward but that’s what it does so well. It’s not visually astounding and doesn’t have any particularly memorable oneliners – it simply sticks to telling an engaging story. Who would have even thought that Hollywood hype could end up potentially saving the lives of six stranded diplomats? So while Argo is based on a true story it does feel a bit unreal – a feature that is perhaps its best asset when it comes to plot. The mood of the film shifts at times but the underlying feeling of suspense and urgency is always hidden in the back of your mind. As the first scenes play out, depicting the events prior to the film’s beginning, you gain a sense of how dire the situation really is. By
FILM
utilising real footage of the events, it sets a level of danger for the six diplomats trapped amongst Iran’s political turmoil. As the story unfolds we are lead on several different stages of Mendez’s plan to rescue the Americans, each with their own point of climax that keeps us (to a varying degree) on the edge of our seats. Firstly we’re led along as he attempts to make his plan the best choice of options for the CIA to pursue. It’s a busy couple of days for Mendez as he sets up a fake production studio, finds a script and arranges PR stunts to make Argo seem like a legitimate film. In fairness however, the audience isn’t left holding their breath before the CIA decides to run with Mendez’s idea – they already know they do, otherwise they wouldn’t be watching a movie about it. But once in Iran reality begins to hit home about how ridiculous this plan truly is. As the team ventures out in public with Mendez to make their cover more believable, again we are reminded through posters and the presence of the Iranian military that failure to adequately fill their roles as a film crew may be their ultimate undoing. This creates tension between the diplomats as some view Mendez’s plan as ridiculous and are hesitant to properly learn their cover stories. As the film progresses, Mendez is informed that higher authority has cancelled the entire operation. Faced with abandoning the six only the night before they are due to ship out to comply with his orders, he has a life-changing decision to make. From here the tension picks up and doesn’t let off until the end of the film. It has to be said however that the suspense is diminished if you have knowledge of the true story. So props do go to writer Chris Terrio and director Ben Affleck for basing the film off a true story whilst
still creating a real sense of suspense, whereby the audience may still know the final outcome but the journey to get there is still entertaining. One could argue that Argo steps around certain parts of the true story to generate a more suspenseful movie – but what ‘based-on-a-true-story’ film actually tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? The roots of the real events lay deeply rooted within Affleck’s film, yet he has still managed to tell the story of an engaging drama filled with suspense. Full credit to both him and Terrio as the writer, both recognised with Argo’s success at the Academy Awards in both the Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay categories. It may not be an outrageously funny comedy or a thrilling action flick, but Argo delivers on its hype as one of the best films of 2012.
the paradise of food Words by Freya bliss
New shanghai PARADISE FOR THE MONEYCHALLENGED New Shanghai - Queens Plaza, CBD With the more expensive dumplings costing around $1 each, even the most prudent of uni students working a minimum wage job will find it hard to say no to this little gem. It’s downstairs from David Jones in the city and
is becoming well known for their mini pork buns (a casual $6 for a rainy lunch time delicacy). With an extensive menu full of interesting combination of dumplings (the lamb & leek is my favourite), you can get plenty of vouchers from the people at the top of the escalators at Queens Plaza and snag a sweet deal. New Shanghai does take-away, so they’re good for if you’re on the go. So come check them out if you’re on a bit of a tight budget, let’s be honest, you spent the last of your coin on your go-card (thank you Translink price increases you old bag of fun).
noosa chocolate factory
PARADISE FOR THE CHOCOLATE LOVER Noosa Chocolate Factory Adelaide St, CBD This place actually stopped me in my tracks and had me drooling from when I was walking past outside. Great if you’re in to
supporting the local chocolate industry by buying Australian produce and also paradise if you just love chocolate I guess. Try the home made chocolate covered macadamias, almonds, liquorish, rocky road or just take home a straight block of chocolate and make your house mates happy. Most of the different kinds of chocolate come in at around $4.50 per 100g and are perfect for impressing people with your extensive knowledge of the chocolate industry.
FOOD
brew
PARADISE FOR THE AMBIENCE LOVER Brew - Lower Burnett Lane, CBD
lust for life PARADISE FOR THE ART LOVER Lust For Life Tattoo, Gallery and Espresso Bar - Wickham St, Fortitude Valley This unique, quietly confident espresso bar might have a conventional façade but it caters to
You have more of a chance of listening to live music from local groups than the latest auto tuned farrago at Brew. It’s tucked away in Burnett Lane in the city, making an important contribution to Brisbane’s growing laneway culture. It’s got an exciting menu paired with a wide variety of beer, wine and spirits to ease the soul.
Their seasoned menu is enticing and includes the spicy Spanish meatballs with sour cream are a favourite to warm you up. Brew also serves an impressive amount of tapas so round up a few friends and head here to support some local musicians on a Thursday night/Sunday arvo over one of their House Blend lattes.
a completely unexpected crowd. I found refuge in this art-house turn café to escape the excited crowds marching to Soundwave on a hot Brisbane Saturday. A waiter with an impressive moustache seated me at a table next to a cactus where I realised that this wasn’t just an ordinary place to get lunch in the valley. Lust for Life has a tattoo gallery up the back with artists
readily practising their craft. There are also works from local and international artists hanging all up the walls and plenty of couches on which to sit back and admire. This place is exciting because they serve a range of detoxifying chilled fruit whips (I recommend the blueberry, lemon, mint and apple one for $6). While you munch on delicious slices of freshly-made pie, bagels and muffins, you get to admire the art on the walls of the room and also printed on the skin of the people walking in and out of the tattoo gallery. Match made in heaven.
THE DREAM BY Laura Bianchi
Again, my sturdy resolve was betrayed in my dreams. The night-time devil in my head is playing cruel tricks and as I wake in the morning I feel the hurt. As I wander blindly around my room trying to shake the cloud of sleep from my head, my mouth moans the words ‘that is so cruel’. Sometimes imagination can colour and free, but sometimes it can cut. It is an intelligent weapon; it knows exactly where it hurts. It sees your deepest needs and insecurities and, false friend that it is, does the most dangerous thing: it gives you everything that you want. BuoysyouuplikeadrugfeelssogoodIcan’tbelievethisisreallyhappeningI’mso happy. So happy. Until you’re not. Until that drug fades and you’re on the way down. Fa
ll
ing.
The morphine high is null, your apparent truth was vanished, the night is day and the rug has been pulled. From right underneath you, that rug has been pulled and you hit the ground. Disorientation. But the cruellest part is yet to come. The cruellest part when you open your eyes and feel your heart sink: it was all just a dream. The cruellest part, the confusion: what was real and what was not? The cruellest part that even when you realise it was all an illusion, you can still feel the linger of how it felt to have it all. The cruel whisper of what could have been. But the very cruellest part is that after the remnants of the dream have fallen from your eyelids, leaving no more than a seething puddle on your pillow, you realise the ridiculousness of it all: He doesn’t love you. Only in your head.
CREATIVE WRITING
Photography by Caitlin Worthington
THE license a true story by thea halpin
I had it all planned out. I was sure it was going to work out perfectly like things always do in teen movies. I was that lovable underdog that was going to come out on top. I was Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles! I had just come off the back of a ridiculously stressful few months. I was close to broke, convinced I was about to lose my job and pretty sure I was on the edge of an emotional breakdown (or at least extended period of crying followed by delirious ranting.) This, I was convinced, was going to be the reward. I deserved this. You may think I am talking about an overseas holiday, fantastic new job or possible love of my life. I am talking about my license. I unfortunately am the spawn of two parents who believe it is not their duty to teach me to drive. Therefore when I moved out of home a year ago I was unlicensed with a total of 34 hours under my belt and no longer had access to a car or instructor. I managed to get an exemption from my 100 hours but still couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drive, not that it bothered me really apart from the fact my learnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
license is by far the ugliest photo of me ever taken. I am not generally a vain person but when bouncers literally laugh at your photo when checking your ID, you know you look pretty shit. To understand why this story was so heart wrenching you need to know that in mid-October I was at home watching the 10:30am news on Channel Ten with Ron Wilson. On this particular day the special guest was some guy who had written some book about how to stop procrastinating and start getting stuff done. Naturally this appealed to me as I was sitting at home on a Thursday at 10:30am doing nothing with my life. His tip: pick one thing you wanted to achieve every three months and focus solely on that one thing. I picked my license. From that point on I spent hundreds of dollars on driving lessons and many hours driving around the streets of Rosalie. I learnt all sorts of things about driving and cars and road rules that I had never known before. I learnt that traffic lights with only
FEATURE a red arrow had a specific road rule and weren’t omitting the green light as some kind of cost-cutting measure. I learnt that cars don’t just need petrol; they need all kinds of liquids like oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, water, coolant: the list seems endless. I also learnt that the little button that turns on your hazard lights isn’t an air-conditioner setting as I had always assumed it was. After a while I felt confident so booked my test for 10:20am 24 of December. The final day the Queensland Transport office was open in 2012 and three hours before my parents were arriving for Christmas. It was all so perfect. I was Molly Ringwald. Originally the plan was that my housemate Melanie would drive me to the test and I would take her car for the test. However, on that day Melanie had to work so I asked my other housemate Alina if I could use her car as she was with her family out of town and too nice to say no to me. Melanie was going to drive Alina’s car to the office the night before and catch a bus home, however given it was a Sunday night there were no buses running so she would have needed to walk about 1.2km to catch a train back to our house. I felt bad. Plus Melanie complains a lot. So I had an idea: I would drive the car. If all went to plan I was about 12 hours away from being a licensed driver anyway plus my mum always tells me the story of how she drove to her first driving test, failed, then promptly walked to the car park and drove herself home. If anything she would be proud of my ingenuity. I was still nervous though. I was leading as well as Melanie didn’t know the way to the Transport Office. In the grips of fear I missed my turn that would lead me to Rosalie and realised that I was heading to the entrance of Western Freeway (for those who don’t know, that is a fucking freeway.) In my panic I decided to pull into a driveway that looked as if it headed to a massive industrial building that sits alongside the motorway. In my defense, for the events that were about to occur, it was really dark and I all I saw was a slab of concrete with a line down the middle. I opened my door and turned to talk to Melanie who was just pulling up behind me. “This is a bike path,” a voice called to me from a sedan parked about twenty metres away. “Oh sorry, I didn’t realize, I’m lost,” I called back to the male voice.
“What are you doing, this is a bike path?” Melanie shouts from her car. “Yes, I know that now,” I yell. Then it all got fucked up super fast. “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?” a woman shouted as she stepped out of the sedan. She was about 30, but looked wrinkled and tired, with frizzy, unkempt sandy blonde hair and skinny, unhealthy frame. In more accurate yet slightly less politically correct terms, she looked like someone who shoots up in public toilets. “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?” she yelled again as she walked towards Melanie’s car and with a thud slapped the window and began bashing it over and over again. Holy shit, I thought as Melanie’s car screeched in reverse. I slammed my door shut and looked down to put my car in reverse. Suddenly my door swung open. I turned around to be met with a punch straight to my chest. “FUCK!” I screamed, barely drawing a breath before I felt my hair begin to be pulled as this woman tried to drag me from the car. “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE? WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?” She yelled over and over again. “Holy shit!” I yelled. Who did this woman think I was? How was this happening to me? I thought worst-case scenario was being pulled over by the police and now I was being attacked by a possibly delusional woman on the side of a freeway. WHAT IS WITH MY LIFE? I hopelessly tried to fling my arms around behind me and slap her away. She was yanking my hair like someone in the Hunger Games while I was flailing around like Kermit the Frog on speed. After several seconds of her ripping out chunks of my hair, a knight in a singlet came to my rescue: her male friend began pulling her off me from behind. “What the fuck is wrong with this woman?” I shouted as he finally managed to pry her hands from my hair. “She’s been hurt!” he yelled back. “Well she’s fucking hurting me!” I screamed as I slammed my door closed and flicked the lock. As I reversed she chased the car hitting the bonnet
My number was called and I presented my plastic sleeve like a bouncing ADHD child. “Your test isn’t until the 11th of January,” the man said from behind the computer screen. “Sorry? That’s impossible, I know I booked for today. I planned it all out. My test is definitely today.” “No you are in as the 11th of January.” “I’m going to be in Melbourne on the 11th of January. There is no way I would book for that day!” “No, 11th of January 10:20am. There are no other spots today sorry.” And that was it.
with the palm of her hand and continuing to scream “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?” over and over. Melanie was still waiting at the entrance of the motorway and, after making our way to the safety of a Hungry Jack’s car park we regrouped. Melanie called the police. I figured that the woman was either high or delusional, neither of which would be easily solved by a stay in the watch house. And I technically didn’t have a license so I was trying to avoid cops. “Maybe this is a sign that I’m not meant to get my license?” I said still shaking. “I think your bad luck is over,” Melanie laughed. The next day was my test. We had managed to finally get the car parked outside the office and in my driving lesson earlier that morning my instructor said he thought I had a good chance of passing. I was convinced that I deserved this. The car was ready, the paperwork was already done, and I had even removed the clump of hair she had ripped out that was sitting on my passenger seat. This was going to happen.
When I got home I called Queensland Transport and I was informed that when booking online the system doesn’t refresh fast enough and two people can book the same test on the same day but only one will actually get it. The other is automatically booked on the next day when that time is available. Does this person get an email letting them know there test time has been changed? No. “You do know that you are literally the most useless and inefficient of all government departments. Like you are seriously the worst. Do you understand that? It is really hard to be the actual worst because they are all pretty shit but you are officially the worst!” And I hung up. I was the victim of an assault for absolutely no fucking reason. I NEARLY GOT KILLED FOR THAT TEST! I don’t know what the moral of this story is. Maybe if you do illegal things you will become the victim of crime? Always drive around with your doors locked? Or just because you have red hair it doesn’t mean your life parallels every Molly Ringwald character’s lives. I’m not sure if this story even has a moral, as I don’t think I took much away from it other than a massive bruise and a bitter attitude. Whatever the hell that woman was thinking that night I will never know, I do however have a fantastic story which trumps most people’s my-life-sucks stories. As for my license, for now I am sticking to the bus.
past three months via instagram @izemagazine
Photography by Caitlin Worthington
my week in a
psychiatric hospital words by freya s.
Psych ward, mental hospital, institution, loony bin - whatever you want to call it, Belmont Private is one of Brisbane’s hottest places to go and stay if you have problems of the mind. My first trip to Belmont (which coincidentally sounds a lot like Bedlam) happened in the summer after my first year of uni. It’s right across from Westfield Carindale but you wouldn’t notice if not for the blue sign peeking out from surrounding bushland. Much like the Leaky Cauldron, Belmont is only there if you know where to look. As soon as you walk inside there is a clinical, futuristic feel to the hospital, which ironically has no emergency services. It is distinctly silent. I don’t know what I was expecting – muted screams, pounding on walls and soothing rainforest music – but it surely wasn’t this. The walls match the tiles, which match the benches until everything blurs together into one immaculate shine I was checked in to a room that was surprisingly spacious. I did not have to share a bedroom or bathroom; there were locks on the doors and a desk in the corner. It was like a hotel room. There was even a view outside. It was heavenly quiet until the first nurse called in. Then the second one called in fifteen minutes later and the third one fifteen minutes after that. They were on a schedule of checks. Fifteen minutes can be enough time for someone to give in to despair. As each nurse came in, they would cluck and say “You need to think about all that’s good in your life,” and “there are so many girls out there who haven’t crumpled” and “why throw your life away now?” Their eyes yelled “Guilty!” and smiles spat “Ungrateful!” Nurses’ clipboards and undoubtedly gossip kept them informed of all there was to know about a patient. Some nurses talked to me. I have always found
psychologists as much help as a dirty cloth for window cleaning, which is no help at all. I tried so desperately to listen but it was hard to take in the broken record that is, it has to be said, many mental health professionals. The people at Belmont were empty. Those who had been in there for a long time looked like they’d done a stint in Azkaban. When I reluctantly ate in the communal dining room it seemed as if every patient was missing a small piece of their soul. I felt I was missing part of my soul. In Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, a certain alien race teach no concept of time. Instead all moments - happy, sad, inane and exciting exist all at once. The Tralfamadorians therefore relate no grief to death – it is simply one bad moment in a sea of all others. Upon the passing of someone, they simply say “So it goes.” Once, a male nurse on night duty came in to ‘chat’ with me. In two minutes he picked up on my anxiety before I even knew it was a legitimate condition. In five, he said one of the only things I heard in Belmont that I took away with me: “Look, people think it’s cute when you’re 18 or 19. But when you’re 35 and sitting in a hospital saying you can’t handle it all, people think you’re weird. That’s why it’s important to do this when you’re young.” The psychiatrist assigned to me chuckled when I told him I didn’t feel connected to the earth; that I wasn’t meant to be here. He told me that I hadn’t actually intended to kill myself – only to sleep for awhile. Other patients told me their problems were bigger without asking about mine. Nurses told me I didn’t have the right to feel the way I did. I told myself there would be quietness one day. My parents stayed away. My friends stayed close. I didn’t die. Maybe next time it will be the opposite. So it goes.
Windy city PHOTOGRAPHER Chantelle Elise Bootlis MODEL/STYLIST/MUA Samantha Jay
MAjor leagues Major Leagues are this really cool band from Brisbane who make good music. Their single Teen Mums commanded my attention when I saw them support Ball Park Music on their Museum tour. The performance made me excited about a another great Brisbane band on the horizon that will be stealing hearts and clogging up your radios very soon. Their music is like a warm jam donut, except filled with lo-fi, indie goodness that is probably tastier than any synthetic strawberry jam. Plus Major Leagues have an awesome Tumblr that will satisfy your hipster tendencies. Interview by Nicole Pires.
Who makes up Major Leagues and how did the band form? Anna Davidson, Jamiee Fryer, Vlada Edirippulige and Jacob Knauth. We all kind of met refuelling our cars at a petrol station, it was a romantic start to something great. Does your single Teen Mums draw inspiration from the MTV show of a similar name? We’ve actually never seen it. If we could afford Foxtel I’m sure we’d be really into it.
Can we expect a hard release soon in the future?
band. Is this the norm for Major Leagues?
There was supposed to be one for the first two singles, they will probably come out on a release with a new single that will be out in April. We are also about to shoot a delicious video for Teen Mums.
We all kind of play a bit of everything, you show someone a bass line instead of trying to explain it and we end up just playing like that from there on in.
You supported Ball Park Music’s Queensland leg last year on their Museum tour. How did you land that gig and what was it like? I don’t know really, we were contacted about it within a day of releasing Teen Mums so it’s the best response we could have asked for. Ball Park are seriously brilliant people to do shows with. The tour was a really big feat for them and it really showed how far they’d come since they started. Some of us went to uni together so everyone got along really well. On stage, you switched around instruments and roles in the
small city it that you can easily settle on getting supports for big names passing through and never stray far from those shows. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of bands. Is there one artist/band that all of Major Leagues love to hate?
When you’re not playing together, what do the members of the band get up to?
Shiraz Tilley, all you have to do is read her Bio to understand.
You can find us at Guzman Y Gomez on any given day, planning a tour to Mexico where we can eat burritos every meal of the day. Our Spanish is really coming along.
When can we next catch Major Leagues playing live?
What’s the most difficult part of trying to make a name for yourselves in Brisbane? Brisbane actually rules for music. Everyone is super helpful and supportive, you feel great when people from bands that you have loved for so long come out to see you play. The downside of the
Wild nothing at Alhambra Lounge March 7.
FACEBOOK UNEARTHED Bandcamp TUMBLR
II
unknown mortal orchestra Words by Carl pires In 2010, it was the track Ffunny Ffriends that made known the psych rock three piece that is Unknown Mortal Orchestra. On their much-anticipated second release, we hear a return of the guitar and vocal melody driven, reverb saturated hazy sound - with a few new styles creeping into the bands repertoire. A delicate guitar lick draws the curtain on the sun drenched opening track, which ironically talks about getting away From the Sun. The warmth lead singer Ruban Nielson emanates is comparable to early, muddled recordings of a teenage John Lennon. It provides the most obvious backdrop to ease into the catchy hooks that are to follow. The soft snare driven first release of the album Swim and Sleep Like a Shark was a prefect introduction to the direction that this album has taken. As the guitar plays a funk inspired riff, a soulful tinge is heard through the crackling of Rubens falsetto that he implements to perfect imperfection. So Good at Being in Trouble is the highlight track for me. It is definitely a grower; I didn’t think too much of it at first but had it on repeat after the third listen. A cleaner sound reveals how far Nielson has come with his song writing. He effortlessly talks of a girl who ‘was so good at being in trouble’ but ‘so bad at being in love.’ Simple chords play under his infectious chorus, proving that less is more where his soulful melodies are concerned.
We hear a return to the hardhitting experience of their first self-titled debut album on the short One at a Time.
Finally, Nielson demonstrates his triumph of infectious melodies as he ‘Na-Na’s’ his way through the closing track Secret Xtians.
On The Opposite of Afternoon, the drummer introduces a feel akin to the Tower of Power, laying down a fat funk groove to brilliant high harmonies put through a phaser. If there is one album filler song, for me it was No Need for a Leader. This is quickly elapsed, however, as the next two songs open up with raunchy pedal effected guitar solos that feature on the seven minute Monki followed by the one minute long instrumental interlude, Dawn.
UMO soaked this record in the sun before they pressed it. It’s a warm record that will have you humming along to melodies that will stay in your mind. The band have introduced aspects of soul recently unheard of in their sound and flawlessly pushed the boundaries on the amount of delicate funk you can mix with psychedelic rock. Turn this record up and wish for the Australian summer to stay for a bit longer. I spent an afternoon sitting on the balcony, sun shining, sipping on a dark and stormy listening to this album. I urge you to do the same. Just make sure your i-Tunes isn’t sorted alphabetically as Usher might come along, as he did to me, and put a dampener on the party.
The mood is picked up in the following track Faded in the Morning where we hear a return of something that UMO pull off so well - the melody line played on the lead guitar and sung completely balanced in the mix.
Melody’s echo chamber melody’s echo chamber
Words by Nicole pires Melody’s Echo Chamber comes to fruition when you discover that by Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) is behind the album’s production. French musician Melody Prochet connected with Parker when her former band, My Bee’s Garden, supported for Tame Impala shows. The band has a clean pop sound. When she decided to embark on a solo project, she approached Parker. As Prochet said in an interview, “…I asked Kevin to destroy everything.” Kevin Parker may be the best thing that happened to Melody Prochet. Their resulting sound is a great album that combines Prochet’s harrowing vocals with the distorted rawness that Tame Impala embodies. The opening song I Follow You begins with a distinct guitar riff and drum beat. When Prochet’s dreamy vocals kick in and sit over the instruments, it fits beautifully.
On surface level it could be just another female vocalist like Cat Power or Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes). However, there’s something a bit grimier about Melody’s Echo Chamber that sets the sound aside. She’s lucky that she’s got Kevin Parker to give her this musical direction. Second track and the first single released of the album, Crystallized, is exactly how one would envisage Tame Impala had Kevin Parker been female. The song masks Prochet’s delicacy with exploding synth sounds and soundscapes. Bisou Maguique is the first song completely in French on the record. Although French is her first language, Prochet has always sung in English prior to Melody’s Echo Chamber. The softness and fluidity of the French language lends well to achy feeling of the song. Prochet returns to French
on Quand Vas Tu Rentrer. You may have no idea what she’s singing, but you can tell that it’s something heartbreaking from the droning synths in the background. Later in the record, Is That What You Said is jolting from the previous sound with the absence of Prochet’s ethereal vocals. It’s cluttered with synth, a big diversion from the earlier tracks on the record. But of course, it works perfectly. The final track of the album Be Proud of Your Kids returns to the precarious balance of sounding dreamy and nostalgic whilst still maintaining that edge. ‘Melody’s Echo Chamber’ is a bewitching debut release from this young French rose. Let’s all hope that Melody Prochet and Kevin Parker don’t break up and continue making music for a long time.
live gig review
gung ho Black Bear Lodge 28 February 2013
The first time I ever heard of or saw Gung Ho was at an underage Bleeding Knees Club show at Alhambra Lounge in April 2012. They played first and were followed by Dune Rats and BKC. I remember the set being kind of messy. They would play a loud punk song, which would suddenly be followed by a sing along indie pop tune. The three Gung Ho boys, Oliver Duncan, Michael McAlary and Gabe Webster, tepidly took the stage all wearing glasses and played quite awkwardly. Almost one year later, Gung Ho are travelling Australia on the ‘Anywhere Else’ EP Tour. They’re not supporting bands anymore; they’re headlining their own shows with a hardcopy EP in tow. They even managed to sell out Black Bear Lodge in Fortitude Valley. The question now is has anything changed?
For starters, Gung Ho have really honed in on their sound on the ‘Anywhere Else’ EP. They’ve ditched their early post-punk leanings and the EP is more indie/lo-fi. The boys have obviously been rehearsing long hours because the fluidity of their set was great. As for their stage presence, maybe the success of the EP and an expanding fan base has given them more confidence. The three guys in glasses still have their cute awkwardness, but they knew what they were doing and the audience couldn’t have responded better. The venue was packed when Gung Ho took to the stage. As soon as they started playing, people up the front of the crowd erupted into that half dance/half mosh that you only see at indie/pop concerts. Whilst they played numbers of the new EP including
Autumn and Twin Rays, they made time to accommodate some of their old stuff. Whilst it’s obviously different to what they’re doing now, the old songs broke up the set which otherwise would have sounded very much the same. Gung Ho played their single Strangers midset, which was received by loud cheers and applause. It’s one of the best tracks off the EP and the crowd thought so too. What I like about Gung Ho is their ability to keep it interesting and funny, without crazy dancing and stage diving into the crowd. In between songs I heard what sounded like a rap song. I was unsure whether it was a recording, until I noticed that it was Gabe (the drummer) rapping, something he has never done before at their shows. Apparently he had practiced it hard, which paid off so kudos to Gabe. I’ve
never in my short 18 years of gigging seen a drummer do that. When they proclaimed it was the last song, I braced myself in anticipation for Side By Side to finally be played. This is the song that makes the EP. Their performance of the single was different to the recorded version, it was a little less dreamy in its sound and the instruments were more prominent and less subtle. However, it’s hard to expect a song like that to sound exactly like the recording when played Side by Side ended the set on a high. Everyone’s energy in the room was bouncing off each other and you could tell that the show was well received by the audience.
facebook // unearthed buy the ‘anywhere else’ ep
live gig review
BIG DAY OUT There are a lot of great things about the Big Day Out festival. There are also a lot of shitty things too. The weather is always disgustingly hot, the undercover tents are overcrowded with 15-year-olds and you’re more likely to have a view of bum cheeks and topless losers rather than the stages. Saying this, Big Day Out is actually a pretty cool festival. Every year it brings a stellar line-up and a cross-section of artists that satisfy every genre and music taste. From rap, hard rock, indie pop, chart stealers, Aussie hip hop and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (deserving of a genre unto themselves), BDO has everything. The timetabling on the day was horrific and there were so many amazing bands that clashed. However, IZE reviews the standout acts that we managed to catch.
the killers The Killers established themselves as a band to be reckoned with after two stellar debut albums, ‘Hot Fuss’ and ‘Sam’s Town’. Their most recent albums (what are they even called?) showed a shift in their musical direction, which lacked the punch of their previous sound. Despite this, The Killers put on an amazing show by incorporating a good mixture of their old hits and some of their newer music. It was obvious that the crowd still had a lot of love for this band, and that The Killers know how to put on a ‘killer’ performance.
alabama shakes Alabama Shakes exploded onto the music scene with the amazing single Hold On in 2012. So there was a lot of expectation as to what they would bring to their live performance. The band really brought to life their debut album ‘Boys & Girls’ in a way I didn’t know was possible. The four-piece band, with additional touring member,
played one hundred per cent in harmony with one another. They made the crowd move the whole set, and not just for their biggest audience belting songs Hold On, Hang Loose and You Ain’t Alone. Alabama Shakes are the type of band you’ll want to see live again, and again and again.
MUSIC
Crystal castles
There is legitimately only one word to describe Crystal Castles, crazy. Emerging in a sea of mist (from a fog machine of course), the audience could barely make out the figures of the duo as they took to the dark stage. They remained in this surreal darkness throughout the whole set, only lit up by the hyper strobe lights. It set the perfect tone for their unique sound. Dark and electronic, Crystal
Castles sound like no other musical act. They played a wide variety of songs from their three studio albums, and no song seemed to be received with less liveliness than the one before. However, notable standouts have to be Alice Practice, Not in Love and Plague. The fact that the audience did not stop moving the whole show demonstrates that they know how to put on a stellar performance.
band of horses
Christopher Wilson Photography
Band of Horses performed on the main stage with one of the more chilled out acts of the day. It was the type of set that lent itself to being watched from the hill as you took respite from the continuous moshing and dancing. Regardless whether you were up close and personal with the band or not, the whole audience was lost in their music. They played well to the crowd whilst still showcasing their spectacular latest release ‘Mirage Rock’. However, it was songs NW Apartment, Older and Laredo from their most celebrated album ‘Infinite Arms’ that had the crowd most engaged.
Photo by Ellen von Unwerth
red hot chili peppers
There are really no words to describe a performance by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Even though they’ve grown-up from their tube-sock days, they had as much energy and verging on hyper as always. Although they opened with a less-known song from the new album, Monarchy of Roses, the audience were captivated by the Chilli Pepper’s surreal presence. However, the crowd’s energy was dwindling by the end of the song. So when they burst into Dani
California straight after, it was like striking a match. The whole audience caught alight. With such a huge back catalogue of music to choose from, it was inevitable that some of the crowd would be disappointed to not hear some of their hits. Big disappointments were the exemption of Scar Tissue and Higher Ground. Despite this, it was still an amazing performance and you really haven’t lived until you’ve seen the Peppers live.
sampology
www.deanhammer.com
Sampology’s audio visual show was the dark horse of the festival. The man behind the decks, Sam Poggioli, undoubtedly brought the best DJ set of the day. He had the ability to stun the audience not only with his sick beats, but also his visual accompaniment. The visuals playing behind him on a big screen ranged from Kanye West talking to an unreal Simpsons opening credits mash-up. Sampology’s set kept the audience guessing as to what would come next. Plus it’s always entertaining to see a DJ that moves as much as the audience.
MUSIC
foals Foals’ BDO set should never have ended. With a shorter set (than most would have liked) due to festival time constraints, it meant that every single Foals song that played was better than the one before. They played popular songs including Miami, Olympic Airwaves, Spanish Sahara and Two Steps Twice. But the real treat was hearing My Number and Inhaler of their mind-blowing new album, Holy Fire. Foals’ performance were not to be missed and never forgotten.
vampire weekend
Blake’s got a new face. Not a single person walked away from Vampire Weekend’s set without their infectious tunes getting stuck in their heads. The band played in their usual style, charming yet coy, the perfect combination to make all the girls swoon. And even more than that, the delightful BDO organisers decided to put up the words “get em out” on the big screen urging girls to take of their tops for the camera. Lead
singer Ezra Koenig was seen visibly blushing as girls shamelessly flashed the crowd on the big screens. Despite the visuals, they played effortlessly and each song flowed seamlessly to the next. The inclusion of their new material was an exciting foreshadow of the upcoming album.
Sun
PHOTOGRAPHY by Lost in Wishful Thinking MODELLING by Megan @ Viviens MAKEUP by Bridget Rachelle
Dress by 1989 The Label
Bikini by 1989 The Label
Dress by House of Cards
Playsuit by House of Cards
Bikini by Diaz
2012 in film Words by matt meintjes
romance Despite no shortage of romantically themed movies for 2012, there certainly was a general lapse in the quality of them over the year. Cut out the final instalment of the Twilight franchise (“Thank god that’s over”) and you’re really left with slim pickings for a mainstream romance of the year. The best example was probably The Perks of Being A Wallflower – and in saying so I admit it was probably the film that most surprised me in the year. We follow Charlie (Logan Lerman) as he enters high school after a disappointing time
in middle school where he made little-to-no friends. His new school poses so many more challenges for him to overcome while dealing with personal issues, but it’s through the help of new friends Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller) that he comes to find a place of belonging for one of the first times in his life. While it’s no true romance and it focuses heavily on some unexpectedly emotional themes, it’s a genuinely quality piece of film that might leave you teary eyed by the end (not that I would know…).
If you’re looking for something a little different, Safety Not Guaranteed also gets a nod as a nice little romantic film for 2012. When a local news team begins to investigate a man who claims to be able to time travel and is currently looking for a partner to do so, an unexpected romance blooms between the man and an undercover intern. It is a slightly less conventional romance, but if you’re open to trying new things why not give Safety Not Guaranteed a chance.
FILM
action When it came to action in 2012 it was very hard to walk past both The Dark Knight Rises and Skyfall when defining what was “must-see”. The former is a grand conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, well deserving of the second highest grossing movie of the year. Bruce Wayne
(Christian Bale) comes up against his most formidable foe, Bane (Tom Hardy), and in turn finds himself with the lives of the people of Gotham on his shoulders once again. Outnumbered and at a loss to Bane’s ruthless plans, Batman will have to rise (get it?) to his greatest challenge yet. With plenty of action and snaking plot twists, TDKR keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing till the very last second.
Meanwhile, Skyfall rounds out the third Daniel Craig Bond film in style and class with a hint of vintage Bond by referencing some of the previous eras of 007. After a mission gone-wrong, Bond must recover from cheating death to face an ex-MI6 agent hell bent on seeking revenge on M. Most definitely a step up from the disappointing Quantum of Solace and a must see for any action or espionage fans.
drama Argo was undoubtedly the must see drama of 2012, proven by its critical acclaim and most recent win of Best Picture at the Academy Awards. For more information on Argo see my review earlier in the issue! For the lack of a better genre I’m going to place Life of Pi in this category. Probably the most visually stunning film of the year but also one of the more difficult stories to get your head around, Life of Pi is a film about faith that takes you on a journey of wonder, despair, suffering and salvation – but only if you have an open mind. It’s not a film you could simply sit down to watch without thinking – and that’s what made it such a great movie.
comedy
The comedy genre felt somewhat mediocre for 2012. That doesn’t mean there weren’t some worthwhile films, but as a collective the genre felt like it was below par. 21 Jump Street is probably the most hilarious of the bunch and the pick
for the funniest film of the year. There’s not much to be said about the film apart from the fact that it’s just so damn funny. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill team up as two high-school looking police officers who go undercover to bust drug distribution from a local high school. Based from 21 Jump Street and under the
supervision of Captain Dickson, played by Ice Cube, the boys take on their teenage covers with very little consideration of the police guidelines recently taught to them at their academy. The humour isn’t for everyone, but it gets top marks for some side-splitting moments. If you saw my review for Seven Psychopaths in the previous issue of IZE then you probably wouldn’t be surprised to see that I’m putting it up here as one of the funniest films of the year. Aside from having some scenes that had the whole cinema laughing, Seven Psychopaths is also a clever film, so I suppose it gets better marks for appealing to the film nerd inside me. I’ll give a highly commended award for comedy to Pitch Perfect. Though if it wasn’t for the talent of Rebel Wilson I’m not sure I could give such a credit.
sci-fi Before you disregard this segment because science-fiction makes you think of Star Trek and thirtyfour year olds living with their collectable figurines in their parent’s basement, 2012 put out some very gripping films of this genre. Looper would have to be my favourite. We’ve all wanted to time travel at some point in our lives. In the future however, it is outlawed and only used by the criminal underworld to dispose of people in a manner that cannot be traced back to them. They zap
the said person back in time to a “looper”, who then kills them and claims a silver reward strapped to their victim’s back. As a looper, Joe (Joseph Gordon Levitt) lives a good life until one day he finds himself staring down the barrel of his gun at his own future self (Bruce Willis). In his hesitation his future self escapes and soon he comes to realise there are consequences for such mistakes. If you’re a fan of complex films with several layers and plot twists that all form together by the end of the film then Looper is most definitely a must see.
Chronicle loosely fits around the science-fiction genre and gets marks for an alternative method of storytelling that invites the audience to be closer to its characters. Set as a “foundfootage” style film it follows three boys as they accidentally gain super powers from a meteorite that lands on the earth. They don’t wear lycra super-suits or have catchy names – they’re just a trio of boys who have fun with their powers. Until of course, things get out of hand.
13 movies to keep an eye on in 2013 So 2012 is done and dusted and we can all forget about those films now that the Oscars have come and gone – at least until you see them in your local video store. So to keep you in the loop, here are some movies you should keep an eye out for in 2013. Yes, I realise that some have already come through the cinemas but for the sake of calling it “13 Movies to Keep an Eye on in 2013” and not “13 Movies to Keep and Eye on after the March Release of IZE Magazine”, I had to include them. Enjoy!
2. Silver linings playbook
Bradley Cooper plays a man struggling to deal with reality after recently returning from rehabilitation after an anger outburst caused by catching his wife with another man in the shower. Enter Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence – 2013 Oscar Winner as Best Actress for her role), another charismatic character struggling with problems in her past. What ensures is a funny story of life, love and the search for a silver lining.
1. Django unchained Quentin Tarintino returns in badass style with Jamie Foxx playing a slave-turned-bounty hunting gunslinger in search of his stolen wife, held captive by Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Expect guns, explosions and blood (a lot of blood!) along with some dark humour and witty one-liners. With a host of nominations (and as the winner for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars) Django looks like a hit film for 2013. D-J-A-N-G-O. Django. The D is silent.
3. zero dark thirty
Katherine Beiglow returns to the silver-screen after her 2008 Academy Award winning film The Hurt Locker. Keeping with the military theme, Zero Dark Thirty follows the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden, whose death was made known in May of 2011 at the hands of Navy S.E.A.L Team 6. With plenty of controversy surrounding the film and nominations throughout the awards season, Zero Dark Thirty is a highly anticipated film in 2013.
4. Iron man 3
Do I really have to preview this? Robert Downey Jr returns again as Tony Stark who’s world is torn apart by a new enemy. Not much is known about the movie apart from a teaser and extended Super Bowl short, but it promises to be another action-filled Iron Man thriller.
5. the impossible
Unless you caught fleeting glimpses of trailers for this film in cinemas you may not have heard of The Impossible. In fact I hadn’t until I ran into its trailer on YouTube – and even then, watching on my computer screen, I could feel the emotion ebbing from this film. It follows the tragedy of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and a family struggling to regroup amongst the chaos and turmoil at the time.
6. cloud atlas A hugely ambitious film spanning the stories of characters over six different eras where the actions of one will affect the outcomes of others in the past, present and future. With a huge cast including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant, Cloud Atlas promises to be a cinema spectacle – but only if you can handle its complexity.
7. man of steel
A new take on the story of Superman and his alter-ego Clark Kent. From the trailers already released it appears to be a more personal take on possibly the most famous comic book superhero of all time. With director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen), Man of Steel should hopefully reboot the story of Superman in style since his last silver screen appearance in 2006.
8. anchorman: the legend continues The adventures of Ron Burgundy and his San Diego news team continue this year with the sequel to the 2004 comedy hit Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. With all of the main cast and director/writer Adam McKay returning, the new Anchorman should hopefully provide for some more quotable scenes to last us for years to come.
9. the great gatsby Australian Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Australia) directs another adaption of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel of the same name. It follows the story of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as his curiosity draws him into the extravagant world of his neighbour Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). But soon Nick finds that behind the lavish lifestyle and over-thetop social parties, Gatsby may not be that ‘great’ after all.
10. star trek: into darkness The sequel to the 2009 reboot of the Star Trek franchise on the silver screen, Star Trek: Into Darkness follows Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise as they begin a dangerous hunt for those responsible for a large attack on Starfleet that left the Earth in chaos.
11. the wolf of wall street 12. after earth
I’m excited to see what Will Smith and his son Jaden can bring to the table in this survival-thriller set on an abandoned Earth in the future. After crash landing on the planet and with his father in a critical condition, Kitai (Jaden Smith) must traverse the hostile environments of the planet to recover their rescue beacon. However, without the presence of humans for one thousand years it appears as if evolution has made the Earth an even more dangerous place to be. Danger is very real. But fear, is a choice.
13. oblivion Oblivion had my attention in the opening scene of its first trailer as Tom Cruise stands alone in a decimated football stadium, briefly reciting his memory of the last ever Super Bowl game held on Earth. Assigned to drone repair on the abandoned planet after years of war rendered it inhabitable, Jack Harper (Cruise) discovers a crashed spacecraft that brings into question everything he thought to be true. I’m truly hoping Cruise can deliver on this one, as the 13th spot on this list was hard to pick. I’m a sucker for huge plot twists though and that’s why this got the nod. That, and there’s something just generally badass about an underground-dwelling Morgan Freeman in sunglasses.
Directed by Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver) and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street is a crime drama set around a New York stockbroker involved in a large financial securities fraud case within Wall Street. Delving into the mob infiltration of the corporate world, Scorsese hopes to deliver another classic crime flick in 2013.
Draculaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s post mortem
BOOK
words by lucia stein “As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me... a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal” With the re-emergence of vampire folklore in the novel world, it is only fitting to look at one of literary history’s most famous vampire tales. Bram Stoker’s original vampire story has had a long history with countless film remakes, parodies and unforgettable quotes but nothing quite compares to the novel. Horrific film scenes don’t live up to the suspense and anxiety that increases with the turning of every page. The story centers on the lives of a number of different people who in one way or another are affected by the actions of Dracula. Stoker’s first protagonist is Jonathon Harker, a young solicitor who journeys to Dracula’s castle on business. It is through his descriptions and letters to his fiancée, Mina that we discover the absolute depravity of the vampire known as Count Dracula. Mina herself is a pillar of strength and virtue that rivals Van Helsing in both courage and determination as she bravely faces the Count throughout the novel. Her best friend, Lucy Westenra, is the beautiful daughter of a well-off family who is much admired within the town of Whitby. Her suitors, American cowboy Quincy Morris and nobleman Arthur Holmwood, join in with Van Helsing and Jonathon Harker later on in the novel to defeat the Count. Lucy’s other suitor John Seward offers his own insight throughout the story as a psychiatrist at an asylum treating one of Dracula’s loyal servants, Renflied. Through the eyes of each protagonist we are able to view Dracula as the unequivocally
depraved and monstrous being he is portrayed as. It is descriptions such as “my very feelings changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man (Dracula) slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down…I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones… moving downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall” which produces imagery that will literally make your skin crawl. It is not always the gore or horror that can produce such feelings of foreboding but also scenes with an eerie sense of calm. In this way, the novel succeeds in playing on the dark, primal fears that lurk deep within. The reader is thus continually haunted by Jonathon’s words as he waited out his days at the castle, “…I am a prisoner”. However, in the face of Dracula’s depravity stands Van Helsing and his loyal band of followers determined to rid the world of such an unholy being. Van Helsing is the ultimate hero to Dracula’s villain. He is the holy warrior whose duty is to defeat the Count and rid the world of the evil that Dracula embodies. In summary, it must be said that Dracula’s infamy is well earned. If anyone has fallen under the spell of modern vampire fiction, where vampires are long-suffering Byronic heroes, then this book will turn this belief on its head. There is no better way to cure your holiday boredom or sit out a rainy day than to immerse yourself in the captivating and unsurprisingly disturbing tale of Dracula. A tale of such horror that it continues to evoke fear in readers almost 115 years after its publication.
BOOK
old dog, new tricks words by lucia stein Best-selling author, Melina Marchetta has reinforced her standing as a powerful author with her new fantasy series, The Lumatere Chronicles. These captivating chronicles are yet another reminder of why Marchetta’s novels are studied in schools nation-wide. The reader is plunged into a world that is completely opposite to the comparative ‘paradise’ we enjoy. These books symbolize a step away from Marchetta’s usual genre as she focuses less on the reality of today but on the extraordinary experiences of a past world. CHRONICLE 1: Finnikin of the Rock Exiled from their homeland for ten years, Finnikin and his guardian, Sir Topher, have travelled far and
wide on behalf of their people. The curse that has been placed on their home of Lumatere has left the people divided. Friends have been separated, families torn apart as either one or the other is trapped inside or locked out. In this stark tale of a displaced people, Marchetta explores the many facets of humanity. From start to finish, readers are left on the edge of their seats anticipating what awaits them on the next page. We ask ourselves will these families finally be reunited or should they learn to move on. In addition to our uncertainty and hope develops an enchanting romance that reminds readers that even in the darkest of moments, one can find a spark of light. CHRONICLE 2: Froi of the Exiles Marchetta’s incredible second installment follows the lives of
Finnikin, his wife Isoboe and Froi three years on. Despite the lifting of the Lumatere curse, there is still much cleaning up to be done, not only throughout the land but also within the hearts of its people. It is amongst the bustling activity of rebuilding that Froi believes he has found a home and a family to call his own. Yet, the call of another land, the land of the enemy Charyn works its way into Froi’s soul. Despite the protests of his king and queen, Froi finds himself walking a land that while unfamiliar, sings to his blood. Yet again we are reminded of the magic of Melina Marchetta’s writing as she describes a land that is a dichotomy of emptiness and loss as well as hope and love. Froi’s perspective provides a glimpse into the experiences of the exiles, the feelings of confusion and uncertainty that plague their
lives as they attempt to return to the life they once had. CHRONICLE 3: Quintana of Charyn In this final installment of the Lumatere chronicles, Froi and Quintana are forced apart. Circumstances have separated them and they must find their way back to each other, not only for their own sake but also for the sake of the kingdom. Quintana, lost and alone, must do all she can to protect Charyn’s future King while Froi tries to hold back the armies seeking to steal her unborn child. This epic conclusion is filled with the hope and anxiety that readers have come to expect from the rest of the series. The imaginative fantasy world that Marchetta has created is one that will remain with you long after the last words have been read.
IZE 1st B’day At alloneword bar
It’s strange to think that it was only one year ago that we released the first issue of IZE Magazine. We remember back to our humble beginnings when our first issue consisted of us using our friends to model, clothes from our own wardrobe and interviewing our friends. When people first starting asking to contribute, we couldn’t believe it. Our IZE 1st Birthday party was thrown to celebrate with the amazing people who have contributed to the magazine, collaborated with us and to party with our precious readers. The night was thrown at the beautiful Alloneword Bar in Fortitude Valley. There was plenty of yummy food and enough IZE red velvet cupcakes for everyone! The night was topped off by the beautiful sounds from Brisbane musician Andrew Markwell, who played a beautiful set. We want to thank everyone who came to the IZE 1st Birthday Party and for your continuing support of the magazine. Madeline Hay and Nicole Pires xx
Thank you to Chez Watts Photography and Fashion Weekly for the photos!
Thank you to Chez Watts Photography and Fashion Weekly for the photos!
paradise playlist Beach Baby – Bon Iver I’m God – Clams Casino Heartbreak – Clubfeet Metal Heart – Cat Power I’m Into You – Chet Faker Something About Us – Daft Punk Red Light, Green Light – Dune Rats Clair De Lune – Flight Facilities My Number – Foals Strangers - Gung Ho Teen Mums – Major Leagues I Follow You – Melody’s Echo Chamber Step Up For The Cool Cats – Palma Violets Friends – Rainy Day Women Young Drunk – The Smith Street Band Stars – Sures Motoring – Toy Neighbour Neighbour – Violent Soho
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