Nexus 2023 Issue 11

IT’S

It’s a new day, a deep breath, a sweaty face, a bootcamp, a catch-up, a challenge, a realisation, a conversation, a push and a pull, a moment of peace, a struggle and a win, a feeling, a superpower, a soundtrack and a stage, a weight plate, a new limit, a grind, a flex, a heavy set, a commitment, a culture, a community, a way of life, a second home, a place to discover your playground.

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Tehana

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Editor-in-Chief

Jak Rāta editor@nexusmag.co.nz

Designer Stien Huizenga design@nexusmag.co.nz

Deputy Editors

Tehana De Klerk tehana@nexusmag.co.nz

Seamus Lohrey seamus@nexusmag.co.nz

Te Koretake Etita

Kae’sharn Hose maori@nexusmag.co.nz

Media Desginer

Jordan Fritz jordan@nexusmag.co.nz

Staff Writers

Joel Collins

Leilani Summer

Yashanshi Kala

Front + Back Cover @moorchild_

C enterfold @ghosts oooooh

C ontributors

Kaihautu Rāta

Sarah Blake

The Satanists

Nexus Interns

Aria Matthews

Filly Arias

Jasmine Gorman

Social Links

Disclaimers Nexus is a magazine made by students, for students. As such it’s sometimes controversial views don’t actually represent those of the Nexus Editor, the writers, or the sponsors.

Location

The Nexus office is located down the hall at the WSU, usually with Alexa playing terribly dated music.

Printing

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an independent, not for profit, nongovernment organization established to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. FSC® vision is where the world’s forests meet the social, ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations.

It’s just past midnight and I’m sitting trying to figure out what to write. I’m sure you’ll all find that pertinent. This week has been a bit of a shit one though, if I’m being honest with you all and with myself. Not because I’m going to call for a ‘woe is me’ sadness chant in the hopes of strumming your gentle heart strings, but because it’s getting colder.

As an insight for you all, I’m kind of a hot-headed person. Which is my nice way of saying that I’ve got a horrible temper and I sometimes let my fuse run short. But, that doesn’t make me insufferable. However, add in subzero temps and some shitty hot-water heaters and you’ve got a recipe for one impossible dude to be around. As a big boy, I can usually regulate that temp but this past week, I’ve found myself

struggling to figure out if the hoodie is on or off. It’s usually on because a cautionary step outside means immediate chill-zone.

Anyway, climate action. We need to try harder right? Because these fluctuating temperatures are giving me hella whiplash. I didn’t like the film, I don’t like the sensation. So here’s what I’m thinking–we all do better. There, I fixed it with Greta Thunberg. Didn’t really seem that hard in the grand scheme of things hun.

I should apologise in advance for the feature, it’s kind of a difficult thing to preface. It’s not problematic but it’s fucking long read. Let me say this, the world can be filled with unsavoury beings, so it’s nice sometimes to sit down and kōrero with those different

from us but somehow find a mutual ground where we’re both comfortable. That being said, I don’t recommend any of you follow in my footsteps of going into a Satanist community in the hopes of reaching a common thread between you both. It’s kind of a shit show.

Does this editorial make sense? No, but you know what else doesn’t make sense? Racism and here we are. Be safe this week and know that there’s always someone out there that loves you. Might be me. Might be that one kid in the back row of your Monday lecture. It’s probably them.

See ya for now moles, Jak

Yashanshi Kala

HCC to neglect student growth... in other news, the earth is round.

News writer, Yashanshi, spent the better half of her week reading through the dozens and dozens of HCC documents as they’re set to unveil their 10 year plan for Kirikiriroa. A quick ctrl+f plus the term ‘student’ brings up (you guessed it) nothing. So what’s on the agenda for Kirikiriroa? Who knows. Well Yashanshi does.

In the latest report of Hamilton City Council delivered on May 11th 2023, the Hamilton authorities discussed anything but developing the Waikato region. The lengthy report fails to mention developments for Wintec and Waikato, a significant concern for residents, specifically students because the large sum of money invested in the city’s growth has no benefits for them.

HCC admitted that the New Zealand economy is currently challenging, addressing “the last thing we as a city council would want to do is shy away from projects leading to economic growth, particularly critical infrastructure projects.” While they acknowledge the economic challenges, HCC prioritises investing money in businesses over improving the quality of student life.

“Promoting and enabling development in the central city, attracting a new 4-star hotel and affordable housing projects are critical for the city’s future.” HCC neglects to recognise that the growth of these “attractive” businesses renders the economic success it potentially can attain when fundamental issues like free parking, developing new roads, and investing money on necessities over non-essentials has not been addressed.

HCC offers information on “how to pay for parking tickets” and “on-street parking” but will not address issues related to parking for starters. Instead of investing money in EV infrastructure, for example, more attention should be brought to parking. In 2021 and 2022, Hamilton drivers received over 125,000 parking tickets, a large number being rangatahi. In 2023, there is still $415,166 worth of unpaid parking tickets that the city waits on. This figure is due to the lack of free parking available. Two hours of free parking is appreciated but bleak considering the lack of spaces, increasing traffic when looking for a park—causing an accident— just to find another fine in your dossier. A concern university students are facing is the lack of parking spots in and around the university campus. Internal parking is sparse, so we rely on kerbside but the lack of spots increases parking on verges, which

means–you guessed it–another fine.

Significant benefits of removing parking fees indicated alleged eliminated road rage, accidents, fewer court appearances because of parking tickets and the cost of unpaid parking. This postively impacts students who would no longer need to park at Countdown illegally to save money when they’re working at Centre Place. Anglesea Clinic’s parking lot would also be at the mercy of non-patient visitors taking up their park. If parking was free, the café staff, lawyers, and customers shopping wouldn’t occupy the clinics’ premises. Business revenue will instantly increase as more customers will be inclined to shop if they can access free parking.

The prime focus is on increasing revenue after losing it because of Covid-19, this target can be achieved by extending bus service hours to 24/7. Evening bus hours can be fixed at a higher rate when late-night workers would travel by bus. This benefits both the Government and employees who wish to do night shifts but don’t have transport. Implementing metered water encourages conservation and reduces waste, meeting our international obligation and looking after the planet.

Proposing to make new toll roads, and charging drivers a fee for privatising or semi-privatising new roads like Tauranga could potentially help save costs and generate more revenue. In 2015, Trust Waikato gifted Hamilton City Council $1.9 million dollars for the Waikato Museum. As much as museums are valued and visited by tourists for their art and history, it holds no relevance in an ordinary resident’s life. The amount could have easily been donated for something more important.

From the report, City Council has a rigid approach currently but by adopting a mix of strategies to increase revenue, improve services and address many student concerns, it would be a better way of investing Hamilton’s money.

“The prime focus is on increasing revenue after losing it because of Covid-19, this target can be achieved by extending bus service hours to 24/7.”

There has been recent political news that National “…has ruled out coming to any arrangement with Te Pāti Māori in forming a National-led government after the 2023 election”. This confirms the possible coalitions that will be made this year in government.

Our government works under a Mixed Member Proportional system, meaning how many votes a party gets reflects how many seats they get in parliament. With 120 seats in parliament, 61 seats are required for a party to become the majority. Right now, National has 34 seats, but according to a recent poll, an election held now would give them 46 seats.

Meaning, National would need a coalition to hold the majority in government. By ruling out any arrangement with the Māori party, Chris Luxon has confirmed a coalition with Act which would give them at least 61 seats if voted in. It is believed that National has made this decision as its potential voters are likely not supporters of the Māori party.

This leaves Labour to make coalitions with the Green party, and potentially the Māori party for the 61 seats.

When coalitions are made, there are often agreements between the two or more parties such as which parties’ policies will be put through. This means even if you are voting for National or Labour this year, you’ll

need to consider the other parties’ policies as well.

Labour’s and Green’s view on education are very similar, with financially supporting tertiary students being a main factor in their policies. Labour has increased student allowance by $25 from April 1st 2023 to match the rise of living cost. The Green Party believes the student allowance should be accessible to everyone.

If the Māori party joins the coalition, it is unlikely to change these potential policies. The Māori party also believes in more easily accessible education, particularly to Māori and Pasifika.

National and Act, however, have different ideas on tertiary education. Whereas National has mentioned giving out less money to tertiary students to balance the economy, Act has suggested removing student allowances completely and replacing it with an entirely new system in which every NZ citizen receives a lifetime education fund. It is unclear what policies would be put in place under a National led government regarding tertiary education, but both parties are focused on the overall economic benefit of their policies.

With the election on October 14th this year, there are sure to be more updates in the coming months.

Sarah Blake

The Luxonator

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

David Seymour

Tehana De Klerk

Whenever I think about the afterlife or what Heaven looks like, my mind immediately goes to the ending scene of “This is the End” when Jay Baruchel wishes for the Backstreet Boys and everyone has a really good time.

If I don’t slip into a void of nothingness or wake up from a simulation after death, then that is exactly what I’m expecting. But aside from a mini concert, you’re going to have to pass the time some other way, right? There is only one correct way to do that: sport.

And no, I’m not talking about your average football or rugby game (you’re dead, and I doubt you can die again), so you gotta make it extreme; it’s not like you have anything to lose anyways.

So, here are my ideas for how you can make the afterlife your bitch… in the name of sportsmanship of course:

Zorb Bowling

For some reason, I imagine that the big man in charge would be like some huge titan. You know that scene in Percy Jackson where all the Gods and Goddesses are huge? Yeah. So, convince the man in charge to take you bowling. The rules? You’re the bowling ball. Or the pins. You’re either in those transparent plastic balls or standing at the end waiting to be knocked down. I have thought this through and I see no flaws.

Dream Team Football

I know I implied earlier that football wasn’t really an option, but I had to include it. Imagine it like this though: you can pick an absolute dream team of football players that have passed away. I’m talking about World Cup winning legends. The catch? You have to play against them. Why is this an extreme sport? Humiliation is going to be your villain origin story because there’s no way in hell (hehe) that you’re going to win.

MMA

I feel like all of these sports are actually going against what the afterlife is all about. Like, in the Vampire Diaries it was all about peace and shit, and obviously MMA isn’t peaceful. Do I care? Not one bit. You see someone you know, pull ‘em up and get the crowd cheering your name. If you have absolutely zero experience in fighting, well, good luck.

Air Hockey

I don’t know if arcade games count as sports, but air hockey is dangerous as is so I say it can fit into this category. This game is so dangerous when you’re playing against someone who is extremely competitive (and slightly crazy), so just imagine how they’ll be after lots of practice and with the knowledge that death no longer exists.

Dodgeball

There really isn’t a good reason for this one, I just think it would be a good laugh. Especially if you’re the last person picked for the team.

Lightsaber Duels

Okay, I get that the afterlife isn’t about violence, but if I can wish for anything I want like in “This is the End”, then there’s no fucking way I’m going to be walking around without Anakin’s lightsaber. Just imagine how much fun a lightsaber duel would be. Those younglings and Obi-Wan better watch out.

Thumb Wrestling

This is the most harmless thing you could probably do. 1v1 God, you won’t. Bet.

Lightsaber Battle

Crush of the Week

— Mia Goth

It was hard to pick a crush for this week because I felt it would only be right to choose one of the various scream queens. However, after recently watching the first two instalments of the X film series, I thought it would make sense that Mia Goth got the spotlight.

With incredible talent, Mia Goth really took these slasher-horror films and made them her bitch. I don’t care what anybody says; she meant it when she was screaming “I’m a star”.

Cheeky 10 [Things to Avoid in a Horror Movie]

Reading

If you find an old book that clearly isn’t meant to be opened and read, how about you put it back where you found it?

A Village with Culty Vibes

It is a cult. Run away.

Spiritual Tools

I’m literally begging you to leave this shit to the professionals. Put the Ouija board away (or don’t because yolo).

Straying Off the Hiking Trail

Literally fuck off with the shortcuts.

There’s a trail, so stick to it.

Trends

There’s an app that can kill you? no. There’s a video that kills people? nO. There’s an old legend about someone killing you if you say their name three times in a mirror? NO.

Mysterious Phone Calls

If that shit says “No Caller ID”, let the bitch ring. Can’t kill you if you don’t talk to it.

Prom

Doesn’t really apply to us, but hey, if you end up being a teacher one day, try to be nice to the weird girl before she’s covered in pig’s blood.

Basements and Attics

Do people genuinely even use these?

Cabins

Now who the fuck actually wants to spend their holiday staying at a cabin in the woods. Be for real now.

Parties

If nothing crazy has happened, that’s fine. If people are dead and you still go to a party? You’re an idiot. The killer or whatever is killing is probably there with you.

Ghosty Boi

News in Numbers

A Florida professor has been living underwater for a record-breaking days. I live for Florida man headlines.

A

year old found a prehistoric mammoth tooth in his grandma’s backyard. Now we know where Manny is. Spurs can’t even make the top

Gotta make a pact with the Devil for next season.

Nexus is located in the SUB, first floor, and in the back corner. If you’ve never been in the Nexus office or the SUB after hours then you’re fortunate to not have experienced the hellish vibe and overly scary ambience. Shit is dark, and the one flickering hall light doesn’t help to ease the terror. Nexus, as a collective, decided that we wanted to make it even scarier and fuck with the occult but not in the ways you think.

Hand-made board in hand, vibes achieved, and night foreboding–the scene was set. We’re ready to contact the scariest ghost of all time. Prior to going into this, we heard whispers and talks of the spirit roaming the halls late at night. But none of us had seen it. So we had to ask around what the spirit looked like. Ex editors, designers, and general staff were apprehensive to even kōrero about what they’d possibly seen or heard. There’s an inherent fear of what the spirit could and couldn’t be. The people were afraid.

What little information we did have, we decided to go forth anyway. What’s the worst that could happen?

The moment was here, we say around our makeshift pentagram, looking down at the candles. Perhaps not a good idea with sprinklers above us and the foreboding concern of wetting our plethora of ancient computers in the hopes of a good story. Still, we’re shit cunts in student media so we have to continue and persist in the face of immediate danger.

Our pentagram looked kind of sad though, off-kilter and definitely not even. Candles at each point, with a heavenly glow in the room. None of that holding hands shit though, we’re big strong kids with no fear in our bodies. Well maybe a little fear, can’t help but want to hide with the constant sounds of creaks and groans through a 60 year old building–holding the secrets of student media passed.

The Ouija board, same fucker featured in our centrefold, was set and we all hovered over the forgetten ‘The Volume Collective’ glass we’d nabbed from the kitchen shelf. It gave an unobstructed view of

the letters. Our hands hovering over the g, preparing ourselves for whatever may happen or whatever could come from this. What’s the possibility of being taken over by the spirits of those filling our hallowed halls.

The walls started to shake, sweating as we felt an overwhelming sense of something–but none of us could feel what it was. Our souls rattled, our brains fried. We looked to each other for support as we felt the cold breathing along the back of our necks.

They say that in the darkest moments of peril, as you face the scariest demons as we were about too, that you find peace. There’s no peace for us, the sense of lightness never found its way into our room that evening. Only sadness, anguish, and dread.

Nothing could’ve prepared us for the heaviness we felt as we asked the question we wanted answered.

Nothing. Guess they were too busy missing deadlines.

Authorised by David Bennett MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

So, you want to build your own Urban myth? Well you little legends, you’ve come to the right place. The campus, in its eternal glory, is littered with false stories and horrendous lies and deceitful tales of woe. From the mysterious Lab Rats on campus, to the loch ness of Oranga Lake, we’re constantly battling the urge to add to the plethora of misinformation. Instead here's some madlibs so you can build your own. Obviously get a friend together so you can try it with them–send us the best ones to win a prize.

Late Campus Nights

Night has fallen upon you, you can’t help but feel (Adverb ending in -ed) as you navigate your way through the _____ _____ (place on campus). Usually you’re okay with _____ _____ (verb ending in -ing) in the dark but tonight feels like it may be the exception. Something feels off to you, there’s a heaviness in your _____ _____ (personal noun) and then you see it.

Across the _____ (place), you see a pair of eyes staring back at you. You don’t notice them at first, the _____ _____ (colour) _____ _____ (Plural Noun) blending with the darkness in the trees. But when you finally notice it, you’re (verb ending in -ed). Frozen in fear you can’t move, you’re _____ (Verb). What do you do?

(Verb). You tell yourself, it’s time to _____ (same verb) and you need to get out of here.

Sort of ironic, you’d heard talks of the ____ _ (Noun) in the _____ _____ (place) from your _____ _____ (subject) lecturer but you’d assumed they were _____ _____ (verb ending in -ing). Everyone in class told you not to _____ (verb ending in -y) and you’re not one to argue.

Because of that willingness to ___ __ (Verb) you were now beating down on the footpath, trying to make distance between you and your chaser. Your __ ___ _____ (Noun) slows you down, but enough to maintain the lead.

The thing _____ _____ (verb ending in -ed) at you, _____ _____ (verb ending in -ing) you to your core. Your _____ (noun) came to attention as you reached _____ (place on campus), finding a way to escape, _____ (verb ending in -ing)

All around you, the space felt _____ (adverb) but you could hear the _____ (verb) from the thing before it grabs you.

They _____ (Verb ending in -ed) over you, but you kept your eyes shut. Their _____ _____ (Noun) pressed on your chest. You needed to build the courage to look. The images swirling in your mind. You open your eyes to see _____ (Celebrity) unhinge their jaw and eat you.

That’s the last time you trust first years tales.

Late night drive

One night, a woman went out for _____ (Noun - Plural) with her _____ (Noun - Plural). She left the _____ _____ (Place) fairly late at night, got in her _____ _____ (Method of Transportation) and onto the deserted highway. She noticed a lone pair of _____ (Method of Transportation) headlights in her rear-view _____ _____ (Noun), approaching at a pace just slightly _____ _____ (Adjective - Ends in ER) than hers. As the car pulled up behind her she _____ _____ (Verb - Past Tense) and saw the turn signal on -- the car was going to pass -- when suddenly it _____ _____ (Verb - Past Tense) back behind her, pulled up _____ ___ __ (Adverb) close to her ___ _ (Noun) and the brights flashed.

Now she was getting _____ _____ (Adjective). The lights dimmed for a moment and then the lights came back on and the car behind her surged forward. The _____ (Adjective) woman struggled to keep her eyes on the _____ (Noun) and fought the urge to look at the car _____ _____ (Noun) her. Finally, her _____ _____ (Adverb) approached but the car continued to follow, flashing the brights _____ (Noun).

Through every _____ _____ (Noun) and _____ _____ (Noun), it followed her until she pulled into her _____ (Adjective). She figured her only hope was to make a _____ _____ (Same Method of Transportation) dash into the house and call the police. As she flew from the _____ _____ (Verb - Past Tense), so did the driver of the car behind her -- and he _____ (Noun), " Lock the _____ (Noun) and call the police! Call 111

When the police arrived, the _____ (Adjective) truth was finally revealed to the woman. The man in the car had been trying to save her. As he pulled up behind her and his headlights illuminated her _____ (Same Method of Transportation), he saw the silhouette of a man with a _____ (Weapon) rising up from the back seat to _____ _____ (Attacking Verb) her, so he flashed his brights and the _____ _____ (Noun) crouched back down.

House On Hood

House on Hood. You’ve out done yourself. Now, food at a price that a broke student, such as myself, can afford is usually a pack of chicken noodles or a third Domino’s pizza for the week. Very rarely is it good food. Me oh my, House wanted to prove me wrong. They’ve revamped their famous weekly rituals with a ‘Murican Monday (not a typo), Taco Tuesday, Skint Student Night (the best), Dumpling House Thursdays, One Metre Pizza Friday, and BYO Saturday.

Recently, House had me round to dive deep into these deals. The first thing I needed to touch on, that stood out as soon as I walked in, was the staff. My previous dealings with poor souls in hospo hasn’t been ideal; there’s a reflection of “I have to be miserable, so do you”. I’ve worked in hospitality as well and I get it, I really do. So, when Front of House greeted me, a student with pockets that were clearly as deep as a kiddy pool, with a smile, I thought I was going to drop dead. I did appreciate that the first menu she gave my mates and me was the deal of the day. She got it. When my friend ordered a cocktail, she recommended what we do and do not drink if we’re going out to Outback later that night. Whether this was an internal promotion by the venue autocracy that is Lawrenson Group or genuine advice, I’ll let you decide. I’m not a big conspiracy dude

so I’m going with the latter.

We went on the tried and true One Metre Pizza Night. The fact that you can split two pizzas, that are comfortably taller than me, between a group of four for $15 each really humbles me. It’s also really humbling when the waistline of your pants is beginning to get a bit tight and you realise you’ve got another metre of pizza to go. We were fed by left overs for the next two meals. It’s insane man. I recommend half and half of the BBQ Beef and Hawaiin. I do, however, regret not coming on a Wednesday night, as delicious as my meal, and the leftovers, were. Our waitress, who was our best mate at this point after sharing quick stories of her time as a student, said Skint Student Night has $5 pizzas. That’s a new level of insane.

It’s really nice to see that amidst the restaurants that over charge for under sized meals, House on Hood has actually thought about Hamilton being a student city. Considering I was surrounded by other students, some that were in my own classes, it seems many have got the memo. This is my public service announcement, if you haven’t tried these nights out at House, give it a crack.

Wāhi Kai

Seamus Lohrey

Evil Dead Rise

When Sam Raimi’s 1981 film “The Evil Dead” came out, it headlined conversations of controversially gruesome horror films. I’ve never seen the original (sue me), but when its successor came out in 2013, I was shocked to say the least. I’ve never seen a film that both scared me and made me gag at the same. So, when “Evil Dead Rise” finally hit the big screen this year, what did I do? I watched that shit (at night, for the vibes, ya know?). When it comes to horror movies, I try not to claim to be all-knowing because I really haven’t seen many, including lots of cult classics. But I’m still going to give you my opinion on this anyway.

I have pretty mixed feelings about this film. While it wasn’t terrible, it felt like a tired sequel to a franchise that never really needed to continue. The acting was still pretty good, and I’ll admit there were a few scenes that made my skin crawl, however it just wasn’t as mindblowing as I had hoped it would be. I did appreciate the references to other horror classics like “The Shining” and “The Thing”, but it doesn’t change the fact that I think it was an underwhelming addition to the franchise. The storyline was honestly just lacking in many aspects; we didn’t really experience the gutwrenching tension of seeing a family torn apart by the influence of demonic possession, and despite the

action (which was pretty okay), it certainly felt quite rushed and almost kind of plain. Although, I will admit that the scene with the eyeball absolutely killed me and I never want to see it again because what the fuck.

With all that said, I can hardly say I’m surprised. Many franchises are affected by lacklustre sequels (just take a look at Star Wars), and this is very apparent in all things horror. We’ve seen it with Michael Myers, Jason etc., and sometimes all it needs is one film for a franchise to start fading away into monotonous storytelling.

Kiriata

Tehana De Klerk

If, for some psychotic reason, you followed along with Jak’s VERY well detailed deep dive into the world of conspiracy theories (you know, then one where he was actually drugged and went into a week-long drug fuelled psychosis) then we’re certain you’re probably concerned seeing that he’s once again back at it again. But he makes it more religion based this time around.

2022 saw the revival and high of the Satanist uprising. Want to know why? Stranger Things is your call. Eddie Munson came swooping in and stole our hearts–or our weird finger horns if you’re educated. But with that came the normalising of what some consider the fringes of society, that mainstream recognition of what’s usually quite macabre–are we as people finally healing?

Here’s something I’ve been hiding from everyone this entire year. I’ve been hanging out with a group of Satanists to discuss traditional Satanism and Theistic Satanism. Under the guise of a ‘small interview’, I bid farewell to everyone on my journey to chat shit with seemingly strangers in the hopes of a small conversation. Here’s the thing, I’ve been going to speak with them all for months in the hopes of uncovering a certain fringe of society. Also to see what their thoughts are on Eddie Munson–a reminder of their origins and how the media decides to represent them.

Before uncovering the underbelly of Satanism in Aotearoa, I first need to delve into the world of Satanic Panic–what came to be to make those who are… are? In 2018, we sat down with Frankie Vegas of TST (The Satanic Temple) which resulted in a conversation about selfidentity and what it meant to be a Satanist in NZ in 2018.

Frankie Vegas: For myself, it’s the taking of personal responsibility. Knowing being ‘other’ is more than fine. The life lessons that saved me

when I needed them when I was younger. And the example John Milton’s Lucifer sets: that you should fight the good fight, be the adversary, you need to be even if you know you won’t win, you’ll know you’ve done the right thing. To always question unjust and arbitrary authority. And now, the community. It’s a community of fun and love.

Going into this investigation, I had only a few quotes to go off and some clips from film or excerpts from a cannibal corpse video. These couldn’t have prepared me for some of the heartiest conversations or most intense deep-dives of my life. I want to preface this piece (the fact this is just the intro should’ve been your first indication that it was time to leave now) by saying that this is a turn from grace. A lot of the pieces I write are about conspiracy theory–wait that’s too close. They’re about my fall from religi–again I’m sensing a trend. What I’m TRYING to say is that all of what I’m documenting in this piece is my observations, conversations and general musings as I get myself wrapped up in yet another trial worthy of wasting my precious brain cells away. Was I drugged again? Guess we’ll find out.

Editor’s Note: One thing before my preface. This entire piece was meant to be about Satanism and modern Satanists but it turned into an exploration into the occult within Aotearoa. I apologise to the community if you believe I’m lumping you all together, it’s not because I meant too but I just couldn’t stop before I became engulfed.

Editor’s Note 2 [the important one]: This piece is going to be built through my journal entries and interviews. Please note all the names have been changed upon request of the individuals as some of the subject matter is delicate and concerning. The story telling isn’t linear, I’m sorry, but it all comes to an ending that makes less sense. I tried.

Jan 9

I don’t know about you but I’m concerned that I’m missing a beat when it comes to religion. Don’t mishear me, I understand the premise of it but I feel, at times, that everyone else is in on something I’m not. Meaning that I’ll listen to kōrero about God, or interpretations about God, but all I can do is sit there and pretend like I understand–knowing I’ve only been in a church a handful of times in my life.

So I decided to click through Google. Looking at pages and pages of the different religions–my eye settled on something that I’ve seen but never thought about till now. Satanism. Even looking at the clickable red link had my eyes flickering. There was something sinister about it but… welcoming? Sounds crazy but I couldn’t help but click onto something.

Hours and hours of scrolling found me looking at imagery, listening to music and observing some of the most intense subject matter–challenging my already lack of faith. A tentative light switch and sit up in bed should’ve helped as I closed tabs upon tabs until I saw a facebook page. Satanic New Zealand. I’d come across it in the past–probably in our old Nexus article and decided to give it a look.

Jan 13

Me: I’m sitting here with Chris who’s going to chat about… well what do you call it?

Chris: (laughter) I consider myself a Satanist. There’s other names but that’s the most common and the one I want to be called.

Me: Cool, cool. I don’t really know how to start. Like do I ask how you got into it? Or why?

There’s a brief beat as I can see him thinking. Gives me a chance to look around the room at the wall decorations. I can promise I’ve never seen a bigger Mercyful Fate poster/ tapestry in my life. I guess I’ve never seen a Mercyful Fate poster/tapestry in my life.

Chris: The typical start. I had a rough childhood aye. It wasn’t the easiest growing up poor in rural (removed) during the 70’s. I was abused quite heavily and I turned to music as a way of escaping. Not to be too predictable but bands like Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Scorpions influenced me. I grew my hair out, started wearing leather. I was your average rocker kid.

A glance told me he’d not changed all that much. Sporting a probably original Sabbath shirt under a ripped flannel with tight black jeans and a dangling chain. I was at home.

Chris: The world of Satanism came later for me. But to say I follow it as a religion probably isn’t right. It’s more like a lifestyle to me. Like Buddhism? How it’s both a religion and a philosophy–a way of being. I tried anarchy, that fuck the patriarchy and down with the system. Very punk rock. But I was so angry back then. Fighting, spitting, and just being a reckless cunt. It wasn’t what I wanted. From there I stumbled upon Satanism. Actually one of my mates told me about it.

Me: What about it interested you? Were you immediately sold?

Chris: It was a sense of belonging, like I had an understanding of who I was. The 80’s were a different time. And the 90’s came around and it was a thriving network of people who thought the same as me. But I guess a lot of things changed with Satanic Panic and [Peter] Ellis.

Peter Ellis’ was convicted for child sex abuse crimes in 1993. This, at the time, sent conservative Christchurch into a panic. Ellis was convicted on 16 counts of sexual abuse against seven children in his care at the Christchurch Civic Creche in June 1993. The case has been highly controversial, largely thanks to the belief the children’s accounts were “contaminated” and that Ellis did not receive a fair trial as a young gay man in a more conservative time. He spent seven years in jail because of his convictions but maintained his innocence up until his death from bladder cancer in 2019.

I want to revisit that term for a second, Satanic Panic, and what that looked like for Aotearoa--as we were late adopters. Satanic Panic was basically a bunch of conservative parents in the 1980s, responding to a simple video game as a means of combating their flailing relationship with God. The tabletop

game, Dungeons and Dragons, was linked with an occult conspiracy, made up by pastors in the Midwest, and naive mothers trying to come up with a reason for the children dressing and Satanic symbols and playing with toys resembling that of the hot underworld. TV pundits, politicians, and religious leaders really thought the game was an entry point to Satanic worship and an imagined vast conspiracy of Satanic cults that supposedly permeated the United States and the entire world.

There were dozens of cases thrown out from court on the grounds of lack of substantial evidence. In Aotearoa, Peter Ellis is the most documented and known case of Satanic Panic, the grounds of his conviction starting with a misquote. “I don’t like Peter’s Black Penis” as said by a child to their mother, sparking the numerous allegations and subsequent trial to ensue.

Me: Tell me more about the spirituality of Satanism–what do you take from it?

Chris: Interestingly, the religion of Satanism comes from Atheism. That lack of belief in God. What you need to understand is that I’m not out here creating symbols and sacrificing goats. Satan isn’t some omnipotent being of supernatural force. It’s all about knowledge, freedom, power, and even pleasure. There’s no mindless worship of some unseen deity. For me. That’s not to say it’s not existed historically, but I can’t comment on it. All I need to know and understand is that I can have balance over myself and who I am simply because I can.

I wanted to know more about what he was talking about. The thoughts into what Satanism is and what it isn’t. “There’s no belief or spirituality in Satanism. We’re carnal, we’re sceptical, we’re proudly faithless people.Satanism understands that we are creatures of conceptual consciousness and our concepts are put together in such a way as to make symbols.” words from Peter H Gilmore High Priest of the International Church of Satan.

Me: You seem to be quite in touch with your spiritual side. As someone a bit lost in the world, how would I go about delving into that side of me? How do I become more in touch with myself?

Chris: Porn, I guess?

Obviously he saw my grimace because a gentle punch on the arm and his laughter broke the silence.

Chris: There’s no sure-fire way of solving those feelings mate. Trust in yourself and be kind to yourself.

Jan 20-something

A text lights my room in the early hours.

Chris: I think u shld stop drinkng if u wnt to explore ur spiritual side. Jst a suggestion bro.

It’s interesting isn’t it, how much you can take from a simple text. I’m not a massive drinker anyway but I took this personally. Perhaps he’s right? Maybe it’s time to slow it down and focus on my own self over that. Doth Satan require it?

Jan 20-Something

Last night I was invited to dinner with Chris and his long-term partner. It was a pretty normal meal. I don’t know what I was expecting? Maybe some sort of weird meat or a phallic vege? Either way it was a BBQ and I had a terrific time.

There’s something sort of humbling about looking through the memories of a couple–especially one who shares the same interests and does all the same things. They’re loving, kind, and open with each other. Perhaps it’s my naivete coming through, but shouldn’t they sit in darkness with some candles lit, staring through thinly veiled eyes as a chant can be heard in a guttural kind of way. But this was anything but. Sure they had their fair share of weird trinkets and shit all over the house but nothing was off.

Me: Did you meet through Satanism or was it just something you fell upon together?

Chris: Funnily enough we met in school. Run with the same people, you can’t escape the bogans aye. The rest is history.

Liz: He was a bit of a blow-ass. Drove this laser? Or was it a Famillia? Fuck knows, but it was different colours and constantly had a flat tyre. It was a piece of shit.

Chris: I’ve always been a ladies man, mate.

Liz: Spirituality has always been a big part of our relationship, we’re just in touch with ourselves

we are creatures of conceptual consciousness and our concepts are put together in such a way as to make symbols.” words from Peter H Gilmore High Priest of the International Church of Satan.

and the world around us. I guess Satanism is a part of that now. We’re just happy being us.

Chris: Plus black is an easy colour to match our outfits too.

February 1-something

I’ve been on a major rabbit-hole, looking at cults within Aotearoa. Not because I assume all Satanists then pull themselves into a cult–that’s shitcunt thinking and I’ll have none of that. More because I was wondering if there were any crossovers and whether I could get more information into the world of the occult. If there was direct correlation between cultoccult-satanism.

Unlucky for me, it just became an absolute confusing delve into Centrepoint and the horrors or communal living. There’s fuck all information in Aotearoa, leading me to believe that we’re either no talking about the ritualistic behaviours of Satanists in the past or that we’re just lucky that our community exist in peace without having to commit heinous crimes or engaging in ritualistic ceremonies.

When is something Satanic, occult, or ritualistic? If a crime is committed with certain connotations to religious iconography, then it’s immediately associated with Satan or occult. Kenneth V. Lanning delves deeper into the issue, saying “Some would answer that it is the presence of certain symbols in the possession or home of the perpetrator. What does it mean then to find a crucifix, Bible, or rosary in the possession of a bank robber, embezzler, child-molester. or murderer? If different criminals possess the same symbols, are they necessarily part of one big conspiracy?”

Tangent? Definitely.

February 22? Maybe?

While I think learning from those in the religion is the best way of discovering more about the thing you’re wanting to learn about, there’s a plethora of information out there. Misconceptions are probably the main and most frequent issue

with Satanism.

Church of Satan reverend, Ashley S Palmer, explains that, ‘We Satanists are atheists who adopt ‘Satan’ as a symbol of passion, pride, liberty, and heroic rebellion in the tradition of the proto-Satanic themed poetry and writing of Giosuè Carducci, Lord Byron, John Milton, Benjamin DeCasseres, Mark Twain, and others that predate the founding of the Church of Satan.’

These thoughts mirror what I’ve heard, though perhaps said a little more eloquently by Palmer. You can look as much as you want into the world and find nothing but dead ends. If the papers upon papers I’ve printed and plastered through my room are a direct tell–I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared by the prospect of just disappearing into this.

March 16

Giving up drinking has helped me clear my head. There wasn’t a major need for it, I just thought it made sense if I was exploring more of my spiritual side. I remember reading something somewhere about that. From a science perspective as well, it makes sense right? Any chemical or drug you put in–you’re likely blurring the lines. Though some argue the health benefits of

microdosing. In my eternal search, I found results from an experiment conducted in 2018 that saw reasonable improvements from the subjects involved. The conductors reported:

“Most were microdosing with psilocybin (55%) or LSD/1P-LSD (48%). Principal components analysis generated three factors examining perceived short-term benefits of microdosing: improved mood and anxiety, enhanced connection to others and environment, and cognitive enhancement—Most participants (78%) reported at least one harm reduction practice they routinely performed while microdosing.” I’m not going to microdose. Not today anyway.

But what of the modern uses in Satanism? I think I speak for all when I mention that there’s something interesting about the reduced use of alcohol as a means of looking into oneself when traditional applications saw the drinking of blood. Like actual blood. Karl Spracklen, Professor of Sociology of Leisure and Culture at Leeds Beckett University, speaks of the modern applications of drugs and their correlation with Satan.

“Psychoactive substances such as cannabis and

alcohol have been used by humans for thousands of years as a way of altering the mind, bonding and having some pleasurable moments of leisurely respite. These substances have been – and continue to be – problematic for religious leaders and secular lawmakers. If the pre-modern use of such substances suggests some ritualistic function, in historical times the legal and moral status of using these substances has been carefully constrained, if the substances have not been banned altogether”

There’s something interesting about moral conundrums and how they relate to our current application of law and the idea of flipping the system through anarchy and the absence of law. Satanism is bad-ass but is it going to become easily digestible if I give into my worldly desires?

See Sidenote below for the gap in time

April 15

I finally got around to watching the final episode of season 2 of Stranger Things, prompting a phone call and subsequent visit with Chris. Which then

meant meeting his good friend Jason. The reason being, I wanted to discuss more about the character and his representation. There’s no doubt that Chris dresses vastly the same–sporting his band tees and leather more often than not.

Me: Did you guys see the Eddie Character in Stranger Things?

Silence. I think I should’ve better prepared myself for this. Fumbling my phone from my pocket, I pulled up a clip of him on youtube. Narrowly avoiding the TikTok edits of those strange fangirls in an attempt to keep myself professional.

Jason: Yeah my daughter showed me this, “look Dad it’s you”. (Laughter) Not untrue is it?

Chris: He looks like me in High School, but what was up with the horns?

Jason: I find him interesting. Do cunts fuck with him in the show? Do they like him?

Me: He’s accused of murder because he was into DnD.

There’s a few glances between the gents, I can

The Sidenote

April 8-10

School of the Holy Beast - 1974. Dir. Norifumi Suzuki

Nothing short of stunning, this movie focuses on the hypocrisies of organised religion, as a convent of repressed nuns hold on to their secrets and desires while projecting their internal struggles through perverse and brutal witch hunts. So it’s less about Satanism and more about the occult. But it’s all the same, anti-religion or the absence of religion. This pushes the envelope the way exploitation is known for, but with an especially artistic grace.

The Killing of Satan - 1983. Dir. Efren C. Piñon

I uh- yeah this was a non-finish. Not because it was too gross or because it wasn’t accurate. It was just fucking weird. It had some sort of mind-control element that could only be described as oddball-slapstick. The acting was weird and the special effects weren’t the most desirable. It’s 95 minutes but I got to the 24 minute mark and pulled the plug. I couldn’t tell you how it was going to end but it was enough to make me uncomfortable for the rest of the night.

If you’re curious, films are a great look into the media representations of what Satanism can and can’t be. It’s an important look into how we’ve come to understand and evolve into thinking. Roping my flatmates in, we settled in for the weekend–taking notes from friends and the internet of the right films to watch. In the middle of my writings, I wanted to share our thoughts on some of the best and worst representations (from non-satanists but film buffs).

“What the fuck cunt” I think my flatmate summed it up appropriately. It’s basically a torture porn, Satanic horror-gore fuckfest. I have nothing else to say other than it’s definitely a sick look at something that perhaps is missing the point. It’s not the best representation of Satanism but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re into it.

If you’ve not seen The Wicker Man, stop reading and go take a look at it. This movie is NOTHING short of fantastic and I can’t help but laugh all the way through as I remember Sir Chistopher Lee said this was his “greatest achievement in acting”. I’m gobsmacked, as the horror- musical amazes me with its valiant attempt to shock. Time- appropriate, I can see why the audiences would’ve been sick and struggling to watch, but compared to some of the less savoury titles in this list, this shit was a field day. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re wanting something thought-provoking but if you’re wanting titties and songs about barley then strap-in for the ride of your life.

Black Candles - 1982. Dir. José Ramón Larraz

The Wicker Man - 1973. Dir. Robin Hardy

kōrero up for success, it’s definitely more of a ‘I fucked it’ kōrero.

Chris: So he’s a Satanist? Or an anarchist?

Me: A bit of both I think?

Chris: That’s the problem isn’t it, they’re finally putting us on TV but as accused murderers. Is he found guilty in the end?

Me: Well yeah but also he dies.

April 22

You can’t talk about learning Satanism without asking the darker questions. I’ve spoken to the men so many times by this point–kōrero I’ve not included but there’s something that’s been weighing heavy on me.

Me: I know it’s sort of going against what we’ve already talked about, kind of steering so far off course from the usual but I want to know. Have you ever been involved in ritualistic things?

There was a heaviness to the air, but I don’t think it was inherently negative but reflective. Chris turned to me and sort of cocked his head.

Chris: There’s sort of this unspoken thing between me and my mates. We don’t talk about how we got to this point but we got here nonetheless. I spent some time in Aussie, you know this, and I met some weird sects while there. There’s people in the world Jak, and I want you to understand this moving forward, who’s ideals don’t align with anything I know or you know or what you’ll come to find. The use of Magick used with Satanism is where things like traditional rituals start rearing their ugly heads.

Sidenote:

Magick (countable and uncountable, plural magicks) noun.

1. Obsolete spelling of magic

2. Actual magic or sorcery in fiction or in e.g. Wicca, neopaganism or modern witchcraft, as opposed to illusion or stage magic.

Chris: So to answer your question, yes I’ve been involved in some weird practices. Part of the reason why I agreed to work with you was because I wanted to somehow be part of stopping the spread of misinformation around Satanism and what the world looks like for me.

Jason: Yeah same bro. I remember being a young 20 something and finding myself literally eating the beating heart of a cow. It’s not some shit I would

ever fucking do again but when you’re desperate to be a part of something, you do some weird shit.

Chris: There’s darker parts of any and all cultures bro–you’re Māori so you know. There’s tapu stuff that we don’t talk about because it’s nothing to do with us. I can say I’ve done some shit in search of finding myself but I’ve never hurt another human. I stand by that.

Jason: I unfortunately can’t say the same.

April 30

I learnt more about Hexennacht–Occasion honouring those who fell victim to superstition and pseudoscience, whether by witch hunt, Satanic panic, or other injustices. Basically this is a holiday that’s the antithesis of Christianity, looking at how we can honour the dead who were persecuted by the church in history. Here’s what I find interesting about my findings.

The Church has almost always taken charge of crime and punishment, accusing and dealing as they see fit. Understand that this is due to the monarch being in charge for so long–a heavily religious sect that has taken control of the people. We won’t delve too much into my feelings behind the monarch and their illustrious history with crime. But there’s this constant argument against their actions, with the Witch Trials coming to mind. I know the automatic thought is to look to Salem for advice but you go back 100 years to 1563 in the UK for the beginning of theirs. Now, witch trials aren’t pertinent but the capital punishment given to those falsely accused of performing witchcraft shows the abuse of power over the minority.

The reason I make this point is we now move forward to the 80’s, looking once again at Satanic Panic and what that meant for the fans of a simple game or heavy music. Predominantly Christian accusers saw the punishment be dealt, making the decisions and casting their weighted votes accordingly.

But Hexennacht, what a concept dude. It’s a celebration while also being a massive FUCK YOU to the monarch and traditional church societies.

May 12

Today was the last time I went out to speak with Jason, Liz, and Chris. I wasn’t nervous to talk to them but almost sad that it was the last time. I was also coming from an evening of frustration and arguments with workmates. There wasn’t meant to be any anger though I have a tendency to be quite hotheaded. I’m working on it. Driving always helps me clear my head but something was different about this time. The air was heavy and my heart was

beating so fucking fast. Was it something to do with the final kōrero with these men I’ve spent months working with on a story or was it the red bull I shotgunned in the hopes of gaining some liquid courage. Either way, I had shaky hands, white-knuckling my steering wheel.

Chris: What’s the main thing you’ve taken from the experience? You learnt shit?

Me: I guess I’ve become more receptive to what space I occupy. There’s a lot more to this than I once thought. I couldn’t prepare myself for learning more about the mental struggle of learning more about the works of Satanists.

Jason: We’re interested to see what you took and where you go with this. It’s been a fucking hoot talking with you and I think good for us to look back. Something you can’t see the changes without first turning around. I just came up with that shit.

Me: I didn’t think that I’d ever get some philosophical answer from this journey. And in my own defence, I still haven’t. I hope no one is offended. Like I’m sorry if I wasted your time in any way.

What was I thinking, of course they didn’t care. It’s been a good journey for us all.

Chris: You’re always welcome here mate, it’s been good just chatting to the younger generation. The goal isn’t to convert you but make you conscious of your decisions.

The entire process wasn’t just cathartic for me but for all the people involved. Due to the nature of the topic there were a lot of moving parts, important players in my game, that aren’t mentioned. I’ve kept this journey a secret from so many people because I wanted to learn all I could before I wrote it. Even as I write, I’m not sure what’s going to happen and who’s going to read this. I’m probably screaming into a void but I feel lighter.

Liz: Yeah, just be more careful about the way you treat people. Don’t be a cunt really. And good things will happen.

Selfish, I know but I promise there’s a stronger force at play here.

Me: One thing I’m still unsure about though, what’s the deal with the Devil? You don’t recognise or worship one right? Why the connotations?

Liz: It’s not that deep, just looks dope on a T-shirt.

I’m not too sure if I’m the right person to be arguing for this side, but here I am. I claim to be agnostic, so while I don’t know the ins and outs of any religion, I still think there is a certain charm to them. That is, if you can try to push your focus away from everything negative that has ever happened because of religion’s overwhelming influence on mankind. We’re not ignoring it… we’re just talking about the positives.

I’ve always thought that it is beautiful to see different religious practices and their influences on cultures all around the world. From architecture to social standards, it’s fascinating to see how people are still guided by religion today. Spirituality is more of an individual practice, so rarely do you see how this impacts different groups of people. However, a plethora of religions have been shared, studied, and followed by entire nations and races across the globe. I see beauty in that, well when it’s done with the right intentions. Of course there have been many times where people have used religion as a weapon, but I don’t like to define

their wrongdoings by their faith; they’re terrible people who spread misinformation and hate in the name of a religion to gain support. And this spreads further hate towards innocent people of that religion. I’ve seen this firsthand while living in the Middle East, and it’s a shame that people can be so blinded by their own unresearched opinions.

Religion is meant to be shared and respected despite differences in beliefs, and this is what I like the most about the good souls I’ve met throughout my life. I’ve had many conversations where I’ve come to understand how different people interpret religious texts and it’s quite intriguing to hear the varying opinions I’ve been told. There will most likely never come a day where religion isn’t of any significance; there are far too many people who believe in what they follow. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If religion can give you a sense of hope and comfort in a time of hardship and desperation, then who are other people to judge?

I say give up religion (which comes with never ending religious debate) and embrace the crystals collecting hobby, aka spirituality.

I mean, spirituality is the new trend. If you wanna look cool, adopt it. It’s got the hippest people from all over the world. I swear, spiritual people are the most unconventional creatures with the spice, whereas, well, religious people are just people…

I’m assuming Tehana will discuss the history, the essence, and the importance of religious texts but not everyone has time for that. We’re not all exploding with new exciting and happy hormones like him. He’s young, most of us aren’t. Nobody has time to read all the different scriptures from every religion, be it Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and the list goes on. See, spirituality on the other hand, is

easy. Just buy some crystals to ‘cleanse’ and detox your soul and you’re good, your part of the gang.

Religion is like an old Karen grandma. It’s rigid. Boring, old, and strict. Spirituality, however, has no set rules or guidelines, do whatever you want, follow your heart and those 111, 222, 333, 444, 555 and you’re good. ‘Trust the universe’ and blame the universe too when she does you wrong.

Flaunt those cool and weird accessories that spiritual people wear. The tarot cards, essential oils, endless recommendations concerning witchcraft videos on your FYP—the possibility is endless! And, as a bonus, there’s nothing more powerful than to scare someone you hate, cooking stories like, “I see negative energy and spirits around you” at 2 am on a Friday night. Just a suggestion.

Recipe to make a Cult

Jak Rāta

So, you want to cook and create your own cult? Great, well we have the five easy steps to achieve just this.

Ingredients

Step 1: Choose a Quirky Belief System

To attract followers, develop a belief system that is uniquely bizarre and utterly nonsensical. Perhaps claim that only people wearing specific clothing, but not sheets. Beacuse, well you know.

Step 2: Create a Mystical Persona

Every cult needs a charismatic leader. Develop a persona that exudes mystery and wisdom. Dress in flowing robes, wear a crown made of aluminum foil, and always speak in cryptic riddles. Bonus points for a fake accent.

Step 3: Recruit Passionate Disciples

Find individuals who are seeking meaning in life or are susceptible to persuasion. Target self-help seminars, astrology conventions, or online conspiracy theory forums. Offer them exclusive access to the “cosmic secrets” you claim to possess.

Step 4: Establish Rituals and Symbols

Design elaborate rituals involving chanting, dancing, and copious amounts of glitter. Create symbols like a three-eyed cat or a glow-in-the-dark pyramid as the centerpiece of your cult’s visual identity. Remember, the stranger, the better.

Step 5: Exploit Followers’ Trust

As your following grows, start extracting resources from your followers. Encourage them to make generous donations, sell their belongings, or even recruit new members. Exploit their vulnerabilities under the guise of spiritual growth, all while you reap the benefits.

WE’VE GOT A WIDE RANGE OF ROLES TO SUIT ALL LIFESTYLES.

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With the Government’s half price fare initiative you will also receive a further 50% discount until the end of June 2023, so its a great time to start using the bus!

Load your concession today! Find out more at busit.co.nz/bee

REID, we usually start off with one of the hardest questions you’ll ever answer. How the bloody hell are you?

I’m bloody good thanks Jak! Excited to sit down with Nexus Magazine.

So you’re a Waikato success story, how’s Pōneke treating you? How do you find the difference in the music scene?

It’s great, I love the city. I love how vibrant and cultural it is here, just a completely different vibe to when I’m back home. There’s so much more happening here for bands and artists, with so many different venues to play multiple nights a week. There’s something for everyone here.

We’ve been listening to your single in the office, amazing stuff by the way, but we couldn’t help but get those hints of early 00’s post-punk pop. Where do you derive your sound? Who inspires you?

My three biggest musical influences are Sam Fender, John Mayer and The 1975, but all three make quite different music from the other, and I feel my sound is a combination of each of these. It’s funny you mentioned the hints of 00’s post-punk pop sound because when I was writing this song, I was listening to a lot of music from the early 2000’s trying to incorporate some different elements from the music back then, to create a somewhat nostalgic sound.

Obviously quite introspective, how did you find the process of producing the single? Was it cathartic in any way?

The process itself was a lot of fun, taking the demo that I made in my bedroom to Toby Lloyd (Tiny Triumph Recordings) and being able to bring it to life was very fulfilling. A lot of the emotion comes from the lyrics, but the drums provided the intensity to compliment the message I was trying to get across to listeners. I think the most cathartic thing about it was being able to heighten the emotional aspect in terms of being vulnerable and open about your struggles. When I wrote this, I was at a crossroads in life, reflecting on everything I had done up to that point and what I thought that meant was in store for me. Writing this song felt like I was having a conversation with

my inner child and that’s kind of how the coming-of-age sound came to be. I’m sure a lot of people feel a little bit lost in their early 20s as they try and navigate their way through life while also trying to figure out who they are as a person.

As a multidisciplinary artist, do you find there’s more control over your sound? Not to detract from the talent of Jordan Gray on the drums, but the sound is so distinct that I’m curious how that plays into your movement into an EP and works moving forward.

Yes absolutely. Being able to play the majority of the parts in the song allowed me to dictate the overall sound. I knew though that the drums were going to be the most important element of the song, in order to bring the emotion to life. I knew that Jordan was going to be able to deliver what I wanted as he has an incredible understanding of what a song needs and knows how to execute it. I think being a multi-disciplinary artist is a great skill to have, but moving forward, I’m keen for more collaboration with other artists, producers and songwriters.

Where are you wanting to go with your music, are your releases all going to be self-actualising like ‘Wanna Be Someone’? What should we expect in the future, sorry we’re greedy for so much more from you.

I don’t think they will be as self-actualising as ‘Wanna Be Someone’ is, but they will definitely incorporate a lot of personal emotions that I’m feeling as I’m writing it. The sound will be similar for sure. Keep an eye out for my next single, it’s about the temptation to do things that you know aren’t right, but the thrill of doing it outweighs your judgement at the time.

Honestly bro, thank you for answering my questions but I have one final question. If you could give yourself some advice from 10 years ago, what would it be? Also what’s your subway order? Ya know, hard-hitting stuff mate.

I would say, keep doing exactly what you’re doing and back yourself even if people tell you differently. One thing I wish I had known back then was to be completely and utterly myself and not feel the pressure to follow the crowd, even though I know how hard that can be for young people. And lastly, understand that it’s going to require a lot of hard work and is a journey. Oh yes, this will be easy as I literally ate Subway for lunch. Footlong chicken classic on Italian herbs & cheese, toasted with cheddar cheese. Then I throw in some lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion and carrot. Salt and pepper always, and Chipotle Southwest sauce to top it off. Job well done.

Thanks for having me Jak and the rest of the team at Nexus! It’s great to work with some local Waikato people!

DESIGNER NOTE!

SUDOKU

YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT THIS IS

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The

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SIMPLE PUZZLES 4 SIMPLE PEOPLE

CIRCLING THE THREE GENUINE BANANAS, THIS COULD BE CHALLENGING

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BECAUSE OUR EDITOR IS COLORBLIND, I DECIDED TO BASE THIS WORDFIND ON COLOURS HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE.

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TRIVIA

ONLY THE WIERD KIDS DO THIS.

1. What is the only mammal that can truly fly without any assistance?

2. In what country can you find the world's largest living organism?

3. What planet in our solar system has the most moons?

4. What is the national animal of Scotland?

ANSWERS FROM LAST WEEK: 1. EDVARD MUNCH

2. WINNIE-THE-POOH 3. SYLVESTER STALLONE 4. DARFUR REGION

Entries close on the 26th of May