the social
Issue 1 Brunei Edition March 2015
collective
ART & DESIGN
CULTURE
EVENTS
www.readthesocial.com
MEET BRUNEI’S CREATIVE PIONEERS The creative scene in Brunei is always a tenuous topic. The same feet-dragging mentality has been pervasive for years and conversation always tends to lean towards painting. Don’t get us wrong, we don’t have a specific vendetta against that discipline but the repetitiveness was mind numbing. Cue to a year ago and the mood was markedly different in Brunei. There was an unspoken turn of the tide, and creatives were coming out of the woodwork, speaking out about their work, and moving beyond the norm with their concepts. 2014 was a good year for the industry thanks to a few key movers and shakers. We’re seeing a new wave of creative pioneers getting international recognition and pushing the local industry forward with their take-no-shit determination and talent. We sat down and threw 6 questions their way to get some insight into their creative headspace. Continued inside ...
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Editors Letter With the start of 2015 well underway, I felt this was the right time to launch something completely different to what I’ve previously done with the collective. We’ve all seen the creative industries in Brunei grow in the past year. More and more prominence on art is being shown, but it’s still hard to keep up to date with everything that’s happening or all the new creatives emerging locally, let alone outside of Brunei. The world, for all its vastness, is getting rapidly smaller. You bump into friends in foreign cities, that cafe that you went to in Kuala Lumpur used to be your work bff ’s regular hangout, and that artist that you follow on Instagram is friends with your cousin. Take a short plane ride anywhere outside the borders of Brunei and a wealth of information on art, culture and what’s happening in that particular city is at your fingertips. I just couldn’t find that in Brunei, so with the help of a small team, we’re taking care of it ourselves and helping you to connect the dots and get social, with a publication that not only pips what’s happening creatively in Brunei but also gives you a heads up on the rest of the world. The Social will live online but I really wanted to bring you a keepsake for the debut issue. Everyone says that print magazines are a dying art and aren’t worth the effort to produce, but having grown up in the nineties, when print media was king, I still have copies of my favourite magazines that I used to buy, borrow and steal at any opportunity. Print still has a place in our hearts so we’re looking forward to keeping in touch regularly via the website and occasionally dropping you a print issue every now and then at special events. For our first issue, we’ve reached out to a few people we know, to bring you an eclectic coverage of art, events, and culture in Brunei and beyond. We’ve sat down with the movers and shakers of Brunei’s creative industries, sourced some of our current favourite local shop-haves, looked at the best music events around the world, and much more. This entire project would not have been possible without the contributions made by everyone involved. In particular, I have to say a huge thank you to our graphic designer Jenny, and our photographer/ illustrator/ writer Jay for their Oscar worthy commitment to making this print issue a reality .
CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR Shinny Chia EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Iskandar Karim GRAPHIC DESIGN Jenny Yi Zhou PHOTOGRAPHY Jay Johar WRITERS Alif Ahmad Emma Goodegg Azimah Ishak Dibah Yusof Fina Muhamad Ebe Jay Johar Shinny Chia ARTICLE CREDITS: Meet Brunei’s Creative Pioneers words by Shinny Chia images by Joss Bong art direction Shinny Chia The Social Edit images by Jay Johar styling by Shinny Chia
We hope you enjoy the debut issue of The Social!
8 Music Acts To Look Out For words by Jay Johar, images courtesy of bands
Editor in Chief
The Festive Season words by Azimah Ishak images courtesy of festival
Shinny.
VISI words by Alif Ahmad images courtesy of Eda Brig Feminism 101 words by Ebe Travel Talk: Berlin words by Shinny Chia illustrations by Jay Johar Food Talk: Pronto words by Fina Muhamad recipe courtesy of Dibah Yusof images by Jay Johar styling by Shinny Chia Ask Emma words by Emma Goodegg illustrations by Jay Johar
For all advertising enquiries please contact us at readthesocial@gmail.com The Social is always seeking contributors to expose their work, talk about the stuff they can’t get enough of. If you have something to showcase, or a subject you want to talk about, please get in touch via readthesocial@gmail.com Disclaimer While we do our best to ensure the information in this publication is accurate, all information is subject to change and all opinions are the writers own. No copyright infringement is intended. All images sourced from third parties are for non-commercial use. This publication was produced for private distribution only. The Social takes no responsibility for any public distribution that occurs.
FAI ZAINI | Painter, Illustrator, Sculptor, Film Maker |tagone.blogspot.com | 1. How did you get started and what have been notable career moments? I can’t remember when I started. There wasn’t a point in my life where I said to myself “Wow! Paint!” but I do remember scribbling on walls around the house (which drove my parents nuts) when I was very young, and that’s when I knew I was going to grow up to be an artist. It was my escape. I didn’t know immediately that I was going to end up an artist, but people around me kept telling me I was creative. So, I just continued on doing what I do (I still scribble on walls). I notice more people trust my work now, but I am still growing and constantly learning. I have done so many projects, but none that I personally consider big. They range from being invited to be a guest painter overseas, to directing a viral music video. The biggest project I have been involved in would have to be for the film ‘Yasmine’. 2. What’s coming up for you with your work? I’m planning to hold an exhibition soon. Whether it will travel around or stay local is yet to be determined. Stay tuned. 3.How do you think the local creative industry will change over the coming year or two? The local creative industry has been repeatedly struck down by many many many obstacles, but it still manages to rise from the ashes strong. I believe Bruneian’s are hungry for creative innovation, and we will continuously (in our own ways) push through. 4. Who do you think is kicking ass locally? More creatives are now emerging into light as of recent. We’ve begun to see more creatives being open about what they do, which takes a lot of courage. This means we are more vulnerable and ready to receive criticism on what we do. I feel all of us are kicking ass in our own ways. 5. What are you loving for inspiration, from outside Brunei? I think with the splurge of social media, information is easily accessible. We get drowned in images and visuals from all over the world and it can get overwhelming. But currently, I visit www.saatchigallery.com as they present work by largely unseen young artists or by international artists. Check it out: it might be too odd for your liking, but hey, that’s Art. It’s meant to be questioned. 6. Who’s your favorite creative to get social with? I’d have to say the director of Yasmine, Siti Kamaluddin. She’s a source of inspiration to many, including myself, and too much fun to be around! MUAZ RASHID | Special Effects Makeup Artist | @dragonsandpixiedust | Facebook.com/dragonsandpixiedust | 1. I was a TV presenter, and there were a couple of occasions where I didn’t have easy access to a makeup artist or basically had unfortunate makeup - so I took the initiative to learn to do my own face. And then I joined a theatrical dance troupe which allowed me to explore character makeup. I would say I’m still a baby in the scene as I only put myself out there (creatively) last year. My biggest project was the live special FX makeup transformation at Kaleidoscope Studio during their Reflections exhibition; it was definitely a success, but I was nervous the entire time as that was the most ambitious (as a self taught artist) work I’ve ever done - and to do that in front of people was definitely intimidating. 2. I’m definitely going to push myself even further - I have a big project coming up mid-year, collaborating with a few artists and photographers - you’ll just have to wait and see, we’re hoping it’ll be out of this world! 3. The creative industry is just forming and it’s growing slowly. People are starting to appreciate different creatives nowadays, and that’s refreshing. 4. Musically, Aziz Harun makes me senyum, and I’m excited to see what else he’ll bring to the table. 5. The things that I follow are pretty much followed by a lot of people in Brunei. It’s just that people are unaware that there are individuals in Brunei who can achieve similar things. 6. I have a lot of friends from different creative backgrounds - so I don’t have a favourite - but I must say, I enjoy the company of people who don’t let their egos overwhelm or offset their talents. YUSRINA ABDULLAH | Jewelry Designer|@enyabijoux |www.enyabijoux.com | Facebook.com/EnyaBijoux | 1. I started in 2012 after refusing to purchase a $70 wrap bracelet online which looked like something I could make (which I then did). I’ve also always had a keen interest in jewelry and DIY as a child and used my business management background to my advantage and applied it when I decided to do this full time. I am self taught and learn through trial and error, as well as DIY sites and video tutorials. 2013 was a big year. I had a few of my statement pieces showcased at Regent’s College Union Fashion Week in 2013. Later that year, I traveled to Korea and represented Brunei at the 2013 Seoul Gift Show hosted by the ASEAN Korea Centre. I also gained some exposure via the Taiwanese and Thai media from an interview I did with CTI-TV (Taiwan) who flew in to cover the economic development in Brunei 2. A bricks and mortar store is my ultimate goal for Enya Bijoux, but for now, I am focusing on local stockists. I hope to take the brand international and make my pieces readily available worldwide. I am also looking into participating in more international trade shows and fairs and expanding my knowledge and skills in jewelry design by attending workshops overseas. 3. The market in Brunei is very seasonal. The limitation of not being able to run an online store (because of the issues with PayPal) as well as hosting events/fairs/ sales/etc. is frustrating. As a creative, your business is also sometimes not taken seriously. 4. Joanita Zain of Jellybean Dreams who quit her day job to be a full time mama while at the same time taking her passion and talent in art to the next level. She just did a huge design project for the RIPAS children’s ward. Farhanna Pura of Na Forrer who designed DST’s current uniforms and recently scored a huge deal with a Malaysian company (can’t reveal more, I shall leave that to her!) Also, Maricel Pamintuan, Thea Seera and Adam Hague! 5. Everything! Creative workshops (photography, jewelry, artsy-fartsy things), music festivals, multi label boutiques, weekend flea markets, cat cafés and #ootds! 6. Shinny (The Collective) & Nana (Na Forrer)!
MARIA KOH | Recording Artist, Singer-Songwriter | @eia25 | youtube.com/EiaMusicOfficial | Facebook.com/eia.music | 1. I was supposed to represent the nation at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but unfortunately circumstances happened and I discovered I wasn’t too bad at this whole songwriting thing! I had to channel my emotions out in a healthy way, so this was it. I’ve released a couple of singles (both reached #1 on iTunes Brunei) and I am currently working with internationally renowned producer Marc ‘M. Doc’ Williams (who has worked with Madonna, Jordin Sparks etc.) and C-Ray (K-Ci & Jojo) of Indasoul Entertainment in Hollywood on my original material, so that’s really cool! Also, I’ve been selected to be the official hostess of the 19th World Championship of Performing Arts in California! Lots of doors are opening up and it’s getting pretty exciting . 2. My mini album will be released in March (all original songs), the possibility for an opening act in Europe is there, I’ll be hosting the 19th WCOPA in Long Beach, California and hopefully working on finishing a full length album in the near future. I will also be sharing my knowledge and experiences and teaching at Symphony Music School (come and learn how to sing!) and of course, non-stop writing of new material. 3. I think the new technology being developed and the accessibility to it nowadays will definitely help speed the development of the music industry in Brunei. I believe more and more aspiring artistes will surface and the pool will grow slowly, creating an industry. 4. I would have to say, none other that Fakhrul Razi who’s like a brother and someone I look up to. He’s such a great example of ‘following your dreams/never giving up’ and he’s really at the top of his game! A lot of local fashion/jewelry designers are coming out, and of course Origin Films. There are just so many inspiring and successful people, I can’t name them all! I bet I could list the person who is reading this now as someone that is kicking ass! 5. I don’t think I can pin-point anything in particular, as for me it’s really just soaking in the ambience and vibe of wherever I am and channeling it into my work! For instance the people, buildings… and of course attending music concerts! 6. To get social with? Hmm… that’s a tricky one! I don’t think I have a favourite – just talking to anyone who has an open mind or creative outlook makes for a great conversation and good time!!
MARICEL PAMINTUAN | Womenswear designer |@maricel_studio |www.maricelpamintuan.com | Facebook.com/maricelstudio | 1. I never imagined myself in a career of designing clothing. Growing up as a teen, I never read fashion magazines or knew anything about the industry except that clothes were something you wear to either cover yourself or to make yourself look good. It was during my time in the UK where I discovered the creative lengths of the design industry in general and how impactful clothing is on people and their lives. I discovered various magazines, inspiring designers that I’ve never heard about and it almost felt like I was a 5 year old in a huge ice-cream playground discovering hundreds of different flavours. I was very curious and deeply intrigued on how clothing were constructed and I just went with my instincts. In a sense, architecture is reflected in clothing as both are constructed to tailor and cater as a functional element for human beings except clothing is more fluid and it gives you ample freedom to experiment around the human body; the creative construction of garments is what lured me into this industry in the first place. Being able to branch out into a regional market in terms of having a stockist abroad and the exposure that goes with it has been a high point in my career so far. 2. I’m currently working on my next collection! 3. Product wise, perhaps more local creatives will venture into creating and producing their own products. Currently we don’t have many things that are produced locally and that could potentially be exported in a larger scale besides oil and gas. 4. HoCo Creative. 5. Dior and I, a documentary movie about the Christian Dior fashion house. A great film to get a glimpse into the expectations, the amount of blood, swear and tears that goes behind producing a collection and the harsh reality of being in this difficult industry. 6. Hsiao-Ron Cheng, a Taiwanese digital artist/illustrator. Her pieces have a beautiful tranquil ambience to them, which I love.
WILSON MC LAU | Artist |@wilsonmclau| 1. How did you get started and what have been notable career moments? Initially it was from tattooing . The technique of tattooing is similar to watercolor and I took it to another level from there. A notable moment in my career was creating a piece of art for The Breast Cancer Awareness 2014 campaign by The Health Promotion Centre, which was supported by Laneige and the Ministry of Health. 2. What’s coming up for you with your work? I have a lot of things planned, but you’ll have to wait and see what they are! 3.How do you think the local creative industry will change over the coming year or two? It will get better for sure but hopefully there are enough people out there to support us in terms of financing and approvals. 4. Who do you think is kicking ass locally? The industry is definitely on the rise- there are a lot of people getting exposure now. 5. What are you loving for inspiration, from outside Brunei? I draw some inspiration from tattoo artists overseas, but I get inspired by a lot of different things. There isn’t really one specific thing I can pinpoint. It’s life in general. 6. Who’s your favorite creative to get social with? I can’t say anyone in particular, there are lots of great people in the industry!
ADAM HAGUE |Artist | @adamhague | www.flickr.com/photos/adamraasalhague | 1. It’s not that interesting, I just started out the way everyone else started. I just was one of those kids that always had a camera. But I stumbled upon the work of Brooke Shaden one day and it really interested me so I started to learn about it, and it developed into a hobby, and now a career. I’ve had a few really great moments in my career. I’ve been in Vogue Italia several times now and that’s always nice. The most notable though, was the first time a photo of mine was published at the ASEAN Korea Multimedia competition awards. I used a second hand 400D Canon camera that didn’t even have live-view, and a kit lens where the auto-focus didn’t work. That moment was important for me because I didn’t want to win based on the quality of my camera equipment, and I wanted to prove to myself that my picture could win on the merit of my talent. I think social validity can only go so far in justifying your work. 2. I’m currently experimenting with movies. I’m still following the same concept and the same style of my current work but moving into emulating that in experimental short films. I’m taking my time to learn how to transform the visual experience of my images into videos to make them a reality. I’m about 30% of the way there at the moment, and I’m really excited about working on them. Some people might get it, some people won’t but it’s something that’s really personal to me. 3. I think we’ve seen a growth in the last year and that’s great but I really hope it doesn’t die down and people get comfortable. I can see that there are a lot of creatives and a lot more people paying attention to these creatives. With wedding photography, you can see that people are starting to explore a bit and be more creative with the way they do things. 4. I think that’s hard- it would be unfair to name one person. There are so many different genres, and every is kind of doing their own thing, but I think Fakhrul Razi is really great, and he’s humble so he’s the kind of guy you feel good about cheering on. Adam Groves is also doing great things. I’m excited by his work. 5. Brooke Shaden’s work is really great. I also think phlearn.com for photographers is amazing because often people trying to cover up the how-to’s of taking a photo or try to pretend it’s some kind of secret recipe but Aaron Nace of phlearn.com has created a platform that freely gives you all the information you need to learn the techniques of taking photos. I learned a lot from that site at the beginning of my career. 6. I really like and respect Farhanna of Na Forrer, she has a great respect for other peoples vision while still maintaining an honest integrity. We also click really well in terms of our creativity and we have a mutual understanding of each others visions.
The Social Edit Our picks of the want/needs you should be spending your hard earned money on.
Vintage Pinnochio Light $50 SAMO FURNITURE
Purple Flower Crown $18 DESEO
Vintage Adler Typewriter $380 SAMO FURNITURE
Karlsson Model Kit Wall Clock $150 ICON DESIGN STORE
Renaissance Copper Mugs Small $55/ Large $60 SAMO FURNITURE
1998 Alessi Pino Funnel by Stefano Giovannoni $50 SAMO FURNITURE
The Natural Bar Geranium Scrub & Cleansing Grains $25/ $15 SAMO FURNITURE
Glass Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil Carafe $33.90 DESEO
Eames Elephant Chair $160 ICON DESIGN STORE
DESEO
ICON DESIGN STORE
SAMO FURNITURE
deseoliving@gmail.com
www.icondesignstore.com
samodesignstudio@gmail.com
Unit 20-23, 1st Floor Regent Square, Kampong Kiulap, Brunei Darussalam
Block B Unit No 7 - 10, Sempurna Complex, Jalan Batu Bersurat, Penkalang Gadong, Brunei Darussalam @icondesignstore
Block D Unit 27 Ground Floor, Bangunan Lim Eng Ming Kampong Kiulap, Brunei Darussalam @samofurniture
@ultimatedeseo
Music Acts to Look Out For in 2015 One of the most exciting things about welcoming a new year is the possibility of finding new names in the music industry. However, we’ve saved you the trouble of trawling the internet for the next big names currently being uttered in hushed lips and and whispered enthusiasm with our list of who to look out for in 2015. 1. KYGO Kygo is a rising name in the deep house scene, and is being touted as a pioneer of the tropical house genre. After being asked by Avicii and Chris Martin of Coldplay to officially remix their songs, Kygo cemented his place as a name to look out for in 2015 when he released his first original single ‘Firestone’ to critical acclaim. 2. DANCING YEARS Fresh off a European tour supporting Boy & Bear, Dancing Years is poised to release their debut album this year. Formerly known as Joseph & David after their founding members, the band is known for their poignant lyrics that capture the sentiments of friendship. Their heart-achingly beautiful folk sound deserves a full record. 3. JOEY BADA$$ Rapper Joey Bada$$ has drawn comparisons with the likes of Mos Def, Common, A Tribe Called Quest, and Doom, which has put a lot of pressure on the 20 year old New Yorker. With three critically acclaimed mixtapes to his name, hardcore rap fans are clamoring for a full release. His debut album, B4.DA.$$ (pronounced Before Da Money), is set to be released on his birthday, January 20. 4. SOAK To be 17, to have played more than 100 gigs, and to be signed CHVRCHES’s record label is no mean feat, and Bridie Monds-Watson achieved that in spectacular fashion. With a penchant for mature songwriting that is well beyond her year, she challenges the notion that you need age and experience to write about the human condition effectively. Her lyrics are acutely observant, her voice is achingly vulnerable, and her arrangements are beautifully sparse.
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We also asked our friends from all over the world to help us discover 2015’s new stars. 5. TEMAN SEBANGKU Words by Anggung Suherman (member of Indonesian electropop duo, Bottlesmoker, Based in Bandung, Indonesia) This acoustic folk duo based in Bandung are simply amazing. They have guitar and vocals in their musics but the atmosphere is truly deep. I heard they will be releasing debut album in 2015, so it would be great for them to spread their amazing stuff. Hypnotizing guitars and poetic lyrics blended into simply beautiful music. 6. REMY BANKS Words by Caitlin Cristin White (weekend editor at MTV, writer at Rookie and Paste Magazine. Based in New York, USA) New York natives have been patiently waiting for the rest of the world to discover World’s Fair, the city’s latest rap collective bubbling just under the radar of the mainstream. And it looks like 2015 might be the year that the group finally breaks through, due to the forthcoming solo project from group member Remy Banks. The Queens rapper puts on no airs about where he’s from—there’s no production fads or memes hidden in his tightly packed syllables about everyday life, or New York-centric nostalgia-laced stories. But throw on the barely a minute clip for “Seventh Generation” and try to watch it only once—the delivery, storytelling and sly personality packed into this brief video speak volumes about what’s to come from Banks. Look for his debut Higher out early next year.
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7. BUFFLO Words by David Martinez (label manager at Stack Your Roster Records, band-member of Balcony and Names. Based in Montreal, Canada) As a manager for the Montreal alternative label Stack Your Roster, my pick has to be fellow SYR label mate BUFFLO. His debut release in 2014 “Unseam’d” is an alternative electronic record of 8 tracks that evoke introspection and selfexploration for lovers of IDM, experimental, hip hop, and general electronic landscapes. The conciseness, vastness, and fine design are beautifully handcrafted but more importantly BUFFLO as a whole is ultimately representative of the DAW composer movement and its place in the modern music world. A sophomore record is on the way.
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The Festive Season
Whether it’s an Outkast reunion, Pharell’s cavalcade of A-list guests hitting the Coachella stage, or the Foo Fighters’ epic closing set with special guest, Trombone Shorty, at the end of the Voodoo fest, 2014 has proven to be quite eventful on the festival circuit, and you can be sure that this year isn’t going to disappoint! From the quintessentials, to a musical getaway thats close to home, here is a round-up of some of the most anticipated music festivals of 2015. Future Music Festival Asia (Singapore) 13th-14th March 2015 With plenty of festival options in South East Asia, FMFA takes over as top dog. The next installment will take place in Singapore, over 2 days. Headliners have been announced: Avicii, The Prodigy, & Afrojack, to name a few, will be headlining the festival this year. We can already feel the good vibes and hear the music thumping. Coachella (Indio, California, USA) 10th-12th April & 17th-19th April 2015 Over the years, the Coachella festival has brought in more and more mainstream headliners. It reads like a who’s who of popular music and is one of the worlds biggest drawcards as far as music festivals go, it’s reputation so legendary that it really needs no explanation. We are already pumped-up for the next installment all thanks to the recent release of a five minute recap video chronicling Coachella 2014. Summerfest (Wisconsin, USA) 13th June 2015 Dubbed the “world’s largest music festival”, Summerfest has been a yearly summer destination since it started in 1968. The festival is made up of 11 stages, boasting big names & acs of mainstream music. Like most summer festivals, the announcement of the line-up will occur only a few months prior to the event. But what we do know is that Linkin Park and Country duo, Florida Georgia Line will be headlining this year. Glastonbury (Pilton, UK) 24th-28th June 2015 This 5-day festival started the day after Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 and to this day, it still clings to its “hippie” roots, remaining one of the top destinations to catch some of the world’s biggest bands including Coldplay and U2. Tickets for this year have sold-out in a record breaking 26 minutes, without even announcing the line-up! You won’t catch it this year if you haven’t already got tickets, but you’ve had ample warning to be ready for 2016! Exit (Serbia) 9th-12th July 2015 Located in an 18th century fortress, Exit is not your typical festival. What started as a student anti-government protest in 2000 is now an award-winning festival that has expanded from the usual rock acts to a wider spectrum of genres. Last year’s eight day adventure managed to pull in a crowd of 185,000 music lovers. We were already sold when they said 18th century fortress. Tomorrowland (Belgium) 24th-26th July 2015 Needless to say, it is one of the biggest, most popular music events in the world, so big, it has its own spin-off, TomorrowWorld, held in the USA and will soon be adding another edition, this time, in the beautiful city of São Paolo, Brazil. Besides the feast of electronic music, ever year, festival goers also look forward to the captivating stage designs that make it look like something from a dream. This festival is one for the bucket list!
VISI
Alif is the singer and guitarist for Bruneian band, Eda Brig, which he co-founded with bandmates, Salleh Hasbi (bass), and Rine Daud (drums). He pep talks us through the making of their latest album VISI. When I returned to Brunei from living abroad, I was itching to start a band and it was through a series of meetings that I met my bandmates in 2009. Our debut, self-titled LP was all over the place musically but most listeners were complimentary of its eccentricity and the fusion of different genres. In 2011, we started to record our follow-up to the debut LP, at various locations. Things got difficult. The turning point was when Hasbi had to record drum tracks instead of Rine, and we were able to push forward the recording process after several months of stalled progress.We moved our latter recording sessions to Aman Ali Yaakop’s home studio where we primarily did the remaining guitars tracks and all vocals. Other instruments such as the darbuka (an Arabic percussive instrument) and the gulintangan (a xylophone-like instrument similar to the Indonesian gamelan), played by session musicians, were also added. A brief ululation is on one of our tracks, Mr Darbuka Man. This was a reflection of our increasing interest in incorporating local traditional and world music, particularly Nusantara music. I was the sole lyricist for all songs on VISI, with the exception of Monster, which I co-wrote with Saiful Ahmad. We got Yaakop and another musician, Rody Ada Main, to contribute guitar solos on Old Friend and Monster respectively. Hasbi and I did the mixing and mastering ourselves and it was released on CD and online platforms iTunes and Amazon, last November. Hasbi’s growth as an all-rounded musician is exemplified on VISI; he played the keyboard, piano, strings (simulated) and drums. I gained more confidence in my singing, songwriting ( I began to write in Malay this time around) and recording and it all filtered through to a more polished record. VISI (‘vision’ in Malay) is our cry that art, music and culture can’t be abandoned in the face of economic and social development. It is a call to keep our passion for music alive. You can currently buy VISI on Amazon and Itunes.
Feminism 101 Are you sure you know what feminism is? Because if you’re reading this line and thinking, Sure I do, I just don’t believe in feminism, I believe in equality for all! – then you don’t know what feminism is. If you’re thinking, I like my skirts and heels too much to be a feminist! – then you don’t know what feminism is. If you’re thinking, I’m pro-life, a mother and a wife who prepares dinner for my family every day and makes sure my husband’s needs are met before I go off to work, then you don’t know what feminism is. And if you’re thinking, Feminists are bra-burning, sneaker-wearing, make-up free, angry women who I just cannot relate to, then you still don’t know what feminism is. I will never claim to be an expert on feminism, but that said you don’t need to be an expert in feminism to understand it. Don’t think it is unimportant to understand the role of feminism: our country is full of intelligent, ambitious and independent women –knowing our strengths and our right to exercise them should set in stone something that is not beneficial only to us, but to this entire nation, and our future generation of women. Okay, calm down, this is not going to be an angry woman rant. There are many barriers to feminism in this country, real and imagined, but if you’re going to jump over those barriers, you first need to know what feminism is. So let’s break it down. Firstly, feminism doesn’t care what you look like. It doesn’t matter if you’re the type that takes three hours in the morning hair-drying your hair and getting your eyebrows just right before going out (because that art takes work, gentlemen, ask a lady before you scoff) or if you’re the kind who just smears some lip balm on and go. It doesn’t matter if you have long hair, short hair, wear a hijab, a shaved head, keep your hair tied up or change your hair colour every week. It doesn’t matter if you live in jeans, use expensive designer clothes, scuffed up sneakers or mile-high stilettos. It doesn’t matter if you want that new bag so much you’re just going to die if you don’t max your credit card on it or if you’ve been using the same bagpack for the past three years. But respecting a woman’s right to wear what she wants, how she wants and when she wants– that matters. That is feminism. Secondly, feminism doesn’t need you to be smart, confident or sporty. It doesn’t matter if you graduated with first class honours from LSE, if you’re working in a highranking position in the government sector or if you barely scraped past your O’Levels. It doesn’t matter if you’re the awkward unbendy one at the back of the yoga class or if you’re a crossfit babe with killer abs. It doesn’t matter if you understand maths or if you teach maths. It doesn’t matter if you’re successful, still in school or a stayat-home mom. But supporting or believing in or hoping for the equality of sexes in the work place, in the house, in school, and anywhere else in this world - that matters. That is feminism. Thirdly, feminism doesn’t judge your lifestyle. It doesn’t matter if you like boys or if you like girls or if you like both. It doesn’t matter if you’re drooling over Christian Grey, if you’re into vampire pornography (don’t blush, we all like our mommy porn), whether you think Katniss should end up with the sweet short guy or the hot tall guy, or if you think that Harry Styles fellow is damn cute. It doesn’t matter if you only read literary novels, watch documentaries and hate fluff pieces. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of hard rock metal or love Tay-Tay (4eva!). But supporting and accepting any woman’s role in this world because this is what she chooses, regardless of whether or not you agree with it – that matters. That is feminism. Fourthly, feminism doesn’t care what language you speak. It doesn’t matter what part of the world you’re from, what religion you practice, or whose politics you support. It doesn’t matter if you wear a hijab, pray five times a day are obedient to your husband and it doesn’t matter if you don’t, either. But supporting a woman’s decision to practice her religion, to stand up for what she believes in, and to just be allowed to have her own opinion – that matters. That is feminism. Lastly, feminism doesn’t care if you’re a man or a woman. Because if you believe, support and hope for equality for your mother, wife, girlfriend, sister, best friend, grandmother or any girl on the street – then you’re a feminist too. So if you’re still not sure what feminism means, or if you’re reluctant to take my word for it (don’t blame ya one bit) then please, go look it up. And once you do, just do me, the women in your life,this country and the world a big favour: if you decide that you are a feminist, then for heaven’s sake don’t be quiet about it. Go spread the word!
Travel Talk
Berlin !
(Winter Edition) Our travel editions are minute profiles. Enough knowledge to give you a peek into the local life (and some of our guilty pleasure tourist stops), these travel guides are made for the wanderer that just wants a slice of inspiration Berlin in Winter is an experience in time travel, not least because of
the greyish fog that seems to exist everywhere during the Christmas season. Parts of the city seem perpetually stuck in the early 90’s, with the proliferation of graffiti on low rise apartment blocks, and . Combined with the European style architecture and comparatively sprawling streets that evoke a sense of old Europe, it’s hard to not feel some sense of travel schizophrenia when you’re making your way through the city. Like Paris, the city is divided into quartiers with vastly different personalities, that go beyond your typical ‘uptown’ / ‘downtown’ comparison. Berlin is grunge, young, developing, artsy and intellectual.
Here are our to-do’s: Berlin is almost synonymous with graffiti and one of the most time efficient ways to see the city is to take a graffiti tour. The 4 hour tour we went on was run by the black collective, a local artist group that promotes and helps foster the street art and graffiti culture. We walked around Berlin looking at street art; most of it of historical importance to the graffiti and street art movement which exploded onto the scene in the post Berlin wall period. We later got to go to their artist space and practice making our own graffiti on canvases to take home, which although a touristy cliché helped give us an appreciation for what we just saw when we realised our results looked more like a band of gorillas were responsible for our efforts. Four hours might sound a little long, but if you factor in jumping on the u-bahn (the local metro system) it was just enough time to see a couple of different quartiers, and learn some history on the art that is so essential to local Berlin culture. This was a pretty hard to tolerate in the freezing cold of winter, so this might be one to leave for the Summer if you’re not comfortable with cold weather. As far as art galleries go, the Urban Spree gallery bucks the norm. They make ample use of the available space outdoors, with even the outside walls of the building and adjacent bridge curvatures covered in artwork. All of it is regularly in flux as well, so the space always feels fresh. The 400 square metre industrial space is home to a myriad of art world pleasures including an art gallery, concert hall, and studio spaces. We only had time to see the main gallery space but what we saw and the idea of it all was enticing enough that we started to fall in love with the whole thing. Make sure you set aside a good chunk of time to explore this place. Stop off at heritage department store KaDeWe for luxury retail therapy, over 7 floors. The range of luxury brands in Europe’s largest department store are impressively comprehensive and fail-safe for the most part but we did spot some Kenzo tiger motif bags which we had been told had sold out in most Kenzo stores in Asia, at a 30% discount, so there are surprising wins in the shopping stakes to be had! We especially love the food hall on the top floor which is a providore that stocks food from all over the world, including German artisan brands. We stopped off at a little food bar in between looking at food, to have latke like pancakes with applesauce, and a potato, ham and tomato hash that gave us all kinds of carb loading guilty pleasure. A step down from the luxe life, make sure you get a doner kebab; the ubiquitous food of the Berliners. Originally an import from Turkey which has since become a staple in the local diet (we spotted at least one on every third corner block). The meat is actually decent, a sign of how revered it is, without the typical parlaying of ‘mystery meat’ flavour that kebabs in most Anglicised countries have and certainly a far better experience than getting a kebab in nearby Paris or London, which we have done and did not enjoy. We also experienced another locally iconic dish; a fittingly described ‘hellishly’ spiced currywurst, which can’t be described any more elegantly than it being a comfort snack of choice of cut sausages, drowned in a curry powder infused ketchup like sauce. A necessary disclaimer for anyone who thinks they can handle the heat- hot is hot in Berlin. We were shamefaced and sweaty trying to finish our currywurst after ordering the spiciest version of it available. You’ll need some late night fun to go with all the street food so hit a rock style bar with a ping pong table and grab some locals for a game of musical chairs style ping pong. We had maybe the best night of the whole trip indulging in this game where teams of three or four square off in rally matches, that eliminate whoever misses their turn to hit the ball back to a corresponding opposing team member. The final two duke it out in a sudden death round. Another of our favourite experiences was the Kulturbrauerei Christmas market in Prenzlauer Berg. On paper it, doesn’t get more cutesy than a Christmas market in Germany, but the space the markets are held in gives the whole thing a hipster like feel, with a range of design and lifestyle stores surrounding the open air courtyard, and a history of housing some amazing live music gigs from the likes of Aussie rock kings Jet. We had maybe the best cheese fondue of our lives at the market, and got local with all the artisan providores, scoring ourselves some locally made leather gloves, and jam (when in doubt, gift with food). What we wished we had more time to explore: the vintage shops, Prenzlauer Berg’s Sunday market at Mauerpark , the Berlin wall and Charlottenburg gardens. Berlin is definitely a place we want to explore again, but we’re saving this for a Summertime trip! Shinny flew to Berlin via London, using Royal Brunei Airlines to London and then a connect flight to Berlin via EasyJet. For more travel ideas, we recommend heading to TimeOut Berlin.
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Food Talk: Pronto Trattoria Di’ Stagione
Ingredients: A Whole Duck A Pan of Roasted Chicken Bones and Carcass 800g-1.5kg Plum Tomatoes (Processed to Purée) 2 Medium Carrots (Diced Finely) 1 Celery Stalk (Diced finely) 2 Large Spanish Onions (Diced Finely) 3-4 Cloves Garlic (Crushed or Gratbd) 2 Bay leaf Pinch of Ground Cinnamon Pinch of Salt Black Pepper
Fina, our resident blogger who runs What Didn’t She Do, gets the down low on what’s happening around town and the movers and shakers keeping the city ticking by. Situated in the corner of the food court at Times Square, Pronto is bustling all the time, for very good reason. Its pasta dishes are inviting and laced with flavours as good as they come, and this is done with equal parts friendly service and equal parts cooking genius, with Jances and Dibah, the brainchild duo behind Pronto, regularly asking for honest feedback and suggestions for menu additions. What separates Pronto from the other food stalls or Italian restaurants in Brunei is that it is an advocate for fresh, hand-cranked pasta and has a customisation menu that gives you good bang for your buck. And yes if one does want to hang out with the culinary cool kids; you eliminate sodium, use unrefined brown sugar in replacement of white, and have somewhat of a ‘farm-to-table’ approach (the use of local produce wherever possible). The outcome: Pasta dishes with noteworthy bites which leave you satiated - it is not uncommon to stumble upon posts on social media on the much-lauded customer favourites: Duck Ragù and Aglio Oglio. After a long day of serving up their dishes, Jances and Dibah sat down with us for some casual chat and light-hearted jokes. ‘Eat the damn basil,’ Dibah jokingly orders our photographer Jay as she notices his licked clean plate with a single basil leaf left behind on it. We sat down with them for a quick Q & A, and a sneak peek at their recipe book. One cookbook you cannot live without? No particular ones; I like fundamental cookbooks. Describe your cooking or food in one word? Affordable. Jances interjected saying ‘seasonal’, and the tagline ‘your naughty indulgence!’. What do you do when you are not working in the kitchen? We troll grocery stores, and hike. What is the next cuisine that should take off in Brunei? Ethiopian food. Misconceptions about pasta dishes? Fresh pasta is better than dry pasta. Qualities that a chef should have? I would say they have to be calm and hygienic. What would you say to home chefs who are inspired by your style of cookery? To recreate the duck ragu, use really good tomatoes and go easy on the herbs. Butter or cream helps for a richer taste. Oh, and check to see what your pasta is like after 5 minutes on the hob. Cheeky Tip: It is possible to Bring Your Own Pasta (B.Y.O.P) to Pronto and ask the kitchen to cook it for you. The choice of pasta for connoisseurs (we like to avoid the word ‘snob’!) is usually ‘Martelli’. Recipe Method: Prep and clean the duck. Remove skin and fat from the duck and cut the duck into smaller parts to fit the pan or cooking pot (save the fat and skin for rendering as you will use the rendered fat to sautée the onions, carrots and celery later). Place all duck fat and skin (dried with a paper towel of any excess moisture) onto a cold pan. Place the pan on the lowest heat setting to slowly render the fat. Once this is done remove the crispy skins from the pan and sautée the minced garlic, onion, carrots and celery in the rendered oil. Add the bay leaf and cinnamon to the onion mixture. Increase the heat as required to keep a steady simmer until caramelisation. Once the garlic, onion, carrots and celery have cooked, set the mixture aside in a separate bowl and start browning the duck meat (still attached to the bone) in the same pan. This should be done on high heat and should not thoroughly cook the duck. Once you have browned all the meat, deglaze the frying pan with water to make a stock. Move the brown stock into a stewing pot with the onions, carrots and celery mixture. Place the browned duck meat into the pot along with the chicken carcass. You may substitute the chicken carcass with a liquid chicken stock (preferably one made with real chicken and not a granulated flavour enhancer). Put in 800 - 1500 grams of the pureed tomatoes into the pot with the other ingredients. If you find the end product tasting too ‘gamey’, you may add more tomatoes and simmer again to produce a more tomato-like ragù. Let the pot simmer on medium heat for about one to two hours until the duck meats starts falling off the bones. Take the duck out of the stew and start separating the meat from the bones, whilst shredding the meat in the process. Remember to remove any skin or fats that is still found on the duck. Return the shredded meat into the pot and continue to simmer on very low heat (or a slow cooker) for another hour. If you are using a slow cooker you may adjust the timing accordingly.
Ask Emma Dear Emma, I fear that my wife may be letting things slide a little. Whilst previously she had kept the garden nicely neat and trimmed, of late I find that she has let things become a little unkempt. How should I let her know that my preference is for the topiary to be a less bushy, indeed that I would very much like her to consider some hardwood decking? Bobby Wellll, you could leave some very nice garden shears placed strategically about the house, maybe she will take the hint. Do not suggest that you may plough a furrow through another garden. This will get you slapped. Best of all, you could tell simply her straight, you have been most happy to bring it up here.
Dear Emma, Why do people tend to remember negative events/memories more than the positive ones? Charlie Brown I’m no scientist, but I think that partly, it’s a result of evolution. It is a trait of the human brain to remember bad things more keenly than good things, so that you will avoid them in the future. Take our ancestors many years ago, walking in the forest. They hit their head on a tree. The ones who ruminate on this will remember next time to duck. So take heart. There are of course some overly optimistic folks who, when life gives them lemons, they make lemonade. These people will perish.
Hi Emma, I got married at a very young age. So now once in a while I barely communicate with my partner. Any advice? Cotton Candy This is a tough one; every human relationship is unique. But I offer this – it should be about balance. You should not have to rely on your spouse for your own happiness. A mutually respectful understanding of personal growth within a relationship should allow you to explore your own interests and to grow. At the same time, in a marriage, shared interests and passion can be the glue that binds. At the end of the day, if you wish to make it work you both have to make the effort.
Send social media doyenne @emmagoodegg your burning questions on love, life and social etiqutte.
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