YOUTH #8
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS The word “youth” is a pretty broad term and can be defined in so many ways. Being youthful is all about thinking young and coming up with fresh and innovative ideas. It’s about thinking forward into the future and leaving your worries behind. Youth is playful, forgiving, fun, innocent and cheeky. When you’re young, everything feels infinite. It’s hard to define at what age we are young. Each year we feel that we were way younger the year before. But in reality, we’re only as young as we want to believe we are.
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 5 6 8 10 12 24 26 29 32 40 43 46 48 50 54 56 58 70 72 74 78 90 92 94 97
Youth Is All About... IZE Loves Trend Report, by Alice Waterhouse jas + mine What Kind of Bird Are You?, by Kalindy Millions Soot. Amy Chen In The Making, by Stephanie Brownlee Dressed To Impress, by Thea Halpin Small Town Love, by Natalie McKain Adventuring on a Student Budget, by Marnie Buchecker Catriona Drummond The Darkness of a Transition, by Rachel Abad Things Tavi Taught Me, by Nicole Pires Stylpot Recipes Hopefully I’m Going To Peak In My Twenties, by Nicole Pires Kalindy Millions Candyland, by Aimee Stoddart New Tunes Young Brisbane Bands To Watch, by Caitlin Puplett Cub Sport Youth In Trouble, by Laura McGrath When We Were Young, by Matt Meintjes New Releases, by Matt Meintjes Three Must Read Coming of Age Novels, by Lucia Stein Youth Playlist
Youth is all about... LAURA MCGRATH
MATT MEINTJES
Photographer (Youth in Trouble)
Film Writer
Growing up. I think people forget that being young is all about making mistakes and learning from them. It’s the only valid excuse we get in life to be spontaneous and irresponsible. As a result we dream bigger, live brighter and love harder. Youth is just beginning to learn how exciting life can be. Out in the world fresh faced and full of spirit we immerse ourselves wholeheartedly into everything we do, because well, why not?
Discovering who you are, who you want to be, the differences between the two and having fun as you do. It’s a time for trying new things, making mistakes and learning from them so when you become a part of the real world you have some clue, although very small and almost insignificant, about what to do with yourself.
ZOE CARRINGTON KIRBY BROOKS Stylist (Youth in Trouble) Ice cream, playing in the park, Pokemon cards, pretending to be grown up, kissing boys, hating boys and most of all, living everyday like its the best day ever.
Model (What Kind of Bird Are You?) Having time, making choices, meeting people, travelling, experiencing new things and gaining perspective. It’s a time when you don’t have much money, you’re learning stuff every day, you’re saving to get where you want to go. I’m making the most of it.
ALICE WATERHOUSE Fashion Writer Youth is all about the long summer days and even longer nights out believing we are invincible. It is about stretching our small budgets and making the most of every situation.
IZE LOVES 100 percent zero Just in case Alex Wall wasn’t already busy enough (Bleeding Knees Club, Wax Witches and parttime photographer), he decided to start his own clothing brand. He has created uniquely Alex Wall tees with funny slogans like “Pizza Punk” “Kill Chill Yourself” and “Ya Bish”. His signature hats and beanies sport “100 Percent Zero” branding and have been spotted on celebrities like Cara Delevingne.
the bling ring soundtrack - vinyl release
Sophia Coppola’s latest masterpiece The Bling Ring has hit screens and won over film critics with her usual clever screenplay and beautiful aesthetics. However, the main things that is taken away from the film is its amazing soundtrack. The soundtrack features artists like Sleigh Bells, Azealia Banks, Kanye West, Frank Ocean and the usual Phoenix number (Coppola is married to the lead singer Thomas Mars). This is the perfect addition (or start) to a vinyl collection.
trophy wife nail art Although Trophy Wife Nail Art is a Melbourne-based nail-artist, her nail designs are enviable and are a constant source of inspiration. Her salon is located on Bridge Rd, Richmond, but she is also available for photoshoots, pop-ups and events.
brisbane festival Taking place from 7-23rd September, The Brisbane Festival boasts a stunning array of local and international artists and performances. Musical highlights of the festival include performances by Beach Fossils, Big
Scary and Hungry Kids of Hungary. The La Soirée performance is not to be missed, featuring a dazzling display of skilful cabaret acts. As always, the fireworks spectacular Sunsuper Riverfire will conclude the Brisbane Festival.
burnett lane
Photo by Linsey Rendell
Burnett Lane is Brisbane’s hippest hideaway filled with cool restaurants and bars. On the lower side of the lane is coffee house and bar, Brew, which is a Brisbane favourite. However, it’s the other side of the lane that gets less attention. Upper Burnett Lane features the edgy and cool tapas bar Super Whatnot, the elegant restaurant Survey & Co and The German Sausage Hut, which is open late serving delicious gourmet dogs and pretzels.
WORDS Alice Waterhouse
TREND REPORT
Kaleidoscope of colour
After the monochromatic palette of winter, it is only logical that the rising temperatures will bring brighter colours. Elementary colours are a key aspect of this trend, with bold hues being a feature on the catwalk. The emerging designer show at MBFF featured the kaleidoscope digital print garments by Sinead James.
STYLE
Kidding around Embrace your inner child this season and celebrate the joys of being young. Think pastel colours and iridescent textures that are reminiscent of childrens dance costumes. Emerging Brisbane designer award winner, Austin Moro, showcased this trend at MBFF featuring bold, childlike flower graphics.
Bombs Away
Bomber Jackets are a key piece for this season, with lighter silky pieces emerging for the warmer weather. Think bold prints, oriental inspiration and mesh detailing when wearing these statement pieces.
Jas + Mine
Jasmine Dowling is a twenty-year-old blogger and creative from Brisbane. She’s passionate about fashion and design, something that is evident in her style blog jas + mine. www.jasminedowling.com Why did you get into the blogging sphere? I got into blogging half because I found myself documenting what I was wearing through Instagram and found a lot of people were asking if I had one so I thought why not? Plus I absolutely love fashion and the mixture of Graphic Design and Fashion so it would be a great opportunity to get my name out there mixing them both.
for me this season. Structured crops with circle skirts is also very high on my hit list.
How would you describe your style? I would say I am quite a feminine dresser who is attracted to anything that plays with volume, shape, colour, texture or print.
Where can you see yourself taking jas + mine? I think I would love just for it to be a platform to express my visual taste. I would love for it to grow further into the mixture of design and fashion.
What are your essential items for this Spring? I am sensing spring dresses will be an essential
When you’re not blogging, what are your favourite things to do in Brisbane? When I have a spare day I love going around and trying out different cafes, lounging in New Farm Park or visiting my favourite space - GoMA.
STYLE
Photography by Michael Hughes
what kind of bird are you? A Moonrise Kingdom inspired editorial Photography by Kalindy Millions Styling and Clothing by We Were Warriors Modelling by Zoe Carrington Hair and Make Up by Nikki Triggs
Soot. Soot. is the Brisbane label run by talented fashion student, Edwina Sinclair. She has consistently put out amazing collections that are unique in design and feature beautiful prints and fabrics. Soot.’s upcoming Spring Summer 13/14 ‘Square Eyes’ collection is no exception.
How and when did your label Soot. come into fruition? The evolution of Soot. was very organic. When I was deciding what I wanted to peruse after I finished school I studied pattern making, sewing and design at private courses on my weekends. I had always been interested in fashion but needed to consolidate it. After I completed these short courses
I began designing. I had always been around design from a young age as my mum had a costume design business. The contacts she had helped me get my ideas from sketch to a wearable garment. I got a lot of interest from people to sell the clothes I had made; firstly friends and then a few stores approached me. That was how it all began.
Why do you like designing clothes? I love creating! I love the experimental process and the evolution of a garment from concept to sample. It is then so rewarding seeing your garments worn by others. The idea that the person bought it because it is special or unique to them.
Were there any particular inspirations behind the Square Eyes collection? The Square Eyes collection is a fusion of Japanese Kawaii and the grunge of East London. After studying a semester abroad at the London College of Fashion for three months. I feel that this influenced the garments and styling of the collection. I always have a cute and quite feminine aesthetic and I think this is really heightened by my travels to Japan. Kawaii- ‘loveable’, ‘cute’, or ‘adorable’ is the quality of cuteness in the context of Japanese culture. It has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture, entertainment, clothing, food, toys, personal appearance, behavior, and mannerisms.
STYLE
Who do you picture as the ideal Soot. wearer? Having the Soot. Concept Store made me realize the diverse range of people who would buy my garments and some were very unexpected. If I had to put the Soot. girl into words I would have to say that she is a girl like myself (I would wear every piece in my collection). She loves anything creative and searches for beauty in all her surrounding. She wants a garment with some voila! What do you love most about Spring in Brisbane? The weather and the beach! Graduating from QUT this year, what can we expect from your graduate collection? My graduate collection is quite different from Soot. The pieces aren’t as wearable and definitely emphasize humor and voluminous shapes. As it is only a six piece collection I really wanted to push
my boundaries (even if this meant the collection wasn’t as saleable). The collection is colorful and fun and I have also experimented with knitwear as I have been learning to knit this year! What is next for Soot. from here? As I am graduating at the end of the year, this means that all my
focus will be on Soot. (which is really exciting!!!) I am hoping this means bigger and better things will be coming. More experimentation with shapes, fabrics and trying to push myself to create collections that blows you away!
WORDS Stephanie Brownlee
amy chen in the making
‘Something from nothing’ could describe a world of things. For those behind the mannequinlined windows of Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) design ‘sheds’, it’s the creative evolution of a fashion graduate collection. This is the atelier where you’ll find final year student and aspiring corporate wear designer, Amy Chen, who is most likely there right now, determinedly working on the line of garments that could launch her career. Fresh from a semester-long exchange to Italy’s Politecnico di Milano, Amy has come a long
way since her eight-year-old endeavours mastering paper and plastic bag corsetry and her days studying fashion at St Peters Lutheran College. Her latest project, a 12-piece collection that was conceptually inspired in Europe will be showcased this November in front of industry professionals and buyers. “Ah Milan,” smiles 21-year-old Amy, effortlessly chic in head to toe black, a take-away tea in hand. “When I first arrived, it was September and autumn/winter fashion week was on and I knew I had definitely come to the right
place. I actually went to a Giorgio Armani show. It was unbelievable. A friend over there knows the PR people and somehow we got in,” she mused, leading the way into the design studio. It’s not surprising Amy idolises Armani –famous for his impeccable tailoring, minimalistic designs and ‘non-colour’ palette. “His designs are always so timeless and are quite powerful,” she explains. A glimpse at the pages of her portfolios open on the large workshop table, and the ‘Amy Chen’ labelled garments hanging on racks tell that she too is aesthetically drawn to creating
STYLE
“When I was in Europe I saw a completely diverse culture and the idea of the way people see things differently has shaped the ‘perspectives’ concept of my collection” quite sartorial, monochromatic pieces that are both modern and elegant.
“When I was in Europe I saw a completely diverse culture and the idea of the way people see things differently has shaped the ‘perspectives’ concept of my collection,” says Amy. She continues, “Walking into a castle in Germany, I didn’t just look at the structure dead-on and think ‘that’s a beautiful castle.’ I stood right underneath it and looked up; saw different details, angles and how interesting it was.” The way in which Amy has refined her inspiration of psychological and visual perspectives from an abstract conception to a compilation of wearable garments can be traced through the pages of her sketchbooks and iPad. “I take it everywhere and draw on it with a stylus using apps and also jot down notes in my phone. Or I tell someone –I tend to forget things. I call my sister and say
‘hello! I just had this idea...’ and she just listens, Amy laughs. “It’s good to talk about your ideas.” Following experimenting through concept drawings of repetitions of geometric shapes, vanishing points, optical illusions, flipped imagery and kaleidoscope distortions, Amy has translated the idea of ‘perspectives’ into her garment designs. “Once I have more of an understanding of the concept through research and sketching I can then move into the product development phase,” she explains. “I began with considering styles and shapes for the target market and then added the conceptual elements into smaller details; pleating, panels, different collars,” says Amy, adjusting the sample pieces on a mannequin. “I always think in terms of my potential buyer (if they would wear it and where they would wear it) and prefer to do more technical drawings of garment flats. Sketches of garments on models
can lead to designs that are too conceptual and less commercial and wearable,” she explains. “Once I have designed all the pieces, and selected my favourites out of hundreds of sketches,” laughs Amy, “I draw them onto models and see how each outfit and the collection looks as a whole.” Amy has finalised the six ensembles that will represent her graduate collection on the runway and finished the process of pattern making and sampling her designs and fabrics. “After I choose all the garments that I want to make I translate them to a pattern block,” she explains. “Some people can easily draw up the basic pattern block, make alterations to it; shape it into their design by sketching in new lines, and then sew it up and it’s all perfect. I don’t usually do that. I draw, cut and sew up the basic block –say it’s a top, and then I draw on the fabric and make adjustments, add panels to it on the mannequin. You can see the fit better; where it’s going to sit on the body, where it’s going to fall.”
This step in the design process is perhaps the most formative. “It’s the point where you realise what does and doesn’t work,” explains Amy with a smile. “I source cheaper fabrics with similar weights and textures to the final fabrics for sampling and fitting. You can make changes without having a lot of wastage and extra costs,” she continues. “Once I’m happy with everything, I think more about colour, finishes and what sort of embellishments I need and go to the material wholesalers.” Anyone who has ventured into a fabric shop in search of one very particular coloured bolt of Dupion silk or something specific in mind knows there is no guarantee it will be there. “It can be so hard finding what you’re looking for,” exclaims Amy. “I go and source material with a clear vision in mind. Although, when you get to the wholesales there are always different things or more options and it can be confusing,” she laughs. “There’s a fabric store in Fortitude Valley that stocks left over roles from brands such as Lisa Ho and Dolce & Gabbana and they have great selection of quality materials.” After a few more late nights sewing in ‘design shed 2’ and coffee trips to the little café across the QUT creative industries courtyard, the silk, wool and georgette garments for Amy’s final collection will be ready. Although, this isn’t the only project Amy has been thinking about. “I’m required to have two side projects. I have recently finished producing a ‘capsule collection.’ It’s like a mini collection that branches off the graduate collection in terms of concept, but I tried to translate a more fun aesthetic into flowing pieces,” explains Amy. “It is less tailored
and corporate and therefore more wearable for a younger target market.”
to gain experience taking fashion design and business to the next level.”
Amy’s capsule collection was recently stocked in ‘The Fleet Store’, a vibrant pop-up boutique founded and run by QUT fashion students. Majoring in business as well as in fashion, Amy’s second side project was overseeing the marketing of the store. In previous years it has been situated in the Brisbane Wintergarden and at the QUT Gardens Point Campus. “This year the store was set up in a shipping container in the middle of the Kelvin Grove campus,” says Amy. “It was very innovative and gave design students a chance
“Ultimately, in the future I would like to have an Amy Chen label, however investing in launching a brand is a huge risk. I want to build my experience first. If I’m going to start my label, I’m going to do it when I can give it my best shot,” she smiles. “Internships are a huge part of transitioning into the industry, there is a scholarship each year to work with a designer in New York and I would love that. It’s so weird not to be able to plan past graduation but at the same time, it’s very exciting.”
WORDS Thea Halpin
dressed to impress Coming off the back of an election season, it is hard to see Australia drenched in anything but the foul odour of negativity and bitterness. Compassion did not run high on an agenda of tougher borders and stricter economics. Through the self-doubting, finger pointing and selfie-taking our political leaders have exhausted the Australian public, that resembles little more than a politically apathetic and socially sceptical bunch. In this sea of perpetual pessimism it is easy to forget Australia’s privileged position on the world stage. In Sierra Leone, a small nation of six million people, the wealth and equality we take for granted is unheard of. For those who never progressed beyond Grade 10 geography, Sierra Leone is wedged in between Guinea and Liberia on the West Coast of Africa. Claims to fame include being one of the most religiously tolerant nations on earth in which interfaith marriage is common and accepted, and Leonardo DiCaprio once pretending to go there for the movie Blood Diamond. Sierra Leone also lays the unfortunate claim to fame as being one of the worst places on earth to be born a woman.
Incomprehensible does not even begin to describe the statistics of the life of a woman growing up in Sierra Leone. The prospects of a girl in Sierra Leone leave more than just a little to be desired. Arranged marriages begin as young as 11 and 62 per cent of women are married off before the age of 18. One Australian charity is trying to change this in a slightly unconventional way. One Girl is a Melbourne based charity that focuses on improving the lives of women in Sierra Leone through education. Their annual Do it in a Dress campaign is in its third year and is hoping to double last year’s fundraising effort that saw 700 volunteers raise $280 000 for women in Sierra Leone. It asks participants to don a school dress in order to raise money for the charity. Teagan Hood is volunteering with One Girl for the second year in a row. She got on board last year
as the Queensland Grassroots Coordinator after finding she has a passion for women’s education. “The thing that motivates me the most to push on with advocacy work is the idea that 60 million girls around the world are not in school and that up to 70 per cent of the world’s illiterate people are female,” Teagan says. One Girl’s annual Do it in a Dress campaign launched at the beginning of August and runs through the second half of the year with October as its official month. “The idea behind the campaign is that you wear a school dress, do some sort of activity in it and people sponsor you. Every $300 raised gives a girl in Sierra Leone access to education for a year,” Teagan says. In the Western world, few of us think twice about basic skills like reading and writing. However, growing up in a country where a girl’s chances of reaching high
school are less than her chances of being married by 18 makes education a valuable commodity. “An educated girl becomes an educated woman. A woman who ensures her children go to school, just like she did. Educating a girl improves the local economy more than any other type of investment,” Teagan says. Education is not the only area in which Sierra Leonean women experience disadvantage. Sexual violence is rampant in Sierra Leone, with many women left unsupported and unprotected. “There’s a 50% chance you’ll be sexually abused before you turn 18 and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll experience some kind of sexual violence in your lifetime,” Teagan says. Teagan firmly believes that education provides more than just academic knowledge. “Education is more than just
getting a good report card; it’s about communication skills and confidence levels. It blows my mind that there are so many people not being given the basic understanding of the world that I took for granted in my youth.” Teagan’s advocacy work does not end with Do it in a Dress. Aside from being one of the highest fundraisers of last year’s Live Below the Line campaign Teagan is deferring her degree for a year and heading to India for six months to volunteer. As far as future career prospects, Teagan sees her future in development. “I would love a job that allows me to go into communities and work with them on their biggest problems, but I also love getting people in Australia excited about making a change in their lifestyles to impact people they will never meet.” From Teagan’s perspective finding your charity niche is as much about you as it is about those you are helping. “I would encourage every person to find the cause that they’re passionate about and whether they make an impact by donating their money or their time, it’s worth it to be able to have the personal satisfaction that you get when knowing that someone’s life is better, even though you may never meet,” she says. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to do your part and know that you’ve changed someone’s life.” For the moment however, her message is simple and gender inclusive. “I’d love for everyone to get their dress on this October and make a splash in their community. It’s so easy and fun for girls and for boys.”
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Small Town Love
PHOTOGRAPHY Natalie McKain HAIR & MAKE UP Nikki Matthews MODELS Malachi and Kristina @ Viviens
WORDS Marnie Buchecker
Adventuring On a student budget
Sometimes I wish I was retired. The idea of napping without guilt, crocheting myself an ugly pair of mittens and endless sudoku is enticing. But that’s not what leaves me wishing I was old and grey, it’s the travel fund that I’m going to have saved up by then. If I’m playing sudoku, it’s going to be on a train from Budapest to Kaposvar. Unfortunately, I don’t have that retiree budget just yet, I have the budget of a uni student with a couple of part time jobs. So, I present to you my retiree-style holidays on a student budget.
UNDER $4500
Italy & the mediterranean Gelati in Rome. The Mediterranean cruise. Endless photos of scenery through grimy bus windows. This is what comes to my mind when I think of the ultimate holiday across Western Europe (minus the dirty bus windows). If you’re keen to skip the hard backpacker lodge beds and embrace the luxuries of fine dining and shopping, perhaps this 15 day trip is for you. So, what will it cost you? I found that the cheapest times of year to embark on a holiday are during early May or mid-October. These are usually considered to be “quiet” or “off” seasons, so hotels and airlines tend to drop their prices around these times of year.
Leaving from Brisbane, return flights to Rome with British Airways will cost around $1919. The earlier you can book long flights like this, the better. If you’re willing to pay a little more, you can skip the stopovers, but who wants to miss the chance to say they’ve “technically” been to Dubai? Upon arriving in Rome, you’ll have a few hours to explore the city before departing on a seven night cruise around the Mediterranean for $699. Yes, it is that cheap. This particular cruise leaves from Civitavecchia in Rome and travels to Messina in Sicily, Piraeus in Athens, Ephesus, Chania and Crete before returning to Rome.
Photogtaphy by Lauren Michelle Pires
When you return to the city, hop on a three day Busabout tour around Italy for $329. Busabout will provide accommodation for the two nights you’ll be out of the city as you explore the iconic regions of Pompeii, Capri, Sorrento and Amalfi. After your tour, you will have four nights left to explore Rome, with decent accommodation available for around $60 a night. What’s left in your pocket afterwards? A whopping $1,305 worth of spending money. Break it down and that leaves you with $87 spending money per day for extra tours, fine dining and shopping in Rome.
TRAVEL
UNDER $2500
Zhangjiajie, China This beautiful area in midland China is said to have inspired the set for the blockbuster Avatar. Picture incredible rock formations hundreds of metres high and lush forests beyond anything you could ever imagine..and that’s Zhangjiajie. Most of us could probably explore those incredible mountains and the surrounding ancient towns for years. I couldn’t possibly create an
intricate itinerary or plan for a trip to Zhangjiajie, but travellers do recommend a breathtaking trip to Tianmen Mountain.
hotel will cost around $300 for a comfy room all to yourself with incredible mountain views. Yes please.
Return flights from Brisbane to Beijing with Cathay Pacific are about $932, with return flights to Zhangjiajie costing you $386 with Air China. Accommodation for 10 days at the Wantai International
That leaves you with a comfortable $88 per day that you can use towards food, transportation and tours. In China, this will go a very, very long way.
UNDER $1000
road trip to the east coast This next holiday has been on my list since I was about fourteen years old. Hopefully I can embark on it before I’m seventy and putting along in a Winnebago. The beauty of a road trip is how stupidly unplanned it can be, so where you stop is up to you. Continue down the M1 and A1, stopping where you please. Petrol for the entire trip down the east coast should cost around $200 - $250 each way depending on where you buy your fuel.
Road Trip Essentials: • Tent • Esky • Plenty of bottled water, fresh fruit and nuts • GPS/map • Towels • Togs • Your favourite hoodie • Polaroid camera • A playlist full of the greatest and corniest songs imaginable • Travel pillows • Thongs
UNDER $10 For under $10 you can either “couch surf” across Brisbane for as long as $10 will allow or download some plane sound effects and play them to yourself while munching down on a packet of Nobby’s Nuts ($3.21) on your way to the beach. Sorry.
WORDS Nicole Pires
Catriona Drummond behind pig city
“Jeremy Neale is the King of Brisbane and if you don’t agree, I will fight you” As the above statement would suggest, Catriona Drummond is passionate about the Brisbane music scene. Earlier this year, she channelled that zeal and enthusiasm into drawing a whole stack of Brisbane band members and artists into one huge graphic. I met with Catriona in Brisbane’s famous coffee house Brew (ironically both sipping on tea). After getting to hang out and interview her for an hour, I took two things away. She’s crazily humble
for such a talented youngster, and I know that if I could have stolen any idea and done it myself, it would have been to create the ridiculous Brisbane band map that she did. The poster has been showing as a part of the Brisbane City Council LIVE Program at the State Library of Queensland. Catriona’s involvement in the project was completely accidental. After designing the poster, someone involved in the exhibition stumbled upon her work and asked if it could be included. “I think they just stalker found it
on the Internet. Which is fair go because that’s what I felt with all the bands, I just Facebook stalked them and tracked them down. And the guy just emailed me and said hey I found this poster and just also happened to have a massive Brisbane band exhibition at the same time. So it was just timed ridiculously well,” says Catriona. The result is an 11 x 4 meters high wall filled with around 80 bands and 300 cartoon heads of artists. “I was originally like, let’s make a poster with all the bands in Brisbane because there aren’t that many right. Right? And then it just kept growing and going nuts and
is like a three-headed monster,” she says. The title of the piece, Pig City, is a throwback to the Joh BjelkePetersen era of the 1980’s where there was a lot of corruption in the Queensland police and Government. This caused rebellion coming up from the Brisbane band scene and a band called The Parameters released their single Pig City about it. Catriona was passionate about the Brisbane music scene before she started the project. However, this was intensified when she began it. “I really started going to more shows once I started the band poster. I thought I knew a lot about Brisbane music when I started but that was the fringgin tip of the iceberg. I discovered a lot of different things on the way. I’m definitely more gung ho about bands than I was before. I’ve accidentally become an amateur professional on Brisbane bands because I know all of them now. Like every single one,” she says. The Brisbane music scene has famously exploded recently and music lovers all over Australia have been trying to figure out what’s in the water here (definitely the fluoride). Catriona’s favourite artist from these uprising bands is Brisbane sweetheart and resident cool cat, Jeremy Neale. “Jeremy is like the God of Brisbane. The poster is like Jeremy Neale and friends. He was the most annoying person to graph on because he has like sixty bazillion side projects. Jeremy Neale is the King of Brisbane and if you don’t agree, I will fight you.”
Catriona also shares her favourites of the new wave of Brisbane bands emerging. “In regards to music I’m digging Chinatown Carpark and Andrew Markwell. I think we’re going to have a next massive wave after indie pop and it’s going to break through and smash everyone else. Hopefully, post-dubstep EDM, Skrillex hip hop. That’s my dream. I think the flaw with Brisbane, well Australia in general, we feel like we don’t have a right to create a new genre. But we have such an opportunity,” she says. Speaking to Catriona about when she first got into art, she can relate it to her dad’s encouragement and her mum’s involvement in the art scene. “I think my dad kind of passive aggressively got me into it. Like making me draw when I was younger he was living through me or something.” As a budding artist in Brisbane, she didn’t really get into the creative art scene until later in high school. “Well, younger you don’t really know about the scene. I think my awareness started in late grade 11/ early grade 12. Brisbane’s got an amazing creative scene in general. We definitely don’t have the same scene that Sydney and Melbourne have. Which is fine because we’re Brisbane and we don’t have to copy,” says Catriona. The poster has all sorts of artists and bands that have come out of Brisbane, including some pop stars and classic rock bands. This received some criticism from music fans, however, Catriona defends all the artists she included. “The first time I put it out onto the Tumblrs there were like three people raging
at the fact that Cody Simpson was on the poster. It’s Brisbane and surrounds, he still exists. Just because you hate him it doesn’t mean I don’t put him on.” Catriona’s in her second year of an animation degree at Griffith University (Queensland College of the Arts). She chose animation because she wanted to learn to draw well and that’s one degree that teaches you that to a certain degree. One of the main things people take away from her band poster is how well the artist has managed to capture the personality of each musician in one cartoon drawing. Catriona downplays how she has accomplished this so well. “I was on the grind just drawing faces over and over again and they just started blending together. If you have a look around and focus on specific ones singly it’s just like their eyes are crossed and it all started blurring together. It originally started as hey I want to do this for Brisbane music and I also wanted to exercise my character design. I was trying to get better at drawing faces and I hope I did,” she says. I think Catriona’s drawing is ace and I’m looking forward to whatever she comes up with in the future. At the moment, Catriona’s on a university exchange in America. She has plans to put out a printed version of the band poster within the next year. This poster is continually evolving and it will include new faces from rising Brisbane bands and artists “It’s not finished, it’s never over.”
PHOTO Caitlin Worthington MODEL Lily Connors (Scene) STYLING Emma Bergmeier-Varian (Dropstich) BEAUTY & HAIR Rebecca Joanne
WORDS Rachel Abad
the darkness of a transition The soft breeze flies through our hair as we push higher and higher in our seat. The sun glistens through the crisp spring leaves as the birds and the breeze sing. We push through the air, our knees tucking harder towards our chest to heighten our swing. Our weakening fingers, so tender and small, grasp the ropes on either side of us ready to push through, ready to swing higher and higher. Only the sun fades, the silence becomes deafening and the swing stops. We stand on the concrete square, watching the world become dark. We wait in the silence, so very still, so silent. We wait and we wait. Moments fly past us turning to minutes, to days, to years. As if time is nothing for our soul, only our bodies. Sweat grows heavy on our palms as the anxiety drowns us. We all wait for the change, the moment we move but it never comes and we never move. Until we have waited to long and decide to step forward, out of the darkness, out of the silence and the stillness and into the world. We stop and turn to look, only to realize we crave for the time of waiting to come back. We look at the darkness, at the invisibility, at the stability and long for that time in the dark. We wait forever to become seen, to live without silence only to know we have lost the stillness and its not coming back. We waited in the dark only to discover our youth left us there, yearning to become an adult.
WORDS Nicole Pires
Photography by Amanda Summons and Carla Gottgens
Things Tavi taught me Things got pretty crazy at the IZE camp when we discovered that Tavi Gevinson was paying a visit to Australia. For those unfamiliar with Tavi, she is the brainchild behind the blog Style Rookie and creator and editor-in-chief of Rookie Mag. She is famously known for starting Style Rookie when she was only 12-years-old, and has since become a style icon and inspiration to many teenagers. We were stoked to be able to see Tavi present the keynote speech and attend Rookie Day as a part of the Melbourne Writer’s Festival. At the age of 17, Tavi has accomplished so much already. We learnt so much from her words of wisdom that we just had to share it with you all.
Own your shit, but don’t be a dickhead about it. Tavi talked about how when you receive a compliment on something you’ve produced or something about your appearance, there is a tendency to not accept it. It seems natural that when someone says something nice about an outfit we brush it off in a “oh I’ve had this old thing for ages” kind of way. Tavi talked specifically about how she took inspiration from an artist who was unable to look at his pieces when he finished them because he would always find flaws. She thought this was the cool way to be and applied that same attitude with her own
work. It’s the mentality where you criticise something that’s just been complemented. Then she realised that this was a bit douchey. She enunciated the fact that girls have a tendency of doing this, we’re taught that it’s the polite thing to not show pride over our work. Tavi advised that the best way to deal with compliments is a simple thank you. You don’t have to be narcissistic, but it’s important to be able to be proud of your work.
It’s okay to fangirl. Fangirling is one of those taboo phases in our lives that we leave to our 13-year-old Zac Efron infatuated selves. Obsessing over celebrities is not cool and being
artist who died young including Ian Curtis and members of the 27-club. However, when she was battling depression, she was uninspired and didn’t produce work she was happy with. ‘Suffering for her art’ did not make her any more accomplished as an artist. It wasn’t until she came to grips with what she was dealing with and was able to manage it that she started reproducing good work again.
How much sharing is too much sharing.
labelled a “fangirl” is offensive. Tavi taught me that this shouldn’t be the case. A large part of her keynote speech addressed the issue of fangirling. Tavi is (not so secretly) obsessed with Taylor Swift and totally owns it and doesn’t feel shameful that she listens to “Red” on a daily basis. She is also a big believer in expressing this in anyway that you want. I once tore down my shrine to Nirvana, worried that I’d seem like an obsessed freak with Kurt Cobain’s suicide note on my wall. However, Tavi taught me that you should express what you feel in whatever way you want. It’s not silly or girly to feel these intense connections with bands you’ve never met. It’s actually completely natural and
you should be able to fangirl however you want.
You don’t need to suffer for your art. There is a common misconception that to be great in whatever field you pursue, you have to suffer for your art. Tavi shared some really personal information about her first-hand experience with depression. When she was first diagnosed, she was joyous at the fact that she could finally become legitimised like all the other crazy artists who suffered for their art before her. This mentality has been engrained in society due to the deaths of depressed artists like Vincent Van Gogh, and any other
As a writer, Tavi is often writing stories that draw upon her personal experiences and her intimate feelings. When you’re a writer who uses this method to connect with readers, there is a fine line between sharing something because it’s useful for your piece and ostracising readers because it’s too personal. She used the example of discussing what happened when she broke up with her boyfriend. She mentioned the break-up briefly and then moved on to how she dealt with it. She didn’t chronicle the details of what happened or recite their conversations message by message. Tavi taught me that when you’re writing about yourself, you want to make sure that you’re not over sharing. Some stuff is okay to publish and it’s a totally viable means of story telling. Other stuff is to be left to the journal or reserved for your best friend, whose job is to go over every (painstaking) detail.
Milko Ice-Cream
stylepot BY ELLE MCKAY www.stylepot.com.au
Food is a wonderful part of life; it evokes so many feelings and so many memories. I still remember my Dad making peanut butter bread and bringing it along to my class picnic in grade one. I thought it was just the best thing ever, and I made sure that everybody knew it was my Dad who had cooked it! I can recall my 8-year-old self gnawing away at Mum’s chicken drumsticks, and I remember saving my five cent pieces to buy Milkos whenever and wherever I could. (Wait… I still do that.) Here’s to those childhood memories and the food we hold dear - I hope you find happiness in these slightly grown-up versions.
milko ice-cream WHAT YOU’LL NEED 1.5L milk 400g condensed milk 2/3 cup powdered milk 1/3 cup malted milk powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 1/4 cup caster sugar 6 egg yolks
WHAT TO DO Place the egg yolks and sugar in a medium-sized bowl, and whisk together until pale and fluffy. Set aside. Place the milk, condensed milk, powdered milk, malted milk and vanilla in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until any lumps have dissolved and continue to heat milk until it is constantly steaming, but don’t allow it to boil. Turn off the heat. Using a ladle, pour one spoonful of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks and whisk until combined and smooth. Repeat twice more,
whisking well until the yolks have thinned out and heated up. Return the milk mixture to medium heat. Start whisking the milk mixture, and add the egg yolks, pouring in a slow, steady stream. Whisk constantly for 5 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of the spoon and resembles custard. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and rest it in a bowl of ice water. Continue to whisk until the mixture is no longer steaming – avoid splashing any water into the bowl. Place a sieve over a large, heatproof container. Pour the mixture through the sieve and into the container, and place (uncovered) in the fridge for 10 minutes to cool. Once cool, place the lid on the container and put the mixture into the freezer. Freeze for 2 hours and then whisk until smooth. Return to the freezer and allow the icecream to freeze right through.
buttermilk fried drumsticks WHAT YOU’LL NEED 6-8 chicken drumsticks 250ml buttermilk 1 onion, sliced roughly 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 cup plain flour 2 litres vegetable or peanut oil, for deep frying Sea salt flakes, to serve
Buttermilk Fried Drumsticks
WHAT TO DO Combine the drumsticks, buttermilk, onion and thyme leaves in a large bowl and use your hands to mix and combine well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. (Allow chicken to marinate for as long as possible because the buttermilk tenderises the meat.) Preheat oven to 180˚C and line a baking tray with aluminium foil. Combine the garlic powder, paprika and plain flour in a large bowl.
Remove the drumsticks from the buttermilk and allow any excess liquid to drain away. Coat drumsticks in the flour mixture and place on a plate. If the drumsticks get a bit sticky, dust them in the flour again and shake to remove any excess. Place oil in a heavy-based saucepan or wok, and heat to 170˚C. Carefully lower drumsticks into the oil and fry, in batches, until golden brown. Transfer to prepared baking tray and bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Sprinkle with salt flakes and serve.
peanut butter bread with chocolate icing WHAT YOU’LL NEED 2 cups plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 cup milk, warmed 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter 250g milk chocolate 3 teaspoons cream
WHAT TO DO Preheat the oven to 180ËšC and line a bread tin with non-stick paper.
a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
Combine the flour, baking powder and brown sugar in a large bowl and make a well in the centre.
To make the chocolate icing, place the chocolate and cream into a heat-proof bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stirring half way through. Stir until combined so you have a thick, glossy ganache. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before spreading over the bread. Slice and enjoy!
Warm the milk in the microwave or over the stove, and whisk in the peanut butter. Then whisk in the egg. Stir milk mixture into the flour until you have a smooth dough. Press the dough into prepared tin and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer to
WORDS Nicole Pires
Hopefully I’m Going to Peak In My Twenties I may sometimes imagine that my life is a Sophia Coppola film and I’m a troubled Scarlett Johansson type trying to find my place in the world. Unlike Johansson, when I’m walking away from that boy in the street, the Jesus & Mary Chain song Just Like Honey will not be playing in the background that is my life. In reality, timing will have it that P!nk will be playing on the radio somewhere around me and that life changing moment is forever ruined by So What. This is my life. And no I can’t just say “so what”, because I’m definitely not a rock star. I see my life as the grand quest of figuring out who I am. You go through your whole childhood being told be yourself and then suddenly you reach an age where to be normal, you have to adopt a social identity. This never worked out for me in high school and as a teenager, I’ve gone through multiple identity crises. My thirteen-year-old self decided that wearing a tie like Avril Lavigne over my clothes was awesome. I also thought that a normal declaration of my love for Jesse McCartney would be to wear an “I Love Jeese” t-shirt from Supré and sign my
name as Nicole McCartney instead of my real surname. Then there was the Veronicas phase where I went total “punk princess” with my tutu skirt and stripy knee high socks. How anti-establishment of me! At the age of 18, figuring it all out hasn’t become any easier. Recently I was trying to live exclusively in stripes. But then I realised that I’m not Alexa Chung and unless I’m willing to chop off my hair and exclusively date British indie rock Gods, it’s not going to happen for me. I’ve never been apart of a distinctive scene and I sometimes like to imagine myself as an intellectual artsy type person who attends gallery openings and drinks wine. When I do hang out with well-cultured people and I’m like I haven’t read enough classical literature to be apart of this conversation. Not to mention that my knowledge of wine begins and ends at Fruity Lexia. I’m hoping that when I’m in my twenties I’m going to have it all together. I’ll be one of those girls who goes out partying every week in a completely new outfit and somehow still manages to afford
to eat at organic cafes. Long gone will be the days of sacrificing nice meals in place of $2 McDoubles and taking lunch to uni so I can put some of my lunch money towards $3 basics on a Thursday. When I’m in my twenties I’m going to know exactly what to wear in every social situation and my life will actually be as good as my Instagram portrays it to be. I’m going to read those books that I’ve been putting off for ages and download the discography of that pretentious folk musician so I can fully appreciate his “art”. Sometimes when I imagine living my best-self as a reality, it occurs to me that deep down that I’m destined to end up like the disorganised and chaotic character Hannah Hogarth from Girls. However, I remind myself that perfect Marnie loses the plot and sings that horrible Kanye West medley. And Hannah turns out to be Lena Dunham. My life may not end up being as beautiful as a Sofia Coppola film but there’s hope that I may peak in my twenties after all.
Lena Dunham as Hannah in Girls
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kalindy millions Kalindy Millions is the talented photographer behind the “What Kind of Bird Are You” editorial. Her photography style can be described as dreamy and nostalgic, with each image possessing a unique beauty. Having recently moved to Brisbane, IZE introduced Kalindy Millions.
When did you begin taking pictures? On my 6th or 7th birthday my mum got me a little film camera, it was pink and I stuck stickers all over it, it never left my side until it broke. I’ve been in love with photography ever since.
Aside from photography, you also run and make clothes for We Were Warriors. What are your other hidden talents? I can draw! I love illustration. I can also fix sinks and build fences, I’m pretty handy
What invoked your passion for photography? With photography almost anything is possible! I think that’s what I love most about it. Working on an idea you have envisioned in your head and seeing it come to fruition is really rewarding.
What would be your ideal subject to photograph? A mermaid! Or anyone who will let me cover them in glitter!
You recently made a move from Sydney to Brisbane. Has this changed your photography style? Yes it has, Brisbane is full of so many great creative people, so I’ve been focusing more on fashion photography and collaborations. Having previously not known Brisbane well, or many people here I’ve found so many great locations and so many wonderful people to work with. It’s been really fun so far! Who/what do you draw inspiration from? Old movies, fairy tales, fashion, history, pop culture and I especially love the work of Tim Walker and Bill Henson.
Do you prefer digital or film and why? I love the immediacy of digital, I like that it can be forgiving and I love that you can create almost anything with a digital camera and a few spare hours! The quality of film is yet to be replicated by a digital camera but it is getting close. But, film is so romantic and beautiful, it takes time, patience, care and skill! And I love the anticipation felt waiting for film to develop, am I allowed to say both?!? Where can you see yourself in three years time? Road tripping through America! Or maybe I will have a little shop and gallery! Who knows? What I do know for sure I will have camera in hand ready to capture all adventures had!
Candyland Photography by Aimee Stoddart Modelling by Bree Fry @ Chadwicks Makeup by Claudia Magro Hair by Dotty Russell Styling by Briana Catherine Wall Thanks to Estate of Mind Boutique, Princess Polly and St Frock Sydney for clothing
Keepsake ‘Start Over’ dress, Emma Sadie Thomson triangle clutch and St Frock ‘Yasmin’ playsuit (worn underneath)
Suck is Free jacket, Motel Rocks ‘Fonda’ halter top, Finders Keepers ‘Hotel’ shorts, Princess Polly belt and Suck is Free snapback
Motel Rocks ‘Bianca’ blouse, Princess Polly ‘Muskateers’ necklace, Stylists own gold foil dress, Suck is Free skirt (worn underneath)
Suck is Free mesh tank, This is Genevieve ‘Sail to the Moon’ dress (worn underneath), Suck is Free leggings, Emma Sadie Thomson cuff, Stylists own headpiece and roller-skates
St Frock ‘Colette’ bodysuit, Motel Rocks ‘Eddie’ jumpsuit, This is Genevieve ‘Electric Feel’ skirt, House of Cards flamingo clutch, Princess Polly ‘Night Moves’ necklace
Faith & Lola ‘Next Stop’ top, Suck is Free long sleeved top (worn underneath), Mink Pink ‘Magic Floral shorts, Princess Polly shorts and Jelly sandals
Alex Mearing ‘Diamond Cut’ dress, Such is Free mesh crop top, August Street ‘Vicki’ skirt
House of Holland sunglasses
NEW tunes
AM - Arctic monkeys When you’re a band as influential as the Arctic Monkeys, each release is going to be hyped. Looking at the band’s history, it’s clear that their sound has progressed from classic British indie-rock to their own brand of rock ‘n’ roll on this new release. This has been a gradual transition, with “Humbug” and “Suck It and See” marking a darker and more mature sound from the Arctic Monkeys. However, it’s only on “AM” that the band has truly solidified their sound. Some may argue that it’s the best album of their career.
The strong drum machine beat and grinding guitar on opening track Do I Wanna Know sets the mood for the album. It’s as lyrically genius and mysterious as Alex Turner always is. R U Mine is more reminiscent of classic Artic Monkeys with an off-beat drum pattern with plenty of fills and a unique rock guitar riff. The band always excels at producing really beautiful slow tracks that are still full of vigour and life. On “AM”, No. 1 Party Anthem shows a hint of sadness beneath the lovely piano and the song possesses a feeling of yearning. Mad Sounds is
the most pulled back track of the record. With beautifully sung “oo la la la’s” it’s catchy and memorable. Another standout track is the already released Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High. Similar to the two opening tracks, it’s got the kind of distinctive beat that makes you either move your head, your shoulders or feet in time with the beat. The album is flawless, it’s cohesive as a whole and each track has it’s own unique charm. “AM” really is a standout release from the Artic Monkeys.
MUSIC
The night Hero Waste Time Getting Better - sures Sures are the young band from Sydney that you have to keep a watch out for. Their first self-titled EP released in 2012 was full of dreamy, surf-rock and nostalgic sounding tunes. Their second EP, “The Night Hero Waste Time Getting Better” is more grown-up, building on their fuzzy indie pop sound and adding an element of darkness. On the first tack of the EP Night, you expect the song to
burst into an indie pop melody after the tantalising opening guitar riff. Instead, a firm drum beat kicks in and it’s a lot rockier than one would have expected. The song gains momentum until it slows down and fades out with a distorted outro. The third track Waste was the first single released off the EP and is easily the standout. It builds to an explosive crescendo and the emotion that is emanated
through the intense vocals, guitar and drums is unparalleled. Time and Getting Better follow this hazy, subdued sound that has replaced their earlier sundrenched surfrock. This shift from “Stars” is definitely welcomed. Sures have shown versatility on the “The Night Hero Waste Time Getting Better” and proven their place in the Australian music scene.
Lost and Sound – Kashmere Club The second release “Lost and Sound” from Melbourne trio, Kashmere Club has demonstrated that they’re more than your runof-mill Australian alternative rock band. Even their name and typeface give off a distinct rock vibe that’s unlike the synth-filled alternative rock that has dominated the music scene recently. In “Lost and Sound”, there is less of a folk sound than their debut EP “Roundabout Girl”. Instead, the EP boasts a fuller rock
sound. As a whole, the EP reads as a narrative with each song transitioning beautifully into the next. Soldier is the opening track off the EP. With smooth vocals, a melodic riff and a catchy chorus, Dom Alessio from Triple J perfectly puts it that “this one’s got a great rock’n’roll swagger to it.” It flows perfectly into Blanket, a bluesy rock tune with killer guitar. Lonely Man is the peak of the record. The harrowing vocals sung by lead
singer Bill O’Connell “and a lonely man is all I’ll ever be”, should give the song a gloomy vibe. However, paired with bassist Jono Colliver’s harmonies in the background, there is a unique charm to the song. The EP picks up again on Reunion, with a more upbeat guitar riff and drums. Baba Louey finishes the EP in the same vein it started, an alluring and memorable rock ‘n’ roll vibe.
WORDS Caitlin Puplett
Young brisbane bands to watch Johnny & the fembots Retro and adorable, Johnny and The Fembots are inspired by 50s and 60s pop. This delightful sixpiece band ooze with gleeful melodies, and charming lyrics, and like Surfer Cats are made up from members of many other bands. It seems as if Brisbane is breeding indie super groups, and this one in particular has some short, but incredibly refreshing, songs. Effortless vocals, particularly in their recent single ‘Hey! Don’t! add a wistful feel to their songs. They are releasing a new video for one of their songs in the foreseeable future (they haven’t announced any specific dates just yet!), and if it’s as cute as the one for Hey! Don’t! you’ll be seeing plenty of retro styled dresses and slicked back hair accompanied by some wonderfully swinging beats and hooks.
Surfer cats
Surfer Cats, the name says it all doesn’t it? These cool cats from Inner Brisbane bring you songs about cats that surf… or just cats… or just surfing. Either way, their songs are constantly filled with bouncy riffs and catchy lyrics that seem to get stuck in your head all day. With their enthusiastic, yet laid back stage presence,
Surfer Cats give such a vibrant and youthful vibe to all of their songs. They formed from several other bands, including Tundra, and describe themselves as a ‘[multiple bands] lovechild supergroup.’ They recently played at the Powerhouse and 4 Walls Festival, and have been supporting acts for Brisbane babes, Go Violets, and numerous
others. Their latest single Vampire Cat is a classic example of Surfer Cat’s hilarious and fun lyrics, making light of teenage lust and obsession, one of their main themes throughout their songs. Set to play at Black Bear Lodge’s Surf night, these kids are expected to break through the Brisbane Indie Music scene at any moment.
Sports fan Three nerds who don’t believe you need guitars to be rock stars. This is how Sports Fan describe themselves, and quite rightly. This three-piece band really demonstrates how you can still make a clever and catchy alternative pop song without using the usual intricate and crafty guitar riffs. Similar to other Brisbane band, Ball Park Music, Sports Fan’s lyrics are quite different, clever, wordy and sometimes hilarious. One song, Shallow Water, describes small things that can make a crush deteriorate, simple things such as having food stuck in teeth, but
MUSIC
hilarious all the same. Through their well-rehearsed harmonies and ability to create such a great energy from only three people, these boys manage to pull off a sound that really captivates an alternative audience. City and Sound reviewed their latest single and described the band as “a breath of fresh air within the crowded indie pop scene.” I couldn’t have said it better myself, to see such a unique and different style come from Brisbane’s youth is indeed refreshing and a much needed turning point for the Brisbane music scene.
the trouble with templeton Their cover of The District Sleeps Alone by much loved The Postal Service, on Triple J’s like a version 2 weeks ago, gained plenty of attention from the Brisbane scene. It showed their ability to play for all music styles, even ones unlike their own, and this cover in particular is a huge favourite of mine. Their usual style reminds you of the heavy tunes you would chuck on
in a fit of rage (usually directed at ‘that stupid boy who didn’t like you back’ or your ‘totes super lame parents’). Describing their sound as alternative rock, TTWT vary from a heavier and edgier rock, and an alternative acoustic sound, evident from only the few songs they have released from their first album. They have played at Harvest Festival and have toured
with many well-known Australian bands including, Matt Corby and Sparkadia. Heading overseas in just under two weeks, The Trouble With Templeton are one upcoming Brisbane band to keep your eyes on.
INTERVIEW Nicole Pires
cub sPoRt
The first thing you notice about Brisbane band Cub Sport, aside from their über catchy melodies, is their charming charisma and fun attitude. Cub Sport have always emanated a positive vibe, which is channelled through their upbeat tunes and lyrics. These youngsters have been working the Brisbane music scene for a while now and have just released their second EP entitled “Paradise. IZE was lucky enough to catch up with Cub Sport at the 4Walls Festival in Brisbane where the band was headlining. This was just before they changed their name to Cub Sport after a complaint from Scouts Australia, something that they completely took in their stride. Band members Tim Nelson, Zoe Davis and Sam Netterfield were full of smiles and laughs, and if I were to write All Laugh each time this happened, it would have appeared too many times. First of all, congratulations on the new ‘Paradise’ EP! How are you feeling about the initial reception? TIM: It’s been good, yeah. Everyone’s been really nice about it so that’s good. Is it too early to tell? TIM: Maybe. SAM: It’s pretty fresh.
TIM: The first day has been all right. SAM: If it stays like this we’ll be happy. Your first EP “Do You Hear” was produced by talented John Castle (Washington, The Cat Empire) and you worked with him again on this EP. What differences did you find in the recording process of your first EP in comparison to
your second? TIM: Not really too much. We’ve had a pretty good working relationship with him. We’ve kind of developed together at the same time so it hasn’t really been much of a drastic change between the two. It’s more just a gradual development. ZOE: It’s always fun.
MUSIC
“I feel like we played at rics and x&y on alternating weekends” Has it been easier this time around? All agree in unison that it’s always been easy. ZOE: It’s always been easy with John. SAM: He’s always been open to trying new things and what not. TIM: He has lots of good ideas stuff. ‘Paradise’ is bursting full of energy and exuberance with Write You a Letter being the only really stripped back song on the EP. What kind of aesthetic were you channelling on the EP as a whole? TIM: I don’t know. I think it’s more something you try to achieve with an album. It kind of has highs and lows. Well not lows as such but there’s a bit of contrast, yeah. And so, I think we tried to achieve that with our first EP and I think that to have a more downbeat song, a stripped back one like Write You a Letter, was really just an attempt to make it not just one dynamic the whole time. It’s to kind of mix it up throughout the EP. You are about to embark on Jinja Safari’s headlining tour, which covers a whole range of inner cities and more rural areas. Where are you looking forward to playing the most? SAM: We always have a lot of fun in Adelaide. ZOE: I’m looking forward to going back to Perth and we’re also going
to Margaret River, which will be nice. TIM: We haven’t played any regional shows since the Ball Park Music tour so it will be nice to play in some other places other than just capital cities. Yeah, so I’m looking forward to that. Time to talk about Splendour in the Grass. First of all, can you sum up the entire experience in three words? TIM: Are we doing one each? Wild. ZOE: I was going to say wild. Tiring. SAM: Yep, tiring. ZOE: Fun. What was the band’s energy like before taking to the G.W. McLennan stage? SAM: It was good. ZOE: We were kind of hectic trying to blow up the balloons before because we left it until like 20 minutes before we did it. So we were back stage trying to quickly blow these up and draw on them and stuff. But once we got on stage it was very fun. TIM: My brother was backstage for it and he said afterwards that he’s never seen me that nervous before something. So, I think I was apparently quite nervous but by the time we got on there and saw how many people were there to watch us was, a lot of fun. Highlight of your set? TIM: Maybe Evie when all the balloons came out, everyone was
going nuts. SAM: I think my highlight was that people were there to see us. ZOE: Yeah. SAM: That was nice. Apart from the on stage performance, what other shenanigans did Cub Sport get up to during Splendour? TIM: Just a lot of mingling backstage. SAM: Tim fell in the mud a little bit. TIM: Yeah I ended up like… Yeah I was in the mud a lot. But yeah, we met Haim backstage on Friday after we played and they gave us their rider and stuff. They were making us drinks, that was fun. It ended up being a lot more fun than I had planned. That was good. What did performing at the festival mean to the band? Sam: It was incredible. Zoe: I think it was a good opportunity and it always looks good if you play at a major festival. So it’s a big stepping-stone for us. How did The Great Escape festival in Brighton (England) earlier this year compare to Splendour? TIM: It was really different. The Great Escape was smaller and we were playing mainly to industry people like booking agents and people from record labels and that sort of thing. So this one was more to play to punters who want to come and watch some music for
the fun of it, I guess. At Splendour you performed your well-loved cover medley. You’ve gone from covering Destiny’s Child’s Jumpin’ Jumpin’ to a full blown Beyonce/Destiny’s Child medley spectacular. TIM: Yeah it’s a bit of an evolution. What is it about Beyonce that appeals to Cub Sport? SAM: She’s everything. Laughs. TIM: Yeah she’s amazing. She’s incredible. We started doing the Jumpin’ Jumpin’ cover about half way through the Ball Park Music tour, which was ages ago now. And then we turned it into a two-song medley maybe and it grew into a three-song medley and Splendour was the first time with the new line-up of Destiny’s Child songs. So it isn’t the same one, it’s a new one. They’re all good, it’s hard to choose a bad Destiny’s Child song.
This issue of IZE is themed ‘Youth’. What was it like as a budding musician growing up in Brisbane? SAM: It’s a good music community in Brisbane. It’s been sort of growing a lot in the past few years I think. Yeah it’s pretty exciting to be in this music culture. TIM: There are lots of place as well, well at least a couple, when you’re starting out where you can usually get a gig there and then start from that. Like before we formed Cub Scouts (sic) we used to play together for a while. Like we’d play at Rics and X&Y quite a bit. I feel like we played at Rics and X&Y on alternating weekends. But yeah, it’s good. The band has introduced a lot of your fans to the awesome Brisbane band Major Leagues with them supporting you at Black Bear Lodge in March and staring in the Told You So film clip. What other up-and-coming
Brisbane bands are on your radar? SAM: Not that he’s up-and-coming but Jeremy Neale is incredible. He is really talented: TIM: He has already up and came. ZOE: Came… All laugh. SAM: We really like Major Leagues. TIM: We used to play in a band with Jamiee from Major Leagues and we used to play with Anna from Major Leagues’ other band as well. So we’ve all kind of been playing together for a while. So you’ve just released a second EP and you’re hopping on a huge national tour with Jinja Safari. What is possibly next for Cub Sport? TIM: I think we’re going to keep working on our album, which will be out sometime next year. ZOE: Probably head back overseas towards the end of the year.
past three months via instagram @izemagazine
youth in trouble PHOTOGRAPHER | Laura McGrath STYLIST | Kirby @ You Are What You Wear MODELS | Ashley and Ruby @ Viviens MAKE UP | Bridget Rachelle
Ashley wears: Bardot demin jacket, crop top and shorts and Converse shoes from Hype DC Ruby wears: Bardot overalls and crop top and Converse shoes from Hype DC
Ruby wears: Bardot top (worn as dress), ASOS socks and model’s own shoes Ashley wears: Valleygirl top, stylist’s own vintage denim overalls and Hype DC shoes
Ashley wears: Bardot top (worn as dress)
Ruby wears: Bardot vest and jeans
Ashley wears: Bardot jacket, bralet and shorts and Converse shoes from Hype DC Ruby wears: Valleygirl dress and top and model’s own shoes
Ashley wears: Bardot crop top and shorts, stylist’s own jacket and Converse shoes from Hype DC Ruby wears: Bardot bodysuit and jeans and model’s own shoes
WORDS Matt Meintjes
when we were young
Youth encompasses a pretty broad spectrum of time in one’s lifetime. For this section it will be directed more towards the earlier parts of our lives, our childhood, as I explore some of the best and memorable childhood movies in my experience as a kid. I would think it would be pretty safe to say that Walt Disney almost had a monopoly on kid’s movies during my days as a youngster in the 90’s and early 2000’s. My family still has copies of 101 Dalmations, Toy Story and my personal favourite Peter Pan on VHS tapes. Other Disney
winners include The Lion King, Bambi and Tarzan. I don’t think there is much to be said about why exactly I, along with millions of kids across the world, loved these movies. They just become rooted in your childhood and ingrained in your memory as instant childhood classics. There are of course some later Disney films that came to fit the bill of their older counterparts. Finding Nemo was a lovable and easily-quotable movie that captured our attention whilst Madagascar and Ice Age further capitalised on turning a character set into a group of animals, each with individual quirks that were likable to all children. Undoubtedly Harry Potter also played a pretty big part of your childhood if you’re somewhere in the vicinity of my age. Along with the books, the films truly captured imaginations around the world about magic and the secret lives of witches and wizards that we have all (at some point) craved so badly. The construction of this world and its depiction on the silver-screen is what made it so desirable to children, to the point that fans of the series in the latter years of high-school still feel the need to dress up as characters simply to watch the film. You can’t really argue with that kind of influence.
Another franchise to also make it big in my books as a kid was the original Star Wars trilogy. As a kid, what are some of the most fascinating things to boys? Guns and swords tend to rate pretty highly – so what’s not to like about lightsabers, laser guns, speeding spaceships and the psychic ability of the force? Seriously though, if those didn’t tick your boxes as a young boy as requirements to a good movie, then I don’t know if you really experienced childhood. Again, Star Wars capitalised on a fictitious world in which almost
FILM
anything is seemingly possible. From the desolate desert plains of Tatooine to Yoda’s tiny house in the swamplands of Dagobah, kids are no longer suck in their TV rooms at home but instead zooming along in the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo and Chewbacca at their side. The films also have some truly scary moments for kids – seeing Luke Skywalker lose his hand in a fierce battle and discovering the truth that Darth Vader is in fact his father is traumatising enough for a grown adult, let alone a young boy. But more often than not as a kid you were left wishing that the actors would just stop talking and pull out their lightsabers. After all, those were the best scenes. Being a guy, you can’t blame me for listing Pokemon: The First Movie as one of the most influential films of my lifetime. Pokemon already had most of the world’s population of boys glued to the TV screen as they watched the adventures of Ash and Pikachu unfold before your eyes – so of course turning the series into a movie on the big screen was going to grab our attention. Pokemon is appealing to younger demographics because its explores their imagination and the idea of having fictitious ‘monsters’ that can be your best friends, but also possess some ridiculous
powers that can be used to battle against each other. As kids, what more could you really want? Of course there are some other classic films that I’m missing here. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory took every kid’s love of lollies, chocolate and sweets and turned them into a movie much to the joy of our tastebuds. Spy Kids gets an honourable mention
for its repetitive use of those blue and red 3D glasses (back when 3D was all about things jumping out of the screen). Like Mike gets a personal mention, as there’s nothing more a young boy dreams of than to be a sporting star of any kind. And I don’t think it would be a childhood movie write-up without mentioning The Parent Trap somewhere in here. All in all childhood movies can be what you make them – there’s popular opinion but there’s also personal preference. Everyone has their own ‘classics’ that will stick in their minds as the movies that defined moments of their childhood or lead to obsessions with characters and franchises in the later years of childhood. Re-watching them we may discover that perhaps they weren’t as great as we remembered them to be – but maybe its more the impression they left on us and not the quality of movie that matters.
WORDS Matt Meintjes
NEW releases man of steel Following the recent trend of superhero movies, DC Comics released Man of Steel, a reboot of the Superman franchise earlier in 2013. There have already been six previous iterations of the Man of Steel – so why make another? The last incarnation of the super hero was Superman Returns in 2006. Studio executives claimed that the film failed to properly set up the character in the manner in which they had envisioned. When a reboot was proposed Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) was brought on board as director, and along with heavyweight Christopher Nolan producing, it seemed like Clark Kent would get a real shot at a proper silver-screen depiction. So did it turn out as intended this time around? Yes. Henry Cavil played
the part of the spandex-wearing superhero to a T, his physical stature certainly helped in fulfilling that image. The film follows a nonlinear storyline involving a series of flashbacks to Clark’s childhood and the experiences he has in discovering his powers. Whilst at first confusing it makes for a better story-telling experience as Kent soon becomes the subject of an international manhunt after General Zod, a Kryptonian in search of the Codex that was given to Clark at birth, threatens to destroy Earth if he is not handed over. True fans of Superman were probably disappointed with yet another ‘origin’ story about the superhero, but this negativity was most likely outweighed by the amazing visuals and large-scale final-fight scene. It is by no means an amazing film but it has set up the franchise for a certain sequel. It has already been
announced that a Superman and Batman crossover film is in the works, with Ben Affleck to play the new portrayal of The Dark Knight. Whether or not this is a good choice is debatable – Nolan’s creation of Bale’s Batman certainly feels like a stand-alone trilogy, but it’s certain to still be fresh in the minds of viewers by the time this sequel starts appearing at cinemas. It’s most likely a move for commercial success – after the box office figures that The Avengers rolled in, its no surprise that DC Comics is trying to cash in on the superhero crossover market that its rival Marvel Comics has already exploited. It’s no doubt though that Man of Steel has certainly positioned itself as one of the best movies of the year so far.
FILM
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones So Twilight was a commercial success. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of teenage supernatural-romance flicks as big budged studios search for the next equivalent of the Team Edward vs Team Jacob obsession that plagued teenage girls. 2013 has already brought Beautiful Creatures, an adaption of another popular young adult novel, without much success. I will say that movies that fit the same style of Twilight are not first on my list of movies to-watch, but The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones was surprisingly… not as bad as I thought it could be. Clary Fray (Lily Collins) lives in the lower-end suburbs of New York with her mother (Lena Headey – or if you’re familiar with Game of Thrones – Cersei). Their relationship is relatively fractured; there’s definitely a teenage-angst vibe rubbing off from Clary in the direction of her mother. Things start to get a bit creepy when she begins to notice a strange symbol that no-one else – including her severely friend-zoned best-friend Simon (Robert Sheehan) – can see. She soon learns that she is a descendant of a long line of Shadowhunters – demon killers that protect the “mundane” human world – and her mother has now disappeared after being
tracked down by men working for an individual named Valentine. Her mother holds the key to what is known as the Mortal Cup, an ancient talisman of vital importance to Shadowhunters. Teaming up with Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower), a young but somewhat arrogant Shadowhunter, and his counterparts Alec and Isabelle, the teens go in search of Clary’s mother and the elusive Mortal Cup whilst attempting to stay hidden from the mysterious Valentine. City of Bones certainly makes attempts to differentiate itself from the heavyweight of the genre in Twilight, and to some degree it achieves this. The movie is certainly more lighthearted than the heavy romance of Edward and Bella, and there are actually some lines in the movie that will have you chuckling in your seat. In terms of visuals it also attempts to outdo its predecessor by focusing more on this concept of the demons and the forms they can take. There is one scene in particular in which a demon hunts Clary through her apartment that is particularly off-putting. The movie however does fall short of being on par with similar young adult movies through its storytelling. It often feels rushed and compressed, most likely caused by converting novel-
to-film, and some interesting parts of the film (such as Valentines past) could have been fleshed out more to give viewers a greater weight of the situation and more substance to characters. Some plot twists are horribly evident before their reveal and parts of the eventual ending feel somewhat anti-climactic. City of Bones pulls viewers into a completely different world where humans are made to feel like visitors, something not usually seen in the teen-supernaturalromance genre. And hey, for guys there is a marked increase in the amount of swordplay and use of weapons between Twilight and City of Bones, so it’s not as bad as sitting through those awkward stares of Kirsten Stewart. The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones is probably not the movie that fans of the book wanted, but it could have turned out a lot worse. It had some surprises and gave a lighter side to vampires, werewolves and the like, but fell short at times in how the story flowed. I can’t say it was a disappointment because I had no real expectations of the movie, so it settles for mediocre in my books.
WORDS Lucia Stein
3 must read coming of age novels the book thief By Markus Zusak
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” In The Book Thief, Death is our narrator. Through his eyes we watch one of the most painful periods of human history unfold. It’s 1939. Nazi Germany. Death’s job has never been easy and it becomes a lot harder as he works his way through Europe. He meets the book thief three times and each time he is forced to seek distraction. For Death, there is no holiday and his only comfort lies in a chocolate coloured sky. Upon finding Liesel’s notebook, Death takes it for himself. Through this act Death and Liesel are equal, both forced to live life in the most difficult of times. Their first encounter occurs when Liesel steals The Gravedigger’s Handbook from beside her brother’s grave. She is an orphan who has been taken in by a poor German family.
Her experiences with her new foster family, her neighbours and especially Max, the Jew living in their basement shape her into a compassionate and determined character that leaves her mark on the reader. Zusak has produced not only a novel but also a classic. His beautifully written prose, strong characters and arresting theme allow the reader to fully immerse themselves into a world of horror and tragedy. His haunting yet poignant portrayal of Nazi Germany takes readers on a journey of grief, conflict, suspense, action and heartbreak. In Zusak’s tale there is little that separates life from death.
LITERATURE
the declaration By Gemma Malley
“No one needs to live for ever. I think that sometimes you can outstay your welcome.” In Gemma Malley’s dystopian novel, children are illegal. The year is 2140 and people can live forever. There is a cure for all diseases and immortality is for the taking. All you have to do is sign the declaration. The declaration prohibits children being born outside the law. Those born are taken and given the status of ‘surplus’. Through the eyes of our protagonist, Surplus Anna we are shown what life is like for illegal children. In Anna’s world, longevity drugs have allowed everyone to live forever but at a price. Resources are scarce and the world is overpopulated. Surpluses are a drain on the world’s precious reserves and are placed in
institutions to repay society for the sins of their parents. The life of a surplus is one of servitude. Surplus Anna has reconciled with her fate and has worked hard at Grange Hall to be a Valuable Asset, someone who is lucky enough to housekeep for those who live forever. The arrival of a new surplus challenges these plans and forces her to question her way of life. Surplus Anna must confront everything she’s ever known to discover the truth of her past. Malley cleverly weaves elements of suspense and fear evoking a sense of what its like to live life as an outsider. Her original tale confronts the possibility of how a world without new people can become a world without new ideas.
the perks of being a wallflower By Stephen Chbosky
“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.”
for reasons that are explored throughout the novel.
With the release of the movie a couple of months ago, The Perks of Being a Wallflower has become a cult hit and international sensation.
The novel’s success has been a result of the reader’s ability to relate to Charlie and the awkwardness of growing up. Every person has at one time or other felt invisible or like an outsider. That is what makes Charlie’s life relatable and endearing.
Quite simply Chboksy’s story looks at the struggles of adolescence. The book is told from the protagonist, Charlie’s point of view. Through his letters, Charlie describes his experiences as a freshman and reveals himself to be emotionally withdrawn. Charlie is an introvert and frequently described as “gifted”. He very much lives inside himself, insulated from the outside world
Chbosky explores a number of contentious themes in a way that is relatable for most readers. However, there were times where too much was going on. By exploring mental illness, domestic abuse, abortion and other issues the story was at times quite dramatic and somewhat unrealistic. The problem was
largely that there were too many issues coming into play, which prevented Chbosky from really delving into one particular issue. Overall, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a moving tale about the difficulties of growing up and developing an identity.
submit to our next issue IZE is looking for talented youngsters to be featured in the Summer issue of IZE. Whether you take photos, make art, write stories, direct movies, design clothes or play in a band - we want you! So send your work and relevant details to
info@izemagazine.com for a chance to be featured! Submissions are now open for our blog and Summer issue.
Photo by Kalindy Millions
Youth playlist
Better Next Time – Bitch Prefect Let Down – Bored Nothing Whilst so many accomplished artists and bands have been putting out albums lately, it’s important to pay attention to the younger musicians on the scene. These acts are the ones that, in a few years time, will have worked their way into your subconscious and infiltrated your iPod. Our youth playlist features some of the best new songs from young acts.
I Won’t Wait – The Creases Wanted – Go Violets Skin to Bone – The Jungle Giants Easy Easy – King Krule Blood Clot – Lunatics on Pogosticks Don’t Be Ashamed – Palms Waste – Sures You Are New – The Trouble With Templeton Vapour – Vancouver Sleep Clinic Photo by Laura McGrath
www.izemagazine.com www.facebook.com/izemagazine www.twitter.com/izemagazine www.izemagazine.tumblr.com Instagram: @izemagazine